MSS141 Summer 2003
Serinity Young.  Dreaming in the Lotus, Chapters 1 and 4.  
Reading Questions

note: you may find it helpful to consult the following web sites as you read the chapters.
Introduction to Buddhism
Glossary of Buddhist Terms


1.  What is "Sacred Biography" and what role do dreams play in them?

2.  Which verb is used in South Asian texts that refer to the experience of  having a dream?  What is the significance of this verb according to Young?

3.  What is the distinction between dream consciousness and dream content?  How are each of these viewed in Buddhist practice?  

4.  What are the two categories of dreamers?  

5.  What are the main points of Young's argument about the role of dreams in sacred Buddhist biography?

6.  What is the goal of Buddhist spiritual practice according to Young?  How can it be achieved?

7.  What is the main difference between elite and popular views of dreaming in Buddhist tradition?

8.  How do some practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism view the states of wakefulness, dream, meditation and death?

9.  How are dreams used to illustrate the concepts of emptiness and illusion in Tibetan Buddhism?

10.  How many different concepts of dream can you locate in this discussion of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism?