The Relationship Between Sensation and Manas

Q: Why does one feel a headache upon being forcibly awakened from a dream, whereas waking naturally after completing the dream does not cause a headache?

A: Dreaming is the activity of the manas (the intellectual root). When the manas is unsettled by unresolved thoughts, it manifests them in dreams. If a dream is forcibly interrupted, the manas remains unfulfilled, causing distress. This distress then induces a headache. This demonstrates how the mind influences the body: whether the manas is pleased or displeased, it produces effects that manifest physically—such as dancing for joy, beaming with smiles, trembling all over, or hair standing on end in anger. These phenomena indicate that the manas experiences sensations (vedanā) beyond mere neutral feeling. When a dream is abruptly interrupted and one awakens immediately, the ensuing headache is unrelated to consciousness (vijñāna). Consciousness merely perceives the headache; it is the manas that induces it. The manas, dissatisfied and unable to bear the incompletion of its intended activity, vents this frustration. By regularly chanting mantras and the Buddha’s name, one can purify the mind and resolve mental disturbances, thereby eliminating dreams and improving the quality of sleep.