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then there is a growth. Sometimes we have glimpses, sometimes we become aware. In moments of sudden danger, in accidents, in encountering a situation we have not faced before -- we become aware, because for the first time, the mind in the shock of the accident or of a dangerous situation -- in that shock the mind stops.
For example: If someone suddenly throws a dagger into you, the mind will stop, because there is nothing to do now or to think. Thought will stop. And when thought stops, you become aware. You become aware that thought has stopped, but still there is consciousness: "I am conscious."
This is the fourth body, the consciousness body, our conscious body. We have it but in a very undeveloped form. To develop it is arduous, because it needs much effort to remain conscious of every thought that passes through your mind, of every thought that has become an accumulation in your mind -- a part of your mind, all the conditionings of the mind -- to become aware of them is arduous. It is difficult, but not impossible; and only when this becomes possible, you have the dignity of being called a human being; otherwise, not. Because an unconscious human being means nothing. Then you are just being thrown from here and there by impressions and influences from the outside. When you become conscious then you cannot be influenced! For the first time you become the chooser.
Buddha was passing a village and many people came to him with great abuse; they were condemning him, abusing him, throwing stones at him, and he was just standing there. Then someone asked, "Now what are you going to do?"
Buddha said, "Nothing, because now I have become the chooser. You cannot manipulate me; you can abuse me -- that is up to you -- but you cannot create the reaction. You cannot manipulate me. If you abuse me and I react -- and the reaction can be predicted by you -- then it is just a manipulation. I am nowhere in it. You push the button and the anger is there."
Reaction means that you have no conscious body developed, so you go on reacting. Really, when you go on reacting, those reactions cannot be said to be actions, because actions come only with
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