Previous guy misstated things. Sleep paralysis is a form of lucid dreaming. You are aware while asleep. From my experience meditating, one can go through stage

Previous guy misstated things. Sleep paralysis is a form of lucid dreaming. You are aware while asleep. From my experience meditating, one can go through stages of body paralysis, and then enter lucid dreaming states, while maintaining awareness. Some advanced meditators claim to be able to be aware at all times, even in deep dreamless sleep.