It was found that 637 of the 9810 dreams (6.5%) were lucid dreams. Of the 4975 dreams that were preceded by meditation, 368 (or 7.4%) were rated as lucid. Of the 4835 dreams that were not preceded by meditation, however, only 269 (or 5.6%) were rated as lucid. Thus lucid dreams were more likely to occur following a day that included meditation than following a day with no meditation. (The difference in probabilities is significant statistically, chi-square =13.3; 1 d.o.f.; p < .001).

Although lucid dreaming was not a frequent event during this project, it was statistically associated with meditation. This statistical result does not give direct evidence that meditation itself causes lucid dreaming. Other factors could simultaneously affect the occurrence of both meditation and lucid dreams. A controlled laboratory investigation would improve the ability to determine any causal effect of meditation on lucid dreaming.

The statistical effect of meditation on lucid dreaming, although definite, was small. Perhaps it was the irregularity of the meditation practice (averaging 50% of the observation days) that minimized the observed improvement. For example, it has been hypothesized that it is the regular, daily practice of meditation that most affects dreaming (Reed, 1977; Sparrow, 1976b). Our statistical result may, however, encourage people to explore for themselves any relationship between meditation and lucid dreaming, perhaps to discover a meaningful synonymity.