The fifth state of consciousness, witnessing or split perception, is a sign of growth. It is a different way of experiencing reality. Come and learn how to unlock your consciousness to this portal.
Our consciousness is a marvelous and mysterious apparatus, with doorways to higher states. Ancient cultures sought ways to understand it and develop it. Understanding the concept of witnessing will help you see the potential of your consciousness.
Defining Awareness and Consciousness
What is Awareness?
Awareness is a function of consciousness that enables us to recognize or become aware of something. There are different ways awareness manifests. For example, there’s physical awareness. That’s when you notice what you see, hear, smell, taste, or feel. For example, when you hear a loud noise or feel the wind on your face, you are aware of it.
Then there’s emotional awareness. That’s about knowing how you feel inside. Maybe you feel happy, or maybe you’re mad or nervous. Being aware of your feelings helps you understand yourself better. There’s also social awareness. That is when you tune into others’ feelings. You notice if someone is sad or upset, even if they don’t say it. You also understand what’s happening in a group, like whether people are getting along.
Next is mental awareness, which is about paying attention to your thoughts. You notice what you’re thinking and how your mind works. Like, are you focused or distracted? Are your thoughts helpful or not?
Some people talk about spiritual awareness, too. That’s when you think about big questions, like why we’re here or if there’s something greater than us. It’s not about religion—it’s just thinking deeply about life.
Expanded awareness means being conscious of more than just your thoughts and surroundings. It includes a more profound sense of self, inner stillness, and awareness beyond the physical body. It can involve the expansion of consciousness itself, which leads to higher or altered states.
What is Consciousness?
Consciousness is one way to view the vibrational bandwidth of energy. So, everything in the universe has some aspect of consciousness. The fields of philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, and spirituality each offer distinct perspectives. At the core, consciousness manifests as distinct levels or partitions of awareness. These partitions are characterized by alterness, attention, and perception.
Perception is a construct of the mind. It is the result of a process where the mind interprets sensory input through our worldview. This makes the experience of consciousness an individually crafted fiction. Because perception is subjective, it is hard to explain. But the physical aspects of consciousness do give us something to measure and agree upon. Let’s look at the main aspects of the five levels of consciousness.
The First Five Levels of Consciousness
1. Waking
The waking state’s experience is what most people perceive as “normal reality.” Consciousness is like a rainbow with many different colors that fade and overlap. Of course, there are also non-ordinary states of consciousness. Here, you are awake and aware of the outside world. You can see, hear, think, and talk. Your mind is focused on daily life, like school, work, or the people around you. The waking state is like a computer’s RAM setting. When we are in this default partition of awareness, our brain operates in the beta frequency range from 13 to 20 Hz.
2. Sleep
The sleep state is a necessary partition of consciousness that enables us to rest and repair. During this state, your mind is quiet, and you are not aware of anything at all—not your body, not your thoughts, and not the world. When we sleep, the normal range is in the delta range, around 1 to 3 cycles per second. The lines of demarcation between these primary states are often indistinguishable. Most people are unaware of the shift from one partition of consciousness to another.
Each default state has a different level of awareness. Waking is the most active. Dreaming is more inward. Deep sleep has no awareness.
3. Dreaming
The dream state is a naturally occurring altered state that usually occurs during sleep (but not always). When you dream, you are not aware of your real body or the outside world. However, the mind is active, creating stories and images. Dreaming is proof of non-ordinary reality. We all have access to these partitions of awareness, which can be expanded as we learn and grow intellectually and spiritually.
When we dream, our eyes often move back and forth under the eyelids. So, it is known as the REM state, “rapid eye movement.” REM sleep exhibits exciting properties, with frequencies in the theta (4–8 Hz), beta (16–32 Hz), and gamma (>32 Hz) ranges. It is a shared experience, and most people ignore its significance. It gives us a glimpse into other possibilities of non-ordinary reality. When we sleep and dream, we are generally unaware of time or space, that is, unless we train our minds through lucid dreaming techniques.
When we dream, the landscape is a non-ordinary reality. So, we experience non-ordinary reality without special processes or drugs. Again, this is a vital point to keep in mind. The door is always there, always open. We need to learn how to use it.
4. Transcendental Consciousness
Reaching higher states of consciousness starts with transcendental consciousness. This partition is known by several names, including the 4th state, the transcendent, pure, or bliss state of consciousness. This state has unique metabolic traits. It shows increased coherence in brainwave patterns. The brain operates at a frequency in the theta range, about 4-7 Hz.
The 4th state is exemplified by the contrast of being fully alert yet experiencing profound silence and internal chatter. It is most notable for its profound state of rest while the mind remains alert. Scholars from Joseph Campbell to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi describe it as “bliss consciousness.” When you are in this state, you are self-aware. However, the typical inner dialogue is silent. You have awareness without the ego’s interruption. Now, that is bliss.
Most people don’t perceive the shift from waking to sleeping or sleeping to dreaming. Well, once you begin expanding your awareness, you will notice these shifts. All it takes is regular practice.
Regular practice of techniques like Japa or TM helps you reach a transcendent state. With regular practice, you will learn to notice the changes between all states of consciousness. You will discover that the gap between them is the fourth state of pure consciousness. This fourth state is the foundation for all states. It is a critical element in the shift to the fifth state of consciousness: witnessing or split perception.
Here is where we get another answer to the question: What is witnessing and expanded awareness? The fourth partition shows that we have other levels of perception that do not depend on the five external senses. The theory of expanding consciousness holds that this expansion has no limits. The states of awareness we describe in this article are only the beginning.
5. The Fifth State of Consciousness
To witness means to observe something firsthand. It can also mean experiencing thoughts and actions as distinct entities without judgment. These definitions shed light on what happens when we reach the higher state of consciousness known as witnessing.
Splitting perception is a natural developmental effect. It is growth facilitated by grounding in the fourth transcendent state. Witnessing differs from mindfulness. Mindfulness helps us become aware of our inner and outer worlds. But your awareness is still confined to your physical body.
The Experience of Witnessing or Split Perception
Those who reach this partition describe it as a state of witnessing. In this surreal realm, reality blooms from dual perspectives simultaneously. Some observe themselves hovering above; others find themselves alongside or behind. They experience life within their bodies while observing their essence from another dimension. Some refer to this experience as astral projection. This viewpoint shows that our everyday reality is really a shared holographic creation. We also realize that “we” are eternal and part of this reality as Observers.
In all cases, both perspectives are “you”. It’s like your mind and body are puppets, and the consciousness beyond them holds the strings.
As you awaken in the morning, you may notice the transition from sleep to waking. You are experiencing the perspective of the fourth state that underlies consciousness. — Guru Tua
Accidental Shifts
Spit perception can happen by accident. These are out-of-body experiences associated with near-death experiences. But you don’t control the entry and exit from these experiences. However, if you become familiar with the transcendent state, you can control moving in and out of witnessing or split perception. This is because the transcendent state is the foundation of all states.
Many ancient teachers tell us this partition of consciousness is the natural evolution of the mind. We are designed to grow, and witnessing is one example of that growth. The expansion of awareness enables perception from two vantage points. The mind can process input from these two separate sources.
Closer Than You Realize
This experience may be more readily available than you realize. It is possible to glimpse the fifth state of consciousness when awakening from a deep sleep. In those precious moments of stillness between sleeping and waking states, it is possible to become aware that you are sleeping. Then, you can observe yourself waking up.
When the mind is silent, the transcendental state of pure consciousness can surface in everyday awareness. If you try to hold on to this experience, it is gone, and you are just awake. The best way to cultivate this awareness is to meditate regularly, using a process that puts you in touch with the 4th state of pure awareness.
We can also be “jolted” into this state by accidents or trauma. Out-of-body experiences and near-death experiences are very similar. People who have them say they experience a separation of their consciousness from their bodies. The experience of witnessing is much better. You are in control of the shift by expanding your awareness. You can shift back and forth at will.
Different Perspectives on Witnessing
- The spiritual perspective. Witnessing is seen as a higher state of consciousness. It means experiencing the inner observer or true self, which is beyond the body and mind. It is the calm awareness that observes experiences without judgment or attachment. This is often seen as the essence of the soul or pure consciousness.
- From a psychological perspective, witnessing is observing thoughts and feelings without judgment. It creates a space between what happens and how we react. This helps manage stress and boosts emotional strength. This perspective is often linked to mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral techniques.
- The philosophical perspective views witnessing as the manifestation of the observer. This concept comes from phenomenology and existential thought. It suggests that beyond our thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. They theorize that there is a deeper layer of consciousness that is observing our lives. This aligns with ideas such as dual-aspect monism and phenomenological reduction. They suggest that awareness can detach from mental content. In this view, witnessing is active, not passive. It takes a detached stance. This shows the difference between the observer (the subject) and their experiences. Philosophers often see this as a gateway to understanding the nature of self and reality.
- From a neuroscience perspective, witnessing helps us understand how the brain regulates self-awareness. We see unusual activity across networks, such as the default mode network (DMN). Researchers haven’t found one specific “witnessing circuit.” But studies show this state produces brainwave patterns similar to those in Japa or TM meditation. Here, the brain shifts from habitual emotional reactivity to a more balanced, meta-aware mode.
The fifth state of consciousness, witnessing or split perception, changes our perspective on life. It helps us experience life free of attachments. At this level, we can observe experiences, thoughts, and emotions without identifying with them. Instead, we become “an impartial witness” to our experience. When we enter this state, we detach from the limiting beliefs and biases that usually hold us back.
Encouraging Growth Toward Witnessing or Split Perception
To reach this fifth state of consciousness, known as witnessing, one must first connect with the transcendent. Then, it’s essential to learn how to control altered states. The best way to reach the transcendent is through regular Japa or TM meditation. This process draws the mind naturally to the state of bliss consciousness. So, it is natural to bring this quality into the waking state of ordinary reality.
Other forms of meditation that use mantras and sutras also strengthen the link with the transcendent. The Shamanic Journey and Lucid Dreaming are known to increase our bandwidth for controlling altered states.
However, you cannot control the outcome of the altered state when you use psychotropic drugs. When you take these, the drug is in control of the depth and duration. Many ancient civilizations used these additives to introduce people to higher states. Experienced explorers no longer needed to use them. We don’t recommend their use since it is like diving into the deep end of the pool without learning how to swim. It is better to take this journey with incremental steps and with complete control.
Revealing the Real You, the Observer
The real you isn’t your ego and the elements of personality and instinct, but the Observer of your experience—this is the real you. Witnessing helps to reveal the real you by excenuating the distinction between you, your body and your ego.
Now, when you meditate, try to meditate in a sustained way; first of all, sustain it. Then you find that you are getting into the state of Samadhi, means at a state where you start feeling the joy and the bliss of God’s blessings, and…
Once you have reached that state, then you have to realize, “Who am I.” Who are you? What are you? You are the Spirit. After establishing your sustained attention on the Spirit you’ll develop a state where you’ll be in a complete state of witnessing with joy. — Nirmala Srivastava
A Step Toward Enlightenment
This fifth stage is a stepping stone toward enlightenment. Just as the fourth state underlies the fifth, other higher states are built on the expanded awareness of the fifth.
Meditation is a deliberate attempt to pierce into the higher states of consciousness and finally go beyond it. The art of meditation is the art of shifting the focus of attention to ever subtler levels without losing one’s grip on the levels left behind. Save all your energies and time for breaking the wall your mind had built around you. Believe me, you will not regret it. — Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
In Conclusion
The fifth state of consciousness, witnessing or split perception, is a giant leap in awareness. It is the moment we stop living only through the body and mind and begin to live as the silent observer behind it all. This subtle shift opens the door to deeper insight, calm detachment, and greater freedom. We can cultivate this state through regular meditation and gain access to a timeless presence within us—the real Self, the one who sees.
The first step in our development is establishing the fourth state of the transcendent. We can also use our imagination to create the inner landscape of the Shamanic journey. When we use these tools, we learn, grow, and expand our awareness.
References
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[8] Joseph Campbell’s book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
[9] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Wikipedia