Page 66 - Matter: The Other Name for Illusion

A person sleeping in a
comfortable bed in his
home may dream that
he is in the middle of a
war. And he might also
feel the fear, tension
and the panic of the
war as if it were taking
place in the real world.
Yet at that time he is
sleeping in a
comfortable bed by
himself. The realistic
noises and visions he
sees in his dream occur
in his mind.

it were real, fleeing from danger in desperation and hiding behind a wall.
Moreover, the images in his dreams are so realistic that he feels fear and panic

as if he really was in danger. He has his heart in his mouth with every noise, is
shaken with fear, his heart beats fast, he sweats and demonstrates the other
physical affects that the human body undergoes in a dangerous situation.
However, there is no external equivalent of the events in his dream. They exist
only in his mind.
A person who falls from a high place in his dream feels it with all his body,
even though he is lying in bed without moving. Alternatively, one might see

oneself slipping into a puddle, getting soaked and feeling cold because of a
cold wind. However, in such a case, there is neither a puddle, nor is there wind.
Furthermore, despite sleeping in a very hot room, one experiences the wetness
and the cold, as if one were awake.
Someone who believes he is dealing with the original of the material
world in his dream can be very sure of himself. He can put his hand on his

64 MATTER: THE OTHER NAME FOR ILLUSION