Awareness Never Falls Asleep
Summary
TLDRThis dialogue explores the nature of awareness through states like waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. It posits that awareness never 'falls asleep' but remains constant, unaltered by transitions between these states. The speaker argues that deep sleep is not a void but filled with pure awareness, inherently peaceful and fulfilling. The conversation challenges conventional beliefs about consciousness, suggesting that awareness never disappears and isn't subject to time or death. It concludes with the idea that truly understanding this leads to a mind-blowing shift in perception, dismantling the illusion of a separate self.
Takeaways
- 😀 Awareness remains constant and awake through all states, whether waking, dreaming, or in deep sleep.
- 🛌 Falling asleep is merely a transition of perceptions and sensations, but awareness itself does not change.
- 🌙 Awareness is always awake, even in the dream state, observing both the waking and dream worlds.
- 🧠 Deep sleep is not a blank or void from the perspective of awareness; it is full of pure, peaceful awareness.
- 🔄 Thought can only understand objects and experiences, so it perceives deep sleep as 'nothing', but awareness knows itself fully in deep sleep.
- ⏳ Awareness is timeless and spaceless, always present, while waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states pass through it.
- 💡 Consciousness or awareness does not disappear, even in deep sleep or supposed unconsciousness.
- 🧍 People do not possess awareness or consciousness; rather, consciousness experiences people.
- 💭 The idea that awareness begins with birth and ends with death is a cultural belief, not based on true experience.
- 🎯 Pondering and deeply understanding the constant nature of awareness can dissolve the illusion of the separate self and bring peace.
Q & A
What is the script's perspective on awareness during the transition from waking to dreaming?
-The script suggests that awareness remains constant during the transition from waking to dreaming. While sensations and perceptions change, awareness itself remains fully awake and does not fall asleep.
Why does the script state that 'awareness doesn't fall asleep'?
-The script argues that awareness never experiences a change in state, including sleep, because it is ever-present and wide awake. What changes are the objects of awareness, such as sensations and perceptions, not awareness itself.
How does the script explain the experience of deep sleep from the perspective of thought and awareness?
-From the perspective of thought, deep sleep appears as 'nothing' because there are no objects to perceive. However, from the perspective of awareness, deep sleep is full of itself—peaceful, fulfilled, and not 'nothing.' Awareness remains aware even in deep sleep.
According to the script, what is the experience of deep sleep like for awareness?
-For awareness, deep sleep is not a blank or empty state. It is an experience of pure, peaceful awareness, where awareness is 'full to the brim of itself'—inherently peaceful and fulfilled.
Why do people look forward to falling asleep, according to the script?
-People look forward to falling asleep because, during deep sleep, they experience the peaceful, fulfilled state of awareness. In this state, they desire nothing and lack nothing, which the script refers to as 'happiness.'
What happens to the waking and dream states in relation to awareness, based on the script?
-The waking and dream states pass through awareness, but awareness itself does not change or move through them. In fact, awareness takes the shape of the mind, which then manifests the waking and dreaming states.
Can awareness be replaced with the term 'consciousness' in the script?
-Yes, the script suggests that awareness and consciousness can be used interchangeably in this context. Both refer to the unchanging, ever-present experience that underlies all states of mind and perception.
Why is the term 'unconscious' misleading in the script?
-The script argues that 'unconscious' is misleading because it suggests that awareness ceases to exist when one is not responsive. However, awareness never disappears, even if the body is unresponsive; it remains fully present.
How does the script describe the nature of awareness in relation to time and space?
-The script describes awareness as being beyond time and space. It is in a 'placeless place' called infinity and a 'timeless time' called eternity. Awareness does not travel through time; rather, time and states pass through it.
What is the script's view on the common cultural belief that awareness is finite?
-The script challenges the belief that awareness is finite and temporary, arguing that no one has ever experienced the disappearance of awareness. It states that this belief is unfounded and arises from misunderstanding our true nature.
Outlines
🌙 Awareness During Dream and Sleep States
This paragraph explores the continuity of awareness between different states of consciousness, such as waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. The speaker emphasizes that awareness does not fall asleep or transition, but rather remains constant as the waking body and world disappear and dream bodies and worlds appear. It is thought that labels this process as falling asleep, but awareness is always 'wide awake,' simply witnessing different states. Thought interprets transitions, but awareness remains unchanged, never falling asleep, and is always present in all experiences, including dreams and deep sleep.
🧠 Consciousness and Unconsciousness
In this paragraph, the speaker distinguishes between awareness and consciousness, discussing the concept of unconsciousness. They argue that no one has ever experienced being 'unconscious' because one would need to be aware to claim such an experience. The speaker contends that the cultural belief that consciousness is fleeting, tied to birth and death, is misguided. Awareness is constant and never disappears, and the idea that awareness is temporary or finite is an illusion created by thought. The speaker concludes that nobody has ever experienced the appearance or disappearance of awareness, and our beliefs around this are based on misunderstandings.
🤔 Misleading Terms and Misconceptions
This paragraph challenges the use of terms like 'unconscious' when referring to sleep or other states where awareness seems absent. The speaker argues that just because we cannot sense things during deep sleep, it doesn’t mean awareness ceases. They emphasize the importance of reflecting on the fact that we have never experienced the disappearance of awareness and how this realization could change one's perspective on life. The speaker suggests that understanding this deeply could dismantle the concept of the separate self and radically shift one’s worldview.
🖥️ Infinite Awareness and Mind-Boggling Insights
The speaker expands on the concept of infinite awareness, saying that it transcends time, space, and the changes we perceive in life. They share a humorous anecdote about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs in heaven, used to illustrate the limitless and eternal nature of awareness. The speaker encourages the audience to think deeply about what it would mean to live life with the understanding that awareness is never born, never dies, and lacks nothing. They conclude by reflecting on the limitations of language in conveying these ideas and how understanding the true nature of awareness can shift everything in one’s life.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Awareness
💡Waking State
💡Dream State
💡Deep Sleep
💡Infinite Awareness
💡Transition
💡Peaceful
💡Fulfilled
💡Eternity
💡Inherently
💡Unconscious
Highlights
Awareness remains consistent and wide awake, whether in the waking state or the dream state.
The transition from waking to dreaming is not experienced by awareness, only by thought.
Thought calls deep sleep 'nothing' because it can only recognize objects, but awareness is full of itself in deep sleep.
Awareness never falls asleep or becomes unconscious; it is always wide awake, even in deep sleep.
In deep sleep, awareness knows itself and experiences pure peace and fulfillment, free of desires.
The idea of being unconscious is not an actual experience, as no one has ever experienced being unaware.
Awareness does not go through transitions; it is always present, unchanging, and timeless.
Our cultural belief that awareness is a temporary byproduct of the mind, evolving and dying with the body, is incorrect.
The notion of being unconscious is a misleading term, as awareness never disappears, even when we do not perceive the body or sensations.
The entire separate self's existence is based on the mistaken belief that awareness is finite and temporary.
When truly grasped, the understanding that awareness is eternal and unchanging dismantles the entire idea of the separate self.
The experience of deep sleep is misunderstood by thought as nothingness, but awareness experiences it as full of peace.
The waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states pass through awareness, but awareness itself never changes or moves.
Consciousness or awareness is not something people have; it is consciousness that has people, momentarily.
Reflecting on the unchanging nature of awareness reveals that we have never experienced its appearance or disappearance.
Transcripts
would you say that when you were having
a dream you were
aware yes okay so you're aware in the
waking state for instance now you are
aware yes and then you go through the
transition that is called falling asleep
yes yeah but you remain
aware because you start having a dream
but you're aware of your dream yes so
awareness doesn't fall asleep in the
transition between the waking State and
the dream state that's true that that
that thought calls falling
asleep yes yes it doesn't refer to
awareness's experience that's right
awareness just remains in the only
condition it knows which is wide awake
yes yes it's wide awake knowing what
thought calls the waking
State the waking State body and World
disappear and then the dream state body
and world World appear but they are
known by exactly the same awareness
right and from the point of view of
thought there seems to be a transition
from The Waking state to the dream state
yes
orous we'll come to that in a minute
from The Waking state to the dream state
that there seems to be a transition I
felt fell asleep right yes but the eye
that falls asleep is not the eyee of
awareness because awareness obviously
remains Wide Awake otherwise we wouldn't
be able to know our
dreams yes yeah so awareness doesn't
fall asleep that's right
so what happens in the so-called
transition from The Waking state to
sleep is that a series of Sensations and
perceptions called The Waking State body
and World
disappear yeah yes and a new
appearance arises it's called a dream
which is a a new world arises awareness
identifies itself with one of the
objects that appear that is the body and
seems to contract into the body and so
our dream state is very similar to The
Waking state which we think I this body
I'm walking around in this world in the
dreamed
world yes and then what what happens
this body and this the dreamed body and
the dreamed World
disappear leaving
awareness as it always is wide awake not
knowing anything not knowing any thought
sensation or
perception so from the point of view of
thought thought says Ah deep sleep is
nothing
blank because there are no objects there
and thought can only know an object so
thought says deep sleep is
blank from the point of view of
awareness deep sleep is not
blank in deep Sleep awareness knows
itself in other words it is full to the
brim of
itself of its own empty inherently
peaceful fulfilled
self it is not that is not nothing it is
only the point of view it is only
nothing from the point of view of
thought from the point of view of the
one who truly knows that is the one who
truly experiences or is aware of
anything deep sleep is not a blank
nothing it is full to the brim with pure
awareness inherently peaceful fulfilled
awareness that's why we all like going
to fall we all look forward to falling
asleep at night because we know it's so
peaceful and fulfilled there we desire
nothing and we lack
nothing it's called
Happiness yes I followed this um from
the video yes awareness doesn't go
through a transition from waking to
dreaming and it doesn't go through a
transition from dreaming to deep sleep
and then it doesn't go through another
transition from Deep Sleep to the next
dream and then from the next dream to
tomorrow's waking State awareness never
goes through any transitions in fact
awareness is not traveling through time
through all these states awareness is
always in the same place which is a
placeless place
called infinity and always at the same
time which is a Timeless time called
eternity it never goes anywhere it never
Alters its conditions or its state the
waking dreaming and deep sleep States
pass through it it doesn't pass through
them in fact that's not even quite true
it infinite awareness takes the shape of
the Mind
which itself appears as the waking and
dream
states so they don't even pass through
Consciousness it is consciousness it it
is infinite Consciousness itself that
takes the shape of the waking and
dreaming
States I was just about to ask that can
you replace that word awareness into
Consciousness and then you did but what
what is then when a person is
unconscious tell me about your
experience of being
unconscious has anybody ever had the
experience of being
unconscious but there is definitely um I
don't want you to argue logically with
me I want you to tell me from your
experience what you know of not being
aware
nothing okay could you ever ma imagine
having the experience of not not being
aware in deep sleep but how would logic
says how would you know in okay let
let's go I don't want to I don't want to
reason this out with you yes I don't
want to argue philosophically with you I
want I want you to I want to gently push
you back into your actual experience in
deep Sleep do you have the experience of
not being
aware no have you ever had the
experience of not being
aware no could you ever have the
experience of not being aware
I don't know well let me ask the
question in a different way could you
ever be aware of not being
aware
no then the experience is not
possible because in order to claim an
experience you must be aware of
it therefore you're quite right not only
have you never had the experience of not
being aware you you could never have
such an
experience and not only have you never
had nor could you ever have the
experience of not being aware
nobody
nobody has ever had or could ever have
the experience I am
unaware why then is our culture founded
upon the belief that awareness is this
fleeting fragile byproduct of the mind
that comes into existence when the body
is born that moves evolves grows old and
disappears when the body
dies it's a belief nobody has ever
experienced the appearance or
disappearance of awareness
nobody not for a fraction of a moment if
it was possible to experience The
Disappearance of awareness don't you
think somebody by now would have had
that experience just for a fleeting
moment absolutely but nobody has why
not it's not possible it's not possible
and yet our culture is founded that the
founding belief of our culture of our
world culture is that I awareness am
finite and
tempor the entire adventure of the
separate self that is the vast majority
of people's lives are based upon that
SLE idea
I am temporary and
finite all our fears and desires
psychological fears and desires come
from that single belief and that single
belief simply comes from the overlooking
of our true
nature which everybody knows as the
experience I am aware that I am
aware so you can never call A person
unconscious you can never call a person
either conscious or unconscious it is
consciousness alone that is
conscious people don't have
Consciousness Consciousness has people
from time to
time so
how we would have to refine a new way
to to explain that if I'm pinching you
when you're dreaming or in deep Sleep
you wake up but then there is an time
after an accident if one pinches one and
he or she doesn't wake
up it's not being unconscious it's being
something
else it's fine to call it being
unconscious it doesn't matter what we
call it as long as we but it's
misleading it's misle yes the the
presumption is that
that because I can't hear the sound
whatever it is in when I'm in deep sleep
or feel the pinch or whatever it is
therefore I am therefore I Consciousness
has disappeared right
right I get it and if if you just ponder
that that yes this single line of this
just this conversation you really ponder
it and and you see in your own
experience you you really in a visceral
way you
come bring yourself to the
understanding I have never experienced
the appearance of
awareness I have never experienced a
change in
Awareness I have never experienced The
Disappearance of
awareness and first of all bring
yourself to that understanding based on
your experience don't believe me when I
say this I don't bring yourself again
and again and again not just once but
again and again to that experience until
it becomes your your lived
experience and then begin to ponder the
implications of that
fact yeah that that the entire life of
the separate self comes tumbling
down if if we
really really Ponder the
implications of that
fact it's mindboggling it's mindboggling
it it it it's mind it's mindblowing it's
literally it's it takes us beyond the
mind yeah
somebody told me
a story recently about
um about an email that
um Bill Gates sent to um Steve Jobs in
heaven Steve Steve Job was jobs was
saying that heaven was eternal and
unlimited
and Bill Gates apparently wrote him a
and said well what's the big deal so
what if if Heaven
is is Without
Limits and Steve Jobs replied to him he
said well the best thing about it is
that we have no need either for Windows
or for gates up
here so
think about
it think about what it what it means
what it would mean for your
life to
to to live a life that was
consistent with the feeling
understanding I awareness never
appeared I was never
born I never move or
change I am inherently
peaceful I lack nothing I never grow old
or sick or
die yeah well definitely using words uh
becomes bit problematic since my husband
has already said that there is no
possibility to talk with you because I
every time try to understand the the
essence of the word because it becomes
so
different everything becomes
so
different thank you and thanks for this
second question
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