高等意识手册（英文）

HANDBOOKTOHIGHERCONSCIOUSNESSKenKeyesJr.ForewordMillionsofyearsagowhenouranimalancestorshadtosurviveinthejungle,itwasnecessarytohaveaninstantlyeffectivefightorflightmechanism.Whenatigerwasabouttospring,anautomaticemotionalresponsewasalifesaver.Anervousshockwasneededtosquirtadrenalinintothebloodsothatmusclesbecamejetpowered.Emotionalalarmswereneededtocommandfullattention.Whenatigerwasreadytojump,therewasnotimetoadmirethebeautifulsunset.Asajunglesurvivalmechanism,ouranimalancestorswereprogrammedforautomaticduality--automaticfeelingsofotherness,threat,andparanoia.Survivalrequiredinstantdominationofconsciousnesstomeettheperilsofthejungle.Wearethepioneersintheevolutionofhumanconsciousness.Itwasonlyabout10,000yearsagothatourancestorsbuiltthefirstcities.Ascivilizationgrew,survivalnolongerdependedontheinstantfightorflightofthejungle.Survivalandhappinessnowdependontuningintotheoverallsituationinvolvingourselves,thepeoplearoundus,andthetotalenvironmentofthehereandnow.Perceptiveness,wisdom,andonenessarenowtheingredientsofeffectiveandhappyliving.Butourbiocomputersarestillprogrammedforjunglefightorflight--forafastreleaseofadrenalinintothebloodstream,andforrapidheartbeat--forautomaticangerandfear.Inoursocialinteractions,ourconsciousnessmagnifiesmolehillsandmakesthemintomountains--andthisconstantdistortiondestroysourenergy,ourinsight,andourabilitytolove.Thussurvivalinthejunglemeantthatwehadtobeprogrammedforinstantparanoia--instantfear--instantanger--instantperceptionofduality.Survivalinourworldtodaymeansthatwemusthaveinstantperceptionsofoneness--oflove--ofcompassionwitheveryoneandunderstandingofeverythingaroundus.Whenwelearntocutthroughourparanoidjungleprogramming,weareonourwaytohigherconsciousnessandhappiness.Evolutionisnowworkingtoremedythisprimitivejunglealarmwiringinourbrainthattendstoholdusonlowerconsciousnesslevels.Paranoid,dualisticindividualswhocannotlovethemselvesandotherstendtogethearttrouble,ulcers,otherpsychosomaticdiseases,areaccident-prone,etc.Perhapsin100,000years,throughtheruthlesssurvivalofthefittest,humansmayhavenervoussystemsthatareautomaticallystructuredtoproduceinstantinsightsthatfacilitateloveandoneness.Butthatdoesn¡¯thelpyouandme.WeneedtheLivingLoveWaytoshowushowtoliveinhigherconsciousnessassoonaspossible--tooverrideourjungleprogrammingsothatwecanenjoylivinghereandnow.Wehaveescapedfromthedominationofinstincts(inflexibleunlearnedbehavior)thatguidesanimalsthroughtheirdailylifesituations.Sincetheyounghumanisnotprovidedwithafullrepertoireofautomaticfixedresponses,weareunabletoindependentlycopewithlifeforanumberofyearsafterbirth.Thislongperiodofplasticityandopennesstolearningcomplexlifeguidancepatternshelpsusavoidfixedpreprogrammedbehavior.Forexample,thislongnurturingperiodletsuslearncomplexlanguagesystems--andourflexibilityissuchthatwecanlearntocommunicateinSwahiliaseasilyasinEnglishoranyotherlanguage.Insteadofacompletepatternofanimal-typeinstinctstoprovidesurvivalresponsestolifesituations,theyoungchildusesegomechanismsbackedbyhair-triggeremotionstodevelopsecurity,sensation,andpowermagnificationofthemoment-to-momentsensoryinputs.Ourpersonaldevelopmentintofulfilling,happylives(aswellastheprogressionofcivilizationbeyondthedangerouspowerconsciousness)dependsonourgettingfreeofouregobacked,subject-object,me-them,security-sensation-powerhang-ups.Itmaybehelpfultoseethisprogressionofconsciousnessinoutlineformasfollows:ORGANISMMETHODOFPROTECTINGANDENHANCINGTHEORGANISMAnimalRelativelyfixedlifestylebasedoninstinctorunlearnedpreprogrammedbehavior.LowerConsciousnessHumanEgo-directed,subjectobject,emotion-backedsecurity,sensation,andpowerconsciousness(increasinglyinvolvingtherationalmind)thatmakesusinflexiblyguardandprotecthabitualfolkwaysandpersonalpatterns.HigherConsciousnessHumanTheego-drivennegativeemotionshavebeenreplacedbywideranginginsightanddeepintuitiveunderstandinggivingfullflexibilitytoflowinmutuallysupportiveandlovingwayswithnoinflexiblefolkwaysandpersonalpatterns.Thebiocomputerwithwhichyouareequippedisthemostremarkableinstrumentintheuniverse.Youronlyproblemistolearntouseitproperly.Itiscapableofhandlingtwomillionvisualinputsandonehundredthousandauditoryinputsatanyonetime.Yourbiocomputeroperatescontinuallythroughoutallofitspartsandiscapableofmakingmillionsofsimultaneouscomputations.Itoperateswithenormouspowerprimarilyonunconsciouslevels--withonlyatinyproportionofitsactivityrisingtothelevelofconsciousness.Theconsciouslevelofyourbiocomputerisanalogoustotheprint-outoftheman-madecomputers.Yourjourneyintohigherconsciousnessisamatterofyourlearninghowtoproperlyprogramyourremarkablebiocomputer.Whenyoureallylearntooperateyourexquisitemechanism,youwillbeabletofullyrealizeyourpotentialforahappylife.Awonderfulthingaboutlifeisthatitisnaturallygood.Lifeissetuptowork--toproducelove,fulfillment,andhappinesscontinuously.However,varioussituationsduringyourfirstyearsoflifeconditionedyouinthemethodsofconsciousnesswhichcontinuallygenerateunhappinessinyourlife.Yeteverycurrent experience can aid you in your growth toward consciousnessifyouknowhowtouseit.ThisHandbookwillexplainhowyouhavebeencreatingtheexperiencesthatyouhave.Itwillshowyouexactlywhattodotobreakoutofthetrapsinyourmindthatarethecauseofalltheunhappinessthatyouhaveexperiencedinyourlife!WhenyouapplytheMethodsintheHandbookyouwillbeabletoturnyourlifearound.Thecontinuousexperienceoflove,serenity,happiness,joy,effectiveness,perceptiveness,andwisdomthatyouhavehadonlyinbitsandpiecescannowbeavailabletoyouallofthetime.Youwilllearnhowtoexperiencetheworldasafriendly,lovingplacethathasbeendesignedtogiveyoueverythingthatyouneed.Youwilldevelopa¡°miraculous¡±qualityinyourlife.Beautifulthingswillhappensocontinuouslythatyoucannolongerascribeittomere¡°coincidence.¡±Youwillexperiencethatyoucancreatemorelove,happiness,andserenitythanyouneedforlivingathoroughlyfulfilledandenjoyablelife.Whilethiswascertainlynotyourintention,youwillbecomeawareofhowyouhavebeenturningyourselfofftotheenergiesoftheworldaroundyou.Yourmindhasbeenprogrammedtoprocessincomingvisual,auditory,andotherinformationinwaysthatcontinuouslyalienateandseparateyoufrompeople.Youwillrealizethatyouhavebeenunconsciousofwhatyouhavebeendoingtoyourself.itisasthoughyouhavebeenbornwitheyesthatseeonlywithgreatdistortion--butwhichgivetheillusionofseeingsharplyandclearly.Thishandbookwillhelpyoubecomeawarethattheonlyrealprobleminyourlifeinvolveshowconsciouslyyouuseyourmind--anditgivesyouclearinstructionsforcarryingouttheinnerworknecessarytobecomeanenergetic,perceptive,lovingbeing.LivingLoveisapositivecureforallofthesufferingandunhappinessinyourlifeandthatofallhumanity.TheLivingLoveWayoffersmankindoneofthemostpowerfultoolsforemergingvictoriousintheracebetweenhigherconsciousnessandthesufferingofatomicannihilation,ecologicaldegradation, prejudice, and the thousand-fold ways we ourselvesfromeachother.Chapter1WhyThisBookWasWrittenForUs¡°Mostofus,¡±saidthecosmichumorist,¡°gothroughlifenotknowingwhatwewant,butfeelingdamnedsurethisisn¡¯tit.¡±Over99%ofthepeopleinthewesternworldliveonlowerconsciousnesslevelscharacterizedbytryingtofindenoughsecurity,sex,¡°groovy¡±sensations,egorushes,prestige,money,power,andstatus.Thisendlessstruggleyieldslivesofconstantresentment,worry,suspicion,anger,jealousy,shyness,andfear.Everythingpeopletellthemselvestheymustdotobehappyendsupyieldingmorefrustrationthanjoy.Themoresuccessfulapersonisinmakingmoney,collectingskillsandpossessions,developingexcitingsexualrelationships,acquiringknowledgeanddegrees,andachievingpositionsofstatus,power,andprestige,thelessloving,peaceful,andcontentedhemayfindhimselforherself.Andyetitisnotthesethingsinandofthemselvesthatcreateanunhappylife--itistheinternalmentaladdictionordesireforthemthatminute-by-minutekeepsonefromenjoyinglife.Addictions(oremotion-backeddemands)bringfearofnon-fulfillment;jealousythatsomeonemaystealoursourceoffulfillment;angerwhensomeonethwartsus;cynicismifconstantlyundersupplied;paranoiaifconstantlythreatened;boredomifwe¡¯remakingnoprogresstowardsatisfyingouraddictions;worryifwecan¡¯tseeasteadysupply;anxietyifwe¡¯reworriedaboutbeingworried;andunhappinesswhentheoutsideworlddoesnotsupplyuswithwhateveritisweareaddictedto.Sincethenatureoflifeissuchthatwewinsomeandlosesome,anaddictedpersonhasnochanceoflivingahappy,loving,peaceful,conscious,wiseandeffectivelife.Andtheaddictiveprogrammingisnotnecessarytofindandenjoythatwhichwepreferinlife.Youarereadyforgrowthintothehappinessofhigherconsciousnesswhenyourealizetheutterfutilityoftryingtoliveabeautifullifebyyoureffortstorearrangeorchangetheworldofpeopleandthingsoutsideofyoutofityouraddictionsanddesires.Youwillfindyouhaveonlytorearrangeyourownpersonal,automaticallyprogrammedresponsestolifesituations--mostofwhicharechildhoodhangups.Asyouworktowardhigherlevelsofconsciousness,youwillfindthatyouhavealwayshadenoughtobehappy.Itisthepatternsinyourheadthatmakeyouunhappy,althoughyouusuallyblamethepeopleandconditionsoutsideyouforyourunhappiness.Yourjourneyintohigherconsciousnesscanenableyoutobeloving,peaceful,wise,andfreeofaconstantbarrageofunpleasantemotionalfeelings.LivingLoveoffersyoufouradvantagesinyouradventureintohigherconsciousness:Formanypeopleitcanbeoneofthemostpowerfulandrapidwaysforgrowthintohigherconsciousnessthathaseverbeenavailabletomankind.Itdoesnotrequireyoutodetachyourselffromyourpresentlife.LivingLovecanbeusedmosteffectivelyifyoustaywithyourpresentbusiness,personallife,andotherconditionsuntilyouhavegrowntoahighenoughstateofconsciousnesstobefullyperceptiveofthearbitrarymores,folkways,andsocialrolesyouareguardingandlivingout.Onceyouthoroughlyunderstandthesystem,itisnotessentialtohaveateacherforcontinuingyourgrowth.Yourlifewillbeyourbestteacher,foryouwilldiscoverthatyouarealwaysputtingyourselfintolearningsituationsthatareidealforyourgrowth.Theprogrammingthatyoumostneedtochangehasanunerringwayofputtingyouintolifesituationsthatcanmakeyouawareoftheexactinnerworkyoushouldbedoing.WhenyouusetheLivingLoveWaytofindthelove,innerpeace,wisdom,andeffectivenessofhigherconsciousness,yourinnerworkonyourselfimmediatelyaddstoyourenjoymentoflife.WiththeLivingLoveWay,happinessisnotadistantgoal--itisanever-growingpartofyourhereandnow.Thinkoftheenergyyounowputintotheup-and-downhour-by-hourcopingwithyourfeelingswhileyoucontinuallytrytorearrangethepeopleandsituationsinyourlifesothatyoucanthenbeloving,serene,effective,andhappy.Andyetyearbyyearyourquestforhappinessisaselusiveasfindingthepotofgoldattheendoftherainbow.Sincealmosteveryonearoundyouseemstobehavingsimilartroubleinbecomingahappy,lovingbeing,youmayhaveloweredyourstandardsanddecidedthatcontinuoushappinessisprobablynotrealistic.TheLivingLoveWayinvitesyoutosetthehighestimaginablestandardsoflove,serenity,peace,wisdom,effectiveness,andcontinuoushappinessforyourlife.andthenyouarereadytobeginyourjourneyintohigherconsciousness.Chapter2SecretsofHappinessWhydowehavelivesfilledwithturmoil,desperation,andanxiety?Whyarewealwayspushingourselvesandothers?Whydowehaveonlysmalldribblesofpeace,love,andhappiness?Whyisitthathumanbeingsarecharacterized by bickering and turmoil that make animals¡¯relationshipswiththeirownspeciesseempeacefulincomparison?Theanswerissosimple--butitissometimesdifficultforustoreallyunderstandbecausealmosteverywayweweretaughttoworktowardhappinessonlyreinforcesthefeelingsandactivitiesthatmakeusunhappy.Thisisacentralpointthatmustbeunderstood.Thewaysweweretaughttobehappycan¡¯tpossiblywork.Unlessweseethispointclearly,wecannotprogresstohigherconsciousness.Here¡¯swhy.Mostofusassumethatourdesires(backedupbyouremotionalfeelings)arethetrueguidestodoingthethingsthatwillmakeushappy.Butnoonehasyetfoundhappinessbyusingemotion-backeddesiresasguides.Flashesofpleasure,yes;happiness,no.Ourwantsanddesiresaresoseductive...Theymasqueradeas¡°needs¡±thatmustbesatisfiedsowecanbehappyatlast.Theyleadusfromoneillusionofhappinesstoanother.Someofustellourselves,¡°ifIcanjustgettobepresidentofthiscorporation,Iwillbehappy.¡±Buthaveyoueverseenareallyhappypresident?Hisoutsidedramamayfeaturebeautifulyachts,Cadillacs,Playboybunnies--butishereallyhappyinside?Hashisulcergoneawayyet?Weconstantlytellourselvessuchthingsas,¡°IfIcouldjustgobacktoschoolandacquiremoreknowledge--perhapsgetaMaster¡¯sdegree--thenIwillbehappy.¡±ButarepeoplewithMaster¡¯sdegreesorPh.D.¡¯sanyhappierthantherestofus?Itisbeautifultoacquireknowledgebutitismisleadingtoexpectittobringuspeace,love,andhappiness.Wetellourselves,¡°IfIcouldonlyfindtherightpersontolove,thenIwouldbehappy.¡±Sowesearchforsomeonewhoouraddictionstellusistherightperson--andweexperiencesomepleasurablemoments.Butsincewedon¡¯tknowhowtolove,therelationshipgraduallydeteriorates.Thenwedecidewedidn¡¯thavetherightpersonafterall!Aswegrowintohigherconsciousness,wediscoverthatitismoreimportanttobetherightpersonthantofindtherightperson.Wemustdeeplyunderstandwhyallofournegativeemotionsaremisleadingguidestoeffectiveactioninlifesituations.Ournegativeemotionsaresimplytheresultofanextensivepatternofscarsandwoundsthatwehaveexperienced.Andtheseemotionalwoundsleadustoperceivedifferencesthatmakeusuptightinsteadofsimilaritiesthatenableustounderstandandlove.Thepresentprogrammingofouremotionsmakesusperceiveotherpeople(andtheconditionsoftheworldaroundus)asthreats--potentiallydangeroustoourwell-being.Wethenrespondwithadrenalin,fasterheartbeat,increasedbloodsugar,andotherjunglesurvivalresponsesthatprepareusforfightorflight.Wearetrappedinourwaysofperceivingtheworldaroundus.Butnoone(ornosituation)needbefeltasanemotionalthreatordangerwhenweseethingswiththeclearerperceptionofhigherconsciousness.Thinkofthemostthreateningsituationyouhavefeltinthelastdayortwo.Areyouabouttoloseyourjob?Isthepersonforwhomyoufeelthemostlovepayingmoreattentiontosomeoneelsethantoyou?Doyouhaveunpaidbillsthatyoucannottakecareof?Doyouhaveapainthatcouldbecancer?Now,theseproblemseitherhavesolutions--ortheydon¡¯t.Eitheryoucandosomethingaboutthemhereandnow--oryoucan¡¯t.Ifyoucandosomethinghereandnowaboutthem,thendoit--evenifit¡¯sjustafirststep.Itsapsyourenergytobeworriedoranxiousaboutaproblem.Dowhatyoucando--butdon¡¯tbeaddictedtotheresultsoryouwillcreatemoreworryforyourself.Ifyoucan¡¯tdoanythingaboutaproblemhereandnow,thenwhymakeyourselfuncomfortableanddrainyourenergybyworryingaboutit?Itispartofthehereandnownessofyourlife.That¡¯swhatis--hereandnow.Worry,anxiety,orotherunpleasantemotionsareabsolutelyunnecessary--andsimplyloweryourinsightandtheeffectivenessofyouractions.Youmustabsolutelyconvinceyourselfofthelackofutilityofthesedrainingemotions.Youmustseeyourunnecessaryworryingasdeprivingyouoftheflowingeffectivenessandjoyousnessthatyoushouldhaveinyourlife.Aslongasyouthinkthatthesenegativeemotionshaveanyfunctionwhatsoever,youwillretardyourgrowthintohigherconsciousness.Ifyoudonothassleyourselfemotionallywhentheoutsideworlddoesnotconformwithyourinsideprogramming(yourdesires,expectations,demands,ormodelsofhowtheworldshouldtreatyou)youwillhavesomuchenergythatyouprobablywillsleepfiftypercentless.Youwillbejoyousandloving,andreallyappreciateeachmomentofyourlife--nomatterwhat¡¯shappeningintheworldofpeopleandsituationsoutsideyou.Whereandhowdidwegetthisemotionalprogramming?Almostallofitwasacquiredinthefirstfewyearsoflife.Forexample,whenwewereveryyoung,wehadtheexperienceofmotherforcefullytakingaperfumebottlefromourtinyfingersandatthesametimesendingoutbadvibrationsbasedonherdesirenottohaveherperfumebottlebroken.Wecried.Throughbeingpainfullypushedaround,dominated,toldwhattodo,andcontrolledwhenwewerebabies,wedevelopedouremotionallyintensesecurity,sensation,andpowerprograms.Manyofouremotion-backedprogramscamefromrepeatedmoraldirectivesorstatementsabouthowthings¡°should¡±be.Wedevelopeda¡°self¡±consciousnesswithrobot-likeemotionalresponsestoprotectthe¡°survival¡±ofthisseparateself.Sowebecomeemotionallyprogrammedtofeelthatwemusthavepowertocontrolandmanipulatepeopleinordertobehappy.Weeventuallybecomeveryfinelyattunedtotheactionsorvibrationsofanypersonorsituationthatevenremotelythreatensourpoweraddictions--ourabilitytomanipulateandcontrolpeopleandthingsaroundus.Aswereachphysicalmaturityandourbiocomputer(orbrain)isabletofunctionmoreperceptively,wehaveallthepowerweneed.Butourbiocomputer(backedupbythefullrepertoryofouremotions)isstillprogrammedtocompensateforthepowerdeficiencyweexperiencedwhenwewereinfantsandyoungchildren.Wenowneedtolearntoflowwiththepeopleandthingsaroundus.Butourpoweraddictionkeepsusfromlovingpeoplebecauseweperceivethemasobjectsthatmaythreatenourpower,prestige,orpeckingorder.Ifwewanttoloveandbeloved,wecan¡¯tbeaddictedtopower--ortoanythingelse.Asconsciousbeingstheonlythingweneedtofindhappinessinlifeistoperceiveclearlywhoweare(wearepureconsciousnessandnotthesocialrolesweareactingout),andexactlywhataretherealconditions,hereandnow,ofourlives.Howbasicallysimpleisourproblem!Buttoachievethisclearperceptionofourselvesandtheworldaroundustakesconstantinnerwork.Andthismeansdevelopingthehabitofemotionallyacceptingwhateverishereandnowinourlives.Foronlyanemotionallycalmbiocomputercanseeclearlyandwisely,andcomeupwitheffectivewaystointeractwithpeopleandsituations.Ourpoweraddictionisonlyoneexampleofthehappiness-destroyingprogrammingthatweputintoourbiocomputerswhenweweretooyoungtoperceivetherealitiesoftheworldinwhichwelived.Althoughwenowhavethebasiccapacityforclearperception,theoperatinginstructionswegaveourbiocomputeranchorustothelowerlevels.Andsowe¡¯reunconsciouslytrapped.Hereandnowistherealityinourlives--anditisonlyfromtheconditionsofthepresentthatourfuturecanbegenerated.Butourpresentaddictions,demands,andexpectations(theprogrammingofourbiocomputer)dominateourconsciousnessandforceustospendmostofthetimeweareawake(andmostofthetimewearedreaming)inprotestingandpoutingaboutthehereandnowsituationinourlives.Thislowersourperceptivenessandkeepsusfromfindingeffectivesolutionstoourproblems.TheLivingLoveWaytoHigherConsciousnessshowsushowtobreakthroughthistrap,tofreeourselves,andtofindourfullpotentialashumanbeings.Chapter3TheLawofHigherConsciousnessYourgrowthintohigherconsciousnessshouldbeginbyfullyunderstandingtheimportanceofbecomingonewiththeLawofHigherConsciousness:Loveeveryoneunconditionally--includingyourself.Thislawcanenableyoutofindthehiddensplendorwithinyourselfandothers.Unfortunately,wehaveneverbeentaughthowtoloveunconditionally.Almostallofourlovinghasbeenmotivatedbyemotionaldesiresprogrammedintousatanearlyage.Mostofourloveexperienceshavetaughtuswemustearnordeservelovebeforewecanhaveit--andthatothersmustdeserveourlove.Thisisconditionallove--itislikeabarterorabusinesstransaction.Itisnowonderthatourwell-meaningbutunskilledattemptstoloveusuallyendupinseparationandalienation.Wehavebeentaughttoplaceconditionsonourlove:¡°Ifyoureallylovedmeyouwould...¡±--andthenweuseoneofouraddictionstofinishthesentence.Thisisanexchange--itisnotunconditionallove.Whatisunconditionallove?Itisnot,¡°Icanloveyouifyoudowhatmyemotionalprogramming--myaddictions--saysIwantyoutodo.¡±Itisjustlove.Just,¡°Iloveyoubecauseyouarethere.Iloveyoubecauseyouarepartofthenownessofmylife.Iloveyoubecausealthoughourbodiesandmindsmaybeondifferenttrips,ontheconsciousnesslevelallofusarealikeinourhumanness.Weareone.¡±Realloveissimplyacceptinganotherperson.Completelyandunconditionally!Weexperiencethingsfromhisorherpsychicspace.Itislikeseeingtheworldthroughhisorhereyes.Whateverheorsheisgoingthrough--whateverheorsheisfeeling--wehavebeenthere,too--atsometimeinourlives.Whenwelove,weviewothersasunfoldingbeingsintheirjourneytowardhigherconsciousness.Werealizethatnomatterhowintenselywestriveforworldlyattainments,weallseekloveandonenessontheconsciousnesslevel.Weareallonthejourneytohigherconsciousness.Someofusarehearingthemessageslifeoffersusandareworkingconsciouslytoeliminateouraddictions.Othersarenotprogressingrapidlybecausetheydonotyetknowhowtoconsciouslyworkonthemselves.Wemustalsolearntoloveourselves--righthereandnow.Weneedtofeelthatnomatterhowhorriblewehavejudgedourpastactions,eachdayourlifebeginsanew.Wehaveatalltimesbeenlovable.Achildmaybenaughty,butheisalwayslovable.Andsoweareallchildrenaslongasweareprogrammedwithourlowerconsciousnessaddictions.Sowemustacceptthemelodramaswegetinvolvedinasweliveoutourcurrentcropofaddictions.This,too,isapartoflifeandgrowth.EverypartofthesystemofLivingLoveisdesignedtohelpyoulearntoloveeveryoneunconditionally--includingyourself.YouonlyneedtoplantthelivingLoveseedsinyourconsciousnessandtheywillautomaticallysprout.DonotberateyourselfbecauseyouarenotenlightenedbythethirdTuesdayofnextmonth.Themoreyoulearntoloveandacceptyourself,themoreyouwillrealizethatyouaredoingexactlywhatyouneedtodotoprovideyourselfwithexperiencestogrowintohigherconsciousness.Howcanyouloveothersifyoudonotloveyourself?Theloveyouhaveforyourselfandtheloveyouhavefor¡°another¡±arebuildingblocksjoiningtogetherwithinyoutocreatethebeautifuledificeofreallove.Learningtoloveunconditionallymeansgettingfreeofinterferencefromourprogrammedaddictions--thoseemotion-backeddemandinginstructionstoourbiocomputer.Thisenablesustoperceiveclearlywhatishereandnow--toevaluatewisely--andtoacteffectivelytodowhateverwewanttodoaboutit.Theykeytothisistheinstantemotionalacceptanceofthehereandnow--theemotionalacceptanceofthepreviouslyunacceptable.Whenouremotionsaretriggered,wecannotperceiveclearlyouractuallifesituation.Ourbiocomputerthensendsaflowofinformationtoourconsciousnessinwhichseparationandalienationareemphasized.Wecreateahorriblywarpedevaluationofthehereandnowbasedonouraddictiveprogramming.Whenthishappens,wemagnifydifferencesandsuppresssimilaritiesbetweenourselvesand¡°others.¡±Andthisdestroysourabilitytoloveunconditionally.Weallknowthatjusthavingthedesiretoloveisnotenough.Asfarbackaswecanrememberwehavebeenawareoftheimportanceofloveinourlives.Weknowthatlackofloveisresponsibleformostoftheunhappinessintheworld--fordifficultiesingettingalongwithotherpeople,forpollution,prejudice,wars,andotherindividualandgroupcrimesagainsthumanity.butwhatcanwedoaboutit?TheLawofHigherConsciousnesssuggestsapracticalguidefortheAquarianAge:Youaddsufferingtotheworldjustasmuchwhenyoutakeoffenseaswhenyougiveoffense.TheLivingLoveWaytoHigherConsciousnesscanshowyoustepbystepwhyyoufinditsodifficulttolove--andexactlywhattodoaboutit.TheTwelvePathwaysgiveninthefollowingchaptertellyouwhatyouneedtodotoliveintheOnenessOceanofLoveallofthetime.Chapter4TheTwelvePathwaysTheTwelvePathwaysTotheHigherConsciousnessPlanesofUnconditionalLoveandOnenessFreeingMyselfIamfreeingmyselffromsecurity,sensation,andpoweraddictionsthatmakemetrytoforcefullycontrolsituationsinmylife,andthusdestroymyserenityandkeepmefromlovingmyselfandothers.Iamdiscoveringhowmyconsciousness-dominatingaddictionscreatemyillusoryversionofthechangingworldofpeopleandsituationsaroundme.Iwelcometheopportunity(evenifpainful)thatmyminute-to-minuteexperienceoffersmetobecomeawareoftheaddictionsImustreprogramtobeliberatedfrommyrobot-likeemotionalpatterns.BeingHereNowIalwaysrememberthatIhaveeverythingIneedtoenjoymyhereandnow--unlessIamlettingmyconsciousnessbedominatedbydemandsandexpectationsbasedonthedeadpastortheimaginedfuture.ItakefullresponsibilityhereandnowforeverythingIexperience,foritismyownprogrammingthatcreatesmyactionsandalsoinfluencesthereactionsofpeoplearoundme.IacceptmyselfcompletelyhereandnowandconsciouslyexperienceeverythingIfeel,think,say,anddo(includingmyemotion-backedaddictions)asanecessarypartofmygrowthintohigherconsciousness.InteractingwithOthersIopenmyselfgenuinelytoallpeoplebybeingwillingtofullycommunicatemydeepestfeelings,sincehidinginanydegreekeepsmestuckinmyillusionofseparatenessfromotherpeople.Ifeelwithlovingcompassiontheproblemsofotherswithoutgettingcaughtupemotionallyintheirpredicamentsthatareofferingthemmessagestheyneedfortheirgrowth.IactfreelywhenIamtunedin,centered,andloving,butifpossibleIavoidactingwhenIamemotionallyupsetanddeprivingmyselfofthewisdomthatflowsfromloveandexpandedconsciousness.DiscoveringmyConscious-AwarenessIamcontinuallycalmingtherestlessscanningofmyrationalmindinordertoperceivethefinerenergiesthatenablemetounitivelymergewitheverythingaroundme.IamconstantlyawareofwhichoftheSevenCentersofConsciousnessIamusing,andIfeelmyenergy,perceptiveness,love,andinnerpeacegrowingasIopenalloftheCentersofConsciousness.Iamperceivingeveryone,includingmyself,asanawakeningbeingwhoisheretoclaimhisorherbirthrighttothehigherconsciousnessplanesofunconditionalloveandoneness.~~~~~TheTwelvePathwayswereformulatedin1972,andsincethattimetheyhavechangedthelivesofcountlessnumbersofpeople.TheTwelvePathwaysareamodern,practicalcondensationofthousandsofyearsofaccumulatedwisdom.Theygiveyouaminute-to-minuteguideforoperatingyourconsciousnesswhileyouinteractwiththeworldaroundyou.Theywillenableyoutoliveacontinuouslyhappy,conscious,loving,joyous,fulfilledlife.Ifyou¡¯vehadenoughoftheup-and-downroller-coasteringbetweenpleasureandpain,andarereallyreadytoenjoyandgetthemostoutofyourlifeallofthetime,thenyouarereadytouseandapplytheTwelvePathwaystomakeadramaticchangeinyourlife.Inthefollowingfourchapters,wewilldiscusseachoftheTwelvePathwaysindetail.TheTwelvePathwaystoHigherConsciousnesscanshowyouhowtoaccelerateyourspiritualdevelopmentandenableyoutobeginanewlifeofLivingLove.ThesePathwayscanshowyouthewaytofindthebeautyandhappinessthatishiddenwithinyou.Youwereerroneouslytaughtthathappinessliesingettingpeopleandthingsoutsideofyoulinedupexactlytosuityourdesires.Butourdesiresmultiplysomuchfasterthanourcapacit