The Mind of the Enlightened: Tao Mind

The Hybrid Mind: What Happens After Taoist Enlightenment

There is a certain kind of person who emerges after going through the Taoist enlightenment process. Spiritual enlightenment isn’t about what you say or what you believe. These are surface-level things. Instead, true enlightenment changes who you are deep down.

When a person practices Taoism, they change in fundamental ways. Their mind works differently, and their energy is also transformed. These changes can be observed, tested, and felt.

The main sign of an enlightened person in the 4 Ascendant Tradition is something called the “hybrid mind.”

While it might sound like something from science fiction, the term “hybrid” simply means a mix of things. So, the hybrid mind is a mind that combines different ways of thinking.

Your Fractured Mind Before Spiritual Enlightenment

Most people favor one of three types of thinking: intellectual, emotional, or intuitive.

• Intellectuals use logic and reason to justify their actions.
• Emotionally-driven people rely on feelings to guide their decisions and explain their choices.
• Intuitive individuals make decisions based on gut instincts or insights about the future.

You might think you use a mix of these, but it’s actually rare. Most people are about 98% one type and only 2% another. The third type is often completely ignored and doesn’t influence how you act.

One big reason why people experience so much conflict is because of this mental divide. It’s hard for someone who is intellectual to understand someone who is emotional, and the reverse is also true. They use completely different kinds of information and values to make decisions. And both intellectual and emotional thinkers often think intuitive people are irrational or disconnected from reality because true intuitive minds are so rare.

This extreme mental polarization is painful for many. It leads to misunderstandings, conflict, and frustration. People can feel trapped in their way of thinking, unable to understand others or be understood themselves. This fracture in the mind makes human connection harder and creates unnecessary suffering.

The Chaos of the Hybrid Mind’s Formation

As a person goes through enlightenment, they don’t just suddenly achieve balance and peace. The early stages of the hybrid mind are often chaotic, overwhelming, and even frightening. Suddenly, the person is flooded with information from all three types of thinking—intellectual, emotional, and intuitive. At first, these thoughts clash and conflict in the mind, leading to confusion, frustration, and even fear.

Imagine trying to think with three voices in your head, all pulling in different directions. The intellectual voice tells you to be rational and logical, while the emotional voice demands that you focus on your feelings. The intuitive voice whispers insights that seem disconnected from reality, adding to the confusion. It’s as if the mind is being torn apart, with no clear path forward.

For some people, this chaos leads to intense mental distress. Without guidance, it can feel like being lost in a storm of thoughts and emotions, unsure which direction to take. This disorienting stage can last a long time for some, while others pass through it more quickly. But for everyone, the initial formation of the hybrid mind is a turbulent experience that can be both terrifying and transformative.

This phase is critical because it shakes the foundation of how a person has always thought and acted. The mind is being forced to expand, to integrate new ways of processing information. It is messy, painful, and full of uncertainty, but it is also a necessary part of the journey toward enlightenment.

The Role of a Teacher in Navigating the Chaos

Because of the chaos that comes with the formation of the hybrid mind, having a teacher or guide is essential. Without help, the process can feel unbearable, and the risk of mental breakdown or deep confusion is high. A teacher provides the tools to manage and organize the flood of information, reducing the risks and making the process safer and more effective.

The teacher helps the practitioner learn how to filter and balance the incoming thoughts from the three types of thinking, turning chaos into harmony. This guidance reduces the mental turbulence and helps the person gradually form a stable hybrid mind.

The Hybrid Mind After Taoist Enlightenment

Once the initial chaos has passed and the hybrid mind has stabilized, what emerges is a new way of thinking. The hybrid mind can receive information from intellectual, emotional, and intuitive sources, blend them together, and act based on a balanced view of all three.

This mind is no longer fractured or divided. Instead, it is a unified system, capable of understanding and integrating different perspectives. The person with a hybrid mind has a deeper wisdom and harmony within themselves, allowing them to navigate life with greater clarity and purpose.

The hybrid mind is the ultimate result of Taoist enlightenment. It represents a new way of being, where all aspects of the mind work together to create a balanced, peaceful, and enlightened state.