Discomfort during Zazen

[Suuko]

Greetings,

I was doing my 30 minutes evening session and I saw white sparks with open eyes. After a while, I felt some pressure at the back of my head and I started to breathe heavily. I focused on the breathing and things calmed down and I continued with the zazen. Did anyone come across with such discomfort in their practice?

Gassho,
Geerish.
ST/LAH.

[Mp]

Greetings,

I was doing my 30 minutes evening session and I saw white sparks with open eyes. After a while, I felt some pressure at the back of my head and I started to breathe heavily. I focused on the breathing and things calmed down and I continued with the zazen. Did anyone come across with such discomfort in their practice?

Gassho,
Geerish.
ST/LAH.

Hello Geerish,

Funny visual things can happen during zazen, it is just the brain at work. Sometimes we are looking for a point of fixation alittle too hard.

Try and remember to relax the eyes, allow your gaze to find that natural 45 degree angle and try not to focus or stare at a specific spot. Allow your eyes to naturally blink when they need, just like your eyes do throughout the day. If you are facing the wall and it is smooth, you may see floating objects or little bits of protein, this too is normal ... just allow them to be and come back to just sitting.

But please also remember to be mindful of your body and eyes and if things become too sore or uncomfortable, stop, take a break ... or if needed see a healthcare provider.

Hope that helps. =)

Gassho
Shingen

SatToday/LAH

[Jundo]

Hi Guish,

As Shingen said, if it just happened once. If this repeats from time to time, first we get you a medical check. For example, folks with a tendency to migraines and similar mental events can sometimes have such symptoms. You should be check by a doctor. I am not a doctor, but I show you people discussing similar events here.

http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=44141

I do not know that Zazen triggers such events, but sitting quietly facing the wall etc. certainly helps us become more aware of what we might not notice in our visual field during a busy day.

There are some parts of the body we only notice when we focus. For example, there is always pressure and sensations on the skin all over the body, but we ignore that so do not feel that. However, if I suddenly mention parts of the body, you will feel it (e.g., now feel the pressure at the tip of your nose, on your kneecap, on the back of your hand). It may always be there, but you suddenly become aware and it amplifies the sensation.

There are some forms of meditation which might give spiritual interpretations to such events, such as Kundalini Chakra energy flows and such. I am rather skeptical of such things. In Soto Zen, we tend to be boring. Such happenings do inform us of the fluid nature of the mind and perception, but it is not something typically encouraged in the corner of Buddhist practice where i play (except as perhaps an interesting glimpse into perception). Before that, however, best to be cautious about some possible medical explanation, as advised above.

Gassho, J

SatTodayLAH

[Suuko]

Thanks guys. I have gone through the link. However, I have no problem during the day. It's only during deep meditation, just before the no-mind state that I see the sparks-not always. I used to meditate with closed eyes and it was quite normal to see them from time to time. During zazen, with 1/3 of the eyes opened, it's the first time I saw these things. Kundalini? I didn't want to bring that term, Jundo but the symptoms are pretty similar. Tingling in the spine, unusual sexual desire and pressure in the head.

I have stories to tell about the Kundalini experience but another time, maybe. I'm in perfect health and the eyes are ok. I have them checked from time to time. However, I'm an anxious man from time to time. It's so funny to say this as I have to take a hundred critical decisions on a daily basis at work and manage the egos of people.

Gassho,
ST/LH.
Geerish.

[Jishin]

IMG_0101.JPG

Thankfully I never go through the no-mind state. I think.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Suuko]

Haha. It reminds me of " Have enough ego so that you don't kill yourself when you cross the road".

[Jundo]

Thanks guys. I have gone through the link. However, I have no problem during the day. It's only during deep meditation, just before the no-mind state that I see the sparks-not always. I used to meditate with closed eyes and it was quite normal to see them from time to time. During zazen, with 1/3 of the eyes opened, it's the first time I saw these things. Kundalini? I didn't want to bring that term, Jundo but the symptoms are pretty similar. Tingling in the spine, unusual sexual desire and pressure in the head.

I have stories to tell about the Kundalini experience but another time, maybe. I'm in perfect health and the eyes are ok. I have them checked from time to time. However, I'm an anxious man from time to time. It's so funny to say this as I have to take a hundred critical decisions on a daily basis at work and manage the egos of people.

Gassho,
ST/LH.
Geerish.

Hi Geerish,

We don't practice such states, or emphasize such experiences here, such as "no-mind state" and Kundalini.

So, you will probably need to find and discuss such matters with another kind of teacher who does so, and not here. I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

In Soto Zen, we are very dull and ordinary people, although we do find our miracles and wonder just there.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

[Suuko]

Hi Geerish,

We don't practice such states, or emphasize such experiences here, such as "no-mind state" and Kundalini.

So, you will probably need to find and discuss such matters with another kind of teacher who does so, and not here. I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

In Soto Zen, we are very dull and ordinary people, although we do find our miracles and wonder just there.

Gassho, Jundo

SatTodayLAH

Cheers Jundo. I'm not interested in these states too. It was just factual information.

[Jundo]