Shortly after I took up the practice of formal meditation I suddenly heard loud noises, sounds, and voices. I was unsure if they were sentient beings or merely hallucinations. I tried to test the phenomenon to determine what was happening. The sounds were very disturbing and really hit me to the core making meditation exceedingly difficult. It has been many years now and I still find myself troubled by these sounds. I am curious if I should try to get through this by continuing to meditate, hoping I can pass through this phase. Anyone ever experience something similar? I do not enjoy it at all.
Mysterious. If you don't enjoy it, stop meditation for a while, talk to a doctor about it. Also, how did you meditate and for what periods of time?
When it first started I believe I had tried meditating on the third eye center. I believe I just read something about the technique in a book and gave it a try. I didn't realize I could potentially damage my mind with inappropriate techniques. Now when I do meditation I keep it simple with a basic breath awareness method, and yes I have seen a doctor. I take my daily blue pill to stay normal.
I don't know about damage, but it looks like when you tried for the third eye (which is supposed to open awareness to the preternatural), you succeeded. No one promised that it would be pleasant. Edit: My husband wants me to tell you that opening the third eye is like opening the other two: just because you open it doesn't mean that there's anything you want to see (hear, smell, whatever) in range. Just ask anyone who's fucked Courtney Love. His quote, not mine.
Most of the meditation teachers i've had suggest starting out by focusing awareness on our hands, feet, arms, legs and other extremities. Then do basic vipassana meditation. The idea being that emotions and psychological bruises can be stored in the core of our body and head. Intense focusing on these centers can unleash parts of your unconscious self that aren't always pleasant. So to start meditating on these "energy centers" can cause unexpected (and unsettling) thoughts/images/emotions to enter awareness. Your decision to move to basic breath awareness as a place to start makes sense. As you feel comfortable with these mindfulness techniques (i.e. simply being aware of how your body feels, how your emotions undulate and what thoughts enter your mind), progress from there slowly. Opening the Third Eye is not an ideal way to begin. Enormous personal insight can be gained from simply being aware and practicing awareness. Often folks are lured in by the potential for paranormal activity and jump into the advanced techniques too soon. Stick with the awareness techniques for a while, and i think you'll see self-observation will be the best life teacher you can find. Enjoy Garrett
