Turiiya State

Why is there no awareness in deep sleep state when actually all the living beings unite with the Brahman at that time?

[Shri G. Lakshman asked: Dear Swamiji, My humble namaskarams to you. Swamiji You are my Master and the Spiritual guide. Please give us few drops from the ocean of Knowledge, which could become the spiritual messages for all aspirants. Otherwise, people would be seeking for miracles to strengthen their belief.

I wanted to know what is Turiya State. This has been going on through my mind for the past few months and I could not muster courage to ask you over phone. I subscribe to the monthly magazine brought out by Sri. Ramana Maharishi Learning Center, Bangalore. Their last month issue contained a reference to the Turiya State. I was surprised, initially, to receive the answer but then it has not satisfied me. I am reproducing my understanding of the Turiya State

A person goes through 3 states when he is asleep, i.e. the dream state, the deep sleep state (shushupti) and the waking state. The fourth state is called the Turiya State which is also called the Transcendental State.

My question is as follows: Why there is no awareness in deep sleep state when actually speaking all the living beings unite with the Brahman (Consciousness) at that time? Why it is said that one must meditate at the Waking State? Then what is Turiya State and when does it occur?

Please explain to me Oh! Lord Datta, as I have surrendered at Thy Lotus Feet and sought refuge in You. Thanking You, I remain, in the service of Bhagavan, G. Lakshman]

Swami replied: The Veda says ‘Turiiyam Brahman Uchyate’. That means it is the state of 'Parabrahman' which is beyond words, mind, intelligence and logic.

Veda says like this: 'Words cannot reach Brahman, even mind cannot reach, He is beyond intelligence, He is above logic’. So, nobody can reach Turiiya state. In the Badari forest, Siddhas asked 'Lord Datta, what is Your Ashramam'. Datta replied 'I am in Turiiya Aashram'. The word 'Turiiya' represents 'Brahman'. Your trail to reach Turiiya state means it is something like trying to touch the sky by high jumps. Then, how to reach 'Turiiya' state? The Turiiya state that is Parabrahman comes down as incarnation i.e., Avataram.

Brahman i.e., the Lord comes down in 3 steps. The first step is 'Sushupti. In this step, the Lord is called as 'Prajna'. In this state, sages see Him in their hearts through meditation.

The next step is 'Swapna'. In this state the Lord is called as 'Taijasa'. In this state devotees see Him in their dreams.

The third step is 'Jagrat'. In this step, the Lord is called as 'Vaishwa'. In this state the devotees serve Him as servants. 'Vaishwa' is the Lord with human body. 'Taijasa' is the Lord with body of energy i.e., light. 'Prajna' is the Lord with body of 'Bliss'. In these three states the Lord is possessing a body, and therefore He has come down as 'Jeeva' that is individual soul.

At this point followers of Shankara are confused. They think that these three names of Lord in the three states belong to 'Jiiva'. Therefore, they say that the Jeeva is passing through all these three states and therefore, this Jeeva must try to reach the Turiiya state and become Brahman. No doubt Jeeva is passing through all these 3 states i.e., state of awakening (jagrat) state of dream (swapna) and the state of deep sleep (sushipti). These three states are the 3 levels of Jeeva. The Lord comes down to these three levels so that different jiivas can attain Him, according to their convenience. Since the Lord is Turiiya you can reach Turiiya even in the awakening state. The Lord becomes more clear and clear as He comes down. Therefore, you can reach Turiiya with your effort combined with His grace. You are leaving Turiiya, who has come down to your level and your trial to reach Turiiya presenting His original level becomes waste. Turiiya is the name of the Lord and not the name for the level of the Lord.

Turiiyam = the word Turiiya, Brahman = you can reach Turiiya that is Brahman only when Brahman comes down to your level. Hanuman reached Rama who is Brahman that is Turiiya, which has come down to this world. Recognizing Rama as Brahman is the essence of Sadhana because Rama looks like other ordinary human beings.

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