No Bodies, No Relationships

Sage Vasishtha

That state in which the mind is freed from its characteristic movement of thought and in which there is only the experience of peace, is known as 'deep sleep in wakefulness'. He who is in it lives a non-volitional life, freed from every type of mental distraction or distress, unconcerned with a short or a long life. When this same state of 'deep sleep in wakefulness' matures, it is known as turiya or the fourth state. Firmly established in that, the sage perceives the universe as if it is a cosmic playground and life in it is a cosmic dance. Utterly freed from sorrow and fear and from delusion of world-appearance, he who is established in the turiya does not fall into error once again. He is forever immersed in bliss. He goes even beyond this to the great, inexpressible state of supreme bliss. That is considered the state beyond even turiya - incomprehensible and indescribable. 

It may be possible to put into words the state of one who is liberated while yet living, which is the state known as turiya or deep sleep in wakefulness, or the state of total freedom. The state beyond that is not for words to describe. This is the state beyond the turiya. O Rama, strive to reach that.

But first be established in the state of 'deep sleep in wakefulness'. Remain unconcerned about the existence or otherwise of the body, knowing that the body is but a product of illusion. You are a man of wisdom, O Rama; and you have reached inner awakening. The mind of the man of self-knowledge does not take the downward path. Only the pure consciousness exists here: hence let not the notions of 'I am so and so', 'this is mine' arise in you. Even the word 'self' is used only in order to communicate; the truth is beyond all these descriptions. There is no duality, there are no bodies and therefore there are no relationships among them; there are no shadows in the sun! Though I am speaking to you while assuming the apparent duality, in truth there is no such division.