What do our dreams really mean?
Are they simply the mind at rest — or do they carry messages meant for us?
Can dreams be influenced by unseen beings, or are they entirely our own?
This Dhamma sermon reflects on the nature of dreams through the lens of the Supreme Buddha’s Teaching.
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Transcript:
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Today within this half an hour, we will be talking about something special. I think the majority has this problem. There are those who don’t have it too. That is seeing dreams. The art of interpreting dreams. That’s what we will be discussing today. Why? Because for some people, even dreams are problems. Therefore, even for that, an answer will be spoken about today. Are the dreams one sees true or not. Next, what should we do when we see a dream? Next, what are the solutions for them? What should be done not to dream dreams? As such, we’ll discuss today.
So meritorious ones, seeing dreams – is that a lie? No, dreams are seen. Our Great Bodhisattva – with regard to seeing dreams – our Supreme Buddha, the night before He became a Buddha, He saw 5 dreams. Those dreams are called ‘Mahāsupina’. What’s ‘Mahāsupina’? Why are they called The Great Dreams? They’re called The Great Dreams because such dreams are seen by great individuals. Those aren’t dreams seen by normal people. That’s why it’s called ‘Mahāsupina’. So the Bodhisattva saw them too. But after becoming the Supreme Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, He did not dream dreams. Arahants don’t dream dreams. That means that dreams are connected to some defilements. There’s some weakness in your consciousness. It’s through that that you see dreams. We’ll speak of it today.
The Great Arahant Nāgasena Thero explains 6 reasons for seeing dreams. One is wind (within the body) being aggravated. Bile and phlegm being aggravated. We call this the aggravation of elements. Next, you see dreams as per the environment that’s frequently surrounds you, your experiences, and what you think of frequently. Next, there are dreams shown by devas and non-human beings. Next there are dreams that are prognosticative. Those are (the types of) dreams. From these, the dreams seen due to the aggravation of elements don’t come true. That’s an aggravation of elements.
Let’s think like this. When phlegm increases – when phlegm increases – you see yourself bathing in water. You see things associated with the cold. That means that phlegm is aggravated. Next, when wind is aggravated, you see yourself traveling by air. You see yourself falling from mountains. Next, people dream of chasing animals. That happens when wind, bile, and phlegm is aggravated. But there’s something like this. We are not dream interpretation experts. All these are in an exposition book. I took this from the Mahāsupina Sutta’s exposition. Otherwise I don’t have an understanding of this. But it’s my duty to teach what I know, isn’t it?
Thereafter, there’s an extensive analysis about seeing dreams in King Milindu’s question. What’s taken in to the exposition book is the Great Arahant Nāgasena Thero’s interpretation. So I’ll explain this using the details I know. It’s up to you to take the answer. Otherwise people take on a new sickness thinking they need to tell a Bhante about their dreams. Not like that. We are giving an answer for a question for you to find the answer when a problem arises for you. Don’t chase after a person. Don’t chase after an individual. We are giving you this advice for you to form a strength in your life to solve your problems. Okay.
So wind, bile and phlegm. One sees dreams because of those. If you have a high fever – when fever is very high, you see dreams. When you get a viral fever – seeing dreams when fever is very high – such dreams should not be interpreted. Those dreams are seen because of the sickness. Even after an operation. That is, many people have told me that after a surgery, one sees dreams. That occurs due to the pain. Those dreams aren’t meaningful. At such times, one must understand that these dreams are seen because of the sickness. That person doesn’t sleep well.
Next are experiences. That is, if one frequently does something or thinks something – now let’s say when a young daughter or son lives frequently with lustful thoughts, they see such things in dreams. Then you must not look to interpret them. You must understand that you are seeing them because of what you think of. I knew a bus conductor. At night he would say “Go to the back. Go to the back! Make way!” He’s dreaming. Even in is dreams he’s in the bus. What a kamma… The entire day he’s in the bus and after sleeping, even in his dreams he’s in the bus. So because of engaging in something frequently, you see dreams. So seeing such things as travelling by bus – such dreams are not interpreted. That falls under seeing dreams based on things you think about often.
Mothers often think about their kids. Then they see them in their dreams. Such things happen. Then you must understand that because you see them often, you dream about them. Next, there are dreams shown by gods. By gods and non-humans. Such dreams seen frequently are not interpreted. Dreams shown by gods and non-humans can go right or wrong. If there’s a god who favors a person, they show them. Even those who are angry with a person shows dreams. To put him/her in trouble. Then that person becomes troubled after seeing the dream. He/she runs around looking for remedies. To waste that person’s time, dreams are shown. They show that someone fed them something containing black magic, or that witchcraft was performed on them. They show that someone is trying to murder them. They create such conflicts that don’t exist.
So I’ll mention such a story as an example. These are folk tales. Old ones. A monk – during the Kandy era – a monk cut a big tree to make a temple. The deva in that tree was infuriated. As he was furious, he thought “Wait I’ll teach you a lesson.” Thereafter he showed the monk (in a dream) something that would happen to him in a few days. He showed so as a favoring god. In 2-3 days, that exactly happened. Then he showed another dream that something will happen. That happened too. He showed 3-4 dreams like that. Those came true as well. Many people have this conflict. For some, before it happens they see such things in dreams. So as soon as the dream is seen, that person experiences the dream becoming reality. After some time passes, that person believes dreams. That is, the person makes dreams a deciding factor in life. Then he/she concentrates only on dreams. Just like interpreting fortunes, they look at dreams.
As time went by, he saw in a dream that his country’s king will surely pass away in 7 days. So (the deva asked him) to inform this to the king – that the king will surely die. So the dreams he saw so far came true 100%, right? So he went and told King Rajasinghe or another king who did not have much confidence in the Buddha’s Dispensation. So he went and told the king in a straightforward manner. The king was furious. He said “Okay. Let’s see.” “If I die it’s fine. If I do not die,” “you’re done for.” he told the monk. He said he will kill him. Because he mentioned a king’s death. Thereafter, he saw another dream that showed the king dying for sure. Now the monk is very happy. After 7 days the king did not die. On day 8, the monk was dragged away and beheaded. The non-human clapped and laughed. See what was done by dreams?
Therefore, (Dreams) are shown by those who do and don’t like you. I’ve met such people. They’ve experienced seeing something in a dream before it happens. So if they see like that, surely there’s some force behind them. So who is that force? Is it a good or bad person? In which direction is it trying to take us? By showing these signs? By showing dreams, in which direction are we taken? For those, you need to find a solution.
How do you find solutions for those? By chanting Paritta often, by believing in merit and demerit, by believing in kamma and its consequences. Whether seen in dreams or not, we experience the consequences of what we do. The other thing is, whatever bad is seen in dreams, if we do good and wholesome things we will have to face that life. The 6th factor of seeing dreams is as a sign. We see that as a sign.
Then King Milindu asks, when seeing a dream, do we go to examine it with our minds? Or how do we see it? Then the Great Arahant Nāgasena Thero asks “Dear king,” “does a mirror go to a form? Or after a form comes in front of a mirror, is the form seen through the mirror?” Then he replies “Venerable Sir, dear Nāgasena Thero,” “the mirror does not go to the form. If a form comes before a mirror,” “the form is seen through the mirror.” “Just like that dear king, if the mind sees something, that’s seen as a dream.” “The mind does not seek dreams.” “Dear king, dreams aren’t seen in deep sleep. They’re seen when half asleep.”
He said a word here. ‘Kapimiddhe pareto kho mahāraja supinaṁ passati.’ It’s when you have monkey sleep that you see dreams. That is, you fall asleep and you wake up. It’s when you are half asleep that you see dreams. You see dreams when you are half asleep. So there’s more that’s said. It’s said not to look for the meaning of dreams seen in the afternoon. It’s said not to look for the meaning of dreams seen as soon as you fall asleep. If you are looking for the meaning of a dream – of these 6 factors – it’s alright if you choose the ones that are signs. Similarly, dreams that are seen early morning. It’s alright to interpret dreams that are seen just before the sun rises. Because right after you have meals, your body is lethargic. And also when chemical reactions increase within, the mind reacts to that and you see certain things in dreams. Therefore you are asked not take dreams that are seen during times of digestion seriously. That’s how it’s explained in the exposition book.
Next, the Great Arahant Nāgasena Thero preached that only this amount of dreams are signs. Our Lady Mahamaya saw a baby elephant crawling in to her stomach as a sign before she conceived Prince Siddharta. Crawling in to her belly. So that dream was a sign that she conceived a child. Before conceiving a child, you dream of children. Then if you understand the meaning of such things, it’s right. So such dreams were seen.
King Vessantara’s wife Queen Mandi saw her eyes being removed in a nightmare. Now think. She saw it that night. So by then the Brahmin Jujaka had arrived. The Brahmin Jujaka had already come to that forest. So it was that night this was seen. So surely Brahmin Jujaka would come and take the children. So it was seen as a sign. So if that dream was not seen – let’s say Queen Mandi did not see a dream. So will the Brahmin Jujaka not take the children? He will take them. That’s called a sign. A sign. So after a sign, one must be careful.
After seeing a dream, one should be careful. So a good solution for dreams is the Supreme Buddha said with compassion to perform the loving-kindness meditation. When you wish wellness and happiness for all beings, ‘na pāpakaṁ supinaṁ passati’ – ‘you will not see bad dreams’. So practicing loving-kindness meditation and chanting the Karaniyametta Sutta often is a solution for those who often see dreams. Next is ‘muṭṭhassati’ – when you fall asleep mindlessly, you get scared due to nightmares. Devas will not protect you, excrement exits your body. Such things happen when you fall asleep mindlessly and without loving-kindness. Therefore practicing loving-kindness meditation and chanting the Kraniyametta Sutta often, chanting Paritta often, offering your life to the Triple Gem at noble places such as Ruwanweliseya and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, such things can be used as solutions for those who see dreams often.
Next when you try to interpret dreams for a long time, you see dreams more frequently. Such things have happened to us. There was a time when I used to read books and try to interpret dreams. Then I would see dreams often. Then when I told this to Loku Swaminwahansa, he scolded me so much. Saying when we have this Dhamma should we not live this life according to the Supreme Buddha’s advice? From that day onwards, for 4-5 months I did not see a dream. When those who see dreams are scolded well, they stop seeing dreams. So it’s evident that this goes hand in hand with one’s mind and deliberation.
Okay so simultaneously let’s talk about the dreams the Supreme Buddha saw. The Supreme Buddha – I mean the Great Bodhisattva – the night before He attained Buddhahood He saw the earth had become a bed. And the Supreme Buddha – the Great Bodhisattva Siddhartha – was resting upon it. The Himalayas were His pillow. Then in the eastern direction His left Hand, in the northern direction, His right Hand. In the southern sea, His Blessed Feet. As such, He saw Himself resting.
After attaining Buddhahood, the Supreme Buddha said that He understood that the dream’s meaning was that he will attain Buddhahood. The second dream He saw was that from His navel a grass called Thiriya emerged, reached the sky and spread across it. The Supreme Buddha preached that He got to know the meaning of that dream. That is the Blessed Tathāgata will get an opportunity to make the Noble Eightfold Path popular amongst followers. The Noble Eightfold Path…
Thereafter, in His 3rd dream, The Supreme Buddha saw bugs with black heads and white bodies came forth from either side of the earth and covered the Great Siddharta Bodhisattva’s legs up to the knees. The Supreme Buddha understood the meaning of the dream as many lay followers wearing white will go for refuge to The Supreme Buddha.
Next it’s said that The Supreme Buddha saw various colored hawks coming from various directions and at the Supreme Buddha’s Blessed Feet they were gathering, Then all of them turn white. They became one color. Then it’s said the Supreme Buddha understood that dream. That is, Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), Vaishyas (traders and merchants) and Shudras (laborers). From all 4 castes, they can come, become monks and all of them can enjoy liberation. Attain Nibbāna.
Then the Supreme Buddha saw a mountain of feces. And that He was pacing on it. But the feces did not soil His Blessed Feet. The Supreme Buddha understood from that that The Blessed One would get many concessions, attention, fame and praises. But the Supreme Buddha will live without being bound to any of those. See? Even in a dream the Supreme Buddha saw concessions, attention, fame, praise, worship, offerings, abodes and monasteries being made in honor of Him as a mountain of feces. He lived being unattached to such things.
So the Great Bodhisattva saw 5 such dreams. Such noble dreams. So the Great King Kosala saw 16 dreams. So there are more special dreams we must talk about. The meaning is determined according to the person who sees it. Not everyone can interpret dreams correctly.
Now the Great Arahant Nāgasena preached that what happens in the future to a person does not happen because of a dream. Let’s say you see something in a dream. Something happens not because you see it in a dream. That’s why I told about a person who interprets dreams that gave a good explanation. He said dreams are like this. Let’s say there’s a road sign. The sign says there’s a slippery bend ahead. Or a sign that says there’s a railroad crossing ahead. Now is it because that sign is there that it’s slippery ahead? No. It’s slippery or a train crosses ahead not because of the road sign. Therefore, what happens in the future to a person doesn’t happen because he/she sees a dream. That’s something he/she saw in her mind. So what’s depicted by the sign is interpreted by someone who has the knowledge about it. As such, interpreters will say what will happen to you in the future using your dreams.
In current times, there aren’t many interpreters of dreams. So a dream is not a deciding factor in life. We spoke about many factors that should be disposed of. They aren’t disposed of 100% either. Now the Great Arahant Nāgasena Thero asks people have spots on their faces. They have certain characteristics on their bodies too. An interpreter of bodily characteristics will look at the positioning of a person’s nose or spots and say that certain things will happen in the future. Now, the spot on a person’s body or according to the person’s teeth or nose placement will that spot know it will create such a future for the person? A spot does not know such things. The body does not know either. But as per the placement, the interpreter will say certain things will happen to you. Similarly, it’s not because of the dream something happens in the future to a person. The dream is a sign. Understand that okay? It’s a sign. Now just because there’s a sign that says the road is slippery does not mean you will slip. It says there’s a chance – a danger – of it being slippery. Similarly, just because you see a dream (you must not) become scared or agitated. I feel so sorry for some people. They get so scared because of dreams. They live a life of suffering. They work themselves to the bone daily from dawn till dusk. They bear insults, suffer, and finally fall asleep. And even in their sleep they see scary nightmares. They wake up screaming. That’s the problem…
So it saddens me to hear of such people. That they don’t have peace in their lives and neither when they sleep. So I was explaining different scenarios. An owner of a company seeing a dream – if the same dream is seen by the employee of the same company, it’ll have two different meanings. What the Great King Kosala sees as 16 dreams are what will happen to future royal clans and countries. The Supreme Buddha interpreted all 16 dreams. There was only one Person who had the great wisdom to interpret the dreams in all 3 worlds. And that was the Supreme Buddha. In samsāra when He was aspiring, one instance where the Supreme Buddha’s perception of wisdom developed was that if He saw a dream, He knew the exact meaning of it. He would tell the exact meaning. That’s one amazing quality of wisdom. He would tell the exact meaning. What exactly was seen in the dream. A wise person has the ability to interpret something happening as if with the use of divine eyes. Wisdom is something amazing.
Therefore, don’t betray your life to dreams. There are certain dreams that should not be taken seriously. If you see them again and again, then you should inquire about them. So if you see relatives who have passed away often, then you must give alms and share merit. You must give alms to the Saṅgha. You must help the helpless. You must share merit with them. You must venerate stupas and monasteries and share the merit. Such things if you see relatives often.
After seeing bad or scary nightmares, I’ve seen a remedy for them in the past. That is cleaning a stupa’s or Bo tree’s compound well. After cleaning and offering flowers, lamp light, and incense; one must chant protective Parittas such as Ratana Sutta. (And say) that you saw a bad dream and by the power of this merit, the power of chanting Paritta, and the power of cleaning the Bo tree’s compound; your life is in the Hands of the Triple Gem and may the consequences of the bad dream go away. Such remedies are done. The nightmare is not thought about thereafter. You can do those things if you see a bad dream. Next is doing more meritorious deeds. Those who see bad dreams often can plant trees. Free animals that are to be slaughtered. Perform Bodhi Pujas often. Venerating stupas and monasteries. Such things can be done as remedies. Seeing a bad dream means one must develop their meritorious side.
I saw an interpreter of dreams once. I was impressed with his interpretations. He said He interprets a bad dream as something negative. A bad dream is something negative. So if seeing a bad dream is something negative, the person should do positive things next. Such as helping the helpless, giving money to beggars, making monetary offerings, help people smile, chant Paritta, venerate stupas, venerate Bo trees, etc. Those are positive things. Once the negatives and positives come together, things become normal. He explains like that. It’s a good idea. It’s better than beating your chest and crying uncontrollably. Doing something good is anyway good.
So as per today’s half an hour, what can be discussed have been discussed. There are 6 factors that cause you to see dreams. Aggravation of wind, bile and phlegm. Next is because of the environment that’s frequently surrounding you and your experiences. Next is because of favor or non-favoration of devas or non-humans. Also, dreams are seen as signs. Of these, the aggravation of elements and experiences – dreams linked to such things should not be taken in to consideration. Also, the dreams shown by non humans – some are correct and some aren’t. That should be understood using wisdom. Next, understanding dreams that are signs is something up to those who are wise. It’s when you are half asleep that you see dreams. By loving-kindness, chanting Paritta often, those who live compassionately, those who live mindfully – such people don’t see dreams very often. Don’t betray your life to a dream. There’s something called merits, demerits, good and bad that we have done. They’re only signs. There’s a way in which your life forms as it progresses. Sometimes seeing a sign that’s shown to you becomes something favorable for you. Because we can be ready beforehand. We can be cautious. We can be careful. We can do more merits than before. Find such things as solutions.
So we spoke about dreams and certain solutions for them. So it’s the wise person who takes the essence of this. The foolish person will think “Oh I too saw a dream. When I meet this monk, I must speak to him about it. I don’t know anything. I told now what I know. It’s mentioned in the exposition book in the Mahāsupina Sutta. Next I read the book about King Milindu’s Questions and mentioned all this. All of you must find answers for your questions. Some advice can be taken from this. Alright.
In your life if you see dreams, may you see good things. Similarly, may you have the good fortune to solve the problems and issues in your lives! May you receive the help of the Buddha’s Dispensation…!