“Like a Vibration Cascading through the Body”: Energy-Like Somatic Experiences Reported by Western Buddhist Meditators

There are numerous historical and textual references to energy-like somatic experiences (ELSEs) from religious traditions, even a few psychological studies that have documented related phenomena. However, ELSEs remain an understudied effect of meditation in contemporary research. Based upon narratives large qualitative sample Buddhist meditators the West reporting meditation-related challenges, this paper offers unique glimpse into how play out lives practitioners experts. Departing presuming “kundalini awakening” framework, presents broader scope for understanding by describing metaphors used when speaking about them; trajectories impacts ELSEs, including factors were reported as influencing their nature or trajectory; various ways which they interpreted appraised practitioners, teachers, specialists, such doctors therapists; responded them managed with particular remedies. Deciding interpret manage entailed recruiting frameworks within and/or beyond meditator’s specific lineage.