Transcendental Lucid Dream

[Phong]

A treasure, isn't it? Don't you wish everyone could have these experiences? They can, of course, you know that now. So why don't they? How could they not care about dreams? Shouldn't they? Instead they care about who's going to win American Idol, criticizing people, and wearing the right clothes.

I can only help but wonder that, if everyone had these experiences, then they would treat each other with more respect, with less egoism, and without judgement. I am beyond awe at these experiences, but sad that I'm only one of so few who enjoy them. I am not completely enlightened by them only because I don't understand why so many are willfully blind of dreams... I just don't get it.

[Stillwater]

Indeed. everyone can have such experiences, but something prevents them- material desire, ignorance, a longing for the pleasures of the artificial world, politics, or any number of other silly impediments. We are all naively content until we realize our mistakes.

It really was one of my peak moments; I suppose the closest thing which I can compare it to would be the pivotal climax of 2001: A Space Oddyssey, in which the hero is graced with a vision of the creation of the universe from the monolith, and exclaims, where words are never enough, but always sufficient: "My God, it's full of stars!"

Has anyone else had any such comparable experience?

[Rastus]

I have had waking visions, LD's and a few AP's of similiar content (hard to compare other peoples visions).  I would rate yours quite significant.

What do you think it was trying to tell you?

[Stillwater]

Hmmm...

I've read your post about your moving experience involving the fireworks, but I must say that I am not as sure about what message might have been intended from such a vision as mine...

I suppose, should I interpret it in the school of divine instruction, I would explain it in the following way:

I would consider myself a fairly unwordly type of individual; however, I do focus on some secular things, such as grades, career preparation, and the ocasional social event. In the past, having more time on my hands, I would spend a greater portion of my time outdoors, simply enjoying nature for its own uncomplicated tranquility. As my life becomes more complicated at this point in my existence, there seems to be less time for such things, although I do take a moment out most days to sit in meditation. I suppose what might have been the intended meaning of my experience would be that I mustn't allow my mind to concern itself too deeply with things that cannot be changed or helped, or that matter little in the grand scheme of things, but rather that I should always remember to feel the sublime elation which results simply from being. Not a single thing was required of me at that climatic symphony, but yet it was there, with a type of unconditional love that was not asked for, but bountifully granted. It seemed that in the dream I had been so caught up with duty, that I had forgotten what euphoric ecstacy was really ever-present all around me. The sea and the sky were always there, but I had actually never taken the chance to look. I had ended my life in a stream of worry, not realizing what grandeur lied just below the surface. The comment of my companion suggested to me that, as I have said, this scene was as old as time, but sadly, few ever really dropped their idoitic foolishness long enough to catch a mere glimpse. It was almost remorseful how she said that, as this limitless treasure lay in ready to bestow its blessing on all, but no one actually knew how much they needed to see it. I am incredibly fortunate to have seen such a wonder, which I would say is comparable, if not excelling any Bierstadt or Constable landscape painting around.

Thank you for your input- any more conversation is welcome and encouraged.

Thank you,
Stillwater

[RooJ]

What an amazing experience, just wanted to thank you for sharing it. Ive never had a dream as potentially life changing as yours but i do know the vividness and clarity that we can experience in dreams. Ive had many lucid dreams where i was literally stunned by the beauty of the scenery around me, the type of scene where for a second you just dont believe your mind could create something that real or amazing.
Ive never been the type of person to get stressed about things, to worry about things that i have no control over, to easily anger or hold grudges or to take the things around me for granted etc, and dreams like these only go to strengthen those personality traits for me.
Thank you

RooJ

[Phong]

"Old as time."

While we're awake we're compelled to forget dreams. On the same token, we're even more compelled to forget the waking experience while we're asleep. What's the significance of this? Are these transcendental experiences akin to us remembering something? Is there something to be gained by forgetting and then remembering again?

Many spiritualists explain this by recycling (pun intended) the "great cycle" of yin and yang, dichotomy, opposites - that forgetting and remembering who we are is how we experience ourselves. This uses the logic that, if we never forgot everything, our minds would be chaotic and ultimately neutral interpretations of ourselves. Experiencing joy means forgetting sadness, and sadness means that you've forgotten joy. Sounds wise and inclusive, doesn't it? Offering hope to those in pain because happiness is just around the corner, it's a doctrine of optimism, right?

There's a sense of godlike elation when one considers pain and suffering this way. They're no big deal, really, it gives you goosebumps doesn't it? They're just steps on the path - no matter what, they're temporary. We are wise and can rest easy knowing that the oppressed, no matter what, won't be that way forever.

What kind of cheap cop out of understanding is that? Why on earth would you forget joy to experience sadness? That means you've made a mistake, doesn't it? When you're happy do you think "gosh I forgot sadness, let me experience that again." Why would you forget competency for incompentency? Isn't that idiotic? Can you imagine yourself saying, "gee I'm a master now, wish I could be a complete buffoon again." Is living the master's life boring? Forget love for hate? Isn't that a spiritual no-no, and therefore egg on the face of spiritual teachers everywhere?

These transcendental experiences call into question the implications for our feeble-mindedness. That we would forget asendence for descendence in order to transcend again, forces us to question the nature of time (cyclical, non-linear, incomplete?) and is currently beyond my understanding.

Perhaps I've just forgotten the answer.

[Stillwater]

quote:There's a sense of godlike elation when one considers pain and suffering this way. They're no big deal, really, it gives you goosebumps doesn't it? They're just steps on the path - no matter what, they're temporary. We are wise and can rest easy knowing that the oppressed, no matter what, won't be that way forever.

Yes, I whole-heartedly agree that this is a great solace; I am only saddened that many who suffer know of no other state of being.

As for the great dichotomy between advancement and cyclic evolution and de-evolution, I must say that the answer to that question is far past the scope of my simple understanding as well. It is a joyful thing to be a dreamer in the protecting hands of a loving and all powerful God whom none can comprehend, yet grants infinite pardon and love; yet, as you say, why would a person give up enlightenment for ignorance, with the knowledge that in that new state, they would doubtlessly cause pain and harm to the world with their lack of perspective? It is a great enigma to me too. I suppose it could be similar to that film with Robin Willimas, What Dreams May Come, where the protagonist and his soulmate choose to be reborn on the Earth-plane simply for the joy of finding one another for the first time once again. Perhaps we will all know together one day, in a place without time.

And for those who have thanked me, I shall say that it was as great a happiness for me to share as I could think that it could be to read.

Thank you,
Stillwater

[Stillwater]

I suppose that some may feel that this is totally irrelavent, but I would not consider it so; and, to the contrary, I will say that it sums up everything that metaphysics means to me.

A night back I experienced what I would term a semi-lucid dream, which I would define as follows- a dream where the sleeper is in conscious control of actions and events, but does not think in full waking personality- I would use this last clause to differentiate my experience from what I would term a fully lucid dream, which would consist of the same citeria, but with the difference that the sleeper retains their waking personality.

I know that the dream probably occured mid-morning, in the last REM phase.

What I remember most cleary is this- I had some sort of explicit need to kill another individual (do not think this is a summary of my mental state, as the idea appaled me when I awoke). I do not remember the exact reason for this need, only that dire things would occur if it was not carried out. I was with a semi-passive female companion who seemed to understand what had to be done as well, and appeared to be along for support. Eventually we came to what I can only describe as being some sort of turn-about alcove which had an approach of several stairs, and was slightly cramped, as a small boat with a cabin might be. At the end of the small passage, I left the young lady, as it seemed there was something I was forced to do alone, and climbed this sloped surface which was covered in roofing shingles, yet was accessible from "ground" level. I arrived in a kind of roof landing which had a wall surrounding three sides, and a twelve foot wide open space on the other. Small tables with dead spined creatures lined two walls- the back and left- and the right wall was bare, although I never focused on it. I took up one of the creatures in my hand, with the thought of extracting one of its spines, and, by some peculiar relfex motion, it leapt foward, and pricked my hand. horrified, I put it down, and realized that my purpose could no longer be completed by myself, and resigned to end in quiet repose. I sat down, and for the first time looked out of the afore-mentioned open space, and this is what I saw:

It was the most dazzlingly remarkable sight of the ocean and sky I can ever report having seen in my conscious or unconscious recollections; it was unlike anything possible in this plane of reality, and it put me in total awe; the sky was composed of several striated stratifications, about seven in all, which belended together seemlessly; there was a layer of flourescent violet, neon coral, unspeakable azure, aquamarine of the most marvelous hue, an emerald color like that in Carribean paintings, and a few more variations of colors in between. There was a layer of clouds which was situated about a third of the sky from the ground, but faded in lessening intensity all the way to the surface of the water; it was composed of short, stubby little clouds which all flowed in what appeared to be a pre-determined path horizontally across the vista, at unusual speed; the clouds all reflected the colors about themselves brilliantly, absorbing so much of their surrounding shades that they had no white surfaces. The surface of the water at the horizon blended seamlessly with the sky above, and there was barely a transitional point between the two. The water was alive with this magiacal, crystaline-translucent glow, which came in all colors, matching in shade those mentioned already; the entire sea was alive with this organic irridesence which flowed and swayed gentily, as SO₂ does as it enters a small container. The entire surface was alive with this luminesence, and there was barely any blue to be seen.

The entire seascape before me radiated this incredible aura of peace and common harmony, and there was this prevailing feeling of unconditional love everywhere. I was overcome with what I had suddenly beheld, and felt a sudden guilt at what I had set out to do, and at the same time a had a feeling that I was at home, and nothing else matterd.

Seconds after this initial reaction, which would require an eternity to describe with due justice, I called out to my companion the following words loveingly, "I never knew it was this beatiful!".
She replied, as an acute lover of nature does when speaking of a phenomenon well know, but only occasionaly experienced, "The dolphins give the water that radient glow; they have always been around."

For some reason or another, I had this feeling that it was my first time ever having seen either the ocean or the sky, as silly as that might sound.

After several minutes, I began to fade into this state of formless rest, and felt the greatest peace imaginable, a peace filled with hope and love unfathomable anywhere else- like I truly was with God.


So that is what happened. What do you folks think about this grand experience?  

Thank you,
Stillwater