Dream state

Whilst laying asleep at night, we may be transported to magical kingdoms or experience situations possibly completely different from our waking state. We may be chased by a tiger and fear for our life or we may be convinced that we are able to fly in the sky like an eagle. Yet, upon awakening we soon realize that our day to day life is quite different. We may not be the king and fortunately there is no tiger. Yet, dreams can be so powerful that they may completely govern the life of the dreamer.

A dream is often a reflection of what we have experienced whilst awake. For example if a man is a cloth merchant by profession, spending his days absorbed in business, then at night he may dream of such transactions, quoting prices as he talks in his sleep. The dream is a subtle reflection of the waking state, meaning it is confined to our subtle existence of mind, intelligence and false ego, themselves having no tangible physical dimensions.

The physical world around us, our bodies and our possessions are all made up from the denser, grosser aspect of material energy. Therefore, it is described that as well as the subtle body we possess a gross(bulky) body, comprised of earth, water, fire, air and ether. This is our physical frame.

Ancient teachings tell us that just as we have subtle dreams at night reflecting our day, similarly our day to day life is also a dream reflecting our pure spiritual existence. Beyond the subtle and gross bodies, we are the pure consciousness, or soul, which enlivens these bodies. As our night dream has no reality because it is temporary and illusory, our "daydream" is also temporary and based on the illusory misconception that we are these non-permanent bodies and that all connected to these bodies are ours. The "daydream" is just as fleeting as the night dream. One may last for a few hours whereas the other for several years, but they are both dream states for our actual spiritual identity. (click)

We are in this reflection of reality because we wanted to take the position of Krishna, God, as being the controller and enjoyer, forgetting our true nature as loving servants. A child may cry to his mother to give him the moon, yet will be satisfied when she gives him a mirror so that he may enjoy the reflection of the moon therein. We are like that crying child that have been given the reflection of reality to enjoy, and a dull perverted reflection at that. A reflection cannot be truly satisfying, as one cannot be satisfied with only a reflection of food. There is no real taste, nourishment or relief from hunger with the reflection, only the true substance can fulfill. If you throw a bone to a dog, he will run after it, but if you throw a bone to a lion, he will turn to see where from the bone has come. He is looking for the substance. We should not be like dogs chasing after the bone-like reflection of our real identity and spiritually substantial life.

When we are dreaming at night we may be influenced by an external sound. For example, whilst we sleep there may be a certain music playing within the room or a brass band passing outside which may force its way inside our dream and convince us the band is there in our dream world. The alarm may ring for some time, whilst within the dream we are wondering from where the noise is coming. If we focus on this new sound then it most likely will pull our consciousness out to its waking state.

So the same science is there for awakening our dormant spiritual consciousness. Dormant means sleeping. We are sleeping in the illusion of this material world, therefore the all merciful Krishna has descended in the form of his sweet holy name to reawaken us and transport us to the highest realms of pure love (click). Golokera prema dhana, hari nama sankirtan. The treasure of pure love has descended in the form of the congregational chanting of the names of Krishna. If we sincerely take to this chanting then these names will influence us now and fully awaken us, just like the brass band in the dream. And just like the band originating from outside the dreamstate, the sweet all powerful names of Krishna are not manifestations of this world but a pure gift from our real home. We can factually realize our spiritual identities now and engage in the highest service of love even whilst still within this material realm. We will awaken from our illusory slumber in ignorance. It is for this reason that merciful persons take this chanting out to the innocent who are unaware of the reality beyond their daydream. However, there will always be those who do not want to awaken, preferring to snooze for an endless span of lifetimes.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

“‘The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krishna Himself. Since Krishna’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krishna’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical.’

"O King, unless one is influenced by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no meaning to the relationship of the pure soul in pure consciousness with the material body. That relationship is just like a dreamer's seeing his own body working."
Srimad Bhagavatam 2.9.1 (here)