"Dream is as real as life while we are asleep. Life is as unreal as dream while we are awake."
First sentence of the quote did sink in pretty easily.
Second part, pretty hard.
However, once you get the grips on the first part of the quote, it starts making sense.
Don't dreams seem really REAL?
Don't we wake up totally freaked out from nightmares? Don't experiences in dreams seem real?
But, when we get up after sleeping, we brush all that aside.
How's so-called life different than a dream? Is it that we are unable to distinguish one dream from the other? Vedantists says so because we are clouded. According to them, what we see and feel as reality is dream as well.
That's why may be they say there are 3 normal states - awake, sleeping and dreaming. They have been very right about differentiating dreaming and sleeping because actual sleep is dreamless sleep. That's when we really relax.
Beyond these normal three states, they called fourth state as 'turiya'. Literally means fourth. 'Turiya' is super consciousness state. Samadhi or whatever.
Even if we leave all this aside, we can all appreciate a good nights sleep.
Simple measure to get a good nights sleep. Sleep little less than you really feel like. This helps getting into deep sleep as soon as you hit the bed Get enough exercise. Relax. Eat early in the evening. Do not stimulate senses overly. Do not expose yourself to excitable media. Go to sleep thinking about whatever makes you happy. Preferably reciting the name of your favorite deity. But, these days many are averse to simple things like repeating 'rama nama'. So, imagining yourself to be enjoying the blue waters of caribbean is an alternative.
Night after night when we get good sleep, especially long hours of dreamless sleep, you will see the difference in your overall health immediately. You will discover new insights, productivity in whatever you do increases by many folds. You will just be much happier. Just the opposite of how you feel after crappy night's sleep.
Good luck to sleep well and dreaming less.
Cheers!
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