Dreaming the Path: Navigating the Dharma Life in the Realm of Dreams

In this 4 week course we shall go deeply into our dream experience and learn ways to become more conscious and creative dreamers and through this bring our dreams into relationship with our Dharma practice.

Using the lens of the System of Dharma Practice (Integration; Positive Emotion; Spiritual Death; Spiritual Rebirth; Spiritual Receptivity) we shall see how there are opportunities in our dreams to develop each of these 5 aspects.

In week 1, Integration, we will look at how dreams present us with the opportunity of getting to know more of ourselves by befriending and integrating the beings ‘alive’ within our dreams. Coming into harmony with these parts will mean we can then practice the Dharma more wholeheartedly.

In week 2, Positive Emotion, here we shall look at the quality of our volitions in dreams, are our actions coming out of love? Are they ethically skilful? We will go into how it is possible to deliberately bring loving kindness and ethical sensitivity into our dream experiences.

In week 3, Spiritual Death, we will explore the way dreams can at times present us with opportunities to let go of old habitual tendencies and identities. In some dreams we find ourselves at a threshold and to progress we must find confidence and courage to go into the unknown and potentially change at a radical level. We shall explore how we can resource ourselves so that we can confidently take this step.

In week 4 we will explore the final 2 stages; Spiritual Rebirth and Spiritual Receptivity. In particularly inspired dreams we can experience realms of beauty and have a sense of wisdom unfolding. We will look at how to recognise and open more fully to these experiences so they can be positively transformative.

What to expect

Each week we shall explore the different characteristics of each stage and ways of engaging with our dream experience that are helpful for each stage. There will be suggestions for practice each week which can be explored before the next session. Participants will have the option each week to join small break-out groups and explore the themes in relation to their own dreams and Dharma Practice.

Together we will be a Sangha sharing and exploring our dreams together. Learning from each other, encouraging and supporting each other so we can go deeper in this journey and deepen our practice of the Dharma.

Suggested donation:

£70 / $100 / €90 or £20 / $30/ €25 per day

Get one ticket and come to any session you wish!

Like all our events, this retreat is offered by donation rather than charging a compulsory ticket price. We want to do this because we never want money to be an obstacle to taking part in a supportive community, and we know many people are struggling financially in the wake of the pandemic and cost of living crisis. The amount we suggest reflects the huge amount of work and love that goes into putting on events we hope will benefit everyone attending. If you can, please donate today to help us continue with our work and support others to attend who cannot afford to pay. Thank you!

***

2.5hrs: USA PST 11:00 am | México CST 1:00 pm | USA EST 2:00 pm | IE & UK GMT 7:00 pm | Europe CET 8:00 pm | India IST 12:30 am (next day) | Australia AEDT 6:00 am (next day) | New Zealand NZDT 8:00 am (next day)

Attend any or all session in Zoom.

This event will be recorded and may be published online for others to access. Only the leader's video will be used except where users consent to appear spotlighted in a public conversation. Private conversations in breakout rooms will not be recorded.

About Arthabandhu

Arthabandhu is an ordained member of the Triratna Buddhist Order and has been practising Buddhism and engaging with dreams for 25 years. He has explored dreams through the approaches of Lucid Dreaming, Buddhist Dream Yoga and Gestalt Psychotherapy. During this time he has kept detailed dream diaries, illustrated with paintings and other artwork. These images and diary extracts are now featured in his zine ‘Stuff of Dreams’. https://stuffofdreams.portfoliobox.net/b2224mmhqbounzca1aex6eay1o

Arthabandhu is keen to show how dreams are available to us all and how a connection with our dreams can have a very positive effect upon the quality of our lives. That connection can take many forms, it could be through lucid dreaming or dream yoga, or simply being aware of what we have dreamt and finding ways of appreciating these experiences more fully.

Images by Unsplash+

Host or Publisher The Dharma Toolkit from The Buddhist Centre Online