Hawkins uses the term “attractor” to denote an identifiable pattern that emerges from a seemingly random mass of data. He claims that “attractors” were first detected in nature by Edward Lorenz, who studied weather patterns and discovered how small changes in a system can lead to vastly profound consequences. Hawkins claims that “attractors” are also a function of human consciousness, with Hawkins arguing that human consciousness evolves in a process of attractor patterns of increasing power, ranging on Hawkins’s scale from 1 to 1,000.

Chaos theory analyzes seemingly random data to find patterns within a system. It encompasses slight variations that over time can create major changes in outcomes. This process is called “turbulence” in physics. Hawkins uses terms from chaos theory, such as “attractors” and the “law of sensitive dependence,” to express his own ideas about human consciousness.

Duality is the perception that two things are separate. Hawkins believes it is a false construct based on the limitations of the senses. Hawkins calls the body of his teaching “Devotional Nonduality” because they harmonize the heart and the mind. The teachings emphasize core truths such as kindness and compassion to all, humility, forgiveness, reverence for all life, devotion to Truth, and surrender to God.