The three mental states of waking, dream and deep sleep are unreal, because they have no permanence.

This Self is dearer than a son, dearer than wealth, dearer than everything else, because It is innermost. If one holding the Self dear were to say to a person who speaks of anything other than the Self as dear, that he, the latter, will lose what he holds dear—and the former is certainly competent to do so—it will indeed come true. One should meditate upon the Self alone as dear. He who meditates upon the Self alone as dear—what he holds dear will not perish. -Bhad  upanishd -8-p-p-211-

Deeper self-search reveals neither waking entity  nor the  the dream entity the true self.  The formless witness of the ‘three states ’ is the  Self.  The formless witness is Soul or consciousness. 

 People think 'I' without the body is the self whereas 'I' is not limited to the physical body because 'I' is the Mind.  Mind is  present in form of the whole universe.  Universe appears as waking or dream.   

  The three mental states of waking, dream and deep sleep are unreal, because they have no permanence. waking entity and waking world are reality within the waking experience. The dream entity and dream world are reality within the dream.  The waking is parallel dream and dream is parallel waking.  And his experience of the world is reality within the waking or dream. From ultimate standpoint  the point is the waking is also as unreal as dream. They come and go.  Thus one has to realize the fact that,  there must be a knower [witness] of these three states which appear and disappear in succession.

One knows nothing about the deep sleep except the recollection of its repose on waking. And on waking one becomes aware the dream is unreal.  The reason for this is the apparent absence of continuity of events between two or more dream and absence of corroboration about the dream on waking. 

 It is erroneous to view and judge the three states on the standpoint of the waking entity. When the inquiry and reasoning reveals the fact that, physical body is not the self, then it is clear that one which is without the body(formless) is the knower of the three states, which come and go. Therefore, it is erroneous to view and judge the three states on the standpoint of waking entity or ego. Thus there is a need to to become aware of the formless witness of these three states.  

Even the dream is self contained and it has perfect inner logic and sequence. During the dream experience the dream entity and the dream world are reality, within the dream.  But the dream is unreal. Similarly, the waking entity, and waking world, is reality within the waking, but the waking is unreal on the standpoint of the  Soul or consciousness, the innermost  self.

However, if one analyze deeply one becomes aware every state is self contained; it has perfect inner logic and sequence.  During the subsistence of the dream there is no doubt about its reality. Thus one can easily conclude that each state has its own illusion which can be got over only if one wakes up from that particular illusory state into another.  Just as the dream appears unreal to the one who is awake, so too would waking itself be if one awakes from it to the non-dual natural state.  

 Natural state of the soul, the innermost self  is ‘I’-less [duality less] state in which the mind stays merged in the soul or consciousness, the innermost   self.  It is only when one traverses beyond the mind  or form,time and space, through soul-centric reasoning,  that it is possible to mentally  negate all the three states.  

The observation of the three states will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. Infact, one’s mental and intellectual conditions will determine the dual and non-dual experiences observed and experienced.  The religionists viewing the three states will see it differently from the spiritualist viewing the same three states.  Each one interprets the three states that he observes in term of his existing knowledge. 

 The man of truth sees Atman in everything and everywhere. Because he is fully aware of the fact that, the Atman pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states, therefore he has the firm conviction that everything is Atman/spirit and no second thing exists other then the Atman in experience of diversity. Then only unity in diversity is possible. Thus three state analyses is the one of the step in pursuit of truth. 

Just as a dream appears “unreal” when waking takes place, the waking becomes unreal when the wisdom dawns.

Soul or consciousness, the innermost self is not waking entity

The the three states are both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that they are  not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

Peoples approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the three states , they take them  as real. That is why all the confusion. 

Soul-centric reason alone leads to Self-awareness. There is no confusion when one becomes aware of the fact that, the form, time and space are one in essence.   Therefore there is no form, time and space in the realm of truth because there in only oneness. 

The self, one wants to know, is the innermost self, which is formless, birthless, deathless, world less eternal existence. 

There is only one self and that self is not the waking entity.  The real self is the soul. Waking entity (you are) false self within the false experience (waking). Identifying the self as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is erroneous. 

The soul is the only self.  Seeker has to remove and abandon his wrong ideas about the self, in order to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   

  

Soul or consciousness, the innermost self is not waking entity.  And consciousness  is not limited to the waking entity alone because it pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states.   Limiting  the consciousness(soul or self)  as waking entity (body)   and thinking  it is limited to waking body alone is cause of the ignorance.  It is wrong to  think the self is within  the body , because deeper self-search reveals the fact that,  the body and the world are within the soul, which is the innermost self. 

By deeper discrimination between dual (waking or dream) and non-dual (deep sleep) experiences one realizes the form, time and space are one in essence and enters into Self-Awareness.  

Formless Soul is the source of the mind. The mind is in the form of universe. Universe appears as waking or dream. Waking or dream disappears as deep sleep.  The form, time and space are within the waking or dream. The waking or dream are absent in deep sleep. Thus form time and space are absent in deep sleep. The nature of the self is like deep sleep. But deep sleep is not wisdom has to be got in the midst of waking experience. 

Self is ‘I’- less. Self is bodiless. Whatever is connected to ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is ignorance. When ignorance ends it is Gnana. When Gnana arise than the body, ego and the universe is mere mirage created out of consciousness.    Until one gets the firm conviction that the self is not physical but self is formless consciousness and learns to view and judge and conclude on the base of formless self, Gnana will not arise.  Gnana is the result of contemplation; it in annihilates ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the illusion as reality.  

Ignorance is cause of the illusion.  When the self becomes aware of it formless non-dual true nature then the ignorance vanishes and   reality appears. When the reality appears than the universe is illusion created out of the consciousness, which is the inner most self. 

Once the conviction about the soul, the innermost self becomes firmer and one becomes aware of ‘what is what’ then the innermost self will unfold its own meaning.

This has to be understood and assimilated for getting firm conviction to realize ‘what is what’. Suppose you hold the deep sleep experience as ‘self’ than the waking or dream are absent there is only oneness this is only illustration. When the ‘self’ (soul) becomes consciously aware of its true nature in the midst of waking experience it is called self-awareness.  Thus Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary to get Self-Awareness.  

By believing in rebirth and reincarnation theory blocks one from realizing the Self ,which is birthless and deathless eternal.

The birth, life and death are part of the waking experience. Waking experience is mere  illusion  standpoint of the  formless  soul or consciousness, the innermost self .  It is no use of saying that, we are not born, and we do not die. Whatever is born will die. deeper self-search reveals the fact that,   the birth, life and death takes place within  waking world . The waking entity and waking world are within the waking experience.  the self is neither the waking entity nor the self is dream entity but the self is the formless Soul,which  witnesses  the coming and going of the three states.  The formless soul  or consciousness is the innermost self.   The soul or consciousness is the formless substance and witness of the three states.

  On the standpoint of the soul, the innermost self the three states are non-existent as reality. thus the three states are illusory.  The waking experience is reality on the standpoint of waking entity.  And dream is reality on the standpoint of dream entity. The one which witnesses the coming and going of the three states,  is not the waking entity,  but it is the  formless soul , the innermost self. 

 The formless Soul (consciousness), the innermost self    has no birth and has no death. The one,which is born lives and dies within the world  is  waking entity,which is not the self. the self is the soul ,which  witnesses the three states without the physical apparatus.  the soul , the innermost  self,  is ever  formless.

Thus, it is wrong to judge and say we are not born, and we do not die by limiting the self to the waking entity  or ego,which is  false self . The true self is the soul, which is the birth less and deathless eternal identity.

  If one limits the self to the waking entity alone, one gets only half-truth because  the self pervades all the three states, as its formless substance and witness.  The formless substance and witness are one in essence. that essence is consciousness. thus the three states  ceases to exist without the consciousness.  

Without realizing the  the soul, the innermost self   people say: we are not born, we do not die.   Without realizing the the fact that,  the waking entity is not the self,  it is impossible to acquire  Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana   come from depth. knowledge based on the waking entity  is mere bookish knowledge. Unity in diversity is not possible through bookish knowledge.

 When Sri,Sankara says:  The world is unreal . He never said body is unreal. He would have said only birth and death is unreal, he did not say that, he said the world is unreal.   He meant   the world including the body, because the body and world appear together and disappear together  as waking or dream.  Then one has  to  become  aware of the  existence of the formless witness,which witnesses the coming and going of the three states,  in order to realize,  the formless substance,witness and the source of the mind are one is essence. and that essence is consciousness, which is real and eternal. 

How can the birth, life, death, rebirth, and reincarnation, which take place in unreal world [waking/dream], can be true.   The one, which is aware of the birth, life death, rebirth and reincarnation [illusion/unreal], is formless Soul or consciousness, the innermost self .  The formless soul,  the innermost self is birthless and deathless.

 The  soul or consciousness, the innermost   self,  is the formless witness of the experience  of  birth, life, death and rebirth which happens within the unreal  world . Thus the birth,life death,  rebirth and world are nothing to do with the soul, the innermost self because it is birthless and deathless eternal because it is ever formless. 

  Rebirth and reincarnation theory is based on the waking entity ,which is the false self within the false experience. Even one has rebirth and reincarnation it is within the falsehood.  The body cannot reincarnate, the body and the world are created out of the same formless stuff. If one accept the rebirth and reincarnation theory  than he accepted the waking entity as real self and waking world as reality. Thus he remains ignorant of the  reality of his true existence. 

Until one views and judges on the base of flesh, bone and blood [five elements], he will not be able to grasp the non-dual truth.  Thus, one must know on what standpoint, we are not born and we do not die thoroughly, just by hearsay views, it will not lead anyone to the non-dual destination. By believing in rebirth and reincarnation  theory blocks one from realizing the Self ,which is ever  birthless and deathless eternal. 

Seeker of truth has to learn to view and judge the truth on the standpoint of the formless  soul, the innermost self, and then he will never have any doubts and confusion regarding the birth, life and death.   When one thinks and reasons deeply then only the inner revelation starts, and starts burning the dross (confusion and doubts). 

When one is able to view and judge the truth on the base of the soul as self, then only, the truth starts revealing.  This is the inner process every serious seeker experiences in his well directed pursuit of truth.  The inner dialogue will start and one will start getting answers from inner core of his existence.  

You are bound by form, time and space whereas the soul, the innermost self is ever free from form, time and space

Your thoughts and feelings are nothing to do with the Soul, the innermost self because ‘you are not the Self.  The one which is born, lives and dies is not the Self. The self is birthless and deathless because it is formless. You are bound by form, time and space whereas the soul, the innermost self is ever free from form, time and space.   You have the firm conviction that you are an individual separate from the world and you think the world existed prior to you and you are born in it afterwards.  Till this conviction is deep rooted  in your subconscious you will never be able to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   

Till you hold ‘I’ as self, you will never be able to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  You are the waking entity (ego).  You are the false self (ego) within the false experience (waking). The dream entity and dream world are reality within the dream. Similarly the waking entity and waking world are reality within the waking.  The dream become unreal when waking takes place. Similarly the waking becomes unreal when waking entity becomes aware of the fact that, it itself is not the self.  If the waking entity is not the self than the waking experience is bound to be falsehood.  You are part of the waking experience thus you are part of the illusion. 

Just because you believe in some spiritual teaching because they hold ‘I’ as self:- 

1.      It is repeatedly recited,
2. It is written in a scripture,
3. It was handed from guru to disciple,
4. Everyone around you believes it,
5. It has supernatural qualities,
6. It fits my beliefs anyway,
7. It sounds rational to me,
8. It is taught by a respectable person,
9. It was said to be the truth by the teacher,
10. One must defend it or fight for it.

  

 But you are unaware of the fact that ‘I’ itself is not the self. 'I’ is cause of the ignorance. Getting rid of the ignorance is very much necessary in pursuit of truth.   

Non-dualistic truth is supreme truth; all dualistic systems hold false self [ego] as real self and false experience [universe or waking] as reality.  Non- dualistic wisdom is culmination of all systems including theistic non-duality.   The true non-dualist will not quarrel and argue with any theoretical philosophy because he is fully aware of the fact that, this orthodox theistic non-dualistic scholars or pundits like Dualist sages could not distinguish between ‘I’ and ‘formless witness.’ The 'I' was the witness. Their highest was the Jiva. One is so much attached to the 'I' that he do not want to think that 'I' does not exist. Again one is unable to detach the ‘I’ from the Real witness.  

There is need to study the scriptures. One has to self-search the truth and realize it without the scriptures. And then when he reads the scriptures he becomes aware the scriptures are also saying the same thing but everything is misinterpreted.  

Thus holding the ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ as self and trying to assimilate the Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana  will not yield any fruit.  Thus deeper verification is very much necessary to drop the ‘I’ or ‘I AM THAT – declared by the sages in the past which are useful only in lower stages.    

That is why BUDDHA SAID: - Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true. 

You are unaware of the fact that ‘I’ itself is not the self.  ‘I’ is an object to the formless soul, the innermost self, which is the subject. 

Self is nothing to do with you and your world. Self is not limited to waking entity and waking world because it pervades all the three states.  You disappear along with your world when waking disappears.  The one which witnesses the coming and going of the three states is not you but the formless soul or consciousness. The formless soul or consciousness is the substance and witness of the three states. The formless substance and witness of the three states are one in essence. Without the formless soul or consciousness, the three states are non-existent.  Therefore, the formless soul or consciousness is the innermost self.  On the standpoint of the formless soul, the innermost self, the three states cease to exist as reality. Thus you are part of the illusion. Thus identifying the self as ‘I AM THIS OR ‘I AM THAT’, without becoming mentally aware of the existence of the formless witness of the three states it is impossible to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.