Questions on the latent potential of Lucid Dreaming

[Avalokiteshvara]

Hello, I have many discussions I'd like to get into and I decided to put it all on one post: I have been on several contemplative or wisdom paths for years: Gurdjieff Work, Diamond Approach, Zen meditation... I'm interested in how lucid dreaming can enhance or possibly be a new wisdom path. And I'm talking more about the western techniques and such and not so much the goals of the Buddhist tradition. I'm also wondering if anyone has meditated or have practiced other spiritual techniques during a lucid dream? I recently sat to meditate during one, but it didn't last long. I'm also interested in how Lucid Dreaming compares to other modern paths that rely on entering highly altered states. For example: hypnosis, LSD or DMT induced states, and deep breathing: such as Holotropic Breathing and Rebirthing. To me, lucid dreaming comes out on top over these other approaches. You're simply your waking self embedded in a naturally altered state! These other approaches cannot do this. This creates a dialectic between the conscious and deep unconscious. It's safer. You don't have to take a drug or alter your breathing in a highly intense and uncomfortable way like Holotropic or Rebirthing breathwork. LD's highly effect focus in waking life for some reason. LD's don't require going to an expensive workshop with an expert to guide you through breathwork or psychotropic states. It's more coherent and much easier to integrate into waking life. There's also a sense of being less attached to the forms of waking consciousness (Buddhist goal). The list goes on and on in my head. The main con is that it takes time and effort to learn and to get to the point where you can do inner work in dreams. The other thing is my interest in the clinical utility of lucid dreaming. How come psychiatrists playing with psychotropics is coming back and doing extremely unnatural breathing to induced altered states on the scene, when lucid dreaming as a therapy tool being fringe? I'm a clinical social worker and I'm interested in how LD's can be used. I've already referred an addict who loves taking psychotropics to lucid dreaming.

[Nfri]

I've experimented few times with meditation in lucid dreams and I can say that it was really enriching feeling. The suprising think is that I don't meditate in waking life, because when I try it, I don't feel any calming or benefical effect - but in lucid dream it worked fantastically!

[Avalokiteshvara]

I honestly wonder what happens when you do a contemplative practice in a dream. Even the spiritual prodigies struggle with meditative work in their conscious lives. What if doing this work is dreams provides new leverage for actual results?

[RedNaxela]

I had been meditating for just over two years before trying to meditate in a LD for my first and only time. It was a 'white light' experience with no apparent distractions emerging. Mind you, I may have been 'presented' with the experience as dream content, versus a novel conscious state. It was, however, very interesting and I maintained it for what seemed like a minute or more before testing my ability to open my eyes and re-emerge within the LD (I could). Lucid dreaming will meet with major resistance in mainstream clinical work. When you combine prejudices against the 'dark side' with a highly variable personal experience and a methodology that cannot be universally applied or measured, the number of patients who will have exposure or interest will be very small. This is my perception, based upon just basic Jungian and Freudian practices of analysis. There is room for application with those primed or open for 'alternative' (though as historic as mankind) modes of treatment and psychological exploration.