While alive, physical sleep is a basic necessity of one's material body, as fundamental to its health and well-being as air, food and water. The Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) does not intend to deprive the body of this need. However, beyond the physical sleep, there is an another type of "sleep"; which is subtle, seemingly endless and dreadful — delusion, illusion or deception of Maya, Haume (egotism), forgetful of the Divine Naam, material consciousness (Manmukh life style) etc. The Gurbani reveals it to us that, in this horrific state of endless slumber are "asleep" the Jeevas (individual beings) of entire world for countless incarnations! It is this endless slumber from which the Gurbani commands us to awake and arise.

• ieko siqguru jwgqw horu jgu sUqw moih ipAwis: Eiko satigur jaagataa hor jag sootaa mohi piaas: Only the True Guru (Self or God) is awake; the rest of the world is asleep in emotional attachment and desire (sggs 592).
• ibkwr mwieAw mwid soieE sUJ bUJ n AwvY: Bikaar Maya maad soeiou soojh boojh na aavai: Man sleeps, intoxicated by corruption and Maya; he does not come to realize or understand (sggs 408).
• mwieAw moih sBo jgu soieAw iehu Brmu khhu ikau jweI: Maya mohi sabho jag soeiaa eihu bharam kahahu kio jaaee: In emotional attachment to Maya, all the world is asleep. Tell me, how can this doubt be dispelled? (sggs 205).
• mnu soieAw mwieAw ibsmwid: Mann soeiaa maaeiaa bisamaad: The mind is asleep, fascinated by Maya (sggs 182).
• mnmuK haumY mwieAw sUqy: Manmukh hayumai maaeiaa sootae: The manmukhs are asleep in egotism — Hayume Maya (sggs 1049).
• krqb krin BlyirAw mid mwieAw suqy: Kartab karan bhalaeriaa madi Maya sutae: Sleep in the intoxication of Maya, people do their evil deeds (sggs 321).
• ey sUqy ApxY AhMkwrI: Eae sootae apanai ahankaaree: They are all asleep in egotism (sggs 1128).
• ikAw sovih nwmu ivswir gwPl gihilAw: Kiaa sovahi naam visaar gaafal gahiliaa: Why are you sleeping in forgetfulness of the Name, O careless and foolish mortal? (sggs 398).
• BolwvVY BulI Buil Buil pCoqwxI...: Bholaavarhae bhullee bhulli pashotaanee....: Deluded by doubt, misled and confused, the Soul-bride later regrets and repents. Abandoning her Husband Lord, she sleeps (in doubts and illusion), and does not appreciate His Worth. Leaving her Husband Lord, she sleeps, and is plundered by her faults and demerits. The night (i.e., life) is so painful for this bride. Lust, anger and egotism destroy her. She burns in egotism. When the Soul-swan flies away, by the Command of the Lord, her dust mingles with dust. O Nanak, without the True Name, she is confused and deluded, and so she regrets and repents (sggs 1111).
• Awqmu n cIn@Y BrmY ivic sUqw: Aatam na cheenai bharamai vich sootaa: People do not remember their Soul-Nature; they are asleep in doubts (sggs 362).
• sMsw iehu sMswru hY suiqAw rYix ivhwie: Sansaa ihu sansaar hai sutiaa rain vihaai: This world is an illusion; people pass their life-nights sleeping (sggs 36).
• BRm mih soeI sgl jgq DMD AMD: Bhram mahi soee sagal jagat dhandh andh: The whole world is asleep in doubt; it is blinded by worldly entanglements (sggs 380).
• Awsw ivic suqy keI loeI: Aasaa vich sutae kayee loee: So many are asleep in worldly desires (sggs 423).
• dUjY Bwie suqy kbih n jwgih mwieAw moh ipAwr: Doojai bhaae sutae kabahi na jaagahi Maya moh piaar: Asleep in the love of duality, they never wake up; they are in love with, and attached to Maya (sggs 508).
• bwvr soie rhy: Baavar soe rahae: The crazy ones are asleep (sggs 406).
• AigAwnI jgqu AMDu hY BweI sUqy gey muhwie: Agiaanee jagat andh hai bhaaee sootae geae muhaai: The ignorant world is blind, O Siblings of Destiny; those who sleep are plundered (sggs 603).

The sense-bent, deluded or conditioned mind is Maya. Once caught in the vertex of Maya, one loses control over his senses and plunges into the pitch darkness of ignorance (of his True Nature as "Joti- Svaroopa"). Here is a step-by step analysis of this descent. Man's brooding over objects of the senses causes attachment to them. From such attachment, lust or craving develops; from unfulfilled lust or craving, anger arises; from anger, mental delusion arises; from delusion comes bewilderment or loss of memory of one's True Nature; the loss of such memory causes loss of discerning intelligence or the discriminating faculty (Viveka-Budhi); upon loss of discrimination, one falls down into the material consciousness (Manmukh life style); which, in turn, brings annihilation of his spiritual life.

• rsnw soeI loiB mITY swid: Rasanaa soee lobh meethai saadi: The tongue is asleep, in its desire for sweet flavors (sggs 182).
• sRvx soey suix inMd vIcwr: Sravan soe sun nind veechaar: The ears are asleep, listening to slanderous stories (sggs 182).
• nYnhu nId pr idRsit ivkwr: Nainahu need par drisatt vikaar: The eyes are asleep in corruption, gazing upon the beauty of another (sggs 182).
• mnmuiK sUqw mwieAw moih ipAwir: Manmukhi sootaa Maya mohi piaar: The Manmukhs are asleep, in love and attachment to Maya (sggs 160).
• auriJ rihE ieMdRI rs pRyirE ibKY TgaurI Kwvq hy: Urajh rahio indree ras prerio bikhai thagayuree khaavat he: Entanglement in the lures of sensual pleasures is like eating poisonous drugs (sggs 821).
• haumY rogu mwnuK kau dInw....: Hayumai rog maanas kayu deenaa....: Mankind is afflicted with the disease of egotism. The disease of sexual desire overwhelms the elephant. Because of the disease of vision, the moth is burnt to death. Because of the disease of the sound of the bell, the deer is lured to its death. Whoever I see is diseased. Only my True Guru, the True Yogi, is free of disease. Because of the disease of taste, the fish is caught. Because of the disease of smell, the bumblebee is destroyed. The whole world is caught in the disease of attachment. In the disease of the three qualities of Maya, corruption is multiplied (sggs 1140).

In order to reorient us to the Spiritual Goal, the Gurbani wants to keep in mind that (a) the human birth is very rare thus precious; (b) it does not happen again and again; and (c) it's most suitable for God-realization. Therefore, we time and again reminded to make the best use of this rare and wonderful opportunity and not waste it in frivolous pursuits. Accordingly, the Gurbani's call to us is to "Awake! Awake!" from this long state of delusion most of us are in.

• jwghu jwghu sUiqho cilAw vxjwrw: Jaagahu jaagahu sootiho chaliaa vanajaaraa: Wake up! Wake up! O sleepers (sleeping in the love of Maya), see that the travelling merchant (i.,e., Jeeva) is to deaprt (i.e., death is coming near) (sggs 418).
• jwg lyhu ry mnw jwg lyhu khw gwPl soieAw: Jaag laehu rae manaa jaag laehu kahaa gaafal soeiaa: Wake up, O mind! Wake up! Why are you sleeping unaware? (sggs 726).
• jo jwgy sy aubry sUqy gey muhwie: Jo jaagae sae oubarae sootaae geae muhaae: Those who remain awake and aware are saved, while those who sleep are plundered (sggs 34).

Let's ponder over it. While physically asleep, our eyes are closed and thereby we see nothing. Upon waking up, our eyes become wide open and we can see things again. So logically the Gurbani wants us to "awake" from our perpetual delusion, and see beyond "Sootak" (impurity or corruption of the mind) — see the Enlightened ones (Saadh-Sangat or Gurmukhs), see God pervading in everything etc.

• lpit rhy mwieAw rMg mwqy locn kCU n sUJI: Lapat rahe Maya rang maate lochan kashhoo na soojhee: They (those full of desires) remain engrossed in Maya, inntoxicated with the pleasures of their wealth; their eyes see nothing else at all (sggs 672).
• igAwn AMjnu ijh pwieAw qy loien prvwnu: Giaan anjan jih paaiaa te loin paravaan: Those eyes, to which the ointment of spiritual wisdom is applied, are approved (sggs 1103).
• so jnu swcw ij AMqru Bwly ] gur kY sbid hir ndir inhwly: So jan saachaa ji antar bhaale: Gur kai sabad har nadar nihaale: That humble being, who searches within himself, through the Guru's Shabad, sees the Lord with his eyes (sggs 1065).
  
• ey nyqRhu myirho hir qum mih joiq DrI hir ibnu Avru n dyKhu koeI: Ey netrahu meriho har tum mahi jot dharee har bin avar na dekhahu koee: O my eyes, the Lord has infused His Light into you; do not look upon any other than the Lord (sggs 922).
• quJ ibnu Avru n koie ndir inhwirAw: Tujh bin avar na koi nadar nihaariaa: (O God) Without You, my eyes see no other at all (sggs 398).
• sy nyqR prvwxu ijnI drsnu pyKw: Se naethr paravaan jinee dharasan paekhaa: Those eyes which behold the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan are approved and accepted (sggs 103).
• nyqR sMqn kw drsnu pyKu: Netar santan kaa darasan pekh: With your eyes, behold the Blessed Vision of the Saints (sggs 190).
• nYnI pyKq swD dieAwl: Nainee pekhat saadh dayiaal: With your eyes, see the kind, Holy people (sggs 298).
• aun@ kY sMig dyKau pRBu nYn: Ounh kai sang dekhou prabh nain: In their association (Holy Company), I see God with my eyes (sggs 391).
• hir jn dyKhu siqguru nYnI: Hhar jan dekhahu satigur nainee: O humble servants of the Lord, see the True Guru with your eyes (sggs 800).
• sqguru imlY q AwKI sUJY: Satgur milai ta aakhee soojhai: If he meets the True Guru, then he sees (Reality) with his eyes (sggs 935).
• nYnI dyiK drsu mnu iqRpqY sRvn bwxI gur sbdu suxeIAw: Nainee dekh daras manu tripatai sravan baanee gur sabad sunaeeaa: Seeing the Blessed Vision of His Darshan with my eyes, my mind is satisfied; with my ears, I listen to the Guru's Bani, and His Shabad (sggs 833).
• ipRA pyKI idRsit pwey sgl inDwn: Pria pekhee drisat paaye sagal nidhaan: Seeing Beloved with eyes, all treasures are obtained (sggs 372).
• eyko eykI nYn inhwrau: Eko ekee nain nihaarou: With my eyes, I see the One and Only Lord (sggs 386).
• AKI sMqoKIAw eyk ilv lwie: Akhee santhokheeaa ek liv laai: Embracing love for the One Lord, mine eyes are content (sggs 560).
• so hir nYnhu kI pUqrI: So har nainahu kee pootaree: That Lord is the light of my eyes (sggs 874).

Clearly, it's the Soul's Awakening the Gurbani is talking about here. This Light of awareness or the right kind of Self- Knowledge (Aatm-Giaan) that confers on the individual inner purity, perfection and everlasting peace (Bliss or Anand). So the Gurbani's Teaching (Gurmat) is the essence of spiritual striving, wherein the central import is the appeal to each Soul to strive for inner Awakening of its True Nature ("Joti-Svaroopa"). The Gurbani asks us to realize God's presence not only within oneself but in others as well, and also realize sincerely that all are subject to God's Hukam (Will). Alertness or self-imposed discipline leads to Awakening. Therefore, the Gurbani urges us not to waste this human birth in frivolous pursuits, since one is not sure what might be in store in the next. The fully "Awakened" ones are termed Gurmukhs (Spiritual Beings) in the Gurbani. The mental condition of such Enlightened ones (Awakened from the illusion of Maya) is described in the Gurbani as follows:

• igAwnI jwgih svih suBwie: Giaanee jaagahi savahi subhaae: The spiritually Wise wake and sleep in Peace (sggs 646).
• ikAw svxw ikAw jwgxw gurmuiK qy prvwxu: kiaa savanaa kiaa jaaganaa gurmukhi tae paravaan: Who is asleep, and who is awake? Those who are Gurmukh are approved (sggs 312).
• mnmuK soie rhy sy lUty gurmuiK swbqu BweI hy: Manmukh soe rehae sae loottae gurmukh saabat bhaaee hae: The Manmukhs remain asleep, and are plundered. The Gurmukhs in their Intact Consciousness remain safe and sound, O Siblings of Destiny (sggs 1024).
• gurmuiK jwgY nId n sovY: Gurmukh jaagai need na sovai: The Gurmukh (spiritual being) remains awake and aware; he does not fall sleep to Maya (sggs 944).
• gurmuiK Awpu pCwixAw hir nwmu visAw min Awie]Anidnu BgqI riqAw hir nwmy suiK smwie: Gurmakhi aap pashaaniyaa Harinaam vasiyaa manni aayi. ndin bhagti rattiyaa harinaame suh paaye: The Gurmukh is Self-realized. God's Name comes to dwell Within his mind. Imbued with Devotion to God's Name, night and day, he merges in Peace (sggs 162).
• nwnk mwieAw kw mwrxu sbdu hY gurmuiK pwieAw jwie: Nanak Maya kaa maaran Sabad hai gurmukh paya jaayi: O Nanak, the Word is the killer of Maya (ignorance or illusion), and spiritual being obtains it (sggs 853).
• nId BUK sB prhir iqAwgI suMny suMin smwvY: Need bhookh sabh parahari tiaagee sunnae sunn samaavai: They have totally renounced material sleep and hunger, and through deep meditation, they are absorbed into the Absolute Reality (sggs 442).
• cwlq bYsq sovq hir jsu min qin crn KtwnI: Chaalat baisat sovat hari jas mani tani charan khattaanee: Walking, sitting and sleeping, they remain in God-consciousness; they treasure His Feet (Naam) in their mind and actions (sggs 404).
• saudy vwhu vwhu aucrih auTdy BI vwhu kryin: Soudhae vaahu vaahu oucharahi outhadae bhee vaahu kareni: While asleep or awake, they chant "Waaho! Waaho!" (sggs 313).
• shjy jwgxu shjy soie: Sahaje jaagun sehujae soe: They awaken in Intuitive Peace and Poise (Sahaj Avasthaa); they sleep in Intuitive Peace and Poise (sggs 236).
• jnm jnm kw soieAw jwgu: Janam janam kaa soeiaa jaag: I have awakened from the sleep of countless incarnations (sggs 892
• gurmuiK hovY q AwKI sUJY ]guramukh hovai th aakhee soojhai ||But one who becomes Gurmukh, sees the Lord with his eyes.
• XXw jwrau durmiq doaU ]iqsih iqAwig suK shjy soaU: Yayaa: jaaro duramati dooo. Tisahi tiaagi sukh sahije so-oo: Yayya: Burn away duality and evil-mindedness. Give them up, and sleep in intuitive peace and poise (sggs 253).
• suix sKIey myrI nId BlI mY AwpnVw ipru imilAw: suni sukheeeae maeree need bhalee mai aapanurhaa pir miliaa: Listen, O my companions: now I sleep well, since I found my Husband Lord (sggs 249).
• swDsMgiq prswid sMqn kY soieE mnu jwigE: Saadhsangat parasaadi santan kai soeiou mann jaagiou: By the Grace of the godly Beings, my sleeping mind has been awakened (sggs 215).
• mnmuK soie rhy sy lUty gurmuiK swbqu BweI hy: Manmukh soe rehae sae loottae gurmukh saabat bhaaee hae: The Mnmukhs remain asleep, and are plundered. The Gurmukhs in their Intact Consciousness remain safe and sound, O Siblings of Destiny (sggs 1024).
• mnu qnu buiD ArpI Twkur kau qb hm shij soey: Mann tann budhi arapee thaakur ko tab ham sahaj soeae: But when I dedicated my mind, body and intellect to my God, then I began to sleep in peace (sggs 214).
• jy Gru bUJY Awpxw qW nId n hoeI: Je ghar boojhai aapanaa taan need na hoee: (with God's Grace) one who understands his True Home (True Nature, Soul-consciousness or Self-realization), does not sleep (the slumber caused by the love of Maya) (sggs 418).

— T. Singh