A Spectrum of Consciousness

Consciousness is a spectrum

As with all things, there are no absolute concepts that are not subject to the reality of Śūnyatā or voidness. Consciousness is no different and even your consciousness or concept of who you are is no different. Are you the same person who awoke this morning? What impact have the experiences accumulated since you awoke had on you? Do you learn? Does learning change you? Of course, as ignorance is reduced, wisdom increases this is the spectrum of consciousness. On one end there is complete ignorance, an utter lack of any awareness of self, where on the other end of the spectrum we see omniscience.

As light is a spectrum; observed between the colours red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, so too is what we call consciousness a spectrum that can be defined in terms of transient bands. We defined those bands here and here; aligned with the chakra system of energy centres. The point being that while the spectrum is continuous, there are discernible bands that demark the boundaries of transition between the colours, in the case of light and levels of awareness, in the case of consciousness. As any painter knows, colours come in an infinite array of hues that are created by the careful addition of colours to a base colour in discrete increments, so we can see that colours and hues are not only a linear spectrum but can also be combined in an infinite palette of hues combining the different base colours. So it is with consciousness, it is not that one only exists within the confines of a particular chakra (consciousness correspondence), but that each chakra is active to differing degrees that make up the totality of one's awareness, or overall colour.

That colour still exists within the spectrum of colours, but is nonetheless complex in nature, that is made up of many hues of colour across the spectrum. Similarly, we see the colours of awareness in the consciousness spectrum; one colour dominating but the (overall) hue comprised of other colours and depending on their degree of intensity.

Transition between bands

When we observe a rainbow we see this very thing play out in front of our eyes with separate bands of colour that transition into each other to form the spectrum of light. It is the contention of this blog that consciousness is embedded with light and so it may come as no surprise that our conscious awareness manifests in a similar manner, in a spectrum of bands that one transitions between. But there is a certain level of inertia to overcome before one colour is saturated and the predominate base colour changes to the next in the spectrum. This inertia is seen in the boundary between the colours in a rainbow and in consciousness; work is required to overcome this inertia and transition to the next band of awareness. When we look at the correspondences between the chakras and our conscious awareness, we see the alignment of our Root Chakra with base survival requirements such as the chemical balance and health of the body, food, shelter and procreation; the Sacral Chakra with the complexities, interaction and relationships with other individuals, the Solar Plexus Chakra with the complexities, interaction and relationships with social groups and society at large, while the Heart and higher chakras are aligned with refined concepts and complexities of self-realisation within this octave of awareness. (This of course implies the existence of higher octaves.)

Effort to overcome the inertia that resists the transition between bands

So only with attaining a sufficiency and balance in survival needs (Root Chakra - Red) can one focus on developing their individual relationships, and only after a sufficiency and balance in individual relationships can one focus on developing their social and group relationships. We see in this transition an increasing level of refinement in awareness, from the instinctual through to the discerning. That discernment comes in two fundamental flavours, to continue the association with the senses, positive or negative. Positive being conceived of as service-to-others and Negative being conceived of as service-to-self. So our path through the spectrum of conscious awareness may be divided in two; a Positive and a Negative path. And the greater the reliance on individual discernment to progress, the more importance is the focus on the path. For as the old sayings go, just as one cannot ride two horses or shoot two bows, progress cannot be made attempting to walk two paths. The effort required to overcome the inertia between the bands of conscious awareness determines that commitment to one or the other path is required if our discernment is the critical developmental factor to our progress.

The commitment required to progressive development

Our discernment and commitment to our chosen path is critical in moving beyond this experience we currently share, surrounded as we are by countless groups of others, be they authoritarian, commercial, religious, leisure based or even our own families, and by even more individuals than groups. The manner in which we interact and grow is critical to our progress; be that selfish and controlling on the service-to-self (negative) path, or selfless and compassionate on the service-to-others (positive) path. So while one progresses through the spectrum of conscious awareness, work is required to overcome the boundaries between the levels by mastering the existential challenges being faced, be they rudimentary survival, individual relationships, societal relationships, love, etc.

If we look at the requisite conditions that must exist for one to progress through these initial levels of awareness, we see that one must have a basis of survival to develop individual relationships, one must have an ability to form individual relationships to work within and through societal groups, and one must have a focus on self or others to develop their expression of love. As the full expression of selfless love cannot be expressed from a selfish point of view and the full expression of a love of self cannot be developed from a selfless perspective, the separation of paths is of logical necessity.

The resistance between bands on regressive reversion

So far, we have discussed the concepts of progression through this spectrum of conscious awareness, but not that of regression and it was the issue of regression that occupied my mind this morning in meditation. Is it possible to transition backwards from one band of awareness to a lower level of consciousness and if so what are the conditions and causes for such a regression? The concept is possible as the spectrum is continuous in both directions, but it requires that the experiences and existing attainments and discernments be lost or wilfully ignored. So the cause would be an ongoing wilful commitment to ignore the values and wisdom gained through ones progression so far. The conditions are that the individuals already exist close to a lower boundary in their level of awareness and cannot be persuaded by others to correct their folly. This may come from an utter contempt for the necessity to apply oneself any further and an overall apathy and disinterest in broader experience while focusing and being obsessed and consumed by instinctual and base level needs.

Perhaps this is what the one known as Jesus meant when he said:

(7) Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion which becomes man when consumed by man; and cursed is the man whom the lion consumes, and the lion becomes man."

The role of reincarnation and how being reborn as an animal may be possible

While the progress through the different levels of awareness may occur through a single lifetime with great commitment, focus and training, the transition between boundaries occurs between lifecycles or incarnations. Hence, the role of re-incarnation is critical to complete the understanding of developmental progress on the spectrum of awareness. Not only does this provide the sublime opportunity for individuals to progressively develop their abilities and awareness in consciousness, but it also provides the opportunity to exist in the form and circumstances that will support that development. This also implies that if one regresses between boundaries, that a commensurate regression in form and circumstances is possible. The life of the individual in a new incarnation may be remarkably different from that of their previous experience, to better express and learn the requisite lessons required to progress in consciousness. But pity the one who does not apply themselves after incarnating, for depending on one's position on the spectrum of consciousness, the lessons needing to be re-learned may be found in the animal realm in the next incarnation, rather than in an existence of human form.

So it is that one's path in consciousness can both progress and regress and the rapidity of that progression is tied to one's discernment and commitment to a path of development.

It is in this context that the bodhisattva's vow the Buddha outlined in the Diamond Sutra can be understood:

…If sons and daughters of good families want to develop the highest, most fulfilled and awakened mind, if they wish to attain the Highest Perfect Wisdom and quiet their drifting minds while subduing their craving thoughts, then they should follow what I am about to say to you. Those who follow what I am about to say here will be able to subdue their discriminative thoughts and craving desires. It is possible to attain perfect tranquillity and clarity of mind by absorbing and dwelling on the teachings I am about to give. Then the Buddha addressed the assembly.

3.    All living beings, whether born from eggs, from the womb, from moisture, or spontaneously; whether they have form or do not have form; whether they are aware or unaware, whether they are not aware or not unaware, all living beings will eventually be led by me to the final Nirvana, the final ending of the cycle of birth and death. And when this unfathomable, infinite number of living beings have all been liberated, in truth not even a single being has actually been liberated.

I dedicate any merits from this post to the reader, that we may all be liberated from this cycle of rebirth and attain the Bodhi mind.

Namaste