Near sleep & 1st Jhana
- orasis
- Topic Author
14 years 8 months ago #77889
by orasis
Near sleep & 1st Jhana was created by orasis
Hi guys, my Jhana exploration is very new, so forgive my naiveness. Lately something triggers my mind to look for 1st Jhana when I am at the doorstep of sleep. I have this rather odd experience where within the fuzzy fast moving visual specks of 1st Jhana I'll see repeated dream images within the specks and splotches. My mind has a fairly impossible time parsing out what is "real" and what is pure illusion so it leads me to the question: Are the visual specks even real or are they just total mind fabrication as well?
I'm also stumbling onto some other state briefly from there that feels like a "collapsing deep" but doesn't quite feel like the sinking bliss of 3rd Jhana. Maybe this is just what 2nd Jhana feels like when nearly unconscious??
I'm also stumbling onto some other state briefly from there that feels like a "collapsing deep" but doesn't quite feel like the sinking bliss of 3rd Jhana. Maybe this is just what 2nd Jhana feels like when nearly unconscious??
- stephencoe100
- Topic Author
14 years 8 months ago #77890
by stephencoe100
Replied by stephencoe100 on topic RE: Near sleep & 1st Jhana
Hi orasis, i also experience these visual specs but have an experience of zooming close up to them. They can then blur and start moving about.
I have read on this site that you shouldn't take these visual images too seriously, as they can distract you from the real progress of awakening.
So i just use them to map which jhana i'm in.
Hope this helps Steve.
I have read on this site that you shouldn't take these visual images too seriously, as they can distract you from the real progress of awakening.
So i just use them to map which jhana i'm in.
Hope this helps Steve.
- TommyMcNally
- Topic Author
14 years 8 months ago #77891
by TommyMcNally
Replied by TommyMcNally on topic RE: Near sleep & 1st Jhana
"I have this rather odd experience where within the fuzzy fast moving visual specks of 1st Jhana I'll see repeated dream images within the specks and splotches. My mind has a fairly impossible time parsing out what is "real" and what is pure illusion so it leads me to the question: Are the visual specks even real or are they just total mind fabrication as well?
"
These hypnagogic images are something I associate with moving from access concentration into early 1st jhana.
"Real or mind fabrication"? What's real in the first place?! More to the point, what is mind?!? Ha!
Don't worry about whether something is "real" or not, if you're doing jhana practice then just stay with your object and don't try to dissect it. Sometimes some strange visual and auditory stuff can happen while doing pure samatha practice but don't get caught up in it, as long as you're staying with your object you'll move through the jhanas naturally.
"
These hypnagogic images are something I associate with moving from access concentration into early 1st jhana.
"Real or mind fabrication"? What's real in the first place?! More to the point, what is mind?!? Ha!
Don't worry about whether something is "real" or not, if you're doing jhana practice then just stay with your object and don't try to dissect it. Sometimes some strange visual and auditory stuff can happen while doing pure samatha practice but don't get caught up in it, as long as you're staying with your object you'll move through the jhanas naturally.