Hour 20 Meditation – Layers of Consciousness – Waking, Dreaming, Deep Sleep, and Turiya

Layers of Consciousness – Waking, Dreaming, Deep Sleep, and Turiya

Introduction: The Depths of Consciousness

Consciousness has been at the heart of meditation and spiritual philosophy for millennia. The following module describes four levels or states of consciousness, each with its own insights into the nature of the real us. The four levels, says Osho, provide a step-by-step approach to understanding the depth of existence, resulting in a transcendental state of awareness.

These states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and Turiya—are not simply what we go through but states disclosing greater truths of what we are. Osho describes that meditation facilitates us going from the superficial levels of the mind towards the final experience of reality, which is beyond the mind and senses.

Let’s discuss each of these states in detail and how they are connected to the philosophy of meditation.

Layer 1: Waking Consciousness (Jagrat)

The waking state is the first layer of consciousness. This is the state in which we spend most of our time in our everyday life. In the waking state, we perceive the world around us through our five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. Our mind is always active, interpreting the world outside, classifying experiences, and creating a sense of distinction between us and the world outside.

Key Features of Waking Consciousness:

• Perception by senses: We perceive the world outside us through the mind and body.
• Duality: The mind imposes differences like good and bad, right and wrong, or self and other.
• Active mind: Our minds are quick and changing in reaction to external stimuli.

Osho points out that the waking state is not the ultimate reality but only the outermost layer of consciousness. It is bounded by the capacity of the mind to interpret and cull out things.

Layer 2: Dreaming Consciousness (Svapna)

The second level of consciousness is the dreaming state. During sleep, the mind remains active, but rather than sensing the outside world, it constructs its own reality in the form of dreams. Dreams are a manifestation of our subconscious mind—our suppressed desires, fears, and unresolved conflicts.

Key Features of Dreaming Consciousness:

• Imagination and projection: The mind creates pictures, situations, and scenarios unrelated to the world of waking life.
• Symbolism: Dreams frequently have symbolic meaning and messages from the unconscious.
• Freedom from the senses: The external world is closed off in the state of dreaming, yet the mind continues to function and be creative.

Osho mentions that dreams are not real, but they reveal the mechanisms of the subconscious mind. The world of dreams is a creation of the inner reality of the mind, and even though it appears real and vivid when one is dreaming, it is as illusory as the state of wakefulness.

Layer 3: Deep Sleep Consciousness (Sushupti)

The third stage is deep sleep, where we are not dreaming nor conscious. This level of consciousness is characterized as a lack of thoughts and mental process. It is likely to be a state of deep rest and restoration, where the mind is totally quiet and the body repairs itself.

Key Features of Deep Sleep Consciousness:

• Lack of thought: The mind is dormant, and no sense of ego or separation exists.
• Peace and quiet: This condition is characterized as blissful and peaceful, with no perception of time or space.
• Physical renewal: The body is renewed, and energy is restored.

Although deep sleep is a state of rest, according to Osho, it is not the final state of true consciousness. Though it provides a temporary feeling of peace, it is limited because it forms part of the mind’s cycle—a conditioned state that we go through every night.

Layer 4: Turiya – The Fourth State of Consciousness

The fourth state of consciousness, Turiya, is the final state of awareness—it is the state of pure consciousness. It is not like the waking, dreaming, or deep sleep states, which are limited by the mind, body, or senses. It is the unified field of existence, where the individual self dissolves into the universal self, and there is no separation between the observer and the observed.

Osho defines Turiya as a state of transcendence—a state of bliss, awareness, and silence in which all duality disappears. There is no mind, no thought, and no ego in this state. It is the state of pure being, above the fluctuations of the mental and sensory experiences.

Key Features of Turiya:

• Unbroken awareness: Unlike the other states, Turiya is constant and unchanging. It is not subject to external or internal conditions.
• Transcending time and space: In Turiya, time and space become irrelevant. It is a state of perpetual presence.
• Unity with existence: In this state, there is no subject-object duality; you are the witness, living life as it is.
• Bliss and peace: The state is one of profound peace, joy, and satisfaction, with no attachment to desires or fears.

Turiya is said to be the ultimate state of consciousness, and meditation is the way to attain it. Through deep meditation practice, one is able to access Turiya—this sublime awareness that is beyond the waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states.

The Layers of Consciousness and the Journey of Meditation

Osho describes that meditation is a path from the superficial levels of consciousness—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—into the depths of Turiya. By the practice of meditation, we observe and disidentify with the mind’s constant chatter and move towards a state of pure awareness.

Meditation enables us to withdraw from the layers of experience and reach the witnessing consciousness, which is the very essence of Turiya. As we meditate, we slowly work our way through the layers, letting go of the illusions of the waking and dream states and finally dissolving the egoic mind in deep silence and bliss.

Key Takeaways from This Module

• The Four Layers of Consciousness: These four layers—waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and Turiya—symbolize various levels of awareness, each providing perception of the nature of the mind and self.
• The Waking State (Jagrat): The realm of sensory perception and mental activity.
• The Dreaming State (Svapna): Reflected image of the subconscious mind, where the mind externalizes its desires, fears, and unresolved issues.
• The Deep Sleep State (Sushupti): The state of sleep and rejuvenation, where there is no thought.
• Turiya (The Fourth State): The state of pure awareness, bliss, and silence, in which all duality disappears and we become one with existence.
• Meditation: The practice of transitioning from the surface layers of consciousness towards the state of Turiya, the highest realization of pure being.

Reflective Questions

1. What is the distinction between waking consciousness and dreaming consciousness? How do these two conditions affect your perception of reality?
2. How does deep sleep feel to you? Can you remember the quality of awareness or absence thereof in this state?
3. Think about a recent meditation experience—did you feel any change in consciousness? Did you feel moments of deep stillness or bliss like Turiya?
4. How does the understanding of Turiya question what you know so far about reality? Do you think it’s possible in this lifetime?
5. In what ways can you apply the knowledge of these planes of consciousness to your daily life in order to be more aware, present, and separate from the swings of the mind?