The Fourth State of Consciousness

The Fourth State of Consciousness.

There appears to be 3 initial states of consciousness according to this system. They are 'waking, dreaming and deep dreamless sleep.

The fourth state in this system is called sometimes the 'turiya' state.

I'm going to quote from "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert 2/3 down page 196.
"Here's how you can tell if you've reached the 'turiya' state--if you're in a state of constant bliss. One who is living from within 'turiya' is not affected by the swinging moods of the mind, not fearful of time or harmed by loss. 'pure, clean, void, tranquil, breathless, selfless, endless, undecaying, steadfast, eternal, unborn, independant, he abides in his own greatness," say the Upanishads, the ancient Yogic scriptures, describing anyone who has reached the turiya state. The great saints, the great Gurus, the great prophets of history-- they were all living in the turiya state, all the time. As for the rest of us, most of us have been there, too, if only for fleeting moments. Most of us, even if only for two minutes in our lives, have experienced at some time or another an inexplicable and random sense of complete bliss, unrelated to anything that was happening in the outside world. One instant, you're just a regular Joe, schlepping through your mundane life, and then suddenly--what is this?--nothing has changed, yet you feel stirred by grace, swollen with wonder, overflowing with bliss. Everything-- for no reason whatsoever--is perfect." endquote

So each of us has touched this fourth state for moments or longer. However, the goal of all us could be if we wish to attain this state all the time. My personal experience is that one must be emotionally detached from the outcome of all events at least in an emotional sense to permanently attain this state. At the same time one would deal both rationally and spiritually with all events in a rational way while at the same time having "gone beyond" and not concerned with the outcomes of any events emotionally. This does not mean one wouldn't be mentally present and concerned. It would mean that somehow one is so 'at one with' the God state that 'everything is perfect' would be an ongoing 24 hour a day experience. I have met many people in my life that appeared to have reached this state at least while they were in my presence.
I therefore cannot vouch for what they were like when I wasn't around them. So I believe it is possible to get to this state and to maintain it 24 hours a day both in theory and in reality.