From conversations with the author: TIME IN MEDITATION AND ATMAN-PILOT

Q: As I have progressed in my practice, I have encountered an inability to anticipate the time spent in meditation. Often this time feels like it is compressed. When you finish meditation, you often check your physical sensations with the actual time spent in meditation. And here you may get a surprise - the time on the clock has passed more than you expected by two or even three or four times.
A: The more stable and stronger the state of concentration, the deeper the meditation, the more complete the immersion into the layers of consciousness. Time flows differently in different layers of consciousness.

Q: Can this be related to the purity of the circulating energy in the channels?
A: Yes, it is. Energy can be dirty and clean, and channels (Nadis) can be dirty or clean depending on the level of the practitioner. You move through the channels with this energy and encounter past experiences. Consciousness is then lost and you enter the Lower Astral World, after which you don't remember much. This is the Samadhi of empty space, there physical time is accelerated. You fly like an airplane, and whether the airplane flies up (i.e. to high worlds) or falls down (i.e. you get an experience of bad worlds) depends on the state of your consciousness - on the ratio of bad karma and merit. The engine of an airplane (the rise of your energy, or Wind) simply creates thrust.

Q: I take it the pilot is me?
A: The pilot is you, that is, the Atman. It is not your ego, but the Atman (True «Self») that makes the effort to concentrate in flight.

Q: What should the diligent practitioner be prepared for, what other surprises in the temporal meditative space may await him?
A: In the Astral World time flows faster, as in your case. There it seems that you meditated a little, but it turns out that three or four hours have passed. This shows that in it experience is gained much faster. The transmission of data in the sound that dominates the Astral World is faster than in the World of Phenomena in which your physical body lives.

Q: What about the Causal World?
A: The higher the level of consciousness, the faster it works in terms of experiences rather than physical desires. In the Causal World (Formless World) the law of Karma is interrupted, there is no action, so time is NONE. It stops already in the Heaven of Akanishtha, the highest Heaven of the Higher World of Forms. This is the state of perfect Samadhi when Formed experience is stopped and there is neither past nor future when Discernment is stopped.
And the speed of data transmission in the Causal World is equal to the speed of light, which forms this world of the soul essence.

Stages of the Emancipation Process.

«3. Joy
(Sanskrit: प्रीति, prīti, Pali: පීති, pīti).
Kundalini opens the Svadhisthana chakra. At this stage there is liberation from the gross and, as a consequence, the experience of the subtle Water Element. The subtle Water Element referred to here is the so-called „Nectar”, or „Nectar of Immortality”.
The Nectar is located in a special chakra called Bindu Visarga. Bindu Visarga is located in the Sahasrara chakra. In the Joy stage, Kundalini opens the Bindu Visarga and the Nectar begins to drip down, filling each of the chakras below the Sahasrara.
The main things we gain in this stage are stability, clarity, and continuity of consciousness. It no longer seeks external objects, we no longer try to get momentary pleasure from possessing them. Why? Through the stages of Delight and Joy, we find true inner satisfaction. And when the mind is satisfied, empty thoughts do not bother it. Thus, at this stage, the capacity for prolonged concentration of consciousness appears» (Volume II, Chapter 2).

Stages of the Emancipation Process.

«2. Delight
(Sanskrit: प्रामोद्य, prāmodya, Pāli: පාමොජ්ජ, pāmojja).
Our Kundalini energy awakens and begins to activate the chakras. Kundalini is the first to activate the Muladhara chakra. This is the Delight Stage, where liberation from the gross Earth Element takes place. In meditation, it feels as if the outer shell of the physical body is being destroyed.
Although this state is called „Delight” and we use this word to refer to pleasant moments in our lives, the state of Delight itself has nothing to do with the pleasant sensations we may experience in everyday life. Kundalini starts to rise upwards in a huge flow, filling, better to say overflowing, the whole body, bringing inexpressible bliss. It is a very gentle, soft, but at the same time - incredibly strong sensation. The body seems to dissolve in this powerful, overflowing flow of energy.
In this way, we take a very important step towards liberation from the illusory pleasures of the material world. In addition, at this level we begin to use the subtle senses corresponding to the Astral World and to distance ourselves from the gross senses of the World of Phenomena» (Volume II, Chapter 2).

«The process of falling is only one and the process of rising is also only one.

The energetic process of Emancipation is described in the texts of Indian Raja Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, in the texts of Chinese Taoism, as well as in the sutras of Tibetan esoteric Buddhism - Tantra-Vajrayana. The stages of the Emancipation process are also given in the suttas of the original Theravada Buddhism.

Of course, the names and part of the descriptions of these stages (steps or levels) differ in different systems of spiritual practice. For example, the original texts of Yoga are written in Sanskrit, the Taoist texts are written in Chinese, the Mahayana and Tantra-Vajrayana sutras are written in Sanskrit and Tibetan, and the Theravada suttas are written in Pali. However, the content of the spiritual experience of each of the Stages of the emancipation process, the meaning of this experience, the sequence of passing through each Stage, and their interdependence are identical in all the above-mentioned authentic systems of spiritual practice. Why is this so?

First, the three most ancient teachings - Yoga, Buddhism, and Taoism - are the only ones on Earth that speak of our realization of our original authentic state - Enlightenment and Emancipation. In Yoga, this state is labeled «Moksha», in Buddhism - «Bodhi» and «Vimutti», in Taoism - «Knowledge of the Primordial Spirit» and «Immortality». But to see this original inexpressible state and to understand the path and ways leading to it, we must not in the sense of yoga, Buddhism, or Taoism, but in the sense of what everything is. If we really want to realize this state and not just talk about it from different points of view.

Secondly, there is only one process of falling and only one process of rising. The process of falling is expressed in the Law of the 12 Stages of Conditioned Emergence, and the path of rising is the process of Emancipation expressed in the second part of the Law of Conditioned Emergence, which Buddhism, Yoga, and Taoism describe in the same way. As I mentioned above, there are differences in the details and terminology used, because the descriptions of this process were made by saints who reached different spiritual levels, spoke different languages, and lived at different times, in different countries with different cultures. However, all these saints have one thing in common - they have indeed traveled the same path, accomplished the Attainment, and left us a description of this path» (Volume II, Chapter 2).

Ancient Sutras of Original Buddhism written in Pali on palm leaf paper, early AD, Buduruvagala Museum, Sri Lanka.

«First of all, we study the Teachings and begin to control our actions, words, and thoughts. The most important thing is to control the mind, as it is primary. This is how mindfulness and concentration in daily life come into being. We learn to concentrate on familiar and understandable processes and objects in the everyday world around us. This creates the basis for unidirectional concentration (Dharana-1) in Samatha meditation. Next, in this meditation, we concentrate on „good” objects - images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the breath, or the theme of our meditation. When concentration reaches its peak, we experience the stopping of actual consciousness. It disappears. Because of this, essential concentration - concentration without object, or Contemplation (Dharana-2) - emerges. Having mastered Contemplation, we concentrate on the „bad” objects - on the data of our worldly desires and stop their action. This is the dhyana leading to Samadhi and further to Emancipation» (Volume III, Chapter 3).

Illustration: Parinirvana Stupa illustrates the process of spiritual practice.

Bodhichitta. Four Awakened States of Consciousness.
Equanimity. Impartiality (Sanskrit: Upeksha, उपेक्षा, upekṣā, Pāli: Upekkhā, උපේක්ඛා, upekkhā).

Based on our past experiences and accumulated information, we discern everything that arises before us, «this I like and this I don't». When, as a result of spiritual practice, these dual workings of the mind stop, we begin to realize everything as it is: our Distinction will remain unaffected so that no illusions of suffering or joy arise. Whatever happens, our consciousness will not be in motion. This state is what is expressed by the word «Equanimity», which is an aspect of Enlightenment.

Sometimes Upeksha is translated as «impartiality». There is no mistake or contradiction here. Why do we distinguish between «this I like and this I don't»? Because we want to get something «good» for ourselves. That is, we distinguish between ourselves and others: «I am the most important one, I don't care about others». When this false «self» that is «most beloved and most important» does not get what it wants, or runs out of fleeting pleasure, we experience suffering, precisely because we love our false «self». When the distinction between «self» and «other» and the distinction of people into «bad» and «good» is eliminated, i.e., impartiality is attained, suffering also ceases. (Volume 1, Chapter 3; Volume 2, Chapter 3)

Illustration. The inscription below the illustration, «Upeksha Paramita. Lomahansa Jataka» - Perfection of Equanimity, one of the past lives of the Buddha described in the Jataka (account of past births). A mural in the ancient Buddhist temple of Dematamal Vihara, 2nd century BC (restored in the 21st century), Sri Lanka.

Bodhichitta. The Four Awakened States of Consciousness.
Praise (Sanskrit: Mudita, मुदित, mudita, Pāli: Muditá, මුදිතා, muditā).

We are engaged in spiritual practice. It is clear that there are people more advanced in spiritual practice who started before us and achieved better results. It is often the case that we develop pride, envy, ill-will, jealousy, and a competitive mind, all of which is called the state of degenerate asur consciousness and prevent us from advancing in our practice.

However, if our practice is based on the True Dharma, we will not feel envy or anger, but on the contrary, we will praise the person who surpasses us in spiritual development and rejoice in his successes. In this case, we destroy our own pride, envy, and ill-will and acquire the same qualities as the person we praise. The Bodhisattva, seeing that other souls are on the path of spiritual practice, surpassing their suffering and approaching their true original state, is sincerely pleased by this and praises everyone from the bottom of his heart. (Volume 1, Chapter 3; Volume 2, Chapter 3)

Bodhichitta. The Four Awakened States of Consciousness.
Compassion (Sanskrit: Karuná, करुणा, karunā, Pāli: Karuná, කරුණා, karuṇā).

The Bodhisattva perceives another's suffering as his own. This is expressed in the word «Compassion» or «shared suffering». Therefore, compassion is always active to help other souls end suffering and become on the path of spiritual practice. That is why, Compassion is above Love, for in Love we desire growth for other souls, and when we are compassionate, we take concrete actions to rescue other souls. The Bodhisattva consciousness is in the original state of Calmness and Contemplation; regarding his own desires, the Bodhisattva consciousness is completely stopped, but it is active towards the suffering of others - this is what makes the Bodhisattva carry on his activities and not go into Nirvana. (Volume 1, Chapter 3; Volume 2, Chapter 3)

Illustration. Apparition of the Buddha in Lanka, on Mount Sri Pada: «The Beneficent One, aware of the reasoning unrest that confused the minds of those assembled like the ripples that arise on the surface of the ocean from random gusts of wind, and possessing a great heart moved by compassion, smiled and said:
- In ancient times, the Tathagatas of the past, who were arhats and all-enlightened ones, came to the Lankan palace on Mount Malaya and discoursed on the Truth of Noble Wisdom, which is beyond the reasoning knowledge of philosophers as well as beyond the comprehension of ordinary disciples and masters, and which is comprehended only by the deepest realization. For your benefit, I will discourse on this same Truth» («The Sutra of the Appearance [of the Good Law] in Lanka»).

«The physical body is our first obstacle on the path to energetic Emancipation. The body must become an obedient instrument of the spiritual practitioner. For example, to raise energy and stop the actual consciousness it is necessary to perform walking practice or Qigong techniques for two or three hours, a yogi performs this practice for two or three hours without feeling discomfort. After the technical practice, it is the turn of meditation.

The best sitting posture for meditation is Lotus or Half-Lotus, so if one of these postures is needed, the yogi easily does it. Further, if it is necessary while sitting in the Lotus, to meditate for six hours, the yogi sits in the Lotus and meditates for six hours. This is what is and for what, first of all, the preparation of the physical body is necessary: „You do not possess your own body - how will you be able to acquire the Way and possess it!” (Le-Tzu).

Good physical shape ensures health and longevity. Of course, we are not discussing attachment to one's health and life. False identification with the physical body is the Wrong view about bodily existence or the first of the Bonds that keeps us in Sansara.

Health and longevity are necessary to continue spiritual practice and thus realize the highest possible spiritual level in this life. If our life is cut short halfway through because of poor health, we will have to start all over again in the next life. Of course, if you have reached a level where your consciousness is not interrupted at the moment of death, then you will be able to carry all your spiritual experience into the next life.

In other words, when you are born in the next life, you will remember your previous life and will be able to utilize your spiritual experience from your previous life. In that case, you will continue your practice. However, if consciousness is interrupted and the whole experience is forgotten, you must start all over again» (Volume III, Chapter 3).

Good physical condition can also be achieved by practicing martial arts