The heroes of our world are usually especially conscious. Whether it’s a halfback rescuing a touchdown pass while surrounded by opponents, or a surgeon deftly removing a cancer, humanity applauds intensely conscious people. Isn’t it true that whenever a matter is truly important, you shy away from those who seem to be less conscious? Instead, you hire or prefer to work only with people who are able to be particularly aware.
A surgeon at work is a particularly vivid example of near superhuman conscious activity. So, too, is the splendid focus of a symphony conductor or jet pilot. Or, a fine editor facing a deadline, a lawyer in research, a craftsman at his bench. Where would we be without conscious people — those who are clearly, energetically aware of their thoughts, feelings, actions, and the world around them? Could civilization exist without conscious activity? Intense conscious activity is so prized that many people leave their homes and travel to large halls which they have dedicatedly built with their taxes in order to hear a hundred musicians express their consciousness of tone and tempo so precisely that it seems all hundred are one great instrument. Also, a hundred thousand football devotees dress up warm and trek out in the winter winds so they can watch thousands of acts of intense consciousness in the course of one game.
In fact, audiences themselves must be keenly aware of what they are experiencing or the whole endeavor is ruined. Imagine a symphony or play or ballet being performed where members of the audience felt free to talk, laugh, and detract from the special purpose of those gathered together. And, isn’t it agonizing to attend a sporting event where audience members disturb the game or pay no attention?
Have you noticed also that when people gather together to enjoy a concert, play, ballgame, or other special event of intensified consciousness that many barriers of hostility and prejudice melt away in the enjoyment of musicians, actors, and athletes intensely exploring their human potential?
Further, in sports there are extraordinarily precious times when rivalries are put aside. Often the crowd exclaims in enchanted delight at the amazing skill and courage of some opponent from a distant city. Such events are remembered for years. They are often played back on television programs around the world.
Whether on the gridiron or the keyboard, these moments show all people more of what a person can be. We gain a glimpse of something new within us which inspires our own efforts and standards. We try harder, reach farther. In all fields, acts of superb awareness join men and women, black and white, young and old, together in the pageant of life. We unite in marveling at human consciousness.
So, by the words conscious person we mean someone who is aware of his thoughts, feelings, and actions. He knows, reasonably well, what he is doing and why he is doing it — even if his knowledge of what and why is short-term and merely expedient.
Higher Consciousness
Then what on earth do we mean by higher consciousness? Are we simply referring to regular consciousness applied with great vigor? No. By higher consciousness we are implying a realm of awareness beyond regular consciousness. Higher consciousness is awareness at the source of our thinking, feeling, and acting. Higher consciousness is that dynamic awareness which enables ordinary consciousness. Higher consciousness enables you to think, enables your feeling nature to work. It enables you to act wisely and well. Higher consciousness is the essential intelligence, energy, and power that enables breathing and brain function, that enables sensations to enter us through our sense organs.
This incredible consciousness can do far more for you than merely maintain your blood flow. However astonishingly profound its abilities in maintaining your faculties and existence, your higher consciousness will enable you to have greater ability in all areas of your life — mentally, emotionally, spiritually, as well as materially.
Higher consciousness is not lofty thought. Thoughts are too slow to enter into this incomparable realm. Similarly, ordinary emotions are not subtle enough to contact or comprehend it. Your higher consciousness is the creative power of your existence itself, that which enables you to be. Is this clear?
Perhaps some analogies will help.
An electric motor may have ingenious coils within itself and extremely fine engineering, but it will not be able to do anything at all unless it is plugged into some source of energy. In this case, a wall socket gives the motor a contact with the energy which allows it to function.
Another example, our body is made up of various chemicals and lots of water — we are approximately seventy percent water. (Water, of course, is chemical in nature too — combined hydrogen and oxygen.) These chemicals of our being could be put in various envelopes and little boxes. We could take a medium-sized barrel and empty all the envelopes and cartons into that barrel, add water, and we would still not have a person. We would not have a thinking, feeling, and acting being, would we? Of course not. The higher consciousness is that which can take the various chemicals of the earth, along with the watery constituents and, because of its presence, because of its potency and ability, enable you to think, feel, and act as no barrel of chemicals can.
Your Rediscovered Home
It cannot be overemphasized that you can experience and become a delighted partner of your own higher consciousness, that you can intimately know the awareness which enables life and sustains regular consciousness. This higher consciousness is the source, and sustainer, of your ability to think, feel, act, and to be sensitive to your outer world.
Because higher consciousness is the source of your normal awareness, you will feel invigorated and revitalized whenever you succeed in turning your thoughts, feelings, and actions inward. In directing your attention toward the sustaining consciousness you will, with patient practice, discover how to unleash your inner potentials for fulfillment. Simply, seek to know the source of your regular consciousness. Ask:
“What enables me to think these thoughts? What empowers my heart to beat? What enables me to feel happiness or surprise?”
When your body is calm and your thoughts and feelings successfully turn toward the awareness which sustains them, beautiful, heavenly experiences will occur. It does take practice. At first it is difficult to turn the direction of your thoughts, feelings, and actions from the outer world to this higher world, but beautiful experiences do begin to occur as soon as your attention is truly redirected. As mentioned in earlier in Are You Aware Of Your Higher Consciousness, the redirection of your thoughts, feelings, and actions toward the higher consciousness creates a transcendental awareness. This heightened awareness is so profound and pleasant that you will relish it a great deal.
In your rediscovered home beyond normal thought or feeling, you will find priceless insight, sublime security, peace, and joy, along with a marvelous inner power. All of these are beyond the reach of normal consciousness and they immeasurably enrich each day. As the experiencer of higher consciousness, such depth and extended dimensions are added to your life that you will know, in a universal or cosmic view, who you really are, what you are doing and why.
My higher consciousness is sustaining my life, including every breath and each heartbeat.
My higher consciousness awaits my interest and attention that it may even more fully enrich the activities of my mind and emotions. It will make my words and actions sure and more successful.
My higher consciousness will move through my life, uplifting my loved ones and my world, too. My higher consciousness abides within me now.
You’re invited to explore Yoga World’s meditation talks where you can try many different meditation practices. When you find the technique that best suits you, you’ll more easily experience the peace, courage and compassion of your inner self.
We ask you to commit two hours a week to selfless service. This service can be anything you choose ranging from helping a family member or neighbor to volunteering at a nonprofit organization.
This commitment is solely between you and your inner self.
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