Hari Om
~~~~~
Namaste Unmesaki ( one who has the eyes opened a.k.a open to the truth)
I thought this post may be of use to those mumukshi ( those desiring moksha) to discuss the notion of higher states of consciousness. This goes in this folder under yoga, as union with the Divine will be discussed.
For those that have just started the unfoldment of theses concepts and practices, a few of the notions may seem a bit 'esoteric'. Yet, one needs to get a vision of the goal if one wishes to reach a destination.
It is important to note that these states of consciousness are available to all who seek them. Our efforts towards them is only needed to start the process… and Sri Krsna also suggests, no effort is ever lost. To me, this clearly points to the notion that if we do not achieve this Bhuma in this life, the effort expended rolls over to the next life. This is pointed out in the Bhagavad Gita (Chapt 6.37 to 6.44)
This post builds off the knowledge presented in these previous posts and may be good to consider as a whole with this New post , 7 States of Consciousness - saptamtha chetana.
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=10586&postcount=1 This number 7 (sapta)
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=8816&postcount=1Bhagavat Chetana
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=9920&postcount=1 God Inviting
7 States of Consciousness - [as I have been taught] are the following:
Waking or jagrat chetana
Dreaming or swapn chetana
Dreamless Sleep or sushupti chetana
Transcendental Consciousness - turiya chetana
Cosmic Consciousness turiyatit chetana (sustained turiya consciousness)
God consciousness or bhagavat chetana
Brahman Consciousness or brahmi chetana
Each state of consciousness has a corresponding mind-body experience, and a world-surroundings experience ( perception). Lets start here:
Waking or jagrat chetana
All of us should be in waking state now - Yes? As we read this, the mind is active, the body is also active. We are aware of our surroundings. If a noise is heard our attention goes there. If we smell something the senses are active, e.g. from the kitchen cookies are being baked, we smell them and our attention goes there. Our senses are engaged with the environment. The mind goes to other places as the senses may direct it. If this post becomes boring, ones attention is then directed to another place that may give it more. ( This 'more' experience is wired in our circuitry, the village of the senses).
Duality exists - that is, there is me, and then the objects I perceive - cars, people, family, job, actions, all are outside of me.
Dreaming or swapn chetana
Dreaming , we have the mind active and the body resting. Some say they do not dream, this can be left for another time. In dream the mind can experience flying, smelling, taste, and a whole range of experiences, yet the body does not. It is thought that this activity is part of The stress release process for the individual. The surroundings in this state of consciousness is of the minds choice. Some in color, some black&white surroundings. This dream state is a bit less restrictive then waking.
Duality exists- I am active in mind, and other 'things' and experiences are in motion, distinct from me.
Dreamless Sleep or sushupti chetana
Many call this deep sleep. The mind is withdrawn, the body inactive, the senses are inactive, to feed the mind, so mind is not present.
No Duality - There is no experience, no Duality - which is a definition of enlightenment, yet one is not aware of this, so the condition of enlightenment as a possible state is disqualified.
Transcendental Consciousness - turiya chetana
This state is the foundation for all other states of consciousness. It is pure consciousness. The 'raw materials' for being. For being what you say, Please finish the sentence. It is 'being' or existence. It is awareness itself. Aware of what ? just awareness. Think of it this way. You go To the movies and what all the action on the screen. The movie ends, they turn on the house lights, and you see the white screen on where the movie was being played. Like that , this turiya chetana, provides the canvas for all other levels of consciousness to take place. This screen is White, so all things can be reflected. White contains all colors of the spectrum, as turiya contains all possibilities.
The metaphor breaks down here. Unlike the movie screen, turiya chetana has no boundaries or edges like the screen. The rishi's say it is Unbounded. In this state of awareness, there is restfulness in the body and the mind is awake in itself. This has been called restful alertness.
The mind is still, but alert, the body is rested, balanced. This is unlike the other 3 states of waking dreaming and sleeping. This state of awareness/consciousness is experienced by transcending. Going to finer levels of Consciousness, until the activity of the mind is still, and pure consciousness is experienced/enjoyed. It's like a pot of water on the stove. We have flames (activity) , and the water ( consciousness) boils and bubbles. When we remove the heat the water (consciousness) settles down, and becomes calm, without ripples, bubbles. This is where this metaphor breaks down. When one transcends and experiences this pure awareness, it is boundless (there is no constraints of the pot). This is groomed and cultured over time. It is the experience of meditating daily that cultures the village of the senses to allow this state or condition to exist even in activity.
This is the condition of balance, that was discussed in this post: http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=10364&postcount=1 .
As one practices transcending daily, stresses ( knots in the rope http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=8368&postcount=1 ) are removed. One brings more and more if this restful alertness back into the waking state of life. One has clearer thinking, better health, More happiness is possible, the senses are refreshed and are able to do their job more effectively.
Once this state, turiya chetana, can be sustained in activity without it being overshadowed by actions,expreriences, stress, strain, then it is considered stable, and Cosmic (without bounds) consciousness is established.
Cosmic Consciousness - turiyatit chetana (sustained turiya consciousness)
In this state, one is associated with the SELF. Some call this Self referral. One is grounded in this silence, completely separate from activity. This Self referral Is there 7x24x365 days. It is Turiya that is established and experienced in ones consciousness , whether in waking, dream or sleep states. When Sri Krsna tells Arjuna be without the 3 gunas (BG 2.45, 2.50, 17, 3.19) established in the SELF (atman), He speaks of the Cosmic Consciousness, turiyatit chetana.
Now, when we talk of being non-attached to action, not concerned about the fruits of action, this is the stake of consciousness the rishi's and sages and masters are discussing. Not mood making or 'trying' to act like this BEFORE the state of consciousness exists. Its as if one is asking you to be a king, and you have no kingdom! Once this state of consciousness is established, then the SELF is established, one is of resolute intellect we associate ourselves with the SELF ( SELF referral).
Much can be said about this state. How one performs action, what becomes of the 3 gunas, etc . We will take this up if there is interest from the readers. Yet In this state, restful alertness ( a new functioning of the nervous system) is established and remains so. This is the baseline for further unfoldment to bhagavat chetana.
God consciousness or bhagavat chetana
In this state of consciousness, and developing this state of consciousness, one's perception improves. One is able to perceive the finest levels of creation. The senses are refined, not blocked from stresses and strains. One is able to view and appreciate HIS creation, the finest details, and the expression of Consciousness that manifests. This perception brings the highest level of apperception to ones heart as it swells with love of the Supreme, of the Divine. Its my opinion that Love defined, is the highest level of appreciation one can have. It is from this love that devotion to the Supreme gets established. This is bhakti. It is based upon the ability for one's consciousness to be pure, established in the SELF, one pointed, without knots. AS my teacher has said, this level of consciousness is based upon the silence that is realized and stabilized in turiyatit chetana.
Lets review before making the next point:
In Transcendental consciousness the silence that is experienced, is total silence, without activity, absorbed in the SELF, nothing else exists, as one transcends the nervous system can only entertain this level awareness while still, quiet. Then in Cosmic Consciousness one is established in the silence of the SELF, yet external to him/her there is activity ( work, actions, live buzzing around). There is me/Self and not-Self that can now be experienced. One can be In activity (walking/acting) yet the Silence of SELF never leaves.
Now, in God Consciousness, there is this silence of SELF AND activity into the one-ness of HIM. It’s a highly evolved state of silence with activity, simultaneously. You ask how can this be. Yes! This is Divine. This is the individual +SELF+God+activity , combined or attuned together. There is no thing that is not seen as an expression of His grace. It is this Omni-presence of silence that encompasses everything. Like akasha (space) it surrounds and is in everything - there is no-thing that it is not. Think on how highly evolved our nervous system is that allows this to happen.
Brahman Consciousness or brahmi chetana
This most evolved state is Supreme. All the mahavakya's ( great, full, robust sayings) point to this state of being. We hear many on this HDF praise these sayings and repeat and remind us of this level of Being. As I understand it, when one has this experience, it requires the master to assist and help - Tat tvam asi, That thou art. You no longer are in relationship to this creation, you ARE this creation, this Brahman. There is no duality, there is no other. Quite a profound state to experience. All things are an extension of you. There are no-things , as all is you . You are at home no matter where you are at, because it is you. 'This' is one homogeneous/ubiquitous expression of consciousness and you are that. There is nothing to be done, because all has been accomplished already. There is no past, present or future, as Brahman (aham brahmasmi) , one is amala ( a or 'not' + mala blemish or 'impurity'). Ones actions are universal and the actions of the Universe here on earth. One is full of and possessed of Dharma-megha , or cloud pouring virtue. What ever is willed (satya-samkalpah) bears fruit as the total universe is the support structure for this to occur. Yet what is there to be done? Only His Divine work.
What can be an example of this? Consider yourself a container, with a lid on it. You have a specific boundary of height and width, a volume. You are this akasha within this Boundary. This container then is broken and removed. You realize there is no difference from the space that was outside the container ( that held the container) to the Space within the container… you. There is no boundary of you, there is no difference of space (akasha). IT is one contiguous fullness (Bhuma) of existence.
" O Svetaketu, do you understand what I am telling you? This great but most essence of all the worlds is the Truth, the Atman, the Supreme Reality within you, and you are THAT" - sage Uddalaka, Chhandogya Upanishad
Bookmarks