Consciousness means expansion.

Consciousness means expansion.

Society teaches its members to narrow their consciousness. A narrowed consciousness is what concentration is. It is good in dealing with the world at large, when moving outwardly into the world, in dealing with others. To live, one has to live with others and to live with oneself. Concentration, a narrowed consciousness, it is good for living with others, it is utilitarian. But for living with oneself it will be a detriment, it will be harmful, it will bring dis-ease. Any life that is one-sided, lived without a balance between the two, one will be living a crippled life.

Society creates a narrowed consciousness [concentration], but consciousness itself means expansion, it is unlimited. Both concentration and consciousness are needed. But moving to either extreme is unwise, both extremes are harmful. The individual that can find the balance between the two is healthy. He can be called wise. 

So live in the world with the mind. And live with yourself without the mind. The mind is good to use as a means, but don’t make an end out of it. Come out of it when it is not needed. Whenever you are alone come out of it, turn it off.

Meditation is the switch that turns it off.