The people of Tibet were influenced by a tradition of shamanism, magic and fortune-telling. Buddhism arrived in Tibet from India in the 7th century and became the primary religion of the region. The native traditions were discouraged, but became known as Bön. Both religions began to discover some common ground in their treasured texts and practices. They each embrace techniques to cultivate greater awareness, including the practice of dream yoga.
The Bon Tradition
The traditional people of Tibet were grounded in animistic and shamanistic practices that honored a balanced relationship between humanity and nature. They honored the elements, sounds, spirits and gods. They sought protection from demons and engaged in initiation rites that involved divine madness and retreat into the wilderness. Often viewed as a folk religion by outsiders, by the 10th century the tradition was recognized as Bön, a lineage linked with Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche.
Buddhism in Tibet
Buddha Shakyamuni transmitted teachings in Tibet that formed the Nyingma, Kagyu, Dzogchen and Gelug schools. Practitioners of each group use meditation, chanting and ritual to discover pure awareness. Central to Tibetan Buddhism is reverence for Padmasambhava, the Buddha of compassion. During the late 20th century, the 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, finally recognized Bön as the 5th school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Dream Yoga
Buddha Shakyamuni told his disciples to regard all phenomena as dreams. The whole universe arises and dissolves like a mirage. Tibetan Bön tradition urges us not to waste the precious time we spend sleeping and dreaming when we have the ability to work on our limitations. This is the essence of the spiritual path. Dream yoga is a set of practices that transform our sleeping hours to bring waking awareness into sleeping awareness.
Lucid Dreaming
Bön shamans use dreams as a form of divination.They pray to guardians and ask for answers. Lucid dreaming benefits an individual as awareness develops during the dream experience. There is an opportunity to face fears and transform a frightening image into a healing one -- a wild animal chasing you can be visualized as a compassionate Buddha. Lucid dreaming allows us to cultivate qualities that help us progress along a spiritual path.
The Great Completness
Dzogchen Buddhism embodies the essence of the Bön tradition. "Mindnature" is both the starting point and the goal of practice. Mindnature is always present in all beings despite "samsara," the cycle of pain and pleasure found in daily life.The practice of Dream Yoga helps us to touch this wisdom available to all human beings.
Clear Light
Dreams are not interpreted and analyzed. Instead, we learn to go beyond dream messages to an experience of completeness and "clear light." Tibetan Bön and Buddhism practices open the mind to "rigpa," a condition of pure awareness, also referred to as clear light. The MotherTantra is the source of wisdom who reminds us that awareness and right action in life allow us to remain present through the dying process.
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