ENLIGHTENMENT: EXEC SUMMARY

INVITATION

Perhaps in a moment of discontent we should find ourselves, neck-deep in dukkha, estranged from our once-cherished picture of the world, as it succumbs, like all things, to impermanence. Whether cognized above the threshold of conscious awareness as a crisis of meaning or simply felt as an undercurrent of unease beneath the surface, we have become sensitized to the inescapable absence of a final arbiter, any higher authority, or underlying coherence—the center, as we know it, does not hold.

Experienced predominantly as a dearth of clarity, wholeness, or connection, or perhaps as a loss of reverential awe for the mystery of life, we stand in angst at the brink, recognizing that, devoid of firm foundation, our conditional touchstones—such as societal success, material wealth, or superficial pleasure—no longer provide the promised solace, failing to quell a pervasive sense of disunity. As alienation and disarray set in, we find ourselves adrift in an existential vacuum, unmoored from any sense of dependable meaning, where the edges of our shared reality fray and unravel, engulfing all in confusion.

Yet, even in this desolation, we feel in our core an inexorable pull—to abide in the veritable essence of consciousness, from unshakeable security, and with radiant harmony. We might even be drawn beyond the constriction of a personal story that, like garments grown too tight and claustrophobic, we’ve outgrown, stirring within us the aspiration for nothing less than the peace of unbounded liberation.

Manifesting in varying tones, the pressing need to resolve this meaning crisis and heal our core wound may be experienced favorably as a providential calling to adventure, dispassionately as a skeptical quest for bedrock, or perilously as an awful crisis—a harrowing dark night of trials and tribulations, of gnawing discontent impelling us toward a looming threshold. Regardless of the instigating trigger or precipitating event, whether the message attends personal hardship or the anomie of societal disintegration, arriving early in life or late, insinuating itself like a slow leak or crashing down upon us like a tidal wave, it serves as our invitation.

Out of touch with our own inner being, the opportunity then arises for the superficiality of our transient self to be exposed, turning us deeper toward the unknown.

INITIATION

Guided by hope, our inquiry unfolds, initially skimming the surface and confined to platitudes or mental agitation otherwise devoid of sufficient insight. Yet, as our earnestness deepens, so does our introspection, and with unwavering sincerity, we graduate into a contemplative practice, such as meditation. Akin to sustaining attention into deep sleep, we turn inward to undeveloped frontier. Like bringing a lamp into the recesses of the darkest cave, we remain vigilant, maintaining the strength of presence needed to keep the flame of consciousness alive amid the murky undertow of unconscious forces. As the mind begins to quiet and holds steady, like a record slipping into its groove after a jumble of static, we settle into alignment, where everything begins to fall into place. Continuing to immerse, first gross, then subtle objects of awareness dissipate, until dissolving irreducibly into our undiluted base, we are plunged into the vortex of cessation, weightless and free. Absorbed in embryonic suspension, consciousness qua consciousness—consciousness, unvarnished by any distortive lens—is finally made transparent to itself, unmediated by and untethered from symbolic or imagistic interpretation.

Tuned up, our nervous system, the most sensitive instrument at our disposal, discloses a tacit apprehension—an acuity of crystalline transparency—more subtle than abstract reasoning, more palpable than what is concretely tangible, and unparalleled in intimacy and immediacy. Stripped of all artifice, only naked consciousness prevails. As empirical as any truth claim, the unassailability of this direct glimpse into our unconditioned nature is self-substantiating. Only awareness itself cannot be subject to doubt because only this profound mystery alone cannot be made an object of awareness, as it is the subject that predicates on no object. As non-dual traditions attest, having crossed the threshold of subject-object duality—where the observer, the process of observation, and the object under observation have dissolved—the treasure of our intrinsic, universal nature as the substance in which all form inheres, the substratum from which everything arises moment to moment, is rendered in an unveiling—gripped to bare awareness, anchored in being, seamlessly settled in the plenum of all-enveloping essence.

Verified by direct encounter, the vivid equanimity of this meditatively-induced peak state is nonetheless merely a stepping-stone as the episode is transient and often challenging to sustain when form disperses our attention. Consequently, when we come out of the embryonic womb of meditation and our body-mind along with the manifest world reboots back online the quality of this peak state is not sustained. That is, until one day we come out of meditation, only meditation does not come out of us.

UNIFICATION

Imprinted upon initiation, it is natural to continue our pursuit, much like a hound hot on its scent, with renewed confidence. It has been said that letting go in meditation prepares one for death, a process akin to acclimating to cold water: each immersion making the experience less jarring, more familiar. Similarly, like a needle finding its track on a record, our consciousness begins to slip into these familiar grooves, spacious and free from discordant static, with increasing regularity and earlier in each session. If meditation were dye and we the fabric, each session would be like another immersion, gradually seeping into our fibers until we emerge fully saturated, with a steadfast color-lock. So that as our cultivation deepens, this awareness becomes not only less intermittent, but, as we close the distance, begins to surface—like an underground stream finding its way to daylight, pushing through to the forefront of our experience, much like molars breaking through the gumline. However tenuous the crystallization is at first, diligently tended to as a caretaker would a baby, eventually presence stabilizes, and one is assured that it has established a stronghold of continuity. Energetically on-lock, this presence affixes like superglue, allowing us to carry its clarity and depth into every aspect of our existence.

Differentiated from the conventional ego-identity and its self-concept in the mind, we reach a heightened realization—a supra-mental consciousness that is trans-personal. This apotheosis emerges out of a developmental pattern of differentiation, already established: from an undifferentiated fusion in infancy, to a body-centered self in toddlerhood, and a socio-emotional self in early childhood. In middle childhood, a mentalized identity emerges, specialized in concrete perspectives, and further complexified in adolescence as reflective capacities mature. Though situated in the mind, this meta-cognitive habit cultivates a detachment that may facilitate the leap to supra-mental awareness, transcending mental constructs entirely. From here, supra-consciousness is birthed—a profound awareness that, even if initially residing in the backdrop, once stabilized, remains salient during our everyday activities and amidst the vicissitudes of life. This prevailing condition becomes our new default. No longer confined to meditation, this baseline shift into a new set-point of awareness persists even into our ordinary waking state.

Awakening, as a process of unification along a continuum of progression, is generally characterized by the displacement and dissolution of the separate self-sense, accompanied by a corollary breakthrough to and unfolding unification with a divine center. This unification unfolds in four distinct phases, with each phase converging upon a specific center and dimension of self-less expansion: (1) Transcendental Consciousness, reached around the head, signifies height; (2) Immanent Being, rooted in the hara, symbolizes depth; (3) Radiant Heart, emanating from the heart, conveys breadth; and (4) Permeant Beyond, or Enlightenment proper, penetrating through all centers—the head, hara, and heart—dissolves unbounded and centerless into the timeless divine eternal, the point of both origin and culmination.

Briefly, to provide a sense of the felt alignment within each phase, the following descriptions evoke the direct apprehension of these four degrees of unification:

Transcendental Consciousness is differentiated (and thus detached) from the mental self, poised in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s phrase, with "higher self-possession" of enhanced clarity of presence and scope stabilized around the headspace. Cross-culturally depicted as a halo (nimbus) in iconographic art, the associated sensation can be likened to having a helium-caked cranium. Spacious—affording a buffering prospect as though elevated upon a mountaintop perch overlooking the busy marketplace of ego with its myriad machinations below—the mental self is set in stark relief. No longer proximal in point of reference, the mind is displaced as center of concern, to be silently and dispassionately observed as an object of awareness. Like the hinge to a door (Meister Eckhart), the stationary elbow to the lower arm (Walt Whitman), or the axle of a spinning wheel, this unification with the transcendent, referred to by Robert KC Forman as the Dualistic Mystical State, delineates the stillness of pure consciousness from the obscurations of the fluctuating mind. As a metaphor, imagine simulating an oil spill in a dish tray (head), where oil (ego) floats on the surface, occluding the water (pure consciousness) below, symbolizing the relative murkiness of our conventional waking state. Introducing dish soap (meditation, such as breathwork) disperses the oil so that all the inkiness congregates into a thin strip along the front rim of the dish tray. Like so, is our clear, vast consciousness revealed upon segregation from our personal self-sense, which is retained distinctly and without confusion as a thin strip before our purview, enabling us to have our Witness cake and ego too.
Immanent Being is cultivated by sacrificing that which is lower, as in partial, for the higher or whole, reconciling shadow material from deeply below to redeem and unify within, conducting an overall sense of whole-body infusion, as above, so below. Emptied out through a process of mortification and purification, like the burning of dead wood preparing the soil for roots to plunge deep, this process strips us of excess, leaving us simplified, grounded, and fortified from within. This inner energy field is depicted as an aureole enveloping the body, like an illumined cocoon. A serene indwelling resides, hidden within a haven of concealment and retreat—akin to being enclosed in a cave, an alcove, or sheltered under dense canopies, deep in the wood, enfolded by the landscape. There, recessed like a tortoise in its shell, we are womb-like snug as the idiomatic bug in a rug, softly blanketed and kindled by hearth-light. Here, in the stillness of the now, a profound collectedness settles in, rooted unshakably from the primordial ground of tranquil refuge.
Radiant Heart emanates from the heart, as inward, so outward, spanning with delight in an open-hearted embrace of one-and-many. Depicted as the transfiguration in Christian iconography, variously, a luminous cloud may be employed, or as in the Apollonian solar disk of ancient Greece, rays of supernal light may radiate forth. This emanation evokes a felt oceanic sense of connecting to all shores, inviolably and indomitably bright as to whitewash dim remnants of the subconscious ego, rendered quiescent and translucent, transfused with the purity of innocence, simultaneously bathed and cloaked by a dazzling forcefield of brilliant light.
Permeant Beyond—or Enlightenment proper—pervades throughout, the ego is diffused until the proverbial bottom of the bucket drops. Snuffed out, selfhood is extinguished (Nirvana) or annihilated (fana), and there no longer remains a center of identity. Like a vanishing act, one is nowhere to be found. Ego-death is synonymous with liberation (Moksha), an emancipation from self-constriction, a release into infinite peace surpassing all understanding, immaculate and untouched by time. Miraculously, though the self has died—exposed as illusory (maya), with the self now absorbed in unmanifest source, absent or transparent to the onlyness of one taste—there is resurrection of a post-mortem life. After all, you’re still kicking around, aren’t you?

In sum, by displacing ego-identity, awakening sustains the purified consciousness previewed in meditation into the waking state, allowing this realization to integrate within, suffuse outward, and ultimately permeate all the way through to the ego death of Enlightenment.

TRANSITION

Each of these four unifications—transcendent, immanent, emanant, and permeant—is preceded by a purification, guided by the lure of a teleological touchstone predominating a dimension (or sub-system) of our being. Like beacons, these touchstones illuminate our path. In aligning with their light, we become like a metal shaving to a magnet, inexorably drawn forth as by an attractor field—or, borrowing from science fiction, a tractor beam.

Gross / Mental purification addresses the intellect or mind, and pursuant of truth, intelligence differentiates us from mental objects, increasing clarity to eventually break through to the mystery of unvarnished consciousness free from the partiality of mental lenses whereupon Transcendental Consciousness is reached.
Psychic purification recalls the psychological dimension or psyche, and pursuant of the good, the wisdom of sapience integrates our whole being via shadow work to foster ongoing dynamic equilibrium between assimilation of realized order and accommodation to the unknown, in virtuous service to the mystery of incarnated humanity, whereby Immanent Being is embodied.
Subtle purification attends to our soul, and pursuant of the lovely and beautiful, radiance via harmonic resonance and refinement opens us to the transfiguring mystery of binding, healing, and harmonizing light emanating from Radiant Heart.
Causal purification invokes spirit, and pursuant of liberation, permeance determined by infinite degrees requires our unconditional surrender to the mystery that penetrates through our astounded self into the awesome Permeant Beyond.

Stratified in this schema above into distinct layers by the specialized mind, the dimensions, synergizing in fluid interplay at the intermediary psychic dimension, are suffused with the light that, at its penultimate, synchronizes us with the morphic field at the subtle plane of soul, and ultimately, at its most refined, pervades all dimensions at the causal plane of spirit, from which all manifested domains of influence precipitate and find their formative condition.

PATHIFICATION

Guided by the touchstones already named, one’s course is typically governed by the dimension that directs the search—mind, psyche, soul, or spirit. When purification in that dimension crosses the self-effacing threshold, awakening enters at a corresponding point on the continuum. In general: the subtler the dimension sufficiently purified to cross over, the deeper the scoop—the higher the leap—into the entry-point of awakening.

• Headlong – Associated with the Jnana path or cognitive type, focused on the differentiation of the mind, purification first yokes the head center into unification, reaching Transcendental Consciousness. Subsequent unifications may tend to unfold stepwise due to the proclivity of mind to verify each step.

• Grounded – Common with a Karma path and conative type, tending to the psyche, inter-dynamic balance can yoke hara and head in tandem, not only reaching unification but rooting it in the wholeness within of Immanent Being. From here, unification may open into Radiant Heart, or deepen through surrender toward the Permeant Beyond.

• Heartfelt – Guided by the Bhakti path and affective type, a more subtle appeal to the soul yokes hara and head in the tender heart’s embrace—the luminous breadth of Radiant Heart. From Radiant Heart, the remaining movement is the permeance through all centers, until the last residual trace of self-reference falls away.

• Direct – Unified by the Raja path, rare though such an uncompromising nature may be, those of undying constancy can surrender directly to spirit, until the organizing reference-point releases, yielding immediately to the Permeant Beyond.

These pathways can be rendered in four figures—linear (structure-stages), cyclical (value-relations), radial (state-alignments), centrepoint (field-unifications)—each schema tracing a latent motif by which the route is charted. The headlong course is best rendered as linear, as differentiation clarifies higher over lower. The grounded course is best rendered as cyclical, as integration reconciles parts and whole. The heartfelt course is best rendered as radial, as illumination suffuses one and many. And the direct course is best rendered as centrepoint, as permeant unification is its aim. In experience, these motifs are less theory than orientation—how the path is sensed as a continuity of engagement before it is named.

Aiding our understanding (figuration), these figures belong alongside a broader coherence scheme: that of practice (purification), alignment (illumination), and awakening itself (unification). Rendered as a matrix, their homologous correspondences become explicit as a lattice of coherence, expressed in interlocking modes, helping to prevent common conflations—especially between spiritual awakening, where the threshold of self-reference has been crossed, and soulful alignment, which both intimates awakening and remains indispensable in its own right.

Coherence Matrix: Dimensions x Coherence Modes

Key: TC = Transcendental Consciousness; IB = Immanent Being; RH = Radiant Heart; PB = Permeant Beyond. Parenthetical pathway labels indicate the leading dimension—a continuity of engagement across modes of coherence—rather than a prescribed sequence.

INTIMATION

In a sense, Enlightenment is unremarkable. Rather than inflating the self, the self is deposed, leaving a space filled with ineffable mystery. This mystery is not something to be attained but abided in, quietly returning us to our essential nature. As the ever-present wellspring of experience, this mystery is unavoidable—not a distant abstraction, but the condition of everything arising moment to moment. Already partaking of these multifarious expressions, appreciation is then a foregone conclusion.

Throughout life’s stages, we are continually drawn to our innate connection with this primordial mystery. In the spontaneity of young children and the innocence of pets, we find effortless communion. As we mature into greater autonomy, it is natural to take on responsibility that displaces the self as our center, to begin a family and embrace the well-being of others. This invites a re-enchantment with the world, allowing us to see anew through the eyes of a child. In elderhood, after pouring all we can into life, we prepare for the gentle dissolution of the self, ready for the final transition, returning to the place before birth.

Yet, an appreciation of this underlying nature, however revealed, is not bound to any single stage of life; its presence is felt in everyday moments. Whether through music, sport, a walk in nature, or the company of loved ones, we are transported into a flow state, aligning with deeper currents. Moments of grace, whether consolatory or ordinary, can present themselves to anyone at any time. Without the need for intellectual sophistication or spiritual unification, down-to-earth folk often exhibit a balanced, stable nature grounded in common sense and unassuming decency, while the devout open their hearts to an I-Thou intimacy with the mystery. As we become mindful of these moments, we resonate with a coherence that blesses both ourselves and others. When embraced collectively, this can transform civilization, illuminating a path to a more interconnected and peaceful world.

Throughout each person’s journey, subtle hints of the divine—clarity, balance, and connection—invite us to turn toward them, gently guiding us along the path. Even before the threshold of awakening is crossed, these qualities are accessible and can be cultivated. Regardless of one’s background, those inclined have the opportunity to release what obstructs these qualities, allowing them to see more clearly, find greater stability, and open their hearts in kindness. Embodying these qualities fosters a harmonious and resonant way of being, aligning us with the deeper mystery of existence. Whether this intimation satisfies or awakens a deeper yearning—to abide in the truth of consciousness, embody as a wholeness within, and radiate this open-heartedly, or to become a mystery unto oneself, surrendered to what simply is—your journey is uniquely yours to explore. The invitation to initiate our own investigation, like the Natural State itself, is ever-present, awaiting our availability.