Serinity Young is a professor at Southern Methodist University and editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Women and World Religion. In this erudite study, she examines the complex and fascinating role of dreaming in India and Tibet. Her intent is to probe "the intersection of biography, history, and religious belief," while also keeping a close eye on the relationship between consciousness and reality, the sources of religious authority, and ways to achieve enlightenment.
Young begins with an analysis of dreams in the sacred biographies of Buddha and other central religious figures. Here are prophecies of the future and insights into ways to achieve a more awakened state of being. Young then moves on to discuss conception dreams, shared dreams, and dreams as signs of spiritual accomplishment. She concludes with an assessment of innovations in dream material such as dream yoga ("purposeful control of dreaming consciousness"), ritual dreaming, and the influence of gurus on the dream life of their disciples.