an odd fear of jhana

[identification]

I have this fear of going into jhana and waking up under the ground in a casket or in a hospital during an autopsy because my roommates and doctors thought I was dead. Anyone else? Sounds a little crazy I'm sure, but ajahn brahm told a story about one of his students going into jhana and the doctors and his wife thinking he was dead. Maybe I can wear a necklace that says I'm not dead I'm in a jhana. Your thoughts?

[thepea]

The reverse happened a little while ago serving on retreat, one of the senior teachers(85yrs old) who was sitting the course was sitting on a chair at the back of the meditation hall and he suddenly slumped over and was rocking back and forth a bit with his head down, we noticed this and were going to help him but someone said to leave him as he was most likely in a deep state of concentration. It turns out he was having a mild attack and could not ask for help. Eventually we tended to him but kinda scary. Yikes!

[Goofaholix]

I have this fear of going into jhana and waking up under the ground in a casket or in a hospital during an autopsy because my roommates and doctors thought I was dead. Anyone else? :D Sounds a little crazy I'm sure, but ajahn brahm told a story about one of his students going into jhana and the doctors and his wife thinking he was dead. Maybe I can wear a necklace that says I'm not dead I'm in a jhana. Your thoughts?

If you fear it better to not try to do it, cultivate other aspects of the path for now.

[identification]

I have this fear of going into jhana and waking up under the ground in a casket or in a hospital during an autopsy because my roommates and doctors thought I was dead. Anyone else? Sounds a little crazy I'm sure, but ajahn brahm told a story about one of his students going into jhana and the doctors and his wife thinking he was dead. Maybe I can wear a necklace that says I'm not dead I'm in a jhana. Your thoughts?

If you fear it better to not try to do it, cultivate other aspects of the path for now.

Thanks. But did you mean to say ( fire, poison, arrows, wild animals, and all other physical dangers are incapable of harming you while in a jhana. You are invincible and protected by the devas!)). In which case, thank you so much!

[identification]

The reverse happened a little while ago serving on retreat, one of the senior teachers(85yrs old) who was sitting the course was sitting on a chair at the back of the meditation hall and he suddenly slumped over and was rocking back and forth a bit with his head down, we noticed this and were going to help him but someone said to leave him as he was most likely in a deep state of concentration. It turns out he was having a mild attack and could not ask for help. Eventually we tended to him but kinda scary. Yikes!

Wow, sounds scary. I guess it can go wrong either way. Best to just let go I guess!

[Goofaholix]

But did you mean to say ( fire, poison, arrows, wild animals, and all other physical dangers are incapable of harming you while in a jhana. You are invincible and protected by the devas!)).

No, I meant to say if you fear jhana then that fear will stop it from happening anyway so concentrate on other aspects of the path until you have the confidence to let go.

[santa100]

I have this fear of going into jhana and waking up under the ground in a casket or in a hospital during an autopsy because my roommates and doctors thought I was dead. Anyone else? Sounds a little crazy I'm sure, but ajahn brahm told a story about one of his students going into jhana and the doctors and his wife thinking he was dead. Maybe I can wear a necklace that says I'm not dead I'm in a jhana. Your thoughts?

It's very difficult to get to such deep states of jhana where one no longer feels any sense disturbances. Usually it requires lots of training over a long period where the meditative strength builds up gradually. Because of this gradual process, one usually has a pretty good idea how long his jhana session usually lasts. And if one knows how long it takes, one can just tell their roomate or wife to not disturb them during that length of time. So no worries..

[Mkoll]

But did you mean to say ( fire, poison, arrows, wild animals, and all other physical dangers are incapable of harming you while in a jhana. You are invincible and protected by the devas!)).

No, I meant to say if you fear jhana then that fear will stop it from happening anyway so concentrate on other aspects of the path until you have the confidence to let go.

[identification]

But did you mean to say ( fire, poison, arrows, wild animals, and all other physical dangers are incapable of harming you while in a jhana. You are invincible and protected by the devas!)).

No, I meant to say if you fear jhana then that fear will stop it from happening anyway so concentrate on other aspects of the path until you have the confidence to let go.

Which parts? Virtue?

[identification]

I have this fear of going into jhana and waking up under the ground in a casket or in a hospital during an autopsy because my roommates and doctors thought I was dead. Anyone else? Sounds a little crazy I'm sure, but ajahn brahm told a story about one of his students going into jhana and the doctors and his wife thinking he was dead. Maybe I can wear a necklace that says I'm not dead I'm in a jhana. Your thoughts?

It's very difficult to get to such deep states of jhana where one no longer feels any sense disturbances. Usually it requires lots of training over a long period where the meditative strength builds up gradually. Because of this gradual process, one usually has a pretty good idea how long his jhana session usually lasts. And if one knows how long it takes, one can just tell their roomate or wife to not disturb them during that length of time. So no worries..

Thanks. Much metta

[Mkoll]

But did you mean to say ( fire, poison, arrows, wild animals, and all other physical dangers are incapable of harming you while in a jhana. You are invincible and protected by the devas!)).

No, I meant to say if you fear jhana then that fear will stop it from happening anyway so concentrate on other aspects of the path until you have the confidence to let go.

Which parts? Virtue?

All the other parts of the path other than right concentration (jhana).

[daverupa]

All the other parts of the path other than right concentration (jhana).

Indeed! There can even be seated satipatthana ahead of doing anapanasati. There is also a whole range of kayagatasati.

[Goofaholix]

All the other parts of the path other than right concentration (jhana).

Yes, 7 out of 8 ain't bad.

[Akhandha]

I have this fear of going into jhana and waking up under the ground in a casket or in a hospital during an autopsy because my roommates and doctors thought I was dead. Anyone else? Sounds a little crazy I'm sure, but ajahn brahm told a story about one of his students going into jhana and the doctors and his wife thinking he was dead. Maybe I can wear a necklace that says I'm not dead I'm in a jhana. Your thoughts?

oh, yes) some time ago I had the same fear and the same ideas))
but then this fear disappeared because I saw that in my case these states never last more than some hours.
I meditate at night, so by the morning I'm usually already alive

[waterchan]

I have this fear of going into jhana and waking up under the ground in a casket or in a hospital during an autopsy because my roommates and doctors thought I was dead.

Clearly someone has been reading / watching too much Ajahn Brahm

When he told those stories I'm sure he intended it to be entertaining.