Meditation is a process, a technique. As all processes have stages, meditation is no different. The techniques take times to master and develop so don’t be discouraged. Meditation is for conditioning and changing of body, mind, and spirit, so be patient and go with the flow. After all, that is what meditation is all about going with the flow of life.
Although meditation is about using a technique, letting us reach stillness that allows us to observe the inner working of our body and mind. We will still have to sit each day with the beginners mind.
Last but certainly not least, show yourself loving kindness first, move through the stages of meditation one at a time, with consistency you will find the joy within. The stages below are only a guide, please do not read and then sit in meditation with the urge to recreate these observations, hoping something will happen, nothing will. Allow yourself the freedom to meditate, let go, be patient and after each sitting allow some time for reflection on the process.
Relaxation Stage
State of Awareness – It is a time for concentration on the method of physical relaxation – a transient stage leading from normal consciousness into a more relaxed mental state. Most people start by feeling self-conscious, particularly when first learning. They wonder if anything will happen, hope no one is looking. It is common to be conscious of thought activity and to feel some frustration, especially if a beginner.
Body Sensations – Feeling the body relaxing. Frequently you become aware of areas of physical tension and feel that tension relaxing
Low Concentration Stage
State of Awareness – The concentration is intermittent – sometimes good, sometimes wandering off onto other things. You are conscious of concentration on the meditation technique. There is a constant stream of thoughts that often you get caught up in. Then regularly you come back to awareness that you are thinking and want it to stop. If you are not careful, you can get very frustrated. This stage is highly subject to being distracted by diversions like inner thoughts or external sounds or activities.
Body Sensations – Feel physically relaxed – often this is described as feeling heavy and warm, soft and loose. Actual degree of physical relaxation will increase with time and practice.
Sustained Concentration Stage
State of Awareness – Single-minded concentration – now the attention is held on one subject. The thinking is still of an intellectual, analytical type. The mind is becoming stiller and more focused and there are just occasional unrelated thoughts passing by that do not disturb this basically calm, relaxed state. The intruding thoughts may be current ones or memories and may sometimes produce an emotional response. Fairly regularly there is a conscious awareness of observing these thoughts now and seeing them in a more stable perspective. you may still feel aware of needing to use a technique to maintain this stage.
Body Sensations – Body often feels like it is light and there may be sensations of floating. Very occasionally body movements like swaying occur. Usually described as a very pleasant sensation
Contemplation Stage
State of Awareness – Single minded concentration again, but now the thinking is of a more abstract, intuitive type. Gaps between awareness of thoughts widen, and you experience moments of stillness. Usually you have lost awareness of using a technique. Sense the value of the stillness, find it very satisfying and want to enter into it more deeply, but often find it elusive. You may gain minor insights and have creative ideas.
Body Sensations – Body feels light, expansive. Usually feels much bigger than normal – like blown up with a pump and is furry around the edges. Very pleasant
The Shift Stage
State of Awareness – A definite stage, bordering between stages 4 and 6. Most people are aware when they are in this stage, and it requires skill to pass through. Feels like something is happening, like entering a new level of consciousness, often described as being on the brink of something extraordinary – both empty and full at the same time. You may experience vivid fields of colour, sounds or visions. If you try to lock on to the experience with your intellect, the mind activity prompts a quick return to level 4. Here people often consciously need to let go and launch into 6, which takes confidence.
Body Sensations – Like 4, Body feels light, expansive. Usually feels much bigger than normal – like blown up with a pump and is furry around the edges. Very pleasant
Fusion Stage
State of Awareness – This is a new level of consciousness marked by an absence of everyday thought and a powerful sense of unity. There are several grades of experience:
- Poor recall. Not sure if asleep or not but it feels different to sleep. People who have this experience major changes in their health and wellbeing.
- Heightened alertness. A mystical experience that is difficult to describe to another. Comes with a sense of being an important part of something much bigger.
- Being conscious of old memories surfacing from the past, being able to view them like a dispassionate observer and release them. This is not to erase the memory but to take the intensity out of any pain that may have gone with it.
Body Sensations – No awareness of body or surrounding environment, an experience beyond the physical body, space and time – like death might be, and because this experience is stored by the subconscious, it frequently removes all fear of death.
Radiance (Bliss) Stage
State of Awareness – Direct perception of Knowledge. New information comes to your awareness with the authority of a revelation. Produces a very assured, satisfied state of inner knowing. Invariably has a quality of a gift from a higher power, and again, produces a pervading sense of order and unity.
Body Sensations – Like 6, No awareness of body or surrounding environment, an experience beyond the physical body, space and time – like death might be, and because this experience is stored by the subconscious, it frequently removes all fear of death.
