Question: What's the sign if you are able to extend your meditation? Sometimes, maybe I am slipping into subconsciousness, like a near dream state. You forget your body; but then you snap back into your body!

Babaji:

Does it happen for a long time or for a short time?

 
Question: It happens for a period of time. I am wondering if it is pratyahara, when you forget yourself and transcend your senses and it is like a dream state.

Babaji:

At such time you should be aware of the Existence minus any other imagination. Then if the body consciousness goes, you can consider the mind is highly progressing in meditation also. So you see when there is attention, even if there is vision, if your attention increases on the vision so your mind’s attention on other things decreases. Thus gradually you can be experiencing. So if you practice more and more this experience shall remain for longer time; the mind will also remain peaceful. That will become possible.

 
Question: Does the basic awareness go away as well or does it change to something else?

Babaji:

Basic awareness of Existence will be there. Everybody has awareness all the time but we are not able to notice because your attention is somewhere else because of the thoughts. Whatever the mind is thinking, the mind’s attention is on such thoughts. If all the thoughts go, then it becomes aware of its own Existence. That is not the state you have to achieve. It is already there--you have to simply regain.