Ramana Maharshi Says Waking And Dream States Are Same

On 19th March 1945, a visitor from Sind [Pakistan] asked:

It is said that the world is like a dream. But there is this difference between dream and the waking state. In dream I see my friends or relations and go through some experiences with them. When I wake up and ask those friends or relations whom I met in the dream about the dream, they know nothing about it. But in the waking state what I see and hear is corroborated by so many others.

Bhagavan Ramana replied:

You should not mix up the dream and the waking states.Just as you seek corroboration about the waking state experiences from those whom you see in the waking state,you must ask for corroboration about the dream experiences from those whom you saw in the dream state, i.e. when you wre in the dream.Then in the dream, those friends and relations whom you saw in the dream wuld corroborate you.

The main point is, are you prepared when awake to affirm the reality of any of your dream experiences? Similarly, one who has awakened into Jnana cannot affirm the reality of the waking experience.From his view point, the waking state is dream."

The visitor pursued:

It is said only some are chosenm for Self Realization and those alone would get it. It is rather discouraging.

Bhagavan Ramana further clarified:

All that is meant is, we cannot achieve Realization of Self by our own 'buddhi' - intellect, unaided by God's grace.

Source: Arunachala's Ramana.Boundless Ocean of Grace.Volume 5. Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai

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