[tokiwartooth]

Anyone here know how to meditate? I have tried before and I have never succeeded, either I'm interrupted, or most always I can't get my mind to shut up. Also, anyone here believe in out of body experiences (OOBEs)? Astral projection? Just curious, those things have always fascinated me. If they are real I would love to learn how to do that. If anyone here has, how did you do it? I don't want to sound like a nut, but that just fascinates the heck out of me.

[MissInvisible]

I believe in OOBEs. I wanted to have an OBE while mediating but I just fall asleep. When I dream, I sometimes feel myself floating. The last time it happened, it didn't feel like a dream. They happen if I'm suffering or if I've been in a bad mood. I felt like I was in my room. I saw an elderly couple and it looked pretty real to me. They just happen randomly for me. I think when you meditate, you have to relax yourself and you have to try and keep yourself awake. I mean, your body is falling asleep and somehow, you have to keep yourself awake. That's so hard for me. I also suffer with sleep paralysis and I've had times when I felt like I wasn't in my body. There are others times, when I wanted to but I feel slightly afraid or I just can't do it. Whenever I feel like I'm in a room, I want to turn my light on but I can't. I don't see demons. I don't believe in them. I really don't want to sound crazy. I'm sorry if I am crazy. I'm still learning myself and I could go on about this for hours.

[Webgoji]

<-- Buddhist

I've meditated for years. Before my brain went all wacky on me and my medication jacked up my ability to concentrate, I was receiving Secret Mantra meditation training.

If you want to start meditating, I would suggest finding someone to actually teach and guide you. Books, MP3's and such are great, but they aren't someone there actually guiding you along.

OOBE's and Astral Project are real ... well ... okay, things just got really complicated. They are real in that they are perceptions of the mind. That fact makes thinks like OOBE's and such a bit more difficult to explain than something readily measured by electrodes on your head.

For example, the near death experiences people report? You know, the tunnel with the white light and everything is calm and serene.

Advanced Buddhist meditators can and regularly do experience that same thing during meditation. In the case of someone dying it's referred to the Clear Light of Death, but the same experience during meditation is called the Clear Light of Bliss or Example and Meaning Clear Light.

Falling asleep during meditation, called Gross Mental Sinking, is an obstacle that has to be overcome with practice. Through mindfulness training using the mind to observe itself, you learn to detect not only Gross, but Subtle mental sinking and overcome it. Eventually, your meditation becomes so strong that people will think you're either asleep or dead (breathing is nearly non-existent).

I think that's about enough information overload.

Just let me know if there is a specific question I can help with.

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by Webgoji

Falling asleep during meditation, called Gross Mental Sinking, is an obstacle that has to be overcome with practice. Through mindfulness training using the mind to observe itself, you learn to detect not only Gross, but Subtle mental sinking and overcome it.

By the way, there's nothing funnier than being in a big meditation center with a bunch of monks and nuns and everyone is meditating when one of the senior monks falls asleep and starts snoring!

[happiedasiy]

Thanks Webgoji for this explanation, as it is a difficult topic to define.

Years of mindfulness trains the conscious mind and opens to what our subconscious mind holds (this is where awareness comes in) key of understanding how to incorparate the mental activity not directly perceived by the consciousness, from which memories, feelings, or thoughts can influence behavior without realization of it. While meditating these aspects become clearer.

Awareness of the gross and subtle mental phenomena in the mind while we are awake, or at sleep, or during meditation.

Lucid dreaming is a form of OOBe because it takes place in a different dimension/level of reality.

Astro projection is unique and I can not say what it is or is not.
Hugs,
Happiedasiy

[Nicks_Nose]

As a first timer, I have found that what helps me most is my surroundings. My home is not the place for me to meditate. I have to begin with scenery that helps me relax, like the park down the road. There is a spot that looks over the swans on the pond and it is off the public path so I don't hear the basic public chatter. Sunshine, breeze, and scent of nature helps me relax enough for beginner meditation. Once I feel I can gain more self control of my thought patterns, I will attempt short ones in more normal life settings.