Buddha Shakyamuni often told his disciples to regard all phenomena as dreams. He used many examples, like an echo, a city in the clouds or a rainbow to illustrate the illusory nature of the phenomenal world. Dreams represent just one type of illusion. The whole universe arises and dissolves like a mirage. Everything about us, even the most enlightened qualities, are also dreamlike phenomena. There's nothing that is not encompassed within the dream of illusory being; so in going to sleep, you're just passing from one dream state to another.
On the other hand...
Dreams are a succession of
images,
ideas,
emotions and
sensations occurring involuntarily in the
mind during certain stages of
sleep.
[1] The content and purpose of dreams are not yet understood, though they have been a topic of speculation and interest throughout recorded history. The scientific study of dreams is known as
oneirology.
The cultural meaning of dreaming
Throughout history, people have sought
meaning in dreams or
divination through dreams.
[2] Dreams have also been described
physiologically as a response to neural processes during sleep;
psychologically as reflections of the
subconscious; and
spiritually as messages from
gods, the deceased, predictions of the future, or from the Soul. Many cultures practice
dream incubation with the intention of cultivating dreams that are
prophetic or contain messages from the
divine.
Judaism has a traditional ceremony named
Hatavat Halom. Literally meaning "making the dream a good one", through this rite disturbing dreams can be transformed to give a positive interpretation by a rabbi or a rabbinic court.
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