What is Spiritual Energy and the 3 Main Levels of Awareness?

Mindfulness Of Spiritual Energy and Awareness Levels

If you have a pain, observe it happening in the body. If there is tightness or joy in your mind, observe that it is tight, sad, unhappy or happy. Just observe that you are not enjoying, and it is happening elsewhere, as though it is happening elsewhere. (… you are free the moment you see it’s not in you.)

~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar 

We are living energy fields. Our physical bodies are composed of energy producing particles, each of which is in constant motion or are vibrating. For example, our heartbeat, breathing rates, and circadian rhythms are examples of physiological energy we can feel and measure. 

On a smaller scale, every cell, every atom, every “part” of us, vibrates at characteristic rates. Those different rates of vibration can speed up or slow down if conditions change.  These vibrations generate electromagnetic energy waves. Researchers have found that vibrations and the electromagnetic energy associated with them cause changes in your cells, which can then affect how your body functions. This is life force, which is the element that animates all that seemingly exists in the world.

Life force is considered to be the body’s natural healing energy. It is thought to be responsible for maintaining all the physical functions of the body. If one’s body is low in life force, then they could become physically or mentally unwell. However, when one’s body has plenty of life force, then the person is usually in good health or in an optimal state of being at that time.

In yogic tradition, life force is regarded as one of the two types of energies that are present in all beings. The second is mind or consciousness, which is awareness.

What Are the Three Levels of Awareness?

There are a multitude of levels of consciousness/awareness which vibrate, but there are three main levels. At a higher level of vibration, we become increasingly aware.  

Dependent upon your level of awareness, you will be more or less mindful of what is going on inside of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally and of your experience of the outside world. 

State of Contracted Awareness

This is our usual state of awareness. We are controlled by our ego conditioning and believe that the conditioned thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and patterns are what we are and that the outside world is the only true reality. We feel small, isolated and separated from the world (even though we are always connected to the universe).  We are at the mercy of emotions such as: fear, anger, guilt, shame, and desire, as well as negative thoughts. We have been conditioned to believe certain things which may be true or not. Life is a struggle and we often feel at a loss. This is the dream state  regarding the outside world.

State of Expanded Awareness

In this level, what appeared to be threatening or a barrier are actually opportunities. We understand that everything that seems like an obstacle has a clear purpose as lessons. We can see the beauty in most things and the blessings in life. We begin to feel connected through a web of energy and consciousness to everyone and everything. We have a higher perspective which is accepting and more neutral and based on logic, reason and truth. In this state of awareness, we can be mindful of the present moment; in other words, know what is factually occurring inside and outside of one’s self. This is the mindful state.

State of Pure Awareness

All is obvious. There are no problems, there is just what is and we accept what is. We feel the wholeness and unity within creation. One knows that all is the flow of the spiritual energy/creative force and consciousness filled with an abundance of all possibilities. We realize that we are The Source. There is no separation. This is the  enlightened state which can lead to transcendence and further to accession.