Turiya - The “Fourth” — Ever-Present Awareness

Turiya (turīya) literally means “the fourth,” referring to the state of consciousness beyond waking (jagrat), dream (svapna), and deep sleep (sushupti). It is not a fourth state alongside the others, but rather the ever-present awareness that underlies all three.

The Mandukya Upanishad, one of the shortest yet most profound Upanishads, unfolds this teaching:

• In waking, the Self appears as Vishva, experiencing the gross world.

• In dream, as Taijasa, experiencing the subtle mind.

• In deep sleep, as Prajna, in causal ignorance.

• Beyond all three, yet supporting them, is Turiya — pure, non-dual consciousness.

Because Turiya is not a state, it is never absent. Even in waking, dream, and sleep, awareness illumines the experiences. The term “fourth” is only a pedagogical device to point to that which is constant.

The seeker is often misled into trying to “attain” Turiya as an experience, but Vedanta clarifies: one cannot reach it, because it is what one already is. The recognition of Turiya dissolves identification with the passing states, revealing the Self as changeless, limitless consciousness.

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Root & Meaning

• From caturtha → “fourth.”

• Turiya = the “fourth,” i.e., the reality underlying waking, dream, and deep sleep.

Scriptural References

• Mandukya Upanishad 7: “Turiya is not inwardly cognitive, nor outwardly cognitive, nor both. It is unseen, unrelated, ungraspable, without features, unthinkable, indescribable. Its essence is the consciousness of the Self alone. It is the cessation of the world. It is peace, auspiciousness, non-dual. That is the Self, that is to be realized.”

• Mandukya Karika (Gaudapada): expands the teaching, showing Turiya as unborn and unchanging.

Traditional View

• Turiya is not a separate “state,” but the substratum of all states.

• Ever-present awareness, pure consciousness.

• Recognized, not attained.

Vedantic Analysis

• Waking (Vishva), dream (Taijasa), deep sleep (Prajna) are conditioned appearances.

• Turiya is unconditioned consciousness, the witness of all three.

• It cannot be objectified, but is self-revealing.

• Knowing Turiya = freedom, as one abides as awareness beyond the play of states.

Common Misunderstandings

• That Turiya is a mystical trance or altered state: It is not an experience, but the reality that illumines all experiences.

• That one must “enter” Turiya: It is already present; only recognition is required.

• That Turiya comes and goes: States come and go; Turiya never departs.

Vedantic Resolution

Turiya is the ever-present awareness that is the Self. It is not a fourth state but the reality underlying all states. Recognition of Turiya is liberation.