I ha d already been putting notes from everything I was
learning in a folder on my computer that was entitled “My
Next Bo ok.” It was an intuiti ve sense that inspired me to
record e verything I was discovering, in the hope that I could
eventually share it with the world. Those cherished notes,
when I had finished collating them, became the foundation of
this book.
Just two months after discovering the truth through David
Bingham, I met someone else w ho was to have an enormous
ef fect on my life, and on the creation of this book. She walked
into a room I wa s in at a retreat, and when I walked up to talk
to he r, h er prese nce had such a profound ef fect on me that any
trace of negativi ty from my entire lif e was gone in an instan t!
She had  been a s tudent of one o f my all-time favorite teachers,
the late Robert  Adams. I kne w instantly that she was my
teacher, the one who would hel p me fully realize and live the
truth in this lifet ime, and she has remained my teacher for the
past four years. Her teachings are straightforward, beautifully
simple, and she never hesitates to tell me if I’m going in the
wrong direction. While her name remains anonymous at her
request, I have shared many of her life-changing teachings that
propelled my life into one of constant joy and happiness. My
deepest wish is that they will do the same for you.
She, along with the other teachers featured in this book, helped
lead me  out of the darkness of ignorance by illuminating this
one discovery. Every one of them helped me to understand the
truth that I had  discovered more deeply and to live from it
more fully, and the love I feel for them is infinite. Their words
that changed my life forever are featured throughout this book.
W ith every step you take throug h this book, you will become
happier and your life will become more ef fortless, and that
happiness and ef fortlessness wil l continue to increase without
any end. Any fear and uncertainty of the future will no longer
plague you. Any anxiety and str ess about your daily struggles
or w orld events will dissolve. Y ou can be free of every form ofsuf fering that you might be experiencing right now. And you
will be.
While there are certainly some  huge revelations throughout
these pages, there are also many simple practices to
immediately put  those revelations into practice. The practices
alone ar e worth  their weight in  gold. I know. I am the living
proof of how well they work.
The Secr et  showed  you how to create anything you want to be,
do, o r ha ve. Not hing has changed—it is as true today as it ever
was. Th is book reveals the greatest discovery a human being
can ever make and shows yo u the way out of negativity,
problems, and what you don’ t want, to a life of permanent
happiness and bliss.
It sim ply doesn’ t get any better than this. It is my greatest joy
to welcome you to The Gr eatest Secr et.C h a p t e r  1
Hidden in Plain Sight
Of t he billions of people on our planet, only a few have
discovered the truth. Those few are completely free from the
turmoil and negativity of life and live in permanent peace and
happiness. For the rest of us, whether we realize it or not,
we’ve been in se arch of this truth unceasingly every single day
of our lives.
Despite the fact that this great secret has been written about
and alluded to by many great sages, prophets, and religious
leaders throughout history, the majority of us still remain
ignorant of the single greatest discovery we can ever make.
Among those who have share d this discovery with us are
Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu,  Jesus Christ, Y ogananda,
Krishnamurti, and the Dalai Lama.
While they each have dif ferent teachings that were appropriate
for their time, they all refer to the same truth—the truth about
us and the truth behind our world.
“In some religions this truth is expressed less openly and
clearly than in others, but it is nevertheless the truth that lies at
the heart of every religion.”
Michael James, fr om  Happiness and the Art of Being
This gre at secret  is in plain view for every one of us to see. It’ s
closer to  us than our very breath, yet we’ve missed it! Ancienttraditions knew that to hide a s ecret it should be put in plain
sight, wh ere no one will think to  look for it. And that’ s exactly
where The Greatest Secret lies.
“Thus it  is referred to in the Kashmir Shaivite tradition as ‘the
greatest secret, more hidden than the most concealed and yet
more evident than the most evident of things.’”
Rupert Spira, fr om  Being A ware of Being A ware
W e’ve missed the truth for thou sands of years because we’ve
not looked at what is right in front of us. W e’ve become easily
distracted by our problems, the drama in our lives, the
comings and goings of the ev ents in the world, and we’ve
missed the greatest discovery we can make that is right here
before u s—a discovery that can take us out of suf fering and
into lasting happiness.
What secret can possibly be so life-changing? What single
discovery can ever end suf fering, or bring everlasting peace
and happiness?
Quite simply, a secret that reveals who you really are.
Y ou might think you know who you are, but if you think
you’re a n individual person with a name, who’ s a certain age,
from a particula r race, who has a profession, a family history,
and various life experiences, you will be stunned by the
revelation of who you r eally  are.
“The only way that someone can be of help to you is by
challenging your ideas.”
Anthony de Mello, S.J., fr om  A wareness: Conversations with the Masters
W e’ve all accepted many false ideas and beliefs throughout
our live s, and those false ide as and beliefs have kept us
enslaved. W e’ve  been told that there’ s limitation and lack in
the world—that there’ s not enough money, time, resources,
love, or health: “Life is short,”  “Y ou’re only human,” “Y ou
have to work h ard and struggle to get somewhere in life,”
“W e’re running out of resource s,” “The world is in turmoil,”
“The world needs saving.” But the moment you see the truth,
those mistruths will crumble, and your happiness will arise
from the ruins.Perhaps you’re thinking, “My life is going swimmingly, and so
why would I even want to know The Greatest Secret?”
T o quote the wonderful late Anthony de Mello, S.J.:
“Because your life is a mess!”
Y ou may disagree. I certainly didn’ t think my life was a mess
either until Anthony de Mello defined exactly what he meant.
Do y ou ever ge t upset? Ever get stressed? Ever worry? Ever
feel anxious, of fended, or hurt? Ever feel sad, down in the
dumps, or despondent? Are yo u ever unhappy or in a bad
mood? If you e xperience any of these emotions at any time,
then according to Anthony de Mello, your life is a mess!
Y ou mi ght think it’ s normal to be plagued by negative
emotions throug hout your day, but life isn’ t supposed to be
that way. Y ou can live your life utterly free of hurt, upset,
worry, and fear, and exist in continuous  happiness.
Life is showing us there’ s a way  out of suf fering through every
single challenging circumstance we experience, especially the
very chal lenging circumstances. But we don’ t see it. W e’re
lost in our probl ems, and we miss the very thing that is right in
front of us that is the way out of all problems forever!
“W e se ek happiness in experience after experience,
relationship afte r relationship, therapy after therapy, workshop
after workshop—even ‘spiritual’ ones, which sound so
promising but never address the root cause of suf fering:
ignorance of our true nature.”
Mooji, fr om  White Fire, second edition
Whenever we suf fer, it’ s becau se we’ve believed something
about ourselves that isn’ t true; we’ve mistaken our own
identity. All  of humanity’ s s uf fering comes down to a case of
mistaken identity.
The trut h is, you’re not a person  who has no control over what
happens to you and your life. Y ou’re not a person who has to
slave at a job you don’ t like, o nly to die at the end of it all.
Y ou’re not a pe rson who has to struggle from paycheck to
paycheck. Y ou’re not a person w ho needs to prove yourself or
who needs anybody else’ s appr oval. The truth is, you are notreally a  person at all. Y ou are most certainly


 alway s tries to
solve situations through splitting of f. I call this fragmentation. If a money pit of a house had 142 problems and every one of those
problems were solved, as long as you hold on to a perspective of
fragmentation, there are going  to be more problems. But when the
purpose is changed to peace and to truth, the entire perspective of the
universe is transformed. Even if the problems seem to continue, we will
not expe rience them from a perspective of fragmentation, and we will
not see them as fragmented issues in and of themselves. If we are
focused only on the release of the blocks to peace of mind, we will
experience a flow of guidance as to how to deal with each and every
problem that appears. We will see problems as just a movie script
playing out on a screen, bringing us back to peace. We will no longer
want to give our power away to anything that takes away our peace. Thus, we have completely changed our perspective. Since the problem is in the mind, it can only be resolved in the
mind. The ego made the world to generate specific problems that have
no answers. It generates impossible problems with no true solutions. If we give our mind over to the Holy Spirit and inquire about a
whole new way of seeing—a  new vision—then we’re really going
inward toward the real solution. We are here to come back to a peaceful
foundation and experience. It is very practical. We just need to trust and
be willin g to unlearn things and ideas that we thought were solid facts
about ourselves and the world. The outcome is a tranquil mind. Peace of
mind is not a small gift to yourself—it’ s everything. Can you imagine
what it would be like to be perfectly peaceful, calm, and tranquil always. That is what time is for—to learn just that and nothing more. You can
allow yourself to be open-minded and flexible about things as you get
deeper and deeper into your practice. You can be very allowing and very
peaceful. Setting the Goal to Achieve Peace
There is a sectio n in A Course in Miracles  called “Setting the Goal” that
explains that if you put the goal of peace out in front in each situation,
you will perceive everything and everyone as supporting this goal. Setting the goal of peace is something that we can do at the very
beginning of any activity. The value of deciding for peace in advance is
simply that you will perceive the situation as a means to make it (peace
of mind) happen. This means that perception no longer needs to be the
determiner of our state of mind. When you set your mind in advance, you focus your mind on what
you want. This is the way to use time for healing purpo ses. The
separated mind believes in the past, the present, and the future even
though the etern al now is really  all there is. Believing that problems are
caused by past events pander s to the ego’s idea of separation and
distracts the mind from being present in the moment. Peace is really a
present choice, and believing that past events can affect or prevent you
from experienci ng peace right now is but a defense against the present
moment. When your mind is aligned with peace as your one goal, you
cannot help but see the cosmos as unified and therefore peaceful. This
shows how powerful your mind  really is. It shows how important it is to
focus on what you truly want, on that which is truly helpful to you. Exercise: Choosing Peace of Mind
To listen to a recorded version of this exercise, go to
http://www. newharbinger. com/41870. Make sure you have some time to yourself as this exercise
requires deep inquiry. You may have come to a beautiful place in
your journey with this book, or the journey may have started to
bring up deep beliefs and even discomfort. This is okay and part
of the journey. Sit comfortab ly now. Take a deep breath. Reflect
for a moment on what you have learned from the previous
chapters—guidance, trust, and acceptance—before going  into the
following exercise. Use your journal for free association. 1. Recall a recent situation when you felt stressed, for
example when you were stuck in traffic, at work, or at home
with your family. Now take some time to reflect and ask
yourself these questions: What perspective did I choose in
that situation. Was I choosing pain and conflict, or was I
choosing peace and joy. Recall your thoughts and feelings. Begin to consider that you have options and that you
can always choose again. In order to undo the tendency
to jump into past thinking in stressful situations, this
practice of considering your options rather than being
reactive invites you to be vigilant with your thoughts,
which is imperative when you want to achieve a state of
peace.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the author's perspective on the idea that we have to create our own reality or manifest our desires?,
A: The author does not support the idea of creating our own reality or manifesting our desires. Instead, they emphasize the importance of acknowledging the power of our mind and choosing peace.
Q: What is the author's view on the idea that we can find fulfillment in relationships?,
A: The author believes that we cannot find fulfillment in relationships. According to the text, true fulfillment and love can only be found by going inward and aligning with the Holy Spirit.
Q: What is the author's advice on how to achieve a state of peace?,
A: The author advises that one must focus on their true desires and intentions, and choose peace consistently. They emphasize the importance of being vigilant and aware of one's thoughts and emotions, and to let go of the ego's influence.
Q: What is the author's view on the concept of relationships and the ego?,
A: The author believes that relationships are not the source of our fulfillment, but rather a reflection of our own unconscious beliefs and desires. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and releasing these patterns and aligning with the Holy Spirit.
Q: What is the author's advice on how to handle people-pleasing habits?,
A: The author advises that one must recognize and release their people-pleasing habits, and instead choose to be authentic and honest. They emphasize the importance of aligning with the Holy Spirit and not being controlled by the ego.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>I sometimes tell people who have
someone who’ s not around anymore, “Well, you might as well keep
talking to them because they are still there. You just can’t see them, but
they are still there.” And if you have attack thoughts toward somebody,
you will see that person as the thoughts you have about them. It may feel
like a very foreign idea, but it is within your own thinking that you have
all of your relati onships and your communications. This is why you need
to take great care of what you think and be aware of what  kind of
relationship you have with your thoughts. The way to an increasing awareness of your thoughts is to pay
attention to the way you feel. Not only will your feelings be the
indicators of where you have let your thoughts go, but your external
relationships will also always reflect what is going on in your thinking. This is because your powerful mind communicates all the time.The mind is very powerful, and never loses its creative force. It
never sleeps. Every instant it is creating. It is hard to recogni ze
that thought and belief combine into a power surge that can
literally move mountains. We need to have experiences that show us that we are more than a
body and that we can communicate beyond the body. Sometimes people
will tell me they have a dream where they can fly and experience
freedom. In whatever way is given to us, in whatever way we attract, we
need to have an experience that we are more than a body. There is a lot
of resea rch around near-death experiences and out-of-body experiences
and lots and lots of reports around people who are in comas and
unconscious. If communication were based on the body and certain brain
activity, a coma would seem like a definite break in communication. Yet
over and over, we hear stories of patients who come out of comas and
say things like, “Why did you tell that story about me?” This shows
clearly that communication is not limited to the body. This shows that
we can begin to loosen up from  the idea that we are powerless and go
beyond preconceived limits with our communication. Sometimes we can
even have telepathic experiences. It works more like prayers: you send
out a vibe with your thoughts, then the universe responds to that vibe,
and that is reflected directly in the world around you. This is what I
mean when I say that you communicate all the time. The more we allow for open and transparent communication, the
more we feel our expansiveness. Therefore, this is a very helpf ul prayer
to the Holy Spirit: “Please show me how to use the body and
communication best to expa nd my perception.” This expanded
perception gives us a feeling of a much stronger connection to everyone
and everything. Communing with Spirit in Communication
The Holy Spirit uses the body  for only one purpose, and that is as a
communication device to help the mind regain the awareness that true
communication is through Spirit and that true communication is with the
Creator. Becaus e the mind has fallen asleep and believes in separationand bodies, the Spirit has to use what the separated mind believe s in


GL,NT,PM
Venice
Thomas McNaughton, M.D. (D/C)
540 South Nokomis Avenue
Venice, FL 34285(813) 484-2167
CT,GP,NT,PM
Wauchula
Alfred S. Massam, M.D. (P)
528 West Main Street
Wauchula, FL 33873
(813) 773-6668
CT,FP,PM
Winter Park
James M. Parsons, M.D. (D/C)
Great Western Bank Building
#303 2699 Lee Road
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 628-3399
A,CT,MM,NT,PO,RHU
Robert Rogers, M.D. (P)
Suite 204
1865 North Semoran Boulevard
Winter Park, FL 32792
(407) 679-2811
A,CD,CT,NT,PM
GEORGIA
Atlanta
Stephen B. Edelson, M.D. (P)
3833 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 841-0088
A,CT,FP,NT,OME,PM,YS
David Epstein, D.O. (P)
Suite 100
427 Moreland AvenueAtlanta, GA 30307
(404) 525-7333
BA,CT,GP,NT,OSM,PM
Milton Fried, M.D. (DIPL)
4426 Tilly Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30360
(404) 451-4857
A,CT,IM,NT,PM,PO
Bernard Mlaver, M.D. (DIPL)
4480 North Shallowford Road
Atlanta, GA 30338
(404) 395-1600
CT,NT,PM
Camilla
Oliver L. Gunter, M.D. (DIPL)
24 North Ellis Street
Camilla, GA 31730
(912) 336-7343
CT,DD,DIA,GP,NT,PU
Decatur
Naima ABD Elghany, M.D. (P)
3455H North Druid Hill Road
Decatur, GA 30033
(404) 639-3385
A,CD,IM,PH,PM,PUD
Warner Robins
Terril J. Schneider, M.D. (P)
Suite 19
205 Dental Drive
Warner Robins, GA 31088
(912) 929-1027
A,CT,FP,NT,PM,PMRHAWAII
Kailua-Kona
Clifton Arrington, M.D. (P)
PO Box 649
Kealakekua, HI 96750
(808) 322-9400
BA,CT,FP,NT,PM
IDAHO
Coeur d’Alene
Charles T. McGee, M.D. (P)
Suite 108
1717 Lincolnway
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
(208) 664-1478
A,CT,NT,OME,PM
Nampa
John O. Boxall, M.D. (P)
824 - 17th Avenue South
Nampa, ID 83651
(208) 466-3517
AC,CT,GP,HYP
Stephen Thornburgh, D.O. (P)
824 - 17th Avenue South
Nampa, ID 83651
(208) 466-3517
AC,CT,HOM,OS
Sandpoint
K. Peter McCallum, M.D. (DIPL)
2500 Selle Road
Sandpoint, ID 83864
(208) 263-5456CT,NT,MM,OME,PM
ILLINOIS
Arlington Heights
Terrill K. Haws, D.O. (D/C)
Suite 111
121 South Wilke Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(708) 577-9451
CT,DD,FP,GP,OSM
William J. Mauer, D.O., F.A.C.A.M. (DIPL)
3401 North Kennicott Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(800) 255-7030
FAX (708) 255-7700
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Aurora
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Suite 1735
888 South Edgelawn Drive
Aurora, IL 60506
(708) 844-0011
FAX (708) 844-0500
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Belvidere
M. Paul Dommers, M.D. (P)
554 South Main Street
Belvidere, IL 61008
(815) 544-3112
AR,AU,CT,MM,PM
Chicago
Razvan Rentea, M.D. (P)3354 North Paulina
Chicago, IL 60657
(312) 549-0101
GP,MM,PM
Downers Grove
Guillermo Justiniano, M.D. (P)
1430 Parrish Court
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(708) 964-8083
(No Referrals)
Geneva
Richard E. Hrdlicka, M.D. (D/C)
Suite 206
302 Randall Road
Geneva, IL 60134
(708) 232-1900
A,BA,FP,NT,PM,YS
Glen Ellyn
Robert S. Waters, M.D. (DIPL)
739 Roosevelt Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(708) 790-8100
CT,OME,PM
Homewood
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Homewood, IL 60430
(No Referrals)
Metamora
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205 South Engelwood
Metamora, IL 61548(309) 367-2321
FAX (309) 367-2324
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Moline
Terry W. Love, D.O. (DIPL)
2610 - 41st Street
Moline, IL 61252
(309) 764-2900
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Oak Park
Paul J. Dunn, M.D. (D/C)
715 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 383-3800
CT,HGL,NT,OSM,PM,YS
Ottawa
Terry W. Love, D.O. (DIPL)
645 West Main
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 434-1977
AR,CT,GP,OSM,PM,RHU
Woodstock
John R. Tambone, M.D. (P)
102 East South Street
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 338-2345
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Zion
Peter Senatore, D.O. (P)
1911 - 27th Street
Zion, IL 60099
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INDIANA
Clarksville
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647 Eastern Boulevard
Clarksville, IN 47130
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Evansville
Harold T. Sparks, D.O. (D/C)
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Evansville, IN 47714
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Highland
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9635 Saric Court
Highland, IN 46322
(219) 924-2410
FAX (219) 924-9079
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Indianapolis
David A. Darbro, M.D. (DIPL)
2124 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227
(317) 787-7221
A,AR,CT,DD,FP,PM
Mooresville
Norman E. Whitney, D.O. (P)
PO Box 173
Mooresville, IN 46158(317) 831-3352
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South Bend
David E. Turfler, D.O. (P)
336 West Navarre Street
South Bend, IN 46616
(219) 233-3840
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Valparaiso
Myrna D. Trowbridge, D.O. (D/C)
850-C Marsh Street
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 462-3377
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IOWA
Des Moines
Beverly Rosenfeld, D.O. (P)
Suite 10
7177 Hickman Road
Des Moines, IA 50322
(515) 276-0061
GP,HGL,NT,OS,PM,YS
Sioux City
Horst G. Blume, M.D. (


 new level of consciousness, where the ego's influence is diminished, and the self-identification begins to dissolve.
Q: What is the primary goal of spiritual evolution, and how does it differ from the ego's perspective?,
A: The primary goal of spiritual evolution is not to achieve a specific state or gain, but to transcend the ego's influence and align with the Self. This is a nonlinear process that cannot be forced or controlled.
Q: Can one truly know and experience the Ultimate Reality without a deep understanding of the concepts and teachings of spiritual truth?,
A: No, one cannot truly know and experience the Ultimate Reality without a deep understanding of the concepts and teachings of spiritual truth. The ego's influence must be transcended, and the self-identification dissolved, in order to access the Ultimate Reality.
Q: What is the relationship between the ego and the concept of God?,
A: The ego's influence must be surrendered, and its dominance diminished, in order to understand the concept of God. The ego's understanding of God is limited and distorted, and its influence must be overcome in order to grasp the true nature of Divinity.
Q: Can the ego's influence be overcome through intellectual understanding and accumulation of knowledge?,
A: No, the ego's influence cannot be overcome through intellectual understanding and accumulation of knowledge. It requires a nonlinear, volitional process of surrender and devotion, which is facilitated by the presence of a Teacher.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Even the ego that ‘should have known better’ actually did not, or it would
not have made an error. OceanofPDF.comSection Two
The Discussion
O c e a n o f P D F. c o mCHAPTER 9
Dialogues
Truth is sufficient unto itself, but its explanation and description are
hampered by the fact that the appropriate languaging includes concepts and
expressions that are unfamiliar in daily life. However, words also carry
meaning and significance with associated effects (feelings) that bring up
associated memories. The majority of literature about Self-
Realization/Enlightenment arises from ancient teachings, with additions
over the centuries by well-known sages. The limitations that arise from traditional literature, especially from
ancient times, is that the original truth conveyed was sometimes
misunderstood and misinterpreted, especially when it was handed down
verbally for centuries before being written. In addition, at the time the
information was passed on orally, much of it was conveyed in a nonverbal
and subtle manner, such as gestures, facial expressions, emphasis, volume,
tone and cadence of voice, and body language. At times, all of these are
more important than the actual verbalization. The style of teaching is also
reflective of the teacher’s intuitive estimate of the audience’s capacity for
comprehension. A modern clarification and explanation are therefore of value, as well as
consciousness calibration of the level of truth expressed. Lectures also tend
to be didactic, and therefore, the question-and-answer periods at the end of
the lectures are favored by many students. Some meanings and implications
are best elucidated by the recontextualization of consequence, humor,
paradox, and ambiguity. The questions and answers tend to be less
detached, more informal, and less intellectually challenging. Q: What is the purpose of spiritual writing? A: To provide authenticated information that is not only verifiable but
also experientially pragmatically useful. First, curiosity and the intellect
have to be satisfied; there is a hunger for spiritual information. When it is
not satisfied by the availability of valid information, the hunger creates a
market for spurious spirituality that becomes popularized but is not
serviceable to the student because it is based on imagination. Much valid information is available but it retains the flavor and
languaging of foreign cultures and obscure terminology, such as Sanskrit
terms. When these are translated into English, they still seem archaic and
reflective of ethnicity and foreign cultures and times. For example, the
religious/cultural controversy that arose around the teachings of Meister
Eckhart is not really comprehensible today because it has lost its historical
context. The primary purpose of a spiritual teaching is to provide reliable
information in such a way as to be of practical service and inspiration and to
affirm spiritual truth by subjective declaration. It is necessary that students
be well informed in order to be able to proceed successfully and safely on
their way. Guidelines are like principles of discovery, for that which is
sought is already within. Q: Notable in your writings and lectures is the absence of doctrine or
citing of ecclesiastical authority. A: Truth stands on its own. Scriptural references are primarily for
amplification or familiarity. The inner pathway is experiential and not
intellectual. It does not require glamorization, amplification, resort to
authoritarianism, or any other manipulation to try to impress the student. Historically, no method was available to verify authenticity other than
formal ecclesiastical approval. For example, in the Far East, authenticity
was often inferred by reference to the material as a product of the
authority of a lineage of sages. Due to the statistical rarity of the
enlightened condition, any information about it was considered valuable
as well as unique or special. At the present time, an objective means of identification and
validation of truth is now available through the method of consciousness
calibration. Thus, it is no longer necessary to just depend on reputation,
ecclesiastical authority, official ‘imprimatur’, hearsay, or public image. The chances for being misled are now far less. The mind, on its own, is
an unreliable guide. It is easily misled by glamour, reputation, and
popularity, with their associated enthusiasm and emotionality. The
packaging or promotion of belief systems or teachers has no relationship
to the value of the ingredients. Q: Who is the writer of your works or the speaker at lectures?A: The question itself is in error. It is better to ask ‘what’ rather than ‘who’. In Reality, there is no ‘who’ but instead a suprapersonal quality or
capacity that is autonomous and spontaneous. Intention catalyzes
potentiality’s becoming actuality. The Reality/Source is the Teacher
within, which is the Presence of the Self. Verbalization is the
consequence of the utilization of the intellectual capacity of mind to
subserve Mind. The dominion is that of Mind to which verbalized mind
is merely a pragmatic tool. The Knowingness is nonlinear but its
elucidation is linear for purposes of human communication. However, a
simultaneous nonverbal level of communication occurs that facilitates
comprehension by the listener. This is so via written works and even
more so in the teacher’s actual presence. In the Teacher, the Knower is the Known. In ordinary mentation, the
known and the knower are separate. In a Teacher, the duality of the
Knower does not exist because they are the same by virtue of identity. The Self gives the answer to questions. It does not hear from an ‘other’. The Knower/Self is the initiator/source of the speaker. For example, by analogy, if we ask the cat, “What is it like to be a
cat?” it would be puzzled. It just is what it is and has no need to
objectify itself as a discernible object, so the cat replies saying, “What
does ‘cat’ mean?”
   We answer, “You.”
   The cat responds, “Oh, so that is what I am, or is that what I am
called?”
   We answer, “A cat is what you are called because that is what you
are.”
   “Oh,” says the cat,“but what does that mean?”
   So we read to the cat what is written about cats in the encyclopedia. The cat replies,“That is all very interesting, but it hasn’t anything to
do with who I am. I don’t experience myself as a cat. I experience
myself as ‘me’.” The cat continues, “Please explain what it is to be a
‘me.’ What is it like to be a human?”
   We could only reply, “To be a ‘me’.”
   “Thank you,” says the cat, “now I understand what it is to be a cat. All
I have to do is just be ‘me’.”
   Thus we can see that the cat is both enlightened and of Divine origin,
for ‘to know that you a r e’ is the crux of sentient life. That cat is happyand content just because it i s. It has awareness/consciousness and is
therefore perfect. Q: Are ‘experiencing’ and ‘awareness’ different qualities? A: The question leads to the interesting discovery that below consciousness
level 200, there is the experiencing of life processes, but there is not yet
the conscious awareness of existence. Thus, a frog experiences frog life
but it is not aware yet that it is or has existence or beingness. Both animal and human life change quality at consciousness level
200, where life becomes aware of its existence in the manner that it is. This is a remarkable difference that is demonstrated in the distribution
of the levels of consciousness in the animal kingdom as well as in
human life. It could be said that life is not valued for its own sake below
consciousness level 200, and therefore, the worth of the lives of others
is not valued for its own sake either. It is only beyond consciousness
level 200 that concern for the well-being and value of the lives of
‘


A Return to Love —Marianne Williamson
Revolution from Within —Gloria Steinem
The Road Less Traveled —M. Scott Peck, M.D. Saved by the Light —Dannion Brinkley
The Science of Mind —Ernest Holmes
Self-Parenting —John Pollard III
Staying on the Path —Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Super Nutrition Gardening —Dr. William S. Peavy and Warren Peary
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying —Sogyal Rinpoche
What Do Y ou Really Want for Y our Children? —Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
What Every Woman Needs to Know Before (and After) She Gets Involved with Men and
Money —Judge Lois Forer
Woman Heal Thyself —Jeanne Elizabeth Blum
A Woman’s Worth —Marianne Williamson
Women Who Love T oo Much —Robin Norwood
Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom—Christiane Northrup, M.D. Y our Sacred Self —Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
V Any book by Emmett Fox or Dr. John MacDonald
V Also, the audiocassette program, Making Relationships Work,
by Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D.169 Love Yourself, Heal Your LifeTTT
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Take Your Soulon a Vacation
Visitwww.HealYourLife.com®toregroup,recharge,andreconnectwithyourown
magnificence.Featuringblogs,mind-body-spiritnews,andlife-changingwisdomfrom
LouiseHayandfriends. Visit www.HealYourLife.com today! Love Yourself, Heal Your_R31:LYHYL_Mar03_Reprint  2/11/10  11:44 AM  Page 6<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        BOOKS
Colors & Numbers
Empowering Women
A Garden of Thoughts: My Affirmation Journal
Gratitude: A Way of Life (Louise and Friends)
Heal Y our Body
Heal Y our Body A–Z
Heart Thoughts
I Can Do It®
Inner Wisdom
Letters to Louise
Life. Reflections on Y our Journey
Love Y our Body
Meditations to Heal Y our Life (also in a gift edition)
The Power Is Within Y ou
The Times of Our Lives (Louise & Friends)
Y ou Can Heal Y our Life (also in a gift edition)
Y ou Can Heal Y our Life Companion Book
COLORING BOOKS/AUDIOCASSETTES
FOR CHILDREN
Lulu and the Ant: A Message of Love
Lulu and the Dark: Conquering Fears
Lulu and Willy the Duck: Learning Mirror Work
AUDIOS/CD PROGRAMS
Anger Releasing
Cancer
Change and Transition
Dissolving Barriers
Feeling Fine Affirmations
Forgiveness/Loving the Inner Child
Heal Y our Body (audio book)
How to Love Y ourself
Life. Reflections on Y our Journey (audio book)
Loving Y ourself
Meditations for Personal Healing
Meditations to Heal Y our Life (audio book)Morning and Evening Meditations
101 Power Thoughts
Overcoming Fears
The Power Is Within Y ou (audio book)
The Power of Y our Spoken Word
Receiving Prosperity
Self-Esteem Affirmations (subliminal)
Self Healing
Stress-Free Affirmations (subliminal)
Totality of Possibilities
What I Believe/Deep Relaxation
Y ou Can Heal Y our Life (audio book)
Y ou Can Heal Y our Life Study Course
Y our Thoughts Create Y our Life
VIDEO PROGRAM
Dissolving Barriers
CARD DECKS
Healthy Body Cards
I CAN DO IT®Cards (a 60-card deck)
I CAN DO IT®Cards for Creativity, Forgiveness,
Health, Job Success, Wealth, Self-Esteem, Romance
(each deck has 12 cards)
Power Thought Cards
Power Thought Sticky Cards
Power Thoughts for Teens
Wisdom Cards
TTT
All of the above are available at your local
bookstore, or may be ordered by visiting:
Hay House USA: www. hayhouse. com ®
Hay House Australia: www.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the name of the book "Louise and Friends" co-authored by?,
A: Gratitude: A Way of Life<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>THE    COMPLETE    GUIDE    TO
AYURVEDIC     NUTRITION     &     BODY    TYPES
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NOTE   ON  THE   COVER
The  Puranas,  a  compilation  of  ancient  stories  of  the  Hindu  tradition,  are  rich  with
descriptions  of  the  struggle  between  good  and  evil. In  one  such  story  the  contest
between  these  two  forces  was  so  great  that  even  the  ocean  was  churned  up  into  a  raging
sea. In  the  role  of  peacemaker,  Lord  Shiva  offered  the  ocean's  bounty  equally  to  both. In
gratitude,  the  ocean  gave  Shiva  a  pearl-white  elephant  boasting  four  trunks,  which
emanated  the  seven  colors  of  the  rainbow,  named  Airavata. He  was  claimed  as  the  mount
for  Indra,  Lord  of  the  firmament. The  elephant,  the  oldest  surviving  mammal,  is  a  symbol  for  both  earth  and  space. The  young,  vital  Airavata  represents  the  foundation  of  the  living  universe. He  is  the
symbol  of  the  first  subtle  energy  center,  located  at  the  base  of  the  spine,  known  as  the
muladhara  chakra. The  four  trunks  are  symbols  of  the  human  virtues  of  material  wealth,
continuous  allurement,  reverence  for  the  laws  of  nature,  and  the  pursuit  of  ultimate
freedom  of  the  spirit. The  seven  colors  of  the  rainbow,  along  with  the  body  of  Airavata,
symbolize  the  octave  of  creation,  comprising  earth,  water,  fire,  air,  space,  mind,  intelli-
gence, and  ego. When  the  elements,  the  sense  mechanism,  and  egoity  are  tamed  into  recognition  of
the  One  spirit,  the  four  trunks  of  Airavata  resolve  into  the  single  trunk  of  Gaja. Lord  of
the  herbivores,  Gaja  represents  the  fifth  chakra,  known  as  Vishuddha,  and  thus  the
element


  for  45  minutes  until
the  thermometer  reads  180  degrees  F.  If  you're  using  a
gas  stove,  place  pan  over  a  flame  tamer,  which  will
cause  the  heat  to  distribute  evenly. Allow  the  milk  to CONSERVATION
AND   RECYCLING   OF
FOOD   REMAINS
The  one  important  practice  that  is  often  neglected
through  omission  rather  than  violation  is  the  sadhana
of  disposing  of  food  remains  after  cooking  a  meal. From  the  perspective  of  sadhanas,  how  we  dispose  of
the  unusable  reflects  our  knowledge  of  actions  that
are  harmonious  to  the  environment,  and  our  rever-
ence for  the  planet. According  to  Ayurvedic  thinking,  the  question  is
not  how  much  we  need  to  recycle,  but  how  little  we
need  to  use  of  that  which  cannot  dissolve  naturally
back  into  the  earth. The  following  methods  of  preser-
vation can  help  prevent  the  generation  of  unneces-
sary and  irreverent  waste  products. 1. Use  cotton  kitchen  towels  and  dinner  napkins,
which  may  be  washed  and  reused. Refrain  from
using  paper  towels  and  napkins  (or  paper  plates and  cups). 2. Reuse  plastic  and  paper  shopping  bags  from  the
market  as  containers  for  inorganic  garbage. These  may  then  be  disposed  of  through  recy-
cling centers,  if  available. 3. Refrain  from  purchasing  plastic  products,  such
as  garbage  bags,  plastic  wrap  or  baggies,  and
plastic  utensils. You  may  reuse  the  clear  plastic
fruit  and  vegetable  bags  from  the  store  for  your
various  wrapping  needs. Understandably  a  cer-
tain amount  of  plastic  will  be  necessary  for  the
present-day  mode  of  living — the  option  is  to
184
jmz,
FOOD    SADHANAS
minimize  the  usage. In  sum,  continue  to  use
what  you  own,  but  do  not  support  the  produc-
tion of  more  paper  or  plastic. 4. Minimize  the  use  of  aluminum  foil  and  con-
tainers made  of  foil,  such  as  baking  pans. In-
stead use  pans  and  containers  that  can  be  washed
and  reused  for  all  of  your  cooking  needs. 5. If  possible,  create  a  compost  pile  for  the  veg-
etables, fruits,  grain,  dhals,  and  spices  that  re-
main after  meal  preparation. In  this  way,  the
unusable  remains  of  foods  are  returned  natu-
rally to  their  source,  Mother  Earth,  along  with
the  used  portions. Speak  to  the  proprietor  of
your  neighborhood  gardening  supply  store  to
learn  how  to  create  and  maintain  a  compost  pile. 6. Be  especially  alert  to  preparing  only  the  quan-
tity of  food  needed  for  your  meals. Avoid  gen-
erating any  excess  that  will  then  have  to  be
thrown  away. If  there  is  excess,  feed  it  to  the
animals,  or  compost  it. 7. Collect  the  stems,  stones,  and  husks  remaining
from  your  grain  cleaning  in  a  small  container. Make  a  weekly  or  biweekly  visit  to  the  earth  to
dispose  of  your  collection. years  of  mono-cropping,  the  United  States  has  in-
curred a  devastating  loss  of  farmland. We  cannot  re-
build this  land. More  than  half  of  our  water  supply
throughout  the  country  is  contaminated  with  the
chemical  pesticides  used  in  farming. Our  bodies  are
made  of  soil  and  water. These  elements  are  the  foun-
dation of  plant  life  and  other  organisms  upon  which
our  lives  depend. We  are  burning  up  more  fossil  fuel
to  produce  chemical  and  synthetic  fertilizers  than  to
cultivate  and  harvest  all  the  crops  in  the  United  States. The  use  of  human  energy  used  in  the  farming  of  our
croplands  is  becoming  extinct. The  Environmental  Protection  Agency  of  the
United  States  considers  90  percent  of  all  fungicides,
60  percent  of  all  herbicides,  and  30  percent  of  all
insecticides  to  be  carcinogenic. Pesticides  are  impli-
cated in  the  cause  of  cancer,  birth  defects,  nerve  dam-
age, and  genetic  mutations. The  remaining  percent-
ages of  these  chemicals  contribute  to  the  devastating
transmutation  of  our  internal  systems. The  more  our
food  sources,  soil,  and  water  are  tampered  with,  the
less  linkage  we  are  able  to  maintain  with  memory  of
the  earth  and  nature. Unless  we  maintain  our  memory
A  SMALL   PLOT  OF   LAND
The  need  for  small  community  food  gardens  is  im-
perative. Whether  we  reside  in  urban  or  rural  areas,
the  plan  for  a  small  plot  of  earth  where  people  share
the  work  and  the  crops  is  a  vital  necessity  for  our
preservation. The  best  response  to  the  paucity  of  clean
foods  is  to  create  our  own  supply  and  augment  it
from  the  organic  produce  of  other  farmers. We  can-
not depend  solely  on  the  health  food  market  or  the
many  small  organic  farms. The  deepest  change  will
come  when  we  contribute  to  the  health  and  longevity
of  nature  with  our  own  hands  and  heart. Each  year,  nearly  three  billion  tons  of  topsoil  is
eroded  from  the  croplands  of  this  country. The  soil  is
being  killed  by  chemical  fertilizers  and  depleted  of  its
natural  minerals  by  repeated  planting  of  the  same
crops  on  the  same  acres  of  land. Over  the  last  forty Man  ami  Oxen  Ploughing  the
I .nut. Prom  l  gj  pii.m  relief,  2,000  b,
1K5
^r
TUT. PRACTICE    OF    AYURVEDA
base  through  the  use  o(  earth's  plants  and  organisms,
we  cannot  continue  to  develop  as  a  species. Each  sense  organ  links  us  to  the  beginning  of  time,
connecting  us  to  the  past  in  order  that  we  may  chart
the  future. Water  is  the  sole  contributor  to  taste. The
most  important  of  the  five  senses,  taste  directly  melds
us  with  our  food  bodies,  the  earth,  and  the  universe. With  the  present  tasteless  and  taste-distorted  fare  of
chemical-fed  foods,  we  slip  deeper  and  deeper  into
cosmic  amnesia. One  acre  of  land  can  produce  forty  thousand
pounds  of  potatoes,  thirty  thousand  pounds  of  car-
rots, forty  thousand  pounds  of  onions,  and  sixty  thou-
sand pounds  of  celery  every  year. The


 Y ou: Using Heart-Center ed Principles for Lasting Abundance
and Fulfillment
Transcending the Levels of Consciousness: The Stairway to Enlightenment
Truth vs. Falsehood: How to T ell the Differ ence
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OceanofPDF.comOceanofPDF.comCopyright © 2022 by David and Susan Hawkins Revocable T rust
Published in the United States by:  Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com®
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Published in the United Kingdom by:  Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk
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Cover design:  Julie Davison
Interior design:  Bryn Starr Best
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or
electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval
system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use—other than for “fair use” as
brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews—without prior written permission of the publisher. The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a
form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician,
either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to of fer information of a general nature to
help you in your quest for emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of
the information in this book for yourself, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for
your actions. Excerpts from Healing and Recovery  (2009) are used with permission from the author and
publisher. An excerpt from Discovery of the Pr esence of God: Devotional Nonduality  (2007), Chapter 7: The
Razor ’s Edge, p. 133 is used with permission from the author and publisher. Excerpts from The Map of Consciousness Explained: A Pr oven Ener gy Scale to Actualize Y our
Ultimate Potential  (2020), Preface, p. xiv–xv, are used with permission from the author and
publisher. Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congr ess
Tradepaper ISBN:  978-1-4019-6497-9
E-book ISBN:  978-1-4019-6505-1
OceanofPDF.comC O N T E N T S
Forewor d
Introduction
Chapter 1: Moving from the Ego to Service
Chapter 2: Calibration
Chapter 3: Spiritual Consciousness
Chapter 4: Obstacles to Spiritual Growth
Chapter 5: Surrender
Chapter 6: T ruth
Chapter 7: The 9 Fundamentals of Conscious Spiritual Growth
Chapter 8: Spiritual Practices
Chapter 9: Enlightened Healers
Chapter 10: Enlightenment
Bonus Material: The Most V aluable Qualities for a Spiritual Seeker
About the Author
Hay House Unlimited Audio
Continue Y our Journey with Hay House
OceanofPDF.comF O R E W O R D
David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D., affectionately called “Doc” by his spiritual
students, died peacefully at his home in Sedona, Arizona, on September 19,
2012, at the age of 85. Even up to the last breath, he gave his all to help
others. He left a body of work that includes over 15 books and hundreds of
hours of audio-visual programs. Those of us who had the great fortune to hear Dr. Hawkins speak in
person will neve r forget what it was like. People from all walks of life, even
from faraway countries, attende d the sold-out monthly seminars he offered. We heard the material he presen ted, yet we experienced something deeper
than words. The information was delivered via a carrier wave of Love,
silent and all-pervading. Historically, this nonverbal transmission has been
called the “Grace of the Teacher.” Through his oral teachings, he conveyed
profound truths in a personable  way that awakened the inner  Self of the
listener. A transformative  effect occurs also through his writing. The late spiritual
and self-help author, Wayne Dyer, called Dr. Hawkins’ s book Power vs.
Force “perhaps the most important and significant book I’ve read in the
past 10 years.” Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote this to him after
reading his manuscript for Power vs. For ce: “Conti nue to use your beautifu l
gift of writing to the full.” Legendary musician Nipsey Hussle, shortly
before his untim ely death, said to an interviewer: “The most powerful book
I’ve read in the last ten years is called Power vs. For ce.”
Power vs. Force, Dr. Hawkins’ s first spiritual book, has sold more than a
million copies and has been translated into more than 25 languages. He had
wanted to publis h it anonymously, for he said it came “through” him rather
than “from” him. Of its signific ance, he observed: “The karma of mankind
changed with the writing of that book.”That book was followed by Eye of the I: From Which Nothing Is Hidden
and I: Reality and Subjectivity. These three books, he said, are the
foundational “trilogy” of his teachings. From there, he wrote many more
books to apply his teachings to all areas of life, from physica l healing to
overcoming addiction, to succe ss and happiness. In 2019, a primer of his
work, The Map of Consciousness Explained, was published to illumine the
many facets of his key discovery, The Map of Consciousness®. Surprisingly, Dr. Hawkins did not begin his spiritual writing until he was
65. This in itself is an encourage ment to us, the readers, to trust his teaching
that our lives contain hidden potentials waiting to be actualized when the
time is right. In fact, the book you hold in your hand may be the catalyst
needed to actualize a potential within you. He explains:
That is the value of the presenc e of a Teacher whose energy field is
like a catalyst. The high energy field of the Self is already present in
the student. It does not have to be acquired but only activated, which
is a consequence of positive karmic potentiality. — Discovery of the
Presence of God: Devotional Nonduality  (2007), Chapter 7: The
Razor ’s Edge, p. 133. This book is a unique and wonderful resource of teachings from Dr.
Hawkins. It has been adapted from one of Dr. Hawkins’ s classic audio
programs, and it gives readers the ambience of his oral conve yance. You
might imagine that you are sitting there in his audience—listening and
watching, laughing and receiving. His wife, Susan Hawkins, who was always on stage with him as his
lovemate, co-researcher, and “right arm,” gave this account of his lectures:
When I was on stage with him, I saw how he would say thing s in a
powerful way and suddenly people’s faces would light up—they got
it! It was so fulfilling to see that response and to know that some one’s
life was changed. For Dave, it was never about himself—he cared
only about the message and its impact on others. He had a contagious
sense of humor; it was impossible not to laugh whenever he was
laughing. He didn’ t care about appearances or getting approval from
others, because he knew who and what he was. — The Map ofConsciousness Explained: A Proven Ener gy Scale to Actualize Your
Ultimate Potential  (2020), Preface, p. xiv. As you read this book, you will perhaps realize why someone described
his lecture style as a mixture of Einstein, the Buddha, and Mr. Magoo. He
was a liberated being—free, spontaneous, compassionate, humorous, and
totally available. His spaciousness welcomed everyone and everything. Being in his presence, you knew he saw into you, he saw through your
facades, and he loved you exactly as you were. He addressed himself to the
greater Self within you. Though he appeared in the form  of a man, he was somehow beyond male
and female, human and nonhuman. He knew the Divine Light in all things;
he recognized the sacredness even in the little beetle and the mother skunk. He was the “Eye of the I” from which nothing was hidden. Nothing existed
that was not included in this Love. He inhabited the rarefied realm of what the world calls “enlightenment,”
yet he was dedicated to helping others overcome the painful obstacles in
everyday life. He strove to be helpful and ordinary. As you go through this
book, you will encounter very advanced teachings coming through in the
simplest way possible. The purity of the message is due to his total
surrender of personal gain.


 appealing, it was healing. I clearly remember how Louise had this incredible ability to
quickly create a sense of community and bring people together, one heart at a time. Louise cries freely when she talks about the Hayrides. “These young
people were terrified and lonely. They’d been rejected by their family and
by socie ty,” Louise tells me. “What they needed was a friend—someone
who wasn’t afraid, who wouldn’ t judge them, and who loved them for who
they are. I simply answered the call.” When I ask Louise about her tears,
she says, “We got through a lot of Kleenex at the Hayride. I made so many
friends. I lost a lot of friends, too. We attended far too many funerals. But
we also made sure no one died without knowing they were loved. And, of
course, many people lived on and created a future they never expected to
have.”
In the opening sequence of Doors Opening, Louise says, “I don’t heal
anybody. I just provide a space where we can uncover how absolutely
wonderful we are, and many people find that they’re able to heal
themselves.” Louise is consistent in her message. I’ve witnessed hundreds
of peopl e tell Louise personally, “Thank you for healing my life.” I smile
every time it happens because I know how Louise will respond. “ You healed
your life,” she tells them. “Louise, people have called you a lot of things,” I say. “I know,” she says, laughing. “You tell everyone, I am not a healer.”
“That’ s right,” she says firmly.“So what are you?”
“Oh, I don’ t know.”
“You’ve been called a living saint.”
“Well, I can’ t help that,” she says, clearly embarrassed. “Oprah W infrey called you the Mother of the Law of Attraction.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You’ve been called a guru and a pioneer.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And a rebel.”
“Oh, I like that,” she says, laughing. “Have you ever painted a self-portrait?” I ask her. “Never!”
“Come on, Louise: tell me who you are.”
“Well, how would you describe me?”
“I have a couple of ideas.”
“I’ll take them both!”
“I think you’re a lioness,” I tell her. “Well, I have Leo rising in my chart,” she says. “I think you’re fierce about the truth.”
“Fierce and direct,” she says. “You’re also very protective of the people you love.”
“Extremely,” she says. “I also think you’re a teacher,” I tell her. “That’ s true,” she says. When I think about Louise and her work, there’ s a line from A Course in
Miracles  that immediately springs to mind: “Teach only love, for that is
what you are.” Louise is a teacher, and she teaches about love. She teaches
that in every given moment of your life you are choosing betwe en love and
fear, love and pain, and love and hate. “I teach one thing—an d one thing
only—love yourself,” says Louise. “Until you love yourself, you will never know who you really  are and
you won’ t know what you’re really capable of,” Louise told me on a recent
Skype call. She sees love as the miracle ingredient that helps you to grow
into the person you truly are. “When you love yourself, you grow up,” she
says. “Love helps you to grow beyond your past, beyond pain, beyondfears, beyond your ego, and beyond all your small ideas about yourself. Love is what you’re made of, and love helps you to be who you really are.”
One of the great joys of being Louise’ s friend is witnessing her passion
and commitment for growth. Louise Hay loves to learn. “If I hadn’ t learned
to love myself, none of what I’ve done since would have been possible,”
she tells me. Louise’ s message is, Love yourself now. Don’ t wait until you’r e
ready. “If you won’ t love yourself today, you won’ t love yourself tomorrow
either. But if you start today, you begin to create a better futur e, and your
future self will be so grateful to you,” she says. Louise is always on the looko ut for new growth and new adventures. After her first public art exhibit, she wrote a post on Facebook saying, “Life
goes in cycles. There’ s a time to do something new, and then there’ s a time
to move on. It’s never too late to learn something new.” After the Hayride
Reunion, she told me, “I feel like one door has closed and another door is
opening now. I am open and receptive to new opportunities to grow.” On
our most recent Skype call, Louise told me she has signed up for a course
on spiritual homeopathy. While we’ve been writing Life Loves You, Louise has felt as if she’s on
the threshold of a whole new chapter in her life. She told me that she has no
idea what this new chapter is about yet. She said, “I feel excited and
nervous, but I remind myself each day that life loves me, that I’m safe, that
life wants the best for me, and that it’s only change.” When I asked Louise
how she planned to welcome in her new chapter, she said, “I’m going to
rearrange some furniture. I’ll let go of a few things, and I’ll make room for
the new.”
Recently, I gave the opening keynote for the IGNITE! conference hosted
by Hay House UK in London. The conference featured 12 authors talking
about personal growth and global transformation. I asked Louise if she had
a message she’d like to share with the audience. She promptly shot me an e-
mail full of passion and high teaching. Here’ s what she asked me to share:
I ignite my life every time I do something new. Daring to step into new space is so exciting. I know that only good lies before me
so I am ready for whatever Life has in store for me. New adventures keep us young. And sending loving thoughts in every direction
keeps our lives filled with love. 87 is the new beginning of my life.A Loving Mirr or
When Louise Hay walks onto the stage at an I Can Do It! conference, the
audience rises to its feet in spontaneous appreciation. Thousand s of people
join as one to shower Louise with love and thanks. It happens every time,
all over the world, in cities like Vancouver, London, New York, Sydney,
and Hambur g, Germany. I’ve stood in those audiences on many  occasions,
and I’ve been moved to tears pretty much each time. It’s wonderful to think
about what can happen in this world when one person makes a stand for
love. This time Louise and I are in Denver for another I Can Do It! We’re in
Louise’ s hotel room, reviewin g the early chapters of this book. “The
message I most want our readers to hear is Life loves you as you are, and it
wants you to do the same,”  Louise tells me. “We’re here on this planet to
learn about unconditional love, and it begins with self-acceptan ce and self-
love.” Pointing her finger at me, she says, “In your life you have to start
with loving you.” She then points to herself and says, “And in my life I
have to start with loving me.” She pauses for a moment and then says, “And
that’s how we love the world.”
When you teach  about self-love, like Louise and I do, you quickly get
used to dealing with any number of objections and concerns. The common
ones include “Self-love is selfish”; “Self-love is self-indulgent”; “Self-love
is narcissistic.”  Is this really true? My feeling is that narcissism is
narcissistic, but self-love isn’t narcissism. In other words, most of the
objections to self-love come from misperceptions of what love is. “Self-
love is not about vanity or arrogance, it’s about self-respect,” says Louise. “It’s a deep appreciation for how you’ve been made and for the life you are
here to live.”
In my Loveability  program, I tell my students who are afraid that self-
love is selfish to take a look at Louise Hay’ s life. Louise’ s story is a
wonderful example of how self-healing and self-love can be a blessing for
others. Look what happened after Louise embarked on her healing journey. She wrote the first version of her little blue book, entitled What Hurts, when
she was 50 years old. Three years later, she rewrote the book and published
it as Heal Your Body. When Louise was 56 years old, she started the
Hayride. She set up her charity, the Hay Foundation, when she was 59 yearsold. She founded Hay House when she was 60 years old. All this, and she
was just getting started. “We are here to be a loving mirror to the world,” Louise tells me. The
more we love ourselves, the less we project our pain onto the world. When
we stop judging ourselves, we naturally judge others less. When we stop
attacking ourse lves, we don’t attack


. He wondered briefly if he sounded delirious. One of the younger monks interrupted. “T ell us your way.”
“On the road I met an old sannyasi named Ganaka, and he told me
something important. Let the world be your teacher. I couldn’ t understand
what he meant at first, but now I do. Every experience that traps me is a
worldly experience. The world is seductive and hard to interpret for what it
really is. Y et this world is nothing more than desire, and every desire makes
me run after it. Why? Because I believe it’ s real. Desires are phantoms,
concealing the grinning face of death. Be wise. Believe in nothing.”It took many nights around the fire, but Gautama and the five monks
came to an agreement. They would give their bodies nothing to live for in
the world, no desires to fulfill, no cravings to become a slave to. They
would sit like statues facing a wall, and no matter how many desires arose,
each one would be coldly turned away. “Even if we are tied to our karma by
ten thousand threads,” said Gautama, “we can break them one at a time. When the last attachment is gone, karma will be dead instead of us.”
He believed every word. Perhaps the five monks didn’ t, but they
followed him. They sat like statues facing a wall and waited. Gautama was
so fervent that he expected to reach his goal soon. Assaji wouldn’ t commit
himself. “Unhappiness is born of expectations that don’ t come true,” he
reminded his brother monk. “Even to expect nothing can be a trap.”
Gautama bowed his head. “I understand.” But this gesture of humility
disguised the fire he felt inside. In legend, other yogis had found
immortality. They were great aspirants, and Gautama saw himself as
nothing less. He chose a spot away from all shelter, sat down on a patch of
rocks without clearing them away, and waited. “IF YOU MUST GO, then go. I don’ t need a reason,” said Assaji. He looked on
Kondana with mild eyes that held no reproof. Kondana was the youngest of
the five monks, but he had proved the toughest in the end. “You already know my reasons. Look at him,” Kondana protested. He
pointed at a gnarled carving lying on the jungle floor, which was so close to
looking like weathered wood that at times he had to remind himself that it
was actually a living person—Gautama. “I can’ t stay and watch him kill himself,” said Kondana. “It’ s like
watching a corpse decay while it’ s still breathing.” He had already stayed
longer than three of the five monks. None were impatient. Since vowing to
follow Gautama, they had pursued enlightenment for five years. “He never moves anymore. I wonder where he is,” said Assaji.“I think he’ s in hell,” Kondana said mournfully. The years of austerity had caused many things to happen. They had all
gone through experiences in meditation that they never dreamed possible. Assaji himself had visited the home of the gods. He had watched Shakti, the
sinuous consort of Shiva, dance for him, a dance where every step shook
the worlds and the tinkle of ankle bells turned into stars. He had conversed
with the greatest sages, like V asishtha, who had been dead for centuries. Only Gautama never told such tales, and after winter settled in among the
Himalayan peaks, it was a matter of survival to force him to find a place
where they could be more protected. Reluctantly Gautama agreed, but only
on the condition that he would continue his austerities and that the five
monks would make no contact with other human beings. An emaciated man whose skin has toughened into cracked brown hide
and who has subsisted on a tenth of the food given to a newborn baby is not
a sight for ordinary eyes. Some people would consider him a fraud, others a
madman. The superstitious few would call him a saint. “I do not know who
I am anymore,” Gautama said. “But I am blessed, because it has taken me
only five years to know who I am not.”
Now Assaji walked over to Gautama and with Kondana’ s help set him
upright again. He had fallen over during the night, and these days he was
lost in a samadhi so deep that nothing registered from the outside world. It
was up to the other monks to feed him by opening his mouth and placing a
handful of chewed rice in it. They carried him to the river to bathe him and
moved him out of the worst of the searing sun. All this made it appear that
Gautama was helpless and paralyzed. But Assaji knew that appearances
were deceiving. Gautama was on a quest the likes of which went back
almost before time. Kondana put on his sandals and tucked some dried berries into the
corner of his shawl. “W ill you come?” he asked Assaji. “No.”
“You still think he has a chance—he might succeed?”“I wouldn’ t say that.”
There was nothing more to talk about. Kondana bowed down before
Gautama and placed a pink wild orchid at his feet in reverence. He no
longer felt guilty over losing hope; he was too exhausted to feel much of
anything. As he left camp, Assaji touched him on the shoulder. “When the time comes I’ll send for you. The five of us should carry the
body back to his people.”
That was the last word Assaji said or heard for the next three months. Spring came, and every day brought a shower of creamy white blossoms
falling from the sal trees that blanketed the northern forest. Gautama had
not altered. At times he showed more signs of life than at other times. Assaji would hear him at night walking out of camp for the call of nature,
but that was rarely. The water level might dip in the gourd Assaji placed by
his side. What eventually broke was Assaji’ s own body. He got sick alone in the
jungle; for all he knew it was a sign. W rapped in his shawl, he suf fered the
delirium of fever for five days and nights. When the fever broke, he
shivered with cold sweat. Slowly his body returned to health, but with it
came an unexpected change. Assaji grew hungry again. He craved a real
meal and would scour the jungle floor for a dead parrot to take back and
cook. If I am r educed to unwholesome food, my quest is over, he thought. He
wasn’ t willing to sink to a subhuman level, no matter how enormous the
goal of enlightenment might be. He decided to tell Gautama. One morning
he crouched in front of his motionless brother, wiping away the dirt from
his face with water from the gourd. “I’m going,” he said. Gautama showed no signs of hearing him. “I must
think about my soul. If you die and I let you, my sin is as great as murder. You shouldn’ t be responsible for that. I’m ashamed to speak of sin to
someone like you, but there’ s no shame in it if you decide to come with
me.”Assaji’ s guilt made him feel that he’d said too much already. Like the
others, his faith had been worn down too far. Assaji lingered around camp a
few more days. He piled fruit next to Gautama and a week’ s supply of
water. How strange that this immobile icon should still be alive and that
behind his mask he was fighting such a huge battle. Face the wall like a
statue and give them nothing. Assaji remembered Gautama’ s rallying cry,
but he couldn’ t follow it anymore. He left camp before dawn without a
sound. Gautama didn’ t hear him depart; he had heard nothing since he became
aware—and then only at the farthest edge of his mind—that Kondana was
gone. It didn’ t matter. He had come to realize that he was walking the path
alone. T wo journeys had to be made without companions: the journey to
your death and the one to enlightenment. In his meditations he had arrived at heaven before the others, but he said
nothing about it. There was dazzling beauty; golden celestial beings
materialized all around him, but then he took a route the other monks would
not. Gautama turned his back on the celestial beings. “I’ve already known
pleasure. What good does it do me to feel more?”
“This is heavenly pleasure,” the celestial beings said. “Which I can enjoy forever only after I die,” said Gautama. “Therefore
it’s as good as a curse.” He walked away and asked to see more suf fering. Thus he arrived at the gate of hell, where Gautama saw the terrifying
torments that lay beyond. But no demons came for him. Instead he heard
these words: “No sin brings you here. Do not pass.”
He entered anyway, of his own free will. I’ve known fear, he thought. And fear is death’ s chief weapon. Let me experience the worst torment, and
then fear will lose its hold


 to the passage, coconut oil can be used as a dairy-free replacement for butter.
Q: What is one way to use coconut oil as a beauty product?,
A: The passage suggests using coconut oil as an eye makeup remover.
Q: Can coconut oil be used to improve skin health?,
A: Yes, the passage mentions that coconut oil can be used to help skin heal after injury, soothe psoriasis or eczema, reduce itch from bug bites, and reduce wrinkles.
Q: Where can you find more information on coconut oil and wellness?,
A: The passage provides links to various social media platforms, including Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube, where you can find more information and inspiration on wellness and coconut oil.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>T h e  G i f t  o f
C H A N G E

Spiritual Guidance for a Radically New Life

MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

For my mother

 C o n t e n t s

  E P I G R A P H
    I N T R O D U C T I O N
The Challenge to Grow
    C H A P T E R  O N E
Crossing the Bridge
    C H A P T E R  T W O
From For getting Who W e Ar e
to Remembering Who W e Ar e

C H A P T E R  T H R E E
From Negative Thinking
to Positive Love

C H A P T E R  F O U R
From Anxiety
to Atonement

C H A P T E R  F I V E
From Asking God to Change the W orld
to Praying That He Change Us
    C H A P T E R  S I X
From Living in the Past and Futur e
to Living in the Pr esent

C H A P T E R  S E V E N
From Focus on Guilt
to Focus on Innocence

C H A P T E R  E I G H T
From Separation
to Relationship

C H A P T E R  N I N E
From Spiritual Death
to Rebirth

C H A P T E R  T E N
From Y our Plan
to God’ s Plan

C H A P T E R  E L E V E N
From Who W e W er e
to Who W e Ar e Becoming
    G O I N G  F R O M  H E R E

 Acknowledgments
  About the Author
  Cr edits
  Cover
  Copyright
  About the Publisher

Behold, I tell you a mystery: W e shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For
the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed. —I Corinthians 15:51-52, N K J V

 INTRODUCTION
T h e  C h a l l e n g e  t o  G r o w
T h e  t i m e s  i n  w h i c h  w e  l i v e  a r e  d i f f i c u l t,  m o r e
d i f f i c u l t  t h a n  a  l o t  o f  p e o p l e  s e e m  w i l l i n g  t o  a d m i t. T h e r e  i s
a n  a b i d i n g  s e n s e  o f  c o l l e c t i v e  a n x i e t y,  u n d e r s t a n d a b l e  b u t
n o t  a l w a y s  e a s y  t o  t a l k  a b o u t. W h e n  t h i n g s  a r e n ’ t  g o i n g  w e l l  f o r  y o u  i n  y o u r  p e r s o n a l
l i f e,  p e r h a p s  y o u  c a l l  a  f r i e n d  o r  f a m i l y  m e m b e r  o r  g o  t o  a
t h e r a p i s t  o r  s u p p o r t  g r o u p  t o  p r o c e s s  y o u r  p a i n. Y e t  w h e n
y o u r  f e e l i n g s  o f  u p s e t  a r e  b a s e d  o n  l a r g e r  s o c i a l  r e a l i t i e s,
i t ’ s  h a r d  t o  k n o w  h o w  t o  t a l k  a b o u t  t h e m  a n d  t o  w h o m. W h e n  y o u ’ r e  a f r a i d  b e c a u s e  y o u  d o n ’ t  k n o w  w h e r e  y o u r
n e x t  p a y c h e c k  i s  g o i n g  t o  c o m e  f r o m,  i t ’ s  e a s y  t o  a r t i c u l a t e ;
w h e n  y o u ’ r e  w o r r i e d  a b o u t  w h e t h e r  t h e  h u m a n  r a c e  i s  g o i n g
t o  s u r v i v e  t h e  n e x t  c e n t u r y,  i t  f e e l s  o d d  t o  m e n t i o n  i t  a t
l u n c h. A n d  s o,  I  t h i n k,  t h e r e  i s  a  c o l l e c t i v e  d e p r e s s i o n  a m o n g
u s,  n o t  s o  m u c h  d e a l t  w i t h  a s  g l o s s e d  o v e r  a n d  s u p p r e s s e d. E a c h  o f  u s,  a s  i n d i v i d u a l  a c t o r s  i n  a  l a r g e r  d r a m a,  c a r r i e s  a n
i m p r i n t  o f  a  l a r g e r  d e s p a i r. W e  a r e  c o p i n g  w i t h  i n t e n s e
a m o u n t s  o f  c h a o s  a n d  f e a r,  b o t h  p e r s o n a l l y  a n d  t o g e t h e r. W e
a r e  a l l  b e i n g  c h a l l e n g e d,  i n  o n e  f o r m  o r  a n o t h e r,  t o  r e c r e a t e
o u r  l i v e s.O n  t h e  l e v e l  o f  e v e r y d a y  c o n v e r s a t i o n,  w e  c o n s p i r e  w i t h
e a c h  o t h e r  t o  p r e t e n d  t h a t  t h i n g s  a r e  b a s i c a l l y  o k a y,  n o t
b e c a u s e  w e  t h i n k  t h e y  a r e  b u t  b e c a u s e  w e  h a v e  n o  w a y  o f
t a l k i n g  t o g e t h e r  a b o u t  t h e s e  d e e p e r  l a y e r s  o f  e x p e r i e n c e. I f  I
t e l l  y o u  w h a t  h a p p e n e d  i n  m y  p e r s o n a l  l i


. A n d  i t  w a s n ’ t  l o s t  o n  m e  t h a t  H a r o l d  i s  a
r a b b i,  b r i n g i n g  m e  c o m f o r t  f r o m  m y  o w n  r e l i g i o u s
t r a d i t i o n. I  k n e w  t h a t  t h e  s h i f t  i n  p e r c e p t i o n  h i s  w o r d s
i n t r o d u c e d  i n t o  m y  m i n d  w a s  t r u l y  a  m i r a c l e. I t  w a s  n o t  ac h a n g e  i n  w h a t  h a d  h a p p e n e d  t o  m e ;  i t  w a s  a  d i f f e r e n t  w a y
t o  t h i n k  a b o u t  w h a t  h a d  h a p p e n e d  t o  m e. G o d — a n d  R a b b i
K u s h n e r — h a d  g r a c e d  m e  w i t h  a  d i f f e r e n t  p o i n t  o f  v i e w. C o m f o r t  C o m e s

A  f e w  w e e k s  b e f o r e  m y  f a t h e r  d i e d,  h e  w a s  l y i n g  o n  h i s
f a v o r i t e  b e n c h,  a l r e a d y  g r a v e l y  i l l,  a n d  I  w a s  s i t t i n g  o n  t h e
f l o o r  n e x t  t o  h i m. H e  h a d  a n  i n t e n s e  b u t  f a r a w a y  l o o k  i n  h i s
e y e s,  a n d  h e  s a i d,  “ I ’ m  n o t  a f r a i d. I  k n o w  w h e r e  I ’ m
g o i n g. ”  I  s i m p l y  l o o k e d  a t  h i m  a n d  s h a r e d  t h e  m o m e n t,  b u t
I ’ v e  o f t e n  w i s h e d  s i n c e  t h a t  I  h a d  a s k e d  f o r  m o r e
e x p l a n a t i o n. H e  c l e a r l y  p e r c e i v e d  a n  e t e r n a l  r e a l i t y  t h a t
w o u l d  c a r r y  h i m  t h r o u g h  d e a t h. I t  s h o u l d n ’ t  h a v e  t o  t a k e  d e a t h  t o  m a k e  u s  s o  m u c h  m o r e
a w a r e  o f  w h a t  m a t t e r s  a n d  w h a t  d o e s n ’ t,  w h a t ’ s  e t e r n a l  a n d
w h a t ’ s  n o t. W h y  c a n ’ t  w e  r e m e m b e r  m u c h,  m u c h  s o o n e r
t h a t  l o v e  i s  a l l  t h a t  m a t t e r s  a n d  l o v e  i s  a l l  t h a t  l a s t s? I t ’ s  a s
t h o u g h,  w h e n  d e a t h  i s  a t  t h e  d o o r,  w e ’ r e  g i v e n  a  f r e e  d o s e
o f  s a c r e d  u n d e r s t a n d i n g. P e r h a p s  i f  w e  a s k e d  f o r  i t  e a r l i e r,  i t
w o u l d  c o m e. D e a r  G o d,
M a y  t h e  H o l y  S p i r i t  o v e r s h a d o w  m y  m i n d,
A n d  g i v e  m e  e y e s  t o  s e e.M a y  I  p e r c e i v e  t h e  l o v e  I  k n o w  e x i s t s
A n d  o v e r l o o k  t h e  r e s t. M a y  I  r i s e  a b o v e  t h e  d a r k n e s s  o f  t h e  w o r l d
a n d  m y  m i n d  b e  b a t h e d  i n  l i g h t. M a y  I  b e  c a l m  a n d  c o m f o r t e d
B y  T r u t h. A m e n. D i g g i n g  D e e p

U n d e r n e a t h  t h e  l a y e r  o f  o u r  n o r m a l  t h i n k i n g  l i e s  a  l e v e l  o f
c o n s c i o u s n e s s  t h a t  i s  p u r e  l o v e  a n d  p e a c e. Y e t  w e  c a n n o t
r e a c h  t h a t  c o n s c i o u s n e s s  s i m p l y  b y  d e c i d i n g  t o ;  w e  h a v e  t o
d i g  d e e p  i n t o  t h e  g r o u n d  o f  o u r  i n n e r  b e i n g,  c r e a t i n g  a  s p a c e
o f  l i s t e n i n g  f o r  t h e  “ s m a l l  s t i l l  v o i c e  f o r  G o d. ”  T h e  m o r e
t h i n g s  a r e  h a p p e n i n g  o n  t h e  o u t s i d e,  t h e  m o r e  i m p o r t a n t  i t  i s
t o  f i n d  t h a t  s t i l l n e s s  o n  t h e  i n s i d e. E v e r y  m i s t a k e  w e  e v e r  m a d e  o c c u r r e d  b e c a u s e,  i n  t h e
m o m e n t  w e  m a d e  i t,  w e  w e r e  n o t  i n  c o n s c i o u s  c o n t a c t  w i t h
o u r  h i g h e s t  s e l f. W e  w e r e  n o t  c e n t e r e d  i n  o u r  s p i r i t. T h a t  i s
w h y  m a k i n g  t h a t  c o n t a c t,  a n d  s p e n d i n g  t i m e  e a c h  d a y
f


 e  s h o u l d  f e a r,  h o w e v e r,
b e c a u s e  t h e  m o m e n t  w e  r e c o g n i z e  i t  a s  m e r e l y  a  m e n t a l
m i s c r e a t i o n — s i m p l y  a  f a l s e  b e l i e f  a b o u t  w h o  w e  a r e — i t
w i l l  d i s a p p e a r  i n t o  t h e  n o t h i n g n e s s  f r o m  w h e n c e  i t  c a m e. W e  o u r s e l v e s,  h o w e v e r,  c a n n o t  c o m m a n d  i t s  d e p a r t u r e. I t
h a s  a b s c o n d e d  w i t h  o u r  w i l l  a n d  c o n f u s e d  o u r  d e f e n s e s. L i k e  a n  i m m u n e  s y s t e m  d i s e a s e  t h a t  a t t a c k s  i t s  o w n  c e l l s,
t h e  e g o  a t t a c k s  t h e  m i n d  i t  p u r p o r t s  t o  g i v e  l i f e  t o. O n l y
G o d  c a n  h e l p  u s. A n d  H e  w i l l.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        A s  d i s c i p l e s  o f  t h e  H o l y  S p i r i t,  w e
s i m u l t a n e o u s l y  s e e  b o t h  t h e  w o r l d l y  e r r o r  a n d  t h e  s p i r i t u a l
p e r f e c t i o n  i n  p e o p l e. A n d  i n  s h a r i n g  G o d ’ s  p e r s p e c t i v e  o n
h u m a n  e r r o r — a  d e s i r e  t o  h e a l  a s  o p p o s e d  t o  a  d e s i r e  t o
p u n i s h — w e  b e c o m e  c o n d u i t s  o f  H i s  h e a l i n g  p o w e r. T h u s
w e  t o o  a r e  h e a l e d. T o  t h e  e g o,  t h i s  i s  o u t r a g e o u s :  h o w  d a r e  w e  d e c l a r e  t h e
c h i l d  o f  G o d  i n n o c e n t. C a n ’ t  w e  s e e  w h a t  a  d a r k  a n d  s i n f u l
c r e a t u r e  h e  i s. E v e n  r e l i g i o n s  t h a t  c l a i m  t h a t  G o d  i s  g o o d
s e e m  b e n t  a t  t i m e s  o n  f i n d i n g  H i s  c h i l d r e n  g u i l t y. M a n y
p o i n t  t h e i r  f i n g e r s  c r i t i c a l l y  a t  o t h e r  p e o p l e,  n o t  r e a l i z i n g
t h a t  t h e  p o i n t e d  f i n g e r  i t s e l f  i s  t h e  s o u r c e  o f  a l l  e v i l. I t  i s  t h e
c o n c e p t  o f  e n e m y  t h a t  i s  o u r  g r e a t e s t  e n e m y  o f  a l l. W h a t  A b o u t  A r c h i e  B u n k e r. D u r i n g  o n e  o f  m y  l e c t u r e s  o n c e  a  m a n  r o s e  t o  a s k  a
q u e s t i o n. “ I  d o n ’ t  h a v e  a  p r o b l e m  w i t h  a n y t h i n g  y o u ’ r e
s a y i n g, ”  h e  s a i d. “ B u t  m y  p r o b l e m  i s  w h a t  h a p p e n s  w h e n  I
l e a v e  t h i s  r o o m. W h a t  d o  w e  d o  a b o u t  p e o p l e  w h o  d o n ’ t
b e l i e v e  t h i s  w a y. L i k e  m y  f a t h e r ;  h e ’ s  l i k e  A r c h i e  B u n k e r. W h a t  d o  I  d o  a b o u t  h i m. ”
M a n y  h e a d s  i n  t h e  r o o m  s t a r t e d  n o d d i n g,  b u t  I  i n w a r d l y
s m i l e d. G o d  d o e s n ’ t  l e t  u s  g e t  a w a y  w i t h  t h a t  o n e. “ D o  y o u  w a n t  t o  k n o w. ”  I  a s k e d. “ D o  y o u  r e a l l y  w a n t  t o
k n o w  w h a t  A  C o u r s e  i n  M i r a c l e s  w o u l d  s a y. ”
H e  n o d d e d. “ I t  w o u l d  s a y  y o u  n e e d  t o  s t o p  j u d g i n g  y o u r  f a t h e r. ”
H e  a n d  h u n d r e d s  o f  o t h e r s  h a d  a  l o o k  o n  t h e i r  f a c e s  a s
t h o u g h  t o  s a y,  “ R i g h t,  o f  c o u r s e,  I  g e t  i t. ”
I  c o n t i n u e d. “ O n l y  w h a t  y o u  a r e  n o t  g i v i n g  c a n  b e
l a c k i n g  i n  a n y  s i t u a t i o n. G o d  s e n t  u s  h e r e  t o  w o r k  m i r a c l e s,
a n d  w e  c a n  o n l y  d o  t h a t  w h e n  w e  h a v e  g i v e n  u p  o u r
j u d g m e n t s. H o w  c a n  y o u  h e l p  a w a k e n  y o u r  d a d  t o  h i s
i n n o c e


  w o r l d v i e w :  t h e r e  a r e  t h o s e  w h o  a c t  a s  t h o u g h  t h e
u s e  o f  t h e  L  w o r d  r e n d e r s  a n  a u t h e n t i c  e f f o r t  a t  e t h i c s,
i n t e g r i t y,  l o y a l t y,  o r  e v e n  h o n e s t y  u n n e c e s s a r y. B u t  s u r e l y
G o d  i s  l e s s  i m p r e s s e d  b y  o u r  w o r d s  t h a n  b y  o u r  d e e d s. I n  t h e  m o v i e  M e e t  J o e  B l a c k,  t h e r e  i s  a  s c e n e  w h e r e
D e a t h  t e l l s  a  w o m a n ’ s  f a t h e r  t h a t  h e  p l a n s  t o  t a k e  h e r  w i t h
h i m  w h e n  h e  l e a v e s  t h e  e a r t h,  a s  h e  h a s  f a l l e n  i n  l o v e  w i t h
h e r  a n d  d o e s n ’ t  w a n t  t o  b e  w i t h o u t  h e r. A t  t h a t  p o i n t,  h e r
f a t h e r  a r g u e s  t h a t  r e a l  l o v e  i s  m o r e  t h a n  j u s t  a p p e t i t e  o r
e v e n  n e e d :  i t ’ s  a n  a c t i v e  c a r i n g  f o r  t h e  u l t i m a t e  w e l l - b e i n g
o f  a n o t h e r  h u m a n  b e i n g. L o v e  i s n ’ t  a l w a y s  e a s y ;  a n d  i f  i t  d o e s n ’ t  s t r e t c h  y o u
p e r s o n a l l y,  t h e n  i t  p r o b a b l y  i s n ’ t  l o v e. T h e  G o a l  o f  G o d ’ s  W i l l

F o r  m a n y  o f  u s,  t h e  p r o b l e m  i s  n o t  t h a t  w e  d o n ’ t  b e l i e v e  i n
G o d  o r  d o n ’ t  w a n t  t o  b e  c o n d u i t s  o f  H i s  l o v e. T h e  p r o b l e m
i s  s i m p l y  t h a t  w e  h a v e  q u i t e  a  f e w  o t h e r  g o a l s  a s  w e l l. *  W e
d o n ’ t  r e c o g n i z e  h o w  o u r  s e p a r a t e,  i n d i v i d u a l  g o a l s  c a n
a c t u a l l y  g e t  i n  t h e  w a y  o f  G o d ’ s. T h e  m i r a c l e  w o r k e r  i s  a s k e d  t o  d o  t w o  t h i n g s :  s e e
f o r g i v e n e s s  a s  o u r  f u n c t i o n,  a n d  r e l i n q u i s h  a l l  o t h e r  g o a l s
w e  h a v e  i n v e n t e d  f o r  o u r s e l v e s. S o m e t i m e s  p e o p l e  a s k  m e  a b o u t  m y  e a r l y  y e a r s  l e c t u r i n g
o n  A  C o u r s e  i n  M i r a c l e s  a n d  t h e  i n t e r e s t i n g  r i d e  I ’ v e  h a d
p r o f e s s i o n a l l y. T w e n t y  y e a r s  h a v e  p a s s e d  s i n c e  I  g a v e  m y
f i r s t  t a l k,  a n d  f r o m  t h i s  v a n t a g e  p o i n t  I  c a n  s e e  c l e a r l y  w h y
m y  e a r l y  a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s  c a m e  e f f o r t l e s s l y :  I  h a d  v e r y
l i t t l e  a n d  w a n t e d  l i t t l e  m o r e. I  w a s  d e l i g h t e d  w i t h  m y
a p a r t m e n t,  m y  w o r k,  m y  f r i e n d s,  m y  l i f e. I  w a s  s o
c o m p l e t e l y  n a i v e  t o  c o n c e p t s  l i k e  b e s t - s e l l e r  s t a t u s,  r o y a l t y
s t a t e m e n t s,  l e c t u r e  d a t e s,  h o u s e  p a y m e n t s,  p u b l i c
p e r c e p t i o n,  a n d  e v e r y t h i n g  e l s e  i n  t h e  m a t e r i a l  w o r l d  t h a t  I
g a v e  t o t a l  e n e r g y  t o  t h e  w o r k  I  f e l t  m o v e d  t o  d o. M y  n a ï v e t é
w a s  a n  a s s e t. W a l k i n g  t h r o u g h  a  f a n c y  s t o r e  n e v e r  u s e d  t o  c a u s e  m e
s t r e s s. I  c o u l d n ’ t  b u y  a n y t h i n g,  a n d  I  k n e w  i t,  s o  i t  w a s  l i k e
w a l k i n g  t h r o u g h  a  m u s e u m. I t ’ s  w h e n  y o u  c a n  b u y  o n e
g o o d  d r e s s  b u t  n o  m o r e — t h a t ’ s  w h e n  t h e  s t r e s s  k i c k s  i n. N o w,  w h e n  I  r e a d  t h a t  a s  a  m i r a c l e  w o r k e r  I ’ m  s u p p o s e d
t o  r e l i n q u i s h  a n y  g o a l


 it can transcend the built-in
basic fears. Alt limiting self-definitions
mixture of truth and falsehood blended in
a given direction of investigation can be
design limitation of double-blind
create fear because they create a slick package, the teachings sound
ascertained in advance, as can the value
research, which can of itself create the
vulnerability. Our perceptions are valid if one cannot see that their truth
has of alternate avenues of research. very error it is supposed to prevent. essentially distorted by our own self-
been distorted by a false context. Examination of the economics of Statistics are no substitute for truth and
in definition, which in turn is qualified bySuch spiritual exploitation is routinely
research projects and the capabilities of
the complexity of bio-behavioral
identifying with cur limitations. Error
exposed in India where these media-
investigators and equipment is also of
phenomena, proximal antecedents can
occurs when we cling to the belief that I
hungry frauds are held in low regard and
practical value. too easily become classified as ostensible
am "that. " T ruth is unveiled when we see
often confined to their quarters by the
that one has ``that," or does "that,"
Critical factor analysis can detect the
causes. The real "cause" may well be the
government should they return home. instead of is "that. " point in a system at which the least ef fort
pull of the future through a hidden
Such "teachers" can inflict terrible
is capable of producing the greatestattractor field. There is great freedom in the realization
suf fering and tragedy. The most
result. Computer simulation, with all its
that I "have" a body and a mind, rather
catastrophic depressions in clinical
Education
complex and uncertain variables, is the
than I "am" my mind or body. Once the
practice occur in people who have
present state-of-the-art technique for A profoundly telling exercise may
be fear of death is transcended, life becomes
discovered that they have been spiritually
predicting developments and exploring
performed by evaluating the books in
a transformed experience because that
deceived. Such disillusionment and pain
alternative proposals. The built-in (100)
one's library. Simply hold them over the
particular fear underlies all others. Few
is far more severe than that which results
limitations of logic circuits, however, cansolar plexus and have somebody test year
people know what it is to live without
from other losses in life, and recovery
be transcended by the kinesiologic use of
muscle strength. As you do this, your
fear. But beyond fear lies joy, as the
has not always been possible. the world's most advanced computer, the
books will end up in two piles; reflection
meaning and purpose of existence The charm of all false prophets is
human nervous system. Quantum non-
on the dif ferences between the two can
become transparent. Once this realization
persuasiveness. But use of the testing
locality guarantees that the answers to
produce a revelation - (101) many testers
occurs, life becomes ef fortless and the
method herein described provides a
every question are everywhere present,
have found it one of the most valuable
sources of suf fering dissolve; suf fering is
foolproof safeguard against suchbut this in itself can be confusing to a
experiences of their lives. (Some left the
only the price we pay for our deception. It is informative to watch TV
conventional computer. two piles there for a period of time to let
attachments. evangelists with the sound turned of f and
the lesson sink in. ) (102)
Empirical issues, however, are have somebody test you. False gurus also
Clinical Fork
It is equally informative to try the same
involved even in spiritual quests. In the
make everyone go weak in a dramatic
In medicine, the accuracy of diagnoses as
procedure with one's music collection. matter of spiritual teachers, Americans
fashion. It is as though the universe
well as the ef ficacy of a prescribed
The negative group will include violent,
are extremely naive, partly because
considers spiritual rape a specially gravetreatment can be tested. The technique is
sexist rap music and heavy metal rack. spiritual pursuit does not have a long
error. also valuable in psychological issues
The positive pile will contain classical
tradition here as it does in older cultures. What of a true teacher. In the first place,
where the etiology of a disorder can be
music, classic rock (the Beatles
That the world abounds with false gurus
a universal hallmark is that the true
quickly ascertained. One currently included), much Country W estern
is well known in India, but such cynicism
teacher never controls anyone's life (103) in
controversial subject of investigation that
(surprisingly, it calibrates generally at
does not come readily to Americans. any way, instead merely explaining how
obviously suggests itself is the area of so-
520-the problems of the heart), Reggae,
Fakes repeatedly come out of India withto advance consciousness. If we do test,
called repressed childhood memories of
popular ballads, etc,
impressive presentations and hoodwink
though, we will find, for instance, that
alleged sexual abuse. Facts can be
naive W estern spiritual aspirants who, in
Mother T eresa, recognized by the world
quickly dif ferentiated from false Spirituality
childlike trust, leave home and hearth,
through the Nobel Prize, calibrates at
"memories" elicited in response to Though this chapter has dealt
primarily sell their belongings, and follow the
300, as does the acknowledged Indian
suggestion. Freud concluded that most
with secular uses of this tool, it should be
charismatic spiritual con man down a
spiritual saint, Ramana Maharshi, who
reports of childhood incest he pointed out that applications of the
path to eventual disillusionment. The
died in 1956. (He went into a state of
4950
enlightenment at age sixteen, never left
have a (104) platform from which to
us. W e all add to our common buoyancy
lives; the Spirit of Christmases to come
the mountain where he lived and led a
originate. Pain exists to promote
by our ef forts to benefit life. What we do
beckons us all to make the choices that
life of humble simplicity, eschewing
evolution; its cumulative ef fect finally
to benefit life automatically benefits all
will enhance both our own existence and
money, prestige and followers, and forces us in a new direction, though
the of us because we are all included in that
that of others. (If we calibrate the ener gy
would have remained unknown had not a
mechanism may be very slow. How
which is life. W e are life. It is a scientific
level of Christmas, by the way, it
well-known American writer's
many times is it necessary to hit bottomfact that "what is good for you is good
becomes obvious that power resides
description of Ramana's enlightened state
before a lesson is learned. Perhaps
for me". within the human heart itself. ) brought seekers from all over the thousands, which may account for the
(105) Simple kindness to one's self and all
All avenues of questioning lead to the
world. )2
sheer quantity of human suf fering, so
that lives is the most powerful same ultimate answer. The discovery that
Nowhere is spiritual fraud more vast as to be incomprehensible. Slowly,
transformational force of all. It produces
nothing is hidden and truth stands
prevalent than in the world of channelers
by inches, does civilization advance. no backlash, has no downside, and never
everywhere revealed is the key to
and psychics. It is informative to check
It is an interesting exercise to use our
leads to loss or despair. It increases one's
enlightenment about the simplestout the level of truth these mediums
technique to reassess our society's
own true power without exacting any
practical af fairs and the destiny of
express as well as the level of the
scapegoats-for example, to calibrate the
toll. But to reach maximum power such
mankind. In the process of examining our
"source" on the "other side. " Sometimes
current power level of the United Nations
kindness can permit no exceptions, nor
everyday lives we can find that all (106) our
a surprisingly high level of truth is in fact
and then ask what level would be
can it be practiced with the expectation
fears have been based on falsehood. The
being taught. A level of truth which
required to successfully do the job for
of some selfish reward. And its ef fect is
displacement of the false by the true is
calibrates at 500 is worth listening to
which it was designed. When we seeas far reaching as it is subtle. the essence of the healing of all things
regardless of its origin, because the
such discrepancies spelled out in plain
In a universe where "like goes to like"
visible and invisible. inability to love is at the root of most
numbers we may stop berating
and "birds of a feather fly together," we
And always a final question will
human problems. Beyond the level of
individual