Consider for a moment, the nature of reality. Almost by definition, we assume that reality is “real,” and yet in truth, reality is an entirely subjective experience. It may help to consider the difference between the “Big R” Reality and the “little r” reality. The “Big R” Reality is the Truth that God is All That Is, and therefore we are One with God. The “little r” reality is that we are separate individuals, living in a world of other separate individuals. As much as we can intellectually appreciate the objective and eternal Truth of the “Big R” Reality, our subjective experience, what we know (as opposed to what we knows about) is separation and limitation. The ultimate goal of any spiritual path is for our “little r” reality to align with the “Big R” Reality. Our experience of reality is determined by our dominant level of consciousness.

The Universe includes everything. Our options are unlimited, and we have access to the full range of human experiences. We select a miniscule subset of experience from the infinite potential, and that is what forms our experience of reality. The Law of Attraction works like a search engine, where the dominant vibration of our level of consciousness sets the search parameters, and the Law of Attraction returns results and experiences that match. This means that an individual living at the dominant vibration of Anger will experience a world filled with anger, and things to be angry at and about. On the other hand, an individual living at the dominant vibration of Love will experience a world filled with love. Anger still exists in this world of love, but because it’s not attracted to the dominant vibration, it shows up as fleeting experiences. Put another way, just because things exist in the world, doesn’t mean that they exist in your world.

Transcending the levels of consciousness through spiritual work is the only reliable path to happiness. The closer one’s “little r” reality is to the “Big R” Reality, the happier one is. For example, according to Dr. David R. Hawkins, the foremost researcher into human consciousness, only 12% of the individuals living at the level of consciousness of Anger consider themselves to be happy, while 89% of the individuals at the level of consciousness of Love consider themselves happy. At the level of Unconditional Love, this percentage jumps to 96%, and once an individual reaches the levels of consciousness known as Enlightenment, happiness is a 100% certainty.1

When taking any journey, it’s always helpful to have a map to help navigate the terrain. The journey to enlightenment is no exception. We’ll begin to develop our map with the broadest strokes, and then gradually fill in the details that will enable us to make increasingly subtle distinctions.

Power vs. Force

Our initial map of consciousness consists of a single line: the Line of Integrity. This line represents the most critical boundary line in the evolution of consciousness. Dr. David R. Hawkins, the foremost researcher into human consciousness describes this line as the boundary between Power and Force. Everything below this line represents Force, which is lacking integrity, life consuming, negative, and false. Everything above this line represents increasing levels of Power, which is in integrity, is life enhancing/life supporting, positive, and true.

Hawkins describes other important differences between Power and Force. Power ennobles and uplifts, while Force must be justified. Power is associated with the whole, while Force is associated with the partial. Power is at the still point, like gravity, a field; Force is movement from here to there. Power stands, while Force moves against something. Power requires nothing beyond itself and is complete; Force demands. Power gives life and energy, while Force takes them away. Power does not require defense, while Force requires constant defense.

Put another way, Power radiates from God, the Ultimate Source, while Force is an illusion of the ego.

Power creates a positive (strong) response in the body’s acupuncture system, while Force creates a negative (weak) response. In truth, all we need do in order to achieve enlightenment is to avoid things that make us go weak (Force) and stay aligned with things that make us go strong (Power). Because the energy of Power is life-affirming, and always increasing, the pull is always upwards. The challenge is that we must learn how to avoid thoughts and experiences that fall below the critical Line of Integrity. All we need to do in order to cultivate this awareness is to pay attention to how we feel. Thoughts and experiences that are out of integrity feel bad, while thoughts and experiences that are in integrity feel good. The better we feel, the more Power we have available.

While this process is simple, it’s not necessarily easy. Most individuals spend so much time thinking stressful thoughts and living out of integrity that the pain and discomfort of these experiences no longer registers. We can use a simple process of self-inquiry to become aware of whether we are in or out of integrity at any given moment.

Kingdoms of Consciousness

Rev. Michael Beckwith created a model of four stages, or kingdoms of consciousness that function as a high-level map of the levels of consciousness. The First Kingdom is Victim Consciousness. In the First Kingdom, things are done to me. The levels of consciousness that comprise the First Kingdom represent Force, as opposed to Power. Force lacks integrity, is life-consuming, negative and false. In the First Kingdom, the ego or the “little s” self is in absolute control. Once we step out of First Kingdom, we cross into levels of consciousness that represent increasing amounts of Power, integrity and Truth.

In the Second Kingdom, which Beckwith calls Manifestation, things are done by me. When we cross over the critical line of integrity that divides the First and Second Kingdoms, we become accountable for our actions, our choices and our intentions. In the Second Kingdom, the “Big S” self begins to exert influence over the “little s” self.

The Third Kingdom represents another critical shift in consciousness from the linear to the non-linear. When we step into the Third Kingdom, Love becomes the dominant energy and motivator in our lives. In the Third Kingdom, things are done through me, and for the first time, the “Big S” Self takes charge, and the “little s” self and the ego begin to relinquish control.

Finally, the Fourth Kingdom contains the levels of consciousness collectively known as Enlightenment. In the Fourth Kingdom, t0hings are done as me, because the ego, the “little s” self and all sense of separation disappear completely and we begin to experience the Truth of Unity with All That Is.

Whose Business Am I In?

Byron Katie, author of Loving What Is and creator of “The Work of Byron Katie” suggests that there are three types of business. There is my business, there is your business, and there is God’s business. The only business I have any business being in is my business. Any time I’m in your business (someone else’s business) or God’s business, I’m going to feel stress. The reason that we feel stress when we think thoughts or tell stories that take us into someone else’s business or God’s business is that if we’re outside of our own business, we have no Power. In other words, as soon as we step out of our own business, we step into Victim Consciousness.

Spiritual Muscles

We transcend the levels of consciousness, moving out of Victim Consciousness and progressing towards Enlightenment through daily spiritual practice. It’s helpful to consider that along with our physical muscles, we also have spiritual muscles. In order to maintain a balanced level of spiritual fitness, it’s important that we exercise all of our spiritual muscle groups on a regular basis.

The two most fundamental spiritual muscle groups are Awareness and Accountability. The stronger these core spiritual muscles are, the easier the more advanced exercises will be. Awareness includes both becoming conscious of the stories we tell ourselves and whether those stories make us feel strong (Power) or weak (Force, Victim Consciousness), and also cultivating an Awareness of the Present Moment. The Accountability muscles are essential to getting into right relationship with the ego. The ego is fundamentally terrified of being held accountable, and each time we avoid accountability, we step into Victim Consciousness.

By training our Awareness and Accountability muscle groups, we will spend less and less time in Victim Consciousness. This creates the opportunity to develop the more advanced (and powerful) spiritual muscles of Gratitude, Forgiveness and Compassion.

1Hawkins, David R., Transcending the Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment. Sedona: Veritas Publishing, 2006. p. 30.