Turiyatita, the transcendent state

[Guest guest]

Q: How are the three states of consciousness inferior

in degree of reality to the fourth (Turiya)? What is

the actual relation between these three states and the

fourth?

 

Maharshi: There is only one state, that of

consciousness or awareness or existence. The three

states of waking, dream and deep sleep cannot be real.

They simply come and go. The real will always exist.

The "I" or existence that alone persists in all the

three states is real. The other three are not real

and so it is not possible to say they have such and

such degree of reality. We may roughly put it like

this, Existence or consciousness is the only reality.

Consciousness plus waking, we call waking.

Consciousness plus sleep, we call sleep.

Consciousness plus dream, we call dream. Consciousness

is the screen, on which all the pictures come and go.

The screen is real, the pictures are mere shadows on

it. Because by long habit, we have been regarding

these three states as real, we call the state of mere

awareness or consciousness the fourth. There is

however, no fourth state, but only one state.

 

There is no difference between dream and the waking

state except that the dream is short and the waking

long. Both are the result of the mind. Because the

waking state is long, we imagine that it is our real

state. But, as a matter of fact, our real state is

Turiya or the fourth state which is always as it is

and knows nothing of the three states of waking, dream

or deep sleep. Because we call these three Avastha

[states] we call the fourth state also Turiya Avastha.

But it is not an Avastha, but the real and natural

state of the Self. When this is realised, we know it

is not a Turiya or fourth state, for a fourth state is

only relative, but Turiyatita, the transcendent state.

 

 

 

 

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[blue.ray.child]

I enjoyed reading your exposition on Turiya and its relation to the three states. But now I have a question (or two!).

 

Q1 If Turiya is not real while you're identified with and as the three (particularly the waking state) and if the three states are not real while you're identified with and as Turiya, then both must be real and unreal on account that the three states are real when you're ignorant of Turiya, and Turiya is real when you're ignorant of the three states. So my question is this: Is there a way to synthesize Turiya and the three states without diminishing the integrity/reality of the three states and/or Turiya?

 

Q2 Should not the three states (and/or what appears in them - thoughts, emotions, sensations) also be considered real on account that..1. they exist indefinitely in the universal mind (as potential) and

2. they are real while you're ignorant of your true nature? (Is it possible they can be considered real even when you are aware of your true nature?)

[hindustani]

You are asking question to a post which is 7.5 years old,originally posted on 4th Jan.2002!

[blue.ray.child]

 

You are asking question to a post which is 7.5 years old,originally posted on 4th Jan.2002!

 

Haha, i know. Luckily "god" is always around to provide an answer!

 

Anyway, how are you doing on this lovely winters day? ))