Intense tingling, general body disassociation

On the cultivation of insight/wisdom
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LonesomeYogurt
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Intense tingling, general body disassociation

Post by LonesomeYogurt »

I recently came into ownership of a new meditation bench which has allowed me to sit far more comfortably. As I do, around ten minutes in I begin to have an intense tingling/shaking sensation in all my limbs and core, followed by a general feeling of not having a body, to put it in words. Not like a mystical astral projection or anything like that, but more just a loss of connection with the body and more absorption on the breath. I still have plenty of wayward thoughts though, so I highly doubt it's any kind of Jhana state. Is this just a normal biproduct of more comfortable seating, or is this an indication of some kind of wrong/right practice? Thanks for any help guys!
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.

Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.

His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta

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Ferox
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Re: Intense tingling, general body disassociation

Post by Ferox »

interesting experience, but an experience to be observed and moved on from (ie not become attached to) non the less.. not that that really answers your question. I'd be interested to see some of the responses either way.
-just one more being treading the ancient path of Dhamma-
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Goofaholix
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Re: Intense tingling, general body disassociation

Post by Goofaholix »

So you believe this was caused by changing to a meditation bench?

I'd recommend you try meditating in various postures, a chair, walking, cross legged, lying down etc, observe what happens then.
Pronouns (no self / not self)
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― Ajahn Chah
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rowboat
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Re: Intense tingling, general body disassociation

Post by rowboat »

Goofaholix has good advice. Perhaps in the past you were holding to various subtle tensions in a way that was holding you back and now this has changed and you're really settling in, so to speak. I would suggest that before you sit again you spend a little more time in preparation. Revisit why you are meditating, contemplate the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and think of death, and how short and precious this life is.

:anjali:
Rain soddens what is covered up,
It does not sodden what is open.
Therefore uncover what is covered
That the rain will not sodden it.
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Ben
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Re: Intense tingling, general body disassociation

Post by Ben »

Greetings LY,
LonesomeYogurt wrote:I recently came into ownership of a new meditation bench which has allowed me to sit far more comfortably. As I do, around ten minutes in I begin to have an intense tingling/shaking sensation in all my limbs and core, followed by a general feeling of not having a body, to put it in words. Not like a mystical astral projection or anything like that, but more just a loss of connection with the body and more absorption on the breath. I still have plenty of wayward thoughts though, so I highly doubt it's any kind of Jhana state. Is this just a normal biproduct of more comfortable seating, or is this an indication of some kind of wrong/right practice? Thanks for any help guys!
My personal experience has been that I can't sit on a seiza bench.
My recommendation is to change your meditation posture to something else. Try them out. Find that which gives you the greatest comfort for the longest period of time.
kind regards,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
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daverupa
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Re: Intense tingling, general body disassociation

Post by daverupa »

Could be subtle energy; keep your tongue up, have no expectations, keep going.

Speculative.

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    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
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