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Very Important – – These Are Gauges, NOT Practices

It is very important to understand that the above characteristics [in the February 22 BIC newsletter] do NOT constitute virtues to be cultivated by practice and effort as a path to enlightenment. Many religions and spiritual traditions have made this mistake. While there may be some benefit in cultivating such virtues, doing so should not be mistaken to be helping much to bring the enlightenment. In fact, putting too much attention on such cultivation has often backfired by increasing the sense of ego, which is the primary obstacle to enlightenment.

The enlightened state, also known as self realization and cosmic consciousness, is a result of the removal of the egoic mind. The problem with focusing on the cultivation of good qualities is that absent turiya, the experience of the fourth state, the cultivation of virtues usually tends to increase the sense of ego.

Therefore, the reason for listing the 24 characteristics of enlightenment in this context and commenting on them is only to give those who are awakening a gauge by which to measure their progress. In the natural process of awakening, these qualities appear in their season like fruits on a tree. Thus the best focus for one’s attention is directly on watering the roots of the tree . . . which is facilitated by the experience of turiya and by loving devotion to one’s preferred form of God. Then the 24 characteristics appear in their season as a byproduct.

Now let’s look at #3 in the 24 characteristics of enlightenment:

3. No Conflict

The pure mind which is enlightened by the shining radiance of the omnipresent unified field enjoys its seat of consciousness in the prefrontal cortex, from where oneness is perceived in everything. Differences are still seen, all the more so – – but now the differences are subordinate, and the oneness is dominating perception.

One’s mind prior to enlightenment had conflict because it had failed to cognize the ultimate reality – – the reality of oneness underlying and permeating all things. Thus in the unenlightened mind, differences dominate, and oneness is either subordinate or isn’t perceived at all.

When differences dominate, conflict is inevitable. That is why mankind has fought over 5,000 wars in the last 3,000 years. That is why most people engaged in verbal abuse every day with those around them. It is why very few interpersonal relationships were always consistently peaceful and harmonious.

When the mind is enlightened by the predominance of oneness, the experience is that this is a far more accurate perception of reality. This is an unshakable knowingness. It is saturated with an inner experience of such ineffable bliss that it has been called “the peace that passeth understanding”.

Because this state is so infinitely superior in satisfaction, and because it is so crystal clear that this level of perception is the truth, it becomes irreversible. Once tasted, it cannot be lost. Like awakening from a nightmare in the dream state, and waking up to peaceful and harmonious surroundings, one immediately knows that the conflict in the nightmare was nothing more than illusion.

Someone who has thus awakened will never again be plagued by conflict in their thoughts about anyone or anything. Such a possibility will be out of the question. With this being the case, one will be incapable of creating conflict in the surrounding environment.