Welcome to Dream Dharma
Not so long ago, the year 2020 was fast upon us. Optimistically, it was proclaimed “A new year, a new decade, in the New Millennium. And we are reminded of 20/20 vision, the proverbial perfect eyesight. New and higher levels in writing, editing, and publication are called for.” We can hope that last sentence holds true, but the year 2020 turned out as no one had expected, lest hoped for. And then in early 2022, as the world emerged hopeful from the China started Coronavirus Pandemic, Russia invaded Ukraine and effectively started what quickly looked like World War Three. We are further challenged to develop our peace of mind.
Let’s just get the most out of Dream Dharma as we can. To summarize, Dream Dharma is the craft and science of putting the mind to beneficial use as we sleep, and to make the most of our rest and dreams.
The pages marked by an asterisk are key chapters, and this is elaborated upon further down this page:
*Dreams, Mind, Dharma: Building a Positive Mind with Dream Analysis and Sleep Yoga
* Transference and Countertransference
* Healing Power: Sleep and Dream Yoga
* Remember Dreams Using “NIM” and “MALA”
Significant revisions are being made, concurrent with book publication efforts, and previously locked content is in the process of once again becoming available, along with the newly written material. It can also be remarked here that a WordPress technical issue forces a distinction between pages (or chapters) and posts. This site was laid out by the chapter method. However, tags are permitted only in posts, so a further revision may be required to resolve this.
This website was started by Talmage Carawan to consolidate research and writing on the Science of the Mind. The requisite background is given on analysis and meditation, to have a better understanding of dream and sleep, and the relationship of the conscious to the unconscious. The method for Building a Positive Mind is then elucidated.
All original writing is my own and there are copyrights and reserved rights in effect. I have made every effort to credit both writing of others, used in brief quotations, and the photographs and other images used. Photo updating is describing in the “What’s New” section.
Georgetown University School of Medicine, Biochemistry & Neuroscience
An order in which to read the pages follows the author introduction. By default, this site arranges alphabetically.
Background and Qualifications of the Author
Primary influences from the East are the BuddhaDharma, particularly Dzogchen and Zen, and from the West, these influences include Psychology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Ethology, and Evolutionary Ecology.
Dharma studies are related from several Lamas, including the Bon Rinpoche Tenzin Wangyal’s Yogas of Dream and Sleep, the 14th Dalai Lama’s Dzogchen, and Thich Nhat Hanh.
Western studies come from many scientists and analysts, including Jung, Freud, Hobson, Bion, Jaynes, Lorenz, Morris, Ogden, and Klein.
If this strikes you as an interesting mix, questionable perhaps, that is good, for this work is not intended to be a mere rehash of what has already been published. Nor is it an easy way out for anyone looking for a “quick fix” to an understanding of dreams and a therapy of improvement. Those looking for that quick fix may prefer to buy a ten dollar dream dictionary, which would offer no more nutrition for the mind than a one dollar cheesburger would do for a healthy body.
Studies, Experiments, and Practice
University of Maryland, studies and experiments in Ethology, Evolutionary Ecology, Psychology, and Meditation. Behavioral research with Wolfgang Schleidt, volunteer Crisis Intervention Counselor.
Florida State University, mastering the science of Evolutionary Ecology, from statistics and lab experiments to field study, with help from a Smithsonian Predoctoral Fellowship
The posh headquarters of a field biologist
Georgetown University School of Medicine, Neuroscience and Molecular Biology. A course on the molecular basis of neurodegenerative disease rekindles the interest in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.
Mahayana Sutra and Tantric Center, Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), Drikung Kagyu Tibetan Meditation Center, Buddhist study, meditation and practice under the guidance of root guru His Holiness the Dalia Lama, HH Garchen Rinpoche, HH Chetsang Rinpoche, ani La Tenzin, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Notably in addition, Lama Surya Das and Thich Nhat Hanh. Foundation practice relies on Rime study and Dzogchen as inspired by HHDL and Jamgon Kongtrul.
I have the sincere wish that you find something of benefit in the writings and photographs that will be published here. And if you be a copyright holder of any photo not my own, please inform me of your wishes. All of the writing, and all of the photographs not otherwise credited and obvious as such, are, so far as I am aware, and not subjected unwillingly to some cryptomnesia, are my own.
Ashley House, a retreat for writing
The pages marked by an asterisk are key chapters:
*Dreams, Mind, Dharma: Building a Positive Mind with Dream Analysis and Sleep Yoga
* Transference and Countertransference
* Healing Power: Sleep and Dream Yoga
* Remember Dreams Using “NIM” and “MALA”
Additional material, including that in preparation and revision:
Source Material: Psychoanalysis and Dreams
Supplementary Material- Dream Dharma
Understanding One Thousand Dreams
Mystical Experiments Begin With Observation
Ethology: Toward a Science of Behavior
Evolution and the End of the Ice Age
Space and Time Travel
Source Attribution: Giving Credit, Receiving Merit
Sleep Science: Biochemistry and physiology of the Dreaming Brain
Some of the Dharma
The Tibetan Book of the Dead
Diversion chapters, including poetry and music:
Poetry by T.C. Carawan
the Music of Dream Dharma
Time Travel & Dreams
Site and original contents by Talmage Carawan, Copyright 2014-2022, all rights reserved
(cover photo on the home page, courtesy National Geographic 2007)
Dream Dharma ~ ~ ~ ~ 