What is the change of consciousness?

There is a nice story to explain the change of consciousness. A monk was sitting and meditating. Suddenly, the door opens with a loud bang and a burglar comes in and holds a knife at the monk. He threatens to kill him if the monk doesn’t give him his money. Very calmly, the monk asks the burglar to sit down and have tea with him. He explains to the burglar that if he gives him money and he takes it, it is stealing. If he doesn’t give the money, the burglar will kill him and take the money. It will be a sin either way. So he suggests to the burglar to have tea with him, which will make him the monk’s friend and he will then give him the money as a token of friendship. The burglar does that, and as he is leaving, the monk asks him to close the door on his way out lest a burglar enters.

So this is the change of consciousness. Normally, if someone pointed a knife at us, we will fight or be fearful or be angry, which is a negative reaction. But the monk asked the burglar to sit and have tea so they become friends. Then the burglar would not be stealing the money; instead, the monk would be gifting it to him. Hearing this, the burglar left the money and went away. So the change of our own consciousness can change people.

The monk was in a state of no possession, which is why he happily offered all his money to the burglar. That is the change of consciousness. It is called a state of nothingness. What is, is!