Lucid dreaming (LD) is a state where the dreamer knows they are dreaming while still asleep, involving metacognitive abilities like self-reflection. This study first investigated the prevalence of LD in China, finding that 81.3% of subjects had experienced LD at least once, similar to Western countries. Comparing bizarreness density (BD) between LD and non-LD dreams, BD was significantly lower in LD. Self-reflection and insight traits were inversely associated with dream bizarreness, suggesting that self-consciousness traits extend from waking to both LD and non-LD states.
Monks' dreams contain more themes of prediction and revelation, more divine beings and teachers, and more peaceful and reverent emotions compared with nonreligious respondents, whose dreams feature more death, relatives, animals, dead people, and anxiety. The study compared 65 monks and 62 nonreligious respondents through interviews and content analysis. Monks also reported reacting to dreams with chanting and praying more often. The authors interpret these differences in light of Buddhist characteristics and living environment.