meditative experience/energy (2 flags)

brozen · July 4th, 2011, 18:22

hi all,
I have just returned from a meditation session, in which I experienced something that I have not felt before.
Usually during meditation I will experience my regular mind, which is generally clear with a few chattering of my mind. Then as I focus more, my mind becomes very relaxed and clear, the only thoughts that come into my head are thoughts that I myself bring up (as opposed to the random chattering). This is as far as I get with the sensation and it is a very euphoric feeling, I often catch myself smiling during this time and my mind buzzes.

However on this latest experience, I allowed a thought to come into my mind.
It was something I'd seen on the forums. A discussion about 2 monks viewing a flag in the wind; "There is a story of two monks observing a flag. One says "the flag is moving." The other monk disagreed and said, "the wind is moving." Along comes a senior monk who comments, "not the flag, not the wind; mind is moving."

While meditating I went through the scenario and came to the conclusion that the senior monks claim that the 'mind is moving' suggests that there is no such thing as flag or wind or anything physical like that. They are both equally real and unreal as each other as their existences both rely on the mind. And thus, nothing outside of the mind is real, everything is a construct of the mind, and only the mind is real.

As soon as I had this thought I instantly felt a rush of energy within me, felt like it was in my brain rather than in any other body parts. Compared to my normal euphoric feeling this was extreme and felt amazing. Everything was just pure goodness.

I guess my questions are;
Is there a link between the extreme euphoric feeling at the same time of coming to my own understanding of the 2 flags?
Is there a standard feeling for meditation? If I have only just reached a real meditative feeling then what does that say of all my other meditative experiences? And how do I know when I have reached a true level of meditation?
Is my interpretation of the two flags even correct?
Is this a normal part of most peoples journeys in meditation?

Are these questions just more chatter I should ignore, and just enjoy all 'levels' of meditation?

Thanks for any guidance, all welcome

GilesC · July 4th, 2011, 18:36

Originally Posted by brozen

I guess my questions are;
Is there a link between the extreme euphoric feeling at the same time of coming to my own understanding of the 2 flags?

You are the best person to answer that, you know your own thoughts and feelings.

Is there a standard feeling for meditation? If I have only just reached a real meditative feeling then what does that say of all my other meditative experiences? And how do I know when I have reached a true level of meditation?

I think this thread will be useful to you...

Principles of Meditation & Entrainment

The practice of meditation can certainly bring up "feeling" senstations, but the meditative state itself cannot be associated with "feeling" itself.

Is my interpretation of the two flags even correct?

It is certainly one interpretation of it, and a valid one. Yes, the perception of what is in front of us is created through the mind.

Is this a normal part of most peoples journeys in meditation?

Everyone's "journey" is different. It will be based a lot on past experience, social upbringing, belief systems, actual experience as knowledge etc. etc. So, yes, it's "normal" if you want to look at it that way.

Are these questions just more chatter I should ignore, and just enjoy all 'levels' of meditation?

By all means, question and observe, rather than ignore, but if you find yourself becoming too attached to these thoughts, choose to let them go, especially if they are not serving any purpose in the present moment.

Hugs

Giles

brozen · July 5th, 2011, 09:00

thanks giles.
i have learned something new

-edit:
just wanted to add, for anyone with the same issue.
a lesson I heard regarding 'feelings and sensations' of meditation.

Apprentice monk interrupts his master during their meditation session.
Apprentice monk: Master! During my meditations Buddha and beings of light came to me in a vision!
Master: That's nice, return to your breath, in and out.

Paraphrasing but you get the idea.

But as Giles said, make sure you read Principles of Meditation & Entrainment, it deals with the issues well.