The Mandukya Upanishad ~ Advaita Vedanta
Summary
This episode explores the Mandukya Upanishad’s exposition of Om, mapping its three phonetic letters to the waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states of consciousness. It introduces Turiya, the fourth state of pure, non-dual awareness that transcends time, space, and causation. The teaching emphasizes that the true Self is indivisible and identical with Brahman, realized only in the silence beyond the three states.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Om as the universe and Brahman
Atman and the first aspect: Waking state (Vaishvarana)
Second aspect: Dreaming state (Tejasah)
Third aspect: Deep sleep state (Prajna)
The Omniscient Source and origin of all things
Fourth aspect: Turiya and its nature
Characteristics of pure consciousness and Turiya
Correspondence of Om letters to states of consciousness
Turiya realized in silence beyond the three states
Vaishvarana: The 'A' sound and waking fulfillment
Tejasah: The 'U' sound and dreaming state
Knowledge of the subtle state and Brahman
Prajna: The 'M' sound and deep sleep
Understanding all within the deep sleep state
The soundless aspect of Om
Cessation of phenomena and non-dual reality
Turiya as the true self
Expansion to universal consciousness and closing
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