Last updated: December 21, 2023
What Does
Sushupti Mean?
Sushupti is a Sanskrit word meaning “deep sleep” and refers to one of the four states of consciousness in Hindu and yogic philosophy, sometimes called “deep sleep consciousness.” It is also the third of the three avasthas, or states of the mind.
Sushupti is sometimes referred to as dreamless sleep, when the mind ceases activity, having withdrawn from both physical and mental activities, objects and desires. In sushupti, the mind has absorbed into itself. In the “Mandukya Upanishad,” sushupti is associated with prajna, the ultimate understanding of the true nature of existence and reality.
Yogapedia Explains Sushupti
By entering sushupti, the yogi experiences the subtle, intuitive consciousness that is neither mental nor intellectual. Because of its separation from the world and worldly concerns, sushupti creates a state of bliss and happiness. It is one of the stages on the path to yoga’s ultimate goal, union with the higher Self.
The four states of consciousness, the first three of which are avasthas, include:
- Jagrat – the waking state in which consciousness is focused outward.
- Svapna – the dream state in which consciousness is focused inward.
- Sushupti – the deep sleep state in which consciousness roams the universe separate from the mind.
- Turiya – the state of transcendental, or pure, consciousness in which the focus with both outward and inward at the same time.
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