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I was heavily into meditation for about a year than Leo introduced a new video where he was saying "That "you" that you think you are, doesn't exist". And I just sat with that until the "I" finally collapsed. At first, it gave me the impression I was leaving the body and that spooked me, so I backed off. Then I thought "what the hell go for it". And when I did it was as if consciousness became laser focused and I went with it. The next thing I knew I was no longer aware of my body and the room I was in, and I became something very similar to @PenguinPablo's avatar pic. The laser focused consciousness was the key part though. I never experienced anything like that happening before, but awareness came to a single point like it was hyper concentrated. After that experience I remember thinking to myself "that was very OBE like". *The meditation I was practicing at the time was silent/repetitious mantra meditation. Possibly that played a part in why consciousness became so laser focused as it did when I sat with "I don't exist"? I hate to label it this way because it kind of minimizes the experience, but just to give some idea it was almost like entering a trance state. -Which I never experienced before.

That could explain why I experienced what I did. I was practicing no-self/no-location at the time and something seriously shifted.

@PenguinPablo Your avatar pic fits perfectly with the closest experience I've had as far as OBE's. Just seeing that image bought me right back to it. When you cease being in your head/body, that is what you are.

The "I" nothing more than a memory.

To live again?

As Alan Watts said in his manuscript 'The Art of Contemplation' "You are the aperture through which the universe is aware of itself. These centers are not, as may seem, apart from their surroundings, but stand in mutual relationship to them".

@TruthFreedom I lived with a woman who had very similar traits. She was a miserable/shallow/mean person at heart and misery loves company. Don't let her suck you in. They can be very manipulative and love to mess with your head just to get a rise out of you. Best to just keep your distance. Trust when I say you're not the first person (probably mostly men) she has played her little game with. So, she is well versed at what she is doing. Above all don't be reactive to her negative behavior. That's EXACTLY what she wants. If you mirror her behavior in even the smallest way she will immediately place all the blame on you.

What does it take to become God? Transcending the human form. A day will come when everything becomes perfectly clear.

If Donald Trump was a member here, he could tell you.

If you were born in Disney World and that was all you knew that would be reality.

There is a good story about Nisargadatta and a deciple of his. One day the deciple invited Nisargadatta to come to his home and while he was there and he shown him all the pictures he had on display of all the famous gurus he spent time with. Trying to impress Nisargadatta he asked him what he thought? Nisargadatta replied: "Take those pictures and throw them in the river".

You are the aperture through which the universe -God, is aware of itself.

Perhaps you should. I don't know. Perhaps you should be working instead of dicking around with all this enlightenment jazz.

That's the only truth of everything you said. How can you have free will if you are nothing? Stop with the "I am God" crap. That's the ego talking. Empty yourself and be Nothing. That is God.

When first experienced it was so powerful it felt as if I had each foot in a different world. It took a good while to integrate and I'm not sure if you ever fully do. Just thinking about it now, the same feeling opens up again. Like being a spirit in the material world. One thing for sure. The fear of death has fallen away. Or perhaps better to say, I know what happens when the body falls away.

You're not alone on this. I call it a pristine state prior to the egoic identity.

If that's what is known through direct experience than kudos to you my friend.

The answer lies somewhere in between and that's all I can say about that. Edit: I say that because as soon as you try to figure it out, it goes away.

Sooner or later it's all going to come your way. So, embrace it all when it does. Even suffering teaches a lesson to be learned.

@Osaid I look out my window and there is a golden sunset. Each a cell of awareness. Collectively the whole.

Each a cell of awareness.

Bingo! Nice to breath a fresh air of Truth around here.

"And he descended into Hell" The phrase "He descended into hell" in the Apostles' Creed refers to the time between Jesus' death and resurrection. This concept, called the Harrowing of Hell, suggests Jesus went to the realm of the dead during this period and brought salvation to souls waiting there. It's part of the creed's description of Jesus' suffering, death, and ultimate victory over death through his resurrection. @Davino What do you think of that? That's some heavy &h*t man. Did you experience anything like a Hall of Souls? Maybe you could have saved a few while you were there.

My daughter is a schoolteacher in a rather underprivileged area. It seems a lot of her students could benefit from something such as meditation to help offset the turmoil of their current home life.

A Buddhist monk sacrificing himself by fire in protest of the Viet Nam war.