Acharya Prashant explains the four states of consciousness: Jagrat (waking), Swapna (dreaming), Sushupti (deep sleep), and Turiya (the fourth state). He begins by outlining the scriptural basis for these states, which involves the ten senses (five of action and five of perception) and the four-fold inner instrument (Antahkarana), consisting of the mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), memory-store (chitta), and ego (ahamkara). The waking state, or Jagrat, is when all fourteen of these instruments are active. In this state, the senses bring information from the external world, which is then named by memory, connected to past experiences by the memory-store, and related to by the ego, leading the mind to form thoughts and imaginations. The dream state, or Swapna, occurs when the ego, deeply attached to experiences and greedy for their fruits, does not wait for external stimuli. Instead, it uses imagination and the memory-store to create its own experiences. This state is a manifestation of the being's craving for experience. The speaker notes that dreaming is a form of cleverness, helplessness, and ignorance, as one seeks to experience pleasure even without external objects. The deep sleep state, or Sushupti, is also a state of sleep but without dreams. In this state, the ego finds joy simply in its own being, without any object or thought. This state is closest to the Self (Atman) and is a state of deep bliss, yet it is also the deepest form of ignorance because the bliss is temporary and not true liberation. It provides temporary relief from all sorrows but is a false bliss that will break. Turiya, the fourth state, is not considered a state of consciousness in the same way as the other three. It is the very basis of consciousness, the Atman itself. It is beyond the three states and is the witness to them. It is pure consciousness, not a state of it. It is called the fourth simply because it is beyond the other three. The speaker then connects these states to the five sheaths (Pancha Kosha). The Annamaya Kosha (food sheath) is the physical body. The Pranamaya Kosha (vital air sheath) is the life force. The Manomaya Kosha (mental sheath) is the level of disorganized mental activity. The Vijnanamaya Kosha (intellectual sheath) is the level of organized, disciplined thought. The Anandamaya Kosha (bliss sheath) is the experience of objectless bliss, which is the final obstacle before realizing the Atman. The five sheaths are layers of the non-self where the ego resides, and the purpose of life is to use these sheaths as resources to transcend them and realize the Atman.
