Fighting sleep during Immersion

I am in my 2nd day of the Immersion and finding it very hard to keep from nodding off.  I know all the literature says to “be okay with whatever happens,” but falling asleep seems to “waste” the experience. Should I be (as I am doing now) resisting sleep?  Making a good “effort” to walk that edge between awareness and total unconsciousness?  I am a longtime zen practitioner so I know this experience very well.  The zen rules are to stay present and don't nod off, and I am applying these zen rules to my Holosync sessions.  I am okay with The Dive, but that 2nd half hour (Immersion), regardless of how rested I am, how alert or how caffeinated–is rough.  Any thoughts? Resist or Succumb?

Re: Fighting sleep during Immersion

Hi Kath:

This is actually a good sign, and no, it doesn't “waste” the session.  Even if you are well rested, there will be times when you will zone out.  Your brainwaves have been entrained to where you normally would be asleep, and it takes a while (noting that you've only been at this for 2 days) for adjustments to be made.

As long as you are sitting comfortably, you will probably find that you'll catch yourself nodding off, at which point you'll realize you've done so, and simply refocus back into the meditation.  One of the signs that you've completed a level (which you'll get better at recognizing as time goes by and you move through other levels) is being able to remain fully awake for the entire session, or at least most of it.  With the initial level (Awakening Prologue) for most people that is somewhere between four and six months, but can sometimes be longer.

Generally, if you do fall asleep, you'll wake up within a few minutes of the session ending, but if you have concerns about needing to be awake at a certain point, it doesn't hurt to set an alarm to go off at about 10 minutes after you'd normally be finished with the session.  It is recommonded at the end of the session, you should wait several minutes to allow the mind to re-adjust to normal brainwave patterns, before jumping up, as this sometimes has uncomfortable results.

Definitely “make the good effort” to remain awake, however, definitely don't become frustrated with yourself that you are nodding off.  Also, noting your remark about caffeine - don't try to force the issue with it - moderately normal (for you) use of caffeine is OK.

Cheers!
Gem

Re: Fighting sleep during Immersion

Hi Kath,

Re: Fighting sleep during Immersion

Thanks for clearing this up!  I actually stayed “with it” the whole time this morning and it was pretty damn amazing!

Kath

Re: Fighting sleep during Immersion

After 3 years with Holosync, I still can't stay awake even when sitting straight up. :)

Re: Fighting sleep during Immersion

Every time I start a new Level, I find myself unable to stay awake for the first couple of weeks.. It's awesome. I find that holosync works a lot better for me when I am asleep, as opposed to being awake for the session.

It's like my brain gets overdosed on the masses of nero-chemicals that are being produced while in the delta state and my brain stops functioning consciously while my sub-conscious laps it all up.

When I become consciously aware after the session, I feel so much more relaxed and happy then when I do after a session that I am consciously aware of.

You certainly know your stuff, Gemstar. Good Job! If given the task, I don't think I could've picked a better moderator for this subject even if I tried.