Bliss, Ecstasy and Ultimate Happiness

Having touched on Deeper Level of Connection, Primary Relationship (Heart), The Free State (Levenson), etc., let us dive into the subject of Bliss, Ecstasy and Ultimate Happiness (Nirvana).  My conviction is that these experiences have a common foundation and that it is easily accessed if we are more attentive to at least some of the characteristics I mentioned already.  The terms may sound foreign, but if patiently examined, reflecting one's own experiences, many if not all people may find the connection to what appears to me as miracle or wonder of LIFE.  (After all, all of us are from there to start with.)

In order for us to familiarize with such experience, let us first revisit Levenson, who said there are five elements that characterizes the free state.  They are: 1) imperturbability, 2) desirelessness, 3) effortlessness, 4) actionlessness, and 5) witnessing.  Some may already relate to such a description.  (Imperturbability and witnessing seem to correspond to what I call, "mirror mind.")

Next, let us review "indicative signs of being connected to Heart" I characterized from my experience in the post, Deeper Level of Connection;

-  Sense of being in present, here and now, choiceless observation, witnessing

-  Vivid sense of inner body sensation, aliveness, liveliness 

(cells jumping around as if very happily)

-  Calm, clear and quiet mind; beginner's mind, no mind, mirror mind

-  Soft eyes...see without seeing - very intuitive, third eye as if opening up a new channel

-  Body/muscle is totally relaxed; There is a sense of effortlessness; no strains felt

-  no ego/self; desirelessness, actionlessness

-  It is as if a new channel opens up by itself from deep within (a new sense of connection)
-  Feeling of all answers are already there (there is no doubt or question any more)

-  Mind and body are felt as one; no boundaries; I am you; I am one with the universe

-  Sense of serenity, peace, arriving/being at home, nothing is missing

-  Wisdom and compassion come naturally; delusions/sufferings/errors are nowhere to find

-  Sense of living truthfully (connection to the Law, the Way); sense of being absolute, imperturbability

-  Sense of Ki (Life energy) manifesting; Blissful sensation spreading over

-  Sense of connection to unconscious/infinite potential (connection of external and internal)

-  Sense of oneness; non-duality

-  Sense of mind and body being 'healthy' and 'genuine'
-  Sense of everything seen as vivid and alive (inside and outside)

-  Sense of love, bliss, and intimacy to all 

-  Sense of time distortion (as if time lost its meaning)

It is also felt as a totally natural state, since it happens on its own.  Yet, as mentioned before, "If you seek for it, you will not find it" (Yuima sutra, or Vimalakirti sutra), which connects to Levenson's desirelessness, effortlessness, and actionlessness. And because of that, when we have it, there is a sense of deep appreciation of arriving at home.  That is ultimate happiness, as Levenson calls it.  Note however, it does not sound like a short temporary state for him.


BTW, this term, "ultimate happiness" points to true, absolute happiness, but "not" the happiness that is transient.  Again, as paradoxical as it may seem, if we seek for it, ultimate happiness will not be found.  Daisetz Suzuki says, "It is Happiness that does not depend on anything." That is Levenson's "Free State."  

Meditating Miroku Bosatsu (Bodhisattva Maitreya) of Koryu-ji Temple, Nara, Japan

(World famous for his gentle compassionate "smile")

Reflecting on his spiritual experience, Eckhart Tolle said since then, there was 80 % reduction in his mind activities since then.  I see it points a long lasting "calm and quiet mind."  Or, this is what Krishnamurti called, "choice-less observation."  Then, the exhibit above indicates the state of body and muscles totally relaxed and mind very calm such that there is a genuine smile emanating from within.  If you remember the "state of centering" in Aikido (the list of ten items), you should see a definite connection there as well.

Then, here are the characteristics of Saintliness summarized in "The Varieties of Religious Experiences" by William Games (p.216):

1) A feeling of being in a wider life..; and a conviction ...of the existence of an Ideal Power

2) A sense of the friendly continuity of the ideal power with our own life, and a willing self-surrender to its control

3) An immense elation and freedom, as the outlines of the confining selfhood meltdown

4) A shifting of the emotional center toward loving and harmonious affections, toward 'yes,yes' and away from 'no,' where the claims of the non-ego are concerned

Finally, here is Maslow's findings from Wikipedia.  Beyond the routine of needs fulfillment, Maslow envisioned moments of extraordinary experience, known as Peak Experiences, which are profound moments of love, understanding, happiness, or rapture, during which a person feels more whole, alive, self-sufficient and yet a part of the world, more aware of truth, justice, harmony, goodness, and so on.

 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

(When self-actualized, however, my view is like that of Suzuki, the state of bliss, ecstasy and ultimate happiness may not depend on the condition we are in*)

According to Maslow, self-actualising people share the following qualities:

- Truth: honest, reality, beauty, pure, clean and unadulterated completeness

- Goodness: rightness, desirability, uprightness, benevolence, honesty

- Beauty: rightness, form, aliveness, simplicity, richness, wholeness, perfection, completion,

- Wholeness: unity, integration, tendency to oneness, interconnectedness, simplicity, organization, structure, order, not dissociated, synergy

- Dichotomy-transcendence: acceptance, resolution, integration, polarities, opposites, contradictions

- Aliveness: process, not-deadness, spontaneity, self-regulation, full-functioning

- Unique: idiosyncrasy, individuality, non comparability, novelty

- Perfection: nothing superfluous, nothing lacking, everything in its right place, just-rightness, suitability, justice

- Necessity: inevitability: it must be just that way, not changed in any slightest way

- Completion: ending, justice, fulfillment

- Justice: fairness, suitability, disinterestedness, non partiality,

- Order: lawfulness, rightness, perfectly arranged

- Simplicity: nakedness, abstract, essential skeletal, bluntness

- Richness: differentiation, complexity, intricacy, totality

- Effortlessness: ease; lack of strain, striving, or difficulty

- Playfulness: fun, joy, amusement

- Self-sufficiency: autonomy, independence, self-determining.

Personally, I can relate to most of these characterizations... As in Tolle's case, my spiritual experience seems to have contributed to heightened sense of such state.  And, I am further drawn into it as if these are confirmation of me moving on the right path, I call here the new hero's journey - following that bliss.

--

Note: Related to my comment to the exhibit on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, here is a Zen koan (puzzle):

Monk: I am new to this temple. Please give me any proper advice.

Joshu (Master): Have you finished your meal?

Monk: Yes, I have.

Joshu: OK, wash the dishes well.

(Hint: If you live by following the law, that is all you need to practice - practice this in all situations)

Sex, Meditation and Aikido

Sex is something most of us are familiar with (although I feel there is depth to be explored like anything else in life).  Aikido is new to me (although I connected from the very first encounter just recently).  Yet, since realizing there are so much in common between the two, and that I believe such realization came from my meditation experience, I want to share my views as shown below:

If you want to catch someone's attention, the quickest way may be to talk something about sex.  In the meantime, influenced by TV, instant message and texting, etc., more people seem to be for instant gratification.  Quick everything!!  Even for sex?!  Oh, no!!! I need at the least 1.5 hours!  (Have I caught your attention?)  But seriously, if you are familiar with Tantric and Daoist sex, you know what I mean.  When we are totally absorbed in the act, whether sex, meditation, or else, there are experiences of being in the zone, intimacy, samadhi, oneness, or whatever you may call it.  And..., I also see playfulness, ecstasy and liveliness there although at the end it is beyond any description of words.

As I see it, in that state is yhe creativity where different elements come together to create a new meaning.  This, I would like to call the experience of "the absolute affirmation of life."  Yet, if having sex is an ego-driven act, and not tied to intimacy (both within oneself and between the two), we may not experience the connection to the core of our life, the miracle of two melting together.  It is simple; intimacy can not come from ego.  So, this connection is about the "primary relationship," I mentioned in the previous post.

Now, Aikido is known as martial art originated from Japan by Morihei Ueshita (1883 – 1969).  It is translated as "the way of harmony with the spirit/energy of the universe.”  Literally, it means "the way of meeting of Ki, the life energy" (this may sounds far-fetched for some but do you sense the common ground between sex and Aikido?)  And I found Aikido is much more than a conventional view of Martial Art as I realized in the interview video with Philip Stearns, 25-year veteran and Sen-sei (teacher), whom I met on the hiking trail the other day, and videotaped him later in that afternoon.  If you are intuitive, you may find the connection between sex, meditation and Aikido without much difficulty (11 min.).




Here are selected quotes of Philip Stearns from this video:
"Aikido is about connecting to the heart"
"I am responsible to what is happening there as I can change myself which affects the outcome."
"There is intimacy with sensation that we experience in nature"


In this video, I also commented to my experience in meditation, quoting the Zen saying; "Melting of the boundaries, mind and body had fallen off."  It was as if having sex, or become one with the universe.  Resonated from this encounter with Philip, few days later, I joined Aikido club in Santa Monica, and more confirmation has been made with what I call here, the new hero's journey.


In essence, what is being confirmed is about all activities in life can be based on compassion for betterment, even to the enemies.  Gozo Shioda, one of the most prominent teachers in history of Aikido says, when he was asked, "What is your strongest skill in Aikido?"  He said, "The enemy who came to kill me becomes my friend!"

On the journey, our hero may look at the external as well as internal (mind/body/spirit) and find a good connection (path) such that there is a way for a good balance and harmony.  We want to be happy as well as those others surrounding us.  We are linked with each other like in a intricate web.  We are whole (if look internally) and at the same time part of the whole (if look externally) and there is exchange of Ki (life energy) among all.  We are all connected.  And we have this innate ability to feel that connection, and express what is to be expressed through sex, Aikido, meditation, or else in the most genuine manner.  This is the life's miracles; and we are the miracles ourselves.  We can feel it, we can cultivate it, and we can live our life accordingly, following the bliss.

In sex, and in any intimate relationship, the New DNA (mentioned previously) may be cultivated and it builds the entirely new potential and new found meaning in it.  Intimacy, and joy of sex is but a scene of the life energy finding ways to explore the new horizon - as we experience the same in meditaion, and Aikido, just to name a few.  May we, as new hero's, therefore, explore this wonder of life?!  My answer is; why not?  Properly done, I believe sex, aikido and all of our life's experience can teach us who we are and what we can do as we follow the bliss in our new hero's journey.