Transpersonal Psychology

Lucid dreaming and transpersonal studies are two vigorous and important fields with overlapping interests and much to contribute to one another. Unfortunately, they have remained largely isolated and ignorant of each other, in spite of the fact that lucid dreaming research has significant transpersonal implications. Researchers are now investigating advanced forms of lucidity, finding technological means to enhance it, observing physiological correlates, using lucid dreaming as a spiritual practice, and building conceptual bridges to ancient techniques such as Tibetan dream yoga. Recently, dreams have been regarded psychologically as 'the royal road to the unconscious' (Freud), and as messages of healing and intuitive wisdom from the unconscious (Jung). However interpreted, dreams are a nightly 'miracle' in which a whole universe arises populated with people, places and creatures that seem solid, independent and 'real'. Moreover, in our dreams we appear to possess an equally solid, 'real' body that seems to be the source and support of our lives, our pleasures and our pains, whose eyes and ears provide sensory input, and whose death means our death. In short, the dream world and body seem to create and control us. Yet this seemingly objective universe is a creation of our own minds, a subjective, illusory, transient, production that we create and control. When we awaken, we say 'It was only a dream' implying that it was 'unreal'. In the technical terms of Indian Vedantic philosophy we 'sub rate' it (Deutsch, 1969). That is, we accord it less validity or ontological status in light of our waking consciousness. Yet in spite of each awakening, night after night, time after time, we take our dreams to be 'real' and therefore flee and fight, laugh and cry, curse and rejoice within the dream.

Dr. Roger Walsh graduated from Australia's Queensland University with degrees in psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and medicine and then came to the US as a Fullbright Scholar. He's now a professor of psychiatry, philosophy, and anthropology at the University of California Irvine. Dr. Walsh has written several books and collectively, Dr. Walsh's writings and research have received over two dozen national and international awards and honors, while his teaching has received one national and six university awards. He's a close friend and confidant of The Dalai Lama, Ken Wilber, Stan Grof, and other legends in the field.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nLMUQOFKcxw



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