Power vs. Force receives mixed reviews. Many readers find it transformative, praising its insights on consciousness levels and human behavior. They appreciate Hawkins' scale of consciousness and its applications. However, critics label it pseudoscience, questioning the validity of applied kinesiology and the author's claims. Some find the writing style difficult or the concepts far-fetched. Despite polarized opinions, many readers acknowledge the book's thought-provoking nature and its potential to inspire personal growth, even if they don't fully accept all its ideas.
Consciousness can be measured and mapped on a scale from 1 to 1000
Power attracts, while force repels in human interactions
Attractor patterns shape our reality and influence our choices
The level of truth in religions and philosophies can be calibrated
Kinesiological testing reveals the body's innate wisdom
Alignment with higher consciousness leads to personal and societal growth
The pursuit of truth requires discernment and integrity
Transcending ego and embracing love are keys to spiritual evolution
Our thoughts and attitudes directly impact our health and wellbeing
Humanity's collective consciousness is rising, offering hope for the future
The critical response point in the scale of consciousness calibrates at level 200, which is the level associated with integrity and courage.
Measuring consciousness. Dr. David Hawkins developed a method to calibrate levels of human consciousness on a logarithmic scale from 1 to 1000. This scale correlates with specific emotions, perceptions, and worldviews:
1-200: Destructive, force-oriented levels (e.g., shame, guilt, fear)
200-500: Neutral to positive levels (e.g., courage, reason, love)
500-1000: Enlightened states (e.g., joy, peace, enlightenment)
The critical level of 200 marks the transition from force to power, from destructive to constructive influence. Understanding this scale allows individuals and societies to assess their current state and strive for higher levels of awareness and effectiveness.
Force is seductive because it emanates a certain glamour, whether that glamour is manifested in the guise of false patriotism, prestige, or dominance; conversely, true power is often quite unglamourous.
Power vs. Force. Power and force are fundamentally different approaches to achieving goals and influencing others:
Force: Coercive, temporary, creates resistance
Power: Attractive, enduring, inspires cooperation
Power is associated with:
Integrity
Compassion
Wisdom
Long-term effectiveness
Force is associated with:
Control
Dominance
Short-term gains
Eventual failure
Understanding this distinction helps individuals and leaders choose more effective and sustainable methods of influence and problem-solving.
Attractors create context. In essence, this means that one's motive, which arises from the principles that one is committed to, determines one's capacity to understand and, therefore, gives significance to one's actions.
Attractor fields. Our reality is shaped by invisible energy patterns called attractor fields. These fields influence our perceptions, decisions, and behaviors:
High-energy attractors: Associated with positive emotions, growth, and empowerment
Low-energy attractors: Associated with negative emotions, limitation, and weakness
Key aspects of attractor fields:
They operate at both individual and collective levels
They can be changed through conscious choice and alignment with higher principles
Understanding attractor fields helps explain why some people and societies thrive while others struggle
By recognizing and aligning with positive attractor fields, individuals and groups can create more fulfilling and successful lives.
The level of truth originally expounded by Jesus Christ calibrates at 1,000—the highest level attainable on this plane. By the second century, the level of truth of the practice of his teachings had dropped to 930, and by the sixth century, to 540.
Calibrating truth. Hawkins's method allows for the calibration of truth levels in various teachings, philosophies, and religious practices:
Original teachings of great spiritual leaders often calibrate at the highest levels (900-1000)
Over time, the truth level of religious practices tends to decline
Different interpretations and sects within religions can have vastly different calibrations
Examples of calibrations:
Buddhism: 960 (Mahayana), 890 (Zen)
Hinduism: 850
Judaism: 499 (modern practice)
Islam: 720 (Koran), 130 (militant fundamentalism)
This calibration system provides a tool for evaluating the spiritual potency and integrity of various belief systems, helping seekers discern more authentic and transformative paths.
The human central nervous system clearly has an exquisitely sensitive capacity to differentiate between life-supportive and life-destructive patterns.
Muscle testing. Kinesiological testing, or muscle testing, is a method that taps into the body's inherent ability to distinguish truth from falsehood:
The technique involves applying gentle pressure to an extended arm while making statements
The arm remains strong in response to true statements and goes weak for false ones
This method bypasses conscious beliefs and accesses a deeper level of knowing
Applications of kinesiological testing:
Personal decision-making
Evaluating information and ideas
Health and nutrition choices
Spiritual and philosophical inquiry
While controversial in some circles, this technique offers a unique way to access information beyond the limitations of the conscious mind.
Every leap has to have a platform to originate from. Pain exists to promote evolution; its cumulative effect finally forces us in a new direction, although the mechanism may be very slow.
Evolutionary consciousness. Personal and societal growth occurs through alignment with higher levels of consciousness:
Lower levels (below 200) are characterized by suffering, limitation, and conflict
Higher levels (above 200) promote healing, creativity, and cooperation
The journey from lower to higher levels often involves challenges and "dark nights of the soul"
Key factors in raising consciousness:
Willingness to change and grow
Exposure to higher energy fields (e.g., through spiritual practices or association with evolved individuals)
Letting go of limiting beliefs and negative emotions
As individuals and societies align with higher consciousness, they naturally solve problems and create more harmonious and fulfilling experiences.
Mankind lacks the capacity to recognize the difference between truth and falsehood.
Discerning truth. Developing the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood is crucial for personal and collective evolution:
The intellect alone is often insufficient for discerning truth
Emotional and spiritual intelligence play crucial roles in truth-seeking
Integrity (calibrating above 200) is a prerequisite for accurate discernment
Practices for enhancing discernment:
Regular use of kinesiological testing
Cultivating humility and openness to new information
Developing critical thinking skills
Aligning with higher principles and values
By honing our capacity for discernment, we can navigate the complex landscape of information and ideas more effectively, leading to better decision-making and personal growth.
The irony of human experience is in how fiercely the ego fights to preserve the illusion of a separate, individual "I"—even though this is not only a metaphysical impossibility but the wellspring of all suffering.
Beyond ego. Spiritual evolution involves moving beyond the limitations of the ego and embracing a more expansive sense of self:
The ego creates a false sense of separation and limitation
Transcending ego allows for the experience of unity and unconditional love
This shift in perspective leads to greater peace, joy, and effectiveness in life
Steps toward transcendence:
Recognizing the ego's mechanisms and limitations
Cultivating compassion and forgiveness
Practicing presence and mindfulness
Aligning with higher principles and values
Serving others and contributing to the greater good
As individuals progress on this path, they naturally become sources of inspiration and positive influence in the world.
Ignorance does not yield to attack, but it dissipates in the light, and nothing dissolves dishonesty faster than the simple act of revealing the truth.
Mind-body connection. Our mental and emotional states have a profound impact on our physical health:
Positive thoughts and emotions strengthen the body's energy systems
Negative thoughts and emotions weaken the body and can lead to illness
Healing often involves addressing both physical and psychological factors
Practices for enhancing wellbeing:
Cultivating gratitude and positive emotions
Addressing and releasing negative emotions
Aligning with higher principles and values
Making conscious choices about diet, exercise, and lifestyle
Using kinesiological testing to guide health decisions
By recognizing the intimate connection between mind and body, we can take a more holistic approach to health and healing.
To become more conscious is the greatest gift anyone can give to the world; moreover, in a ripple effect, the gift comes back to its source.
Collective evolution. Hawkins's research suggests that humanity's collective consciousness is slowly but steadily rising:
The average level of consciousness was stuck at 190 for centuries
In the mid-1980s, it jumped to 207, crossing the critical threshold of 200
This shift offers hope for addressing global challenges and creating a more harmonious world
Factors contributing to rising consciousness:
Increased access to information and spiritual teachings
Growing awareness of global interconnectedness
Widespread adoption of practices like meditation and yoga
Individual efforts to raise personal consciousness
As more people commit to personal growth and alignment with higher principles, the collective consciousness continues to rise, creating a more positive future for all.