The Awakening of Intelligence

1. Thought is Measure and the Source of Division.

Thought is of time, intelligence is not of time.

Thought's fundamental nature. Thought is inherently a process of measurement and comparison, rooted in the past (memory, knowledge, experience). It operates by dividing reality into categories, concepts, and ideas. This measuring and dividing function is essential for practical tasks like technology, language, and navigation.

Source of conflict. While necessary for function, thought's divisive nature is the root cause of psychological conflict and suffering. It creates separation:

• Between "me" and "not me"
• Between "us" and "them" (national, religious, social divisions)
• Between "what is" and "what should be" (ideals, goals)
• Between the thinker and the thought, the observer and the observed

Limited by the past. Thought can only operate within the field of the known, the past. It can project the future, but this future is merely a modification or extension of the past. Therefore, thought, being old, can never discover or understand anything truly new or immeasurable.

2. The "Me" or Self is an Image Constructed by Thought and Memory.

The "me" is the mind, is thought.

The illusion of the self. The entity we call the "me," the ego, or the self is not a fixed, independent core but a bundle of memories, experiences, traditions, beliefs, anxieties, and desires, all put together by thought. This constructed image of "me" is the central point of reference for our consciousness.

Source of isolation. This image of the self creates a sense of separation and isolation from others and from the world. It builds walls of resistance and defense, leading to conflict in relationships and a constant preoccupation with self-concern (my problems, my happiness, my security).

Seeking security in itself. Thought, seeking security, creates the image of the self and then seeks security within that image. This is a circular process where thought finds security in its own creation, which is inherently limited and fragile, leading to fear and anxiety when the image is threatened.

3. Conditioning and Fragmentation Define Our Consciousness.

The content of consciousness is consciousness—the two are not separate.

Consciousness is its content. Our consciousness is not an empty container but is entirely made up of its content: our conditioning, memories, beliefs, fears, desires, cultural influences, and experiences (both conscious and seemingly unconscious). There is no consciousness apart from what fills it.

Fragmentation is inherent. This content is inherently fragmented. We are conditioned to see life in parts:

• As different roles (parent, worker, citizen)
• As opposing ideas (good/evil, sacred/profane)
• As divisions (my nation/your nation, my religion/your religion)
• As the conscious and the unconscious (a division created by thought)

Disorder is the result. This fragmentation within consciousness is the source of all psychological and social disorder. Any attempt by one fragment (e.g., the "conscious will") to control or change another fragment (e.g., "unconscious fear") is still a movement within the fragmented field, perpetuating conflict and disorder.

4. Seeking, Systems, and Authority Prevent True Understanding.

The man who says he knows, he does not know.

Futility of external search. The search for truth, God, enlightenment, or happiness outside of oneself, through systems, methods, or following authorities (gurus, priests, books), is fundamentally misguided. This search is often driven by a desire to escape from present suffering or dissatisfaction.

Systems create mechanical minds. Following a system or method, no matter how well-intentioned, makes the mind mechanical and dull. It involves:

• Practice and repetition
• Acceptance of external authority
• Conformity and suppression of one's own understanding
• Conflict between the effort to follow and one's natural inclinations

Authority breeds dependence. Accepting the authority of another about one's inner life prevents genuine self-discovery and freedom. It fosters dependence and keeps the individual from standing alone to find truth for themselves. True understanding is self-initiated, not received from another.

5. Authentic Observation is Without the Observer or Images.

To look with eyes that are not conditioned.

The problem of looking. We typically observe the world and ourselves through the filter of images, concepts, and memories – the "observer." This observer is the past, and looking through the past distorts perception and creates distance and division between the observer and the observed.

Seeing without the filter. True observation, or perception, is possible only when the observer (the image-maker, the past) is absent. This is not an intellectual idea but a state of being fully attentive in the present moment.

• Looking at a tree without the name or knowledge of it.
• Looking at a person without the accumulated image of them.
• Looking at oneself without the self-image.

Attention dissolves the image. Images are formed when the mind is inattentive. When there is complete attention, there is no space for the image to form or persist. This choiceless awareness, without judgment or comparison, is the key to seeing "what is" directly.

6. Fear Arises from Thought's Demand for Certainty and Pleasure.

Thought has produced fear, there is no question about it.

Thought creates fear. Fear is not an independent entity but is largely a creation of thought. Thought, rooted in the past (knowledge, memory), seeks certainty and security. When faced with the unknown or uncertain future, thought projects possibilities (often negative) and this projection breeds fear.

Fear and pleasure are linked. Thought also gives continuity to pleasure by dwelling on past enjoyable experiences and demanding their repetition in the future. The pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain are two sides of the same coin, both driven by thought's craving for continuity and certainty.

• Fear of losing known pleasures.
• Fear of the pain that often follows pleasure.
• Fear of the uncertainty of future pleasure or pain.

Ending fear. Since thought is the source of psychological fear, understanding the nature and operation of thought is essential. When thought is quiet about the future (not planning, but psychological projection), fear of the unknown diminishes. Facing "what is" in the present, without the interference of thought's projections, dissolves fear.

7. Relationship Without Conflict Requires Ending Images and Dependence.

Relationship without conflict means love.

Images destroy relationship. Our relationships are often not between two people but between the images they have built of each other based on past experiences, hurts, pleasures, and expectations. These images create distance, separation, and conflict.

Dependency breeds fear. Psychological dependence on another for companionship, security, or escape from loneliness is rooted in fear and leads to attachment. When attachment is threatened, suffering and conflict arise. True relationship cannot exist where there is dependence and the fear of loss.

Love is not an image or pleasure. Love is not the product of thought, memory, or the pursuit of pleasure. It is not something that can be cultivated or measured. Love is a state of being where the self-image is absent, and there is no division or conflict.

• Not jealousy or possessiveness.
• Not dependency or attachment.
• Not the continuity of pleasure.

Action without image. A relationship without conflict is possible only when both individuals are free from the images they hold of themselves and each other. This requires observing oneself and the other without the past, allowing for direct, immediate contact.

8. Intelligence is the Perception of Thought's Limitations.

Intelligence comes into being when the brain discovers its fallibility, when it discovers what it is capable of, and what it is not.

Intelligence is not thought. Intelligence is distinct from thought, which is measurable and limited by the past. Intelligence is not the result of accumulated knowledge, logic, or argument, although it can operate through thought.

Awakening through perception. Intelligence awakens when the mind (the old brain) perceives the truth of its own limitations – that thought, being of time and measure, cannot understand the immeasurable, the unknown, or bring about true freedom and order. This perception itself is intelligence.

Operating in the known. This intelligence, which is not personal, can then operate through thought in the field of the known (technology, daily function) without creating division or conflict. It is the liaison between the measurable world of thought and the immeasurable dimension beyond it.

Harmony is intelligence. Intelligence is also the state of complete harmony between the mind, heart, and body. This harmony brings about a stillness and vast space where the immeasurable can be. This state is not achieved through effort or control but arises naturally from the perception of truth.

9. Living Wholly in the Present Ends Psychological Time.

Can you live so completely that there is only the active present now?

Psychological time is thought's invention. Beyond chronological time (by the clock), thought creates psychological time – the distance between "what is" and "what should be," the hope of future pleasure, the fear of future pain, the idea of becoming something over time. This psychological time is the field of suffering.

The illusion of tomorrow. Psychologically, tomorrow may not exist. It is a projection of thought, rooted in the past's desire for continuity and certainty. Clinging to the idea of tomorrow prevents living fully in the present moment.

Ending the past. Living wholly in the present requires the ending of the past – not the loss of functional memory, but the cessation of the psychological burden of accumulated hurts, regrets, pleasures, and the self-image. The past is the "me," and being free of the past means being free of the self.

Instantaneous action. When one lives completely in the active present, action is instantaneous and whole, not fragmented by the past or future. This state, free from the burden of psychological time, is where true living and understanding occur.

10. Meditation is the Release of Energy Through Self-Knowledge.

Meditation is the total release of energy.

Energy without friction. Meditation, in its true sense, is not a system, method, or practice to achieve a state. It is the discovery of an energy that is free from the friction of conflict, resistance, and the operation of will. This energy is released through deep self-understanding.

Self-knowledge is key. To release this energy, one must know oneself completely – the conscious and the hidden aspects, the motives, fears, desires, and the entire structure of the "me." This self-knowledge is gained not through analysis (which is fragmented thought) but through observation.

Observation without the observer. True self-observation is looking at oneself without the image-making, judging entity (the observer) interfering. This requires complete attention, where the mind is quiet and sees "what is" directly, without condemnation or justification.

Ending conflict. When there is complete understanding of oneself, the conflict within the "me" ceases. This ending of conflict is the release of immense energy, which is the essence of meditation. This state is not a withdrawal from the world but a different way of being in it.

11. A Religious Life is Order, Virtue, and Love Beyond Thought.

Intelligence comes into being when the mind, the heart and the body are really harmonious.

Beyond dogma and belief. A truly religious life is not adherence to organized religion, belief systems, rituals, or saviours. These are inventions of thought seeking security and are sources of division and conflict.

Order is virtue. A religious life is characterized by absolute order, not mechanical conformity or the result of imposed discipline. This order is virtue, a living thing that arises naturally from a mind free from conflict and fragmentation.

• Order in the mind (clarity, no contradiction)
• Order in the heart (no fear, no hurt, no demand for pleasure)
• Order in the body (sensitivity, not grossness)

Harmony is essential. This order is the state of complete harmony between the mind, heart, and body. This harmony is intelligence, and it is this intelligence that operates in daily life, bringing about a natural, effortless morality that is beyond social convention.

Love is sacred. Love, which is not pleasure or thought, is the sacred. It is a state of being where the self-image is absent, and there is no division. This love, beauty, and order are inseparable and constitute the essence of a religious life.

12. You Are the World: Inner Revolution Transforms the Outer.

If they really live that, do you know what’s going to happen? We should change the world.

Shared consciousness. The world's consciousness is your consciousness, and your consciousness is the world's. The disorder, violence, fear, and suffering in the world are a reflection of the disorder, violence, fear, and suffering within each individual.

Individual responsibility. Therefore, the radical transformation of the world is not possible through external means (political revolution, social reform) alone. It requires a fundamental psychological revolution within each human being.

Action from a new dimension. When an individual undergoes this inner revolution – ending fragmentation, dissolving the self-image, living without conflict – their action in the world comes from a totally different dimension. This action, born of intelligence and love, is inherently non-divisive and transformative.

The power of one. Even if only a few individuals achieve this state of being, their very existence and action in the world will have a profound impact on the collective consciousness, potentially changing the course of humanity. This is the true meaning of being the "salt of the earth."

Last updated: May 14, 2025