RS You alway's say it with such elegance.

Lucid dreaming as Jamie noted is another very transcendant state of consciousness.

The best way I have found for me personally to induce a lucid dream is to continuously test my reality at various point in the day.  "Am i dreaming right now?"  I'll put a rubber band on my arm and every time I see the rubber band I'll take the time to seriously confirm whether I'm dreaming or awake.

Eventually I'll look down in a dream and see the rubber band and ask myself if I'm dreaming or not.   When the knot of consciousness unravels and you become aware that you are inside a dream world It's lik waking up in the matrix.  There are various degrees of lucidity, but full lucidity is indeed like waking up in the matrix.

Sadly I use pot a little to much these day's to have consistent lucid dreams.