Self in Dreamless Sleep
When a man is asleep, with senses withdrawn and serene and sees no dream-that is the Self. This is immortal, fearless. This is Brahman. Then Indra went away satisfied in heart. But even before he had reached the gods, he saw this difficulty: In truth it (i.e. the self in dreamless sleep) does not know itself as 'I am it,' nor these other creatures. It has therefore reached in dreamless sleep utter annihilation, as it were. I do not see any good in this. He returned with fuel in hand. To him Prajapati said: Well, Indra, you went away satisfied in heart; now for what purpose have you come back? He (Indra) said: Venerable Sir, in truth it (i.e. the self in dreamless sleep) does not know itself as 'I am it,' nor these other creatures. It has therefore reached utter annihilation, as it were. I do not see any good in this. So it is, Indra, replied Prajapati. I shall explain the Self further to you and nothing else. Live with me another five years. Indra lived with Prajapati another five years. This made in all one hundred and one years. Therefore people say that Indra lived with Prajapati as a brahmacharin one hundred and one years. - Chandogya Upanishad VIII, XI,1 - 3
When a man is asleep, with senses withdrawn and serene and sees no dream-that is the Self. This is immortal, fearless. This is Brahman. Then Indra went away satisfied in heart. But even before he had reached the gods, he saw this difficulty: In truth it (i.e. the self in dreamless sleep) does not know itself as 'I am it,' nor these other creatures. It has therefore reached in dreamless sleep utter annihilation, as it were. I do not see any good in this. He returned with fuel in hand. To him Prajapati said: Well, Indra, you went away satisfied in heart; now for what purpose have you come back? He (Indra) said: Venerable Sir, in truth it (i.e. the self in dreamless sleep) does not know itself as 'I am it,' nor these other creatures. It has therefore reached utter annihilation, as it were. I do not see any good in this. So it is, Indra, replied Prajapati. I shall explain the Self further to you and nothing else. Live with me another five years. Indra lived with Prajapati another five years. This made in all one hundred and one years. Therefore people say that Indra lived with Prajapati as a brahmacharin one hundred and one years. - Chandogya Upanishad VIII, XI,1 - 3
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