Dreams

Posted by: Ed_Morris

Dreams - 10/02/06 11:11 PM

Could anyone explain how Eastern philosophies (take your pick: Zen, Buddhism, Daoism, et al) either interpret and/or contemplate the experience of dream state?

I think a comparitive study would make an interesting thread. I can't remember ever reading about dream states other than from western perspective and interpretation.

-E
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/03/06 07:18 AM

Ah...then you missed the posts in this section...or you're just leading me on.

I'll wait for someone either educated on the subject, or steeped in an 'Eastern view' contributes...since my understanding is rather esoteric.
Posted by: Ed_Morris

Re: Dreams - 10/03/06 08:53 AM

yes, I read the 'dreaming of kata' thread and it led me to this sincere (not leading) question.

your esoteric opinion is fine. In particular, I was interested in hearing the Zen take on dream state. Does an enlightened person dream any differently? sounds like a dumb question, but what I mean is - if everyone regardless of enlightenment are suceptable to dreams which could contradict their waking state...how does it get explained/processed?

consider an enlightened Zen preist dreaming of himself indulging in gluttony and barbarism. In the west, they might say they are repressed thoughts, or symbolic of an internal struggle of sorts. What would the preist make of it when he wakes?
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/03/06 10:31 AM

(Let me preface my response by apologizing in advance for rambling.)

My understanding is that the Western view can go from the Freudian 'royal road' understanding...to it is 'just' another state of consciousness haphazardly induced by neuro/chemical/biological structures. I haven't read anything actually written by Jung, but everything I've read in Western literature that references his theories seem to bridge the Western/Eastern paradigms.

My esoteric view is consciousness is a continuum...and dreams only one aspect. Different aspects of awareness, of thinking, of experiencing and even different 'levels' to dreaming. Westerners are interested in something called 'lucid' states....but I personally think that people striving for these states are 'missing the point'. Just like siddhis in normal meditation, it is easy to get distracted in dream states.

Personally, I've found it useful to adapt the following understanding of various dream states: samsaric (your normal dreaming), dreams of clarity (when you become 'aware' in your dream state...and these vary from mild to life altering dreams), and natural light.

Being wholistic beings, I believe in the mind/body connection...so doing good things and having good thoughts and having a spiritual practice will naturally move one from one level of dreaming to another. I think we all have dreams of clarity at various points in our lives. Like swimming in the great pool of the subconscious...usually one is just free-floating during sleep. At times, the dream with attain a 'quality'...clarity. You 'know' it is important. You may even be aware that you are dreaming. Some of these can be life-altering. Dreams of 'natural light' I will skip describing for now, but the quality of awareness is what I think is key for a spiritual aspirant.

Dreaming, like 'being awake', is understood differently depending on context and culture. My understanding, one that makes sense to my western mind, is that dreaming is part of a continuum of consciousness. If we are interested in examining perception, reality, exploring consciousness in all it's aspects...then examination of the dreaming state is part of that exploration.

(This is my understanding...feel free to ignore it.)

Most dreams are a mix of the days events, and the symbols/events stored in our memory. It is as if the subconcious is 'playing' by taking normally disparate events and juxtaposing in order to create new relationships...new insights. Buddhists label these types of dreams as part of 'samsara'. The same 'samsara'/ignorance that we exist in while 'awake' in the normal sense.

Then, there are dreams of 'clarity'. These are the ones that stand out. The 'special' ones. Again, they are on a continuum. Some lesser...dreams of seeing one's self die, meeting others or traveling places. Some greater...life-altering. Dreams of clarity become more clear, take on attributes as one evolves.

Dreams have significance in every culture, but I think that 'interpretation' is best left to the individual. That being said, cross-culturally, certain dreams, seem to occur that have significance as 'signposts' in one's personal development. Dreams of death are significant in every culture as a representation of change in the individual.


I recommend the following titles on dreaming, and understanding of certain states of consciousness:

Mind of Clear Light, by the Dalai Lama
The Crystal and the Way of Light, by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection, Dalai Lama
Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light, C.H. Norbu again
Meditation, Transformation and Dream Yoga, by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche
Sleeping, Dreaming and Dying, Dalai lama
Luminous Emptiness, by Francesca Fremantle
Tibetian Yogas of Dream and Sleep, by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Wild Awakening, by Dzogchen Ponlop
The Words of My Perfect Teacher, by Patrul Rinpoche
Dangerous Friend, by Rigdzin Dorje



Other FA.com threads:

http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/s...rt=all&vc=1

http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/s...ue#Post15755447

http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/s...rt=all&vc=1

Dogen on perception...an 'Eastern' view?
Posted by: stormbringer

Re: Dreams - 10/03/06 12:17 PM

Freud made kids afraid of white rabbits by shocking them every time they tried to touch one. That's a completely other topic altogether and part of why I don't care much for psychology. The dream stuff is a bit different though. I personally hold they are retrospective, introspective, perspective and other -ive I can't think of now. If I'm not mistaken, the Greeks used them as future predictors. Now, the west uses them as a more introspective look at life. I have a feeling that eastern though would follow the introspective approach also. I personally have an appeal to the introspective because of the subconcious mind. I've found that with myself I have one of two types of dreams. Either something completely weird and entertaining, or one about something that happened at work, in my life, and soforth.
Posted by: Ed_Morris

Re: Dreams - 10/03/06 03:11 PM

SB: uummm...thanks?

harlan: thanks, I'll check it out.
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/03/06 03:37 PM

To lighten it up a bit: anyone ever read the 'Chronicles of Majipoor' series by Robert Silverberg? Intriqueing series with a unique twist on dreams.
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/03/06 03:54 PM

Interesting point. Without getting bogged down on 'what is enlightenment' and 'who is enlightened'...the Buddhists that I talk to who are involved in Dream Yoga say...'yes'.

There is a state of 'calm abiding in natural light'.

Quote:

Does an enlightened person dream any differently?


Posted by: ButterflyPalm

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 08:55 AM

Just finished reading 'The words of my perfect teacher'

To think that he wrote that huge masterpiece sitting in a cave is beyond belief.

Dreams have been talked about for millenia and some people have actually been beheaded for misinterpretting them.

My dreams have always been situationally opposite of my waking state. A case of living another life in my dreams?
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 09:17 AM

Gassho!

It makes me happy to know that there is another here who appreciates this book.
Posted by: crablord

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 09:59 AM

I had a dream last night that I got killed by a rhino.
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 10:14 AM

I don't bother trying to remember dreams anymore. Most are a waste of time, and the few that are meaningful are not meant to be clung to.
Posted by: Marishiten

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 11:21 AM

I love my dreams, they're usually so vivid and a lot of the time ... beautiful
hehe. It's like a second world to me and sometimes I look forward to sleeping just so I can dream. Yes I do dream of training a lot, of kata, drills, people, everything.
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 11:28 AM

Personally, I think of kata as a mandala for change. Dreaming of it is just as good.
Posted by: crablord

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 01:34 PM

if you want to dream, eat a bowl full of youghurt before you go to bed. Then you can wake up in the middle of the night scared shitless because a rhino just killed you
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 01:38 PM

That's called a 'nightmare'.

Actually, anything can be used as a 'seed' for inducing dreams. I prefer the sanskrit 'Ah' syllable myself.

But as I suspect that is a little advanced for you, perhaps you should stick to your bland baby food.
Posted by: crablord

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 02:02 PM

lol it was french vanilla
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 02:03 PM

Just imagine where chocolate would take you.
Posted by: Zyranyth

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 02:40 PM

Atleast you remember what you dream. I mostly just wake up, noting to my great dismay that I've drooled again and the pillow is wet.
Posted by: stormbringer

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 03:31 PM

As opposed to the bed?
Posted by: harlan

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 03:34 PM

Back on topic, lads. Thank you.
Posted by: stormbringer

Re: Dreams - 10/06/06 03:49 PM

...Yes ma'am.
Posted by: MastaFighta

Re: Dreams - 10/07/06 03:19 AM

Quote:

Freud made kids afraid of white rabbits by shocking them every time they tried to touch one. That's a completely other topic altogether and part of why I don't care much for psychology. The dream stuff is a bit different though. I personally hold they are retrospective, introspective, perspective and other -ive I can't think of now. If I'm not mistaken, the Greeks used them as future predictors. Now, the west uses them as a more introspective look at life. I have a feeling that eastern though would follow the introspective approach also. I personally have an appeal to the introspective because of the subconcious mind. I've found that with myself I have one of two types of dreams. Either something completely weird and entertaining, or one about something that happened at work, in my life, and soforth.



That wasn't Sigmond Freud that conducted that experiment, it was John B. Watson. The experiment was only conducted with one infant who was named "Little Albert". "Little Albert" wasn't shocked, John. B Watson would clap his hands together close to Albert's head every time "Little Albert" would reach for the rabbits. The experiment was to see if it is was possible to make a child fear something that the child wasn't originally afraid of. Even though it did contribute to psychology at the time, it was frowned upon by the science community. Especially since "Little Albert" had to be treated for his new phobia of white rabbits.

Sigmond Freuds studies became the basis of psychology, though of course some of his studies are among debate like in every other field when there's ideas being thrown on the table.

You should read through this Wikipedia article on dreams. It also explains the different interpertations from different cultures/societies/etcetera - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams
Posted by: Ed_Morris

Re: Dreams - 10/08/06 10:01 PM

so how would you interpret my dream the other night of a giant mutant Cottontail eating all of my freinds and telling me I'm a bad boy?

lol
Posted by: crablord

Re: Dreams - 10/09/06 01:48 AM

*crickets chirp*
Posted by: stormbringer

Re: Dreams - 10/09/06 08:47 AM

Maybe I heard the fact from my lady wrong. I'll check it out, and I probably should because I'm making my research paper about the negative effects of psychological experiments (I haven't started the research yet). It sounded cooler with the electricity, though.
Posted by: Christie

Re: Dreams - 10/09/06 11:00 PM

Last night I was aware that I was dreaming while I was dreaming for the first time. It felt really strange when I woke up because I knew I was going to wake up before I did. I could hear the sound of my alarm clock in my dream just before I woke up.

It was an interesting experience however when I woke up I felt like I hadn't slept becaue of my being "awake" in my dream.
Posted by: ButterflyPalm

Re: Dreams - 10/12/06 09:28 AM

Quote:

so how would you interpret my dream the other night of a giant mutant Cottontail eating all of my freinds and telling me I'm a bad boy?

lol





You have no freinds and giant mutant Cottontails are excellant judges of character?
Posted by: stormbringer

Re: Dreams - 10/12/06 09:42 AM

There was an old black and white scifi movie about giant rabits. They electrified railroad tracks to kill them.
Posted by: trevek

Re: Dreams - 10/16/06 04:32 PM

Night of the Lepus?

Should that be "Thread High Jackrabbitted?"
Posted by: trevek

Re: Dreams - 10/16/06 04:36 PM

I had a friend who used to have vivid dreams like that (waking up etc). I often find the alarm clock appears in the dream as something else, like a bird whistling etc.

I once nhad a dream where someone was going to tell me something which could have been of great use to a friend of mine. When the person in the dream asked me if I wanted her to give me the information i replied, "No, don't bother, it's only a dream."

Always wonder if I made a big mistake!