In your opinion, how much is required for a thoughtform to be considered a tulpa?

[Luminesce]

You say you have your simple definition but people seem to run into problems with the whole thing anyway.

 

This. If there's one thing I've learned from my time on Tulpa.info, it's that too often people forget how to explain things to those that don't already know. Once you know and are comfortable with your knowledge, you can say such things. But that doesn't help newcomers at all. They really do need those textwalls covering all bases, they do need complicated theorizing and discussion. One, because a lot of people won't take such things on blind faith, and two, because these summarizations we make really don't make as much sense as we think they do. We have all of the context needed for them to make sense, but newcomers do not. So we textwall.

[Kaytwo]

We consider the four defining characteristics of a tulpa to be identity, sentience, persistence, and autonomy. I think each of these characteristics exists in a gradient, and drawing a proverbial line in that gradient and saying "this is a tulpa" is impractical. I think all tulpas possess these four qualities, to various extents.

 

Identity - Identity is an essential characteristic of any person. A tulpa has a personality, a unique way of reacting to things, of expressing themselves, likes and dislikes, and so forth. Of course this is something that grows richer with time like any person.

 

Sentience - I think this is an important trait even if it is not something directly observable by the host. In this case, I mean, a knowledge of self. Tulpas have an awareness of self, a sense of agency over their actions, the ability to self-reflect. This contrasts, for example, dream characters (usually), partially developed alters, or heard voices. I think it is important to include because these traits, awareness, agency, self-reflection, are essential elements of "personhood" even if they are not directly perceived. They are however, indirectly observable in a tulpas actions.

 

Autonomy - Tulpas are perceived as separate by the host. This includes their action, identity, and presence. This autonomy is felt to varying extents but I think is an valid aspect that differentiates tulpas from other forms of plurality.

 

Persistence - Persistence differentiates tulpas from entities, dream characters, and other thoughtforms. This continuity over time applies to all the other elements. A tulpa has a consistent identity that may change but has congruity over time for example.

 

 

I largely agree with waffles' post. I think sentience is a good word to use though, because to a new person it conveys the appropriate meaning, even if it's not directly observable.

[Carnage]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say: an alien feeling. A feeling that there is another person there. It's a bit hard to explain unless you've felt it before, but it's basically a feeling that you're no longer talking to yourself. A sort of nervousness you get when you impose them in front of you, as if you're inviting a friend into your room.

[Guest Anonymous]

I have been referring to Melian's presence as her "energy" or her "aura." I wouldn't describe it as an alien feeling exactly, but I think I get what you are saying. None of my other dream personas have this energy or sense of presence. When Melian has been in a dream, or dreaming with me or dreaming herself, I can feel that she was present upon waking. That happens even if I can't fully recall the details of the dream. Like just now. It is four in the morning and I woke up from a sequence of dreams involving Melian. I went to record them and found your post. LOL

 

When I am awake, I get flash visions from Melian throughout the day. I get a sense of her energy or personality and emotions with those, a sense of presence.

[Carnage]

Off-topic a bit but lucid dream forcing?

[Guest Anonymous]

Off-topic a bit but lucid dream forcing?

 

I posted my reply in my Dreams Thread here: https://community.tulpa.info/thread-the-dream-thread-record-your-dreams-here-especially-if-tulpa-related?pid=146306#pid146306