Beyond the three states of consciousness lies Turiya—the eternal witness that remains unchanged through waking, dreaming, and deep sleep.
Author
Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad
तुरीय (Turīya)
The Fourth
The Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad teaches that there are three states of consciousness known to everyone—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—and a fourth state, Turiya, which is actually the reality underlying all three.
जाग्रत् (Jāgrat)
The Waking State
Characteristics:
The Experience: Right now, as you read this, you are in the waking state. You are aware of the screen, your body, the room around you. The “I” who experiences seems to be a person in a world.
The Limitation: In waking, consciousness identifies with the body-mind and believes “I am this person, in this place, at this time.”
स्वप्न (Svapna)
The Dream State
Characteristics:
The Experience: In dreams, you experience a complete world. You have a dream body, meet dream people, experience dream emotions. While dreaming, it feels completely real.
The Revelation: Upon waking, you realize the entire dream was mental. The person you were in the dream, the objects you saw, the events that happened—all were projections of consciousness.
Key Insight: If the waking state is like the dream state, what creates it? What is the consciousness that experiences both?
सुषुप्ति (Suṣupti)
Deep Sleep State
Characteristics:
The Experience: In deep sleep, there are no experiences. You cannot remember it because no events occurred, no objects were perceived, no thoughts arose.
The Mystery: Yet upon waking, you say “I slept well,” “I knew nothing,” “I was at peace.” Who knew the absence of experience? Who experienced that peace?
The Teaching: Even in deep sleep, awareness is present as the witness of the absence of objects. Otherwise, how would you know you slept?
तुरीय तत्
Turīya Tat
”That which is the Fourth”
Turiya is called the “fourth state,” but it’s not a state like the other three. It is the permanent reality that witnesses all three states. It is:
From the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad:
नान्तःप्रज्ञं न बहिष्प्रज्ञं नोभयतःप्रज्ञम्
Nāntaḥprajñaṁ na bahiṣprajñaṁ nobhayataḥprajñam
It is:
Positive Description:
Think of a movie screen:
The screen is never changed by what appears on it. It’s present when movies play and when they don’t. It has no qualities of its own but allows all qualities to appear.
In waking, you say “I am awake”
In dreaming, you say “I am dreaming” (upon waking)
After sleeping, you say “I was asleep”
The Question: What is this “I” that remains constant through all three states? This unchanging “I” is Turiya.
Notice:
This witnessing presence is Turiya—never itself entering or exiting any state.
Turiya is not:
Turiya is:
Observe the waking state:
Remember dreams:
Recognize deep sleep:
Abide as Turiya:
Waking:
“I am aware of this waking experience. I am not this experience—I am the awareness.”
Getting tired:
“States change. I witness the change. I am the unchanging witness.”
Before sleep:
“Let sleep come. I remain as awareness, whether the body wakes or sleeps.”
After waking:
“Was I absent in sleep? No—awareness was present. I am That.”
ॐ (AUM)
The sacred syllable OM represents the four states:
When you chant OM, the sound fades into silence. That silence—pregnant with potential, aware and present—is Turiya.
The Recognition: Right now, in this moment, you are Turiya. You have never been anything else. The waking state is appearing in you. When dreams come, they appear in you. When sleep occurs, it occurs in you.
You are not in the states—the states are in you.
The Liberation: When you know yourself as Turiya:
Q: Is Turiya unconsciousness?
A: No. It is pure consciousness without objects. It’s not the absence of consciousness but consciousness without content—like space is not nothing, but the container for everything.
Q: Can I experience Turiya?
A: You cannot experience Turiya as an object, because you ARE Turiya. It’s like the eye cannot see itself. But you can recognize yourself AS Turiya—the subject that witnesses all experiences.
Q: How does this help in daily life?
A: When you know yourself as Turiya, you are free from over-identification with temporary states. Problems belong to the waking state, but you are the witness. Emotions arise in the dream-mind, but you are beyond them. This brings tremendous peace and freedom.
Q: Is this similar to “mindfulness”?
A: Mindfulness is being attentive to the present moment. Recognizing Turiya is knowing yourself as the awareness in which all moments appear. Mindfulness is a practice; Turiya is your nature.
“I am waking. The body-mind is waking. But I, as awareness, never slept. I am Turiya—eternal presence.”
Whenever you catch yourself:
“The day’s experiences came and went. I remain unchanged. I am the witness of all experiences—never entering them, never leaving them.”
“As the body prepares to sleep, I remain awake as consciousness. Sleep is a state in me; I do not go into sleep.”
अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म
Ayam Ātmā Brahma
”This Self is Brahman”
Turiya is not different from Brahman. The pure consciousness that you are, witnessing all states unchanged, is the ultimate reality itself.
You are not:
You are:
Three states come and go,
Like waves upon the ocean.
I am the ocean—
Unchanged by waves,
Present in stillness and motion,
The eternal witness:
Turiya.
May you recognize yourself as Turiya—the Fourth, the Eternal, the Self beyond all states. 🙏🌌