We are Eternal !

Once there was a poor villager who had a wife and a son. He found it difficult to make both ends meet. To improve his lot, he went to another town leaving his family behind, to take up some business there.

A few months later he decided to return to his native village.

During his last night, he had a dream in which he was a rich man and had five sons.

The next day when he arrived at his native village, he was informed by his wife that his only son had died as he couldn't bear separation from his father.

This man stood unruffled.

His wife then asked him, "Are you not sad over the death of your only son? What has happened to you?"

The poor villager replied, "I know about the tragedy. But I am at a loss to know for whom I should cry. Should I cry for the loss of five sons in the dream there or for the death of the son here?"

Similarly, you should know that one is a day dream and the other is a night dream.

One doesn't exist, when the other is present, but you are present in both the states. You are the experiencer in the waking and dream states.

Then what is the difference between the day dream and the night dream?

The former is bound by factors such as the body, time, action, reason, and duty.

Suppose, one take a bus tour which takes 10 hours and along the way you take in the sights.

Later one is able to share all these experiences as part of our duty.

However , in a dream state these factors do not exist.

How did you travel, and how long does it took to reach your place while your body remains lying in the bed?

So there are differences between the two states, but you are present in both.

So you are eternal.

- adapted from a Q&A session of Sai Baba