Dream Awakening
Contemplation of the dreamlike nature of all experience is both a means to accomplish lucidity in the dream bardo and better understand the nature of all experience. The classical instructions for dream yoga include reflection on how the bardo of waking experience is not different from the experience of the dream bardo. Western approaches to lucid dreaming tend to emphasize making the resolution to become lucid in the dream bardo. While the latter approach is somewhat more dualistic in concept, it has been a powerful tool for accomplishing dream lucidity, which in turn provides fuel for the contemplation of the singular taste of both dream and waking life.
This brings up a fundamental question: when is it better to use a more dualistic method to achieve a non-dualistic realization? Adzom Rinpoche writes, "Authentic experience is what gives you the potential for accomplishment. Therefore, now and into your future, the future, it is very important that you pursue this." It seems possible to me that for the mind steeped in dualism, straining to grasp non-dualistic themes prematurely can lead to frustration and more dense conceptuality. This seems to be part of the idea behind using contemplation of the four thoughts to train in meditation, rather than trying to jump right into nonconceptual meditation. Discussing Dzogchen, Chagdud Rinpoche writes, "Unless they have ripened their minds through practice, the oral transmission that should lead to a state beyond concepts leads instead to more concepts. If students... hear them too early, the teachings do not have the impact they otherwise would."
Is it then appropriate to pursue the dualistic accomplishment of ordinary siddhis, such as those relating to lucidity in the dream bardo, in order to provide the experiential basis necessary to approach a more refined understanding of nondualism?
I feel the answer is yes, but there remain a few caveats in my mind. Pursuit of dualistic accomplishment without some recognition of, or aspiration to recognize, emptiness is more difficult and potentially entangling. Difficulty arises when there is clinging to concepts and methods without giving way to openess and recognition of the natural mind. For example, one aspires toward patience continually, often using concepts and methods, but when natural patience arises, concepts may become a hindrance--the same could be said about realizing any other aspect of the mind. Furthermore, powerful dualistic methods require a greater refinement of conduct in order to prevent that power from being directed in a more entangling way--for example, the dangers of improperly utilizing alchemy and magic.
Thoughts?
Contemplation of the dreamlike nature of all experience is both a means to accomplish lucidity in the dream bardo and better understand the nature of all experience. The classical instructions for dream yoga include reflection on how the bardo of waking experience is not different from the experience of the dream bardo. Western approaches to lucid dreaming tend to emphasize making the resolution to become lucid in the dream bardo. While the latter approach is somewhat more dualistic in concept, it has been a powerful tool for accomplishing dream lucidity, which in turn provides fuel for the contemplation of the singular taste of both dream and waking life.
This brings up a fundamental question: when is it better to use a more dualistic method to achieve a non-dualistic realization? Adzom Rinpoche writes, "Authentic experience is what gives you the potential for accomplishment. Therefore, now and into your future, the future, it is very important that you pursue this." It seems possible to me that for the mind steeped in dualism, straining to grasp non-dualistic themes prematurely can lead to frustration and more dense conceptuality. This seems to be part of the idea behind using contemplation of the four thoughts to train in meditation, rather than trying to jump right into nonconceptual meditation. Discussing Dzogchen, Chagdud Rinpoche writes, "Unless they have ripened their minds through practice, the oral transmission that should lead to a state beyond concepts leads instead to more concepts. If students... hear them too early, the teachings do not have the impact they otherwise would."
Is it then appropriate to pursue the dualistic accomplishment of ordinary siddhis, such as those relating to lucidity in the dream bardo, in order to provide the experiential basis necessary to approach a more refined understanding of nondualism?
I feel the answer is yes, but there remain a few caveats in my mind. Pursuit of dualistic accomplishment without some recognition of, or aspiration to recognize, emptiness is more difficult and potentially entangling. Difficulty arises when there is clinging to concepts and methods without giving way to openess and recognition of the natural mind. For example, one aspires toward patience continually, often using concepts and methods, but when natural patience arises, concepts may become a hindrance--the same could be said about realizing any other aspect of the mind. Furthermore, powerful dualistic methods require a greater refinement of conduct in order to prevent that power from being directed in a more entangling way--for example, the dangers of improperly utilizing alchemy and magic.
Thoughts?
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