In the hypnogogic state, you flutter freely in the sky of self-forgetfulness. You forget your ego and its problems long enough to open to the flow of inspiration. If you can become conscious of your dream images for brief moments, you glean wisdom from the other side, your higher Self.

Your mental processes slow down (lower hertz/cycles per second/neural impulses—as measured by an EEG machine), so each thought becomes more powerful as energy released by each thought increases (higher microvolts). Thus, if you go to sleep angry or stressed, you may send poisons into your bloodstream all night long.

If you fall asleep in a centered, open-hearted mood, you can heal your body and wake up with a smile.

The key to expanding your self-introspective abilities is to practice being in this state for as long as possible. Notice how relaxed the mind is, how carefree your spirit must be to objectively observe this state.

Before sleep, train yourself to breathe as deeply as you need to remain as conscious as possible. Yet do not breathe so deeply that you feel any physical stress. Every breath should be the most natural, pleasurable, healing experience.

Never be concerned that you will lose consciousness, yet always challenge yourself to remain awake as long as possible. This choice to increase consciousness opens the third eye: heavenly visions will appear; the inner light may blaze brightly; you may find yourself floating or flying; the drama of duality will become the play of awakening. Realize your true, immortal Self beyond the chatter of your restless mind. Rest in the pleasure of each breath. Find the awakened Center of awareness–empty of technique, striving, or gaining. Be in peace. Be wide awake. Be true to your Self.

Dark areas of your mind die of exposure to light. So bring your attention up to the third eye. Carefully—to a degree rarely possible outside meditation—listen to all the limitations floating through your subconscious. Then open your heart. Watch love bring to the surface everything that is not love. The higher your attention is in the subtle body—and the more calm your mind, the easier it is to remain in this witness state.

If you like, experiment excluding so-called “negative” thoughts. Then include all thoughts without resistance. The first approach is positive programming. Later it may lead to self-judgement. The second approach is the Tao, the watercourse Way (Week 43).

Listen to your thoughts as if you were a wise, loving parent. Do not judge thoughts as good or bad: the slightest resistance entwines the child and the parent into a battle of wills. Simply listen to the child. You will be astounded how quickly your mind matures and cooperates. The most difficult stages are the beginning stages. Once the mind realizes that the Soul is a benevolent guide, the mind surrenders. Bliss becomes a normal state.

Watch your mind race to childhood patterns. Sometimes your mind will see that another child has ice-cream. The parent (you, the patient watcher) sees that the child (your mind) will soon be crying for ice-cream, so you preempt the child’s cries by saying something soothing like, “Don’t worry, you will get a nice tasty—but healthy—snack when you get home.” The child’s desire for ice-cream may not go away, but at least the child’s desire is under control. Every time we counsel our childlike mind, it learns a new, healthy pattern.

Healthier patterns and righteous living do not lead to freedom, however. Often, they just lead to self-righteousness. Freedom flows from sacred spontaneity; from childlike play that is guided by the wisdom of the ages. Healthy habits simply train the mind during the day so that you can focus on the mind during meditation. Then a transfer of power can occur from the mind to the Soul.

Tagore, the Bengali Nobel Prize winning poet wrote,

This is the condition of all who do not watch the mind: when you step away from grace the mind becomes the master—and you lose your freedom. The solution is to remain in the Heart (the Soul) or third eye where observing the mind is an easy, natural, and pleasurable experience.