Deep Sleep (Skt. सुषुप्ति Sushupti) is a natural state of the mind in which the senses and mental processes are temporarily dissolved and deactivated. In the nondual framework of the path of knowledge, deep sleep is studied as a profound gateway to understanding the nature of existence.

Deactivation of the Mind

• Withdrawal of Attention: In deep sleep, attention is completely withdrawn from both the physical and mental layers of memory. The active mind, thoughts, ego, and senses shut down.

• State of Potential: Although the active mind is absent, the memory structures do not disappear. They remain in a dormant, potential form within the causal body, waiting to be triggered back into wakefulness by previous desires and karmic impressions.

• The Void: Because there is no memory formation and no active processes to record change, there is no experience of space, time, or individuality. This state of nothingness is actually emptiness the ground of pure potential.

The Constant Witness

• Presence of Consciousness: Even though the mind is inactive, the experiencer (the Self) remains present throughout the deep sleep state. The fact that we wake up and recall, "I slept peacefully," proves that there was a witness to this state of peaceful emptiness.

• Turiya (the fourth state): When deep sleep is accompanied by conscious awareness, it is called Yoga Nidra or Turiya (the Fourth State). It is the eternal, unchanging state of Existence upon which the temporary bubbles of waking and dreaming appear and disappear.

See also

Experiencer, causal body, emptiness, time, memory, awareness.