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Bhagavai 5:4:72-75
-227 :
Gautama! he binds seven types or eight types of karma ...... thus up to Empyrean (vaimāņika) gods, in the sūtras in plural number, there are always three alternatives, excepting the souls and the one-sensed souls (as in the sūtra no 5.71).
Bhāsya 1. Sūtras 72-75
In the present dialogue, a line of distinction has been drawn between the soul, with the veil of ignorance, and the omniscient one, on the basis of sleep. According to the doctrine of karma, the rising of darśanāvaraniya karma is the cause of sleep. According to Caraka, when the mind is tired and the sense-organs are inactive and detached from their respective objects, human being sleeps. The function of the darśanāvaraniya is to veil the sensual intuition. Sleep occurs when those sensual intuitions are veiled. One can see the similarity between the doctrine of karma and the view of Caraka regarding sleep.
According to modern medical science, the whole time of sleep can be divided into several cycles of sleep. A cycle of sleep of a person is round about 90 minutes (it means in a sleep of 7.5 hours, there will be such 5 cycles). Each cycle of sleep is divided into two parts—(i) The first part which is about 70-80% lasts for 70 minutes, and is called non-rapid eye movement (N. R. E. M.), (ii) the second part which is about 20 to 25% lasts for 20 minutes, and is called rapid eye movement (R. E. M.). The N. R. E. M. is a state of rest, and is divided into four states-(i) drowsiness or napping (ii) undoubtedly pure sleep (iii) & (iv) a deep state of sleep. The R. E. M. sleep can be termed as pseudo-sleep or false sleep, for in this state the person remains in sleep in spite of overactive or too much agitated state of brain. During this state, there is a rapid movement of the eyes. Generally, it is this state during which one dreams. The reasons of the rapid movement of the eyes is also that a person tries to follow what he sees in the dream, but because of the relaxed condition of the muscles of the body, the person himself does not make movement. Actually, it is a state of deep sleep. It is important for consolidation of the memory power. Generally, one does not remember the dreams one has during NREM state, but remembers those which occur during REM state.
There are several beliefs about the process of the origin of sleep. One remains awake on account of the agitative condition of the Raticular Activity System of the brain. When there is any hindrance in this agitation, the state of sleep occurs. Also, when the neurons of some portion of the brain, which release serotonin, becomes stimulated, sleep occurs. The cause of the REM sleep is the stimulation of locus serulius and situated in the pons of the brain and also of the noradrinergic neurons.?
1. Caraka, Sūtrasthāna, 21.35 -
yadā tumanasi klante karmātmānah klamänvitäh!
vişayebhyo nivartante tada svapiti mānavah II 2. Dainik Bhāskara, Jaipur, 4 September, 1997, an article on "Why sleeplessness occurs for the whole
night" by Shubakama Arya.
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