Waking Up

It is only when you wake up that you realize you were dreaming.

It is only when you become aware that you realize you were not being aware.

It is only when you become present that you realize you were not being present.

It is only when you become conscious that you realize you were being unconscious.

So one cannot answer the question

Are you awake/aware/present/conscious ?

When one is being asleep/unaware/not present/unconscious.

There is no way to show someone that he is dreaming.

One may only point this fact to him in various ways.

By telling him that he is

• Behaving mechanically
• Confusing beliefs with reality
• Acting based on conditioning
• Acting from a place of fear

But ultimately, it is upon the sleeper to realize that he is asleep.

When and why would the dreamer realize that he is dreaming ?

First, the unaware must realize that he is unaware.

Generally only to some extent, because otherwise he would become fully aware or enlightened.

From there, the sleeper must have only one constant and burning desire.

To realize further and further how much he is asleep.

Even if that entails realizing that he has spent his whole life deep asleep.