There are 7 states of consciousness, each with their own specific physiological characteristics
- In our scientific age, we have objective, more precise and wide ranging means of physiological measurement than at any other time in human history. Every state of consciousness has been found to exhibit specific characteristics of its own.
- Waking, Dreaming and Deep Sleep states of consciousness each have their own physiological markers.
- In 1971 Dr Robert Keith Wallace published research in The Lancet which identified a 4th major state of consciousness whose physiological characteristics were unique and significantly different from waking, dreaming and deep sleep.
- Just as deprivation from any of the 3 states of consciousness such as sleep, is found to be harmful to human health and well being, Dr Wallace suggested that the lack of exposure to this 4th major state of consciousness results in a lack of fulfilment, suffering and problems of all kinds which are the common experience of most human beings today.
The Waking State
- The Waking state of consciousness is experienced as sensory perception of the world around us and the ability to function in it.
- Physiologically, its characteristics are an alert and active brain focussed on dealing with sensory experience.
- There is a comparatively high metabolic rate and specific physiological measurements of blood chemistry, skin resistance, and respiratory rate.
The Dreaming State
- In the dreaming state, sensory perception is entirely imaginary, and the metabolic rate is generally more restful than in the waking state.
- There are rapid eye movements associated with the imagined world of dreams.
- Deprivation of the dreaming state can lead vivid daytime dreaming, resulting in often disturbing hallucinations and other mental and physical health problems.
The Deep Sleep State
- Deep dreamless sleep involves total lack of awareness - blackout.
- Restfulness of body and mind results in an average reduction in oxygen consumption of about 8% at the deepest point of your night’s sleep.
- Sleep depravation can cause depression, lack of co-ordination, irritability and other mental health issues, and eventually hallucination and complete collapse.
Transcendental Consciousness - the 4th state of consciousness
- When deprived of the regular experience of this 4th state of consciousness human beings inevitably suffer fear and anxiety, make mistakes in their behaviour, violate natural law inevitably resulting in suffering, and they experience a lack of complete fulfilment.
- This is the case even where an individual has every material comfort and reason to expect to feel complete satisfaction and fulfilment due to their wealth. But still something is found to be missing because each fulfilling thing has a beginning and an end and then you have to start looking for more.
- Dr Wallace found that the 4th State was characterised by a rest much deeper than the deepest point of the night’s sleep. Oxygen consumption typically fell by an average of 16% and more in many cases. Oxygen consumption was much lower than that normally required to sustain life, indicating a very profound state of rest.
- The brain displayed global EEG (Electroecephalograph) coherence and increased frontal lobe activity which was highly correlated with improved academic performance, greater self actualisation, increased creativity, better general health, higher IQ, improved moral reasoning and a whole host of other indicators.
- The increased frontal lobe activity is quite significant, as this area is the ‘chief executive officer’ (CEO) of the whole brain, and puts together all the information coming from other parts of the brain enabling it to make rational decisions.
- The brain core remains deeply restful, while the whole brain is fully alert but without any of the focussed activity seen in other states.
- This is described as total brain function, and is not seen in any other technique of relaxation or meditation for which there is published research in reputable journals.
- The subjective experience of transcendental consciousness is one of being fully wide awake inside, with awareness only of consciousness itself. Unbounded awareness, without the activity of thought.
- It can be compared to an arrow draw back on the bow. It is not a stagnant state but is alert, full of potentiality and dynamism, ready to fly foward and hit the target.
- There is a sense of complete freedom and the absence of any kind of fear or apprehension.
- This is unique and completely different physiologically from waking, dreaming or deep sleep.
- It combines the deepest rest with the highest degree of alertness of consciousness.
Cosmic Consciousness - the 5th state of consciousness
- When Transcendental Consciousness, the 4th state has been experienced many times and the system has been cultured, refined and purified through regular practice of Transcendental Meditation, then the 4th state begins to coexist along with waking, dreaming and sleeping.
- One becomes the silent uninvolved witness of the waking, dreaming and deep sleep states.
- This is the real, natural state of mindfulness.
- Mindfulness meditation techniques aim to create this state by thinking of it, but it is not on the conscious thinking level. It's a state of consciousness, not a mood or way of thinking but the State of Being permanently established.
- It's a bit like being in the zone described by world class athletes, where everything seems to happen perfectly with minimum effort almost without your involvement Success without stress.
- Once established this state it is never lost and it is not possible to accumulate stress anymore.
- This state has traditionally been referred to as Enlightenment or Self Realisation – the full development of what we ordinarily consider to be the most valuable qualities of human life. Good health, clear, purposful and creative thinking, always in tune with natural law and thereby causing no problems for oneself or one's environment, and with harmomious personal relationships.
God Consciousness - the 6th state of consciousness
- In Cosmic Consciousness, constantly established in the one, eternal, pure, immovable Self, one is living a dual state of consciousness where there is a gap between the Self and non Self (everything is experienced as separate from the Self).
- But although the intellect believes that this is the reality and the two opposites, Self and Non-Self, cannot be unified, there is a part of you which wants to unify non-Self with the Self. This uniting is accomplished through the power of love.
- Love knows no reason and cares not what the intellect is convinced of.
- Love grows resulting in a refinement of perception that only sees what unites the non-Self with the Self, and doesn't mind about the differences. As love grows, perception continues to become more refined due to the heart's desire to put the two opposites together.
- More refined perception reveals something more beautiful and divine in the objects of perception, resulting in even more growth of love and so perception refines still further. This is a concrete sensory experience. Eventually there is a more subtle light seen by the sense of sight. The subtlest layer of the non-Self is fully revealed to the senses. Maharishi Mahaesh Yogi calls this celestial perception.
- At this point the heart is melted in love and the gap between the unbounded Self and the boundaries of non-Self experienced in Cosmic Consciousness have melted in love, and the separation, though still present is now more of a junction point. Unbounded Self and almost unbounded celestial perception of every object, united in love. However, the complete truth about what life is, has yet to be revealed. There still remains a difference between the Self and this celestial vision which is resolved in the 7th State of Consciousness.
Unity Consciousness - the 7th state of consciousness
- Living in God Consciousness for some time is enough for the 7th State of Consciousness to dawn spontaneously.
- Everything has subtler and subtler levels and eventually the unbounded Self at its basis.
- In God Consciousness the celestial and the unbounded Self are side by side but not fully united.
- If you have two pieces of coloured glass side by side and you look at the junction point between the two they begin to melt into each other. But in this case the melting can only go one way.
- This Self of the object of perception is the same Self as the unbounded Self of the subject realised and established in Cosmic Consciousness.
- The unbounded, infinite Self cannot melt and become the celestial, and so in time, the Self becomes aware of the unbounded Self of the object and recognises it as the same Self as its own unbounded reality and Unity Consciousness dawns.
- This realisation of the Self as all that there is the experience of Unity Consciousness.
- Eventually this experience of Unity with every object of perception gives way to the recognition that there is no non-Self anywhere. Only the one, eternal, pure, immovable Self exists.
- The Sanskrit term used to sum up this realisation is 'Ahum Brahmasmi' meaning 'I am the totality' or Brahman Consciousness, the completeness of Unity Consciousness. I am That, thou art That and all this is nothing other than That.
- To realise this is the purpose of human life, and the natural force of evolution is inexorably moving all life towards it.
- Transcendental Meditation and its advanced techniques are a simple, natural, effortless technique to get us quickly to this goal, bringing peace and fulfilment to the individual and lasting peace to the whole world.