Thread: Meditation before sleep...LD induction?

Right. So generally, what do you think would happen if I meditated for say...20 minutes? And then attempted to Lucid Dream...what would happen/has happened?

And is there any chance of success? You would assume because of the relaxed state, going through the sleep cycles would be quicker and stabler...when that is what I would assume.

I have also heard some uncomfortable experiences people have had with meditating for an hour before going to sleep.

Cheers
Ben

I have tried meditating before sleep to induce LD's, and did so for a while, however I then realise my success rate didn't change after I stopped. On another note today I went into the lotus post in an LD (one of my dream goals) and floated around behind my house- was very fun & realistic.

Hah that is cool!

Did you success rate increase when you meditated compared to before?

Originally Posted by BenMurrie

Hah that is cool!

Did you success rate increase when you meditated compared to before?

as I said, it did not- however my success rate is quite high so I might not have noticed the difference (only been actively LD-ing for a month or so)

Depends how you meditate, but meditation can have an effect for sure.

eg: Enter theta state purposely to get vivid images in your mind = more vivid dreams.

I meditate for the sole purpose of dreaming. The meditation technique I use to WILD is the following:

I close my eyes, and place my attention only on the center of my forehead (between my eyebrows) and on my breath. That's it.

Why does it work? Because that is where the pineal gland, the third eye, the minds eye is located. By imagining sensations at that location, you directly stimulate it. The pineal gland is the gland that secretes melatonin, which is one of the hormones responsible for dreaming. You can increase stimulation the better you can concentrate on it and the better you can induce sensations or vibrations in that area. The better your imagination, the better this technique works. The longer you use this technique, the faster you will get into a WILD.

This is a 5000 year old tantra technique, as the story goes, one of the 112 meditations given by Shiva to his consort Parvati. Still works like a charm, and it's the easiest WILD technique out there IMO. This one directly induces dreaming. I also already managed to go into dreaming during meditation without laying down, all I need to do is close my eyes and concentrate for a while. The litteral translation of the tantra technique is the following:

"With intangible breath in center of forehead, as this reaches heart at the moment of sleep, have direction over dreams and over death itself."

Originally Posted by BenMurrie

Right. So generally, what do you think would happen if I meditated for say...20 minutes? And then attempted to Lucid Dream...what would happen/has happened?

And is there any chance of success? You would assume because of the relaxed state, going through the sleep cycles would be quicker and stabler...when that is what I would assume.

I have also heard some uncomfortable experiences people have had with meditating for an hour before going to sleep.

Cheers
Ben

Technically when you meditate your pretty much doing the same thing when you sleep before you dream. Before you goto sleep your breathing slows down and your mind becomes clear of any thoughts. Meditation is pretty much the same.

If you meditated for 20 minutes, the same would happen as if you didn't meditate. Or if you took a nap for 20 minutes, your going to get the same out come.

Forget everything you have heard about meditation.

Before going to sleep, start feeling. Your body against the cool sheets etc., whatever.
Don't visualise this, feel it instead.

Don't go astray following thoughts or ANYTHING.
Don't be expecting anything, just let yourself be completely without conceptions of anything.

Just feel whatsoever totally. From there, figure it out yourself, any guidance will only lead you astray, INCLUDING from your mind.

There is a shifting point from waking life to dream. Be so alert that you do not miss it.

Do not repeat what you have read either, read it once and that's enough.
You don't keep coming back to a signpost to ask for more directions or say it constantly after you've read it, so don't!

Relax.

Hello

Well thank you very much everybody who has commented, this has been really helpful. But don't let this post stop any of you from continuing to post messages discussing meditation.

Well I did try the meditation with focus on the third eye chakra...I had a vivid dream which I still remember which doesn't happen often. So whether that was a coincidence or not, it still sounds like a good meditation technique.

Cloud: I understand your post fully. Meditation could almost be taken to mean being 'present' and thoughtless. So I see what you mean about doing it by feel. I did it by feel once a long time ago...as in I just sat upright and relaxed with no thoughts for about 15 minutes. I was so unbelievably relaxed that I just slipped into a sleep. I think this is a very appropriate way of looking at meditation.

Cheers,
Ben

Originally Posted by ClouD

Forget everything you have heard about meditation.

Before going to sleep, start feeling. Your body against the cool sheets etc., whatever.
Don't visualise this, feel it instead.

Don't go astray following thoughts or ANYTHING.
Don't be expecting anything, just let yourself be completely without conceptions of anything.

Just feel whatsoever totally. From there, figure it out yourself, any guidance will only lead you astray, INCLUDING from your mind.

There is a shifting point from waking life to dream. Be so alert that you do not miss it.

Do not repeat what you have read either, read it once and that's enough.
You don't keep coming back to a signpost to ask for more directions or say it constantly after you've read it, so don't!

Relax.

Thats fantastic advise for everyone here, thanks ClouD. The techniques we discuss are just tools and should not be followed prescriptively or thought about incessantly when trying them,

own the technique don't let the technique own you

It all boils down to being aware... the tactile awareness that ClouD was talking about is a way of being aware of the moment, to be present. This can even be done during the day

being lucid in waking reality.

Originally Posted by Ajna

This can even be done during the day

being lucid in waking reality.

this SHOULD be done during the day. Consider daytime an opportunity to practice for the real deal- and the lucid dream is just an indicator of your progress.

Ah that is exactly right. I suppose everything comes down to the 'Power of Now' if any of you are into that or have read that book. It is by Eckhart Tolle...I highly recommend it...or even 'A New Earth'.

Those books all talk about being present and being aware - living in the present moment...not living in the past or future etc. And I have come to realise that that is also applicable in sleeping...it never dawned on me before for some odd reason.

Do you ever play music while going off to sleep or meditating? Just out of interest.

'focusing on the third eye'.. wouldn't that be over-balancing the rest?

'not exact quote'

Originally Posted by tranquilitybytrey

'focusing on the third eye'.. wouldn't that be over-balancing the rest?

'not exact quote'

Possibly, this is becoming a very complex explanation now. I think chakra balancing may be beyond the scope of this thread but there isn't going to be any long term energetic disruptions I wouldn't have thought from trying this WILD technique a few times a week, at least I haven't felt any. If you wanted to stay balanced though, also make sure you are still 'connected to the earth' and have a healthy base chakra if you are concerned. Maybe seek an energetic healer to get some feedback on the current state of your chakras too?

Are there any side affects for so much focus on the crown chakra if your other lower chakras aren't developed?

Again, possibly. Balancing the chakras is a journey where the process is more important than the destination. I would recommend maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle by making sure you keep yourself grounded overall if you do spend time working with the higher chakras, particulary the crown and third eye. I have read a few times that it is advisable to have balanced the lower chakras before you start seriously opening your crown chakra. Zen style Meditation tends to do this naturally I think.

If you want to know more you should start researching the chakras, buy a good book on it, there can be alot of questions one wants to ask. I'm still in the learning process myself

It could certainly serve as a very powerful autosuggestion method and symbol, if nothing else.

I found this video by Tim from Lucipedia

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=zahodQ2mHy8

Its about the role the techniques play in Lucid Dreaming and how Meditation can help!

enjoy