The Practice of Sahaj Samadhi Meditation the fourth state of consciousness

Practice of Sahaj Samadhi Yoga The 4th State of Consciousness

The serenity of Sahaj Samadhi Yoga, or the 4th state of consciousness, is a life changer.  The benefits of Samadhi extend beyond the individual to the world.   Are you interested in learning?

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi uses several names to describe this unique partition of consciousness.  He calls it bliss consciousness,  pure, transcendental consciousness, or ground state.  Is there proof of this partition of awareness, or is it just a mind game?  The answer is yes; there is scientific evidence to verify it is real.

The 4th State of Consciousness

Eastern tradition talks a lot about higher states of consciousness.  (1)  But the concept of other states of awareness is absent from Western spiritual thought.  Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is one of the pioneers who brought this concept to the West.

The Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique (2) changed the view of the Western mind toward meditation.  TM made meditation an accepted practice.  The TM technique is Japa meditation or the practice of Sahaj Samadhi Yoga.  The TM label makes it acceptable to Western culture.

The practice of the 4th state of consciousness produces several unique metabolic characteristics.  These are the markers of a new separate state of awareness.  These markers include increased brainwave coherence.  Brain frequency in the theta wave is between 4 to 7 Hz.  It increases skin resistance while reducing heart rate and respiration.  These are some of the markers which prove it is a separate state of awareness.  It differs from the default states of waking, dreaming, and sleeping.

This partition of awareness is most notable for its profound restfulness; the mind remains alert while internal chatter is eliminated.  It is the 4th state of consciousness because it is the first primary partition of consciousness beyond the default states.  Let’s break down the terms of the process used to reach this state.

The Maharishi Effect & The Benefits of Samadhi

When you practice this form of meditation, you are raising your vibrationRaising your vibration raises the consciousness of those around you.  This phenomenon is The Maharishi Effect (3).  It is named after Maharishi, who first brought this vibrational effect to light.  It is one of the major social benefits of Samadhi.

The Maharishi Effect occurs when a group meditates while in the fourth state.  The more people, the greater the positive effect.  The more experience people have, the greater the effect.  When more people meditate, it translates to lower crime rates, so there are personal and social benefits to the practice of Sahaj Samadhi meditation.

“I think the claim can be plausibly made that the potential impact of this research exceeds that of any other ongoing social or psychological research program.  It has survived a broader array of statistical tests than most research in the field of conflict resolution.  This work and the theory that informs it deserve the most serious consideration by academics and policymakers alike.” — David Edwards, Ph.D., Professor of Government, the University of Texas at Austin

The Observer, the Real You

The practice of the 4th state expands awareness.  You will begin to notice transitions between different states of consciousness.  It shows us transcendental consciousness is the foundation of awareness.  Japa or TM is the most direct way to reach this state of pure consciousness.

When you reach the transcendent, you experience your true self, the real you.  The peace and serenity of the transcendent is a personal experience of what religions refer to as spirit or soul.

“It is impossible to know who you are until you enter Samadhi.  Samadhi is the actual awareness of what you really are.” — Frederick Lindemann, 1st Viscount Cherwell

“In Samadhi, in the highest form of meditation, the same thing happens: the mind stops functioning… but you are conscious.  That is the only difference, but the difference that makes the difference.  One is fully alert, luminous.  One is there witnessing, watching, but there is no cloud of thought.  The sky is utterly empty: as far as you can see you cannot see any content.” —  Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Osho

Samadhi is a Sanskrit term.  It is two words, sama, meaning together, and dhi, meaning mind.  Its most basic definition means a complete state of consciousness.  It is complete because it is a pure state of awareness.  When you reach this partition of mindfulness, internal dialogue is absent.  One only experiences our original state of awareness.

“In Samadhi, that very deep state of meditation, you are given energy and long-lasting bliss.  It carries you higher and higher until your very presence radiates love.” —  Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Sahaj is made from two Sanskrit words.  Saha, together, and Ja, which equals born.  When you put everything together, Sahaj Samadhi means being born together to complete our original state.  It’s wonderful.

“The highest state of meditation is Samadhi, where there is no ego anymore, no doubts, no me, no you, no notion of time, no eating, no talking, no walking, no working, and not doing anything at all, realizing that the Self is action-less.” — Dharma Mittra

Sahaj refers to a mental state with the least intrusion of ego.  It is a partition of awareness where one enters inner peace and serenity.   When we go beyond ego, we reach a state of freedom.  This is the place where the soul returns.

The Practice of Sahaj Samadhi Yoga

4th state of consciousness the practice of sahaj samadhi yoga the benefits of samadhi

The meditative process for achieving this state is dhyāna.  You can find this process in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.  Dhyana is the seventh limb of the Eightfold Path of Yoga in this Hindu system.  Other Eastern methods of mediation teach techniques identical under a variety of names.

“The postures are only the skin of yoga.  Hidden behind them are the flesh and blood of breath control and mental techniques that are still more difficult to learn, as well as moral practices that require a lifetime of consistent application and that correspond to the skeletal structure of the body.  The higher practices of concentration, meditation, and unitive ecstasy (Samadhi) are analogous to the circulatory and nervous system.” — Georg Feuerstein The Deeper Dimension of Yoga.

“When our mind works freely without any hindrance and is at liberty to ‘come’ or to go, we attain Samadhi of Prajna or liberation.  Such a state is called the function of thoughtlessness.  But to refrain from thinking of anything, so that all thoughts are suppressed, is to be Dharma-ridden, and this is an erroneous view.” ― Hui-Neng

The most efficient way to reach this state is with Japa meditation or the commercial version of Transcendental Meditation (TM).  (2)  They base this process on using specific sound formulas called Mantras.  This form comes from the ancient Indian Sanskrit tradition.

The Benefits of Sahaj Samadhi

Sanskrit mantras are based on the energetic properties of sound, not meaning as with language.  These sounds are often used together in what we know as Mantras.  When you use the correct Mantra, it silences the internal chatter.  No wonder they call it bliss consciousness.  We enter a deep state of rest while the mind remains alert.

It doesn’t matter which technique you used to reach this state.  It’s a spiritual technology everyone should learn.  When you practice meditation regularly, you build a platform for other higher states of consciousness.

Combining the 4th state of consciousness with the waking state allows you to enter a higher consciousness state.  The sixth state of consciousness is what many teachers call Witnessing.

We want everyone to add the practice of Sahaj Samadhi Yoga to their daily routine and experience the bliss of this partition.  Here, too, one can experience what Oneness is all about.  Don’t leave home without achieving it.  Find a Yoga practice that’s right for you.  You’ll be glad you did.

The 6th partition of “witnessing” allows you to experience reality differently.  You experience everything from two distinct vantage points.  You experience life in your body and as a second partition outside the body.  People describe it as the astral body floating above the physical body.  It is an interesting way to live.

We didn’t skip the 5th state.  It’s the Shamanic Journey.  Michael Harner calls this state of awareness the Shamanic State of Consciousness (SSC).  You reach this altered state using an ancient technique combining creative visualization and sound.  This process comes from ancient Shamanic traditions all over the world.  In this state, the brainwaves are also in the theta-wave area.

Using the Shamanic Journey also prepares you to transition to the 6th state.  It gives you experience controlling an altered state for extended periods.

In Conclusion

If you engage in the practice of Sahaj Samadhi meditation using Japa or TM techniques, we’d like to hear about your experience.  If you have questions about the process or other comments, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

There are introductory processes that prepare you for Sahaj Samadhi Yoga.  If you are new to meditation, try the basic two-step method.  It’s the foundation for most forms, including Japa and TM.

References

(1) Proof of Higher States of Consciousness, The fourth state of consciousness: the Thuriya Avastha.
(2) Transcendental Meditation.
(3) The Maharishi Effect