Consciousness is the very essence of our being. It is what allows us to experience, to perceive, and to know that we exist. In Vedantic philosophy, consciousness is not something the mind produces. Instead, it is the foundation of all experience- the light that illuminates both the inner and outer worlds.

The sages of ancient India mapped out four primary stages or states of consciousness that every human experiences. These are waking (jagrat), dreaming (svapna), deep sleep (susupti), and the fourth state (turiya)– the pure consciousness beyond the other three.

Understanding these four states offers profound insight into who we truly are and how awareness evolves beyond the limits of the ego and the mind.

1. The Waking State (Jagrat)

The waking state is the most familiar stage of consciousness. It’s the state we operate in during our daily lives- when our senses are open and interacting with the physical world.

In this state, consciousness flows outward. We perceive through our senses, think, plan, speak, and act. Our attention is mostly absorbed in external experiences- our work, relationships, environment, and the body.

The Nature of the Waking State

In the waking state, we identify strongly with the body and mind. We say things like “I am hungry,” “I am tired,” or “I am happy,” equating our sense of self with the physical or emotional condition we are in.

Vedanta teaches that in the waking state, the ego (or ahamkara) is active. It creates a sense of separation- “I” versus “the world.” Although this state feels most real to us, it is only one layer of consciousness.

The Limits of the Waking State

While the waking state allows us to function in the world, it can also trap us in illusion- what Vedanta calls Maya, the veil of appearances. We believe what our senses tell us and often forget that the deeper Self remains the silent witness behind every experience.

Meditation begins to soften this identification. As awareness deepens, we start to realize that even in the waking state, we are not merely the body or thoughts- we are the consciousness perceiving them.

2. The Dreaming State (Svapna)

When the body falls asleep but the mind remains active, we enter the dreaming state. In this realm, the senses withdraw from the external world, and consciousness turns inward, creating its own reality.

The Inner World of Dreams

In the dream state, consciousness projects its own universe- complete with emotions, sensations, and experiences. Though these dreams appear real while they occur, they dissolve upon waking. Similarly, Vedanta reminds us that waking reality, too, is temporary and transient.

Dreams often arise from subconscious impressions, known as samskaras. These are subtle imprints from past experiences, desires, and unresolved emotions stored in the mind. When the physical body rests, the mind processes these impressions through symbols and stories we experience as dreams.

Dreams as a Mirror

The dreaming state serves a vital purpose. It reflects the content of the subconscious, showing us hidden fears, attachments, or longings. In this way, dreams act as mirrors of the inner psyche.

Spiritually, the dream state teaches us about the creative power of consciousness. Just as the dreamer generates an entire world from within, so too does pure consciousness project the waking universe. Recognizing this can lead to profound insight: reality is shaped by the mind.

3. The Deep Sleep State (Susupti)

The third stage, deep sleep, is a state of complete rest. Here, the mind dissolves, the senses withdraw entirely, and there is no dream, no perception, no “I.”

The Nature of Deep Sleep

In deep sleep, there is no duality. We experience neither pleasure nor pain, neither fear nor desire. Consciousness remains- but unmanifested and without content. That’s why, upon waking, we often say, “I slept well.” There was awareness of peace, even though there was no active experience of it.

Vedanta describes deep sleep as the state of undifferentiated potential. All mental activity returns to its causal seed form. The ego, intellect, and senses rest. Only the Self remains- silent, still, and unchanging.

The Paradox of Deep Sleep

Although deep sleep offers a taste of pure being, it is veiled by ignorance (avidya). We are not consciously aware of the Self during this state. There is peace, but no knowing of that peace. It is blissful unconsciousness rather than awakened awareness.

The goal of spiritual practice is to awaken this same stillness while remaining conscious. That awakened stillness is the fourth state- Turiya.

4. The Fourth State (Turiya): Pure Consciousness

The Sanskrit word Turiya literally means “the fourth.” It is not a state in the ordinary sense, but rather the underlying reality behind the other three. Turiya is pure consciousness- the eternal witness that never sleeps, never dreams, and never wakes. It is the substratum of all experience.

Beyond Waking, Dreaming, and Sleep

In Turiya, one recognizes that consciousness is not limited to the body, mind, or any particular state. It pervades all states- it is the screen upon which waking, dreaming, and deep sleep appear and disappear.

When one abides in Turiya, there is full awareness of awareness itself. The sense of a separate self dissolves. What remains is peace, unity, and boundless presence.

The Experience of Turiya

Turiya cannot be grasped by the intellect or described by words. It is experienced in deep meditation when the mind becomes still and merges into pure being. There is no object of awareness- only awareness itself.

The Mandukya Upanishad, one of the shortest yet most profound texts of Vedanta, centers entirely on these four states. It declares that understanding them leads to liberation (moksha). In this realization, one awakens to the truth that the Self (Atman) and the Absolute (Brahman) are one and the same.

How the Four States Relate to Each Other

The four states of consciousness are not separate experiences, but expressions of the same awareness manifesting at different levels.

• In the waking state, consciousness expresses through the senses and the physical body.
  
• In the dream state, it expresses through the subtle mind and imagination.
  
• In deep sleep, consciousness rests in its causal, undifferentiated form.
  
• In Turiya, consciousness abides in its pure, formless essence.
  

Together, they represent the full cycle of experience- from outward perception to inward absorption and, finally, to transcendence.

Modern Reflections on Ancient Wisdom

Interestingly, modern neuroscience and psychology echo these ancient insights.

Each state of consciousness aligns with different brainwave patterns- beta waves during waking, theta waves during dreaming, and delta waves in deep sleep.

Likewise, the subconscious mind mirrors the Svapna (dreaming) state, where impressions and emotions surface in symbolic form.

These parallels remind us that the Vedantic map of consciousness isn’t abstract philosophy- it’s a timeless observation of the human mind.

The Symbolism of AUM (Om) and the Four States

In Vedanta, the sacred syllable AUM (Om) symbolizes the entire range of consciousness. Each part of the sound represents one of the four states:

• A – Waking (Jāgrat): the conscious, outer world.
  
• U – Dreaming (Svapna): the inner, subtle world.
  
• M – Deep Sleep (Suṣupti): the state of unmanifested potential.
  
• Silence after AUM – Turiya: the infinite stillness that transcends all.
  

Meditating on AUM is said to awaken awareness of Turiya, the ever-present witness behind all experience.

Awakening to Turiya in Daily Life

Although Turiya sounds transcendent, it is not distant or unreachable. It is the ground of your very awareness- present here and now. The practice lies in learning to recognize it amidst the changing flow of waking, dreaming, and sleeping.

Mindfulness and Witnessing

One powerful way to awaken Turiya is through mindfulness and self-inquiry. Notice the part of you that watches thoughts arise and fade. Notice the awareness that remains the same whether you are happy or sad, awake or dreaming. That unchanging awareness is Turiya.

Meditation and Stillness

Deep meditation helps quiet the waves of the mind. When thoughts settle, awareness shines through naturally. The more you rest as the observer rather than the thinker, the more you touch the silent consciousness that is always here.

Living from Higher Awareness

Awakening to Turiya doesn’t mean withdrawing from life. It means living with awareness that you are not merely the doer or experiencer, but the eternal consciousness behind them. Life becomes lighter, more spacious, and filled with peace.

The Journey Toward Self-Realization

Recognizing the four states of consciousness is not just a philosophical exercise- it’s a direct map to liberation. Each state offers a doorway to deeper awareness.

• The waking state teaches you to observe the world without attachment.
  
• The dreaming state reveals the creative power of the mind.
  
• The deep sleep state shows the bliss of pure being.
  
• Turiya unveils the ultimate truth- that you are consciousness itself.
  

Through consistent spiritual practice- meditation, self-inquiry, mantra, and devotion- you begin to glimpse this unchanging awareness more often. Eventually, it becomes your natural state.

Bringing It All Together

The Vedantic model of the four states of consciousness offers one of the most profound insights into human existence. It reminds us that consciousness is not limited to the waking world or even the mind- it is the essence of all that is.

We move through waking, dreaming, and deep sleep every day. Yet behind all these shifting experiences lies one constant presence- the silent witness, the Self. Realizing that witness is the heart of spiritual awakening.

When you awaken to Turiya, you discover that you were never bound by the body or mind at all. You are the awareness in which all experiences arise and dissolve- timeless, peaceful, and free.

The Path of Awareness

Every night, as you drift from waking to dreaming to deep sleep, consciousness journeys through all its levels. Each morning, you awaken again, unaware that the same pure awareness was present throughout.

By recognizing this truth while awake, you begin to live as consciousness itself- unbounded, radiant, and at peace.

In the words of the Mandukya Upanishad:“That which is not conscious of the inner or the outer,
Nor both; which is unseen, ungraspable, and beyond thought-
That is the Self. That is the end of all seeking.”

This post was all about the 4 states of consciousness.

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