MizSuz
Posts: 1416
Joined: 1/1/2004 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: belongtoyou Not sure if this is true or not, because i've not yet experienced it myself, but perhaps "sub space" would be the equivalant of meditation? i look forward to hearing others thoughts on the matter. Peace, ~rain~ rain, Good comparison here. I can't say that I have personal experience with 'sub space,' at least not in the first person. I have seen it manifest in many people, in many different ways and for many different reasons. I have also experienced periods of "altered states" similar to what I've seen in people who do hit 'sub space.' I think this particular 'state' is a biochemical thing. Everyone hears about endorphins and most of us know that there are many ways to get them pumping. For some the trigger is humiliation, for others a slow, rhythmic flogging that gradually intensifies, still others get there simply by being of use. I've seen tops go there (and have gone there as a top) as well. These are things that produce one type of endorphin. There are many types of endorphins and they produce different kinds of 'states.' I've seen people who hit that 'state' by the above mentioned methods and I've seen runners hit it. I've also seen many people create it by meditating, by chanting, by dancing, by drumming, by practicing different kinds of breathing, by doing yoga, tai-chi and other martial arts, tantra, and by working out at the gym. There are a ton of ways to stimulate the production of seratonin, adrenaline, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, etc., and while the state for it's own sake is still a very valid experience I've generally found that the process taken to achieve said production is where the real treasures are. The 'state' is just a bit of experiential gravy. I once walked hand-in-hand with my 10 year old son across hot coals (I still have some of the charcoal from that day - my son is now 24). We spent the day doing things to produce that 'state' and I'm sure that is the reason neither of us suffered even a change of skin tone for the coals. We spent the day in community with others building a fire that would take literally hours and hours to burn down, meditating, chanting, dancing, being with each other. The memory I will take to my grave, of going over those coals with my child and watching him literally dance on the coals with joy as he KNEW that fear was illusion and he could master his own destiny, was the real treasure for me. The endorphin state was an enjoyable experience but it pales to what we achieved in the creation of that state. To respond to the original question - I don't really identify as a traditional buddhist, but I have studied a fair bit and Tibetan Buddhism (or more properly a new age variant of it) sings to me most. Namaste'
< Message edited by MizSuz -- 4/1/2004 8:46:43 PM >
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Suz In honor of the impending ski season: If you're not livin' on the edge you're takin' up too much space!
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