THERE was a wood-cutter who was highly spiritual. One day he was dreaming a happy dream; but being suddenly awakened by someone, he exclaimed with annoyance: “Why did you awaken me? I was a king and the father of seven children. My children were all receiving education in various sciences. I was seated on the throne and ruling over my country. Why did you destroy so happy and delightful a state?” The man replied: “Oh! It was only a dream. What does it matter?” The wood-cutter said: “Get away, you fool! You do not understand that my being a king was, as real as my wood-cutting. If it be true that I am a wood-cutter, then it is equally true that I was a king.”
According to Vedanta the waking state is no more real than the dream state. (156)