States of Consciousness and Dreams
Modern materialistic science is not
sure about the origin and nature of most psychic phenomena including dreams.
This information can be found in Vedic scriptures.
Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.53-54,
7.7.25 or 7.15.61 describes three material states of consciousness:
1. jagrata, awakened state (beta,
14 - 20 Hz)
2. svapna, dreaming state (alfa, 7 - 14 Hz)
3. susupti, deep sleep (theta, 4 - 7 Hz)
Beyond them is the fourth state (turya)
which is non-material (SB 6.5.12, 7.9.32, 7,15.54). On this level the Supreme
Lord can be perceived. Gaudiya Vaisnavas describe another, fifth state (turyatitah),
dimension of love between the jiva and Krsna.
What follows are paraphrases of
Vedanta-sutra (by Suhotra Swami) and corresponding Srimad Bhagavatam verses:
Dreams are created by the Supersoul
to award the living entity with the results of insignificant karma. (Vs 3.2.1)
SB 6.16.55
The Supersoul causes objects of
desire to appear in dreams as they do in other situations (e.g. the waking
state). (Vs 3.2.2) SB 11.13.32
Dreams are features of the Supreme
Lord's maya. (Vs 3.2.3) SB 11.13.33
Some dreams are omens; sastra and
experts so declare. (Vs 3.2.4) SB 10.42.26-27
Objection: When one awakes from
dreaming, he knows that his dreams were unreal. Therefore no value should be
imparted to dreams.
Reply: The manifestation and the
withdrawal of the dream world within the consciousness of the living entity is
effected by the Lord. In the same way, bondage and liberation proceed from him
also. (Vs 3.2.5) SB 3.7.10-12
The state in which consciousness is
focused on the physical body (the waking state) is created by the Supreme Lord.
(Vs 3.2.6) SB 6.16.53-54
Different statements in the
Upanisads indicate that deep sleep is the result of the soul entering 1) the
nadis (subtle channels that pervade the body from the center of the heart), 2)
the pericardium, or 3) the Supersoul. The resolution is that the soul sleeps
within the bed of the Supersoul, after having entered the palace (the
pericardium) through the door of the nadis. (Vs 3.2.7) SB 11.3.35, 1.10.21
Because the Supersoul is the
resting place of the soul in deep sleep, it is the Supersoul alone who awakens
the sleeping soul. (Vs 3.2.8) SB 3.26.71
[Koran 6.60: "And He is it who
takes your souls at night (in sleep), and He who knows what you acquire in the
day (...)."]
When the living entity awakes from
deep sleep, he is the same person. This is certain because of four proofs: 1)
the living entity continues his unfinished karma, 2) he retains memory of his
identity, 3) the scriptures so describe him as returning to the same body, and
4) he is bound by the scriptural injunctions (i.e. it is enjoined that the jiva
cannot attain liberation while in the state of deep sleep, so he is obliged by
sastra to return to the body from that state). (Vs 3.2.9) SB 11.3.39,
11.13.27,28
The state of swoon (mugdha) is
midway between deep sleep and wakefulness. That is to say, the soul partially
attains rest in the Supersoul. (Vs 3.2.10) SB 7.13.5
Interpretation of dreams can be
found for example in Agni Purana, ch. 229.
Some dreams are produced by ghosts
(Garuda Purana 2.23.1-12):
Garuda said:
1. What do the ghosts do in their
ghosthood? When do they speak sometime? Please tell me, o Lord of gods!
The Lord said:
2. I shall tell you about their
form, signs and dreams. Being oppressed by hunger and thirst they enter their
former home.
3. Though possessed of airy forms, they give signs to their sleeping
descendants, o bird.
4. They visit the place where their sons, wives and relatives sleep.
5. If a person dreams of a horse, an elephant, a bull, or a man with deformed
face, if a person awakened from sleep sees himself in the opposite side of the
bed, this is all due to the workings of a ghost.
6. If a man is fastened with chains in dream, if his dead ancestors demand food
in dream,
7. If one snatches the food from him while he is eating in dream, if thirsty,
one drinks water,
8. If in dream one rides a bull or moves with bulls or if one springs up in the
sky or goes to a holy place hungry,
9.-10. If one speaks aloud among cows, bulls, brahmanas, horses, elephants,
deities, ghosts and demons - this is due to the working of a ghosts. Many are
the signs of ghosts in dream, o bird. It is due to a ghost if one sees his wife,
relative, son or husband as dead.
11. He who begs in dream oppressed by hunger or thirst should give pindas to the
manes to ward off coming distress.
12. If one sees in dream his son, cattle, father, brother, wife, getting out of
house, it is due to the working of a ghost.
