The Three states of waking, etc. are illusory - Srimad Bhagavatam

[V Subrahmanian]

In the 11th Canto, 33rd Chapter these verses teach that the Ahankara, samsara, experiences the three states of waking, dream and deep sleep.  These are only projections of the manas, mind and are illusory. One should conduct a proper viveka, discrimination, and realize his true nature of Turiya, free of the three states.

The Aitareyopanishat too calls the three states, three dreams:

स एतमेव सीमानं विदार्यैतया द्वारा प्रापद्यत । सैषा विदृतिर्नाम द्वास्तदेतन्नान्दनम् । तस्य त्रय आवसथास्त्रयः स्वप्ना अयमावसथोऽयमावसथोऽयमावसथ इति ॥ १२ ॥ 

The Paramatman, after creating the world, entered into the bodies and experiences the three states that are verily three dreams. Shankara says:

 त्रयः स्वप्ना जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्त्याख्याः । ननु जागरितं प्रबोधरूपत्वान्न स्वप्नः । नैवम् ; स्वप्न एव । कथम् ? परमार्थस्वात्मप्रबोधाभावात् स्वप्नवदसद्वस्तुदर्शनाच्च । अयमेव आवसथश्चक्षुर्दक्षिणं प्रथमः । मनोऽन्तरं द्वितीयः । हृदयाकाशस्तृतीयः । अयमावसथः इत्युक्तानुकीर्तनमेव । तेषु ह्ययमावसथेषु पर्यायेणात्मभावेन वर्तमानोऽविद्यया दीर्घकालं गाढं प्रसुप्तः स्वाभाविक्या, न प्रबुध्यतेऽनेकशतसहस्रानर्थसंनिपादजदुःखमुद्गराभिघातानुभवैरपि ॥

Q: How can the waking be dream?  A: Yes, it is dream since one has not woken up to his true Paramarthik nature and also in the waking he sees objects that are mithya, like in a dream. One is in a very long deep sleep of ignorance and does not wake up to the reality.

The Mandukya Karika: अनादिमायया सुप्तो यदा जीवः प्रबुध्यते । अजमनिद्रमस्वप्नमद्वैतं बुध्यते तदा ॥ १६ ॥ too says this: When one wakes up from this long slumber, one realizes his true nature that is beyond ignorance, adhyasa and is the Advaita svarupam. 

All this is packed in the Bhagavatam shlokas.   

Sridhara Swamin's commentary:

Commentary: