Part 14 - Macrocosmic and Microcosmic body

Macrocosmic body of Śiva

One universal subjective body of Śiva is traveling in each element on the path of the thirty six elements. In fact all subjects (Jīvas) are only that one subjective body. When He travels in each element He becomes that element respectively losing His subjectivity of Self. They are only an expansion of that one universal subjective body which travels from earth to Śiva and retraces the state of Śiva.

Five states of Microcosmic body

Just like the travel of the universal subjective body in the thirty six elements, the individual subjective body travels in five states.

When individual subjective body travels in objectivity, it becomes the object ignoring its subjective consciousness and this is (Jāgrat) state of wakefulness. In Jāgrat, wakefulness, the individual subjective body is traveling in the world of objectivity (prameya), becomes one with the objective world, which comprises of elements, names, forms, words, and sounds, losing consciousness of its subjectivity.

When it travels in the cognitive world and becomes one with it and loses consciousness of its subjectivity, it is (Svapna), the second state, Dreaming. The individual subjective body travels in the impressions (saṃskāras) of the objective world in Svapna, the dreaming state and becomes one with the world of impressions, losing the awareness of its subjective consciousness.

When it travels in the subjective world without being conscious of that and becomes one with that unconscious subjectivity,it is (Suṣupti) Deep sleep state. In Suṣupti, deep dreamless sleep, it has entered a state of entire voidness (Śūnya). If it was previously travelling in the world of objectivity in the waking state, then upon entering deep sleep it loses consciousness of this objectivity and also of its subjectivity. If it was previously traveling in the world of impressions in the dreaming state then upon entering deep sleep it loses consciousness of these impressions. At this state, awareness of these impressions no longer exists but they however remain as if dead. When it again returns from the state of deep sleep these impressions, which were seemingly dead, again come to life.

When it travels in absolute subjective consciousness, it becomes that subjective consciousness then it is (Turīya) the fourth state.When, by the grace of a Guru, this subjective body enters into subjective consciousness with full and breakless awareness, and becomes fully illumined in its own Self, this state is called the fourth state, Turīya^[1].

And when it becomes fully established in that subjective consciousness, it is (Turīyātīta), beyond the fourth,the fifth state. The individual subjective body comprises of these five states. When this individual subjective body takes a firm hold of Turīya and does not lose consciousness of this state at all, then it is completely established in it’s Self^[2]. That state is called Turīyātīta, above the fourth. The awareness of self is maintained constantly in wakefulness, dreaming, and deep sleep. It never loses its consciousness, it remains completely self aware.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

[Cidgaganacandrikā] Verse 283.

[2]:

[Cidgaganacandrikā] Verse 284.