A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy c6.s2.8

c6.s2.8

11. After the question of the nature of death, comes the question of the nature of sleep, which is only a palliated form of death. On this subject we find very interesting theories advanced by those seers of antiquity. One passage proclaims unmistakably an explanation of the nature of sleep given by modern physiology—the ‘Fatigue’ theory of sleep: “As a falcon or any other bird, after having flown in the sky, becomes tired; and folding his wings repairs to his nest, so does this person hasten to that state where, when asleep, he desires no more desires, and dreams no more dreams.” (S. 10). But beyond