Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Ch.2 1.14-15 Lecture 48 on 05 July 2026 Q&A

Question: Upāsana of Observing One's Own Suṣupti (Deep Sleep)

Question: Mahārāj, in upāsanā, where even the upāsanā of observing one's own suṣupti seems like a beautiful upāsanā by itself—very peace-giving. But what does the upāsaka do? Does he just observe his own deep sleep state?

Response: That comes only after the attainment of Brahmajñāna. As I said, there is a limitation. But one point: if you have heard, the person is not unconscious during deep sleep. When we say he doesn't know, he is not aware of the waking and dream states.

Questioner: Yes.

Response: He is aware completely. "I am in a blissful state." He is aware: "I am in a timeless, spaceless, causationless state." That is why he says he slept happily. How do we know? Because you cannot recollect something which you never experienced. If you have not seen a person in your whole life, you cannot remember that "I have seen that person." So what do you say upon waking up? You recollect—isn't it? Yes, "I did not know anything else except in this state, and I was so happy." Who was happy? Did I come and sleep—deep sleep—for you, and then who should be happy?

Questioner: You will only be happy.

Response: That means if I am in deep sleep, then you are not. Yeah, then you must be in some other state—isn't it?

Questioner: Yes, Maharaj.

Response: There is no such thing called "I am not in deep sleep, but I am not also in other states."

Questioner: Right, one of the three.

Response: I am fully aware—this point, that word "I did not know anything" is misinterpreted, misunderstood by many people.

Questioner: Yes, Mahārāj, that I was unconscious.

Response: I am not conscious of the waking and dream, which means I am not conscious of the entire creation excepting my own self. And you don't say "I am an individual self," because you use the word "individuality" only in the context of universality. So you don't even say "I"—that thought will never arise. I am pure consciousness, but because it doesn't last long, therefore it is called one of the states of experience.

Interestingly, we will explore it in our future classes: what wakes up a person from deep sleep? And the clear answer we get—especially with the help of Śaṅkarācārya—is: it is the karmaphala. Because you may have to be at 5 o'clock duty. Sure, yeah, and there is no choice for you. So why do we have to attend duty at 5 o'clock? Because you did such a karma that you cannot go leisurely at 11 o'clock and come back at 3 o'clock. It is karmaphala. And some people cannot sleep properly because of worrying thoughts. Yes, when you are worried or when you have to catch a plane, for example, how many times will you be waking up? So that karmaphala is what makes either deep sleep longer or shorter, deeper or shallow. So everything is karma only. A person who doesn't have anything to worry sleeps unbrokenly. But the paradox is: he doesn't need to sleep long. It is only a fellow who is worrying, to forget his worries—he has to sleep for a long time—isn't it?

Questioner: Yes, Mahārāj. Thank you Maharaj !