Lucid dreams with Carlos Castaneda and Don Juan?

[Ratt]

I was once referred [by someone I'm no longer in contact with] Carlos Castaneda's The Teachings of Don Juan: a Yaqui Way of Knowledge to learn about lucid dreaming. Having read and re-read the book several times, I still haven't been able to find anything. Am I missing something or is it simply in one of his other Don Juan-related books: A Seperate Reality or Journey to Ixtlan?

[Rizzo in a box]

try "the art of dreaming" instead

[BrokeProphet]

I wonder what, if any, psychological impact lucid dreaming has.

[-Fuck-]

Well the only way to find out is personal experience, something that judging by the tone of most of your posts, BrokeProphet, you deeply lack.

Any practice of perfect attention/concentration is like any other practice. Just pick up a guitar and try to be good in one day. Lift weights for 5 minutes and go try to have girls drool over you. Lucid dreaming, in my opinion, is the art of keeping present during bedtime, and like all of the other finer things in life, must be practiced consistently, with diligence, patience, true effort and joyful intention to yield any results.

Don Juan's main message to Castaneda was to pay attention during the time before sleep, to not wander off into thoughts. Every technique, if you look at it, basically says the same exact thing. It cannot be made any clearer, it is now a matter of practice. This means a different outlook and lifestyle than most westerners, and I think the biggest roadblock to lucid dreaming is just that: Breaking away from your socially conditioned mind to explore yourself deeper.

There are a million and one authors and a million and one techniques. All you need to do to really understand dreaming is think: the dreams are related to your mind, and emotions, your habits, etc. You treat them as realities and do not see them for what they are, because your mind is running the show. You are thrown around by illusions and they lead you in circles, every night. You let these thoughts and images define you, shape you, restrict your identity. Could this perhaps be linked to reincarnation? (well that's probably another topic, ahem...) It's not only that, it's during the day these thoughts govern your entire world perspective. This is why lucid dreaming can be really beneficial. You're breaking the chain and gaining control over yourself that will leave you in a more present, aware state of mind.

EVERY technique I've come across is geared to make you become more conscious and awake, aware, and let your reactive mind/emotions have less control over the situation. You are told to let the thoughts rise, and then fall back away as you remain in the visualization or whatever your method is without getting caught up in things. (I prefer visualization)... Remain conscious, and it will carry over into your dreams.

I'm no master lucid dreamer, but I know that it takes real effort, and that there's no need to complicate things.... pick your method, practice it until it's end. If no result, study your obstacles, and maybe try another method. Believe it or not, totse was the first place I learned to LD, and maybe the reason I still come here.

A great book for lucid dreaming from a buddhist perspective is "The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep" by Tenzin Wangyal Rinponche. This is more of an eastern approach, but in my opinion, they are much more experienced in this field than us westerners and seem to know it better. I think if you explore the book you'll find it's truly a detailed explanation of dreams, and a powerful "WBTB + WILD" technique. But that's not enough to do the book justice.

Another good reference is this site: http://www.ld4all.com/forum/

Good luck and happy dreaming.