The Three Levels Of Consciousness

The three levels of consciousness are the sub-consciousness state, consciousness state and the super-consciousness state. A Self-realised master is in the state of super-consciousness: The doors are open. Swami Kriyananda would say, “I felt as though I had on a miner’s hat with the light beaming through, illuminating the world. Everything looked so much brighter because the higher centres were opening up.” Swamiji composed a great deal of music, especially toward the end of his life. “I always hear music. I write down only a small fraction of what I hear.” It was almost as though the music came, drawn down, from the celestial music of the spheres.

In contrast, the state of sub-consciousness is riddled with the past, with biases, memories, beliefs, anxiety, anger, attachment, fear and karma. To overcome these, meditation can play a pivotal role as it takes you toward your higher Self. And once you get a taste of that higher Self, you seek more of it.

The state of consciousness is strapped by limitations for it is problem-oriented. Can we anticipate problems before they happen? We could, through dedicated meditation. You need patience to be able to perceive or anticipate problems, but don’t fall into the trap of identifying the problem as the situation. The super-consciousness is solution-oriented. In that state, you realise that there are no such things as problems; only opportunities! You recognise that life is nothing but energy.

It is possible for you and i to have super-consciousness experience. Just open the window and let the energy flow. To be there always, is to be in samadhi, when intuition is at its peak. It is the soul’s power of knowing. Swami Yukteshwar said become aware that your soul has a body and it is not the body that has a soul. However, all human beings suffer amnesia – we forget who we really are! In his recording titled ‘Secrets of Love,’ Swamiji sang, “Love is the memory of a lost joy.’

The ever-active conscious mind is never still; it is the monkey-mind, hopping and jumping from one thought to another. In such an agitated state, the conscious mind is unable to communicate with the soul. Therefore we need to quiet the conscious mind. When we don’t discipline the body, we falter. We might even fall ill. The mind, too, needs discipline. To achieve stillness of thought, feelings and breath, practise meditation. Paramhansa Yogananda said, where motion ceases, God begins.

First, still the body; then still the breath (watch it) and finally, still the mind. When the lake is still, it reflects the full moon. When the waters are agitated, the image is blurred or not visible. Why be constantly in motion? Is there such a thing as a perpetual motion machine? Why abuse our minds with so much sensory overload? At the touch of a button you are flooded with information. However, ‘not every search can be satisfied by Google!’ You need to seek within.

Your view from the sub-consciousness level is extremely limited, and hence is narrow. At the consciousness level, your perception of the world improves to a limited extent but once you attain to the state of super-consciousness, you get a 360 degree view where all the parts come together – you feel the interconnectedness, the music, and ideas flow freely and creativity is at its peak. (As heard by Narayani Ganesh). Shivani Lucki is executive producer of the film, ‘Finding Happiness’ due to release in 13 city theatres across India on April 25.