u/ObamiumCrystalHunter

Hey everyone! I'm curious if anyone has tried or received instruction on performing the techniques (specifically, the ones that require a straight spine) either lying down or standing. Yes, I'm aware neither are ideal but sitting for long periods isn't really an option right now.

Further clarification: I have a hip and knee problem I've had for over a year. I've tried cushions, chairs, doctors, physio, prayer, manifestation, etc etc. If you're anatomically inclined I can go into more detail, but so far, there is simply no way that I've found that I can keep the knee and hip bent for more than a few minutes without re-aggravating my knee, then I'm in pain and it interferes with work and everything else for the next day or two. As Yogananda suggested, I am doing everything in my power to overcome this obstacle, but currently I have not found a solution and I do not wish to stop meditating in the meantime.

And to preemptively answer, I am aware asking an instructor would be ideal. However, I got initiated when KYI had a special event where I live, so I currently have no way of contacting my instructors.

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone! Trying to get back into APing, and since I never had a successful one, decided to try something different and I'm going for a hypnopompic OBE, so my goal is to wake up but stay perfectly still and slip out. 

Problem is I woke up like 10 times in the last few hours of sleep, many of them false awakenings (although I know a few were real). The whole time is a confusing blur of waking up, getting up, going about my day, realizing I'm in a dream, actually waking up, going back to sleep... I'm absolutely exhausted and I'm not sure if this is feasible any time but the weekend (had the same issue with WBTB, it just keeps me up). 

And then at one point, I caught myself waking up and did AP. Usual first time experience of feeling yourself slip out but being blind until opening your astral eyes, floating around and seeing your room, floating through walls... only problem, all of this happened within my dream. My dream mimicked what I've read about first time APing, and I thought it was real until I woke up and realized my room, building and city were nothing like they are in real life (also, I never went back in, it just gradually transitioned to an ordinary non-lucid dream without me noticing). And I know many people say dreaming is a form of APing, but clearly there's a level I haven't unlocked, because this was just an ordinary dream about APing, it wasn't mind-blowing or "realer than real." I noticed in the dream the symptoms of my mental illness were still present, so obviously all still happening within the confines of my physical body.

Now another issue I have is reality checks. It happens often that I "wake up" and stay perfectly still - I could do a reality check (pinching my nose or whatever) but if I am awake, then I wake up the body and lose the precious mind awake body asleep state. I'm 100% sure I'm awake anyway. Only problem is, I'm not, I'm just dreaming about waking up and staying still, but my brain convinces me this is real waking reality, and if I test it I lose it.

Anyone have tips for navigating this confusion?