Meditation Map

[ianalexanderr]

Has anyone thought of developing a map of various stages the mind goes through, when engaging in meditation? Here is what I notice:

1.Concentration.
This consists of wakefulness, and reorienting focus back on an anchor (I like to focus on a sound, tapping of my finger or the ticking of a clock) whenever the mind wanders and breaks focus.

2.Submersion
The mind falls below wakefulness as if slowly sinking into the unconscious. The images/thoughts become more prominent. Sustaining focus becomes harder.

3.The cut off point
1 of 3 possibilities;
1. You fall asleep,
2. after spending some time swept away by the undercurrent of various random images/scenario's of the unconscious, the conscious mind suddenly wakes up and the process of anchoring your focus starts again, or
3. you remain conscious and focused. If focus can be sustained passed this point, the unity of the unconscious and the focus of the conscious mind begin to merge: Inviting the experience of unity with the object of your focus.

4. Unity
You become completely one with the object

5. Separation
You break away from the object - and return to the phase 2 submersion, or phase 1.

An indication of progress would be how easily one achieves phase 4, and for how long it lasts each time.

[sky]

I don't notice the stages, I just get lost in the meditation.