We die to everything we know every night when we fall asleep. Sleep, like death, is a passage from the plane of material reality to a more subtle realm.
Our perception of change over which we have no control is what we term death. Sleep is a transformation as well, but unlike death, we willingly yield, relax, and ‘let go' into it. What is the reason behind this?
We know how to do it since we've done it before and recall sleep as being pleasant and rejuvenating. However, do you recall ever dying?
- Consciousness awareness is constant; we feel as though we exist even when sleeping, and when we wake up in the morning, we are aware of the same ‘I' consciousness that existed before we went to sleep.
- The ego, or ‘I' awareness, has remained unchanged. We may feel disoriented for a few moments after waking up after a night's sleep, especially if we have experienced a particularly unconscious sort of slumber.
- We become more oriented and aware of our environment as a result. We wake up from our night dreams to begin our day dreams, and so it continues, much like the birth and death cycle.
- We are conscious of sensations, smells, touch, and noises as we settle down to sleep. We then fall asleep as our consciousness begins to fade.
- The mind-ego and ideas fall into a subtle condition as the subtle body withdraws from the physical form. There is no consciousness of the physical body and no sensation of discomfort when sleeping.
- Only when the mind and senses are linked to the body can pain occur.
Pleasure or misery have no effect on the Self, our essential spiritual essence. Lord Krishna reminds us of our everlasting and eternal real nature in the Bhagavad Gita's second chapter.
- As we see in this life with the transformation of a young body into an aged one, the soul takes a new body after death. These changes do not deceive those who have grasped the actual nature of existence. 2:00:13
- The indwelling Self is eternal and never gives birth or dies. It has always existed and will continue to exist indefinitely. It has no beginning, end, or change since it is eternal, everlasting, and immutable. When a body is killed, it is not slain. 2:00:20
- As a person discards worn-out clothes and replaces them with new ones, the embodied soul discards a worn-out body and replaces it with a new one. 2:00:22
- The Self is beyond the ability of any weapon to harm it or the ability of fire to burn it. Water does not wet it, and the wind does not dry it. 2:00:23
- The Self is indivisible and indissoluble, and neither fire nor air can modify it. The soul is eternal, omnipresent, unchangingly stable, and ever-present. 2:00:24
- Recognize that the soul, or spirit-self, is un-manifested, beyond the mind's capacity to comprehend, and unchangeable. As a result, recognizing this allows you to overcome your unwarranted fears and pain. 2:00:25
You may also want to read more about Yoga here.
You may also want to read more about Yoga Asanas and Exercises here.