“The door to consciousness can only be opened from within.”
This phrase, quoted by my friend Micheline, proves a fine introduction to this article on the different states of consciousness and how meditation enables us to experience higher states of consciousness.
There are seven levels of consciousness, each with its own physiological functioning and quality of experience. Let’s take a look at what each of these levels of consciousness encompasses and what they bring to our lives.
But before we dive into these fascinating waters, let’s ask ourselves what the nature of consciousness is.
What is Consciousness?
In its simplest sense, consciousness is defined as being aware of something.
It is the fact of knowing (the knowledge), and thus the source of all experience, be it thoughts, emotions, perceptions or sensations (brought to consciousness). This could be summed up in the expression (adapted from Descartes) “I know, therefore I am”.
It is therefore the psychic instance where experiences occur and are known.
According to Vedānta philosophy, there are several levels of consciousness which, although distinct, are part of a whole: pure consciousness. Each level of consciousness corresponds to a dimension of existence with specific experiences. For example, material reality, with the elements of the physical body and the environment, belongs to a certain level of consciousness with precise characteristics, such as the laws of physics.
At a more subtle level than the material world, the mind is the seat of our thoughts, feelings, emotions and desires, while the intellect enables us to process information, generate ideas, explore new concepts and practice discernment. The ego, on the other hand, is what we think we are (all the stories and conditioning we’ve integrated throughout our lives, and what constitutes our personality).
This way of conceiving consciousness assumes that we access a diversity of forms through our perceptions, and that without consciousness, there can be no experience. Think of our five senses: how would we perceive the world if we didn’t have them? But are our senses enough to experience the full range of human existence?
This implies that our everyday life is limited. Think of the spectrum of light, only part of which is visible to the naked eye.
Good news! Just as it is possible to discover the world in a new light using scientific instruments, it’s also possible to explore the submerged part of the iceberg and broaden the prism of consciousness.
Spoiler alert! As you will see, my favorite tool is meditation.
How to open up the field of possibilities?
To see differently, to free ourselves and blossom beyond the constraints of the mind and the ego (everything that conditions us internally), we have a powerful tool that has existed for millennia: meditation.
Through the regular practice of meditation, which enables us to experience higher states of consciousness, our awareness expands.
The expansion of consciousness not only brings about psychological changes (thoughts, emotions, perceptions of the world), it also acts on a physiological and biological level (brain plasticity, neurotransmitters, cells). Scientific studies demonstrate the multiple effects of meditation on physical and mental health.
All ordinary experiences are spatio-temporal events: everything we perceive is situated at a precise point in space and time (this is also true of thoughts and emotions). With meditation, however, the meditator becomes detached from the constraints of space and time, and reaches what we call higher states of consciousness (outside space-time).
When we meditate, we slip into the space between two thoughts (“the Gap”), the field of pure, non-local, unlimited consciousness: between one thought and the next, there are an infinite number of possibilities.
In this infinite field of possibilities, consciousness takes on a spiritual meaning: it’s no longer a matter of knowing something in particular, but of being aware of the whole, of pure, unmanifest potential.
While ordinary experiences are constantly changing and nothing seems permanent, meditation enables us to experience unity beyond the mental and physical bodies.
It goes without saying that reality is different in different states of consciousness. When the body and mind are stressed and tired, and dependent on memories and desires, our life is a distorted image of a larger reality. When, through meditation, we release stress, fatigue and toxins, Spirit* shines fully in our lives. The sun is always shining; we just need to see behind the clouds (the vicissitudes).
*In many traditions, Spirit (or soul) is the principle of incorporeal life, the eternal essence of being.
Waking, dreaming and deep sleep
These three states of consciousness, considered ordinary, are those that everyone experiences on a daily basis. However, the Vedānta offers a richer perspective on each of them.
Let’s start with the waking state, which is the state we experience as physical reality – the “real” world because it appears solid and structured to our senses, with established rules and boundaries.
In this reality, our experiences are localized (in space-time). This is the most “alive” and “real” state for most of us, but in this relatively restricted state, we perceive ourselves as separate from everything and everyone.
Dreaming is the state of consciousness we experience during sleep.
In this state, the subject-object division is less marked. Experience is less localized and space-time more flexible than in the waking state. We create an internal world that feels real when we dream. We are absorbed in our creation.
We experience the subtle body (mind, intellect and ego) projecting itself as the physical body.
But when we wake up, we consider the dream to be an invention, recalling certain images and memories.
In this phase of sleep, predominant in the second half of the night, we release mental and emotional stress.
Deep sleep is a level of being in which we feel no separation between ourselves and everything else. Consciousness is still present, but there is no awareness of the “I” (there are no thoughts).
In deep sleep, which predominates at the beginning of the night, the body rests and regenerates, releasing physical stress. We consolidate our memories; our body renews itself and our immune system is strengthened.
We think of deep sleep as a spiritual experience, in touch with the soul, giving us a sense of peace and bliss.
Higher states of consciousness
Whenever we meditate, we experience a state of consciousness known in Sanskrit as “Atma Darshan” (direct experience of the soul), also known as transcendental consciousness.
Whereas the first three levels of consciousness are localized (in space-time), Atma Darshan exists beyond space-time. Since all experience, in order to be known, must be located in space-time, we only become aware of this state when we emerge from it.
Transcendental awareness is a state of being where consciousness is aware of being aware (“I am aware that I am aware”); we are in the field of all possibilities, synchronicity, creativity, correlation and unpredictability (contrary to the law of causality).
Our intentions become very powerful and we are in a state of pure connection, love, compassion, joy, goodness and peace. We find the thinker of thoughts, the essential, eternal self.
With the practice of meditation (back and forth between localized and non-localized realms), aspects of non-local reality gradually become established in local reality, in sleep, dream and waking states.
As this happens, new levels of consciousness begin to unfold.
Cosmic awareness is the experience of witnessing consciousness through which we observe without judging.
For example, during meditation, whenever we realize that our attention has been distracted (drawn to something else – thought, noise or sensation), we return to our object of concentration (mantra, breath, etc.) without judging. Thoughts that arise here and there are just normal phenomena to observe, like clouds coming and going in a blue sky.
In this state of being, we simultaneously experience the local and the non-local; we act in the material world while watching ourselves act (during waking and sleep).
Although we play many roles (e.g. father or mother, employee or employer), we know that the true Self is not limited to these roles. We slowly detach ourselves from the roles we play, realizing that we are the player of these roles among all possible roles. We are the silent witness of our daily life. We still play these roles and do our best, but we’re no longer confined to good and bad scenarios. With meditation, we are trained to cultivate benevolence and equanimity, and to stop judging.
Divine consciousness is the experience of witnessing consciousness in waking, dreaming and sleeping, not just at the level of the experiencer, but in all the objects of experience.
As we progress, our knowledge of the non-local realm becomes more refined. By recognizing our true nature, we gradually become aware that the same witness is to be found in everything around us, including the inanimate world. A deep sense of connection with the whole and with each other begins to emerge (“Tat Tvam Asi” or “I am That, You are That”).
The divinity we have recognized in ourselves in cosmic consciousness is now recognized in everything and everyone. The heart opens fully, and there is a deep sense of unconditional love and compassion.
Unity consciousness is the state of being in which we realize that the omnipresent witness consciousness is not only in all body-minds, but is in fact the same witness.
The entire universe is a manifestation of the One, of which we are a part. We are the Universe.
The memory of wholeness returns. There is only One, with no separation at any level.
It’s no longer just a question of connection to all that is, but of awareness that we are all One, of awakening to our true self as indefinite spirit and source of all creation (Spirit, Universal Consciousness, Ahum Brahmasmi – I am the Totality, the Universe).
We still function in the localized world, but we realize that we have both an individual and a universal existence, and that everything is Consciousness in different disguises. The self is fully awake within its True Self. There’s nothing to do, only to be. This is enlightenment.
Consciousness, miracles and freedom
With the practice of meditation (and the to-and-fro between localized and non-localized realms), we explore all layers of existence, and higher states of consciousness unfold naturally and spontaneously.
The Sanskrit expression for this realization is Ahum Brahmasmi: “I am the Totality”. This is achieved through regular meditation practice. Consistency is therefore very important. In meditation, we slip into non-localized awareness (the four higher states of consciousness) and, through regular meditation practice, we integrate it into our lives.
In cosmic consciousness, we experience miracles; in divine consciousness, we create miracles; and in unity consciousness, everything is a miracle.
Through meditation, we free ourselves from the cage we’ve created and begin to bring infinite possibilities into our lives.
Instead of being led by our desires and memories, we are able to make more conscious choices and unfold our highest potential, allowing us to experience more joy, creativity, love and lightness.
“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.”
– Thích Nhất Hạnh
