Sri Ramana Maharshi
Q: How can one control dreams?
M: One who can control them during jagrat (waking state) can aslo control them while asleep. Dreams are only impressions which have been received in the waking state and are recalled to mind in the dream state (i.e., semi-sleeping state as distinct from deep sleep - sushupti).
Referring to what he saw in dreams, the enquirer remarked, "I could not understand what they were. There were huge figures with monkey faces in my dream."
M: The Self is not limited; it is the mind which produces a form that is limited; that which has got dimensions is the mind and it gives rise to dimensions in others. The real limitation is in the mind. The mind is not different from the Supreme Being. A gold ornament is not gold itself, but is also not different from gold. The mind is a wonderful power, a mysterious power (shakti) of the Supreme Being. It is after the rise of the mind that God, world and jivas appear, whereas in sleep we are not aware of any of these three. That is the mysterious power of God. But although we are not aware of these in sleep, yet we know that we existed in sleep also. On the rising of the mind we awaken from sleep. Consciousness and unconsciousness are with reference to the mind only. In the wakeful state we identify ourselves with the mind. If now we find the real Self behind the mind, then we shall not have these limitations. In the deep sleep state, what limitations were there?
Q: None that I am aware of.
M: That which says I was not aware is also the mind. In deep sleep you are one with the real Self. That which appears in the interval also disappears. The Self always remains, whether in sleep, dream or waking state. It is the substratum both of the waking state and the sleep state. The different states of dream, sleep and wakefulness are only for the mind. Trance and unconsciousness also are only for the mind; they do not affect the Self.
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