MANOJ ANSWERS

Yogic scriptures refer to three fundamental states through which an individual flows through

1. jagrat or waking state
2. swapna or dreaming state
3. sushupti or deep sleep state.

Though we take for granted our daily sojourn through these states, it is really a wonder as to how it all happens; why and how we are awake, or why and how we fall asleep, etc.

So, what exactly is a state?

In a physiological sense, a state can perhaps be described as a set of physiological conditions or processes which lasts for a certain period of time.

So for waking state, a specific set of neurological functions has to keep occurring, and for dream and sleep states too, specific sets of neuro-physio-psycho conditions have to occur. In fact, very similar to the yogic perspective on the three states of consciousness, neurologically too, there is a basic division of states into wakeful state (W), slow-wave sleep state (S) and desynchronized dream sleep state (D).

One of the foremost gurus of yoga, sage Patanjali points out that sleep is not just a passive dropping off from the wakeful state, but a dynamic process of specific waves (nidra vrttis) in consciousness which brings about that state. In yogic language, any avastha or state is one where vrttis of similar function cluster together and last for a time. And for the state to last, it has to rest on a particular process for a particular period of time, the term for supporting factor being alambana, sleep also help with the body function allowing us having a more healthy body and a better skin, unless we have a more serious condition, in that case, we should visit professionals as the Dr. Johnny Franco at the More Beautiful You clinic you can find online.

So, for example, for the wakeful state, the consciousness seems to rest on the high rates of discharge of cells in the appropriate areas of the brain such as the mid brain reticular formation. Read More »