Recently,
three Dharma friends independently have asked questions regarding
Dharma-related dreams and meditation experiences. Typically, they want to
explore whether such experiences are valid, and if so, what is their basis. Are
they memories from previous lives? Are they communications from Teachers,
Buddhas, or Bodhisattvas? Or are they simply mental elaborations based on bits
and pieces of accumulated information?
Whether we’ve had those very
experiences in a previous life, we are recipients of deliberate teachings from
the Enlightened Ones, or our minds have developed particular narratives to
manifest existing karmic tendencies does not make much difference.
Those experiences, and the
karmic seeds that inform them, are in our ground consciousness (alaya vijnana), and
through the coming together of causes and conditions, are appearing now to our
mental consciousness (mano
vijnana).
The dream, actual memory, or
mental elaboration is just a vehicle for expressing an awareness. It is an
internal mental representation of an existing karmic tendency or disposition.
It is no less than that, but it is also no more. We must avoid the extremes of
deprecating or exaggerating its importance.
If an experience of this type
leads us to turn inward, to practice the Dharma with greater enthusiasm, to
develop more compassion, then it is extremely positive. However, it is
important to accept the message, without dwelling on the narrative. If
we dwell on the story, we run the risk of developing an acquired fixed view or
an afflicted emotion.
The teaching on the Four
Reliances warns us to beware of becoming entangled in mere forms, mere words,
mere logic, and mere concepts. Rather, we should seek for the intended meaning
of each lesson received, and allow it to manifest as non dual wisdom, whatever
the source.
