TURIYA STATE OF SUPER CONSCIOUSNESS – AS REFLECTED BY RAMANA MAHARISHI AND MAHATMA GANDHI

When our meditation practice becomes true to ourselves and states of joy alight, we are in the state of turiya. Turiya is higher consciousness, what the Sages call the sleepless sleep. Turiya is the experience of the liberated. The liberated are the Self-realized.

Sri Ramana Maharshi, one of Mother India’s enlightened masters, would awaken the turiya state of higher consciousness of any seeker who sought his blessings simply through silent presence. His simple gaze would awaken a seeker to realization.

This enlightened Sage would explain complex yogic terminologies through simple stories and often in just a few words, leaving the truth of understanding to be realized through the experience of the seeker.

He would illustrate the state of Turiya through this story:

“Once upon a time, three thieves ruled over a jungle. If anyone entered this jungle they never could escape these thieves. The first thief was violent, merciless, cruel and lazy. The second thief always wanted things done and was constantly in action, running around the forest, checking out the neighboring towns, never at one place for very long. The third thief, however had goodness in him. He was peaceful and happy, but sworn into the company of the other two thieves since they were living together in the forest as a family.

“One day, Manidan had to go through the forest. As soon as he entered the forest, he was captured by the three thieves, who tied him up. Imprisoned, Manidan prayed to Source for freedom from this harassment and cruelty, not knowing any other relief. Hearing the prayers, the third thief, the good one, came to his rescue. While the first thief, the bad one, was sleeping, and the second thief was as usual doing his rounds, the good thief released Manidan from his bonds. The good thief took Manidan to the outer boundaries of the forest and said, ‘Walk out to your freedom beyond the entrapment of this forest and the robbers who dwell in it. From now on, remember that you are not Manidan anymore. You are a Deva, an Angel.’ Manidan walked out to his true reality, with the name and identity of Deva.”

“The Thieves” represent the three states of mind. The first state of mind is Tamas – the lower state of the mind that is ignorant. The tamas state is characterized as the nature of sloth, anger, violence and all the lower tendencies of human beings. The second state of mind is Rajas, which describes a person who is active and action-oriented, liked those who live in fast-paced societies of the West, or as city dwellers – those who live in survival mode. The third state of mind, called Satva, is characterized as the peaceful, tranquil nature that knows basic goodness in each pure thought.

Any time we pray, meditate, or contemplate Source, our satvic mind steps in to untie us from the unique bond of ego and the mental patterns we experience in human limitation. The “forest” is the human mind that we enter into through this birth. “Manidan”, the man captured and confined in the mind forest, is the humanness of ourselves – Manidan in Tamil means “the human”.  And “Deva” is the Being that arises from within when we are shown freedom by the third state of the mind, the Satvic nature within ourselves. "Deva" in both Tamil and Sanskrit means “the Angel”.

This Deva state is turiya – the spirit having a human experience as a higher conscious being. In the state of turiya – experienced as expanded realities – we are able to tap into our potential of genius wherever we choose to focus our attention.

The turiya state is a common denominator of inspiration for all people. For instance, an artist while painting, a mother suckling her baby, or anyone who is aligned to the genius of perfection, steps into turiya states, where the doer forgets time, hunger and tiredness in the intensity of inspiration. Every higher conscious master imparts wisdom through the alignment of being in states of turiya through prayer, contemplation, meditation and inspiration.

The majority of humanity experiences turiya unconsciously in states of joy.  In this fleeting flash of a moment, joy reveals itself and sets the person in pursuit of more of this joy.

A yogi consciously seeks the state of joy within until the state of turiya begins to be his or her perpetual meditation mode – of being in love, as love, in every moment. Disciplines form around the desire to have more joy, leading us to do our daily yoga, lighting a lamp to Source. All of this leads to a mind that is in the joy of awareness, mindfulness and bliss, which is the nature of the turiya state.

Those liberated and blessed by turiya are Mahatmas – the immense awakened souls such as Mahatma Gandhi. If you are traveling through Mother India, visit Sabarmati Ashram, in Gujarat. Here Gandhi’s divine presence is enshrined in the form of the many books he wrote and the innumerable articles, notes and books written about him.

Gandhi was definitely blessed in the state of turiya, demonstrated in his need for little sleep (less than four hours each day) and going to bed and waking up with prayer and chanting. He loved reading and would fall asleep by midnight, and had no need to nap during the day; occasionally he would cat nap for less than 30 minutes. Gandhi said, “If you are really tired during the day, meditate twice as much, to wipe tiredness away."

In “Prayer”, Gandhi's most personal book, he reveals the turiya state. In this autobiographical book, this great leader of humanity discloses a rare portrait of himself – more open and frank in discussing his intimate spiritual life. In understanding and celebrating each breath in tune with Source, Gandhi describes being in a meditative state throughout his daily work, and how intensely inspired each moment was, even during difficult times. He reports going to sleep, with his final plunge into the depth of sleep through prayer, and then waking up each morning with prayer; through this practice, he attained the higher conscious mind that could manifest magnificent realities as a Mahatma.

A historically significant incident was recorded by the disciples of Sri Ramana Maharshi, when that Saint was asked what he thought about Gandhi. (This was at a time when the title of “Mahatma” was not yet conferred on Gandhi, about 20 years before India won independence and when the freedom struggle of India against the British imperialism had waned.) At that time, Gandhi was in a political wilderness, with no breakthrough with the British likely in the struggle for freedom. Sri Ramana Maharishi responded with total confidence: “Gandhi operates from the Aadi Atma Shakti, and no matter what, he will accomplish the objective of the freedom struggle.”

Sri Ramana Maharshi meant that Gandhi had tapped into the powerful “Soul Force”, the primal energy of the soul, and this awakened turiya state would lead him to victory. Sri Ramana Maharshi recognized the turiya state in Gandhi, years before Gandhi was truly acknowledged by all of India for winning independence.

Attain the turiya state through your daily practice to celebrate your union with Source. By cultivating this daily practice, consciousness is expanded, making each thought potent and able to manifest the most harmonious, abundant and inspired realities!  Imagine the power of a million Mahatmas shaping our global realities as blessings of turiya for all of humanity! Through turiya be a Mahatma.

Book: Mastery of Consciousness- Awake the Inner Prophet: Break the limits of mind, body, and circumstances- by Nandhiji

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