meditation advice

Hi leogirl,

The simple answer is maybe. At any rate, best to give the meditation a rest for a bit and see what happens. You may feel it's a good idea to get a check up with your GP.

I would recommend quite strongly that you take it easy and find the best way you can to relax and ground yourself, sleep, eat and maybe do some kind of exercise.

The easiest way to explain what could be happening is to use the model of the subtle body. The subtle body is made up channels and centres through which subtle energy flows. You can find out plenty of information about this if you're interested (a lot of it is nonsense so don't take it all too seriously). Some explain the subtle body as a phantom phenomenon that derives from the autonomic and central nervous systems. Anyway, taking this model further; we can develop constriction in the channels which obstructs the flow of subtle energy. Related to these blockages in the channels there could be points of muscular tension in plain muscle (for example gut) and skeletal muscle. There could also be constrictions that are caused by bad posture or injury too.

When you meditate the subtle body starts to sort itself out. Muscular tension starts to ease as language based thinking subsides. This is because language based thinking (conceptualisations) bind with powerful emotions to create patterns of feelings that then are stored in somatic (body) based tensions etc. So the subtle energy begins to flow through the subtle channels more easily when you meditate and subconsciously held nervous energy can be released.

The danger is that this can happen a bit too fast and energy can flow from one point to another and hit another blockage and so cause worse problems. Any kind of problem will get worse if you worry about it and this is why it is really good to get grounding things organised to give you security, a sense of safety and comfort and being really in your body. Avoid stimulants and recreational drugs particularly.

Other stuff like rescue remedy may be useful and you could get some help from other alternative practitioners but the thing to remember is that this is probably a natural process and one that may well continue. Don't get too hung up on what is going on. Also, Don't be surprised if some people don't understand. If you feel concern in anyone you start to talk to about your experiences it is really best to just not talk to them about it or just keep to the bare facts if you need to explain things. You could cause unnecessary concern and you could also pick up on that, particularly if things are happening as a result of your meditation.

If you do meditate make sure it is grounding. You could focus on the sensations of the weight of your body on your bum as you sit. You could imagine roots growing into the grownd from the bones in your bum. And just sit for ten or fifteen minutes at a stretch a couple of times a day at most. Build up slowly if you wish to. Above all, be gentle with yourself, be inquisitive and curious by all means but take it easy. Don't force it. If you can, find a good meditation instructor. (You may need to adjust your posture for example.) Finding a good meditation instructor might not be as easy as it seems. You will just have to test and see what you feel. Finding a meditation group is a really good thing if you can get support from them. (in Buddhism we take refuge in the Buddha, the reality that we can awaken and that the historical Buddha achieved this and faced these kind of obstacles, the Dharma, the path or teaching, and the Sangha, our friends following the same teaching and practices.)

If you meditate you must also do your best to live an ethical life. This is because ethical behaviour is a demostration of a compassionate attitude to yourself and to others. This compassionate attitude is your best protection if you come up with surges of energy released in meditation. You will be able to be flexible in the wind of flowing energy like a blade of grass in a storm. If you do not follow an ethical approach to living your sense of a self will be hardened. This will express itself as blocks in your channels and the pressure caused by these blocks when energy flows as a result of your meditation practice can cause problems as I mentioned before. Normally, people will only be able to release blocks when they are ready for them to be released but there is real danger if you try to hard, or use drugs, and you are not ready (If you have not developed good ethics and a compassionate attitude, patience and other qualities. Philosophical understanding is also useful to be able to let go of things that come up.).

Take care and take it slowly, meditation is part of a path that takes a lifetime, maybe even lifetimes. And don't forget, it is about being in your body, not somewhere else!

Norbu

Hi Leogirl,

There's a vomiting bug going around everywhere at the moment as well as flu'. Rest, relax and drink plenty of fluids. Try to get some Dioralyte if you can - it repaces lost water and body salts after vomiting or diarrohea. See your GP if it doesn't improve.

Listening to different meditation instructions from various well-meaning internet posters and trying to understand and follow them can often cause much unnecessary confusion. Meditation is best done with an offline meditation group and an experienced and authentic meditation teacher. (Always investigate carefully first)

In the meantime you might want to look at this:

Hope you feel better soon.

Elen

New string

Hi All,

I've started a new thread to discuss the ideas that Elen has raised in her post.

Norbu

Sometimes, Leogirl, we are not meant to meditate.

Obviously there are those who would disagree with me, but step away from the practice for a while. If you are not sick otherwise then I would suggest that meditation is not for you. If your distress comes from another source, try again later to meditate and see what happens then.

There are many avenues to the inner being and meditation is only one. Don't force it if it does not feel right.