Mar 9th: Evolution and Involution of Consciousness

In the last post, "The Three Stages of Consciousness", we saw the three realms from which Sadhana is performed. For continuity and better understanding please read that post first. Today, we will take it a little bit further and see how the consciousness evolves for a person at the beginning of the day and the involution at the end of the day.

Evolution of Consciousness

Closely observe these chain of events before you wake up in the morning. 

1. A person goes to a deep sleep state (Sushupti, state 3 consciousness). Although alive,         for all practical purposes one is like a dead meat. No sense of  your body and mind.               Everything is absent here except the Soul made of pure consciousness.

         Atma Chaitanyam (nothing else exists for one)

2. Then comes the dream state, (Swapna, state 2 consiousness). The imaginary world             exists but is limited to your dream. Everything in this state looks real like wide awaken           state, but it  not truly real. Only subtle body exists and mind that dreams.

       Atma Chaitanyam  (Still nothing else evolves)

3. This state is just before one is wide awaken. This lasts only for a few seconds or a split of     a second. Here there is no mind or thoughts (Chitta Vrittis). So, it is a thoughtless        state which only has  "I thought...I am so and so" (Moola Talampu). This Moola Talampu (I thought) rises from the  Moolam (Atma Chaitanyam).

      Atma Chaitanyam > Mola Talampu (I thought)

4. Once the "I thought" is fully established as part of awakening process, it  performs what      is called as ADHYSANA (penetration) into DEHA (body), INDRIYA, (Sense organs),  MANAHA (Mind) and BUDDHI (Intellect). Please remember that "I thought" is also the that rised from Atma Chaitanyam (pure consciousness). 

As the Adhyasana (penetration) in Body, Mind, Indriya and so on...one begin to realize         their existence. Once the penetration fully done, then the person is wide awake and world     and his self appears to be existent to him or her.

   Atma Chaitanyam > Mola Talampu > Adhyasna > DEHA (Body)

                                                                                       > Indriya (Sense Organs)

                                                                                      >  Manaha (Mind)

                                                                                      >  Buddhi (Intellect)

     

Involution or Self Inquiry

Atma Vicharana (Self Inquiry) helps an individual to begin at the Step #4 and slowly, steadily makes his or her way into Step #1, where there is nothing except the PURE CONSCIOUSNESS which is the ATMA CHAITANYAM.

Hari Om