Ron's Stream-Entry Journal

Do you feel a little different?

Try seeing if you can access the jhanas or fruitions quicker? Call up a fruition of your current path!!! See if there is a difference to the previous fruitions!

Hmmmm....

I tried it and the results are mixed. Jhanas seem a bit easier and stronger, but I can't call up a fruition at will to see if it is different. However, when I just sat I noticed I was at A&P right away.

Sounds promising, Ron. Let's see how it shakes out. These things tend to get clearer and clearer as the days go by. Keep recording your experiences here in the clear way that you do and eventually it will be obvious one way or the other.

Most people see a noticeable change in baseline experience of self and world after 2nd Path along with changes in their practice, most notably an acceleration of the insight cycles; once you leave the review phase of 2nd Path, you start going through complete Progress of Insight cycles every few weeks or days. This is Bill Hamilton's "12th Path" phenomenon. If you could get a new Path with every insight cycle after 2nd just as you did with the first two, you'd be at "12th Path" and beyond in no time (and we know there are only 4 Paths). But after 2nd Path, it's different; it takes many insight cycles and a significant deepening of practice to get to 3rd Path.

I'm staying cautious about all this but something subtle has changed, but I just can't be sure whether it's wishful thinking or scripting at work here, so I'm holding back before I celebrate.

Today I sat three times, and each time I started out at A&P and quickly ran up to high equanimity (within 10 minutes). Each sit was about half and hour and the remainder of the sits were spent in equanimity. The first two times I had what I'm pretty sure were fruitions, followed by trembling and soothing calm.

Off the cushion I'm noticing that I'm feeling very happy and lovey-dovey. today at work I was so happy it was a bit over the top irreverent at times, which is unusual for me. The improvement in mood though doesn't seem to be matched with a large change in my perception of self or world. At least not that I can tune into or recognize at this time. Right now, everything just feels really good.

Hi Ron,

This is interesting stuff. I'm enjoying reading! I experienced that joyful irreverence after meditation few weeks ago and had to reign it in a bit, so I can relate to that . Perhaps you can help clarify for me - what is stream entry? I'm not entirely sure what it means.....

"Hi Ron,

This is interesting stuff. I'm enjoying reading! I experienced that joyful irreverence after meditation few weeks ago and had to reign it in a bit, so I can relate to that . Perhaps you can help clarify for me - what is stream entry? I'm not entirely sure what it means.....
"

kennethfolkdharma.wetpaint.com/page/The+...+Insight+(Part+Four)

Hi Serena,

Have a read of this link. Stream entry also known as 1st path is the first stage of awakening.

Nick

"I experienced that joyful irreverence after meditation few weeks ago and had to reign it in a bit, so I can relate to that . Perhaps you can help clarify for me - what is stream entry? I'm not entirely sure what it means.....
"

In the interest of full disclosure I should also point out that my wife is pregnant (8 months) and both of our hormones are going a little bonkers. I'm having a sympathetic pregnancy so bad it is like a big joke! So the good meditation combined with all the prolactin and oxcytocin might have something to do with the mood shift. I'm remaining skeptical that this is second path though, as is probably clear in my tone. There are some signs but there is also a lot of striving on my part - so there could be scripting too.

Nik's link is probably the most helpful in explaining stream entry. I should have placed a paragraph at the beginning of the thread giving a little background and a link to my previous journal. Like Nik wrote, it's an old-fashioned way of saying 1st path, so they're synonymous. Prior to this journal I came to the forum and started journal called "Ron's Practice Journal" ( kennethfolkdharma.wetpaint.com/thread/36...27s+Practice+Journal ) and it shows the process of working from what I now think of as the Arising and Passing Away nana all the way up to Stream Entry or first path. I started this new journal after SE just to get a fresh start.

Thanks for the links both, appreciate your help there

Sat for 30 minutes tonight. The sit began at A&P, with strong pulsing and rising energy, along with pressure at the third eye area. When dissolution started, I found myself daydreaming a bit, and then noted more pulsing and rising energy, then back up to dissolution. Strong pressure built up just above the third eye area and it "broke" into a sense of alarm, followed by a swift switch to rapid aches, pains and stings that quickly came and went. This settled down and I began experiencing a strong pulsing sensation at the crown, very rapid and this was followed by body tremble and then a feeling of cooling off and calm.

I continued to soak in the calm and subtle activity at the crown area. Then I felt what can only be described as a very strong current of energy move from my lower abdomen and out of my head. It was a bit too much to handle, and as I watched it, the current seemed to "widen" out and encompass my whole body. Watched this for some time and then a sudden blink-out occurred - this one was strange because it seemed to be located far above "me" but in the stream of the energy. Then a wave of bliss.

Awesome report, Ron. You truly are on the ride! It's kind of fun to reminisce about when that all started for me.

Just sat for 30 minutes and again the sit started at A&P, ran up to equanimity in pretty quick order and stayed there for around 20 minutes. I had what I think were two fruitions, however, they are a little tricky because there was no "blink-out." Instead, I had a sudden build up of pressure and anticipation followed by trembling and deep relaxing.

Still no detection of a change in baseline off the cushion though. However, I'm getting a little more interested in the experience of "me-ness" in real-time. I find myself watching how certain thoughts or sensations get the "me" label and others don't. It really is a strange process, and I'm getting better at seeing it in the moment just after it happens.

Alright - it has been about a week and I'm becoming more and more convinced that it was 2nd path. My meditation has been very different since then, with lots of fruitions and the process is strikingly like review phase A from first path.

I am also beginning to notice a subtle change off the cushion. It's kind of funny and not what I expected, but I'm getting very intolerant and frustrated with other people's ego-trips. Even little things like calling attention to oneself in a funny way or making one's interests obvious to others just grates on my nerves. It's like I suddenly became a grumpy old man (those damn kids! popping wheelies and playing their music too loud!). The good part is that because I take myself less seriously too, then I can just laugh at it.

What has shocked me is how quickly this whole thing happened compared to 1st path. In my last thread I was going through a new nana about once a month. This took less than two months!

So rather than start a new thread I'll just keep going with this one and record what happens on the run-up to third.

Glad to hear this, Ron. By this time next year....

Hey Ron, it sounds like you are doing wonderfully. Just curious, do you have access to the arupa jhanas yet? I noticed them shortly after I got 2nd path. They are a fun little ride and do wonders to show you what's not you.

"I had what I think were two fruitions, however, they are a little tricky because there was no "blink-out." Instead, I had a sudden build up of pressure and anticipation followed by trembling and deep relaxing. "

Ok, this got my interest! Uh, not that I was not interested in your progress before, but this description *really* gets my interest in light of my whatever thing.

"Hey Ron, it sounds like you are doing wonderfully. Just curious, do you have access to the arupa jhanas yet? I noticed them shortly after I got 2nd path. They are a fun little ride and do wonders to show you what's not you. "

Sorry to reply so late - the answer is a tentative yes. Tentative because accessing them feels a little "trickier" than rupa jhanas, less automatic. But I believe that I have access to the first two. I'm currently trying to use the 6th to cultivate the witness during the day.

The past two days my sits have been filled with thinking and fantasizing! A bit frustrating really, but I've tried to use it as an opportunity to really dig into the whole phenomenon of thinking itself, and noted all that comes up as quickly as possible. What I've noticed is that for every thought there is a little "rumble" of intention just before it. Even if it is an automatic thought. There is a whisper-quiet recognition that it is coming just before it does.

Other than that fun exercise, my sits have begun to move to review phase B, I believe. Now when I sit, I start out at Mind and Body, with rather solid sensations. It was during this that I started investigating thought. I slowly moved up the arc from there.

"Tentative because accessing them feels a little "trickier" than rupa jhanas, less automatic. But I believe that I have access to the first two. I'm currently trying to use the 6th to cultivate the witness during the day.

"

What's your subjective experience of the 6th jhana? Do you notice a quick transition from 5 to a new perspective, or is it more gradual?

It's my experience that when you can get to 5 and 6 a few times, it gets pretty natural to get into them after that. But YMMV, I'm sort of an arupa geek.

I find the transition from 5 to 6 very quick, almost like suddenly switching perspectives, like looking at one of those pictures and seeing two profiles and then you suddenly see a vase. That quick. Just a switch from the outwardness of 5th to the source of the outflowing in the 6th, if that makes any sense.

What I have a little trouble with is moving from 4th to 5th. However, Kenneth taught me a way of doing it that is working very well, which is to focus on the visual field.

Tonight I sat for 30 minutes and began with solid-feeling sensations, and continued daydreaming like the past two days. I noted the daydreaming as a process and tried not to get caught up in the content too much (but it is so sticky!). Within about 5 minutes I felt the familiar pulsing of A&P, and noticed that the kundalini-type blasts that had occurred at the start of the run-up to 2nd path have diminished. A&P now feels much smoother. Soon I felt cool sensations and a feeling of slowing down, what I perceive as dissolution, this was followed by a burst of alarm that was brief and made my body shake. Then with very little noting and really before I new it I was in what I perceived to be Equanimity. Feeling very calm but joyous, and a lot of vibratory sensations around the crown and third eye area. This lasted for about 15 minutes. At one point I suddenly began trembling and felt very chilled out. A fruition? Not sure, they are still tricky for me.

Apologies for the irregular posts. I think I'm a little fuzzy-headed from this most recent honeymoon period after 2nd path. Also, I'm preparing to defend my dissertation next week and that is really draining my time. No more excuses, here goes:

The past few sits I've noticed fewer fruitions occurring. In the sit this morning (25 minutes) I got up to equanimity very quickly (less than 10 minutes) but did not have a discernible fruition. Still going up the arc starting from the bottom and gradually working up to the top, and am thinking of trying a new resolution to move on to third path.

Also have been experimenting a lot more with 2nd gear. It has a clear physical feeling that seems to go along with it and it is localized at the back of my head.

Sat for 25 minutes tonight and I can sense a change occurring. The sat began with very solid sensations that were very stable. No vibrations or pulsing, just plain solid sensations. As I noted (rising, warmth, aching, falling, tickle, etc.) the sensations remained solid, even though I was not distracted. This lasted for some time, perhaps 12 minutes or so, then suddenly a strong surge of upward energy that made me shake. Eventually, I felt myself work upward through dissolution, the dark night, and into equanimity, but no fruition.

I am wondering if I've started the new cycle...

OK - things have definitely changed. This morning I sat for about 30 minutes and things were just plain solid for almost the entire time. Within the last 10 minutes or so there was a slight sensation of pulsing and a tremor in my lips that accompanied it.

This feels like the start of a new path. Interestingly though, the honeymoon phase after 2nd path was not as compelling or long-lasting as after 1st. It came and went on its own without me fretting about it much at all.

Interesting. The more I just get the hell out of the way, the more quickly the path unfolds.

Tonight I sat for 30 minutes and things continued to feel solid for the first 15 minutes or so. I just noted whatever came up (cool, tickle, memory thought, itch, soft, etc.) and soon I felt pulsing in my throat and pressure in the third eye area. After a few minutes of the pulsing, it diminished and I felt solid sensations again. Noted these and soon the pulsing returned. After a few moments of noting the pulsing and a sense of anticipation, a sudden jolt of energy ran up my body. Very pleasant. This lasted a few minutes and it was back to solidity and after a few more minutes back to pulsing. Toward the end of the sit I began to experience a slowing down and sinking feeling that felt like dissolution.

During the last sit I moved on up the arc all the way into equanimity.

I'm getting so used to these states and stages that I can tell where I am at right away and am even able to see the shift from one to the next.

Equanimity was very exciting this time, with lots of activity around the back of the head and occasional energy surges that were precursors to fruitions during the last two paths. I feel some excitement and anticipation now when I sit.

CONGRATS RON (on the phd)!

"During the last sit I moved on up the arc all the way into equanimity.

I'm getting so used to these states and stages that I can tell where I am at right away and am even able to see the shift from one to the next.

Equanimity was very exciting this time, with lots of activity around the back of the head and occasional energy surges that were precursors to fruitions during the last two paths. I feel some excitement and anticipation now when I sit.
"

Sounds good Ron. I remember that second path, at least for me, involved a bunch of excitement exploring new territory. It also seemed like a ton of emotional and energetic work got done around that time. The excitement is good, it builds momentum. Momentum is what gets it done!

So are you seeing sub-jhanas and sub-nanas yet? I got so obsessed with that for a while.