@shaman
@brightsun
I found few verses in Srimad Bhagavatam speaking about these states of consciousness. There its related to the 3 Gunas, Sattva, Rajas, Tamas which I find quite interesting. Below are the verses.
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ŚB 11.13.27 (ACBSP)
jāgrat svapnaḥ suṣuptaṁ ca
guṇato buddhi-vṛttayaḥ
tāsāṁ vilakṣaṇo jīvaḥ
sākṣitvena viniścitaḥ
Synonyms
jāgrat — being awake; svapnaḥ — dreaming; su-suptam — deep sleep; ca — also; guṇataḥ — caused by the modes of nature; buddhi — of intelligence; vṛttayaḥ — the functions; tāsām — from such functions; vilakṣaṇaḥ — possessing different characteristics; jīvaḥ — the living entity; sākṣitvena — with the characteristic of being a witness; viniścitaḥ — is ascertained.
Translation
Waking, sleeping and deep sleep are the three functions of the intelligence and are caused by the modes of material nature. The living entity within the body is ascertained to possess characteristics different from these three states and thus remains as a witness to them.
Purport
The spirit soul actually has nothing to do with the material world, having no permanent or natural relationship with it. Real renunciation means to give up the illusory identification with matter in its subtle and gross forms. Suṣuptam, or deep sleep, indicates sleeping without any dreams or conscious activity. These three states are described by Lord Kṛṣṇa as follows:
sattvāj jāgaraṇaṁ vidyād
rajasā svapnam ādiśet
prasvāpaṁ tamasā jantos
turīyaṁ triṣu santatam
“One should know that wakefulness is born of the mode of goodness, dreams from the mode of passion, and deep dreamless sleep from the mode of ignorance. The fourth element, pure consciousness, is different from these three and pervades them.” (Bhāg. 11.25.20)
Real freedom means sākṣitvena, or to exist as a witness to the functions of illusion. Such an advantageous position is achieved by development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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ŚB 11.13.27 (Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhakkura)
jāgrat svapnaḥ suṣuptaṃ ca
guṇato buddhi-vṛttayaḥ
tāsāṃ vilakṣaṇo jīvaḥ
sākṣitvena viniścitaḥ
TRANSLATION
Waking, sleeping and deep sleep, the three functions of the intelligence, are caused by the three guṇas. The jīva is ascertained to be different from these three states since it is only the witness of them.
COMMENTARY
Actually there is no relation of the pure jīva with the sense objects and material consciousness. Giving up the false identity is giving them both up.
“sattvāj jāgaraṇaṃ vidyād rajasā svapnam ādiśet prasvāpaṃ tamasā jantos turīyaṃ triṣu santatam ”
“One should know that wakefulness is born of the mode of goodness, dreams from the mode of passion, and deep dreamless sleep from the mode of ignorance. The fourth element, pure consciousness, is different from these three and pervades them.” SB 11.25.20
Thus the guṇas are the cause of the three states of intelligence (consciousness). The jīva is different from them. It is without these three states. Why? It is confirmed that it is the mere witness of those states.
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ŚB 11.25.20 (ACBSP)
sattvāj jāgaraṇaṁ vidyād
rajasā svapnam ādiśet
prasvāpaṁ tamasā jantos
turīyaṁ triṣu santatam
Synonyms
sattvāt — by the mode of goodness; jāgaraṇam — waking consciousness; vidyāt — one should understand; rajasā — by passion; svapnam — sleep; ādiśet — is indicated; prasvāpam — deep sleep; tamasā — by the mode of ignorance; jantoḥ — of the living entity; turīyam — the fourth, transcendental state; triṣu — throughout the three; santatam — pervading.
Translation
It should be understood that alert wakefulness comes from the mode of goodness, sleep with dreaming from the mode of passion, and deep, dreamless sleep from the mode of ignorance. The fourth state of consciousness pervades these three and is transcendental.
Purport
Our original Kṛṣṇa consciousness exists eternally within the soul, and it is also present in all the three phases of awareness, namely normal wakefulness, dreaming and dreamless sleep. Being covered by the modes of nature, this spiritual consciousness may not be manifest, but it continues to exist eternally as the real nature of the living entity.
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ŚB 11.25.20 (Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhakkura)
sattvāj jāgaraṇaṃ vidyād
rajasā svapnam ādiśet
prasvāpaṃ tamasā jantos
turīyaṃ triṣu santatam
TRANSLATION
It should be understood that wakefulness comes from the mode of goodness, sleep with dreaming comes from the mode of passion, and deep, dreamless sleep comes from the mode of ignorance. The fourth state of consciousness extends over the other three.
COMMENTARY
“What states of being do the guṇas produce?” That is answered in this verse. The state beyond the guṇas is described. The fourth state extends over the other three states in the form of one ātmā.
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ŚB 12.7.19 (ACBSP)
vyatirekānvayo yasya
jāgrat-svapna-suṣuptiṣu
māyā-mayeṣu tad brahma
jīva-vṛttiṣv apāśrayaḥ
Synonyms
vyatireka — the presence as separate; anvayaḥ — and as conjoint; yasya — of which; jāgrat — within waking consciousness; svapna — sleep; suṣuptiṣu — and deep sleep; māyā-mayeṣu — within the products of the illusory energy; tat — that; brahma — the Absolute Truth; jīva-vṛttiṣu — within the functions of the living entities; apāśrayaḥ — the unique shelter.
Translation
The Supreme Absolute Truth is present throughout all the stages of awareness — waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep — throughout all the phenomena manifested by the illusory energy, and within the functions of all living entities, and He also exists separate from all these. Thus situated in His own transcendence, He is the ultimate and unique shelter.
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ŚB 12.7.19 (Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhakkura)
vyatirekānvayo yasya
jāgrat-svapna-suṣuptiṣu
māyā-mayeṣu tad brahma
jīva-vṛttiṣv apāśrayaḥ
TRANSLATION
That Brahman which is present in all objects as its cause, in states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep, but which is separate from them, is called apāśraya.
COMMENTARY
This verse explains apāśraya. That Brahman which as a cause is present in all objects (māyāmayeṣu), in states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep, but which is separate from them (vyatireka), is called apāśraya.