Tibetan Dream Yoga

[Luciftias]

Has anyone on this list worked with Tibetan (Buddhist and Bon Shamanism) dream and/or sleep yogas?

I've read two books on the subject. The first one is called The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and is excellent. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism in general, even if you aren't keen on the dream work. It has such an amazing description of karma - what it is, how it works and how you can improve and eventually resolve/disolve it altogether. It also gives clear descriptions of the Tibetan understanding of the nature of dreams and reality itself. It also provides detailed descriptions of actual practices, which is groundbreaking as it is traditional only to reveal many of these practices only to students directly one-on-one. I haven't read any other of his books yet (although I certainly plan to), but apparently he publicly reveals traditionally secret practices in all of them. He focuses on the fusion of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon Shamanism. I have incorporated some of the dream yoga practices described in this book with excellent results. Maintaining consciousness during non-dream sleep is really hard though. I haven't attained success in that yet, although if I had maintained a consistant practice maybe I would have had results by now.

The second book is called Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light by Norbu Namkhai (and edited by Michael Katz). I found it to be mildly interesting. It is almost entirely stories without any real technique. It constantly talks about how impossible it is to do this work without being initiated and guided by a genuine teacher, which I suppose justifies not explaining the practices. It was quite disapointing to me, as I was hoping to receive more information on how to acheive consciousness during non-dream sleep.

Luciftias

[Icehawk]

Hello Luciftias,

I have just joined this forum and read your post. I have some information including some unpublished writings and some out of print material on the Yogas you mention.

That's the good news, the bad news is I currently find myself homeless with everything packed away and in storage. It will take a little time for me to access the material but I will and then look at the best method to pass this on to you. I know that sounds pretty poor, but I wanted you to not forget the post as no one had replied.

Most of the information I have is related to Highest Yoga Tantra practices in particular those of the guhyasamaja tantra, there is some other commentary stuff as well taken from other tantras. There is a lot to do prior to being able to actually attempt the sleep yogas and even more to effect control. However there is some practical advice also like best position to fall asleep in and how to start to gain a little control.

In very simple terms there is nothing too magical from what I remember, the first job is to be "awake" while asleep so that you can manage/control your mind, having done that the yogas themselves are very similar to those in the waking stage.

Anyway it will take a while as I say but I will not forget and will post an update.

[Apopheros]

Hi Ice,

have you experienced out of body ...huh... experience?

[m1thr0s]

Maintaining consciousness during non-dream sleep is really hard though. I haven't attained success in that yet, although if I had maintained a consistent practice maybe I would have had results by now.I pretty much gave up trying but I do know people who have fared better. A lot seems to depend on establishing the habit of recording dreams as soon as you wake up...before the coffee or anything else. Once your navigational brains kick in the dreams tend to vanish or fall into distorted disrepair...

m1

[Naomi]

I used to try lucid dreaming by just concentrating on trying to do stuff in my dremas and thinking about it. I started getting really weird dreams with lots of astral type activity. So it can be done if you train your brain to think about the idea of staying conscious in dream like states.

I also hear using an alarm clock that wakes you up with a noise every ten minutes can cause you to become more alert during sleep.

In Chod practice, the Tibetan organized practice of cutting through the ego, you get dreams from the dharma guardians that are intended to scare the shit out of you with visions of demons and so forth. Then you have to conquer your fears during these dreams. I used to get those alot after I studied Chod and asked the Buddhas to initiate me. Then after a while I became much less encouraged to be afraid of practically anything.

I mean, some things do still scare me, but nothing dead or gross...

I think it also helps to eat or smell or drink something herbal to get into the dream world, if you sleep with certain plants you can get neat dreams. I had a Tibetan incense that seemed to induce good dreams.