An Experiment While Meditating- "How Am I Doing?"

[dvonlehm]

I have meditated off and on for years. I have noticed a physical sensation when I am "doing it right" that I thought I would share. I also would like to ask others to respond if they notice the same.

During meditation, while trying to still the mind and slow the thoughts, I have discovered a sensation that occurs that signals I am on track (doing it right). I will feel a release of tension through my wrists/hands/fingers. It is as though volts of elecricity are being released from my nervous system and the only outlet is through my wrists/hands/fingers.

I realize this is a result of becomming more relaxed and a release of tension, but I also like to see it as a barometer to be used during meditation that signals that I am "doing it right" and on the righ track.

When thoughts start to enter my mind or tension arises, I no longer feel the currents of tension/stress releasing through the hands/wrists/fingers. It is great to have this physical baromoter because it triggers me to relase the thoughts again and re-enter a state of "no thought".

Sometimes I feel the release through one side, i.e., the left or right hand/wirst, other times I feel it through both at the same time.

Meditation and Mindfulness are practices that bring the "whole brain" in sync, and it seems that when this is happening, the release of tension happens.

I have a laptop/keyboard drawer at my desk. I removed the keyboard and now place my hands (palms down) on the keyboard drawer while meditating. This places them slightly above my lap.

If anyone else has has a similar experience or is willing to try this during meditation, I would love to hear your thoughts? Do you find it to serve as a good physical barometer to keep you coming back to the right state?

Since using Lifeflow I can now get this sensation "every time" that I meditate. It used to only happen occassionally. Another endorsement for the Lifeflow system...

Dan VonLehmden
Stuart, FL

[brozen]

hi dan,
over the years ive come to use the same barometer as you. i tend to start meditation by consciously relaxing my shoulders, then arms, legs etc. making sure everything is in a relaxed state or at least, a non-tense state.

then once i have been focusing on my breath for quite some time i will start to notice that my hands feel 'energized'. (i clasp my hands together) Along with the energized state they become very sensitive. Sometimes they feel bigger than usual and become the most prominent sensation that i can experience within my body.

this is a comforting barometer for knowing what 'state' you are currently at. however i think there may be a danger in attaching urself to this sensation. I guess the trick is to remain aware of the sensation as the observer. Be aware of ur mind asking to feel this sensation. The danger is becoming reliant on this feeling to know when you are meditating.

Personally, since I have started using this barometer, my meditative experiences seem to be a lot less intense. I used to become completely detached from my body and be able to observe it, as if it were not mine. But more recently I tend to get to this relaxed state, that is indicated by the barometer of my relaxed hands, and this becomes the final state that i reach. I am not sure if i should be aiming to go for that original 'out of body' type experience, or if this ultra relaxed state is 'Good enough'.
However i have stopped worrying about this. Outside of medition I have become a very relaxed person, never causing conflicts and never feeding those who thrive off negativity. These things seem more important to me than my own enlightenment. As long as you are able to be aware of urself and stay focused as a good human being, maybe worrying about which sensation is correct/best is unnecessary.

I guess the last part of my post was a bit of personal opinion, not quite fully fleshed out but i wonder if maybe you have come across these ideas in yourself while considering the barometer concept.

Anyway i hope i didnt go too far off the track (its really late at night and im tired haha)

Enjoy your journey in everytinhg.

CYa