Introduction to Sushupti
Lucid dreaming is so yesterday. Now, sleep scientists are focusing on a rare phenomenon in which people remain aware while sleeping — but experience no dreams, thoughts or even a sense of self. Cracking this “unusual” sleep stage, researchers say, could turn everything we thought we knew about consciousness upside down.
The Concept of Consciousness
Scientists are still debating the true nature of consciousness. Prostock-studio – stock.adobe.com
While Western science is just now catching up to so-called “objectless sleep experiences,” Eastern cultures have been describing them for centuries.
What is Sushupti?
In Hindu philosophy, the phenomenon is known as “sushupti,” one of the four states of consciousness. It’s described as a deep, dreamless sleep where ego, personal identity, and the outside world fade away, leaving only a pure awareness of existence. Often regarded as a state of pure bliss, it is free from grief, suffering, desire and worldly worries — with many report feelings of joy and rejuvenation upon waking.
Research on Sushupti
To better understand the phenomenon, University of Edinburgh scientists turned to the internet. “We first surveyed 573 people online about unusual forms of sleep experiences,” Adriana Alcaraz-Sanchez, lead author of the study, wrote in The Conversation. Then, they dug deeper with in-depth interviews of 18 participants who said they’d had some form of an “objectless sleep experience” in the past.
Characteristics of Objectless Sleep Experiences
During ‘objectless sleep experiences,’ people report a sense of awareness without any other sensations or thoughts. Syda Productions – stock.adobe.com
All of them reported having moments during sleep with no sensory content — just a clear feeling of knowing they were aware. Some described a faint presence in a hazy state, or an eerie awareness of “nothingness” or a “void,” where their sense of self seemed to vanish.
Studies on Objectless Sleep Experiences
“Although objectless sleep experiences like conscious sleep have mainly been linked to contemplative practices, such as dream yoga, our results indicate that people without knowledge of those practices also experienced this phenomenon,” Alcaraz-Sanchez noted. Pushing the envelope, the researchers taught four volunteers a mix of meditation, visualization and lucid dreaming tricks so that they could stay aware while drifting off. Once asleep, the participants signaled their awareness with a pre-agreed eye movement while their brains were monitored with an EEG test.
Researchers used EEG tests to monitor the brain’s electrical activity during objectless sleep experiences. Viacheslav Yakobchuk – stock.adobe.com
Findings and Implications
The team found these “objectless sleep experiences” happen, at least part of the time, during deep, non-REM sleep. “The existence of this state pushes us to reconsider what consciousness is,” Alcaraz-Sanchez wrote. She pointed out that Western science has long pegged consciousness as awareness of an object — like your coffee cup, the color of your shoes or even your breath. But in these rare sleep states, all those things fall away.
Redefining Consciousness
In the past, Alcaraz-Sanchez said sleep consciousness has mostly been studied through dreams and dream-like states — but objectless sleep experience hints at a whole new level of awareness without any content. “The fact people can be aware of ‘nothing’ while asleep might tell us more about the mind than any dream ever could,” she wrote.
Conclusion
The study of sushupti and objectless sleep experiences is a fascinating area of research that challenges our current understanding of consciousness. By exploring these rare sleep states, scientists may uncover new insights into the nature of awareness and the human mind.
FAQs
Q: What is sushupti?
A: Sushupti is a state of deep, dreamless sleep where ego, personal identity, and the outside world fade away, leaving only a pure awareness of existence.
Q: What are objectless sleep experiences?
A: Objectless sleep experiences are rare sleep states where people remain aware while sleeping, but experience no dreams, thoughts, or sense of self.
Q: How do researchers study objectless sleep experiences?
A: Researchers use a combination of online surveys, in-depth interviews, and EEG tests to study objectless sleep experiences.
Q: What are the implications of objectless sleep experiences for our understanding of consciousness?
A: The existence of objectless sleep experiences challenges our current understanding of consciousness and may reveal new insights into the nature of awareness and the human mind.
