Greetings zenarchs,
I'm here seeking advice and guidance from the more experienced meditators. I was practicing yin-zen, and related techniques, for a number of months. I didn't stop because it was ineffective. On the contrary, I stopped because it was too effective.
My energy levels and degree of focus greatly increased. It was much easier to control my desires and actions with willpower. I simply did that which was necessary without much anxiety. It also seemed to produce a kind of natural high. It was like it was too good to be true and so I began to suspect that it was, in fact, too good to be true. How could such simple techniques have such profound effects within such a short period of time?
I couldn't shake the suspicion that I had fallen for some kind of self-deception. Yet, at the same time, nothing in particular seemed to be amiss. Everything was great, but with my need to find flaws, I just stopped. Within the following weeks, my ego became louder once more and self-regulation lapsed as well.
So is anyone familiar with yin-zen or any other experimental meditative practices without a strong traditional support? Do certain exercises cause such a pleasant distortion in the mind that it just feels like progress? Are such practices ineffective in the long run? Is yin-zen compatible with genuine Buddhism? How can the apparent external benefits be explained if the practice is fundamentally flawed?
Any help towards understanding this mystery would be greatly appreciated.
I'm here seeking advice and guidance from the more experienced meditators. I was practicing yin-zen, and related techniques, for a number of months. I didn't stop because it was ineffective. On the contrary, I stopped because it was too effective.
My energy levels and degree of focus greatly increased. It was much easier to control my desires and actions with willpower. I simply did that which was necessary without much anxiety. It also seemed to produce a kind of natural high. It was like it was too good to be true and so I began to suspect that it was, in fact, too good to be true. How could such simple techniques have such profound effects within such a short period of time?
I couldn't shake the suspicion that I had fallen for some kind of self-deception. Yet, at the same time, nothing in particular seemed to be amiss. Everything was great, but with my need to find flaws, I just stopped. Within the following weeks, my ego became louder once more and self-regulation lapsed as well.
So is anyone familiar with yin-zen or any other experimental meditative practices without a strong traditional support? Do certain exercises cause such a pleasant distortion in the mind that it just feels like progress? Are such practices ineffective in the long run? Is yin-zen compatible with genuine Buddhism? How can the apparent external benefits be explained if the practice is fundamentally flawed?
Any help towards understanding this mystery would be greatly appreciated.