I would like to add my two cents and describe my experience that relates to the subject of awakening. After reading a book by a guy named Ouspensky, a disciple of some Russian guru in the last century, I began making efforts to "remember myself". This is said to be the main method of realizing transient nature of one's personality and of attaining enlightenment. After some time of practicing self-remembrance I began to realize how difficult it actually is. It also became apparent that most of our waking life actually very little differs from sleep! Most of the time throughout the day I do things on autopilot without even giving a single thought to what I am doing. Anyway little by little the moments of self-remembering began producing very interesting results. I would suddenly feel what I can only describe as onsets of real consciousness - everything just comes into focus and there is an indescribable expansion of awareness. In these brief moments I realize that I didn't even exist before the onset!!! My 'I' wasn't even there!!! I am amazed by the realization of how many things go unnoticed in the usual mundane state of being.
One day, I took a walk and was intent on doing my self-remembering exercises. I would say to myself: "Now I am walking across a street. Now I am looking at a small bunch of people waiting for the traffic light to turn green..." And then it hit me! One of those onsets of real conscience! I suddenly saw the thoughts of the people crossing the streets! They were almost visible. I don't know how to put this in words. Every person passing by me was enveloped by his or her thoughts. Every one of them was in an absolute, basest form of sleep, dreaming their dreams and never having a slightest clue! Also, I did not see any control on the part of the people what they dreamed of. It was all like a computer program was run within each one and no deviations were possible.
Later, in the evening I was talking with my sweetheart about something and it hit me again!!! I suddenly saw everything come into focus and, most interestingly, in this strange state I realized that I never actually saw her face before! It sounds bazaar but that is the only way I can describe it - when you get into that state things and people will present themselves in a completely new and unexpected ways. And only in that state you will realize that you really see things the way they are. All other times is illusion and deep sleep. I can swear I saw every thought that went through my sweetheart's mind. I agree with Captan that the experience is terrifying. I also felt terribly alone in the whole universe because when you get in the state you will realize that all people are asleep or maybe even non-existent. Most people are simply a collection of habits developed through societal or family conditioning, very base instincts and inclinations, and very few thoughts that are not actually their own.
The next morning the sensation of being awakened subsided a little but still had its powerful effects on me. My sweetheart tried to pick a fight with me and I somehow saw how illogical the whole thing was. Usually in such circumstanced I get quickly lost in the arguments and reasoning of who is wrong and who is right. Usually it leaves me wondering if it was all my fault. This time, though, I had a very clear understanding of what was being said and the reasons behind saying things. It was a completely different kind of conversation that we had. We ended it peacefully and each one was left with plenty food for thought.
I also had a very clear realization that if I wanted to, I could easily manipulate the thoughts of other people. It would have come without any real effort on my part. Now, I didn't do anything like that but now I realize why vagabond Gipsies, for instance, seem to possess the mysterious ability to extract money from regular people. They are just more aware, being outcasts they are and lacking the conditioning and brainwashing we all went though.
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