तुरीयावस्था

[विश्वासो वासुकिजः (Vishvas Vasuki)]

तुरीयावस्थायाम् केचिद् इत्थं वर्णयन्ति, तत्र सम्प्रदायान्तरावगतीः भिनासु सत्सु जिज्ञासे - 

The names jāgrat, svapna, suṣupti and turīya are given to them on the analogy of these states in man in the ordinary world,  
according to the greater or the lesser activity found in each.  
The turīya state is like that in a swoon when even the breath is suspended,  
whereas in the suṣupti state, the man just breathes in or breathes out;  
in the svapna, his external senses cease to act, only the mind is active,  
in the jāgrat state, both the mind and the external senses act.

These four parts with four vyūhas in each  

correspond to the four stages of development  
that may be found in the worshipper who meditates on them.  

On the lowest stage of meditation,  
there is no full control of the external senses and the mind;  

in the second stage of development,  
control of the external senses has been attained  
but not of the mind;

in the next stage,  
the mind, too, has been controlled  
and the man who meditates is seen just breathing in and breathing out  
with no other activity or sign of life;

in the last or perfect development of meditation,  
he is like one in a swoon, not even breathing in or out.

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Vishvas /विश्वासः