FOURTH STATE/ਤੁਰੀਆਵਸਥਾ

ABSTRACT

Bliss/poise/sahaj/fourth state/ਤੁਰੀਆਵਸਥਾ are synonymous terms. It is defined as an exhilarating state of rapture, ecstasy of salvation, absolute happiness, spiritual joy, optimism and an absence of despair and union with God. It should not be confused with sensual pleasure. You cannot have absolute happiness in a relative physical plane whether you are an atheist, agnostic or have faith in the existence of a Universal Self/God/what ever.

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Fourth State/ਤੁਰੀਆਵਸਥਾ- as defined in Mahan Kosh -ਗਿਆਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਸਹਿਜ ਅਵਸਥਾ, ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਤੇ ਟਿਕਾਉ ਵਾਲੀ ਭਟਕਣ ਮੁਕਤ ਅਵਸਥਾ. Guru Nanak says that after one conquers the three qualities of Maya through the Guru one may enjoy the fourth state (ਤੁਰੀਆਵਸਥਾ). Only rare Guru oriented person can achieve that indescribable state known only to that person.  

Qualities of Maya:

There are three qualities of Maya as described in Vedas are interconnected with the three vital forces of the body.

1.      Sativa includes equilibrium, goodness, truth, compassion, stillness and peace.

2.      Rajas include thinking, planning and taking decisions.

3.      Tamas includes greed, anger, jealousy, lust, and laziness.

ਜਨਮਿ ਮਰੈ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਹਿਤਕਾਰੁ ॥

ਚਾਰੇ ਬੇਦ ਕਥਹਿ ਆਕਾਰੁ ॥

ਤੀਨਿ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਕਹਹਿ ਵਖਿਆਨੁ ॥

ਤੁਰੀਆਵਸਥਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਨੁ ॥੧॥

ਰਾਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਤਰਣਾ ॥

ਬਾਹੁੜਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ਹੈ ਮਰਣਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਚਾਰਿ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਕਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਈ ॥

ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਾਸਤ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਖਿ ਸੋਈ ॥

ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਅਰਥੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਮੁਕਤਿ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥

ਜਾ ਕੈ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਵਸਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਈ ॥

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਈ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਆਨੰਦੁ ॥

ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦੁ ॥੩॥

ਜਿਨਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਦੇਖਿ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥

ਆਸਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਰਾਸੁ ਬੁਝਾਇਆ ॥

ਦੀਨਾ ਨਾਥੁ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣੀ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਤਾ ॥੪॥੧੨॥

Janam marai ṯarai guṇ hiṯkār. Cẖāre beḏ kathėh ākār. Ŧīn avasthā kahėh vakẖi▫ān. Ŧurī▫āvasthā saṯgur ṯe har jān..Rām bẖagaṯ gur sevā ṯarṇā. Bāhuṛ janam na ho▫e hai marṇā. rahā▫o. Cẖār paḏārath kahai sabẖ ko▫ī. Simriṯ sāsaṯ pandiṯ mukẖ so▫ī. Bin gur arath bīcẖār na pā▫i▫ā. Mukaṯ paḏārath bẖagaṯ har pā▫i▫ā. Jā kai hirḏai vasi▫ā har so▫ī. Gurmukẖ bẖagaṯ parāpaṯ ho▫ī. Har kī bẖagaṯ mukaṯ ānanḏ. Gurmaṯ pā▫e parmānanḏ. Jin pā▫i▫ā gur ḏekẖ ḏikẖā▫i▫ā. Āsā māhi nirās bujẖā▫i▫ā. Ḏīnā nāth sarab sukẖ▫ḏāṯa. Nānak har cẖarṇī man rāṯā. 

One who loves the three qualities is subject to birth and death. The four Vedas speak only of the visible forms. They describe and explain the three states of mind, but the fourth state, union with the God, is known only through the True Guru. Through devotional worship of the God, and service to the Guru, one swims across. Then, one is not born again, and is not subject to death. Pause. Everyone speaks of the four great blessings; the Simritees, the Shaastras (Hindu Scriptures) and the Pundits speak of them as well. But without the Guru, they do not understand their true significance. The treasure of liberation is obtained through devotional worship of the God. Those, within whose hearts the God dwells, become Guru oriented; they receive the blessings of devotional worship. Through devotional worship of the God, liberation and bliss are obtained. Through the Guru's Teachings, supreme ecstasy is obtained. One who meets the Guru, beholds Him, and inspires others to behold Him as well. In the midst of hope, the Guru teaches us to live above hope and desire. He is the Master of the meek, the Giver of peace to all. Nanak's mind is imbued with the Lotus Feet of the God. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 154-12

Vedas only describe 3 stages of Maya but the 4rth one is only known through the Guru. The Vedas do not know the extent of God and deal with the above described three qualities of Maya, Virtue and vice, but  the fourth state/ਚਉਥਾ ਪਦੁ is known through the perfect teacher/Guru, Guru Nanak in Ragas Ramkali, and  in Raag Gauri:

ਤੀਨਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਚਉਥੈ ਵਾਸਾ ॥

ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਮ ਤਾ ਕੇ ਦਾਸਾ ॥੫॥

Ŧīn samāvai cẖa¬uthai vāsā. Paraṇvaṯ Nānak ham ṯā ke ḏāsā.

One, who overcomes the three qualities, dwells in the fourth state. Prays Nanak, I am his slave.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Bilawal, AGGS, Page, 839-9

ਕਥਾ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਬੇਦੀਂ ਆਣੀ ਪਾਪੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥

ਦੇ ਦੇ ਲੈਣਾ ਲੈ ਲੈ ਦੇਣਾ ਨਰਕਿ ਸੁਰਗਿ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥

Katha Khaani Baydeen Aani Paap Punn Vichaar. Ḏe ḏe laiṇā lai lai ḏeṇā narak surag avṯār.

The story of sins and virtuous actions has been brought out in the world, by the Vedas. What is given, they receive, and what is received, they give. They are reincarnated in heaven and hell.-----Guru Angad, Sarang Ki Vaar, AGGS, Page, 1243-15

ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਚਉਥਾ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇ ॥

ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੇਲਾਇਅਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥

ਪੋਤੈ ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਹੈ ਤਿਨ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮੇਲਾਇ ॥੧॥

Ŧarai guṇ mā¬i¬ā moh hai gurmukẖ cẖa¬uthā paḏ pā¬ė. Kar kirpā melā▫i▫an har nām vasi▫ā man ā▫e.Poṯai jin kai punn hai ṯin saṯsangaṯ melā▫e. 

The three qualities hold people in attachment to Maya. The Guru oriented attains the fourth state of higher consciousness. Granting Its Grace, God unites us with Itself. The Name of the God comes to abide within the mind. Those who have the treasure of goodness join the True Congregation.-----Guru Amar Das, Sri Raag, AGGS, Page, 30-13

ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਚਉਥਾ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇ ॥

ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੇਲਾਇਅਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥

ਪੋਤੈ ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਹੈ ਤਿਨ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮੇਲਾਇ ॥੧॥

ਭਾਈ ਰੇ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸਾਚਿ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਸਾਚੋ ਸਾਚੁ ਕਮਾਵਣਾ ਸਾਚੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਿਲਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਜਿਨੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਉ ॥

ਆਪੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਚਰਣੀ ਲਗਾ ਚਲਾ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਭਾਇ ॥

ਲਾਹਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਹਜੇ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੨॥

ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਮਹਲੁ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਐਸਾ ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਲੋੜਿ ਲਹੁ ਜਿਦੂ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਚੁ ਸੋਇ ॥

ਅਸੁਰ ਸੰਘਾਰੈ ਸੁਖਿ ਵਸੈ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥

ਜੇਹਾ ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਤੇਹੋ ਜੇਹਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਏਹੁ ਸਹਸਾ ਮੂਲੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਭਾਉ ਲਾਏ ਜਨੁ ਕੋਇ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਏਕ ਜੋਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਮੂਰਤੀ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੪॥੧੧॥੪੪॥

Ŧarai guṇ mā¬i¬ā moh hai gurmukẖ cẖa¬uthā paḏ pā¬ė. Kar kirpā melā▫i▫an har nām vasi▫ā man ā▫e. Poṯai jin kai punn hai ṯin saṯsangaṯ melā▫e. Bẖā▫ī re gurmaṯ sācẖ rahā▫o. Sācẖo sācẖ kamāvaṇā sācẖai sabaḏ milā▫o. rahā▫o. Jinī nām pacẖẖāṇi▫ā ṯin vitahu bal jā▫o. Āp cẖẖod cẖarṇī lagā cẖalā ṯin kai bẖā▫e. Lāhā har har nām milai sėhje nām samā▫e. Bin gur mahal na pā▫ī▫ai nām na parāpaṯ ho▫e. Aisā saṯgur loṛ lahu jiḏū pā▫ī▫ai sacẖ so▫e. Asur sangẖārai sukẖ vasai jo ṯis bẖāvai so ho▫e.Jehā saṯgur kar jāṇi▫ā ṯeho jehā sukẖ ho▫e. Ėhu sahsā mūle nāhī bẖā▫o lā▫e jan ko▫e. Nānak ek joṯ ḏu▫e mūrṯī sabaḏ milāvā ho▫e. 

The three qualities hold people in attachment to Maya. The Guru willed attains the fourth state of higher consciousness. Granting Its Grace, God unites us with It self. The Name of the Immortal God comes to abide within the mind. Those who have the treasure of goodness join the True Congregation. O Siblings of Destiny, follow the Guru's Teachings and dwell in truth. Practice truth, and only truth, and merge in the True Word of the Sabd. Pause. I am a sacrifice to those who recognize the Name of the God. Renouncing selfishness, I fall at their feet, and walk in harmony with Its Will. Earning the Profit of the Name of the Eternal God, I am intuitively absorbed in the Naam. Without the Guru, the Mansion of the God's Presence is not found, and the Naam is not obtained. Seek and find such a True Guru, who shall lead you to the True Immortal God. Destroy your evil passions, and you shall dwell in peace. Whatever pleases the God comes to pass. As one knows the True Guru, so is the peace obtained. There is no doubt at all about this, but those who love God are very rare. O Nanak, the One Light has two forms; through the Sabd, union is attained. -----Guru Amar Das, Sri Raag, AGGS, Page, 30-13

ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਪਨੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਲਾਏ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਚਉਥੇ ਪਦ ਮਹਿ ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਏ ॥

Kar kirpā jis āpnai nām lā▫e. Nānak cẖa▫uthe paḏ mėh so jan gaṯ pā▫e.

Those whom God mercifully attaches to Its Naam - O Nanak, in the fourth state, those humble servants attain salvation.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Gauri Sukhmani, AGGS, Page, 284-14

Conclusion:

In an attempt to reach the 4rth state one should purify and control the mind through the Grace of God, and work on self-restraint, selfless service, charity, study of the Word with understanding and reflection, singing the praises of the Immortal God in the holy company, subjugation of sensual joys (Maya) and the development of virtues. These activities will lead to the celestial music playing in the mind with the exhilaration and absolute happiness called bliss, where virtue or vice does not affect says Guru Nanak in stanza 51 of Sidh Gost in Raag Ramkali:

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸੁੰਨੰ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਸੁੰਨੰ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣ ਸੁੰਨ ਮਸੁੰਨੰ ॥

ਚਉਥੇ ਸੁੰਨੈ ਜੋ ਨਰੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਤਾ ਕਉ ਪਾਪੁ ਨ ਪੁੰਨੰ ॥

ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਸੁੰਨ ਕਾ ਜਾਣੈ ਭੇਉ ॥

ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਦੇਉ ॥

ਜੋ ਜਨੁ ਨਾਮ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਰਾਤਾ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋਈ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਬਿਧਾਤਾ ॥੫੧॥

Anṯar sunaʼn bāhar sunaʼn ṯaribẖavaṇ sunn masuʼnnaʼn. Cẖa▫uthe sunnai jo nar jāṇai ṯā ka▫o pāp na puʼnnaʼn. Gẖat gẖat sunn kā jāṇai bẖe▫o. Āḏ purakẖ niranjan ḏe▫o. Jo jan nām niranjan rāṯā. Nānak so▫ī purakẖ biḏẖāṯā. 

The absolute God is deep within and outside us as well. It totally fills the three worlds. One, who knows the Immortal God in the fourth state, is not subject to virtue or vice. One, who knows the mystery of God the Absolute, who pervades each and every heart, knows the Primal Being, the Immaculate Divine Creator. That humble being who is imbued with the Immaculate Naam, O Nanak, is himself the Primal God, the Architect of Destiny. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Ramkali Sidh Gost, AGGS, Page, 943-15