How do you know you are in trance state?

[data]

I've been meditating for almost two years now, on and off. I do not recall any experiences of going into deep trance. I am actually fully awake at all times and can hear everything in the background.

Is this trance state? How does one differentiate between the various states of awareness, and what kind of sensations would these states of awareness(alpha, beta, delta, theta) etc have.

I sometimes get the impression I might be doing something wrong and just remained in the waking state for the entire time. Any help would be much appreciated.

Peace

Data

[Frank]

Hi:

I'm not sure what meditation is. Someone once described it to me as thinking more and more about less and less. I think Tom is the meditation "guru" on the forum. Hopefully he'll be along in a bit and point you in the right direction.

I doubt what you are feeling is a "trance" state. I think what the mystical bods call trance is more like the modern-day Monroe Focus 10, MABA state. After all, if "trance" is just sitting there fully aware of the physical then we'd all be in "trance".

I'm not sure what it is you are attempting to do. But at a guess, there is something about pointing your focus of attention inwards that you have yet to get to grips with.

Yours,
Frank

[Krevency]

Hello.

Trance is not necessary for meditation.  Meditation is perfectly fine without trance.

However, if trance is what you're looking for, and a description of it, there's one at this very site.

http://www.astraldynamics.com/tutorials/?BoardID=65&BulletinID=269#4

[data]

Thanks for the help friends. At first glance, trance sounds a lot like meditation. Isn't that the whole purpose of meditation anyway, to enter deeper levels of awareness by stilling your thoughts.

I do sometimes enter a state when I can hear a very quaint humming sound. I've always assumed that it is just me noticing the background noise.

Yeah, I do think I do have a problem in completely internalizing. I think one possible reason is, I am distracted by the changing colours and patterns(closed eyes) and use them to gauge how deep I have gone.

That tutorial helped a lot Krev, thank you.

[Krevency]

No problem.

[shadow_specter]

When i enter a trance, usually i feel a mental type of "click", like you know 100% sure u entered it.  Everythin just seems different, and u realize it.  You might also experience a "falling/vertigo" sensation, even with your eyes closed.