Exploring Dreams and Nightmares: The Interplay of Desires and Apprehensions
In the realm of Eastern mysticism, dreams and waking life are both considered as 'maya', an illusion [1]. This perspective sets the stage for an intriguing exploration into the teachings of spiritual masters Gurdjieff and Osho, who offer unique insights into the world of dreams.
Gurdjieff, a Russian spiritual master, proposed a method that involved repeating a specific phrase before sleep, aiming to trigger remembrance of dreaming [2]. His goal was to awaken within a dream and perceive it as an illusion [1]. He believed that most people live in a hypnotic "waking sleep" without unified consciousness, and his method included exercises in self-observation, presence, and inner attention to break out of automatic, mechanical behavior [3].
On the other hand, Osho, an enlightened master, provided easier methods for meditation and mind quieting. He suggested that the problem is not with dreams but with desiring. The challenge, according to Osho, is to overcome desiring, as both dreams and thoughts are forms of desiring [4]. He encouraged his followers to drop attachments to desires and illusions, including those experienced in dreams, to foster lucidity in dreams [5].
In practice, the core approach for staying aware and awake during dreams, as suggested by Gurdjieff and Osho, involves cultivating heightened consciousness and self-observation. This helps one to overcome the typical "waking sleep" or unconscious drifting state of ordinary life and dreams [3]. By consistently practicing self-awareness during waking moments—observing one’s thoughts, emotions, and impulses without identification—one develops an ability to maintain a witnessing consciousness that can carry over into dreaming states, helping maintain awareness while dreaming [3].
Meditative practices focusing on affirmations like “I am,” or “I am Reality,” help to turn the mind inward and enhance self-awareness, potentially aiding consciousness in dream states as well [2]. Osho's meditations aim to stop the ticking of the mind and facilitate waking up [6].
Though specific step-by-step dream-awareness exercises from Gurdjieff or Osho are less documented, their shared emphasis on waking consciousness and detachment form the foundational techniques for maintaining lucidity and wakefulness during dreams [1][2][5].
It's worth noting that Kul Bhushan, a disciple of Osho and an accomplished author with 26 books on various subjects, specializes in writing on NRI (Non Resident Indians) affairs and has worked for a UN agency [7].
As dreams can bring us pleasure, amusement, bewilderment, or fear, and can also turn into nightmares, representing our deepest fears [1], the question remains: how do we stop dreaming, both in sleep and while awake? The answer, perhaps, lies in the teachings of Gurdjieff and Osho, who offer a path towards greater self-awareness and lucidity.
References: [1] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/george_gurdjieff_110788 [2] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/george_gurdjieff_110789 [3] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/george_gurdjieff_110790 [4] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/osho_106910 [5] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/osho_106913 [6] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/osho_106914 [7] https://www.kulbhushan.com/about/
In the realms of spiritual growth, one can incorporate the teachings of Gurdjieff and Osho into their lifestyle, seeking personal growth and self-development through heightened consciousness and conscious dreaming. By practicing self-awareness, inner detachment, and meditation, individuals can break free from the 'waking sleep' state and experience lucid dreaming, transforming their relationships with their thoughts, dreams, and ultimately, their reality.
