Last week, in My Commonplace Book, I wrote Notes On Four Levels Of Consciousness, a concept I learned from Vishan Lakhiani’s book “The Code of Extraordinary Mind.”

This week I want to continue with it.

Just to recap:

First Level Of Consciousness

At the first level of consciousness, we are a part of the Culturescape. Our goals are given to us by the society and the culture that we are part of. “Get good grades.” “Get a good job.” “Become a doctor.” “Make a lot of money and live comfortably.” “Invest, build a portfolio.”

As we are achieving those goals, at some point, we question society’s norms. We question other people’s expectations of us, whether they are our parents or spouses or bosses.

We question religion. And we realize we don’t have to follow what we have been told all our lives and that we can choose our own experiences in life.

That is when we move to the second level of consciousness.

Second Level Of Consciousness

At level two, we look for a purpose for life, a way to contribute to this universe. This is when our goals come from inside us.

Third Level Of Consciousness

At level three, we discover we are a part of a greater whole. We see everyone else as part of us.

We begin to see things differently, act differently, and react differently. We experience ourselves in a brand new way, a way that can change our lives forever.

We start re-coding ourselves, and we find ourselves at the fourth level of consciousness.

Fourth Level Of Consciousness

Everything changes at level four. When we work from the fourth level of consciousness, our goals come from a completely different place.

They come from a higher source called — the Inspiration.

Some call it God, or Universe, or Supreme Being, or Higher Power.

But when we realize we are much more than just a body, Inspiration becomes our unlimited source of creation.

We become a part of the ‘whole.’

When we feel connected to every living being and become a part of the universe, Inspiration starts whispering to us.

It talks to us in the form of intuition.

When you get an idea of a book in the shower or a theory in the bathtub, or a complete melody in a dream, it is not you; it is the Inspiration talking to you.

You need to make sure you’re tuned in when Inspiration whispers because if you are not, it will go to someone else.

And if it finds you listening and up to the challenge, it will give you the Intention (courage to act)

It will remove all the roadblocks.

That is the state you want to be in as creator.

I have covered these concepts in my previous two articles.

Everything Changes When You Start Working From The Fourth Level of Consciousness

How To Make Sure You Listen To Inspiration When It Whispers

There is a connection between the concept of ‘Being’ and the concept of ‘Four Levels of Consciousness.’

What Is The Concept Of Being?

In his book The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle talks about a concept called ‘Being.’

There is an eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad of forms of life that are subject to birth and death. Many people use the word God to describe it; I often call it Being. — Eckhart Tolle

‘Being’ explains nothing.

Nor does the word God.

According to Eckhart, ‘Being’ has an advantage over the concept of God. ‘Being’ is an open concept.

It is open because it does not reduce the infinite to a finite entity.

God has been given several forms already. Each religion has given it some symbol, shape, or image. In many mythologies, God looks like humans.

But it is impossible to form a mental image of ‘Being’ because ‘Being’ is not a noun but a verb.

So what is ‘Being?’

According to Eckhart, ‘Being’ is your very presence. It is your true nature. Your own deepest self.

It is accessible to you all the time.

It is accessible to you now as a feeling of your own presence.

Which is only a small step from the word ‘being’ to the experience of ‘Being.’

It is a hard concept to understand.

If you try to understand it with your logical mind, you may not.

If you try to give it a form, you will not be able to.

Because ‘Being’ can’t be seen, it can only be felt.

That too, when your mind is still, and your intention is fully in the present.

‘Being’ is not only deep within but also beyond. It is in every form as its innermost invisible and indestructible essence.

‘Being’ is also the pathway to gaining enlightenment. Enlightenment is not some superhuman accomplishment. It is simply your natural state of oneness with ‘Being.’

To regain awareness of BEING and abide in that state of feeling-realization, is enlightenment. — Eckhart Tolle

So ‘Being’ is a state of connectedness with something big. Something that is essentially you, and yet it is much greater than you.

It is you. Your true nature, beyond the name and form.

So what is the connection between the concept of ‘Being’ and the concept of ‘Four Levels of Consciousness.’

At the fourth level of consciousness, when we feel connected to every living being and become a part of the universe, Inspiration whispers to us.

So when we are in the state of ‘Being,’ we are connected to the Inspiration.

Eckhart says it this way.

When your consciousness

is directed outwards, mind and world arise.

When it is directed inwards,

it realizes its own Source

and returns home into the Unmanifested.

In this state of inner connectedness, you are much more alert, more awake, and fully present.

As you go deeper into this state of pure consciousness, you feel your own presence with such intensity and such joy that all thinking, all emotions, your physical body, as well as the whole external world, become relatively insignificant in comparison.

Yet it is not a selfish but a selfless state.

It takes you beyond what you previously thought of as “yourself.”

That presence is essentially you and at the same time inconceivably greater than you.

So Being is the higher state of consciousness, and you can reach this state by simply incorporating a practice of focusing your attention on the ‘Now.’

By feeling your very presence.

By connecting to your true nature.

By connecting to your own deepest self.

By connecting to the universe.

A commonplace book is basically a scrapbook where you collect things that fascinate you. It could be quotes, proverbs, poems, letters, recipes or anything. I have several such scrapbooks.

Recently I realised there is so much good stuff lying in my bottom drawer.

I was looking for a way to share my commonplace book.

I was thinking of publishing it in book form. And then I realised a Medium publication would even be a better idea.