Does a Meditative State Really Exist?
Meditation is hard.
But we’re taught to believe if we spend enough time on the cushion, we’ll enter a prolonged, blissful, meditative state. At its extreme, this state of heightened awareness is sometimes referred to as enlightenment.
You’re probably familiar with the origination of the Buddha. Long story short, he sat under a Bodhi tree for six days of meditation, and then finally, enlightenment struck. All of his earthly thoughts and feelings melted away, replaced by bliss and oneness with the universe. In other words, enlightenment.
Some people say that attaining enlightenment is possible through meditation. It seems like it’s become a bit of a taboo subject in meditation and mindfulness circles though. I was listening to a Dan Harris podcast on the subject recently, in which he interviewed Daniel Ingram, a meditation teacher and author that claims to have reached the final stage of enlightenment.
Of course, many people are skeptical of enlightenment. I know I am.
If you’ve spent any time practicing meditation, you probably are too.
I’m not particularly concerned about enlightenment. Maybe it’s possible, maybe it’s not. The question is, does a meditative state really is exist at all? By practicing, can you really achieve a higher plane of consciousness, or focus? Not “enlightenment” necessarily, but a meditative state somewhere in between everyday consciousness and the cessation of suffering described by Buddhist scripture?
What is a Meditative State?
What do we actually mean by a meditative state then?
A meditative state is a state of consciousness in which the mind is relaxed and focused, and the body is relaxed. You might call it a state of inward focus. The individual is able to let go of distractions and external stimuli, and turn their attention inward. In a meditative state, the individual may be able to find a sense of peace, clarity, and stillness.
There are many different ways to categorize and describe meditative states, and different traditions and approaches may use different terms and definitions.
There are four common categories of meditative states that are often described in the literature on meditation:
- The first meditative state can be referred to as “access concentration,” or “pre-samadhi.” This state is characterized by the ability to focus the mind on a single object or sensation for an extended period of time. The mind is still somewhat scattered and may be prone to distractions, but with practice, the individual can learn to bring their attention back to the object of focus.
- The second meditative state is often called “absorption,” or “samadhi.” In this state, the mind is fully absorbed in the object of focus and is no longer prone to distractions. The individual experiences a sense of unity with the object of focus and may feel a sense of deep peace and contentment.
- A third meditative state is called “post-samadhi,” or “after-absorption.” In this state, the individual has emerged from the state of samadhi and is able to maintain a sense of inner calm and clarity even in the face of external distractions.
- Another meditative state is called “equanimity,” or “upekkha.” In this state, the individual is able to maintain a sense of balance and equanimity regardless of the external circumstances or their internal states. They are able to approach life with a sense of detachment and non-attachment, and are able to respond to situations with wisdom and compassion.
It’s important to note that these categories are just one way of describing meditative states, and that different traditions and approaches may use different terms and definitions.
In reality, it is exceedingly difficult to describe a meditative state.
I would argue though, you know it when you find it.
Maybe you just know it when you find it?
Does a Meditative State Really Exist?
It’s one thing to read about a meditative state, or hear Buddhist monks and scholars describe the stages of enlightenment.
It’s another matter to experience a meditative state for yourself.
So does a meditative state really exist? All I can do is speak from personal experience. And I would argue, yes, some sort of meditative state does exist.
What Does a Meditative State Feel Like?
So that begs the question, what does a meditative state actually feel like? Again, I can only speak from personal experience, so I’ll do my best to articulate my (admittedly limited) perspective.
I’ve been meditating for probably about 8 years with varying degrees of consistency.
I’m not a monk, and I’m not a guru. I wouldn’t call myself an expert even. But, I’m probably fairly comparable to a lot of average meditation practitioners. I make an effort to sit for a few minutes (10-20) each day. Sometimes I miss a day. I probably 4-5 times per week on average. I try to get a longer sit in when I can (30-60 min). I’ve done a handful of one or two day Zen meditation retreats.
And even in my limited experience, I can undoubtedly say I have experienced, on occasion, what I would describe as a meditative state.
It doesn’t happen often. If you’ve practiced meditation with any relative consistency, you probably know what I mean. Oftentimes, practicing is a bit of a slog. You sit, you breath, you get distracted, you come back to center, rinse and repeat. There’s no profound revelation. I suppose that’s why it’s called practice.
But, every once in a while, I find that state of focus while meditating. Of clarity. A feeling that I can only describe as a higher plane.
That’s not to say that all thoughts slip away. Rather, they seem to come even faster. But they dissipate almost instantly, and I can almost feel each thought arriving and then flying away. There’s almost a literal buzz that accompanies this feeling.
It might last for a few minutes. And then it’s gone. It’s back to breathing, noticing thoughts, getting distracted. Practicing.
An Example of a Meditative State
I’ll try to describe a specific example of the last time I truly felt like I found a meditative state.
There’s a beautiful park about a 10 minute walk from our house. When I have time, usually on the weekend, I like to walk there and try to find a quiet place to sit and have a longer meditation session.
This particular day, the weather was beautiful. A perfect fall day. I found a spot beneath a tree in the park with no one else around. I sat with my back against the tree and settled in to meditate.
I set the timer on my phone for 20 minutes, closed my eyes, and tried to focus on my breath.
It was a pretty standard meditation session. I watched my breath, got distracted, found myself ruminating on work, or my to-do list for the day, what we would eat for dinner that night, etc. I noticed my distraction and came back to focusing on my breath, or just noticing in general. Sound, thoughts, etc.
A pretty standard meditation for me. At the end of my 20 minute session, I found myself getting frustrated. I couldn’t find that meditative state. That feeling of focus was nowhere to be found.
And yet, I know that’s not the point. I know the distraction is the practice.
I decided to meditate a while longer after my initial 20 minute session. It was nice out and I had nowhere to be.
My second session went much the same as the first. Moments of focus intermixed with plenty of distraction.
And then, maybe halfway through my second sit, I started to feel that buzz. I noticed it, and just tried to experience it for what it was. The temptation is to try to hold on to that feeling. Of course, nothing is permanent. Holding on is futile.
So I sat, and I noticed. Thoughts came flying at me at what felt like the speed of light, and then dissipated into the ether. I could feel the sun on my face. I noticed every bird chirping in the park. How beautiful! I could hear every sound, feel the air on my face.
It was almost like a physical sense of vibration. A buzz, is the only way I can describe it. I could have been floating, or I could have been sitting on the ground in front of a tree in the park I had been to hundreds of times.
“Wow, there it is. This is it. Amazing,” I thought to myself. But of course, that’s a thought too. The challenge is to just be. To just experience the sensation without judgement, without expectation.
Slowly, distraction crept back in. Shortly thereafter, my timer went off, marking the end of my second meditation session.
I opened my eyes, returning to reality. “Wow, that was incredible,” I thought. I was nearly moved to tears.
I walked home slowly, noticing the world around me, feeling the afterglow of that “meditative state”. Slowly, the feeling drifted away, and I returned to world around me. My thoughts drifted back to work, or my schedule for the rest of the day.
And that’s a pretty typical example of a meditative state for me. Maybe practicing consistently makes those moments of focus easier to find. Maybe they start to last longer. Maybe that’s what the idea of “enlightenment” is getting at.
I’m honestly not sure.
I just know that there’s something there.
I also know you can’t chase that feeling. It comes when it comes.
So I’ll just try to keep showing up.