Categories: Other Meditation Teachings
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Today, we will explore a topic that is deeply practical for anyone on a spiritual path. When we engage in practices like meditation, focusing on developing tranquility and insight, we naturally begin to see results. This teaching aims to bring clarity and correct understanding to what these results look like, especially when they appear in unexpected ways. Understanding this process can give you the confidence to move forward on your spiritual journey without fear. A correct understanding is an invaluable support, and this article is offered to help you find that.
Letting Go of Expectations on the Path
For those of us who meditate, there are moments when the fruits of our practice manifest. However, we cannot say with certainty when or how this will happen. The process is unique and relative to each individual. We have consistently advised that you should practice without expecting a specific outcome. You cannot schedule a breakthrough or demand that a certain experience happens in a prescribed way.
Through our teachings, we have shared our own experiences and described common results that can arise. But you must not create a rigid expectation that your journey will unfold in exactly the same way. While the general principles we share are common to many, your personal path is your own. The key is to practice diligently and let the results unfold naturally.
Understanding the Signs of Formal Meditation
Often, our formal practice happens in a seated posture. You might sit in what is called Baddha Pariyankaya (a simple cross-legged posture), or perhaps a half-lotus. Some may even sit in Padmasana (the full-lotus posture), where both feet rest on the opposite thighs, soles facing upward, similar to how you see many Buddha statues. In these postures, with the spine held straight, you work on developing both Samatha (calmness and concentration) and, at times, Vipassana (insight into the nature of reality).
As you engage in these practices, certain phenomena may arise. We have previously discussed the signs of the Third Eye opening, such as a distinct pressure in the middle of the forehead, sensations of heat or coolness, or even the awakening of what is known as Kundalini energy.
This can bring sensations along the spinal column as the energy centers, or Chakras, begin to activate. You might feel pressure at the base of the spine (the Muladhara Chakra) or the crown of the head (the Sahasrara Chakra), sometimes feeling as if a thumb or a whole palm is pressing on the area.
Beyond these physical sensations, the path can lead to seeing aloka sanna (light signals), experiencing citta rupa (mental images or visions), and entering profound states of absorption known as the Jhanas. We have offered guidance on all these stages to help you progress without confusion.
When Breakthroughs Happen: Spiritual Experiences Outside Meditation
This brings us to a question many people have: can these spiritual experiences happen outside of your formal meditation session? The answer is absolutely yes. This is a crucial point to understand.
Imagine you meditate for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. The rest of your day is spent on other activities, studying, working, commuting, and managing daily life. It is very possible, and in fact quite common, that the results of your meditation do not appear during the sitting itself, but rather during these other moments.
It is a natural law of the practice. For example, you might not see any light phenomena while you are sitting on your cushion. But later, as you’re riding the bus or traveling in a car, you might lean back, gently close your eyes for a moment, and suddenly feel the pressure on your forehead, followed by a burst of colored light.
Some people ask, “I see a purple light, but I was told I should see a yellow one. Why is mine different?” The color of the light is not important. The significant thing is that you are experiencing the light signal at all. This is a signpost. The correct response is not to analyze the color, but to recognize the progress and continue your practice with renewed confidence, perhaps revisiting the teachings related to that experience.
Why Your Mind’s Concentration Triggers Experiences Anywhere
These spiritual experiences outside meditation can occur at any time and in any place. You could be studying, working at your job, taking a shower, or even enjoying a moment of recreation. It is a common occurrence. I have had countless such experiences in my own life, and you may as well. This is the special nature of the spiritual path.
However, it’s important to clarify one point: these authentic experiences do not typically occur while under the influence of intoxicants like drugs or alcohol. While a rare, anomalous event might be possible for a dedicated meditator, it is not the norm and should never be seen as an encouragement for such behavior. In fact, as one’s practice deepens, the desire for intoxicants naturally falls away.
We have heard from students who say the pressure on their forehead begins while they are sitting in a classroom. This is a normal result of the mind’s ability to unify. In Buddhist psychology, or Abhidhamma, we learn about a mental factor called Ekaggata, or one-pointedness.
This capacity for concentration is present in all minds, and it is not limited to wholesome, meditative states. Your mind can become deeply concentrated while writing with a pen, reading a book, or performing any task. If you are a meditator, in these moments of natural, everyday concentration, the energy you have cultivated can manifest. You might even see a light signal with your eyes wide open. Understanding this helps you remain balanced when these things happen.
Navigating Energy Shifts: Kundalini and the Heart Chakra
As your practice of tranquility meditation, whether it’s mindfulness of breathing, contemplation of the Buddha (Buddhanussati), or our Third Eye practices, deepens, the Kundalini energy can awaken regardless of the specific technique. This energy flows through the body, and its activation can bring various sensations.
Many people become frightened by a pressure in the chest area, near the heart chakra. It’s important to distinguish this from a medical issue. This sensation is not a painful, alarming tightness like a heart attack. It is a gentle, persistent pressure that you can bear. You intuitively know it’s not a life-threatening event. It feels more like wearing a heavy necklace, a constant, noticeable presence that might persist even after your meditation session ends.
It’s a sign of energetic opening, not a disease. Similarly, you may feel what we call Universal Energy (Vishwa Shakthi) flowing through your body, sometimes like a gentle electric current entering through your feet and fingers. Sometimes, this can manifest as spontaneous physical movements, which we call “Spiritual Exercises of the Universe.” If these begin to happen when you are in public or at work, it is wise to make a firm resolution to pause them and then allow them to unfold later when you are in a private, comfortable space.
The Dawn of a New Perception: The Opening of the Divine Eye
Finally, as the path unfolds, these spiritual experiences outside meditation can evolve into spiritual abilities. The Third Eye can open into what is known as Dibba-cakkhu, the Divine Eye or clairvoyance. This too can happen at any time, not just during formal practice.
For many, the first sign is beginning to perceive amanussa, non-human beings from other realms of existence. After that, one may begin to see divine beings (devas) and other aspects of the unseen world. These are natural stages of the path, and there are further teachings to guide you when this faculty opens.
With this, I will conclude today’s teaching on the truth that the results of your practice can be received at any time. May the power and blessings of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, the Triple Gem, give you the strength to understand these matters with wisdom and to continue your practice with confidence.
Final Blessing
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
