8. Ráma said:—Please sir, tell me the difference of the states of waking and dreaming, and what are the states of waking watchfulness, waking dream and waking delusion.
9. Vasishtha answered:—The waking state is that wherein we have a sure reliance; and that is called dreaming, in which we place no certain reliance and are believed to be untrue.
10. That which is seen for a moment (as true), and as it were in the waking state, is called a dream; but if the object is seen at a distance of time and place, it is said to be waking dream or dreaming wakefulness.
11. The state of waking dream is again of longer or shorter duration, in both of which the visions appear the same at all places and times.
12. Dreaming also appears as waking, as long as it lasts; but waking seems as dreaming, when the objects of its vision are not lasting.
13. A dream which is understood as an occurrence of the waking state, is believed as waking, (as the prolonged dream of Harish Chandra); but the inward consciousness of dreaming makes it a dream.
14. As long as one knows anything to be lasting before him, so long he believes himself to be waking, but no sooner is it lost to him, than he thinks himself to have been dreaming of it.
15. Hear now how it is. There is the principle of life in the body, which causes it to live; this vital element is an electric force, which is termed the life.
16. When the body has its activity with the powers of the mind, speech and the other members of action, it is to be understood, that its vital element is put to motion by the vital breath which it breathes.
17. This breath circulating through out the whole body, gives it the powers of sensibility and consciousness, which have their seats in the heart and mind, wherein the erroneous conception of the world is hidden.