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Spiritual vulnerability during meditation
I want to ask if it's possible to come under some kind of spiritual/energetic attack while meditating. Obviously, if you're not sure you believe in that kind of thing, this doesn't apply to you.
When I meditate, it seems almost inevitable (and I'm not sure if this is wrong concentration or if this is "supposed" to happen) I enter kind of a "mind-river state," like hypnagogia, and then my thoughts just floooooow. I go back to my breath whenever I catch myself doing it, but it takes a lot of effort. The last time I meditated, I felt something warm on my leg and then caught myself inviting *something* in to the room. I suddenly stopped meditating because I was afraid of where that would lead. Maybe I'm being superstitious... anyway. The warmth on my leg is just one of those things that can be explained away, but that's just how my mind responded to it.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
When I meditate, it seems almost inevitable (and I'm not sure if this is wrong concentration or if this is "supposed" to happen) I enter kind of a "mind-river state," like hypnagogia, and then my thoughts just floooooow. I go back to my breath whenever I catch myself doing it, but it takes a lot of effort. The last time I meditated, I felt something warm on my leg and then caught myself inviting *something* in to the room. I suddenly stopped meditating because I was afraid of where that would lead. Maybe I'm being superstitious... anyway. The warmth on my leg is just one of those things that can be explained away, but that's just how my mind responded to it.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
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Comments
It is true that the mind becomes more sensitive when we meditate.
Do you keep the five precepts? Sila (ethical conduct) is one of the best defenses against spiritual/energetic attacks.
Metta,
Guy
just allow it.
when you're caught up with thoughts, notice how in one instant the mind awakens from thought.
then watch how your mind judges yourself for not being a good meditator.
but put your focus on how just he mind works all by itself. isn't it a gift?
fear and such will arise naturally as you progress. keep sitting with it and you'll get over it.
So in all likelihood, it's your imagination. As Taiyaki says, just keep sitting. Let these experiences wash over you and keep your focus. It will soon pass. If it's any consolation, it used to happen to me a lot, but I've gradually realised my imagination is very over active and needed to settle down, just like the rest of my mind.
When, to use Buddhist terminology, the ego is a habit of long-standing, we are fortunate to come to understand that ego really creates a lot of problems ... and from there, to set out to find a more peaceful and sensible way to live. But the ego has had a lot of practice over the years and so, when a clearer way of seeing presents itself, the ego gets scared or pissed or both.
The only thing to do is to move forward, gently, but firmly. Don't push the river. Just keep on keepin' on ... gently, but firmly. Never mind all the chitchat about 'emptiness' or 'Nirvana' or 'samadhi' or any of the other brass rings. Just go forward with courage and patience and doubt ... gently, but firmly.
Things are all right, and, a little at a time, we get used to things being all right.
If our conduct is ethical, then our mind doesn't have to worry about whether or not we are a "good person". If we are concerned about whether or not we are a "good person" then we will be easily swayed by the attacks of others - whether they are perpetrated by human or non-human and whether they are physical, verbal or psychological/psychic.
So, this is why I say that one of the best defenses against psychic attacks (or physical and verbal attacks, for that matter) is having a strong grounding in ethical conduct.
Of course, it is possible that, despite your ethical conduct, you might still be attacked. Perhaps there might be other things you need to do.
You could try this, for example: http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/bp_sut24.htm
And, of course, it is entirely possible that these attacks are the work of your imagination. I would not claim that I know for sure that this is what it is, I don't know for sure, so I cannot claim that. I wouldn't discount it as a possibility, just as I wouldn't discount an actual psychic attack as a possibility.
Also, some general advice, regardless of whether there is some real psychic phenomena or whether it is just imaginary: Trust in your own goodness and trust in the Buddha/Dhamma/Sangha.
Metta,
Guy
There is a story that he looked at a crack in a cave wondering if a demon would come out. So intently that one did!
The only thing that worked was to treat the demon as if it were his teacher. This allowed him to have a peaceful mind and compassion.
So I have heard.
But to the answer the OT, I would think that most of the time we feel under attack from spiritual forces when we meditate because we are battling a lot of our inner demons. We don't really know what to make of hem, so our minds sometimes create images of demons and devils and things like that to make things easier to understand.
So a lot of times it's us we're fighting against, but it seems as if we're fighting something outside of us. It's mainly an ego-defense mechanism.
Thanks, genk
take a look, let it go, return to the breath.
My boyfriend is really struggling with seeing himself as a bad person based on past actions or possibly thoughts he has that he does not act on. That is where I suggest the compassion for self, as much as compasson for others. The longer you continue in ethical actions the less the thoughts will bother you because you know they are just thoughts.
As far as being affected from the outside. That is tricky for me. It seems that since we are all connected that negative thoughts from others could really affect us. However when I look back to a time when I had a LOT of negative stuff coming my way on purpose from a person who was very angry I do not recall feeling attacked. Hmm, I felt strong and I also reflected often on my actions to make sure I felt they were ethical even though the other person would be angry regardless. It has been other times that I have had the strange 'is someone coming after me' feeling which reinforces that it is more partof me than part of the outside. What is embarrassing is how often I can see those thoughts when I was in the middle of some really great Stephen King or Patterson book, they get me anxious and it is all my big imagination.
I hope that helps, take what works and leave the rest
My relief is that I strongly carry a belief that, at its basest level, everything is going to be alright. If I become too scared at these arisings, I remind myself gently, "You are going to be alright. These thoughts or visions will not harm. In. Out. In. Out." returning to my breath. As many times as possible! During those sessions, I sometimes felt I'd explode if I didn't get out soon, but afterwards, understanding arises that lets me know that going through that was important at the time. Those sessions improved my concentration abilities and my ability to keep faith in times of stress.