My Journey of Transcendence and how it has changed me

[MementoMori]

I've been on a journey of enlightenment and ascendancy that has completely changed me in body and in mind. I've started this thread to post MY thoughts, enlightenment's, and theory of "stuff". I welcome others opinions but please if all you have to post is some religious or scientific trolling, please expect no reply to your post nor will i even acknowledge it. I'm gonna post some of my quotes and poems, some of my art and most often just what's on my mind. It will encompass things such as dreaming, Lucid-Dreaming, some of my philosophy regarding life and other matters, some techniques i've found helpful with dream control, some of my art that has been inspired by my change of mindset and other weird things about me. If there's anything you want to discuss with me regarding anything i post but don't want others trolling you about it feel free to PM me, i'm online 75% of the day and will be more than happy to talk to you about any of it, in thread or in PM. With that stated, here is my first entry: MementoMori's outlook on life so far... In my journey i continue to become more and more disconnected with my physical body. With each passing day I continue to see this body as almost a glove that my mind uses to interact with this reality. I can almost "feel" what is filling the glove. When i look at anything, I do see it's anchoring nature of hardness and being a object, but I'm starting to really see every thing as a part of me and me as a part of it. I find that with each passing day i can almost see the energy that makes up all things. When i think of something such as... a ball, sure i see the ball and see how it interacts with other objects, but more than not it breaks down in my mind to being a gathered mass of particles that form this object this way. So i can no longer look at the ball as just the ball but more of a swell of energy that i interact with threw my swell of energy. When i look out over a sunset over a field with clouds and trees and what not, yes i see it for it's enormity and it's rarity and beauty, but now i'm starting to look from different eyes that, even from my point of view sees that large field as a speck on another speck on yet another speck on yet even another speck. What i mean is that i can see the diminutiveness of our world, and even our galaxy. When i look up into the starry night, i don't get that sense of eternity, but more of a feeling of compression and openness. I honestly feel like a cell on the skin of the earth. So i guess what i'm saying is i'm becoming more aware of my role and connection to all things in this existence- -MementoMori

[nina]

I'm really looking forward to this! What a great idea. And you might have inspired me to start my own similar thread. Not completely sure I'm ready to share all that info with the rest of the world just yet though. Since you are going to be posting stories, art, poems, etc...do you think this would be better suited for the artist corner? I can move it if you like, but if you'd prefer that it stay here, that's just fine as well.

[MementoMori]

yeah, i'll probably have a pretty good bit of art on here, so i'll just have the philosophy as my side notes to the art, i actually was debating on which of the two to put it in lol. And yeah, i'm not one hundred percent sure i'm going to post EVERYTHING but i'm going to post most of it, because hey it's just my opinions and views. I'm not trying to persuade anybody, it's basically going to be my way to express myself to the Dream View community and allow others to float around and see if there's anything in Memento's head they might find interesting or helpful with any aspect of LD'ing or whatever else...

[Speesh]

Nice start! In fact we seem to be in very similar places right now. A few days ago I had a profound non-dual type experience that sounds very similar to what you describe. I felt the entirety of everything around me as a vast ocean of cause and effect and just completely submitted to it. There was an awareness that existed outside my physical body, watching it react to the world. Its happened a few times since then. Its an amazing experience to say the least. I'll definitely check back here, I love reading other people's accounts of these things. Perhaps we can learn from each other .

[MementoMori]

as do i and i will certainly keep this thread updated as much as possible! Also i believe there is always something to learn from the views and opinions of another

[MementoMori]

Here's a Lucid Dreaming logo i made for the DV Academy...

[MementoMori]

MementoMori's thought's on arguments and the act of arguing: Being divorced i have been in many arguments, being from an authoritarian family with such an open mind and tough spirit i have had many many arguments. I am very skilled at intelligent debating and arguing. But I find it very detrimental to ones health to actually fight and scream and yell in an argument. For one it takes the argument to an entirely new level that is extremely stressful. That stress can impact, and does impact many parts of your life. This for me includes dreaming. I find that the more I'm stressed the less i dream and if i do dream i never gain lucidity in them if the stress is still there when i fall asleep. I also find that arguing for the sake of trying to hurt the other only ends up making yourself feel like an ass afterward if you care for that person at all because you eventually will find that the reason you were arguing never overshadows how you care for that person (in most cases). So one should Always breathe deep and slow in an argument and keep a level head. One should go into any argument with a set goal created before they enter the argument but most importantly before they give any thought to the emotions that arise at the beginning of the argument. Keep this goal in mind the entire time, and always remember who you are arguing with. Sometimes we argue with all the assholes we've been faced with that day or, even worse, that week. When arguing, no matter what never carry that argument with you, nor any emotions or ideas or visualizations that arise during it. These will embed themselves into your subconscious and over time become who you are, and most of the time they are angry ideas and mad thoughts. This is especially detrimental to your relationship with loved ones if this occurs in an argument with one of them. No matter what never - never, ever let yourself become so upset that you lower to the point where you start cursing and calling the other person names. The first reason this is harmful to oneself is that you may be expressing your current anger at that person and not your true impression of them, yet they will take it for your impression of themselves on you. Most of the time after the argument you will find that that persons opinions do not change your relationship with them or how you feel for that loved one, or at least it should not. Because to want someone to share your exact same beliefs and opinions is to ignore what it is to be human living amongst other humans. Two minds thinking alike sharing the same interests, same beliefs, and the same opinions never can think "outside" the box to better their enlightenment in life and their life in general. This can be proven simply by the renaissance. Two dissimilar minds that can debate in a professional and enlightened way can compare and contrast thoughts and ideas, and build on each others perceptions of those ideas and thoughts, but when one disagrees with the other, to ruin such a beneficial debate by allowing foolish anger to cloud ones mind can hinder that persons progression in business, love, and life. ~MementoMori

[nina]

Very nice. I could not agree more. Being an overly sensitive and very emotional person, I have had to train myself to truly take a step back and collect myself whenever I am in an argument and I allow the things said to be taken personally. It has taken years of practice, but I think I'm finally getting the knack of it. I no longer lash out in anger, and am able to keep a level head even in the most heated arguments. I cannot give full credit to this dramatic change all to myself however, as I have had some amazing "teachers" along the way which have shown me the beauty of quiet, critical thinking, rational thought, and the true meaning of existence. Such teachers anywhere from friends and family, to authors, artists, and even psychedelics and other substances. One thing I noticed in particular that still bothers me somewhat...is that I know people who are extremely intelligent and highly developed as a person. For example: my godmother is a Reiki Master and extremely spiritually developed ...yet I witness these people become extremely angry and lash out in arguments. Particularly at family get togethers. My family is really really close, but sometimes there are very heated political arguments. I come downstairs and everyone is yelling and trying to talk over one another in order to get their point across. But to me all I register is this: walking into a brick wall of negative energy. I understand the need for argument and debate...and shit they could all actually be agreeing with one another, but they're still yelling for some reason! But all that negative energy that it manifests is not healthy. I tend to hide whenever the issue of politics is brought up. I'm of the mindset that it is extremely important to surround yourself with only positive influences and positive energy. Also, great logo! Have you posted that in the DV Academy badges thread yet?

[Abra]

i'm online 75% of the day and will be more than happy to talk to you about any of it, in thread or in PM. I hope that percentage was an exaggeration. There's only so much a person can learn online! I honestly feel like a cell on the skin of the earth. I like this analogy. :3 You mention dissociation, disconnectedness, and oneness. That's not how I approach things, though I'm sure at one point I tried it out. The most important thing is to keep going. Don't get hung up on one perspective, even one you've held for a while.

[Rainman]

MementoMori-- this is a great concept!!!! What a fantastic way to share your journey with us and inspire us to progress in our own journeys of waking up. I'm in this process as well. I think you should start a collaborative group effort like this, where people can post their thoughts and ideas regarding these concepts of the journey to becoming awake, or enlightened or however you'd like to call it. Truly, a beautiful concept. Spreading light into the world.

[MementoMori]

@ Aquanina: Yes, i tend to stay far and clear of political debates and arguments, mostly because this is usually something many people are very passionate about and most not knowing how to have a positive productive argument will let the argument ruin a relationship in a heartbeat. Also, i posted it in a thread Shift had, it asked for some icons and logos. I'm gonna post it on the badges/icons thread as well. I only made it so large so that the quality would be very nice when shrunk, and so that it could really be examined closely. @Abra: It's more like 65% but mostly i'm downloading things for digital art and reading articles and doing research for my book i'm writing. Also, I mentioned those feelings because so far that's where i'm at in my journey, and most of the disconnectedness really applies to everyone's idea of what life is supposed to be. The everything is either work and taxes or religion and family but ideas of spiritual evolution and enlightenment, and phenomenons are childish games to be left behind in your childhood way of thinking is an old, foolish, molded mindset that puts a halt and dresses ones mind and spirit (when i say spirit i mean the love, and desire to do what you love and learn to love more in your mind, the consciousness's wants and inner most desire)with the reigns of societal ' have to's ' and ' can only '. Also i am still on my journey so there will always be growth and alters to my views, but at this stage this is where i'm at. @Rainman: I have thoughts of what you've posted, all in good time my friend all in good time. I also plan on writing a book alot like C. S. Lewis did where he wrote down his thoughts and opinions. I actually was given an F in a class early in my 9th year of school because i wrote a paper that had these ideas in their youth still being shaped in my mind, and when i asked why i received an F the teacher told me that i was living in a fantasy world and needed to come back down to earth and be writing about what profession i'll be seeking in life and things such as that. My response to the teacher was that i already knew my "profession" and that i supposed he wouldn't be one of those readers that would buy my books, he laughed and waved me off to my next class. He has a place as a snobby character with preconceived stereotypes for everything in one of my books. He wrote himself right into literature that day. But truly a group of others like minded and also with widely opened minds sharing their growth in their journey of enlightenment would and can be a very beneficial thing. Many of my steps in my own journey were guided by my friends own path to awakening. Simply because one mind does not have all the answers yet can ask questions that others may have found their own answers to on their travels. Also the journey is largely of ones self and Although we might be headed to the same place, we each will take a different path there and will learn different ways of looking for each step on our way there, and even if two reach the same place at the end of the path, the two will look at the arrival differently even though they may share the same wisdom gained threw the journey. One may see the cherry blossoms floating threw the air and think that is what his end to the path is and another may look down and see the lotus flower in the pond alone but filling the entire pond with it's beauty and wisdom and that person may find it to be his end to the path, even though they both are standing at the end of the same path. sorry i rambled there momentarily.

[MementoMori]

and the universe there is not that witch a hand full of huffs and puffs could ignite a dream drought of freedom and fronds to be fraught or fought for but to be bought by the endless worlds compressed into a . for it should be known that the hourglass speaks the sand threw the wormhole at the end of the third smile. Let your mind remind mine that there is a mind in the ________ that gazes out of the truth of four stars and a ham sandwhich. But alas in the end the Dolphins will cry that the whales stole all the fish and the shrimp will have their day as the moon rises into the sea. and so my good ear i bid the a three and maybe even a fourth of an presume that you will too find the shoe fits on most others face. - The clothes pin and the breadtie This has all the wisdom of a tree that lets it's leaves in the winter... ~MementoMori

[MementoMori]

"As the light is filtered threw the trees leaves; So should knowledge be filtered through wisdom." "...goodbye beautiful Blue" these are my planned last words. (Blue is earth) "The field fills with mist as the warrior draws his blade. The blood runs down into the ground as the final cut is made. A nation is crushed and a people freed with only one swing, but the warrior still sheds a tear, because it had to come to blood for a change to be made."

[Beeyahoi]

"...goodbye beautiful Blue" these are my planned last words. (Blue is earth) As lame as this sounds, that almost brought a tear to my eye.

[MementoMori]

i have a thing for this big blue ball of life and death, she serves as most of my inspiration. Me and her, we have this thing, this click, we get each other. Lol

[MementoMori]

Memento's Dream world I'm very proud of this piece

[Carôusoul]

Why is that we devalue being in the world? people seem to find mystical or ascendant ideas of seperating fromt he physical or whatever. i think true connection with the world is by being in the world, in the fullest usage of the term, and that that is fucking enlightenment. Dasein, man. Everyone seems to live with this weird cartesian ideal of escaping from the muundane physicall i think that is flawed. Also i'm awfully sorry for essentially taking a shit in your thread. But it's one of those spontaneous thoughts that doesnt deserve its own thread and KINNDD of is related to what you were saying.

[MementoMori]

Why is that we devalue being in the world? people seem to find mystical or ascendant ideas of separating from the physical or whatever. i think true connection with the world is by being in the world, in the fullest usage of the term, and that that is fucking enlightenment. Dasein, man. Everyone seems to live with this weird Cartesian ideal of escaping from the mundane physical i think that is flawed. Also i'm awfully sorry for essentially taking a shit in your thread. But it's one of those spontaneous thoughts that doesn't deserve its own thread and KINNDD of is related to what you were saying. I can't speak for others but, my enlightenment is not one of separating ones self from this world or escaping the physical world. It's about escaping the materialistic views a condemnations of the world. It's not like i'm dreaming up a separate reality i would like to live in or stating there's an existence out of the physical world i would love more than this one. For me it's about opening your eyes to the world and taking it in for ALL it is and not just what it has to offer. It's about being thankful for the gift of life and never taking anything in life for granted, nor ever forgetting that there are so many out there that do make it past today, and if you do to not waste such a amazing gift, but to make sure you experience it in it's fullest contrast. Enlightenment for me is to look at ones self, past, present, experiences, failures, accomplishments, and dreams from an open mind and outside of ones opinions to understand what meaning ones life has for his/her self. Enlightenment is not a separation of anything but yet it is to open the eyes and see more than you have ever saw before. It's not escaping away from anything about this physical world, but escaping such a controlled and blind way of life and finding a new one in the same physical world, and that new life you find is what's transcendental of the old one.... Also, don't apologize, you offended no one. You spoke your mind and i spoke mine. But please understand there's so much more to it then what any of us are able to explain or put into words. We do horrible justice for the idea of enlightenment with our words ~MementoMori

[MementoMori]

MementoMori's thoughts on Honesty and the act of creating lies: I will not begin this entry by stating i have never lied, or even that i do not lie anymore for when i am not watching my tongue things escape that should not. Instead, i will tell you that you can ask me anything and no matter what the answer may entail i will certainly try my best to give the most honest and direct answer i can. Honesty is by definition: not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent. So to lie by definition is: a type of deception in the form of an untruthful statement, especially with the intention to deceive others; tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive. Now that we have looked at the definitions of honesty and the act of creating a lie lets look to why one should always try ones best to tell the truth, for none of us are perfect and lies will always find cracks in our memories and try to fill them. When one lies to others, they create a false record and impression of what was asked or is being stated. That false record can be harmful to others because if they take your lie as a truth and a fact, then they will expect that lie to hold up in most all situations it occurs. So if man states that he went by a known dangerous dog in a neighborhood and lied that he pet it and it didn't attack him when in truth he fled the area because the dog did indeed try to attack him. Say that a young boy were to hear the statement, and he believes the man, that child would then think he had a better chance of not being attacked by that dog and would attempt to pet it. The metaphor is that a lie told is almost always a lie lived for someone, and most times it can be harmful for loved ones or detrimental in their day to day lives. To tell the truth is to earn a standard of trustworthiness and acceptance that you will supply truthful honest knowledge when any knowledge is divulged from you. It is widely accepted that one is judged more by what one does wrong than what he/she does right. So to fill your life and relationships with lies will indeed get you noticed and maybe even help you to reach a point in business, but the lie is fake, false, a bottomless cup that will hold no water so when the people in your life and events in it begin to fill your cup, it will most certainly fall straight through. But yet honesty is backed by fact and hard knowledge that forms a rigid yet strong base to everything, to your cup, and will most certainly hold up when your cup is being filled. It is easier to become a liar, but it takes time and effort to and time again to become an honest man, the first is a faulty, fools way of sliding along the path of life, not taking up responsibility to fill his/her shoes and take true steps along the path. The second, honesty, is a wise mans walking-staff for he can always rely on the truth to hold him up in the most trying of times, and the strongest tempests. Some can see it as this: Lies are empty and so are black and deceitful, to fill ones day to day to year life with the darkness and deceitfulness of lies is to corrupt ones self. If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. ~Mark Twain A lie has speed, but truth has endurance. ~Edgar J. Mohn The truth brings with it a great measure of absolution, always. ~R.D. Laing Lies make for a sweeter rememberance, but honesty makes for a more filling memory. ~ MementoMori ~MementoMori

[fairytale complex]

lie to your parents

[MementoMori]

lie to your parents I fully and wholeheartedly disagree with this. I find it becoming easier and more satisfying with each passing year for me to acquire more respect and understanding from my parents because i have withheld very little from them. There's not so many things i've hid from them that you can't count on one hand. It may cause upset or anger to arise but if you continue this, to share everything with your parents, over time they will know you for whom you are which is what most all adult teens wish of most of their parents. Also, stand honest in your opinions and strong in your demeanor and they will almost always know your are being honest, and that there is no tearing you down which unfortunately very many parents do while trying to 'build' their children to who they would like them to be. Be honest with your parents, it will surely do much better than telling them lies. lol, soon to come Memento's thoughts on parents and children...

[MementoMori]

I find working hard to Lucid Dream only pays off after a day or two of rest from the practice. Although i also find it easiest to perform DILD instead of WILD. Meditating for about thirty minutes before bed, just laying in bed clearing your mind tuning your thoughts to one vibration, then releasing them and letting go of your body completely can help to put it to sleep quickly. This is especially useful if you've had a long hard day. ~MementoMori

[MementoMori]

a random badge i did for Dv, just toying around in GIMP

[StonedApe]

I fully and wholeheartedly disagree with this. I find it becoming easier and more satisfying with each passing year for me to acquire more respect and understanding from my parents because i have withheld very little from them. There's not so many things i've hid from them that you can't count on one hand. It may cause upset or anger to arise but if you continue this, to share everything with your parents, over time they will know you for whom you are which is what most all adult teens wish of most of their parents. Also, stand honest in your opinions and strong in your demeanor and they will almost always know your are being honest, and that there is no tearing you down which unfortunately very many parents do while trying to 'build' their children to who they would like them to be. Be honest with your parents, it will surely do much better than telling them lies. lol, soon to come Memento's thoughts on parents and children... I fully and wholeheartedly disagree with this. Maybe not, but I do disagree with it. My parents are Catholic. If I told them, "Hey, see you later guys. I'm off to go smoke weed." They would flip. Lies are necessary for civility in a world where social morals are based on fear(I live in America, I don't know about you). Other people's parents would probably flip in the same way if they told them they were gay, or an atheist. I really wish that my parents could fully understand me and accept me, but I fear this is impossible. We have a healthy relationship, but it certainly isn't as deep or meaningful as I'd like it to be. How can it be, they forced me to go along with their religion for about 6 years after I stopped believing in it. Even now the only reason I get out of going to church is because they think I'm a Buddhist. But I have to be a part of some religion for them to feel like they are good parents, so I lie.

[MementoMori]

I fully and wholeheartedly disagree with this. Maybe not, but I do disagree with it. My parents are Catholic. If I told them, "Hey, see you later guys. I'm off to go smoke weed." They would flip. Lies are necessary for civility in a world where social morals are based on fear(I live in America, I don't know about you). Other people's parents would probably flip in the same way if they told them they were gay, or an atheist. I really wish that my parents could fully understand me and accept me, but I fear this is impossible. We have a healthy relationship, but it certainly isn't as deep or meaningful as I'd like it to be. How can it be, they forced me to go along with their religion for about 6 years after I stopped believing in it. Even now the only reason I get out of going to church is because they think I'm a Buddhist. But I have to be a part of some religion for them to feel like they are good parents, so I lie. I understand how you feel. But to lie to them is to present your parents with a false image of who you are, so as they try to make decisions and judge you for the things you do, they cannot do so thoroughly and correctly because they don't know who they are judging nor is there a connection between the parent and child on the most basic of relation. It may upset them, but the best thing you could do is be completely honest with them. Now, regarding the issue of drugs, i grew up in a divided home, oh and i live in America also in christennessee where everything is christianity or wrong at least with the older people here. Now, if you're parents would say put you in a reform school or send you away at all for it, then yes, keep it as a personal thing at least until you are an adult and live in your own home. But, ultimately if they would condemn you for something without opening their eyes to see that that drug isn't ruining you nor will it change the fact that you are still their child, then be honest with them anyways. Don't begin in your home what will ruin you in the rest of the world, that is, don't let others stereotypes of you cause you to live a life you don't want to live. If they can't look past that and see that you're still their loving child and it didn't make you a bad person (in the sense of going a committing crimes because of it) then it's their fault they are so narrowed minded. You cannot try to please others always, because then you begin neglecting yourself. Never ever neglect yourself, i'm not saying hold yourself first and foremost above all others 100% of the time but do not try to fit yourself into others pre-fashioned mold of you. Stand up and say this is me, this is who i am and what i love and what i want and what i believe take or leave that's your choice.... or don't, but the later is a sad unfulfillable way of life.