In the Dīgha Nikāya 15 (DN 15), the Mahānidāna Sutta, the Buddha outlines a a complex stratification of "seven stations of consciousness" and "two dimensions" > “Ānanda, there are these seven stations of consciousness and two > dimensions. Which seven? > > “There are **beings with multiplicity of body and multiplicity of > perception,4 such as human beings, some devas, and some beings in the > lower realms. This is the first station of consciousness.** > > “There are **beings with multiplicity of body and singularity of > perception, such as the Devas of Brahmā’s Retinue generated by the > first (jhāna) and (some) beings in the four realms of deprivation.5 > This is the second station of consciousness.** > > “There are **beings with singularity of body and multiplicity of > perception, such as the Radiant Devas. This is the third station of > consciousness.** > > “There are **beings with singularity of body and singularity of > perception, such as the Beautiful Black Devas. This is the fourth > station of consciousness.** > > “There are **beings who, with the complete transcending of perceptions > of (physical) form, with the disappearance of perceptions of > resistance, and not heeding perceptions of multiplicity, (perceiving,) > ‘Infinite space,’ arrive at the dimension of the infinitude of space. > This is the fifth station of consciousness.** > > “There are **beings who, with the complete transcending of the dimension > of the infinitude of space, (perceiving,) ‘Infinite consciousness,’ > arrive at the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness.** **This is > the sixth station of consciousness.** > > “There are beings who, **with the complete transcending of the dimension > of the infinitude of consciousness, (perceiving,) ‘There is nothing,’ > arrive at the dimension of nothingness. This is the seventh station of > consciousness.** > > **“The dimension of non-percipient beings and, second, the dimension of > neither perception nor non-perception. [These are the two dimensions.]** ~ DN 15 Is the Buddha here describing subjective, internal states of consciousness that can be directly known in meditation, or externally existing cosmological realms that other beings inhabit? This ambiguity is especially pronounced in the case of the “dimension of infinite consciousness.” Is this to be understood as a temporary mental perception - an internal expansion of awareness beyond form - or does it point to a more ontological reality in which consciousness itself is experienced as boundless? If so, what does this imply about the nature of consciousness: is it something objectively infinite by nature, or is any perception of “infinite consciousness” merely a constructed meditative perception, still within the conditioned world, and thus ultimately impermanent?

In a number of the books I'm reading on Buddhism, and in a number of talks I've heard on the subject, I repeatedly encounter the idea that the Buddha "saw the Dhamma" or that he "witnessed Dhamma" or the like. Other times, I've heard/read that the Buddha "saw" beings dying and taking rebirth, or that he "saw" the reality of anicca, dukkha, anatta, and the Four Noble Truths, etc. I'm having difficulty understanding what this all means. Is this metaphorical sight? Is it literal sight, in the sense of a vision or dream? In terms of our own meditation practices, when we are told that we should "see" certain things, e.g. seeing a nimitta, should we expect something similar? Metaphorical "sight"? Literal sight? Something else entirely? Thanks!

Pretty much as the title suggests: does it harm to meditate before sleeping? For me if I meditate seriously my mind is swept over with awakeness. as a consequence when I go to sleep I remain awake for sometime and keep thinking useless thoughts. so it kind of hinders my sleep. Is there a good practice or should meditation before sleep be avoided?

I don't understand the formless jhanas. Does this meditator completely lose consciousness of form, or are they meditating on something formless and, apart from that, as before? I've read the abhidharmakosa bhashyam, of Vasubhadhu, and he says that a mediator of this sort will be later reborn into a realm without form, so that suggests that there are sentient beings without any of the sense consciousnesses. But I just find the idea impossible, to be honest. Interesting, one of those books says that some Buddhists claim that there is a residue of visual consciousnesses there. Can anyone describe to me what the formless jhana is like? I'm especially intrigued as to whether there is any sense of ***shade*** to it: if it seems darker or lighter than any given colour I've experienced.

Why people recommend to sit in meditation for 1 hour not 55 mins 59 mins or 61 mins .Is it something special for 60 mins ? Can I use binaural beats in headphone while meditating ?

from my experience aum-mantra meditation and physical yoga have altered my mental/spiritual state quicker and it's been sustained for longer in between practice sessions than just focusing on my breathing. The former have brought me much stronger states too.

Is it possible for a person to have sleeping disorders or problems with large durations of meditation? I know a few very big siddhas that have astonishing powers and they meditate up to 8 hours a day after office hours and sleep for 4 hours only. When I tried a long duration of meditation, I found a lack of sleepiness, and my sleep schedule was a bit altered. Is there any possibility of a large duration of deviation through meditation? What is the best way to manage that?

I started meditating 2 weeks ago and I feel like I have been meditating forever. The things that I am doing during meditation are mind blowing. Now I feel electric in body constantly , waves upon waves of buzzing and vibrating. My teeth actually hurt. It’s almost like a ball of energy usually in my head constantly vibrating. I can move it anywhere in my body and hold it there for a short period and then it goes back to my head/ brain. I don’t know if this feeling is normal it’s actually exhilarating. I’m not complaining I just don’t understand what is going on. I am not a spiritual person but wow this is crazy. I a 49 year old rational completely normal person but what I’m feeling is unexplainable. I guess my question is, is this feeling normal or explainable? It can’t be normal or everyone would meditate all the time. Feels like magnets constantly pulling and pushing me.

These sensations and a feeling that my whole body is swaying/floating started on the 7th day of the course. On the 8th day I had quite a surreal experience during one of the group sittings. My eyes would also start watering during meditation. I did share my experience with the assistant teacher and told her that I was scared something was happening to my body. I was also feeling dizzy. The teacher said that this was normal and I should just be aware of these sensations and feelings and not try to control them. The next days until the course ended, I did not pay much attention to the swaying/floating. If I focused on it, I could feel it strongly, otherwise sometimes I would just not be aware of it at all. My question is that it's been two days that I've been back from the course and the last I meditated was on the morning of the 11th day (final day) of the course. But I still have a swaying/floating feeling. Is this normal? Has anyone experienced this? If yes, what did you do about it and did it stop on its own? After how many days? Any insight into why this is happening and if its alright to experience this will be appreciated. Thanks!

Background - My sister's son did not work at all in his life and has been taking anti-depressants for many years now. My sister must be very sad and worried about him constantly, but she never talked about it to anyone. His father decided to get him help with meditation and went to this place called "Nirmaya" in Pune city, India. My sister did not want to go for this. But because she was not strong enough to resist him, she had to go along with it. They arranged for long distance meditation for him by uploading his picture in their computer and told him to meditate at home. They told him to let them know whenever he meditates so that they can send positive vibrations to him through his picture on their computer. They charged fee for every call. They also said if parents do the meditation, it will be beneficial. My sister started doing meditation along with her son to show support for him. Nothing happened to the son and the father, but she started feeling very sad and tired and low energy. No one thought deeply why it is happening to her. She thought that she is depressed so decided to see local Psychiatrist. In her first visit she mentioned her worries about her son to the doctor and nothing else. Doctor did not ask any history about her life and put her on two anti-depressants, one anti-anxiety drug and multivitamin tablets. At this point my sister is taking all those medicines and doing meditation. She was already a very silent person but after this she became more silent. She continued to have sadness and low energy. So she called the doctor and reduced the dose of anti-depressants. She became sick with flu and could not function at all. During her sickness she stopped meditation. Once she came out of the sickness, she started meditation again. She also requested her doctor to reduce her anti-depressants dose. Doctor stopped one anti-depressant and multivitamin tablet. My sister did not feel better. She stopped taking the anti-depressants. She continued with meditation. This whole thing started with meditation on June 20th, 2022. October 17, 2022, she committed suicide in the morning. What happened to her? Did meditation affect her in such a way that she did not want to live any longer? Should all the places that recommend meditation be held responsible for not giving enough warnings to people they are supposed to help? Has it become money making machine with very little studies about meditation and anti-depressants drugs? If you can answer my questions truthfully, I will appreciate it. Thanks. Jayshree Deshmukh

I am a graduate of Islamic metaphysics and theology with a focus on mysticism and mystical philosophy. I have kin interest in spirituality in general. Recently I started trying out meditation. In the past I have had experiences of energy building up in my chest during contemplating mystical works. And I have had attempts at out of body projection without full success yet. But in either cases massive energy building up in my chest has been a familiar occurrence. Now recently that I started the Indian style meditation, i.e. sitting in one place, chasing out thoughts and concentrating on heart beats, while gazing at the back of my closed eyelids, I feel massive energy rushing to my chest, building up there and then rushing further up into my neck. At the same time my upper body starts shaking stronger and stronger. More recently, I felt as if my jugular vein was about to explode and I felt mild pain on the back of neck. I want to know what the heck is this all about? My feeling is that if I continue I may project out of body, as this was the feeling that I had when trying out of body projection back in older days but the pressure becomes almost unbearable. I feel nervous to continue the meditation with these twitchings and sensations.

My brain is constantly raising, I’m always thinking about new stuff. Does that affect my meditation?

Can anyone advise on experiences of "kundalini" (energy rushing up the spine and out the crown of the head) during meditation? I have experienced this for years and am wondering if it has an understanding/meaning in the Theravada tradition. The energy has a physical effect (jolting the body) and a mental one (like temporarily cleaning out the conscious mind). Thank you greatly.

I've been meditating for some time now and consistently everyday for about six months but I don't have a definite goal or intent - I do it because I like sitting down for 30 minutes or so without reacting to my thoughts. I sometimes wonder about whether I am progressing or what is that towards which I am progressing. What in your experience should be the goal and the associated metrics so to speak?

Apologies, this question has been brewing for some time after observing so many expressions of suffering from maybe not so much as misinformation, but more misdirection. Are there any scriptures defining what "wholesome meditation" is with relation to all the Skandha and not just one? Wouldn't wholesome imply a working towards balance between all components that constitute an individual? Because every meditation is a technique of cultivation for the 'individual' to reach enlightenment...? Would this also mean enforcing one and neglecting the other four is not only counterintuitive, but potentially dilapidating for the cultivation of an individual? And such imbalance may shed some light on how there are so many questions regarding some form of suffering while meditating? *Watering a tree, but no offering of light, mineral rich food, interaction from the world or even foundational soil for constitution.* *Yet, plant the tree in the sun, near a creek in soil complimenting and feeding it's roots and birds to spread it's seed...*

I have a question. A man should attain enlightenment to liberate himself from cycle of rebirths and every other aspects. What if a **MAN** don't even care to try out to attain enlightenment. Will he be stuck in a cycle and no place to stop his process of rebirth until he attains enlightenment. Does he be a prisoner of this birth cycle. Is there no way for him to escape until he attains **Enlightenment**. What is the end of this birth cycle? I don't have in-depth knowledge in Buddhism or the question I ask. So please correct me if I am wrong.

At work, I try to be mindful, deliberate, and calm. I found with the help of meditation and being mindful makes me less distracted and less stressed at my work or whatever I do. But I also feel being mindful, deliberate and calm makes me slow, feels less involved at my work(though I feel focused) and less energetic. I used to be very active and fast at certain stuffs I do but now I dont feel like that if try to be mindful. How to overcome this? I want to be mindful and calm but I also want to be fast and involved at my work(or in other words highly active)?

I do meditate sometimes,not everyday. After 5 to 10 minutes during meditation I start getting a feeling on my forehead as if someone is touching in it. Sometimes after listening to binaural waves or do yoga, I get this same feeling. I understand that something is happening to the pineal gland.But my friends who meditate they don't get this, its only me. What exactly happens here and how does it work? Can someone explain?

I've been trying to understand the descriptions of each of the Jhānas in various Suttas, and I don't get what's meant by an element in some descriptions of the fourth Jhāna. For example: > When one has attained the fourth jhāna, in-and-out breathing has been totally stilled. – SN 36:11 It seems to me that that passage is saying that the breath literally stops, but this seems physiologically impossible. So perhaps the correct interpretation is that _volitional_ in-and-out breathing ceases? Or is the passage, perhaps, referring to the _perception_ of in-and-out breathing? I've even gone so far as to look up the words in Pāli, but this has only added to my confusion, since they seem to translate as literally the cessation of breath. Is this, perhaps, a shortcoming of our understanding of Pāli? If this is to be taken literally, what is the scientific basis for this phenomenon? Is it perhaps a perceptual phenomenon, where the meditator merely perceives the breath as having stopped? Or, if this is indeed an error in interpretation, then how is it to be interpreted? I should clarify that I'm not seeking to troll, or challenge the tradition. I myself am a lay disciple of the Dhamma. I'm prepared to accept an answer one way or the other, but I really want to have a solid understanding. Thanks.

The Lotus Sutra implies light came from Gautama Buddha, which connected to " illuminating thousands of buddha fields"; can anyone enlighten me as to what that could mean?