Feb. 18, 2026
Sleep, Dream, Waking Consciousness, Self-Awareness and Spiritual Development
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pg. 98This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/sleep-dream-waking-consciousness-self-awareness-and-spiritual-development/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
#Sri Aurobindo #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #sleep #dream #waking consciousness #vital worlds #self-awareness #brainwaves #meditation
1
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:04,400
The physical consciousness is
the primary seat of the guna of
2
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:09,080
tamas in the being in general,
and thus when the waking
3
00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,760
consciousness of the mental and
vital levels is in abeyance
4
00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:17,600
during sleep, there is a natural
tendency for the tamasic energy
5
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,840
to come forward for a time.
One of the first questions to
6
00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,720
arise is what happens to the
mental and vital consciousness
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,720
during sleep.
Some speculate that they simply
8
00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,800
go into a state of inactivity or
lesser activity.
9
00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,840
What we can say is that the
sleep state tends ordinarily to
10
00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:44,160
remove the self-awareness.
When the consciousness is active
11
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:47,720
and outward focused, our brain
waves tend to operate at a
12
00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:52,600
certain frequency, generally
called beta waves with a cycle
13
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:58,400
of between 12 and 30 Hertz.
As we move the awareness inwards
14
00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:04,040
and calm these waves, the next
cycle, called alpha waves, takes
15
00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,960
over with a frequency range of 8
to 12 Hertz.
16
00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,200
Next come Theta waves with a
lower frequency between 4:00 and
17
00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:18,560
8:00 Hertz.
Delta waves at .5 to 4 Hertz are
18
00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,040
characteristic of periods of
deep sleep.
19
00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:26,240
Dream states tend to vibrate at
ranges between alpha and beta.
20
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,360
For the most part, although
still mostly absent in dreams,
21
00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,000
is the conscious interactive
awareness of the waking state.
22
00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:41,200
Gamma waves from 30 Hertz to 100
Hertz are evident in highly
23
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,720
focused concentration and
cognition.
24
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,640
Lucid dreaming may also share
some oscillations in the gamma
25
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,680
wave range.
Meditation tends to range
26
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,680
between the alpha and Theta
brain waves, while those who are
27
00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:02,040
highly developed in meditation
may exhibit gamma wavelength
28
00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,880
activity.
The activity of the dream state
29
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,360
appears to be a transcription of
impressions either being
30
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:14,000
processed from the waking state
or from some access to mental or
31
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,800
vital planes that are the
natural seat of the mental and
32
00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:22,600
vital consciousness we integrate
into our waking self-awareness
33
00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,760
to some degree.
With an overview of the various
34
00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,360
states of consciousness, their
characteristic brain wave
35
00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,240
activity, and the interaction
between these different States
36
00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,160
and the various planes of
existence, we can begin to
37
00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,680
understand the role of sleep as
we move consciousness out to
38
00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,720
other realms and let the body
and the subconscious action of
39
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,280
the being work to restore
balance, reduce tension, and
40
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,520
provide the opportunity to heal
and replenish the body's energy.
41
00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,320
To become conscious in sleep
then, involves the ability to
42
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:05,680
create links and a transcriptive
ability between these different
43
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,360
realms.
Lucid dreaming and certain
44
00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,880
states of meditation seem to
create such bridges and may
45
00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,880
signal a way forward for sadhna
during sleep.
46
00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:21,240
Many people describe dreams that
are not just random or
47
00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,040
archetypal events, but which
have them dealing with vital
48
00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:29,080
beings or mental constructs in a
different way than the waking
49
00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,520
consciousness while maintaining
the awareness of their self
50
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,640
identity.
Some describe meeting with
51
00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,960
spiritual teachers or guides
during the sleep state or in
52
00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:45,520
dreams, and these experiences
may carry over into the waking
53
00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:50,720
state either with conscious
remembrance or as a subconscious
54
00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,880
impression that impacts their
external waking experience.
55
00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,920
In today's world, another factor
can impact all of these states
56
00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:05,360
of awareness, and that is the
prevalence of electronic devices
57
00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,440
and the stimulation they provide
through radiation of various
58
00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:14,080
frequencies and wavelengths.
These can be highly disruptive
59
00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,079
of the natural patterns
influencing an individual's
60
00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:22,840
ability to sleep at all, or by
disturbing the cycles that sleep
61
00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:25,120
creates throughout the period of
sleep.
62
00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,360
It is recommended to shut down
use of these devices at least
63
00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:35,400
several hours before the time of
sleep to reduce their disruptive
64
00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,200
impacts.
Those who are practicing
65
00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,640
spiritual sadhna can also
prepare for their time of sleep
66
00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:49,120
through practicing meditation,
prayer or remembrance, so that
67
00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:53,280
they carry that state into the
realm of sleep, which keeps them
68
00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:58,040
centered and helps to avoid the
disruptions that can occur when
69
00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,360
chaotic energies or temasic
influences predominate.
70
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:08,880
Srioro Bindu observes Quote.
The consciousness in the night
71
00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,560
almost always descends below the
level of what one has gained by
72
00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,040
sadhna in the waking
consciousness, unless there are
73
00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:20,160
special experiences of an
uplifting character in the time
74
00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,600
of sleep, or unless the yogic
consciousness acquired is so
75
00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,280
strong in the physical itself as
to counteract the pull of the
76
00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:33,480
subconscient inertia.
In ordinary sleep, the
77
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,360
consciousness in the body is
that of the subconscient
78
00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,640
physical, which is a diminished
consciousness, not awake and
79
00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:42,560
alive like the rest of the
being.
80
00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:46,040
The rest of the being stands
back and part of its
81
00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,880
consciousness goes out into
other plains and regions and has
82
00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:55,560
experiences which are recorded
in dreams such as that you have
83
00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,600
related.
You say you go to very bad
84
00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,600
places and have experiences like
the one you narrate, but that is
85
00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,560
not a sign necessarily of
anything wrong in you.
86
00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,880
It merely means that you go into
the vital world as everybody
87
00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:16,040
does, and the vital world is
full of such places and such
88
00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:20,120
experiences.
What you have to do is not so
89
00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:24,080
much to avoid it all going
there, for it cannot be avoided
90
00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:29,280
altogether, but to go with full
protection until you get mastery
91
00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:31,800
in these regions of super
physical nature.
92
00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,520
That is one reason why you
should remember the Mother and
93
00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,520
open to the Force before
sleeping, for the more you get
94
00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,160
that habit and do it
successfully, the more the
95
00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:49,040
protection will be with you.
End Quote reference Sri
96
00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,080
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga chapter
5.
97
00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,720
Physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
98
00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,320
illness.
Page 98.
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:04,400
The physical consciousness is
the primary seat of the guna of
2
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:09,080
tamas in the being in general,
and thus when the waking
3
00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,760
consciousness of the mental and
vital levels is in abeyance
4
00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:17,600
during sleep, there is a natural
tendency for the tamasic energy
5
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,840
to come forward for a time.
One of the first questions to
6
00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,720
arise is what happens to the
mental and vital consciousness
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,720
during sleep.
Some speculate that they simply
8
00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,800
go into a state of inactivity or
lesser activity.
9
00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,840
What we can say is that the
sleep state tends ordinarily to
10
00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:44,160
remove the self-awareness.
When the consciousness is active
11
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:47,720
and outward focused, our brain
waves tend to operate at a
12
00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:52,600
certain frequency, generally
called beta waves with a cycle
13
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:58,400
of between 12 and 30 Hertz.
As we move the awareness inwards
14
00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:04,040
and calm these waves, the next
cycle, called alpha waves, takes
15
00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,960
over with a frequency range of 8
to 12 Hertz.
16
00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,200
Next come Theta waves with a
lower frequency between 4:00 and
17
00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:18,560
8:00 Hertz.
Delta waves at .5 to 4 Hertz are
18
00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,040
characteristic of periods of
deep sleep.
19
00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:26,240
Dream states tend to vibrate at
ranges between alpha and beta.
20
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,360
For the most part, although
still mostly absent in dreams,
21
00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,000
is the conscious interactive
awareness of the waking state.
22
00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:41,200
Gamma waves from 30 Hertz to 100
Hertz are evident in highly
23
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,720
focused concentration and
cognition.
24
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,640
Lucid dreaming may also share
some oscillations in the gamma
25
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,680
wave range.
Meditation tends to range
26
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,680
between the alpha and Theta
brain waves, while those who are
27
00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:02,040
highly developed in meditation
may exhibit gamma wavelength
28
00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,880
activity.
The activity of the dream state
29
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,360
appears to be a transcription of
impressions either being
30
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:14,000
processed from the waking state
or from some access to mental or
31
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,800
vital planes that are the
natural seat of the mental and
32
00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:22,600
vital consciousness we integrate
into our waking self-awareness
33
00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,760
to some degree.
With an overview of the various
34
00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,360
states of consciousness, their
characteristic brain wave
35
00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,240
activity, and the interaction
between these different States
36
00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,160
and the various planes of
existence, we can begin to
37
00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,680
understand the role of sleep as
we move consciousness out to
38
00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,720
other realms and let the body
and the subconscious action of
39
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,280
the being work to restore
balance, reduce tension, and
40
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,520
provide the opportunity to heal
and replenish the body's energy.
41
00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,320
To become conscious in sleep
then, involves the ability to
42
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:05,680
create links and a transcriptive
ability between these different
43
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,360
realms.
Lucid dreaming and certain
44
00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,880
states of meditation seem to
create such bridges and may
45
00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,880
signal a way forward for sadhna
during sleep.
46
00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:21,240
Many people describe dreams that
are not just random or
47
00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,040
archetypal events, but which
have them dealing with vital
48
00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:29,080
beings or mental constructs in a
different way than the waking
49
00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,520
consciousness while maintaining
the awareness of their self
50
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,640
identity.
Some describe meeting with
51
00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,960
spiritual teachers or guides
during the sleep state or in
52
00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:45,520
dreams, and these experiences
may carry over into the waking
53
00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:50,720
state either with conscious
remembrance or as a subconscious
54
00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,880
impression that impacts their
external waking experience.
55
00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,920
In today's world, another factor
can impact all of these states
56
00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:05,360
of awareness, and that is the
prevalence of electronic devices
57
00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,440
and the stimulation they provide
through radiation of various
58
00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:14,080
frequencies and wavelengths.
These can be highly disruptive
59
00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,079
of the natural patterns
influencing an individual's
60
00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:22,840
ability to sleep at all, or by
disturbing the cycles that sleep
61
00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:25,120
creates throughout the period of
sleep.
62
00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,360
It is recommended to shut down
use of these devices at least
63
00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:35,400
several hours before the time of
sleep to reduce their disruptive
64
00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,200
impacts.
Those who are practicing
65
00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,640
spiritual sadhna can also
prepare for their time of sleep
66
00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:49,120
through practicing meditation,
prayer or remembrance, so that
67
00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:53,280
they carry that state into the
realm of sleep, which keeps them
68
00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:58,040
centered and helps to avoid the
disruptions that can occur when
69
00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,360
chaotic energies or temasic
influences predominate.
70
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:08,880
Srioro Bindu observes Quote.
The consciousness in the night
71
00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,560
almost always descends below the
level of what one has gained by
72
00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,040
sadhna in the waking
consciousness, unless there are
73
00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:20,160
special experiences of an
uplifting character in the time
74
00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,600
of sleep, or unless the yogic
consciousness acquired is so
75
00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,280
strong in the physical itself as
to counteract the pull of the
76
00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:33,480
subconscient inertia.
In ordinary sleep, the
77
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,360
consciousness in the body is
that of the subconscient
78
00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,640
physical, which is a diminished
consciousness, not awake and
79
00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:42,560
alive like the rest of the
being.
80
00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:46,040
The rest of the being stands
back and part of its
81
00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,880
consciousness goes out into
other plains and regions and has
82
00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:55,560
experiences which are recorded
in dreams such as that you have
83
00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,600
related.
You say you go to very bad
84
00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,600
places and have experiences like
the one you narrate, but that is
85
00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,560
not a sign necessarily of
anything wrong in you.
86
00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,880
It merely means that you go into
the vital world as everybody
87
00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:16,040
does, and the vital world is
full of such places and such
88
00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:20,120
experiences.
What you have to do is not so
89
00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:24,080
much to avoid it all going
there, for it cannot be avoided
90
00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:29,280
altogether, but to go with full
protection until you get mastery
91
00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:31,800
in these regions of super
physical nature.
92
00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,520
That is one reason why you
should remember the Mother and
93
00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,520
open to the Force before
sleeping, for the more you get
94
00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,160
that habit and do it
successfully, the more the
95
00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:49,040
protection will be with you.
End Quote reference Sri
96
00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,080
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga chapter
5.
97
00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,720
Physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
98
00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,320
illness.
Page 98.
