So I had this thing as a child....

[eriko]

I think I was ten or below ten when this used to happen. Sometimes I used to get disillusioned that the reality is not the reality actually. I mean like I have been sitting on the bed wide awake and suddenly get these thoughts that I am actually sleeping and this is just a dream. So what I do was to force myself to believe that I was wide awake and and not dreaming. It happened quite a number of times but as I grew up it stopped and I forgot about it.

Then recently I read something written about Tao and that he had a dream that he was butterfly and when he woke up he could not decide if he was Tao dreaming of butterfly or butterfly dreaming of Tao.

Both are not the same thing but there is a similarity. When the disillusion thing used to happen, I used to feel that I was being stupid and I should concentrate on whatever was in front of me.

It could very well come out be be nothing. But I am just a bit curious, if something like this happens then why does it happen? And why did Tao get confused about himself?

[Onkara]

When I was very young, perhaps 5, I experienced something similar. I remember sitting in the car and asking myself “Why does this all feel like a dream? I am awake now”. I remember it so well and your post reminds me of it. :)

It occurred again when I was 19, but stronger, even as I was driving. I used a similar method as you describe to push it to the back of my mind. I would look at an object and tell myself it was real. Gently the feeling left.

Now I can control it and in fact I can make it go back the opposite way, so to speak. So I don’t think you should feel any fear or worry about that state nor feel it was silly. It happens because of the way we sense things in relation to ourselves. Somteimes we can be so relaxed that it is like a dream. It cannot harm. Instead as you say you can put it to the back of your mind using the technique you feel comfortable with to allow you to concentrate on socialising or work.

To me the story about a butterfly dreaming is illustrative of how real dreams can be and how similar they are to being awake. Dream is similar to life isn’t it? Sometimes our dreams are so real we wake up and still try to solve the dream problem for a few minutes. Life is wonderful and the experience of it is what is important to the author, so much that he is trying to show us that it is the experience which is important and we can forget ourselves (our human/butterfly body) in the experience of life. This is one way, others may share theirs.

I hope that helps.

[DavidC]

[...]I read something written about Tao and that he had a dream that he was butterfly and when he woke up he could not decide if he was Tao dreaming of butterfly or butterfly dreaming of Tao.[...]

I think you mean Taoist/Zen parable that may have been written by Lao-tzu. However, it says he could not decide if he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly, etc..


It could very well come out be be nothing. But I am just a bit curious, if something like this happens then why does it happen? And why did Tao get confused about himself?I do not know why it happens, but I think it is just one of many instances of not knowing/trying and also succeeding at a method of enlightenment. Until it happens one is agnostic whether one thinks so or not and always has some incomplete/doubtful understanding. One method is dream Yoga. As a dream Yogi I used to remember most of my nights' dreams and know you can dream you are in bed and wake up and do so several times. Are you sure you did not do this and then go back to sleep?

I do not see why it is important unless it is affecting your life. If you think it is important, then why: what do you mean by 'reality?' It also sounds like a typical thought to have before the mind is calmed, which is when reality is.

[eriko]

When I was very young, perhaps 5, I experienced something similar. I remember sitting in the car and asking myself “Why does this all feel like a dream? I am awake now”. I remember it so well and your post reminds me of it. :)

It occurred again when I was 19, but stronger, even as I was driving. I used a similar method as you describe to push it to the back of my mind. I would look at an object and tell myself it was real. Gently the feeling left.

Now I can control it and in fact I can make it go back the opposite way, so to speak. So I don’t think you should feel any fear or worry about that state nor feel it was silly. It happens because of the way we sense things in relation to ourselves. Somteimes we can be so relaxed that it is like a dream. It cannot harm. Instead as you say you can put it to the back of your mind using the technique you feel comfortable with to allow you to concentrate on socialising or work.

This is very interesting. I don't have any trouble concentrating on my work anymore because it used to happen to me as a child but I was just curious if there could an explanation for it. Thanks for sharing your experience.


To me the story about a butterfly dreaming is illustrative of how real dreams can be and how similar they are to being awake. Dream is similar to life isn’t it? Sometimes our dreams are so real we wake up and still try to solve the dream problem for a few minutes. Life is wonderful and the experience of it is what is important to the author, so much that he is trying to show us that it is the experience which is important and we can forget ourselves (our human/butterfly body) in the experience of life. This is one way, others may share theirs.


That's a good way of looking at it.


I think you mean Taoist/Zen parable that may have been written by Lao-tzu. However, it says he could not decide if he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly, etc..

Frankly I could not remember the name but yes now I think it was Lao-Tzu.



I do not know why it happens, but I think it is just one of many instances of not knowing/trying and also succeeding at a method of enlightenment. Until it happens one is agnostic whether one thinks so or not and always has some incomplete/doubtful understanding. One method is dream Yoga. As a dream Yogi I used to remember most of my nights' dreams and know you can dream you are in bed and wake up and do so several times. Are you sure you did not do this and then go back to sleep?
No never. It always used to happen when I was wide awake but yes I used to be alone at that time and probably in deep thought, maybe or maybe not.



I do not see why it is important unless it is affecting your life. If you think it is important, then why: what do you mean by 'reality?' It also sounds like a typical thought to have before the mind is calmed, which is when reality is.

No it isn't anything important to me. But I was just curious. And it is a good thing that I asked. What I used to feel is that everything is dream and I am going to wake up soon. That is the feeling that I used to have.

But it is not something that important or anything and I have my answer now. And it does not happen any longer.

[Onkara]

But it is not something that important or anything and I have my answer now. And it does not happen any longer.

Hi Eriko
Thanks for the feedback. I am pleased you feel you have an answer.
Enjoy your day.