You're quite right that people's minds stay active in the more shallow stages of sleep. There are several stages of sleep, and I was referring to the deep, dreamless stage of sleep as the time when people's minds become quiet, but there are other periods of sleep when the mind is very active, as when we are dreaming. I've had many nights when I doubt that I ever got into a deep sleep, so my mind was active all night long, and I woke up hardly rested the next day. I think an overactive mind is probably the main factor in causing insomnia.

What I was suggesting is that people need a break from their overactive mind, and this is partly why they seek relief from it through using alcohol, various drugs, and through sex as well. Not that there is any guarantee that alcohol, drugs, or sex will shut down the mind...but they often help to calm or relax it a bit for awhile. ;-) On the other hand, some drugs actually complicate mental activity, so it depends how you react to the drug.

I knew a couple of young women, sisters, who were constantly tortured by the negative thoughts passing through their minds, thoughts of not being good enough, not being attractive enough, not being popular enough, etc....and their way of dealing with it was to blitz themselves with alcohol and any other drug they could find to the point of being in a stupor. They wanted to be drunk or stoned all the time in order to get away from experiencing the constant flow of painful, disturbing thoughts. That's what I'm talking about when I say that some people use alcohol...or drugs...or sex...or partying...to escape from their own compulsive mental activity, because it tortures them.

They are, unfortunately, running down a blind alley, because they need to learn how to master and tame the mind, not how to escape it or run away from it. Their efforts to escape only worsen the situation.

I agree that resting (but awake) animals are very alert. Yes. To meditate is to be extremely alert...but silent within yourself. You silence and calm the mind...it becomes like a calm body of water with no waves...as smooth as a mirror...you become extremely alert and aware of your surroundings. Anything that touches that pond will raise ripples. You begin to notice very subtle things around you and within you that you would not notice at all if your mind was chattering on about the usual stuff that it chatters on about. You hear distant sounds that you would usually miss. It really can be beautiful, because it is so subtle.

As for sex....yeah, there can be points in sex where the mind is quite active, and there are other points when it gets right out of the way! ;-) The same goes for playing music. I love those points where the music just flows, and you're not thinking about it at all any longer, just riding the wave. That's when you play at your best. It becomes effortless.