Frequency of Nirvana Smokes?

james72

Starting to Get Obsessed

Aug 30, 2017

155

27

• Oct 23, 2018

• #1

Teen Spirit jokes aside, how often do you experience the coveted Nirvana Smoke? For me, it's no more than once a month. A friend of mine says the same thing, but I'm wondering what a larger group of smokers would report. I think it would be helpful to also state the average number of bowls you smoke a day (about 6 for me). I'm not going to get into the particulars of what defines a Nirvana Smoke outside of it simply being an EXTRAordinary smoke. Thanks for the input!

 

bluto

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 24, 2018

737

8

• Oct 23, 2018

• #2

I’m still stuck in limbo

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

34,000

75,780

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Oct 23, 2018

• #3

You hit Nirvana once a month? damn! I think of it as something so spectacular that you are lucky to hit it once in a lifetime.

 

mikethompson

Lifer

Jun 26, 2016

11,340

23,496

Near Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Oct 23, 2018

• #4

I once had a whole bowl without relights. I'd like to combine that with mastery of breath smoking and getting all the sublties of flavour from a blend. Then I will have arrived.

 

workman

Lifer

Jan 5, 2018

2,793

4,222

The Faroe Islands

• Oct 23, 2018

• #5

Occasionally. Definitely less than once a month. I'm averaging 2 bowls a day or thereabout. BTW I don't see a Nirvana smoke as a "no relights pure white ash" thing. It's when the pipe gives more than usual of flavor and relaxation, or satisfaction really. When after a bowl I feel totally satisfied.

 

bluto

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 24, 2018

737

8

• Oct 23, 2018

• #6

Some kids , you know, they get quite a rush from stamp collecting.

 

npod

Lifer

Jun 11, 2017

2,944

1,032

• Oct 23, 2018

• #7

RARE!
Maybe 2-3 times per year at best. In fact, it's so rare for me that I actually post the experience here sometimes because no one else in my circle of friends or family would understand what the heck I'm talking about.
Keep in mind, one can have lots of "great" smokes, and even hone your technique and pipes to consistently give "great" smokes, but that is different from the rare Nirvana experience.

 

bluto

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 24, 2018

737

8

• Oct 23, 2018

• #8

What npod said
Getting in some great smokes and eliminated all the things making for a bad experience
The nirvana smoke is still like the elusive great pumpkin

 

workman

Lifer

Jan 5, 2018

2,793

4,222

The Faroe Islands

• Oct 23, 2018

• #9

The nirvana smoke has more to do with state of mind than with the smoke itself. In my opinion.

 

bluto

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 24, 2018

737

8

• Oct 23, 2018

• #10

Yah , a comfy chair , a crackling fire and a fine islay malt , more than halfway there
.. oh , and it’s snowing outside ..

 

snowyowl

Part of the Furniture Now

Oct 21, 2015

885

22

• Oct 23, 2018

• #11

At sunrise most days: LJ Peretti British in some nosewarmer field pipe I have in the car, as I walk out into the marsh, fields and forests.

 

eggrollpiper

Can't Leave

Jul 27, 2018

378

38

• Oct 23, 2018

• #12

I think as consumption increases chance of nirvana smoke decreases. Ussually the best most enjoyable smoked I have are when I have to wait longer than I'd like to. Like ussually I have a bowl before noon or so but occasionally if circumstances don't allow and I don't get out to smoke until late, the delayed gratification makes it that much better. It's counter intuitive I guess, especially in relation to actual nirvana which supposedly is experienced more with increased practice. Although I do like calling it a nirvana smoke as opposed to holy grail smoke because nirvana isn't attained and kept like an academic degree. It's my understanding that it's like glimpses, mere moments in a neer century long existance.

So to actually answer the question: couple times a year maybe.. and not when I'm trying to of course...

 

craiginthecorn

Lifer

May 8, 2017

1,610

1,684

Sugar Grove, IL, USA

• Oct 24, 2018

• #13

A few times a year. 100% of my Nirvana smokes have taken place in a quiet spot with just me, my thoughts, and the pipe. Sadly, I do that too infrequently.

 

wolflarsen

Part of the Furniture Now

Jul 29, 2018

844

2,369

• Oct 24, 2018

• #14

I've had 2 standout nirvana smokes in the 3-4 years that I've been smoking a pipe (average 1 bowl a day). Holy crap, they were good. One was Mississippi River in a Savinelli 673 and the other was Plum Pudding Special Reserve in a Savinelli 311. I've tried to replicate the experience many times since and have not been able to make it happen. I think nirvana probably hits you when you're not trying and least expecting it.

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,459

• Oct 24, 2018

• #15

I have stretches where nothing tastes that great. Then I hit the zone where everything tastes pretty good to terrific most of the time. I think workman has it about right, that when you have a bowl that is extra good, and you combine that with an elevated frame of mind, that gives these optimal experiences. A really good blend in a great pipe just won't get you there if you aren't in that frame of mind. Frequency? Two or three times a year, with maybe six or eight other near experiences.