THE TWO WORLDS

The second state is the unconscious world of the lower centers. Sensations, movement, ideas and theories, and feelings, all occur with little or no awareness. In this state, the four lower centers react to various stimuli in the environment. In the state of presence, higher centers generate themselves. They inconspicuously generate consciousness and respond, rather than react, to their environment.

Since higher centers reside in the human vessel for the duration of their earthly term, how do these two worlds – the lower functions and consciousness – co-exist? Functions exist without consciousness, and consciousness can exist without functions. Where do the land-locked lower centers meet the profound ocean of awareness?

The work of the steward is to bring the lower centers into relative balance. It prepares them for the emergence of higher centers. Without the effort of the non-expression of negative emotions, self-remembering, and transforming suffering, the untamed and uneducated lower centers will continue to usurp higher states. Divided attention however, is the dawn of consciousness and brings us to the shores of the third state.

Just like Moses denied the promised land, or the classical invocation, “Thus far and no further,” the steward cannot partake of higher states of consciousness. In relation to higher centers, the expression “a law unto themselves” serves as a description of the wholly separate nature of consciousness to functions.

The accompanying image of a Rembrandt self-portrait discreetly includes two circles behind him. Neither one touching the other, yet they are part of the whole composition. Rembrandt it seems, is illustrating that there are two worlds. There's the world of the lower centers, portrayed by the faint, almost ambiguous circle on the left, and the world of conscious reality, higher centers, portrayed by the definite circle on the right. The painting indicates that these two elements exist within the same vessel, as portrayed by Rembrandt himself.

Working in a school involves practices that are critical for conscious development, namely divided attention, the non-expression of negative emotions, self-remembering, and transforming suffering. These techniques have been perfected by schools for conscious evolution throughout history. They are still available, and still as necessary.

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Self-Portrait Detail, Rembrandt,

Kenwood House, London, UK