Reflections on the Context of Consciousness

Posted on May 6, 2022 by George Boyd

Q: I was listening to a talk where they referenced Dr. Roger Penrose’s theory about how consciousness arises out of the subatomic quantum field, and the brain operates like a quantum computer. Is this the basis of consciousness? Is consciousness only an epiphenomenon, an emergent property of the brain?

A: People interpret consciousness at the level where they perceive it.

If you regard someone to be the body, the physical organism, the actions, emotions, and sensations of that body you can observe or measure are the evidence of consciousness. The field of behavioral psychology holds this view.
If you regard someone is a network or system of cells, consciousness is the firing of neurons that underlie the observable actions, emotions, and sensation. Physiological psychology explains behavior, affect, and sensation from this platform.
If you regard someone is the atomic matrix, the electrical activity of the body and brain is consciousness. Technological innovations such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Electroencephalography (EEG), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) enable researchers to detect “brain waves” and the electrical activity of the living brain. Those who try to alter awareness using auditory and photic brain entrainment modalities tap this level.
If you regard someone as a localized subatomic field within the universal subatomic field, you will look at consciousness as analogous as a quantum computer or a hologram. This is the perspective that Dr. Penrose and other physicists embrace.
If you regard someone as an integrative node in the Information Aether, you witness consciousness as the dynamic acquisition of information (learning), information storage (memory), and manipulation of information (intelligence). Information that is no longer needed is jettisoned (forgetting). Cognitive psychology adopts this viewpoint.
If you regard someone is a vortex on the Resonance Aether, you behold consciousness is the wave of the present time, through which you create, sustain, or transform the content of the mind. New Age, New Thought, and process meditation groups access this level.
If you regard someone is the etheric body, you observe consciousness is directly linked to the life force. Movement of life energy in the fine mental channels (nadis) of the etheric body gives rise to thought and emotions; movement of life force in the somatic channels (meridians) governs physiological functions; and the integrative functions of the etheric body plexuses (chakras) coordinate and integrate behavior. Energy healers, Chinese medicine practitioners, and chiropractors work with this energy body and observe the linkage of consciousness and life force.
If you regard someone as a magnetic center on the Desire Aether, where the Law of Attraction operates, you visualize that consciousness is the attentional principle. This essence can direct intention and thought to magnetize and manifest what you desire in your life. Spiritual coaches, metaphysical counselors, psychic teachers and channelers operate at this level.
If you regard someone is the mental field or aura that encapsulates thought forms on the Thought Form Aether, you consider consciousness is the dynamic force that creates, sustains, and destroys thought forms—the attentional principle again appears as the agency that can directly interface with thought forms. Those who work at this level consider that each thought form embodies the desire seeds of karma. Humanistic and Transpersonal therapies that work with subpersonalities access this level.
If you regard someone is the Self, you view consciousness is the expression of this core of the personality, which uses volition and intelligence to activate the faculties of the Metaconscious mind. These executive functions of the personality manage the issues of human life and create personal destiny. Humanistic and Existential therapies work at this level.
If you regard someone is a Superconscious seed atom or nucleus of identity, consciousness appears as the activity of this essence through its form or vehicle of consciousness. Consciousness in this viewpoint is the embodiment and expression of an archetype. Transpersonal therapies that utilize the archetypes of the Superconscious mind, such as Jung’s Active Imagination and Assagioli’s Psychosynthesis interact with elements at this level.
If you regard someone is the Soul, you envision consciousness resides innately in this essence. It is eternal and immortal (Sat), eternally conscious (Chit), and abides in bliss and power (Ananda). This consciousness is expressed through the faculties of the Soul’s essential vehicle, which in turn controls and operates the vehicles of the Superconscious mind (level 11) and connects with the Self (level 10). Planetary Adepts and Adept Masters view human beings in this perspective.
If you regard someone is the spirit, you will see consciousness innately abides in this essence. Nadamic Masters and Sat Gurus of the Transcendental Sphere perceive consciousness at this level.
If you view someone from our Integral meditation perspective, you observe consciousness inheres in the Soul (Pole One – level 12), the spirit (Pole Two – level 13), a nucleus of identity (Pole Three – level 11), the attentional principle (upper Pole Four – levels eight and nine), and the Self (lower Pole Four – level ten). This the way we view consciousness in Mudrashram®.

The relative awakening of individuals determines which of these perspectives they see. This limen of perspective only admits the content of the levels up to the stage of their spiritual development. Someone who adopts the subatomic perspective of level four can also view the content of levels one to three. However, the more subtle view of level five on the Information Aether, is outside their threshold of comprehension.

Using a transformational mantra keyed to the Soul transforms this veil, and those who practice this method can begin to comprehend those levels that are beyond his or her current threshold of conscious awareness. Those who open this veil over awareness to the Bridge Path can grasp all 14 levels.

Those who take our intermediate mediation classes, the in-person Mudrashram® Master Course in Meditation or the by-mail or online Accelerated Meditation Program learn a technique gradually part this veil and open up the perspectives of the grander vistas of consciousness. We invite those of you who wish to view these other levels learn how to catalyze your Soul’s unfoldment.

Zones of Concentration

Posted on October 8, 2021 by George Boyd

Q: Can you explain the role of concentration in spiritual life?

A: Concentration means that you shrink the focus of your attention and hold it on an object. There are several levels at which you can apply concentration:

Schema – this is a category in which you access stored knowledge about a particular topic. You use this in study and academic education. You might, for example, focus on the schema where you have learned rules for grammar. You would learn the new material about this subject and remember it in the frame of the schema, associating it to your current knowledge.
Matrix of experience – You access this level when you ask your deeper mind questions and listen for the answers. You might ask for a particular incident (process meditation), a specific fact (mnemonic recall), how you feel about something (emotional inquiry), what something means (cognitive inquiry), what your options and choices are (personal inquiry), or ask for information about spiritual topics (metaphysical inquiry). You concentrate in this band when you are doing personal process, inner dialog, or psychotherapy.
Reflection – You access this level when you think deeply about something and you want to solve a problem. This accesses your intellect, whereby you apply your intelligence to explore ideas and to solve problems. Those who are writers, scientists, and philosophers tap into this level of concentration.
Archetypes and arrays – You access this level when you interface with elements in your Superconscious mind. You might encounter an archetype and reflect on the meaning of the form you see. You might explore the meaning of a myth or wisdom story. You might contemplate the meaning of a scripture. You might associate symbols in an array to do an intuitive reading. Theologians, metaphysical counselors, psychic readers, and transpersonal psychologists interface with this level.
Nucleus of identity – You access this level when you focus your attention on one of the integration centers of your Superconscious mind. These centers include, for example, the Star Seed on the Psychic Realm, the Moon Soul in the First Planetary Initiation, Cosmic Consciousness in the First Cosmic Initiation, or the Supracosmic Seed Atom on a Supracosmic Path. Those following a religious or spiritual group focus at this level.
Attentional principle – Focusing your attention at this level awakens your intentional consciousness. Once you can function at this level readily, you can perform inner work on your personality and in your Superconscious mind.
Individual spirit – Focusing your attention at this level awakens the love and devotion of your spirit. Once you can readily focus your attention at this level, you can participate in opening the channels of the Nada through which your spirit returns to its origin.
Ensouling entity – Focusing your attention at this level awakens the Soul. This brings about the experience of Samadhi and Gnosis. This conveys the Realization of the Inner Divinity within the Soul, and aligns you with the Soul’s Path of spiritual evolution.

Direct spiritual experience is contingent upon your ability to concentrate upon the spiritual essences at levels five through eight. We teach you how to tap levels 6, 7, and 8 in our intermediate meditation courses—the in-person Mudrashram® Master Course in Meditation and the by-mail and online Accelerated Meditation Program. We teach contemplation of nuclei of identity, level 5, in the Mudrashram® Advanced Course in Meditation.

Developing facility with levels one and two is important for successful learning and adult functioning. Those who are thinkers and who are able to access the creative and intuitive channels of their mind learn to tap into levels three and four.

We encourage you to become familiar with each of these levels of concentration, and learn how to use these attentional foci skillfully and efficiently to bring success in your life and to awaken to your full spiritual potentials.

Identification on the Four Poles of Being

Posted on August 31, 2019 by

Different spiritual groups focus attention on one of the four poles of being. These poles of being are:

Ensouling entity
Your spirit
Your vehicles of consciousness in the Superconscious mind and their integrating centers (nuclei of identity)
Your attentional principle (consciousness aspect of the fourth pole) and Self and ego (life aspect of the fourth pole)

Through focusing your attention on one of these poles of being, you come to identify with that essence.

Spiritual work on the first pole has you contemplate your Soul [or higher octave ensouling entity] and identify with it.
Spiritual techniques that operate on the second pole have you focus on your spirit in one of the twelve domains and identify with it. This style of spiritual development is typical for spiritual Paths of the Transcendental Sphere.
Spiritual practices that access the third pole typically focus your attention on a nucleus of identity and have you identify with it. Christians and Jews typically have you identify with the Moon Soul nucleus of identity. I AM Movement groups have you identify with the Mighty I AM Presence. Yogi Preceptor led groups have you identify with Cosmic Consciousness. Groups of the Supracosmic Sphere have you identify with the Supracosmic seed atom of their Path.
Spiritual methods that access the consciousness aspect of the fourth pole have you identify with your attentional principle. Psychological modalities that access the ego and the Self have you identify with one of these personal integration centers, and operate from that platform.

Attention is the channel selector of the mind, so depending on where you focus your attention, you will activate one of these aspects of the mind—and with sustained contemplation—you will identify with it.

Since most groups only contemplate the essences on one of these poles, they form a cosmology based on where that essence is on the Continuum. So groups that identify with the Moon Soul nucleus of identity will look to the content of the First Planetary Initiation. Groups that identify with Cosmic Consciousness interface with the content of the First Cosmic Initiation. Groups that identify with a Supracosmic Seed Atom engage with the content on that Supracosmic Path.

Abilities of the Essences on the Four Poles

Focusing attention on these four poles gives you certain abilities. For a lot of our spiritual work in Mudrashram®, we focus on the attentional principle—on the consciousness aspect of the fourth pole.

Abilities you gain focusing on an ensouling entity include:

Gnosis – the experience of your Oneness with God
Unity consciousness – Oceanic Consciousness of Being
A symbol of oneness and mystic union – an archetype imbued with the Jet of Spirit in which you encounter the presence of the Soul
The Way – The intuitive knowledge of the Path your Soul has opened to its current nodal point
Kundalini track – the channel of the Kundalini Shakti through the inner vehicles, opening to the point where it unites with the Soul
The Aureole – the sphere of the Soul’s consciousness and illumination
The Atmic vortex – The resonance in which the Soul’s vehicles of consciousness are anchored
The Light and the Word – the sacred inner altar where the spirit gains union with the heart center of the Soul’s essential vehicle

Abilities you gain focusing on the spirit include:

Brain center – The consciousness of the spirit
Point between the eyebrows – The spiritual senses of the spirit
Medulla – the spirit’s octave of conation, the wish
Throat – the spirit’s voice, the ability to give inspired discourse (satsang)
Heart – The spirit’s love and devotion
Solar plexus – The spirit’s virtue
Navel – The remembrance of the spirit’s own nature, the spiritual Master, and the Divine
Feet – The experience of moving in the channels of the Nada

Abilities you gain focusing on a nucleus of identity include:

Brain – Identification with the state of consciousness of a nucleus of identity
Point between the eyebrows – Expression of the unconditional love, intuitive wisdom, and the aspect of volition—and the abilities this confers—anchored in the nucleus of identity
Medulla – The mental capsule, the container of knowledge of the nucleus of identity
Throat – This is the speech principle of the nucleus of identity
Heart – the karmic capsule, which is the nexus of karma that is processed through this center
Solar plexus – The astral/emotional capsule, which embodies the virtues imprinted in the personality (character); the non-integrated material of the unconscious mind interfaces with this center as fantasy
Navel – Etheric capsule, the mental nadis and somatic meridians associated with this nucleus of identity
Base of the spine – The symbol representing the Law, or Dharma of this nucleus of identity
Feet – The expression of this nucleus of identity through the personality as spiritual ministry or the arising from Soul’s Expressed Purpose

Abilities you gain focusing on the attentional principle include:

Brain – The wave of consciousness (chetan)
Point between the eyebrows – intention
Throat – Reception of telepathic impressions, communications through thought
Heart – Contemplation, the ability to extract meaning from seed thoughts, symbols, or archetypes
Solar plexus – Suggestion, the ability to interface with inner vehicles of consciousness
Navel – The ability to empathize with the conscious experience of others
Base of spine – Creation, the ability to combine intention, suggestion, and affirmation to activate the Superconscious mind to manifest a desired outcome
Feet – The stream of light upon which the attentional principle travels that is the focal point for attention

Abilities you gain focusing on the Self include:

Brain – Identification with Self, Self-Knowledge
Point between the eyebrows – Personal volition, free choice
Medulla – Personal intuition, your ability to check in with each aspect of your Conscious, Subconscious, and Metaconscious mind
Right hand – The intellect, you ability to use intelligence to solve problems
Left hand – The concrete mind, you ability to set goals, to plan, and schedule
Throat – The conscience, the ability to tap into your values and standards
Heart – The persona, the ability to express your social skills and humor, and to disclose your genuine Self
Solar Plexus – Your desire body or body of commitment, your ability to give your word and keep it
Navel – Your etheric body, your connection with the Subconscious mind

Working with the attentional principle allows you to unfold the Soul with a transformational method, transforming pole one. It also allows you to shepherd the spirit, to guide it along its Path to liberation, activating pole two. It allows you to access the love, wisdom, and power aspects of your Superconscious mind that expresses through your nuclei of identity, awakening pole three. It natively [on the consciousness aspect of the fourth pole] is able to travel in full consciousness through each of the bands of the Continuum of Consciousness. It is able to lead attention to unite with the Self [on the life aspect of the fourth pole] at the nucleus of the human personality through centering methods.

Using the attentional principle focus is like the Swiss Army knife of meditation: it allows you to access each of the four poles and develop them in synchrony.

We teach you how to awaken and develop each of these poles of being in our intermediate classes, the in-person Mudrashram® Master Course in Meditation and the by-mail and online Accelerated Meditation Program. We invite you to learn these key techniques for personal and spiritual development through taking one of these classes.

What is the spirit?

Posted on August 26, 2017 by

Q: What is the spirit? How is this different than the Soul? How does one meditate upon the spirit?

A: The spirit is the essence of love, purity, and devotion within you that you can contact using a specialized form of meditation called Nada Yoga. Groups that teach this mediation call this practice Surat Shabd Yoga, Udgit, movement of inner spiritual awareness, and soul travel.

In our mapping of the Great Continuum of Consciousness, we have identified 12 channels of the Nada, where you can contact the spirit. If you want to know about this, click on the tab on that article that says “Map Three – The Domains of the Individual spirit.” We recommend that you do the practice of Nada Yoga with your spiritual essence in the domain that is contiguous with your Higher Self or Soul.

In Integral meditation, we identify four poles of being.

Pole One contains the Soul and its Path back to its origin. This is your spiritual brain center. When you take this perspective, you see the Soul is on a Path—part of which it has opened, part of which is filled with darkness. At the very end of that Path, you see this inner seed, which is your calling—this represents completion of your Soul’s spiritual evolution in this level of the Continuum.

Pole Two contains your spirit and the channels that connect it with its origin in this domain. Most domains have two channels, but there is one that has only one channel, one that has three channels, and two that have four channels. The spirit opens these channels until it connects with the Divine Light from which it originated. When it reaches this stage, it is said to have reached salvation or spiritual liberation. This is the heart Path: the Path of love and devotion. From this perspective, it looks like your spirit is separated from its Divine Origin: it must open these channels of the Nada to go back there.

Pole Three contains your Soul’s vehicles of consciousness. Most groups that work on this Pole identify with an integration center in the Superconscious mind that we call a nucleus of identity. On this pole, you might tune into your intuitive stream, carry out spiritual ministry, awaken your awareness into this nucleus of identity to gain union with it, or express love to those who are established in this same stage of identification. This is the spiritual spine: each center or chakra along your spiritual spine represents a different vehicle of consciousness. From this perspective, you notice the track in which this nucleus of identity dwells is partially light, and partially dark—on your inner spiritual horizon, you see the form of the Divine from which this nucleus of identity came forth.

Pole Four contains your embodied life and its witness—your attention and your attentional principle. Your attentional principle is the aspect of you that is conscious and expresses through intention. Embodied life includes the vehicles of the personality, and the personal integration centers that control them—your ego and your Self. Your attention and the attentional principle are the keys to focusing upon the other three Poles and activating them. This is the “Third Eye” Path. From this perspective, there is a thread of consciousness that runs through every vehicle of consciousness along which your attention travels. You encounter your attentional principle, and travel with your attention conjoined with this conscious essence through the entire Continuum of Consciousness. This is the perspective that you see in the map of the Continuum of Consciousness, which encompasses every level of your mind—Conscious, Subconscious, Metaconscious, and Superconscious.

So, you will need to move your attention to Pole One to experience your Soul, and Pole Two to experience your spirit. We teach the methods for doing focusing your attention on the spiritual essences of Pole One and Pole Two in our intermediate classes, the in-person Mudrashram® Master Course in Meditation and the by-mail and online Accelerated Meditation Program.

To know what your spirit is, you have to know where to focus on it and how to activate it. This is not a theory; it’s an experience. We show you how to do this in the Nada Yoga module of our intermediate courses.