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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.