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Manly P. Hall’s Lessons of Self-Unfoldment (Part 1): Personal Growth

Jason Cooper — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:29:29 +0000

I wish to share with you selected passages from the book ‘Self-unfoldment by Disciplines of Realization’ written by Manly P. Hall.

This book contains many wise lessons and practical instructions on how we can penetrate deep within ourselves so to understand the Truth of who we are, and how we fit into this universal existence.

The ultimate aim is to attain the self-knowledge for us to grow effortlessly towards wisdom and a blessed life.

I am still in the process of reading this fascinating book, and will endeavor to post more enlightening and insightful passages as I go along.

From ‘Chapter 1 – Theory of Disciplines’:

I

Growth is natural to man. No one thinks of a flower trying to bloom, or of a tree trying to grow. The blossoming of the flower is a manifestation of universal law flowering through the plant; it is the will of the Infinite made manifest in the finite. Illumination is the blossoming of the soul in man; it is just as natural, simple, and inevitable as the flowing of the rose. The wise man does not try to be wise; wisdom is as natural to him as folly is common to ordinary mortals. Man does not have to try to be himself.

Effort is evidence of inconsistency in the individual. Most religious organizations impose strict rules and regulations upon their members. These rules and regulations consist principally of “thou shalt nots, ” the purpose being to force man into a state of grace by inhibiting and limiting him. Any individual who tries to crush out with brute force of will the vices within himself, achieves only inhibition and neurosis.

What can we learn from the previous passage:

You cannot force growth, or more-so, no person or religious organisation (or any other type of ideological organisation for that matter) can teach you how to grow through discipline – in fact, they will instead constrict or stunt your opportunity for growth in life.

You must be absolutely independent, free and rational to plant the seed of wisdom within so that you can then, for yourself, sprinkle the invigorating water of self-knowledge, which is most needed for the seed to burst forth.

How does one then break into blossom? To encourage continuous growth, you must try to learn from every encounter and every experience in life – good or bad. Also, I highly recommend you to heighten your awareness and attentiveness to everything around you as much as possible. The illuminating lessons that can be learnt from this exercise of gaining self-understanding and elevating consciousness will be most rewarding.

This all will ultimately help to strengthen the roots of your mind and spirit in preparation for whatever the unpredictable winds of change brings.

Use your personal growth in a positive way towards:

learning to understand yourself so that you have better insight and can become a little more wiser
developing maturity of mind
improving relationships and connecting with others and nature
being able to deal with trials and tribulations in a positive way
discovering total contentment and joy

Use Stoic Philosophy to Achieve Total Joy and Untroubling Equanimity

Jason Cooper — Mon, 10 May 2010 08:05:05 +0000

Zeno of Citium was the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy

Let Stoicism be my Calming Influence Amid a Troubled World

This rather lengthy post (so get your printer ready) is about a branch of philosophy which is close to my heart and mind, and is what I have applied practically to my life with positive results thus far – namely the philosophy of Stoicism.

For example, certain people who have been in my presence (especially at my workplace), seem to think that I don’t have a care in the world. They usually mention to me that judging by my demeanor I seem completely at ease and stress-free, despite others around me being totally anxiety-ridden and suffering from panic attacks whenever there is a slight (and I mean slight) sign of trouble in the air.

Don’t get me wrong, I too can suffer from stress and anxiety like the next person, and admittedly, can also be most impatient in certain situations and with people – this obviously, can lead up to me becoming angry which, I know, can be detrimental to my health and character. Yes, I have a few faults which I hope to address by using stoic techniques, which is up to now, helping to improve my temperament. Obviously, there are times when I do slip into error, but I’m not going to punish myself over the odd indiscretion – I am only human after all.

Stoicism, however, has so far taught me many valuable lessons in learning to be aware of myself and to withdraw into my inner kingdom whenever apparent difficulties or irritations threaten to disturb my mind and mood.

Now my attitude is: why have anxiety over something that is not in my power and control? The only thing I have power over is myself and how I choose to deal with these external influences – and that choice is to remain joyful and tranquil despite all hell breaking loose.

Yes I know. Much easier said than done in this most provocative and anxiety-ridden of worlds – but not impossible.

How can I hope to Achieve Happiness in Life?

For me, attaining peace of mind, equanimity and contentment ranks very highly on my list of things to achieve in my life. We have been conditioned to believe (by a mostly capitalistic society) that one will be happy if they attained: a high position in life; many luxurious possessions; a huge amount of wealth.

However, none of the much sought-after aforementioned superficialities can ever stave away the troubles of the mind and the negative emotions that can make a person’s existence a miserable one. By me embracing the stoic principles in my daily life, I have found that it has helped me immensely to become more patient (although, on some days I can be very close to losing it), healthier in mind, and powerful in spirit.

Hopefully, the practical wisdom of stoicism that I now share with you, can help to bring you both equanimity and joy whilst improving every facet of yourselves and lives.

Who were the major Stoic Philosophers?

The major practitioners of stoic philosophy were:

What major Stoic Writings are Available to read?

Come now and allow your minds to drink from “The Well” of stoic wisdom written by great ancient philosophers, so that you may then apply what you have learned and become masters of yourselves in the present.

I highly recommend the following books of Stoic wisdom:

Letters from a Stoic

by Seneca
Description: A philosophy that saw self-possession as the key to an existence lived ‘in accordance with nature’, Stoicism called for the restraint of animal instincts and the severing of emotional ties.

These beliefs were formulated by the Athenian followers of Zeno in the fourth century BC, but it was in Seneca (c. 4 BC– AD 65) that the Stoics found their most eloquent advocate. Stoicism, as expressed in the Letters, helped ease pagan Rome’s transition to Christianity, for it upholds upright ethical ideals and extols virtuous living, as well as expressing disgust for the harsh treatment of slaves and the inhumane slaughters witnessed in the Roman arenas.

Essays

by Plutarch
Description: One of the greatest essayists of the Graeco-Roman world, Plutarch (c. AD 46 -120) used an encyclopedic knowledge of the Roman Empire to produce a compelling and individual voice.

In this superb selection from his writings, he offers personal insights into moral subjects that include the virtue of listening, the danger of flattery and the avoidance of anger, alongside more speculative essays on themes as diverse as God’s slowness to punish man, the use of reason by supposedly ‘irrational’ animals and the death of his own daughter.

Discourses and Selected Writings

by Epictetus
Description: Epictetus, a Greek stoic and freed slave, ran a thriving philosophy school in Nicropolis in the early second century AD. His animated discussions were celebrated for their rhetorical wizardry and were written down by Arrian, his most famous pupil.

Together with the Enchiridion, a manual of his main ideas, and the fragments collected here, The Discourses argue that happiness lies in learning to perceive exactly what is in our power to change and what is not, and in embracing our fate to live in harmony with god and nature.

Meditations

by Marcus Aurelius
Description: Written in Greek by an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) offer a wide range of fascinating spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe.

Spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cover such diverse topics as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods and Aurelius’s own emotions.

How can Stoic Philosophy help you in life?

The following definition perfectly describes what it means to be a Stoic who studies the wise art of living and applies it to themselves:

‘It teaches self-control and an indifference to pain or pleasure while advocating a staunch detachment from emotions. This allows one to be clear thinking, levelheaded and unbiased. In practice it is designed to empower an individual with virtue and strength and to give an individual the ability to readily refuse corruption, temptation, and help those who are in need. Stoicism also teaches independence, or more specifically, independence from society, regarding it as a chaotic and unruly entity that should be guarded against. Virtue, reason and natural law are prime directives. By mastering passions and emotions, it is possible to overcome the discord of the outside world and find peace within oneself.’

~ Hellenica website (http://www.mlahanas.de/)

As you can see, if you can manage to put the practical teachings of stoicism to good use, it can free your minds and help you to live a more peaceful and productive life, instead of being imprisoned by error of judgement, irrational fears, or self-imposed anxieties.

The many beneficial things that Stoic Philosophy can provide for us are:

making one be aware of, and concentrate on, their own daily conduct, which helps to improve character and moral behavior
producing calm indifference in the face of pain and difficulty
having non-attachment and independence from superficial attainments, family and friends
fearlessness of death and the loss of anything you may have acquired in life
attaining peace of mind and total contentment with what you presently have in life, no matter how little
learning self-mastery over all negative emotions, as well as encouraging the use of reason so to make the right decisions in important matters
encouraging one to become good of character and to pursue wisdom, truth and virtue always
developing endurance and self-restraint in terms of dealing with pain, adversity, or being able to refrain from over-indulgence or temptations
teaching one to live with humility, frugality, moderation, patience and simplicity – all this without complaint

Stoic Quotations

Zeno of Citium:

“Fate is the endless chain of causation, whereby things are; the reason or formula by which the world goes on.”
“No evil is honorable: but death is honorable; therefore death is not evil.”
“Wellbeing is attained by little and little, and nevertheless is no little thing itself.”

Seneca:

“The point is, not how long you live, but how nobly you live.”
“That which Fortune has not given, she cannot take away.”
“Let Nature deal with matter, which is her own, as she pleases; let us be cheerful and brave in the face of everything, reflecting that it is nothing of our own that perishes.”
“The soul should know whither it is going and whence it came, what is good for it and what is evil, what it seeks and what it avoids, and what is that Reason which distinguishes between the desirable and the undesirable, and thereby tames the madness of our desires and calms the violence of our fears.”

Dio Chrysostom:

“If my purpose on this occasion were to speak in behalf of concord, I should have a great deal to say, not only about human experiences but celestial also, to the effect that these divine and grand creations, as it happens, require concord and friendship; otherwise there is danger of ruin and destruction for this beautiful work of the creator, the universe.”

Plutarch:

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. “
“Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.”
“I don’t need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.”
“Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.”

Epictetus:

“If a man would pursue Philosophy, his first task is to throw away conceit. For it is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he has a conceit that he already knows.”
“When I see a man in a state of anxiety, I say, What can this man want? If he did not want something which is not in his power, how could he still be anxious?”
“Nothing outside the will can hinder or harm the will; it can only harm itself. If then we accept this, and, when things go amiss, are inclined to blame ourselves, remembering that judgment alone can disturb our peace and constancy, I swear to you by all the gods that we have made progress.”
“No man is free who is not master of himself.”
“If, therefore, any be unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone.”
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Marcus Aurelius:

“Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall meet today ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. All of these things have come upon them through ignorance of real good and ill… I can neither be harmed by any of them, for no man will involve me in wrong, nor can I be angry with my kinsman or hate him; for we have come into the world to work together…”
“If you are distressed by any external thing, it is not this thing which disturbs you, but your own judgment about it. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now.”
“If you work at that which is before you, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract you, but keeping your divine part pure, as if you were bound to give it back immediately; if you hold to this, expecting nothing, but satisfied to live now according to nature, speaking heroic truth in every word which you utter, you will live happy. And there is no man able to prevent this.”
“The mind in itself wants nothing, unless it creates a want for itself; therefore it is both free from perturbation and unimpeded, if it does not perturb and impede itself.”

Liberate Your Mind with the Empowering Wisdom of Hip-Hop – Part 2

Jason Cooper — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:48:44 +0000

This particular post is dedicated to my good friend, Mr Blobby of The Wisekick Electronic Cigarette, who is a fellow Truth-Seeker.

We are both on a Mission Impossible to avoid being distracted by the very tools of propaganda wielded by those in power, and to relieve our conditioned minds so that it has the freedom to perceive the truth which has been conveniently obscured from our view up to now.

So why don’t you join us?

Your mission should you choose to accept it, is to:

turn off the TV and radio
dispose of the newspapers
question everything you have been told and taught to be true
inquire for yourself to discern what the truth may be – in other words, educate yourselves
Seek and gain the practical and beneficial knowledge that can actually help you to become conscious beings, self-reliant, self-determined, pragmatic and wise
Look within yourselves for the true answers towards achieving your aims in life – the truth and wisdom is within you to use to your advantage
Take responsibility for your own health, income, and general well-being

This illusory existence that has been conditioned into all our minds must be dealt with by us making an effort to destroy these false images which are destroying us – so emancipate yourselves and see what is.

Once we can see, there then maybe a realistic possibility that we can make this world a paradise that it’s capable of becoming – and that’s no frivolous statement that I’m making here…it can be done…it will be done.

This message will self-destruct in five seconds…

Fight The Power!

The following self-empowering song by Public Enemy provides us with some inspiration towards liberating ourselves from a system of deception and who, unbeknown to the masses, have power over our minds…The Truth shall set us free!

Public Enemy – “Fight the Power!” Lyrics

1989 the number another summer (get down)
Sound of the funky drummer
Music hittin’ your heart cause I know you got sould
(Brothers and sisters hey)
Listen if you’re missin’ y’all
Swingin’ while I’m singin’
Givin’ whatcha gettin’
Knowin’ what I know
While the Black bands sweatin’
And the rhythm rhymes rollin’
Got to give us what we want
Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
We got to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say
Fight the power

Chorus

As the rhythm designed to bounce
What counts is that the rhymes
Designed to fill your mind
Now that you’ve realized the prides arrived
We got to pump the stuff to make us tough
from the heart
It’s a start, a work of art
To revolutionize make a change nothin’s strange
People, people we are the same
No we’re not the same
Cause we don’t know the game
What we need is awareness, we can’t get careless
You say what is this?
My beloved lets get down to business
Mental self defensive fitness
(Yo) bum rush the show
You gotta go for what you know
Make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say…
Fight the Power

Chorus

Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant —- to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother—- him and John Wayne
Cause I’m Black and I’m proud
I’m ready and hyped plus I’m amped
Most of my heroes don’t appear on no stamps
Sample a look back you look and find
Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check
Don’t worry be happy
Was a number one jam
Damn if I say it you can slap me right here
(Get it) lets get this party started right
Right on, c’mon
What we got to say
Power to the people no delay
To make everybody see
In order to fight the powers that be

(Fight the Power)

Apply the Philosophy of Socrates Towards Improving Your Soul and Mind

Jason Cooper — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:11:26 +0000

A seated Socrates converses his philosophy to a Muse

In the post ‘Radical Thinking: What You Can Learn From the Timeless Philosophy of Socrates’ written by Tejvan Pettinger, we are provided with some wise advice on how we can use the most important components of the philosophy of Socrates, and apply his principles to positive affect in our daily lives.

Following is an excerpt from the aforementioned post,

During his lifetime Socrates wrote nothing down. Yet his wisdom has formed the bedrock of western philosophy. Socrates was viewed as a great teacher. But he did not claim to be a teacher. In fact, he frequently said ‘all I know is that I know nothing’. By all accounts Socrates was both poor and ugly. Yet in a society that placed tremendous value on beauty and wealth, people of all classes were magnetically drawn to his teachings and enigmatic personality.As he wrote nothing down, there is some dispute about what Socrates actually said. But, from the writings of Plato and others, we can gain a few glimpses into the character and ideals of this ancient sage and unique philosopher.

The Socratic Dialogue

Perhaps the most arresting feature of Socrates’ legacy is his unique method of teaching and arriving at the truth. Socrates didn’t claim the truth is this or the truth is that. He sought to question students in a way that would lead them to arrive at the truth themselves. Socrates frequently claimed to know nothing. Yet, if Socrates knew nothing, why were people so eager to hear him talk? The reason was that Socrates was able to make people reconsider their own ingrained ideas; Socrates had a way of making people think for themselves and consider truth from different angles.This method of conversation incurred the ire of some people; they were not happy that Socrates was able to show the limitations of their thinking. Yet, the genius of the Socratic method was that he never had to directly tell people their inadequacies; they came to realise it themselves.

Independence of Thought

One of Socrates most admired traits was that he did not follow popular opinion. He questioned every orthodox belief and decided independently if it was worth pursuing. Socrates looked at issues from both perspectives; he did not allow himself to be tied down by religious, political, or social conventions.This independence of thought and mind was particularly powerful given the forces of conformity predominant in Greek society. The importance he placed on independence of thought can be seen by his response to his trial and death. Socrates had numerous opportunities to flee; however, he didn’t wish to flee — he felt that escape would weaken his philosophic independence.Socrates was also non dogmatic; he had friends with both Oligarchs and Democrats. At the same time, he had enemies in both parties; Socrates would never moderate his words to curry favour with others.

Interest in the Welfare of Others?

Socrates spent most of his time wandering the streets of Athens, talking with people interested in discovering more about life. Socrates was a great teacher, because ironically he didn’t have an agenda to teach. He was not interested in imparting a certain dogma or attracting followers. He wanted people to think for themselves and consider the real nature of life and truth. As Socrates said to one student.”If you take my advice, you will give but little thought to Socrates but much more to the truth.” [1]Socrates was not just a great talker, but also a great listener. It is this balance which set him apart from ordinary teachers who want only to lecture others.

Please take the time to read the rest of Tejvan’s excellent and useful post ‘Radical Thinking: What You Can Learn From the Timeless Philosophy of Socrates’, as it offers some great Socratic advice for getting you started in improving yourselves in life.

10 Wise Precepts to Adopt Towards Maturity of Mind

Jason Cooper — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:46:16 +0000

Is this man actually mature despite looking like he should be put in a museum?

The following precepts of wisdom that I am about to share with you was devised by fellow Blogger ThoughtBubble of Rooms for the Soul blog. These 10 Commandments for the 21st Century should, I feel, be adopted by everyone who wishes to mature in mind and live a fuller life:

“Signs of maturity:
1. A desire to explore a point rather than make or prove it
2. A tendency not to take things personally
3. A refusal to be judgmental
4. A willingness to admit “I don’t know”
5. An acceptance of people and things as they are rather than demand that they conform to one’s expectations, needs and beliefs
6. A realization that one’s happiness is entirely self and not other-determined
7. An ability to enjoy all the colors of the rainbow rather than be confined to the extreme positions of black and white, right and wrong
8. A readiness to honor every being as an equal and unique expression of the one, universal source
9. The ability and willingness to have as much fun as possible
10. The ability to live a life of gentle, humorous self-enquiry which often means self-acceptance, self-realization and self-liberation”

This wonderful list was a comment left by ThoughtBubble at the Blogcatelog discussion forum in reponse to the question: ‘What does maturity mean to you?’, which was asked by another of my friends, NothingProfound of Out Of Context: pieces of a life blog.

The lesson here is: just because one is of advanced age or has so-called experience does not automatically qualify them as being actually mature or possessing wisdom.

True maturity comes from within, which should then prompt the mind to instigate wise actions towards living a life filled with integrity and joy. If you want to be of good character who has a mind that permeates with maturity – be it now.

Timelessness is the key to your salvation.

Well, what does maturity mean to you? I would love to hear your own thoughts.

Use ‘The Secret’ Wisdom of the Power of Thought to Attract your Heart’s Desire

Jason Cooper — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:49:02 +0000

Here is what the Wikipedia synopsis of The Secret reveals,

‘The Secret, described as a self-help film, uses a documentary format to present the Law of Attraction. As described in the film, the “Law of Attraction” principle posits that feelings and thoughts can attract events, from the workings of the cosmos to interactions among individuals in their physical, emotional, and professional affairs. The film also suggests that there has been a strong tendency by those in positions of power to keep this central principle hidden from the public.’

I have to say, it can’t be that much of a secret now that every Tom, Dick and Harry knows about it. And one also has to say that there are many other “get rich quick” books on the same subject of supposedly empowering your thoughts towards attracting everything your heart desires.

I’m trying not to be too cynical here, but some of these type of books and videos can perhaps be called money making exercises (not particular for you), as there is very little evidence to suggest that they actually work for you – and that is opposed to using good old common sense and self-knowledge (which they do not encourage) to positively negotiate life with.

However, I will remain open minded about the claims of this so-called hidden knowledge, as I do feel that the mind (if liberated and used correctly) can be a powerful tool of wisdom that can both overcome adversity, and offer us a clear path towards achieving our goals in life.

If ‘The Secret’ (shhh…it’s so secret I can’t talk about it) can somehow provide us with something useful (other than just thinking of ways to accumulate money) that we all can learn from and help improve every facet of our lives, then perhaps it’s worth a look.

A book that I also want to turn your attention to and that is featured in the post, ‘Think Your Way to a Successful Life with The Master Key System’, is the ‘The Master Key System’ written by Charles F. Haaneland – this book is very much in the same vein as ‘The Secret’. I have only skimmed through the book (yes, I fell for the hype and purchased a copy) thus far, and it does seem to contain some self-empowering passages (in exercise form) if nothing else.

I will let you know if all the things that I truly desire in life come true by me just thinking about them…but somehow, I’m not too sure that Liverpool FC (an English football team I have supported since a lad) will ever win the Premier League, no matter how hard I direct my thoughts towards that seemingly impossible dream.

You can visit the ‘The Secret’ website here: http://www.thesecret.tv/index.html

You can purchase the book ‘The Secret’ from here: Amazon.co.uk

Watch the following full documentary ‘The Secret’: