Chapter 4 Section 3 4.3.1 to 4.3.5 In a series of questions Janaka asks YVK about the lights which a person uses for worldly transactions. Most obvious is the sunlight. When sun has set, it is the moonlight. When both sun and moon have set (Amavasya), it is the light of fire. When sun, moon, fire are unavailable, speech serves as the light to transact. Speech (sound) includes odour.
4.3.6 Which is the light when all the preceding sources are absent. The idea is this: the speech and other organs which are by nature outgoing and perceives external objects with the help of an external ‘light’ in the waking state. In the dream state or during deep sleep when all external lights are absent, there exists some light for dream transactions and experience of deep sleep because we remember deep sleep after waking up. YVK says that the Self which is of the nature of consciousness serves as the light. As it is all-pervading, It is within the body. All ‘lights’ work in the presence of Consciousness. It is “light of lights”. (Mun Up 2.2.9-10)
4.3.7 The Self is of the nature of consciousness and is different from the mind. The mind is
is inert but it is engaged in transaction. Transaction needs sentiency. Self is the
source of sentiency. As consciousness is all-pervading, sentiency is transferred
from the Self to the mind and makes the intellect sentient. The sentient mind transfers sentiency to the mind, from mind to sense organs and from there to the gross body. In the normal waking state, even when the external lights are available, the mind transacts due to the light of the Self. Hence, it is concluded that when the external lights are absent in dream or deep sleep, the mind transacts in the light of the Self.
4.3.8 and 4.3.9 In 4.3.7, it is said that the Self ‘moves’ between the waking state and the dream state in the same body. The Upanishad says that when the body is discarded at death, the Self continues by alternately discarding and taking up body and organs by way of death and birth. When a man is about to die and is yet to be reborn, it is like a junction between two worlds, the current life and future life. It is like a person standing on a door which connects two halls. The person has glimpse of both the halls. This junction is like a dream in which the person has the glimpse of the current life and future life.
4.3.10 The dream world is not real though to a dreamer it is as real as for a waking person is the waking world. The dreamer does not know that he is dreaming because he is a part of the dream. The dream world including the dreamer is created by the mind. There is no chariot, no mountain, no pleasure, no suffering and so on. All are artificial or figment of imagination. Why is it so? Because the dreamer on coming out of the dream says so. The dream world loses validity in the waking state.
4.3.11 to 4.3.13 What is the role of the Self in the dream? The physical body including the gross part (golakam) of sense organs are resolved and are inert. It is as though the Self has withdrawn from them. The Self assumes another body created out of the latent tendencies in the mind. During dream the gross body is resolved. The subtle body including the vital force function and the body is kept alive. The body is alive because the Self assumes the same body on returning to the waking state. There are no external lights during the dream. The jiva provides the light and the Self is the light of this light. The light enables the jiva to experience higher and lower statuses as gods and animals,
4.3.14 The Self assumes the costume of dream state which is like a sport of the Self. But nobody sees the Self. The Upanishad pities them who do not see the Self, though Its sport is in full play right before their eyes. It is said: a sleeping person should not be awakened; let him come out of sleep himself. Because he is very close to the Self and is very happy. If at all he is to be awakened, it should not be sudden. Otherwise, the sense organs which are resolved in the heart may occupy wrong places, e.g., ear may go to the place of eye. Though there are similarities between waking and dream states, there are dis-similarities. In the waking state, eyes are open; in dream they are closed. Time and space in dream are different from those in the waking state. Dream is lower order of reality as compared to the waking state. In dream external lights are not there. The dream man has his own light blessed by the light of the Self.
Contd