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Achievement-Related Principles
Knowledge Base

 by Roy Posner and MSS

 

Influence of the Atmosphere, Society on Events, Attempts to Achieve

Opposition when Moving to a Higher Level, Plane

Opposing Forces That Arise Against a Great Good

Making a Progress Beyond our Endowment Attracts What We Are Missing

Society Tries to Destroy an Individual's Progress

Man Moves Up When He Renounces the Methods of the Lower Level

Success of One's Initiatives

Capacities of an Individual that Enable Achievement

 

 

Influence of the Atmosphere, Society on Events, Attempts to Achieve
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Consequences of Acts Dependent on Three Factors
The consequences of an act depend on the strength of the act, the actor and the social atmosphere.

What Determines the Outcome of an Event
-The outcome of an event can be positive, negative, or neutral.

-That outcome is determined by the consciousness of the individual (conscious and subconscious), the social conditions and atmosphere, and the cosmic intent. E.g. if an individual seeks to rise in a negative atmosphere, then the determining factor is which energies are stronger. If the social negative is, then the individual will find it difficult to rise.

-What determines is the sum total of the energies.

The Character of Life and Individual and Environmental Energies
There are forces positive and negative around one, and forces positive and negative within one. Through the interaction and outcomes of these forces one can observer the character of life.

Man succeeds when his own energies are greater than the forces that oppose it.

Life continually responds to the sum total of energies in the atmosphere.

Life is a field of energy. Life's character then is a reflection of the balance of energies -- individual and environmental.

Comparing Outcomes in Two Shakespeare Plays
In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and Othello, there is a negative action that occurs. In the first play the effect of the intense negative (the faked romantic rendezvous) is overcome by the positive atmosphere, whereas in the latter (the scarf incident), it culminates in vast tragedy because of the very negative atmosphere.

Atmosphere to Accomplish
An individual's ability to accomplish is affected by the social environment and atmosphere -- which includes the capacities, energies, character, and circumstance of the social environment (including individuals and collectives of people) and social institutions he is involved in. When that environment, atmosphere is positive one is more likely to accomplish; when negative, it is less likely.

The Effect of the Atmosphere on Ability of Act to Succeed
An act occurs in an atmosphere. When there are deficiencies in the act that are greater than the atmosphere, the act fails. When the capacities are stronger than the atmosphere, then the act succeeds.

Principles Relating to the Effect of the Atmosphere
-The consequences of an act depend on the strength of the act, the actor and the social atmosphere.

-An individual's ability to accomplish is affected by the social environment and atmosphere -- which includes the capacities, energies, character, and circumstance of the social environment and social institutions he is involved in.

-An opportunity taken up in a positive atmosphere supports and enhances its eventual outcome. It even circumvents negative blocks along the road. When that environment, atmosphere is positive one is more likely to accomplish; when negative, it is less likely.

-Internal positive atmosphere supports success.

-When the atmosphere is negative, the initiative will fail, unless the individual is able overcome the resistance of the atmosphere.

-When there are deficiencies in the act that are greater than the atmosphere, the act fails. When the capacities are stronger than the atmosphere, then the act succeeds.

Expressing a Profound Idea Too Powerful for the Atmosphere
If an idea is too powerful for the atmosphere, it will be cut off from being fully expressed or fulfilled in that period one way or the other. E.g., a man was expressing a profound new idea. However, at least one other person did not understand it, or did not wish to perceive it in the first place, focusing instead on his own thoughts. Just after expressing the profound idea, that man was cut off in the phone call communication for technical reasons.

Influence of Social Forces and Attracting Positive Life Response
There are many forces related to the social environment that effect life response. For example, there may be a social environment in which change and evolution is going on, and therefore one may (or may not) be supported in one's initiatives by the environment. Or one in a lower position is depending on one of a higher position of relative strength, which is not good to do, and one overcomes this. Or one mistakenly gets involved with someone on a project who is secretly bad will to bear, and overcomes this. There are many of these forces. 
 
LIFE RESPONSE EXAMPLES
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A consultant depends on the actions and initiative of a superior. As a result nothing gets done. He then reverses and requests her involvement, and then there is a sudden result, where before there was little action.
 
-A woman collaborates on the next stage of a project with an individual who is angry with the first partner's first stage actions, even though the woman's actions were the right ones. The result is a negative outcome to the next stage of the project. When the woman reverses, undoes her collaboration in this second stage of the project with the angry person, a positive life response instantly occurs.

Acts Success
Acts get completed when there is the requisite individual strength and the sanction of the society.

The Social Atmosphere as Cause of Othello's Tragedy, and Achieving in Life
Othello's tragedy is due to the negative social atmosphere that came after his elopement of a black man to a white daughter of a senator. The social forces far outweigh the good qualities of Othello and Desdemona. Thus the tragedy. It is an indicator of what one is up against when one wants to achieve.  

When Social Forces Produce "Coincidences" on the Surface
When the social forces are pressing in a particular direction or the subconscious force of individual aspirations is well formed, life brings about circumstances and events that appear to the superficial view as remarkable coincidences, luck or chance events. (MSS)

Negative vs. Ferment Atmospheres
How to distinguish between a negative atmosphere, and one of great ferment and turmoil, when initiating a significant undertaking? Perhaps in the former the negative atmosphere disturbs, whereas in the later we can identify with the emerging positive.

Positive and Negative Influence of Collective
If one lives in an atmosphere of good will, Grace moving towards him announces itself as a happy incident. If the atmosphere is one of ill will, incoming Grace is heralded by an act of disturbance. (MSS)

Subconscious Social Will
There is a subconscious social will that is at play that works through individual characters and events.

When we interact with the world we see it from our own perspective. At another level there is often a broader purpose and unfolding taking place. For example, both Romeo and Juliet looked at their lives in terms of their attraction and passion. However they were far less conscious of the unfolding of the conflict between two social forces, the Montague and Capulet clans, and how their lives were so intertwined in the greater conflict of these two clans. After the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet unfolds the two clans are in the end shocked into realization that their disputes must be settled, otherwise more tragedies like Rome's and Juliet's would take place.

The point here is that life often seems to be working out a higher purpose than the individual participants may understand. The undertow of currents can overwhelm our "small intentions." It could even be argued that life itself is a conscious force that is unfolding in the world and uses individuals for its greater purpose. Therefore the outcome of initiatives is driven by greater forces that have their own intention and energy as they unfold in the world. In our own lives life's higher purposes are also playing themselves out in some fashion.

There is a subconscious social will that is at play that works through individual characters and events. For us to be aware of these social forces at play can help us be more in tune with the temper of our times and thereby help us achieve at a greater level than if we were mere puppets in the social play that we are always a part of. 

The Pressing Social Forces
When the social forces are pressing in a particular direction or the subconscious force of individual aspirations is well formed, life brings about circumstances and events that appear to the superficial view as remarkable coincidences, luck or chance events.  

There may be a social environment in which change and evolution is going on, and therefore one may (or may not) be supported in one's initiatives by the environment.

Role of Positive Atmosphere in Pride and Prejudice


Opposition When Moving to a Higher Level, Plane
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Negative Influence to Block Progress
When an individual tries to make a significant progress for improvement in life often there appears on the scene a negative influence to bring it down. If the person has the significant energy and character they can overcome this negative influence and move on to the next level. If they don't they are brought down.

Negative Influence to Block Progress
Every accomplishment in life is vulnerable to interference or destruction by negative influences. The higher the accomplishment is with respect to previous levels of achievement, the greater the vulnerability. The character of a negative influence can be seen from the nature of events that occur when its approaches or leaves the atmosphere. (MSS)

In the book Pride and Prejudice we can see an excellent example of this phenomenon. 

-The Bennet family is aspiring the marriage of their daughters to a higher level of prosperity. Lydia is one of the daughters, She is energetic and good-natured, but is wild, crude, and unconstrained. Darcy and Bingley are the well to do suitors for the Bennet daughters. However, the great good fortune coming to the Bennet family through the approach of Bingley and Darcy is undermined by Lydia's low behavior. She is the weak link in the family through which disaster strikes and almost cancels great good fortune. It is a response of the lower portion of the family to the higher opportunity that has opened for the family. The weakest link breaks when the strongest contemplates an upward initiative at times of great opportunity.

-Eliza, the heroine of the story is one of the Bennet daughters. She is on her way to a movement upward in her life through her potential emerging connection with Darcy, the hero of the story. however, along the way she gets involved with Wickham, a handsome, yet treacherous man, whose treachery she is completely blind to because of her physical attraction. Her involvement with this individual at a time when she is beginning to move to a higher level of accomplishment almost ruins her. (Her weakness is not that she met a treacherous man that she didn't know about; but that she got caught up in her desires and physical attraction, an experience of weakness and falsehood common in life. Ultimately, however her strength of character pulls her through, and she overcomes this setback.)

Choosing Opportunities or the Canceling Opposite that Rise through Our Aspiration
When life is routine, but there is aspiration and energy to rise, life brings opportunities to fulfill the higher aspirations. Simultaneously it brings conditions that can cancel the opportunity or convert it into its opposite. Everything depends on the human choice. Often it is the way we respond to the opposite condition that determines what happens to the opportunity. This principle is illustrated in the role of Bingley, Darcy, Collins and Wickham in the marriages of Jane and Elizabeth.

Bingley, Darcy, Collins and Wickham all arrived in Meryton at about the same time and all met in the town at a particular moment. What is the connection? The first two represent opportunities for the Bennet family to rise. The last two represent opportunities for it to level off or fall. Mrs. Bennet, a lawyer's daughter, married a gentleman and was elevated by the match. She has a similar aspiration for her daughters. The moment Bingley responds to Jane, Collins arrives and offers to marry her. The Bennet property is entailed to Collins so marriage to him represents security for the family. It is not a small achievement. It means the whole future is secured. Collins' offer is an opportunity that would cancel out all higher opportunities for the family. Had Jane married Collins, Darcy could never have married Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet tells Collins Jane is spoke for, when in fact nothing has been spoken. It is only her aspiration. She encourages Collins to propose to Elizabeth, a foolish notion. When Collins is rebuffed, he storms out of the house and proposes to Charlotte. The Bennets lose the entail. It is a very great loss from their point of view at a time when nothing is certain and five girls, each with only '50 income, have to be married. From the viewpoint of higher opportunity, Collins comes to cancel that prospect. Had the family responded to the offer of security, they would have forfeit high achievement. Note that when Elizabeth refuses Collins, he becomes an unwitting instrument for her marriage to Darcy, since it is through Collins that they meet again at Rosings.

Similarly, Wickham comes as the negative complement of Darcy. Darcy offers highest accomplishment. Wickham offers failure. Elizabeth, who could not be persuaded to marry Collins for financial security, is willing to marry Wickham for his charm and handsome face. Life presents her the very thing she finds it difficult to resist and it almost cancels out her higher achievement. Fortunately, she has the rationality to accept Darcy's explanation about Wickham and give him up in her mind even if she cannot give up her vital attraction to him. That preserves the higher opportunity. Note that when Elizabeth gives up Wickham in her mind, he becomes an unwitting instrument for her marriage to Darcy, since it is through his elopement that the relationship between them is finally fulfilled. (MSS)

Overcoming Forces that Oppose Our Rise
When we try to move to the next highest plane, we must also overcome any opposing (social) forces working against us. If the opposition is too great, the energies are blocked and life won't respond to our effort.

If the wealthy and government try to help and the poor don't change their attitude, or if the poor try to rise above their misery with better attitudes, but the wealthy and government don't care, there may not be enough energy for life to respond in either's favor. If they work together, in harmony, taking to the right positive attitudes and behaviors from their side, even a little effort on their part will produce powerful, unexpected, life response results.

One therefore has to examine the total energy picture; i.e. all sides in the unfolding.

The contradictions between the two sides need to be resolved through efforts of higher consciousness.

Threat of the Negative to the Positive Accomplishment to a Higher Level
The positive cannot accomplish at a higher level without overcoming the threat of the negative. Individuals as well as society achieve only when the strength is Organised to contain the mischief of the negative. (MSS)

Reaching the Next Highest Positive Level
The positive cannot accomplish at a higher level without overcoming the threat of the negative. E.g. a man was meant for higher accomplishment. As the opportunity emerged, his own dark past rose and confronted him. His ability to handle it successfully was essential for his further progress. (Paraphrase of MSS)

Rising Up in a Plane Meets with Resistance
Within the same plane, initiatives generate results with lesser or greater difficulty. They meet with resistance in the measure the initiatives involve an upward movement within the plane or require energy and capacity beyond the endowments of the individuals involved. The difficulty is in proportion to the distance.

Overcoming Dark Past Reemerging When Opportunity Arises
A man was meant for higher accomplishment. As the opportunity emerged, his own dark past rose and confronted him. His ability to handle it successfully was essential for his further progress. (Paraphrase of MSS)

The Evil that Arises from Positive Physical Initiatives, Conquests
As Man advances positively ahead, he gives rise to equally powerful evil forces over which he can conceive of no mastery. This is so because his is an outer physical conquest. Another conquest is open to him which is the inner conquest of the outer, the spiritual victory over the material resistance. Let us see whether that mastery is devoid of this evil side effect. (MSS) [We see this in science]

 


Opposing Forces That Arise Against a Great Good
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Opposing Forces that Arise Against a Great Good

There is an interesting phenomenon in the world: When a great positive comes forward, a great negative is released that consciously or unconsciously tries to destroy it. This is an idea taken from 'The Book' by Garry Jacobs, a startling modern epic novel in which an AI system is developed by a group of international consultants that can overcome any problem in the world, which negative forces try to co-opt and destroy.

The intelligence in the AI software system is based on the profound knowledge contained in Sri Aurobindo's 'The Life Divine,' as well as all of the new insights of Karmayogi and MSS. In this 500 page adventure story, a company is trying to bring the deepest truths of life to solve the major social problems in the world through an unprecedented AI system; and yet forces seem to spontaneously arise that seek to destroy it. Fortunately, the creative and evolving heroes use the wisdom contained in 'The Book' to save the day, and the future of life on earth.

It is interesting and ironic to note that the opposition forces the consultants to improve, perfect, and protect the AI system based on The Book. It is an indication that all negatives are positive in disguise; are further opportunities to improve ourselves and the world around us.

In its introduction the novel states: "This is not The Book. It is only a book about The Book."

 


Making a Progress Beyond our Endowment Attracts What We Are Missing
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Attempting to Rise Beyond our Endowment Attracts What We Are Missing
When we are making a progress beyond the level of our present endowment we attract that which is necessary to complete that progress, which is very often the opposite of that which we are or possess. E.g. Mercedes [in Count of Monte Cristo] marries a treacherous, unscrupulous man incapable of the psychological feelings she is trying to evolve in herself. (MSS)

Making a Progress Beyond our Endowment Attracts What We Are Missing
When we are making a progress beyond the level of our present endowment. we attract that which is necessary to complete that progress, which is very often the opposite of that which we are or possess.


Society Tries to Destroy an Individual's Progress
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Hamlet Represents Something New to Society, But They Feel Threatened
The situation in consciousness expresses literally in life. Hamlet has grown to manhood, his faculty of knowledge is developed, but he is excluded from the throne which is the true power for action. In this respect he is not merely an individual but a representative of a growth in the society as a whole. He is part of and represents the royal house of Denmark, the central will ('head') of the state. Not only is his birth a new development in the society, but it threatens the existing social consciousness and evokes a response of fear and hostility from it. In other words, his birth marks the appearance of a greater possibility, a greater power of consciousness, to rule Denmark. Because it is a higher development it has a power over the existing society and also poses a threat to it. But because it is young and not yet integrated with the present achievements of the civilisation, it is awkward, unbalanced, weak and its appearance creates a temporary disequilibrium or gap in the consciousness of the society.

This gap is a weakness which invites a challenge. The challenge comes from Norway as war. But the vitality of Denmark embodied in Old Hamlet is strong and the result of the threat is an expansion of Denmark's sovereignty over a far greater area. In life, a new emergence usually brings with it an upset, accident or temporary difficulty. But where the basis is firm and the new element positive, the net result is an expansion and progress. In this case Hamlet's birth marks the rise of Denmark as a greater international power. (MSS)

Social Forces Working to Destroy Hamlet's Mental Progress
The existing social forces are covertly working through subconscious life channels to weaken or destroy the nascent mental consciousness in Hamlet by presenting it in its weak condition with an intolerable burden. It is the same movement that overtly confronted Socrates, Copernicus, Jesus and innumerable others who represented in themselves some new manifestation. (MSS)

Social Forces that Support and Oppose Hamlet's Evolutionary Advance
At a deeper level the positive support for Hamlet reflects the readiness and willingness of the country for an evolutionary advance, namely, to develop a governing mental consciousness. The resistance to this advance comes from the old established order, not the wider collectivity and we find the forces of the social life constantly fostering the movement. (MSS)

Also See the Role of the Pioneer Individual in Society


Man Moves Up When He Renounces the Methods of the Lower Level
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Struggle for Man Unless He Moves to the Next Level
It can be seen that so long as man lives at one level of consciousness, life at that level is a struggle and what the man seeks is always evasive. One man seeks fame, another wealth, still another affection. Even when he achieves them, somehow the experience is made sour. But as a man rises above the present level and renounces the methods or rewards of that level, life becomes cooperative at the lower plane. His most casual initiative becomes successful, the things he valued and never could possess come to him of themselves.


Success of One's Initiatives
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Consequences of Acts Dependent on Three Factors
The consequences of an act depend on the strength of the act, the actor and the social atmosphere.

Untitled
Initiatives from lower levels of life do not have power for accomplishment at higher levels of life. 

(Example) A consultant was asked to investigate the development of tool to allow for online student training evaluations. He worked on it for months without ever clarifying with his superior the pay he would receive as well as the timeframe on the project. Ultimately the project failed completely, and the consultant wasted months of his time.

(Example) X tries to influence Y's opinion about Z. X's efforts to influence Y's opinion of Z fail because X is stationed at a lower level of the social hierarchy than Y. It is the higher station that sets the standards for what is or is not acceptable or fashionable.

 

The Right and Wrong in Attitude and Acts
The right or wrong does not lie in the ACT, it dwells in one's attitude. (MSS)

Failure to Influence Life When One Goes Out of One's Plane

A person can be effective when he tries something in his own plane. But if you try something at a higher plane it won't work. E.g. Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice tries to influence Mr. Bingley who is in a higher sphere, and her plans do not work.

Ultimately what accomplishes is authority whatever the context is.

 

A Principle of Life
Initiatives fail when taken outside one's field of influence, authority or control.  

(Example) A man tries to create a higher sense of moral authority in the community. He is in fact a man who is lacking in some of those areas of morality himself. His initiative to bring about moral authority ultimately fails.

In the novel The Vicar of Wakefield, (a book by Goldsmith) the Vicar by his birth, upbringing, profession and character is of a high moral plane. Those moral values enshrine humility and modesty and idealism. But along with his morality, the Vicar has a streak of foolish assertion and arrogance. The expression of this trait cancels whatever positive things he may otherwise merit from life. The Vicar's life is comfortable and successful until he asserts his foolishness over the issue of monogamy at his son's betrothal, raising the issue of which George's future wife's father is most vulnerable because of his plans to remarry. The Vicar asserts that he holds truth higher than his fortune and news quickly comes that his fortune is lost followed by news that the marriage into a wealthy family is also lost. 

Had the Vicar really been above money, his words may have brought a different response. But he has chosen to offend a thing which he and his family really cherish as a boast of higher idealism. Life forces him to live up to that higher idealism by depriving him of everything -- money, position, reputation, freedom, health -- he ever had. When he finally rises to the level of that idealism i.e. becomes stronger than life at that point, not only the original wealth returns and the original marriage arrangement, but abundant wealth from all sides comes.

(Example) A man tries to create a higher sense of moral authority in the community. The community has actually transcended his morality with an openness to new ideas that the individual cannot fathom. His initiative to bring about moral authority fails.

 

A Principle of Life
Within the same plane, initiatives generate results with lesser or greater difficulty. They meet with resistance in the measure the initiatives involve an upward movement within the plane or require energy and capacity beyond the endowments of the individuals involved. The difficulty is in proportion to the distance.

 

A Principle of Life
Initiatives by those in a higher plane of life (i.e. with greater wealth, status or power) toward those in a lower plane tend to be readily and richly fulfilled, provided the lower is a willing recipient and does not raise obstacles or resistance to receiving. This principle acts in the same manner as water flowing downhill. 

(Example) A manager of a training company wanted to have her instructors do training on a new software program Many happily agreed to it, and received basic knowledge on the program from the training company. After a number of months the training by the instructors went very well for the training company's clients, and even led to additional profitable training on related new products.

 

A Principle of Life
Initiatives may receive unexpected support from life when they are aligned with new movements in life that are gaining momentum. On the other hand, initiatives may meet with unexpected resistance when they are aligned with movements that are passing out of existence. 

(Example) X's efforts to marry her daughter Y to Z for social purposes meet with resistance and ultimately fail. X seeks to capitalize on the mutual pledge of her sister and herself that their children should marry, a practice whose value is passing out of existence. The light in Y's eyes that X feels is enough to overcome the best-laid plans of the older generation to perpetuate itself in the old style.

 

A Principle of Life
Initiatives succeed when taken with sufficient energy and capacity to reverse previous actions that failed as the result of an inappropriate attitude or behavior. 

(Example) A man tries to break up the marriage of his child, and succeeds for a time. After a change of heart he decides that his decision was very foolish and he tries to patch things up.. The success of his initiative to change will only occur if he has sufficient vigor to do so and if he gains to agreement of the parties who were initially involved.

(Example) A man tries to create a higher sense of moral authority in the community. The community has actually transcended his morality with an openness to new ideas that the individual cannot fathom. His initiative to bring about moral authority fails.

 

A Principle of Life

Initiative undertaken with those who are negative, will destroy it. 

A consultant depends on the actions and initiative of a superior. As a result nothing gets done. He then reverses and requests her involvement, and then there is a sudden result, where before there was little action.

 

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A conscious initiative creates a conscious counter initiative.

 

Power of Non-Initiating
We see that if we take an outer action (a movement, a communications, an act, etc.), life moves in response accordingly. What we do not know is that if we don't move at all, not take any action, if we center ourselves within and call from there for what we aspire for, life will also miraculously move and respond on the outside.

 

Summary of Causes of Success or Failure of an Individual's Initiative
-Conscious initiative leads to accomplishment when taken by a competent and qualified person to fulfill a duty, responsibility or obligation in accord with the prevailing norms of society and the social atmosphere surrounding the action. When the social atmosphere is positive with regard to an initiative, the atmosphere fosters success. When the atmosphere is negative, the initiative must first overcome the resistance of the atmosphere in order to succeed.

-Initiatives do not succeed when taken in pursuit of opportunities that exceed the endowments of the individual initiator based on motives of ambition, greed, desire or excess energy unsupported by personal capacity. It is not the greedy motive that fails, but the motive that overreaches personal capacity.

-Initiatives fail when taken outside one's field of influence, authority or control.

-Initiatives from lower levels of life do not have power for accomplishment at higher levels of life.

-Initiatives by those in a higher plane of life (i.e. with greater wealth, status or power) toward those in a lower plane tend to be readily and richly fulfilled, provided the lower is a willing recipient and does not raise obstacles or resistance to receiving. This principle acts in the same manner as water flowing downhill.

-Within the same plane, initiatives generate results with lesser or greater difficulty. They meet with resistance in the measure the initiatives involve an upward movement within the plane or require energy and capacity beyond the endowments of the individuals involved. The difficulty is in proportion to the distance.

-Initiatives may receive unexpected support from life when they are aligned with new movements that are gaining momentum. Initiatives may meet with unexpected resistance when they are aligned with movements that are passing out of existence.

-Initiatives succeed when taken with sufficient energy and capacity to reverse previous actions that failed as the result of an inappropriate attitude or behavior. (MSS)

 

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An ordinary human must initiate to succeed in life; while an evolutionary person dedicated to the Force must avoid it.

 

Non-Initiation; Life Comes to You
At a more advanced stage of personal growth and development you will find less need to initiate for life to respond to you. Instead, you will find life moving towards you on its own. Your only obligation is to respond fully in kind to what is offered. Perhaps we can call this status the Grace of life. On closer examination we see that by living within in the depths of your being, and by opening to the Force, you are subtly imploring life's opportunities towards yourself.

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A conscious initiative creates a conscious counter initiative.


Capacities of an Individual that Enable Achievement
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