May the 4th, known as Star Wars Day, is a day of celebration for all Star Wars fans around the world. It’s a day when we come together to celebrate the timeless epic saga that has captivated us for over four decades. But beyond the lightsabers, the blasters, and the iconic characters, there is a deeper philosophy that underpins the Star Wars universe: The Force.
The Force¹ is a mysterious energy field that binds the galaxy together. It’s a spiritual energy that is created by life and is present in all living things. Those who are sensitive to the Force can harness its power to perform extraordinary feats such as levitating objects, tricking minds, and seeing things before they happen. The Jedi and the Sith are the most well-known groups that utilize the Force, but it’s also present in other beings such as the Nightsisters and the Bendu.
As we celebrate May the 4th, it’s worth exploring the philosophical underpinnings of the Force and how it compares to Turiya.
Turiya, is a Sanskrit term that refers to the fourth state of consciousness in Vedantic²⁵ philosophy. According to Vedantic philosophy, there are three common states of consciousness: the waking state, the dreaming state, and the dreamless deep sleep state. These states are relative & are the changing states of consciousness, which cycles daily and is deeply connected to our nervous system. Turiya is the state of consciousness that transcends all these three states, is non changing and ever-present. It’s the state of pure consciousness that underlies and pervades all other states of consciousness. Turiya or pure consciousness is ‘pure’ in that it is Self-awareness free from changing mental content. It is written in the Katha Upanishad², which discusses the nature of pure consciousness, as the Self that is without sound, without touch, and without form — Transcendental Self or “Being”.
He who has perceived that which is without sound, without touch, without form, without decay, without taste, eternal, without smell, without beginning, without end, beyond the Great, and unchangeable, is freed from the jaws of death.~ Katha Up. II-3–15⁴.
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, an ancient text on yoga philosophy, the state of Turiyatita³ is referred to as samādhi, which is the state of complete absorption and union with the object of meditation. In this state, the practitioner experiences a state of pure awareness that is beyond the fluctuations of the mind —an experience of NoMind.
So, how does Turiya compare to the Force? Both concepts deal with spiritual energy that is present in all living things. However, the Force is only accessible to Force-sensitives⁴ in the Star Wars universe, while Turiya is accessible to all human beings.
A Jedi’s Meditation & Auto Self Transcending (AST)
In the Star Wars universe, Jedi Masters like Yoda⁸ used meditation as an essential tool to establish a stronger and more direct connection with the Force. This allowed Jedi’s to achieve a deep state of relaxation and a clear mind, making it easier for them to connect with the Force. In some cases, their connection to the Force could have unintended effects on their surroundings, such as levitating objects or even themselves.
In the context of Star Wars, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (Guru Dev)⁹ could be seen as a master Jedi who played a significant role in bringing Automatic Self Transcending (AST) technique to the forefront. As a wise and powerful Jedi, Guru Dev made the decision to leave his secluded life and share his knowledge with others, which ultimately led to the spread of this technique beyond closed ascetic communities in India. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (MMY), on the other hand, could be seen as Guru Dev’s Padawan — a Force-sensitive who trained under the guidance of his master in the ways of accessing the state of Turiyatita³. Like a Padawan, MMY learned the ways of Force from Guru Dev and used his knowledge to further spread the technique to others, just as a Padawan learns from their master and passes on their teachings to others.
Automatic Self Transcending (AST) meditation, is a powerful tool that can help us achieve a deep meditative state and experience Turiya — the pure consciousness that underlies all states of consciousness. AST techniques transcend the thinking and feeling processes to reveal a non-dual state of pure self-awareness, a state of “Being” rather than “Thinking” or “Doing”. In AST, a “bija mantra¹⁸” is used as a device to easily guide the mind to quieter states of awareness. This specific sound value draws attention inward and permits the mind to experience a restful but alert state of consciousness or pure awareness (No Mind), while helping the body rest and heal deeply. When transcending, thinking of the bija mantra becomes secondary to pure self-awareness. The process of thinking the bija mantra internally eventually dissolves into pure consciousness, without any effort. The process of transcending is an automatic and effortless process, conducted by the natural tendency of the mind to move inward. Any concentration of the mind will lead to an increase in cognitive activity and thus the mind cannot transcend. During Automatic Self-Transcending, the experience of transcending alternates rhythmically with active thinking. When the practitioner becomes aware of their active thinking phase, they pivot back to effortlessly thinking the bija mantra. As the practitioner dives deeper, the experience of transcending is often characterized by a loss of the sense of time, body, and space, indicating a deeper level of transcendence beyond the boundaries of the individual self.
AST differs from other types of meditation, such as focused attention (FA) and open monitoring (OM). While FA and OM are generally considered mindfulness techniques, AST includes all techniques designed to be effortless and transcend their own activity through the use of thinking a bija mantra to experience self-referral consciousness²⁶. A paper⁶ researching the neuroscience behind different meditation modalities proposed that each category of meditation can be assigned an EEG signature based on the reported brain patterns during the meditation. Focused attention, characterized by Beta/Gamma activity, included meditations from Tibetan Buddhist, Buddhist, and Chinese traditions. Open monitoring, characterized by Theta activity, included meditations from Buddhist, Chinese, and Vedic traditions. Automatic self-transcending, characterized by Alpha1 activity, and has its roots in the Yogic knowledge systems of ancient India. It was categorized as a rājayoga or a royal yoga technique, which is found in texts from the 11th and 12th centuries, such as Dattātreyayogaśāstra, and is usually identified as the practice of samādhi or experiencing the state of samādhi¹⁹. In contrast, the concept of “mindfulness” traces to the Pali words sati, which in the Indian-Buddhist tradition implies awareness, attention, or alertness, and vipassana, which means insight cultivated by meditation¹³. The most influential figure in the acceptance of mindfulness as a secular and scientific practice is Jon Kabat-Zinn. To gain legitimacy within the medical community, Kabat-Zinn understood that he needed to strip any overt religious connections and frame mindfulness as a mental skill acquired through meditation that involves “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn 2005)¹³. The practice of mindfulness gained widespread popularity as a secular and scientific practice, rather than a religious one, and as a result, meditation became the “property of psychologists, doctors, scientists, and diet counselors to be engaged in by clients rather than believers, who are not expected to take refuge, read scriptures, believe in karma or rebirth, or to become Buddhist,” wrote Wilson (2014)¹³. The practice of mindfulness is now often viewed as a technique for promoting well-being and reducing stress, rather than a spiritual practice with religious connotations.
When comparing the subjective and objective mindset and setting of mindfulness to Automatic Self-Transcending (AST), the primary difference lies in the goal. AST aims for the effortless onset of transcending through the use of a bija mantra, while FA and OM techniques require more effort to engage the mind and maintain a state of witness awareness in the present moment. During AST, the use of a mantra and the experience itself is meant to disappear as the mind spontaneously slips into a content-free state of awareness — Turiya. On an objective level, the EEG signatures of FA and OM match those found in active behavior¹⁴ characterized by Beta/Gamma and Theta activity respectively. Theta rhythms are associated with active intake of sensory stimuli and are linked with movements involved in stimuli sampling, while Gamma rhythms are proposed to bind the activity of distributed neurons and process different features of visual stimuli. Can someone practicing a OM or FA technique experience transcending? It is possible, but it may take more time to achieve, than with AST because their starting point is different. Over time, as the mind becomes “trained” to be in an active witness awareness state, it may eventually slip into Turiya as a secondary goal to the cultivation of mindfulness, which is the primary goal of these techniques. In AST, however, the goal is solely to slip into Turiya, and once the practice is complete, the individual moves on to their daily life activities they begin cultivating a state of mindfulness as a byproduct of experiencing Turiya. It is important to note that the practice of secular mindfulness, while having potential benefits for mental wellbeing, operates on a different premise.
This quote by a Jedi beautifully captures the essence of mediating to connect to the Force and its connection to all living beings.
“Meditation is about more than just forging a deeper connection to the Force… It is about gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves. It is a means of obtaining greater control over our thoughts and emotions. Peace. Serenity. Harmony. We must master ourselves before we can hope to master the Force.”―A Jedi⁷
Through meditation, we can tap into this powerful ally, the Force or Turiya, and connect with the energy that surrounds us and binds us all. By realizing that we are not just our physical bodies, but luminous beings connected to something greater, we can experience a state of pure self-awareness by meditating to transcend.
Just as Yoda teaches Luke Skywalker to feel the Force around him, we too can learn to feel the presence of Turiya within and around us. Together, the master Jedi and Padawan, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (Guru Dev) and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (MMY), have helped to bring the ancient wisdom of Turiyatita³ or mediating to transcend to individuals all over the world, allowing them to achieve a deeper state of awareness and connection with the universe. Like the Jedi using the Force to guide their actions and seek greater understanding of the universe, we too can meditate to transcend to connect with a deeper sense of self and tap into the power of the universe that surrounds us. Through the efforts of these spiritual influencers, the power of transcending has been harnessed and explored by both practitioners and scientists, bringing its potential benefits to light.
Biomarker of the connection to the Force & Turiya
In the Star Wars universe, Midi-chlorians¹⁰ are microscopic life forms residing within all living organisms that enable beings to use the Force. The greater the number of Midi-chlorians in an individual’s cells, the more potential they have to connect with and utilize the Force. Midi-chlorian counts were measured through a blood test, using a portable device, similar to the ones used by Qui-Gon Jinn to test Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. The Jedi used this method to locate Force-sensitive children before they could be captured by the Galactic Empire.
Similarly, Automatic self-transcending (AST) is associated with an increase in alpha1 EEG coherence activity in the prefrontal cortex⁶, and it can be detected using both traditional and portable EEG devices¹¹. There is even a mobile application specifically designed to measure the transcending and normalization (stress release) during AST meditation¹². Just like Midi-chlorians, AST meditation offers a measurable biomarker in the brain & body that allows us to track our connection to a greater spiritual force. While the Midi-chlorians in the blood and frontal interhemispheric alpha-1 coherence during AST in the brain are not directly comparable, they both suggest a deeper aspect of neurophysiology that allows for a connection to a greater spiritual force. Both concepts point to the idea that there is a deeper aspect to consciousness that allows us to connect with something greater than ourselves.
Using the Force & Turiyatit chetana — Transformation of the Self
Joseph Campbell’s work on the Hero’s Journey narrative structure has had a profound impact on storytelling in modern society, particularly within the Star Wars franchise. George Lucas was heavily influenced by Campbell’s writings, and used the Hero’s Journey as a direct reference in the creation of his epic space opera¹⁵. The Hero’s Journey is a universal story of transformation, in which an ordinary person is called to leave their ordinary world, face their fears and obstacles, and ultimately emerge as a changed person with newfound wisdom and power. In the Star Wars universe, this motif is epitomized by the struggles of its main characters, from Anakin Skywalker’s descent into darkness to Luke Skywalker’s journey from farm boy to Jedi Knight, and Ben Solo and Rey Skywalker’s struggles with their own inner demons. The Hero’s Journey is deeply ingrained in the Star Wars mythology, and has helped to make it one of the most iconic and enduring film franchises of all time.
Luke Skywalker’s journey as a hero in the Star Wars franchise begins with a common misconception — that physical strength is the most important trait for a Jedi. However, as he begins his training under the tutelage of Yoda, the former Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, Luke learns that a Jedi’s physical form is not as important as their bond with the Force. Yoda teaches Luke that a Jedi’s connection to the Force is what truly makes them powerful. Yoda helps Luke to understand the importance of his connection with the Force, famously saying:
For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”―Yoda, to Luke Skywalker
This lesson would become one of the most important ones in Luke’s journey as a Jedi and would influence his actions for years to come.
According to the Vedic tradition, Turiyatit chetana is a state of pure consciousness in which the individual experiences a sense of unity with the universe and a deep awareness of their own true nature — Paramatman or Transcendental Self. They describe Paramatman or Transcendental Self as the ultimate reality and the source of all existence. According to the Upanishads, the individual self (Atman) is ultimately identical to the Transcendental Self (Paramatman)²⁰.
Master Jedi Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (Guru Dev) quoted the following in one of his discourses:
Only Paramatman is suitable to be with the mind; anything else in worldly existence cannot satisfy the mind. ~ Discourse №.42²⁴
We are born into this reality with a finite mind that only experiences the world through the 3 relative states (waking , dreaming & deep sleep). Our finite mind has no experience of the infinite consciousness because infinite consciousness has to reduce itself as a finite mind so that it can know the world¹⁶. Our finite minds exist in a sort of ‘Padawan state’, only knowing & experiencing the 3 relative states (waking , dreaming & deep sleep), but when we meditate to transcend daily we begin to go beyond the finite mind and develop a living bio memory of the experience infinite consciousness- Turiyatit chetana. As we cultivate this connection with infinite consciousness, it recognize itself as an ally and brings new knowledge and understanding that expands beyond the limitations of our body and mind. This newfound cosmic awareness is akin to the Jedi’s connection with the Force and holds a profound impact on our personal journeys of transformation and self-discovery. As Yoda’s teachings influenced Luke’s path as a Jedi, so too can our connection with infinite consciousness shape our own hero’s journey of personal growth and transformation.
The Upanishads share a profound wisdom that connects with the idea of personal growth and transformation in a cosmic scale.
As is the human body, so is the cosmic body.
As is the human mind, so is the cosmic mind.
As is the microcosm, so is the macrocosm.
As is the atom, so is the universe
– The Upanishads
During the onset of Turiyatit chetana, the experience of transcendental consciousness during meditation is integrated into waking, dreaming, and sleeping, leading to a continuum of self-referral awareness throughout all states of consciousness. I like to call this state Auto-Sustained Transcending (AST 2.0), a state that emerges spontaneously from daily Auto-Self Transcending (AST 1.0) practice. Inner wakefulness during sleep is a sign of a stable Auto Sustained Transcending state¹⁷, where one experiences a stream-of-consciousness that unveils the underlying pure self-awareness that remains throughout the night. The enhanced sensory awareness, creativity, intuition, and mindfulness traits resulting from Auto Sustained Transcending during the waking states can be dubbed the “Jedi powers” of AST 2.0. These powers have been shown to be accompanied by changes in brain function, EEG signatures, and improvements in various aspects of mental and physical health²¹.
However, in a world where the body and mind are conditioned through the “State Wars” of food, media, and technology - reminiscent of the conditioning in the Galactic Empire - one must wonder if these powers are even useful. In a world seeking self-actualization, the negative effects of modern societal conditioning are becoming more evident, as evidenced by research studies²² showing increasing mental health issues. Additionally, there has been criticism of the concept of self-actualization in a world seeking self-actualization. Some have argued that it places too much emphasis on individual achievement and personal growth, while neglecting the importance of community and social responsibility. In a society where success is often defined by material wealth and status, the pursuit of self-actualization can become a selfish endeavor, focused solely on personal fulfillment and leaving little room for concern for others. Critics have argued that a more balanced approach is needed, one that values both individual growth and collective well-being. In contrast to the individualistic nature of self-actualization, self-transcendence involves expanding beyond the self and connecting with something greater than oneself. Maslow himself later recognized that self-transcendence was distinct from self-actualization and was the true pinnacle of his model and characterized it by having peak experiences, defined as feelings of awe, wonder, and a sense of connection with something greater²³. The cultivation of Auto-Sustained Transcending through daily practice of Auto-Self Transcending offers a way to experience these peak experiences and connect with something beyond ourselves. This may offer a way to counteract the individualistic focus of self-actualization and contribute to a more holistic understanding of personal growth and development.
So, on this Star Wars Day, let us remember that the Force and Turiya are not just fictional concepts, but reflections of deeper spiritual truths a way of connecting to the root of human identity. By cultivating self-transcendence through the practice of Auto-Self Transcending, we can tap into a universal energy that connects us to the greater cosmos and contributes to our personal growth and development.
May the 4th state of consciousness become you, always.
Sources :
2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katha_Upanishad
3.https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/turiyatita
4. https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe15/sbe15012.htm
5.https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Force-sensitive
6.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20167507/
7.https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Meditation
8. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Yoda
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmananda_Saraswati
10.https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Midi-chlorian/Legends
11.https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.10.11.511756v1
12.https://apps.apple.com/us/app/v%C4%ABrya-eeg/id1534147612
16.https://rupertspira.com/store/the-nature-of-consciousness-essays-on-the-unity-of-mind-and-matter
18.https://youaligned.com/mindfulness/vedic-meditation-introduction/
19.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roots_of_Yoga
21.https://www.normanrosenthal.com/blog/book/super-mind-2/
22.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3248273/
23. https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/maslow-self-transcendence/
24. https://www.amazon.com/108-Discourses-Guru-Dev-Shankaracharya/dp/0956222803
25.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedanta
26.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053810004000212
