My Library

free-floating state of mind with practically no effort or strain. That's why the same phrase always comes from the mouths of experienced practitioners: "That's right, I don't do anything at all. I simply lie down and wait for the phase." And it just comes 50-70% of the time. This comes in sharp contrast to some novices who simply waste much time and energy banging their heads against the wall trying to leave their bodies, and as a result only 1-2% of their attempts result in success, which is at best purely incidental. Let's take up an example of direct phase entrance by the advanced practitioner. The phaser determines the interesting things he will do in the phase, lies down at bedtime in an uncomfortable position for sleeping, and simply tries to fall asleep while holding on to the thought that it'd be swell to enter the phase. That's all! Three to ten minutes later, and he's already caught a lapse of consciousness into the phase. Meanwhile, if he felt that he would fall asleep quickly, he'd use cycles of techniques to keep his conscious mind focused. If, on the other hand, his mind were excessively active, then he would monotonously perform some technique while lying in as comfortable a position as possible for sleep. But in most cases, the quintessence of direct techniques consists in attempting to fall asleep in an uncomfortable position, all the while having the thought of the phase in the back of one's mind. Or at least that's how it's supposed to be, and that's just how it often works - for the simple reason that those are the best conditions for having the right kind of prerequisite lapses in consciousness, on the rebound from which the phase arises. If ten or fifteen minutes go by without result, then the phaser simply goes to bed or stops with the attempt, as a direct phase entrance attempt should be done with enjoyment. If the phaser is not enjoying himself, then that's a sign that he's making mistakes. Meanwhile, the most important improvement a phaser can make is in his attitude towards the end goal of an attempt. There's a reason why he holds on to the thought, "it'd be swell to enter the phase". That should be in the back of his mind, but not at the center of his attention. The practitioner should be indifferent as to whether or not anything happens. He should let go of control, desire, and the