Dream Yoga

Dream Yoga

The effort to awaken the consciousness in the dream state is called Dream Yoga. This term is most known from the tradition of Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, and Milarepa, although the tradition of Niguma also includes Dream Yoga. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "yug," which means to "reunite" or "yoke together." This is the same as the root of our word religion, the Latin word "religare,"which means "to bind together." What is sought in both cases is the union of our consciousness with its source, but this can only happen when our consciousness is awakened and purified of all that is unclean.

The yogic tradition of Tilopa has been maintained in Tibetan Buddhism for hundreds of years. It is a series of teachings of which dream yoga is a vital part. It has been practiced and taught by all the Dalai Lamas, and such great initiates as Tsongkhapa and Milarepa.

The basic goal of Dream Yoga is to harness the power of the dream state and use it to Awaken the Consciousness.

Astral Projection

Quite simply, this term refers to how our consciousness departs from the physical body. Everytime our physical body sleep, the consciousness departs from it, and experiences what we call "dreams." This is a form of astral projection, but in most cases the consciousness is asleep, unaware that it is away from the physical body. While dreaming, we generally do not realize it. And when we return to the body, the memory of the dream is generally lost, or if recalled, appears hazy and unreal. This is all due to the weak state of our consciousness.

It is possible to consciously project oneself out of the body. By means of constant training from moment to moment, the consciousness can be strengthened to be be awake, aware, and sharp; thus, when it leaves the physical body, we remain aware of ourselves, and conscious of what transpires. From this state, one can investigate any phenomena in nature or oneself.

Eventually, by awakening consciousness and transforming our experience of life from moment to moment, dreaming ceases. Then, we have arrived at the goal: an awakened consciousness that perceives all phenomena as they truly are.

True illuminates have no dreams. Dreams are for those who are asleep. True illuminates live in the higher worlds, out of the physical body, in a state of intensified wakefulness without ever dreaming. - Samael Aun Weor