dwai

No but I went through a phase when it used to happen constantly — not just in meditation but pretty much in the entire waking state. It was due to a mistaken identification with the mind. That happens when witnessing awareness develops, but there is no complete clarity yet. The way I understand it, the mind will gravitate towards certain types of thought patterns based on conditioning. If you spend a lot of time exposing the mind to certain stimuli it will continue to draw from that spring (or gutter), so to speak. Thoughts don’t really belong to us, they exist in what can be called the cosmic mind steam or maybe what a psychologist would call a collective subconscious. Once we clearly understand that the mind/thoughts are not our “Self”, then they will eventually stop to rise.

If it is a book you want to start practicing from, consider this book -- https://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Your-Life-Energy-Well-Being/dp/1590309960 It is a great book and the methods outlined are simple, and yet they are the platform for more advanced practices as done in Waysun Liao's tradition.

All the good martial artists (internal and external) seem to have a good sense of humor. If we can't laugh and enjoy what we're doing, if martial arts is a deadly, serious business, there is no joy in it. If there's no joy, then it is not art anymore

Beautifully articulated

If “sane” people read some of what goes around here as “normal”, we’d all be considered “crazy” 😁

. double-post

Well said. I think a certain sincerity of intent is required to be able to turn down whatever is being offered — everything but the ultimate knowledge https://upanishads.org.in/stories/a-dialogue-with-the-god-of-death

Stop trolling.

I agree. A pointing to and introspection/self-inquiry should be a preceding step (shravanam, mananam, nidhidhyasanam)

What do you think the additional instruction should be?

It was similar for me as well -- the "wet feeling" my mind translated as a "silk sheath through out the body". Then it becomes an expansion outside the body too...like walking around like "bubble boy" (multiple layers of bubbles) P.S. Another "symptom" was that when any physical pressure is applied on the body, there is a sensation of expansion within (like when you poke a balloon)

It is always a good idea to do some moving practice after standing (taijiquan moving forms, etc). Prolonged standing puts load on the kidneys -- charges it up. You want to move the qi around so kidneys are balanced. One friend damaged his kidneys from too much standing -- hours on end. Standing builds power, but moving clears channels (so power can be distributed better through out the body).

I find this to be the most powerful meditation, and yet, not many can do this -- most don't want to do this -- the mind always wants something to do.

Sounds like classic vata imbalance -- I know you're a TCM person, so there must be an equivalent in TCM as well. Take up taijiquan practice -- it is gentle, energizing, and will give you relief from the contemplative/introspective side of meditation until you are really comfortable with the forms. General Vata description -- https://www.keralaayurveda.us/courses/signs-and-solutions-for-fall-imbalance/ Vata psychological impact -- https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/ayurveda/ayurvedic-treatments/vata-imbalance-manage

Does that happen with the Self-inquiry practice too?

I’d say, make a proper place of practice at home. Be warm and comfortable when you sit. Where we meditate gets charged up spiritually and energetically. There are a lot more variables if you do it just about anywhere — people around, what they’re transmitting, even the location. For example, a place like Central Park in NY is not a good place for meditation — the energy vibrates in a different way there. the exercise is to do it without thinking

wrt. the place -- do you mean in your own home, or just anywhere? Don't do apananasati and try something else instead -- try a zen koan or something like that. If you like, try this one out -- Without thinking, try to find out who you are. It sounds silly, but is a very profound practice.

What time of the day did you do the meditation? What kind did you try? what you’re describing is a sign of the wind element (vata) imbalance in Ayurveda. Can you describe your practice space? Is it warm, cold, drafty, etc etc.

Indeed. The mystical traditions did that for Christianity, the Sufis for Islam. Judaism has a very rich and deep mystical tradition -- I find that mystical Judaism tends to stop at the level of Vishista-Advaita -- they claim full nonduality is impossible for human minds. I had quite a long discussion with a Rabbi from Israel whose order's job is mainly to investigate other traditions and find out details. I exclude the Dharma traditions from this list, because there is no dichotomy between the mystical and ritualistic therein, within their native cultures (though it may seem that way to outsiders). I've had some interesting experiences wrt Christians -- one case being a born-again evangelical, an acquaintance -- whose only path of worship seems to be to convert people. When I asked her whether she has a practice, she replied "converting people is my practice!". Can't find even a trace of anything remotely spiritual in her -- quite the opposite. Another was a couple (a friend from school and her husband) -- she is a doctor, he is a lawyer, in the bay area, and both are devout Catholics. I could practically see that they live in Christ. They do charitable work, help the poor, no interest in proselytizing. How wonderful. I think we'll find genuine spirituality lives on in those who follow what the sages have described -- "simple living, service, genuine devotion and love for all". Haven't you yourself experienced something similar with Master Liao? (Do recount the story if you feel up to it -- might be quite apropos for this discussion).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thomas_Christians

I was thinking of St. John of the cross, but francis of Assisi came to mind instead!

Apparently, Teresa was afraid of being persecuted, so she kept her book "Life" secret. The Catholic church only accepted her work 6 years after her death. Not all of them need have been persecuted, but enough were for there to be genuine fear of it. But as I wrote earlier, I've not particularly been interested in Christianity -- what I know is from contact with some scholarly friends. This I have heard, but it seems the Western branch is the more popular/dominant branch. Even in India, though there is supposed to have been St. Thomas/his followers from when he was alive, Catholicism is most popular (I studied in a catholic school as a kid ).

There have been mystical Christian traditions since it first began of course -- Jesus was the first mystic (though he wasn't a Christian). Historically though they have been branded as heretics and persecuted by the Church. Though I'm not interested in Christian history, the stories of St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis of Assissi are quite famous.