Extraordinary
Evidence > Subtle
Experiences of Adi Da > Strange and Powerful Dreams
Strange and Powerful Dreams
Jenna Sundell
November 10, 2011
Jenna
Sundell teaches Practical American Buddhism at the Dharma
Center in San Diego (www.DharmaCenter.com).
Despite having a chronic illness, she also offers classes in other
cities across the country and is author of Worlds
of Power, Worlds of Light. This article is reposted from her
blog, Adventures
in Practical American Buddhism.
For
the past two nights, I’ve had strange and powerful dreams. Most
of the time when I sleep, I dream simple, silly dreams. Sometimes
I see my meditation students in the dream plane, and we sit together
or go on interesting journeys. Once in a while I get to see Rama,
my beloved Teacher, in a dream and I always wake up incredibly
happy and high. These past two mornings I’ve woken in a similar
state of bliss, but I didn’t see Rama.
The night before last, I became conscious in a dream where
I was in a windowless room with a small group of people. A person
dressed all in black holding a gun was holding us hostage. The
person — man or woman I could not tell — asked in a desperate
voice what fun or amazing things we had done. This person was
looking for a reason to live and let us live. No one spoke; all
eyes looked to the floor. Breaking the silence, I said, “I’m a
Buddhist monk, and that has been a fun and amazing adventure.”
The others stared in disbelief. The gun-toting person covered
in black clothing sat down next to me. We talked about Buddhism
and the spiritual life for a long time. I woke feeling happy and
peaceful.
Early this morning, after sunrise, I drifted back to sleep.
I was walking down a long hallway that reminded me of a school.
A man was walking in the opposite direction, towards me, but on
the other side of the hallway. As we drew closer, we seemed to
recognize each other. He moved over so our paths would cross.
He asked if I was doing all right and if I needed anything. I
recognized him as Adi Da, whom I had never met before. I wanted
the interaction to continue, so I held up my watch. I told him
sometimes I get confused about time, and asked him if the watch
read 11:30. I could clearly see the time, and he knew I was just
asking him so we could have an interaction. He nodded and we both
laughed. Then he looked me in the eyes and said, “Ten more years.”
We parted, he going his direction down the hallway, and me going
mine. I woke once again in an extremely high and happy state.
There is a power in these dreams; I can feel it even now.
The one with Adi Da seems the strangest to me. I have never met
him; I recognized his face from the few pictures I’ve seen. I
know his name only because some Rama students went to study with
him after Rama died. I’ve enjoyed a few lines of his teachings
from posts by Facebook friends, but I don’t know much about him.
Years ago, I had purchased his book The Liberator and put it on
my very full “want to read” bookshelf. Perhaps it’s time to read
it. I suppose I’ll have to practice patience while I wait to find
out what Adi Da meant by “ten more years.” In ten years, it will
be 11-10-2021. . . I wonder if there’s anything significant predicted
for that date.
What powerful dreams have you had recently?