[cauddyVab]

Hi all, I wonder if anyone could please help me understand and overcome a problem I have during meditation recently?

Sometimes while I’m sitting, the breath, body and mind seem to fall away or disappear. When I realise this, I panic and almost jolt myself back into meditation, then I just go back to following the breath. The only thing I can liken it to is like being at the top of a very high building or cliff and I’m just on the edge of it ready to fall, I suppose a bit like vertigo?

I think this may be due to my ‘self’ clinging on to its identity and not allowing me to go over that edge, and there is also a strong fear of going beyond no body, no breath, no mind.

I hope this makes sense and some of you can relate to it. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[MadMark]

I can only guess, but it may be something as simple as hypnic jerk. Rest assured, though, that you probably can't 'meditate yourself to death'. Assuming you're healthy, your body's autonomic nervous system has built-in mechanisms to keep everything going. The worst I've ever done was meditate myself to sleep.

[Teareerah]

Hi Jade,
Is it a case of losing awareness as this is happening, then suddenly realising what's going on? If so it would look like some kind of torporific or trance-like state, a kind of mental sinking. Just return to your object.

If, on the other hand, it's crystal clear and your awareness is undiminished, then it's a different matter. If it's dropping away of itself, let it go and have no fear. The fear is tension. Investigate it and it will dissipate. Relax and take no ownership of it.

[MannoFr]

Hi Jade,
Is it a case of losing awareness as this is happening, then suddenly realising what's going on? If so it would look like some kind of torporific or trance-like state, a kind of mental sinking. Just return to your object.

If, on the other hand, it's crystal clear and your awareness is undiminished, then it's a different matter. If it's dropping away of itself, let it go and have no fear. The fear is tension. Investigate it and it will dissipate. Relax and take no ownership of it.

Hi srivijaya, it's definitely the latter, I don't feel or notice any sinking. Thanks for the advice, do you think it could be a fear of the unknown? There's an element to it in my head that goes 'ok, so what happens now?'

[tarmpriopay]

I can only guess, but it may be something as simple as hypnic jerk.

It's not that, (although interesting) as there's no physical movement or sensation, it seems more like a mental thing where my mind goes 'woah!'

The worst I've ever done was meditate myself to sleep.

Now that's something I can relate to

[nerrttrw]

It might just be a milder version of hypnic jerk. I don't know if I'd run straight for a metaphysical explanation right off the bat; it may be something much more mundane. Hope you figure it out, tho.

[Alex Photographer]

do you think it could be a fear of the unknown?

Perhaps, but look for the source of the fear. What do you find? Who is fearing?
There's an element to it in my head that goes 'ok, so what happens now?' I guess when that happens you find yourself back at base camp

It's probably just a phase and it will pass or develop further. Back to the breath but with a good eye on what else is happening.

[Nothatspecial]

Thank you both for the useful advice

[nicegirlflor]

My pleasure. Let us know how it goes.