To continue with the floating up metaphor from Why meditate?, if one's body becomes vaporous to the point where the skin is also gas, wouldn't wind and other physical forces in the sky dissipate it? Wouldn't one's identity get lost?
Yes, that is possible or can definitely be imagined.
So, by analogy, what about losing one's mind or sanity when it goes to subtler and subtler levels?
There are a few traditional reassurances regarding spiritual practice.
One, if subtler levels are reached by one's own volition through relaxation, without chemical or other means that overwhelm the brain's natural processes [1], that will not happen. It is like walking to a strange place versus being taken there in a windowless vehicle.
Two, if one's mind is guided by someone to different levels, that same person will guide it back. [2]
Three, subtler states without jealous individuation or sharp separation from others are more natural, or sane, than our usual fear and other negative emotions-ridden states. In other words, so what if you lose your self? You have gained your Self!
NOTES
[1] Hence the injunction in spiritual paths to avoid alcohol and drugs. The clarity, peace, affection, and joy in subtler mental states far outweigh the relaxation, stupor, and carefree feeling that come with alcohol.
[2] How, or even if, this happens is a matter of experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment