Tibetan dream yoga has given modern lucid dreamers many of their most popular techniques. But how similar are these two systems, really? Indian researcher Mannat Jagia argues that they are fundamentally different in both their nature and purpose. In her analysis—framed through Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Lathe of Heaven—she suggests that dreams offer insights into the behavior of characters, their inner conflicts, and the deeper meaning of the story.
The novel’s protagonist has a rare gift: his dreams alter reality. He tries to rid himself of this power but ends up in the care of a psychiatrist who, rather than treating him, begins using his dreams to “improve” the world. But the psychiatrist’s good intentions have disastrous consequences, including epidemics, an alien invasion, and the erasure of individuality. The main character uses his power with caution, which contrasts with the doctor’s manipulation of dreams for the sake of social reform. This tension reflects the divide between the Western approach to lucid dreaming—which is focused on control—and Tibetan dream yoga—which aims at spiritual awakening.
Tibetan dream yoga does not treat dreams as tools but as expressions of the mind that should be observed and understood. At its core is the practice of Shamatha meditation, which calms the mind and fosters awareness. Dream yoga leads to deep psychological transformation and self-knowledge, and this path is reflected in the protagonist’s journey as he moves from fear of his own abilities to conscious engagement with the dreamlike nature of reality.
Do you see Tibetan dream yoga and lucid dreaming as the same practice or as two entirely different things?
The presentation was delivered in May 2025 at the International Conference on Research and Innovations.
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