Four Aspects of AUM (8-12):
8) So'yam-ātmā
adhyaksharam-omkaro dhimātram pādā mātrā mātrāsca pādā akāra ukāro makāra iti.
Those Four are the Same with
"A-U-M" and Silence: That Om, though described as having four states,
is indivisible; it is pure Consciousness itself. That Consciousness is Om
Mantra. The three sounds A-U-M (ah, ou, mm) and the three letters A, U, M are
identical with the three states of waking, dreaming, and sleeping, and these
three states are identical with the three sounds and letters. The fourth state,
Turiya is to be realized only in the silence behind or beyond the other three.
9) Jagarita-sthāno
vaiśvānaro'kārah prathamā mātrā. āpterādimatvād-vāpnoti ha vai sarvān
kāmānādisca bhavati ya evam veda.
The Sound "A" is Waking
/ Gross: Vaishvanara is the consciousness experienced during the waking state,
and is A, the first letter of Om Mantra. That simple sound of A is first and
permeates all other sounds. One who is aware of this first level of reality has
fulfillment of all longings and is successful.
10) Svapna-stāhnas taijasa ukāro
dvitīyā mātrotkarshādu-ubhayatvād- votkarsāti ha vai jñāna-santatim samānasca
bhavati nāsyābrahmavit kule bhavati ya evam veda.
The Sound "U" is
Dreaming / Subtle: Taijasa is the consciousness experienced during the dreaming
state, and is U, the second letter of Om Mantra. This intermediate state
operates between the waking and sleeping states, reflecting some qualities of
the other two. One who knows this subtler state is superior to others. For one
who knows this, knowers of Brahman, the Absolute Reality, will be born into his
family.
11) Sushupta-sthnah prājño makras
tritīya mtr miterapīter va minoti ha va idam sarvam-apītisca bhavati ya evam
veda.
The Sound "M" is Deep
Sleep / Causal: Prajna is the consciousness experienced during the state of
dreamless, deep sleep, and is M, the third letter of Om Mantra. It contains the
other two, and is that from which the other two emerge, and into they recede or
merge. A knower of this more subtle state can understand all within himself.
12) Amātras-caturtho'vyavahāryah
prapancopasamah sivo'dvaita evamomkara ātmaiva samvisaty-ātman-ātmānam ya evam
veda.
Silence after "A-U-M"
is the True Self: The fourth aspect is the soundless aspect of Om Mantra. It is
not utterable and is not comprehended through the senses or by the mind. With
the cessation of all phenomena, even of bliss, this soundless aspect becomes
known. It is a state of nondual (advaita) reality—one without a second. This
fourth state, Turiya, is the real Self or true Self. One with direct experience
of this expands to Universal Consciousness.
Source: Swamiji.com