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@abrakamowse Today I tried a practice of moving between "knowing" (reading the forum), to not knowing by closing the laptop and sitting in empty stillness- than back again. That head got cut off and put back on many times. What a great contrast between the two. Quite an awakening. When there is what's known, there are two. When there is no known, there is not even one.

Love is the sweet nectar of existence....

What is the sound of two hands clapping...

Sweet! Total liberation from the illusion of a self that suffered from anxiety. One illusion was creating another illusion. Your probably looking at it now and laughing your ass off.

Here's a good one. Explore being dead and there is no longer anyone to remember the loved ones.

@Toby Wow thanks for finding that. I looked again this morning and missed it. Sometimes we have experiences and we find ourselves asking "WTF was that?" - "dipping below the bhavanga-sota" O.K.!

Could existence be a vibrational field becoming form through consciousness?

Mind will never comprehend awareness. That would be bringing awareness down to the level that mind exists in. It ain't gonna happen.

@Atom Shinzen Young mentions dying in the video above when you dip below a certain level of consciousness in meditation. It does give the impression of what a nde could be like for some ppl. It's an ego death experience. The first time it happens it can sometimes feel like you had experienced death. Leo said in one video that he felt somewhat depressed after he experienced it the first time. It all depends on how big your ego is and sense of self but most ppl would feel it to some degree. It's like the first true full realization that everything you thought you were all your life was a lie. That's not always so easy to except. It's a death of self that the mind doesn't want to face or accept. I experienced it twice and the 2nd time it was totally acceptable. It wasn't such a shock.

I'm trying to find more information on that word Shinzen Young is using in the video, (bava-unga-sota) or something close? Anybody familiar with it?

@Huz88 It felt like I became pure being and entered into another dimension or something . It was a space that was absent of all things but it was vibrant on some level that the mind can't understand. (all this is just a layman's words).

@Huz88 Sounds like you have a good idea what I'm talking about than. I experienced that level twice. Once in Sept. and again in January. The first time it was great when it first happened but than it hit me like a ton of bricks hours later. I didn't even know there was a name for it until I watched the video. What does Shizen Young call it? Dipping below the (something) level? Just a guess, but I think maybe the sub-conscious seen it coming and was already at work in making it not happen. Like I said, I didn't expect that so it caught me off guard. Had I been somewhat prepared I would have worked through it. I was sabotaged by my own mind! Lol As far as how to get to that level. I've tried to induce it but it never happens. It seems to be a hit or miss thing maybe? I finally get my chance and I bailed out-great! The first time I was inducing the no-self experience and it happened suddenly. The second time it just happened in meditation. That time was great and no "hangover" at all. Is odd that I didn't go all the way this time because 3 days ago I had the direct experience of no-self really strong and held it for over an hour after my meditation. That's the longest I have ever gone. So this is what I'm working through at this point. Just to mention- It's great to have someone to relate to on this matter. Cool! I thought maybe I freaked everyone out yesterday when I said I realized what may have happened. You know how it is, this level needs to be experienced or else it could be an odd subject.

@Huz88 You still there?

Yea, and you can see past that B.S in that. Enlightenment work is about being brutally honest first and foremost with yourself. If your not, you'll ride that wheel the rest of your life like your friends from one level to the next. Where will that get you in 10 years? A relationship can happen, just not in that hollow way. Don't expect it too. It very seldom does so be real, that's all alcohol. Your looking for the real deal. When a relationship happens, it's like it was always been there waiting to happen. You'll see!

@abrakamowse Where'd you find this gem?

When you get hit by a bus while chasing a $10 bill blowing in the wind, chances are your sense of self is lowering your awareness.

Angel Dust.....?

@Shaun Sweet! As Leo says it needs get some "traction". Sounds like you stuck with it. That in itself speaks volumes about your open mindedness. Stay tuned, it only gets better. One thing to mention. That's a late night sit. That's fine as long as your totally present. There is nothing like kicking back and silently observing mind at a standstill. Yea!

@Key Elements You forgot one of my personal favorites. Playing outside in the sandbox and suddenly looking up realizing that you and the world around you are one in the same.

@Bruno This may be a new perspective: listen carefully to what leo is talking about in the video @12:20-13:15. It's a total 180 deg. shift in perspective ( beyond that even). It is something that must be experienced directly or you would never believe it no matter who told you. A level of awareness that does not exist when the self is the first observer. It's that freaking radical. When no-self or transcendence of self is in full realization, you than see for the first time that everything you previously related to as being "you" and "your awareness" was no more than a waken dream state. It's a level of awareness that happens only when you awaken from the illusion of self. It is awareness within total emptiness.

@Huz88 After asking you that question "What's that about?", the answer comes to me. My mind is reluctant to experience death again. Something in me is drawn to it, it's a fantastic experience because all fear of death falls away. But the mind doesn't want to go there again if it realizes what's in store for it. It starts dragging it's feet and kicking like a child who doesn't want to go to the dentist. lol I need to over-ride the mind next time through total surrender and allow that to consume me like a moth before a flame. Last night caught me off guard. I just wasn't willing to go that deep.

@Huz88 Yea, I pay no attention to the images. That's only distractions. Artifacts of the mind. What was interesting though was the feeling of dropping into deeper levels of awareness. It felt as if I was falling towards a void beyond all play of the mind. I guess the mind won out because I did bail. In the video he talks about remaining aware even at the deepest levels. He said "that's a big deal". Next time there will be no bailing out! Here is what I experience, If I realize I'm heading toward a really deep level, I bail out. But if I'm just there suddenly, out of nowhere, than it's all cool. I'm there already, too late! I've been in the absolute void before. But when I realize it's coming, I hit the eject button, I guess. So what's that about?

@Piotr Yea we got to do this again. You mention the childhood memories and that reminded me. Yes I did too at one point. This is definitely an interesting mix!

@Sri McDonald Trump Maharaj That's very cool! When I tried to go back to sleep I was very alert so I couldn't fall back to sleep right away. When I finally did I had or, (I could recall) a lot of vivid dreams. Dreams all over the place. When I did wake, I felt a like the sleep pattern was still with me. It felt a little like I was out of myself a bit. Almost a ghosty feeling at first. If that makes sense? I'm still feeling a great stillness around me a couple hours later. Almost like a morning buzz. My head feels very light and open.

@Huz88 I would say more imagery than daytime. After both head nods there was heightened clarity and focus. When I watched the video he talks about exploring deeper levels of awareness. I remembered that when the meditation was really still and silent and it suddenly seemed like I started to drop deeper. I felt as if I was moving downward and some illuminated visual things were flashing by me. I couldn't really make out what they were. I had the impression it was leading somewhere, than suddenly it just stopped . I may have caused it stop because it was so different. Maybe I mentally bailed out? But that in itself did seem very interesting and something to explore again. I should have just let go and let it happen. Oh well, next time maybe. I'm glad to hear you had a great experience. It was well worth it. I'm glad we all got together and did this. Nice!