Byron Katie's "Loving What Is"

[kyo]

This book ranks as amongst the most spiritually enlightening, personally empowering and karmically liberating books on the planet today. Potential = Flow x Resistance. When the individual chooses the path of Resistance (to reality, to working with reality), Flow (beauty, joy and love) is reduced. Suffering results. The secret to actualizing the maximal Flow (joy and love) of the spiritual Potential (of what could be), is to allow Resistance to be reduced to zero (by seeing with clarity, which automatically dissolves away the fallacy resistance).
 
Many individuals choose the path of suffering, lifetime after lifetime, believing (mistakenly) that learning comes only through suffering, or that suffering has value to the soul. This is not only unfortunate, it is entirely unnecessary. For all souls who are ready to let go of suffering, who are ready to learn through beauty, joy and love, this book is for you. By following the instructions in this book, actively working with the Law of Reflection in the most intimate way, the resultant effect of the powerful Inquiry Process as taught by Byron Katie, is to modify, reduce and even nullify the karmic need for suffering (on as many aspects and levels as the Inquiry Process is applied to), and consequently accelerates immeasurably the soul's karmic evolution and reincarnational cycles.
 
Byron Katie's Loving What Is, ranks as one of the most important of books recommended by Hilarion in his channelings, particularly where there is potential for emotional suffering in the individuals karma, and the guides & helpers strongly recommend this book as an aid to working around (preventing; dissolving the need for) such emotional suffering.
 
The choice is yours, to continue down the needless path of incessant karmic suffering, lifetime after lifetime, or to choose, once and for all, to experience, grow and evolve in only joy, beauty and love. How will you choose?

[Kyo Kusanagi]

Hello Runlola,

This is Kyo here. (I'm using another user-id).

Regarding Byron Katie's Inquiry process, one of the most effective tools for the Clarification task (ie. achieving clarity or lucidity of emotions, thoughts and consciousness).

The so-called '4 questions' that 'can change your life', touted by Bryon Katie's website and book, is actually just a cover. Yep, sure it's helpful for dismantling false, limiting beliefs; but it's just a preliminary step.

The real deal, of Byron Katie's Inquiry process, is something far, far, far more powerful and spiritual.

It is the "Turn Around".

I have made several posts, discussing this core aspect of Byron Katie's Clarification work.

Specifically, I refer to a recent thread I started on Bruce Moen's Afterlife Knowledge Conversation forum, here :

http://www.afterlife-knowledge.com/cgi-afterlife-knowledge/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=afterlife_knowledge;action=display;num=1117043330

(Everyone interested in the work of Byron Katie, please have a look at the above hyper-linked thread, in which I cut directly into the core secrets of Byron Katie's methods).

I will attempt to reproduce some my posts from that thread, here.

[Kyo Kusanagi]

True meaning of taking Self Responsibility
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Someone posted (here): "Do you belief any of the "you create your own reality" stuff? I mean all of it, total responsibility for your life, for your entire reality! Do you belief that?".

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(my reply)

I would say YES.

But ONLY IF you have the correct understanding of what it *truly* means to take self-responsibility for everything that happens to you.

It (taking self-responsibility) does NOT mean that you had necessarily wanted the situation the way it is, or that you 'deserved' the pain that came with the situation. We know that isn't at all true.

(at this point, I referred to another post I had made (here), reproduced below)

(Now in case any reader here wonders what any of this has to do with Afterlife Knowledge; Without Clarification (ie. clarity of awareness, thoughts & emotions; a.k.a. lucidity of consciousness), people who die often become psychotic post mortems, trapped in various afterlife focus levels by their own emotional pain and confusion, requiring a joint soul retrieval effort by an intraphysical human and an extraphysical guide/helper. Now, if we as intraphysical humans were to begin taking the Clarification task seriously, and education regarding this subject is made publicly available, then there would be a lot less psychotic post mortems for the retrievers and helpers to worry about. In addition, due to the intimate interconnectedness between the intraphysical and extraphysical aspects of humanity, greater levels of clarity on one side, will naturally support greater levels of clarity on the other side as well.)
 
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Let's take a look at an example of the Clarification process at work.

As an example : say your come to your boss seeking advice about complaints regarding a certain colleague. You're under pressure to do something about your colleague, but it is an awkward position you're caught in, and you do not know what to do. So you go to your boss for advice, and to your shock, your boss shoots you a dirty look, and says, "I'm dissapointed in you, coming to me and backstabbing your colleague like this!"

Your first emotional reaction (yes RE-action), to your boss' statement, would be an emotional contraction or coldness. Well, here's an excellent opportunity for clarification. That is, to understand what has happened clearly, and to understand more clearly what the experience really means to you (internally), without limiting beliefs and emotional coloured lenses getting in the way.

So instead of blindlessly flying off an emotional rage, directing anger at your boss, and missing the point of the experience, you (should always) apply Byron Katie's Inquiry process (whenever you feel upset about *anything*).

The crux of Byron Katie's Inquiry process (a powerful tool for the Clarification task), is "TURN IT AROUND". Hence, eg. instead of "my boss shouldn't malign me", (taking *self-responsibility* and turning it around) it becomes "I shouldn't malign myself" (1st TurnAround point) as well as "I shouldn't malign others" (2nd TurnAround point).
 
The emotional contraction or coldness is instructive evidence, that (the energies and ideas as represented by) your boss' statement, is NOT that which you harmonically resonate with, ie. it's NOT the truth of *your* inner situation, as you had intended things to be. And realize also, that if you feel upset, it was because a part of you must have agreed with your boss's accusation, that you might have actually backstabbed your colleague (otherwise, you wouldn't be upset in the least, you would have laughed it off as... well, laughable). So your upset & dissatisfaction, is really with *yourself* (although you think it's directed at your boss), to be precise, with the (self-acknowledged) idea that you might indeed be a backstabber.

1) From the first TurnAround point, "I shouldn't malign myself", you quickly realize this is true! You had been maligning yourself, from the moment you believed your boss' statement that you were a backstabber! The fact that you're upset means you had never meant to be a backstabber! Even if the way things worked out as perceived & interpreted by your boss might have seemed to appear as backstabbing (to him), clarification tells you that (your emotional contraction response tells you that) you do NOT mean to be a backstabber, that is NOT want you want to be.

Hence from the first TurnAround point, we get a clearer idea on what our intention and our nature is about (which is determined by free will). This sets us free from the false, self-limiting idea that we choose to be a backstabber, and contributes to a more lucid self-knowledge of our true intentions.


2) The second TurnAround point, always has to do with teaching us about our relationship with others; to be precise, the true nature of the relationship with others as we wish it from our own hearts. It is often all too easy to lose ourselves and our hearts, living in this difficult dense physical world where so many people whom we interact with daily, are unaware, unclear, unlucid, and hide themselves from their own true hearts, thoughts and emotions. Hence it takes a consistent effort to maintain lucidity for the entire duration of one's physical incarnation, but it must be done.

So from the second TurnAround point, "I should not malign others", we realize that it doesn't *really* matter whether my boss maligns me or not, what really matters, is that *we* take self-responsibility, and NOT malign others, ever. Hence, the second TurnAround, really teaches us (ie. clarifies) as to that which we choose as the true nature of our relationship with all of Creation.

Together, both TurnAround points, offer to teach us the true (pedagogical, didactic, learning) significance underlying the incident. This is one of the important purposes of intraphysical incarnation, in which the world serves as a mirror, giving us the opportunity to learn about ourselves.

At this point, we would like to remind the reader, that

[Kyo Kusanagi]

Hi Roger,

I still fail to understand how the initial situation is resolved by this. Your example is very simplistic and matters such as these, which in many, many cases are much worse, have to be resolved.

You are getting the idea about resolution, but it is not the situation per se that requires resolution, to be precise it is the *suffering* associated with the initial situation, that can indeed fully resolved by this, *when* you are able to correctly and fully apply the Inquiry process to complete clarification.

And all cases of *suffering*, no matter how much worse, without exception, can only be *resolved* by understanding its true nature, and what it means to the individual experiencing this, that is to say, Clarification.

Now at this point in the discussion, it can be noted that to bring in the most horrid, inhumane, unjust, evil, vile torturous suffering that one can refer to, in an attempt to prove the proposed statement (of Clarification being the key to *all* suffering) wrong or invalid, would only distract one from correctly understanding the process of Clarification.

This is partly due to the many deeply ingrained preconceived ideas, limiting beliefs and misconceptions about the nature of suffering, that humanity holds, in no small part due to humanity's long experience (countless lifetimes) of suffering on this 'planet of sorrows'. And these ideas distract one from correctly seeing the nature, process and direction of Clarification, and how it resolves the *suffering*, which we shall come to understand, is always self-inflicted, or self-allowed.

(For eg, physical pain, is not suffering. It is the event that is associated with suffering. And the pain is correct, or perfect, *in it's function*, because it tells the individual experiencing the pain, that the energies presented by the situation, is undesirable, that a change, or evolution, is needed.)

You wrote, "I still fail to understand how the initial situation is resolved by this."

What makes you think the initial situation itself, is what needs to be resolved? The situation itself, is perfect. It is *perfect* that your boss (appears, or truly, whichever) misunderstands and maligns you, because that is exactly what has happened. Reality is. No problem with that, unless *you* create a problem with that.

(But how can a situation be perfect when it caused so much suffering? Aha, it isn't the *situation* that causes the suffering, you *think* its the situation, but think again... it's really the False Evidence Appearing as Real that is at the root of the unnecessary, self-inflicted emotional suffering...)

"But what of my job? And my family who depends on me?" etc etc.

With effort made into clarification, you quickly realize, that your true problem, is not the situation, but your FEARs (False Evidence Appearing as Real), your thinking, your ideas of the situation. THAT, is your problem.

To begin with, can you ever be *absolutely* sure that you'll lose your job, or a promotion, or be only adversely affected by the event? No you can't. Because no one, can ever be *absolutely* sure about anything. Therefore, it is your fear that is really the root of your suffering, and never the situation per se.

(Aferall, we will not know how it will work out later, the boss might realize he was mistaken and apologize, and some benefit might result in the process; even if your boss maligns you all the way, isn't it already a blessing in disguise, because the experience allowed you to learn valuable lessons of Clarification from it? To be precise : It's a blessing if you're smart enough to use it as one. Hence, the situation is always perfect *as it is*; what good or bad comes from it, is another matter, and always up to the individual himself, to determine this)

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"Ok, I insist, let's take a worse example - war time torture and rape. Tell me how the situation is not the problem, but the victim's fear is, even after the torture and rape is experienced."

Now, we shall only briefly comment on this to clarify the basic misconceptions of the question itself; because it will take much more space than is appropriate here, for a complete discussion on this. (For everyone interested in this topic, check out the work of Byron Katie on the internet - see bottom of this post for links).

The energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions of war, of torture, of rape, is that which is undesirable (at least from the individual's point of view; especially if it is understood to be detrimental to that soul's personal evolution), and not the *situation*.

The *situation*, is that which one must not confuse with the associated energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions; or else (if the individual does not understand this correctly), the individual will (incorrectly) perceive itself to be a *victim* of the situation.

But with Clarification, you relaize that the *situation* itself, or reality, is neutral. (How can you blame the neutral *knife* for a wound that a person inflicts?) In fact, going deeper, you realize that no one in the situation, not even the aggressor, really desires it. Acts of darkness, are always committed out of fear. The situation, is merely a platform for the issues to be worked out. It itself, isn't the problem.

We have stated that it is the energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions of the situation, that is undesirable. Know that the *suffering* that is associated with it, is even more undesirable, and *that* is the problem, not the situation.
 
But what of the physical pain that results beyond anyone's control in a war torture & rape situation? Ok ok, so the situation itself is neutral. Fine. What of the pain?

The physical pain (which one must distinguish from the *situation* as well as the *suffering*), itself is perfect *in its function*, even as the energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions of the torture & rape, are certainly not. Why? Because the physical pain, is to serve its function of saying, "The energies as presented by the situation, is undesirable. It is detrimental for the human body to be ripped apart by instruments of torture."

From this pain, the individual understands that he wishes to change the (energies of the) situation, because its (associated) energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions are not desirable, or are unloving, or not CosmoEthical.

So the individual is motivated to take action, to stop the undesirable energies of war, torture & rape, as presented by the situation.

"All these - situation, pain, suffering - aren't you just playing with words?"

No, words are limiting, but they convey concepts. And it is important to understand the different concepts and their respective roles here, for one to undertake Clarification.

"Then if simply by asking oneself some questions, as per Byron Katie's Inquiry process of the Clarification task, a war torture rape victim can resolve his/her suffering? If so, then why would he/she want to change the situation... ok ok, the energies/meaning etc as presented by the situation then?"

Because the physical pain (not the emotional suffering, which is self-inflicted and unnecessary), tells the individual, that the energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions of the situation, are less than loving, less than CosmoEthical, less than desired, therefore then, the lucid individual (now free from suffering which warps judgement, and acting only out of love, compassion and intelligence), will take action to *evolve* the energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions of the situation in the most helpful way possible. This will naturally then, involve the end of the war in all effective, intelligent, cosmoethical ways possible.


Let's now put the complicated, messy war torture scenario aside, and use a simplified analogy to illustrate this point clearer.

You care for the environment. A company's work, pollutes the environment, depletes resources, and destroys wildlife, eg. unjustified deforestation.

If you allow yourself to experience, and act out of, suffering & anger & fear, you may become a terrorist and bomb the company premises, torture its employees, and harm many innocent people in the process. Darkness begets only darkness. Suffering & anger & fear, only attracks the darker beings of like vibration, and difficulties of intrusion; you will not be able to work effectively with the guides & helpers, which is necessary for an effective, cosmoethical solution.

If on the other hand, you use Clarification, and free yourself of the suffering, then you are able to act only out of love and intelligence, and acting only out of your love for the environment and for all Creation, and your resolve to serve CosmoEthics, you would be far, far more effective (you would be invariably working with the guides & helpers on *this* track, even if unknowingly), and your methods would be also cosmoethical and not harm anyone in the process (at the very least, kept to the minimum possible).

In the track of darkness, confusion and suffering, it is not likely you'll help the environment very effectively.

In the track of Clarification, love and assistantiality/evolution, you would be empowered with the capacity to work with the guides & helpers to help the environment in the most effective, cosmoethical way possible.


Another example - if you see a violence being perpetrated on someone. Is it more helpful to

A) fly into a rage and viciously beat the perpetrator senseless, permanently blinding and crippling him as a result; in the process neglecting to tend to the medical needs of the victim who dies as a result; or

B) act only out of love, clarity, and clear intuition, act according to the most intelligent, effective and cosmoethical means of resolution, which might entail some quick physical action to distract and remove the victim from the perpetrator, call for others to aid the victim medically while simultaneously engaging the perpetrator with the most effective words or means to calm him down and cause him to desist. Even if some violence against the perpetrator is needed, it will not create negative karma for the helper, as the controlled violence was done only out of love and clarity.

Which is better? To act out of suffering, or out of love?
 
Now, while all of this may seem all nice and well for theory, but what of practice?

Firstly, being realistic, we understand that we are homo sapiens sapiens, evolving towards homo sapiens serenissimus.

To carry out Byron Katie's Clarificaiton process *perfectly* and *completely* and do it *all of the time*, we would have reached, or be very nearing, the Serenissiums stage of evolution.

But this is precisely the role of an evolutionary model. We learn from them. Not being able to practice 100% of the time, isn't a problem. If an individual's current evolutionary capacity is that he can practice this 50% of the time, then that is already perfect in itself, or to be precise, we say he is fulfilling his existential potential, working well with his existential program, and near achieving existential completion, for this lifetime.

So in conclusion, although, "Yea sure, its all nice and well for the Serenissimus to be able to feel totally no emotional suffering at all even when undergoing the worst war torture & rape, and the Serenissimus is able to then act out of *only* pure unconditiona love, with incredible intelligence, wisdom, insight and total telepathic contact with the guides & helpers, and execute the most perfect, cosmoethical and effective means of immediately changing the situation and stopping the torture, the war, etc... but I'm only human! I can't be expected to do all of this, so all these are not relevat to me! So as far as I, a mere human, is conerned, the problem of suffering still isn't solved!"

Ahh, but if we do not start now to work towards the traits, capacities and intentions of the Serensissmus, when do we start? Next lifetime? The lifetime after next? Proscastination is evolutionary stagnation. The journey towards the Serenissums state, for each soul, can only be *begun*, when the soul has made the decision to be fully committed to the maximum (velocity and quality of) evolutionary progress, in the NOW.

And yes, the work of a Serenissimus, of total Clarification, of complete freedom from suffering, of acting completely out of pure unconditional love 100% of the time, etc; the guides & helpers know it isn't easy, and they are here to give their support, for all souls who have committed themselves to Evolution, Assistantiality, CosmoEthics and Love. That is equivalently, (the committment to) evolving towards the Serenissimus stage.

Because the guides & helpers are (the extraphysical aspects of) yourselves, assisting (the intraphysical aspects of) yourselves, along the way in your evolution. Its what you would do (for others), it's what you are doing (for others), it's what you will be doing (for others).


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Bryon Katie's book (cover image & links) :
http://infinity.hispeed.com/Heart.Of.God/main.htm#ByronKatie

Byron Katie's website :
http://www.thework.org/

[Kyo Kusanagi]

Blink posted :

Kyo,

Those are great examples to illustrate your summary of Byron Katie's book called Loving What Is.

Also, to be noted, would be the application of this system toward working through personal fears and anxieties.  Always question your fears.  They always lose power when faced with these kinds of questions.

love, blink

Dan posted :

In no particular order:

The Boss Thing: I'd just tell myself that I'm glad I'm not my boss because he sounds miserable. I've had bosses like that. I just said goodbye to one on Friday; she's leaving for a new job. She's wholly unqualified for the job, irresponsible, petty and a sloth. She'll be miserable in her new job and try to make those around her miserable, too, as her way of compensating for her own limitations. But I'm glad I'm not her. And I'll always be glad to have had her example so I know what I never, ever want to become.

The Wartime Atrocities Thing: If I'm in combat and someone's coming at me with a knife, I'm not going to stop and consider the karma of the situation. I WILL, however, consider the situation *perfect* afterwards as long as he's dead and I'm not.

The Someone Beating Up Someone Else Thing: Been there, done that when I saw a friend being assaulted. The most cosmoethical thing I could come up with was to beat the living crap out of the perpetrator. I considered the energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions *perfect* afterwards upon seeing him layed out on the ground. The only love and clarity I felt was toward my friend. She wasn't badly hurt, fortunately. Maybe I'm not evolved enough, but I didn't much care about the karma of the whole thing when it was over. I did what needed to be done. I hope now that the person involved learned something about consequences. I'm not the most literate person in the world, so I don't know the technical words for it, but we used to call it "taking a person to school."

I understand what you're explaining about clarity and energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions and all of that. But I think unless one shuts oneself up in a monastery somewhere or lives in an otherwise self-imposed exile, being human isn't going to afford us much opportunity in extreme situations to think cosmoethically. I'm not sure that it interrupts our evolution, either. I see every situation as a learning experience, good bad or otherwise.

It's a nice concept to muse about in quiet times, but in situations that present the possibility of grave bodily injury, I just don't see it happening. Maybe in 1000 years or 5000 years when we're more spiritually advanced, but not today. Doesn't make it a bad thing to aim for, though, so don't take any of this the wrong way.

[Kyo Kusanagi]

(From a discussion thread here)

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Greets, and a disclaimer that applies to everyone and every discussion - there isn't a 'right' or 'wrong', but (what we actually have in the Universe), are *perspectives*. Hence, it is perfectly 'right' or proper, if for eg. you (who read these words) do not agree totally, or at all, with any of the ideas we put forth in our posts. So to re-iterate, these discussions are really opportunities for various individuals and parties, to share their ideas and personal perspectives, and not to 'hammer it out until we all agree on the One Truth', which (this principle) is sometimes used as an underlying assumption for discussions. That is never our intention, so please, feel free (in fact it is encouraged) to have your own unique viewpoint, not just for these discussions, but for everything in life.

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Blink wrote :

It is idealistic to think we would all go through such a process for each moment of our lives, however it seems it would be very helpful to do so when particularly troubled in relationship to a situation or person(s).

Actually, no (to the postulation that it is idealism, and not necessarily applicable to all situations). The entire point of this Inquiry Process, which is essentially to *turn inward* for a clearer understanding of Self, is *universally* applicable to all situations.

Granted that it takes more effort and experience, for one to, in the midst of raging emotions, shift the focus to *within*, to understand where one's emotions and thoughts is truly pointing to, and to make the most lucid decision towards the most beneficial course of action.

But whose in hands does this (effort and experience) lie in? Yours.

In the beginning, it is more than expected (be patient with yourself), that the inquiry process and the clarification, comes *after* the heat of the emotions and event; and that is ok - afterall, there is still learning taking place, when studying your own emotions and thoughts within, even if the Inquiry process is done retrospectively. That is fine.

Increasingly however, one would gain more from the Inquiry process, when one has sufficient experience, exercises sufficient effort, and clarity of thoughts/emotions/consciousness, that one is able to, *right in the midst* of the raging emotions of the event, get that *aha* ("I've gone through this before, this time, I understand better and will make a more lucid decision").

It is as if, lifetime after lifetime, repeating patterns and circumstances are set up (this is not the fault of Karma, it is the fault of the lack of lucidity on the part of the individual), and only once sufficient lucidity is achieved (which is the entire point of Byron Katie's Inquiry process, the tool for the Clarification task of existence), then one is able to break free of the self-limiting karmic cycle, for the particular issue at hand.

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Regarding Dan's post, it can be soon realized, that for many of your points raised, you (Dan) are speaking on slightly different ideas/issues, and therefore, our ideas do not necessarily contradict each other's, nor are they necessarily mutually exclusive.

 

But I'm glad I'm not her. And I'll always be glad to have had her example so I know what I never, ever want to become.

Yes, this is one aspect of clarification; that from the incident, instead (or at least in addition to) of blindlessly flying off on an emotiontal rage, we understand that the traits as we *perceive* or interpret to be represented or *projected* by our boss, is that which we chose not to have, or manifest, within ourselves.

But it is also important not to judge (ie. directly associate a sense of ultimate worthiness or lovability, with the particular traits being studied)  the soul, eg. your boss. This can be understood on two levels :

1) One can never be *absolutely* sure of the total (100%) accuracy of one's ideas about someone else. We are not in their shoes, so we cannot know 100% who someone else feels, or the entire picture of the true underlying intentions behind someone else's actions.

For instance, the person who commits a minor crime of shoplifing, to feed his starving child. Or the person who appears to betray his friends/country, for the sake of peace and greater good. The point is - do not be too quick to judge.

In chinese folklore, a popular theme, is that the dieties (or guides & helpers) would sometimes manifest physically as an ugly beggar (for eg.), to test the goodness of man in certain situations. In today's context, a useful equivalent idea would be "What if one of my guides & helpers, took the form of my boss or some other difficult person, or brought to me some difficult situation, to give me an opportunity for learning?"

It does not matter as to whether your boss is actually indeed your guide & helper in disguise, what matters is the (potential) benefit of insight you get from just *asking* the right questions, and whether you made the effort to learn anything from the (difficult? only if you make it so, by refusing lucidity) situation. In a way, everyone around us has some capacity as our guide & helper, but that is really up to us (to make use of this), isn't it?

2) Even if, theorectically, the person (eg. boss) is indeed as he has projected, eg. those nasty traits (eg. manipulative, selfish, bacstabbing) that you would never want to have for yourself. Well, should we judge the soul (who's struggling and already doing the best job of being himself as he knows how to), or should we be (more correctly)judging the *traits*?

The Wartime Atrocities Thing: If I'm in combat and someone's coming at me with a knife, I'm not going to stop and consider the karma of the situation. I WILL, however, consider the situation *perfect* afterwards as long as he's dead and I'm not.

This is again perfectly correct. You (Dan, or anyone) are just doing what you perceive to be the proper thing to do, given (what you understand) of the situation at hand, at that point in time - self preservation.

This is why we said that for any situation, even if seemingly atrocious, it is perfect (in its existence), because everyone involved, is already doing the best job of being themselves, as they can. Even the ones overshadowed by the darker forces, even the darker forces themselves. Eg. Certain political leaders whose selfishness and greed creates counter-cosmoethical consequences for many.

The situation is always perfect, precisely because that's the way it is. As Byron Katie says, when you argue against reality (of the situation), you lose, but only 100% of the time. So instead of deceiving yourself, accept the reality of the situation, and seek to *understand* what reality is offering to teach you, and from their, evolve *your own* (self-responsibility) emotions/thoughts/intentions, and execute a course of action of a higher cosmoethic level, as you deem possible and *choose* for yourself.

The pain from any given situation (eg. disease, violence, conflict), likewise, is perfect *in its function*, to remind the individual that there could certainly be a better way of doing things, a different direction which leads to other (equally perfect, of course) situations, that would be *truer* to one's lucid intentions and nature. That is to say, the pain from disease helps you to realize, "What I truly want, is to giver proper nourishment and care to the physical body, out of love for everything, including my body, myself, all my loved ones, and all the possibilities that I can achieve and be of service to others, if I am healthy and physically/emotionally/conscientially competent. I understand I might have neglected from doing so in the past, and will correct this for the future."

The situation was perfect (can you viciously blame the virus/bacteria from infecting your toxified tissues and body? They're just doing their job.) The pain was perfect (it was a function to remind you, hey mr soul, how about taking better care of your body?). What remains, is what you want to do about it next, and if you have sufficient lucidity to even recognize and seize this opportunity in the first place.

That is why we (such as Byron Katie, Hilarion, ourselves, etc) say, each time you encounter pain, suffering or difficulty, do yourself a huge favour and INQUIRE. CLARIFY. EVOLVE.

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The Someone Beating Up Someone Else Thing: Been there, done that when I saw a friend being assaulted. The most cosmoethical thing I could come up with was to beat the living crap out of the perpetrator. I considered the energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions *perfect* afterwards upon seeing him layed out on the ground. The only love and clarity I felt was toward my friend. She wasn't badly hurt, fortunately. Maybe I'm not evolved enough, but I didn't much care about the karma of the whole thing when it was over. I did what needed to be done. I hope now that the person involved learned something about consequences.

The situation was certainly perfect, because that's the way it happened. Quite obviously, you did what you understood (at that point in time) to be the most helpful thing to do, that is to incapacitate the aggressor to protect your friend.

And yes, it is clear (to yourself and to those who read your story) that it was the love for your friend, that was the primary motivation for your actions.

Would Byron Katie do the same? Would Jesus Christ (Sananda) do the same? Would Hilarion do the same? Would any Serenissimus do the same? (WWJD - What Would Jesus Do? is an idea used by some Christians, you could use a version you're comfortable with - the point of it is Inquiry - to look within for the answers).

Maybe, maybe not. As far as the Inquiry process is concerned, it does not matter. The external action might well be exactly the same, or similar, as your course of action, or it might be different. For sure, each being would take the most beneficial, cosmoethical decision that he/she is able to understand and (able to) carry out at that moment.

What is far more important, as far as the Inquiry process is concerned, is not so much the external action, but the looking *within* for answers. Not for the answers to why that aggressor did what he did, but the answers to why *you* did what *you* did, what was the true nature and percentage breakdown of the emotions, thoughts, motivations underlying your actions, and to what extent, was it in *true* alignment with what you *truly* want, etc.
 
No one can ever truly judge another (in fact, why would anyone in his most lucid mind, even want to? that's not being self-responsible), and this of course, includes (for this discussion) you (Dan), and your actions on that day.

Thusly, the situation is perfect, there's no *need* to dwell on it further, *unless* you wish to do so. Meaning, if you ask yourself in total honesty, what were your emotions then, and do they have anything to teach you (eg. if there was fear, could the fear be clarified away with, such that you could still carry out the same external action, out of 100% love and no fear whatsoever? And remember that anger, always comes from fear*)whether in retrospect, there might have been other, more desirable ways of dealing with the situation, etc.

*Nobody* can judge you, or *even* the situation, to say, "Yes, you could have done such and such without resorting to violence", that may not be true, for instance, *they* might have done such and such without resorting to violence, it does not mean *you* (at that point in time) could have, or would choose such. That is why only *you*, can give the answers to these questions.

So you (all dear readers) see, the beauty of Byron Katie's Inquiry process is that it is not a judgemental one. When you ask these (sometimes difficult) questions, there is *no* right or wrong answers. (No guide & helper will come along and say, "wrong! you lie!" However, they may, as is the case in the Life Review after one's incarnation in the intermissive period, observe other possibilites (eg. that you may not be truthful or loving with yourself, etc) and share those with you, allowing you to the opportunity to consider their insights and perspective, but they'll never force you to accept their ideas).

Hence, in Byron Katie's Inquiry process, it is Clarification because the answers come from *within*,

*WE* TEACH *OURSELVES*, about the meaning of our own emotions, thoughts and intentions. And once we are clearer about ourselves, (tremendous) acceleration of karmic evolution is possible.

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(*about the anger comes from fear bit)
"So you're saying, that I could have felt no anger in the least, when my dear friend was threatened with real danger and injustice?"

Yes, ask yourself, WWJD - What Would (eg.) Jesus Do? It is quite easily forseeable, that Jesus (or any Serenissimus) would have the wisdom to do what would be required for the safety of his friend (*possibly* exactly the same as your chosen course of action, or perhaps not, it doesn't really matter here), but (what matters, is that) he would be able do carry it out in complete love, without an iota of fear or anger.  

This is another great lesson, that Byron Katie often points out, for all of us. Doing the Inquiry process, not feeling any anger for the victims of 911, the Tsunami, war atrocities, etc, definitely does *not* equate to inaction or apathy. It is in fact, *totally* the contrary. Those who correctly carry out the Inquiry process, no longer feel anger and suffering, instead they feel great love and clarity, and are not only even more highly motivated to reach out and take action to assist, but are able to do so in far more lucid and effective ways.

Clarity is also a prerequisite to working actively with the guides & helpers, who are our extraphysical aspects of the equation; and that both we (intraphysicals) and they (extraphysical guides & helpers) must work *together*, for the Earth experiment to succeed.

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As to the "Maybe I'm not evolved enough", this sentence isn't true, of course, in fact it's (the sentence itself) quite nonsensical. You (each individual) are exactly as evolved as you are, not an iota less, and that is totally perfect. It's also perfect if you *choose* to continue your evolution, to accelerate it, or even to stagnate it, or to devolve. Either way, it's perfect, because it's your choice.

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I understand what you're explaining about clarity and energies/meaning/consequences/karma/intentions and all of that. But I think unless one shuts oneself up in a monastery somewhere or lives in an otherwise self-imposed exile, being human isn't going to afford us much opportunity in extreme situations to think cosmoethically. I'm not sure that it interrupts our evolution, either. I see every situation as a learning experience, good bad or otherwise.

Oh absolutely. Every situation has the potential of being a learning experience. Whether it fulfills this potential or not, is of course up to each individual.

As for the "being human isn't going to afford us much opportunity in extreme situations to think cosmoethically" - your (Dan's) point is, that cosmoethics, refers to the humanly impossible task of all the time carrying out the totally *perfect*, single most benefical action possible (is there even one?) with regards to ALL beings in the Cosmos, to all Creation.

Ah yes, but humans (and ALL beings) at different stages of evolution and all making 'mistakes' and learning bit by bit by experiences, and evolving, are all (already) a *part* of CosmoEthics.

Remember (see our post on CosmoEthics here : http://infinity.hispeed.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1114495255 ) that CosmoEthics isn't some high moral law created by some external 'God', and imposed on all beings.

CosmoEthics is created and evolved, by each and all beings of the Cosmos, themselves. That's you and me and everyone. That is to say, no one can ever say to anyone else, "Aha! you failed there! you didn't act cosmoethically! you will be punished by the Lords of Karma!". Nonsense, of course.

When we use the concept "CosmoEthics" to facilitate clarity and evolution, we are in fact *referring* to the (potentially) highest, most beneficial path for all involved, that each being is capable of in his/her own capacity. In other words, it's purpose is really to recognize the existence of the potential for highest evolution & assistantiality, in any given situation, for any given individual, as we (each of us) can understand it.

CosmoEthics is not a hard and fast rule. Even the guides & helpers, and their guides & helpers, and so on, unto infinity, all only *contribute* their own understanding of CosmoEthics, of what is the most CosmoEthical course of action from their understanding, in any given situation.

Naturally, the higher up the evolutionary scale, the greater the wisdom, the clearer you can see, the most closer you are going to get, to the (idea of) CosmoEthics.

In other words, CosmoEthics is a tool for evolution, it is not an end in itself. What good would that be?

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It's a nice concept to muse about in quiet times, but in situations that present the possibility of grave bodily injury, I just don't see it happening.

This is only due to a misconception of (the purpose of) CosmoEthics. Tell you what, do not take our ideas as your own, work out your own understanding of CosmoEthics, in any form, definition, or implication that would be *helpful* to yourself. That's the whole point of the concept of CosmoEthics, to assist.

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Maybe in 1000 years or 5000 years when we're more spiritually advanced, but not today. Doesn't make it a bad thing to aim for, though, so don't take any of this the wrong way.

Precisely. As you said, "doesn't make it a bad thing to *aim* for". As for the "maybe in 5000 years?" well, Evolution is endless. It continues ad infinitum, without any end (this is a choice, of course). Whether in 5 years, 5000 years, or 5 million years, humans would continue their evolution, just as we're already doing today. And so on, without limit. This applies also for *all* other races and *all* beings in all the Cosmos. Including the guides & helpers, their guides & helpers, and so on.

Evolution does not stop at the Serenissimus level. That is only the next (recgonizable) level for human evolution. The current Serenissimus (for which there are (what can be seen as) equivalents, for all the other extraterrestrial races), are themselves evolving to an even higher level (one that is naturally, beyond our capacity to understand; each level can only cognizably see to the next immediate level - for us Homo sapiens sapiens, it is the Homo sapiens Serenissimus).

And if we do not even begin to reach for it today, how can we even hope to see a tomorrow, in evolutionary terms?

The journey to Serenissiums is only actively begun (in the context of a soul's series of incarnations and existence), when each individual makes the decision (for him/herself) to maximize thosenic clarity and consciential lucidity, at all times possible, for the greatest CosmoEthic good (that he/she is capable of), in one's actions as one goes about achieving the twin existential objectives of evolution (learning lessons) and assistantiality (helping others), and thereby fulfilling his/her own particular existential program (purpose of one's incarnation, planned by oneself with assistance from the guides, helpers and evolutionary orientors), and consequently supporting & accelerating his/her personal evolution, and ultimately contributing to the Whole/All-That-Is/Cosmos, the ultimate essence of ALL Beings, and the (relationship of) Oneness that is understood and honoured as Love.


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References :

Byron Katie's "Loving What Is" -
http://infinity.hispeed.com/Heart.Of.God/main.htm#ByronKatie

Wagner Alegretti (International Academy of Consciousness)'s
"Retrocognitions - An Investigation into Memories of Past Lives and the Period In Between Lifetimes" -
http://infinity.hispeed.com/Heart.Of.God/IAC/index.htm

Hilarion -
http://infinity.hispeed.com/Heart.Of.God/main.htm#Hilarion

[taoita]

Kyo Kusanagi,  it's going on in my head, reading your words but the implications were for situations that are very extreme and i wanted to test you on something:

I mean, unless I am in a one to one situation are you saying clarification is not at work?  Aren't personal issues more often to do with premeditation and not management.  How does collectivism mediate this?  For example, you often suggest that people's basic reaction is to fly off the handle.  Really?  Have you been in the workplace and seen the affects of 'service industry'?  Most people accommodate themselves to servitude.  They may well fly off the handle by getting drunk with their mates after 6.00pm but generally money talks.  Jepp, most young people take the coarse of least resistance because that's normal adaptation.  I agree that proximal development is a progressive force in our mutual evolution and the dynamic of emotions and empathetic support are intrinsic values.  But aren't you really saying that evolution is achieved through mimicry?  I know the style of this and the fashion.

[Kyo Kusanagi]

I mean, unless I am in a one to one situation are you saying clarification is not at work? Aren't personal issues more often to do with premeditation and not management.

You're thinking of a different idea of 'clarification'. Clarification means to really understand, to make clear, the true underlying meaning of an emotion, a thought, an event, a personal issue, in a way that is self-responsible, teaches you about yourself, and is beneficial for your evolution.

For instance, something happens that gets you upset, you often think that the cause of the upset is the external event. But upon clarification, you realize (if you've sufficient wisdom and clarity), that it can't be something outside of you that affects you, it is really a manifestation of an issue within; and that you're really being upset with yourself. The world serves as a mirror.

What you do next, in terms of external action, to assist with the situation, to make it better, to help others, to serve the greater CosmoEthic etc, is a separate aspect of clarification, but one that is in a way, just as important. But the inner Clarification must come first, for the sake of *your own* evolution.

How does collectivism mediate this?

It doesn't, not directly. Rather, it provides unique opportunities for of the individual. But yes, one of the core reasons for physical incarnation, is to allow many consciousness of different levels, natures and purposes, to co-exist and interact with each other on many levels. This is benefical for the growth and evolution of all consciousness, but especially for the less evolved ones.

For example, you often suggest that people's basic reaction is to fly off the handle.  Really?  Have you been in the workplace and seen the affects of 'service industry'?  Most people accommodate themselves to servitude.  They may well fly off the handle by getting drunk with their mates after 6.00pm but generally money talks.

You're misunderstanding the concept of mimicry and clarification. It is not the external action, but the inner emotional re-action, that is the object of our clarification process. The external action by itself, in terms of what it means to the individual, is meaningless. (External actions have their roles, of course, in actualizing one's intentions, in assisting others, etc, but those are separate subjects).

Mimicry isn't about mimicking others, whether in actions or emotions; what we refer to, is self-mimicry. Which is evolutionary stagnation. Self-mimicry, like the dogma of many religions, is counter-productive to evolution because many individuals do not benefit (in evolutionary terms), when the mimic their past habit patterns, without lucidity and understand what it means to themselves.

For instance, in a past life, you had lost a deeply loved one and lover, in a most tragic, traumatizing manner. The both of you had been forcefully separated from each other, against your wills, by others around you. This had been emotionally traumatizing for both of you.

In this life, when you meet each other, the old emotional re-actions of the past, may overcome and influence your actions and your thinking, unconsciously. Perhaps in *this* lifetime context, it may not be the most appropriate or beneficial relationship, or more specifically, your emotional habit patterns (largely influenced by the fear and sadness from that past life) towards this relationship with this individual, may be a self-mimicry of the intense emotional energy from the past life, but it is not based on the most lucid, intelligent or beneficial pathway or desired relationship for *this* life.

And so, this self-mimicry (which applies to all aspects, all issues and all levels of our existence), goes on, lifetime after lifetime, until finally, in one future lifetime, the individual becomes lucid enough and practices sufficient Clarification, to break through these old, limiting, no-longer-useful, habit patterns, breaks through self-mimicry, and makes a quantum leap in his/her evolution.

Jepp, most young people take the coarse of least resistance because that's normal adaptation.  I agree that proximal development is a progressive force in our mutual evolution and the dynamic of emotions and empathetic support are intrinsic values.  But aren't you really saying that evolution is achieved through mimicry?  I know the style of this and the fashion.

All too often, people mistakenly 'think' they're taking the path of least resistance. But what they're really doing, as long as they choose the mistaken belief that the external world 'should not' be like this, that something is 'wrong', and if they feel upset by anything around them, then they are choosing the path of resistance, not wisdom.  

Remember that

Potential = Flow x Resistance. When the individual chooses the path of Resistance (to reality, to working with reality), Flow (beauty, joy and love) is reduced. Suffering results. The secret to actualizing the maximal Flow (joy and love) of the spiritual Potential (of what could be), is to allow Resistance to be reduced to zero (by seeing with clarity, which automatically dissolves away the fallacy resistance).
 
Many individuals choose the path of suffering, lifetime after lifetime, believing (mistakenly) that learning comes only through suffering, or that suffering has value to the soul. This is not only unfortunate, it is entirely unnecessary. For all souls who are ready to let go of suffering, who are ready to learn through beauty, joy and love, this book is for you. By following the instructions in this book, actively working with the Law of Reflection in the most intimate way, the resultant effect of the powerful Inquiry Process as taught by Byron Katie, is to modify, reduce and even nullify the karmic need for suffering (on as many aspects and levels as the Inquiry Process is applied to), and consequently accelerates immeasurably the soul's karmic evolution and reincarnational cycles.
 
Byron Katie's Loving What Is, ranks as one of the most important of books recommended by Hilarion in his channelings, particularly where there is potential for emotional suffering in the individuals karma, and the guides & helpers strongly recommend this book as an aid to working around (preventing; dissolving the need for) such emotional suffering.
 
The choice is yours, to continue down the needless path of incessant karmic suffering, lifetime after lifetime, or to choose, once and for all, to experience, grow and evolve in only joy, beauty and love. How will you choose?

http://infinity.hispeed.com/Heart.Of.God/main.htm#ByronKatie

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[taoita]

I was listening to your words and I thought that the emotional quality was a little depressing.  Personally I have understood your translation of Byron's principles in emotional literacy schematics.

I will let you know how the book helps me, if I can read it this summer holidays.  Thanks for your sincere timely response.