Bhagavad Gita/Sleep and Consciousness

[Guest guest]

The Upanishads teach the method of meditation and reflection on the three

states of sleeping, dreaming, and waking in order to realize Turya, the so

called "fourth state" - The Self, that underlies the other three and in

which everything appears as inseparable from It. Although the Self

transcends the notion of consciousness (of objects and others as separate

from It) or unconsciousness (of dense ignorance of deep sleep), the Seers

tell us that the nature of the Self is that of Pure Consciousness as

Sat-Chit-Ananda - Pure Beginningless Being which is Eternally Awake and free

and empty of all objects, experiences, and perceptions and yet allows for

all experiences and perceptions to take place and rise in It by Its own

Shakti - Maya.

 

Upon being asked whether there was one verse giving the essence of Gita,

Ramana Maharshi mentioned Chapter 10 verse 20 of the Bhagavad Gita:

 

"I am the Self, Oh Gudakesa, dwelling in the heart of every being; I am the

beginning, middle, and also end of all beings."

 

Periodically, I will be commenting on different aspects of this verse.

 

First note that the use of the term, `Gudakesa' to refer to Arjuna by Sri

Krishna is significant. The word `Gudaka' means `sleep' and a conqueror of

sleep is called `Gudakesa'. Arjuna was said to have conquered sleep and had

no need to take rest in the form of sleep. The deeper meaning of

`Gudakesa', points to the spiritual qualifications of Arjuna to receive

Divine Knowledge of the Self. Arjuna had the quality of alert awareness and

self-reflection that purifies the intelligence and thins the veil of Maya.

This method of "alert self- awareness" is important in Advaita as

consciousness itself is recognized as its own tool for the process of

self-discovery and for recognition of the Self-Nature. In Advaita,

consciousness is the experimenter, consciousness is the laboratory, and the

consciousness itself is also the outcome.

 

Harsha

[Guest guest]

"fourth state" - The Self, that underlies the other three and in

which everything appears as inseparable from It. Although the Self

transcends the notion of consciousness (of objects and others as separate

from It) or unconsciousness (of dense ignorance of deep sleep), the Seers

tell us that the nature of the Self is that of Pure Consciousness as

Sat-Chit-Ananda - Pure Beginningless Being which is Eternally Awake and free

and empty of all objects, experiences, and perceptions and yet allows for

all experiences and perceptions to take place and rise in It by Its own

Shakti - Maya.

My whole body just tingled reading your post Harsha... Thank you =)

Love, Lynette