Nine stages of attaining bliss-
From a turbulent and restless mind to the calm-abiding mind, there are nine stages in Mahamudra meditation.
In the first stage, the meditator is like a rocky boat in a turbulent ocean. There’s virtually no control on the mind. The concentration at this stage ends up wherever the drift of thoughts take it. The restlessness and the dullness constantly disrupt the meditation and the meditator is struggling to tame them.
In the second stage, there’s a small progress with respect to dullness and restlessness. The meditator is able to have short periods of quality meditation when the mind is devoid of thoughts. Think of a flag that flutters whenever the wind blows. No wind no fluttering. Similarly, the mind at this stage is stable for a short period before the winds of thoughts start to blow again causing waves in the stillness of consciousness.
The persistent meditator gets to the third stage and this is a significant progress in its own right. Now, they are able to detect their dullness arising in meditation with improved attentiveness. Restlessness or stray thoughts are still a great challenge at this stage.
In the fourth and the fifth stages, while the meditator makes a giant leap by gaining gaining even better control over restlessness and dullness, a new challenge presents itself. There is a state of calmness which makes the meditator go into a sort of torpor or laxity. Often, most meditators who get even a tiny glimpse of this calmness, mistake this as the ultimate state of bliss.
In the sixth stage, the meditator has mostly gained control over restlessness and dullness, he’s able to lead them, but, there are still subtle elements of excitement or stupor that can distract the meditator.
In the seventh stage. the meditator has nearly perfected the art of attention. They experience lucid awareness during the meditation but there’s still a chance of feeling excited or restless. Think of a still pond where dropping even a tiny pebble causes ripples.
In the eighth stage, there’s no restlessness. Restlessness has completely disappeared for this meditator and a constant state of bliss always leave them calm. But, sometimes in this state of bliss, the lucidity of their awareness is adversely affected. Think of someone under the influence of a mild intoxicant. At this stage, the meditator hasn’t yet learned to rise above the bliss.
In the ninth stage, bliss has becomes a close companion and it no longer interferes in any worldly activity. All mental and emotional battles cease, the war of thoughts stop and there’s virtually no effort in meditation now. The meditator has become the meditation.
Beyond this stage, the meditator is ever calm, abiding in bliss. Any inner struggle or stress completely disappears. The meditator has gone beyond the meditation. Buddha once said, “The one who knows the reality of one thing knows the reality of everything.” It applies to this meditator.
Can anyone reach this state? Yes. What’s required? Willingness, persistence, and time; undying willingness, unrelenting persistence and a lot of time. Here is a broad guideline: 1500 hours of quality meditation is required to cross each stage.
With discipline and a quality effort, you can bring it down to about 1200 hours and with right initiation and guidance it can be brought down to 800 hours for each stage.