Waking from the Dream

Explores the journey from seeing through the illusions of our mind to finding clarity, peace, and true self-awareness.

Waking from the Dream

If we can remember our dreams, they can feel like movies where we have limited control over the events.

One moment, you might find yourself in a strange forest being chased by a bear. Another time, you could be stuck in a recurring dream, replaying an unpleasant encounter with someone from your past.

For many of us, life can feel a lot like this—a persistent dream. We might feel wronged by others, weighed down by guilt, or trapped in chronic stress and anxiety. Sometimes, we even ride a never-ending emotional rollercoaster, experiencing euphoric highs followed by deep lows.

Meditation helps us step back and see the workings of our mind more clearly. Through practice, we can start to notice the thought patterns that shape our habits, tendencies, and even addictions—patterns that keep us trapped in this dream-like state.

Waking up from this dream is the path to true liberation.

The Past

When we meet someone who constantly recalls past glories, clings to a lost relationship, or holds onto a grudge, we often say they are "living in the past." In a way, they really are. By repeatedly recalling those moments, they keep them alive in their minds.

Feeling guilty is another sign of being stuck in the past—unable to "let go" of something that is no longer present.

Even when we know these thoughts make us unhappy, we may still hold onto them. The longing for a past relationship, for example, can be a way of avoiding the uncertainty of something new.

But this past is an illusion. It no longer exists, we make it "real" through those experiences. By holding onto it, we occupy our attention with something that is no longer true, preventing us from fully living in the present.

The Future

Thoughts about the future can stir up worries, stress and anxiety. Many people dread a difficult conversation they know is coming, or they can't fully enjoy a Sunday because they're already worrying about Monday and the return to school or work.

When these thoughts are unpleasant, we begin to suffer from future events, even if they don't happen as we fear—or they may not happen at all.

Focusing on what might happen keeps us from seeing what is happening right now in the present moment.

Hyper-Vigilance

In impoverished environments or conflict zones, many people struggle to see beyond their immediate needs. The urgency of securing physical safety, food, and other basic necessities forces them to live moment by moment, constantly fighting for survival.

However, some may remain in this survival mode even when their circumstances no longer demand it. The illusion of danger or insecurity can be so convincing that it keeps them trapped in a state of hyper-vigilance, even when the threat is no longer real.

The Present Moment

When we’re not in survival mode and create the space to be fully present, we can begin to see reality with minimal distortion—seeing things as they truly are.

These distortions, often rooted in our fears or desires, hinder our well-being and progress toward what truly matters in life.

By cultivating clarity in the present moment, we not only navigate life with greater ease but also connect with our true nature.

A few realizations may arise, such as the understanding that almost everything is impermanent. Everything that has a beginning will eventually have an end, including our thoughts.

As we deepen our awareness of impermanence, we come to recognize the universal cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution. This cycle is represented by the sacred sound of AUM (ॐ), often written as Om.

In fact, contemplating and chanting the AUM mantra itself is considered a powerful practice that brings about this and many other realizations. One of the greatest aspects of meditation is that it requires no belief—it only asks for your direct experience.

While meditation is a valuable practice, we should remember it is just that—a practice.

True awakening occurs when we integrate these insights into our everyday lives, allowing us to shape how we choose to be, and eventually changing what we do and what we choose to have, in that order.

At first, meditation gives us gaps—little moments of awareness—within the dream. These become opportunities to see through the illusion. Over time, these gaps widen.

Only in the present moment can we develop true acceptance.

And it is in this moment that we can discover peace and bliss.

It is in this moment that we can discover what is not impermanent—who we truly are.