HisServant

I just don’t see why amrit vela on the other side of the planet would have an effect on someone who’s no where near that place. 
From personal experience. Sounds starts blasting loud in both ears as soon as the sun goes down and stays that way until sunrise. I don’t know anything factually beyond that. 
And then there’s the view that it’s always amrit vela when you’re always internally drinking amrit. I can’t speak more of that because I’m not at that point yet. 
I would suggest taking some time out to do simran when the sun is down. But if it’s not a possibility for you, don’t make it an excuse not do simran. Just make sure you’re doing it. 
I live in Canada and when it’s around midnight in Punjab, it’s around 1-2 pm here. That’s the point in the day where I can just barely hear the sounds and it’s also the time when the sun is the highest in the sky. 
So just from personal experience I can’t see the correlation between punjab’s amrit vela and my own bhagti. Maybe that’s just me though. 

I remember talking to people like @Lucky and @Sat1176 about this issue a few years ago. I am happy to say that with waheguru's kirpa this issue has been long gone. 
 
You need to ask yourself what is more important in life? A few minutes of pleasure vs becoming the most badass dude in all of your social groups. 
 
There are two main areas of benefit if you give up this habit - I can expand on whichever point appeals to you the most.
 
***These are not googled benefits, these are benefits that I have experienced in my life - I am sure everyone will experience these if they stay away from indulging in kaam***
 
1) The benefits in tregun - the physical aspects of your life 
More energy Better mood More masculine energy, testosterone, etc Which also has manifest as more physical and emotional strength And I believe this has also created a more carefree personality - somewhat like James Bond (very calm, cool and collected) More dominance in social interactions - with men and women Talking less and communicating more with your body language is a very masculine trait - conserving sexual energy has lead to this trait developing on its own. I've noticed that you can communicate with your eyes better than you can with words.  Even when you see a good looking girl it does not affect you after some point - this takes a lot of masculinity - your standards in women go up - you look further than looks - you look to see what can be offered beyond the physcial appearance - Just by observation I've realized the female mind is very pulled in by someone who has this trait/mindset - Girls are very pushed away by guys who give the "desperate vibe" aka the one's who are constantly filled with desires and cannot control their eyes. It feels as if an energy has been created that just pulls in both men and women. You will dominate the entire social world. Everyone will want to be your friend.  Deeper voice  More assertiveness  More ambition Better facial appearance  Fat drops quickly and muscle is gained quickly Better sleep Which also has lead to waking up becomming easier Massive levels of motivation Confidence in every aspect of life becomes booming  Self control  Improved mental performance  Tendency to eat healthier  I could probably go on but you get the point - *** You will become a super hero - every aspect of your life will improve - You will become the manliest of men*** 2) The benefits in the nirgun (formless aspects of your life)
NO WORDS - Words will never do justice (but I can give it a shot) Sometimes you will just be sitting somewhere (maybe doing school work or just hanging out with people) and you'll feel as if you're just drifting into an infite pool of bliss Thoughts will decrease and be almost non existent somedays That's the most I want to say - the rest needs to be experienced - again... words will never do justice  
So my advice is to constanly ask yourself what is more important in life. You can either become a superhero or you can continue to mentally/physically exhaust all of your power by being aroused by pixels on a screen. 
And just an FYI - Don't use age or not being married as an excuse - I am 20 years old - Controlling kaam is possible for everyone
 

I remember talking to people like @Lucky and @Sat1176 about this issue a few years ago. I am happy to say that with waheguru's kirpa this issue has been long gone. 
 
You need to ask yourself what is more important in life? A few minutes of pleasure vs becoming the most badass dude in all of your social groups. 
 
There are two main areas of benefit if you give up this habit - I can expand on whichever point appeals to you the most.
 
***These are not googled benefits, these are benefits that I have experienced in my life - I am sure everyone will experience these if they stay away from indulging in kaam***
 
1) The benefits in tregun - the physical aspects of your life 
More energy Better mood More masculine energy, testosterone, etc Which also has manifest as more physical and emotional strength And I believe this has also created a more carefree personality - somewhat like James Bond (very calm, cool and collected) More dominance in social interactions - with men and women Talking less and communicating more with your body language is a very masculine trait - conserving sexual energy has lead to this trait developing on its own. I've noticed that you can communicate with your eyes better than you can with words.  Even when you see a good looking girl it does not affect you after some point - this takes a lot of masculinity - your standards in women go up - you look further than looks - you look to see what can be offered beyond the physcial appearance - Just by observation I've realized the female mind is very pulled in by someone who has this trait/mindset - Girls are very pushed away by guys who give the "desperate vibe" aka the one's who are constantly filled with desires and cannot control their eyes. It feels as if an energy has been created that just pulls in both men and women. You will dominate the entire social world. Everyone will want to be your friend.  Deeper voice  More assertiveness  More ambition Better facial appearance  Fat drops quickly and muscle is gained quickly Better sleep Which also has lead to waking up becomming easier Massive levels of motivation Confidence in every aspect of life becomes booming  Self control  Improved mental performance  Tendency to eat healthier  I could probably go on but you get the point - *** You will become a super hero - every aspect of your life will improve - You will become the manliest of men*** 2) The benefits in the nirgun (formless aspects of your life)
NO WORDS - Words will never do justice (but I can give it a shot) Sometimes you will just be sitting somewhere (maybe doing school work or just hanging out with people) and you'll feel as if you're just drifting into an infite pool of bliss Thoughts will decrease and be almost non existent somedays That's the most I want to say - the rest needs to be experienced - again... words will never do justice  
So my advice is to constanly ask yourself what is more important in life. You can either become a superhero or you can continue to mentally/physically exhaust all of your power by being aroused by pixels on a screen. 
And just an FYI - Don't use age or not being married as an excuse - I am 20 years old - Controlling kaam is possible for everyone
 

As for physical measurable experiences - 
"parkash" is a lot stronger and feels like a "tool". If I'm ever tired, I just sit in the place where there's light (when I say light I don't mean a literal light but more of a light that's colourless but also can get very bright - I know it's probably hard to try and figure out what that would look like). But sitting in that spot feels refreshing for the physical body. 
The mind lets go of the body in a very different way now. It's like it just dissolves and then all that's left is space. It's a very easy and smooth process. Just like sugar dissolving into water. And then eventually gets to the point where all memories, thoughts and sense of self is gone. There's this experience that happens where it feels like the mind is going through mini explosion type phases. The deeper and longer I sit in there, the more of a shock I go into once I wake up. Waking up from that state and transitioning back into the body feels like entering tregun for the first time. It's a literal shock for a second or two until I remember who I am again. 
It's like being in two different worlds - the physical world where the body lives life and then being non existent. 
But even when the mind is with the physical body that "non-existent state" still exists. 
It's very difficult to put labels on it and describe it but the best way I can put it is "I exist but also don't". It's like being a ball of energy in a physical body. And at times it feels like what "I" am or could be also exists outside of the body. 
The part of the body-mind complex that takes in sensory information is a lot more in tune with subtle energies as well. I feel a stronger collection of energy around the head. It's very heavy. I don't know how to explain this. 
And then at times it feels like the entire universe is inside the mind. I lived most of my life with the perspective that the universe is external and outside of the body. They felt like separate parts. But now it's like "everything else" is inside the thing that feels like "me". So as a result, everything feels like it's "me". BUT at the same time "me" feels like it does not exist so it's as if nothing actually exists. Again, "illusion" is the best term but it still doesn't describe what's being processed by the sensory system.
When I type all of this out it really does not make any sense but the experience itself makes sense when experienced. 
This is why I stopped telling my friends and family my experiences or updating on here. There's just no way to explain things anymore that make sense through language.
 
Edit: And to add to all of this - only the experiences that have a "visual" or "sound" or some other form of connection to tregun can actually be described. Anything that goes beyond the senses or cannot be connected to tregun using an analogy can't actually be put in writing. They're experienced but then the mind can't even properly remember them. 

Blessings to everyone. 
I am writing this today in a bit of shock and disbelieve but at the same time a lot of peace and satisfaction. 
These past few weeks/months had been a bit of a rough sail for me. I had lost a lot of faith in spiritual teachers. I had been hearing and seeing a lot of drama that didn't sit well with me. So part of me fell off the boat a bit. I was still listening to shabad and looking at parkash. But I wasn't putting effort in to try and move further. I was sitting still. 
Something even worse happened in my personal life a few days ago. A very subtle but very strong attachment got pulled away from me. An attachment I didn't realize was there but was really consuming my mind. I'm not going to lie, I lost my stability. I was upset. Angry. Lost. Confused. And it had been a very long time since I experienced a pain that made me upset like that. 
I began isolating myself and really letting my mind be consumed by shabad and parkash because I knew that was the only way out of the trap I had fallen into. I had to work extremely hard. But just now I was laying on the floor looking at parkash internally. I opened my eyes to look at the parkash that exists externally. Mind was clear, no thoughts. And I had a realization. "This parkash exists both outside and inside... Are my physical eyes the one seeing them?..... And then all of a sudden I felt this third area of space. A place that wasn't the internal body, nor the external world. It was this place in the middle. I think it was beyond the mind or some extension of the mind. And sitting in that space there was just parkash. It was like looking at a new world with a new set of eyes. The best way I can describe this is by using the term "non-physical" eyes. 
It's as if the parkash outside and inside had become one. I cannot describe the amount of peace and contentment the mind and body feels sitting in that area. I don't know if it's correct for me to stay in that space. But I just wanted to write this out with the hopes that maybe someone knows what this is. 

Thank you @Ragmaala. Applications are going well. Just playing the waiting game to see what happens. In the meantime, I have launched a charity project to help people within the south asian community. So that's the seva for now. One thing that really hit me during that major experience, was to take care of people who are suffering from mental health illnesses, such as depression, anxiety and anything else that leads to mental suffering. So there's been a big drive to help out people who are in these types of situations. Much of the people I'm working with are youth. I've noticed our people do have a lot of bad habits and traumas that have been passed down from generation to generation. And they project those traumas onto their kids who later carry the same issues as their parents when they grow older. Not everyone wants to do bhagti/meditation, but I've just been trying to help people as best as I can using other methods. It's taught me a lot and really opened my eyes to how much suffering there is in this world (Nanak dukhia sabh sansar). Also gives a boost to your own bhagti when you hold out a loving and compassionate hand to someone who needs. 

Completely agreed. The first person I reached out to after my God-Sister was a saint in Vancouver. I gave him a call and also read him everything I wrote while I was in that state. He confirmed everything and said I was on track. He said the reason why the experience occurred was because I let go of my attachments. I'm not saying anything against Saints, the moral of my post was on "attachment". I spent years being attached to the physical form of my teachers. I lived and breathed their names. I was doing bhagti for them and not Waheguru. They were even the one's who told me not to fall into that same mind trap. But I was stuck in it for years. It was the moment that I let go of the attachment to my teachers, friends, family, materialism and everything else in my life that this breakthrough occurred. 
And as a side note - I have spent most of my life avoiding reading up on experiences. I've even only used this forum to post my own experiences in hopes of receiving guidance from people like @BhagatSingh, @Sat1176, @Lucky and the occasional guests who come out of no where and just blow your mind with new information. I'm not doubting this could have been an illusion. That's always a possibility for anyone. But on the bright side - ever since the experience (or illusion) occurred, my life has changed in a way that cannot be reversed. As I walk around, shabad is loud because the mind is still and silent. There's never a time where I close my eyes and can't see parkash (prior this was a challenge I had). It only takes a few moments of meditation to enter into states that used to take me over an hour. I feel free. I have no worries about student debt, or being successful, who hates/likes me, or any other form of worry. I just have an internal realization that Waheguru is taking care of everything. And also that I've never been the "doer" in this life. Whether I die of illness or build a large amount of wealth, it's all the same and in god's hands. Everything happening around is just a show created by waheguru and the one sitting inside is just observing everything. 
I still do have emotions that arise. The amount the mind is absorbed in shabad and parkash varies. Sometimes more and sometimes less. And the awareness of the inner god consciousness also varies. Sometimes it's a lot more and sometime's it's a lot less. I'm still on the spiritual progression roller coater where some days are better than others. But overall, it's a completely new playing field. My spiritual goals are different. The goal a few weeks ago was to see some next level dimensions or experience something unimaginable. But now the goal is to disappear. Completely disappear as the person who thinks he is inside this body. And live in the realization that there is nothing but waheguru inside and outside of this body. 
The sights that I'm seeing on a daily basis, however, are still indescribable. When I come out of my meditation, there's a very noticeable level of subtle energy everywhere. I burst into laughter because I feel so detached from "reality". In Punjabi they use the word "amli" (druggie). Except the addiction is this mental silence. From this mental silence, arises all of these sounds and sights that completely alter how the world is experienced. But even with everything that occurs on a daily basis, the greatest craving is that internal sense of peace and freedom. 

Hello everyone, 
I know it's been a while since I've been here but I really needed time to myself to grow and really push myself. I thought I'd post an update now that a few major breakthroughs have occurred. I know some of the terminologies and content may not be easily understood by a lot of people, but I don't want to expand too much on the individual experiences. The point of this post is about getting over plateaus and keeping yourself open minded during your journey. 
1. I spent a few years listening to shabad and looking at Prakash during my sessions. Things were going well and dhoor would even come at times and I'd be blasted upwards. But I was still running into the same issues. I would get to a point where the mind would rise upwards to a certain point but there would always be a thought that came in the way that would bring me crashing back down. Don't get me wrong, life was great. Shabad was and always has been changing my life. I was constantly happy and in bliss. Parkash put me at ease within moments of looking at it. I was completely satisfied physically, emotionally, mentally and tregun-wise I felt absolutely no pain. But I hit a major plateau in terms of my actual spiritual journey and progression towards merging with the divine. 
2. I really stepped things up and started listening to shabad 24/7. Looking at parkash whenever I closed my eyes. Even externally, looking at all the lights and stars and flashes. Even keeping my dhyan on that layer of subtle energy that exists between the eyes and Maya. This had an even greater affect. I felt the same joy and whenever I put my dhyan into shabad. It would completely absorb me. Like sinking into water. But as per crossing the mind over and using dhoor to elevate it, I still had struggles. Not sure if it's because of my age and lack of years of practice (I'm 22 years old, I haven't been doing Bhagti for as long as many people here, I haven't even been alive for as long as a lot of people have been at their bhagti, so I do have a long long long way to go). However, once you're already this deep in, you don't want to waste time running in circles. 
3. Long story short, I even went to the extent of asking people on this site for help. Visiting multiple, multiple, multiple saints. I kept getting told techniques. None of them worked for me. Not sure if it was my own incompetence and inability to understand the techniques (which is highly possible) but either way, nothing was working and I continued to grow "spiritually frustrated". 
4. One day things clicked when someone reminded me of some of the Advaita Vedanta type techniques and affirmations in gurbani ("Tu Kun Re"). And I just decided to sit and watch. This technique had done me wonders years ago and really pushed me to the point where I was experiencing a lot of spiritual experiences before I had the ability to keep dhyan with shabad 24/7. But here's the catch - I had stopped practicing what worked for me because I got caught up in listening to other people instead of listening to my own atam - So all these years I had stopped using this technique because no one else around me was using it. I had become very closed minded thinking it was a waste of time. 
5. Another long long story short - I decide to completely immerse myself into that technique. It came natural to me because I had practiced it pretty intensely back about 5 years ago. Except this time it was a completely different ball game. I wasn't just "the witness" in front of tregun. I used the witness awareness while listening to shabad and looking at parkash. And it was insane. I began using it while walking around. Breaking down each thought. Looking at everything aspect of life and the mind and questioning their origin. Then questioning the body that perceives this sensory information and then questioning the one who processes the sensory info... until tregun was no more. Walked around a park completely thoughtless and lost in shabad (which was LOUD due to how clear the mind was sitting). 
6. Being completely still internally, I walked to a bench where my body just collapsed and I sat down in a meditative posture - no thought taken - no intention to go into meditation - it just happened. Also no intention to do anything advaita vedanta related but naturally the mind asked a few more questions in regards to the internal and on-going shabad and parkash. I'm not going to record those questions because they are still questions I am internalizing today and do not want to share them publicly. But at that moment, life changed forever - there was a big ball of light that felt like it came out of somewhere (to this day, I don't know where it came from) but it just exploded at that point and it felt like it consumed me and there was nothing left of me. My eyes were still closed and I was still sitting on the bench, but it were as if I ceased to exist. Absolutely nothing was left, no time, no space, nothing. But an infinite and formless presence existed. And I did not feel a difference between myself and that presence. So many shabads and analogies in Gurbani just clicked. I understood things in ways I've never understood before.... tu tu karta tu huwa... mujh meh reha na hu...... The only way I can put things into words is by saying "infinite" and "formless" but even that does not do justice to what was experienced that day. 
7. Eventually, I opened my eyes and came back into my body - but even then, there was almost no feeling of time or space left. I live in Canada and it's cold. I had absolutely no feeling of touch or temperature. The only sensory information that was coming in was sight and audio. This was followed by a lot of laughter. A lot of laughter. I don't know why I was laughing so much. Possibly because I realized there had never been a difference between god and I. Everything had always been one. I just felt as if my being was infinite. I had always existed. I stayed in this state for a few hours and there were so many realizations that came to me in that time frame. I really wish I could write them all down but I feel like this post is already long enough. I just sat there for hours contemplating on all of these new realized secrets. I remember at the time my god-sister sent me a video over text and these were the messages I sent her in that moment (note: I was still lost in the experience and was still coming back down into the body so my typing was really off so please pardon the typos, I'm copying and pasting everything word for word): 
- "i cant watch this right now"
- "but waheguru has s everywhere’s"
- "i did simran all fay"
- "i hit something big"
- "waheguru will take care of everything"
"thats it"
8. I later came back down and was completely normal again and was able to send this text message:
"I felt like everything is waheguru. inside and out
and i felt like i could talk to god
and i felt taken care of
and that there was no need to stress over anything 
and that ive never been seperated, god has always been here
and waheguru is taking care of everything 
and i felt like moving forward, I need to take care of the people around me. It felt like it was a seva that was given
to take care of them emotionally, physically, etc
i’ve come back down and into the body and i feel all my senses again. But i learnt so much about myself. But what’s sticking with me right now is that waheguru is here and everywhere. Intellectually we’re told this. But for the first time in my life I felt it
and right now all thats needed is to stay with shabad
and i felt so much love for everyone. and i just wanted everyone in the world to know that waheguru is going to take care of everyone and everyones going to return back to waheguru"
Another message that was sent the next day:
"it was about 2-3 hours. I was walking outside and it felt as if all the trees and leaves were alive. and i was talking to them telling them not to worry, their suffering will end and everyone will go back to waheguru one day. and i didn’t want to touch them because it felt like they were all in pain. and on a religious level i realized there’s no point in trying to preach or debate with anyone. Everyone has their own cloud of ego and talking to them isn’t enough to remove it. and as per life, it felt like there was no need to stress over anything. Just live life day by day. don’t overthink. just let things happen. It felt like god was in control of every aspect and everything in life has happened due to god’s orders. And when i was sitting down with my eyes closed, it felt like there had never been a difference between god and I. At that point i started laughing really hard.:
9. This experience did not stay permanent - I feel like it was a trailer of what could happen if I keep putting in the hard work ..... Or maybe it was God saying "congrats you dummy, you finally came out of your bubble and listened to yourself. 
This happened mid December. There's a lot more I need to say and update on. My everyday experiences are a lot different now and a lot of big things are happening. But I feel like this post is already long enough. Thank you to everyone here who has helped me and continuously encouraged me throughout my journey. Sending you all nothing but love. I hope everyone keeps growing and progressing forward everyday... Although forward may not be the best word... there is no direction in this infinite realm.... no back, front, left, right or centre.... waheguru just is. 

Becoming a doctor in Canada is probably the hardest thing anyone could ever do. But keep at the Simran. It only makes things easier. You’re able to learn information a lot quicker than the people around you. And communication skills really improve. The rest is up to your karam. But eventually the goal of meeting god becomes first priority and everything else becomes irrelevant. You may get in, you may not, but you’re content with the fact that you tried and put in the effort. If things work out, you won’t be super excited, the emotions stay stable. If they don’t, you also stay stable and don’t get depressed over it. The bhagti keeps you at a stable equilibrium.
 
It’s great. You look back at yourself and reflect on your past conversations/actions and think “why was I so depressed over xyz?” Tregun just literally becomes so irrelevant. It’s like watching a movie. You may have a few preferences on how you want the movie to end... but at the end of the day you really just don’t give enough of a sh*t. Whatever happens happens. And you just go home after it’s all done (this especially applies for the people who are actually able to go into the home of the mind lol - not me though... still have a long way to go until that happens). 
 
From what I have understood the following are not in your control no matter what 
1. Birth/Death
2. The people you have sanjog with
3. Ustat and nindhia of you
 
This knowledge becomes more concrete the deeper you go with your simran. You just flow with everything while those three factors are playing out in your life.
 
This experiences thread is just becoming harder and harder for me as time goes on. I cannot express how life feels. While I’m going about my life, there is a lot more passion when doing things. Even when I’m sitting down to do a difficult mcat passage. There was a time years ago when I would get so frustrated I would want to throw my books out of a window but now the same feeling of contentment exists whether I struggle or succeed. It’s neither happiness nor sadness. All is the same. It’s just a very very deep feeling of peace. It is om shanti om 
 
And during jaap it gets even better. The experiences may happen but the actual practice itself has become so enjoyable. It’s fun doing the techniques and experimenting to see what makes the mind go quiet the fastest. There are times when the knockout is so hard that by the time I wake up I completely forget who I am. Even today it was as if I had never existed. Once I woke up, I immediately looked at my arms and legs and realized “oh yeah... this is who I am”. It’s literally like you have died during those moments. And once it ends and you’re awake again, you just want to go back. 

I live a pretty busy lifestyle but I put meditation at the front because it helps me in every aspect of life. 
 
I'm trying to become a doctor so this entire summer is just me studying for my mcat. I'm really career focused. I am one of the directors on the board of my local hospital. I was actually probably the youngest to ever join - at the age of 17. And I owe that to the bhagti for sharpening my confidence and helping me approach problems with a lot of patience.
I have also spearheaded/been lead on a few major projects for both the hospital and other healthcare related work. Again - the calmness that bhagti leaves you with is responsible for this.
I have worked in academia, research, published a scientific article on meditation and neuroplasticity, edited a science vs meditation textbook (not released to the public yet but will be soon - the prof in charge will be selling it to profs who teach spirituality courses at universities) etc. Meditation helps you learn and study because you're not easily frustrated when you can't figure something out.
I also work for the universities student union, been the student media spokesperson for the past provincial election. (But as of last week have taken some time off to focus on my test). Really involved with helping the local gurdwara and running its social media (I live in a city which is/was primarily white growing up so got really involved with the gurdwara due to the small sikh population).
 
I don't know if any of that is meaningful though lol. It probably sounds really boring but I love all of this. Especially the science stuff - I am a huge biology nerd. And I love brains (lol... don't be creeped out)
Plus part of a lot of clubs, services, etc at school. However... no longer part of the sikh student association... essentially banned for speaking out against anything that goes against popular belief. There was a time when I would stay silent and heavily help out. But I couldn't sit around and listen to people talk about topics like "possible sikhi-related solutions to mental health" but not hear anyone say anything about the path of japa - then be told jaap isn't part of sikhi. This is a longer discussion, but you know exactly what I'm talking about with the views of most of the community these days. And I couldn't sit around and watch them pretend like they can't be friends with non-sikhs, or their lack of professionalism in certain academic/career related environments. 
 
Non-academic side I have a kirtan ustaad - not going to mention his name because many know him - and it would give away who I am. But I think that goes hand in hand with bhagti. Kirtan has always helped me increase love for god and motivate the mind to do more bhagti. 
I used to work out 7 days a week but I am so tight on time these days I fell off of that. Can't start back up until september because I have my mcat on Aug 2 and then I'm back in England until September. But main reason for the 7 days was that it had tremendous benefits on meditation. Back then balancing breath was a struggle and the lifting got the job done. 
Also do cryptocurrency day trading... it's pretty fun. Busy with studying right now so I set up a bot to do it for me.
Socially I would consider myself pretty extroverted. I have a habit of being friends with/starting a conversation with every second person I see on the street. I know a lot of people which is good and bad in many ways. As of now, it's been not the best because someone always wants to go for lunch or hangout but I need to study and do bhagti. But on the brightside - if I do notice someone is not the best sangat, I am able to drop them immediately and never look back. Due to the detachment. Doesn't matter how close they are. Even dropped a 12 year long friendship because I realized the guy is completely immersed in the same sikh-youth mindset as everyone else and I didn't want to waste my time there. I don't care what I say in any situation - I just freely speak whatever is on my mind. Could not care less what people think. I don't see any reason to pretend to be someone else. The meditation has brought on this freedom. 
 
I love cars as well. I drive a manual audi. Probably my most valued possesion. This one doesn't relate to meditation but I think it's one every guy on this site can relate to. Only thing I can think of is the attachment to it. I did have a situation a little while back where something went wrong... and long story short the mechanic said the price to fix it was more than the car itself. The initial thought was "cool, I'll just sell the parts, buy some cool shoes and start walking wherever I go". Which a year ago, I probably would have flipped and gone into depression. Luckily, I took it to an old friend and he figured out a way to make it as good as new without spending more than $20.
 
So essentially, I would say meditation is the only meaningful activity I do because none of my other activities would exist/have meaning without it. It has literally created a life of complete freedom where I just do what I feel like doing with no care for the consequences. Which is not a bad thing because with sikhi/gurmat, you never have ill intentions.
 
When a lot of people talk about bhagti, they say you can't do things you enjoy, or hangout with non-bhagti type people... but honestly 85%+ of my social groups are people who are not Sikh. Less than 3-5% probably do bhagti (I just have this forum and a local simran group that I only see a few sundays a month). 
 
So all I have to say to people that live in that closed off mentality is... LIVE LIFE. Do what you have to do in tregun on a day to day basis. And then when that's over, learn to connect internally. 
 
Obviously, that does not mean go drink and party everyday. I still practice brahmachariya, I still restrain myself from indulging in unhealthy food, I restrain from the 4 kurehits, I read gurbani everyday and do kirtan, I wear my kakars. But... I live life in a way that is enjoyable and integrates with western society. You don't have to be "the religious" guy in every social situation that makes other people feel like they can't have a good time (I used to be that guy many years ago). You need to live life in a way where you integrate into society and inspire other people to do jaap. Find what you enjoy in life and be the life of that group. The greater the mental stability, the more you will enjoy the activity. 
 
And just an fyi - I know a lot of the activities I stated above may not be appealing to most people. I am that weird 20 year old nerd that likes to wear a dress shirt/tie all the time and read science or psychology articles/watch videos on politics. It's just the type of person I am... But I do know people around my age who practice meditation and still do all of the same activities young people do but they remain detached internally. My younger brother for example, he's a huge basketball fan. Even runs a big instagram fan page. Dresses like every other 17-18 year old you see these days. But interally completely silent. He hasn't been practicing for as long but the differences I see between him and his friends are insane. 
 
I know this was a really long post - but I have very strong opinions when it comes to balancing tregun with spirituality. 

Night time is getting really good for me.
Fell asleep listening to the sound last night. Every time I woke up I would hear the sound, feel drowsy and fall back asleep. Body felt extremely intoxicated. It was back and forth all night for at least 11 hours. I usually am not able to sleep more than 6. I had to literally pull myself up and even after that I kept knocking out. For a few moments even forgot who I was. I had to take a moment to remember my responsibilites. But it literally felt like I had woken up into a different world. 
The most interesting part was it literally felt like I was dying or going unconcious every time I entered into sleep. I could watch myself go in and then I was aware that I was asleep. Although, I wasn't aware enough that I could control what was happening. 

I had a pretty cool experience yesterday that I thought I'd share. I was sitting on a bench in my school's library. It was around 9:50 am and I needed to kill time until 11. Saas Saas was automatically going so I just started following it and focusing on the internal jaap. I started to hear my heartbeat as the mind was getting quieter and then the jaap started to transition to the heartbeat. Eventually, the focus got so strong that I would get absorbed into the jaap, thoughts would stop and I lost awareness of everything around me. Then moments would come where my curiosity would notice what's happening and everything would stop and I'd go back to saas saas. At one point I was absorbed in the heartbeat and it felt like someone lightly punched me around the navel area (this was the only time something other than thoughts caused my focus to break). The focus on the heartbeat was on and off until eventually, it got so strong that I completely knocked out. I woke up around 11:15 feeling so much peace and mental stability.  
I remember someone posted an analogy where they said the power from baikhri bani is like 1 unit, madhma 100 units, pasanti 1000 units etc. I never understood this but after what happened yesterday I think I know what they meant. 
 
 

This is to add to the vibrations - as of last night, it's begun to happen in my heart. I was just observing my breath last night and it synchronized with my in and out breath. Feels very pleasant. 
 
Lately I've learnt that a huge booster is the ability to express positive emotions. The more loving and compassionate you become as a person, the more fruitful your meditation becomes. 

This video was actually gr8. I'm about half way through watching and will be done soon.

I appreciate the kind words. But also my views on ideas like this have really changed. I don't think there is a beginner or expert. Everything (god) is already there. There's nothing to look for. I want you to watch this next video carefully:
^^^ I think this can be compared to how we see people. Both objects in each scenario are the same, but they're perceived as different. Just like how we see people. On the physical surface, just bones, flesh etc  - a biomechanical suit. Which is run by some sort of intelligence that has been shaped by a persons experiences (including previous lives), their upbringing, their family life, the "good" and "bad" things that have happened to them. Whether or not someone believes in "fate", it seems like it could still be argued that we don't have much control over our lives, even our own actions. If you had lived the exact same experiences as someone else, I think it would be likely that your actions would mimic them. So how can one be labeled as a "sinner" and one as a "saint"? 
During the heightened moments where everything is a bit more "clear" and the intuition is strong, it feels like I've just been living in "psychosis" my entire life. Just like when people see things that aren't there and they get sent to a psych ward for a mental illness evaluation. 
These are just my opinions in the current moment - things often change for me the deeper I go. 
^^^ And then in this video, how god is viewed. When she hides the toy, the kid thinks the toy has disappeared and doesn't know where it is. But it's always right in front of her. 
Just like this - In spirituality - where is god? who is the sinner and who is the saint? Who is the atheist and who is the religious person? 
A lot of perceptions really change - In some of the sessions it feels like the universe in within the mind instead of the body/mind complex being within the universe. Everything just flips. 
 

I forgot to mention this but this has been happening a lot more as of yesterday - 
I remember I posted a pretty major experience about a year ago - where I hit this place which was like a bottomless pit of energy. Something very powerful. Beyond anything I've ever experienced. And it has life to it. 
It's not in a particular place - like you know when you see parkash, you can point out where you see it? Or if you hear shabad, you can say "I hear it in my head" or "above my head" or wherever you hear it? 
But this has no position. Neither inside nor outside the body. Yet it's more powerful and "vivid" than parkash or shabad. But no actual sight or sound. It's just "energy". It's there whether eyes are open are closed. It's there in meditation and outside. Even when I'm walking around at work, studying, etc it's always there. 
I don't know how to describe it yet but once I do I will post an update. 

I'm 23 lol. Hopefully I'll have a "mini me" one day but I'm not even married yet. But to answer the question - the physical aspect of the mind/body complex still lives life with complete passion. But what's different for me is there's less of a sense of "self". Like just dissolving. The system exists in one capacity but also does not exist. During meditation, the shift is more towards dissolution (every idea of "self" is completely gone - including the feeling of the body, dreams, thoughts - I won't get into this too much) but outside of meditation the shift is closer to a centre point. It's really hard to explain the spiritual side but the best way I can put it is having both sides of a coin coinciding. It's a lot easier to explain the physical changes in terms of personality and personal life expression because those can actually be explained using language and analogies. 
I'll be completely open and honest - I'm not very religious and I have been in relationships. I know this will likely upset a lot of people. But I have a lot of close friendships and some of those friendships have turned into relationships. The difference is that there is a lot more detachment when there are problems in a relationship. There's less or no heartbreak if the person leaves. This was not the case for me when the spiritual side was not as developed. I used to get very sad. But now I just let go. I'm not perfect. But things are a lot better. 
And in relationships, there is a lot more focus on the other person and keeping them happy. And the desire to make sure their needs are taken care of. The love is still there (I'm not an absent partner) but there is almost no fear and pain during the difficult times. 
Even with family - years ago - I did not have much care or concern for my parents. But over the years, I've developed a lot more love for them as well. There is a lot more of a desire to take care of them. But not an obsession or major attachment. 
For me personally - it's not like taking an anti-depression medication and being completely numb. I'm emotionless during meditation - but I live life with complete passion. I express joy and happiness. I have a lot of friends. I'm a social person and I like to be around people. I even put my foot down when it's needed and put people in their place. And I think these are all just normal aspects of life. A security guard can't sweet talk everyone - they need to put their foot down and show anger, even if they aren't actually angry. Even in Sikh history - there are a lot of examples of our Guru's putting their feet down and other times where they are expressing compassion for people. Not in an obsessive way - just living life with full passion but still being detached. They even had the best horses and thrones - maya wasn't "bad" - what was considered "bad" was the obsession with those objects. 
And as a father - I think this would help me be a better parent. There's more clarity when life problems come up and there is more sympathy and compassion. I actually look forward to having a family one day and raising a child or two. My detachment is a lot better in relationships but I know being a parent is a completely different ball game. I know I won't be perfect but meditation will definitely keep me more calm and stable. 
I do work in the emergency department of a hospital - and I do feel a lot more concern for my patients. There's a desire to go above and beyond to make them feel better (both physically and emotionally). There are times when things do not go well with a patient and I end up sitting in a quiet room crying and getting emotional. But not out of frustration - more out of sympathy and concern for the patient. I don't know if this is supposed to happen, but it's how I naturally react sometimes and I don't hold it in. Even with friends and family - I'm usually the one always asking people if they are ok or being the one everyone wants to vent to. But this could also just be my personality. It might not reflect the effects of meditation. I think what is "achieved" is the ability to not obsess and feel free.
And there is a lot less stigma and prejudice. You often see people treat homeless people and drug users differently than they would treat any other patient. As healthcare workers, we're taught to stay away from those mental blocks but it's still a natural human instinct to make assumptions. I've noticed myself doing this a lot less. It's the same amount of concern and care for all patients regardless of how they look or how they are as a person. 
And finally - my productivity is out of this world - not falling trap to emotions has given me so much freedom to do so much more. 
- I work about 72-84 hours per week at the hospital (12 hour shifts, 6-7 days a week)
- I am taking 7 university courses (I'm a straight A student with very high grades - I used to get very low grades years back)
- I am also doing a healthcare certificate which most people work on full-time
- Doing my realtor certificate which most people also do full-time
- I also run my own small business and working on a second one
About 5 full-time activities at the same time. We can do a lot as people when emotions are not in the way. I don't have to do any of these things and I'm not forcing myself or pushing myself, I'm just passionate for all 5 and want to do them. I decided to sacrifice a year and work on my credentials to open up the chances to a better future. Med school is competitive and I'm still working on becoming a doctor. It's a lot harder in Canada than it is in the US. Our schools typically have 5000-6000 applicants  (each) and they take about 200 each. But in the meantime, I'm just doing what I enjoy. 

I forgot to mention this but this has been happening a lot more as of yesterday - 
I remember I posted a pretty major experience about a year ago - where I hit this place which was like a bottomless pit of energy. Something very powerful. Beyond anything I've ever experienced. And it has life to it. 
It's not in a particular place - like you know when you see parkash, you can point out where you see it? Or if you hear shabad, you can say "I hear it in my head" or "above my head" or wherever you hear it? 
But this has no position. Neither inside nor outside the body. Yet it's more powerful and "vivid" than parkash or shabad. But no actual sight or sound. It's just "energy". It's there whether eyes are open are closed. It's there in meditation and outside. Even when I'm walking around at work, studying, etc it's always there. 
I don't know how to describe it yet but once I do I will post an update. 

I appreciate the kind words. But also my views on ideas like this have really changed. I don't think there is a beginner or expert. Everything (god) is already there. There's nothing to look for. I want you to watch this next video carefully:
^^^ I think this can be compared to how we see people. Both objects in each scenario are the same, but they're perceived as different. Just like how we see people. On the physical surface, just bones, flesh etc  - a biomechanical suit. Which is run by some sort of intelligence that has been shaped by a persons experiences (including previous lives), their upbringing, their family life, the "good" and "bad" things that have happened to them. Whether or not someone believes in "fate", it seems like it could still be argued that we don't have much control over our lives, even our own actions. If you had lived the exact same experiences as someone else, I think it would be likely that your actions would mimic them. So how can one be labeled as a "sinner" and one as a "saint"? 
During the heightened moments where everything is a bit more "clear" and the intuition is strong, it feels like I've just been living in "psychosis" my entire life. Just like when people see things that aren't there and they get sent to a psych ward for a mental illness evaluation. 
These are just my opinions in the current moment - things often change for me the deeper I go. 
^^^ And then in this video, how god is viewed. When she hides the toy, the kid thinks the toy has disappeared and doesn't know where it is. But it's always right in front of her. 
Just like this - In spirituality - where is god? who is the sinner and who is the saint? Who is the atheist and who is the religious person? 
A lot of perceptions really change - In some of the sessions it feels like the universe in within the mind instead of the body/mind complex being within the universe. Everything just flips. 
 

I'm 23 lol. Hopefully I'll have a "mini me" one day but I'm not even married yet. But to answer the question - the physical aspect of the mind/body complex still lives life with complete passion. But what's different for me is there's less of a sense of "self". Like just dissolving. The system exists in one capacity but also does not exist. During meditation, the shift is more towards dissolution (every idea of "self" is completely gone - including the feeling of the body, dreams, thoughts - I won't get into this too much) but outside of meditation the shift is closer to a centre point. It's really hard to explain the spiritual side but the best way I can put it is having both sides of a coin coinciding. It's a lot easier to explain the physical changes in terms of personality and personal life expression because those can actually be explained using language and analogies. 
I'll be completely open and honest - I'm not very religious and I have been in relationships. I know this will likely upset a lot of people. But I have a lot of close friendships and some of those friendships have turned into relationships. The difference is that there is a lot more detachment when there are problems in a relationship. There's less or no heartbreak if the person leaves. This was not the case for me when the spiritual side was not as developed. I used to get very sad. But now I just let go. I'm not perfect. But things are a lot better. 
And in relationships, there is a lot more focus on the other person and keeping them happy. And the desire to make sure their needs are taken care of. The love is still there (I'm not an absent partner) but there is almost no fear and pain during the difficult times. 
Even with family - years ago - I did not have much care or concern for my parents. But over the years, I've developed a lot more love for them as well. There is a lot more of a desire to take care of them. But not an obsession or major attachment. 
For me personally - it's not like taking an anti-depression medication and being completely numb. I'm emotionless during meditation - but I live life with complete passion. I express joy and happiness. I have a lot of friends. I'm a social person and I like to be around people. I even put my foot down when it's needed and put people in their place. And I think these are all just normal aspects of life. A security guard can't sweet talk everyone - they need to put their foot down and show anger, even if they aren't actually angry. Even in Sikh history - there are a lot of examples of our Guru's putting their feet down and other times where they are expressing compassion for people. Not in an obsessive way - just living life with full passion but still being detached. They even had the best horses and thrones - maya wasn't "bad" - what was considered "bad" was the obsession with those objects. 
And as a father - I think this would help me be a better parent. There's more clarity when life problems come up and there is more sympathy and compassion. I actually look forward to having a family one day and raising a child or two. My detachment is a lot better in relationships but I know being a parent is a completely different ball game. I know I won't be perfect but meditation will definitely keep me more calm and stable. 
I do work in the emergency department of a hospital - and I do feel a lot more concern for my patients. There's a desire to go above and beyond to make them feel better (both physically and emotionally). There are times when things do not go well with a patient and I end up sitting in a quiet room crying and getting emotional. But not out of frustration - more out of sympathy and concern for the patient. I don't know if this is supposed to happen, but it's how I naturally react sometimes and I don't hold it in. Even with friends and family - I'm usually the one always asking people if they are ok or being the one everyone wants to vent to. But this could also just be my personality. It might not reflect the effects of meditation. I think what is "achieved" is the ability to not obsess and feel free.
And there is a lot less stigma and prejudice. You often see people treat homeless people and drug users differently than they would treat any other patient. As healthcare workers, we're taught to stay away from those mental blocks but it's still a natural human instinct to make assumptions. I've noticed myself doing this a lot less. It's the same amount of concern and care for all patients regardless of how they look or how they are as a person. 
And finally - my productivity is out of this world - not falling trap to emotions has given me so much freedom to do so much more. 
- I work about 72-84 hours per week at the hospital (12 hour shifts, 6-7 days a week)
- I am taking 7 university courses (I'm a straight A student with very high grades - I used to get very low grades years back)
- I am also doing a healthcare certificate which most people work on full-time
- Doing my realtor certificate which most people also do full-time
- I also run my own small business and working on a second one
About 5 full-time activities at the same time. We can do a lot as people when emotions are not in the way. I don't have to do any of these things and I'm not forcing myself or pushing myself, I'm just passionate for all 5 and want to do them. I decided to sacrifice a year and work on my credentials to open up the chances to a better future. Med school is competitive and I'm still working on becoming a doctor. It's a lot harder in Canada than it is in the US. Our schools typically have 5000-6000 applicants  (each) and they take about 200 each. But in the meantime, I'm just doing what I enjoy. 

I pretty much never intervene in conflict but I think it’s necessary right now
This portion of the site is dedicated to sharing experiences. Simple. No arguments, no treguni posts. Nothing. 
If you guys want to discuss something, send each other a personal message. That’s what a lot of us do. We talk directly with each other in private conversations. I would recommend doing the same, especially if it’s a personal issue. 
People who don’t believe in sharing their spiritual experiences, also usually believe in not reading about them either. People who don’t share, typically feel susceptible to their ego feeding off of the compliments. People who don’t read, don’t want their mind tricking them during their own meditation. I understand where some of you come from. 
That’s why if you share, make sure you remember it’s waheguru within you experiencing waheguru. And nothing more. 
And if you read experiences, make sure you do your bhagti in gurmat with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as your reference. Sharing will help you verify the validity. 
Sharing is what helped me progress. @Sat1176kept me accountable and @Lucky gave me guidance. We moved together as a family and all made progress. We all came to this site as beginners with little to no experience. We did not argue, fight or compete against each other. We cared and lifted each other with compassion. We changed each others lives for the better because we shared openly, kept each other accountable, shared our knowledge and made sure each and every one of us was doing well and on track. It was our love for one another that kept our bhagti strong. It’s hard to believe this family was formed over 6 years ago. Time really flies.
That being said, I want this argument to end here. If you need to say something to one another, send a direct message. But I’m hoping the posts after this post will solely be about experiences and guidance rather than small talk and arguments. I want you guys to treat each other with love and respect. You are a sangat parivaar. Your bhagti will thank you later. 

As for physical measurable experiences - 
"parkash" is a lot stronger and feels like a "tool". If I'm ever tired, I just sit in the place where there's light (when I say light I don't mean a literal light but more of a light that's colourless but also can get very bright - I know it's probably hard to try and figure out what that would look like). But sitting in that spot feels refreshing for the physical body. 
The mind lets go of the body in a very different way now. It's like it just dissolves and then all that's left is space. It's a very easy and smooth process. Just like sugar dissolving into water. And then eventually gets to the point where all memories, thoughts and sense of self is gone. There's this experience that happens where it feels like the mind is going through mini explosion type phases. The deeper and longer I sit in there, the more of a shock I go into once I wake up. Waking up from that state and transitioning back into the body feels like entering tregun for the first time. It's a literal shock for a second or two until I remember who I am again. 
It's like being in two different worlds - the physical world where the body lives life and then being non existent. 
But even when the mind is with the physical body that "non-existent state" still exists. 
It's very difficult to put labels on it and describe it but the best way I can put it is "I exist but also don't". It's like being a ball of energy in a physical body. And at times it feels like what "I" am or could be also exists outside of the body. 
The part of the body-mind complex that takes in sensory information is a lot more in tune with subtle energies as well. I feel a stronger collection of energy around the head. It's very heavy. I don't know how to explain this. 
And then at times it feels like the entire universe is inside the mind. I lived most of my life with the perspective that the universe is external and outside of the body. They felt like separate parts. But now it's like "everything else" is inside the thing that feels like "me". So as a result, everything feels like it's "me". BUT at the same time "me" feels like it does not exist so it's as if nothing actually exists. Again, "illusion" is the best term but it still doesn't describe what's being processed by the sensory system.
When I type all of this out it really does not make any sense but the experience itself makes sense when experienced. 
This is why I stopped telling my friends and family my experiences or updating on here. There's just no way to explain things anymore that make sense through language.
 
Edit: And to add to all of this - only the experiences that have a "visual" or "sound" or some other form of connection to tregun can actually be described. Anything that goes beyond the senses or cannot be connected to tregun using an analogy can't actually be put in writing. They're experienced but then the mind can't even properly remember them. 

As for physical measurable experiences - 
"parkash" is a lot stronger and feels like a "tool". If I'm ever tired, I just sit in the place where there's light (when I say light I don't mean a literal light but more of a light that's colourless but also can get very bright - I know it's probably hard to try and figure out what that would look like). But sitting in that spot feels refreshing for the physical body. 
The mind lets go of the body in a very different way now. It's like it just dissolves and then all that's left is space. It's a very easy and smooth process. Just like sugar dissolving into water. And then eventually gets to the point where all memories, thoughts and sense of self is gone. There's this experience that happens where it feels like the mind is going through mini explosion type phases. The deeper and longer I sit in there, the more of a shock I go into once I wake up. Waking up from that state and transitioning back into the body feels like entering tregun for the first time. It's a literal shock for a second or two until I remember who I am again. 
It's like being in two different worlds - the physical world where the body lives life and then being non existent. 
But even when the mind is with the physical body that "non-existent state" still exists. 
It's very difficult to put labels on it and describe it but the best way I can put it is "I exist but also don't". It's like being a ball of energy in a physical body. And at times it feels like what "I" am or could be also exists outside of the body. 
The part of the body-mind complex that takes in sensory information is a lot more in tune with subtle energies as well. I feel a stronger collection of energy around the head. It's very heavy. I don't know how to explain this. 
And then at times it feels like the entire universe is inside the mind. I lived most of my life with the perspective that the universe is external and outside of the body. They felt like separate parts. But now it's like "everything else" is inside the thing that feels like "me". So as a result, everything feels like it's "me". BUT at the same time "me" feels like it does not exist so it's as if nothing actually exists. Again, "illusion" is the best term but it still doesn't describe what's being processed by the sensory system.
When I type all of this out it really does not make any sense but the experience itself makes sense when experienced. 
This is why I stopped telling my friends and family my experiences or updating on here. There's just no way to explain things anymore that make sense through language.
 
Edit: And to add to all of this - only the experiences that have a "visual" or "sound" or some other form of connection to tregun can actually be described. Anything that goes beyond the senses or cannot be connected to tregun using an analogy can't actually be put in writing. They're experienced but then the mind can't even properly remember them. 

How's everyone doing? I miss you guys. I'm never on here as much as I want to. 
Just thought I'd post an update because a few people sent me personal messages asking how things are. 
bhagti isn't even bhagti anymore. 
everything in the physical world and the mind feels like a cluster of sensory information. just a bunch of lines, sounds and a compilation of "noise" making up a "world". It's like not even existing anymore. Even though there's a body, there's a mind and there's sensory input... it still feels like nothing exists. Illusion is the best word to use but that doesn't do justice. 
It's not something that can be conceptualized. But it feels like freedom. Life is just happening. It's like a state of flow. 
It's difficult to put it into words that make sense. The words are just concepts and descriptions and the one who hears the words creates an image based on their subjective experience and understanding of the world. How do you even know what other people are seeing and experiencing is the same as you? How do I know if I see colours the same as others? What if my version of red is green for someone else? What if my taste of sweet is sour for someone else? Everything's just a bunch of thoughts and sensory input. Everything's just been labeled by each persons intellectual faculty. 
Some of the craziest experiences happen. But what's most alluring is this experience of dissolution. It's like existing in one capacity but at the same time not existing. The other experiences just feel like "noise" or "entertainment". 
The inner and outer world feel like space and noise. But at the same time it's also quiet and empty. It's noise but also silence. Full but also empty. But also neither one of those concepts. 
I don't know who or what I am. I don't know what or who god is. 
Nor do I know if either even exist.