David R. Hawkins: Letting Go, the Map of Consciousness and His Teachings

Dr. David R. Hawkins described the Map of Consciousness® as a stairway: a way of seeing the classical stages of spiritual growth, described by saints, sages and mystics, as levels a person can rise through over a lifetime. At the top of that stairway is what he called Enlightenment. [1]

His profile covers his life, his Letting Go technique and the basics of the Map. This article looks at the spiritual side of his teaching: what he meant by enlightenment, the path he called Devotional Nonduality, and how readers use the Map as a guide for steady inner growth in everyday life.

New to David R. Hawkins? Read our full David R. Hawkins expert profile for his life story, best videos, books and courses.

A psychiatrist who wrote about enlightenment

Hawkins’s background made his spiritual teaching unusual. He was Medical Director of the North Nassau Mental Health Center from 1956 to 1980, and in 1973 co-authored Orthomolecular Psychiatry with the Nobel Laureate chemist Linus Pauling. [1]

His publisher describes the heart of his contribution as coming from the advanced spiritual state known as Enlightenment, Self-Realization or Unio Mystica, and notes how rarely that state has been described by an accomplished scientist and physician. The classical hallmarks of this state, it says, are pristine awareness of Ultimate Reality, compassion for all beings, tireless dedication to alleviate suffering, radiant joy, and humor. [1]

He founded the Institute for Spiritual Research in 1983 and later lectured widely, at places including Westminster Abbey, the Oxford Forum and Harvard, and was an advisor to Catholic, Protestant and Buddhist monasteries. [1] In Korea he was given the title “Rae Ryeong Seon Kak Tosa”, meaning Foremost Teacher of the Way to Enlightenment. [1]

The Map as a stairway

In Hawkins’s framework, each level of consciousness has its own emotional tone, view of God and view of life. At the level of fear, God is seen as punitive; at the level of love, God is seen as loving. [1] The scale is logarithmic, so even a small rise represents a significant advance. [2]

The level of 200 is the turning point, the fulcrum dividing force from power: levels below it are detrimental to life for the individual and society, and those above it are constructive expressions of power. [2] For spiritual seekers, this gives the Map a hopeful message. Every step towards courage, integrity and love counts, and it counts more than it may seem.

Hawkins’s writings also describe the highest levels of human consciousness, including Self-Realization, the Void, Nothingness versus Allness, and Full Enlightenment. [1] His book Transcending the Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment explores the journey through the levels in detail. [1]

The Map is copyrighted and trademarked, so for the full chart see his books or the official Veritas page. [2]

Devotional Nonduality: his direct path

In 2003 Hawkins founded the Path of Devotional Nonduality, which he described as a direct course to Enlightenment through core essentials that await activation by decision, intention and dedication of the will. [1]

Its teachings emphasise the core truths of the world’s great spiritual traditions:

• kindness and compassion to everything and everyone, including oneself;
• humility;
• forgiveness;
• reverence for all of life;
• surrender to God. [1]

His publisher calls his book Discovery of the Presence of God: Devotional Nonduality an instruction manual for the serious spiritual devotee. [1] What many readers find appealing is how simple the core practices are. None needs special equipment, a retreat or a particular religion. Each can be practised in an ordinary day.

Hawkins summed up the spirit of the path in a line his publisher quotes: “We change the world not by what we say or do but as a consequence of what we have become.” [1]

How surrender supports the climb

Letting Go is the practical engine of the path. Hawkins presented it as an inner mechanism of surrender that removes the blocks to happiness, love, joy, success and health, and that can be used in the middle of everyday life. [3]

In spiritual terms, each feeling that is allowed and released, rather than resisted, is a small step up the stairway. A resentment surrendered makes room for acceptance. A fear allowed to run its course makes room for courage. The aim is not to force yourself into higher states, but to let go of what stands in the way of them.

His publisher describes Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender, published in 2012, as describing simple and effective means to let go of the obstacles to enlightenment. [1] Our Sedona Method guide covers a related releasing technique.

Using the Map in daily life

You do not need to think about calibrations to benefit from Hawkins’s ideas. Readers often use the Map more simply, as a mirror for the quality of their own reactions. A few ways to do that:

• Name the level of a reaction. When you feel irritated or anxious, quietly name the feeling. Naming it is the first step to allowing it.
• Look for the next step, not the summit. If you are in fear, the next step may simply be a little courage. If you are in pride, it may be a little humility.
• Choose kindness on purpose. Devotional Nonduality begins with kindness to everything and everyone, including yourself. [1] One deliberate act of kindness a day is a practical start.
• Practise forgiveness in small things. Let go of one minor grievance each day before it hardens.
• Read a little every day. His 365-day collection, Along the Path to Enlightenment, offers one contemplation per day, and his publisher notes that any one passage, fully understood, can elevate one’s level of consciousness. [1]

Our Map of Consciousness guide explains how people use the framework for personal growth.

Reading his spiritual books in order

Hawkins’s best-known trilogy is Power vs. Force, The Eye of the I and I: Reality and Subjectivity. Power vs. Force has been published in 25 languages, so readers in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Europe and India can often find it in their own language. [1]

A gentle reading order for a spiritual seeker might be:

1. Letting Go, for the practical tool. [3]
2. Power vs. Force, for the Map itself. [1]
3. Transcending the Levels of Consciousness, for the stairway in detail. [1]
4. Discovery of the Presence of God, for Devotional Nonduality. [1]
5. The Eye of the I and I: Reality and Subjectivity, for his descriptions of the highest states. [1]

Many readers also enjoy reading with others. Independent study groups meet around the world, and Veritas Publishing offers guidance on joining or starting one. [4]

A 30-day plan for your own stairway

• Week 1: kindness. Each day, offer one deliberate kindness to someone else and one to yourself.
• Week 2: letting go. Spend ten minutes a day allowing one feeling to be there without resisting it, until it eases.
• Week 3: forgiveness. Write down one grievance a day and practise releasing it.
• Week 4: contemplation. Read one short passage from Hawkins each morning and carry its idea through the day.

At the end of the month, notice which reactions come less often and which qualities, such as patience or gratitude, come more easily. Our stress management guide has more everyday tools.

What related research says

• Positive emotions build resources. Barbara Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory proposes that positive emotions broaden people’s momentary thinking and build lasting personal resources over time. [5] This sits comfortably with Hawkins’s view that rising towards love and joy enriches life.
• Gratitude. In experiments, people who kept regular gratitude lists felt better about their lives as a whole and were more optimistic than those who recorded hassles. [6] Reverence and gratitude are close cousins in Devotional Nonduality.

Frequently asked questions

What did David Hawkins mean by enlightenment?

The advanced spiritual state also called Self-Realization or Unio Mystica, which his publisher describes as marked by awareness of Ultimate Reality, compassion for all beings, radiant joy and humor.

What is Devotional Nonduality?

The spiritual path Hawkins founded in 2003. It emphasises kindness and compassion to everyone, including oneself, humility, forgiveness, reverence for all of life and surrender to God.

What is the turning point on the Map of Consciousness?

The level of 200. Hawkins described levels below it as detrimental to life and levels above it as constructive expressions of power.

Which David Hawkins book covers the path to enlightenment?

Transcending the Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment explores the journey through the levels, and Discovery of the Presence of God sets out Devotional Nonduality.

How can I use the Map of Consciousness in daily life?

Use it as a mirror: notice the feeling behind a reaction, let it go, and take the next small step, such as courage instead of fear or kindness instead of resentment.

Keep exploring

• David R. Hawkins: full expert profile
• Map of Consciousness guide
• Sedona Method guide
• Stress management guide

Sources

1. Veritas Publishing: Dr. David R. Hawkins biography (official site)
2. Veritas Publishing: Map of Consciousness®
3. Hay House: Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender
4. Veritas Publishing: Study Groups
5. Fredrickson, The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology: The Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions, American Psychologist 2001
6. Emmons and McCullough, Counting Blessings Versus Burdens, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003

By Saj Ali, founder of Self Help Supermarket.