Perhaps the Turiya is one of the deepest themes of Hindu philosophical thought, and particularly of the Advaita Vedanta tradition. It is conceived as the fourth, or higher than, waking and dreaming, and sleeping. It offers a significant insight into reality, dream, and the self. 

The Four States of Consciousness

In Hindu philosophy, consciousness is attributed to the four states:

1. Jagrat: The state waking with ordinary consciousness.

2. Svapna: The consciousness that occurs during dreams.

3. Sushupti: Presence of consciousness during deep sleep without dream.

4. Turiya: The pure consciousness which observes the other three states.

This is the most explicit framework of most Upanishads, one of the shortest yet most significant Upanishads elaborating so. It states: 

> "The fourth one is that which is not the subject; that was not the object; and that is not both... It is pure unitary consciousness in which the world and multiplicity completely obliterated." (Mandukya Upanishad, verse 7) 

Turiya as Witness Consciousness

What makes Turiya really unique is that it is the unchanging witness - sakshi - to all the other states of consciousness. In fact, when we are waking, dreaming and soundly asleep, the pure and undifferentiated awareness that Turiya throws across all experience remains constant.

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad describes this clearly:

> "This infinite being is identificatory with understanding... who is among the elements... he is, per the witness, the perceiver, the only one, free from qualities." (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 3.8.11) 

This serious study on Dreams and Reality in Hindu Philosophy

From the standpoint of Advaita Vedanta, waking life itself is fundamentally no different than a dream: both are projections of consciousness. According to dream philosophy Yoga Vasishtha, 

>"The world is as a dream. Just in as dream has no reality apart from the mind of the dreamer, so does have not the waking world reality apart from consciousness". (Yoga Vasishtha 3.4.37)

The great teacher Gaudapada in his Mandukya Karika explains: 

>"As in dreams, the mind vibrates as though with the experience of duality; so in the waking state, too, does the mind vibrate as though with the experience of duality." (Mandukya Karika 2.14) 

Why Turiya Is Important To A Spiritual Seeker

For someone who wants to know and live by the principles of Hindu philosophy, Turiya has significant spiritual meaning conceptualized through:

1. Liberation from identification: Freedom comes when considering oneself as the witness consciousness and not identifying with one's thoughts or emotions.

2. Illusion of experience: Witnessing this as dreaming is to be only writing in the waking world, a form of dream from which Turiya represents awakening. 

3. Path to Self-Realization: That recognition of your true nature as Turiya brings ultimate peace and satisfaction, as the Upanishads proclaim.

The great sage Ramana Maharshi would teach: 

>"The real must always be present... That state which transcends speech and thought is mouna. That which is, is mouna. That silent Self is Turiya." (Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Talk 130) 

Hands-On

Start experimenting with Turiya in your spiritual work: 

-Meditate on your thoughts; see them without attaching to them. 

-Study scriptures: especially the Upanishads under qualified guides. 

-Contemplate the question "Who is the witness of these experiences?'' 

-Explore your dreams and their likeness to your waking state. 

As per the instruction in Katha Upanishad (6.10-11): 

"By cessation of the five senses along with the mind and when the itself does not move the intellect, that, they say, is the highest state. This firm controlling of the senses is what is said to be Yoga." 

Through dedicated practice and contemplation, one's entire perception of reality will transform into limitless awareness that is your true nature, beyond all states of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep to reveal itself.