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THE CHARACTER OF LIFE Essays on the Nature of Existence

Roy Posner

First Edition

Last Updated: 12/28/2018 5:13 AM

All Rights Reserved© 2018

Roy Posner presents a series of essays, analysis, and commentary that

bring out various facets of the character of life. It is based on years of

research and penetrating insight into the nature of reality, and the subtle

and profound principles that govern it.

The book provides an unconventional, breakthrough view of existence;

one that transcend our ordinary empirical, cause and effect, surface view

of things. In a series of collected essays, full work analysis, and

commentary, the book reveals the deepest truth about life's character --

including why circumstance unfold the way they do, and how the human

psyche shape these events. The book reveals dozens of startling

principles and methods, including how life progresses through

contradiction, and how our inner status and consciousness can evoke

powerful positive conditions from the world around us.

To present this unprecedented knowledge, the author uses extensive

examples and illustrations from personal experiences, those of others,

from current events, and from the works of literature and contemporary

film.

The ultimate goal of the book is not only to present the profoundest

truths about reality, but for the reader to apply that knowledge, and

thereby rise to his or her ultimate potential.

The Character of Life

iv

CONTENTS

Preface .........................................................................................vi

PART 1: LIFE & ITS MEANS OF PROGRESS .................................... 9

What is Life? ................................................................................ 9

The Character of Life ................................................................... 25

Character of Life Principles ........................................................... 32

Progress through Contradictions ................................................... 41

Progress through Nature or Soul ................................................... 54

Nature Works on Many Fronts Simultaneously ................................ 56

Beyond Positive and Negative ....................................................... 62

Embracing the All ........................................................................ 81

PART 2: PHENOMENON OF LIFE RESPONSE ................................ 96

Life Response; I.e. Sudden Good Fortune ...................................... 96

Inner-Outer Correspondence ...................................................... 119

Parallel Events (Simultaneity), Synchronicities .............................. 131

Life’s Subtle Signs ..................................................................... 151

PART 3: PRINCIPLES OF ACTS .................................................. 168

Nature of Acts .......................................................................... 168

Acts Repeat .............................................................................. 178

Predecessor, Initial Occurrence Acts ............................................ 186

PART 4: HUMAN ACCOMPLISHMENT ......................................... 201

Principles of Human Accomplishment ........................................... 201

Process of Accomplishment ........................................................ 213

Human Intention ...................................................................... 214

Personal Attitudes ..................................................................... 223

Psychological Strength ............................................................... 238

Goodness and Self-Givingness .................................................... 248

Personal Values ........................................................................ 265

Conscious Choice ...................................................................... 271

True Individuality ...................................................................... 276

Infinite and Finite...................................................................... 287

PART 5: SPIRITUAL QUALITIES ................................................ 291

Spiritual Aspects of Existence ..................................................... 291

Silence, Silent Will .................................................................... 294

Equality of Being, Non-Reaction, Restraint ................................... 297

Harmony, Oneness .................................................................... 307


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Self, Soul, Being ....................................................................... 314

PART 6: THEORY OF CREATION: INVOLUTION, EVOLUTION ..... 318

Creation Process (Involution & Evolution) .................................... 318

Evolution Specifics .................................................................... 335

PART 7: COSMIC DETERMINATION ........................................... 343

Cosmic Determinants in Life ....................................................... 343

Divine Intention, Determination .................................................. 348

The Individual, Universal, Transcendent ....................................... 351

Chance, Necessity, Fate, Destiny ................................................ 352

Change, Randomness, Unpredictability ........................................ 353

PART 8: PROBLEMS IN LIFE ...................................................... 354

Human Aspiration and Limitations ............................................... 354

Problems of Life ........................................................................ 356

PART 9: HUMAN CHARACTER AND MAKEUP .............................. 357

Human Character ...................................................................... 357

Scale of Human Character, Personality ........................................ 362

Changing Our Nature ................................................................. 366

PART 10: IGNORANCE TO INTEGRAL KNOWLEDGE ................... 371

Knowledge and Truth ................................................................ 371


vi

Preface

The collective wisdom of humanity has accumulated deep insight into the

nature of life. It expresses a certain basic level of understanding of cause

and effect, of the flow of events, including the impact of human behavior

-- individual and collective -- on that process. That deep and complex

knowledge has been passed down through the ages, and has been

expressed by the wisest amongst us.

The problem is that the character of life we are familiar with is mostly a

limited, empirical view of things. For example, while we recognize the

workings of cause and effect, it is only a surface, superficial

understanding. We perceive physical objects in their right place in space

and time, including we humans; and we also perceive human behavior

and the choices they make. Based on our observation of the confluence of

time, space, and behavior, we perceive outcomes that seem mostly

logical and reasonable. We are then able to analyze the situation, and

come to some general truths, conclusion about these unfoldings. It seems

to us straightforward and accurate; and yet on closer examination will be

found to be nowhere near the integral, true truth of things. Life is far

more complex, and infinitely more subtle.

Again, the problem is that we are unable to penetrate the deeper

mysteries and hence the causalities behind life’s unfoldings. And that is

because we have no essential foundation or context by which we can

view or measure circumstance; no essential rules or laws or principles

that appear to be governing life.

Not only are we limited in understanding the true causality and true truth

of things, but when we muse on what has taken place, we are left

somewhat baffled as to why certain things have occurred, or simply miss

the big picture of purpose and meaning. We may muse about fate,

karma, or destiny, but the context by which we make such judgments is

brittle and facile, as do not understand life well enough to understand

their true nature.

In essence, in order to perceive life in all its mystery, we need a new

foundation of understanding. We need to either deconstruct the nature of

existence, rebuild it, and understand its processes, or we can turn to the

wise and sagacious and receive their inputs into the true meaning and

method of causality of existence.

The intention then of this book then is to reveal the most profound laws

and principles that govern life, and do so through real life personal

experience, in current events, and in works of literature and film. By

examining these incidents, the subtle determining factors that underlie its


vii

unfolding will be revealed, and thus we unravel the mystery of what we

call “The Character of Life.”

Doing so will not only provide us with a profound understanding of human

existence, but will mirror our own circumstance. By seeing the subtle

laws of life character, individual character, we can turn the light of truth

on ourselves, and emphasize our positive qualities, behaviors, and

actions, while holding down the negative. That way we can lead infinitely

fulfilled lives -- of success, happiness, and deep fulfillment.

This book’s propose then is to bring out the truths of life, its subtle

causalities, and its deepest and most profound laws and principles. The

approach I have taken is to strong together a series of essays that not

only bring out life’s deepest secrets but illustrate those truths through

true and fictionalized events. There is therefore no ongoing, serial

narrative in this presentation, but groupings of essays that each address

a particularly powerful subtle law or principle.

We hope you enjoy these unconventional and startling insights into the

nature of reality. Many defy normal human logic, of what is probable and

possible. Some have the quality of being miraculous-like. Indeed, from

the deepest perspective the entire unfolding of life will seem like a

continuous miracle when the principles involved are clearly surmised and

understood. Moreover, each of us are easily capable of evoking such

startling outcomes in our own lives. All we have to do is learn the key

inner and outer behaviors that evoke great fortune from the

environment, and then apply it in our daily lives. Then we will see that we

have an inner power that transcends all that we ever thought possible;

that we can dictate events in the world in ways we would never imagined

possible.

On that note, let me formally invite you to a journey of infinite discovery;

one that will reveal life’s most profound secrets, thereby energizing and

inspiring you to no end.

I therefore welcome you to the Ultimate Adventure of Consciousness and

Joy.

Roy Posner

Lafayette, California


9

PART 1: LIFE & ITS MEANS OF PROGRESS

What is Life?

Life, Its Character, and Its Principles

Perhaps the greatest question of all time is "what is life?" Scientists have

tried to explain it without much success. Religious people have avoided it.

Philosophers have grappled with it. Spiritual seekers have touched upon it

from time to time. Realized souls have been immersed in its various

dimensions, including those that are hidden from us.

Life as Field of Energy

I would like to offer my thoughts to this mystery: Life is, in essence, a

universal field of energy out of which forms take shape. Life not only

ushers in those forms out of itself, but maintains, sustains, and, when

necessary, discards them.

It should also be pointed out that Life itself is the final operation of an

original movement that is Divine in nature. There is a fundamental

immutable, ineffable Omnipresent Reality behind all existence. We can

say that this spiritual Reality became "aware of itself", at which point it

can be said to have developed Consciousness. As a result of being

conscious of itself, it generated a Force. That Force is the source of

energy that is the universal field of Life from which all forms take shape.

Then how do those forms of force/energy manifest? At various points, the

energy of Life that was at rest begins to move; and consequently

reformulate into seen and unseen patterns of existence. Certain forms

that emerge are visible and material in nature -- like the plasma, rock,

and earth we know in the known universe. Other forms are unseen,

including the subtle realms of material reality, such as electromagnetic

and sound waves.

In addition, there are forces, powers, and currents that are not related to

material reality at all. These contain original vital powers and life forces

that permeate the universe. These currents and formulations of energy

can be said to represent good and evil, positive and negative, and all


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manner of possibilities in between. There are also currents of mental and

spiritual force/energy. We ourselves are evolved forms of these various

visible and invisible energies -- e.g. our body is visible; our emotions and

thoughts are invisible.

The building up, maintaining, and dissolution of energy-based material

and non-material forms can be viewed as a great play -- a Play of Life, if

you will -- as they intersect and interact to create a symphony of

unfolding. Just as an athletic event consists of a field, the players, and

the play, so too Life consists of a field of energy of seen and unseen

forms that interact to produce a multiplicity of results.

Life’s Character

The intricacies of that cosmic Play formulates into patterns, which can be

observed by the human mind as principles of Life. All of the principles

together give life a distinct Character, which is not unlike the character of

a human being. Life is then a Play of energies in which created forms of

that force carry out their conscious or unconscious intention, intersect

with one another, revealing patterns and principles that together give it a

character.

Principles of Life

If Life's character consists of principles our minds can perceive, what is

an example of one? Perhaps the central principle of Life is that of

Oneness. In essence, it means that all forms of force/energy are

interrelated to one another in an inherent harmony and unity of being. In

other words, everything seen and unseen in the universe and beyond are

interconnected and One.

We humans however fail to see that Oneness since we live on the surface

of things. However, when we move to a deeper consciousness within, we

begin to perceive the integral unity of all. I.e. when we plunge within,

and discover silence, peace, and equanimity of being within ourselves,

and go further still and discover our True Spiritual Selves, we withdraw

from our ego and separative consciousness, which makes us much more

receptive to the unfoldings of life -- to the full spectrum of truths, seen

and unseen -- in the environment. At that point, we begin to perceive

that every entity and current of force serves a purpose; that each and all

forms are crucial to the Cosmic Play; and therefore that everything is

interconnected and One.

Inner-Outer Correspondence


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One way that Oneness expresses is through a related principle that I call

"Inner-Outer Correspondence". This principle indicates that everything

that happens outside ourselves is a reflection of our consciousness within.

Therefore, if we change the inner, the outer instantly responds in kind.

E.g., when I change a wanting attitude about a matter, the conditions

outside myself instantly become more positive, even though I have not

taken any obvious material action. The outer instantly responding to an

inner psychological adjustment is the phenomenon that I call "Life

Response." I.e., when we shift our behavior to the positive, energies are

released, which ripple through space-time, and align with corresponding

objects, elements, and circumstances that suddenly appear before us as

instances of sudden good fortune.

Nature of Acts

There are many principles that indicate the Character and Play of Life.

One grouping has to do with the nature of "acts" -- the fundamental unit

of life. One extraordinary principle is the notion that everything that

happens to us is indicated by a prior act or event. For example, if I had a

problem with a client I was flying down to see, it is foreshadowed by a

difficulty I had in boarding the plane. If this is so, then we can offer the

current negative situation to the Spirit -- in this case the difficulty in

boarding -- and avoid the problem that would have occurred later on! In

this way, we are able to change the course of the future in the present.

Through an inner life of discovery, not only do we see that these

understated, yet profound principles of life in action, but we are also able

to affect those very conditions by making certain adjustments in our own

consciousness -- such as changing an attitude, or taking to inner silence,

or by opening to the spiritual Force, to name a few. In this way, we not

only become witness to Life's infinite Play, but we can actively participate

in it -- enabling its further progress, evolution, and transformation.

What Life Is

What is this thing we so vaguely refer to as life? To the scientist, it is the

physiological functions of respiration, metabolism and reproduction in all

living things. To the common man, it refers to the span of his existence

and all the events and experiences during the time. But does that explain

all that life is? Or does it, like a map of the earth with continents, oceans,

mountains and forests marked, that leaves out the people and claims to


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cover all that there is, miss out on something? All that we call luck,

chance, fate, opportunity, misfortune, destiny - where do they fit in?

Scientific Conception of Life

Modern science conceives of all life forms as mechanical assemblies of

physical parts that operate in such a manner as to sustain the integrity of

their structure, nurture growth, reproduction and adaptation. Science has

been so successful in delving into the mysteries of the atom and the gene

that it might be apt to accept its pronouncements on life with equal

confidence, were it not for the fact that the scientific conception is so

directly at odds with our own personal experience as human beings.

Rationally, we are forced to acknowledge that our progress in unraveling

the secrets of matter has been accompanied by only modest gains in the

fields of life and consciousness. Even after we have completely mapped

the human genetic code and are able to manipulate it to correct physical

defects in the body, we would understand nothing fundamentally more

about the wider field of Life. Life science is also about the studies of living

things like plants, animals and other living organisms!

Life as a Field of Action

Life as presently defined and pursued by science is confined to the

physiological mechanism in matter. But Life as lived by human beings is a

much vaster field of vital existence. It is a field of form and force like the

material plane – a field of energy, action, reaction and result. The military

commander who strives to anticipate the actions of enemy forces and the

impact of unpredictable weather conditions on a battle; the entrepreneur

and manager who strives to anticipate the actions of competitors and

unexpressed needs of customers; the politician who tries to glimpse the

unsatisfied aspirations and unaddressed anxieties of the electorate; the

statesman striving to prevent war and promote peace; the householder

trying to support a family and maintain harmony between the

generations—all these people, all of us, confront in our daily ‘lives’

aspects of life that are very far removed and only distantly related to the

physiological functions of the body. But these too are central aspects of

Life.

As lay readers struggle with the physicist’s conception of fields, wave-

particles and the like, those unfamiliar with Sri Aurobindo’s thought may

initially find it difficult to grasp what he means by the term ‘life’; for,

indeed, our science has no term to describe an equivalent field of

existence. To the biologist, life is associated with a group of physiological

functions, reproduction, respiration, and metabolism. The presence or

http://humanscience.wikia.com/index.php?title=What_is_Life%3F&action=edit&section=1

http://humanscience.wikia.com/wiki/What_is_Life%3F



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absence of these functions in biological forms denotes the presence or

absence of life. To each of us as individual living beings, the term is

commonly applied to a much broader field than the physiological. We

apply it with reference to the entire span of our existence, to all the

actions and experiences that occur and all the people and objects it

involves. We also commonly speak of the life of organizations, social

movements, communities and societies, in which we include all the

activities and institutions associated with them. Beyond these, all cultures

recognize that life is a plane of existence and experience subject to its

own characteristic laws or ways of functioning, no matter how enigmatic

they may often appear, as connoted in phrases such as “Life is like that.”

What do all these varied definitions have in common? They all denote a

field of existence in which energy and action are primary, while form of

substance (body) and form of thought (mind) are secondary. What does

the materialist hypothesis tell us about this field? If we apply the

materialist’s determinants to Life, we must conclude that results in this

plane too are a product of chance (also referred to as luck or misfortune)

and necessity (also referred to as destiny or fate); yet as with respect to

the material plane, we are unable to determine what it is that determines

that necessity, or governs its interplay with chance. There is no room in

the materialist formulation of Life for notions such as choice and free will,

no matter how real these principles may be to our personal experience.

The conscious formulation of new individual and collective actions, the

conscious evolutionary development of complexity within individuals and

social groupings would have to be regarded, according to the materialist

hypothesis, as mere action of material energy. While some biologists and

neurophysiologists may feel comfortable explaining their own existence

on the basis of this mechanistic formula, most of us will feel that it leaves

a wide and unsatisfying gap in our knowledge and our power for mastery

in life. Their principles may be valid for life science, but not for a science

of life. Moreover, they cast serious doubt on the claim of scientists to be

anywhere near a final theory that unites and reconciles all the forces of

nature, except in the very narrowest and most material definition of

nature.

Life as a Universal Force

In The Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo describes life as a universal force that

expresses as the individual force maintaining each individual form and

object in manifestation. It is the force that creates and preserves the

form, defends its survival and energizes its growth. Although we view life

in terms of many separate and individual lives, it is only one single,

universal existence that we perceive as many. In its origin, life is the

infinite, creative force that builds the worlds and inhabits them with forms



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of its own self-conception and creation. It is the conscious force of Sat,

the Self-Conscious Being, the Pure Existence, the Divine Consciousness,

the Omnipresent reality.

But here in the physical vital world we live and act in, Life does not

appear to us either as consciousness or as force. We do not generally

attribute conscious awareness or intention to life, even though we often

find occasions that seem to indicate a secret will or fate or determinism

governing our lives. We do not think of life as consciously or even

unconsciously acting upon us in certain ways or subconsciously

responding to what we think, feel or do. We do not generally think of life

as a force either. We are aware only of many individual forms and forces

acting in, around and upon us – the actions of our own desires, other

individuals, the influence of public opinion, the restrictive and protective

action of social conventions, laws and social institutions, as well as the

action of the material forces of nature – rain, wind, lightning, the

hurricane or earthquake or meteor from outer space. Each seems to us

driven by its own inner determinism or its own natural laws, but we do

not normally perceive any master script or director or set of rules or

unifying principle governing the whole play of life. (Garry Jacobs)

On the Character, Principles, And Laws of Life/Nature

-What I call "Nature" is not Mother Nature, but the way of life, or rather

Life itself.

-Life/Nature has a character that expresses through particular patterns

that can be further ascertained as principles and laws.

-The individual who understands life's character, including its particular

principles and laws, will have a great power over it.

-The principles and laws of life are subtle, and are mostly unperceived by

humans. However, there has been a recent opening as individuals have

begun to see the power of attraction, in which changes in consciousness

attract sudden good fortune. This is also known as a "Life Response,"

which is based on the life principle of inner-outer correspondence.

-Principles of life include inner-outer correspondence, precedent events,

simultaneity, synchronicity, law of karma, and many others.

-Through our higher consciousness we not only become aware of these

subtle principles, but we can read them when they occur, which will help

us determine what course of action to take (or avoid), enabling infinite-

accomplishment and enjoyment in life. (Roy Posner)


15

Life is a Plane of Energy

-Physicists now know that the material plane really consists only of

energy in motion. Some of that energy takes on fixed repetitive patterns

of movement that are perceived by us as unchanging physical forms.

Some energy behaves in varied patterns that are perceived by our senses

as light or heat or other forms of energy.

-Life is also a universal plane of energy, but the energy of life is too

subtle to be perceived by the physical senses, though it can be perceived

by more subtle senses in us. Life energy too assumes fixed and variable

forms which we perceive variously as attitudes, desires, impulses,

emotions, fear, etc. Here the distinction between form and energy is less

clear since the forms are fluid and changing.

-The transmission of life energy through the life plane is similar to the

movement of a compression wave on the surface of the ocean or a sound

vibration through the air. There are no barriers of inner and outer to

prevent the transmission.

-Objects undergo physical movement in space from one "place" to

another. There is no corresponding "place" in life. Each type or quality of

vibration is equivalent to a "place", regardless of the location of the

physical object that emits it. Therefore, objects emitting similar vibrations

of life energy are in the same "place" regardless of their physical

proximity.

Energy, Forms and the Emergence of Man

-There is an ocean of energy, a plane of Force enveloping the earth. This

is Life.

-Forms, matter, us emerge from this energy, this plane of Life

-The Divine has created Man in the plane of life, through the force of life.

-Man is one formation of life, and the animal is another formation of life.

Matter itself is a hard formation dense to our touch. (MSS, paraphrased)


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Life/Energy has its Spiritual Source as Conscious Force

Life is a form of, a dynamic of, a current of, an energy of a universal

operation of the cosmic Conscious Force.

Life is the energy that originates in Chit (Conscious Force) of

Satchitananda (Existence, Conscious Force, Delight)

The Infinite in order to extends its Delight into a created universe

becomes self-aware of its existence that generates both consciousness

and Force. When that force is devoid of most if it consciousness, it takes

shape as energy, which is the original substance of creation. Out of

energy all things take shape in the universe.

Introduction to Life

Life is a plane of existence which is ever present in the atmosphere. Life

is understood as individual life or social life. It is not conceived of as a

plane.

Life is not only a plane of existence. It is LIVE. It has its own

characteristics. If on board a plane from London to Moscow you offer a

small help to an elderly man, when you reach Moscow the next day and

are in need of a small help, someone readily comes to offer it to you.

That is the personality of life. When The Secret says that the universe

fulfils your aspirations, it means Life. Beyond Life lies the universe, which

is part of a wider Existence.

Life is a wide plane of which human beings and other living beings are

concentrated individual centers. That is why Life responds to human ideas

and wishes. Just as physical existence is a plane of material objects, vital

existence is the life plane. The Mind is part of the mental plane.

This life is governed by laws which are, in truth, the laws of creation.

They include --

• The plane of life is an undivided continuum, not limited to certain

points. The life we feel within us and the life around us belong to

the same continuous field. Only the ego creates an artificial sense

of separation.


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• The life of an individual, the life of society and the life of Nature

are parts of this Life.

• The plane of life is NOT inert; it is full of life, power, vigor

and energy. It acts!

• Life is a formless movement of force. Like electricity, it is a

universal energy, not merely a property or characteristic of certain

life forms.

• Life is not moral. It is neutral. It acts according to its laws,

character and circumstances, but those laws and character are not

moral.

• Life respects physical values such as stability, strength, structure,

etc., not mental values such as goodness, morality, loyalty, etc.

• The plane of Life is a plane of organized harmony.

• Life maintains an equilibrium just like a sheet of water. If

disturbed, it restores the equilibrium at once. What we call

opportunity is the result of life restoring its equilibrium positively

or creatively. What we call tragedy is life restoring its equilibrium

negatively or destructively.

• Life responds to human initiative.

• Life can be made to Respond as we wish, when we know

the laws by which this plane is in existence.

• Man knowing his inner constitution can move his outer world by

that knowledge.

• Life exists as part of the Mind and part of the body.

• Life evolves by consciousness and consciousness evolves by

organization. (by Karmayogi)

Interaction of Forces

In the field of life there are many forces swirling around one another that

interact to create a result. At any moment, there is the individual, the

group, even the society, interacting in a churning of force, intention, and

circumstances. [ep]

The Individual


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If we first start with the individual, we note that he brings his own

context and attributes to the game that is playing out on the field of life.

We know that every human being is made up of the physical,

vital/emotional, mental, and perhaps spiritual qualities. The quantity and

quality of these aspects in an individual together are reflected in the

person's health, emotions, skills, intelligence, values, opinions, attitudes,

and other aspects of the person. So to the field or game of life, each

person brings his or her own propensities to the game.

As a person acts in the world, there is an associated consequence either

now or later on. The higher the quality of the propensities of the

individual, the greater the intensity, and the greater the quality of the

results. Yet to fully understand the outcome one must not only

understand the outer actions that brought about a results; one must also

understand that the inner qualities of the individual, which our research

has revealed has an more direct bearing on the outer consequences of

life!

In this light, we should also mention that the individual himself is also in

the process of growing, developing, and evolving as a person. There is an

arc of personal growth throughout our lives that we are often unaware of.

Earlier at this site, we stated that the process of growth is unconscious

for most people; for a few others it is somewhat conscious. In either

case, there is an ascending movement for the individual playing out in

one's life, which is a factor that comes into play in our game of life.

While our propensities and our evolutionary growth curve are in play in

the game, so are our past deeds. We are rarely aware that things we

have done previously, good or bad or in between, are constantly brought

forward in time. If an individual has done someone else a wrong, we may

see that long after the person has forgotten it, it "remains in play" as

time goes on and comes back to influence the current event. "What you

sow is what you reap," or the "law of karma" are each saying the same

thing. The past is brought forward in the present. (We can even take it

one-step further. There are those who will go so far as to say that our

actions of our past lives are also brought forward and are in play in the

present.)

The individual is then always interacting in the game of life through these

three aspects of propensities, evolutionary arc, and past actions and

deeds. Together they make up the character of the individual.

The Collective

Then what does the individual meet on the playing field of life?


19

In any big sporting event there is the social dynamic; the fans in the

crowd, the people in the community, i.e. there are energies and

atmospheres surrounding the game. So to in life, the individual through

his character confronts the conflict of life's situation in a social context. In

the big game, there are team dynamics. In the real game of life, there

are the swirl of forces of other people, the group, society itself that come

into play. There are the other individuals and their character. There is

also the character of the society. These other forces may be in harmony

or opposition to our intent. If we have great enough strength of

character, we can overcome almost any opposition. Normally, however,

we are at the mercy of the character of those other individuals,

institutions and social norms that we come in contact with.

For example, an individual taking a great initiative in life may be thrust

forward into success or set back into failure based on the swirling forces

of the social character and atmosphere. On the one hand, strength and

direction of will may help him accomplish, but if the opposition is too

great, he may not be able to prevail. Even if he takes an action with good

intent and demonstrates great character, he still may not be able to

succeed because of the opposing social forces and atmosphere in play. If

the actions are mixed with vital force of character, as are the two main

characters driven in Romeo and Juliet, then the negative social

atmosphere (of the conflict of the Montagues and Capulets) can play a

part in unleashing a great tragedy for the main individuals.

Looking at the game of life from the perspective of the collective rather

than the individual, we may see that to a smaller extent the collective is

also going through its own evolution. Often when an individual is

confronted with big situations in the playing field of life not only is he

working out an outcome and a personal growth for himself, but the other

participants, the group involved, the society, i.e. the collective are also

working out its own outcomes, and hence its own growth and

development. From the perspective of the collective, its character and

condition, past deeds, etc. are also in play in the game of life, and are

working themselves out toward (hopefully) a higher resolution and

progress.

We should also point out that the resolution of all situations and

circumstance, i.e. the outcome of the game of life itself, takes place

through a dynamic of opposition and conflict. In the Theory of Creation,

we have discussed how life unfolds as a series of conflicts and struggles.

We call the conflicting nature of life the involution. We call the working

out of the conflict the evolution (for a person, the group, society, etc.).

Evolutionary growth and development in the game of life seems to

require involution of conflict and struggle.


20

Finally, our view is that life progresses through slow, circular, zigzagging,

halting, unconscious steps. It is when we as humans consciously make

the decision to develop ourselves, our character, that we dramatically

accelerate the possibility of positive outcomes in the game of life.

The Ascent of Life through the Individual

-(1) Life is first dumb inconscient will rooted in the physical energy;

inconscient, and subject to mechanical forces. This is reflected in the

necessity of the separative ego, and to survive.

(2) Then there is a movement to break the bounds of one's self toward

interaction with others. This reflects the compulsion of Nature to fuse our

individual selves with others. At this second poise of life there is death,

mutual devouring, desire, and the need to expand, conquer, and possess.

This is a movement to the vital proper, away from the physical.

(3) The third poise of life is a movement towards conscious mind in life.

In this stage there is the conscious movement towards commonality,

mutuality, harmony, etc. In its higher aspects it is vitally reflected as the

ability to be self-giving towards others, and to feel love.

-Survival of the fittest that enables evolution comes from love,

commonality, unity, harmony, etc.; not because of selfishness, self-

protection, self-assertion, and aggressive living of the individual. [This is

the movement from the physical and vital in the vital and life to the

conscious mind emerging in life, and beyond to spiritualized mind to

supermind to Satchitananda]

-As life ascends to mind, it grows toward the rule of conscious unity.

(One sees there the unity in the in the differentiation and diversity of

life.) This reflects the divine law of the Satchitananda in the

manifestation.

[As there is an ascension in life, as we ascend to higher levels in life, we

move from physical selfishness, to vital interchange with others, including

desire, et al to mental and spiritual mind-based commonality and unity,

reflecting those higher aspects that are there in Satchitananda.

-This suggest that life can reflect every aspect, attribute of every plane of

mind to supermind in the vital. E.g. the highest aspect of Truth, Love,

Oneness, Power, Bliss/Delight, Knowledge can be experienced in all


21

aspects of life, and in all aspects of our vital being.] (Paraphrase of Sri

Aurobindo + Additional Comments)

The Ascent of Life: The Four Successive Statuses that the

Forms of Life Undergo

Unconscious Will to Survive -- The first is of force, of dumb inconscient

[unconscious] will. It is mere physical energy, subject to mechanical

forces. This is reflected in the necessity of the separative ego, and to

survive.

Ego-Oriented Interchange -- The second status is to break the bounds of

one's self toward interaction with others; a compulsion of Nature to begin

to fuse ourselves with others. There is death, mutual devouring, desire,

and the need to expand, conquer, and possess. This is a movement to

the vital proper, away from the physical.

Mutual Interchange and Harmony -- The third status is the conscious

movement towards commonality, mutuality, harmony, etc. It is a

movement toward cooperation and mutual help, the associated group,

conscious joining and interchange. In its higher aspects it is vitally

reflected as the ability to be self-giving towards others, and to feel love.

Sri Aurobindo also indicates than in this third status, there is an

increasing predominance of Mind. Mind is of a higher consciousness which

does not need to devour to grow. to the degree that Mind is free of the

material influence, it will have these positive influences.

Spiritual Unity with Others, Life -- Sri Aurobindo says that ultimately

there is a need to harmonize two principles of life: the necessity of the

will of the separative ego to survive in its distinctness; and the

compulsion imposed upon it by Nature to fuse itself with others.

Sri Aurobindo says that these will be fused when we reach the fourth

status of life, which occurs when the eternal unity of the many [i.e. of the

self and others] is realized through the unity and freedom of the spirit.

(Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo + Additional growth Online Comments)


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The Nature of the Universe, Life

Here I would like to describe the nature of the universe in a variety of

ways, which I hope will add to our understanding of life's meaning and

purpose, including our role in it.

Energy (Plane of Life) and the Universe -- Life is a plane of Energy, which

surrounds the universe. Even if the physical universe were not there, this

plane of Energy would still exist. In addition, the universe itself is a

product of that energy. The Energy exists originally in a state of rest. Bu

then through a divine compulsion, it begins to move, creating forces and

forms out of itself, which becomes the visible and invisible contents of the

universe. All forms that emerge in the universe are formations of that

energy. When those forms cease to exist, such as when we die, the

energy remains and takes a new form.

Origins of the Plane of Energy -- Energy has its origins in the Infinite

consciousness. Energy is in fact the final movement of the Conscious

Force -- "Chit" in Sanskrit -- unfolding from out of the Infinite Divine.

Thus, the universe is a product of a Divine Intent, using the Force and

Energy of the Supreme for its clay and substance. What is created are

forces and forms, visible and invisible, of which matter is the most

obvious manifestation. Animated life, and mentality are further

formations.

Equilibrium, Rebalancing in Universe -- The universe exits in a state of

continuous equilibrium. When things change, the universe absorbs it and

rebalances itself, forming a new equilibrium. Thus, the universe can be

likened to the ocean, where if something is added or subtracted, whether

a swell or reduced flow, it is immediately incorporated into an integrative,

harmonious whole. In this scheme, relationships among forces, objects,

forms, circumstance are continually updated and being adjusted to

maintain the balance and harmony; this integral unity in the universe.

Oneness and the Cosmic Web -- All in the universe is interrelated and

interconnected. Each thing is related to every other, as well as the whole;

even its essence. There is a kind of cosmic web that encircle the universe

containing a myriad of strands. Each thread has its own unique

correspondences, connecting related elements, circumstances, etc a

profound integral relationship. Thus, if one element on the strand

changes, it affects other on that thread -- whether forces, energies,

circumstance, or forms, including we humans. In this way, if we make an

adjustment in consciousness, others elements are affected. More

proactively, if we know what a particular strand consists of, we can

elevate our consciousness in a corresponding area, consciously affecting


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related elements. E.g. if we know that cancer has its roots in greed, we

can overcome greed in ourselves, and watch as cancer recedes across the

earth as a major problem of life.

Life Response and the Universe -- Life response is the phenomenon

where sudden good fortune descends on an individual or collective due to

shifts in consciousness on our part. Life response can be explained in

terms of the equilibrium of energies of the universe. I.e. the universe is

in any moment in a state of equilibrium relative to local conditions. There

is then an elevation of consciousness on the part of an individual or

collective; e.g. due to a higher attitude, decision, or belief. Perceiving

that things are now in a state of disequilibrium, the universe seeks to

restore the balance. To do so, a fresh act is required. That occurs from

amongst elements along a corresponding thread(s) of the web of life.

E.g., as a result of my improved attitude, good fortune comes to me from

a particular individual or unique circumstance along that corresponding

thread. When the response comes, equilibrium is restored, though now at

a higher level. Keep in mind that the dynamic of equilibrium,

disequilibrium, new equilibrium occurs for positive, neutral, and negative

movements of consciousness on our part, leading to corresponding

quality of response. I.e. I can attract negative conditions through a

movement of lower consciousness.

Necessity of All in the Universe -- In life, we want certain things to occur

-- essentially left out of the universe -- and some kept in. But at the

highest level of consciousness, we perceive that every single thing is

needed for progress in the universe; for movements forward in life. Thus,

in life, and in the universe there is no waste. Everything serves a purpose

in the progressive movement forward. In that way, every single object

serves a purpose, whether positive or negative. For us that means

nothing should be discarded as irrelevant or unimportant, for the smallest

thing can determine the outcome of the largest; and the most negative

can be an avenue and opening to the most positive.

The Reality and the Universe -- There is a relationship between the

universe and the Reality that contains it. I.e. the omnipresent Reality

(Brahman, The Absolute) is the highest conception of existence afforded

to Man. It expresses in all planes unmanifest and manifest. The Reality

begins as unmanifest Infinite consciousness, and then extends itself to a

universe of forces and forms. Thus, we could say that the universe is the

body of the Reality: a manifestation of the unmanifest. The Reality has

then become both the Unmanifest and the Manifest; the Creator and the

Creation. It is actually more than their sum, but their unity and integral

relationship. Also, being a form of the Reality in creation, we inherit the

infinite consciousness of the Divine Source. In essence, life and we are

God incarnate.


24

Evolution and the Universe -- Evolution is constantly occurring in the

universe. There is a constant upward compulsion to the highest formation

possible of any form, including us. When the form reaches its highest

state, it evolves another form. Evolution in the universe is occurring at

the physical, vital (life plane) and mental levels. Animals emerged from

plant and chemical; humans from animals; and higher mental, heart, and

spiritual beings from lower consciousness individuals. Thus, we humans

are the main instrument for evolution in the universe. There is a divine

compulsion for change, progress, evolution, and transformation in the

universe coming from a Higher Source. There is also something within us

-- an embedded divine, an evolving soul, a hidden Conscious-Force --

that also has this urge for ever-higher development of our being.

The Individual, Universal, and Transcendent -- There is a relationship

between us as individuals, the universe, and the transcendent. It can be

explained this way: There is an Infinite consciousness with a

transcendent status, with its spiritual qualities and divine Intent. We exist

in the universe to fulfill its destiny to carry out and manifest the

Transcendent Will. How do we do this? We fulfill the universal intent when

we rise in consciousness; enabling the universal to fulfill its transcendent

purpose. Thus, by discovering our highest nature, we become

instruments of the will and Intent of the Infinite consciousness. In that

way our destiny is not only to become fulfilled true Individuals, but

universal, and transcendent beings.

Free Will and Determination -- In this scheme, we have free will to

choose as we wish. And yet there is a compulsion and will of the Infinite

consciousness for progress, evolution, and transformation in creation. I.e.

there is a transcendent aspiration for the universe to increasingly

manifest peace, oneness, wisdom, creativity, possibility, love, beauty,

and delight. These are the cosmic determinants. And yet we are given full

freedom to participate in this cosmic unfolding. It is our choice. Thus, we

can say we have free will within the determination of the Infinite divine.

Moreover, we collaborate with that cosmic intent by increasingly

discovering our higher nature and bringing it to the world. This freedom

and choice, this cosmic determinism is true for all things, seen and

unseen, in the universe.


25


The Game of Life

Some have suggested that life is merely a serious of random events that

occur without purpose or meaning. Our decades-long analysis on the

contrary, indicates that life is a very meticulous, though complex system

that expresses through profound, yet subtle laws and principles.

For example, we know that the motion of physical objects follow basic

tenets of existence, but we rarely consider the fact that life itself also has

its own methods and rules of causality and unfolding. It would seem a

reasonable thing to do to try to discover just what they are.

And yet even if we were serious about identifying such laws and

principles, would we have the right mental framework and perspective to

identify them? [ep]

If we are tethered to simplistic notions of cause and effect, to that which

can be visually perceived -- i.e. the scientific, empirical view -- we will

hardly know anything beyond the surface of things. The fact is that life is

far more complex, intricate, and interdependent than what the mind can

see, let alone what the senses tell us. Even the most powerful human

mind, steeped in logic is unable to glean the nature of reality because it is

fixated and limited to what it knows, missing all of the subtle intricacies

that make life what it is; that are the factors that move life and lead to its

outcomes.

To begin to understand the character of life, we must start all over from

the beginning; break down existence into its facets, and see how they

each the parts fit together. It is not unlike a skilled watchmaker who in

order to understand how to fix it, must take apart the timepiece to see

the parts that make up the whole, see how it fits together, and figure out

what is missing or wanting.

To understand life, its character, and its methods, we must begin our

knowledge journey anew by deconstructing existence, and then

perceiving how all of the parts – reality, life, society, the individual,

circumstance, events, human character, evolution, destiny, et all fit

together. From there we can know the play, the players, and the game,

how they interact, and fit together, revealing life’s character and all of the

laws and principles that govern it.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:


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-The next time you watch a serious TV program, movie, or read a book,

understand what is the flaw in the person's character. If appropriate also

understand how an individual changed their character (by changing an

attitude, opinion, habit, action) and how that lead to positive

circumstance.

-Consider a conflict in your own life now or in the past. Note how the

negative circumstance or people served a purpose (i.e. the involution) in

the eventual outcome (i.e. the evolution) of the conflict.

-Think about a few things in your life where great suffering was actually a

first link in a chain of a new awareness, improvement, or success.

-Take any conflict that is occurring now, and examine your own

character, and try to make an improvement from among your level of

knowledge, skills, attitudes, habits, opinions, personal values,

aspirations, direction, will, desires, ego, and so forth.

-How can you avoid going through the same conflicts in the future you

have experienced in the past. In what ways do you need to change your

attitudes, habits, opinions, desires, activities, etc to avoid the repetition

in the future?

-What are some commonly accepted "good" things you are doing now

that actually may not be good.

Expressions of the Character of Life

Like the individual, life too can be said to have a character. Life's

character can be described by the way events unfold, as well as by the

factors that determine such outcomes.

Moreover, the character of life is governed by subtle laws and principles,

which we can observe if we closely examine its unfoldings. We can

perceive a number of these principles at work, which in turn can supply

us with profound insights into the nature of life.


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Character of Life Expressed in ‘Savitri’

"The events of our lives appear to lack coherence due to a limitation in

our understanding. Those who perceive the true character of life realize

that it has a complete connected significance."

(from the Book inside the novel 'The Book' by Garry Jacobs)

Comment: This is echoed here:

“Our outward happenings have their seed within,

And even this random Fate that imitates Chance,

This mass of unintelligible results,

Are the dumb graph of truths that work unseen:

The laws of the Unknown create the known.”

(from ‘Savitri’ by Sri Aurobindo)

Character of Life

Life has a character. It has a capacity to respond, and the nature of that

response is a direct function of the consciousness of the individuals or

groups involved in the action. As physics observes and catalogs the

characteristic properties of material substances and the interactions of

material energies, seeks to understand their origin and to discover the

laws that govern them, a true science of life must carefully observe and

catalog the characteristic patterns of action and response in life.

This is the truth behind the much maligned and misunderstood concept

of karma. Its essential meaning is that every action in life releases a

particular vibration or quality of energy that evokes a response from the

same vibratory quality of life in the world around. Violence begets

violence, one good turn deserves another, and countless other

commonplace phrases reflect shades of this profound truth. But the

complexity of life energies and events is so great that simplistic formulas

such as these will fail to satisfy empirically unless founded upon a deep

and systematic study of life events and consequences. That is precisely

what science can bring to the study of life, once it consents to impartially

examine an alternative hypothesis.




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Every successful farmer, business leader, politician and statesman—all

those whose primary objective is accomplishment in social life, rather

than being confined to work on material substances or mental

formulations—intuitively discover these truths. Great writers of fiction, of

whom Shakespeare is the preeminent example, intuitively reflect them in

the words and actions of their characters and the consequences of those

actions. The sudden attack by a pirate ship which enables Hamlet to

escape the plot for his execution in England appears at first glance to be

appropriately described by the materialists’ concept of chance or luck,

until the underlying determinants and governing principles of life are

better known. Critics have studied many such patterns of action and

consequence in great literary works, usually without realizing that they

were dealing with universal laws of action and reaction that are the basis

of a fully rational and verifiable science of life. Not just literature, but also

history and biography are replete with instances that point to a deeper

level of causality in life. That an inexplicable order by Hitler on May 24,

1940 stopping the advance of Nazi troops to Dunkirk, coupled with the

sudden onset of heavy fog along the coast, made possible the near

miraculous evacuation of 350,000 allied troops with minimum casualties;

mocks at simplistic notions of chance and necessity in life. Traditional

wisdom in all cultures is rich with insights into truths of life, though it

usually fails to organize and present the theoretical basis for its

conclusions in a manner understandable or acceptable to the rational

mind.

Who has not had less complex and dramatic, but nevertheless striking

instances in their own life? You think or speak of a particular person and

a moment later a letter or phone call arrives from that person or he

arrives at your door. If there is a causal relationship between your action

and the result, it is obviously not material. You become interested in a

particular subject for the first time and suddenly find life inundating you

with information about it that you have not even sought. You think of a

word or passage and open a book spontaneously to just that topic. You

notice that both good and bad news seem too often come in streams; one

good thing following another or a crop of bad news all coming to harvest

at the same time, even when the sources and causes of events appear

causally unrelated.

Questions About The “Character of Life”

Understanding the ideas presented in this work 'Character of Life can help

us understand the answers to the following questions:

-Why does one person have luck and another fail to have it?




29

-Why do bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to

bad ones?

-Why did the outcome of the story occur the way it did, when it seemed

like it should have happened a different way?

-How is the social atmosphere affecting the outcome of events?

-Why does the tiniest action have the power to create the greatest

outcome?

-How does our own character intersect with Life's character?

-Can Character of Life knowledge help us understand the true purpose

and meaning behind circumstance and events.

-Does Life really have a character; a nature that follows its own laws and

principles; its own course and flow?

-Is Life Conscious in ways we never would have imagined?

-Is there something we can do in consciousness that can causes outer

events to turn more in our favor?

-Is Life a vehicle for something higher; such as a spiritual dimension?

-When we take an action, hoping for something to come about, why does

nothing happen, or even worse, the very opposite?

-Why do people coincidentally appear on the scene in certain situations?

-Is life around us reflecting, positively and negatively our being inside?

-Is there a relationship between events happening around and our

capacity to grow as a person?

-Can I become very successful, and inwardly fulfilled by learning the Laws

governing the Character of Life?

-Can Character of Life indicate the purpose of human existence; social

existence, universal existence, cosmic existence?

-Can Character of Life knowledge enable me to become the master of

life? And if so, how? (Roy Posner)

Character of Life and Anticipating, Predicting the Future

By knowing Character of Life principles and by developing Supramental

Perception one can far more easily anticipate and even predict future

outcomes.


30

Biological, Social, and Spiritual Evolution and the Character of Life

The scope of the Character of Life is infinite, like the Source that created

it.

One aspect that I learned from Sri Karmayogi through our regular email

interchanges from 1999-2003 was the influence of three layers of

evolution that are occurring simultaneously. Life's character reflects the

confluence of these.

They are what He calls Biological evolution, Social evolution, and Spiritual

evolution. These are their positive forms. At any moment, there can also

be non-evolution; even regression. Life's character stands at the interface

of these three.

For example, in Pride and Prejudice several individuals are clearly going

through Biological evolution, Darcy being the most dramatic as he

reverses a large part of his nature; a startling achievement for which he

is greatly rewarded by attracting the love of his life Eliza to marriage. She

herself is going through a degree of her own Biological evolution.

In the story, Social evolution is also occurring. We see it at the level of

class, where we witness the progress of the gentleman farmers moving

up in English society in status, privilege, and prosperity, represented

clearly by the Bennett family. There is also a certain social regression

occurring, represented by the aristocratic Lady Catherine; even though

her nephew, Mr Darcy, also of that class are moving forward, as they are

refreshed by the dynamic, positive energies of the middle class.

The Spiritual evolution can be thought of as the intention and

determination of the divine Force that seeks to spreads Its Will

throughout the cosmos and life on earth. In the story, we can perceive

through the interaction of the middle and upper classes. Rather than

having these two sectors progress friction and strife, as it did in nearby

revolutionary France, it instead occurs through interaction, cooperation,

and harmony. Other spiritual aspects -- like wisdom, truth, goodness,

creativity, beauty, love, delight, and timelessness -- also express the

intention of the Force and hence Spiritual evolution in life; seeking the

right individuals, conduits, and circumstance.

So Man stands at the interface of Biological, the Social, and the Spiritual.

Each moment is like that for us; as is every event. The Character of Life

is determined by the conditions of these three aspects, and their

confluence and interaction.


31

We can see this in our own lives, in the world around us; even in literary

fiction and cinema. E.g. Shakespeare portrays the intersection of these

forces throughout his works; and does so elegantly and poetically. He is

able to blend the micro and the macro view of circumstance; which is the

cornerstone of his greatness. We should note that his emphasis was often

on the tragic because 500 years ago Man's nature was brutish.

Evolution -- biological, social, and spiritual -- took place through very

coarse action and reaction during those times.

The confluence of the three forms of evolution (as well as their neutral

and negative/regressive forms) also relates to Life Response, i.e.

instances of sudden good fortune. For example, we see that in our own

lives life response is determined not only by our own energies (our

intentions, attitudes, decisions, actions, etc.) but by the influence of the

social atmosphere. When the social atmosphere is at our back, then our

initiatives succeed; life responds in our favor. When they are negative or

absent, life will respond neutrally or counter to our aspirations. Pride and

Prejudice is an example of the former; Shakespeare's Othello, the latter.

Then there is the influence of the Sprit and its effect on life. E.g. the

Force can descend on its own as Grace. In addition, we can open to that

Power, which also sets right life's conditions, manifesting starling positive

outcomes. If we develop an inner power to perceive life's subtle

movements, we can put ourselves in direct line with the spiritual

unfolding that is trying to manifest in the world. Even without us, spiritual

evolution is constantly occurring, as the spirit continually manifest its

cosmic aspects including harmony, oneness, goodness, wisdom,

creativity, beauty, and delight.

In the end, we each stand at the crossroads of these influences. To be

able to pan back and perceive what that is at any moment in time, in any

circumstance, gives us a great perspective of life's conditions. It reveals

why things are happening the way they are, and what we can do to

change them. For after all we are fully capable of influencing the world

outside ourselves from within ourselves, which is yet another principle of

the Character of Life.


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Character of Life Principles

Life has a character, which expresses through rules,

principles

Four Character of Life Principles

What are several principles that indicate Life’s character?

One is that Life is a field of existence consisting of the play, the players,

and their interactions.

Eg in the book, various films of Pride and Prejudice, the story that the

author gives us is the Play. The characters, Like Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth

Bennet, and Lady Catherine are the Players. The interactions are all the

scenes where the players are connecting with one another; e.g. where

Darcy refuses to dance with Elizabet, or when Lydia elopes with a

scoundrel. They can be major or minor scenes and interactions.

----

A second is that Life is constantly responding to the inner and outer

expressions of the behavior of the players.

Life can respond positively or negatively to the players. Eg negative

circumstance constantly follow in the footsteps of Mrs. Bennet’s thoughts,

emotions and actions, because she is so negative herself. On the other

hand, when Darcy shifts away from being proud and aloof, good fortune

soon follows.

Thus Life reacts positively to higher consciousness inner and outer

behaviors, and negatively to lower ones.

In fact, Life is always responding to our desires, actions, habits, attitudes,

beliefs, and values.

Thus, what we are within ourselves, is how life expresses on the outside.

In this way, Life is alive and Conscious.

----

A third principle is that life unfolds in the world is ways that are mostly

subconscious to us I.e. we only perceive the obvious outer unfolding, --


33

what is material and mechanistic, tangible and in sight -- not the subtle

unfoldings, signs, and indicators.

Eg Elizabeth Bennett has no idea that her feelings toward the treacherous

Wickham will cause her younger sister to elope with him and nearly ruin

her family. Likewise Mr. Bennet has no idea that his indifference to his

children will lead to the same nearly ruinous elopement.

----

A fourth principle is that life progresses through the conflict or

contradiction between pairs, that crates the possibility of a higher

consciousness, that turns the conflict into a progress or harmony.

Eg Darcy and Eliza are fully at odd. And yet when they go through

circumstance, they came to see their limitations in their being, make the

necessary change in their attitudes and feeling, leading to the

establishment of their relationship and their marriage.

Thus we can say that life progresses by turning contradictions into

complementarities.

Subtle Principles of Life

[Subtle Life principles described here include Law of Karma, Subtle

Connection with Another, Inner-Outer Correspondence, All is Indicated

Beforehand, Negative as Positive in Disguise, etc.]

Perhaps the one principle of life we readily agree upon is the law of cause

and effect. E.g. if I do something, there is an effect. Unfortunately, we

only see this principle at work the physical/material level. E.g., when I

hammer in a nail, the wood splinters and it is penetrated. This

physical/material causality is obvious for every human being. However,

that is only a small part of the life picture. There is also the cause and

effect at the non-material plane -- i.e. subtle level of life. E.g., if I feel an

emotion, someone else in the next town subtly perceives it. When they

then receive my phone call, they comment that they were thinking of me.

An even less known example: I change a negative attitude, and suddenly

someone from half way around the world that I have never known before

contacts me with an offer of a job of a lifetime. This is a subtle principle

of life called 'inner-outer correspondence'. I.e. there is a direct connection

between the inner me and the outer life. Therefore, when I change a

wanting aspect of myself consciousness within, such as a negative

attitude, life outside myself instantly responds in kind -- even though I

took to no perceptible outer action to make it occur. This stunning


34

unfolding defies our normal perceptions of what is possible, and how

space and time unfold. Yet this principle is always at work, just beyond

the bounds of our normal state of awareness.

There are many other subtle principles of life. One is that everything that

occurs in life is indicated long before it occurs; i.e. by a 'predecessor

event'. For example, an individual is eager to come to a meeting that

could change his life, but then gets very lost while driving around in a

huge housing development -- though eventually he finds his way. Years

later, he goes out of business when in his relationship with the very

people he tried to meet at that earlier difficult-to-arrive-at, fateful

meeting. The earlier negative event of getting hopelessly lost was the

predecessor of the later negative circumstance of meeting with financial

disaster through that same party.

It is also interesting to note that there are no exceptions to this rule:

everything in life is indicated earlier by a predecessor event. Or to make

it more personal: everything that is currently happening to your life --

whether great or small -- has been indicated by a predecessor event

beforehand. Here is one other example of the phenomenon. A young man

comes to India and meets with a teacher. Years later, they would be

involved in a difficult trial against another person in which they

(temporarily) lost a considerable financial judgment. At the very first

instance when the two individuals met a decade earlier, the young man

had asked the elder for a small loan to pay for a taxi. That sorry request

was a predecessor of the near-financial ruin suffered by both. If we were

to go back and trace the events our lives, we would see this same

principle at work in our own lives. Something to think about: the things

we are doing now will become signs and predecessors for future events.

Inner-outer correspondence and predecessor events are two startling

subtle principles of life. How can the average person who only sees the

obvious causalities of life perceive them? It is a matter of living a more

concentrated existence, where our focus in life is more inward, and less

outward where we are caught up in the surface unfoldings of life. From

that deeper poise, we more readily perceive the subtle movements of life

around us.

Let me add one other subtle principle -- one I have mentioned frequently

in this column. It is that the negatives we experience in life serve the

greater good. Or to put it another way, negatives are just as good in the

creating the greater Good as the ordinary good is. Consider how the

central episode in Pride and Prejudice unfolds, and you will see what I a

mean. In the story, Darcy is in love with Eliza, but she has rejected him

due to his prideful ways. There appears on the scene an old nemesis of

Darcy, Mr. Wickham. He runs off with Eliza's youngest sister, precipitating

a scandal. Darcy then takes it upon himself to overcome the predicament,


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and succeeds in bringing Wickham and the younger sister back to the

community married, thus avoiding the scandal. As a result, Eliza

perceives Darcy in a new light, they reconcile, she expresses her love,

and they marry. Cannot we then say that it was because of the negative

Wickham that Darcy is given an opportunity to act in a way that wins

over the love of Eliza? Put in philosophical terms we could say that

Wickham appeared on the scene in order to bring about the marriage of

Darcy to Eliza -- even though that was not his conscious intent. Thus, life

progresses very quickly through the unfolding of negative circumstance,

adding to the greater Good. It is one of Nature's profound methods.

The most extreme example of that would be the startling statement that

the ultimate evil represented by Adolph Hitler and the Nazis unified

Europe! Without their treachery, it may have never happened, or it may

have taken hundreds of years before an EU was created. Because these

nations had to jointly oppose the Nazis in WWII, instead of acting

selfishly and separately apart as they did in the years leading up to the

war, they developed the beginnings of a unity of purpose. Then at the

end of the war when the devastation was complete, the nations knew

that they had to come together, or face similar consequences once again.

They then went on to see their shared values and purpose. It was a vast

evolutionary movement of hundreds of years through the misery of a few

years of extreme negative unfolding.

If we think about it, each of us can identity extreme negative

circumstance that precipitated a great advancement forward in our own

lives. It is unfortunately too often the case that only through the shock of

negative circumstance does our lives make the necessary leap forward. It

is the cause because our habitual nature and our virulent attitudes and

beliefs do not readily change on their own to allow for such progress. It is

known by the spiritually wise man that the Divine itself sanctions the

negative, including evil, as a radical means of moving forward -- at least

until we develop the positive means to do the same. Thus, this negative

unfolding that serves the greater Good, can be thought of not as a

negative at all, but as a more intense form of the positive. It is a form of

the positive that is not easily recognizable, and bitterly accepted if at all.

This is Nature's difficult method -- though in the future we will discover

the inner, spiritual means to move life forward without the need of pain

and difficulty. It is called the way of Soul.

I have mentioned a handful of subtle life principles -- though there are

many more, each more remarkable than the next. Though laudable, the

goal is not simply to be aware of and occasionally experience these

startling unfoldings of life, but utilize their power to raise our

consciousness, while bringing about progress in our lives. Then life will

become an endless adventure, a 'thrill ride of the within', which will not


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only take us to the heights of any endeavor we engage in, and allow us to

make remarkable personal progress, but will fill us with an ongoing deep

joy and delight of being. At that point, we will stand on the shores of a

New Way of Living.

Character of Life Principles

Life has a character just like each of us. It expresses through patterns

and principles that elude our view. However, if we look closely we can

learn to identify the principles that describe the workings of Life's

Character. Here are some examples that indicate the nature of life's

character:

WHAT LIFE IS

• Life is a universal field that seeks progress towards an unnamed

goal.

PLANES OF LIFE

• Life exists at many planes – from the physical, to the vital/life

force, to the mental, to the spiritual.

LIFE'S OUTCOME AND FLOW

• Life's outcomes are determined by the consciousness of the

individuals, the influence of the collectives involved, the general

atmosphere, and the progressive urge of life behind.

• The flow of events of life cannot be understood by mere

mechanistic view of circumstance, but by understanding the inner

attitudes, motives, and beliefs of the individual, or collective.

• The flow of events cannot be understood by mere mechanistic

view of circumstance, but by understanding the inner attitudes,

motives, and beliefs of the individual, or collective.

• Life is a process of ever-unfolding progress that can also move

faster through evolution, and fastest through transformation.


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• Life unfolds through the contradictions of force, such as between

of two parties (individuals, nations, ideas, etc.), working its way to

a higher harmony.

• Life or Nature provides a slow, often painful method of progress.

Progress through higher consciousness or soul also enables

progress, but without the pain.

ACTS

• The act is the central unit or measurement of life.

• Life's acts tends to repeat over and over until there is a counter

force that changes that dynamic.

• That act or circumstance which happens at the outset of

circumstance, indicate what is going to occur at the end; what the

final outcome will be.

• When a great movement to the positive rises, an opposing force

tries to deny it.

LIFE RESPONSE

• Life responds to the consciousness of the individual. When there is

a further shift to the positive, life suddenly brings forth positive

conditions to that person. Likewise, a negative will bring forth a

negative.

• We have the capacity to shape life not just through our outer

actions, but through our inner attitudes, motives, values, and

beliefs.

• Life responds powerfully to movements and shift of intention,

decision, attitude, and action.

• In “life response,” space, time, causality, and limits of possibility

are overcome.

• Life responds to strength. Life is amoral (not the same as

immoral), responding to force and power.

ONENESS OF LIFE

• Though we see separateness and division in life, all things are

inextricably and integrally related. Thus even the smallest thing

can have a great effect.


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• The inner person and the outer reality are not two separate

things, but are one. Thus when we change the inner view, the

outer quickly responds in kind.

ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN LIFE

• A person is not just an individual being serving his own individual

purpose, but also has a universal capacity to affect the society and

other collectives. The person also serves a transcendent purpose.

• A pioneer individual will often advocate that which is subconscious

to the society, enabling it to move forward.

IGNORANCE TO KNOWLEDGE

• Life is a journey from Ignorance to Knowledge. To enable the full

accomplishment of that process, rebirth of the soul is necessary.

ACCOMPLISHMENT & SUCCESS

• There are factors that enable great accomplishment and success,

reflecting life's character. Among them are aspiration,

psychological strength, attitude, capacity, and values.

• All problems of life are essentially problems of Harmony. increase

the harmony and solutions are found, problems disappear.

• Limited consciousness prevents these from manifesting success.

Higher consciousness facilitates these.

LIFE AND SPIRIT

• Life is the final operation of a Supreme Conscious-Force.

• Behind the movements of life are the Intent of an Infinite

Consciousness, a Divine entity.

• We can collaborate with the Divine will to facilitate the evolution of

life on earth.

• Life seeks to manifest spiritual values like silence, peace,

harmony, truth, wisdom, goodness, beauty, love, joy, infinity, and

eternity.


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• Though the Infinite Consciousness does not wish for it, it sanctions

ignorance, falsehood, pain, and evil as a means of evolving the

conditions of the world.

Various Principles of Life Indicating the Character of Life

PRINCIPLES OF ACTS

• The consequences of an act depend on the strength of the act, the

actor and the social atmosphere.

• When we function in the world we do so through the individual

acts we perform. We can say that the act is the fundamental unit

of life in the same way that the atom or molecule are the

fundamental units of matter. In fact, each act is in fact a

microcosm of the universe; the universe in miniature.

• Each act is a force with a propensity to repeat that increase with

each occurrence. Each repetition of an act increases its tendency

for further repetitions.

• There are always predecessor events that point to the bigger

events. To know those smaller acts can help us control the bigger

ones; turning them into great accomplishment and results.

• The outcome of a chain of events is indicated at the very

beginning, though the meaning of that indication may not be

evident.

INNER-OUTER CORRESPONDENCE & LIFE RESPONSE

• Everything on the outside is an expression of our inner condition.

• This laws governing the relationship between the outer and the

inner can be called the principle of "inner-outer correspondence."

• Life outside one's self is a reflection of one's inner consciousness.

• If we make a decisive shift within, life on the outside can suddenly

and abundantly respond on the outside. This is 'life response."

• The shift of the outer to the inner can occur instantaneously and

at any distance and quantity.


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• If life throws up a challenge and we respond in the right way --

e.g. overcome a negative attitude -- life will respond suddenly and

abundantly, overcoming limitations of space and time, and our

notions of what is logical and possible.

PRINCIPLES OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

• An individual's ability to accomplish is affected by the social

environment and atmosphere -- which includes the capacities,

energies, character, and circumstance of the social environment

and social institutions he is involved in.

• An opportunity taken up in a positive atmosphere supports and

enhances its eventual outcome.

• When the atmosphere is negative, the initiative will fail, unless the

individual is able overcome the resistance of the atmosphere.

• When there are deficiencies in the act that are greater than the

atmosphere, the act fails. When the capacities are stronger than

the atmosphere, then the act succeeds.

• When an individual tries to make a significant progress for

improvement in life often there appears on the scene a negative

influence to bring it down. If the person has the significant energy

and character they can overcome this negative influence and

move on to the next level. If they don't they are brought down.

Not Yet Titled

Sri Karmayogi has revealed hundreds of profound principles of life,

including countless ways to evoke the miraculous. We, or rather the

entire world are indebted to Appa for his extraordinary insights into the

nature of existence and his tireless efforts to express the infinite ways we

can evoke sudden good fortune. It is a knowledge that when

implemented has the capacity to change the course of human life on

earth.


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Progress through Contradictions

Progress through Contradiction in Pride and Prejudice

Existence can be thought of as a great game – i.e. the Game of Life.

There are the players, the play, and the context. The players of course

are us, the living individuals who partake in the game. The play is the

interaction and association of those players. The context is the why and

wherefore of, the purpose of the game itself.

In this great Game that we call Life, there are a swirl of forces. It can be

random, uncertain; even chaotic. And yet in any game, there are rules

that need to be followed. Through those rules, the objectives and Joy of

the Game are enjoined. Otherwise, there would be chaos; or no game at

all.

When we observe the Game of Life, there are movements, developments,

and outcomes. We perceive a degree of causality there, particularly those

things that are obvious. If X slaps Y, it is likely that Y will return the

favor. If X does something foolish, we perceive the end result. Every

character can be understood for what he is. A good man can be seen that

way, just as we can recognize the scoundrel. Likewise, we can recognize

the context in space and time. I see that the event is occurring in the

1940s, in France, in a poor region, in a factory, where there is conflict.

We see the setting and sense some of the general forces at work. From

there the Play of Life is played out, by those recognizable individuals,

with their individual foibles and positive traits, against the contextual

background of time, space, and atmosphere.

So far so good it seems. And yet here is the point where the Game

becomes clouded for us. Because in the swirl of interaction of character

and context, the Play itself seems just to be moving forward on its own.

We may wonder why things are moving in a certain direction; but

normally we don’t. We simply observe and enjoy life’s movements.

Interest in the meaning behind things is left behind, as we savor life’s

unfolding. And yet even if we were to stop the Play, would we really be

able to understand what is really happening; what is causing what; why

the outcomes are occurring the way they are; what is the purpose of it

all; and so forth? It is at that point, that our understanding breaks down.

Or more likely, we simply don’t care, and we are happy to take in the

entire parade of events.


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However, this Play we are observing also includes us, and therefore we

are also the beneficiary and victim of life’s circumstance and outcomes.

If there is a painful experience, we want to know why. If there is a

glorious outcome, we want to discover the template that would enable us

to duplicate it so we can lead infinitely successful and happy lives.

In this Play, we see people behaving and acting. It is based on

unconscious or conscious choices we make. There is also the social

context and atmosphere that is shaping events. There is a cacophony of

influences; fluid movements and halting ones; quick movements ahead

and fallbacks; positive and negative results; progress and regress;

pleasure and pain; happiness and sorrow. It all seems too much for the

human mind to enjoin, so why not just sit back and enjoy the ride?

That is fine, so long as you don’t want to be its victim; if you don’t care

about the keys that can make life bearable, even ecstatic and lilting.

And yet behind this apparent embodiment of Chaos Theory, there are

certain workings and functionings that do indicate that there is a sense to

things; a logical meaning to the outcomes of the Play. The problem is it

defies our normal mentality. But what if those life movements had been

carefully examined, and what if a logic -- infinitely subtle -- explained all

things; then would this not bring benefit for us as Players, not to mention

everything else in the world?

Contradictions Between Dual Pairs Enables Further Progress

Life evolves or can evolve through the contradictions of two parties,

whether spouse or family members, associates, organizations, nations,

etc.

E.g., a man has the quality of feeling that he is not being listened to by

others. His wife tends not to listen when she is absorbed in some small

pursuit. When the man asks his wife to do something, she does not

listen, as she is absorbed elsewhere, causing irritation in the man. He

must evolve out of his insecurity; she out of her unresponsiveness. This

can only occur through their interaction. Life has put them together to

serve this evolutionary purpose.

All life thus evolves or has the potential to evolve through the

contradictions of two parties, through these conflicting pairs. Our goal

should be to perceive it and then go beyond that contradiction, which we

do by overcoming a corresponding limitation in our nature. When we do,

we progress and grow. We also evoke sudden good fortune.


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From a higher perspective then, the contradiction is really not so, but a

complement in that it is an opportunity to develop our higher

consciousness. I.e., the thing with which we are in conflict is the vehicle

by which will overcome a personal limitation, and thereby progress.

Example Relationships where Contradictions Occur:

• Parents with a child

• A child with its parents

• A higher up with a subordinate

• Workers with management

• A worker with a co-worker

• Between two organizations

• Between two philosophies

• Public vs. private

• Government vs. market

• One nation vs another

• One block of nations vs. another

• Capitalism vs. socialism

• One idea vs. another

• Fixed approach vs. alternate one

• Stay the course vs. change

direction

• Conservatism vs. liberalism

• Between two romantic partners

• Between two spouse

• Between progress & preservation

• Take immediate action or wait for right time

• Move ahead vs. stay the course

• Between two armies

• Between the people & the

government

• Secular vs. sectarian

• One religion vs another

• Science vs. religion

• Spirit vs. Matter

• Needs of the collective vs. the individual

• Freedom vs. control

• Free will vs. fate

• Destiny vs. randomness

Beyond Division and Contradiction to Higher Resolutions in Life

On the surface of life there is endless conflict, strife, and suffering. This is

the way our normal consciousness sees the world. It sees through

division and contradiction. However, when we move to a deeper

consciousness, it reverses. Division becomes Oneness; i.e. those forces

that are divided from one another actually share a deeper purpose that

binds them in oneness. From that deeper consciousness, we also see that

contradictions become complements. I.e. forces that appear in opposition

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are at a deeper level complementary to one another; even necessary to

one another's progress.

This might sound like mere philosophy, but from a deeper perspective, it

is the most profound and practical of truths. For example, we see two

nations at war, or two families quarrelling, or two individuals at

loggerheads. At their soul level, where their true selves lie, they are

bound in unity. Only their egos, operating at the surface, bind them in

division and strife. If they were to instead go deeper within, they would

find a common interest -- a means of resolving the surface problem

through an overriding higher possibility and solution. If we choose to go

into the depths, away from ego that separates us, we will find that higher

harmony and resolution overcomes our division and conflicts.

Likewise, when we move to a deeper consciousness, we see that the

conflict we thought we were having with another is really indicating that

we share a hidden complementary relationship with them. That it is only

through that relationship with them that we can each can grow and

progress to the next emerging level. Since it is only through the

interaction with my adversary that my own faults show themselves, that

other party is then a complement and agent for my own personal growth!

Or, to put it another way; it is only in our mutual conflict that we can

bring a wider possibility that will benefit both parties.

Why then do we perceive the division and contradiction, not the oneness

and complementary nature of our relationships? It is because of the

limitations of our minds --which cannot see the whole truth of any

subject, inquiry, or matter, but only the part. And the part Mind sees is

often only the part that the ego reinforces. When I am in conflict with

another, my Mind only perceives the conflict, which is only a part of a

much wider truth, and wholeness of possibilities. Also, the part Mind sees

is that part that satisfies the ego. The ego looks out for its own interest,

at the expense of the interests of others, the environment -- i.e. of the

whole truth of things.

This might still sound like philosophy. However, as one moves out of the

part-view into the whole truth of any situation -- conflicting or not -- then

one begins to perceive the full integral knowledge of the conditions of life

in any moment. It will strike us as a Marvel. Also when we come out of

our ego, move from selfishness to selflessness and self-givingness, we

will break the impasses we have with another party. Division and

contradiction will begin to turn into harmony of purpose, even as we

perceive our complementary association. Then new solutions will reveal

themselves from all quarters. The limited, finite world steeped in conflict

will burst forth with infinite possibilities coming from this new harmonic

perspective. We will then together with our once-adversarial partner


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stand before entirely new possibilities for progress and accomplishment.

That discovery will in turn itself release a deep abiding joy within.

Life's Contradiction Reveal Higher Truth In 'Miss Mackenzie'

Life poses contradictory conditions, which no fault of ours, comes to

reveal greater truth; and when one decides to go with the flow of life, it

responds in its own fashion.

In the story, 'Miss Mackenzie' by Anthony Trollope, after spending most

of her adult life nursing her dying uncle, and then her invalid brother

Walter, Miss Mackenzie inherited a significant fortune from Walter at his

death. However, at one point of time she lost all that money to her

cousin, John Ball, as he was the rightful inheritor.

At the end of the story, despite the fact that she had rejected the earlier

marriage proposal by John Ball, she married him who soon became Sir

John Ball; and as a result she became The Lady, also becoming quite

popular in society.

Though it appeared that she had lost all the money earlier, life posed that

contradiction only to reveal the goodness of John Ball to her.

(Paraphrase of ‘Savitri’ lectures by Garry Jacobs)

Methods of Overcoming Our Contradiction with Others

In these articles, I have often focused on sage and seer Sri Aurobindo’s

principle that Life progresses and evolves through our contradictions with

others that moves toward a higher harmony. Without such conflict and

divisiveness, life would stand still, or even regress. The exception is when

we are conscious enough to prevent the contradiction in the first place.

The latter is the Way of Soul, and is rare indeed; the former, the slow

and difficult method of Nature, which is Life’s standard process.

There are a number of approaches to begin to deal with such conflicting

problems we have with others:

• The first is to perceive that we are actually in contradiction with

another, or with life circumstance, or with ourselves.


46

• Second, we can perceive how such circumstance has come for our

own personal growth, as well as that of the other side.

• Third, we can recognize that the contradictory party is really a

complement in disguise; that the other party is potentially or actually

aiding in our progress.

Together these approaches aid in our ability to see more clearly the

contradictions and conflicts we have in the first.

The question then becomes what can we actually do to resolve the

contradiction? Or to put it another way, how can we create the higher

harmony that overcomes the conflict, and moves life forward in a positive

way?

One approach is to note the principle that anytime you are complaining

about another person, you can be sure that they have something equally

harsh to criticize about you. If you therefore focus on your own

weaknesses instead of theirs, you will progress and good fortune will

follow.

For example, you tell the party you are in contradiction with that they are

lazy, but they then perceive that you are narrow-minded and

disorganized. If instead of complaining about their limitation, you focus

and change your own, life will quickly respond in your favor, while

loosening the contradiction you had with the other party.

A second approach has a somewhat similar dynamic. It to know that

every negative you perceive in another, you actually manifest in some

form in yourself. Therefore, if you discover what that is and make an

effort to overcome it, good fortune will follow, and the conflict and

contradiction with that other party will evaporate.

For example, let's say you think that another person is shiftless, lazy, and

doesn’t make a serious effort to work. Though you yourself may not be

indolent in the same way, it is likely you are in a different way; such as a

reluctance to make the effort to keep your things in order, or to keep

yourself hygienic and clean. Therefore, if instead of complaining about

the other person's deficiency, you focus on your own, not only will you

quickly attract positive conditions, but the other apparent lazy individual

will suddenly change that behavior on their own! As a result, the

contradictions you have with them will break down, establishing a more

harmonious relationship. It is a powerful, conscious approach to higher

awareness, greater success, and personal progress in life.


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Perceiving Conflict as Opportunity In ‘You’ve Got Mail

It is one profound observation that things happen in Life in order to make

us evolve. Sometimes it comes to us as a bitter lesson, but behind this

apparent difficulty there contains an Opportunity, which comes to us as

Fortune or Grace.

However, in order for these positive developments to come about we

need to move in harmony with life and change our consciousness,

especially our attitudes along the way. As a result, life will Respond and

miraculous events will unfold.

In the movie 'You’ve Got Mail' Kathleen’s “Shop Around the Corner”

bookstore was threatened by the opening of a new much bigger store and

chain, Fox Books. Though she had a very positive and cheerful disposition

that nothing untoward would happen, eventually she had to shut down

the store due to the competition after it had served the community for 42

years. It was devastating moment in Kathleen's life.

However, after a while she accepted what life had put forth before her.

She even visited the competing and dominating Fox Books herself and

discovered that it was indeed big, had cheaper prices, and realized that

people did like it there. Yet she also perceived that what lacking was the

personal touch including a lack of service.

Most interestingly, we see that as she moved on from being store

proprietor, a new opportunity opened up for her to become a writer.

Meanwhile during that period, she was also in communication with an

anonymous Internet friend. In a startling turn of events, it turned out to

be Joe Fox himself, the owner of the competing book chain.

In an earlier scene, she accused him of spying her bookstore. But then

she felt bad that she should not have said such things, even if that was

true. It was at that point that her change in consciousness aligned with

Joe Fox’s consciousness who began to show genuine interest in her.

Eventually they became friends, in contrast to their being bitter enemies

in the beginning. In the end, she was so happy when she discovered that

indeed Joe was the internet friend and as a result would now become her

life partner.

As we see in this situation, the surface occurrences at the beginning

appeared dark and threatening. But the Reality’s bigger picture was to-

--elevate her from her current contentment of shop girl to new career of

being a writer.


48

--simultaneously enable her romantic life flourish, enabling her growth

and personal fulfillment

--elevate Fox Book Store to a higher level of customer service through

her innovative strategies

In the end, what seemed stressful and conflictive was actually an

unfolding of Opportunities through a Cosmic Plan that addressed the

truths of all parties those aligned with It.

(Senthil Murugan)

Consciousness and Organization Together

"Life evolves through growth of consciousness, even as consciousness

evolves through greater organization." - The Book

They always go together. Either one alone is not enough to bring forth

results in life. One who lacks the first half of the formula means they

haven't the energy; no fuel to drive the life. And one who lacks the

second half of the formula means there is dissipation of energies due to

lack of proper organization.

One of the ways life reconciles this by bringing contradictory parties in

alignment; so one can learn from the other.

When MAI was lacking in organization, life brought them to Lempe's

consultancy and through that process and with The Book, they discovered

the above principle, and as a result both companies benefited

magnificently.

The Book says:

"...The discovery arose from the realization that the two companies, MAI

and Lempe, were mirror images of one another.

MAI had abounding energy, a clear direction, unlimited technological and

market potential, and creative, enthusiastic people, but too little structure

through which to channel that energy effectively and multiply its power to

tap even a fraction of its potential.

Lempe had a highly developed structure, well-developed policies, systems

and procedures, and a disciplined work culture, but the source of its life

energy had somehow dried up. It had lost its direction and momentum.

Its structure had become an impediment slowing down and entangling

each action in a bureaucratic mass of lethargy.


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The two companies were complements, two sides of a coin. Each

possessed something that the other very much needed..."

( From 'The Book' by Garry Jacobs, page 165)

How the Team Overcame Hurdles In 'The Book' (Updated)

'The Book' is filled with life response principles. However, I believe there

are two that appear again and again, and that drive the story and MAI’s

growth. i) Contradictions are Complements ii) Inner Evokes the Outer.

The MAI team faced many hurdles -- including financial constraints, the

threat from Gregory Thomson and other adversaries chasing The Book,

the leak in data through Rana, the polluted data in Accomplish and so on.

However, every contradiction, conflict, challenge would become a

complements that would be the means of their further growth and

progress.

Their uncompromised Inner aspiration to create products and services for

every human accomplishment had transcended every contradiction,

turning them into opportunities. At each point life responded and brought

everything needed as “Grace” in all necessary circumstances, and at just

the right moment -- with the arrival of The Book to Dan, the finding of

Messages and Archives in the Internet, the arrival of Bill to MAI team,

Lauren’s financial help, Levin coming to MAI team, Limpia’s goodwill on

safekeeping The Book, the auspicious arrival of Prof. Stearne, and so on.

Also the team did not go in search of projects to develop MAI. Rather Life

moved on its own and brought them opportunities, whether the need to

develop MAI from MAIS, the various AIS versions, and the opportunity to

create Evolve and Fusion. Because of their rising consciousness, they

attracted these initiatives from life. Their inner aspiration and right

behaviors in critical situations attracted this continuous stream of positive

results, as they ascended the peaks of success.

Also, despite adversarial conditions there from the beginning, it was

astonishing that at the end of the story there was no evil, and all that had

happened was for their progress. Eventually even the adversaries

benefited by receiving a copy of Infinite Game.

“Complete Knowledge is knowledge that leads to accomplishments that

have no negative consequences or side-effects.”


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Contradictions Are Complements

“…Life does not attack the weak because it has nothing to gain by doing

so. No one bothers to defame the politician who is over the hill and out of

office or rob the slum-dweller who has nothing to eat at home…”

(The Book)

In The Book, after six years of working to develop various versions of AI

program, MAI faced a huge challenge. The partners were threatened and

forced to sell MAI to another company in the name of risking national

security. However, they faced that challenge in the right spirit, handled it

very cleverly with the help of The Book, and overcame it.

Why did that challenge come to MAI?

MAI was content working with a small community, and was evolving

various versions of AI programs. When they SATURATED their efforts at

that level, i.e. when they were ready to move to a HIGHER level, Life

presented an opportunity; but it came in the form of opposition,

contradiction or challenge. After MAI passed through that great challenge,

the work became “universalized,” expanding vastly, and thereby became

known to the entire world.

Contradiction in Unfolding of Life

Behind the surface of existence, we see that Life has a Character, just

like you and I do. It is the why and the wherefore of the outcomes of

existence. Moreover, that character expresses through laws and

principles, only a few of which we recognize. If however, we understood

the methods and rules of life, would it not be a leap for humanity? Would

we not have the power to not only understand all of Life’s mysteries, but

use that knowledge to forge our existence for our own best interest. By

knowing the laws and principles that govern Life and its character, we

would have the tools to overcome limits of causality, space and time, and

what we deem as possible.

The question then becomes how can I observe life in a way where I can

recognize its character, and hence its rules. Just observing from out of

our own mind’s eye and examining our own personal existence will not

provide enough scope to perceive the Little Details nor the Big Picture.

We need to instead withdraw from our own limited view, draw back, and

carefully and consciously examine life in all its fullness.


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Perhaps the simplest way to do this is to examine the great works of

fiction in the world. For after all, everything is there: the Players, the

Play, and the Context -- especially so in the hands of a great author, like

a Shakespeare or a Victor Hugo or a Jane Austin.

For example, in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice there is a broad canvas

to observe; a rich panorama of characters, social context, motives,

events, and circumstance. It would seem like an excellent candidate for

revealing life’s character; its ebb and flows, its mysteries, and more

particularly, the principles and laws that govern it.

Right off the bat in that story, we see the role of conflict in life. Eliza and

Darcy meet one another at a ball. Rather than acting like a gentleman,

which he often is, Darcy acts prideful and arrogantly by insulting the

intelligent and attractive Eliza Bennett. He remarks to his friend that she

is not particularly handsome, is of a lower station, and thereby refuses to

dance with her. And off the tale of Pride and Prejudice goes.

And yet we know after one reading (when it is literature) or viewing

(when in the form of a film) how this story ends. They end up together, in

love, which culminates in their marriage, bringing great happiness to

themselves and to their families. So from a cursory examination of the

dynamic of this very enjoyable tale, we perceive that several characters

begin in conflict and yet somehow end in joy. We can therefore ask

ourselves, “What is going on here? Does this say anything about life and

its character?”

It turns out that it very much does. For one of the great principles of life

is that it more often than not the case that life progresses through

conflict and contradiction. That each time there is a progress, a

movement forward in life, some obstacle between two or more parties

has occurred and has somehow been overcome. Otherwise, there seems

to be little chance of a progress occurring in life. This principle or law of

“Contradictions” can be seen everywhere if we just take the time to

observe it.

For example, if you were to think back on your life, you will see how often

you were able to or forced to move forward because an obstacle, a

conflict, a contradiction was offered up by life. That opposing force can be

in the form of another individual, a collective of individuals, the society

one is living in, and so forth. In the case of Eliza and Darcy, they had to

go through the experience of contradiction in order to find one another in

love and marry on the other side. This is a common dynamic and

principle that reveals an important shading of life’s character.

If we look a little closer however, we will see that there is a subtle

intention behind this rule. One that relates to progress in life; even

human evolution. In Eliza and Darcy’s case, the contradiction was there


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to enable each side to see their own limitation and thereby grow from the

experience. Darcy realized that he was arrogant and prideful, and if he

were to win over Eliza whom he loved, he would have to change his

nature. And he does just that!

Eliza, on the other hand, gradually comes to see that she has misread

Darcy’s character; that he has many winning qualities, which she was

blind to for several reasons, not the least of which was that she was

hypnotized by the handsome scoundrel, Wickham. Through events,

including the calamity of the elopement episode, she is thereby forced to

give up her prejudice and narrow view of Darcy. She thus grows and

evolves through the contradictory events and the harmonic outcomes

that follow.

But how could this have all come about if Life, i.e. Nature had not put

these two characters in relations to one another, yes in conflict and

contradiction, so they could outgrow their limitation and evolve beyond

their limiting attitudes and beliefs, and, as a result come together and

find ultimate love and happiness. Through Life’s principle of

Contradictions, they are put in relation to one another, are able to

discover one another; then perceive their own limits, overcome them,

revealing a new resolution and harmony taking form as their eternal love

for one another and the joy that follows.

Now we the dispassionate yet engaged witness and observer are able to

see that these seemingly negative events are the very stuff that enables

forward movement and indeed progress in life. The conflict can be

between any two parties, whether two nations, two people, two

organization, a business and the society, between one idea and another,

and so forth and so on for every permutation of duality that manifests in

the world. It is thus through Nature’s law of contradiction that life

develops the energy and force to move forward, even to progress and

evolve Otherwise, there is no intensity, complexity, diversity, and

character to life. Only a bland stasis waiting eternally to move forward.

Untitled

Without the interaction of the good with the bad, the positive and the

negative, or any other forms of contradiction or conflict, there is

ordinarily no progress in life.

Additional comment: Eg in Pride and Prejudice Mr. Darcy would not have

been able to grow in consciousness without the misdeeds of the negative

Mr. Wickham, and his association with him. Likewise, he would not have


53

been compelled to grow without the rejection of his marriage proposal by

Eliza Bennett who thought he was prideful.

Beyond Nature’s Way of Division to Enable Progress

The more intense the division, the more integral, powerful the coming

together. Eg WWII was followed by European Union; the conflict between

Eliza and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice was followed by their intensive,

benefit-spreading coming together.

On the other hand, Perpetual Higher Consciousness avoids the negative

side, the conflictive, and goes directly to the positive outcome, rapidly

turning limitation, finites, into infinite-like conditions. This will

increasingly be the way of the future as we develop our consciousness to

a higher level. In essence, the way of Spirit replacing the way of Nature.


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Progress through Nature or Soul

Nature's vs. Self-Directed Tapas

The Sanskrit word "Tapas" roughly translates as "spiritual discipline." For

a yogi, it might involve lengthy meditation to connect with the Spirit. For

an individual dedicated to personal growth, it might entail learning to be

calm in the face of an abusive boss. The intention in both cases is an

evolution of consciousness through inner discipline.

There is also the tapas that life forces us into. It is Nature compelling us

to take to a certain inner or outer tact to overcome a limitation and bring

about our individual progress. In Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, Mr.

Bennet, the father of five daughters, is forced by life into the discipline of

not reacting to his vulgar, loud-mouthed, churlish wife. That tapas was

the means of his personal progress in life.

In that way, each of us are compelled by Nature to move forward in

consciousness; whether it means standing up to an abusive partner; or

being a more understanding manager, when one is not normally disposed

that way; or being forced to do things we are reluctant to do. It is the

Tapas of Nature forced on us, secretly working in our own best interest,

so we can overcome personal limitations, enabling is to grow in

consciousness.

While, it is certainly in our best interest to embrace the Tapas

requirements of Nature, it is better to consciously direct the course of our

lives through inner and outer self-discipline. Conscious Tapas can be

taken up at two identifiable levels. the first are those methods that will

enable us to accomplish more in life and find basic fulfillment in life.

Examples of such disciplines are developing our level of knowledge and

skills, raising our level of personal organization, taking to greater

psychological strength, and ridding ourselves of wanting attitudes and

beliefs.

There is also spiritual Tapas, which is mainly for those who have taken to

a higher calling in life. Examples of spiritual discipline is moving our

center of awareness more inward, practicing non-reaction and remaining

absolutely still in the face of difficulty, opening to the spiritual Force,

deep meditation and prayer, and many others.

When we practice conscious, self-directed Tapas, we not only evolve our

consciousness, and lead more successful and happy lives, but we tend to

attract good fortune from the environment. In that way, this form of self-


55

discipline is eminently superior to practicing the Tapas demanded of

Nature.

Nature, Soul, and Human Progress

When the Manifest emerged from the Unmanifest through the willful

action of the latter, Life divided into two aspects -- Nature and Soul. (In

Indian parlance Prakriti and Purusha). Nature is Life's slow and difficult

way, and is the normal way humans experience the world. Soul (or spirit)

is Life's method of progress through higher consciousness -- producing

only positive effects without any negative. (I.e. it is Self-existent.)

Man is dominated by Nature. He evolves along with it slowly and painfully

through division and duality; and pleasure and pain. He can however

evolve through Soul/Spirit instead, rapidly, with no negative outcomes.

Nature's difficult method was sanctioned by the Divine to allow for the

greatest multiplicity of possibility of forms, of forces, of aspects in

creation that would allow for the greatest variety of Delight.

When we humans move from Nature to Soul by discovering our highest

nature, we experience the Delight for which this life was created. I.e. the

Divine willed to extend its static Delight into the dynamic Delight through

self-discovery of forms of creation -- i.e. we -- fulfilling the intent of the

Infinite.


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Nature Works on Many Fronts Simultaneously

Life Works on Many Fronts Simultaneously

One of the subtle laws of existence that Sri Aurobindo revealed is that

Life (otherwise known as Nature or Prakriti) works on many fronts

simultaneously.

Take the elopement episode of Lydia and Wickham in Pride and Prejudice:

--As a result of this negative situation, Wickham will eventually be tamed,

forced to pay his debts, and settle down and marry, all good for uplifting

his lower consciousness.

--As a result Darcy takes responsibility for an action that he did not really

create as part of an initiative to elevate his character.

--As a result Darcy and Eliza will be married, overcoming their previous

pride and prejudice.

--As a result the struggling middle class Bennett family will come into

great wealth.

--As a result, three marriages take shape, when the Bennett family were

concerned that no one would want to marry their daughters.

--As a result the middle and upper classes will come to work out their

differences, as they do in the wake of the elopement, as the wealthy

Darcy will marry the middle class Eliza.

Examine any problematic situation, and perceive how its resolution has or

would resolve a variety of situations. In this way, we see how Life works

on many fronts simultaneously. (Roy Posner)

Resolving the Web of Conflict & Sub-Conflicts

Examine any conflictive situation in the world. There will be different

aspects, with a variety of inter-related sub-conflicts, issues, and

challenges.

The process of the resolution of the central conflict relates to and is

intertwined with the resolution of the subs. This is how the world

changes; how Nature works, how the world (slowly and painfully)


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evolves. Nature works by resolving deeply connected multiplicities of

issues simultaneously. It is the Genius of the Cosmic Master who

conceived evolution through Nature's contraries.

Eg in Pride and Prejudice the elopement episode of the youngest

daughter caused or was simultaneous to at least half dozen other

interrelated issues. For the overall resolution of the potential scandal to

occur, a series of psychological issues, each one unique in scope was

required on the parts of the individuals involved. It is Nature's multi-

pronged, interconnected, difficult way of progress.

And yet there is a higher form of evolution. It is through the soul, spirit,

higher consciousness. In this dynamic evolution radically speeds up, as it

occurs not through conflict, but through harmonic actions that trigger

others in a chain of never-ending positive response from life.

Nature Works on Many Fronts Simultaneously -1

There are many principles that describe the subtle, profound workings of

life, though we are aware of very few. Perhaps the law of karma or "what

you sow is what you reap" is the closest we come to perceiving a law of

life in effect. Even there it is vague for the overwhelming majority of

people.

However, over the years, several colleagues and I have tried to organize

a set of life principles based on the teachings of Indian seer and sage Sri

Aurobindo. Beginning with the highest level of Reality, he revealed a

series of universal laws that explain the process by which the universe

emerged from a Divine source, and how life in the cosmos, including the

life of man, intersects with and is affected by those laws. Most of these

cosmic principles are captured in his great work The Life Divine. It has

been up to individuals like ourselves to take those First principles and

interpret them in terms that are identifiable in the life of the collective

(i.e. society, business, etc.) and the individual. It takes a subtle eye and

the right contextual knowledge to perceive these profound principles at

work. However, with the Master's original insights and the pioneering

work of the Mother's Service Society (MSS), that task has been

considerable eased.

Perhaps the widest universal principle is the notion that life itself has a

character -- just as you and I have one. There are then in turn dozens if

not hundreds of sub principles -- both material and subtle -- that describe

the many dimensions of life's character.


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The argument could be made that we already have principles in place

that describe the unfoldings of life in the universe. True enough, but

those are mostly at the material level -- i.e. they are laws of life based on

empirically quantifiable physical properties; which in essence leaves out

all other planes of existence -- including the vital/emotional, social,

psychological, mental, occult, metaphysical, spiritual, etc. It is like trying

to understand the motives of an individual by watching his gait as he

walks. It is merely a superficial view of things. While science has provided

an understanding of the material process and principles, the non-material

ones -- which is 90% or more of the processes in life -- remain unknown

to the general public; even to the experts in their respective fields of

sociology, psychology, history, social development, etc. It is a revelation

of knowledge that awaits us in the 21st century. From that perspective,

existing 20th century knowledge of what truly determines in life and

brings about outcomes that unfold before us will seem stilted and

shallow.

If life unfolds in these subtle ways that defy our normal perceptions, what

is an example of a principle? The one I would like to suggest here relates

to the functioning of "Nature." Nature is in essence the way life unfolds in

the universe. The principle then is this: that "Nature works on many

fronts simultaneously." This means that when a life event unfolds, many

parties are affected in different ways, enabling progress for each through

a singularity. Furthermore, Nature is somehow "aware" that it can enable

progress on multiple fronts through a common event -- such as a major

great development, catharsis, or upheaval. The reason Nature can elicit

progress on multiple fronts simultaneously is that it is "conscious" at

some level of its being. It is conscious of its workings because behind its

own internal "knowledge" there is the determination, influence, sanction,

and support of an underlying Divine Intention. Nature is in that sense is

an instrument of the Divine Will, which unfolds and progress on multiple

fronts simultaneously through these shared singularities.

An example will illustrate. A teacher arrives at a 2-day class to teach

several students features of a software application. In the course of the

classes, he recognizes that all is going awry. He sees many causes that

have led to the current situation. He even notes his own irritability and

weakened nerves in the unfolding of this difficult singularity. Eventually

the situation comes to a head, and the instructor cancels the class

because he believes it has gotten completely out of hand. Many people

are upset, including the trainer, the students, the people in the company

who arranged the class at the company, the agent of the trainer, and so

forth. Each, in fact, managed to foul up in ways that contributed to the

disaster. Each misstep is in turn related to a limitation in character or

capacity of that person or related system.


59

Now each major individual involved in the episode is forced or even

shocked into confronting his own responsibility in bringing about the

unfortunate event. Each is compelled to examine his or her own self to

discover where they had failed in the process. It is usually indicative not

only of a small problem in the procedures of that event, but of a

significant limitation of character of that individual. The defect ranges

from a limited skill, or missing knowledge, all the way to a profound

psychological weakness and limitation, such as a negative attitude, a

false belief, an inscrutable motive, etc. From there each person decides to

make the necessary inner and outer change to the degree he is

compelled to do so. Those who take to change, invariably bring about

their own progress. Those who let it slide will normally have to go

through a similar-type episode again in their lives. In other words, each

person will progress to the degree he is open to do so. The collective

effect is the awesome power that Nature brings to enable multi-faceted

change around a shared singularity.

For example, the teacher realizes that he has been too stressed during

recent classes, and takes actions thereafter to rectify the source of that

problem. The person in charge of the group of students in attendance

realizes that she was too disorganized to establish the right agenda

beforehand. The members of the training department at the facility

realize that their procedures for such a one-time training event, as was

the case here, is faulty. And the agent of the instructor realizes that the

procedures to handle such situations need improvement.

In each case, an individual learns something about himself or the

procedures of his job through the singularity that Nature has issued forth

as an event. That generates a pressure to make a certain level of change.

That change is essence what we know as "progress." Thus, due to the

difficult situation, each is forced by life -- i.e. Nature -- to make the

necessary corresponding change. It is interesting to note that there was

in essence only one event that caused many to change -- each in their

own unique way. Thus, Nature, through a single event works on many

fronts simultaneously to bring about creative, integral, many-faceted

change for the parts as well as for a wider whole.

This principles of life can be seen everywhere. It is especially noticeable

when such things as scandals or wars or other forms of upheaval take

place. It brings out the need for simultaneous change to rectify problems

raised by that singularity. Life progressing on many fronts simultaneously

through a single, shared event or circumstance is Nature's stupendous,

miraculous-like Efficiency. The vast Tsunami that rippled through the

Asian pacific is an example, and the fallout in produced and the pressure

it brought to bear across a thousand domains -- from economics to

politics to social life across a myriad of nations -- is one example. So was


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World War II. As a result of the vast pressures of the war, not only was

Europe organized into a union thereafter (EU), but a tottering British

Empire also collapsed. Even the great depression in America finally came

to an end as a result of the jobs generated and the production needed to

meet the demands of war. In a similar fashion, we can examine recent

circumstances after 9/11 to see similar multifaceted change brought

about by a single event. It does not only occur at the national or

international level, but at the local or group level as we saw in the

training episode above. It also happens at the individual level when

something very trying, extremely difficult, or even tragic forces that

person to change at several levels of his being simultaneously. E.g., an

illness can cause a person to strengthen his body, reevaluate his lifestyle,

alter his beliefs, and even look at his life overall in an entirely different

light. Life itself can thus be thought of as a vast unfolding at all of these

levels --- collective and individual -- bringing about change through this

startling Efficiency of Nature.

As I suggested earlier, Nature is ultimately an instrument of some Divine

intent. If that is so, then one question naturally arises. Does the Divine

wish to bring about progress -- even simultaneous efficient progress --

only through difficulty? The answer is that we can also progress though

positive means.

The positive means is the way of the Good, i.e. through a self-existent

positive unfolding that knows no negative side. Can something unfold

that is void of negative elements? Let us take a step back and examine

the issue. The sage and seer perceive that Life actually divides into both

Nature and Soul -- i.e. they are two methods of the unfolding of life, of

progress. In the lower consciousness, life unfolds through the slow and

difficult methods of Nature. In the higher consciousness, it evolves

through Soul, which is in essence the higher consciousness infused with

the higher values and expressions of the Spirit. Developments from the

poise of this higher consciousness and Good tend not to release negative

consequences. This is another, even higher principle of life -- i.e. of

existence in the universe that emerged from a Divine source.

The key then is to take to the methods of higher consciousness in our

lives that brings about the Good that is devoid of the negative.

Interestingly enough, life can progress simultaneously on multiple

positive fronts as well. For example, if I call to the Spirit before engaging

in an activity or become self-giving in a critical situation or reverse a

negative attitude in a moment of crisis, I generate energies that not only

attract better conditions for myself, but can also produce positive results

for others as well. In this way life progresses on many fronts -- individual

or collective -- through the movements of the Positive. It is an indicator

that we have freed ourselves from Nature's difficult course; that we have


61

taken up the way of the Good, of Soul, of an evolving consciousness. It is

the way of progress of tomorrow; an indicator that we are on the

threshold of a New Way of Living.


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Beyond Positive and Negative

The Positive and Negative in Life

We can all probably agree that at this stage in evolution life is a mixture

of good and bad, positive and negative, truth and falsehood. At one level

of perception we can see and feel the positive and negative around us all

the time. At a deeper level of perception, however, there really isn't this

division between positive and negative; we can actually perceive that in

fact everything is part of one whole, and therefore everything that

occurs, good or bad, serves a purpose.

We are, of course, always happy when pleasant things happen to us and

life seems to go our way. However, it can be said that so-called

"negative" things that happen to us may be just as "positive," if not more

positive(!), than the things we normally find to our liking.

Consider a young child in India who flees his village to escape poverty.

Years later his drive to overcome his poverty makes him a very wealthy

man, while the members of his community who did not flee and did not

suffer similarly in childhood, remain mostly at the same level in life.

When the man looks back on his life he realizes that it's only because he

suffered through these difficult experiences, did he achieve such

overwhelming success.

In Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo the hero, a good man, is falsely

accused of things he has not done, and lands in prison. There he meets a

wise man who says there is gold buried somewhere. The young man

tunnels his way to freedom, finds the treasure, and becomes fabulously

wealthy. With his wealth and power, he not only brings down the jealous

few men who falsely accused him, but connects them to an entire level of

corrupt officials in French society, whom he unmasks before the nation.

When we learn to calmly accept and learn from the positive and negative

circumstances of life, we reach a new level of personal growth that can

help us toward unlimited happiness and success. Also, if we observe life

from a distance we can see how negative circumstances often have the

effect of bringing about a positive good for people.

In Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, we witness how negative

circumstance take place to help two people grow and succeed. Elizabeth,

from a lower class, and Darcy, from a higher class are romantically

attracted to each other, but are prevented from coming together at first


63

because of their limited views of one another; hence their "pride and

prejudice" toward one another. Darcy tends to look down on people of

Elizabeth's class. Elizabeth is a little too sure that Darcy's class pride is at

the root of his character.

However, a series of difficult ("negative") events occur in their lives that

makes them see their own limited perceptions of one another (i.e. their

pride and prejudice overcome). These difficult circumstances (often

involving equally difficult or even hostile people) enable them to come to

a deeper understanding and acceptance of themselves and then one

another, leading to their eventual love, marriage, and happiness. (In fact

one of the characters, who tries her utmost to keep them apart, ends up

being the person most responsible for bringing them together!)

Thus, through "negative" obstacles and circumstance in life individuals

grow and evolve, and gain an otherwise unattainable higher degree of

happiness and success. In fact, it may be in the very fabric of life that life

manifests in conflicting personalities, circumstances, and events, and

through these people evolve.

(To read an article on how Pride and Prejudice is an example of the

interaction of the positive and negative in life, click here. [in Word 97

format])

To Think About

Can you remember difficult moments in your life that in retrospect were

very helpful to your growth and success? Is there something happening

now of this nature? Are you fretting about the negative aspect, when it is

in fact the catalyst and opportunity for growth?

Beyond Positive and Negative

From the highest perspective there is no positive and negative in

creation; only forces and forms intermingling in equilibrium and

disequilibrium and back again within the universe and beyond. We call

this “the Reality”. The All. It includes Spirit and Matter and all shadings

and planes and possibilities in between. There is only one Reality

expressing in infinite variation among forces and forms in creation and

beyond to the Source. It is the highest conception of Existence afforded

to Man. To perceive the Reality and its workings requires one to rise to a

Truth Consciousness beyond Mind; also referred to as Supermind.


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Life Progresses Though Negative as Well as Positive (in

Seabiscuit)

Another principle of life -- one that is also philosophical in nature -- is

that life not only progresses through positive means, but through

negative ones as well. In fact, we often move forward the quickest

through the negative circumstances that befall us. For example, if a

young Indian boy who is the victim of poverty and hardship is forced to

flee his life with his family for the city, and then as a result is driven to

become a multi-millionaire, then we can muse that his earlier difficulty

was an instrument of his great accomplishment. I.e. the negative served

a great purpose in his success.

Though it might sound harsh, we can say that Charles might never have

raised and brought Seabiscuit to success if his son had not died and his

wife had not left him. It created an opening in his being, which he filled

by getting into the horse racing business, and then finding Tom, Red, and

Seabiscuit. That flow of life from the negative to the positive not only

brought him his own greatest successes, not only helped the other

principals in the story achieve their greatest mark in life, but inspired an

entire nation at a time of great suffering and duress. From this vantage

point, we can conclude that often the greatest successes in life come

about as a result of the greatest negatives. We could thus say that a

negative is a more intense version of the positive. Or, to put it another

way, a negative can be thought of as a positive in disguise.

Negative Forces Fulfilling the Divine Plan

It is an irony of life: those who act against the Divine's plan become an

instrument in one way or another to manifest that plan in the flow of life.

In Pride & Prejudice, Darcy had interfered in Bingley's marriage earlier.

Later on he became an instrument by turning Lydia's elopement into

marriage and brought back Bingley to Jane's life.

Lady Catherine, who was vehemently against intermixing of classes, the

final confrontation of her with Elizabeth and further informing to Darcy,

reconciled the last piece of the puzzle in the manifestation of Divine's

plan, i.e. social evolution.


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Comment: Perhaps we can say that there was not quite enough positive

energy to bring things over the top, to their consummation. And when

the positive forces cannot move things further, the negative ones, like

Lady Catherine’s interference, will serve that purpose, do the trick. (Roy

Posner)

All, Even Suffering Serves a Purpose

All the suffering in the world serves the development of multiplicity of

possibility for the purpose of infinite variations of dynamic delight. Thus

we can say that all of these parts, positive and negative, including

poverty and misery, serve a role in that possibility, unfolding. From that

perspective, each part plays a vital role, even the negative ones. It is life

splitting and splitting into infinite variation, so Divine delight can spread

into the ever emerging hyper-details as they overcome their

contradictions and discover their higher nature. This is the view of

Brahman, the Reality, from Supermind's perspective; not of ordinary

mind. It is to perceive the Marvel of existence.

To Be Titled

According to Sri Aurobindo the Infinite consciousness through the

involutionary process (from spirit to matter) allows for all variations and

possibilities in creation,-- including Ignorance, Falsehood, and Evil; the

large and small; positive and negative; all variations of human

personalities; etc. -- to allow for infinite variations of Discovery of higher

consciousness by each form for the purpose of infinite variation of

experience of Delight.

To Be Titled

From the perspective of the Highest Consciousness and Reality, all of life

and beyond fit together perfectly like a Cosmic Puzzle; including the

positive, negative and in-between. They are all necessary for the

unfolding and evolution. From the view of human consciousness, the


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pieces do not fit correctly, as the positive and negative are perpetually at

odds.

Perceiving the Utility of All is the Marvel

The Marvel as revealed in Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine is the capacity

to perceive the Reality, the All. It is to perceive the necessity of all things

in the unfolding. In this way we can look out on life and see that

everything that is happening to us - positive and negative, big and small,

pleasurable and painful - is necessary for cur progress. To engage life this

way is to perceive the Marvel and to participate in the Adventure. It is the

romantic view of life; Romance itself.

Seeing Beyond the Dualities of Life to Endless Means of

Progress

"To live in the truth one should rise above affirmation and negation." (The

Mother)

Comment: We say this is good, and that is bad; that this is positive, and

that is negative. But it is often through the bad and the negative that life

offers us our greatest opportunities.

Besides, from the perspective of the Reality, the All, such dualistic

viewpoints of affirmation and negation melt into one another and

disappear, as everything serves a purpose in creation. Oneness is the

result. Dualistic views of good and bad, big and small, infinite and finite,

etc, have no place from this harmonic perspective.

Most importantly, we can learn to experience that same capacity to see

beyond the positive and negative, the dualities in our own lives, meaning

that every moment life is presenting opportunities for our growth and

progress.

Reader: Mother's Grace. Thank you Sir. After reading Appa's books and

your explanation now only I realise the following lines of Savitri. ' As if

she knew not facts are husks of truth, The husks she keeps, the kernel

throws aside,'


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Not Yet Titled

"A fuller appreciation of the ABSOLUTE by the mind is capable of relieving

the vital of its most oppressive fears." (Sri Karmayogi)

According to Sri Aurobindo, the Absolute is the All. It is the Divine and

the Universe. The One and the Many. The Being and the Becoming. The

small and the large. The good and the bad. The positive and negative.

The pleasurable and the painful. Every thought and feeling and

circumstance. Every plane of being. And they are all integrally connected

in the greater scheme of things; and all are part of the Movement

forward.

Perceiving the Absolute then is to realize that everything in your life

serves a purpose. That all is helping you progress. Thus there is nothing

to fear.

Positive and Negative Arriving Together to Work Out the Conflict

(the story of a restaurant sales team)

Sometimes a positive and a negative can happen together at the same

moment involving the same circumstance and parties.

A team of salespeople were now at the point of making powerful

connections, as their customers were referring other customers to them,

dramatically reducing the amount of effort they had to make.

However, at the very peak of this development, the owners of the

company cut off all funding for the group. It could not have come at a

worse time!

And yet the owners made the decision in order to set a standard for

future salespeople, which is understandable from that perspective.

Still the timing was cosmically bad, and now the sales team was forced to

start all over with the customer-referrer customers. Moreover, the sales

team wondered if their reputation had been damaged and that they had

lost credibility with the super-referring clients.

As we see, a positive and negative can come together, as in this case

where funds were cut off at precisely the wrong moment, and yet where

a standard was established for the future.


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It is an indicator that Life is trying to move forward through and beyond

the method of contradiction to arrive at a higher harmony.

The future awaits this possibility for the conflictive parties involved.

Reader: Thank you Sir

Life evolves through good and bad, finally lead towards greater Good,

though the initial conditions on the surface may look contrary.

In “The Book”, the team united together and launched MAI with just

“Aspiration” as their asset. Life always evolved through contradictions for

them. Despite the initial success of their first product MAIS, they had to

give up due to obvious fault in it. That initial failure, the contradiction of

life, bonded them more closely together and finally led to “The Book”

which guided them the right direction from that day onwards.

Response: Yes, that is exactly correct Senthil. From a higher point of

view, the negative in my incident was a way of enabling a higher

harmony to unfold (AND a greater outcome of performance and success)

for the players. Thus, the negative is a positive in disguise; at least in

potential, depending on the consciousness level and attitudes and

behaviors of the players.

Not Yet Titled

The mind does not readily perceive that Life can rapidly move forward

through negative circumstances.

(It reminds us that from the highest perspective, the divine Reality is the

ALL, is all things, including both positive and negative, and therefore

everything together serves a purpose in moving conditions forward.)

Life's Powerful Neutrality of Purpose

The dualities like good and bad, good and evil do exist in life. They exist

in a sense that they serve a purpose in the overall perspective of the

Divine's plan. It’s not by condemning or running away from them that we

can get rid of them. Rather when we rise in consciousness, when we


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transcend our ego, we are able to perceive the whole Reality and their

purpose.

In Pride & Prejudice, Darcy was good and Wickham was bad is a limited

understanding. Both are needed for each others' growth in consciousness,

as well as to manifest the Divine (here Jane Austen) plan.

Thus, Life is neutral; it acts according to its laws, and presents

opportunity to everybody. The extent we want to utilize that fact and

grow in consciousness is a question of our choice.

Seeing the Marvel of Existence

In the first of 56 chapters of his metaphysical opus The Life Divine, Sri

Aurobindo suggests something profound. He indicates that everything we

encounter in life -- positive and negative, pleasurable and painful, good

and evil -- serves the greater Good that is unfolding. He indicates that

such dual pairs, which on the surface seem to be in contradiction, are

really complements to one another -- necessary for the upward,

progressive movement of each. In that way, every difficulty and problem

that comes our way serves us just as well as positives circumstance --

perhaps more so. Moreover, that vision of things, that ability to perceive

meaning and utility in everything we encounter, from the macro to the

micro, from the positive to the negative is to see the Marvel of Existence.

Let me illustrate this principle with several examples from literature. In

Victor Hugo's masterpiece Les Miserable, a fundamentally good man Jean

Valjean has escaped prison and is being pursued by an extremely

dedicated, almost fanatical police officer named Javert. Along the way,

Valjean raises a beautiful adopted daughter Cossette who falls in love

with a young man named Marius, who eventually joins a people's fighting

force barricading themselves against the reactionary government. At one

point, the older, magnanimous Valjean gets involved in the battle

himself, and in a startling, ironic moment saves Marius' life. Interestingly,

Valjean never tells him what he had done. In addition, Valjean and Marius

over time are at odds with one another because the elder does not want

to relinquish his beloved daughter to the young man. In fact, now that

Valjean senses that he is losing Cosette to Marius, life begins to all lose

meaning, and so he begins to wither away. But then one day near the

end of Valjean's life, the evil Innkeeper Thenardier -- who once raised

Cosette in squalor and did many appalling things along the way -- reveals

to Marius that Valjean was in fact the one who saved his life. Stunned by

Thenardier revelations, Marius and Cosette rush to Valjean's deathbed


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and console him, thanking him for a lifetime of self-givingness. In

essence, a very bad person has come forward and unwittingly helped

resolve a knot between two good people, -- enabling reconciliation

between Marius and Valjean, and the return of Cosette's deep love and

affection for Valjean, something he so desperately longed for. And so

after a lifetime of kindness and generosity, Jean Valjean dies a very

happy man.

It is said that great literature revels the deepest truth of life. The

principle that not just the good, but the negative and evil too serve the

greater Good is also evident in Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. For

example, at one critical point in the story, one of the five Bennet sisters,

the wild, rambunctious Lydia, has eloped with the scoundrel Wickham,

threatening the Bennet family with scandal and social ostracism. The

elopement also threatens to ruin the relationship between the very

wealthy Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Now soon after the elopement ends with the marriage of Lydia and

Wickham, Lydia foolishly blurts out that Darcy was the one who settled

the accounts of her husband, resolving the situation. Lydia was instructed

not to reveal this information. When Eliza hears this, she is thunderstruck

because she now realizes how wrong she has been about Darcy. She saw

him and arrogant and prideful, but instead, she now sees his very noble

character. As a result, she falls in love with him, he proposes (again), and

they marry. Without the verbal blunder from the negative Lydia, the

marvelous outcome would never have occurred. I.e. Darcy and Eliza may

not have fallen in love, married, found deep happiness, and thereby bring

great wealth and social prestige to the Bennet family. That is the power

the negative and false serve in manifesting the greater Good.

There is one other example of this principle in the novel. Late in the

story, the aristocratic, wealthy, yet reactionary Lady Catherine tries to

meddle in the relationship between Darcy and Eliza. When she does, it

backfires on her, paving the way for the marriage of Darcy and Eliza.

What happened was that when Lady Catherine got wind of the budding

relationship, she stormed in the Bennet home, met with Eliza, and

insisted that the relationship cease. Eliza of course refused. Most

importantly however, when Lady Catherine returned home, Darcy learned

of the meeting between his aunt and Eliza and realized from the

discussion that Eliza had not ruled out a romance and marriage between

him. Startled that this was the case, Darcy then went ahead and met

Eliza, who then accepted his second proposal of marriage. In other

words, without Lady Catherine's negative intervention, the entire

resolution of the story would not have come about! Her harmful attempt

to block their relationship had the opposite effect of spurring them to

come together.


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Once again, we see how falsehood and evil play critical roles in

movements of progress and greater accomplishment. It is to perceive

that everything -- good or bad, positive or negative, pleasurable or

painful, -- serves a purpose in the great unfolding. It is an ultimate

perspective and vision of life. It is to see the Marvel of Existence.

Greater Intensity of the Positive through Its Opposite

We hope for the very best of circumstance to come our way, avoiding the

negative. And yet life progresses, evolves through the interplay of the

positive and the negative. Without the negative, the intensity of more

and greater positive circumstance cannot be generated.

We can see this in terms of life, love, and knowledge; and their opposites

of death, hate, and ignorance. Living, loving, and understanding are

things to aspire for, but they are normally enhanced through their

opposite experience, death, cruelty, and ignorance. Let's say that I am

trying to discover the truth of a matter, but then realize that what I have

discovered is utterly false. As a result, now I have more interest,

intensity, and drive to get at the truth. Thus, my ignorance drove me to

greater knowledge. In the same way human cruelty and unlove creates

the push for greater, more lasting love, and death itself creates the urge

for immortality in life.

This is the present condition of progress in life: a movement to the

opposite in order to move the positive forward to a greater degree. This

is the way of Nature -- known as "Prakriti" in Sanskrit or the flow of

normal life in the universe. But is that the only way to greater intensity of

knowledge, love, life, and delight? No it is not. We can progress in

another way that is beyond the slow and difficult method of Nature. It is

the way of Consciousness -- also known as Spirit or Soul. When we take

to it in greater measure, we generate the intensity that takes knowledge,

love, life, delight, and creativity to their higher status. We move there

without experiencing their opposite.

It is our choice: progress through opposites or through higher

consciousness. The universe stands backs and accepts either decision.

The Greater the Opposition, the Greater the Opportunity, Progress

Life has a character, just like we humans. It expresses through any

number of laws -- whether overt or subtle. One particular principle is that


72

progress in life occurs through our contradiction and conflict with others

and circumstance. It is only through these adversarial relationships that

each party can make a breakthrough in consciousness and thereby

progress. In particular, when we find the higher harmony beyond the

contradiction, then each side moves forward. Otherwise life remains in

standstill or even goes backwards. If we look closely, we will see this

dynamic everywhere -- in our own lives and in the world around us. It is

Nature's secret method.

A closely related principles is that the greater the opposition we

encounter in life, the greater the opportunity for us to rise and progress.

We can observe this law in real life or in the world of literature and film.

For example, in Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice there is a great scandal

midway through the story when one of the Bennet sisters elopes with a

scoundrel, threatening to ruin the family, both socially and financially.

And yet the final outcome of that particular episode was that three of the

five Bennet daughters find love, are married to attractive husbands, and

come into enormous sums of money. Thus, a family once teetering on the

edge of financial ruin comes into staggering good fortune. In essence, the

intensity of the opposition that life brought through the elopement set in

motion conditions that enabled the three marriages to occur. Because

circumstance was so intensely negative, individuals reacted in such a way

that caused them to come together in ways that would not have

otherwise occurred.

A more recent and non-fictional version involves the case of Apple CEO

Steve Jobs. In the 1980's he was tossed out of the company he founded

by the board of directors for going in a direction that the company

foolishly thought was reckless. Though he went through dark moments in

the years that followed, he rose to the challenge, took up a number of

creative initiatives, including the founding of the companies Next and

Pixar, and was eventually rehired back at Apple along with the many

assets he had developed while in exile. As a result, Apple, which was on

the verge of bankruptcy when Jobs returned, increased its revenues by

an astounding 10 times in the decade and a half that followed (on its way

to may times more), making it the most powerful corporate turnaround in

US history, and catapulting Apple to become a four-time in a row

Fortune magazine the most admired company in the world.

In other words, intense opposition and difficulty provided Jobs with the

"initiative" to strike back and take things to a new level. Adversarial

conditions gave him the strength, fortitude, and determination to push

his way forward and create conditions for his former company that no one

would ever have imagined. Not only that, but it resulted in products that

had a profound impact on the nature of society -- including the IPod,

IPhone, and IPad, etc., whose sales have boomed around the world.


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If you examine your own life, you will likely see this same dynamic at

work; that the greatest difficulty you encountered -- whether an outer

opposition or an inner demon, was the force that enabled your greatest

success. Or to put it another way, the greater the outer resistance,

conflict, contradiction to our aspirations and goals, the greater the

possibility for achievement and growth; i.e. the higher we can rise.

We can actually go a step further and philosophically say that the

negatives we encounter are actually positives in disguise. Or better still

that those negatives are simply more intense forms of the positive;

providing the energy, force, and push that compels us to rise much

higher.

Having said this, there is an alternate approach to progress. We can rise

in consciousness and act in ways that tend to attract the positive and

avoid opposition. In that way, we rise from peak to ever-higher peak of

the positive. In order to do that, we will need to overcome our

limitations, utilize the spiritual Force that is there to set right life's

conditions, and live a life of increasingly conscious behavior. In that way,

there is an intensity -- a positive intensity -- that compels us to move

forward. It is not opposition, but energy and joy that drives us to the

next level. This is no longer Nature's Way, but that of Spirit and Soul.

Negative Events Forge the Unity of Nations

Life has a character, which expresses in a myriad of subtle ways, and is

captured in a variety of astonishing-like principles and laws. One principle

(that can only be readily understood from a higher mental or spiritual

point of view) is that everything that occurs in life is essential for its

progress, including the good and the bad, as well as the great and the

small.

Another closely related subtle law of life is that the negatives that occur

are actually positives in disguise, as they are often the single instrument

of great progress for the individual or collective, often exceeding the

benefit that comes from a particular good.

In The Lord of the Rings we see how the "bad," represented by the evil

kingdom of Mordor, becomes the very force that compels the races to

come together for short term as well as long-term benefit. I.e. Life

compels them to cooperate and combine their efforts to overcome a


74

common evil enemy, and through that process, they establish a long-

term closeness, commonality, and unity that never existed before.

In the story, kingdoms that mocked and chided one another in the past

are compelled to work together to combat their evil foe in the present.

Each are forced to give up their ego, their sense of separateness, their

particular limiting attitudes toward one another in order forge a common

force that not only prevails over the enemy, but establishes a deeper,

long-term bond among them. Left to its own devices, such an outcome

might have taken centuries, millennia, or never at all to come about.

This is the same dynamic that occurred in the real world in WWII, where

the individual nations of Europe were compelled by the malevolent

German enemy to give up their individual egos to work together to secure

the victory. In the wake of that monumental effort that produced so

much suffering, the United Nations was formed, as was the European

Union -- two transcendent historical developments that ushered in the

next phase of human unity. Again, it might have taken centuries,

millennia, if ever for these profound development to have occurred.

That very same dynamic unfolds in the film Avatar, where the nations of

Pandora, separate and reluctant to integrate and unite, are compelled to

come together to combat a common enemy, forging a closeness of

relationship that never existed before. Without the hostile forces, the

negative, this overwhelming positive might not have ever come about.

One question that arises from this perspective is why does the negative

have to happen to these good people in the first place? If they are on the

good side of things, why should they suffer? Is it just the pure evil of the

adversary, or is it something on their part as well?

The negative occurs to the "good" parties because of their previous and

current unconsciousness -- whether the peoples of Middle Earth, Europe,

or Pandora -- which attracts severe negative conditions. Because of the

limitations in their attitudes towards fellow peoples; because of their self-

admiration in their own selves and way of life; because of their persistent

reluctance and unwillingness to cooperate; and because of their false,

selfish actions of the past, they attract negative circumstance in the form

of the dark forces trying to destroy them.

However, in each case they are able to overcome the adversary by

bridging the gap between them, overcoming their selfishness, and

binding together to forge a level of cooperation and harmony never

known before to defeat the enemy.

Nature's Way then is to progress through difficulty and pain; through the

contradictions and strife between parties. Often it is occurs between two

parties where one is mostly in the wrong and the other is partially so.


75

And yet without the negative side, there can be no further progress for

the more positive side, just as the positive side compels the negative to

give up its limitations.

One question that remains is whether there is another way out of this

process, this difficult method of Nature. The answer is that when we rise

in consciousness, we can develop a level of awareness and make

conscious decisions that can preempt the negative from coming about in

the first place. That is, we are so positive in our outlook that we do not

attract the shadow of the negative against us. Then we progress and

evolve not through Nature's way of contradiction and conflict, but through

the way of Soul.

Three Life Principles that Demonstrate How the Darkness

Serves the Light

We go through life rarely considering if there are fundamental, underlying

principles at work that guide its movements, flow, and outcomes. Here I

am not referring to the mechanical principles that science has revealed,

such as material laws of physics or biology, but the subtle and profound

inner laws that determine how life functions. There are many such hidden

principles of existence, and I urge the reader to become familiar with

them, as it will not only reveal a profound wisdom about life’s workings,

but give one access to an infinite-like power over reality.

Here I would like to describe three subtle principles of life that also

happen to be closely related.

The first principle is that our weaknesses are the source of our greatest

strength. Though we have positive capacities that have helped us become

who we are today, it is also true that our wanting qualities can be the

single lever that catapults us to our ultimate potential. That is, if we

identify and overcome a wanting quality, such as a limiting attitude or

fixed habit or opinion, then life will quickly respond with good or great

fortune, dramatically elevating our level of accomplishment and success.

In this way, our weakest qualities become the means of our greatest

inner and outer successes.

The second principle, closely related to the first, is that the negatives that

occur in our lives are actually positives in disguise. That is, if we examine

most peoples’ lives, we will see how often ill fortune became the

stepping-stone for great change that propelled them forward. From that


76

perspective, the negatives are not negatives at all, but are merely more

intense forms of the positive.

For example, World War II, in which 50+ million people died, served to

bring about vast positive change for society; through the formation of the

United Nations, the EU, global trade, and other forms of international and

regional cooperation and integration. Before WWII, there was little

harmony amongst the Europeans nations, making it that much easier for

the Fascists armies to march across Europe. In the wake of these great

negative events, however, came great positive developments for society

that may have otherwise taken decades, centuries, or millennia to come

about, if at all.

The third and final principle, again closely related to the first two, is that

"contradictions are complements." I.e. normally, when we are in conflict

with another party, we just see ourselves at odds with them. But from a

higher perspective, we see that we are actually complements to one

another. That the other side is actually the quickest means by which we

can rise in consciousness, if only we discover the truths they know so we

can develop a new, higher understanding. In fact, it is only through that

particular party that we can make such progress in life.

E.g., the Palestinians and the Israelis on the surface have a contradictory

relationship; they have opposed and fought one another for decades in

what can only be described as a blood feud. In the depths however, the

Palestinians understand the intransigence of the Israelis, even as the

Israelis are aware of a virulent, violent, and irrational side of the

Palestinians. Not only does each side know the other side's limitations

and weakness -- which each does not see itself -- but “Nature” has

conspired to put these two sides together in opposition so that they can

work out a higher harmony enabling new understanding and

unprecedented progress for both. In that way, each side is the other’s

most profound teacher, if only they would listen.

Thus, life progresses through the contraction of two parties, who discover

the higher harmony beyond their current status.

Life is filled with mystery. It reveals itself however through subtle and

profound laws of life. When we rise in consciousness, we can perceive

these understated principles. When we develop an inner life of stillness,

calm, and spiritual-like insight we become “silent witness” to the world,

and thus to the ordinarily hidden truths and principles of life.

Through that status, we are far more able to perceive the ebb and flow of

life, the reasons for its sudden changes in direction, the why and the

wherefore of cause and effect, giving us the deepest, highest, and most

profound perspective of existence.


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As a result, we now have the wisdom to act in ways that attract

enormous positive results, enabling us to grow as individuals, while

becoming the Masters of Life.

Startling Relationship Between the Darkness and The Light

From the perspective of a higher consciousness, forces of Darkness are

often a vehicle for the emergence of forces of Light. Contrary to their

intent, the former help the latter more fully come out.

Example: in the film Avatar the hostile, oppressive evil people of Earth

caused the spread-out, non-cooperating, separate clans of Pandora to

work together in harmony for to drive the enemy out. Not only did they

succeed, but they became a unified people for the first time in their

history.

If you study history or current events or even the life of any individual,

you will see this startling dynamic frequently occurring. It is one of the

subtle principles and indicators of the true nature of existence.

The Divine Sanctions Progress through Darkness or Light

Perhaps the main philosophical conundrum facing man is the question of

why the Divine allows evil in the world. If He is the ultimate Good, how

can He sanction such darkness? It is Man's anguished cry in the dark.

At the end of WWII, the world was left in shambles. The war seemed so

futile, without much purpose. Yet there was a purpose, other than

defeating an evil enemy. From the highest perspective, the reason for

WWII was to enable the further evolution of life on earth. It was the

quickest means by which we could take a further step towards human

unity. The United Nations, the EU, the Euro, the global economy, the

WTO, the World Wide Web (WWW), and the untold other economic,

political, and social agreements amongst nations and continents are all

the bi-product of WWII. Without the horror of the war and the need to

compensate for all that was wrong or missing in the world, it might have

taken centuries, if ever to have brought about these harmonic institutions

and developments.


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From a metaphysical standpoint, we can say that the Divine sanctions

those methods that bring the greatest progress in the shortest period of

time. Whether that progress comes through Ignorance, Falsehood, or

Evil, the Divine endorses that method. It is same in our own individual

lives. What brings the greatest change for us, the Higher Power supports

-- whether it comes about through suffering, illness, or tragedy. The

Divine knows that in their wake will come the greatest progress, and

hence the quickest and most formidable movement towards the Good.

Does this mean that all progress has to be through suffering? Not at all.

The Divine also sanctions evolution through higher consciousness. Europe

and the world did not have the higher consciousness to evolve collectively

before WWII. So she did so through conflict and suffering. As individuals,

we progress through torment because we do not have the consciousness

to evolve through more positive, harmonic means. Yet if we developed

our higher nature, we can progress without the dark, conflicting element.

If we continually improve our character, overcome our limitations, find a

deeper center, and open to the spirit we will foster constant progress

without the need for the negative side.

This then is the challenge before us: to progress and evolve through

higher consciousness, or through the suffering and conflict. For the

Divine, both are acceptable means of moving forward. The choice is ours.

The Utility of Evil as Expressed in Mythology and Reality

In the mythologies of the world, we generally see the play of good and

evil. E.g. in the Indian spiritual epic The Mahabharata, we see the conflict

between two sides, some of whom are close relatives of one another. One

of the sides, the one considered "good," is advised through the Wisdom

of the current avatar [one who brings evolutionary change to the world]

Krishna. In the West, there are also ancient, as well as modern

mythologies, two of which involve the adventures of science fiction space

travel. They are 'Start Trek,' generally produced for a more mature

audience, and 'Star Wars," written for youth. Here too good and evil are

at play. Then, of course, there is the reality of life itself that the

mythologies represent. In WWII, we saw that reality, including the

conflict between good and evil.

Here, however, I would like to change the course of thinking about good

and evil with several bold statements, one of which is that perhaps the

greatest power to bring about Good in the world is through evil. I.e. evil

is an even greater power for bringing about the true Good than the


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actions of the ordinary good, i.e. the good side that we perceive and

appreciate in life. Why is this the case? It is because the result of evil's

negative action speeds up and intensifies further progress of the world,

enabling the truer Good to further emerge in all its integrality and

fullness.

Consider the mythology of Star Trek. The Federation of planets is

essentially the good, and the Romulan Empire, (or the Borg) are the bad.

Yet, if we watch closely, we will see that the good is often fractured; i.e.

its members are not yet fully in harmony with one another. That side only

moves to greater coordination, cooperation, and integration of intent and

action after the mischief of the dark side has run its course. It is only

then that the good side -- the Federation -- moves towards greater

solidification and unity.

This modern mythology is of course a refection of the real truths of life.

As the Nazis rose in power during the years leading up to WWII, there

was no united force to confront them -- so the fascists flourished. In fact,

it was the selfishness amongst the good nations leading up to the war --

expressed by the stock crash, the Great Depression, and the fall of the

Weimer Republic in Germany; all, by the way, facilitated by financial

greed -- that set the stage for the rise of the German nation that turned

to evil. With the lack of harmony of the "good" side, the dark side

flourished. Finally, the good side came together and overcame the

enemy, creating a modicum of further harmony and integration amongst

themselves and the defeated nations. The United Nations then became

the one great attempt to establish a formal institution to unify the world,

especially in light of the darkness that preceded it. Likewise, the

European Union (EU) is an attempt to insure the common purposefulness

of the individual nations of that continent to avoid repeating such

catastrophes as war, financial ruin, and cultural disharmony. It may have

taken hundreds, even thousands of years for such progress to have

occurred amongst the nations on its own if evil had not spurred it on. In

the end, we see that evil speeds up the process of integration and unity.

Thus, we need to perceive the value of evil in the evolutionary process --

even as we seek to overcome it.

Modern mythology, as well as ancient ones like the Iliad and Odyssey,

and especially those with vast spiritual insight like the Mahabharata,

serve to show the subtle processes of change and progress for the

nations and people of the earth.

Similar changes are of course occurring right now in the world around us.

All we need to do is look around to see that same dynamic at work now;

that the various dark sides pressure life into further harmony and

integration, and unity. A broad open mind, influenced by spiritual

knowledge and insight will be a great aid in pursuing these insights. Then


80

of course, we will be able to develop the right strategies that integrate

these many-sided truths. Naturally, these same movements of good, evil,

and the true Good are unfolding in our own individual lives. To see them

we need to look within.


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Embracing the All

Accepting All and Every Thing

Normally we are happy to pursue those things that please us, avoiding as

much as possible those activities that we believe will bring less pleasure,

or even pain. And yet the truth is that if at every moment we fully

embrace what life puts before us -- pleasurable or otherwise -- life will

instantly respond in our favor.

Over the years, I have experienced this phenomenon countless times,

both at the macro and micro level. Here is a modest incident that

demonstrates this principle in action.

After a successful day of instruction at a local college on the other side of

the bay, I unfortunately left my computer power cord behind. Without it,

my battery could supply only a few more hours of power, which meant I

would soon be without a computer -- a potential disaster in my case. It

also turns out that driving over and retrieving the cord would be very

time-consuming, made doubly so by the fact that a renowned bridge

linking the two areas was now out of service! I therefore contacted a

staffer at the college and asked her to hunt down and mail the power

cord to me ASAP. She agreed and indicated that it would likely arrive the

next day. Since she was a busy person, and because of several other

concerns I had, there were doubts in my mind that it would arrive so

quickly. Still I hoped for the best.

The next day, as expected, my computer

ceased functioning when the battery drained. As a result, I decided to

head over to the local library to use one of their computers. This was a

facility I have used on occasion for over two decades. However, when I

called the offices beforehand, I learned that the library had permanently

closed down! I then realized this was because the town was were about

to open a huge, modern facility a few blocks away. Therefore, I decided

to go head out to a nearby town to use their state-of-the-art library. Just

before leaving, I asked my roommate to look out for the overnight

package that contained my power cord.

I then walked out of my home and towards my car, but then suddenly

shifted direction, realizing that the mail sometimes arrives early on the

weekend, and I should retrieve that first. When I walked over to the box,

I did not know if the mail had arrived; but when I opened the latch, there

was the day's mail. I then brought it back to my home, notifying my

friend that I was still on my way out to the library in the next town. But


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just as I was about to head out again, I saw a FedEx truck parked right in

front of my home! I thought, "That must be the power cord delivery!" I

then looked to my left and there was the delivery person looking for our

entranceway. He then found the door and handed me the overnight

package. I could now resume all of my critical computer functions. A not

so small disaster was averted.

I immediately understood that I had evoked this response from life

because I had taken care of every detail required in that situation. Rather

than skirt one issue or another, I paid close attention to the flow of

things, and fulfilled every demand of life, whether pleasurable or not;

whether perceived as positive or negative.

When we embrace life and all of its demands, it tends to flow in our

favor. When we fight it, or accept one part but not another, we separate

ourselves from its underlying natural flow, making things difficult, if not

downright impossible.

Embracing life is to accept that each and everything is necessary for the

right outcome of events. It is to perceive the Marvel of existence; that

each and every thing plays a role in the unfolding and progress of life.

Embracing life also enables us to align with the very best of conditions, as

luck swiftly moves in our direction. Or, in this case, literally to our

doorstep!

Seeing the Marvel of Existence

In the first of 56 chapters of his metaphysical opus The Life Divine, Sri

Aurobindo suggests something profound. He indicates that everything we

encounter in life -- positive and negative, pleasurable and painful, good

and evil -- serves the greater Good that is unfolding. He indicates that

such dual pairs, which on the surface seem to be in contradiction, are

really complements to one another -- necessary for the upward,

progressive movement of each. In that way, every difficulty and problem

that comes our way serves us just as well as positives circumstance --

perhaps more so. Moreover, that vision of things, that ability to perceive

meaning and utility in everything we encounter, from the macro to the

micro, from the positive to the negative is to see the Marvel of Existence.

Let me illustrate this principle with several examples from literature. In

Victor Hugo's masterpiece Les Miserable, a fundamentally good man Jean

Valjean has escaped prison and is being pursued by an extremely

dedicated, almost fanatical police officer named Javert. Along the way,

Valjean raises a beautiful adopted daughter Cossette who falls in love


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with a young man named Marius, who eventually joins a people's fighting

force barricading themselves against the reactionary government. At one

point, the older, magnanimous Valjean gets involved in the battle

himself, and in a startling, ironic moment saves Marius' life. Interestingly,

Valjean never tells him what he had done. In addition, Valjean and Marius

over time are at odds with one another because the elder does not want

to relinquish his beloved daughter to the young man. In fact, now that

Valjean senses that he is losing Cosette to Marius, life begins to all lose

meaning, and so he begins to wither away.

But then one day near the end of Valjean's life, the evil Innkeeper

Thenardier -- who once raised Cosette in squalor and did many appalling

things along the way -- reveals to Marius that Valjean was in fact the one

who saved his life. Stunned by Thenardier revelations, Marius and

Cosette rush to Valjean's deathbed and console him, thanking him for a

lifetime of self-givingness. In essence, a very bad person has come

forward and unwittingly helped resolve a knot between two good people,

-- enabling reconciliation between Marius and Valjean, and the return of

Cosette's deep love and affection for Valjean, something he so

desperately longed for. And so after a lifetime of kindness and

generosity, Jean Valjean dies a very happy man.

It is said that great literature revels the deepest truth of life. The

principle that not just the good, but the negative and evil too serve the

greater Good is also evident in Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. For

example, at one critical point in the story, one of the five Bennet sisters,

the wild, rambunctious Lydia, has eloped with the scoundrel Wickham,

threatening the Bennet family with scandal and social ostracism. The

elopement also threatens to ruin the relationship between the very

wealthy Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Now soon after the elopement ends with the marriage of Lydia and

Wickham, Lydia foolishly blurts out that Darcy was the one who settled

the accounts of her husband, resolving the situation. Lydia was instructed

not to reveal this information. When Eliza hears this, she is thunderstruck

because she now realizes how wrong she has been about Darcy. She saw

him and arrogant and prideful, but instead, she now sees his very noble

character. As a result, she falls in love with him, he proposes (again), and

they marry. Without the verbal blunder from the negative Lydia, the

marvelous outcome would never have occurred. I.e. Darcy and Eliza may

not have fallen in love, married, found deep happiness, and thereby bring

great wealth and social prestige to the Bennet family. That is the power

the negative and false serve in manifesting the greater Good.

There is one other example of this principle in the novel. Late in the

story, the aristocratic, wealthy, yet reactionary Lady Catherine tries to

meddle in the relationship between Darcy and Eliza. When she does, it


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backfires on her, paving the way for the marriage of Darcy and Eliza.

What happened was that when Lady Catherine got wind of the budding

relationship, she stormed in the Bennet home, met with Eliza, and

insisted that the relationship cease. Eliza of course refused. Most

importantly however, when Lady Catherine returned home, Darcy learned

of the meeting between his aunt and Eliza and realized from the

discussion that Eliza had not ruled out a romance and marriage between

him. Startled that this was the case, Darcy then went ahead and met

Eliza, who then accepted his second proposal of marriage. In other

words, without Lady Catherine's negative intervention, the entire

resolution of the story would not have come about! Her harmful attempt

to block their relationship had the opposite effect of spurring them to

come together.

Once again, we see how falsehood and evil play critical roles in

movements of progress and greater accomplishment. It is to perceive

that every thing -- good or bad, positive or negative, pleasurable or

painful, -- serves a purpose in the great unfolding. It is an ultimate

perspective and vision of life. It is to see the Marvel of Existence.

First Glimpse of the Omnipresent Reality

There is an ultimate Reality that surrounds us; that we are a part of. It

permeates matter, life, and mind. It is there in the hidden realms, in the

universal plane, and in the transcendent Divine. The Reality is the

essence of all these things. It is actually those things themselves; we,

God, and the universe. Moreover, everything in this Reality is inexorably

united and one. Everything, every plane, every force and being are

unified within themselves and to each other. It is the Divine plan,

method, and unfolding.

But how do we feel this ultimate conception of Existence? It is one thing

to know that we are part of this Great All, it is another to truly perceive

it, experience it, be awed, enriched, overwhelmed, and fulfilled by the

fact.

In the physical/material consciousness we ordinarily live in, we perceive

nothing of this wonder, splendor, power of existence. We are immune

from it there. However, sometimes we have small experiences, sense

subtle workings and unfoldings that suggest a correlation, interrelation of

something wondrous; something beyond this world, yet within it; within

us. At the subtle level of life, beyond the material, we have intimations of


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the Reality. And yet it is only reflective, a side glance, a transitory

glimpse of the Wonder.

Beyond the gross/material and subtle, there is the causal experience. It is

here that we can begin to truly perceive the omnipresent Reality; that

which permeates all existence. It is here that we move into identity with

the Reality, Brahman, the Absolute. We have intimations of the Wonder.

It is there not only in our thoughts, but in our subtle perceptions of life. It

is also there in extraordinary momentary feelings and emotions, even in

our nerves. At that point, we sense, we feel, we know bound up with

something Greater, even as we realize that this permeating Presence is

right here, within us, around us, in the essence of all things. It is even

there in the most superficial, surface of life.

When we conceive, perceive, and realize the Reality in our own lives, we

have the greatest of all human experiences; that of the Infinite Divine

expressing in all planes, beings, and things. Everywhere we look, we feel

the Reality in its essence, in its progressive unfolding. We feel that we

are part of a totality that is Infinite, Conscious, and Divine. At that point,

we experience an inextricable Oneness with everyone and all things.

Through that experience, we blend in, melt into the Reality that we are

part of, even as we gaze out ecstatically on Its creation.

Experiencing the Reality from Within

There is an ultimate Reality. It is beyond our normal conceptions of God.

It is timeless, spaceless, immutable, indefinable. It is the Unmanifest as

well as the Manifest. It is the Absolute of the West; Brahman of the East.

How can we know this ultimate Reality? Not when we live ordinary lives

of the surface. Only when we develop an inner poise and orientation can

we begin that journey. From there we can begin to get intimations of this

Reality.

As we plunge into the depths within, we become silent witness to the

world. Deeper still we come upon our True Self, our personal evolving

soul. There we constantly perceive the multiplicity of possibilities

unfolding at any moment in time. We always know in which direction to

turn, to act; what to avoid; what elements in our being need

improvement, uplifting. There we feel connections to the universal and

transcendent planes. We also now have direct intuitions and intimations

of the forces and truths of the universe which enter our minds without

thought.


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In that status all conflicts, divisions, and dualities that we experience,

such as the apparent incompatibility of Spirit and Matter, or the dual life

experience of pleasure and pain, begin to break down.

From that deep poise, the contradictions of life resolve into their natural

complementary status. From there we perceive that the inner and the

outer are one; that in fact, the entire universe is contained inside

ourselves and if we change the inner, the outer will respond in kind.

As a result of these harmonic experiences, we perceive the unity of the

manifest and the unmanifest, which is the omnipresent Reality, the

ultimate vision and experience of life.

We can begin approach this profound inner status through meditation,

deep concentration, consecration of activities (i.e. surrendering all actions

to the descending Force), and other methods.

As we make deep inroad into our inner being, we feel the divine presence

within and above compelling us to Surrender to it. We perceive our role in

the comic scheme of things. We become instruments of the transcendent

and universal intent. We begin to offer our very existence to the Higher

Purpose.

'Truman Show' Film as Metaphor for Our Perceptions of Reality

The Truman Show is a movie about a TV show. Truman was born and

brought up in the giant set in an Island. 5000 cameras were watching

him growing, studying, working, getting married and so on.

The surprising thing is that all other characters in the set are actors who

knew they are acting, including persons whom he believed to be his

Mother, Wife and friend. In order to make him stay in the island, the

Director created a fear of Water in his mind so that he will not go near

water or venture into boating.

He gets clues from various incidents that he is being watched and

something is wrong with his surroundings only at the age of 30. The show

is running for 30 long years. Finally, his desire to escape this situation

made him to escape from the island in a boat. After rowing a long

distance, the boat hit a wall that had a picture of sky and clouds painted

on it. He then found the exit and entered the real world.

This is exactly how we live in this world. Each person is living in a set like

this and are unable to move out of that set. Many times the people


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around us convinces us to accept our present status as real, but actually

it is not. Crossing the limitations of mind and emotions and entering into

the inner self will open up the gate for exiting from our limitations.

The TV viewers who watch the show represent God (collective God) who

enjoys when Truman exits. God enjoys when Man identifies Him within.

That finding is a moment of celebration, like how children enjoy in hide

and seek game.

The Director plays the role of LIFE. He decides Truman's life. Life decides

the life of all of us. When man wants to cross his limitation/ boundary,

Life punishes him or threatens him and make him accept what his

limitations lead him to. There are so many parallels we may find from the

story.

(Nedumaran Ramakrishnan)

Lesson from The Matrix

In the film ‘The Matrix’ earth civilization was actually an illusionary

program created by robots, behind which was the real civilization that

had been destroyed in their war against humans. Likewise, in life we live

in and look out on a material world that is a clouding illusion of the true

multi-faceted, integrated, unified Reality that is All things.

And just as an adventurer like Neo can learn from the visionary Morpheus

to see the world as it truly was, we can learn from the spiritual prophets

around us and discover the Reality as it truly is. In that way, we not only

gain powers to dodge bullets, but we garner spiritual power that puts the

entire world at our disposal.

Truman Show

The Truman Show Aspiration is the source of Reality. This movie

captures that concept beautifully. This movie can be seen as the Divine’s

play in our life -- it is not to test us, not to tease us, not to humiliate us,

but to evolve out our true individuality and to manifest His plan in our

lives. We can be part of it if we sincerely aspire for it. Instead most of the

times we live our material life not only just knowing our character but

also the purpose of other characters whom we interact with. This quest

continues on and on for many life times. Life can be a biggest helper on


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that context as it tries it’s best to create situations for us so that we can

reflect, turn back and go in the right direction. And so it creates failures,

disappointments, problems, challenges, opportunities, luck, coincidences,

synchronous events and so forth. At the same, we are surrounded by so

many things, persons, situations which they continuously feed our ego

and keep us in the surface, ignorant life. However, the man continues on

this quest without conscious awareness but continues to evolve

subconsciously. This movie subtly asks us the question, what if we could

lead your life consciously? What are we aspiring for? Who or What is our

aspiring factor? (like Sylvia in that story)

The Lake House

In Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth visited the Pemberley estate, astonished

by its beauty, and thought from the depths of her being that she could

have been the mistress of the estate. As a result, Darcy appeared in front

of her sooner than expected, surprising her.

One question that arises is how could a thought in the present moment

affect the acts of the past since Darcy had changed his plan a few days

earlier, deciding to come back early to the estate? How we strain to

understand this reality through our minds as it seems illogical.

It is because we are limited in our perceptions of Time and Space; as our

minds cannot perceive such things, as it is itself limited in capacity and

point of view. However, our higher and deeper Consciousness can.

The Truth of the Reality is that it is One, and we all are connected in

consciousness; not only in the present moment, but to the past and

future as well.

Unfortunately, the thing we are preoccupied with is our surface existence.

And yet we would be able to perceive this triple time capacity in the Now

by going within into our depths, to our Psychic being, where Time is

synchronous in the past, present and future. From that poise one change

would affect another; and results would happen instantaneously, from out

of nowhere in the present moment. We would perceive this unfolding take

shape as a 'Life Response'.

Hollywood science fiction and fantasy movies like Arrival, Interstellar and

many others help us visualize this dynamic. 'The Lake House' is one such

beautiful, romantic love story that portrays the concept throughout the

film.


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In the movie, Dr Kate witnessed a tragic accident on Valentine's day of

2006. Out of her genuine goodness and attitude, she tried her very best

to save him but she couldn't. Though she had handled many cases in the

past, this one greatly disturbed her emotionally. She was not aware of

the reason why at that moment.

And so as per her friend's advice, she travelled for peace of mind, and

finally ended up in the Lake house where she lived a while before. In

addition, her deep emotion puts her consciousness in alignment with Alex

who had lived there in the past exactly two years behind her time.

The story unleashes beautifully between them, despite the fact that they

were two years apart, as the mailbox served as the medium to exchange

their thoughts of consciousness. It is very beautiful to witness how the

present moment of Kate influenced Alex’s life (who was in the relative

past). Also, the actions he took made an impact on Kate’s life later on in

her own time. For example, there was the tree which Alex planted on her

Racine apartment; the Persuasion book which she lost in the station that

was recovered by Alex, and many other such startling, time-abridging

incidents.

As a result, both lived two years of their lives very deeply connected to

one another, though they could not perceive that in their real time as

events unfold by themselves. Even though they met each other in the

past, they could not perceive that they were meant for each other at that

moment. It’s like Darcy not recognizing Elizabeth as her soul mate when

they first met at Meryton, despite the fact they were meant for each

other.

Kate and Alex were then out of contact for quite a while. And yet at the

end, - on Valentine's day 2008, - she understood that it was Alex who

died in the accident she witnessed earlier. She then rushed to the

mailbox to prevent him from coming to meet her, and asked him to wait

two more years in his time from 2006 to 2008 in order to avoid that

horrible incident. Something in Alex also moved him to go to the Lake

House that day and receive her message. The movie ends beautifully with

his real time arrival in 2008, and so they were united at the Lake House

again. Though it is difficult to comprehend by mind, it is not impossible

for this to happen.

As such, the movie gives us awareness. We are the creators of our own

destiny and we can manifest that Reality by going within. What else could

we do, as we are stuck in surface living and limited by ignorance, time

and space?

And the movie gives us awareness that in life nothing happens by chance.

And by being conscious, aware and act according to the laws of Life

Response, we can quickly align with the Reality that is subtly manifesting.


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For example, though Alex and Kate met each other in 2004 at a birthday

party, they were not conscious of that that fact, and therefore they had

to go through long series of events before finally reuniting in 2008.

(Roy Posner & Senthil Murugan)

Various Thoughts

--Chapter 4, Omnipresent Reality resolves the contradiction between

spirit and matter into the Reality, the All, which is inclusive of both, and

even integrative of both.

--From the holistic view of Supermind everything that has happened in

your life is exactly as it should have been. It is a vision of Brahman, the

Reality, the embracing of the All, all things. From the dualistic view of

Mind, your life is viewed as a series of circumstance ranging from positive

to negative, and all points in-between. From that perspective each and

everything is subject to scrutiny and judgment. The perspective of the

whole is lost.

--Also when we move to our deeper Self within, this harmonic relation

with the world increases, as we look out on the world as Silent Witness

and pure Being; whereas living on the surface of life reinforces the ego

view, the separative consciousness that is divided from the totality of

existence, the Reality, the All.

--From the holistic view of Supermind everything that has happened in

your life is exactly as it should have been. It is a vision of Brahman, the

Reality, the embracing of the All, all things.

--… when we move to our deeper Self within, this harmonic relation with

the world increases, as we look out on the world as Silent Witness and

pure Being; whereas living on the surface of life reinforces the ego view,

the separative consciousness that is divided from the totality of

existence, the Reality, the All.

--When you perceive and begin realizing the integral nature of the

Reality, of the All, thoughts come pouring in that express it in novel and

instructive ways.

--Integral Knowledge is to know this from moment to moment as

necessary. Ordinary human knowledge is hardly any of this; not even a

billionth of it. Thus it is Ignorance. The goal then is to move from

Ignorance to and Integral Knowledge of the Integral Reality - the All.


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--… the Reality = the ALL, the EVERYTHING, including their integral

Connection and Oneness. All things are just different expressions of the

Reality, the All

--When we are in touch with the supramental consciousness we

experience Unity with every aspect of life. It is from that status we

perceive the Marvel; which is the perception of the one Reality, the All,

from spirit to mind. As a result one realizes that every conceivable thing

in existence serves a purpose.

--… from the perspective of the Reality, the All, such dualistic viewpoints

of affirmation and negation melt into one another and disappear, as

everything serves a purpose in creation. Oneness is the result.

--According to Sri Aurobindo, the Absolute is the All. It is the Divine and

the Universe. The One and the Many. The Being and the Becoming. The

small and the large. The good and the bad. The positive and negative.

The pleasurable and the painful. Every thought and feeling and

circumstance. Every plane of being. And they are all integrally connected

in the greater scheme of things; and all are part of the Movement

forward.

--The Spiritual consciousness perceives it as the natural order of things,

as part of the Reality, the All; and Delights in its existence

--.. from the highest perspective, the divine Reality is the ALL, is all

things, including both positive and negative, and therefore everything

together serves a purpose in moving conditions forward.

--God is ultimately both Spirit and Life. The All. The Reality.

--We think we are just are our own limited individual selves. Yet we are

much more than that. We are the entire universe; actually, we are the

Reality itself; the All; undivided, Infinite and Eternal.

--Brahman is thus the All; the creator and creation; the Spirit and Life;

the transcendent, the universal, and the individual. And the Divine

expresses in each.

--Unlike the tradition Sri Aurobindo says there is nothing but the Divine:

i.e. the Divine manifest, and the Divine hidden; and nothing else. This

totality is the Reality; Brahman; the Absolute; the All.

--There are two formations of Brahman. One is the Divine Brahman, the

transcendent, the Infinite Consciousness that is the Source of all. The

Supreme. All things in creation originated in it, are formations of it. There

is also Brahman that is the All, the Reality. It is both spirit and matter;

the One and the Many; all in creation and all behind it. It includes the

Infinite Brahman, plus everything in the universe. It is the All; the


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Omnipresent Reality, the highest conception of existence given to Man. In

Supermind it is glimpsed and realized.

--In Supermind we see the utility of each thing within the All, and we also

perceive the integral nature of all things that make up the Reality. That is

why it is called the "Truth Consciousness." It sees the truth in everything.

And the more we consecrate the more we move to the state of observing

and embracing all things, this All that is the integral Reality. We recognize

the contractions of life, and also see beyond them to their resolutions,

and the role they serve in the further progress of life.

--The Divine [we can also call it the Reality, or the All or Brahman]

manifest in three forms, three aspects, the Individual, the Universal and

the Transcendent.

--When Sri Aurobindo speaks of Brahman, He does not mean just only of

Transcendent. What He has said is, the Universe is Brahman and the

Individual is also Brahman [the reality, the All].

--The Secret Knowledge is to have the wisdom of the nature of the

Reality, the All, and know the means of furthering the evolution, enabling

the infinite to arise from the finite in life.

--From the perspective of the Reality, the All, past, present, and future

do not exist as separate entities; there is imply one non-divided reality of

time.

--Spirit and Life mixed together is the Reality, the All.

--Everything is within His manifestation. Gods true kingdom is the

Reality, the All.

--The whole blissful Reality is available to be felt and seen at any given

moment.

Comment: I.e. spirit and life around us are completely intermingled, and

we perceive but one integral Reality; the All

The Reality, The All That We Can Realize

In the aftermath of the battle of Kurukshetra in the Gita section of the

Mahabharata, the blind Gandhari, wife of Dhritarashtra who is head of the

evil Kaurava, anguishedly blames Krishna for the death of her sons, as he

did not prevent the war, even encouraged it.

Remarkably, Vyasa responds that only Krishna himself has actually

suffered in the war! He explains that Krishna is the Reality, which is All


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things in creation and beyond it. And therefore the sons and all soldiers

who died in the battle is actually the destruction of parts of Krishna

Himself.

In Vedanta, the Divine is not simply something beyond creation, but

includes all things, all forces and forms IN creation. Thus all things in life

are necessary, important, play a vital role in the unfolding: even the

undivine, the negative, and the insignificant. It is this Reality, this

Brahman, this All that is that what Krishna embodied.

Sri Aurobindo says that to have this ultimate view of existence - this All,

where each thing, force, form, plane are simply infinite variations and

shadings of the one Divine; each playing a vital part - is to have the

Vision of the Reality. He tells us that this integral view of existence can

only be experienced, realized in full through Supramental perception,

which is Unity consciousness that can perceive the necessity and purpose

of all things. The ordinary human mind is not able to have this

experience.

How can one begin to see the see the necessity and interrelation among

all things in and beyond creation? Karmayogi says that through constant

consecration and constantly taking another's view, our mind vastly

expands and we increasingly experience the utility and interconnection of

all things, which gives us ultimate power of knowing, decision making,

and action, which in turn evokes the infinite from the finite in no time at

all.

--The goal of creation is for every force, idea, particle, formation, person,

collective, etc. to possess the Consciousness of the Infinite, the Eternal,

the All Powerful. (inspired by the Mother)

Additional comment: We can help make that happen through continuous

Consecration.

Not Yet Titled

-There is only one Reality. The Divine, God is one form of it. We are

another.

-God, the Divine didn't so much create the universe, as He became the

universe.

-We are God too, only in a different form.

-The totality of God and the universe is the Reality.


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-The All is the Reality.

-The Individual, the Universal, and the Transcendent is the Integral

Reality.

-If God has extended itself to us, and we are evolving, then God is

evolving.

-God is evolving through our soul's multi-birth journey of never-ending

progress.

Perceiving the Utility of All is the Marvel

The Marvel as revealed in Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine is the capacity

to perceive the Reality, the All. It is to perceive the necessity of all things

in the unfolding. In this way we can look out on life and see that

everything that is happening to us - positive and negative, big and small,

pleasurable and painful - is necessary for cur progress. To engage life this

way is to perceive the Marvel and to participate in the Adventure. It is the

romantic view of life; Romance itself.

Connecting with the Reality So We Can Navigate Vast Change in Our Lives.

From the perspective of "the Reality," the All, vast change is unfolding in

the course of our lives - with great undulations, giant swings to the

positive and negative. And yet from our own limited perspective we are

inching along, trying to stay on the same straight and narrow path,

hoping to maintain the same rituals and patterns in our lives, avoiding

any swings, when in fact vast change is what we are going to experience.

The Reality is the All, and includes all things from Spirit to Matter. The

Reality is also past, present, and future. Moreover, if we are in the

consciousness of the Reality, the All, we more readily sense and navigate

the undulations of change in life; in our own individual lives.

And yet the Reality also includes the Spirit, meaning that Change in our

lives can be brought under our control. By following spiritual values, and

utilizing the Force of the Divine Mother; the supramental power, we can

manage the swings of existence, reducing them down so that we


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experience a steady, progressive life, harmonious and peaceful, yet

dynamic and ecstatic.

Formulations of the Secret Knowledge

The Secret Knowledge is to know the Reality, the All, which is (any of)-

-the interplay and integration of Spirit and Life (Purusha and Prakriti)

-the Creator conception and the Energy that manifests it as real (Ishwara

and Shakti)

-the interplay of He and She.

-the One and the Many

-the Being and Becoming

-etc.

The Reality is as any these dual pairs, which are actually undivided from

one another. (Eg the universe consists of formation of Spirit.) To know

their workings is to have the Secret Knowledge; it is to one with the

Reality; including its nature and workings.

[thoughts inspired by canto ‘The Secret Knowledge’ from epic mystical

poem ‘Savitri’ by Sri Aurobindo]

Brahman, Reality, the All

By Brahman being the only Reality, we mean it is the All, and includes

everything, big and small, positive and negative, spirit and matter, the

One and the Many, etc. And that everything in that Reality, that All,

whether good or bad, helpful or harmful, serves a purpose in the

Unfolding. Brahman then is not just the Source Consciousness, but the

Source and its multiplicity of forces and forms in the universe integrally

combined. This is Sri Aurobindo's view of the Reality, the All.


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PART 2: PHENOMENON OF LIFE RESPONSE

Life Response; I.e. Sudden Good Fortune

Introduction

Normally, we believe that taking an action on our part brings about a

corresponding result in life. This is of course true. There is also a secret

knowledge that certain changes in our behavior can instantly evoke good

fortune from the world around us. We call this dramatic phenomenon

"life response."

Higher Levels of Cleanliness, Orderliness, and Attention Attract

For example, let’s talk about money. We are all aware of the importance

of intelligence, hard work, social position, skill, organization, and other

forms of strength and power to create wealth. There are, however, a few

hidden strategies to elicit an immediate response from life regarding

money. For one, keeping accurate and up-to-date accounts of money is a

powerful mechanism for attracting more of it. E.g., one small business

owner decided to balance eight months of back statements in a weekend

and received $5000 from out of nowhere the next day. This is an example

of a life response. It is virtually instantaneous, and appears to come from

seemingly out of nowhere.

There does not seem to be any obvious connection between the actions

and the results, yet somehow life responds to these changes in our inner

behavior. That is the case because life is organized in ways that defy our

normal perceptions of cause and effect, and space and time. There are

movements, workings, and unfoldings in life that are hidden from us; that

defy our ability to perceive them. However, if we develop a certain subtle

power of awareness, we can perceive these life movements, and then

learn to harness that knowledge to attract vast accomplishment and

success. The above example of attention to money and how it generates


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a sudden, abundant life response is but one example of this extraordinary

power.

Over the decades, we have seen that there are at least a dozen key

human behaviors that trigger these instances of sudden good fortune.

E.g. in addition to giving attention to finances to attract money, being as

careful and prompt in paying our debts also tends to attract instances of

good fortune. This is especially true for settling old debts. E.g., one

individual owed a friend money for over twenty years. Within minutes of

committing to paying that old debt, he was told that he had been offered

a new spacious place to live -- this after having lived in the same

cramped apartment for twenty years! That is the power of committing to

paying off an old debt.

Greater attention to business accounts, proper handling of money, et al

are, in essence, higher forms of organization. In fact, whenever we make

a serious effort to raise our level of organization, life tends to move in our

favor. In particular, we have seen that higher levels of cleanliness tend to

elicit very powerful positive responses from life. Consider this true-life

experience:

An instructor had been without training and consulting work for

weeks, and was in desperate straits. He did not know what to do, but

decided to raise his level of cleanliness. His apartment was normally

quite clean, but he wanted to take cleanliness a step

further. Therefore, he decided to clean his refrigerator. Well, at the

exact moment he finished putting the foodstuffs back after an

exhaustive effort of cleaning, he received a call from his training

company offering him months worth of new work! The response from

life was instantaneous and overwhelmingly powerful!

While cleaning and ordering objects have a vast power to attract sudden

good fortune, so does giving them more attention. Consider this true

incident:

A wine seller in Asia had very low sales. A consultant noticed that the

seller had ignored stocks of old wine that were not selling. He asked

the seller to make a full effort to clean those stocks, even though he

could not imagine how such an action could possibly improve things.

The seller however in the end agreed to this course of action. Within a

few short weeks, the seller not only found someone to purchase his

entire inventory of old stocks, but he received new orders for sales

equal to a whole half years worth of revenues!

That is the power of giving objects greater levels of attention. Life

suddenly responds out of all proportion!


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The Power of Attitudes to Attract

You can also attract overwhelming good fortune by overcoming a

negative attitude, such as a hostile feeling towards another person. This

is perhaps the most powerful psychological method to attract good

fortune.

A woman worked part time for over a decade, hoping during that time

to secure a full-time position. One day she decided that her negative

attitudes towards certain people should come to an end. Within a few

days, she received a full time job from the company she had been

temping at -- her first full-time position in ten years!

Life always responds to a change in one’s attitudes. Here is another

example:

A man lost a lot of borrowed money by speculating in the stock

market. After a time all of his shares became worthless. In fact, he

paid interest on the borrowed money by borrowing more money. One

day, he didn't have any more cash left to pay the interest. Slowly, he

began to realize his folly. First, he decided to stop speculating. Then

he decided not to borrow any more money to pay the interest. He

made a firm decision, and remained calm thereafter. Though he

didn't know what to do next, he stuck to his decision.

After a day or two, he read in a newspaper that a certain company

was being taken over by another company. The share price started its

upward journey and within a few days, it hit $20. He sold them and

had the money to meet his obligation.

Life will suddenly and abundantly respond any attempt to shed a wanting

attitude. It also responds to making a decision, or taking to a course of

action when one was reluctant or otherwise unable to take to it before.

Consider this episode:

A man worked at a computer store, but was reluctant to work

weekends. He was in the lower tier of monthly sales among his peers.

He then changed his attitude, and made the decision to work on

weekends. The first Saturday he appeared at the store, the first

customer he waited on placed the biggest order of his career! That in

turn kicked off the highest sales month he ever experienced in his life.

Moreover, it also turned out to be the highest sales month by a

salesperson that the 4-store chain he worked at ever experienced. He

not only rocketed to the top of his sales group, but made more money

in the next few months than he ever had in his life.


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That is the power of taking to decision and acting on it. Changes in

attitude, in combinations with taking to a decision and action have an

overwhelming power to invoke good fortune from the world around us.

The Power of Silence to Attract

There are a number of other ways to make life respond. E.g., one way is

to improve yourself -- such as by acquiring new knowledge about a

subject, or by learning a new skill. Consider this true story, where one

individual tried to improve his skill, and got an unexpected life response

result:

A man hadn't had a consulting project of any substantial size in over

half a year. He then decided to improve his professional condition by

learning an important new skill. Within a few days, he was contacted

unsolicited by a major industrial firm in the central valley of California

to do a large consulting project, his first in nearly half a year of trying.

Silent Will

In addition to proactively changing one's condition, such as taking to

higher levels of organization, one can also invoke sudden good fortune by

restraining one’s self. E.g. rather than expressing a thought to another

person that you want to relate, you can withhold it’s expression, which

will cause the other person to speak it out shortly thereafter. We call this

inner, mental-restraining approach to life response, “Silent Will.” Here’s

an example, involving a business colleague of ours:

A management consultant was meeting with a high-level executive of

one of the largest companies in the US in order secure interviews with

top-level management for a book he was writing. The executive

however rejected him outright, giving various reasons why the

consultant request could not be heeded. Rather than respond, the

consultant decided to practice Silent Will, restraining himself from

expressing the reasons why the executive was in error.

Stunningly, a few minutes, the executive completely reversed himself,

and began to express several reasons why the consultant’s request

was valid! He then not only acceded to the interviews, but a long time

business relationship was forged between the consultant and that

major US corporation!

When we remain silent in these situations, we release a solid block of

mental and vital energy into the surrounding atmosphere that others feel

compelled to speak out. In that way, our intentions are expressed

through another person without our having to communicate it in the first


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place. Such “Silent Will" is but one of a number of inner powers of life

that are available to us.

Equality of Being

Another power of silence is that of “Equality of Being.” If we remain calm

and still when a difficult situation presents itself, the problem tends to

quickly dissipate.

One man did not react to the fact that a client was going to pay a bill

in 60 days instead of the normal 2 weeks, and was informed that the

bill had been paid the next day via credit card! A 60-day bill had

triune into a 2-day one!

Consecrated Activity

Finally, there is one other inner power that can attract the miraculous. If

we open ourselves to the spiritual Force before engaging in an activity,

circumstances will move in our favor, as life cooperates with us from all

quarters.

An instructor's class was going very poorly one morning. Nothing

seemed to go right. He then decided to consecrate the afternoon

session by offering it to the Higher Power. Thereafter, every

conceivable thing went right. In addition, a palpable peace and

richness could be felt in the classroom throughout the remainder of

the day.

Anyone who has experienced the power of the spiritual Force in action

but once in their lives will be changed forever.


On the surface, there does not seem to be any obvious connection

between these changes in our psychological condition and behavior, and

the sudden miraculous-like results that follow. Yet, somehow life does

respond on the outside to our change within. Why is this the case?

It turns out that the separation we make between our being and the

world around us is an illusion based on a surface view of life. Our inner

selves and the outer world are in fact part parcel of the same contiguous

reality. Therefore, if we change our consciousness within, the outer

instantly responds in kind. This underlying oneness is in turn made

possible because there is a fundamental spiritual reality that is at the

heart of all existence. That reality provides an ultimate Intelligence that

relates all associated objects, individual, and circumstances across space

and time.


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Thus, when you move your consciousness towards the positive, you

release energies that move across a vast cosmic web of life that connects

with related individuals, objects, and circumstances. When you take to

higher emotions, attitudes, behaviors, values, decisions, actions,

thoughts, etc, energies move out across space-time and connect with

related positive conditions, attracting these favorable, positive results

rapidly to you.

The key however is to proactively discover those wanting parts of your

being, and then make the necessary effort to change them, thereby

attracting a continuous flow of good fortune toward you. This is the

miraculous and infinite-like opportunity that the phenomenon of “Life

Response” offers each of us.

Life Response in Pride and Prejudice

(Extracted from the book ‘The Miraculous Phenomenon of Life Response’

by Roy Posner)

One of the best ways to observe life -- including the miraculous-like

phenomenon of life response -- is to read the great literature of the

world. From such works, not only are we privy to the many fascinating

experiences of its characters, but with a sharp eye, we can detect a

number of powerful life response results as well.

It turns out that there is one great work of literature that I have found

particularly compelling when it comes to life response. It is Jane Austin’s

masterwork Pride and Prejudice. Its rich story, its variety of fascinating

characters, and its several dramatic turns not only contribute to an

absorbing read, but also reveals a cascade of powerful life response

incidents. In the pages that follow, I would like to describe several of

these. However, since some of your may not be familiar with the story, I

will begin with a brief overview.

___

Pride and Prejudice opens with the arrival of two dashing and prosperous

young men, Mr. Darcy, and his friend Mr. Bingley. Their unexpected

arrival stirs the English community of Meryton into a frenzy, since there

are now apparently two very eligible -- and very wealthy -- bachelors

available for their daughters.

This excitement is shared by the Bennet family, who have five eligible

daughters; two of whom -- Eliza and Jane -- are starting to move beyond


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the prime age for marriage. This puts pressure on the parents to find

suitable husbands for them. There is also an added pressure coming from

their cousin, Mr. Collins, who has made a claim of inheritance on the

entire Bennet estate as the rightful male heir, which means that in the

event of the parents’ death, the daughters would be left without a home,

wealth, and social status. Because of these perceived threats, the

Bennets are therefore eager to marry off their daughters, preferably to

prosperous men. And so, when the very excitable Mrs. Bennet learns of

the arrival of two well to do and handsome young bachelors -- i.e. Mr.

Darcy and Mr. Bingley -- she along with much of the community are

stirred into a state of frenzy.

Immediately after, the town elders spring into action and arrange a ball -

- inviting all eligible bachelors and maidens in the region. That will of

course include the five Bennet daughters, as well as the intriguing

monsieurs Bingley and Darcy.

Unfortunately, things do not get off to a very good start for two particular

individuals at the dance -- Eliza Bennet, the middle class daughter of a

gentleman farmer, and Fitzwilliam Darcy a very wealthy member of the

aristocracy. At one point, when Darcy is prodded by others to dance with

Eliza, he outright refuses. He does so because as an aristocrat he feels it

is undignified to intermingle with the rough-hewn, crude, and vulgar

members of the lower classes. In fact, at one point Eliza overhears

Darcy’s callous remarks that Eliza “is no great beauty,” which causes her

to take great offense.

Darcy’s self-righteous views are reinforced by what he considers the wild

dancing, prancing, and other forms of ill-mannered behavior by the

middle class members at the ball. Not the least of these indiscretions

comes from the oppressive, piercing vocal outbursts of Eliza’s own

mother -- the thoughtless, churlish, loud-mouthed Mrs. Bennet. And so

the story of Pride and Prejudice takes shape from this contentious

beginning.

Interestingly, as the story unfolds, Darcy has a surprising change of

heart, as he begins to fall in love with the same woman he had earlier

insulted -- Elizabeth Bennet. He is gradually taken in by her intelligence,

her independence, and “the bright light in her eyes.” Eventually, the two

reconcile their differences, find love, and marry. Likewise, Eliza’s sister

Jane will marry Darcy’s best friend, Mr. Bingley -- though they too go

through their own painful courtship. As a result of the marriage of the two

sisters to two very rich men, the Bennet family -- who just a short while

ago were feeling insecure about their future – are suddenly catapulted

into the upper class.


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A Meeting at Pemberley

Which brings me to the two powerful life response incidents I promised.

The first involves an incident involving Darcy and Eliza that occurs after

he changed his feelings about her, fallen in love, and proposed marriage

(which she rejects this time because of his previous prideful and arrogant

behavior).

The incident begins one day when Eliza’s cousins -- Mr. and Mrs. Gardner

-- invite her to visit the countryside of Derbyshire, where the couple lives.

As they drive through the lovely landscape, they suddenly come upon the

magnificent Pemberley estate. As Eliza gazes at the gorgeous mansion

with its spectacular grounds and its great reflecting pond, she is

overwhelmed by its majesty and beauty. Mrs. Gardner then casually

points out that this is in fact the home of Mr. Darcy! Eliza is

thunderstruck by this revelation. She then falls into a momentary reverie

as she realizes that had she accepted Darcy’s earlier proposal of

marriage, all of this could have been hers: that she could have been the

Lady of the Pemberley estate.

Not perceiving Eliza’s anguish, the Gardeners suggest that since Darcy

was out of town on business and would not be returning for several days,

they should all take a tour of the estate. Eliza, however, is mortified by

the idea, fearing that Darcy would suddenly return and see her there --

something she could not bear since she had already had a very

uncomfortable relationship with him. However, after her emotions settle

down, and she considers the matter further, she gives in and agrees to

the proposal.

When they arrive at Pemberley, the caretaker gives them a tour of the

magnificent house and grounds. At one point, as they pause to examine

several items inside the stately home, then stops to point out what a fine

man Mr. Darcy is. With earnestness and deep affection, she then tells the

guests what a privilege and joy it has been to work for a man of such

noble character. On hearing this heartfelt expression of admiration for

Darcy, Eliza once again feels a thunderbolt in her heart. After all, Eliza

now had living proof that the man whose temperament she had

condemned might in fact be a true gentleman with a noble and self-giving

nature.

A few moments later, with her emotions quieted down, Eliza begins to

develop a very different view of him. Instead of feeling hostile, she now

has a much softer and kinder perspective of the man: even the

beginnings of a deep admiration and affection.

Now comes the response. The party continue their tour outside, where

they walk among the beautiful grounds and gardens. At one point, as

they hover near the edge of a lovely pond and observe the serene


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setting, Eliza once again thinks about the fact that she has been very

wrong about Darcy; that he was in fact a man worthy of deep admiration,

not disdain.

At the very moment she experiences this deep change of heart, who

should turn up at the scene, but Mr. Darcy! Standing there in wet clothing

with a diffident look on his face, he seemed to have appeared out of thin

air! As the party stood there open-mouthed, as if looking at an

apparition, Darcy explains that due to his change in schedule, he came

back several days early from his business trip. And when he approached

the estate, he decided to simply swim across the pond, which accounted

for his wet attire.

As Darcy stood before the party, dripping and smiling, Eliza was in a state

of shock. Darcy, on the other hand, was calm and relaxed. In fact, he

was so comfortable before the group that he proceeded to graciously

invite the Gardners and Eliza to dinner.

While several commentators have attributed this stunning meeting at the

pond to coincidence, or even accused the author of manipulating the

story for dramatic effect, in fact what occurred was exactly true to life.

What attracted Darcy from seemingly out of nowhere was Eliza’s

complete change of attitude toward Darcy. When she shed her negative

opinions and cast aside her hostile feelings toward him, as she had done

just a moment earlier, life instantly responded with the sudden arrival of

the man she would come to love and marry.

As we see in this and other life response incidents, “Nature” -- which is

another way of describing the movement of Life -- is continually throwing

up situations and circumstances that touch our sensibilities. How we

choose to react to these challenges, determines whether or not we attract

instances of good fortune. When we make a decisive move towards the

positive, we instantly evoke powerful positive results. Otherwise, life

remains in stasis or unfolds through its slow, meandering, and difficult

course. In Eliza Bennet’s case -- being a rational, intelligent, and

perceptive individual -- she confronted the reality she saw before her,

and chose on the side of truth, discarding her negative view of Darcy,

which instantly attracted results that would change her life forever.

A Father’s New Perspective

Now let us move on to the second major life response event in the story.

It is centered around the well-known “elopement episode”, where the

most intense action and intrigue in the story takes place. Again, let me

set the stage for you so that you will perceive the response in the

clearest light.


105

Early on in the story, the five unmarried Bennet daughters walk through

the English countryside and make their way to the nearby town of

Meryton. When they arrive, the girls unexpectedly meet a group of

soldiers, who happen to be friends of Lydia -- the bold, irrepressible, and

boisterous youngest daughter. It is here that we are first introduced to

one of those soldiers – the handsome, suave, smooth-talking, yet

treacherous Mr. Wickham. In their interaction, we not only see how

smitten Lydia is by Wickham’s charming manners and exceptional good

looks, but how her elder sister Eliza shares those same feelings. Moments

later, however, the scene takes a dark turn when Darcy suddenly appears

on the scene, and we witness the animosity that exists between him and

Wickham.

Some weeks after this telling meeting, a letter arrives at the Bennet

home. The note reveals that the Bennet’s youngest daughter Lydia has

suddenly run off and eloped with the duplicitous Wickham. This naturally

comes as a shock to the family, as it not only threatens to scandalize and

disgrace them, but virtually cancels any chance the two elder daughters

had of attracting prosperous suitors.

Thus, in effect life has presented a set of difficult circumstances that

challenge the sensibilities of several individuals -- including Eliza, her

sister Jane, their father Mr. Bennet, and their mother Mrs. Bennet. The

question then becomes how each will respond to this most difficult of

situations -- for it is often how we react to the perceived pressures that

determine whether or not we will attract sudden good fortune.

For now, let us focus on the reaction of the two parents -- Mr. and Mrs.

Bennet. It turns out that Mrs. Bennet reacts rather predictably to the

crisis by immediately descending into a state of hysteria. But then what

of her more-rational and intelligent husband, Mr. Bennet? How will he

respond to these extremely difficult circumstances?

To examine Mr. Bennet’s response, let us take a moment to understand

his state of mind prior to the elopement. Mr. Bennet is a gentleman

farmer, and is the husband of the vivacious, ill-mannered, and often

impossible Mrs. Bennet. He originally married her for her beauty, but now

with her good looks fading, there is little for him to appreciate; and so he

constantly retreats to the safe haven of his study. Mr. Bennet is also the

father of a brood of five daughters, who range in character from silly to

lively to intelligent. His favorite is the second eldest, Eliza, who like her

father shares a rational, intelligent, and insightful nature.

Mr. Bennet’s problem is that despite his many positive attributes, he is

negligent in the rearing of his own children -- leaving that chore to his

wife. Instead of taking an interest in their concerns and daily affairs, he is

content to withdraw to the calm and serenity of his library. There, he can


106

immerse himself in his books, and find peace and tranquility apart from

what he considers the silliness of his daughters, and the unbridled

offensiveness of his loud-mouthed, churlish wife. The one exception to his

indifference is the bond he shares with his favorite daughter, Eliza. Unlike

the distant relationship he has with his other children, Mr. Bennet is

emotionally attached to the mentally sharp, insightful, and forward-

thinking Eliza; and often makes the time to converse with her about

important matters.

With this in mind, let us now move ahead in time to that inglorious day

when Mr. Bennet receives word that his wild, irrepressible youngest

daughter, Lydia, had eloped with the treacherous and duplicitous Mr.

Wickham. Now, instead of a content, carefree Mr. Bennet – absorbed in

his work, or by himself in his library apart from the mischief of his family

-- we find a tortured man, head in hand, pained and anguished by the

potential scandal that threatens to ruin him and his family. Instead of a

relaxed, untroubled spirit, we see an unsteady, shaken individual,

frightened that his entire world -- including his estate, his fortune, and

his family’s future -- is about to fall apart.

Given his predicament, one wonders how Mr. Bennet will react. Will he

retreat into his study and plunge further into despair, or will he somehow

muster the strength and courage to rise above the fray?

Fortunately, Mr. Bennet was a thoughtful and reasonable man, and

therefore, in the moments that followed, he had the presence of mind to

consider the source of his awful predicament. For one, he thought about

the sequence of events that led up to the elopement and soon realized

that it was he who had allowed Lydia to go to the coast to cavort and play

in the first place -- despite protests from his insightful daughter Eliza.

More troubling still, he also now clearly understood that he never really

had any control over his unbridled and impetuous youngest daughter

Lydia. Finally, and most powerfully, it struck him that his own indifference

to his family was the root cause of the awful situation he found himself

in; that his reluctance to participate in the rearing of his children planted

the seed for the current scandal that threatened to ruin him and his

family.

Staring in the face of these awful truths, Mr. Bennet did what a

thoughtful and rational individual would do in that situation: he took

responsibility. Specifically, he made a personal oath that he would never

take his family for granted again; and that from now on he would change

his relationship with his children from one of indifference to one of

personal involvement.

And yet, even as Mr. Bennet grappled with his conscience, even as he

acknowledged the root cause of the situation, and even as he promised


107

himself that he would change his ways in the future, he was still gripped

by fear and despair of impending disaster for his family. In his state of

desperation, he could only cling to a fleeting hope that somehow life

would spare him and his family from a terrible tragedy.

As fate would have it, life would smile down on Mr. Bennet. Shortly after,

the shaken father receives word from his brother that not only had the

eloped couple been found, but that the two would be returning home as a

married couple; thus ending the taint of scandal for him and his family!

As he read the letter aloud to his daughters, Mr. Bennet knew that his

hopes and prayers had been answered: that the devastating situation

that threatened to ruin his world had been thwarted. With heart-felt

emotion, Mr. Bennet expressed deep gratitude to his brother, as well as

any other force that might have contributed to the elopement’s

resolution. And so in that telling moment of his life, Mr. Bennet

unburdened himself of his terrible anguish and pain, and with deep

emotion thanked his lucky stars.

What had actually occurred was that life had suddenly responded with

overwhelmingly good fortune to Mr. Bennet’s change in attitude. Because

he acknowledged his own culpability in allowing Lydia to run off to the

coast; because he now accepted that he never controlled her wild

behavior in the past; and, most of all, because he came to terms with his

own negligence as a father in rearing his children, life suddenly brought

forth a magnificent response from life.

___

From this cursory examination at Pride and Prejudice, we have seen two

powerful instances of life response. On both occasions, situations arose

that challenged an individual’s sensibilities, forcing them to come to grips

with old habits, or wanting attitudes, or limited perceptions and points of

view. When they then shed that limited quality, and substituted a more

positive one, powerful energies were released that quickly aligned with

and attracted powerful positive results.

When Eliza gave up her prejudice and changed her attitude toward Darcy

while visiting his estate, she attracted his presence from out of nowhere,

setting the stage for their romance, marriage, and their ultimate

happiness. Likewise, when Mr. Bennet changed his attitude and took

responsibility for the elopement episode, while promising to involve

himself in the rearing of his daughters, he quickly attracted the

cancellation of the scandal that threatened to destroy him and his family.

In both cases, an inner psychological change in attitude precipitated a

powerful response that changed the course of two people’s lives -- in fact


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a number of people’s lives. By making an inner adjustment in

consciousness, two people were able to take a step out of their narrow

field of existence, and open to a wider one, enabling the infinite

potentials of life to rush in.

Principles and Examples of Life Response

Life Response is the phenomenon by which life suddenly, abundantly, and

miraculously responds on the outside to a corresponding change of our

consciousness within; defying our ordinary conceptions of what is

possible, and the nature of cause and effect, and space and time. E.g.,

you change a wanting attitude, and suddenly a moment later someone

from half way around the world (whom you have never known before)

contacts you with news of a big contract, or a huge monetary gain, or a

dramatic new career opportunity. Here then are several principles and

examples of this miraculous-like phenomenon of life.

• The separation that we perceive between our inner status and the

world around us is an illusion. They are in fact part and parcel of the

same contiguous reality. Therefore, if you change your inner

condition, life outside yourself will instantaneously change in kind,

attracting sudden good fortune.

• A change in attitude will instantly attract sudden good fortune from

the environment. E.g., an individual overcomes her sense of

psychological weakness toward her ruthless boss, and contemplates

addressing the matter in a more forceful way. Before she even acts,

someone suddenly steps forward and takes actions that causes the

boss to unexpectedly act kindly to the first individual; and, several

months, later leads to the manager stepping down from his position.

• If a negative situation suddenly descends on you, discover a

corresponding negative propensity that attracted it, overcome it, and

watch as the problem suddenly dissolves. E.g., a parent sees her child

in great difficulty. She sees how it is indicative of her hostile relations

to another. She overcomes that hostility, and out of nowhere sudden

good fortune descends on that woman.

• If you want someone else to change, change a corresponding wanting

element within yourself. Then life will respond, and circumstances will

change for that party. E.g., a mother who is concerned that her son

has suffered due to lack of unique skills in life, sees that she is not

forceful enough with him, which suddenly causes him to find a


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position that demands the most talent he is capable of, and provides

the most pay of his life.

• If you want to change the world, change the corresponding element in

yourself. E.g., if there is hate between two nations, discover what

irritates you, and life for those nations will begin to suddenly reverse.

• If you want to change a social problem, take a great interest in it,

know all the details, and then offer the problem intensely to the

spiritual Force. The problem will begin to give way. E.g., when a man

saw that a power shortage, going on for months, was crippling his

state, he called the Force, the problem suddenly ended, and has not

appeared since.

• If you want a personal problem to dissipate, offer it intensely to the

spiritual Force. The problem will begin to give way. If it does not, you

must first make an effort to overcome the corresponding wanting

element that precipitated or is otherwise related to the problem. Then

the previous invocation of the Force in tandem with your action will

cause life to quickly move in your favor.

• Any deep interest in a subject will suddenly attract information of a

similar nature. E.g., a man took a great interest in an obscure subject

in the news, and in the days that followed, he saw references to that

subject from a variety of parties, when not only was that subject not

being discussed beforehand, but none of the source providing the

information had any idea that this story was circulating.

• A deep intention to accomplish a thing will attract results very quickly

from the environment. E.g., a man took up an interest in a new

venture. Suddenly he received response from various quarters of life,

even though none of them had been communicated with about his

intention.

• Merely thinking about the reality of inner-outer correspondence and

life response, will attract additional instances of sudden good fortune.

Negative Life Response in Literature and Film

We normally think of the phenomenon of “Life Response” as instances of

sudden good fortune precipitated by taking to higher levels of

consciousness. While this is true, it can occur negatively as well; i.e. life

can respond in ways that are deleterious to our being based on our

wanting inner or outer behavior.


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We can observe this darker side of the phenomenon in several ways:

including its occurrences in our own lives, as well as the lives of others.

However, it is often easier to see this dynamic at work in literature or

film, as we are able to follow the flow of events, and perceive the subtle

ways life responds to the thoughts, feelings, and actions of the

characters. If we do, not only can we learn from such experiences, but

we can use that knowledge to avoid those very same wanting behaviors

that elicit negative outcomes in our own lives.

With that in mind, here are several examples of negative life response I

have garnered from works of literature and contemporary film, which in

some cases were later redeemed by taking to higher consciousness that

cancelled the negative and attracted a positive outcome.

• In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy’s wealthy, aristocratic, and anachronistic

aunt, Lady Catherine tries to block his engagement to Eliza Bennet.

However, it has the opposite effect, as Darcy finds out through his

aunt that Eliza still cares for him! This emboldens Darcy to meet with

Eliza again, where he finds out that she still loves him, causing him to

propose, which she more than gladly accepts. For Lady Catherine, the

result is a completely negative response from life due to her closed-

mindedness (she did not want her nephew marrying someone from a

lower social class), and her meddling in their relationship. Of course,

for Darcy and Eliza it is a fortuitous outcome!

• In that same work, Pride and Prejudice, Eliza Bennet has an

unfortunate crush on Mr. Wickham, a scoundrel if ever there was one.

In one episode, she is miffed that he has not shown up at a festive

gathering of the townspeople. Her anger and frustration is

immediately reflected in life around her, as her sister plays an

intolerable amount of ill-suited music for the ensemble, and her family

members gathered there act rowdy and uncouth-like, embarrassing

Eliza to no end. It is all a negative response to her anger, frustration,

and disappointment.

• In one of Jane Austin’s other novels, Emma, the main character

(Emma) engages in a series of match making efforts that prove

disastrous. Each time she tries to meddle in others’ affairs by

matching people up in relationship, it results in negative

consequences. Though she is warned of this fact by the man she

comes to adore, she does not listen, until the fiasco rises to a

crescendo of absurdity. The resulting calamity is a negative response

to her meddling actions, much of which can be traced to her inability

or unwillingness to have romantic relationships of her own.

Interestingly, when she gives up matchmaking, she quickly discovers

that her best friend is the man she adores, and as it turns out

also adores her. As a result, they fall fully in love and are married.


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(This final outcome is in effect a reversal of the earlier negative

response, through her positive attitude, behavior, and action that

attracts the overwhelming positive.)

• In Gone with the Wind, Rhett and Scarlett are so at odds with one

another. It gets so bad that it leads to downright hate. At the peak of

their hostility, their beloved young daughter is killed in a riding

accident. It is a negative response to their intense, dark feelings and

emotions toward one another.

• In one scene in the film Seabiscuit -- based on a true story about an

underdog racehorse that electrifies America with its successes during

the Great Depression of the 1930s -- we watch as Red, Seabiscuit’s

future jockey, is angry and bitter because his parents have not

contacted him over the years, which reinforces his bitterness about

his continual failure as a rider and boxer. Immediately after, things

falls apart when he has a disastrous race at Tanforan. There is also a

similar incident where he becomes embroiled in a whipping contest

with another jockey during a race, which causes Red to lose focus,

opening the door for another horse's victory. It is a bitter defeat.

Once again, his negative attitudes and feelings -- in this case intense

anger and hostility toward his fellow jockey -- attracted a decidedly

negative outcome.

• In Master and Commander: Far Side of the World, the English Captain

refuses to listen to his crew, including his first mate who feels he is

fanatical in taking a dangerous initiative in pursuing the enemy French

ship. As a result of his inflexibility and obstinate attitude, the crew

attracts a near tragedy when the Captain’s first mate and best friend

almost dies in an accident aboard ship. It is a negative response to

the Captain’s fanaticism and unwillingness to listen to rational

arguments. Shattered by the incident, the Captain perceives his

wanting ways, and returns the ship to the Galapagos Islands so his

friend and first mate can recover. (There is a happy ending to the

story however. As a result of the Captain's shift of attitude and action,

the very same best friend/first mate who has now recovered and gone

on a field trip to collect plant and animal specimens on the island,

ends up spotting the very ship they after on the other side, docked

on-shore in a very vulnerable position! The crew then immediately

sets sail aboard, traverse the island, and destroy the vulnerable,

much larger French enemy vessel, fulfilling their entire military

mission. In other words, because the Captain changed reversed his

attitude and action, they attracted the enemy from out of nowhere,

and succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. It was a complete

reversal from the previous negative life response outcome to a

glorious positive one -- for the Captain, his crew, and his country.


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As in the case of the Captain, we too are capable of observing a negative

outcome, discovering the correspondence in our being, and reversing it,

thereby attracting positive conditions in its place.

Another example of that powerful dynamic occurs for Mr. Bennet in Pride

and Prejudice. At one point in the story, the terrible elopement takes

place in which the youngest Bennet daughter Lydia takes off with the

scoundrel Wickham. As a result, Mr. Bennet is in mortal fear that due to

the brewing scandal his family will be financially and socially ostracized.

In essence, the elopement was a negative response because he was not

serious about rearing his children. allowing his wildest daughter to bring

shame. However, Mr. Bennet comes to recognize his fault, and makes an

inner commitment to be fully involved in the future rearing of his

daughters. As a result of making that decision, life suddenly returns the

favor, when the elopement is very quickly cancelled, when his reckless

daughter is compelled to marry Wickham, thus avoiding a scandal, and

saving Mr. Bennet and his family from financial and social ruin. Thus, out

of the extreme negative situation (which he attracted though his wanting

attitudes), Mr. Bennet reversed himself and attracted a startling positive

outcome.

We too can do the same by taking responsibility when any negative

outcome comes our way. When we then shift our attitudes to the

positive, the negative conditions will quickly evaporate, while attracting

overwhelming positive ones in its place.

Making Life Response Conscious

Sri Aurobindo tells us that there are three levels of awareness for the

individual: that which is subconscious to us, i.e. below the surface of our

normal awareness; that which we are conscious of, i.e. what we do in fact

perceive; and that which is superconscient to us, i.e. a higher, cosmic

consciousness beyond our current level of awareness.

Sudden good fortune -- i.e. “life response” -- can issue from any of the

three. However, the overwhelming majority of the time, it is a

subconscious movement originating from points below our normal state

of awareness. For example, in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr.

Darcy’s marriage proposal is turned down by Eliza Bennet, who

considered him proud and arrogant. As a result, he makes the

stupendous effort to change his nature. When he makes that change, life

responds and gives him an opportunity to resolve the elopement episode,

which causes Eliza to change her view of him, leading to a second

marriage proposal that she accepts. The opportunity afforded to Darcy to


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resolve the elopement is life responding to his inner efforts to change his

wanting attitudes. The response itself however was subconscious to him,

for he never intended to attract the circumstance that allowed him to

demonstrate his changed nature, and, as a result, marry Eliza. In fact, in

99% of cases where sudden good fortune comes our way, it was never

our intention to attract it. It was however the “intention” of our

subconscious.

Conscious life response on the other hand has a decidedly different

dynamic. In these situations, there is an active awareness that what is

about to be done inwardly or outwardly will bring about a positive

response from the environment. For example, one not only changes a

wanting attitude, but simultaneously perceives that doing so will evoke a

positive response. This is conscious life response, and is indeed a rare

occurrence. However, it can occur through our conscious choice, and one

way that can happen is by accessing the spiritual dimension. Let me

explain.

If we open to the spiritual Force before undertaking an activity or dealing

with a problem, one is in essence anticipating a positive response from

life, and is therefore a conscious act. For example, if we consecrate an

upcoming important meeting to the Higher Power, and we perceive that a

life response can be generated as a result, then our initiative is a

conscious one. When life then responds, we are overjoyed, yet somehow

not surprised, since we anticipated something along those lines. In

essence, we were aware of, even intended a possibility, which was then

realized, making the process conscious.

Now this does not mean that we cannot practice conscious life response

in other ways, aside from spirit-based consecration. I remember one day,

I was closely observing the signs unfolding around me in anticipation of a

delivery of a computer printer. I knew that if certain things transpired in

a different domain (vacuuming the carpet), that a delivery person would

show up at the door immediately thereafter. In other words, the

vacuuming had nothing outwardly to do with the delivery, and yet I

sensed the association of the two events. As it turned out, the delivery

person arrived precisely at the moment I completed the vacuuming. It

was in essence a conscious life response; in this case, anticipated and

perceived through a subtle understanding of the unfoldings of life.

Let me add one other thought on subconscious response. If we are not

intending sudden good fortune to come about, and yet it does -- i.e. it is

subconscious to us in its origin -- then what is it in us that is evoking it?

From a cosmic perspective, we can say that our shift in consciousness

releases positive energies that align with corresponding positive

conditions across space-time, bringing the fortuitous outcome to our

person. But at what point does the response come about -- i.e. how much


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subconscious effort or energy needs to be released for the response to be

triggered? The answer is that the subconscious awareness needs to reach

a certain level of saturation, and when it does, the response manifests for

us.

For example, we know that goodwill attracts good fortune. Let us say that

over time, I have inwardly and outwardly demonstrated goodwill towards

a business associate, but have noticed no response during that period.

(In fact, I never considered such a possibility since it is subconscious to

me.) But as my positive feeling towards that individual reaches a certain

threshold, I evoke a powerful response from that person’s company in

the form of the biggest business referral of my career that garners the

highest commission of my life. What has happened is that our

subconscious has become saturated at that point, evoking the powerful

response. I.e. behind the scenes, below our conscious level of awareness,

the intensity of our goodwill has reached a tipping point that evoked the

results. In fact, most life response happens just this way -- i.e. it is

saturation of a positive element in our being that is subconscious to our

normal level of awareness.

Interestingly, even if a life response result issued from our conscious

awareness, saturation of intensity, energy, etc, still needs to occur to

attract the result. For example, I have often seen that if a person is

having financial problems or hopes to change a dangerous situation in the

world, it is only when that person’s emotions are so intense that his

energies spill over, compelling the spiritual Force to move into action.

Anything less will not do the trick -- i.e. not evoke the instantaneous

miraculousness of life response.

Therefore, a key to becoming the master of Life Response -- i.e. so it

occurs repeatedly on demand -- is to move the act from the subconscious

to our conscious level of awareness. We do that by (1) becoming aware

of the principles of life response, (2) evoking the right behavior in a given

moment in time, and (3) having the ever-present thought that we will

elicit a response by making that effort. As a result, we will generate far

more and more powerful response in the course of our days.

Life Moving Towards You

The other day I had an extraordinary experience. One after another, life

responded with a series of powerful positive events. It was as if I were on

a magic carpet ride, but rather than being carried aloft, life was coming

to me with one wonderful benefit after another. First, I had a superb

meeting that far exceeded my expectations. Then a financial discussion


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unfolded so wonderfully and speedily for my benefit, I could hardly

believe it. Then a computer operation went far quicker than I would have

imagined. And so forth for nearly two hours. I was left breathless by the

stunning chain of events.

It was at that point that I grasped something truly profound. I

understood clearly for the first time in my life that the only thing that

matters is whether life is moving towards you. Effort, skill, knowledge,

aspiration, strength, action, decision, etc are all fine, but they mean

nothing if life isn't moving toward you bringing it bounty on its own. I

also realized once more that life is alive and conscious, and constantly

responding to the state of our consciousness within.

In fact, life bringing you results on its own without need for outer action

is proof that you are rightly disposed psychologically. More often than

not, it is an indication that you have made a shift toward a more positive

attitude -- perhaps overcoming a reluctance, or shedding a hostility, or

restraining one's self from asserting, or having an inner faith that all will

turn out fine, and so forth. When we take to such attitudes, life moves

towards us "on its own," which is really a reflection of a momentary or

longer-lasting transition we have made in consciousness.

There are also the magical, cosmic occasions when life comes through a

storm of good fortune, as it did for me the other day. All one need do in

such situations is NOT interfere and ride that wave, surrendering to and

having complete trust in the unfolding. Life moving toward one with one

positive event after another is also an indication that you have evoked

the Spirit; often occurring in tandem with a significant transition in

attitude, opinion, or belief. As it turns out, I deeply consecrated that

day's very important activities to the spiritual Force, attracting that two-

hour blizzard of good fortune.

The most important thing that came out of the experience was a

profound new view of existence -- shaking me to the core. I saw that in

terms of success, accomplishment, and fulfillment, all that mattered was

whether or not life is moving in my direction with positive results.

Everything else is mere potential, effort, thought, wish, hope, and dream.

Life coming to you on the other hand is kinetic; it is realization; it is

results; it is effortless fulfillment; and is all that really matters in terms of

accomplishment and fulfillment in life.

As you go about your day, look around and consider if life is moving

toward you through positive, helpful, beneficial events. If so, then you

know are doing something right within. Equate the outer result with a

corresponding shift in consciousness. Now that you know the cause,

repeat it ad infinitum as often and as frequently as possible. The energy

you release will be enormous, though you may not feel it, as it has


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moved in the subtle or subconscious plane. But then at the right time, life

will start moving on its own, which can build up and become a torrent of

successive positive events, occurring in a short, tight timeframe. Then

you too may have a vision of the power of life to move on your behalf,

which will also give you a glimpse of the Marvel behind all existence.

Benefits of Living a Life Response-oriented Life

Life response is the phenomenon where sudden good fortune comes your

way due to shifts in one's consciousness within. For example, when a

challenging situation arises, instead of being skeptical, cynical, or

vindictive, you look on the bright, optimistic, positive side of things,

which quickly attracts a spate of good news thereafter. There are many

inner and outer behaviors that elicit such miraculous-like results -- such

as overcoming a negative attitude, focusing one's intention to accomplish

a thing; even taking to higher levels of cleanliness and orderliness.

In addition, as a result of having these miraculous-like experiences, your

view of life begins to change. If you then orient yourself around this new

understanding, you begin to live a very different sort of existence -- one

that I call a "New Way of Living." Here are several benefits-

• You constantly attract good fortune.

• It descends on you suddenly; and from seemingly out of nowhere.

• It unfolds as a miraculous-like experience.

• It often comes without making any outer effort

• Whatever you want to achieve quickly comes to pass.

• Life continually cooperates with your efforts.

• Everything tends to work out.

• You attract vast success, wealth, health and well-being.

• You are able to control the outer life from within (this is key!)

• Routine life becomes thrilling existence.

• You are energized to no end.

• Joy and Delight of being is your normal state of being.


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• Difficulties tend to quickly dissipate; often turning into vast

opportunities.

• There is a continuous sense of calm and well-being.

• You are continually in harmony with the unfoldings of life.

• You constantly have the knowledge of what to do; and what not to do.

• Whenever you take action, it tends to result in success.

• Your relations with others are harmonious and joyful.

• You constantly look out for others; you are selfless and self-giving.

• People are attracted to you, and want to me near you.

• Everything and everyone you are in contact tends to make progress.

• You have a deep faith that all will work out -- and it usually does.

• You have profound insights into and a comprehensive knowledge of

how life works.

• You perceive your deepest purpose in life.

• You have a profound understanding of the meaning of life.

• Your days constantly unfold like a miracle.

• Every day is occasion for great inner and outer discovery.

• You are able to create the greatest results with the least effort in the

shortest period of time.

• You are constantly growing and evolving as a person.

• You are able to think for yourself -- without being influenced by the

herd.

• Your inner orientation consistently reveals the truth of things.

• Your days are filled with illuminations, intuitions and revelations of

knowledge.

• You feel a deep connection to the universe and the spiritual Reality.

• You feel connected to your True Self and Soul.

• You perceive how your own life fits into the wider, universal scheme

of things.

• Your existence is very different from anything known before.

• You are the Master of your life.

• You are a pioneer and harbinger of a New Way of Living.


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Character of Life and Inner-Outer Correspondence

just like an individual, life itself also has a character. It expresses in

principles like inner-outer correspondence, i.e. that how the inner me

determines the outer reality, which is the basis of the outcome of the

phenomenon of life response, i.e. sudden good fortune.

Inner-Outer Correspondence is Cause of Life Response

Life response is enabled by the underlying principle of inner-outer

correspondence; that the inner and the outer are not two separate

realities but are part and approval of the same contiguous stream of

existence. I.e. the inner and outer are One. Therefore, if the inner me

changes, the outer instantaneously changes in kind.

Life response occurs due to a shift in consciousness on the part of an

individual that causes that person to move in alignment with positive

conditions that are experienced as an immediate instance of sudden good

fortune.

Inner-Outer Correspondence & Life Response

• Everything on the outside is an expression of our inner condition.

• This laws governing the relationship between the outer and the

inner can be called the principle of "inner-outer correspondence."

• Life outside one's self is a reflection of one's inner consciousness.

• If we make a decisive shift within, life on the outside can suddenly

and abundantly respond on the outside. This is 'life response."


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• The shift of the outer to the inner can occur instantaneously and

at any distance and quantity.

• If life throws up a challenge and we respond in the right way --

e.g. overcome a negative attitude -- life will respond suddenly and

abundantly, overcoming limitations of space and time, and our

notions of what is logical and possible.

The Secret, Life Response, and Inner-Outer Correspondence

The principles and laws of life are subtle, and are mostly unperceived by

humans. However, there has been a recent opening as individuals have

begun to see the power of attraction, in which changes in consciousness

attract sudden good fortune. This is also known as a "Life Response,"

which is based on the life principle of inner-outer correspondence.

Outside Reflects Inside Positively or Negatively

What we experience on the outside is a direct reflection of what we are

inside. I.e. there is a correspondence between our inner psychological

condition -- including our habits, wants, feelings, attitudes, opinions, and

beliefs -- and how the world takes shape outside ourselves. This would

suggest that if we were shift to a more positive psychological condition

inside, life on the outside would instantly respond positively in kind.

Such sudden response of the outer life to our inner condition can take

shape in two ways - positively or negatively. E.g. just after I decide that I

will no longer allow myself to feel negative feelings towards another, I am

informed that I've been selected to head an exciting and lucrative new

project. Inversely, a moment after I feel an intense negative emotion

towards a fellow worker, I am informed that an important project I've

been working has been cancelled.

From this perspective we see that our normal views of what is logical and

possible, of how cause and effect should relate, of how space and time

should function, are rendered obsolete. Instead, we develop a new view,

a new perception of the true subtle association and relationship amongst

objects and individuals in the universe.


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Inner-Outer Correspondence, Oneness, Energy and Force, and Life Response

In our analysis of the guiding principles behind the phenomenon of life,

we have come to recognize a correspondence between our inner state of

consciousness and how life reflects outside ourselves. We have identified

this as the principle inner-outer correspondence.

Moreover, we have suggested that this principle is made possible because

there is a subtle unifying force and energy behind all existence that binds

all objects and individuals in the universe across space and time. This

unifying mechanism enables the correspondence and connection that we

have pointed out between what we are inside ourselves, i.e. our

consciousness, and the world around us.

Finally, we have determined that within this associative framework, a

change of consciousness -- expressed through transitions in our opinions,

thoughts, habits, knowledge, insights, decisions, and actions -- intensifies

the subtle connection between ourselves and corresponding objects and

individuals across space and time, enabling a return of energy from that

element, which we experience as a sudden abundant positive response

from life.

An Astonishing Association

One day a computer instructor noticed that he had not secured enough

work for the upcoming Christmas/New Year season. Without the income

generated by the work, he would be hard-pressed to pay his bills. Though

he made an effort to secure new work for this normally slow holiday

season, nothing came of it. On the other hand, life had presented him

with the opportunity to learn a new software technology. Since this was a

slow work period, it seemed like an ideal time to take up the studies.

Unfortunately, his heart was not into it, and instead dwelled on his lack of

work and potential financial problems that could erupt at any time.

However, when he considered the issue again, he had a change of heart,

realizing that his attitude about the opportunity was wrong. As a result,

he decided to take up the work and plunged himself into learning the

application. Interestingly, the next day he received a call from his agent


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informing him that the entire holiday season had now been booked with

computer instruction work!

From this true-life example, we see that what we experience on the

outside is a direct reflection of our consciousness within. There seems to

be a correspondence between our inner psychological condition -- our

habits, wants, feelings, attitudes, opinions, and beliefs -- and how the

world takes shape around us. This suggests that if we were constantly

shifting to the positive, the world would continuously respond in our

favor.

Interestingly, life's response to our consciousness can take shape in two

ways -- positively or negatively. E.g. just after I decide that I will no

longer be negative towards a co-worker, I am informed that I've been

selected to head an exciting, bonus-filled project in my company. This is

a positive response to a more positive attitude. Inversely, a moment after

I feel an intense negative emotion towards a fellow worker, I'm informed

that an important project I have been looking forward to starting has

suddenly been cancelled. This is a negative response to a wrong-headed

attitude and emotion.

From this perspective, we see that our normal view of life -- of what is

logical and possible, of how cause and effect interrelate, of how space

and time function -- is rendered obsolete. Instead, we develop a new

perception of the connection and association between objects and

individuals in the universe. It is the principle of "inner-outer

correspondence" in action.

Remarkably, recent developments in quantum physics confirm this

correspondence. Scientific experiments have shown that two particles of

matter can affect one another even though they are on opposite sides of

the globe, or even the universe! Scientists have conclusively proven that

if an electron of a single atom shifts its spin direction, a second electron

of that same atom hundreds or even thousands of miles away will

suddenly begin to shift its spin as well. This phenomenon of "non-local

connections" is a physical version of the universal principle of inner-outer

correspondence that we are addressing here. It accounts not only for the

subtle association between material objects, but to our emotions,

feelings, attitudes, and decisions as well. When we make an inner

change, we can affect conditions and attract positive circumstance

instantaneously from anywhere in the world.

Still we are compelled to ask: why does this singularity exist? What

enables this startling association between our consciousness and the

world around us? The short answer is that everything in the universe is

related in consciousness. All existence, seen or unseen forms a unity of

relations, associations, and purposes. Thus, the separation we ordinarily


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make between our consciousness within and the world outside ourselves

is an illusion, a falsehood rooted in a fundamental ignorance of our being.

However, as we rise in consciousness, as we move to a deeper poise

within, we begin to perceive that essential oneness and unity behind all

existence that enables this fantastic relationships amongst objects and

individuals in creation.

Moving Life from Within as Harbinger of New Way of Living

Normally to achieve in life we develop a level of intent for something to

come about, and then act on it. Without following this process of inner

intention followed by outer activity, little is accomplished. This is the

method we have instinctively learned for a thousand generations. And yet

this approach may not be the preferred approach in the future -- at least

for a potential group of emerging individuals whose orientation is no

longer determined outwardly by social influence, but inwardly as a

Spiritual Individual.

For the person of the future will move life from within himself, as he will

be able to harness vast inner powers and in effect dramatically reduce

the amount of outer action required on our part to produce a result. In

addition, the outer results that do come from this inner orientation and

approach will unfold miraculous-like -- i.e. suddenly and abundantly. Let

me provide a simple true-life example.

An individual is frustrated that a friend of his does not readily take to

higher levels of cleanliness and orderliness. He has suggested to her

often that organizing her papers will improve her life -- i.e. attract sudden

good fortune -- but to no avail. One day, he is about to make that same

suggestion again after several untoward minor events, but instead he

withholds his insistence. He then goes a step further by releasing the

intensity and emotions behind his intent, to the point where he is able to

forget the matter entirely. Soon thereafter, he is stunned to find out that

the woman has suddenly begun organizing all of her business papers -- a

highly unusual occurrence -- without any prodding on his part. In fact,

this behavior would continue on in the weeks ahead. Somehow, she was

moved to carry out his inner-directed behavior of non-insistence. Life

then responded to his effort of self-control, which brought about the

object of his desire. (It also brought good benefit for her as well, as she

now has a more organized environment, which itself has the potential to

attract its own sudden good fortune.)


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The life of the future man is then to move life around one's self from

within, with minimal communication of one's intention or other forms of

outer action.

There was an Indian saddhu who lived alone and apart from normal life,

and yet maintained a deep concentration within, taking fully to the life of

the spirit. There was also a beloved king who was nearly the opposite --

as he had vast influence, power, and fortune. One day there arose an

opportunity to build a great temple in honor of the spiritual personality of

Krishna. From his side, the king marshaled all of his resources to plan the

temple; while the humble saddhu -- deeply devoted to an inner life of the

spirit -- imagined from his deepest consciousness within what the edifice

should be like. At no point did he reveal his conception and intentions to

others.

Five hundred years ago, a wealthy, noble and enlightened king in South

India decided to dedicate the last years of his life to the construction of a

magnificent temple to Lord Krishna. The task involved the labor of

thousands of workers and skilled artisans over a period of more than 10

years. As the work progressed, the king turned more and more to prayer

and meditation and gradually withdrew from day to day affairs.

One day while the king was meditating, he had a vision of Lord Krishna.

Krishna appeared in a resplendent form and asked the king what boon he

would like. The king asked Krishna to install his spiritual presence in the

new temple on the auspicious day selected by the astrologers for

anointing the inner sanctum. Krishna smiled benevolently at the king and

replied, "I am sorry, but I have to sanctify another temple that is being

completed on that day at a far off village in your kingdom." Then the

vision vanished.

The king awoke and was startled to contemplate what the vision had told

him. It was almost unthinkable that anyone but a king could have the

resources needed to build a temple and it was inconceivable that any

temple could be constructed in his kingdom without the king's knowledge.

The king called his ministers and inquired about the other temple. No one

could provide any information. Then he called for a retinue of horse

guards and immediately set off to the distant village to inquire personally.

When the king reached the village he called the head man and asked

about the temple. The village elder looked puzzled and assured the king

that no temple was under construction in the village. Indeed, in such a

poor village it was simply not possible. When the king persisted, the elder

advised him to consult a wise old hermit in the village. The king asked to

be taken to the hermit.

The king entered the man's hut and found him sitting on the ground in

mediation in lotus position. When the king knelt before him, the hermit


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opened his eyes and bowed humbly to his monarch. The king explained

the reason for his coming and asked the hermit if he could explain the

strange vision of Krishna. The hermit nodded and smiled. "Yes, great

king, I can explain it. It is I who am constructing a temple to Lord

Krishna and sanctifying on the very day you mention. I prayed to Krishna

to consecrate my offering on that day and he has consented." The king

was baffled by the hermit's words. After a few moments, he asked, "But

where is this temple you speak of? How is it that no one has seen or

heard of it? How could one single man construct it?" The hermit smiled

again and then replied, "Oh King. I have constructed the temple to

Krishna in my heart, stone by stone, brick by brick for the past 10 years."

Then the man fell silent.

The king sat in bewilderment. Then knowledge dawned upon him. He

realized suddenly that the temple he was constructing in the capitol was

the yogi's temple. He was only the outer instrument. The true creator

was this poor, humble devotee. The yogi created the temple within. Life,

in the form of the king, responded to his aspiration and fulfilled it in the

external world.

Over the years I have made an explicit effort to capture incidents where

individuals were able to instantaneously move life outside themselves

from within -- experiences that I call instances of "life response." There

are a variety of ways this phenomenon can occur. As we see in one

episode above, it can happen by withholding our insistence on a thing,

which involves blocking a demanding emotion and not expressing it on

the outside. Life response can also occur by simply not expressing a

thought we are eager to communicate to another. Doing so causes

subtle, invisible thought and emotive waves to be generated, which then

move out into the field of life, are picked up by another individual, who

express it as if it were their own. To withhold verbal expression of our

intent and another suddenly express it is to practice the discipline of

"Silent Will."

There are a number of other such laws and principles that generate life

response -- where sudden good fortune comes to us as a result of taking

to certain inner behaviors. Perhaps the most powerful one is to identify

and then change one of our negative attitudes. When we do so, life

suddenly springs into action and attracts overwhelming good fortune --

often arriving from the most unexpected of quarters. E.g., A huge order

is placed by a client whom we have never contacted; a job offer doubling

our salary rolls in from out of nowhere; a dispute we thought was

hopeless, suddenly gets resolved; a project delayed unexpectedly gains

transaction, and so forth. Life responds to us because we shifted our

negative point of view to the positive, which mysteriously attracts life on

our behalf.


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Though on the surface this does not seem plausible, yet it is the way life

works. This miraculous unfolding is constantly occurring just below our

surface level of awareness. When we move our center of consciousness to

a deeper poise, and examine the world from this state of "silent witness,"

we see that our movements within are constantly evoking a response

from the world outside ourselves

Refraining from expression our intention is the very opposite of what we

have been taught about human achievement. Through hundreds of

generations, we have been told to acquire a skill, seek out the object of

our desire, and when we discover it, do your duty practically and

diligently. And yet, directing the course of life from within is a far more

effective and efficient overall approach to accomplishment. It enables the

greatest result in the shortest period of time with the least effort.

Individuals who have this inner-orientation have been known to evoke

miraculous-like results -- such as suddenly ending a serious energy crisis,

or even resolving conflicts and wars. Sounds far-fetched? Once you have

had the experience of achieving without having to move a muscle or

communicate a thought, then you begin to see life with very different

eyes. Then the world is perceived as an endless opportunity awaiting our

beck and call; all instantaneously accessible from within. At that point,

we will have taken a decisive step toward a very different sort of

existence -- one that I call a "New Way of Living".

The Web of Life

And yet if everything is inextricably related in the cosmos, there must be

some mechanism that allows for this harmonic association. There must

be some coordinating system that connects individuals and objects to

related circumstance across space and time.

We can imagine that all things -- individuals, objects, forces, energies --

are connected in an organized pattern across a vast "web" of life. Along

this web, corresponding and associated physical, vital, mental, and

spiritual entities interrelate and interact. E.g., when life presses on me

and I make the choice to make a decisive change in my attitude, I set in

motion a force, a vibration, a disturbance, along one or more of the

strands or pathways of this web I am related to. When that occurs,

corresponding elements or individuals along that particular strand

respond and "track back" to us as we align with their unfoldings,

appearing as an instance of sudden good fortune to our person.


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Just as a telecommunication system responds to pulses of energy by

instantly sending currents of force back to the originating party, so to

changes in consciousness release energies that attract and align with

corresponding conditions along the grid. In this ultra-subtle organized

field of existence, time, space, finiteness, and limitation of the possible

are replaced by no-time, spacelessness, and a limitless possibility.

Mira Alfassa, the individual known to her followers as "The Mother"•, and

a partner of the Indian sage and seer Sri Aurobindo commented on this

web of life in the early 1970s:

"I have a curious impression of a kind of web -- a web with ... like

very loose threads, I mean not tightly meshed, connecting all events,

and if you have power over one of these webs, there's a whole field of

circumstances that apparently have nothing to do with each other but

which are linked together there in such a way that one necessarily

implies the existence of the other ... And I have the impression it's

something that envelops the earth.

And it's not mental. They are circumstances that depend on one another,

in a completely invisible way outwardly, without any mental logic, and yet

as though connected to one another.

If you are conscious, really conscious of that, that's how you can change

circumstances."

Again, one wonders why such a thing would exist in the first place. What

could account for such a profound organizing mechanism, with the

capacity to channel, coordinate, and associate all of life's energies and all

of life's elements and beings across the cosmos?

Our own view is that behind all existence there is a spiritual element that

enables and supports this ultra organized intelligence. Every part of our

being, as well as every aspect, element, object, and being in the universe

contains, and is supported by a hidden spiritual essence. From out of this

originating power has emerged a vast, subtle (i.e. invisible) system of

organization, reflecting an essential integral Knowledge, Wisdom, and

Consciousness of that Infinite Being behind. And it is the foundation

through which the Web of Life and the principle of Inner-Outer

Correspondence is made possible.

Self-Analysis

Think of one or two important problems or challenges you are having in

life. Analyze it in terms of a corresponding weakness on your part --

whether a wanting attitude, belief, habit, decision, or action.


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Now consider how to overcome that limitation, and act on it ASAP. Then

watch as life respond in your favor, reflecting on the outside your new

view, perspectives, awareness within.

On the Nature of Luck

A reader asked about the nature of Luck, the role of astrology to predict

it, and if some have special native capacities to evoke it.

Luck is really just another name for "life response," i.e. good fortune

suddenly or rapidly descending on an individual from seemingly out of

nowhere. Thus, luck, life response, good fortune, attraction are different

names for the same phenomenon.

Moreover, Luck is not a haphazard and random phenomenon, but follows

identifiable patterns and principles of life. It is also a subject that has

been addressed throughout history -- from the ancient scriptures of the

Upanishads to modern works like The Secret.

Then what is the cause of Luck? It is due to a shift in one's consciousness

to a higher plane in a moment or circumstance. And that outcome is

rooted in the principle of "inner-outer correspondence." It states that life

outside ourselves is a reflection of our inner condition. Therefore, if we

raise our consciousness in some manner, life quickly responds in kind, as

we move in alignment with corresponding positive conditions.

Luck therefore is not what happens serendipitously, coincidentally,

randomly, or per chance; but is rather a product of our inner condition in

a given moment in time, or over a longer period.

(By the way, this also works in the reverse. When there is a lower or

lessening of one's consciousness, we attract ill-fortune -- i.e. we become

unlucky.)

Then what about astrology? Can it foresee our Luck, our future fortune?

It is true that astrology does have a vast predictive power, especially in

its purer forms. And yet we cannot recommend it as a method for future

guidance. Rather, we should depend on our own capacity to raise our

consciousness and being. We can do so by utilizing subtle methods --

such as practicing non-reaction in the face of intense circumstance,

shedding a wanting attitude about others or life, by deeply focusing our

intention to accomplish a thing, by being self-giving to others instead of

being selfish, and by continually opening to the spiritual Force. Taking up

any of these approaches will quickly evoke powerful instances of Luck, no

matter what the astrological tables indicate. In essence, our inner


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psychological and spiritual capacity to raise our consciousness cancels the

karma that astrology depends on.

Then what about people who are said to have special power to evoke

Luck? Well, it is true that we are each born into this world with different

levels of consciousness (knowledge, skill capacity, character, energy,

etc.). Some individuals are even said to have an old or ripe soul, while

others are known to have a child soul. Natively, the former attract Luck,

while the latter have the potential to do so.

Also, those who develop a steady will to develop themselves, inwardly

and outwardly, tend to attract good fortune; i.e. evoke Luck into their

lives. This is the path or progress open to each and every one of us.

Then there are certain individuals who have a great destiny; who are

linked to universal vibrations, and their actions -- psychological and

physical -- evoke powerful response from life. Winston Churchill and Bill

Gates come to mind.

Finally, there are individuals who have given themselves to a spiritual life,

and become instrument of the Divine Grace, evoking super-Luck for

themselves and the world. Sri Aurobindo is one example. Through His

profound inner, spirit-oriented action he attracted the end of World War

II, and then Indian independence on his birthday. Such individuals come

to change the world, are vessels of a Higher Will, bringing Luck to the

entire world. They are known as "avatars" in some quarters, as they are

instruments of evolution of that time and place.

One other interesting aspect of Luck is that it occasionally happens in

waves as one goes through what one considers a "lucky period." What

would account for this dynamic? It must be because our consciousness

has risen to a critical level and tipping point relative to circumstance,

which concentrates and releases a great amount of energy, which attracts

a plethora of good fortune from a number of quarters. Tracking,

measuring, and understanding such bursts of luck/good fortune would

make a fascinating study, and would help us evoke waves of Luck of our

own.

Finally, we should note that the formation of the universe is itself the

ultimate expression of Luck. The Divine concentrated Its Intent and

sought/seeks to extend its own Delight, enabling a universe of infinitely

variable forms to express that Delight. It is the ultimate stroke of Luck,

as life in cosmos emerged with the infinite potential to embody the Divine

aspects of Truth, Oneness, Creativity, Beauty, Delight, and Love.

Likewise, we too can follow that same process in our own lives, and

evoke good or great fortune. I.e. we can engage in the Process of

Creation and Accomplishment in all its aspects -- from envisioning a


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thing; to organizing the details; to executing it with determination, high

skills, and right attitudes; all the while opening to the spiritual Force.

That will in turn evoke ultimate Luck for ourselves, as life cooperates

from all quarters, fulfilling our heart's desire, and then some.


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Parallel Events (Simultaneity), Synchronicities

Simultaneity of Events

The Character of Life reveals itself through a variety of principles. Inner-

Outer Correspondence -- the basis of Life response -- is one.

Predecessor/Successor Events is another. A third is Simultaneity of

Events. It can be explained as follows:

Acts and events that occur at the same time are related at the level of

life, no matter how unconnected they appear to be on the surface. The

relation sometimes reveals later on as a physical connection between

people or events. Often it represents a psychological parallel between the

thoughts or attitudes of different people that only reveals to careful

observation. Regardless of appearances, simultaneous events are always

related. There are NO exceptions.

Here are some examples:

-Two partners are arguing over the future direction of their line of

designs. Meanwhile, at the very same time their staff has started

quarrelling over the fact that they are overworked. These two events are

parallel and related. The quarrelling staff is a reflection of the owners'

conflict over the future direction of the line. The disharmony of the staff is

reflected in the partners' quarreling.

-A man received an email from a friend at the same time that an order

came in from a client. These were the only two emails he received at that

time. It turns out that the client's organization had the same ethical and

spiritual interests as the friend's.

-In San Francisco Bay, a ship hits the Bay Bridge spilling 60,000 gallons

of oil, blackening beaches and marshes, wildlife, and their habitat. At the

same time, the following news is reported: "In First Bush Veto Override,

Senate Enacts Water Bill." The lack of consciousness that the president

shares, reflects in the spill. The local spill due to whatever factor is

represented in the leader's ignorance.

-"On a quiet Wednesday morning last August, Senators Chris Dodd and

Chuck Hagel held a news conference in Washington to discuss what they

felt was a critical issue: the nation's deteriorating infrastructure. The

press was not impressed. Only a handful of reporters showed up to listen

to their contention that a real crisis was at hand. That evening, during

rush hour, the Interstate 35W Bridge over the Mississippi River in


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Minneapolis collapsed, plunging vehicles 60 feet into the river and killing

13 people." (from Bob Herbert's New York Times column of 1/29/08)

-The print in a critically important book used by a small organization

begins to suddenly fade for the custodian and champion at the very same

time that one of the key members of the firm is nearly shot by accident in

a distant city. The misfortune is simultaneous, and common attitudes

behind both are later revealed.

-Two individuals who have not spoken to one another in months and live

far apart reveal to one another that both their car windshields had been

utterly shattered that week due to some unknown cause on the highway.

They agree that some malevolent subtle force was at work.

-The volcano erupts in Iceland spewing ash over Northern Europe, but

not the South. At the time the Northern European members of the EU are

disenchanted with the financial situation of the southern members, and

are reluctant to help them out, especially the UK and Germany where the

ash is heaviest. The eruption is indicative of the consciousness of the

northern EU members towards its southern cousins.

-Two nights ago, I sat out on my back porch. I looked towards the East

and I noticed Mars, which had a yellow/orange glow. I also saw airplanes

in the sky. I then looked again at Mars and saw a very dim object off to

its side. At first, I thought it was an airplane, but then when I looked

closer, I saw that it was a satellite, silently traversing the night sky. As I

watched it move, I noticed that it was heading in the direction of Mars.

Then incredibly, it bisected Mars from my vantage point!

Then I thought about the fact that the day before, they had broadcast

pictures back to earth showing how the Mars Lander had captured some

ice, which is perhaps the biggest breakthrough so far concerning the

possibility of life on Mars. I then understood the connection between the

satellite I saw crossing in front of Mars and this scientific, historical

development.

Then this morning I "coincidentally" read something else about Mars: that

it is now at the closest point to earth in the last 68,000 years! The

synchronicity and simultaneity of events were truly awe-inspiring.

Perceiving Parallel Events

Synchronicities, simultaneity, and parallel events -- names for same basic

phenomenon -- are happening all of the time, every minute of the day if

we only choose to observe them. For example, just today I was looking

up the site statistics for the Growth Online site. One area that intrigued


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me was the pages or graphics that were being accessed the most in

terms of the total bytes downloaded by the visitor. I was surprised to see

that one of the graphics had the greatest total bytes downloaded in the

recent period. It was for an embedded ad for the Kindle book reader sold

by Amazon that is displayed on a number of Growth Online pages. I had

never noticed that in the statistics reports before.

At nearly the instant I noted this fact, I received a call from a colleague

who had not contacted me in over a month. Immediately I saw the

connection between his call and the Kindle statistic I had just noticed.

Why did I make this association? It was because it was this friend who

informed me of the Kindle reader in the first place a year or two ago! And

now he calls instantaneous to my seeing the data for that item. A

coincidence, you ask? Of course not. It is a connection that was made

previously that now presents itself once again. This shows how

corresponding pairs related in space and time move in tandem,

overcoming normally perceived boundaries of cause and effect, and space

and time.

Thus, the universe is constantly separating and rejoining those pairs to

the degree that we focus our attention on one of them. It is a

phenomenon that is constantly occurring just below the radar of our

consciousness. If, however, we are alert, we can observe a steady stream

of simultaneous and parallel events throughout our day.

Consider several similar examples:

• We take an interest in a subject, such as a music group we had not

thought of in years, and a report about them appears on the TV 10

minutes later, even though they have not been heard from for 20

years.

• A man received an email from a friend, at the same time that an

order came in from a client. These were his only two emails. It turns

out that the client's organization had the very same ethical and

spiritual interests as the friend.

Every day dozens of such events occur if only we only have the

wherewithal to connect the dots. When we grow in consciousness and

become more mindful, the perceived parallelism become so frequent and

striking that all we have to do is open our eyes

Furthermore, as we witness these miraculous-like associations, we begin

to perceive a cosmic Intelligence at work, in which all and everything

appears to be connected. At that point, we will have taken a decisive step

toward understanding life's great mysteries. If we then go a step further

and learn to master this power -- i.e. to evoke these responses


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consciously, on demand -- then we will approach the Marvel behind all

creation.

Parallel Events in the World

If we look closely and examine life we will see how two events, miles or

even continents apart will arise at the same time related to the same

matter. Normally we do not perceive these parallel events, but if we do,

we pass it off as mere coincidence. Rather they are related by their

shared vibration and energy.

Recently in the US, beloved TV news interviewer and reporter Tim

Russert died a relatively young man. It was a terrible blow for the US and

shocked the nation. It was the main, bold headline in the New York Times

accompanied by a striking picture. Next to it was another world headline,

this about Ireland's rejection of new standards for the European Union,

perhaps the most important change for that institution in a decade. When

I saw the two stores side by side, I sensed a connection. I then went to

Wikipedia and discovered that indeed Tim Russert was of Irish American

parents. The connection Irish between the two events was unmistakable.

If we exercise our minds a bit, we can find such associations everywhere

-- especially in the news, in history, in literature -- even in our own lives.

Even when we make this astonishing discovery, we can probe deeper and

see further parallel associations. E.g. when I thought further on the

Russert-Ireland connection, I saw yet a third connection. I realized that

at the very same time, the Boston Celtics had for all intensive purposes

secured the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship the night

before, their biggest breakthrough for the team 22 years. The motto of

the team is "the luck of the Irish," and their mascot is a leprechaun.

(Boston is the predominant home of the Irish American community in the

US.) Thus, the parallel events are extended a step further.

Powerful but subtle, unseen energies are released by a central event, and

related matters spontaneously arise with them in time. Deeper insight

and the discovery of guiding principles of why this occurs is worthy of a

great study. For now, we can speak of energies that move out into the

field of life and align with corresponding circumstance that causes this

synchronistic, parallel effect. If you are an avid reader of newspapers and

keep an eye out, you will see this occurring quite frequently. Do not,

however, consider these random events and coincidence, for there is

absolutely no such thing. They are deeply connected associations that are

integrally related.


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There is something deeper still going on. Are ability to associate these

connection is an indicator that Man is ready to go beyond the limiting

logic of his current exclusive mind. That he is ready to perceive the

deeper laws of life, such as life response, the power of attraction, and the

synchronicity and parallelism that this article addresses. It is in fact a

harbinger of the transition being from our current human functioning to a

supra-human existence. It is but one of several signs of emergence of a

New Way of Living based on integral perfection and the spiritual

dimension of life.

Focusing on Something Attracts More of It Instantaneously

Life is subtle, but we miss the profound connections that it is constantly

presenting to us in the course of our day. One dimension of that subtlety

is that life is always responding to the things we are focused on with

additional related information from seemingly out of nowhere.

E.g. in the communication program Skype, the names of ongoing friends

who have come online for the program pop-up in a corner of my screen,

even when the program is not open. I only have about a dozen Skype

contacts, so the pop-up does not occur very often. Moreover, most of

these people whose names pop-up I have not been in direct contact with

for a long while, and had no plans to contact them for now.

Meanwhile throughout the day I work in various other software programs

on the computer. Well it turns out that as soon as I enter some

information in these other programs and really focus on that task, a

person instantly pops in Skype up who is very closely related to the very

specific work I am currently engaged in! They have no idea I am doing

this work. It just spontaneously occurs on its own.

E.g. I enter the Excel application for the first time in a long time and out

of the blue my friend who I have not spoken to in months suddenly pops

up in Skype for the first time in a long time. I then realize that this

individual was very much interested in learning Excel from me. Hence I

attract them at that very moment.

Or I am focusing on the importance of business values as I develop a

PowerPoint presentation, and the person who wrote eloquently on the

subject many years ago suddenly appears as a Skype pop-up in the lower

right corner of my screen instantaneous to my having the biggest

inspiration of the day on that subject. No one else pops up but him during

this time.


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This extraordinary subtle synchronous dynamic happens with an

instantaneous precision, down to the second, and occurs perhaps 10

times a day. (And that includes only the times I am conscious enough to

realize it.)

It shows that all is connected in space and time; that we have powerful

relationships with certain people, ideas, events that interconnect and are

associative in the non-material world. This subtle dimension of life that

most of us miss completely is often referred to as “synchronicity” in

popular parlance. It is in fact a particular form of synchronicity that we

refer to as “parallelism.”

Life bringing more information to the things we are currently focused on -

- in the form of Skype pop-ups from the exact related person; sudden out

of the blue phone calls from such a person; related content in

newspapers, magazines and in the news related to the topic focused on;

etc. -- are very common experiences of those who have the inner

wherewithal and vision to perceive them.

Obama – Solyndra – Solar City Synchronicity

If we look deep enough we will find synchronicities, also called

“parallelisms” everywhere in life, which are linked phenomenon that on

the surface don’t seem to have anything in common, yet are really deeply

connected. With a little effort, we can see this phenomenon at work every

day. E.g. here is one I noticed today.

Five years ago US President Obama took up an initiative to support the

growth of alternate energy in America. Part of that initiative was to fund

several up and coming wind and solar companies with big cash infusions.

One of them was a company named “Solyndra.” Unfortunately, after a

great start and mass infusion of funds by the US government, the

company failed. It closed its doors in Silicon Valley, and the giant facility

has remained empty since then. Detractors lambasted the president for

this effort, as they were always ready to debunk his efforts. Even support

from his own party was withdrawn after the apparent Solyndra fiasco.

Yet in the years that followed something very opposite occurred as a

boom in alternative energy occurred amongst the emerging startups in

the Valley, far surpassing all expectations. In fact, Obama’s initiative

seems to have turned on an entire new segment in Silicon Valley, with

expanding innovation and jobs. Still gratitude for his efforts was

shortcoming.


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Five years later – i.e. today – President Obama appeared in Silicon Valley

(San Francisco Bay Area in California) to discuss the important issue of

cyber-security. He had made the concerted effort to come out to SV to

inform business of the common threat they share with government in

overcoming cyber-crime, from within the county and without.

Well as it turned out that not an hour or two after completing his

remarks, it was announced from that the empty former Solyndra facility

has now been taken over by another company Solar City, a very

successful solar energy company in the Valley. It was in essence the final

vindication of the Obama initiative, cancelling the last traces of failure in

the president’s efforts. To me this revelation was a startling “coincidence”

coming just after Obama made his intense plea for companies in the

Valley to cooperate with him on this thorny security issue. These two

events, seemingly separate and apart, with little to do with one another

on the surface were at a deeper level aligned in space and time, as they

both together served multiple purposes in Life.

If we focus our attention and closely examine events around us, we will

begin to observe all manner of synchronicities and parallelism occurring.

We only have to identify the subtle correlation between these seemingly

unrelated events. Once you perceive one such correlation, more will

appear before your eyes. Eg you think of a singer and instantly his voice

appears on the PA, though you haven’t heard his voice in in that location

in two decades. Or you discuss with someone a person you had met

decades ago, and within ten seconds someone walks by who looks

exactly like that individual. And so on and so forth for any and all

circumstance you come in contact with.

It is another indication that all things in the universe have a subtle

internal connection and relation that is unseen on the surface. That when

one thing occurs in life, other subtly related things also come into play.

To be able to see such seemingly disconnected circumstance as deeply

related requires a capacity for subtle observation of life conditions.

It is also to understand that there is an essential Oneness in life, instead

of the division and separateness we see through our surface view. It is to

increasingly comprehend that no matter how separate, apart,

disconnected events and circumstances appear on the surface, they are

secretly, integrally related in the depths. Synchronicities, parallelisms,

and similar phenomenon are subtle reminders of the Oneness of life,

including the spiritual Source behind all existence.


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Background to Writing My Book On 'The Life Divine' (And A Wonderful Response)

Though I had read the book several times before, in 1999 Garry Jacobs

held a small weekend seminar I attended at his home in Napa, California

on the subject of 'The Life Divine' by Sri Aurobindo. I began then and

there to understand the contents of the great spiritual tome in new,

unimagined ways. And so around seven years ago I plunged into the

book in earnest, carefully gathering the most salient point of each

chapter.

A few years after that I embarked on writing my own chapter-by-chapter

analysis of Life Divine, working on it in my spare time, mostly during the

Christmas and New Year’s season when there was some quiet time.

Along the way I read Garry's wonderful book ‘Lectures on Life Divine,’

which was a more advanced version of the fine presentations he gave in

the late 90s. Then in the years that followed I regularly reviewed

Karmayogi’s online notes on Life Divine and Pride and Prejudice, and

occasionally dropped in on Garry's nightly online discussions of that

content with a small group of devotees. In recent years I listened to

Garry's monthly lectures on each chapter that he continues to present till

this day, and regularly perused Karmayogi’s accompanying vast, detailed

notes. I also went through and gathered important statements related to

Life Divine from Garry's great novel The Book for more clues into Sri

Aurobindo’s vast, cosmic work.

And so after all these years I finally finished a first solid draft of the book

'An Analysis of Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine.' It happened yesterday.

My book is now approaching 500 pages, though I know it could easily be

double that if I were to delve into many of the other principles Appa has

revealed from His book, or even if I were to flesh out the ones I have

already addressed. It is an on-going project and work that I hope to

enhance over time.

Secretly, the book was actually written for myself, so I could understand

the concepts more clearly, and hopefully at some point apply them in my

life. If others read the book, so much the better, but I didn’t have any

great expectations in that regard.

It turns out that I also had a wonderful little life response related to this

subject. Yesterday, on the very day I felt the first draft was complete, I

received a call from a friend who I had not spoken to in a while, but who

surprised me at the outset of the conversation with his remark that he


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has been utterly thrilled by his first reading of The Life Divine. Rather

than talk about his family, his new business, etc. he was just bursting

with enthusiasm about his experiences reading the book.

It was naturally a starling response for me having just finished my first

full draft after all those years just a few hours earlier. It was doubly

remarkable because this individual hadn’t shown any inclination to read

any of Mother’s or Bhagavan’s works. And yet on that same day of

completing the book, someone called to narrate their thrilling first

encounter with Sri Aurobindo’s master work. It was gratifying to say the

least.

Cosmic Causality vs. Synchronous Alignment in Life Response

Quantum "entanglement" is the scientific explanation of the phenomenon

of life response; i.e. sudden good fortune precipitated by one's shift in

consciousness.

I had assumed according to the science if say an electron on one side of

the universe changes its directional spin, another one on the other side of

the universe in which there is an "inner relationship" will do the same. It

is a cosmic cause and effect across space and time; infinitely faster than

the speed of light, as it is instantaneous.

However, recent discoveries or at least theories in quantum entanglement

indicate that the two electrons change their spin at the exact same

moment, suggesting not so much a cosmic causality at work, but a

simultaneous synchronicity. In layman terms, a perfect ALIGNMENT of

the two. They do their cosmic synchronous dance at once and together.

So when in Pride and Prejudice Darcy and Eliza startlingly meet at the

pond of his estate at Pemberley, it is not because she changed her ways

and she thereby attracted his arrival, but rather because she changed her

ways she became synchronous with him in space and time. In other

words, they moved in perfect Alignment.

This explanation is more in line with recent scientific understanding of

entanglement, though science has a way to go before it realizes the

subtle causality perceived through a spiritual perspective.

There is yet another issue: how this Alignment theory squares with the

Equilibrium of energies dynamic of explaining the life response

phenomenon, which appears to lean toward cosmic causality (i.e. cause


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and effect, as between those two electrons or Darcy and Eliza) rather

than simultaneity of Alignment!

On the other hand, maybe everything squares after all, but we don't yet

know how to express it in mental terms. There is obviously still a lot to

learn.

Piano Synchronicity and the Power of Intention

A long-time friend of mine who was staying with his elderly parents

decided that he wanted to take up the piano after many years of guitar

and other music playing. He would start from scratch. His strategy was to

pick out 10 songs he was familiar with and then try to figure it out on the

piano.

At the residence there was a recreation area where others could come in

and play the instrument, though the piano itself was hardly ever used,

especially during this particular season of the year.

Just as the man dedicated himself to learning the first song on the

instrument, giving up all hesitation and taking an action, a couple walked

into the condo music room and b-lined it straight for the piano where he

was sitting. No one hardly ever came to this area, yet right at the

moment he decided to practice the composition the couple arrived. When

the man asked the woman (who was approximately the same age) why

she marched over to the piano, she said with smiling enthusiasm that

she'd just finished her 5th piano lesson and was excited about learning to

play more of the piano when she retires from work shortly!

The man was startled at these turn of events; that just as he was making

this new beginning to learn the piano someone else had come over who

also had decided to take up the piano and had now progressed to her 5th

lesson.

When you truly focus your interest and attention on doing something, life

has a funny way of cooperating with that intent and bringing forces and

forms that substantiate your intention. The man’s intention, including his

decision and action to get started, was mirrored by woman suddenly

arriving with virtually the same intent; and doing so synchronously to a

place at a piano that was nearly always abandoned. That is the power of

giving up all hesitation, fixing your intention, and acting on it. Life

cooperates with corresponding positive conditions. An abandoned piano

suddenly attracts more users in a joyous occasion of synchronicity among

the parties.


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Startling Simultaneity on a Working Contract

A consultant friend of mine had been working for a contractor providing

management advice for the client, including the development of a plan

for its future expansion. However, the consultant had not asked for any

payment in return for his efforts. One day he decided that this was no

longer feasible and prepared a contract where he would receive a

monthly stipend of $500 for his efforts.

At the very instant he completed the contract and was prepared to tell

the contractor of his new financial arrangement, the consultant received a

call. It was the contractor, who proceeded to explain that he was writing

checks for his vendors and employees and thought that it is only right to

start paying the consultant for his business. He decided that $500 a

month was a proper figure. So on the phone call the contractor informed

the consultant that he would like to implement this new arrangement.

The consultant was dumbfounded! The contractor had decided to take an

initiative that exactly matched his own, even though the contractor had

no idea the consultant was doing the same, or even interested in wanting

to work on a payment basis! In other words, they were exactly in

alignment on their intention though neither knew the other had any

intention in moving in that direction whatsoever. Plus, the amount was

exactly the same! Not to mention that the incoming call from the

contractor came at precisely the moment the consultant finished writing

up the contract.

How could this amazing confluence of events have happened? When two

people are deeply on the same wavelength in their normal interactions,

such astonishing synchronistic events are made possible. From another

perspective we know that many of our thoughts originate elsewhere, and

that we are often expressing the thoughts of others, even though we

think it is our own. In that way each side was picking up the thought

waves of the other. As a result of these inner cause, two parties aligned

in a way that seems utterly impossible, but actually did happen. A perfect

confluence of objectives in space and time had taken place, all emanating

from within.

One other point. From the side of the consultant, it was the very best

thing for him to ask for payment. He was at a point in his life where he

could not afford to work gratis. And so when he made an effort of

psychological strength to ask for payment, he attracted that very thing

instantaneously from the contractor.


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And what of the contractor? We can only imagine that the contractor was

expressing a higher value to compensate someone deserved of it, rather

than continue to accept the consultant working on his business for free.

His concern for the consultant attracted the fact that the consultant had

actually wanted the same arrangement, though now the consultant

hardly needed to the compensation as it was already a done deal!

Recent Historical Context of Life Response

Historically I found it interesting that just as I was completing my book

'The Miraculous Phenomenon of Life Response' and Garry Jacobs was

completing his novel 'The Book,' which covers Life Response and much

more, the film/book 'The Secret' was released, which is essentially life

response as well. This all happened circa 2007.

I was very surprised when The Secret arrived on the scene, even taken

aback for a few days; but then clearly felt that this new global spiritual

phenomenon came in one sense as a response to Garry and my efforts,

which itself a product of Karmayogi's untiring devotion and revelation of

life response philosophy and practical application over the last 50 years.

(which itself a product of Sri Aurobindo's revolutionary spiritual

realizations now beginning to take root in the world.)

There is yet another point I find interesting. It is that the Global Financial

Crisis came almost precisely in the footsteps of our three literary

releases. We know of the principle that as soon as something of a higher

order or consciousness arises in the world, a countervailing force

immediately takes root to oppose it. With a great opening to life

response/power of attraction revelation for society, a near catastrophic

financial development, based on human ego and greed came for the

purpose of negating the chance of this New Power to take root in the

world.

And yet we also can philosophize that this great negative development

came about for the purpose of forcing society to take to higher values

related to finance, economics, social stability, human unity, etc.

With that in mind, let us see what further developments await us through

our dramatic experiences of life response phenomenon, even as people's

awareness of it continues to slowly (or quickly?) spread throughout

society.


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We can especially experiment by utilizing the Supramental Power,

Mother's Force to bring about ever-new unfoldings of instantaneous

miraculousness in the worlds. It can be an exciting, a spiritually thrilling

time all around.

Sudden Memory as Predecessor of Car’s Return

There are astonishing moments when we suddenly think of something for

no particular reason, and then several moments later something very

dramatic and unexpected occurs that precisely mirrors our original

thought. It is another variation of what we call a "predecessor indicator"

of what is to come.

A man and woman were having a conversation about the correct use of

grammar in articles, film, etc. The man suddenly had a memory of

something that occurred nearly a decade ago. He recalled being in his car

in a parking lot about to meet with the police department of a suburban

client for which he hoped to do some project management training. As he

recalled sitting in that car, he remembered that on the radio was a

discussion of what constitutes a well written article. He had listened

intently to the discussion.

His mind then returned to the here and now. He turned to his friend and

told her that he could not understand why in the world he suddenly

thought of this obscure moment many years ago, aside from the

grammar connection. He never remembered that moment from the day

till that moment, yet suddenly thought of it in a flash. It was like recalling

a long-forgotten dream from many years ago.

The man then got up and looked through his window and noticed that

there was a car parked in the common area that he did not recognize.

But then when he looked closer he thought it was the car that had been

stolen from his neighbor. Suddenly the neighbor knocked on the door to

inform me that the police had indeed found the stolen car and here it

was! He was thrilled to no end; and I was happy for him too!

The recollection of the past event and the current situation were directly

related, although our normal view is to see no correlation. In this case,

the flash of a memory from the past regarding sitting in a car in front of

the police offices was synchronous with the stolen car's imminent return

by the police. In other words, the spontaneous memory was a

predecessor to the coming car incident.


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Angels in the Architecture

(synchronistic life response)

It was reported in the news that during the playing of his famous song

'The Boxer', Paul Simon interrupted the performance to give homage to

the sudden passing of Muhammed Ali, the world famous boxer and global

personality.

If indeed Simon found out about this development during or just before

the playing of the song, it would be a startling synchronicity. It turns out

that Simon continued on with the performance and sang the final verse of

the song, which almost exactly describes Ali’s life (And his death), even

though the tune was written forty years ago!

"In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade

And he carries the reminders of ev'ry glove that laid him down

And cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame,

"I am leaving, I am leaving." But the fighter still remains"

Well it also turns out that ever since I read about that “coincidence,” Paul

Simon synchronicities have been happening to me one after another.

Eg as I walked about with a business partner in downtown Long Beach,

CA I noticed the design of the old historical buildings. As a result, I

remembered and started chanting to myself the lines “He sees Angels in

the Architecture, Spinning in Infinity,” (from ‘You Can Call Me All’) by

Simon. Then when we walked in the first restaurant where we were

performing our sales duties a Paul Simon song suddenly came on the

speaker. Then I went into another restaurant, and it happened again!

There was Simon's voice on yet another tune.

And so at this point I knew from experience that this dynamic could keep

repeating. Eg a long lost letter could now suddenly fall out of a drawer

with Paul Simon lyrics, or a truck could go by saying "Simon Furniture" as

soon as I walked out into the sunshine. Etc. etc. But now I said to myself

something along the lines of "Oh God no more, no more iterations from

the surroundings; I have to concentrate on my work!”

That's the power of concentrating on a particular subject matter: Life

quickly sends you more information, more content on that very same

matter. I have experienced it hundreds, if not thousands of times over

the years. In fact, such synchronicities are perhaps the most common

form of Life Response event one can experience.


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In addition, if I'm the incident the Simon-Ali sync was really that

auspicious, then descents from the realm of information would have

become universal-like, and thus perpetual in nature. It would mean the

potential for an endless stream of the miraculous from the same source

event for many individuals throughout the world.

The Tutor: Astonishing Life Response Association Between Distant Past and Present

We ordinarily perceive events occurring in the present, and then as

necessary are able to make associations between them. I.e. we readily

understand the cause and effect relations among them. However, we

don’t easily see how events from the Distant Past relate to our present

experiences, nor do we perceive that these associations are really quite

startling. Let me give you a recent example.

About 40 years ago, a friend of mine invited me to tutor individual

students in a class of Dyslexic children. I ended up doing one-on- one

sessions in mathematics and other subjects with several students, one at

a time. It turns out that had a particularly memorable (and amusing)

session with one of the students; one that my friend and I enjoyed

discussing over the years.

It turns out that I renewed my friendship of 40 years about a dozen years

ago, and my friend and I would email one another several times a year.

We even visited one another several times. Well, one day several months

ago I came to realize that my friend’s invitation to teach in the school of

the Dyslexic children all those years back was actually the beginning of

my 40 years’ instructor career! I never made that association till then,

and so I felt gratitude toward him and that opportunity.

Now here's where the story gets interesting. The other day I did my first

tutoring session in 40 years with a young man, as all the rest of my

instructing for all those decades was in corporate classroom training in

California, mainly in the San Francisco Area, including Silicon Valley. And

so this small tutoring job was harkening back to the one-on-one work I

first engaged in decades ago and never really did since. That is until the

other day.

As so after the session was over, I exited the facility and got into my car.

I then picked up my Smartphone and looked through my email. it turns

out that only One message arrived. However, when I looked closer I was

startled to realize that it was from my friend of 40 years ago!


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In essence, because I had done a one-on-one tutoring session just now,

essentially my first in 40 years, I moved into alignment with the very

person who gave me my one and only previous tutoring session 40 years

ago! Thus the present and the distant past were intimately, inexorably

connected.

From this incident we see that Life is really Conscious. It “keeps track” of

the past and coordinates it with events in the present and the future,

creating innumerable startling associations. We call them Synchronicities,

though I refer to them as responses from life, or Life Response.

It turns out that they are occurring all the time, but we miss them

because our “subtle antennae” are not engaged. When they are however,

we continuously experience the most startling circumstances, linking

past, present, and future. Moreover, the startling experiences energizes

us to no end.

We call such experiences, moments of "Instantaneous Miraculousness,"

and it is there for us to perceive at any time we make the effort to closely

examine the events in our lives.

Startling Double Synchronicity with Baggar Vance

The other day I had a marvelous experience I would like to share.

A friend of mine and I decided to watch the film The Legend of Baggar

Vance (from 2000), which I had seen several times before over the years.

It is essentially the Bhagavad Gita presented in a modern context. It is

the tale of the local golfer Junna (as Arjuna) competing against the two

greatest golfers in the world. Junnah/Arjuna is guided by Baggar Vance,

who is the equivalent of Krishna. (The title "Baggar Vance" is similar to

Bhagavad Gita.)

Baggar shows Junna not only the keys to golf, but to Life Success. He

shows Junna how to become "one with the field," enabling perfect

execution in works; here meaning the capacity to execute the perfect golf

shot. Baggar also reveals himself as a supernatural divine presence;

infinite and eternal, which Junna begins to realize he too can become.

While watching the film I could feel the essence of Krishna coming

through the performance of actor Will Smith. Junna is also convincingly

performed by actor Matt Damon.

Then my story changes. The next morning I headed out to a client, but

before that I stopped at a restaurant for breakfast. At the facility they


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have several mounted televisions - presenting various content, like news,

weather, human interest stories, sports events, interviews, sitcom

excerpts, etc.

However, when I got there that morning and looked at one of the

screens, I saw that they were showing highlights of women golf pros

performing at their craft. I immediately saw the connection with watching

Baggar Vance the night before. I smiled at the synchronicity of the two

events. It was a million to one shot of this taking place, yet I have had

this experience hundreds of times before.

A minute later the presentation on the tv changed and instead there was

an interview with none other than ... Matt Damon! The very actor who

played Junna in the film from 2000 I watched the previous night!

I was stunned and gripped by the profundity of this super response from

life; as if Krishna had simultaneously orchestrated the situation and

blessed me with his cosmic smile.

It was a trillion to one possibility, yet it occurred.

And It was yet another reminder that when we deeply focus on

something - here the powerful spiritual-like events in the film - more of it

comes to us from out of nowhere.

Then you realize how cosmically interlinked all things are in the universe,

something we can constantly perceive if we just open our eyes.

Distortion of Truth and The Doubly Failed Businessman

When an individual subscribes to lies, whether he knew of its underlying

falsehood or not, the outcome will reveal itself negatively in another area

of his life, often as failure.

A man was part owner of a rising business. He had put great effort into it

over the course of three years. Still he maintained an utter certainty that

it would succeed, and that his approach was bound to succeed, despite

what others had said.

Somehow he got very caught up in the US election. He sent out 3 or 4

letters that detailed his opinions, with striking intensity, bordering on

bitterness. He had listed a dozen or so of the extreme untruths about one

of the candidates that had been spread by the foreign and domestic

hacking web sites that had infiltrated all aspects of the Internet in the

USA. Virtually every untruth was made up for the purpose of defeating


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her in the election. He fell for this information hook, line, and sinker,

expressing it in his letters in considerable detail, as did millions of others.

But what was most interesting is that during the week it was revealed all

throughout the world that these were in fact untruths made up in minds

of various hackers, the businessman called a loyal friend to essentially

say he has failed in his business venture.

You see, the two events go together in Life Response phenomenon. The

lies he subscribed to revealed to the public the same week he is utterly

demoralized and calls the friend that he has failed in his venture. They

are synchronous in consciousness.

In fact, we can go further and say that they are the SAME weakness in

his consciousness expressed two ways: an utter belief in his infallibility,

i.e. my way or the highway, and his propensity to naively embrace false

information - both expressing a fundamental Ignorance and Falsehood. It

is a case of two sets of untruths moving together, eventually expressing

their negative outcomes together.

Eliza and Darcy Align in Space-Time

When life response occurs, two parties move into alignment in the same

space-time, place/moment. Interestingly, neither normally knows that

they or the other party is doing so.

One of the most powerful example of this synchronistic dynamic can be

seen in 'Pride and Prejudice.' There Eliza Bennett visits Darcy's estate

when he is away on business, and realizes to her surprise that he is in

fact a good man, not a prideful one as she had come to believe. Thus, an

invisible attracting dynamic takes place, as he physically moves toward

her - returning early to his vast estate from a business trip. This dynamic

also occurs the other way around.

As a result of their complementary shifts in consciousness, they arrive in

the same point in space and time. They are stunned at this development,

yet are deeply happy inside, as they have secretly come to long for one

another. Their relationship is thus rekindled, and they are soon married.

What has happened is that their Higher consciousness - in the form of

more positive attitudes toward one another - has aligned both parties in

space-time, bringing great, even ultimate reward to both.

It turns out that this dynamic is happening to each of us all the time, to a

lesser or greater degree. Unfortunately, we are normally unaware of the


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fact. However, we can become keenly cognizant of this phenomenon, and

thereby continually evoke startling positive results. It is one of the great

subtle powers of human existence.

Cosmic Coincidence Over LaLa Land

Close by to my home is Signal Hill. When you venture to the top of it -

around 500 feet - you can see a vast expanse of the Los Angeles Basin.

From that vantage point on a path at the top of the hill you can pan from

the coast all the way across the heart of LA to Orange County, with the

huge, snow-capped San Gabriel mountains as a backdrop. You can even

see the skyline of downtown in front of the mountains, as well as the

Hollywood sign just a bit to the left.

Yesterday I did my usual daily walk on Signal Hill - this time in the mist,

as the end of a rain storm had passed through. As I parked my car to get

out, I noticed a huge rainbow in the sky. I also noticed that it was

beginning to fade, so I somewhat hurriedly walked around the bend to

get a better view and hopefully a photo with my smartphone. When I

arrived there, I saw the rainbow right over downtown and the Hollywood

sign area.

As I continued to walk in that direction, I thought that this was a very

significant occurrence. For one, I never saw a rainbow from Signal Hill,

and second its location was astonishingly specific. Then I remembered

that the Academy Awards were to occur that night, and so I felt strongly

that the lovely occurrence of the rainbow was related to that somehow.

Several hours later I mentioned that possibility to my friend, though she

looked at me in slight bewilderment.

I did not watch the Oscars that night, but when I woke the next morning

and learned that they had mistakenly switched the Best Picture award,

creating the greatest confusion in Oscar history, I knew that my

experience of the rainbow over the Hollywood sign was a prophetic

gesture of Nature, indicating what was to come.

It was doubly interesting as the confused movie was called "LaLa Land," a

backhanded reference to the derisive nickname for the Southern

California metropolis which I was overlooking from the hill.

In addition, I knew that the confusion of presenting the wrong winner at

the Oscars was endemic of the entire vibration that has been occurring in

America over the last few months, as a president exhibiting tyrannical-

like behavior has been confusing Truth with Falsehood in an almost


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unending fashion. The atmosphere of the country is so rife with

nervousness, confusion, and vindictive falsehood that it spreads to the

nation’s most famous entertainment ceremony. Even on a normally

happy occasion such as this, truth and falsehood, fact and fiction were

royally confused.

Disparate Things Arising Together Are Related

According to a deeper view of life, all events which occur at the same

time or at same place are related to one another in some manner, even if

on the surface they seem to have nothing to do with one another. Often

the relationship is in the form of a subtle correspondence between the

events, including a similarity, a mirror image of one another, or even a

reverse expression of the same type of situation.

Eg you are having a conversation with a friend who is explaining the

concept of personal Values, and in the middle of the dialogue a senior

author calls who is a friend of the friend of mine, and who is known for

writing about business Values for the American Management Association,

of which he was president. Superficially you may not perceive a

connection, but if you think a bit about what this person represents, you

will see a connection; that he has called at this time as a synchronous

circumstance to your learning about those same issues he is deeply

involved with,

Thus, when things are happening to you in a certain direction in the

course of your day, pay attention to what otherwise suddenly arises from

an entirely different direction. If you seriously think about what is going

on, - the issues involved, who the parties are at play are, and their

propensities and beliefs, et al, - you will begin to see the subtle

correspondence between the circumstance that you did not perceive

originally. When you perceive the deeper connection, it is startling to

behold. As a result of this approach, you can an entirely different

perspective of life's unfolding!


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Life’s Subtle Signs

Signs and Portents

Most of us have seen an interesting connection between two events and

have brushed it off as mere coincidence. Our own experience is that

many of the things that we half-consciously associate as being related are

in fact very much related. Often life is presenting signs and portents of

things to come, or things that are happening out of site.

A man was having problems in his relationship with his relatives. One

day he walked out his door and saw cat excrement at his doorstep,

something that he rarely if ever saw before in years of living at his

residence. A moment later he went to his mailbox and got a letter

from his relative that was filled with anger. He half noted the

connection. He received only two or three letters from these relatives

in the next decade, but each time he received the letter there was

animal excrement in front of his door, the only times he ever had the

excrement at his door!

In this example, we are not only witnessing a portent but we are seeing

an example of a life repetition, the topic we discussed earlier. We can see

signs of ill will through signs and portents just as we can see signs of

good will and positive occurrences. (For example just before a particular

individual calls there is a feeling of calm and well-being). In either case

through a sign a portent we are given a glimpse of things to come.

Often in literature as in life we see relationships between physical

occurrences in nature and events happening in the lives of the characters

in the story. While some of us might attribute this to poetic license our

research indicates that these correspondences are pretty indicative of

what happens in real life.

In King Lear the king begins to go mad as he deals with his limiting

attitudes toward his beloved daughter where the background is a raging

storm with lightning, wind and rain.

On the other hand in Pride and Prejudice Eliza, formerly reluctant to visit

a man of good character and great wealth, gives up her limiting attitude

and meet him at his estate on an utterly perfect spring-like day in

England. Her new openness to a vaster level of accomplishment in her life

is mirrored in nature's corresponding glory.

Just to take one example in real life. At the end of 1996 and the start of

1997 a man in California was in the midst of a great project that offered


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great, unprecedented opportunity in his life. On the first day of 1997 it

rained harder in California that any day in recorded history. Rain is often

seen as a symbol of grace or good fortune. This was especially so for this

man.

Just as our conscious daily lives can reveal signs and portents so can our

semi or unconscious existence reveal the same. For example, dreams can

on occasion be signs and portents. Our research suggests that although

dreams are most often projections of complex conscious and

subconscious thoughts and feelings, with no direct relationship to the

actual outcomes of current or future events, sometimes they are in fact

real indicators of things to come. (Again we say this with restraint,

however, because our research indicates that 90% of dreams are not

premonitions of anything, and are merely one's descent into unconscious

parts of our being.)

Here's an example of where an individual benefited from a dream:

A man noticed that every time he had a dream where there was great

confusion at work, the next day the computer equipment didn't work

properly or there were other technical problems. At first he didn't

connect the two, and whenever the computer equipment went out

(which happened not very frequently) he along with others became

annoyed and agitated about the situation.

However, after another occurrence of the dream he was determined

not to get upset if the equipment went out that day. And so, of course

(!), the equipment went out that day of the dream. As before, others

were still annoyed and agitated at the situation. Fortunately the man

was able to quickly aid in the solution of the technical problem. A few

moments after a few of the people there asked him how he could

remain so calm under the circumstance. He couldn't tell them his

secret!

There are times when dreams are indicators of future events, which when

understood in their proper light, can help us better cope with events as

they unfold.

There are endless signs and portents that occur in life that we can be

observant of. For example, if we have a power outage and then receive a

letter from someone with bad will, we can see a correlation. Or the

opposite, where there is a feeling of happiness or richness, and we

receive a letter thereafter from someone with good with and positive

feeling toward us. There are endless variations of such a phenomenon.

You can also learn to read the other person's intention through signs and

portents. An example of this is a marketing person who calls you on the

phone at precisely the wrong moment in the day. You might be about to


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have your dinner or do something else enjoyable or important, and you

get the call at just the wrong moment. You know that this person calling

is completely out of tune with your intentions. This is because their job

pretty much entails being uncaring of your need for peace and quiet

focusing rather on their need to sell you something even if it is at the

most inconvenient moment. This indicates an intent that has negative

forces in it. The call comes exactly when it shouldn't. There are many

instances of this. For example, someone calls, and asks for a person who

has just left. The originator of the call is somehow out of balance,

perhaps being too rushed or impulsive. You can of course see this same

phenomenon in other areas of life beyond phone calls; in letters, in

emails, and others. And of course you are doing it to others as well,

except from your side you are unconscious of it!

Signs Along the Way

Today I brought in my car for a bi-annual oil change. When I arrived, the

person in front of me had lost his wallet and was frantically searching for

it. The fact that he was before me, I found significant, but how?

I then had some lunch at McDonald's. I then returned, but before I

retrieved my car, I went into a Long's Drugs to purchase some fruit and

nuts for my salads. I saw two different products next to one another.

Both were marked 2 for $4. When I went to pay for it, the checkout

person said that the one I selected was not on sale. I know it was

because it was marked so. In fact, both the products were marked so.

The cashier then spoke to a stocking employee who ran it through her

handheld computer and it indicated it was not on sale. It was clear then

the big label next to the product I purchased indicating 2 for $4 should

not have been there. I informed the cashier on the way out that the item

was marked wrong, after she gave me my money back. (I did not buy the

item.)

When I went to pick up my car, I was surprised that they charged $79

instead of $29 for the oil change. I asked why. He said it was due to the

fact that I agreed to synthetic oil. I assumed synthetic was the lower

grade and thus $29, but I was misinformed! I forgot that the last time I

was there I purchased the higher grade, i.e. synthetic oil for the oil

change. So he was right. He saw my past transaction and assumed I

would understand. I just didn't remember, however. I then told them

they should explain clearly the difference each time we purchase it, for

after all we only come twice a year. (I was making a practical suggestion,

yet somehow an anguished one.)


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At each point, I saw the connection to the other events. To the man who

was there with the wallet before me when I checked in to get the oil

change one hour earlier; to the problem with the purchase of fruit and

nuts for my salad five minutes earlier. And also the fact that the day

before I went through precisely the same situation at another location

when I went to purchase a candy bar. I.e. marked as cheaper, but not in

the computer as such!

As I walked out of the Quality Tune-up, I felt emotion, yet I tried to keep

calm. I was relaxed soon after. In the past, I would have been three

times as mad as I was after making the $79 payment for the oil change.

Now I have the mental knowledge of the flow of life to get too riled up.

Besides, I took responsibility for everything under the assumption that

the outer is a reflection to the outer.

I started to write up this entire affair. Within one minute, I got a call for a

potentially very lucrative business arrangement involving project

management. My reasonably rational approach to the situation attracted.

I held back blaming, and the response came. The energy could have been

dissipated, but it still remained. A phone call of an old business associate

suddenly came out of the blue with a great opportunity.

PS Consecration (i.e. offering the matter to the Spirit beforehand) and

inner status of living in the depths and therefore calm could have

eliminated all of the problems to begin with, indicating the scope of my

further growth.

Update to the story: Just a few hours after this story occurred, I looked in

one of my kitchen closets and found a bag of nuts/fruits that my

roommate had just purchased! It was the only new thing in the closet!

Vast Accomplishment by Following the Flow of Life

Watch life closely, there is a marvelous flow to its movements -- in

particular, to the unfolding of events. To be in touch with that unfolding is

to experience the Marvel. When we are in our higher consciousness, we

recognize this flow in all its wonder. When we are in a lower state, we

miss this miracle.

If a computer operating system requires an online upgrade, we initially

balk and anguish at the fact, as it blocks us from following the normal

routine we are attached to. But when we are in a higher, more mindful

and sensitive state, we recognize its need, release our distress, and take

up the necessary activities and actions that life is now pointing to. Then


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when we return to the fresh, new things that had to unfold, we see how

necessary it was in the larger scheme of things.

In addition, each substitute task we are asked to undertake -- such as

cleaning the kitchen while the OS installs on the computer -- will produce

important results. It may even attract an instance of sudden good

fortune. E.g., while cleaning, a friend you haven't heard from in years

suddenly contacts you with excellent news.

Lao Tzu wrote the Tao de Ching. It concerns itself with the true Flow of

life, the unfolding of events that we can recognize and partake it at any

moment in time. When we are in touch with that flow, it unfolds like a

miracle, as we know precisely in which direction to turn, and as a result

are constantly securing life's cooperation. When we are inwardly

anchored from a silent poise, we are more conscious of the subtle needs

of our surroundings. That enables us to know which direction to turn,

which allows us to make right decisions that lead to perfect outcomes.

From that poise of silent mindfulness, we engender vast success, which

tends to take shape through incidents of sudden good fortune. This

continuous luck flows in our direction, and in return we ourselves

contribute to and augment the Flow of Life.

Vast Accomplishment by Following the Flow of Life

Watch life closely, there is a marvelous flow to its movements -- in

particular, to the unfolding of events. To be in touch with that unfolding is

to experience the Marvel. When we are in our higher consciousness, we

recognize this flow in all its wonder. When we are in a lower state, we

miss this miracle.

If a computer operating system requires an online upgrade, we initially

balk and anguish at the fact, as it blocks us from following the normal

routine we are attached to. But when we are in a higher, more mindful

and sensitive state, we recognize its need, release our distress, and take

up the necessary activities and actions that life is now pointing to. Then

when we return to the fresh, new things that had to unfold, we see how

necessary it was in the larger scheme of things.

In addition, each substitute task we are asked to undertake -- such as

cleaning the kitchen while the OS installs on the computer -- will produce

important results. It may even attract an instance of sudden good

fortune. E.g., while cleaning, a friend you haven't heard from in years

suddenly contacts you with excellent news.


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Lao Tzu wrote the Tao de Ching. It concerns itself with the true Flow of

life, the unfolding of events that we can recognize and partake it at any

moment in time. When we are in touch with that flow, it unfolds like a

miracle, as we know precisely in which direction to turn, and as a result

are constantly securing life's cooperation. When we are inwardly

anchored from a silent poise, we are more conscious of the subtle needs

of our surroundings. That enables us to know which direction to turn,

which allows us to make right decisions that lead to perfect outcomes.

From that poise of silent mindfulness, we engender vast success, which

tends to take shape through incidents of sudden good fortune. This

continuous luck flows in our direction, and in return we ourselves

contribute to and augment the Flow of Life.

Reading Life’s Subtle (and Not So Subtle) Signs

As we carry on our lives, do we ever stop to consider what it is we truly

believe in; i.e. where we place our faith in our pursuit of personal

happiness and fulfillment? Let's consider a gradation of possibility.

At each moment, life is presenting itself in all of its aspects. Moreover, we

have opportunity to perceive any and all of its subtle and not so subtle

shadings. How can we do that?

Sri Aurobindo tells us in The Life Divine that if we develop an inner

orientation, stationed in the subliminal or even psychic (soul) being, we

develop a more harmonic relationship with life around us, and as a result

are able to detect its varied conditions and subtle signs. In addition,

through our detection of the truth of those circumstance, we are able to

make the right decisions that attract the most fortuitous outcomes.

An example of this dynamic occurred the other day, though it occurred

from the negative side. Let me explain.

It was around 2:15 PM and I thought I had some extra time to visit a

department store before going to my 3:00 PM eye doctor appointment.

When I then entered the clothing outlet, I headed over to the men’s

department to see if they had any shirts I might purchase. After I picked

one out, I headed over to the checkout line to make my payment.

However, the line was backed up, with a number of people ahead of me.

One inclination on my part was to view this as a bad sign because (1) I

could be late to my doctor meeting, and (2) that it was a subtle sign of

some other problem to come. E.g. perhaps I was making a mistake in

purchasing the shirt because it might not fit, or get severely wrinkled on


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first washing. Another part of me was inclined to just remain quiet and

see what happens. It turns out, I took the latter approach.

Though I had the opportunity to consecrate the matter, i.e. offer it to the

spiritual Force for maximum positive results, I did not have the

wherewithal to engage in that act. Instead, I simply walked to at the back

of the line, and waited my turn.

Well it quickly became obvious that the line was moving very slowly

despite the availability of ten checkout counters. When I finally moved

toward the beginning of the line, a series of ludicrous events began to

take place.

You see, there were now two parties ahead of me. When the party at the

front of the line was summoned to go to the next cashier, she missed the

signal, as she was speaking enthusiastically on her cell phone. The party

behind her therefore went ahead to the cashier. When the lady on the cell

phone got wind of this, she began to fume. In addition, the couple that

had gone before her were having great difficulty getting checked out

because they did not speak English very well. Moreover, over to the right,

a cashier who could have served the woman with the cell phone had

suddenly bolted off somewhere. Now the lady with the cell phone was

really fuming.

Though she was finally served, the couple with the language problem who

had earlier gone around her, were continuing to run into problems. As I

carefully observed them (perhaps not the nest things to do), they still

labored to be checked out. When they finally completed their

transactions, I went to that checkout stand. However, when I arrived

there, the cashier could not enter her password into the system, as she

was a trainee at the store! Her manager was trying to help her type in

the right code. When she finally logged in, she had trouble scanning the

shirt I picked out. From there, it got even worse.

At one point I somewhat bluntly spoke up to the trainee and overseeing

manager, and told them that I would like to leave the store without

making the purchase, which is in fact what I did. I then proceeded to my

eye appointment and deeply consecrated that event for several reasons I

won’t enjoin here. The appointment turned out very well.

This was obviously an extreme example of the signs of life. In this case,

very negative; or at least negative from my own perspective given the

conditions I perceived around me. This was a very ease one to call.

Interestingly however, when one is centered in the depths, in a Witness

Consciousness, silently observing life, one can perceive even the most

subtle signs of life, enabling one to make the right decisions, take to the

right attitude, etc. In fact, you could say when one has developed the

subtle sense of life around us, nothing is all that subtle, as we perceive


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every sign in a dramatic way. Each clue becomes enhanced in our

consciousness, whereas the average person would hardly notice it at all.

Life has a Character, and it is constantly presenting itself to us. What is

needed from our side is how to read those visible or invisible, i.e. subtle

signs. The first line of insight is to properly translate what our senses are

telling us. But that alone is hardly enough, and must go much further, as

we need to relate to the unseen inner conditions presenting themselves

at the time. For example, in the episode above, one needed to consider

the unseen issue of whether I would make my appointment on time.

Another is whether I actually needed to purchase another shirt,

considering its utility and expense. Another would have been to know the

conditions of the store in terms of service, new staffing, general business

at that time, etc.

Thus from an inner poise, we can read the signs in terms of a multitude

of dimensions. Some are at the level of what our senses perceive,

including the visual and auditory. Others are environmental,

circumstantial, and at the decision level of the mind. Fortunately, from an

inner poise, we have more of the intuitive sense of things, as the wide

variety of conditions and influences at play enter our minds as thought

waves from out of nowhere. In this way, the subtle signs are not just

what the senses perceive as the actualities, but include all of the

influences at all planes of being at play in the episode. And from this

multi-sided intuitive view, we can make decisions that are the correct

ones for those circumstance, which in turn evoke their own positive

results.

In addition to developing the intuitive sense through an inner orientation

rather than mere surface orientation and observation, it is also very

helpful to understand certain fundamental principles of life that will help

us behave in ways that will enable life to work on our behalf. It is here

that Sri Karmayogi and other have provided a wealth of insight. E.g. we

know that impatient will evoke negative response, so why not be calm in

those situations (which tends to evoke sudden positive response).

Similarly, stilling the mind will have a similar effect, as will opening to the

Spirit, which tends to instantly set right life’s circumstance; in terms of

time, space, general atmosphere, goodwill, etc.

From another perspective we see that it is important to maintain our

connection with the “Field.” Through inner poise, one tends to be more

fully Present in the current moment, maintaining an acute and keen

sense of awareness of the unfoldings around us. That ability to be One

with the field is ultimately determined by our capacity to be fully

absorbed in the present moment; i.e. the Eternal Now.


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Then how does one maintain that inner poise that does not lose touch

with the Field; that is open to the knowledge of the actualities and

possibilities that comes through an intuitive sense?

Karmayogi says that constant consecration forges the inner link for us.

Over time, we simply move into that Subliminal poise on its own.

Through constant consecration over several years, we simply fall into that

inner calm that serenely looks out onto the world, and perceives the

Truths unfolding, spontaneously and without thought. Intuitions of the

actualities at all planes simply enters the mind, and one has the

knowledge of which way to behave and act. As a result, life fully

cooperates with every inner movement we make.

The Ticket

Being open to and following a subtle sign and its indication will get you

directly to the solution to that problem or opportunity. This is not the way

life is currently practiced. We instead go through an ordeal -- involving

elongated space, time, and sequence -- to arrive at the end goal. The

first is the supramental, truth consciousness approach; the latter the

human way which we can learn to discard.

Example: a man got a ticket for what he thought was parking on a street

allowed only for the local community. He was going to pay the ticket,

which required a check to be sent in for a substantial amount. He had

actually gotten the ticket after taking a pleasant walk in a park, and also

stopping at McDonald’s for some coffee. He was surprised and

disappointed when he walked up to the car and saw the ticket.

Now 10 days later and about to mail in the payment, he noticed on the

citation that the officer who wrote the ticket was named Officer

MacDonald! He then went to his friend to show him the “coincidence,”

seeing it as both humorous and significant. The friend was amused as

well.

However, when she further examined the citation, she discovered that it

was NOT a parking ticket at all, but one having to do with the registration

of the car. Moreover, if proof of registration was provided, the citation

amount would be dramatically reduced. As a result, the man now

followed this path, by providing registration documentation; and the

much smaller amount was forwarded to the required party.

In other words, as a result of perceiving the subtle sign of the officer’s

name being MacDonald, an entirely different course was taken, saving


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money, time, and effort. By acceding to the subtle sign life was providing,

much trouble was avoided.

Life is changing. It is my belief that humanity will increasingly develop

the consciousness to perceive such subtle indicators, giving us a vast

power over space, time, sequence, and effort.

On the other hand, if we consecrate such activities in the first place, then

these sorts of problems will tend not to arise at all, as life conditions will

automatically be set right.

Fully Engaging the Acts of Life

There are hundreds, even thousands of acts we engage in the course of

the day. Though each requires a certain amount of time and effort to

perform, from a millisecond to hours, we tend to move out of balance

with it and its needs. Often that has to do with our inability to give the

act the proper level of attention; the compulsions and influences of our

lower vital/emotional being; and the tendency to move out of alignment

with the Present by being overly influenced by the push and pull of the

past and future.

And yet if we develop a subtle sense and observe closely, we will see

exactly how long each act should take, how much of our attention is

required, the patience or determination necessary, and the

meticulousness needed to produce a perfectly positive outcome.

E.g. as you engage the act of washing the dishes, you sense if you are

giving it your proper attention; whether you are rushing it in the name of

some future action you wish to get to; etc.

Now your mind stands back for an instant and senses how long that act

should take; what level of your attention is required; what degree of

patience is demanded, etc. As a result, you reengage the act and move

forward with the right rhythm, creating a result that is nearly perfect.

Moreover, the actions that follow it tend to flow harmoniously from that

point forward.

Through the smallest act, you have discovered the rhythms of the

universe, which you have now moved into perfect alignment with.


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The Miraculous as Commonplace

Miracles are actually the norm in life. E.g. when the conditions around us

suddenly turn positive due to a shift in our attitudes, a miracle has taken

place. Space and time have instantaneously been overcome when the

result appears before us. What is more miraculous than that?

Moreover, such miracles occur hundreds of thousands if not many tens of

millions of times a day in the world. It also occurs negatively, which is

also miraculous.

The problem is that our ability to perceive these events is infinitely

limited by our level of consciousness. Living on the surface, we do not

see the subtle yet stunning causality at work. In other words, we miss

the Wonder of Existence.

And because we miss the daily miracles of life response, there is no inner

compulsion to CONSCIOUSLY evoke it; to make it happen at our beck and

call. Instead we wait on fate, hoping that the fruits of our efforts will lead

to some level of happiness and success in life.

And so the miracle-generating apparatus within us lays dormant, unused,

waiting for the conscious among us to pull the levers that evoke

instantaneous miraculousness in life.

Then who will make the decision to consciously evoke these miracles on a

regular basis? Is it you? Is it something you see the value in? Are you

sincerely ready to take it up in full, or is it a mere passing fancy? The

difference between these two dynamics is a life of the ordinary vs. the

Life of the Extraordinary. The choice is yours.

Return Trip & Miraculous Power of the Force

We have continually witnessed the power of the supramental Force, i.e.

Mother’s Force, to quickly set right the conditions of life. In a recent

episode, I experienced this phenomenon at work multiple times in

succession, defying all human logic and possibility. Here is my story:

I was scheduled to do a training class at a major corporation in

Sunnyvale, California in the heart of Silicon Valley. I had to fly up from

Southern California to the San Francisco Bay Area late one evening, rent

a car at the San Francisco Airport, drive to the motel in Sunnyvale 38

miles away, get up the next morning and do the class, and then in the

latter afternoon begin my return journey to Long Beach in reverse order.


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Considering the fact that the highway system is now completely jammed

in Silicon Valley these days because of the boom there, it was a daunting

prospect. A 30-mile drive could take over 2 hours or more during rush

hour.

As it turns out, my trip from Long Beach to the Bay Area, though

somewhat intense, went smoothly for the most part, more or less as I

expected. However, the trip back was a different story. It was filled with

adventure, the unbelievable, and the miraculous. Here is what happened

I knew the return journey would be difficult, as I was going to be driving

in the midst of the rush hour from Sunnyvale to the San Francisco

Airport. However, I caught my anxiety, detached from focusing on any

particular outcome, and consecrated that upcoming trip.

My driving strategy from Sunnyvale to SFO was to avoid the two main

highways going south to north because they would likely be jammed.

Instead I decided to take the El Camino Real, a 50-mile-long street that

runs all the way from Silicon Valley through San Francisco. Often in the

past when I lived in the Bay Area I used it as a shortcut to get back

home. I called it “a slow boat to China,” but at least it moved. And yet I

knew in the back of my mind that these days in this latest Silicon Valley

boom even this 3rd or 4th choice of passage, the non-highway El Camino,

could be log-jammed. Still I remained positive. I also had my map app on

my smartphone to inform me where the log jams were appearing on the

El Camino in real time.

And so I left the client's facilities in Sunnyvale ~4:20 pm and headed

over to the El Camino, with its endless shopping centers, motels,

residence, etc. So far so good as I steadily navigated through the towns

of the “South Bay.” However, after a short while I realized that I was

moving forward in fits and starts, which was verified by my Smartphone

Maps app red-dotted street indicators. I also discovered that there was

the possibility of a big rain storm hitting, which I actually took as positive

as it could put out the fires raging north of San Francisco.

In any case, I remained calm. And yet an hour into the ride I realized I

was only half way to my destination, and there was a legitimate chance

that I wouldn’t make the 7pm flight. Also there was the possibility that

the storm would cancel the flight anyway. Though I was ready to inform

my roommate down in Long Beach of these possibilities, I held on and

kept silent. I continued to consecrate in the back of my mind.

Now here is where the story gets interesting. Time for the flight is ticking

down. After two hours on the El Camino I got off the street and drove

over an overpass that took me to the extremely busy Hwy 101 heading

directly for the airport. Was the highway also going to be jammed?

Fortunately, it turned out not to me. Another good sign. I then drove a


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few miles and came to my first stop; the car rental area where I had to

return my rented vehicle. When I arrived on the 3rd floor, there was a big

backup, and I was all the way on the back. However, I remained calm

and did not emotionally react. Then suddenly out of nowhere a check-out

attendant greeted me and quickly processed the checkout of the car. That

was a startling change, I thought! Actually, I was amazed, yet subtly

tuned into the fact that the Force was behind these outcomes.

But now I had to get to the airport via the AirTram, the overhead

driverless rapid transit system that went two miles or so deep into the

airport terminal system. At this point I recalled the vast effort I had to

make the day before upon arriving at SFO; the exhausting situation; the

fact that I had to stop every few minutes because of the strain; and now

once again my bags were getting very heavy. With these thoughts in

mind, I felt even more exhausted and barely had enough energy to walk

to the escalator still 100 yards ahead. And so I stopped in my tracks, and

then took a deep breath.

But then I quickly noticed that there was an elevator that could take me

more easily to the AirTram above me. I pressed the button and hopped

in. When in the elevator I immediately encountered a young, friendly,

well-dressed young man leaning on his luggage cart containing his own

baggage. I asked him where one could rent one of these and he informed

me that it was actually free, provided by the airport. "I could really use

one of those right now" I thought, and I could see he had the same idea

in mind for me. We then got off the elevator and began to wait for the

AirTram. However, within a few seconds the young man pointed to a

single, lone unused luggage cart on the platform that was almost directly

in front of me. Needless to say I immediately grabbed onto it. Wow that

was incredible, I thought! No more schlepping my luggage to the far end

of the huge airport. Not only had the baggage been heavy, but the weight

was slowing me down, as time was ticking away and the departure of my

flight was imminent!

A moment later I hopped onto the futuristic-like AIrTram that circled the

airport, and two minutes later I was getting ready to exit at the

International terminal. As I was getting off I looked to my left and there

was the young man who pointed out the cart now winking at me as if to

say “I am happy to have found the cart for you and good luck the rest of

your way!“ As I wheeled the cart through the terminal I thought about

him as a kind of guardian angel: the wink and smile he gave me being

the confirmation. It was yet another opening of light on this dizzying path

toward my goal; even as time still seemed hopelessly stacked against

me.

But now before I could get to the end of the terminal which was still a

long distance, I had to get through security! Again I wondered how in the


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world I would get to the flight in time. I imagined that it must be lining

up for departure now, etc. However, I still kept my faith; and so far, in

the past half hour or so, life had cooperated fully.

In the past when I went through airline terminals I had special privileges

to move through TSA security rather fast. Recently I had apparently lost

those privileges. And so as I approached security, I prepared myself for a

long wait at the back of the line. However, when the guard looked at my

ticket, he waved me through for fast processing, enabling me to avoid

any long line. Not only that but I was the only one at the checkout, plus

the security requirements were next to nothing! This all seemed just too

unbelievable; yet I knew the Force was working for me in every

conceivable way

After less than two minutes of security check - by far the fastest I had

ever experienced - I was on my way to the end of the international

terminal; past British Air, Japan Air and dozens of major airlines. Yet my

airline, JetBlue, was a domestic carrier, the only one in the international

area. Plus, it was stuck at the very back of the International departure

gates! Life was surely testing me to the limit. However, now with the

baggage cart I could move more rapidly, and in conjunction with the

people-mover I was now gliding toward my destination. Still I wondered if

the plane had fully boarded and I would be left out.

When I arrived at the very far end of the international terminal, I was

able to make out the voice of the announcer at my gate, and he seemed

to be indicating that boarding had begun for my flight. I had apparently

made it; and just barely in time! Life had in the last half hour or forty five

minutes magically cleared a path for me. It could only be the result of the

spiritual Force to create these wonder of wonders when life seemed so

stacked against me. Consider that-

--I was stuck on the El Camino with less than an hour to my flight, and

suddenly things opened up when I veered off and got on the highway

leading to the airport

--When I arrived at the car rental it looked like a twenty-minute wait with

many people ahead of me, though it turned out to be just two minutes

--When I was exhausted and thought I had to drag my heavy bags to the

escalator far away, there was suddenly an elevator before me to help me

more easily get to the AirTram.

--When I thought I would have to carry my heavy bags to the far end of

the international terminal, a man appeared on the elevator with a cart

and then pointed out an available one that helped make my day

--When I got to security check out which normally takes 15-20 minutes,

it happened in just two.


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--I sailed through the very long terminal with the aid of the cart and a

fast-moving sidewalk trajectoring me rapidly forward, enabling me to

arrive in the gist of time.

Life had cleared the way at every point. It had cooperated with my faith

that was the guiding light at my side. It became an occasion for one

miraculous-like event to dovetail into the next in a symphony of the

Unimagined.

As I shook my head on line for departure of my flight, I took breath and

recognized the magic carpet ride I had just been on. “Wouldn’t this make

for a fine life response story?” I thought to myself as I handed the pass

to the attendant to step into the plane that would now take me home.

Life Mirrors Our Nature, though in Subtle Variation

According to the principle of inner-outer correspondence everything

happening outside ourselves is a reflection of our consciousness within.

Therefore, we can always discover the outer event mirroring something in

our nature.

However often that correspondence may not be very obvious and direct.

Often it may be difficult to detect the inner quality in ourselves that

mirrors the outer circumstance. One needs to seek out a VARIATION in

attitude to see the inner-outer connection.

For example, say something bad happens in our sales efforts, such as the

cancellation of a contract by the client. We then perceive that it is due to

the recklessness of one of our salespeople. Being conscious of such

things, we now seek to see the inner correspondence, and conclude that

we ourselves are not reckless. So, we then ask how does the outer

negative of the salesperson and cancelled account reflect something in

me?

However, when we think deeply about it and review our lives, we realize

that we have actually been acting insensitively and callously to certain

members of our non-sales staff. It is not recklessness, but it is close in

that insensitivity and callousness show a disregard for others; same as

with recklessness. As a result, now we see the correspondence between

our behavior and the lost sales account, and hopefully are conscious

enough to make the inner effort to change.

We see something similar occurring in families, where a grown-up child

rebels against a parent's negative behaviors and beliefs in a particular


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area, when actually demonstrating a very similar, though not exact same

negative trait with their own children. Eg one may rebel against the

blatant materialism of one's parent, yet may pamper one's child to no

end, causing them to become spoiled rotten. Pampering is a variation of

materialism, just redirecting the attachment in a somewhat different way.

Now we can perceive correspondence between our parent's negativity

and our own.

This all indicates that inner-outer correspondence may not always be very

direct and obvious to our understanding, yet it occurs nevertheless, in

subtle and not so subtle shadings.

Outer life events still reflect our positive and negative attitudes and

behaviors, even if we don't at first recognize them in the mirror.

Contemplating Causes that Have Thrust Us Forward

This time of the year often compels us to look back on our lives. If we are

truly conscious, we will be particularly interested in how the past shaped

us; made us who we are.

One aspect is to recognize those individuals who directly had a hand in

our progress; our movement forward. Though we may think we've

progressed due to our own efforts, we may forget those people and our

critical moments with them that shaped the course of our lives.

One way of looking at that is to consider what attracted their critical

inputs in the first place. E.g. one man was catapulted into the spiritual life

by a close friend. And yet it was because the recipient's father had

nurtured that friend over the course of years that the recipient attracted

the great benefit from the friend. It was goodwill of the father toward

another coming back to the son.

In another instance, the same man found a link between the spirit and a

new-found career, melding them together, from another friend a few

years later. Again, it was a response to something; but to what? Looking

back, he realized it was due to his own deep Aspiration to find work

where he could apply the spirit. And he found exactly what he was

looking for through this friend!

In this way, each of us can look back on our lives and see the correlation

between the response that thrust us forward and the underlying cause

that attracted it. We can see it emerging from an aspiration within

ourselves, but also from outside influences that altered the cause of

events in our favor.


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Big Life Lessons from a Big Tree Branch

One life principle that periodically presents itself is that one should avoid

reminiscing about past mini-disasters; otherwise, new ones will suddenly

descend on you.

Recent Example: A man reminisced with his friend about small negative

experiences each had in their childhood. Both exchanged several stories

about troubled events.

A little while later the man went for a drive. When he parked his car,

another car - a craftsman's truck, - drove into an empty space just in

front of his car and nearly banged into it. When the worker got out of his

car, he grimaced as his wrist suddenly hurt.

The first man then walked around the block for some exercise. When he

returned near his parking space on the street, he saw that a gigantic tree

overhead had collapsed and fallen on the three cars behind his! He was

very lucky that the huge eucalyptus tree branch didn't destroy his own

vehicle.

There are two points to note here. One is that a small event will indicate

a much larger one to come. When the worker man nearly knocked into

the first man's car and then indicated pain in his wrist, it was an

indication of the big tree collapse to come.

Second, as mentioned at the outset, blithely discussing earlier disasters

invariably attacks more of them soon after.

One other point: Had the first man recognized the situation from an inner

perspective and consecrated the near collision of the worker's car into

his, the tree falling incident never would have happened.


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PART 3: PRINCIPLES OF ACTS

Nature of Acts

The Subtle Science of Acts

Introduction to Acts

The master word of life is an act. When we function in the world we do so

through the individual acts we perform. Thus the act is the fundamental

unit of life, much in the same way that the atom or molecule are the

fundamental units of matter. In fact, an act is a microcosm of the

universe; i.e. the universe in miniature. All the forces and factors that

exert their influence in life in the universe are represented at the level of

the individual act, and reveal their characteristic role at that level. This is

particularly relevant when we consider our ability to accomplish in life.

There are a series of principles of life that directly relate to acts, the most

general of which is that is that the timing, sequence, quality and intensity

of an act influences its outcome. Acts that lack any of these qualities fail

to produce results, i.e. fail to accomplish. E.g. acts that occur in the

wrong sequence, or at the wrong time, or without the necessary intensity

will not produce results. On the other hand, acts that are positive in all of

these criteria have a very strong propensity for accomplishment. Now let

us examine some of the more specific principles of acts, many of which

will defy our normal views of what is probable and logical, overcoming

our limited views of cause and effect, and space and time.

Acts Repeat

The first principle we present about acts -- and an extraordinary one at

that -- is that they tend to repeat. The greater the intensity of the force

and the more times it repeats, the greater its capacity for further

repetition. The quality and intensity of the force express in each


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subsequent repetition of the act. Here's are several example of a

repetition of an act.

-In Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice Darcy’s initial refusal to dance

with Eliza at the Meryton dance repeats as Eliza’s initial refusal to

dance with Darcy when he asks her during her stay at Netherfield

Hall.

-"One day I was watching a TV program. In the middle of the show I

received a phone call from a friend of mine. While listening to my

friend I sensed that there was some connection between her and the

program I was just watching. Months passed, and I found myself

watching a rerun of this same program. What was incredible was that

I noticed that I received a call from this same friend at the exact

same moment I was watching the identical scene on television from

that person. There was more to it, however. I noticed that my friend

on the phone was having problems with an individual who had the

exact same rather complex Asian name as the person on the show."

As we begin to see how acts repeat in our lives -- defying our normal

perceptions of how life unfolds -- we can begin to benefit from our

observations. E.g. we can learn to perceive when to take, or not take,

actions based on a pervious occurrence of the act. That is, if you know

the pattern of a repetition of an act, especially a negative one, you can

overcome its ability to repeat in the future. So if a man who becomes ill

every five years, can note its frequency, assume that the illness is likely

to repeat in another years, and take precautions to prevent its

reoccurrence when the next iteration rolls around. He can say "ah here it

is coming on again. I am over-stressed again in this cycle, which is what

ordinarily brings on the repetition. I will take actions to prevent such

reoccurrence." Now as a result of perceiving the coming repetition, this

individual has changed the course of his life.

Consider one other real life experience, where an individual saw a

repetition of an act that expressed negatively, and then was able to avoid

it the second time, i.e. when it would have normally repeated:

A computer consultant worked on a consulting project for a number of

hours and days only to find out that he could not do the project

because of his limiting skills. It was clear from the onset that he might

not be able to do it. In fact, as it turned out he was unable to do it for

the client, honestly explained it to the client, who were grateful of his

honesty, and had now found a company who could do it. On the other

hand the consultant wasted a lot of time. As it turned out the project

was later completed by the other consulting company in fine order. A

few months later the consultant was asked if he could help the same

client with another project. Again it was an area out just out of his


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expertise, even though he had had a little experience with the

program many years before. This time remembering that acts repeat,

he knew that he would likely be wasting a lot of time if he were to

take it on. He firmly decided not to take on the project because of the

likelihood that the current situation was likely to be a repetition of the

same situation that happened initially.

Thus from pattern recognition of the repetition of acts one has the insight

to change, i.e. to negate or reinforce, the future. It is a miracle of insight

into the workings of life, including understandings of the true, subtle

nature of space of time. If we are conscious we will be able to recognize

the patterns; if we are not, the likelihood of seeing the patterns and

reversing them is very limited. In summary then there are at least two

ways to prevent a repetition. The first is an action or will on our part

related to the act that is more powerful than the force that wants to

repeat. The other is our recognition of the pattern in the first place, which

has the power to cancel the next iteration. In other words we can be

aware of life's patterns of repetitions of acts, and then we can consciously

control the next repetition. We have that conscious power in life.

Instead of Repeating, Acts Reverse

As each act is a force, it has a tendency to repeat. However, when the

force of the act is insufficient for repetition or meets an obstacle that

prevents it from accomplishing in a particular direction, the energy of the

act may reverse course and express in a direction opposite to the original

act.

Examples:

-In Pride and Prejudice Eliza facetiously asks Collins whether it would

be appropriate for him to attend the Netherfield ball. Her intention is

to discourage him from attending. He responds by asking her for the

first two dances, which she had hoped to reserve for Wickham. “Her

liveliness had never been worse timed.” Her clever comment is

insufficient to discourage Collins who sees the dance as an

opportunity to promote his courtship with her, so it provides him with

an unexpected opening to further his plan. Her cleverness backfires.

-In Pride and Prejudice Darcy conceals Jane’s presence in London

from Bingley. At Rosings Fitzwilliam unintentionally reveals to Eliza

Darcy’s interference between Jane and Bingley. The original act of

intentional concealment gets reversed as an act of unintentional

disclosure.


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Initial Occurrence Portents Repetitions, Final Outcome

A related phenomenon we have experienced is how the initial occurrence

of an event is often an indicator of how that thing will end up in the end.

Here's an example:

A company could not afford to pay a trainer a reasonable fee in the

beginning of their relationship. The trainer, though not completely

happy with the arrangement, accepted the fee, continued to work

with the company, and eventually begin to receive higher fees

through hard work. At the end of the relationship, however, the

training company went through some problems, and had to cut the

trainer's income back to the original lower level. Despite changes

along the way, the initial occurrence indicated the final outcome.

Here's another example where the initial occurrence portended the final

outcome:

A man was eager to have a first meeting with the owners of a small

company. He spoke to one of the principles who gave him directions

to get to the location. When he arrived in the general vicinity of the

business, he got lost based on the directions or perhaps on his own

lack of following the directions. He went round and round in circles

for twenty minutes. This really upset him since this meeting was one

of the key turning points in the young man's life.

Finally he found the place, and had a good meeting. As a result of the

meeting he established a relationship with the company. A few years

later he established his own company a distributor of the products of

the other company. After an initial few years of success, his company

faltered, and in a few years ended in bankruptcy.

Finally, here's one other dramatic example where the nature of the result

of a work can be seen in the first step:

A consultant was on his way to meet with a Fortune 500 company for

the first time to discuss the organization of its accounting systems. He

was to meet with his contact, and then meet with the client. Just after

he parked his car in a downtown garage, he heard and saw a huge

explosion that turned into a fireball 10 stories high just one block

from the client's office building! It startled him and many on the

street. A moment later he found out that the explosion was part of a

Hollywood movie stunt, and therefore did no harm. Still he was

shaking when he arrived at the client.

Knowing that an event such as this could be a sign of other things, he

asked his contact after the meeting if there were things he should know

about that were going on behind the scenes between the contact and the


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client. The contact then admitted that in fact things had gotten bad with

the client; that he was in the process of losing the account, and he had

hoped that the consultant's involvement could improve the situation. In

the end the consultant never got the work. Somehow, given the events

of the day (i.e. the explosion), he was not surprised. (Update Months

later another situation involved a client in a nearby location, which turned

out also to be troubled and also did not work out.)

Coincidence?

These are examples of one interesting life law. There are many other

interesting generally unseen laws of life. We say that these seemingly

logic-defying happenings are random occurrences, or that they are

"chance" or "coincidence." Our own observations and experiences has

been the opposite. We believe that these are in fact hidden laws of life,

including these phenomenon of cycles and repetitions, that occur with

great precision and regularity. What is responsible for these cycles and

phenomenon of life remains a mystery, but the fact that they occur is a

certainty.

Most importantly we can learn from these occurrences. By observing life

closely we can gain clues to help us make decisions on what to do (or not

to do), or how to respond to a person or events. In other words, this

"inner" knowledge, if applied correctly, can help us achieve and succeed

at higher levels in life.

Predecessor Events Indicate Main Event

Another fascinating phenomenon of life is that anything good or bad that

is going to happen to you is already indicated by something that occurred

earlier to you. E.g. the day before a woman gets terrible news that her

sister has eloped with a scoundrel in the military, she was deeply

bothered when hearing that the scoundrel's military outfit may have left

town. In this way the previous day's occurrence is a predecessor of the

major event that is to follow.

You can study any work of fiction and see how any major event was

foreshadowed by a negative circumstance earlier. It is also absolutely

true for the real world as well. It is a major rule of the working of life,

and there are no exceptions!

If we are vigilant, we can thus see the signs of major coming events.

Also, if we can learn to avoid negative situations in the first place that

might for the forerunners of the successor event. We can even use


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spiritual means to overcome the successor event if we can identify our

negative behavior or action in the first place and offer it to the Divine.

One's Speech Indicates Coming Event

A corollary of this phenomenon of predecessor to main events is that

whatever you speak in one moment announces in some fashion what is to

come in the next moment. This is especially obvious true when you fell or

express something negative.

A woman in a somewhat negative tone suggested to another that her

mother doesn't like exuberant children, and therefore spends the day

upstairs. After expressing this she reads a letter indicating a negative

elopement with one of those children her mother liked to avoid.

The lesson? Be careful of your negative tone; you might be attracting

sudden negative fortune your way.

Simultaneity

A related phenomenon we have witnessed is that acts and events that

occur at the same time are related, no matter how unconnected they

appear on the surface. In fact, the relation sometimes reveals itself later

on as a physical connection between people or events.

A consultant was working with his client to develop a software

program. While discussing its distribution and marketing an affiliate

partner of the client called the client, at which point the client

explained to the affiliate of the client about the work the consultant

was doing on the new software program. The affiliate didn't know

about the program. A number of months later when the marketing of

the program came up again at the location of the client, the affiliate of

the client was there too. This was remarkable since the consultant

was rarely at the client's location; nor the affiliate. Yet there they

were all discussing the marketing of the product, just as the initial

phone call occurrence.

Whenever acts and events occur at the same time, no matter how far

apart, or how seemingly unrelated on the surface, they are related at a

level of life, which will often later show itself at some physical level. In

addition, this phenomenon often represents a psychological parallel

between the thoughts or attitudes of different people who are involved.

A man received an email from a friend, at the same time that an

order came in from a client. These were the only two emails. It turns

out that the client's organization had the same ethical and spiritual

interests as the friend's.


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So the next time you see a number of things that happen at the same

time, not the relationship between the people and the circumstance under

which it occurs. It is likely to repeat sometime in the future, perhaps as a

physical connection amongst the people as it relates to the same area.

Aligning with The Cosmic Governance

"A world of endless possibilities and infinite outcomes. Countless choices

define our fate: each choice, each moment, a moment in the ripple of

time. Enough ripple, and you change the tide…... for the future is never

truly set." (from film X-Men, Days of Future Past)

Thinking about this - i.e. free will, our role in destiny, our power to

change the world, etc. - from the spiritual point of view, we can say that

there is an overall Cosmic Governance and determinism. Also, there is an

individual governance (through the Psychic being) which has itself

planted itself in our essence in order to acquire certain types of

experiences. Also, at any time, our acts vary anywhere from lower

consciousness (swabhava) to higher consciousness. When they reach a

certain intensity, right atmosphere, it's time for life to respond.

Sometimes we may align consciously or unconsciously (or

subconsciously) with the Cosmic Governance, Life would then respond in

greater magnitude. As a result, we would grow and evolve faster than

what we are now, and maybe we even could become the instrument of

the Divine to bring forth His cosmic intention. Yet, as indicated in the

film, the choices are infinite. We could align now, in the future, in the

next birth, and so forth.

On the opposite side, the lower consciousness acts also when we reach a

certain intensity causing life to respond negatively, resulting in Karmic

Effect. Yet, they do serve a purpose as well -- i.e. for the Psychic to learn

through those experiences through which it is seeking to learn and grow

in Life.

In 'Pride and Prejudice,' the Cosmic Governance was to unify the class

difference among the people to avoid revolutionary movement. The

opportunity to align with it came to Darcy in the very beginning. He chose

not to align by calling Eliza "tolerable". The result was a ripple of

experiences, which gave greater lessons for his Psychic being. He was

fortunate to learn them quickly, undoing the past and aligning with the

cosmic movement, even becoming an instrument of it.


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Instead of Repeating, Acts Reverse

As each act is a force, it has a tendency to repeat. However, when the

force of the act is insufficient for repetition or meets an obstacle that

prevents it from accomplishing in a particular direction, the energy of the

act may reverse course and express in a direction opposite to the original

act.

Examples:

-In Pride and Prejudice, Eliza facetiously asks Collins whether it would be

appropriate for him to attend the Netherfield ball. Her intention is to

discourage him from attending. He responds by asking her for the first

two dances, which she had hoped to reserve for Wickham. “Her liveliness

had never been worse timed.” Her clever comment is insufficient to

discourage Collins who sees the dance as an opportunity to promote his

courtship with her, so it provides him with an unexpected opening to

further his plan. Her cleverness backfires.

-In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy conceals Jane’s presence in London from

Bingley. At Rosings, Fitzwilliam unintentionally reveals to Eliza Darcy’s

interference between Jane and Bingley. The original act of intentional

concealment gets reversed as an act of unintentional disclosure.

Acts

The individual meets life through acts. Individual acts are the

fundamental unit of life and action. They are the building blocks of

activity, and motion, i.e. life. The ways these acts are acted out have an

ultimate effect on the ability of the individual to accomplish in life. Into

every act the individual takes his level of aspiration, capacities and

character, social perception, and meets the social forces around him. The

result and accomplishment is determined by the mix of these forces.

A series of acts make up the interaction, events, situations, and

circumstances of life. We can also perhaps say that the play of life is the

story of how the acts unfold, of whether or not there was

accomplishment. For example, in his plays Shakespeare portrays a series

of acts that occur in a timeline that make up a play. Through a series of

acts, he clearly portrays the individual and social forces, and the

outcomes that result, either good or bad (i.e. tragedies).


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Principles of Acts

When we function in the world we do so through the individual acts we

perform. We can say that the act is the fundamental unit of life in the

same way that the atom or molecule are the fundamental units of matter.

In fact, each act is in fact a microcosm of the universe; the universe in

miniature.

Each act is a force with a propensity to repeat that increase with each

occurrence. Each repetition of an act increases its tendency for further

repetitions. Comment: Each time you meet with a certain person after a

lengthy period of time, the person seems to be the same with all of the

same wanting qualities and limitations. And yet if we consecrate the act

beforehand, we can change those conditions, there will be freshness, as

the other person will show their very best nature. In that way, the natural

repetition of life is overcome.

There are always predecessor events that point to the bigger events. To

know those smaller acts can help us control the bigger ones; turning

them into great accomplishment and results. Comment: A man was

running into great difficulties searching for some lotion before a boat ride,

creating stress. When the boat ride occurred, it was marked by a near

catastrophic accident, which was indicated by the earlier stress of seeking

the lotion.

The outcome of a chain of events is indicated at the very beginning,

though the meaning of that indication may not be evident. Comment:

See above.

The consequences of an act depend on the strength of the act, the actor

and the social atmosphere. Comment: Darcy's initiative in Pride and

Prejudice to resolve the elopement succeeds royally because he was very

determined to do so (and to show Eliza he has changed his nature); plus

the supporting atmosphere, despite obstacles, is very positive.

An individual's ability to accomplish is affected by the social environment

and atmosphere -- which includes the capacities, energies, character, and

circumstance of the social environment and social institutions he is

involved in.

An opportunity taken up in a positive atmosphere supports and enhances

its eventual outcome. Comment: The atmosphere in Pride and Prejudice


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was highly positive, despite obstacles, which ended in the very successful

marriage of three daughters. Life responded positively to the initiative.

When the atmosphere is negative, the initiative will fail, unless the

individual is able overcome the resistance of the atmosphere. Comment:

Two partners tried to make an import business work, yet there was ill-will

against the manufacturers that created such a negative atmosphere that

it led to the failure of the partner's endeavor, even though they tried so

hard to succeed. Their energies were not strong and subtle enough to

combat the resistance.

When there are deficiencies in the act that are greater than the

atmosphere, the act fails. When the capacities are stronger than the

atmosphere, then the act succeeds.

When an individual tries to make a significant progress for improvement

in life, often there appears on the scene a negative influence and counter

force to bring it down. If the person has the significant energy and

character they can overcome this negative influence and move on to the

next level. If they don't they are brought down. Comment: In the film

Unbreakable, when one man rises with extraordinary psychic capacities to

benefit the world around him, a negative force rises -- they are unknown

to each other -- to overcome that positive force. Life has this quality.

The negative is responding to the positive. Fortunately, the positive

individual through his inner strength prevails.

Another Example: A woman had reached maximum prosperity due to her

capacity, but at the same time was threatened by her husband and in

laws to stop praying and apply spiritual principles. She then took a firm

decision, forgetting her future and child, and instead increased her

energy and faith towards her spiritual teacher, and said in her mind to

others "if you don't want me to pray to the Divine and follow the spiritual

principles, I don't want to live with you." The moment when she forgot

the society, its norms and in laws, life responded with a Divine blessing in

the form of birth of a new baby girl. (MSS, with comment by Growth

Online, and a Karmayogi.net forum reader)


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Acts Repeat

Preventing Life from Repeating Negatively

Life has a character just like you and I. It expresses through subtle laws.

One principle is that life tends to repeat; and will go on doing so until

there is a higher understanding. A corollary is that every event that

occurs is indicated beforehand through another event. And there are

absolutely no exceptions to this rule.

Though life can repeat negatively (and we see the predecessor of such an

event), we fortunately have the inner power to prevent its repetition --

avoiding painful, difficult iterations now and in the future. We do that by

perceiving the trends in our own lives, and deciding in our hearts and

minds that it will not occur again, which will have the effect of negating

the negatives. Another approach is to understand the negative repetition

and predecessor and offer it to the Divine. Then it too will not only cease

to repeat in the short run, but the wanting behavior can be permanently

removed from our being, while evoking startling positive outcomes in the

process.

Let's examine a practical occurrence of these two interrelated principles -

- repetition and predecessor events -- through a negative situation in a

work of fiction. Then we'll examine how an understanding and access to

Spirit not only cancelled a repeating, predecessor-inducing negative, but

elicited staggering positive outcomes, including a fundamental change in

a friend's nature.

In the recent (2010) British Masterpiece Classic series Downton Abbey,

we observe a kitchen staff working in the basement of a great estate,

preparing meals for the owners and dignitaries who gather there in the

British countryside. In this particular incident, the main cook has been

asked by the Lady of the manor if she can prepare a different desert for

an upcoming important dinner. Shockingly, the cook cries out in anguish

that she won't do that, offering the excuse that she doesn't have the

time. Everyone in the kitchen is taken aback by her outrageous behavior.

This incident is in essence the foundation for potential future negative

circumstance.

Now the day of the great dinner arrives. As they the staff about to serve

the main course, the cook stumbles, trays go flying, and the cooked

chickens for the dinner are rolling around on the unclean floor! The


179

kitchen staff, including the cook, stands aghast at what has taken place.

This is in essence a repetition of the first episode where the cook angrily

reacted when asked to prepare a different desert. Life waited until this

critical moment of serving to the guests for the iteration and repetition to

occur.

Time passes that evening and the moment has come for the desert to be

served. After it is set down before each person gathered around the great

dining table, the main invited guest and dignitary lifts his spoon to have a

taste, but then spits it out as it is utterly foul. The host of the abbey then

warns all gathered there to refrain from eating the desert. It turns out

that the cook had accidentally put salt on the strawberries instead of

sugar! It was an outrageous faux pas that was extremely embarrassing to

the hosts, who pride themselves in perfection in all matters, including

culinary affairs.

Once again, this is a repetition of an earlier act along the very same line.

The salt on the desert was a repeat of the previous spilling of the

chickens on the floor, which was itself a repetition of the cook's anguish

when asked to prepare a different desert. Now that the ACTUAL original,

non-changed desert has been served, it turns into a fiasco!

That is precisely how life works. It tends to repeats the same vibration,

circumstance, unfolding over and over. It can happen positively,

neutrally, or negatively. Negatively it only ceases when there is a change

in understanding on the part of the individual or party of what is amiss --

such as an awareness of one's wanting quality that precipitated the

repeating outcomes.

As mentioned earlier, we can also perceive this particular triple negative

outcome in terms of another life principle: that everything that occurs in

life is indicated beforehand. In this case, we need to see events in

reverse order. In the story, the outrage of the salty desert was indicated

by the previous accident of the felled chickens, which was itself indicated

by the earlier agitation of the cook who was unwilling to create the

substitute desert in the first place. In this way, every event we

experience in life has been indicated beforehand. And, there are

absolutely no exceptions to this rule!

The question then arises: what can we do to influence such outcomes,

especially if they occur negatively?

In the case of the life repeats principle, we can exercise our powers of

observation and perceive when it occurs in our own lives. From there we

can move toward understanding its cause, which will have the life power

to prevent its repetition. For example, a friend of mine, -- after many

hints from others -- finally realized that he was always late to dinner

meetings and related functions. (In fact, I witnessed this tendency


180

repeatedly over the course of three decades.) As a result of my friend's

new understanding, not only was he not late at our luncheon meeting,

but he arrived several minutes early; in fact, before I did! Apparently, at

some level, he was able to overcome that wanting quality through his

own self-knowledge, decision, and action. Thus, the repetition had finally

come to an end.

Another way to combat repetition of the negative is to use a spiritual

technique; which is to offer the entire matter to the spiritual Force, and

then wait for It to act. That's precisely the method I practiced at that

same luncheon meeting with the friend who was always late. Before I

walked into the restaurant, I thought about how he had been tardy every

time we met in the past. I then sat quietly, concentrated myself within,

and offered that entire past history (as well as upcoming lunch meeting)

to the Divine. As I mentioned earlier, when I walked into that meeting, I

was stunned to discover that he was already there, thereby breaking the

cycle after thirty years.

But there was much more, as a startling set of events unfolded. First of

all, he was sitting on the opposite side from where we normally dined; a

first after our many get together there. In addition, he was sitting at the

other side of the table, looking outward to the front, another first. Now I

perceived a set of physical reversals due to my consecrated effort.

However, then friend then proceeded to hypnotize me with an amazing

story of a two-week ordeal he had just gone through where he was

caught in a blizzard on New York City. There he managed to get around

in places he was unfamiliar with, with all public services shut down, while

traversing three hospitals where members of his family were suddenly

laid up. But even more startling was the fact that it all occurred in my old

neighborhood where I was raised, on the other side of the country, which

I had not visited in over 30 years!

But what was most startling of all was the fact that because of this great

ordeal, he had made the inner commitment to embark on a new writing

career, of which this two-week episode was an illustration of a wider

social issue he would address. I was startled to hear about this sudden

change in his life's direction.

In other words, by understanding from my side the history of the

repeating problem, aspiring that it ceases in the upcoming lunch meeting,

and offering the entire matter to the Divine Mother, a thirty-year pattern

had come to an end, while evoking a startling set of circumstance that

were nothing less than a miracle. Thus, from both our sides, we had

overcome life's repeating pattern in its negative form. He through his

self-knowledge; myself through concentration and the power of the

Spirit.


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It also demonstrated once more the power we have to redirect the course

of our lives from within. From a relatively small matter and issue, we

together evoked a stunning powerful set of circumstance, indicating that

the infinite can emerge from the smallest finite.

The overall approach then to avoiding repetition can be stated this way:

Each time we experience a negative outcome in our lives, we can try to

understand its inner cause, aspire for its cessation, and act in the right

way. That way we will avoid its repetition in the future. If we also offer

that wanting capacity in ourselves or others to the Divine Force, not only

will the difficulty cease to repeat (and the predecessor cycle overcome),

but astonishing positive results will follow.

Life Responds (And Repeats) At Mo's In The 'Book'

In Garry Jacobs' profound epic novel 'The Book' a mystical tome appeared

at various moments in time where significant revolutionary events were

taking place in the world, each of which, in effect, bringing greater good

to humanity.

As the story progressed "the Book" reached Dan when he visited Moe's

Book store in Berkeley, California. It was a Life Response to his Inner

Aspiration and Equality of Being in his demeanor when he encountered a

difficult situation - in this case, the project rejection letter from NASA.

Dan then happened to visit the same location several years later, when

the same sort of situation, involving the inner and outer, took place.

From the outer perspective, it appeared the Book was lost. Yet he

maintained his calmness and Equality of Being inside. His Inner Aspiration

convinced him that the Book would not leave him until it finished the

work. And so it did not.

As a response from life, the Book miraculously came to him in both

situations. It was also proof of the profound principle that life tends to

repeat with similar situations, including the same sorts of outcomes.


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Acts Repeat

The first principle we present about acts -- and an extraordinary one at

that -- is that they tend to repeat. The greater the intensity of the force

and the more times it repeats, the greater its capacity for further

repetition. The quality and intensity of the force express in each

subsequent repetition of the act. Here's are several example of a

repetition of an act.

In Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice Darcy’s initial refusal to dance with

Eliza at the Meryton dance repeats as Eliza’s initial refusal to dance with

Darcy when he asks her during her stay at Netherfield Hall.

"One day I was watching a TV program. In the middle of the show, I

received a phone call from a friend of mine. While listening to my

friend I sensed that there was some connection between her and the

program I was just watching. Months passed, and I found myself

watching a rerun of this same program. What was incredible was that

I noticed that I received a call from this same friend at the exact

same moment I was watching the identical scene on television from

that person. There was more to it, however. I noticed that my friend

on the phone was having problems with an individual who had the

exact same rather complex Asian name as the person on the show."

As we begin to see how acts repeat in our lives -- defying our normal

perceptions of how life unfolds -- we can begin to benefit from our

observations. E.g., we can learn to perceive when to take, or not take,

actions based on a pervious occurrence of the act. That is, if you know

the pattern of a repetition of an act, especially a negative one, you can

overcome its ability to repeat in the future. So if a man who becomes ill

every five years, can note its frequency, assume that the illness is likely

to repeat in another years, and take precautions to prevent its

reoccurrence when the next iteration rolls around. He can say, "Ah here it

is coming on again. I am over-stressed again in this cycle, which is what

ordinarily brings on the repetition. I will take actions to prevent such

reoccurrence." Now as a result of perceiving the coming repetition, this

individual has changed the course of his life.

Consider one other real life experience, where an individual saw a

repetition of an act that expressed negatively, and then was able to avoid

it the second time, i.e. when it would have normally repeated:

A computer consultant worked on a consulting project for a number of

hours and days only to find out that he could not do the project

because of his limiting skills. It was clear from the onset that he might

not be able to do it. In fact, as it turned out he was unable to do it for


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the client, honestly explained it to the client, who were grateful of his

honesty, and had now found a company who could do it. On the other

hand, the consultant wasted a lot of time. As it turned out the project

was later completed by the other consulting company in fine order. A

few months later, the consultant was asked if he could help the same

client with another project. Again, it was an area just out of his

expertise, even though he had had a little experience with the

program many years before. This time, remembering that acts repeat,

he knew that he would likely be wasting a lot of time if he were to

take it on. He firmly decided not to take on the project because of the

likelihood that the current situation was likely to be a repetition of the

same situation that happened initially.

Thus from pattern recognition of the repetition of acts one has the insight

to change, i.e. to negate or reinforce, the future. It is a miracle of insight

into the workings of life, including understandings of the true, subtle

nature of space of time. If we are conscious, we will be able to recognize

the patterns; if we are not, the likelihood of seeing the patterns and

reversing them is very limited. In summary then there are at least two

ways to prevent a repetition. The first is an action or will on our part

related to the act that is more powerful than the force that wants to

repeat. The other is our recognition of the pattern in the first place, which

has the power to cancel the next iteration. In other words, we can be

aware of life's patterns of repetitions of acts, and then we can consciously

control the next repetition. We have that conscious power in life.

Various Ways Life Repeats in Pride and Prejudice

Below is a list of the various ways we see life repeating in Jane Austin's

Pride and Prejudice:

Another Acts in Similar Fashion to One's Self -- When Mrs. Bennet first

asks Mr. Bennet to call on Bingley, Mr. Bennet protests and apparently

refuses, but the next day he goes in deference to her request. When

Bingley becomes interested in Jane, his sisters and Darcy protest, though

ultimately they all accept Jane as his wife. Bennet's initial protest is

mirrored by their own. The vibration of protest continues and ripples

through the story. His initial reaction is a portent of the reactions that

come later.


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An Act Repeats in a Similar Way -- Bingley brings Darcy to Herefordshire

and is the first to call Darcy's attention to Eliza, where he suggests Darcy

asking her to dance at the Meryton ball. Later it is Bingley who brings

Darcy back to Herefordshire and then to Longbourn and during that time

Darcy proposes to Eliza.

Another Acts in Similar Fashion to One's Self -- Darcy's initial refusal to

dance with Eliza at the Meryton ball repeats as Eliza's initial refusal to

dance with Darcy when he asks her during her stay at Netherfield ball.

Darcy first reacts to Bingley's suggestion and then reverses his reaction

by asking Eliza to dance at Netherfield. At this point, Eliza is still reacting

to Darcy's initial behavior -- first by refusing his dance offer, later by

refusing his marriage proposal! Life has to wait until she too plays out the

reaction and its reversal. Both respond negatively to the first approach of

greater opportunity, so life or karma has to take its course.

Another Acts in Similar Fashion to One's Self -- Eliza teases Darcy during

their dance at Netherfield ball. The rest of the evening she is 'teased' by

Collins who clings to her and the teasing repeats.

Two Person's React Similarly -- - Collins takes for granted that Eliza will

accept his marriage proposal just as Darcy does when he proposes to her

later. The false presumption repeats.

Two People Have a Shared Coincidental Experience Repeatedly -- Darcy

and Eliza meet by surprise at Hunsford and then meet again by surprise

at Pemberley. They are brought together repeatedly by the initiative of

life, rather than by their own initiative. The chance encounter repeats.

Darcy's problem of elopement (Wickham's elopement with Georgiana)

comes to Eliza (Wickham's elopement with Lydia). Darcy arrives at the

inn in Lambton at the same moment as the letter from Jane, so Eliza

feels compelled to confide in him and he has the opportunity to solve a

problem for her family that originated in his family. Both Elopement and

confiding are repeated.

An Individual Repeats the Same Action in Different Circumstance --

Wickham's elopement with Lydia is a continuation and fulfillment of the

movement of his failed attempt to elope with Georgiana. In the first case,

Darcy arrived by chance two days early. In this case, Darcy arrives to

convert it into a marriage.

Quarrel Repeats through Multiple Generations -- The quarrel of Collin's

father with Bennet's father repeats in Eliza's 'quarrel' with Collins when

she refuses his proposal and he abruptly departs from Longbourn. The

quarrel repeats.


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Collins returns to Longbourn for the second time after proposing to

Charlotte, rather than staying with Lucases. He later has to receive Eliza

at the parsonage where Darcy proposes to Eliza.

Positive Attitude to Another Attracts Same Result for Self -- Collins feels

abused by Eliza's refusal of his marriage proposal. By informing Lady

Catherine of Darcy's proposed engagement to Eliza, Collins becomes an

instrument for Lady Catherine's visit and abuses Eliza about Darcy's

marriage proposal. Eliza meant no ill will by refusing Collins. As a result,

Collins gets a better match in Charlotte. Eliza feels no harm from Lady

Catherine's abuse. It brings Darcy to propose and the abuse leading to

positive results repeats.

One's Response to Another is Repeated by Another to One's Self --

Impossible! -- Eliza's response to Charlotte's engagement repeats as

Jane's response to Eliza's engagement.

Outset Indicates Repetitions -- On the return trip of Eliza, Jane and Maria

from London to Herefordshire, Lydia wants to treat her sisters with lunch

but makes them pay. They will continue to pay for the rest of their life.

(MSS)


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Predecessor, Initial Occurrence Acts

All Indicated Beforehand

Sri Karmayogi indicates that everything that happens is indicated

beforehand. And there are no exceptions.

Further Comment: If we develop a keen sense of observation one can

verify the absolute truth of this principle. E.g. a study of Pride and

Prejudice will show that every event is indicated somewhere before; often

in the smallest, subtlest form.

One aspect of this is that if there is negative circumstance occurring,

there were then one or more indicators of it happening earlier. This

means that if at that earlier time we recognized a negative when it

happened, no matter how large or small, and consecrated it, then the

negative that followed it would never have occurred. That's why constant

consecration is so powerful. (Roy Posner)

Predecessor Events Indicating Future Outcomes and The Power We Can Have Over Them

One aspect that relates to both the Character of Life and Life Response is

the phenomenon of "Predecessor Events." That things occurring in the

present indicate things to come in the future.

Eg in the book 'Lady Anna' by Trollope a young woman is on a date with a

ruthless cousin. And on their meeting, she trips and does serious damage

to her leg. Months later this man and a relative will strive to kill both the

your woman and her significant other.

As we see small circumstance can indicate future ones; large or small,

negative or positive.

To avoid the negative iteration(s), take notice the original negative

circumstance as it occurs or just occurred and Consecrate it (offering it to

the divine Power). That way the negative iteration in future will NOT

occur.

If the negative does come (where consecration was not evoked) and

negative repeating consequences followed, one can do "Past

Consecration" to overcome the past's influence on the present. Intense


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contrition when taking to this spiritual-like act will bring greater power

and effectivity to the Past Consecration effort. (Roy Posner)

Each Thing Is Indicated Beforehand

One of the profound principles that Karmayogi has revealed to us is that

each thing that occurs in life is indicated beforehand. And there are no

exceptions. A powerful positive or negative outcome in the future is

always indicated by a small or large event earlier on. Thus, if we are

conscious of the predecessor (whether or not we perceive it as such), any

great negative can be avoided later on. I.e. We can simply consecrate the

small negative condition that comes to our attention, and the larger

problem will not arise in future.

Also when our consciousness is centered more deeply within, we will

perceive such small indicators as pregnant with potentiality, whereas

living on the surface misses these subtle warnings.

And yet even if we fail to recognize and consecrate such predecessors

when they arise and were then affected negatively affected, we can still

practice "past consecrate" to overcome its continued influence in the

present.

In the Trollope novel 'Lady Anna' a young woman on a date with her

cousin seriously injures her leg while walking across pods of stones on a

pond. It would turn out to be a predecessor and harbinger of this man's

later complicity in trying to murder her and her beloved.

This dynamic also occurs and is discussed several times by the team in

Garry Jacobs' novel 'The Book.'

There is no greater fool than someone who does not respond when Life

compels him to take action.

Success, Failure of Similar Initiatives Indicate Final

Outcome

When two individuals take a small initiative in an area and for one it

works out and for the other it does not, it indicates bigger success to

come for the person who succeeded in the earlier small initiative, and

failure for the other person.


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Eg in the film 'Wicker Park,' Alex goes into the camera shop hoping to

meet Matt but fails. Lisa goes into the shoe store willing to meet Matt and

succeeds. This reflects the fact that Alex's initiatives will eventually fail to

win Matt and Lisa's will eventually succeed in getting him back.

The Button and the Battery

Every human has a character we can identify. It is clear from their

thoughts and actions. It is less easy to understand that life itself has a

character as well. Life's character is subtle and deep. However, if we can

come to understand it, we can become its Master.

One principle of life is very subtle indeed. It is that everything that comes

or happens to us is indicated by something, some event beforehand.

Moreover, there are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. Here is an

example that demonstrates this principle in action.

A year or two ago I lost a little bit of weight after gaining some while

writing my book on Life Response. I therefore was now able to fit into a

size 36 pants, instead of 38. However, in a reversal during recent months

I have started to burst out of the pants to the point that the clasp gotten

loosened and it was necessary to sew a button on instead, which would in

effect give a little more room.

On this particular weekend, I took my usual relaxing ride down to Silicon

Valley and back. When I arrived at my standard landing post, a gas

station, I fueled up and purchased a coffee in the large, abundant

refreshment area. On the way out, I then took out my cell phone with the

intention of calling a friend to discuss a blockbuster film I had just seen.

When I opened the driver's-side door and began to sit down, my pants

suddenly burst open! I then realized that a newly sewn button had been

broken off. I now had to sit down in the car with my pants ajar, and with

no belt to secure me!

I then proceeded to make my phone call to my friend. However, just

before I dialed, I wondered if I should hold back since the burst button

was a sign that it might not be the right time. I then decided to push on,

ignoring the thought and making the phone connection. My friend and I

then had a lively discussion about the film ('Avatar'), and then went

followed that up with a conversation about economic matters and other

topics. After an hour or so, my friend suddenly informed me that he had

to get off the phone because he needed to have his lunch. Apparently, his

blood sugar was running low and he was beginning to tremble a bit.


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So I said my goodbyes, turned off the cell phone, and began to prepare

to leave. I then turned the keys in the ignition, but the car would not

start. I suddenly realized that my battery had gone completely dead. A

moment later, I understood that because I had left the heater on during

our conversation, the battery had become drained.

I now was in the middle of nowhere, with no one to help me. And so I

took out my phone again and noticed that it too was also nearly drained

of power! I had just enough juice in the phone to call for help. Realizing

that my AAA had expired, I thought I had just enough power on the

phone to call a friend. After explaining my plight, she made the nearly

one hour drive and rescued me by giving my car a charge from hers

vehicle using my jumper cables. We then drove back to our common

destination from our separate cars.

There is one simple lesson that can be derived from this story. In every

outcome in life, there is a predecessor event that indicates its coming

occurrence. In this situation, the button breaking off of my pants was an

indicator of a problem(s) to come -- the dead car, the drained phone, and

the expired road assistance card. Though I sensed a problem when the

button first came off, I failed to listen to "the inner suggestion," and

instead acted on my urge to call a friend. Had I heeded the sign, I could

have avoided all the problems that followed.

There is another approach to dealing with a potential negative

predecessor one perceives. It is to offer that situation up to the Higher

Power, which will give one protection from any future outcomes, or

otherwise set right the related future conditions of life. Doing so

overcomes the karma of the situation, preventing problematic outcomes

from unfolding.

Insuring Splendid Outcomes by Tracing Its Beginnings

Spiritual sage Sri Karmayogi tells us that the ultimate outcomes of a

project, work, circumstance, etc. can be seen at the very beginning. At

the outset of a related chain of conditions there are acts that are

indicators of the final outcome of that life flow, whether a project in a

business, a home purchase, even a marriage.

Mother’s Service Society researchers have traced many instances of this

startling phenomenon. E.g. in Pride and Prejudice Mrs. Bennet announced

at the very beginning the arrival of two young, handsome, very rich,

eligible bachelors, which is in fact what happens at the very end, when


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they marry two of her own daughters, sending her middle class family to

the heights of wealth and social status.

What good are such perceptions? It can help you anticipate, if not predict

the future (the final outcome). A crime investigator, or a doctor, or a

businessperson with that subtle sense can make decisions and take

actions that abridge space and time through that knowledge; by either

moving in the opposite direction of a negative event up front in that

chain, or reinforcing any positives that arose at the outset. Developing a

Subtle Sense to see that will facilitate the process; i.e. paying attention

to the flow of life; as will an ability to make the correspondence between

the outer conditions and one’s own attitudes, motives, beliefs, decisions

and actions.

Thus through this startling phenomenon of Life, you can become Its

complete Master.

Here are some examples of the phenomenon from the negative side:

-When Nixon and Kennedy vied for the presidency in 1960, it was

extremely close and contentious, with Kennedy winning by a hair.

Kennedy was later assassinated, ending his administration. What

happened at the start was an indicator of the final outcome.

-Bush Jr. won the presidency by an extremely small amount after an

overwhelmingly contentious dispute in Florida settled by the Supreme

Court. It appeared that his side did all to block the truth from emerging.

His administration ended in near disaster for the country and the world.

-In the Russian Revolution, a group of serious-minded thinkers ended up

resorting to slaughter of the aristocracy it wished to replace, which

culminated in years of rule by the devil-like Stalin who had 30 million

shot to death. Events at the outset indicated an outcome that was to

come.

-Arnold Schwarzenegger’s self-serving ascent to the governorship of

California by cleverly taking advantage of a negative situation was a

precedent of how he would later leave the state in financial taters.

-One man I know was desperately trying to meet some people in a

suburb of Los Angeles for a crucial meeting. He ended up getting utterly

lost in a maze of suburban streets. Though he would later find the place

and create a business relationship that would last several years, that

undertaking ended in bankruptcy. (Had he opened to the spiritual Force

to cancel the negative there and then, he might have overcome the

disastrous eventuality.)

-An individual was desperately trying to get some sun tan lotion before

taking a cruise on a tiny riverboat in Sacramento, California. His effort


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was intense and confused, though he and his friend managed to get on

board just a moment before the little boat embarked. Twenty minutes

into the trip a super, modern speedboat zoomed by, nearly cutting the

boat in half. What happens at the outset indicated the thing to come.

(Had he caught his emotions and remained steady, he never would have

attracted the near disaster.)

Sri Karmayogi indicates that if you want perfect success at the end, trace

its path to its earliest beginnings. All those events will be of the same

character; with the same motive, attitude, opinion, etc. of the individual

precipitating them. Once identified, withdraw the negatives that created

the wanting outcomes at the start and presently, and reinforce the

positive ones. Life will respond overwhelmingly in your favor.

You can also make that change at the very beginning, by catching the

smallest or largest negative that appears. You can readily identify these

by seeing the correspondence between the inner you and the outer

conditions. Taking this approach at the outset will change the course of

life relative to those circumstance. It’s a way of insuring perfection in the

outcome; avoiding considerable effort and the meanderings of life. In

other words, it creates the greatest efficiency of space and time.

Finally, it is also worth noting positive outcomes that occur at the start --

such as workers being always on time, the firm passing quota the first

week, much smoother running of machines, passing deadlines earlier

than anticipated, and so forth. Whatever their nature, they too are

indicators of our own individual consciousness and/or that of the

collective. Identifying and reinforcing them at the beginning as well as

along the way will ensure the final outcome is great, far exceeding our

initial aspirations and projections.

Consecrating to the Spiritual Force at all critical junctures and in all

details in any of these scenarios will insure the workings of Luck,

guaranteeing extraordinary outcomes, enabling the Infinite to replace the

finite.

--------

A further illustration from Ramesh Kumar:

Recently I got an offer from Indian Railways to strengthen certain old

bridges. I was so excited to get such an offer, as such specialized job

normally will only be given to already registered established contractors.

Initially, they offered three bridges as trial.

I went to site inspection and thoroughly inspected the first two bridges.

By that time, it was 4:00 pm and the bridge was around 250 kms from

Chennai. I planned to reach Chennai the same night, though it was not

necessary. As I was thinking about that, one of the two persons from


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Railways who accompanied me, reflected my mood and said, the third

bridge which is about 50 kms away is similar to this. But another person

said “no - better you look at it. You are like a Doctor and you should be

aware that no two patients are similar”. As the former view fitted my

mood, I took that and returned to Chennai without visiting the third

bridge. After a few days, I got order for the three bridges and started the

work.

Everything went smoothly on the first two bridges and I was very happy

about the profits I was making out of it. I even proudly tweeted about

this achievement, so that all other my links also know about this, because

it was very difficult to enter as a Vendor in Railways now-a-days without

corrupt practices. After 10 days or so, we started the work for the third

bridge, and there came the thud.

The bridge was in worse condition than expected, and it started sucking

all the profits I made on the other two bridges. The road had to be

blocked for more than the planned days, and as it was in a main high

way, the pressures from all departments concerned started affecting my

morale to the point that I vowed not to do a public sector job again. I

panicked when I crossed the breakeven point (no loss, no gain) and

started incurring loss on the project. The way it was going, I expected

there to be a heavy loss.

That is the point I ran to the Mother and started “past consecration.” As

Karmayogi says the key lies in 10 or 15 minutes of conversations,

happenings, atmosphere, emotion, etc. I started analyzing that. The first

10 minutes or so was fine, and only when I thought of returning to

Chennai - just for comfort of sleeping in my house - in my bedroom that

things went awry. There is no other reason. At that point only one person

reflected my mood and said not to visit the third bridge. But the other

person tried to raise my consciousness by saying that – I am an

experienced person, and I should see all before taking on the job. But

alas I preferred the comfort zone, knowing very well that life won’t give

opportunities within it. I tried to avoid physical work of going 50 kms

which attracted the problem at the physical, vital and mental level, only

to arrive at the knowledge that we should act from the highest wisdom or

the highest professional knowledge we have.

Having realized that, I consecrated everything and vowed not to stay in

comfort zone thereafter. As a remedy, I took the tool of “taking

responsibility”. I informed our Operation Manager to do the job with all

necessary inputs as promised in our quote and not to try to save money

by any sort of compromise; even if it was going to incur a heavy loss.

After a few days, the site was visited by the authorities and one of the

senior engineers saw it and asked me whether I incurred any loss on the


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bridge. I said ‘yes’. He said - “Yes I can see from the quantity of the

materials used. I can help you within my powers to give you a 10%

increase in contract value as unforeseen expenses and raise the bill

accordingly”.

This led me exactly to the breakeven point with a sigh of relief.

Predecessor Events Indicate Outcome in Famous Moment in

History

In the 16th century, Spain planned to invade England, who was being

ruled by the great Queen Elizabeth. Because of various grievances

against her, King Philip of Spain had begun to prepare a great fleet that

would invade the much smaller and poorer England. However, from the

start, the Spanish faced a number of unexpected problems. First, the

commander of the enterprise, Santa Cruz, died. Then his successor was

not at all suited to the post, since he had little faith in the enterprise, and

little experience, to the point where he begged Philip to release him from

the charge. There were additional preparation problems that followed.

The Spanish fleet had 100 ships, an overwhelming advantage over the

English. But the English were waiting. On the cliffs of England and Wales,

men watched the seas day and night, waiting for the first sighting of the

great Armada. When the ships appeared, beacons were lit on the

hillsides, which sent the message over the cliffs and throughout the

country. Not only was the weather dreadful, with the wind and rain

decidedly against the Spanish intentions, but they were not able to

compete with the superior English ships and war tactics. In the end, the

Spanish suffered a humiliating defeat in the English Channel.

In this great moment of history, we see a profound subtle principle of life

at work. It states that every major event has one or more predecessor

incidents that indicate the final outcome of the undertaking. In this case,

though the Spanish were vastly superior militarily, there were problems

that arose on their side from the very beginning. These were in fact

indicators of the final outcome -- i.e. their humiliating defeat suffered at

the hands of a much weaker, though more determined and tactically-

aware adversary.

If you watch the events in your own life very carefully, you will see that

every major event, including every negative outcome you have

experienced was preceded by a predecessor incident in the beginning.

E.g. one man who tried to meet a company for the first time, got

completely lost. Several years later after doing business with that firm,


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the man's own company went out of business. The original confusion was

indicative of the final outcome.

Though every major event in life has a predecessor that indicates the

final outcome, we can become sensitive to and aware of the negatives

that appear at the outset, and take the right course of actions that can

avoid the ultimate crash at the end. One way is to open to the spirit. If

we consecrate to the Spirit the negative predecessor, we will set in

motion a chain of events that will cancel the ultimate negative outcome.

In that way, we can break the chain of life's inevitable unfolding, based

on the starting indicators. In that way, we overcome Nature's slow,

difficult, and inevitable course in which we are less the determiners than

the determined, and substitute the higher course of Soul, which gives us

ultimate power over life.

Predecessor Events to a River Adventure

Life expresses in a number of subtle ways that defy our normal

perceptions. Those who are in tune with these subtle functionings

continually experience a wondrous existence. One example of this is to

experience the phenomenon of "life response"; i.e. if you change your

consciousness within, life responds with sudden good fortune. E.g., you

change your attitude towards someone you had ill-will towards, and

suddenly from out of nowhere, you are offered the job of your dreams.

These instances of life response occur because of the fundamental

relationship that exists between our consciousness within and the world

around. Thus, if we change the inner, life outside ourselves instantly

responds in kind.

This identifiable subtle functioning indicate that life itself has a real and

observable character, not unlike our own individual character. Those who

perceive its hidden workings gain a vast knowledge of and a great power

over life. Here I would like to focus on one other phenomenon that

expresses this "character of life." It involves what can be called

"predecessor and successor events." Essentially, it indicates that every

occurrence in life -- large or small, good or bad -- is always preceded by

circumstances that point to it. Let me explain with a personal experience.

One day I journeyed to nearby Sacramento, the capitol of California.

Located in the fertile Central Valley of the state, it is also a river town

where two of California's great waterways converge. When visiting the

city, I like to go to Old Town section, which lies on the edge of the river.

When one gazes out across the water, one sees not only a lovely view,

but often a large array of recreational sports vehicles on the water --


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from designer yachts to extraordinary powerboats to great Mississippi

riverboats. There is also tucked away a tiny little vessel called "The River

Otter" that takes people on a one-hour tour of a small portion of the 200-

mile river. It turns out that I had taken this lovely and serene excursion

once before, and on this particular day was eager to do it again.

Though my friend and I signed up for the 1:05pm tour, I soon realized

that I didn't have sun lotion, which was important to me since I am fair-

skinned. As a result, I had to race around amongst the dozens of stores

in Old Town to find some. When I finally found the lotion, I rushed back

to the boat which was about to begin its run. However, when I arrived,

my friend informed me that she had to use the rest facilities. I then

headed down from the wharf into the boat and joined the dozen or more

passengers already on board. I then sat there nervously, hoping that my

friend would arrive before we left shore. Not one minute before we cast

off, my friend arrived. It was a very close call!

As we headed up river, the captain pointed out that there had been a

large overnight gathering of over 400 boats where the Sacramento and

the American rivers converged -- an area lurking just up ahead. Not five

minutes after learning of this fact, a large speedboat approached us at

exceedingly fast speed, while rocking up and down due to the intentional

wild maneuvers of the driver. As it zoomed by, it sounded as if the boat

was about to careen out of control. Fortunately, the driver was able to

maintain control, thus avoiding a high-speed crash with our own little

vessel. We all held our collective breath as the boat blew by and then

skittered up river.

After this little adventure, we passed a number of people riding on jet

skis, which were also furiously racing up and down that length of the

river. We then had a relatively uneventful but enjoyable remainder of our

journey.

Soon after we returned to shore, I began to think about the entire affair.

One thing I quickly perceived was the correlation between what had

taken place before we departed and what happened during the river tour

itself. The fact that I had to race around at the last minute to get the

lotion was a predecessor and indicator of things to come. So too was my

friend's hurried, last-minute arrival on the scene before casting off. In

fact, she had also told me that it took her so long because she had been

blocked by a train that suddenly crossed in front of her! Also, when we

first embarked, I noticed that the skipper of our boat had a cast on his

leg due to a break in a recent accident. All of these problematic

circumstances were then the precedents of the difficult adventure that

was to follow.


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It is thus one subtle truth of life that every major circumstance that

occurs is always preceded by one or more identifiable predecessor

events. Interestingly, there is no exception to this rule; it always

happens! Sometimes the predecessor happens immediately before hand;

other times, hours or days before. It is an astounding phenomenon that

points to its subtle nature and character of life. To see it once in action

can change one's view of reality forever! With that in mind, I would like

to relate one other brief example of this phenomenon:

One time a friend and I went to visit a relative of hers for Thanksgiving

dinner. The couple had only recently been married. Though it was about

an hour drive to the house, it took us nearly five hours to arrive, due to a

stupendous, unprecedented traffic jam on the highways. As it turned out,

less than a year later we learned that the couple unexpectedly had a

falling out, which quickly lead to their divorce. The stupendous traffic jam

to visit them was the predecessor and indicator of the unhappy news that

followed.

If this is how life works, is there a way to avoid the negatives outcomes

that invariably follow a negative predecessor? I believe there is. If you

experience something untoward, offer it to the Spirit, to the Divine. This

is the method of "consecrating" an act. By consecrating negative

circumstance to the spiritual Force, you invariably reduce or cancel any

potential future problems; in essence, diffusing the "karma" that had

been set in motion. You can also consecrate the events leading up to the

predecessor as well. E.g. I could have opened to the Force before I ever

embarked on that day's journey to the river city, likely preventing most

of the difficulties that occurred.

What Occurs at Outset Indicates Final Outcome In Computer

Consulting Incident

Life contains subtle laws, 99% if which are not known by we humans. A

number of those principles revolve around our actions. We call them

subtle Laws of Acts. One of the central laws is that what occurs at the

outset of any circumstance, indicates the outcome. Let me give you a

recent true-life example.

A man was working on a contract basis with clients. Each contract was a

mini project that would generally take less than a day. His latest contract

was with a gentleman who wanted improvements in his spreadsheets

which were built to beat the state lottery.

When the consultant first arrived at a restaurant to meet the man, they

both acknowledged that that they had not brought their computers! Each


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thought the other would bring one. Things had thus gotten off to a rocky

start. The consultant then (despite the fact that it was not really his

responsibility) volunteered and went home to retrieve his laptop. But

when he arrived there, his expensive eye-glasses broke in two. Already

the consultant, well-versed in the subtle laws of life, including those of

outcomes at the start, clearly understood what was going on.

When the consultant then returned to the restaurant and interacted with

his client, he came to understand that the spreadsheet system, built to

beat the lottery, was very complex. The consultant’s contracts were

normally for relatively simple or moderately complex projects.

As things progressed, the client grew impatient and agitated, even

though he didn’t have the language skills to explain the system clearly to

the consultant. He just said that a programmer had previously developed

it, and that he would move fast when he programmed, and all the

developer would do is type a few things, and wham it would be fixed.

Therefore, he expected the same of the consultant now working on the

system. And yet the truth was the very opposite. It was enormously

sophisticated and complex. Thus, the expectation of the client for the

consultant was completely out of line with the reality of the situation.

Things then went from bad to worse. In the end, the consultant said he

could go no further, as not only was the spreadsheet system was too

complex to easily fix, but the client wouldn’t pay him for services

rendered so far. The client then proceeded to ask the consultant to do

additional work for him, even though he wasn’t willing to pay for the work

already done!

And so, the consultant was more than happy to extricate himself from the

situation. As he drove home, he saw clearly the nature of the unfolding of

events. It also struck him clear as day that things at the very outset did

indeed indicate the final outcome. The fact that they both were without

computer, forcing him to have to drive all the way home, though bringing

the laptop is normally the responsibility of the client, would indicate the

final disastrous outcome.

In fact, it indicated the difficulty of the steps along the way, including the

impossibly difficult spreadsheet. How could the consultant quickly

improve on it, when it was like a mesh of tangled wires that needed to

first be unraveled? Fortunately, as he headed home he acknowledged to

himself, that he had taken it all in good spirits. Knowing the subtle laws

of life help enormously in that regard!


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What Happens at the Start Indicates the Outcome

Life expresses through a series of laws and principles that few of us are

privy to. In recent years, The Law of Attraction has come to the attention

of the world through the book 'The Secret.' It indicates that when we

focus our intention on something, it tends to come about on its own. I

have described that as the phenomenon of "Life Response," that is itself

based on the phenomenon of "Inner-outer Correspondence." I.e., when

we shift the inner to the positive or more positive, life outside instantly

responds to our inner change.

Another subtle principle of life is that every outcome of an event,

circumstance, undertaking, social movement, etc. is indicated at the very

beginning. It occurs positively and negatively. Let me focus on the latter.

When Nixon and Kennedy vied for the presidency in 1960, it was

extremely close and contentious, with Kennedy winning by a hair.

Kennedy was later assassinated, ending his administration. What

happened at the start was an indicator of the final outcome. Recently

Bush junior won by an extremely small amount after an overwhelmingly

contentious dispute in Florida settled by the Supreme Court. It appeared

that his side did all to block the truth from emerging. His administration

ended in near disaster for the country and the world. In the Russian

Revolution, a group of serious-minded thinkers ended up resorting to

slaughter of the aristocracy it wished to replace, which culminated in

years of rule by the devil-like Stalin, who had 30 million shot to death. In

these cases too , events at the outset indicated an outcome that was to

come.

Why life happens this way is certainly worth investigating. To do so one

has to understand the subtle nature of energy and how it circulates and

returns; how past, present, and future are truly related; the intention a

higher force working in the world; and many other subtle, indeed cosmic

forces at work.

If we look closely at our own lives, we will see the same phenomenon at

work. For example, one man I know was desperately trying to meet some

people in a suburb of Los Angeles for a crucial meeting. He ended up

being utterly lost in a maze of suburban streets. Though he would later

find the place and create a business relationship that would last several

years, that undertaking ended in bankruptcy. In another case, an

individual was desperately trying to get some sun tan lotion before taking

a cruise on a tiny riverboat in Sacramento. His effort was intense and

confused, though he and his friend managed to get on board just a

moment before the little boat embarked. Twenty minutes into the trip a


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super, modern speedboat zoomed by; nearly cutting the boat in half.

What happens at the outset indicates the thing to come.

To prevent such results, we can offer the original disturbance to the

Higher Power, which will eliminate the chance of negativity expressing

itself in the outcome. In that way, we have the power to overcome the

existing subtle principles of life, even as we are in awe of their

miraculous-like ways and their cosmic significance.

No Event Occurs Without Prior Indication (As In Pride And

Prejudice)

This principle is true both positively and negatively. Life gives as early

hints of good fortune that is coming later and warnings of pending

misfortune, which we ignore at our risk.

Elizabeth had ample occasion to suspect Wickham's true character long

before calamity struck. In there very first meeting he told her that

because of his gratitude to Darcy's father he would never speak against

the son, but then proceeded to do just that. He also said that nothing

could keep him from the ball at Netherfield, but then he did not come.

Elizabeth might naturally suspect Caroline's motives when she spoke of

Wickham's bad past, but she also ignored the blatant fact of his

mercenary pursuit of Miss King and even justified it on his behalf. Darcy's

letter at Rosings was only icing on the cake, but still she was reluctant to

believe because she was still attracted to Wickham. That is the manner in

which we disregard life's warnings when it does not suit us.

In her first meeting with Elizabeth at Rosings, Lady Catherine felt

affronted by Elizabeth's free and outspoken nature and faulted her for

expressing her opinion so freely. She was given a further indication of

what was to come when Darcy stood up in the middle of a discussion with

Lady Catherine to walk to the piano where he could see Elizabeth more

easily. Alerted, Lady Catherine calls out asking what they are talking

about and insists on being included in their conversation. She already

feels she is being eliminated from the equation. Elizabeth later explains to

Jane that Darcy called on them at the hermitage every day during their

stay there. Her initial reactions were a forewarning of what was to come

between her nephew and Elizabeth yet she chose to ignore it. When she

went to Longbourn and tried to pressurize Elizabeth into relinquishing any

interest in Darcy. Elizabeth responded boldly to her attack and stood her

ground firmly.


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Wherever a work is completed or cancelled, the end result is indicated by

symptoms earlier. The circumstances during the first occasion on which

two people meet very often gives a good indication of what is to come in

the relationship. When Mrs. Phillips entertained in her home, Wickham

gave attention to only two women - Lydia and Elizabeth. They turned out

to be the two most important women in his life - one became his wife,

the other his link to relationship with Darcy. When Bingley came to the

ball, Jane was the very first person he danced with. Elizabeth was the one

person Darcy refused to dance with at Bingley's request. Later Elizabeth

would refuse his marriage proposal. Both began the relationship with an

initial refusal. When Mr. Collins first arrives at Longbourn, Mr. Bennet

teases his into confessing about his agility at making clever compliments,

prompting Elizabeth to laugh. In fact, Elizabeth laughed even when

Collins' first letter was read out. When Collins told Mrs. Bennet that he

was interested in Jane, Mrs. Bennet informed him that Jane was

practically engaged. His first idea failed. Ultimately he did not marry any

of the five sisters. (MSS)


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PART 4: HUMAN ACCOMPLISHMENT

Principles of Human Accomplishment

Introduction

Often when people reach the pinnacles of success it is because of a

special gift or talent -- such as the ability to lead and inspire, or the

capacity to develop a breakthrough product, or because they are driven

to succeed. Other times, people reach the top simply because they make

a steady, plodding effort in the course of their careers.

In research on what enables achievement in life, I have identified three

levels of determining factors. The first contains the foundation -- i.e. the

essentials for success. The second contains the more subtle,

psychological factors that bring it about. And the third are the inner

spiritual-like determinants of achievement. Let's examine each of these

more closely.

The first level contains the foundation and essential determining factors

for success in life. They include our ability to target specific goals we aim

to accomplish; our intense desire and will that they come about; our level

of personal organization; the talent and skill we bring to bear; and the

psychological strength we demonstrate in the face of life's challenges.

Aspiration, focus, will, organization, skill, and strength are thus the basic

building blocks of success. Together they release enormous physical,

vital, and mental energy that tends to attract vast success for that

individual. Let's examine several theoretical examples.

Consider the case of Eliza Gonzales, who currently demonstrates these

capacities in spades. She has a keen interest in becoming a project

portfolio manager; has the intense drive to make it happen; is fully

organized in all aspects of her life; has all the necessary skills to


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accomplish; and has an innate ability to persevere in the face of life's

challenges. As a result, she has reached the very top of her field.

On the other hand, her collogue David Montaigne has not risen very far.

Though he has had the aspiration and drive, he never developed the skills

required of his position. Likewise, Sandra Lee, a co-worker of his, had the

skills, but lacked the will and drive for achievement. Sanjay Aziz, a fourth

member of the group, had the will and determination, but lacked focus in

his life, as he was unable to formulate what he really wanted out of his

career. Thus, where Eliza succeeded beyond measure, David, Sandra,

and Sanjay plateaued at only modest levels of success.

The second group of factors that engender success are even more

subjective and psychological. They take shape as our attitudes and

personal values. In fact, if we examine Eliza's great success, we see that

she excelled in both areas. E.g., colleagues often described how positive

her attitudes were -- in particular, how she always looked on the bright

side of things; how full of self-confidence she was; how she always took

responsibility for problems rather than blaming others; and how she

always happily accepted what life had put before her. In this way, her

attitudes -- about herself, about others, and about life -- will exemplary.

That cannot be said of the others in the group, each of whom had one or

more significant wanting attitudes. One colleague had problems getting

along with several staffers; another was consistently unhappy with the

work assigned to her; and a third had a cynical, constricted view of what

he could accomplish. As a result, each were burdened by psychological

constraints that prevented them from reaching their full potential.

In addition to her very positive attitudes, there was something else Eliza

had in abundance -- highly developed personal values. Everyone noticed

how tolerant she was; how she encouraged others to express their

opinions and make contributions; how committed she was to bridging the

gap between the company and the surrounding community; and how

dedicated she was for social change and improvement. Eliza's values and

beliefs sharpened her aspirations in life, gave her focus and energy, and

enriched every activity she engaged in. On the other hand, her colleagues

had trouble formulating their guiding principles and values, which created

an intensity and energy vacuum in their careers. This conspicuous

absence of clearly defined and applied personal values kept these

members of the group from ever moving beyond the mediocre.

Finally, the third group of factors that determine our success level

consists of spiritual-like behaviors and values that tend to attract ultimate

achievement. Among them are-

• Our capacity to consciously seek out and embrace all sides of an

issue, rather than just the one we are attached to.


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• Our ability to respond calmly and with equal poise to the difficulties

and challenges that come our way.

• Our ability to see negatives as positives in disguise, and adjust our

behavior accordingly.

• Our capacity to be selfless and self-giving towards others, instead of

acting out of ego and selfishness.

• Our ability to express our gratitude to others and towards life for all

they have given us.

• Our faith that all will turn out well; that in fact a Higher Power is

working on our behalf.

• Our ability to open to the spiritual Force before engaging in any act,

which has the effect of bringing life under our control.

• Our ability to think for ourselves, instead of being influenced by the

herd.

• Our capacity for self-scrutiny; i.e. our aspiration for personal growth

and improvement.

• Our desire to seek out life in full, and live a life of adventure and

challenge.

All of the factors described above have one thing in common: they lead to

ever-greater success in life. Taken together however, they generate an

overwhelming power that brings about ultimate, infinite-like

achievement. In fact, if we examine how such success comes to us, we

will see that it arrives in two distinct fashions -- through the "to-be-

expected way" and through the "life response way." The former means

that as we embrace these achievement factors, we move ahead in a

logical and practical way. E.g., people will take notice of our new

behaviors, skills, actions, etc., and we are rewarded through the to-be-

expected channels and unfoldings of life.

The life response method on the other hand operates much differently. In

this reality, when we embrace one or more of the success factors --

particularly ones we are deficient in -- life instantly responds in kind, I.e.

the very moment we change our inner orientation, life suddenly moves

on our behalf, bringing us overwhelming good fortune. For example, if I

shift away from my hostile attitude towards a co-worker, my boss

suddenly appears in my office with word that I have been promoted to a

much higher paying and satisfying job. This indicates the subtle,

miraculous-like relationship between our inner selves and the world


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around us. When we change the inner, the outer instantly responds in

kind.

If we can attract such powerful results by making these changes, then it

only makes sense to take up the challenge. Therefore, why not review

the success factors listed above, and come up with several areas where

you are deficient. Then make the concerted effort to implement that

change in your life. If you do, life will immediately start working on your

behalf. That's precisely what happened to Eliza when she made the

decision to both improve her level of cleanliness and orderliness, as well

as reverse her negative attitude toward her boss. From that day on, her

career began to really take off. You can do the same thing in your life,

and you too will be taken to the stars!

Lessons We Can Learn from Erin Brockovich

The film 'Erin Brockovich' is the true story of one woman's successful

initiative to investigate the deaths and illnesses of dozens of individuals

through the leakage of poisons into the water supply by the Pacific Gas

and Electrical utility company of California. At the end of the story, Erin,

working for a legal firm, wins a $333 million settlement for the families of

victims, which also includes a very substantial sum for her law firm as

well as for herself. It is also a story that each of us can learn from --

especially if we hope to take our lives to the next level of success. The

film not only shows her own personal struggles that allowed this vast

achievement, but also the social obstacles she was forced to overcome.

Although Erin demonstrated several unflattering traits -- including her

provocative dress and her too-often vulgar speech -- one trait makes up

for all of the others: her great tenacity of purpose. In this instance, Erin

not only knew precisely what she wanted -- to uncover the injustice that

has befallen the victims -- but pursues that goal with almost super-

human effort and determination.

In studying the ways individuals accomplish in life, several traits seem to

stand out. First, it is imperative to have a clear vision of what one wants

to accomplish. Then one is able to develop a plan to make it happen. And

finally, one makes an exhaustive effort to see it through. Erin was able to

embrace all three in this great period of her life. She not only had a clear

vision of what she wanted to occur, not only developed right strategies to

bring it about, but then implemented them through an unrelenting,

persevering effort. As a result, life cooperated from all quarters -- leading

not only to a vast settlement for the suffering families, but to a

monumental breakthrough for victim's rights.


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In addition to vision, strategies and determined implementation, there is

one other factor that played an important role in Erin's stunning

achievement -- the adoptions and adherence to deep personal values. At

each point, Erin personally identified with the plight of the victims and felt

a moral duty to bring them justice. Such deep beliefs and values guided

her efforts and in the end drove her to succeed.

If she can bring about such vast results, then each of us can do the same

in the areas we are predisposed towards. For example, think about your

own situation for a moment, and then consider what it is that you really

want to achieve in life. Now ask yourself the following questions: Do you

have a very clear vision of what you want to archive? Do you really want

to make it happen -- i.e. do you have a deep abiding passion for this to

come about? If so, then do have clear strategies to make it happen? Also,

are you willing to make an unrelenting, persevering effort to bring it

about? If so, and if you follow through at all these levels, then life will

surely cooperate with your efforts from all quarters. E.g. life will begin to

present you with sudden instances of good fortune; a miraculous-like

phenomenon that I call a "life response."

Now let's move on and consider the social dimension of Erin's

extraordinary story. When any person ventures to achieve at a higher

level in life, one is forced deal with the social milieu. I.e. in these

situations, we will see that there are environmental forces that are trying

to help us, and there as those conspire or otherwise gather to defeat us.

Often that opposition can originate from most unlikely of sources. For

example, one thing we notice in Erin's case is that though she is working

for the great benefit of the law office, the clients, even society itself, at

many points she is directly opposed by these very entities!

When a pioneer individual takes on a work that is not part of the normal

routines of that society, it often opposes that individual's efforts -- even if

it will in the end bring it great benefit! We see this phenomenon at work

in various points in Erin's story -- when the lawyers continually show their

misgivings about her initiative; when the people in the office are put off

by her behavior missing the greater benefit she is creating for them and

the victims; when her boyfriend deserts her for a time; and, most

dramatically, when the eventual beneficiaries of her initiative -- the

victims in the village -- gather at one point and decide to oppose her

efforts! This shows how the groundbreaking work of a pioneer will often

be opposed by various collectives, including those who stand to gain the

most. It is more than an irony; it reflects a fundamental Ignorance and

unconsciousness of the society in the face of a great boon. To be aware

of these forces is to know the influences of life, which one can overcome

through the right capacities -- of strength, attitude, right strategies, and

so forth.


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Fortunately for all involved, Erin's tenacity of purpose and her great

psychological strength overcome the unconscious opposition of the

ignorant social forces around her. She is courageous, and never despairs

when the social milieu opposes. She is consistently positive in her

attitude, believing in the rightness of her cause, and its eventual success.

She also has great social skills, demonstrated by her great empathy and

communication skills when interviewing the sick victims and their kin.

She is not bothered by the social obstacles because in one sense she

cares little about conforming to the social order. She is her own person,

despite her sometimes boisterous and crude behavior. Fortunately, that

offensive behavior in minor compared to the social strength she brings to

bear.

By the way, we should also point out that the falsehood of the society is

born out even at the end when Erin wins the case. She receives but $2

million out of the $333 million settlement, when she has, for all intensive

purposes, single-handedly enabled this great outcome! The law firm,

being a social institution, accepts the social custom of only giving Erin

money equal to her social status and position, instead of what she really

deserved. In addition, the law firm itself collects 40% of the reward. It is

another indicator of the negative and false quality of institutions in

society that reward the socially-accepted custom instead of that which is

right and just.

So we can ask ourselves again: do we have the drive and will to succeed

in our endeavors? Are we clear about what we want to achieve, and have

the right strategies to make it come about? Do we have the strength and

determination to bring our aspirations to fruition? Also, are we directed

by our own beliefs, rather than being overly influenced by the social

norms; and do we have the strength of purpose to persevere beyond the

opposition of the social milieu around us. If we meet these conditions,

then we too can bring about successes that rival those of Erin; we too can

rise to the highest pinnacles of success.

Human Initiative that Leads to Success or Failure

When we try to accomplish something in life through our initiative, it may

or may not succeed. We have already indicated negative forces that

might rise in opposition. Here are some other the subtle workings of life

that affect the success or failure of any initiative.

1. When the social atmosphere is positive with regard to an initiative, the

atmosphere fosters success. When the atmosphere is negative, the


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initiative will fail, unless the individual is able overcome the resistance of

the atmosphere.

(Example) In a community there is a very positive feeling towards

improving the education in the community. An individual begins an

initiative to improve the quality of the courseware. On the surface she

initially fails; yet the initiative is taken up by another person and

succeeds with it. That is because there is a positive atmosphere in the

community as it relates to education. (If there were a negative

atmosphere toward education, the initiative would have failed all

around.)

(Example) (As indicated in the book The Three Musketeers)

"Whatever the liberality of the day, the story takes place in an age

when the belief in good is quite pervasive and religious issues

dominate society. In fact, if one law seems to express throughout the

story, it is the resistance to illicit love at higher levels of society.

Buckingham's advances to Anne lead to his death. Constance's two

attempts to unite with D’Artagnan are frustrated, the first by her

arrest, the second by her death. Even Milady's passion for de Wardes

is frustrated by D’Artagnan. Aramis returns to religion, not to his

aristocratic lover. Only Porthos who seeks money, not love, and

stoops to the level of the proprietress succeeds, and that too by

marriage. There is no instance of illicit love prospering in the story."

(MSS)

2. Initiatives fail when taken outside one’s field of influence, authority or

control.

(Example) A man tries to create a higher sense of moral authority in

the community. He is in fact a man who is lacking in some of those

areas of morality himself. His initiative to bring about moral authority

ultimately fails.

In the novel The Vicar of Wakefield, (a book by Goldsmith) the Vicar

by his birth, upbringing, profession and character is of a high moral

plane. Those moral values enshrine humility and modesty and

idealism. But along with his morality, the Vicar has a streak of foolish

assertion and arrogance. The expression of this trait cancels whatever

positive things he may otherwise merit from life. The Vicar's life is

comfortable and successful until he asserts his foolishness over the

issue of monogamy at his son's betrothal, raising the issue of which

George's future wife's father is most vulnerable because of his plans

to remarry. The Vicar asserts that he holds truth higher than his

fortune and news quickly comes that his fortune is lost followed by

news that the marriage into a wealthy family is also lost.


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Had the Vicar really been above money, his words may have brought

a different response. But he has chosen to offend a thing which he

and his family really cherish as a boast of higher idealism. Life forces

him to live up to that higher idealism by depriving him of everything -

- money, position, reputation, freedom, health -- he ever had. When

he finally rises to the level of that idealism i.e. becomes stronger than

life at that point, not only the original wealth returns and the original

marriage arrangement, but abundant wealth from all sides comes.


the community. The community has actually transcended his morality

with an openness to new ideas that the individual cannot fathom. His

initiative to bring about moral authority fails.

3. Initiatives from lower levels of life do not have power for

accomplishment at higher levels of life.

(Example) A consultant was asked to investigate the development of

tool to allow for online student training evaluations. He worked on it

for months without ever clarifying with his superior the pay he would

receive as well as the timeframe on the project. Ultimately the project

failed completely, and the consultant wasted months of his time.

(Example) X tries to influence Y's opinion about Z. X’s efforts to

influence Y’s opinion of Z fail because X is stationed at a lower level of

the social hierarchy than Y. It is the higher station that sets the

standards for what is or is not acceptable or fashionable.

4. On the other hand, initiatives by those in a higher plane of life (i.e.

with greater wealth, status or power) toward those in a lower plane tend

to be readily and richly fulfilled, provided the lower is a willing recipient

and does not raise obstacles or resistance to receiving. This principle acts

in the same manner as water flowing downhill.

(Example) A manager of a training company wanted to have her

instructors do training on a new software program Many happily

agreed to it, and received basic knowledge on the program from the

training company. After a number of months the training by the

instructors went very well for the training company's clients, and even

led to additional profitable training on related new products.

5. Initiatives may receive unexpected support from life when they are

aligned with new movements in life that are gaining momentum. On the


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other hand, initiatives may meet with unexpected resistance when they

are aligned with movements that are passing out of existence.

(Example) X’s efforts to marry her daughter Y to Z for social purposes

meet with resistance and ultimately fail. X seeks to capitalize on the

mutual pledge of her sister and herself that their children should

marry, a practice whose value is passing out of existence. The light in

Y’s eyes that X feels is enough to overcome the best-laid plans of the

older generation to perpetuate itself in the old style.

6. Initiatives succeed when taken with sufficient energy and capacity to

reverse previous actions that failed as the result of an inappropriate

attitude or behavior.

(Example) A man tries to break up the marriage of his child, and

succeeds for a time. After a change of heart he decides that his

decision was very foolish and he tries to patch things up.. The success

of his initiative to change will only occur if he has sufficient vigor to do

so and if he gains to agreement of the parties who were initially

involved.


the community. The community has actually transcended his morality

with an openness to new ideas that the individual cannot fathom. His

initiative to bring about moral authority fails.

These are then some of the major forces at play that affect the success or

failure of any initiative that a person takes in life.

Negative Influence When One Wants to Ascend

One interesting phenomenon we have witnessed is that when an

individual tries to make a significant progress for improvement in life,

often there appears on the scene a negative influence or obstacle to

prevent that ascent. However, if the person has the required energy and

force of character, they can overcome this negative influence, and move

on to that higher level. If they don't, they will be brought down, and their

imitative will fail. Mother's Service Society explains:

Every accomplishment in life is vulnerable to interference or

destruction by negative influences. The higher the accomplishment is

with respect to previous levels of achievement, the greater the

vulnerability. The character of a negative influence can be seen from

the nature of events that occur when its approaches or leaves the

atmosphere.


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In the book Pride and Prejudice we can see excellent examples of this

phenomenon, with negative and the positive results.

-The Bennet family is aspiring the marriage of their daughters to a

higher level of prosperity. Lydia is one of the daughters, She is

energetic and good-natured, but is wild, crude, and unconstrained.

Darcy and Bingley are the well to do suitors for the Bennet daughters.

However, the great good fortune coming to the Bennet family through

the approach of Bingley and Darcy is undermined by Lydia’s low

behavior. She is the weak link in the family through which disaster

strikes and almost cancels great good fortune. It is a response of the

lower portion of the family to the higher opportunity that has opened

for the family. The weakest link breaks when the strongest

contemplates an upward initiative at times of great opportunity.

-Eliza, the heroine of the story is one of the Bennet daughters. She is

on her way to a movement upward in her life through her potential

emerging connection with Darcy, the hero of the story. however,

along the way she gets involved with Wickham, a handsome, yet

treacherous man, whose treachery she is completely blind to because

of her physical attraction. Her involvement with this individual at a

time when she is beginning to move to a higher level of

accomplishment almost ruins her. (Her weakness is not that she met

a treacherous man that she didn't know about; but that she got

caught up in her desires and physical attraction, an experience of

weakness and falsehood common in life. Ultimately, however her

strength of character pulls her through, and she overcomes this

setback.)

Here's one final example of how negative influences try to undermine the

ascent of an individual to the next highest level of life.

A consultant was given a project to develop a software program for a

consortium of electronic retail stores. It was a significant project with

opportunities far beyond the initial phase of the project, and offered initial

money that could have taken the consultant to the next level in his living

situation. he was under intense pressure to finish the project as well as

fulfill his other commitments. Just near the very end of the project, he

was kept awake for nights by an unruly, rowdy, and bullying neighbor.

One night when the pressure and noise became so great he went to

confront the neighbor. The neighbor physically struck the consultant, and

seriously injured him. Though the project was completed and delivered

on time, the consultant had to use the money compensation for his work

to support himself during his rehabilitation since he could not work for a

period of months. he never had the money to get a better living

situation.


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Opposition When a New Positive Force Rises

We see a fascinating phenomenon of life that reveals another aspect of

its Character. It is this: When a new positive Force arises, an opposition

force rises in parallel. Consider these examples:

---In the 1970s British series Poldark about an heroic individual who

aspires to and acts to life up the people around him through his life

actions and common deeds, the opposition Warleggan clan conspire to

destroy him at every step of the way. Fortunately, he succeeds, despite

his travails.

---In the American Film Unbreakable, a man (David) acquires fantastic

powers of perception and deed that attract an equal and opposite

negative force (Elijah) who tries to destroy him and the world around

him. Like Poldark, he rises to the occasion and is able to succeed despite

the evil that opposes him.

---When Sri Aurobindo and The Mother brought a new dimension to

spiritual evolution in their time, the opposition of a dark force rose in

Europe instigating WWII. However through great Inner consciousness and

power they prevailed, ushering in a New Age where Spirit could emerge

through human evolution.

---When a devotee of Theirs made the great effort to interpret Their

profound wisdom in practical terms across many fields of life, a force

opposed him that nearly ruined his works; and yet he too prevailed.

It is interesting to note that long-term the opposition force actually has

the effect of strengthening the positive people, as they are forced to grow

and evolve their character and consciousness; to utilize powers and

capacities that might have ordinarily remained dormant, or not fully

utilized.

Karmayogi indicates that every accomplishment in life is thus vulnerable

to interference or destruction by negative influences. He indicates that

the higher the accomplishment is with respect to previous levels of

achievement, the greater the vulnerability.

Ultimately the outcome of this dynamic depends on the strength of the

positive side. That is, individuals as well as society achieve in this

environment only when their strength is organized to contain the threat

and mischief of the negative side.

There was a man who was meant for higher accomplishment. But as the

opportunity emerged, his own dark past rose and confronted him. His


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ability to handle it successfully became the essential that enabled his

further progress.

Finally, we see powerful examples of this Character of Life principle in one

famous story -- Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice:

In the tale, the Bennet family aspires for the marriage of their daughters

to young, prosperous, available men, which would have the effect of

overcoming the threat of their cousin to inherit their middle class estate.

Lydia is one of the daughters. She is energetic and good-natured, but is

wild, crude, and unconstrained. Darcy and Bingley are the well to do

suitors for the Bennet daughters. However, the potential great fortune

coming to the Bennet family through these very prosperous young men is

undermined by Lydia's low behavior. She is the weak link in the family

through which disaster strikes and almost cancels the great emerging

positive good. Lydia’s is a response of the lower consciousness of the

family to the higher opportunity that has opened for them. In essence,

the weakest link breaks when the strongest contemplates an upward

initiative at times of great opportunity. Fortunately, in the end, the family

overcomes that limitation and prevails.

Then there is Eliza, the heroine of the story, who is the eldest Bennet

daughter. She is bright, independent, aware, and individualistic. In the

story, there is the possibility of her romantic involvement with the very

prosperous Mr. Darcy, the other hero of the novel. However, along the

way she gets mixed up with Wickham, a handsome, yet treacherous man,

whose deceitfulness and duplicity she is completely blind to because of

her physical attraction to him. Her involvement with this individual at a

time when there is a vast potential to move to a higher level of

accomplishment almost ruins that opportunity. Ultimately, however her

strength of character pulls her through, as she sees the light, overcomes

the setback, which opens the door to her marriage to Darcy, enabling the

family to rise dramatically in terms of wealth and social position.

It is interesting to note that at many if not all points the negative was

curtailed, life responded with sudden good fortune. E.g. when Eliza finally

perceived the treachery of Wickham, Darcy soon after appears with his

proposal of marriage. At that stage, she had given up all hope that he

was still interested in her. However, by shedding the negative influence

that opposed when she was in the process of rising, she was stunned to

discover that he was still in love with her, leading to his proposal, her

acceptance, and their marriage, thereby changing her life and the

condition of her family forever.


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Process of Accomplishment


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Human Intention

INTRODUCTION

Life responds to our intention. When we really want something to occur,

life tends to move toward us, fulfilling our aspiration. If our intention is

full -- i.e. if our energies are intensely directed toward the pursuit of a

specific goal over time -- life not only responds, but does so rapidly,

fulfilling that deepest aspiration.

For example, when Albert Einstein began to focus all parts of his being --

mental, vital, and physical -- toward the pursuit of his goal of finding

work to overcome his utterly destitute state as a young man, the

possibility of working at the Patent Office moved toward him. When his

intention became full -- i.e. he crossed over a certain threshold of

intensity demanded of life -- the job became his. From that new post, he

not only overcame his current predicament of acute poverty and misery,

but it served as the platform through which he would develop papers that

would change the course of science and the history of the world.

From this, we see that there may be no greater means for success and

accomplishment in life than our intention. When we have a clear

knowledge of what we want to accomplish, and our emotions fully

support it, then our intention takes shape. If we then make a determined,

persevering effort to carry out our hearts desire, we generate an

irresistible power that quickly attracts it. If per chance that particular

aspiration is not fulfilled, then another one is!

In we look around, we will see that life is always responding to one’s

intentions. In Jane Austin’s famous novel Pride and Prejudice, Mrs.

Bennett intensely desired to marry off her daughters to avoid a pending

eviction of her family; and within a year, that is precisely what occurred

(for three of them). When Erin Brockovich directed all of her energies to

getting out of her won desperate state of poverty, she quickly secured a

job at a law office that not only lifted her out of misery, but became the

springboard through which she would win the largest victim rights

settlement in history ($300 million).

When we focus on accomplishing something, then our intention takes

shape. When our intention is full, -- i.e. when we intensely want

something to occur, and sustain that urge over time -- life brings us what

we want in spades. The ancient Indian texts known as the

Upanishads declare, 'You are what your deepest desire is. As is your


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desire, so is your intention. As is your intention, so is your will. As is your

will, so is your deed. As is your deed, so is your destiny.'

Interest in a Thing

One interesting aspect of human aspiration/intention is that it can

express at various levels -- from a mild mental interest in a subject, to a

desire to accomplish something, to intense need to bring about our

heart's desire. And yet, life can instantly respond to our intention at any

of these levels: even to a passing fancy!

One day I walked down Columbus Avenues -- a busy street connecting

downtown San Francisco and Fisherman's Wharf (a popular tourist

destination) -- for the first time in many years. As I walked up Columbus

from the wharf to downtown, I admired its many cafes, and thought that

this is a wonderful street with enormous potential. I had never really

thought about this street in quite this way.

The next day in the local paper I saw an article about how for the first

time in 35 years business and public officials want to make Columbus

Avenues more of a destination and stopping place, rather than just a by-

way to get to Fisherman's Wharf from downtown. In fact, I had never

seen an article on Columbus Avenue development ever in my life, let

alone one within 24 hours covering the very idea I had in mind. It also

turned out to be very first and main article in the local paper!

As we see, even a passing fancy will attract corresponding response, as

long as there is a modicum of interest is involved. It is not full-blown

intention, but a causal focusing of the mind can very often attracts

response from life!

Perhaps you have found yourself in the following situation: You have just

thought about a subject you hadn’t thought of for decades, and then two

minutes later, there is discussion on that very topic on TV! That is

dramatic enough, but when you have never seen that subject referred to

in a lifetime of TV-watching, then you know something profound is at

work! You sit there, at once startled and amazed, before you remind

yourself that you have just experienced a powerful synchronicity and

response from life -- in this case, due to one’s focused interest in a

subject. If you watch out for it, you can probably see this extraordinary

interest-inducing phenomenon at least several times a day.

Real Intention

Though the above incidents were dramatic, producing interesting,

somewhat useful results, in the end, they were only transitory incidents -


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- a mere passing interest in a subject. Real intention, on the other hand,

takes shape when our desire is sustained over time -- i.e. when it repeats

in our thoughts, and continually rises in our emotions. From that poise,

we generate a surge of energy within, which moves out into the field of

life, and attracts corresponding elements that are truly beneficial.

To illustrate this point, consider the following incident involving a young

Asian friend of ours. Let’s read her story.

“Working at the Railway Recruitment Board, I am in charge of the

pre-examination work at our organization. There we have an

elaborate procedure for conducting examinations, which normally

occurs in several stages. A week ago, I met with my chairman where

we discussed the possibility of having candidates submit their

examinations electronically. This would not only make it easier for us

to handle the flow of information, but it would have the effect of

bringing down our expenditures. Unfortunately, my chairman was

apprehensive about the idea, and so the conversation ended there.

However, inside myself, I still strongly believed that this approach

was possible.

Several days later, the chairman called me to say that he had

received an invitation from a foreign-based computer firm, who were

launching a new software product. Since he was going to be

preoccupied with other matters during that time, he proposed my

name instead to represent our organization.

When I attended the meeting, I learned to my delight that the

software would in fact enable our candidates to take a variety of

examinations through the computer. I not only enjoyed the

demonstration of features, but I also got the chance to interact with

the program. That effort clarified a number of points on the feasibility

of using it our own environment.

In retrospect, I now see that an invitation from an unknown company

had unexpectedly come to us because I believed very strongly that

the computer approach was a workable idea. Thus, I saw my idea

transformed into reality.”

Our friend not only had an intense interest in seeing something come

about, but also sustained that interest over time. (“However, inside

myself, I still strongly believed that this approach was possible.”) A

sustained desire to see something come about is far more likely to attract

tangible results than when our intention is short-lived. In this episode,

our friend's on-going aspiration to automate the examination procedures

at her firm reached a certain pitch, which attracted from out of nowhere

the opportunity to interact with a software application that seemed to suit

their needs perfectly.


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If we look around in our own lives, or in the lives of others, or in history

or literature we will see examples where a sustained aspiration to

accomplish led to rapid, enormous, or enormous rapid achievement. For

example, in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet sustained an

intense aspiration to marry off her daughters -- which is exactly what

occurred in remarkably short order. Likewise, Erin Brockovich sustained a

ferocious desire to win the legal case for her constituency who were

poisoned by groundwater contamination, and in fact attracted the largest

financial settlement of its kind in history. And then there was the case of

young Albert Einstein, who reached deep within himself, sustaining for

months on end an intense desire to overcome his plight of destitute and

poverty. As a result, he only attracted a job position that provided him

with financial security, but it set the stage for his most prolific period of

insights into the nature of the physical world, changing the course of the

20th century. When we really want passionately want something, and

sustain it over time, we generate an irresistible force that attracts the

most startling positive conditions in life, both for ourselves and the

collectives we are part of.

A Caveat, a Reversal, and a Vast Opening

Though life responds to an aspiration that is clearly defined, filled with

passion, and sustained over time, there are times when a response will

simply not come! That is usually the case because there is some wanting

element in our being that is blocking our aspiration from attracting our

heart’s desire. It is usually there in our attitudes. There is something in

our wanting thoughts and feeling about life, about others, about work, or

about ourselves that blocks us from aligning with and attracting

corresponding positive conditions. However, when we identify those

wanting qualities and reverse them, we open the floodgates, and

startling, positive results move towards us. Often the results far exceed

any expectations we might have had.

For example, consider the case of Darcy and Eliza, the two main

characters of Pride and Prejudice. Early on in the story, Darcy really

wanted Eliza. However, for the longest time, he was unable to win her

over -- mainly because she was put off by his arrogant and prideful

behavior. However, at some point, Darcy began to recognize his own

deficiencies, and spurred on by his love for Eliza, made the conscious

effort to overcome them. As soon as he did that, the elopement episode

immediately presented itself, which gave Darcy the perfect opportunity to

show the best side of his character. When he then resolved that

potentially devastating affair, he was stunned to discover that Eliza

actually loved him, and then accepted his offer of marriage. In other


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words, by reversing himself and overcoming a wanting quality in his

character, he suddenly attracted that which he so dearly aspired for.

We see that the same dynamic occurred for Eliza. At one point in the

story, she came to admire and secretly love Darcy -- especially after his

noble efforts that ended the elopement episode. Unfortunately, she

sensed that after that awful affair that Darcy would never anything to do

with her. And yet she too grappled with her conscience, seeing the error

in her attitudes and beliefs. At the peak of this reversal of consciousness,

Darcy suddenly appeared at her doorstep with a proposal of marriage! In

other words, she too shifted an attitude to the positive, and was therefore

able to attract the object of her desire.

Thus, we see in these two cases that when we have the deep intention

for something to come about and it does not come to us, it is often life

asking us to make a corresponding change in our being – usually in our

attitudes and beliefs. When we make that change, life conspires to bring

to us our heart’s desire.

Levels of Intention that Attract

• A mere passing fancy

• Taking a serious interest in a matter

• Intensely aspiring to achieve a goal

• Intense aspiration to achieve a goal sustained over time

• Sustained, intense aspiration matched by right attitudes in life

The Power of Intention

Life responds to our intention. When we really want something to occur,

life tends to move toward us, fulfilling our aspiration. If our intention is

full -- i.e. if our energies are intensely directed toward the pursuit of a

specific goal over time -- life not only moves towards us, but does so

rapidly, fulfilling that deepest aspiration. When Albert Einstein began to

focus all aspects of his being -- mental, vital, and physical -- toward the

pursuit of his goal of finding work to overcome his destitute condition as

a young man, the possibility of working at the Patent Office position

began to move toward him. When his intention became full -- i.e. he

crossed over a certain threshold of intensity demanded of life – life

responded and the job became his. From that new post, he was not only

able to overcome his current predicament of poverty, but it would serve


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as the platform from which he would fulfill his potential, changing the

course of science, and the history of the world.

We begin to see that there is no greater human faculty for

accomplishment than our intention. When we have a clear knowledge of

what we want to accomplish, and our emotions fully endorse and support

its achievement, then our intention takes shape. Just taking to formatting

what we aspire and really wanting it can attract powerful response from

life. On the other hand, if go a step further and make a determined,

persevering effort to carry out our hearts desire, we generate an

irresistible power that will quickly attract that which we aspired to

accomplish. If that particular desire is not fulfilled, then another one will

come on its own.

In fact, if we look around us, we will see that life is always responding to

our intentions. In Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Bennett intensely desired to

marry off her daughters to avoid the pending eviction of her family from

their home, and within a year, that is precisely what occurred for three of

them. When Erin Brockovich directed all of her energies to getting out of

poverty, she quickly secured the job at the law office. That position not

only lifted her out of misery, but became the springboard through which

she would change the course of victims’ rights history. Her ferocious

intensity carried her through a challenging legal process that ended in an

overwhelming $300 million settlement for her long-suffering clients, and

considerable wealth and a long-standing career for herself.

When we focus on accomplishing something, then our intention takes

shape. When our intention is full -- i.e. when we intensely want

something to occur, and sustain that urge over time -- life tends to move

towards us with abundant good fortune. There is no greater power for

accomplishment and success in life!

The ancient Indian texts known as the Upanishads declare, “You are what

your deepest desire is. As is your desire, so is your intention. As is your

intention, so is your will. As is your will, so is your deed. As is your deed,

so is your destiny.”

The Power of Intention that is Great; that Backfires

One of the more powerful insights into the nature of human existence is

the notion that what you really want tends to be accomplished. If you

have an intense desire to achieve something, and focus your energies on

it, excluding all other matters, life ends to cooperate and bring the object

of your desire. It may happen sooner or later, depending on the intensity


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of energy you bring to bear, the surrounding atmosphere, and other

subtle influences of life.

When life suddenly brings you your heart's desire from seemingly out of

nowhere, then you have experienced an instance of "life response," which

appears to us as a miracle. E.g., a man aspires to rise to a higher position

in his profession, and focuses all of his energies on its achievement. From

out of nowhere, he suddenly receives a call and offer for employment

from an officer of a company who had no idea that he was looking for a

better-paying, more satisfying job! It has thus come as a miraculous-like

response to the energies the seeker has released -- somehow aligning

him with the intentions of corresponding individuals and circumstances.

On the other hand, there are also instances where you really want

something to occur, but the opposite takes place! That usually happens

because the thing wanted was not helpful, or the energies you released

stemmed from a wanting aspiration, attitude, decision, or action.

There is a well-known example of this in Jane Austin's Pride and

Prejudice. Near the end of the story, Eliza and Darcy are working out

their romantic relationship. At one point Darcy's aunt, the very wealthy

and powerful Lady Catherine gets word that her also-wealthy nephew Mr.

Darcy might marry Eliza, who is from a lower class. With her entourage in

tow, Lady Catherine rushes over to confront Eliza to determine if she

intends to marry Darcy. Eliza, strong-willed and independent, refuses to

be bullied into an answer, though she does not deny that she would

marry him if she so chose. Unsatisfied with her answer, Lady Catherine

rushes off in a huff. The next day, Darcy appears before Eliza, and they

agree to marry. Darcy indicates to Eliza that he had come to see her

because he had heard from his aunt Lady Catherine that she (Eliza)

would not necessarily turn down his marriage proposal! As a result, now

the two are engaged and marry -- the exact opposite of the intention of

Lady Catherine. We could call this a "negative life response." Though her

intention was great and focused, it worked in the opposite direction.

There are several reasons, though one stands out: her anachronistic

propensities were working opposite to the positive energies that were

emerging in the story. She tried to force her intent through her

willfulness and position of wealth and power, when in fact the story was

how the middle class was emerging as a new power in rural England.

We see this same process of negative life response at work in world

history. In the 18th and 19th century, Britain aspired to build an empire

around the world. It succeeded for a while, until WWII, when it was

nearly crushed, and then forced, out of necessity, to give up its empire.

Now if one goes to London, there is hardly a Londoner in site, as 75% of

its people are non-English, most from countries representing its former

empire! It is in essence a negative life response (for the traditional


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Londoner) to centuries of English chauvinistic intention. The modern

world is now in fact moving in an opposite direction.

When we wish for something whose motive originates in lower

consciousness relative to the conditions around us, we are likely to

receive outcomes the opposite of our intention -- i.e. life quickly responds

to us with instances of ill-fortune. In one of Jane Austin's other novels,

Emma, the author has constructed an entire novel built around this idea.

Emma is an individual who is hopelessly meddlesome, trying to match

other people up in romantic relationships -- utterly failing with each

attempt. Life consistently responds in a negative fashion to Emma’s lower

vibration.

Fortunately, in the end, Emma sees the error of her ways, and comes to

understand that it was the love she was avoiding for herself that she

sought to bring about in others. To that change in attitude, life responded

with overwhelming good fortune, when her life-long companion proposed

marriage, which she gladly accepted. It was the happiest moment of her

life.

Though we may have generated negative response from life due to our

wanting inner and outer behaviors, we can overcome that quality, reverse

it in full, and observe thereafter how the deepest object of our desire --

whether a fantastic new job, or the partner of our dreams – suddenly

moves towards us. It is the miracle of life response.

Decisions that Instantly Attract Good Fortune

Periodically we have a vision of that which we would like to accomplish,

come about, or become. Just because we think it so doesn't make it so;

for a thought, even a powerful one, in and of itself does not accomplish.

If I want to take my company in a new direction, it may be a very worthy

thing, but it doesn't make it happen. However, when there is the will for

it to occur, then accomplishment is more readily made possible. If I am

now determined to see the business move in that new direction, then

accomplishment is more likely to occur. This is of course just common

sense.

The mental vision of a thing and the vital will to make it happen in

combination represent our aspiration and intention. When we carry out

our aspiration through a determined, persevering effort, then

accomplishment is all but inevitable. When I make the effort to physically

carry out my decision to take my firm in a new direction, I tend to rapidly

move towards its achievement. Again, this only seems logical.


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This is, in essence, the process by which all accomplishment occurs: it is

the process of creation. Vision, intention, and physical effort carried out

through skilled action lead to creation and achievement in life. It is not

only the process by which an individual accomplishes, but is also the

process by which all achievement occurs in life -- be it a business, an

organization, or any other collective or entity. It is even the method by

which the universe came into being from a Divine Source.

Having said this, I would like to suggest that it is possible to accomplish

without actually initiating physical action! It can happen merely by

making a decision. That is, the intensity of a decision to accomplish a

goal can be so great that it can literally attract sudden good fortune! This

is because making a decision is an exercise of will, a psychological effort,

a form of inner action.

In Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, Mr. Bennet, the father of five

daughters, finds himself in a terrible predicament. His youngest daughter

Lydia has run off with a scoundrel, threatening to scandalize and

therefore ruin his family. After anguishing over the matter, he realizes

that it has been his past neglect in rearing his children that has led to the

current dilemma. As a result, their wells up in him a deep aspiration to

change his ways. That in turn leads to his firm decision to deeply involve

himself in bringing up his daughters in the future. As a result, life quickly

responds in overwhelming fashion. He soon learns that the crisis has

most unexpectedly been resolved! The scoundrel has agreed to marry the

runaway girl. As if by magic, the ruination of his family is avoided.

How did this happen? In essence, life had responded to his powerful

decision by bringing forth a positive response from life. Even though he

never got round to physically acting on his decision, the decision itself

released energies that moved across space and time, and aligned with

related energies and circumstances that were decidedly in his favor. It is

an indication of the subtle but powerful relationship that exists between

our inner condition and the world around us. If you change your

consciousness within, life outside yourself tends to suddenly respond with

circumstances that are in your favor. Making a decisive decision can

make life respond in this way.

Once you have seen this phenomenon at work even once in your life, it

can change your view of reality forever. You begin to understand that you

can attract the infinite possibilities of life to your doorstep by making the

right inner adjustments of consciousness -- whether the change of a

wanting attitude, taking to a necessary action, or, as we saw here, by

moving from indecision to decision. The results are a wonder to behold!


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Personal Attitudes

INTRODUCTION

Each of us is made up of various physical, vital, and mental parts. There

is our physical body and its organs, muscles, etc; the vital being with its

sensations, emotions and feelings, and the mental part with its thoughts,

memories, reasoning power, beliefs, etc. Somewhere between our

emotions and our thought processing lie our attitudes -- our emotional

perceptions about ourselves, others, and life itself. Attitudes generally

express positively and negatively. E.g., when I have good feelings

towards my work or co-worker, my attitude is positive. When I feel

reluctant to do certain things that are necessary, or show hostility

towards certain individuals, then my attitude is negative.

Interestingly, if we can identify a bad attitude and make the effort to

change it, life will suddenly cooperate with our inner efforts, bringing luck

into our lives. Consider this true-life incident:

A salesperson was intimidated about meeting a very large customer.

He felt that the effort was a waste of time since the company was too

large to penetrate. As a result, he was unable to secure that or any

other sale with the large client.

However, a number of months later, he changed his attitude about

working with such large accounts. The very next day, he was stunned

when out of the blue that very same large customer, who earlier

turned him down, placed a huge order!

As we see, if we change our attitudes, life has a funny way of responding

to those efforts. We call this phenomenon "life response." When we

change our attitudes, or otherwise elevate our consciousness, life quickly

responds with instances of sudden good fortune.

Attitudes about Ourselves, Others, and Life

Though there are many attitudes, if we look a little closer we can identify

three basic types -- those concerning ourselves, those about others and

the objects around us, and those we have towards life itself.

Let’s focus here on each of these types. An example of a wanting attitude

about ourselves is a lack of self-worth or self-confidence. An example of a

wanting attitude about others is a feeling of ill will towards another, or


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being mistrustful of someone. An example of a negative attitude towards

life is being pessimistic that things will never turn out well. These are

destructive feeling and emotions that cannot help but worsen life’s

conditions.

The good news, however, is that if we overcome any such negative

feelings or emotions, not only do we raise our level of consciousness, but

life will quickly move in our favor. Consider this true story where an

individual changed her attitude about other people:

A woman was working as a temporary employee for a large medical

organization. For months, she complained about certain coworkers at

her job. At the time, she had decided to develop a 30-day plan to

secure a full-time position. One part of her plan was to change her

attitude toward these particular individuals. In the days that followed,

she persisted in following her plan, focusing especially on her wanting

attitude toward others. She was shocked however when a short while

into her plan, she was suddenly asked to work for the organization full

time -- her first non-temporary job in nearly a decade!

That is the power of changing a negative attitude toward others. Here is

another incident, this time narrated by a friend of ours from Asia:

"In our unit there was a supervisor whom I felt was indifferent,

insubordinate, and had to be punished. I was looking for an

opportunity to pin him down. A time came to do so, and I dismissed

him mercilessly. Within two days of his dismissal, there was a major

breakdown in one of the machines.

The supplier of the machine then sent their engineers. They struggled

for 7 days and could do very little to set it right. I was thoroughly

disgusted. I then started examining my attitudes on several fronts

during the last 10 days.

It struck to me that whenever I am in the position to do so, my

attitude is to dominate another person. In this case, I was able to

dominate the supervisor and dismiss him mercilessly. But in the case

of the machine, I could not afford to throw it away and replace it with

a new machine; so I tolerated it. Based on my previous knowledge of

the subtle workings of life, I understood at that point that I had to

change my attitude.

I then called back the supervisor, apologized for my rude action, and

requested that he continue in the company. He felt very happy. It was

then striking that the machine that had been out of commission until

then, now unexpectedly got fixed. In fact, there haven’t been any

serious troubles with any of the machines since then!"


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As we can see, when we overcome a negative attitude towards others,

life quickly responds in our favor. Machines that had broken down

suddenly start working, projects that are suddenly are unexpectedly

completed on time, negative situations dissolve, employment

opportunities arise our way out of nowhere, cash unexpectedly moves in

our direction, and so forth. It is the miracle of life response in action!

Embracing Life’s Conditions

One virulent negative attitude we have is being reluctant or even

intransigent about doing something life requires of us. When we avoid

these give conditions of life or otherwise shrink from doing what is

necessary for that time, we not only block achievement, but we invite

failure. On the other hand, if we overcome our negative attitude and

embrace the requirements of the present, life has a funny way of quickly

working on our behalf. Here is a true-life example:

A trainer was reluctant to review a series of complex training

materials. Moreover, his schedule was so full that he wondered how he

would have the energy to go through them and at the same time perform

his training duties.

He then reversed his attitude, overcame his reluctance, and began to go

through the complex materials. Just as he was finishing up one of the

sections, his telephone rang. It was the voice of his training manager

informing him that several of his classes had been rescheduled, making it

unnecessary for him to go through the very next -- and most complex –

set of sections. As a result, he was now relieved of great amount of

tension and anxiety.

When we embrace the requirements of the Now, instead of rejecting or

avoiding them, life quickly responds with good fortune. It would turn out

to be a lesson that our trainer would carry forward for the rest of his life.

Here is another, similar example of the same dynamic:

A woman, looking for a new position as an administrative assistant, was

reluctant to learn a new computer program that would improve her skills

and therefore help her get a better job with better pay. One day she

decided to reverse that viewpoint and decided to learn a spreadsheet

software program; one that she rarely used in any previous job position.

That knowledge could possibly be one of a number of software programs

that could aid her in a potential admin position.

Within a few hours after learning the program, she got a new job. Not

only that, but the job position involved made extensive use of the very

spreadsheet program she had learned just a few hours before!


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The effort by the woman to overcome her reluctance and embrace a

possibility and opportunity helped trigger an event that led to immediate,

startling, and positive life response in that precise domain where she

made the change. It seems impossible, but that is precisely how life

works!

And now one final episode involving that same woman:

“One of the nurses on a floor above me called for a chart. The

computer showed that the chart was still upstairs. This meant that I

had to go up to look all over the place for it, which is something I

don't usually do, and get frustrated with when I do it.

Well, this time I resigned myself to going upstairs to search for the

chart. As I was going out the door from my department, there was a

cart there holding several charts. I then turned the first one over, and

it turned out to be the very chart I was just about to hunt down

upstairs!”

By taking up the needs of the present, life came quickly moved on her

behalf, overcoming space and time. By overcoming her wanting attitude

of reluctance, she attracted extraordinary results from the world around

her.

Negative Expressions Attracts Negative Response

So far, we have seen that changing a negative attitude can attract

sudden good fortune. Inversely, if we take to a negative attitude, we can

attract sudden ill fortune. For example, if we feel hostility towards

another person, problematic circumstances can quickly arise.

At the annual gathering of a company's employees, prizes were being

given out to the staff. One employee watching the proceedings hoped

to win one of the larger ones. When the biggest prize was announced,

the winner scurried to the front to pick it up from the host. However,

the previously mentioned woman watching the proceedings was

bitterly disappointed. In fact, it turned out that several weeks earlier

she had a run in with the winner of the prize, adding to her bitterness.

When the bitter woman arrived back at her home later that night, she

received word that her son had suddenly fallen into very difficult

straits.

Here is another example of how life responds negatively to a wanting

attitude.

A man "A" met a fellow instructor "B" before a class he was to

perform. One of the things they discussed were problems they had

experienced in earlier classes. In particular, A kept talking about how


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the students at a certain client were particularly difficult to work with.

He persisted in expressing his bitter feelings. Though that instructor

rarely had problems with his students, later on that day -- as well as

in the next two classes -- he had a series of difficulties with the

participants.

As we see, when we express negative sentiment -- whether ill will

towards certain individuals, or complaining about others -- we can elicit

sudden ill fortune. The best approach then is to try to be mindful of our

moment-to moment thoughts and feelings, and catch ourselves whenever

our attitude turns sour. That way we can avoid such work-destroying

situations as this one:

An instructor had lined up an important training class. Several days

before the gathering, he was sidetracked and sent an email to

someone disparaging a prominent thinker. In the middle of writing

that note, he received a call from his contactor canceling the

upcoming class.

As we see, negative expressions, feelings, opinions, etc. can cancel or

destroy a work. Thus, it is best to constantly scan our attitudes, and

block their negative expressions, before they ruin life’s circumstance.

The Power of an Overall Positive Attitude

In addition to having the right attitude, it is always best to have an

overall positive attitude. Not only will your work flow more smoothly,

your interactions with others be more harmonious, and your spirits stay

high, but you are likely to garner the sudden cooperation of life.

A management consultant was hoping to have a key meeting with the

principle officers of a company with $100+ billion in assets. For days,

he fretted about the deal as the potential client failed to contact him.

Over that time, he developed greater and greater doubts that the

meeting would ever take place.

Finally, he remembered that it was important to maintain a positive

attitude in these sorts of situations. He therefore decided to change

his feeling from that of concern and worry to being fully

positive. Shortly thereafter, the client contacted the consultant and

told him that the meeting would take place. Needless to say, the

consultant was thrilled to no end. In fact, years of high-level

consulting work would follow.

That is the power of having a generally positive attitude.

Now consider this journal entry of an audio-video retail chain owner, who

was in the process of conducting several sales meetings. Fortunately, in


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this incident (described in the owner's journal), he was aware of the

importance of having a positive attitude.

"-around 4pm my energy starts to sap, I start to feel sorry for myself

and wonder how I will last the day. I decide to reverse my attitude

and say, "there is no room for this behavior; you must push on and

go to work." In the very next sales interview, D reports he just sold

for $18,000!!' [A huge amount for but one salesperson.]

-I have a meeting with G, an important audio salesperson. We work

through a system to get him committed and productive. We discuss

the fact that he must commit. During the meeting, I am conscious of

my attitude that is negative about our chances of success. I struggle

to reverse them with lukewarm results. The meeting is then

interrupted as the store is then filled with customers, including a good

one for that salesperson!"

Remaining Calm and Positive in a Difficult Situation

An overall positive attitude has the power to attract sudden good fortune.

We have also seen that when difficult circumstances come your way, and

you remain steady and calm, life will suddenly reverse and cancel the

problem, often bringing startling new opportunities in its place. Here is a

powerful true story of the benefit of “inner equality” in the face of

adversity.

“We have our business unit in a space that we rent out from another

party. One day the owner of our rented space picked an argument

with our own manager -- apparently without good reason. As a result

of the dispute, the owner threatened to terminate our lease for the

space we were renting. As it turned out, I was away during the time

these events were transpiring.

Naturally, all of the workers, including my manager, were agitated --

so much so, that they wanted me to take appropriate legal action

against the owner of the space. However, I decided not to react to the

intensity of the situation, and, instead, decided to remain calm and

composed. In fact, I told the workers, as well as the manager to stay

calm as well, and to concentrate instead on their work. I myself

continued to function in a normal fashion as if nothing had happened.

Several days later, the owner of the rented space unexpectedly came

up to me in tears. He said that his two-year-old grandson had a heart

problem, and he wanted me to suggest a hospital where the child

could be treated. Through my doctor friends, I was able to suggest a

hospital in Madras [i.e. Chennai, India]. The child was then taken

there.”


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After examination, the doctors revealed that the child had a hole in

his heart, and that he had to be operated on immediately. The

operation was going to cost around two lacs of rupees [~5000 US

dollars]. Unfortunately, the owner did not have two-pennies to pay for

this very expensive operation. However, I then talked to a bank

manager and arranged financing from the bank. The loan was secured

based solely on my personal guarantee. The bank also took an

agreement from the owner that he would not evict my company on

any grounds for the next five years. The child was saved.”

In this startling episode bordering on the profound, we see how the

manager’s right attitude of calm and equality not only led to the

cancellation of the eviction, not only led to the intense appreciation and

goodwill of the owner, but saved the life of a small child. When we

maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity, life has a way of

cooperating in ways we would have never imagined!

A Captain’s Change of Heart

In the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, based

on one of a series of novels by Patrick O’Brian, we see a powerful

example of how change in attitude can bring an overwhelming response

from life.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the British naval frigate HMS Surprise is

pursuing the Acheron, a large and powerful French war vessel that is

sailing off South American. The Surprise, commanded by Captain Jack

Aubrey, is then attacked by the Acheron, and the ship is badly damaged,

with many of its crew wounded. Even though the Acheron is a far more

powerful ship with many more men aboard, the Captain still decides to

try to capture it at all costs.

At various points, the Captain is torn between his own ambition and the

views of his close friend, Stephen Maturin, who is the ship’s doctor.

Martin thinks that the Captain is needlessly endangering the lives of the

crew by perusing the Acheron.

At one point, Maturin wishes to stop at the Galapagos islands in order to

gather some of the rarest animal and plant specimens on earth. The

Captain insists there is no time, and they sail off. Thereafter, the doctor is

accidentally wounded, and the ship is forced back to the Galapagos so he

can heal. With Maturin near death, the Captain senses that he should

have listened to his friend in the first place. After a while, the doctor

recovers, and the Captain guardedly allows him to go on an outing to

gather the specimens he so longed for. At one point, Maturin climbs a hill,


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looks out to sea, and then sees of all things, the Acheron, the French ship

they are after, sailing nearby! The crew then immediately sets sail after

the ship, and destroys it!

In other words, because the Captain saw the error of his way, and

accepted the fact that he should have listened to his friend request in the

first place, his friend suddenly finds the enemy for him. It is a wonderful

example of how life responds in overwhelming fashion to a change in

attitude.

Dan in Real Life

Life presents us with many challenges, some of which arise through

negative circumstance. In particular, it can be quite difficult to remain

positive when the social atmosphere is wanting -- e.g. if people around us

are behaving in ways that are detrimental or even harmful. And yet those

who are able to maintain the right outlook in these circumstances, who

are immune to and do not participate in the negative social activity, gain

an interesting power over life, as they tend to quickly attract positive

conditions. Let me illustrate with a film I watched the other day.

In Dan in Real Life, Dan Burns is a newspaper advice columnist, a

widower, and a father of three daughters in the New Jersey suburbs. One

day Dan and his children take a trip to the Rhode Island home of his

parents for their annual family get together. After they arrive at the large

house, situated on a bluff overlooking the bay, Dan takes some time off

and goes to a local bookstore. There he meets a woman named Marie

who mistakes Dan for an employee. He then proceeds to gather up

several books for her, and in the process, hits it off with her. Suddenly

love blossoms.

When Dan arrives back at the house, he lets his family know that he has

found a potentially very special person. They are thrilled to hear this

since it has been three years since he lost his wife. However, a short

while later, his brother’s new girl friend arrives on the scene, and it turns

out to be none other than Marie! She too was on her way to the family

get together when she met Dan at the bookstore.

There then begins a tense situation in which his brother and Marie are

somewhat romantically interacting at the home, even as Dan is now has

fallen in love with her. After several days, the situation becomes

unbearable for both. Because he appears so miserable, Dan’s mother

suggests that he call up a local girl on a blind date and ask her to come

to the gathering. When the rest of the group learns that she is coming,

they recall that she was a physically unattractive young girl, and so they


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begin mocking her for being an ugly duckling. At one point, they go as far

as to launch into a rollicking, impromptu sing-along in which poke fun of

"miss piggy face.” All except Dan, that is.

A few minutes later, so-called “piggy face” arrives at the house, and

shockingly turns out to be a beautiful woman. Immediately, Dan and her

are physically attracted to one another. As a result, Marie becomes very

jealous, which has the further effect of turning the emerging, partial love

she felt for Dan into a full-blown blossoming of her emotions. This in turn

compels her to truly seek out the relationship with him, once she breaks

off with his brother. In the end, Dan and Marie fall deeply love and are

blissfully married.

The moral of the story? Because Dan did not give into and participate in

the mocking sing-along of his soon to be arriving date “piggy face,” he

attracted instead a beautiful woman. Furthermore, her arrival compelled

Marie, the woman he loved, to commit to a relationship, which

culminated in their marriage. That is the power of remaining positive in a

negative situation -- in this case, in the face of social pressure to act

falsely. The effect is that this person, the exception in the crowd, is

propelled to the heights through complete emotional fulfillment. When we

follow our own positive instincts and do not give into the social imperative

of the herd, we release positive energies that attract the very best of

conditions. In that way, we develop "true individuality," which tends to

lure the infinite potentials of life in our direction.

Evoking the Darkness and the Light

The other day I had a memorable experience that was filled with irony. It

was a life response of the highest order; one that was not only a

continuation of a pattern of previous responses, but one which touched

me and the recipient dearly. It was also one that brought out both the

darkness and the light in life; literally and figuratively. Let me explain.

For nearly a decade, I have been attending meetings of MPUG, the

Microsoft Project User Group in San Francisco. Held at the Microsoft

district headquarters on Market Street, the gatherings have always been

lively affairs in which we watched interesting and informative

demonstrations, at the end of which prizes were handed out to lucky

winners. It turns out that over the last several years, I had the good

fortune of not only winning several of the biggest prizes, but often knew

in advance which prize I would win, and at what point I would win it. In

other words, I was able to predict a life response event before it

occurred. I was able to accomplish that inner feat because on those


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occasions I had the subtle sense of how life was unfolding, and perceived

how life seemed to be moving towards certain outcomes, including the

disbursement of certain prizes at specific moments.

Just as startling was the fact that in the course of the last several

meetings I won the exact same prize from amongst many. Moreover, in

each situation, I proceeded to give the prize away to someone else who

had need for it, since I had little use for that product myself. In other

words, because I knew that life tends to repeat, and because I sensed

the subtle unfolding of circumstance on those particular occasions, I

sensed in advance that I was going to win that precise prize, at what

point it would occur, and if I did, knew I would probably give it away. It is

with that background that I would like narrate the events of our latest

meeting.

When I arrived at the Microsoft district headquarters this time, I noticed

that there had been some significant changes. Now the quarterly meeting

was being held on the other side of the building. This indicated to me on

some level that changes were the order of the day.

As usual, I arrived a little early that evening, and instantly saw our host

and main speaker talking to several members gathered around in a

group. As a result, I held back from bursting on the scene, and waited in

the large break room to gather and prepare myself for the upcoming

meeting. A while later, I summoned up the courage and entered the

presentation room. Immediately, on entering the room, I was very

surprised to see an associate of mine, who I had not seen at these

gathering for a several years, and who also was the chapter's previous

president. Let us call this individual "J." I was surprised not only because

I hadn't seen him at meetings for a long while, but he was the one

individual I had a somewhat poor relationship with among the members.

For example, in the past, we would clash on my participation and

involvement, or lack thereof, in helping run the meetings; and also had

difference of opinions about the quality of certain presenters. Most telling

of all was that he had a conservative political and social bent and was not

afraid to let me know about it. In any case, our past relationship was

dicey at best, and yet there he was, the first person I met when I entered

the large room to start this latest gathering of MPUG.

I should also point out that J and I had a common friend and associate,

namely M, who was not only the chapter head who led every meeting,

including this one, but was also about to make the two major

presentations that evening. It is also true that I referred a half million

dollars worth of business to M, which was a powerful response from life I

have described elsewhere. Now as I pondered the current dynamic, I

wondered if J would have such a harsh opinion of me since I had created

the largest client for his friend's business in its decade long history.


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With these thoughts circling in my mind, M, as head of the chapter and

host, began the meeting and proceeded to give the first of his two

presentations. After he was done, I drifted to the back of the room where

the refreshments were. A minute or so later, my occasional detractor and

former head of the chapter J arrived there as well. I then commented

how very effective M's presentation was, and then went on to say that I

thought that with such excellent presentation skills, he could indeed

become mayor of a renown local town; something M indicated a passion

for in the past. I then added that I would vote for him no matter what his

political persuasion. To that J shot back with words to the effect that he

would only vote for M if he had a conservative agenda, burst off, and

returned to his seat, leaving me a bit stunned at his abrasiveness. Now

as I sat there, I thought of our past experiences, as well as this latest

brusque retort. My mind then focused on the current economic

environment, and realized that like others, he still had not learned the

foolishness of the laissez-faire view that had almost brought down the

world economy. With that little flash of irritation, I quietly let out a

charge of emotional and mental energy.

A moment later, just after the Microsoft rep that was in charge of logistics

for the meeting had begun striking up a conversation with me about the

smoothness of the meeting so far, the lights suddenly went out in the

entire large room! Not only were we all now in the dark, but M, who was

getting ready for his next presentation, could not easily see what he was

doing. Immediately I understood that my flash of irritation had

precipitated a negative response in the form of complete darkness,

Perceiving this, I decided from that point forward to withdraw any harsh

feelings and emotions toward J, and instead foster cordial and good

relations whenever possible. A moment later, M began his second

presentation, as the viewers, except the overhead presentation, watched

in the dark. Fortunately, the lights came back on not one minute into M's

speech, indicating that he was never discouraged by the darkness, so

quickly attracted the restoration of the lights.

M's second and very effective presentation ended an hour later, and now

the prizes were being given out. I then recalled many of the astonishing

events in the past involving the disbursements of these rewards;

experiences I have documented in other Essays. Once again, in this

situation, all and everything seemed possible.

As the gift-giving proceeded, I saw a thick, valuable book on the table in

front of the room. It turned out to be the same book that I had won on

two or three previous occasions! It was now but one of 10 prizes to be

given out. Those past experiences were remarkable, and yet there I was

once again confronted with the possibility that it could occur a third

consecutive time!

../../../../Users/Roy/Documents/My%20Web%20Sites/gurusoftware/GuruNet/Articles/All.htm


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And so the prize-giving proceeded. This time however, my name was not

selected for any of the first eight prizes. Still two prizes remained; that

same valuable purple technical book, plus an online software application

with a $3000 value. M's helper then shuffled the remaining ballots to

determine who would win the thick technical volume. At that moment, I

once again felt the world disappear, while having the presence of mind to

perceive that the same book come to me again. When M then called out

my name as the winner, I was stunned, bemused, and ecstatic all in the

same moment. When he then proceeded to hand over the book to me, I

instinctively did what I had done on those previous two occasions when I

predicted and won that same prize: I simply offered it to someone who

could use it since I had limited use for it. I then called out and asked who

in the group could use it. Immediately, the woman who was sitting right

behind me said she did. I agreed, and M handed her the book. I then saw

this as yet a third manifestation of what had occurred in the previous two

meetings. Each time I serendipitously won that same book, I not only

handed it off to another person, but it was given to the person I had

struck up a conversation with previous to the evening's presentations. On

each occasion, I had shed my shyness, and took an interest in the

particular person sitting next to me, engaging in conversation about why

they were there, their needs in terms of the technology, and so forth.

And in each meeting, it was the person who I had made contact with,

sitting next to or just behind me, who called out that they wanted and

had a need for the book when I offered it. It was yet another startling

dimension to these events.

But there was more to be one more turn in these events. Because I had

handed off the book prize, M now put me back in the queue with the

remaining contestants for the biggest and final prize; the $3k 1-year

subscription to a highly specialized online software application. When he

then drew from the lot, I subtly felt a kind of whiteness, with everything

going blank. M then announced the winner of the grand prize, and it

turned out to be none other than myself! In that wondrous moment, I

had the presence of mind to perceive that because I gave my previous

prize to a person who needed it, I was put back in the cue, and then was

put in position to attract the much bigger one.

I then stood up, both shock and bemused to receive the prize, while fully

realizing the inner workings of the situation. How could I ever explain this

dynamic to anyone! Then as I stood there and pondered the nature of the

prize, I realized once again that I really had no need for it despite its

great monetary value. And so once again I called out to the group and

offered it to anyone who could use it.

What occurred next was one of the most astonishing moments ever.

When I offered the grand prize to the group, a person just in front of me


235

turned around and indicated that he could really use it. It turned out to

be none other than my nemesis J! Stunned, I agreed that I would hand

over the prize to him.

I then sat down in utter wonder at what had just transpired. In fact, over

the next several moments, J stared at me with a very special look that

seemed to be a wellspring of gratitude. It was so strong and heartfelt

that it started to feel my own heart. Here was my one periodic adversary

in the group, perhaps my only one in business in years, with an

expression on his face that seemed to say "Are you really giving this to

me? And is it really you whom I am receiving it from?" And in those

moments when our eyes locked, I saw the welling up of emotion in his

eyes.

As we see in this incident, when we change an attitude from one of

irritation and hostility to one of goodwill and harmony, life quickly moves

in our favor, life's conditions shift to the positive enabling an enemy to

become a grateful ally; cancelling the effect of past difficulties and

tensions in a single instance. When I shifted from a flash of irritation that

earlier had literally and figuratively evoked the Darkness to one of hope

for hoped for goodwill, I set loose a vibration that had attracted the Light

that expressed as a revelatory experience. It was truly one of the most

memorable moments and delightful experiences of my life.

Power of Positive Attitude in City of Joy

Perhaps the most powerful way to evoke sudden good fortune is to shift

your attitude from the negative to the positive. If you have a wanting

attitude towards others, life, or your own self, and then reverse it, benefit

will quickly come your way. Often it comes in an instant.

It turns out there is another way to evoke powerful life response through

one’s attitude. It is by maintaining a generally positive one. If for

example, you are straining to accomplish something in your life, and yet

you maintain a positive attitude that things will work out fine; that you

will succeed, bringing a solid confidence to your efforts, life will conspire

and give you all that you wished for and more.

There is a wonderful example of this life principle and dynamic in the

American film City of Joy, which is set in India. In the story, Hasari Pal,

an Indian farmer, arrives in Calcutta with his family, desperately seeking

work. Lost in the teeming masses as they move about the city streets,

Hasari is not only frantically looking for shelter, but is hoping to find any

type of work to support his family.


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At one point, Hasari is alone with one of his three children, and in a

tender and inspiring moment one of them asks if he will ever find work.

Hasari responds that he is fully confident he will find employment soon,

despite what looks like a desperate situation. Quickly a series of dramatic

events transpire, the end result of which is that within 24 hours he finds

employment as a cart driver (a “human horse”), which gives him a source

of employment for years to come, fulfilling his earlier wish and then

some.

It turns out that Hasari’s employment not only takes him off the street --

providing a comfortable place to live for his family -- but enable him to

save for his daughter’s dowry, who will marry into greater fortune for the

family. In addition, through his job he is put in position to help overcome

the wickedness of the local mafia boss and his cronies who dominate that

part of the city, including the cab company he works for.

In other words, Hasari’s focused intention in a desperate situation

married to an enormously positive attitude attracts a result within a day

that changes his life forever, affecting not only himself but the collectives

he is part of. That is the power of taking to and maintaining a generally

positive attitude towards the conditions one encounters. Life then

instantly moves in favor, overcoming obstacles, while fulfilling your

fondest dreams.

There are countless examples where a generally positive attitude

attracted positive circumstance. Here are several:

• One female business owner when confronted with difficulties or

challenging situations, tended to take a positive, optimistic, calm, and

forgiving view of things, which continually attracted their quick

resolution, as well as unexpected, sudden surges in sales.

• An individual who had deep admiration and positive attitude for the

Indian people, and was always happy to speak with them through call

centers constantly had positive experiences where the technical issues

quickly disappeared.

• A young English girl, who had the tendency to see everything in a

positive light, not only charmed the stodgy, grumpy, and cynical

around her, but through her positive attitude and influence, caused

their lives to quickly turn around for the better.

• A man at a family gathering did not give into others who were

mocking a young woman’s looks he once dated, attracting her sudden

arrival as a now beautiful grown woman, which had the effect of

causing another woman the man desperately loved to suddenly fall in

love with him, which culminated in their happy marriage.


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It is one thing to overcome one’s own negative attitudes, and thereby

attract sudden good fortune, it is another to maintain a positive attitude

and do the same. In fact, each moment is an occasion for us to remain

positive, cheerful, and confident, which will evoke the most positive

results from the field of life. It is the miracle of “Life Response” in action.


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Psychological Strength

INTRODUCTION

Overcoming Psychological Weakness

If we look back on our lives, and consider our most difficult moments, we

will see that psychological weakness was often at the center of the

problem. Consider for a moment several ways that we might express

such weakness:

• A business executive is afraid to stand up to an abusive partner.

• A wife is afraid to speak up, fearing the wrath of her husband.

• A parent has no control over his or her children.

• A business owner does not make the effort to collect money due,

fearful that he might lose the customer’s future business.

• An overbearing boss abuses a shrinking subordinate.

• A child is unable to stand up to a bully in the playground

Our inability to exercise our psychological strength is one of the great

human failings of life. It not only leads to ongoing difficulties, but can

also lead to tragedy. For example, we know that the nations of Europe

could not muster the strength to stand up to fascism when it was on the

rise before World War II, leading to the death of over sixty million people.

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, we see how the prince could not marshal the

strength to act, even though he knew the identity of his father’s killer. As

a result, he, and those he loved, paid the ultimate price.

In a similar fashion, we too have paid the price along the way because of

our inability to be strong. If we think back on our lives, we can probably

recall at least one instance where we felt helpless, vulnerable, and

powerless; or otherwise did not have the strength to meet life’s

circumstances and conditions. As a result, we suffered, and, sometimes,

others suffered as well.

Hopefully, we have learned from such experiences, and now exhibit the

toughness, courage, and fortitude to stand up to life. If not, then we are

likely to repeat the same mistakes, even if they express in new forms.

For example, if in the past you did not have the strength to stand up to

an abusive boss, today you will be under the thumb of an abusive spouse

or relative.


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One particularly interesting observation I have had along the way is that

the very best of people -- i.e. those who are pleasant, considerate,

generous, and self-giving -- are sometimes those who suffer the most.

That is the case because they have never developed the necessary inner

strength to cope with the pressures and vicissitudes of life. Though their

kindness, sympathy, and benevolence have created conditions for

fulfillment and success, their psychological weakness has created

openings for difficulty, pain, and suffering.

Perhaps you have watched an old gangster film where the mother of a

criminal cowers before her son and his violent behavior. On the one hand,

we watch in sympathy as the loving parent showers him with love and

affection, while, on the other, we recoil at her inability to stand up to her

child’s ruthless behavior. In this way, we see that even selflessness, self-

givingness, and unconditional love cannot stand up to meanness, cruelty,

and brutality when inner strength and toughness are missing. Recall that

even Jesus Christ himself -- who represented ultimate Goodness and

offered the world unconditional Love -- lacked the strength and power to

overcome those who sought to destroy him.

Fortunately, that does not have to be our fate, for each of us have the

capacity to overcome psychological weakness and replace it with inner

strength. If we understand the variety of ways we have expressed our

helplessness, powerlessness, and vulnerability in the past, and then take

steps to reverse ourselves in the present, we will attract positive

conditions from life. Consider this true incident:

A software company in California arranged with an agency to build a

prototype program for a third, much larger company. The firm worked

for months on the model, but foolishly never agreed to compensation,

fearing that by raising the issue, they would jeopardize losing their

long-term involvement in the project. After much hand wringing, the

owner finally mustered the strength to discuss compensation with the

agent. When he did so, not only did he resolve the future status of the

project, but an excruciating six-month neck pain suddenly

disappeared!


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Standing up to a Partner

Over the years, I have been privy to a number of instances of “life

response” that came as a result of shifting from psychological weakness

to strength. These crossed a wide spectrum of human activity -- from the

sports world, to the world of politics and business.

For example, a friend of ours who runs a $17 million chain of retail stores

had a partner who was difficult, outspoken, and crude. Though our friend

was conscientious and good-willed, he lacked inner toughness. One day

he realized that what he himself lacked, the partner had in spades --

strength. And so he began to examine his attitudes, and then made the

commitment to overcome his weakness. In fact, the very first action he

took was to stand up to his partner! Not only did the partner immediately

stop his offensive behavior, but he began to cower before our once-weak

friend! In addition, a flood of good news began occurring in the company!

Decision of Strength Attracts Love in ‘The Apartment’

When we move from psychological weakness to strength, we tend to

attract sudden good fortune. Sometimes the response from life comes

from the most unlikely places -- including the sudden arrival of a

romantic partner. Here is one example from the world of film that reflects

this phenomenon.

In the 1960s film ‘The Apartment,’ C. C. Baxter is a lonely office drone

working for an insurance company in New York City. As it turns, four

different company managers take turns commandeering his apartment

for the purpose of engaging in extramarital liaisons. Unhappy with the

situation, but unwilling to challenge them directly, Baxter juggles their

conflicting demands while hoping to catch the eye of fetching elevator

operator Miss Fran Kubelik. Meanwhile the neighbors, a medical doctor

and his wife, assume Baxter is a "good time Charlie" who gets a different

woman drunk every night. Baxter accepts their criticism rather than

reveal the truth.

One day, he meets with personnel director Mr. Sheldrake, who has gotten

wind of this situation. However, rather than denounce it, he asks Baxter

for the key so he can be the fifth user of his apartment! As a result,

Baxter gets a promotion with his own office. Sometime later, Baxter

realizes that Sheldrake is carrying on with Fran, the woman he loves,

using his apartment to continue their affair. He also knows that Fran is

being used by Sheldrake, for he will never divorce his wife and marry her,


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which is a pattern he has followed with a number of previous female

victims.

One day, Fran takes an overdose of pills at Baxter’s apartment after a

rendezvous with Sheldrake, who she realizes will never commit to her. As

a result, Baxter frantically seeks out the doctor living next door, and the

two of them resuscitate Fran. Even after she is returned to full health,

Fran still cannot give up her love for Sheldrake. Feeling humiliated,

Baxter now realizes that winning over Fran is a hopeless case.

After this near suicide, Sheldrake callously asks Baxter for the key to his

apartment so he can once again meet with Fran. However, this time --

despite now having been raised to a high-level position -- Baxter asserts

himself by refusing. Even though he knows he will be fired, he exercises

his strength and walks out on Sheldrake and, therefore, his job. A while

later, he offers to pay the doctor for the services rendered for saving

Fran, which is a small but powerful act of generosity. Finally, Baxter

decides to give up his own apartment that has been royally abused.

Resigned to celebrate New Year’s Eve by himself, Baxter opens a bottle of

champagne, but then hears a knock on the door. It is Fran, who tells him

that she has left Sheldrake, though she holds back from revealing that

she learned that Baxter had stood up to him and left the company. Baxter

then invites her in, and they play cards together as they have done in the

past, resuming their friendship. Baxter then confesses his love for her,

and Fran in her own way reciprocates those feelings.

What is the inner message here? It is this: because Baxter overcame his

usual weakness and stood strong against his hypocritical and abusive

boss, life responded with the sudden appearance of Fran from out of

nowhere, igniting their romance, and fulfilling his deepest aspiration in

life.

In life, we are often confronted by crossroad decisions that will test our

level of psychological strength. When we make the right choice, we can

suddenly attract sudden goof fortune from the most unexpected areas of

our life. In Baxter’s case, he chose strength over weakness, attracted the

woman of his dreams.


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Example Expressions of Psychological Weakness

• Lacks strength

• Lacks fortitude

• Lacks toughness

• Lacks courage

• Lacks resiliency

• Lacks conviction

• Lacks will & determination

• Feels helpless, powerless

• Is in a weak position

• Has no sense of control

• Is overly deferential

• Is easily swayed

• Is dependent on others

• Doesn’t know what to do

• Is incapable of acting

• Is indecisive

• Is shrinking, cowering

• Is fearful

• Is timid, shy

• Lacks self-esteem

• Lacks focus, direction

• Cannot deal with problems

• Has no power

• Is uninformed, gullible, naïve

• Accepts abuse

• Has no energy

• Shirks responsibility

• Procrastinates

Self Analysis

Think about several areas of your life where you have been

psychologically weak. Then come up with a plan to overcome that

behavior in specific instances or circumstance in your life. If you make a

sincere effort, you are bound to elicit powerful positive response from

your surroundings!

Strength of Young Elizabeth

In order to accomplish and succeed in life one needs energy, skill,

knowledge, right attitude, personal organization, direction, drive, and

many other qualities. One additional trait that stands out amongst the

most successful of people is psychological strength. Those who show

toughness, are unflinching in the face of adversity, are willing to take

action when others would shrink demonstrate innate strength that

invariably brings success. In fact, those who demonstrate such "intestinal

fortitude" not only are more likely to invite success into their lives, but

can evoke powerful and most unexpected positive responses from the

environment. Sometimes the response to one’s exercise of strength --


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especially in the face of prior weakness -- can alter the course of one’s

life and propel one to the pinnacles of success. Such was the case for one

young queen of 16th century England.

History tells us that Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and

Anne Boleyn, the second of Henry’s six wives. When Elizabeth was only

two years old, her father ordered the beheading of her mother. Then

when King Henry died, his son, the nine-year-old Edward, who was

Elizabeth’s half-brother, succeeded him. After Edward died, six years

later, Elizabeth's half-sister Mary became queen of England. Mary, who

was Catholic, earned the name ‘Bloody Mary’ for her persecution of

Protestants during her reign. Because Elizabeth herself was Protestant,

and because Mary feared Elizabeth might be plotting against her life,

Elizabeth was held in prison throughout most of Mary's reign. However, in

the end, Mary reluctantly accepted Elizabeth’s right to the throne, and

after the queen died, the very-young Elizabeth ascended to the throne of

England.

As it turned out, just at the time Elizabeth took up the reigns, English

society was being torn apart by the conflict between the Catholics and

Protestants. With each side seeking to win favor from the young queen --

frequently accompanied by threats of retribution if she did not bend in

their favor -- each day Elizabeth lived in fear; not only that her regime

would topple, but worse still, that she herself would be killed.

As portrayed in the film Elizabeth (1998), one day Elizabeth calls a

meeting of the leaders of the two religious groups in an attempt to

negotiate a settlement. Though she felt that she was in an exceedingly

precarious position, she managed to hold back her fears, and began the

meeting by making the extraordinarily bold statement that “no group had

an exclusive claim on God”. As a result, gasps and shouts of “outrage”

and “heresy” were heard throughout the chamber. And yet, instead of

cowering before the protestations of the religious leaders, Elizabeth

gathered herself and the strength and courage to continue her

presentation before the gathering. She then went on to argue that that all

sides had to work together for the sake of the people of England, not for

the narrow interests of a particular religion. In fact, she insisted on this

point, and would have it no other way. She argued that as representative

of the people’s interests, it was her duty to bring the two conflicting

religious parties to a decisive settlement.

Quieted by her persuasive arguments, and her unexpected forcefulness

and show of strength, both sides did in the end come around to her point

of view -- with a majority voting to support her proposal for a common

English church. This was in fact one of the great turning points in English

history, as it overcame the conflicting sectarian interests, subdued and

weakened the power of the church, strengthened the central authority of


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the monarchy, and increased the power of the people in determining the

nation’s destiny.

The story did not end there, however. Despite Elizabeth’s considerable

achievement, dark forces continued to gather around her. For one, the

Papacy in Rome was very displeased by her actions, and, at one point,

actually sent an emissary to have her killed. Though the plot was foiled,

Elizabeth’s problems continued, as members of her own cabinet now

begun to plot against her. Elizabeth’s life was still in grave danger. In

fact, she now appeared threatened from nearly every quarter.

With the circle of malice tightening around her, she knew that something

had to be done. And so, the queen searched deep within herself to find a

solution. Then drawing on an unknown inner strength, Elizabeth came to

the one and only conclusion that made sense, considering the current

dire circumstance. Making perhaps the most important decision of her

life, she ordered her enemies arrested or killed.

Not unlike what Krishna demanded of Arjuna at the battle of Kurukshetra

in the Indian epic the Mahabharata, Elizabeth did what had to be done --

what was right and just, despite its sometimes-brutal nature. As a result

of her action, not only did she establish security around her, not only did

she establish the solid underlying conditions that would allow her to reign

for forty years, but she was afforded a lifetime of opportunities to express

all of her innate talents. In the end, Elizabeth’s reign would come to be

known as England’s “Golden Age.” In the short and long term, life had

responded out of all proportion to a young woman’s overwhelming

courage, determination, and exercise of strength in the face of the most

dire of conditions.

In this light, we can examine our own lives and see where we lack

strength and toughness; or where we feel helpless, powerless, and not in

control; or where we are shrinking, cowering, and overly deferential; or

where we are fearful and lacking in courage. If we then reverse that

position, taking to the necessary level of psychological strength, life will

respond out of all proportion, propelling us to the heights of success,

while eliciting a deep happiness from within.

Decision of Strength Attracts Love in ‘The Apartment’

Normally, we believe that if we make an effort in a particular area, we

will elicit results that will lead to success in that domain. For example, if I

seek a mate, practically speaking I need to make an effort to find her and

woo her, which will hopefully secure her love. Never does it occur to us

that if we make the right crossroad decision change in a related area,


245

that we will attract the object of our desire; in this case, the one we

adore.

In the 1960s film ‘The Apartment,’ C. C. Baxter is a lonely office drone

working for an insurance company in New York City. As it turns, four

different company managers take turns commandeering his apartment

for the purpose of engaging in extramarital liaisons. Unhappy with the

situation, but unwilling to challenge them directly, Baxter juggles their

conflicting demands while hoping to catch the eye of fetching elevator

operator Miss Fran Kubelik. Meanwhile the neighbors, a medical doctor

and his wife, assume Baxter is a "good time Charlie" who gets a different

woman drunk every night. Baxter accepts their criticism rather than

reveal the truth.

One day, he meets with personnel director Mr. Sheldrake, who has gotten

wind of this situation. However, rather than denounce it, he asks Baxter

for the key so he can be the fifth user of his apartment! As a result,

Baxter gets a promotion with his own office. Sometime later, Baxter

realizes that Sheldrake is carrying on with Fran, the woman he loves,

using his apartment to continue their affair. He also knows that Fran is

being used by Sheldrake, for he will never divorce his wife and marry her,

which is a pattern he has followed with a number of previous female

victims.

One day, Fran takes an overdose of pills at Baxter’s apartment after a

rendezvous with Sheldrake, who she realizes will never commit to her. As

a result, Baxter frantically seeks out the doctor living next door, and the

two of them resuscitate Fran. Even after she is returned to full health,

Fran still cannot give up her love for Sheldrake. Feeling humiliated,

Baxter now realizes that winning over Fran is a hopeless case.

After this near suicide, Sheldrake callously asks Baxter for the key to his

apartment so he can once again meet with Fran. However, this time --

despite now having been raised to a high-level position -- Baxter asserts

himself by refusing. Even though he knows he will be fired, he exercises

his strength and walks out on Sheldrake and, therefore, his job. A while

later, he offers to pay the doctor for the services rendered for saving

Fran, which is a small but powerful act of generosity. Finally, Baxter

decides to give up his own apartment that has been royally abused.

Resigned to celebrate New Year’s Eve by himself, Baxter opens a bottle of

champagne, but then hears a knock on the door. It is Fran, who tells him

that she has left Sheldrake, though she holds back from revealing that

she learned that Baxter had stood up to him and left the company. Baxter

then invites her in, and they play cards together as they have done in the

past, resuming their friendship. Baxter then confesses his love for her,

and Fran in her own way reciprocates those feelings.


246

What is the inner message here? It is this: because Baxter overcame his

usual weakness and stood strong against his hypocritical and abusive

boss, life responded with the sudden appearance of Fran from out of

nowhere, igniting their romance, and fulfilling his deepest aspiration in

life.

In life, we are often confronted by crossroad decisions. When we make

the right one, we attract conditions that are favorable to us in a related

area. In Baxter’s case, he chose strength over weakness, which attracted

Fran and her love from seemingly out of nowhere. It was not his effort to

woo her that won her over, but his right choice in a related domain.

We can also examine this dynamic in a proactive way. If there is

something we really want, we can look around and examine the

conditions in related areas. There we should determine if there are

important choices to be made. If we identify it and choose in the right

direction, not only will we bring about positive results in that immediate

area, but we are likely attract sudden good fortune in another. It can be a

new promotion, an opportunity of a lifetime, or the love of one’s life.

Eowyn’s Strength Attracts in ‘Lord of the Rings'

Life responds to any reversal from weakness or neutrality to

psychological strength. One instance of it not only can brings good

fortune, such as the sudden elimination of a six-month back pain or a

beloved partner finally confessing her love to you, but in the right

situation can alter the very course of one’s life. The response can go

further still and affect the outcome of challenging events for a collective

of individuals, such as a family, a community, or a nation. We see a

powerful instance of this in the ‘The Two Towers,’ the second installment

of the epic film ‘The Lord of the Rings’ based on the book by J. R. R.

Tolkien.

In the story, a band of individuals from a variety of strange and exotic

kingdoms have banded together to return to the fires of evil Mordor “the

one Ring that rules them all” to bring stability and peace to Middle Earth.

At one point, the dozen or so members of the fellowship are forced to

divide into three companies after their mystical leader Gandalf apparently

dies in the Mines of Moria.

Meanwhile the soldiers of the evil kingdom of Mordor are moving swiftly

across Middle Earth, pillaging the lands to gain control of the entire world.

And yet one great kingdom stands in the way of their victory. It is the

land of Rohan. Unfortunately, a dark force has taken over King Théoden’s


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spirit, leaving him listless; looking and acting like a corpse overseeing his

sullen, desperate people. Meanwhile, at court he is controlled and

mentally and physically abused by the poisonous suggestions of his

steward, Gríma Wormtongue, secretly in the service of the Dark Lord.

To make matters worse, the King's only son Théodred has fallen victim to

the Orcs, left mortally wounded in an ambush. Now the king’s gentle and

beautiful niece Eowyn walks the halls of the Great Hall as events continue

to deteriorate for the peace loving people’s of Middle Earth. Then at one

point, the devious Wormtongue makes a romantic advance on her.

Though she is taken in for a moment, Eowyn recovers, remembers what

he is, and casts him aside in outrage and disgust. Though he had all the

power of the kingdom, and lurked as a threat to her life if she did not

give accept his advances, she demonstrates great psychological strength

to do what was right and cast him aside.

Walking out the front door of the Great Hall and observing the

spectacular valley around her, she realizes that she and her people are

indeed in a dire predicament. A few seconds later, three men appear in

the distance. It turns out to be one of the three parties of the Fellowship,

including the great wizard Gandalf the White. They enter the hall, greet

the moribund King Theoden, and Gandalf draws out the dark spirit that

has overtaken him. In a matter of moments, the king is returned to his

old vigorous and brave self. As a result, he decides to have his army join

the battle against the evil forces. In a short period, his forces and others

prevail over the dark lord that threatened Middle Earth.

From the perspective of Eowyn, one small gesture of psychological

strength against the romantic advances of the awful Wormtongue not

only instantly attracts great help in the form of the three fellowship

members, but they resuscitate the king, who now had the wherewithal to

raise an army against the dark forces. As a result, he and other kingdoms

are victorious over the armies of evil, thereby ensuring the future good

future of Middle Earth.

This may be a fable, but it is very true to life. One small gesture of inner

strength at the right moment in a critical situation can attract

circumstance that not only changes the course of one’s own life, but that

of the collective one is part of -- whether one’s family, the community,

the nation, or even the world itself. Moreover, if there is both

psychological strength and an adherence to truth in the act, as there was

the case here with Eowyn, then great inner power is generated that

attracts extraordinarily positive circumstance for one’s self and the world

around us.


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Goodness and Self-Givingness

INTRODUCTION

Perhaps the single most powerful way to succeed in life is to have more

concern for our fellow human beings. Normally, we are overwhelmingly

concerned about ourselves, driven by our own personal motives and

ambitions. However, the happiest people literally lose themselves in the

feelings, thoughts, and aspirations of others.

Are you ready to "forget yourself" and be genuinely interested in the

welfare of others? Are you willing to be tolerant and kind to others, listen

attentively and silently to their words, and be non-judgmental and open

to their opinions and points of view? If you are, you are an excellent

candidate for great success in life, not to mention ever-increasing

personal happiness and joy.

Try a little experiment. When you meet with another person, try putting

yourself in their shoes. Think only of what they are interested in and

concerned with. Listen carefully to their thoughts and feelings, and show

genuine concern and empathy as necessary. Take this approach for the

entire meeting.

Then observe if the energy level of the other person has increased. Also

notice if any unthought of or unexpected fresh points of view took place

that energized the conversation.

But there's more. If you pay very close attention, you are likely to

experience an added "response from life." For example, during the

conversation, someone might call to report that a wonderful new project

has come up that you are to be involved in; or several hours later you

learn about a dramatic positive development in a work situation that had

been problematic for years. These are examples of life "responding" to

your earlier concern for another individual. Through your kind, generous,

munificent gesture, you have opened the portals of possibility for

yourself. By taking a step out of the local domain of self-interest and ego,

you have opened yourself to the universal, non-local plane, where the

infinite potentials of life rush in. Such positive response to selfless and

self-givingness happens all of the time in every walk of life, in every field.

Here are several true-life examples:

-Out of concern for the success of his people, a manager decided to

train his illiterate workers. As a result of that effort, they became

much happier happy and far more energized. That atmosphere was

infectious and permeated the business. The energy was so high that


249

even the machines they were trained to work with started operating

at double their earlier capacity, even though no improvements were

made to their functioning!

-A tried to fix the computer keyboard of B, but did not succeed.

However, B felt a degree of gratitude for A’s effort and offered to

compensate A for his efforts. Though thankful for B's thought,

A wouldn't accept money from B. A few days later B’s computer went

dead and it would not start. So the next morning B called A and asked

him for urgent help to repair the computer again. A took it and very

quickly was able to discover that the problem was the electrical

adapter, which A managed to replace very quickly within 24 hours. B

was very happy about this quick solution to his computer. (B’s

appreciation and desire to remunerate A, enabled A to quickly fix the

computer when it went dead.)

-A client was having trouble making an electronic, web-based

payment for a product from a company. The representative out of

concern for the client was willing to make an exception in this case

and give him access to the product now because the client so eagerly

wanted it. The client was grateful for this response by the sales rep of

the company, and then paid for it through another means.

Before the conversation ended, the new client pointed out the fact

that the phone number at the company’s site was in error, a

potentially devastating fact for the company, who made have

blundered and lost a number of customers! After getting over the

shock, the sales rep was grateful that the client caught the error,

thereby preventing any future loss of revenue. (The client coming

forth and providing the news of the error was a positive response to

the sales reps’ concern for the customer when he gave the client the

product without payment forgoing the normal payment routine.)

Whenever you shift your focus from yourself to others, positive conditions

suddenly reveal themselves. Negatives are cancelled, unthought of

possibilities reveal themselves, and other unfathomable positive

conditions appear out of the blue. The more intense and heartfelt the

positive feelings are toward the other individual or party, the greater the

response from life.

-----

In addition to focusing on the needs and concerns of others, there are

several other ways to express selfless and self-giving behavior.


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Take the Other Person’s Point of View

Are you willing to take on this spiritual challenge? In the next few days,

when you are in conversation with another, switch your point of

reference, and take the other person's point of view. Switch from your

own viewpoint by stepping into their shoes, and see why they are saying

what they are saying from their perspective. Then continue the

conversation from that position.

E.g. if you are discussing a matter, and a person shifts to another aspect

of it, don’t hold onto your own thoughts, but shift to their flow of thought,

determine what aspect of their lives they are addressing, and follow that

thread. Don’t worry, somewhere along the line you will be able to address

what you were earlier focusing on, or life will simply take you to a much

more interesting topic of discussion. Also, by taking that tact, you will be

energizing the other person, which will create a closer bond between you.

Taking the other person's view is to shift out of ego, which sees things

only on its terms, from its own perspective. Stepping into the boots of

another and seeing things from theirs is movement of harmony and

oneness, a spiritual quality, which also tends to attract sudden good

fortune from the environment; for the other person and yourself.

Here’s a real world example: A friend had a difficult problem that

appeared unsolvable. His computer would not work, the battery would

not open, and he could not find the manual. However, rather than insist

on his position, he switched to another person’s suggestion, which was to

look for the answer in the manual. This was the manual he earlier

couldn’t find. However, he looked for it again, found it (in an unexpected

form), and then instantly discovered the solution to the problem. That is

the power of taking up another’s suggestion, which is to shift to their

point of view.

Give Greater Attention

Another way to practice self-givingness is to give others greater

attention. People, objects, stocks of inventory, and money are but a few

things that respond to our attention. For example, if we give more

attention to our neglected accounting books or to unsold stocks, money

will fly in our direction. This same approach works for people. Give them

more attention, and they will respond in the most unexpected ways.

An instructor noticed that whenever he gave a little added attention

and encouragement to a slower student, the student brightened,


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became more enthusiastic about what was being learned, and gave

the instructor a perfect score at the end of the day.

That same instructor one day committed to giving all of his students

greater attention. On the day of the class, before he had the chance

to implement his plan all of the students started talking about the

subject matter in an extraordinarily animated way. In fact, for the

rest of the day he hardly said anything, as they were so energized on

their own to embrace the subject matter. In addition, they gave him

high evaluations, even though he hardly did anything.

When we give others greater attention we us from the local domain of

ego and separateness to a wider domain of harmony and oneness, where

energies flow and align at startling speed with corresponding positive

conditions. Others benefit from our attention, as do we: not only from the

joy we feel from their positive experiences, but from the startling life

responses we experience in return.

Feel, Express Goodwill

Another powerful was to be self-giving is to express our goodwill and

affection towards others. Goodwill is a higher vibration and movement of

life that establishes harmony and oneness between the parties, attracting

the very best of conditions for both.

One person felt goodwill for a business associate of his over several

years. Then one day, he was shocked to learn that through that

company he had earned by the greatest referral fee of his life! That is

the power of goodwill towards another person. It raises the quality of

the atmosphere and in the process attracts sudden good fortune from

the environment -- for the beneficiary and the benefactor.

Another individual gathered his emotions and feelings and inwardly

sent vibrations of goodwill and gratitude to various clients and friends

around the world. Soon thereafter, there was an avalanche of good

news from each of them -- in terms of sales, money, and other forms

of positive development.


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Feel, Express Gratitude

A very powerful way to express self-givingness in life is to show our

deepest thanks and appreciation -- i.e. our gratitude. Gratitude is, in

essence, the expression of a thought in which our heartfelt emotions go

out to others for the role they have played in bringing good fortune into

our lives.

The object of our appreciation and thanks may be one other person, a

group of people, a social entity, or even life itself. (In its highest form, it

is to recognize a Divine hand at work -- i.e. Grace.) Because gratitude is

a higher emotion, a spiritual emotion and attitude of the soul, it has the

power to not only create deep, powerful bonds between parties, but it can

elicit startling life response results. Here is one person’s experience:

“One day after completing a training class for a client, I handed a staff

member an invoice so she could find out when I would be paid. As I

patiently waited for an answer, I figured it would likely take 30 days

to process the bill, which is common in business. In the mean time, I

had stuck up a conversation with one of the people who attended my

class. At one point in the conversation, I expressed my admiration for

the work Microsoft had done in the past: in particular, how the

company consistently went the extra mile to insure that each new

iteration of its software was backwardly compatible. That in turn has

helped customers bring their older, “legacy” data forward into the

newer, more dynamic environment. I then went on to express my

sincere gratitude to Microsoft for having performed this great service

for society.

Well, at the very instant I finished that sentence, the individual

appeared on the scene with word about my invoice. However, instead

of being given a future date for remuneration, I was paid by check on

the spot! In addition, it was for an amount that exceeded my

expectations. To put it simply, it was life responding to my expression

of gratitude to a company that has brought so much benefit to myself

and the world.”

That is the life response power of expressing our gratitude in life. It

creates a bind of harmony between parties, while eliciting startling

positive developments from the world around us.


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Acts of Goodness Instantaneously Attract

There are several key factors that attract luck in our lives -- one of which

are acts of goodness. When one engages in selfless and self-giving

behavior, life tends to respond with overwhelming good fortune to our

person. In each of three novels by author Jane Austin, an act of goodness

changes the life of the heroine forever through the institution of

marriage.

Near the end of Pride and Prejudice, Eliza Bennett shows her gratitude to

Fitzwilliam Darcy for the effort he made in saving her family's reputation.

He in turn most unexpectedly responds with a proposal of marriage,

when she thought her family's behavior had disgusted him and he

therefore no longer had any interest in her. They are thus happily

married, and as a result her family come into a huge fortune.

In Sense and Sensibility, Elinor Dashwood showed an act of kindness

very early on in the story by relieving a servant girl of unnecessary work

that instantaneously attracts Edward Ferrars for the first time out of

nowhere -- not two feet from her (!) -- who would later marry her.

In Persuasion, Anne Elliot shows deep empathy for Captain Harville's love

for his beloved wife whom he must return to on occasion after long, one

year commissions at sea, which instantly attracts a completely

unexpected love letter from Captain Frederick Wentworth, which leads to

their sudden engagement and marriage. Again, she thought he had no

interest in her anymore.

In each case, a profound act of gratitude, kindness, and empathy -- three

forms of goodness -- attract a powerful response that instantly turns the

entire story -- leading to the joyous outcome of marriage for each of the

heroines.

Life for us in the real world is precisely the same. When we look out at

life through the eyes of others, sudden good fortune moves in our

direction, as we now have shifted from the limited plane of ego to the

universal plane, where our deepest aspirations are instantaneously

fulfilled.


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Esther Summerson’s Goodness in Bleak House

Goodness is a spiritual trait -- like Love, Beauty, Oneness, Wisdom, and

Peace. It is expressed too little in life, though nearly all acknowledge and

admire its appearance in others. When it rises in the popular mind, it is

exalted; though for the most part it remains hidden below the surface of

popular awareness, taking a back seat to the travails and celebrity status

of various personalities. We are too preoccupied with material (or shall

we say surface) matters to make it central in our popular discourse.

Charles Dickens was one of the greatest writers in the history of Western

literature. He was a novelist who excelled at storytelling, especially when

it came to describing the interactions of the classes of 19th century

England. Often he shows how reactionary forces oppress the weak and

the innocent, in the name of power and class maintenance.

One of Dickens greatest characters appears in his most complex and

underestimated novel Bleak House is the person of Esther Summerson.

She is the personification of Goodness -- perhaps the greatest example

known in the modern idiom. I say greatest because her Goodness was

integrated with other great spiritual qualities -- even though she was not

particularly of a spiritual bent. In other words, hers was integral

Goodness.

An orphan, she is brought into a situation where she is employed as a

companion to a young woman who is vying to win an inheritance in a

very complex legal case. Raised by her aunt, Esther's parentage is a

mysterious secret, which is finally revealed in the course of the story. Let

us examine some of the traits that indicate Esther’s Goodness and related

spiritual qualities:

-She never has a bad word to say about another individual. Even to the

meanest and cruelest, she withholds any harsh remarks, unless she is

absolutely pressed to.

-She helps those in needs at every occasion.

-She focuses on the other person whenever in their presence --

withholding her own concerns; always deferring to theirs.

-She is quiet and speaks in a soft voice.

-She does not espouse philosophy or points of view, even though she has

conviction.

-She rises to great psychological strength when life prods her to do so.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/bleakhouse/carey_mulligan.shtml


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-When she is seriously ill, all she thinks about is others. As they fret over

her illness, she is more concerned with their anguish than her misery.

-She is extremely calm in the face of negative circumstance.

-She frequently knows the truer truth of things; and therefore tends to

expresses right thoughts, makes right decisions, and take to right

actions.

-She asks for nothing and gives everything.

-She attracts love from all sides.

-She accomplishes greatly through marriage to a doctor she loves, and is

given a great house of her own, even though she originally arrived with

nothing.

In essence, Esther’s Goodness is married to Calm, Equality of Being,

Equanimity, Silence, Seeing the Positive in the Negative, Fortitude,

Strength, and Right Action. Compassion oozes from her every pore. She

is a spiritual individual -- while rarely speaking of the Spirit in her daily

life. As a result of these qualities, life perpetually responds in her favor.

E.g., when she remains utterly calm when she has come down with a

very serious illness, life responds with the greatest boon of her life when

shortly thereafter she not only recovers, but discovers the identity of her

mother, the single great longing and unsolved mystery of her life.

Goodness is a great thing to behold in an individual. When it is connected

to other spiritual qualities like Silence, Peace, and Strength, it becomes

integral -- and therefore takes on great power. There are many who are

Good, but somehow fail or fall back due to deficiencies in other areas --

particularly lack of strength. Jesus serves as a great example as he had

no power to overcome his crucifixion and death. When Good integrates

with other spiritual qualities, one is capable of accomplishing unfailingly -

- e.g. there is the sudden resolution of a great problem, or the

unexpected uncovering of a dark secret, or the opening to a vast

opportunity, to name a few. These each occur for Esther in Bleak House.

Some people are naturally good. The Divine easily comes to them. They

are pleasant, expansive, and ready to oblige, anticipating another

person’s needs. To them, goodness is a way of life, an instinct, an article

of faith. They cannot refrain from being good. Dickens’ lovely character

Esther Summerson is a prime example from whom we can learn several

of the great lessons of the Spirit.


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Life Response Power of Self-Givingness

Life response is the phenomenon where sudden good fortune descends on

a person due to an elevation of consciousness. It can come from a

change in attitude, an intense aspiration for a thing to be achieved, to a

decision, and to an action. One other way sudden good fortune comes is

through acts of kindness, generosity, and goodness. We can sum them

up as “self-givingness.”

The other day I attended a meeting where people were gathered to watch

a presentation. Sitting next to me was an individual who like me was

eager to learn new things from the speaker. At one point, my neighbor

turned over several leaflet pages to their blank side. I thought this

indicated that he wanted to take some notes. I then wondered if he even

had a pen to write with, since there was none present. A few moments

later, he pulled out a tiny, thin pen from his Swiss Army Knife. It seemed

a rather anemic writing utensil. I then offered him to use one of my pens,

which he gladly and appreciatively accepted.

At the end of the presentation, gifts were handed out to lucky winners.

Interestingly, the man next to me to whom I gave the pen won one of the

larger prizes. Then astonishingly the next person counterclockwise to him

at the table won the next prize. (There were a number of tables, mind

you.) Then utter astoundingly the next person sitting counterclockwise

still won the following prize! Now, I was the only one left at the table. As

they were drawing, the astonished participants in the room were looking

at me as the logical next person to win the prize! And wouldn’t you know

it, that is exactly what took place! And it turned out to be an expensive

gift that I needed for my work!

From the standpoint of life response, an inner cause creates an outer

effect. The cause on this case was my concern for the person next to me

and his lack of writing utensil. When I observed his situation and

extended myself by offering a pen, I performed a very small act of

generosity that precipitated the astounding series of events that followed;

breaking all odds. That is the life response power we generate when we

practice self-giving behavior.

Here’s another example I witnessed recently. In the film ‘The Savages’,

we watch as a son and daughter care for their elder ill father who has

Parkinson's. They (the Savage children) are both struggling artists, who

have yet to make a breakthrough in their creative fields. The son is a

writer, the daughter a struggling playwright. As it turns out the son is

satisfied that they have put their father into a nursing home for care. The

daughter however is not happy with this dismal arrangement, and seeks

something better. Along the way, she discovers a much nicer home in a


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rural area. She then makes the journey to find out about it and apply for

her father’s transfer there. Most interestingly, however, is that when she

arrives home, she receives a package in the mail with word that she has

been given a very large grant from the government. It provides her with

the money by which she produces her very first play – on Broadway no

less. From rehearsals, it seems it is going to be a big success.

In this instance, we see how an unsuccessful woman on the verge of

poverty with no work in site is catapulted to a completely new life. Her

act of generosity of seeking out better conditions for her father has

attracted an overwhelming response in the form of the grant that

provided the funds by which she would change the course of her career.

It is the overwhelming life response power generated by sweet acts of

self-givingness.

‘Witness for the Prosecution’

There is a wonderful scene in the film Witness for the Prosecution that

shows how selfless and self-givingness can evoke the miraculous.

Sir Wilfred Robarts, a master barrister and an elder man in ill health,

takes Leonard Vole on as a client over the protestations of his nurse. Vole

is accused of murdering Mrs. French, a rich, older woman who had

become enamored of Vole, going so far as to make him the main

beneficiary of her will. Thus, strong circumstantial evidence all pointed to

Vole as the killer.

When Sir Wilfred speaks with Vole's German wife Christine, he finds her

rather cold and self-possessed, but she does provide an alibi for Vole’s

innocence. Therefore, Sir Wilfred is greatly surprised when she is

unexpectedly called as a witness for the prosecution. On the stand, she

testifies that Vole admitted to her that he had killed Mrs. French, and that

her conscience now forced her to finally come forth and tell the truth.

As a result, Vole is likely to be found guilty and sent to the gallows. And

yet Sir Wilfred, loyal to the end, presses on despite the futility of the

situation, and despite his rapidly deteriorating health. At one point,

someone asks him if it is worth pursuing the case any further because it

could jeopardize his life. He answers that the life of his client is more

important than his own life, and he will do everything he can to pursue

the truth.

Not a few seconds after he makes that remark, he receives a phone call.

It is from a mysterious woman who says she can produce shocking new


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evidence that will lead to the reversal of the case, which is in fact what

occurs.

From a consciousness point of view, the phone call and presence of this

woman is something more. It is a direct and immediate response from

life to Sir Wilfred for having placed the life of someone else above his

own. It is an astonishing act of self-sacrifice for which he is

instantaneously rewarded with information that suddenly reverses the

evidence and wins him the case.

This is no clever ploy on the part of the writer to create dramatic effect,

but is precisely how life works. When we take to selfless and self-giving

behavior, life immediately starts working on our behalf. Negative

situations dissipate, unthought of opportunities arise, and other forms of

sudden good fortune come our way. It is in essence the phenomenon of

“Life Response” in action. When we change our inner condition, life

outside instantly responds in kind.

Multiple Life Response Around Common Circumstance

We see how life response (sudden good fortune) unfold in single,

individual incidents, reflecting unique circumstance related to that

person, collective, or entity. However, if we look closer, we will see that

life response often -- maybe always! -- comes in bunches around

common circumstance. To show you what I mean, consider this example

from literature and film.

In the 1999 Masterpiece Theater adoption of Charles Dickens' David

Copperfield, young David in 19th century England has been sent away to

work at a wine factory in London by his cruel stepfather. There he meets

with the Micawber family, which gives him some relief from his gloomy

situation. Unfortunately, Mr. Micawber, though a good man, is constantly

in debt, and is at one point put in debtor’s prison.

One day David out of pity and concern goes to visit Mr. Micawber. The

older man is grateful to David for showing such kindness. In response, he

tells David that if he were to leave the wine factory, he should visit his

own aunt in Dover. It will turn out to be the most important bit if advice

David ever receives. (I.e. when he leaves the factory, literally walks

across the country, and meets up with her, his entire life is changed for

the better.) Thus, this great bit of advice from Mr. Micawber is a life

response for David for showing such concern for the man while he was in

prison, especially when he visited on that particular occasion.


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But the life response outcomes did not end there! As soon as Mr.

Micawber gives his precious advice to David, his wife immediately bursts

in on the scene and informs him that he has been released from debtor’s

prison! Because he in turn showed deep interest and concern for David,

life instantaneously responded with news of his own release. Thus, we

see two interconnected life response outcomes occurring around the

same essential event.

Now we can take this a step farther. If we were privy to Mr. Micawber’s

wife’s situation, we might discover that when she received news of her

husband’s release, it was due to an inner or outer behavioral change on

her part as well. And even in the future, when David takes up Mr.

Micawber’s advice and walks across the country to meet with his aunt, we

would see that she attracted the boy she has not seen since birth due to

her shift in consciousness; and through David’s arrival, her life would

change as well.

Thus, we see a closely meshed, interconnected series of life response

outcomes related to the same essential circumstance. David's primary

action initiated a startling series of positive events, each unfolding in the

form of sudden good fortune.

Self-Givingness Attracts Love in 'Scent of a Woman'

Life Response (sudden good fortune) has many subtle rules, nuances,

and peculiarities. One example of the latter is that if you shift your

consciousness to the positive in one area of your life, you will often

experience a response in a very different one. For example, when you

finally get the courage to stand up to an abusive boss, life rewards you

when a previously non-responding woman you have been wooing

suddenly appears at your doorstep ready to begin a serious relationship.

This ability to attract from one domain by reversing our consciousness in

another is a fascinating aspect of life response. Here is another example

from a film I watched recently.

In ‘Scent of a Woman,’ Charlie Simms is a student at a private

preparatory school who comes from a poor family. To earn the money for

his flight home for Christmas, Charlie takes a job looking after retired

U.S. Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, a cantankerous middle-

aged man who is now blind, alcoholic, eccentric, and difficult to get along

with.

Charlie is distracted by a very big problem he is having at school. Three

students have played a prank on the school's headmaster, Mr. Trask, by


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placing a balloon filled with plaster and bearing a profane image above

his expensive car, which was presented to him by the school's board of

trustees. Trask then pops the balloon, causing the contents to rain down

on him and his car in front of the entire school. Only Charlie and another

classmate, George knows the identity of the culprits, as they had seen

them setting the booby trap the previous night. However, both of them

refuse to reveal the culprits' names. After threatening both with

expulsion, Trask tries to bribe Charlie by assuring him admission to

Harvard if he names those who committed the prank. Charlie still tells

him nothing, but is warned that he must or suffer the consequences for

being a "cover-up artist."

When Charlie originally took the job, he was told that he would only have

to stay with Colonel Slade at his niece's home and look after him.

However, Slade had actually planned a visit to New York, and therefore

enlists Charlie’s help on the trip. He takes a room at the Waldorf-Astoria.

During dinner, Slade reveals the real purpose for the trip: to eat at an

expensive restaurant, stay at a luxury hotel, see his big brother, make

love to a beautiful woman, and then commit suicide.

Charlie learns how Slade lost his sight by foolishly juggling hand grenades

while drunk. Slade's crude behavior at dinner further alienates his brother

and other relatives. Later, the blind Colonel tangos with a girl whose

perfume captivates him. He drives a Ferrari with a very nervous Charlie in

the passenger seat. Slade tricks Charlie into leaving the hotel room to

buy him a cigar, but a suspicious Charlie comes back to find Slade ready

to commit suicide with his gun. After a few tense minutes, Charlie is able

to stop Slade from killing himself.

By this point, Charlie has become very loyal to the Colonel. Charlie

becomes the sole person to stand by Slade, and defend him against the

Colonel's own family. Charlie's loyalty is not lost on Slade, as Slade offers

him advice numerous times and even comes to see him as a true friend.

In their intimate discussions, the Colonel reveals that more than anything

in his life he would like a good woman.

Charlie eventually returns to school, where George, is about to reveal the

names of the students involved in the incident. Trask conducts a

courtroom-like assembly of the student body and the Disciplinary

Committee. He questions George, who with the help of his influential

father is able to weasel out of the jam by claiming to be only partially

certain of the culprits' identity, suggesting that Charlie might have had a

better view than he did. Charlie then refuses to give the students' names,

and is about to be expelled when Colonel Slade surprisingly enters and

delivers a compelling speech on his behalf, revealing that Charlie had

been offered a bribe to inform on the other students. Slade then wins

over the students and the committee. The students who played the prank


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on Trask are placed on disciplinary probation, George is given no

recognition, and Charlie is exonerated.

Now here is the part of the story that I would like to direct your attention.

As Charlie and Slade walk outside of the school, a beautiful middle-aged

woman walks up and congratulates them on their effort. Slade though

blind is dazzled by her beauty and intelligence. He indicates that he would

like to see her, which she seems to desire as well. In fact, she seems to

be everything he had (earlier) dreamed of. Slade then returns home. No

longer bitter, he seems to have a new look on life, a new young friend in

Charlie, and the real possibility of befriending the woman of his dreams.

In this story, a broken man changes his attitude through deep friendship

with a student. He then offers his services when the young man is about

to be condemned in front of the student body. That act of self-givingness

instantly attracts the woman he so deeply yearns for now in his life. As

we see, when we shift our consciousness to the positive in one area of

our lives, we often attract positive conditions in another. If for example

we have a deep aspiration to love someone and then act in another

domain in a positive way -- through an act of self-givingness, or greater

psychological strength, or higher attitudes, etc -- life instantly fulfils that

deep, original aspiration. When Slade attracted the lovely, sensitive, and

intelligent woman at the conclusion of the story, it was the final outcome

in a process that began when he expressed his deep aspiration for such a

person, and then self-gave of himself in another arena, helping a young

friend avoid a catastrophe.

We too can utilize this approach, if we are first clear about what we want,

look around and overcome a glaring limitation in our being in any area of

our lives -- whether a poor attitude, ego and selfishness, poor

organization, weak effort, lacking psychological strength, etc. Life will

then reward our efforts by bringing the object of our desire, whatever

that is, to our doorstep.

(Thanks to Wikipedia for their film summary.)

The Power of Goodness in Arden Forest

Goodness and goodwill are deeply admirable traits for they enrich the

lives of others, while eliciting extraordinary positive response back to the

initiator. If it occurs in a time and place where there is a positive

atmosphere, the response from life can be overwhelming. With such

munificent attitudes within such a positive environment, the harshest

enemy can reverse himself and melt into the Light.


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In fact, we see these very circumstance in Shakespeare’s beloved

comedy and meditation on love, ‘As You Like It.’ In the story, Frederick

has usurped the duchy in France from his elder brother, Duke Senior,

who is exiled to a place known as the ‘Forest of Arden.’

It turns out that the exiled Duke Senior is a gentle, mild, and good man

who responds to his plight and that of his followers with calm and

philosophic stoicism, rather than hatred or despair. In exile, he

accompanied by four other lords who follow Senior Duke to the forest out

of loyalty. On numerous occasions, he demonstrates his goodness,

generosity, and goodwill to those around him, including new arrivals who

arrive in the forest.

Rather than the difficult and harsh life with tension and conflict one might

expect from the followers, so many things go right for the exiled party.

Because of Senior Duke’s munificent character, and the subtle, lilting,

joyful atmosphere that issues from it, life conspires to bring about a

series of fortunate events. For example, the Duke’s daughter Rosalyn -- a

famed and cherished Shakespearean character -- quickly finds romance

and then marries. Even the daughter of the evil Fredrick leaves his

kingdom and finds love in Arden Forest -- to a man who has abandoned

Fredrick’s heinous conspiracy against Duke Senior! In fact, we witness a

breakout of infatuation and mutual attraction among the lovers in that

place, culminating in the marriage of four couples!

In addition, Fredrick’s plot to destroy the party holed up in the forest is

thwarted, as the positive, energized atmosphere gives strength to the

forces that oppose it. Finally, Fredrick himself has a powerful spiritual

conversion, which relieves him of his malice, while handing his kingdom

back to the magnanimous and good Duke Senior. In summary, the

overriding positive atmosphere of self-givingness, gentleness, and

camaraderie serve to attract a plethora of positive results for the party,

including four marriages to eight main characters, the astonishing

conversion of Senior Duke’s enemy brother, and his return as leader in

his beloved homeland. It demonstrates the enormous positive energy and

power that goodness has over life.

One other point about Fredrick’s conversion should be mentioned. In this

situation, his negative was not so much neutralized and negated by

others, but reversed within himself. I.e. with no initiative and action on

the part of Duke Senior’s side, Fredrick underwent a startling conversion

and saw the Light. Such instances of evil turning good on its own are very

rare in life. In fact, it occurs nowhere else in Shakespeare. In his stories,

negative individuals are sometimes victorious; other times are subdued

or consumed. But never do they convert from the negative to the positive

on their own -- i.e. seeing the light of Truth beyond their ignorance,


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falsehood, and evil. And yet in ‘As You Like It,’ that is precisely what

happens.

In the final analysis, we too are capable of demonstrating our goodness

and goodwill towards others. And we too can generate a positive

atmosphere through that effort. As a result, not only will our warmth and

affection energize others, but through that self-giving effort, we will

quickly attract powerful positive conditions. If that is the case, then why

not try this approach today? Focus yourself on the needs and concerns of

others the next several times you interact. Then observe as your

relationships improve, as emotional sweetness takes hold, and as positive

conditions suddenly arise out of nowhere -- as they did for Senior Duke

and his followers in Arden Forest.

Generosity of Spirit in Julie and Julia

The 2009 American comedy-drama Julie and Julia depicts events in the

life of chef Julia Child in the early years of her culinary career in the

1950s through 60s. This is set in contrast to the life of Julie Powell in the

2000s, who aspires to cook all 524 recipes from Child's cookbook during a

single year, a challenge she described on her popular blog.

At the high point in the story, Julia Child discovers that her book of

French recipes will be published by a large publisher, setting the stage for

her illustrious career. Her book would go on to be one of the bestsellers

of all time in that genre, and she would become the most famous chef

and culinary teacher in the world though her TV series.

After watching the highly entertaining and breezy film of these true life

events, I wondered what propelled Julia to the heights; i.e. what brought

about the great response from life when her book was accepted by a

major publisher? I then thought back to an earlier scene in the film. It is

the one where she is gathered around a table with her two co-authors to

discuss the future of the book that was now rounding into shape and

ready for a publisher and sponsor.

In the gathering, the three women sat around a table and discussed the

manner in which they would be listed on the cover of the book. One of

the women was bitter and complained that the third (not Julia) would be

listed prominently with the others since she had contributed so little to

the writing. Julia however was more than conciliatory and was willing to

have the third woman listed equally with the other two despite her limited

literary effort. In fact, when this third person during the discussion

revealed that she had just gotten a divorce, Julia instantly shifted the

discussion, as she as more concerned with this issue than the order of or


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how prominently their names would be displayed. When pressed on the

matter by the bitter woman, Julia noted that she did not give a fig about

the matter and would be perfectly happy if all three names were listed

equally.

It has been my experience any act of goodness comes back to that

person in one form of another. Some refer to this as the ‘Law of Karma;’

others, like myself call it a Life response; I.e. an instance of sudden good

fortune due to expression of higher consciousness by that individual.

Because Julia was so generous and self-giving when it came to the

prominence of the names on the book, life rewarded her with a contract

from one of the world’s great book publishers, setting her on a road of

fame and fortune that she never would have imagined. When we honestly

and spontaneously give of ourselves to others, showing deep concern

interest in their concerns, life returns the favor with goo, or in the case of

Julia, great fortune.

The great spiritual personality known as The Mother said that generosity

is to find one's own satisfaction in the satisfaction of others. It is to forget

one’s own self and share in the happiness and joy of other’s experiences.

Moreover, that spontaneous act of goodness and solicitude not only

brings joy to both parties, but evokes powerful response from life; often

changing the very course of one’s life.


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Personal Values

INTRODUCTION

A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful. Whether

we are consciously aware of them or not, every individual has a core set

of personal values. Values can range from the commonplace, such as the

belief in hard work and punctuality, to the more psychological, such as

self-reliance, concern for others, and harmony of purpose.

When we examine the lives of famous people, we often see how personal

values guided them, propelling them to the top of their fields. For

example, one actor was motivated by his commitment to social justice,

which led to important acting roles related to that value that made him

world famous. Likewise, a well-known business CEO was motivated by

the personal value that technology should be easy to use, which caused

his company to spawn a technology revolution. Whatever one's values,

when we take them to heart and implement them in the smallest details

of our lives, great accomplishment and success are sure to follow.

Just as individuals subscribe to values, so do organizations and

institutions. In fact, if we were to examine any company, we would

discover that one or more business values was the key to their

success. Examples are –

-- Sears' commitment to trusting the customer. [From the 19th century

onward, any product could be returned to the company with a money

back guarantee, which engendered great trust in both directions,

enabling booming sales, and, the great success for the firm that

followed.]

-- Apple Computer's belief in the values of solving problems of society.

[The company created the IPod player and ITunes online music store to

overcome a conflict between those who sought to download copyrighted

music for free and the music industry which sought to protect its artists

and its revenues.]

-- Marriott's values of systemization and standardization. [The company

created a standard model hotel, and then duplicated it hundreds of time

around the world, enabling it to grow incredibly fast, and become the

leader of its industry.]

Likewise, we see how political parities and politicians subscribe to certain

core values -- ranging from helping the poor, easing the burden of the


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middle class, improving the environment, making government responsive

and efficient, engendering loyalty and unity, and so forth.

The key point to keep in mind about values is that implementing them

energizes everything concerned with it. For an individual, committing to

and applying values releases fresh energies, which always attract

success, achievement, and well-being. Likewise, when companies or

other institutions adopt values, individuals working at the organization

become energized, as do its customers, its products and services, and

everyone and everything else associated with that organization.

We can energize our lives by making the full effort to implement the

values we subscribe to. Once we identify values that are meaningful to

us, we can develop strategies to implement them. When we make the

determined effort to implement those strategies, good fortune is sure to

follow -- in the form of new opportunities, new sources of revenue and

income, and other forms of material and psychological benefit. We may

even notice that as we implement values, we experiences instances of

"life response" -- where good fortune suddenly comes to us from

seemingly out of nowhere, defying our normal perceptions of what is

logical and possible.

Power of Values to Shape Our Lives

In the mid 1970s, I made a decision to move to California from New York

City, where I was raised. Why I did so, and why I made other decisive

turns in my life is the subject of this essay. My first thought on the

subject is that I took these actions simply because I was motivated to do

so. And yet, what really motivates us in life are the things we truly value.

Then what were the values that compelled me to move to California -- in

particular to the San Francisco Bay Area -- where I have resided for these

last 30 years? Well, it is true that after five years attending college at

frigid Syracuse University in upstate New York I was compelled to seek

the warmer climes of California. But I could have moved south to Florida

or to the Southwestern parts of the US. However, having been raised in

the urban/suburban environment of New York City, I valued culture and a

certain type of urban sophistication I might not find in those other

locales. I also enjoyed being near the water, not only because of its

shimmering beauty, but because cities at the edge of the great oceans

tend to attract a diversity of people and a richness of culture from around

the world.

Though climate, beauty, diversity, and culture influenced my decision,

there must have been something more specific that compelled me to

move to this region. Looking at it in retrospect, I have concluded that I


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came to the area because of the existence of Marin County -- the

progressive community that lies directly across the Golden Gate Bridge

from San Francisco. Marin County at the time (and still is) was the

prosperous land where many of the creative musicians, artists, and

thinkers of the 1970s lived. From the articles and reports I had read while

living on the East coast, the people who lived in that region were involved

with matters that meant a great deal to me -- i.e. aspects of life that I

truly valued. And because I deeply believed in those things, I wanted to

be near them; to somehow participate in their way of life. And so I

headed out to the SF Bay Area in 1975 in earnest -- and never looked

back.

But I have still not identified the specific values of the Marinites that

compelled me to join them. Let me try to list them for you. For one, the

residents were in the vanguard of the changes going in society at the

time -- including an appreciation of Eastern culture and spirituality, a

concern for the quality of the physical environment, a dissatisfaction with

the mindless materialism of modern life, the rejection of conformity of the

previous generation, and the development of new forms of music that

expressed their new world view. These were the underlying values that

drove me to the region. These were the ideals and beliefs that shaped my

life at the time, compelling me to venture across country.

Each of us is motivated to move our lives in certain directions. That

motivation is determined by the values we subscribe to. Our values are

thus the formations and ideations of thought, the distinct formulations of

understanding that express what we perceive to be important truths

about life. These ideals are then reinforced by our emotions and feelings,

which turn those mental perception into a vital passion that we hope to

realize in our lives. Whether we actually make the effort to implement

them is another matter.

Without values or beliefs, we would be mechanical-like beings, driven

here and there by the vicissitudes of life. Without values, we would be

creature-like, compelled to action solely by our urges and passions. In

this inhuman existence, there would be little consideration for truths we

hold dear, let alone implement them to ennoble and enrich our lives. In

this reality devoid of values, we would live unconscious lives, without

meaning or purpose. On the other hand, when we take to values, we live

a purposeful and dynamic existence -- i.e. we become truly human.

This being the case, what are the truths of life, i.e. the personal values

that you believe in? What are the cherished ideals and beliefs that have

shaped your life; that are motivating and driving your life today? Why not

take a little time and come up with a short list, and then consider how

each has or currently is shaping your life.


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If we think about it, we will see that people relate to personal values in a

number of ways. Thoughtful people are continually thinking about those

things they cherish and believe in. Powerful people are also motivated

and driven to implement them in their lives. In fact, the most successful

people are constantly evaluating their values, and are continually driven

to turn them into a living reality. For these individuals, values are an

inexhaustible source of inner power that energizes them to no end;

driving them to the heights of success, while bringing about deep

fulfillment in their lives.

Interestingly, not only do values energize us, but when we implement

them, it energizes everything they come in contact with! If I apply the

value of customer service and delight when I speak with the client, I

energize the conversation, which leads to greater response from the

person on the other end, who is now motivated to purchase the services I

am offering. Also, if I am truly sincere in my belief in customer

satisfaction, I create an added value that reinforces and builds on the first

one. A combination of values applied to a situation dramatically energizes

circumstances, which not only increases the likelihood of success, but

turns the interaction into an enjoyable, even thrilling experience. Thus,

implementing values have an innate capacity to create more energy,

accomplishment, and joy in living.

Values are actually a very special power in the universe. It is one our

minds can grasp for the purpose of uplifting life. Values are actually

spiritual skills -- a divine gift that comes to us from the infinite Source of

things. The highest of principles -- such as Oneness, Love, Beauty, and

others -- descend from the heavens, and are reinterpreted as values by

our minds. For example, the spiritual principle of Oneness is recognized

by our minds as values of cooperation, integration, teamwork, and

others. Likewise, the universal principle of Love expresses through values

of goodness, selflessness, self-givingness, openness, tolerance, respect

for others, and a number of others.

The last twenty-five years has seen an explosion in an interest in values.

Tom Peters' book 'In Search of Excellence' started the ball rolling for

values in the workplace. Religious leaders speak of family values, nations

speak of moral values, spiritual teachers speak of the highest values of

gratitude, benevolence, and self-givingness; even self-surrender to the

Divine. Values drive us, motivate us, move life, move us forward --

enabling progress even evolution. Values are what enables life to take the

Next Step -- whether they drive our own individual lives in a positive

direction; improve the economic, social, and cultural conditions of a

nation; or move society forward in its never-ending ascending path of

progress.


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Tolerance, openness, respect for the individual, and teamwork are several

great human values, while Oneness, Love, Beauty, and Truth are some of

higher spiritual values that they derive from. At certain points, the human

and spiritual values come together and blend into one another,

expressing through spiritualized human values such as selflessness, self-

givingness, and gratitude.

Values are expressions of emotionalized truths that when implemented

energize whatever they come in contact with, enabling the greatest

positive results with the least effort in the shortest period of time --

whether it is for the individual, a collective, or society as a whole.

Values are the nexus to our future progress. It is the call of the Divine to

the minds of men to seek a better life -- to pursue ultimate delight and

fulfillment in life.

Purity of Values Wins Case in Film ‘A Civil Action’

In ‘A Civil Action,’ based on a true-life story, a highly successful personal

injury lawyer Jan Schlichtmann, who likes to negotiate big settlements for

his clients, represents the families of several children who died of

leukemia. Jan is touched by several parents' pleas, and decides to check

out the polluting factories that might be responsible. When he discovers

that one of them is a subsidiary of the big conglomerate Beatrice Foods,

Jan convinces his partners to take on the case. During the trial, Jan

contends not only with his well-financed judicial adversaries, but with the

fact that by taking on the case he is forcing his own associates into deep

financial debt, threatening their very livelihood.

It turns out that he not only loses the case, but his associates abandon

him, and he himself is forced to move towards bankruptcy. However, in

that impoverished state he perceives a new way to pursue the polluters.

Then through a series of events, the case is renewed through other

advocates, the victims win, and they are compensated by the courts for

the amount of $69 million.

We can look at the outcome of the case as life responding to the purity of

Jan’s values. He was at first an intelligent and clever attorney, driven by

money. His higher values and idealism were buried beneath that

attraction. He then however, takes on a case -- i.e. the plight of the

victims of water pollution -- that moves him emotionally and idealistically.

And yet here too he is at first motivated by the possibility of a big

settlement in order to make a personal fortune. Though he is tempted,

his ideals of justice for the victims prevents him from doing so. Yet,


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interestingly he is at the same time destroying the people who are

working with him, forcing them into near financial ruin, in order to pursue

the case against an opposition with deep pockets.

It turns out that he loses the case in part because though his idealism is

strong when it comes to the victims, he is still insensitive toward the

plight of his own people. In other words, he is still exhibiting negative,

even mercenary attitudes when it comes to money -- despite the fact

that he has refused a settlement with the opposition -- and therefore life

responds negatively in kind. I.e. life does not cooperate and he loses. In

fact, the irony is that denying a lucrative settlement for the victims, while

idealistically positive, causes his own staffers to suffer. And yet is only

when he himself is driven into near bankruptcy that he is able to come up

with the solution that leads to the resolution of the case in favor of the

victims.

With his associates abandoning him, and now reduced to poverty, he is

able to more fully and finally act from his idealism, i.e. his sense of

justice, which are in essence his deep values. With the money taint gone,

his consciousness was free to deal more purely with the issues at hand.

In that state, he was able to perceive a new strategy to solve the case.

By moving away from money influence, he could think rationally, even

intuitively, which enabled him to quickly come up with a plan that

enabled him to find the man who provides the damning evidence that

enabled him (through the EPA) to win the follow-up case. Life had in

essence finally responded to his untainted idealism, by presenting his

mind with a new perspective and insight on the direction to take the case.

Since he now had no money of his own, he was not able to pursue the

follow-up case that he initiated though his intuition. Rather he had to

send the new evidence he had gathered to the EPA (the Environmental

Protection Agency), who then instigated the follow-up case. They then

won a vast settlement for the victims – even though Jan was no longer

directly involved. Thus, life brought a huge settlement to the deserved

victims only when the case was taken out of his hands. (That way his

idealism could shine through and pave the way to a new strategy and

new evidence that paved the way for victory. His old consciousness of

money taint would not interfere.)

When a value is pure and perfect, life will respond to it. Jan valued that

justice come to the victims, and with great passion was able to device an

intuitive strategy that won the day. Overcoming his mercenary attitudes

toward money enabled him to overcome a wanting attitude that had once

disturbed the purity of ideals.


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Conscious Choice

Human Choice as Ultimate Determinant

The ultimate determinant of our lives are the choices we make. It is what

we choose to become that has the greatest influence. The more conscious

we are, the more we will sense our ultimate purposes; including the

evolving soul's purpose and our life purpose. If we are in touch with our

deeper self within, down to that evolving Psychic/Soul element, and if we

are connected to the greater truths of knowledge above through the

spiritualized mind of intuition and revelation, we come in touch with the

highest possibilities of what we can become. We can then choose to

become those things, fulfilling all purposes -- personal, soul, and cosmic.

Thus, human choice made through our highest consciousness an

awareness become the ultimate determinant of what we are and who we

can become.

What We Can Become through Our Conscious Choice

-There are many determinants in life of who we are and what we can

become -- including our environment, our parents, our genetic

inheritance, our character, etc. Ultimately, it is what we choose to

become that is the greatest determinant.

-The more conscious we are, the more we tend to determine our own

lives, instead of being determined by the exigencies of Nature.

-When Nature determines, it occurs through division and duality, conflict

and strife mixed with good fortune.

-Self-determination avoids it. Increasing our consciousness, we avoid

problems of Nature enabling our full self-determination of who we are

and what we can become.

-By discovering the spirit within and above, we enable the greatest level

of awareness and hence self-determination power.

-Regardless of the conditions of life, we can become anything we choose

to become, especially when we connect and rise to our highest nature.


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Choose in the Positive for Endless Progress & Success

-Those who prosper will look at the world from their highest

responsibilities. Those who refuse to prosper will always attribute their

failure to external circumstances.

-The capacity to complain against everyone and everything keeps the

other where he was forty years ago.

-Choose the RIGHT, the GOOD, the PLEASANT, the VALUABLE and that is

the ladder for progress.

-If you complain, whine, bark, are lazy, compete or ascribe your failure to

others, you constantly slide down.

-Evil, meanness, deceit, violence, cruelty, tyranny, falsehood, MONEY

VALUE, mercenary attitude, short temper, greed, demand, desire,

craving, suspicious nature, doubt, sloth, etc. have never paid social

dividends.

-In the end, these are aspects of your temperament that you choose to

exercise. (MSS)

The Great Choices of Great Individuals

If you take most great men, their contemporaries will say, "He is not

exceptional, many were his equal, and sometimes they excelled him. It is

luck that favoured him." This is what they believe. When you read the

CHOICES the great man had made at every step of his crucial life, it will

be clear all those who had equal abilities did not choose as the great man

chose. Greatness always chooses the RIGHT side, which every other

person shirks. (Sri Karmayogi)

Making the Right Choices from the Depths That Enables Life

to Respond

-At any moment, there are infinite possibilities before us.


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-The more we are cognizant of the possibilities, the more likely we are to

make the right choice.

-The right choice tends to evoke instances of sudden good fortune.

-When we live on the surface of life, dominated by the auditory and

visual, we perceive few possibilities.

-When we live in a deeper consciousness within, we are more mindful and

aware, which helps us perceive the possibilities that can lead to conscious

choice that attract powerful life response results.

-At various points in time, we are confronted by crossroad decisions.

When we make the right choice in those moments, life instantly responds

in our favor. The wrong choice can instantly attract the opposite.

-The best life response-inducing behaviors are those that are helpful

(over that which is uninvolved or harmful); those that focus on the needs

of others (over that which serves our own self- interest); those that are

positive and upbeat (over that which is negative and glum); those that

engender calm and patience (over that which is disturbed and impatient)

Human Choice

It is said that the Divine has a cosmic purpose which governs the

unfolding of universal acts through which He is experiencing the Delight

of Evolving from the Involved.

The Divine Soul in us, the Psychic Being, also has a purpose. It has come

in order to acquire certain experiences in the life of a particular birth,

including our own.

When the above two align, both complement each other and evolve

together and to a greater degree, bringing valuable benefit for both the

individual and the universe.

Yet, the Divine has also given us the freedom to CHOOSE our own path,

as every one of us is a part of Him. We may evolve several levels by

aligning with the cosmic purpose, or may evolve at our own pace, or we

may even deny the evolution on the surface, though it will still happen

subconsciously. Human choice is the key to determine which path we will

take. Wisdom and a rise in our consciousness will help us determine

which path to take.

We see several examples of this in Jane Austin's 'Pride and Prejudice. We

witness how Darcy aligned with the cosmic purpose by his inner change,


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utilizing the opportunity that presented itself during Lydia’s elopement. It

brought greater good for himself, as well as for the people he interacted

with, while also achieving the cosmic purpose. His choice was in

alignment with the cosmic purpose because his actions helped the upper

and middle class come together in harmony instead of through violent

revolution that was currently taking place in nearby France.

Second eldest sister Jane was neutral on the surface, but subconsciously

aligned with the cosmic movement by practicing patience and calm

during the period of Bingley’s absence. In the end she received the

benefit of the cosmic movement attracting Bingley to love and marriage

without any initiative on her side.

Mrs. Bennet also aligned with the cosmic movement on the surface by

having the intense aspiration for the marriage of her daughters. However,

her every initiative spoiled and delayed the action of cosmic movement.

As a result, she went a year of anxiety, remorse, and turmoil before she

finally benefited by the cosmic movement through the marriage of her

daughters.

Till the very end Lady Catherine resisted the cosmic movement and tried

her best to prevent it from happening. As a result, it brought her defeat;

and her evolution was thereby delayed or halted on the surface.

However, her soul would grasp that experience as a valuable learning

experience, and might use that in successive births for its evolution.

It is interesting to note that the Divine made use of those who resisted

the cosmic movement, who would serve as instruments for the final

outcome of the story, including of the marriage of the sisters and the rise

of the Bennett family. E.g. towards the end of Pride and Prejudice, Darcy

came to know that his love for Eliza had still a chance of succeeding only

through the reactionary and arrogant Lady Catherine. (by S)

Human Choice

The human is the infinite in the finite appearance.

In any given situation, its range of choice is from the finite to the

infinite.

Though the human is free to choose, it chooses according to the

external circumstances.

Those external circumstances can be replaced by internal

circumstances.


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It also chooses from different levels (physical to spiritual).

All these choices can be in grades. But they still belong to becoming,

Nature, outside, finite.

The human can choose compelled neither by the external nor internal

circumstances but according to its own light independent of both.

Spiritually, that is what is called Human Choice. (MSS)


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True Individuality

INTRODUCTION

What is Individuality? Individuality is the capacity to express one's true,

unique nature in deed and thought. It is the expression of what one

deems to be truth, regardless of what others believe.

How does Individuality develop? How can it be fostered? It is fostered by

knowing our true selves; of a longing for the truth of things, not merely

the commonly accepted; by rigorous introspection of one's attachments

and attitudes, as opposed to the truth of a matter; of an outflowing of

creative capacity unfettered by common standards, approval, or social

convention.

What is the relationship between Individuality and-

• Creativity? Individuality expresses as ultimate creativity because it

reflects a unique slant on things, capacity to create; something fresh

and new in the world.

• Original thinking? Individuality compels original thinking, as we are

willing to explore that which has not been done before. It opens us up

to infinite possibility.

• Leadership? Individuality creates fresh leadership. During the Cuban

Missile, Crisis Kennedy asked his advisors to think of a fresh approach

in solving the problem, which they did, and thereby at the last minute

resolved a potential global catastrophe.

• Genius? If we are truly individual, we will explore that which has not

been explored before. Our insights in that new field will tend to be

fully original, compelling others to consider us to be genius in that

area.

• Entrepreneurship? Individuality will compel us to take up new types of

undertakings that have never existed before. This creates vast

opportunities for us, as we are there first. Steve Jobs and Apple, from

its earliest days onward, is an obvious example.

• Freedom & democracy? Individuality is freedom in the true sense.

What good is it to be free if we just act like the herd. The term

"liberty" expresses this freedom to be a true, unique individual. It is a

step beyond "freedom." Society that fosters liberty in this sense

advances individuality.


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• Education? True individuality would compel a young person to seek

knowledge in areas he or she is truly interested in. That knowledge

would in effect reinforce and expand the individuality, leading to great

creative results in life. Individuality would focus on the needs of the

individual child, person not the mass of education. It would look into

the soul needs of each person.

• Culture? Culture would be enriched and expanded through greater

individuality. We would see new forms of culture, new ways of relating

to society and life. Life would become fuller, more interesting, more

dynamic, with new ways of looking at things, and sharing of them in

individual and collective experience.

• Romantic love? More types of love would open up aside from the

forms we have known so far. There would be more gradations and

shadings of types of love than what we know now; just as romantic

love, a new shading that only blossomed in the last 750 years,

particularly the last 200, emerged. Romantic relationships would thus

become even more dynamic.

• Spirituality? Individuality would take us far beyond the teachings of

religion to an essential spirituality as we would explore all dimensions

of existence, of reality, of the spiritual dimension, unfettered by the

social imperative. Individuality would also lead to unique, direct

experiences of the spiritual dimension of life.

What is the relationship between the development of Individuality and the

development of Society? Society would become more dynamic, more

enriched, more open minded. Society would thus be energized to no end.

Is humanity becoming more individualistic? If so, why? What is the

significance? Yes, of course. Just look at the Internet. With that

knowledge, any person can become anything he or she wishes to be.

There is also an opposite movement to conformity, but then true

individuality would see through it, compelling one to act based on one's

conscience, one's unique perspective, and creative capacity.

Can Individuality be distinguished from and develop without increasing

egocentrism and selfishness? Individuality is not the same as egotism,

rebelliousness, and other destructive forms. Real individuality comes from

Self, which is in touch with higher things in life. The rebel expresses his

faux-individuality by being truculent for its own sake. Even if that which

he rebels against is resolved, he will still rebel because rebellion is all that

he knows. Ego is not individuality; it is separateness that does not want

to know the full truth of things, and thereby be unique.

Is it possible to develop individuality in a manner compatible with the

maximum progress for society as a whole? Yes, there is a balance


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between individuality and social cooperation. When we become truly

individual, we also perceive the need for harmony with other things and

individuals. As we make progress through our individuality, so does

society. As society allows for maximum individuality, we thrive as

individuals.

Tending the True Self that Fosters Individuality

Individuality begins at the point where we psychologically and outwardly

express who we truly are. Moreover, those who are truly conscious of

their own uniqueness will more readily bring it to the surface, creating

real benefit for themselves and the world at large. Finally, the society

that fosters that indwelling true self and individuality of the person will

create a multiplying effect of ever-increasing creativity and

accomplishment in the world.

In the recent powerful Indian film ‘Like Stars on Earth (Every Child is

Special),’ we see this latter dynamic in action. There a young boy with

dyslexia becomes an outcast from his peers and the school system. And

yet one progressive teacher steps forward, sees beyond the surface and

into the depths of the child, fostering his individuality as a painter with a

genius-like artistic temperament. This, it turns out is the complete

opposite of the mass education system that operates on a hierarchical

structure, with the teacher all knowing; departing knowledge to a

strained or reluctant classroom of children. A better system would

therefore be the opposite; where the teacher begins by discovering the

true essence, spirit, and aspirations of each child, drawing it out, which

allows it to flow and expand through a process of self-discovery. This

approach not only energizes the child to no end, but turns learning into a

joyful experience.

This approach to education -- and indeed to life itself -- suggests that

there really is an essence and true self of each person. That somehow we

are here to express our True Individuality, which not only expresses

through our own creative, individualistic path, but has a unique influence

and impact on the world. Some go a step further and see true

individuality as our ‘spirit,’ our spiritual essence; even our evolving soul

that has a mission and purpose trying to express through the unique

capacities and potentiality of the person it inhabits.

In sum, the person who becomes consciously aware of his or her true self

will facilitate the expression of his or her individuality, thereby

accelerating the process of personal accomplishment and growth for


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themselves and the world. Moreover, social organizations where

facilitators like teachers and leaders bring out the true essence and

potential of individuals will foster an ever expanding community of

entrepreneurs, creative artists, and free thinkers. One could even

imagine a society where the number of geniuses expands a thousand-fold

through this dynamic. In fact, one Indian school taking this approach

advertised its goal as “every child a genius.”

Albert Einstein, Leonardo D Vinci and others were not only infinitely

creative individuals expressing their individuality, but had a conscious or

semi-conscious sense of their essence and purpose. We too can come to

know out true selves and purpose; our inner mission, by looking deep

within, which will release powerful energies that will become a

springboard for infinite realization and accomplishment in life.

Individuality: Darcy’s Transformation

By Garry Jacobs (MSS)

History is filled with examples of outstanding individuals who have

changed the world around them. Often they had to act on their own,

opposed by the powers that be and establish new centers of power to

achieve their objectives. Ashoka, Socrates, Martin Luther, Napoleon,

Gorbachev carried the stamp of individuality and the power it confers for

evolutionary or revolutionary change. Imagine a nation of such

individuals and we glimpse the magnificent creative potentials of

humanity’s future. That may be a distant dream to be fulfilled in some

future century, but the process has already begun. We find it most

pronounced in Europe and North America where individuality has been

recognized and proclaimed as a sacred human value.

Man is by nature a collective animal and his first instinct is to follow the

herd. Our entire upbringing is designed to teach us to be, feel, think and

act as others do. We are taught to behave properly, feel appropriately,

act with decorum, and think within the bounds of ‘reason’, which means

within the boundaries and according to the precepts of those who have

thought before us. Society fosters and insists on this conformity and

punishes offenders by rebuke, ridicule, ostracism or even persecution.

Yet without individuals society cannot progress. Individual deviation is

essential for social evolution in the same manner as mutant genes are

required for biological evolution. Individuals are the catalysts of social

development. It is the pioneers, adventurers, entrepreneurs, inventors,


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and original thinkers who break out of the traditional mold to do, think or

say something new that ultimately changes the way society as a whole

speaks, thinks, works and lives.

Jane Austen depicts the process of emerging individuality and its role in

social evolution with brilliant insight in her novel, Pride and Prejudice. The

setting for the story is rural England at the beginning of the 19th

Century. Across the English Channel, French society is being wrecked and

razed by violent revolution, destroying the old aristocracy to break down

the rigid boundaries between classes that protect a small elite aristocracy

by denying rights and privileges to the lower classes. The same

revolutionary battle cry of ‘liberty, equality, fraternity’ is spreading

throughout Europe and threatening the existence of the aristocracy

everywhere. England strives for a way to avoid the violence by a more

peaceful evolutionary process. The events in Austen’s story depict at the

micro level the subconscious process by which England converts

revolutionary fervor into evolutionary social change.

Darcy is one of England’s wealthiest landowning aristocrats. It has been

expected since his birth that he will marry his aunt’s sickly daughter in

order to maintain the purity of his ancient bloodline and retain his vast

wealth within the close family circle. Raised as lord of a magnificent

estate, he has learned to maintain a respectable social distance and

distaste for those who are below him in rank and wealth.

Mr. Bennet is an English gentleman who has married a lawyer’s daughter

and used her dowry to raise his five daughters on their modest estate

and limited income. His marriage to a businessman’s daughter reflects

the evolutionary change in social attitudes that is already bridging the

distance between aristocracy and middle class, creating a peaceful path

for socially aspiring achievers and a source of renewed vigor for a

declining landed gentry. Though socially permissible, the intermix of

classes is far from smooth and easy. The differences in culture between

Mr. Bennet and his wife are a constant source of embarrassment to him

and his two eldest daughters, Jane and Elizabeth, who take after their

father in terms of education and breeding, while the two youngest

daughters, Kitty and Lydia, have inherited their mother’s lack of manners

and self-restraint.

At first sight Darcy dismisses Elizabeth as too ordinary in appearance and

low in social origin for his attentions, while Elizabeth rejects him as

offensively arrogant and aloof. Unknown and unsought by Elizabeth,

Darcy learns to admire her fine eyes, intelligent wit, self-confidence and

forthright demeanor. Despite his proud behavior and sense of superior

breeding and his revulsion for the vulgarity of her mother and younger

sisters, he inadvertently falls in love with her. Torn by a conflicting sense

of attraction and repulsion, he eventually proposes. His words express


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the inner conflict he feels, resulting in a proposal that is clumsy and

almost insulting. So confident is he of the attractions of his person, his

position and his wealth that he is stunned by Elizabeth’s refusal. He is

shocked to learn that she regards him with contempt as proud, selfish

and mean-tempered. She abuses him for interfering with Jane’s marriage

to his friend Bingley and for what she believes to be his unjust treatment

of his steward’s son, Wickham.

Following her refusal, Darcy writes her a letter, which exonerates him of

Wickham’s accusation by disclosing Wickham’s devious attempt to elope

with Darcy’s unwitting younger sister. His letter leaves Elizabeth more

appreciative of Darcy and more painfully conscious of the uncultured

behavior of her own family members. Darcy too reflects deeply on his

own attitudes and behavior. He comes to regret his proud aloofness and

look down on his own actions as selfish and mean. Out of love for

Elizabeth he vows to repent and change himself.

For months they have no further contact until Elizabeth is invited by her

aunt and uncle to a tour of the countryside near Darcy’s family estate,

Pemberley. When Elizabeth experiences the magnificent grandeur of the

place and hears further testimony to Darcy’s inherent goodness and

generosity, she regrets her former attitude toward him. Within moments

life responds to her change in attitude. Darcy arrives back from London

unexpectedly and they meet cordially. He displays a warm, kind behavior

toward both her and her relatives which both surprises and pleases her

immensely.

Just when they are on the verge of a reconciliation that might quickly

lead to an engagement, news comes that Lydia has eloped with Wickham.

The disgrace associated with this event threatens to ruin the entire

Bennet family and firmly convinces Elizabeth that Darcy will have nothing

further to do with her. Unknown to herself and her family, Darcy

overcomes his deep resentment for Wickham and his distaste for Lydia’s

vulgarity and intervenes to save her reputation by persuading Wickham

to marry her. He does so on condition that his role will not be disclosed to

Elizabeth, but the secret comes out. She then realizes how much Darcy

has sacrificed of his former pride in order to save her and her family.

When he proposes marriage a second time, she accepts with gratitude

and delight.

While the story is rich with insights into life and human nature, the most

striking theme is the subconscious transformation of Darcy from a social

character into a psychological individual. Darcy makes a progress in

consciousness at the psychological level akin to that achieved in yoga at

the spiritual level. He renounces the false or artificial sense of self-

importance he derives from his social position and seeks to become a

true, generous and self-giving person worthy of Elizabeth’s personal


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admiration. He gives up social values in favor of human values. Darcy

becomes a true psychological individual in the sense that he no longer

relies or depends on society to define what is good or reputable. He not

only changes his behavior, giving up that which was offensive to

Elizabeth, but goes to the other extreme of completely reversing it by

embracing that which was previously repulsive to him. So real and great

is his change of consciousness, that he acquires the magnanimity to

accept a vulgar Mrs. Bennet, a wanton Lydia and a rogue Wickham as his

own relatives and refuses to acknowledge, even to himself, their past sins

or present unworthiness.

Darcy’s individual transformation becomes a catalyst for social evolution

in England. By his own life and actions, he bridges the gap between the

classes that was bridged only by the guillotine in revolutionary France. He

is a representative pioneer whose actions usher in a future of greater

freedom and equality for his countrymen.

The emergence of individuality is spreading around the world, but it

remains at a nascent stage in India. What does it mean to be an

individual in India today? Here are a few criteria by which one can

evaluate himself and foster the evolution of Indian society.

1. An individual thinks for himself and forms his own opinions of every

social and national issue. He accepts an idea because he understands it

to be right, not because it is spoken or endorsed by socially-important

people or generally believed by others.

2. An individual decides what is right on the strength of his own mental

judgment, not on the basis of what others think and say, and he does

what he knows to be right, not what others do or approve.

3. An individual relies on himself rather than expecting others to support

him and accepts from others only what is due to him.

4. An individual judges himself in terms of what he knows himself to be

as a human being, not on the basis of his wealth, occupation, status or

what others say or think of him.

5. An individual respects the individuality of those who disagree with him.

When others criticize him, an individual takes it as the other person’s

personal opinion and impartially evaluates the truth of the criticism,

rather than taking it as an abuse that evokes his anger, defensiveness or

resentment.

Becoming an individual is the highest human achievement short of

spiritual realization, the most direct path to highest accomplishment in

life, and a pioneering, patriotic service to the country.

This article was originally published in Consecration Magazine, Vol.3, Issue 3, Jul-Aug 2006, pg.11, Emergence of the Spiritual Individual Part 4.


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Emergence of Individuality in Mona Lisa Smile

By Garry Jacobs (MSS)

Many great thinkers have perceived the essential role of conflict and

competition in human development. The famous British historian Arnold

Toynbee described the advance of civilizations as a continuous process of

challenge and response.

Sri Aurobindo has explained how life presents exactly those conditions

which are required for human beings to discover their hidden potentials

and evolve spiritually. This process often takes the form of a conflict

between the individual and society or between established social norms

that are receding and new ideas and values that are emerging.

The film realistically depicts the process of social development, described

in Theory of Social Development, with regard to the transition of

American women from social character to social individuality. It brings

into clear focus the role of the pioneering individual in breaking new

grounds, the organized opposition and resistance of the conservative

orthodoxy, which view the progress as a retrograde step, the factors

leading to a change in attitude, and early stages of imitation as the new

behavior acquires greater social approval.

This process is beautifully portrayed in Mona Lisa Smile. The film is about

Katherine Watson, a college lecturer from liberal-minded California, who

manages to get a teaching position in the Art History Department at

Wellesley, a prestigious, conservative, and elite private women’s college

situated at the opposite end of the country in Massachusetts. The girls

who attend Wellesley are drawn from some of the most wealthy,

influential, and upper class families in America. Massachusetts is a

conservative place where the upper class strives to preserve their

distinctive superior position, and Wellesley is an institution dedicated to

this cause.

Girls were sent there to learn good grooming, traditional values, and

respectable behavior deemed appropriate for a life in high society during

the early 1950s. That was a time and place where it was still believed

that the ideal path for respectable women was to get a good education to

prepare them for marriage, tending a house, and raising a family. This

was the aspiration of the girls who attended Wellesley. This is what their

families wanted for them and this is what the college prepared them for.


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Then along came Katherine. She’s from progressive California where class

distinctions have lost importance, tradition is disregarded, and women

aspire for freedom to think for themselves and act according to their own

values rather than merely conform to a traditional role as dependents.

What made a liberal young Californian to seek employment at a stodgy

old college and what prompted the conservative college to employ her?

Perhaps it illustrates the principle that we are subconsciously attracted to

our opposites because they present us with the best opportunities for

self-discovery and personal growth.

Certainly, that proved to be the case for Katherine and the college. In

almost every way, Katherine and Wellesley rubbed each other the wrong

way. The college insisted that she should strictly adhere to the lesson

plan and textbook, which the students were adept at memorizing;

whereas, Katherine wanted to provoke the students to think for

themselves and arrive at their own judgements of things. The college

insisted that social interaction between men and women should maintain

‘proper’ appearances, even when actual behavior was far from ideal.

Katherine disdained false appearances and insisted on the freedom to

express what she really thought and felt without concealment. The

students startled Katherine by their high intelligent and rude snobbery in

dealing with one who was not drawn from their class. Katherine startled

the students by challenging their mindless conformity to the traditional

role of woman as dependent housewife and their refusal to seek careers

in which they could fully develop and express their intellectual talents.

One student named Betty, whose influential and dominating mother was

the head of the alumni association, chose the traditional ideal of an early

marriage to a respectable man. Betty was appalled by the values and

attitudes which Katherine exemplified and openly stirred up opposition to

Katherine among the students, parents, and college administration.

Katherine was equally appalled by Betty’s thoughtless conformity and

tried to convince other students that they need not follow the same path.

Ultimately, Betty became disillusioned with woman’s traditional role when

she discovered that her husband was having an affair and her mother

urged her to silently endure it in order to maintain proper appearances.

Finally, she broke away from her mother’s dominating influence, sought

divorce and moved to New York City to start a career. Like many of us,

Betty’s path to progress involved the pain of rude awakenings and

disillusioned dreams. In retrospect, her staunch opposition to Katherine

concealed a subconscious urge for her own progress.

In spite of Wellesley’s strict rules of behaviour and profession of high

moral standards, Katherine discovered that people’s conduct was far from

admirable. Bill Dunbar, an Italian professor, had affairs with several of his

own students and fabricated a story about fighting in World War II in


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order to impress Katherine and gain her affection. The college nurse was

fired after 20 years of service for providing contraceptives to girls who

asked for them. The college president, succumbing to pressure from

Betty’s mother to ensure continued financial support from the wealthy

alumni, wrote to Katherine that her term of employment would be

extended only if she accepted the most rigorous constraints on her

freedom as a teacher and an individual.

The story depicts American society in a transition period in which women

are casting off the shackles of their traditional role as socially dependent

and intellectually inferior to men. Katherine represents the newly

emerging values; Wellesley, the old that resist social change. Despite the

apparent opposition, she manages to awaken her students to think for

themselves and aspire beyond their traditional role. Her classes become

so popular that they attract record enrolment for the following semester.

Her students come to respect and adore her, even though they cannot

fully accept her values or way of life. So successful is she in winning their

hearts, that the college is compelled to extend her term of employment

subject to strict conditions. Though she has a deep affection for the

students and attraction for the challenge of changing those around her,

ultimately she realizes that greater challenges and opportunities for

growth lie elsewhere and she departs from Wellesley to pursue her

process of self-discovery in Europe.

Humanity is a work in progress, a transitional being. At one end we are

still striving to rise above our animal origins dominated by physical needs

and vital urges to become fully human beings characterized by civilized

behaviour, cultured emotions, and a rational mentality. At the other end

we aspire to rise above the limitations of the ignorant mind and selfish

human ego to become more than human, to become spiritual and divine.

In between there is a crucial stage in which each member of the

collective who is defined, guided and dominated by the norms of society

and the aspirations of the collective begins to emerge as a formed

individual in our own right with the capacity to think for ourselves, see

beyond the viewpoints of the collective, acquire higher attitudes, values

and aspirations reflective of an inner urge for spiritual development.

Katherine is a pioneer of this transition representing one stage in the

emergence of modern woman from a socially dependent member of the

collective to mentally awakened and psychologically developed

individuality. Her story depicts the inner struggle and the outer conflicts

associated with this emergence. She is not an idealized soul but a real

human being, eager for social acceptance and approval as all of us are,

but refusing to surrender her idealism in order to buy social approval.

She was attracted to the old world of conformity by something within her

that still seeks for the security of being like everyone else. Though she


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counsels her students to think for themselves, she tries to mold them in

her own image as an endorsement and validation of the path she has

chosen. When she finally realizes this and recognizes their right to

proceed at their own pace on their chosen paths, she decides to move on.

She has planted a seed and lit a fire in her students, which will smolder

or burn according to the readiness of the tinder. Her own aspiration calls

her to the fresher air of new pastures abroad.

Katherine learned that difficulties are opportunities and all the challenges

that life presents us contain seeds for our spiritual growth. We tend to

seek out other people who think like we do and share the values we have

accepted. But the soul within us is not satisfied with any limited

formulation of truth or any limited development of our inner divine

potentials, so it seeks out and invites life circumstances which present us

with those truths that we deny or fail to perceive. For, we come from the

One which is whole and undivided, we move toward the One which is all-

inclusive, and our destiny is to discover the whole truth of the One, both

in this world and beyond it.


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Infinite and Finite

How the Small Opens the Portals of the Infinite

In any given moment, there are large and small acts related to a

significant event. E.g. at the time of a medical emergency, there is not

only the suffering party and the rescue operation, but the unobserved

arrival of a supervisor, a nurse ordering a batch of medicine, and an

elderly patient joking in his wheel chair. Thus, there are closely related as

well as seemingly unrelated, disparate activities occurring simultaneously.

And yet in such circumstance, every and all events are in fact deeply

interconnected, no matter how unimportant and distantly related they

seem to be. And any one of them -- even the smallest, the most

innocuous, and contrary -- can determine the final outcome. To be

sensitive to this process is to have a vision of the life's true workings,

which gives one a staggering power to control the world around us. Here

is an example that illustrates this point.

The TV series Numb3rs (pronounced "Numbers") is a crime show whose

outcomes are determined by the strategies of a genius mathematician,

Charlie Eppes. In one particular episode, we see how the small and

absurd determine the final outcome. In Los Angeles, a bus is hijacked

and a nefarious gang holds passengers for ransom. Charlie's brother, FBI

captain Don Eppes works with his staff to solve the looming catastrophe.

Don's energies are completely focused on saving lives, as he interacts by

phone with the evil ringleader who is aboard the bus. Meanwhile, Don's

math genius brother Charlie is as usual helping on the case through his

brilliant analysis intuitively derived.

There is an added subplot to the story; this one involving the father of

Charlie and Don -- Alan Eppes -- as well as Charlie's good friend,

theoretical physicist Larry Fleinhardt. It turns out that earlier the entire

group had agreed to form a think tank, and at this point, father Alan and

physicist Larry are debating -- actually arguing -- over its future

direction. One aspires to start the project with the practical, the other the

theoretical. In fact, they carry out this mental debate in front of the very

preoccupied Charlie and Don, completely oblivious to the dangerous

situation. At one point, they even implore Charlie to solve the dilemma

for them. As we watch their comic-like callousness, we can only shake


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our heads. This dynamic repeats throughout the episode, adding to the

tension of the already dangerous situation.

Then circumstance turn grave when the abductors threaten to kill each

hostage one by one. And yet Alan and Larry persist in their seemingly

ridiculous request that Charlie solve their problem. How can they be so

oblivious! This time however, rather than tell them that they have to

settle their squabbles on their own, Charlie is struck by something in their

debate. He is shaken by the fact that Alan and Larry seemed to be locked

in a 'paradox,' and that the hostage situation he and Don are involved in

has a similar dynamic. As a result, Charlie now understands that

everything he and Don assumed about the case is faulty. When the two

brothers act on this hunch, they discover that the bus abduction was

actually a hoax: that they were in fact chasing the wrong bus, and that

the real hostages and villains were aboard a stationary bus in a

warehouse! As a result, they are now able to move in on the villains and

save the hostages.

As we see, in this case, the small and the innocuous solved the case. That

which seemed unimportant and irritating was the means by which the

greater problem was resolved. Because Charlie opened his mind and paid

attention to the small -- no matter how silly and absurd -- he garnered

the clue that enabled him to solve the case.

In every situation in life, every element that presents itself serves a

purpose. Thus, the smallest thing -- even that which seems negative and

opposed to our intent -- can me a means for its final resolution. In that

way, we cannot deny or be irritated by anything -- for the smallest of the

small can provide an opening to the infinite.

If this is the case, how can we become more mindful of the variety of

elements, movements, and activities in a given circumstance? It all

comes down to our level of consciousness. It takes an open mind and

acute sensitivity to perceive the utility of each act in relation to the whole

of any event. That in turn depends on a still and silent mind, as well as a

calm and steady disposition. Think Sherlock Holmes. And through that

keen, mindful, multi-sided perception, one becomes aware of the role of

the smallest act in the outcome of a situation, problem, or event. To

perceive this many-sided whole, rather than the obvious one or two parts

is a spiritual quality known as "integral knowledge."

Indian spiritual philosophy tells us the infinite can arise out of anything --

whether the large or the infinitesimally small. To the infinite

Consciousness and Being, there is no distinction between the two. Thus,

the innocuous and silly, the trivial and trite, and the negative and hostile

also serve as instruments for progress and change. If we can learn to


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perceive this dynamic in our daily lives, then we will have a glimpse of

the Marvel of existence.

Turning the Finite, the Small into the Infinite, the Great

It is a spiritual principle of life that the smallest thing can be an opening

to the largest thing. Therefore, we should pay close attention to and

perfect the small matters we encounter in order to realize its infinite

potential. In other words, at any moment the Infinite can break out,

emerge from the finite.

This cosmic dynamic can occur at the physical, the vital/emotional, the

mental, and the spiritual levels (including Supramental by opening to the

spiritual Force, the divine Mother).

In this short video, it is demonstrated at the raw physical/material level.

We have seen it miraculous-like occur at the other levels as well, evoking

startling life response (sudden good fortune) results - i.e. the infinite

suddenly, from seemingly out of nowhere emerging from the finite.

That being the case, what small tasks, or feelings, or thoughts, or

intentions, attitudes or values can you more perfectly execute or

consecrate, evoking the sudden emergence of vast positive results in that

area?

Keep in mind that behind all finite things is an involved, absorbed Infinite.

That is because everything, including the smallest matter or thing has its

origins in the Divine, which is an Infinite reality.

Infinite from Finite Example

Since the finite emerged from the Infinite consciousness, infinite results

can potentially emerge from any finite.

E.g. in 1973 Paul Stanley of KISS came to my parents’ house to visit my

sister, whom he was good friends with. Before she came down, I talked

with Paul at length, mainly about music. He was already slightly known.

He would go on from there to create the KISS band, which has earned

more money through concession and merchandising sales (clothing,

accessories, etc.) than any musical act in history! In the Billions of

dollars!


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It was another example of the infinite emerging out of a finite, something

I witnessed firsthand in that meeting and in what followed


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PART 5: SPIRITUAL QUALITIES

Spiritual Aspects of Existence

Expressions of Spirit in Life

Though science may not prove its existence, and skeptics will deny it is

real, individuals throughout time have had experiences that can only be

classified as a higher order of consciousness. The common term for such

experiences is that they are “spiritual” in nature.

One individual feels a sudden light and presence; another, an

overwhelming sense of peace; while a third feels an oneness with all and

everything that surrounds him. Such epiphanies come in many forms,

depending on the individual’s nature, the culture one is raised in, and

other factors.

Take the spiritual notion of “Oneness.” Throughout time, individuals have

shared with the world their experiences of a profound connection with

life. In some instances, it was a feeling of oneness with nature, in others

a deep association with the entire universe, and in others still, a

transcendent connection to the divine. In each instance, the individual

experienced a sense of harmony, oneness, and unity with something far

greater than his own limited self. These experiences reflect the actual

Oneness that exists throughout creation, which is itself an expression of

the spiritual Reality underlying all existence.

Another way we experience Oneness is through the deep bonds and

connections we have with others. When we focus on the interests and

concerns of another person, when we take to their point of view, and

when we express our heartfelt thanks, appreciation, and gratitude, we

are in essence moving away from our limited sense of self, and opening

to a wider sphere of harmony, unity, and oneness.

Though such experiences of Oneness with the objects, elements, and

individuals around us are truly profound, they are but one type of

spiritual expression. For example, if I move from selfishness to self-

givingness in my relationship with another, I not only experience a

degree of Oneness with that person, but I also experience a degree of

spiritual Love.


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Then what is spiritual Love? It is certainly more than the physical

attraction or attachment we have for another person. It is also more than

the vital feelings and emotions we have towards others. It is instead

something truer, deeper, and longer lasting. Spiritual Love occurs when

the lover, partner, parent, friend, associate, etc. seeks to give of himself

without expectation or reward, seeking only the fulfillment of the other

person. Ultimately, the highest expression of spiritual Love occurs when

we surrender to, and offer our deepest devotion to the Divine, thereby

fulfilling Its intention in life.

In addition to spiritual Oneness and Love, we also experience the spirit as

pure joy and Delight of being. One way we can feel that Delight is by

being self-giving to another person, as well as feeling the joy of another

person’s progress and happiness. We can also feel such Delight whenever

we experience something new in the world, such as when we discover a

new possibility, or come upon a new idea, or when we have achieved a

new level of growth in our lives.

The Witness Consciousness

There is yet one other way we can experience the Spirit in our lives.

Behind the layers of our human makeup -- i.e. our physical, vital, and

mental parts -- there is a level of pure beingness, reflecting the true

essence of who we really are. Behind the substance, movements, and

sensations of our physical bodies; behind the desires, wants, emotions,

and feelings of our vital being; and behind the thoughts, ideas, and

beliefs of our minds, there is an essential silent and unmoving Self and

Being.

From this profound inner poise of consciousness, we experience the world

as pure “is-ness.” From this status, we make no value judgments; offer

no opinions; express no wants and desires; experience no feelings,

emotions, or sensations; and do not move, or take to action. In this state

of Beingness, we just are -- silently observing the unfolding of truths of

life around us, without reaction or intention.

Interestingly, through this inner poise of stillness, we can harness a

formidable energy and power. By silently observing the world this way,

we become sensitive to the true truths unfolding around us, which gives

us deeper insight into life’s conditions, which in turn help us make the

right decisions that lead to right actions. By looking out onto the world

through a “witness consciousness,” we are not only detached from the

intensities and sensations of life, but we gain a vast power to affect it.


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In fact, when we shift away from our normal “aggressive consciousness”

to this detached, calm, and equal witness consciousness, life has a

tendency to respond with sudden good fortune. I.e., when we withdraw

from the tumult and activity of the mind, and instead move to mental

silence; when we withdraw from the reactions, likes, dislikes, wants,

needs, and attitudes of the vital, and instead rest in a dispassionate

neutrality and equality; and when we abandon our attempts to

aggressively seek out life and take action, letting the world come to us on

its own, sudden good fortune will likely follow. Although any of these

inner movements can elicit the instantaneous miraculousness of life

response, I would like to share several episodes that stand out.


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Silence, Silent Will

Reduced and Soft Speech

In addition to withholding the expression of our thoughts and intentions,

simply reducing the quantity of the words we speak tends to attract

positive conditions. This is the case because there is a power in our

speech. Our vocalizations originate in our vital/life center, and carry a

life-power and energy. When we speak too much, these energies are

squandered, which tends to attract corresponding negative conditions.

However, if we conserve our energies through reduced speech -- or,

better yet, by remaining completely silent -- they are fortified and

strengthened, which tends to attract sudden good fortune from our

surroundings. Here are two true incidents:

-An individual was engaged in a lively conversation with a close

friend. At one point in the discussion, he overcame his urge to discuss

a new idea that had entered his mind, and instead insisted that his

friend speak what was on her mind. She then articulated several

concepts that he had never heard before, which energized and thrilled

him to no end. By moving to silence, life reversed itself and turned a

mundane conversation into an ecstatic moment of freshness and

wonder.

-A famous, baseball player hit a home run in pursuit of breaking the

all-time record. His teammate then hit another home run after. In the

dugout, the two proceeded to engage in a friendly, though somewhat

heated discussion about whose ball was hit harder and further. This

childish bantering continued for nearly ten minutes. At the time they

began the dialogue, their team was ahead in the game. However,

shortly thereafter, the other team tied the score. In fact, that rival

club eventually went on to win in extra innings, which turned into a

heart breaking loss for the home team with the two incessantly

chatting players.

-An instructor noticed that every time he engaged in lengthy

discussions about politics or other social issues with someone before a

class, he would invariably run into some difficulty with that very

student during the course of the day. He later committed to never

engage in such idle, debate-oriented conversations before his classes,

which helped him avoid such negative life response thereafter.


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One of the ways we can avoid such pitfalls is to identify those areas of

our lives where we waste speech -- i.e. our “speech threshold,” -- and

then make an effort to draw back from it. For example, the trainer just

mentioned could learn to refrain from speaking with students on

controversial news topics before class, while a customer rep could cease

from engaging in needless, idle conversations with her clients. In such

instances, drawing back from one’s speech threshold fortifies positive

energy, which tends to attract sudden good fortune back to us.

Why then do we speak so much? One reason is that we love the sound of

our own voice! Another reason is that we also enjoy the stimulation that

comes from interacting with others. It has been suggested that 80% of

our conversations take place in a social context, and it is in these

stimulating interactions that compel us to vocalize our thoughts and

feelings. If, on the other hand, we recognized this fact and controlled

ourselves in these social situations, we would not only reduce the

quantity of speech, but we would elicit very positive circumstance on

those occasions.

In should be pointed out that in addition to reducing the quantity of the

words we speak, we can also reduce the volume and pitch of our speech.

When we speak loudly and boisterously, life tends to get disturbed and

attract negative outcomes. However, if we practice “soft speech,” by

speaking in a low, soft voice, then good fortune moves our way. In

particular, soft speech tends to attract money and other forms of financial

benefit.

One 39-year-old wealthy American businessperson lost all 60 of his

employees, and was prepared to file for bankruptcy. However, at a

relative’s suggestion, he and his wife practiced psychological and

spiritual disciplines, including speaking in a low, soft voice. As a

result, two years later he was in a position to retire for life!

Silent Will

Experience tells us that when we refrain from expressing an idea or our

intention to another through speech, the other person tends to quickly

express it for us! By restraining ourselves this way, the atmosphere

around us gets charged with concentrations of mental and vital energy,

which then penetrate another person’s consciousness, causing them to

identify with it, compelling them to speak it out as if it were their own.

Here are some true examples that demonstrate this phenomenon:


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-A thinker was having a discussion with a similar individual. Ideas

moved back and forth very swiftly. At one point, the first person

decided not to express an interesting idea as an experiment in Silent

Will. Several moments later, the second person expressed the very

idea the first person held back.

-A writer wanted to interview several executives at a major US

company for a book he was writing. His contact there refused his

request. The writer was then about to describe several reasons why

he should be able to meet with the staff, but instead restrained

himself, holding his tongue. A moment later, the contact suddenly

began to describe several reasons why it would be useful for the

writer to meet with the executives, and then actually gave him

permission to do so!

A variation of Silent Will goes something like this. If we withhold

expressing a thought, holding it back for the right time, or simply

letting it go because it does not seem to be right for the occasion, life

tends to create conditions for its expression later on. Here is a true

incident demonstrating this dynamic.

-A consultant, attending a meeting, restrained himself from joining a

small discussion group where he had hoped to engage one person on

an important matter. After the meeting ended, the consultant headed

to the subway station to go home, and was then startled when the

person he wanted to speak with earlier suddenly appeared beside

him. They then discovered they were both headed to the subway, and

then realized that they were taking the same train. As a result, over

the next hour, they engaged in the very conversation that the

consultant longed to have earlier with this individual.


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Equality of Being, Non-Reaction, Restraint

The Power of Restraint

Though Silent Will compels others to verbalize our thoughts and wishes,

there are other dimensions to this powerful technique. To show you what

I mean, consider the following hypothetical situation:

Imagine that you are a project manager who is responsible for

overhauling your company’s production facility. Your assignment is to

develop a new wing for the manufacturing plant, which will enable the

company to produce its state-of-the-art hardware technology in large

quantities. Your broad goal then is to deliver the highest quality result

with the least expense in the shortest period.

You begin my polling your engineers to get their input. Their consensus is

that the project will take six months to complete. You then use your

project management skills to develop a schedule of how long the

constituent parts will take. Interestingly, when you organize the project

plan this way, a number of new ideas suddenly spring to mind, allowing

you to shave off a month from the project. (It is life responding to your

mental effort to organize things in the most efficient manner, down to the

particulars, as we learned in the chapter on organization.)

As you make these strides in your project plan, you become very

energized. As a result, you feel an intense urge to communicate your

progress to others. However, rather than give into your eagerness, you

decide to hold back. Several minutes later, a cascade of insights about

the nature of the project suddenly come to mind. That knowledge allows

you to drive down the project’s duration by nearly half -- from 6 months

to 2.5!

Stimulated by these startling developments, you are motivated to take

your non-verbalizing, self-restraining approach a step further. Rather

than obsess about what you will say to motivate your team, you decide

not to think about the matter at all. In fact, you choose to wait for life to

take its own initiative, which will be a signal to you when to take further

action.

As a result, a cascade of remarkable events unfold. First, you receive a

series of communiqués from team members who express their eagerness

to get started on the project. This is a stunning development because

they never took the initiative to contact you about projects they were

part of in the past. You always had to contact them first. In addition, that

afternoon you receive a call from your boss, the VP of operation, who


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expresses her eagerness to begin work on the project. This is from a

person who hardly ever contacts you about anything!

In fact, over the next 24 hours, you learn of several other stunning

developments in the firm. First, you discover that a dozen new people

have been hired on in your department, giving you a larger pool of

resources to choose from. You then learn that the company has

unexpectedly purchased several new pieces of software that if

implemented would drive down your project by another 50%!

Because of these conspiring events, the once 6-month project is now

projected to finish in a mere four weeks! Several days later when your

manager gets wind of this information, she drops by your office --

something she rarely does unless there is trouble -- and praises you to

the heavens for this remarkable effort. She follows that up with a not too

subtle hint that if the project goes as scheduled, you will be in line for a

big promotion and raise.

___

From this imaginary episode, we see the power of restraining our

thoughts, feelings, and actions. By holding back at key moment, we

create the greatest results with the least effort in the shortest period of

time, demonstrating Silent Will power in all its glory.

With that in mind, here are some real life examples:

-A man had been involved in a great project that is a once in a lifetime

endeavor. He was participating intently and contributed a lot over the

last several months. Then he got a little too involved, becoming tired,

sometimes assertive and slightly argumentative. He decided at that

point to withdraw from the discussion for several weeks. One of his

partners then informed him that his schedule for implementation had

now suddenly moved from several years to a few months!

-An individual had been involved in the development of several online

expert systems. He had taken the initiative to read a book that

contained highly relevant information for our project. A second stage

was to organize all of his underlines, highlights, and notes so that the

content could be used as the project moved forward. However, rather

than take an outer, physical initiative, he decided to restrain himself

and hold back. Just after making this decision, he received a very

unexpected note from the lead content developer who asked him to

forward the name of the very book in question so he could use it for

the system.


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Equality of Being

In addition to mental silence, we can also practice vital silence. If we

keep our emotions and feelings in tow when difficulties arise, not only do

the problems tend to dissipate, but new, unexpected positive outcomes

are apt to take their place. Here are several true-life examples:

-A training company secured work from a well-known global

technology company. The class went very well, and the training

company sent out an invoice to the client. Normally payment on the

bill occurs within two weeks. However, the client informed the training

company that they paid in 60 days. On hearing this, the individual

managing the account at the training company nearly became

unhinged. Fortunately, at the time, he was able to hold back his

feelings, and eventually reverse himself to the point where he actually

attained a state of calm and equality within. The following day the

representative of the training company was shocked to discover that

the client had paid for the work in full via the Internet that very

morning! In essence, through an inner reversal from agitation to vital

stillness, a long 60-day receivable had turned into a 2-day payment.

-A woman who had never driven a car long-distance was being

hounded by a big-rig truck bearing down on her at high speed on a

steep incline of an interstate highway. She was very concerned and

bothered by the vehicle’s imminent approach. Several minutes later,

the truck suddenly swerved off the road, taking an unmarked exit into

what appeared to be desert wasteland. When asked what she had

been thinking about before the truck made its unexpected exit, the

woman said that she had simply decided to stop worrying about the

threat. In other words, be still and calm about the matter, ever to the

point of ignoring and forgetting it.

-In a famous story set in the 19the century, a man made a wager that

he could travel around the world in eighty days. He personality was

such that he never worried about anything, no matter how dire the

circumstances. As a result, he was constantly able to overcome

immanent disasters on the trip.

At one point, as he was about to complete the journey, he was

arrested, which, in effect, caused him to miss the 80-day deadline,

and, therefore, lose the bet. Undaunted by the false accusation, and

remaining utterly calm, he escaped from his captives. Arriving at the

final destination point of the race, he learned that he actually had

returned one day early, and thus had now in fact won the wager! It


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turned out that he arrived on the 79th day because he saved one full

day by traveling east to west around the world.

-A company rented workspace from an owner who offered this

service. When the principle of the company went on a trip, his own

manager and several staff members got into an argument with this

owner. When the owner threatened to oust the company from the

space, they threatened legal action against him. However, when the

principle of the company returned and learned of this contentious

situation, he decided to remain absolutely calm and composed. He

also told his workers to do the same.

Several days later, the owner of the rental space came up to the

principle, and, shaken, told him that his own son had a heart problem.

The owner asked the principle if knew of a hospital where the child

could be treated. The boy was then shuttled to a hospital that the

principle recommended. There the doctors indicated the need for

immediate surgery. However, the owner did not have the money to

pay for such an expensive operation. Once again, the principle came

through, and was able to arrange financing for the owner though a

bank he had worked with. The operation on the child then took place,

and fortunately turned out to be a success. As a result of these

extraordinary events, the owner felt eternally grateful to the very

man whose company he had once tried to evict. An individual’s

absolute calm and composure in the face of adversity had attracted

these most extraordinary circumstances from life.

The capacity to remain undisturbed in the face of intense circumstances -

- whether they are extremely negative and displeasing, or even

extremely positive and enjoyable -- is the inner power of “equality of

being.” Any serious movement away from either of these disturbed states

to one of equality of calm is sure to attract benefit all the way around.

Like taking to mental silence, moving from agitation, fear, and worry to a

state of calm and equality is an indicator that we have attained a certain

level of stillness within -- i.e. of Beingness --, which is one of the

essential ways we can come to know the Spirit in life.

Around the World with Phileas Fogg

There are many keys to accomplishment in life. Vision, organization, and

drive are several. Another is the capacity to be calm and equal in the

face of difficult circumstances. One false step and one can fall down the

latter to success. If however, we maintain the right balance in those


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situations, not only will we make the best of negative conditions, but life

will tend to cooperate and, on its own right, right the wrong. It is the

phenomenon of life response in action. You remain steady when life

threatens to spiral out of control, and life rights itself as if by magic.

Though it seems miraculous-like, it actually happens all of the time, just

out of our "field of vision." For one famous character in fiction, that inner

poise of equality attracted overwhelming good fortune -- just at a time

when all seemed hopeless and doomed to failure.

In his novel Around the World in 80 Days, Jules Verne describes the

wonderful adventures of Phileas Fogg and his traveling companions. In

the story, Fogg has placed a wager of 40,000 pounds that he can travel

around the world in 80 days. Though his adventures will provide him with

astonishing experiences that take him to distant and exotic land, his

central focus and all-consuming effort is directed toward winning the

wager. In addition to his single-mindedness of purpose, several other

personal qualities will prove invaluable to Fogg in pursuing his lofty goal.

One of those is the fact that Fogg is an eminently disciplined man -- both

in his emotions and in his thoughts. He has the innate capacity to accept

every difficulty and ordeal that comes his way in a calm and detached

manner. No matter how problematic or even absurd the circumstances,

Fogg’s emotions are always tranquil and calm, as if he were detached

from the intensity of every situation. And yet, interestingly his mind is

always fully engaged in the issue at hand -- enabling him to rationally

and most logically deal with any and all circumstance. In addition, his

creative capacities border on genius, as he is able to meld a native

intelligence and a broad knowledge of the physical workings of life with

insights and intuitive-like inspirations that help him solve nearly every

problem.

These qualities are further enhanced by his essential kind nature -- which

can be seen in the goodwill that he consistently demonstrates toward his

fellow travelers, as well as the people he meets along the way. That helps

help him win the respect of others at critical moments on his journey,

especially important when he and his comrades face imminent danger. He

also exhibits other notable faculties -- including his ability to remain silent

without speaking, unless situations dictate that he do so. Together with

his utter punctuality and masterful planning and organizing capacities,

Phileas Fogg is the very embodiment of stability, rationality, and equality

-- making him the perfect candidate to accomplish his ambitious goals.

And yet, this is an adventure story that Verne is determined to infuse

with a variety of life’s exigencies. And so it turns out that at about the

time Fogg first embarks on his journey, the Bank of England is robbed.

Moreover, the robber himself steps forward and maliciously matches

Fogg's physical description to the thief, which causes the high-level


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official, Mr. Fix, to believe that Fogg's wager is a pretense to elude

authorities in Britain. Fix then attempts to arrest Fogg in England, but

when he fails to do so is forced instead to follow him on his travels

around the world.

Though Fogg has astonishing encounters in Brindisi, Suez, Bombay,

Calcutta, Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco, New York and Liverpool,

he still has to arrive back in London before noon on the 80th day to win

the wager. Though on his trip he discovers that he has been accused of

thievery, he brushes it aside and instead focuses all of his energies

towards winning the wager. Along the way, he utilizes his uncanny

creativity, ingenuity, and scientific know-how to solve every problem that

crosses his path.

However, when he finally arrives in Britain on the very last leg of the trip,

he is arrested by the authorities for robbing the Bank of England. Though

he manages to escape from prison, he soon realizes that he is 5 minutes

too late to win the contest. However, life then responds in his favor when

he discovers that he and his party have actually arrived in Britain one day

early! Because he had traveled east from England in circling the globe, he

and his party had actually gained a day when they returned 79, not 80

days later!

Phileas Fogg’s utter calm and equality in the face of extremely difficult

circumstances attracted a magnificent response from life that provided

him with his greatest moment of glory and success. It is an indicator that

life on the outside responds to one’s inner efforts or capacities of higher

consciousness. Maintaining a poise of inner calm and equality is one

method that enables that miraculous-like dynamic. It is in essence a

spiritual-like quality that tends to overcome the negative, while attracting

the infinite potentials of life.

Louis Pasteur and the Power of Inner Equality

There is a wonderful moment in the 1935 film The Story of Louis Pasteur

that I doubt hardly a critic would notice. It is an expression of the

miraculous-like phenomenon of “life response” -- i.e. the spontaneous

arrival of sudden good fortune. In particular, it is an example of how

taking to calm and equality in the face of great difficulty can elicit

powerful positive response from the world around us.

In the incident in the film, the famous scientist Louis Pasteur has been

trying to discover a cure for hydrophobia -- i.e. rabies -- that ordinarily


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comes through a bite or contact from a rapid infected animal. It is

Pasteur’s belief that if he gives a mild dose of the disease to an animal, it

will build up a resistance to it when it actually does have the illness. This

is the approach Pasteur develops to cure rabies and other infectious

diseases. I.e. give the sick patient a mild form of the disease, and the

body will spontaneously generate a resistance to it, which will push out

the illness when it enters the system.

In this particular episode in the story, Pasteur believes he has a cure for

hydrophobia/rabies, but many are skeptical. In fact, one key member of

the scientific establishment, Dr. Charbonnet of the French Academy, is so

sure that his cure is wrong that when in Pasteur’s lab he grabs a syringe

filled with a dense concentration of the virus and injects it into his arm!

Pasteur is mortified, as he believes that Charbonnet has sealed his own

fate. Not only was it not intended in such concentrated doses, but it was

meant only for sickly individuals.

As it turns out, Charbonnet not only survives the inoculation, but the next

day seems perfectly fine! In fact, after 30 days he shows no signs of the

disease. While Pasteur is baffled by this outcome, Charbonnet flaunts the

fact by parading around the Parisian scientific community, as well as high

society circles, proudly pointing out how healthy he is. At one point, he

boasts that that the more he takes of the allegedly lethal serum, the

healthier he feels! As a result of his public posturing, Pasteur’s image is

greatly tarnished in both scientific circles and amongst the general public.

One day an associate friend of his rushes into Pasteur’s home to notify

the great chemist that he has been made a mockery of throughout the

country. Pasteur however does not react at all to this news. A moment

later, however, his wife Marie has the thought that perhaps the dosage

the doctor took was of an old batch, and therefore had no potency to

affect him. Pasteur then rushes into his office to test out the hypothesis,

which he then verifies to be true. A second later, it occurs to him that

that he could give infected animals with the disease a low dosage of the

serum and then gradually increases the dosage, thereby creating

immunity without killing them. The idea has sprung into his mind like a

revelation.

What does this story then teach us? From the point of view of life

response – i.e. the onset of sudden good fortune due to changes in our

consciousness -- it is rather straightforward. Because Pasteur did not

respond emotionally to word of his public humiliation, his wife Marie came

forward and made her statement about the old serum, which set in

motion events that led one of medicine’s greatest discoveries. It is an

illustration of how inner calm and equality in the face of negative

circumstance attracts powerful positive conditions from the world around

us.


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If we think about it, we will see that being calm and equal is more than

an inner psychological technique, but a spiritual one as well, reflecting

the universal spiritual principles of Peace and Silence. Other principles,

like Love, Oneness, Truth, and Goodness have their psychological

equivalents as well, such as self-givingness, willingness to embrace the

other person’s point of view, generosity, gratitude, and others. Each time

we take to any of these, we release powerful positive energies that tend

to attract life response results.

Practically then we can do the following: when difficulties descend on us,

we can try to move to a state of absolute stillness and calm. When we do,

the difficulties will tend to quickly evaporate, and unexpected positive

conditions will also tend to take their place.

But then a question arises. How can we turn ourselves on and off like a

spigot as such situations arise -- i.e. readily shift from our normal

psychological state to this poise of inner calm? One answer is that we can

simply remember to put aside our emotions and take to that state when

these intense situations arise. It does work for those who have trained

themselves to do so. And yet this may not be enough, since we tend to

be overwhelmed by life’s outer conditions to have the wherewithal to

move to this higher status on demand.

A more certain approach is to establish a more permanent inner poise of

stillness and calm, which will spontaneously refrain from reacting to life’s

intensities. We can begin to produce this affect by moving our center of

awareness back away from surface of life to an inner poise, marked by

inner concentration marked by stillness, and silence. Through this

approach, we develop an inner orientation, a “witness consciousness”

that silently, calmly, and patiently looks out onto the world. Then when

severe conditions cross our path – whether as intense negatives, or even

intense positives – we will not be disturbed, as they will fall off us like the

proverbial water from a duck’s back. In other words, life will respond, and

those severe external circumstance will tend to quickly subside on their

own. In addition, an entirely new development might arise, outside the

current situation, as a further positive response. Such unexpected

developments can be so powerful that it can change our lives, as it did for

Mr. Pasteur and the world.

From the Liberty of Ego to the Infinite Power of Self-Restraint

One of life’s blessings is that we are endowed with full freedom to act.

Thus, Human Choice, not fate, nor karma can ultimately determine


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events. Yet if we were to look closely, we would see that three quarters

of our actions are based on ego movements; on initiatives that are wholly

self-serving. Sri Karmayogi calls this the “Liberty of ego.” We have the

freedom of choice to determine the outcomes of life, but we abuse it

through self-absorbed initiatives based on urge, compulsion, or other

willful action that are self-aggrandizing. These in turn do not garner life’s

cooperation, but their opposite, attracting negative conditions back to us.

Yet if in these instances we simply restrained ourselves and held back our

action, life would constantly conspire in our favor.

In Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, like most great literature, we see

several examples of this phenomenon. One is Mrs. Gardner’s restraint in

speaking to Eliza about Darcy at a particularly sensitive moment. Rather

than raise the issue, she shows sensitivity and refrains from expressing

her thoughts in deference to Eliza’s difficult relationship with Darcy. She

in essence avoids an ego movement, moving outward to embrace the

concerns and interests of another person. As a result, life supports her

non-initiative when soon after Darcy and Eliza come to an understanding,

fall in love and marry -- bringing great happiness to the couple, while

energizing both families to no end. Life has responded to Mrs. Gardener’s

non-egoistic restraint.

On the other hand, Eliza’s mother Mrs. Bennet has no personal control; is

constantly acting from self-interest and self-concern. Because she lacks

restraint, her unflagging initiating and meddling continually backfires on

her and her family. If only she stood back, looked outward from within,

and restrained herself, life would have quickly brought her everything she

hoped for -- including the marriage of her daughters to prosperous young

bachelors, and without the travail and pain the family was forced to suffer

through. Instead, her ego-oriented initiatives almost lead to its ruination.

It turns out that she is just an exaggerated version of every one of us.

We too subconsciously engage in acts that serve our ego. If we could

catch ourselves and suspend such actions, we would conserve energy,

which would in turn attract positive conditions.

Practically speaking, each time we feel the urge to send a note, or

forward a picture, or speak to a friend or colleague, we should ask

ourselves whether this is a wholesome, fully positive activity, or is it

being undertaken to tickle our ego; for the purpose of self-

aggrandizement? E.g., are we tacitly seeking the approval of others? Are

we hastily reacting and trying to assert our opinion? Are we looking to

express our contempt for another in a backhanded way? Are we selfishly

trying to gain benefit? And so forth, ad infinitum. If ego, self-

aggrandizement, and selfishness is in any way behind our intention, we

should refrain from acting. We will avoid the negative, while attracting

the very best of conditions.


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When we restrain ourselves this way, we build up positive energies that

align with the very best corresponding conditions in the world. We

essentially move from the local, ego plane to the universal, where our

hopes and dreams are fulfilled. Considering that three quarters of our

actions consciously or unconsciously issue from the ego motive, it would

be well worth examining every action we take to determine whether or

not our intent is wholesome. If we avoid initiating when ego is present,

we can avoid difficulties, while attracting startling positive results.

Ultimately, we can move toward the elimination of ego itself. That takes

resolve, usually reserved for those who are on willing to follow a path of

conscious evolution -- i.e. yoga in the East. To dissolve ego, one begins

by moving away from the surface of life, where our consciousness is

seperative, and find a still and silent soul space within. From there our

intentions tend to be in harmony with the world outside ourselves. From

there, there is little need to initiate or take action, as what we aspire for

tends to rapidly come to fruition.


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Harmony, Oneness

The Infinite Power of Harmony

There are a number of expressions of the Spirit in life. Silence, Being-

ness, Truth, Wisdom, Timelessness, Infinity, Goodness, Love, Beauty,

and Delight are several. Perhaps the most essential and basic is

Harmony, whose higher expression is Oneness and Unity of being. For the

Infinite consciousness, every and all things are interlocked in an essential

Harmony and Oneness. And yet out of that essential Unity, a universe of

infinitely diverse forms was created, including we humans. It is the same

in our own individual and collective lives. When we bring greater harmony

to bear through our relationship with others and the world, we generate a

vast creative power for accomplishment for ourselves and others.

Take modern day Europe, where the Euro has suddenly become the

world's strongest currency. That's the case because several nations came

together to forge a financial alliance: in essence, a collaborative

movement of harmony. That harmonic effort has produced a financial

instrument that has garnered the greatest respect and purchasing power

in the world. It is the power that harmony generates that has propelled

the Euro to its lofty position.

On the other hand, across the channel, the British have been unwilling to

participate in the Euro, putting its own purchasing power at risk. Even the

mighty US currency has fallen behind the Euro. Subconsciously perceiving

the power of collaboration and cooperation (two practical expressions of

harmony) now the Asian financial community is considering a currency of

its own. If they adopt it, it will likely generate a (further) boon for that

region as well. This suggests that a global currency would create infinite-

like financial and economic well-being for the world, since it would issue

from a higher harmony that integrates all nations.

Wherever harmony is created, energy and power is released. When the

colonies of the US came together over 200 years ago, it resulted in the

greatest economic, political, and military power in world history. But it is

not only nations that gain power when disparate elements come together.

So do other collectives -- including institutions, businesses, communities,

down to the individual family. The more harmony created among their

parts and people, the greater the power and results generated.

Harmony intensifies the positive bonds between people and things,

focusing energy and releasing power for accomplishment. We can see this

in macro events like nations forming, but also in micro events such as our


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daily work experiences. For example, we have all participated in meetings

over the course of our careers. When most successful, it is often because

a deeper connection and bond was created among the staff -- e.g.

through mutual respect, by genuinely focusing on the contributions of

others, and via collaborative decisions for future action. When we come

out of these meetings, our energy skyrockets and our work efforts

produce impressive results. In essence, the harmonic movement has

created a new burst of collective energy now shared by each participant -

- enabling individual and collective achievement. Interestingly that

success often comes about through instances of sudden good fortune.

Similarly, any two individuals are capable of creating this sort a harmonic

bond. For example, greater harmony in romantic relationships can

produce the deepest form of love between partners. Each lover's

willingness to forget him or herself, adoring the other for its own sake

can generate a tidal wave of romantic energy resulting in an intense bond

and affection that can last a lifetime.

The opposite of harmony is each party moving in its own direction,

focusing on its own interests at the expense of the needs of the "Other,"

attracting negative conditions. For example, when the fascist juggernaut

began to move across Europe at the outset of WWII, the "good" nations

were unable to collaborate in any coherent way. That lack of harmony

strengthened the enemy, who were then able to run roughshod across

the continent. It was only the extreme collaboration and bravery of the

British people, and the cooperative effort of the US and Europe that

saved the world from that greatest of all evils.

The question is then how can we be in that state of consciousness that

would allow us to be more connected and One with life around use. The

answer is that the more we live in the deeper parts of our being, rather

than the surface of life, the greater will be our affinity, connection, and

harmony with our surroundings, including the people we interact with.

But how do we move to that silent state, that witness consciousness that

would enable to us feel more connected with the world and others? We

can begin to build that new inner status by constantly opening ourselves

to the spiritual Force. When we offer and consecrate upcoming activities

in our lives, offering that act to the Higher Power, not only are the

conditions of life quickly set right, but we develop an ever-wider opening

to our deeper Self. As we come to know those profound Silent and Still

parts within, we experience an ever-increasing bond with things outside

ourselves, including the situations we encounter and the people we

interact with. As a result of these harmonic experiences, we not only

generate a vast power for success, but deep inner joy and fulfillment.


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This being the case, why not ask yourself this: In what areas of my life

can I create greater harmony? If you determine what that is and then

make a sincere effort to bring it about, you will not only generate a vast

power for accomplishment, but you will experience deep, inner

fulfillment, as the separation between yourself and life will melt away into

a blissful Oneness.

Subtle Gesture that Overcomes Disharmony in Still Walking

Family problems can be deep and troubling. Sometimes they are

intractable for years, or even a lifetime. Each individual can find himself

stuck in a rut that perpetuates family misery and disharmony. And yet a

single insight or gesture on the part of one individual can not only change

the immediate conditions for that family member’s immediate circle, but

can set in motion a wave of goodwill that envelops everyone, reversing

circumstance and feelings from the conflicting and contradictory to its

opposite.

We see a magnificent example of this dynamic in the recent Japanese film

Still Walking. There family members come together to commemorate the

death of the eldest son, Junpei, who drowned accidentally 12 years ago.

The relatives arrive at the home of the elder father Kyohei, a retired

doctor who lives with his wife on a hillside overlooking the spectacular

seaside of coastal Japan.

Unfortunately, there is deep psychological misery in the family, not only

because of the earlier death of the eldest son, but because of Kyohei’s

deep resentment toward his younger living child Ryoto who has failed to

follow in his footsteps as a doctor. Worse than that, Kyohei has deep

resentment toward Ryoto because he feels he has little of the capacity for

success that his deceased older son had. In turn, that causes Ryoto to

have a deep inferiority complex, which together creates great tension

between the two at the family gathering at the parents’ seaside home.

Meanwhile, the elder father Kyohei’s wife also has questionable feeling

about Ryoto’s marriage, since he married a divorcee, indicating her

prejudice in this regard. In fact, her feelings make Ryoto feel that much

more anxious and self-doubting. In addition, the wife also has a difficult

relationship with her constantly despondent and bitter husband, Kyohei,

mostly over the death of their son. Only the elder couples’ daughter, as

well as Ryoto’s unassuming and pleasant wife Yukari show genuine

cheerfulness and goodwill amidst the gloomy family situation.

Now comes the key moment in the story. It is a subtle one, easily

missed.


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In one scene, Ryoto’s wife Yukari and her little son are together in the

bedroom talking. She sees that the little boy is indifferent to his step-

father Ryoto, and longs for his real father through Yukari’s earlier

marriage. However, understanding his feelings, Yukari gently tells him

that she and her first husband are the two parts that make him the whole

that he is, comforting the young child greatly. She then tells him that he

should also open himself up to his step-father, Ryoto. Yukari presents this

in an endearing and humorous way that charms the little boy, causing

him to want to reconcile with Ryoto. Yukari’s tactic has proven eminently

successful.

Well, at that that very tender moment, Ryoto serendipitously walks into

the room, and sees the affection on the face of his little step-son for

perhaps the first time, giving Ryoto a deep sense of well being. Soon

after Ryoto tears up an old letter that he wrote as a child in which he

narrated how he wanted to be a doctor, which is a symbol of his current

failures in his career, and all that is wrong with his relationship with his

father. In essence, he has now changed his attitude for the better, a

direct outgrowth of his son’s new born affection toward him.

The ripple affect continues when soon after Ryoto and his father meet on

the beach, where the elder, retired doctor out of thin air suddenly

changes his attitude toward his only son. It is a subtle response from life

to Ryoto’s attitudinal shift. This then has the effect of energizing Ryoto’s

life further, which enables him to shed his past failures and achieve

mightily in the years that follow.

In the final analysis, a strong, deep bond amongst all of the family

members takes root, a startling reversal from what was there before.

As we see, one simple gesture of understanding and kindness can start

the ball rolling and attract a series of circumstance in which years of

resentment and bitterness are overcome for an entire family. Yukari’s

gentle gestures instigated and attracted a procession of outcomes that

reversed a near lifetime of family travail.

What can we do if we find ourselves in similar circumstance? For one,

through an increasing higher consciousness, we can use our subtle sense

to identify that single behavior or attitudes or value that will moves our

immediate relationship situation one step to the positive, as Yukari did

when she spoke so kindly and insightfully to her once embittered child.

Sometimes the key will require an act of self-givingness on our part.

Other times, it necessitates an attitude of psychological strength. There

are other situations still where the key is simply not to react to another’s

intensity. These and other inner tactics will certainly prove effective, and

have the added benefit of attracting powerful positive conditions, as it did

in the case of the Yokahama family.


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There are thus a variety of practical psychological methods of overcoming

family strife and acrimony. There are also spiritual approaches we can

take. For example, one particularly powerful method is to simply offer the

entire matter to the spiritual Force, which will tend to on its own break

the logjam and acrimony and conflict, while attract powerful positive

outcomes. In tandem with the right psychological approach, life will

completely reverse in ways one could never have imagined.

By the way, these psychological and spiritual methods to change

contradiction into harmony is not only effective for family situations, but

for any collective, whether it is a business, in politics, or any other group

association. It also works for personal relationships between spouse,

friends, and others.

In the final scene of this uplifting film, we observe the elder Kyohei’s and

his wife “still walking” on the steep hillsides overlooking the beautiful

coastal region, now finally rid of decades of bitterness and strife.

Becoming One with ‘The Field’

The other day I had a powerful inner experience. It lasted less than a

minute, though it vibrated forward and stayed with me in the minutes,

hours, and days since.

I was walking through a state of the art outdoor shopping center in

Emeryville, California, near Berkeley. As I entered the main street, on

either side of which were fancy stores and above expensive

condominiums, I suddenly felt a kind of stillness and whiteness around

me. Simultaneously, I felt that everything in the surroundings was One

thing; that there was no differentiation between objects, even as they

maintained an essential interconnection. Moreover, I felt that I was part

of this white Oneness. I sensed that this is how life really is; i.e. a

wholeness and interconnected single Reality with no essential separation,

even as distinct objects existed.

Accompanying this experience was the complete cessation of thought,

emotion, feeling, and sensation. In fact, every time the smallest thought

or feeling or sensation rose in me, I felt I was losing touch with this

Reality, this undifferentiated, yet integral Field of Oneness. As I held back

these subtle disturbances, the connection with this Reality maintained

itself in my consciousness. For a minute or so, I was absorbed in clear

vision state of Oneness, melting into that Field of pure existence

surrounding me.


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In the days that followed, I began to think about the undifferentiated

Field that we are part of, and how we can connect with and remain one

with It. I then recalled the film ‘The Legend of Bagger Vance’ where

Bagger as golf caddy to Junah instructed him on how be to become “one

with the Field.” Just as Krishna instructed Arjuna before the battle of

Kurekshetra in the Bhagavad Gita, Junah now tried to heed Bagger’s

advice and become one with the Reality before him. Rather than feeling

separate from that field -- of the grass, the air, the trees; even the

invisible realms -- Junah put aside his limiting thoughts, emotions, and

attitudes, and merged with It in order to perform the task at hand. As a

result, he made a great shot that not only turned the championship

match against the two greatest golfers in the world in his favor, but it

changed his life forever, including his perception of what is reality, and

what engenders outer success and inner fulfillment.

When I walked into that outdoor mall, lined with palm trees and state of

the art stores below colorful condos, I became one with that Field. There

was no subject in me perceiving and separated from an object of

perception. There was simply one undifferentiated Existence that I had

embraced and merged with. Being absorbed in the Field in that moment,

I sensed that all that was happening was absolutely perfect; that this was

in fact the True State of existence, and that anything I did in from that

status would unfold flawlessly.

This wonderful experience gave me a glimpse of the Truth of existence;

of the one contiguous Reality that extends from heaven to earth, from

spirit to matter, outside and inside, without separation and division; just

a single stream of undifferentiated whiteness that is the Field of life.

The Oneness of Adams and Jefferson

In the 8-part series on the life of the second president of the United

States, John Adams -- a man who helped forge the nation -- there is a

starling finale. For several years after his loving wife's death, he kept up

an intense dialogue with Thomas Jefferson via post. Though they worked

closely on bringing the nation together, and collaborated in their

respective presidential administrations, they were also rivals. They even

ran against one another for president. Sometimes their philosophies

would converge; on occasion, they would clash.

What then was the startling finale? Because their correspondence was so

intense, they ended up dying on the very same day. Not only that, but it

was on July 4th, the birthday of the nation. Moreover, the day they died


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was the 50th anniversary of the birth of the nation! On the surface, it

seems like a startling coincidence, yet if you see how closely they were in

their correspondence, they had almost become two halves of the same

person. The energies, forces, and vibrations were so intense; and their

interlocking relationship so powerful, that they deceased on the same

famous day. Because they were so far apart -- one in Massachusetts, the

other in Virginia; and were too old to visit one another regularly -- they

each had a bust of the other in their room to help them envision one

another. We can imagine them each looking at, talking to their respective

friend's bust as they penned their plethora of letters.

Two men had thus practically become One -- in mental thought, in spirit,

almost in body. In our lives, the Oneness between ourselves and others

also beckons us. However, we are too caught up in our separate selves to

perceive those outside our own physical being. Though we do come

together intensely in love --whether for spouse or children or friend --

that in part merely fulfills our ego. It is more difficult to experience that

oneness with other people we come in contact with, where a business

associates or a casual acquaintance. To share that Oneness in that way

would mean that we have abandoned our separative nature, our ego, so

that we are able to bridge the divide between us and move in harmony;

experience oneness and unity with our environment and those around us.

However, we can only reach that state when we move away from the

surface of life and discover our deeper parts within. There we find silence,

and further still our own True Nature and Soul. From there we experience

a universal state in which we feel deep commonality with the world

around us, including the people we come in contact with. It was there

that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson met and found harmony of being,

despite their being so many miles apart.


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Self, Soul, Being

The Journey of the Soul

The spiritual tradition tells us the soul chooses to be born in a particular

set of conditions in order to make progress during that person’s lifetime.

After the lesson has been learned, the soul leaves the body to assimilate

its experience and then reincarnates in a new life to make further

progress.

For example, in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy, though a

very wealthy man with a polished exterior, presents a haughty and

arrogant disposition on occasion. And yet when he meets Eliza Bennet, he

is overcome by his feelings for her, struck by the light in her eyes. Yet to

win her over, he realizes he has to change his nature, which he does,

leading to a critical event in the story where he is able to demonstrate his

dramatically improved character. As a result, Eliza responds very

favorably, culminating in their happy marriage. In essence, Darcy has

made a powerful progress in life; precisely what his soul had sought when

it entered his being at birth.

Over a decade ago, an individual I know of went through an intense

change of his own. Not so much a shift from lower to higher character, or

wanting attitudes to a higher deposition, but a powerful psychological and

spiritual transformation that took shape through months of intense fear.

So great were the 3-6 hour daily onslaught of causeless terror that during

that he had to constantly remain in a state of immovable meditation,

calling peace and calm to prevent that person from going mad. Along the

way, he came to understand that this was what his soul sanctioned in

order to move to the next stage of his life. In fact, from that day on, he

embarked on a profound personal and spiritual journey that included a

new career as a thinker and writer. Because of that cathartic episode, he

was reborn into a new life, enabling his soul to make a great progress.

As it turns out, there are also uncommon individuals who actually make

several such changes in a single lifetime. These rare souls go through

consecutive stages of transformation that give sustenance to their souls

in its journey through time. One such individual is Jean Valjean, the main

character of Victor Hugo’s nineteenth century masterpiece, Les

Miserables. In fact, Valjean passes through four distinct life-changing

stages that enable him to grow from a husk of a man to a veritable saint.

Jean Valjean’s first transformation took place in prison, where he spent

19 years for the petty offense of stealing a loaf of bread. There he not


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only developed a new level of physical strength, but a new emotional

intensity through his newfound cause of social justice. Because of the

harsh abuse he suffered, he committed himself to overcoming similar

abuses in society. As a result, Valjean had changed from an individual

who hardly spoke or looked at anybody, to one dedicated to overcoming

injustices in the world.

However, Jean Valjean’s soul was ready for more growth. And so in his

second incarnation, he came to know a humble bishop who showed him

the power of selfless and self-givingness. When the bishop saved him

from the authorities after escaping from prison, Valjean came to deeply

admire his goodness, goodwill, and generosity. It was a spiritual like

perception for Valjean, as he now saw the brute, husk of the man he was,

and the self-giving man he could become if he emulated the bishop’s

behavior. And so from that day on, he dedicated himself to a life of self-

givingness.

And yet Jean Valjean’s being was ready for more change. As long as the

soul aspires for progress, life will continue to present challenges that

compel its further evolution. In the years that followed Valjean was able

to realize his aspirations of self-givingness by becoming a beloved and

prosperous businessperson. However, one day Valjean learned that

someone named Jean Valjean had been convicted of a crime. He knew

that this was not the case because he was the person with that name.

After wrestling with his conscience, he went to the court in Arras and

revealed that he was the real Jean Valjean, thereby freeing the

accused. However, by doing so, the authorities learn that he was an

escaped convict; forcing Valjean once again to be a fugitive from the law.

It would mean that he would have to give up all that he had built up in

his professional life. What actually occurred was that life tested his full

commitment to his personal ideal of self-givingness. By acceded to a level

of psychological purity, by doing what was right and true, Valjean had

made the third great growth and progress of his life.

Though his mind and life found great emotional satisfaction in his new

solitary existence, his soul aspired for more growth and adventure. That

would come in the form of his relationship with his beloved adopted

daughter Cossette. Though he rescued her as a child from the clutches of

evil, and poured his love into her in the years that followed, Cossette

blossomed into a young woman and found herself in love with Marius, a

self-giving, young idealist.

Upon learning of the romance, Valjean through a great psychological and

spiritual-like effort withdrew his possessiveness toward Cossette,

retreating to his home so that she could exercise her freedom and pursue

her own deep love for Marius. As a result, over time, he became weary,

fell ill, and began to wither him away. However, as a result of that self-


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restraining effort, life responded in overwhelming fashion when near the

end, Marius and Cossette arrived at his deathbed, confessing their deep

love and appreciation for all he had done in lives, including saving

Marius’s life at the barricades. Most telling, when Cossette confessed her

deep love for Valjean, all that he aspired for in his life was fulfilled,

enabling him to die a happy man. That giving up of attachment to the

one person he so dearly love din the name of Cossette’s best interest was

Valjean’s final effort of self-givingness in life. He had now reached the

heights of spiritual purity, of selfless love through non-attachment. As a

result, he had now completed his multi-birth journey of the soul in a

single lifetime.

A soul is born in each of us in order to derive one essential progress. Just

as we are evolving, so is the soul through in its own cosmic journey. But

the soul will only find fulfillment in us if we rise to a higher level of

consciousness. The soul of Mr. Darcy was fulfilled when he made the

psychological adjustment and changed a central part of his nature,

winning over the woman he loved. Jean Valjean went steps beyond and

evolved his being four times in a single lifetime, an almost unprecedented

event that is indicative of a very rare soul.

This being the case, then what is life asking of us? What does our soul

seek through change in our own being? Or to another way, how can we

improve ourselves in a way that gives sustenance to our soul?

In the end, we not here merely to exist, or even to love and achieve, but

to make one essential progress in our lifetime. But do we know what that

is, and if so, do we understand what needs is to be done to make it

happen? If we can identify those parts of our being that need change,

then we will move in harmony with our soul’s aspiration. If we then go a

step further and make that change, not only will we progress and evolve,

but so will our soul in its journey through space and time. [Thanks to

Mother's Service Society for their source materials that contributed to this

article.]

Not Yet Titled

It is the aspiration of our Soul that is creating the circumstances of our

lives.

Comment: The evolving soul (psychic being) has entered ourselves in this

life/birth so it can continue its Journey to evolve; learning something

uniquely new through our experiences. Thus this True Self within us is


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urging, compelling us to move in certain directions, meaning that it is a

great determinate of our existence.


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PART 6: THEORY OF CREATION: INVOLUTION, EVOLUTION

Creation Process (Involution & Evolution)

The Involutionary and Evolutionary Process

It is relatively easy for us to perceive that Evolution is taking place in the

universe -- i.e. there has been and continues to be a movement from

matter to animated life to mentality in conscious beings, and upward to

ever higher consciousness. It is less obvious however to perceive the

Involution of existence that has taken shape from an Infinite

consciousness that has culminated in material existence in the universe.

In Evolution, we see a progressive ascendance of consciousness and ever

more subtle substance from dumb, physical matter to animated life forms

to mental intelligence, and upward. It is far more difficult to imagine how

an original Infinite, timeless, spaceless Reality and Being enabled an

essential Energy that became the basis for the forms in the universe,

beginning with matter.

More difficult still is the fact that in this Involutionary process, what was

enabled at each stage was less conscious than what preceded it, not

more so, as in the Evolution. Thus, from an ultimate Consciousness and

Force, emerged a less conscious invisible Energy from which emerged

distinct forms as unconscious, dumb material existence -- i.e. matter.

Thus, whereas the Evolution seems be progressive, the creation of the

universe in the Involutionary process from a Divine source seemed to be

regressive; a diminution of consciousness!

And yet according to Sri Aurobindo, it was the very intention of the

Infinite Reality to create a universe of forms and have those forms begin

as unconscious matter. Why would it take this counter-intuitive course? It

did so to create the greatest variation of experience amongst the forms of

life; to include the dark and the light, the false and the true, the good

and evil, the positive and the negative, and so forth. This infinite variety

would create the greatest variation of discovery amongst those forms,

including us, which in turn creates the greatest diversity of in the

experience of Joy and Delight. And Delight was after all the reason this

universe of forms was created in the first place. Now there could be


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infinite diversity and multiplicity of the experience Delight beyond the

fixed original Delight and Bliss of the Infinite consciousness.

Equally interesting is the fact that though the Infinite consciousness

seemed to disappear as it descended from Force to Energy to matter in

the Involutionary process, it is still involved as potential in matter and the

animated forms and mentality that emerged from it. In fact, the reason

animated forms evolved from matter upward in the Evolution is precisely

because that capacity was already involved in material existence during

the Involutionary process. That was actually the Divine's intention. The

same for animated life and its involved mentality, and mentality's

involved spiritual capacities beyond it. Thus in every plane are all the

potential planes that will emerge from it. It is analogous to the DNA that

is there when a human is conceived, which determines that person's

nature.

Or to put it another way, Evolution takes place because in any given

plane are involved the planes that will emerge from it. So animated life,

mind, and spirit will evolve from matter because it is already involved,

hidden in its essence as potential. That would thereby indicate that

matter is spiritual in its essence. Though those higher forms of

consciousness were ever diminished in the Involutionary process, they

emerge through the reverse process of Evolution in the universe. Thus,

Involution is the very reason Evolution is made possible.

In the end, an Infinite Reality hid itself in its descent from an original

Consciousness and Force to a subtle Energy from which a material

universe emerged. That original Reality and its Conscious-Force has then

begun to reemerge in the Evolution from matter to animate life forms to

mentality, and to realms beyond that are spiritual in nature. Thus, our

ultimate destiny is embody through our Evolution the very Infinite Being,

Consciousness, Force, and Delight that is the very Source of our

existence.

God, Brahman, the Reality is Evolving

Normally we consider God as something distant and apart from ourselves.

Rarely do we think of the Divine as immanent in the world, let alone

evolving in the universe.

To address this issue, let us begin with a bit of metaphysics. The ultimate

conception of existence is an omnipresent Reality that exists in all planes

-- from an Infinite consciousness "above" in the Unmanifest down

through matter, life, and mind in the manifest universe. This Reality --

this ultimate conception of what is contained in all planes Unmanifest and


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Manifest -- is known as "Brahman" in the East and "The Absolute" in the

West. Most will settle for "God," though that conception can be quite

limiting.

But how then is this omnipresent Reality; this God, Brahman, Absolute

evolving? To answer that question, we need to understand the 'Process of

Creation.' To begin with there is an ineffable, immutable, infinite

consciousness that always was, is, and always will be. It is the Reality in

its first stage; before creation. This Infinite has then extended itself into a

field of manifest entities. It extended its own infinite being,

consciousness, and delight into a universal field of distinct forces and

forms. To do so, it rendered a creating plane of Truth Consciousness, and

from it, formulated the dividing capacity of Mind, through which emerged

the Energies that are the source of all forces and distinct material life

forms in space and time. This second movement can be thought of as the

Involutionary process. Thus in the first stage there is a decent/involution

from an Infinite consciousness to Supermind, Mind, and then Energy;

and a second stage of ascent/evolution in the universe from Energy to

Matter to Life and Life Forms to Mind, the latter expressing mainly

through we human beings.

The Reality is then all of the planes of the involutionary and evolutionary

processes together. Brahman/The Reality/God, is not only timeless,

spaceless being, but extended Itself to forms of its Force in creation. In

other words Brahman, God, the Reality also became this life. It is thus

the Unmanifest and Manifest, and their integral relationship. This is the

ultimate conception of Reality afforded to Man.

Moreover, since we humans in the universe are an extension of that

Reality, and since we are evolving, then God the Divine, Brahman, the

Absolute Reality is evolving as well. As we bring higher consciousness to

bear in our lives, we evolve, as does God the Infinite. As we become

more conscious -- overcoming our personal limitations and wanting

qualities; find our spirit and soul within; commune with the transcendent

Divine, bring the that Higher Power into the details of our lives -- we not

only uplift ourselves and life, but enable the Reality itself to evolve

through creation.

We are then the instrument of God's evolution. As we evolve, so does the

Reality, Brahman, which is in and of every and all things. When we

connect to our higher nature, we serve the evolution of the Reality, as it

seeks to render its own spiritual attributes of Silence, Oneness, Truth,

Wisdom, Power, Love, Beauty, and Delight into this universe of forms.


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The Process of Creation, Involution, and Evolution

On the 197th birthday of Charles Darwin, individuals are trying to

reconcile his ideas with that of the Spirit. So far, all parties -- sectarian

and scientific -- seem very far from understanding the true nature of the

fundamental issue he addressed: evolution.

With that in mind, let’s consider one definition of evolution: Evolution

takes place for any entity when it organizes itself at a higher level. Here

are several examples:

When a business develops a strategic plan to grow, organizes and then

executes it, the firm has followed a process for it to progress. Likewise,

when I as an individual plan out what I want to become, organize the

details, and then carry it out, I too can rapidly progress. If the

organization or individual succeeds in not just going a bit higher, but to a

new level or plane of existence, there is not only progress, but evolution.

These examples suggest that there is a common process by which

accomplishment and creation takes place. It consists of a conception of

that which we want to become, the organization of the details of that

vision, and its execution. Moreover, when it is carried out with

determined effort, skill, and right attitude, our aspiration/intention quickly

comes about, which is progress for that entity.

When that process is practiced to perfection, not only is progress

produced -- which is in essence more of what we currently have, along

with a certain degree of elevation of consciousness -- but we are taken to

an entirely new level or plane of our existence, which is the very

definition of evolution.

Even the Spiritual reality in creating a universe from its Divine source,

followed this same essential approach: i.e. it conceived that which it

wished to create -- a universe -- and it organized and made it occur

through powers of infinite consciousness that turned its Conscious Force

into unseen subtle Energy that became the basis of all forms that would

emerge in creation. In other words, it evolved itself further by becoming

a manifest universe.

If we are to understand evolution, we need to understand this single

essential process of creation that entails a movement from vision to

organization to manifestation. Even when a primitive being or an animal

evolves, there is some higher quality that is being organized, that is

moving from its current level of being to a higher order. We can see this

in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, where at one point an ape vaguely

perceives that a bone it has found can be used as a tool for defending

itself, tries it out, and then uses it to gain superiority over rival clans. It is


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in essence the organization of a perception into a living reality. Evolution

is then a product of the organization of consciousness -- whether it

consciously, subconsciously, or unconsciously takes place.

There is another dimension to the evolutionary process. It is that the

higher levels of progress, development, and evolution that entities move

towards and attain is already involved in their being as potential. Just as

a tree emerges from a seed in which all of its material existence is more

or less predetermined, so too there is an involved capacity inherent in

every form to bring about the next stage or phase of its being. For

example, when the most primitive life forms emerged from matter, that

capacity was already there involved as real potential in the essence of

that physical form. Likewise, if I wish to become more intuitively aware --

a higher formation of mentality -- that capacity is already there involved

as potential in my current mental framework. It is there in the seed of my

being as potential. There is a real seed of possibility hidden in its

essence, not just an imaginary one that somehow can be fulfilled.

Thus, not only is there one universal process of creation that moves from

stages of vision to organization to manifestation, i.e. through a

movement of higher consciousness, but the stages we can evolve to are

already there embedded in our being as seed and essence of potentiality.

This is the case because in the creation of the cosmos from a Divine

Source, those infinitely higher planes of being were there before the

universe even existed, and in creation were then embedded, hidden,

involved in the forms that emerged, including us. E.g., a plane of Mind

existed before the universe came to be in the involutionary process and

descent from Spirit to matter. Then after creation, higher life forms

emerged from matter, and developed a mentality with the capacity to

think. That occurred because the original Cosmic Plane of Mind is involved

in matter and life forms, which emerges through the development of our

mentality.

Thus, we can say that the evolutionary process is able to occur because

the involutionary process has created these potentialities in the very fiber

of our being. The planes that emerge from us were already involved in us

as a seed in subtle form.

In summary, through the process of creation -- i.e. vision, organization,

and execution -- all life progresses. If the change is truly significant, --

i.e. there is a dramatic change in consciousness, bringing about a

movement to an entirely new level or plane of existence -- then there is

also evolution. And yet the seeds of our evolution and change, including

all the planes above it, are already there involved, hidden in our being in

potential, waiting to come out.


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Whether we choose to progress and evolve is a matter of our own choice.

If we consciously follow the process of creation, seeking to move to a

higher level, we not only accelerate our own growth and progress, but we

participate in the evolution of Man.

The Spiritual Essence and the Process of Creation

The essence of Indian spiritual thought rests on several principles. One is

that the Spirit is One. I.e. that there is one plane of universal existence.

However, because we live on the surface of life, we perceive separation

between our own individual existence and the outer universal reality,

when in fact they are One. And yet, when I move to a deeper

consciousness, I experience the spirit directly without the separative Me

blocking that identity. I come to know that Oneness, which gives the

greatest of Joy. A second precept is that if I go deep enough within, I will

discover my true self -- my Soul. And that soul is a spark of the divine; a

nook of the spirit that is harbored for the individual.

Thus in the depths of consciousness, I discover that I am one with all

things in the cosmos, including my environment and other, and that there

is a Soul in the deepest parts that is my own representative of the

transcendent divine within. This means that in fact there are three

essential spiritual principle: a transcendent divine reality, a universal

reality in the cosmos that is One, and a personal True Individuality and

Soul being. When we move away from the surface, of sense, and

discover our deeper consciousness, we move into identity with all three.

In the modern era however this understanding has begun to shift; or

rather add another dimension. It also includes the dynamic dimension of

life; otherwise known as the evolutionary principle. Thus the

transcendent Reality is not only a spiritual essence, a being, a witness,

but is also a creator Force; a power that enables forms of that spiritual

Force to unfold in the universe. From out of the Reality emerged a

Conscious-Force that then emerged as an invisible Energy in life out of

which forms of it took shape -- from matter to human -- through a

process of involution and evolution. Thus we see the dynamic, creative

power of the transcend divine unfolding in time and space through

matter, life forms, and mind, culminating in the human being.

It should also be pointed out that there is only one process of creation in

the universe -- one that that we share with our Creator. Just as the

universe emerged from a Divine source through a process, so too do we

create and accomplish in life through a similar process. We humans

envision what we want to become, willfully seek it out, organize it in all


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aspects, and carry it out with skills and right attitudes. This is the same

process by which the universe emerged from a Divine Source.

Together the underlying spiritual reality and the process of creation work

together to enable an underlying stable existence as well as a creative,

dynamic existence in space and time.

How the One Became the Many; and Space and Time

Emerged

[The following is based on the Theory of Creation presented by Sri

Aurobindo in 'The Life Divine' and elsewhere, and further expanded on by

Sri Karmayogi.]

From time immemorial, individuals have asked themselves how this world

came to be, and what was the process that enabled it to happen. Here is

one perspective:

To begin with, there was/is an infinite, divine Source of all things; a

timeless, spaceless, immutable, ineffable Being. We can think of it as the

"One," since there were not yet distinct forces and forms in a manifest

universe. I.e. there was not yet a "Many." Due to some inner compulsion,

the One extended Itself to become the Many, which is in essence the

distinct, unique forces and forms that will become the basis of Creation.

How then did the Many emerge from the One; i.e. the Creation from the

Creator?

In the Source/Infinite consciousness are Real Ideas, which are

possibilities It seeks to render as living realities; i.e. cosmic determinants

that the Spirit seeks to make real in creation. Among them are spiritual

aspects or qualities, including Oneness, Knowledge, Creativity, Beauty,

Love, and Delight. There are also variations, combination, and subsets of

these that the Divine seeks in its extension from the One to then Many.

Then how were/are the Real Ideas made real in the cosmos as unique

forces and forms?

The Truth Consciousness, which Sri Aurobindo calls "Supermind"

rendered through its own Comprehending capacity images of those Real

Ideas. Or to put it another way, Comprehending Supermind imagined and

envisioned distinct forces and forms that would embody these cosmic

ideas and determinants.

At this point however, these imaginations have not been rendered real;

as they are only a conception of separate formations. (We can compare

this to the writer who has established characters, values and meaning,


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and plot in his mind, but has not yet committed them to paper.)

However, through Supermind's Apprehending capacity these envisioned

formations are rendered real as distinct entries in an emerging cosmos.

I.e. Oneness, Knowledge, Creativity, Beauty, Love, Delight, et al become

distinct forces and forms at the unseen universal plane.

How then did these imagined forms become real?

To become separate, distinct objects, Apprehending Supermind divided

each of the previously envisioned attributes of Knowledge, Oneness,

Creativity, Love, Delight, etc. and their infinite variations into triplicities in

the form of subject - subject/object experience - object. E.g. the distinct

possibility of the spiritual aspect of "Knowledge" is rendered into Knower

-- Knowing -- Known. E.g., as a knowing being one knows that which is

known. (Or to put it in words of our own experience. I as knower am

knowing what is known.) Similarly, there is the triplicity of the lover (the

subject) loving (experience) the beloved (object). And so forth for the

myriad of cosmic determinates/spiritual qualities of the Infinite Divine. In

essence, the One reality has now divided itself in various ways so that

each subject can experience itself as object, thereby becoming the Many.

It should be noted that at this point there is no physical universe. Before

that can come about, there needs to be a foundation for it's occurrence;

which is in essence what we know of as space and time. Though the

Infinite Source is beyond space and time -- it is spaceless and timeless --

a potential universe requires these as underpinning. How does that

happen?

When the triplicities of the cosmic determinates are established through

Supermind's comprehending action, which is, in essence, how the

spiritual aspects/determinants are made real as distinct forces and forms,

space and time are created.

But why does this happen? To answer that we need to know more about

the nature of space and time.

Sri Aurobindo and Sri Karmayogi tell us that space is created at the point

where a form is able, from its own unique vantage point, to perceive

other forces and forms. Space then is perceived as a sense of extension

from one form's perspective to another's.

Then there is time, which can be thought of as an outgrowth of space.

Time is created at the point where a form perceives one form, then

another one, etc. in sequence, which generates the sense of movement in

extension. The perception of movement in the extension of space is what

we call time.

With the triplicities of subject -- functioning -- object occurring though

the comprehending action of the Truth Consciousness, distinct forces and


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forms take shape. Though these are initially at the idea of force, power

and knowledge, they eventually begin to take on properties of substance

through the creation and dispersion of an essential Energy. As forms take

on properties of substance, they more readily perceive other forms,

creating the sense of extension which is space, as well as the sense of

movement within the extension, which is time.

In essence, this is the process by which the One extends Itself and is

rendered into the Many. The process begins with the rendering of Real

Ideas/Cosmic Determinants of the Source Being into forces and forms as

triplicities of subject, experience, object, through the comprehending and

apprehending action of Truth Consciousness. This becomes the basis of

space and time, as well as the further involution of the cosmos that will

culminate in the material-based universe that we live in.

From Material View of Science to Involution/Evolution of the Infinite

We worship the God of Science, trusting in its laws and rules, bowing

before its child, Technology. After all, we are dazzled by the material

benefit it has given us, including unprecedented security and infinite-like

physical comforts.

And yet science's foundation rests on a material view of the world. All of

its principles and insights derive from physical matter it can measure. Its

view of evolution is a mere progression from matter forward -- i.e. as

mere ever-more complex forms of atoms, molecules, chemical reactions,

and micro and macro elements. This narrow, materialistic, mechanistic

view of existence is what we have subconsciously embraced as the

foundation of existence, particularly in the West.

But what if there were a decidedly different view? What if all that we are

becoming and evolving towards was already involved, inherent in matter?

What if embedded in material existence is a seed of all that has evolved

from it -- from animated life and life forms to the mentality of Man?

What if in the hidden, subtle recesses of matter, there was the

consciousness of future life and mind, lying dormant, holding out for the

right time and conditions before coming out?

Science of course does not embrace such an involved consciousness

latent in matter, for it cannot see it or measure it -- its prime means of

determining the existence of anything. How can the seed of a life and

mind be contained in material rock or stone or ice or water or fire when

there are no signs of that possibility when examined under a microscope


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or analyzed with the latest, state-of-the-art measuring devices? And yet

everything that has evolved from matter was and is there in

consciousness, involved in it, secretly hidden from view, waiting to come

out. Embedded in matter is not just the possibility and seeds of

animated, energized life and the forms that move and interact; not just

the splendors of mentality that emerged through those life forms,

including us, but the possibility of Spirit itself emerging through we

mental beings. Thus, all of life in the universe is a flowering from that

seed; a constant unfolding of higher substance and consciousness from

that involved, hidden Essence embedded in matter.

But who or what planted this life-mind-spirit seed in the recesses of

matter? The answer is that only an Infinite consciousness, a Divine entity

could have imagined, conceived, and planted the hidden fountain of life in

the very core and being of matter. Only a Higher Power could have

imagined and planted the "DNA" of conscious life in the heart of a

material existence; that on the surface appears completely unconscious

and inert.

But why would a Divine entity usher in a universe with the dense, gross

substance and unconsciousness of matter? Why not begin with those

higher formations -- of matter, life, and mentality; or better yet their full

integration. Surely, an Infinite consciousness could have devised anything

It chose. The answer to this conundrum -- which incidentally also

explains why there is suffering, difficulty, and evil in the world -- is quite

simple: It did so to enable the greatest possibility and multiplicity in life.

By starting with the unconsciousness of matter, an infinite array of

possibilities could emerge above it; from positive to negative, light to

dark, easy to problematic, etc. across all dualities and contradictions of

existence. That would enable Its own Divine attributes -- peace,

harmony, wisdom, creativity, beauty, love, delight, etc. -- to express

through an infinite variety of forces, energies, forms, and circumstance;

across an infinitely varied spectrum of existence, providing ultimate

diversity and richness to life.

Implicit in a seed of future planes embedded matter is not only an Infinite

source, but the fact that these planes existed in some form before

creation! In fact, we can only understand the evolution of planes from

seeds of matter if we perceive the involutionary process that embedded

those potentialities in first place. Whereas evolution is a self-unfolding

from Matter to Life to Mind and Spirit, Involution is a previous and

inverse process of self-manifestation of the Infinite consciousness into the

planes Mind, Life/Energy, and Matter. Or looking at it chronologically, first

there was the Infinite Divine, which manifest the plane of Supermind or

Truth consciousness, and then Mind, out of which derived the plane of

energy (Vital), out of which emerged the plane of Matter. As each plane


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emerged, it lost the higher consciousness, but embedded or involved

itself as future potential. This is the involutionary process from spirit to

matter. The evolutionary process then occurs, which is the unfolding from

matter of involved Life/Energy and life forms, and then mentality from

Life in those life forms, and then Spirit from Mind. Ultimately, conscious

mental individuals in the evolution open and connecting back to the

highest, Infinite consciousness that was the source of All in the

involution.

The dual involutionary/evolutionary process is thus very different process

than the mere, dumb, unconscious material evolution presented by

Science. Involution indicates an Infinite consciousness and a Divine

process behind the material one. Interestingly, recent

scientific/mathematical formulas are starting to point in this direction.

E.g., Dark Energy may be one significant step in that direction, indicating

energy previous to matter.

Scientists ever-increasingly stand agape as they see their material,

mechanistic views of existence ironically torn down through their own

scientific investigations. When they come to see that all other planes --

back to cosmic Mind and Spirit -- were/are there before creation, and that

life, mind, and spirit are buried in matter waiting to come out, they will

begin to perceive the right relation of things, including the ultimate

meaning and purpose of life in the cosmos.

Darwin's 'Variation' in Terms of Consciousness

Like religion, science has a limited view of life. The former affirms a

Spiritual Source, which is wonderful, but denies or is unaware or

disinterested in the process of evolution in the details of life. The latter

has served society well and produced vast practical results, but has a

partial, mechanistic, material-only view of reality that often produces

negative outcomes. Any attempt to reconcile these two realms is a

movement of integration and harmony, and is eminently helpful for our

understanding of life. Many recent deep thinkers, such as Deepak Chopra,

have been trying to forge a link, and have made real, substantial

progress in this area. If only the two sides would listen!

Recently I visited the new California Academy of Science located in

Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It is two American football fields long

and sits parallel to the equally vast and architecturally striking new De

Young Museum. One of the CAS exhibits in the hall traces the course of

biological evolution on earth as developed by 19th century giant Charles

Darwin. While perusing the main scientific principles behind his theory,


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something on the wall caught my eye. It was a statement that said

something to the effect that "Variation is the spur and cause of

evolution." It then struck me that this scientific principle could be

explained in terms of spiritual laws of life, thereby reconciling spirit and

science.

According to Sri Aurobindo, Variation goes to the very essence of the

process of creation that enabled a universe to emerge from a Divine

Source. He describes how an original immutable and ineffable Reality

moved toward creation by first taking to existence, then becoming

conscious of its own existence, which in turn released a force that

coagulated into the primal Energy that became the source of all forms in

creation.

But why would a Divine Reality seek to create this universe in the first

place? Sri Aurobindo explains that this original unmanifest Reality

extended itself into a Manifest cosmos so that its own Delight and Bliss

could be experienced by those forms of force, including we humans. That

when we discover our true nature and selves, we experience the same

Delight that the Creator experienced when it moved toward being

conscious of Its own Self. Thus, when I discover who I truly am, what

purpose I truly serve, etc. -- i.e. move to higher consciousness -- I

experience that same Delight.

So where does Variation come into the picture? It turns out that though

the Delight of the Divine is one of eternal pleasure and bliss -- called

Ananda in Indian parlance -- it is of one sort. I.e. it is singular, but static

and unchanging. Therefore, according to Sri Aurobindo, the Divine wished

to create a universe of forms that also experienced dynamic delight; i.e.

where each of us through the process of self-discovery experienced a

unique form of that bliss in our own lives. Well, in order to experience

that unique form of Delight, we need to be unique individuals, each

expressing and manifesting a unique consciousness. In other words, the

Divine intended infinite variation for we humans in creation for infinite

variety of discovery and bliss.

Thus, through cosmic insights into the nature of Reality, Sri Aurobindo

has seized on the same conclusion as Darwin. Variation -- whether

understood in terms of outer functioning of species as in the case of

Darwin, or through Divine purpose and intention through human choice,

functioning, and discovery as described by Sri Aurobindo -- is a principle

of life both embraced.

To be able to describe the outer forces of life in terms of processes of

consciousness is one of the great challenges of the New Age. The dogma

and superstition of religious precepts and the narrow-minded,

mechanistic, material view of existence are limited, contradictory


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influences that can only be resolved by such higher understanding. From

that vantage point we are able perceive the source and essence of all

phenomena; the deepest and most profound influence on the workings of

life; and the true nature of our evolution through time.

Creation for the Creator, the Individual, Society, and an

Organization

There is essentially one process of growth, accomplishment, and creation

in the cosmos. It begins with a vision and aspiration, continues with a

decision, and unfolds through organization and action, culminating in a

result. This process occurs for the divine Spirit, for the individual human,

for society, and for a business or organization.

Creation of the Universe -- From an Omnipresent Spiritual Reality

emerged the divine Will to create a universe of forms. Through a process

of creation, a Conscious Force emerged from a spiritual Existent that

formulated into an essential Energy out of which the forms of the

universe, including we humans, emerged. The process was Vision,

Aspiration, Decision, Organization, and Manifestation. The universe and

all its forms were/are created through these stages of the process.

Creation for the Individual -- We follow that same process when we

create as individuals. We have a vision and aspiration for something to

come about. We make the firm decision to accomplish it. We organize the

details. And we carry it out through a determined, persevering effort,

blended with higher attitudes and personal values. The result, like the

Spirit, are powerful positive results, which readily occur through sudden

instances of good fortune.

Creation for the Society -- Accomplishment and development occurs

similarly for society. Normally, a pioneer individual has a vision and

aspires to accomplish something for the collective. That aspiration is

organized into its details, and an effort is made to carry it out. If the

society not only accept the vision, but collaborates with of the pioneer

then a new progress is made for that people. Again, vision, aspiration,

organization and effort are melded with acceptance and collaboration to

create a powerful progress for society.

Creation for a Business/Organization -- A business or other organization

accomplishes and grows in a similar fashion. It does this through a

strategic plan. In that plan, there is a vision of what it aspires to

accomplish, including the business values it subscribes to. It organizes

the details into specific strategies and plans of action, and carries it out in

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a timely manner. As a result, the company rapidly accomplishes what it

set out to do, and does so in overwhelming fashion if the process is

followed closely and in great detail.

We can also view this process in terms of an energy flow. I.e. the vision,

aspiration, and decision organizes the available energy into a Force,

which through organization of the details becomes a Power that when

executed through a determined persevering effort manifests as

overwhelming Results. When the process is followed diligently, life

responds positively, often from the most unexpected quarters, as the

energies move out and align with the very best conditions.

The question then is how can we follow this same process in our own

lives to bring about ultimate success, accomplishment, and delight.

The Divine's Power of Creation that is Available to Us

There are many properties of the Divine Reality. One is its poise as silent

Witness of its creation. Others are its poise of supreme Love, ultimate

Delight, infinite Wisdom, and Oneness and Unity of being. Another aspect

of the Divine is its capacity to Create. Out of a conscious Decision of an

Infinite Reality emerged a universe of Forms. Out of nothingness came an

entire cosmos, demonstrating the Divine's infinite capacity to create.

What I would like to bring out here is that as forms of the body of the

Divine, we have that same infinite capacity to create in our own lives as

that of the Infinite Reality. We too have the ability to envision something

unprecedented in our future and follow a process so that it manifests just

as we intended. Just as the universe emerged from the Real Ideas of an

Infinite consciousness, so too our heart's desire can be realized through

an conception and idea originating in our minds.

I am not simply suggesting that we have the power to create, but we

have the power to create perfect outcomes that come about

instantaneously or very rapidly -- overcoming normally perceived limits of

what is possible, and how cause and effect unfold. If we envision what we

want, have the deep aspiration and will for it to come about, organize it

in its details, carry it out in a timely manner with consummate skill and

the very best of attitudes, and bring the spiritual Force to bear, we will

evoke sudden good fortune that will descend on us like a miracle.

In this way, the process by which a universe of forms emerged from the

Supreme is also available to us in our own lives. We are therefore also

the Ishwara, the divine Creator in potential. We here in the body of God

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are capable of doing the same as He. In the end, that might be the

greatest gift that the Supreme's has endowed us with.

Energy in the Process of Creation

Question from a Reader: How does Energy fit into the process by which

we create and accomplish in life?

Answer: The entire process of creation from the vision of a thing to its

manifestation can be looked at from the perspective of Energy.

For example, I perceive something in life that I find attractive and want

to manifest as real in the world. I thereby have a vision of what I want to

create. I have in essence created a Force of energy. It is also a directed

Force since it is a goal I want to achieve. It is further directed, amplified,

intensified as it gains the sanction of my emotions. I.e. when I see the

real possibility of bringing it about, and the enormous benefit that could

ensue, a Will in me is generated for its manifestation. My Will in turn

releases more energy, adding to the directed Force I have initiated within

me.

Sometimes that is enough for life to manifest my goal. I.e. without

having to take further action, life responds to the energies I have

released, bringing about the conditions I had hoped for.

If however our aspiration/intention is something significant, we need to

take it to the next level by Organizing our intention, which will convert

the directed Force into a Power for manifestation. For example, I consider

how I can make my goal real -- including which people to contact, when

to do it, what skills I need to acquire gain, what attitudes I need to

change, and so forth. As a result or organizing my goal, the directed

Force of Energy now becomes a highly concentrated POWER of Energy.

When I then carry put the details with determination and positive

attitude, the concentrated Power of highly charged and focused energies

call forth to life like magnets, evoking powerful positive results. I.e. the

Energy is so highly charged within us, that it sends out a powerful signal

that causes us to align with the very best of conditions, enabling us to

attract our heart's desire. In essence, the Energy we have built up within

us has converted into a Manifest Reality.

The energy conversion process can thus be summarized as: Force of

energy through Direction > Power of energy through Organization (of the

details) > Action that converts energy into something real in the world,

as a living Manifestation of it.


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The energy process can also be thought of as the release of mental

energy that then adds vital/emotional energy, and then physical energy

that manifest the object of our desire as outer, material results.

If we bring the spiritual Force, i.e. consecrated action into the equation,

then life moves to the causal plane, spiritual energies are added, and

things move at the speed of light, bringing about our heart's desire and

much more.

Process of Creation of the Universe

This is the same essential process by which the Divine created the

universe; i.e. by which Supermind manifest a universe of forms from out

of the Conscious Force. As described by Sri Aurobindo and Karmayogi it is

more or less as follows:

The ineffable, immutable, timeless, spaceless Brahman became the

Conscious Being (Sat) -- the Spirit, Truth. Being Conscious of Itself, the

Being released a powerful Force; a Conscious Force (Chit).

Supermind knew the Real Ideas that the Conscious Being (Sat) wished to

manifest in a universe of forms. Supermind through its dividing action

reconstituted the Conscious Force into Knowledge and Will. I.e.

Consciousness became Knowledge and Force became Will. (Knowledge

was the means by which a Mind could perceive Consciousness, and Will

was how a vital being of volition like we humans can express the Force.)

Out of Knowledge and Will, Supermind created the forms of force that it

intended through its Real Ideas.

E.g. Supermind intended to turn the the Real Idea of LOVE into a living

reality in the cosmos. It had the integral Knowledge of what Love is in its

various aspects, as well as the Will and Power for it to come about.

Though Its comprehending and apprehending power, Supermind turned

the Real Idea of Love into an object that a subject perceives. I.e. in

space and time Supermind splits the idea of Love into the form of Lover-

Loving-Beloved (subject-action/movement-object). Supermind has thus

organized the Real Idea of Love into the ability of a lover to love a

beloved. In this way all forms in the universe, can love, whether it means

loving our children, our mate, or any others we come in contact with.

Sub-aspects of Love take form as everything from human values like self-

givingness, goodwill, and gratitude to human infatuation and desire.

In the same way other Real Ideas, such as Delight, Creativity, Goodness,

Oneness, Wisdom, Truth, are manifest by supermind as forces and forms.

E.g. the Real Idea of "Truth/Knowledge" is formulated as Knower Knows


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the Knowledge through the action of the truth consciousness of

Supermind.

The process of creation then continues, as the Knowledge and Will further

breaks down, losing much of its consciousness, becoming an essential

Energy at rest. It then begins to move and formulate into constituent

elements -- plasma, fire, water, earth, etc. -- which become the basis for

material forms that manifest in the universe.

Thus, the process by which we create in life, as described earlier,

parallels this cosmic process by which the universe emerged from a

Divine Source.


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Evolution Specifics

The Triple Compulsion of Evolution

Normally we think of evolution as a material or scientific process. What is

perceptible to sense is considered the driving force of progress in the

universe. And yet we must consider other realms, forces, and powers of

consciousness beyond the material. From an analysis of Sri Aurobindo's'

great work 'The Life Divine," at least three movements can be observed

in the universal process of creation and evolution. There is a triple

compulsion driving forces and forms forward, including we humans,

toward progress, evolution, and transformation.

(1) First, there is an involved consciousness within that wants to come

out, compelling evolution of that entity. E.g. in the animated form, there

is hidden, deeply embedded within, a level of mentality seeking to

emerge. Likewise, life force seeks to emerge from matter; and spirit from

mentality. In other words, each planes contain the seed of all the planes

above it, and there is a compulsion to come out. It is the Divine plan

within all forms.

(2) Second, when the consciousness of that thing or being is saturated at

its current level, it rises to the next. E.g. a person who has had powerful

life experiences begins to develop a level of mental understanding of life.

Or when the mental person sees into the true nature of life, saturating his

understanding, he is compelled to explore the realms of the spirit. (When

mental Greece did not mature this way, her great civilization disappeared

in a few centuries.)

(3) Third, there is a constant descent from the higher planes into the

object. Thus, when an individual becomes more mental, there is a

descent of force and knowledge from the universal planes of Mind. Or

when a spiritual individual moves to his inner being and True Self, there

is a descent of knowledge through intuition and revelation. Or more

broadly, when Man emerged from the animal there was a descent of

mental consciousness from the universal plane of Mind.

Thus, the compulsion towards evolution is a product of the involutionary

seed, the evolutionary emergence of the form, and the descent from the

superconscient planes. These movements are described in great detail in

seer and sage Sri Aurobindo's spiritual opus, 'The Life Divine.'


336

Naturally, this triple compulsion towards progress, evolution, and

transformation goes far beyond the material view of scientific, which

focuses on genes, mutations, and other changes in form as the essential

evolutionary determinants. Science looks to the measurable, the visible,

and the material to explain the process of creation. It does not perceive

the psychological processes of evolution, nor does it acknowledge that

the invisible is what compels the visible.

Material-oriented science tells us that mutations in genes causes animal

and human life to change. But they have it backwards, for it is changes in

consciousness that alter the physical. E.g. when we move to a higher

level of awareness, our physical bodies are effected, as there is a change

in molecules, enzymes; even our genetic and cellular makeup. When we

rise in consciousness, higher emotional, mental, and spiritual status

emerges, depending on our starting point. Even our physical bodies can

be transfigured this way. E.g. those of a higher consciousness have the

ability to live years if not decades longer. It can one day become a path

of willed immortality. The key there will be to bring to bear the power of

the Spiritual Force to transmute the programming in our cells that have

accepted suffering and death over thousands of generations.

Ascent and Integration in the Evolutionary Process

Normally when we think about evolution, we imagine a straight line of

progress. E.g. in the evolution of the cosmos first we perceive that there

was matter, which then evolved animated objects and life forms, and

further evolved a mental intelligence culminated in the mind of man.

Matter, animated life, and mentality seem to have developed in a linear

fashion, with each plane exceeding the previous one.

However, evolution does not merely follow a strict ascending path, but

rather allows for reintegration of any progress made back into the lesser

planes from which it came. E.g. society evolved from a physical state of

life in which people were focused on survival, evolved to vital state in

which we were able to have a greater degree fulfillment, human

interaction, and association, and evolved further still to a modern mental-

based existence based on rational thought, a preponderance of laws,

theories, ideals, and knowledge. On closer examination however we see

that this highest of mental stages, this rational approach to life, began

more 2000 than years ago in ancient Greece, and only in the periods that

followed was actually integrated into the day-to-day lives of society.

History reveals that the Romans took the rational thinking ideals of the

Greeks, and began to apply it throughout the civilizations it oversaw;


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using the power of rational and conceptual thought to develop law, rules,

and other forms to organize society. After the dormant Dark Ages, the

Renaissance appeared where conceptual ideas were applied to art,

creativity, beauty, and scientific progress. Rational thought and ideas

continued to spring forth through the various social movements that

followed, including the Reformation, the Enlightenment, the birth of

democracy, and others. Today too we continue this integration into of

rational thought and pure thinking into our practical lives that the Greeks

introduced to the world so very long ago. In this way, the 2000-year-old

ascent to a new level of consciousness and evolution through rational,

conceptual, and pure thinking of the Greeks, has taken until today to be

integrated throughout all elements of society. Thus, the vast ascent of an

evolutionary idea was followed by a vast descent of integration into the

details of life.

We see this same movement of ascent and integration (i.e. descent) in

our own lives when we consciously set upon to make personal progress.

First, we have a vision of what we want to become. This is the idea that

we want to realize and bring about. However, the idea gains power to

become a living reality only when it is integrated into the details of our

lives; i.e. when we develop the strategies and take actions to make that

vision come about. E.g. if I develop the idea that I want to increase my

income to $100,000 per year, I need to come up with several strategies

to make it come about -- such as developing new ways to increase my

customer base, and learning new skills to be a more effective

salesperson. Then I develop even more specific time-bound actions steps

to implement my strategies. When I carry these out the details with a

determined and persevering effort, bringing to bear positive attitudes, my

vision becomes a living reality. Again, the vision -- which like evolution in

society is itself a new progressive movement in my life -- is fulfilled when

it is integrated into the details of my life, enabling it to come true. At the

point that the integration of the idea is complete, the realization of the

goal -- in this case to earn $100,000 per year -- comes about. The ascent

that was my vision becomes a living reality through the descent of

integration of the details.

Progress is a never-ending possibility. It comes about through vision,

energy, capacity, and organization. But the process of progress -- and its

two more powerful siblings, evolution and transformation -- take place

through a double movement; of ascendance into the new, and a

descending movement that brings about its full integration into life.


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The Nature of the Universe

Here I would like to describe the nature of the universe in a variety of

ways, which I hope will add to our understanding of life's meaning and

purpose, including our role in it.

Energy (Plane of Life) and the Universe -- Life is a plane of Energy, which

surrounds the universe. Even if the physical universe were not there, this

plane of Energy would still exist. In addition, the universe itself is a

product of that energy. The Energy exists originally in a state of rest. Bu

then through a divine compulsion, it begins to move, creating forces and

forms out of itself, which becomes the visible and invisible contents of the

universe. All forms that emerge in the universe are formations of that

energy. When those forms cease to exist, such as when we die, the

energy remains and takes a new form.

Origins of the Plane of Energy -- Energy has its origins in the Infinite

consciousness. Energy is in fact the final movement of the Conscious

Force -- "Chit" in Sanskrit -- unfolding from out of the Infinite Divine.

Thus, the universe is a product of a Divine Intent, using the Force and

Energy of the Supreme for its clay and substance. What is created are

forces and forms, visible and invisible, of which matter is the most

obvious manifestation. Animated life, and mentality are further

formations.

Equilibrium, Rebalancing in Universe -- The universe exits in a state of

continuous equilibrium. When things change, the universe absorbs it and

rebalances itself, forming a new equilibrium. Thus, the universe can be

likened to the ocean, where if something is added or subtracted, whether

a swell or reduced flow, it is immediately incorporated into an integrative,

harmonious whole. In this scheme, relationships among forces, objects,

forms, circumstance are continually updated and being adjusted to

maintain the balance and harmony; this integral unity in the universe.

Oneness and the Cosmic Web -- All in the universe is interrelated and

interconnected. Each thing is related to every other, as well as the whole;

even its essence. There is a kind of cosmic web that encircle the universe

containing a myriad of strands. Each thread has its own unique

correspondences, connecting related elements, circumstances, etc a

profound integral relationship. Thus, if one element on the strand

changes, it affect other on that thread -- whether forces, energies,

circumstance, or forms, including we humans. In this way, if we make an

adjustment in consciousness, others elements are affected. More

proactively, if we know what a particular strand consists of, we can

elevate our consciousness in a corresponding area, consciously affecting

related elements. E.g. if we know that cancer has its roots in greed, we


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can overcome greed in ourselves, and watch as cancer recedes across the

earth as a major problem of life.

Life Response and the Universe -- Life response is the phenomenon

where sudden good fortune descends on an individual or collective due to

shifts in consciousness on our part. Life response can be explained in

terms of the equilibrium of energies of the universe. I.e. the universe is

in any moment in a state of equilibrium relative to local conditions. There

is then an elevation of consciousness on the part of an individual or

collective; e.g. due to a higher attitude, decision, or belief. Perceiving

that things are now in a state of disequilibrium, the universe seeks to

restore the balance. To do so, a fresh act is required. That occurs from

amongst elements along a corresponding thread(s) of the web of life.

E.g., as a result of my improved attitude, good fortune comes to me from

a particular individual or unique circumstance along that corresponding

thread. When the response comes, equilibrium is restored, though now at

a higher level. Keep in mind that the dynamic of equilibrium,

disequilibrium, new equilibrium occurs for positive, neutral, and negative

movements of consciousness on our part, leading to corresponding

quality of response. I.e. I can attract negative conditions through a

movement of lower consciousness.

Necessity of All in the Universe -- In life, we want certain things to occur

-- essentially left out of the universe -- and some kept in. But at the

highest level of consciousness, we perceive that every single thing is

needed for progress in the universe; for movements forward in life. Thus,

in life, and in the universe there is no waste. Everything serves a purpose

in the progressive movement forward. In that way, every single object

serves a purpose, whether positive or negative. For us that means

nothing should be discarded as irrelevant or unimportant, for the smallest

thing can determine the outcome of the largest; and the most negative

can be an avenue and opening to the most positive.

The Reality and the Universe -- There is a relationship between the

universe and the Reality that contains it. I.e. the omnipresent Reality

(Brahman, The Absolute) is the highest conception of existence afforded

to Man. It expresses in all planes unmanifest and manifest. The Reality

begins as unmanifest Infinite consciousness, and then extends itself to a

universe of forces and forms. Thus, we could say that the universe is the

body of the Reality: a manifestation of the unmanifest. The Reality has

then become both the Unmanifest and the Manifest; the Creator and the

Creation. It is actually more than their sum, but their unity and integral

relationship. Also, being a form of the Reality in creation, we inherit the

infinite consciousness of the Divine Source. In essence, life and we are

God incarnate.


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Evolution and the Universe -- Evolution is constantly occurring in the

universe. There is a constant upward compulsion to the highest formation

possible of any form, including us. When the form reaches its highest

state, it evolves another form. Evolution in the universe is occurring at

the physical, vital (life plane) and mental levels. Animals emerged from

plant and chemical; humans from animals; and higher mental, heart, and

spiritual beings from lower consciousness individuals. Thus, we humans

are the main instrument for evolution in the universe. There is a divine

compulsion for change, progress, evolution, and transformation in the

universe coming from a Higher Source. There is also something within us

-- an embedded divine, an evolving soul, a hidden Conscious-Force --

that also has this urge for ever-higher development of our being.

The Individual, Universal, and Transcendent -- There is a relationship

between us as individuals, the universe, and the transcendent. It can be

explained this way: There is an Infinite consciousness with a

transcendent status, with its spiritual qualities and divine Intent. We exist

in the universe to fulfill its destiny to carry out and manifest the

Transcendent Will. How do we do this? We fulfill the universal intent when

we rise in consciousness; enabling the universal to fulfill its transcendent

purpose. Thus, by discovering our highest nature, we become

instruments of the will and Intent of the Infinite consciousness. In that

way our destiny is not only to become fulfilled true Individuals, but

universal, and transcendent beings.

Free Will and Determination -- In this scheme, we have free will to

choose as we wish. And yet there is a compulsion and will of the Infinite

consciousness for progress, evolution, and transformation in creation. I.e.

there is a transcendent aspiration for the universe to increasingly

manifest peace, oneness, wisdom, creativity, possibility, love, beauty,

and delight. These are the cosmic determinants. And yet we are given full

freedom to participate in this cosmic unfolding. It is our choice. Thus, we

can say we have free will within the determination of the Infinite divine.

Moreover, we collaborate with that cosmic intent by increasingly

discovering our higher nature and bringing it to the world. This freedom

and choice, this cosmic determinism is true for all things, seen and

unseen, in the universe.


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Form and Energy

We observe the forms of life around us and wonder where their origin and

source of power lies. It comes from energy. Moreover, there is a

fascinating relationship between the forms and the energy behind it.

Energy is the source and basis of all forms, whether physical forms of

rocks or humans, or mental forms such as concepts and ideas. Forms

however tend to break down. However, the energy behind them does not

go away. Rather it formulates into new forms. For example, when a form

of government, such as monarchy, breaks down, the energy behind it

does not wither, but reformulates itself into a new form, such as

democracy.

When things die -- whether anachronistic forms of social influence like

aristocracy, or the physical human body -- that form is unable to hold its

energy. It thus seeks corresponding new forms to inhabit, such as a new

social order or a new form of life; even a new human body. In the 1960s

the global Hippy movement was born in the San Francisco area. It

sparkled like a comet across the sky changing the world, and just as

suddenly died out. But then the energy behind morphed a new form with

the rise of Silicon Valley, the personal computer, the Internet, and the

Smartphone, all in that very same area. Their influence is untold,

approaching infinity.

Sri Aurobindo in his metaphysical opus 'The Life Divine' tells us that

energy is the source of all things, all life seen and unseen in the universe.

He says that there is a constant, dynamic energy in the cosmos that

takes subtle or gross form -- whether a physical body or object, a plant

or animal, or an idea or insight. This common energy flowing subtly and

invisibly through the universe has as its source a spiritual Conscious-

Force of the one Infinite Consciousness.

Though we are a product of that universal force, energy is not a static

entity. For example, we humans can increase it at any time -- whether it

is physical, vital/emotional, mental, or spiritual energy. Increasing any of

these will give us not only a greater power to accomplish, but a greater

zest for life. If this is so, then what can we do to increase our energy?

There are a number of practical approaches.

One is to increase our level of aspiration in life. The more intense our

aspiration to achieve a goal, the more our will is engaged, and thus the

greater energy released. Another way to maintain and build our energies

is to maintain a positive attitude. Whereas negative attitudes tend or

deplete our energies, even evoking instances of sudden ill fortune,


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positive ones -- whether towards others, one's self, one's work, or life --

tend to have the opposite effect.

Thus, the more we increase our energy, the more likely the forms that

relate to our being will maintain themselves and avoid breaking down. If

we lose physical, vital, or mental energy, those corresponding forms tend

to whither. E.g. out body decays, our will depletes, and our

understanding diminishes.


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PART 7: COSMIC DETERMINATION

Cosmic Determinants in Life

Expressions of Comic Determinates/Values in Life

The cosmic determinants of the Infinite Divine express through spiritual

values -- including peace, harmony, knowledge, truth, goodness,

creativity, love, and delight -- in limitless combinations in space and

time; in endless events and circumstance; in never-ending types of

people; through their ceaseless interactions; through boundless

combinations of aspects of our being, including our changing nature; all

for the Infinite's play of Delight to manifest Itself in infinite variation of

forms.

Untitled

In the case of Goodness, it is the determinant of Truth interacting with

the Chit (Consciousness) that creates it.

Perfection of Spiritual Qualities in Creation

To perfect every possibility -- of which there are an infinite number set in

motion by an Infinite consciousness -- is the goal of Creation. It does so

through the application of spiritual values, including Silence, Peace,

Oneness, Truth, Knowledge, Goodness, Beauty, Love, and Delight. We

fulfill the Supreme's aspiration to perfect every possibility by realizing

these cosmic determinates in our own lives, and applying them to every

matter, from the largest down to the infinitesimal.


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Fulfilling the Cosmic Determinates, Spiritual Aspects in Life

Sri Aurobindo in 'The Life Divine' indicates that out of Sat-Chit -Ananda

(pure Existence, Conscious Force, Delight) came the universe we live in.

Also "cosmic determinates" emanated from It that It seek to manifest in

the world through the details of life. Among the central ones are Silence,

Oneness, Truth, Knowledge, Goodness, Power, Beauty, Love, Delight,

Eternity and Infinity. As the world evolves, indeed as we as individuals

evolve, we progressively experience each of these spiritual qualities. By

experiencing these qualities, we are also bringing them further into the

world - for ourselves and others - thereby fulfilling the Divine Intent for

their manifestation in Life.

Spiritual Determinate/Values and their Subset Human Values

Mind perceives the cosmic determinates that emanate from the Divine as

Spiritual Values. Silence, Peace, Harmony, Truth, Knowledge, Goodness,

Beauty, Love, Joy, Timelessness, and Infinity are among them. They are

what the Divine seeks to manifest in creation. Below that are a hundred

key human values, such as openness, freedom, collaboration, honesty,

creativity, perfection, simplicity, reliability, justice, organization, and

dozens of others. When we apply a value, we are actually employing a

spiritual skill, reflecting one or more cosmic determinates of the divine

Reality, fulfilling Its intent in creation.

Expressions of Comic Determinates/Values in Life

The cosmic determinants of the Infinite Divine express through spiritual

values -- including peace, harmony, knowledge, truth, goodness,

creativity, love, and delight -- in limitless combinations in space and

time; in endless events and circumstance; in never-ending types of

people; through their ceaseless interactions; through boundless

combinations of aspects of our being, including our changing nature; all

for the Infinite's play of Delight to manifest Itself in infinite variation of

forms.


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Cosmic Determinates, Their Reversal in Us, the Involution,

Our Combination of Determinates, Diversity, and Infinity

Since the Absolute is Infinite, it must be capable of an infinite number

and variety of determining vibrations. The Absolute objectifies itself as

Sachchidananda, (Existence, Consciousness, Bliss), from which all

creation is derived. That Existence (Sat) reveals itself to the evolving soul

as Atman (Self), Purusha (Conscious Being), Iswara (the Divine or God).

Consciousness (Chit) extends itself as Knowledge and Will. Bliss (Ananda)

expresses itself as Beauty, Love and Joy. Other essential powers and

attributes of the Spirit include Silence, Peace, Infinity, Eternity, Freedom,

Truth, and Goodness. He calls these the fundamental spiritual

determinations of the Infinite. Each of these has the capacity to combine

with any of the others to form new determinates, which can in turn

combine with one another and with the fundamental determinates to

create other determinates. Jane manifests Goodness, which is formed by

uniting Knowledge and Truth; while Elizabeth manifests goodwill for her

sister, which is formed by uniting Goodness with Will. Furthermore, each

of these determinates can also differentiate itself as subject, object and

experience (as knower, object of knowledge, and act of knowing; as

lover, beloved and act of love; etc.). Each of these combinations of

determinates represents a unique vibration of Being, a potentiality of the

Infinite Absolute, which seeks to manifest itself for the sheer delight of

existence. Darcy as the Lover beholds the Beauty of Elizabeth's fine eyes,

finds Love welling up within him, and feels the ecstatic Joy when his

Beloved accepts his second proposal. In this manner, the Infinite can

formulate an infinite number of possible combinations of determinates

seeking to manifest themselves in infinite Space and Eternal Time.

... The negative attributes we experience are limitations and distortions of

the spiritual determinates created by self-absorption of Divine

Consciousness through Involution by the action of dividing Mind. This

involution creates Ignorance and Ego, which are mechanisms for

distorting the appearance of the spiritual determinates so they appear as

their opposites.

... Through this projection of spiritual determinants and their distortion by

Ignorance and Ego, the Absolute is able to manifest a universe of create

diversity.

... Each form, each being or soul represents a unique combination of

determinates, a unique vibration of the Infinite Being.


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... For each soul is in fact a microcosm of unique vibrations in

combination.

... All these elements that add to the complexity of personality add to the

capacity of the Absolute to manifest infinity.

... Furthermore, each of these souls has the capacity to relate, interact

and creatively combine in experience with every other unique soul,

creating an infinite combination of influences and relationship.

... Space and Time add additional dimensions of complexity and

uniqueness. Each point in space and each moment in time is an

infinitesimal drop in the infinite and eternal ocean of the Absolute's self-

experience. Each point in boundless universal Space is unique and each

of these possibilities can occur at any, many or every different point in

space, once or any number of times in any sequence. Each moment in

Eternal Time is also unique and each of these possibilities can occur at

any, many or every different moment of time or any number of times in

any order.

... So too, each soul is capable of an inner self-experience of the various

aspects of its own being - ideas, thoughts, feelings, sensations, and

movements as well as spiritual experiences.

... Moreover, each individual is evolving in time from ignorance to

knowledge or knowledge to greater knowledge, so that we are never the

same from one moment to the next.

... And their world too is evolving.

... Space and Time form the field or playground for this infinite, never

ending quest for the delight of self-manifestation. The interaction of each

unique evolving soul with itself, other souls, each moment, act and event,

with the evolving world of forms and forces in which it lives and with the

Transcendent Eternal from one unique, infinitesimal moment to another,

from one infinitesimal point to another, through myriad infinitesimal acts

in boundless Space and Eternal Time is lila.

Collaborating with the Determinates of Evolution, the Force

There are fundamental aspects and attributes of the Spirit that are trying

to be realized in life. They are the determinates of all human existence,

including our own lives. Those who identify and then consciously choose

to collaborate with those spiritual aspects will ride the tide of progress


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and evolution forward. Those who swim against it will be drowned by the

Force of progress.

Example: In Pride and Prejudice there is a force that is trying to create

collaboration between the middle and upper class. Rather than have

violent revolution as in nearby France, England took a quieter, more

harmonious tact. All those who participated in it, like Eliza, Darcy, the

Bennet family, greatly benefitted with it. Those who opposed the union of

the two classes, like the effete aristocrat Lady Catherine were washed

away by the tide of history.

There is thus a Force of movement forward. It contains one or more of

the cosmic determinates, such as equality, freedom, peace, silence,

harmony, light, truth, creativity, beauty, love, delight, etc. These forces

are there in the Supreme Consciousness and moved out as waves in

creation, moving in infinite directions as needed in the evolution. Those in

touch with these waves, with that Force will be successful. Those who

oppose will be washed away by the tide of history.


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Divine Intention, Determination

Not Yet Titled

Behind the physical/material cause is the psychological, and behind that

is the evolutionary, with the Spirit (self within and transcendent beyond)

being life's ultimate determinate.

Aligning Ourselves with the Cosmic Intention

At any moment, there is a higher, Divine intention at work. It is flowing

from that transcendent reality to the universal plane and on through us at

the individual level. It flows in endless forms, factors, and variations. It

has the potential to realize itself through our inner and outer actions,

provided we are aware of and open to it.

The problem is that we are normally focused on what our limited self and

ego dictates, than any urge to fulfill the higher intent of an Infinite

consciousness. However, if we align with that cosmic aspiration, force,

and unfolding, we can bring staggering positive result to the world, while

accomplishing in ways we would never have imagined.

The Bhagavad Gita indicates that a person interested in a spirit-oriented

existence should do one's work as service, not to aggrandize one's ego

and exclusively for personal gain. At a deeper level still, Krishna indicates

that one can surrender and become an instrument for the Divine intent.

Sri Aurobindo goes further still and describes the nature of that cosmic

aspiration. He indicates that there are Real Ideas originating in and

flowing from an infinite, conscious Being, which aspires for their

realization in the cosmos. Moreover, the individual human has the

capacity at any moment to open to and latch onto these inner and outer

movements, and be an instrument for their realization in life.

How then can we partake in this cosmic process in a practical way? At

various point, we can pause to consider where we are going, and ask

ourselves this question: Are we doing what the universe seems to be

indicating for us, or are we caught up in selfish motives and desires. If we

know what that Higher Purpose is, then we are well on our way to

becoming an instruments of Its cosmic Intent, while living an

unprecedented, marvelous, spirit-oriented practical existence. If we don't

have that direct connection, we can offer up a powerful prayer such as,


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"Oh Divine spirit, let Your will be done in my life." Then when we carry

out our work, that higher power will guide us in the right direction each

step of the way.

Whichever approach you take, life will unfold like a Marvel. As a result,

not only will you be able to fulfill your deepest aspirations, not only will

you constantly grow as a person, not only will you be an instrument for

evolutionary change, but you will have brought a portion of the

Transcendent Will into being in the world.

From Chaos Theory to the Interconnectedness of Life to the Infinite Power of One Individual to Change the World

"...Chaos theory is a misnomer. What the scientist sees as a dynamic

nonlinear system is only a result whose cause remains unknown. It may

well appear like chaos to us, but that is only because we have not

discovered the real determinants. We live in the gross physical whereas

all power of determination lies in the subtle and causal planes. Tiny

movements can have immense consequences, because everything is

linked to everything else, everything is connected, everything that occurs

on the surface of life is an expression of an underlying unity.

What do we know of real causes beneath that surface? History only tells

us entertaining stories. Grand consequences emanate from apparently

insignificant events. An apparently chance meeting, a book falling off a

shelf can change our life. A single individual can change the course of

human events. A yogi sitting in a Himalayan cave dreamed of freedom

and the French Revolution was born. One individual has the power to

change everything because each individual represents the whole of

humanity, is one with the whole of humanity, is the whole of humanity in

inner consciousness. Our arrogance is born of ignorance. A child, it is

said, could topple the whole edifice of the modern world. If so, then a

child with Knowledge can also transform it..."

(From, 'The Book', page 526, by Garry Jacobs)


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Mother Is Determinant for Devotees

For followers, devotees of the Mother, She is determining the Big Picture

for us. All we need to do is be aware of what that is, and follow.


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The Individual, Universal, Transcendent


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Chance, Necessity, Fate, Destiny

Continuous Change, Evolution of Consciousness is Character of Life

"...According to Newton‘s Third Law of Motion, for every action or force in

material nature there is an equal and opposite reaction or opposing force.

According to The Book, there is a corresponding law of life but with one

difference.

The character of the physical plane is unchanging equilibrium or balance.

The character of life is continuous change leading to an evolution of

consciousness..."

(From 'The Book' by Garry Jacobs, page 476)


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Change, Randomness, Unpredictability


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PART 8: PROBLEMS IN LIFE

Human Aspiration and Limitations

Fulfilling the Human Aspiration

Sri Aurobindo in the first chapter of The Life Divine says that we are

unable to fulfill the Human Aspiration for Light, Love, Joy, and

Immortality because our nature is divided, which expresses through an

inability to perceive the true nature of Reality. We don't know who we

truly are, and what existence truly is. It is our Ignorance born of creation.

If however, we develop a higher consciousness, we overcome that

division, see existence for what it really is, in all its variety and

integration and oneness, and are therefore able to fulfill our Human

Aspiration for Light, Love, Joy, and Immortality.

Overcoming Our Divided Nature

Sri Aurobindo recognizes the essential divided nature of man. He lives in

his ego, in ignorance, in time, in limitation, finite, and suffers from

disease and death. Integral Yoga is the conscious method of overcoming

Man's limited nature and arriving at his spiritual and supramental Nature.

(Sri Karmayogi)

‘The Life Divine’ By Sri Aurobindo

The Life Divine is Sri Aurobindo's major philosophical opus. It combines a

synthesis of western thought and eastern spirituality with Sri Aurobindo's

own original insights. The Life Divine covers topics such as the human

aspiration, why it remains unfulfilled, the individual's divided nature, the

nature of the divine reality, how the universe emerged from a divine

source (aka Involution), the role of Supermind in the


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creation/involutionary process, the nature and methods of evolution from

matter to spirit, the means of overcoming our divided nature through

higher consciousness, the nature and boundaries of human ignorance,

the transformation from our divided nature into a supernature, and the

emergence of a gnostic supramental being and a divine life on earth.


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Problems of Life

The Three Problems of Life

The first problem of life is that man is aware only of the surface of life,

not his inner being and true Self. The second problem of life is that he is

disconnected from the universal, and therefore from others. The third

problem of life is that the body, the vital, and mind are not in harmony

with each other, nor with its self. When man becomes conscious he

becomes more aware of the discords and creates this harmony.

(Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)


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PART 9: HUMAN CHARACTER AND MAKEUP

Human Character

The Role of Human Character

It has recently been suggested that William Shakespeare was the first

writer (at least in the Western world) to chronicle human character.

Thorough extraordinary comedies, tragedies, histories, and poems he

delved into the inner character of the individual, and showed how that

character was inextricably linked with the circumstances and outcomes of

events and circumstances around them.

Let's consider for a moment why some of his characters end in tragedy.

This will help us understand our own limitations of character that set the

stage for our own little tragedies.

In Hamlet, we witness the tragedy of one man's indecisiveness. Though

Hamlet, the protagonist, knows the cause of murder of his father, he is

unable to bring himself to take action against the wrong doers. This leads

to a series of events that leads to his eventual death. His indecisiveness

was the source of his tragedy. Can we see in our own lives or in someone

we know this or a related quality?

In King Lear, the king bequeaths his fortune to his three daughters.

However, the daughter he loves the most refuses to accept his offer. Lear

becomes pained, anguished, and eventually dies of madness. His tragedy

is one of excessive human attachment, in this case to the one daughter

who has spurned his overtures. Unbridled human attachment (it

manifests in many ways) is one of the fundamental causes of suffering in

life.

In Othello Desdemona, Othello's mate, does not have the emotional

strength to break from Othello who desires her even though she does not

feel the same way towards him. Her capitulation to Othello on this issue

eventually leads to her own death. As a reader of the play we have a

hard time believing that someone so good as Desdemona should end this


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way, but her tragedy was in one sense her own doing, caused by her

weakness and lack of strength.

Shakespeare documented the causes of tragedy in many of his plays. He

chronicled the effect that an individual's character had in one's life, and

portrayed how a great character flaw was the cause of the individual's

undoing.

There are so many corresponding points in our character that lead to our

small or large tragedies. Whether it be indecisiveness (Hamlet), over-

attachment to a sibling (Lear), unbridled vital desire for another (Romeo

and Juliet), or weakness (Desdemona's in Othello), Shakespeare reveals

many, if not all, of the major character flaws in human beings. Even

qualities we consider "good" in our culture (Romeo and Juliet's intense

affection, Desdemona's quiet deference) are the very things that lead to

their downfall.

What is Human Character?

The individual brings his capacities (i.e. character) to the game of life.

The more developed the character the more likely a positive outcome will

result. Weaknesses in character will bring about negative results or even

tragedy as Shakespeare has documented. But what actually is character,

and what does it consist of?

Character can be measured as the quantity and quality of a person's

energies, skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, and aspirations, among

others. Individuals of course vary greatly in their character. By

developing these capacities gives us great advantage in the game of life,

making it far more likely that we will witness positive circumstances and

outcomes in our lives. This does not mean we will not suffer in life, for

after all even those of exemplary character have weaknesses that lead to

problems in life, but the likelihood of positive outcomes, including the

ability to accomplish at a higher level, are more likely.

The Subtle Influences and Powers of Life

Aside from factors such as the role of human character, the role of

positive and negative, and the social forces that come into play in the

game of life, there are a number of hard to fathom forces that defy all

mental logic and comprehension. A number of these, such as "Life

Response" also play a large role in the character and outcomes of life. (As

we have learned, it seems that changes in our inner perceptions and


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outer actions have an almost magical ability to attract positive results

from seemingly out of nowhere.) There are other types of patterns,

cycles, and repetitions in life that we cannot fathom form our ordinary

perceptions of life that are also at play in the game of life. To understand

these types of forces will help us better understand the nature and

character of life.

Take for instance the situation where one individual appears in a scene in

a Shakespeare play, and then another appears in that scene at the same

time. Our normal reaction is to just watch the scene unfold, and not

make anything of the fact that they both appeared on the scene at the

same time. There is obvious no relationship between the two

occurrences; they simply seem to be happing at the same time, that's all.

At most, we might think that it is mere coincidence and nothing more.

However, on closer examination we start to uncover patterns that

suggest that incidences like this are not random, but are part of a pattern

that is beyond our normal perceptions. These are the hidden, yet

astounding patterns of life that defy our awareness, yet may prove to be

the ultimate determinant of accomplishment in life.

"The pattern of interaction between character, action, and the results of

action reveals the importance of a crucial indeterminant which is

variously called providence, chance, fate, etc. What appears as chance

at the level of physical action is an expression of another dimension of

causality in the plane of life. Shakespeare possessed an intuitive insight

into this realm and into the role of individual character and social

consciousness as points of expression of the wider character of life."

(MSS)

These types of occurrences are going on in Shakespeare's plays and they

are going on in our daily lives, yet we are oblivious to them, let alone not

conscious of any pattern in their occurrences. Yet our research indicates

that these occurrences do in fact have patterns behind them, and that

the patterns indicate a subtle and complex working of life that reflect on

the actions, perceptions, attitudes, energies, environment of the

individuals and social environment that are involved.

Let's talk about one phenomenon we have uncovered, called "life

response." A life response is an instantaneous positive

response/occurrence in life to an act that an individual takes. Here's an

example:

An instructor had not been contacted for new work for weeks, and

was in desperate straits. He decided to apply the idea of cleanliness.

His apartment was normally quite clean, but he wanted to take

cleanliness a step further. He decided to clean his refrigerator,

something he was reluctant to do. At the exact moment he finished


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putting things back into the refrigerator after cleaning, he heard a

message on his answering machine from his training company

offering him new work. The response from life was instantaneous!

Though this is an example of how life responds to an initiative of

improving the cleanliness or orderliness of something one can also elicit a

life response in a number of ways -- by inwardly overcoming a negative

attitude, by overcoming one's hesitation to do something important, by

acknowledging a defect or making an effort to understand a weakness,

and in many other ways. In each case, life seems to trigger something

positive for us, and often very fast. This process of life is defies all logic,

yet is an aspect of life that occurs all of the time.

We have seen many other hidden patterns of life. For example, we have

often seen how certain acts seem to repeat at certain intervals, revealing

a hidden meaning that is reflecting on whether accomplishment is

occurring. Or we have seen signs of how people are related in a situation

just from how they appear simultaneously in a situation. To the surface

mind, there is absolutely no meaning to this, but on closer examination,

they give us clues of a pattern of the workings of life.

Summary

By observing and understanding the Character of Life, whether in

literature or in the actual world we live in, we gain a knowledge that if

applied to ourselves can help us lead a life of unending and ever-

increasing happiness and success. If we learn to build up our own

capacities, understand the social forces at play, and understand the

hidden forces that act within us and outside us, we will be better

prepared to take life by the horns, and rise to the heights of

achievement, success, and happiness.

Things to Think About

-The next time you watch a serious TV program, movie, or read a book,

understand what is the flaw in the person's character. If appropriate, also

understand how the individual changed their character (by changing an

attitude, opinion, habit, action), and how that lead to positive

circumstance.

-Consider a conflict in your own life now or in the past. Note how the

negative circumstance or people served a purpose (i.e. the involution) in

the eventual outcome (i.e. the evolution) of the conflict.

-Think about a few things in your life where great suffering was actually a

first link in a chain of a new awareness, improvement, or success.


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-Take any conflict that is occurring now, and examine your own

character, and try to make an improvement from among your level of

knowledge, skills, attitudes, habits, opinions, personal values,

aspirations, direction, will, desires, ego, and so forth.

-How can you avoid going through the same conflicts in the future you

have experienced in the past. In what ways do you need to change your

attitudes, habits, opinions, desires, activities, etc to avoid the repetition

in the future?

-What are some commonly accepted "good" things you are doing now

that actually may not be good.


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Scale of Human Character, Personality

Scale of Human Character

Darcy in Pride and Prejudice has a formed Character and thus his ego is

developed, which is then destroyed in pursuit of winning over the woman

he loves. Eliza's consciousness is at a higher level; at the beginning levels

of Personality, where she takes her cues from within, not the herd, and

thus expresses an exceptional degree of individuality.

Thus, the scale of Depth -- from outer to inner -- is from Manners to

Behavior to Character to Personality to True Spiritual Individuality.

Manners to Behavior to Character to Personality to True

Individuality

Sri Aurobindo indicates there are 5 levels of being for the person. One

who acts merely to mimic the MANNERS of others. One who behaves and

acts through his or her own compulsion, yet without a distinct and

recognizable character or nature (BEHAVIOR). One who has a readily

identifiable and formed CHARACTER and nature, as that person has a

special uniqueness other people can perceive. One who is a

PERSONALITY, who has unique character, but also an innate ability to

transcend his nature and do things special in the world. Personality exists

mostly as potential; not really fully formed. And then there is TRUE

INDIVIDUALITY, who is one that has cast off all of the norms of society,

enabling him to succeed in any domain through the power of his own

unique insights and gifts. He is also capable of connecting to his Soul

within that sends further signals of individuality into his being for unique

living and accomplishment. So the continuum of depth of being of people

is Manners - Behavior - Character - Personality - True Individuality. Most

humans are somewhere between Manners and Character. Very few are a

Personality, developed or otherwise. And True Individuality is extremely

rare.


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Power of Character One Can Shift To

Character is in the depths, swabhava. Whatever you are in your

character, life rewards accordingly. What a man of good manners

accomplishes in a lifetime, a man of character accomplishes in the

beginning of his career. One who wants to receive the rewards of life at

the end of his career, can shift his work from good manners to good

character. (Sri Karmayogi)

Human Personality, Individuality, and Accomplishment

The question of development of Human Personality and its role of human

accomplishment is one of Sri Karmayogi's great themes. And that was

actually first described in detail by Sri Aurobindo in certain chapters of

The Life Divine.

The five levels of personality are just mimicking others (Manners),

Behavior (just unconscious self-movement and expression, like Lydia in

Pride and Prejudice), Character (that which makes a person seem unique,

instead of like others), Personality (highly developed character and

individuality like Steve Jobs or Winston Churchill, who can have a big

impact society) and Spiritual Individuality (who change the world from

within through their soul connection; their ultimate self. They are

ultimate individuals).

All told is a movement from non-individuality to complete individuality.

Also the more one moves up the scale, the more one accomplishes. Darcy

who had Character changed his nature and moved to the edges of

Personality (the 4th stage) releasing great accomplishment in his being

(in the form of marriage with Lydia).

The scale is Manners > Behavior > Character > Personality > Spiritual

Individuality (Soul of Personality). It is from non-individuality to ultimate

individuality, enabling ultimate achievement.

Westerner vs Indian

Sri Karmayogi says the Westerner is quite developed in Character and

Personality, while the Indian is very dull there. On the other hand, he


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indicates that Light is there in the body of the Indian, while there is

darkness in the body of the Westerner.

Notes:

By Character he means an identifiable, definitive, formed human nature.

A kind of distinctness of being. By Personality he means a more

developed character, with a truer sense of Individuality.

---

The spiritual experiences of the ancient Rishis and such is inherited by

Indians through their bodies. Thus there is Light there. Westerners have

no such spiritual inheritance; only surface, material, scientific,

technological, mental qualities. Thus an acute absence of Light; a

Darkness.

---

The Light of Indians coming to the surface through a developed Character

and individuality (Personality) will be an enormous growth of being,

enabling them to lead the world forward.

Through their ascent out of poverty to prosperity Indians can come out of

their dullness, rising in character and individuality, blending these

characteristics, and thereby become a Shining Light, leading the world

forward.

Pride and Prejudice Character Lessons for Sales

Improvement

Each Pride and Prejudice character can teach us something about selling:

-Wickham - A deceiver. So don't be deceiving. It comes back to haunt

you.

-Darcy - Don't be proud, and accept the smallest sale with happiness and

gratitude. Otherwise Life will return the favor negatively.

-Bingley and Jane - always have a positive, cheerful attitude. It's a

winning strategy that always attracts success

-Mr. Collins - Avoid braggadocio and ass-kissing. It will not serve you

well.

-Mrs. Bennet - Stop whining, complaining, and condemning. You will look

foolish at every step of the way.


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-Mr. Bennet - Don't be cynical, sarcastic about others as he was toward

his children, which came back to haunt him, when one of them ran away

and eloped.

-Eliza Bennet - Be intelligent, forward-thinking, affectionate towards

those close to you. Thus know your product and market perfectly. Be

creative. Care for those around you.

-Lady Catherine - Don't be condescending to anyone. You might lose the

chance for your biggest sale because you acted stuck-up and superior to

someone.

Human Character – Miscellaneous

--An indicator of an open, flexible character is a willingness to change, to

shift direction based on requests of others or similar life conditions.

--When we read what the characters have gone through in a story or in a

film, we are subconsciously reading the process of our own awakening,

our own self-discovery. (MSS)

--Mother could perceive the character of any person just by looking at a

photo. Her consciousness is so wide and deep that She could perceive

any and all vibrations in their proper proportion. We too can develop that

cosmic relational capacity by building an inner life.

--In a given work, project, competition, etc., building up personal

Character is more important than immediate success.


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Changing Our Nature

Mr. Darcy’s 180 Degree Change

Those who are dedicated to personal growth develop an aspiration to

bring about significant change in their lives. That is one level of progress.

There is an even greater one. Those who commit themselves to personal

evolution and transformation have accepted the possibility of reversing

their nature 180 degrees from its current status. It is such a stupendous

undertaking -- it may even seem impossible to the uninitiated -- that it

can only occur by connecting with and making use of the spiritual powers

of life. In fact, developing a spirit-based super-Nature is that individual’s

ultimate purpose and goal in life.

As a result of this staggering commitment, that person may change a

dozen plus major character flaws; uplift and perfect all aspect of his

physical, vital, psychological, and mental being; overcome a number of

fixed habits that drag on him; shed wanting attitudes that demean him,

and give up false opinions that limit him -- infusing all parts of his being,

and every activity he engages with the Spirit. In the end, that individual

comes to surrender his very life and purpose to the Divine Will and

Intent. It is a stupendous effort for which he will be rewarded with

ultimate pleasure, bliss, and delight (i.e. “Ananda” in the East); an

astonishing power over every aspect of life; and the peace and serenity

of Eternity.

Against this experiment in transformative living is the life of the normal

modern-day individual. If we examine his life, we will see that if he

changes but one single fixed habit or one virulent attitude, it is

considered a significant achievement. In one sense, it is quite significant.

And yet, it still isn’t 1/100th, or even 1/1000th of what the transformed

individual will come to realize in the course of his life. Such are the low

expectations we have for people to change.

And yet, on occasion there are individuals who make a significant inner

change that far surpass the norm. For example, when we examine the

literature and films of the world, we often see how the plot turns at the

point where a person overcomes a critical limiting personal quality -- such

as a wanting attitude, or a falsely held belief. As a result, life not only

changes for the better for that person, but others are deeply affected as

well. That transition and change in that individual’s life invariably attract

instances of sudden good fortune, bringing the story to a happy and

satisfying resolution. It is a mini-episode, instance of human progress.


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Perhaps one reason such works kindle our interest is that we

subconsciously perceive the need to make related changes in our own

lives. Unfortunately, we are not prone to take up that challenge, mainly

because (1) we are not conscious of our defects, and (2) we are in the

habit of enjoying who we are.

In Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, we see a dramatic exception to this

rule in the person of Mr. Darcy. At first arrogant and filled with pride, by

the end of the story he overcomes his limitations of character in full. It is

an astonishing and rare change for any individual! As a result, life

responds with overwhelming good fortune, as he wins over the woman he

loves -- Miss Eliza Bennet. We see how life’s circumstances dovetail with

his efforts. Through a conscious decision to change an egregious part of

his nature, he attracts the right circumstances that afford him an

opportunity to save Eliza’s family from scandal. As a result, he is able to

show her his true, noble character, which in the end wins her over,

culminating in their happy marriage. Actually, it leads to much more, as

their marriage forges a powerful new alliance between the aristocracy

and the gentleman-farmer classes of rural England; where earlier they

were in an indifferent, if not contentious relationship. In other words,

Darcy’s inner-psychological adjustment is so substantial that life not only

responds and uplifts his own personal fortunes, but also those of the

wider society around him.

Darcy’s formidable change is a distant echo of the ultimate

transformative changes made by those who take to conscious evolution --

i.e. yoga. In one sense, both reverse themselves 180 degrees. The

difference is that those who take to personal transformation will attempt

to change every part of their nature -- physical, vital, mental, and

spiritual, whereas Darcy only seeks to overcome but one or two major

character flaws. And yet, what Darcy has achieved is still formidable,

especially for one who is essentially a non-seeker.

His overpowering internal change is also something that we can try to

emulate in our own lives. If Darcy can make such a great internal

adjustment and attract stupendous rewards from life, then we can at

least try to overcome one or two limitations in our own character. It is

the minimum that life asks of us. Anything less and we could say that we

are merely taking up space.

As a result of making that relatively modest effort, life will respond out of

all proportion, and we will attract our hearts desire -- whether through

the sudden blossoming of our career, or through a kindled romance (as

was in the case with Darcy), or through some other area of our life that

Nature deems worth uplifting.


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The question then is whether we are sincerely interested in such change,

and if so, what part of being needs changing. If we take up that effort to

change, life will certainly respond. Darcy took to overcoming wanting

aspects of his character and attracted the woman of his dreams, and

influenced the course of that society’s development. The modern, integral

yogi seeks to change every part of his nature so he can attain a super-

nature -- becoming a harbinger of a new, spirit-oriented way of living.

What wanting qualities do we seek to change in ourselves, and what level

of effort will we undertake to make that happen?

Life Tests Sincerity of One's Change in Consciousness

Life affords us endless opportunities to change; to overcome our

limitations and raise our consciousness. If we make that transition to the

positive, life will reward us with good fortune. Sometimes, however, life

'rewards us' by challenging us further, to test us to see if we are serious

about our change of view.

For example, in Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice one of the two main

characters Mr. Darcy made the inner commitment to change his haughty

and arrogant attitude towards others. He did so in large part out of his

love for Eliza. As a result, quickly thereafter, life responded with an

overwhelming challenge for Darcy, when he was required to apply his

newly acquired higher attitude to resolving the famous elopement

incident in the story. He rose to the challenge by taking responsibility for

the difficult event (a sign of his newly formed attitudes), even when the

situation was not directly his fault. He was rewarded for that effort when

he soon discovered that Eliza loved him, leading to his (second) proposal

of marriage, which she accepted, providing the greatest fulfillment of his

life.

The moral of the story is that when you decide to make a positive

change, life will often challenge you to prove that you are really sincere.

Another way to put it is that life responds this way in order to give one

the opportunity to hone your skill in deploying that higher attitude or

belief. Yet another way to look at it is that life is asking you to move from

one's mental acceptance of new attitude to a vital/emotional embracing

of it through life experience. Whatever the case, it is life affording you the

opportunity for further progress, which if embraced leads to great

success, inner fulfillment, and deep delight.

Here is another example of this phenomenon, again from literature.

In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, the main character Jean Valjean at one

point came to know a humble bishop who showed him the power of


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selfless and self-givingness. When the bishop saved him from the

authorities after escaping from prison, Valjean came to deeply admire his

goodness, goodwill, and generosity. From that day on, he dedicated

himself to a life of self-givingness.

Life then brought forth the opportunity for him to become what he

aspired for. One day Valjean learned that someone named ‘Jean Valjean’

had been convicted of a crime. He knew that this was not the case

because he was the person with that name. After wrestling with his

conscience, he went to the court in Arras and revealed that he was the

real Jean Valjean, thereby freeing the accused.

However, by doing so, the authorities learn that he was an escaped

convict; forcing Valjean once again to be a fugitive from the law. It would

mean that he would have to give up all that he had built up in his

professional life. What actually occurred was that life tested his full

commitment to his personal ideal of self-givingness. By acceded to a level

of psychological purity, by doing what was right and true, Valjean had

made a great growth and progress in life.

Our Subconscious is Conscious

We think of our subconscious as some mysterious aspect of our being,

hidden from our view, i.e. from our normal level of awareness. This is

true enough. And yet the subconscious realms has a will, intention, and

consciousness of its own. Often it has a greater capacity, perception, and

insight than our own normal state of awareness.

For example, a man's wife reads lengthy, somewhat superficial, fiction

books incessantly. It keeps her busy and entertained. Interestingly, her

husband consistently walks over and sits beside her to talk just as she is

reading the last few pages of the book, at once amazing and bothering

her. Why does he appear at just this instance? He does not know the

answer, but understanding the intent and desire of his subconscious will

explain it. It is subtly indicating that he wants to speak with her more

often to have rich discussions, the fact of which seems to be in conflict

with her constant reading. What is happening is that his subconscious

urge, will, and aspiration have moved him into action on those

serendipitous occasions, even as he is consciously unaware why he

comes, let alone at precisely this time. It has happened a 100 times

before over several decades!

If we examine any great work of literature or work of cinema, and

observe the actions of the main characters, we will see how they often

act in ways in which their intent is subconscious to them. Yet if we study


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these actions in hindsight, we would see that the subconscious had an

intention it wished fulfilled, even as the conscious mind was unaware of

the fact. In this way, we see that the outcomes of events that we only

later came to understand were already known to our subconscious!

For example, in the film Sabrina, Linus helps his brother by standing in

for him, even as he is unaware that he is subconsciously in love with

Sabrina, which he later realizes. Likewise, in Pride and Prejudice, Darcy

mocks Eliza when they first meet, even as he is unaware of the fact that

he is subconsciously in love with her. In both cases, the subconscious

knew before the conscious mind.

Having said this, there are other parts of the subconscious plane that are

not so enlightened and filled with light, but are instead dark, pessimistic,

fearful, and fearful. This unevolved part of the inner being contributes to

difficult sleep, our darkest daily thoughts, and a general feeling that

failure, disease, and death are inevitable. On the other hand, the

conscious part of the subconscious, described earlier, is just the opposite.

This relatively small, subliminal part is in touch with universal forces;

deeper and wider truths that are superconscient to us. Not only does it

guide us, but it knows the future ahead of time.

Finally, we have ability to make the subconscious knowledge conscious by

asking ourselves at any point in time why we are doing what we are

doing, which will help us elicit the hidden motive. Doing so, will make us

more aware, which will contribute to greater success and deeper

fulfillment in life.


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PART 10: IGNORANCE TO INTEGRAL KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge and Truth