perineum

[Linda]

Jeffrey or Others, I often find that the area of the perineum is 'tight', and that when I consciously relax it during meditation, it always seems to be like an 'infinitely' subtle process of relaxing, then when I feel it is relaxed, I find it can still relax even more, and more, and more, kind of never ending, whats this about?...is this because of the root chakra?

[jhananda]

Hello Linda, no I do not believe that your tension in the perineum is necessarily associated with a chakra. It is more likely that people store tension in different places in the body. You happen to store it in your perineum. And, yes, there are many stages of releasing tension, which parallels the stages of samadhi. So, yes, negotiating those stages of samadhi is as much about learning to relax deeply as it is about learning to lead a rigorous contemplative life. In fact lead a rigorous contemplative life is as much about learning to relax, as learning to lead a stress-free lifestyle, which in part is about leading a rigorous ethical system, because without ethics we are often compelled into a lifestyle that leads to stress and anxiety.

Best regards, Jhananda

[Linda]

I always feel the energy first intensify in my hands and feet, it then usually moves up into the body until a kind of saturation point, from which I will feel that wonderful sudden lift into the 2nd Jhana. I usually bring my awareness to the energy in my hands and feet, focusing on specific fingers or toes, the breath, sometimes counting to avoid fixing on a thought story that arises, as well as trying to release the endless sense of tension that seems 'coiled' up in the perineum. I find this often helps, is this ok?

[jhananda]

Hello Linda, when you feel the "energy" that you described know that you have entered jhana. It is then time to bring your attention to that energy as your new meditation object. Do not try to change the energy. Just let the energy do whatever it wants, and you will go deeper into jhana. I too feel energy in my hands and feet, when I meditate, but then I feel energy all over my body when I meditate.

Yes, avoid fixing on a thought story, is wise. Do let the mind become still. When the mind becomes still, then you have entered the second jhana. Do let the various phenomena of absorption sweep you away into ecstasy. Do it over and over again. Learn to be swept away by the charisms every day, several times a day, and you will be liberated.

Do keep up the good work, Jhananda

[Linda]

Thx Jeffrey!

[firehorse]

Hi Linda,
I have come across hindu / yoga tantra teachings online about the swelling perineum - they say this is connected with energy generation in the development of kundalini practices. This area is located between the base chakra and female genitals and they say it can become very sensitive when activated. I'm not sure if this is connected with your experience but it makes interesting reading anyway
The perineum is also used in Tao methods of kundalini generation. It is used as a kind of pathway for the energy to move from the internal female sexual organs to the base of the spine, so it can then make its upward journey. I went through a phase of practising this method in my 20s - my boyfriend at the time bought me a book called the Tao of sex. There was a book for the female and one for the male.
Love.