Brother Alpha mentioned the biochemical substances produced in the body during meditation that generate feelings of joy and bliss. I did some digging online and noted them down here for easy reference (though I don’t fully understand what each one does in detail).[1]
These substances include:
+ Serotonin ↑: A hormone that affects mood and supports brain cell production, contributing to a sense of happiness.
+ Cortisol ↓: A hormone responsible for psychological stress.
+ DHEA ↑: Hóc An anti-aging hormone. It declines as we age.
+ GABA ↑: A neurotransmitter that promotes calmness.
+ Endorphins ↑: Chemicals that reduce pain and increase pleasure.
+ Growth Hormone ↑: A hormone that promotes growth and rejuvenation.
+ Melatonin ↑: A hormone that helps prevent various illnesses (including cancer), boosts immunity, and slows aging.
So, when does bliss arise? I’ve touched on this multiple times already. Bliss only occurs after entering concentration and achieving one-pointedness. Before one-pointedness—i.e., when consciousness has not yet collapsed—bliss is either very weak or not felt at all. In other words, bliss arises naturally, depending on whether or not we’ve entered meditative absorption—and its intensity depends on the quality of our one-pointedness. I’ve wondered whether intentionality / mental advertence can cause bliss to arise. Based on my experience, I’m not sure. Probably not—because when my practice is off, no amount of intentional effort seems to bring bliss at all 😊.[2] That’s not to say intentionality is useless[3]—it likely needs to be combined with other factors, such as effort and perseverance.
(End of Part 6/8)
Notes:
[1] https://eocinstitute.org/meditation/dhea_gaba_cortisol_hgh_melatonin_serotonin_endorphins/;
http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-meditation
[2] So, breath observation practice likely brings about relaxation rather than true bliss (lạc). Master Tibu said that only the Buddha Sakyamuni attained the first jhāna through breath meditation.
[3] See Radin, Michel, Galdamez, Wendland, and Rickenbach, 2012. Physics Essays 25(2), 157–171. This paper investigates the power of intentionality between meditators and non-meditators in the context of the wave–particle duality phenomenon (Consciousness Collapse Theory). I don’t understand CCT very well, but the paper was still interesting to read. https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C6%A1_h%E1%BB%8Dc_l%C6%B0%E1%BB%A3ng_t%E1%BB%AD