Thread: Questioning Reality

From the Lucidity Institute’s website:

“The experience of being in a lucid dream clearly demonstrates the astonishing fact that the world we see is a construct of our minds. This concept, so elusive when sought in waking life, is the cornerstone of spiritual teachings. It forces us to look beyond everyday experience and ask, "If this is not real, what is?" Lucid dreaming, by so baldly baring a truth that many spend lives seeking, often triggers spiritual questioning in people who try it for far more mundane purposes. Not only does lucid dreaming lead to questioning the nature of reality, but for many it also has been a source of transcendent experience. Exalted and ecstatic states are common in lucid dreams. EWLD presents several cases of individuals achieving states of union with the Highest, great peace and a new sense of their roles in life.”

This freaks me out and is one of the reasons I have been scared of trying LDing for a while. The absolute last thing I want is to be questioning everything – being wide awake, wondering if everything that’s happening to me is real, or if it’s just a hallucination - or to have my perspective on life, death and the universe significantly altered. At the moment, I believe waking life is real, and LDs are entirely created by our own minds. What do others feel? Has having LDs made you question the nature of reality, and whether waking life is real? In what ways has it changed your perspective on things ?

Thanks
-heebs

Originally Posted by heebiejeebies

From the Lucidity Institute’s website:

“The experience of being in a lucid dream clearly demonstrates the astonishing fact that the world we see is a construct of our minds. This concept, so elusive when sought in waking life, is the cornerstone of spiritual teachings. It forces us to look beyond everyday experience and ask, "If this is not real, what is?" Lucid dreaming, by so baldly baring a truth that many spend lives seeking, often triggers spiritual questioning in people who try it for far more mundane purposes. Not only does lucid dreaming lead to questioning the nature of reality, but for many it also has been a source of transcendent experience. Exalted and ecstatic states are common in lucid dreams. EWLD presents several cases of individuals achieving states of union with the Highest, great peace and a new sense of their roles in life.”

This freaks me out and is one of the reasons I have been scared of trying LDing for a while. The absolute last thing I want is to be questioning everything – being wide awake, wondering if everything that’s happening to me is real, or if it’s just a hallucination - or to have my perspective on life, death and the universe significantly altered. At the moment, I believe waking life is real, and LDs are entirely created by our own minds. What do others feel? Has having LDs made you question the nature of reality, and whether waking life is real? In what ways has it changed your perspective on things ?

Thanks
-heebs

From my not so pleasant experience of thinking like this. It's better/safer to accept reality as reality. By questioning reality if it's real or not, it actually weakens the border between dreaming and waking. It creates two realities..this one and the dream reality and I find the mind gets confused because it's only familiar with one reality, this one. So nope...there is only one reality and it's real as I have known it. I think it would be safer to know that as a fact and treat the reality checks for lucid dreaming as training...not dreaming.

IMJ

I think such things would be GOOD for you! They would make you think deeper and maybe help you gain sagacity.

Originally Posted by Teeliumtrozzle

I think such things would be GOOD for you! They would make you think deeper and maybe help you gain sagacity.

LOL..Yeah in way it is....as an excuse to ignore or haze out reality....

IMJ

heebiejeebies, hi.

What's wrong with questioning everything you think you know? If no one ever questioned anything we would still be hunter/gatherers. Questions I believe are a focal point in the humans ability to evolve in everything including engineering and mathematics. So if it LDing dose in fact cause one to question everything that would be a good thing, or at least thats what I believe.

Just think of transcendental experiences as something that the ancients where intrigued with, (and questioned) many characters in the Bible had these experiences which led to a profound religious belief that many today still fallow with extreme faith.

You should never fear having your perceptions altered this is how we grow. LDing is a gift for these reasons and I believe should be embraced because of it.

I don't think there's anything wrong with questioning whether or not our reality is real. There are many ways to check to be sure if it is or not, the only thing that can happen, is you realize you're dreaming. Also, having your perspective on things change lets you see how your decisions can affect everyone else. A changing perspective is good in my opinion. It is when your perspective does not change, that is dangerous.

The statement does not mean that lucid dreaming will trick you into mistaking everything for an illusion. It means that you will realize the truth, that the world you live in only exists as a construct of your mind. Your wold is only made up of your thoughts and the information your senses can provide for you.

Originally Posted by heebiejeebies

From the Lucidity Institute’s website:

“The experience of being in a lucid dream clearly demonstrates the astonishing fact that the world we see is a construct of our minds. This concept, so elusive when sought in waking life, is the cornerstone of spiritual teachings. It forces us to look beyond everyday experience and ask, "If this is not real, what is?" Lucid dreaming, by so baldly baring a truth that many spend lives seeking, often triggers spiritual questioning in people who try it for far more mundane purposes. Not only does lucid dreaming lead to questioning the nature of reality, but for many it also has been a source of transcendent experience. Exalted and ecstatic states are common in lucid dreams. EWLD presents several cases of individuals achieving states of union with the Highest, great peace and a new sense of their roles in life.”

This freaks me out and is one of the reasons I have been scared of trying LDing for a while. The absolute last thing I want is to be questioning everything – being wide awake, wondering if everything that’s happening to me is real, or if it’s just a hallucination - or to have my perspective on life, death and the universe significantly altered. At the moment, I believe waking life is real, and LDs are entirely created by our own minds. What do others feel? Has having LDs made you question the nature of reality, and whether waking life is real? In what ways has it changed your perspective on things ?

Thanks
-heebs

Yeah, but counterfeit money (no matter how real) does not disprove the existence of real money. Lucidity, is just a very credible copy of reality.

At least you can see how other people view their experiences. Some take them more spiritually than others.

I don't question my reality, in fact, I can tell them apart very acutely (which is what makes you lucid in the first place). So no, I don't think it would mess you up or anything. LDs will not screw you up or make you question anything unless you are suceptible to that type of thing.

Go ahead, try it. You'll have to work at it anyway, and will find yourself more at your reality than you'd like, after you get a taste.

Originally Posted by psychology student

Yeah, but counterfeit money (no matter how real) does not disprove the existence of real money. Lucidity, is just a very credible copy of reality.

Yes, that is a very good point PS. I am inclined to agree.

Originally Posted by heebiejeebies

This freaks me out and is one of the reasons I have been scared of trying LDing for a while.

Don't be scared, it's all a marketing stunt. Lucidity Institute has to sell the idea of lucidity, and so they have to impress people. They may say it helps you with creativity or something, and now they say it's linked with spirituality. It's all aimed at people who're easily impressed by marketing ploys.
But it isn't true. You won't get a thought to question reality if you aren't philosophically inclined, and even then it will be merely a philosophical thought that won't influence your life or behaviour. Your perception of reality will not be altered.
You know, it's like "Is there life on Venus"? You may get such a thought, but you won't truly be interested or considering it seriously, you'll just find it amusing and that's all.

P.S.
If such info can help you, I've had LDs for about 10 years now, and never questioned reality. You may occasionally hear how somebody says his dreams are as vivid as reality, but don't pay attention to boasting, such people just want to impress listeners, in reality they always know when they're dreaming.
It's like all of these topics "I had a LD!!!!!!", "A great new way to WILD!!!!!", etc., people just being excited and wanting to share. In the same way a certain type of people may mislead you into thinking that you can become seriously confused about dreams and reality, because they think that it will impress you that they're "advanced" or "philosophical" enough to talk about such things.

Originally Posted by heebiejeebies

From the Lucidity Institute’s website:

“The experience of being in a lucid dream clearly demonstrates the astonishing fact that the world we see is a construct of our minds. This concept, so elusive when sought in waking life, is the cornerstone of spiritual teachings. It forces us to look beyond everyday experience and ask, "If this is not real, what is?" Lucid dreaming, by so baldly baring a truth that many spend lives seeking, often triggers spiritual questioning in people who try it for far more mundane purposes. Not only does lucid dreaming lead to questioning the nature of reality, but for many it also has been a source of transcendent experience. Exalted and ecstatic states are common in lucid dreams. EWLD presents several cases of individuals achieving states of union with the Highest, great peace and a new sense of their roles in life.”

This freaks me out and is one of the reasons I have been scared of trying LDing for a while. The absolute last thing I want is to be questioning everything – being wide awake, wondering if everything that’s happening to me is real, or if it’s just a hallucination - or to have my perspective on life, death and the universe significantly altered. At the moment, I believe waking life is real, and LDs are entirely created by our own minds. What do others feel? Has having LDs made you question the nature of reality, and whether waking life is real? In what ways has it changed your perspective on things ?

Thanks
-heebs

I've always been one to question the world around me, including the nature of reality. I think it is pretty normal to do so, and I believe many people reach this point sometime in their lives. I would encourage you to go forward and explore this realm for yourself. Lucid dreaming is an excellent way of finding meaning and purpose for things you are unsure of. Do not fear it. Think of dreaming lucidly as a way of moving you closer to the truth and what is real rather than farther away from it.

As far as my perspective is concerned, I can say LDing has certainly given me more insight into my own sense of purpose in this world. It has also provided me with a greater sense of well-being and confidence, which transcends into my waking life.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I really don't want to start questioning everything, despite the encouragement of some of the posters to do so. Some may wish to do that and find it enlightening, but I don't. Anyway, by the looks of it, LDing won't make me do that if I'm not already that way inclined. That's fine. My other concern, which just dawned on me, is that since I am scared of LDing, I'll probably always wake myself up once I become aware (same as what happened last week.) If I have the guts to see it through despite my fears, then there's probably a good chance my mind will create a scary dream, is there not?

Originally Posted by heebiejeebies

Thanks for the replies everyone. I really don't want to start questioning everything, despite the encouragement of some of the posters to do so. Some may wish to do that and find it enlightening, but I don't. Anyway, by the looks of it, LDing won't make me do that if I'm not already that way inclined. That's fine. My other concern, which just dawned on me, is that since I am scared of LDing, I'll probably always wake myself up once I become aware (same as what happened last week.) If I have the guts to see it through despite my fears, then there's probably a good chance my mind will create a scary dream, is there not?

You said what I wanted to say, but better.

There's no reason that your mind will make the dream go nightmare. Unless you expect it to! In fact, many people become lucid in a dream because they had a nightmare. They realized that the monster wasn't real, and kicked its butt, or befriended it, or chatted with it. If you know that it's a dream, and nothing can truly hurt you, then have no fear! =)

Originally Posted by Abra

You said what I wanted to say, but better.

There's no reason that your mind will make the dream go nightmare. Unless you expect it to! In fact, many people become lucid in a dream because they had a nightmare. They realized that the monster wasn't real, and kicked its butt, or befriended it, or chatted with it. If you know that it's a dream, and nothing can truly hurt you, then have no fear! =)

I guess so ! I was thinking of times when I've woken up suddenly in the middle of the night with sleep paralysis, convinced that I was being attacked by something evil. I didn't want whatever fear caused that dream to give me nasty LDs. But I guess if I'm aware, I'll know not to worry. Hopefully.

Thanks =)

i thought it was real the other day but it was a dream when i woke up. It scared me alot.

I would think it would give you a greater understanding of what you think reality is.

OK, let's make this the "heebiejeebies paranoia and reassurances" thread. One more for you - what about oobies? Is it possible to have them without willing them, when you were actually just trying to have a lucid dream? I've heard people say they are related, but I really only want to do lucid dreaming. I don't want to go anywhere near the other stuff.

Originally Posted by heebiejeebies

OK, let's make this the "heebiejeebies paranoia and reassurances" thread. One more for you - what about oobies? Is it possible to have them without willing them, when you were actually just trying to have a lucid dream? I've heard people say they are related, but I really only want to do lucid dreaming. I don't want to go anywhere near the other stuff.

The simplest way I can put this without sounding like a "stoner" is that you only find what you are looking for.

Originally Posted by heebiejeebies

OK, let's make this the "heebiejeebies paranoia and reassurances" thread. One more for you - what about oobies? Is it possible to have them without willing them, when you were actually just trying to have a lucid dream? I've heard people say they are related, but I really only want to do lucid dreaming. I don't want to go anywhere near the other stuff.

No, they're not related. And even if they were, it takes a heck of a lot longer to have an OOBE that an LD.

Thanks for your reply. Part of the reason for my question was fear, and the other part was just wanting to say the word "oobies". Hopefully it is all systems go now - I'll start trying some techniques this weekend.

Originally Posted by heebiejeebies

One more for you - what about oobies? Is it possible to have them without willing them, when you were actually just trying to have a lucid dream? I've heard people say they are related, but I really only want to do lucid dreaming. I don't want to go anywhere near the other stuff.

They're basically the same, it's about how you fall asleep without losing consciousness. Some people have their attention on their body and have OBEs from that, some ignore it and enter a whole new lucid dream. You won't know until you've tried.
But if you want to have only lucid dreams, don't try WILDing just in case, and then the chances to have OBEs for you will be slim.

You seem to be so full of fear for lucid dreaming, no matter about what exactly, you just fear it. Once you get answers to one thing that you fear, you bring up something else...

Damn! I wish you hadn't written that. I preferred the previous answer, that it would never happen.

They are NOT the same. Like I said, you have to work WAY harder to have an OOBE than you do to have an LD. You can have an OOBE with every technique, but again, it takes work. You have nothing to worry about. Just think about all the cool things you can do in a Lucid Dream. It will come. As soon as you stop worrying!!!

i think that we don't actually understand reality at all. while we have theories that can explain everything we see in our daily life, there's a lot that we have no idea what it is. and if we can't explain some of it we can't explain any of it via our expressions. that is why so much of reality is up to our minds. as we evolved there was an evolutionary necessity to see patterns and develop senses, which is what we base the majority of past descoveries and inventions on. it's only recently that people have had the courage to move beyond conventional "wisdom" and move on past our past selves. i think lucidity and especially the "dream yoga" that i read about a little while back are huge steps in realizing that our reality is just a convient clumping of things. and dreams are all over the place because we have no reason to cultivate them, until you become lucid. and when we realize that the way we see our dreams is no different from the way we see our waking life then we can let go of our conceptions of our "waking reality" that some people have trouble questioning. yeah it is scary to think about, but honestly it's not like every seconds you're gonna question reality it's too much to think about all the time. you'll just learn to appreciate things again. i feel that it's like being a kid again, to be enamored with just living. thats the way it should be.