To: K-list
Recieved: 2004/04/19 22:34
Subject: [K-list] The Language of Ecstasy
From: Jeffrey Brooks
On 2004/04/19 22:34, Jeffrey Brooks posted thus to the K-list:
The Language of Ecstasy
I am often asked why I use ecstasy, bliss, charism,
charismatic, and St. Vitus's Dance in my descriptions
of the various manifestations that are commonly called
now by Sanskrit terms, like Samadhi, Kundalini and
Kriya, and the Pali term Jhana. Some scholars have
argued that the Asian languages, Pali and Sanskrit,
are far more sophisticated with respect to the
language of gnosis and cognition. While I am sure
those languages are very sophisticated, it seems our
scholar are not, because if they were I am sure more
mystics would find less to disagree with in the
translations than we have available to us.
I use the term charismatic to represent any
manifestation of absorption, this would include
spontaneous movements (kriyas), ecstasies (kundalini),
absorptions (jhana). I understand that the term
'charismatic' has been used by apostolic Christians to
define the manifestations that occur during their
religious ceremonies. And, I am also aware that many
of the dictionary definitions for these words take a
distinct Christian overtone to them, however we must
understand that people who write dictionaries are
probably not mystics, so we cannot expect them to
understand the issues that are pertinent to mystics.
Therefore it is up to us, the mystics, to redefine
these terms in the broader context of the religious
beliefs of the world.
In conclusion within the context of Eastern and
Western Contemplative traditions, I use the term
'charismatic' in much the same way people today often
use the Sanskrit term 'kundalini' to represent any of
many manifestations that people experience who are
going through the spiritual or kundalini awakening.
I believe setting the record straight in the Western
contemplative world, and in our English translation of
the Sanskrit and Pali canons, should not just be up to
the scholars, who probably do not even practice
meditation. The contemplatives, who have given rise
to the ecstasies of absorption through observing a
rigorous regimen of meditation practice, should also
make a contribution to the language of gnosis and the
translation of the contemplative literature of the
world. Someone who practices a rigorous meditation
regimen is not likely to become a scholar. Don't you
think? Instead, they are likely to give rise to a
pleasure that is not of the senses. Why not call that
ecstasy or bliss?
The term 'ecstasy' has been used as a word to describe
the experience of enlightenment by English speaking
contemplatives for quite some time. The 16th century
Spanish mystics, Theresa of Avila and her student,
John of the Cross, used Spanish terms that have been
translated into the English language as 'ecstasy' to
describe the experiences in their contemplative
practice. And, they described 7 levels of ecstasy
(absorption states).
The historic Buddha also described a series of
absorption states that he called "a pleasure not of
the senses," the 8 absorption states (jhanas). As you
will see from the quotes below, his description seems
to represent levels of ecstasy that John of the Cross
wrote about. Therefore I believe it is reasonable to
assume that the English term 'ecstasy' is a valid
translation for the Pali term 'jhana'.
>From the Digha Nikaya Glossary
jhanas - Absorptions, DN 42, 1.3.21f., n.79, n.50,
n.57, n.76f., 2.75ff., 4.33, n.168, 9.10ff., 16.6.8f.,
17.2.3, n.583, n.611, 26.28, 29.24, 33.3.3(6), n.1118,
n.1127, n.1143
Majjhima Nikaya 59
Bahuvedaniya Sutta
a translation from the Pali by
Bhikkhus Nanamoli and Bodhi, Wisdom Publications,
Boston 1995
"The pleasure and joy that arise dependent on the five
sense cords (senses)... are called sense
pleasure....There is another kind of pleasure here,
Ananda, (when one is) secluded from the sense
pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, a bhikkhu
enters upon and abides in the first jhana, which is
accompanied by applied and sustained {concentration
(vitakka and vicára)} with joy and pleasure born of
seclusion. This is that other kind of pleasure
(bliss) loftier and more sublime than the previous
pleasure."
Pasadika Sutta DN 29
The Delightful Discourse
a translation from the Pali by
Maurice Walshe, Wisdom Publications, Boston 1987, 1995
24.2 "There are, Cunda, these four kinds of life
devoted to pleasure which are conducive to
disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to
tranquillity, to realization, to enlightenment, to
Nibbana. What are they? First a monk detached from
sense-desires, detached from unwholesome mental
states, enters and remains in the first jhana..."
through the fourth jhana.
Anapanasati Sutta, MN 118
Awareness of In-&-Out Breathing
[6] "One trains oneself to breathe in sensitive to joy
(sukha), and to breathe out sensitive to pleasure
(piiti)."
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/majjthis
onea/mn118.html
Maha-satipatthana Sutta DN 22
(Jhana)
"And what is right {meditation (sama-samadhi)}? There
is the case where an aspirant -- quite withdrawn from
sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful (mental)
qualities -- enters & remains in the first jhana: joy
& pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by
applied and sustained {concentration (vitakka and
vicára)}. With the stilling of applied and sustained
{concentration (vitakka and vicára)}, one enters &
remains in the second jhana: joy & pleasure born of
composure, unification of awareness free from directed
applied and sustained {concentration (vitakka and
vicára)} -- internal assurance. With the fading of
exuberance one remains in equanimity, mindful & alert,
physically sensitive of ecstasy. One enters & remains
in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare,
'Equanimous & mindful, one has a pleasurable abiding.'
With the abandoning of (grasping and aversion for)
pleasure & pain -- as with the earlier disappearance
of pleasure & pain -- one enters & remains in the
fourth jhana: purity of equanimity & awareness,
neither pleasure nor pain. This is called right
absorption."
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/dn22.html
or, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jhanas/files/
The Language of Ecstasy in English
Absorb tr.v.
1. To take (something) in through or as through pores
or interstices.
2. To occupy the full attention, interest, or time of;
engross. See Synonyms at monopolize.
3. Physics. To retain (radiation or sound, for
example) wholly, without reflection or transmission.
4. To take in; assimilate: immigrants who were
absorbed into the social mainstream.
5. To receive (an impulse) without echo or recoil: a
fabric that absorbs sound; a bumper that absorbs
impact.
6. To take over (a cost or costs).
7. To endure; accommodate: couldn't absorb the
additional hardships. [Middle English, to swallow up,
from Old French absorber, from Latin absorbre
Absorption n.
1. The act or process of absorbing or the condition of
being absorbed.
2. A state of mental concentration.
Bliss n.
1. Extreme happiness; ecstasy.
2. The ecstasy of salvation; spiritual joy.
Charism (karizúm) n. Theology.
Charisma.
Charisma (kú-rizmú) n., pl. charisma.
1.a. A rare personal quality attributed to leaders who
arouse fervent popular devotion and enthusiasm. b.
Personal magnetism or charm: a television news program
famed for the charisma of its anchors.
2. Theology. An extraordinary power, such as the
ability to perform miracles, granted to a Christian by
the Holy Spirit. [Greek kharisma, divine favor, from
kharizesthai, to favor, from kharis, favor. from Greek
khairein, to rejoice, delight in. [Pokorny 1. [her-
440.]
Charismatic (kariz-matik) adj.
1. Of, relating to, or characterized by charisma: “the
warmth of a naturally charismatic leader’ (Joyce Carol
Oates).
2. Theology. Of, relating to, or being a type of
Christianity that emphasizes personal religious
experience and divinely inspired powers, as of
healing, prophecy, and the gift of tongues.
—charismatic n.
Theology.A member of a Christian charismatic group or
movement.
cognition n.
1. The mental process or faculty of knowing, including
aspects such as awareness, perception, reasoning, and
judgment.
2. That which comes to be known, as through
perception, reasoning, or intuition; knowledge.
[Middle English cognicioun, from Latin cognitia,
cognitian-, from cognitus, past participle of
cognoscere, to learn : co-, intensive pref.; see CO- +
gnoscere, to know—cognitional adj.
Ecstasy n., pl. ecstasies.
1. Intense joy or delight.
2. A state of emotion so intense that one is carried
beyond rational thought and self-control.
3. The trance, frenzy, or rapture associated with
mystic or prophetic exaltation. [Middle English
extasie, from Old French, from Late Latin extasis
effusive adj.
1. Unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression;
gushy: an effusive manner.
2. Profuse; overflowing: effusive praise.
euphoria n.
A feeling of great happiness or well-being. [New
Latin, from Greek, from euphoros, healthy : eu-, eu- +
pherein, to bear; see bher-1 below.]
exhilaration n.
1. The act of exalting or the condition of being
exalted.
2. A state or feeling of intense, often excessive
exhilaration or well-being. See Synonyms at ecstasy.
3. A flight of larks. See Synonyms at flock1.
exuberant adj.
1. Full of unrestrained enthusiasm or joy.
2. Lavish; extravagant.
3. Extreme in degree, size, or extent.
4. Growing, producing, or produced abundantly;
plentiful:
Note: because exhilaration exuberant have the quality
of effusiveness, then I relegate them to the first
jhana, which seems to be typified by a youthful and
gushy kind of joy.
gnosis n.
Intuitive apprehension of spiritual truths, an
esoteric form of knowledge sought by the Gnostics.
[Greek gnosis, knowledge, from gignoskein, to know.
Rapture n.
1. The state of being transported by a lofty emotion;
ecstasy.
2. Often raptures. An expression of ecstatic feeling.
See Synonyms at ecstasy.
3. The transporting of a person from one place to
another, especially to heaven.
Note: Because 'rapture' has the quality of being
transported then I take this to be the Contemplative
Christian term for an out-of-body experience. And,
since the out-of-body experience typically leaves the
subject in a cataleptic trance, then I am going to
associate it with the supramundane absorption states
Saint Vitus' dance also Saint Vitus's dance n.
See Sydenham's chorea. [After Saint Vitus,
third-century A.D. Christian martyr.]
Sydenham's chorea (shdn-úmz) n.
A nervous disorder occurring chiefly in childhood or
during pregnancy, closely associated with rheumatic
fever, and characterized by rapid, jerky, involuntary
movements of the body. Also called Saint Vitus' dance.
[After Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689), English
physician.]
Note: since Saint Vitus' dance was used as a term to
describe a neurological disorder that was
characterized by rapid, jerky, involuntary movements
of the body, then we can assume Saint Vitus may have
had kriyas.
trance (trans) n.
1. A hypnotic, cataleptic, or ecstatic state.
2. Detachment from one's physical surroundings, as in
contemplation or daydreaming.
3. A semiconscious state, as between sleeping and
waking; a daze.
Note: because the word 'trance' has the quality of
"Detachment from one's physical surroundings in a
cataleptic-like state, then I believe we should use
this term for the Supramundane absorption states
(arupa jhanas).
Blessings to you,
Jeff Brooks
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