Transcending the Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment (Power vs. Force, #5)

by David R. Hawkins

Generically, karma merely refers to the fact that the soul is evolutionary in both origin and fate and accountable for its decisions.

At birth, one is automatically aligned with the overall karmic field as a consequence of the quality of that linear field in the infinite field of consciousness itself. Thus, only by acts of the will can an entity bring about its own fate. One’s consciousness calibration is affected for better or worse by inner decision and act of the will, and as a consequence, the individual entity is drawn to its own appropriate level of consciousness, which is dominated by an ‘attractor field’ (see Power vs. Force, 1995). Thus, one’s level of consciousness represents karmic inheritance.

To summarize, as is commonly known, karma (spiritual fate) is the consequence of decisions of the will and determines spiritual destiny after physical death (the celestial levels, hells, purgatory, or the so-called inner astral planes [bardos]). Included also is the option of reincarnation in the human physical domain, which, by consciousness calibration research, can only be done by agreement with the individual will. Thus, all humans have, by agreement, chosen this pathway.

In addition, consciousness research confirms that all persons are born under the most optimal conditions for spiritual evolution, no matter what the appearance seems to be.

From previous studies, it was learned that everyone is born under optimal conditions for karmic opportunities; therefore, it is wise to judge not, for what appears as misery or catastrophe may be the doorway to liberation for those who have negative karma to undo. Thus, seemingly catastrophic events may be the very essential and necessary elements for the evolution of the soul.

Guilt can be an educative emotion that arises as a warning not to repeat the same mistake.

Another egoist position is ‘I should have known better’, which brings in the hypothetical, which is always fallacious. (All hypothetical positions calibrate as false.) Wallowing in guilt is feeding the ego and is an indulgence. Therefore, there has to be the willingness to surrender it.

In psychoanalysis, such a device is called ‘projection’ in order to keep the conflict repressed instead of becoming conscious and responsible for it.

Memory and recall are not of reality but of one’s perceptions at the time.

Reluctance to forgive is a consequence not only of unwillingness to let go of the ego juice of perceived injustice but also the illusion that others do not ‘deserve’ it. In reality, it is the forgiver and not the forgiven who benefits the most.

The public often expresses concern that the guilty might go unpunished. Anyone familiar with the reality of consciousness and spiritual truth realizes that no such thing is possible. Everyone is accountable to the universe and is subject to Divine Justice by the very dynamics of the universe itself.

Even the supposed ‘accidental’ occurrence is merely a perception. There are no accidents in the universe, nor are they even a possibility. What it really means is that they are unpredictable or incomprehensible to the linear ego and its limitation to the Newtonian paradigm of cause and effect (cal. level 450).

Hatred often takes the form of projecting guilt via blame.

There is an error in the word ‘should’, which represents the hypothetical. The hypothetical is never reality and is actually an idealized abstraction. The hypothetical therefore represents a fantasy.

Because the evolution of consciousness, both individually and collectively, is progressive, the past, by selection, appears to compare unfavorably with the present. Lessons can be learned only by the unfolding of experience over a time continuum; thus, there is always more that hypothetically could be known. In reality, one cannot know at age twenty-five the information that is accrued by age fifty. Everyone thinks, “If I had only known that, I would have done it differently.” Thus, with humility, it can be seen that every given moment includes

limitation. What we were is not what we are now. Mistakes are intrinsic to the learning process, which is the fate of the human condition itself. Because the mind’s awareness is limited, it compensates by substituting presumptions (an educated guess) and therefore, operationally, choices and decisions are based on the seemingly best option, as stated by Socrates’ dictum.

The spiritually-oriented person can therefore be thankful to have standards to live by that can serve as realistic inner guides to behavior.

Achievement of these ideals brings increased self-esteem and satisfaction, but alternately, failure to live up to expectations can also result in guilt. Unrealistic self-expectations thus have to be periodically revised so that they do not become oppressive. Holding a goal in mind is inspirational and is actually helpful to its accomplishment, because what is held in mind tends to actualize. However, it is a mistake to attack oneself with guilt for failing to achieve the ideal. Upon examination, it will be frequently discovered that it was not really the goal that was desired but the satisfaction that was associated with it.

In the long run, the consequences of merely being kind to others and all of life have far greater positive consequences than worldly success, which is temporary and eventually lost.

The capacity for forgiveness arises from accepting with honest humility the limitations inherent in the human condition itself, which is, after all, merely on a learning curve of the evolution of consciousness.

The ego/mind is a learned set of behaviors, and the ultimate goal is to transcend its programming and functioning by virtue of the power of the Radiance of the Self, which recontextualizes life benignly. The Presence of the Self is experienced as compassion for all of life in all its expressions, including its evolution as one’s personal self. As a consequence, forgiveness replaces condemnation, which is a sign that it is now safe to proceed deeper into serious inner inventory without undue stress.

The apathetic are dependent; they are ‘heavy’ and feel like a burden to those around them.

The healing process requires an advisor, sponsor, or counselor to provide guidance and serve as an example to identify with, love, and respect. In the decades-long experience of such groups, only a recovered

member has the requisite authority that instills respect and therefore a therapeutic transference or identification. Through this mechanism, love returns in an acceptable form, and its acceptance is facilitated by realistic, spiritually integrous humility.

Apathy is indicative of the absence of love, which is its most powerful antidote. This may be situational or the consequence of rejecting love due to egocentricity or very low self-esteem resulting from lack of love and nurturance in early life.

Society collectively assumes that certain conditions, objects, or qualities are valuable, and this agreement affects personal choice. The spiritually evolved person who has few wants or attachments is relatively immune to grief, as the experience of the source of happiness originates from within and is not dependent on externals. If the source of happiness is acquired through ego mechanisms, it is based on imagery, belief systems, and projected values rather than on Absolute Reality itself, which is invulnerable to loss.

Objects, qualities, or relationships become overvalued by virtue of the mechanism of attachment and the ensuing projection of value. The more specialness projected onto the relationship with the desired object or person, the greater the potential for grief and loss. Fear of loss contributes to dependent attachments as well as materiality or social attributes, such as money and fame.

Happiness is the inner psychological reward for achievement of externalized goals as a self-reward system, and the error is to think that the source of happiness is due to the...

In that primordial, as well as later life, animal life forms were not self-energizing but depended on external sources of energy that could be f...

It is well to know that spiritual research indicates that all suffering and emotional pain result from resistance. Its cure is via surrender and acceptance, which relieve the pain.

self. Loss really brings longstanding illusions to the surface, along with opportunities to lessen its dominance in the psyche.

The only source of happiness that is realistically based is in the present, and that which is in the present is not subject to loss.

All forms of loss are a confrontation to the ego and its survival mechanisms. All aspects of human life are transient; therefore, to cling to any aspect eventually brings grief and loss. Each incident, however, is an opportunity to search within for the source of life, which is ever present, unchanging, and not subject to loss or the ravages of time.

The emotional pain of loss arises from the attachment itself and not from the ‘what’ that has been lost.

The emotional charge can be loosened by realizing that everything actually belongs only to God and that humans only exercise stewardship.

1. Stay with the feeling and stay focused on it unswervingly. Realize that all pain is due to resistance. The suffering of loss stems from the attachment and specialness. 2. Be willing to become immersed in and surrender to the feelings without avoiding them. Notice that they come in waves and that surrendering to the most intense

waves tends to decrease their emotional severity. 3. Ask God’s help and surrender the personal will to God. (It is helpful to read the Ninety-first Psalm or other favorite spiritual passages.) 4. Be willing to endure and suffer out the process. If not resisted, it will process itself out and come to an end.

Thus, each loss actually represents all loss, for the experience is of loss itself and not just the specific event that brought it up to awareness.

1. Everything in the human domain is temporary, transitional, and evolutionary. 2. Nothing can really be ‘owned’ or ‘mine’. All relationships are temporary and arbitrary. Legality affords only rights of control. 3. Everything belongs to God; consequently, all that is considered to be ‘mine’ and ‘belonging to’ me is a temporary condition, including the human body itself. Domination is only control; it is dominion that reigns. 4. See all ownerships and relationships as steward-ships only. The obligation is to responsibility of alignment rather than attachment or involvement. 5. Cling to principles rather than people, objects, conditions, and transitory situations. The calibrated levels of consciousness are indicative of the principles that correlate with and determine that level and its overall attractor field of consciousness by which all is aligned and influenced. 6. Resolve to live with courage and dignity. This stance summons forth the unseen Power by which all life survives. Accept that mourning is a normal process rather than resisting it.

Accept that all sentient beings live by faith. Despite naïve and pretentious claims to the contrary, all people live solely by the principle of faith—it is only a question of faith in ‘what’. Faith can be placed in the illusory, the intellect, reason, science, progress, political and worldly power, ego satisfactions, pleasure, wealth, or hope (e.g., ‘tomorrow’).

Surrender of attachment is facilitated by appreciating that ‘value’ is a superimposition that depends on abstract significance and what a thing or attribute symbolizes. Thus, it will be found that a specific loss or gain can be compensated for by substituting an equivalent in the same or a higher class.

Loss often turns a person from looking without for happiness to turning within for reevaluation of assets and previously bypassed choices.

That a loss can be a ‘blessing in disguise’ takes time to ripen into a discovery.

The media specialize in glamorization of products as well as personalities in which ‘presentation’ is far more important than the underlying reality.

By understanding addiction, the way is open to comprehend the tenacity of the ego. The self seeks pleasure and becomes addicted to the pleasure it receives from

positionalities. This response cycle then becomes habitually reinforced, resulting in a dominant brain pattern that persists despite negative consequences to self or others.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference”

The wise person avoids ostentatious display as it more often attracts envy and jealousy rather than admiration.

The antidote to Pride is to choose humility and integrity instead of a positionality, such as being important, ‘right’, getting even, indulging in blame, or seeking admiration.

The capacity for happiness is not dependent on possessions once one’s basic physical needs are met. Rates of happiness are correlated clearly with calibrated levels of consciousness (as per chart).