Decoding the 7 Stages of Consciousness: A Tantra Yoga Perspective

Have you ever wondered why certain thoughts, emotions, and habits seem to control you? Or why moments of clarity, peace, and happiness seem to be rare and fluctuating?

While exploring Yoga Psychology, you will find the secrets of your subconscious and superconscious mind that hold the key to both your inner limitations and your greater potential.

The Subconscious Mind: Chitta

Just like you, many are interested in mental health, mindfulness, and self-awareness. However, there is often a serious confusion between the subconscious and superconscious mind. You might even be convinced that accessing subconscious thoughts equates to reaching a higher conscious state. But both differ fundamentally, and understanding this difference is the key to self-transformation and well-being.

The subconscious mind does not exist by itself. It is a collection of our stored, unexpressed, and suppressed memories, thoughts, and emotions. When you become aware of these layers, you might feel you are going deeper. This can feel powerful and make you think that you have accessed a higher level of mind.

Unfortunately, the subconscious is nothing more than a storage of automatic habits and unresolved issues. It is more like a record keeper. In other words, the subconscious mind is like a storage device or a hard drive with an unimaginable capacity of storage space.

This subconscious mind is not the thinker, but the storage space of all our thoughts. It is not the speaker, but the storage space of all that is spoken. It is not the actor, but the storage space of all our actions and their impressions. This storage space in Yoga is called Chitta. All the limited stored information put together compiles as the modifications of the mind, called Vrittis.

The subconscious mind is more like a library than a research laboratory. It is a source of reference that helps us to navigate through life as a social, relational, and professional being. But to navigate through life as an individual being, we need clarity of our limitations and greater potentials. This clarity comes only through research, life experience, and conscious contemplation.

The Superconscious Mind: Ritambhara

The superconscious mind is a state of mind where one transcends the limitations of past experiences and fears. The superconscious mind is like a transparent glass. It has nothing stored on it. Instead, it acts like a window and reveals what is beyond the limitations of life.

In other words, the superconscious mind blossoms within when you consciously lead your awareness beyond the limitations of the subconscious mind. Operating at a superconscious level lifts you beyond the repetitive cycles of life. This state of conscious mind in Yoga is called Ritambhara.

How do we break free from the clutches of the subconscious mind (Chitta) and step into the vastness of superconsciousness (Ritambhara)? This journey does not happen overnight. There are practices mentioned in Tantra Yoga that can guide us toward this transformation.

Sage Patanjali refers to seven stages of consciousness in his 27th Sutra of the Second Chapter of the Yoga Sutras:

*Tasya Saptadha Prantabhumih Prajna* (2.27 Yoga Sutra)

This translates to: His experience has seven stages of consciousness.

Patanjali did not explain the seven stages in detail in his Yoga Sutras. However, when we read the works of Sri Aurobindo, we can clearly see what Patanjali refers to when he mentions these seven stages. Let us explore these seven stages, from the root level of inconscient to the pinnacle of superconscious awareness.

Exploring the Seven Stages of Consciousness

Each stage along this journey from the subconscious to the superconscious begins from an inconscient state, representing a layer of self-realization and understanding.

1. Inconscient: The Seed of Potential

The journey of consciousness begins at the most fundamental stage, called inconscient. At this level, consciousness is present only as a dormant potential. It is yet to awaken or exhibit any self-awareness. Imagine a seed lying in the soil, full of potential life but inactive. This stage is associated with non-living matter, where consciousness exists only as a latent possibility, waiting for the conditions that will allow it to emerge.

At the inconscient level:

• Awareness is totally absent, with no sense of self or interaction with the environment.

• Energy is dormant and consciousness lies as a potential, like a spark in need of fuel.

• Given the right circumstances, the inconscient can awaken and evolve.

2. Unconscious: Dormant but Latent Awareness

The unconscious stage is where consciousness exists but lacks any noticeable awareness. At this level, consciousness is inactive, similar to a person in deep sleep. There is some latent awareness, but it is beyond recall or interaction. This stage is often associated with states where there is life or a primal level of awareness but no active engagement.

At the unconscious level:

• Awareness is deeply hidden.

• It may respond to physical stimuli but lacks self-recognition.

• Growth or transformation is minimal. While some consciousness exists, it is instinctual.

• With gradual development, this dormant awareness can transform into more active levels.

3. Subconscious: The Realm of Hidden Patterns

The subconscious mind marks the beginning of active consciousness, though it largely operates below the surface of everyday awareness. This stage holds memories, habits, and suppressed emotions, storing patterns that influence behavior without conscious control. Think of the subconscious as a powerful undercurrent, influencing your actions and responses but operating behind the scenes.

At the subconscious level:

• Awareness is reactive, and emotions influence behavior without conscious input.

• Subconscious actions are mechanical influences on life, running on autopilot mode based on past conditioning.

• Through self-awareness, subconscious patterns can rise to the conscious mind, allowing you to work with and release them.

4. Conscious: Active Self-Awareness

The conscious stage is the realm of active awareness. Here, you are aware of your self-existence and identities. You are aware of your actions, thoughts, ideas, emotions, and surroundings. This is the state of mind from which you operate every day, make decisions, engage in logical thinking, and interpret sensory inputs. The conscious mind allows you to focus, reason, and choose your actions intentionally.

At the conscious level:

• Awareness is active, present, and centered around your limited identities and your environment.

• You have the ability to analyze, reflect, and choose your responses.

• By cultivating conscious awareness, you can influence your subconscious and develop higher levels of consciousness.

5. Higher Consciousness: Expanding Beyond the Self

As you move beyond the ordinary conscious mind, you reach higher consciousness. This stage is characterized by an awareness that transcends the ego and personal identity, allowing you to experience life from a broader perspective. Here, you become more attuned to the interconnectedness of all things, feeling a sense of unity and compassion.

At the higher conscious level:

• Awareness is expansive, and you become aware of a reality beyond the individual self.

• Higher consciousness brings a heightened sense of understanding, clarity, and wisdom.

• Moving into higher consciousness leads to profound personal and spiritual shifts, making growth highly transformative.

6. Intuitive Consciousness: The Realm of Inner Wisdom

Intuitive consciousness is a refined state of awareness where you connect with deeper insights and knowledge that arise beyond the limitations of logic. In this stage, you access inner guidance, often described as a knowing that transcends intellectual understanding. Intuitive consciousness allows you to tap into creativity, inspiration, and problem-solving abilities that seem to arise from a source beyond the individual mind.

At the intuitive conscious level:

• Awareness is deeply connected, and insights come without analytical reasoning.

• Creativity flows naturally, and solutions emerge spontaneously.

• This stage helps you to align with your true purpose and make choices from a place of inner clarity.

7. Superconscious: The Ultimate State of Unity

The pinnacle of consciousness is the superconscious mind, a state of pure awareness where all boundaries of self naturally dissolve, and one experiences a sense of oneness with all existence. Superconsciousness is often described as a state of enlightenment or liberation, where the mind is free from all conditioning, limitations, and personal attachments. In this state, there is no longer a separate self experiencing life; instead, there is only the pure experience of being.

At the superconscious level:

• Awareness is boundless and unified. The self merges with the whole, experiencing ultimate peace and understanding.

• Transcending all dualities, the concepts of self and other dissolve, revealing a sense of infinite unity.

• Evolving into the superconscious state represents the culmination of consciousness, where one is in complete harmony with the universe.

Conclusion

While these stages of consciousness may seem hierarchical, each stage has its purpose, offering valuable insights and opportunities for self-transformation.

Tantra Yoga is all about understanding this journey of consciousness. By knowing where you are and recognizing that growth is possible, you can journey mindfully through these stages, discovering new depths of wisdom, peace, and interconnectedness. The ultimate goal is not just to reach the superconscious state, but to embrace and evolve through each stage, realizing our full potential as conscious beings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between Chitta and Ritambhara in Yoga?

A: Chitta is the subconscious mind, which acts as a storage device for past impressions, conditioning, habits, and memories. Ritambhara is the superconscious mind, which acts like a transparent window, reflecting pure awareness and revealing truth beyond past memories and conditioning.

Q: What does Patanjali's Sutra 2.27 mean by 'seven stages of consciousness'?

A: Patanjali indicates that the yogi's experience progresses through seven distinct layers of awareness, moving from the inactive inconscient state up to the fully unified superconscious state of pure being.

Q: How can we shift from the subconscious to the superconscious mind?

A: We shift consciousness through dedicated Tantric and Yogic practices, including mantra visualization, one-pointed focus (Ekatatva Abhyasa), pranayama to regulate vital energy, and self-study (Svadhyaya) to identify and release subconscious patterns.

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This article is based on the traditional Tantra Yoga and Indian philosophy curriculum taught by Yogacharya Aravind Prasad at Samyut Yoga Mysore.