Timing on slipping into a transcendental state often feels like chasing moonlight—visible but elusive. Some practitioners report a moment of luminous stillness within weeks of earnest practice, while others might tread that path over several months or even years. A mix of temperament, consistency, and the particular dharana (focus) technique drawn from the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra plays a starring role.

Lean into a few key factors:

• Steadiness of Practice. Daily sessions—even short bursts of mindful breathing—tend to bear fruit faster than occasional marathon sits. Think of it as watering a plant: a little each day keeps it green.
• Quality of Attention. Techniques that employ breath-awareness, mantra, or sensory withdrawal (pratyahara) call for laser-sharp focus. When the mind stops darting like a hummingbird, deeper states can open like unfolding petals.
• Guidance and Community. A seasoned teacher or meditation circle can shave off months of trial-and-error. In today’s digital age, virtual satsangs and biofeedback apps—some backed by recent MIT neuroscience studies—offer tailored support, nudging practitioners toward the sweet spot between drowsiness and agitation.
• Inner Climate. Stress levels, sleep patterns, and even nutrition influence how readily the brain shifts from beta to alpha, theta, or delta waves—those signature frequencies of transcendence. With rising burnout in 2025’s fast-paced world, carving out tech-free zones has become essential.

A handful of dedicated souls glimpse that “no-thing” awareness in a single, powerful session. Others fine-tune patience as their greatest ally, recognizing that each milestone—be it a flicker of ambient light behind closed eyes or a sudden hush within—marks progress. It isn’t a race but more like learning to dance: once the rhythm is caught, the body naturally follows.

Patience pays off. Over time, those fleeting tastes of silence deepen, until the line between practice moment and everyday life begins to dissolve, and the everyday world shimmers with newfound clarity.