How Do You Understand Waking, Dreaming And Deep Sleep States?
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad interprets and describes vividly waking, dreaming and deep sleep states experienced by the self/soul of a being. Every being has a self. This self is nothing but consciousness. Whatever is seen in the body–i.e. gross body, life-force and mind–is the manifestation of this self. Self is eternally present. It always remains in a body, be it gross or subtle. When the gross body is destroyed at death, it remains in a subtle body. Subtle body is not material but imaginary. A single body is the imagination and manifestation of a single self whereas the world is the imagination of all selves. All these things can be understood by understanding waking, dreaming and deep sleep states as described below. • Waking state. In the waking state, a being of self sees its own gross body and the gross world outside. It enjoys the world through its mind and senses. It acts and receives the fruits of actions, which may be good or bad. As one is tired of actions and enjoyments, on
