Question asked by Nijala
Triratna Saranam🙏 You see whenever I do Vajarasattva including four opponent powers, I cannot put my head still. It goes round n round. The more intense my visualisation are the intense those movements become. Does it make any sense? What is actually happening? I'm a bit scared n curious to know. Many Thanks.
Dear Nijala,
It is very good to read that you are engaging in the practice of Vajrasattva. It is a very powerful practice when combined with the Four Opponent Powers. Sometimes people do have varied experiences when they do certain practices. May I ask if you have received Vajrasattva initiation? In that case you should refer to initiating guru.
Generally however, if such things occur, you move focus to another part of the practice. For example, if this happens when you visualise strongly, then you reduce the strength of your visualisation and concentrate on the sound of the recitation of the mantra. Try this for some time, and then go back to concentrating on the visualisation. You will notice that the spinning sensation has reduced.
There is nothing to be scared about when this happens. The reason for this is that when you engage in any meditational practice the psychic winds within the body start moving, even if you are not engaging in psychic wind meditation. This actually helps to start clearing any energy blockages within your body as such blockages are also the manifestation of negative karma. It is said the our mind rides on the psychic winds in our bodies, hence when we have less energy blockages, our minds improve as well. This improvement of the mind aids Dharma practice and you are able to understand and implement Dharma teachings easier, leading to real and lasting transformation.
When we are not used to the movement of the winds, then you can have certain physical affects. This can occur with any form of meditational practice, but is particular noted in some people when they engage in deity practices, this is because deity practices are very potent form of meditation. When this happens take a couple of deep breaths to calm yourself and relax. Then continue or move focus to another area of the practice such as mantra recitation. It the feeling persists, then stop the mantra recitation and visualization, finish of reciting the rest of the prayers and do a dedication. End your session there. You can then try coming back to it later.
Some people get put off doing deity practices because they have such occurances. But there is nothing wrong or negative about these experiences at all. Some people have them and so do not. Either way, it is best to take things slowly rather than to try and bulldoze through it. I hope this helps.