The movie ‘Inception’ gave me a headache when I first watched it. There was so much confusion regarding what was reality, what was dream, and what was happening in a dream within a dream-within a dream-within a dream-within a dream….arghh! I would have slipped into one of my own dreams, had there been fewer explosions and shattering of glasses in the movie and if I were not surrounded by a half-a-dozen of my classmates, who were growing ecstatic with every passing moment (I suspect, glowing critical reviews about ‘Inception’ had something to do with their obligation of loving the movie, even before they had started watching it).

Anyways, having a dream within a dream is actually possible and I can say that from my personal experience. Today I had a dream, which reminded me of one such dream that occurred about 3-4 years before I saw Inception (no chance of being influenced by the movie). In my dream, I was falling from some great height. I could feel that faint sensation in my chest, something like the one that you have on a giant-wheel. Death seemed inevitable. But, in a split second before (or after, I don’t remember) I hit the ground I woke up in a panic to find myself on my bed and what a sigh of relief it was. I was still alive! But wait, almost instantaneously, I woke up again (this time in the real world) only to realize that I had previously woken up in a dream and I was dying in a dream, within a dream. Confusing isn’t it? Call me a freak but it’s true.

What reminded me of this incident is the dream that I had today. I was going somewhere, when I saw this place (of course I didn’t know I was dreaming; for me it was a reality at that time). It was some kind of an old historic palace, which had been converted into a hotel or resort. I immediately felt that I have seen this place in my dreams. I ventured around and instinctively knew about all the nooks and corners of that place (well, not exactly). Everything was normal until I woke up and realized that I was having memories of my previous dreams, within the dream from which I just woke up.

Now the fact is, you may see a dream or a nightmare repeatedly and it’s normal that you remember them in your wakeful state. Technically, even while you are in a dream, you have no idea that it is a dream, and it is just like your wakeful state, for the time being (i.e. while you are dreaming). Therefore you should be able to differentiate between the reality of what is happening and the memory of what has happened before (in a dream). But that usually doesn’t happen, does it? Not even when you are seeing the same dream or nightmare, which you have been seeing repeatedly. I guess it’s because we don’t seem to retain the memories of our previous dreams while we are in the state of dreaming.

Still with me?

Ok. All this seemed so strange that I Googled it, and found some information indicating that my dream had some vague relation to Lucid dreaming (whatever that is) and that it not only possible to retain memories of your dreams in a dream but it is also possible to retain the consciousness that you are dreaming, while you are in a state of dream and thereby possess the power to control your dreams. Wow…I will definitely dig into Lucid dreams,… later.

Meanwhile, here’s a little food for your thought (if you swing that way):

If it’s your mind that tells you what’s real and what’s dream and if it’s your mind (conscious or subconscious) that tricks you into believing a dream for reality (while you are asleep), then what if this whole concept of reality, that we believe in, is nothing but a dream of some super consciousness. What happens when it wakes up? What happens if you silence your mind to the point that it doesn’t exist (through meditation, madness or whatever else that works for you)? – Will there still be any distinction between reality and dream?

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome.