Comparison of Bon Vs. Buddhism Dream Yoga

Yoga is an ancient practice that encompasses the mental, physical and spiritual development of oneself. The term yoga literally means to yoke or unite and implies the union of mind, body and spirit. Some forms of yoga, such as Tibetan Bon yoga and Buddhism Dream yoga focus mainly on the spiritual aspect through meditation and deep breathing exercises.

  1. Dream Yoga

    • When most think of yoga, they envision movements such as stretching and balancing poses. However, Dream yoga involves very little movement at all. Derived from Buddhist tradition, Dream yoga is a form of meditation that focuses on dream awareness. The goal is to develop the ability to control dreams in order to achieve a higher quality of sleep and rest. Norbu Rinpoche, a yogi and pioneer of Dream yoga, taught that learning to control one's dreams could lead to enhanced creativity and spirituality. A practitioner may use deep breathing exercises, guided meditation or mantras when going to bed to clear the mind and direct the dream state.

    Tibetan Bon Yoga

    • Tibetan Bon yoga, also known as Trul-Khor, is a form of meditation that seeks to develop the natural mind. It includes breathing exercises and movements that more closely resemble traditional hatha yoga. The series includes 38 movements that are repeated seven times during a session. Bon yoga was brought to the United States in 1992 by Bon Yoga Master Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. His institutes can be found in Virginia, Texas and California, and they teach the "harmonious integration of internal and external energies."

    Benefits

    • Meditation may help manage stress.

      It should come as no surprise that meditation and relaxation techniques such as Dream yoga and Bon yoga can have profound health benefits. According a report from Dr. Katie Guttenberg of ABC News, regular meditation can relieve pain, anxiety and stress. She also cited one study by the University of Wisconsin that found meditation can help relieve chronic inflammation from common diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, she notes that certain yoga poses have been found to help relieve fatigue, backaches and combat high blood pressure. Still, she cautions more studies are needed.

    Precautions

    • Although meditation and yoga are considered gentle practices and may be beneficial to overall health, they should not be used in place of traditional health care. Check with your doctor before trying yoga or any fitness program and never discontinue medications or other treatments without first consulting your health care provider. Dream and Bon yoga should be used to supplement, not replace, conventional medical care.