Question about Dreams

Dear Master Nishijima,

What does buddhism say about dreams and nightmares, and does zazen help to relieve nightmares? Is there any relationship between the ANS and dreams?

Thank you very much for your time.


Dear Cris C San,

Thank you very much for your questions, and my answer is as follows.

Buddhism also has much interest in dream, and the modern psychlogical research has found so many kinds of scientific facts.

And generally speaking, the psychological knowledge suggests that our dreams and nightmares are much related with our suppressed half-consciousness, or non-consciousness.

Therefore if we want to make free our suppressed ideas or perception, it is necessary for us to make our autonomic nervous system balanced for making our body and mind free.

And by practicing Zazen we can make our body and mind free, and so it is possible for us to make our suppressed half or full unconsciousness free. In other words our suppressed half-consciousness or full-unconsciousness will fly away into the sky.

Gudo Wafu Nishijima