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waking/dream/deep-sleep

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Kasturi Varadarajan • March 27, 2000 


Dear friends,
     I am looking for a good analysis of the states of waking, dream and
deep sleep as understood in Ramanuja's system of thought. Is there a
good (authoritative) book (in English or with English translation) for this? 
There is some discussion in the Sribhasya but since this is in the
context of refuting other arguements I am unable to extract a 
coherent picture. Also please enlighten me with your own insights.

     I want to give some examples of questions I have. If I understand
correctly, the jivAtma is characterised by the ability to know 
(awareness), the ability to act, etc. (Also there is the fact of its
dependence on paramAtma which it may not realize at present.) Let us
just focus on awareness.

1. Is it correct to say the jivAtma is aware of the material world during
   the waking state? Clearly we are aware of the external world. Even if we
   shut our sense organs we are aware of thought in our brains. So it
   seems that somewhere down the line the jivA must be in `touch with
   matter' and be aware of it.

2. Is jivAtma aware of the material world during dreams? As far as 
   awareness goes dreams seem quite similar to the waking state, although
   the experiences are random.

3. Is jivAtma aware of the material world during deep sleep? Maybe not,
   but I'm not sure at all.


     Such thinking makes me dizzy, and I want to hold on to the steady
wisdom of our acharyas. thanks.

-Kasturi

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