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this dream scene, and that he had, in fact, risen above any negative emotional
reaction. Through this he understood, then, that patience and tolerance were
necessary for a good meditative attitude. In addition, he felt that the dream
was telling him that concentration was needed for meditation, that he was to
shut out conscious disturbances.
His dream continued: I find myself going along a corridor, first with other people, then only with my wife, and then I am alone, yet feel the presence of my grandfather. The corridor comes out to my own front yard. My grandfather draws my attention to a cloud through which shines a beautiful golden sunbeam. My grandfather tells me that the sunbeam represents love, the greatest power in the Universe, and that I have to learn to love and accept the circumstances of my life, forgiving and understanding those who I feel shortchanged me. If I can do this, he tells me, I can use this power to help others and I myself would develop more rapidly. His grandfather had died, but Herb had dearly loved and admired him. In reviewing this part of his dream, it was clear to Herb that his grandfather represented his higher self, his teacher and guide, and that he was indeed guiding Herb to the best that meditation could offer. "In my dream I was aware of my body in bed. The sunbeam came through the roof and hovered over me. I could let it enter my body if I wished. I allowed the beam to enter my being, and it did so at the base of my spine and moved up my back and came out the top of my head in a shower of sparkling golden light. I felt the soothing warmth of it and allowed it to enter again. I felt inspiration and joy, and awakened with tears of happiness streaming down my cheeks." Herb felt that he had experienced in his dream what he could obtain in meditation by applying the precepts in his dream to his everyday life. In keeping records of his dreams, Herb discovered early that spiritual guidance and judgment are day-to-day happenings. His day's activities are gone over in his dreams and are symbolically approved, or—if they are not approved— suggestions are made for the proper action to be taken. He cites two examples, one of each type: "When my uncle was dying, I went with a positive attitude to be with him at a time most of my relatives were depressed and pessimistic. That night I saw myself in a dream dressed in a uniform of purest white with a cheerful smile upon my face. "On another day I became very angry and although my wife urged me to calm down, I did not, and that night I had a nightmare. I dreamed I was falling and I fell through the 200
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