Sleeping, Dreaming, and Dying
Book Description
When the boundaries between science and spirituality dissolve, profound insights emerge about the most mysterious aspects of human experience. This remarkable volume captures an extraordinary dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and leading Western researchers, exploring the enigmatic realms where consciousness ventures beyond ordinary waking awareness.
At the heart of these conversations lie three pivotal transitions that every human being encounters: the nightly journey into sleep, the vivid landscapes of dreams, and the ultimate passage through death. These threshold states, which neuroscientist Francisco Varela describes as the ego's shadow zones, become windows into understanding the very nature of consciousness itself.
Drawing from the fourth Mind and Life Conference held in Dharamsala, India, this engaging exploration brings together diverse perspectives from philosophy, psychoanalysis, psychology, cultural ecology, and neuroscience. Distinguished contributors including Charles Taylor, Joyce McDougall, Jayne Gackenbach, Joan Halifax, and Jerome Engel join the Dalai Lama in examining phenomena ranging from lucid dreaming to near-death experiences.
What emerges is a fascinating tapestry of convergences and divergences between Buddhist wisdom and Western scientific inquiry. Readers will discover how ancient contemplative traditions and modern research illuminate these universal human experiences, offering fresh perspectives on consciousness, mortality, and the profound mysteries that connect us all.
This accessible yet profound dialogue invites anyone curious about the deeper dimensions of human experience to explore where science meets spirit.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Buddhism
📄 Length: 254 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Understand death from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Understand psychological principles
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Dream
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Understand Buddhist philosophy and practice
- ✓ Expand your understanding of consciousness
- ✓ Explore Sleep
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Sleep
