Thread: Oneirin's Dream Yoga Temple

Hello Sivason, glad to be joining the class!
I'm excited about being able to use your lessons as my daily meditation practice and bridge it over to dream practice. I'll be beginning with your first level meditation tonight before going to sleep, in addition to reciting mantras/intentions before bed. I'm looking forward to posting and working with a teacher, and updating on all my progress. Let's see how the practice develops!

After finishing my first meditation practicing the level 1 technique, the first thing I'd like to comment on is how focused I was on each individual sound in my environement coming out of the meditation. Everything was sharpened, and the vividness increase - plus the added benefit of increased awareness and less mind chatter. I can see how these techniques definitely has potential to sharpen awareness. It's going to be interesting to see the effcts of holding multiple sounds in awareness in later lessons. I'll keep updatting as the dream yoga progresses.

Continuing with the meditation practice, and carrying sense awareness practice sporadically throughout the day. I noticed that on my morning drive, my mind automatically switched gears into focusing on single sensory items and transitioning between every so often. No LD last night, but I'm continuing to record normal dreams in my written journal. I'm interested in the SILD, and considering trying it periodically if I find myself with a brief awakening during the night (via using mantras etc. which I usually manage to get).

Basic Skills Lesson #1
Version 1: Listening to a Noisy World
Level 2 - Continuing on with the meditation practice. I noticed I was able to sustain awareness of 2 noises in the environment for a period of time, but was challenged when adding the third noise; this would cause me to lapse in awareness and become distracted in a shorter duration. However, I noticed that midway through the session (which is 30 mins at the moment) my mind began to catch on and was able to sustain the noises a bit more clearly. It was a strange experiene, but it was almost as though my mind was trying to organize the sounds in front of me spatially at times. It is strange to explain in writing, yet there where periods where I experienced the spatial aspect differently. The vividness of the noises as definitley reduced from that of the first level, but I will continue to practice for several days before working on to level 3.

I just wanted to update with last night's LD before beginning another post on Basic Lesson #1. I'll record the details of he LD into my journal. I practiced mantras before bed - setting intentions to wake up after every dream and remember them completely. I woke up roughly 3 times following dream during the night and attempted to hold onto dream image while merging back in. I believe it was after my second awakening that I used the technique, and found myself aware of being in SP. Remembering that I used to induce LDs all the time through this state, I simply relaxed and let my body go through the feeling of 'sliding' until it was freed.
It seems that many of my LDs of the past - more notably the higher level lucids - were intitiatied through SP, and it seems to be continuing to emerge during the night allowing me to enter - if this techniques goes along with Dream Yoga practice, I might consider delving into it more. The dream lasted roughly 45 seconds to 1 min before a false awakening where I had a very convincing Reality Check: triple checked my hands & did not become lucid as the correct # of fingers appeared at all 3 checks. So to conclude - the mantras seem to be working well, and focusing on remembered dreams intently while returning to sleep /w intention to become lucid seems to be working. Looking forward to bridge this into more Dream Yoga based practices. Input always appreciated.

Basic Skills Lesson #1
Version 1: Listening to a Noisy World
Level 2 - Quick update with today's meditation. It was a bit easier to hold 3 sounds simultaneously; while it took me hlaf the session to begin grasping it last time, I seemed to be able to do it for short periods right from the start today.Granted I couldn't hold it for extended durations. I'm going to continue on level 2 for another couple days before hitting level 3.

Basic Skills Lesson #1
Version 1: Listening to a Noisy World
Level 2 - Continuing now with staying on 3 noises simultaneously; it's a bit easier from the start with todya's meditation, however I could only hold for short durations (15 sec or so). By the end portion of the 40min session, I noticed my mind going for 4 sounds, and finding a way to perceive it. It became almost like listening to a musical chord while noticing each individual sound: all sounds came into one, yet I was a ware they were all separate. I could only hold 4 sounds for very brief durations of a few seconds. I'm going to start a bit with level 3 tomorrow, and continue with some of these practices as I move to basic skills #2.

Basic Skills Lesson #1
Version 1: Listening to a Noisy World
Level 2 & 3 - Beginning to be able to hold 4 sounds at the same time during seated meditation. This only lasts for a couple seconds, but I can see how my mind is trying to wrap around the skill. I'm also beginning to practice level 3 while walking outside. I'm able to hold 3 sounds for durations lasting maybe 30 seconds or so, lose focus for a bit, and quickly refocus. I'll be practicing these 2 levels, and possibly implementing some of the other versions over the next few days as I have some extra time to meditate etc. I may even begin BSL #2.

Basic Skills Lesson #1
V1 & 2; L 2&3: Working on holding 4 sounds for above 4 seconds at this point; 5 is very difficult to grasp onto. Beginning a bit of version 2 as well. I'm currently able to hold up to 5 sensations within my body at the same time for moderate periods of time (6 is difficult atm). I noticed my awareness began to work this out by connecting points internally, like a constellation of sorts. One way I could try explain it is that I perceived all of this within my minds eye, and understood it was an internal map of sensation within my body.

This post will cover the practices around last night's LD chain: the most vivid, focused, and lengthy lucid dream I've had. This LD chain spanned 5 lucid dreams (I will record them in my DJ). I am continuing with sense meditation during the day, as well as mindfulness of breathing. Before bed I am focusing on reciting a mantra: "I am awake in Dreams, My body wakes after dreams".
I woke in the middle of the night and began to focus all of my attention on the intent of becoming lucid in entering the next dream as well as recalling the previous dream.
I am lucid from the beginning, yet do a RC anyway. I decide not to fly or influence the dream too much; I remember a Dream Views Podcast discussing simply immersing yourself in the dream in order to practice stability. I begin anchoring into my pure awareness and senses and simply walk around for the beginning of many of the 5 lucids, exploring the environment. Practicing the sense meditation the past week and a half, I am beginning to see how critical it is to increase clarity of awareness, not only to initiate LDs, but simply to stabilize & increase vividness. I feel that the more mindfulness based meditations I've done for years help me with ignoring distracting thoughts however; I feel less impulsive than I was when I was a teenager.
Another technique I began using to chain the LDs was meditating through the voids (I huge barrier I had in years past yet didn't understand how to get thorugh). When the dream was beginning to feel as though it was going into void, instead of spinning, I would sit, close my eyes and begin to meditate, focusing on the mantra: "I am dreaming". This would lead to another awakening and another LD (not a very ambiguous FA but more of a continuation).
I know this post was pretty lengthy, but I had to share : ) All tips, comments, advice, etc are greatly welcomed!

Originally Posted by Oneirin

Basic Skills Lesson #1
V1 & 2; L 2&3: Working on holding 4 sounds for above 4 seconds at this point; 5 is very difficult to grasp onto. Beginning a bit of version 2 as well. I'm currently able to hold up to 5 sensations within my body at the same time for moderate periods of time (6 is difficult atm). I noticed my awareness began to work this out by connecting points internally, like a constellation of sorts. One way I could try explain it is that I perceived all of this within my minds eye, and understood it was an internal map of sensation within my body.

You are on to something here. Re-explore this idea a few times. Good job. also, 5 sounds is very challenging for anyone (doing great)

I got through post #9, but am off to Brazillian JiuJitsu class. I will try to read the rest very soon.

Homework Basic Skills #1
Bridging from the practice of the basic skills, I wanted to offer a meditation of my own that I've been thinking about. This came about since I was practicing version 1 & 2.
In this meditation begin by focusing on the heart: the feeling in the body as well as any sounds which may arise (this requires a very quiet environment - it may be heard as a low pulsing in the ears). Add onto these 2 awareness another autonomic function: focus on the sensation of breathing as well as the sounds. To bring this practice to level 2 & 3, focus sustain focus on the entirety of the breath with both auditory and tactile functions. To take it a step further, add in an additional sound (or more!) from the environment. I thought it was an interesting idea as the heartbeat and breath are always available for focus, and focus may be refined. Also, it incorporates sense work from the entirety of practice.

Basic Skills #2
Diffuse Vision
Level 1. I wanted to begin work on diffuse vision while continuing practice of the Basic Skills #1 techniques. I wanted to post since I felt I grasped the aim of the exercise for brief periods of time.
I practiced diffuse vision today while gazing into my yard, holding the two posts of the window in my extreme peripheries. I completed relaxed focused vision/awareness and attempted to let my awareness settle into my peripheries (I assume this is desired at this stage). What I noticed for periods lasting roughly 4-5 seconds intermittently was that I entered a trance of sorts which I'll try to explain: it was as though my awareness was situated at the edge of a large convex lense, and I was aware of all points in the dome simultaneously without being focused on anything particular; it was as though a massive panorama view opened up all around me and my vision boundaries expanded. Just curious if this is on track. I'll continue to practice Basic Skills #1 as well as this technique for a bit.

Basic Skills #2
Diffuse Vision
Level 1. Yesterday, I continued to practice Diffuse Vision. I continue to maintain strong focus on the two edges of the peripheries and attempt to take in the whole scene while not focusing on one point. In addition I am doing seated BSL#1 and some mindfulness meditation. Yesterday, I sat facing a close wall with a curtain taking in two edge posts. What I notice is that at nearly 10 minutes into this exercise I begin transitioning into a sort of trance state like the one I mentioned above. I'm not sure If I'm supposed to be inducing this/if this is the goal or if I am not quite approaching the focus correctly. I'll continue to update how this exercise goes.

Updating with last night's LD. I used mantras once again as the primary induction technique. I'm going off intuition with this one as I noticed that act of combining this with strong will/intent during day meditation and night meditations has been correlated with lucidity. I'm tying it into the WILD techniques involving 'lay still and wait'. I'm currently trying a mantra "Awake in Dreams" which I use at the end portion of meditations as well as mantras before bed and during mid-night wakings. I did not go into a WILD directly, but became spontaneously lucid w/o a reality check midway through the dream.
As far as tying Dream Yoga practice to the dream itself, I decided from the inset to increase the dream clarity and sought to use tactile sense in order to do so. A tree was a main feature of the dream which I walked up to a consistently felt the bark of: it was rough with shallow, slightly curved, vertical recesses down the drunk. In addition I repeated to myself "Eric focus!" instead of simply requesting clarity from the dream. I wanted to put the belief into my ability and use my effort/will this time rather than request of the dream like I did for some many years in the past.
An unusual feature of this dream was the [B]whtie out[B] which occurred at the end of the dream. While I encounter black voids (black outs) in other dreams - which lead to FAs - I can meditate through them and appear in new dream scenes. During this attempt, however, I awoke to WL.
If anyone has any ideas as far as the white out - or any other portion of this LD report - feel free to comment!

Basic Skills #2
Diffuse Vision
Level 1 & 2
[In addition, I am continuing to practice BS#1 Version 2 as I feel the tactile meditations are useful to develop stabilization at the onset of LDs.]

Paying close attention to the visual field in level BS2 L1, I'm noticing that I seem to lose binocular vision while I go into the trance-like state I mentioned previously while maintaining awareness of 2 points on either edge of the visual field. Progressing to level 2 directly after level 1 and prior seated meditation, I quickly get into a trance-like state in which I have single pointed concentration on one area with what appears to be loss of binocular vision (I am looking from at the point from ~ 2 inches away - not sure if this is the aim). I feel I may need guidance as to whether I'm on track wtih visual distortions; at times I'm noticing the focused central item appearing as a hazy version of itself slightly to the left..

Basic Skills #2
Wandering Mind Recall

With wandering mind recall, I am focusing on a slight variation of a mantra that I use before bed as well as during mid-night awakening, yet with a light variation.
I feel that I see the purpose of the Wandering Recall after 2 practice sessions. It seems that you're building ability to lock on strongly to an intention - ultimately attempting to carry this into a lucid dream. We could say we're working with the subconscious, or priming the subconscious, but ultimately, it seems that we're building and sustaining focus of intention/thought which can be tied into incubation & WBTB.
I've noticed that I quickly go into a focused state with this technique. I also wanted to note that I notice a sensation in my 'heart chakra'. Although I've never really looked into chakras, I wanted to mention it since it seems like I elicited some type of response - like the mantra/thought resonated /w me.

I'm continuing to practice a combination of BS#1 as well. I plan to maintain a practice of just these techniques for most of the upcoming month.

Basic Skills #2
Wandering Mind Recall & Be Here Now
Continuing with the Wandering Recall in evening set around an intention to LD. I noticed that in The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep, they discuss how they repeat prayers before bed intenting for or asking to recognize the dream state. I've taken a similar approach, and notice a clear 'emotion response' from the authenticity; I feel this allows me to stay focused for a while. Adding to my previous post, it seems that the Wandering Mind Recall may help us keep reference of our intention/focus as we enter into a WILD.

For the Be Here Now technique, I've noticed that approaching the meditation in this way encourages the mind to engage in a sort of "open awareness" meditation - focusing on sensory input. Additionally, thoughts "narrating" these experiences are not suppressed, so we can maintain a detached awareness of the sensory input as well as the mind's interpretation. I feel this may be good for entering into a WILD as well as not getting caught up in the mind's interpretation of sensory input while grounding into a lucid dream. A great advantage of both techniques is that ithey encourage recall following a focusing period which would be essential to staying on point in a lucid dream, and recalling events afterward.

Continuing to work primarily on the Tactile Awareness portion of BS#1 as well. Thanks for the input!

Updating with practices linked to a lucid dream last night. I feel a big contributor was the fact that I focused on a strong intention/building of confidence as my night time Wandering Mind Recall. I focused single-pointedly on my own ability and potential to lucid dream and made sure I really felt it throughout the meditation. I mentioned this practice in the previous post, and I'm going to continue! For this lucid dream, I used SSILD as my induction method. Some time into a dream, I found myself in a part of my home, and simply 'got the feeling' I was dreaming. I reasoned I wasn't, but decided to look at my hands anyway. I looked at the front and then the back - both of which appeared normal - yet I became lucid anyway . Still trying to work these RC details out as my hands can be pretty convincing in some dreams.
Once lucid, an interesting aspect was my recall of waking life practices. I remember thinking clearly "The dream is a bit unstable - I'm going to practice some of sivason's sense-based instruction and try to stabilize the dream". I found a nearby wall and was amazed at how incredibly realistic the sensation s were. Upon awakening, I touched the wall behind my bed, and noted that it felt exactly the same as in my dream (a rough/gritty texture). The dream 'whited out' after a short period after 30 seconds or so and I woke up. I seem to have white outs as opposed to black outs when waking up.

Basic Skills #2
Mantra Awareness & Mudra Awareness.
After practicing the mudra awarenss a few times, I noticed that my mind was beginning to be able to recreate the feeling of a finger opening - almost like the concept of the 'phantom limb' I've heard about in the med field. I feel that stretching the mind to be able to do this may be especially helpful in encouraging transitions from SP stages. Since I enter this state on many WILD attempts, it could be used along with the relaxation techniques I use while 'sliding out' of the body. This may help encourage the mind past sticking points etc.
With the mantra awarenss, what struck me is that certain tones had no influence/no impact on my emotional state, while others seem to resonate immediately. I noticed this reaction from the mantra tones arising in my heart chakra (as I noticed the reaction with other practices in the class). I'm interested to learn more about the chakras as the heart chakra is the predominant one I seem to notice.

Basic Skills #2
Diffuse Vision - I'm beginning to practice this technique while going on walks with my dog. What I've noticed is that engaging this perception causes a flood of sensory input with any direct focus on one item. After reading some of "Dreaming Yourself Awake" last night, I realized something. I feel the technique may help by out-competing other stimuli which may cause the dream to weaken/fade. This focus on everything in the visual field allows an enormous amount of visual information to occupy attention, anchoring awareness, while preventing hyper-focusing on a single item, and thus losing stability due lack of 'movement' within the dream environment.

BS#1 and BS#2 Update
Continuing to place the majority of my focus on Wandering Mind Recall, Be Here & Now, as well as increasing Awareness practice during the day. Occasionally doing Samatha meditation as well (mindfulness of breath). I am trying to focus on increasing the intention/prayer aspect of the Wandering Mind Recall to the point where I can consistently make a very powerful intention to be aware in dreams. I realize when I have a mantra that resonates, I recall very little distraction from the intent. This concept of strong intention is making more sense as I read more Dream Yoga material.

Mantra Awarenss is beginning to make more sense to me as I am reading Nomkhai Norbu's 'Dream Yoga'. He discusses how the Clear Light practices, and picturing a White Tibetan 'A' symobol (Pronounced Ah) in the center of the body before sleep is the most critical part of practice. i understand why the focus on our response to the mantras was introduced in this course. I am going to continue practicing the focus on this mantra as I sleep to delve into the mantra awareness a bit further.

Three lucid dreams throughout the night last night which I wanted to update with. I will update these dreams to my Dream Journal. I feel the strongest contributors to these LDs were: practicing All Day Awareness for the first time, Be Here Now Meditation late in the evening, Wandering Mind Recall on the mantra "I will be aware in Dreams", and focus on the Clear Light practice of picturing the Tibetan A while fall asleep. I focused on the main practices Nomkhai Norbu stressed in the beginning of his book 'Dream Yoga' and decided to integrate these with the course.
I woke after the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th sleep cycles coming out of LDs and recording the dreams. They became progressively more vivid throughout the night with increasing levels of detail and clarity. It was the first time I was able to change the dream scene by jumping through a 'portal', and was able to end up in the location of my 'Spiritual Teacher' in the dream (my current dream goal), although I awoke before getting the chance to approach and speak to her. I'm still working out dream blindness as well as practicing preventing waking fully. I'm glad for the success though!

I had another three lucid dreams throughout the night last night, waking up between them to record in my written journal I'm going to talk a bit about dream yoga practices I feel that may have helped induce lucidity, as well as some ways I bridged the practice into the dreams.
Throughout the day, I practiced a great deal of awareness, trying to maintain All Day Awareness, and simply be very mindful. I spread out open awareness meditations throughout the day as I wanted to see how much of an impact it has (I had about 2.25 hrs of meditation time). I incorporate the recall aspect from the "Be Here Now" practice. Throughout the day I would periodically recite a mantra: "I will be aware in dreams" which seems to be working very effectively. Right before bed I focus single pointedly this mantra, and do not end meditation until the intent is very strong. I Continue this technique as i lay in bed, and resolve to be aware of every waking period as well. I dropped visualizations at this point.

I am recording all the details to my DJ, but I wanted to speak a bit about the second LD as I got the chance enter a very focused meditation insdie of it. At one point, the dream began to feel as though it was fading, and I resolved to simply meditate as the void was maintain despite rubbing, spinning etc. It seemed as though there was nothing but my awareness and blackness. I just decided to focus strongly on this awareness within the dream. I was surprised at how long and stable the meditation was - my mind was very clear. During this period I experienced two high pitched long beeping sounds within my center of awareness. I'll also add that the meditation on physical sensations seems to be aiding as I rub my dream body to ramp up stability and clarity.

Two lucid dreams last night which I wanted to discuss due to the induction methods I used as well as meditations within the dream.
I used the Tibetan technique of visualizing a red Tibetan A in the throat while drifting to sleep following awakenings. I did this for 'clarity and awareness' as the Tibetans teach. It seemed to work effectively for me personally as I got a LD in each of this periods, yet none appeared to be a seamless transition of consciousness.

Next, I am using meditation more often as I find myself entering the void. It seems as though more dreams are not forming at this point, and I usually end up waking up. I am wondering if there is a very effective method for dealing with voids via dream yoga techniques.