How To Stay Awake Even While Sleeping And Dreaming – Nisargadatta Maharaj Wisdom

Summary

In this profound exploration of consciousness, the teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj illuminate the nature of wakefulness, sleep, and the self. He challenges the conventional understanding of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, emphasizing that true awakening is not a state to be achieved, but a realization of the ever-present witness within. Maharaj explains that the ego, which drives identification with the body and mind, is at the root of our confusion. By stepping back and recognizing the pure awareness that underlies all experiences, one can dissolve the ego and experience life with deeper clarity, peace, and liberation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Most people are never truly awake; they transition from daydreams to night dreams, identifying with their bodies, minds, and stories.
• 😀 Wakefulness is not a special state; you are already awake, and you simply identify with what appears in your wakefulness.
• 😀 Ignorance is not not knowing something, but mistaking oneself for what one is perceiving (body, mind, etc.).
• 😀 The ego operates in all states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—and the key is to recognize the witness of all experiences.
• 😀 Deep sleep is the happiest state, but we don't recognize it because there is no ego to possess it. The absence of the ego reveals peace and happiness.
• 😀 The three states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—come and go, but the knowledge of them remains constant. The awareness of them does not.
• 😀 The witness is not a part of you. You don't become the witness, you realize you’ve always been the witness, experiencing without identifying with it.
• 😀 True wakefulness is not about achieving wakefulness in sleep but recognizing that sleep is happening within you.
• 😀 In dreams, we automatically identify with the characters and experiences. How we live in wakefulness determines how we dream.
• 😀 Deep sleep, though seemingly unconscious, reveals a profound truth—there is presence without thought or object, revealing peace, rest, and non-dual existence.

Q & A

What is the central message of Nisarodatada Maharaj’s teachings in this script?

The central message of Maharaj's teachings revolves around realizing that true wakefulness is not a state to be achieved, but something we already are. He emphasizes that we are already awake and simply identify with our body and mind, which causes us to experience sleep, dreams, and the illusion of a separate self.

How does Maharaj describe the three states of consciousness?

Maharaj explains that human experience operates in three main states: waking (Jagrat), dreaming (Svapna), and deep sleep (Sushupti). In each state, the feeling of 'I am' persists, but the person or ego changes. Deep sleep, however, is unique because there is no world, no thoughts, and no ego, yet there is still an underlying presence of being.

What role does the 'witness' play in Maharaj's philosophy?

The witness, according to Maharaj, is the pure sense of being, not tied to any identity. It simply knows without thinking, claiming, or striving. The witness exists outside of all experiences and cannot sleep because sleep itself is a phenomenon that is perceived.

Why does Maharaj say the ego operates even in dreams?

Maharaj points out that the ego operates in dreams because of our habitual identification with the body, mind, and personal story. In dreams, we don’t question our identity and automatically become the characters in the dream, driven by the subtle layers of ego that remain active even when we are asleep.

How does the understanding of deep sleep contribute to waking up in life?

Maharaj teaches that deep sleep is the closest state to ultimate reality because it is free from ego, suffering, and desire. By understanding that we are the presence that remains even in deep sleep, we can dissolve the belief in being separate from this awareness, which ultimately leads to living more consciously in the waking state.

What does Maharaj mean by 'I am' in the context of sleep and wakefulness?

'I am' refers to the pure, wordless sense of being that exists before any thoughts, labels, or identities are added. It is the feeling of simple presence, which Maharaj encourages us to stay with as we fall asleep. This pure 'I am' is present in all states of consciousness, even when we are unaware of it.

Why does Maharaj say that 'the problem is not with sleep'?

The problem is not with sleep itself, but with the return of the ego after sleep. The ego reasserts itself upon waking, claiming to have slept and known nothing. This identification with the ego is what creates the illusion of separation and prevents realization of our true, formless nature.

How can one practice the teachings of Maharaj before sleep?

Before sleep, Maharaj suggests withdrawing from the day, reflecting silently on the fact that all experiences have appeared and disappeared within you, and then resting in the feeling of 'I am'. This practice helps weaken the identification with the ego and allows for a deeper connection with the witness, the pure sense of being.

What is the relationship between wakefulness and dreaming, according to Maharaj?

Maharaj points out that the boundary between wakefulness and dreaming begins to blur when one realizes that both states are phenomena occurring within the same awareness. The sense of 'I am' persists, whether in waking, dreaming, or deep sleep, but the identification with the ego weakens as one becomes more aware of the witness.

How does the concept of 'knowing without knowing anything' relate to Maharaj's teachings?

This concept emphasizes that true awareness is not based on knowledge or the possession of an object. It is a silent, intuitive knowing that exists even in deep sleep. Maharaj uses this idea to point out that true wakefulness comes from realizing that we are the awareness itself, not the objects or experiences that arise within it.