The difference of modern lucid dreamers
Sergei Vladimirovich Kukharenko
International Journal of Dream Research February 29, 2016 DOI: 10.11588/ijodr.2017.1.28491 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Modern Western lucid dreamers and other lucid dreamers in globally Western-aligned regions |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Argues that lucid dreaming may be more akin to Gurdjieff's 'remembering oneself' and mindfulness than to normal waking consciousness, and that a distinct modern lucid dreamer exists whose practice is largely disconnected from Hindu-Buddhist goals. Many secular lucid dreamers in the West and globally Western-aligned regions do not pursue ego transcendence or non-dual awareness, often treating lucid dreaming as a fun activity for enjoyment and creativity. |
Abstract
The article examines the phenomenon of lucid dreaming within a broader framework of other states of higher awareness, popularized mostly (but not only) within Hindu-Buddhist tradition. The author assumes that lucid dreaming may have more in common with Gurdjieff’s remembering oneself and mindfulness than with the normal waking state. Based on the survey of modern western lucid dreamers and previous researchers done in this field the author comes to the conclusion that we can talk about an autonomous face of a modern lucid dreamer who is not much connected with Hindu and Buddhist concepts. Lucid dreaming, as practiced by modern lucid dreamers in the West, does not seem to have a goal of transcending one’s ego and achieving non-dual awareness, but it does have that general goal for some practitioners of Hindu and Buddhist philosophies. Many modern secular lucid dreamers in the West and other regions of the globalized world which have close cultural ties with the West do not practice any Hindu or Buddhist practices of witnessing and non-attachment in lucid dreams, and often see lucid dreaming as a fun activity for personal enjoyment and creativity.