Mala day 9: piti in head overcomes sleepiness

 Week , day 2

Sat 30 mins cross-legged on bed. Felt sleepy at the end, but then I remembered that piti can be used to dispel sleepiness. So, without much effort, I, relaxed and put attention on the vibration of the humming ( buddho undertone) as felt in the head and immediately felt low-level piti in the head. The energy from this piti overcame the sleepiness.

Feels very pleasant and alert when piti arose in the head. The piti feels like ecstasy (excited joy/rapture).

In future sittings, I think I can use piti to:

1. arouse energy
2. arouse pleasure
3. dispel sleepiness
4. enjoy the sitting 

Nice!

I can also get piti from TWIM Meditation by relaxing the hindrances when they arise. In TWIM, I can get piti as follows:

1. when a hindrance arise (eg, restlessness, or ill-will)
2. relax and let go
3. smile

For buddho meditation, I can get piti as follows:

1. when a hindrance arise
2. relax and let go
3. put attention on the vibration of the buddho undertone hum as felt in the head

I will test this out again, in tomorrow's sitting - to confirm that it works.

Also, Ayya Khema says that when piti arises, sukha also arises, but it is covered by piti. In order to feel the sukha, we look for the happiness of the piti - that is the sukha.

However, piti and sukha only arises when there are are no hindrances - that is why the Buddha recommends the pleasure of piti and sukha for the bhikkus to enjoy. These are the supramundane-pleasures that arise only when the mind is secluded from sensual pleasure and secluded from unwholesome states of mind. 

piti --> sukha --> gladness/contentment --> equanimity --> nibbana

With cessation of piti --> sukha

With cessation of sukha --> gladness/contentment

With cessation of gladness/contentment --> equanimity

With cessation of equanimity(feelings/perception) --> nibbana