Can I get a consult on what strata this may be?

Hey everybody,

I am trying to pinpoint exactly which strata this experience I frequently have may be. I want to know if it is nana, jhana, both, or neither.

I have been looking through the Jhana descriptions in MCTB and this site and nothing really perfectly describes what I am experiencing. I am sure we don't all experience this stuff exactly the same but I was hoping someone here has this sensation too.

The reason I want to figure this out is so that I can relax and move on. Every time it happens I get excited about it and when it ends I usually stop meditation and try to figure it out. Lol

The first time I experienced this was last Dec. on day 3 of my first Vipassana 10 day retreat. It happened 3 more times on that retreat and about 3 more times since then when I sit for about 40min. or more (It actually just now happened and now I am writing this)

I am not sure what causes it other than just sitting for a long time. The first time it happened I was practicing samatha but still having a bunch of wondering thoughts. Other times I have been focusing on the breath or noting the breath.

A little flicker of full-body tingling will start to happen. 2-3 of these usually try to sneak up on me before it happens full force. I usually get excited and say, 'What was that!' This probably scares it way.

When it does happen I shift fully in this completely different state. My body feels like it is blowing up like a balloon and I have the distinct feeling of being stretched 100ft from the ground. I can still feel my body just fine and my mind is a bit more concentrated, but I usually start thinking about this phenomenon and have trouble meditating.

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cont...

Usually the pain in my legs and back lessen and I have a pretty good tingly sensation throughout. My body and mind feels very spacious without feeling deformed. It just seems like the parameters of my body spread way out. So far it seems to last only about 10-15 min and I return to a pretty normal state of meditation-with maybe just a little bit less body pain.

I know this sounds a lot like the 1st Jhana and/or Mind & Body but I just don't feel like my mind has become any more sharp or concentrated or understanding of anything. In fact, I usually become more distracted with my thoughts and curious about this state.

Anyways, I need to conclude something about it so I know what to do next when it happens and not be so giddy about it

Thanks for the help!

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"I know this sounds a lot like the 1st Jhana and/or Mind & Body but I just don't feel like my mind has become any more sharp or concentrated or understanding of anything. In fact, I usually become more distracted with my thoughts and curious about this state."

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for sharing this. It's difficult to know exactly what you're experiencing without knowing what comes before, and especially after, the experience during a sitting period.

In my experience, and based on some things I have read, self-expansion is usually related to the concentration/samatha side of the mindfulness spectrum. It may occur in certain insight stages, but it more common when first getting access concentration and/or first jhana.

Keep practicing and let us know if you transition out of this state/stage during practice, and then tell us what the next experience is like.

Jackson

It sounds like a concentration absorption to me. Probably 1st jhana. This is only a rough guess based on the limited information available. It's okay that you get a little agitated and want to figure out the state. That doesn't mean it wasn't jhana.

Unfortunately the written descriptions of the nanas and jhanas leave a lot of little things out, so the best way to figure out where you are is to confirm it a teacher or others further along on the path. So it is good you are doing this.

I've had similar experiences and have some guesses, but like Jackson, would like to hear a little more over time. Keep posting and we'll take a look.