What Buddhism and Sioux Tradition Tell Us about Meditation and Having a Vision

What do Buddhism and Sioux tradition tell us about meditation and having a vision? First of all, we meditate in Buddhism because it gives us “the nourishment for your spirit and nourishment for your body,” (Hanh, p. 42). We also meditate to heal other or ourselves. In the Sioux traditions having a vision is like healing a person. Only the holy man can have the vision. The method of meditation and having a vision is like a method of relaxing and healing the state of conscious.

Sometimes having a vision is like having a daydream. In Black Elk Speaks, he sometimes has a yonder vision that pops up like a dream.

Then suddenly, as I sat there looking at the cloud, I saw my vision yonder once again-the tepee built of cloud and sewed with lightning, the flaming rainbow door and, underneath, the Six Grandfathers sitting, and all the horses thronging in their quarters; and also there was I myself upon my bay before the tepee. I looked about me and could see that what we then were doing was like a shadow cast upon the earth from yonder vision in the heavens, so bright it was and clear. I knew the real was yonder and the darkened dream of it was here. (p. 169)

This passage interests me because I didn’t know it is possible to have a vision just like a dream. It is very interesting. I think only the holy, sacred men would have a vision that gives him the power to be strong in the Sioux traditions. Having a vision can also heal a person when they are ill or in pain. Having a vision and meditation can be similar to each other.

According to Black Elk, he had his vision at the age of nine. Ever since he had his vision, he is able to cured ill people.

Now I walked to the quarter of the west, where I lit the pipe, offered it to the powers, and, after I had taken a whiff of smoke, I passed it around. When I looked at the sick little boy again, he smiled at me, and I could feel that the power was getting stronger. I next took the cup of water, drank a little of it, and went around to where the sick little boy was.