Hari
OM
Monday is AUM-day; in search of meditation.
Turiiya
as the condition of Absolute Silence.
After A, U and M there is a moment where the sound, the vibration,
ceases before restarting. The term 'turiiya' quite literally means 'the
fourth', referring to it being the fourth state of Consciousness. (Note that
the transitional states are part of each which go before and after and are thus
not used for reference to the consciousness itself.)
This
state is all pervasive. Within, without. It permeates and therefore is the preceding three
states also. It is that which was always present throughout our researches in
A, U, and M; watching, waiting, till we can become clear and empty enough to
sit within it. It is our saakshi, our witnessing self. It requires no sound, no
breath, no description. Yet it is from here that we see all. The Truth of
existence makes itself known. It is here that we know that, finally, we are
'awake'. Only when you stand atop the pinnacle of Everest can you truly say
that you have reached the highest point of the world. Only in turiiya can you
truly say that you are finally at the roof of your existence.
How
do you reach a mountain top? Nowadays, many will hire a helicopter. Fine, they
can see the sights, but what do they know of the joy of having made the climb?
What have they experienced actually? They will meet others and say 'I have been atop that mountain, here are the pictures to prove'; then the true mountaineer in their audience will ask, 'Indeed, and who did you meet there?' To say pilot, or fellow travellers, would be to prove continued ignorance, photographs notwithstanding!
There
is no technological method of reaching turiiya. There never will be. It only
becomes real through effort. Then releasing effort.
It
can be said that even reaching base camp on Everest gives a satisfaction, a
sense of achievement and something to hold onto. This is true.
Likewise, moving appropriately through A, U and M will yield much of
benefit in daily life. Just because the peak seems to be something
unattainable, beyond reach of the ordinary being, does not mean that one ought
not to begin the trek!
In
practicing with A, U and M, we are building the waves of Consciousness,
grasping ever deeper meaning and sense of Self as our skill in meditation
swells. We may not necessarily focus on the unmanii, the alaadanii or the
samaadhi, yet we experience them. The focus in our saadhana must be the AUM as
a whole, whilst understanding its discrete components. Meditation on AUM is to
deconstruct and reconstruct until we know every aspect, feel every molecule,
arriving at silence with ease. If,
indeed, we think of AUM as waves upon the ocean, it is in arriving at turiiya
that we discover the water which makes the waves. Being involved with the
waves, it seemed the water as a whole was forgotten, but now we come to
appreciate that the water was ever present, never missing.
It
is here that we can appreciate samaadhi is not of itself The Bliss of Truth (सच्चिदानन्द/ sacchidaananda); samaadhi still exists within the dual. Turiiya alone moves
the soul into yoga, union with Self wherein 'aham brahmaasmi' (I am Brahman) can be claimed. It is a sacred space. As many as truly complete the climb of Everest
there are in the world who truly reach this state. Here alone can it be said
'that one is a God-man'.
Something
to strive for!
SAADHANA
Concern
not about turiiya. Concern not about samaadhi. Concern only to focus fully
where you can on A, U, or M. The level you are at is the correct level for you.
Measure not against others. Meditation is not a competition. It is a vocation.
It can lead to revelation.
