I. Interpretation of Dreaming about the Dead

1. Dreaming of talking to a dead person represents becoming famous worldwide;

2. Dreaming of dining with a deceased person represents longevity;

3. Dreaming of holding a dead person in your arms, or calling the name of a dead person, represents possibly passing away soon;

4. Dreaming of attending a funeral to pay respects to a deceased person represents that you will become pregnant or a close relative will have a baby;

5. Dreaming of your own death represents increasing wealth and smooth progress, which is an auspicious sign;

6. Dreaming of someone's death, if it is a friend who is still alive, means you will have good luck;

7. Dreaming of speaking with the dead represents achieving small wishes, success in ongoing matters, or receiving good news about discussions;

8. However, if the dead person is crying in the dream, it indicates everything will be unsmooth, and wishes will not be fulfilled;

9. Dreaming of the dead entering your home represents a sign of coming fortune;

10. Dreaming of cremation represents expecting good things to come;

11. Dreaming of holding a corpse represents great luck and good fortune; if the corpse smells bad, then business will flourish even more; if there are maggots on the corpse, it means gaining great profits and possibly becoming very wealthy;

12. Dreaming of holding a skeleton represents being defamed or cheated by others;

13. Dreaming of a dead person stepping out of a coffin represents a premonition that a long-lost friend will suddenly visit;

14. A widower dreaming of his deceased wife represents marrying a well-educated woman who will become his business assistant;

15. A widow dreaming of her deceased husband represents remaining faithful and leaving a name in history;

16. Dreaming of a deceased friend represents possible material difficulties;

17. Dreaming of a funeral represents spending money or suffering a big loss (but if you dream of your own funeral, it is an auspicious sign).

18. Dreaming of attending a funeral to pay respects to a deceased person represents that you will become pregnant or a close relative will have a baby.

II. Original Version of Zhou Gong's Dream Interpretation

1. Calling out to the dead signifies the danger of death. Zhou Gong's Dream Interpretation

2. Seeing a deceased husband signifies a woman's chastity. Zhou Gong's Dream Interpretation

3. Dreaming of a dead person living again signifies honor. Dunhuang Dream Book

4. Dreaming of eating with the dead is a favorable omen. Book of Dream Divination

5. Dreaming of a dead person drinking signifies illness. Book of Dream Divination

6. Dreaming of a deceased person signifies the arrival of worries, which is not an auspicious sign. Book of Dream Divination

7. Dreaming of the dead: If the dead appear as living people, it foretells the arrival of distant news. If the dead gather without speaking, it foretells rainy weather. If the dead curse, it is a good omen. Dreaming of the dead eating foretells illness; eating with the dead is also a favorable omen. Dreaming of the dead pointing fingers foretells joy. If blood flows from the dead, it signifies wealth. If the dead body or bones smell rotten, it foretells profit. If the dead stand, it is a bad omen; if they leave, it is good. Dreaming of hugging a dead person and crying is good; laughing is bad. Dreaming of the dead laughing signifies the removal of illness; crying signifies illness. Dreaming of burning a dead body and its foul smell foretells a severe drought. In general, dreams of the dead often bring good fortune. If you often see a deceased person in your dreams, it usually brings sorrow, not an auspicious sign. If the dream is dark and you see the dead blowing into your mouth, it is a very bad omen. Menglin Xuanjie

8. Dreaming of the dead bleeding signifies obtaining wealth. Book of Dream Divination

9. Dreaming of the dead pointing fingers foretells joy. Book of Dream Divination

10. The dead crying and breaking down signifies gaining wealth. Zhou Gong's Dream Interpretation

11. The dead standing represents great misfortune. Zhou Gong's Dream Interpretation

12. The dead in the womb signifies the end of life. Zhou Gong's Dream Interpretation

13. Talking to the dead signifies promotion. Zhou Gong's Dream Interpretation

III. Psychological Dream Interpretation

Interpretation of the Dream: If a deceased person appears in the dream, they generally represent special positive or negative emotions related to these people. The cause of such dreams may be unresolved guilt or aggression. Dreaming of the dead is the only possibility for finally resolving this relationship.

Psychological Analysis: Memories may remain sealed in the subconscious for many years. When deceased people appear in dreams, you often recall other times, places, or relationships. This helps you better deal with the present situation.

Spiritual Symbolism: Dreaming of a deceased person may represent a connection between your spirit and your forgotten ancestors.

IV. Case Study

Dream: I don't know whose funeral I was at in my dream. The face of the deceased person was very unfamiliar, and I didn't know him at all. But when I offered him flowers, he suddenly grabbed my hand! I tried to shake it off and ran to my parents' room for help. (Female, 27 years old)

Analysis: Death in this dream more symbolizes your special psychology. You may have an important matter to resolve, which seems complicated. If you try to hide or avoid it, you might expose yourself. It is best to open your heart and face it directly.

The death in the dream also symbolizes a significant change in your life. Death actually means starting over.

The dead person symbolizes your past memories. This memory may be unpleasant, but it could also be beautiful. Regardless, it is definitely a memory that you can't forget. The stranger in the dream grabbing your hand represents problems you are trying to avoid but haven't resolved yet.

V. Buddhist Explanation of Dreaming about the Dead

1. Question: "Three years ago, one night I had a dream where I saw a workshop director who had passed away twenty years ago. Since then, whenever I recite Buddha's name or do morning and evening practices, I often see his image, which causes me great distress and fear. Please, Master, guide me on how to eliminate this?"

Answer: When you dream of a deceased person, it means he has a connection with you; otherwise, he would not come to you. According to the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, anyone who dreams of their past family members, relatives, or friends is someone who has something to ask of you. You should understand how to help them. What do they ask of you? They ask for your help to be liberated. This is not a bad thing, but a good one. When we take refuge in Buddhism and make the vow, "All sentient beings are boundless, I vow to liberate them." Now, this sentient being comes to us, "liberate" meaning to help and assist. We have the duty, responsibility, and mission to help these suffering beings. The way to help them is to sincerely recite sutras and chant Buddha's name for them, and dedicate the merit to them. You can do this for seven days, or one month, two months, three months. If you do this, he will leave and you will no longer see him. (Master Hongyi, "Buddhist Q&A" 21-90-19)

2. Question: "Please, Master, why do I dream of my mother every night? My mother has been deceased for ten years."

Answer: The answer is in the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Dreaming of family members or relatives who have passed away means they are in trouble and need your help. You should make the vow to help them. How to help them? Sincerely recite sutras and chant Buddha's name, dedicating the merit to them. You can choose to read the Amida Sutra or the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. You can make a vow to read one hundred copies or one thousand copies, and dedicate the merit to your mother. The number of copies depends on your decision, and you should finish them within a certain period. For example, if you read one copy of the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva per day, reading one hundred copies will take one hundred days. During this time, you can read one hundred copies of the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva specifically for your mother. This will bring great merit. The Amida Sutra is shorter, and if you are very busy, it is also acceptable. It doesn't take much time—reading one or two copies per day. Reading one hundred copies will take about a month and a half. Read it with sincerity and dedication. She came to ask for your help, and this is the best method of liberation. (Same source 21-90-30)

3. Question: "I often dream of my deceased parents. I don't know what to do."

Answer: This matter is explained in the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Dreaming of deceased family members means they have something to ask of you, seeking your help. Usually, non-Buddhists burn paper money for them. They are asking for help. Buddhists should know that they should recite sutras and chant Buddha's name, dedicating the merit to them. That's fine. The Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva explains this. (Same source 21-90-66)

4. Question: "My mother has been deceased for eleven years, and I have not yet conducted a soul-calling ceremony. Recently, I dreamed that my mother said she felt hot. I don't know what to do. Please, Master, give me guidance."

Answer: Whenever you dream of your mother, whether she says anything to you or not, the Buddha told us in the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva that most of the time, when you dream of deceased people, they are asking for your help. What is the best way to help them? Recite sutras and chant Buddha's name for them, dedicating the merit. This is your mother, and you should repay her kindness. You should make a vow before the Buddha, "I will recite one hundred copies of the Amida Sutra, or three hundred copies, or five hundred copies, specifically for her. Dedicate the merit to her. This will bring great merit. Some practitioners recite the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, which is also good. You must specify the number of copies; the more the better. If you recite the Sutra of the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, you can recite fifty or one hundred copies, then chant Buddha's name and dedicate the merit, praying for her to aspire to rebirth in the Pure Land. That's good." (Same source 21-90-74)

5. Question: Often, people dream of their loved ones after death without clothes. What does this mean?

This phenomenon is not good. We know that in the six realms of existence, only the hell realm has no clothes, while the other realms have clothes. Only the hell realm has no clothes. If you have such a dream, your loved one is asking you to help him be liberated. You should recite sutras and chant Buddha's name, dedicating the merit to him. That's fine. (Excerpted from Master Hongyi's "Buddhist Q&A" Second Session, Tokyo Chongyang Temple)