Hi everyone,
I’ve been on a spiritual path for about 3 years. I started due to severe anxiety and hypochondria, but through consistent meditation and Ramana Maharshi’s Self-Inquiry (Atma Vichara), my practice deepened significantly.
I reached a point where "meditating without meditating" became my baseline—observing thoughts in real-time throughout the day with laser-like focus. However, this has led to a strange problem.
Now, whenever I sit to meditate, I enter a pre-Samadhi state almost instantly. But as soon as I hit that threshold, my body reacts:
- Rapid BPM increase: My heart rate spikes (sometimes hitting 130 BPM).
- Respiratory changes: A feeling of oxygen deprivation.
- Eye fluttering: Rapid involuntary movement.
I feel like I’ve developed a "fear of the heartbeat." I’m afraid to fully "cross over" because I’m worried about the physiological strain, or that I’ll end up in a deep state for hours and miss my work responsibilities. Recently, I tried to meditate just to relax, but the pulse spike was so intense it ruined my entire night.
I feel like I’ve unbalanced my life by being 100% in the "Self" (The Being) and neglecting the human/functional side.
My questions for the community:
- Has anyone else experienced high heart rates or "panic-like" symptoms right before deep absorption?
- How do you balance "The Being" with a 9-5 professional life when the states become this accessible/intense?
- Any tips on surrendering the fear of the body's physical reactions during Inquiry?
I feel a bit lost—any guidance would be appreciated.