Where there is non-apprehension of reality, we do not call it a waking state. It is a dream state. Therefore, we say that both the waking and dream states have a common characteristic: non-apprehension of reality as the misapprehension of reality.
When you don’t know reality you project something else as reality. These two exist in dream and waking states. And in sleep, purely non-apprehension. No projection is there.
Here there is projection. So after studying that you turn your attention to the subject. Who is this dreamer? Having disposed of the objects of the dream, contents of the dream, contents of the waking state, you want to know who this dreamer, this waking self is. Then you come to this study and conclude: ‘I am that eternal self to whom waking and dream are so many passing experiences.’ So attachment to one goes, attachment to the other goes — you are not attached either to the waking self or to the dream self—that is jnana.
No knowledge destroys anything but delusions are destroyed. Waking delusions are there, which explain all the evils that we do in the waking state. Those delusions won’t be there. Arrogance, pride, I am rich, I am arrogant — all that will go by knowledge of this coordinative study of waking, dream, and sleep.
From Mandukya Upanishad by Swami Ranganathananda
Source – Prabuddha Bharata – page 43-44 – June 2016 issue.