Dreaming Yourself Awake: Lucid Dreaming and Tibetan Dream Yoga for Insight and Transformation

by B. Alan Wallace, Brian Hodel

An “accessible look at the ways we can access the hidden adventures within our dreams and stretch our imaginations into the realm of enlightenment” through lucid dreaming and dream yoga (San Francisco Book Review)Some of the greatest of life’s adventures can happen while you’re sound asleep. That’s the promise of lucid dreaming, which is the ability to alter your own dream reality any way you like simply by being aware of the fact that you’re dreaming while you’re in the midst of a dream. There is a range of techniques anyone can learn to become a lucid dreamer—and this book provides all the instruction you need to get started.But B. Alan Wallace also shows how to take the experience of lucid dreaming beyond entertainment to use it to heighten creativity, to solve problems, and to increase self-knowledge. He then goes a step moving on to the methods of Tibetan Buddhist dream yoga for using your lucid dreams to attain the profoundest kind of insight.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Meditation, Philosophy

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 29, 2012

Reviews

[Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the text does talk a little about the dream world, the majority of the text talks about how to meditate to get there, and how to meditate once you have lucidity. As I read further in the book, I soon realized this text was for the advance lucid dreamer. It is assumed that one is somewhat adept at staying awake in the dream world. The author takes the reader on a journey outing the steps involved in meditating in the astral world. What happens when you go to sleep in a lucid dream ? You wake up to a higher reality, or at least a more vivid version of the "one" reality. The author starts out by introducing the reader to various Buddhist techniques of waking meditation. This meditation style is know as shamatha, and there are 3 main parts, Relaxation of body, Stability of thought, and Vividness of what "is". These practices are designed to teach the mind to focus at the waking level, in hopes that is will transfer to the dream world. There are times when the author gets a little technical about the nature of reality, and how you must go beyond yourself to find the self you never lost. Keeping in mind the self that never knew, never reality existed, that was all an illusion.

Along with the shamatha meditation, is the developing of a mindset of critical awareness. Throughout the day you are to stop, and examine the world around you with a vigilant, and discerning eye, as you ask yourself is this a dream. By waking up to this world, you begin to wake up to all worlds. At time the author does get a little esoteric in describing some Buddhist concepts on the nature of reality. Over all I would have to say this is more of a book on Buddhist techniques for meditation. In that regard it does a good job. When it comes to outing how to sustain lucidly, as well as the magic and fun of lucid dreaming, the text is some what lacking. There are few example of the author's lucid dreams to be used as a source of comparison. As a meditation source the book is not bad, as a blue print for lucid dreaming the text is some what laconic.
One interesting subject that the author touches on is a meditative technique in which the practitioner visualizes a bright red ruby in the center of their throat. This is an old yoga ritual that is supposed to increase vividness in the dream world, and lead to lucidity. This meditative practice currently dominates my lucid dreaming research. If the results are fruitful, I might have to add a star or two.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The meditation practices were very useful. It made me look forward to going to bed even more. The second half of the book I found very challenging. Vajrayana Buddhism explained through quantum physics. It was a bit like Descartes and The Matrix! Question reality all the time. Our waking life is an illusion. Our night dreams are closer to our spiritual sense and hence reality.

[Dr Goon Taco Supreme · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dreaming Yourself Awake: Lucid Dreaming and Tibetan Dream Yoga for Insight and Transformation," by B. Alan Wallace, is a fantastic read.

The book is divided into 3 parts.

Part 1 describes lucid dreaming, and gives exercises and tips on how to become a lucid dreamer. I'm proud to say that I actually did use some of the exercises described in the book, and I managed to recently "wake up" while dreaming once.

What I did to prepare for a lucid dream experience was to ask myself throughout the day such things as "Am I awake, or am I dreaming" and "Is this a dream?" while looking at my hands. Sometimes I would pinch myself hard, just to see if I was really awake. I did this for several days before finally, it happened, and I woke up in a dream. Unfortunately, I was so excited to wake up in a dream that I woke up for real.

I only lucid dreamed for approximately 5 seconds, but I was still proud.

So. . . it's going to take me a while before I become adept at lucid dreaming. This is going to be a process, but I think it's a good idea to become 'awake' while dreaming because I sleep so much that I need to utilize my sleeping time more efficiently. Once I become an experienced lucid dreamer, I intend to practice various activities that I would like to master while awake. I plan to go on dream adventures, and do things that I can't do during my normal waking hours.

I also would like to gain enlightenment by exploring my psyche while dreaming lucidly. According to "Dreaming Yourself Awake," it is possible to enter a lucid dream and delve into something called the 'Substrate Consciousness,' which, so say the Buddhists, is where all your karmic imprints are stored. You can see and confront any unconscious emotions and beliefs that are contained within your substrate consciousness while you dream. If you dream deeply enough, eventually you can tap into 'Primordial Consciousness' which is the ultimate goal of enlightenment.

The topic of enlightenment is addressed in part 2 of the book, where Dream Yoga is explained.

I had never even heard of Dream Yoga before I read this book, but now I've got more books coming on the topic en-route from Amazon even as I type these words. OMG, Dream Yoga is where it's at. First of all, I found out that the whole time I've been meditating 'lazy style' which is when I meditate in my bed before sleeping, I have been practicing Shamatha, or 'meditative quiescence.'

Basically, I found out that my favorite way to meditate is legit--I'm not just too lazy to meditate correctly. Furthermore, whenever I was awake, and I would check to see if I was dreaming, I'd often ask myself, "Maybe reality is just a dream." I've seen the movie 'Inception,' I know you can have a dream within a dream that turns out to be you dreaming.

I swear I read once that Carl Jung wrote that he had a dream, and in the dream he dreamt that he was actually dreaming of himself. That's Dream Yoga for you. It's just like 'Inception.'

Anyway, Dream Yoga encourages you to ask yourself, "Am I dreaming" when you are awake, and then to affirm, "Yes this is a dream," because dream yoga says that reality is a dream. You learn to become lucid in a dream during sleep, so that way you can become lucid in the awakened dream state as well. It's what the Buddhist mean when they say they are awake.

Part 3 of the book explains some Buddhist concepts and talks about the illusionary nature of reality. "Dreaming Yourself Awake" is an excellent book. I'm really glad I read it, and I plan to read more books on the topic ASAP.

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book about lucid dreaming. In it the author explains how to achieve lucid dreaming states and provides exercises people can do to achieve those states. What he shares is consistent with my own experiences of lucid dreaming, so if you want to experience lucid dreaming pick this book up.

[Iona Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m interested in learning to lucid dream, but found out too late that this author asserts that for better to lucid dream we need to be an expert at an obscure form of meditation called Shamatha.

I should have paid more attention to the text on the front of the book which includes the phrase “Tibetan Dream Yoga”, but I didn’t.

The first chapter deals with what the author calls Meditative Quiescence - laying the foundation for lucidity, but since other lucid dreaming authors do not prioritize this nor even mention it, I feel of course it must be possible to learn to lucid dream without this particular approach or preparation.

I am at this point not ready to tackle the challenging practice of Shamatha, so I never got to the chapters about lucid dreaming.

Those who do find dream yoga appealing will probably find the book exciting and rewarding, but I do not belong to this category. Such people may well feel that the book warrants 5 stars, but my subjective view of the book has led me to award it only 2.

It seems to deal more with dream yoga, spiritual awakening and Buddhism than anything else.

[Lesley Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second time reading this book. The first time I could not fully appreciate the instructions and advice, things like 'spin your dream body to maintain lucidity' or 'close the dream eyes to escape a nightmare', how do I do that? I couldn't see how telling my mind I was dreaming when awake was helpful, I didn't understand that it was possible to be lucid in non dreaming sleep.
6 months later I have returned to this book and suddenly everything has clicked, the results are beyond belief, who knew all I needed to do was to spin my dream body, just like that I am immersed back into the full vividness of the dream.
I wish these techniques for dreaming were taught in schools, how many nightmares that I found myself stuck in could have been avoided if I simply knew to close my dream eyes.
I plan a third read when I am ready as I have not yet mastered consciousness during non dreaming sleep but five stars fully deserved even if I don't master this part👏

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I got from this book was a furthering of my understanding of Tibetan Buddhism, and a set of practices for exploring my dreams and improving my dream recall. I've been practicing for a couple of weeks now, and, although my recall is better, I am not feeling all that confident that I'll achieve "lucid dreaming" any time soon. That's okay, since my goal was to understand the connection between dream "analysis" and Buddhism, not to become an active lucid dreamer.

[Pap Lőrinc · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't a book about making dreams more conscious, rather a pseudo-scientific Buddhist recruitment propaganda, claiming that its enlightened followers can see the future (sometimes, you can only tell in hindsight if it was a prophecy or not...), communicate telepathicly, walk on water and reach inside rocks and leave their footprint in solid stone...

[Johanna Hilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and interesting read on the benefits of lucid dreaming. Would have been curious for more insight into the actual Tibetan traditions.

[Chad King · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly detailed book on the subject of lucid dreaming. I did not realize that the documented history went back as far as it did. There are all types of examples and suggestions of how to initiate lucid dreams, how to control and change your environment, as well as keep improving your abilities.

The book goes extra deep in some other religious/spiritual areas that I didn't have as much interest, but the dream content is extraordinary.

[Sian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audible book and it is well narrated and filled with interesting insights into the world of lucid dreaming. It is filled with a mix of knowledge from the discovery of lucid dreaming, the scientific introduction and research and the Tibetan teachings and how they utilise it. It is described as a real power house tool to benefit one’s life. It is a great addition to exploring your lucid dreaming journey.

[Atul Pandey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The "shamamtha" techniques described earlier in book are very helpful but they have Thier contemporary in form of "Yoga Nidra" by Sivananda(Bihar of school) if someone wants an introductory guide for lucid dreaming then the book is not for them it's more advance stuff pertaining to Buddhism style of dreams yoga....so for new beginners it's not recommended

[Akshunya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last few pages of the book are really good. The final chapter of the book discusses the problems with "scientific" approach. It contains a few hidden gems like:

"If you ask only physical questions and make physical measurements pertaining to consciousness, you will get only physical answers. "

There are also many valid points about rise of 'Partial Buddhism' in west, and how the original ideas are being modified to suit the western worldview. Like that there are many truth bombs, which culminate in the final paragraph of the book, which is quite uplifting.

As far as Lucid Dreaming is concerned, it throws up many ideas (including some quite useful too), but the writing is not lucid (no pun intended). The book manages to share enough material to start with the pursuit of lucid dreaming. The author has also done a great job balancing Dream Yoga - which is more spiritual - with that of Lucid Dreaming, which is more inclined towards the adventurous side of Life. There are many anecdotes about real life meditators which are quite fascinating and worth a read.

[Anthony O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, but a bit silly

Starts off with an account of lucid dreaming which seems to cover the basics. There’s only so much that can be said after all.
But we are then bombarded by heavy handed Buddhist philosophy and esoteric practices. And claims of supra-normal effects. Probably superstitious nonsense.
At the end we are treated to a rant on why materialism is incorrect and everything is really consciousness or some such thing. Might be true. I’ve always thought so, or hoped so. But this lightweight and dogmatic rant will not convince anyone. And if wishes were horses we’d all be kings.
Finally please stop using quantum physics as an argument for subjectivist, idealist ontologies. Professional physicists dropped all that mind creates reality crap from the early 1980s. When it became experientially and experimentally untenable. Which is to say just plain wrong.

[Carla Parreira]

Melhores trechos polêmicos: "...Qual é a conexão entre o despertar espiritual e os sonhos lúcidos? Em ambos os casos você está plenamente consciente dos desdobramentos de suas experiências, no momento presente. Não se deixa levar por distrações, como pensamentos e emoções. Você é capaz de observar o surgimento, a continuidade, a transformação e desvanecimento desses fenômenos com perfeita clareza... Sabendo-se que as imagens oníricas são insubstanciais, você pode atravessar paredes ou escapar da lei da gravidade, voando sobre as vívidas paisagens imaginárias. Com o treinamento, você poderá moldar o ambiente de sonho de acordo com seus desejos. Pequenas coisas podem ser transformadas em grandes, e grandes objetos podem ser reduzidos, como desejar. O único limite é a sua imaginação. Uma vez que tenha desenvolvido um maior controle, você poderá usar o espaço do sonho como um laboratório para obter insights psicológicos, superar medos, fazer um trabalho criativo, divertir-se, ou meditar no ambiente virtual de sua escolha... A forma mais comum de se tornar lúcido durante o sonho é ter uma experiência espetacularmente estranha, que nos assusta e nos leva à lucidez. Por esta razão, sonhos desagradáveis tais como pesadelos, servem comumente de gatilho... As chances de conseguir fazer isto são particularmente boas durante as duas últimas horas de sono – horário nobre para o sonho lúcido. Se tiver tempo, digamos, no final de semana, você pode ampliar essa possibilidade dormindo uma ou duas horas a mais. Você também pode deliberadamente despertar próximo ao final do ciclo de sono e ler (especialmente algo relacionado com sonho lúcido) por meia hora. Você, então, estabelece a resolução de sonhar lucidamente e volta a dormir... Um fator que ajuda e que não pode ser esquecido é a sua capacidade de dormir regularmente. Se você não puder ter uma boa noite de sono, o desenvolvimento da estabilidade no sonho lúcido é impossível... Você também pode criar e programar fantasias e aventuras em sonhos lúcidos. Qualquer coisa que você vê na televisão, no cinema, em um videogame, ou lê em um livro pode ser feito no reino criativo do sonho lúcido. Você pode ser o ator principal do drama criado por você mesmo – ou ser todos os atores. Você pode ir para frente ou para trás no tempo, como se estivesse assistindo a um DVD. A imaginação é o único limite para a sua diversão. Pessoalmente, eu prefiro ver o sonho lúcido como um laboratório para explorar a mente... O sonho lúcido tem raízes na delusão, e remonta à não lucidez, cujo início é incognoscível. Quando o sonhador se tornar lúcido, poderá recordar as fases anteriores do sonho, mas isso não significa que possa rastreá-lo até o seu início... Os três – sujeito informado, a transmissão de informações e o objeto sobre o qual o sujeito é informado – são mutuamente interdependentes. Assim, por uma perspectiva, é ainda verdade que a matéria dá origem à informação, que dá origem aos observadores; e, a partir de uma outra perspectiva, é o observador que dá origem à informação, a partir da qual a matéria é concebida... O cérebro é essencialmente um computador e a consciência é como um programa de computador. Ele deixará de ser executado quando o computador for desligado..."

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A diverse collection of dream experiments, Buddhist ideology, and metaphysics. The best part of the book is also the largest: Wallace reveals a powerful concentration practice that is useful not just for dreaming, but for every aspect of our lives, then explains various ways to leverage this stable, vivid lucidity in dream practice.

Breathe in: vigilance and motivation. Breathe out: relaxation and stillness.

Wallace succeeds in presenting a wide variety of approaches to lucid dreaming and dream yoga, and I hope to leverage several of them for as many nights as I have left. However, while he does attempt to explain the purpose of these practices, his message is muddied by his attempt to accommodate Buddhist students as well as western skeptics alike. It is hard to seriously approach a spiritual path steeped in foreign dogma that casually forks into hedonism, especially when conveyed in a distant, academic writing style. I’m sure it is a difficult task to extract one’s cherished beliefs from their traditional presentation, but that’s precisely what I was here for: a non-dogmatic—yet spiritual—dream practice. All the material for such a thing is present, so Wallace has done us a great service, but unfortunately, you’ll still have to piece it together for yourself.

However, he does strike the bell of revelation a couple times:

”We humans are observer-participants who co-create the world of our experience, while uncritically assuming that it already exists out there, independent of our participation. Our waking reality is therefore like a nonlucid dream, from which we awake only when we recognize the extent of our participation in the creation of the world we experience.”

”If you are reifying, you are dreaming.”

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Robert Waggoner's book, I have been grabbing every book I can find on the subject of lucid dreaming. This book does deal with it, although there is more on Dream Yoga, which is a more spiritual version of lucid dreaming, and therefore which seems to require far more experience. As someone who is still very new to lucid dreaming and who still hasn't mastered achieving lucidity, this book was a little bit over my head.

There are practical exercises, most of them meditation-based, and there is a lot of theory about dream yoga. I have tried the exercises but so far they haven't worked. That doesn't mean I'll give up on them, but I need to crack the code for gaining consciousness in the dream first before moving on to some of the more advanced practices.

The final chapter of this book though was fascinating. It will be a book I'll revisit.

[Tom Burdge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is actually pretty nifty; it was clearly written after attending some kind of dream yoga instruction course and is a how to interspersed with some ever eloquent reflections. Some nice discussion of Laberge's (extremely early) work which proved the existence of lucid dreams too. I'll never forget when my medic roommates in first year of uni refused to accept the existence of lucid dreams, despite the quite clear consensus that they are an observable phenomena. Whereas we should go against my first year compadre's strict materialism, the last chapter which argues against scientific materialism I found quite weird (and angry). Read some philosophy of science and the chapter would never have been written; it attacks a straw man. Give it a read if annoying hippie Orientalism and altered conscious is your kind of thing.

[Gasoline Monk · Rating 3 out of 5]

First B. Alan Wallace book tho I’ve loved the guy since hearing him debate Sean Carroll on YouTube about a year ago. The ending of this book really delivered on the Wallace blend of science and Buddhism. The core of the book tho, while definitely some useful fuel for developing lucid dreams, kinda struck me as an appetizer for the ideas of two other books, both of which I’d recommend before this one to someone interested in the subject. Those are: LaBerge’s EXPLORING THE WORLD OF LUCID DREAMING and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s THE TIBETAN YOGAS OF DREAM AND SLEEP. The former will give you the Western approach and the latter the Eastern… if you read those and are still hungry for more, read this one. But I would probably start with a different Wallace book if I had to do it again, one more rooted in his explorations of harmony between science and Buddhism.

[Dean Paradiso · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good overview and detailed look at both Lucid Dreaming and Dream Yoga (from the Tibetan tradition). The author pretty much covers the whole teaching and practice in a way that compares both the Western topic of Lucid Dreaming, and later in the book some of the practices around Dream Yoga in the Tibetan Tradition. I got a lot from this book/audiobook, and one could easily take it and start running with Lucid Dreaming and Dream Yoga. There doesn't seem to be too much 'held back', and there's a lot of good tips and advice pieces for undertaking the practice. That said, I wouldn't recommend the practice unless someone had a good amount of personal time during the day/night, and a relatively free mind.. it's not something for a busy working person or householder. However, the calm abiding techniques and the day time dream yoga practices are good for anyone to try out.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It gets right in to the methods for Lucid Dreaming, some cool things to try, and also gives one of the most succinct descriptions of basic meditation I've ever read.

The Dream Yoga parts are interesting and I learned some things and had some interesting perspectives imparted, but I don't know that I would have been missing out if I had skipped it. The last chapter might be useful if you're very interested in reaching enlightenment or quantum physics, but it kind of dragged for me.

I haven't read LaBerge's lucid dreaming book, but if you're thinking about picking up this book, I would probably get that one instead, since it is referenced all the time in this book, and is probably more focused on Lucid dreaming than overall buddhist thought and Dream Yoga.

[Vladimir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not only about lucid dreaming - the lucid dreaming part can be summarized in two pages (the technique is rather simple, and as is often the case in Buddhism, putting it into practice is difficult, but that's up to the reader). The rest of it is about shamatha meditation and Tibetan Buddhism (ethics, epistemology and metaphysics), almost like a brief introductory text. What I always appreciate about Alan Wallace is that he is such a compelling writer. There was nothing new that I learned in this book but still it was a pleasure to read. His erudition and ability to simplify an incredibly complicated subject is such a breath of fresh air!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro concreto ed interessante per chi vuole approfondire lo yoga del sogno e la pratica dei sogni lucidi.
L'autore spiega molto bene come sia possibile sviluppare l'attenzione e la stabilità di concentrazione necessaria per acquisire la consapevolezza nel sogno. Il sogno lucido e il risveglio spirituale sono collegati dal fatto che diventiamo consapevoli in entrambi casi del momento presente. La nostra mente rimane concentrata e chiara tanto da portarci a una libertà interiore e alla padronanza del nostro destino.
La pratica del sogno può accrescere la nostra creatività, risolvere i problemi, guarire le emozioni per poter conseguire il risveglio spirituale.

[Lilia Popova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book a while ago and not really paying attention and thinking to myself what a mistake i made even starting it. I gave it a second chance and re-read it, this time paying attention and i loved it. It has some good ideas and definitely gives you food for thought. I am not sure i can accomplish lucid dreaming at this point considering how anxious i am and how little i sleep,but i will try. The concept of dream within the dream has always been fascinating to me (BiG Inception fan here!) so i will definitely read up more on the subject.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent abridged audio version with good narrator. Wallace is extremely positive and encouraging about lucid dreaming being accessible to everyone who puts an effort towards it, so don’t be scared to try. There is simple, sequence options for ways into waking up during sleep during the various phases. He’s fairly academic / intellectual so this is full of fascinating ideas about consciousness in general. He really also makes the point and presentation such that it’s not just for Buddhists.

[T. Laane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like the first part about Lucid Dreaming a lot. Good tips, for me a great new solution is not to move after awakening to remember the dreams better. But i did not like the second part of the book, since i don't believe we reincarnate and that our "substrate" subconscious just keeps on growing with each time we are born again. And no, I don't believe some monks have left hand prints in rocks just like in lucid dreams - these are fake handprints to attract visitors ;)

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far my favorite read of 2024. This is a general step-by-step guide of how to remember your dreams, then, learning how to command your dreams by learning ques to learn you are dreaming while in a dream state. My favorite part was the educational component of why learning this skillset is important for everyone, and how various ways of controlling dreams can aid in gaining creativity, solving life problems, and learning new things.

[Pais]

I liked this book a lot and have found myself making progress toward being able to lucid dream instantly with the steps provided. The part I was not sold on was dream yoga, which is just lucid dreaming but with different terminology and a different understanding based in spirituality. As I got further into the dream yoga portion and the exercises, a lot of it used the ability to lucid dream as a base, which is something I am not able to do yet, but could be useful for someone more advanced.

[Riccardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I you are a fan of lucid dreaming, this book explores the topic further with a specific focus on the overlap with Tibetan Dream Yoga. I'm on the fence. I personally have not had much success with the technique, though in truth I only tried it for a week. If you are more open minded and attracted to Eastern philosophies, this may well appeal.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read the first half, which is on lucid dreaming. The second half is on dream yoga. I tried reading the second half, but it felt like hippy-woo-woo.

The material on lucid dreaming is a repeat in every other book on the topic: keep a dream journal, affirmations before bedtime, tests during the day. Hence, only 3 stars.