Abstract Index Conference Index

ABSTRACT

 "Lucid Dreaming, the Deceased and the Afterdeath Experience"

Robert Waggoner graduated from Drake University with a B.A. (summa cum laude) in
psychology. An ASD member since 1995, he has been published in the "Dream Network
Journal" and "The Lucid Dream Exchange" (which he co-edits). A lucid dreamer since
1975, he participates and speaks on lucid dreams.
email: dreambob@aol.com

4. Summary of Presentation:
Drawing upon literature suggesting a connection between lucid dreaming and the
afterdeath state, the presenter will detail some personal lucid dreaming experiences with
the deceased, and outline a comparative description of the lucid dream environment and
afterdeath states to consider if this connection has merit.

5. Learning Objectives:
Participants at this presentation should learn the following in the presentation: 1) A brief
history of the connection between lucid dreaming and the afterdeath state; 2) How lucid
dreamers can respond and experiment with departed dream characters in the lucid dream,
and 3) How a comparative analysis of the lucid dream environment and afterdeath state
can lead one to weigh the possible validity of a connection.
Participants should be able to answer the following three questions after attending this
presentation: 1) Why have certain traditions maintained a possible connection between
lucid dreaming and the afterdeath state?, 2) How could one experiment with these
concepts in a lucid dream with a departed person?, and 3) What does the lucid dreaming
environment suggest about the possibility of an afterdeath state?

8. ABSTRACT

Lucid dreaming and the afterdeath state have a direct connection, according to various
spiritual writings and teachers. For example, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, a lama in the Bon
tradition of Tibet concludes in his book, The Tibetan Yogas of Dreams and Sleep that,
"All the dream and sleep practices are, on one level, preparations for death." (p.181)
Similarly, shamans from many indigenous traditions report using conscious dreaming to
contact those who have passed on for helpful information and assistance.

Many experienced lucid dreamers with no religious affiliation report that their conscious
dreaming or lucidity has been prompted by meeting loved ones in the dream state who
have passed on. The lucid dreamer often engages the dead in conscious conversations
and interactions that are quite compelling in both a literal and symbolic sense. Because it
is a conscious dream, the interaction with the dead carries a unique directness that overtly
and clearly communicates information. This differs in some respects from the wide range
of non-lucid dream meetings with the dead, such as those outlined in the excellent book,
Dream Messengers by Dr. Patricia Garfield, in that many of those communications appear
to be largely symbolic or one-sided communications. However, the experiences do
suggest that whether lucid or not, dream communications with the dead are fairly
commonplace, and a dream-afterdeath connection may exist.

The nature of this presentation is twofold: first, to discuss a number of personal lucid
dreams prompted by meeting dream characters who have passed on along with the
possible implications of the experience; and second, to consider whether the lucid
dreaming state could be a precursor to an afterdeath state and bears any prima facie
resemblance to descriptions of an afterdeath state, such as the Bardo or intermediate state
between death and rebirth, according to Buddhists. If there is any direct connection
between these two states, one would assume that "indicators" of the state should be
mutual to both states. A comparative analysis of descriptive indicators of both states,
lucid dreaming and the afterdeath, will be used to allow attendees to make their own
comparative judgments.

My interest in this topic emerged after more than twenty year's experience with lucid
dreaming. Like many advanced lucid dreamers, I had chronicled numerous experiences
which led me to question the nature of the lucid dream reality. At the 1999 ASD
conference, I discussed these and the ensuing queries in a presentation, "Seeking the
Dreamer: Distant Explorations in Lucid Dreaming". Since that time, lucid dreams of the
departed have elicited further questions and sparked new insights into this unique subset
of lucid dreams.

Critical analysis of these types of lucid dreams and a comparison of descriptive indicators
of these two possible states of consciousness would be one way to advance the quality of
dialogue concerning the nature of lucid dreaming and death.

References:
Patricia Garfield. Dream Messengers: How Dreams of the Departed Bring Healing Gifts
(New York: Simon and Schuster, 1997)
Robert Moss. Dreamgates (New York: Three Rivers Press, 1998)
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep (Ithaca:Snow Lion
Publications, 1998)