HIGH E R S T A T E S O F CON S CIO U S N E S S
The seven states of consciousness — states of ever-increasing wakefulness
5.
4.
3.
2. 1.
Ë
Bhagavad Chetanå
Ë
God Consciousness Cosmic Consciousness Tur¥yåt¥t Chetanå
Ë
Bråhm¥ Chetanå
Transcendental Consciousness Tur¥ya Chetanå
Ë
6.
Unity Consciousness
Waking State Jågrat Chetanå
Ë
ur normal waking con sciousness, rational consciousness, as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different.” 2 — William James (1842–1910), father of modern psychology
Dreaming
Swapn Chetanå
Ë
7.
with traditional Vedic Sanskrit names
O
“
Deep Sleep
Sushupti Chetanå
The Vedic understanding of human development that Maharishi brings to light, however, expects and predicts such experiences. Maharishi’s teaching brings clarity, structure, and completeness to the understanding of higher levels of human consciousness and places it in the arena of empirical research. In this chapter, we survey the four higher states of consciousness, which Maharishi has termed Transcendental Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness, God Consciousness, and Unity Consciousness. Each of these higher states of consciousness forms a progressive stage of what Maharishi terms enlightenment, the supreme blossoming of our innate creativity and intelligence. A vast body of scientific research has objectively confirmed the immense practical value of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs in accomplishing these goals. Millions of people around the world are using these technologies and enjoying the enormous practical benefits that come with development of higher states of consciousness.
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