Guest guest Posted May 28, 2001 Report Share Posted May 28, 2001 Can anyone help me to sort out the terms used to describe these, please? I am currently writing about consciousness and am somewhat confused by the terminology in the MaaNDuukya Upanishhad. I 3 seems to use vaishvaanaraH as the waker. Monier-Williams talks about consciousness of gross objects so this is ok. I 4 gives taijasa as the dreamer but MW doesn't give this meaning or any references to consciousness of subtle world, thoughts etc. It gives definitions related to brightness, consisting of light and so on - I don't quite see the connection. Finally, I 5 gives prajna or praajna as the deep-sleeper. Again, MW talks about wisdom and knower etc. so the connection is not obvious since deep sleep is pure consciousness but ruled by avidya, as it were. Aren't the more commonly used terms something like jaagarita, svapna and sushhupti? No problems with tuuriiya, incidentally. :-) Any clarification much appreciated! Regards, Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2001 Report Share Posted May 28, 2001 Harih Om! I don't know why Monier-Williams doesn't give the full meanings of the words you are searching. This is what I have learned from my teachers: The Consciousness (I) undergoes three *known* states in his day to day life: (1) jAgrata (waking) = The Jeeva (consciousness / awareness) is called as Vishwa and Viswanara here. The term Vishwa is used because, he can perceive the grossobjects with the light (viswanara). (2) swapna (dream state) = The jeeva, undergoing this state, is called "taijasa" - It is because "swa tEjasA viSwa midaM vibhAti". He illumines this world, with in him, with his awareness/illuminating power. (3) sushupti (deep sleep state) = The jeeva, undergoing this state is called, "prAjna". It is because "prakrashENa jnAnaM, prAyENa ajnAnaM". He is called like this because: He is profoundly ignorant about the bliss he enjoys at this state. At the same time, he is completely *aware* and enjoy the bliss - as long as he is at that state. "prAyENa ajnAnaM" because he is ruled by avidya *not* at that state, but after coming out of that state. Yours, Madhava Dennis Waite [dwaite] Monday, May 28, 2001 5:05 PM Advaitin Confusion over states of consciousness Can anyone help me to sort out the terms used to describe these, please? I am currently writing about consciousness and am somewhat confused by the terminology in the MaaNDuukya Upanishhad. I 3 seems to use vaishvaanaraH as the waker. Monier-Williams talks about consciousness of gross objects so this is ok. I 4 gives taijasa as the dreamer but MW doesn't give this meaning or any references to consciousness of subtle world, thoughts etc. It gives definitions related to brightness, consisting of light and so on - I don't quite see the connection. Finally, I 5 gives prajna or praajna as the deep-sleeper. Again, MW talks about wisdom and knower etc. so the connection is not obvious since deep sleep is pure consciousness but ruled by avidya, as it were. Aren't the more commonly used terms something like jaagarita, svapna and sushhupti? No problems with tuuriiya, incidentally. :-) Any clarification much appreciated! Regards, Dennis Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman and Brahman. Advaitin List Archives available at: http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/ To Post a message send an email to : advaitin Messages Archived at: advaitin/messages Your use of is subject to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2001 Report Share Posted May 28, 2001 namaste shri Dennis and shri Madhava, The following is my understanding. Firstly, I am assuming you are referring to Consciousness (note upper case C) rather than cognitive consciousness. This Consciousness does not have states. It is ever-awake (aprameya). jAgrat, svapna, suShupti are the three states of the jIvA. Once we have accepted (recognized) the jIvA, we are already one rung below the Consciousness. vaisvAnara, taijasa and prAjna are the three adhyAsA-s (mis- apprehensions) of the Consciousness. I can see the meanings given in MW dictionary are generic and deal with consciousness (lower case c). At least, that is my understanding. I would be grateful for any corrections. Regards Gummuluru Murthy ---- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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