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Lucid Dreaming

PremaSagarPremaSagar Veteran
edited July 2012 in Buddhism Basics
What are your thoughts on Lucid Dreaming ?

I am fascinated by the idea that I could create my own world where I could do whatever I pleased and go anywhere I wanted. After reading "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce I am tempted to try and replicate the dream experience that was narrated of in the story. A dream that would last for seconds in the waking world that would according to my perception last for hours or months; maybe even years. A place to take a holiday from the world.

Comments

  • CloudCloud Veteran
    This has happened to me a couple of times, for short durations. If it were something that you could do at will that'd be something else... but I'm not sure desiring to have lucid dreams, or the dreams themselves, would be particularly liberating. It might be more of a trap.
  • youmaywalkaloneyoumaywalkalone
    Well the way I started lucid dreaming was during my day I would ask myself "is this reality" and look for cues that it was. For instance get a draddle and spin it. Make it a habit. Or whatever works for you. And then afterawhile of doing that I would do it in my dreams. Ans after I figures out if I was dreaming or not I could control my dreams . It takes practice though
  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator
    I have a fair amount of control over my dreams, I can often choose what to dream about, or choose to continue the dream or wake up, and on a few occasions I've had dreams within dreams, or dreams where the 2nd dream has me talking about the first dream I had. Dreams are interesting stuff, but I think they could be the same as using alcohol or anything else to escape reality. Perhaps harmless once in a while, but easy to get carried away. Plus when you need to practice so much and concentrate on it so much, it's going to start taking away from real life. I still can't watch Inception without getting confused though! :D
  • youmaywalkaloneyoumaywalkalone
    Lol yeah that's whre I got the draddle idea from. I agree though. Its easy to get confused from "reality" and dreams. I just let my dreams come to me now. I don't search after them.
  • zombiegirlzombiegirl beating the drum of the lifeless in a dry wasteland Veteran
    Once I realize I am dreaming, I find it difficult to sustain the dream. Not sure why, it just seems as though the realization makes it fall apart... Which is a total bummer, because it's typically quite fun :)
  • ZeroZero Veteran
    It's an interesting experience - with practice you can make it a regular occurance - not sure on seconds translating to weeks / months as I dont perceive time in the same way when asleep and awake - in my lucid dreams, there isn't a concrete world as such - it's more being aware of an experience and then willing it one way or another.

    Trance / spirit walking etc is more concrete - it is debated whether this is an internal or an external experience - for the latter, the 'other' worlds seem to go on even if you're not visiting.

    Overall, if your intention is to escape this reality then your intention to escape will follow you wherever your consciousness manifests.
  • RebeccaSRebeccaS Veteran
    I HATE lucid dreaming. I used to do it pretty much every night and it freaked me out so bad.

    I watched a video on it, and the guy said, if you find yourself lucid dreaming, ask the dream why you're there.

    I did that, I felt this like... I don't know, weird kind of pressure, woke up, and I've never lucid dreamed since. Thank goodness :)
  • ozenozen
    I lucid dreamed once that I can recall. Only lasted a couple of minutes but it was nice. Was an 'adult' dream.
  • RebeccaSRebeccaS Veteran
    If you have an adult lucid dream, but you're married, does it count as cheating because you're aware that you're doing it? I mean, usually if someone cheats in a dream you can't hold it against them because it's a dream and they have no control over it, but maybe of they do it changes things? :lol:
  • BeejBeej Human Being Veteran
    @ozen and @RebeccaS - you guys both make me laugh... thank you for that!
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    This has happened to me a couple of times, for short durations. If it were something that you could do at will that'd be something else... but I'm not sure desiring to have lucid dreams, or the dreams themselves, would be particularly liberating. It might be more of a trap.
    It can be a trap. It depends on your intentions. An example of a trap, you can go and have sex with anyone you want, whenever you want! OR, you can go talk to the wise monk at the top of the world mountain and sit in meditation with him. I've done both, LOL. But I will admit the first more than the 2nd, ha! It is possible to do it at will, with enough practice. Lucid dreaming practice is the very first thing that opened my eyes to a "spiritual realm" of life. I really don't do it anymore. It's really just another fantasy world. It does have the potential to teach you things about yourself though. It depends on your intentions.
  • howhow Veteran Veteran
    edited July 2012
    I was drawn to such ways by Carlos Castenada before Zen/flesh, Zen/bones planted me in front of a wall. Later I discovered that all realities intersect not only where ever we are but are fluidly subject to our conditioning. Now my greatest adventure is just staying meditatively present in the realities maw.
  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    What are your thoughts on Lucid Dreaming ?
    It happens to me when I'm on retreat doing a lot of meditation. It's kind of interesting bu not particularly significant or meaningful IMO.
  • WilliamHobbsWilliamHobbs Explorer
    I've hallucinated before, but I haven't dreamt lucidly. I usually hallucinate if I'm ill, I'm very sensitive to temperature. Unfortunately, the hallucinations are always nightmares. Thinking that it is real life makes it equally terrifying, I used to see hell and Jesus nailed to my bedroom wall. I saw fire and people burning alive in large ovens or cremators. Horrifying, but I can assure that I am sane. If only I were insane, I'd be even more eccentric.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    No, you'd be insane. Eccentricity has nothing to do with being insane.
  • Ficus_religiosaFicus_religiosa Veteran
    I love lucid dreaming. It started when I was a kid. One night I suddenly knew I was dreaming, but as soon as I figured it out, I woke up.
    I then swore, that if it happened again I would stay in the dream. Over the duration of several months I got better at controlling the dream.
    It's been a while since I did it last though.. Never really did anything to induce it, so it comes and goes :)
  • OneLifeFormOneLifeForm Veteran
    To meditate while asleep one must not be dreaming I believe.. I think I read that somewhere in a galaxy far far away.

    Correct me if I'm wrong though :)
  • MorningViewMorningView New
    PremaSagar,

    Lucid dreaming is a beautiful way to wake yourself up to a deeper level of awareness of your mind. It is also, for many, an important Buddhist practice. I would recommend the book "The Tibetan Yogas of Sleep and Dreams" by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche for a Buddhist point of view; or, for a more general introduction by someone who scientifically proved lucid dreaming to be a real phenomenon in 1978 I'd recommend "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming" by Stephen LaBerge. dreamviews.com has great information and forum.

    Lucid dreaming will give you the opportunity to expand your awareness and become more aware of your inner thoughts (dreams often are a reflection of what we are thinking, feeling, and experiencing in life). Expanding on what Seeker242 said, lucid dreaming can be a self-indulgent practice for pursuing pleasure or it can be a great vehicle for liberation.
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