Trying to achieve Sleep Paralysis/OBE/Lucid dreams

[Bing]

I've had two lucid dreams, both of which were thanks mainly to this forum. Both occasions were a couple of years ago and I haven't really been very disciplined when it comes to reality checks, practicing etc. The phenomenon of sleep paralysis/OBE's sounds very interesting to me. After reading some guides on here last night (lye down completely still, ignore impulses to scratch itches and turn over), I tried it. I was pretty good at ignoring impulses, and after a combination of trying to just think about weird dream scenarios, keeping still and ignoring impulses, I got that weird energy that waves over your entire body, but then... nothing. I tried this numerous times in one night and I did get the wave of energy several times, one time in particular was very intense, but nothing else ever comes of it. What am I doing wrong? I'm assuming it's to do with what I'm thinking of, because my thoughts are usually split between trying to dream, trying to stay stay still and anticipating the wave of energy.

[telethiese]

don't think about anything, just listen and watch. You must wait until the dream has become ripe before you declare your lucidity. You should lull the submind into a sense of security and allow it to take you for a ride, and once you've become grounded in this new place - THEN, if you've been listening and watching all the while - you will be able to break away without losing the foundation. You don't have to try to dream, it happens automatically already. You don't really have to try to stay still either, because the natural state of the mind is already stillness, so just sit and listen for the call. Don't premeditate the wave of energy, it's something you have to go into. Watching and knowing it will happen is enough, but once it starts you have to jump into it without any fear or reservations. No force, just flowing like a river into a new world... Good luck.

[Bing]

don't think about anything, just listen and watch. You must wait until the dream has become ripe before you declare your lucidity. You should lull the submind into a sense of security and allow it to take you for a ride, and once you've become grounded in this new place - THEN, if you've been listening and watching all the while - you will be able to break away without losing the foundation. You don't have to try to dream, it happens automatically already. You don't really have to try to stay still either, because the natural state of the mind is already stillness, so just sit and listen for the call. Don't premeditate the wave of energy, it's something you have to go into. Watching and knowing it will happen is enough, but once it starts you have to jump into it without any fear or reservations. No force, just flowing like a river into a new world... Good luck. Probably a stupid question, but I take it you don't mean to physically watch, like I'm not supposed to open my eyes am I? And when you say jump into it, I don't quite get what you mean. Because I'm always prepared for whatever would come, I just don't know how to get beyond that or 'jump in'.

[telethiese]

Probably a stupid question, but I take it you don't mean to physically watch, like I'm not supposed to open my eyes am I? And when you say jump into it, I don't quite get what you mean. Because I'm always prepared for whatever would come, I just don't know how to get beyond that or 'jump in'. invert your senses and watch your mind, listen to the sound of silence. When the time comes, forget your body and become the energy, and then flow off into the dream. No stress, no worries, let only the mindfulness of this moment along for the ride.

[Darkborne]

For me the sensation is similar... I become aware of my dream body and my waking body at the same time. For me, it's when I feel my dream body start to do stuff that I take control (I ignore my real body without thinking of it). It's hard to get at first but after you get used to it, it becomes instinct.

[Bing]

Had some progress last night. Finally experienced the vibrations that your guys talk about. It was in my left arm and spread to my chest, it felt like another heartbeat that's beating so fast it feels like a vibration. It's obvious to me it's just my mind that's getting in my way, when I reach things like the vibrations/energy waves my mind is racing and I am still very aware that I am actually awake... it's really frustrating.

[telethiese]

Had some progress last night. Finally experienced the vibrations that your guys talk about. It was in my left arm and spread to my chest, it felt like another heartbeat that's beating so fast it feels like a vibration. It's obvious to me it's just my mind that's getting in my way, when I reach things like the vibrations/energy waves my mind is racing and I am still very aware that I am actually awake... it's really frustrating. You'll get there. Meditation before bed can help with racing thoughts.