LoC = Level of Consciousness based on the Map of Consciousness
http://www.the-tree-of-life.com/POWERF~2.HTML Really, you have to read the book to understand the difference between power and force. The age-old struggle is not between good and evil, it's between power and force.
Ultimately power is superior to force.
When you understand the principles, you begin to realize how profound it is. You can easily choose which self growth program is the better one, saving yourdelf money and time, and you won't have to post questions to the forum like "Anyone tried X?" or "Is Y a good program to buy?" or "Is product X better than product Y?" You'll know which spiritual teachers are worth learning from and which ones are total lamers. You will even know if your S.O. is cheating on you. And all without using unreliable intuition techniques! The simple procedure traditionally requires two people but there are versions floating around for doing the truth test yourself.
Since you haven't yet read the book, brief reviews of "Power vs Force" can be found at http://64.177.173.162/powervsforce/power_vs_force_book_review.htm , http://www.uni-verse.net/Website/Powerforce.htm , http://www.profitadvisors.com/force.shtml , http://www.holisticnetworker.com/bookreviews/powervsforce.html and the preface alone is worth the price of admission http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2002/February/feature3.htm .
The ultimate goal of spiritual progress is to merge into Pure Consciousness the ultimate power. Enlightenment is not the real goal but only the beginning of the path to liberation from Maya (the Matrix) aka moksha. A siddha is one on this path who has attained siddhis (like Neo). To be enlightened is to experience the delusion of Maya. Moksha is the liberation from Maya, the end of samsara (the never ending cycle of rebirth) and karma no longer affects you. Everything in Maya is energy and is therefore unreal because it always changes. That which does not change is Pure Consciousness and is the One True Reality. It is only found by going within. It is the Emptiness of Buddhism, the Nothingness of Taoism, the Brahman of Vedanta, the Kingdom of God in Christianity. It is beyond duality - it is the non-dualism of Advaita Vedanta.
The highest level teachings of all the major religions at their core is sourced in Vedanta which preceded them all. The immediate goal of serious aspirants is self-realization of the Atman, the destruction of ego consciousness, the release of all attachments, the achievement of the no-mind state. Zen is the Japanese version of Ch'an Buddhism in China which has a popular technique of contemplating "Who am I?" and this was also the hallmark of Ramana Maharshi in southern India, a famous Vedantin. Buddhism originated in India.
The Koan for today is:
What is the difference between a powerful force and forceful power?
[This message has been edited by shr33m (edited July 05, 2003).]
