Dreams have captivated human curiosity for centuries, raising fundamental questions about the nature of reality. Ancient philosophies, from the Upanishads to Greek thinkers like Socrates, pose a profound question: How can we be certain that our current experience isn’t simply a dream? This skepticism isn’t just an abstract debate; it strikes at the core of what we understand as “real.”
The Upanishads and various Western philosophers both suggest that dreams and reality may not be as distinct as we assume. During a dream, experiences feel real and vivid, much like our waking life. So, how can we truly distinguish the two?
Certainty and the Illusion of Knowledge
The Upanishadic idea resonates with a Bengali poem by Shankha Ghosh, which touches on the illusion of knowledge. The poet argues that a person who has unknowingly become stupid will not recognise their own stupidity. Similarly, when we are dreaming, we do not know we are dreaming—everything appears perfectly coherent in that state. This serves as a metaphor for our waking life, prompting us to ask: Are we, too, unknowingly limited in understanding reality?
In Western thought, thinkers like Descartes explored similar ideas, arguing that dreams lack the coherence and systematic nature of waking life. But what if waking life itself is a more organised dream, a collectively experienced illusion? The question challenges us to examine what we take for granted as “real.”
The Dream Argument in Indian Philosophy
In Advaita Vedanta, the waking world is considered akin to a long, shared dream shaped by Maya, the veil of illusion. It offers a profound perspective on the nature of reality, suggesting that what we perceive as solid and real may ultimately be part of a larger, transcendent dream. According to this view, all beings and objects in our “waking” experience could be manifestations within a grand dream of a higher consciousness—an infinite dreamer on a transcendent plane, distinct from individual minds within the dream.
This conception distinguishes between two types of dreams: imminent and transcendent. Imminent dreams are self-contained, produced by individual minds. In contrast, transcendent dreams—such as the possible dream of a divine consciousness—lie beyond ordinary perception, involving all that we experience within a single, cohesive vision.
Advaita Vedanta, intriguingly, holds that the divine dreamer is ultimately none other than ourselves. At the end of the spiritual journey, one realises that their own consciousness and the dreamer of all existence are one and the same. This realisation, both humbling and elevating, upends the conventional perception of reality and self.
Dreams, illusions, and waking life are thus seen as points on a spectrum of consciousness in Indian philosophy. Waking life, although more coherent than a dream, may not be fundamentally different from it. This view is not an invitation to despair, but rather a call to look beyond appearances and recognise a deeper reality.
Image Credit: Natalia Misintseva
The Upanishads contain several references to dreams, often exploring the nature of reality and consciousness. Here are a few examples:
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (4.3.9): This Upanishad compares the dream state to a world where the self creates its own reality, free from physical limitations, emphasising that consciousness can construct experiences without material existence:
"In dreams, the self shines by its own light, creating a world of its own... As a man passes from waking to dream, so does he pass at death into another world."
Mandukya Upanishad (Verse 7): This text explores the three states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—as well as the transcendental fourth state, Turiya. The dreaming state is described as a plane of mental experiences distinct from waking but closer to the ultimate reality.
"The dream state is the second quarter, where consciousness is turned inward, experiencing a world created by its own mind... both real and unreal."
Chandogya Upanishad (8.10.1): Here, dreams illustrate how the mind can experience joy, fear, or other sensations independent of the physical body, showing that the soul remains active beyond the waking realm.
"When a man is asleep, it is his mind that leads him through various dreams. In this way, he experiences pleasure and pain..."
These references underscore a central theme in the Upanishads: the illusory, shifting nature of experiences across states of consciousness, leading to the idea that waking reality might also be a form of dream. This theme of life as a "long dream" finds full expression in Advaita Vedanta, where reality, too, is seen as an extension of cosmic consciousness.
The Modern Skepticism: A Persistent Epistemological Puzzle
The question of whether we can ever truly distinguish dreams from reality remains unresolved, even in contemporary philosophy. Could our current experience meet all the criteria we associate with reality, while still being a dream? Some argue that no matter how convincing our experience may be, there is always the possibility it’s an illusion.
The philosopher Spinoza touches on this issue by asking if dreaming of an action, like thinking or climbing a mountain, could be distinguished from actually doing it. He questions whether some aspects of consciousness, such as thought itself, might persist in both dream and waking states. This issue is complex and remains an ongoing philosophical puzzle, illustrating that the boundaries between dream and reality may be more fluid than we typically assume.
Conclusion: Embracing Uncertainty
Dreams and reality form a complex tapestry of experiences that challenge our assumptions and compel us to examine the nature of knowledge. From the Upanishads to modern philosophers, the inquiry into the dream-like nature of reality highlights an essential truth: the line between dream and reality is not as clear-cut as we think.
This mystery invites us to embrace humility and curiosity in our quest for knowledge, recognising that what we hold as “real” may itself be subject to deeper layers of understanding. In contemplating dreams and reality, we may find not only philosophical insight but also a more profound connection to the vast possibilities of consciousness.
This blog is based on a talk by Prof. Arindam Chakrabarti - Dream, Reality, and Love in Yoga Vasistha
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