The Word That is God

the next succeeding subtler ones–the practitioner intent on achieving the attainment of the
state of Turiya-Turiya will successfully achieve his end through this unity. Having become the
self-luminous one, he becomes Brahman alone.
“This path of attaining the knowledge of the truth that the Turiya-Turiya is the peerless
Brahman alone leads to victory. For this reason, this path of attaining the Turiya-Turiya,
standing apart from all wrong paths, is resorted to for meditation on the Turiya-Turiya, and
the accomplishment of nirvikalpa samadhi.” (Atharvashikha Upanishad 3:1,2)
Fragmentation of consciousness is a fundamental flaw of the human being bound within
the realm of ignorance called samsara. We are all Humpty Dumpties, fallen and
fragmented–spiritual schizophrenics whose entire being is a battlefield of opposing forces that
themselves are alien to our real nature. 18 But unlike the Humpty Dumpty of the nursery
rhyme we can be restored: by the reintegration of our consciousness through its union with
Om–the union that is accomplished by the practice of Om Yoga. Again: how is this possible?
Here, too, the answer is in the very nature of Om. For the upanishad is telling us that Om is
Consciousness Itself, within Which are contained the four modes of waking, dreaming,
dreamlessness, and superconsciousness.
Om embodies and is the Holy Trinity–the Trimurti–of Vedic Religion. For the waking state
corresponds to the consciousness of Brahma, the Creator, the dream state corresponds to the
consciousness of Vishnu, the Preserver-Savior; and the dreamless state corresponds to the
consciousness of Shiva. Om is manifesting as all these three modes of consciousness, and
further transcends them as turiya. Consequently japa and meditation of Om unites the three
lower states and enables us to both master and transcend them. For all are inherent in, and
inseparable from, Om.
The upanishad is describing the procedure of meditation when it speaks of Om causing
the various states of consciousness to “dissolve into each other–the grosser merging into the
next succeeding subtler ones” until “achieving the attainment of the state of Turiya-Turiya”
which is perfect Unity.
Om being both Illuminator and Self of all, the Om Yogi “will successfully achieve his end
through this unity. Having become the self-luminous one, he becomes Brahman alone.” Without
doubt, then, Om Yoga, “this path of attaining the knowledge of the truth that the Turiya-Turiya
is the peerless Brahman alone leads to victory.” Positively, “for this reason, this path of
attaining the Turiya-Turiya, standing apart from all wrong paths, is resorted to for meditation
on the Turiya-Turiya, and the accomplishment of nirvikalpa samadhi.”
“Wrong paths” are those ways of life–including some forms of religion, meditation, and
yoga–that do not lead to turiya-turiya and the accomplishment of nirvikalpa samadhi: identity
with the Formless Absolute that manifests as all forms.
“Should any man stabilize this changeless atman in the ether of the middle of his heart, be
it for a little more or less than the duration of a second, through meditation, and become
entirely absorbed in Him, the highest fruit thereof will be the attainment, by the meditator, of
the state of the Paramatman.” (Atharvashikha Upanishad 3:4a)
Darkness may prevail for untold millions of years within caves in the depths of the earth.
Yet how long will it take for the darkness to be vanquished at the entry of light? No time at all.
Instantly illumination will take place. Consequently the upanishad states that if the yogi can
18 This state of being an internal battleground of good and evil forces is symbolized in the Bhagavad Gita.
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