Other times our dreams let us know that we simply need to start paying more attention to certain people in our life that we may be taking for granted. If we dream about a relative we haven't seen in a while, we should give them a call. If we dream of starting an argument with our spouse, we should give them a little more attention than usual. Many times, our proverbial "guilty conscience" knows only one way to reach us, and that's while we are asleep.

Another very interesting way dreams help us is in healing process after a traumatic experience. Following such an occurence, we will often dream about tragedy itself, or of something equally morbid. It's our mind's way of wrapping itself around what has happened. The dreams will eventually stop all together, as soon as your subconcious has come to grips with everything.

Sometimes it helps to discuss your dreams with others. If you think your dreams are trying to tell you something in particular, discuss it with someone. An outside opinion can often do a world of good.

When you take an honest look at your life and at your typical day, it will be obvious what your dreams are trying to tell you. Most people miss out on so much because they discard their dreams and forget all about them.

It would be same as writing letter we talked about before, putting all of your thoughts and feelings on paper, then crumbling paper and throwing it away. Listen to what your subconcious mind is telling you. Don't throw away a chance to grow.

From http://www.dreamprophesy.com

::: Bait & Switch

Buddhism is a classic bait-and-switch operation. We’re attracted by enlightenment in window, but as soon as we’re in door they start steering us over to compassion aisle. Buddhists could be honest and change their name to Compassionism, but who wants that?

There's rub. They can’t sell compassion and they can’t deliver enlightenment.

This untruth-in-advertising is kind of game you have to play if you want to stay successful in a business where customer is always wrong. You can either go out of business honestly, or thrive by giving people what they want. What they say they want and what they really want, though, are two very different things.

::: Me Me Me

To outside observer, much of Buddhist knowledge and practice seems focused on spiritual self-improvement. This, too, is hard to speak against... except within context of awakening from delusion. Then it's easy.

There is no such thing as true self, so any pursuit geared toward its aggrandizement, betterment, upliftment, elevation, evolution, glorification, salvation, etc, is utter folly. How much more so any endeavor undertaken merely to increase one's own happiness or contentment or, I'm embarrassed to even say it, bliss?

Self is ego and ego is realm of dreamstate. If you want to break free of dreamstate, you must break free of self, not stroke it to make it purr or groom it for some imagined brighter future.

::: Maya's House of Enlightenment

The trick with being critical of so esteemed and beloved an institution is not to get dragged down into morass of details and debate. It's very simple: If Buddhism is about enlightenment, people should be getting enlightened. If it's not about enlightenment, they should change sign.

Of course, Buddhism isn't completely unique in its survival tactics. This same gulf between promise and performance is found in all systems of human spirituality. We're looking at it in Buddhism because that's where it's most pronounced. No disrespect to Buddha is intended. If there was a Buddha and he was enlightened, then it's Buddhism that insults his memory, not healthy skepticism. Blame naked emperor's retinue of tailors and lickspittles, not boy who merely states obvious.

Buddhism is arguably most elevated of man's great belief systems. If you want to enjoy many valuable benefits it has to offer, then I wouldn't presume to utter a syllable against it. But if you want to escape from clutches of Maya, then I suggest you take a very close look at serene face on all those golden statues to see if it isn't really hers.

-Jed McKenna

::: About the Author

"Jed McKenna is an American original." -Lama Surya Das