Pleasure in Meditation and Sex.

The idea that deep meditation can produce feelings of intense pleasure—sometimes compared to orgasmic states—has been discussed both in scientific literature and by advanced practitioners of meditation, particularly within traditions like Tibetan Buddhism, Theravāda Buddhism, and yogic practices. However, it’s important to approach this comparison carefully, as the nature of meditative bliss differs from sexual orgasm in physiological mechanisms, duration, and subjective experience.

1. 

Bliss in Deep Meditation (Jhāna States)

In Theravāda Buddhism, jhāna refers to a set of deeply absorbed states of concentration. The second through fourth jhānas, in particular, are said to involve profound states of pīti (rapture or joy) and sukha (pleasure or bliss).

• Pīti is described as a thrilling, energetic joy that can feel overwhelming.
• Sukha is a more tranquil, deep sense of well-being and pleasure.

These feelings are not sexual in origin, but they are intense and can be more pleasurable than ordinary sensual experiences, including orgasm. Advanced meditators report that these states are sustainable for long periods and lead to deep inner contentment.

Source:

• “The Path of Purification” (Visuddhimagga) by Buddhaghosa – a 5th-century Theravāda meditation manual details the jhānas and their associated pleasures.
• Leigh Brasington, Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas, speaks of the intensely pleasurable nature of these states.

2. 

Tibetan Buddhist Perspective – “Bliss and Emptiness”

In Vajrayāna (Tibetan) Buddhism, particularly in the Anuttarayoga Tantra, practitioners engage in subtle body yogas involving the movement of winds (prāṇa) through the body’s energy channels (nāḍīs) to reach a state of “great bliss” (mahāsukha).

• Some advanced practices (such as tummo or inner heat yoga) involve generating sexual heat without ejaculation.
• These blissful states are used as a vehicle for realizing emptiness (śūnyatā) and are intentionally cultivated.

Dalai Lama and other Tibetan teachers have spoken of these practices, noting that although the bliss can feel similar to sexual pleasure, it is refined, prolonged, and deeply linked with spiritual insight.

Sources:

• Dalai Lama, The Bliss of Inner Fire: Heart Practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa
• Daniel Goleman, The Meditative Mind, explores various states of consciousness including orgasm-like meditative states.

3. 

Scientific Research on Meditation and Pleasure

Neuroscientific studies show that long-term meditators activate brain regions linked to joy, euphoria, and selflessness, such as the prefrontal cortex, insula, and nucleus accumbens, all areas associated with reward and pleasure.

• In some studies, EEG scans of Tibetan monks showed gamma wave bursts (associated with peak states) during deep meditation, similar to euphoric states experienced during orgasm or extreme happiness.

Sources:

• Richard Davidson’s research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on long-term meditators.
• Judson Brewer et al., “Meditation Experience Is Associated with Differences in Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity” (PNAS, 2011)