Dreamworlds of Shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism : The Third Place

Dreamworlds of Shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism explores the fertile interaction of Buddhism, shamanism, and Tibetan culture with the subject of dreaming. In Tibetan Buddhist literature, there are numerous examples of statements that express the value of dreams as a vehicle of authentic spiritual knowledge and, at the same time, dismiss dreams as the ultra-illusions of an illusory world. Examining the "third place" from the perspective of shamanism and Buddhism, Angela Sumegi provides a fresh look at the contradictory attitudes toward dreams in Tibetan culture. Sumegi questions the longstanding interpretation that views this dichotomy as a difference between popular and elite religion, and theorizes that a better explanation of the ambiguous position of dreams can be gained through attention to the spiritual dynamics at play between Buddhism and an indigenous shamanic presence. By exploring the themes of conflict and resolution that coalesce in the Tibetan experience, and examining dreams as a site of dialogue between shamanism and Buddhism, this book provides an alternate model for understanding dreams in Tibetan Buddhism Dreamworlds of Shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Tables......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction......Page 16 1. Shamanisms and Dreams......Page 26 THE WORLD AS BEING......Page 27 ANIMATE AND INANIMATE BEINGS......Page 31 CONTRACTS AND NEGOTIATION......Page 33 JOINING HEAVEN AND EARTH......Page 35 SLEEP AND DREAM AS SHAMANIC ACTIVITY......Page 38 DREAM, INITIATION, AND POWER......Page 43 ENVISIONING THE INVISIBLE......Page 46 RITUAL AND HOMOLOGY IN THE VEDAS......Page 50 VITALITY AND POWER IN THE VEDAS......Page 53 SLEEP AND DREAM IN THE VEDAS......Page 55 SELF AND DREAM IN THE UPANISADS......Page 58 3. Indian Buddhist Views of Dream......Page 64 BUDDHIST DREAM THEORY AND ITS INDIAN CONTEXT......Page 65 DREAM AND DIRECT PERCEPTION OF THE BUDDHA......Page 66 DREAMING AND PARANORMAL POWERS......Page 69 DREAM INTERPRETATION AND CLASSIFICATION......Page 70 THE CONCEPTION DREAM OF QUEEN MAYA......Page 73 DREAM AND THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE DREAMER......Page 77 4. Dream in the Tibetan Context......Page 86 CONFLICT AND COMPETITION......Page 88 THE LAMA, THE SHAMAN, AND THE YOGI......Page 92 DREAM AND LIBERATION: THE BODHI ORIENTATION......Page 94 DREAMING AND DYING: THE KARMA ORIENTATION......Page 97 DREAM AND DIVINATION: THE PRAGMATIC ORIENTATION......Page 99 BUDDHIST DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN LAMA AND SHAMAN......Page 102 SHAMANISM AND SOTERIOLOGY......Page 105 5. Tibetan Dream Theory, Imagery,and Interpretation......Page 110 GENERAL DREAM THEORY......Page 111 THEORY AND IMAGERY FROM MEDICAL TEXTS......Page 112 POPULAR DREAM IMAGES......Page 116 DREAM AND EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICE......Page 118 GAINING PERMISSION OF THE DEITY......Page 119 THE QUESTION OF TENDREL......Page 122 DREAM AND THE ILLUSION OF ILLUSION......Page 124 Conclusion......Page 130 Appendix......Page 136 Notes......Page 138 Bibliography......Page 164 C......Page 176 E......Page 177 M......Page 178 R......Page 179 S......Page 180 Z......Page 181 Dreamworlds of Shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism 4 Contents 8 Tables 10 Preface 12 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction 16 1. Shamanisms and Dreams 26 THE WORLD AS BEING 27 ANIMATE AND INANIMATE BEINGS 31 CONTRACTS AND NEGOTIATION 33 JOINING HEAVEN AND EARTH 35 SLEEP AND DREAM AS SHAMANIC ACTIVITY 38 DREAM, INITIATION, AND POWER 43 ENVISIONING THE INVISIBLE 46 2. Dream in the Ancient Indian Matrix 50 RITUAL AND HOMOLOGY IN THE VEDAS 50 VITALITY AND POWER IN THE VEDAS 53 SLEEP AND DREAM IN THE VEDAS 55 SELF AND DREAM IN THE UPANISADS 58 3. Indian Buddhist Views of Dream 64 BUDDHIST DREAM THEORY AND ITS INDIAN CONTEXT 65 DREAM AND DIRECT PERCEPTION OF THE BUDDHA 66 DREAMING AND PARANORMAL POWERS 69 DREAM INTERPRETATION AND CLASSIFICATION 70 THE CONCEPTION DREAM OF QUEEN MAYA 73 DREAM AND THE MORAL CONDITION OF THE DREAMER 77 4. Dream in the Tibetan Context 86 CONFLICT AND COMPETITION 88 THE LAMA, THE SHAMAN, AND THE YOGI 92 DREAM AND LIBERATION: THE BODHI ORIENTATION 94 DREAMING AND DYING: THE KARMA ORIENTATION 97 DREAM AND DIVINATION: THE PRAGMATIC ORIENTATION 99 BUDDHIST DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN LAMA AND SHAMAN 102 SHAMANISM AND SOTERIOLOGY 105 5. Tibetan Dream Theory, Imagery,and Interpretation 110 GENERAL DREAM THEORY 111 THEORY AND IMAGERY FROM MEDICAL TEXTS 112 POPULAR DREAM IMAGES 116 DREAM AND EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICE 118 GAINING PERMISSION OF THE DEITY 119 THE QUESTION OF TENDREL 122 DREAM AND THE ILLUSION OF ILLUSION 124 Conclusion 130 Appendix 136 Notes 138 Bibliography 164 Index 176 A 176 B 176 C 176 D 177 E 177 F 178 G 178 H 178 I 178 J 178 K 178 L 178 M 178 N 179 O 179 P 179 R 179 S 180 T 181 U 181 V 181 W 181 Y 181 Z 181 Angela Sumegi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 149-159) And Index.