levels of consciousness

Apparently there are multiple levels of consciousness:

1. Jagratha(avasta) - waking state;

2. Swapna(avasta) - sleeping state;

3. Shushupti(avasta) - deep sleep state

It appears that the mind is constructing and conjuring in consort with the environment in the Jagrath / waking state. In Swapna, the mind is on its own imagining and creating on its own power - this being termed as Swapna / sleeping state. And finally, in Shushupti, there appears to be a transcendence of the mind; every abberation of the mind seems to be absent. Here the person is said to be in "Samadhi".

When consciousness is linked with body and senses, it may be termed as "conscious". When the same consciousness is linked with the mind, the term used is "conscience". Similarly when the same consciousness is linked with the higher self, the term used is "pure consciousness".

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Baba