The Four States of Consciousness in Hinduism and Its Relevance to Psychology

For thousands of years, the exploration of consciousness has been a central pursuit, forming the foundation of both Hindu philosophy and the modern science of psychology. One of the prime texts of Hinduism is the Mandukya Upanishad. It expounds the four states of consciousness: the first is waking (jagrat), the second is dreaming (swapna), the third is deep sleep (sushupti) and the transcendental fourth state (turiya). The four states are illustrated through the sacred syllable AUM, which further leads to profound insights into human psychology, bridging old wisdom with modern psychological notions. 

1. Waking State (Jagrat) 

The waking state represents the realm of sensory experience and external consciousness. In this state, the self, or Atman, becomes aware of the physical body and engages with the material world through the senses.

Sound in AUM: This is the noise “A”, the apparent and material, sensuous world of experience 

Characterized by: Awareness of the outer world, thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. We are conscious of our surroundings, thoughts, and feelings and can react to them in the environment. Thinking critically and solving problems relates to outer life. 

Dominant brain wave frequency: Beta waves (13-30 Hz). 

Relevance in the Mandukya Upanishad: Jagrat, or the waking state, is depicted as outward-knowing and limited to sensory experiences. It represents the condition in which a person typically perceives and engages with the world in their everyday practical life.

Relevance to Psychology: This condition corresponds psychologically with the level of conscious mind of Freud. It displays logical reasoning, decision making and action toward environmental stimulations. This indicates a state of individual ego at the level of reality.

2. State of Dreaming (Swapna) 

It is the state of dream, where inner experiences, with the help of the mind, create a reality based on subconscious impressions and desire. It is here that the self identifies with the mind and the subtle body.

The symbol in AUM: It is represented by “U” and represents continuity with the subtler elements of  consciousness 

Characterized by: Awareness of inner mental images, emotions, and thoughts.

We are aware of our dreams that can be very vivid, emotional, and irrational.

Thinking symbolically and emotionally as well as activity of the subconscious mind.

Dominant brain wave frequency: Theta waves (4-8 Hz) 

Relevance to the Mandukya Upanishad: In the Upanishad, Swapna is a state of affairs wherein inner knowing predominates. According to it, dreams are said to be a reflection of the imprints that were gathered in the waking state, reflecting the desires, fears, and emotions repressed within an individual. 

Psychological Significance: This state represents the unconscious mind where repressed thoughts and wishes manifest. It shares with Freud’s work on dream interpretation and Jung’s work on the personal unconscious, noting that dreams reflect the subconscious. 

3. State of Deep Sleep (Sushupti or Prajna)  

The self, in deep sleep, is in ignorance and blissful without the involvement of any sense organ or mental activity. It is a restive condition in which both the mind and the body recover their energies. 

The symbol in AUM: Sushupti is the sound “M” meaning closure completeness and potential which lies within. 

Characterized by: There is no awareness of the world outside, thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the body.

We are not aware, and our body recuperates and revitalizes itself.

Physical rejuvenation as well as unconscious mind activities. 

Dominant brain wave frequency: Delta waves (0.5-4 Hz) 

Applicability to the Mandukya Upanishad: The Upanishad describes this state as undistracted and unified, closer to its true self. Although it lacks active awareness, it is a foundation for future experiences. 

Relevance to Psychology: In psychological terms, it is the unconscious mind, wherein lies latent content. It is just like Freud’s id or Jung’s collective unconscious. Deep sleep is significant for restorative purposes on both a physical and mental level. This is also observed through neuroscience and studies on sleep. 

4. The Fourth State (Turiya) 

Turiya is that which transcends the above three. It is pure consciousness or reality. It is a state of enlightenment wherein the self identifies with the universal consciousness of  Brahman. 

The symbol in AUM: The silence after “AUM” represents turiya or transcendence and absolute awareness.

Characterized by: Awareness of the ultimate reality, unity, and timelessness. 

The pure awareness state is unobstructed by thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Often described as one feeling of unity, bliss, and transcendence. 

A unifying state; a timeless state; one of aware realization of final truth. 

Dominant brain wave frequency: Gamma waves (30-100 Hz) or a state beyond brain  waves 

Relevance in the Mandukya Upanishad: The Upanishad has introduced turiya as the culmination of spiritual realization. It is free  from dualities and represents oneness in existence. 

Relevance to Psychology: This is like Maslow’s self-actualization and the study of altered states of consciousness in transpersonal psychology. Turiya is sought to be achieved through meditation,  mindfulness, and other practices to taste small droplets of it, resulting in inner peace and spiritual growth.

AUM 

The Mandukya Upanishad is said to encapsulate the three states into the sacred word  AUM: 

A: State of wakefulness, jagrat 

U: State of dreaming, Swapna 

M: State of deep sleep, sushupti 

Silence after AUM: Turiya 

This model represents a relationship of the human mind, which leads one through self-realization and understanding. 

Real Life Implementations 

1. Meditation: the art of developing awareness of the present moment, thoughts, and emotions. 
2. Lucid dreaming: awareness of and influence on our dreams. 
3. Sleep and relaxation: quality sleep optimization and use of relaxation techniques to access deeper states. 
4. Spiritual growth and self-awareness: the exploration of the nature of consciousness and reality through practices like meditation and introspection. 

Psychological Implications 

1. Meditation and Mindfulness: The journey through these stages mirrors what happens in meditation: progression from active awareness to sub-conscious levels and then on to transcendence. 
2. Cognitive Processes: The conscious state corresponds to active cognitive activity, the dream state with subconscious processing, and deep sleep with restorative functions. 
3. Therapeutic Applications: Understanding these states helps overcome mental health issues, analyze dreams, and cultivate mindfulness practices. 
4. Self-Integration: Turiya is the integration of conscious, subconscious, and unconscious, similar to Jung’s concept of individuation. 

Views on the Four States of Consciousness Across Philosophical Schools 

Four types of consciousness—waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and transcendental—are differently explained in the orthodox Hindu schools. In Advaita Vedanta, they are considered steps for understanding the identity of Atman (Self) and Brahman (ultimate reality) with the aid of self-inquiry and knowledge. In Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, the states correspond to bhakti (devotion) and submission to a personal deity. Dvaita Vedanta places much emphasis on the dualism between the individual soul, or jiva, and Brahman. 

Yoga School is concerned with the process of meditation, pranayama, and asanas,  through which moksha would be reached.  

Non-orthodox traditions also discuss these states, albeit in varying manners. Buddhism does not take up the four states in explicit form but does speak about levels of consciousness, including waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and meditative absorption, for enlightenment. Similarly, Jainism accepts states such as waking and dreaming but emphasizes liberation through ethical conduct, non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), and self-discipline (tapas). 

More subtle are the views other interpretations have offered. The philosophy of tantra ties up the four states with the activation of subtle energies (prana and kundalini) while the guru brings the aspirant to the higher states. The same approach is applied to the way Shaivism focuses its bhakti on Shiva in searching through the guru’s teaching to find consciousness. 

Through all these traditions, the four states of consciousness lay down a ground for seeking further spiritual truth, opening ways specific to devotion, self-realization, disciplined practices, or meditative awareness, depending upon the school. In each, however, there lies an underlying theme: to transcend the mundane to seek spiritual freedom or enlightenment. 

Conclusion 

The four states of consciousness, defined in Hindu philosophy, are profoundly enlightening regarding human awareness. In this perspective, the Mandukya Upanishad ties together wakefulness, dream sleep, deep sleep, and transcendental turiya for the pathway to both spiritual illumination and psychological good health. Ancient wisdom again resounds in contemporary psychology as an affirmation of eternal mankind’s interest in understanding itself and reality.