Accomplishment Through the Process of Creation

In this interview Roy Posner, president of Growth Online, discusses how we can learn to create infinite accomplishment, success, and joy for ourselves, our businesses, for society by following growth and development processes that mirror the process by which the universe was created from a Divine source. Created December 2001 Updated June 2005.

Growth Online: You believe that the process by which the universe was created is mirrored in the process by which humans, businesses, and society create new levels of accomplishment, success, and joy.

RP: I think this insight is particularly relevant to our times, where people are beginning to desire to live out their full potential.

People don't want to wait around for their community or country to develop before they can be successful. We each want to fulfill our potential now, in our own lifetimes. Instant world communications, media, and information are showing a level of success that everyone wants to be part of. There is this heightened awareness of the possibility of real, full achievement in one's lifetime; not just a life of sacrifice and a hoping of the best for our children.

In that light we can understand that that there is a subtle yearning for the quickest, the most efficient path to achievement, accomplishment, and success in life. Throughout this Growth Online site we offer many approaches that bring about quicker and more efficient results.

Well along the way we have also been studying the realm of the spirit; or more specifically how the universe that we all live in came about. I don't mean from the material, scientific stand point, but from the spiritual, evolutionary standpoint. In other words why and how did the manifestation, the cosmos, the universe we live in appear from out of the spiritual source, the Divine, the Absolute, God, or whatever we wish to call the Original Principle.

Our conclusion is that if we understand the process that created the known universe, we will see that we as individuals are going through the same process. And if we learn to follow that process consciously, instead of unconsciously as we now do, we can release the infinite possibilities in our lives that mirror the infinite creation of forms that emanated from the One. If we learn to consciously follow the parallel process in our lives, and live that process, then we can radically accelerate accomplishment, success, and joy in our lives. We can find this quickest and most efficient path to our hearts desire.

Growth Online: What is so special about the creation that we would want to emulate it?

RP: Remember an entire universe was created out of this Divine Reality. Imagine if we could understand that process, and then understand and follow a parallel process in our own lives. We could become creators of something dramatically new, something with infinite scope, infinite possibility.

Then if there is a process in the creation of the universe, how can we understand it?

Well we could turn to science for our understanding. However, science is till this point still focused on empirical information, on surface movements of matter and energy. To science these are mere mechanical unfoldings, rather than a some type of willed process that could be in any way be charted, and emulated. Science has no conceptual framework, or understanding of any overriding process of creation.

Indeed if there were a process to creation, it could be understood and then perhaps be applied again in its own sphere, or onto other spheres, such as to personal growth, or business development, or social and global development to name a few. That is the nature of a process; it is a methodology that traces the arc of requirements that end in results. Now science makes no claim to understand the process by which the cosmos, the creation came about. It does not even know how it came about in the first place, process or no process!

In life itself, that is, life after the creation, science has done little better. Though science has revealed the hidden energy in the atom, and in tandem with human ingenuity has learned to create better tools, materials, products, inventions, and so forth, it perceives only the most superficial outer processes, not the deeper, inner processes of the subtle and secret energies that enable things to come about.

For example, we discuss throughout our site the phenomenon of life response, where if you change an attitude life can immediately respond in kind from half way around the world. This is a life process that science has not even begun to understand. First scientists have to first understand that it is real!

So what instrument can help us understand such processes; be it the creation or the processes by which life functions?

Perhaps we can turn to religion for the answers. But even religion has had surprisingly little interest in discovering and revealing the processes that enabled the creation, let alone how such a creation could possibly mirror processes that occur in life. In most religious tradition the creation or the Creator is said to be Unknowable; or if known, is presented simplistically, or is left to one's faith.

There is almost no discussion of the process of unfolding, of development, of evolution, and progress that enabled the cosmos, the universe to come about from some Divine source. Only the ancient pre-religions, such as the Upanishads, Vedas, and others seem to address these metaphysical issues; and even then as revelation, poetry, mythos, or fantasy.

Religion is also completely in the dark about the processes of how life functions, even though the underlying process that supports all functionings in life are spiritual in origin. Religion may address love, compassion, bliss, and miracles, but has no clue about these, let alone all of the other infinite number of processes of life.

Turning to the opposite extreme, modern rationalism, that is modern western philosophy, has made half-hearted attempts to explain the fundamental processes that enabled life to come about, and the processes by which life operates, but ultimately fail because they invariably do not include the subtle realms, the spiritual plane, that which is unmeasurable or untouchable in their equation. Even without spirit it does not at all understand the dynamics of life. Western philosophy comes off as something lifeless, turning in endless mental gyrations. Only modern psychology even begins to address such processes. Together with the ancient wisdom and some of the teachings of religion we might come up with a paltry beginning.

RP: Well we believe that despite what current science, religion, and philosophy holds, these processes are knowable.

And knowing how and why and in what method the universe was created can help us understand similar processes in life, in our own individual lives.

Moreover, if we understand the infinite possibilities that were there in the process of creation, then we can apply that process to create infinite possibilities in our own lives. We can thereby have at our disposal the fastest and most efficient path to fulfillment of our individual potential in life.

RP: Well the interesting thing is that we have already begun; we are already doing it, utilizing those processes of creation in our lives, in society, in the formations of our businesses.

Take a company. Many businesses begin with a plan. Later on if it is a smart business, it will build a strategic plan. A strategic plan is a statement of where the principals want to take the company; what its goals and business values are; culminating in an overall mission statement of its intent, strategies to see them come about, and action plans to implement the strategies. This is a typical strategic plan for a company.

So we can say that the strategic plan begins with a kind of vision of where it wants to go, and then proceeds to the next stage where there is an organizing of the vision, which is followed by the execution, carrying out, embodying, and fulfilling of the original vision. Those are the stages of the strategic plan.

In that first stage of development there is vision of the intended results, which culminates at the end of that first stage as a decision to see that the vision occurs. In the next stage there is the need to organize the decision so that it has many possibilities for achievement. For example, one can organize it by developing strategies for implementation; or one can determine the effects of various components of the business such as job activities or systems. Once that is clarified, one can proceed to develop specific action plans, which are carried out in all of the small acts of work. This stage culminates in results and achievement.

Let's take an example. Let's say a company wants to dramatically increase its profits within the next two years. That's it's vision. More specifically the company has the goals of increasing profits 100% compounded each year, and a year-over-year increase in sales of 50%. In developing those goals it also evaluates its current business values, and determines that "customer delight," the happiness well being of its staff, and the creation of new, innovative, unexpected products are its abiding values. This coagulates into the mission statement that embodies the vision of the company. So the vision are the goals and values expressed through a mission statement.

To further support this vision the company also has made the firm decision and commitment to see that the vision, the mission statement come about. This is then the vision and decision of the first stage of the process.

At the next stage the company organizes that vision and decision. For example, in a typical strategic plan the company consider various strategies to see that it comes about; strategies say in the area of company organization, strategies for development in its products and services (such as developing state of the art, cutting edge products), and strategies to improve the condition and satisfaction for the employees. Further still the company develops very specific plans of action to make sure each of its key strategies for developing better products, happier people, et al comes about. For example, as it examines its strategies for developing cutting age products, it makes plans to recruit new programmers that are experts in the field, or to develop projects to experiment with new materials, etc. Further still start and end dates are set for every action plan, people are assigned, and all the details for action are set.

In this entire organizational stage there is the intent of making more rich, densifying, making more complex the original vision into strategies and plans that can make the original vision more real.

At the final stage there is the carrying out of the plans of action. Plans of action are carried out by people who have the skills to see it through, are energized for work, and have the highest possible personal attitudes in their work. Through the unflagging will and persistence of the company the plan is carried out and executed perfectly, creating all of the original intended results, in this case a doubling of the profits and sales in the first year. All of the vision comes about, and then some.

So the process we see here is vision, decision, organization, and implementation, and results. Through a will and perseverance the original vision is turned into results. There is an embodiment of the vision, completing the process of creation.

This same process of creation holds not only for a strategic plan for a business, but for a personal plan for improvement, or for a social plan for improvement. In all cases the process is fundamentally the same. The more we consciously follow the process the more likely the results, and then some. It is the secret to accomplishment in life. This process even exists at the level of any act in life, from taking a photo to playing the stock market. They simply are microcosm of the same process of creations. If we want results from an intention, follow this process, the more you do the more likely you will get results. If you follow the process perfectly you can have infinite results in any field of life.

Our equally important observation is that this process is a similar process by which the cosmos, the universe emerged from out of the Absolute, the Divine, God, the One. There was some Urge (I use capital "U"), some compulsion to objectify itself for some reason. It is analogous to a business's vision of what it could be and its decision to implement its objectives in the first stage of its strategic plan. Then once there was the Divine's vision, decision, Urge to objectify, there needed to be some organizational force to coordinate and see it occur. Finally, there needed to various way that this vision, decision, plan for objectification could actually occur, how a cosmos, a universe could actually come about.

Growth Online: So you're saying the creation was a kind of strategic plan for the universe?

Yes in a way the Creator, the Divine developed and implemented a plan to objectify or make real that which was pure spirit; that is, turn subjective spirit into objective reality and results, the universe itself.

Just as the company wants to build a strategic plan to better itself and to enable greater possibilities for achievement, or an individual wants to do the same for him or her self, so too the Divine willed to objectify itself so that it could create the ultimate possibilities for manifestation of spirit. That was its goal, to have its Divine, Omnipresent Reality, the timeless and infinite divine spirit to manifest in the forms of creation. The Divine was in a way trying to fulfill its own potential by creating in the universe forms that it could occupy.

You could say in a silly way that the Divine was first stuck in neutral, or shall we say "Neutral" (with a capital N!), and wanted to evolve itself and all its attributes in matter, in life forms, in the movements and workings of life, in thought, knowledge; in all aspects of existence in the universe. Every object and being could be infused with the spiritual essence and attributes of the Divine.

And the end result would not only be infinite possibilities of forms, life, and ideas, but the ultimate joy, pleasure, and bliss of those forms and beings. That is, we as humans, would feel the presence of spirit in our being, in our existence, fulfilling the ultimate purpose of the creation and the Divine, which is the embodiment and blissful experience of the spirit as forms, as bodies, as us.

So the strategic plan of creation, if you will, is not just the objectification of spirit into an infinite diversity and multiplicity of forms, but the fulfillment in those forms as perfection, knowledge, truth, harmony, joy, bliss, and other ways which bring out the original spiritual qualities of the Divine Creator.

Likewise we can say that the ultimate purpose of a business strategic plan is not just the additional or greater material results that are created, but the ultimate joy and delight it engenders. Not just the measurable results, but the greater joy, pleasure, and delight that is experienced by employees, vendors, clients, customers, and for the society it partakes of. These are the subjective results of the process, just as there are objective goals in the plan.

So the purpose of the universe is the delight of existence. The ultimate purpose of a business or personal strategic plan, or for that matter any attempt to develop the business or person further, is the experience of joy and delight.

RP: Hardly! It has created results, its true. But has it fulfilled its original vision of having spirit completely envelop the forms it has created? Hardly at all! That is in fact what we can call the evolution from this point forward. That is enabled when the forms that have been created, us, grow and evolve, transform ourselves and life on earth, infused with the spirit of the original Divine. So its an ongoing strategic plan; a work in progress!

Growth Online: So is that it? Do we now have a handle on the process so that we can now accomplish?

RP: Well, I think there is still something missing, which is why and how do results actually occur. I mean what really caused the universe to appear? When I do my business strategic plan or a plan of personal growth, what is really going on "behind the scenes". If we believe in the idea of spirit and consciousness, then we somehow have to account for them in our equation.

(pause) However, In order to address this I think we need to focus on the key aspect behind these processes -- energy.

In our view the entire universe is a manifestation of spirit, which we can call consciousness. There is consciousness in the Creator and consciousness emerging in the creation that emerged from the Creator. That consciousness is also a force. In the universe we have material forms; stars, galaxies, worlds, rocks, plants, animals, and us. They and we are merely forms of that force.

When the universe manifest the consciousness/force, which we can call energy in its most basic material constituent, it was converted to forms and matter. In other words, energy was turned into results.

The universe is a result of the release and conversion of energy from a Divine reality to a universe of conscious forms. These are the results of creation. In the same way business development or personal growth is the result of the conversion of energy into results. In all cases energy is converted into a manifested reality, which are the results that it intended in the first place, fulfilling its original conception and vision.

RP: Well, if, for example, we can see how a business plan really involves the conversion of energy into the desired results that show as greater productivity, accomplishment, and profitability, we will begin to understand the process. And we will see how that essentially the same or a similar process of energy conversion occurs for an individual and society.

(pause) Let's then return to the strategic plan for the company. I spoke of a strategic plan as a compilation of new goals, values, and vision, coagulated into a decision, organized into strategies and other formulations, and executed through plans of action. That's in essence the strategic plan for a business. But how does energy come into play in that process? If we know that, we will understand that when we build the plan we are really planning the release of abundance of energy.

So how does energy move in a strategic plan for a business? Or perhaps we should ask how does a business release energy that creates results? If we know how energy would flow in a strategic plan, then we can also check back with the creation and perhaps see a similar unfolding of energy based on the strategic plan of the Creator.

So we begin with the fundamental assumption that energy is the basis of all results. Just as the energy that was released in the creation led to the existence of forms, and then later life and thought, so too the energy that is released in a company's strategic plan leads to greater results in the forms of better products and services, more productivity, better organization, happier people (customers and employees), and so forth.

So how then does the company get from an initial starting point or quantity of energy to a point where the energy is rapidly accelerating and intensifying, which creates the greatest possibility for achievement if and when it is converted into results? That is, what is the internal process that releases ever-accelerating and intensifying energy which can create the material benefits?

Let's go through the process for a typical company that is intend on improving itself.

For starters the company at a given point in time has a certain amount of energy. Then through an awareness of a possibility or an opportunity, or even as a result of life's pressures that company wants to, or is compelled to rise further. That's the vision -- to take itself to the next step or the next level of its existence. Just as the Divine wished to take Itself to the next step, to objectify itself into a universe of forms so that its divinity and Delight could be infinitely expanded, so too a company wishes to chart a new direction in order to create new possibilities and results, and the Joy that issues from it.

At this point the company is setting sail on a new course and direction. It does this by developing, establishing practical goals, focusing on core business values, and developing a clear vision or mission statement of what it wants to be. This vision of new direction has the effect of expanding the original energy that was available to the company. You can say that the original existing energy is altered from being a limiting, haphazard force to being a directed force. At this stage of vision and decision the existing energy is focused, amplified, and turned into a force for accomplishment.

So we could say that in the case of the Divine, it has conceived an embodiment of itself, a universe; that's its "vision." It wishes that vision to occur; that's its decision. Together the "vision" and "decision" create a direction. Somehow this takes place, and somehow its internal "energies," whatever we define that as, are focused and amplified for accomplishment. In a similar way, the company has conceived a new vision and decision, i.e. its direction, which focuses, amplifies, and directs its energy into a force for accomplishment.

However, for the new direction to become a reality, it needs to be organized; i.e. the getting there details must be organized. The direction, including its vision and decision, needs to be organized; or looking at it from the perspective of the energy, the energy behind needs to be organized. For a business the new objectives, values, and vision need to be developed and organized into something more substantial and coherent -- such as which strategies to deploy, which people to involve and how, which divisions, departments, activities, systems, and jobs to involve and how, as well as such things as how the objectives relate to the market, to the products and services, to finance, and to people.

If, for example, a company has a vision of becoming the market leader in a certain niche area, it needs to organize that objectives in terms all of these aspects of components of the business. In that way, the original vision is densified, made more complex, as it becomes more organized. By organizing the direction of goals, values, and vision through all of these components of the business, the directed force of energy turns into a vastly expanded power for accomplishment. Thus we can say that organization harnesses and controls the force of energy and turns it into potential productive power. So at this point the energy is vastly expanded and intensified.

Now let's turn back to the creation of the universe and see if there is something analogous working. For the Absolute, the Divine, there must be some sort of organizing mechanism that coordinates, concentrates, orders the Idea or Decision to objectify into a universe. Our conclusion is that the organizing mechanism of the Divine that enables it to move forward from the stage of Urge or Idea or Decision is a plane we call the "Truth Consciousness." Truth Consciousness, also called "Supermind" by the Indian sage and seer Sri Aurobindo, is the extension of the Absolute, the Divine, that enables it to direct the process of turning the Spiritual Reality into a universe of forms.

The Divine through its organizing mechanism of Truth Consciousness has organized through greater complexity and possibility -- i.e. through the Cosmic details -- its unfolding from Urge for Manifestation of energy that will be the basis of forms in the universe.

For the company, organization of the decision makes the decision more robust, more complex, creating a densification and expansion of energy -- an energy that has now become a greater power for accomplishment. For the Divine the organization by Truth Consciousness takes the Decision of the Divine for manifestation and makes it more robust, complex, far reaching in its possibilities, creating unseen Systems and Formulations of Knowledge and Formations to participate in this unfolding.

[As we discuss elsewhere Supermind spins off planes of Mind, Vital, and Matter to create conduits for the movement of the original Decision. An invisible power of energy is built up as the Consciousness that is the essence of the Divine, now has the new conduits of these three planes of Mind, Vital, and Matter to channel itself through. Eventually the Consciousness of the Divine will coagulate in a form of energy at rest that will eventually manifest as Matter, the first plane that appears in the universe. For our purposes at this point we can say that that the Consciousness of the Divine is coagulating into unseen energy at rest. -Editor]

Growth Online: So is that the entire process of creation for God and for us? [edit point]

RP: (pause) There is one final stage however in this energy conversion process; a process that we have seen so far converts the starting company energy through its vision and decision into a force, and then organizes the vision through complexity, possibilities, and plans; thereby expanding the energy into productive power to achieve new results for the business.

While a company may have a new direction and may have organized it into potential new productive power, it still needs to actually come about, to become a reality. For that to happen, for the power to turn into the reality that was once envisioned, there must be some instrument of implementation. In our analysis the implementation occurs through people, through their developed skills to carry out plans and potentials. It also requires their developed, positive attitudes. The higher the skills and higher the attitudes of the people, the more results occur. So through the thousand tiny acts performed by individuals, (involving activities, systems, job, projects, and other structures of the business), the vision and decision that has been organized turns into realities and results.

In terms of energy we can say that the power that was developed through organizing our vision through the many organizing components of the business turns into a reality of accomplishment, success, growth, profitability, quality, and joy. The energy that was power is vastly expanded in the process is converted into vast results. At that point this conscious will to improve the company is fulfilled. The thing that the company set out to do is done. The energy has moved from its original quantity and intensity to become a force, which is intensified and expanded into a power, which is converted into great results.

[Click icon below to see energy conversion process diagram for a business: Then please return here.]

(pause) So what one wishes to happen does happen if the process is understood and followed -- whether it be an a business, a social institution, or an individual. Any company, entity or individual can conceive of something beyond what it is now, and can learn to harbor, concentrate, and accelerate the energy and turn it into results that fulfill and surpass the original vision. In any of these the process is fundamentally the same.

RP: Yes, of course. An individual can envision a way that his or her life can be better, and make a decision to see it come about. He can then organize the vision into a plan in various ways in his life, and then can act on it unfailingly to see it perfectly come about.

In terms of energy it's the same thing occurring. For that person the vision of that which he wants to become and the decision to make it happen creates a new energy. That is, his original energy has been directed to become a force for accomplishment. He then organizes his vision into various ways, such as through potential strategies and plans, to better able it to come about. This organization of his vision dramatically increases the energy that is available for accomplishment. The directed force becomes a power for accomplishment. But then he needs to take that buildup of energy and turn it into a reality. He does this by unfailing execution of the organizational plans through actions that demand his optimal skills, his most positive attitudes, and his perseverance of effort. That enables the great power of energy to be converted into material results, accomplishment, success, and joy; equal to, and often far surpassing his original intent.

In fact the more perfectly he fulfills the requirements of each stage of the process, the more energy is built up, directed, and formulated into results. If done perfectly the results he can be elevated to a new level in his life, jettisoned to new planes of achievement and possibility.

Growth Online: So do you have a practical example for us of how a person might go through these stages ?

RP: (pause) Let's say I am puttering along in life. I reach a point where I stop and say that life can't go on like this anymore. Or perhaps an opportunity suddenly comes my way. Or I read something and I'm inspired to move in a new direction. The change starts in such a way; somehow there is an opportunity or possibility or frustration or will to move from one's current functioning to another.

At some point we turn that potential change in our mind's eye into a vision of that which we can become. If we decide to consciously follow the process to execution, then it can really come about, and come about perfectly, even infinitely greater than we originally anticipated. If we don't follow the process, the vision never materializes, or if it occurs, happens over a very long period of time, and then only as a pale version of the original inspiration. On the other hand, conscious growth or development is a process by which we take an original vision, the goals we wish to achieve, the values that we care about and want implemented, and turn them into results, even infinite results if we do it perfectly.

Let's make our example a little more familiar. Let's say I want to improve myself as an instructor. I semi-consciously know or have the sense that I just can't continue at my current level. Perhaps I want to be a real expert in a particular niche area that sets me apart from others. So at some point I find out about new opportunities in my field; opportunities that are unique and set me apart. I feel a surge of energy inside me from the discovery. I then come to realize that this would be a great idea to pursue. I realize that I can be an expert in teaching a unique piece of software to my clients. That further increases my energy. I decide to take it up. At this point my vision is clear, and a decision has been made. Through a vision and a decision the energy I have is now directed as a force for accomplishment.

Now however comes a critical stage, deciding how can I direct this new energy into something substantial or material. That happens when I take the vision and decision and organize it. I organize it by developing it; developing strategies and plans of action; see it in terms of all the elements that will be impacted by it. For example, I might organize the vision and decision by considering a few different potential strategies to accomplish my goal, such as the idea of contacting in the coming weeks a number of specialized training companies, and to ask experts in the field what their opinion is of opportunities on that product. Furthermore I decide to allocate a certain amount of time to contacting such companies, and begin the process of learning the skills needed to see it come about. Finally, and very importantly I organize my own psychological will by insisting that I will persevere and accomplish the goal. This releases even more energy in me. At this point the vision and decision that was energy directed as force has become an accelerated and intensified energy of power for accomplishment.

But I still need to execute my plan. I do that by making an unflagging effort, making sure that my psychological will to see it through has not decreased, acquiring and utilizing all the necessary skills require of the effort, and at every point maintaining the highest positive attitudes about myself, others, and what life brings. At that point the energy that had built up as potential productive power is realized as results in the form of new accomplishment, success, and joy.

The more perfect the process is followed, the greater the results; and in the shortest period of time. If perfected, the results can lead to levels of accomplishment, success, and joy far exceeding my original intention. I may even be propelled into a new level or realm in my life. Plus life will reveal to me many aspects of myself that are lacking, which I can make the further effort to change, thus creating even more potential benefit if I cease the opportunities to improve myself in these newly discovered areas.

One other point. At growth Online we spend a lot of time describing the spiritual plane of life. If one learns to utilize the spiritual force that is always available in the atmosphere around us, the accomplishment we seek can become enormous, infinite in its potential, and can occur in the very shortest period of time.

This is the greatest secret of all; that we can throughout this personal strategic plan, throughout this process of energy conversion, utilize the spiritual force to overcome the limitation of space and time, attracting enormous results in the shortest periods of time. This is the infinite efficiency of the spiritual plane of life.

Growth Online: Well what happened to the creation? We still don't have a universe! You stopped at the organizing part.

(pause) In our theory, which is derived from the thoughts and realizations of the Indian visionary Sri Aurobindo, we say that there is an Omnipresent reality, a Spirit, a Divine, which we in the West call the Absolute, and which is called Brahman in the East. It is the foundation of everything else. It is the spiritual source of creation.

At a point the Absolute wants to objectify, manifest itself. It has this Real Idea of what it wishes to become. This is its Self-Conception. This is equivalent to an individual having a specific idea or vision of what is to be achieved, such as the desire to move to the next level of accomplishment and success in life. This is the individual's self-conception; his vision and decision.

To begin the process of creating the universe The Divine, the Absolute, the Original Principle, divides or extends itself into three aspects of itself in preparation for the creation -- as Existence, as Consciousness, and as Bliss. Existence means that the Absolute does in fact exist. Consciousness, sometimes referred to as Conscious Force, means that the Absolute which has no need to be conscious chooses for the sake of (the later) creation to extend itself be conscious of its own existence. That consciousness is also a force. Bliss means that the Absolute extends itself to derive pleasure in its Existence. This extension of the Original Principle, the Absolute into these three aspects is equivalent to a person existing, being aware of his existence, and enjoying existence, wanting to live on. So this is a kind of starting point. The individual recognizes his own existence, potential, and possibility for delight, mirroring the Absolute's.

So the process of realizing the self-conception of the Real Idea of the Absolute continues. The Absolute, which has extended to Existence, Conscious Force, and Bliss further extends itself to realize the creation it wishes to bring about. To that end it creates the plane of Truth Consciousness, which Sri Aurobindo discovered and also calls Supermind, to begin the process or organizing and developing the Vision/Decision. Supermind becomes the aspect of the Absolute that orders the powers from above to coordinate with the potential aspects of that which will be created. Supermind is the great ordering mechanism and instrument of creation. It has the supreme Vision and Unity of Understanding from "above" to order the creation in its potential of multiplicity as a universe "below."

To that end Supermind creates the planes of Mind to begin the process of objectifying the spirit of the Absolute into a manifestation, a universe. Creation must express the Timeless in the plane of Time in order to exist; to objectify itself, which requires division. Thus Supermind created the plane of Cosmic Mind to divide. This is in essence the organization of the Vision and Decision into the plan and potential of divided details of creation, which will eventually manifest as forms (which we as human will experience as separate and divided forms, separate and divided matter.)

Likewise the individual organizes his vision/decision by developing strategies, plans of action, etc. These are the specific, multiple, divisions of details for his plan.

Behind the scenes energy is gathering in the individual. The starting energy for the individual that became force when he had the vision and made the decision is greatly expanded and concentrated, and becomes a power for accomplishment.

For the Creation the organization stage continues. The Conscious Force further extends itself into Knowledge and Will. The Conscious Force has developed a capacity of Knowledge, and a capacity of Will, or Willful Determination. This then enables a directed power for creation.

The Absolute that had extended Itself to a Conscious Force, had Organized itself as a Power of Creation, was now in essence a gathered power of energy. This energy, initially an energy at rest, was ready to become objects of forms, of substance, of matter. In the Big Bang we see the final conversion of the gathered energy into moving energy which becomes plasma and then forms through the dividing power of Cosmic Mind.

For the individual he further develops the will to carry out his organized Vision by acting on his plan. In the process the initial energy became a force and then a power for accomplishment, which then becomes a physical reality, a real accomplishment as real results when he makes the unflagging effort to carry out his plan.

In fact he has created results that appear as not only objective results, as accomplishment and success, but also as subjective results, as joy, pleasure, and delight.

Thus the process of conversion from vision/decision, through organization to implementation to results is complete. For the individual creating a vision and making the decision to carry it out enables the initial energy to be directed into a force for accomplishment. That directed force of energy is organized through strategies, plans, and other formulations and development possibilities (both outer and inner, psychological) into greater and more intense energy of power for accomplishment. That energy is then converted to results of accomplishment, success, and joy when he carries out the organized strategies, plans et al through a persevering effort, utilizing his highest skills and personal attitudes. Thus energy gathered and intensified as power is converted into optimal physical, material, and psychological results.

For both the Creator and the individual there is the similar process of vision or Real Idea of that which it wishes to create, a decision to see it come about, the organization of the Vision/real Idea and Decision, and the implementation of the organizational details, which leads to great tangible, material and psychological results. In both instances the initial energy is directed and expanded as a force, organized into a power, and then converted from power of energy into physical results. And these results are objective and subjective. Tangible physical entities, as well as subjective experience of joy and delight.

RP: The message we wish to deliver to our readers is that just as the Creator created an infinite universe with its infinite diversity, multiplicity, infinite potential of forms and possibilities, we can also follow a parallel process in our own lives to create infinite accomplishment and joy. The more closely we follow the process, the more the results move from mere results to astonishing and never-before-imagined infinite results.

The key is how we can learn from this process of creation. How can we learn to take the idea and reality of this energy conversion process and make it real for ourselves, and implement it in our lives to create infinite accomplishment, success, and joy. The Divine created a universe with the potential for infinite existence, accomplishment and joy using this process. We can do the same in our own lives, in our companies, institutions, and social entities.

Ultimately however one still needs to have the experience of this process at least one time to truly understand its methods, as well as its benefits. When that happens one will have the true knowledge and experience. When we go through this process, when we consciously try to take ourselves to the next level, we understand the process better, so that the next time we will be able to follow it more accurately, giving even better results. This is true for an individual, a company, or society.

Just a month or so ago I saw the process in startling detail. I have been taking photos of San Francisco Bay to capture its beauty and fragility. Before one of my outings I decided to plan out what I wanted to do. I looked at maps, I looked at possible sites to go to, considered the time frame, and so forth. A few hours later I found myself at a new spot I had never been to before. When I arrived I noticed everything was going perfectly. The weather was usually beautiful, the atmosphere was harmonious and peaceful, the photo locations were beautiful, the environment was cooperative, everything around me seemed to work well, in harmony, and perhaps most important from the standpoint of my objectives, I got the photos I had hoped for.

Moreover, the whole experience was exhilarating. I felt a titanic physical energy, melded with an inner peace, and a great happiness and joy.

Only later did I understand that I had closely followed the energy conversion process for one relatively small event in my life. On further thought I was able to trace where I had followed the process at each stage, and the objective and subjective results that followed. I understood that it was an act of creation in microcosm.

It was this same process of vision, decision, organization, implementation that leads to great results. It is the vision/decision that directs energy into a force for accomplishment. The organization of the vision/decision that turns the force into a greater power for accomplishment. And the unflagging effort that turns the power for accomplishment into real, results. not just any results, but great results; both great materially and psychologically.

And perhaps we can say that this psychological result, this great joy, is the Delight that the Divine wished for in the first place when it manifest the universe. It is such discoveries and experiences in us, in following this process, that the purpose of the universe, the Delight of being, is experienced and understood.

So surely one could surely then extend this to other aspects of our lives, to things that are truly important to us, such as our careers, or our company's success if we run a company, or the to success and development of various society if we are involved in such work.

Growth Online: This is a vast concept you have give us Roy, but is there some practical way our readers can start?

RP: Well for an individual there are a few approaches. For example, at Growth Online we recommend a 30 day plan for personal improvement in which we outline how to move one's self from where they are now in life to the next higher level. It more or less follows the approach of a personal strategic plan, and is based on the energy conversion process we have spoken of here.

A number of individual we know have followed this process to great success and joy. As an example one woman who couldn't get a full time job for ten years suddenly got one within a few months of taking up the plan. Another woman who was trying for years to sell her Bed and Breakfast motel suddenly did so for a million dollars within a few months of implementing her plan. Others who aspired for higher incomes accomplished it and then some shortly thereafter. In fact, many have even witnessed results that far exceeded their original intent. Then there are those who have seen staggering improvements that defy any logic.

We also outline how a company can follow a strategic plan following these same processes. Again we have seen countless instances where they have followed the process to bring about great prosperity or even great turn-around from disaster. For example, the way Chrysler got itself out of its huge predicament in the late 70s by, in essence, followed this process, and was for two decades a great inspiration for the business community. We also know of many companies who took this conscious route of strategic planning and implementation, of following the process of energy conversion from vision to decision to organization to execution that led to doubling and tripling of profits in a year or less, or far greater than that.

Finally, we speak of the process of social growth and development to indicate how society moves to the next level of development as well. We have seen many examples where communities, nations, and other social entities followed this process, to evoke great, often astonishing results for their economies, for social stability and harmony, for ways out of poverty and hunger, and so forth.

(pause) It all begins with the self-conception of what one wants to become. The Bhagavad-Gita, the ancient wisdom of India, says "we become that which we believe we can become." That value is clearly something we in the West believe in to a great degree. Our value of freedom is another way of saying the same thing. Except that the Gita literally means it; that we can literally become all we can be by invoking the infinite potentials of life. If we learn to harness the process of creation; if we learn to bring spirit into the process, we can release in life all of its infinite energies and its corresponding infinite results.

As I mentioned at the outset, people in the world are not willing to wait; they want results in their own lifetime. If we follow the process that I have outlined we can create the results in the very shortest period of time; we can convert our will for something better into great results by converting the energy that is built up in the process, to great accomplishment, success, and joy. That process can be followed by an individual trying to improve his or her life; by a business trying to take itself to the next level of profitability, revenues, and success; to any part or element of society that is trying to move to the next level of prosperity, peace, and harmony.

The process in all of these mirrors the process by which the universe came into being. Since we are part of that universe, the process is there in all that exists, in all that we do. If we make the effort to move to the next level by following the process, we can become anything we want to become; in the shortest periods of time; creating the greatest efficiency for ourselves, in a world where we are demanding fulfillment of our hearts desire in our own lifetimes.

Further still, if we also learn to utilize the powers of spirit in that process, then we can open ourselves literally to infinite accomplishment, success, and joy in our lives, in our businesses, and in the society that we live in. We address this issue throughout our site. We refer to this as opening to the Force, consecration, and other approaches.

RP: (pause) Yes. This effort is not for the faint of heart. One must be focused, directed, and willing to engage one's full energies to get the desired results, or more likely, results that far exceed your original expectation. Whether you are trying to develop yourself, a business, or a social entity to the next level of accomplishment and success, one must be very committed and energized to see the effort through.

In addition to the general movements we have discussed for moving to the next level -- of vision, decision, organization, and realization -- there are some other additional, supporting conditions that need to be fulfilled to insure that the whole process doesn't fall apart and whither away. For one the progress that one is making in this endeavor must be a continuous movement in one direction. That is, there can't be any zig zagging back and forth in this endeavor. There cannot be any turning back or back sliding. Otherwise life will just land you on your face, back where you started. So a determined, persevering effort, without any back sliding, must be undertaken. That's the first condition.

To prevent such back sliding there must be a foundation that is organized and established. This will prevent not only back sliding but counter forces in life that always try to negate what we are trying to create and bring anew into the world.

Sri Aurobindo said when the universe was created there was also simultaneously born hostile counter forces to that which was being created. In the same way when one endeavors to move one's self, company, or social entity to the next highest level, that is, enable a new creation, there are forces that come into play that try to negate what is trying to be established. Our experiences is that when one undertakes such efforts for improvement, there are countervailing forces, events, circumstances in life that try to negate the progress. Thus to avoid such forces there must be a foundation in that which is trying to be created that is firmly organized and established. For example, in the organizational stage there must be a very solid set of strategies, plans, complexities that must be established. One must put one's full energies in establishing these; just as the individual, company, social entity must put it's full energies into the execution of the plan for improvement that leads to results.

So we have these additional caveats for success. The general attributes are the vision, decision, organization, and unflagging execution to create the results we seek (which are often infinitely surpassed). The supporting conditions are no back sliding, having a foundation that is organized and established, and persevering effort and expending of all one's energies at each stage, in part to ward off any countervailing forces and circumstance, in part to enable perfect execution.

We have been doing a lot of work in the area of what we call "Life Response." That is if you engage in certain psychological behaviors or take certain actions life can respond in kind to you in what that can astonish. from out of nowhere money can appear, or opportunities appear, or people appear. We have seen thousands of examples where a person changed an attitude, or organized something, or overcame a reluctance, and saw how life instantly has responded to that action. It can come from far away, from people and circumstance that you have no relations with; where the normal logic of time and space is completely overcome. For example, one individual who was reluctant to clean the bottom of his refrigerator overcame his long time reluctance and cleaned it, and instantly thereafter got a call giving him important work for the next six months! This was astonishing to him, and he saw the clear relationship between overcoming his attitude of reluctance and the very positive life response. So the first point is that this phenomenon is very real, and a miracle to behold.

The other point is that if one follows the process of creation as we have discussed, one can attract responses from life ate every stage along the way. If you take the initiative and follows its conditions, you will see life respond in kind in extraordinary ways. Life will suddenly begin to cooperate. Positive things will happen from out of nowhere positive things will appear, and in the shortest period of time. It can even be instantaneous. I have experienced such things hundreds of time, and so have my fellow researchers into this extraordinarily phenomenon. Life will amaze and astound.

The Life Response phenomenon is one of the great secrets we reveal at Growth Online. We have studied this miraculous phenomenon quite closely, and seen hundreds, thousands of instances where life has responded out of all proportion to time and space to a change in one's behavior. I recommend that our audience become familiar with the life response phenomenon at our site.

If we follow the process of growth and development in ourselves, our companies and social entities positive life response will appear everywhere. It can daze, amaze, and give a fresh insight into the infinite powers of forces and spirit that lies just below the surface of life, but which is happening all of the time.

(pause) So now we have all of the conditions for taking our individual lives, our companies, the social entities that we wish to improve to the next level of growth and development; the next level of accomplishment, success, and joy.

In one sense that is why we are here on earth, to progress, to evolve, to develop. Our soul's purpose in taking on our individual being is to evolve to the next highest level. Just as the Divine itself wished to moved to the next highest level, we can move ourselves, our companies, the social entities that make up our society to the next level. In that way we not only enable progress, but results that have never been there before; results that are totally new, experiencing not only its material benefit, even the real possibility of infinite material benefit, but the joy and delight of existence, mirroring the delight that the Divine longed for when out of it it manifest the universe we live in.

So it is up to us. Do we want to make the effort to take our lives to the next level? Do we know what we want, what the possibilities and opportunities are there beckoning us? If so, and we organize the vision of that which we want to become, and carry it out with all our passion and energies, we will not only help ourselves, but create something new in the world, as well as come in contact with the infinite possibilities that are there hidden in life; which is there as spirit seeking to find itself in that which we are bringing anew into the world. In that process, we experience the delight of existence and or purpose in life.

MAIN POINTS

"The key is how we can learn from this process of creation. How can we learn to take the idea and reality of this energy conversion process and make it real for ourselves, and implement it in our lives to create infinite accomplishment, success, and joy. The Divine created a universe with the potential for infinite existence, accomplishment and joy using this process. We can do the same in our own lives, in our companies, institutions, and social entities."

GENERAL

Individuals, businesses, institutions, and society are continually undergoing a process of development.
For virtually all instances of these the process is unconscious. Because it is unconscious it occurs sporadically, inefficiently, slowly, over the longest periods of time, if at all. If an individual, business, or society consciously follows the process, it creates the greatest results; also the greatest efficiency in terms of time and space.
The energy conversion process focuses, harnesses and expands energy to create desired results.
The energy conversion process begins with an individuals starting point and energy, followed by a vision of something to be accomplished, which is then turned into a decision. That directs the initial energy into a force for accomplishment. The decision is then organized, expanded, made more complex, and turned into a plan of action. This organization turns the energy into a vastly expanded and concentrated power for accomplishment. The plan is then executed which turns the expanded energy into results as accomplishment, success, and joy.
The energy conversion process in terms of energy is: Energy that is directed becomes force. Force that is organized becomes power. Power that is made into results is skill.
The energy conversion process can be seen at work in a strategic plan for an individual, business, institution, and society. This process of energy conversion can be seen even in the smallest acts of life.
Perfect development occurs when the individual, business, or social entity follows the process to perfection; i.e. converts energy into force, power, and results.
In addition to the general movement of vision, decision, organization, and realization, additional conditions need to be fulfilled to gain perfect results. For one the progress must be a continuous movement in one direction; it cannot zigzag back and forth, or turn back; no back sliding is permitted for the individual, business, or society.
To prevent back sliding there must be a foundation that is organized and established. This will prevent not only back sliding but counter forces in life that always try to negate what we are creating. (Sri Aurobindo said when things are created; it enabled counter hostile forces to the act of creation to manifest.) Thus to avoid such forces there must be a foundation which is organized and established. In addition there must be the full expending of energies to see that he organization is established.
Energy during the process can express as physical energy, vital energy, and mental energy. For example, for an individual, a new idea can energize the mind; a deep inspiration or feeling can energize the emotions; and a healthy way of living can energize the body. There are also subtle, spiritual energies.
Conscious growth is evolution and development.
One only truly knows the energy conversion process when one goes through the experience of raising one's self, the business, or society. Then one knows the steps, conditions, and subtleties of the process.
One can only learn the process of creation fully by undergoing the process in our own endeavor to improve ourselves. By going through it, the logic of the process will be revealed. For this the individual needs to observe his thoughts, emotions, sensations, impulses at each points as he moves through the process. The same for the company or the social entity. That which is revealed will be a revelation and a constant source of joy and progress.
Following the energy conversion process will inevitably lead to positive responses from life; that is, after adjusting certain of our behaviors, positive results, circumstances, benefits, appear from seemingly out of nowhere, in no time, defying our normal perceptions of space and time. It is perhaps the great phenomenon of life.

PROCESS OF CREATION OF UNIVERSE

To begin the process of creating the universe The Divine, the Absolute, the Original Principle, has the Real Idea of a creation. It's conception is to create a manifest universe for the purpose of Delight of discovery through the greatest multiplicity and diversity of objects. To that Goal the Absolute divides or extends itself into three aspects of itself in preparation for the creation -- as Existence, as Conscious-Force, and as Delight (Sat-chit-ananda in the East). Existence means that the Absolute does in fact exist. Consciousness, sometimes referred to as Conscious Force, means that the Absolute which has no need to be conscious chooses for the sake of (the later) creation to extend itself be conscious of its own existence. That consciousness is also a force. delight means that the Absolute extends itself to derive pleasure in its Existence.
The process of realizing the self-conception of the Real Idea of the Absolute continues. The Absolute, which has extended to Existence, Conscious Force, and delight further extends itself to further realize the creation it wishes to bring about. To that end it extends another plane, the plane of Truth Consciousness, Supermind, to begin the process or organizing and developing the Real Idea of creation. Supermind becomes the aspect of the Absolute that orders the powers from above to coordinate with the potential aspects of that which will be created. Supermind is the great ordering mechanism and instrument of creation. It has the supreme Vision and Unity of Understanding from "above" to order the creation in its potential of multiplicity as a universe "below."

To that end Supermind creates the planes of Mind to begin the process of objectifying the spirit of the Absolute into a manifestation, a universe. Creation must express the Timeless in the plane of Time in order to exist; to objectify itself, which requires division. Thus Supermind created the plane of Cosmic Mind to divide. It in fact divides the Conscious-Force into Knowledge and Will. The Conscious Force has thus developed a capacity of Knowledge, and a capacity of Will, or Willful Determination.

In life when we have a new knowledge of something it creates a will in us that is energizing. In the same way the Knowledge then works on Will, which releases the energy of the Will. This energy that is released is essentially the plane of Life. Thus the original Conscious-Force through the plane of Mind is split into Knowledge and Will, which enables energy to be released, which creates the plane of Life.

Now remember the universe has not yet been created. Also the process of self-negation to hide its attributes to enable the joy of great discovery of our higher nature by us in creation is still under way. For that purpose of hiding the plane of Mind disappears. (It will reappear after the universe manifests.) Also, to hide the plane of Life, the Knowledge withdraws from the Will, eliminating its energy, leaving an energyless residual behind, which enables the plane of Matter. The plane of Matter is essentially substance without energy. Matter is conscious-Force without Mind or Life; just substance.

Perhaps we can say that the universe begins in the transition from the plane of Life to the plane of Matter. Perhaps at the Big Bang (or related phenomenon) the plane of Matter is energy at rest, which begins to move, which enables the Big Bang, from which Matter emerged. Matter then reverses at some point, and in the universe the plane of Life reemerges from out of matter, and life, as movement, force, and energy, is born. Billions of years later, through sentient life culminating in human beings, the plane of Mind reemerges from sentient life in the universe. At that point humans take up the further evolution and discovery of spirit, which is experienced as Delight, fulfilling the purpose for which the Creator created the universe in the first place. Thus the creation, the universe fulfills itself in the individual, and the individual fulfills itself in the universe.

PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL

STARTING POINT/CURRENT ENERGY
The individual has saturated the current levels, forms of his life with energy and has excess, surplus energy.
DIRECTED ENERGY CREATES FORCE FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT
With that surplus he wants to rise to the next level of any of - accomplishment, success, awareness, understanding, performance, functioning, character, happiness, or joy. He develops what he wishes to be, accomplish into an idea, a vision. This in turn leads to an aspiration in the person to achieve it. The aspiration releases energy in the individual. The individual then makes a decision to see that the aspiration is achieved, i.e. comes about in his life. This vision and decision directs the excess, surplus energy of the individual into a force for accomplishment
ORGANIZED FORCE BECOMES POWER FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT
The individual organizes the decision (to see that aspiration is achieved) through a plan for achievement. The organization of the decision intensifies and expands one's energies, turning the energy into power for accomplishment.
SKILLED EXECUTION BECOMES RESULTS (accomplishment, success, joy)
When the individual executes the plan with full intensity and perseverance, with all the necessary skills, with the right attitudes, the energy that is power is converted into the results that match the original vision and intent. If executed perfectly the results far exceed the original intent.

When the individual moves to the next level, what was earlier done by a conscious effort and striving eventually becomes a natural, integrated part of one's personality (e.g. a new skill becomes a habit, a new idea becomes a settled opinion, a new attitude becomes part of the character). Further still these results crystallize into newly formed personal values that become integral to that person's life.

PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT FOR A BUSINESS

STARTING POINT/CURRENT ENERGY
The business has saturated the current forms, levels of its existence with energy and is ready to create new forms, move to higher levels for its excess, surplus energy.
VISION, DECISION DIRECTS ENERGY INTO FORCE FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT
There is a compulsion among leaders and others in the company to move it to the next level. Perhaps there's a new opportunity in society or in the industry for the company, or the company has a general aspiration for improvement, increase sales, profits, market share, etc. In other words, with excess energy at its current level the company is moved to go to a higher level based on external or internal opportunities or aspirations. This in turn leads a vision of what it wishes to be or go or become, which is turned into a decision to make it happen. This directional stage converts the excess, surplus energy into a force for accomplishment.
ORGANIZED FORCE TURNS ENERGY INTO POWER FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT
The newly directed energy then has to be channeled through organization that can convert the directed energy into productive results and power. Organization determines who will do what, when it will be done, how it will be done and in what sequence so that management’s vision, goals, and values, are directed through potential strategies and plans of action, thus densifying, developing, formulating, expanding the original vision, intent.

The more the strategies, plans, and other organizing formulations are addresses through company systems, activities, jobs, divisions, departments, et al (i.e. the company's structure) the greater the power that is released for achievement at the next higher level.
EXECUTION BY PEOPLE TURN POWER INTO RESULTS (i.e. Profitability, Growth, Quality)
Finally, the results achieved by this directed and organized force depend on the attitudes of its people, and the knowledge and skills of individuals to carry out specific acts to implement management goals, values, strategies, and action plans. Perfectly carried out acts, through the knowledge-filled and skilled execution of the company's people is the final trigger that propels it to the next plateau of achievement and success.

PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT FOR SOCIETY

The society (the social entity, community, nation, society, etc.) has saturated the current forms, levels of its existence with energy.
The society is ready to create new forms, move to higher levels for its excess, surplus energy. Perhaps there's a new opportunity, or a general aspiration for improvement, or external compulsion to mover forward. Most of this is the form of a subconscious will to the society.
A pioneer individual takes an initiative, fulfilling the society's subconscious will. In other words, the pioneer's initiative gives a more conscious vision, focus, and direction to the society's subconscious will. Thus there is the development of a vision. At this point the energy is expanding and turned into limited results..
The pioneer's initiative is accepted by society, and is multiplied by other's initiative. Thus there is an expanded decision to implement the vision. At this point the energy is expanding even greater and turned into expanded results.
At a more developed stage the initiatives are accepted and assimilated by society by new forms of organization. At this point the energy is expanding even greater and turned into vast results.
At a later more mature stage the benefits are institutionalized through education, and further still are culturally transmitted as values in the family. At this point the energy is expanding even greater and turned into ultimate results.