Thread: New to Lucid Dreaming

What is the Correct way to do reality check ???

Whenever I am Free I keep repeating to myself " this is a dream"…“I am dreaming”
I do this continually for may be a 100 times.
I also count my fingers and try to poke my finger through the palm of my Hand and also do a nose pinch.
But I keep on doing this continually.
I do reality check like more than a 100 to 1000 times a day.
Is this the correct method ???

The last time I became Lucid I first realized that I am dreaming after the realization I did a reality check.
So I have to First realize that I am dreaming before I do reality check...which means I have to remember to do a reality check in my dreams.

How do I go about with this.

Do I do reality check continually thought the day ??? Is this the correct meathod ?

Originally Posted by devotee013

What is the Correct way to do reality check ???

Whenever I am Free I keep repeating to myself " this is a dream"…“I am dreaming”
I do this continually for may be a 100 times.
I also count my fingers and try to poke my finger through the palm of my Hand and also do a nose pinch.
But I keep on doing this continually.
I do reality check like more than a 100 to 1000 times a day.
Is this the correct method ???

The last time I became Lucid I first realized that I am dreaming after the realization I did a reality check.
So I have to First realize that I am dreaming before I do reality check...which means I have to remember to do a reality check in my dreams.

How do I go about with this.

Do I do reality check continually thought the day ??? Is this the correct meathod ?

I refer you to "The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep" instruction on performing illusory form practice:

In doing these practices, it is not enough to simply repeat again and again that you are in a dream. The truth of the statement must be felt and experienced beyond the words. Use the imagination, senses, and awareness in fully integrating the practice with felt experience. When you do the practice properly, each time you think that you are in a dream, presence becomes stronger and experience more vivid. If there is not this kind of immediate qualitative change, make certain that the practice has not become only the mechanical repetition of a phrase, which is of little benefit. There is no magic in just thinking a formula; the words should be used to remind yourself to bring greater awareness and calm to the moment. When practicing the recognition, "wake" yourself – by increasing clarity and presence – again and again. until just remembering the thought, "This is a dream," brings a simultaneous strengthening and brightening of awareness

The key thing here is to keep separate the notions of lucidity and raised awareness, presence in the current moment experience, and the performing of a state test ("reality check", but state test is a better term I think -- we're trying to determine our state, waking or dreaming). As you note, the raised awareness almost ALWAYS precedes the performance of a state test. Very often the state test is not needed at all, but it is still a useful tool, and doing them throughout the lucid dream can help contribute to longer, more stable lucid dreams.

We are not training to "do reality checks," we are training to *be lucid* in our dreams. To be lucid in our dreams, we need to be lucid in our waking lives first. So in that regard, yes, it is useful to try to remain in lucid presence throughout the waking day, as much as you can. Keep it light and playful and fun, with a sense of humor, though, never do it so much that you burn out or think it is drudgery or "hard work." It is better to do a little every day and keep it very high quality than to do it so much and so often that you burn out or the quality of it gets poor, or even worse, if you start to form negative thoughts about the practice.

There is a delicate balance between continually raising awareness and lucidity and forming strong intent to be lucid, versus trying to "force" lucid dreams by force of will. My viewpoint is that continually working on the basics (lucidity, attention, awareness, memory, intent), plus a very active and healthy and positive interest in your dreams, will eventually lead to the sort of frequent and high quality lucidity people who come to this forum mostly desire.

Be lucid, build fundamentals, have fun, be creative, build a strong and positive relationship with your dreams: a positive, growing, rewarding experience!

"Force lucid dreams": frustration, anxiety, insomnia, upset.