What's "your" goal in studying subjective reality?

[Jeff_Mash]

quote:Originally posted by Stillwater

In my humble opinion, the art of mental projection is to be viewed as a tool to be utilized in emotional and spiritual development of the individual. Its goal is the pursuit of the creator, and it is an expression of one's striving toward perfect existence and serenity. What is it that you fellow posters feel is to be the prime directive of this endeavor?

Um....I just like to fly.  []

Seriously though, I agree that one should use things like astral projection to further devlop themselves, both spiritually and mentally.  This is why I disagree with people on this forum who say, "I wanna project so I can mess around with others, etc."

[Tolvor]

Enlightenment, pure and simple.  Who am I?  What do I reflect?  Is there a higher reality?  What is hidden in my mental blind spot?

What I can't understand is people working on AP for the sex aspect of it.  Too much time and effort is locked into it for lesser uses of the ability.  Its like pursuing a doctorate degree just to hang the diploma on the wall.

But then, I haven't OBEd yet either, so take it with a grain of salt...

[Stillwater]

Yes! Flying is good... Freedom and mental expansion are the obvious effects of becoming a serious projecter, but what do you think that you have learned from projection itself? What one thing do you think that projection has made clear to you that you would not have accepted otherwise?

[The AlphaOmega]

It's spiritual for me.  The absolute knowledge that conciousness exists beyond the body and personal proof of the after life has causes a dramatic change in ones life.  When you know death is not the end your priorities in this life change.

[coral1]

I had a near death experience about five years ago.I`m trying to get back to the place I went to then.It was like coming Home.Exploring the nonphysical world reaffirms that event for me.

[Jeff_Mash]

quote:Originally posted by Stillwater

Yes! Flying is good... Freedom and mental expansion are the obvious effects of becoming a serious projecter, but what do you think that you have learned from projection itself? What one thing do you think that projection has made clear to you that you would not have accepted otherwise?

I would say the reassurance that there is life beyond this life.  That we shouldn't get too hung up on the things of this world because there is so much more out there which is waiting for us.

My OBE's have caused me to look inwards instead of outwards.  It freed me from a bond of religious chains and freed my mind from dogmatic thoughts.

[Centa Five]

My thoughts on this subject pretty much coincide with yours except that I don't feel that I am striving for a perfect existence or serenity.  I am retired and have been interested in Astral Projection for a long time and have been fortunate to have achieved some success in this regard.  I must admit that when I was younger I had some rather mundane motivations but in the last decade I have been treating my OBE's as kind of a dry run for when I pass over.  It is nice to know what is around the bend so to speak.  Due to my astral experiences I no longer fear death but consider it like getting my ticket punched for the long awaited ride home. You had a thought-provoking post and I thank you for it.

[Ramiel]

Definetely a tool for furthering my personal development. To build a network which I can use later in life, and as a means to reach higher levels of understanding.

[Stillwater]

I would agree with most all of the last few posts. The irrefutable proof that there is a subtler existence to the known universe is highly comforting to those who might find their ideas in question;  the pursuit of higher plains and realms of understanding is certainly a natural and taint-free enterprise; and the longing to return to lost paradises is understandable in the highest regard[]

These are all good interpretations of what seemed to be at the heart of my post, but I suppose that it was my sublimenal intention to ask you of the one climatic expeirence with higher realms which made your efforts to attain subjective consciousness seem utterly fruitful.

[Jeff_Mash]

quote:Originally posted by Stillwater
These are all good interpretations of what seemed to be at the heart of my post, but I suppose that it was my sublimenal intention to ask you of the one climatic expeirence with higher realms which made your efforts to attain subjective consciousness seem utterly fruitful.

For me, it only took one experience, my very first, which made my efforts to attain subjective consciousness utterly fruitful.

While my first OBE was not that exciting in terms of the things I did, it was utterly transforming for me, both mentally and spiritually.  I didn't visit anyone.  I didn't see anything.  I simply sat up, half in and half out of my body, for 10-15 seconds.  This was enough to transform reality as I previously saw it.

[xander]

quote:Originally posted by Stillwater

I would agree with most all of the last few posts. The irrefutable proof that there is a subtler existence to the known universe is highly comforting to those who might find their ideas in question;  the pursuit of higher plains and realms of understanding is certainly a natural and taint-free enterprise; and the longing to return to lost paradises is understandable in the highest regard[]

These are all good interpretations of what seemed to be at the heart of my post, but I suppose that it was my sublimenal intention to ask you of the one climatic expeirence with higher realms which made your efforts to attain subjective consciousness seem utterly fruitful.

My opinion may not account for much here but, I am longing for a deeper reality. By living in this subjective reality I feel it is akin to eating beef broth but longing for a steak. Ever seen the movie Pleasantville? This world reminds me of that, everyone has their rules, ritualistic behaviors, taboos, etc. It's all sugar coating and mechanical robotized movement. When true Reality starts to break in it is like a spot of color on a black and white screen. Reality is like a nice HOT shower after a day of laboring in cold wet mud.

If this shadow reality is a reflection of true reality then whet is it I strive for? what is my goal? Part of me wnats to be a Hero, part of me wants to be the villian. Either way, the purpose would be to assist in the awareness of a REALITY. hero/villan....same thing based on different perceptions.

Xander

[cinnabardk]

My one climatic experience was when I, for a short while in the real-time zone, experienced being another of my Higher Self's incarnations in the current timeframe (see one of my earliest posts). Though that experience was brought about more because of my Higher Self's intervention, than my own effort. That experience blew apart my remaining new-age beliefs (re-incarnation, karma). It made me an experiencer, instead of a believer.

My goal in the out-of-body environment is experience and knowledge. My primary gain is freedom from external belief systems (New-age, Christian, etc. belief systems. I also count philosophy as a belief system, because philosophers have a habit of thinking their way to what they believe is the truth, instead of getting out there and exploring)

[Ramiel]

I've "only" projected while asleep so far, so I havn't had a 'climatic experience' in the Astral that changed me, that happend in the physical with an involuntary Kundalini raising that opened my eyes and awakened me from my previous slumber.

[rodentmouse]

it seems logical to me that in order to evolve, we need to further understand the nature of reality, and  that astral projection is a stepping stone in this direction.

So with me its based more on logic.

My goal is simply  to  explore the human sphere of experience to the best of my ability,  because life to me is about growth.

[Stillwater]

Forgive me in that I have received too many excellent responses to reply to individually. The context of my question was merely thus: I have been a practioner of self-advancement and spiritual evolution via concentrated meditation and mindfulness of the root of desire and action for a good many years. My inquiry regarding your outlook upon the value of your pursuit of God and higher existence (and/or other) through cultivation of the ability to consciously project your perception into the subtle realms was directed at divulging the worth of the techniques of mental projection and active awareness shifts as it is evidenced by individually-based expierence. I have been considering devoting time to such studies, and I wished to be sure that my time would be well placed, as time is one of my dear quantities. I thank you for your diligent responses, as each of them was focused and open in a style unique to the nature of the writer. I would agree with you all that the somewhat-loosely aimed quest to the creator is best taken with the proper tools and techniques, and it has become ever more clear to me that astral projection is a worthwhile vehicle.[]

[TheSeeker]

For me, I think that in the span of conciousness, we (humans) are near the bottom, I wish to get passed this, to higher (eventually, I love life now too) levels of conciousness that surpass the need for a physical body to learn lessons, to end the suffering of lower levels of conciousness... basically to ascend, to ride up the infinite spiral or whatever it is that happens.[]

I've only had one concious exit OBE, that was recently and it was exhilerating, but my life changing experience came while on shrooms (which many would argue with me I think) a year or so ago.  For awhile I felt as if I were my higher self and I was seeing a lot of complex imagery with spirals and fractals and such, and I had a lot of other experiences, too much to talk about.  Basically at this point, I knew I had a soul, I knew i trandscended time and space, etc.  But now I'm going au natural.

[rodentmouse]

the seeker.. i  understand  you on the shrooms,  ive done them a few times and I  completely  trancended time and temporarily liberated myself  from my ego.  
I also  meditated when on shrooms and felt the sacred AUM rippling  through my  being, after i did this for a while-  switching  between mental silence and mental comentary (e.g. OH MY GOD) i felt a sea of love permeate  my body (except  my  right shoulder which is usually tense)  which  made me break down  in tears of  joy.
For a moment, i KNEW..........

.there is a god
.i was closer to home
.i am not this body
.love is all that matters
.we have no idea as to our true nature
.we dont pursue knowing our true nature
.we need to start pursuing it
.my  consciousness at the time was closer to the "truer" me.
.all is one--matter is mind and mind is matter
.there is only one "mind"
.at base level EVERYONE is identicle, its only our egos which seperate us and delude us, and inhibit us from evolving.

its a shame now because its all a memory,  the revelations are gone and the love has drained  from  my every pore.

I would say coming down off mushrooms  is really the only downside to  doing them.
it  really is like having to come back from heaven.

[GhostRider]

Unfortunately for me I could never 'opt' to take a drug-induced O.B.E. or A.P.. It would taint the results to my waking rational mind and it is as I see it, training wheels for the uninitiated to this way of life.  Fine if you use them, but once you can O.B.E. and A.P. without them I'd strongly suggest you throw the drug induced 'incidents' away, put the practice behind you and go forward.

Part of the reason I research and practice this lifestyle of O.B.E'ing and A.P.'ing is that I am in search of the truth of life and the life beyond.  I believe that while I am here part of my duty is to prepare for the greater life that lies beyond without loosing site of the great or not-so-great life (as it sometimes is...) that I have in front of me NOW.

 It is fun to fly Astrally, but to do so only for viceral joy and feedback is shortsighted and loosing the point of A.P.'ing and O.B.E.'ing entirely. A gift of that power and scope is for more than sheer joy.  It is also for exploration and examination.  Joy, fun, they're all good, but not ALL that your motives should be.

[TheSeeker]

Thanks for the feedback Rodentmouse, I know what you're saying.  The first time I had the feeling of being totally saturated with love was on shrooms, and it was with my girlfriend, I have since felt that way without them, I don't think you could possibly feel better than that.

[seth817]

It is my sense of adventure and curiosity. I think it's more similar to Indiana Jones than it is to Bhuda for me. Although I have not yet had an O.B.E, adventure is what is making me to look into it, but maybe the end result will be spiritual development.

[OverDriven]

Mine is the pursuit of truth.

[Stillwater]

In my humble opinion, the art of mental projection is to be viewed as a tool to be utilized in emotional and spiritual development of the individual. Its goal is the pursuit of the creator, and it is an expression of one's striving toward perfect existence and serenity. What is it that you fellow posters feel is to be the prime directive of this endeavor?