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Body Reaction in Meditation -
mockeymind
Veteran
in Meditation
Hi everyone, I would like to ask a weird question. I regularly meditate twice a day - starting my day and before retiring. There is one sitting where my body becomes so relaxed, and whatever that is buried inside was released. It was like a cork being pulled out of the system - there is such a tremendous release. Then coming from nowhere, I found myself sobbing. All the tensions are gone and I could say for the first time - the body and mind was synchronized. Is this normal? I am so careful about emotions which I know works with mind reactivity. Anybody experience same or similar sitting? Thanks.
0
Comments
Yes. Very often.
It is quite common for dervishes to weep all night. Men on the whole are taught it is not healthy. In fact it is normal, cathartic and can be non specific. In other words, crying without reason or object.
It is as you suggest to do with emotional 'release'.
Tears of joy. Tears of pride. Tears of laughter. Tears of release ...
I have a weeping Buddha on my shrine.
http://www.drallum.co.uk/ekmps/shops/drallum/images/large-vintage-hand-carved-wooden-weeping-buddha-yogi-figure-sculpture-19cm-1056-p.jpg
@mockeymind
Existence is far wider than our conditioned mind can allow for.
All that you can imagine will not match what will eventually arise in a meditation practice..... so....... normal gets a pretty wide definition here.
The content is of little consequence compared to how we relate to it, which is usually described as just our continuing to not grasp onto, push away or ignore what ever phenomena drops by for a visit in meditation.
@how @lobster -I remembered a drama talk on how to body becomes a "repository of experiences" in some way accumulates what it received through our experiences. When we felt distress for example, the breathing changes, heart maybe beat faster, muscle becomes tensed. And when in deep states of mind is reached, it will somehow pull the cork and flush.
I remembered a story, when the Buddha was already gone. One of his follower came to Ananda and asked - Now that the Buddha is dead who's gonna be our teacher now. Ananda replied - Now that the Master is dead our teacher is mindfulness of the body. I will try to read more focusing on mindfulness of the body.
I cured once, for no apparent reason. It just felt like a great build up of emotions and three tears came. I would of asked the same question.
Ajaan Chah (Thai Forest Tradition) says if this hadn't happened we are not meditating properly.
For me, in terms of Buddhist practice it happens most often 'for no reason' when doing mantra. I believe this is because of the strong physical unlocking/cleansing potential effect of chanting. It is why vajrayana is sometimes known as mantrayana.
The important thing is not to seek it or be repulsed or scared. If we feel extreme boddhicitta or great faith in the three jewels or anger at ignorance or [insert arising] we do not require confirmation of 'normality'.
We are on a path. We sit. We walk. We breathe dharma.
That is quite a commitment to our potential. People often say, 'nothing is happening' in my practice. Perfectly fine and equally valid. @how described the situation very well IMO ...
... and now back to the 'norm' ...