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@Principium Nexus I've experienced what could be called 'flat screen' from time to time. It happens out of nowhere. Reality looks like it's being projected on a screen.

@Voyager @Joseph Maynor @WelcometoReality Now that I revisit what I was experiencing last week- about rethinking my entire practice because it felt like nothing was there. Maybe that's true on some level. Practice is an illusion? Or is that my ego talking? I'm really not sure. I'm not saying I'm going to stop. But maybe just see it in a different light.

@WelcometoReality Thanks. I'm fine now but I can relate to what was said here. Even though I've been down this road before- sometimes I just feel like I've hit a brick wall. It just gets stale. Something I read made me rethink my entire practice and I was seriously doubting all of it. And I really don't know why. This thick feeling of agitation just came over me out of nowhere. It wasn't like what Joe experienced of realizing he wasn't the body. I've learned to welcome those freaky feelings of being out of my skin with no solid ground to stand on. Maybe that's how I felt about my practice. Like there was nothing really there. I know- wrong attitude. I guess it's all part of the growth process.

@Voyager @Joseph Maynor I've been there too. Many times. Just last week I was questioning everything. I spent a few hours experiencing a state of doubt and agitation. What I've learned is the best thing is not to fight it but use it. Use it as a growth tool. Turn it around on itself and have it work for you instead of it pushing you around. I looked around and found this from Mooji. I hope you find it of some use.

@Ray How do you know for sure Ray World literally exists?

@Serotoninluv There is no rush to do anything.. This all takes time. It took years to build the 'you' that exists now. Remember when you where very young? Life was uncomplicated because you where. There was only a sense of presents or 'I Am' at the core of your being. Learn to dwell in that again. That is your guiding light. It was there to guide you into this world. It's never left your side.

@Lauritz My hat is off to you! I would imagine you wouldn't know if your awake or dreaming after a while. Or even if there would be much difference. The 5-MEO-DMT will be pouring out of your pineal gland. I read sometimes it can actually be tasted going down the back of the throat. It's called nectar of the Gods. Best of luck!

@Outer Haha I thought of this video as soon as I read the topic. Great minds stink alike. Yea, we're really stinkers! Gonna give the poor guy nightmares for sure now. At least the guy in the video had light!

@sgn 'No one is dying because no one is being born' Nisargadatta I know that sounds very far out. And it is. The mind can't comprehend it, it's so deep. As Leo calls it 'radical openness' is needed. It's all illusion arising in consciousness. All of it. You, me, everyone, everything, birth, death, existence. It's all an amazing illusion. Enjoy it while your aware of it but never forget that you where 'born' into a dream state. Consciousness creates the dreamscape and the mind adds to it. When you 'die' consciousness and mind will come to it's end and so will this dream. You could awaken before the death of the body/mind. Seeing this would be awakening or enlightenment. Something in you knows the sleeper must awaken. Edit: That would suggest that everything in existence is one. But not in a way you may have thought.

@Jakob Eiring Have you tried yoga?

Guys just watch it doesn't get too religious or dogmatic. Thanks But since you bought up the subject of Christ the spiritual teacher, here's a great Satsang with Mooj

@Akshay What I do is not look at the contents of the dream itself but more of the overall message. For instance you say you dreamt about 'trying to get away'. Is there something in your life now that doesn't quite agree with you and you wish you could get away from it? I'm just using that as an example of simplifying the dream you had. Just to add, do you sleep with a TV on? Sometimes that can filter into your dreams without you realizing it.

@Akshay Some yes and some no. The trick is to know which ones are meaningful and which are just stories in your head. Maybe a dream interpretation book would help or internet search on dream meanings..

@Akshay It's a result of you being more aware of what's going on in your head.

@Nardo Just one thought. Stay mindful you don't fall into the trap of existing as someone who thinks they don't exist. In other words, you may be grasping this conceptually but not through direct experience. Which if that's the case, this would be just another chapter in the story of 'you'. Ask yourself 'What knows it's all been just a story In your mind and none of it ever happened'? That's the tough nut because you can't think yourself into non-existence. All you can really do is completely vanish in an instant without a trace. Poof! All gone! But that ain't so easy! Especially when we live in a world that is constantly pulling us back into ourselves and our 'story'. It like trying to defy gravity. Or should I say 'deny gravity'.

Thought I share this.

@How to be wise Like I said, by shutting off your identity. Just as a suggestion you could try 'I never existed'. Look at everything in your life up till this moment, put it all in one pile in front of you, see it all very clearly, than turn it all around by saying to yourself, none of this ever existed. And really mean it. Welcome it to happen. Let go and just trust. Sooner or later your bound to hit on it. Than there is no 'you' to know anything. Just pure awareness. None of it exists except in the mind, which doesn't exist either. No you=No knowing.

@KazmanThis was distinctly different from my usual level of concentration. Maybe it was the first time I experienced a truly empty mind that made the concentration stand out so much. I'll ask this, Is access concentration similar in any way to what happens in reaching orgasm?

@Kazman I'm not sure if I've done it or not. Does it feel like awareness came to a point of perfect focus or order?

@How to be wise My definition of the 'experience' (if you can call it an experience) of not knowing is when the mind comes to a full stop and there is nothing there. Zero movement of mind. A mind without content. Only awareness remains. Totally empty awareness. How do you do it? It happens on it's own at first through practice. Then once you've hit on it enough times you can return to it at will. You shut off knowing by shutting off your identity.

@MiracleMan Your True nature.

@MiracleMan@Leo Gura Just wanted to add something that relates to Leo's latest video about distraction. Wouldn't an undistracted- disciplined mind better serve all aspects of life? Catching the ox is about how hard you have to work to gain mastery of your true nature. It’s only when you start disciplining the mind that you realize how crazy you are! Your mind is constantly wandering off and getting distracted. You have to work hard to focus and develop discipline.

@Kazman All a great read. But what you said here really hit home. I look around me now and all I see is false aspects of me. I'm realizing this same thing today especially reading the Ox' herding picture -stories and I'm rethinking everything in my life and practice. Probably a good thing to do from time to time. So this part of the ox story shown me something that wasn't quite correct in my practice. Just wanted to share. If you see yourself as separate from your true nature then you’ll try to act on it from outside and make your mind be still. This is impossible so you’ll never succeed. But that’s okay because your true nature is naturally still. You don’t need to struggle. Everything is as it is. You can let it be, and let your mind be, and the disturbances and ripples in the water will slowly disappear.

@The Monk Are you familiar with 'A glimpse of the ox's tail' in Zen? https://jessicadavidson.co.uk/2015/10/12/ox-herding-pictures-first-glimpse/

@Martin123 I'll gladly take whatever it can do for me.