I have recently come across the work of Dr. David Hawkins through Mindvalley and a webinar by Christie Marie Sheldon. It is interesting reading and food for thought. He has used muscle testing, which is quite reliable, to calibrate this scale, which he explains in his books.
I disagree with some of Dr. Hawkin's philosophical tenets. He is quite dualistic – good/evil, truth/falsehood – and thereby judgmental in his terminology. I prefer to see it simply as levels of evolution or “involution” and therefore without judgment. With regard to different levels of consciousness, he states that when one has learned the “lessons” inherent in a level of consciousness and fulfilled any karma owing, one changes to the next highest level. He does state a phenomena, which I have also observed – that immediately upon moving into a higher level of consciousness one tends to meet with the negative aspects of that level first. If one can meet and move past the challenge of the negative aspects on that level (just like on a video game) one reaps the rewards of the higher level. If not one stays at the negative aspects of the level. He comments also that he sees this as the working out of karma accumulated at that level in a previous lifetime.
I believe, and this may in fact, not be in conflict with Hawkins, that our “involution” through levels of consciousness is a natural process. This process does not proceed, at least traditionally, very quickly. Whether there is more “light” available now for the “enlightenment” process, as some claim, I do not know but people do appear to be more intentionally working on becoming positive than before. It is my contention that whereas near the lowest levels of consciousness there is little understanding or even interest in becoming more enlightened, the further up the scale one progresses, the more motivation arises to keep going and therefore the ascent in consciousness takes on a more rapid progression.
The one point where I differ greatly with Hawkins is his stand on traditional religious Christianity. I have read the texts, both church condoned and apocryphal and I can not believe from the words which have come down to us as attributed to Jeshua (the Christ) that he believed that we could not attain what he had - “Greater things than this shall you also do.” The proviso - “If you believe.” Hawkins believes the Church doctrine about us needing a saviour. A great teacher is a boon to be sure. But as we all have that spark of the infinite within, “the Kingdom of Heaven is within you”, if we “seek” there, we will “find”. Anyway his tables are food for thought and worth checking out his youtube stuff. He is a bit longwinded but he is somewhat amusing, which is rare for a PhD
LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS: TRUTH/FALSEHOOD
Headings:
God-view Self-view Level Log Emotion Process
LEVELS OF TRUTH
Self Is Enlightenment 700 – 1,000 Ineffable Pure Consciousness
All-being Perfect Peace 600 Bliss Illumination
One Complete Joy 540 Serenity Transfiguration
Loving Benign Love 500 Reverence Revelation
Wise Meaningful Reason 400 Understanding Abstraction
Merciful Harmonious Acceptance 350 Forgiveness Transcendence
Inspiring Hopeful Willingness 310 Optimism Intention
Enabling Satisfactory Neutrality 250 Trust Release
Permitting Feasible Courage 200 Affirmation Empowerment
LEVELS OF FALSEHOOD
Indifferent Demanding Pride 175 Scorn Inflation
Vengeful Antagonistic Anger 150 Hate Aggression
Denying Disappointing Desire 125 Craving Enslavement
Punitive Frightening Fear 100 Anxiety Withdrawal
Uncaring Tragic Grief 75 Regret Despondency
Condem- Hopeless Apathy, hatred 50 Despair Abdication
ning
Vindictive Evil Guilt 30 Blame Destruction
Despising Hateful Shame 20 Humiliation Elimination
Building on the above, Dr. Hawkins sees the Lower Mind below 200 generally but here 155 is given, as having certain attitudes, he would even say a substantially different existence than the Higher Mind. I would subdivide it further. The Lower Mind (occupied with negative thoughts <200)
The Rational Mind (Logical/linear seeking cause/effect 200 - 490)
The Heart/Mind (Compassionate/creative) 500 - 600)
The Spiritual (Dedicated to the good of humanity /spiritual development >600)
Abraham Maslow once commented about his Heirarchy of Needs that there might in fact be more needs at a higher level but that he was not able to discern them. You are only able to see your own level and the levels below yours. The higher levels remain hidden to you in detail, even if you may be dimly aware of their existence.
The Table 1 below is Hawkins' original list of attitudinal difference between the Lower and Higher Mind.
Table 1: Function of Mind – Attitudes
Lower Mind (cal. 155) Higher Mind (cal. 275)
Accumulation Growth
Acquire Savour
Remember Reflect
Maintain Evolve
Think Process
Denotation Inference
Time = restriction Time = opportunity
Focus on present/past Focus on present/future
Ruled by emotions/wants Ruled by reason/inspiration
Blames Takes responsibility
Careless Disciplined
Content (Specifics) Content plus field (conditions)
Concrete, literal Abstract, imaginative
Limited, time, space Unlimited
Personal Impersonal
Form Significance
Focus on specifics Generalities
Exclusive examples Categorize class – inclusive
Reactive Detached
Passive/aggressive Protective
Recall events Contextualize significance
Plan Create
Definition Essence, meaningful
Particularize Generalize
Pedestrian Transcendent
Motivation Inspirational, intention
Morals Ethics
Examples Principles
Physical and Emotional survival Intellectual development
Pleasure and satisfaction Fulfillment of potential
Table 2: Function of Mind – Attitudes
Impatient Tolerant
Demand Prefer
Desire Value
Upset, tension Calm, deliberate
Control Let go, surrender
Utilitarian use Sees potential
Literal Intuitive
Ego-self directed Ego, plus other-oriented
Personal & family survival Survival of others
Constrictive Expansive
Exploit, use up Preserve, enhance
Design Art
Competition Cooperation
Pretty, attractive Aesthetics
Naive, impressionable Sophisticated, informed
Guilt Regret
Gullible Thoughtful
Pessimist Optimist
Excess Balance
Force Power
Smart, clever Intelligent
Exploits life Serves life
Callous Merciful
Insensitive Sensitive
Particularize Contextualize
Statement Hypothesis
Closure Open-ended
Terminal Germinal
Sympathize Empathize
Rate Evaluate
Want Choose
Avoid Face and accept
Childish Mature
Attacks Avoids
Critical Accepting
Condemning Forgiving
Skepticism Comprehend
I disagree with some of Dr. Hawkin's philosophical tenets. He is quite dualistic – good/evil, truth/falsehood – and thereby judgmental in his terminology. I prefer to see it simply as levels of evolution or “involution” and therefore without judgment. With regard to different levels of consciousness, he states that when one has learned the “lessons” inherent in a level of consciousness and fulfilled any karma owing, one changes to the next highest level. He does state a phenomena, which I have also observed – that immediately upon moving into a higher level of consciousness one tends to meet with the negative aspects of that level first. If one can meet and move past the challenge of the negative aspects on that level (just like on a video game) one reaps the rewards of the higher level. If not one stays at the negative aspects of the level. He comments also that he sees this as the working out of karma accumulated at that level in a previous lifetime.
I believe, and this may in fact, not be in conflict with Hawkins, that our “involution” through levels of consciousness is a natural process. This process does not proceed, at least traditionally, very quickly. Whether there is more “light” available now for the “enlightenment” process, as some claim, I do not know but people do appear to be more intentionally working on becoming positive than before. It is my contention that whereas near the lowest levels of consciousness there is little understanding or even interest in becoming more enlightened, the further up the scale one progresses, the more motivation arises to keep going and therefore the ascent in consciousness takes on a more rapid progression.
The one point where I differ greatly with Hawkins is his stand on traditional religious Christianity. I have read the texts, both church condoned and apocryphal and I can not believe from the words which have come down to us as attributed to Jeshua (the Christ) that he believed that we could not attain what he had - “Greater things than this shall you also do.” The proviso - “If you believe.” Hawkins believes the Church doctrine about us needing a saviour. A great teacher is a boon to be sure. But as we all have that spark of the infinite within, “the Kingdom of Heaven is within you”, if we “seek” there, we will “find”. Anyway his tables are food for thought and worth checking out his youtube stuff. He is a bit longwinded but he is somewhat amusing, which is rare for a PhD
LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS: TRUTH/FALSEHOOD
Headings:
God-view Self-view Level Log Emotion Process
LEVELS OF TRUTH
Self Is Enlightenment 700 – 1,000 Ineffable Pure Consciousness
All-being Perfect Peace 600 Bliss Illumination
One Complete Joy 540 Serenity Transfiguration
Loving Benign Love 500 Reverence Revelation
Wise Meaningful Reason 400 Understanding Abstraction
Merciful Harmonious Acceptance 350 Forgiveness Transcendence
Inspiring Hopeful Willingness 310 Optimism Intention
Enabling Satisfactory Neutrality 250 Trust Release
Permitting Feasible Courage 200 Affirmation Empowerment
LEVELS OF FALSEHOOD
Indifferent Demanding Pride 175 Scorn Inflation
Vengeful Antagonistic Anger 150 Hate Aggression
Denying Disappointing Desire 125 Craving Enslavement
Punitive Frightening Fear 100 Anxiety Withdrawal
Uncaring Tragic Grief 75 Regret Despondency
Condem- Hopeless Apathy, hatred 50 Despair Abdication
ning
Vindictive Evil Guilt 30 Blame Destruction
Despising Hateful Shame 20 Humiliation Elimination
Building on the above, Dr. Hawkins sees the Lower Mind below 200 generally but here 155 is given, as having certain attitudes, he would even say a substantially different existence than the Higher Mind. I would subdivide it further. The Lower Mind (occupied with negative thoughts <200)
The Rational Mind (Logical/linear seeking cause/effect 200 - 490)
The Heart/Mind (Compassionate/creative) 500 - 600)
The Spiritual (Dedicated to the good of humanity /spiritual development >600)
Abraham Maslow once commented about his Heirarchy of Needs that there might in fact be more needs at a higher level but that he was not able to discern them. You are only able to see your own level and the levels below yours. The higher levels remain hidden to you in detail, even if you may be dimly aware of their existence.
The Table 1 below is Hawkins' original list of attitudinal difference between the Lower and Higher Mind.
Table 1: Function of Mind – Attitudes
Lower Mind (cal. 155) Higher Mind (cal. 275)
Accumulation Growth
Acquire Savour
Remember Reflect
Maintain Evolve
Think Process
Denotation Inference
Time = restriction Time = opportunity
Focus on present/past Focus on present/future
Ruled by emotions/wants Ruled by reason/inspiration
Blames Takes responsibility
Careless Disciplined
Content (Specifics) Content plus field (conditions)
Concrete, literal Abstract, imaginative
Limited, time, space Unlimited
Personal Impersonal
Form Significance
Focus on specifics Generalities
Exclusive examples Categorize class – inclusive
Reactive Detached
Passive/aggressive Protective
Recall events Contextualize significance
Plan Create
Definition Essence, meaningful
Particularize Generalize
Pedestrian Transcendent
Motivation Inspirational, intention
Morals Ethics
Examples Principles
Physical and Emotional survival Intellectual development
Pleasure and satisfaction Fulfillment of potential
Table 2: Function of Mind – Attitudes
Impatient Tolerant
Demand Prefer
Desire Value
Upset, tension Calm, deliberate
Control Let go, surrender
Utilitarian use Sees potential
Literal Intuitive
Ego-self directed Ego, plus other-oriented
Personal & family survival Survival of others
Constrictive Expansive
Exploit, use up Preserve, enhance
Design Art
Competition Cooperation
Pretty, attractive Aesthetics
Naive, impressionable Sophisticated, informed
Guilt Regret
Gullible Thoughtful
Pessimist Optimist
Excess Balance
Force Power
Smart, clever Intelligent
Exploits life Serves life
Callous Merciful
Insensitive Sensitive
Particularize Contextualize
Statement Hypothesis
Closure Open-ended
Terminal Germinal
Sympathize Empathize
Rate Evaluate
Want Choose
Avoid Face and accept
Childish Mature
Attacks Avoids
Critical Accepting
Condemning Forgiving
Skepticism Comprehend
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