New

I'm not sure where you are on the maps -- but what you just described used to happen to me ALL THE TIME. from about 5/09 to about 3/10 when I was either just before 4th, at 4th, and then moving up to equanimity. It still happens occasionally in varying degrees.
As soon as I would get good concentration, especially when noting, the energy would surge up from my butt and cause my neck to jerk and twist and I'd either open my mouth or actually shout out nonesense words. Lots of rocking and vibrating. A couple of times the energy might would last for several hours or even a full day after the sit (not the jerking, just the energy).
I believe this is all very normal and the less attention given to worrying over it or trying to figure it out the better. Just notice what is going on with a nice gentle awareness. It will pass .

Wow, ok a little more relaxed, still weirded out though. What the hell was that??? Now I kinda feel like I did after my first ride on a real roller coaster, totally freaked out, exhausted, but really want to ride it again. my muscles even feel similarly relaxed after tension. It wasn't unpleasant, just Very unexpected. I wouldn't call it pleasant either though, just some weird ^&# that happened to me. After throwing up my initial reaction here, I don't know what else to say except, I wanna ride again!

Thanks for the feedback Telecaster. As far as I know I'm not on the map yet, still looking for it. I think I reached access concentration a few weeks ago.
Another sit. Similar to the previous one but much less intense. Still had rocking and tingling, but it seemed like I was controlling it a bit. I had the feeling that I could have increased the energy I experienced by manipulating my eyes/focus. I "pushed" a little harder and I got bright flashes and eyelid twitches. It seemed to take a fair bit of energy to maintain. Twice I stepped back and just sat with the breath for a minute or two then went back, I could feel the increase in energy almost immediately. It also creates a lot of muscular tension.

Access concentration? Screw that. I think you are waaaaaay beyond that my friend.

edit:
I don't think I read your post properly. You were reaching that a few weeks ago. Yeah, you seem to be getting phenomenon that are indicative of good practice and physioenergetic development. Keep it up!

Also keep in mind that as you progress beyond A&P (not saying this is what you are getting into, just something to be mindful of) which has all kinds of fireworks, you go into dissolution which is more chilled out but still stable and pleasant. After that you'll get more random thoughts coming on (you are entering unstable strata) and things get much less pleasant. If that starts to happen, don't think you are doing something wrong or that your are back peddling. You just happen to be in a deeper layer of the mind that isn't as nice or restful (or fireworky).

This is why it is important to just note what's happening without manipulating.

"Thanks for the feedback Telecaster. As far as I know I'm not on the map yet, still looking for it. I think I reached access concentration a few weeks ago.
Another sit. Similar to the previous one but much less intense. Still had rocking and tingling, but it seemed like I was controlling it a bit. I had the feeling that I could have increased the energy I experienced by manipulating my eyes/focus. I "pushed" a little harder and I got bright flashes and eyelid twitches. It seemed to take a fair bit of energy to maintain. Twice I stepped back and just sat with the breath for a minute or two then went back, I could feel the increase in energy almost immediately. It also creates a lot of muscular tension. "

Access concentration isn't on the vipassana maps.
see here:
Go to the "First Gear" section in the box on the upper left hand corner on the screen here and then read the "progress of insight" parts one through five. That is the map.

Thanks. Should I just keep up with what I've been doing or change up a bit. I've been spending a bit of each sit with some 2nd gear investigation, it feels so much like an itch I can't scratch it's driving me a little nuts. It feels like a word on the tip of my tongue I can't quite remember. Enough metaphors. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks again.

telecaster. Thanks, I've looked at the map and don't see myself fitting anywhere really. I've checked out other maps as well, I just don't see a description that makes me say, "hey, that's me" or one thats even close. As long as I'm making progress and know what my next step is I'm ok with not knowing where exactly I am. On the path is close enough.

"telecaster. Thanks, I've looked at the map and don't see myself fitting anywhere really. I've checked out other maps as well, I just don't see a description that makes me say, "hey, that's me" or one thats even close. As long as I'm making progress and know what my next step is I'm ok with not knowing where exactly I am. On the path is close enough."

talk to Kenneth. He'll locate you.

Hectic day, work and family ... 30 minute sit. Just sat with the breath and noticed any sensations. Concentration is improving, had several episodes of deep and profound quiet. Also, twice, felt like I was moving had the very real sensaton of moving through space, extremly vibrant and clear, but only lasted a second.I'm amazed how good I can feel by just focusing on the breath for even a few seconds, I was doing this at work all day. Eyes open, just get into the breath and a subtle but real pleasure fills my body and mind. I really appreciate having this kind of tool at my disposal. Being a little more busy today helped see and appreciate just how much this practice has positively impacted my everyday life. I'm happier, play better with others and am much more patient. What wonderful results already.

This a.m. I really didn't feel like sitting, the first time I've felt this way in months. 45 minutes of all over the place. I don't know what I 'should' be doing so I decided to just follow where ever I went. Started off very focused and calm noticing sensations. Realized how seemingly solid thoughts appear in my mind. Example: considered going to the store later, picture the route, the inside of the store, the weather. It was like a complete world created in my mind, then it was gone. I felt like I was really in that solid world, then as soon as I realized I was thinking about this it just collapsed and vanished. A world that seemed concrete for a moment just ended. My thoughts are like dreams, yet I put so much importance and energy into them. Crazy.
I found myself moving back to the visual field, noticing what was happening their for a short time. Then back to the breath, I started to feel drowsy so I tried manipulating my eyes/focus. Almost instantly energy arose in my body. Very strong hot flashes, then my temperature seemed to stay high. Fine tingling over my upper body. Then I felt pressure on the left side of my chest between my heart and sternum, but slightly higher. This spot was about the size of my hand and very warm a similar spot arose in a corresponding location on my back, but less pressure and heat. This lasted for 3-5 minutes maybe then subsided on it's own. I still felt very energized though.

45 min this evening. Very pleasant sit. Completely stayed with the breath, no wandering off, very focused. Settled quickly. I say settled, but it actually feels more like rising. Up into my head, I experienced a great openness and light in the top half of my head for about 5-10 minutes, the breath almost stopped. In/exhalations becoming more difficult to perceive and differentiate. Also felt hyper-sensitive, my skin feels very sensitve and my mind picks out things I hear I wouldn't normally notice among the background noise. I also feel very clear in my mind, like a fog is lifted. These feelings are unstable, but I'm able to maintain them for longer periods as I sit more. I can also experience this hype-sensitivity outside meditation, but only for a couple seconds at a time.

Nice! Keep on keepin' on. Expect nothing.

"Three possibilities: Could get better, could get worse, could stay the same." (Bill Hamilton used to say that to me.)

Don't be disappointed if it doesn't keep getting more and more pleasant in a linear way. You will have pleasant sittings and unpleasant sittings. It's all good. You are making progress, so put your head down and forge ahead.

Kenneth

Thanks Kenneth, really appreciate the encouragement. You mentioned earlier that I'm approaching first jhana, I assume this is samatha jhana, which corresponds to 1st nana? Still rtying to get this all straight.
This a.m. while watching TV and focusing on sensations I noticed how thoughts affect my body. Each thought is accompanied by a contraction in the body.
45 minute sit. Very still again, pleasant. Focused on the breath and watched sensations. I also really paid attention to the physical affect of thoughts. The contraction is physical and energy based, it's like muscle and energy surround and squeeze the thought(best description I can come up with). Which subtly throws me off balance and wastes energy, exhausting me unnecessarily. I can see how this would use a Huge amount of my energy in a day. By following this and playing with it I noticed that I can greatly decrease the physical/energetic contraction around my sensations by not becoming invested in them. If I focus on opening or letting go as soon as a sensation is noticed the constriction releases. It feels like untying a physical/energetic knot. I still felt some constriction, but much less. This also lets the thoughts come up and disappear much more cleanly. I also noticed a definite pressure in my chest, dead centre about 2-3 inches below the lowest point of my shoulder blades. It felt like a ball and was slightly below the surface(maybe 1/2- 1 inch). It grew in "strength" for about 3-5 minutes, then faded over the same length of time. I experienced more eye tension as well. This time my eyes were pointed up, not quite rolled back, but up enough to create noticeable tension. This seemed to correspond to a bright flash in the visual field.

Frustrating day...aaahhhhhhh.Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, in a big way. Just very irritable, every little thing pissing me off, which is Very unusual for me.
Strangely I was able to be aware/present for a lot of the time at work today, it was very enjoyable. I would drift out of awareness after a short time(30 seconds maybe) but would notice it quickly and refocus. By aware/present I mean that I feel very "in my body". Usually I'm just half in a daze going about my day(I was never aware of this until a couple of weeks ago) but when I'm present I'm more aware of sensations, and a greater number of sensations. It feels similar to my seated meditation where I feel settled down into myself. Hopefully this makes some sense. I was also able to keep this up for my whole shift, usually as I get tired I lose it.
I came home and decided to sit, polar opposite to my work day. My mind wouldn't settle, thoughts constantly coming up and I couldn't leave them alone. I've gotten pretty good at just standing back and watching sensations and not getting invested in them in any way, not today. Every little thing seemed to take up all my concentration. My mind never really settled, I sat until my timer went off, so thats good(45 minutes) but I was as focused as I would normally be after about 5 minutes. Good news is tomorrow almost has to be better, and if not I'll try walking.

Feeling miserable again today, argumentative. 45 minutes this a.m. was similar to yesterday. Again, never settled. I had a couple of instances where I felt like I crossed a line, which I think I've crossed before, into silence and space, but some part of me brought me right back. I felt tension in my eyes at these times. I also noticed tension and heat in the front of my upper torso, about an inch deep. This lasted about 10 minutes, then slowly faded. I also felt a spot, about the size of a quarter, on the top of my head. It was light pressure and slightly behind and left of dead centre. Both of these were neutral. Also experienced more discomfort then usual, tension/pain in my left hip, right shoulder, neck, and lower back. I gently stretched and readjusted twice and stayed seated. I also experienced a voice telling me it was ok to get up before my timer went off(I didn't). It was from me but I don't think I've heard that voice before, Weird! I'm more determined then ever to stick with this, and will not stop.
I've got a whole intellectual theory about what's going on but I'm just going to stick to sensations, at least for now, and continue to practice.

One extreme to the other. Couldn't settle this morning, this afternoon...I can't stay awake. Started off distracted, decided to count breaths for a while. This settled me down and things felt like they were going well, then I started getting very drowsy and dosing off. Felt definite pressure in the forehead/third eye, about 5 minutes then faded. I'm going to try to stay aware and do some work around the house. I had good results with this at work yesterday.

My 3rd 45 was ... better. Still feeling strangely miserable, maybe I'm getting a cold or something.
I expanded my focus which seemed to help. I was using a very narrow focus on my breath, instead I widened it to include all my sensations. This seemed to keep me alert and also more settled. I felt a very fine and subtle tingling over all my skin, this was similar to an experience I had several days ago. My conscious mind couldn't keep up with the sensations I was experiencing. Felt neck, back and knee pain. Readjusted and continued. I focused on the knee pain and noticed that it isn't constant but increases and decreases in severity, it completely stopped a couple times, and the pain was totally gone. Early night and hope for better focus tomorrow.

" Strangely I was able to be aware/present for a lot of the time at work today, it was very enjoyable. I would drift out of awareness after a short time(30 seconds maybe) but would notice it quickly and refocus. By aware/present I mean that I feel very "in my body". Usually I'm just half in a daze going about my day(I was never aware of this until a couple of weeks ago) but when I'm present I'm more aware of sensations, and a greater number of sensations. It feels similar to my seated meditation where I feel settled down into myself. Hopefully this makes some sense. I was also able to keep this up for my whole shift, usually as I get tired I lose it. "
The above is something I wrote Friday. I've been doing some reading on second gear and am just wondering if my experience above is experiencing the "witness" or close. Or... am I way off here. Is it to early for me to be doing second gear? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I wouldn't do second gear yet, Rev. I would just note until something cracks open. See my post # 21 to Bruno just now:

kennethfolkdharma.wetpaint.com/thread/42...efore+January+1+2011

Thank you very much for the suggestion Kenneth. #21 spells it out pretty clearly, just like the rest of this sight. Apparently, I'm pretty thick(LOL)!!
40 minutes noting this a.m. In, out, in ,out, itch, tension, itch, in, out, hearing, pressure, in, itch, remembering, in ,out, itch, hearing, visualizing, tension, pressure, itch, out, imagining, readjusting, relaxing, smelling, hearing, in, itch, pressure, hearing, curiosity, imagining, visualizing, anxiety, nervousness, tension, in, out, itch, pressure, remembering, visualizing, imagining, excitement, disappointment, sadness, anxiety, itch, tension, readjust, itch, in ,out, in, releasing, remembering, tension, frustration, anger, sadness. Etc.
I seemed to go through my senses in the same order, like it was a routine. I did this silently, tried whispering, but it made my regular breathing impossible. I'm going to try doing this throughout the day.

40 minutes of noting. I'm finding this very tiring(mentally), especially compared to my samatha practice. I've been trying to note out loud all day, it's quite a task. I imagine it gets easier as it becomes habit. This time I added pleasant, neutral, unpleasant (+, 0, -).
In +, out +, smiling +, tension -, pinching -, hearing 0, visualizing +, remembering +, frustration -, in 0, out 0, curious +, uncertain -, doubt -, hearing 0, in 0, out 0, planning +, imagining +, re-adjusting+, stretching +, self-doubt -, anxiety-, pressure -, tension -, hearing 0, in +, out +.........
I'm finding that quite often I'm noting after the fact, especially when I'm going about my normal day. Reaching for my coffee I'm saying 'reaching' and my hand is already 'grasping', so I'm playing catch up, I'll work on this so they sync up a little better. Or, am I dividing things up too much? I'm also trying to slow done and be more deliberate about my actions, for now.
I can see how this, if done well, could blow up your whole world though(in a good way).

Rev,

Just keep an eye on when you are noticing intention and things like that. It will change in relation to the nanas.

Check out the link to chapter 5 of mahasi sayadaw's book that Keith linked to in the Three Characteristics thread. He describes what you are wondering about in that document.

Thanks mumuwu, I downloaded Chpt. 5. Just need the time to read it now.

"I'm finding that quite often I'm noting after the fact, especially when I'm going about my normal day. Reaching for my coffee I'm saying 'reaching' and my hand is already 'grasping', so I'm playing catch up, I'll work on this so they sync up a little better. Or, am I dividing things up too much? I'm also trying to slow done and be more deliberate about my actions, for now.
I can see how this, if done well, could blow up your whole world though(in a good way)."

I think that kind of constant noting is meant for the most part for a retreat setting. I've heard stories about these retreats in Burma where everyone seems to be doing everything in slow motion -- eating, walking, standing, sitting, etc.
The retreat is designed for every one to be doing that all of the time in order to get huge continuity and momentum, go through the nanas quickly, and get path and fruition.
To do this in daily life to that extent is rarely practical. I and many others here have figured out ways to still get that kind of momentum away from retreat and still get path and fruition, which I can write more about if you want.