Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

CONSCIOUSNESS-BASED EDUCATION AND Government“Transcend” comes from nivartate (invtRte), which is derived fromthe root nivṛit (invOt9), “to turn back” or “retire.” Maharishi (1995a,p. 53) identifies its imperative form (invtR?vm9 nivartadhwam) as theVedic Expression for transcending, noting that “retire” indicates retiringfrom waking state of consciousness to Transcendental Consciousnessand from Transcendental Consciousness back to waking.Yoga appears throughout the Vedic literature, with a dual referenceto both Samādhi (self-referral consciousness) as well as the pathto Samādhi—the means of experiencing self-referral consciousness.Maharishi (1969) equates the later use of Yoga with his TranscendentalMeditation program, which naturally allows an individual to experiencethe Self within (p. 117). Thus, in this context “by means of Yoga”(yogen) refers to the technique employed for transcending.Higher States of ConsciousnessMaharishi (1963) emphasizes that the significance of contacting selfreferralconsciousness lies in its lasting value, and that as one continuespracticing the Transcendental Meditation technique one enlivens selfreferralconsciousness in the awareness outside the practice:Through constantly going into the transcendent and back out into thefield of relativity, familiarity with the essential nature of Being [selfreferralconsciousness] deepens, and the mind gradually becomes moreaware of its own essential nature. (p. 53)Maharishi’s point here is noteworthy, for he explains that self-referralconsciousness is the simplest form of human awareness and not aseparate entity—the mind experiences it and then becomes increasinglyaware of it as its own essential nature:With more and more practice, the ability of the mind to maintain itsessential nature while experiencing objects through the senses increases.When this happens the mind and its essential nature, the state of TranscendentalBeing, become one, and the mind is then capable of retainingits essential nature—Being—while engaged in thought, speech, oraction. (p. 53)This is the essence of Maharishi’s description of higher statesof consciousness: the ability to spontaneously maintain one’s innernature—eternal, unbounded, pure intelligence—even while actively152