All World
Gayatri Pariwar

We all sleep and dream. Though most of us do not remember, most of the times, whether we saw a dream or what we saw in a dream, the topic of dreams fascinates us. Dreams have also attracted the scholarly minds of ancient and modern researchers. They have attempted deciphering the process of dreaming, its psychological and spiritual aspects; precognitive and therapeutic roles of dreams, etc[1,2].

Why Do Dreams Occur?

The origin of dreams is elucidated in the Yoga Sutras as a result of causal or incidental transition of mind from its conscious to unconscious state or from a state of cognition and retention to that of subtler impulses of mental activities. Whatever one experiences in the subconscious state of sleep, often appears as a dream; the ‘plot’ of this dream is shaped as per the natural tendencies of the dreamer’s mind and body.

The ancient science of Indian medicine (Ayurveda) classifies the natural tendencies of mind and body in three principal categories of pitta, v³ta and kapha. Frequent scenes of fire and light in the dreams are characteristics of the pitta tendencies. The people having v³ta as the major tendency often see sky and experience winds and movements in space in their dreams. The dreams of those having kapha tendency are preoccupied with varieties of scenes associated with water –– ponds, rivers, sea etc.

The views of Professor Kelvin, a reputed psychologist and expert of dream sciences in the U.S.A. largely coincide with the explanations of the Indian philosophers. He defines dreams as collective manifestation of varied imaginations and reactions of the unconscious mind during sleep. Experiments on study of dreams affirm that the activities of the inner mind continue even in the dormant state of the conscious (external) mind. The conscious activities, flow of thoughts and associated visual representations disappear in this state. Impulses of the unconscious (subliminal) mind are then reflected as dreams.
The proportion and intensity of visual reflections in dreams is more prominent than the instances of speaking and hearing. This is why dreams are usually referred as “seeing a dream” or “saw in the dream”, etc. Physical and Biological sciences do not provide definite reasons or logical elucidation of dreams. Even the existence of dreams is doubted here, as no specific neuronal activity could be attributed to the origin and nature of dreams.

It is said that the countless inscriptions in the memory –– constituted by whatever we have ever perceived, thought or felt - are inconsequentially or systematically retrieved and expressed from time to time via dreams. But the deeper depths of memory and its hidden linkage with the subtle dimensions of consciousness remain unexplained in such ‘scientific’ interpretations. Modern research in Psychology and related Neurosciences too leaves the occult nature of dreams largely unappraised. Investigations into the occult psychological aspects and the subliminal reflections of the inner mind –– are the subject matter of spirituality which allows comprehensive analysis of dreams too.

Ms. Oscho Rokheodova of Russia had become blind, deaf and dumb at the age of five. Despite losing these principal faculties, she demonstrated outstanding talents in writing. Her brilliant book “My Perceptions and Conceptions of the World” highlights her experience with dreams. In her views, one can dream and feel the different movements and happenings in a dream without seeing them through the eyes. Scientific elucidation of such possibilities indicates that a blind person may not have visual perception of the scenes appearing in a dream but the smell and sound of the associated objects and activities might enable him / her to experience the dreams.
It is said that the type and quality of dreams usually depend upon one’s intrinsic nature, tendencies and inclinations. It is also argued that by controlling his inner powers one can control the nature of his dreams too. Maharshi Ved Vyas mentions in the “Brahma Sutra” that –– dreams of a serene and intuitive mind often indicate the major events of future. By prudent analysis of these subtle indications and arousing the will-power of the inner self, one can minimize the negative consequences of the ill-omens or unfortunate events and may enhance the probability of ushering of favorable times kept in the stock of future.

The modern researchers have also begun to recognize the predominant role of the inner (unconscious) mind in the dreams of deep-sleep. Analysis of specific categories and characteristics of dreams might be used to elucidate the hidden secrets and complexities of human psychology and to help in diagnosis and treatment of psychosomatic and psychiatric problems. This would lay the scientific foundation of Dream Therapy. The ancient science of spirituality may be reinvestigated to expand the scope of this research.

Role of Subconscious and Unconscious States of Mind:

For many people, the world of dreams is a distinct world beyond the peripheries of our conscious physical state of existence. It is believed in several parts of the world that dreams are ‘seen’ by the soul when it roves outside the body in a state of deep-sleep. Yet another set of convictions affirms that dreams are expressions of –– esoteric signals, false manifestations of some dead souls or supernatural powers, glimpses of future, etc. Whatever be the myths associated with dreams, the curiosity of mankind to grasp the nature of dreams and peep into the reality of their somewhat ‘occult-like’ experiences has always been irresistible.

Modern science has also attempted investigating the facts about dreams. Elucidations and analyses in this regard fall under the fields of research in Psychology –– especially that of the unconscious mind. Twentieth century developments in this direction have given birth to a new branch of Parapsychology.

Research on the brain functions during sleep categorizes two states –– (i) deep sleep and (ii) active sleep. The state of active sleep is described as that of Rapid Eye Movement (REM). It has been found that dreams are frequently seen during REM. As the name suggests, the movements of eyeballs – beneath the closed eyelids – is very rapid in this state. Electro Encephalogram (EEG) of brain response in this state indicates some kind of restlessness of mind; perspiration glands are also stimulated during this state.

Scientific studies reveal that everybody dreams every night. Although one may not remember having seen any dream, on an average every normal person would see five to six dreams of varied duration and nature. Most frequently, the first dream (or dreamy reflections of mind) appears during the first hour of sleep. The rapidity of movements of eyeballs changes according to the speed of the activities in the dream, as it happens while the mind is engrossed in watching a movie or a play.

Modern psychoanalysts of dreams classify them as (i) active and (ii) stationary or dull dreams. The first category is attributed to the dreams in which one finds himself as engaged in some activity or as part of a dynamic scene of the dream. On the other hand, the dreamer is merely a silent onlooker of the stationary dreams; he is not a part of or an actor in such dreams. Stationary dreams may sometimes inspire a new thought or flash out a novel idea in the viewer’s mind. Dreams of this kind also allay mental tension and stress and soothe the nerves. The vital energy required for the brain functions during a dream is negligible as compared to the positive returns in terms of reducing the pressures of untoward impressions registered in the subconscious mind.

The patterns of alpha – waves in the impulses of brain, recorded in the state of dreaming confirm that this state is not different from the subconscious or active state of mind. When we are awake, it is our conscious (external) mind, which remains active. It is the subliminal activities of the unconscious mind, which take over when we are fast asleep and dreaming.

Most activities in our daily life are performed in what is called as the subconscious state of mind. Except if the conscious mind is alert and focused, we carry out most of our works absent-mindedly, in this ‘partly asleep’ state. Inferences drawn from common observations indicate that on an average, people use substantial focus of the conscious mind for only about a minute in an hour. This way, if we leave out 8 hours of sleep in general, we make best use of our conscious mind only for about 16 minutes during the 16 hours of our physically awakened state every day. The same is true of the absolute activity of the unconscious mind. It is only a negligible fraction – may be a few seconds in our dreaming state - when our unconscious mind is completely charged.

Nobel Laureate Prof. Edgar D. Adrian argues that our unconscious mind is gradually woken up and activated when we sleep. The activities of the unconscious mind start manifesting as the conscious mind falls asleep. When one goes to bed and begins to relax with closed eyes, a change in the pattern of brain waves is recorded –– reflecting gradually slower impulses of neuronal excitations. Random fluctuations are noticed after a while, followed by faster vibrations (of higher frequencies). Later on, as the subject falls in a state of deep sleep, his brain waves become uniform, consistent and appear to have lower frequencies.

It is said that the power and potentials of unconscious mind are infinite as compared to those of the conscious mind and its intellectual faculties. The conscious system of mind makes perception, focused thinking, reasoning, imagination, and conceptualization possible and enables acquisition and understanding of (external) knowledge. Efficiency of decision making, trenchancy of analysis, cleverness and sagacity largely depend upon how one trains, refines and makes use of this mental endowment. It is surprising to note that despite being the regulator of intellectual creativity and talents, the conscious mind cannot generate or control the flux and tides of thoughts and emotions on its own.

Enormous varieties of thoughts of mutually contradicting and diversified nature continue flying – like bits of dry leaves in stormy winds, in the domain of conscious mind. Infinite bubbles of emotional excitements and depressions blow and burst on the surface of sentiments almost every cognizable instance of time.

Most people do not even feel the need to control the perpetual fluctuations in the ocean of (consciousness of) mind. Their imaginations and plans too are drawn on the watery surface of mental excitations. The initial enthusiasm with which they initiate their ambitious plans begins to wane out soon after taking off. They can hardly take foresighted decisions.

Inspirations of improvement and rise do occur in everyone’s mind in some point of time or the other. But, hardly a few know how to focus and channelize the powers of mind aroused by these inner impulses. Concentration and control over the conscious mind and creative and righteous use of the intellectual faculties can be accomplished by the deeper sources of mental strength and enlightenment. The hidden forces of the piety, peace and power of the inner self seem to shape the nature of mind.
A wild lion is the king of his forest. Once caught and captured by a ringmaster, this mighty knight is made to dance to the latter’s tunes. A somewhat similar is the case of the human mind. In the physically awakened state, the unconscious mind remains suppressed under the dominance of extrovert intellect. The state of deep sleep gives it the liberty to rise and express itself at will. Dreams are expositions of the existence and activities of the unconscious in this free and empowered state.

As all the sense organs remain practically dormant during sleep, one can’t experience dreams with clear perception of the audio, visual or vocal expressions; nor can one find a logical reason for a specific type and sequence of reflections in that state. This is why dreams often appear to be a child’s game played by the unconscious mind. The latter seems to draw arbitrary sketches from the multicolored memories stored in its stock and display the ‘film’ of dreams generated at random.

A little deeper look into the reflections of the unconscious mind reveals that the types of dreams are not always so random. Hidden in these are the reflections of memory and the nature and impulses of the unconscious mind and its inner core. The root-cause of mental complexities as well as the source of mental power, sagacity and talents lies in this inner mind. Thorough analysis of dreams may therefore be as useful in treatment of psychological problems and in evaluation of one’s personality as the pathological tests are in the diagnosis and cure of a disease. Psychotherapy based on evaluation of dreams can be established on scientific platform by deeper studies of human mind. This would also open up the possibilities of refinement and evolution of the subliminal powers of the inner self.


References/Additional Reading:

Chamatkari Vicharon Se Bhara Manaviya Mastishka. Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya Samagra Vangmaya Vol. 18 Akhand Jyoti Sansthan, Mathura; UP, India. 1995.


Sleep, Dream and Spiritual Reflections. (Book compiled from translation of some sections of the above volume). Publ. Shri Wedmata Gayatri Trust, Shantikunj, Hardwar 2000. (2rd Print, 2006)