Practice Report - 04/19/2013
Meditationtime Forum Post
Date: Posted 3 years before Oct 08, 2016
bandika 3 years ago
I always do breath infusion before starting meditation. It consists of ~6 inhalations of alternate nostril breathing, and three sets of bhastrika pranayama with 30-40 exhalations.
After that I continue with one of the following practices:
1. I practice the steps of the first exercise in Chapter 1 of Meditation Pictorial (especially the first 15 steps).
2. I try to move my consciousness backwards in my head as it is advised in Chapter 2.
Few minutes later I often hear a ringing sound close to my right ear. I hope it is the naad, but to be honest it is very similar to tinnitus. When I focus on this sound, it sometimes becomes louder and it seems to extend to a larger area in the back/right part of my head. Let’s suppose that it is the naad sound. In this case could somebody explain me how can I make use of this?
The other thing I experience while staying in the back part of my head are the circle shaped lights which move continually to an imaginary point in my forehead. I noticed that it usually becomes more intensive if I pull back the optic power as it is described in Chapter 1 (first exercise). I’ve already mentioned this experience before, Alfredo and Michael explained that this is a sign of the third eye’s activity and if I keep looking at this then it may open. Unfortunately I have a little trouble with that, because these always disappear after a few minutes. I try to stay back in my head, not to disturb these lights and just passively see forward but this has not solved the problem yet.
I rarely feel a very strong force which pulls me into the center of the movement. It is similar to the feeling that someone may experience when he or she sits on an airplane during takeoff.
unlimitedsun 3 years ago
Greetings Bandika,
Yes, the initial detection of naad can be identified as tinnitus, it is the most logical explanation I think upon starting. A friend of mine I introduced to the practice actually saw a doctor for treatment. When before meeting Michael, I heard it I naturally assumed it was that as well.
However, when practice stops then it will not be detected; so it is concluded that it is the primordial sound from a successful practice. Personally I am not advanced enough to do anything with other than stay with it, as advised. I hope to learn more through your inquiry.
As for the movements, I was also utterly shocked to notice physicality to include pushing and shoving as part of the reactions of the life force. Nothing had in the slightest prepared me for that, and you are taking it way calmer than I did... Imageries on the other hand make for a complex discussion, but is it a problem?
Alfredo 3 years ago
As Surya Ji stated, the way to know that it is Naad and not tinnitus is when the sound disappears a while after the meditation. Also, tinnitus mostly starts in one ear.
Tinnitus is not a disease by itself, but a condition resulting from hearing loss and other problems of the ear (it discerns internal sound instead of external sound). It will continue all the time. However, Naad also can be heard all the time as Kriyavans of the Lahiri Baba lineage (and Swami Hariharananda) were trained to do so, and I could do so for years, but from both ears. The use in this case is like a mantra. We were instructed to develop this perception and use it and hear the Naad sound all day long.
How can you use it in this meditation? By tuning to it. As an anchorage. Instead of having to go back to the back of the head, you use Naad to stay there and watch. If you try to go to the front of the head and the cinema show starts (thoughts, images, etc), right away take refuge in Naad again. Another use is to scorch thoughts that arise during meditation by taking them to Sushumna Nadi together with Naad, when they are obliterated.
As per 3rd eye activity, the 3rd eye will not open just because you force it, but it will open only when the proper conditions exist. It does not open to you because the conditions are not there yet, and, besides, if you try to force it, by concentrating in that area and trying to visualize or willing its opening, it will not happen. The best course here is to stay with Naad at the back of the head and watch the 3rd eye with detachment, and only go there if something major occurs.
MiBeloved 3 years ago
Alfredo's advice is solid!
bandika 3 years ago
Thank you for your answers!
