Question: Is the turiya consciousness a form of samadhi? Is it in any way related to sahaja samadhi?

Sri Chinmoy: The turiya consciousness is the transcendental Reality. It is not a form of samadhi in the accurate sense of the term. When an individual soul establishes permanent and constant union with the Supreme Being, we say that he is enjoying the turiya consciousness. The possessor of turiya consciousness usually does not come down for manifestation because he likes to remain immersed in Sat-chit-ānanda — Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. Here the seeker reaches the absolute height of evolution. This loftiest realisation has no direct link with sahaja samadhi.

Sahaja samadhi holds the turiya consciousness. A possessor of sahaja samadhi embodies the turiya consciousness, and it is he who challenges earth-ignorance with a view to transforming it into the perfect creation. He embodies the highest transcendental Truth, Light, Peace, Bliss, Power, and all divine qualities in boundless measure in his being, and he manifests these divine qualities in the easiest and most effective way in his day-to-day multifarious activities. In his outer life he acts like a divine child who has Eternity’s Height and Infinity’s Light at his disposal, sharing it with aspiring humanity cheerfully and unreservedly.