Dream and Waking States

Sri Ramana Maharshi

8-9-1945 morning

Mr. Subba Rao of Bewada asked Bhagawan. "What is the difference between imagination and vision?"

M: One is voluntary and the other is not. But in the ultimate analysis, though not in the immediate present, even vision must have had its origin in the voluntary sphere.

Subba Rao: As dreams have their origin there?

M: Yes.

Another Visitor: It is said that our waking life is also a dream, similar to our dream during sleep. But in our dreams we make no conscious effort to get rid of the dream and to awake, but the dream itself comes to an end without any effort on our part and we become awake. Similarly why should not the waking state, which is in reality only another sort of dream, come to an end of its own accord, and without any effort on our part, and land us in jnana or real awakening?

M: Your thinking that you have to make an effort to get rid of this dream of the waking state and your making efforts to attain jnana or real awakening are all parts of the dream. When you attain jnana you will see there was neither the dream during sleep, nor the waking state, but only yourself and your real state.

(To be continued)