Consciousness Research

The tool used by Dr. Hawkins in his consciousness research is known as applied kinesiology or muscle testing. Books by John Diamond describe the technique and its many uses. 

Hawkins took this technique and developed the Map of Consciousness, which is an arbitrary logarithmic scale from 1 to 1000, with 200 being the critical point of power, truth and integrity. All levels below 200, according to Hawkins, are dominated by the lower emotions and self-serving ego. They are characterized by the use of force.

All calibrations above 200 demonstrate increasing levels of power and at the level of 500 love dominates one's view of the world. Enlightenment, as defined by many eastern traditions, occurs at level 600 and above, and 1000 is the maximum attainable level in human form...the level of avatars and spiritual teachers like Jesus and Buddha.

Hawkins spent many years doing double blind studies on consciousness, starting in 1965, using the kinesiology technique. he originally published his findings in a doctoral thesis and later in the book Power Vs. Force. For a detailed account of his research methodology, please refer to that book.

The value of Hawkins' research to the ordinary person is the context it provides for understanding human consciousness. Once we understand the context, we realize that there is a progression towards enlightenment and by identifying where we are in that progression, we have a map to follow in taking our next step. He also provides descriptions of what a person at each level experiences and how he or she might see the world. These are further elaborated in his most recent book, Transcending the Levels of Consciousness.