P.D. Ouspensky's Perspective on Sleep

P.D. Ouspensky's Perspective on Sleep: Awakening from the Slumber of Habitual Living

P.D. Ouspensky introduced a thought-provoking concept of sleep that extends beyond the realm of physical rest. He termed our ordinary state of existence as "waking sleep," wherein most individuals operate on autopilot, driven by ingrained habits and thoughts.

Ouspensky's teachings emphasize the importance of self-awareness to escape the confines of "waking sleep." This involves observing our thoughts, actions, and emotions without judgment. By cultivating self-remembering and deliberate presence, we can elevate our consciousness to higher states of self-awareness. This allows us to make conscious choices rather than being enslaved by automatic reactions. For instance, applying this approach, I gradually started noticing how my reactions to certain triggers were habitual, and I began to respond more intentionally.

Ouspensky's insights illuminate the layers of consciousness beyond the traditional notion of sleep. His teachings encourage us to awaken from the slumber of routine living, to be truly present in each moment, and to foster a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us. Through self-remembering, we can transcend the constraints of "waking sleep" and embark on a journey of heightened awareness and personal transformation.

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Most of the above italicized text was written by artificial intelligence (AI), based on a prompt that I gave a widely available computer application. As you can see, a sleeping, inanimate machine (my computer) can produce effective and accurate written content like another sleeping machine (Man) on the topic of sleep and states of consciousness. AI’s output might disturb you but sleep itself is deeply disturbing if one is aware of its grip on our lives. We have learned that AI poses a “threat,” as reported in the news. What threat? To whom, the sleeping machine?

The second state or waking sleep is where humans reside because we are comfortable with the illusion that we are in control and competent. But when I understand that this state is just another form of sleep, I encounter another disturbing and off-putting realization. Man’s possibility to awaken and operate from higher states of consciousness is attainable, but while we remain satisfied with waking sleep, these higher states remain out of reach.

What questions does this topic evoke in you? What do you want to know to liberate yourself from sleep?