Re: On Dreaming...
Namaste Saidevoji and friends,
The posts and the links are comprehensive. Saidevo ji has covered almost all aspects leaving not much scope for any additions. And ZN, in her typical way has stated that which is the bare truth. Below, I note a few points in manner of rephrasing etc. and to highlight a specific point that comes to my mind now.
I usually prefer to go by Mandukya Upanishad as the base, since it is just the pure irreducible substratum of the truth and speaks of everyday experience of everyone. Dream state of the self, known as Taijjassa is termed as intermediate one between the waking Agnivaisvaro (the waking Universe) and the Shushupti (the calm, blissful dark sleep). Most of these have been discussed by Shri Saidevo in a slightly different language.
It is accepted by most that spiritual efforts must take place in waking state. Upanishads and Gurus cite similarity and also difference between the dream and waking state. The similarity is on the account that the happenings and objects of both the dream and the waking are true only while the particular state lasts. The difference is on account that for most common people, the waking state a) appears to contain an ego which appears to control the events, and b) objects and events are composed of pancha bhutas.
It is needless to say that the appearance of Ego in the waking state is also a part of the drama. (ZN: It always confused me, as a child, the differentiation between "dreaming" and "awake/reality" ... so I decided that it didn't really make any difference, anyways).
The crux of the matter is:
In waking, it is Atma (as Seer, Seen and Seeing) who is the Universe of objects composed of panchabhutas, as if involved in events.
In dream, it is Atma (as Seer, Seen and Seeing) who is the Universe of objects and events made of light alone (thus Taijjassa). Upanishads say: He assumes a body of light.
In Deep sleep He is Himself, black dark, Krishna, adorable to all, blissful, whole. The wholeness does not see any other. Only beginning from Taijjassa He creates His own body and other bodies comprising a light Universe, which is said to be the face of Lord.
Atma Is. Atma is the common, ever awake, Sat-Chid-Ananda being, who cannot be described.
Regards to all
Om
Dream seems to have no controlling ego in contrast to waking. The realised however, say that the EGO of the waking is also a Drama of the Param, just as a dream bread is.
That which is without letters (parts) is the Fourth, beyond apprehension through ordinary means, the cessation of the phenomenal world, the auspicious and the non-dual. Thus Om is certainly the Self. He who knows thus enters the Self by the Self.
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