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APPLICATION
THE NOTION OF GROWTH
145
In this stage we still are subject to doubt and the attachment or rejection of material objects. In the first two phases of this stage we can lose our clear understanding (our notion of growth) again. In this case we fall to the third stage (misra - mixed truth and delusion), from where we may rise again to the fourth level or - passing through the second level - fall down to the first stage of total delusion.
The fourth gunasthana is reached directly from the first stage - without any intermediary steps. This level is experienced in three phases which differ significantly in their clarity of understanding. The differing character of these phases is caused by the length of time we stay in them.
- The first phase is characterized by fleetingness.
At the first occurrence of this phase all karma that prevents our ascent to level four becomes inactive (latent) for a short time. We experience this as brief periods during which all our desires, wishes, preoccupations, preconceptions and attachments that bonded us to the dense hypnotic envelope of level one cease to engage our attention. It feels as if we wake up from a deep dream that the hustle-bustle of daily life wove around our consciousness.
As long as we do not direct our attention towards these moments of awakening, they will continue to be so evanescent that only fleeting impressions remain in our consciousness. Though we experience this awakening with extraordinary clarity, our desire for experiences on level one is so intense that after a brief time (initially after only fractions of seconds, at most after 48 minutes) we fall down to level three, two or one.
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