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INTRODUCTION

The concept of trance refers to one’s depth of awareness. There are two main components to our awareness: the form, which is dependent on which objects are being attended to by the observer, and the intensity, which is dependent on one’s degree of concentration on the attended objects. Working together, these two mental faculties create our overall scope of awareness – our shining spotlight at any given moment into experience and reality .

The form of our awareness can be contracted inwards and expanded outwards. It can move within the three-dimensional space of our external world – both outside and inside our physical body – and it can also be directed to the internal space in our minds.

The intensity of our awareness can either become stronger or weaker. This has different implications depending on what sensory modality is being attended to. For example, a visual object that is strongly attended to will seem more bright and crisp to the observer. Meanwhile, a well-attended auditory object may become more loud or rich in timbre.

Our trance state is dependent on what is being attended to and to what degree one is concentrated on that physical or mental object. In other words, every mental state can be seen as its own distinct kind of trance. It would be hard to define what an “altered state of awareness” is when our own everyday awareness is so flexible and prone to change. One moment we are attending to a small pain in our toe, the next moment we are shedding our awareness into the vastness of the night sky. Any attention that is held on an object can be described as a light trance, but there are also everyday, natural occurrences of deeper trance states.

When we typically think of these deeper trance states we are reminded of the techniques of meditation, prayer, hypnosis and other disciplined practices of mind that increase one’s ability to hold attention and fall into deeper states of awareness. But these states are naturally occurring in the mind under certain conditions. One example is when we are absorbed in a really great and enjoyable movie. We are so strongly attended to the events in the movie that time just flies by. The distortion of time perception is one good indicator of deep trance. One can become similarly absorbed in an excellent book, piece of music, and other forms of art and entertainment.

In this way, it is reasonable to assume that most human beings have had varying experiences with trance – so what is the need to explore these states further? Well, a better way to phrase the question is: what is so important about having good attention skills? I think then the answers become much more evident. Attention is one of the most crucial mental faculties when it comes to learning, problem solving, creativity, and building on new skills and behaviors. A mind that is well trained in attention, and specifically the kind of attention that elicits deep trance, is a mind that is better at discernment, understanding, and generating rational solutions. Some studies even suggest that meditation can help treat children born with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Either way, the benefits of practicing voluntary attention, and subsequently deep states of trance, one can begin to cultivate positive effects on almost all areas of personal development.



TECHNIQUES AND TIPS FOR DEEP TRANCE

How can one develop deeper states of awareness and concentration?

As it has already been mentioned, trance typically refers to a deep sense of awareness and long held voluntary attention, like that of being absorbed in a good movie. These states of absorption can be produced on any object.

Most beginners of meditation start by attending to the breath. The breath is a great object of meditation because it is always present and it is usually neutral in its feeling (neither pleasurable nor painful). Because of this, the breath is a great place to start focusing one’s awareness and becoming more familiar with the faculties of our attention.

One drawback to the breath is that it is often not as thrilling as a good movie, so how do we hold our attention on it without letting the mind drift off? Here are a few short tips and techniques that can be applied to practically any object of meditation:

1. Become fascinated by the object.

The more interested we become in the sensations of this object, the more likely we are to hold our attention. The more we hold our attention, the more we begin to notice about this object – the more distinctions we can make about it – and the deeper in trance we will go. It can sometimes be tough to cultivate curiosity towards seemingly mundane objects, like the breath, but rest assured that the more curious we become the more we begin to discover. Eventually, our fascination will become justified by our own experiences of trance. Consequently, this can become a self-perpetuating process once you get your foot in the door of discovery.

2. Be mindful of the relation between subject/object

As you focus your attention on the object, be particularly mindful on how the object affects you (What thoughts arise? What emotions arise? What memories arise?). Also, be mindful of how you effect the object. For instance, how do your perceptions change the object of meditation: from what it is to the qualities you project onto it. Don’t be alarmed if you begin to sense an interdependence between the subject and object. Focus in on that sensation, let yourself experience it.

FINAL WORDS

Sometimes a subject can fall into trance without directing the mind to such a state, this is typically what happens when we fall in and out of trance throughout the day (see: highway hypnosis for another popular example). But if one wants to dive deeper into trance then they must become aware of the mental faculties that create trance. These are attention acuity (or concentration, previously mentioned as the “intensity” of trance) and directed awareness (mentioned as the “form” of trance, also known as, the object(s) which are being attended to).

No amount of words or reading is going to make you better at achieving deep trance states. Like any skill, you need to dedicate the time to practice. Meditation is, in my opinion, the best way to begin cultivating these states of awareness and direct attention. Spend time on the cushion, observe the breath, become interested in the breath, be mindful of the breath, and see where you can go from there. So many things can arise within a meditative session, that it is difficult to educate someone on all the possible occurrences. Therefore, the best advice one can give is to just sit and then work and learn from there. This isn’t to diminish the value of reading materials – this article is hardly enough to cover everything you’re going to need or want to know – but I hope it gives you a good enough sense on a starting point for this journey in personal development.

Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments section and I will be sure to answer all of them.

FURTHER READING,

I recommend the Sri Lankan Buddhist monk Ven. Henepola Gunaratana’s book “Mindfulness In Plain English.” (click for full read), and the late 19th century psychologist William James’ chapter on “Attention”.