Choi's Journey of the Conscious Mind

[B]Attempt 5:[/B]

This attempt I did end up falling asleep unconsciously. But my dreams were much more vivid than usual, and they are usually very vivid. So I was surprised when I woke up that I didn't become lucid. I am going to learn about the art of intending because that can probably help me getting aware of those dreams easier.

I have read a book called "The Art of Dreaming" by Carlos Castaneda.

It's about a guy learning how to become a sorcerer from a shaman named Don Juan.
I think that the guy who is learning actually is Carlos himself, but he never mentions that.
This guy is just like me a very rational thinker and Don Juan is doing what he can to make him realise the true knowledge.
I have read some other of Castanedas books, but they are usually about how drugs makes us see the real reality :shock:

So I liked this one about dreams better. I am going to use some quotes from him in order to understand dreams better.
And perhaps use some of the methods he describes.

- "I'm going to teach you how to set up dreaming"
- "What does that even mean?"
- "To set up dreaming means to have precise and practical command over the general situation of a dream. For example, you may dream that you are in a classroom. To set up dreaming means that you don't let the dream slip into something else. You don't jump from the classroom to the mountains, for instance. In other words you control the view of the classroom and don't let it go until you want to"
----
"There are seven gates and dreamers have to open all seven of them one at the time. You're up against the first gate that you must be opened if you are to dream"

"The first gate is a treshold we must cross by becoming aware of a particular sensation before deep sleep. A sensation which is like a pleasant heaviness that doesn't let us open our eyes. We reach the gate the instant we become aware that we're falling asleep, suspended in darkness and heaviness"

- "How do I become aware of that I am falling asleep? Are there any steps to follow?"
- "No. There are no steps to follow. One just intends to become aware of falling asleep"
- "But how does one intend to be aware of it?"

- "Intent is something very difficult to talk about. I or anyone else would sound idiotic trying to explain it. Bear that in mind when you hear what I have to say next: sorcerers intend anything they set themselves to intend, simply by intending it."

- "That doesn't mean anything Don Juan..."

-"Pay close attention. Someday it'll be your turn to explain. The statement seems nonsensical because you are not putting it in the proper context. Like any rational man, you think that understanding is exclusively the realm of our reason, of our mind."

Yeah it's a little hard to follow Don Juans lessons, but it's very inspiring and I hope to learn what he mean with my coming attempts. I will start to add some of his lessons here to make both you and me understand and follow what I will be experiencing.

So today I am going to create an intention to be aware of my dreams, but at the same time try to fall asleep consciously.