The 7 States of Consciousness

[Ninae]

This is a thread I'd really like to make as I consider it to be one of the most vital of the spiritual teachings you can come accross and it also spans across all religions and belief systems. You won't come accross anything about this in exoteric Christian texts, at least not literally spelled out, it probably has the most in common with the Eastern type faiths.

I first came accross this when I was 17 and had just started studying philosophy and religion as the Agnostic/Atheist mindset I'd subscribed to for some time just didn't resonate with me anymore and I felt there had to be more to it than that. I found a book written by a Theosophy inspired Danish writer who wrote about a gradual development of consciousness throughout many lifetimes on Earth and found it completely fascinating.

I have it stored quite well in my memory so I will just see what I can dig out. I just did Yoga so I'm energised and good for receiving inspiration.


The 7 States of Consciousness

There is also a system that uses 12 states, corresponding to the 12 chakras, but I think the first 7 are more than enough for most.


The 1st Level of Consiousness

This state is purely survival-driven and someone who functions completely out of this state, and the root center, will be focused on their own survival to the detrimitent of anything else. The emphasis here is on self-maintainence, self-protection, and also attacks of others as it's very fear-driven. More predatory nature, and can be quite evil, as higher impulses like love and consciousness aren't activated yet.

Someone here works pretty much as an animal. Very primitive, and can get very violent, rage/aggression has an important part to play here. Focus is on securing the basis needs of life and there is a very strong focus on this, to the extent that nothing else hardly registers in the consciousness. Food, shelter, resources, pro-creation, one's own children as an extention of oneself, social status, and leadership.

This pretty much sums the 1st consciousness level person up. There aren't really many pure types like these who aren't moderated by higher consciousness states but there are a few. Many criminals are here, but more the ones who fall into crime as a way of life. Drugs are common as the ability to feel positive emotions is so limited in this low-consciousness state.


The 2nd Level of Consiousness

This corresponds with the sexual chakra and someone who have activated this chakra and reaches this consciousness level can also experience emotional pleasure from sexuality (not much love). It's the center for emotional pleasures and emotional highs. Any form of sensation will be sought after here.

So basically hedonism, and all kinds of pleasure-seeking activites preoccupies the person. Partying, socialising, sex, drugs, music, entertainment, material things, anything that's perceived as fun.

This center allows the individual to begin to enjoy life and not just act to fulfill primitive survival needs. But not much in the way of love, morals, or conscience here. It's still every man for himself and here individuals can also become quite evil, or at least indifferent to other people's pain, which is also a form of evil.


The 3rd Level of Consiousness

This is the level of the ego or solar plexus and someone here will start to develop a sense of self. While before they would act mostly subconsciously and without any awareness of themselves, how they presented themselves, or came accross to others, this comes very much into focus now.

Ambitious drive. Comparing yourself with others. It's through this level that you find yourself and start to gain indivduality and express an unique personaliy. When this chakra is weak, undeveloped, or blocked someone won't seem to have much identity and you will find it hard to separate them from the anyone else. While if they're strong here they can make a powerful impact and be unforgettable.

This is also the level of the average human being, probably most in the world are still at this level. It's pretty much the level of the average person who wants the normal basics of life. To socialise, make a family, make a carreer for themselves, etc. and live a good life. It doesn't go so far beyond this. But at this level the indivdual start to develop genuinly friendliness towards others.


The 4th Level of Consiousness

The fourth level is like a bridge between the lower and higher levels. It's first here people start to get a taste of higher consciousness experiences.

You will start to suspect there must be a God or a spiritual dimension to life, even if you don't understand it yet, and this is where people will begin a genuine start to search for some form of spiritual enlightenment.

This is also the level of the heart, and where you first will be given the ability to feel real love. Love very much becomes a focus, in all ways, also through the plant and animal kingdom. Someone becomes genuiny romantic and falls in love easily. The ability for sacrifice is also awakened here. Someone will also start feeling a deeper appreciation for art at this point, it's where the magic starts to happen.


The 5th Level of Consiousness

This is a higher version of the 4th. Only on this level those impulses and experiences will be much stronger, much more real, and also you will begin to really understand them.

Here you will have a form of direct experience of God and the spiritual world in a way that leaves you in no state of doubt or much confusion as to the reality of it. Genuine mystical and spiritual experiences are very commone here. Though this can be very hard to communicate with someone who haven't experienced the same.

The 5fth level also corrsponds with the throat center, which is the center for self-expression, language, truth, higher intellect, and creativity.


The 6th Level of Consiousness

Third eye activation happens here. It's where you start to develop psychic skills or what is seen as supernatural skills.
Clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, telpathy, remote viewing, astral travel, future prediction, etc.

This happens here but can be dangerous if it's developed too fast without a solit basis of emotional and mental stability and little self control or knowledge of what is happening. The 5 lower energy centres should be activated and balanced first or this could end up quite bad for a person.

This is supreme when it comes to higher inspiration, it makes it effortless and almost automatic, and also just quickly getting to the truth of any matter. Also great for artistic work as inspiration flows so powerfully.


The 7th Level of Consciousness

This is where you start to open up your the crown center, so you will be receiving the energy of the Creator down your crown, and can start to communicate with God from within. You receive internal thougts and impulses or energy experiences.

At first it might start out as a very thin thread, but with time ot will be widened until it makes up a very wide channel and even a whole column to emcompass you. Then you're really living with God. and you can live your life according to God's will, as God's will more and more become your will. From this point on life becomes very easy and you don't make any mistakes that can work against you any more.

This is full God identifciation/enlightenment and from this point you will be able to hear God in your heart at all times. You will be abe to hear his voice and for him to guide you when it comes both to the spiritual and physical world. You're being taught absolute truth from within when this state is reached and healing abilities are also awakened.


The way it generally works is that each chakra needs to be activated from the base and up as you move onto higher states. This doesn't mean that someone who reside on the 5th level will always have the lower chakras running harmoniously though.

They can have been blocked, de-activated, or imbalanced in some way. This sometimes happen when people want to focus on the higher states, so they can forget about the lower consciousness centres which are supposed to be the base and keep us stable and grounded. When you move upwards you should also find a way to integrate the lower consiousness levels and draw from them all.

This can cause different problems but more of a problem for the majority of humankind at this stage is that they haven't reached the higher levels yet and tend to be stuck in the 3 lower leves where they can't really see beyond the mundane life.

 

[Ninae]

Well, this system is a bit out-there for most to have much to say about. But I think it's a very intelligent overview that makes sense. So many talk about "raising of consciousness" but there's not so much detail or explanation of what it really means and what changes you can expect to see in yourself and in other people.

With practice, and when you develop more perception/discernment, you can also learn to recognise high-consciousness and low-consciousness people. Although it's something everyone recognises subconsciously, and as a rule people have a preference for more high-consciousness individuals as they are more positive in their energy and the way they conduct themselves in the world, though if they are too low-consciousness they can feel repelled by that and prefer to stick to their own.

I'm sure there are higher levels to attain, corresponding to the higher energy centers. Like Peter Deunov who could dissolve his body into pure energy, disappear from the material plane, and travel to other planets. But for most this is probably enough to consider for now.

 

[Mysterie]

i think its important to develop and to not disregard other areas of development other than consciousness

like an integrated approach ala ken wilber

i like the enneagrams more personal take on levels of health which seems to correlate somewhat to your states of consciousness

this is a 4's levels of health (my type, the individualist)

source: http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/TypeFour.asp#.VLt9dC6Ucew

 

[Ninae]

True. There are other things in life that are just as important in a wordly sense (like social intelligence). But it's a good outline of what spiritual evolution means.

There's also an evolution of the personality, which goes parallel to that, but that's more about getting qualified for life in this world. It's more a vertical movement than a striving upwards.

Good chart, but infortunately many are stuck at the lower levels.

 

[Samulson]

Something that may be worth considering. At the 7th level of consciousness, you incorporate an anthropomorphic, polarized within duality as male, outside entity. Whereas up to that point, all the energy and centers were contained within the individual, and undifferentiated in polarity. Yes, I understand the barrier of Daath at the the sixth center, still I believe you may be limiting your understanding of the cosmic, by imposing limitations such as these. At that level, consciousness is undifferentiated. It would have to be, since Daath, to use a quabalistic term, is the point at which the split into duality takes place.

 

[Ninae]

Who is the male?

Is God the male?

I see re-uniting with God as the same as reaching unity-consciousness and non-duality.

 

[Samulson]

"This is full God identification/enlightenment and from this point you will be able to hear God in your heart at all times. You will be able to hear his voice and for him to guide you when it comes both to the spiritual and physical world. You're being taught absolute truth from within when this state is reached."

This is the part I was referring to.

 

[Ninae]

But I see this more as the point where duality ceize to exist. There is a perfect balance between masculine and feminine. Evil is no longer relevant so you're freed from that sense of duality.

I don't agree the lower levels are lived in a non-polarised state. You seem to be dragged bewteen the polarities and tortured by them.

 

[Erikmen]

Well this a very interesting and sophisticated subject in many different ways. I believe that development of all of us relies in understanding how Philosophy works. I´ve spent 5 years in University and feel that I had a very fulfilling knowledge of some social and even spiritual issues as Psychology was somehow mandatory but not so much about Philosophy which would have been interesting back then.
I understand we go thorough different levels of maturity and raise consciousness upon the understanding how that sums up.
I did search for the 12 states of consciousness and was wondering if you have any specific reference that you could recommend.

 

[Flickering]

I have problems with these models that fit people into neat boxes and broad categories. They're cool to think about but I prefer them in things like say Avatar: The Last Airbender where they're not necessarily depicted as fact, but as a cool in-universe device. That way, you can process it symbolically rather than literally. In reality, even if there are seven levels of consciousness to ascend or whatever else you may propose (and people have proposed many, MANY things that seem to fit), I don't see much point in putting it into a book. People have to come to spirituality in their own way. All I've ever seen people accomplish by following some intellectualised model is they become rigid, see everything through a lense, and miss the point.

The enneagram also bugs me. On any given day, or even simultaneously, you could fit me into ANY level except perhaps the first. Also, does it imply people with neurotic mental disorders are at the lowest rung of the spiritual ladder? What about the Dark Night of the Soul? Like newspaper astrology readings, it seems geared so that anyone can relate to any part they choose to. There is a quintessential experiment in psychology about this exact thing, I forget the name of it but if anyone knows what I'm talking about please mention it. And again, valid or not, the only thing I can see a person gaining from it is they get to say "Oh I'm a level 6 on the enneagram model and I'm in Lily's tenth circuit" etc. ad nauseum.

Or perhaps I'm being too dismissive. Gurdjieff and Ouspensky also ranked spiritual development in a hierarchy, and while I don't necessarily ascribe to it, I did at least find the notions compelling and useful. But I'm hard pressed to think what you can gain by categorising people in these broad, to my mind not particularly precise, strokes. It strikes me more like pop spirituality. I've become very wary of it and I think that reservation is just as important a trait for anyone seeking answers as integrity, curiosity, openness etc.

An overly caustic response maybe but I'm open to discussion.

Sidenote, I may have developed some mild awareness of the physicality of the heart chakra in myself, if these energy centres are indeed real. Perhaps this is because I kept getting nightmarish visions of being stabbed in the heart or of having it cut out when I took ayahuasca. Whatever the case, it's opened me up to the notion that the awareness of a human's physical self centres not so much around the head as around the middle of the chest. And that the physicality of one's being, though we take it for granted because we have no experience of anything else, shapes our minds as much as anything else. Hard to explain if you haven't experienced it yourself. If anyone knows what I'm rambling about then chip in.

 

[Ninae]

You don't exactly understand it. The classifications are not arbitrary but taken out of the functions of the different energy centers and it was deliberately written in simple form to make it as clear as possible so not just a few can grasp the meaning. There wasn't really room for much more detail.

And just because one center is activated or one level is reached doesn't mean the lower ones are de-activated. The ideal is for them to function as harmoniously as possible, or only in the positive sense, and for one energy center to be balanced before the next is developed (although that's not always the case and people can block off or get problems with the lower centers after they've developed the higher ones).

I just find it a good overview from personal experience and what I've seen of these things. It's not supposed to be a competition of who has reached the highest with people freaking out at the idea some might be higher than them and could make them feel inferior in some way. Although there is a hierarchy in consciousness and it only works to your advantage if you're open to learning from the ones who are higher than you in the chain.

 

[Flickering]

I suppose if these are seven layers of consciousness, then you could describe having one active or inactive as being in that 'state' of consciousness. That is, without the third chakra open you have no awareness of your self, and without the higher chakras open you have no awareness of the beyond. So I retract my criticism. The three upper layers are only speculative to someone who isn't already perceptive of the spiritual dimension(s), but I suppose that's the point. Without that awareness, you only have the layers of instinct, desire, ego, empathy, creativity and intellect to go off. So actually it's a interesting model. It implies that what neurological science scatters throughout disparate regions of the brain, a spiritual approach perceives in a more coherent, cohesive way.

(Still don't put much stock in the enneagram table though. No offence intended to the poster.)

My (recently) ex-girlfriend is a very spiritually-minded person. We did not always see eye-to-eye but I would listen, and only dismissed out of hand what struck me as demonstrably likely to be incorrect. But she often spoke of her near-death experience at age fourteen that broke the barriers of her awareness. Since then she's been conscious of other dimensions of reality, she says, and it's more or less impossible to articulate them to people who aren't conscious of them. Whereas with people who are, language comes quite intuitively.

Beneath my skepticism I'm envious.

But then again. Perhaps to be at that point myself, I would have to let down barriers of cognition I'm not yet willing to part with. And what I see on that other side wouldn't necessarily be what she sees. And what she sees isn't necessarily what's there. Not to say I don't have my own little glimpses of some ineffable beyond. But I also find it worth being open not only to people who think they have a connection to those planes, but also to wiser people than myself who don't. They all have interesting takes on life.

 

[Ninae]

When I first read about this I was pretty much on the fourth level or the heart level.

You go through all levels in childhood - first you take possession of the body and worry about the things you need for survival, then when this is more secure you start to be able to enjoy different activities more, then you develop a sense of self that has to confront others and defend yourself, etc. So I hadn't come any further than that and found it completely impossible to imagine what the higher levels would be like as I only had a vague sense of the spiritual dimension.

But now (after a lot of work) I'm pretty much stabilised on the 5fth level with partial access to the 6th and 7th. It's not really possible to describe what it feels like, just that the spiritual side of life become more of a reality like anything else. Also, my throat center is very active or over-stimulated, and I'm very expressive and can dominate people with words, but I've always been a lot like that. I can feel the energy coming from my throat almost like a physical sensation.

 

[kaya_9]

I've just started with attention to developing chakra abilities..if you can put it that way. That shit is real and it can make some serious changes in the way you feel in your inner being/consciousness. I have had several experiences in my life where they all opened up at once...and holy shit...It was self-realization..immediate. Every time-8 times. It's just a whole new level of perception. It's how we SHOULD live. I was not on drugs either..

But it wasn't just a flash...it stayed and stayed...and was lovely. Circumstances made it so that I cannot live this way-which was deemed by psychiatrists to be 'mania' although all I wanted to do was read Vedic texts.

Enneagram shit is great for understanding others and your own personality...very helpful for figuring out how you need to and do-operate.

 

[Ninae]

Have you experienced some form of kundalini awakening? That's when the chakras get really activated. Indians have a common term called "kundalni psychosis" which can occur when someone have their higher chakras activates and become open to all kinds of extra-sensory perceptions and very manic in general.

Since stopped using benzos my kundalini has been rising slowly because those drugs hold it back. It's very gradual, maybe like 1 mm a day. I definitely havr a stronger energy field and it's like everything bounces off it.

 

[kaya_9]

Have you experienced some form of kundalini awakening? That's when the chakras get really activated. Indians have a common term called "kundalni psychosis" which can occur when someone have their higher chakras activates and become open to all kinds of extra-sensory perceptions and very manic in general.

Since stopped using benzos my kundalini has been rising slowly because those drugs hold it back. It's very gradual, maybe like 1 mm a day. I definitely havr a stronger energy field and it's like everything bounces off it.

Yes, I believe it has been...I've done a huge amount of reading on what actually has happened at those times. I'm reading a book called 'Spiritual Emergency (as in emerging): When Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis'. The book contains essays by people that know...really know.... about this shit. Not a bunch of advice/info. just to sell a book. Straight talk. There's one on Kundalini, Shamanism, and how this shit starts to happen, etc. I'm glad I found it.

http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Eme...d_sim_b_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=0AHD113JSGJ74XGBQ3FS

Take a look. This is written by people that have worked a long time and have established centers for this.



What you described is exactly what happens...It so much though that it blows my mind...I'm very peaceful and all...to the point of last time...I just sat in my papasan chair outside looked into the sky and wanted to just feel that huge energy coming in...It was like being on the best X ....ever. I wanted to just sit there forever and think about how the Universe was, in fact, 'God'...and It was alive in us and we in It...and it was every atom..yet It was Conscious and Aware...and on and on. I couldn't even move for feeling that peace. I learn more and more every time I'm in that state of being.

When you're trying to take all that in and then try to deal with people coming around and they are having ANY idea what you are actually going through...It's been a ticket to the psych ward. This has been a tragedy to happen so many times b/c now I know I needed someone to teach me how to deal with that new level of perception.

I know about trying to hold it back too..I've dealt with it for 20+ years. I finally found something-a mood stabilizer-that does not fuck with my head. I can see why benzos would work.

I had an 'episode' in graduate school during Christmas. I was still completely 'open' when I got out. It was hard to stay out and on the meds they insisted I take and still function. I have managed after these times to adapt to what I need to do.

I tell you though, I'd have much rather had these experiences than to not to have had them. I have still achieved what I wanted to in life and have been quite successful at it...If I can manage being a successful school teacher for over 15 yrs. and many other areas of my life...I count it all good. I know that I am where I'm supposed to be.

I just had my first live reading Sunday. If you haven't had one, I highly recommend it. Damn, I wish I'd done it so long ago. It illuminated so many things about myself and how to grow. It has prompted more goal oriented work with the chakra system. I was doing some things before this, but not on a committed level.

We have a SNOW DAYYY today....tanked up on coffee r'now.

 

[Ninae]

Hahah...what you describe sounds like what I call "Being high on God"...it's like you can feel the God-energy as a protective force field all around you and you can't really tell where it ends and you begin. It also makes you smile/laugh uncontrollably.

But I wouldn't take the "mood stabilisers" they give you unless it's absolutely necessary. That crap seriously impairs your ability for spiritual experience, really dampens your nerve impulses, and reduces your brain activity. It definitely makes you less alive, intelligent, and emotional.

I just wouldn't talk to anyone in official positions about it in too much detail. If I talk about my spiritual experiences I talk about it like a priest would talk about it so it sounds more religious as opposed to something schizo-phrenic. I had a long conversation with one of the best priests in my region, who has a very powerful spiritual aura, healing hands, etc. and he could relate to everything I said about personal encounters with Christ, etc. So I just say the vicar could understand me completely and there's nothing irrational about it.

 

[Erikmen]

As long as they are doing good things and helping the unfortunate, why would I take this joy out of them?
I understand what you mean, but sometimes it´s beautiful and odd to see people (not fanatics) loving others and doing good.
Sometimes people are in such suffering and if they come to me in joy and say they are cured. Wouldn´t this be better than use drugs, for instance?
I´m not disagreeing with you, just weighing the benefits without questioning if they are valid or not. As long as they are positive it´s fine by me..

 

[Ninae]

But "mood-stabilisers" just paralyse your brain and make you less capable of both positive and negative emotions. It's not doing someone any service unless they are insanse or so out of control emotionally they can't function without them. Even then it's not a good way to live.

 

[kaya_9]

Hahah...what you describe sounds like what I call "Being high on God"...it's like you can feel the God-energy as a protective force field all around you and you can't really tell where it ends and you begin. It also makes you smile/laugh uncontrollably.

But I wouldn't take the "mood stabilisers" they give you unless it's absolutely necessary. That crap seriously impairs your ability for spiritual experience, really dampens your nerve impulses, and reduces your brain activity. It definitely makes you less alive, intelligent, and emotional.

I just wouldn't talk to anyone in official positions about it in too much detail. If I talk about my spiritual experiences I talk about it like a priest would talk about it so it sounds more religious as opposed to something schizo-phrenic. I had a long conversation with one of the best priests in my region, who has a very powerful spiritual aura, healing hands, etc. and he could relate to everything I said about personal encounters with Christ, etc. So I just say the vicar could understand me completely and there's nothing irrational about it.

Yeah it was a pretty big experience each time...lasting for months and still being able to function-well enough to write comp exams and do clinicals in my last semester...Besides it coming on initially, it is not that kind of feeling-uncontrollable laughing etc-just peaceful....but yes, with excitement...kind of feeling of revelation.

As for the stabilizers-They have performed a function. Many people are anti-med and I know about the feeling they they deaden you...all that. They have definitely helped me attain my goals...which was the best way I know to serve that Spirit I recognize.

I learned a long time ago how to play the game with the doctors. I can get out in less than a week now..lol.

Ultimately, I have realized it takes time to be ready/dedicated and have the self-discipline enough to grow in the real way. I have finally met some support with my need to do this. I can't force what I'm going through...I've come off the med to realize that I have to take it slower...in the back of my mind-knowing I needed more help than I was getting with it....and that was none.

"When the student is ready...."


I was thinking about Sunday and all the discussion with her...and me telling her about the things I been through with all of it....and at some point she looked at me deadpan and said..."I can see lights, hear voices, and talk to dead people...and I'm not crazy"....haha..And yes, she is farrr from crazy. One of the most lovely people I've ever met. I just wanted to talk to her for hours about all this stuff. She was lucky in that since she was young she had support. Her mother gave her books and helped her...etc.

As I said...20 yrs has given a lot of experience where this shit is concerned, and I've learned a lot of lessons. The hard way sometimes. The med I'm on does nothing to paralyze my brain ...I think and feel quite well.