Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which states of consciousness are described in the Upanishadic teachings about the self?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Indian philosophy
In the Bhagavad Gita Arjuna and the Hindu deity Krishna, who also serves as Arjuna's charioteer (as depicted in this 17th-century illustration), engaging in a philosophical dialogue.
In the Upanishads, the teachings regarding the self (atman) describe four distinct states of consciousness. These states illustrate the nature of the self as it relates to both the individual and the Absolute (brahman):1
- Waking (jagrat): The state of ordinary consciousness in which the self interacts with the external world.1
- Dreaming (svapna): The state of consciousness experienced during sleep, characterized by internal mental activity.1
- Dreamless-sleep (sushupti): A state of deep, dreamless slumber where the self is withdrawn from external and internal objects.1
- Transcendent (turiya): The fourth state, which both transcends and encompasses the previous three. It represents the ultimate, pure nature of the self.1
These states are often contrasted to highlight the distinction between the conditioned experiences of the individual and the underlying, eternal reality of the self.1