343. If the dream state is abnormal, then, what is the reason for its existence? Well, in order to understand this point we have to return to the question of "sleep". "Sleep" is, of course, a state of rest brought to the physical body so that the damage and microscopic lesions in the physical nervous system (fatigue) can be repaired. But for this repair to take place, the nervous system must certainly be freed from those energies which cause the breakdown of the micro-beings. As these energies are released by the mental functioning of the terrestrial person, that is, his state of mind in awake physical day-consciousness, then this mental functioning within that same day-consciousness has to be halted. This can only be brought about by transferring the said function to an entirely different body for manifesting than the physical one. Now we already know that the living being possesses five bodies for manifestation in addition to the physical which is number two in the sequence. In the case of terrestrial man, sleep will mean a transference of day-consciousness from body number two (the physical body) to body number three (the body of feeling). This transference is actually in principle the same as "death", the only difference being that in sleep the day-consciousness can be returned to the physical body, while in death such a return is impossible. The connection between the I and its physical body which makes possible the return of day-consciousness to the physical body is severed in death. There is no connection between the I and its physical body. That is why, in such a case, the body is seen as a "corpse". The moment the connection is severed this body is no longer subject to the will of the I and consequently approaches its dissolution. In sleep it is a different matter. Here the connection is maintained and day-consciousness can be returned to the physical brain. So it is this transference back and forth of day-consciousness, which creates night- and day-consciousness, in other words the transition between the I's physical activity and sleep.
      In order that day-consciousness can be transferred from the physical body to the feeling-body in a normal way there must first and foremost be a condition of fatigue. If this is not present, it means that sleep is actually not required. But tiredness alone is not always enough to bring about sleep. As a rule it is also important that there must be physical peace and quiet. If this condition is present when a tired but healthy person wishes to sleep, then sleep will come about quickly. And provided there are no alarm clocks to interfere or other artificial means of waking up, sleep will take its normal course. The person in question will not wake until the tiredness has disappeared, that is to say, when the breakdown in the micro-beings has been repaired and the individual has had a "good night's sleep". During such a normal, undisturbed sleep and awakening, he has absolutely no sense of dreaming. He has no recollections at all of the experiences met with during sleep. His impression is that he has been in a state of total rest and deep unconsciousness, free of any mental activity from which he awakened with a sense of great bodily well-being and renewed enthusiasm for work.
      But sleep does not always come so easily or is so refreshing as in the above case. There are many things that can discourage sleep. Loud noises are usually an effective means of keeping someone awake. Physical pain and illnesses, or a high temperature can also be a strong prevention from falling asleep normally, just as mental suffering nearly always results in sleepless nights.