Three Methods from MBT (Tom Campbell)

[Xanth]

Starting on page 174 of Tom's book, MBT... he relates three exercises for learning to meditate.  Each method focuses upon one of our major methods of learning:  Auditory, Visually and by Touch.  He uses those as a means of quieting and focusing the mind away from the physical.

You can read the book and the associated pages here for free:  http://books.google.ca/books?id=08X-j12LwLoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22my+big+toe%22&ei=96-ITf74BqSszQTFwOy5Bg&cd=3#v=onepage&q&f=false
It's a link that is fully endorsed by Tom himself... so feel free to read the whole thing should you choose to. 

The auditory exercise is about repeating a mantra.
The visual exercise is about allowing objects to appear before you in the blackness (sound familiar?) or creating a simple "scenario" and playing it out allowing yourself to perceive all the sensory input from it (also sounds familiar, eh?).
The touch exercise is about creating the sense of you touching something, like running your hands over a fur coat.

So yeah... you're to keep doing the chosen exercise and bringing your attention back to it whenever you notice that it's wandering.  However he mentions that when the image/sound/scenario begins to slip away (aka your mind begins to wander), but no extraneous thoughts appear, then just let the image/sound/scenario go and drift in the still oneness of your consciousness.  <-- That's the point consciousness state.

Once you're in that state where you're experiencing that "drifting oneness of consciousness" you have *ALREADY* phased.  It's just a matter at that point to place your Intent towards what you want to do, and allow it to happen.

And this part is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE:

Be careful not to try too hard, and do not struggle with high resolution, image quality, or anything else.  Images may be felt as well as seen.  Struggling to make your meditation be how you think it should be is always counterproductive.  No expectations.  No struggle.  No demands.  The point is not to force your will on the process, but to let the process unfold naturally as it captivates your attention.

[dotster]

I remember thinking back to when I was 15-16 years old and I was just completely obsessed with learning how to "astral project". Now that I'm older I look back and realize how much I was over complicating everything trying to use all of these different techniques, rolling out of my body and all. Successful projections were a very rare event so motivation started lacking as well and it was just like I was chasing myself in a giant circle. When I read things like this it really blows my mind to know that it was really this simple all along and that I was just trying way too hard. It's almost humbling though, to know that I've been on this journey for years and finally with time and patience my comprehension has grown and now allows me to experience everything that I ever wanted from projecting and so much more. I feel almost as if I got a bonus That last bit that you quoted hits home for me more than anything. Thanks for posting.

[Summerlander]

Nice one, Xanth! And thanks for that because I only have Inner Workings! And I fully agree with you. That is all it takes to enter the Phase. Intent and allowing yourself to do it. A lot of people forget the latter. Once again thanks and I shall be reading it soon. I love the Monroe chapter! LOL! Is he nuts or what?