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were made。
no sooner do we ask about consciousness and unconsciousness than we have begun to divide。
in my view； they are one。
but when i say they are one； i do not mean they are one and the same。
i am not saying consciousness itself is unconsciousness。
when i say darkness and light are one； i dont mean you can walk in the dark as you do when there is light。
when i say darkness and light are one； i mean existence is made of varying degrees of the same manifesting reality。
the difference consists in being a little more or a little less； in being present or not present。
now it will be easier for you to follow me。
what is this thing which appears as consciousness when it is present in a greater degree and bees unconsciousness when it exists in a lesser degree？ the name of this very element is attention。
the deeper and sharper the attention； the same is the state of consciousness。
unconsciousness and consciousness are but different densities of attention。
the more profound the state of attention； the same will be the consciousness。
the more tenuous the attention； the same will be the state of unconsciousness。
in fact； the difference between a rock and a human is that the rock does not have density of attention at any level of consciousness。
at whatever level the attention bees condensed； consciousness takes place； and at whatever level the density of attention decreases； unconsciousness occurs。
if you let the suns rays pass through a lens； fire is immediately produced。
a condensed light creates fire。
when it loses its density； when it bees tenuous； light remains。
there is fire in an ember because it contains highly condensed light。
whenever light is condensed； fire is produced。
when the light bees tenuous …… that is； when its density is reduced …… then even fire remains just light。
as density decreases darkness increases。
with an increase in density； light increases。
if we travel towards the sun； the light will keep on increasing； because the rays are very dense on the sun。
as we move farther and farther away from the sun； the light will go on decreasing。
at the farthest distance from the sun there will be nothing but darkness； because of the reduced density of light。
i apply the same principle to the states of unconsciousness and consciousness。
the basic principle is attention。
its fluidity； density； tenuity； solidity； determine whether to call one awake or asleep； whether to call one unconscious or conscious。
we must remember； however； that all these words are used in a relative sense。
for example； when we say there is light in this room； it only means there is more light inside the room than there is outside。
there is light in this room because it is dark outside。
were there bright sunshine outside； this room would look darker。
so when we say somebody is awake or asleep； we simply mean； in parison to someone else。
language has its own difficulty； it would be a problem to continually express things in such parative terms。
thats why we use words in the absolute sense …… which is not right。
the right way is always to express in relative terms。
for instance； we are all sitting here and in a way we are all awake。
but thats not really true。
each one present here is awake to a respective degree。
not every one sitting here is awake uniformly。
hence it is possible that； pared to you。
the person to your left is less awake； or the person to your right is more awake。
the element that moves between consciousness and unconsciousness is attention。
so if we understand what attention； dhyana is； well understand what consciousness and unconsciousness means。
attention means： awareness of something。
it means reflection of something in the consciousness。
it is not that every moment； twenty…four hours a day； one is equally awake …… it is never like that either。
as an example； it would be good to know a few things about the pupil of the eye。
when you go out in the sun； the pupil contracts because there is no need for so much light to go in。
less light is enough for you to see； hence the pupil contracts and the focus is narrowed。
when you e out of bright light into a dark place； the pupils dilate and the focus is enlarged； because in order to see in the dark； more light needs to go within。
so according to the degree of darkness and light it is exposed to； the pupil of the eye keeps changing its focus …… the same way we keep adjusting the focus of the camera lens while shooting pictures。
just as every moment ones eye is flexible； so is ones attention。
you walk along a street。
if the street is familiar your attention will be tenuous； if the street is unfamiliar your attention will be dense。
you need not be alert if it is a street you cross every day； because in an unconscious state you are sure to make it。
if the street is totally unfamiliar； one you have never crossed before； you will cross it with awareness。
because of the unfamiliarity of the street； great attention will be needed。
hence； the more a man lives in security； the more unconscious he will be。
in security everything is known； familiar。
the more one lives in insecurity； the more aware he will be。
so ordinarily； except for the moments of danger； we are never aware； we are always asleep。
if i suddenly point a dagger at your chest； you will bee alert at once。
you will bee conscious； awake； quite different from what you are now。
seeing the dagger pointed at you will create such an emergency； such a critical situation； that at that moment you cant afford to be asleep。
that means you cant be sleepy in such a moment。
if you stay sleepy in such a dangerous situation you will be near death。
in that threatening moment your whole being will e to the point of crystallization； your whole attention will bee condensed。
your whole attention will remain fixed on the dagger and you will bee fully aware of it。
it is possible this situation may last only for a second； nevertheless； the fact is； your attention ordinarily bees dense only in critical moments。
once the danger is over； you go back to your previous state； you go to sleep once again。
that seems to be the reason danger attracts。
we love to take risks。
a man gambles； for example。
you may have hardly given a thought as to what makes him gamble。
it is the element of danger that draws him to gambling。
at the moment of placing his bet； he is more aware than ever。
a gambler has placed a hundred thousand dollars on a bet and is about to throw the dice。
its a very critical moment。
in a blink； a hundred thousand dollars can go this way or that。
at this moment he cannot afford to be asleep； he will have to be aware。
that moment of betting is certain to crystallize his attention。
now this may intrigue you； but in my view a gambler is also in search of meditation。
whether he knows it or not is another matter。
a man brings a wife home。
then； as the days go by and she bees more and more familiar； he bees less and less attentive towards her。
she bees as well known to him as the street he crosses every day …… an