"Never verbally repeat the words rising, falling and do not think of rising and falling as words."

In my opinion the emphasis is on "never REPEAT the words" - i.e., they shouldn't become a litany that begins ticking on it's own (unless one wants to observe such a ticking process in action, but that's a different practice), and the words shouldn't start telling a story (well put, Chris).

Similar to what Mark describes here: http://dharmaoverground.wetpaint.com/thread/1970207/meditating+correctly+on+autopilot

Each note should be triggered by noticing what is noted. I find it useful to ask myself (quite verbally), "what's going on here? How does this work?" once or twice per sitting: it invigorates my curiosity.

Sometimes I note with full words, sometimes with "dit", sometimes I just maintain awareness of the flickering, but the "autopilot" phenomenon can start up in any of these modes. Might be a symptom of lopsided concentration, but I'm not sure.

Cheers,
Florian

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I practiced a meditative chi gong for a couple of years before getting into a Buddhist practice. There is definitely a relationship between subtle energies and vipassana and shamatha. I think you would like this talk by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:
http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/060721%20The%20Energy%20in%20the%20Body.mp3

“a) For those with stream entry or higher, if that attainment led to a change in subtle energy”
Generally speaking – no.

“b) For those who practice qi gong, ...etc. how has this helped (or not) especially during the Dark Night?”
My sense is that sometimes it may have made things more difficult (qi gong). Strong practice of micro-cosmic orbit for example tended to dig-up much more junk than I really wanted to handle. It was quite noticeable. On the other hand, one technique similar to body-scanning was very helpful and I would compare with jhana practice.

“c) It seems to me that body sweeping, anapanasati, and metta (possibly other) practices might affect subtle energy. I would love to hear input.”
Most definitely – they do.

-Chuck

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Yes.

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Interestingly enough during the last several days after surrendering expectations about accomplishing any thing my sitting meditation as felt focused and energized.

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Hi Dan_K,
You wrote in your past posting about:

"The sense is of sinking, or falling away from sensory input. … It all comes about mostly through a lack of interest towards the senses, and an emphasis on ‘what’s looking. … The attitude is of effortlessness, not trying to get anywhere, being open to what arises, etc."

And in your original posting that started this thread you wrote:

"It is especially interesting to note the contrast when thoughts lack the sense of intimacy, and instead appear distant and robotic. .. I hope to isolate the pure sense of intimacy apart from the objects it commonly arises with and penetrate it."

What you seem to be describing here is a growing identification with (in your words) "what's looking" (or in my preferred terminology 'who's looking' – but the word choice here is somewhat arbitrary). This contrasts with your former, natural tendency to identify with the objects of attention rather than the source of attention itself (whatever or whoever that is in reality). The effortlessness and openness of what you are engaged in is characteristic of the method of inquiry, as distinguished from the development of the concentration states. Your thoughts seem distant and robotic because, in fact, most thinking is automatic; the brain generates thoughts without our conscious intention (in most cases).

If you continue along the lines that you have already described – which I would encourage you to do – then your next challenge will be to unpack the dualistic meaning behind your stated intention "to isolate the pure sense of intimacy apart from the objects it commonly arises with and penetrate it."

What do I mean by this?
[HINT: How can something be both intimate and isolated at the same time? If that something can truly be isolated, then what could be doing the penetration of it?]

Gozen

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""Gamma oscillations in the 30- to 70-Hz range and upward are often mentioned in current discussions of the possible involvement of quantum "computations" in the manifesting of consciousness. {search http://arxiv.org for 'consciousness'}."

No, the sound is subjectively much more highly-pitched than 30-70Hz. That would be a low drone, similar to the hum on a badly-connected stereo.
"

But I sometimes hear low frequency tones as well. Epically when I yawn for some reason. I noticed it most prominently after I received a csft healing. (http://www.healtouch.com/csft/index.html) They told me it had sometime to do with vibrational modes of my spinal fluid. I don't really have any experience with csft so I don't really know what to make of that.

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Hi Florian,
they are indeed. Another aspect of this is that the shifts become more obvious. Of course I try to note them but at this point noting is usually too slow. I figured that maybe it´s the concentration being too week so I switched to anapanasati just yesterday which is what I alway do when noting is too slow or concentration too weak.
Back to the kundalini stuff: Usually I can feel them building up before they are released. This is like when I really speed up the noting it feels like bodily pressure that increases until I get used to the speed. This happens in just an instant, accompanied by the physical relief from the pressure and trembling.
Maybe this isn´t even kundalini-phenomena so please correct me if you can.
Best wishes,
Martin

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Thanks everyone for the advice.

Cheers,
Florian

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