Re: two spiritual paths
I would suggest that these characterizations are NOT inherent to these two paths. Much would seem to come you own experience and your view of your experience.
<1> Meditation (path) seems to diminish in the beginning because the cacophony of surface 'stuff' (mind chatter, distractions, ego) is greatly reduced. With more depth comes expansion as one discovers one's inner self. Lifelong practitioners can eventually expand even further as they realize their connection with everything (oneness). Depending on your outlook this can make you feel enormous (bigger than the universe) or tiny (just one tiny spec of dust in the universe). The power of the universe (part of self) is far greater than the physical human filled with chatter. Sometimes you feel the awesome power of divinity, other times the powerlessness of being incarnate.
<2> For some, OBE is a great expansion as they discover the universe and their own capabilities far exceed anything they imagined. For others, it's a terrifying and limiting experience as they discover all kinds of danger they are far too limited to protect themselves from. I would suggest that lucid dreaming is a far better avenue for feeling powerful, as with a couple years experience there are basically no limitations (you can act as god)- till you wake up of course.
<3> The call to service is NOT part of meditation but a product of other factors. The most obvious are: 1) service is your inner purpose newly discovered, 2) you have been conditioned by the training and tradition of the form of meditation you practice, or 3) a response to feeling connected with all things (a step to self realization). Mediation is A method to achieve self realization but not the only one.
Sin nada (Nothing is impossible)
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