The four levels of consciousness, according to Michael B. Beckwith

Michael B. Beckwith has become a spiritual guide to many people through his school of New Thought and affirmative meditation. In his opinion, There are four levels of consciousness: passive, in control, open and awake.. That idea, without a doubt, has its roots in Zen philosophy.

The truth is Consciousness remains a mystery, both for science and philosophy and religion. It is defined as the knowledge that a being has of itself, its existence and its actions. However, areas such as quantum physics move away from that idea and see consciousness as a construction of the brain.

Be that as it may, in the terms of spirituality in which Michael B. Beckwith approaches the subject, there would be four levels of consciousness according to the degree of perception of reality. The fewer distortions there are between reality and perception the higher this faculty is. Let’s see what Beckwith’s classification is all about.

1. Passive, the first of the levels of consciousness

The first level of consciousness is passivity. Some claim that it is present when the person assumes that life is “something that happens to them.”. From this perspective, we would depend on external factors that would determine the course of existence. That is why we speak of passive consciousness.

In passive consciousness, the person does not see himself as a cause, but as an effect from the rest of the world. It is as if life were happening independently of will and the only alternative was to try to accommodate the inevitable. Complaint is the only possible reaction to this construction.

2. Consciousness in control

The second of the levels of consciousness, according to Michael B. Beckwith, is consciousness in control. It belongs to those who “make life happen.” This means that they assume an active position towards existence, they set goals and fight to achieve them.

However, in this case it is above all a form of consciousness directed by reason. It continues to be very dependent on the external world, since it focuses on the conquests that can be achieved in it. A desire to control everything predominates and, for this reason, it is not uncommon for there to be anger and frustration. on many occasions.

3. Open awareness

For Michael B. Beckwith, open awareness is one of the high levels of consciousness. It refers to the people who make life happen through them.. In this case, the existence of realities more powerful than one’s own reason and will is accepted, but such acceptance does not lead to frustration. It starts from the idea that there are incomprehensible situations and that these also provide wisdom.

Who reaches this level of consciousness He knows that he is part of a reality much larger than his own self.. You feel part of that reality and therefore it makes it possible to adopt a humble attitude in the face of adversity. There is inner peace and this is understood as a constant search for balance between one’s desires and the limits of reality.

4. Awakened consciousness

Awakened consciousness arises when someone discovers that life is not outside, nor in one’s own will, nor does it flow through what one is, but that he himself is life. It is the highest level of consciousness and It is present in those who have managed to “empty” themselves internally and allow themselves to be fully.

This is what is known in Zen Buddhism as the state of enlightenment. It is characterized by a state of rapport with everything that exists. Someone with an awakened consciousness contemplates the sky and becomes sky; or comes into contact with a flower and assimilates its nature. It corresponds to the maximum balance and the greatest spiritual peace.

How do you reach such high levels of consciousness? Michael B. Beckwith says it starts by taking responsibility for your own life. This, in principle, means learning to choose the response you give to different circumstances. From then on, and with the help of meditation, progress begins on that path towards plenitude.

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