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Handbook to Higher Consciousness

Handbook to Higher Consciousness

by Ken Keyes Jr. 1973 215 pages
4.19
500+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Consciousness Levels: From Security to Cosmic Awareness

Your journey into higher consciousness is a matter of your learning how to properly program your remarkable biocomputer.

The consciousness scale. The Living Love Way describes seven levels of consciousness, starting from the lower centers of Security, Sensation, and Power, progressing to the higher centers of Love, Cornucopia, Conscious-awareness, and ultimately, Cosmic Consciousness. This hierarchy represents our evolution from basic survival needs to a state of unity with all existence.

Progression and characteristics. As we move up this scale:

  • Lower centers focus on ego-driven needs and desires
  • Higher centers emphasize acceptance, abundance, and awareness
  • Each level brings increased energy, perceptiveness, and happiness
  • The ultimate goal is to reach a state of continuous bliss and oneness with the universe

2. The Twelve Pathways to Higher Consciousness

The Twelve Pathways are a modern, practical condensation of thousands of years of accumulated wisdom.

Guiding principles. The Twelve Pathways serve as a comprehensive guide for personal growth and consciousness expansion. They encompass:

  • Freeing oneself from addictive programming
  • Living in the present moment
  • Interacting harmoniously with others
  • Discovering one's true conscious awareness

Practical application. To benefit from the Pathways:

  • Memorize and internalize them
  • Use them as a daily guide for decision-making and problem-solving
  • Apply them to transform challenging situations into opportunities for growth

3. Reprogramming Addictions into Preferences

An addiction is a programming (or operating instruction to your biocomputer) that triggers uncomfortable emotional responses and excites your consciousness if the world does not fit the programmed pattern in your mind.

Understanding addictions. Addictions are emotion-backed demands that cause suffering when unfulfilled. They stem from our early programming and keep us trapped in lower consciousness levels.

The reprogramming process:

  1. Recognize addictions by the emotional upheaval they cause
  2. Accept the current reality without resistance
  3. Consciously choose to view the situation as a preference rather than a necessity
  4. Practice this shift consistently to rewire neural pathways

Benefits of preferences:

  • Increased emotional stability
  • Greater flexibility in life situations
  • Enhanced ability to enjoy the present moment

4. The Five Methods for Consciousness Growth

When you use these Five Methods continuously in your moment-to-moment daily life, you will find a turned-on satisfaction in your daily stream of consciousness.

Overview of methods:

  1. Memorize and apply the Twelve Pathways
  2. Be aware of your current Center of Consciousness
  3. Recognize cause-effect between addictions and unhappiness
  4. Use the Living Love Catalyst (ALL WAYS US LIVING LOVE)
  5. Practice Consciousness Focusing

Integrating the methods. Consistently applying these techniques in daily life accelerates personal growth by:

  • Increasing awareness of thought patterns and emotional reactions
  • Providing tools to shift perspective and reprogram addictions
  • Cultivating a state of loving acceptance and present-moment awareness

5. Embracing the Here and Now

To be fully here and now, you must be able to experience all of the instruments of the symphony.

Present moment awareness. Living in the here and now is crucial for experiencing higher consciousness. It involves:

  • Fully engaging with current experiences without judgment
  • Letting go of past regrets and future anxieties
  • Appreciating the richness of each moment

Overcoming obstacles. Common barriers to present-moment living include:

  • Addictive programming that pulls attention to unfulfilled desires
  • Excessive mental chatter and analysis
  • Fear of fully experiencing emotions or sensations

Practices for cultivating presence:

  • Mindful breathing and body awareness
  • Conscious observation of thoughts without attachment
  • Regular meditation or consciousness-focusing exercises

6. Love as the Key to Higher Consciousness

Real love is possible when I reprogram my biocomputer with Preferential Programming.

Transformative power of love. Unconditional love and acceptance form the foundation of higher consciousness. This love:

  • Transcends ego-driven attachments and fears
  • Allows for genuine connection with others and the world
  • Creates a harmonious flow with life's experiences

Cultivating unconditional love:

  • Practice accepting people and situations as they are
  • Let go of judgments and expectations
  • Recognize the interconnectedness of all beings
  • Respond to challenges with compassion rather than resistance

7. The Mechanism of Happiness vs. Unhappiness

Your world is perfect from the point of view of continually providing you with precisely the life experiences that you need for your overall development as a conscious being.

Understanding happiness. True happiness arises from:

  • Acceptance of what is, rather than resistance to reality
  • Operating from higher centers of consciousness
  • Viewing life experiences as opportunities for growth

The unhappiness cycle:

  1. Addictive programming triggers emotional reactions
  2. Negative emotions lead to critical thoughts and behaviors
  3. Criticism creates negative feedback from the environment
  4. Negative feedback reinforces addictive programming

Breaking the cycle:

  • Recognize the pattern
  • Choose to respond from higher consciousness levels
  • Practice acceptance and loving communication

8. Calming the Rational Mind for Clarity

A free, undominated awareness that is highly attuned here and now to the people and situations around you will best enable you to benefit by the wisdom that is waiting to be tapped in your biocomputer.

The overactive mind. An incessantly chattering rational mind can:

  • Obscure intuitive wisdom and deeper awareness
  • Perpetuate addictive programming and emotional turmoil
  • Prevent full engagement with the present moment

Techniques for mental calm:

  • Regular meditation or mindfulness practice
  • Conscious breathing exercises
  • Observing thoughts without attachment
  • Using the Living Love Catalyst as a centering tool

Benefits of a quiet mind:

  • Increased intuition and clarity
  • Enhanced ability to live in the present
  • Greater access to higher consciousness states

9. The Power of Unconditional Acceptance

To consistently appreciate your life from the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Centers of Consciousness, you do not have to train yourself to the point where thoughts do not spontaneously occur and there is no random stream of consciousness.

Embracing reality. Unconditional acceptance involves:

  • Acknowledging what is without resistance
  • Letting go of the need to control outcomes
  • Recognizing the perfection in life's unfolding

Practicing acceptance:

  • Observe situations without immediate judgment
  • Look for the growth opportunity in challenges
  • Respond to life from a place of openness rather than fear

Transformation through acceptance:

  • Reduced emotional suffering
  • Increased ability to flow with life's changes
  • Greater peace and contentment in daily experiences

10. Transforming Relationships through Higher Consciousness

You head creates your child.

Conscious interactions. Applying higher consciousness principles to relationships leads to:

  • More harmonious and fulfilling connections
  • Reduced conflict and misunderstanding
  • Opportunities for mutual growth and learning

Key practices for conscious relationships:

  • Communicate openly and honestly
  • View others as teachers on your path to growth
  • Respond from a place of love rather than fear or ego
  • Practice unconditional acceptance of others' journeys

Parenting with consciousness:

  • Model higher consciousness behaviors
  • Create a loving, accepting environment for growth
  • Recognize and respect the child's individual path
  • Use challenges as opportunities for mutual learning and development

Last updated:

FAQ

What's "Handbook to Higher Consciousness" about?

  • Evolution of Consciousness: The book explores the evolution of human consciousness from primitive survival instincts to higher states of awareness and love.
  • Overcoming Primitive Programming: It discusses how our ancient fight-or-flight mechanisms still influence our emotions and behaviors today, often leading to unnecessary fear and anger.
  • Path to Higher Consciousness: The book provides a guide to achieving higher consciousness by reprogramming our minds to overcome these primitive instincts.
  • Living Love Way: It introduces the Living Love Way, a method to live in higher consciousness, emphasizing love, oneness, and emotional acceptance.

Why should I read "Handbook to Higher Consciousness"?

  • Personal Growth: The book offers practical methods for personal development and achieving a state of continuous happiness and love.
  • Emotional Freedom: It provides tools to free oneself from emotional addictions that cause suffering and unhappiness.
  • Improved Relationships: By learning to love unconditionally, readers can improve their relationships with others and themselves.
  • Spiritual Insight: The book offers deep spiritual insights into the nature of consciousness and the human experience.

What are the key takeaways of "Handbook to Higher Consciousness"?

  • Addictions Cause Unhappiness: Emotional addictions are the root cause of suffering, and reprogramming them into preferences can lead to happiness.
  • Twelve Pathways: The book outlines Twelve Pathways to guide individuals toward higher consciousness and unconditional love.
  • Centers of Consciousness: It describes seven levels of consciousness, from basic survival instincts to cosmic consciousness.
  • Living Love Methods: Practical methods are provided to help individuals reprogram their minds and achieve higher states of awareness.

What are the Twelve Pathways in "Handbook to Higher Consciousness"?

  • Freeing Myself: The first three pathways focus on freeing oneself from security, sensation, and power addictions.
  • Being Here Now: The next three pathways emphasize living in the present moment and taking responsibility for one's experiences.
  • Interacting with Others: These pathways encourage open communication, compassion, and acting from a place of love.
  • Discovering Conscious-Awareness: The final pathways focus on calming the mind, recognizing different levels of consciousness, and perceiving everyone as awakening beings.

How does "Handbook to Higher Consciousness" define addictions?

  • Emotion-Backed Demands: Addictions are described as emotion-backed demands that trigger negative emotions when unmet.
  • Source of Suffering: They are the primary source of unhappiness, as they create a constant state of fear, anger, or disappointment.
  • Reprogramming Addictions: The book emphasizes the importance of reprogramming these addictions into preferences to achieve emotional freedom.
  • Impact on Perception: Addictions distort our perception of reality, leading to an illusory version of the world.

What is the Living Love Way in "Handbook to Higher Consciousness"?

  • Path to Higher Consciousness: The Living Love Way is a method to achieve higher consciousness by overcoming emotional addictions.
  • Unconditional Love: It emphasizes loving everyone unconditionally, including oneself, as a means to achieve inner peace and happiness.
  • Practical Methods: The book provides practical methods and pathways to help individuals live according to the Living Love Way.
  • Continuous Happiness: By following this path, individuals can experience continuous happiness and fulfillment in their lives.

What are the Seven Centers of Consciousness in "Handbook to Higher Consciousness"?

  • Lower Centers: The first three centers are Security, Sensation, and Power, which are associated with basic survival instincts and often lead to unhappiness.
  • Love Center: The fourth center is the Love Center, where individuals begin to experience unconditional love and acceptance.
  • Cornucopia Center: The fifth center is characterized by experiencing the world as a friendly and abundant place.
  • Higher Centers: The sixth and seventh centers are Conscious-awareness and Cosmic Consciousness, where individuals experience oneness with everything.

How can I apply the Twelve Pathways from "Handbook to Higher Consciousness" in daily life?

  • Memorize and Reflect: Memorize the Twelve Pathways and reflect on them daily to guide your thoughts and actions.
  • Identify Addictions: Use the pathways to identify and reprogram emotional addictions that cause suffering.
  • Practice Presence: Focus on being present in the moment and taking responsibility for your experiences.
  • Open Communication: Foster open and loving communication with others, practicing compassion and understanding.

What is Consciousness Focusing in "Handbook to Higher Consciousness"?

  • Reprogramming Method: Consciousness Focusing is a method to reprogram strong emotional addictions by focusing on them with intensity.
  • Emotional Exploration: It involves exploring the suffering caused by an addiction and pinpointing the specific demand causing it.
  • Intense Reprogramming: The method uses intense emotional energy to reprogram the addiction into a preference.
  • Rapid Change: When done effectively, it can lead to rapid changes in emotional programming and increased happiness.

How does "Handbook to Higher Consciousness" suggest calming the rational mind?

  • Quieting Thoughts: The book suggests calming the rational mind to perceive finer energies and achieve higher consciousness.
  • Living Love Catalyst: Use the Catalyst "ALL WAYS US LIVING LOVE" to center thoughts and reduce mental chatter.
  • Mindful Awareness: Practice mindful awareness of thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them.
  • Meditation in Action: Apply the Twelve Pathways and Centers of Consciousness as a form of meditation in daily life.

What are the best quotes from "Handbook to Higher Consciousness" and what do they mean?

  • "Love everyone unconditionally — including yourself." This quote encapsulates the core message of the book, emphasizing the importance of unconditional love for achieving higher consciousness.
  • "Your mind creates your universe." It highlights the idea that our perceptions and experiences are shaped by our mental programming and consciousness level.
  • "The purpose of our lives is to be free of all addictive traps, and thus become One with the Ocean of Living Love." This quote defines the ultimate goal of the Living Love Way, which is to achieve oneness and freedom from emotional addictions.
  • "Happiness varies inversely with one's addictions." It underscores the book's central thesis that reducing emotional addictions leads to greater happiness.

How does "Handbook to Higher Consciousness" address the purpose of life?

  • Freedom from Addictions: The book suggests that the purpose of life is to free oneself from emotional addictions and achieve higher consciousness.
  • Oneness with Love: It emphasizes becoming one with the Ocean of Living Love as the ultimate goal of human existence.
  • Continuous Growth: Life is seen as a journey of continuous growth and reprogramming to achieve inner peace and happiness.
  • Creating a Loving World: By achieving higher consciousness, individuals contribute to creating a more loving and harmonious world.

Review Summary

4.19 out of 5
Average of 500+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Handbook to Higher Consciousness receives mostly positive reviews, praised for its practical approach to achieving happiness and inner peace. Readers find it life-changing, offering valuable insights into reprogramming negative thought patterns. Critics argue it oversimplifies complex issues and promotes a narcissistic worldview. Many appreciate its blend of Eastern philosophy with Western concepts, while others find it repetitive. Despite its age, many readers still find the book's teachings relevant and impactful, recommending it as a guide to personal growth and emotional well-being.

Your rating:

About the Author

Ken Keyes Jr. was an American personal growth author and lecturer. He is best known for his book "Handbook to Higher Consciousness," which sold over a million copies in the 1970s. Keyes developed the "Living Love Way," a system for personal transformation combining elements of Eastern philosophy with Western psychology. He lived an unconventional lifestyle, residing on a yacht and a bus while dedicating his personal fortune and book royalties to non-profit spiritual organizations. Keyes' work focused on helping individuals overcome addictive emotional patterns and achieve greater happiness through acceptance and reprogramming of thought processes.

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