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yogalearn
Tunisia
12 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 03 2021 : 3:16:18 PM
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Some adepts, both medieval and modern, describe a deep meditative state where they feel that their spine has become completely immobile and felt extremely rigid, like an iron bar. I presume that this happens in a certain type of samadhi, because the breathing also stops or becomes imperceptible (kevala kumbhaka).
There are very very few references to this experience, and most are oblique, meaning it's not clear whether the iron spine is an analogy or a real experience.
Have any of you
1. seen this in any published materials (book, journal, Web page)
2. experienced this yourself?
I'm very curious about this phenomenon but have can't find any info about it in books. I'll be vary glad if you provide some info, esp. book references.
Thank you in advance.
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BlueRaincoat
United Kingdom
1734 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2021 : 12:34:51 PM
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hello yogalearn
quote:
Originally posted by yogalearn
Some adepts, both medieval and modern, describe a deep meditative state where they feel that their spine has become completely immobile and felt extremely rigid, like an iron bar.
This seems to be one of many kinds of scenery one encounters along the yoga path. Energy moving through the spine can trigger a variety of sensations. For some practitioners it might be a recurring experience at some stage of their practice, others may not experience anything like it at all.
Are you experiencing this in meditation?
There might be people here who will relate and may reply, but I wouldn't be very surprised if you don't get many answers. |
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Dogboy
USA
2294 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2021 : 8:25:49 PM
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quote:
Some adepts, both medieval and modern, describe a deep meditative state where they feel that their spine has become completely immobile and felt extremely rigid, like an iron bar. I presume that this happens in a certain type of samadhi, because the breathing also stops or becomes imperceptible (kevala kumbhaka).
I had a purification episode similar to this (more than five years ago) in DM where I had turned to stone. I knew I was capable of willfully breaking this “spell”, so completed the session without fear, or consequences.
Edit:wording |
Edited by - Dogboy on Sep 05 2021 04:12:31 AM |
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Christi
United Kingdom
4514 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2021 : 09:18:14 AM
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Hi Yogalearn,
This is a common experience in some states of samadhi. The flows of prana in the body will make the spine feel very straight and the body will be supported. I am afraid I do not know of any book references to this.
Christi |
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SeySorciere
Seychelles
1571 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2021 : 06:13:09 AM
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Dear Yogalearn,
Happens to me very often. I never reported on it because I did not see it as a big deal - like Christi says it's just high prana flows. It happens more often in spinal breathing pranayama than in Deep Meditation but can there too
Sey  |
Edited by - SeySorciere on Sep 06 2021 06:14:34 AM |
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yogalearn
Tunisia
12 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2021 : 8:41:10 PM
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Thank you very much for your replies. I really appreciate it.
Wasn't expecting so many answers so soon. :-)
BlueRaincoat
"Are you experiencing this in meditation?"
Yes, but can't find any references in thousands of books. :-( They describe all kinds of stuff but not this one. That's why I'm very curious about it.
Dogboy
"I knew I was capable of willfully breaking this “spell”, so completed the session without fear, or consequences."
What is DM, it's not Daoist meditation, is it?
Yes, in this state you can stop it at will, unlike in some samadhis where you're frozen and can't do anything until comes to an end by itself.
Can you please describe your experience? The longer, more detailed, the better.
Christi
"This is a common experience in some states of samadhi."
There are many different samadhis you know, so it'a a debate but... this is not a samadhi, because you don't lose awareness or the sense of passage of time.
"The flows of prana in the body will make the spine feel very straight"
Yes, exactly.
SeySorciere
"It happens more often in spinal breathing pranayama than in Deep Meditation"
Yes, I also practice spinal breathing and this is how I have it.
Can you please describe your experience? The longer, more detailed, the better.
Note: Edited my moderator for formatting only.
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Christi
United Kingdom
4514 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2021 : 9:38:45 PM
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quote:
There are many different samadhis you know, so it'a a debate but... this is not a samadhi, because you don't lose awareness or the sense of passage of time.
Hi Yogalearn,
As you say, there are many types of samadhi. There are some states of samadhi in which awareness and the sense of the passage of time are still present. Sahaja samadhi for example.
But what you are experiencing is not necessarily a state of samadhi. It could be simply an energetic experience, as others have mentioned above.
Christi |
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yogalearn
Tunisia
12 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2021 : 01:46:52 AM
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Dear Christi
"Sahaja samadhi for example."
Yes, you're right. But sahaja samadhi is not a good example, because it's the highest stage, that is, not for low level meditators like me. 
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Edited by - yogalearn on Sep 07 2021 06:11:49 AM |
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SeySorciere
Seychelles
1571 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2021 : 06:33:22 AM
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Oh dear... what more to say about that? 
Your description "spine becomes rigid as an iron bar" is very apt. Kundalini moves up the central channel and your whole spinal column extends bone by bone and you have the impression of growing to great heights (even beyond what is physically possible). Eyes go strongly into sambhavi, tongue reaches for the roof of the mouth. There is a sense of alignment that spans through your bodies and respective realms. An electrical field is formed, radiating from the spine/central channel, which "bubble-wraps" you in alive, alert Stillness. You are Aware but not of the physical (unless you want to).
To "un-freeze", I wait to be released or I bend forward all the way to the floor in mahamudra (something I am totally un-able to do under normal circumstances). With forehead to the floor, there is a slow discharge/release.
Voila... I hope that satisfies.
Sey
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Edited by - SeySorciere on Sep 07 2021 06:40:56 AM |
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yogalearn
Tunisia
12 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2021 : 6:36:33 PM
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Dear SeySorciere,
Thank you very much for your detailed description. I appreciate it. It is interesting to compare experiences.
What I was talking about doesn't happen in kundalini ascent as you described. There's no shambhavi, or khechari either.
The "electrical field ... radiating from the spine/central channel, which "bubble-wraps" you in alive, alert Stillness" is also different.
Thank you again.
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Christi
United Kingdom
4514 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2021 : 7:56:49 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by yogalearn
Dear Christi
"Sahaja samadhi for example."
Yes, you're right. But sahaja samadhi is not a good example, because it's the highest stage, that is, not for low level meditators like me.
Hi Yogalearn,
Even "low level" meditators can experience sahaja samadhi. I did 7-days after I was first taught to meditate.
There are no rules.
Christi |
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SeySorciere
Seychelles
1571 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2021 : 06:32:47 AM
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Sey |
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vishal.c99
India
1 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2021 : 08:58:44 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by SeySorciere
Oh dear... what more to say about that?
Your description "spine becomes rigid as an iron bar" is very apt. Kundalini moves up the central channel and your whole spinal column extends bone by bone and you have the impression of growing to great heights (even beyond what is physically possible). Eyes go strongly into sambhavi, tongue reaches for the roof of the mouth. There is a sense of alignment that spans through your bodies and respective realms. An electrical field is formed, radiating from the spine/central channel, which "bubble-wraps" you in alive, alert Stillness. You are Aware but not of the physical (unless you want to).
To "un-freeze", I wait to be released or I bend forward all the way to the floor in mahamudra (something I am totally un-able to do under normal circumstances). With forehead to the floor, there is a slow discharge/release.
Voila... I hope that satisfies.
Sey
Beautiful Sey, thank you for articulating |
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kensbikes100
USA
192 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2021 : 06:18:18 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by SeySorciere
Oh dear... what more to say about that?
Your description "spine becomes rigid as an iron bar" is very apt. Kundalini moves up the central channel and your whole spinal column extends bone by bone and you have the impression of growing to great heights (even beyond what is physically possible). Eyes go strongly into sambhavi, tongue reaches for the roof of the mouth. There is a sense of alignment that spans through your bodies and respective realms. An electrical field is formed, radiating from the spine/central channel, which "bubble-wraps" you in alive, alert Stillness. You are Aware but not of the physical (unless you want to).
To "un-freeze", I wait to be released or I bend forward all the way to the floor in mahamudra (something I am totally un-able to do under normal circumstances). With forehead to the floor, there is a slow discharge/release.
Voila... I hope that satisfies.
Sey
A great description, Sey! I experience this often in DM or pranayama. I don’t think it is samyama, but in that position I have had samyama. I can stop it at will, but I always feel I should not come out too fast.
I think I recall reading about it in either Light on Yoga or Light on Pranayama, both by B. K. S. Iyengar. |
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Spine rigid like iron bar (in deep meditation)
