The Self and the Absolute (1-2):
1) Hari Om. Om-ity-etad-aksharam-idam
sarvam, tasyopavyākhyānam bhūtam bhavad bhavishyaditi sarvam-omkāra eva.
Yaccānyat trikālātītam tadapy omkāra eva.
All is OM: Hari Om. The whole
universe is the syllable Om. Following is the exposition of Om. Everything that
was, is, or will be is, in truth Om. All else which transcends time, space, and
causation is also Om.
2) Sarvam hyetad brahmāyam-ātmā
brahma soyamātmā catushpāt.
Atman has Four Aspects: All of this, everywhere, is in truth Brahman, the Absolute Reality. This very Self itself, Atman, is also Brahman, the Absolute Reality. This Atman or Self has four aspects through which it operates.
Four Levels of Consciousness
(3-7):
3) Jāgarita-sthāno
bahish-prājñahsaptānga ekonavimsatimukhah sthūla-bhug vaiśvānarah prathamah
pādah.
First is Waking / Gross: The first aspect of
Atman is the Self in the Waking state, Vaishvanara. In this first state,
consciousness is turned outward to the external world. Through its seven
instruments* and nineteen channels* it experiences the gross objects of the
phenomenal world.
4) Svapna-sthāno'ntah-prājñah
saptānga ekonavimsatimukhah praviviktabhuk taijaso dvitīyah pādah.
Second is Dreaming / Subtle: The
second aspect of Atman is the Self in the Dreaming state, Taijasa. In this
second state, consciousness is turned towards the inner world. It also operates
through seven instruments and nineteen channels, which engage the subtle
objects of the mental realm.
5) Yatra supto na kancana kāmam
kāmayate na kancana svapnam pasyati tat sushuptam. Sushupta-āsthāna ekibhūtah
prajñānaghana evānandamayo hyānandabhuk chetomukhah prājnastrityah pādah.
Third is Deep Sleep / Causal: The
third aspect of Atman is the Self operating in the Deep Sleep state, Prajna. In
this third state, there is neither the desire for any gross or subtle object,
nor any dream sequences. In deep sleep, all such experiences have receded or
merged into the ground of undifferentiated consciousness. Here, one is filled
with the experience of bliss, and can also find the way to clearer knowledge of
the two preceding states.
6) Nantah-prājñam na
bahih-prājñam, nobhayatah-prājñam na prājñana-ghanam na prājñam naprājñam.
Adrishtam-avyavahārayam-agrāhyam-
alakshanam-acintyam-avyapadesyam-ekātma-pratyayasāram, prapancopasarnam santam
sivam-advaitam caturtham manyante sa tm sa vijneyah.
The Fourth Aspect is Turiya: The
fourth aspect of Atman or Self is Turiya, literally the fourth. In this fourth
state, consciousness is neither turned outward nor inward. Nor is it both
outward and inward; it is beyond both cognition and the absence of cognition.
This fourth state of Turiya cannot be experienced through the senses or known
by comparison, deductive reasoning or inference; it is indescribable,
incomprehensible, and unthinkable with the mind. This is Pure Consciousness
itself. This is the real Self. It is within the cessation of all phenomena. It
is serene, tranquil, filled with bliss, and is one without second. This is the
real or true Self that is to be realized.
7) Esha sarvesvara esha sarvajña
esho'ntaryāmy-esha yonih sarvasya prabhavāpyayau hi bhūtānām.
Find the Experiencer: The one who
experiences all of these states of consciousness is the omniscient, indwelling
source and director of all. This one is the womb out of which all of the other
emerge. All things originate from and dissolve back into this source.
Source: Swamiji.com