Sambodhi 2009 Vol 32

Author(s): J B Shah, K M patel
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 34

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S. N. Bhavasar and R. W. Boyer
SAMBODHI
Transcendental consciousness (Turiya Chetana) -pure wakefulness, universal Self only;
Cosmic consciousness (Turiyatit Chetana) -universal Self and separate environment;
Refined cosmic consciousness or God consciousness (Bhagavad Chetana)-universal Self and maximum relative value of environment;
Unity consciousness (Brahmi Chetana)—object and subject are one; the environment is nothing other than the universal Self.”
The first three ordinary states of waking, dreaming, and sleeping are commonly recognized in modern science. The fourth state, identified as transcendental consciousness (Turiya, Samadhi) is now being phenomenologically and psychophysiologically corroborated in the experimental laboratory, along with increasing evidence of even higher states. The delineation of these natural states provides a systematic framework for understanding the vast variety of accounts and teachings in historical literature that sometimes may appear contradictory and confusing. It is important to recognize that they reflect views of the unified totality of life from the vantage points of different states of consciousness.
In Maharishi Vedic Science and Technology, natural development to the endstate or highest state encompasses the full range of levels of nature. The active ingredient in facilitating this development is transcendental consciousness, the fourth state of consciousness. This state is the simplest ground state of the individual mind, the state of unbounded inner silence. The entire course of evolution through the seven states of consciousness is unfolded within the ground state of the mind, self-referral transcendental consciousness. The full range of levels of nature and the evolutionary sequence associated with them can be summarized in five concepts (1):
Atma-transcendental consciousness, the universal Self on the individual level; Veda—the unmanifest basis of phenomenal creation, the home of all the laws of nature;
Sharir-the individual body reflecting the structure of the entire cosmos, the cosmic individual;
Vishwa—the entire structure of the universe, the cosmic body;
Brahm--the Self on the cosmic level, permanently living the totality of life in fully awake unity consciousness.
The seven states of consciousness also have a correspondence with the six Vedic Darshanas (1). Each Darshana presents the wholeness or totality of knowl