THE CAUSAL LAYER AND DEEP SLEEP
The fifth layer is the layer you experience in deep sleep.
Understand, even though there are engrams in this layer, you cannot do anything about them, because in the deep sleep, your mind cannot do anything!
It is an unconscious layer.
But when you reduce the depth of the engrams in the first four layers, the fifth layer will be cleansed naturally.
If you are getting into the deep sleep layer more easily, it means the first four layers are clean. If the first four layers are not clean, then you suffer more in the fifth layer. That is why, when you have more stress and load, a lot of disturbances related to sleep start happening in your life.
Sleep has become a big problem. Now, especially in the developed countries, I am seeing, they are able to get beds but not sleep! Their infrastructure has created the facility to have beds and different temperatures, different comforts and so many other things, but not sleep, because there is too much stress.
Not only that, if the engrams in the first four layers are too many, in the fifth layer, the relationship between you and your body gets disconnected. Reducing the engrams in the first four layers is making friends with your body.
We don't realize how we are abusing the body. Understand, if you are overweight, it is directly connected to some of these engrams. When you feel emptiness inside, lonely, you start filling it. You start filling it with food or by drinking.
Q. Swamiji, whatever the external situation, I am in depression 24 hours a day. Is this also a samskara? What is wrong with me?
A. Nothing is wrong with you, ma! You are very fortunate, that is the Truth! Causeless depression is nothing but the call of your Self. We are all living very very far away from our Self! Most of us are living life at the level of intellect, some are living from the heart, and a very few are living at the being-level.
When you travel too far away from your true Self, it calls out to you, 'Please, please don't move far away from me!'
This plea from the Self is what reaches you in the form of depression.
If you want to catch the attention of a mischievous child, what do you do? Grab a few candies and throw it at him. Naturally his attention will turn towards you!
In the same way, your Self is throwing this depression at you, so that you will turn and look inward. We only look inward when depression hits us. Understand, nothing else has such power to plunge you inwards as depression has! Happiness doesn't have the power to take you so deep.
Happiness is the arrow aimed at you by Kamadeva (the deity of wishfulfilment). Depression is the arrow aimed at you by the Divine Himself!
As long as your mind is turned towards wish-fulfillment in the outer world, you can never turn towards the Divine. When you realize that no matter what the external world offers you, there is no peace inside, you have taken the first step on the spiritual path. Depression for a reason is the voice of the ego. If you change the external situation, if the desire is fulfilled or the fear is removed, this kind of depression will go away.
For instance, if you are depressed because you don't have a job, this depression will go away once you get a job.
Depression for no reason is the call of the Self. Nothing but spirituality can fulfil you now.
Causeless depression is the auspicious beginning of your spiritual journey.