Question:

After waking up we recognize that dream objects are illusory. Similarly, when we go into the dream state do we recognize that waking state objects are illusory. Experientially I do not know. Is the memory of waking state accessible during dream state?

Answer:

That’s a very intriguing question, dear. Attempt to get there experientially.

Step 1] Recognize that you are not the body-mind, you are the witness of the body-mind. This has been explained in detail in the Advaita Level I videos on the website already so I won’t repeat it here – https://gnyanasangha.com/p/adv-basic-sem-1

Step 2] When this becomes clear, start the practice of being the witness all day and in the night, remind yourself just before sleeping, that I do NOT sleep, I simply witness the body-mind sleep. Let the body-mind sleep.

Step 3] Within a few days of practice, you will notice that it is the same ‘I’ that witnesses the body-mind operating in the waking state, that also witnesses the mind projecting a dream in the dream state.

Step 4] Once this becomes clear that the ‘I’ is totally separate from the body as well as the mind, then focus on what is the dream, what is it made up of? Isn’t it simply a thought? One image after another image, incoherent and unrelated to each other, isn’t that simply a thought? Please attempt to see this experientially by attempting to remain as the witness in the dream state instead of losing yourself into the illusion of being the experiencer.

Step 5] Then it will be revealed to you that a dream thought is not alive and conscious. It is simply I-the-witness that is alive and conscious. Alternatively, you could recognize this truth in the waking state and verify by experimenting with yourself if a waking thought is alive and conscious or is it I-the-witness of the thought that is alive and conscious.

Step 6] You will eventually realize that thought cannot think because thought cannot be conscious. A thought cannot memorize anything. Thoughts simply arise and fall randomly. Memories are nothing but thoughts that arise and fall randomly. There is no entity that is remembering anything really. Any thought can arise at any time. Thoughts are random. Memories are random as they are nothing but repetitive thoughts.

Step 7] Finally, you will arrive at the answer that any thought can arise at any time. A dream-related thought can arise in the waking state. A waking state thought can arise in the dream state. Because thoughts are random, they are not the cause or the effect of anything.

There is no real thinker of thoughts. When this is clear, you will finally turn your attention away from the charm of thoughts and turn towards the witness. Be the witness, drop the illusion!

P.S. There is no point in creating another Advaita Vedanta belief after reading this, experiment and verify for yourself, dear. Then you will attain what is called true self-realization, otherwise, you will forever be wandering in the forest of words!