Post by Admin on Oct 19, 2017 19:37:05 GMT -5
In the Thich Nhat Hanh facebook group someone posted a fascinating description of how he used meditation to deal with his anxiety/depression and ended up having what sure seems like an 'enlightenment' peak experience. The subsequent discussion is great as people come at him in many different ways. I'll put his post below,and below the quote is a link to read all the discussion. Many relevant exchanges about meditation here. Feel free to give your opinions in reply to this. It reminds me of how the mystic Eckard Tolle who had a similar experience but much more dramatic. The concern I have is that folks might feel that this is supposed to be one of the purposes or effects of meditation. Looking forward to others' opinions on this. dl
Chris Price, Facebook, October 18, 2017:
Hi all, I’ve been a member for a few months, but this is my first post. I had an experience a few months ago, and I just wanted to see what other people think about it, and if anyone else has had a similar thing happen to them. I’ve not told anyone I know about this yet as I’m not sure what they might say.
I’ve had anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember, I’ve had counselling etc., it helped for a while until the cycle started again.
Someone suggested meditation; id tried everything else so I thought why not. I’d been meditating every day for around two months, and it was sort of helping me feel less stressed. Me, my wife and daughter went away on holiday, and while I was there I kept meditating, twice a day.
One day I was sitting on my own in the restaurant waiting for them when suddenly I just out of nowhere KNEW that the people all there were all connected, we were all one with each other, I could see that they all had the same thoughts of self-doubt and worries that I had, and that we were all the same.
That night I woke up in the middle of the night like I was in pain, but it wasn’t pain, it was gratitude, I was suddenly so overwhelmingly grateful for everything I have and my family and life. I’ve never felt like that before. The next day I was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and it’s stayed that way ever since.
I’ve never been a religious person, and always put all my faith in science, but this has changed my life, and outlook on everything. I feel blessed.
I’m trying to make sense of it to myself, but perhaps I shouldn’t, and just enjoy it. What do you think?
Sorry for such a long post!
To read Facebook responses click-push HERE. To offer your opinion here on mindfulvets.net just hit 'reply' button.
Chris Price, Facebook, October 18, 2017:
Hi all, I’ve been a member for a few months, but this is my first post. I had an experience a few months ago, and I just wanted to see what other people think about it, and if anyone else has had a similar thing happen to them. I’ve not told anyone I know about this yet as I’m not sure what they might say.
I’ve had anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember, I’ve had counselling etc., it helped for a while until the cycle started again.
Someone suggested meditation; id tried everything else so I thought why not. I’d been meditating every day for around two months, and it was sort of helping me feel less stressed. Me, my wife and daughter went away on holiday, and while I was there I kept meditating, twice a day.
One day I was sitting on my own in the restaurant waiting for them when suddenly I just out of nowhere KNEW that the people all there were all connected, we were all one with each other, I could see that they all had the same thoughts of self-doubt and worries that I had, and that we were all the same.
That night I woke up in the middle of the night like I was in pain, but it wasn’t pain, it was gratitude, I was suddenly so overwhelmingly grateful for everything I have and my family and life. I’ve never felt like that before. The next day I was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and it’s stayed that way ever since.
I’ve never been a religious person, and always put all my faith in science, but this has changed my life, and outlook on everything. I feel blessed.
I’m trying to make sense of it to myself, but perhaps I shouldn’t, and just enjoy it. What do you think?
Sorry for such a long post!
To read Facebook responses click-push HERE. To offer your opinion here on mindfulvets.net just hit 'reply' button.