Fruition Practice

Dan K, modified 13 Years ago at 6/11/10 2:13 AM
Created 13 Years ago at 6/11/10 2:13 AM

Fruition Practice

Posts: 33 Join Date: 5/15/10 Recent Posts
I have read accounts that it is possible to experience different types of fruitions from previous cycles. Is there a categorization of all the kinds of fruitions, and a systematic way of re-exploring them?

There are a few kinds of things which I am tentatively labeling as "fruitions".

First, if I focus on the unpleasantness of sensations or if I apply a lot of pressure, especially in jhana, I experience a *blink* followed by a surge of energy. It most naturally happens after a build-up of energy in the third eye area or across the brow. If I try to do it on more diffuse spaces, it tends to cause the second type that I'm going to mention.

It is also possible to induce a sort of fluttering in which attention repeatedly turns sharply back towards "I", which for some reason allows energy to be released. It feels good and even feels orgasmic if concentration is strong. Allowing my eyelids to flutter has this effect.

Third, every so often I will be in a tranquil state of mind and having what feels like a pleasant thought, and then *blip* it is gone, and I can't remember what the thought was. The thought tends to be some combination of 3-dimensional, dynamically fractal, and profound. Unlike the other two, this one feels unpleasant, and I can't induce it at will. This one I'm particularly interested in, because there is lots of variation and it feels important. It's very frustrating not being able to remember afterwards.

Fourth, sometimes when I am napping, nodding off during meditation, or trying to sleep, I will find myself suddenly snapping out of something unknown, with no memory of what was going on during or before. I am unable to induce this willfully.

The third and fourth occur in clusters, so I think it probably has to do with review cycles, but I'm not sure because my awareness of nanas is poor.
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Daniel M Ingram, modified 13 Years ago at 6/23/10 2:26 PM
Created 13 Years ago at 6/23/10 2:26 PM

RE: Fruition Practice

Posts: 3268 Join Date: 4/20/09 Recent Posts
Fruition is a complex topic, but some guidelines are of value:

It is very easy to label all sorts of unknown events (various events where there is some sort of vague moment that is hard to comprehend or when things seem to blink out or something like that) as Fruitions.

Unknowing events can occur in many places, during many shifts, and so are a pernicious source of confusion.

Further, many things that can happen in A&P territory an look a great deal like the descriptions of Fruitions.

As is frequently pointed out, look in MCTB in the Chapters called The Three Doors and "Was that Emptiness?" and apply the criteria strictly after many times around through whatever you think might be Fruitions.

See if that helps and let me know if you have further questions.
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Florian, modified 13 Years ago at 6/25/10 10:38 AM
Created 13 Years ago at 6/25/10 10:38 AM

RE: Fruition Practice

Posts: 1028 Join Date: 4/28/09 Recent Posts
Hi Dan,

there's some advice in Mahasi Sayadaw's The Progress of Insight, section 18. It boils down to using formal resolve. Also, there seems to be a correlation between having good concentration and being able to experience the moments before and after the discontinuity with clarity. As little as 15 minutes of light, fun kasina practice can really boost concentration, as far as my own experience is concerned.

Cheers,
Florian