Dharma Treasure Community

Hi Mitchell,

I have had similar experiences to what you describe. I went through a period at work, where I was effortlessly able to solve very difficult problems. My mind was functioning very efficiently, but unfortunately this did not last.

I have also experienced periods of time where I was very energized from my meditation practice. It almost felt manic or like I had several cups of coffee. This is more likely to happen after attending a retreat.

I think the discursive brilliance is only a problem during your meditation. Outside of your practice, I would just consider it a fruit of meditation. Culadasa mentions the mind functioning more efficiently as a benefit of meditation practice.

During retreat I often feel I need less sleep and I end up sleeping very little. I feel “spacey” when I return. I finally realized that this “spacey” feeling was caused by sleep deprivation. I would be careful with not sleeping enough. It can cause all sorts of side effects.

If the energy gets to be more than you can handle consider doing something physical like walking, yoga, or some other form of exercise.

Hope this helps,

Blake
Dharma Treasure Facilitator

Hi Mitchell,

Samatha practice does tend to bring up piti which in the early stages can cause quite a bit of excitement and be over the top. Unless you have had problems with mania before starting meditation, then I think it was likely the meditation. The sleep deprivation could have exacerbated the problem.

Getting back on your routine schedule of sleep and practices sounds like a good idea.

Good Luck,
Blake

I’ve had similar experiences after my first time attending a retreat. It was particularly pleasurable yet scary, I hadn’t expected meditation to dramatically affect me that way. I remember thinking that I had underestimated all these seemingly hyperbolic statements about the power of mind’s clarity and deep senses of bliss. The fear came I think from not knowing how to relate to it and also from not having a cause, such as drugs or a mental illness. Luckily I had a meditation teacher who I could confess that I felt like I was Jesus or I was crazy. He laughed a bit and understood and talked me down. Told me it would wear off, eat normally, exercise, sleep-in other words ground myself.

And it did wear off. Seems to be a common experience, a fruit of meditation, yet still something that needs to be integrated, and as Davide said, taken with humor.

It helps to have a teacher or community who can relate to what you’re goin through so you don’t feel so “out there”.

And the dharma is amazing 🙂

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for sharing your update. I am very excited for you. It is great to hear that meditation is having such a positive impact on your life.

Take Care,
Blake