Realization that we are after all an animal and that we don't have to lose our shit over every stupid thing is being "awake" for me. For example, you are awake when you realize that you don't need to be so serious about everything, including the life itself.

The following extraction from the Hindu book "Geeta" sums up the realization when a person is awake- "You came empty handed, you will leave empty handed. What is yours today, belonged to someone else yesterday, and will belong to someone else the day after tomorrow. You are mistakenly enjoying the thought that this is yours. It is this false happiness that is the cause of your sorrows."