Degree of Self-Awareness in Transcendental Meditation: A Hierarchical Structure
Transcendental Meditation (TM) outlines a series of transcendent states of consciousness that progressively unfold, offering an expansion of mental potential and inner happiness. These states, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, consist of seven sequential levels, beginning with the ordinary states experienced daily, followed by higher states of expanded awareness.
The ordinary states of consciousness include deep sleep, dreaming, and waking. Deep sleep is the state of unconscious rest, without thoughts or dreams, characterized by maximum physiological rest but minimum consciousness. Dreaming is a subconscious state where the mind experiences internally generated imagery and sensations, without external sensory input. Waking consciousness is the ordinary daily consciousness characterized by active thought, sensory perception, and external awareness.
Beyond these ordinary states, there are four higher states of expanded awareness: Transcendental Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness, God Consciousness, and Unity Consciousness.
Transcendental Consciousness is a meditative state of pure, silent awareness beyond thoughts, and is experienced as restful alertness. Cosmic Consciousness is the permanent inner silence and witnessing consciousness that coexists alongside ordinary waking, dreaming, and sleeping states, offering a profound state of inner peace. God Consciousness is a refined state beyond cosmic consciousness, characterized by heightened perception and profound love, devotion, and appreciation for the divine essence within all aspects of creation. Unity Consciousness is the highest state of consciousness, where the individual merges with the external world, experiencing all aspects of life as one unified field of pure consciousness.
Maharishi's core teaching emphasizes that the higher states represent a dramatic expansion of mental potential and inner happiness, far beyond the realm of ordinary consciousness. Each higher state adds a new dimension of experience, leading ultimately to a fully awakened state often described as enlightenment.
The Transcendental Meditation practice is designed to allow the mind to settle inward, beyond thought, and tap into the deepest, most silent level of the mind - pure consciousness. This systematic technique enables individuals to experience these higher states and attain lasting peace, happiness, and self-realization.
In the following sections, we will delve deeper into each state of consciousness and their significance in personal development and spiritual growth.
Deep Sleep
Deep sleep is the state of maximum physiological rest but minimum consciousness. It is a state of unconscious rest without dreams or sensory awareness, where the mind is inactive, and physiological functions slow down significantly, allowing the body to recover deeply. In ordinary deep sleep, consciousness is essentially absent. During this period, individuals experience a complete lack of awareness.
Dreaming
Dreaming is an internally active state characterized by subconscious experiences, images, and emotions without external sensory input. The body remains mostly inactive while the mind generates vivid mental scenes. Consciousness is present but limited and fragmented.
Waking
Waking consciousness is the ordinary daily consciousness characterized by active thought, sensory perception, and external awareness. It is the starting point for growth, offering the foundation for learning and practicing techniques like Transcendental Meditation on a daily basis.
Transcendental Consciousness
Transcendental Consciousness is the first of the higher states of consciousness and is often described as the direct experience of pure awareness or pure consciousness itself. In this state, the mind becomes completely alert yet entirely silent, allowing individuals to access a deeper level of consciousness through meditation.
Cosmic Consciousness
Cosmic Consciousness is the permanent inner silence and witnessing consciousness that coexists alongside ordinary waking, dreaming, and sleeping states. It offers a profound state of inner peace and is regarded as the foundation for stable enlightenment. In this state, individuals maintain constant inner silence and witness life's activities from an unshakeable inner peace.
God Consciousness
God Consciousness is the sixth state of consciousness, characterized by a profound refinement of perception and an expansion of heart. Once the inner silence of cosmic consciousness is established, the quality of one's perception of the world begins to transform, leading to a profound appreciation of the divine essence perceived within all creation.
Unity Consciousness
Unity Consciousness is the seventh and highest state of consciousness, characterized by the complete merging of the individual with the external world, dissolving all duality. In this state, everything is experienced as one unified field of pure consciousness, resulting in feelings of complete inner freedom, supreme bliss, and the experiential understanding that "I am everything."
Achieving these levels of consciousness through Transcendental Meditation provides individuals with a lasting sense of peace, happiness, and self-realization, allowing them to live more fulfilling and harmonious lives.
- The higher states of consciousness, beyond ordinary states, include Transcendental Consciousness, Cosmic Consciousness, God Consciousness, and Unity Consciousness, each offering a significant expansion of mental potential and inner happiness.
- Transcendental Consciousness, the first of the higher states, is a meditative state of pure, silent awareness beyond thoughts, experienced as restful alertness.
- Cosmic Consciousness, coexisting alongside ordinary states, offers a profound state of inner peace, with individuals maintaining constant inner silence and witnessing life's activities.
- God Consciousness, the sixth state, is characterized by a profound refinement of perception and an expansion of heart, resulting in a profound appreciation of the divine essence within all creation.
- Unity Consciousness, the highest state, dissolves all duality, with everything being experienced as one unified field of pure consciousness, resulting in feelings of complete inner freedom, supreme bliss, and the experiential understanding that "I am everything."
- The Transcendental Meditation practice is designed to allow the mind to settle inward, beyond thought, and tap into the deepest, most silent level of the mind - pure consciousness.
- The expansion of mental potential and inner happiness in the higher states can have profound impacts on a person's identity, emotions, culture, values, behavior, thoughts, personality, and relationships.
- The science of psychology reveals that these higher states can have positive effects on the nervous system, feelings, and mental-health, contributing to overall health-and-wellness and a greater sense of happiness and life satisfaction.
- In personal development and spiritual growth, the progression through the various states of consciousness can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world, fostering self-realization and a more harmonious existence.
- The deeper levels of consciousness accessed through Transcendental Meditation can have lasting effects on memory and perception, enabling individuals to make wiser choices, handle stress more effectively, and foster a more compassionate and loving disposition.
