The moment we lie down and sleep, dreams appear in us. Dreams are so variable and intricate that they are beyond our ordinary human comprehension. Dreams are part and parcel of our life, whether we believe they are necessary or even nonexistent to some people.
Let us discuss the different types of dreams, the meaning of dreams, and some facts about dreams from a more spiritual point of view.
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Why Do We Dream?
Dreams are, in reality, concocted by our mysterious mind, which is our subconscious. Little is known about this mysterious mind that creates all our dreams.
Many times, our dreams are irrelevant and disconnected from our reality of living. Yet, why do we dream? Well, it is necessary to experience these dreams in order to fulfill the fantasies of our human thoughts.
At the same time, dreaming help to ease the hectic mind of existence in this world. Without dreams, our mind would become blank and a vacuum, setting up a dangerous precedent for evil energies and evil thoughts to pervade us, which could eventually cause us to run amok or become insane.
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Types of Dreams
Dreams can come in many forms, each reflecting different aspects of our mind and spirit. Some dreams are ordinary, arising from our daily thoughts and experiences, while others delve deeper into our subconscious, revealing hidden emotions and symbolic messages.
There are dreams that one may consciously watch and even influence, known as lucid dreams, where the dreamer holds awareness within the dream. At times, dreams become distorted and troubling, manifesting as nightmares that unsettle the mind and spirit.
Beyond these common dreams, certain rare dreams carry profound significance—prophetic or spiritual in nature—providing glimpses into realities beyond our waking life. Thus, dreams serve not only as mere illusions but as a complex tapestry woven by the depths of our mysterious mind.
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Dreamless State and Astral Travel
However, certain people in this world do not dream. This is mainly because their minds are extremely calm and serene, having successfully trained their mind to be one with everything they do. Hence, there is no jumble of thoughts in their mind, which is the source of our daily dreams filled with all kinds of distorted phenomena.
People who have successfully attained wisdom and power rarely have dreams. Even if they do dream, their dreams are finer and more vivid—colorful and lifelike.
Many Tibetan-trained monks do not have dreams but instead experience astral travel. Astral travel is not dreaming but rather involves moving oneself ahead of time to gain access to knowledge of reality beyond our living culture.
In fact, ancient people also did not have dreams but only did astral travel due to their simple, moderate, and humble lifestyle. When our mind is steady and our living is simple creating inner peace, astral travel becomes a common feature of our sleep.
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To many, dreams are just a formality of sleep and rest. They find nothing special about the meaning of dreams, and apparently, most of the time what is dreamt about does not benefit us. However, we must explore the inner beauty of dreams.
Of course, ordinary people on this earth have very little knowledge about the real existence of dreams. In many special cases, great composers and musicians have gained their inner talents and drive from their dreams. Many successful spiritual cultivators also acquire their knowledge through so-called dream.
These dreams go beyond the reality of living on this earth because they reveal the true forms of existence and the original source of creation. Hence, dreams hold special significance for certain chosen people but not for ordinary individuals.
Certainly, many specially trained spiritual teachers and masters gain accessible knowledge through astral travel during sleep, rather than dreaming. Unfortunately, this special type of dream is only comprehensible to these extraordinary people, who are known as the chosen ones.
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How to Have A Good Dream and Avoid Nightmares
For most ordinary people, we have to contend with all these fictitious dreams because our untrained minds naturally produce all kinds of wavering thoughts, which in turn create all sorts of illusionary dreams. The only important thing we should always bear in mind is to ensure our dreams are peaceful and joyful, making our days more rewarding and beneficial instead of waking up from nightmares and eerie scenarios.
In order to avoid bad and fearful dreams, we should always perform some simple prayers, such as invoking The Avatar Power, to relax during sleep.
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Also, before sleeping, we should practice some pondering, recollections, and contemplation for a short while.
We should never watch movies or play wild, exciting online games right before bedtime, as that arouses our emotions and creates an unsteady mind, which produces disturbing dreams.
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Final Thoughts and Facts About Dreams
Most of the time, without truly exploring and researching dreams, one will never understand their intrinsic value. Apparently, dreams are just a formality to help promote rest and relaxation throughout the night, but in reality, they regulate our mind to achieve inner peace and tranquility. This serenity comes from a mind with steady thought.
In comparison, ancient people lived simply, and their thoughts were always tranquil and peaceful, so their dreams were harmonious, joyful, and relaxing. In our modern times, everything is reversed and complicated, and our minds are absorbed with materialistic gains, which pollute and unsettle our minds. This restlessness creates bad dreams and wavering thoughts.
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Therefore, to ensure peaceful rest and pleasant dreams, we should avoid polluting our five senses with excessive attachments that complicate our dreams and make them turbulent and restless. Hence, the simpler our needs and wants are, the more we develop steady thought and create joyful, simple dreams—the kind that leave us refreshed upon waking and make our lives happier and more contented.