Dreaming with Awareness: Exploring Lucid Dreaming as a Bridge Between Reality and Meditation
SMARATUNGGA: JURNAL OF EDUCATION AND BUDDHIST STUDIES October 1, 2023 DOI: 10.53417/sjebs.v3i2.108 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractLucid dreaming involves more than simply becoming aware within a dream; it often includes sensations such as an intensified sense of presence, stillness, peace, joy, compassion, and love, which are typical of meditation practice. The most common experiences reported are the desire to control the dream, a desire to fly, joy, stillness and peace, euphoria, a more intense sense of presence, compassion, and love. These features distinguish lucid dreaming from being merely mindful in a dream and from states pursued in dream yoga or similar religious traditions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Argues that lucid dreaming shares experiences typical of meditation and is distinct from both simple mindfulness in dreams and the states aimed for in dream yoga or other religious traditions. |
Abstract
The article examines the phenomenon of lucid dreaming. The author assumes that lucid dreamers share the experiences typical of meditation practice and lucid dreaming is certainly more than becoming ‘awake’ in a dream state. Most lucid dreamers experience in lucid dreams more intense sense of presence, stillness and peace, joy, compassion and love. it is worthwhile mentioning that lucid dreaming is also different from just being mindful in the dream state as well. The most commonly experienced sensations during a lucid dream run as following: desire to control, desire to fly (most commonly experienced), joy, stillness and peace, euphoria, more intense sense of presence (commonly experienced), compassion, and love (quite commonly experienced). This shows lucid dreaming state is different from the state that ‘dream yoga’ or similar states in other religious traditions try to achieve.