Pradeep Apte - The Nisargadatta Gita

unspoken tangible word - it is thought or thinking;
then comes the ‘Pashyanti’, which is the formative
stage when the word is still intangible; finally, the
‘Para’, or the wordless source of all speech. When
we speak it involves all these in a brisk or swift
sequential movement. ‘Vani’ (speech) is but one, it
is only for our understanding that it has been
classified, and it flows out in the order: Para,
Pashyanti, Madhyama and Vaikahri. These four in
that order are said to correspond to the ‘Turiya’
(the fourth), deep sleep, dreaming and waking
states of consciousness. As you go back you return
from the spoken word to the wordless ‘I am’, which
is the ‘Turiya’ or ‘Paravani’ state. But you, the
Absolute, you are none of these.
190. Your true identity – The Absolute –
is prior to the ‘I am’. How can you
provide a uniform for it?
The uniform or garb that we have provided for our
true identity is that of the body with all its senses,
and of the mind in the form of concepts. The
primary concept is the ‘I am’ which has no name
or form and has just spontaneously appeared on
your true being. You true identity, the Absolute or
‘Parabrahman’ is prior to the ‘I am’, so how can
any uniform or garb be provided for it.