Transcendental Consciousness

Abstract

This chapter introduces a fourth major state of consciousness--transcendental consciousness--to distinguish it from the states of deep sleep, dreaming, including lucid dreaming, and waking, and to suggest its role in a model of human development to higher states of consciousness. The experience of the fourth state of consciousness has been described and its physiological correlates have been predicted by the Vedic psychology of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This comprehensive psychological theory and technology of human development is based on the ancient classical science of the Veda which emphasizes the subjective approach to gaining knowledge, as well as the objective approach of modern science. Psychophysiological research indicates that transcendental consciousness can be distinguished from deep sleep on a number of dimensions. The dreaming state is subjectively characterized by illusory perception of the self and the environment and their interaction. Typically, the dreamer&s;s awareness is completely identified with a dream self as it appears in the dream, or with other dream content.