Very few people engage in a genuine meditation practice because done right, meditation leads directly into the pain that we all naturally try to avoid. Being open to absolutely whatever presents itself to our mind through whatever pathway (physical senses or generated by the mind itself) is a lifetime practice and is never easy. "Most people" who begin to sense the pain that must be moved through at that point drop their practice. "This isn't helping! It's making things worse!" is the common reaction. For those lucky few who persevere, however, the realization awaits that "worse" and "better" don't in reality exist and never did.

Re: ecstasy. Ecstasy is a temporary phenomenon like all are in the universe. It's wonderful when present and there's no reason to avoid it, but that said, be careful not to be surprised by the comedown from that state. While the more famous line of thought from Siddhartha, as said here, is "Suffering is universal", I find more power in another of his ideas: All is impermanent. Absolutely everything.