"The One Big Fear"
- AbdouAbed
- Topic Author
16 years 4 minutes ago #54789
by AbdouAbed
"The One Big Fear" was created by AbdouAbed
"Also agree about "The One Big Fear". When it became clear that "me" doesn't exist, "The One Big Fear" dissolved.
Michael"
Hi all,
I didin't want to hijack the thread where Chris and Miachael talk about the "One Big Fear" so I started this new thread hoping this important subject gets enough attention and contribution from all.
"The One Big Fear" IS my experience right now!
What happens to me is that some energy build up as I see myself litterally dissolve. That "build up" sort of explodes and that shakes my whole body and leave me drained out! It's a REALLY hard experience. I have it many times a day and even during the night it wakes me up.
It's clear to me there is no magical solution to this, but if you could (all of you) elaborate on how you overcame this common hard experience it will be greatly appreciated here.
Salam (Peace)
Abdou
Michael"
Hi all,
I didin't want to hijack the thread where Chris and Miachael talk about the "One Big Fear" so I started this new thread hoping this important subject gets enough attention and contribution from all.
"The One Big Fear" IS my experience right now!
What happens to me is that some energy build up as I see myself litterally dissolve. That "build up" sort of explodes and that shakes my whole body and leave me drained out! It's a REALLY hard experience. I have it many times a day and even during the night it wakes me up.
It's clear to me there is no magical solution to this, but if you could (all of you) elaborate on how you overcame this common hard experience it will be greatly appreciated here.
Salam (Peace)
Abdou
- garyrh
- Topic Author
15 years 11 months ago #54790
by garyrh
Replied by garyrh on topic RE: "The One Big Fear"
Hi Abdou,
The build up you experience is expansion and the fear is contraction. Watch the expansion and contraction, what moves within the sensation of expansion and contraction? Can you identify when the contraction starts?
After the event while emotions are strong consider the appearence of the self that was being dissolved, isolate the emotions? Five minutes later, can you find this self in the same manner now?
The build up you experience is expansion and the fear is contraction. Watch the expansion and contraction, what moves within the sensation of expansion and contraction? Can you identify when the contraction starts?
After the event while emotions are strong consider the appearence of the self that was being dissolved, isolate the emotions? Five minutes later, can you find this self in the same manner now?
- kennethfolk
- Topic Author
15 years 11 months ago #54791
by kennethfolk
Replied by kennethfolk on topic RE: "The One Big Fear"
Hi Abdou,
Rather than thinking of this recurring experience as something to overcome, you might try thinking of it as something wonderful to explore. These things tend to come and go in cycles, so there may come a time when you actually miss having this interesting phenomenon. Within a few days or weeks, you may find yourself wishing for something interesting and compelling to happen just to let you know that your practice is working. Meanwhile, enjoy it while it lasts. You can investigate it along the lines suggested by Gary above. Or you can investigate it in any number of ways. What, precisely, are the physical sensations that accompany the build-up of energy? Is there pressure, tightness, tingling, burning, stinging, numbness, expansion, contraction, hardness, softness, coolness, warmth, etc? What is it about this set of sensations that alerts you that this particular phenomenon is occurring, and not some other? There must be some pattern here. Also, what experiences typically precede and follow the experience in question? Does it always happen in an invariable sequence? Does it happen every time you sit? And what is mental state before, during, and after? Do you secretly crave the experience as real proof that something is happening in your practice? Do you get bored in sittings where it doesn't arise? Or do you experience revulsion or aversion in relation to this experience? There is no right answer. Whatever happens happens. All you have to do is pay attention *as it is happening.* If you do, you will naturally move into the next phase of your practice and you'll be on to the next challenge.
Happy holidays,
Kenneth
Rather than thinking of this recurring experience as something to overcome, you might try thinking of it as something wonderful to explore. These things tend to come and go in cycles, so there may come a time when you actually miss having this interesting phenomenon. Within a few days or weeks, you may find yourself wishing for something interesting and compelling to happen just to let you know that your practice is working. Meanwhile, enjoy it while it lasts. You can investigate it along the lines suggested by Gary above. Or you can investigate it in any number of ways. What, precisely, are the physical sensations that accompany the build-up of energy? Is there pressure, tightness, tingling, burning, stinging, numbness, expansion, contraction, hardness, softness, coolness, warmth, etc? What is it about this set of sensations that alerts you that this particular phenomenon is occurring, and not some other? There must be some pattern here. Also, what experiences typically precede and follow the experience in question? Does it always happen in an invariable sequence? Does it happen every time you sit? And what is mental state before, during, and after? Do you secretly crave the experience as real proof that something is happening in your practice? Do you get bored in sittings where it doesn't arise? Or do you experience revulsion or aversion in relation to this experience? There is no right answer. Whatever happens happens. All you have to do is pay attention *as it is happening.* If you do, you will naturally move into the next phase of your practice and you'll be on to the next challenge.
Happy holidays,
Kenneth