Keep hitting a dead zone

[David]

I keep passing through 2nd Jhana into what feels like a dead zone, an empty plateau, doesn't really feel pleasurable. i definitely went into 2nd and quite fast, the energy feels deeper, like i'm going father away from consciousness, its strange, sometimes its very 'gleeful', ecstatic, and this was too, but it also was like i'm dying, or going to sleep, i sometimes will get lost in a voice or some music in my head, then let it go and flash deeper into nothingness. But its like i keep hitting a dead end, stops in a kind of nothingness. Whats going on?

[jhananda]

David, just keep letting go and seeking the bliss component, and you will be fine. Do not worry about those who think they have found deep philosophy from a pill, because all they can find is a taste of bliss. When the pill is used up. so is their bliss. Whereas, a rigorous contemplative finds bliss several times a day in meditation, and that bliss will follow one all day long.

Best regards, Jhananda

[existensialism]

Dear Jeffrey, thank you for your reply, i still keep passing through a tingly ecstatcic 2nd jhana, and I suppose it is just subsiding, but it settles into a kind of dead zone, where I feel like the energy has become inert, and it takes a long time then to get it moving again.

It seems the basis for all philosophy and theorizing about the world, stems from a fundamental ontology. Having reached Nirbana Jeffrey, how do you view contemporary philospical thought these days. How did people like Heidegger become so famous, so highly regarded, what did he know about Jhana?

And just curious, but would you call yourself an existentialist? Do the buddist teachings comprise your philosophical outlook on life?

[jhananda]

Hello David, sorry to hear you are still hitting a "dead zone." Just keep seeking the bliss component in your meditation, and you will be fine.

I am no philosopher, as most philosophers I find boring. I am a mystic. I am inspired by mystics. Sadly, the most recent mystic I can find in the literature would be the founders of the Shakers and Quakers.

We live in a age where everyone is addicted to their mind, and they value it. The mind has to go to become a mystic, so there are very few who are willing to find the off switch for the mind. Those few find excellent company together.

Best regards, Jhananda