Originally Posted by
devotee
Namaste,
Last night while contemplating on Mandukya Upanishad (thanks to Anadi), I had this idea flashing in my mind. I just want to share this with you.
i) Visva :
The first quarter is vaiśvānara. Its field is the waking state. Its consciousness is outward-turned. It is seven-limbed and nineteen-mouthed. It enjoys gross objects.
ii) Taijasa :
The second quarter is taijasa. Its field is the dream state. Its consciousness is inward-turned. It is seven-limbed and nineteen-mouthed. It enjoys subtle objects.
iii) Prājña : The third quarter is prājña, where one asleep neither desires anything nor beholds any dream: that is deep sleep. In this field of dreamless sleep, one becomes undivided, an undifferentiated mass of consciousness, consisting of bliss and feeding on bliss. His mouth is consciousness.
This is the Lord of All; the Omniscient; the Indwelling Controller; the Source of All. This is the beginning and end of all beings.
iv)Prājña, whose field is deep sleep, is the third sound, M, because this is the measure, and that into which all enters. He who knows thus, measures all and becomes all.
v)The fourth is soundless: unutterable, a quieting down of all relative manifestations, blissful, peaceful, non-dual. Thus, OM is the Ātman, verily. He who knows thus, merges his self in the Self; - yea, he who knows thus.
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I feel, these verses also have somewhere hidden clue how to attain the state of Prajna & Turiya. The Prajna is the beginning & end of all beings in Visva & Taijasa states. So, by dissolving the Visva & Taijasa states into Prajna we can stay in Prajna state. How to dissolve the Visva & Taijsa states ? By quieting down the desires of the seven limbs & the nineteen mouths ... because the main force giving rise to these two states is desire to "enjoy" gross or subtle objects. Once these desires go to sleep with no dream left to fulfil desires ... the deep sleep state of Prajna takes over.
I think, that is why Ramkrishna Paramhans said that as long as there remains even a thread of desire, oneness with God cannot be achieved. Maharishi Yagananda mentioned in one place that once he was enjoying blissful presence of the Divine Mother ( when he was among many disciples) & the Mother said, "Son, the desires of your disciples around you are pushing me back" ! My own experience is that meditation doesn't becomes deep & blissful unless the desires become quiet.
..... But how to attain & stay in Turiya ? I think the way is to go beyond even the desire of feeding on bliss through Consciousness. But I don't really know how this quietening down of all relative manifestation is achieved. May be Turiya selects & decides on its own, you may not force it by any action from your side.
Regards,
OM
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