Dear Jewell,
In deep sleep, fainting and coma, the little 'I' is also there with Consciousness within. That is why when a person wakes
from sleep or when his fainting is over, or when the comatose stage is over, he wakes up and asks: Where is my wife?
What did happen to me? etc., etc., The I-sense is in suspended animation. It jumps over once the predicament is over.
So also with anaesthesia. When the effects of anaesthesia are over, the person asks. Where am I? Has my surgery been
over? Can I drink a cup of water or orange juice. I am thirsty. etc., etc.,.
Whereas the state of Consciousness i.e permanently abiding in Self takes place in waking state. And it remains for ever.
The sleeping, dreaming and deep sleep states have been conquered by such Jnanis. Such Jnanis also do sleep, do dream.
But during those states, also, they are aware of their Experiential Bliss of the Self.
Saint Thayumanavar calls it thoongamal thoonguvathu, i.e. sleeping to the world but ever awake in Self Consciousness.
Once some devotee asked Sri Bhagavan: Bhagavan! Since the mind is not there, can not one always be sleeping and
attain Self Realization? Sri Bhagavan smilingly said: If that be the case everyone would be self realized in this world,
because every one sleeps at night! Self Realization can be attained only in the state of wakefulness!
Arunachala Siva.