Yoga Nidra and Vajrayana

Yoga Nidra and Vajrayana

Sirpa Heide Nelson
1.19.25 & 1.26.25 | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm | In Person

This two-part seminar is an introduction to the nature of waking and dream realities in Tibetan Buddhism and how interrelated and ultimately illusory both realities are.

The first session will focus on the six realms of samsaric consciousness, their related emotions and how to overcome their obscurations.  We will explore the chakras and the channels of the energy body and the three kinds of dreams:  samsaric, clarity and clear light.  We will learn techniques for using waking consciousness to achieve lucidity (the knowledge that one is dreaming) within the dream bardo.

The second session will focus on dream yoga itself:  the meditational skills needed in order to achieve non-dual awareness (rigpa) within the dream.  We will learn about the illusory dream body, how to relate to the dream without any fear, how to visualize yidams (meditational deities) and ultimately how to achieve enlightenment within both waking and dream consciousness by embracing the Dharmakaya:  the clear space of emptiness, the Buddha-field, that arises from non-attachment.

The seminar will be interactive:  please bring a writing journal and pen.  Although it is not required, it is recommended to attend not just one but both sessions if you wish to make progress in dream yoga.  Please do not wear colognes or perfumes or other chemical-based skin or hair products out of consideration for those with allergies.

Sirpa Heide Nelson earned her Master of Divinity degree at Harvard Divinity School and her Master of Fine Arts degree at San Francisco State University.  Thich Nhat Hanh and Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche were her dharma teachers.  She spent three years studying religion and philosophy at universities in France, Germany and Switzerland and has spent time in China, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand.  At Harvard she worked closely with the death process as a chaplaincy intern at hospitals.  As an adjunct professor, she has taught at UC Berkeley, SFSU, Northern Michigan University and most recently teaching courses in Buddhism at Antioch University in downtown Seattle.  She also studied lucid dreaming with Stephen LaBerge at Stanford University.