Both past experiences and thoughts about those experiences can "get into the body" in strange ways. Soldiers experience PTSD because of traumatic events that get internalized. Children who suffer abuse by parents and/or torment by other children often internalize their suffering in the same way. Every event in one's life is stored in the brain. Meditation often brings up weird stuff from the subconscious, and "internal "stuff" can sort of evaporate. The point everyone is making is to simply watch what arises.
Zen people call this subconscious stuff that shows up as a result of meditation "makyo." In one monk's autobiography he recounted how a horribly frightening apparition would arise when he started meditating. The only way he could dispel the apparition was to dunk his head in a tub of icy water. He went to see his Zen Master, and the ZM told him that he was experiencing makyo, to simply watch it, and that it would eventually go away. Sure enough, the apparition eventually stopped showing up.
All kinds of weird stuff can happen when people start meditating. The pattern in the carpet in front of one's eyes can rise into mid-air and appear to hover there for five minutes. Some people totally re-experience past events in their lives down to the exact smells and tastes that were present at that time. One or two people have suffered temporary full-body paralysis. Enormous fear seemingly unconnected to anything can suddenly arise. Demons and angels (that are religion specific) can appear. Limbs will suddenly jerk ("kriya"), muscles will ripple and spasm, and all kinds of other physical phenomena can occur. Watch everything and let it all go.
It's just part of the ride.
Zen people call this subconscious stuff that shows up as a result of meditation "makyo." In one monk's autobiography he recounted how a horribly frightening apparition would arise when he started meditating. The only way he could dispel the apparition was to dunk his head in a tub of icy water. He went to see his Zen Master, and the ZM told him that he was experiencing makyo, to simply watch it, and that it would eventually go away. Sure enough, the apparition eventually stopped showing up.
All kinds of weird stuff can happen when people start meditating. The pattern in the carpet in front of one's eyes can rise into mid-air and appear to hover there for five minutes. Some people totally re-experience past events in their lives down to the exact smells and tastes that were present at that time. One or two people have suffered temporary full-body paralysis. Enormous fear seemingly unconnected to anything can suddenly arise. Demons and angels (that are religion specific) can appear. Limbs will suddenly jerk ("kriya"), muscles will ripple and spasm, and all kinds of other physical phenomena can occur. Watch everything and let it all go.
It's just part of the ride.
