The Confusion of Manas Between Dream and Reality

The mental faculty fails to distinguish between dream and reality, sometimes mistaking dreams for reality and reality for dreams. During sleep, the mental faculty remains alert, perceiving all dharmas through the Tathagatagarbha. When seeing someone approach and deeming the matter important, consciousness emerges to perceive it as well. The mental faculty knows it is asleep but gives consciousness the illusion, causing consciousness to believe it is in a dream. Without clearly discerning the boundary between dream and reality, one rises to take defensive measures. The primary reason is that the mental faculty becomes frightened, thereby startling consciousness. When fear arises, the mind ceases to distinguish between dream and reality.