1. In general, dreams do not have predictive capability.
- There could be exceptional cases, but the Buddha did not discuss such aspects.
- For example, it is reported that Queen Mahamaya (mother of the Bodhisatta) had some dreams about the Bodhisatta entering her womb.
2. However, there is the following account in the Tipitaka regarding a different aspect of dreams.
- Once, a bhikkhu had a dream where he had sex with a woman. Since having sex is a “parājikā” (breaking of a Vinaya rule) and makes a bhikkhu ineligible to keep his “bhikkhu status,” that bhikkhu got highly depressed. He went to the Buddha, reported the incident, and said he was sorry and would leave.
- But the Buddha explained that dreams do not represent our thoughts. No javana cittas (with raga, dosa, moha) can arise while dreaming. Thus, he told the bhikkhu not to leave and to continue practicing.
- Even modern mundane laws follow the same basic principle. For example, one is not criminally liable for any crime done while “sleepwalking.”
