Question: How many states of consciousness are there?
Answer: There are seven states of consciousness. Everyone is familiar with three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, and sleeping. During the practice of the TM technique, we become familiar with the state of Transcendental Consciousness or Pure Consciousness. Then, as Pure Consciousness begins to develop, we experience Cosmic Consciousness (CC), God Consciousness (GC), and Unity Consciousness (UC).
Question: What are the characteristics of these last three states of consciousness?
Answer: Each state of consciousness has its own distinct characteristics. Cosmic Consciousness is characterized by the permanency of unbounded awareness—even the dullness of deep sleep is not able to overshadow it. God Consciousness is characterized by perception of the finest relative value. Unity Consciousness is characterized by the ability to perceive infinity—the Self is available to the Self through perception. The same mechanics of refinement of perception conduct the process of development from Cosmic Consciousness to God Consciousness to Unity Consciousness.
Speaker: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
Date: July 4, 1971
Length: 24:18
Author: Cheryl Stone
Project Manager
7 States of Consciousness—Unlimited Possibilities for Personal Development
From The Supreme Awakening: Experiences of Enlightenment throughout Time—and How You Can Cultivate Them.
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Everyday we experience three major states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, and sleeping. Is there more?Cosmic Consciousness—Living the Fullness of Inner Silence & Bliss 24 Hours a Day
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This is a very beautiful phase of growth, in which the richness of the subtler realms of creation begin to be perceived.