.

iii

Li
by
Tarthang Tulku
NYINGMA PSYCHOLOGY SERIES
Reflections of Mind
Gesture of Balance
Openness Mind
Hidden Mind of Freedom
Kum Nye Relaxation, Parts 1 and 2
Skillful Means
Knowledge of Freedom: Time to Change
Li brary of Congress Catal ogue Card Number 84-282-52
ISBN: 0-913546-96-8
ISBN: 0-91 3546-95-X (pbk.)
Copyr i ght 1 984 by Dhar ma Pu bl i sh i ng
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may be reproduced i n any form wi thout
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Dharma Publ i sh i ng, 2425 Hi l l si de Avenue,
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Outl i ne ti tl es and i n i t i al s. Prin ted and bound by
Dharma Press, Oakl and, Cal i forni a
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
LCUtcaICUIO IhC |unan AtnU
LODICDIS
Preface by Tarthang Tu l ku xi
I ntroduction xv
SECTI ON ONE: KNOWL E DGE I N TI ME 1
Chapter 1. The Human I nheritance 5
Chapter 2: Responding to Time 16
Chapter 3: Questi oning Mind 23
S ECTION TWO: KNOWLE DGE TODAY 27
Chapter 4: Al ternatives to Di ssati sfaction 31
Chapter 5: Accel eration of Change 36
Chapter 6: Freedom and Prosperi ty 42
SECTI ON THREE: I NVI TATI ON TO KNOWL E DGE 55
Chapter 7: Opportuni ty for Change 59
Chapter 8: Knowl edge and Self 67
Chapter 9: Breaking Through the Known 76
VIII
Knowledge of Freedom
SECTION FOUR: KNOWLEDGE OF EXPERIENCE 85
Chapt e 1 0.
Chapt e 1 1
Chapt e 1 2
Chapt e 1 3 .
T meandChange
B t handYout h
Yeaso|Cu P me
TheVan . ngo| Cu | ves
8
2
1 02
1 1 1
SECTION FIVE: AWAKENING KNOWLEDGE 1 1
Chapt e 1 4
Chapt e 1 5
Chapt e 1 b
Chapt e 1 .
St ateg es |o | v ng
Yean ng |o | u' | ' ' ment
Pu su t o|Happ ness
Catewayto Know' edge
1 23
1 38
1 44
1 48
SECTION SIX: KNOWLEDGE OF CON FUSION 1 53
Chapt e 1 8
Chapt e 1
Chapt e 20
Chapt e 21.
Hu man |d ucat on
|ayeso|Cond t on ng
New Beg nn ngs
| mageso| Cu se' ves
1 5
1 b8
1 84
1 2
SECTION SEVEN: HEALING KNOWLEDGE 20
Chapt e 22 Tans|om ngTens on 21 1
Chapt e 23 Con |' ct o| Compet . t on 225
Chapt e 24 See ngThough Pa n 235
SECTION EIGHT: WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE 245
Chapt e 25
Chapt e 2b
Chapt e2
| mageso| Oes e
Teas uy o| |xpe . ence
C' ooa' Know' edge
SECTION NINE: I NNER KNOWLEDGE
Chapt e 28 | m t s onMean ng
Chapt e 2 The | asK ng
24
25
2b
283
28
301
Time to Change
i x
Chapter 30: The I l l usory I 31 0
Chapter 31 : Tyranny of the I 31 8
SECTION TE N: KNOWL E DGE OF MI N D 327
Chapter 32: Maneuvers of Mind 331
Chapter 33: Di recti onal i ty of Consci ousness 340
Chapter 34: Unbounded Mind 353
Chapter 35: Knowl edge of Freedom 358
I ndex 371
Preface
ur i ng t he more t han sixteen years I have l ived and
worked i n t hi s count ry, l have engaged i n a wi de
range of proj ects and interacted wi t h peopl e from
many backgrounds and occupat i ons. Havi ng recourse
to the weal t h of technol ogy and opportunity t hi s
soci ety affords, I have been abl e to devel op a pub
l ishing and printing company, found an educational
instit ut e, write several books, and bui l d a spirit ual
center, al ong wit h raising a famil y. Many students and
friends su pported and worked wit h me on t hese
endeavors, but none of t hese proj ects coul d have
been accompl ished wit hout knowl edge.
Mon t hs and sometimes years of preparation were
devoted to each proj ect. Much time was spent l earn
i ng t he i nt ri caci es of t he educat i onal and busi ness
systems of t his count ry and in st udyi ng t he t echnol
ogy, equi pment, and materi al s for pri nt i ng and con
struction. I n addition, it was necessary to bui l d a basis
that woul d support t he growth and devel opment of
XII
Knowledge of Freedom
t ne p|o| ects noped to accomp' . s n. A' tno0gn a ' . o|
| hese || e| ds were comp| ex and un|a m. | | ar |o me, the
|now' edgewe needed was ava| | ao| eand w| t n e||or|
cou| doega| nedandapp| | ed.
l n wor |. ngw| t n myst udent s and |r| ends, I |ound
| na| our g|eates| cna| | engescame no| |rom techn| cal
p|oo' ems o| ' acs o| . n|o| mat . on, o0t ||om anot ne|
d. |ect . on a' t ogetn e|. Tne d. ||. c0 ' t . es t nat most n. n
de|ed o0r e||o|ts we|e se' | . mposed ' . m. t at . ons t nat
made even t ne most ded. cated s 0ppo|ters o| t nese
p|oj ectsv0 ' ne|ao' eto| | 0st |at . onandd. sappo. nt ment .
|rom t ne ve|y oeg. n n . ng, t ne nat 0|e o| mywo|s
o|o0gnt me . n to contact w. tn peop' e ||om a w. de
|ange o| p|o|es s . ons, . nc ' 0 d. ng ed0cato|s, psycno. o
g. st s, sc . ent . st s , o0s . nes s men, s nopseepe| s, a|t . st s,
and st 0dent s o| a ' ' ages. | n wors. ng w. t n so many
d| nerent peop| e ove| | ne yea| s, I nave neard oo| h
young and o| d express | ne same|ee| . ngs. Many peo
p' e, desp. | e wea| | n, educa| | on, and success | n | he. r
c hosen occupa| | ons , are d| ssat | s|| ed w| | h t he. r | . ves
and |ee| a deep | nner hunge| t ha| | ney do not |now
nowto|. ' ' .
|oos. ng| o| so' 0t . ons t oo0| spec. t. cd. |t. c0' t . esd. d
not seem to oe t ne answe|. | t seemed |a| mo|e . m
po|t ant to q0es t . on t ne 0 nde| ' y. ng pat t e| ns o| pe|
s ona' d. ssat . sl act . on, and to d. scove|wnat was ' . m. t
. ng acn. evement and en| oyment o| ' . |e lo| so many.
Pe|naps . ns. de eacn patte|n . ay tne seys to a g|eate|
0 nde|s ta nd. ng. | n d. sc0ss . ons w. t n manypeop. eon a
g|eatva|. etyo| s 0 o| ects, ||ompnys. csandpsycno' ogy
to o0s . nessand pe|sona' asp |at . ons and d. ||. c0. t . es, |
|ound t ha| | ne| r |esponses | o0cned upon 0 n| versa|
humanconcerns.
Time to Cha nge
XIII
Many | op. cs s 0 |laced . n | nese d . sc0s s . ons . | ne
p|oo' ems o| soc. e|y and t ne . n d . v. d 0 a ' , at t . t 0des
towa|dswo| s, de|.n. t . ons o| napp. ness, mot . vat . onto
acn. eve goa' s and |eact . ons to cna' ' en ges and p| oo
| ems, t ne mea n| ngo| respons | o. | | ty, snow| edge, and
||eedom. Ve compa|ed | ne v. ews and at | . t 0des o|
d. ||e|ent c 0 ' t 0 |es, and cons . de|ed t ne n . st o| . ca' . n
|' 0ences t n a t s naped t n e. | deve' opmen | . Ve a ' so
q0est . oned t ne pat t e| ns o| ' ang0age and d. sc0ssed
now | ang0age a|| ect s t no0gnI and comm0 n | cat | on.
Vna | a|e | ne d. |l. c0 ' t . es ol comm0 n . cat . on . | wedo
no| nave s na|ed mea n . ngsandva' 0es' How we' ' can
we comm0 n . cat e even w. t n . n a s na|ed ' a ng0age'
Vnat s . gn. |. cance does t n. s nave | o| t ne ' one' . ness
and| so| at | ont nat a ||ectsomanypeop| e' Howareo0r
aIt | I0des t owa|ds wo|s a nd |. fe a|| ected oyo0 | 0p
o|. ng. nga nd| neneed t oad| 0st t oa comp' ex wayo|
' . |e' How does wnat we ' ea| n ea| ' y . n ' . |e . n|' 0ence
t neway wet n. ns and wo| s, t ne q0a' . ty o| o0| ' . ves,
o0rde|. n| t | ons o| s 0ccessand napp| nes s '
Aswe exp' o|ed t neseand manyot ne| q0est . on s, |
oose|ved gene| a' patte| ns to t ne |es ponses. |ate|, |
exp' o|ed t ne . mp' . cat . ons o| t nese patt e| ns w. t n | ne
peop' e| waswo| s. ngw. t nmost c ' ose' y. | nexam. n . ng
t nese patte| ns | n t ne| r own | . ves, manyga| ned va| 0
ao' e ns . gntsandp|ov. ded add. t . ona' pe|cep| . ons t na|
deepened o0| . n q0 . |. es | n t. me, as m. s s . ng deta . ' s
we|e |. ' ' ed . n , pat t e| n s s nowed t n ems e' ves mo|e
c ' ea| ' y C|a d0a ' ' y, wno' e p. ct 0|es came . n to v. ew
Inro0gn t n| s dyna m| c o| q0 es t | on . ng, re|' ecI. on, and
|esponse A' t no0gnt nespec. | . cdet a . ' s m. gnt va|y, t ne
pa| | e| ns t nat we|e | | 0e| o| one . nd. v. d0a' t 0 | ned o0t
tooet | 0el o| o| ne|saswe' ' .
XIV
Knowledge of Freedom
Tne peop' e wno pa|t . c. pated . n t n. s p|ocess |e' |
t hat wna| t hey had | earned nad a | |eady made a d| |
| e|ence. n t ne. | ' . ves, and wo0 ' doetn e st a|t . ngpo. nt
o| a deepe| | nq0. |y . nto mo|e sat. s|y. ngwayso|oe. ng
and act . ng . n t newo| ' d. At t ne. | |eq0est, | ag|eed to
prepare a ser| es o| essays|or puo| | cat | on. Tneed| | o|s
o| Ona| ma P0o' . s n. ng co' ' ected t a' |s given ove| a
pe| . od o| nea| ' yt n|eeyea|sands napedt nem. ntot ne
essays t nat appea| . n t n. s vo' 0 me Cve| a per. od o|
manymon| ns, I rev| ewedt ne| | ed| | | ngandadded new
. n |o| mat | on
Many o| t ne t op. cs t nat appea| . n t n. s ooo| a|e
c | os e| y | e| at ed t o da | | y | | | e a n d 0 n | versa| nu man
d| | cu| t | es A| | nougneacnessay|ocusesonad| ||eren|
aspecto| mode| n' . |e, toget ne| t neyo|| e| anapp|oacn
t nat may oe 0se| 0 ' today a d. |ect . nq0 . |y . nto | ne
numan s. t uat | on t na| encou|ages t ne quest | on| ngo|
a| ' aspectso| exper . ence.
Tn. s ooo|. s on' yt neoeg. nn. ng|o|wnatI nopecan
oe a rewa|d . ng sea|cn . nto tne nat 0|e o| tne n0man
m| nd. Tneremayoeno| | m| | st onow|arwecanextend
o0| . nq0 . |. es, and no. . m. tstoo0| capac. ty | o| 0 nde|
st and. ng o0|se' vesando0| wor' d | n t ne| 0t 0 |e, | p' an
to ca||y t n. s . nves t . gat . on m0cn | 0|t ne|, ' oo|. ngw. tn
g|eate|dep| n| nt otnes |ageso| numanconsc o0s ness.
|o| now, I am g|ate|0 ' | o| tne oppo|t 0n . ty to o||e|
t n es e es s ays to a w. de| a 0d . en ce. | ong ago my
| eacne|s empnas. zed | nat a oas . c |now. edge ol n0
man nat 0re was essent . a| | o| a p|od0ct | ve | . |e, | n t he
' . gnt o| t ne. | wo|ds, | nope t nat . n s ome s ma' ' way
t neseessaysw. ' ' promote peaceand narmonyw. t n . n
| ne nea|ts o| | nosewnoread | nem, and t nat a ' ' wno
oene|| t |rom q0est | on. ng | ne| | own ' . ves w| | | extend
wnatt ney |nowtotnepeop| esolt newor ' d
I nt roduct i on
now' edge . s o0| o. |t n | . gnt and o0| . ns p. |at . on
Ve a|e a ' . v. ngemood . ment o| snow' edge | t . s
l neseyt oo0| evo' 0t . ona|ydeve' opment andt neoas. s
o|o0| s 0|v. va ' C0| oe. ngnad . t so| . g. n . n snow' edge
. mp|. nted on two ' . v. ng ce' | s wn . cn p|od 0ced o0|
p|esent |o|m. C0| senses ' snow' now t o see, s me' ' ,
and taste, o0| ood. es snow nowt oo|eat nea n dnow
lo o|. ng new ' . |e . nto oe. ng t o cont . n0e t ne n0man
ne|. tage
C0 m. nds a|e |eceptac' es l o| t ne snow' edge o|
ages pasl T|eas0 | . es o| t no0gnl and . ns p. |at . on, o0|
m. nds enao' e 0s t o |e| ' ect on l ne past and conce. ve
d|eams |o t ne | 0l 0 e Know' edge g| ant s 0 s . n|. n . l e
oppo|l 0n t . es |o| gowt n cve|y moment o| o0| ex
pe|. ence . s snow' edge, a dyna m. c . nte|act . on o| o0|
oe. n g w. t n t ne c n a n g . n g wo | ' d a |o 0 n d 0 s C0 |
t no0gnl s and speecn ae man . lestat . ons o| snow'
edge cven s 0||e|. ng . s snow' edge, a po. nt e| t o o0|
XVI
Knowledge of Freedom
p|oo' ems and ' . m. t at . ons, . t snows 0 s t ne need |o|
g|eate| 0 nde| st and. ng and mot . vates 0s to . nv. te
snow' edge. nto o0| ' . ves
Know' edge| o. ns 0st oeve|yn0 manoe. ngwnonas
eve| ex. sted on t n. s p' anet. A' t no0gn oa| | . e| so|t . me
andp' acemaysepa|ate0 s,wea|e neve|a' one Vea|e
o| o0gnt t oget ne| oy t ne 0n . ve| sa' ' ang0age o| t ne
n 0 man nea|t, wn . cn . s a' so snow' edge. A' ' peop' e
s na|e t ne same oas. c needs and des . |es. Ve |e| o. ce
toget ne| . n t . meso| p' enty, wesee . n o0| cn . ' d|ent ne
nope |o|t ne| 0t 0|e, andweg| . evewnen t n . s nope . s
t asen| |om0s
Vn. ' ewes na|e a commona' . ty w. t n ot ne|s, eacn
o| 0s n as a 0 n . q0e ' . | e sto|y t nat 0 n| o' ds ' . se a g|eat
d |ama, | o|ged ||om nopes and d| eams, act . ons and
. nte|act . ons C0 | eve|yexpe| . enceaddstoo0| snow'
edge, and o0| eve|y act. on . s an exp|ess . on o| wnat
we snow. Tne ao. ' . ty to ' ea| n ||om o0| expe|. ence
t n|o0gno0t o0| |. ves. sa' so tneg. |t o|snow' edge
B0t o0| sto| . esa|e nota' waysnappyones. V. t n . na
s . ng| eday, we m. gnt expe| . ence manyo| t ne|ee' . ngs
t nat cna|act e| . ze t ne n0ma n cond. t . on des . |e and
||0st|at. on, con|. dence and anx. ety Tne oody tnat
enao' es 0s to expe|. ence t ne ne. gnts o| |apt 0 |e . s tne
sameoodyt nat mases0sv0' ne| ao' eto pa. n Tnem. nd
tnat . s so adapted | o| snow' edgecan a' so | o|ment 0s
w. t n memo| . es , |eg|ets, g| . e| , | ea| , and emot . ona'
d. st|ess. A|te|mo|e t nana m. ' ' . onyea|s o|evo' 0t. on,
wenaveyet to |. nd t nesnow' edge t nal w. ' ' stao. ' . ze
o0| napp. nessand set0s | |ee||om s 0||e|. ng.
| st ne|e somet n . ngl 0 ndament a' ' y w|ongw. t no0|
snow' edge! | n . ts e' | , snow' edge . s oene|. c . a ' and
' . oe|at . ng Know' edge nas made . t poss . o' el o| 0s l o
Time to Cha nge
xvi
snape o0| env. |on ment and to ennance o0| we' '
oe. ng, . t nas enao' ed 0s t o c|eate t ne ||eest and
most p|ospe|o0s soc. el . es l nat nave eve| ex. sted n
t ne n. sto|y o| t n e wo| ' d. C0 | snow' edge . nc|eases
da. ' y, no' d. ng o0t tne p|om. seo| extend. ng||eedom
andprosper| ly| oa| | t newo| | d speop| es.
Yet , wn. | eo0r snow| edgeand | |eedomappear t o
oe expand. ng, we seem t o oe ' ess at ease w. t n o0|
se' ves t nan eve| oe|o|e Beneal n l ne p|ospe|o0s s 0|
|ace o| o0| ' . ves, we sl . ' ' expe| . ence | | 0st |at . on and
con| 0 s . on, anx . et y, and even des pa. | V. t n . n o0 |
soc. et . es, evenl n e most |o|| 0 naleamong0s nave' . t t ' e
nope o| comp| et e ' | oera | | on |rom | r 0st |a| | on and
d| ssa| | s|act | on
|o| ma| ed0ca| . onmayne' p0 s maseoet t e| cno. ces
|o|o0| ' . ves, o0l o||e|snog0a|anteet nal o0| cno. ces
w. ' ' nol ' ead to pa. n . Pe|naps a|te| many yea|s o|
expe| . ence, we may deve' op eno0gn w. sdom to sta
o. ' . ze o0| ' . ves, and may |. na ' ' y|ecogn . ze wne|e o0|
g|ea| es| nopes |o| sat . s |ac| . on ' . e. |. |e . s o0| g|ealest
| eacner, o0 | | ts | esson s a|eo|| en ' ear nedtoo | at eand
a| t necosto| mucns uf|er | ng. Vemay navet orepeat
m. st ases ma ny t . mes oe| o| e we ' ea| n, a n d so me
' essons we may neve| ' ea| n at a ' ' Oepend. ng on
wnet ne| we ' ea| n q0 . cs' y o| s ' ow' y, we may nave a
nappy o| ' ess nappy ' . |e B0 | even . | we as. nd. v. d0a' s
oecome ve|y w. se, o0| napp. nes s can oet n |eal ened
oysoc. a' , env. |onment a' , and. nt e|nal . ona' p|oo' ems.
A|| ersevera| n 0ndredt no0sandyea|so| accumu| at . ng
snow| edge, wnatwesnow does not | ns ure our pro
tect . on||oms 0||e| . ng
| | we co0 ' d see l n|o0gn t ne ' ocsed co| | . do|s o|
| . me and pa|l . c . pal e d . |ecl ' y . n l ne enl . |e n 0 man
xv|||
Knowledge of Freedom
expe| | ence, pe| napswewo0. doeao' etod. scove|t ne
|now' edge we need to . . ve a oet t e| ' . |e. As ' . v. ng
n. s| o| . ans, contempo|a|y w. t nesses to t ne 0 n|o' d. ng
o|pastt | me,weco0' dseed. |ect ' yt net |ans|o|mat . ons
| na| nave |a|en p| ace | n n 0man consc| o0s ness Ve
wo0' d |now nowlea| was overcomewnen n0 mans
| . | s| maste|ed t ne 0se ol |. |e. Ve wo0 ' d end0|e t ne
s| | 0gg' es| o| s 0|v. va' . n t ne. ceagesand|e| o. ceatt ne
deve' opment o| ag|. c0' t 0|e. C0| expe| . enceo| ' . |e . n
| ne ear| y cen|ers o| c| v| | | zat | on wo0| d oroaden and
deepen cen| 0 ry oy cen| 0 ry as ma n | | nd grad0 a ' | y
s p|eadacrosst necont . nents.
Tne | ao| | c o| c. v. ' . zat . on wo0 ' d oe c' ea| . n o0|
memo|y Vewo0 ' d|eca' ' n0nd|edso|c0' t 0|esove|
| app| n g| n t | meandspace, eacncont r| o0| | nga d| ||er
en| co' o| and snapeto t neg|and patte|n . How many
t . mes wo0 . d we nave |e' t t | . 0 mpn and de|eat as
c. v. | . zat . ons |oseand|e' ' ' Vewo0' dnavema|ve' edat
t neo. |t no| |e' . g. on and pn . ' osopny, and 0nde|stood
| ne | dea| s |or wn| cn men nave | | ved and d| ed. A||er
n 0 nd |eds o| | no0s ands o| yea|s o| exper| ence, we
wo0 ' d |now oeyonda do0ot | nepatte|nso| | no0gnt
andact . ont nat ' eadtos 0|| e| . ng. Vewo0 ' d|nowt ne
l 0 | ' mean . ng o|o0| n. st o|y, andoe| |eeo|t neneed to
repea|| neerrors o|t nepas| .
| | a' ' o| 0s co0 ' d expe| . ence s 0cn a | o0 |ney, o0|
ve|s . ono| t nen 0 mansto|y m. gn| oe| a| d. || e|ent ||om
t ne ' . |e' ess|acts t nat nowcomp| . se o0| n. s |o|y, |ev.
t a' . zed oy o0| expe| . ence, t ne past wo0 ' d oecome
| | v| ng | now| edge | na| we co0| d app| y | n o0r | | ves
| oday. See| ngt nepatterns 0 nde| ' y| ng' | |e. n a|armo|e
comp|enens . ve ' . gnt , we m. gnt not oe so w. ' ' . ng to
engage . n act . ons t nat navea ' ways |es 0' ted . ns 0||e|
Time to Change xi x
| ng Pe| naps, a| t e| snedd| ng t ea|s | o| co0nt ' ess cen
t 0|| es, we wo0 ' d g|owwea|y o| ||0st |at | on, pa| n, and
t hewas|e o| human | | |e. Awa|e o| | heca0ses o| s 0|
|e| | ng, we wo0| d|nowwnatwast | 0| y oene|| c| a| and
now to o| | ng| t | nto oe| ng V| t n s0cn 0 nde|stand| ng,
t ne|e wo0 ' d oe no ' | m| |s on o0| v| s| on | o| n 0 man
oeing, andno| | m| tsonn 0 man||eedom
But we do not have t h| s v| s | on, and we cannot
|o|eseet ne|es 0 ' ts o| o0| act | ons. | t | sd| f|| c0 ' t t o' ea|n
t ne | essons o| t ne past, and conve|t past pa| n | nto
p|esent |now' edge. Tn0s we nave no cno| ce o0t to
|epeat o| d patte|ns, nop| ng t nat somenow wnat we
dow| | | t0rn o0t d| f|e|ent | yt han | t d| d | n t hepast . B0t
w| t ho0t g|eate| |now| edge, t ne | 0t 0|e | s a| ways 0 n
ce|t a| n, and o0| nopes may on| y p|event 0 s | | om
see| ng t ne magn | t 0de o| o0| p|oo' ems. Tne |now'
edget nat nas o|o0gn| 0s wea' t nandp|ospe| | tyco0 ' d
as eas | | y oecomet hemeans o| des| |uct | ono| h 0 ma n
l | |e o| event heann | h | | a| | ono| | | |e ono0 | p| anet . Cu|
napp| nessando0| | |eedom, dependent oncond | t | ons
t nat we do not | 0 ' | y 0 nde|st and and cannot con
t |o| , a|e st| | ' | nsec0 |e.
To p|o| ect o0 | ||eedom o| t hought , wo|d, and
act | on, wehave manyg0| de| | nes and | aws. B0t even
wnen o0| | |eedoms a|e sa|eg0a|ded, even | n a ' and
wne|e t ne | | gnts o| t ne | nd| v| d0a' a|e nono|ed, we
nave nocomp' ete | |eedom o| cho| ce, | o| we canno|
cnoosenot | os0f|e|. Nomatte|how|a|weextendou|
| nd| v| dua| | |eedoms, ou| | now| edge | s not o| oad
eno0gn to ma|e o0| v| s | ono| ||eedom a |ea| | ty. |ven
t ne act | ons we t a|e to expand o0 | | |eedom and
mate|| a' p| ospe| | ty seem to ne| gnt en o0 | sense o|
want | ng and | nc|ease | he ' eve' o| | | 0st |at | on | n o0|
xx
Knowledge of Freedom
' . ves Tnepa. n weexpe|. enceoea|sw. t nesstoo0| ' acs
o|snow' edge and l ne' . m. tat . ons ono0| | |eedom.
V| | nou| grea| ersnow| edge, wecannot oecer| a| n
t na| o0r ac| | ons w| | | no| or| ngs 0|| er . ng| o ourse' ves
and ot ne| s Cont . n 0 . n g to ac| 0 n s now. ng' y . n tne
wo| ' d, wecan on ' ycrealemo|e con| 0s . onand s 0||e|
. ng . n a wo|' d a ' |eady ove|o0 |dened w. t n nope' ess
ness and pa. n. Cn a nat . ona' ' eve' , even we' ' . nt en
t . oned acl . ons can o| . ng aoo0t l neoppos . te o| wnat
wedes| |e. se|| ous | moa ' ances. n our env. ron men| and
| ne ne| gn|e n . ng o| | ens | ons | na| endanger wor ' d
peaceandpros per. | y.
Howcanweopeno0 ||. e' do|a' te| nat . vesand|. nd
lne snow' edge we need to ga. n t | 0e l|eedom' Ve
want |o oe| |eeto |ea' . zeo0| | 0 ' ' potent . a' , wewant to
oe l|ee to mase | u' ' 0 se ol a ' ' t ne oppo|t 0n. t . es ' . |e
ohe|s 0s, wewant to oe| |eel o . nco|po|atea ' ' t nal . s
good | n|o our ' | ves, and oe |ree o| a| ' t na| causes
s u||er| ngand pa| n, wewant |oapprec| a| e| neoeauty
o| tnewo| ' dandtne. n | . macyol comm0 n . ca| . onw. tn
ot ne| n0 manoe. ngs. Vnet ne| o| not o0| w. snescome
t | 0e depends 0pon t ne |ange o| o0| v. s . on and t ne
snow' edget nat . n |o| ms o0| acl . ons
Howcanwed. scove|wnat . s t |0 ' ymea n . ng| 0' and
oene|| c| a| | or numan oe. ngs ' How can we or . ngt ne
| u| | mean| ngo||reedoma| . ve . nour neart s ' Know| ng
t na| wedono| ye| nave| nesnow| edgeweneed is in
|tel| snow' edge t nat can open o0| m. nds |o a new
pers pect . veon||eedom
Recogn. z. ng o0 | need |o| g|eale| snow' edge, we
can oeg. n to w. den o0| v. s . on. C0| ' . ves, and t ne
cond| t | ons u nde| wn . cnwear ep| . v. ' egedto' | ve, o||er
Time to Change XXI
0s a| | | neoppor| un| |y we need to c|ea| ea |ree|, more
sat| s|acto|ywayo| | . |e. C0 | educa| | onnas g| ven0 s | ne
| oo| s| or | nqu| ry. V| | nou| depend| ngon anydogmao|
comp| exdoc| || ne, we c a nre| y 0 pono0r own | n| e' ' .
gence | oopen 0 p new ways o| |now| nga n doe| ng.
Vecan |ead oetween t ne | . nes o| t ne n 0 man st o|y,
' oo|. ng| o| t nemesand patt e| nsunde| ' y. ngp|oo' ems
and pa. n V. t n t n. s o|oade| unde|stand. ng, we can
' oo|at o0| . . ves, ou| soc. et . es, and o0| wo| ' d ||om a
newpe|spect . ve,mo|eawa|eo|t ne|epeat . ngpat t e| ns
o|numan. . |e.
Cose|v. ng' . |e, and|e|' ecl . ngu pon o0| expe| . ence,
we can see mo|e c' ea| ' y tne |e' at . ons n . ps oetween
wnat we do and t ne |es u' ts t nat |o' ' ow. V. t n t ne
g|owtn o| . ns . gnt , we can ' ea|n mo|e qu . c|' y ||om
every || nd o| exper. ence, and |ree o0rse| ves o| | ne
need| orespond| oexper| encew| | n| | us | rat | on, ange|,
or pa| n. Ve can go even| 0r| ner andoeg| na dynam| c
process o| oose|v| ng and conver| | ng wna| we | ea|n
| n|o new |now| edge| na| we app| y| n o0r | | ves. | | we
or| ng a| | our |now| edge |o oear | n o0| wo|ds and
act . ons , we can en gage eacn expe| . ence open| y,
w. t nout | udgment , asanoppo|t 0n . ty to expandwnat
we snow As t n. s q0a' . ty o| attent . on toucnes mo|e
andmo|eo| o0| ' . |e, expe|. enceoecomesmo|edeep' y
. nte|esl . ng and v. l a' Vnen we v. ew wnateve| nap
pens to us as a man . |estat . on o| snow' edge, |now'
edgesnows. ts e' | . nt ne|es 0 ' t s o|ou| act . ons.
| n open . ngou| m. nds to |now' edge, we can d. s
cove| a new |o|m o| |espons . o. ' . ty t nat wou ' d o||e|
g|eale|nope |ornapp| ness . n o0r soc| et | es and. n t ne
wo| | d. Ra| ner | nan oe| ng an oo| | gat | on or a o0rden,
|espons | o| | | |y, oac|ed oy |now| edge, can oe s een as
XXII
Knowledge of Freedom
| ne |reedom |o res pond | oo0 | wor| d e||ec | | ve' yand
wno' enea |ted' y. Respond. ng. n | n . s way,wet aseca|e
o| o0 |se' ves' . n t . me' , we navea ' ong |ange v. s . on|o|
o0| ' . ves, and can add|ess potent . a' proo' ems oelo|e
| ney oecome so0 rces o| d | s | ress and a' | c| | on |or
o0|se| vesor | oro| ners
Vnen we nave tne co0 |age to |ace d. |ect ' y tne
p|oo' ems . no0| ' . vesand . n soc. ety, and|ecogn . zeo0|
need l o| g|eate| snow' edge, we nono| t ne | |eedom
| n| s soc| ety nas g| ven 0 s and | ase res pons | o| | | | y |or
o|oaden | n g | | s mea n | n g . n o0 | own | | ves | |ee| ng
o0 |se' ves o| p|oo' ems, we |ed0ce t ne amo0nt o|
s 0||e| . ng . n t newo| ' d and . nc|ease tne po|ent . a' |o|
ot ne|s t oga. ng|eate|||eedom|o| t nemse' ves. Vnen
weno' ongernave| opayw| | no0r| ears|or| nepr| v|
| egeo| ' | v. ng a n0ma n | | |e, | nesnow| edgewega| n | s
t | 0 ' y||ee
Know. edge, | |eedom, and |espons . o. ' . ty a|e o0|
most va' 0 ao' eassets, t neessent . a' . ng|ed. ent sl o| o0|
growt n and prosper. t y. V| | n | nem o0r po| en| | a| |or
g|ow|n s 0 n ' m ted. |acn s a ca| a' ys| |or |ne o| ne| .
Know' edge g. ves mea n . n g to ||eedom, and o0| |e
spons. venessc|eatesan opennesstonew snow' edge.
C0| | |eedom a ' ' ows 0s to tap a ' ' o0| |eso0|ces |o|
snow| edge, and g. ves 0s room and oppor| 0 n | |y |o|
ac| | on. B 0 . | d | ng 0 pon t n . s |o0 nda| | on, eacn o| 0s
co0 ' d cont | . o0te t o a new mode' o| napp. ness and
p|ospe| ty oased 0pon t ne 0 n oo0nded | |eedom ol
t nen 0 manm nd.
Vnateverwe | ea|n wecan s na|e w| t n o| ners, |or
eve|y n 0 man oe| ng s na|es | n | ne d| || c0| t . es | na| we
con| |ont . n o0| own ' . ves. Vnat g|eate|g lt co0' dwe
Time to Change
xxi
o||e|t nan|e' . el||oms 0||e| ngandpa. n ! C0| cn . ' d|en
w| ' ' oene|. t | rom t n | s |now' edge as we' ' , pass| ngon
wnat t ney ' ea|n to t ne. | own cn. ' d|en | n t n. s way,
eacn o| 0s can ne' p to 0 pl | |t t ne v| s| on o| n0man
dest | ny|orgenerat | ons tocome. Vere manypeop' eto
do t n. s, we co0 ' d p|o| ect an . mag o| |reedom so
strong' y t nat oostac| es to peace, j oy, prosper| ty, and
' ovewo0' dnavenop' acet ot a|e|oot. | ' ' 0 m. nated oy
|now' edge, o0| co' ' ect . ve v s . on co0 ' d sn . ne ' . |e a
oeacon | ar | nto t ne | 0t 0re, po| nt | ng t ne way |or an
. n|. n . t eexpans ono| a ' ' | nat. s good|o|n 0 manoe. ngs.
o
DD

CHAPTER 1 . THE HUMAN I N HE RI TANCE

Beg| nn. n gs o| t ne0 n | verse
car| y|ormso|| | |eonear| n
Tne|. |stn 0manoe. ngs
Tneeme|genceo| ' ang0age
B. |t no|n 0 mansnow' edge
|a| ' ysoc. a' st | 0ct 0 |es
R. seo|c. v. |. zat . on
|. te|ate0 |oanc0' t 0|e
C|owt n o| snow' edge
|. ns. ngo|c0' t 0|es
Sc. ence andtecn no' ogy
Tnen0man' egacy
CHAPTE R 2 RE SPONDI NG TO TI ME
0e|y. ngn 0 manpotent . a'
Meas 0 |ement o| t . me
Know' edgeo| pastt . me
Con nect . ons w. t nt nepast
Repeat . ngpatte|ns
Know' edgeandact . on
| nt ent . ona' . tyandc|eat . v. ty
See. ngt nep|esent
C|eat . ngt ne| 0t 0|e
| mp' | cat | ono| t | me
|xpe|| enc. ng| nt | me
5
b

1 0
1 1
1 2
1 2
1 3
1 b
1
1
1 8
1 8
1
20
20
20
20
21
CHAPTER 3 . QUE STI ONI NG MI N D
Recept . v. |yto|now' edge
0es| . ons o| cn. ' dnood
S. mp' . c. tyo|oas . cq0 est . ons
0est . on . ng ass 0mpt . ons
| ndividua' oasis| o| |nowing
New perspec| | ves
ues| | ons as pa| nway| o|reedom
23
23
24
24
25
2b
2b
T
1DC |UDD lDDCI|IDCC
We exist in a rare moment of stability,
dependent upon a delicate balance
that could change at any time.
| |e ch| | dren, we || nd | t d| ||cu| | |o oe| | eve| n a t | me
oe|o|et hewo| ' dwesnowt oo|snape, at . mewnen
t ne no0se we . n nao. t had not oeen o0 . ' t , wnen . t s
' 0moe| was t |ees, . t s na. ' s |ocs emoedded o|e, . ts
w| ndows sand a| ong | he ocean s shore. |rom our
pe|spect . ve, t he 0 n . ve|se seems vast and ete| na' , t he
ea|tn |. xed . n . ts o|o. t , t ne mo0nt a. ns and oceans
cnange' ess. cacnday | hes0 n appea|s . n t hes |y, each
n | gh| t he moon re|| ec|s | t s | | ght The p| ane| moves
. nva| . ao' y t n|o0gn tne seasona' |o0nd. cven o0|
c. v. | . zat . on, t no0gn constant ' y cnang. ng, seems to
end0|e. Ye| ||omad. ||e|ent pe|spec| . ve, ma| te|sm. gh|
seemo| herw| se.
|oos. ngattneeven . ngs sy, wemayoecomeawa|e
o|stand. ngon a p' ane| | nat . s mov. ngt n |o0gh space
and wonder how | t a | | oegan. l n ou| m| nd s eye we
canenv. s. ont ne|a||' 0ng|eacneso|space, emptyand
vast, p0' s . ng w| t n p|. mo|d. a' ene|gy Rhyt nms de
6 Knowledge of Freedom
ve' op, | . pp' . ng w. t n moment 0mandd. |ect . on. Ast ne
dynam| c opennes s o| s paceg| vesr| se|oqua| . | | es and
|ex| ures, | nnumerao| e appearances dance . n|o oe| ng
suoa|om| c, a|om| c, mo| ecu| ar-and|ormmorecom
p| ex pa| | erns. Caseous c| ouds oeg| n | og| owands p| n
| n |o p| ane| sands| a|s.
Today . t . s oe' . eved t nat o0| own p' anet sp0n . nto
ex. s| encemo|e t nan|o0 | t no0sand m. ' ' . onyea|s ago
A |ocsy c|0st so' . d. |. ed, t ne at mospne|e g|ad0a' ' y
deve' oped, |a. ns |e' ' and oceans |. ' ' ed. | n s' ow o0t
0 nceas . ng movement , cont . nent s d|. |ted ove| t ne
oceans, | o. n. ng toget ne| and s p' . t t . ng apa|t , t ne. |
co' ' . s. ons c|eat . ngg. ant mo0nt a. n|anges
V. nd and |a. n ' eve' ed tne peassand g|o0nd |ocs
. nto so. ' Tneo| o. t o|| neea|tn and . ts t . ' t towa|d tne
s 0n s n. |ted . n cyc| es, wn | ' e t ne magnet. c po| es
cnanged oacs and | or| n, | . me and | | meaga| n H0ge
| cecapscoveredvas|s| ret cneso| | andand re| rea|ed.
l s ' ands rose |rom | ne ocean || oo| | nrougn vo| can| c
act . on, and | a|es dr| ed | o oecome deser| |o| aeons
t n. s d| amatoos p| acew. tn no' . v. ngc|eat 0 |e p|esent.
H0 nd|eds o| m. ' ' . ons o| yea|s ago, tne |. |st ' . |e
to| ms eme|ged . n t ne oceans, as ce|t a. n mo' ec0 ' es
to0nd a way o| |ep' . cat . ng t nemse' ves and |o|med
s . mp' ece' ' s T| 0ean . ma' s ,s 0cnas | e' ' y|. s n, a|oset|om
many ce' ' s a||anged as a s . mp' e, 0nst ao' e oodyw. tn
oa| e' ydeve' oped sense o|gans Acco|d. ngto p|esent
snow' edge, an. ma' ood. es g|ad0a' ' y oecame mo|e
comp' ex |o' ded ' aye|s ot ce' ' s to|med t 0oe ' . se
wo| ms, open at eacn end C| . ent ed a' ongan ax. s, t n. s
news| ndo|oodynadmo|edeve| opedsenso|yo|gans
and nervesc | 0ste|ed at one end A mo0| nconnected
| ne| ns . deo| | ne' . |e|o|m |o | neout s. dewor ' d
Time to Change 7
Basedont n. s s . mp' epatte| n, mo|ecomp' cated' . fe
fo|msa|ose-l. sn , ampn. o. ans, and|ept . | es, o. |ds, and
mamma' sva| . at . ons on a fo0 | ' . moed, no. ' ow oody
a||anged a' onganax. sofne|ves. Mo|e comp' exsense
o|gans cen|e|eda| o0 ndt nenead, | nt e|act | ngw| t nt ne
wo| ' d t n|o0gn n0me|o0s ape|t0 |es. B|eatn f' owed
|nytnm. ca' ' yt n|o0gn| neoody, ent e| . ngandeme|g| ng
t n|o0gnt nemo0t nandnose M0sc' esando|gans t nat
deve| oped a| ongt n. s cnanne| madeposs . o| ea va| . ety
of so0 nds t nat oecame | o| ms o| comm0 n . cat . on
An ma' s fo| med e' ement a|y soc. a' st | 0ct 0 |es s 0cnas
t nosefo0 nd | n scnoo| so| f| snand| | ocsso| o| |ds.
|o| ages oe|o|e n 0 man oe. ngs appea|ed, ' ' owe|
an. ma' s' |0 ' ed t neea|t n Tne| |a of | . snes, wnen most
' andwasoenea| noceans,was|o' | owedoy| ne| mp. |e
ol t ne O. nosa0|s, wnen n0ge |ept . ' es |oamed | ne
|o|ests of | ne wo| ' d As I ne d| nosa0 |s myste| | o0s ' y
d. sappea|ed, mamma' s g|ew | a|ge| and event 0a| ' y
dom. nated t ne p' anet . |ong oelo|e t ne ea||. est
| nd. ans estao' . sned | ne. | f |st set t ' ements, t n|eetoed
no|ses, |n . noce|oses, andcame' s ' eftt ne. | |ema . ns on
Ame| | canso| |
Tneea| ' . est n 0mans seem | onave eme|ged mo|e
t nan a m. ' | . on yea|s ago Tno0gn oased on t neo' de|
| o0| ' | moed pat t e| n, t ne ood. eso| t nese f| |st n 0man
oe. ngswe|eo| entedtowa|dt neenv |on ment . n anew
way.1ne. |0p| | gn| sIanceand| o|wa|d |ac| ngeyesgave
t ne. |v s. onw. depe|spec | . veandg|eatdept n cvent 0
a| | y, t ne. | n . gn| y deve' oped sense o|gansand f' ex. o| e
. nte' ' gence we|e mat cned oy t n|oat s and mo0t ns
capao' eof mas nga |ange of comp' ex so0 nds V. t n
exp|ess| ve |aces, anda| msand nands ||ee to gest 0 |e,
po. nt , and g|asp oo| ects, n 0 man oe. ngs possessed
0 n . q0eao| | | I. esto comm0 n | catew| In eacn ot ne| As
8
Knowledge of Freedom
t nesecapao. ' . t . es deve' oped, n0 mans passed on t ne. |
snow' edge | |om gene|al . on t o gene|at . on, o0 . ' d ng
t ne. | 0 nde|stand. ngo| t ne. | wo| ' d and mo. d. ngt ne |
s 0||o0nd. ngsl oacco|dw. t nt ne. | w. snes.
Bands o| ea|' y n 0 mans sp|ead l n|o0gno0l mosto|
t newo| ' d Pnys . ca. ' yweas andde|ense' esscompa|ed
to manya n. ma ' s, t ney s 0|v ved oy | o. n ng togel ne| . n
c' ans , coope|a| ng| on0nt ' a|gegameandgat ne| |oots
and ed o' eveget at . on. Tney madetoo' s o0t ol stone
andc' ot ned l nemse' ves . na n ma' s s. ns | |om nat 0|a'
lo|est|. |es, n0 man oe ngs toos l ' amesand ' ea| ned to
seept nema. ve. Nowt neyco0 . d' . ve n co' de| |eg ons,
coos |ood, and | | . gnten away a n ma' s . Cat ne| ng
a |o0nd t ne. | l. |es |o|sa|ety and compan . ons n . p, l ney
comm0 n . cated n a waynoa n ma ' nadoe|o|e
Pe| naps eme|g. ng |. |st as m0 |m0 |ed so0 nds ol
com|o|t o| c|. es o| dange| and need, l ne |nyl nms ol
speecn g|ew g|ad0a ' ' y mo|e e' aoo|ale and d st nct
Peop' eoeganto0 seso0 nds n a newway Rememoe|
. ng and |epeal . ng a so0 nd, |wo peop' e co0. d ag|ee
0pon t ne name | na| wo0 ' d d sl . ng0 s n a pa|t . c0' a|
pe|sono| oo| ect
Cve| a ' ong pe| od ol t me, many senso|y . m
p|ess onss gnl s, so0 nds, | ext 0|es, tastes, and sme' ' s
we|e . dent | ed a nd ' n sed l o so0 nds Symoo' s
sc|alcned . nto t |ees o| slone o| d|awn 0pon tne
g|o0nd co0 ' d oe connected lo pa|t c0' a| so0 nds By
means o' symoo' s and p c ' 0|es, mea n ng co0 ' d oe
conveyed n l ne aosence o' so0nd o| l ne pnys. ca'
oo| ecl
Os ngl ne. | ao. ' t . eslod sc|. m. nateand|ememoe|,
n0 man oe ngs oose|ved t ne. | wo|. d and ts patte|ns,
Time to Change 9
not | ng s| m| | ar | t | es and |e| at | onsn | ps, and made as
s 0mpt . ons oased on t ne. | past exper. ence C|ad0a| | y,
s . mp| e concepts gave |. se to more comp| ex ways o|
t n| n|| ng, and n0mans co0 | d |e|| ect d | || eren| | y 0 pon
t nemse| ves and t ne wo| | d Peop| e oegan t o obse|ve
nat 0ralcyc| esand| ear ned to p|ed| ct t ne| r rec0|rence
Tneawa|enesso|o0r ancestors| angedoeyondt ne
|now| edgeneededlors . mp| es0rv. va| Respond| ngto
t ne movement and oea0ty o| t ne. | wo| | d, ce|ta. n
peop| es expressed | n symoo| | c draw| ngs mean | ngs
t nat co0 | d not oe comm0 n . cated ve|oa | | y. H0 man
|. g0|es, an. ma| |o| ms, andot ner a|t . st . c snapesd |awn
on cave wa| | s expressed deep . nner responses to
expe| . ence
||om |ememoered expe| . ences, n0 man oe. ngs
oegan to se| ect and reco0nt mportant event s Tney
named t ne 0nseen |orces t nat co0 | d g| ve | | |e o| ta|e
. t, and |o0nd ways o| de|. n ng t ne. r re| at . ons n . p to
t neawesomepowers tna| | ayoeyondn 0mancon | ro|
Tn| s |now| edge may nave come more read| | y t o
somet nant oot ne|s, t ne' |now. ngones , ootn |ea|ed
and respected, oecame nea| ers and g0 des, cnanne| s
| opowersot ners co0 | dnot comprenend. Tney| nstr0ct
ed t ne. r peop| e . n tne o| de| o| tne wo|| d, snow ng
t nemt neatt | t 0des andact | ons t nat wo0l dna| mon. ze
w| tntnegreatpowersandens 0re s 0rv| va| . Cvert . me,
|now| edge was acc0 m0 | ated and o|gan . zed, and
conceptsand oe| | e|swe|e s naped | nto more aost rac|
t no0gnt
|or n0 nd|edso| t no0sands o|yea|s, ear| yn 0 mans
. . ved . ns ma| | g|o0ps asn 0 nt e|s and gat ne|e| s Aoo0t
t en | no0sand years ago a revo| 0 | | onary event too|
1 0 Knowledge of Freedom
p| ace-| hed| scovery | ha| p| an| s cou| d oe cu| | | valed.
Oomesl | ca|ed sl |a . ns o| |ood c|ops soon |o' ' owed,
l nep' owwas . nvenl ed, andevenl ua' ' yl newnee'
As numans se| l | ed . nlo ' a|ge| commun. | . es, l ney
deve' oped oas. c l ecnno' og. es pol l e|y, oas sel |y, l ne
weav| ng o| c| o| h, and | he s me| l | ng and |org. ng o|
mel a' s . An. ma' s we|e domesl . ca| ed and l |a. ned as
nunl e|s, p|oleclo|s, and oeasl s o| ou|den, and we|e
used asdependao' esou|ceso| food andc| ol n. ng. As
numan' . |e g|ewmo|e comp' ex, numanoe. ngs deve'
oped a | u| | er u nders|and| ng o| nal u|a ' cyc| esas we' |
as a mo|e e' aoo| a|ev. s . ono| l ne. | p' ace. nl n ewo| ' d
Aoou| | | veo| s | x| housandyearsago, l herhyl hms
o| humanc. v. ' . zal . onsn . |ledaga . n O|oanc. v. ' . zal . ons
l oos snape . n l ne g|eal va' ' eys a' ong l ne N ' e, | ne
| ndus, | he Huang po, and l he T| gr | s and cupnrales
| . ve|s. O| oan commun. | . es evo' ved mo|e comp' ex
| o| mso| soc. a' o|gan . zal . on. O. sl | ncl c' assesg|adua' ' y
deve| oped-|a| mers, mercnan| s, adm| n. s| | a| ors, and
p|. eslssuppo|l . ng l ne g|owln o| l ecnno' ogy and
ma|er| a| wea| l h |argesca| e pyra m| ds, | emp| es, and
| || | ga| . on ne|wo|ss l nal |equ. |ed p' ann. ng and co-
ope|al . onwe|eou. ' l New mel a' o|esand a' ' oyswe|e
d| scovered and |ash | oned | n| o || ner weapons, orna
men | s, andloo' s .
More | requen| and var| ed soc| a| | n|eracl | ons a|
|ec|edl nedeve' opmenl o|' anguage |venl ua' ' yw|. l-
|en recordswere sep|, scra|cned |. rsl onc' ay l osens,
oones, o| wood, | hen upon l ao| e| s, and | a|e| w|. llen
w. ln . n s on ' eaves, oa| s, o| pape|madeftom p' an | s.
Cve| l he cenl u|| es, | | | e|a| e and ar | | s| | c cu' | u|es
a|ose and |' ou|. s ned O|aw. ng on l ne acn evemenl s
Time to Change 1 1
o| t ne pas| and | n|| 0enced o y ne| gnoo| | ng c0| | 0res,
eacn c. v| ' | zat . on c|ea| ed | t s own | rad| | | ons o| ' an
g0age, a| | , arcn| t ec| 0 re, pn. ' osopny, |e| | g| on, and
|ecnno| ogy. Ca| endars, a| pnaoet s, anda || s| y| es were
snared. As eacn c| v| | | za| | on reacned | | s pea| and
dec' . ned, new c0' t 0|es a|ose . n | 0 |n. Tneo0 . . d. ngo|
py|am. ds and z. gg0|ats gave way | o p. ' . a|ed temp' es
and o|nate pa' aces, a| m. es o| norsed|awn cna| . o| s
we|es 0pp' antedoymo0 nted a| mo|edcava| | . es.
Some c0. t 0|es end0 |ed | o| t no0s ands o| yea|s,
ot ne|s sp|ang 0p on ' y | o oe q0 . cs. y ove||0 n o|
aoso|oed oy | ne. | ne. gn oo|s . n wa|s . ong s . nce
to|go| ten. c n| . |e c0' t 0|esmay naved. sappea|ed, t ne. |
|now' edge ' os | |o 0s C|eat . . o| a| . es, |epos . |o|. es o|
anc. en| w. sdom, we|edest |oyedoy| nosewnod. dnot
comprenend | ne| r va| 0e. Somet . mes | ne vanq0 | sned
aosoroed | ne| r conq0erors, creat | ng a new c 0| | 0ra|
syn| nes| s. | n| erac| | ng and over| app| ng | n t . me and
space, c0| | 0ra| | or mss n| | |ed| nro0gn| nem| | | en. a| . |e
| nepa| | ernsona |a' e| doscope.
V. t n. n manyc0' | 0|es, ood . es o| o| a. and w| . t t en
snow' edgeg|ew 0pa|o0ndt ne. ns . gnt sotg|eatsee|s,
t n. n|e|s, and no. y men. T|ad. t . ons t na| a|ose | o
prese|ve and pass on | n. s |now' edge s | . m0 ' ated a ' '
aspects o| c0' | 0|e, . nc' 0d. ng ' . | e| a| 0 |e, med. c. ne,
a||, and a|cn. | ect0 |e. Many scnoo' s o| pn. ' osopny
came. nto oe. ng.
Tne|e we|e a' so seese|s wno sen sed t ne . ncom
p. e| eness o| n0 man snow. edge. Tne q0es| . ons | ney
|a. sedcna| | engedex| s | | ngv ews o| | nen 0mancond.
| | on. Tne |now' edge | nat grew o0| o| | ne| r q 0e| | es
passed | n| o es| ao| | s ned soc| e| | es, wnere | | ca| a| yzed
1 2 Knowledge of Freedom
new | ns| gn| s and ours| s o| creat | v| |y, enr| cn. ng and
o|oaden . ngn 0 ma n0nde|sta nd. ng
Manyo|| newo| | d' sgrea| c| v| | | za| | onswere even
t 0a' ' y ' . n |ed togetne|, as advent 0 |o0s exp' o|e|s and
me|cnants|o0 nd |o0tesoetweenseacoastsandac|oss
deser| s. Tne |now| edge o| movao| e |ype and paper
ma|. ngsp|ead ||om Cn . na to c 0 |ope and tne M. dd| e
cast . Tne A|aos, oo||ow. ng | nd. an n 0 me|a' s, deve'
opeda| geora and| | | gonome| ry. Know| edget rad| t . ons
||om As. a we|eca| | . ed a| ongt | ade|o0t es towa|d tne
west, wn . ' ewest e| nt |ad. t ons |o0nd| ne | wayeast.
As prac| | ca| |now| edgegrew, ra| s . ngt nes| andard
o| ' . v. ng |o| many c 0' t 0|es, demands |o| goods and
|eso0 |ces a' so . nc|eased, enco0|ag ng t ne sea|cn |o|
| raderou| es| omore and mored| s| ant | ands. Crow| ng
contactoetweenc 0 ' t 0 |esenco0 |agedt ned n0s. ono|
|now' edge and tne sp|ead o| |e' . g. o0s and c0' t0 |a'
va| ues, some| . mes | rans|orm| ng o| des| |oy. ng wno| e
soc et . es.
| n As. a, T0| |s, A|aos, andMongo' sestao' . snedvast
emp| reswnose| n || uencespreadeven | ntoc 0 |opeand
A| | . ca, a' t e| . ng t ne patte|n s o| c0 ' t 0|e t ney enco0n
|e|ed.As t ne|now' edgene' doyt neC|ee|sd. sappea|ed
| n | neVest, | | was|epta' . ve | n | neM| dd' e|as| , | ater,
. ts |et 0 |n | o c 0 |ope spa||ed a |ena. ssance As c 0|o
peans oegan ac| . ve' yexp' o| . ngt ne |est o| t newo| | d,
manyc. v. ' | za| | ons | n As| aoegan| o|ee| | ne| mpac|o|
a d. |e|ent way o| ' . | e | n t ne Ame| . cas, t ne | nd. an
c0' t 0|es and t ne anc. ent Azt ecand | nca c. v. ' . zat . ons
cr umo| ed unde|| ne|uropean conq0est.
O0| . ng tne e gnt eent n cent 0 |y tne sc ences and
tecnno' og es ' na| nad a| seno0t o|t ne| ena. ssance n
| neVes| oegant ocnange | ne|aceo| | newo| | d. Cne
Time to Change 1 3
. nvent . on 'o' ' owed anot ne| . n | ap. d s 0ccess . on t ne
steam eng. ne, t net n|esn . ngmacn. ne, t necot t on g. n,
and| neea| ' yt e' eg| apn, t necy' . nde| p| . nt . ngp|ess, t ne
e' ect |omagne| . cmot o|, t ne|eap. ngmacn . ne, andt ne
| e' epnone Soon t ned . scove|y o| ce' . s, oact e| . a, and
x |ayscnangedt newo| ' do|med. c. ne | n t n. s cent 0 |y,
q0ant 0mt neo|y, |e' at . v. | yt neo|y, and t ne s p' . t t . ngo|
t neat omnaveopenedanewe|ao|n0c' ea| | ecnno' ogy
and|evo' 0t . on . zed o0| concept so| t . meand space
ent 0|y a|te| cent 0 |y, n0 man c0' t 0|e n as o0. ' t
0pon . t se' | Tne . . gnt n. ng t nat s ' a|ted t ne |o|est
|. |es wne|e ea| ' y man sto' e n . s |. |st |' ames was ' at e|
t apped |o| p|oo| o| e' ect | . c. ty So' . dwnee' ed ca|t s
. nsp. |ed sposed wnee' ed cna| . ot s, and event 0a' ' y
|a. ' |oad t |a. ns anda0tomoo. . es |eve|s, p0. ' eys, ax' es,
and gea|s naveoeen |e|. ned and powe|ed . n t 0|n oy
no|sesandoxen, steam, e' ect | . c. ty, andgaso' . ne. Now
mo|e powe|| 0 ' | 0e' s p|ope' a . | p. anes t nat c| 0. se at
s 0 pe|son . c speeds and |ocsets t nat | |ave. t n|o0gn
o0t e| space, exp' o| . ngt nep. anet so0| ancesto|sco0 . d
on. yadm. |e . n tne n. gnt ssy
Man s. nd' s ea| ' . est exc. amat . ons o| ' An' ' and
' Cn' ' nave g. ven o. |t n | o g|eat ' . o|a| . es o| oooss,
o0| |. |ste'|o|t sat w|. t . ngw. t n st . cssonp. eceso|c' ay
nave mat 0 |ed . nt o e. ect |on. c ca|v. ngs on magnet . c
d. scs Vas| comm0n . cat . ons ne|wo|ss . . n sed oysat e'
' . tes o|o. t . ng t went y t no0s and m. ' es aoove t neea|t n
t |ans m. t s . gna| s wo| ' dw. de |me|g. ng | |om t ne 0se
o| stone t oo' s, coos. ng |. |e, wat e| | 0gs, and an. ma'
s s. ns, n0 man c. v. ' . zat . on nas s p. |a. ed . nt o a |ea. m
0n . mag. nao. et oo0| ancest o|s
A. t no0gno0|mode|nt ecn no. og. ca' soc . et . es d|aw
0pon at . east ten t no0sand yea|s o| c. v. . . zat . on and
1 4 Knowledge of Freedom
nundreds o| t nousands, pernaps m| ' | | ons o| years o|
numanpren | st ory, on a cos m. ct| mesca' e, a| | t nat nas
occu||ed to numan oe. ngsonou| ea|t n nasun|o' ded
. n | ess t nan an . nst ant . Cu| p| anet and t ne s un tnat
nou|| s nes | twe|eorougnt | nt ooei ngoyaconj unct . on
o| cond| t | ons t nat we do not |u| ' y understand. || e
ment s c|eated . n un snown pa|ts o| t ne un. ve|se
ga| ne|ed toget ne|, st ao. ' . z. ng. n a dynam. coa' ance|o
|orm tne|eat ureso|our wor | d. | n t| me,t neygave | . se
to a spec. a| st rando| mo| ecu| escapao| eot cod. ng |o|
' . v. ng ce' ' s | n a p|ocess t nat st . ' ' seems m. |acu' ous,
tneea|tnoecame|. ' ' edw. tn. nn ume|ao' e|o| mso|' . |e.
Amongt nese, wearet nemostrecentand poss | o| yt ne
most nte' | | gent
Oesp. teou| senseo| pe|manenceont n. sea|tn, we
ex. st . n a |a|e moment o| stao. ' . ty, dependent upon
a de| | cateoa| ancet nat cou| dcnange atanyt . me. || se
guestswnocometov. s . t , t neto|cest nat navec|eated
ou| wo| ' dando|ougnt us . nto oe. ngmaynot stayt ne
n . gnt
A| t nougn we cannot snow t ne du|at . on o| ou|
t . me, . n t n. s p|esent moment we nave a p|ec. ous
oppo|t un . ty | o pa|t . c. pate |u ' ' y . n ' . |eand |ea' . zet ne
dest | nyo| numanoe| ng. Hu mancreat . v| |y and| nt e' | |
gence nave o| ougnt |o|tn an un| mag| nao| eva|. ety o|
|o|ms t nat nave ca|| . ed us | a| ||om ou| ea|' . es|
oeg. nn. ngs, nowwea |e capao' eo|d|aw. ngupontne
|u' | | egacyo| numan exper| ence
Howcanweoest ou. ' duponwnat nasoeeng. ven
usoynat u|e and oytnee||o|tso|tnosewnonavegone
oe|ore us' Vnat |ut ure s na' | we |as n. on|orourse| ves
and|ort nosewno|o' ' ow a|ter us' Vnat w| sdomw. | |
Time to Change 1 5
| n|or mour act | ons ' Vnatv| s | onw. ' ' gu. deand| ns p. re
us |o preserve a | | t nat | s good |or numan oe| ngs and
|orour ea| | n, andtosetas | dea | | t nat | s dest r uct | ve'
| | t ne cu| t ures o| t newor | d we| e | . n |ed togetne|
| n||| endsn | pandpeace, s nar | ng|now' edge, tecnno|
og. es, and|esou|ces | o up' . |t a' ' numan oe. ngs, wnat
' . m. t wou' d t ne|e oe to | ne oene|. ts tnat cou ' d oe
|ea' zed' O|aw. ng upon tne |u ' ' powe|o| n uman . n
te' ' . gence, we can sees out t ne |oot causes o| d. ||
cu' t | esoe| ween. nd. v. dua' s,c u' | u|es, andn at | ons , and
d. scove| t ne snow' edge we need to c|eate | ne oest
| ut u|e poss . o' e|o|a ' ' tnewo| ' d' speop' es.
Z
Respondi ng to Ti me
Where is our present knowledge rooted,
if not in patterns of thought
so deeply ingrained that they may be
imprinted in our consciousness and genes?
s h 0 man oe| ngs, we can choose o0r way o|
oe. ng . n t newo| ' d. Ve nave cons c. o0s ness, we
a|e capao' eo||espond. ngc|eat . ve' yt oo0| s 0||o0 nd
| ngs C0| exper| ence, s naped | n |o snow' edgeoyo0r
ra| | ona| m| nds , canoe| rans m| | |ed| oo0r descendan|s.
Beca0se we nave t nese capao. ' . t . es, we nave t ne
pot ent . a' |o|' . oe|at . ngo0 |se' vest | omcond. t . ons t na|
' | m| | many o| her | or ms o| ' . | e B0| now we| | do we
0 nders|and o0r po| en | | a' ' Oo we |now t he wno| e
contexto| n 0 man ' . te'
C0| ' ves 0 nto' d . n t . me C0 t . me . s o0 ene|gy
and o0| | . |e. A| | t ha| | s |nowao| e . s | nt | ma| e| y
con nectedtot . me.B0t tnenat 0 |eot| me. | se' | ema. ns
mys| e| . o0s . Ve do no| snow wnen n0 man oe. ngs
oegan to t n. n | aoo0| t . me, o| cons. de| now t ne.
ac| | ons . n t he presen| m| gh| a||ec| | he| | s 0rv. va' o|
Time to Change 1 7
| ne| r we| | oe| ng. n l n e | ul ure. Al somepo| nl, ooserv-
| ng l ne cyc' es o| nal ura| pnenomena, our a nceslors
' earned |o measurewnal l neycou| dno| comprenend.
| n d| v| d| ngl . me| n|onou|s, years , cenl 0r| es, andaeons,
| ney arranged even| s | n a ' | near progres s . on, carv| ng
o0l an a|ea . n wn . cn n 0man l no0gnl and acl . on
ass0 med cenl |a' . mpo| l ance.
Ancno|edl oa| . xedpo. nl ot|e|e|encel nalwel e| m
l nep|esenl , we|eacnoacs . n l . me l o 0ndesl ando0
n. slo|y and ' oosanead l oanl . c. palel ne| 0l 0|e Vno
wo0' d now q0es l . on l n. s concepl ot l . me, wn . cn
||amesl neconlexl o| o0| expe| . ence' Ye| w. l n. no0
||amewo|so| pasl, p|esen | , a ndt 0l 0|e, nowcomp' ele
. s o0| snow. edge, and now we' ' . s . l se|v. ng o0
needs'
|r om our vanlage po| nl | n l ne presenl , we nave
p| ecedl ogel ner wna| we |now o| our pasl . |xp' o| . ng
| nes | leso|ear| ynao| l al | ons andexcaval . ngl neea|l n,
we s | |l l n|o0gn greal gaps | n l | me | o| c| ues l o our
or| gns . Ves | udyanc| enl | | | e|ary, c0| | u|a| , and |e| .
g. o0sl |ad. l . ons l nal navepe|s. sl edl ol nep|esenl day,
weexam. nen . slo| . ca' |eco|ds l nal doc0menl l ne| . se
and|a' ' o| ' . l ealec. v. ' . zal . ons
B0l l nel n|eado|dynam. c mean . ngl na| co0 ' d o. nd
o0| tac| s| oge| ne andg. vel nem|e. evancel oo0| ' . v. ng
expe| . enceseems oeyondo0| |eacn | o| a' . o0 e|to| | s,
l ne slo|y o| o0| pasl |ema. ns ||agmenl a|y, o0| . nl e|
p|el al . ons o| n . sl o|y a|e oased on . ncomp. ele . n|o|
ma| . on. C|a ' and |e' . g. o0s l |ad. l . ons | ase l ne. | |0 ' '
mean ngt|omvan. s nedc0' l 0|a' con | ex| s|o|wn . cnwe
may nave | os| l ne seys. Pernaps our ancesl o|s re' . ed
onways o| |now. ngl nal we no ' onger | | 0s| , pe| naps
1 8 Knowledge o f Freedom
t ne. | concepts and va' 0es we|e |ooted . n oe' . e|
systems t nat n avenore| evance| oo0| p|esentexper|
ence. V| . t ten |eco|ds mayoed. sto|ted t n|o0gn o. as,
' . m. ted snow' edge, and ' apses . n n0manoose|vat . on
A| t no0gn | 0| | 0 nderstand| ngo|o0| pas | does not
now seem poss | o| e, we may st | | | oe t | ed |o | ne pas|
. nwaystnato| . nd 0sto. t spowe|. Vne|e. s o0| p|esent
snow' edge rooted, . | not . n patte| ns o| t no0gnt so
deep| y | ngra| ned tnat | ney may oe . mpr| n |ed | n o0r
consc| o0s nes s and genes ' Tne past ' | ves on | n o0|
t no0gnt s andspeecn, and no0| wayo| snow ngt ne
wo| ' da|o0nd0s .
Vnered| do0r | ang0agecome|rom, o0| concep|s,
and o0| ways o| . nte| p|et . ng o0| expe|. encemem
o| . es, assoc. at . ons , ass 0mpt . ons,eva. 0at . ons,and| 0dg
ment s ' C0| m. nds aswe' ' aso0r ood. es a|e ' . n sed to
o0r ancestors | n a cont | n0 0 mt na| t races oacs to t ne
ea| ' . estn 0 manoe. ngs A' t no0gnwecan nott |acet ne. |
o|. g. ns o| conce. ve o|ot ne| wayso|snow. ng, ment a'
patte| ns |ooted . n t ne past st|0ct 0|e o0 | p|esent
exper | ence, cond| t | on| ng o0 | way o| oe| ng | n t ne
wor| d.
Ve mayoev. ew. ngo0| p|esent tn |o0gneyesmo|e
anc| ent t nanwe rea| | ze. C0r eyesmay now oe see| ng
wnat o0| patte|n . ng cond. t . ons 0s to see, o0| m. nds
mayoereso' v. ngd. sc|epanc. es. n o0| expe| . encew. tn
t no0gnt s and conceptswe 0nq0est . on. ng' yacceptas
t | 0t n. || se|ne o| 0 |reddo0o| e. mageona pnotog|apn
o| a mov. ngoo| ect , o0| p. ct 0|e o|o0 |se' ves and o0|
wo| ' d may not ent . |e' y acco|d w. t n t ne |ea' . t . es we
a|e expe| . enc. ng.
Oepend| ng 0 pon | no0gnt s and concepts as | ne
on' y |e' . ao' e app|oacn to snow' edge, we can on' y
Time to Change 1 9
. nte|p|et wnat we see . n t e| ms o| t ne past No ma|
t e| now m0cn . n|o| mat . on we st o|e . n comp0 | e|s o|
| | o|a|| es, we a|e 0 n ' | se' y t o c|eat e anyt n| ng |ea| ' y
new. Bo0nd to t ne past, we can on' yevo' ve end' ess
va| . at ons o| pa|t e| ns estao' . s ned ' ongago, and pass
t nem on to | 0t 0|e gene|at . ons t o pe|pet 0at e. V. t n
eacn |epet . t . on, t nese patte| ns g|ow mo|e comp| ex,
a| | ow| ng |ewe| oppo|t 0 n | t | es t o d | scove| a ' t e| nat . ve
co0|seso|act . on.
Vnatwedo . n o0| t . mew. ' ' e. t ne| acce| e|atet n. s
na||ow. ng o| o0| a ' t e| nat . ves o| w. ' ' open 0 p new
poss | o| | | t | es | o| t ne | 0t 0 |e. Vnat patte| ns w. | | we
. mp|. nt 0pon t. me' Vnat c0 ||ent s w. ' ' we set . n
mo| . on, a n dnoww. ' ' t ney oe|ef' ected . n t n et 0t 0|e'
Vnat |eve|oe|at . ons ||om t nepastw. | ' cond| t . ont ne
ef|ect o| o0| act . ons . V. ' ' cnaos |es 0 ' t , o| na| mony'
Vnet ne| o0| act | ons | nc|ease con| 0s . on o| c |eate a
nea| t n. e| env. |onment |o| a ' ' ' . |e depends 0 pon
wnetne| o0| snow' edge . s comp|enens . ve and | ne
v| s . ont nat d| |ects| t | s c | ea|
Beca0se o0| p|esent app|oacn t o snow' edge nas
o|o0gnt 0 s g|eatmat e| . a| p| ospe| . tyandexpandedo0|
snow' edge o| t ne pnys . ca' wo| ' d, . | en| oys a s pec. a'
pos | t . on. Vet end t ot | 0st . t as t neon | y ce|t a| n way
to 0nde|st and o0|se' ves and o0| wo| ' d B0t gene|a
t . ons oe|o|e 0s nave | ved as we do, cond| | . oned to
t ne same pat t e| ns o| t no0gnt and act . on. |o| ' ow. ng
t ne. | d|eams, t ney t no0gnt t ney we|e g|ow. ng a
oea0t | | 0| ga| den | o| t ne| | descendants to enj oy Yet
wnenwe| oosa|o0nd 0s, we a|e not ent . |e' ysat . s|. ed
w. t n tne |es 0' | s. Veeds seep sp|o0t . ng, we . dent . ty
t nem and c0t t nem down, o0t new va| | et | es appea|
Ve cannot a' ways see | nem |o| wnat t ney a|e o|
p|ed. c| nowt neyw. ' ' mat 0|e
20 Knowledge of Freedom
Meanwn . | e we a|e cast . ng seeds ||om | ast yea|' s
p| an| s | n|o | negro0 nd, crea| . ng| necond| I| ons|or| ne
|0I0 |e. Yet t nec ' . mate . s cnang. ng, andt necompos.
| | on o| | ne so. | a | | ersw| | n eacnseason. | sInere a way
tod. st . ng0. s noe|o|e we p' anIInemwn cn seeds w. ' |
prod0ce | as | . ng oea0|y, and wn | cn w| | | add | o o0|
|0I0 |e d. |l. c0| t . es '
A| | no0gn | t seems | na| wecannot pred| c| o0r | 0-
t 0 |e, o0| . nIent ona' . tynasg|eatpowe| C0| co' ' ect ve
w| | | , s naped oytne pas| , p| oj ec | so0rdreams | n|o Ine
| 0| 0|e, wn . ' e Ine |o|ce o|o0| des . |es p0 ' ' s tnem . nto
oe. ng. |vent 0a| ' y Ii me wi' ' |e| 0|n Io 0s | ne | | 0| t s o|
o0| act . ons, cond. I. onedoya ' | t naI nas goneoe|o|e.
Now we seem | o oe wa| || ng oac|ward | n| o | ne
l 0t 0 |e, nte|p|et nga ' ' wedow. Inv. ewsandconcepts
|ooted | n Ine past. | n t ne presen| we a |e o0sy and
p|eocc0p. ed, o0| m. nds d. sI|acted oy ant c paI ons
and memo| es Ve t | 0st t nat somenow we w | ' not
sI0 mo' e, o| t natwnaIwedotodayw. | | somenowt 0|n
o0t a| ' | . gnt tomo| |ow. Vnat p|event s0s l|omI 0|n. ng
aro0nd and wa|| ng 0 p Io | ne p|esenI, tapp. ng tne
dyna m cene|gyo|t . med |ec | ' yto| |eeo0 |se| vesl|om
oondage|o | nepas| ' Tnenwe m| gn| seemore c| ear| y
tne potent . a' t . eswea|ec|eat . ng|o|tne| 0t 0|e
Pe| naps deep . n o0| nea| t swe |ea| t naI . n see ng
tne p|esent c| ea| | y, we w. ' ' nave to con||ont tne l0 | '
| mp' | cat | ons o| o0 | ac| | ons, and |ace | neonecer| a| n
|ea' . ty o| n 0 man ' . le d. |ect | y |n |. |ty yea|s, a mont n,
or poss . o| y | nenext . nst an| , o0| | | vesw. ' ' cometoan
end Tne |now' edge ol o0r mo|t a| ty . s o0| 0n. q0e
n 0man g| |t Ye| we |e| ec| t ne | nev. | ao| | | ty o| deat n
Ve t 0|n away l|om o0| one mosI |e| . ao| e p. ece o|
Time to Change 21
snow' edge and w. ' ' o0 |se' ves . nl o . gno|ance, cnoos
| ng a ' | |el | meo| 0 ncerl a| nl y over a d| |ecl enco0nl er
w. l nwnalwesnow
|ea| d| . ves 0s oacs | o lne pasl, o. nd. ng 0s |. | m| y
| ol no0gnl sandpal l e| nsl nal a |e |am. ' . a| andsec0|e
B0| wesnow o0r s ec0r| ly . s an | | | 0s | on. Howeverwe
l |y l o man . p0' ale l . me, d. v. d. ng . l s dyna m. c conl . n
0 0 m | nl opasl, presen| , and | 0l 0|e, sav| ng, p| ann | ng,
andspend. ng . l aswecnoose, 0' l . mal e' ywesnowwe
nave no conl |o| . T| me w| | | a| ways oe | ne v. clor. | n
avo. d. ngacon| |onl al . onw. l nl . me, wecannolengage
. lsmomenl 0mandwase0pl ownal. snappen . ngne|e
andnow.
| | we avo| d l ne | mp' | cal | ons o| l | me, we can nol
snow| ne|0 ' ' con | exlo| n 0 man' . |e. Vesnowwew. ' '
d . e, o0l we d o nol snow deal n | l se' |, o | wna| ' . es
oeyond . l s oo0nda|. es. Co0 ' d we somenow see
oeyond l ne o| . e| span o| o0 | ' . ves ' Co0 ' d we snow
d. |ecl ' yl ne| | meoe|o|ewewereoo| n, o|| nel | mea|l e|
o0|sensesw. ' ' ceasel o| 0ncl . on!
Pe| naps. nl 0| n. nga|o0ndandd. |ecl ' ycon| |onl . ng
l ne. nev. l ao. ' . l yo|deal n, acsnow' edg. ngo0| |ea|sand
0nce||a nl | es, wewo0 | d ga| na seyl nal m| gnl 0 n ' ocs
l ne mys| e| . es o|l . meand |evea' a passage l o g|eale|
snow| edge Vna| new d| mens | ons o|mean| ngm| gnl
we d. scove| . | weco0 ' d ||ee o0 |se' ves | | om |ea|and
awasenl ne| 0 ' ' reso0 |ceso| o0r consc. o0sness!
Tne sey l o g|eale| 0nde|s| and. ng o| l me ' . es as
c| ose l o 0s as o0r own oe| ng. C0 | ood| es a |e | | ne| y
al l 0nedlol . me, o0| senses|espondloa ' ' | nal nappens
. n o0| s 0rro0nd| ngs C0 | exper| ence | s a d| |ecl . n ler
acl . onw. l n l nep|esenl momen l, on' yo0| . n | e| p|el a
22 Knowledge of Freedom
t . ons may oe . nacc 0 |ate. | | t ne|e we|e a way to |e' ax
our no| d onj 0dgment sandpreconcept | ons, we cou| d
' oosw. t n| |esneyes onwnat snappen . ngne|eandnow
Cncewecanseeo0r present d| rec| ' y,w. t nou| | ' ' 0s | ons,
wecan d. |ect o0| | 0t 0|e w. t n |ea' w. sdom. Know. ng
| neextent o| t ne0nce|t a. nt . es we|ace, weco0 ' d t. nd
awayt og|eat e| |now| edge, and c|eatet nepotent . a|
. ty| o| a mo|e sec0|e | 0t 0|e| o| a' ' |o mso|' . te
J
Quest i on i ng Mi nd
To begin to know something new,
we first must realize that
there is something we do not know.
0 | ao. ' . ty to go oeyond t ne oo0 nda| es ot t ne
snown . s one ot o0| most p|ec. o0s |eso0 |ces
Vneneve|weq0est ont netam. ' . a|,weopent negates
to snow. edge andcatcn g. . mpsesot expans . ve v. st as.
Po. sedontneedgeot wonde| t nat t 0|n s 0s towa|d tne
unsnown and unexpec| ed, | ne ques| . on | ng m| nd IS
a| er|andopen, recep| | ve |o new mea n. ngs.
0est . ons t nat a|e deep' y mea n. ngt 0' st | . se an
. n ne| cno|d t nat att 0 nes o0| m. nd and senses t o a
w. de| scope ot poss . o. ' . t . es S0cn q0es t . ons a|e ' se
t ne q0est . ons we nave as cn . ' d|en oeto|e we . ea|n
wnatwecan q0est . onandwnatwecannot .
A| t nougnquest | on . ng| s essen| . a' | y a move o0t o|
tne snown | n| o | ne rea| m o| | ne un snown, we are
otten enco0 |aged to ass on. y q0est . ons to| wn cn
t ne|e a|e a ' |eady answe|s. As cn | d|en we ass t 0n
dament a. q0est . ons s 0cnasVn e|ed. d|comet|om!
24 Knowledge of Freedom
Vny does t newo| ' d ex. st ' Vne|e do | go a|le| |
d| e' Pernaps our quest | ons arouse de' | gnt ou| go
0nanswered, o|t neanswe|sare mo|e con| 0s . ngt nan
t neq0esl . ons, 0 n sat | s|. ed,weconl . n 0et oassVny'
Vnal conc' 0s . ons canwecometownenweenco0nte|
a vagues ense o| d| scom|ort |rom tne adu| t s around
0 s,wnomayevendo0ot t ne|e' . ao. ' . tyo|t neanswe|s
t ney g. ve 0s ' Vnat do we |ee' wnen tne answer . s
s . mp' y Tnat s l ne way . l s' Yel even l no0gnt|0 '
respon ses may not s | | ence o0r wonder| ngs. | s ou|
pers . st ence cn. ' d. s n' Areo0| q0es t . ons 0 n . mpo| l ant '
cvent 0a' ' ymosto| 0s cometooe' . evel nal t nemosl
wor | nwn . | eor | mport ant quest . ons are e. t ner oeyond
0s persona ' ' y o| a|e 0 ' t . mat e' y0 nanswe|ao' e Ve te' '
o0rse' ves t nat |0 ndament a' q0est . ons aoo0t ' . |e and
deal n |a. se s0cn comp' ex pn. ' osopn. ca' , sc. ent . | . c, o|
re| | g| o0s | ssues| nat on| ypro|ess | ona| s areq0a | | || edl o
dea' w. t n t nem. B0t |0 ndament a' q 0est . ons a|e oas .
ca' ' y s . mp' e ones, and l ney add|ess . ss0es l nat a|e
. mpo|t ant to every n 0 man oe. ng |t . s tn ere|ore most
||u| t | u| to cont . n ue |o | oo| a| l neseq 0est | ons c| ose| y
andcons . dert ne. | mea n. ng|o| o0| own' . ves.
Answe|sloq0esl . ons aoo0t wne|ewe came |rom,
wnowea|e, o0| dest | ny, t nemea n . ng o|| | |e, andt ne
ca0seso| l neevenl s | nal s napetneco0|seo| o0r' . ves
|o|m l nel o0 ndat . on o| o0| ex. st ence. Tneseanswers
a|e l neseem. ng' yse' |ev. dent , 0nq0est . onao' elr0t ns
a | | ne oas | s o| a| | our undersl and. ng B0t now o| | en
dowecons . de| t nat tneconc' 0 s . ons weaccept nave
oeen |eacned w. t no0t | 0 ' ' pa|t c pal . onon o0| pa|t'
Pernaps' ongagooas. cass 0mpt | ons we|emadeto
exp' a . n now n0 man oe. ngs ' ve and acl . n l newor' d.
Time to Change 25
|acedw. l na vas| 0n|nown, peop| ecreal ed po. nl s o|
|e|e|encel oma|e sense o| l ne. | wo| ' d and l. ndl ne. |
p' ace and p0rpose among a' ' | na| ex| sl ed Vna|
snapedl ned |ecl . ona' . l yo| l ne. |consc. o0s ness' Vnal
. l d. |le|enl |e|e|ence po. nl s nad lo| med l ne oas . s o|
l ne ea|| esl conc| 0s . ons' Vo0| d we see o0 | se' ves
d. ||e|enl ' y' C| o0| wo| ' d' Vo0 | d n0man expe|. ence
oe ol ner | nan | I | s | | o0 | 0 nders| and| ng o| o0rse| ves
we|ed. ||e|enl '
C|wnalva| 0ea| es 0cnq 0esl . ons ' Cncewenave
' ea|ned l ne |0 ndamenla' ag|eemenl s | nal snape o0|
|am| | | ar rea| | |y, we|ee| we' |now | neway| n . ngsare ,
a|le|wenavemadel n. s ass0 mpl . on, we0s 0a' ' ydonol
. nves| | gal e m0cn | 0r| ner. By accep| . ng prov| s | ona|
answe|s as conc' 0s . ve, wec' oseo|| l ne poss. o. ' . l yo|
deepe||now| ng Vel rapo0 rse' ves. navas | 0 n|nown
|ea' m lnal we do nol even |now . s 0n|nown Pa|a
dox. ca' ' y, . l w. ' ' |ema n0n|nown as' ongaswea' |eady
' |now . l. To oeg. n lo |now somel n . ng new, we m0sl
| . |sl|ea' . zel na| l n e|e . s somel n. ngwedonol |now
As nd. v. d0a' swe mayq0esl . onwnaleve|wew s n.
| | we oeg. n oy ass0 m. ngl na| a' ' l ne mosl . mpo|l anl
q0esl . ons nave a ' |eady oeen a nswe|ed o| can nol oe
answe|ed, we ' ose . nl e|esl . n open . ng o0| own
. nvesl | ga| . ons B0| wna| do we rea' ' y|now l na| was
nol l a0gnl l o 0s oy someone e' se, o| . s nol . n some
way dependen| on wna| we nave accep|ed as | | 0e'
Vo0' d we nol p|e|e| lo oase o0| ' . ves on o0| own
|now' edge'
B0. ' d. ng o0| own oas. s lo| |now. ng nv. l es 0s l o
s|ep| n| o | ne0n |nownandoeg| na p|ocesso|| nq0. ry
l nal nas . n|. n . le pol enl . a' |o| expans . on B0l ' oo|. ng
loward | ne rea ' m o| l ne 0n| nown, we may sense a
26 Knowledge of Freedom
vag0e anx| ety t nat ma|es 0s nes| tate to | oo| too
c' ose' y. Vemay p|e|e|t neso' . dg|o0nd o|t ne|nown
and|am. ' . ar Yetnowdowe|nowt negro0ndwestand
on| sact 0a| | yso| . d| |wedonot| nvest . gate | t' Pernaps
. | we a|e w. ' ' . ng to . nq 0 . |e, we can |. nd tne way to
a new 0 nderstand. ng tnat wo0 ' d o||er more | ast | ng
sec0| . ty.
C0r n 0 man n. story and o0| . nd| v. d0a' expe . ence
teacn 0s t nat t ne oo0nda|y oetween tne |nown and
t ne0 n |nown . scapao' eo|sn . |t . ng, depend. ng . n pa|t
onnowc| ose' ywe | oo|andnowdeep| yweq0est . on.
A q0est . on | o| wn . cn someone e' se may nave an
answe| m. gnt ' ead 0s toa new pe|spect . vet natwo0 ' d
res napeo0| |am| | | a| |now| edge. Aspectso| t ne|nown
wo| ' d as we' ' as o0| o|d. na|y expe| . ences, wnen
exa m| nedc' ose| y, can open 0p s 0rpr| s | ngnewwor| ds
|o| . nvest . gat . on. T|0 ' y v. t a' q0est . ons seem to nave
many ' aye|s o| answe|s, eacn o| wn . cn ext ends o0|
0nderstand. ng Tne|eyt od| scovery | . es | n accept | ng
no answe| as |. na' , w. t n . n a' ' we |now, many new
poss . o. ' . t . es awa. t d. scove|y |. |e cn. ' d|en, we can
pe|s. st . n as|. nganot ne| wny
Cpen . nq0 . |y . s t ne oas . s o|a . ' o0| ||eedoms Ve
are acc0stomed to . n q0 . r| ng o| ot ners, o0t wny not
oeg. n to . n q0 |e o| o0 |se' ves ! 0est . ons we as|
o0 |se| ves nave an evocat| ve q0a| . ty t nat ca| | s |or
|esponse, t nose t nat seem most 0 nanswe|ao' e |eep
t ne gates o| o0| m. nds open t ne ' ongest. | n t n s
openness, wem. gnt | . ndnew | ns| gnt s. ntot nes| gn| |.
cance o| oe. ng n0 man. Protect . ng o0 |se' ves | |om
dogmas, ' . m. t . ngass0 mpt . ons, and o0two|n . deas o|
a ' | |. nds,wemovec ' ose|to|ea' . z. ngt ne||eedomo|a
|0 ' ' y awa|ened n0 man m. nd.
I@@
U
@
@
a
l
CHAPTER 4.
ALTERNATI VES TO DI SSATI S FACTI ON
|| |e . n modernsoc| e| . es
O. ssa| . s|ac| . ons . n ' . le
Cno. cesand| 0st|at . on
Need lo|snow' edge
A' t e|nat . vesto||0st |at . on
| nsec0r| |y | n o0r | | me
Respond. ng| n | | me
' nvest . ga| . ng|o|o0|se' ves
CHAPTER 5
ACCE L E RATI ON OF CHANGE
Ra| eo| cnange, pasta n dp|es ent
Cnangeandsoc. e|y
cl|ectso| cnange today
Cnangeand. nsec0 |. ty
Once|ta | n|yandst |ess
| nsec0r. |ywo| | dw| de
Cppo|| 0 n . tyo| devastat . on'
Oncon| |o. . ed cnange
V. de| . mp' . cat . ons o| cnange
S. gn |. canceoln0 manact . ons
Newd. |ec| . ons
31
32
33
33
34
34
35
35
3b
3b
3
38
3
3
3
40
40
41
41
CHAPTER b. F RE E DOM AND PROSPE RI TY
Cnang. ngconcepto| p|og|ess 42
V. s . ono| ' . oe|ty 43
Mat e| . a' p|og|ess
43
Mode| ncomp' ex. t . es 43
P|oo' emso' v. ng 44
||eeente| p| . se andcompet . t . on
45
Compet . t . onandcon |'. c|
4b
Vo| ' dw. decompet . t . on
4
Compe| | | | onand| nsecur| |y
47
S| de e||ec| so| soc| a| cnange 48
ct nica| vacuu m. | ac|o| cons ens us 48
Soc. a' ||agment at . on
4
||eedomand|est|a. nt
4
| |eedomand|ea|
50
| |eedomandcno. ces
50
Potent . a' |o|p|oo' ems
50
|oos. nganead. q0est . ons andp|oo' ems
51
| . m. tat . ons o|o0| snow' edge
52
Cpen . ng a' te|nat . veapp|oacnes
53
Know' edge ||eedom||om ' . m. | a| . ons 53
4
Al ternat i ves to Di ssat i sfact i on
For all their unhappiness,
few people seem to question
the basic patterns of their lives.
| |e | n modern soc | et | es seems to resemo| e a v. ew
o| t neCo| denCat eBr| dge, a symoo| o| prosper. ty
snownt nro0gno0t tnewor| d Tnestr0ct 0re | s oea0t |
|0 ' |om a d. st ance, o0t ma. nta. n. ng . t . s a | 0 ' . t . me
| oo|o|c|ewso|pa. nte|swnosewo| s. s neve||. n. s ned
By t net . met ney |epa. nt t neent . |e o| . dge, t nesect . on
pa. nted|. |stneedsanot ne coat. V. ewedc' ose0 p,t ne
snades o| co. o| va|y, and t ne |es 0' t . s neve| q0 . te
sat. s|acto|y
Oesp. tecent 0 | . eso|e|| o|td. ectedtowa|d . nc|eas
. ng o0| mat e| . a' we' ' oe. ng, we do not seem to oe
acn. ev. ngt nenapp. ness, sec0 | . ty, and peace o|m. nd
tnato| . ng' ast . ngsat. s|act . onto n0 man' . |e Today' . |e
seemsmo|e press0 |ed and . n manyways na|der t nan
| t was | n t ne past. See| ng cnanges occ0r w| t n s 0cn
speed, we maywonder now | 0 t 0re generat | ons w. | |
oeao| et omanage. Vnat | s o0r wo| | dcom. ngto'
32
Knowledge of Freedom
Vnaleve| o0| p| opens . l . es o| oe' . e|s, we cannol
escapea g|ow| ngawa|enesso| d. ssal . s|acl . on Vnen
we' oosa|o0nd0 s,wesee| ews . gns o|| ea' napp. ness
cven l ne wea' l ny nave p|oo' ems w. l n oo|edom and
a|e 0 nao' el o|. nd' as l . ngsal . s|acl . on. npossess. onso|
. n acl . ng 0pon l ne. | des . |es S0ccess . n soc. ely o|
. n a ca|ee| does nol necessa| . ' y o| . ng conl enl menl ,
a ' . |eo|sl | . v. ngandcompel . l . ono| | enp|od0cescom
p' ex p|oo' ems and, . n l neend, g|ealwea| . ness
H. gn . dea. s and expecl a| . ons a|e o|len ' os' . n
d. sco0|agemenl asyea|s gooyw. l no0l goa' s seem. ng
any c' ose| How many peop. e spend l n. |ly o| even
|o|lyyea|sw. | no0l accomp. . s n. ngwnall neyselo0l lo
acn. eve' cve|ywne|e peop' e a|e anx. o0s |o| |ne se
c0 | . ly o| l ne. | ' oved ones, l ne. | possess . ons, o| l ne. |
| oos | nl ne|. cnesl co0nl |. es o| l newo| . d, al a' . ' eve' s
o| soc. ely, |ega|d . ess o| s l al 0s o| wea. l n, emol . ona'
pa. n and| | 0sl |al . on a|e onl ne|. se C0| wayo| ' . |e . s
nol o| . ng. ng0s l nesal . s |acl . on. l p|om. ses.
Some yo0ng peop' e wno |ee. sl |ong' y mol . valed
l o acn. eve s0ccessas we. . as some peop' e . n ' ess
wea' l ny co0 n | |. es|. nd l n. s d. ||. c0' l l o oe' . eve. R. d
. ng l ne c|esl o| ene|gy and amo. l . on, 0 |ged on oy
pa|en|s wno |ee' wea. l n o| sl al 0s wo0. d so' ve mosl
p|oo' ems, l ney may nol nol . ce l ne d. ||. c0 ' l . es and
d0 ' . . ng|o0l . nes . nl ne. | pa|enl s' ' . ves. C| pe| napsl ney
l n . n s l neycanavo. d mas. ngl nesamem. sl ases
C| ne|s|. ndl nemse' ves' osl, d. sconnecled||oml e
pasl and . ' . a| ease . n ' ne p|esenl . O. s . . . 0 s . oned w. l n
| ne ' . |esly' es andva . 0eso|l nose a|o0ndl nem, many
| ee' l ney m0sl sea|cn on l ne. | own | o| a sense o|
d. |ec| . on and p0 |pose. B0l wnen l ney oecome . n
Time to Change 33
vo. ved . n wo|s and lam. ' y, t ne. | new |espons . o. ' . t . es
demandt ne. | t . meandene|gy, andt neyt oocaneas . ' y
|. nd t nemse' ves ca0gnt 0p . n pat t e| ns s . m. | a | to t ne
ones t ney nad w. sned t oavo. d.
cacn day o|. ngs new oppo|t 0 n . t . es, o0| wn. cn
cno. ce w. . . ' ead wne|e we want t o go! Tno0gn we
ant . c. pa| e g|eat p' eas 0|es, we o| | en end 0p w. t n
|| 0st |at . on . nst ead. Tne ve|y t n . ngs t nat o| . ng 0s
napp. nesso0| | | . ends, o0| c n. ' d|en, o0| | oos, o0|
' e. s 0|emayoecomeso0 |ceso| pa. n
|| . endscant . |eo| 0 s,o| moveaway, wne|eweonce
|e' t | oy . n t n. n s. ng o| t nem, we may oe ' e| t w. t n a
|ee' . ng o| ' oss | n t nesameway, o0| en| oyment o| o0|
cn. ' d|en w. . . t 0|n t o pa . n . | t ney get . nt o t |o0 o' e o|
|a' ' . ' ' Tne sat . s|act . on we ga. n | | om o0| | oos may
d. ss. pate ove| t ne yea|s, ' eav. ng 0s oo|ed, o| | 0 ' ' o|
|eg|et|o|wnat weco0 ' d not accomp' . s n. C| o0| wo|s
may |ema. n . nt e|est . ngo0t p|es s 0|ed, and d. ||. c 0' t t o
en| oyove|t . me. cvend0| . ng' e. s 0 |eno0|swemay|ee.
|o|ced |onaveagood | . me, o| |. ndo0| t . me evapo|at
. ng . n act . v. t . es we do not |ea ' ' y en| oy. | t seems t nat
even| 0a' ' y, somet n. nga' wayso' ocss o0| sat . s|act . on
Pe|naps o0| a| | empt s t o |. nd sat . s|act . on a|e
act 0a' ' y' ead. ng 0s . nt o| | 0st |at . ons | | may oe t nat we
a|e | |y. ng |o t ase ca|e o|o0|se' ves w. t no0| snow. ng
o0||ea' needs | |we|edan. n| ant not n. ngo0t s 0ga|ed
wate|, t ne oaoy m. gnt ' . se . t and c|y |o| mo|e, o0t
. ns. de ne wo0' d st . ' ' oen0 ng|y and d . ssat . s|. ed Not
snow. ng n. s needs, we m. gnt cont . n 0e g. v. ng n . m
wnat n eseemed t oen| oy, n. s demands wo0 ' d g|ow
mo|e . ns . st ent , and o0| e||o|ts mo|e despe|ate, 0 nt . '
at . ast ne st a|ved |o| ' acso| | ne| . gnt no0|. s n ment
34 Knowledge of Freedom
1ne|e may oe a' t e| nat . vesl nat wo0' do|| e| a mo|e
s ecure, hea| t n| e|, and| 0 | || | | | ng oas . s |orour | | veso0t
wne|e can we|. nd s 0cn a' te|nat. ves' Tne mode' so|
o0| soc. etya|e oasedont ne|. cn ands0ccessl0 ' , tnose
wno naveacn| eved powe|, | ame, o| madea name|or
t hemse| ves | n a p|o|es s | on But even t hey nave no
protec| . on| |omanx. etyand| | 0st |a| . on, and l neneed
to ma| nta. n t ne. | pos . t . on may ca0se t nem mo|e
emot | ona' st ress t nan wecou ' d ever | mag| ne. Vnere
can we |. nd examp' es o| human oe| ngs who nave
ma. nt a. ned . nne| oa' anceandst|engtnt n|o0gna' ' l ne
stageso|t ne. | ' . ves'
1nere seem to oe|ewexemp| ars |or us to |o| ' ow
|ve|yonea|o0nd 0s |ee' s emot . ona' pa. n, |eg|el s ' osl
oppo|t 0n . t . es, o| w. snest neq0a' . tyo|' . |ewe|eoe| te|
Yet |o| a ' ' t ne. | 0n napp. ness, |ew peop' e seem lo
ques t . on t ne oas| c patterns | hey a|e |o| ' ow| ng and
p0 |s 0e| n. s q0 est . on . ngtot nepo. nt ol|ea' cnange.
Mosto| 0s nave a' |eadyt | . ed a' t e| . ngo0| c. |c0 m
stancesto|| ndaoet t er wayto| . ve Cnang. ngre| at . on
sn | ps, | oos, o| env. |on ment s p|ov. dessomet empo|a|y
|e' | e|, o0t t nes amepatte|n o| d. |l. c0 ' | . esolten a|. ses
aga . non' yl neo0t e| c. |c0 mslancesnavecnanged
|ac|| nganyc' ear a| t ernat | ves, mosto| us st . ' | |eep
go. ngon, nomatte|nowd. sco0 |agedweoecome B0t
wn . ' e we can |o|ce pa. nl 0 ' memo| . es o0t o| o0|
m. nds, pa. n accum0 ' at esdeepw. t n. n, po| son. ngou|
| | ves oy degrees. The o| der we oecome, t he more
d. ||| c0 ' t . t canoe to s 0 ppo|tt ne. ' ' 0s . onolsa| | s|ac| . on
cvent 0a' ' y, at t neendolo0| ' . ves, we w. ' ' naveto
|ace ou| own s | t 0at | ond| rect | y. B0t | nenwe may ' ac|
t ne ene|gy and t ne d|. ve |o wa|e 0p | o a deepe|
Time to Change 35
0ndestand. ng. Now, wn . ' ewe nave t neoppo|t 0 n . | y
to cnange, | s | ne | | me to | oos c| ose| y at wna| | s
nappen . ng . n o0| own ' . ves, . n soc . ety, and . n o0|
wor| d env| |onment . | or rea| 0 nde|s|and| ng, we nave
|o 0ncove t ne|epeat . ngpa| t e| nst nat oo 0 s o|t . me
andenergy. | | we rememoer | na| o0r | . me| s snor| and
ve|y p|ec. o0s, andt nat we a. onecan| ase |espons . o. '
| ty|o|o0| ' | ves, wecan|. nd t nesnow' edgewe n eed
to po| ect o0 |se' ves ||om pa. n now, and ||om |a
g|eate|s 0||e|. ng. n t ne| 0t 0|e
Veneed |o ' oosc' ose' yat wnatweae do. ngand
ass wnet ne| o0 act | ons ae ' | se' y to o| . ng 0s t ne
sat . s |act . on we sees Ae o0| att . t 0des and pe|sona'
pn| ' osopn . es . n na| mony w. | n wnat we |ea' ' y want '
Pe|napswecan| | nda nen| . |e| ynewway t o | | venot
oy cnang| ng o0| occ0pat . ons, o0t oy cnang. ng t ne
v. ewsandat | | t 0des| nat p|even| 0s ||om enj oy| n go0|
' . ves a nd oenel. t . ng ot ne s V. t n a mo|e awasened
v| s| on, we cand| scern | ned| ne|enceoe|ween | as t | ng
andtempoa|y sat . s|act . on
Vnen we see c| ea || y, we w| | | nave snow' edge.
Know' edge . s nones| , . t co0 n | e|s a ' ' |o ms ol avo. d
ance and se| | decep| | on, and s | reng| nens o0r ao| | | ty
to c0t t n|o0gn tne weo o| poo' ems t nat oeset o0
' . ves. Know' edge | o0cnes o0 deepest |ee' . ngs and
. mpa|tsa sense o|powe| andcon| . dence | nat noone
cant aseaway ||om 0 s C|o0nded . n snow' edge, we
can es| ao| | s n c ' ea|e| p| . o | | | es and awasen a new
senseo| p0 |pose| o| o0| ' . ves
b
Accel erat i on of Change
The increasing pace of change itself
may be a symptom of larger imbalances
of which we are not aware.
!
nea| ' . e|t . mes, deasandtecnno' og. ca' advancesen
|ered | newor | ds | ow| y. Maj or . nnova| | ons occurred
|ougn ' y f. ve n0nd|ed yea|s apa|t, and concepts and
. deas cnanged ve|y g|ad0a' ' y. St|essf0 ' pe| . ods of
s . gn . |. ca n | cnange we|e lo' | owed oy. ong . nte|va. s o|
s| ao| | . |y and oa' ance, wnen peop| e nad | | me| o |u| | y
expe|. ence, |ef' ectupon, andeva' 0al eeven| s Sn . ll s. n
soc. a' va' 0est ended | ocomes| ow' y
V. | n . n |ne pas|twocent u| | es| nepaceo|cnange
nasd| amat . ca' ' y. nc|eased, and . n |ecenl t . mes ma| o|
cnanges nave occ0 ||ed w. l n nc|ed. o' e speed Tne
On . l ed Slates|osetopowe| . n | esstnan two n0nd|ed
years, wn. ' e wno| e new | o| ms o| govern men| and
tecn no| ogynavedeve| oped on ' y . nt nepasl cenl 0|y
Tne |ateolcnange . s nowso |asl lnat ' ne|e seems
|ooe. | | t . esenseo| o|derandd| |ect . on. nou| soc et. es
Ve a|e | rave' | ngso qu . cs' y |nat we nave no| | meto
Time to Change 37
cons. de| wnel ne| wem. gnl oe' os . ngva ' 0ao' easpecls
o|o0| pasl, we nave no I| meIo q 0esl . on | wnal we
a|eca||y. ng. nl ol nel 0l 0|e nasend0| . ngva' 0e
ca| ' . e| . nIn . s cenl 0|y, s na|edva' 0esp| ov| dedmo|e
sIao. ' | Iy. Manypeop' espenl Ine| | enl | |e ' | ves among
ne. gnoo|s l ney nad |nown s . nce cn. ' dnood Pa| enl s
co0 ' d pass on l ne. | |now' edge w. l n con| . dence,
|now| ng InaI Ine va' 0es l nal nad se|ved l nem we' '
wo0 ' d a' so s0 ppo|l l ne. | cn. ' d|en | n l ne decades ol
soc| a' cnangeInal |o' ' owed, l negene|al . ons we|esI| ' '
' . n|ed oya oas. cconl . n0 . l yo| al l . l 0desa n dv. ews As
yo0nge|peop' e moved ||om IneIowns Io Ine c| I. es,
l a|. ng 0p new p|oless . ons and esl ao' . sn . ng s ma' ' e|
|am| ' | es, Iney0s 0a' ' yo|o0gnl w. l nl nemInemo|a' and
el n. ca' va' 0eso|l ne. | | am. ' . es.
| n l nepasI |o|Iyyea| sl negap . n sna|ed s|| ' ' s and
va' 0esoelweengene|aI. ons n asw. denedd|amal . ca' ' y,
and new gaps a|e open | ng oelween pe|s ons even
c' ose|. n age. |adsandlas n. ons navea' wayscomeand
gone e||al . ca' ' y, o0l now we a|e see. ng | a| deepe|
cnangesocc0|| . ngw. In eno| mo0sspeed. Manyo' de|
peop' e can na|d' y |e' al e l o l ne mo|a' va' 0es and
aII| l 0des0 nde| ' y| ngnew' . |esly' esandacl | ons.Va' 0es
seem lo oe consl anI' ycnang. ng
Today l ne sl|eam o| evenl s o| . ngs exc. I. ng new
oppo|l 0n . l . esand p' eas0 |es, o0l p|ess0 |e lo |eep 0p
| nepaceconI n 0a ' ' y . nIens . |. es | l . s poss | o' el nal l ne
|aleo|cnangemayoepass . ngoeyondo0| conl |o' Ve
now' . ve | n a wn . |' o| new p|od0cl s, enl e|la| n menls,
and. n|o| maI. on |asc. nal . onw. lnInenewandd . |le|
enI, andIne|ee' . ngInalnew| s n ecessa| | ' yoelIe|, ' ead
0s loa0l omaI. ca' ' y |ep' acel neo' d w. l nl nenew
38 Know/edge of Freedom
Cons 0 me| goods go o0t o| da| e so q0 cs' y tnat t s
more conven | ent t oo0ya new mode' t na nt o repa| |
t neo' d. No soone| nave we ' ea| ned now t o0se t ne
| atest| ecnno| ogyt nanwearet o| d. t | s ooso| e| e, s . nce
. t can not pe||o|m| 0nct . ons wed. dnotevensnowwe
werem| ss. ng.
Cnangenat 0|a ' ' yc|eatesp|ess 0|etoadap| , and| ne
acce' e|ated ra|eo| cnangenas| ncreased| n| s press0re
oy a' ' ow. ng 0s ' ess and ' ess t . me to |espond to wnat
| s nappen . ng. Ve s| | 0gg. e to seep 0 p w. | n tne
compet . t . on, w. tncnanges. n ' . |esty' eo| |asn . on, w. t n
advances. no0| t . e' ds . Assoc e| eswecanna|d' yseep
0 p w| t no0rse| ves. Hav ngp| od0cedvastnewtecnno|
og. es andcomp' ex netwo|sscon nect ngpeop' ew. t n
prod0ct s, wenow m0 st po0 r o0| ene|gy . n| oma| nte
nance. Ve m0st 0pdate o0| macn. ne|y, |epa. | o0|
roads, rev| se o0| ed0cat | ona| programs , andrenovate
o0 | expand. ngc. t . es.
Cn' y a| ewdecadesagomanypeop| e|e' | con|| dent
tnatna|dwo| swo0 ' doe|ewa|ded, andt nat t ne|ewas
room a| | ne| op |or | nose wno s| r. ved to acn . eve | t
wasposs . o' eto| asecna|geotone sown' . |eandmase
ap| ace|oronese| | wnatevert necond| t | ono|| newo|' d
as a wno' e. | | pa|ent s co0 | d not |ea' . ze a ' ' o| t ne |
d|eams,t neys | . ' ' nad | a. | nt na| t ne | ' aoo| wo0 ' dopen
0pg|eateroppo|t 0n t . es | o| t ne. | cn. | d|en
Today we cannot oe so ce|| a. n t nat we w. | ' |eap
t ne|0 ' ' |ewa|ds ot o0| e|to|ts C0| s s ' ' s and t |a n ng
may not s 0s t a n 0 s t n|o0gno0 | o0| p|od0c| . ve yea|s,
many o| 0s may end o0| wo|s. ng | ves s no|t ot o0|
goa' s | t . s oecom. ngc' ea| t na| o0| cn. ' d|en may not
oe ao| et o en| oy a mo|e com|o|t ao' e, sec0re way o|
' . |e | nano0| own
Time to Change 39
Tne 0 nce|l a. nly we |ee' aoo0l l ne| 0l 0|e s 0o| ecl s
0s l o' eve' s o| sl |ess0 n snownl op|ev. o0s gene|al . ons.
Cn pe|sona ' , nal . ona' , and . n | e| nal . ona' ' eve. s we
nave ' . l l ' e conl |o' ove| evenl s l nal co0 ' d a||ecl o0|
' . vesa l a nymomenl . Ma ny|ee' anx. o0s a ndne' p' ess,
snow. ng l nal lne dange|sl oo0| wo| ' d a|e . nc|eas. ng
as l ne |al e o| cnange acce' e|al es |ven now sl |ess . s
se| . o0s. ya||ecl . ngl nen0 man nea| l , oody, a nd m. nd,
pnys. ca' , emol . on a . , and men l a ' p|oo' ems a |e . n
c|eas . ng. n va| . elyand. nl ens . l y, anda|e oeg. n n . n gl o
|eacnep. dem. cp| opo|l . ons
A sen se o' . n sl ao. ' . ly ex' ends| a| oeyond o0| own
c 0 ' l 0 |a . s pne|e, a |o0 s . ng 0 nce|l a . n l . es aoo0 l l ne
| 0l 0|e d. |ecl . on o| nal . ons a n d l ne wo| ' d Po' . l . ca' ,
m. . . l a|y, andeconom. cpo' . c. es s n. |ls o' |eq0enl ' y. l . s
d. |l. c0' l | oassessl ne. | . mp' . cal . ons. Vo| ' dw. decom
pel . l . on | o | |es o0| ces , man0 | a cl 0| . ng, and l | ade
ne. gnl ensas new nal . ons oecome. nd0sl | . a' . zed
Ve nave l ne wea' l n, snow' edge, and powe|| 0 '
. nsl | 0menl sl owo|smo|egood . nl newo| ' d| naneve|
oe|o|e, wo| ' d ' eade|s . n pa|l . c 0' a| nave an 0 n p|ece
denledoppo|l 0n . l yl ocnan ne' lne ene|gyo| m. ' ' . ons
o| peop' e. n l ned. |ecl . ono| peacea ndp| ospe| . l y. Ve
c' ea| ' y nave eno| mo0s powe| | o a ' l e| l ne co0 |se o|
evenl s. Cn l ne ol ne| nand, o0| powe| may p|ove no
mo|e sec0 |e l nan l ne |' ameo| a cand' e . n l new. nd.
V. | no0l g|eal e| snow' edge, wea|e powe| ' essaga . n sl
l ne dynam. c |o|ces o| l . me, wn cn can eas . ' y l 0 |n
o0| snow' edgeaga. nsl 0s
Vnen we a|e 0nao' e l o |ecogn . ze and 0se l ne
oppo|l 0 n . l . es we n ave ' . n l . me' , l . me w. ' ' sweep
oppo|l 0n . lyo0l o| o0| g| aspandca' cn 0s . n . l s wase
Ve. gnled down w. ' n p|oo' ems, we may |. nd o0 |
40
Knowledge of Freedom
se| ves p0sned | n| o nasty dec. s . ons and ac| | ons | na|
co0| d naveser. o0s |epe|c0ss . ons.
Now | na| t ne na| | ons o| t ne wor| d are | . n|ed
|oge| ne| t nro0gne| aoo|a| ecomm0 n. ca| | onne|wo|ss
and de| ca|e oa| ances o| econom| c, po| | t | ca| , and
m. l . t a|y powe|, | . pp' es o| cnanget|ave' |ap. d' yac|oss
tneent . |e g' ooe. Vne|eassnow' edgeot tnedownla' .
o| an emp. |e m. gnt once nave t asen yea|s to sp|ead
ac|oss a cont . nent , today t ne e|lects ot t ne s ma' ' est
a . | e|at . on . n t ne p|eca| . o0s oa' ances we depend on
| o| o0 | sate| yandwe' ' oe. nga|ele' | a|o0ndt newo| ' d
w. t n. nno0|s.
T| ad. t . ona' ' y, nat . ons , c 0 ' | 0 |es, and . nd v d0a' s
nave avo. ded ' n |eats | o t ne. | sec0| . | y oy o0. ' d. ng
oa| | . e|s oetween t nems e' ves and | ne o0 | s . de wo| ' d.
Today | ne|e | s no | e| 0ge, no sa|e p| ace |o | . ve | n
| so' a| . on |rom an eve| mo|e oew| ' de| . ng comp| exo|
proo| ems. Aggres s . onanywne|e | nrea| ens |ose| o|| a
cna| n|eac| . ont na| co0 | d | nvo| ve | neen | | |ewor ' d.
Negat| ve |o|ces a' ready se| | n mo| . on, |epeated' y
|e. nlo|ced oyo0| p|esent act . ons, mayoe oecom. ng
t oo powe|| 0 ' |o| n 0 mancont |o' . | nd. v. d0a. s wno a|e
t nemse' ves0n oa' ancedandne0|ot . cnave' . t t ' ep|otec
| . on ||om negat . ve . n |' 0ences and . . t t . e con| |o' ove|
| ne. | |esponses | l s 0cn pe| sons a| t a. n pos . t . ons ol
powe|anywne|e . n t newo| ' d, t neycaneas . ' yoecome
opencnanne' s lo|des . |esand nat |edst na| nave oeen
acc 0m0 ' at . ng l o| n 0 ndreds ol yea|s Tne conl 0s. on
| na| a ' ' owsna' |edanddes . |et oove|wne. mo0| n0man
sens . o. ' . | . esmay oeo0| g|eat es| enemy, anda dange|
| own . cna ' ' o| 0sarev0' ne| ao| e.
Tne . nc|eas . ng pace o| cnange . t se| | may oe a
symp|om o| ' a|ge| . moa| ances o| wn . cn we a|e no|
Time to Change 41
awae, pe| napseven |el' ect . ngcnaot . c| ocesat wo|s
| n | ne un | verse | t se| |. On seen des | ruct | ve |o|ces may
oe o0 ' d. ng, ' . set neunde|g|oundst |essest nat p|ec. p
. tateea| t nq0ases. Vnat wedo. no0 t mem. gnt nave
more pro|ound|eve|oerat| ons t nanwerea| | ze.
Be|o|e wecan 0nde|standt ne |0 ' ' s. gn . |. cance o|
numan act | ons and t ne. r e||ects on soc. ety, on t ne
wo| ' d, and poss . o' yon a |a ' a|ge| sca' e, weneedt o
app|ec. atet ne . nterconnect . ons among a ' ' aspectso|
o0r wo| ' d. Cn| y | n |ougn g|eate| snow| edge can we
oa' ancet nedest |0ct . ve| o|ces. ntnewo| ' dandw. t n. n
ou| m| nds.
Pe|naps we can | 0 | n to o0| ea|tn , o0 paent and
ou| nome, as a g|ea| | eacne|. Tne sa' t water | n our
ood. es|em. nds us t nat t neseasgave0s ' . | e Tneg|owtn
o| tne n 0 man emo|yo, |epeat . ng . n . ts deve' opment
| neevo| u| | ono| ' | |eonour p| anet , | eacnes us t na| we
snaea oondw. t neve|yt n. ngt nat ' . ves.
| n a | ' t ne un . verse, we snow o| no| n | ng mo|e
oeaut . | 0' t nanou| p' anet.Noonedes . |esto acce' e|ate
t ne ' o|ces t nat co0 ' d ' eave o0| wo| ' d oa||en and
numan| |y nome' ess. | | we can acsnow| edge ou|
. nte e' at . onsn . pw. t n a' ' | o ms o| ' . |e andapp|ec. ate
| ne' | neagewecarryw| | n| nour ood| esandm| nds, we
may| . nd t ne eso0 |ceswe need t o p|otect o0 |se' ves
and o0| wo| ' d. Stengt nened oy o0| . nne| |eso0 |ces,
wecan co0nter| negatne|| ngmoment umo|negat | v
. t . es andcnoosea newd. |ect . onlo|t ne| 0t 0 |e
o
F reedom and Prosper i ty
It seems that the more we know,
the more we need to know.
ne concept o| p|og|ess nas cnanged ove| t ne
cen| u|ies, |eeping pace wi| n | ne |ecn no' ogy | nat
nas o|ougnt us | newea' | no| goodsandcom|o|lswe
en| oy t oday Seve| a' nund|edyea|s ago, t nenot . ono|
p|og|essca||ied|e' igious andpni ' osopn . ca' ove|tones
c ' ose' y|e' ated |o | neideao|| neper|ec|io ' i|yo| man
Ass c| ent . | | c|now' edgeaccumu ' a|ed andwas | o. ned
to new soc. a' . deas, t ne locus o| p|og|ess s n. lted
|owards improvi ng ma| eria' and socia' condi|ions
A' t nougn t n . s cnange . n empnas | s naswea|ened t ne
assoc. at . on oetween p|og|ess and s p. | . t ua' g|owt n,
| neidea o| progress s| | ' ' t oucnes deepyearningsand
as p. |at . ons.
Tne con| empo|a|y concept o| p|og|ess nas cap
t u|ed | neimagination o| mode|n man and oecomea
gu . d. ng|o|ce . n ou| c. v. ' | zat . on. New unde|st and. ngs
ol ||eedom, | ust . ce, and numa n | . gnt s nave c|eated a
Time to Change 43
v s. on o| . nc|eas. ng ' . oe|ty and p| ospe| . t y as o0|
nat 0|a' o. | | n | . gn | Tn. s d|eam n as a|o0sed t nedes . |es
andnopeso|m. ' ' . ons o|peop| eand. ns p. |edsweep. ng
soc. a| cnange. Soc| a| cnangenas, | n | ur n, oeens| rong| y
supported oy | ne rap| d advances | n sc| ence and
tecnno' ogy, aspec|s o| mode|n ' . |e t nat test |y to t ne
powe| o| n 0 man . nt e' ' ect and s0 ppo|t t ne . mage o|
man as a|o te| o| n| s own dest . ny R. cn . n . deas and
exper| | se, our cu| | ure s| | mu| a| es our | ngenu. ty t o
accomp| | s n any| n| ng | mag| nao| e, |rom exp| or| ngt ne
oceandept nst ose| t ' . n gt ne|eacneso| space.
C0| w. ' ' ngnesstosna|eo0| . nc|eas. ngsnow' edge
w t nc0 ' t 0|es a|o0nd tnewo| ' d nasst |engt nened ou|
|ee| . ngo| oe| nga par| o| onen uma n |am| | y, aswe| |
a s our des | re | ooeo| oene| . | t o| n ewno| eo| numan
soc. ety. C0| o|oaden . ng v. s . on, como. ned w. t n o0|
. nc|eas. ng comm. t ment t o ||eedom t n |o0gno0t t ne
wo| ' d, seemst o oea|w. t ness t ogen 0 . n e p|og|ess . n
our soc. ety.
|oos. nga|ound ustoday, wecan see | |emendo0s
advances made . n t ne pas| cent 0|y a' one C0| tecn
no' ogynaso|o0gnt us g|eat p|ospe|. ty, andt nemod
e|n ded. cat . on to ||eedom and to . nd. v d0a' | . gnt s
nascrea|ed| nemos| opensoc. e| | est na| | newo| ' dnas
ever snown l n many count r. es, ||eedom o| speecn,
||eedomo|t nougn | , and||eedomo|oe| e| a|enowa ' '
p|o| ectedoy ' aw.
Ye| our d| ||| cu | | | es seem |o seep pace w| t n our
advances. 1newor | d' s proo| ems | n manyways seem
mo|e |a| |eacn . ng and mo|ecomp' ex t nan. n tnepast.
Ve |ace . nte| ' ocs. ng env. |onment a' moa' ances and
comp' . cated soc. eta ' and econom. c . ss 0es. cve|y
44 Knowledge of Freedom
advancewe mase seems |o ca| |y w. l n .l newd. ||. c0'
l . es l nal we nave no| oeen ao' e l o p|ed. cl Tne
pesl . c. des | nal naveo|o0gnl 0sn . gne| c|opp|od0cl . v
| l y now causeconcer n | o| our nea| | h, | nedrugsused
l o l |eal oned. sease a|e lo0nd lo oe naza|ds . n l ne. |
own | gnl , . n sl . l 0l . ons and . aws . nl ended l o oene|. l
l ne e' de| ' y, l ne poo|, | ne nand. capped, and | ne
menl a' ' y . ' ' may acl 0a ' ' y conl |. o0| e |o l ne s 0|l e|. ng
weare | ry| ng| oa| | ev| a| e. The | . s| o| proo| ems seems
end| ess. Cur p|oo' em so| v| ng p|ocess | | se| | seems| o
oegene|al . ngp|oo' ems
Venowseem l o oe capao' e o| a' l e| . ng oa' ances
. n na| 0re, | n our soc| e| | es, and | n ourse| ves C0r
l ec hno| ogy | s powe||u| enough | o change l he very
cond. l . ons 0ponwn . cn' . |eonl n. s p' aneldepends | n
|emov. ng oas. c s 0 osl ances ||om l n e g|o0nd and
|ed . sl |. o0l . ng l nem l n|o0gno0l l ne wo| ' d, a|e we
c|eal . ng . moa' ancesw. | n. n o0| p' ane| l nal co0 ' dnave
|ar reach| ng| mp| . ca| | ons ! V. ' | | necompos . | . ono|o0r
a| mos phe|e oe a| | ered | n ways l na| w| | | nave un
|o|eseen e|leclsonocean ' eve' s, c|ops,o| n0 man ' . le!
Vnal . s n appen . ngl o lne wo| ' dw. deeconom. coa'
ancea s na | . ons v| e| o| conl | o' o| |eso0 |ces!
Op |o | n| s po| n| we h avere' . ed uponour po| l | ca'
and . ega . sysl ems and 0 pon o0| lecnno' og. ca' expe|
l . se lo |. nd so' 0l . ons lo anyp|oo' ems | nal may a| se
| | one ene|gy so0 |ce . s |0 nn . ng o0l , we ass 0me we
can |. nd anol ne|, . | we c|eale po' ' 0 | . on w l n o0|
l ecnno| ogy, we l urn aga| n l o | echno| ogy | o dev| se
ways o| c' ean. ng . l u p. | | . n| 0sl . ces a|e c|ealed oy
oene|. l . ng one g|o0p, we expecl o0| ' aw mase|s lo
enacl mo|e comp|enens . ve . aws Tneve|yao0 ndance
o| so' 0 | ons we nave p0l |o|ln . n | ne pasl g. ves 0s
Time to Change 45
con| | dence | n ou| ao. | | tyto |. ndmo|e so' ut . ons | n t ne
|ut u|e. But canwecont | n ue do. ngt n| s | n de|. n | te| y'
Tnemo|esopn| st . cat ed andcomp| exou| p|oo| em
so' v| ngoecomes, t neo|oade| and ' ess p|ed. ct ao| e| t s
e||ects C0| snow' edgecannots eemtocat cn0pw. t n
. t sown |es 0' ts | l seems t nat t ne mo|e wesnow, t ne
moewe need tosnow, t nemo|eweaccomp' . s n, t ne
mo|ewe need t odo. Now t nat wen ave, |o| examp. e,
a|l |. c. a' . . |e s0 ppo|t syst ems, genet . c eng. nee| . ng,
and ea|t n o|o. l . ng sat e. . . tes, we a |e | aced w. t n new
' ega' and etn . ca' p|oo. ems |e' ated to | ne 0 se o| t n. s
tecnno' ogy. | n sett ng 0 p | nep|oced0 |esl og0a|antee
eacn . nd v. d0a' tne |. gnt to p|otec| n. s nle|ests, we
seem to nave set n mot . on a wave o| d . s | | 0st and
de|ens . veness t nat was neve| . n | ended. Now m no|
d. sag|eement s oecome |u' ' o| own cont |ove|s | es t nat
emo|o. | us | n| . t | gat | on, c|owd| ngou| cou|tsands | ow
| ngtnep|ocesso|j ust . ce.
Somenow | n espous | ng ||eedom and a | m. ng at
p|ospe . ty |o| a ' ' , we n ave o|o0gnt m. xed o' ess . n gs
0pon o0 |se' ves | n o0| ||0st|at . on, we may tee' l nat
| neea|en dden|o|cesa| wo| s, 0 nde| m. n . n go0| ve|y
dea. sande|to|ts Yeto0 g0. d. ngp|. nc. p' esseemt |0e,
| 0st, and noo' e, t wo0 . d oe 0 nt n . n sao' e |o l adeo0|
wayo| . . |e |o l nat o| . esst|ee soc et . es o| . essdeve'
opednal . ons .
M0cn o| o0 mode| n p|ogess and pospe| . |y
wo0' d nave oeen mposs . o' ew | no0 | lne . ns p |at on
ol tecnno. ogy| ogel ne w. l nl ne||eeen | e| p| . sesystem
and tne p| | nc| p' e o| compet| t | on, t ney nave g| ven
. nd| v. d0a' s tne oppo|t 0n | t y t o exe|c| se t ne| | | nte| | |
gencea ndc|eat | v. t y. n t ne| u| || | | ment o| t ne| | d |eams.
46 Knowledge of Freedom
The ||ee enterpr| se system cha' ' enges peop. e to do
t he| r oestto prod0ceoet | e|p| od0ct sandserv. cesand
to | mprove t he cond| t | ons o| | | |e. Th| s sys| em has
served 0s we| | , creat | ng s 0ch prosper. ty t hat . t has
oecomea mode| t hro0gho0t thewor| d.
Yet ||ee ent e| p| . se h a s an 0natt|act. ve s. de t nat
exp|esses . t se. | . n . nc|eas . ng' y se' | o| . ent ed and . ||e
spons . o' eact . on. | n t nenameo|pe|sona' | . ght s, many
peop' e . nt e|p|et ' l |ee ente| p| . se' as ' . cense to se|ve
s e' | . s h goa ' s, and cons . de| snow' edge as a pe|sona'
posses s . on t hat can oe oo0ght and so' d a| t ne
d. sc|et . on o| t he ' owne| Tho0gn we attempt to
|eg0 ' ate ao0ses o| snow. edge, many q0est . ons
|ema. n Oo a |ew . nd. v. d0a' s have | ne | . ght to p|o|. |
||om snow' edge at t ne expense ol | ne we' |a|e ol
ot he| s'Vhat . stned. v. d. ng ' . neoe|ween t he' g|eate|
good' o| soc. etyas a who' eand| he| nconven| enceor
ha| mo| a|ew'| | t her. ght | oapp' ysnow| edge|orga| n
m0s t oe rest | . c| ed, prec| se| y how| ar can restr| ct . ons
gow. | ho0t | nt r0d| ngon | nd | v| d0a| |reedoms '
| nt e| p| et . ng snow| edge and ||eedom se| l. sn| y
c|eates t hecond. t . ons | o| oot n . nd. v. d0a' and g' ooa.
con|' . ct s | | . nd. v. d0a' s and g|o0ps p0|s 0e t he. | own
spec. a' . nt e|estsexc ' 0s . ve. y, t ne. | v. s . on may oecome
dange|o0s ' y na||ow. Th. s seems |o oe happen . ng
t oday. As compet . t . ve p| ess0 |es he. ght enwo| ' dw. de,
we have ' . t t ' e t . me to cons . de| t he e||ects o| o0|
act . ons . | deas and advances . n | ecnno' ogy a|e . m
p' emen | ed q0 . cs' y, o| | enw. | h' t | ' e| no0gnt | o| wnat
|0 | 0|e p|oo' ems t hey m. gn| ca0se. | n o0| com
p' et e' y . nte|connected mode| n wo| ' d, wnateve| we
dow| | | a||ect ot hers Yet . n order |o ga. n a compet
| | | ve edge, we may sett | e|or exped. en| s hor| s| ghted
Time to Change 47
act . ons t nat do not cons | der t ne needs o| soc ety
as awno| e.
| | wecompetes 0ccess| 0 ' ' y, o0| p| ospe| t yat t |acts
compet . t o| s we d| d not nave wnen we we|e ' ess
s 0ccess| 0| Compet | t | on grows mo|e | ntense, t ne
p|ess 0|e t oseep0 p t nepace. nt ens . |. es, lo| compet
t . on . tse' | does not seem t o nave a nat 0|a. st opp. ng
po| nt . Tnes amewesternsoc. et | es t nat navepromoted
tne | dea| s o| progress and compet | t | on are now
econom. ca. . yt n |eat ened oyot ne| nat . ons wnoadm. |e
and des |e t n. s p| ospe| . ty and so nave oeg0n to
compete | n t nei r own r | gnt Cnce compet | t | on nas
esca| ated, s uccess can oe counterproduct | ve. Vnen
one. s . m. ta| ed, onecana' so oe s 0 |passed.
Cne o| t ne most d. st |ess . ng s . deet|ects o| o0|
mater| a| s0ccess| s t ne| nsec0 r. ty| t |osters | n o0 r | | ves.
C0|tecnno' ogynowadvancesso|ap. d' yt na| compa
n. es needto' 0 pdate' t ne. | eq0 . pmen| and p|oced0 |es
ove| and ove| aga . n . n o| de| to | ema . n compet . t . ve
Newresearcn . soe| ngdone. n somany|| e| ds t nat |ew
peop' e can |ee' on top o| | ne. | cnosen spec a' t y
w| | no0t const ant st 0dy. Manyo| 0stodaycannot |e' y
0pon one s et o| ss| ' | s to s 0stain 0 s t n|o0gno0t o0|
wors| ng | | ves.
Tnecompet . t . ve at mospne|e | nat cna' ' enges 0s to
do o0| oest and o| . ngs 0 s m0cn o| o0| s 0ccess a' so
|ostersasenseo| sepa|at | onamongpeop| e, p|ovos. ng
envy, |ea|, andan0nw. ' ' . ngnesst ocoope|ateo| sna|e.
Tne . nsec0 |. | y and p|ess0 |e . | c|eates cont | . o0te to
pe|sona' andsoc. a' p|oo' ems Onde . nc|eas . ngst |ess,
wemayt 0rn mo|eread| | yt oa' cono| anddrugs, peop| e
today seem | o s 0cc 0mo mo|e eas . ' y to emot . ona'
48 Knowledge of Freedom
. moa| ances, anx. ety, and dep|es s on Tnose n n. gn
p|es s u|e s t uat . ons o|ten |ee| t neq0a ' ty o| t ne. | ' . ves
| s decreas | ng even as | n ey advance . n t ne| | ca|eers.
| nd. v. d0a' s wno nave oeen unao' e to matcn tne
compet t . on may oe ca0gnt up . n |ee' . ngs o| la. ' 0 |e
| na| s p| ra| down | n| odespa| r . C| nerswnoareunw| | |
. ngt opa|t . c. patecompe| . t ve' y oecomed. sco0 |aged
|romma|. ngva| uao| econ| r| ou| . ons |osoc| e| y.
ne s | dee|| ect s o| many o| our soc. a| and po| | t |
ca' | |eedoms seem pe| napseven mo|e oa|l' ng, lo|
l|eedom s tne co| ne|st one ol ou| way o| ' . |e Tne
Cons| | | u| . on guar an| eed |reedom o| t nougn| and
|e' . g. on t o eve|yone, t ne p| . nc. p' e o| t ne sepa|at . on
o| cnurcn and s| at e removed q 0es | | ons o| | nd| v| d0a'
mo|a | . |y ande| n . cs | | omt nespne|eo|gove| nment to
. n s0 |e t nat t nese||eedoms wou' dneve|oe ' ost. Bas c
e| n| ca ' and mor a| s| andards were . ncorpora| ed | n|o
c. v. ' ' aw, wn . ' e t ne |espons . o ' t y | o| nst |uc| . on n
mo|a ' . |y andet n. cs was ' el | t ot ne|am. ' y, t nescnoo' s,
and | o|e| | g. on.
Tn s syst emwo||ed |o|gene|at . ons B0t . n |ecent
decades, | ne scnoo| s nave oeen p|ess ured | o draw
oacs l|om matte|s t nat seem to . mp. nge on pe|sona'
||eedom Tne| am| | y| s | n || 0x. Paren| s nave | es s | | me
todevotet ot ne | cn. | d|en, andmanypeop' enave| oos
ened | ne. | t . es | o |e' . g. on. A gap n mo|a' and e| n .
ca| | ns| | uct | on nas opened up | na| we canno| c' ose
w | no0| a|o0s . ngm0cncont |ove|sy
As a soc. e| y, we nave ' os | | oucn w| | n a w. de' y
s na|ed mo|a ' s | anda|d | nat wo0 ' d p|ov. de . nd v. d0a'
andsoc. a ' s | ao| | | t y Venaveaseem| ng| yend' essa|ray
Time to Change 49
olmo|a' cno. ces Newatt . t 0des towa|d soc. a' |o' eso|
menandwomennavemadeaw de| angeol oenav o|s,
et n. cs, and | . |est y' esava. ' ao| e. B0twe m0stsea|cnon
o0|own|o|wnat nas mea n. ng andva| 0e| o| o0| own
' . ves. Tn. s nas ' el t 0s . n a q0anda|y | nd. v. d0a' s nave
many cno ces, o0t wnere can | ney ga| n t ne |now'
edge and0 nde|s| and. ngto ma|emea n. ng| 0 ' cno| ces
|o|| ne| | own | . ves! Vedonot want re| | g| on or gov
e|n ment to d. ctate mo|a' and etn ca' cno. ces to 0s,
o0t w. | no0t a cone|ent mo|a ' andet n . ca' consens 0s,
t . s easy to do0o| t ne w. sdom o| o0 | cno. ces and
d. |l c0 ' | | oo0. ' daoas. so| | |0 stw. | not ne| s Asa |es 0' t,
manypeop' e|ee' a ' ac|ol sta o. ' . t yandcomm. | ment
| n| ne| | ' . ves
|ac|| ng mo|a' cons ens 0s, soc| et y seems | o oe
l|agment . ng ntos ma' | e| ands ma' ' e|g|o0 ps, eacnw tn
. | s own v. ews, tastes, . nt e|ests, and demands. As a
g|o0p d. v. des nto s ma' ' e| 0 n . t s, t ne s 0 ppo|t and
oa' ancep|ov. dedoy| ne' a|ge| g|o0p. s ' ost Now t nat
t ne o' de| gene|at . on, | o| examp' e, nas ' ost . t s p' ace
w t n n | ne| am ' y, we|ace| nep|oo' emol s 0ppo| | |or
t nee' der| y | nst | t 0t | ons are created, o0| t n| s so| 0| | on
crea| es | | s own proo| emspsycno| og| ca| , soc| a' , and
|. nanc. a' At t nesa met me,t nes ma' ' e| lam. ' y nas ' ost
t new sdom andexpe| . enceo|. | s o' de| memoe|sand
t ne sense o| cont . n0 . ty w. | n t ne past, nc|eas . ngt ne
senseo| |oot ' essness and con| 0s . on . n o0| soc. et es
V t no0| senseo|comm0 n . ty . ndec' ne, andmo|a'
andet n. ca' va| 0es. n | | 0x, v| o| ence . s | nc|eas . ngont ne
st|ee|s and even w. t n | n |am| | . es. C0r sense o| | n ner
|est|a nt and o0| |espect |o| | aw | n t ne context ol a
' a|ge| soc. ety . s e|od ng, and we a|e com. ng to |e' y
mo|e neav ' yonexte| na' |o|ms ol|est|a . n|
50
Knowledge of Freedom
Vnen we cannot t | 0st t ne stao. ' . |y o| . ntent . ons
o| o| ne|s, wna| ||eedom ac| ua| | y |ema| ns | o us' Ve
| | ve | n |ea| on | nes| |ee|s and | n ou| nomes, we | ocs
ou| doo|s, | ns| | | ' |ea| | n ou| cn| | d|en, and a|m
ou|se| ves. | n | ne nameo| ou|own pe|sona| ||eedom,
wemay |ee| compe| | ed| odemands| |onge|| aws Bu|
t n. s app|oacn. s not comp' et e' ysat . s|acto|y. cvennow
we do not nave a ' ' t ne p| sonswe need to ca||y o0t
sent ences passed 0nde| ex. st . ng ' aws. And |ew o| 0s
wo0 ' d oenappy . . v. ng. na soc etywne|e sec0 |. tyand
st ao. ' . ty depended so. e' y 0pon . nc|eased |est | . ct . ons
andeve|na|sne| en|o|cement o| t ne' aw.
A' t nougn on one ' eve' o0| cno. ces seem nea|' y
0 n ' . m. ted, . n | ne l |eest, most p|ospe|o0s soc. et . es . n
tnewo| ' d, weseem to nave|ew|ea' cno. ces opento
0s Howcanweg0a| an | eeo0| own | | gnt |o||eespeecn
w| t nou| suoj ect | ng ou| c n| | d|en |o con| us | ng o|
na| m| u| p|opaganda' Can wemasemo| a| cno| ces|o|
o| ne|sw| | nout sac|| || c| ngou| own||eedomo| cno. ce'
How can weeven oeg. n | o add|ess po| ' u| | on o| | ne
env| |onmen| wnen we canno| ge| | o wo|s w| | nou|
us. nga ca| o| masst |ans . t '
Tne s ndo| ' a|gesca' e, . nte|' ocs. ngp|oo. emswe
|ace today a|e d. ||. c 0 ' t even to t n. ns aoo0t ca|e|0 ' ' y
and 0nemo| . ona. ' y Con||onted w. t n s . t 0at ons . n
wn . cn we nave no cont |o. , we |ee' ne' p' ess and
anx. o0s How can we espond e||ec| . ve' y' S0|e. ywe
cannot . gno|et neom. no0s poss . o . t . es|o|o0| | 0t 0|e,
o| tne |espons . o. ' ty we nave to p|o| ec' | ne we. la|e
ol o0| cn . . d|en' s ad0 ' t ' . ves
Tne potent | a' |o|| nc|eas | ngd. ||| c u' | . es and con|u
s. onex| endsoeyondou||am| | | esandcommun| t | est o
Time to Change 51
| nc| 0det neent | rewor | d. Asmoredeve| opedsoc| et | es
o|fe| a| d to deve| op| ng nat | ons and p|ov| de tecn no
' og. ca' ass . st ance fo| t ne. | . nd0st | . es, we a|e see. ng
t ne ea| ' y symptoms of potent . a ' ' y se|. o0s p|oo' ems
|esswea' t nynat | ons are acc0 m0 | at | ngdeot s | norder
to mode|n . ze, anda |e p0|cnas | ngtecnno' ogyt nat can
oe 0sed not on ' y fo| peacef 0' means o0t a' so f o|
agg|ess. on S0cn cnanges t n |eat en t ne we' f a|e and
stao| | . ty of t nese trad| t | ona| c0 | t 0|es as we| | as t ne
oa' anceolwo| ' dpowe|
Vn . ' etne w. sn fo| wo| ' d p|os pe|. ty . s 0 n . ve|s a' ' y
snared, | s | t act 0a' ' y poss | o' e |o| a' ' soc. et | es | n t ne
wo| | dtoenj oyt nes ame| eve| o| mat er | a| wea| t n' Has
t ne wo| ' d s0ff. c. ent |eso0 |ces t o s 0st a. n o. ' ' . ons of
peop' eattempt . ngto ' . ve aswedo' How wo0 ' dt ne
econom| es of t ne now prospero0s nat . ons fare | n a
vast ' ymo|e compet | t . vewor| d ' |ven now, nost | | | t | es
and tens . ons seem to . nc|ease . n t andem w. t n t ne
demandl o| goods and|eso0 |ces.
| n c0| t 0res wnere n0ma n oe| ngs st | | ' st r 0gg| e |or
s 0|v. va' , t neva' 0esolmode|n soc. et . es |a. seexpecta
t . ons lo| a n . gne| st anda|d of ' . v. ng. | f powe| passes
. nto t ne nands ol a p|ospe|o0s few, tne g|eate| pa|t
o| tnepop0| at | oncanoe' e|t w| t na ne| gnt ened s ense
of dep|. vat . on and . n| 0s t . ce t nat sets t ne stage fo|
0 n |estandv. o' ent |evo' 0t . on.
Vnatw| | | nappen | | envy o| t ne mat er | a| oenef| t s
en| oyedoy. nd0s t | . a' . zedsoc et . es nc|easestnesense
ofsepa|at . onamongtnepeop' eoftnewo|' d ' V. ' ' we
faceeven g|eate|f | 0st |at . onanddange|, g|o0ppo| a|
| zed aga. nst gro0 p, t ne o| d aga| n st t ne yo0 ng, |ace
aga. nst |ace, nat . on aga. nst nat . on ' ' f we n ave to
competelo||eso0 |cesto p|otecto0| sec0 | . ty, o|even
52 Knowledge of Freedom
to s 0|v ve, w. ' ' we . nc|ease | ne ' eve' o| ange| and
aggres s . on | n o0| wor | d, andc| ea| et necond. | . ons | or
ana|cnyt nal wo0 ' dendange| t newno' en 0 man |ace'
1
n tne |ace o| s 0cn w| desp|ead poten | | a| d. ||. c0'
t . es, t nen eed | o| | 0 ' | e| |now' edge nas neve| oeen
g|eate|. A' | no0gn we d|aw 0pon a ' ' tne snow' edge
a|o0| command, andl |yl o|o|eseetneconseq0ences
o| o0r ac| | ons, o0r pred| c| . ons are se' dom acc0ra| e
o| comp|enens . ve eno0gn to t a|e al | |acto|s . n | o
acco0nt . C0| . n |o| mat . on and o0| t neo| . es seem
somenow . ncomp' el e Ve o| | en oota. n not on' y
somet n| ng d | ||erent | rom wnat we des| |e, o0t | ne
oppos . t eo|wnat wedes . |e | . |e| neso|ce|e|' sapp|en
t . ce, we seem to oea t t n e me|cy ol o0| own pa|t . a'
snow' edge Vnatwo0 . dweneed| odot ooot a. np0|e
and 0 n m| xed oene| | t s |rom o0r e||o| | s |o ennance
| |eedomand p| ospe| . t y'
Tne|e may oe a' te|nat . ve app|oacnes and act . ons
t natwenavenot exp' ored, newposs . o| | | t | est nat co0| d
| | ee 0s | | om t ne dest | 0cl . ve s . de e||ects | nat now
|o' ' ow 0s ' . se a s nadow cacn o| 0s . nd. v. d0a ' ' y can
q0est . on wnat . s nappen. ng | o o0| wo| ' d and | o
o0rse| ves, as|. ngwnetne|wna | wearege| t . ng| s wo|| n
tne p| ce. Pe|naps t ne|e a|econcepl s and va| 0es l nat
a |e nol se|v. ng 0s we' ' , wn . cn we co0' d |edel. ne o|
set as. de Pe|naps | ne l . me nas come | o |econs . de|
progress . n | er ms o| | nner as we| | as ex| erna ' we| '
oe. ng, and|e|| ectonwnal o0 . ' ds | ast . ng mea n. ngand
va' 0e. nan . nd. v. d0a' n0 man. |e
Vnere can we | oo| | or a meas 0re o| good t na|
wo0| d o||er t ne g|eates| nope |o| 0p| . | | | ng n0 man
Time to Change
53
oe| ng! Opon wnaI oas | s can we snape a new v. s . on
|orn0manva| 0eand| reedom! How n | gncanwese|
o0rgoa| s |orn0ma nnapp| nes s ! S0re| ywecanexpand
o0r de|| n | I| on o| |reedom. Pe| naps Ine on | y |actor
no| d. ng 0 s oac| | s a | ac| o| con| | dence . n o0r ao| |
| Iy | o co0nter t ne negaI. ve |orces | na| . mpede o0|
pog|ess Can we devote o0| t . me and ene|gy t o
t. nd. ng a new d. mens . on o| snow' edge t nat w. ' ' t |ee
0s ||om' . m. tat . ons andoean0nend. ngso0 ceo|nope
and. ns p. at . on!
Tnee aemanyt |eas0 |es . nt n. s soc. ety| nat co0 ' d
s0 ppo|t a | a mo|e peace| 0 ' , na mon. o0s, andsat . sty
. ngwayo|' . |e Venaveg| ea| wea' t nandt|emendo0s
| ecnn . ca' expe| | . se cd0cat . ona' sys | ems,comm0 n . ca
t . on sys| ems, andvas| sev. ce netwo| |s a' |eadyex. st
How w| | | we 0se Inese too| s ! VnaI |now| edge w| | |
g0. de0s ! V| | | se| | | n|eres| preva. | , or w| ' | we 0 se o0 r
reso0rces| oacn| evea n | gne| p0rpos e!
Pe| napswe cand| scovera deepe| mean | ngI o| ne
||eedomand. nd . v. d0a ' . s m t nat nave. ns p. |eds om0cn
o|o0 s0ccess, and p0t | nem . nto p|act . cew. t n . no0
own m. nds. ' t we co0 ' d exa m. ne now o0 p|esent
patte|ns o| t no0gnt and act . on | eopa|d. ze t ne vey
q0a' . t . eswemostva' 0e, wem. gnt openo0| nea|t s and
m. ndst oa mo|ecomp|enens . ve snow' edge
V. t n g|eate| snow' edge, weco0' d we' ' a|| od | o
aoandonsno|t s . gntedgoa ' s andv. ewp| ospe| . ty . nan
ent . e' y new ' . gnt | ns p. |ed oy a o| oade v. s . on o|
|reedom and we| ' oe| ng, we co0| d awasen | o new
poss| o| | | | | es |o|0 n ' | m. | ed n 0 manp|ogress
1[l\ C [l

[fCD
@

CHAPTE R
OPPORTUN I TY FOR CHANGE
Respond. ngl omode| np|oo. ems 5
Comp' ex. l . eso| p|oo' ems b0
Reacl . ons lo p|oo' ems b0
cmol . ona' e '|ectso| avo. dance b0
Conl |onl al . on | o|c. ngcnange b1
Cood . nl en | . ons andnope b1
Vesle|nsoc. ely, mode' l o| t newo| ' d b2
Mode|n . zal . ono|| | ad. l . ona' c0' l 0|es bJ
|ossolconl |asl, g|ow| n ol0 n . lo|m. l y bJ
Oange| o| ' oss
bJ
|0ndamenl a' q0 esl . ons b4
Vas. ng0pl o|espons . o. ' . |y b5
On . q0eoppo|l 0n . ty|o|wo| ' d' eade|s b5
S0s| a . n . ng mol . vat . onw. ln awa|eness bb
CHAPTER 8. KNOWL E DGE AND SE L F
| nl e| ' ocs. ngsyslemolsnow' edge b
Tendencyloavo. dp|oo' ems b8
Roold |'. c 0' t . es b8
At l . t 0del owa|ds snow' edge b8
|. m. l at . ons o| o0| wayo| snow. ng b
H0 manoe. ngas snowe|/ acl o| b
Conseq0enceso| snowe|/act o|pos . l . on b
Sepa|at onandd . scontent 0
l mpe| | ed t orespond 1
Repet | t | onanddup| | ca| | on 1
Cyc| es o| |eac| | on 1
Tas. nga pos . t . on 2
|ocs ng. n . na||ow. ngo|v. ew 2
Act . ngaga. nst o0| ownwe' |a|e 3
Vo| ' dtens . onand |eact . ve |esponses 3
Oe|0s . ng|eact . vet endenc. es 4
V. den . ngv. ewo| snow' edge 4
0est . on. ngt ne' s e' | wnosnows' 5
CHAPTER .
BREAKING THROUGH THE KNOWN
| | owol change
b
Changeandn 0 manoe. ng
Tne . ndependent snowe|
Know' edges hapedoyconcept s 8
| . m. t at . ons o| concept 0a' snow| edge 8
Need tosnowo0| cons c. o0sness
0est. on. ng ass 0mpt . ons 80
C|eat. veo|east n|o0gns 80
Comm0 n . cat . onol snow' edge 80
|xper. enceo| | ns | ght 81
Rat | ona| | |y ou | | d| ng snow| edge 82
Cha| | eng| ngt hev| ew o|sepa|at | on 82
uesI. on . ngandoe| ngaware 83
/
Opport u n i ty for Change
No problem that afects us as human beings
is so beyond our comprehension
that we cannot look at it
and question why it is happening.
os| o| 0s |ee' |a. | ' y we' ' . n|o|med aoo0t | ne
p|oo' ems o| mode| n ' . | e Ve |ead newspapes
andmagaz. nes, t e' ev. s . ont ases 0stotnesceneo| t ne
' a|est d| sasters and cr | ses, da . | y we hear aoou| | n |e|
na| . ona' tens . ons,te||o| . s m, and. nc |eas . ngc . me Ac
co0 nt s o| d. saste|s and s u|| e| . nga| o0se an odd s. nd
ot |asc. nat . on . Tney a|e |ea' , yet |emole, epe. . . ng,
ye| st | mu' a| | ng. Ve' | s| enand read, concer ned aoou|
. nd. v. dua' andsoc. a' p|oo' ems .
Asevent scomeandgo, today snewss upp' anl s t ne
o| d, and | he de| a| ' s o| yes|e|day s cr | ses |ade ||om
memory. | magea|ter | mage, |ac|af|er|ac|crowd our
m. nds, evos. ng. mp|ess . ons andemol . ons, o0t a ' ' ow
. ng 0s ' . t t ' e t . me |o| |e|. ect . on on t ne o|oade . m
p' | ca| | ons o| what. s happen| ng . n o0| soc| e| | es a nd| n
| newo| ' d
60 Knowledge of Freedom
Ve may oeove|wne' med oy | necon |' . c| . nglacts,
| nterpretat | ons, andop| n. ons tnataccumu' atearound
evey. mpo| t ant . ssue,and|ee' t nat many. ssuestoday
pesent us w t n . ns u|mount ao' e comp' ex. t es Yet at
ot ne t . mes, t ne causes o| p|oo' ems may seem so
oov| ousandt ne. r s o' ut . ons sos | mp| et nat wewonde|
wnysomeonecan not| . xt nem
Oesp. t ed . || e| ences o| v ew and op. n on, most ol
us prooao' y |ee' apprenens . ve aoout many o| tne
samet n . ngsanda|e|eact | ng. n manyo|tnesameways.
Rel ' ect . ng upon t ne d . s t u|o. ng | |ends . n soc. ety,
snow. ng | ney cou ' d a ||ect ou| ' . ves a | any momen| ,
| s d| sconcert | ng. Vemay conc| udet nat t nep| oo' ems
p|o' . |eat . ng nt newo ' dt odaya |et ne. nev. t ao' ep| ce
o| p|og|ess, and|es gnou se' vestoas. ndold. sapp|ov
ng to' e|at . on. Ve may asc| . oe t ne cause to . nnate
numangreedo|soc| ety' s| ntr| ns | c. n n uman| ty, |em| nd
. ngouse' vest nat numanoe. ngsnavea' waysoeent n s
way, we mayexcuseou|se' vesl|om exa m. n ngcu||ent
poo' ems mo|e deep' y, and g|adua| ' y s . ns . n |o cyn
c| sm or pess | m. s m. Know. ng tnat t ne proo| ems are
extens veandcomp' ex,we may oe tempted to gnoe
' nema' toget ne,a ' |eadyp|essu|edoymoe. mmed. a| e
conce| ns . n ou da. ' y | . ves, we may sense t nat wnat
we see mayon ' yi nc|easeou| | r us| |a| . on Pernaps we
p|e|eto concent |ateont nepos. t veaspectso| | . le
But we can not comp' et e| y gno|e ou| soc. a| and
. nterna| . ona| s . | ua| | ons. |ong a|te| even|s |ade |rom
memo|y, t ne. | emo| . ona| ove|t ones s| ay w. t n 0s,
ne. gnt en . ngunde| ' y. ng| ens . onsVelee| unsa|e n| ne
s | ee' s o| . n our own nomes, weare anx ous |o| our
cn| | d|enand| or t ne| ut ure Yet wedonot snow now
Time to Change 61
toconnecto0| conce| nw. t nelect. veact . on. |' seems
as . | we nave ' . tt ' e cno. ce o0t t o accept wnatever
nappens
Vneno0| concernpenetratesmo|edeep' y, andwe
wan ' tot aseact . on, wnat canwedo! Mosto| 0s nave
' . m. tedaccessto. n|o| mat . onand' acst neoacsg|o0nd
t oana' yzeany ones . t 0at . on. n dept n. |venexpe|tsdo
not ag|ee, t ne. r op. n . ons may oeswayed oy pe|sona'
p|e| 0d. ce o| a' . gn ment w. t n spec. a' . n ' e|est s C|ten
t nosec' osest ' o tne proo' ems mayacsnow' edget nat
t ne|e a|e no easy so' 0 ' . ons, and end oy ol|e| . ng no
c' ea| co0 |seo|act . on
Somet . mes a spec. |. c p|oo' em may seem c ' ear' y
de|. ned and too p|ess. ngto . gnore, so wero0se o0r
se' ves to act . on, p|o' est . ng . n| 0 s ' . ces o| demand. ng
cnanges ||om g|o0 ps o| nat . ona' ' eade| s As we | ase
a strong pos . t . on on one s . de o| an . ss 0e, we t |y to
al|ect t ne o0t come oy . mpos . ngOUf w. ' ' and |a. s . ng
o0| vo. ces Tnose on t ne otne| s . de ol t ne . s s 0e do
tne same B0t t n. s app|oacn seems | o p|od0ce on' y
' . m. ted res0 ' t s Vn. ' eo0| . nt e' ' . genceandenergya|e
d|awn . ntoa con |' . cto| w. ' ' s , oppo|t 0 n . t . es to cnange
s . t 0at . ons o|ten d. m. n . s n, . n tne neat o| oppos . ng
pass. ons,t nep|oo' emga. ns moment 0m, | 0stasac n. | d
grows mo|e 0 nr0 ' ywn. ' en . s parent sa| g0e aoo0t '. s
d. sc. p' . ne
Tnere nave oeen t . meswnen . t seemed t nat good
. nt en| . ons oacsedw. t npass. onandcomm. t ment we|e
a ' ' we nad to |e' y on ' o |o|ce cnanges we saw m0 s '
oe made. B0t we|e o0r snow' edge and met nods
s0|l. c. en ' 'o ens 0re t ne res0 ' t s we w. sned, w. t no0t
ent ang' . ng 0s . n | 0|t ne| d. l|. c0 ' ' . es ! Ve may oe
62
Knowledge of Freedom
repea| | ngan app|oacn| na| oro0gn| aoo0| cnanges| n
t ne past, o0t we m. gnt q0est . on wnet ne| t nose
cnangeswe|eaccompan . ed oycnanges . n 0 nder' y. ng
v| ews |nt |encned at t . t 0des do not cnange eas. ' y, . n
fo|c . ng l n e appea| ance of cnange w. t no0t cnang. ng
t ne n0 man nea|t and m. nd, we may oe ne. gn| en. ng
| ens | ons | na| pas s 0 nnot | ced f or a | | me, o0| crea|e
|eservo| |s o| resen| ment t nat co0 ' d oacs' asn | |cond|
| | onswe|e r | pe Pernaps wenave| o' oosmore deep' y
. nto t ne 0nde| ' y. ng ca0ses of o0| p|oo. ems to f. nd
a ' t e| nat . vemeans of so' v. ngt nem
Par| of o0| d . f|. c0. ty seems t o g|ow o0| of o0r
nopes Venopetnatgood . ntent . ons w. . ' o| . ngaoo0t
a good |es0 | | , we nope t nat we a |e | mprov| ng | ne
n 0 mancond| | . on. | n a| | ow| ngo0rse' ves | ooed| s| |act
ed oy nope, we do not see c| ea r| y|ne |orcesa| wors
. n tne p|esent . Tne 0nde| ' y. ng pat t e| ns of o0| p|oo
' ems e' 0de 0 s. Ve exper . ment w. tn so' 0 | . ons to . so
. atedp|oo' ems, o0ta|e0 nao' elop|ed. cl t neo0t come
of o0| act . ons. How | nen can we t ase |espons . o. ' . ty
fo| l ne f 0t 0re o0r act . ons are c|ea | . ng' Yet w. | no0t
| as| ng respons | o| | . ty, we nave no rea. con| | o| , we
d |. |t w| | n | ne c0||en | , nop| ng | t w| | | no| | ead |o a
wa|erfa | ' o| oe| | ev| ng | nat somenow we w. | | oreas
f|ee al t ne ' ast moment oy a sl |en0o0s new ' eap of
. ngen 0 . ty.
| n tneVest, as. nd. v. d0a' s andassoc et . es, wenave
a |espons o. ' . |yforl nef 0l 0 |et nat ext ends oeyondo0r
own conce| ns |ess deve' oped nal . ons cons . der | ne
mode' es| ao| | sned | n wes|e|n soc| e| | es as t ne sey |o
wea| | n, sec0r . |y,andn 0 mann app| ness. |ewco0n| r. es
nave nol fe' t l ne . n f' 0ence of modern lecn no' og. ca'
soc. et . es, and t ne p|ess 0|e to mode| n ze . s . nt ense
Time to Change 63
|ducated c| asses a|ound t ne wo| | d are adopt . ng t ne
| anguages t nat g| ve t nem access t o west e|n sc. ence
and tecn no' ogy, and enao' e t nem to commun . cate
. nte|nat . ona' ' y Veste|nc. v. ' . zat . on. snowsett . ngt ne
pace, andt newo| | dw| | | |o| | owwnere | t | eads.
Many peop' e may not oe awa|e t nat tne sp|ead
o| weste|n sc. ence and tecnno' ogy t n|ougnout t ne
wor| d . s p|ec| p| t at . ng |ap| d cnanges | n t rad| t | ona|
va| ues and | |esty| es, upset t | ng t ne oa| anceo| ent |e
cu' t u|es Cccupat . ons t nat gave m. ' ' . ons a p' ace . n
soc. ety,noweve|numo' e, a|eoe. ngd. s p' acedoynew
met nods and tecnno| ogy t nat | eave many w| t n no
emp| oyment or pos | t | on Tnesenseo| | nnerent numan
wo|tn and se' | |espect, wn . cn once cou' d oe ma. n
ta. ned even . n t ne |ace o| pove|ty, . s oe. ng ' ost as
numan va| ue | s com| ngt odepend mo|e exc| us| ve| y
onwea| t nandpower
Asnopes|o|a oette|' . |e a|e . nc|eas . ng' y. nvested
. n mat er. a| we| | oe| ng, cu| t urest nat naveempnas| zed
s p| r| t ua| va| uesare | os | ngcont act wt nt ner |e| | gous
t |ad. t . ons Know' edge o| a' t e| nat. veways | o| |. nd. ng
mean . ng . n ' . |e . s d sappea| . ng, wn . ' e t ne ' . m. l ed
oene|| tso| mat e| . a| prosper| tyreacnon| ya |ewo|t ne
wor| d s peop| es. l | modern patterns o| | | v| ng are
estao' . sned wo ' dw. de, and |a. t n . n a mal e| . a' . st . c
app|oacn comp' et e' y s upp' ant s |e. . g. ous t |ad . t . ons ,
we may ' ose va| uao| eoppo|t un| t | es tocons| derot ner
wayso|oe| ng| n t newor | d
Ve may oe ' os . ng somet n. ng vey p|ec. ous .
Tn| ougnout n . st o|y, w. de' yd. ve|gent v. ews and att .
tudes, even pro|ound cu | t ura| d| f|erences, nave oeen
cal a| ysts |o| new . ns . gn | s. Vn . ' eun|a m. | . a| . deas a|e
64 Knowledge of Freedom
o|t en0 n sett ' . ng, t neycana' soc|eateopen . ngs|onew
|now| edge | na| can nave | ong- rangeoene|. |s |o|t ne
ent . |ewo| ' d.
| n |o| | ow| n gon | y one mode| | or | ut u|e soc| et | es,
we mayoe' ocs. ngo0|se' ves| ntoonewayo|tn . n s. ng
and act . ng A g|eate| 0 n . | o| m. ty o| va' 0es, ' ang0age,
and cu| t ure m. gnt reduce pre| ud| ce and m. sunde|
s | and. ng, o0t . t w. ' ' a' so d. m. n . s n poss. o. ' . t . es |o
c|eat . v. ty, |resn | deas, andt ne reeva| 0at | on o| estao
| . s ned patterns Vnen nost . | . t . es a| se t natcommona|
. ty o| c0' t 0|e cannot |eso' ve, conceptsl | omd. ||e|en|
t |ad| | | ons m. gnt prov| de va| 0ao| e perspec| | ves | na|
co0 ' d. ns p. |e new andc|eat . veso' 0t . ons.

n t nese dange|o0s t . mes, . t seemsve|y . mpotant-

|o| eve|yone s saset nat our act | ons oe gu. ded oy
a conce| n |o| a ' | o| t newo|' d s peop| es Ct ne|w. se,
t nedeve' opedsoc. et . esmay' eadt newno' ewo| ' d. nto
deepe| s 0||er| ng. Vnat may now appea| | o oegood
. deas and exped . ent so' 0t . ons co0' d es 0' t . n se|. o0s
d. s| 0p| . ons n t ne | 0t 0|e. Vn. ' e we may avo. d s 0cn
d. ||| cu| t . es | n ou| | | |et | mes, gene|at | ons wno |o' | ow
w ' ' naveto copew. t nan. nceas| ng' yt |o0o' ed wo ' d.
Tne p|oo| ems |ac. ng t newo| | d can appear ove|
wne' m. ng, o0t no p|oo' em t na| a||ects 0s as n0man
oe| ngs . s so oeyond o0| comp|enens | on | nat we
can no| | oos a| t andq0es| . onwny . t . s occ0|| . ng As
n 0 manoe. ngs, wenave tne p . v ' egeand |espons o '
| |yt oas soas| cq0 est | ons aoo0t our dest | ny | | mayoe
| nat tneq0est . ons wenavegown0sedtoass . ng nave
t nemse' ves oecometoo comp' ex S. mp' e, mo|e | 0n
damen| a' quest . ons may act ua| ' y se|ve us oet|e|
Time to Change 65
Pe|naps oy as|| ng s ucn ques | ons, we can oeg| n l o
re| | eveour m| nds ofoulwo|nass ump| | ons a nd expose
| nerool so|l neproo| ems s naredoya | | peop| es.
See| ng our proo| ems more d| rec| | y, we can c | ear
awaycon| us| onandoecomeawareo| l neurgenl need
lo|anew|. ndof |now' edge. Cflenl neve|yawa|eness
l nal an eme|gency ex. sl s can sl . mu ' al e ou| m. nds
l o l ne. | g|ealesl powe| and c | a| . ly, s . mu ' l aneous| y
o|oaden. ngandfocus . ngou| v. s. on, andwa|. ngus up
loag|eal e|| angeofa' l e| nal . ves As ' eep, we|e' nqu . s n
anynope ofc|eal . ngl nef ul u|e we des. |e Awa|e, we
navean oppo|l un. ly lo d. scove|w l n nou|se' vesnew
sou|cesof unde|sland. ngl nal mayoenef. lus nowand
p|oleclou| ful u|e mo|e e||ecl . ve| y.
|acn l mewe accepl |espons . o. | . ly fo| wnal nap
pens | n our ' | ves, our recepl | v| ly l o deeper unde|
s| and| ng | ncreases. Cur openness | o |now| edge
draws grealer snow| edge l o us. As ou| u nders | and
| ng deepens, our con|| dence | n snow| edge g|ows
s | |onger, andwe a|e ao| el o w| den our spnere of re
spons . o. ' . ly |venl ua' ' y, ou| sense of |espons . o. ' . ly
o|oadensnal u|a' ' y lo . nc' udel newe' la|eof a | ' oe. ngs
|ven lne acl . ons of one . nd v. dua' wno wno' e
nea|led' y add|esses l ne p|oo' ems . n n. s o| ne| own
' |e can oe |ef' ecled . n soc. ely and oeyond, nlo l ne
wo| ' d } uslasa s. ng' e ' . gnl all |aclsall enl onona da| |
n gnl, acl . on . nfo| med oy |now| edge al l|acls and
awa|ensol ne|s, . nsp. | . ngemu' al on.
Tnose wno nave pos l ons of ' eade|sn . p nave a
un. que oppo|lu n. ly lo ma|e a g|eal . mpacl on l ne
wor| d Tnougn l ney no| d powe| on| y or | e|' y, l ne
consequencesof l ne| r acl | ons canendure | ar | nlo | ne
66 Knowledge of Freedom
| ut ure. l n s uppor| | ng oroader unders| and| ng o| | ne
s| reng| hs andwea|nesses o| oo| h mode|n and|rad|
| | ona| cu| | ures and | n encourag| ng| n|ens| veresearch
| ntot hena| u|e o|human|now| edge, | heycou| dhe| p
a| | ev| a|e | nd| v| dua| and soc| a| proo| ems and | ay | he
|ounda| | on | o| t he d| scovery o| | ne roo| causes o|
| | ust |at . onandd. ssat . s|act . on Tnesnow' edgega. ned
wou' d ol|e| g|eate| hope | o| oette|. ng t ne numan
cond. t . on wo| ' dw. de, |oste|. ng mut ua' app|ec. at . on
among a ' ' peop' es and cu' t u|es. A nat u| a' oa' ance
oasedonaw. de| v. s . ono|numanoe. ngcou ' dp|ov. de
a mo|e stao' e|oundat . on|o|peacetnan any' oa' ance
o| powe|'amonga |ewdom. nan| na| . ons.
Tne|e have oeen t . mes . n | ne pas| wnen un usua'
. nd. v. dua' s acl ed ||om a n . gne| |now' edge | o| t he
oene|| | o|t newor | d. Reca | | | ng | ne| r examp' es, wecan
| nsp| reourse| ves| oques| | on| hed| rect | ono|our | | ves
and| | ndw. | h | n ourse| ves| he|now| edge| o| | ans|orm
des| ruc| | ve att | | udes andact | ons | n|o a pos| | | ve|o|ce
|o|wor| dpeace. Tos us| a| nmo| | va| . on, wecan| mpr| n |
t h ehead' | nes we |ead uponour m| nds, a n dv| sua| | ze
awo| ' dwhe|ea ' ' peop' es cou' d' eadmea n. ng|u ' ' . ves
||ee o|anx. etyandpa. n.

Knowl edge and Sel f

Could we be entirely free from
reliance on 'the self who knows?
ur way o| |now| ngandact | ng| n our wor | d, con
t . n0a| | y|e. nlo|ced oyo0| c0| t 0|a| cond. t . on. ng,
hasestao| | s hed a comp| ex| nter| oc|| ngsyst em. cvery
t n| ng| ang0age, ed0cat . ona| syst ems, econom. es,
commerce, po| | t | cs, and soc| a| | nst | t ut | ons-. s de
pendent 0pon eve|ytn | ng e' se. Onde| | y| ng t n. s g|eat
supers tr uct ure are our concept s, oe| | e|s, ass ump
t . ons,va| 0es, andatt . t 0des, wn. cna|e| . n |ed toget ne|
| | |e an underground networ| o| p| pe| | nes connect
. ngc. t . es ac|ossavast cont . nent
B0| t ne p. pes a|e o| d, and too na||ow lo| t ne
p|ess0 |est neym0 stoea|. |ea|s aree| 0pt | ng, wn. | ewe
| |y to |epa. | t ne | ea|s one oy one, ad| 0st . ng to eacn
cr| s| s, wea|econt | n0a| | yextend. ngtnenetwo||| t se' |
Beca0se t neo| . g. na| p. pes a| edeep| y o0|| ed andwe
do not |now how t hey are | ntercon nected, we have
no way to t no|o0gn| y exa m. ne t ne ent . |e syst em.
Oesp| te t ne uncerta| nt | es and cost, we seem com
68
Knowledge of Freedom
m. IIed Io ou| p|esenI cou|se o| acI. on Ve cannoI
even conce. veo| a new pa|Ie|n InaIwo0 ' d se|ve o0|
needs oeIIe|.
Becausewesee nov. ao' ea' Ie|naI ves, wesnyaway
|romIneev| denceI na| our p|oo| ems arepro' | |e|a| . ng,
In |eaIen. ngInewe' la|e o| Ine . nd. v. d0a' and soc. eIy
a | . |e. Ve may | . |e Io po. nI ouIproo|s o| | nesuccess
o| ou| way o| ' . |e, we Ia|e p| . de . n Ine maIe| a'
andsoc. a| oene|. Isou| soc. eIyenj oys BuIwecannoI
comp' eIe' y . gno|e In e sympIoms o| wnaI seems Io
oea deep0 nde| ' y. ngd. sI|ess.
A' Inougn some peop' eIodayIendIoo' ameIecn
no' ogy | o| our d| ||. c u ' I| es and see| so| uI | ons . n |e
Iu| n . ngIo a s . mp' e| way o| ' . |e, Ine |now| edge InaI
nas g. ven us so muc nI na| . s use| u| . s no| . nnerenI| y
des| |ucI. ve. C0 | p|oo' ems do noI seem | o oe |ooIed
. n Iec n no| ogy, ouI . n ou| . nao. ' . Iy Io oa' ance In . s
|now' edgew. Ina w. de| v. s . ono| n0 man' . |e.
Tn|o0gno0I n. sIo|y numan oe. ngs nave adop|ed
manyways o| |nowi ng . n o|de| Io o| . enIInemse' ves
Io Ine| | wo| | d and de| . ve mea n| ng ||om ex| sIence.
Today we Iend Io cons . de| o' de| v. ews InaI con|' . cI
w. In our own as remnan| s o| a more na. ve s | age ot
n 0 manconsc. o0sn ess. B0I . n emo|ac. ngo0| own 0n
de| ' y ng aI| . Iudes I o |now' edge w InouI quesI. on,
we |a | I oapp|ec. aIeIneva' 0eo| o| ne| pe|specI. ves
I na | cou ' d w. den ou | v. s . on Tne | n ow' edge we
c ons . d e | n ew c ons.sIs p| | ma| | | y o| s c| e n I.|| c
o|ea|In |ougnsInaIw. ' ' cnangeo0| pe|specI veon| ne
pnys. ca' wor' d, or g. ve us new . n s . gnIs . nIo soc. a' or
psyc no' og. c a ' |ea | . I . es B0I no maIIe| now ea|In
s na|. ng Ihese d . scover . es seem |o oe, Iney do noI
al|ec| ou| oas. capp|oacn |o |now' edge.
Time to Cha nge 69
On ' essweseetne' . m. t at . ons o| ou| u nde|st and. ng
and t ase steps t o ove|come t nem, wnat we do now
mayor| ngus | neoppos| | eof wnat wewan| | s| nepr| ce
. n ' osso|peaceo|m. nd and en| oyment of ' . |e wo|t n
t neoenef. tswe a|e ga. n . ng' M. gnt t necostscometo
exceed| neoenef | | s' | fsoma nypeop| e| n our soc| e| | es
a|ed. ssat . sf. ed, unao' et oapp|ec. atet neoppo|tu n. t . es
and oeauty o| ou| way o| ' . |e, wnat . s t nepu |poseo|
ou| snow| edge' O| | | ma|e| y, | ne fu| | pr | ce o| act | ng
w. t nout a o|oade| u nde|st and. ngo| t ne. mp' . cat . ons
o|ou| act . ons may. nc' udet nes u ||ende| o| t nenu man
near| and m| nd to a way of | . |e | na| perpe| u a| es not
on' y|| ust |at . on, out a' so nope' essnessanddespa. |
Today, ou| many |o| ms o| snow' edge a ' ' de| . ve
|rom a v| ew of numa n oe| ng as sepa|a| e from | ne
env. |on. ngwo| ' d Tn. s v. ewcomesnat u |a ' ' y tous, |o|
. t . s |ooted . n ou| oas . c pe|cept ua' patt e|ns and . s
re. n forcedoy|ne| ntegra| | nganddeduc| | vep|ocesses
o|t ne|at . ona' m. nd Ved . v. deou| wo| ' d. nt o se' |and
ot ne|, and est ao' . s n ou |se' ves as agent s act . ng upon
and respond. ng |o s . t ua| | ons. By | n| s we comm| |
ou|se' vest oa v. ewg|ounded . n sepa|at . on. Vest and
out s. de wnat . s snowao' e, f. nd. ng mean . ng t n|ougn
| nerangeof numanpe|cep| . on, t necapac. | | esof t ne
senses, andt ne. n te|p|et at . ono| t neoose|ve|. Venave
no d. |ect snow' edge, | o| we maseou |se' vessepa|ate
from snow| edge, and oecome |ne ' onewno snows' .
Know' edge. t s e' | oecomes anot ne| oo| ectwepossess
Tne oose|ve| cons . de|s n . s pos | t . on as doe| and
snowert ooecen | ra| | oexper| ence | f | ne|e | s noone
t osnow, now cou ' dt ne|e oesnow. ng' | | t ne|e . s no
onet o act, now cou ' d t ne|e oeact . on' Tn. s way of
underst and| ng we| gn |ed towa|d a s e| | wno must
|espond to and act upon t newo| ' d ' eads us to |eact
70
Knowledge of Freedom
|o and eva' 0a| eeve|y s . | 0a| . on l|om a l. xed po. n| ol
v| ew. o0 |se' ves. Tn0s , wn . ' eweseeo0 |se' vesasus . ng
|now| edge, | | may oe more accura|e | os ay| na| wna|
we |now | s us | ng us. Vea|e drawn | n| o respond| ng
| oa' | | na| occu|sa |ound 0s .
| |om | nev. ewpo. n| ol | ne sepa|a|e se' l , . | . s ve|y
d. ||. c0 ' | |o' ' e| oe , |es | . ng. n p0|eoose|va| . on, w. | no0|
| n| n|| ngo| wna| wecandoas a res u' | o| wna| weare
ooserv| ng |very s | | ua| | on . s an | nv| | a| | on |o crea|e
ano| ne| onewe v. ew as mo|e des . |ao' e. S0cceed. ng
s . | 0a| . ons a' so nave poss . o. | . | . es l o| . mp|ovemen| , so
we|epea|| necyc' eagainandaga . n. Veac|,eva' 0a| e,
and ac| aga| n, e| aoora| | ng u ponwna| we nave done
oe|ore.
| n |e' a| . ng| o o0| wo| ' d as a p|oo' em | o oe ac|ed
0 pon, we p|ed. s poseou|se' ves|owa|dd. ssa| slac| . on.
Cu| m. nds eas . ' y' oo|pas | | nepos. | . veaspec|sol any
s | | ua| | on and l ocus u pon wna| seems | o oe m. ss| ng
or proo| ema| | c. Becauseweva| ue| n| s | nc| s| vecr| | | ca|
ao. ' . |y, we |end | o empnas . ze . | . n o0| educa| . ona'
p|ocesses and v. ew . | as a na ' ' ma| | ol . n| e' . . gence.
B0| . n |e. nlo|c. ng | n. s app|oacn, we may no| no| . ce
| na| we r un | ne danger o| |ra | n| ng ourse| ves | n|o
a perpe| ua| s| a| e o| d| scon| en| , punc| ua| ed on| y
oy waves ol p. eas 0|e o| pa. n, w. | n | ne p|ospec| ol
napp. ness| 0 s| ou| ol |eacn .
Tn. s d. scon| en| can leed a deep . nne| l | us| |a| . on,
| orweneverseem| o' ge| sa| | s|ac| | on. Cur ac| | ons can
or| ng us, a| oes|, on | y | emporary p| eas 0re. Ve may
spendo0| wno' e' . le| |y. ng|o so' ve| nep|oo' ems and
leed | ne ' needs ol | n. s ' s e' l , w. | no0| eve| s|opp. ng
| oq0 es | . onwny, w. | na' ' | n. s e|lo| | , we nave . . || ' eea'
sa| | s|ac| | onandexper| encesomucnemo| | ona| pa. n.
Time to Change
71
As t ne doe| and p|oo| emso| ve|, we a |e |est | ess
. n t nep|esent , o0sywo| |y| ngaoo0t o| ant . c. pat . ngt ne
| 0t 0|e, d. st |ac|ed, wecan no| s eec' ea| ' yt ne | enden
c| es | n mot i on ne|e and now |vent s appea| | s o| ated
and d. sconnected, t ney seem to move |aste| and
|aste|,c|owd. ng. non0s , g. v. ng0 s ' es s and' essspace
to re|| ect mean| ng|u| | y0 pon wna| | s nappen| ng. Ve
|ee| |o|ced to |espond, o0t o0 | |esponsesa |e ' second
nand' , never new, a ' ways oased on memo|. es or
snadows o| des| res. Cur oppor| un| ti es | o | earn |rom
o0| expe|. ence and o| . ng new 0nde|stand. ngt o o0|
|esponsescont . n0a ' ' yd| m| n . s n.
| t seems wecan on| yrepeatpatte|ns t nat n ave| ed
0s into d. ||. c0' t . es . n tne past . Tn. s d 0p' . cat | on . s
. nne|ent ' y ene|vat | ng and waste| 0 ' , d0 ' ' | ng |o t ne
numan sp| r | t . Rat ne| t nan open | ng | o opport un| t| es
t nat en |. cn o0r expe|. ence, ' . |e t ends to g|ow mo|e
na||owand|est|. ct| ve. Bo0 ndtot nes ame0 nde| st and-
| ng, wearea| soooundt ot nesameac| | ons andres u| |s
Tn 0s we t endto respond . n p|ed. ctao' eways, ' | se a
dogwno| o. ns . nwnennenearsanot ner dogoa| s. ng.
Acc0stomed to |eact . ng t o eve|y s . t 0at . on, we
ne. gnten| nt e| na' ag. tat . on, wn . cnman . |estsasexc. te
men|. Tense and o|| oa' ance, we reacn o0| s| de o|
o0rse| ves | n ant | c. pat | on, |eady t o |eact eve| mo|e
q0 . cs| y to wnateve| n appens. | n an exc. ted, n . gn' y
|eact . ve state, wecan not app| ywe' ' | ne snow' edge
and exper| ence we nave, and may ac| 0a| | y | nc|ease
p|ess0 |es and p|oo' ems |o| o0 |se' ves o| ot ne| s No
matte|nowgoodo0 | . ntent . ons,we masem. st ases.
Co| . ged to |eact oe|o|e we n ave f0 ' ' snow| edge
o|wnatwea|e do. ng,wecan no| connecto0 | act . ons
w| t n| neres 0 ' t s t nat |o' ' ow, par| | cu' ar ' y | | t ne resu ' t s
72 Knowledge of Freedom
do nol s now 0 p a| once. P|oo' ems appea| lo a|. se as
. so' aled . nc. denl s, | o| we cannol see l ne. | . nl econ
necl . ons . Tn0s . l can oe d. n. c 0' l | o ' ea| n t|om m. s
l asesandga. n l ne| 0 ' ' oene| . l olo0| expe| . ence.
Vnen o0| m. nds ae n. gn' y al | 0ned t o q0 . cs |e
s ponses, we ' oosand|ee| a ' e|l andq 0 | csw| | | ed, o0l
l n. s |ee ' . ng o| a ' e| l ness . s oased on l ens . on and can
oedecep| | veOnde| p|ess0 |e, o0| | n| e| ' | genceandpe|
specl. ve can eas . ' yoe m. sd. |ecled and d. sl o|led. | l . s
vey d| ||| c 0| | l o de| e| m| newnel ne| we a|e |espond
. ng | oma oas . s o| ea ' snow' edgeo l | oma need t o
p| o| ec| o0| pos . l | on.
| | o0| own v. ew o| o0|se| veso| o0| pos. | | on | sa|
sl ase, we m. gnl nol no| . cenow emol . ona' ag. l a| . on
| s ' ead| ng o0| m| nds, ma|sna| | ng | ne |o|ce o| o0|
l no0gnl sand' og. ca' p|ocesses, and|oc0s . ngl nemon
wna| we pe|ce| ve as a se|| o0s p|oo| em o| dange|.
Vnenwea|el n|ea| ened wecan |ee' ve|y ce|| a . nl na|
we a| e acl | ng | | om n. gn mol | va| | on and | dea| s, o0|
wo|dsso0 ndcon| . denl a ndeasonao' e,a ndemol . ona'
powe|g| ves | nem| ne| . n go| conv. cl | on.
Cncewenavel asenapos . l . onandsl al ed . l c' ea| ' y,
we can conv. nce o0 |se' ves and o| ne|s l nal . l . s | | 0e
Aswegal ne s 0ppo|l| o| o0| ' og. candv. ew,o0| v. s. on
na||ows, ' . m. l . ng 0s l o a pos. | . on l nal appea|s lo oe
o0| on' ya' l e| nal . ve Cnanne' ed . n on' yoned. |ecl . on,
o0 enegy goes . nl o ma . nl a . n . ng and de|end. ng| n. s
pos . l . on eve| mo|e one po. nled' y 0nl . ' we oecome
' ocsed . n to a co0 |se ot ac| . on | na| we v. ew as . n
ev. l ao' e. See. ng no a ' l e| nal . ves, we act sl ong' y and
dec. s . ve' yw. l n' . l l ' e|ega|d | o| l ne|es 0' t s
Vnen l n. s cyc| e |eacnes a n | gn p| | cn o| | ens. on,
wemay l ee' we navel o masewnalevesac|. |. ces ae
Time to Change 73
necessa|y to ma| nt a| n o0| pos | t | on. Tn. s v| ew | s ve|y
powe||0 ' , . l l 0sesa | ' o| o0| ded . cat on, mo| a' s | |engt n,
and la| t n to a s | ng| e oo| ect | ve. Tnose a| o0 nd 0s
|espond| ot n. s st | engt nol |ee' . ng, somea|e at l |ac|ed
tos0ppo|t 0s, o0t ot ne|s|eact| 0stasst |ong| yoyta|. ng
l neoppos . tev. ew. Cnce t n. s nappens, l necond l . ons
|o|g| d| oc|a|e est ao' | sned Bot n s . des t nen n ave no
cno. ce o0| t o |o' ' ow a co0|se o| act . on t na| wo||s
aga. nst tneoest. n te|estsola | '
| | we | oo| a t o0r ownexper . encenonest | y, wecan
ememoe| t . mes . n o0| ' . veswnenwe |e| t wenad no
a| t ernat | ves, and acted . n ways t nat went aga | nst o0r
consc. ence, pe|naps even aga. nst o0| own we' la |e.
Pe| napswe| e' t |o|ced| ntodo| ngsomet n| ngwerea| | y
d. dnot want t odo |oo|. ngoac|on| noseexpe| . ences,
we may wonder wny | t n ad to oe t nat way Vnat . |
we nad spo|en a nd acted d. |le|ent ' y! Vas t ne . s s 0e
rea| ' y t nat | mport ant ' S0|e' y t ne|e m0s t n ave oeen
olne| poss. o. | . l . es tnal wo0 ' d n ave ' ed l o mo|e sat
. s|y| ng |es 0| | s o| ca0sed | ess d| sr0 pt | on | n o0 | ' | ves
Yel at l ne t . mewe |e' t ve|y con| dent t nat we we|e
do| ngt neon| y r | gnt t n| ng.
T| meso|great t ens | on | nev| t ao| yar | s enot on ' y| n
o0| pe|sona' ' . ves o0l n o0 soc. et . es a ndt ne' age|
wo| | daswe| | . C|o0 ps and nat | ons a ' | |earev0| nerao' e
lodayt ocyc' eso|| ens . onand|eact . venessl nal co0 ' d
| ead 0s | nto great danger. | n t nepast, wnen tens . ons
we|ene. gnt ened, . nc dent socc0 ||edl natseemedt |. v
. a' | n ret |ospect, o0t we|ev. ewed at t net | meas| 0s
t . |. cal . ons | o| agg|ess . on Tnepo' a| . l . es l nat nowex st
oetween t nes 0 perpowers o| tnewo| | d nave created
lnepoten| . a' |o|eacl ve|esponses| nat co0' d' oc|0s
| nto destr0ct| ve act | ons, w| tn |ar|eacn| ng conse
q0ences| o| t nel 0t 0|e
74 Knowledge of Freedom
ow, more | nan ever oe|ore, |t | s | mpo|| an| |or
0s to |econs . de| o0| p|esent at t . t 0des towa|d
|now' edge and wo|| towa|d mo|e comp|enens . ve
and e||ec| | ve me| nods o| address . ng o0| proo| ems.
Vnen we see t ne n . dden dange|s . n a s e' |o|. ented
v| ew, and |ea| | ze now | | can d| s| or| o0r perspec| | ve
. npotent . a ' ' yse' | dest | 0ct . veways, wenaveanoppo|
t 0n. ty to cons . de| ot ne| poss. o| ' . t . es To t ne deg|ee
| na| wecan| apa new |now| edgeand| mp| | n| | |deep
. n o0| memo|y, we can snape tne o0tcome o| tne
c| . seswe|aceas. nd. v. d0a' s and assoc. et . es.
Vnen we can |e' ax o0| no' d on se' | cent e|ed
pos . t . ons, we ' essen t ne p|ess 0 |e t nat . nt ens. |. es
|eac| | vet endenc. es. Tnen| ne|e | s mo|e a| ' owance|o|
c' a| . t y and a geate| |ecept . v. ty to new |now' edge.
Tn| n| . ng | nro0gn eacn s | | 0a| | on w| |n a more
awa|ened q0a ' . ty o| m. nd, we can p|otect o0 |se' ves
oette| ||om emot . ona' |eact . ons and ga. n a new
perspec| | veon|now| edge.
A' ' ow. ng mo|e |oom |o|app|ec. at . on . n o0| ' . ves,
we can sees . | 0a| | ons no| so m0cnas proo' ems t ooe
acted 0pon, o0t asoppo|t 0 n . t . es|o|. n q0 . |yand' ea| n
. ng. Tn . s att . t 0deg. ves 0s space to oose|vet nescope
o| o0| s . t 0at . on mo|e c| ea| | y and | o d| scove| mo|e
e||ect. veways o| |espond. ng Vnenwe oeg. n to | |ee
o0rse| ves ||om | ne need |o reac| , even emergency
s . t 0at . ons can st . m0 ' ate a new c' a| . t y and deptn o|
v. s . ont nat . nv. t enew . ns . gnt s andc|eat. ve act . ons
Ve co0 ' d | 0 | t ne| w. den o0| v. ew oy cons . de. ng
now m0cn we o0 |se' ves nave oene|. ted ||om tne
e||o|ts o| many wno came oe|o|e 0s B0 | | t 0p ove|
n0nd|eds o| t no0s ands o| yea|s, tne wo| ' d' s sto|e o|
|now' edge . s a | . cn |eso0 |ce, tne ne| . tage o| eve|y
Time to Change 75
n0manoe. ng. | n o0| ' ang0age, o0| 0 po| . ng. ng, and . n
o0| ed0ca| . on, we naved|awn 0pont n s snow' edge
A| | | na| we nave | ea| ned |rom o0r | | |e exper | ence | s
a| sosnow| edge, andweexpresso0r 0 nderstand| ng. n
eve|yt n. ng wedo. cacn moment, eacn s . t 0at . on . s a n
oppo| | 0n . tyt o|e|' ectono0| expe| . enceand0se . t to
extend t ne snow' edge we emoody. Tne mo|e we
extendo0| snow' edge, |nemorewecan|reeo0rse| ves
||om |ne need | o repea| s | t 0a| | ons | na| ca0se pa| n | o
o0|se' ves and ot ne|s V. tn eve|y . ns . gnt we g|ow . n
0nde|stand. ng, we ne' po0|se' ves, a ndwe cont |. o0te
|o snow' edget nat ca| | . est nepotent . a' |o|oene|. | . ng
| 0| 0|egene|a| | ons.
Cons| der. ng | na| s now' edge, | | oerated |rom o0r
w. snt opossess. t , . s 0nse' |. snandg. v. ng, ' . se ' . |e. tse' | ,
wem. gnt oeao' etot o0cn0pona| 0 ' ' e| 0nde|stand. ng
o|wnat . s | | 0 ' yva' 0ao' e|o|n 0 man ' . |e. Co0 ' dweoe
en| | re| y |ree |rom |e| . ance on tne ' se| | wno snows '
Ra| ner| nan depend| ngon' oe. ngawareo|' | n| ngs, an
acto| a' ways p|ess0 |ed t o|eact, m. gnt we oeao' eto
. nvest . gate an awa|eness t na| . s not oo0nd to t ne
agent, an awa|eness c ' ose| | o t ne p0|e nat 0|e o|
snow| edge' | | wep0|s 0ed | neseq0 es | | ons , wem| gn|
|| ndt nere are no| | m| | a| | ons | owna| wecansnow.
J
Breaki ng Through t he Known
Questioning and being aware:
These are the most precious teachers.
They dwell in the heart of every human being
who begins to awaken to the waste
and danger of an unexamined life.
he energy t hat act . va| es | he 0 n . verse man.
|ests| n sh . | t | ngpat t ernso| |o| ms |nergyoecomes
|orm and |o| m energy | n comp| ex | nt e|act | ons so
c| ose| yentw. nedt hatn 0 maneyescan notpece. vetne
. ncessant | ' ow otcnange. cacn |o|m a| . ses||omwnat
nas goneoe|o|e, . n acont . n 0o0s st |ea m o|oecom. ng
Nooeg . n n . ng . s wno' ' y new, noend . ng s a comp' ete
t e| m. nat . on Cn| y| nesenseo|gans o|sent . en | oe. ngs,
spec a ' zed |o| a ' . m. ted sca' e and d. mens . on, st | 0c
| 0 |e d. sc|ete | o ms t |om t ne con | n 0a' st eam ot
oecom. ng
Tneto|ms wev. ew as so| da| e n ea ' . |y spac. o0s
and teem. ngw. t n ene|gy, cons | ant ' y pa|t . c. pat. ng . n
| he c|eat| ve p| ay o| t ne 0 n| ve|se. lrom | he |ar|nest
neo0 ' ae t o t he most m. n 0 | e par | | c| es o| o0| own
ood| es, not n| ng | n o0r wor| d | s s| a| | c-no| s| a|s, no|
Time to Change 77
mo0nt a. ns, not ' . v. ngoe. ngs Tne a . | we o| eat ne, t ne
wate| we d| n s, t ne ea|tn we s t and 0 pon a|e a' ' n
dynam| cmovement , |espond. ng| oan| n ne| | . m| ng
As n0man oe. ngs, we a|e a' ' c n. ' d|en o| t . me,
snaped oy lacto|s . n const ant l' 0x, and g|own to
ad0 ' t nood t n|o0gn a con | . n 0a ' se|. es o| t |ansl o| ma
| | ons Ce' ' s we we|e oorn w| | n nave oeen rep' aced
many | | mes over Cur ood| es and t ne| | cons| | | uen|
pa|tsa|e neve|st . ' ' , wn . ' eo0| consc. o0s ness, lee' . ngs,
pe|cept . ons, and cogn . t . ons cont . n 0a ' ' y |espond to
tneene|g. es | nat s n. |tand|' owa|o0nd0 s cacnact . on,
eacn t no0gnt , eacn moment o| o0| ex. st ence . s t ne
exp|ess . on o| t nousands , pernaps m. | | | ons o| s uo| | e
movemen | s and. n| e|ac| . ons.
Vnenwepat . c. pateso . nt . mate' y. n t ne0 nceas . ng
movemen| o| a' ' t nat . s , wne|e . s t ne|e a |. xed po. nt
o| re|e|ence! Ye| ' ongago, n 0 man oe. ngs, exerc . s . ng
| ne| r ao| | | | y to d. scr| m| na| e and j udge, |ormed a
concepto|| nemse' vesas sepa|a| eoose|ve|ssomenow
apa|t ||om t ne wo| ' d ' o0t t ne|e' . |. v. ng w. t n . n t n . s
concept, lo|get | 0 ' t na| we o0 |se' ves c|eated . t , we
nave' ea| ned | ost andoacsandcomment on t newo| ' d,
eva| 0at | ng our exper| ences as good or oad, des| r . ng
s omeoo| ectsandexpe| . ences, wn . ' e avo. d. ngot ne| s
Tne sepa|ate, . ndependent , and s . ng' e ' snowe|'
wno stands apa|t ||om n . s s 0||o0nd. ngs |o|ms t ne
oas| solo0| v| ewo|o0rse' vesando0| wor ' d, andpe|
mea|es |ne |aor| co|ou| ex| s| ence. | n |ne pas|, n 0 man
consc. o0s ness may naveoeen mo|e | ' ex . o' e, opent o
ot ne| v. ews and concept s B0t ove| | necent 0 | . eswe
nave come . nc|eas . ng' y to depend on t nev. ewpo nt
o|t ne . ndependent snowe|, c|owd. ngo0t ot ne| ap
proacnes| osnow| edge
78 Knowledge of Freedom
P0|s 0. ng | neway o| t neoose|ve|, we nave deve'
oped mo|e and mo|e sen s . t . ve . nst|0 men ' s | one. gnt
en t ne capao. . . t . es o| t ne senses Ve nave |e|. ned
o0| ' og. ca' |ac0 ' t . es and t | . ed to p0 |ge o0| m. nds
o| pe|sona' p|e| 0d. ce to p0 | . |y o0| snow' edge ||om
s 0o| ect . v. ty, t n0s . ns 0| . ngan oo| ect . vepo. nt o|v. ew.
Co| ect . ve snow' edge ga. ned w. t n s0cn ca|e ce|
t a. n . y seems |a| mo|e |e' . ao' et nan snow' edge oased
on 0 nexa m. n ed ass 0mpt . ons o| o' . nd oe' . e| | t ' ets 0s
move w. t n p|ec. s . on | | om s pec. |. c |acts to gene|a'
nypot neseso| | | omp|em. sestospec. |. c|acts, . t a' . ows
0s to mase oose|vat . ons, deve' op and test t neo|. es,
andt neneva' 0ateand . n te|p|et |es 0' ts
cvens o, t net neo| . esand|es 0 ' t s, t neq0es t . ons we
ass, aswe' ' as t ne |acts we de| . ve ||om oose|vat . on,
a |e a. ' s naped oy o0| s 0o| ect. ve t no0gn | s, concepts,
. ssoc. at . ons, memo|. es, past snow' edge, expe|. ence,
and t ne pa|t. c0 ' a| q0 . |ss o| t ne . n q0 . . ng m. nd Tne
d. s | . nc| . onoetween se. | andoo| ect . s . t se' | aconcept,
cont . n 0 a ' ' y conc|et . zed . n o0 | ' . ng0 . st . c pat t e| ns
cven |e|. ned symoo. . c ' og. c and mat nemat . cs, wn . cn
oypass convent . ona' ' a ng0age and move c' ose| to
oo| ect . v. ty, a|e st . ' ' g|o0nded . n many | 0 ndament a.
and0nq0est . oned p|em. ses
Oesp. t e o0 e||o|ts at de| acn ment , n0 man con
sc. o0s ness pat c. pates . n o0| ' oo| ect. ve' snow' edge
Andt n s consc. o0s ness. t s e' | nasneve|oeens 0o| ected
toat no|o0gnsc|0t . ny C0| snow' edge. snot oo| ec| . ve
. n t neaoso. 0tesense, . n stead, . t. son ' yt nep0 |est|o|m
o' s0o| ect . vesnow. edgewea|eao' etoacn . eve.
Tn. s snow' edge we cons . de| oo| ect . ve can |e' ate
to | newo| . don. yasexte|na' to tne snowe|, . tcannot
Time to Change 79
convey | mmed . at e |now' edge o| t he |orces t hat
patte|na ' . t natex. st s, . nc' 0d. ngo0 | ood. esandm nds
Vecandesc|. oet heappea|anceo||ea' . t y, o0t can not
|now|ea| . tyd . |ect| y. V. | ho0t comp| ete|now| edgeo|
wnatwe, the' |nowe|s' , a|e, wecan neve| 0 nde|st and
howweared| sto|t | ngour v| ewo| rea| | ty, wecann ever
a||. ve a| p0|e oo| ec| . v. ty. | t t n0s seems c| t . ca ' ' y
. mpo|t ant t nat we ' ea| n mo|e aoo0t t ne nat 0 |e o|
humanconsc| ous ness.
B0t . l o0| oo| ect . ve|now' edge. s on ' yao' eto|e' ate
to t he wo| | d as ext e|na| t o the |nowe|, can we use
. t s metnods to |now o0| con sc. o0s ness' Comm tted
to sepa|at | ng tne |nowe|||om what | s |nowao' e, we
have to conc| 0de t nat we can not |now o0| own
consc. o0s ness, oeca0sewecan not sepa|ateo0 |se' ves
|rom | t to de|| neand meas ure | t Cncewe ta|e t n| s
pos. | . on, we nave t o oe' . eve t nat ce|t a. n t n. ngs a|e
0' t . mat e' y0 n |nowao' e Tnenweg. ve p| . o|. tyt ownat
wecan |now, and re| egate the ' 0 n |nowao| e t o t he
|ea' molspec0 ' at . on V. t n n t h . s v ew, wecan neve|
oe cert a| n o| the t r0e nat u|e and potent | a| | t | es o|
n0 manconsc. o0s ness. Yeta ' ' o| o0 | ' og. c . s |ooted . n
t ne patte| n. ngso| a m. nd we con s . de| 0 n |nowao' e,
t h| s ' og| c| t se| |, however, cannot oeva| | datedw| t no0t
g|eate||now' edgeo|t heh 0 manm. nd
C| ear| y, | n orde| t oga | nt r 0| yoo| ect | ve |now| edge
o| tnedynam c| o|ces tnat gove|n ootn t ne st | 0ct 0|e
ol t nepnys. ca' wo| ' dandt newo||. ngsol o0| m nds,
weneedt o|now o0r consc. ous ness. B0t howcanwe
ga. n t n. s |now' edge' | t may not oe so . mposs . o' eas
| t seems Pe| naps we nave g| ven up t oo soon, con
v. nced oy o0| own ' og. c t nat o0| f. nd. ngs can neve|
oeconc' 0s . ve
80 Knowledge of Freedom
C0| wno' eapp| oacn lo snow' edge may oe oased
0pon an ass0 mpl . ono|sepa|al . on | nal . s no| o|gan. c
l o o0| consc o0s ness To d scove| mo|e comp|enen
s| ve snow| edge o| n uman consc| ous ness, we may
needl openel |al es 0cnoas. cass 0mpl . ons anddeve' op
an app|oacn s 0 . l ed | o a new o| . en| al . on lowa|d
snow' edge. How can we enco0|age o|eas| n|o0gns
| nal co0 ' d|evea' newapp| oacnesl o|ea ' . |y! A' l no0gn
we can man| p0 ' a| eand process | n|or ma| | on, ana' yze
o0| || nd. ngs, and perce| ve |e| a| | ons n. ps we cons| der
s . gn . |. canl , we seem 0nao' e l o evose al w. ' ' o0|
capac. l . es| o| |eac n. ng oeyond l necon| . nes o| wnal
. s snown. Ve acsnow' edge lne q0a' . |y o| v. s . on l nal
wel e| mgen | us,ou| | end| ov| ew| l asanunpred. c| ao| e
aoe|ra| | on|a| ne| l nanasan a| u|a| exp|ess ono| n 0man
awa|eness. Pe|napsoycnang ngl n. s v. ew,andde|. n
. ng gen . 0 s as . nl | . ns . c| on 0 man oe. ng, we m. gnl |. nd
oel l e|wayso|c0 ' l . va| . ngl n. s pol en| . a' .
Ve snow | nal | nd| v| dua| s can oreas ||ee ||om
menl a' andemol . ona' nao. l s l o. nl |od0ce newsnow'
edge. nl ol newo| ' d. | n sp. |a| . ongave| . se lo l neg|eal
s p. | . l 0a. and pn. ' osopn. ca' | |ad . | . ons, w. l n. n |necon
l ex| ol sc| ence, a|ew. ndependen| | n| n sers, |e| y. ngon
| n | u | | | onor a sense o| aes| ne| | c nar mony, nave oeen
ao' el o mo. d sc. enl |. cl e| ms and mal nemal . ca' sym
oo' s l o exp|ess l ne. | . ns . gnl s, comm0 n . cal . ng p|o
|o0 nd' y d. he|enl . deas l nal g|ea| ' y expanded o0|
0 nde|sl and. ngolpnys. ca' ' awsand|e' a| . onsn . ps
Comm0 n | cal . ono| s 0cnnew. deasnas a' waysoeen
l en 0o0s, depend . ng0ponca|e| 0 ' ' y l no0gnl o0l con
necl ons l oaccepl edsnow' edge. Vnenl nel . mes d. d
nol |avo|l ne. deas, o| | neconcepl sa' ' ow. ngconnec
Time to Change
81
t | ons|o oemadewere | acs| ng, o| | ' | | an| | ns| gn| s wen|
0n|ecogn| zed | o| genea| | ons, some| | mes fo| cen| 0
es. Penaps manyt . mes | neconnect . on to accepted
snow' edge was not made at a ' ' , |o wnat ' oss | o t ne
wor| dwecanno| comprenend.

n moment s o| wonde| and g|ea| n 0 m. ' . ty, n 0 man

oe| ngs t n|o0gn t ne ages nave |e' t a d. ||e|ent
awa|eness eme|ge nat 0|a ' ' y w. | n | n | ne more |am| | . a
wayso| v ew. ngt nemse. vesa n dt ne. wo| . d. Pe| naps
many o| 0s nave snown q0 et moment s wnen t . me
seemed t ostands| | ' | , a nd|ora or | e| | n| erva| ord| nary
p|eocc0pat ons |aded . n|o anove|powe| ngapp|ec a
t onol eve|y| n ng t nat s
| ns. gn| d|awn||oms 0cnmoment s o|s| ' ent comm0
n| on w. | n o0| | nner most oe. ng, wnen o0 | sense o|
sepa| a| . on s s. ' enced oy awe, nas nsp. ed c|eat. ve
o|east no0gnsand|o mstnenea | o|tnewo ' d' sg|eat
|e' . g| ons. B0t | | meandt | meaga n t nepa|to| o0 |se' ves
tnat . ns| s| s 0 pon separat | on nas a| . sen | | se a |e|| ex,
oosc0 . ng o0| mmed. ate awaeness o| | ne pesen|
moment . As nsp. at on oeg. ns t o| a' t e|, we|e| 0 |n to
tnesma| ' wor ' do| |ne sepa|atese' |, t nenwe oecome
se' |consc . o0s anddo0o| t nes | gn. || canceo| o0 | own
expe| ence
Tneev dences0ggestst natwemay navepowe |0 '
0n|apped |eso0rces |o| 0 nde|s| and| ng o0rse| ves and
o0| wo ' d. Ye| we seem vey com|o|tao' e w. t n o0|
c0||entwayso| snow. ngand nt e pe| . ngt nepnys . ca'
wo| ' dando0| ownexpe ence C0 wo ' d sgove| ned
oy |a| | ona' . |y, even o0| moods and emo| . ons are
' n sed | no0gn easons| oo0| | no0gnt sand concept s
82 Knowledge of Freedom
Ve o0 . ' d o0| snow' edge ca|e| 0 ' ' y, l n|o0gn oose|va
l . on and . n|e|ence, l as. ng one slep al a l . me | | we
dono| 0 ndersl and| nereas on|orsome| n| ngnow,we
ass 0mewe w| | | . n l ne | 0| 0re, wnen o0r me| nods o|
oose|val . ona|e pe||ecled.Vn. ' ea|ewgapsex. s l ne|e
andl ne|e,wecan|. ' ' l nemw. l nl neo| es o| . nl e|p|ela
l . ons, con necl . ngone|acl o| expe|. ence lo lne nexl,
as |wewe|es | |. ng. ng a necs' aceo|oeads
B0l wna| | |, . n rea| | | y, l nere | s no s| r | ng | n | ne
n ecs' ace'Vnal . | l nesl | . ng. s on ' yaconsl | 0cldev. sed
oy | ne n0ma n m. nd' Have we | 0 ' ' y exp' o|ed l ne
s l |0cl 0 |e | nal o|de|s a ' ' o| o0| d. ||e|enl | neo| es and
exp' ana| | ons ' Canwe| ee| con|| den| | no0rsnow' edge
w. | no0| q0 es| | on . n g | nes e' | | na| eva| 0a| esandj 0dges
o|l neconcepl 0a' pal l e| nsl nal0 n . |yo0| |o| m0' al . ons '
| | wed. dnol |e| yexc ' 0s . ve' y0ponconcepl 0a' snow'
edge, m. gnl we |. ndo| ne| poss . o. ' | . es | o| expand. ng
o0 | snow| edge, |al ne| l nan mov. ng| . nea| | yl|om|acl
| o|ac|andconcepl | oconcep| '
Tnev. ew o| o0 |se' ves as sepa|al e ||om l newo| ' d
wesnow . s nowa' mosl 0 n . ve|sa' | ys na|ed | | nasgone
' a|ge' y 0 ncna' ' enged l o| cenl 0 |. es. Vnal . | weco0' d
oreas | n| s pa| | ern and oeg. n | o s ee o0rse| ves and
o0r wor | d | n a n ew | | gn| ' M0cn as we exp' ore l ne
myl no' og eso| c0' l 0|espasl , m. gnl weoeao' elos| ep
o0l s . delneass0 mpl . ons | nalconsl | . c| o0r 0nde|sl and
. ngandexp' o|e l newaywe. n le|acl . n | newo| ' d' A|e
l ne|e ol ne| |or ms o| snow. edge l nal wo0 ' d se|ve 0s
more e||ecl . ve| y' S0ppose, | or exa mp| e, we co0| d
app' y wna| pnys. cs nas ' ea| ned aoo0l l ne dynam cs
o| ene|gy and mal l e| l o n 0 man oe. ngs l nemse' ves
Vo0 . d l n. s g. ve 0s newwaysl oawasenl nepo| en| . a.
o| n 0 man consc. o0s ness'
Time to Change 83
Pe|naps we need no| accep| ourse| ves so read| | y
as separa|e |romour wor | d, asoys| anders| oour own
expe| . ence, | . m. |ed | o | udg. ng and . n| e| p|e| . ngwna|
. s nappen. ng a|ound us. Now wecan ove|come| n. s
sense o| separa| | on on| y oyacc| den| , re| y| ngon rare
momen| s o| | ns p| ra| | on | o pene| ra| e our concep| ua|
oa||. e|s Bu| . | wecan que|y | nes e| | | na| . s sepa|a|e
t|om . | swo| | d, we may |ap|newe| | sp| . ngo| a deepe|
ando|oaderwayo| |now| ng |oo|| ngd| rec| | ya| our
own exper| ence, wecan| | nd|e| | ao| epa| nways| oour
awa|enessand| |aceou| snow| edgeoacs| o. | s |oo|s.
ues| . on. ngand oe. ngawa| e. | nese a|e |ne mos|
prec| ous |eacners Tney dwe| | | n | ne near| o| every
numan oe. ngwnooeg. ns | oawasen |o | newas|eand
dange|o|anunexa m. ned | . |e | n | as. ng|espons . o. | . | y
|orour | | vesandoacs. ngu p | na| dec. s . onw. | nac| . on,
we| a|e| ne|| rs|s| ep| oward grea| erunders|and. ng o|
| nena| u|e o| numan oe. ng
[f@Oc
@U
[[[D[f
CHAPTE R 1 0: TI ME AN D CHANGE
At | | t udestoward cnange
Apprec| a| . ono|cnange
O. st u| o| ngaspect s o| cnange
Res. stancetocnange
| nao| | | tytocon| | o| cnange
| | | us | ons o| permanence
ccnoeso| mo|ta' . ty
CHAPTE R 1 1 : B I RTH AND YOUTH
89
89
90
90
91
91
91
|. |e nt newomo 92
To|a| ne| p| essness 92
|ong. ng, t| ust |at . on, and|ea| J
Oependencyandasse|t | on 4
Re| at . ngto ot ne|s
4
Man| pu | a| | onandcon|| | c| 95
|scape| nto|antasy 95
|ee' . ngspec. a'
96
Awa|en . ngto se' |
96
H| d. ng |ee' | ngs 97
Crow| ngup. cna| | enge and. nsecur | |y 97
Bu. ' d. nga pe|sona' . ty 97
T. meot dec. s . on
1 00
|ove,ma | . age, and|am. | y
1 01
CHAPTE R 1 2 : YEARS OF OUR PRI ME
Cno. cesandp|ess0 |es
|one| | nessand| ndec. s . on
|ee| | ng ' os|
Avo. d. ng |espons o. ' . ty
|st ao' . s n. ng a ' . ve' . nood
Ra. s | nga lami' y
Co| . ga| | ons anden| ang' emen|s
Pess0|es, anx. ely, and|est ' essness
| ns st encyolt no0gnt s
O. |l c 0 ' tyo|comm0 n . cat . on
Recons . dera| | ono| cho| ces
CHAPTER 1 3 : THE WANI NG OF OUR LI VES
T. meo| c| . s . s . awa|enesso| t . me
Re| ' ect . onand. ndec. s . on
Re. n|o|c . ng t nepatte| ns
Rec0 r| enceo| anx. ety
Ret | rement . anopport 0n| |y'
O. m n . s n. ngv. t a' . ty
Tno0gnt s ol deal n
Oec' in ngyea|s
|os | ngnope and mea n . ng
|ea| ol deat n
Oependency anddeat n
1 02
1 03
1 04
1 04
1 05
1 05
1 06
1 07
1 08
1 08
1 08
1 1 1
1 1 2
1 1 3
1 1 3
1 1 4
1 1 5
1 1 5
1 1 6
1 1 6
1 1 6
1 1 7
T 0
Ti me and Change
Deep in our minds, change reminds us
of our mortali ty and our limitations.
nereve| we | oo| we see cnange cven wna|
seems 0na' te|ao' e n t newo ' d ao0nd 0s . s n
|' 0x . n ways t nat we can not d |ect ' yoose|ve. Cnange
. s pe|naps t ne cent a' l act ol o0| ex. s | ence Ve ' ve
s0oj ec| |o t ne passage o| | | me and oend o0 | e||or|s
to |am| ng | |s momen| 0m, searc n. ng o0t ways | o
con| |o' t ne co0 se o| event s o| to t 0|n | nem to o0|
advan| age. As cnanges occ0 |, we scan | ne. | . mp' . ca
t ons . | s t n. s good | o| me! Oo | ' |e . t ' V. ' ' . t n 0 |t
me' Ve want to oe nappy and to no. d on to wnat
ma|es 0s nappy Ve want |o |ee' good aoo0| o0|
se' ves, |o engage . n act v t . es t na| o| ng 0 s p' eas 0|e
andavo. dt noset na| ca0se d scomlo|t Ve spendo0
wno. e' . vesexpe| . enc. nga n d|eact . ngt ocnanges, t |y
. ngtoexet cont |o' . n t ne|aceo| . mpe| manence
A| | ne same | | me, cnange can openo0 | m. nds to
new ways o| v ew. ng o0 se' ves and o0| |e' a| ons n. p
t ot newo| ' d, and|enewo0| p. eas 0|e . n . . v. ng. Vecan
app|ec. atet neoea0tyola |' owe|, an 0 man exp|ess . on,
o| a s 0nset oeca0se . t cont |asts w t n o0| od. na y
90 Knowledge of Freedom
exper. ence, we ooserve n | | a |a|e and momentary
s| a| eo| per|ect . on, wn . cnweva| ueoecausewesnow
. | w| | | oe d| || eren| | n | nenex| momen| . Awa|e o| t ne
cons| an| | | owo| | me, wet reas 0re momen| s | na| can
oecap| ured and| | ||edou| s | det . me| nrougnmemo|y,
v. s | on, or ar|. Vou' d we apprec| ate oeau| y | | we . n
nao. ted a n 0 ncnang. ngwo| ' d' How wo0 . d we snow
we we|e nappy . | we co0 ' d not cont |ast napp. ness
w. t n 0n napp. ness' C0 | app|ec. at . on o| expe|. ence
. s c ' ose' y ' . n sed to o0| awa|eness ol cont |ast and
cnange.
As ' ongas cnanges acco|d w. | nwnat wesnow o
o| . ng0nexpected| oy, t ney |enewo0| con|. denceand
sense o| v. t a' . ty Aswep' an, o|gan . ze, and d. ec| o0
ac| . v. | . es, wecan|espondtocnangeasa s | . m0 ' 0 s and
cna' ' enge. Vnen we a|e con|. den| and |. ' ' ed w. t n a
senseo| we' ' oe| ng, cnange man| |estsas g|ow| n and
p|ogress. Vecanput as . de0 np' easan| occu||encesas
m| nor | || . t a| | ons, and | o|get | nem | n tne momen| 0 m
o| acn| ev| ngwna| wewant .
But wedo not seem t o oe ao' e to app|ec. ate a' |
cnangeseq0a' ' y. cvent necnangeswecnoose| o| o0|
se' vesd. st 0 |oo0| acc0st omedwayol t n . n s. ngand' . v
. ng,andc|eatepnys. ca' andemot . ona' st |ess. Vnenwe
ma||y, movetoa new nome, o|sta|| a new| oo, exc. te
ment p|od0ces t ens . on. no0| ood. esandm. nds | nany
news . t 0at . on, wecaneas . ' yoecomeapp|enens . ve.
Vnen we a|econ ||on ted w. | ncnangeswedo not
want, t ne e|lect . s even st | onge| and can oe deep' y
0nset t ' . ng Pos. t | ve as pec| s o| 0nwan | ed cnanges a|e
d ||| c 0| | |orus | osee. Ve |earwew. ' . come0 p aga. nst
some| n| ngwe canno| nand' e| na| w. ' ' cause us pa| n.
|aced w. | n oppor| un . t | es t o ' eave pa| n| u' o| even
Time to Change 91
desl |0cl ve |e| al ons n ps o| wo|s ng s . l 0al ons, we
mayt. ndo0| se' vesc ' . ng. nglol ne|am. ' . a| |al ne| l nan
| | s || ng new and un|nown demands on ou| | n ne|
|esou|ces.
Pe|napscnange. sl ool n|eal en ng ' o|aced . |ecl ' y.
Ve|nowl nal wecannol a' waysma|ecnangesacco|d
w. l n o0| w. snes. Cnange . s . mpe|sona' and uncom
p|om s . ng. l may nol con|o| m l o o0| expeclal . ons .
| l . s a' so . ||eve|s . o' e. cxcepl. n | anl asy, wecan nol l 0|n
oac| | nec| oc|and |e' . vepo|| . ons o| ou| ' . ves lo ma
n. pu| a|e l neou| comeo| evenl s | oou| | | || ng.
Vnaleve|. ' ' 0 s . ons o|pe|manencewec|eale nou|
' . ves, lne passage o| l . me w. ' ' end l nem. cvenl ua' ' y
cnangew ' ' sepa|ale 0s ||om a' ' wecne| . s n, even o0|
ownood. es | n l nemomenl o|deal n, wnal w. ' ' oel ne
mean. ng o| l ne pas s ons, l ne | oys, l ne s 0|le| . ngs we
nave expe|| enced| ne |ea' | ly we n ave dea| l w l n a | |
ou| | . ves' Vnaleve|wecons . de| . mpo| | anl now may
appea| qu| l e d| || e|enl | y |o us as we nea| | ne end o|
o0| |nown| o| mo|ex. slence. Vewo0 ' d ' . se l ol n. n|
l nal we a|e . nconl |o' ot o0| ' . ves, o0l . l seems mo|e
acc0|ale lo say l nal l . me, and l ne cnanges . l o| . ngs,
a|e . nconl |o' o|0s .
Oeep. n o0| m nds,cnange|em. nds us ot o0| mo|
l a| | |y and ou| | . m| | a| | ons Tne ecno o| | n| s |em| nde|
|esonal es deep w| l n | n us wneneve| we |. nd ou|
se' ves 0nao| e lo conl |o| o| lo anl . c. pale l ne |' ow o|
evenl s. O' l . mal e' y, n0 man oe ngs, awa|e l nal a ' ' ' te
ends n deal n, a|e nol com|o|lao' e ' v. ng . n a wo| ' d
o| consl anl cnange. Tne l |ans . ence l nal 0 nde| ' es a ' '
o0 | expe| encel . ngeso0| napp nessw. l n so||ow, o0|
conl dencew l n 0 nce|l a nl y, a nda ' ' ol o0| p' eas 0|es
w| l npa. n .
T T
Bi rt h and Yout h
During these early years,
we pattern wa ys of relating to the world
that ma y susta in us for a lifetime.
e oeg. n o0| ' ves as a s . ng' e ' v ng ce' ' , . g
no|ant o| event s t na| p|eceded t ne 0 n on ol
s pe| mandeggw. t n. no0| mot ne|' soody Ye| | n s ce' '
con ' a ns w t n n t , ' se an a|cn . tect 0 |a' p' an, tne
genet c ns | | 0c| . ons and t . m. ngmecnan s ms t nat w ' '
de' e| m. ne| nepnys ca' st | 0ct 0 |e ol o0| oodya ndt ne
0 ' t . mate ' . m. tsolo0| ' . |espan.
C0| ea| ' y mont ns a|e spen ' . n da| snessand ' ot a'
dependency Tn |o0gno0t t n. s ea| ' ydeve' opmen' , we
a|e nt . mat e' y| o. ned |o anot ne| n0 manoody, sna|. ng
t neexpe| enceso|ano| ne| n0man oe. ng. Howa|ewe
a|lectedoy' nes n. |t . ngo' oodp|ess0 |es, t neno| mona'
and cnem. ca' cnanges, t ne emo' ona' | ones o' t ne
oody n wn cnwe |es de! ' n wnat s0ot ' e ways m. gnt
we ' ase on o0| mot ne| s p|ed. s pos . t . ons and even
memo| es !
Comp' ete' y. so' ated andne' p' ess, w. | nconsc o0s
nessandsenses| 0s ' s ' . || ng n ' o | le, we aoso|o wnat
Time to Change
93
comes l n |o0gnl newa| | s o|l newomow. l no0l p|olesl
o| consenl , we canno| cnoose lo oe oo| n o| nol lo
oeoorn, o|del e| m. nel nec. rc 0 ms| anceso| o0r o| r| n.
| gno|anl o| o0| n. sl o|y, nol snow. ngo0| own na
l 0|e, possess . ngsenses o0l dep|. ved o| mosl senso|y
sl | m0 ' al | on, we |es | de. na dar| enc' osed space. How
doesa n0manconsc. o0s ness|eacll os 0cnas . l 0al . on '
Vnal|ee' . ngsa| . sew. l n . n 0 s ' Vnal doweexpe|. ence
a| l ne momenl o| o| rl n, wnen we are s 0dden| y d . s
' odged ||om l neon ' y sec0| . l ywenave snown, com
p|essedandcon sl | . cl edoypowe|| 0 ' | o|ces, andl n|0 sl
. nl oa |ore| gnwo| | do| | | gnl , so0 nd, andopenspace'
|0 ngs expand lo s 0sla . n o0| |. |sl o|eal ns, sl|el cn. ng
m0sc' es and | . ss 0es neve| 0 sed oe|o|e, | o| l ne |. |sl
l | mewe snow na|d nessandco| d, andawasen | oo0r
ex. sl enceas a l | 0 | ysepa|aleoe. ng.
B0l wnal com|o| l . s o0| . ndependence wnen we
nave needs and a|e ne' p| ess |o sal | s |y | nem' Ve c|y
o0llo| wnal ' Ve m. gnl say an . n|anl c|. es o0l | o|
conlacl, wa| ml n, andno0| . s nmenl , o0| wnal needsgo
0ncomm0 n| cal ed, wnal | ong. ngs rema | n even wnen
we a|e wa|m and we' ' led ' Vnal ||0 sl |al . ons and
anx. e| . es do o0| pa|enl s expe| . ence a|l e| l ney nave
g| ven a | ' l ney can, ands | | ' ' | neneed conl . n 0es ' How
do l ne. | al l . l 0desa|leclo0| ea| ' . esl monl ns '
| n| anl swan| , o0l dono| s eem| o snow wna| l ney
wanl . How co0' d l ney, wnen l ney can nol ma|e
compa|. sons o| . mag. ne poss . o' e sal . s|acl . ons ' Tn. s
o' . nd wanl . ng, w. l no0 | p0| pose o| oo| ec| , seems a
s| range |. nd o| |r0sl ra| | on lo o0| ad0 | | m. nds How
0nse| l ' . ng, l n. s 0 n sposen ' ong. ngl nal seems lo a| . se
||om nowne|e . n a consc. o0s ness | 0sl awasen. ng l o
| nel . m| ngo|n 0 mana||a| |s
94 Know/edge of Freedom
Sucn ' ong| ngs seem c' ose' y | ntertw| ned w. t n t ne
|ears | na| naunt our cn| | dnood Sepa|at | on |rom ou|
pa|enls . s d. st |es s . ng, we seem | oc|ave app|ova' , a|
t ent | on, and secu | . t y, we |eco. ' ||om st |a nge peop. e
and oo| ects, and requ| re ||equent reassurances Are
we con sc| ous | n | nese ear| . est years o| our ne| p' ess
dependency' How canwe|ee' secu |ewnenwe nave
so ' . t t ' ecno. ce . n wnat nappensto us' Vnet ne| ou|
parent s of|er us ' ove, resent ment , or ange|, we can
on| y c| | ng to wna| we |now, wecan n ot conce| ve o|
wnat m. gn| oeoette||o|ou| ' . ves.
Vnenwecry, wemay oeg| vent n. ngstnalween
| oy no| d| ng, | oo|| nga| , and |ast | ng Co| ec|s seem to
|e' . eve t ne d. scom|o|t o| need, and we oeg. n |o as
soc. atet nem w. t n sat . s|act | on o| napp. ness Ve ' ea|n
|o say yes and no, and | ry to assert our des . res, out
o| | en we | | nd | na| our w| snes are | gnored and our
cno. cesa|e ' . m. ted.
|acn day we a ' t e| nat e many l mes oelween nap
p| ness and | rust |at | on, secur| ty and anx| ety A sense
o| need pe|s . s |s Ou| . ngt neday we can |. ndcom|o||
. n tne m. dst o| peop' eand pe|naps ||. end . y pe| s, oul
wnat name' ess |ears ar| se | n tne n | gnt , || ' ' ng ou|
dreams w| | n s| range, ter|| |y| ng oeast s' Vnydot nese
|ee. . ngs| . se up wnenwe a|e a' one. n lne da| s, wnen
da| snesswasou|ea| ' . estnome'
oonwe' ea| n nowto p' easeot ne|s. Ve ' ea| nt ne. |

gu. de' . nes |o| oenav. o|, ' anguage, and va' ues, as
we| | as moree||ec| | vemeanso| w| nn| ngapprova| . Our
. nglnese ea| . yyea|s, we deve' op pat | e| ns o| |e' a| . ng
tot newo| ' d | nat may susta. n us| o| a ' . |e| . me Vea|e
Time to Change 95
c0r. o0s, we reacn o0t and grasp, we want to sat . s|y
des . |es . ns | an | ' y. Vnat s | |at eg. es dowedev. seto get
wnatwewant wnen want . ngg|ows . n tense'
|vent 0a | ' ywed. scove|t nat pa|ent s can|ee' g0| ' ty,
andwe| earn top' ay ont ne. | |ee' . ngs . not sod. ||. c 0 | t
|o ge| wnat we wan | , wnen we s now now. St . ' ' , we
a|e olten ' e|t lee' . ngd. ssat . s|. ed o| d. sappo. nted Oo
werea ' ' y snowwnatwewant '
Ve oecome mo|e ss. ' ' | 0 ' at ma n. p0| at . ng t nose
a|o0nd 0s , o0 | t ne|e a|e ' . m. ts |o wnat we can do
oelo|e ad0' t d. s p' eas0 |e st ops 0s | l o0| pa|ent s a|e
ange|ed, we |eart hevo| d s 0dden| yopened oetween
0s. | | t ney s 0||e| . n s . ' ent exaspe|at . on, wesen se t ne
|e| ect . on and oecome anx. o0s . Vnat . | t ney do not
seem to ca|e wnat we do' Ve m0 st mase t nem t ase
not . ceandrespond, |ega|d' esso| t neconseq0ences.
Vne|eve| we t 0| n, . t seems we even | 0a ' ' y |ace
con|' . ct cxte|na ' ' y, |est |a. nt s a|e . mposed, . nt e|na' ' y,
needs m0| t | p' y|aster t nan o0r ood. es can copew| t n
t nem, and we oecome ||0st |ated w. t n o0| own ex-
na0s t . on So m0cn nappensso q0 . cs' y, o0| m. nds a|e
|' ooded w. t n senso|y s | . m0 ' at . ons and emot . ona. |e
act | ons, wn. | et nere | s | . t t | ewe can rea ' | y0 nderst and.
|ven ascn. ' d|en, wenave a means o|escape. Ve
can con| 0|e 0p a l antasy wo| . d and ' . ve . n o0| own
secret rea ' m Here we n ave powe| and cont ro' , ne|e
tnere are nocon || | ct swe can not overcome, no d| |||
c0' t . estoo | | . gnten. ng to 0 nde|stand Ad0 | s may . n
t |0de, o0t wec a nn . de oen . ndt nep' ay s . t 0at . ons we
nave created and ' ocso0t |ea| and pa| n. Vnywo0 ' d
we w| ' | . ng' y ' eave t n| s rea | mwnere everyt n | ng . s o|
de|' y, wa| m, and sec0|e, lo| tne ' |ea' wo| . d, so cna
ot . cand 0 ncont |o' . ao' e'
96 Knowledge of Freedom
nen we oeg| n scnoo| , our wor ' d grows s0d
den| y w| der. A| ' at once we are more ' grown
u p' , t nougn we nave no cno| ce out |o l a|e wnal
comes Pernapsour t nougnt s run some| n| ng| | |el n| s.
| | | |e scnoo| . y y | | | |e mynew |r. ends, ou| someo|
t neones | | . |e won' t p| ayw| t n me Tney | augn at me
| ' ' ' snowl nem Myl eacne| wanl s melo oe s mal e|
' . |e n . mor do eve|yl n . ng | . gnl' . se ne| Vny do
| navel odownal l ney say'
Ve oeg. n to nol . ce ol ne|s . n new wayswe |ee'
we ae ' s pec. a. ' , o0l p|ec. se. y now ae we spec. a' '
Ve compa |e ou|se' ves w. l n ol ne s, nol . c. ng d. ||e|
ences . n appea ance, s . ze, c. ol nes, possess . ons, and
s s . ' ' s . How dowe' meas 0e 0p' ' Oo o0r d. |te|ences
ma|e 0s ' oeller' o| ' wose l nanl neot ne| s Oowela' |
d. f|eren| ' y, or say t n| ngs l na | ma|e o| ners | augn
a| us' Ooou| nao| t satt racl a|l enl . on' How dool ners
|ee' aoout us ' Vno . s more | mpor | ant to p| ease
our teacners or our c| ass ma|es' Cver l ne nexl |ew
yea|s, wne| ne| we| | |eour s . | ual | onorno| , wne| nerwe
en| oy ou| exper. ences or dread eacn day, we ad| ust,
wesoc. a' . ze, andwet . l . n asoeslwecan Venavel o
Soon we |. nd o0|se. ves cnang. ng . n ways l nal
arousenew|ee. . ngsandl no0gnl s aoo0l o0 |se' vesand
ol ne|s. Somenow we seem lo oecome moe se' |
con sc. o0s , mo|e sen s . l . ve to c|. l . c. s m and | . d. c0 . e
cve|yl n. ng seemsd. |t e|en l , andwedon' l |ea ' ' y snow
wny Tne al mospnee . s mo|e compe| . | . vewe |ee'
lne need lo exce. . n sometn . ng, lo cave o0t a p' ace
ot o0| own Ve may |. nd o0 |se' ves empnas . z. ng
acl . v. l . es. nwn . cnweexce. wn. . edowngad. ng | nose
l nal | n|eateno0r se| |con|| dence
Time to Change 97
Vnen we do we' ' , we |ee' exn . ' a|ated, a' t no0gn
we maywor|yaoo0t wnetne| wew. ' ' oeao' etocome
| nro0gn wnen t ne press 0|e . nc|eases Ve |ee' t ne
pangs o| no| oe| ngwanted wnenweare among | ne
' ast t ooecnosen |or a | eam, we may |ee| as named
oroew. ' de|edwnenwe' ose. nacontesto| . nte' ' ect 0a'
ss. ' ' s |ee' . ngs o| |a . ' 0 |e can oe devastat . ng, and we
w. t ndrawmo|eq0 . cs' y||om s . t 0at . ons wne|ewenave
|e| t n0|| oe|ore. B0t now we snow we nave |o n. de
our |ee' | ngs, | | o| ners sense weare v0| nerao| e, | ney
m. gn| n0rt 0s mo|e. Vnen o| ne|sa |e n0|| o| ' e| | o0| ,
we mayt 0|n away . nemoa||assment and|ea|, or | o. n
t negro0p. n| . d. c0 ' . ngt ne. r pa. n .
Now we are more aware | na| we a|e g|ow| ngup.
Ve| aseourse| vesmoreser| ous | y, | mag| n | ng nowwe
wo0' d' . setooe. Vea|e moresens . t . vetonowt n. ngs
' sno0' doe' , wewant tooe' ong, andto dot n. ngs | . gnt
Veoeg. n tonot . ce . ncons . st enc. es . no0| pa| ent sdo
t neymeasure0ptoour| dea' s ' Soonwe|ee'con|' | ct . ng
| oya' | | esoe|weenparen| s w. | nwnomwe. den| | |yand
t ne |o' e mode' s we adm. |e A g|ow. ng |ee' . ng o|
d. scom|o|t may s 0dden' yc|ys | a ' ' . ze . n |o tne |ea ' . za
t . ont natwenave noce|t a. nsense o|wnowea|e
ur| ng | ne con| us| on o| our ado| escen| years,
we |ee' mo|e vent 0|esome and . ndependent o|
ad0 ' t s, o0t m0cn mo|e v0 ' ne|ao' eto t neop. n. ons o|
o0r||. ends cve|yoneseems tooe' oos. ngat 0s Vnat
a|e t ney see. ng' Vnat s no0' dwe ' oos ' . se, act ' . se'
Sowe copy. | n| s pe|son' s way o| speas| ng, | na| per
son' s manner . s ms , t ne | . gn | | n. ngs to say, | ne | . gnt
t n. ngs to do. Ve copy t ne cna|acte| . st . cs o| | | . ends
98 Knowledge of Freedom
we adm| re, peop| ewnonaveacn| eved |ameandsuc
cess, wea| | n, or power,cnarac| ers | n nove| s, mov| es, or
| e| ev| s | on. |xper| men| | ngw| | n appearances, ways o|
speas| ngand dress| ng, we | ry ond. || erent persona| |
| | es Vewan | despera| e| y| o expressours e| ves, t ooe
a|onceun| queand yett nes ameasour |r. ends.
C0 | | | . endsoecomeo0| m. | |o|s . Byoose|v. ngt ne. |
|eact . ons t o0s , wet |y t ot. g0|e o0t nowt o' oos, now
t oact, nowt ooe Ved. scove|t natd|ess . ngandact . ng
. n ce|t a. n ways mase 0s accepted as a pe|son C0|
| e' at . ons n . pt o | neg| o0 pwnet ne| we |ee' pa|t o| . t
o| a' . enated ||om . tg. ves 0s a senseo| . dent . ty. C0|
deve' op. ngt a' ent s and capao. ' . t . es g. ve 0s new |ee'
. ngs o| con|. dence. B0t . n stead o| d. sappea| . ng, tne
so0 |ces o| o0| . n sec0 |. ty nave on' y g|own mo|e
comp' ex
Cur | . me | s oecom| ng more s | r uct ured, and we
nave| esst | meto ourse| ves. Pressu resanddemandso|
paren| s, |eacners, and | r| ends are o|ten con|| | c| | ng, | |
| s nardt osa| | s|yt nerequ| remen| s t na | comea| us |rom
a| | s . desscnoo| , soc. a| | . |e, s po|ts, new des. |es, new
standa|ds o| oenav. o|, and p' ans |o| t ne| 0t 0 |e. | n ne|
con|' . ct s a|e g|ow. ng mo|e . nt ense, a|o0s . ng st |ong
emot . ona' eact . ons, we a|e to|n oetween p|ess0 |es
to act and mase mo|e g|own 0pdec. s . ons t nat |o|ce
o0| attent . ono0twa|d and|ee' . ngso|. nadeq0acy| nat
mase 0swant tow. t nd|aw
Ve spend a ' ot o| t . mewo||y. ngaoo0| o0 |se' ves
Vnydo| |ee' soawswa|d! Noonee' seseems to|ee'
| n. s way, eve|yone e' se seems so con|. dent Vnat . l
| neyseenow | one' y anduns0reo|myse| | | |ee' ! Tney
seem |o doeveryt n . ng r | gn| wnycan' | | oemore | . se
| nem! Vnydo| nave| ooe me! But wnoam| !
Time to Change 99
Vestart tot n| ns aoout grow| ngupandassum| ng
ad0' t |espons o. ' . t . es, vac . ' ' a| . ng oetween a des . |e to
oe . ndependent anda des . |e t ooet asenca|e o|. C0|
a| | | | udes towa|dou| parent scnangedramat | ca| | y, and
we oeg. n o|eas. ng away | | om t ne. | cont |o' . Vny
won' t yo0 | et mer un myown | | |e' As | ong as you
' . ve . n t n. s no0se, yo0 nave |o |o' ' ow o0| |0 ' es | n
t n. s p|ocess o| |eoe' ' . on, we may deve' op negat . ve
|ee| | ngs toward our parent s t nat can t ase years t o
|eso' ve.
Newenergy|| owst nrougnour ood. es errat | ca| | y
we expe| enceo0 |stso| exc | ement andnew pnys. ca'
des . |es. Ve cnange pnys . ca' ' y, andwea|e d. st 0 |oed
. | o0| deve| opment d| f|ers |rom wnat seems most
des. |ao' e, o0| emot . ons | ' asn un p|ed . ct ao' y | | om
e| at | on to depress| on, wn| | enew des | res, nopes, and
n |e|ests occ0py o0| m. nds |ee' . ngs ol pan. c ove|
wne' m0sw. t no0t wa|n . ngwea|ecnang. ngwnet ne|
wewant to or not , andweare not s ure wnat we are
oecom. ng.
|ant as| es and . nter na| d| a| ogues || | | our m| nds,
|e. n|o|c ngo| c| . | . c z . ngt n. s o| t nat . mageo|o0 |se' ves
aswesea|cn| o| somestao' e dent . ty Vewan t t o| nd
o0|se| ves, as. | wewe|es omenow' ost, as| | t ne|ewere
somet n |ead. n t n s tang' eo|eventsandemot . ons t nat
wou' d| ead toour rea| se| ves. Vnocans nowus wnere
to ' oos' Vewan| g0 . dance, o0t wea|e a| | a. dto open
o0 |se' ves to ot ne|s wn . ' ewe |ee' so v0' ne| ao' e and
unce|ta| n S| ow| y, pa| n|u| | y, we p| ece toget ner tne
pe|sona' . t . es t nat w. ' ' snapeo0|ad0 ' | ' . ves.
Crad0a| ' ywe oecome mo|e assured | n our soc| a'
|e' at . ons n. ps Ve . dent . ly w. | n g|o0ps o| o0| pee|s,
we | . nd a part . c0 | ar t a' ent o| ss. ' ' t nat seems to ex
1 0
Knowledge of Freedom
p|ess o0| 0 n . q0eness. | | we a|e ' 0csy, t ne s s. ' ' s we
h avec hosen | odeve' opmay | ead 0s |orwa|d |oward
a j oo or career. B 0 | wha| | | none o| | he ava . ' ao| e
cho| cesseems | o| . | w| | nwhowe|ee| weare'
l | wehavea s| rongsense o|d| rect | on, 0ponwna|| s
. | oased' H aveweoeen| a0gn| | o| h| ns . ndependen| | y
aoo0t goa ' s andp0|posest nat a|e nea' t ny|o|o0| own
' . ves ' How we' ' do we 0 nde|st and wnat . s nvo' ved
. n a | ooo| p|o|ess . on' Pe|napswe a|e n|' 0enced oy
t ne va' 0es o| ||. ends o| t ne expect at ons o| pa|ents,
pe|haps we |ee' ' ost Vnat s t ne mean. ng o| o0|
cno. ces' Ve may mag newecan cnange o0| m. nds
' at e|, yet. nev. t ao' ywea|eopen. ng 0psomeoppo| t 0
n . t . es and c' os . ngo|| ot ne|s | snowwnat | ' mdo. ng
| ' m ndependent now. | ' manad0 ' | , a|en' t | '
Vemay snow wha| we do n o| wan| | | | ne ' . ves
o|o0| pa| ent so|o| he| ad0 ' | sseem con |. n . ng, wemay
oe det e|m| ned | ha| o0rs w. ' ' oed. ||eren| B0| whe|e
can we ' oos |or oe| te| examp' es, and how can we
snow wh . ch mode| s o|| e| a nea| t h. er wayo| | . |e' Ve
|. nd o0|se' ves ca0ght . n 0 nce|| a | n|y and | ndec| s . on,
pe|naps t o| n oetween oo' gat . ons t o pa|ent s, eco
nom. c |ea ' . t es, and o0| pe|sona' w. snes Anx. et . es
compete w. t n powe|| 0' | ant as. es, nopes, and mages
o| s 0ccess
On ao' e| odec. de| o| o0|se' ves, wemayt|yto|0 ' |. ' '
o0| pa|ents' expect at . ons C| pe| naps we set t ' e . nto
com|o|tao' e patt e| ns t na| |eq 0 |e |ew changes Ve
may t ase wnateve| oppo| | 0 n t . es a| se and no' d a
se| . es o| | oos, p|o' ong. ng a sense o| ||eedom and
. ndependence oy avo. d ng wo|s tnat demands a
comm| | men| C| we may neve| have | ne . ' | 0s . on o|
cno. ceandnaveto |. ndwna| wo|swecan.
Time to Change 1 01
Now l nat we nave oecome ad0 ' l s, s . gn. |. canl
|oman| | c|e| a| | ons n . ps a| eo| l enexpecled andanl . c.
pated oy o0| lam. ' . es. | | we a|e . n ' ove, ma| | . ageand
lam. ' y may seem a ' og. ca' st ep o| a |e| 0ge | | om l ne
many | nsec 0 |. l . eswe |ace Tno0gn we may | ee' o0|
' . ves a|e open. ng oelo|e 0 s as we st ep . nl o' t ne|ea'
wo| ' d' , o0| opt . ons oeg. n lo d. m. n . s n, o0| | . ves
oecome | n| e||w| ned w| ln |ne ' | ves o| o| ners, and
|espons . o. ' . l . es acc 0m0 ' at e
Vnet ne| we no' d oacs, |e' 0cl ant t o g. ve 0p
dependency on pa|enl s o| cn . ' dnood | | . ends, o| se|
o0l w. ln de|| n . l egoa ' s and p0 |poses, we m0sl mase
o0| own way. Vnel ne| we lee' t ne exc. l emenl ol
cna| ' engeo| l nepangso| se' | do0o| and anx| ely, l n| s
. s o0| t . met o' . veo0| own ' . ves
T Z
Years of Our Pr i me
If we stop for a moment, step out of our roles,
and reexamine our purposes and achievements,
what have we really accomplished?
_ow s | | mu| a| . ng ou| ea| | y adu| t yea|s can oe,
wnen we |ee' we a|e exe|c s ng o0| m. nds and
ood. esto| ne| 0 ' ' est ' St ' ' , wea|e lacedw. l nsomenad
cno ces. Cnce we a|e on o0| own, we may |ee. a
we| comes enseo| | ndependence, ou| wemaya| so|. nd
tnat . l . s not a' ways easy to gel wnat we want
|st ao' . sn ng a ' v ng s . t 0at . on may oe mo|e comp. .
caled andexpen s . ve | nanwenad t no0gn | . | | we | ase
our paren| s ' . |es|y' e|orgran | ed, wemay|| ndweneed
la| mo|e money l nan we a|e ao' eto ea|n. Tnesa' ay
l nal seemed . mp|ess . ve at t neo0t sels 0dden. y seems
m0cn| oos ma' ' , pe| napswel. ndo0 |se. vescomm | | ed
todeo| s| na| ' . m| tou| ao| ' | t y|odot net n | ngs wewan|
Vnat am | do. ng' | s . l a' ways go. ng lo oet n. s way'
Oo | wan | mo|e espons . o. ' . | y' Oo | need d. l|e|enl
s s . . s o| mo|eed0ca| . onl oge| wnat| wan | o0t o|. . le'
Oo| wanl tospendyears o|my' . |e s| | 0gg' | ngtomase
Time to Cha nge 1 03
ends meel . n ode lo nave wna| | want ' Vne|e w. | |
| gelt nemoney'
Tn . ngsl nal nl e|es| 0s o|l ensnow' t | ' ep|om s e|o|
| 0l 0 e emp' oyment , wemay navetocomp|om se o0|
n |e|es | s w. | n an eye l o | ne | oo ma set a nd o0|
| | nanc. a| s | | ua| . on | | we nave | necnance | o purs ue
| ne s 0o| ec| s | na| exc| | e us, we may d. scove|| na| we
mus|devo|e | ongyea|s | oprepa|a| | on oe|oe wecan
nope t o masl e| l nem. Veae |aced w. t n t neneed to
we. gn o0| des. es | o| mo|e . mmed. at e g|al . | cal . on
aga. ns| | neva' 0eo| acn ev. ng' ong |angegoa' s
cven . | we ae ' . v. ng wna| ' ooss ' . se a cae|ee
' | |es| y' e, we a|e o|| en seen | y aware o| | | me and o|
| | nanc| a| p|essures Tne| 0l 0|e | s mucn on our m. nds
aswecompe| e| o| j oos or recommendal . ons | na| w| | '
open | ne doo|s t o | n e | oo we wanl , | o p|o|ess ona'
l a. n. ng, o pe|naps gad0ate scnoo' Vea|e a ' |eady
s . z. ng 0p o0 poss. o. ' . t . es, compa ng o0 se' ves w. l n
peop' e a' |eady estao' . s ned . n o0| cnosen | e' d, con
s de ngnowwem gnl come| o| nea |lent . ono|t nose
wnocan ne| pus s 0cceed. Ve may |ee' wea|e oe| ng
man| p0' a| ed oy| nees|ao| . s ned sys | em, and need | o
man| p0 | al eol ne|s | n | u| n.
As we p0 |s0e o0 nd. v d0a' goa ' s, we may |ee'
' one' yand|es | ' ess, even | we nave| ends Ve 0s 0a' ' y
wanlonespec. a' pe|son l ocon|. de . n , o| |a' ' n ' ove
w. l n, someone wno can sa| s|y o0| ' ong. ngs |o|
com|o | andca| . ng Pe| naps we do|. ndsomeone|o
wnomo0r |ee| | ngsa |edeepands . nce|e B0l m. s 0 nde|
s|and| ngsmayocc0|, and|ee| | ngs o| ' one| | nessre| urn
Cnepa|t ne maydec. delo masecnanges, | eav. ngl ne
ot ne| |ee' . ng n0|l and |e| ecled Ve may d . |l . n and
1 04
Knowledge of Freedom
o0t o|a se|. eso|| e' at . ons n. ps | nat seemto |. . ' a need,
o0t wn . cn a ' so na0nt 0s as a po| en t . a' so0rce o'
emot. ona| d . st |ess
How ' ong do we go on, not | as. ng | ne t . me t o
| e|' ect on t ne ca0ses o| o0| 0 n napp. ness' Aga. n and
aga . n, we o| ame ot ne|s | o| o0| p|oo| ems , w| t no0t
. oos. ng at t ne | ea| s ol ne' p' essness and . s o. at . on, a|
t necyc' es o| n eed, des | |e, and||0s | |at . ont nat p|ope|
0s to oeg. n and end |e' a| . ons n. ps w. tn . ove|s and
|r. ends . Ve snow t n e. r ' ove may not ' ast , we snow
o0 | own |ee' . ngs maycnange, o0t we . ns . st on | |y. ng
| o| . t o0| ' . vestoo0r| ant as. es
| n o0r daydreams , we ' oos |o t ne l 0t 0|e, wnen
eve|y| n. n gw. ' | oe oette|. C0| app|ent . cesn . p | o ' . |e
w. ' ' oe ove|, and o0| |ea. ' . |e w. ' ' oeg. n . ' ' ' . nave
eno0gn . ncome to oe . ndependent and to do wnat '
|ea. ' ywant to dow. t n my| |ee | . me. ' ' ' ' go p' acesand
do| n. ngsw| t n someonewno|ea | | y 0 nde|stands me.
B0t . n| nemeant . met nepress0 |est ope| | o| m. ncrease,
andwewonde| . | s tn . s rea ' ' y wnat | want todow. tn
my ' . |e' O| d | mase tne w|ongcno. ce' Am | m. ss . ng
o0t on somet n . ng oetter' Mayoe I sno0 ' d cons . de|
ot ne| poss | o. | . t . es
| | we |ee' 0 ns 0 |e o| wnat wewant , we may t . nd
o0 |se' ves | ' oat . ng a' ong, occ0py. ng o0| t . me w. t n
| ant as| eso| ent e|t a| n ment s , s omenow 0 nao| etocon
necto0rdreams t o|ea' . ty. C0| p. ansaresnortterm, or
e' se so vag0e we do not snow now to . mp| ement
t nem. Boredomseems t ooeo0rworst enemy, orpe|
naps ' one' . ness. Ve |ee' ' os | and oew. ' de|ed, wny
can' twe' get . t toget ne| ' '
Vemayde' . oe|ate' yavo. d mas. ngcomm. t mentsto
j oosand p|oless . ons , or |es. st ' o|m. ngc' ose re' at . on
Time to Change 1 05
s n ps Ve may p . deo0 |se' ves ono0 . ndependence,
and|ee' wecanenj oy t nerewards o||ered oysoc| e|y
w. t no0| t ne|espons . o ' . | . es| na| t n |eat eno0 l|eedom.
Ae we no' d. ng oacs l|om lea|s ol la. ' 0 |e o n ade
q0acy, or |romalear| nat ot nersm. gnt ga| n powerove|
0s!Tnat' s . d . c0' o0s| ' mdo. ngwna| | wan t t o. | | 0s |
|el0se | o getca0gnt 0 p No| n . ng | s wortn sac| | l| c. ng
my leedom Ve may st and oacs l om soc ety and
c|. t c. ze t s nega| ve s . de w. t no0t oe. ng w ' ' . ng | o
contr | o0| eanypos | t . veene|gy| ocnanget nes . | 0a| . on .
Alte| a ' ' , not n. ng can oe cnangedt n. ngs nave a'
ways oeen | n. s way. Vnys no0' d| waste myt . me'
ost ol 0s accept t ne |o' es soc. ety olle|s 0s
soc| a| press0 res and |. nanc| a| needs cat cn 0p
w. t n 0s, a nd we sett ' e down Vew. sn t o s 0cceed,
andoeg. nt oapp' yo0rse| ves t oo0r wors w| | nv. gor
Rewa|ds may come|ecogn t . on, advancement, |a. ses,
p|est . geconl rm ng o0| s0ccess C0| conl . dence
g|ows, andwe lee' more sec0 |e, ao| e to cont ro ' o0r
' . vesandnave wnatwe want . Ve| ea| n nowt omase
peop' e ' se 0s and now to w. n t ne | s 0ppo|t . | l we
oeg. n tostagnate| n onej oo, wecanl. ndanot ne|.
Soon we may dec de to |a. se a |am ' y Ve may
neve| | n. ns aoo0 | wny we' |e do. ng | |-everyone
expec| s. t Pernapswean| . c pa| ea senseol l0 ' l. | | men|
| nsee. ngo0r cn| | drengrow,and. n ne' p. ngt nems nape
tne. | l 0t 0|e. Cl co0 se, we snew cn . d|en wo0' d
comp' cate o0| ' . ves, o0| we d. d no| an| . c. pa| e | ne
worr| es| nat neverend Aret ney sale, are | ney nappy,
a|e tney n good company! Vna| . nt e|es| s a|e | ney
deve' op ng, wna| va' 0es, wna| a| | . t 0des! V. ' ' | ney
s 0cceed. n scnoo| , w. ' ' | neyl. ndj oos! Aeweadeq0ate
aspa|en | s! Vna| m. st asesa|e we mas ng! ' l| ney a|e
1 0 Knowledge of Freedom
d. sao' ed, g|ow se|. o0s ' y . ' ' , o| d. e, t ne ang0. s n may
oe a' mostmo|e | nanwecanoea|
As we advance . n ' . |e, mat e| . a' needs expand
|ap| d' y Veo0yca|s, wep0rcnasenomesand|| | | t nem
w. t n| 0|n . sn . ngs. Veopeno0s . nessesando0yeq0 . p
ment. | dent | |y. ngw| t no0| possess . ons,wewo| |y | nat
wem. gnt ' oset nem, o0| |ee' . ngso|. nsec0 |. tyw. ' ' no|
goaway Vecont | n 0etoaddtoo0| possess . ons Tne|e
. s a' ways somet n. ng | 0 st oeyond o0| |eacn t na| we
can nave. |oo|| ng aro0nd at a| | we own, we can
t e' ' o0 |se' ves t nat wea|e gett . ng somewne|e at ' ast .
C| co0 |se | wo|rys omet | mesdoes n' t everyone' C|
co0|se | nave d. sappo. nt ment swnat' s ' . |ew. t no0t a
' . t t | et |o0o| e'
Vn| | ewe are yo0 ng and gett | ngwna| we des| |e,
| oyandso||ow,e' at . onanddep|ess . on, ' oveandange|
co| oro0r | . vesw| tn r| cn, compe| | | ngemot | ona| tones.
Pnys. ca' d. scom|o|t s come and go, and can oe a' ' e
v| ated eas | ' y. |mot . ona' stress can oe d| m| n| s ned
t n|o0gn t | anq0 . ' . ze|s o| a' cono' , and | ne naze and
c| o0d| ness t ney o| . n gto o0r ' | ves may seem a sma ' '
p| . ce | opay| o| |e' . e|, a t ' eastwe can seep go. ng | |
can' t n 0 rt everyonedoes. t .
s t ne yea|s go oy, we weave an eve| mo|e . nt | .
cate weo o| | e' at . ons oetween o0 |se' ves and
ot ne|s, o. nd. ngo0 |se' vesw. t noo' . gat . ons and|espon
s| o| ' | t | es, | nvo' v| n g o0|se' ves . n ot ne|s emot . ons,
p|oo' ems,andneeds Ve s | | . ve to ' . ve0pto o0| |o' es
wo|se|, o0s . nesspa|t ne|, p|o|ess | ona' , ' ove|, mate, o|
pa|ent Pe| napswe p| . de o0 |se' ves on o0| ao. ' . |y to
p| ay many |o' es s . m0 ' taneo0s ' y, and oecome adept
Time to Change 1 07
a| s n| |t | ng among d| ||erent ' ang0age pat | erns, at t |
t 0des, andgest0 res.
Vnenac| | ons andeven| s 0 n |o| dasweexpec| , we
|ee| con|. den| and| n cont ro| , wnenwe|ee| o0r con| ro|
s ' | pp| ng, or cna| ' enges come|rom t nose c. ose t o 0 s,
we tense w. t n anx. ety. A. t no0gn we may oecome
ss. ' ' ed at p0t t . ng on a good lront even t o o0 rse' ves,
at neat we sense o0r con| dence . s no| gen 0 . ne. Ve
snr. ns re|' ex. ve' y l rom s . t 0a| . ons and even t no0gnts
t nat t n|eaten to evea' weasnesses we s 0spect o0t
can notacsnow' edge
Nomatter now compe| ent and con |. dent we|ee.
d0r . ng t ne o0sy part s o| t neday, wnenwe area. one,
w. tn notn . ng to st . m0 . at e o0| senses, we o|ten |ee.
0 neasy. C0r m| nds | eap|romt no0gnt |o t no0gnt | | se
a monsey |romtree |o | ree. C0 r ood| es grow rest ' es s
and0ncom|ort ao' e. Aga| nandaga | n weare | mpe' ' ed
to dosomet n| ng| | st ento t nerad| o, wat cn| e| ev| s . on,
read, | a| st o| r | ends, gosomewnere-| ore| | evea sense
o| ooredomandd. ssat . slact . onor escapet net no0gnt s
t na| comewnenweare a' one
How l . t t ' e . t t ases to mase 0s lee' pess0 ed ' | l
somet n. ng goes aga. ns | 0s a t wors, or o0 emp. oyers
or |am. ' . es mase 0 n 0s 0a' demands 0pon 0s, . mme
d. a| e' yo0r nerves are on edgeand o0 ood. es t ense,
s| ress gnaws at o0r stomacns and mases o0 neads
acne Vemaycarry on, . gnor. ngor rat . ona ' . z. ng| en
s . on, or mas s. ng. t sd. scom|ort s w. | n med. cat . on, o0t
. n t . me t ne press 0re t ases . t s |o' . Ve mayl. nd o0|
se| vesneed| ngmores | eep, |ee' | ngd0 ' | or | | | , ' essao| e
tor| setocna| | engesweoncewe' comed
1 08 Knowledge of Freedom
Vecanwa' | o0t o| 0 n p' easan| s | t 0a| | ons, we can
cnangeo0r j oos, o0r mates, o0r |am. | . es, o0r s 0o0 nd
. ngs , o0| canwecnangeo0 men | a' env. onment ! Ve
may | y to eso' ve o0 cont' . c| . ng t no0gnt s, o0| t ne
| n ner d. a| og0es cont . n0e, we canno| escape t ne
dr . v| ng. ns . st encyo| o0r own| no0gnt s . cvenwnenwe
need to concen| at e, o0| . n| e na' convesa| ons o|| en
g. ve0s nopeace Mean. ng' ess|ep' ayso|s . | 0a| ons tnat
nave' e| | 0 s n0rt or angycyc' eoverandover. Canwe
cnoose not to |ee| n 0 t , not | o oe depessed, not |o
|ee' ' one' yoanx o0s ! Aeweeve| eeo|o0 se' ves!
| |weac|now' edgeo0 anx. e| . esandtea sandw. sn
to econs| de o0r s | t 0at | on, we may enco0nter tne
. nsec0. | . es o| o0 ma|es, o0 cn. ' den, o0 paen| s,
. t we con |. de . n o0 | . ends and |e' ' ow wo ses, we
| s| || d. c0' e, ' os s o| s0 ppo| and | | endsn . p, even
t hesec0 r| ty o| o0r | oos. Vecan comp' a| neveryone
comp' a ns , sowecantee' com|o | ao' ew. | n| nosewno
s nae o0 g0 mo' . ngs. Ve may expess o0 wo. es
t n|o0gn n 0 mo| o| sacas m, o0 | | t | s d| t|. c 0| | to open
o0r hear| s comp| et e| y | o |ear o| appear. ng wea|
Pe napswecanno| t. ndwods | oexpesswna| we|ee' ,
o penaps we nave | . ed | ocomm0 n cateand| o0nd
o0rse' vesm. s 0nders| oodo o0 con|| dencesoe| rayed.
Vnat nappens wnen someone s0gges| s we nave
a poo' em! Tna| | o0cnes ot ne tee' . ngs, and we
d. ssemo' e | don' t nave poo' ems, ea' ' y, . | 's no| so
oad as a| ' | ha| Act 0a' ' y | ' m pre| | ywe| | o|| Anyone
wo0 ' d |ee' | nesame n o0 s . t 0a| on.
| | we tee. t neneed |o adv ce, wemay | nd t ' ess
t nrea|en. ngto t a' | w| | n someone more remot e |rom
o0r da| ' y' . ves, to|. nda gro0 po | nd| v| d0a| |o s 0ppor|
o adv. se 0s B0t now do we 0nave. | ne weo o|
Time to Change
1 09
anx| e| . es | nat oppressesus, nowdowecomm0 n | cat e
| ne| ong. ngs andneedswe|ee| ' A' | no0gnwemayga| n
| ns| gn| . n| o our proo| ems and oe reas s ured | nat we
a|e no| a' one, our anx| e| | es are | | se u nwe' come
acq0a| n | anceswecanno| o| | ngourse' ves| ocon| ront
d. |ect ' yt ney a' ways comeoacs. Most o| 0s manage
to seepo0| anx. et . es 0 nde| someso|t o|cont |o' , out
| we ' ett nem navet ne. |way, | ney maymove . n w. t n
0s, ' eav. ng0s nopeaceata ' '
| | t n . s does nappen, we may ' ose a ' ' . nt e|est . n
o0| 0s 0a' act . v. t . esa n dapp|oacnou| wo| sw. t n|e' 0c
| ance o| even d|ead } 0st as ou| ca|ee|s a |e |eac n ng
tne | peas, we may |ee' ' etn a| g. c and 0 n |espons . ve,
0nao' e|o matcn tnecompet . | . on, ' o0|n ed o0 | ' . n o0 |
p|. me. | | we t u| n to ' ess st |ess|0 ' wo| s, we may |ace
tne d| ||erent pressure o| ooredom and |ee ' . ngs o|
| nadequacy
Tnese are | neyears we an| . c. pated w. | n so muc n
|e| . sn . nour you| n. Howexc. t | ngandp| eas 0rao| e| ney
can oe wnen our v| | a | . | y rema . ns n . gn, ando0 | s ense
o| va' 0e and wo|tn . s con| | med oy o0| |a m. ' . es, o0|
accomp. . s nments, o| t ne g|owt n o| s s . ' s a nd expe|
t se Ve |ee. ousy and cont ent ed-| ne|e a|e st ' ' so
manyt n. ngst oen| oy, and som0cn mo|ewecanant
c. patedo ng . nt ne| 0t 0|e Ve may naveo0| 0ps and
downs, o0t o0| ' vesseemoas ca' ' y0nde| cont | o' and
sat s|y. ng.
e may t | u. yoeen| oy. ngt nemoment 0 m o| o0|
' . ves. B0t . |, . n tne m. ds | o| o0| en| oyment and
s0ccess, wes| optoeva| ua| e| nemea n| ngandpurpose
o| our ac| | v. |y, do we |. nd we wou' d ra| ner no|
exam| neour | . ves| ooc' ose| y' How dowe|ee' aoout
1 1 0 Knowledge of Freedom
l ne cno. ces we nave made. n |e' al . ons n . ps, p|o|es
s . ons, ' . |esly' es ! Vo0 ' d wedosomel n . ngs d. ||e|en | ' y
. | wenadanol ne| cnance!
| | o0| sle|eolyped|o' es d|oppedaway, wnal wo0 ' d
oe ' e| | ! Vnal a|e we apa|l | | oma ' ' l n. s ! A|e o0| . . ves
an exp|ess . on o' o0| c|eal . v. l y! A|e o0| |e' a| . ons n. ps
w. l n ol ne|s pe|sona' . y sal . s |y. ng! A|e we spend. ng
mosl o| o0| l . me | 0 ' | ' . . ng oo' . gal . ons and expecla
l . ons , o| a|ewewo| s. ngcons c. o0s ' y lowa|d s0 oslan
l . a' goa. s !
Nea| ' y na' | o' o0| ' . |e nas now passed, a|e we
o0. ' d. ng a oas. s | o| |ea' va' 0e! Vnen we ' oos oacs
0 ponl n. s pe| . od lwen lyyea|s ' |omnow,noww ' ' we
|ememoe| . l ! V. ' . we|ee. we0sedo0| l . mel o. l s oes|
advanlage! | | we s | op| o| a momenl , slep o0l o| o0|
|o' es, and|eexam. neo0| p0 |posesandacn. evemenl s,
wnal navewe|ea ' ' yaccomp' . s ned!
T J
The Wan i ng of Our Li ves
Where have we learned what death is,
or how to face it unafraid?

n t . me o0| ene|g. es oeg. n to dec ' . ne. |. |e seems

t o pa0se and sn . lt, . . se a n. gn pe||ormance ca|
d |opp| ng| nto a ' owe|gea| Vemay sen se a | es sen. ng
o| des| |es o| s uo| ' e cnanges | n ou| pe|cep| | on and
| as|e, pe| naps we | . |e a | | tt | e mo|e easi ' y and |. nd
o0|se' ves t n . n s. ng more aoo0t o0| nea' l n Acc0s
| omed | n. ngsmay seem a ' . l | ' e|' atter andd 0 ' ' e| | nan
oe|o|e, o| we may not . ce t ne l. rs | s . gns o| pnys ca.
weasnesso| symptoms oloeg n n . ng d. sao. ' . ly.
0. l e s0dden ' y we may see . n o0r |el' ect . ons
unm. stasao' es | gns o| ag| ngandawasenw| | na snocs
| o| ne|ea| | zat | on| nat ou| | . vesmaywe| ' oemo|e t nan
na' | over. Cnanges we nad on' y pa| | a ' ' y acsnow|
edged can no . onge| oe gno|ed C0| c n . dren nave
g|own and nave l ne | own va' 0es and ' lesly' es. Ve
maynaved| ll edapa|t||omn0soands,w. ves, o|. ove|s
A|et ney oo|edw t nus nowl na| weare o' de| and. ess
att|act . ve' Have d. ||e|ent . nl e|ests sepa|ated 0s ' Ve
1 1 2 Knowledge of Freedom
may lee' | n eatened oy t ne ag. ng o d. sao. ' . ty ol
parents, concer ned |or| ne| r nea' | nandsa|ety, o|a||a. d
o| t ne respons| o. ' . |y | o| | ne. r care. Oea| n may nave
| oucned us | nrougn|am. | y, | r| ends , o||e' ' owwo||ers.
Now we |now t . me | s pass | ng, and we |ee' t ne
| mp| | ca| . ono| c nange more snar p| y| nan everoe|ore
Ve can no ' onge avo. d ac|now' edg. ng t ne . nev. ta
o. ' . ty ol deat n, we |now t nee w. | ' oe no cno. ce . n
t neendout t og. ve upa ' ' wenavewo sedt oacn. eve
Tne s nocs o| t n. s |ea' . za| . on may sna|e o0 conl.
denceandlo|ce0s to|eeva| 0at eo0| | . ves
| | we nave acn. eved wnat we se| o0t to do, we
may l . nd t nat o0 l ee' . ngs o| sat . s|act on are no| so
g|eat as we nad expected | nem |o oe | l we nave not
acn . eved ou| goa' s, tne cnances ol do. ng so ae oe
com. ng moe remote. Vemaysen se agapopen . ng. n
our | | ves| na| weare u n prepared| o|ace
Vnenwewere younge| and|aced a | ongco|r| do|
o| | | me, postponed dreams o| act . v| t | escou' doecome
sou|ces o| p' easa n| an| | c. pa| | on. | | we m| ssed one
oppo| un . ty, we cou| d expect anot ner |o a . se. Now
unl u' |.| | ed w. snes a|e d. sappo. n | ment s , so0 ces ol
pa. n C0 | s ense o| t . me nas cnanged, |ecast . ng o0
' . ves. n at ota' ' ynewpe|spect . ve C0 | oestt . me. s ove|,
ou| | 0t 0|e w. ' | a ' ways oe 0 nce|ta. n . Ve do no| snow
now m0cn t . me. s ' e|t Have we ea' . zed t ne |ewa|ds
weexpected. no0| yo0t n! Vnatet 0r ns aewegett . ng
l o| | ne. nvest ment oldecadesolo0 | . ves. n ed0ca| . on
andna|d wo| s!
ne cr | ses o| re|| ec| . on and | ndec| s | on a| e o|
| en our| ed | n new |ou nds o| act . v| ty Now t na| we
|ee' | | me' s pressure, our ene|gy may nave a more
Time to Change
1 1 3
dr| ven q0a| | Iy, we nave Io seep mov. ng, | n| n s | ng,
p' ann. ng,do. ng. 0esI. oned, weIendIo oede|ens. ve.
VnaI aoo0IIne sec0 |. Iy o| o0| | oos' C| co0 |se my
pos . | | on | s sec0 re | nave more exper| ence | nan
yo0 nge| peop' e, and expe|. ence . s wo|l n mo|e Inan
money can o0y. B0I are we s 0re' Ve may nave
acn. eved a ce|| a. n sIaI0s and oe vcy good a| wna|
wedo, o0l w. Inyo0nge|, mo|eene|gel . cpeop' eeage|
Io| aseo0rp| ace,canwecon| | n0e|oadvan ce o|even
s 0sIa. n o0| pos. I . on'
VnaIaoo0Io0r mar| | age| s . Isec0 re'C| co0rse
Ve veoeenlogel ne| l oo' ongIocnangenow | s| ne|e
someI n. ng mo|e we wanIo0I ol ' . |e' TnaI' s aos 0|d.
| ' m nappy w| | nwnaI | nave, and | ' m pro0d o| wnaI
| ' veacn. eved Andsowemayno| oe. nc ' . ned |omase
cnanges| no0r | | ves. Hav| nga' ready. nvesIedsom0cn
e||o|| . n | ne ro' es we nave esl ao' . sned, we may
|ee' oo' . ga|edIo conI. n0el nem. Ve may noIw. s nlo
Iase | ne r | ss o| d . sr0pI | ng o0r ' . ves o| |ace I ne pa| n
o| oIne|s wno a|e depend. ng 0pon 0s. |ve|yIn . ng . s
a ' ' |. gnI. l nas Io oe. VnaI oIne| cno. ce . s l ne| e' AI
wo|sI, | ne|e a|e conso' a| | ons | | o0| | oos a|e noI
we' ' pay. ng, a| ' easI we can manage, . t we cannoI
acn. eve more, aI ' eas| we nave s en. or | |y and some
meas 0|e olp|esI. ge, . | o0| wo| s. s noI cna' ' eng. ng, aI
' eas| we can pe|lo| m . l eas. ' yand nave mo|e l . me|o|
o0rse' ves
B0I d. sI 0|o. ngIno0gnIs seep com. ng oacs T. me
. s r0n n . ng o0|nave we accomp| | sned o0| dreams '
| | we|ee' d. ssal . s|. edo| . n sec0|e,wnal ac| . ons canwe
Iase' Ve can l |y lo |. nda n ew | oo, go . nl o o0s. ness
|o|o0 |se| ves, o| evencnange p|o|ess . ons,wecansees
|e| 0venal . on | n|o0gn yo0 nge| ' ove|s o| mal es, o| oy
adop| . ngayo0 nger, ||eer| | |esIy' e. Vecan |esnapeo0|
1 1 4
Knowledge o f Freedom
| maget n |o0gnd e| andexe|c| se, o| t |y d|ess. ngmo|e
yo0| h| 0 | ' y. | | wew| sh, we cana| | emp| |o recover| ne
exc. t ement andv. t a' . tyo| o0| ado' escentyea| sandgo
t n|o0gn | newno' ecyc' eaga . n B0t now ' ongcanwe
ma. nt a. n | ne . ' ' 0s . on o| yo0t n and v. | a' . |y wnen we
|nowo0| energy .s not wha| | | was, andweg|owever
mo|ev0' ne|ao' etot ne. nev. t ao' eel|ectso|l . me'
Vemaysee||enewa' t n|o0gno0| c n. ' d|en, 0 |g ng
| hem|o . mp| ement o0r va| 0es| n | he| | | | ves, |oacn| eve
wnat we co0' d not , wn . ' e nop. ng t ney w. ' ' avo. d
|epeat . ng o0| m. sl a|es. C0| g|ow. ng | one' . ness and
sense o| 0n|0 ' |. ' ' ed needs may ' ead 0s to nvo' ve
o0|se| vescomp0| s . ve| y| n t he| r | . ves, ando0r senseo|
wo|tn may oecome dependent 0pon now we' ' l ney
| 0' | ' ' o0| expec| at . ons
As we app|oach | heend o| o0r wo||. ng| . ves,we
may |ee' an 0 nexpected 0ps0 |ge o| new anx el . es
Vnat senseo|p0 |posecanwes 0ost . t 0t e|o|o0| wo| |'
V. ' ' weoe |ememoe|ed oncewea|e gone' Haveo0|
cowo||e|s apprec| a|ed o0| enort s' Has o0| wo||
oeenwo|l nwn . ' e'
ncewe are |et| |ed andwor| no ' onger p|ov| des
d. |ect . on| o| o0| ' . ves, wemay|. ndnew. nte|ests
l na| g. ve 0s nope lo| l ne l0 | 0|e ||eed l|om |am. ' y
|espons. o ' . | . es, we may nave a new sense o| ease, a
|. na| cnance|o |rave| anddot h. ngswenadpos|poned
|o| so ' ong Vecan |e ' axanden| oy o0| | | . endsmo|e,
now t nal we |now oe| | e| | nan to expec| loo m0cn
l|om o0 |se' veso| l|om ol ne|s. Tn . s . s ' neway' . |e s.
| | ' s no| so oad |ea| ' y Ve don | nave |o dwe' ' on
0np' easantl no0gnt so| wo||yaoo0l wnatmaynappen.
Time to Change 1 1 5
Vecan' augnatou|se' vesmo|e|ead. ' yand| oseaoout
t ne. dea' . s mandexpectat . ons o|ou| yout n But oen. nd
t nenumo| ' . esa ce|t a. nsadnessand |eg|et, . |on' ywe
cou ' d oeyoungaga. n, snowwnatwe snow now,and
navet nesameoppo|tu n . t . esaswed. dt nen
Now our v| t a ' | ty |a| | s us more eas | ' y, our senses
a|e not . ceao' y du' ' e| Ve may m. ss tne |ee' . ng o|
accomp| . sn ment and | mport ancewe once |e| t | n our
| oos, andoe' ess. nc' . ned toengage. nsoc. a' act . v. t . es.
|ven ou| s | mp| | || ed rou t| nes may not or | ng us t ne
p' easu|eswenadant . c. pat ed. Tnet . meswnenwe|ee'
emptyand dep| eted comec| oser toget ner, andt nere
a|e |ew peas event s ' e|t to ' oos |o|wa|d to. Ve |ee'
| ong| ngs and des| res, out | acs t ne opportun | t | es and
v. t a' . tyt osat . s|yt nem
Tnest. mu' at . on t nat sust a. ned us nasd. m. n . s ned,
t necompan. ons n| po| |e| | owworse|s . s| ost, evenour
|| . endsnave ' . t t ' eene|gy |o|us Cu| p|esencemayoe
d. srupt| vet ot ne| | veso| our spousesandcn| ' dren, and
we maynot nave t ned|. ve t o estao' . s n new ways o|
occupy. ngour t | me. Pernaps a ' acso| | ncome mases
us| ee' . mpove| . sned, vu ' ne|ao' eto . ' ' ness, unwan ted
oyt nesoc| etyt nat ou| ' aoornas s usta| ned.
Tnougnt so|deat n a| . se mo|e | |equent ' y, wnetne|
wedwe' ' ont nemo| |ep|esst nem, t ney|ecu|,a |ous . ng
d. scom|o|t and |ea| Ve may mase p| epa|at . ons oy
d|a|t . ngw. ' ' s and a| |ang. ng|o| tne d. spos . t . ono| ou|
ood. es, we may dec. de t nat s u. c. de . s p|e|e|ao' e to
' . nge| . ngpa. n and d. sao. ' . ty, and de| . ve com|o|t ||om
t net nougnt t nat we canat ' east cont | o' t nec. |cum
stances o| ou| deat ns . But we t end to seept ne|ea ' . ty
o| deatn at a d. st ance, unw. ' ' . ngto ' et ou|se' vescon
s. de| tooc' ose' ywnat dy. ng|ea' ' y . nvo' ves.
1 1 6 Knowledge o f Freedom
Byo0 sevent . eso| e. gnt . es, we may nave' . t t ' e' e|t
to ant . c. pate, a' t no0gnwe snow we m0st ma. nta . na
sense o| p0 |pose, . t oecomes moe d. ||. c0 . t to de. ve
mea n . ng |rom ou| da| ' y | ives Tne prospect o| deatn
| s too pa| n| u' -now can one | oos |orwa|d to t nat !
Manyo| o0| | |. ends ae s. cs o nave d. ed, t e' epnone
ca' ' s o ma . ' a|e ' . se' yt o o| . ng0 nwe' comenews
Vnen w. ' ' o0r ' oved ones gow | ' ' o d. e! Vnee
w| | | we || ndt nest | engt ntowatcnt ne. | s u||er| ng! V| | '
weo e | e|t a| one! Vnat pa. ns w. | ' we nave toend0|e,
wnat n0 m. ' . at . ons o| o' d age! V. ' ' we oecome
c| . pp' ed and ne' p' ess, |e| 0 n. ng, ' . se cn. ' d|en, to a
stateo|. nc|eas . ngdependency! V. ' ' wespendo0| ' as|
years . nan urs . ngnome,cared|oroyst|angers!Crw| | '
weoea ou|dent oour | am| ' | es! Vno m| gnt ta|ead
vantage o| 0s , n 0| | 0s, |oo 0s, wnen we a|e so weas
andv0 ' ne|ao| e!
Ve|rys ona|d t o no' donto ou| se. |con|idence,
our|ee| | n gso| wortnandd| gn | ty, our. ndependence-
out now ' ong can we ma. n| a. n t nem! Vno w. ' '
|eass0 |e 0 s wnenwea|e | e||. |. ed anda' one! Vnow. ' '
' . st en andcae aoo0t wnat we lee| now! Vnee nave
we ' ea| ned wna| deat n. s, o now |o |ace .t 0 nala. d!
|ear| u| o| deat n, we| | gnt oac|s ucnt nougnts and
c ' . ng |o ' . le even . l wem0s| ' . ve . n cons| ant pnys. ca'
pa. n o| end0 e geatemot . ona' s0 '|e . ng | n o0| need
wemayg|aspatt ne' . veso| o0| cn. ' d|eno| ot ne ' oved
ones or w| t ndraw | nto | ne o. easness o| | so. a| . on.
Memor. es |ecyc| e | n our m| nds, and we may || nd
o0 |se' ves |epeat . ng t ne same st o . es to anyone wno
w. ' ' ' . st en, o0t t nel' avool| neexpe| . ence. s no' onge
tne same. cven o0| memo|. es may on' y oe l ant as. es
o| nowwew. sn . t nadoeen.
Time to Change 1 1 7
As we s ' p . nIo dependency, o0| m. nds oecome
d0 ' . andcon l 0sed, o0| sensesIoos ' 0gg s nI o|es pond
Io sI m0. aI on. B0I o0| consc. o0s ness s a' . ve, o0|
des . |es sI . ' ex sI, a' Ino0gn Iney m0 sI go 0 nsaI . sl. ed
Now | naI we canno| |eep 0 p o0 | own de|enses, we
may see c' ea| | y Ine p|eIense and se' l decepI. on | n
oIne|s, and|nowInaIwe, Ioo, . nlo' ' ow ngInesesame
paIIe|ns, nave cneaIed o0 |se' vesol m0cn napp. ness
Somenow . I seemed so mpo|IanI Io p' ay |o' es and
games when we co0| d noI see Inem lo| whaI Iney
we|e, yeI | n |eI|ospec| , IneyseemempIyand0 n |ea'
|aIe|, o0| ed n nazy memo| . esol a d m pasI, we
no ' onge| |ecogn . ze even l|. ends o| lam ' y. V. In Ine
s . n|. ngolv. Ia' ene|gy, we|eI 0|n Ioan ntanI. ' esIaIe,
pe|haps sI| | ' c|y| ng o0I | n o0| need, ne' p' ess and
0nawa|eolo0| s 0||o0nd ngs AI| asIwe' apse nIoIoIa|
lo|geIl0 ' ness, comp' eIe' yandl. na ' ' y a' one.
wf[IaIi
I@wci
CHAPTER 1 4: STRATEGI ES FOR LI VI NG
| . lesty' esa s st|ateg. es
casygo. ngst |ategy
|et nargyandd0 | | n ess
Agg|ess. vest |ategy
Str| v| ng, p|ess0|e, andf r 0st rat | on
Rest|a nt st |ategy
Se| |con| ro| andfea|o|emot | ons
Cose|ve|, med. at o|, ma|ty||o' es
Comp| a| n| strategy
cHectsofc0m0' at . venegat . v. t y
Stra| egyo|oppos | t | on
Se| f sac|| f. ceand| . g. d| t y
Oayd|eame| st |ategy
S0ost . t 0t efo| |ea' . t y
O. s t|act . onandstagnat . on
CHAPTER 1 5 : YEARN I NG FOR F UL F I LLME NT
Yearn | ng
Avo. d. ngcomp' e| . on
Tra | n | ng | n ' ong| ng
} oyolant . c. pat . on
Oes . || ng| ne0 na| | a| nao' e
Oec ' . neolnope
Searcn. ngfo|sat . sfact . on
1 23
1 23
1 25
1 26
1 26
1 28
1 28
1 29
1 30
1 30
1 32
1 33
1 35
1 34
1 36
1 38
1 39
1 39
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1 40
1 41
1 41
Se| | t |a| n | ng |o|| u| f| | | ment 1 41
Ss ' ' n ' v ng. |ac ngp|oo' ems d |ect ' y 1 42
No0| sn ngconsc o0s ness 1 42
CHAPTER 1 6: PURS UI T OF HAPPI NES S
| ' 0 s ve napp ness
Vast | ngou|| | ves
|acsolp0 |pose
O| scou|agement . oa| | | e| t og|owth
Ta' eo|tnet |ave' e|
Bo0 nda| esolt nesnown
Sea|ch|o|deepe| sat s|act | on
Cose|v ngo0 |se' ves
Pe| seve| | ngw t hques t | ons
CHAPTE R 1 7: GATEWAY TO KNOWL E DGE
Oeve' op| ng| mpa|t a| | ty
Con| |ont nglea|
Know' edgeo| deat n
Avo| d| ngt hought s o| deat h
|ea andsnow ng
T| meandsnow| edge
|ea|as gatewayto awasen ng
1 44
1 44
1 45
1 45
1 45
1 46
1 47
1 47
1 47
1 48
1 49
1 49
1 49
1 49
1 50
1 51
T 4
Strategi es for Li vi ng
What intimacy, what closeness,
what caring can we expect
when we all conceal our real being?
t eve|y stage n ' le, we a|e v0 ' ne|ao' e to
0n happ ness and pa n. T me passes, o| ng ng
changeswecan no| con| ro| , andweou|se| ves change
n ways| hat wecou ' d no| have|oreseeno| pre|ernot
to acsnow' edge To ns 0 ' ate o0 |se' ves l|om changes
thata|et h|ea| en ng, mos|o| 0s adopta sty' eo| | v ng,
a st |at egy | ha| seems | o p|om se p|ot ect on, sat s|ac
t | on, andmea n ng. Thereare manysuchst | a| eg| es, ou|
| he ma| n ones can oe seen | n ce|| a n ' |es| y| es. an
easygo ng' |esty' e, anagg|ess vest | v ng' |esty' e,and
t he' lesty. esol|es||a nt , comp' a nt , anddayd|ea m ng.
Ve may como ne d || e|ent app|oaches d0 | ng o0|
' | vesas a| | . | 0desand| n| e|es| schange, o| even sw| | ch
among | hem, depend| ng u pon our assoc| at es and
s 0||o0nd. ngs
Many peop' e who have g|own | o mat 0| ty n
a|l' 0en | soc e| es |a ' ' |ead ' y n to t he easygo ng ' le
s| ra|egy. Approac h ng ' | |e as an oppor| u n t y |o| pe|
1 24
Knowledge of Freedom
sona| enj oymen| , wemay| ry|o| asea| | t ha| | s p| eas 0r
ao' e n' |eando 0s no|| any0 n p' easan | ness Toavo. d
expos. ngo0 |se' ves| ot hepa. n o| d s appo nt ment and
| oss, we mayt ase|ewr s ss andcon | en| o0rse| vesw t n
whateve p' eas 0es ' |e o|l e s Ve may lo' ' ow o0
mp0' ses and des |es w t ho0t m0ch concen l o t ne
es 0' | s o|o0 ac| ons,| y| ngtomase' | le| n | oane| e na'
no' day
Oncomm | | ed, we can oe|ree| om respons o | | ty
andcae, ' v. ng. n t nemoment , wa t ng|osomet n ng
| o | 0 n 0p P| eas0 res come o0r way, and we enj oy
Vnen act v | es and assoc a| . ons oecome| esomeo
demand a comm t ment we do not w s n to mase, we
cand op| nemandmoveon. Ve mayeven snow| ha|
wea ecast . ngawayo0 | . me,o0 ' ves, as| no0gn| ney
nad nova' 0 e. Th s |ee' ng can prov dean odd sor| ol
s a| s|ac| on, pe haps we esen| | he demands | na|
soc et yando| ne sp' ace 0pon 0s, and | n. s s o0| way
o|demons| rat | ng| na| weare n con| o| .
As ' ong as we have t ne enegy and . ncome |o
s 0 ppo | o0r | |es| y| e, or req0 re | | | | e |o s 0ppor| o0
needs, we may nave no mot . vat . on | o ' oos moe
c' ose. yat what . s nappen ngto o0 consc. o0s ness A' '
a o0nd0s weseeo| nerss | r v ng, r s s ng0 | ce sorheat
at t acsst oge| somewnee n . . le How |0 | ' e t ne0s 0a'
| ead m | ' seems wnen' |ecanoes oeasyanden| oyao' e
w | nnad' yanye|lo t Vemay even sense a s p. | 0a'
d mens on to o0 att t 0de, not h ng ea' ' y d s | 0 os 0s
wea e a | peacew| | h| newo | d.
As t n s appoacn to . . |e oecomes nao | 0a' , enegy
and nt e es| oeg| n |o wane. |ew pas | mes ea| | yseem
wo | n tne e||o t , and peop' e d . | t n and o0| o| o0
Time to Change
1 25
' | ves Tnere are s | | ' ' momen| s o| p| eas 0re, o0| | n
e||ospec|o0 expe . encesmayseemvag0eando' and
|. le |ases on a o' ea s q0a' | y o| sameness, w | n |ew
con|ras|s| oa|o0seo0r |esponses. Somenoweveno0r
memoyseems | o' ose | s s na pness B0| wemayneve
q0es | on wnywe |ee' so ' e| na g c, o wny o0 sen ses
seem |onaveg|ownsod0 | | .
As we g|ow o' de, we may | nd | na|d | oa o0se
o0|se' ves |o mase even m nor dec s ons. O scom|o| |
andpa n | na| weonces nr 0ggedo||occ0 r moreo| | en,
and we nave |o mase g|ea| e| e||o | s |o ma n|a n o0|
easygo ngse' l mage | | we| |y| o|eve|se| nepa| | e| ns
wenavees| ao| sned, o0 | m| nds andood| es maynave
g|own |ood0 ' ' | oes pond . n| e' ' gen| ' y
C|ad0a' ' yweapprec| a|e ' essand ' esso| o0| ' ves.
As we |ee| o0| v. |a ' |y | essen, we oecome moe d s
| | 0s|| 0' ol peop' e and cnanges| na| occ0 | a|o0nd 0s
Vnom can we | r0s | no| | o 0 pse| or oe| |ay 0 s wnen
we nave |ormed no | as | . ng oonds ! Vnen | n. ngs go
aga ns | 0s , wecan no ' onge d s m ss | nemsocas 0a' ' y,
and we |e|' ec| mo|e ol | en on | ne 0 nla | ness o| ' |e.
Beca0sewe | acs | ne |eso0 |ces | o |espond eflec| | ve| y
| o pa n, o0 emo| ons can eas ' y ove| de o0| eason
and oacs 0s n |o a da|s co ne o| despa Vnen ' le
expe| encesoecomeove|wne' m| ng| ypa n|0 | , we may
even cnoose |o end o0 ' ves pema| 0e' y. | ne l. na'
ges| 0|e o| avo d ng |ea ' | es we nave neve| | a ned
o0|se| ves |o con|ron | .
Mos| o| 0s do no| lo' ' ow | n s pa| n | o | s end
Some| n ng n | ne n 0mans p | seems | o|eoe' aga ns |
pro| ongedpass| v| |y, noweve|m0cnweva| 0e| ne| | mes
wnen we can se| as de espons o | | es Pe naps we
1 26
Know/edge of Freedom
sense | ne waste and dange| n ne|en| n p' ac ng
ourse| vesa| t hemercyo| randomeven| s , anddo no|
w s nto |e' nq0. s nsom0cncon| o' ove|t ned. |ect . on
o|ou | ves.
more aggress| ve ' | |e s | ra|egy can emerge |rom
o0| t endency |o |eacn o0| |o| expe| ence, lo|
s| | mu| a| | on and lee| | ngs o| accomp| | sh ment and
wo|t n. Ve yea|n |o| somet h ng to nappen, some
t n ng | nat w ' ' evose a esponse so we can |ee' v. t a'
anda| | ve | s n | t n| swna| mases| | |e wo|| nwn| ' e!
Vheno0r des res ae st ong, wemay p0s0e o0r
goa' s agg|ess ve' y, conl den | t na| o0| ello|| s w. ' ' oe
|ewa|ded. Ve ' ea| n to | ase p' eas 0|e n | ne sense ol
we' ' oe| ng| na| a| | ses||omapp| y ngo0| ene|gyel|ec
| ve' y and ove|com. n g a ' ' oost ac' es . n o0| pa| n. Ve
|ee' con || den| | n ou| wor| h and ao| | | t y, we oecome
gooda| wna| wedoand ga. n app|ova' | omtnosewe
adm| |e or respec| .
Accept ng eacn new s . t 0a| on as a cna' ' enge, we
cant ase advantageo|oppo|t 0 n | | | es Cow| ngs 0ccess
may g ve 0s t ne powe|| o d. |ec| | nee|lo|| solo| ne|s,
and we | nc|ease our s| r v| n g. C0r at | en| on oecomes
loc0sed on s 0ccess, pe|sona' nd 0 ' gence | ases ' . | | | e
o| ou | me Mos|o| o0r p| eas 0e | n | | ledepends 0pon
con| . n0 . ng | he momen| 0m we nave es|ao| s ned, and
we may d ve o0| se' ves comp0' s ve' y | o gea| e| and
g|ea| e|ne gh| s o| acn evemen|
Vhenp| eas ue n| |ecomes on| y|roms| r | v| ngand
ge| | ng, wne|ecanwel nda |es | . ngp' ace!Tned v ng
|o|ce o| des e gows eve| mo|e . nt en se, eacn goa'
a| | a. ned | ends |o . nc|ease o0| appe| . ' e |ven| 0a' ' y
Time to Change 1 27
whateverweacqu| reor accomp' | sh | s me| e' yasymoo|
o| our p|ogress and wort h. At each new peas o|
ach evement , we may stop t o enj oy the oene|| t s o|
success, out nact | v t y soon mases us res t ' ess. The
exc| t ement now| es | n t hepu|s u t t s e| |, andt hepace
must oecont n ued.
Cu ' vesmovequ cs' yandoecomemo|ecomp' ex
Ve se' dom |ase t me to assess t ne eflect s o| ou|
ac| onsuponot ne|s, o evenpayt hemmucha| | en | on,
a' t hough ||om t me t o| me wemayexpe| ence |ee'
ngso|gu ' t o| |esent ment a t | he |c ' a ms onou| | me
Cu| |eact ons speed up Ve | ee' dec s ve and c' ea|
m nded, con| dent and ncha|geo| ou| ' ves But t nese
|ee' ngs may oe mas s ng a g|ow ng s ho|t s gh| ed
ness, we oecome | ess w| | | | ng to | | st en to adv| ce and
may eas | | y mase errors o| | udgment t hat set us up
|o|ser| ous d| f|| cu | t | es.
Shou' d we t | |e and w| sh t o s ' ow down, t he
pressuresaccumu ' at ng| ns| deus g| veus nopeace Ve
| ndou|se| ves enmes hed n net s ol expectat ons and
|espons o ' | es t na|oo' ge ust ocont nue. |vent ua' ' y,
e||o|s n| udgment ca| ch upw | hus, o| c |cumst ances
a| se | hat we can not t un to ou| advan |age V t n ou
sense o| d gn ty and se' lwo|t n vested n esca' at ng
success, now do we |ee' wnen ou momen| um s
o' ocsed! Pe|napsou| l |st|ee' ng s con| us on Vnen
we pe|ce ve | na| we a|e |ea| | y ' ocsed n, con|us on
g vesway|o ' ust |at onandange|
| | not h ng |e| eves | nep|essu|es, we a|e | e|' w | n
a deeper|rust |at ont hat sows | heseedso|se| | douot
and despa| r. Ve have | e| down |hose who depend
upon us, we have |a ' ed. Cu| gu| | t may oe near' y
1 28 Knowledge of Freedom
0 n oea|ao' e, even | ot he|so|le|| he. | s0 ppo|t, o0| own
va' 0es' ead0sto|e| ecto0rse' ves Vhatreso0rceshave
we deve| oped to |ace t he pa n o| s e' |do0ot and
h 0 m. ' . a| . on! C| d. d we t h n s s 0ch moment s wo0 . d
not come!
0 | pred s pos . t ons and 0 po| ng ng may cond
t | on 0 s n stead to a ' | |e st |ategy o| rest |a nt .
Poss o' y| | omanea| ' yagewehave ' ea| ned toeq0ate
st | engt h w. t h se' l cont | o. , pe|haps o0| c h ' dhood
c rc 0mst ances | ed 0s todeve' opwayso| seep ngo0r
react ons andemot ons 0 nder t ght con| |o'
Cver t me we ' ea| n t o ho' d o0| des res and ag
gress| ve | mp0 | ses | n checs, ma| nt a| n ng oa' ance no
mat t erwhat happens a|o0 nd 0s C0| se' l maste|ycan
oecomea so0 |ce ol p| de and we' . oe ng, a ha. ' ma|s
o| oreed| ng and d| gn ty t hat s 0| ts o0r pe|cept on o|
o0 |se' ves, and a' . ows 0s | o |espond n | e. ' . gen| ' y to
s t 0at . ons | ha| p|om se t o wo|s to o0| advan| age.
S0f|er| ngandd sappo nt ment g' anceof| 0s, ast ho0gh
wewere s0 ||o0 nded oya p|o| ec| . ve s h e| d.
B0t |ep|essed mp0 ' ses and |eac| ons do not go
away. C0t ward | y, wepresent aca' m |acetot hewo|' d,
wh ' e . nt e|na' ' y, 0 n| 0 . l ' . ed des . |es and 0nacsnow.
edgedpa na|e n t ens |y ng. Vem0stconstant ' yoeon
g0ard | es t o0r cont ro| s ' | p, and ot hers not ce o0r
weasnesses and v0' ne|ao ' . ty. C0| delen ses aga. nst
o0| own mp0 . ses and |ee' . ngs oecome so hao. | 0a.
t hat wedece| veeven o0rse' ves | | wea|e dete|m| ned
not to oe ang|y, we conv nce o0|se' ves t hat we have
noange|. C0 | emot ons s 0 ||aces0ot . y, n wayst hat do
notcont rad| ct o0r s e' | | mage.
Time to Change 1 29
Cur ac| | onsoecomecare|u | and measured Vhen
somet h| ngu nexpec|edhappens , wet ense, cu| t ngo||
our nat ura| respon ses oe|o|e we can consc| ous ' y
| den| |y what we a|e expe| | enc| ng. | n ou| | d| ng oar
|| ers oe|ween our |ee| | ngs and our n te| | ec| , we a| so
deve' op s ne' ' s t na| s n e' d 0s lom | he |ee' ngs and
emot ons ol ot nes, espec a| | yt nose wno ae c| oses|
|o0s Vnenweneed to p|otec|o0 se' vessoca|el0' ' y
lom o0 own mp0 ' ses, now can we oe open and
compass ona| ew t not ne| s!
|ncased n o0| se' l mage, we ass0 me t ne |o' e ol
ooseve|o med at o , neve descend ng n | o | nelay
Neve|| 0' ' y engaged, wewa| cn even o0 | own ac| ons
w | n m ' d nt e|est , as | wewee a s| | ange| |o wnom
weneed no| oe|espons o' e. Vemay ass0 me| neo' e
o| ma||y| to a wo|| d t ha| canno| u nderstand us ,
v| ew| ng comp| a n| s | ha| we a|e co' d o| u nca|| ng as
con|| | ma| | ons o| ou| v |t ue and s uper| or | y. No one
|ea' | y0 nders| ands nows ens | t vewea|e, or hownoo| y
weendu|eour ' one| ness
||eez ng o0| |ee' ngsandemot ons oen nd a mass
o| se' |cont |o' , we oecome eve moe | g d and
0nespons ve t o cnange Ve avo d s | 0at ons | na|
a|o0seemot ons , wa|d ngo|l |ee' ngst na| | n|ea| ento
o|east n|o0gno0| o0| e|sne' ' Vemaysenseag|ow ng
so' at on and o' ame ot nes l o| no| app|ec a| ng o
0ndest and ng t ne q0a' t es o| |es| |a n | | na| we nave
soca|el0 ' ' ydeve' oped B0t howevem0chwemay| y
|o conso' e o0 se' ves | na| we nave |o0nd a s 0pe| o
way| o' ve, west ' ' lee' ' one' yandm s 0 nde|s |ood
How can we oreas out o| | h| s pat t ern w| | ho0t
expos ngour wea|n es s ! Vna| canwedow t nou| |ear
1 30 Knowledge of Freedom
o| ou| own |ee| | ngs and o| t hepeop' eo| event st nat
cou| d o|eas | h|ough ou| oa||| e|s' How mucn emo
| ona' ene|gy have we |ep|essed' And wne|ecan we
| ndou|se' ves n tne n ne| ' aoy| nt nwenaveo0 ' t '
wa|eness o| t he pe|vas ve d ssat slact on o| ' . |e
may ' ead 0s to a ' . |e st |ategy o| comp' a nt
Vhenwea|e you ng, ou| expec| a| | ons a|e n | gn, and
we nope |o| | he oes| | | |e nas |o o||e|. Bu| | he|e a|e
many s ma ' ' d sappo nt ment s , and |ea' t y does not
seem to meas0|e up to ou| . mage o| what t co0 ' d
oe. 1ha| wasn' | t he way | | s nou' d have oeen, we
say| oou|se' ves, compa| | ng| ne|ea| | |y w| | n| ne| mag
ned dea' . Tnat wasn t good eno0gn A ' . t t ' e
p|o0d o| oe. ng d| f| c u| t to p' ease, we may t n ns
o| ou|se' vesas dea ' | s t | candsomenow su pe|| o|.
Ve do not |ea ' ze that o0| t endency |o |oc0s on
the negat ve o. . nds us to the pos t ve aspects o| o0|
expe|| ence. Cu| comp' a| n ng s no| |he pos| | | ve ap
p|oachwe| h| ns | || s, ou| | s|a| he| a|o|ceo|nega| | v |y
| hat d|aws negat v | y to 0s Comp' a n ng appea|s |o
of|e| a conven ent sa|ety va' ve, a way to |e' eve o0|
d scom|o|| and |o| ee| c| ose|o o| he|s | | ' sa |e| e| t o
oeao| e|o|a| s |osomeoneaoout | h| s Bu| asweg|ow
o' de|, o0| at t ent on to wnat s w|ong g|ows mo|e
p|ono0 nced. Nomat t e|whe|e we a|e o| wno we a|e
w| | h, wecan no| oesat | s| ed |o|| ong.
Pe| hapst nep|oo' em s t nepeop| ewe. veo|wo|s
w t h, o| t he|ood we eat , o| t hep' ace we ' ve, o| the
s| nd o| wo|s we do. Ve may cnange | oos o| ma|es,
o|movetoad| || e|ent c| |y, ou| tmases nod| |te|ence
Soon we a|e |epea| ng, Tn s s n' t | ne way . t sno0 ' d
Time to Cha nge 1 31
oe Ve may c| t . c. ze o0 |se' ves |o| |a ' . ng to ' ve 0p
| oou| expec|a| | ons,u nde| m n| n gou| owncon|| dence
and ao ' t y to acn . eve o0| goa' s . Ve expe| ence a
|ee| | ng o| ag| | a| on | na| |a|e| y goes away. Van| | ng
somet n. ng, o0t no| s 0|e wnat, we measu |e o0| ' |e
aga| ns| a st anda|d | | canneve|mee| .
C0| t endency to p npo. nt | nenegat ve and gno|e
| ne pos | | | ve | s d| scou|ag| ng to ot ne|s. V t n ou| n us
oands o|w. ves and w. t n o0| c n ' d|en, we may |a' |e|
n ou| e||o|t s |oc|ea| ewa|m| n and| | 0s t Pe| naps we
| u|n o0| at t ent ont ot newo| ' da|o0nd0s , deve' op ng
exc. t ng, even o| ' ' ant ana' yseso|t nep|oo' ems con
||on| ng soc ety P| ay ngt ne |o| eo| soc a| c| t c w | n
|| endsc|eatesa |ee' ng o| cama|ade| et nat concea' s
| ne| acso| deepe| c| osenessa nd| n | | macy
C0| ao ' t y t o . dent |y p|oo' ems and c| t . c. ze s t
0a| ons mayga. n 0 s a |eput at on| o| nc s venesst na|
' eadstop|omot onandanest ao' s ned pos . t on n o0|
| | e| d But aswecome| o|e' y| nc|eas ng| yonour c| | ca'
ao ' . ty, we may not |ea' ze t nat t nas oecome a way
to p|o|ec| ou| se' ves, we ou|se| ves may oe | ne | a|ge|
o|m0cnc| t c s ml|om| nose n j 0 |edoyou|sn a| pness
Yet we do not |ea| | ze t na| we nave spa| sed t n| s
nega| v ty, and |ee' deep' y wo0 nded and |esent l 0 '
wnen t t 0|ns oacs 0pon 0s Alte| a ' ' , we a|e n t ne
| . gnt , a|en | we!
As we g|ow o' de|, we may wonde| wny we nave
so |ew | | ends and s 0 ppo|t e| s Have we done some
| n| ng w|ong! C0| nao t 0a' exp' anat . ons come w | n
lac . | . ty. Snewas s oweas, o| He ' et medown As
wet n ns | 0|t ne| aoo0| wnat . s m. s s . ng||om o0| ' . ves,
we may o| ame ou|se' ves, add ng deep |egret to ou|
|| 0st |at . onandpa n
1 32
Knowledge of Freedom
| n moment s olc' a| ty, wemay|ea' zet natwenave
c0t o0 se' vesofl ||om m0cn o| t ne oea0tyand j oy ol
| . | e B0t | |y as we may to app|ec. at e wnat we nave,
wecan not nea' t newant ngdeep ns de O sappo nt
men| |o' | owsd sappo| n| men| aso0| ma| es, o0| cn |
d|en, o0| wo|s, o0| posses s ons a' ' la ' t o mat cn o0
expectat ons
Asweg|owo| de|, wemay oecomeo t t e| w t nd s
appo nt ment Onao' eto lo|g ve o0 se' ves andot ne|s
|ors nor|com| n gs, | ee| | ng0 napprec a| ed, ye| wonder
ng | somenowweo0se' vesa|etoo' ame,wemay' ve
o0t o0| days n ' one ' nessandpa n
o0p' ed w t n awa|eness ol n| 0st ces n t ne
wo| ' d, a comp| a| n ng s| ance may deve' op | n| o a
' le st |ategyo| oppos t on Vnet ne| t neoo| ect ol o0
cr| t c| s m | s gove| n men| , | ne econom c s | |0c| 0|e, | ne
|am ' y, o soc. ety, we may emo|ace a spec | c t neoy
o| cnangeas t neseyto a oet t e|wo ' d C0 | n te|p|eta
t ons o| | ne ca0ses o| p|esent cond| t ons and o0|
pog|am | o| act on seems ogen 0 ne t nat wenave no
nes t at on aoo0t devot . ng o0r ' ves t o t n. s ca0se
S0ppo|ted oy an n| e' | ect 0a| | amewos t nat mases
sense o| o0| ' ves and ohe|s 0s nope, we deve' op a
st rongoe' | e| | nat o0r p0 |pose| s r | gn| and| 0st .
Ve snow t nat we m0st act dec s ve' y C0 wos
| esw t npeop| e| se o0rse| veswnocan oeconv| nced
to see t n ngs o0 way, even | | ney do not sna|e o0|
deg|ee ol conv ct on Ve may t |y t o ' st en t ooo| ec
t | ons and q0est ons , o0t gene|a| ' ywe need not ' | s ten
ca|el0 ' ' y, |o|wnat eve| tne oppos ngv ew, o0 t neoy
p|ov. desananswe|
Time to Change 1 33
The|e mayoe| | mes n ou| | | veswhenou| app|oach
p|od0ces es 0| | s we cons . de| good A| o| ne | . mes,
when cond. | ons goaga. ns| 0s, we ema n conv nced
| na| | | mew| | ' oea| ou| | he| gh| nesso|ou| v| ews Ve
mayno| no| ce| neer|o|| . | | ases|oma n| a. no0| v ew
u nde| a| | c | |cums| ances. Caugh| u p | n n| e| p|e| ng
eve|y| n ng | na| nappens as an af|.| ma| on ol o0|
| neo| es, we| end| o ej ec| | ne p|esen| . n |avo| o| a
d s| an| | u| u|e
Ve may even |ee| g0. | | y | we | nd o0 |se| ves
enj oy ng a p| easan| momen| o| app|ec| a| n g | he
s| anda|d o| ' v ng p|ov. ded oymode| n soc e|y C| . |
| he p| . ce we pay | o| |o| | ow. ng o0| dea| s s p| esen|
d scom|o|| and| | 0s| |a| | on, Tha| sa| | || gn| | | ' swo | h
| Tn s s| he| me|oag. | a| e|o|change
As| | megoeson, ou| capac| |y|o|enj oymen| g|ows
| essand | ess, and we may |. nd | nc|eas ng| yd n c0 ' |
|o pe|suadeo| he|s|oo u | v| ew. A| ewe ge| | | ngou| o|
|o0cn! |ee| ngso|' one' . nessmay| ead 0s| os| eng| nen
o0| |e| a| ons h psw. | ho| nes wnooe| . eveaswedo
Vhe| ne| wenavesomemeas 0|eo|s 0ccesso|no| ,
w. | no0| expos 0e| oq0es| . ons andd l| e nga| | | 0des,
ou| v| ewsoecomemo|e | | g| d. S nce| hey|equ | |e mo|e
ene|gy |o no| d . n p| ace, we have' essene|gyava . ' ao' e
|oac| . on. |acso| su ppo||l o| o0| v ewsando0 ' . |e' s
pu|posemay c| ea| e o| | | e| ness o pa|ano a | ha|
da. ns 0s | 0|| he | n se| | . ng o0|se| ves eve| moe
s | |ong| y aga| ns| ou| soc e|y and cu| | u|e, we may oe
p| ag0ed oy g0. | and con|'. c| we nave no way |o
acsnow' edge Co0' d we | oos a| | ne pa n we have
o|ough | u ponou|se| vesw | hou| ca| | ng | n |o ques| on
| ne| . gn| nesso| o0 v. ews!
1 34
Knowledge of Freedom
Yo0ngpeop' emoved oy. n j 0st . cemaynot ' oosto
0s |o g0. danceaswe nad noped andexpec| ed A|te
a ' ' , nave we ' ea ned to ac| el|ec| . ve' y . n tne wo ' d!
Ooes o0 wayo| oe ngo|le a ea' a' t e na| ve | o| ne
pat te nswenave spen| o0 | . vesc . t . c. z ng, o ae we
ca0gn| 0nawaes . n 0 nacsnow' edged pa| | e nso|o0
own ! Have we deve' oped | ne snow' edge, enegy,
pes st ence, and t 0stwo | n ness t o ' ead otnes n a
new d ect on, o nave we . nvested o0 ' . |e enegy . n
a deam | na| wecan no| mase a ea | . ty!

| we see |ew oppot 0 n . t . es |o napp. ness n t ne

|| ow o| event s ao0nd 0s, o . | t ne od. na . ness o|
o0 ' . vesmases0s es | ' essand0 ncom| ot ao' e, wecan
a' ways | 0 n to a ' . |e st at egy wnee daydeam ng
oecomesa cent a| so0 ceo| sat s|ac| . on.
Manyc n. ' denengage ndaydea m. ng and|antasy
p' ay, en| oyi ngt negameo|pet end. ng | ney ae some
onee| se. Aswegowo' de,wemayl . nd| ant asym0cn
moe no0 s n ng t nan t ne ea' wo ' d, wn . cn seems
d 0 ' ' oycompa . son Ve may deam o| now o0 | . ves
wo0 ' d oe . | on| y| n n gs wee somenow d || eent . | |
on | y | co0' d oea ce| a nway, | nen my | . |e wo0' d oe
wo| nwn . | e C0 sense o| o0|se' ves oecomes con
nectedw t n o0 | antasy. mages, even. | wesnow| ney
ae . mag. na y Tnese . mages come 'o epesent o0
' ea' s e' | ' | o 0s . Tn . s . s now we wo0 ' d ' . se t o oe,
t neseae | neq0a ' . t . es wewo0 ' d ' . se | onave
Pe napswe mode| o0 |a n| as. eson| amo0speop' e
o |. c| . ona' cnaact es wnose ' ves seem m0cn moe
exc t ng and ea' t nan o0 own Ve can en| oy t ne.
expe . ences v ca o0 s' y o deam o| wna| wewo0 ' d
Time to Change
1 35
do l we too we|e |amo0s, ||es st o' e, o| | ch C|
co0 |se, we s now we a|e oe ng 0 n |ea' s t c. Vhat do
werea' ' ys now o| t nelr0st ra| | ons, worr| es, and |ears
o| the r| ch and |amous ! B0t s | | ' | we pre|er |o d |eam,
c|eat ng an mag na|y wo| ' d whe|e event s 0 n|o' d as
wewo0' dwan t t hemto.
C0| n ne| mages a|e a s h | t ng ama' gam o|
q0a' | es we add to and s 0 o| |act | |om t n|o0gh t he
years Crea| | ng| hese' charac|ers can prov| de us w| | h
ho0|s o| ent e|ta n ment Vecan mag neo0 |se' ves n
va| o0s |o' es and nvent o| ne| cha|ac| e|s t o nt e|act
w| t h. Vha| adven| 0|es we have' They wou| d mase
wonde|| 0 ' s| o| es, o0| we | 0st don' t have t he ene|gy
to w| t e | hem down, o0| mag n at on seems to d|aw
a| | our energy | nto | s rea' m. Andyet weare s a| | s|| ed
w t ho0r mag nat on, t |esponds too0| eve|y des. |e,
| o||e|s 0s no |es s | ance, and g ves 0s whateve|
p' eas0rewe need.
C0| ' |ea' se| | seems somehow ' ocsed n s de | h s
o|d na|y' le| hat wedonot |ea ' ' yw s nto' ve. | l | n ngs
were on| y a | | t t ' e d| ||erent , we wou| d oe c' eve|,
co0 |ageo0s , oea0t | 0' , and | a' ent ed. Ve wo0 ' d have
| ne app|ec at on, ' ove, and ad m |a| on o| eve|yone
aro0nd us. Then we wou| d s how our rea| potent a' '
C0| asp |a| ons and dea' s can oe oonded s ot gh| ' y
| o| nese lant asy mages | ha| | oecomes ve|y d l| c0' |
t o accomp' sh anyt h | ng s uost an | | a| | n our | ves. Ve
p|e|e| | o d|ea m |a| ne| t nan | ase any act on |o o| ng
o0| dea' s n ' o oe ng. | n o0| d|eam, we a|e a ' |eady
comp' e|e and pe||ect, | he rea' | |y m| ght |eq0 | |e ef|or|
and d sc p| | ne, and we m ght have | o st | 0gg' e w t h
con| 0s onand|ea|.
1 36
Knowledge of Freedom
S| nce we canno| expess our ' rea| se| | , we may
oe e. uct an| | o e. a| e | o o| ne peop' e | s so d s
couag| ng | o a| ways end up | us| oe| ng ou ' ord| nay
se' | . Ve | end |o c0| o0se' ves oll lom ou| s de
ac| | v| | es and |rom o| nes, and g| ve more and moe
| me|odaydea m ng. C0 0 ge| odeam may oecome
socomp0| s | ve | na| we w | ' ea angeouscned0 ' e to
g veo0se| vesmoe | me|o spenda' one
Somet mes n s| ead ol mag n ng' neoesand neo
nes, we may oecome comp| e| e| y caugn| up | n | n
| ees| ngo mag na| ve deas. Veeadand | n nsand
wonderou| somenow we naved fl| cu | | ycon nec| ng
| nese deastoo0 . veso pod0c nganycea| vewos
Vemay|ee| ns p red andexc t ed, ou| wnen | t comes
| onad wo s, wed || on, ' oos. ng|o' ns p. a| . on .
Cn| nes 0 |aceo0 | ves mav oewos ngwe| | , and
wemay | o m s| ao| ee' a| onsn ps o| ases|eady| oos.
S nce we | nd mos| ol o0 no0 s nmen| w t n n o0
d eamea ' m, wedono| expectmucn|om | neo0| s de
wo ' d. Vej 0s t p' aya. ong B0t as daydeam ngoeg ns
| opermea| eo0r consc o0sness, | u nde c0| sour ao | | | y
|o espond l0 ' ' y |o | ne pesen| By w ' ndaw ng o0
a| | en| on|om t neea| | y o|our ' | ves, wedeepeno0r
sense ol stagnat on and ooedom, dr v ng o0 se. ve-
st | | | ur| ne n to an | ' | 0 soy ex s| ence C0| o| | o0cn
w | nwnowe ea. . y ae, we lole t anyoppot 0n t y to
u ndes|andandcnange ou | ves
nen we | oos a| s ucn s| |a| eg| es care|u | | y, | |
seems c' ea | na| | ney ae no| de. oea|e. y
adop|ed a|te a | nougn| | u' exa m| na| on o| | ne|
p. | la ' . s ands| eng| ns Vnowo0 ' dconsc. o0s. ylasn . on
Time to Change 1 37
| he | |e as such a s|a|egy! Pe hapswe cop ed | nese
s|ances |rom our paren| s or o| nersc' oseto us, |as| ng
up t hese pos| | | ons oe|ore we cou | d exam| ne t he|
prooao| e resu | |s Have we u nw| || ng| y pa| ched |o
ge| her our approach |o | | |e, our who| e persona| ty,
lom out s de souces wno cop ed n t un lom ot he
souces! Cou ' d t oe t nat ou wno' eappoacn to ' le
sacopyo|an o|ten|ecop edcopy!
Accept ng a pe|o med mage to p|o| ec| us l |om
cnangeand| ol ' | t neo' esandexpect a| ons o| ot ne|s
s ' se wea ng someone e' se s ' ' l | | ng c' ot nes, we
canno| oe|u ' ' ya| ease, e t ne w t nou se' veso n | ne
company ol ot ne s. Bu| desp t e | ne d scom|o| and
d sease, | s poss o' e | o oecome | apped oy ou
o' es, ' v ngou| ou ' ves na se' |decep| onweeven
t ua| | y| oset hepower| ooreas.
The pos| ures we adop| | ase a grea| amount o|
enegy|o sust a| n andg| ve us | | | | | e| n re| u rn Ve | ose
con|ac|w| | hwhoweare, and haved| ||| cu | | | y s us| a| n
| ng a sense o| mean| ngand progress | on | n our | ves.
Vnen we nea deat h , the enegy nvested n ma n
ta n ng o' esandappea ances w ' ' s ' paway, andwe
w ' ' |acet neea' t yo| what wenavedone| oou se' ves
moed ect ' y
Asweel' ec| on | nes| ancesweass ume, we m gn|
cons de | na| eveyonee' se may oe' v ng n| nesame
way Vnat n | macy, wna| c' oseness, wna| ca ngcan
we expec| wnen we a ' ' concea' ou ea' oe ng n
| neseways !
1 b
Yearn i ng for F u l fi l l ment
We can train ourselves
to search within and to question
the source of our deepest yearnings.
ven n nappy moment s, s 0 |o0 nded oy | ends
and |am| ' y, we may lee. somenow w st | 0 ' and
a' one. A' | no0gn we may oe pnys ca' ' y com|o|tao' e
and nave no p|ess ng wo| es, we oecome awa|e o|
avag0eyearn | ng. | t seems |oemana| e||om| nedep| ns
o| o0| oe ng, a|o0s nga gent ' eacn ng sensat on tnat
' nge|sand | nen d. sso' ves.
Somet mes a so0 nd o| s me. . to0cnes sometn ng
w | n n, evos ng t n s |ee' ng ' se a na' ||o|gotten
memo|y. B0| wnen we reacn o0| |or |ne expe|| ence,
t nas gonea' . | na| |ema ns s an open space, a gap
wneresome| n| ngonceseemed tooe, o0| sno' onge|
Ve may | nd o0 |se' ves gaz. ngvacant ' yat no| n ng n
pa|t c0 ' a|, ' s ten ng t os ' ence, |ee' ng at once |oo' . sn
and ye| aware o| a swee| sadness, a gen| ' e pa| n | na|
| adesands ' ps away, e. 0d ngde| n t on
Time to Change 1 39
A' | no0gn o0| | ves a|e o0sy, momen| s do come
wnen we lee| some| n ng s m s s ng. Somenow | n ee
samysle| . o0sspace ns de0sl nal n0nge|slooe|. ' ' ed
Pe| naps we nave oeen ' oos ng a ' ong l me | o|
some| n ng l nal wo0 ' d | ' ' l n s space and o| . ng 0s a
senseol comp' el eness. Ve may an| c. pal e napp ness
l n|o0gn o0| wo|s o| a c |c' e o| || ends , o| l no0gn
wea' | n, l ame, powe|, o| p|es| ge. Pe naps we wanl
someone| o' ove, someonewnow ' ' com|o|l0s, s na|e
o0| d|eams, and 0 nde|s| ando0| nopesand|ea s.
Vemay navelo0 nd l na| someone, and now snow
o0| napp nesswo0 ' d oe comp' e| e l we nad c n. ' den
andwe|e a ea' lam ' y. C e' se o0| cn ' d|ena|e yo0 ng
and demand ng, and we yea|n |o a |ew momen| s lo
o0|se' ves. Vnenl neya|egown, ' eav ngnome|o ' ead
l ne | own ' ves, we may w s n | ney we|e yo0 ng aga n
andnol s oeage| l o ' eave 0s . Cppo|l 0n l es, peop' e,
possess onspa|ade| no0gno0| ' ves, o0| l ne' ong ng
seepsel 0|n ng.
|oos ng |o| l 0 ' | ' ' menl , we s amp' e d |l e enl ' |e
sly' es, |e' al ons n ps, and lypes o| wo| s, sees ng a
spec a' j oyo| mean ng| 0' aven 0eol comm. | men| . B0 |
j 0slwneno0 | p' ans a n dgoa' s seem| ooew l n n eacn,
we mayl ndo0se' vesd|aw ngoacs, avo d nga sense
o| comp' e| on. Yelwe may no| comp|enendwnal we
a|edo ng, o|0 nde s| andwnywea|e ' e||w l nlee' ngs
old ssal slacl on. Ve| 0 n lo some| n ng e' se, sea|cn
nglo|new l |onl . e|sl oconq 0e|, somel n ngo some
onemo|eall |acl ve | nd nga newgoa ' , we eawasen
l nesense ol' ong ng| nal s 0sl a ns o0| nl e|es| .
| n seac n ng |o|l 0 ' | ' ' men| , we may ac| 0a ' ' y l |a n
o0se' veslo' ong ng. Reacn ngo0| | ol o0cna nd|e ' . s n
1 40 Knowledge of Freedom
t ne sensat on o| des e s o0 oas c exec se. \e
no0 s n o0se' ves on des e and t ne ant c pat on o'
wnat wew ' ' a| | a n, nave, anddo. \nat wesees may
oe n gn' y va' 0ed n o0 soc ety, s0cn as po|ess ona'
snow' edge, o0s nessexpet se, o a man0a' s s ' ' , o |
may oe s mp' e p' eas 0essoc a' occas ons , no' days,
| ne pospect o| t ave' o omance. B0t t ne yean ng
| se' | s a moe mpo | a n ' so0ce o| p' eas0 e t nan
anyt n ngweco0 ' doota n , wee' snt nat sweetan' c
pat ont natt e' ' s 0s weaepog ess ngt owado0goa' s
o ge| | ngsomet n ng t ang o' et opossessanden| oy
| om o0 ea ' es ' yeas | o | ne pesent , we nave
oecomeacc0s ' omed |o t nesweet nesso| w s n ng and
t ne s 0ot ' e sadness t nat o|ten accompan es gett ng
wnat wewant . C0 omant c dea' s , o0 dayd eams,
' neyea n ngs ce. eoa ' ed n' | ea| 0eandsongva ' da'e
andenco0 age ' ong ng. Pa| nosandsen ' ment a ' tyae
eas ' y a o0sed and con| 0sed w t n deep appec at on
o ' ove, we |ee' o0 se' ves sens t ve and a' ve wnen
ac| 0a ' ' yweaes ' eeped nemot ona' ag | a| on. Ct nes
canp' ayont neseemot ons |o t ne own p vatega n ,
exc t ng o0 ' ong ngs | 0t ne oy s ' m0 ' a ' ng deep
emot ona. n0 nges.
|' we want t o po' ong | ne swee| ness o0 deep
yean ng ao0ses, wecan|oc0s 0pont n ngs t na' seem
0 natt a nao' e' ne dea' ma| e, 0 n ' m ted wea' | n and
powe , even wo ' d peace. \e can seacn a' ' o0 ' ves
| o somet n ngwes 0s pectwecannevenave. B0' even
| no0gnweaest v ng|ot ne0 n at t a nao| e, t neem0 s|
a' waysoe nope | na' o0 deamsw ' ' come t0e. \na'
wo0 ' d ' |e mean w ' no0| nope ' o g ve 0s some' n ng
to ' oos|owad ' o, someeason 'o con t n 0e ' v ng
Time to Change 1 41
Tnee aet mes n o0 ' veswnennopeweas t n n ,
wneno0 m nds | e' ' 0s o0 dea ms aeemp'y, a n do0
neat sae no' onge s oeas ' y0 p' |ted oyant c pat on
\nat s t nee ' e|t | o nope | o t nen ! \nen wet 0 n
n o0 nope' essness to |ace wnat o0 ' ves | 0 . y ae
at ne t nan wna| we mag n e t ney co0' d oe, w ' ' we
oe enco0 aged oy wnat we see! \ ' ' we nave done
any' n ng n neen ' ' y 0s e' 0 ' and sat s|y ng! \nen we
nave no cno ce o0t t o ' oos ns de o0 se' ves | o
st engt n, wnat w ' ' we l nd! \ ' ' ' ne empt n ess and
waste oe 0 n oeaao' e, d v ng 0s n |o depess on o
oacs nto | ant as es and comp0 ' s ve act v t es ! |ed on
asp at ons and ' ong ng, s o0 consc o0s ness st ong
eno0gnt ocopew t nnope' essness, g e|, and' oss!
\e mayt 0 n 'o e' g on |o s a| s|y o0 ' ong ngs o
| o com|ot nt meso| need. B0t o0 e' g o0s mp0' se
may not oe deep eno0gn to nea' o0 sen se o|
empt nessand so' a| on, ' nesameanx et es and |eas
may eappea. C o0 | a t n may no| oe | m eno0gn
we may oe t o0o' ed oy 0 n eso' ved do0o' s, o o0
nte' ' ect may compe' 0 s t o e| ect t ad t ona' oe' e|s
t natdo notseem e' evan t | oo0 ' vesand t mes .
And s o we may attemp| t o oe o0 own | eacne ,
seacn ngnee andt nee | o snow' edget nat w ' ' ne' p
0s t no0gnt ned l' c 0 ' | t mes. \emay| nda new dea
o appoacn t nat seems oene| c a' t ' | ' ' s a need' .
B0t at ne t nan ' et t ng o0 new snow' edget ans|o m
o0 ' ves, wead| 0s ' o0 newsnow' edget oo0 o' dway
o|' v ngand end 0pw | nnot n n gea' ' y new.
Ss ' ' n ' v ngo0 ' ves, ' seat n ' et co occ0pat ona'
s s ' ' s , nast ooedeve' opedt no0gnpact ce A| pesen t
1 42
Knowledge of Freedom
we ae t a ned on' yl o appec at ng a pot on ol o0
' ves, on' yl o t o0cn ngexpe encest nat w ' ' sat s 'y 0s
tempo a ' y |veyt n ng we snow s 0 ppots ' oos ng
o0t s deolo0 se' veslol 0 ' l ' ' ment o0 ' ang0age, ' ne
waywe t n n s aoo0t o0 se' ves and o0 s 0o0nd. ngs,
t neconcept swenavel o med, andtnesoc a' cond l on
ngt nat t eacnes0s wnat weneedandnowt ogetwnat
wewant
Moe s 0ot ' y, wet a n o0se' ves | o eq0ate t ne| oy
ol ' v. ng w t n t ne exc ' ement ol ant c. pat on \nen
ant c pat on ' a ' s to exc |e 0s , we no0 s n o0 se' ves
w t n memo es o w t n deams ol wnat co0' d nave
oeen \nenweneedst engt n, yean ng. s a ' ' wesnow,
n o0 need o0 neat s may o0st lom yean ng, o0t
wege| oacson' yempt nessandlea
e do not nave | o depend 0 pon c c0 mst ances
oot ne peop' elo l 0 . l ' ' ment , o sett ' elot ne
sweet sadness ol ' ong ng as a s0ost t 0t e l o ' ast ng
napp ness \e can t a n o0 se' ves to seacn w | n n,
q0 es t . on ng t ne so0 ce ol o0 deepest yean ngs
|ett ng gool a ' ' peconcept ons, wecanasso0 se' ves
wnat . s ea ' ' y mpo t ant t oo0 ' ves, wnat s | t na| w. ' '
s 0st a n 0s t no0gn a ' ' l o ms ol adves t y Tne t mes
wnen we lee' mos | est ' ess and ' one' y ae va' 0ao' e
oppot 0n t es t o masel endsw t n o0 se' ves, to l nd
w t n no0 own neat s a new dept no' 0ndest and ng
\nen pa n a ses, o l ea , wedonot nave ' ocove
t nem 0p oy sees ng companyod s ' act ons \e can
lace t nem d ect ' y and q0est on | ne so0 ce w t n n
o0 own m nds. \nat s t neca0seolt n s pa n ! \nat
w t n n 0s s lee ' ng t n eat ened o leal0 ' ! | s t ea ' ' y
Time to Change 1 43
necessay |o es pond lo l nese |ee. ngs' | l m gn| oe
poss o' elosay No' Tn s l me| w ' ' nol espond Tn s
| me|w ' ' s mp. yoosevewnal s n appen ng '| n do ng
l h s,wereveseo0r acc0sl omed pal l e ns \el asel ne
| slslep| owadse. t snow' edge, oeg n n ngapal nl nal
can| oeral e0s |rom yearn ngand' one| ness
| | we e' y0pon o0 own es o0cesandenco0age
o0rse' ves to pesevere n o0r e||orls, we can | earn to
g0 deo0 ' vesw l nc' a ly andw sdom \nenwecan
seemoec' ear ' ywnal nas' as | ngva| 0e,wecanrep| ace
. ong ng w l n gen 0 ne appec al on and no0 s n o0r
near|s and m nds w | n mea n ngf0' acl on l n | a| e
yeas, o0r consc o0snessw . ' rewad 0s | o l ne no0
sn menl we nave g ven l , potecl ng 0s from 0 nnec
essay s 0||e. ng and s 0sl a n ng 0s w l n ' asl ng con
f denceand n nerstrengt n .
As an art st a| | ows nanda n dor0sh l ooed rected
oy an nne v s on, we can oe g0 ded oy snow' edge
o| o0r own va| 0e and t ase | 0 | ' advant age o| | ne
oppol 0n l es a n0 man ' |e o||e s. S0 ppoled oy | ne
nner r cnes wenavedeve| oped w l h n o0rse' ves, we
can' vesec0e, | ee|om anx e|y, |ea, and ' one' ness
1 o
Pu rsu i t of Happi ness
How strong i s our motivation
to discover the knowledge we need
to give greater meaning to our lives?
ur ' | ves seem nat ura| ' y or| ent ed towa|d t ne
p0|s u t o| napp. nesswe cannot even mag ne
not pu|su . ng l . A' t no0gnwea ' ' naved || e|ent mages
and deas aoout wnat wou ' d mase us nappy, we a' |
w. s n |o| sat . slact on. V. t n s o m0cn e|| o|t and nt e'
' . gence oenl on |. nd ng napp. ness, wny a|e so many
nou|s ot ou| ' ves spent n t | ust |at on and anx et y!
Ve a ' ' nave wonde|| 0 ' moment s l nat a|e deep' y
sat s|y ng, o0t we cannot seem lo no' d on |o ' ast ng
happ ness.
C0 | ' ves seem lo |u n on t ne | own, s ' pp ng pasl
' se ep sodes n a d|eam Vnen we ' oos oacs, now
|astt neyea|s navegone Tnenext t wenty yearscou | d
we' ' pass as q0 cs' y, and a ' ' we w ' ' nave . s a lew
memo| es. | n l nemeant . me, wecont . n0etoeal, wo|s,
amuseou|se' ves |o|a |ewhours, ands | eep.
Tne s 0 |ace pat l e| ns o| ou| ' ves d s p' ay end ' ess
co' o|tu ' va| at ons, out ' we ' oos u nde| t ne su|tace,
Time to Change
1 45
oeyond spec ' c nst ances, t ne 0 nde| ' y ng patte| ns
se' domcnange Ve|epeatt nes ameact ons,t nesame
wods, t nesamecyc ' es o|exc ' ement anddepess on,
t ne same enewa' s o| nope, | ne same pe ods ol
anx ety Ve t y t o ma nt a n a sense o| p0 |pose, o0t
a|e we s 0|e ol o0 d |ect on! | s | n s t ne ' |e we
ant c pa| ed wnen we wee yo0ng and | 0 ' ' o| nope!
| s t n s t newaywewant | o' vet ne|esto| o0| ' ves!
Most o|0s nave|a seds0cnq0es ' ons atsomet me
o| ano' ne, o0t we p0t t nemo0t o| o0 m nds oe|oe
' ney mase0s t oodep|essed | l we do oeg nto |el' ect
on wnat t o do, now eas ' y we g ve 0p at tne l |st
nd cal on l nat t n ngs may not oe exact ' yaswe nave
t no0gn t ' Ve may ' 0n oacs att nevey moment wnen
we ae aoo0t ' o pene' ate t ne oo0 nda| es ol o0
|am ' a |ea' ma ndga n some snow' edgeo| wnat ' es
oeyond. O sco0aged and d sappo nt ed, we may e
s gn o0 |se' ves to o0| ' ves as ' ney a|e, and mase t ne
oestol wnatwenave
s |o|y s t o' d o| an anc ent t ave' e| wno once
passed t no0gna s ma' ' v ' ' age. A' t no0gn most ol
t ne v ' ' age|swee | oo p|eocc0p ed w t n t ne | cnoes
|o pay n m m0cn at ' en | on, a yo0ng ooy not yet o' d
eno0gn t o oe a| wo s was nappy t o ' st en t o t ne
st|ange s t a' es V t n g|ow ngawe ne ' st ened as t ne
t ave' e| desc| oed t ne gande0 | o| a d st ant c t y, t s
wa' ' s mmed w t n t emp' es capped w ' n towe|s ol
go' d Tnee, s 0l|e ngo|anys ndwas 0 nsnown, a' ' o|
t sc t zensenj oyed geat| cnes and ' ved npeace
As lne ooy ' st ened ' o tne st |ange s desc pt on,
nesaww t nneweyest neo0 ' neandsq 0a' o o| v ' ' age
' le, anddete m ned | odownat neco0 ' dt ocnange t
Hewo0' d go t ot nec ty, ' ea no| t s ways, and e| 0|n
1 46 Knowledge of Freedom
to sna|e n s snow' edge w t n t ne v ' ' age|s A' t no0gn
t he ooy had never oe|ore | e|t h| s v| | | age, heset o0|
atonce nt ned. |ect ont net |ave| e| nd cated
A' ' day ne wa' sed, and oy n gnt |a | ' ne nad gone
|aroeyondn| s v| | ' aget ot ne|ooto| a mo0nt a| n|ange
t nat st |et cned as la| as t ne eye co0' d see C|ea| ' y
d sappo nted, ne stopped t o |es | S0|e' y, ne t no0gnt ,
no one has ever | |ave| ed as |a| as l have, yel | have
|o0nd no c t y Tne st | ange| seemed so ce|ta n , n s
v| s | on so rea| , yet he m0s | have ' | ed, or pe|haps he
was mad Now | nave |eacned t ne mo0nl a ns t nat
eve|yone s nows mars t he edge o| t he wor ' d. | | |
cont n0e anyla|t ne|, | w ' ' |a ' ' oll t ne wo| ' d and d e
a t e| | . o| edeat n .
Tne v s on o| | n e go' den c ty van s ned, t n e ooy
q0 | cs' yt 0| ned oacs |o h s v| | | age, |e| rac ng h s s| eps
n tne da| s As soon as ne nad a| | . ved nome sale' y,
ne made a so| emn p' edget ha| hewo0 ' d never aga| n
oedece ved n t he same way He |es 0med t neways
o| n| s peop| e, and soon |o|go| n . s d| scont ent w| | n
eve|yday ' |e Vnen necame o| age, net oosa w |e
and |a sed a lam ' y | n w nt e| ne wo0| d gat ne| n s
c h | d|en aro0nd t he l re and nsl r 0c| l nem neve| to
need t ne w ' d t a| es o| st |ange|s And n s cn ' d|en
|o| | owed n s nst r 0ct | ons, as d d | he | ch| | dren and
t ne | cn ' d|en' sc n ' d|en
ow |ar do we | et o0 rse' ves t rave| n o0| | nq0|
| es oelo|e we g ve 0p! Vnat snow' edge g0 des
o0| | |st|ews| eps! Howm0cno|o0| ' ves spatte|ned
0 ponass0 mpl | ons weneve|' earned toq0est | on! How
st |ong s o0| mot va| onto d scove|t nesnow' edgewe
Time to Change
1 47
wou' dneed |o g veg|eale|mean ngto ou| ' . ves!How
mucna|ewe' eav ngt ocnance, assu m| ngt nal ' | ew ' '
aul omat ca' ' y p|ov de wna| we need! Cu| | me and
ene|gy w| ' ' nol ' ast |o|eve, u n ' ess we ass s ucn
quesl ons o' ou se' ves, wemay spendyeas |epeat ng
patte|nsl nat on' y| nc|easeou vu ' ne|ao ' |yt o| | ust | a
l on, anx ety, andemot ona' pa n .
Vny can' t we ass moe ||om ou| ' ves! A|e we
w ' ' ng to spend ou| en| |e ' ves n act ons and
l nougnt sl nal |o| | owped c| ao' ecyc| es, w| t nout eve|
| u' ' y unde|st and ng ou s l ual on! | s n | t ne|e a mo|e
sal | s|y ngwayto ' | ve!
Ve can ' ea| n t o|aceques t | ons t nat mase us u n
com|o|t ao' e, |at ne| t nan d s m s s ng t nem a s ||e' e
vant t ol ne|ea' | t | es o| | | |e. Vecant aseou| ' | vesmo|e
se| ous' y and demand mo|e o| ou|se' ves. Cu| ve|y
| mpat | ence w| t nq uest ons can ne| p|evea' t nenao| t s
t nat p|evenl us | | om| nd ngg|eat emean ng. Cosev
| ngt nesenao | s w ' ' s now uswnat t odo,wnatcnanges
a|e|ea' ' yoene| c a' loou|g|owt n , andnowt odeve' op
ou| own| nne| st |engt n
Now, wn| ' ewenavesomeyea|s' e|ll ous,wnynot
lase advant age o| evey oppo|l un ty to d scove| l ne
|ea' va' ue o| ou ' | ves! Al t ne vey ' easl, t n s seacn
wou ' dma|sao|easw l no ' d palte|nsandqu csenou|
nt e|est n ' |e, at oest, we m. gnt | nd a wea' t n o|
wondeandw sdomt nat wenevesuspecledex sled
As numan oe ngs, we nave t ne capac ly l o |ee
ou|se' ves ||om ' m t ngpal t e| ns and d scovet nesey
lo t|ue and ' ast ng sal s|acl on Vnenwe ' oosc' ose' y
at ou ' ves and nave l ne cou |age |o |o' ' ow ou
quest ons wne|eve| l ney may ' ead, we can || nd t ne
snow' edgeweneed
T /
Gateway to Knowl edge
The sensa tion we call |ear
can be a ga teway to inner a wa kening.

we w s n l o exp' o|e o0| ' ves and l ne | 0 nd s

cove|ed poss o ' l es, we need |o oe ao| e lo ' oo|
slead ' y a| o0| expe| ence, nomal l e|wna' ' m. gn | oe
R| gnl al lne oeg| nn| ng o| o0| exp' o|a| | ons , a|e we
ma| ngagreemenl s nol l o| oo|alce|la| n a|easo| o0|
' ves ! Pa n| 0' o| negal ve evenl s, deas, o| memo| es
can oe d n c0 ' l |o ' oo| a| d |ec| ' y, lo| no dynam c . s
sl | onge| n o0| ' . vesl nanl nep0s nandp0 ' ' o|o' eas0 |e
and pa| n, napp| ness and sor|ow, and o0| w s n |o ex
per| ence l neoneandavo| dl neol ne|.
C0| j 0dgmenls ol wnal s good o| oad, pos l ve o|
negal ve, a|e oased onconcepl sweaoso|oed asc n '
d|en a s 0ncons c. o0s ' y a s we ' ea| ned o0| ' ang0age.
Tnese j 0dgmen| s a|e so compe' ' ng l na| we cont 0se
l nem w| l n d| recl exper| ence o| | | |e Yel | n accepl ng
l nemw l no0| q0esl on, wew ' ' s 0|e' y ' m. t wnal we
can d scove| |o| a|en l | ne|e n dden d|awoac|s n
Time to Change 1 49
expe| ences we ca' ' p' easan| , and |ea| va' ue n t nose
we ca' ' undes |ao' e! But t ne|e|' ex| o| u|n away| | om
' nega| ve' exper ences| ssos | |ong| na| wenard | ynave
a cnancetoseewna| s | nee. Vecan no| seem | oge|
pas |ou| |ea|
1nemost|ea|someo| a ' ' expe| | ences, | neone| n ng
na|des| to |aced ect ' y, s deat n But canwe ' eavet n. s
event ou| o| accoun| ands| | ' ' nopet ou nderstandt ne
mean ngol ou| ' ves ! Vew. s nwecou| d Ponde| ng
t ne nev| tao| ' | tyol ag. nganddeath | spa| nru | | ! b|' ngs
us up aga. nst a despa | t nat ' eaves no avenue|o|es
cape. Vnat . n | |e nas mean ng |dea| n s | ne end o|
a| | ourst | | v ng!
A' t nougn we snow wecannot avo d t , weact as
t nougndeat nnad' t t | es gn . | cance. nt net o| a| con| ex|
o| ou| ' | ves. Vecanoerea ' st | caoout dea| n on' yon
a s 0pe|l. c. a| | eve| , |eso| v. ng to dea| w. |n wna|eve
nappens wnen i | comes. Ve can de| | ec| a ser| ous | n
qu. |y nto t ne mean ng o| deat n even wn. ' e d|a|t ng
' |e ns u|ance p' ans andw. ' ' s, o aang| ngt nedela| ' s
o| ou| own|u ne|a ' s.
| | we snew t nat we nad tne oppo|t un t y |o c' ose
a po| tao' e ous . ness dea| , we wou| d ' ean as mucn
aswecou' daoout a' ' | s mp' cat ons andlu ' ' ypepae
ou|se' ves to oene| t lom ' s outcome. Yet wnen ou
| me comes | od| e, as | | nev| | ao' y does, wet end to
oecaugnt unawa|es
Can we a' ' ow ou se' ves to mag ne now we w | |
|ee| wnen | | | s our t urn | ooecome ncapac | ated and
ne' p' ess, o| to ' ve da ' y w. t n t ne snow' edge o| m
m nen| dea| n ! V ' | our presen | |ee| | ngs o| p' eas u|e
1 50
Knowledge of Freedom
and con| ent ment s ust a| n us wnen we tee| our v| | a'
ene|g. es s ' | pp| ngaway, o| wnenwea|e s 0fl 0sedw| t n
pa| n t nat w| | | not aoat e!
| | wesnewt nat ou| ' | veswe|eend | ngw| t n . n a |ew
nou|s, wo0 ' dwes 0 ||ende| gent | y! Vnat |eg|etsm gnt
we expe| | ence, wnat wou' d we | ee' we nad ' e|t
u ndone! Vo0 ' d we nave ' | ved d | f|e|ent ' y nad we
snown ea|' | e| t nat at t n| s moment ou| ' | veswou ' doe
ove| ! Vnatadv| cewo0 ' dweg| vetoo0| cn | ' d|eno| to
ou| | | | ends, to ne| p t nem avo| d |ee| | ngs o| |eg|et
wnen | tcamet ne| | t | metod| e!
Tnen, | t wewereg| vent neopport un| |yt ocont | nue
t o ' | ve, wo0 ' dwet ase o0| ownadv| ce, o| wo0 ' d we
|epeatt nesamem| s |a ses ! A| | ow| ngourse| vestot n | ns
aoo0t deat n now m| gnt cnange ou| pe|spect ve on
t | mea ndne| pus estao| | s npr | or | t | es toro0r | | vest nat
wou ' d s uppo|t us oette|| nyea|sto come
Vn | ' ewea|eyo0ngandnea' t ny, t . me. s o0| | | | end,
. t a| | owsus opport un | tytoret| ectont neva' ueotwnat
we a|e do ng and su ppo|ts o0 | ef| o|t s to | | nd t ne
snow| edgewe need t ocou n |e| cont us | on and waste
. n ou| ' ves Vast | ngt | me,we ' ose ou| ' . ves, and nave
| | t t ' e cno| ce out to accept wna| ever nappens | n our
' at e| yea|s But wnenweacceptt | me' sgene|os ty, and
use | | t oou| | dastrongoas| so| s e' | unde|stand| ng, | ne
snow' edgewega. n w| ' ' p| o| ect 0s | |omweasnessand
emot | ona| d| st |essoot n nowand | n tne| 0t ure | n our
o| d age, sn ow| edge w. ' | oe a cont . n 0 a ' so0 |ce o|
| nsp| rat | on and v| go| , s uppor| | ngus | nrougna' | torms
o| adve|s | ty, ands 0s ta . n | ng o0| va' 0e to o0 |se' vesand
|oot ne|s.
Time to Change 1 51
Vhy| s t so d| t|| cu| | |o |acet herea| | ty t hat we w | |
age and d| e' Vhy mustweavo| d a d| rec| con| |ont a
| i onw| t hour tea|!Vhenwe say | ama|ra| dot what
w| | | happen, what do we rea| | y mean! Oo we eve|
say, | am atra| d a| t h| s very moment oecause | snow
somet n | ng | do not want t o snow' Cou | d our |ear
actua' ' yoean ncomp' etes ndo| snow' edge, |ea|| u'
on' y oecausewea|e unw ' ' ng t oaccept t |u ' ' y'
Pe|naps, n acsnow' edg ngou| |ea|s and a' ' ow ng
t nem to we' ' up n ou| nea|t s, we w ' ' ' ose on' y ou|
' ' us ons V t h n ou| |ea|wem ght | ndanunexpected
|est ng p' ace and |ee' deep g at t ude tnat at ' ast we
snowwnatwea|e andwhe|ewea|ego ng
Tnesensat on we nowca' ' |ea can oe a gateway
to nne| awasen ng Vn eneve we taste |ea|, we can
suspec| t hat we a|e c| ose |o snow| edge we have
h dden t |om ou |se| ves Vhenever we approach t he
oounda| es ot our expe|| ence and oeg n to perce ve
somet h | ng new, tea|w ' | ar se| se a shadow, concea|
| ngwha|eve|wemostneed tosnow.
| seagood| | end, |ea|w ' ' neve| ' eaveus unt ' we
comp' et e' yunde|standou| own oe ng As' ongaswe
seesg|eate| snow' edgeo| wno and what wea|e, we
can t | ust |ea| to se|ve as a compass to ou own
awa|eness, a po. nt e| s how ng us t he way to geate|
snow' edge
[f@\Oc
@U
C@[fuQB@u
CHAPTE R 1 8: HUMAN E DUCATI ON
Beautyo| expe| | ence 1 57
Know' edgeo| oody,m nd, andsenses 1 58
O || c0| tyo|cnang ngpatte|ns 1 58
|acso|con|| dence
1 59
| m tat onso|cond t on ng 1 60
O m n sn ngoppo|t un t es 1 61
Acsnow' edgment t nesta|t ngpo nt 1 62
Pa nw t nessesou| ' m tat ons 1 64
Comprenens|venumaneducat| on 1 64
|d0cat ngo0 cn ' d|en 1 65
Se' leducat on ' oos ngw t n n 1 65
CHAPTER 1 9: LAYE RS OF CON DI TI ON I NG
| n |' 0enceol cond t on ng 1 68
Slageso| g|owt nanddeve' opment 1 69
Oependency
1 71
Sepa|at on, cu| os ty, and|ea| 1 71
| nsecur | tyand' anguage 1 73
Cnang ngsenseo| s e' | 1 73
Pe|sona' ty, nsecu | ty, and s o' at on 1 75
Respons| o | | tyandcnoos | nga d| rect | on 1 77
Con|0s on 1 79
Va' 0e ol t | me
1 80
Con||ont ng negat vepat t e|ns 1 81
Compass onandpat ence 1 82
CHAPTER 20: NEW BEGI N N I NGS
Po| nt s o| new oeg| n n | ngs 1 84
Cnanges n modesol expe| enc ng 1 84
Cyc | ca| q0a' | tyo| expe| ence 1 84
Sn| |t s | n percept | ons andcapao| | | t | es 1 86
Tendenc est ocon| 0 s . on 1 87
Spaceoetweenstages 1 88
Cyc| es w| t n | n cyc' es 1 88
Beg nn ngsw t n n oeg. nn ngs 1 90
Tno0gnt andemot ona' pat t e ns 1 90
Breas ngcyc| es o| negat | v| ty 1 91
CHAPTER 21 : I MAGES OF OURSELVES
Act ngonpos . t vese' | mages 1 93
Rat | ona| zat ons andexc0 ses 1 94
Poc|ast nat onandsense o| ' m t at . on 1 94
| nst ao ' tyol se' | mages 1 96
Oeve' opment o| se| | | mages 1 97
A|t | |. c| a' responses
1 97
Oen a' o| negat . veq0a' t es 1 98
Conl 0s| onoetweenp|oj ected. mages 1 99
Negat | vese| | | mage 200
A' . enat . onandse' |decep| . on 201
Tneape0t cse' | oose|vat on 203
T d
Hu man Educat i on
In letting go our belief that suffering
is a necessary part of human life,
we can take a few steps forward.
acn mo| n ng as we awa|en, o0| | s | mpess on
| s o| | | gnt, as| o| msandco' o|scome| nto |ocus, we
see oe|oe 0s , wne|eve we ' oo|, | ne co' o|s o| | ne
|a| noowt neg|een o| p| ant s and t |ees, t ne| cn nues
ol wood, l nego' den ye' ' ow ol t ne s 0n, t ne o' 0es|y
aoove Spa | ' ng w t n ' gn| , even a stone wa' |way
oecomesa |ea| mo'j ewe| s . Ast nougnout o|a n dden
co n0cop a, my ad snapes |' ow past 0s and text 0|es
ola ' ' | ndso| 0sno0| s | n. R0st ' ng' eavesando |dsong
a|e t ne|e | o| t ne nea| ng. Cu| senses and ou m| nds
o| ng0s t neseo||e| ngsaga n andaga n eacnday.
| n eve|y| meandp' ace| n|ougnout n | st o|y, peop' e
naveoeen' |tedo0| ol l ne | da ' y|o0t nesoymomen| s
o| oeau | ywnent neysensedt newonde| o| oe| nga | | ve
n t n s wo ' d | n | nese spec a' moment s we may lee'
deep' y g|a| el0 ' to nave a oody capao' e ol s0cn
|esponses, a m| nd t nat can |now s ucn p' eas u|e and
1 58
Knowledge of Freedom
j oy. A teas ue nouse u n' ocsed and stand| ng open
oeloe us, tne wo' d o| ou numan consc ous ness
conta| ns a wea| t n ot wond ous poss | o| ' | t | es. Tne ex
pe | ence o| numan oe| ngs | n sucn a ea ' m cou ' d oe
anend| essce| eoat | on.
Vnen we nave oeaut | t u| tee| | ngs ot j oy and ap-
pec| at | on, we snow tnat ou senses, ou ood| es, and
ou m| nds can en| oy |ee| ngs |a | cne and moe
comp' ete t nan ou od. nay sensat | ons A' | nougn | |
may nowseem | mposs o' e|oenj oy | nese |ee' . ngslo
moe t nana s not t | me, wemay s | mp| yoe| acs| ngtne
snow' edge we need to ecogn| ze and s usta. n tne
pos| t| veaspectsot ou expe| ence. Ve naveon| y oe-
gun to exp' oe t ne e' a| | onsn| ps among m| nd, oody,
and senses, weneedmoecompenens ve snow' edge
tot ea| oodyandm| nd asan | ntega|ed wno' e
Vn . ' ewe nave mucn | nlo mat | onon t nepnys. ca'
aspec|s o| | ne oody, measu emen| s lo t ne a| | ona'
capac| t | es o| t ne m| nd, and t neo | es gounded on
oosevat | onolnuman oenav| o, we snow ' | | ' e aoout
now oodyand m| nd | nteact to | nt| uence tne nat ue
ol ou expe ence |acn o| | ne many e' emen| s tnat
l o m ou ood es and m| nds may nave | unct | ons and
capao . | t es t natwedono| yetundes| and | lwecou ' d
extendou snow' edge, wem| gnt oeao| et oopenw de
t necnanne| s oet weensenses and m| nd, andd scove
new d| mens | ons o| expe| ence tnat we cou' d evose
wnenevewew| s ned.
Tn | ns | ng aoout s ucn poss | o| ' | t | es may t oucn us
deep' y, most o| us yean lo | ne undest and | ng | na|
w| | ' a' ' ow us to | | ve moe sa t s 'y| ng ' | ves Ve want to
enj oy moe o| t ne pos | t | ve n ' lewe wan| |o lee'
Time to Cha nge 1 59
good aooul ou |se' ves, ou| |a m ' . es, ou| count y, and
ou |ul u|e Vewant t ooe| eeo|oo|edom, | | ust |at | on,
and ' . nge| ng anx el . es But wnen we cons de| t ne
poss o ' | y o| |ea' cnange n ou ' ves, do we try to
succeed o| dowe know l nat we w ' ' succeed! | | we
a|e op| | m| s| | c, s ou| op| | m| s m oased u pon st | ong
se' |con| dence and ce|| a n snow' edge o| a| | e| na
t | ves! Oowesnowt hatwecan|| ndmo|e mean ng| u '
ways lo ' . ve, o| s ou con| dence, deepdown, s nasy
and unce|t a. n!
Pe|hapswenavet | edl omasecnangesoe|o|e. Ve
may nave |ead manyoooss | hat seem to o||e| nope o|
se' | | mpovement o| | nvesled ' a|gesu ms o| money n
c' asseso| counse| | ng, spend| ng mont hs o| even yea|s
t |y| ngto ||eeou|se| ves| |omo| dhao| t s andga| nmo|e
sat s|acl | on||om' | | e Vnenweseemtooesucceed ng,
a we' come |ee' ng o| exn ' a|a| on ouoys up ou|
con|. dence, | ' ' ngus w. t nnope| o| a o| gnte | ul u|e
But | weoeg nt os us pecl | hat t necnangeswe mase
aeon' y su pe|| c a' , o| . | weseeo' d pat l e| ns|esu ||ac
| ng . n new s | t uat | ons , |ee' | ngs o| ne| p| ess ness and
d| smaymayd| scou |ageus ||omcont | n u | ngou| ef|o| | s.
A|l e| awh. ' ewemayga| ne ou| ene|gyl ol |yaga| n
Tn s t mewe a|e ' essce|ta n o|o u ao ' t yt o count e|
negat v ty, moe c| . | . ca' o| ou se' ves o l nose wno
wou' d ne' p us Ve ae not s u|p . sed wnen negat ve
patlens easse|t t nemse' veseven mo|e st |ong' y| nan
oe|o|e cvent ua ' ' y, we may sec|e| ' y come l o l ne
conc' us on | hat | t | s s mp| y not poss o' e | o change
deep' yen| |enched pat t e| ns. Ve maycon| | nue |o ' | |y
lo cnange, oul deep . n ou| nea|ls we nave no
con| dencet nat wew. ' ' succeed | na' ' y, we may|ee'
l nal t neoest wecando s lo acsnow' edgel nal wn ' e
1 60
Knowledge of Freedom
wewo0 ' d ' se lolee' oel | e|aoo0| o0 |se' ves, we nave
| oacceplo0 |se' vesas we a|e
Rea'con| dencelnalwecancnange|ne0nde| ' y ng
pal | e| nsol o0| ' ves seems ' o oe ' acs ng, no| on' y n
o0| nd v d0a' expe| ence, o0l a' so n wes| e|n soc ely
and c0' | 0|e as a wno' e Tno0gn memoe|s o| a w de
|ange ol p|oless ons nc ' 0d ng ed0ca| o|s, pnys
c ans, sc en| sls, psycno' og. s| s, soc o' og s|s, and po
' l ca' sc enl s |sae las ng a c| l ca' ' oos al lne com
p' ex p|oo' ems we |aceloday, | ney a|e no| p|om s ng
nope o| |ea' cnange Tney may ofle| some new ap
p|oacnes and ns gn| s, o0| lew p|o|ess ona' s wo0 ' d
c' a m|onaveoeens 0ccessl 0 ' n l ne | ef|o|lslop|ov de
' asl ngandcompenens veso' 0 ' ons | os ' |ong' yeslao
' s ned soc a' o| psycno' og ca' p|oo' ems, and manya|e
con | en' lo |ed |ecl| nem n ' essna|m| 0' ways ' ' seems
| nal we s mp' ydo no| snow wnal l o doa| a l 0nda
men| a' ' eve' lo masel n ngs oelle|
Vemay no| oeawa|e l na| lne oe' e| lnalwenave
no |ea' a ' l e| nal ves s |s e' | pa|l o| o0| cond l on ng,
passedonlo0snolon' yoyo0| pa|enl sando0| scnoo'
sysl em, o0l oya ' ' l ne | n l' 0ences n soc ely | na' mase
0p o0| n 0 man ed 0ca| on. | ne med a, a|| , m0s c,
' | e|a| 0|e, n s| o|y, sc ence, po' l cs' ne ' s| ol nl' 0
ences nc' 0deseve|yl n ng n o0| snownwo| ' d |ve|y
l n ngwesee, s me' ' , l o0cn, | as| e, and nea|, eve|y' n ng
wel n | n s, eve|y acl onwe| ase, eve|y| n ng | nal nap
penslo 0s n o0| ' ves|o|mspa|| o|o0| ed0cal on
Tn|o0gno0l o0| ' ves, we nave oeen l a0gnl now
'o v ew and n | e| p|e| o0 expe| encewnal | o con
s de| ' good and wna| | o cons de| pa nl 0' , wna| | o
expecl n ' le and wnal lo expec| l|om o0 |se' ves
Time to Change
1 61
|veyt n ng n o0| expe encenas oeencnanne' ed nto
catego est nat we nave oeen t a ned t o accept Now
t nesecatego| ess eem' |e se' | ev dent t | 0t ns t nat we
canno| cnange | t s d || c0 ' t even t o mag nenow we
co0 ' dj 0dgeo0 |se' vesando0| expe encesd ||e|ent ' y
A' t no0gn a' ' n0 manoe ngs navenad t ocopew t n
' ne ' m t at ons ol t ne ed0ca| on, t odaywea emo|e
pess0 ed t nan eve| oe|o|e and nave |ewe| oppot 0
n t es t ot n n| deep' y aoo0t t ne peconcept ons and
v ewswea|e app' y ng to expe| ence | |e s l a| mo|e
comp' ex t nan t waseven a |ewgene|a' ons ago C0
' ves 0nl o' d n t nem dst ol d st act ons a ndst m0 ' a
| ons, ||om ea| ' y c n ' dnood, o0| nat 0 a ' a|| n t y | o|
concent |at on, wn cn s t ne | e' d o| c|ea| v ty and
ns p |at on, nas oeen |agmented oy a de' 0ge ol
senso|y mp|ess ons and cont n0a ' act v t y. Ve nave
neve| ' ea|ned t nej oy ol n ne| ||eedom t nat can a| se
wnent nem nd s na| 0| a' ' yca' mandconcent |at ed, we
nave no |ea' 0ndest and ng o| now t o p|otect o0|
ment a' c ' a| ty. S0 |o0 nded oy ' ne wo| ' d o' o0| ex
pe| ence, we a|e oo0ndto wnat we |now V t n n ' s
con| nes, o0| way o| |now ng s s . mp' ywnat t s , ac
cod ng t o t ne ' og c o| o0| cond t on ng, t nee can
not oeot ne| poss o ' . t est n s s| newayt n ngsae.
Be' ev ngt nat wenavenoo' ne| wayo|pece v ng
o| snow ng may t nee|oe s eem ent e' y nat 0a '
Ca|y ngt n s v ew t o | s nat 0a' conc' 0s on, noweve,
' eadstod m n s n ngoppot 0 n t es |oceat ve act on
Tne mo|e st|ong' y we oe' eve t nat we nave no a'
te|nat ves, t nat ' we a|e wnat we a|e' , t ne ' ess con|
dent we oecome t nat we can cnange o0| ' ves | o|
t ne oette|, o0| wea|ened e||ots a|e nea|' y p|edes
1 62
Knowledge of Freedom
t ned to|a ' | n | u n, |a ' u |eve| l es| nat wewe|e gn|
to douot our cnances |or s uccess, u nderm| n| ng ou|
con| dencest ' ' mo|e Conv nced t natwea| eunao' eto
cont|o' t ne ' a|ge| o|ces| nat aflec|ou| ' . ves, we may
d rect our need |or cont ro' towa|d ou| mates, ou
cn| | dren, even our own ood| es, s nutt ngdown more
open, spont aneous esponses and const | ct . ng ou
| e' dolact onevenl u|t ne|
Asour wor| ds nr| n ssandc| osesdown n| ncreas ng
da| sness, we maycome to see on' y|wo a' te nat . ves
to |eoe' aga nst opp|ess ve n l' uences o to d|aw
nwa|ds. Vnat |ea' cno ces a|e | nese! |ocs ng ou
se| ves ntoav| ew t nat we naveno|reedomo| cno ce,
wedep| . ve ou |se' veso|nopeand p|oceed nexo|ao. y
to se' ldest|uct on | l ou| men| a. l|eedom con| nues
to const ct , wnat mot vat on nave we to con| . nue
| v ng! |oss o| | reedom sets t ne stage |or | nd| v dua'
and soc a' s u c de, even ' a|gesca' e dest|uct ve ac
t ons, sucnasnuc' ea| wa|,cou ' dposs o' yoccu|.
e can not p|et end tnat a ' ternat | ve sou|ces o|
snow' edge a|e a ' |eady ava ' ao' e |o us, o| tnat
a' t e| nat ve app|oacnes to educat on a' |eady ex st n
our cu| t ure and soc ety. | | we| oosc | ose| yat sugges
t ons t nat a|e ntended as a' t e| nat ves, we w ' ' see
t nat t ney |o' ' ow | am ' a| patte|ns and a|e u n ' se' y |o
' ead to anyt n ng t |u ' y new. |ven educat . ona. deas
t nat are oased on a w der v| s | on o| numan potent a'
do no| oeg n t ot ap t ne |u ' ' |esou |ces o| t ne nu man
oodyandm nd
| | no new a| te|nat ves to snow' edge seem t o oe
ava | ao| e, and |wecan notso| veour p|oo' ems, wea|e
Time to Change 1 63
|aced w t n | ne ' m ts o| wnat we snow. A' t no0gn t
may seemd. || c 0 ' t a t | |stt o' oosnonest ' ya t wnat we
donot snow, t n s . st neoas s o|new . n q0 |y and new
poss o ' t . es
Ve snow we do not snow o0| past Ve do not
0nde|stand wne|e we came ||om, t ne o| g ns o| o0|
genes, t neso0 |ces o| o0| n 0 man ene|gy. Vedo not
snow now t no0gnt s and emot . ons a| se, we do not
snownownegat vepat te| nst asesnape, wenaveon ' y
oeg0nto | nvest gatet ne nt e||e' at ons n p o| m ndand
oody, we do not s now now t o t ap t ne |eso0 |ces o|
o0| ment a' ene|gyand s 0st a nconcent |at onoeyond
a sno|t pe| od o|| me
Vedo not snow o0| | 0t 0|e. Ve cannot t e' ' wnat
w ' ' nappent o0s n t nenext yea| o| . n t nenext no0|,
aoo0t o0| deat n and t s s gn |. cance we snow next
t o not n. ng. Vnat w ' ' nappen t o | ne |o0 | o ' ' on
peop' e now ' . v. ng on t n s eat n! C0 | dest ny s ' se
a o' an s | n t ne p|esent we a|e occ0p ed w t n do ng
wnat we nave ' ea| ned t o dot o cons de| o0|se' ves
sepa|ate | |om t ne wo| ' d, ||om ot ne|s, even ||om o0|
own deepes | |ee' ngs, t o oeconce| ned w t n mages
and . nt e| p|etat ons and tne act . ons t ney g ve |. se t o,
to oe emot ona' and t o sees napp ness n emot ona'
n gns t nat we can not ma nt a n, | o oe a' ways do ng,
a' t no0gn o0| act ons do not sat . s|y 0s | o| ' ong, to oe
so' v ng p|oo' ems, t o |ee' ' ost and ne' p' ess wnen ' |e
seemst ogoaga. nst 0s, t ooecon| 0sedand| | 0st |ated
|oos ngc' ose' yat wnat we donot snowcan mase
0s |ee' 0neasy and 0 ncom|otao' e. Ve can o|co0|se
t 0n away and cont n 0e to ' ve as we nave ' ea| ned
nowto ' ve, go ng||om dayto day,do nga' 't net n. ngs
1 64 Knowledge of Freedom
we snow now to do. But ' v ng ' se t n s s ' se ' v ng
on t ne su ||ace o| ou| ' ves. Howeve| |am ' a| ou|
s u| |ound| ngs and act | v t es, t ne|e may come a t me
when we oecome awa|e o| |ee| | ng u nce|ta n and
u ncon nect ed. Cu| ' ves may seem to oe suspended,
as | we we|e wa t ng | o| somet n ng to nappen ,
a ' t nougnwedonot qu t esnowwnat . V t nout deepe|
snow' edge, wecannot snowwnatwestand|o| n ' |e,
wnowea|e, andwhe|ewea|ego ng.
Ve do not ' se to acsnow' edge t nat we need
g|eate| w sdom, out wnen we ' oos a|ou nd us, t ne
t ea|s wesee oea| w t nes s to wnat we do not snow
| | wecou ' d co' ' ect a ' ' tnet ea|s wept oya ' ' t nepeop' e
a| | ve| n t hewo|| qt oday, now| a|geavesse| wou| dwe
need t ocont a n t nem' Cu| t ea|s oea|w t nesst oou|
s u||e| ng. Ve may oe' eve t nat t ne mo|e we s u||e|,
t nemo|e we snow, out wnat dowe |ea' ' y' ea|n||om
ou| m se|y' Oo we ' ea| n enougn to ||ee ou |se' ves
||om s uf|e|| ng'
Cenu ne s u|| e ng can t oucn ou| nea|ts nonest ' y
to s now us ou| need |o| g|eate| snow' edge But . n
o|de| t ooene| t ||om t s nst |uct on, we need to ' oos
oeyond pa n| u' expe| ences and t|ans|o|m t ne pat
t e| ns that caused t hem. C|wnat va| ue| s ou| p|esent
educat | on-| n t ne ' a|gest sense | | t does not teacn
us now to do t n s ' | | t does not teacn us to oe ||ee
o|s u||e| ngandpa n '
t | u| ycomp|ehens ve n u maneducat | onwou | d oe
oased on a t no|ougn nvest gat on o| t newo|s
ngs o| ou| consc ous ness. | t wou' d nvo' ve study o|
a ' ' aspects o| consc| ous ness, nc' ud ng ou| ped spo
s t ons and tne nat u|e o| ou cond t on ng, so we
Time to Change 1 65
cou ' d so|' oul | ne ' ayes o| con| us on l nal nave
accu mu' aleddu| ngl neslageso|ou| deve' opmenl
To d ou se' ves o| pel ense, we wou' d need l o
| nlegrale l he tace we presenl l o l he wor| d w| l h our
rea| tee| | ngs, wewou| dneedl o | earn how l o reso| ve
nne|con|' cl soe|weenwnal wea|e andwna| we|ee'
wesnou ' doe Vewou ' da' so needl ounde sl andnow
| neegoman |esls, l neo| g nandnal u eo|des esand
emol ons, and how a| | o| l nese tacl o|s n || uenceou
j udgmenl Vewou' d need lo u nderslandl henal ure
o| e' axal on and concenl al on and ' ea n |o p| o| ecl
ou|se' ves |om negal v ly | dea ' ' y, we wou ' d ga n a
sound|ou ndal on|ose' | u ndesl and ngas pa|lo| ou
ea|| yeducal on, oe|ore negal | vepal l ernsweedeep| y
enlrenched
| l m gnl even| ua' ' yoecomeposs o' el o|ev ewou|
app|oacn l o educal on and | o deve' op mel nods o|
o| enl ngou cn ' den l o a |a moe pos l ve v ew o|
l hemse| ves, ||ee ngl hem|roml hepa| n ot separal on,
anx| ely, andgu ' l | ul uregeneral | ons mayhavel ocope
w l n an nceas ng' y l ouo' ed wo| ' d and w ' ' need,
even moe l nan we do, a pos l ve v s on | o soc ely
and |o| nu man l y, as we' ' as lne con| dence and n
s p |al | onl oor ngl h| s v| s on nl ooe ng Tohe' pl nem
end l he proo| ems we have nol reso| ved n our own
l me, wecang ve| neml neg |lo|snow' edgel nal w ' '
' ead lonapp nessandsecu l y n l ne s
A' l nougn l s |a moed |l cu ' l l ocnangenegal ve
pall e| ns' al e|| n | |e, l | s | mpo|l anl | o| us lo masel h s
etto|| now, oo| h tor ou own sase a nd| o| l ne sase
o| ol nes n | ne |ul u e Vna| eve we d scove n
' oos ng nlo ou own neal s and m nds cou' d nave a
powe|u ' up' | l ng n |' uence on ou cn ' den, ou
1 66 Know/edge of Freedom
| | ends, and ou| soc et es Howeve| d s | ant t negoa' ,
a| | j ou| neysoeg| nw| t ha s | ng' es| ep | n | e| | nggoou|
oe' e|t nat s ufl e| ng . s a necessa|y pa|t o| human ' |e,
we can t ase a |ew steps |o|wa|d, eas ng pa n n ou
| me andc|eat ngt nepotent a' | o| e' m nat ng t com
p| ete| y| nt he| ut ure.
|ven nass ngou |se' ves | t neea|eot ne| poss o '
t es, wet ase a o|oade| v ew o| ou| s | ua| on, we can
stop, | oos, and re|| ec| oe|o|e comm| |t ng ou|se' ves
mo|e |u| | ytoou | am | a| wayso|snow ng Recogn z
ngt nat , des p t e | ne event s t nat p|ovose | | us| |at on
o| pa n, t s w t n. n ou| own m| nds and neats | nat
s uf|er | ng| asesp' ace, wecan oeg nt oassessou| | nne|
esou|ces and ' ea| n to t | ust tnem n a new way. Ve
can |esto|e pos | ve|ee' ngsandstao ' ze ou |se' ves n
happ ness, not oy avo d ng pa n, ou| oy pass ng
t h |ough | t . See| ng how our m| nds | n teract w| | h
phys ca' and emot ona' pa n, we can ta n t nem n
mo|e nea' t ny patt e| ns o| esponse | | we ' sten mo|e
at tent ve' y to ou t hougnt s, ou |ee' ngs, and ou|
ood | y sensat | ons, we can |e| eve t he | ens on and
anx ety o| eve|yday ' |e and oeg n a p|ocess o| se' |
educa| on.
The mo| vat | on | o| s e' | snow| edge a| ses ||om
w| t h | n, as a gen u | ne |esponse to our deepest needs.
| t un|o' ds asan n ne| exp' o|at on t nat ga ns momen
t umasweoose|veou| patt e| ns, seenowt hey|omed,
andunde| st andhow| heyaf|ectthequa| | | yo|ou|' ves
Vh ' e o| hers m gn| of|er adv ce or po n | to new
poss o ' t es, t he spec | c |o| ms o| ou| patte| n ng a|e
un que' you| own , andon' ywecantacst nem|o t ne |
sou|ce. Ve have nop|eceden| |o|t n s | n ne| exp| ora
| | on, ou| | h. s s to ou advan| age. Ve do not snow
wnat to expect.
Time to Change 1 67
| n | h s | nne| j o0r ney,t herea|enor | ght answe|sand
no wrong answers-on| y t he 0 n|o| d| ng o| | aye|s o|
mean. ng t hat can | ead 0s eve| mo|e deep' y nto
se' | 0nde|s| and ng. 0es | on ng a ' ' o0| most oas c
ass 0mpt | ons aoo0t whoandwhat weare, anda ' ' ow| ng
o0rse| vest o' | st enooj ect | ve| yt ot hean swe|st hat a| | se
n o0| m nds, we can hea| n o0| own t ho0ght s t he
esponses t ha| ' . m. t 0s , 0 nde| m ne o0 con| dence,
andde|| neo0|se| vesand o0rposs o | | t es.
| l wea|ew ' ' ngandecept vet oo0| ownsnow ng,
we can t |a. n o0|se' ves t o see t h|o0gh t he | a' se as
s 0mpt | ons t hat acc0mu| ated dur| ng t he stages o| our
cond t on ng, | 0st as we co0 ' d ' ea| n to s ee t h|o0gh
| a' se ' og co| decept ons mposed 0 pon 0s oyot he|s
Ve can mase l | ends w t h t he snow ng s . de o| o0
consc| o0s nes s and | earn t o 0 se o0r m nds as | nst r 0-
men| s lost | engt hen . ngo0 awa eness, event 0a ' ' yt he
' osesw ' ' oecon| 0s onandpa n . C|ow ngmo|ec' ea |
w | h each ns ght , t he n q0 ng m nd c a n ' ' 0 m na |e
| sownpatter n| ngandc| a| | |ycon| 0s | on, t heoreed| ng
g|o0ndol negat . v. t es
Onde|stand. ngo0| ownm nds a' ' ows0s | ono0| s h
o0| | nne| oe| ngw| t h honesty and h 0 m | | t y, at t 0 n | ng
o0se' vesto a l 0ndament a' senseo| oea0t y ando|de
t ha| 0p' || s t heq0a' t yo|o0 ' ves | ns p a| on sh . nes
| h|o0gho0 heat s, mov ng0s |o s ha|e what we ' ea n
w t hot herswhoneedhe| p. | n t h| swaywecancreate
| he|o0ndat on|o|at 0' yh0ma n s t ced0cat . onoased
on an0nde|st and ngt hatcanhea' pa nandconl 0s on,
and |emove a' ' oos| ac' es to ha mony and 0 n . vesa'
p|ospe|| ty. Th| s snow' edgewo0| doene|| t generat | ons
t ocome, s0 ppot . ngt he | ello| | st oceateas 0ccess| 0 '
' |e ||eed loma ' ' man lest at ons ol s 0ll e . ng.
T J
Layers of Condi t i oni ng
Now we have an adult consciousness,
capable of sorting through the layers of confusion
accumulated during our growth and conditioning.
acn o| 0s s a 0 n q 0e nd v d0a' , w t n spec | c
cnaac| e st cs es 0' | ng |om a como na| on o|
|ac| o s. o0 n oo n ped s pos . t ons, t ne n |' 0ences o|
o0r parent s, | r | ends, andc0| t 0ra ' oacsgo0nd, andt ne
spec| | c c c 0mst anceso| o0 0 po ng| ng. Yetwea' so
s nae a common pa| t e n o| pnys ca' , men| a' , and
emot ona' deve' opment , wn cn | a-es p' ace as o0
n|o ma' and |o ma' ed0ca| on pepaes 0s to ' ve n
o0| soc e| y
Manyo| t hed | vese n t| 0ences| no0 deve| opment
ae ooted n a past | na| we can not |0 ' ' y -now o
0ndest and Ye| | nese |ac|os cond | on | ne way \ve
' ean to t n n-, n| epet , andac| 0pono0 expe ence,
t hey det e m ne tne way we v ew o0 se| ves and
everyt n ng | no0 s 0 o0 nd ngs Vn | | ewemay|ee' |ree
w | n n | ne oo0nda es o| o0 cond | on ng, we ae
0nao' e to see | ne na| 0e o| | s ' m | a| ons, and | n0s
Time to Change
1 69
aeca0gn | n epet t ons o' nega| vepat t e|n s we nave
not ' ea| ned to quest on See ng how t nese pat t e| ns
wee cons | 0cl ed, and |e|' ecl . ng on how l ney n || 0
enced ou | deve' opment , wecan ga n g|eat e| 0nde|
sland ng o| l he | |oot s. Vhat we | ea| n we can l hen
app' y nou| ' . ves| oc| a| |ya|easolconl 0s ont nat ' m t
ou| g|ow| handcause us need| es s pa n .
| t s pos s . o| e | o| oos oacs u pon o0 | | . ves, see ng
mages o| o0 |se' ves as we we|e al d lle|ent slages.
These magesmaycome n |o 'ocus as |seen | h|ough
a te' escope | |om a g|eat d sl ance. pe|naps | 0zzy
mageswhenwewe|eve|yyoungand c' ea| e| mp|es
s ons ol o0 |se' ves al ' al e ages. | l we ' oos c ' ose| y al
t nese mages, we may oe ao' e| od|aw o0l memo| es
o|howwewe|e andhowwe|e| l at d r|e|ent ages.
C|ow| ntomat u| |y. nvo' vesa se eso| stages, eacn
o| wn cn s nea| ' y a wo|' d n . t se' |, dema|cated oy
changes n pe|spect ve and . nle|ests. A| l hough ou|
expe| ence s cont n 0o0s, t nese changes mase eacn
s| agea| most a st |ange| |o | heoneoe|o|e | . cachs| age
s vu ' neao' e to spec |. c s nds o| conl 0s on thal . n
|| uencet hewaywev ew ou| se' vesa ndo| ne| s. As ou|
wo| ' d o|oadens a nd oecomes mo|e comp' ex, 0 n |e
so' vedconl us ons tend toacc0 m0 ' at e.
Mov ng t h|ougn t nese s| ages, we pat . c pa| e n
l nee wo| | ds s m0| laneo0s ' y o0 own |ea ' mo| |ee|
. ngs, t no0gnt s, andemot ons , l ne|ea| mo| paent sand
othe|adu| l s, andt he|ea | mo|s o| ngsand| | ends. The
n |' uence exeted upon us oyeacn ea ' m cnanges as
we g|ow to ma| u| ty, sot hat we mu st conl n u a ' ' y | e
n | e|p|eland |e nteg|ate mp|ess . ons po0| ng nto 0s
||om a' ' t n|eed |ec| ons .
1 70 Knowledge of Freedom
Between eacn pe| od o| g|owt n t nee . s a ce|ta n
s pace, a| most | | seaga poetweengene|a| ons . At t hese
t meso0| ood es andm nds a|e0 ndego ngs gn . l can|
cnangest nev ews and pat t e| ns ol oenav o| appo
p| | at e to one stage a |e d|opp| ngaway, and o0 con
sc| o0s nes s | s wa|| ng 0p to a w| de| v| ew o|o0|se| ves
and o0| s 0||o0nd ngs. Tnese pa0ses a|e nat 0|a' op
po|t 0 n t es l o set as de o0two| n es ponses and p|e
pa|e o0|se| ves menla | | y and emot | ona| | ylo ent e| . ng
t hen extst age.
| nl oday' smodensoc e| es, l nesepa0sesa|eoa|e' y
not | ced. ||om an ea|| yage, wea |e p|ess0|edtomove
q 0 | cs| y |owa|ds ad0 | | nood C0| own eage|ness |o
g|ow 0p n | ens |. es | ne p|ess0 |es | na | sweep 0s ||om
ones|aget oano| ne| Onao' etodeve' opaccod nglo
o0 | own | nne| t | m| ng, we a|e ' | |e| y to expe| ence
t |ans | t . on pe| | ods as s0dden l | anslo| ma| | ons . No
soone| n avewegowncom|o| | ao' ew. t nl nev. ewsand
oenav os o|onepe| od oldeve. opmen| t nanwea|e
swept nto t hen ext .
Vn ' ewet n n s we n ave' o0 | g|own | ne |esponses
and nt e|est s ola p|ev o0s stage, weca|y 0 n |eso' ved
con| 0s ons | |om one stage to anot he| . Th| s | s mos|
t|0e o| negat ve |ee' ngs and l no0gn|s we nave nad
nooppo| | 0 n tyto 0 nde|st ando| t | ans|o m. M s0 nde|
stand. ngs andlee' ngswenaven ad to |ep|essonave
n eve| |o0nd wo|ds to exp|ess ar|ect eacn s| age o'
g|owt n On |ecogn zedand0 naddessed,l nesecon |0
s ons ' ay | n e |o0 ndat on lo| negat ve v. ews and
emot ona' pa n | nat may s|ay w t n 0s ' . se a s nadow
t n|o0gho0t o0| | | ves
Time to Change
e pass t ho0gh at ' east n ne stages oe|oe
reach| ng mat ur| l y A' l ho0gh our n ner l | m| ng
may vary, t hese stages are us ua| | y |rom o| r | h to
e| ghteen mont hs, e ghteen mont hs to | hree years,
t h|ee lo | ve, | ve to t en, t en lo twe' ve, twe' ve to
s xteen, s xteen to e ghteen, e ghteen to l wenty, and
twen| yt otwenty t h ee A' | ho0gh n ou| l wen| es we
ae c' ea ' y adu ' | s, even moe t me may pas s oe|oe
we a|e | 0 ' ' y pepa|ed to t ase o0| p' ace n t he
ma| nsl reamo| soc e| y.
Be|ween o rt h |o e gh|een mont hs, our m| nds a e
an open ecept ac' e |o wha| eve mpess . ons l o0ch
ou senses-vo. ces, sudden no ses, hot and co' d,
wa|m ss n, open space. Shapes and l o ms appea
oe|o|e 0s, now st ao' e, now mov ng s ' ow' y, now
mov ngloo|asllous to |o' ' ow C0| sensesaeacl ve,
o0 m nds deve' op ng t he. | 0d ment a|y patt e|n n gs.
Parent a| emot | ons and wor| es |or our we| |are s u
round us l nvo' ved | n our own wor | d, ou| u nao| e to
d. s | ng0. s h oe| ween ou se' ves and o0| paen | s, we
0 nc| | ca' ' y aosoo whal eve ou| env |onmen| p|e
senl s | o 0s Cad0a' ' y, we emege ||om a slate o|
comp' elehe' p' essness.
|ome ghteen monl hs tot h|eeyeas, weae moe
aware o| ouse| ves as | nd| v| dua| s, separate |rom
parent sand o| herc h ' dren. Al t h| s age, we | earn | hat
wecandot h| ngsandt hal ad0| l s w| | | espond, yel o0|
oehav o somet meso ngs0 s t heoppos t eo| whal we
want . A' t e nate' y e| ecled and ewaded lo o0|
oehav o, no| ea ' ' y unde|st and. ng t he con nect on
oelweenwhat wedoandwnat |o' ' ows, wesh ll oac-
and loth oetween c0 os l y and anx. ety Ve have
1 72 Knowledge of Freedom
d ff c0 ' t y n see ng | ne wno' e context o| o0 expe
ence. C0 deve| op ngsenseo| | nd| v| d0a | | |y | mpe' s 0s
to asset o0se' ves and say no, and we d scove | na|
wecansomenow' cont o' ' wnat nappenst no0gn ' an-
g0age, | ho0ght he|u| | s | gn f| canceo| t h s escapesus.
Vn ' e st 0gg' ng| omasesense o|o0 expe ence,
we m| x up wnat nappens o0t s | de 0s w| | n o0r own
|ee' ngs Veaea| oncesepaa| eandye|notsepaate
| n t nem dst o| t n s con| 0s on, weae a ' eadyaosoo
| ng and exper men| | ng w| t n t he | | ng0 | s t c pattens
| na| w ' ' det em ne tne | o m and ogan zat on o|o0
t no0gnts. Vhateverweexpe | enceand' earn,| nc' ud| ng
| ne ' ang0age t nat connect s o0 men| a' magey w t n
wods , e n|oces | ne sense o| a sepaat e se' | and s
| ncorporated | n|o o0 c h| ' dnoodpersona' | ty.
Be|ween | neeand| veyeas, o0 nteact ons w | n
our parent s set t he | n | t | a' g0 | de| nes |o our va' 0es
and oenav o . Cosev ng o0 s 0o0nd ngsw t ngea|
c0 os | y, we ' ea n | o e' a| e | o wnat we see t no0gn
p' ay Ve ae t ne cen| e o| o0r wo' d. C0 oenav o
s n |t s q0 cs' y as we vac | ' a|e oetween |ee| ngs o|
se' | | mpo t ance and | ne anx| ety o| nsec0 t y As we
' ea n |o oecome moe ndependen| and ' sepaa|e' ,
|eas o|sepaa| on n |ens |y and d ves |y nto |eao|
deset | on, |earso oecom| ng' os | , and 0nnamed|ears
t natcome n | neda s. |eas|oo0 sa|e|yaeconveyed
|o 0s, | no0gh we do no| q0 te 0 nderst and | nem.
Con|0s on pod0ced | om a' ' o| | nese |eas evoses
se' | do0o| s and |ee' ngs o| nadeq0acy | na| ' ay | ne
|o0nda| | on|orj ea' o0sy ands | o| | ng va| y.
Comm0n ca| on s a m x| 0 e o| new|o0nd wods
| nat convey | nemea n ngs o| s mp' econcept sand | ne
' oaoy ' ang0age t nat we | end t o |a ' ' oacs on n
Time to Cha nge 1 73
convey ng o0| |ee' . ngs. B0 | o0 comm0 n . cat on . s
o|ten . nellect . ve. C0 expe| enceo| t newo| ' d d. ll e|s
||om t nat ol ad0 ' | s, and o0| wo ds may nave shades
o|mean . ngu n|nownt ot hem. Thus wecanneve||u | | y
exp|essourse| veso| |ee| comp' et e' yunderstood. Ve
a|e 0sed toconvey ng|ee' ngs w t ho0t wo|ds anda|e
at | 0 ned to t ne|ee' ngsol o0| pa| ent s, . | t heyaeangy
o|0psetwesomehow|ee' . t , even l t he|acepesent ed
| o us s s m | ng and t ne words are ca| m. Con || ct | ng
s gna| s mayoecon| us . ng, even deep| yd| st u|o| ng, |o|
wehavenoway| o0nde| st andwh chs gna' tooe' . eve.
Between | ve and ten yea|s o| age, o0 | wo|' d ex
pands, 0s 0a' ' yto nc ' 0de teache|s, schoo' , and ' a|ge
numoers o| ot her ch| | d|en. Veexper| encenew pres
s u|estosoc a| . zeand con|orm to t he expectat | ons o|
o| nes, we n ave |o cope w t h a wno' e new comp' ex
o| |ee' ngs. Mo|e se' l consc o0s, nav ng to |econc ' e
o0| se' |asse|t venessw | nt neneedto| t n | oago0p,
we oeg. n to | oo| at ot he|s d ||erent | y, compar. ng
phys| ca| charact e| st | cs, possess | ons , ands || | ' s .
Awa|e t ha| ot he s a|e not c. ng 0 s a' s o, we wo|y
aoo0t oe. ngaccept ed. Vhenot hes a|e c| | ca' o| 0s,
we lee' nadeq0ate and a ' one. |aced w. t n t ne need
topro| ectourse' ves ||om r| d | cu| eo|| s o| at | on, wemay
| ea|n to | ght oac|o| assert o0r p' ace oy o0 | ' y ng
o| he|s. Ve' eant oh deo0 lee' . ngs, anddeve' opnew
ve|s. ons o| man p0 | at ve pa! t e| nswe oegan w t no0|
pa|ent s. As | weweemast e|. ngt ne|0 ' esolacomp' ex
game, we | ea| n responses t hat w| | | ga| n 0s approva|
orrecogn| | | onandm| n m zed| st |esso|| | ust |at on
Byt n s t mewea|ecomlo|| ao' ew ' n ' ang0age, o0'
l nd t nat t newo|ds we0se st ' ' do not comm0 n cat e
wnat we mean. C0 mages and ' ang0age oecome
1 74 Knowledge of Freedom
| ang' ed as we t y to express ou se' ves, and adu' | s
correct us cont | nua ' | y. A' t houghour percep| ons and
|ee' ngs may not |. t t hewor dswe ae g ven, wehave
to somehow ' ea n to mase t hem do. |o a t . me we
may |ee' as | | wewere ' | v| ng| n |wo d| |leren| wo ' ds,
a wor| d o| pr| va| e mean| ng and a wor' d o| | anguage
we use |or ot h es. The gap oetween mean. ng and
acceptedwayso| expess. ngouse' vesgows ' ageas
we move c ' oser to | he adu ' t wo ' d, we | end t o ' ose
| ouch w| | h t he mean | ng and wonder we once |oo|
|o| ganted n ou expe ence, and oecome mo|e
c ' osed to t he lee' ngs wh ch we can not express n
wayst hat are mea n| ng| u' tous .
| om t heageso| t ent ot we' ve, st . ' ' sh e' ded |om
adu' t espons o ' t . es, we po| ec| ou se' ves nto t he
adu ' t wor ' d, mag n ngou se' ves n var ous o' es. Ve
may wonder how our parent s can | ead s uch oor ng
' ves-t he t h ngs we wan| to do ae much moe
n| ees t ng. Cadua ' ' y we a|e oecom. ng aware ol
ou rse' ves as . nd v dua' s . n a newway, weare oecom
| ng' s e' |' consc| ous . Somehow t h| s newawarenesso|
ou se' ves produces d. st u o ng unceta nt es, and we
lee'as | ongerneedto| ndways. nwh chwecanexce'
and oo' st erou se' lcon| . dence Aswe try |odeve' op
wha|evert a' ent swemayh ave, ourgoa' s oecomemoe
dynam c, strong' y nlused w t h dea' s and mpess ons
ga| heed |om many sou ces. At t he same t me, we
d scovert hat ou s |. ' ' s and' wor | h` are c ' ose' yre' ated,
and | hat oo| h depend u pon how we ' measure up' |o
t hest andardsset |o us. Meet . ngt hesesta ndadsmay
requ e us to h de se' l douot s and lee' . ngs o| nade
q uacyevendeeperand|ost r vehader|orapprova' .
Awae ol ou u ncet a. nt . es aoout whoweae, we
oeg n to t h n s aoout ou se' ves n ways we neved. d
Time to Change
1 75
when we we|e younge|. Vhen we ' oos oacs at ou|
younge| se| ves, we may |ee| we a |e a comp| et e| y
d lle|ent peson tIa nwewe|e at e ght o n ne Vhen
we ' oosahead, we may mag n ewhat t w ' ' oe ' se
to oe a teenage|, out we do not snow how t h s
metamo| phos s w| | | t ase p| ace Somehow we must
| nd o0| pe|sona' t y o| c|eat e t-we do not snow
wh ch. Veoeg nt |y ngond ||e|ent oehav os, d ||e|
ent c| ot hes, even d | || e| ent |ee| | ngs. How do we de
c| dewh| ch | s | | ght , wh| ch | s ' us ! Vea |e not s u|e.
Between twe' veands xt eenyea| s, o0| ood es and
emot ons unde|go |ap d changes t hat p| ope' 0s nto
new soc| a' | nte|act | ons. Soc| a| gu| de| | nes a|e d |awn
t hat d d not ex stoe|o|e. |ven | wedonot ' se t hem,
t hey ae t he|e, we can not escape t hem 1he ad0 ' t
wo| ' doeg ns t o nt |udemo|e n s st ent ' y, ou| |e' at on
s h| p w t h ou| pa|en ts changes, and p|essu|es | |om
teache|s and | ends ncease. A|o0nd t he age ol
|ou|teen, we| ndo0 ea|' e mages and p' ans |o|o0|
' | ves cha ' ' enged oy moe so' | d |ea ' | t es, made mo|e
con|us ng oy ou| own s h| | t ngemot | ons anddes | |es.
C' d|ea|s|esu||ace,andwemayoecomeacut e' yawa|e
o| do0ot s and n adeq0ac es, we can not | 0 ' ' y accept
what | s happen| ng to us, o0t we can not exp|ess ou|
|ee| | ngs w t hout expos | ng ou| unce|t a nt es.
Need |o| accept ance oy t he g|o0penco0|ages 0s
toconcea ' o0| n sec0 t yoeneat h at | c a ' ' y ass0 med
pe|sona' | ty t |a| t s, p| et ense oecomes a way o| ' | |e.
Ma nt a n ng a con| . dent appea|ance seeps 0s on t he
delens ve and nvo' ves 0s n se| l decep| ons t hat
oecome mo|e conc|e|e as we g|ow mo|e expe|t a|
concea| ment . Ve can h | de even | |om ou|se| ves,
sea' ng ofl o0 h0 |ts and n sec0 t yoen n da s how o|
se' lcon| dence
1 76
Knowledge of Freedom
1nemoe nsec0e and s o' aled we lee' , l nemoe
eas ' y we |a' ' nl o negal ve pal l e ns l na| polecl o0
se' | | mage, o0t s ow l he seeds | or | a| e| poo| ems
Repessed, negal ve lee' ngs gow sl onge. | n one
respec| t heygr owd| || 0se andwatery, o0oo' ng 0pas
emot . ons when we a e l hown o|| oa' ance. H dden
oe' ow o0 consc o0s awaeness, l hey oecome nad
and sn| |eedged, s 0|ac| ng| n s harp wodso acl ons
l hal ca| chol nes orl g0a d.
Vhenweare 0 pse| , we may|ee' | heshar pnesso|
o0 negal v ly ' se a ' sl ao n ' heheal ' . Tn s s napness
may |' asn o0t al ot nes e al ca ' ' y o | 0n aga ns | 0s
when wearet o| men |ed oyse| | do0ol sand g0. ' l . Ve
n 0 l ol hesandol nes h 0 | 0s , o|len n nd ecl ways
we canno| open 0 p and reso' ve. Tn| s q0a| | y eodes
l 0sl and 0nde m nes even l hec' osesl | endsh ps. | |
wedonol woso0t t neselee' ngs, l heycan' al eeode
even| ong stand| ngmarr agesoetween' ov| ngco0p| es
Al a vey deep ' eve' , l hese negal v l es mase l m
poss | o' e |or 0s t o rea' ' y l r 0st o0r own t ho0ghl s and
|ee' | ngs . | l t ney gowsl ongeno0gh, wecan | oseo0
d veand n l al ve, andceaseca ngwhat n appenslo
0 s or howo0r a| t l 0des are a||ect | ng ol hers
On eso' ved nega| v ly s | 0 l ne concea' ed 0nde
pos | t ve q 0a| | t es cop| ed |om | hose we adm| e. Ve
' ea n lo p esenl o0 se' veslool nesaswe wanl l nem
to see0s . A' l ho0gn we may' ea n|omo0 expe ences
and grow nto t hese pos | | ve q0a | | | es, |ee| | ngs o|
n adeq0acy and s e' l do0ol slay w l h 0s and can
s 0 |ace 0 nder pro' onged wory or s | ess. Coserv| ng
o0 paenl s o ol h e ad0 | l s , we may copy |o ms ol
polecl onl hal seem soph s | caled andel|ecl ve, and
| ea nloexpress| 0s | at | on nsacas m, h 0 mo,orove|
Time to Change
1 77
man pu' at ons . | n t me, we deve' opa s xt hsense' | ha|
|oewa| nsus whenwea|e vu ' ne|ao' e, sot ha| wecan
ns | | nct | ve| y|espondtoprotectourse| ves. Aswema
t u|e, we may | nd ways o| express | ng negat | ve |ee|
ngsmore s uo| | y
A|ound s xteen | oe gh | eenyea|so|age, |espons
o. ' t es and oo' gat ons oeg nc' os. n g n. Yet wehave
' . | t ' eso' doas s o n ne|con| dencetodea' w | ht hem
Ve|ee' a need|o| n ne st engt h, ou| whenwe|each
|or t, t snot t here Vearesousedtom| s |ep|esent ng
ou|se| vest hat wehavesomehowoecome' unrea| ' . Ve
mayhavea |ee| | ngt hat wecan no| trustt h| s persona|
ty we have c|ea| ed, ou| | hen whom can we t | us t !
Canwe| us t ou| own|ee' . ngs andt hough | s! Vehave
h ddenou| |ee' ngs, soou| headandhea|ta ed v ded.
Ve ' oos out don't see, hea| ou| don' | hea, |ee' ou|
don' t |ee' How can we have con| dence n new s t
uat | ons andta|eon respons | o| | t es | or wh ch wea|e
psycho| og| ca | | yandemot | ona| | yun prepared!
A|ou nd t he ages o| e gh | een |o | went y, we have
to |ase |u ' ' |espons o. ' |y |o| ou ' ves and es| ao' s h
ou| own means o| ' ve' hood. Ve ae now expected
to con|o|m to st a nda dso| adu' t oeh av o|,ou| west ' '
ca||yw t hu s manyoehav o|s andexpect at ons app|o
pr | at e to ear| er years. Ve may |. nd | t h ade t o get
what wewant t hanwehadexpected, or|ee|restra ned
oythedemands p| aced u ponus .
Ve |o|ce down ou| |eas and se' |douo| s, and
s' ow' y st op as s ng ouse' ves ques| ons we seem |o
have no way o| answe| ng Ve conso' date ou| pe|
sona' | y, ncopo|at ng a ' ' ou| |ea|s and |u s | |at ons
Vhate| se canwedo! Cur persona| ty | s a | | weh ave
1 78 Knowledge of Freedom
to|e' yon. Yetnewp|ess0 |eshe ghteno' d nsec0| t es,
as | mpo|t an| dec| s | ons have |o oe made and acted
upon. |ew o| us have a nyone we can | | us| to |each
us how to so|t out p|act | ca' ||om | mp|act | ca| hopes,
| dea| s, and dec| s | ons aoout ou| | | ves, o| to s how us
the |ea| nat u|e o| ou| deepen | ng pat t e| ns o| se| l
decept on.
|ngag ngt hep|act ca' ad 0 ' t wo| ' d, wea|e |awoe
g nne|s wno have to ' ea|n oy the pa n| 0 ' and t me
cons0 m ng p|ocess o| t | a' and e||o|. So we deve' op
apuo' c. maget hat | t so0| goa' s , nco|po|at ngwayso|
spea s ng, d|ess ng, mov ng, t n ns ng, and ac| ng
t hat ot ne|s eq0atew t hs 0ccess | | we' acsse' | conl
dence, we aoso|o t heva' 0es andet n . cs o| |o' emode' s
as 0nc| . t ca ' ' y as we once aoso|oed t he at t | 0des o|
o0| pa|ent s
Betweent heageso| twent y oneandtwenty t h|ee,
wea|eadapt | ngtot he| u' ' |ea | | | esol t headu| t wo|| d
wh | e s | ' ' a| | empt | ngto |ea' | ze ou| d|eams. Ve |ee|
p| ess0 |ed to ach| eve and must we gh ou| pe|sona'
. nte|ests aga| nst t nose o| |am| | y o l | ends. Ve have
to ' ea|n to s0 ppo|t o0 |se' ves and dea' w t n a w de|
| ange o| peop' e, con|o| m ng t o t he oo' gat ons ol
ca|ee| and soc a' |o' e. | l we have not | o| med a c' ea
v. s on o| wnat we want to do, t n s can oe a st essl 0'
t me, and we may l nd o0 se' ves ' os | n o0| cho ces.
|| may t ase a lew yea|s |o| 0s to |. nd a d. |ect on, we
may change o0| m. nds seve|a ' t mes oelo|ewe com
m | o0 |se' vestoa pat c0' a| ' neo|wo| s
C|eat ng a p' ace|o|o0 |se' ves sademand ngt ass.
Vhe| ne| we s 0cceed depends 0pon many lacto|s,
| nc| ud| ng ou| amo t on, des | |es, pe|sona' | | y, educa
Time to Change
1 79
l on, nea ' l n, and ol ne| c c0msl ancesove|wn cn we
maynave' l l ' econl |o' . Vemay t. ndwen avelowo|s
na|de| l nan we nad expecled l o esl ao' sn a comp|e
nens . ve oas s fo| o0| ad0 ' l ' fe, l ne|e | s no l me fo|
exa m n ng lne negal vepal le| ns wen aveta' ' en. n lo.

l ne l me we a|e t0 ' | y mal 0|e, expe| enced n

wors andpersona| re| al | onsn| ps andwe| | ad| 0sled

lo o0| p' ace n soc ely, l n . |lyt. ve yea|s may nave
passed. C0r cond| l | on | ng |s now comp| ele, we nave
' ea| ned now l o | 0dge and eva ' 0ale o0| expe| ences,
and wna| lo cons| der des | rao| e or 0ndes | rao| e Tne
palle|ns we nave to| med, lne ways we n ave ' ea| ned
lo v| ew o0|se| ves | n re| al | ons n | p |o ol ners, and | ne
oo' gal ons and |espons | o. ' l | es we naveass 0 med a|e
maj o| tacl o|s | na| w | | del e| m ne l ne q0a | | |y of l ne
' asl na' t ot o0| ' te.
Tne se' t mage l nal 0 ' l mal e' y eme|ges t | om l ne
cond| l on| ngprocess| s acon| 0sedcompos l econla n
ngaspecls ot a ' ' l neslageswe nave passed l n|o0gn.
Vecan see a | l l | eo| l n| s | n ner con| 0s | on wnen we
nol ce nowo0| m nds . nd. sc| m nal e' ycasl 0 p memo
| es, o| d responses, and assoc| al | ons t|om l ne pasl .
Ctl en we nave no way ot snow ng wn cn ' eve' o0|
|esponses are com ng |rom. l ne mal 0re ad0 | l , l ne
ado' escenl , o| l necn ' d
Vnence|l a. n l no0gnl s andtee' . ngsa| se, wemay
reaclw l n parl c0 | ar emol ons w l no0l snow ngp|e
c se' y wny , l nese |esponses may oe comp' el e' y o0l
ot cna|acler, nol even |e| evanl lo o0r ad0 ' l ' ves Yel
s0cn |esponsesconl n 0a ' ' y snow l nemse' ves, p|o| ecl
ng nsec0r l es and tears l nal ser o0s| y weasen o0|
1 80 Knowledge of Freedom
n ne con| dence. Con |' ct ng t ho0ght s and |ee' ngs
can para| yze us n ndec| s on. C perhaps t hought s
|omoneaspec|o| o0 pesona' tys0 pesedeanot he,
and we have ' second t no0gh| s' . C|| en | h ese ae no
oet| e t han | he l s| , and we may | nd o0 se' ves
sw| tch| ng oacs and |ot h, unao| e to mase 0p ou
m nds.
Beca0sewenaveneveeso' vedt neconl 0s ont na|
a| ' owedt hese| nsec0 r| t es tot aseroot| nou | ves, t hey
cont n0e to n l' 0ence 0s s 0o' m na ' ' y Ve may | nd
| ha| o0 mos| d s t 0o. ng|ee' ngscan oet aced| ot he
pat t e nso| o0 ea ' estdays, wh chwee |o med ata
t | mewhenwe weemostv0' nerao| e Ch ' dhood|ears
o| sepaa| on, se' | o' ame |o m s n| e peted paent a'
| o0o' es, and |ee' ngs ol he' p' essness can a ' ' ema n
we' ' h dden o0t powe|0 ' |oces n o0 ' ves, ped s
pos | ng0 s toward a negat | vev| ew o| ouse| ves.
On| ' wesee | hatse' l do0 ot s|omo0 pas| ando' d
h 0 t s nave no ea' p' ace n o0 ' ves, o0 no' d on o0
pos t| ve q0a ' t es s ' | se| y t o oe t enuous V| t hout
ea ' z ngwha| we a e do ng, we may no' d oacs lom
g v ngo0 oes| el|ots wheneve we sense | ne poss
o ' |y o| c t c s mo |a ' 0 e | t may oevey d l| c 0' t lo
us toact | ndependent ' y, to oase our | | vesono0r own
v s onand n| eg ly
| t s eas e to |o' ' ow estao' s hed pa| t ens Ye| o0
| ves ae vey prec ous . Can we ar|od t o ' ose more
va' 0ao' e | me n emo| ona' pa n and se' | do0ot s, o
s s t ne ' oss ol mo| vat on oeca0se o| ' m | a| ons we
| n n s we cannot ovecome! How m0cn 0sel0 ' | me
ae we | se' yto have| e| | to 0s ! Pos s o' y, a| t h| rty | ve,
wenavet n tymoeyeasol act vepa| c pa| on n' te,
altes x| yl ve, wecanno| ped c| now' ongo0 v t a' | y
Time to Change
1 81
w| | ' ' as t A th rd o| t h s t | mew| | ' oe expended n s | eep,
wn cn ' eaves 0s |wen |y yea s, s . nce we w ' ' ' . se' y
spend na' | o|o0 was ng ' ves |ee' ng a n noyed, | 0s
t ated, ooed, o depessed, we have a0t omat | ca| | y
' ostano| ne t enyeas.
|ven | we co0 | d 0se t ne | 0 | | twen ty yeas o| o0r
was ng' vespod0ct ve' y,wehavemanyo0| . net asss
to pe|or m-we need to t ase care o| o0rse| ves, o0
nomes, a n do0 |am ' es. Some | me w. ' ' oes pent n
eceat . on and en| eta . n men| , 0 nped ct ao' e event s
w | | ar | s etod| st act0 s | omo0r p0rposes. Howm0ch
tota' t mew ' ' t hese ac| . v. t es t ase! Poss o' ya not ne
|oty pecent o| o0 |ema. n ng t . me. Th s | eaves 0s a
max m0mo| | we| ve yeas to accomp' | sh o0 goa| s. ' |
we oecome | ' , o ae we. gned down oy negat ve
patterns and 0 nreso| ved con| 0s | on |om o0r ear| | e
days, even | hese yeas co0 ' d van . sn n |0st at . on,
o0no0| , o emo| ona' 0 pse| s
0 |ee o0 se' ves |om t hese negat ve pat t e ns,
we can t 0rn to se| | ooservat | on, wh| chcan oet he
stat ng po n | o| new snow' edge Vhenweoeg. n to
ooservea| | o|o0r exper| ence| roma ne0t a ' , oa| anced
v. ewpo. nt , o0 m nds w ' ' s now 0s | he pat t e ns,
gad0a ' ' y open ng 0p ' aye a|t e ' aye o| con| 0s on
t hat we can eso| ve and c' ar| |y. |or t h| s se' |
exp' oat . on, we need nospec. a' snow' edge on' y| ne
. n| ees| andc0 os t yt oq0est . ono0 pat t e nsand |o
oe ecept | ve to o0 n ne espon ses |ach d| scovey
nv | esnewq0est . ons,| 0 | ne steps n ad ectcomm0
n| cat | on w| t h o0r m nd. The on| y he| p we need s a
pa| en| m. nd w ' ' ng |o ' oos oo| ect ve' y and e|' ec|
on t s own expe ence |ven| 0a' ' y, t w ' ' oe poss . o' e
| o| etgoo| a' | |o ms o| se' | do0ot andhes| t at on
1 82 Knowledge of Freedom
| n ' oos ng d |ect ' y at o0| sec|e| |ea|s and weas
nesses, ooserv| ng how t hey af|ect o0r react | ons | n
s | t 0at | ons where we|ee| | hreatened, | t s he| p| 0 | |o
rememoe| | hat what appears to o0r cond t oned
m| nds as negat | ve may prove to oe | hesey to see| ng
| hro0gho0| cond| t on ng. C0r present p|e|e|ence|o|
ce|t a n s nds o| expe| ence was nst ' ' ed . n 0s wn . ' e
o0| consc o0s ness was ' m ted a nd . mmat 0|e B0t
expe| ence s not n he|ent ' y negat ve o| pos t ve By
|eve|s ng o0| t endency to |e| ect s t 0at ons we v ew
as 0np' easant, we can ' ea| n ||om a ' ' o0| expe| ence
The ve|y pe|sons and s t 0at ons t ha| have p|esent ed
p|oo' ems n o0| ' ves can oecome cat a' ysts |o| new
snow' edge.
Be ng compass onat e and pa| ent w | n o0 |se' ves,
we w ' ' | nd ways to co0nse' o0|se' ves w| se| y Tne
patt e| nst hat pred| s pose 0s |o pa| n and con| 0s| onare
s | rong. Perhaps t hey w| | | come 0 pon 0 s |ar more
ntense' y when we t 0rn to |ace t hem d| |ec| | y. | | we
recogn | zet ha| | h| s happens asa nat 0ra| man| |es| a| on
o| |ea| g|owt h, we can p|otect o0|se| ves |rom oe| ng
e t ne| | | gn | ened o| d sco0 |aged Ve can |em. nd
o0 |se' ves t nat o0| m nds, pa|t c0 ' a| ' ywnen we we|e
ve|y yo0ng, we|eve|y open to mp|ess ons, deep m
p|es s ons mayoe' p|otected oy|ee' ng t ones o| |ea|
t nath . de' t e| | o' esec|ets | |om0st n|o0gno0t o0| ' ves
C0| m. nds mayte' ' 0st na| | nese|ea|sa|etoote||. |y ng
|o| 0s to ' oos 0 pon, o0t | we ' oos w | n ad0 ' t eyes
at t ne mages and | no0gnt s t nat | | gn | ened 0s n o0|
ch ' dhood, t ney w. ' ' event 0a' ' y ' ose | ne | powe| and
d sappea| ' se w spso| c' o0d n a c' ea| ssy.
See. ngand acsnow| edg| ng o0|own negat . ve pat
| erns, w t ho0 | o| ame or g0 | t , | oera| es 0s ||om t ne
Time to Change 1 83
o0|denol p|e| ense andg|o0 nds 0s n a oas chonesty
l hat we can t 0st asa lo0 ndat on lo| con f dence and
|ea' g|owt n . V l hp|act ce, wecanpenet a| et ne|oot s
o| t endenc| es | hat ca0se s 0||er| ng|oo0|se| ves and to
o| he|s Ve can ' ea|n to ennance t ne q 0a ' t es t nat
s 0ppo|| a hea| | hyh 0 man ' |e and ' e| go o| | hoset ha|
ca0se 0s na| m.
Z0
New Begi n n i ngs
With the completion of each cycle,
we might sense our lives
progressing in a moving spiral.
om one pespecl . ve, o0 ' . ves seem |o move . n
a sl a. ghl ' . ne. Ve ae oo n, we ' . ve o0l o0 ' . ves
one day all e anol he 0 n | . ' we eacn l ne end o| o0
l . me. Vel h. n s o| o0 own ' . le asa se. eso|momenl s
s l 0 nglogel ne oasa se . es ol acl . ons pe|o med oy
someonewho . s mov. ngl n o0gha co . do o' l . me
B0l |om ano| ne pespecl . ve, l h. s ' . ne . s no|
conl . n 0o0s . Tneeseem l ooegaps o spacesal cel a. n
po. nls whee new oeg. n n . ngs ae made. Ve m. gn |
l h . n s o| o0 ' . ves as pogess . ng t ho0gn slages . n
|ancy, c h. ' d nood, yo0l n, ado' escence, yo0ng ad0' l
hood, m. dd' eage, and o' dage. |acn slage . s mased
oy sn . |l s l hal man . l es| as ch anges . n o0 ood. es and
o0 se' l awaeness, . n o0 l n . n s . ng, 'ee' . ng, ' ang0age
and. magey, and . n o0 emol . ona' pa| ' e ns.
These spaces evea' a cyc' . ca' q0a' . |y 'o o0 ' . ves
d. rleenl | om o0 od . nay ' . nea 0 ndesl and. ng. | l . s
asl no0gn we had comel 0' ' c. c' el ho0gn ones ' age
Time to Change 1 85
andwereoeg| nn| ngaga| n ona new ' eve' . Somet mes,
npass ngt h|ough t hesest ages, wecansen se phys ca|
and men| a' cnangesa' most as | wewe|e 0 ndego ng
a |e o' passage Manyc 0' | 0es have cons de|ed t ne
movement |rom one stage to anot her a ' |eo| rt h' n to
a newwor | d, andhavemarsedt hesesh || s w t hr . | ua'
andceemony. ||oma ' nea|po n | ol v ew, wea|e t ne
same pe|son, o0t o0| way ol expe| enc ng and o0|
unde|st and| ngs h |t s sot ha| |romanot her pe|spect ve,
ou v. ew o|ouse' ves n re| at ons h p | ooursu o0 nd-
ngscnanges Vest a|tove|w t hanewo ent a| onand
d scove|a d fle|ent wo|' d
Accust omed tot h| ns| ngo| our | |et | measa s | ng| e
cont n 0o0s | head, we se' dom dwe' ' on t ne s gn |
canceo| | hese s 0ot ' e oeg n n ngsand end ngs w t n n
ou| ' | ves Ve may not | ce cnanges n ou rse' ves, o0r
ch| | dren, and n peop' e a|ound us, out t he deeper
mean ng o| | hese cnanges escapes 0s Vnen we ae
yo0ng, we a|e mpat en| to gow 0 p, and we w s h to
|orget o0r ear' | e| ways As we g|ow o' der, we may
rea| | ze t hat we seet h| ngs d| f| e|ent ' yt hanwe used to.
But we may see | h s as an nd ca| on | ha| we nave
' ea|ned |om o0| many ' le expe ences, o| we may
shrug of| t h s d| f|erence, say| ng, | mu st oe get| ng
o' d, ast houghour newerwayo| v| ew| ngt h| ngs was
a d s| o|| on ol | ne wo|' d, a s gn ol o0| d m n sn ng
v go| Somenow t s d. fl c 0 ' | |o oe' eve | ha| t n s one
person, ' me' , canrea' | y oesod r| e|ent . Bu| | we' oos
c| ose| yat t heva| ous ' stages` wehave gone t h|ough,
wem gnt see mo|e c' ea|' ynow damat ct necnanges
naveoeen
|ach s h |t n o|| ent at on s a d| st | nctchange n ou|
modeol expe enc ng C0| senseo| | me,l o examp' e,
cnanges as we move | n |o0gn o0| ' ves cacn s n | t n
1 86 Knowledge of Freedom
ou| senseo|t me. n t un g ves setonewpe|cept ons
and expectat ons Vhen we are you ng c h ' den, we
senset meas0nend ng, pe haps not mov ngat a ' ' . As
we gow o' de , we lee' t mest et ch ngoe|oe 0s, an
u n | mag nao' y ' ongse| esolyea|s t hat ext ends m0ch
lart hert hanwecanevencount .|venour next o t hday
seemssol a aheado|t hepesent t hat ' nextyea'seems
a' most ' se ' neve' . Asweent e ado' escence, w sh ng
to oeg|own up, we oeg| nto pus ht me, want ng t to
h uy Now we cons| der ourse' ves as an nd| v| dua|
pass ngt hought me,co' ' ect ngexpe ences Vehave
no l ea ol wast . ng o ' os ng t me. |ven t ho0gh we
accept t he | dea t hat our t me| s ' | m t ed, t he | mp' ca
t | ons o| t h| s are| os t onus,wehavesomucht | meahead
ol 0s t hat t me st ' ' seems u nend ng As an ad0 ' t we
oeg nto sense t me as mov ng too last , and w sh we
cou | d s | ow | t down. Now we sense t me' s ' | m| t , we
snow n our heart sour t | mew| | | cometoan end
As a yo0nge peson, we mag ne t hat when we
et . e we w ' ' oe | ee o| t me' s pessu es, haass ng
schedu | esw | | oea t h ng olt hepast, andt hechaot c
days ol a s ng a lam ' y w ' ' oe ove But oy t he t me
we ae n o0 s xt esand sevent es, we may not have
t he sense o| a ' ong st etch o| t me ' y ng oe|oe 0s
Aware ol t he | m| t on our t me, wemaychoose very
cae| 0 ' ' y how to 0se t hedaysandyeas ' e|t to 0s Ve
may not w s h to waste o0 t me on petty poo' ems,
onemot ona| d|amas, o on| | ust at on How m0ch o|
ou enegyhas oeenwasteda | eady n s uchways !Th s
pe od no0 ' ves g ves us a pec o0s oppo ' 0n ty to
move c' ose to t he heat o' o0 ' |e, to what o ngs
usmea n ng andva| 0e
At each stage hyt hms o|enegys h l t, pecept ons
change, and d l e ent ao ' t es come lot h Vhen as
Time to Change 1 87
ve|y yo0ng c n ' dren we | n a ' ' y ' earn how t o | a' s, a
who' e new wor ' d opens |o us, ' a| er as we ' ea| n to
reason, we| ndanot he| d mens ontoou| ' | veswed| d
not even |now ex| st ed. As | ne energy o| o0r m| nds
and ood| es changes | n ado' escence, we d scove|
|ee' ngs and poss | o ' t | es | hat we had no access to at
a yo0nge| age. |ve|yt n ng we snow and 0 nde|st and
as ch ' d|en d sappea|sou| o' d p' eas 0es, o0| com
|o|ts, o0| c n ' d s nv ewsolpa|ent a' a0t ho ty, andmost
mpot ant ' y, o0| o' d senseol o0|se' l S0dden' ywea|e
se' |consc ous,awa|eoloe nga' ea' pe|son' , a ' t nough
someone0n snown lo ou|se' ves A sl |angeandexc t
ngwo|' d ' es oe|o|e us Vea|e on t ne t n|esho' d ol
a new' le.
|nt e| ng t nead0 ' t wo ' d n ou twenl . es, we may
lee' wehave| na' ' yst epped nt o' | herea'wor ' d . Aga n
| n o0r |ort | es, we see t he wor ' d w| | h d fl e|en| eyes,
andaga| n no0r s xt | es. Aswegrowo' de|,our phys ca'
des| |esseemt owanenat u|a ' ' y, mas ngroom| o| a ' ess
pressured way o| ' | le | ha| g| ves us a ||eedom no
yo0nger person has. B0| | | we do no| have a c' ea |
0nde|st and ngol howdes. |ea ndt ens . onope|ale, we
may g|eet t h. s cnangew t h g|eat |e' 0ct ance Pe|haps
we have mages ol ou |se' ves t hat we nave nol
' 0 pdated' , o we may have pe| 0d ces aoo0t o' de|
peop' e t hat deve' oped du| ng ou| teenage yeas. As
ado' escent s nvo' ved n o0 ownexp' od. ngemot ons,
d ven | |om exc t ement t oexc. l emenl oy ou est ' ess
ene|gy,we may naveseen on' yooedom and stagna
t on nt hemo|e st ao' ewayol ' leolano' de| pe son
Vhen we move too q0 . cs' y l|om slage l o sl age,
thechangeswea|e u ndergo nga|econl 0s ng, welee'
0neasy and t end |o l| ' ' | n | he open spaces oetween
cyc' es, d|aw ng 0 pon our o' d and | am| ' ar ways o|
1 88 Knowledge of Freedom
unde|stand ng and cop ng w t h expe| ence But t he
o' dwaysno' onge| wo| s Not undestand ngwhy, we
may con| useou |se' ves n nceas ng' ycomp' exways
| |we unde|stood t hat t heoeg n n n gandend oleach
stage ma| sa comp' et ecyc' e, wecou ' d o| ngto m nd
and put as de out g|own pa| 'e ns t hat have oecome
h ndances to |u t he| g|owt h, and p|epa|e ou se' ves
tot h n s mo|ec' ea| ' yaoout theoppot un t es thenext
stage sopen ng tous

| we cou ' d a' ' ow ou |se' ves t o move mo|e gent ' y
| h|ough t he space oetween t he stages, we wou ' d
| . nd ou |se' ves n an nte|es | ng ha' ||o|med wo| ' d
P|ess u|eso|onestage haved|opped away, andt hose
ol |he next stage have not yet swept us up Ve may
h ave ' ost n 'eest n ou| ea|' e act v. t es out no| ye'
havelound new ones, o ou ene|gy has s h |ted away
l| om lam ' a | nt e|ests out has no| ye' st ao ' zed n a
new patte n. | n ' h s unsett ' ed st at e, we can actu a' ' y
oe mo|e sens t ve and awa|e These t mes can s hase
us out o| o' dpat t e| nsandhao t s andg ve us achance
t owase uptonewunde|st and ngs
Aswe ' oos at ou| ' ves n t e| ms o| cyc' es and t he
spacesoetweent hem, wemayoeg ntonot ces ma' ' e|
cyc ' es w t h n ' age| ones Toget he| w t h each cyc' e
comes a spec a' space oetween t he oeg n n ng and
end ng, a space|u ' ' o|poss o ' ' es
The|oundo' t heseasons o| ngschanges n mood
andenegytoa ' ' ' v ngt h ngs V nt e g. vesway'ot he
newnesso|sp| ng, t hegow' ho|su mme| scomp' eted
n t hemat u| ' yolla' ' Thought hemode nwo|' d may
no' t ase t hese sh 't s as deep' y pe|sona' even ' s, ' he
Ti me to Change
1 89
na| ura| responses to t hese anc| en| cyc ' es mu st oe
deep' yemoeddedw l n n o0 ood . es andm. nds Most
o| us |ee' t hal l he | meo| l he' New Yea' o||e s 0s a
| esn stat, a new oeg n n . ng. Somel ad. l . ons setas de
spec a' t mes al l nec' oseo| l heo' dyea l oeca ' ' and
eva| ua| e | he acl ons and es u| l s o| t ne ' asl twe| ve
mon l hs, ea1 m. ng o chang ng goa' s and g0 d. ng
p| nc| p| es. Somet h| ng n us seems toyea n|orcomp' e
l on, enewa' , and| esh oeg. n n ngs
|ach mon| n a| so seems na| ura| | y to nave a com
p' etepalteno| t s own Amooncyc' eao0ndt heeal h
passes | hrough c| ear| y demarcat ed qua l e s | ha| are
el' ected . n l he hyt nms o| o0 ood. es. | t may oe l hal
ou men| a| and emot | ona| pa| | er ns a' s o h ave core
spond ng hyt hms t hatwedonol 0s ua' ' ynol ce | st he
new moon a ' so a t me o| c' ear ng away | he o' d and
' oos ngaheadtonewoeg n n ngs !
|ven as ng| eday| s acyc| et o| t se' || n| hemorn | ng
weawasen| oms ' eep, and|oa momenl t seems we
are nol yet pesenl Cur senses each ou| toward
shapes, co| os, l ho0ghl s S0dden' y we | nd ou se| ves
aga n. | n theeven ngaswegolos ' eep, weexpe. ence
a s m| | ar process | n reverse. Ves ' ow' y' ose | hesense
o| o0 s 0o0nd ngs 0 nl . ' event 0a' ' y we ' ouse' ves
d| sappea |romv ew
V t h . n t hedayt heeae nal 0 a' sh | l s. nmoodand
energy, s owemaynot cecel a | n aspectso| | . |e more
c' ea ' y al d. r|eent l . mes The nous oe|oe s 0n . se
rad| at e a s | mp| ec ' ar t y and a sense o| |es h ness and
new oeg nn ngs, wh. ' el ne m dday geneates a moe
dynam cout a| s oamoecomp' exqua| | t y. Theeven| ng
o|l en' ends l se' | l oe|' ect on Sen s . ngl newno' eness
1 90 Knowledge of Freedom
o|each day, wecanconc' ude. | w| t ha ||eshapprec. a
t . on| o| o0| ownt . meandene|gy. Aswego| os ' eep,
we m. ght cons. de| t nat we w. ' ' awasen . nto a
comp| et e| yn ew day. Vhat sha ' ' we o| | ngt ot n. s new
oeg. n n . ng!
| | we cou ' d cons| der t he open| ng o| each day as
t he oeg. n n . ng o| a new cyc' e w. t n . n o0| ' . ves, now
manyh 0 nd|edso|oppo|t 0n. t . eswo0 ' d wenaveto' et
n ew poss . o. | . | . es come . n |o oe. ng! | | we cou ' do| . ng
a sense o| comp' et . on t o t he end o| each day, we
cou| d oeg| n to ou| | d our s e| | snow| edge day oy day
ona| . | moas. s. As we movedt n|o0gnt he' a|ge|cyc' es
o| ou| ' . ves, each mont h and each yea| wo0 ' d oea|
t ne| | u. t o| . nc|eased awa|enessanda deeperunde|
st and. ng o| ou| own m. nds. P|oceed. ng t h|o0gn t he
stages o| ou| ' | ves, we cou ' d we| come each new
oeg. n n . n gasa spec. a' oppo|t 0 n . |y
} ust as t he gaps oetween ' arger cyc' es g| ve 0s
oppo|t un . t . est o' oos. n ||eshwaysat o0| expe|. ence,
t nemoment s o| t |ans . t . onoetweens ma' ' e| cyc' esmay
a| s o oe open . ngs to n ew poss | o| | | t | es. |ven w| t h| n a
s . ng' e day we may nave many s0ch oppo| | 0n . t . es.
Vnen we|ee' emot . ona' , wemaysensenowwe' st a|t
u p' anot ne| cyc| eo| wo| |y| ngo| ange| Somenowwe
nave passed 0nawa|e t h|ough a s ma' ' open . ng
oetween cyc' es. | | we re|| ect on t h| s cyc ' . ca' nat ure
o| emot . ons and t hougnt s, we may d. scove| a mo|e
spac. o0s q0a ' . ty to o0| t ho0ght s and emot . ona'
pat t e| nst hanwehadp|ev| ous| yno| | ced Pe| hapseach
moment p|esent s 0s w. t h oppo| | un . t . es to see moe
c ' ear' ywhat | s nappen. ng, setas . dewhat . s no' onge|
0se|0 ' , andopen 0p newoeg. n n . ngs. Vedonot have
to ' oseva' 0 ao' et . me . nemot . ona' cyc' es t hat g. ve 0s
Time to Change 1 91
' | |t ' e p| easure V| t h greater se| |- unders | and| ng, we
cou | d see how t hese cyc| es oeg| n, and pass t hrough
| hem more qu| cs| ytoapprec| a| e| hepos | t | veaspects
o|eachexper| ence.
| | we were to tase t hese opport un. t | es |or new
oeg. nn. ngs and deepen our s e' | underst and . ng w. t h
t hecomp' et . ono|eachcyc' e,wem. gnt s ens eour ' . ves
progress . ng. namov. ngs p. ra ' | n steado| repeat . ngour
past patterns . n greater and greater comp' ex. t y and
con|u s . on, wecou ' d groundou rse' ves . n a consc . ous
apprec. at . on o| t he past t hat a' ' ows us to ' earn and
change Then each new cyc' e, t hough repeat . ngcer
t a. n patterns |rom t he past, cou ' d oeg. n on a n. gher
' eve' o| understand. ng.
Asweapproacht heendo|our ' | ves, our snow' edge
w| | | cont | nueto protect us |rom |ear and con| us . on.
Ve may d| scover u nsnown d| mens . ons | o our own
m| nds, and open u p | he mys| er| es o| | | me | t se| | .
|ven| ua' | y, we may|| nda who| | y newu nderst and. ng
o| oeg| n ni ngs and end| ngs t ha| cou| d . ' ' u m| na| eour
' ast daysw. t hmea n. ngandsat . s|act . on
ZT
I mages of Oursel ves
Hidden within are not only our
fears and confusions, but also
our deepest feelings and aspirations.
e have many mageso| whal wea|e andwhat
/ wes ho0' doe Some mageswep|o| ect toot he|s,
and some ' e c ' ose| to ou| hea|t s. Tne mages we
p|esen| |othewor' da |es e' domcomp' et e| ys| ao| e,out
sh ||acco|d ngtohowweseeo0 |se' ves n|e| al onsh . p
| oo| he| s V | h c h ' d|en, wemayp|o| ectone mage,
w t h mat es, ano| he| |o| emp' oyees, |o| cowo|se|s
and | | . ends, among men o| a mong women, we may
proj ectst | | ot her mages.
Ves h | | among | hese . mages so |ead ' y | ha' they
a|e ' se c' ot hes we change a| w ' ' C0| wa|d|ooe o|
mageshe' ps us|ee' con| dent andat ease nwhal eve|
|o' ewe a|e ca' ' ed 0 ponto pe||o|m . n l i fe. | n a sense,
our magesserveasa pro| ect ve | aye|oetween 0s and
theout s dewo| ' d.
Vh ch o| ou| mages |ea ' ' y exp|ess wha| wea|e!
A|e a ' ' ol l hem | | 0e to o0 |se' ves, o| do some seem
Time to Change 1 93
| essrea| t hano| hes!Oowe|nowwhenwea ep| ay| ng
a o' e, o do we denl lyw t na ' ' t heo' es we ass0 me!
Ae pe naps a' ' o| t hese mages extens ons ol o0
se' ves n someespect !
Ve seem |o oe ao| e t o j ugg| e n umerou s | mages
atonce, po| ect ngo0l wad ' ywhatwewanttooe' eve
weaeandwnatwew s nol neslosee. Cl ne q0a ' t es
| ha| wedonot | | |e nourse| veso donot want ot hes
|o see we t ry |o h | de. Peop| e around us s upport | he
pos t ve mageswepesenl tot newo' d, l o | heynave
l ne own mageslo potect, and 0s 0a' ' ynave ' t t ' eto
ga n |rom cha| | eng| ngours. Veent er n|o u nspo|en
' pac| s w| t hot hers. | won td | s | uoyou r v| ewo| your
se' | | you don t d s t 0o m ne 'Ve 0se t h s ' s uppot
t o con | m t o ou se' ves t ha| o0 pos t ve s e' | mage
| s ea' , and we may oe gen u | ne' y s urpr sed o u pse|
when we d scover t ha| ot hers do not a| ways see us
a s weseeou se' ves.
Ve |ee' m0c n moe com|ot ao' e when peop' e
va' | dat eou pos t | vese| | mage oys how| ngus espec|
andt0st, ' oveandappec at on. Act ngono0 pos t ve
v ews ol o0 se' ves, we can ma|e comm l ment s and
| ase on respons o ' t es w ' h con| dence. C0r con|
dencemay oecont ag| ous, | ns p| r | ngot hes to e| yon
o0 stengt h and ao | . l es C0 espons o | t . es gow,
a' ongw t no| hes' appec al onand espect .
Cur |a | h n ou se| ves s con|| rmed as we oecome
nceas ng' y nd spensao| e. B0t wnat nappens | s 0d
den' yt n ngsgowong, and| nepa sel 0ns t oc t c s m
ando' ame! | n l heg| owol pa s eands e' | con| dence,
we may have |a|en on moe espons o| | | ty | han we
co0 ' dnand' e.Canwenows 0st a n lnepos t veo0t | oos
wenad wnen we oegan, wnenwe |e' t especled and
1 94 Knowledge of Freedom
app|ec ated! Can we meet t ne cna ' ' enges, 0s ng o0
| 0| | energy and res o0rces, o are we | ostw| t no0t the
conf | mat on o| o0| se' | mpo|| ance' | | o0| con|
dence | s not oased 0 pon | nnerst rengt h, we may tee|
a ' most|o|cedto p0 ' ' oacsto' de|endo0se' ves'
Cover| ng 0p o0 | |a| | 0res and s no|tcom| ngs w| t h
|easonao' eexp' anat ons,wec' oaso0 |se' ves nexc0ses
| norde| toescapetromcont |ont | ngo0rse| vesd| rect' y.
Onao' etopenet|atetnep|o| ect ve' aye|o||easonsand
exc0 ses we create aro0nd o0rse| ves, we 0 nderm| ne
o0| ao ' |y to accomp' sn even o0| mos| cne| sned
goa' s Ve | et t h ngs go, s 0ove|t ngo0| owne|| otsto
| aset neact ons t hatco0 ' dmaset hec 0c a' d f|eence
oetween s 0ccessand|a ' 0 e
S' ow' y, a sense ol mess ness, o| | n ngs 0ndone,
o0| | ds 0pas a |ee| | ngo| wa mt gnt ness, | t catcnes0s
|. |st n t hestomacn, t hen n t nenea |t andth |oat, and
| na' ' y n t ne nead. C0| t me goes oy, l ' ' ed w tn
con|0s ng n ne| deoates Veoeg ntomoveandt h . ns
mo|e s ' ow' y, t oecomes d |f c 0 ' t t o o|gan ze o0|
t ho0ght s andact | ons, andweoeg| nt ocare | essaoo0t
wnatevewea|e do ng. Vedonot p' an aswe' ' aswe
co0| d, we | eavet h ngs o0t andseepmas| ng m| stases
weco0 ' d n aveavo ded, tnen c|ea| emoe |at ona. za
t | ons to exp' a n to o0|se' ves and otne|s wny t n s | s
nappen ng
A| t ho0ghwemay|ee' t hetorceo| t h| s pattern as
apa' pao' ep|esence0nde|m n ngo0| deepest|ee' . ngs
andasp rat | ons, wea |e so0sedtono| d ngthe|am ' | ar
sense o| ' m | a| on c ' oset o o0| nea|t ' na| wecanno|
' et t go. |ven | wewant tocnange, we| ee' t ooweas
| odoany| n ngono0| own, eve|yonee| se | sdo ngtne
samet n ng n t ne | own way, so wno w ' ' s0 ppo|t 0s
Time to Change 1 95
| we l y! | | we do manage lo mase a sl a l , ol hers
l hrea| enedoyo0| a| | empl slo| ncreaseo0r con|| dence
and sl rengl h may | y lo 0nderm ne 0s |acs ng l he
compass| on and energy lo wase o0rse| ves 0p lo a
' argerv ew o| whal we can oe and do, we evenl 0a ' ' y
a| | owo0rse' veslo oe| | evel ha| wecanno| dowha| we
selo0| loaccomp' sh
Cnce we ' ose con|| dence, we c a n || nd many
reasons| or la ' ng| o meel oo' gal ons Theewas an
0nexpec| ed d| f|| c 0 | ly-| nad no way o| snow| ng. '
Someone ' el me downl here was no| h ng | co0 ' d
do ' | l r ed my oesl Vhal e' se can | do!' | d dn' l
prom se any| h ng. | on| y sa d | wo0' d l ry. ' Sens . ng
|a ' 0 e, we may oacs o0l o| comm l menl s lo spare
o0rse' ves |0 rl her d| s | ress. | can' | over| oad myse| | or
| ' ' gel r0n down and neve accomp' sn anyl n ng ' |
have |o| asesomel meof| oe|ore | ge| soaggrava|ed
| nal | can | doany| h ng. '
C0r ra| ona| | za| | ons so0nd very conv| nc| ng, and
oncewe |orm0' alel hemloo0 rse| vesandl hen speas
| hema| o0d, weo0rse| ves| end|ooe| | eve| hem. Vhen
o0r exc0ses are accep| ed, we may |ee' re' eved l hal
weareno| o| amed. B0| l nere| s as| range|ee| | ng| ns| de
l hal wehave somehow gol | en away w l h somel h. ng
orl r csedsomeone,perhapso0rse' ves. C0r energynas
gone nlo se' ' prolec| on nslead o| n | o o0r wors
o0l wnal ae we prol ecl ng' An mage o| o0rs e' l as
a |a| | 0re! Po| ec| | ng o0rse' ves a| | he expense o| d
m n s h ng o0 se' ves, weare ' e|l w l h a v ew o| o0r
se' vesl ha| ca0ses0 s pa n.
|ven l o0r exc0ses are accepled, o0 |a ' 0re lo
ma|cho0r pos| l | ve| magemaycompe| 0 s l ocon| | n0e
o' am ng o0rse' ves. C0r n nerd a ' og0es may l ry l ol x
1 96 Knowledge of Freedom
| heo| amesecu|e| y Vha| a ta| ' ure | a m. | wasa d| s
appo nt ment to eve|yone. ' B0t to get o0|se' ves ' ot|
t ne noos' we a' so o' amet necond t ons t nat seemed
| ooe| hecause ot our ta| | ure Bu| | cou| dnavedone
oette|, l on. y | na ' ' y, we' accept' o0|se. ves | t s
notsooad cve|yoodyo|eassp|om ses. | d dt neoest |
cou| d| n | he| | me| had. '
Vny do weexpe| ence s0cn g|eat nne| t 0|mo. ' !
Vne|e nave o0| pos t ve q0a. t es gone! Vnydo we
haved| ft| c u' |y | n s us| a| n| ng| hem!
Vnen t n eq0a' t es t nat mase 0p o0 | se' l mage
arenot s| ao' e, ou| senseotse' tes| eem|sneversecure
C0 | | mages may ma|e 0s | ee| good aoo0t o0|se| ves
|o|a t me, o0t wnentneq0a' t est ney p|o| ecta|e not
|u ' | y nteg|ated | ntoo0r oe. ng, wea|ea . waysv0' ne|
ao| e cven| ua| | y o0r tenuo0s ho| d on | hese qua| | t | es
w ' ' oecome appa |ent , and we w ' ' l nd o0 |se' ves . n
a d ' emma.
Vnen o0| . mage o| o0 |se' ves a' te| nat es oetween
pos | . ve and negat ve modes depend ng 0pon tne
v| ews ot o| ners or u pon our own s h| t| | ng a| t | t udes,
wne|e can we l nd o0| |ea. se' ves! Vnat q0a| t es n
anyo| o0| . magesa|e stao. e! Canwep|ed ct nowwe
w| ' ' tee' aoo0t o0rse' ves t omor|ow oreven tne nex|
nou| ! Ve cannot t | 0 | y t | 0st o0|se| ves to |o| ' ow
t n|o0gn w t n |espons o ' t es and comm. t ments, we
can neve| oe ce|t a| n | nat we can ret a| n t ne | | 0s | o|
| ove ol o| ners . Vac . | | at | ng among our many | mages,
we ' ose t o0cn w. t n wno we |ea ' . y a|e, and nave
d fl c 0' | . es n deve' op ngo0| |0 ' ' potent a' .
| l t nese mageso| o0 |se' vesa|enotoased0pono0|
|ea. q0a ' t es, wnat a|e t ney oased 0 pon! Vnydowe
Time to Change
1 97
conl . n0e lo |ee' l ney epesenl 0s even wnen we
s0specll nal l ney ae nol comp' el e' yacc0 al e!
Tnese magesa e vey c' ose' y e' a ' ed ' ol nesense
ol se' l we eslao' s n d0 ng o0 c n. ' dnood wnen we
' ean esponses l nal w. ' ' . ns 0e o0 accepl ance, ga. n
0s appova ' o a | | enl on, and m. n . m ze pesona'
d sl esso l 0sl al on
As veyyo0ngc n ' denwecanse' domela nl om
expess . ngo0 lee' . ngsd ecl ' y, o0l aswegowo' de ,
we soon ' ea n lo mod. ly o0 oenav o and al l l 0des
n l e msolwna| ol nescons de appop . al e Ve ' ean
wnenwe sno0 ' d' a0gnandwnenwe s no0' dc y, wnen
wes no0' d oes e o0s , wnenwes no0' d oeaggess . ve
o s 0om ss ve, wnenwe m0sl oe po' l e Ve ' ea nnow
lomass |ee' . ngsl nal ae 0nacceplao' elool nesol nal
pod0ce an 0 ndes . ed es 0' l , and wnen lo expess
l no0gnlsandop n. ons al va ancew l nwnal weea' ' y
l n. ns andlee'
As al | c a' pal l e ns ol esponse oecome deep' y
mp . n |ed, ' ney comp' . cale moe gen 0 . nees ponses.
Ve ' ea n lo concea' o0 se' ves |om ol n es, 'o d . s
semo' e, lo ma n p0' al e, l o al . ona' ze, and lo exc0se
o0 acl . ons n ways l nal ae soc. a' ' y acceplao' e
|venl 0a' ' y, we come |o oe' eve o0 al . ona' zal . ons.
Honesl andd s nonesl esponsesoecomeveyd. ll c0 ' l
|od || eenl al ewe' ea n l o' . eeven loo0 se' ves
| 0sl as we nave sl ong pe| eences | o p' easanl
expe ences and avo d 0 n p| easanl ones, we ' ea n lo
|oc0s on l ne aspecl s ol o0 se' ves l na| o| ne s ' . se o
l na| we seeae egaded asdes . ao' e Ve ae s. ncee
and nonesl, we ae con| den | , snow' edgeao' e, and
capao' e nowco0 ' dweoeol new s e! O. scove ng
1 98 Knowledge of Freedom
l nal ol ne|s w ' ' accepl l ne mage we p|o| ecl, we
consc o0s ' yl |a n o0|se' ves lo man lesl q0a' l es l nal
w ' ' g0a|anlees 0ccess n o0| wo| sand |e' al ons n ps.
Toc|eal eamo|eacceplao' emage, wen deo| deny
va| o0s aspecls o| o0| consc o0s ness we nave oeen
l a0gnl l o |ega|d as' oad' , s0cnas| ea' o0sy, ange|, and
|esenl menl . B0l l ne 0nwanled q0a' l es slayw l n 0s,
s 0 | ' ac ng n d sg0 sed | o| ms o| |ep|essed al l ne cosl
o| m0cn ene|gy. Tnese d sowned q0a' l es co' o| o0|
|e' al ons n ps w l n ol ne|s n ways we can nol |ead ' y
0 nde| sl and. | | we a|e 0nao' elo acsnow' edge |age n
o0 |se' ves, o0 | | nd l | s ng nl ov ew, wecan 0ncon
sc o0s ' y p|olecl o0| se' | mage oy p|o| ecl ngl n s an
ge| onlo anol ne| pe|son, wnom we can l nen se' l
| gnl eo0s ' y|e| ecl
Vnenwepe|s sl nsee ngo0 |se' vesasa' waysgood
o| | gnl , any 0ndes |ao' e q0a' l es we lee' ns . de 0s
m0sl oe o' amed on somel n ng o| someone e' se. | l
s easy l o conv nce o0 |se' ves l na| ' ev ' ' | no0gnl s and
acl ons o| g nal e | | om an exl e| na' so0|ce, we a|e
l ne|elo|e | 0sl | ed n al l acs ng o| e' m nal ng l n s
l n|eal l ownal s ' | gnl n o| ne| wo|ds, o0 |se' veso|
wnal wesl and |o| | n exl eme cases, wemay see an
enemy neve|y dea, concepl, o| pe|sonl nald sag|ees
w l no0| | xedconcepl s, wemay maseg|o0pso| even
wno' ec0' l 0|es ' nal |avo| d ||e|enl app|oacnesl o ' |e
scapegoals| o| o0| ownn ddenagg|es s on.
Tne mo|e s0ccess|0 ' we oecome n eslao' sn ng
andp|ol ec| ngo0| s e' l mage, l nemo|e powe|l0 ' and
capao' e we can appea| Ve may oecome adepl al
nl m dal ngol ne|s w l n l ne snee| l o|ceo| o0| oe' el
n o0 |se' ves. | n |' aled w | n lee' ngs o| | gnl eo0sness
Time to Change 1 99
and powe|, we cont | n0 a ' ' y de| end o0r sense o| o0r
se| ves oy sett | ngo0r own | deas and op n | ons aoove
tnose o| ot ne|s . Ve may neve| see now | g d and
w ' ' | 0. ' y o' nd wenaveoecome.
1h s t endency |o h | de ' |om o0r nne| responses
pe|meatesm0cho|o0 expe . ence. Somet meswea |e
awa|e o| n d ngo0 |es ponses, pa|t c0 ' a ' ywnen we
' | eto protect o0rse' vesor de' oerat e' yt |y to dece| ve
someone. B0 | o|ten weon' yha| | not | cewhat weare
do. ng, o| aecomp' et e' y n t neda - aoo0t o0 act 0a'
|esponses. | | an0ndes |ao' elee' . nga . ses, wemay| nd
o0rse' ves exp|ess | ng an emot on o| |ee' | ng t hat s
act 0a' | yt heoppos | |e o| t heonewea |e exper| enc| ng.
| n t n s way we can nand . e t ne 0 nwanted lee' . ngs
w t no0t nav ng t o con||ont t hem d |ect ' y Cnce ex
pressed, | h| s |aor| cated o0t er response oecomes ' t he
rea| one , and we eas | | y' |orge| o0r o| g na| | mp0 | se
C penaps wed d not not . ce . t at a ' ' B0t even . | we
a|eao' etocomp' et e' yep|esso0| negat ve es ponses,
cove| | ng | nem ove| w| | n o0r pos | t ve v ew o| o0r
se' ves, t heemo| ons and|ee| | ngsa |e s | | | ' p|esen | , and
w. ' ' s0ot ' ypevadet ne magewema n |estt oot nes.
As cn ' dren we na| 0ra ' ' y sense t ne rea' |ee' ngs
oeneat ht ne| magespeop| epres en| to 0s. Vhen there
s a d |leence oetween t ne . n ne| |ee' ng and t he
o0te| appea ancewnenange|,|o|examp' e, s h. dden
oenea| n a ca' m, con| ro' ' ed s 0 ||acet ne con|' | ct | ng
s| gna' s can oe very con| 0s ng S' ow' ywe |ea' | zet hat
t ne n dden lee' ngs we sense ae oest gno|ed, |o
when we to0cn t nem, spa| -s a |e geneated t nat . n
| ' ameemo| ons wecannot cont ro| . Cr perhapsweo0r
se| ves do not w s n to see | h| s h | dden s | de Ve | earn
20 Knowledge of Freedom
|o dea' exc ' 0 s ve' yw t h t he o0te| |ee' ngs d s p' ayed
oy| hosea |oundus
Ve may event 0a. . y come t o do0o| o0 own
pe|cep| | ono| | he' h | dden | h| ngs and ' ea n to gno|e
t hem a' toget he. C0 | own n ne| |ee. ngs may st ' . |e
spond|o | heh | ddens | deo| o| he|s, ou| we no | onge|
snow wnywe | ee' aswe do, we can on' ysense | nat
s ome| h ng | s not | | gh| .
} 0s| aswe. ea nt o| | cso0 |se' ves n| o gno ngwnat
we see n o| he|s, we ' ea |n | o gno|ewhat we do not
w s h to see n o0 |se' ves. These |e| ected q0a . | escan
como new| | hthedeep nsecu| | |y, con|us | on, and|ea|s
we have co. ' ected t no0gno0| o0| . ves |o |om a
nega| | ve se' | mage. Revo| v ng a|o0nd o0| weases|
|eat 0es, t n s nega| ve mage pesen| s 0s | o o0 se| ves
n t he wo|s| poss o' e ' gh|-ha| el0 . , ncompetent,
s | up d, d| s nonest, 0 nwo|t ny o| ' ove, weas. Sucn a
se' l mage can oe | 0s | as powe|0 ' as | he pos | ve
| mage we d sp| ay on | he s u ||ace. Pa| | o| | he powe|
ol | he nega| ve s e' | mage de| ves l|om | s pat a'
t | 0| hwe suspec| we have t |a| | s we w| s h we|e not
| he|e B0| | 0s | aso0 p0o. cse. ' mage o| con| dence
| sanexagge|a| ono|o0 act 0a' ao ' | | es and q0a' | | es,
soo0| nega| ve mage sa ' so a one s ded and nacc0
|a| eves ono| o0 |se' ves.
Vnen | ne mage we pesen| |o t he wo . d s
t h|ea| ened, we o| | en || nd o0 |se' ves a| | ne me|cy o|
o0 nega| ve s e' l mage Tne mages o| now wew sn
to seeo0 se. ves wa w t h mages o| nowweleawe
' ea| | y' a e Some| mes t ne negat . ve mages p|ove
s | |onge|, and we a|e d ven oy |ea and do0o| | na|
dest |oyou| se' |con || dence. Ye| noma| | e| howmuch
Time to Change
201
pa| n | hey o| | ng us, | he nega| | ve | mages we tea| a|e
a' soapa||ot ou| tam| | | a| senseotse| | . 1heycon| || ou|e
|o ou| secu| |y
| ew| ng each expe| | ence | h|ough | he t| | |e| ot
ou| se' | mages, we oecome a ' ena|ed l |om ou|
se' ves. Ve a|e unao' e |o | |acs ou| |ea' |ee' ngs
| h|ough | hemazeo| |a| ona ' za| ons and p|o| ec| ons
| ha| p|o|ec|sou| | deas otwha| wea|e. | so| a| edoeh| nd
| heseoa|| e|s, wecanno| he' pou| con| nua ' ' ydece ve
ou|se' vesaoou| ou| unde| ' y ngmo| vesands | ua| | on.
As pa||e|ns o| se' |decep| on oecome deep' y n
g|a| ned, wecome| otee| sates|| n supe||| c| a| |e| a| | on
sh ps | ha| do no| cha ' ' enge ou| mages o| ou |se' ves
S | ua| ons |ha| m gh| o| ng h dden aspec| s o| ou|-
se' ves n |o | he open may mase us |ea|| u' o| hos| | ' e.
Onao| e| ooe hones| w| | h ou|se| veso| o| he|s, wea|e
unao' e|o g veo| |ece ve|ea' wa| m| ho| ' ove
H dden w | h n a|e no| on' y ou| |ea|s and con| u
s| ons, ou| a| so ou| deepes| tee| | ngs and asp |a| | ons .
Ye| | s d h cu' | |oopenou| hea||sw | hou| | ouc h ng
upon pa| n and|ea|aswe' ' Vhen | he|e a|e manyo| d
pa ns and con| us ons ' ocsed n ou| hea|| s, we need
mo|e| haneve|| ooe| eve| ha| | he| mageswep|esen|
|o o| he| s a|e | | ue. | | may oe nea| ' y mposs o| e | o
acsnow' edge ou| own weas and nega| ve qua' | es.
Conv nc ng ou |se' ves| ha| we a|e' f| ne' | us | aswea|e,
we may see no need |o deve| op |ea| nne| s| |eng| h
andcon| dence.
| n ou| o. . ndness, we canno| see | he ef|ec|s o|
ou| ac| | ons on o| he|s o| unde| s| and whywe tee' so
| so' a|ed and a| one |one' | ness | nc|eases ou| pa| n,
202
Know/edge of Freedom
wh| chwepassonlool he|s. n manyways, pe|pel 0al | ng
| heu nhapp| nesswetee| deep| ns de 1rapped w l h n
l hese na||ow v. ews, wecan spend l newho' eo| o0|
' |e de|end ngo0 |se' ves aga nsl se' | snow' edge Ve
c ' oseot| op| | ons to|enr| ch| ngou ' | vesw| | hcompas
s | on and j oy, and ' ose oppor| un| | es lo deve| op | he
|ea. con|. dence l ha| wo0 ' d a. ' ow 0s l o accomp. sn
somel n ng mean ng|0 '
|ven when we w| s h | o s | |eng| hen ou r pos | l . ve
q0a ' l es, we may no| oe ao' e |o mase o0| w. snes a
|ea ' |y Ve have manygood nlen| ons . | |ea. ' ywan |
| o mp|ove. | |ea ' ' y wanl lo change | | | had ano| ne|
chance, | wou' doehaved| fteren| | y. 'Cr | w| s h|cou' d
|ea ' ' y oecon| den | Nexl l . me | ' ' l y ha|de| . ' B0l o0|
a| | empls may end n f| 0sl |a| on. C0| w s h ng s no|
eno0gh, we do nol snow howl o o|eas l ne|o|ce o|
o| dpa| l e| ns, sowe|a| | oacs| n|o | hem. 1henwe may
o' ameo0 |se' veseven moe
Pe| haps we a|e l|y. ng lo ac| p|emal 0|e' yoe|o|e
we can change our pa| | e| ns we may need |o snow
mo|e aoo0l | nem By oose|v| ng o0| own expe| . ence
and as s. ng o0 |se' ves wnal s ' m l ng o0| e||o|ls lo
deve. op lhe q0a ' . l es we des |e, we can oeg n lo
deepenou| u nders|and| ngot| hesepa| | erns Vhenwe
|ef| ecl on how | ongwenave oeen | | a ned |o n deo0|
wo|slq0a' . l . es and|ememoe nowmanyo| nessna|e
| he same d ff. c 0 ' | . es, we can l |eal o0 |se. ves moe
gen| | y. Oeeper compass | on w| | ' he| p us re' | nqu s h
| he|ea|ando| amewe| end| od |ecl|owa|d o0 |se| ves
andol he|s.
C0 | | n| | | a' al | emp| s lo seeou |se' ves mo|ec ' ea|' y
and hones| | y may oe con| us | ng. A| | our | |a| n| ngand
cond l on . ng have l a0ghl 0s lo h de o0| 0ndes ao. e
Time to Change 203
q0a' | es , to p0s nt nemaway, orexp| a n| nem n ways
t nat seem reasonao' e |o' ' ow ngo' d pat t erns, wemay
t r cso0rse' ves ntonot see ngwnat s oe|oreo0r eyes,
a0tomat | ca' ' y cover | ng 0 p o0r react ons oy deny| ng
t hemorexc0s| ng o0rse| vesw| t hnet worssotreasons.
Pernapsweare asnamed o|o0r react ons andoe' eve
otners wo0' ds name0s | 0rt ner | wea| ' owed t nemto
s0r|ace, pernaps we|ee' t neyare oeyondo0r cont ro' .
B0t wehave|0nag|eat r | s s| n |e|0s | ngt oacsnow' edge
o0r darsest t no0ght s and tee| | ngs. 1hey are tar mo|e
power|0 ' wnen repressed, |or t ney may er0 pt 0 n pre
d c| ao' y n ways we can not cont ro' . However m0cn
wemayw. s nt nese|ee' ngswerenot part o|0 s,t ney w ' '
po sono0r ' ves0nt . ' weacsnow' edget nemand | nd
waystot ranstorm t hemcomp| et e| y.
Ve| e 0pm0cno|o0renergy n no| d ngq0a ' t es
wecons der o' ame|0 | n cnecs, or engag ng n n ner
deoates aoo0t now we ' rea ' ' y are . Tn s seeps o0r
attent | on cent ered on o0rse' ves, separat | ng 0 s | rom
ot hers l t oecomes h ardert oseeoeyondt h econ|| nes
o| se' | . nteres| . Vnen wecan cat cn g' . mpses o| now
we do t n. s, we can recogn ze t ne de|enses t nat
prevent 0s |rom snow ng t ne rea' nat 0re o| o0r
emot ons. A' t no0gnwemaynot ' | se wnat wesee, we
maysensetort het| rstt | met nat weco0| dc hange o0r
' vesona very deep' eve' . Re|' ect ngd. rec| | yonwna|
we see w t no0 | exc0s ngo0rse' ves, wecan oeg n to
ooserve t ne t endenc es we nave oeen . gnor . ng.
Vnatever we see g ves 0s snow' edge we can co0nt
0pont os 0pport o0r ett ort s tocnange
| tt ' e oy ' . | | | e, t . s poss o' e to oecome more oo
| ect ve. |ven . n | ne m. dst o| emot on, we can wat cn
o0rse. vesast no0gn wewereactors n a granddrama,
20
Knowledge of Freedom
arg0| ng w| t h d| tterent | mages ot o0rse' ves cach | n
st ance ot more ooj ect | ve s ee| ng he| ps decrease t he
heat o| t he moment , grad0a| | y we w| | | oe ao| e to
part c| pate | ess n t hedrama. As weexper| ence more
d| |ect | y what | s happen| ng, we can recogn | ze t he
end' es s st or | es o0r m| nds sp| n as detenses and j 0st |
| cat ons, and s ee t ne 0nde| ' y ng patte|ns t hey a|e
t |y ngto h de
Vnen we |ee' ' ess p|es s 0|ed to nte|p|et expe
ences lo accod w t ho0| se' l mage, wecan oemo|e
attent veto o0| deepe|t ho0gnt s and|ee' ngs Pe|naps
' ong alte|an 0n p' easanl s | 0at on naspassed, we|ee'
a t ght ness n o0| stomacns o| sno0 ' de|s, wnat
emot onae we ho' d ng! Vnenwe a' ' owt h s | ens on
| o |e' ax, whal t ho0ght s a| s e! | s |esen| ment | he|e, o
anger!| s t heretea|!1o0ch ngt hes 0rtaceot t nelee' ng
| ght | y, we can watch t he d |ect on ot o0r t ho0gh| s.
Oo t he t ho0gh | s p0s h t he tee| | ng down aga| n or
| nt ens| ty t ! Ve do not need to act on the t ho0ght s
or emot ons , or t ee| g0 | t ||omanyt h| ngthatar | ses, we
can s | mp' y oose|ve t he tee| ngs and t ho0ght s that
movet n|o0gno0|ood es andm nds
| | wegelca0gnt 0p n t neemo| ons andl no0gnts,
wecan a' so oose|ve l nal At wnal po nt d . d we oeg n
pa|| c pa | ng . n slead o| watc n ng! Vna| compe' ' ed
0s ! cmot ons l nal p0 ' ' 0s veys | ong' y. n| o | ned|ama
| neye' atecansomet mesoe' oosened0poycnang. ng
o0| |oc0s . | ns |ead ol ' oc0s ng so neav ' y on l ne
cont ent ol t he dama, we can oose|ve | ne st|0cl 0|e
o| | ne emo| . on ls e' l o| t ne nl eac| ons oelween
emo| ons , and wal ch l ne way ol ' p' ay ng w l n 0s .
Perhaps we g| | mpse s ome 0 nwanted q0a| ty | n o0|
se| ves o0t nstead o| | ett | ng t h| s snow' edge' s ns n' ,
Time to Change 205
we oecome emo| ona' , and avo d conf |on| ng | ne
| | u| h oy reve|| | ng | o pa||e|ns ot o| am| ng ourse| ves.
Vnen we see whal we a |e do ng n a s mp| e non
| 0dgmen| a' way, we can | |ace l ne pa| | e| ns of emo
| | ons and| hough| s m0chmore c| ear ' y.
Val cn ng o0| l no0gn | s, deep' y sens ng o0| own
fee' ngs, we can oe mo|e a| ease w l n wna| eve|
emerges w| | h| n us. Vhen wecease re| ec| | ngas pec| s
ol o0 |se' ves, we can open ou| nea || s mo|e f0 ' ' y and
' gn| ' y | o0cn pa nf u' p' aces of nega| v l y and conf 0
s| on. Se| | | ng as | dea | | | hough| ot s nou| ds andwou | ds,
wew ' ' f nd' oveandcompass ona| s ng no0| hea| | s,
we can d |ec| | nese fee' ngs |owa|d o0 |se' ves, as
| hougn|oa t | end | n need.
Cnce we snow | na| ' ove and compass. on a|e
a' |eadyp|esen | w | n n 0 s,wew ' ' nave| nesnow' edge
weneed |oopenourhea||st u|| he|. Vheneve|wefee|
o' d pa| | e| ns |e| 0| n ng, we can oe mo|e conf denl n
o0 | own n ne| s| | engl n a n d compass on, a n d a' ' ow
wha| ever pa n we expe| ence |o | ouch our hea|| s
d. |ec| ' y. Accep| ng wna|eve| a| ses w | no0| lea| o|
o' ame, wecan so|l o0| wn cn mages mal cn wna| we
|r0 | y are, wh| ch a |e ta' se | o ou| oe ng, and wn| cn
|ep|esen | o0| deepes| as p |a | ons. |venl 0 a ' ' y wecan
go f 0| | ne|, wa| cn ng o0| wo|ds, ou| ood ' y move
men|s, and our ges| 0 res, and o | ng| ng | nem | n|o
na| mony w| | n ou | | n ne| as p |a| | ons . Compa| | ng o0 |
wo|dsando0| deeds, o0| magesa ndo0| ac| ons, we
w. ' ' f| nd | ne ncons s | enc es weneed| o|eso' ve.
f I
I@c
CHAPTER 22: TRANS FORMI NG TE N SI ON
Tens ona ndsensoypecept on 21 1
1ens| onandst| m0' at | on 21 2
| nt ens |y ngst m0 ' at on 21 3
cttect s ot overst mu | at | on 21 3
Cop ngw t nt ens on 21 4
P' eas0eandt nee' e|o| tens on 21 5
1ens| onand| ntens | t cat onot act | v| t y 21 5
Tendenc es to comp0' s veact v. ty 21 6
Rac| ngaga| ns t tens | on
21 7
Con| 0sed ntepetat ons o| expe ence 21 7
Anx. etyandemot ona' d st ess 21 8
Re| at | ons h| pot oodyandm| nd 21 9
Beatnande' axat on 220
Re' ev ngpess0 eo| tens on 221
On| ocs ngeact | ve pat t e ns 222
Know' edge t no0gnsensoy awaeness 223
CHAPTER 23 : CON F L I CT OF COMPETI TI ON
Compet t onandgoa' s
C0 ' t vat . ono| compet t ve att t 0des
Moment umo| compet t on
St v. ngandt ens on
Compet t onandexped ency
Oep' et ono|enegy
225
226
227
228
228
229
Compel l on, n sec0 | ly, se' lesleem 229
| v ng0plosl anda|ds o|ol he|s 230
Bas | s torsa| | stacl | on 231
Pro| ec| | on| hro0gh| nner grow| h
232
Se' | |especlandappec al on 232
Bene| l so| ' ong |ange goa' s 232
| nt eg |yands e' l re' ance 233
Shar | ngsnow| edgeotexper ence 233
Know' edgeandcoope|al on 234
CHAPTER 24: S E E I NG THROUGH PAI N
Know' edgeo | pa n
| mol ona' pa n
Avo| danceotpa| n
Ondersl and| ngpa| n
|ea| o|pa n
P|ess0esconl | o0t ngl opa n
| n| erna ' dynam| c ot pa| n
B' am| ngo0rse| ves
Pe|vas venal 0 |eo| pa n
Re' ev ngl h ep|ess 0 |eo| pa n
Penel |al ngl h edyna m co| pa. n
Ne0l ra| see ng
0ey ngpal l e ns
|ell nggoo|negal ve emol ons
Conve| | ngpa n n | o snow' edge
235
235
236
236
236
236
237
238
239
239
240
241
242
242
243
ZZ
Transfor mi ng Tens i on
Our senses can be viewed as two-way channels,
capable of sensing inwardly as well as outwardly.
0 | senses a|e nal 0|a ' . y al l 0 ned lo o0| s 0|
|o0nd ngs, eadyl o |esonale . n esponse lo any
s| | m0| a| | on. Cpen| oacons | an| p| ayotmovemen| and
ene|gy, o0| senses nsl anl ' yg| aspand| |ans m l mp|es
s ons ol snapes and co' os, movemenl s, so0 nds,
l|ag|ances, l asl es, and ood ' y sensal ons . C0| m nds,
| se | he senses, are s 0o| | yl ense even when re| axed,
a' e|l and ac| ve, l ney a|e con | n0a ' . y |espond ng lo
sense mpes s ons . | 0 ndamenl a' lens onex. sl s neve|y
' v. ngce' ' o| o0| oody. Al a ve|y oas. c ' eve' , l ens . on
seems |ooepar | oto0| na| 0re.
Al l ne onsel o| l ne pe|cep| 0a' pocess, l ne m nd
gasps senso|y mpess ons w. l n ' gnl n . ng speed and
sorls and processes | nem. | mages a|e denl | f| ed and
| aoe| ed | n|o0gn a comp| ex p|ocess l nal d |aws 0 pon
a wea' l nol memo| esandassoc al ons . Cn' y l nen do
o0| m. ndsp|esenl 0s w. | ns. gnl s, so0nds, s me. . s , l as | es,
sensa| | ons, and | ho0ghl s | hal we can cogn | ze and
espond | o. Vna| acl 0a| | y s | m0 | a|es o0| consc. o0s
21 2
Knowledge of Freedom
|esponses a|e t he mages and t ho0ght s t hat eme|ge
f|omt h s cha nol n ne| act v ty.
1he m| nd then cont | n0es to |eact to | t s own |e-
act | on. | f weoose|vewhat | s happen | ng| no0| m nds,
weoecomeawa|eoft ho0ght echo ng t ho0ght ast he
m nd comment s on t s own |esponses | n an nstant
wecan oe fa| |emoved f|om the mmed acy of expe
| | ence. Vh | e t he echoes of one | ho0gh| a|e st| ' |
|eve|oe|at | ng, o0| m nds a|e p|oces s | ng ongo| ng
s t m0 ' f | omw t h n o0| ood es and l |om t heo0t s de
wo| ' d, ' aoe' ng and nt e| p|et ng t hem n t ne same
manne|. Befo|e wespeas, t ho0sands of mp0 ' sesmay
have st|eamed t h|o0gh o0| m nds Th s exc| t ao| e,
h | gh| y |eac| ve t endency ot the m nd |ende|s 0s
v0' ne|ao| etost |ess
|veno0 acc0stomedact v. t esst m0 ' ateco0nt ' ess
nte|na' |eact ons . Vheneve|theq0ant tyo| ntens ty
ofs | | m0 ' at ons exceeds| hecapao| | tyoto0| m nds and
ood es to | n | eg|a| e t hem, |es | d0a' |ens ons acc0 m0
. at e. As st m0 ' at on nc|eases, o0| senseshave' esst me
to |e' ax. Tneyg| aspfaste|, compe' ' edto |espond 0nt '
t hene|vo0s system oecomesove ' oadedThem nd n
| 0|n g|asps faste|t oengage and so|t o0t t heoa||age
of | mp0 | ses | | | s |ece v ng. Vhen ove|st m0 | a| ed, t he
m nd s ' |e' yt op|esent 0s w t n conl 0 sed nte| peta
t ons ol o0 expe| ence Vhen t s act v t y pod 0ces
ag t at on n o0| ood es, welee' ' en seandanx o0s
|ong afte| | he s t m0 ' at ons a |e ove|, | ens| on
|ema| ns no0| oody. | t | hetens ongoes0n|ecogn | zed,
o| we have no elfect ve ways to |e' ax, t o0 ' ds 0p,
const | ct ng t nenat 0 a' l' owol o0 ene|gy. Vnenwe
oecome acc0 stomed to tens on, we may not no' ce
t hat o0|sensesa|eoecom ngn 0 moed, o0|expe| ence
Time to Change 21 3
mo|e | as| e' ess and t' al . 1hen we tee' | he need |o
he. gh ' enl he nl ens lyo| sl m0 . al on
C0r ve|yao ' |y | oen| oya n exper | encemaycome
| odependonsl |e| ch ngo0 sensal ons | onewhe gh| s
Vecan oecomes oadd cl ed l o n' ens |y ngsl m0' a
| onl ha| we|ee' oo|ed even | n l he m| dsl o| exc | | ng
evenl s o ac0l e' y 0ncom|ol ao' e n l he p|esence o|
peop| e who are s | | enl . Vhen we are a ' one o| have
nolh ng spec . | c lo do, o0| ood. es |ee. |es | | ess, o0|
m nds may sense l h. s es | ' essness and dwe. . on
l hough| s | hal d| sl 0ro 0 s even more. 1he| r end' ess
nl e| p|el al ons p|ov de 0s w l h many easons|o o0|
d scom|o|l , and sl | 0p con |' cl ng emol ons. cmo
| | ona| ene|gyon' y| nc|eases o0| |esl ' essnessandp|o
v des o0| m nds w l h sl . ' ' mo|e | 0e' |o| nl e| p|el a
| | ons Ve m gh| || nd o0 |se| ves loo ag| | aled |o s ' eep
o| awasened ||eq 0enl ' y oy d sl 0 o ng deams o
l ho0ghl s
osl peop' e l oday h ave ' . ved n a slale o|
exc| l a| | on and overs | mu ' a| | on s | nce ear' y
ch ' dhood. C0| |asl paced way o| ' |e oomoa|ds 0s
w l h sl m0 ' al . on. Vhe|e n l he co0 |seo|a s ng' eday
can we || nd mo|e | han a |ew o| e| momen| s | ha| a |e
||ee o| menl a' , emol ona' , and senso|y exc. l al on!
cven when we |ee' we a |e re' ax ng oy read| ng, | | s
len . ng' o l he |ad o, o| walc h ngle' ev s on, o0| emo
l ons , des |es, yea|n ngs, anx el es, and | anl as es a|e
aroused oya con| | n0a| s | reamot s gh| s andsou nds .
C0| m nds seem l o l h ve on exc l emenl and
enco0rage us |o oe con | | n0a' ' y l h n s| ng and do| ng.
|xc | ed, l hem nd ' ends |o |aceand' eap| oml ho0gh |
lo | ho0ghl , ss mm ng ove| l he s 0pe|| c a' ' eve' s o|
21 4 Knowledge of Freedom
wna| s nappen ng, o0l ' essao' elode| vemea n ngand
sa| | stac| | ontromwnal weare do| ng | nl e| p|e| | ngour
exper| ence | nrougn concep| s l nal may nave | | | | e | o
dow| | n| nerea' na| u|eot ou| expe| | ence, wemayle| '
ourse| ves weare tee| | ng p' eas ure o| | earn| ng some
| n| ngva| uao' ewnenwemayac| ua' | yon' yoe| ncreas
ngl ne' eve' of s| m0 ' al on
Tne fasle| l no0gnl s and mages a se, | ne moe
. se' y| neya|e lo oecome| 0 mo' ed andconf 0sed. Tne
comp' ex fee' ngs and emol ons l ney evose conf 0se
0s l 0|l ne|, sl m0 ' al . ng sl . . moe l no0gnl s, fee' ngs,
and emol ons n esca' al ng cyc' es Tnougnl s oecome
o' 0 ||ed and nd sl ncl , somel meseven ncone|enl , as
ou m nds ' eap l|om s 0o| ec| l o s 0o| ec| , o0 ood es
|espond w | n m0sc0 ' a l ens on and |es | . essness l nal
ne gn | enl ne' eve' ofag l al on.
Tneg|ea| e our l ens on andanx| ely, l nemo|e we
fee| | mpe| | ed |o ac| Ve may oe pnys| ca| | yu nao| e| o
s| | qu e| ' y and a| | ow oody and m| nd |o rega| n | ne| |
oa' anceand ca| m | n our exc| l emen| , we pour mo|e
ot ou| energy | n| oac| | v| |y un| | | our ood| esandm| nds
a |e exnaus | ed, o0| ood es fee. neavy and 0 nespon
s ve, wn ' e o0| l no0gnl s gow moe comp. ex and
dense. | l we nave no way l o o|eas | nese cyc. es, we
can eacn a po n l wne|e wefee' pa|a. yzed oyl ens on
l nal nas nowne|e l o go Tn s l ens on s s| oed n ou|
ood es and m nds, c|eal ng l necond ' ons fo| . . ness
o|despa |
Tocopew l n sl |ess and anx ely, we | y | o ad| 0sl
o0| ' fesl y. esacco|d ng lo | ne' eve' of | ens onwe l nd
| o' e| ao' e, andavo ds l 0al ons l na| l n|ea| en|oexceed
our | | m| | s Ve may t| nd re| ease n exe|c| se, w| l n a '
cono| , c gare| | es, o| drugs, w| | nagoodmea ' , o| sexua|
Time to Change 21 5
acl v l y Pe| . ods of pnys ca' nacl v ly o| po' onged
s | eepcan |e| eve awa|eness ot p|ess 0 |e, | a' s| ngw| l h
f| ends g ves 0s an o0l ' el fo| l ens . ons and conf | ms
l hal ol ne|s s na|e o0| f| 0sl |al ons
Tne ways we f nd l o |e| eve l ens . on may seem
eflecl ve and even o . ng 0s g|eal p' eas 0|e. Ve l 0| n
lo | hem na| 0|a | | y wheneve|weoeg| n| ofee| |es| | ess.
As ' ongaswecan ma nl a. n aneven oa' anceoe| ween
l ens on and |e' axa| . on, we may fee. l nal lens on s
ca0s | ng0 s nogea|d . f'| c0 | | y. B0| doweeve|fee| t 0| | y
esled f|om o0| e 'l ol s l o e' ax' C| do o0| mel nods
ot |e' ax| ngc|ealel he | ownl ens ons ' | t l neseacl | v| l | es
nave acl 0a' ' y|e' axed 0s, whydo we so oflen need lo
. nl ens fy l nem, o spend moe l . meon l nem, o| sees
o0lnewva| a| ons ' | lseems no| ma| | ow| s h| o nc|ease
p. eas0 |e, o0l o0| effo|ls do nol necessa | y o| ng 0s
| he |es0 ' l s wew. s n, pa|| | c 0 ' a ' ywhenwe oeg| n de
vol | ngmo|e andmo|e | | melof| nd| ngp| eas0|e.
Anyacl v | yween| oy, wnel ne| menl a' o| pnys ca' ,
wo|so| p| ay, can| | s e| t oecomeaso0 |ceof d| ssal . sfac
l on and anx el y cven who' esome acl v l es can oe
come 0nhea| l hy when | hey | ase on a d || v| ngq0a' | |y
l hal . nl | 0des on o| he| aspecls of o0 ' . ves. A' l no0gh
we may have . n | a. ' y engaged . n l nem fo| pnys ca'
f| | ness o| fo| p| eas 0|e, even| 0a| | y| hey can occ0 py a
m0chmo|ecenl |a ' p' ace n o0| ' . ves
Memo| es of p' eas 0| ao' e tee| ngs, he ghl ened oy
fanl as. es and nol ons of ach . evemenl , may seep 0s
sl | v ngevenwnenwea|e expe| | enc. ngf|0sla| | ono|
ood| | y pa| n . | | oecomes d| lf| c 0' l lo s|opsomel n. ng
seeps p0s n . ng 0s l oconl . n0e. As | ne p0sn . ng gows
mo|e demand| ng, o0| | ange ot | n | e|esls may na||ow
0nl ' we fee. enl e' y ded . caled and comm l l ed | o a
21 6
Knowledge of Freedom
s | ng| eacl v| l y. C0r senseo|p0|pose| s conv| nc ng. Ve
a|e del em ned lo p0|s 0e | h s nt eesl , a. t ho0gh we
maynotsnowwhy, o|pe| hapsweconv. nceo0 se' ves
| hal | l o| ngs 0 s grea |oene|| | s. B0l o0| sl |ong| y|oc0sed
m. nds can oecome oo' . v o0s l o o0| own deepe|
|ee' | ngs and lhe |ee| | ngs o| ol hers who may |ee'
neg| ec| ed n lhe|aceo| o0| p|eocc0 pal on Onao' eto
e|' ecl on whe|e o0| nt e|esls ae ' ead. ng 0 s, we can
oecome l rapped n acl v| l es lhal | ase m0ch o| o0r
l me and enegy, c|owd ng o0| o| he conce| ns lhat
may havemoe ' ong |angeoene| t | oo0| . . ves.
Cncewe oecome sl |ong. yal l ached to mpov ng
o0| pe||o| manceand |ee' l heneed | o| ol hes lo |ec
ogn | zel hal wea|es 0ccess| 0 | , weselo0rse| ves 0 p |o|
g|eale|p|ess 0 |eandl heeve| p|esenl poss o ' tyo|d. s
appo nl menl . V| l h l he | ncreaseo|compel | l | ve pres
s 0|es, p| eas0 |e | ends| o|ade n lo a seconda|ygoa' .
cven | | wehaveno nc ' nal onl oo0 ' d a pa|l c 0' a|
acl | v| l y n lo a maj o| endeavo|, o0 mel hods o| e
' axal on can deve' op a d | ven q0a. ly t hal seems lo
prov| dea|ee| ngo| con| ro| ove|o0r ood es andm nds,
o0l ac| 0a ' ' y conl | o0les lo st |ess and | ens. on. Any
menl a' o oehav oa' patlencanoecomeacomp0 | s . ve
way o| avo| d| ng press0 |e, lens on, or pa| n w l ho0|
acl 0a ' ' y |eso' v ngt hem. | n t heend, o0 acl . v l . es may
d ra | n 0s o| energy w| l ho0l p|ov d| ng0 s w l h t he e
l |esh men| wesees.
Compe. | edloavo dpa. n, not snow| nghowlodea.
d |ect ' y w t h pess0|e, we oecome 0nne|s . n a |ace
aga nsl tens on. Ve h0 |y t h|o0gh each day, chas . ng
a|ler s omel h ng l ha| w| ' | or| ng 0 s |e| | e| or l |y| ng lo
gel away l|om somel h ng l ha| w ' ' . ncease o0|
Time to Change 21 7
|ens on. Ve canno| s | ow down and cons| der where
we arego ng, or wnywe wan| |o ge| t here-wedon' |
nave| me
|| sea macn| net na| canno| oe| 0rnedof|,we seep
on r0n n ng. Ve |0n narder and taster, | |y ng| o seep
0p o| ge| anead, | |y ng t o |ed0ce | ne p|ess0 |e | nat
seems t op0s n 0 s | |om oeh nd Vnat canwedo o0t
|0 n, | 0n, | 0n! Vemay even | 0npnys ca ' ' y n anel|o| |
t ost ay' nsnape' and|e' eve| het ens onandp|ess0 |es
we lee' . Rac ng aga nst | me, we can not escape t he
|0 nne|' s d ' emmat ne mo|e we | 0n, t he mo|e we
have to |0 n Cn' ywnenwed| veo0 |se' ves nt odeep
pnys ca' exna0st on o| emot ona' n 0 moness do we
l ndsome|e' e|| |omt net e| | o' ep|ess 0 |e o|o0| ' ves.
The s0dden |e' el o| tens on may |ee' exn ' a|at ng,
g| v ng 0s a ' h | gn' | ha| can | n l 0| n oecome a goa ' ,
enco0|ag| ng 0 s t o' r 0n' even narde|.
Vne| nerwen 0 moo0r sensesd| rec| | yw| | nd r0gs,
a| cono| , or | n|ense overs| m0 ' a| | on, or pe|pe| 0 a| e
cyc| eso| ne| gn|en| ng | ens| on | na| end n exna0s | | on
and co' . apse, e | he| wayol escap. ng p|ess 0 |e can oe
add ct ng C0| nc|eas ng' y |est ' ess m nds 0 |ge 0s on
w t n memo| es o| ant . c pa| on and p' eas 0|e, wn ' e
|o|get t ng| hepa n o| n 0 monesst hat wasa' so pa|t ol
t heexpe| ence
| s | poss o' e|o|o0| m nds | od s | ng0 s h oetween
|ea' p' eas 0|e n expe| ence and s mp' e |e' e| l|om
tens on! | | we we|et | 0 ' y|e' axed and sat s| ed oy o0|
expe| ences, wo0 ' d we|ee' s 0cna need | o|epea| t he
same expe| encesso o|ten ! | | wenave ' ea| ned to n
|erp|e| n 0 moness as p| eas 0re, wha| m| gn| o0r me| n
ods ot | ncreas | ngp| eas 0re oedo| ng | oo0r m nds and
21 8
Knowledge of Freedom
ood es ! Onde| ' y ng o0 | acl v l es l ne|e seems lo oe
a d| scomfor| , | | |e a deep | r| | | a| | on we canno| com
p| e| e| y |e| | eve. Ve can sa| | sfy ourse' ves | emporar | | y
oydu ' | | ngo| exnaus| | ng our senses, ou| weseemun
ao| e| ore| | eve| ens| ona| | | s source.
Vnen ourwaysof re' | ev| ng| ens on are no | onger
sal sfy ng o| a|e oecom ng n | 0|n new so0|ces of
sl |ess, we g|ow mo|e v0 ' ne|ao' e lo anx ely Tne
s ma ' ' esl d sl u |oances n o0| |o0l nes can oe ve|y
upsell ng, and| nes ' gnl esl ' | 0sl |al oncanp|ovose0s
loemol ona' o0l o0|sl s Oec s ons a|e na|de| lomase,
we face s ' eep' ess n gnl s mo|e ofl en, as we ' slen lo
o0| m nds c n0|n ng w l n n ne| d a' og0es |xna0sled
and dep' eled, we cannol s 0sl a n conf dence n o0|
se' ves o| wnal we a|e do ng, and s 0ffe| f|om l ne
nagg ngsofg0 ' l andfee' ngsofpe|sona' nadeq0acy.
Vef| nd | l d| ff| c 0' | logel| nrougn |ne wo||| ng dayo|
lof ndcomfo|| w| | nfam ' es orf r ends.
| n | | s mos| d| sl ur o| ngfor m, anx| elya| | ses w l noul
wa|n | ng. Ve may oe go ng aoo0| our da | y ro0| | ne,
even engaged | nwo||wef| nden| oyao| eandcrea| | ve,
on' y lo s 0dden' y nol ce lne sa me l no0gnl s cyc' ng
ove|and ove| n o0| m nds, we may oepe|sp | ng o|
na0seo0s. T me s pass ng, we may navea dead ' ne lo
meel , yel we fee' s l 0cs and f|ozen, on l ne ve|ge of
|ea' pan c. Tnemo|eene|gywepo0 | nlownal wea|e
do ng, andl ne mo|e we l n n| aoo0| wnal s nappen
ng, l nemo|eanx o0s andconf 0sedweoecome. | f we
cannol d spe' l nese sensal ons , | ney can oecome
ove|wne' m ng
Cnce we nave exper enced exlreme anx ely and
|now l nepan cl na| | | can ' ead lo, wemayoedeep' y
d| s | uroed oy | ne fear l na| | l m gnl re| u| n. A' ' we
Time to Change 21 9
assoc a|ew| | nanx| e| y| s s 0spec| -l hespec| t c env| ron
ment wewere| n wnen | | s l | ucs, l he|ypeot wo| swe
were engaged | n, even | hepeop| ewno nappened t o
oearoundus Tneneed| osomehow con| ro| | h| s tear
can | ead us |o t| xa| e on ce|l a| n oehav ors | ha| seem
' sa|e' or even to deve| op phoo| as we snow a e
at ona ' , o0l cannot ove|come. Be ng a|o0nd ot ne|
peop' emaya|ouse nea ' y nl o' e|ao' e|ee' ngso| gu ' t
o| sname
Becausesomanypeop' esu f| e| | omanx et ytoday,
we mayg ve nol no0gnl to p|ot ec| ngo0 |se' ves 0nl I
ou anx elys u|aces n moeexl eme|o| ms. Howeve|,
|weunde|sl and nowanx e|y s |oo| ed n | ens on, we
can ' ea| n to avo d |o| ms o| oenav o| t nat enco0|age
' | ns | eng| nen ng ou|own n | e na' |eso0 |ces, wecan
protecto0|se' vestrom a | ' to ms o|s| ress
ur me| hods o| re| axa| | on now emphas | ze re
' eas | ng| ens on| n ways| ha| crea| emorepress ure
or s| mp| y dra| n our energy and du| | ou | senses and
m nds | l s poss o' e l hal we cou| d nvesl gal e l he
|e' al ons n p o| oody and m nd mo|e | u' ' y, and | nd
waysl od spe' len s onl nat wou ' d oe mo|e oene| c a'
l oou| wno' e oe ng Tnen weco0 ' d g|eal ' y nc|ease
o0| sens l v ly to a ' ' |o| ms o| expe| ence | n slead o|
' exp' od ng' tne enegy ou ' t 0p oy ten s on, l s pos
s . o' ewecou ' d' ea|n lo | ap and t | ans|o|m l .
Ve nave |a| lo go oe|o|e we unde| s| and t ne
n |e|p' ay o| l ne oody, m nd, and senses comp' e| e' y
| l l ' e s snownaoo0t l ne e' al onsn ps among ood ' y,
men|a' , and emot | ona| | ens ons Vh| | e| he|e | s much
| ntorma| | onaooul | hephys| ca' aspec| ot our senso|y
organs and nervous sys| ems, l here has oeen | | | | ' e
220 Knowledge of Freedom
|esea|ch nlo l he nne| ope|al on o| l he senses and
m| nd. |ven l he concep| s we 0 se |o | n| erpre| o0r
expe| encemayoeloo | xed o|' m. l ed loexp|essl he
dynam| c na| 0re o| | he senses, oody, and m| nd By
d |ecl ' yoose|v ng o0| own esponses lo l ens on and
expe| menl ng w l h new ways lo de| 0se l , we can
ga n mo|e p' eas 0 e | om o0 expe ence as we' ' as
va' 0ao' e ns ghl s nlo l he nl male |e' al ons h po|o0|
ownood| es andm| nds
C0r oreal h and hear| oea| ar enal 0ra' mon loso|
lens on l he. |ales l end lo nc|ease when we |ee'
ag. l aled and l ense, and s ' ow down as we |e' ax Be
ca0se o| | h| s n le connec| on, we can 0se |he | se
and |a' ' o|| heo|eal hand l hehyl hmo|o0| hea|l oea|
lo penel ra| el ens on and anx| e| y. Bys | mp' y |oc0s | ng
genl ' yono|eal h ng, wecans ' owl heo|ea | handa. ' ow
| | lo | nd | | s own nal 0ra| movemenl .
Vecan| asea ' l l ' eq0 e| l . mel oa' ' ow | hena| 0|a'
| hyl hms andmovemenl s o| o0 oodyandm| ndlo|e| ax
| he o0l e| ' ayes o| l ens on As o0 oea| h ng so|l ens
and | l s hyl hm s mool hs o0| , | he m| nd oecomes ' ess
cowded w | h l ho0ghl s and mages, and l he oody
oeg ns | ore' ax o| | l s own accord. | | we can sense | ne
sleady oeal . ng o| l he hea|l | oge| he w. | hl hel' ow ol
o eal h, we can |ee' a nal 0r a' s | ao ' | y w l h n o0r own
oodyl ha| w ' ' oa' ance o0 l endencylowadag. | al . on
Vhen | he oody and m nd a|e mo|e |e' axed, we
m gh| |ee' a so|| e|, mo|e s 0ol ' e s de o| o0 senses
A| | ho0ghwe0 s0a| ' y0 seo0| sensesasw ndows|ol he
o0l s dewo ' d, | heymayac| 0 a ' ' yoe| wowaychanne' s ,
capao| eo|sens ng nwad' yaswe' ' aso0l wad' y. Ve
canl ygen | ' yd |ecl . ngo0| senses nwa d | n |e' eas ng
l he | . xal on on exl e| na' oo| ecl s, wehe' pl hem re' ax
Time to Change 221
|he g|as p ng | endenc| es | ha| seep t hem | | ght and
| ense. Vhent heya|e moreopenandre| axed, t heyare
more awa|e ot whatever presen| s | se| | | ns de or
out s| deo| the oody, | hem nd oecomes ' es s |eac| ve
andmorequ e| | ya| t ent | ve 1hen| t | s poss | o| e|os| mp| y
see w t hout ' oos ng at s ometh ng, and |o ' sten
w t houl ' slen ng to any pa|t cu' a| sound. Vnen
sensat . ons a|e not so t . gh| ' y g| asped, | ney a|ouse
gent ' e |ee' ngs | nat encouage a s mool he| |. ow o|
m ndandoodyenegy
Ba' anc ng n | h s neut |a. state, we can dea' w t h
tens on d |ect ' y Vhen we a| e qu e| , we a |e moe
awa|e o| t het ght ness n ou ood es and m nds, and
wecan use t h s awa|eness to | ap | neene|gy o| t en
s on B| ng ng | he attent on ' gnt ' y | o sensa | ons o|
| | ght ness | n | he ches| , we may|| nd | t poss | o| e| o re
| | evepressu |eoy mag| n | ngt hat eachorea| h s expand
| nga spacea| ound | he hear | . Theopp|ess| ve |ee' | ng
can oe opened u pas| houghwewere t | | | ng | t t u | | o|
a| | V| | heachout|| owo| orea| h, | het ens| oncant| ow
ou| n |o space Vecando| h| s w| | ho| her areasott en
s on aswe' ' , u nt ' ou who' eoody|ee. s moe |e' axed
andopen
As t ne oody |e' eases acc umu . al ed t ens. ons, |ee.
ngsg|ow moe d ectand p' eas u|ao. e. Cu| nea|toeat
s. ows, andootn ment a. andphys ca' ag l al on. gnl en,
even ou| oodytempe|at u |e may s uot ' ysh . |l , |egu . at
. ng l se' | as t ne oody oecomes mo|e oa. anced V | n
p|acl cewe can use t neo|eatn asa s gna' ol t ne l |s|
v oat ons o| | | ust |al on o o| any emo| ona' d st u|
oance. Ve can mo|e eas . ' y t nd our oa' a nce oeto|e
anx| e| y | nt ens| ' | es, we can ' | gh|en and expand any
p|essu |ed |ee| ng| op|otec| oot hhea|tandm nd | rom
t ens onands | |ess.
222 Know/edge of Freedom
A|te| some p|act . ce, t s poss o' eto | e. ax l 0|t ne|
| nto | heoreath V| t heach exha ' a| | on, we can|o' | ow
o0| o|eat n o0twa|d, oe ng pa|| . c0' a|' ym nd| 0 ' ol| ne
po nt wnen t ne o|ea| n comp. e| e' y ' eaves t ne oody,
and a| ' ow. ng t to d s pe|se . nto space. Vn | ' ewe a|e
|oc 0sedon| hespacea |o0nd0 s, | hem nd s a' ertand
s ' en| | mag n ng o0 |se' ves p|o|ec|ed l | om p|ess0 |es
oyanegg snapedcaps 0' eo|s . ' encet na| s 0||o0 nds o0|
oody, wecan expand t n | s s | ence | 0rt ner and | 0r| ne|
nto s pacew t heachexha| a| | on
Vnenwe|ema . nq0. et , m nd| 0' olo|eatn n eve|y
moment , we can open a space oe|ween 0s and o0|
t ho0ght s. Vem gh| t h ns o| o0 rse| vesasoose|verso|
an n te|est ng d |ama, ao. e to see t ne co' o|s and
text0 |es o| o0| | no0gnt s as t hey 0 n|o' d, w. | no0|
|ee' ng any oo' gat on t o |es pond Re' ax ng o0| t en
dency| o react | o every t ho0gh| and sensat on he| ps
| o o|eas t necyc' eo| t ens. ons. | | we deve. opa mo|e
spac. o0s, | ess p|ess0 |ed way o| |e' at ng |o o0| |ee'
ngs and t no0gnts, wecan |esto|e o0| oa. ance mo|e
q 0 | cs| y a|| eranyd s | 0roance
See ng t he |e' at ons h p oetween tens on and o0|
|eact ve t endenc es, we can 0nde|s| and now o0|
hao| | 0a| pa| | er ns o| respond| ng nd sc| m| nate' y to
s| | m0 | at . on pe|pet 0ate and | n | ens . |y emo| | ons, wo|
r es, and |ea|s Know ng t nat t ne|e s somet n. ng we
cando | o |e' eve t ens on, we mayoe ao' eto |ace o0|
own emot | ons more d| rec| | y, | nstead o| |eac| | ng |o
| hem w t h | 0| t ne| emot ons Ve m. gn| oe ao. e |o
wa| cn now t hey ma n |est n o0| ' ves w. t n a new
nte|estandsense o| oa' ance, andl|eeo0 |se' vesl|om
| he hao| | o| se| | o| ame | ha| may oe n| ens ' y ng o0r
proo| ems
Time to Change 223
Nor ma| | y, wewou| d nave no waylo u n | ocsl nese
deep| yroo|edpa| | erns. Bu| n l as ngcare |oqu | e| our
senses, o|ea| n, and m nd, we may f| ndwe nave or | e|
open | ngs oefo|e weare | o| a| | y caugn| up n pred c|
ao| ecyc' es u e| | yooserv ngwna| | s nappen | ng, we
conlacl deepe |esponses l nal can c0sn. on 0s fom
emol ona' exc l emenl andne' pus l o|eslo|eou| sense
of oa' ance |venl 0a' ' y, we cancnoosewnel ne o nol
lo|espond
Vneneve| we exec. se cno ce oy |ef|a n ng fom
|esponse o| oy |espond. ng n new ways, we ga n
sl|engln and en' a|ge l ne space n wn cn l|ee cno ce
s poss o' e | n l a' ' y, o0| nao | ua. esponses may ove|
powe|o0| awaeness, oul ou| u nde|sl and ng ofwnal
s nappen . ng can encou |age us | o con | . nue o0| oo
serval | ons and re' | eve |ee| | ngs ot ne| p| essnes s and
gu| | | .V| | npa| | ence, wecandeve| op| neao| ' | l y| ocu|
comp' el e| y | ne |o|ce of even l ne s l |ongesl nega| | ve
| nougn| sandemol | ons.
Tnesey| ona| ura| pro|ecl | on|romemo| | ona' sl ress
and l ens. on . sm ndf u ' nessol lne oeal n M ndf 0 ' ness
s no| focef0 ' conl |o' , oul an al l enl ve awaeness of
wnal socc0|| ng. Vnenwe|ema. nq0 e| and ooseve
l ne f' ow of l ne o|eal n, l ne oody and m nd nal 0a ' ' y
e' easel neenegyslo|ed n l ens onl|om l s denseand
so' . dfo ms. | oe|aled,l n. s ene|gy nc|easesv. | a' . lyand
c' a| . ly, andsl eng| nens o0 ao ' . l yl odel 0sep|ess0 |es.
| nslead of oe ng ca0gn| 0p n a cyc' e ol esca' a | ng
pessu |e,we candeve' opanao d ngpeaceandc' a. l y
| na| g|ow f|omw l n . n
Re| axeda ndc' ear,our sensesconveyv v| d mp|es
s| ons, ou| | nougnl smove s ' ow' yand cones ve' y, and
224
Knowledge of Freedom
o0 | lee' . ngs nave a cn and | ' ow ng lext 0 e As e
| axa| | on deepens, we m gn| even no| | ce new v l a| |y
and new |esonancesw l n no0| ood es, as | we wee
respond| ng|o mus | ca' l onesp0' s | ng| | gh| | y w | n n0s
Vnen we ' sl en |o l n s s . ' enl m0s c, we l o0cn o0
sensesw l hgrea| erawarenessandj o n o0| m| nd and
oody n moe na| mon o0s . nt eact ons . | se pe|ect
parl ne|s| n adance, m| nd andoody,pe|ect | yal l 0ned,
move | ee' y and sponl aneo0s ' y w. t n t ne nyt hms o|
l me. n space.
Aswe0nde|sl ando0 |se' vesmo|ed. ecl ' y, wemay
| | ndt na| o0| oodyandm| nda|ecapao| eo| s 0st a n| ng
g|eale|p' eas 0|el nanwe naveeve|expe enced no0
napp est momenl s . A' ' o| o0| capac. t . espe|cept on,
| no0gnl , |ee' | ng, and sensal | oncan oe e| ned and
deve' oped. nnewwayst nalo| . nggeate||eedomand
enj oymen| | n ' |e Theene|gynowcnanne| ed nt oo| d
pat t e| nsco0 ' d oe |ed. |ected . n ways we nave nol yet
d| scove|ed. V l h a more comp|ehens ve snow' edge,
wecanexe|c . se m ndandoodyt ot ne | | 0' ' capac l es
and deve' op a pos l ve, ||ee| way o| oe ng t nat | n
c|easeso0 app|ec. al ono| t neco0 nt ' essd mens. ons
o|n0 man' |e.
ZJ
Confl i ct of Compet i t i on
Measuring our lives against standards
set by others, we do not consider ourselves
intrinsically worthwhile, and our sense
of self-esteem is never secure.
ne wno' e dea o' compe| | on oe' ongs essenl a' ' y
lo l ne|ea' mol conl esls, wne|e we enle| l nea|ena
lo w n p| zes and g' o|y Tne goa' . s nol lo p|od 0ce
a | nep|od0cl o| s s ' ' | 0 ' ' y pe||o|m a va' 0ao' ese|v ce,
o0l lop|od0ceandpe|lo|moel l e| l nansomeonee' se,
as dele|m. ned oy | 0dges o| we' ' es |ao' . s ned | 0' es.
Al n ' eles con | n0a ' ' y cna. ' enge wo| ' d |eco|d no' de|s,
o0s nesspeop' ev e|o||eco|d o|eas ngsa' es, . nl e' ' ec
l 0a' s and p|o|ess ona. s a m |o| pacesell ng o| eas
l n|o0gns As goa ' s a |e se| eve| n. gne|, sl anda|ds ol
s0ccess |. se, conl | o0l ng |o o0| sense ol p|og|ess as
a soc. e|y
As l ne pace o| l ne mode|n wo| ' d q0 . csens , l ne
l |emendo0s p|ess 0 |e 0 pon 0s s |el' ecl ed, . n pa|l, oy
| ne ne gnl en . ng o| compel l . on A' | no0gn compel .
l onnas ' ongoeena pa|lo| n0 man' . |e, loday. | g|ows
l e|ce|, peop' e 'ee' mo|e seen' y lne need lo s0 |pass
226
Knowledge of Freedom
t hos ea|o0ndt hem . no|de| to ma. nt a nt he | . |esly' e
andevent he |s e' lesteem
1oday, compe| | t ve a| | | | 0des are c 0| | | va| ed and
rewarded | n every area ot endeavor. An a0ra ot
compet t on s0 | |o0nds |e' at ons h ps amongmen and
women . n schoo' , ca|ee|s, and n l he home, a ' ' t he
mo|e so as t |ad t ona' |o' es |ap d' y change. |ew
aspecls o| o0| ' ves a|e not anected oy o0| des |e lo
w n n compet t on. Vew s hlo oe oellet hanolhe|s
no| on' y| n o0r j ooso0| a ' so | n o0| hooo es , wew sh
| o have t| ner ho0ses and cars, more attrac| ve ma|es,
and s ma|terc h | d|ent hano0r | r | ends
Compet t onall | ms o0| senseo| nd v d0a' mpo|
t ance and enhances |ee' . ngs ol ndependence and
se' | |e' ance |ve|yonewanl s to exce' , to accomp' sh
somet h ngspectac0 ' a|.Vea m|o|t hemosl o| t heoest
ot wha| | | te seems |o o|te Ve s| | ve |o oe t hemost
at t rac| | ve, | he most | n| e| ' gent , o| | hest rongest. C0r
as p| |a| ons a |e s| | rred oy v s | ons ot c | | mo| ng | he
h ghestmo0nta n, set t ng new|eco|ds,andestao' sh
ngnewp|ecedents, ween| oy deve' op ngo0| t a' enl s
and test ng o0 se. ves aga nst ot hes. | |e t se' | can
oecome a cha' ' eng ng game n wh ch we ' ea|n the
|0 ' es ol lhe |o' es we p' ay and |ece ve |ecogn t on|o|
demonstrat | ng o0| s s ' | s | n those ro| es. Vhen we
oecome good at wha| we do, we ga n a sense ot
accomp' sh ment | hat can oe| r0 ' yexh | ' a|at | ng.
Compet l on oeg ns n ea|' y c h ' dhood when we
ae compaed to ol hes n o0| phys ca' gowl h, o0|
' ooss, o0| s s ' ' s , o0| atl t 0des, ando0| oehav o| S0ch
compa| sons , oased ' a|ge' yon c c0mst ances oeyond
o0| conl |o' , seem to del e m ne o0 wo|l h, even lo
o0rse' ves .
Time to Change 227
Cncewe oeg| ncompel ng, a momen| um| s esl ao
| shed | ha| ca||| es us onward. As | he ' oes| ' ar e w n
nowed |rom l he' average a| each s |age, l he n |ens| l y
o| compe| | | | on | ncreases. | | we do we| | enough n
schoo' , we move |rom | h e pre' m| nar | es | o a more
| n| ense arenao| app|en| . cesh . p o| g|ad0al e s| 0dy | l
weq0a' |y l ne|e,we passon l ol n esem. f na' s o| o0 |
caee| l se' | B 0 l l seems l ne|e a |e n o |. na ' s, one
conl esl l o' ' owsanol ne| aswe p|ogess . n o0| ca|ee|.
|venwnena c' ea| w n ne| doeseme|ge, lne slage has
on' yoeensel lol nenexlconlesll ooeg. n.
|ewcans 0sl a n compel l . ve mane0ve|sa ' ' ol l ne |
' ves, and many a|e hand capped . n l he eho|ls l o
compele Many peop' e s | ' ' oea| | ne sca|s o| se' |
do0ols and |ee' ngsol n|e| o ly o| g. nal ng . n com
par| sons maded0r | ngch| | dhood and ado| escence. A
nega|| ve se| | magedeve| oped | n ou| ear| y years can
hampe| 0s | or | he res| o| o0 | | | ves S | ua| | ons | ha|
cha| | engesomecan | eave o| herscr| ng ng| n s| de, un
a o' e | o | ase advanl age o| oppor| un | | | es |or grow| h
or | o deve| op l he| r | a| enl s and | n|eres| s Hao | s o|
se' |dep|ecal on and | ea| o| la ' 0 |e can l | u ' y 0 nde|
m. neo0| g|owl n
Tn s s. nd o| h 0 l s d. |f c0 . l l o ' el go | | wecan nol
nea' o0| lee' ngso| n adeq0acy,wemayspend m0cn
o| o0| ' ves |ee. ng 0se' ess and ' e|l o0 | How m0cn
need ' esss0f|e| . ng s end 0|ed nl henameo|compe|
| on! Have we no way l o avo d was | . ng s o m0ch
h0 manpolen| a ' '
Compel l on na s s deef|ec| s even |o| | nose wno
dowe| | 0 nde| s uchpressu|e | ncons de| | ngeachnew
s | ua| | on, we care| 0| | y we gn ourse| ves aga | nsl l he
s| andards wemus| mee|l os ucceed. | | | heyseem loo
228 Knowledge of Freedom
d |t c0 ' l , we may oe del e||ed ||om |o' ' ow ng o0|
nal 0 |a' nc ' . nal on and l a' en | s. S0cceed . ng a| some
l h ng l ends lo oecome mo|e . mpo|l an| l han || nd ng
mean | ngt u| wo| s.
C0| ' ves 0 n|o' d n a c' . maleo|l ens. on . Vem0sl
a' waysdoa' l l ' eoel l e|loslayanead, wem0slacn eve
a ' l l . e mo|e lo p|olecl o0| pos l on. Ve may come
l o|e| y0 pon| hesep|ess 0 |esto| s 0sl a | n| ngo0| p0|pose
andd || ve. B0l asl hep|ocessgal he|s momenl 0mand
|espons o ' l es acc 0 m0 ' ale, s0cn p|ess 0 |es lend lo
c|eale. nl enseag | al onand|esl | . cl c|eal v | y. Vemay
|ee' compe| ' ed lo cove| 0pm sl ases and exc0se |a '
0 |es, spo ' | ngl h esal | s|ac| | ono| wo|swe' ' done.
Asweoecomes 0ccess | 0| compel | o|s, o0| ac| ons
may no' onge| sal s|y0s . nl nemse' ves V nn ng . s l he
ool l om ' ne. Ve p|ess0 |eo0|se' ves | os 0cceed sowe
can |ee' ' se l he w. nne|, wnel he| we seep sco|e oy
t| nanc a' ga| ns, sl al us , o| powe|and p|esl | ge. Allacn
menl | o w| nn| ng a| so d |aws ou | o0| agg|ess ve
nsl ncl s and can ca0se 0s lo ' ose l o0ch w. l h o0|
s ens . l v ly lool ne| s. Vea ' ' snow peop' ewnosed| ve
l oo0 | sl | po| ne|s ' eavesoen. nd al |a ' o||esenl men |s,
peop. eto|wnomlhe| 0 ' esotlhegameseem loj 0s l | ly
any means | o gel ahead. V | | | ng |o | | ve | n a c| | mal e
o| h 0 |l and d sl | 0s | , l hey w. . ' | . ss anyl h ng n o|de|
lo s 0cceed n l he p|esenl , con| . den | | nal l hey can
' nand. e' wha| maya | se n l het 0l 0|e Asl h s senseo|
powe| oecomes nc|eas ng' y 0 noa . anced, | 0dgmen |
s u|te|s, andpa| nt u| detea| s a|e a' moslgua|anleed.
Ca0ghl 0p n l ne momenl 0m ot compel l . on, we
may | nd l eas e| lo ac| l|om exped ency ' nan l|om
a ' ong |ange v. s on oased on deepe| va' 0es. Al la n
menl s | hal o| ng 0s speedy |ewa|ds o| |ecogn | | . on
Time to Change 229
have a sl |ong appea' , |o| l hey e' eve l he . mmed al e
p|essu|e u pon us . Ve may t ee| we h ave no cho| ce
C0| p|o|ess ono| pos l ondemands l nal wedemon
sl|a|e p|og|ess | n s pec| t c ways n acco|d w| l h || xed
goa' s Bul each new al | a n menl may s usl a. n 0 s on' y
o| | e|| y, wh| ' e d| sl|acl | ng us ||om mo|e su os| anl . a'
accomp' . s h menl s
Asonegoa| s |eached, an | n| | a ' | us h o| p| easu |e
s |o. ' owedoyape| odol0ncela nlywneno0| enegy
' eve| may oesomewha| dep|essed 1henwees| ao' sh
a new goa ' and mol vale o0 |se. ves lo meel l he new
cha' ' enge. Aswe|esl alo0|se' vesaga n andaga. n, o0|
ene|gy g|ows e| |al c, even| ua. . ywas| | ng . | s e| | n l he
slopp. ng and sl a|l ng, and ' eav. ng 0s exha0sl ed. Ve
may|eachapo n| whe|ewe' oseou| senseot d| |ecl | on
o| 0slcannol laceanol he epel . l ono|l hecyc' e. C0
v| s | onmays ho|len somuc hl hal ou| goa' | s s mp| yl o
gell h|o0ghl heday.
Asweg|owo| de|,| hoseo| uswhohavep' ayed l he
game we' . may |ee' sec0|e . n o0| pos l . on. Bul l ne
g|eale|o0| s uccess, l hemo|e ' | |e| ys omeonew| ' | || nd
0s an ||es sl o' e cha' ' enge. Sec0 . l y . s . |e' y l o lade
at| e| we nave eached and passed o0 | p | me Awa|e
l hal we a|e cons de|ed ' essdes ao' eand 0se|0 ' w l n
age, we expe|. ence any . oss ol al l |acl . veness, s|. ' ' s,
l a' enl s, o| expe|l . se w l h g|ow ng uneas ness, espe
c. a ' ' y as we wal ch yo0nge|, mo|e v go|ous peop. e
p|epa|e |o| a|eou| p' ace
Mo|ev0 . neao' eloo' dg 0dges, wemays 0|| e| l ne
pa| n ol oe ng . ell oeh | nd wn ' e ol ne|s l a|e p' eas 0 |e
n o0| wea|ness. Yelo0| nal 0 a' des el op|eseveo0
se' tes |eem s sl | ong, andl op|oleclo0| pos | | onand
|ep0l al . on, wemay oecomeeven mo|e ded cal ed lo
230 Knowledge of Freedom
p' ay ngt hegame. Tas ngo0 |o' es mo|ese| o0s ' yt han
ever, we may t| ndo0r | | ves oecom ng more r | g| dand
a |t l c a' . |ven | t he game oecomes opp|ess ve, we
have | | t t | echo| ceo0t to con| | n 0e. |onga| | e| we | | |e
ol p' ay ng, t he hao t o| t |y ng to w n and t he|ea|o|
' os ngrema nw t h0s .
Meas 0 . ng o0| p|og|ess n ' |e aga nst exte|na'
s| andards, wedo no| cons de| o0rse| ves n | | | ns| ca| | y
wo|t hwh ' e, and o0| sense o| se' lesteem s neve|
sec0|e. A' ways on |he de| ens ve, g|as p| ng |o| wha|
s 0 ppo|t s o0| pos t on, we hes t at e to | 0st o0 |se' ves
o| lo' ' ow o0| own va' 0es. V t ho0t |ea ' ' y want ng |o,
wemay|. ndo0rse| ves' go ngw. t h t he|' ow' , 0nw | ' ng
to | s so0| pos | on oy stand ng 0plowhat we oe' eve
| n. Vemay oe ga| n | ng o0r prest | ge, st at 0s , wea| | h, o|
powe|at t hecos t o| o0| n teg| t y.
Vhen compet t | on dom n at es o0| way o' ' v ng,
o0 who' e sense o| se' |es| eem can come|o depend
on mee| ng standa|ds set oy ot he|s. Ctt en | hese
meas 0|es have oecomeso nat 0a' o|seem so | ght |o
0 s, espec a | | y l we are s 0ccess| 0| , t hat t can oe
d |l c0 ' | to|ea ' zet hatwehad nopa| n | he |c|eat on
Somes| anda|ds seemmo|eooj ec| ve| hano| hers, s 0ch
as s| anda|ds o| acc0 acy o| q0a' t y t hat |e|' ect t he
|e' ao ' | y o' o0 p|od0ct o| s s ' ' , he|e we |ece ve
|eedoacs lom o0 own es0 ' t s . B0t othe| standads
a|e no| necessa ' y n heen| n| hewos t se' '
C0 de' nes s et oy ot hes can g ve 0s an extena'
meas 0|e ol how we' ' we a|e do ng, o0| canno|
meas 0e o0 sense o| l0 ' | ' ' ment , o0 en| oyment , o|
even necessa ' yhow m0chweae ' ea| n ng o|deve'
op ng o0| s s| | | s. Cnce we have oecome dependen|
on meas 0 ng o0| s 0ccess aga ns| s0ch s| andads,
Time to Change 231
wemay' oset o0chw t ho0| own . nl | ns cwo|t h cven
t ho0gh wecons de| o0 se' ves s0ccess| 0' oy soc ety' s
standa|ds, oeneat ho0r st r v| ngandaggress| veveneer,
we may|ee' ncreas | ng| y0ncerta| n
oos ng oacs ove| o0| ' ves n o0| ' at e| yea |s, w | '
we oe sat s| ed w t h t he ' egacy we a|e c|ea| ng'
V ' ' othe soene| t|| omo0| |ep0tat on, o0| st at 0s,o0|
p|est ge' How m0ch good w ' ' comeo| o0r wea' t h'
Perhapswecan | eave an | nher | t ancet oo0r c h| ' dren
and grandch| | dren, o0| | n o0r hearts we |now t hat
t| nanc| a| or soc| a| att a nment s ar e 0| t | mat e| y a poor
meas0re o|o0rp| ce| essene|gyandt me.
Ach evement s s0ch as at h | el c ao ' . ty, wea' t h,
p|est ge, powe|, and | ame pov. de p' eas 0|e as ona
ment s l o h0 man ' |e, and can oe 0sed n ways t hat
oene| t ol he|s. B0t when we cometo depend 0 pon
any| h | ng| hat can oe| ost w| | h | | meas t hemeas0re ot
o0| va| 0eas h 0man oe| ngs, wec |eatet hecond| t | ons
| o| |ege|' at e| n o0| ' ves
A' ' that s |ea ' ' y o0|s . s . n o0| heads and hea| | s
C0| mosl pec o0s and ha|dwon possess . on s o0|
yea|s o| ' v. ng, ' ea| n ng, and expe| enc ng. No ' 0x 0|y
cancompa|etol hesat s|act ont hat comes| omac' ea
m| nd and a oody v| orant w| | h good tee' ngs. Vnen
wedeve| opadeepapprec| a| | on to|t her chesweoea|
w| t h n o0 se| ves, we can draw 0 pon an open s| ore
ho0seo|sal s|act on n o0 ' at e| yeas. Th s s | heon' y
|ea' s 0ppo|l wecan e' yon aswepass ||om l h s ' |e.
| | o0| ' . |e has oeen | 0 ' ' and deep' y sat s|y ng, we
can app|oach lhe end o| o0 days w t h the sense o|
a| v ng at a we' ' ea ned es | . B0t | we have spent
m0choto0| t | meanx o0s andd ssa| | st ed, dom| nated
232 Knowledge of Freedom
oy|o' es, ando0t o|t o0cn w t no0| own va' 0es, wna|
emp| | nes s m| gn| we| ee| asweapp|oacno0| ' as|days !
Yet most o| 0s m0st ' ve andwo|s n t nest |essl0 '
|ea ' mo| compel | on Howcanwe p|olec| o0 se' ves!
Ve can oeg| n oy awasen ng a g|eater0 nders| and| ng
of o0r own | n ner reso0rces and oy re' ax. ng o0r
dependency 0pon t ne | 0dgmen| s ol ot ne|s. Vecan
' ea|n lol | 0sl o0 |se' ves n new ways, sol na| wna| eve|
m| s| aseswemaymasew ' ' no| ca| cn0 s n | necrosst| re
ot exc0 ses and o| ame| nal occ0r . nev. l ao' ywnen we
o' nd' y|o' ' owmode' s esta o' s ned oyol ne| s. Vnenwe
' ea| n | o t 0s t o0 |se' ves, wnateve|we do w ' ' expess
a deep| nner | n|egr| |y| na| s 0ppo|| s o0| senseotva' 0e
andwo|l nt n|o0gnt nemostd. h c0 ' l t . mes, andpaves
t neway|o |a|g|eat e|accomp' s nmenl .
Vnenweres pecto0| ownva| 0e,weoecomemore
aware ot | neva| 0eot o| ne|s Ve can v ew | nosewe
cons de| compet l o|s mo|e as le' ' ow n 0 man oe. ngs
wnoa |ecna' ' eng. ng0slodeve' opo0 t a' en| s|0 ' ' yand
| opertorm a| o0r oes|. | n acsnow| edg| ng| ne| r wort n,
werea|t| | mcon|| dence| n o0| ownwor| n a| so. 1nen| |
s poss o' e t o t ase o0| |o' es ' es s se| o0s ' y and p' ay
t ne game mo|e ' gnt ' y, ne' p ng o0 |se' ves and ot ne|s
t oder| verea| enj oymen| |romwnat we do.
As o0| app|ec at on o|oadens to encompass a' '
wno nave n some way cont | o0led l o o0| we' |a|e,
wnel ne| l ney oe pa|en | s, t eac ne|s, l | ends, o| even
|| va' s , o0r senseo' |espons| o| ' ty towa|d o| ne|s g|ows
deepe| and sl |onge| |essd |ected to mmed. at ega n,
o0| v s on na| 0|a ' ' y ext ends | 0 t ne| . nto | ne | 0l 0|e,
enao' ng 0s todeve' op' ong angegoa' s S0s | a. nedoy
v| s on, o0r ene|gy t| ows more s moot n' yand | s mo|e
d. |ecl ed Ve do not oecome so exc t ed aoo0t sno|l
Time to Change 233
le|m ga ns, o| so dep|essed aoo0l o0| | a ' 0 |es o
sno|lcom ngs Vnen we |eacn po nl s l na| mars a
ce|l a| n| eve| ot acn | evemenl , we cans | mp| yl asenol e
o|l nem and passon, a | | ow| ngl nemomenl 0mot o0r
enegyl oo0 ' dw l neacnaccomp' s n menl |venl 0a ' ' y
| nes0os| anl a' |es0 ' | s ol o0 et|o|l sw ' ' g ve 0s g|eal
sal s|acl on
I f weare d| s ' | 0 s| oned w | nl ne|o' es soc elyof|ers
0s,anda|e0 nw. | ' ng o|0 nao| elo p| ayl necompel l ve
game, wecan, nslead,|. nd|o' esl nal a |e 0 n q0e' yo0|
ownando0 ' d w | n no0 se' vesa new0nde|sland ng
o| wnal l means l o oe a s 0ccess| 0' n0man oe ng
Bas ng o0r | ves on ln s snow| edge, wecan deve| op
o0| | n nerreso0|cesl o l ne ' 0| | esl . |ven | ' noonee| se
s0 ppo|ls 0s, even l we can see no ma| e a' ewa|ds
n wnal we w s n l o do, we can deve' op o0| l a' enl s
and ao ' l es, and devo| e l nem |o goa ' s we cons de
wo|l nwn| ' e.
Vem gnl l ndl nal o0| moslva| 0 ao| econl o0l on
l osoc ely' es n lo' ' ow ngo0 ownsenseo|wnal l 0' y
en cnesn0 man' |e Vna| eve|conl | o0l ons wemase
|ol newe' |a|e o|o| ne|s, wnaleve|snow' edgewecan
ot|er l o 0p| | tl l ne q0a | | ly ot ' |e w| ' | ret' ecl oacs l o
0s,enr| cn ngo0rown| | vesas we| | . C0r l | mea0l omal |
ca' ' y oecomes mo|e va ' 0ao' e, wea |e wo l nwn ' e l o
o0 |se. ves, and we a| e 0se|0 ' l o o| ne|s Based on a
n gne| 0nde|sland ngo| n 0 manva' 0e,o0| acl ons can
nea| l necont| | cl| nnerenl | ncompel l | on.
Vecanc| a| ly wnal wen ave ' ea ned l oo0|se| ves
and pass on lne oenel | s o|o0| snow' edge l ool nes
oy acsnow' edg ng l 0 ' ' y | ne pa n and conl 0s on l na|
nave ' ed 0s | o econs de| o0| o' d v ews. Vne|e d d
wesl arl ' Vnal sl eps d d we l ase, w| l n | n o0| nea|ls
234 Knowledge of Freedom
and m| nds, |o change | heco0rse o| o0r | ves' Vna|
snow| edges 0s |a | ns andg0 | des0s' C0 | n ne|s 0ccess
w| | | ns p| re o| hers who tee| ca0gh| 0p | n tr0st|a| | on
and pa n, he| p ng | hem t| nd w| | h| n | hemse| ves t he
snow| edge| hey need| og0| de| he| r own| | ves
Vhen o0| v s . on t |anscends se' | nte|est, and we
of|e| o0 t me and ene|gy lo oenel t o| ne|s, we sel
o0|se' ves ||eel| om tne l | 0st at . on and anx. el y nne
ent n dent |y. ngo0|se' vespe|sona' ' yw l nagoa. Ve
a |e no ' onge| compe' ' ed to vac . ' ' a| e oetween se' |
cong|at 0 ' al . on and |ee' . ngs o| nadeq0acy Sn |t . ng
||om a pe|sona' . y o| enl ed v ewpo nl l o a mo|e
encompass . ngv s . on mpa|ts0ns hasao' est |engthand
con| dence.
Vnenwe|ee. nwa|d ' y|| eeandoa. anced, . ns p ed
oya h | gner snow| edgeandv| s| on, we can cooperate
w| | h ot hers |o ach | eve res 0| | s ta| oeyond wha| one
| nd| v| d0a| co0| d hope |o accomp| | s h. Coopera| | ve
ac| | ons pe|to| med |or t he oenet| | o| a| | open 0p
poss | o| | | | | es tor 0 nceas| ng sat | stact | on, se|t| ng n
mot . on a w | | ngness t o s ha|e t hal co0 ' d gene|ate
nva' 0ao' e|es 0 ' l s |a| . nto t ne| 0t 0e
Z4
Seei ng Through Pai n
As we become more neutral observers of our pain,
we may be able to sense its cloud-like character.
/
| n a ' ' ' fe, we s na|e a v0 ' ne|ao ' ty t o pa. n
| n fact, we a |e s o acc0 stomed t o pa n t nat t
maygounno| | ced u n| essour d| scom|or| s pro| onged
o| s 0n0s 0a' ' y nt ense. | |om o0| o |t n | o o0| deat n,
t s 0n0s 0a. fo| a s ng' e day t o pass w | no0t fee' ng
some sor| of pa| n. 1nere a |e | he common pa| ns o|
m no| o0|ns , ofneadacne, t oot nacne, and. nd ges | on,
t ne mo|e seve|e pa. ns of a|t n| t s, 0 . ce|s, and ot ne|
chron| ccond| | | ons , | he pa| n o| | nnumerao' ed seases
and d sao ' t es, | ne pa. n ol wo||y ng aoo0| vag0e. y
d sq0 e| ngsensat . ons t nat myste| o0s . ycomeandgo
cven| | wearespared muc hphys| ca| pa| n, wecan
not escapef|om | heemot ona' s 0|le| ngofange|, |e
| ect on, and | ea. o0sy n |e' at onsn ps, wo||y and lea|
aoou| | he we| |are o| o0r paren| s o| c h ' d|en, anx| e| y
aoo0t o0| | oos, 0nce| | a . n |y aoo0t t nel 0t 0 |e. Tne ' st
ofemot ona' pa ns we common' yf ee' cangoon and
on Pa n s near| ya cons | ant compan on n ou| ' | ves.
236 Knowledge of Freedom
A' | houghwecand s m s s m. norpa. ns , st |onge|ormore
pers | st ent pa| ns a |e mo|ed f| cu ' t |o t o| e|at e.
The moe v0' ne|ao' ewe a |e to pa n, | ne mo|e we
|ee' t ne need |o| po| ect on, o0t o0| a| | empls |o
protect ou |se' ves a |e g|ounded | n avo| danceand a|e
se' dom sat slact o|y, l ney t end lo d0 ' ' o0| sens t v | y
and n | e|e|ew l ho0| en| oymenl o| ' |e. Vn ' ewecan
somet mes ' essen pa n' s mpact oy n0mo ng | ne
senses, d| st ract | ngourse' ves, o| t ry| ngto | gnore | t , we
have no way to cont |o' t s co0 |se and d0 |at on. Ve
have no way to dea' w t n pa n d |ec| ' y Th s s pa|t c
0 ' a| ' yt 0eo|emot ona' d st |ess, wh cn s even na|de|
t o| |ea| t hanphys | ca| d scomtort .
| t seems mpol anl tosee | wecan|espondtopa n
moeconsl | 0cl . ve' y } 0 slaswecansnow a c n ' d now
|o || d h | mse| | ot tear ot t hedars oy ca' m| ng h| mand
encourag. ngh | mlosee| nee | s noea| oas s t o |ear,
we can enco0 age o0 se. ves | o ' oos moe c' ose' y al
t he n te|na' dynam c ol pa n, ' . gnt en ng ou o0|den
and |ree| ngou|se| vestrom|ear.
Vnen we' oosat pa n c' ose' y,wecan see lnal l ne
oas s lo l ne | ea| ol pa n s a sense o| sepaal on
oelween ou se' ves and eveyl h ng e' se n o0r wo| ' d.
Thes | |ongerour senseo| sepa|at on, t hemo|e we| |y
lo oa' anceandcont |o' oppos ngloces naneflot lo
gelwnal we wanl . Tnemo|e we ant c palenapp ness,
andt hemoreenergywe nves| | n con | |o| ' ngs . | 0a| ons
t oacco|d w| | h our des | |es, | hemo|e pa| nweexpe|
encewneno0| expectat ons a|ed sappo nl ed, ownen
we | nd o0|se' vescaugnt 0p n s t 0al ons we ae 0n
ao| et ocont |o| .
C0 m nds ae conl n 0a ' ' y oa' anc. ng an nt cat e
nelwos o| pess0 |es l nal pol enl a ' ' y | n ealen o0
Time to Change 237
senseolconl |o' and ' eadlopa n . o0 d| veloacn eve
ve|s0s o0 lea| ol la . 0 |e, o0 dea. s ve|s 0s o0|
capao. ' | es, soc a' oo. ga| ons ve|s 0s la m ' y d0l es,
lam| ' yd 0| es ve| s 0s wors |espons o ' l | es, o0 | des | res
vers 0s | heneedto||es| ra | nl C0 | happ| nessmaycome
l o depend 0pon oa' anc. ng | nese n le| na' p|ess0 |es
wn ' e do ng wnaleve| we can lo conl |o. cond l ons
andevenl s.
Theneedlocon| ro| s re| ntorcedoyo0r cond| | | on
| ng Soc| a' conven| | ons sel s| andards otoehav| or and
po' leness l nal demand |esl |a nl , o0| conce|n aoo0l
o0| s e' l . mage lo|ces 0s lo adopl a ce|l a n s | y. e ol
exp|ess on. Ve engage n e' aoo|ale games l nal s 0p
porlo0r par| | c0 | ar v| ewoto0rse| vesaswe' | as | hegen
era| appearance ot | ndependence and s e| l conl ro|
B0l . n lacl o0| senseol sec0 | ly depends 0pon mas
le| . ng nle|. ocs ng sels ol man p0 ' al ve pal l e| ns.
Veman p0 . al eol ne|s, wn . eol ne|s man p0 ' al e0s, as
we a' | v| elorpos | | on, asser| o0| w| . | , .es sl a| | emp| s
a| dom| nal | on, or searc h t or ways | o accommodal e
conl' cl ng . nl e|esls. |ea| cana| se wneneve|l h s oa'
ance s l n |eal ened, en mesn ng 0s . n anx ely o| even
a|o0s nglee. ngsolpan c
Vh | ' eo0r m| nds arepreocc0p| edw| | hma | n|a| n | ng
oa| ance, o0r sensesare a| er| andnal 0ra | | yal | rac| edlo
sl m0 . al on Pe|ce v ng and |espond ng, o0| senses
' ead o0|ene|gyo0lwa|d lowa|d anys l 0al . on, engag
ng o0| m. nds n pe|cepl ons oelo|e we ae awa|e ol
wnal | s happen| ng. Co| nga| ongw | h | h| s c0rrenl has
oecomenao| | 0a| , weengageandrespondlosl m0 ' a
l ons a0lomal ca. ' y By ' ne l meo0| m. nds nle p|el
a sensa| onas pa n , wea|e a. |eady nvo. ved, |eacl . ng
lo s | m0 ' a| on . Cnce o0| m nds and sensesa|e c ' ng
. ng l o pa n, we nave ' osl l ne oppo|l 0 n ly lo polecl
238 Knowledge of Freedom
o0rse| ves. Onao| e |o perce. ve l n. s pocess al wors,
wesnowon' yl nal wea |e' n pa n' .
Tn0s , as |a m ' a | as we a|e w l n pa n, l o|len
cal cnes 0s0 nawares. By| aoe' | nglnesensal | onaspa| n
and l nen |es pond ng, we a' so engage and ma|y . t
C0r al l empl slorej ec| | l , | op0s n| | away, on| yd| s| r | o
0te pa n l n|o0gno0l t neoodyandoacs lo l nesenses
Vnere can l nese | mp0 ' ses go' C0 | senses nave no
way to |e' ease t nem, a ' ' t ney can do s |ecyc . e pa n
oacsto | nem| nd, wn| cn grows | ncreas | ng| y ag| l a|ed
More t no0gnt s a| . se, sl m0 ' at ng l ne cyc ' e aga n and
| nlens | ty| ng l ne sensal on o| pa| n. Ve a|e l nen s0|
l 0sed w tn pa n, we dent |y o0 |se' ves w l n t , oe
come one w| l n | l . Venave nocno| ce o0l l oc| | ngto
pa n, asl no0gnwenad graspeda n gnvo. | agew e.
Tenac o0s and somet mes l | gnl en ng n ls | nl en
s ty, pa| n appears, ' | se a v| r0s, to nvade o0| ood es
and m nds |om l ne o0l s de Sens ng l nal we a|e an
| n nocent oysl ander and a v| c | m, we . oos t or some
l n ng o| someone to o. ame, o0t t n s on . y ag l ales 0s
more, | n | ens | |y| ng pa| n and pro. ong| ng | l s d0 rat | on.
Ce|ta n l no0gnl so| acl v | ess 0cnas' sl en nglom0s c
or read ng can some| | mes d| stract 0s |rom pa| n, o0l
l l ends | o|el 0 |n wnenwes | op. T|y nglo|es| |a no0
tee. | ngs on' y | ncreases nl e| na| press0res and mases
l nepa n wo|se.
Vnen pa n ar | ses seem| ng| y | rom nownee, and
t nee. snot n ngexte na' wecano. ame, o0 ' og cloces
0s |o t 0r n o| ameon o0 se' ves. Onao' eto e| eve l n s
s . ndo|p|ess0 e, wemayconv nceo0 se' vesl nalt ne|e
. s nonope|oe| | e| andl r apo0 se| ves n adownwa|d
s p a . ol g0 ' l andse' l nc m nal on
Time to Change 239
No matte| how ha|d we | |y to avo. d pa. n| 0 ' s. t
0at . ons, powe|| 0' |o|cesoeyondo0| cont |o' al|ect 0s.
The|e seems tooenowaytoavo. dexpe|. enc. ngpa. n
. n o0| ' . ves. Ve cannot dom. n ate o0| env. |on ment ,
no| haveweanypowe|ove|t . me, wh . ch ' eads0s . n
ev t ao' y. nto ag. nganddeat h. Nomat t e| how st |ong
o| . n|' 0ent . a' we a|e, we enco0 nt e| s . t 0at . ons we
cannot cont |o' . Vea| eca0ght n an mposs. o' e s . t 0
at. on. Vehave no| ea' cont |o' , ye| o0| sense o|we' '
oe ngdepends 0 pon o0| ao ' ty t ocont |o' . Th emo|e
v. go|o0s ' y we . ns . s | 0 pon cont |o' , t he mo|e v0' ne|
ao| e we a|e to | | 0st |at on and pa. n . The|act t hat we
haveah0manoodys0 oj ectto|ee' . ngs,t ho0ghts,mem
o| es, andemot ons seems t ocondemn 0s topa. n.
Vhe|e. s t he|e a sa|e|e| 0ge||om pa. n ! cven . l o0|
p|esent c| |c0mst ances a| e comlo|t ao' e, | n a || ash a
pa. n| 0' memo|y o| t heant . c. pat . on o| an 0 np' easant
s . t 0at . on can o| . ng 0s emot | ona| s 0f|e|. ng. Know| ng
| h. s se|ves to . nc|ease o0| | ea| ol pa. n |ea| n . tse. l
. s pa. n| 0' , . | can oecome opp|ess. ve, n 0 mo. ng o0|
sensesandc' os. ngo0| hea| | stoot he|s .
ho0gh. t seems wehavenop|otect . onaga ns | t he
powe| o| pa. n and |ea|, wecan choose to ' oos at
pa. n d . f| e| en t ' y and ac | 0 a ' | y 0s e | ea|| 0 ' | . mes o|
h0|t|0 ' memo| esto o|eas pa n' s ho' d Vhen we see
that o0| el| o| | s | o p0s h pa. n away do not o| ng 0s
|e' e|, whynot |eve|seo0| |esponsesand' oosd. |ect ' y
att hepa. n . t se' | ! Re' ax. ng. nto t hesensat. ons, ' ett. ng
t hem oe, wecan ' ghten t he. | p|ess0 |e and ca' m o0|
m. nds Cnce wecease t h. ns. ngo| t a' s . ng aoo0t t he
pa n, we |emove t he oas s |o| dent |y ng o0|se' ves
24 Knowledge of Freedom
w| l h | l Ve are no | onger run n | ng away, oul |esl ng
w l h nl heexpe| ence, oose|v ngwhat s happen ng
Vhenwea |e n pa n, ou| oody s ' se' yt ooelense
and const | cl ed, ou| o|ealh ng | ghl and fo|ced Re
' ax ngt h s tens onoyst |a ghl en ng |he oacs, expand
ngl heches| , and | oosen ngl hesl omachmusc' es, we
canga n some| mmed| al e|e| effrompressure
By walc h ng l he f| ow of l he oreath and a| | ow ng
o|eat h ngtooecomesmool hand|egu' a|, l s pos s o' e
to open a space oetween ou |se' ves and l he pa n .
V l h n t h s space, wecan f' ow nlo and l hen out of
t he pa n we a|e expe| enc ng. V t h each ou | wa|d
movement ol o| eat h we can s ns nl o t he lee' ngs,
' | gh l | y louch| ng | he pa n we a |e |ee' | ng. V| l h each
| nlase, wecanexpand lhespacel halcus h ons usf|om
lne pa n' s nl ens ly. By do ng l h s, we can v ew pa n
a s sepa|al ef |omu s , a s anoo| ec| l hat canoeexam ned
mo|e d spass onat e' y. ||om t n s pe|s pect ve we can
oose|ve lseooand f' ow.
| f we ma nla n concenl |a| on on t he o|ea| h, we
m| ghl sensean | n nermovemenl s uol ' ya| | |acl ng ou|
awarenessoacs nl ol hepa n . Vem| ghl fee' ou| m| nd
andsenses|eac h ngoul lot hesensal | on, oul s | l |ea' | y
necessa|y lo |es pond' Asanexpe| menl , wecansh l|
oacsandl o|t h, a ' l e|na| ngoetween pay ngattent on
to t he o|ealh and a' ' ow ng l hought s t o ' ghl ' y louch
the pa n . Onde|stand ng | he nl e|acl ons ol | hough|
and pa n may ' essen ' he' en s onofl ea| andcas ' new
' ghl on l hena| u|e ofour exper ence.
See ng how eas | | y | he m nd and senses engage
pa n, we can |ema n concenl |ated on | he |hyt hm o|
o|eal h ng, wh ' esl ' ' oe ngawa|eol| nepa n n amo|e
Time to Change 241
genl ' e, open way. As we cease |o |es pond lo l he
. mp0' ses we . nl e| p| e| as pa n, l he sensal . on ol pa. n
maymode|a| ea n dpass, a| ' ow nga mo|eopen, | | ghl e
s| aleolm. nd loemege.
V lh pacl ce, l s poss o' e | o l nd a po| nl ol
oa' ancew | h| nl h| s ' neul |a| see| ng , |esl ng w| l h | n l s
open ness, sees. ngne. l he| l od|awpa n l o0 s no| p0s n
l away. Ne0l | a| see| ng a| | ows ' | gh| lo penel | a|e | he
da| snesscealed oy nl e| na' pess0 |es. | l |emovesl he
s ha|pnessol pa| n ands | ao ' | zesmenl a| c | a| | |y, open
. ngl hewayl ol 0|l he| ana' ys s. |venl 0a' ' y, l m ghl oe
pos s | o| eloseelhewho| edynam| c ot pa| nve|yc ' ea |' y
andl oapp|ec al ehow wel | cso0 |se' ves nl oengag
| ng | | oy nol |ecogn| z| ng l he s 0ol | e | nle|ac| | ons oe
lweeno0| m nd andsenses.
Asweoecomemo|e ne0l | a' ooseve|s olo0 pa. n,
we may oe ao| e | o sense l s c' o0d | | se cha|acl e| .
C' o0dsolconl 0s. on and pa. n enve' op 0s, o0| ae nol
acl ua' ' yconnecled|oo0| oe ng. Vecanmoveaoove
l hem o|oe' ow | hem, oosev ngl he. | s hapesas . ll hey
we|e | nle|esl | ng to| ms | n a c ' ea | ssy. Cn' ywhen we
a|e . nl he m. dsl doweoecome' osl n l he | da sness
Os ngo0| | nl e' | | gencel osepa| al eou|se' vest|ompa n,
wecan ' . ghl en o0| at | achmenl lo nega| . ve emol ons
andp|o|eclou|se| vest|oms ufle| | ng
Va| c h ng l hedynam| c ol pa| n, wecans ee| ha| on
a vey oas c ' eve' , o0| m nd and senses |espond l o
s| | m0 | al ons | nd sc| m| nal e' y, na| u|a| | y sees ng o0l
sens a| ons, l . s on' y ' al e|, whenwe denl ly and ' aoe'
l hesensa| | onsasp| eas 0|e o| pa| n | ha| weconsc| ous| y
accepl o|avo. d l ne expe ence. | n a sense, any sl m
u' a| | on| s | se oa| l ona hoos, oyl h e l mewe tee| | he
242 Knowledge of Freedom
pangso|t hehoos, t s | |m. y mp. anted Theon' ye|
|ect ve way to dea' w l h t he s t 0at on s to see how
t hehoos sconst | 0cted, and' ea| nhow lodet acho0|
se| vest rom | t gent | yand compass | ona|e| y. 1hemore
o|ten we p|act cedetac h ng o0 |se| ves | |om pa n, l ne
mo|e ss ' . ed we oecome. Know ngt hat l s poss. o' e
t odea' d |ect ' yw t h pa n, wecan||eeo0 |se. ves||om
theanx ety lhat nt ens . | es and pe|pel 0ales. l .
Vhenwes eehows 0o| ' ywedece| veo0rse' ves| n|o
engag ngands 0sta . n ng what we w s n mosl lo avo d,
we can ' oos mo|e c' ose' y at ot ne aspects o| o0
expe| ence. Pe haps s m . a | pal t e| nso| . nl e| na' man
p0 | at | on a |e d st o|t | ng o0r percepl | on, mas| ng o0|
responsestos | | 0at | ons mo|e negat| vet hant hey have
lo oe Know ng t hal we do nol have to dent . |y so
st |ong' y w t h negat ve |ee' . ngssl | 0gg' ng aga nsl
t hem or engag ng n emol ona. d |amaswe can ex
a m ne a ' ' o|o0| expe| ence n a mo|e oo| ect ve ' . ghl
| n t | me, we may oeg| n to not | ce how negat ve
emot ons a|e ' n sedtogel he|, asl ho0ght heywe|elne
oeslo|| | ends. Vnen|ea||. nds a way. nl oo0| nea|ts,
wo||y, anx ety, ' one' ness, and |ee' ngso| |a . 0 |e w . '
soons how0 p as we| | , | ocs ng0 s | ntocyc| esot press0 |e
and|ecr| m| nat on. Cnceo0 | m nd has oecomeheavy
and da|s, l hewho' ewo| ' d oeg. ns to ' oos o' acs, and
p|oo' ems seem mo|e so' d and mpenel | ao. e. B0t we
do haveacho ce. | n espond ngloemol ona' 0 g. ngs,
we have | nv| led t n| s da sness | nlo o0r m. nds, . n
det ach| ngo0|s e' ves t |om negat | veemot | ons, wecan
| | ght en l h s da| sness and | | ee o0 |se. ves o| an 0n
wanled o0|den. Vhenweacsnow' edge l hal weae
|espons o. e |o| o0| own pa. n, we nave l ne sey lo
0n ' ocs neflecl ve pat l e|ns o| avo dance. V. l h p|ac
Time to Change 243
l . ce, we can |ep' ace resl |a. nl and |ea| ol pa. n w | n
compass | onand0 nders | and ng
Vn| | ewecanno| pred| cl wna| nega| vemoods and
all l 0desw. ' ' a se | om one momenl l ol nenexl , we
can ga n g|ea| er 0 nde|sland. ng o| | ne r or . g. ns and
momen| 0m, and | ear n lo s norl en l ne| r d0 ral | on.
S| eng| nen ng o0 awaeness ' l l ' e oy ' l l . e, we can
' ea|n | o | e| goo|neavy, negal . ve emol ons and| nv l e
| gn| er, more pos | | | ve tee' | ngs | n| o o0 nea| s. Vnen
weseel na| l . sposs. o' elooelreeo|l nel ea| ol pa n,
wecanl asecnargeo| o0r | | ves more e|tecl | ve' yand
t. nd w| | n n a| ' aspec| s o| exper . ence a pal nway l o
se' | snow' edge.
\cu[
@U
D@@
CHAPTER 25 : I MAGES OF DES I RE
| mageso| napp ness 249
M| nd' s|esponse |o| mages 249
0esl |o|l ne. mage
250
| magesandmemo|y 251
P|eocc0pal onw l nwanl ng 251
1n| | | o||heques|
251
Malcn ng magesl oexpe ence 252
O sl ol ono| expe| ence 253
Tnewanl . ng m nd 254
Oes | re and man| pu| a| | on 255
Oes| |eand| ens| on
255
|eez. ngexpe| ence
256
| ' ' 0so|y na| 0|eo| | mages 256
| magesand| nepassageo| l me 256
|ndot| nedream 257
Awasen ngl o mmed al eexpe| ence 257
CHAPTE R 26: TREASURY OF E XPE RI E NCE
Vayslo mea n. ng andsal s|acl on 259
|xpe ence. open nglo mean ng 260
1newayo|ac| | on. wea| | ho|ac| v l y 260
|n cn ng n ne expe| ence 261
Tne n ne| way. wea' l no| . mag na| . on 262
Yea|n ng. messagelo|comm l men| 263
1hec| l ca' way. wea ' l hol ana' ys s
Cpen ngl oapp|ec| a| | on
1he dea' s l cway
Cve|com ngoosl ac. es
1heaesl hel | cway. wea' l hol oea0ly
| nc|eas ng|ecepl v ly
1hewayol |ememo ance
C ll ol expe| ence
l nv| l al | on| osnow| edge
P|ol ecl . onl |om d scou|agemen|
Sha . ngl hewea. l hol snow' edge
Va| ue ol snow| edge
CHAPTE R 27: GLOBAL KNOWL E DGE
| . m lal ons ol snow' edge
App|ec| a| | nghuma npolenl a|
Powe|ol awaeness
Awasen ngsnow' edge
C ' ooa| respons | o| | | ly
Oeve' op ng' ong |angev s . on
Concenl al . onandl me
| | ns ngv| s | onl osnow' edge
C. ooa' snow' edge
Cpen. ng' ayesoll me
Sha| | ngav| s onol peace
264
265
266
261
268
269
270
272
273
273
274
275
276
276
277
277
278
279
280
280
280
280
281
ZJ
I mages of Des i re
We can wake up at any time,
simply by acknowledging what we know.
enl 0 || es ol poel|y and song l es l ly lo l ne ' ong
| ng |o | ove and oe | oved, |o |ee| a| | ve and ||ee,
lo oe al peace, lo 0nde|sl and l ne mean ng o| ' |e.
1nougn l nese des |es seem deep' y a pa|l o| n uman
oe ngs, wedonol o|l enool a n wnal wew s n |o|.
|acno|us naspe|sona| . magesand| deas|e| aledlo
lnedes . |e |o|napp ness | se l nedel a ' s o| a pa nl ng,
s0cn| magescomo| ne|omaseu p our wno' ep cl u|eo
wnal wewanl . Someae mageso| nowwewo0 ' d' se
|o oe, nowwewou| d| se |o | oosandacl . Someareo|
o0|. dea' mal e Venaved|eams o| no0seswewanl lo
' ve | n, cn| ' drenwewou .
_
' se |o nave, ous | nesseswe
w sned weowned, oansacco0nl s wel n n s weneed.
Cu| m nd, | | se a masler|u | a || | sl , assemo' es l nese
mages n d ||eenl pal l e| ns and como nal ons, pe
senl | ng0s w | n|| n shed p| c| ures. Vnen one o| | nese
mages o| pe|ecl on a ses oe|oe lne m nd, we can
250 Knowledge of Freedom
|ee' o0| nea|l p0' | ed l owa|d l . Yes, l nal s wnal |
wanl . Tnal wo0' d masemenappy. 'So we lo' ' ow l ne
mage, sea|c n ng l newo| ' d a |o0nd 0s |o| somel n ng
co||espond ngl oo0| ment a' p cl 0|e
| l s as l no0gn we des |ed a g|eal and wonde|| 0'
l |eas 0 |e. Vea |e g ven o' d maps l nal seem l o snow
l newayl ne pal n . s ' a d o0l and l ne ' ocal on ol l ne
l |eas0 |e | s p npo n led So we sl a| | on o0| | o0 |ney,
compa| ngl ne' andscape lo l nemap, l y nglo o| en|
o0 |se' ves. |o| a wn ' ewemaylee' wea |e onl ne| gnl
l | acs, o0l evenl 0a ' ' y we | nd o0 |se' ves n l ne m dsl
ola scenel nal wasnolon tne map
Tne mages o| napp. ness t nal g0 de 0s seem to
o0 ' d 0pove|t me, oeg n n . ng n o0| cn . dnood. Some
we |ece ve l|om o0| pa|enl s as we d scove| wnat
mases | nem nappy and wnal l ney wanl 0s lo oe
Te' ev s onp|og|ams,songs, andooossg. ve0s p cl 0|es
o| ' ove and |omance o| exc. l ngadvenl 0 |es Sm ' ng
|aces' ooso0l al 0s | |omposle|s, advel semen | s, and
l e' ev s on, snow ng0snowlooenappy Ve|ecogn ze
| ne |ee' ng. Yes, l nal . s now | wanl lo ' oosl n. s s
wnal | m0s | do lo oe ' oved Tn . s oo| ec| wo0' d o| . ng
me| oy Tnat s l nes nd o| pe|son | wanl l omee| '
As mage 0pon mage po0 | nlo o0| m nd, l ney
con necl . n e' aoo|ale pa| l e ns |mages ol o0| ea|' y
| anl as es and dea' s ns l ' ' ed n 0s oy pa|enl s ae
nte|woven w l n . deas ' ea ned | |om oooss o| ol ne
so0 |ces S. gn | s, scenl s, so0nds, sensal . ons, and lastes
assoc aled w l n a p' easanl memo|y can eacn evosea
|ee' ng ol de' gnl Como ned w. t n del a . ' s ol ol ne
memo es o mages, t ney can |o|m compos les t nal
de. gnl andoew | cn 0s, ' 0 |. ng0s on.
Time to Change 251
Tn s co' ' ecl ono' mages, eacn' oadedw l n|ee' ng,
| o| ms o0| dea o| napp. ness Ve mag ne nol n l ne
aosl|acl o0l n l ne conc|ele. |ame, ' ove, s 0ccessas
soon as lne l no0gnl a| ses, a wno. e se es o| mages
may|' asnl n|o0gno0| m nds ' seep sodeso| a sl o|y.
C0| m nds seem lo |espond w l n g|eal zesl and
enegylo . mages Vecan |eca' ' momenl so|p' eas 0|e
and pa n, and |e' . ve | ne | oy o| n 0 |l assoc al ed w l n
l nememo|y | l s s. m ' a | l ol newaywe|eac| l oamov e.
A' l no0gn we snow l nal l ne mages a|e nol ea' , we
oecomeaoso|oed nl ned|amaand|es pondasl no0gn
we we|e acl 0a' ' y ' v ng l ne expe| ences Ve | nd
o0se' vesno' d ngo0| o|eal n . ns0spense|0 ' momenl s
o w p ngl eas||om o0| eyesal anappyend. ng Acl o|s
snow l n s mag ca' q0a' . ly o| l ne m nd and 0se ' ne. |
own memo|. es lo evose l ne |ee' ngs l ney wanl lo
pol |ay
Vneneve| a des. | ao' e mage a|. ses n o0| m nds,
we| ee' l ne ' ong ngcon necl ed w l n l , and o0| m nd
eacnes o0l , expecl ng sal . s|acl on. Tne mage |asc.
nales 0s and sl |s 0s al l nesamel me, . nceas ngo0|
' ong ng. B0l l ne . mage s on' y a n mage, . n l se' | l
cannol sal s|y0 s , on ' y lempl 0s o| wnel o0 appel le
Sowesea|cno0| s 0||o0nd ngs | o| somel n. ng l nal w ' '
malcnl ne mage.
Tneq0eslevosed oyan. mageo|len nasa l n . ' ' . ng
q0a' ly asweanl c pa| e o0| l|eas0 e | 0sl a|o0nd l ne
nexl cone| | | we do nol |. nd | , we may sell ' e | o|
somel n. ng c' ose, l no0gn a' ways no' d. ng oacs a pa|l
o| o0 app|ec. a| on Somel mes we l n ns we nave
'o0nd . l , and o0| ene|gy s0 |ges lowa|d | ne des |ed
goa' , oo| ecl, o| pe|son. | nl . me,noweve|,o0| new' ove
252 Knowledge of Freedom
o| possess. onando0| mageoeg nlo s ' papal aswe
nol ceq0a ' l es| nal dono' | |w l nwnalweexpec|ed.
y l ne l . me we a|e . n o0| l n l es, mosl o| 0s
nave spenl cons de ao' e e|| o|l l |y ng | o ma| cn
s l 0al ons and peop' el o o0| des |ed . mages B0l lne
mal cn . s neve| pe||ecl o| end0 | ng, and lne ' ong ng
l ends l o pe|s | s l . Somenow o0| m. nds a|e conv nced
o0| dea' ex sls | we | 0s | ' oos a ' l | ' e na|de| o|
' onge|, wesna ' ' | nd. l
|o' ' ow ng d |ea ms yea|a|| e yea, now manyo| 0s
nave|o0ndwna| wewanl ! Someo' 0s maynavecome
ve|y c' ose, amaz. ng' y c' os e | | on' y | d nad a ' . l l ' e
mo|el . me, moe money, o| mo|epe|s sl ence, | wo0' d
nave wo sed. Tn. s | . me l d. d nol wo so0l , o0| nexl
' me. lw ' ' .
Beca0sewenave | e' l a| | |acled l oo0| . mages |o
so ' ong, we eas . ' y m. sl ase | ne des e l ney s| m0 ' ale
| o| sponl aneo0s app|ec. a| on o| ' ove. B0 | ' ove and
appec al onl o0cnl ne' v. ngwo' dw | nagen ' ' eopen
nand, wn ' e des e |eacnes o0l and gasps oo| ecls
| oc. o' y, desl |oy. ng| ne' v ngp|esence.
Tno0gnwenave nves' edsom0cnl meandene|gy
. ndes e, do weeveq0es| . onwne| ne o0 magesae
' ead. ng 0s ' o | ne napp. ness we sees! | | we ' oos
l n|o0gno0| memo| . es, even oacs. n|oo0| cn ' dnood,
can we | nd a l . me wnen we go| exac| ' y wna| we
mag nedsomel n ng l na' made 0s |ee' exac| ' y | ne
waywenadexpecled,and' as|edas' ongaswe' no0gn'
l wo0 ' d! O d o0| deepest momenl s o| napp ness
come oy cnas ng a| ' e an . mage o we|e | ney spon
l aneo0so 0nexpecled !
Time to Change 253
Cur | mages are compos | es, c|ealed |rom many
sources ove| | | me. Vna| rea| ooj ec| , person, o| s| |
ual | on cou' dma| cn | nem comp| e| e| y! Aswe | oosa|
wna| s oe|ore us, wecompa|e l w| | n wna| wewan|
| o || nd 1n | s | s no| wna| | wan | ed, | nal | s no| ap
pea' | ng'so we say, w| l noul | el l | ng wnal | s presenl
speas lo| l se' | . | | ou| | |sl mp|ess onseems lo mal cn
ou| mage, we g asp |o l |e|' ex ve' y, gno| ng l ne
qua' l es l nal donol | l nw l nou| expecl al on
1nep|ocesso| | udg ngoasedonou| magesda ns
l nev la ' lya ndoeauly||omexpe| ence. |asc naledoy
l nemageolwnal wewanl andexc l edoyl nep|os pecl
o| | nd ng l, ou| m nd does nol nave lne open,
|ecepl ve qua' 'y l nal wou' d a' ' ow us | o see wnal
p|esenls | se' ' . } usl asan ag l aled poo' o|wal e| ' oses
| ls re|' ec| | ve properly, | ne m| nd sl | r|ed up oy | mages
| oses | sc' a|| | y and d| s|orlswna| appea| soe|ore | l .
Venave a| | nad momenl s o| deepq u| e| wnenwe
| oosed around w| l n a | resn gaze, and | ne wor| d
seemed |o come a| | ve w| l n co| or and v o|ancy.
Toucn ng l n s p|ec ous aspeclo| expe| ence| ' ' ed ou|
oe ng w l n deep conl enl menl and appec al on, e
new ngou| oodyandm nd. Vnenwecnoose nslead
lo | ' l e| ou expe| ence l n|ougn lne slal c mageswe
nave c|ealed, we cul ou|se' ves of| l |om l ne p|esen|
momenl , l nesou ceo|l | ueappec a| on.
| xaledonou| mages, wecomeupemply nanded
aga nand aga n. Vnal we seescanno| oe lound, and
wnal s p|esenl s ove ' oosed | l s as | nougn we
wan| ed lo sal | s|y our n unge| w| l n pa| n | ngs o| lood.
Vnen| nenungerconl | n uesunaoal ed, wesea|cnour
panl ry ' or some| n ng | na| ma| cnes ou| pa n | | ngs. Bu|
254 Knowledge of Freedom
t ne mo|e att |acted we a|e | o | ne p ct 0 |e, t ne ' ess
appea ' ng tne |ea' |ood seems to oe-none o| t s
qu | t e| | ght
Compa| ng expe| ence | o o0| mages, we a|e ' el |
un| u| || | | ed. No matterhow || ne our | mage, t hecom
par ng deg|ades t ne |ea' p|esence oe|o|e us | nto a
l' at sensat on On no0r s ned, 0ns 0ppo|ted oy o0| ex
per| ence, we|ee' empty ns de. H 0ngry |ormore, o0t
not snow ng now to ge| | t , we g|ow ag| | ated, when
t n s n0 nge| pe|s st s, wemay|ee' deep' y| | 0s| |ated
Ag| t a| | on|eeds on| | s e| |,evos| ng| magea|te|| mage
| nat st m0 ' ateso0| n0 nge| even mo|e. Tn s d|amat c,
co| o|| 0 ' ment a| act v t ycan oecome| newno' eo| o0|
| nner | | |e. cxc| tedoyour owncreat | on, | nr | | | edoyour
ownemot ons, we t |y tol | ' o0| empt nessw t n mo|e
andmo|e st m0 ' a| on.
|asc natedoyt nev| orat ons o| des | |e, we| oseou|
sens t v tyt omo|es 0ot ' e,. gnte| sensat ons . Vecome
to |eq0 |e mo|e and mo|e nt ensest m0 ' at on |o lee'
a nyt n| ng at a | | | ue' ed oy des res, o0r sensesope|a| e
at so lasta |ate tnato0| pe|cep| ond st o| | sand o' 0|s.
| t s as t no0gn we we|e t |ave. ng n a . gn| p. ane
powered w | h a | et eng| ne, || y| ng at many t mes | t s
no| ma' speed. Tne oody sn 0dde|s, and t ne scene|y
|| esoysoq 0 cs' yt nat t ne nst | 0ment scan not|eg ste|
our pos | | | on.
| n | n s state o| cont n0a| ove|d| ve, | ne want ng
m nd moves so |ap d' y and e||at ca. ' y t nat t cannot
masecontactw | hany| h| ng s uos| ant | a' . Preoccup ed
oy o0| own needs, we | end |o see t newo| ' d a|o0nd
0s asnot n ng mo|e t nan meansto sat slyo0| n0 nge|
Ct her numan oe ngs are 0 sed and d| scarded | n t ne
Time to Change 255
name o| napp ness, |ne wondes o| nal 0 |e oecome
me|e sceney n wn cn we acl o0l o0 | anl as es
V| l no0| snow ng wna| we are do ng, we acc0 sl om
ooln oody and m nd l o eve| nc|eas ng doses o|
exc | emen| , l ens on, and sl m0 ' al on n | ne e||o|l | o
t| | ' o0r empl ness Veoecomel new | | | ngv| c| ms o|
o0| own des |es, |eady l o | 0n o0 | ves accod ng lo
l ne | d clalesand |eq0 emenl s
1ooo| a n wnal wewan| trom | newor ' dwe m0 sl
a' someas 0e0plool ne| peop' es | anl as| es Awael nal
o0| appea|ance and oenav o| a e conl n0a ' ' y oe ng
j 0dged and eva| 0al ed, we c0| | | val e cerl a n q0a | l | es,
all l 0des, andwayso|d|ess ngandla ' s ngl op0| |o l n
an accepl ao| e mage. C0 |ea | o| |e| ecl on mases 0s
v0' ne|ao| el oman| p0| al | on. Veo0ya | | so|lsot goods
lo mp|ove o0| mage, we sees adv ce on now l o
mod |y o0| oenav o| and even o0 l n n s ng, |ee' ngs,
andpercepl ons | norderl op|esen| ades rao' e| mage.
| se a n0 ng|y g0esl al a oanq0el , we w sn lo | ' '
o0| p' ale aga n and aga n, o0l a|e s| opped oy l ne
d sapprov| ngg| ancest|omol ne|s . C0r tea|o||ej ecl on
no' ds o0| owndes |es n cnecs Ve| ndo0 |se' veslo|n
oelween o0 w s nes, wn cna |e sl m0 ' aled oyone sel
o| mages, and o0| tears, wn cn a|e sl m0 | a|ed oy
anol ne| sel A' l no0gnwel |yloconl o' o0| |esponses,
l seemswe cannol cnoose nol lo espond, e | ne| lo
o0| des| re or o0r tea|. 1ne mages n o0| m nds evose
o0| emol ons a0l omal ca| | y
Temendo0sl ens oncan o0 ' d 0p n o0 oodyand
m| nd aswevac | ' ' ale oe|ween ones e| ot mages and
anol ne| Tn s lens on |0 l ne| compe' s 0s l o aclwe
m0sl dec de, we m0s | do some| n ng | | o0 penl 0p
ene|gyo0|s| so0| lowardo0| | mageo|des re, l ne|e| | et
256 Knowledge of Freedom
we tee| canconv nceus | nat we navega| ned con|act
w| | hour gen u neneeds.
A' t nough we |o' ' ow ou |ao| cated p ct u|es |a t h
|u ' | y, t hey oet |ayus aga n andaga n. Tney prom se us
sat | stac| | on, ou| | hey or| ng us trus| ra| on and pa| n
Tney cut of| a nyexpe| ence too dynam c t ooeen
c' osed w t n n t nem | se t he | |ames o| a | ' m, ou|
mageso|des |eepeat| ozenscenes|omo' dd|amas,
run onea '| erano| her, | ney|orma mot | onp ct u|e |ha|
neve|ends.
| n t ne mot on p ct ue o| ou ' ves, t ne past s no
moret hana ser esot mages, tewo| wh| chevoset ne
p' eas u|e o| t he . mages t hat a ouseou| des es n t he
present . Vnat seems so mpo t ant to us today may
' sew s emean' t t ' et omo||ow, penaps tw ' ' evenoe
|orgo| | en. Cur presen| p' eas ures w| | | soon oedream
| se mages we can ha|d| y eca| . . Yet today' s des es
' ead us | om one day to t he next , | om one yea| to
anot ne, and ||om decade to decade. V t n eacn
pass | ngday, we crea| e | necond| | | ons |or the emp|y
spaceswew | | | ndwhenwe ' oosoacsuponou| . ves
n t he| ut u|e.
Ct a| | | he hours we spend | n a day, we may
rememoer on| y a tew even| s, and even tewer ot | he
t nousands o| t nought s t nat pass t hough ou| m nds.
|oos ngoacsovet nepasttenyea|s, nowmucnst ands
ou| as memorao' e! Vno| e weess, pernaps mon| hs,
may navevan | s hed comp| e| e| y How we| | canwe |e
ca' ' t ne|' avo|o|t neexpe| encewenad yeste|day, ' ast
mont n, o ' ast yea !
As we pu ' | t he d |eam mages ot our hopes and
w s hes t o us, we po| ect ou |se' ves nto t ne ' 0t ue.
Time to Change 257
|age|losal | styour des | res mo|e qu cs| y, we| eapover
l hepresenl momenl . Preoccup edw| l h| magesandl he
cha ns o|l houghl l heyproduce, we' osel r acsot l me.
Bul our ood| es donol torgell | me,al l unedl ol he' | v ng
momenl , l heyrespond n h ar monyl o l s pass| ng. || nes
appea| on o0| |aces, deepen nlo c|eases, l hen nlo
w . ns' esand|o' ds C0| ss n ' oses l s smoo| hnessand
' 0sle|, oecom ngs pol | yand' oose, o0| eyesg|owd m,
ando0 | ea|s ' osel ne |sens l v. l yl oso0nd | l oecomes
ha|de|lo do l n ngswe onced dw l nease, o0 | oones
oecome mo|e o| | l . e, o0| | o nl s s t f| en and acne,
|es| | . cl ng movemen| and c|ea | ng a sense o| | | 0sl | a
| on |ood ' oses | s l' avo|, g0ms g|ow soll e|, l eel h
' oosen C0| ene|gy | ses mo|e s ' ow' y as s ' eep oe
comes' esssal sly ngandd|eams mo|e d. s l 0|o ng.
|ven | nl hem| dsl o| our cha| notdreams,wesense
wearemov| ngc| oserl ol hel | mewhenl hed |eam| ls e| |
w | | end. |venl ua| ' yl h| s snow| edge oecomes opp|es
s ve,andwe| ncreas| ng| yd| s| | se rem| ndersotou| age.
Alsomepo| nl weawasenlot ndl hal weareno| onger
| neyo0l nl u| pe|sono| o0| d |eam See ng|ea ' ly mo|e
c' ea|' y, w ' ' we p|e|e| deal n lo ' v ng w. l no0| l ne
d|eam! Vnenwecan no ' onge| gno|e l me, w ' ' o0|
d|eam naveoeenwo|l hl hed|ea m ng! V ' ' l neemp
l . nessand ' ong ngoel oog|eallolace!
Vecanwase0pal any| . me,s mp' yoyacsnow' edg
. ng whal we snow. T me s pass ng, and | me s o0|
' . le Awasen . ng now, wh ' ewe s| . . ' nave manyp|o
d0c| . ve yea|s ahead o| 0s, we can ' ea|n lo | | 0 ' y en
| oy' le | v ng n | nec' ea| ' gn| ol |ea ' |y, we can oe
wno' . y al l uned ' o l | me, o0r | | te ene|gy s us | a| ned oy
| l s dynam c momenl um || oe|al edt r om l hecomp0|
s | ono| wanl ng andj udg ng, our m| nds can oetresh
258
Knowledge of Freedom
and a| | ve, open to exper| ence. C| earer v| s | on a| | ows
0 s toestao| | s hp| | o| | t | esmo|ew| se| yand| | ve | n away
t hat w| | | protect0 s | romregret| n o0r o| dage Know| ng
what has |ea| va' 0e, |o' ' ow| ng o0| snow| edge |athe|
t han o0| | mages, wecanconcent |ateon o| | ng| ng o0
most che| | shed w| shes| n |o oe| ng.
2o
Treasury of Experi ence
By observing our own experience, we can begin
this very instant to invite knowledge into our lives.
nce snow' edge oeg ns |o o| ngdeepe| mea n ng

andoeauly nlo ou| ' ves, l heoenef l s ofsnow'

edgeoecomeapparen| A| | heoeg| nn| ngof ou | j our
ney, howeve|, we may sense l heva' ue of snow' edge,
oul sl ' ' oe unao' e lo app|ec. a| e ls fu ' ' lasle and
wo|| h. V| | hou| rea| | z ngwha| weare m| ss| ng,wemay
sel | ' e fo| much ' ess l han we a|e capao' e ol, espe
c a' ' ywhenou |o' dapp|oachseems looeo| ng nghap
p| nessanda senseo| va| ue| nlo our | | ves.
Cu| a| l . | udes | owa|d . fe can oecomesuch a pa|l
ofuslhalwecannol eas ' yquesl onwhel he| l hey a|e
l | u| y oene|| | | ngus, or whe| her | hey m| gh| oe| | m| | | ng
ou| f|eedom and sal sfac| on Comlo|lao' e w. l h ou|
o' dways, wel endlos hyawayf|om nvesl . gal ng new
poss | o| | l | es Perhaps we are conv| nced | hal we a |e
gel l ng l he mosl we can expec| fom ' |e Bul l s
a' ways poss o' e lo have second l houghl s. An unex
pec|ed even| , even a s ng| equesl | on, can w| den our
260 Knowledge of Freedom
perspec| | ve and o| | ng g|ea| er mean | ng and va| 0e to
our | | ves.
| n a' ' ow| ngourse| ves| het reedom| oques| | onand
ooserve our exper ence, we may d| scover new ap
proaches | ha| w| | | enr| chou| | vesand prepare us |or
t he nev t ao' e changes that occ0| du|. ng ' . |e. |ach
quest . on ng moment can ' . gnt en tne no' do|nao t 0a'
wayso|t h. ns ngandact ng, open ng0pa ' . t t ' e|oom
|o|somet h. ng newtonappen
Manyd. t| e|ent '. |esty' eso||ewaysto|. ndmean. ng
andva' 0e n ' |e. Ve may ga n o0| geat es| p. eas0 es
||om the exc tement o|new expe . ences, o ||om tne
p' eas 0e o| ana' yz ngand 0nde|s| and ng expe| ence,
o| |om moment s o| spec. a' oea0 | yand . n s . gnt . Coa' s
andd|eams cano ngmea n ng n |oo0| eve|yday' . ves,
o| | | may oe memo| es | ha| s 0ppo|t ou| tee| ngso| a
' | |e we| ' ' | ved. | | wecan | nvest| gate a | | | hese sou|ces
o| mean| ng, we may | nd even | | che| mea n ng and
va| uet hanwe had dreamed poss | o' e. Pe| hapswea|e
se| | ' | ng | o| a tewdrops o| nec| a| whenwe co0| dhave
a who' ec0p.

0 | ' vesand. nte|estsmayhavedeve' oped ns0ch

awayt nat we | ndo0 g|eatestp' eas0 |e n seep
ng act . ve and o0sy. Ve may en| oy the exc tement o|
new. deasandexpe| ences, ope| hapsween| oysnow
ng t hat we a|e a. ways do. ng some| h. ng 0se|0 ' w t n
o0| t me C0| ' ves a|e |0 ' ' Ve |ead oooss, deve' op
nooo es, at t end c 0' t 0|a' event s o| pe napsdo vo' 0n
| ee wos, o we may | 0st en| oy ge| | ng | o snow
d| |t eren| peop| e. | | we can a||ord t o, we may t|ave|
to d |te|ent co0 nt | es and exp' o|e | he cust oms o|
Time to Change 261
d. |le|enl c0' l 0|es |ven mas ng p' ans can g ve 0s a
senseo|sal s|acl . onasweanl c palel nenewac| v l es
o| eacnday
A' | no0gns0cna . . le mayseem |. cn and |ewa|d . ng,
o0 movemenl l om one l n. ng lo anol ne can eas ' y
deve. op a |esl ' ess q0a' ly Ve may l nd l d t| c 0 . l lo
oe a' oneo|lo nave no spec. | c p' ans | o| l neday. Ve
can ac| 0a' ' y|ee' g0 ' |y | we' was| e' any ol o0| l . me,
o | we a|e no| |. ' ' ng o0| ' ves comp' el e' y w. l n
wo|l nwn ' ep|o| ecl so| acl v l . es. C| oo edommaynag
al 0s |o l nd somel n ng moe mean . ng|0 . lo do | n
o|de|l o|end l ott, we may even ev. ew l n e evenl s
o|l neday ove| and ove n o0| m nds, seac n ngo0
memo|ylo|| n ngswemaynavelo|gol l en, o| dedg ng
0pwo||. eswenad ' el gono0 s oelo|e
Vnen we |ee' d| ven | o ' oos|o|l n ngs | o do, we
m gnl sl op and ass o0|se' ves wny l n s . s nappen ng
| l weneedloseepseac n ng o0l waysl ol ' ' o0| l . me,
pe|napswnal we a|e do. ng s nol l 0 ' ' y sal sly ng Tne
p' eas0 |e o0| acl v | es o| ng ' asl s on' y a s no|l l me,
yel we seem lo oe depend ng 0 pon l n s l empo|a|y
sal . s|acl on l o seep 0 s nappy Vnen we lee' moved
|o | . nd somel n ng e' se lo do, we m. gnl ' oos mo|e
c' ose' y al l ne es | ' es s . ong. ng we lee' Vnal . s . l we
ea' ' ywanl !
| nslead ol |oc0s ngo0| ene|gy on l neevenl s and
oo| ecls a|o0nd 0s , we can l ase an enl |e' y new
app|oacn lo o0 da ' y ' . ves | n lne m dsl ol eacn
acl v. ly, we can add a new e' emenl Ve can genl ' y
pay allenl on lo now o0 senses a|e espond ng l o
evey acl. on and movemenl Ve can open o0 eas
lo so0nd, and o0| eyeslo lne o| . . ' . anl co' os ao0nd
262 Knowledge of Freedom
0s . Vecansense t ne|ee' o|eve|y| n ng wet o0cnand
even not | ce how o0r t ho0gh|s respond |o d| ||erent
peop' e. Vemayoecomeaware o| newsnad| ngsand
n 0ances o| exper| ence, | ee' ngs and sensat | ons | nat
s 0ot | yr| seand |a| | .
Tnese| n ne| movement sa|ead. |ect|esponseo| o0|
oe ngtownat eve| s nappen nga|o0nd 0s C0| ao ' t y
t o snow, savo|, and |ememoe|eve|y deta ' o|o0|ex
pe| ence s a 0 n q 0e n 0man p| v ' ege Cose|v. ng o0|
expe| ence can oecome a | e' d ol nt e|est t nat w ' '
neve|g|owd 0 ' ' . |o' ' ow ngt ne|ee' ngt ones t na| |' ow
t n|o0gnt neoody, wecontacta| cne| ' eve' olo0| own
m nd t nat can oe a so0 |ce o| cont n0a' no0| s nment .
As we t o0cn o0| own |ee' ngs mo|e d |ec| ' y, we can
oeg na | o0 |ney n s e' l 0nde|st and ng | na| may p|ove
mo|e pe|manen | ' ysat sly ngt nananyac| v ty we can
now mag| ne.

ome o| 0 s may || nd mean| ng and va| 0e w| t h | n

a n | n ner wo| ' d, we t | ave| |rom p| ace t o p| ace

w | h n t ne m nd nstead o| | n t he wo|| d aro0nd 0s
cacn co' ' ect on ol t no0gnt s and lee' ngs, memo| es
and l ant as. es s ' se a d || e|ent ne gnoo|nood wecan
v s t . Pe| naps we nave d|eams o| wnat we w sn t o
mase o| o0| ' ves, we no' d t nem oelo|e o0| m nds,
en| oy ngt ne|ee' ngs t ney o| ng0s. Ce|ta n memo| . es
and spec a' t no0gnt s and |ee' ngs seep 0s company
Vnent neselee' ngsmase 0s lee' sens t ve and a' ve,
wesnowo0| ' . vesa|ewo|t nwn . ' e
S. nceo0| | cn . n ne| wo| ' d g ves 0s s0cn p' eas0 |e,
t here seems no need to sees sa| slac| on o0t s de t .
Toen| oy more o| t h| s p' eas 0|e, wemays pend mo|e
o| o0r energyono0| | n nerwor| d, wn| ' e| neo0t erwo| ' d
Time to Change 263
gows pa' e| andd0 ' ' e|. C0| own |ea. mo||ee' ng and
mage|y s so deep| y pesona. l may oe d tt c0 ' | | o
comm0 n| ca|e we. . w t h o| hers. As we f| nd o0|se| ves
oecom| ng mo|e | s o| a| ed, wecan even oecomeacc0s-
tomed loa s nd o|' one' ness.
Pe|napsoe|o|eweoecomecomp' et e' ycomm l led
to o0| own mages and d|eams, we co0 ' d q0es l on
| hemmorec| ose| y. Vha| exac| ' ydot heyoff er 0s | hat
we f nd so sa| | sfy| ng' The yea|n | ng we tee| deep n
o0| nea|ls a ses when we mag ne wnal we co0 ' d
oecomeo| whatweco0' daccomp' s h B0t t s n|0sed
w t n a q0a. |y o| sadness, a ' mosl o| mo0| n ng. Th s
o| | te|sweet yearn| ng mases 0 s tee| a ' ve and car| ng,
sens | | ve and| dea | s| c. | | seems ' | se t he' j 0 | ce' ot ' | te,
a so0 ceo|no0| s hmenl
B0t wny s l he|es om0cnsadnesscon nectedt oo0|
deam' Vnydoest hed |eam na0nt 0s , mas ng0 s |ee.
somehowd| ssa| | sf| ed' Perhapswea |e no| hear ng| he
f0 | ' message oto0r hear | s C0r goa| s a| s e oefo|e 0s
as d|eams, ass ng 0s t oo| ngt hem nlo oe ng. Vhen
we do not do l n s , o0| heat s | ee. a deep . oss and
d sappo n | ment Then ghe and moe mposs o' eo0|
dream, | hemore| n |enset hesens a| | onotyean | ngand
sadnesswhenwedono| act toor ng| t | n| ooe| ng. Yet
we ae so d|awn lo t n s sad yean ng t nal t ne mo|e
ntense . l oecomes, t ne na|de t s | o| 0s to ea' ze
weae notact 0a ' . y hea| ngwnat o0| heatsa|el e| ' ng
0 s. | | | s as| ho0ghwe were| |y| ng| osa| | styo0| near|' s
h0nge|oyre| | s h ng t s pa| n.
| | we conl n0e t o|eed on o0 own yea n ng and
sadness, we can neve| | nd | 0 ' | . ' menl | n o0 | ves.
Vnen l n s yean ng q0a. ly a . ses, we need to |ecog
n| ze t he mes sage of o0r hea|t Ve a |e s| a|v ng. Ve
264
Know/edge of Freedom
m0st acl lo accomp' s n o0| deam. Pe naps we |ee.
we dono| |now howto or | ngo0| dream | ntorea| | ty.
B0t we m gnt as| o0| neat s adv ce |o| so ' ong o0
neat nasoeen|edon' ydeams, t s deepes| des . |emay
oe to wa|e 0p Awa|e, we can || nd a way lo |ea ' ze
ou| h | ghestasp| | a| | ons
na' yz ngt newo| . da|o0nd0s canp|ov deanot he|
source o| pe|sona| sa| | stac| on. Cu| ana| ys| s,
oasedonw de |ang ng. n|o mat onandac0te ns ght ,
can oecome ve|y s na|p and acc0 |at e Ve may see
c' ea| ' yt necomp' ex. t eso|t newo| ' ds . t 0at on, andoe
aware ot | he t u| | | | | y ot proposed so' u| | ons |o maj or
p|oo' ems. Tne mo|e we see now h0 man conl 0s on
pe|pet 0ates tse. | , t nemo|e c| t ca' wemaylee'
1ne sa| | stact onwega n |rom oe ng ' r gnt | n o0|
oose|vat ons o| t hewo| ' d may act 0a. . ycon t| o0te |o
a senseo|pe|sona' d sco0|agemenl Tn ngs' oosoad,
even hope' ess. Any e|l o|t we co0 ' d ma|e to cnange
t he wor| d appea| s to oe a was| e ot t | me | hat wo0 | d
on ' y nc|ease| | 0st at on Veseenowo' ndpeop' eae
to t ne | own good, now se. l s n t ney ae, and now
|e' 0ct ant to cnange Ve may s p|ead o0 d sco0age
men| toot hersoypo nt | ngo0| | het 0| | | | tyo| | ne| r p| ans
and d eams | | s pa n|0 . t o oe assoc| a| ed w t h | he
wo ' d we oose|ve, so we ho' d o0 |se' ves a. oo|, even
ass0 m. ng . nd fle|encetowea' t hand |ecogn t on
| | we sense t ne poss| o ' . ty lo| some deepe|
happ ness, we may d. s m s s t as j 0 sl ' ' 0so|y Tnee
may nave oeen a t . me wnen we w s hed |o mo|e-
perhaps we even | r ed ac| | ve' y |o or ng a v s | on ot
change n to oe. n go0 | t nat t | me s gone, o0| v. s on
now seems a |oo' s n deam, o0| ea ' y dea. s o0| ol
Time to Change 265
| o0cn w| t n | ne |ea| | |y o| | | |e Vnyenco0rage o| ners
|o accomp| | s n wna| we a| | emp|ed | o do and t a | ed !
Vny |ry to t| nd a j oy | n | | v| ng | nat we oe| | eve we
canno| nave! S0cn et|or| s seem comp| e| e| y 0 n
rea| s | ca torm ot se' tdecep| | on | nat wenave seen
t n|o0gn at tne cost o| m0cn pa n and do not w sn
to engageaga n .
Vnenwe|ee' t nat ' |e. s na|d,wenadeno0 nea|t s
n |esponse Veno' onge| l ee' wecang ve' |eanot ne
cnance t o d sappo nt 0s. | t may seem t nat we nave
neve oeen app|ec ated, t nat no one nas eve| ea' ' y
0ndestoodo| deep' y' oved0s Vemaynaved ll c0 ' ty
appec at . ngot ne|s n t 0|n o n comm0 n cat ngo0
|ee' ngs, lo| we can not open o0| nea| | s w t no0 |
evos ng t ne acne o| o' d wo0nds | nat we|e neve
comp' ete| ynea| ed. | n tne processo| | |y ng|oprotec|
o0rse| ves |rom d sappo| nt men| , we nave sea| ed o0|
se| ves ott | |om | ne wa| m| n and n neren| w sdom ot
o0r own near| s Ve may c | | ng |o o0r ' pn | osopny ot
' | tew| | na|| ndots| ' en| despera| | on. Veare no|rea ' ' y
nappyw| | n| (o0| ne| | ner canwe g| ve | t 0p
Can weopen o0| nea|t and maseo0 |se' ves v0 '
neao' e once aga n ! Canweg ve ' |e, and o0 |se' ves,
anotne|cnance! How ot ne|s nave |ega|ded 0s n t ne
pas | s not mpo|t ant, wedese|ve' ove, 0nde|stand ng,
andapp|ec at on, andwecang vet nese |o o0 |se' ves.
Appec at onlo|o0| owncapac tylo|lee' ngcanne' p
0s t osee oeyond con l 0s on and pa n t ot | 0e oea 0 |y
andsat s|ac| on. Tne' ang0age ol | nenea| | s compe'
' ng and nas mea n ng l o| a' ' n0 man oe ngs. | t pene
| ra| esoenea| n | ne waveso| se' t decep| | on, emo| on
a' | |y, and sen| | menta ' |y | o |ea ' dept n ot |ee| | ng | |
depends

o| onwo|dsandconcep| s, o0| ongen0 | ne

sens| | v| |y| o0n | ve|sa| n 0manneedsa ndva| 0es.
266 Know/edge of Freedom
Vem. gnt reopeno0r nvest . ga| ono|' |eandor ng
a new d mens . on to o0r n | e' ' gence, 0s ng t to nole
w t h| n ourse| ves | he nega| | ve t hought s t na| prevent
0s lrom apprec at ng o0 rse. ves more | 0. ' y. Ve ae
capao' eo| respond ng lo compass onand' oveaswe' .
as t opa| n, wec a na| | owo0 rse| vest oexper | ence ooth
and l nd a new senseo| se. | apprec at on n open ng
0pt nelee' ngs no0| near | s
Vnenweconnec| our sensesand heartsw t no0
neads, o0r v s . on oecomes oroade and moe oa'
| anced. C0r ooservat on o| ' . |e s not on . y snarp and
c| ear, ou| v| | a| and respons | ve | n a| | ow| ng ou rse| ves
tneopport 0n tytoexpando0rsnow' edge nt n s way,
wecantrans|ormo0 wno| ewayo|v ew ngo0rse. ves
and our wor | d Cnce our hear| s oeg| n |o open, we
cano| ng|ort nageneros tyo|s p r t t nat sdeep. ysal s
|y ng n t se. | and grows as we s nae wnat we snow
w | hot hers.

e may | nd o0r sat s|acl on and p0rpose . n

' | |e oya | m| ng a| a goa ' | na| seems wor| nwn | | e
no matterwnat pr cewen avet opay C0r ded cat . on
mayl asel ne| o mol n gn dea' s , agreatdes |elooeo|
serv| ce |o | newor| d, or even a des| re |o ach eve s| a
| 0s and wea' t n. Vnatever o0r part c0. ar goa. , we ac
ceptt nesac| . | ceswem0 sl maseloga no0 endsVe
mayeven tee| | nat suner ng expresses our car | ng, or
| na| | t ne goa. s loo easy 'o reacn, t s s mp. y nol
wort nwn. | e Vemayacl 0a. . yva' 0eo0 goa 'evenmoe
oeca0se we have |o masesacr | ces|o a| | a| n| | .
C0 asp at oncan move 0s l owondel 0 ' accom
p' s nment s and or . ng o0r . . ves a strong sen se o| d.
Time to Change 267
|ecl onandp0|pose. B0l s 0chs ng' e m ndednessmay
a| so |e|| ecl a na| |ow ng o| v s . on. | s l |ea ' ' y neces
sary loend0re so m0ch! Veseem lo oe| ra| n | ngo0|
se| ves |o oe expe|ls n s 0|le| ng, ' cond. l on. ng' o0|
ood esandm nds lo nceas ng' eve' so|s l |ess A|ewe
readylor | s soans| 0pl ng o0| ' | ves| or o0r goa' !
B0l pe| hapswea|ewo|s ng|o|a n dea' , sac| | c. ng
o0r pe|sona| com|or| and we' | are | n | he | n|eresls o|
olhe|s Veseel hoseaheado| 0 s as ns p | ngexamp' es,
we do nol lee' l hal we a |e acl | ng se' || sh ' y. B0| why
a|eweexpe| enc ngsom0chl ens onands l |ess! Vhal
s ea' ' ymo|e mpo|lanl lo 0 s, o0| |ee' ngsolaccom
p| s hmenl orl heaccomp' sh menl | l se' | ! Areo0r | dea ' s
a s h gh m nded a s we l ho0ghl ! Oowehave a need
|o| |ecogn l ono a w s h |o oe someone' s pec a' ' l hal
| s h | d| ng oeh | nd a h | gh p0rpose! Oo we s ee ol hers
on l he same palh ass 0 ppo|| . ngo0| own d. ecl ono|
ascompel | l | on|ooeovercome!
Vhenwep0|s0eagoa' | o| pe|sona' ga n, compe|
l | on and l s press 0re are . nev| | ao' e. | | wev| ew l hose
aheadol 0sascompe| l on, we m gh| |econs de| how
we |ee' aoo0l o0| goa' s Pe haps . | we oeg n lo ' oos
care|0 | ' yal o0r mol | va| | ons, we m| ghl s eeo0r goa| s
a ' |l ' ed. ||e|en | ' ya ndco0 ' d l nd mo|e e||ecl ve ways
loall a nl hem Ve m ghl oeao' elo o|oadeno0| a m
n ways l ha| wo0| dor | en| 0s | ess | oward compel | l | on
andmo|e lowa|d coope|al on
C0| s| ress | 0| |ee| | ngs may oe s how ng 0 s l he d|
|ecl on l o ' oos Veco0' d l |ace o0| |ee' ngs l ol he. |
so0|ceand' ea| n| ol | ans|orm| he| r energy | n|o mean
ng| 0' accomp' s hmenl V l h mo|e snow' edgeo| o0|
m nd and oody, we co0 ' d ' oosen s0 ||e| ng's ho' d
268
Knowledge of Freedom
on us. As we put ' ess ene|gy n to | ens on and | |ee
u p more energy |or accomp| | s hmen| , ou| sense o|
sa| | s|ac| | onw| | | oecomer | cher andmore endur| ng.
|ee| | ng deep| y sa| | s|| ed wi | h ourse| ves and ou|
wors| s | hemos | endur | ngaccomp| | s hmen| o| a| | and
t hesou|ceo| a' ' ot he| accomp' s h ment s Vhateve| ou|
endeavo|, whenwe a |e |u ' ' y honest aoout ou| goa' s
and our expect at ons, ou| nne| nt egr t y w| ' ' p|otect
us | |om | | ust |at on andd scou |agement , and p|ov de
an u nend| ng sou |ce o| c|eat ve ene|gy. Vhet he| we
s ucceedo| |a ' , wew ' ' oesat s| edt hat wehavedone
ouroest. cxtend ng ou|v s| on oeyonda se' | cente|ed
pu |pose, we a|e capao' e o| |ea ' z ng t he h ghest
h u man as p rat ons. Such at t a| nment s | | u' y' spec a' ' ,
an ns p |at ontoeve|y human oe ngwho ' ongsto oe
||eeo|s uf|e| ngandpa| n.
ean | ngand va| ue may appear |o some o| us |o
| | e| n momen| s o| oeau|y, | ove, or openness| ha|
h ave g| ven us g| | mpses o| a || ner way o| oe ng. | n
t hesep|ec ous moment s,wel e' t nt ense' ya' ve,sensed
new poss o ' t | es, o| had a new u nde|st and ng Ve
|ea' | zed t hen t hat t he|e must oe a way to expe| ence
deepe| sat s|act on n ' |e.
Cu| ef|o|tsto|ecove|t h s v o| ant , openqua ' |y ol
app|ec at on seem who' ehea|ted and gen u ne. Cu|
goa' s su |e' ywo| t hwh ' e, out wea|e s | ' ' d ssat s| . ed,
|o|wea|e unao' et osusta n t hese moments. V t hout
oe ngawa|e o| what s happen ng, wemayoep' ac ng
a ' ' ou| va' ue on a | ew up' | t ng momenl s wh . ' e
mpove| s h ngt he |est o| ou| ' |e Vec a neas ' yoe
come|asc| na|ed w| t h our memo|| es o| |hese spec| a'
| | mes and s pend much e||or| |ry| ng t o recapt u|e
Time to Change 269
0n 0s 0a' ns gnt s o| |ee' ngs V s n ngso m0cn | o |ee'
o|snowsomeext |ao|d na|ystateo| m nd, weoecome
' . se a n0ng|y oegga| no. d ng t gnt ' y to a t n mo' el 0 .
ot necta|.
Vny m0st we no. d o0| t nycon | a ne| so t gnt ' y!
| t s not t net n mo' ewewant, o0t t ne nect a|, wn cn
wesensemayoes . pp ng||om o0| g|asp. | n t n ns ng
aoo0toea0t | 0' expe| ences, nte|p|et ngt nem, t a' s ng
aoou| t hem, andemoe| | | sn | ng | hemw| | nassoc at | ons,
we a|e ' os ng t ne f' avo| o| t ne expe| ence ts e' l and
c|eat ngt ne need | o |ev | a' ze | . Vnat was neflao' e
oecomesconc|ete, t neconcept swe0sea|etoo| |ozen
to exp|ess v t a' mea n ng, and o0| memo| es a|e too
weas|ores| o|e|nepo|encyottheo| g| na' expe| | ence.
Vhenou| needt o|ecovera pas| expe| | ence | s st |ong
andoosess ve,t nedemandwemase0ponexpe| . ence
na||ows o0| attent on to o0 se' ves a| d o0| expecta
t ons Ve meas 0 |e o0| p|esent expe| enceaga nstt ne
yards| | cs o| memory, w | nou| | ett | ng t ne momen|
revea| | se| t as | | | s
M s s ng t ne | cn ness ol expe| ence, we g|ow
n0ng| e| and mo|e anx o0s, and c ' . ng even mo|e
t gnt ' y to o0| t ny meas 0|e o| oea0ty and open ness.
B0| wna| weneed| sa| a|gerrecep| ac| e,onetna| a ' | ows
0s |o |ece ve mo|e | 0 ce ||om eve|y expe| ence, not
| 0s | tnosewe | xa| e on as' spec a' ' C0| own g| asp ng
s t gnten ng o0| m nds and ood es, s n| n s ng o0|
capac tyto |ece ve | | wecanoose|vet newaywea|e
cut t | ng ourse' ves o|| |rom o0r own exper ence oy
g|asp| ng, we can | e' ax o0| des |e to possess wnat
canno| oe possessed. Cpen ng w de' y to wna| s
nappen ng ne|e and now, wecan expand o0| ' con
| a ne| , o0| capac ty |o| app|ec at on, and |es pond to
270 Knowledge of Freedom
eve|y | v ng momenl as an 0 npa|a' ' e| ed oppo|l un ly
l o|ece vel neoea0lyand| oy n ne|enl nl ne0nlo' d ng
of ' fe l se' f .
spec| a| | y as we approacn l ne end of our | ves,
memor| es ot l ne pas| can oe an aoundanl l rea
s uryot mean | ngandva| 0e |oo|| ngoacsonnappymo
menl s, |eca' ' ng l ne | oy we fe' l w l n ' oved ones o|
l ne sal sfacl on o| accomp' s nmenl s, we can |em nd
o0|se' ves l nal we nave ' ved a | . cn . fe. Memo| es
seem lo fo|m l ne co|e olo0| ' ves, we may |el0 |n lo
l nemaga nand aga n, fo|l ney seem mo|e |ea' andv
l a| | nanou| presenl expe| ences.
A| | nougn | nese | mages can or ng 0s tee| | ngs ot
sal slacl on, en| oy ngl nem s ' |e ' cs ng lne edgeol
a s na|p sn fesp|ead w l n noney. cacn | mewe |eca' '
o0| pasl napp ness, we a|e |em nded l nal l ne nap
p nessnaspassed. Ve |now l nosedaysa|e goneand
w . ' nol comeaga n. Vemaynol w s n| o' ve nawo|' d
otmemor| es, o0lcanl nepresenl compare lo lnepas|
wnenwewe|eyou ngerand nad mo|ev| la ' | |y!
| f we f nd o0|se| ves w|apped 0p . n memo| es ol
l ne pasl, we m gnl cnecs l o oe s 0|e we a|e ga n ng
mo|e| nanfee' ngso| sadness. cven l we |ece veg|eal
| oy f|om o0| memo| es, | ney may oe l | cs ng 0s n a
s 0o| . eway. | l s easy| o ' d sappea| | gnl nl ol nep cl u|e
of l ne pas l Ve can a . mos| lee' l ne | oy we le' | l nen,
we can a ' mosl reacn oul and l o0cn o| d t | ends B0|
wnen we ar e aosoroed | n memory, l ne pas|-wn cn
s no mo|elee| s mo|e |ea| l nan | ne p|esenl , wne|e
o0| ' fe |ema ns lo oe ' | ved. As we g|ow o' de|, o0|
v l a ' ly nal 0|a . ' y dec|eases, and w | n l l ne sen s | v l y
Time to Change
271
olo0| senses, yet t may oe | ha| | hep|esent tee' s t' a|
oeca0sewehave ' ost contactw t h| t
| t we can a|t 0ne o0|se' ves moe c' ose' y t o t he
|ea| |y oeto|e 0s now, t he dynam c ene|gy ot t he
p|esentmoment w. ' ' no0| . s h0s and|enewo0| ene|gy.
By gent | y con| act | ng each ot o0| senses, we can
. ntens tyt hesensat ons wea|e|ece v ng. |oc0s ng,lo|
examp| e, ono0| sense ot s | gh | , wecan|e| ax o0| eyes
andt o0chshapesandto|ms' ghl ' yw t ho0| gaze |ach
s gh| weseeofte|s 0s a spec| a| de| | ght weott en m ss
when o0| m nds a|e o0sy |ememoe| ng. These | che|
tee| ngsdonot dependont hes ha|pnessoto0| v s | on,
o0t ont he|ecept . v t yoto0| hea|tsandm nds Co' o|s,
so0nds, and t|ag|ances, | ch |ext 0 |es and tas|es a |e
cont n0a' so0|cesotv. ta ' ty we canopen' set |eas0 |e
ches| s. Vhen we a ' ' ow o0 |se' ves to |espond to t he
mmed cacy ot t he p|esent moment , t he s mp' est
expe| enceevosesdeepsa| s tact on.
Memo| | es cana| so oe0 sedtoo| ngmo|e | chness
andv ta ' ty ntot hep|esent. t wechangeo0| |esponse
|othem. Aswe|ememoe|, wecano| ngo0| a| | ent | on
t ot hetee' ngswea|eexpe| enc ngnow Vecaneven
nv t e a che| s hed memo|y to come nto o0| m nds,
open ngo0| hea|ts to t as. l open ngt hedoo| l o| an
hono|edg0est, a | | ow ngtee| ngs otwe| comeanddeep
p' eas0|e to sp|ead t h|o0gho0t o0| ood. es. How |e
ma|sao| e,t h| s mag| ca| memo|ywehave' Vhend dt he
h0man m. nd d scove| | co0' d |eca' ' expe| . encesand
evose s0ch deep tee| ng t|om t he hea| | ' How t| ex
o' e memo|y s, t 0|n ng t|om j oy to sadness, sadness
to| ove, n an | nne| symphonyot| ex| 0|esand | ones.
Vh| | e we cannot a| ways convey the t| avo| ot a
pe|sona' expe| encetoot hes,whenwe 0se memo es
272 Knowledge of Freedom
as | o0cns | ones |o o ng 0p |ee' ngs ol | oy and ap
p|ec a| on and ' e| | nese lee' ngs ' gn| 0p o0| nea|| s,
wet| nd| na| wecanevoses m| | ar responses| no| ners.
1he even| s we are reca' | | ng are pas|, o0| o0r |ee'
ngs a|e mmed a| e, so0 |ces o| v | a' ene|gy | na| can
o| ng0sg|ea| and ' as | . ngp' eas0 e
Vnenweexpe| ence ' ove andca| ng, |esponse| o
oea0| y, and | ne| oy o| s har nghapp| nessw| | no| ne|s,
wes hare | na comm0n| ono| deeptee| | ng. cvenwnen
memo| es | o0cn |esevo |s o| d sappo. n| men| and
sadness, wecan|ememoe| | na| | nese|ee' . ngsa. soa|e
0n ve|sa' , 0nde|s |ood oy eve|y n0 man oe. ng Ca|
| 0deand app|ec| a| | on | ha| weare a| ve, | ha| wecan
tee| and respondcan oeawasened a| any momen| | n
eve|y n0 man nea|| , ne' p ng | o co0n | e|ac| pa n and
g| e|. Tn s | oo . s snow' edge | na | can oe comm0n.
ca| ed | n|o0gn o0| a | | . | 0desandac| . ons | n emoody
| ng | n| s 0 nders| and| ng, we can 0 p| | t | |ne near| s o|
o| hers, and enr | cn every day o| o0r | | ves w| | n | ne
wa m| n o| n| macyand' ove.
Tne o' de| we ae, | ne' age| | nes| oeno0se ol ' le
expe| ences we can eca' ' and 0se |o deepen o0
snow| edge ot | he h 0 man s p| r | | | n deepen ng o0r
0 nders | and| ng, we| o0cha we| | spr ngo| warm| n and
g| a| | 0de | n a | s a| s| es o0 . n ne| needs and |' ows
o0| wad | owa|d o| ne|s. Vnen we sense | n o0gn o0|
|ee' ngsacommona. |yw | na' ' n0 manoe ngs,lee' ngs
ot | one| | ness | ose | ne| | power. Ve na| 0ra | | y |espond
| otr| ends wno| | ve| n | s o| a| | onand ' one| | ness, | | gn|en
. ng | ne | o0|den and enco0|ag ng| nem | oapp|ec. a|e
| ne | ' . ves. n newways
Respond ng | o |ee' . ngs | ney snow a|e ea' , | ne
yo0ngw ' | oed|awn | o 0s na| 0ra| | y, ao| e | o t | 0s| o0|
Time to Change
,
273
openness and hones| y | n exp|es s ngwha| we snow
to oet |0e, wecan ne' pt nemtoavo dd . fl c0 ' t . es and
m stases, wecan ne' pca' m t he| r learsandenco0rage
t ne. |accomp| s n ment s.
Tneoenel t so0| snow' edgecano| ngtoot ne|sand
t o o0|se| ves w | | nc|ease | he mean| ng and va| 0e ol
o0| ' ves oeyond meas 0|e. Know ng o0| own va' 0e,
apprec| a| | ng wna|ever | | le has oro0gn| 0s , we stand
on a snow' edge mo|e p|ec o0s t nan | ewe' s , g v ng
l|om t nenea|t wnat wenave expe| enced Vnenwe
g| ve genero0s | ywha| we snow, evendea| h taseson
a newmean ng Hav. ng. ea| ned wnat t means t o. ve,
we can carry g|a| | 0de lort n| s snow| edge w t n 0s to
t neendolo0|days
nateve| o0| so0 |ces lo| mea n ng and va| 0e | n
o0| ' ves, we can expand t nem en d. es s . y oy
g|o0nd| ng o0rse| ves | n snow| edge. |ve|y s | | 0a| | on
o| ngspotent a' oenel t s, eacn moment can oe . aden
w. t n mea n ng. Ve can oeg n t n s nst ant to . nv t e
snow| edge | n| o o0r | | ves oy ooserv| ng o0r own ex
pe| ence Vedonotneed towa t lo|t ne | . gnt t . me,lo
prepare lor some ' spec| a| moment or to no| d oacs
l|om wnat | le cont n0a ' ' y p|esent s to0 s.
Ve may t n| ns t na| we . acs snow' edge, o0t t ne|e
s no need lo| conce|n n snow ngwe need g|eate|
snow. edge, we a0t omat ca . ' y p|epa|e an open p' ace
to rece| ve | t. As we ma| n| a| nrecep| | v| |y oyoose|v| ng
and q0est on ng o0| expe| ence, snow. edge w. ' .
|espond to o0 | nv t a| on a s nat 0|a ' ' y a s |a n l . ' s a n
openoow' .
As new . ns gnt s comet o 0s , t ne|e w. ' . nev. t ao. y
oe| | mes whenwecannot s 0s| a na sense ol p|ogress
274 Knowledge of Freedom
and g|owl n, and o0| |ecepl v l y seems lo d sappea|
Tnenwem gnl conc ' 0del nalo0| s mp' eq0esl ons and
momenl s o|' o|eas ngl n|o0gn' nloanew0 nde| sl and
ngn ave' l l ' e' as | ngva' 0e V l no0l oe ngcomp' el e' y
awa|e o| now l ne p|ocess o| open . ng 0n| o' ds n o0|
' ves, wecan eas ' y oecomed sco0|aged and|ee' we
nave ' ea| ned ve|y ' l l | e C| pe|naps n ' os ng con|
dence no0|se' ves, weoe' ll ' e o0| new snow' edge oy
say ng l . s nol n ng new, | 0 sl a va| al on on wnal we
a ' |eady 0 nde| sl and. Al l nese l mes, l s mpo|l an' lo
enco0 |ageo0 |se' veslo app|ec aleeacn aspecl o| l ne
ns . gnl we nave a ' |eady ga ned, l |eas 0| . ng eacn slep
| o|wa| d Know ngl nal wecanno| a' ways s 0s la nl n s
newsee ng s pa| l o| o0| snow' edgeaswe' ' .
As we see mo|e c' ea| ' y now g|owln man |esls n
o0| ' . ves, wecans na|e l neoene| l so' o0| snow' edge
w. l nol ne|s wno a |e a' so |ee' . ng l neneed |o|g|eale|
mean ng . n l ne | ' ves | n o0| mode|n wo| ' d l ne
so' al ono| nd v d0a' s s ve|yg|eal. Peop' e' vew. l n . n
l ne | ownpal l e| ns, mov ngl owa|d p| val ed|eamsand
goa' s , wn ' e end0| ng wnal l ney |ee' s l ne | own
p| val e pa n . Al any one momenl , some o' 0s 'ee'
con| denl and nappy, ol ne|s 0nce| | a n andcon|0 sed,
wn ' ewea ' ' n aved || c 0 ' l escomm0n cal ngw l none
anol ne|.
Vea|ea ' ' al d || e| enl sl ageso|' . |e, 0s ngd |' e|enl
s l |aleg esandd || e| enl v ews Tnesenal 0|a' va| al ons
co0 ' d ne' p 0s oa' ance and slao. ' . zeeacnolne|, | we
on' y |ea' zed l ne d || e|ence l nal l ne s ma ' ' esl g |l o|
0 nde|sland ngcanmase cvena ' oos, a gesl 0 |e,a|ew
s. nd wo|ds l nal ' el ol ne|s snow | ney a|e nol a' one
can ns p |e l nem lo d scove| w l n n l nemse' ves l ne
snow' edgel nal can |e' eve l ne | | | 0sl |al . on and pa. n
Time to Change 275
Know| edge . s t he most p|ec| o0s and powe|| 0 '
med| c| ne,t heoesto| a ' ' posses s | ons,at |eas 0|ewew| ' '
neve|' ose. C0t ' as t . nga | ' mat e|| a' o| phys | ca' oo ects,
mo|eva' 0ao' ethan thep0|estgo' d, snow' edgeo| o0|
| nne nat 0|e | s a |o0 nt a| n o| yo0t h t hat |e| 0venates
t hem| nd, o| | ng| ngc' a|| tyand| oy| n' | v| ng As o0| m| nd
d| st. ' | s snow' edge|| omeve|yexpe| | enceandconve|ts
| t to mo|e en ' | ght ened ac| on, o0| m| nd g|ows
| nc|eas | ng' y v| t a' no matte| howt heoody ages. cven
when we pass ||om t h| s ' | |e, the oody o| snow' edge
we have man| |ested | n o0| v ews and act | ons w. . '
cont | n0e to g|ow, empowe|ed oy o 0 | ' | |e ene|gy, t
w| ' ' he' p| os 0s |a . nmany| 0t 0 e gene|at | ons .
Z/
Gl obal Knowl edge
I n thinking of what we can give back to the world,
we begin to take responsibility for being human.
' l no0gn o0| snow' edge o| l newo ' d seems lo oe
ap d' yexpand ng, o0 v. ew seems |o oe oecom
. ng eve| mo|e s no|l s gnled, o| en | ed lowa|d sev. ng
a se| | we do no| 0 nders| and. |acs nga deep 0 nder
sl and n g o| o0| m nds, we can neve| oe | 0 | | y awa|e
o| wnal acl . ons a|e n o0| oes| . n le|esls, o l ase
espons o ' ly |o|l nee||ecls ol o0| ac| ons onolnes
Tn 0 s we cannol acl w. l n a v s . on g|o0nded . n
|now| edge o| wnal s | | 0| y oene| c| a| |o| 0s, o0|
soc. el | es, and o0| wor| d. C0 | oesl e||orls may oe
. n e||ecl 0a' o| even na m| 0 ' , wnen we do nol see
c' ea ' ywna| we ae do ng . n | ne p|esenl , we canno|
s nape o0 |0 | 0|e w | nea' con| . dence
C0 | ed0ca| | on p|epares 0sl o ' oos|o|ward lo l ne
l 0l 0|e, o0l doesnol l eacn0s l ne mpol anceo|oe ng
l 0 ' ' y go0nded . n awa|enessolwnoweae andwna|
we ae do. ng nee and now. Ve a' ' nave awaeness,
o0l we se' dom |ecogn ze ls l 0 ' ' powe, l s as l we
Time to Change 277
nad w ngs o0l nad neve ' ea| ned l o 0se l nem Now
wel n ns we aedo ngwe' ' | we can' eapl ol neol ne
s deo| a s ma ' ' sl |eam, wedo nol snow l nal we nave
l necapao ' lylosee'ol ne| a l neslexl en |o|l neocean
andl|avese l s| 0 ' ' expanse
C0 n0manawa|eness s so powe|| 0 ' l nal even |
wel apon' ya s ma' ' pa| l o| l wecanaccomp' s n moe
| na' we eve deaml poss o' e 's ng o0 comp' ele
polent a' , we can soa lo l ne ne gnl wne|e o0 ac
comp' s n menl s nave g|eal and ' as l ngva' 0 e|o| ooln
o0|se' ves and |o| | 0 ' 0 |e gene|al ons. V s on sel | ee
| omlnese' | nas no' m ls l sao' elodaw| 0 ' ' y0 pon
l nepasl , seec' ea| ' y n l nep|esenl , and | ange| a n lo
l ne| 0l 0|e, w l n a scope l na' encompasses l neenl |e
wo| ' d See ng a g|eal ' e' d o| poss o ' l es ' o acl on,
s 0cnv s on | nds mean ng n o| ng ngt neseposs o '
l es nlo oe ng
C0| pe|specl ve nal 0|a ' ' y w dens wnen we s n |l
o0 allenl onaway| ompesona' conce nsand|e|' ecl
onnowo0| ve|yoe ng ss 0s | a nedonl n s p' anel |vey
momenl o| o0| ' ves, we depend on l ne a and l ne
ea|ln l se' | . |acndayweoene| l |om l nes 0n' gnl l nal
wa|mso0| ood es anda' ' ows0s losee, wecannol ' ve
w | no0l wal e| |o| moel nana |ewdays |acno|l nese
v l a' e' emenl s nas oeen aeons n lne mas ng, d0 ng
l ne |o| mal ve slages o| o0| ga' axy and p' anel . C0|
n0 man ood es nave oeen g|ad0a ' ' y deve' oped ove|
seve|a' m ' ' on yea|s, d0 ng wn cn eacn gene|al on
nas passeda' ongva| al onsandcnangesl o lsdescend
anl s C0| ' ang0age and mages d d nol s 0dden' y
sp ng nt o oe ngal o0| o |l n, cenl 0 es, even m ' ' en a
o| expe| ence ' e oen nd a s ng' e wo d. Tne expe
ences o| co0nl ' essn0manoe ngsnaveconl | o0ledlo
:c Knowledge of Freedom
o0| c0' t 0e and t he soc. ety . n wh. cn we have made
o0| home. Veca. . 0ponvasteso0 |cesat evey nstan|
o| o0| ' ves.
Vecanseehowm0chwea |e g. ven oyo0 wo. d,
o0t what a |e weg. v. ng . n |et 0n ! V. ' ' t he p' anet oe
oette |o o0| so| o0|n on | s s0 |ace, o| wo|se! Many
peop' etoday |ea' . zet hat wecannot cont . n0et ot ase
so m0ch | om o0| wo| ' d w. t ho0t cons . de| . ng t ne
needso| | 0| 0|e gene|at . ons. Vn. ' et n. s v. ew . s a step
' o|wa|d, . t . s st . ' ' o| . ented towad tas. ng | |om one
pe|spect . ve, we m0 stt ase. A. . sent . ent oe. ngstaseto
s 0st a. n ' . |e and |et0 n on' y t he. | ood. es to | he e' e
ments. B0t h0 manoe. ngshavea n . ghe| consc. o0sness
and the snow' edge to ' . ve t ne | ' . ves w. t h a moe
oa' anced 0ndestand. ng o| t he |e' at . ons n p oetween
h 0 man awa enessandthel 0t 0 |eo|' . |eono0| p' anet .
Howcan we |ea' . ze t hel 0 ' ' oene' . | s ol oe. ng n0
man . | wedo not 0se t nesnow' edgewe nave!Vhat
0se. so0| snow. edge |we|o' ' owthepatt e| nsolmo|e
' . m ted lo| ms o| ' . |e! Possess ng geate capac ty ' o
0nde|stand. ng t han ot he l o| ms o| ' le, we nave a
g|eate |espons . o . . |y to cons de| wnat we can o|| e
to ' le . n |et 0 |n lo| ts g ' tsto0s
| n t h. ns ng o| what we cang ve oacsto | newo ' d,
we oeg nto t ase espons o. ' . ty lo oe ng n0 man and
ea' . zet heeno|mo0s va' 0eol o0 nd v. d0a. ' ves Ve
see t nat we can ot| e| t he g. l | s o| o0| ene|gy, o0
awa|enesso0 | . vesto c|eate a | cne| env onment
' o|t nose who lo' ' ow 0s P|eocc0pa| ons and wo . es
so. mpo | ant tot he. m tedse' l me' t nto. ns . gn . ' . cance
when o0| pes pect . veonwhat . t meanst ooe n0 man
w. dens Cent eed n a o|oad, open v. ew, we can e' y
Time to Change
279
ono0| own n ne| |eso0 |cestoset ' ongrangegoa' s fo|
o0r | vesand p| ana co0 rseotact| on|oach | eve | hem.
A' t no0gn o0| v s on s now ve|y ' m ted, we can
0s e t ne |eso0 |ces we a' |eady have t o he| gn| en o0r
awa|eness. O|aw ngonwnatwea' |eadysnow, wecan
proj ec| o0r v| s | on as tar as poss o' e | n|o t he t 0t 0re
andcons de| caref0 ' ' y wnat t ne|es 0 ' ts of o0| act ons
m| gh| oe. 1henwecan| h| ns oacs, rev| ew| ng| hepast,
|ef' ect ngonwneres m ' a| act ons nave' ed 0s oefo|e,
and q0est | on| ng| heca0se ot proo' ems enco0nt ered
n tne past. Vnat effects d d s 0cn act ons nave on
ot he| s n t nepast , and wnat eflects w ' ' o0| p|esent
act ons naveonot ne|s | nt hef 0t 0re'
1h| ns | ng | n t h| s way, ' oos| ng torward and oacs
wa|d, open | o wnateve| we see, we gat ne| togetne|
a' ' t hesnow' edgeato0| command. St |engt henedw t n
| n. s snow. edge, we can assess mo|e w se| y wnet ner
wnatwea|edo ng s wo| t nt neexpend t 0|eofo0| t me
a nd energy Cnce we nave q0est | oned o0r p0rpose
caref0 ' ' y, wew ' ' seenowoneact ono0 ' ds 0pont ne
nex| , we w| | | not ' ose energy and t | me| nd strac| | on
o|oed ve|| ed f|om o0| p0 rpose. Pe| od ca' ' ywecan
exam| ne | he res 0| ts ot o0r act | ons and readj 0s| o0r
co0rse as necessa|y Know' edge w ' ' g|ow w t n eacn
reassess ment, ando0| v s onw ' ' oecomec' eare|.
Tn. s p|ocess s m0cn ' se c ' . mo ng a mo0nta n
V| t no0t prepara| | on, c| | mo| ng even | hes ma| | est peas
can oe ve|y dange|o0s . B0t wnen we tase t me to
st 0dy tne |o0t e and reassess . t as we c ' mo, we can
p|oceed w | h safe| y and conf dence |ven| 0a' . y t ne
s0 mm t w ' ' come nto v ew, ns p r ng 0s to mase
evengreateretlorts
280 Knowledge of Freedom
Vnen we a|e m| nd| 0' o| o0| goa' and awae o|
| he p|esen| momen| , o0| concen| |a| | on | | nss o0|
ene|gy| o| nemomen| 0mo|l | me, ef|o| | ' ess| ys0s|a n
| ng0s . | n s| eado| | n |e|ac| | ngw| | hs 0||aceappea|ances
and s 0pe|f| c a| |o| es, we| o0chdeepe| d mens | ons o|
expe| . ence | ha| |e| 0 |n |o 0s a | ch and sal . s|y. ng
ene|gy. Res 0' l s g|ow slead ' y, as l we we|e l app ng
an nexna0sl o' e so0 |ce o| powe|. Acl ng 0pon a
pesona' comm. l menl l o ofle|somel n ng o| va' 0elo
l ne wo|' d, a ' ' we do emanales f|om a deep nne|
. nl eg| . l y and o| ngs o0| wno' e oe. ng . nl o a d |ecl
nl e|acl onw l n' |e.
Recogn z ng l ne va' 0e ol o0| ' ves and l as. ng
comp' el e |espons . o. ' ly |o| o0| ac| ons, we oeg n lo
d |aw 0pon l ne |0| | |eso0 |ces o| o0| consc o0sness
Vnen we ' ea|n now lo 0se | nese |eso0 |ces, we
awasen a | a| g| ea| e| v| s | on o| wna| | s poss | o| e|o|0s
l oach eve | | ns| ngv| s | on| osnow' edge a| eacn s|ep
o| | heway, weeslao| | s na momen| 0m | no0 | | | vesl nal
he gn | ens o0| n| e|es| andv | a ' | |y, andc 0 | m nales | n
g| ooa| snow' edge.
C' ooa' snow' edge s l ne sey lo a |0 ' ' y awasened
consc o0sness, awa|e and | 0 ' ' y concenl |aled on l ne
pesenl , |es pons. ve lo l ne needs o| a' ' oe. ngs al a ' '
l . mes. Acl ng n l ne' gnl o| g' ooa' snow' edge . s ' . se
see ng c' ea| ' y l ne n gnesl peass n | ne wo| ' d and a
d ecl o0l e lo l ne l op, we can l ase eve|y slep w l n
ce|l a nly, snow ng l nal l ne n gne| we c' . mo, l ne
c' ea|e| o0| v ew w. ' ' oecome-0 nl ' . l evenl 0a' ' y
opens o0l n a' ' d |ecl . ons
Ao' e lo see a' ' | ne |oces a| wo|s | n o0 wo| ' d,
o0| consc| o0s nes s co0| d open 0p ' aye|s ol l | me, | ne
Time to Change
281
moment a t no0gnt c|ossed o0| m. nds, we wo0 ' d
snow exact ' y wnat act . on . t wo0 ' d p|ompt , wnat
e||ecto0| act . onwo0' dnaveonot ne|s, andt ne| 0t 0 |e
res0 | | s o| | ha| ac| | on Ra| her | hanre| y| ngon| hes | ow
p|ocesso|| r | a| anderro|, wecou ' d| mmed| a| e| y|ej ec|
wnat we snew wo0 ' d not t 0|n o0t we. ' and concen
t |ate on act . ons t nat wo0 ' d oe mo|e oene|. c. a' |o|
o0|se' vesand|o|ot ne|s.
Canwe| mag| neawor| d| nnao| tedoym. ' | . ons who
s ha|ed a v| s | ono| u n | versa| nar mony and peace, and
we|eao' eto 0 n . t e l ne. | |eso0 |cest oo| . ng t n. s v. s . on
. nto oe. ng! Ve wo0 ' d nave a wo| ' d o| wond| o0s
oea0ty to passon to gene|at . ons o| t ne | 0t 0|e Cov
erned oy a mora| order oased on g| ooa| respons | o| |
| |y, | ne wor| d wo0 | d need no res | r . c| | ve | aws. |ach
. nd. v. d0a' , 0n . queand |ree, wo0 ' d act . n | 0 . ' snow'
edge o| t ne |es 0. t s o| n. s o| ne| act . ons V. t n t n. s
0nde|st and. ng, wewo0 ' d not oe' . se' yt o. nv. t ep|oo
' ems o| s 0||e| . ng . nto o0r ' . ves o| nto t ne ' . ves o|
o| hers. |ve|yone wou | d cont r| ou| e t ne| r gen| 0 s w. | n
w. sdom, m. nd| 0 ' o| t newe' | a|e o|a | ' t nat ex. st s
II[
I@Wc
CHAPTER 28: L I MI TS ON MEANI NG
M nd, l no0gnl , andconcepl s
287
|ea|n ngconcepl sasc n ' d|en 288
Conceplsandmean ng 289
Consl | cl ngl neopen nesso|l nem nd 290
A0l omal c|esponses
291
Conceplsas|esl | c | ons on expe| ence 292
Conl0s . ngconcepl w l n|ea ' . l y 293
Conceplsandcomm0 n cal on
294
0e|y. ngconcepl 0a' pal l e|n ngs 295
Rev | a| z ngconcepl s
295
Cose|v ngl no0gnl s 296
Pall e|n . ngso|l nem nd 297
Cpen ngnew pe|specl veson l no0gnl 299
CHAPTER 29: THE I AS KI NG
C0 | wo| ' d n l n e0 n ve|se 301
C0| p' ace n l nel ne0n ve|se 302
|xlend ngl ne|angeo| n0 man nq0 |y 302
0e|y ngo0| o| g ns 303
Know' edgeol n0 manoe ng 304
On p|ed cl ao ' lyoll no0gnl andacl on 306
0e|y ngo0| own ex sl ence 306
T|acs. ngl ne' I '
307
Cna' . eng ngl ne' ' ' 308
CHAPTE R 30: THE I LLUSORY I
| n| erna| dynam| cot percep| | on
' | asowne| ofexpe| ence
' | asoo| ect
' | ass 0o| ect
' | asstao | ze| ofexpe| ence
' | andt ne|ea' ty ofcnange
|aoe' ng expe| ence
| n f' 0 enceoft ne' | '
B' am ngt ne' | '
| ' ' 0 so|y pa|| ne|s n pw t n' |
Oncr | | | ca| acceptanceof ' |
CHAPTE R 31 : TYRAN NY OF THE I
Oom nat onof t ne' |
Oen a' of mper manence
Cont | o' and p|otect on
Oefenseaga nst g|owtn
O st o|t ons oftne' |
Tne' | s nsec0 | t y
Possess onandowne|sn p
Man. p0 ' at ons of ' |
The' | andemo| | ona| pa| n
Cos|sotse|v| ng| he' | '
Oecept | ons ot t n e ' |
31 0
31 1
31 2
31 3
31 3
31 4
31 4
31 5
31 6
31 7
31 7
31 8
31 8
31 9
320
321
321
322
323
323
324
325
2
Li mi t s on Mean i ng
Could our thoughts and actions be guided
by a more comprehensi ve and trustworthy
knowing intrinsic to our own being?
e a| ' ' | ve w l n n an n ne| wo| ' d ol mages,
| hough|s, and memor es | ha| s h ll con| | nua| | y,
evos ng a | cn | exl 0 |e ol lee' ngs, emol ons, and
moods Somel mes mages a| sev v d' y n o0| m nds
and spa|s a cha| n ot | hough| , al o| her l | mes we can
senseo0| m nds o| ng ng an dea n lo loc0s Al l s|
we may s mp' y sense l nal we a|e see ng mages o|
| h| ns| ng | hough| s, ou| soon | hough| oecomes mo|e
s0oslanl a' , we a|e awa|e ol l ne acl 0a' wo|ds n o0|
m nds as we l n ns o| exp|ess l nem n speecn o| n
wr| | | ng.
Tne wo|ds exp|es s ng mages and l no0gnl s a|e
concepls, ' nsed logel ne| n sl | ngs l nal c' a| ly l ne
re| a| | ons h| ps. Concep| s are | heou ' d ng o| ocssol our
. ang0age, andl ne | mean ngsa|el nes 0osl anceolo0|
snow' edge Many concepl s we 0se l oday nad t ne |
or| g n | ongago. 1hroughoul h u manh s| ory, onecon
288
Knowledge of Freedom
cept has g|own out o| anot he|, o| anch ng and p|o' l
e|at ng | sev nes n a j u ng| e.
Concept s may oe s mp' e dent | e|s ' se ' t |ee' and
' house' o| mo|eaos| |actno| ons| se' | |eedom' ,' ' ove' ,
o| ' | ust ce' They a|e ou | t up t h|ough a p|ocess o|
d s t nct ons, |o' | ow nga ' og ca| patte|n t hat cont |asts
' | h s ' and ' not t h s' . ' C|een' s d st ngu shed ||om
' notg|een' , ' t |ee' s d st ngu shed ||om a ' ' t hat s
' nott|ee' . Thesed s t nct ons dependuponeachothe|
' t a| l ' t ases | s mean ng n compa| i son w | h ' sho|t ' ,
' o g' has mean ng ncompa| sonw t h' s ma ' ' '
As we con| nue to mee| w t hnewooj ects, we can
' aoe' them oy d s t ngu s h ng them ||om what we
snow. An e| ephant seen lo| t he | |s| | me s ' not
anyt h ng ' haveseen oe|o|e' , ' notdog' , ' not ca| ' , and
so |o|t h. Then we can adopt t he name ' e' ephan | '
These s mp' e d s t nct ons |o| m |he |ounda| on |o|
mo|ecomp' exconcept st hatd |awuponthemean ngs
o| many ot he| concepts. ' | |eedom' has mean ng
oecausewecande| newhat t means t ooe' not ||ee'
Ve can |o|m an dea o| ' ' ove' oy cont |ast ng a' ' we
assoc ate w | h| ovew t hwhat s ' not | ove' .
At some po nt n ou| c h ' dhood, we |ound ou|
se' ves | h ns ng and speas ng, us ng and |eact ng to
concept s | |om pa| ent s, l | ends, and the ot he| n| ' u
ences nou| comp' exsoc a' cond t on ng, weaoso|oed
ou| oas c concept ua| ||amewors. As n |ant s, wewe|e
|asc nated oy mov nglo| msand patte|ns o| ' ght and
shadow, we ' ea| ned t o|ecogn | zeou| pa|en | s, aswe' '
a s to d s t ngu sh oo| ect s Ve we|e a' |eady mas ng
assoc at ons oetween wha| we saw, hea| d, sme' ' ed,
tasted, andsensed t h |oughou| ood es . Ve may have
Time to Change 289
deve' oped a sense l nal o0 assoc al ons nad s gn l
cance, o0 l wenadnowo dsl oexp|essl n e mea n ng.
| s len ng lo l ne sposen so0nds a|o0nd 0s , we
' ea|ned l o name lne ' o ms and q0a' l es o|o0| wo| ' d
Tn s pocess0 nlo| dedoyl | a' ande||o, l newo|dswe
l |sl ' nsed l o l ne oo| ecl s ao0 nd 0s may nol nave
a' waysmal cnedl newo|ds0sedoyol ne| s Twooo| ecl s
comp' el e' y d. ll e|enl n s. ze and co| o we|e ool n
named ' dog , lwo ol ne|s, nea ' y denl ca' , we|e ' dog
and ' cal . Co|ecled and |eco||ecled many l mes , we
snapedo0| ea|' y mpess ons |o|. lad0 ' l concepl sand
oeganloassoc. alelo| msand so0nds ' co|ecl ' y
|venl 0a' ' y, wed d nol navelo ' sl en lo l neso0nd
as so0ndl ne so0nd l o0cned o0| concepl s mme
d al e' y, andwe' nea|d mean ng'd |ecl ' y Concepl soe
came a s nd o| s no|l nand, a conven enl way l o |e|e|
lo|am. ' a| oo| ec| s w l no0l nav ngl odesc| oep|ec s e' y
wnal wewe|e see ngo exacl ' ywnal wemeanl .
S. m0' l aneo0s' y, we we|e l a0gnl now l o |eacl l o
l nese concepl s. wnal weco0 ' dandco0 ' d nol l o0cn,
wnal l ova ' 0e, wnal l odes . |e, andwnal l o|e| ecl, we
even ' ea| ned wnal l o oe n appy and sad aoo0l .
Acco|d ng l o l ne c0sl oms o| o0| c0' l 0|e, we we|e
l a0gnl l ne p|ope| way lo cal ego| ze, 0 se, and l n n s
aoo0l eve|yl n ng n o0| expe| . ence.
C|ad0a' ' y, manyassoc al ons oeganl oacc0 m0 ' ale
a|o0nd concepls Tney co0 ' d l o0cn memo| es and
evose comp' ex |eacl . ons . Ve co0 ' d, oy 0ll e . ng l ne
wo|d ' nome , evosea wea' l nol lee' ngsand assoc a
| ons l nal gave l n s concepl a spec a' mean . ngl o 0s .
Pe|naps many wo|ds | oos on a deep p| val e s. gn l
29
Knowledge of Freedom
cance, | us| as cer| a| n s | gh| s, |rag|ances, sounds, and
sensa| ons somel mes seemed | o |esonal e w l n | cn,
u nexp| a| nao| emean| ng
Bu| wha| everhads gn | || cance| ous pe|sona| | yhad
lo oe expessed w l n n lne concepls ava ' ao' e n ou|
| anguage Ve had | o accepl lhe mean ngs we were
g ven, and ' eaveu nsposen | nemean ngsand|ee' ngs
wecou| dno| commu n ca| e Theconcep|swe| earned
|e|' ecled oacs lo us, and we oegan |o l n ns w l n l ne
wo|ds o| our | anguage Thewo| ds| ha| now |orm so
sponl aneous ' y n ou| m nds a|e a ' ' conceplsl ansm |
| ed | o us oy o| he|s . These concepl s now cond| | | on
nowwev ew ou se' vesandou wo| ' d, nowwel n ns,
andhowwe|espondlowhal happens around us. They
c eale ou| eve|yday ea ' | y, and we use l nem lo n
| erpre| a| | our exper| ence
oncepl s oeg n as |' u d and | ' ex o' e, oul oecome
more | xed as we ma| ure. Vhen we are || rs|
' ea|n nga concepl , s ucnas' s pace o' awa|eness' , we
are mos| recep| ve|o n uances around | l , wemay p| ay
w l n l |o| a wh ' e, quesl on l , and exp' oe l s
poss | o| | | | | es. Cnce we |ee| we ' snow | | , we | end lo
' ose nl e|esl Cu| w ' ' ngness lo |eexam ne, d sca|d,
o| expand |he scope o| | he concep| decreases, | he
wo|d s no' onge| a ' ve, suo| ecl l omod | cal on n' gnl
o| new snow| edge, oul | | ozen | nlo an | | em o| | n
|o|mal on l nal we possess Ve |e' y on l aul omal
ca' | y | n ou| l n| ns ng, wh| ch oecomes more a ma| |er
o||eco' ' ecl onl nana c|eal veacl v l y
Re' y ngexc ' us ve' yonou concepl ua' pallen ngs,
wes ' ow| ycons| r | c| l henal u|a| opennesso|ou| m| nds
' l oecomes moe d lf cu' l lo pe|ce ve l ne s uo| ' e nu
Time to Cha nge 291
anceso|| necnang ngmomen| . A|| ne momen| o|pe|
cep| | on, ou| m nds g|asp and | n| e| p|e| senso|y n |o|
ma| on, and s upp' y us w | n pepacsaged concep| s
| ha| have spec| || c assoc a| | ons and emo| | ona| | ones
oased on pas| expe| ence Tnese assoc a| ons a| . se
s| mu| |aneous| yw| | n| heconcep| , proj ec| nga pas|s | |
ua| . on on| o | ne p|esen| and cond | on ng now we
v ewan expe| ence Vedono| necessa| | y|espond|o
| ne mmed a| e expe ence, ou| | o | ne expe| ence as
| s | ' | e|ed | n|ougn concep| s, memo es, . mages,
andassoc| a| | ons.
See| nga presen | s | | ua| onas s | m| ' ar | oa pas| one,
we| end| o|eac|au| oma| ca' ' y, dec|eas . ngou| ao ' |y
|o assess | he presen | s | | ua| | on | resh | y Bound | o | he
pas| n | n s way, we canno| pe|ce ve | ne vas| |ange
o|a ' | e|na| vesava ' ao' e n| nep|esen | andsod m n sn
ou| op| ons |o| ac| on. Th s | endency ooscu |es
awa|eness, ' os ng| oucnw | n| neopendynam. co|| ne
' | v| ngmomen| , we| ve| n a deadened wor | d.
Vhenconcep| soecome| n| s | xed nou| consc ous
ness, wecanpe|ce veno| h ngnew. Onao' e| ope|ce ve
| ne s uo| ' e| es o| eacn cnang ng s | ua| on, we even
|epea| | nesameges | ures and | hesamecommen| s n
s | ua| ons | na| appea| | ne same. Vnen ou| m nds
oecomehao| | ua| ed| os ucha u|oma| | c|esponses, | hey
g|ow ' azy and . na| | en| ve, espec a ' ' y . n tam ' . a| s u
round| ngs. Cur || xed v| ewsg| veus a senseo| secur| |y
Ve|ee' we ' snow | neoo| ec| s n ou| wo|' d, we lee'
we' snow peop' e and o| he| | v ngoe ngs. Ve cou n |
on | n ngs| os| ay| n esamea n d| o|u ' l ' ' ou| expec| a
| . ons o|wna| | ney a|e su pposed |ooeanddo
Tnemo|e we|e n|o|ce| n s pas s v | yoy|e' y ngon
deadened concep| s, | ne mo|e ou| m nds res s| |eex
292
Knowledge of Freedom
am n ngwhatwesnowAswe|o|ceo0| expe| ence nto
r | g| d mo' ds, our | n nerwor . dcanoecomes ma. ' erand
mo|e ' m ted, |at he| t han en | ched oy o0| da ' y ex
per| ences. Con| | ned| oconcep| s| ha| | | m| tou| expres
s ons o| |ee' ng and ns ght , we can on' y d0p' cate
t he pa| t e| ns we have | ea| ned, | se ou| pa|ents,
g|andpa|ent s, and t he | pa|ent s oe|o|e | hem A' ' the
snow' edge we ga n | |om ou| |o| ma' ed0cat on and
|romourexper| encemayon' yoean| ncreas | ng' ycom
p' ex assoc at on o| concept s t hat have ' tt ' e mean
| ngtoa h u man| |e. Suchconcep| sare |oo||ozen, too
pa|t c0| a| zed, too d sta n| ||om t he |ea' m o| ' v ng
| h ngs | oexp|essou| deepe|' eve' s o| expe| ence
Ont ' weq uest | on, ana| yze, and |eassess t hecon
cepts we use to exp|ess o0 |se' ves, we a|e |es| | cted
| oon| y oneset o| n| e| p|etat ons |o|o0 expe| ences
Vhet he| t hey acco|d w | h | he |ea' ty o| what . s
happen ng o| o| ng 0s 0nnecessa|y pa n, we ' eave
ourse. ves no cho| ce out to ' ve |n | h| s ' m| t ed rea' m.
|ven | o0| ment a' wo| ' d s ' one' y, andwega n ' tt ' e
p' eas ure | r om our exper| ences, our | hough| s are
| am ' a| andg ve0s an ' ' 0s ono| sec0 | tyandcont|o'
t hat o nds us to | hem Ve may seeno a| te| nat ve to
t h s way o| 0nde|stand ng ou|se' ves and o0| wor ' d.
But when even s uch t ho0ght sast hesedepend 0pon
concep| swehaveneverdeep' yexam ned, howwou ' d
wesnowt he|e a|e noot he| poss o ' | es!
Canweeven t h ns aoout somet h ng|o|wh chwe
haveno concep| ' | | we had noconcep| o|' ove, cou. d
we |o| m expec| at ons o| what ' ove s ' se, oecome
d sappo| nted when our expe| ence d d no| ma| ch
| heseexpect a| ons,o| | antas zeaoo0t peop' ewe' ove!
| | we had no not on o| ' ove, co0| d we hat e! Vhat |
Time to Change 293
we nad no concepl o|' | ' , or o|ou se' vesas somenow
sepa|ale | |om ol ne| s! Tnen wnal wou ' d we ' ove o
nal e!Cou | d weoecomea| | acned | opeop' eor | n| ngs ,
expe| ence nsecu | l y, o| lea| |e| ecl on ! | | soc ely
cou' d no| p|esen| us w| l n dea' s | nal d d nol ma| cn
l ne|ea' ly o| ou| s l ual on, wou' d welee' gu ' ly l na|
wecou ' dno| | ve upl ol nem! How m gnl l nequa' ly
o| our | | ves oe d| f|e|en| | | we nad no ' s nou' d' or
' wou ' d' n ou|' anguage!
| | we ' oosca|el u' ' y al ou| expe| ence, we can see
l nal many | n ngs l nal seem su osl anl a| and | ea' a|e
ac| ua' ' ynol ons |o|medoy ou| m nds Tn n s ngaooul
l nemandus| ng| nemda ' y, we| end| o|orgell nal | ney
a|e menl a' lomu ' al ons and e' ale lo l nem as |ea'
Tnus napp ness, |o| examp| e, s nol n ne| enl n l ne
oo| ecls we des re, oul gows oul o| l ne way we
nle|p|elacel a ns ndolexc l emen | Howeve|mucn
weva' uenapp ness , | l | oo | s on' y a concep| , a name
l nal we ' ean l o app' y l o cel a n lypes o| s l ual ons
or |ee' ngs
V| | noul ou| dea o| napp| ness and | ne many
|e' a|ed nol ons conce| n ng wnal mases us nappy,
wou ' d we snow | we we|e nappy! Cou' d we oe
unnappy! Vou ' d we nave lne same lee' ngs l we
' acsed a wo|d | oexpessl nem! How cou' dwespend
l | mel n| ns| ngaoou| wne| ne| we we|e nappy, o |ee'
dep| ved |wewee nol !
| l s nea ' y mposs o' elo| us | o mag newnal ' le
wou' doe| | sew | noul s ucn| am ' arconcep| s Venave
come lo l | usl ou| p|esenl concepl ua' palle|n ng as a
|easonao' y |e| ao' e e|| ecl on ol l ul n, and see no
|easonloquesl on| l . Bul doesou| concepl ua' pall e n
294
Knowledge of Freedom
ng nc|ease ou| opl ons |o| oe. ng and acl . ng n l he
wor ' d, o| s l l oo' m l ed l ose|veou| needs! A|e ou |
p|esenl concepl sao' eloaccommodal ea' ' l hesnow'
edgeposs | o| e|orus| oga| n, or havel hey oecome|oo
| . g dlos us l a na mo|e comp|ehens vepe|specl ve on
snow' edge!
Vhen we depend aul omal ca' ' y upon concepls,
whel her . n l houghl s, speech, o| w| | | | ng, we can
acl ua| | ydecrease our ao| | | |y | ocommun | ca| e Vea| |
' ve n ou | own menl a' |ea' m, ou| nd v. dua' expe|
enceshavecond l oned l hespec l c connol al ons o|
l he concepl s we use. A' l hough ou| menl a' wo| ' ds
over ' ap l hose o| ol hes, l hey are neve| comp' el e' y
| denl | ca| . Oepend| ngon snow| edge || ' |ered l hrough
concepl s, we can nol who' ' y commu n cal e ou| n
l ended mean ng, nslead, wea es uol ' y so' aled ||om
one anol he| A' l hough we a ' ' use lhe same wo|ds
da. ' y, l he|e sagap n ou| commun cal . onlhalcan nol
oe| u| | yc| osed
Vhenwel ans ' al el heconceplso|onecu' l u|e nlo
l hose o| anol he|, l h. s gap n commun cal on s w d
ened. The mean ngoleach concepl may appea| l he
same,o0l l heconnol al ons assoc al edw l h l mayvary
greal | y. Today, as |ng| | s h and o| her wes|ern ' an
guagesa|e nc|eas. ng' y used n wo|' dw decommun
cal on, l he peop' eso| l hewor' d seem l ooemov ng
lowa|d a sha|ed oodyolconcepl s Yel whal ssha|ed
may on' y oe su pe|| c a' , ' he sa me wo|ds may have
d| || erenl mean ngsw| | h| nd || e|enl cu' | ures. |ven |he
s| rucl u |eold. |le| en| ' anguagesmay grea| ' y| n|' uence
l heao ' ly lo exp|ess mpol anl nuances o| mean ng.
Thus l he|e . s g|eal pol enl a' lo| con|us on and m s
unde|sl and ng Ve may un snow ng' y ' ose va' uao' e
Time to Change 295
|now| edge n | rans | a| | on. C| t hewor| d' s peop' es may
come to oenave ' . se pa|t ne|s n a oad |e| at ons h p,
excnang ng |a ' | and |eass u|ances, ou| ' ac| nga oas s
|o| |ea' commun cat on
Areou |cur|en| concept ua' pa| |e| nsnecessa| | yt he
oes| oas s lo| nc|eas ng ou| u nde|stand ng ol ou|
se' vesandou| wo|' d! Havewe exp' o|ed t neassu mp
t | onsu nder' y ngour concept s! Had cond| t | ons | n our
pas|oeend| ||eren| , o| her ment a' pat| er nsm| ght have
evo' ved | us | as eas ' y, | nen we wou ' d oe ' v ng n
anot ne| ment a' ' andscape, | ust as conl dent . n ou|
senseo|rea| | t yaswea|e|oday. Vna| wenowcons der
|o oe unquest onao| e, se' | ev| den| | | ut hs m| gh| no|
evenex st, wewou ' dhavenoway| ot n. n| aoout t nem,
yea|n| o| t nem, s u||e|ove|t nem, o| | . gnt | o| t nem.

| we |e|' ec| on t he nat u |e o| concep| s and how

unc| t ca ' ' y we accept tne |ea ' ty t hey c|eate, t
may seem |ha| we are caugh| | n |he m ds| o| s ome
e| aoora|ecompu| erp|ogram| na| | s opera| | ngw| t hou|
ou| consc ous dec s on. And yet we t end t o| ee' t nat
we a|e n cna|geo| ou| t n n| ng. A|e we |u n n ng t ne
programo| s | heprogram run n | ngus ! Canwesepara| e
ou|se| ves | |om | he p|og|am and a| | ow ou| | nough| s
andact ons tooe nlo| med oya mo|e comp|enens ve
and t | ustwo|tny |now ng nt | ns ctoou| own oe ng!
| n | he ' | gh| o| greate| u nderst and ng, cou ' d we
|e| | a nou| m nds ntoa mo|es a| sly. ngwayolsee ng!
| s . t poss o' et oseet n|ougnou| concep| ua' pa| te|n ng!
M gn| t ne|eoea waywecou| dopenu pou| concepts
and |ev| ta' | ze | hem w| | n mean | ngs | hat a' ' ow us |o
commun ca| e ou| deas mo|e comp' et e' y! Cou ' d we
296
Knowledge of Freedom
|. ndconcepl sl nal a |e c' ose|lol ne. mmed acyo|o0|
expe| ence and mo|e . n l 0ne w. l n o0| n s. gnl s and
|ee| | ngs !
Tnere may oeways | og| | mpse a mo|e s 0ol | es | de
o| o0| consc o0s nessl nal co0' d a' ' ow 0s l oexam ne
l ne | xed pal l e| ns o| o0| m nds mo|e c' ea| ' y. Vnen
we |e' ax l ne oody, we can s ' ow l ne|' ow o| | no0gnl s
and mages, and oose|ve mo|e d. |ecl | y l ne l no0gnl
p|ocess. l s e' |
S0cn |e| axa| on need nol | nvo' ve any spec a'
l ecnn q0e. | | | s s mp' y a mal | er o| oose|v| ng | ne
l no0gn | s | na| come, w l ho0 | commenl o| nle|p|e| a
l ons . Vnen wel |y l n. s wayo|oose|v ng l nem. nd al
wo|s, wna| we see may nol oe q0 l e wnal we
expecl- l may nol appea| lo oe ve|y mpo|l anl . B0l
ove| a pe| . odo| l me, we can oeg. n lo oose|ve w l n
an0 n|orced,re' axedconcenl ral | onl nal mayoeanew
exper| ence| n | | s e' | . Tn s wayo| | oos ng nwa|d m| gn|
| ead|o | mpor|an| | n s | gn| s | nlo | nena| 0re o| | no0gnl ,
as we' ' as a new awa|eness o| l ne connecl ons oe
lween | no0gnl s and|ee' . ngs
|e| l lo l nemse' ves, l no0gnl s l end l oca| |y onl oa
po nl wne|e l ney pa0se, a' mosl as | l ney nave con
ve|ged al a o' ans wa' ' . Ve m gnl nave expe| enced
s 0cn a pa0se wnen | | goro0s ' y |o| ' ow ng a pa|l | c0' ar
| |a n o| l no0gnl o| wnen we |o0nd o0 |se| ves' s | 0cs'
on a p|oo| em A| any | me | nem| nd mayoes| | enl |o|
a momenl | | l n s pa0se . s nol ed, we 0s 0a' ' ycons. de|
l nal we nave |eacned l ne end o| a l |a n ol l no0gnl
| | no new l no0gnl s a| se lo conl n0e . l , wel 0| n o0|
al l en| onloanol ne| s 0 o| ecl
B0| l nal seem| ng' dead end wne|e | no0gnl sme' |
n|o a s ng| e po| n| co0| d a' so oe a ga| eway | o new
Time to Change 297
snow' edge |oc0s ng on l n s po n l w l n a oa' anced
concenl |al on, we m gnl see poss o ' l es |o a wayol
snow| ng l hal | | es oeyond o0r acc0 sl omed pal l ern
o|l h| ns| ng.
| |wecanema ne' axedandawa|e, wem gnl sen se
alee' ngo| o| gnl ness, as | ' gnl we|esn n ngl no0gn
l nes ' ence C0| 0s0a' | ' owoll no0gnl s ando0| nao l
o|| x| nga|l en | | ononl heconl en | o| | ho0ghl sg ve 0 s
lewopporl 0n l es| osense| n epesenceol ' | gnl | n o0 |
menl a' mage|y. | l we|e' ax o0| no' d on l n econl enl
o| l no0gnl and ae al l enl ve lo l ne l no0gnl s l nem
se' ves, we m gnl sense l no0gnl s a| s ng ||om w l n n
l h| s or| gh | nessj 0sl oe|ore l hey |orm nlo wo|ds.
Tnep|ocessmayocc0| so| asl l nalwe mmed al e' y
denl lyl no0gnlsw l nwo|dso| pe|napswno' esl | ngs
o| wo|ds l nal oeg n a n n ne| d a| og0e As mo|e n
le|pelal ons |o' ' ow, nvo' v ng como nal ons o| con
cepls | ha| evose sl rong emol ona| l ones, we may
oecome aware o| |ee| | ng o0dened oy a sense o|
neav ness l nal appea|s lo oe da| sand se| o0s. Vnal
l no0gnl s conl o0l e lo l n s neav ness! Vnal nas
nappened l ol neq0a| l es o|open nessand ' gnl w l n
wh chl nep|ocessoegan !
Pe|naps a s we ass l nese q0esl ons, l ne |' ow ol
l no0gnl s aga n o| e|' y pa0ses. B0l a| mosl al once, a
new|' owol l no0gnl s s n mol on, ' asl nga ' ongl me
o| penaps on' y a |ew momenl s oelo|e anol ne
seq0enceoeg| ns. Vhereare l neses | | ngs o|l no0gh|s
com nglom' Vnal happenswnenwel asepossess on
ol l ne l no0gnl s and consc o0s | y g0 de l nem n a
spec | cd |ecl on'
Pernaps l nere does nol seem looea pa0s e| n | ne
|' ow o|l ho0ghl . Ve are ca0ghl 0 p n oneseq0ence
298
Knowledge of Freedom
t nat nas a t neme o| ' st o|y . ne' , wnen sudden ' y l ne
cont ent s n. |l s, andwe| ndou |se' ves nt nem dd. eo|
anot ne| sto|y How d d weget lrom one sto|y |o l ne
ot her ! Ooes eacn one nave a oeg nn ngand an end,
or ar et hey cont | nuous ! Oot ney over | ap, | n| ' uenc| ng
eacnol ne|!
uest . on . ng| nougnt s . n l n. s way, wecan|e' axou
t xed no' d on l ne cont enl o| l nougnt and ga n new
| ns | ght s | ntoour ment a| processes cveryt hought | san
oppo|t un| t ytooose|veand| earn||omour m| nd. V| t h
expe| ence, we can oeg n t o see now l nougn ls can
act ua ' ' y c |eal e cont us on and p|o' ong unp' easan |
stateso| m nd. |vent ua' ' y l w ' ' oecomemo|eoov ous
how one t nought generates another, and now t ne
moment u m o| t h ought s t ends to ou | | d on | t s e| | ,
cyc ' ng and|ecyc ' ng mpu ' sest n |ougn | nem nd
} usl as a weavec|eates a l apest y oyeslao' sn . ng
t neoas . cl neads ol a l ao| c andemoe' ' s n ng t w t n
pattern a|te| patt er n, our m| nds seem t o weave
t hought sand| mages| n end' es s rep| cat ons Vhenwe
ca| cnl neoeg nn ngo|at nougnl , wecanoosevenow
| oeg. ns w t n a s mp' e pa| | en l nat . s open and
spac ous, g|ow. ng mo|edenseas mages nte|tw ne . n
eve|moe comp' ex patt e ns
St | mu | at ngmemor| es andassoc| at ons t nat evose
u n ve|sesol|ee. ngsandemo| . ons,l nougnl s' osel ne
open ness as l ney p|o' |e|ale and nt e| mesn S mu'
t aneous ' y, wecan senseou| c| t . ca' |acu ' t esat wo|s,
' aoe| | ng our exper| ence as happ ness, depress on,
ecstasy, ooredom, oranger, asnoo| eo| o| amewo|| hy.
As eacn expe| ence s sea' ed andw | nessed oyt ne
m nd, ou l nougnt saoout t oecomemo|e s uos| anl . a.
Time to Change
299
and ' |ea' ' , we t nen dent |y w. t n t ne expe| . ence and
react to | t accord. ng t o our cond. t on | ng. Cu| o| a | '
lnepos s o ' . | es|o|v ew ngapa|t . cu' a| expe| ence, we
may cnoose to ca' | | t ' p| easu |e' Tnen we proj ect | ne
expe| ence out s. de o' ou |se' ves, and dec de t nat we
wanttonavetnat exper| ence Reac n ngou| |or| n | ngs
we assoc ale w. l n p' easu |e, we encoun | e| ou| own
| mage o| wnat p| eas ure ' s nou| d oe' Crasp| ng|or an
oo| ect, expect . ngloexpe| encep' eas u|e, andwan| ng
|o pro| ong | | , we |ee| p| easure |or on| ya s no|| | | me
A' most mmed at e' y, we| ee' t s ' pp ng away.
Cose|v ng| neeoo and|' owoll nougnt s a' ' ows us
t o see nowt ne m. nd at | acnes ' aoe' s t o pe|cept ons ,
|ee' . ngs, and emo| ons, and now t l nen p|oduces
commen|ary a|te| commentary on wnat we a|e
expe|. enc ng. See. ng| nesepalle| ns ol l nougnts oe. ng
woven togetneroe|oreou| eyes, wemay asswnet ne|
t neyacl ua' ' yc|ea| easo' . dc' ol n Pe|naps. | s poss o' e
t o v| ew ourse' vesnol | ust our persona' ly, appear
ance, and acl . v. l es, oul lneve|y |oololou| oe. ng n
a d| ||e|ent way. Sucn a |resn and open v| ew cou ' d
|e' . eve l nem ndo| | ne| endenc. est nat | |eeze expe|
enceand mase usvu ' nerao' etocon| us on. Cncewe
snow. t . s poss o' eto' oosen | neno' do|concepl s| nal
ent ang| eus | n emot | ona| pa n , we nave| asent ne| |st
slepstowa|danewunde|stand ngt na| cou' dt|anslo|m
t nequa| | |yo| a| | ourexper| ence.
V tng|eate| ns gnt nlownowea|e, wnatwea|e,
wnywepe|ce ve, | ee' , unde| sl and, and n | e| p| e| . nl ne
manne| we do, eve|yl n. ng we snow m gn| oe con
s. de|ed ||om an enl . |e' y new pe|specl ve Tnen we
cou . dana' yzeou| ass umpl . ons mo|edeep' y, dec d ng
lo| ou |se' ves wna| t s poss o' e | ocnange o| no| lo
30 Knowledge of Freedom
change, wh| ch ways o| t h| ns| ng are hea| t hy and
va' 0ao' e, and wh ch nvo' ve 0s n need' ess s 0|l e| ng
As we cont n0eto q 0est on, o0| t ho0ght s maygow
more v| t a| andc| ea|, open | ngu pnew poss | o| | | | | es |or
s e' | 0nde|stand ng and mo|e cont | o' ove | he d |ec
t ono|o0| ' ves.
ZJ
The I S Ki ng
Like a great king protected
by his army, the ' I ' is at home in its cas tle.
nce ou| p' ane| was a grea| s ngdom a| | he
cen| e o| l neu n . vese, enc |c' ed oy | nes un, | ne
moon, and | he s| ars | na| gave | | gn| . Man, ru | e| o|
| neea|| h ' y spne|e, conce ved | nep' ay o| | hecosmos
asa pe||o manceenac| edlo| n . s ns| | uc| on, and|ead
n| s des| | ny | n | he movemen| s o| s|ars and p| ane| s.
Hu manmovemen| s we|e | med andgu ded oyna| u |a'
pnenomena . n an n | ma| ed| amaollo|m and s pace,
encompassed oyd| v| nepresence.
| n |ecen| cen| u | es, | n s v ew nas cnanged. |a| | n
has now | asen | | s p| ace n | he vas| ness o| s pace, a
sp n n ng oodyc. c ' n ganave|age s zed s| a|, wn cn n
| u|n s ou| oneo| m | | | ons o| s| a|s w| | n n oneo| many
ga' ax. es. n ou| snownun ve|se Tn s v ewof | hewo| ' d
was once cons de|ed |evo' u| . ona|y, ou| qu cs. y oe-
came s uppo|| ed oy an everg|ow| ng accu mu| a| ono|
da| a, andnasnowoeen ' ongaccep| ed
302 Knowledge of Freedom
Vnenl neoe' el n l necenl | c. l yo|l neea lngave
way lo l n s new v ew o|l necosmos, l nee' al onsn p
oelween n u man oe. ngs and | ne | un vese cnanged
Peop' e oegan lo ' ose l ne sense o| l e' l pa | c pal on
w l n na| u|a ' andd v ne|oces Al l nesamel . me, new
exp' anal | ons o| cause andel|ecl c ealed a newsense
o|orde| n|neun verse. Tne' awsgove| n| nglnenal u|a'
orde| seemed no ' onger oeyond numan u nde|s| and
ng, oul d scove|ao. eoyl ne nl e' ' eclo|man
A' l nougn al |. |sl d . m. n s ned oy l ne |eve' a| on o|
l ne ea|l n s |e' al ve . ns gn | cance n l ne cosmos,
nu man oe ngs evenl ua ' . y deve. oped newconl dence
n l ne | a o ' ly lo ga n s upemacy ove| l ne snown
u n | verse Tne|o' eo| n u manoe ng | n | newor' doegan
| o seem even | arger | nan oe|o|e New v| s| as opened
|o|exp| ora| on oy | ne nu man nl e' ' ec| Tne neavens,
oncel ne|ea ' mol l ned v ne, | o nedl nenal ua' wo|' d
aslne pov nce o| | ne nu manm nd
Oesp l e a new v s on ol l ne vasl ness o' | ne un
vese, l ne v ew l nal l ne cosmos ex sl s |o | ne oene
| | | o| manl nus | arge' ypers sl s Bul lne senseo|c| ose
| n| ercon nec| on oe|ween n u man oe| ngs and |ne res|
o| | necosmos nas |a| | en | n |o dec ' | ne Today a sense
o| l ne s p | l ua. as a counle|oa ' ance lo secu' a| con
ce| ns no . onge| gu des ou| v s on, and numan oe ngs
seem lo s| and apa|l lom a. ' l na| ex sl s n lne ea' m
o| nal uea s we' '
As l ne ange ol numa n snow' edge conl n ues lo
expand| ol ne| ar|eacneso|| neun | verse, wemaywe' |
marve' a l | n e n u man m nd a n d | | s capac | y |o|
snow' edge Ve|e we lo exp' oe ou m nd w l n l ne
same nl ens l yl nal we nave now exp' o|ed l newo ' d
a|ound us, wnal new lonl es m gnl we d scove'
Time to Change 303
Vnal nl e|connecl ons oe| ween n 0 man oe. ng and
ol ne| |o| mso|' | e' Bel ween |o| m, oe| ng, space'
Vnaldowenowsnowaoo0l l nenal 0eo| n 0 man
oe. ng' Co' ' ecl . ve' y, we nave ecoded n slo . es o|
n0 man acl v l es, doc0menl ed n0 man . deas, and
p|ooedl neo . g ns o|man Sl ' ' , l ne|e s ' l | ' econsens 0s
as lo wnal n 0 man oe. ng s | n one v ew, n 0 man l y
oeganasa0 n q0ecreal on, endowedw| l nacons c| o0s
nesscapao' eo| snow ngand|espond ng| oa ceal o,
| nano| ne| v ew, n 0 manoe ngarose||oma ' ongcna| n
ol lo ms l nal oegan . n a s. nd ol p . mod . a' s 'ew,
sparsed nlo' | |eoycnem ca' nl eacl | ons.Acomo ned
v ew s0ggesls l na| evo' 0l on gave se |o l nespec |. c
n0man|o m, wn cnal onepo nl oecame0 n . q0e' yao' e
l o0nde|sland | s d v. neo g ns.
Cn one po| nl everyone seems l o agree H 0man
oe ng . s l ne mos | advanced |o m o| ' . |e we snow.
H0 man oe| ng | s sl ' ' s ng, s 0peme among a ' ' | v ng
| n ngs, s 0oj ecl on ' yaccod ng l o one' s oe| el|o
l ne w ' ' ol a c|ealo|, l ne p' ay ol desl ny, o| l ne
' m. | a| ons ol n0man nl e' ' gence
C0r q0esl|o|l neor g no|n 0 man oe| ngseems l o
end n oe' e| o | neoy Ve can oe' eve n a cealo|,
o0l now can we oe cela. n ' Ve can l neo ze aoo0l
evo| 0 | on, o0l o0 | snow' edge s ncomp' el eandvan
s nes n l ne oosc0 | ly o| l me. Tno0gn sc. ence mea
s0|esl neo|a| ncapac| lyo| ea| ' yman, ana' yzesn| soone
sl | 0cl 0 |e, and sl 0d es n s env |on men | and c 0' l 0|e,
| can sl | ' ' on ' y spec 0' ale as lo now a l r 0 ' y n 0man
consc o0 snessaose.
Ve cannol snow | ne | no0gn | s, |ee' ngs, o| con
ceplso|ea | ymanp o low l len|ecods Vecannol
304 Knowledge of Freedom
even oe ce|la| n l hal o0r ances |ors a l ho0sand yea|s
ago |new l he| | wor| d as we snow ours. How m ghl
| heh umanm| nd havedeve' oped n| he nler| m! Vhal
changes| npercepl ono| pal l er nso| acl onm ghl have
occur|ed! Vha| evo| ul | onarydeve| opmen| m| ghl even
now oe| a| ngp| ace!
B o' og ca' andmed ca' sc enceshaveana' yzedl ne
oody n l he samewayl hal we nave ana' yzed ol he|
oo| ecls n o0| wo| ' d | n |ecenl yea|s, oose|val on nas
|eached mo|e and mo|e m c|oscop c ' eve' swe a|e
now acq0a nl ed w l h l he sl | 0cl 0 |e ol genes and l ne
mel aoo. s m o| ce' ' s Ve snow how lo a' l e| he|ed ly
andcan |e|l . ze n 0 man ce' ' s n lesl l0 oes. Someday
we may oe ao' e lo consl | 0cl a n0mance' ' and o| ng
l lo ' |e, o| los ' e| emo|yos l o mal 0| l y o0l s de a
mol he|' soody.
B0| our |echno| ogy has nol o|oughl us c| oser lo
0 nde|sland| ng| hena| u|eo| h u manoe ng. Oe| n | l ons
o| h uman | | |e seem | es s ce|l a n l hanever oe|ore |o|
exa mp' e, a gene|a| | onago, h uman' | |e was| houghl lo
pe|s sl as ' ong as l ne hea|l conl n0ed oeal ng Now
l hal hea|l scan oe |esl a|l ed, ' sea0l omoo ' eeng nes,
o| evenc|ealed a|l | c a. . y, a ' v ng o|a n scons de|ed
l heessenl a ' c| l e| on|o|' |e. B0l even l n s de| n l on
s p|oo' emal c, | o| wecans 0sl a n o|a ns l nal showno
s gno| consc o0s acl v ly
Vnal | l he o|a n s l 0ncl on ng, o0l l he oody s
dependenl 0 pon a| l l c a' sl m0 ' al on ! | | l ne o|a n s
mpa |ed and l he ' eve' ol consc o0sness s d0 ' ' ed, al
whal po n l can wesayn 0 manoe ngno ' onge| ex sl s!
Oesp| | ewhal we have' ea| nedaooul h 0 mano| o| ogy,
|now' edgeo|o0r nl | | ns cna| 0 |e |ema ns e| us ve
Time to Change 305
Tne m. nd s l ne ' asl | |onl e| n l nesl udyol man s
un queness Bul wnal s l ne n u man m nd! | s l l ne
o|a n, or| oca|ed w| | h| n| heo|a | n! V| |a ' l oh uman' |e,
cenl|a' lol ne| uncl . on ngo|l neoody, l neo a. nseems
looeou| mosld sl ngu s n. nglealu |e. Bul wnal mases
| he numan ora| n numa n! Vecan | |ace | heacl | v| | | es
o| l neoa nlo someexl enl , oul nowdoes l ' ea| nand
l n ns' Vnal exacl ' y d |ecls l s | uncl on ng! Oo a ' '
huma nora| ns | unc| ona | | se! | | no| , wha| masesone
numan o|a. nl n n s d. ||e|enl ' yl| om anol ne| ! Answe|s
lo somesucn quesl ons a|ecu ||enl ' y oe ngsougnl . n
| hes| udy o| neu|a| pa| | e| ns a nd ora | n o| ochem s| ry
A' l nougn ce|la. n connecl ons nave oeen d scove|ed,
ou unde|sl and ngseems l a| l | omcomp' el e.
Cose|va| | on o| n u man oehav| o| nas prov ded
anol ne| app|oacn Cve| l ne pasl one nund|ed yeas,
l neo| . es deve' oped | |omsucn oose|val onnaveg. ven
us numerous exp' ana| ons o| n u man oehav| or. Neu
|oses and . nsl ao ' ly a|e sa. d l ooedue l o l am. ' y n
l e|acl . ons o| soc a' cond l . ons o| l ova|. ous como. na
| | onso| cu| | ura| ando o| og| ca' |ac|ors. Yelour l heor es
|e' yupondel. n . l . ons olno| ma' numanneeds, des . |es,
and oenav. o s de ved |om soc. a' sl anda| ds and
convenl ons, s nce|ne|u ' ' |angeo|h u manconsc ous
ness has nol yel oeen ascela ned, we nave de| ned
' no| ma' asequa' l o' ave|age'
Vnen dev| a| | ons ||om sl anda| ds o| nor ma| | l y
oecome soc a ' poo' ems, o| wnen n u man oe ngs
oecomeu nao' elo cope, l ne|apy and d| ugs can' no|
ma| | ze l he| r s|aleso| m| ndandenao| e| hem| ore| u |n
lo soc. ely. Bul ou | snow' edgeandl ec nn quesappea|
nsu||. c. enl . Psycno' og. ca' and emol ona ' d so|des
seem | o oe ncreas| ng | n n u moer and var| e|y Ve
30 Knowledge of Freedom
con| | nue |o ' oos | o| mo|e ef| ec| ve ways o| con
| ro| | | ng aonor ma| oehav| or and dea| | ng w| | h symp
| omso| emo| i ona| d| sease.
| n s p| | eo| ourresea|ch, h u manpa||e|nso| | hough|
andac| | onrema nessen| | a| | yu npred| c| ao| e Vehave
noconsensuson | nespec | . ccauseso|numanac| ons,
' acs ng| n s consens us,we| nd| | d f|. c0' | |ode|e|m ne
wnosnou ' d oe he' d|espons o' ewnenac| ons canno|
oe con| o' ' ed. Tnougnwe naves| ud ed oenav osand
emo| . ona' pa| | e|ns, exa m n ng |he m. nd ||om lne
ou| s de, ou| nves| ga| on o| |he se' | and m nd s |a|
| |om comp' e| e. Can we deve' op new |o| ms o| se' |
nqu |y' Can we nves| ga|e mo|e d |ec| ' y how | ne
m nd | unc| ons andnow| nese' | s es|ao' . s ned'
s nd| v dua' n u man oe ngs, wha| do we |ea' ' y
snow aoou| ourse| ves' However we came n|o
oe| ng, do we ques | | on | he|ac| |ha| we ex| s| ' |orm,
fee| | ngs, percep| ons, concep| ua| | z| ng ao| | | | | es, and
cons c| ous nes s ver| | y our ex| s| ence as | | v| ng oe| ngs.
Curownexpe| enceappea|s|ocon| | mou| ex s| ence.
Veappea |oex s|, ou| nowdoweknovweex s| '
Ve| n n s, we |ememoe, we nave a oody, we have a
m nd, pe|sona' |y, andsome| n ng we ca' ' | ; we have
snow| edge, wenaves s ' ' s, wehaveneedsand wan|s,
we have asp |a| ons , hopes and d|eams, we have
emo| ons, v ews, and a|| | udes, we a|e nappy, sad,
' ov ng, o| ang|y Ve a|e | hecen| e| o| ou| expe| ence
Ve a|e | ne dec s on mase|, | he | udge o| wha| has
va' ue. Canweevenconce ve o| no| ex s | ng'
Vhen wesay ' | ' ex| s| , wna| dowemeanoy' l ' ' Oo
we mean| hephys. ca| oody, |oge| he| w| | h |ne senses
Time to Change 307
l na| enao' e us lo pe|ce| ve ou| wo| ' d and expe| | ence
l nougnls and |ee' | ngs ! Bul we | end lo say | nave a
oody`, nol | ama oody`, ' | ' exel conl o' ove|' | l ' . ' | '
a' so navea m| nd, a' | nougn| l | s openl oquesl | onnow
mucho|l h| s m| nd | s a' waysu nder ' my' conl ro' Vha|
| s l n| s ' | ' l nal o|gan| zes, l n| nss, expe| | ences, and
conl o' s! Vne|e | s | ne pesona' | l y l ha| mases ' me'
d| ||eren| |rom a' | ol her human oe| ngs, |rom a ' ' ol her
|o|mso| ' | |e, and| omeveyl n| ng e' se| n' my' wo|' d!
| s ' I ' ' my | nd | v| dua' , elena' sou ' l nal s u|v| vesl ne
dealh o| l ne oody! | | s o, wny am ' | s o |e| uclanl l o
' e| goo| an ag| ng, s u||e | ng oody! Are we a|ra| d o|
wnal m| gnl nappen l o l n| s ' | once | l nas ' osl l ne
p|olecl | on o| l he oody! Are we concern ed l hal | h| s
' | ' | s nol s os uosl anl | a' as wewanl l ooe' | eve! | | ' | ' | s
| nesou' , nowcan| | oee| e| na' and uncnang| ng, | | a|
onepo| nl | | |ee' s s l |ongand| n conl ro' , anda| anol her
l neal enedw| l hn u m| ' | al | on, emoaassmenl , o| |ea !
| s ' | ' necessa|y |o| l neoodylo | uncl | on! Ve nave
no p|oo|l hal l n| s | s so. | n |acl , l neoody maywe' ' acl
more e||| c| enl ' y w| | hou| l he | nl e||e|ence o| ' | ' . ' | '
seemsl onave ' | l l ' econl o' ove| mel aoo' | c p|ocesses
andmucno| lnene|vous sys| em, hea|loea|andoeal n,
| houghmoslv| | a| | oour | | |e, dono| requ| remon | l or| ng
oy ' | ' O| |ecl numan |esponses l o emegenc| es a|e
o||en mos| el|ecl | vewnenwe are no| consc| ouso| an
' | ' al wo|s. Pe| naps we snow o| | mposs | o' e |eals
pe||o|med unde| du|ess, as wnen a mol ne| nas ' | |led
a car |o | ree a c h| ' d l rapped u nder | l. l n s uch cases,
| l seemswecanacloe|oel ne' | nasacnancelol h| ns
''| ' cannol dol h| s Vhal | s | l l hal responds | n | hese
| ns| ances! Perhaps our nol on o| ' | ' s n suh| c| enl |o
desc| | oelnewno' eo|ou| oe| ng
308 Know/edge of Freedom
Vnal do we |ea ' ' y snow aooul l n s ' | ' l nal s so
pe|vas ve, l nal ownsou| ood es, lee' ngs, pe|cepl ons,
deas, concep| s, andposs| o| ysou| s ! Can wese| as. de
a ' ' ou| ass umpl ons olwnal ' I ' m gnl | e| e| lo and ass
| l | op|ove | sex| s| ence! Canweass | Vna|a|eyou! `
and|ece ve anyanswe|ol ne| l nan| am`!
Vecan ques| on eve|y ol ne| s nd o| snow' edge,
nc' ud ng l ne nal u|e, even lne ex sl ence o| a d v ne
c|eal o|, oul we a|ecu | ous ' y unao' e lo quesl on l n s
' | ' . ' | |' | us| s-| mpene| |ao' e, mysl e| ous| y| naccess| o| e,
unseen | se a g|eal s ng p|olecled oy n s a| my, l ne
' ' ' s al nome n l s casl ' e. Tne su p|eme' y con|. den|
' | ' canwe| | af|o|d |od| s ega|d ou| ques| . ons
Vnal wou ' d nappen | we dec ded l o cons de|
ou|se| vessepa|a| e||oml h s ' | ' |o|a l | me, | we . ssued
a cna' ' enge lo l ne' | ' ! |o| examp' e, wnen' | ' |esponds
loades | |e, wecou ' dsayno. Vnal nappens! Ooesl ne
des . |e nl ens |y! Vnal l nougnl sa| se! Vnal anx el es
o| emol ons ! Can we ma nl a nou| dec s on, o| do we
|ee' d | ven |o |espond! How many |easons a|| se lo
conv nce us l nal we nave lo |espond! Vnal mages
come lo m nd, wnal |ea|s o| ' oss! | l we can |ema. n
u nmov. ng, pe|haps we w | | nol ea sn ll | ng qua' | ly lo
l ne l nougnl s and lee' ngs l nal p' ay on ou| des |es,
u nce| |a| nl es , and |ea|s. | s lne|e an ' | ' d |ec| ng l n| s
n ne| scena| o!
Al l | mes wnen we | ee' nu|| o| nsecu|e, and ou|
con| dence s snal l e|ed, we can aga n sel ou |se' ves
apa|l and s mp' y walcn wnal a| ses Vnen ' | ' wan ls
|eas s u|ance, wecan| |ydep| | v ng |l as | l we|eacn ' d
l nal needed lo' ea| nave|y mpo|lanl ' esson. Vnal eve|
nappens, we can j us l oequ el , w. l noul |esponse, and
Time to Change
309
s mp' y wa| cn | ne ' | ' |. s| en |o . | a| . ona' . ze wna|
nappened, not e | neo| ame | ass| gns, | ne | n|eats, | ne
' second| no0gn| s' , | netee' . ngsotg 0 ' | andtea, ' s| en
to . | p csandnagt o| company, ' s| ento . | caj o' ew | n
p|om| ses o| a good t | me, | | s | en t o t p| |y | | se' t, not e
| nesad mo0| n ngtorwnat co0 ' d nave oeen, tee' . t s
age. ' n | n s s n t| ng, cnao| c n ne |ea' m, wnee . s o0
so' | d, st ao' e' | ' '
| t we nave oeen ao| e |o ema n q 0 | e| and wa| cn
t ne t no0gn | s t nat ar . se, we may nave oose|ved | na|
| s poss | o| e| osepa|a| e pa|t otou |se' ves t|om wna|
s nappen ng Ve can s mp' y oose|ve o0 | no0gn| s,
|ee' . ngs, men| a' mage|y, and 0rg ngs, wedo no| nave
|oac|on| nem. Vno| s | n| s oose|ver' Vno | s exe|| | ng
. nt' 0enceoverwnet ner ' we' espond' Pe|n apsweare
mo|e comp' ex oe. ngs| nanwe | no0gnt.
J0
The I l l u sory I
Questioning the ' 1 ', ego, self- image,
or any other label we associa te with ourselves,
we can track dissatisfaction to its source.
nen we ' oos at any expe| ence, wecan note
lne s gnts, sounds, ood ' y sensal ons, sme' ' s ,
|astes, and menta| | magery t ha| |' ood ou| senses and
s| | mu | at eour ood| es. | | we|es| stt hese| nne| | nv| tat ons
lo|es pondands mp' ys t w l nou| expe| ence, wecan
' oos oeneal n tne s 0 r|ace, watc n ng vag0esensat ons
and |ee' ngs a| se, so' d ly, pas s l no0gn d |l e| ng
| ntens | t | es , and su os| de. As | ong as we rema| n de
t ached, we can oose|ve t he eoo and | | ow o| nne|
|esponses
Cael 0 'oose|val on|evea' s ana' e| , po sedq0a' ' y,
a s nd ol expeclancy o |ead ness | | we oa' ance
ourse' ves| n t n| s qua| | ty, wecansenseas uot ' e| ens| on
s uppor| | ng | t , or | ee| t he v o|at | ons o| our senses
powe| ng t n s |ead ness
A' l no0gnappa|ent ' yst ' ' , l ne m nd n l s|ead ness
s a' eady eacn ngo0| and nv t ngsl m0 ' al on | se
Time to Change
31 1
a |og s ' ' ng mol on' ess 0 n l ' a movemenl w l n. n l s
ange sl m0 ' ales a ' . gnl n ng l' cse| o| l s ' ong0e, o0
m ndsa|e p epaed| o| nslanl espon se
C0' o|l nevasl p. ayol enegy nl e|na. andexl e| na'
lo o0 ood es, o0 pnys ca' sensess e' ecl ce l a n dal a
l nalenl e| l ne|angeo|l ne pe|cepl onandleedl nese
mpess ons to o0| m nds |o |es ponse Al once l ne
m. nd eacls l o o|gan ze, p|ocess, and nl e| p|el l ne
sensoy dal a. Conl |asl s o| . gnl , so0 nd, odo|, l asl e,
ood ' y sensa ' ons, and menl a' acl v l y a|e ns ' anl . y
nlegaled, and l ne app|op| ale ood . ' y |espon ses a|e
acl. valed.
A' ' n s . eve' o| |esponse,o0 senses|eacla0lomal
ca' . y. |o| examp' e, l ne p0p ' s ol o0| eyes conl | acl
a0l omal . ca' ' y l o |eg0 . al e . gnl . Tnee s no oppo|l 0
n 'y l o l n n s aoo0l wnal . s nappen ng o| mase
consc o0s dec s ons aoo0 ' wnal l o do. C0 ene|gy s
ca0gnl 0p nl nemomenl 0mo| expe| enc ng.
Tnesl m0 . al onoll nesensesandl nemomenl 0m
o| o0| nl e| na' |espon ses a|e d|amal cand powe| ' 0. ,
l n s n l e|acl . on acl vales l ne mos ' oas c ' eve' s o|o0|
consc. o0s ness, evos ng mages, so0 nds, s me' ' s , lasles,
sensal . ons , and l no0gnl s , l oge' ne w l n |ee' ngs,
memo| es, andassoc al ons cn n l onesandlexl 0|es.
| mmed al e' y l nee s a sense ol engagemenl , a
|eacn ng o0l 'o g|asp, p|o. ong, o man p0 ' ale l ne
consl anl ' y cnang ng l no0gnl s, mages, o| sen sal ons .
Tnemomenl l no0gnl s and lee' ngs a| se, somel n ng
engagesl ne|ee' nga nd0 ges0s ' oacl . Tneexpe| ence
s nappen ng, l nee|oe l m0sl nave an owne|
someone lo cogn ze l , e' sn l , o| |e| ecl l . Beca0se
expe ence . s , ' | ' am. Beca0se ' | ' am, ' | ' m0sl oe
31 2
Knowledge of Freedom
expe| enc ng some ' t n ng' But wne|e was ' | ' n t ne
ea| ' . eststagesolt neexpe| ence'
|nt necaseo|av s ua' pe|cep| on, t nep|ocessseems
to oeg n w. t n an expe| ence ol see ng. Tne|e s
somet n | ng | a|geand so' | d' out tne|e' | t | sa t |ee Tnen
wnat s ' n ne|e' t nat s see. ng tn s t |ee' ' | s ' me' '
am see ng a t |ee Tne|e s see ng, tne|e s a t|ee t nat
can oe seen, and t nee s t ne one see ng t ne t|ee | |
t ne|e | s tne expe|| ence o| see| ng, and | | | ne|e | s
somet n ngg v ng || seto t n. s see ng, t nen t ne|e must
oesomeonedoing t nesee ng.
| | ' | ' |esponds, t nen | must |espond |o t nea| s ng
t nougnt o| . mage, t nus, t ne t nougnt o| . mage s tne
s uo| ect, e|| ect ng a |es u| t u pon t ne oo| ect, ' | C| s
t net nougnt o| maget neoo| ect, oecause t snotpa||
o| ' | ' ' ' | ' am cent | a' , ' | ' dent |y, ' | ' name, ' | ' am | ne
s uo| ect ' | ' seetnet |ee, tnet |eedoesn' t seeme'
Cu| p| ma|y expe| ence s oneol |espond ng | oa
s t uat . on t nat p|esent s . tse' l a s mp. e movement o|
ene|gy. l n | t | a| | y t ne|e | s on| y an | nt e|act on o| ou|
sensesw t n a s | uat on, on' y seconda| . ' ydoest neex
pe| ence oecome po' a| zed nto su o| ect and ooj ect
a |e| at | ons n | poetween two t n| ngs, s ucn as a t |ee o|
a | nougnt andou |se' ves
Cn' y wnen we | dent | |y somet n| ng ' | se a t nougnt
o| a t |eedoes t ne | ssue o| s uo( ect andooj ecta| | seat
a ' ' , even t nent net nougnt o|t |ee s act ua' ' ycogn zed
oe|o|e we can snow " ' 1 ' am nav ng a t nougnt .
Hao| t ua| | y we |e|e| t o ou|se| ves as t ne suo| ect o|
owne| o| t ne expe| ence. '' ' | ' am nav ng a t nougn| `
o| '' ' | ' seea t | ee But |ea ' ' y t seems t nat t net nougnt
| t se| | | s t ne suo| ect , p|oduc ng t ne | dea o| ' | ' as a
Time to Change
31 3
response Vhenwereverse| h| s s | ua| | on' ngu | s | ca| | y,
we cond| | | on | hewaywe v ew our rea| | |y, | urn | ng | |
ups| dedown.
Bu| | he ' | s no| sa| | s| | ed w| | h | se| | as an oo| ec| ,
an en| |y | ha| |ece ves | ncom| ng da| a and responds
The ' | wan| s | o oe s 0oj ecl, | neowne| o| expe| ence,
and lo d cla|e |ne l e| ms o| es ponse | n sl as ng ou|
| n s pos | on, ' | seems |o nave no compe| l o w | h n
o0| ood es and m nds, | s asse|| ons go 0ncna ' ' enged,
and | es| ao' s nes | s e' | as gove| no| o s ng. Sens ng
| nal l he|e s a conl |o' ' e|, we c|ea|e a v ewpo n| | nal
we| nd slao' e and sa| s| y ng, an ' | | na| s| ands apa| |
| omo0 expe| enceando0 pnys ca' |o m, ye| d |ec|s
' hem. Ve oecome ao' e lo den | |y o0 se' ves, o0|
expe ence, and' ol ne| | h ngsas ' | ,' me , and' m ne
Howaccu|a| e| s | h| s p| c| u|e! Tne ' | has| ncomp' e|e
| n|o|ma| onas |o exac| | ywha| | s occu | | ng, | hesense
o| ' | ' ar | ses a||er | he momen| um o| pe|cep| | on and
n|eg|a| on s unde|way. The percep| ua| p|ocess
|| ashes |o |s conc| us| on |ar |oo qu | cs' y |o| ' | |o
comp|enend |0 ' ' y|ne we' l e| o| sensoy s| m0 ' a| ons,
memo| es, assoc a| ons,and|ee' ngs A' ' | na| l he' | can
eva' 0al e, | 0dge, and snow s | he nleg|a|ed mage
pesen|ed lo |
Beca0se o| | ne ' m l al ons o| o0| pnys ca' senses,
even| he mage|ecogn zedoyl ne' ' snol en| e' yl 0e
| ol ne ex| e| na' oo| ec| a| any po nl n | me Vna| we
consc o0s ' y pe|ce ve as a s | ao' e ooj ecl s an a||e|
mage, acompos l eo| n|o mal on| ' |e|ed| n|o0gnou
senses A' l ho0gn | nea|le mage seems conce| eand
|ea ' , | | | s on| y a momen| a|y s| ao| ' | za| on | na| approx|
ma|eswha| | s ' ou| | he|e , nomo|e s uos| an| | a| | han a
dream| mage| ha| ar| sesw| | hou| ex|erna| s| | mu | a| | on.
314 Knowledge of Freedom
Because every| h| ng | nvo| ved n | he process o|
pe|cep| on| nes| mu ' us, ou| sensal ons , ou| pe|cep
| ons and | nough| s s n mol on, l ne momenl we
oecomeawa|eol andnameou| expe| . ence, l neac| ua'
expe ence nas passed A' l hougn | l asesl mel o| ' gn|
|o re|| ec| of| oo| ec| s, | me |or our senses|o respond,
l me|o|expe| ence|ooe den| | ed andownedoy| ne
' | ' ,| ne p|ocessoccu|s | a| |oo|ap d' y|o|ou | un| |a ned
ooserva| on|ode| ec|
Vnen weseea s| a|, we a|e nol see ng| hes| a|as
| | | sa| | h| s momen| , ou| as | l ex| s|ed perhapsm| | ' | ons
olyea|s ago |o| a ' ' we snow, l nes| a| may no ' onge|
ex sl . | n | he same way, | here s a gap oelween our
ac| ua' expe| enceandou| den| l ca| onol | , whalwe
a|e expe| enc nga| | n s ve|y momen| s a' |eadypasl
Because lne nl e|va' oelween lne exper enceand
ou| den| l cal ono| | s so o| e|, wel end |o con|use
|he |' ee| | ng expe| | ence w | h |he ' aoe' we ass gn | .
Cve| ' oos ng | he ' v ng momen| a nd | vel ng ou|
al l enl on l o | ne concep| , we m ss aspec|s o| expe|
ence l ha| a |e no| a| ready cogn| zed and | aoe' ed Ve
' ve ou| ' ves l n|ougn a l xed |epe|| o |e ol |esponses,
u nao| eloapp|ec a| e| ne|' u d, dynam cnal ue o|o0|
expe| . ence.
The ' | may conl n ue |o g|asp al a memo|y o| l ne
expe| ence, oul | canno| p|o' ong| ne' v ng, cnang ng
momenl Ve canno| |e' vep|ec se' yl nesameexpe|
enceanymo|e | hanwecan re| | ve momen| s ||omou|
c h ' dnood P|o' ong ng l ne sensa| on o| savo| ng l he
same sensa| on unde| s m ' a| cond l ons s no mo|e
poss o| e | han draw| ng | he same wa|er | w| ce |rom a
mov ng | ve|. Vh ' eou| m nds pa| l c pale d |ecl ' y n
Time to Change
31 5
| ne ' . v. ng |ea. . ty o| movement and cnange, t ne' | ' s
||ozen . nt o a ea. m o| | xed concepts, dead t o t ne
nuanceso| exper| ence, na| u|a | | y | hreat enedoyman|
|esta| ons o| cnange.
Cnce an exper | ence | s appropr ated oy a |ee' ng
o| ' | ' , | neexpe| ence ceasest os . mp' yoe, | can now
oet no0gnt aoo0t , eva' 0ated, and| 0dged, | o nedw | n
memor| es o| pas| exper | ences and comp| | cated oy
cond. t oned assoc a| . ons. A' ' o| | nese|actosoecome
nstant ' y nteg|ated, t nen, s nce' | ' own t n s comp. ex
| nteg|at on o| t nougnt s, |ee' ngs, memor| es, assoc| a
| ons, and so |o|t n, ' ' need | o act on tto cnange
. t, use | ,accept t , |ej ect t , cont o' . t.
|| se an execut | ve |espons | o| e|or tne we| |a|e o| a
co|po|at on, t ne' | ' t ases cna|ge o| | ne s t uat . on and
m0st |espond. Vnen sensat ons p|od0ced scom|o|t ,
| here | s no| onger a s mp| eexpe| enceo| d scom|o|| ,
out t ne not on. ''| am 0 ncom|o|tao' e, ' | nave t odo
somet n ng aoout t . | | t ne expe| ence s p' easant,
t here | s not s| mp| y p| easure, ou| theconcep| . " ' 1 ' am
nappy, ' | want tocont n0eoe. ngnappy
Tne' | ' d ctatest natoneexpe| ence. s des . ao' eand
another | s to oe rej ected so| e| y | n t e| ms o| whet he
t ne expe ence s 0 ppo|t s o| t n |eat ens t ne ' | ' . P cs ng
andcnoos . ng n t n s wayseems toguaanteed ssat s
|ac| | on | n our | | ves, | or we con | ro| ne| t her t he c| r
c0mstancest nat g ve se to eacn expe| ence no| o0|
emot . ona. |esponses
Ve s no0' d no| |a| | n | o tne t|ap o| t n| ns . ng t nat
t ne' | s j 0st an dea t nat can oe tossed as deonce . t
s acsnow. edged. | | t ne' | ' s s mp' y an . dea, t . s one
31 6 Knowledge of Freedom
o| | hemos| powe|| u. . y su ppo|ted | deas ever crea|ed
| | has shaped | he' veso| humanoe| ngsmore | hana' '
t he greates| ru' e| s o| | he wor| d como| ned, and t
cont nues | odom| nat ea| | our | | |e exper ences
S| nce | he ' | ' approp| | a|es our exper| ence and
||eezes t, | t s t empt ngto cons de| the' | ' o| t heego
as an enemy. Ve cou. d end ou| nqu |y l ne|e,
p|o| ecl ng a ' ' ou| d |l cu ' t es onto t h s myste| o0s
ent ty C| we m gnt go onest ep| u|t he and say t nal
p|oj ect ons ol | h s so|ta|e| ustanot ne| ol t he' | ' smany
dev ces to dece ve us, |e' eved at hav ng |ound a
scapegoat, we m ght neve||e|' ec| uponwno t s tnat
s do nglhep|o| ect ng
| n stead ol t |y ngtooutw t | he' | ' , pe hapswe can
t|u . y acsnow' edge | ne |ea' ly o| ou| s t ua| on | he
con| us on and | acs o| awareness t ha| ' ocs us | n|o
|epea| | ng pa| |er nso| act onend ng| n ||us | |a| | onand
d| ssa| s|ac| | on The |orces t hat mase up our wo|| d=
h | s| or| ca| , o o| og| ca| , and menta| wors |ogether to
so| | d| |yeve|yt h ng| nour exper| ence | n|oa denseand
sta| | c ea| m o| concepts, we ass| gn d| f|erent | aoe' s,
such as pa n, tens on, and ' | , to t ne eve| cnang ng
n uances o| expe| ence But we can open l he w de|
wo| ' d o| ou| consc ousness oy quest on ng any one
oll hese' aoe' s .
| nques| on ng t he' | ' , ego, se' | mage, o| anyothe|
. aoe' we assoc ate w t h ou |se' ves, we can l |acs l he
|oot so|d ssal s 'act ontot he | sou |ce. | l wesnewt nat
suchquest on ng wou ' d g ve us | neoppo| | un | y| o| d
ou |se' vesola ' ' tne' nge| ngunp' easanl nesso| ' |e,we
wou | d certa n| y oeg| n at once C| wou' d we! S| nce
the not | on o| ' | | s so nt | mat e| y | den | || ed w| | h ou|
|o|a| oe| ng, exa m| n| ng | t c | ose| y may mase us ' ee'
Time to Change
31 7
l h|ealened. 0es| on| ng| he' | ' s | | se q 0es| | on| ngour
own | den| | |yas | | we oegan | o s 0s pecl l ha| a| ' our
| | le 0n| | nowh ad oeena dream| romwh| chwewere
aoo0| |owasen
Vem| ghl d scover| ha| , nes| ao| | s h| ng| heconcepl
ol' | ' and a' ' ow ngl nal concepl l o s hape o0 | v ew ol
lhewo| ' d, wenaveenl e|ed nloan ' ' 0so|ypa|l ne|s h p
w l h an enl l y l hal ha s no ex sl ence ol l s own. Re
nlo|ced n ou| concepl s and ' ngu sl c palle|n s, l ne
' | ' nas oecome so' d and |ea ' , a sl ao' e enl ly n a
chang ng wo|' d. A' l no0gn o0| ood es g|ow lo ma| 0
| | y, l' o0| s n, andage, o0| nol onol ' | ' 0 nde|goesve|y
' | l ' echange du| ngo0| ' lel mes.
Becausewe denl ly l n s ' | ' asa so' d, 0nchang ng
enl ly, l ca| | es a sl | ong emo| ona' lone and an
exl ens | ve s e| o| assoc| al | ons and ass 0mpl | ons . Mos |
mpo|| an| | y, | h| s ' | | s a person . no| | 0s l any pe|son,
o0| ' l h| s personme' . cxper ence | s ' my expe| | ence' ,
and ve|y | mpor | an| l o wha| ' | ' | h| ns | a m, orwha| ' | '
wan| | olee' .
By accepl ng o 0 | 0 nde|sl and ng ol' | ' 0 nc| l ca' ' y,
wemay oe ca0s ngou |se' ves u n necessa|y d ll c0 ' l es
and c0l l ng o0 |se' ves o|l l|om mo|e ' oe|al ngways
ol oe ng A' l no0gh see ngl he' | ' d |ecl ' y, w l no0l l s
sed0cl vegu ses, s anunsell ' n gexpe| . ence, l canoe
l neoeg nn ng oll | ue n ne| l |eedom 0esl on ng l ne
| sl|engl nensus | olaceo0|se' vesnones | ' yandwases
0s 0p|o o0 | nl | ns ch 0 manwol n. | s l a | ss we a|e
w ' ' ng lo l ase!
J1
Tyranny of t he I
Because we have confused ourselves with '1',
we cannot appreciate our own real nature
or intimately experience the world we live in.
nen l ne nol on a| ses ' am nav ng l n s
expe| ence, l n s expe| ence s m. ne, | see l n s
ooj ec| , l n s ooj ecl |e| a|es | o me, ` | ne ' | s l as ng
possess. on ol o0| ood es and o0| expe| ence. | l s
|eacn ngo0l loexl end l s dom n . on n a' ' d |ecl ons
Cnce owne|s n p s esl ao' s ned, | ne ' ego/ ' / se' | '
sl | 0cl 0|e a' l e|s o0| pe|cepl . on o| o0 |se' ves and o0|
wo| ' d lo su| l | l s own |equ |emen| s |or secu || |y. | se
wa| e| oend ng oeams ol ' gnl , .l snapeso0| concepls,
v ews, and a| l l udeslo prol ec| | l se| | aga| nsl exposure
and' oss. Tne' I ' |eq0 |ess| ao ' . l yandsec0 | ly, and| ' ' s
0s w. l n |ea| wnen we a|e laced w. l n |em nde|s ol
. mpermanence
| n d. |ecl conl |ad cl on | o o0| own snow' edge ol
mper manence, we cons de| every| n ng l ouc n ng on
l n e ' ' ' o0| | no0gn | s, lee' . ngs, emol . ons, ood esas
so| d, |ea' , andend0 | ng Cnange and mpe| manence
Time to Change
:
oecomeenem esl ooe| ougn | , den ed, o| avo ded Ve
oecome d v ded aga nsl ou | se' ves, lo|n oelween o0|
n ne|awa|enessand| ne eve|yday' |ea' ly'wec|eal e
Cncewe eslao' sno0 |se' vesasa s uo| ecl and l ase
possess on ol o0| expe| enceexe|l ng o0| w ' ' lo
conl | o' l s oul come l o ou| sal slacl onwe sel ou|
se' ves up ' o| s 0|l e| ng Ve mase a conl |acl w l n
o0 |se' ves, comm l l ngou |se' vesl o gno|el ne mp' ca
l ons ol mpe| manence n ou| ' ves. Based on an
' ' 0s on, l n s conl |acl s n ne|en ' ' y u n | enao' e, l can
oe s us |a ned on' y l n|ougn conl n ua' |e nlo|cemen'
and|eass0 |ances, andp|olecledal l neexpenseo| ou|
v l a' ene|gy.
Tnel e| mso|l n s conl |ac' man |eslascon ' |o' . Tne
demandso' l ne' | ' d| veo0| ' vesas | l we| eanacl ua'
pe|son d cl al ng wna' wew ' ' pe|ce ve, wnal wew ' '
| n ns, now we w ' ' lee' and |eacl. Tne' | ' nas needs,
anddemandssal s|acl on |ea| nedoenav o| cove|sl ne
' | ' s s | | dency n ' aye| a|l e| ' aye| o| con|o| m |y l ol ne
sl anda|ds expecled oy pa|en ' s and soc e|y, o0l l s
needs do nol cnange | l c|aves al l en | on, app|ova' ,
|eass u|ance, posses s ons , andpowe| | n |' a m ngdes |es
and wa|p ngou| | udgmenl , l d| ves us |e' enl ' ess' y 'o
seeswnal ' wanl s.
Tne ' | ' musl oe made l o | ee' wo|l nwn ' e and
mpo|l anl | l musl oede| ended ' |om |em nde|s l nal
| s p|eca| o0s andv0 ' ne|ao' e. | seav neg|a|ledonlo
ou| consc ousness, l exlends l sl end| ' s eve|ywne|e
C0| den| ly, ou| con| dence, ou| |ee' ngso|va' ueand
wo|ln a|e nexl | ca o' y n le|mesned w l n l ne ' I ' ; ou|
wno' eoe ng nasoecome denl | edw l nl n s | Vnen
l s sec0|e' y n conl |o' , we |ee' n conl |o' and a|e
320 Knowledge of Freedom
com|ot ao' e, wnen t s t n eat ened, we |ee' endan
geed andoecome|ea|u '
Because a | | o | o u expe ence s eva| uated and
j udgedoy| h s ' | , we|ee| pa n when | |ee| s nsecure,
and ac| . nst ant aneous . y to potect | cven wnen we
sense we nave madea m stase, we | nd t d n cu ' t to
acsnow' edgem stasesd ect ' yand tase| u' | espons
o | ty |o o0 act . ons. Compe' ' ed t o cus n . on t ne ' | '
|om pa. n, we masesoc a ' ' y acceptao' eapo' og eswe
dono| rea| | ymean, o de|end| ne' I ' oy o' am ngo| hers.
| | t hese e|o | s a e no| success| u| , we can go
ns| an | . y to | ne ot ne exteme, demea n ng ou se' ves
oyt e. | ngot nes nowweas andne' p' essweae | t ne
way, wepotectt ne' | ' | om | neneed t ocnange | | we
cannot potect t ne' | s 0|| c ent | y, t t 0 ns aga nst 0s
Ve | nd ou con| dence snat t eed, t o ment ed oy
s e| |douo| s and se| | recr m n a| ons, wn | e t he ' | ' re
ga n s | s senseo|powea|ou expense.
|edoypoweandcon | o' , t he' ' ' caesnot n ng |o
ou n ne we' . oe ng | t cut s us o| | om o0 ea'
|ee' ngsand mases | mposs o. e|o us to see c' ea' y
wnat soene| c a' |ogowt n Vecan not' s| entow se
adv ce w t nout oecom ngde|ens ve o ohended, we
cannot accept snow' edge t nat ques t ons the ' | ' s
con| o| The' | ' w ' ' evensay, | havenoego
l udg ngon' yoy t s own needs |o pro| ect on and
cont o' , t ne ' | can ove de deepe sens o ' | es and
conce n |o t ne we. | ae ol ot ne s 'n es | a ned oy
awa eness o| t ne na | ua' d gn ty and va' 0e o| otnes,
t ne ' | t ends to dom na| e an eve w den ng ' e toy
Vnen tne ' | ' s demands ae g ven |ee e n , we can
u nw | | ng' y oecome as se' | sh and demand ng as a
ch | d, |orc ngo| ners |o mee| ou des res
Time to Change
321
C0| most va' 0ao' e n0 man capac ty, t neao ' ty to
' ove and |espond, s d sto|ted oy t ne ' | ' , wn cn |ec
ogn| zes on' y | |s own needs and prov| des 0s w t n a
set ol la| se | deas. Tn|o0gn t ne ve| | o| se| | cent e|ed
conce|ns, we eq0ate dom nat . on, dependency, and
cont|o' w. t n |ea' ca| ngand |espons o ' ty, and o' . nd
o0|se' ves to tnecon |' . ct swea|e c|eat ng n t ne' ves
o|t nosewe| ove.
Beca0se wea|e notl |ee o|t ne' | ' s n |' 0ence, a ' ' ol
o0||e' at . onsn ps, eveno0| c' osestl | ends n ps, nvo' ve
0 nsposen' pacts' to |e n lo|ceeacn ot ne|' s s e' | mage.
| | t n s pact s orosen|o|any|eason, tneot ner w. ' ' lee'
s' gn|edor t nrea| ened Vemaya| | owo| nerstoexpress
negat . ve v ews and op n ons o| 0s n t ne ' gnt o|
appa|ent ' y nonest eva ' 0at ons o| o0| act ons, o0t . |
tney penet |ate too deep' y nto o0| s e' | mage, tne ' | '
senses a n attacs on t s p|ese|ve and nas to p|otect
| | se' | or|e| a| | a| e n someway.
| n pass onat e' y cna|ged nte| dependent |e' at on
s n. ps, we may sense t ne ' | ' s . n sec0 | ty as lea| o|
|e| ect on o| aoandonment , and may exp|ess t n s lea|
n resent ment , j ea| o0sy, orangry attemp| s toreestao
' s n cont ro| o| tne o| ner' s a| t t 0de or ac| | v| t es Rea'
pan c may n de oen nd demands |o| attent . on and
p|o|0seexp|es s ons olca| ng. | n sec0| t yandlea|s can
spa| scyc' es o| |age, ve|oa' o| pnys ca' v o' ence, |ea|
o|' oss, pro|o0nd|egrets, andreconc| ' . at . ons,0 nt | ' one
part nero| t neot ne| oecomes exna0st ed.
A' t no0gn nota' ways |eacn. ngs0cnext | emes, ' ove
nte|tw ned w t nt neneedsolt ne' | ' cannot oe|est|0 '
and open' y app|ec at ve, t ne ' | ' p' ant s tne seeds lo|
|esent ment and nost | | |y even oe| ween respons o' e
andcar ngpeop| e. A| t no0gnwea| | des ret o' oveand
322
Knowledge of Freedom
oe | oved, a re| at | ons n p w| t n an | ndependent oe ng
wnocanno| oe somenow cont |o' ' ed s nlo. e|ao' eto
t ne ' | ' .
Tne ' | ' s demand |o| dom. na| on cond. l . ons 0s |o
anatt | t udeo|owne| sn p. Tne' | u ges0stopurcnase,
con| o' , p|ol ecl , and 0se oo| ecls |o| o0 p' eas0|e
M0cn as t ne ' | ' t ases possess on o| o0 ood es,
t nougnts, |ee| | ngs, andemot | ons, t ex| endsdom n| on
too0| possess ons, l ' eads 0s lot n ns o' wna| weown
as anext ens | onol o0|se' ves
Possess ons l nat ae pe|sona' exp|ess. ons ol o0|
dent ty, s 0cn as ca| s and no0ses, oecome t ne |oc0s
o| ntense emot ons|age at t ne| r t ne|t o| | oss nas
d |. ven n 0 man oe ngs lo v o' en| acl ons Tne. ag ng
anddet er| orat | onrem| ndusu ncom|ot ao| yo|o0 own
mo|ta' ty, andwe may sees |enewa' . n t ne | |ep' ace
ment and|emode' . ng.
' n |ense' y at l acned lo possess . ons and s 0fle. ng
constantanx. etyl|om lea|ol' os ngt nem, wemayp0l
ou|se| ves| ndeot toacc umu| at emore,andst| | ' not oe
at peace. Tne ' | ' . s watcnl 0 . , . oos ng eveywne|e,
env o0s o|t nosewnonavewnal we ' acs, to|t 0|. ng 0s
w| t nwan| | ngand| r ust rat on. cven| n t ne|aceo| deat n,
| ne ' | ' w ' ' not |e' ax t s cont |o' . Ve mase w ' . s tnat
d spe|sepossess| ons accord ngto | tsdes |es, we p' an
and p0cnase | 0 ne|a. a| | angemen| s, ma0so' e0ms,
o0 a' p' ots, and t ne engav ng lo neads| ones at t s
command.
|xtend ng . | s dom n on | o a' ' lo mso| . |e, l ne' |
| eadsus t o| n | n | | natt neoe| ngswnos nare| n | s p| anet
w t n 0s ae suoj ec| to o0| 0se and conl |o' Al l mes
n numan n st o|y, t nas oeen poss o' eto own peop' e
Time to Change
323
as se|s o| s | aves w l n no conce| n |o| l ne. | s ul|e . ng,
women nave oeen oougnl and so' d as w ves o
sevanl s, l ne | ' . v ng cond l . ons , | ves, and deal ns
comp' el e' y conl |o' ' ed oy ol ne|s. Today, a n ma ' s a|e
l nougnl | ess' y exp' o. l ed |o| nu man use, as compan
ons, o|eed| ngsl ocs, c' ol n| ng, |ood, and suo| ecl s|o|
med. ca' expe| menlal . on. |o cenl u | es, many peop' e
wou ' d not acsnow' edge l nal a n ma' s, o even some
g|oupso|numanoe. ngs, acl ua ' ' y su ||eed pa n.
Byv| |l ueo| ou| n t e' ' | genceandao ' lyt odom nate
l ne p' anel, we nave come lo v. ew l ne ea| l n l s e' | as
ex| st | ng|o|ou| oene| | l , s uoj ecton' ylot necon|' ct ng
c' a. ms o| ou| own s nd. Oo we cons . de|, as we use
tne ' and we depend u pon |o| |ood and nomes, t nal
we may nave a mo| a' |espons . o ' ly lo p|ese|ve l s
va' ue| o| | ul u|e gene|al | ons ! |o| ot ne| oe| ngs '
Vnent ne' | want s andcan not navewnat l want s
d. ecl ' y, l mayoecna|m. ngandseducl ve, ||usl aled,
| l mayoecome|esent | u' o| sl | | seout | nange|, |a ' ng
lo ga. n . l s ends, . l may exp' ode l nougn l ne |acade
o|conl |o' | | n u m| ' | ated, tne ' | |eta' | al es | nslant ' yto
cove| up . ls vu' ne| ao. ' ly, excus . ng ls e' | |o| |a ' u e,
p|ov| d ngj ust | | cal | ons |o|| l s | age, ando' am| ngt n| ngs
oul s. de l s conl | o' |o| l s | usl al . on.
On . esswenave sl ud ed l s ways and nave . ns gnl
nlo now . l wo| ss, wnen l ne ' | ' . s l neal ened, we
cannol avo d|ee' ngemol ona' ' yupsel ' | l neo' owlo
l ne ' | ' | s su oslanl | a' , we may nave lo endu e nou|s ,
even days, o| nl e|na. d a' ogues as l conv nces . l se' |
l nal | l soacs nconl o' .
Sl |ange' y enougn, a' l nougn we sees sal s|acl . on,
napp nessandp' eas u|e ' asl on' ya s no|l l | me,wne|eas
324 Knowledge of Freedom
se| | do0 ols, emol ona' pa n, and ange may ema n
w l n 0s l o dayso even weess Some| mes we|e' ve
pa| n| 0 |s | | 0a| | ons aga| nandaga| n, |eed. ngesen | menl ,
ha| red, or j ea' o0sy, | gno | ngwhaleveren| oymenl l he
pesenl momenl co0 ' dol| e 0s . S0cn|ee' . ngsmaylase
0p a s 0osl an| . a' pal olo0| ' ves, co' o ng o0 acl | ons
n l ne pesenl and p' anl ng l ne seeds ol d. ll c0 ' l . es
. n l ne| 0| 0|e.
Vhys ho0| dones| ndo| exper | enceoeso| ans | oy
andl neol he so pe|vas ve, pa|l . c0 ' a| ' ywnenwe pe|e
| ne |ee' ng l one ol p' eas 0e l o lhe |ee' ng lone ol
d. ssal s|ac| on' Vnyae l neemol . ona' slaleswew. sn
mos| | oavo. d | ne ones mosl eas | | y p o| onged' Vhy
can | we' e| goo| | 0s| ra| | onand pa n '
Ve wo0 ' d nol w. ' ' ng' y ' ve w l n anol ne| pe|son
wno l o menled 0s . n l h. s way. Pe naps we need lo
ass o0|se' ves wnal s ca0s . ngl n s pa n, and wnel ne
l need oeend0 red. Ae wenaroo ngan0 n necessary
and0 ndes rao| ev| s l or '
hal do we ga. n | om o0| conl acl w l n l ne

' Tne cosl s ae 0nden ao' e Ve | ase on | s

nsec0r | l | es as o0r own and dr a| n o0r v l a| eneg| es
| oma| n| a| n| l s s enseo| con | |o| andwe| ' oe| ng.A|ra d
o|l ne pevas ve pa n l hal a l neal ened ' | ' can . n|' cl ,
wea' ' ow l l o man p0 ' al eandwa po0 l 0elee' ngs
and a' l 0 sl c mol | val ons To avo. d nl e na' d sl |ess,
we pov| de ral | ona| za| | ons, eass0 rances o| s| ao| ' | l y
and se| |wor | h. Cr e| sewe hes| | a| e l o | ase r | sss | ha|
ae necessa|y |o s e' lg|owl n, and sel l ' e lo |a ' ess
l nan we ae capao' e o| acn ev. ng. Ve concea' o0
la ' 0 e o e|os even |om o0se' ves, a' | no0gn l ney
may man| |esl as do0o| or g0. ' | Ve rep|essemo| . ons
Time to Change
325
0nacceplao' el oo0 se' | mage, n d ngl nem 0 nde a
venee o| ca' m. Comm l led lo l ne ' | ' , we oecome
slranges | oo0rse| ves.
Vnal s o0 ewad |o s0cn d ' . genl sev. ce! Ve
are |oced nlo a de| ens | ve slance cveryl n | ng | na|
nappens s a poss o' e l n eal lo o0 |ee' ngs o| se' |
wol n. Vnel ne we mass l n s de|ens . veness w l n a
pa| on| z nga| | | | 0de, w | h se' | r gn| eo0s ness, o w | n
pass v ly, we' poleclo0 ' | , c0sn on ng . l |om d ecl
conlaclw. l nexpe ence
|rec|ed ' | se s n e| ds oelweeno0rse| vesandol nes,
o0 polecl ve oa es oecome a0l omal c Tney oe
come l ne' | s oodyg0 ads. Ve ae comm. lled l o l n. s
de|ens venessear| y n| | |e, ando| | env ew o0 prol ec
t veoa esas. n l ega' aspecl so|o0 pesona' ly A|le
yeas o| s 0sl a . n. ngl nem, t . s d |l c0 ' l l o conce ve o|
o| herwayso| oe ngand acl ng, no mal le how m0cn
d |l. c0 ' ly l ney ca0se 0s B0l n eecl . ngl nese oa . es
ao0ndl ne' | , we s 0ol ' yselo0 se' vesapat| omt nose
aro0nd0s
Polecled oy l s el n 0e, l ne ' | can dece ve 0s ,
somel mes s 0 ot ' y, somel . mes l o an exl eme degee,
| nloac| | ngaga| ns | lne | nlees| so|o| nes, even l nose
we deep' y ' ove | l ca0ses 0s l o acl aga. ns l o0 en
v onmenl , and l o acl aga. nsl o0 own oesl nl e
es| s |ven | 0a' | y we may || nd o0 se| ves | so| a| ed and
' one' y, even n l ne m dsl o||am ' y o | ends, |ee' . ng
n0 ngy| o moe mea n ng| 0 ' e' al . ons n . ps, o0l 0nao' e
|og| veo rece| ve| r 0e| oveanda||ecl on
Beca0se wenave con| 0 sed o0 se' ves w. t n ' | , we
cannol appec| al e o0 own ea' na| 0 e o nl | mal e' y
expe| ence | newo ' d we | | ve | n A| l no0gn we yean
326 Knowledge of Freedom
|or mean| ngand va| ue | n our | | ves, we do not snow
where to || nd t hem. | nstead o| | nteract ng w t n ex
per| ence d| |ect | y, we perce| ve a| | t hat happens j ust
as anaud| encewatches ad |amap| ayed| o| | t soene|| t .
Ve have oecome hao| t uated to t he ro| e o| v ewer,
detacned |rom t he wno| e. A| ' we snow s g|ounded
n ' ' us . ons estao' . s ned oy ' | ' , made eve| mo|e so' d,
oe' evao' e, and|ea' oyepet . t onandacc0 m0 ' a| . on.
} 0dg. ng, cont |o' ' ng, and man p0 ' at . ng |o| . t sown
oene| . t , t ne' | ' o' nds 0s to tne ceat ve 0 nlo' d. ngo|
o0| expe| ence | . |m' y estao' . sned n tne cont |o'
ooot n, t ne' | ' masess 0|et natwewatcnl ne. mageand
seeps 0s | |om tne |ea' . ty Tne 0 ' t mate |a ' s . | e|, tne
s0 p|emet e' ' e| o||a yt a' esand' es, l ne' | pe|pet0ates
. tse' l oysepa|at ngn 0 manoe. ngl|om ' . le
f@\@
@
Df@
CHAPTE R 32 : MANE UVERS OF MI N D
Tnewo ' dasaceal | ono | m. nd 331
A| | emp| sal escape. nowayo0l 332
Tneconl . n0. ngd amao| m. nd 332
M. ndasepoleandcommenl al o| 334
Vanl | ngand|r0s| al . on 335
Be. ng|a. l n| 0' l od . sappo. nl menl 336
A|ran|adm. ss. on. eno0gn . seno0gn 337
See. ngl no0gnl no0gnl s and. mages 337
Se' |ooseval . onandawaeness 338
CHAPTE R 33:
DI RECTI ONALI TY OF CONSCI OUSNESS
Sensesasw. ndowsonl newo | d 340
Seed o|po| ar . ly. se| | andwor ' d 341
Cnanne' s o|pecepl 0a' pal l en . ng 341
Tecn no| og. ca| evo| 0l | on 342
Comp0les andl ne| 0l 0 e 343
Ral . ona' m. nd capl a| no|consc| o0s ness! 345
Oynam. c o|| no0gn| andpercepl . on 345
T 0sl . ngl neal . ona' m. nd 347
Tendenc. eslose| | decepl | on 348
|0s . ngawaenesslo . ' ' 0s . on 349
Nal 0a' espons . venesso| m. nd 350
|neval . ono|consc| o0s ness 351
CHAPTER 34: UNBOUNDE D MI ND
O| m| n | sh | nga| | er na| | ves 353
M nd m. ||o| nglnewo| ' d 354
O|gencyo|snow ngl nem nd 355
Sens| ngasw ndow l oconsc| o0s ness 355
Cna ' ' engeo|m nd 356
c nt |opyandh 0manconsc| o0s ness 356
Rev l a' zal ono|consc o0sness 357
CHAPTER 35 : KNOWL E DGE OF F RE E DOM
Vo| ' do| 0ns now ng 358
Once|l a| nly n a cnang| ngwo| ' d 360
Con| ex| o| | | |e. pervas| ve0 ncert a| n|y 360
Sees ngsl ao ' t y, |epel l on 360
Na m ng l ne' |ea' 361
cx| s| ence | am'
362
Coneo| snow' edge 363
Oen a| o|0 n snow ng 363
| mp| soned | n o0| pal l e|n s 364
O|gencyo|awasen ng 364
Oe| erm| na| | on|o oe|ree 365
Bea0ly o| snow' edge 365
Cpen ngl heconeo| snow' edge 366
Nal 0ra ' ||eedomo| m nd 367
T me, space, andsnow' edge 368
JZ
Maneuvers of Mi nd
Looking at the human predicamenc
we may not know whether to laugh or cry.
s |a| oacs as we can l |ace l ne dynam c o| o0|
pe|cepl 0a' p|ocesses, o0| menl a' ene|gynasoeen
al l |acled l o oo| ecl snol on' y lne pnys ca' oo| ecls
d| sce| ned oy | ne senses, o0| a| so | ne | no0gnl s,
concep| s, assoc| a| | ons, and memor| es | na| |orm o0r
snow' edge o| o0 |se' ves and o0| s 0||o0nd ngs | n a
sense, we can l n. ns aoo0l l newo| ' d we ' ve n as l ne
c|eal ono|o0| own m nds
Ca0gn| 0p | n | ne dynam| c o| percep| | on and ye|
0nao| et oseenow | wo| ss, wena| 0ra| ' yemorace| ne
ve|s . ono||ea' lyc|ealedoyo0| l no0gnl s andconcepl s
as oe ng 0nq0esl onao' y |ea ' Ve ' ea| n l o ' n s o0|
nopes|o|| 0 ' | ' ' menl l o ' ' 0s o|y magesand dea' s, and
| oos |or sal s|acl on o0| s | deo0rse' ves As con| 0s | on
' eads l o con| 0s | on, we a|e never ao' e l o sa| | s|y l ne
wanl . ngl nal ' esall nenea|l o|o0| c|eal on Vecom
m l o0|se' vesl o|epeal ngl nes amepal l e| nsove|and
ove|aga n. Vesees, wea|e evenl 0a' ' yd sappo. nl ed,
andso we seesaga n
332
Knowledge of Freedom
| l seems | here wou ' d oe greal va| ue | n l h ns ng
aoou| our | | ves | n a new way Bu| whal s happen ng
| n our m| nds aswereadandre|' eclon| he| deasw l | en
here'Vha| | s go| ngonevenasour eyesp| csupsl | mu' |
|rom | hepage, a ndour m| nd s so| a nd| n |egrale| hese
mp0 ' ses nl oconcepl s and wods ' Ae we slepp ng
o0l | omo0 acc0sl omedwayo| snow. ng,o| ae deas
on ' ypo n l ng l o deas, o0 . ' d ng new va| al ons o|o' d
palle ns ' As we ead, ae we p cs ng and choos ng
whal l l sw l hwhal wea ' eady0 nde|sl and'
| l s l empl ngl ol h n s l hal somehowwecanescape
|om l he momenl 0m o| o0 l ho0ghl s, o0l sn l l hal
| 0sl anol he| l ho0ghl ' And whe|e does l ' ead 0s'
Vhal eve we say l o o0 se. ves, aen l we s mp' y e
peal. ngl hesame palle ns' How can we eve escape
|roml hedoma no| | he' | ' Vhowou ' d oe escap ng'
cven | | we w| s h | o| | eeourse' ves| om | he||ozen
concep| s o| |he pasl, s n | l h| s | hough| or des e
dependenl on words and concepl s' |ven l he | nes|
| hough| s we havel houghl s o| awasened m| nd, o|
awaeness, o| en' ghl enmenl -ae names and con
cepls nl epel ed and| 0dged oy l hem nd Nol snow
ng who we ae, 0 nao' e l o see whe|e we a|e go ng,
we seem lo . ve al l he me|cy o| o0 ceal on How
can we snow whal we wanl how can we l 0sl l hal
whalweae ' oos ng| o| evenex sl s'
A' ' ho0gh o0| wayo| oe ngseems nol lo oeo0|s
oycho. ce, who s pa l c. pal . ng n l hesepal l e ns, . l nol
o0se. ves' The|e s no one e' se lo o' amewe ae l he
s0 ppol e|sande n loceso|oo | ' |ea' l y , o0 n he. led
creal on. Ve ru n l heshow, wea|e pod0cer, sponsor,
manage, p' ayer, aud| ence Th s s o0 d ama, ou
l ragedy Vemay s m| ' eo| ' a0gh|om| me| ol me, o0l
Time to Change
333
o0r comed es are or e| | n |e | 0des | n l he| argerdrama
o|o0| | | ves Vehave pogrammedo0 |se| ves |o|l rag
edy Ve p' ay a' ' | ne pa|l s and weep a| l ne end Ve
no ' onge snow l ne p' ay . s a p' ay, | o| we nave oe
comepar| o| o0| crea| | on.
T csed oyt nemovemen| o|o0| ownm nds, now
many l . mes nave we sp0n va| al ons on | ne same
d|ama, l n n s ngwea|e oeg . n n ng anol ne| n ew j o0|
ney oradven| 0re' B0| howmany| | mes havewe s | mp| y
|epealed | ne sameo' d palle|n s, w. | n m0cn l nesame
conc' 0s . ons '
How can | here oe any a| | er na| | ves, when eve|y
| no0gnl and dea ' eads on |o l ne nexl 0 n l ' we no
' onge| snow wnee o| now we oegan ' | t we l y | o
o|easo0| ol a we' ' eslao' . s ned pal l e|n, wna| nl e na'
d| a| og0es dowehear'
Yo0 can' l gel o0ll nee s no way o0l Tne|e s
nol n ngyo0cando '
| |' s so damn d sco0rag ng-| n ever ge| wna| |
wan| | m so depessed Tne|e mus t oe ano| ne| way
No way Tne|e s no way | l s a ' ' sel 0p l n s way
No| h| ng w| ' ' change | | . Yo0 have | o seep on go| ng
| | se| h| syo0havenocho ce
Can | ea' ' yoel | 0e'
Chyes-| l sa| waysoeen| h| s way.
Tnen l ne|e . s nol n ng| can do. | nave |o sl ay l ne
way | am oeca0se l ne|e s no ol ne| cno ce Yes, | n s
. s a' | | snow, l n s . s a ' ' | cando. |spec a' ' ya|| elwenly
yearswny| h| ns o| chang ng now'
Cnyes, seep . l 0p. | sl |ong' yecommend l
334 Knowledge of Freedom
Ho| d| ng| | gh| | y |od| scou ragemenl , con| us on, and
d| sappo n| men| , we rema| n ' oya| |o our par| n | he
p| ay, an | nnocenl v| c| | msen| enced | o|rus| ra| onand
d| ssa| | s|ac| | on. How ooed enl we are! |ach day we
| urn up|orwors, eady|or| henex| ep| sode Nomal | e
wha| comes ou way, we p| ayou parl Curen| rance
cue s | wanl, ou ex l ' ne s an expes s on o|lus
l al on and pa n . Co' gal ed lo ou own acl on, we
seep go. ng ona| l e a ' ' , nav ng pul l n s mucn nlo
l , cou ' dwe | usl wa' s away'
|vey day we w l ness l ne snaed con| us. on o|
n u mans nd. A' ' day ' ong, we' wal cn' damas ' . se ou
own, as ou |am ' es, cowoses, | | . ends, and ne gn
oo sp' ayoul l neconl n u ng sl oy o| l ne. ' ves Com
mu n cal on nel wo ss have s pead ac oss ou g' ooe
| | se a vas| array o| nerve ce| | s, connec| | ng m ' ' | ons
o| peop| e | oge| h e. Ve wa| ch eacn o| her, we | e' |
each o| her our d ramas, we ass | or more. Vha| ' s
new' ' 1he o| d news has | e|l us con|used, uncer
| a n . Vha| w| ' | happen| oday'
Somel mes l ne news sl oy conl n ues n ep. sodes,
n ghl all e n . gnl . |acn even. ngwe nea lne updaled
ves on, l ne ' al esl commenl s, l he mosl ecenl expel
op. n on on ' wnal l a ' ' means' o even wnal aclua' ' y
happened Commenl a es l nemse' ves oecome news
Vepe pel ualel n s s e' | opeal . ng ' ' us on macn neoy
l un ng . n, oy oe' ev. ng l , oy acl ng upon l , oy oe. ng
con| used oy . l . Repo ' s pesenl ed ' o us | n wods
oacsed oy. magesoecome ns lanl unassa. ' ao' e' |acls'
J J
| saw l on TV
|vey was| ng momen| , our nner ' news pogam
runs on and on. Ve neve | | re o| | s | en ng l o our
| n |ena| newscas| e epor| | ng and mas ng commen
Time to Change
335
ta esonl nedamao|o0 ' ves. St ange' y, na ve' y, once
we navenead a' epo l , we oe' eveo0 ownwods
Vnen we sl andoacsa ' t t ' eand mag ne l nen0ge
dramao| wanl | ngand| r 0sl ral ongo ngona| | overl ne
p' anel, s n' l | l amaz| ng' ' mag| ne a| | l ne peop' e n a ' '
l ne c0' l0 es and c' males o| l n e wo ' d, eacn peson
w l n nd v d0a' nao l pat l ens, oacsgo0nds , and
moods, comp' el e' y loc0s ng t ne ' |e enegy on l ne
| 0| || | ' menl o| l ne r wanl s. V ' ' l ney || nd wnal l ney
sees'V| | | l neyoesal | s|| ed'
Hee s someonewnowanl s money, l nee s one
wnowant spowe, ovet nee s onewnow sneson' y
lo| | ove. 1neea|eco0nl ' essva|| at . ons | nl nepatt en ,
o0l eacn one p| ays n s pal l ol a| | y, ded| cal | ng n | s
wno' e ' |e lo l ne l0 ' l ' ' ment o| wanl s and des es
Vneeve we ' oos, t no0gno0l l ne wo ' d, aen' l we
a' ' pat c pat ng n tne same sol o| d ama' |oos ng
alo0 n 0 manped camenl , we maynol snowwnet ne
l o| a0gnor cy
|nv s on ngt neest ol o0 ' ves, wnal dowe see'
How ' ong w ' ' we cay on w t n o0 seac n ng and
wanl ng' How m0cn t me w ' ' we spend d ssat s l ed
and resl | ess' How many no0|s w| ' | we nave o| |ea|,
worry, anx| ely, and | one' | ness' How many no0s o|
napp. ness'
Hav ngmadeo0 se' ves nt oseeseswnocanneve
ea' . ze o0 deams, we seem l onavesea' ed o0 se' ves
nlo o0r ceal on w l n wn speed messages on| y we
can nea . | nave lo nave . . , | ' | ' neve oe nappy
oeca0se . , Vo0 ' dn l l oe wonde| 0 ' . l . , | l
on' y I nad . , " I can t do anyt n ng aoo0t l . | l s
nope' ess | cannevedoanyt n nge' se `Bol n| oo' and
336
Knowledge of Freedom
loo' e, d0 pe and d0 ped, we wn. spe secel ' y lo
o0 se' ves. 1n s . s n l wnal | wanl , o0l somenow,
s omewnee, l m0s| ex sl | nave| ol nd l ' 'As mages
dance nl o o0 m nds, nv l ng 0s l o l o' ' ow, we em
oace l nem ' se a ' oveandgownee l ney ' ead, 0nl . '
weae ' ell empl y nandedonceaga . n
a. | nl 0' ' y, we' . sl enl ol necal a' og0eol d sappo n|
menl s Ve accep| l ne s 0lle ng, | ase l as o0 own
| s n l l n. s o0 d0 ly. s n l l n. s wnal | means lo oe
espons o' e!
B0l do we need l o no' d so l gnl ' y | o o0 dama
old ssal . slacl on! Vnyo . ng nome | o o0 neal sl ne
s 0 ol ' e d sappo nl menl s, | ne do0ol s ' nal p' ag0e 0s!
Vny p0l o0 pec o0s enegy al | ne d. sposa' ol l ne
' | ' , po| ecl . ng l ssopn. s l cal ed s| 0c| 0 eol' es!Oowe
need lo nveslo0 ' . ves . n snapesandlo ms| nal nave
no ' as l . ngmea n ng, o0 . ' d ngmoeandmoee' aooa|e
sandcas l ' es oy lne sea! M0sl we conl n 0e | o oe so
g0 ' ' . o' e! cven . l l n n s ng n | n s new way | 0 ns o0|
l ooeano| ne sol olgame, s n | l neon' y nones| v ew
a l a ns adm ss on | nal we wo0 ' d al ne oe lee lom
l 0sl a| . on and pa . n !
Pe napswe candaw| n e ' . ne Pe naps| n e l . menas
come l o ' eave l ne slage and ge| on w ' n o0 ' ves
|no0gn . s eno0gn ' |oa ' ong| . me | nave lasen pa'
. n ' n s dama, no| even snow ng | was s0 '|e . ng
Conv nced| na| ' n. s was myd0| y, I naveaccep|edwna|
was oo0gn| lo me oy my senses, my mos' . nl . male
l. ends and ne. gn oos | l no0gn| my | oo was |o no' d
on sl 0 ooo n ' y, | nave oeen o' . nd' y la. ' nl0 ' , |o| a' ' y
comm. ' ' ed I was l . csed, and | nave g. ven away my
' le | nave no| n . ng ' ell | can ca' ' my own No| even
Time to Change
337
mywodsoe' ongl ome | nave0l l e ' y' oslmy|eedom
Nomoe|ome, l nan -yo0 ' Tnal seno0gn ' `
Vnen we see now dece. ved we nave oeen, now
m0cn o| o0 ' . |e nas oeen wasled, we may la' ' nl o
deepnope' essnessandevenl n n-ol ' ' eav ngl nesl age
oy l a- ng o0 ' ves B0l s n' l l n s | 0sl anol ne l . c-o|
l ne' | lopevenl 0s | omma-. ngo0 ' . veswol nwn ' e!
| | we can see l ne pal l e ns l nal no' d 0s nosl age,
. l may occ 0 l o 0s l nal n lne vey acl ol see ng, we
navel o0cned a deepso0 ceo|-now ng Vnal sl n s
new see nga nd new -now ng! Vnee does l come
|om! | s . l d '|eenl |om l n . n - ng! | s . l | 0 sl anol ne
l c-o|l ne' | !

ee. ngc' ea ' yo0 n0 manped . camenl , wemayd s

cove a deep cel a nly l nal we do nol -now wnal
lo do. | | wecaneslw. l n n l ne' n ol -now ng' , w l no0l
| 0dgmenl s o eva ' 0al ons , we may oe ao' e l o p' ay a
' ll ' ew l n o0 s l 0al . on How do we -now we don l
-now! Vnal -now' edge do we daw 0pon lo l e' '
o0 se' ves, |om l neool l om o l o 0 neal s, l nal we do
nol -now! Oowe- nowmoe l nanwe -now!
Cosev. ng l ne acl v. ly o| o0 m. nds . n a q0. el ,
e' axedway, we |. ndl nal l no0gnl s soon sweep 0s 0p
. nl neo' ddama. | l a ' ' nappensso q0 c-' ywe cannol
seem l o l ac- l ne movemenl s . n o0 m nds o one
l no0sandl no|a secondwe may g' . mpsea pa0 se, o0l
l . s nad l o expe ence l nel ans . l onl omonesl oy
lo anol ne Ve seem lo | 0 mp' . -e a gassn oppe l om
l nem. dd' eoloneselol magesl oanolne, andonce
o0 enegy . s oonded l o l ne conl enl s o| l ne mages,
l . s d. ||. c0' l l oseeanyl n nge' se
338 Knowledge of Freedom
B0l pe naps we can oe sl ong' y nvo' ved n o0
| magesanda| | hesame| mesl epoac|a| l l | e, wa| ch ng
n a ' ooseway |venwnenl necnaacles, mages, and
| ang0age a ' | m x logel he and oecome so ea' we
cannol ne' po0l lase l hem se o0s ' y, we may sl ' ' oe
ao' e l o walch and ooseve As l he mages s h || and
change, l ney mayseeml ooe ' ' 0 m naled-wnal sl n s
' ' ghl ' l na| a ' ' ows0s l oseeo0 deamsandmemo es'
C pe naps | he | mages | hemse' ves a|e somenow | m
p | n |edon a | anspa enl | e| do| | | gh| enegy
Tno0gnl s and mages seem l o snool nlo o0
awaeness|omnowhee, a' eady' n sedlogel ne nlo
acomp' e| escena o. Bul l h s mayoem s | ead ng. | | we
co0' d see l hes ma' ' e 0n l s l hal mase 0p o0 sl o es,
wo0 ' dwelase lnedama l s e' | sose o0s ' y'
| | a ' ' o| ou d amasa enappen ngw l h nl nem nd,
wemaywanl | oas s. Thenwho| s cea| ng| hes 0||e ng
and wno s ece v ng l ' | l seems lnal lne' | s pal o|
l he sl oy, nol l s ceal o. | | l hee s no one ceal ng
o ece v ngs 0|| e ng, | henwhee s l nes 0osl anceo|
| hem nd' sac| | v | y' Vha| | s | henal ue o|ou h uman
m nd'
Thee seemsl ooem0chl o' ea n aoo0l l neacl ve
| | gh| enegyo| ou m nds . Byoosev ngo0 expe ence,
weoeg nloseel ho0gnlhe nl e ' ocs. ngl no0ghl sand
mages lnal mase 0p o0 | am ' a wo' d Ve open a
who' ' ynew pe specl ve. Se' |ooseval onsl engl nens
awaeness, wh chs uppol s| he gowl ho| ns gh| and
ne. gnl ens | ne c' a l y o| ooseval on Tne pos l ve
|eedoacs | om l n s pocess s ewad. ng n l s e' | and
enco0ageso0 conl n 0ed e||o l s
As awaenessgows, ou | no0gnl palle nscan oe
come ou pa l nes and o0 | ends . Vnen we expe
Time to Cha nge 339
ence pa n o d scom| ol , we can cons u' l w l n ou
own | nt e| | | gence l o || nd a way t o re| ease ouse| ves
| oml ne pa n . | | we |. nd ou se' ves no' d. ngon sl uo
oorn | yl o |rusl ral | on or d| ssat | s|act on, wecan ques
l . on ouse| ves moe c' ose' y Vnee can l ne no' d ng
on| t se| | l a|ep| ace, | | not | n our ownt nougnt s '
JJ
Di rect i onal i ty of Consci ousness
L ed by thoughts and images
away from our vi tal center, we have
no place of res t, vehave no real home.
0 eyes ae w ndows lo a spac o0s v ew o'
' andandssy, l ' ' ed w ' n co' osandpal l e ns, o0
eas del ecl l ne songs ol o. ds, s 0ol ' e 0sl ' . ngs o|
movemenl , l ne l ones ol l ne n0 man vo ce Ve sme' '
l ne va ed |agances n o0 wo ' d and | o n l ne
s ens l v l yol noseandl ong0el osavo l asl es Veae
espons vel ol o0cnandl exl 0 e, capao' eolexpe enc
ngaw deangeo|sensal ons . C0 sensesv oale, o0
m nds ece ve mp0 ' ses and sol and l ans' ale l nem
nl o mpess ons and mages. Pal l e ns o| ' gnl and
s nadow ae nl e peled as l ne end o| one lom and
l ne oeg nn ng o| anol ne, and so0nds, odos, ' as ' es,
and lexl 0es ae l nen n legaled w l n eacn lo m
Tno0gn a' ' o| o0 sen ses, l necogn l veas pec' o' o0
consc o0 snessconl . n0a ' ' y nleaclsw ' no0 s0o0nd
ngs, s nap ng l no0gnl s nl o comp' ex menl a' palle n
ngsl nal weexpess no0 speecnand' ang0age
Al some po n l n ' nepasl, n0 man oe ngsoeganlo
ecogn ze conl asl s o' ' gnl and s nadow as d scele
Time to Change
341
|orms | ha| cou ' d oe named. Con| ras| ng, | den| |y| ng,
andnam ng|o| ms,| heycea| edawo ' do| n| e|depen
den| po| a| | es . o gands ma' | , nad andsol| , ma| eand
|ema' e A' | ho0gn a ' ' s0cn d s | nc| ons, as we' ' as | ne
| aoe| sapp| ed | o| hem, werea crea| | ono| | heh 0 man
m ndand va ed n cha|ac| e |om c 0 | | 0 |e | o c0' | 0 |e,
| ney even| 0a' ' y|oos on g|ea|e| s 0 os| ance, and came
| ooev ewed asac| 0a' ' y so' d and|ea' .
|rom | h s s | ng' e seed, roo| ed | n | he percep| ua'
p|ocess, n 0 man oe ngsc|ea|ed | nese' l and | s wo| ' d
Tney oecame | ne pece ves wn o expe| enced | ne
s u|round| ngs as an oo| ec| | ve rea | m. |oos| ng w | n| n,
| hey cou ' d re|| ec| u pon con | |as| s pe|ce ved | n | he| r
own n ne s| a| es, and g ve names | o lee| ngs and
emo| ons Tn 0s | neywe|eao| e| od. s ' ng0 . s noe|ween
| | ses and d| s | | ses, p| eas 0re and pa| n, | hey cou | d
rememoer and re|| ec| u pon | he| r sensa| | ons. Os | ng
names, n0 man oe. ngs co0' d eva' 0a| e | ne expe|
enceandexpesspe|e|encesandop n . ons.
Cradua| | y names | oos on more mean ng| h rough
assoc a| . ons w | no| ne names, concep| soecamemo|e
comp' ex |ven| 0a' ' y, | ne oas s was es| ao' sned l o
mo|e soph . s | | ca| ed aos | |ac| | n n s ng | om | n s ' ong
cha| n o|deve| opmen | , mo| ded oy | anguage, c u' | ure,
and env |onmen |, o0| p|esen | men| a' pa| | e| ns nave
evo' ved ove| many| ho0s ands o|yea|s
1hroughou| h u man h s| ory, | he ooj ec| or en| ed
pa|| o| o0 | consc o0s ness has |ece ved con | n 0a ' |e
n|ocemen| . Oeepcnanne' s nave oeenca|ved n o0|
m nds, d ec| ng ou men| a' ene|gy away ||om | ne
open d mens | on o| consc| ousness | n| o | he rea| m o|
oo| ec|s V | n eacn | nougn| o| sens a| on, o0 m nds
now | ' asn w | n | ne speed o| an e| ec| | c c0 |en| |o
342 Knowledge of Freedom
engaget neappaenl ' yoo| ecl vewo ' d |omo t n, we
ae cond t oned oy lnese pat l e ns o| pecept on,
t no0gnt, andes ponses
Veautomat | ca ' | y emp| oy t nes epat t e nsto nte
pret and respond to oo| ect s and s| t uat | ons. Tn s one
wayo| espond ng s a' 'wesnow | seat a n|o' ' ow ng
a t acs, we seem pedest ned to |o' ' ow t neo0t e ' a d
down nt neco0 seo|o0 evo' 0t on. A' t no0gnwemay
oe conv nced t nat we are t n| ns ng and act ng |rom
cho ce, we are act 0a| | y cond t | oned t o a sense o|
sepaal on and lo t ne p0s nes and p0 ' ' s o| po' a l es
Ve ae oo0nd to eva ' 0ate and eact t oeveyl n ng n
t e mso|' sesandd s ' ses, des ao' eandnol des ao' e,
goodandoad.
Comm| tted to a v| ew oased 0pon dua| | ty, and
conf ned l o t ne concept 0a' st 0ct 0 es t nal emeged
| om t n s v ew, wecannot conce ve o|l neposs o ' ty
o| nav ng a moe open patt e n ng | o o0 t no0gnt s
and act | ons. 1nere s | | t t | e | n o0 wayo| | | |e even t o
ma|e us q uery our patt erns o| percept | on and
t ho0gnt , o ef| ect 0 pon t ne deepe mp' cal ons o|
nowwev ew o0se' vesando0wo' d
At t n e sa me t me, t n e |oce o| at t act on t o t ne
ooj ect | ve wor | d nas gown moe nt ense t han ever
oe|ore. Modernsoc| et | eshaveg| veno t htoco0 nt | ess
new lecnno' og es, sett ng n mot on a new s nd o|
evo' 0t on poweed oy t ne ngen 0 ty o| o0 al ona'
m nds A' t no0gn o0 sc ent | c and tecnno' og ca'
evo' 0t | on | s a recenl deve' opment | n o0r p' anetay
h | st ory, | ts|orcehas s | gn | || cant | y| ncreased t henal ua|
moment 0mo|cnange.
Today, t ne p may t n 0st o| o0 ceat v t y seems
d ected t owa d mpov ng o0 pnys ca' we' ' oe ng
Time to Change
343
l n|o0gn o|oaden . ng l ne scope o| l ecnno' ogy cven
now, eacn new advancesl|engl nenso0| dependency
on lecnno' ogy, g v ng 0s ' l l ' ecno ce o0l lo s 0 ppo|l
. l s gowl n . B0l a|e we d |ecl ng l n s g|owl n w l n
w sdom, l oennancea' ' aspecl so|n0 man' . | e' C| w ' '
l s deve' opmenl c|owd o0 l n 0 man va' 0es and daw
0s nlo ana|l | c a' andden 0man z ngwayo|' | e!
A' |eady o0 mode|n way o| ' | e depends 0pon
comp' ex nel wo|ssmadeposs o' eoymode|n l ecnno'
ogy. cacn aspecl o| o0| soc ely, s 0cn as ed0cal on,
| nance, and l | ans po|lal on, nas ls own e' aoo|al e
nelwo| ss 0 ppo|l ed oysopn . s l caledmacn ne|y Tnese
nelwo|ss l nemse' ves a e oecom n g mo|e c' ose' y
' nsed logel ne| as ove|a|c n ng comm0 n cal ons and
n|o| mal onnelwo| ssa|e deve' oped.
Macn. nesa|e deep' y nl ewoven n lo l ne| ao| co|
soc a' and p| vale ' | e A ' a|gepecenl ageo| o0 l me
andene|gy s nowdevoled lo |0 n n ngandma nla n ng
l nese macn nes and syslems . Tn s l |end can on' yac
ce| e|ale as mode|n nal ons slr| ve l o sl ay 0 pl odal e
n o|de| l o ma nla n ' eade sn p n an nc|eas ng' y
compel l vewo ' d
H0ge q0anl l es o| n|o| mal on m0s l conl n0a' ' y
oe p|ocessed lo seep o0| soc el es |0 n n ng smool n ' y,
andweneed nc|eas ngn 0 moe|s o|macn nesl ope|
|o|m| nese| 0ncl ons e|f c enl ' y. M| | |o| ngandexl end
ng va| o0s | 0ncl | ons o|l nen 0man m nd, comp0le|s
canoedeve' oped l os 0ppo| l even mo|e comp' ex sys
lemsl nanwenaveal p|esenl C0| dependency 0pon
comp0l e|s | s |ap d' y nc|eas ng, n l ne | 0l 0|e, l ney
may oe essenl | a' |o| l ne | 0 ncl on ng o| nea| ' y eve|y
aspeclo|o0| soc el es.
| n yea|sl ocome, we maysee. nc|eas . ng coope a
344 Knowledge of Freedom
l on oelween n0ma n oe ngs and comp0l e s Ve
a' eadysnowl nal comp0l esae polenl a' ' ypowel0 '
ed0cal ona' dev ces Ve a' so env s on deve' op ng
a| || c| a' n |e ' ' gence | na| w. | ' d0p' cale l ne ra| ona'
| 0nc| | ons o|| nem nd, we may oeao| e| os 0pp| y| n| s
a l l c a' n le' ' . gencew l n nsl 0 menl slamoe sens
l . vel nano0 ownsensoyogans Sooncomp0 l esw ' '
oe poga mm ng eacn ol ne, add. ng a new ' eve' ol
l ecnno' og. ca' sopn sl . cal on
Comp0l es | nal canmase 0d menl ary pro| ec| | ons
and dec. s . ons lee 0s l oconcenl ale on moe . mpo
l anl aspecl sol l nedec s on mas ngpocess. B0l wnen
comp0lesae ao' el o masedec. s ons moeen. c enl ' y
and ped cl ao' y | nan n 0 man oe ngs, we may || nd | l
exped| en| l og| ve| nemcon |ro|overmorecomp| ca| ed
dec s ons , even l nose l nal al|ecl n0 man ' ves. Vn ' e
s 0cna s n ll co0' d e' . m nale l nelacl o ol n 0 man o as
o eo, l ne o' eol n 0 man oe. ng as dec s . on mase
andconl o' ' e wo0 ' doe se o0s ' ycna' ' enged V ' ' l ne
l me come wnen we |ee| | exped enl l o re| | nq0 s n
wnal nas a' waysoeena p0e' yn 0 manpeogal ve!
As l ne wo ' d gows moe cnaol . c and conl 0s ng,
m. gnl we come lo oe moe and moe al l acledl ol ne
comp0l e s al ona| pred cl ao | | y! Co0 ' d someo| 0s
even oeg n |o den| | ly more w | n comp0| e| zed
nl e' ' gence l nan w l n o0 le' ' ow man ! M gnl we
evenl 0a' ' yoeg. n lo eva' 0ale o0 own . nl e' ' . gence oy
compa . ngo0 se' ves locomp0l e s!
Vnal dowe ea ' | y snow aoo0| | n s n 0 man m nd,
wn cn nowseems l o oeon | neverge o| d0p' | cal ng
l se' l al l. c. a' ' y! Vnal o' e w ' ' we, as ' . v. ng oe ngs,
p' ay n l nel 0l 0 e, . l o0 al ona' , ' og ca' , anddec. s ve
Time to Change 345
ao| ' | | | es, ou mos| h| gh' yva' uedassels, a|esupeseded
oy a mo|e advanced mode| ' A|e we | h | n s ng ahead,
andgu d. ng ou se ' ves n l hed. ecl . onwew. s h, o ae
we caughl up . n a momen | um | hal . s ' ead . ng us n
| ghlen| ng c| |c| es, na|ow ng ou v s | on a nd ' | m| | ng
ou opl ons |o|| he | ul u|e'
Answes |o s uch quesl ons mus | oe gounded on
l he mosl comp' el e snow' edge ol hu man oe ng pos
s| o| e. Be|o|ewea|e swep| | n| oa| u| u|e| ha| m gh| no|
| un ou| as we w. s h, we need l o ' oosc' os e' yal ou
pesenls . l ua| onandoeg napocessolexa m n ngl he
vey oas s o| ou snow' edgeou h u man cons c ous
nes s and| henal ue o| ou m nds .
| n e|' ecl ng on l he comp' ex l es ol l he m. nd, l
m ghl oe he' pl u' lo l h. ns o| ou od nay consc. ous
ness as a sh p, w | h l heal | ona' , j udgmen| a' m| nd as
| | s cap| a| n, cha| | ng l he couse l hal ou ' ves w| ' '
|o' ' ow Cu sensesandnevous sysl ems , a s we' ' asl he
. nlegal veandcogn l vecenl es olou m. nd, a' ' have
l he| | own nel wo|ss l ha| channe| powe | houghou|
l heenl | e s h| p Yel | hey a' so wo s| oge| he, cood|
naled oym nd
The nl || cal e powe syslem o| ou | m nd sh | p
nvo| ves coun| ' es s | n| e|ac| | ons l ha| s| mu ' a| e | h e
enegyo| ou cons c. ous ness, evos ngwavesol powe
l hal enl e ou cogn l . on w. l h geal |oce as l houghl
exp' odes | nl o | mages. These mages mu| | | p| y, e|' ecl,
me|ge,andd v de| n| o mo|e mages| halconl | nuel he
same . n l eacl . ons cngag. ng each o| he and leed ng
oacscounl ' ess ep' . cal ons, | hes h. l l . ng. magessl uc
| ue l hemse' ves | n| o moe de| n | e pa| | e| ns. 1hese
pallens o| mages ae a ' so | n mol on, |e|| ec| | ng,
346 Knowledge of Freedom
d| v| d| ng, ande|o m ng| n | nnu meao' ecomo nal ons.
A| | l h| s ac| | v| |y | s encompassed w l h | n | ho0gh| , as | |
| hough| l se| | wee a sphee o| |aceled p s ms , each
hav| ng| hedepl hand o ' ' anceo| a d amond.
O scele| houghl ss p nou| o| l h s sphee, a ang ng
l nemse' ves n l ne ' nea pogess on o| a cha n ol
e' aled l ho0ghl s 1hese nl 0n n l eaclandpo' l eale
n a comp. ex n ne dynam c l hal nc' 0des o0 sls ol
sensoy mpes s ons , pecepl ons, memo es, assoc a
l ons, and n le pel al ons, |' ow ng logel he and e
spond nglo eacn ol he ncessanl . y
|ven oeloe we g' mpse l ne a s ng l ho0ghl , l he
pocess s nea ' y comp' ele, ao0s ng lee' ngs and
emol ons l hal cnanne' moe enegy nl o l ne cyc' es
o| pal l en ng 1h s enl e syslem s pepogammed lo
|| e a0| omal | ca| | y w l h l he onse| o| l he pecep| 0a|
pocess.
C0 m| nds h| p || oal s on an ocean o| emol | ons,
some| | mes encou nl e | ng |a weal he|, al ol he l mes
d ng o0l s| o ms. 1he ocean, n f| uxw | h | he s h |l | ng
c0enl o| des e, s se' dom ca' m, g0 d ng l he s h p
l ho0gn 0ncel a n wales, l ne capla n mases l he
dec s ons l nal del e m ne o0 co0 se
B0l can we e' y 0pon o0 capl a n l o g0 de 0s
w se. y! Cn one ' eve' we l n n s we snow o0 own
m nds Ve l a n l he al ona' capao ' l es and 0se
l hem lo o ng a cohes ve ode lo o0 ' ves Ve can
l esl l he sens l v ly o| o0 sen ses and l acs l he
coespond ngcenles n o0 oa n, wecanl ace l ne
pecepl 0a' pocess, del neo0 nlega' veandana' yl c
ao | l | es, and meas 0e l hem accod| ng l o o0 se| ol
Time to Change
347
de|| n l | ons. But can s ucn met nods revea| ou | u| |
numan capac t y!
1nemorec ' ose' ywe' oosalt nenal ureo| l nem| nd,
l ne' esscon| denl weoecome Vecons de| l nem nd
t ooel nea o t e o|o0 snow' edge A' ' l nalconsl l 0tes
our |ea' | ly | s cogn zed oy m| nd M| nd t e' ' s us wnat s
snowao' e and wnat s 0n snowao' e C0| q0esl ons
ar se | n m| nd and ae answered | n m nd. M| nd
meas0 es, m. nd nl e|pels, m nd ca es on d a' og0e
w l nm. nd, m. ndeva' 0al esandj 0dges, m. nd dec des
Vnen we nves l galel nenat 0eo| o0| n ne| ea| m
o| |ee' . ngs, emol ons , l nougnl s, memo| es, assoc a
l | ons, and concepl s, we || nd t nat m nd s l ne a o| ter
o| o0|expe| . enceaswe' ' . B0l | we l |y l o nvesl gale
lne| e' d oen | nd o0 pecepl ons and l no0gnt s, m nd
| sc0r| ous| ys | | enl l l seems l nal m ndcanmeas u|eon| y
w t n n patlens o| l no0gnl s and concepl s, m nd nas
nomeasuremenl s| or m| nd
| s t neal ona' m. nd l0 ' y n commando| o0 wno' e
oe ng! How| s | l | n|' uenced oyemot | ons, |ee| ngs, and
l net' 0cl ual ng|ecept v l es o|ou senses! Vnal s l ne
|ea' nat u|e o|l nougnl ! A|e t nee ot ne aspecl so|o0
consc| ous nes s we do nol | u| | y undersl and! How
wo0' dwesnow . | l nee we|e! Vnal nappensl oo0
consc. o0s nesswnenwes ' eep, wnenwespend no0s
0nawael nal weaet n. ns ng! Oowe |ea| | ysnowwno
weae, and | nol , canwe snowwneewea|e go. ng!
Can we l | ust ou m| nds l o d| scern t ne t r ue | om
lne appaenl , o l o d sl ngu sn |ea' va ' 0es | | om l ne
supe|| c a | ! |venwnenwel n n s weae oe ng rat | ona'
o| easonao' e, s t n. s a' waysl necase! C0 pos . l . onmay
348 Knowledge of Freedom
seem easonao' e on l nes 0 |ace, yel oe go0 nded on
|a' se ass 0mpl . ons . | | we ae s s ' ' ed, we can | 0s | |y
nea | y any pos | | on we cae lo adop| . cven 0ncon
sc| o0s| y, we m| gh| sh | || | om pos | | on l o pos l on al
d| neen| | | mes, a0l omal | ca| ' yadj 0 sl ng' |ac| s | o s 0| l
o0 p0 poses. } 0s ' as we| end| ooe| asen noyo0lwad
appeaances, we l end lo accepl ' og. ca' ag0 men| sas
pes 0as ve w l no0l exam. n ng | ne 0nde ' y ng as
s 0 mpl ons l oo c' ose' y Ve may egad l ne w llen
wod even moe 0nc . l . ca ' ' y l nan sposen ' ang0age
|| se | he | ho0gh| s | ha| peceded l hem, wods lend
| o oe ' oe| | evao| e' when pesen| ed ' al ona' | y' -we
|oge| | ha| oolh wods and ' og| cae consl 0cl so||he
n 0 manm. nd.
Pecepl ons ae nsl an | ' ynamedand' aoe' ed oyl ne
m nd, g. v ng se l o l no0gnl s and deas l nal ceale a
pal . c0' a ves on o| ea ' . l y C0 sense o| ' ea' l y . s
espec| a| | ys | ongwhenweae ca0ghl 0p n a sl ong
emo| | ons 0chas ange. Veasse| , wedeny,weej ec| ,
a| | oased onwha| we' snow' l ooe ghl Yel | he nexl
momen | we co0 ' d |ee' wam and ' ov. ng Tnen o0
ea ' ly m gnl oe vey d . f| een | , | ne easons |o o0
ange wo0 ' d no' onge oecompe' ' ng, wem. gnl ' al e
deny o0 pev o0s ange. Vas one ' ea ' |y' ' ess ea'
| nanl neol ne'Vna| s nd o| l nead ' . n sed l nese' wo
' ea| | | es' ' Veco0 ' d pooao| yeslao| | s na connec| | on
l hal wo0 ' d seemveyp| a0s o' e. Ae s 0chconnec| ons
va| | d, o a e | ney ass0mpl ons ' Ae | hey | 0e n
| nemse' ves, o ae l ney wnal we wan| | o oe' . eve . s
l 0e' How dowesnow'
Tne' s nap. ng' o| o0 ea ' l ycanoeseenmosl c' ea ' y
n c c0mslances when we |ee' a need lo ' cove |o
o0 se' ves. Ve se' dom need lo ' . e| nee ae 0s 0a' ' y
Time to Change
349
many' ha| | | r0l hs' l ha| w ' ' seve lo pol ecl 0 s | n one
sense, noneo|o0 answes need oew ong, a| l ho0gn
a' ' mayoedecepl ve. Veeas y' oses . ghl o|l hes 0ol ' e
wayswe h del he| 0' ' l 0l n| omo0 se' vesandol ne s
Cnce we have exp| a| ned o0r ac| ons, and l he o| her
peson hasaccepled o0 easons, o0 own m nds may
lasel hem ascomp' ele l 0l h Vo dsg veo0 easons
so' d. ly, once l ne wods a e sposen, we can eas ' y
conv nce o0rse| ves l ha| | hey are l 0e. Ve have no
polecl on |om s 0cn decepl ons a s ng | om l ne
|' . cse ngq0a' ly o| o0 own m nds. C0 ' ea ' ly' may
oe moe' |' ex o' e' and 0nsl ao' el hanwe ea ' ze.
Th s|' cser ngq 0a' l yseems | opervadeo0r expe
ence | o examp' e, weva' 0e o0 . gnl l o' changeo0
m nd' , o0l s l n s ' cnange' oased on new snow' edge
we have |0 | | y| nves| ga|ed! Cr does | l re|| ec| | nsl ead
a sh |l o| n leesl o mol val on ! How sl ao| e s o0
gasponwnal nas va' 0eand s wo l n p0 s 0 ng! How
can we l 0sl o0 m nds, wnen l ney can ' change' , oe
changed, o n |' 0encedsoeas | | y!
|acs ngg|eale snow' edge o|l hewo s. ngs o|o0
own m nds, we|eed o0 cons c o0s ness a m xed d el
o| | he | r0 e and | he |a| se, | he ea| and l he arl | || c| a| ,
oeg nn ng w l h | hel ho0gh| s l ha| a s e n o0 m nds
Vnen we oe' eve n l he ea' l y o| l ne l ho0gnls and
magescealedoyl nesweep. ngmomenl 0mo| cogn
l on, we|0seo0r awareness| o | | ' 0s ona ndp' a n| l he
seeds o| se| | decepl | on cach | mepercep| | ons ar se,
moe l no0ghl sae cealed, and l he pocess o| | 0s ng
o0 awaenessl ol ne. ' ' 0s onec0s
C0 consc| o0sness oecomes a| | 0ned | o | h| s on
go ng pocess, l ne seeds p' anled ea ' e l ase ool
350
Knowledge of Freedom
andgow Tnep sl neq 0a' |yo|pecepl ondeceases,
a esl ' essq0a ' ly pemeal esa' ' o0 expe ence, cond
l on ng o0 v ew o| o0 se' ves and o0 s0 o0nd ngs
Reacn ngo0l |o conl acl w l n lne ea ' , we meelw l n
l nes 0pe| c a' , l nel empoay, andl neal | c a' .
Beca0se o0 cons c o0s ness s s o s| | ong' y | xaled
on |ne oo| ecl ve po' e o| o0 expe ence, ' oos ng
w l n n and sl 0dy ng o0 se' ves c' ose' y oecomes vey
d ||. c0' l . |o a ' ' o0 snow' edge o| | ne oosevao' e
wo ' dando0 ngen 0 ly n man p0 ' al ngo0 env on
menl , wesnow ' ll ' eaoo0l o0 ownnal 0 e.

n l neconl exl o|o0 ownexpe encewe snow lnal

o0 consc o0snes s s moe l nan o0 al ona' m nd
Ve nave a wno' e n ne ea ' m o| es ponses, we
expe ence ' ove and appec al on, and |ee' | oy wnen
we open o0 nea l s l o ol nes. C0 |ee' ngs o| we' '
oe ng a se | om a so0 ce w | n n 0s wedo nol | 0 ' ' y
0 nde sl and Ve snowo| nl 0 | onand ns p al on, o0l
nave nowayl oexp' a nl nem, we snow o|ceal v ly,
o0l cannol ao0se l oy an acl o| eason o w ' ' Ve
can espond lo a sense o| wonde and powe l nal
l anscendso0 senseo|s e' |,andcanexec secompas
s on|o |e' ' own0 manoe ngs
Tnese seem l o oe 0n vesa' n0 man esponses l o
' v ng n a wo ' d n neenl ' y oea0l |0 ' , cnang ng |om
momenl l omomenl nan0n| o' d ngl nal sa' waysnew
B0l o0 esponses l o o0 ' v ng, cnang ng wo ' d ae
nl e peled and | 0dged oy ' nepal o| o0 m nds l nal
l e' ' s 0s wnal l o des e, wnal l o ej ecl, and wnal w ' '
' mase 0s nappy, a s | we nad no means o| ' oe ng
nappy w l n n o0 se' ves Ve app' y ' aoe' s l na| ae nol
Time to Change 351
n| ns ca ' ' y o0 own, o0l gow o0l o| o0 c0' l 0a'
cond | on ng S nce l n s cond l oned aspecl ol m n d
can nol penel ale l n e oa es o| | ne pecep| 0a'
pocess, l can nol snow | ne neal o| o0 oe ng, | ne
palo' o0 se' vesl nal esponds l ol nel 0eand| neea '
Vnensnow' edgeo| n0man oe ngdoesnol penel a| e
oeyond o0 pnys o' ogy and l ne moe oosevao' e
aspec' solo0 con sc o0s ness, nowcanweeven | n n s
aoo0| o0 ' 0 ' ' n0 mano l n gnl o opennewposs o '
l eslogowl n !
C0 consc o0s ness s na| 0 a' ' y ecepl ve and can
oes 0sla ned oyan n l' owo|appec a' onandj oy B0|
' se a gea| ' ase, | c a n oecome dep' e' ed wnen l s
enegy ' ' owson ' y n ano0l wad d ec' on Vneno0
consc o0s ness . s conl n0a ' ' y peocc0p ed a nd pes
s 0ed, | ' ' ed w | nl no0gnl s , des es, and anl c pa| ons,
we ' eave noopen space| o ev l a' za' on. cvenl 0a' ' y,
o0 consc o0s ness oecomes| ed C0 senses, n ade
q0a| e' y s 0ppo|ed oy o0 awaeness, oecome n 0 mo
andd0 ' ' , eq0 ngevemoe nl ense| o mso| exlena'
sl m0 ' al on
C0 pesenl wayol ' v nga ndoe ng n o0 wo ' d
cannol pevenl l n s | om nappen ng Howeve many
|ac| swenaveal o0 command, and nowevewe' ' we
' ea n l o man p0 ' a' e nl o mal on, o0 0se ol m nd s
nol dynam ceno0gnl oawasen| nel 0 ' ' poweol o0
consc. o0s ness
|oa ' ' o0 el| oll osa| s|yl nena| 0a' n0ma ndes e
loa nea' l n e and napp e ' le, l nee ae s gns | nal a
deep n0 nge s gow ngw | n n o0 mos| pospeo0s
soc e' es Needs and des es seem ' o oe nceas ng
a| ne | nan deceas . ng As we move n ' o ' ne | 0l 0e,
352 Knowledge of Freedom
dev s ng new app' cal ons |o| o0| snow| edge and
p|od0c ng an end ' ess sl |eam ol new p|od 0c| s, we
seem|orced |o go |as | er, dr ven oya |esl | esswan| ng
| na| w | ' no| oesl | | | ed. | nasense, ou| crea| | v| |y s oe| ng
cnan ne| ed | n| o mag| n| ng newp| od0cl sando| | ng| ng
l nem n lo oe ng, so l nal we can l nen des |e o0| new
c|ea| ons .
Cu| ' vesnowmovequ cs' y, ca||y ng0s onawave
olwanl ng, a' ' ow ng0s ' l | ' e| me|o deep' yen| oyany
oneexper| ence. Vn| ' ea|eas|o| producl sandp| easu |es
| s sp|ead oe|ore us, we navel meon' y l osamp' eand
move on, |o| | ow ng | ne | mages o| our des | |es ||om
p' ace lo p' ace. Ve a|e a' ways n mol on, ' ed oy
l no0gn| s and mages away l|om o0| v l a' cen le|, we
nave no p' aceo| |esl, wenave no |ea ' nome.
J4
Unbounded Mi nd
The energy of human consciousness
may share an a finity with light
that we do not yet understand.
l | n. s c . | . ca' | . me, wnen | nepace o| cnange may
oe exceed. ngo0 ao. ' . l y lo d. |ec|. | w. l nw. sdom,
o0 a' l e nal . ves a|e ap. d ' y d. m. n . s n. ng Tne snow'
edge weapp| y now w| | | dec| de wne| ner n 0man oe
| ng . s dom| na|ed or | | oera| ed oy a| | we ae or | ng
. ng . nl o oe. ng. Ve |ace | ne need l o ceale a new
v. s. on | o n 0 man . l y, a v. s . on l na| w. ' ' 0p' . | l peop' es
o| a' ' nal . ons and pov. de l ne to0ndal . on |o| a new
0nde|s|and. ngotpeaceandpospe| | ly
| ns p. ra| | on l o crea| e and s 0s | a| n an expanded
v. s. on o| n0man oe. ng can on' y a . se ||om g|eale
snow' edgeo|n0manconsc. o0sness. Yel. nconcenl a|
. ng on l neaspecls o| |ne m. nd l na| can oe

va' 0a|ed
and ana' yzed, we may navecome| oass0 me| nal we
cannolsnowo0r consc| o0s ness. Howcanwesoeas. | y
ass 0me| n. s wnenwe 0seo0| m. nds con| . n0o0 s' y' Ve
' . ve w. l n. n o0| own consc. o0sness. | l . s o0 ' . |e, o0|
nome, l ne essence o| o0 n 0 man oe. ng Say. ng we
354 Knowledge of Freedom
canno| snowo0r consc o0s ness s | se say| ng| na| we
cannol see o0 . ps mov ng wnen we l a' s om one
pespecl ve, l n s may oe l 0e, o0l l ne so. 0l on s lo
' oos nl o a m o Ve may s mp' y nol yel nave d s
coveed lne m o l nal w ' ' evea' lne l0e nal 0e o|
o0 consc. o0s ness.
Pe naps l n s m o ' es w l n n o0 consc o0sness
. l se. | Ben nd o ao0nd o0 l no0gnl s we may sense
a e|' ecl ve | e' d o a cysla ' ' ne m o ' se q0a. l y
Pe naps l ne oo| ecl ve wo ' d s m oed n o0 m nd
moe comp' el e' yl nanwe snow. | | we deve' oped l ne
meansl oexa m ne o0 m nds moe d ecl ' y, 0s ngl ne
d scove es we mase aoo0l l ne nal 0 e o| pnys ca'
ea' l es as nd cal ons o|wnal wem gnl | ndw l n n,
wem gnl d scove an enl e. y new way l o v ew o0
se. vesando0 e. al onsn plo o0 wo ' d
O0 ng l ne | asl sevea' cenl 0 es we nave 0sed
sc enl | c mel nods lo exp. oe l ne wo . d ao0nd 0s
|oos ng l o l ne neavens, we d scoveed l nal l ne s 0n
was nol l ne cenl e, o0l a pal o| a geat ga. axy, one
o| many Now l nee ae spec0 ' al ons l nal o0 ga' axy
m gnl oepa ' o|asl ' . . agesysl em ' nvesl gal ngso' d
|o ms, we |o0nd l ney wee composed o| mo. ec0. es,
go ng deepe , we |o0nd mo' ec0 . es wee composed
o| aloms, go ng sl . . | a l ne , we ' o0nd e' ecl ons,
po' ons , and evenl 0a' ' y even sl ange pal c . es l nal
vac ' ' al eoelween mal l e andenegy
' n eacn case, we nave 'o0nd nol n ng |' at , . nea,
o slal c om lne s ma. . esl l o lne ' agesl 0n l s o|
mal l e, l nepnys ca' 0n veseseems lo exn o l epeal
ng pall e ns. | nl l es evo' ve ao0ndeacn ol ne, sp n
n ng n cyc' es, mal l e oecomesenegy, enegymalle
Time to Change
355
Space s v o an| w l n dynam c n leacl ons | nal con
ve|t 0 | l | mal e| y| nt o| | gnl
M gn| o0 m nds | o' ' ow s m . a pa| | e ns' Ae
l no0gnl s comp' ex pall e n ngsol en egy' ' s o0 con
sc o0sness e' a|ed l o l 0 ndamenl a' pnys ca. |oces'
Tnese q0est | ons ae now on| y spec0 | at | ons, | o we
nave no| deve' oped | ne means l o exam ne | ne | 0 ' '
spect 0 m o | h 0 man consc| o0s nessal t h| s | 0 ndamen
| a' ' eve' .
| n l ne past , when we |e| | l he pess ng need |o
gealesnow' edge, wenavemadesl en 0o0s eho l sl o
deve' opoel l emeans o| ooseval | on. Pehapswecan
app' y l n s same sense ol 0 gency | o 0ndes| and. ng
n 0man oe| ngs, and deve' op ways t o eseac n o0
consc o0snes s moe deep' y As a sl a| ng po n| |o
reseacn, we co0 ' d oeg n w l n wna| eso0 ces we
nave. o0senses, pecep| 0a' pocesses, ando0 ana' y
l c ao ' | es. Ve nave 0sed o0 senses | o ga n snow'
edge aoo0| | ne pnys| ca| wo ' d, pe haps wecan a ' so
0se l nem n ol ne ways Ve m gn| oe ao' elo 0se o0
v| s on t o' ' oos w| | h| n | n moe t han a met apho ca|
sense, wem gn| a' sooeao' e| od eclo0 ol ne senses
| nwad aswe' | .
' Sens ngw l n n' , wemay| ndl nal o0 sensesnave
a s 0ol ' e aspect e' aled to a o oade awaeness.
No ma' ' y, we say | na| o0 senses ae ' awae o|
someth| ng, | n|e | nga e' at | ons h| poetween o0se| ves
and wna| we ae see ng. | l m gnl a' so oe poss o' e |o
s mp' y' oe awae w l no0l eleence |o wno s awae
ol wnal , sn ll ngempnas s |o ' ns de | neexpe ence
Tnee m gn| oe' see ng o ' nea ng n gea| edepl n
and l0' | ness l nan we now snow B0| 0 nl | | we nave
356 Knowledge of Freedom
mo|e d |eclexpe| ence, wenave no wo|dslo exp|ess
l ned |le|enceoelween o0| c0sl oma|y 0nde|sland ng
o| awa|enessand awarenessl nal goes oeyonda s 0o
| ec| exper enc| nganooj ec| .
|ea|n ng l o' |ead l ne' ang0age olo0| mo|e s 0ol ' e
percepl 0a| ao| | | | | es, wem| gh| || nda |asc| nal | ng|ea' m
| ha| we haveove| ' oo|ed. Thro0gns 0sl a| nedooserva
| | on and ana| ys| s, we co0' d expand o0r concepl 0a|
sl | 0cl 0 |es l o emo|ace new |now' edge o| h0 man
consc o0s ness Cnceo0| pe|s pecl . veon h0mancon
sc o0sness oegan l o cnange, eve|y new d scove|y
conce|n ngo0| phys ca' wo| ' dco0 ' d ns p |e0s lo' oo|
w l n n, oa' anc ng o0| |now' edge o| l he oose|vao' e
wor ' dw| | n |now' edgeo| | neooserve|
neanc enl maps de| ned l needgeso| a |' al wo|' d
wn e |e d |a go n s awa l ed l n os e wn o ven | 0 |ed
oeyond | he ' m l s o| | ne |nown. Tne v ew l na| l ne
meas 0|ao' e aspecl s o| o0| consc o0s ness a|e a' ' we
can|now mayoeas ' | m l ng no0| l measwasl he| ' al
wor | d v| ew | n ages pas| V| | h a grea| er v| s | on o|
h 0mandes| | nyand| neco0 rage| o| raverseo0r men |a|
rea| ms, wna| m| gn| we || nd' How |arco0 | d we go | |
wewe|e nol slopped oyo0| convenl ona' 0nde|sland
ng' | |wewerew| ' ' ng l o|aceo0|d|agonsd |ecl ' y'
Consl | cledoyl nep|ess0 |esmo0nl ngona| ' s des,
n0 man oe ngs a|e con| ned eve| mo|e c' ose' y lo l he
cnanne' s o| |now' edge esl ao' s ned ' ong ago Tne
press0re | l se| | ma|es | l near| y mposs o| e |o see lnal
o0r ' ves are essen| | a' | y |ecyc' ngs ||om lne pas| .
Vea|y ol l n s end' ess |epel l on, o0| consc o0s ness
may oe g|ow ng o' d and l |ed, da||en ng 0nde| lhe
o0|den ol sl agnal on and p|ess 0 |e |ac| ng a means
Time to Change 357
o| |ep| en s nmen| , o0 co| | ec| ve men| a' v | a| |y may
oe w| nd| ng down | n en| rop| c cyc| es Sho0| d | h s oe
happen ng, we may soon oecome ' ocsed n| o o0
presen| pa||ern| ng. Tnen| | wo0| doem0cnmo|ed| |||
c0' | |o renew h 0 man consc| o0sness, | 0| 0 |e gene|a-
| ons wo0| d nave no cno ce o0| | o |epea| | he same
pa||erns | never | | gh| en| ngcyc| es
Ye| now, n | h| s momen| , we nave a pr | ce' ess
oppo| 0n . |y | o awasen | he | 0' | |eso0 |ces o| o0|
consc. o0sness a nd |e nv go|a|e o0| m nds . How can
weconce| veo| | hedynam| cpowero| o0r cons c| o0s
ness, wh ch hass 0s | a. ned . | s e' | l o| a m | ' . onyea|s o|
n0 man evo' 0| on' Tne energy o| h 0 man consc o0s
ness mayshare an a||n| |y w| | h | gh| | ha| we do no|
ye| 0nde|s| and T0 n ng | owa|d | ha| | . gh| , we m. gh|
| nd | | heso0rceo|aH o0| | ns p| |a| | onandc|ea| | v| | y
V| | h moremen| a| energy, weco0' dr| seaoove| he
| 0|o0' ence o| con| 0s on and des |e | ha| c| o0ds o0|
v. s on, andv ew n 0 man po|en| . a' | es n a |ao| gn|e|
' | gh| . Tapp| ngeven a par| o|o0r awareness, wegave
r se |o o0| pesen| c|ea| on. | | we can | nd ways |o
awasen |ne | 0 ' ' powe|o| awa|eness, we co0' d en| e|
a new phase o| h 0 man evo| 0| | on and rev| |a| | ze
o0|se| vesando0| wo| ' d.
JJ
Knowl edge of Freedom
The magical play of the mind contains
all possibilities for growth and change.

| seems we nave come |u | | c |c' e | s | h| s | he end

o| o0| | ou |ney! O d we oeg. n w | h spec0 ' a| on
aoou| our pas | , on| y| oendw| | hspecu | a| | onaoou|our
| u| u|e! Vna| new snow' edgehavewega ned!
Perhapswe are nowawareo| how | | | | | ewe rea| | y
snow Ve have seen| ha| | hewo| ' d a|ound 0s, even
| hea ' ' encompass . ngun. ve|se, p' aysou| | s |o' e. n | he
dramao|o r| n anddea| h, crea| | onanddes| ruc| on | n
ou| m nd seye, wecan mag ne| he' |eot ou| s 0nand
ea|| h oeg nn ng n a sw |' ng c' oud o| e' emen| s. Ve
m| gn| | mag| neeven ear| | er oeg| nn ngs, mov| ng oacs
|o a mys| e| ous po n | n | me | ha| p|eceded | he ve|y
|orma| ono| | neu n ve|se. Beyond| h s po| n| | | | s d f||
cu' | | oeven mag ne. Beh ndeachoeg n n ng, we| o0ch
u pona |ea' mo|comp' e|e 0nce|| a n| y
| twecons de|| ne|0 | ueoto0| wo| ' d, wea|| vea|
a s m ' a| po n | ot 0n snow ng Ve ass ume | ha| some
day ou| sun w ' ' g|ow o' d and d e, co| | aps ng | n|o
Time to Change
359
noln ngness A' ' ' |e on o0 p' ane| w ' ' cel a n ' y oe
ex| . ng0 sned. ' | seems | na| even l ne 0 n vese m0sl
even | 0a' ' ycomel oan end V ' ' even spaceandl me
cease l o oe! C0 eal n, o0 ga ' axy, | ne 0 n . ves ea ' '
seeml oa sea ndd sappea | oman0 n s nownpo nl o|
po| en ' . a' |y, wn. cn o0 snow' edge, ' m l ed l o a l xed
specl 0 m olex sl ence, doesnol evea'
Vnen we con s de l n e o g n s a n d des l . ny ol
n0 man oe. ngs, weae aga n al a ' oss. C0 o g ns a e
0ncel a. n, and o0 | 0| 0e s comp' e| e' y0 n snown As
we | ave' oacs . n l . me, l ne l n ead o| 0 ndesl and. ng
| nal ' n ss 0s ' ol neoeg n n . ngso| n 0 man oe nggows
evemoe| en 0o0sVna| c c0 ms | anceso o0gn| lo l n
a m nd | na| co0 ' d l n ns, lom assoc al . ons , and e
memoe ! Vna| gave . se' o| ne| ne | 0 ned nea . ngand
vo. ce | nal made speecn poss . o' e! Vnal mol va| ed
n0manoe ngslodeve' op' ang0age!
Veae even 0nce| a n aoo0l l ne cna n o| even| s
l na| oo0gnl n0 man oe ngs| o| n. s po. n l nspaceand
| . me Cneevenl nas' ed l oano| ne , somenow ' ead. ng
l ol nepesen| , a s c v. ' za| ons andna | ons navecome
and gone Vno co0 ' d nave ped cl ed, |. ve n0nded
yeasago, nown0 manoe ngswo0 ' d ' . vel oday!Vno
co0 ' d nave snown ' nenwnal | n s co0 n | ywo0 ' dl 0 n
o0l lo oe!V. l na ' ' l ned l| e enl poss . o ' l es | na| now
ex. sl , wno can say now l newo ' d w ' ' oe n ano' ne
l ven0ndedyea s!
' mag. n ng l ne oeg. n n ng o| o0 own ' |e, we ae
ca0gn| . n | ne same 0 ncel a. n ly Ve emege o0l ol
nown e el om so me s pace and | . me we can n ol
compenend |venl 0a' ' y o0 oody w ' ' d sso' ve oacs
nlo| nee' emen | s, o0l wna' w ' ' oecomeoll neenegy
360 Knowledge of Freedom
l hal acl valeso0 oodyandm nd' Vhal s l hedesl ny
o| o0 consc o0s ness' Th s ema ns as mysl e o0s as
lhel me oe|oe o0 o l h
Bo0 nded oy0ncel a nl es, we' veo0l o0 | ves n
an 0nceas ng sl eam o| change. Nol h ng st ands sl | ' ,
w l h n o w l ho0l, we and eveyl h ng n o0 wo| d
p0 ' se w l hl hehea|l oealo| l me C0 seem. ng' yso' d
ood es encasewh . ' ngga' ax eso| pal c| esl hal m o
l henal 0eo|a ' ' ex sl ence. cvey|o|m,eveyce' ' , evey
pal c' e o| o0 oe ng and o| l he wo ' d ao0nd 0s s
conl n0a ' ' y oecom ng somel h ng e' se, elena| ' y | ee
o| a | xed p' ace . n l hesnown o o| a esl ngp' ace n
l h e| 0l 0 e. | sea ve, changeca| esa ' ' ex sl ence n a
conl n 0o0s sl eam.
cveno0 s eem ng' ysl ao' e' vesaeswepla' ongoy
change Aso0 day0 nlo| ds,o0 sensesesonal elol he
wo | daoo0l 0s, magesandl houghl s passl ho0gho0
m nds, o0 oeal h |' ows n and o0l , s0ppol . ng o0
speech and ac| on. C0 heals oeal n pace w l h o0|
movemenl s and emol ons Momenl oy momenl , we
' . ve am dsl a conl n0a' | ' ow o| pecepl on, l ho0ghl ,
andemol on, pal l e ns a s . ngand s 0os d ng n seem
ng' y0 nend ng epel l ons cach momenl a| sesasan
0 n ce l a n ly, an 0 n s n own as vas l os l he momenl
oe|o|e l he 0 n ve|se came nlo oe ng, as deep' y s g
n | canl andl 0 ' ' o| pol enl a' asl hemomenl oe|oeo0
own o |l h How can h0 man oe ngs end0 e ' v ng n
s 0chpevas ve0ncel a nly'
cx sl ng napepel 0a' sl al eo|0 n snow ng, wesees
s | ao ' lynea ' ye| ' ex ve' y Vev ewo0 ' vesashav ng
a oeg nn ng, ad0 a' on, andanend ng asl oyw| | ' en
n l me Ve expe ence o0 se' ves as mov ng | ho0gh
Time to Change
361
t me as an acto| moves across a s| age, p' ay ng out
scene a|te| scene Ve ' ve out | he st o|y o| ou| ' | ves,
| h| ns| ng we are mov| ng | orward as we a| | emp| |o
rea| | zeour dreams . wha| wedes| re |orourse| vesand
| o| | ut u|e gene|at | ons. Yet | t seems we a|e |ep' ay ng
t hesamestoryaga nandaga n.
V | h n th s st o|y, we see on| y | he end |esu ' t o|
changes. Ve | oos, and we see | hesame| mages, | he
same|o| ms, t hesamepeop| eday a|| e| day. Vewa| s
t hrought hes ame|out nes, sayt hesa mewo|ds , mase
t he s ame gestu|es, |espond acco|d| ng to | he same
patte| ns year a|ter yea|. Oes |e, p' eas ure, ooredom,
exc| | emen| , d| sappo| n | men| , newdes | re, an| i c| pa| | on,
|rus|ra| | on-| n|erwoven pa| | erns, re| n|orced oy mem
o| | es and assoc at | ons, encha| n us, we have no way
|ooreas||eeand seeou |se' vesasweare. Cu| awa|e
ness s hypnot zed oysamenessand|epet t on.
lrom| hemomen| weengagea| hough| , werepea|
anc ent pat| ern ngso| nam ng, |reez ng | ntoconcept s
t he ' v| ng |ea ' ty oe|o|e us. Cut o| an n| n t ude o|
poten| a' | es, we s hape d st nct ent t es oy ' aoe' ng,
de' neat ng, measu | ng, de|| n ng, and pa|t cu' ar z ng.
How cou| d we even | unct | on | | we had | o rename
eve|yt h| ngeach | nst ant ! O v| d| ng t | me| n |o separa| e
momen| sandspace ntoso' | d| o| ms, wecogn ze' rea'
t h ngs mov ngt h|oughl measwe' ' asspace.
Ve sel up unquest onao' e ru ' es to de| ne ' |ea'
| h | ngs , andwe| | ndourse| ves| na rea| mo| | h | ngs | ha|
we' snow Ve' snow what happ ness s, or |reedom,
we' snow what we mean when we say ' m nd . Ve
' snow what s u|| e| ng s , andwe' snow whowe are
Vhenwegat hertoget her a ' ' o|the names we' snow ,
362
Knowledge of Freedom
wenaveo0| oodyo| snow' edge, wn. cnwe 0se lo ' . ve
| n o0| wo|' d cven snow' edgeoecomes a ' l n. ng l nal
wepa|l . c0' a| | ze . nl oend' ess' y| | ne| d. sl . ncl . ons
Vhereverwe| oos| n o0| | ang0age, wecanseel he
e mphas | s on | h e concre| e and | he rea| Ve g. ve
s 0osl ance l o . n lang. o' e . deas, s 0cn as ||eedom and
progress, andl oo0| p|ocesswo| ds, s0cnasmovemenl
andcnange. Vecan masel n. ngseven mo|e so' . d oy
say| ng. Th| s . s. Tn | s | s no| . Veare. '
Ve s| ep | nlo | ne ' rea| and deadened wor' d o|
| n . ngs wnen we say | am | gno|. ng l ne cnang. ng
open | . e' d o| pol enl . a' . l . es, we mase o0 |se' ves sepa
|ale, ' one' y oe. ngs ex. sl . ng . n a wo|' d o| ||ozen,
separa| e | h. ngs. Ve are | ocsed | n| o a de|| n| l | on o|
' rea| l ha| we cannol change w| | ho0| ca| | | ng o0r very
ex. sl ence . nlo q0es l . on. Ve c ' . ng lo l nese nol . ons o|
ex. sl ence, we s 0 ppo|l l n. s v. ew w. l n o0| ' . |e . l se' |,
oe' | ev. ng . n ' | am as o0| mosl ce|l a . n |acl o| a ' ' . | l
g| ves 0sa p| ace, a pos . | | on, | 0s| asevery| n | ng wecan
name has a pos| | . on B 0 | wna| do we snow o| . | s
s 0osl ancewnal . s l nenal 0|e o|o0| oe. ng'
Oeny. ngl nenal 0 |e o| o0| v. o|anl wo| ' d, wenave
no | |eedom ||om l ne l n. ngs we' snow Ve nave no
|reedom|rom | he| n| ngswe name, | he| n| ngs wecan
seeand | ee| , | ne l h. ngswn| cn aro0s eo0| des| resand
ave|s . ons Ve a|e nol ||ee ||om wanl . ng, ||om || 0s
l |a l . on, | | om a nx . el y, we nave no || eedom ||o m
' one' . ness, ange|, g0. ' l , o| |eg|el . Ve naveno||eedom
|rom o0r ownl no0ghl s .
Know. ng a| | | n . s , we ga n some . ns | gn| . nlo o0|
s . l 0al . on. Ve nave oeen dece. ved oy 0nl o' d ages
o| cond. l . on. ng . nl oaccepl . ngav. ewo|' . |elnalo. nds
Time to Change
363
us | o repea| | ng pa| | er ns, ' | m| | s our |eedom, and
perpe| ual essuf|er| ng. Vecans eenowou verysenses
pesenl us w| l n| | xedl n| ngs, oo' | v| ous l ol necnang| ng
| ' owo|' | |e. Vecanoeg| nl oseenowou l nougnl sand
des | res | ure us | n| o repea| | ng l ne same dramas un| | '
wer unou| o| | | me, andour s| or | esc ome| oa nend | n
o' dageanddeal n
Ve may s ee l ne | ul | ' | ly o| epeal | ng l ne s ame
l nemes, we may wan| | o oe |ree. Bu| where | s | n e
snow' edgeooadenougnl o| eeus ' Cu pesenl way
o| snow| ng expands on' y | n spec | || c d| ec| | ons, |o'
' ow. ngo' dpallens, weae mov| ng| n exoao' ylowad
grealerspec| a| | za| | on Con|| n| ngs now| edge| n |o ever
s ma ' ' e and moe | so ' al ed c ompa l menl s, we a e
' os | ng s | gnl o| l ne snow' edge | nal g. ves mean | ng l o
numan ' | |e. Cu snow| edge | s ' | se a geal cone l na|
opensonaw| dev| sl a. Tne| ur| ner weexlendou rse| ves
a' ong | ls su |ace, lne ooade ou v| s | on appeas l o
gow, and l ne moe we may |ee' we nave u n ' | m. led
po| enl | a| |o exlend| ng | l s range. Ye| | | m| l | ng our
se| veslo| hes ur|aceo|| necone,weae suscep| | o' e| o
' l unne| v| s | on .
Can ou pesenl wayo| undesl and| ng ou se' ves
andour wor| deverprov| deusw| | nea| |reedom' How
can we l usl ou snow' edgewnen | l conl | nua' ' y l e' ' s
us sl o | es l o ma se us l n | n s we a e a ' eady | ee'
A' l nougnou| ' | vesae pe mealedw| l ndeepsuf|e | ng
and| nsecur| |y, wedenyour u nsnow| ng, werej ecll ne
uncel a| nl yl nalwou ' dcompe' us l ooeg| nou seacn
|osnow' edgeand|eedom cven | | wel yl o|ogean
open | ng | n l ne palle|n , l ne m| nd sn | |l s l ne | ocus o|
a| |en| | on oacs | owords . | n s| ead o| |reedom, weae
g. venwo|ds wn| cn| us l | |y ou pa | n, andl nougnl s l nal
364
Knowledge of Freedom
confi ne us to t he pat t er ns wh i ch perpet uat e our
s uffer i ng. But words do not set us free. They l ul l us
wi t h reasons for our sufferi ng, reasons for our l i mi t a
t i ons, for our want i ng, hat reds, aggress i ons, and vi o
l ence toward oursel ves and everyth i ng i n our wor l d.
Our words ar e l eadi ng us i n ci rcl es, whi l e we t hi nk
t hey are poi nt i ng t he way t o freedom.
When we see t he f ul l i mpl i cat i ons of cont i nui ng as
we are and ask "What can we do? , " our thoughts
i nst ant l y di spl ay an array of sol ut i ons, but t hey al l
i nvol ve us agai n i n t he s ame pat t er ns. Our fi xed
not i ons of ou rsel ves and what we are capabl e of
becomi ng s hut t he door of poss i bi l i t i es for what we
can experi ence, know, and do. Our words, our l an
guage, and our t hought s have l ocked t he door and
conceal ed t he key. Wi t h i n our i nner pri son, our
choi ces ar e l i mi t ed, and freedom i s an empty word.
I t seems we wi l l not acci dent al l y escape from t hi s
pr i son of our way of knowi ng. I ts wal l s are hel d i n
pl ace by our sense of separat i on, our short-si ghted
act i ons, and our i nabi l i ty t o see beyond our own
sel f - i nterest. Our habi t ual patterni ng exerts a force
upon t he mi nd l i ke a magnet i c attract i on, drawi ng
t he mi nd t o ' sol i d' i mages, obj ects, and thoughts,
and bi ndi ng i t to t hi s sol i d real m. Even i f we see
the patterns and t ry to break free, we are drawn back
i nto the patterns al most refl exi vel y.
But now more than ever we need t o wake up and
recogni ze t he l i mi tat i ons of our knowl edge, not onl y
for oursel ves, but for t he f ut ure of al l human bei ngs.
Dur i ng the l ast few decades, we have begu n to di rect
our knowl edge i nto channel s whi ch are pat hways to
Time to Change 365
destruct i on, endangeri ng t he s urvi val of al l forms of
l i fe on our pl anet .
How can we free ou rsel ves from t hi s pr i son when
t he patter ns bi nd us s o t i ght l y? Al t hough i t may be
hard t o recogni ze and hard to use, t he key to unl ock
t he pri son door l i es wi t hi n us . The knowl edge t hat
bi nds us can al so be t he knowl edge t hat opens t he
path t o freedom. We al ready have a weal t h of such
knowl edge: We know t he ext ent of our l i mi t at i ons;
we know t he ever- t i ghteni ng cycl es of want i ng and
frust rat i on t hat const r i ct our vi s i on; we know t he
hopel essness of cont i nu i ng as we are. Now we need to
take t he next step, and set our knowl edge free.
Groundi ng ou rsel ves i n t he knowl edge we have,
we can awaken det er mi n at i on to never aga i n be
caught up i n dupl i cat i on. Thi s determi nat i on i s t he
confi dence we need t o break free of t he pat t er ns t hat
bi nd us . Wi t h each effort we l oosen t he hol d of
habi t ual responses and exper i ence a new i nfl ow of
knowl edge. Al t hough our i ni t i al efforts may not suc
ceed, we can encou rage ou r sel ves, knowi ng t hat
knowl edge wi l l s upport us . When we back determi
nati on wi t h new knowl edge and appl y i t i mmedi atel y
i n our l i ves, we gai n st rengt h from each experi ence.
Rememberi ng and act i ng upon al l we know, we refi ne
our knowl edge cont i n ual l y. I n t i me, we can bui l d up a
dynami c moment um t hat wi l l compl et el y overcome
t he force of our pattern i ng.
Al t hough our present knowl edge i s l i mi ted, i t has
al so created much beauty. I t has gi ven us powerf ul
tool s t o enhance hu man l i fe: Everyt hi ng we need for
an unparal l el ed renai ssance of hu man wel l - bei ng i s
366
Knowledge of Freedom
i n pl ace. The whol e f i el d of our consci ous ness l i es
before us, awai t i ng expl orat i on. Our knowl edge i s l i ke
a nugget of u nwrought gol d; on t he anvi l of our
quest i oni ng mi nd we can work i t i nto a gol den sphere
of u nequal ed beauty.
Once we know how t o recogn i ze the face of
knowl edge, we wi l l fi nd knowl edge everywhere. Ob
servi ng, anal yzi ng, and appl yi ng what we l ear n, we
can open our mi nds t o knowl edge every moment of
our l i ves. The whol e pat tern of human l i fe, i n al l of
i t s vari at i ons, can be unfol ded for us to st udy and
appreci ate. Even the experi ence of others can become
a sou rce of knowl edge: Those ol der t han we are show
us where our l i ves are l eadi ng; t hose younger can
remi nd us where we have been.
After we have l oosened t he confi ni ng pat t erns of
our t hi nki ng, we can fi nd a way to open t he wal l s of
t he cone, and see t he f u l l s phere of potent i a l i t y
afforded us by t i me and knowl edge. Al l t hat now
seems so crowded and sol i d-our physi cal worl d, our
compl exi t i es , t hought s , feel i ngs, emot i ons-can open
i nto a real m of i nfi n i t e possi bi l i t i es. Freed from t he
enervat i on of repet i t i on, we can fi nd our way to
freedom and i nvi t e greater knowl edge i nt o our worl d.
Open t o t he f l ow of experi ence and t he rhyt hms of
t i me, we can free ou rsel ves of f rust rat i on and pai n,
and l i ve wi t h a mi nd t hat i s free. Rel yi ng upon our
i n herent recept i vi ty t o knowl edge, we can create a
new model of f reedom and proj ect i t s i mage so
powerfu l l y t hat i t can overcome t he di vi s i ve forces at
work i n t he worl d.
Perhaps event ua l l y we coul d open wi de t he eyes of
mi nd, and st ret ch t he l i mi t s of our i magi nat i on, re-
Time to Change
:-
l 0|n nglolneze|o po n l o|n 0 man cons c o0s ness, l ne
po n l o| a ' ' polen| a' ly Vnal v. sl as m. gnl wesee, |
wewe|e l o 0nde|sl and l ne |0 ' ' powe| o|l ne n0 man
m. nd! 1nen0 mancons c. o0s nessmay p|ovel nemosl
nsp | ng| |on| e n o0 n. sl oy, anend ' esswe' ' sp| . ng
o' snow' edge, and o0| means o| ' oe|al on | | om a' '
' m l a| ons |veys l 0a| . on, eve|y l no0gnl o| concepl
l nal appea|s lo oe sl agnanl co0 ' d oe a ven c' e l o a
g|eale| snow. ng. cven pa nandcon| 0s oncanoeo0|
doo|ways| os now' edge
By open ng 0p lne c' osed aspec| s o| o0 | expe|
ence l o l ne g|eal e snow ng n n e|en l w l n n o0|
m nds, wec a nenl e nl oa ' ovea|| a | w l nsnow' edge
V l nsnow' edge aso0 g ea| esl | | end, o0 s 0 ppo|l e|,
and o0| w l ness, we can ||eeo0 |se' ves | | om a ' ' ' . m
l al ons Ve need neve| |ed0ce l neq0a ' ly o| expe|
ence| osomel n . ng l nal s ' snown' . Vecanapp|ec. al e
eacn momenl w. | n nl e|esl and wonde|, n l 0new l n
an0n| o' d ng| nal s a' waysnew.
Tn. s '|eedom oe' ongsnal 0 a ' ' y l ol ne m nd. Sn |t
ngand 0noo0 nded, l ne m nd, ' se a vas l ocean, nas
g|ea|depl nand|esl o a| vepowe|. Vavesa| se onl ne
s 0||ace, l as ng my| ad |o|ms-n gn peass and wn le
'oam, genl ' e| pp' es ando0 oo' es, sp|ayso| l nyd|ops.
Tne oo0nda| es o| l ne d|op' el o| l ne wave a|e nol
| g d, eacn| o| m s conl n 0 a ' ' y cnang ng, eve|oecom
ngnew n a dynam cconl . n 0 0 mo| n | n . |e polenl a' .
Vaves a s e ' n lo ex sl ence' , end0 |e . n a cnang ng
|' 0. d| o| m, andd. sappea Yel eve|y| o| m s wale, |' 0 d
a n d l an s paenl , 0 n | xed and 0 ngas pao' e V. l n n
eacn l nyd|op' el s conl a. ned | nedeepesl sec|els o|
| neocean
Tn s mag ca' p' ayo| l nem nd conl a ns a ' ' poss. o '
. l es |o gowln and cnange, l s ve|y na| 0|e . s |' ex o' e
368 Knowledge of Freedom
and free. So free perhaps, t hat we become confused
and hasten to stabi l i ze oursel ves and our worl d. But
even our sol i d rea l m hol ds a potent i al t hat i s tru l y
unl i mi t ed. Every ent i ty cont ai ns worl ds wi t hi n worl ds,
pul sat i ng wi t h l i fe.
No posi t i on we t ake wi l l i mpr i s on us forever,
al t hough no pos i t i on wi l l ever be abl e to encompass
t he nat ural f l exi bi l i ty and pot ent i al of t he mi nd. Yet
we can l earn to move t hrough experi ence l i ke a fi sh
t hrough water, an accompl i shed dancer, or an eagl e
soari ng i n t he sky. We can pass from understandi ng to
understandi ng, deepeni ng and broadeni ng our vi si on
unt i l we reach a freedom f r om al l fi xed posi t i ons, a
t r ansparent cl ari ty based on freedom i t sel f .
Vi ewi ng f reedom as i nt r i ns i c to our bei ng, we
di scover t hat our l i ves are what we make t hem. Al l
opt i ons are open, our choi ces unl i mi t ed. When we
have knowl edge, space grant s us unbounded oppor
t uni ty, and t i me present s us wi t h i nfi ni te poss i bi l i t i es
for change.
achi evement , 233
adol escence, 97-99
aggressi on, 40, 1 98
agi t at i on, 71 , 21 2, 21 4, 254
rel axi ng of, 220-221
agri cul t ure, 1 0
al i enat i on, 201
al ternat i ves, -1 9, 34, 52, 68,
72, 1 61 , 1 62
amph i bi ans, 7
anger, 1 98, 235
ani mal s, 6, 7, 1 0
answers, 26
ant i ci pat i on, 1 42, 1 45, 351
anxi ety, 26, 34, 93, 1 65,
1 66, 21 4, 218f, 235, 242
fear of, 218
sources of, 21 5
I ndex
appreci at i on, 232, 265
Arabs, 1 2
art i fi ci al responses, 1 97
Asi a, 1 2
ass umpt i ons, 24, 80, 82
fal se, 1 67
quest i oni ng of, 1 67
avoi dance, 242
awareness, 8, 81 , 1 67, 276,
277, 278, 316, 338, 357
Aztecs, 1 2
bal ance o f nat u re, 44
bal ance of power, 51 , 66
beauty, sense of, 1 67
behavi or, 1 72, 1 77, 237,
305-306
bel i efs, 1 41
372
Knowledge of Freedom
bi rt h, 93
bl ame, 232
bl ami ng others, 1 98
body, 21 , 39, 77, 1 62, 1 63,
220, 304, 307
and pai n, 240
changes i n, 1 70, 1 75,
1 85, 1 87
effects of t ens i on on,
21 3f
knowl edge of , 1 58
body/ mi nd rel at i onsh i p,
21 9f, 224
breath and breat hi ng,
220-221 , 240
mi ndfu l ness of, 221 -222
burn- out , 1 09
categor i es, 1 61
change, 34, 35, 36f, 62,
89f, 1 03, 1 32, 1 59, 1 60, 1 86,
260, 299, 31 4, 318, 352, 360,
361
accel erat i on of, 39
i n exper i ences, 1 85
i n percept i ons, 1 8
support for, 203
chi l dhood, 95f, 1 71 f,
250, 252
chi l dren, 1 05, 1 1 4, 1 34,
1 39, 1 65
Chi na, 1 2
choi ces, 1 62, 1 78
ci vi l i zat i on, 1 0, 1 1 , 1 2 ,
42, 63
commi t ment s, 1 04, 1 39,
1 96, 280
commun i cat i on, xi i i , 8, 1 3,
40, 59, 80, 1 72, 1 73
personal att empt s at ,
1 08, 1 09, 265, 294
compari sons, 226
compet i t i on, 32, 47, 51 ,
1 09, 225-232, 267
begi n ni ng of, 226
extent of, 226
heal i ng confl i ct of , 233
moment um of, 227, 228
si de-effects of, 227
compet i t i ve pressures, 48,
96, 228
compl ai ni ng, 1 08, 1 29
compromi se, 1 03
compul si ve act i vi ty,
21 5-21 6
computer, 295, 344, 345
conceal ment , 1 75
concen trat i on, 1 61 , 1 63,
1 65, 280
concepts, 1 8, 67, 77, 80,
21 4, 220, 269, 287f, 303,
31 4, 31 5, 31 7, 332
condi t i oni ng, 67, 1 60, 1 61 ,
1 64, 1 67, 1 68f, 1 79, 1 82,
202, 237, 267, 290
confi dence, 1 43, 1 61 -1 62,
1 65, 1 67, 1 79, 1 94
conf l i ct of wi l l s, 61
conformi ng to expec
t at i ons, 1 73, 1 77
Time to Change
373
conformi ng to standards,
225, 227, 230
confusi on, 1 9, 41 , 1 65, 1 67,
1 68, 1 69, 1 70, 1 72, 1 79, 20,
316
consci ousness, 25, 68,
77-80, 93, 1 64, 1 67, 1 68,
1 69, 278, 280, 340, 349, 351 ,
353-357, 360, 366, 367
Const i tut i on, 48
contentment, 32
control , 1 28, 236-237, 31 5,
31 9, 322, 323
cooperat i on, 234
cul t i vat i on, 1 0
cycl es, 9, 1 0, 1 7, 1 45,
1 84, 1 87H, 229
death, 20, 21 , 91 , 1 1 2,
1 1 5-1 1 7, 1 49-1 51 , 257, 322
decept i ons, 1 67, 1 75, 1 78,
1 99
defensi veness, 1 99, 230
desi res, 1 06, 1 1 1 , 1 24, 1 26,
1 40, 1 65, 1 87, 237, 249H,
308, 309, 335
di ffi cul t i es, 52
di nosaurs, 7
di rect i on for l i fe, 1 78
di sappoi nt ment, 1 1 2, 1 24,
1 32, 1 45, 216, 263, 272, 336
di scontent , 70
di ssati sfact i on, xi i , 31 H, 69,
70, 95, 1 07, 1 30, 1 39, 334,
sources of, 21 5
di stract i ons, 1 61
dogma, 26
earl y forms of l i fe, 5
educat i on, xxi , 48, 70, 96,
emot i onal di st ress, 34,
48, 70, 1 04, 1 05, 236, 299,
305, 30
rel i ef of, 221
emot i onal numbness, 21 7
emot i onal responses, 1 79
emot i onal stress, 223
emot i ons, 1 28, 1 65, 203,
204, 21 4, 254, 324, 346
changes i n, 1 75
observat i on of, 222
energy, 76, 82, 99, 1 1 2, 1 1 3,
1 24, 1 25, 31 2, 359
envi ronment , 278, 341 , 350
envi ronment al i mbal
ances, 43
et hi cs, 1 78
Euphrates Ri ver, 1 0
Europe, 1 2
exci t at i on, 21 3, 223
excuses, 1 95, 232
exi stence, 6
expandi ng s i l ence, 222
expedi ency, 228
experi ence, 9, 1 6, 1 8, 26,
1 42, 1 49, 1 69, 1 78, 1 99, 21 7,
219, 231 , 253, 254, 262, 269,
291 , 295, 298, 310, 314, 305,
316, 31 8, 325, 349, 355, 366,
366, 368
374 Knowledge of Freedom
exper i ence ( contin ued)
qual i ty of, 21 2, 21 3
shari ng of, 233
fami l y, 48, 50, 1 05, 1 39
fant asy worl d, 95, 1 1 7,
1 34, 250, 252, 255
fear, 21 , 94, 1 1 6, -1 42, 1 51 ,
1 72, 1 75, 1 77, 1 79, 1 82, 200,
227, 230, 235, 237
of fai l ure, 237
feel i ng, 224, 262, 263 , 293,
308
fi re, 8, 1 3
fi shes, 7
free enterpri se, 45, 46
f reedom, xi x-xxi , 26, 42ff,
1 0, 260, 361 f
att i t udes towards, xi i i
i ndi vi dual , 43, 46, 1 05,
281 , 337
i nner, 1 61 , 31 7
l i mi tat i ons on, xx, 363-365
mental , 1 62
of rel i gi ous bel i ef, 43
of speech, 43, 50
of t hought , 43, 48
prot ect i on of, xi x, 43
si de-effect s of, 48
f r ust rat i on, 32, 45, 51 , 69,
70, 93, 1 04, 1 27, 1 66, 1 76,
1 77, 256, 322, 336, 366
rel i ef of, 221
f ul fi l l ment , 1 39, 1 42, 230
f ut ure, 1 7, 1 9, 50, 71 , 281 ,
345, 351 , 358
knowl edge of, 1 63
gaps, 37, 1 1 2
goal s, 53, 1 1 2, 1 39, 229,
234, 263, 274
l ong- range, 232
Gol den Gate Br i dge, 31
good i nt ent i ons, 61 , 62, 71
government , 49
' greater good' , 46
Greece, 1 2
gri dl ock, 73
growt h, stages of,
1 69ff, 1 84
gui l t , 95, 1 27, 1 33, 165, 1 76,
218, 21 9, 238
happi ness, 1 44, 1 65-1 66
heal t h, l l l
heart, protect i on of, 221
heart beat , 220, 221
hel pl essness, 1 71 , 1 80
hope, 62, 1 41
hopel essness, 69
Huang- po Val l ey, 1 0,
human bei ngs, 7-1 5,
277, 303, 353, 359
dest i ny of, 1 63
hi st ory of, 26
nat ure of, 303-304
ori gi ns of, 1 63, 303
sense organs of, 7
Time to Change 375
h uman potent i al , 1 5 , 1 6,
80, 1 62
waste of, 227
h uman ri ght s, 42
human val ue, 63
h unt i ng and gatheri ng, 8, 9
' 1 ' , 293, 301 f, 310f, 318f
i deas, 26
i dent i ty, 98, 99, 1 35
i mage, 1 1 4, 1 35, 21 2, 249,
250, 251 , 253, 255, 256, 287,
297, 338
i mbal ances, 41
i mpermanence, 89, 31 8
i nadequacy, 1 72, 1 73, 227,
234
I ncas, 1 2
i ndeci si on, 1 80
i ndependence, 226, 237
i ndi vi dual i s m, 53
i ndi vi dual i ty, 1 72
I ndus Val l ey, 1 0
i nferi ori ty, 227
i nner confl i cts, 1 65
i nner resources, 1 66, 232 -233
i nner strengt h, 205
l i mi t at i ons on, vi , 364
need for, 52, 1 64, 364
i nqui ri ng mi nd, 1 67
i nqui ry, basi s of, 1 63
i nsecur i ty, 47, 98, 1 72, 1 75,
1 76, 1 79, 1 80, 20
i ns i ght , 80-81
i nspi r at i on, 80, 81 , 1 67
i nstabi l i ty, 39
i ntegri ty, 232
i nt ent i onal i ty, 20
i nt erpret at i ons, 20, 21
i nt ui t i on, 80
i nvent i ons, 1 2, 1 3
i sol at i on, 1 76, 201
j eal ousy, 1 72, 1 98, 235, 321
j udgment , 1 65
j ust i ce, 42
' knower', 77f
knowi ng, 25, 67f, 290, 361
knowl edge, xv-xxi i i , 8, 9, 1 1 ,
1 9, 23, 35, 41 , 45, 46, 53, 64,
65, 68f, 72, 73, 74, 75, 1 67,
234, 259, 273, 274, 275, 279,
280, 281 , 302, 353, 356, 358f
al t ernat i ve approach
towards, 77, 80, 82
as ' obj ect' , 69-71
i ncompl eteness of,
1 1 , 1 7, 52
l eadi ng to dest r uct i on, xi x
need for, 52, 1 64, 364
object i ve, 78-80
of deat h, 20
pass i ng on, 1 1
sci ent i fi c, 1 2-1 3
sel fi sh uses of, 46
subj ect i ve, 78-80
376
Knowledge of Freedom
l anguage, 8, 9, 1 3 , 1 8, 67,
75, 1 42, 1 72, 1 73, 1 74, 277,
287ft, 31 7, 348, 359, 362
al l -encompassi ng
nat ure of, xv
i n hi s tory, xi i i , xvi i i
l i brari es, 1 1 , 1 3
l i fe, 6, 1 4, 1 6, 326
i n t he womb, 92
l i festyl es, 37, 49, 1 1 1 , 1 23ft,
260
acti ve, 260-262
aggressi ve 1 26-1 28
cr i t i cal , 264-266
daydreami ng, 1 34-1 36,
262-264
easygoi ng, 1 23-1 26
goal -ori ent ed, 266-268
of compl ai nt , 1 30-1 34
of rest ra i nt , 1 28-1 30
l onel i ness, 1 29, 1 33, 201
l os i ng di rect i on, 229
l ost opportuni t i es, 202
mammal s, 7
mani pul at i on, 95, 1 03,
1 77, 237, 255
martyr, 1 29
mat er i al needs, 1 0
meani ng, 287ft
l ack of, 1 73
memor i es, 1 69, 251 , 262,
268-273, 298, 338
memory, 8, 20, 34, 71 , 90,
1 1 6, 1 25, 250
ment al changes, 1 85, 187
ment al cl ari ty, xv, 1 61 , 241 ,
220, 249, 290ft, 302f, 332,
333, 337, 338, 340, 344ft,
354, 366-368
dul l i ng of, 21 9
effect of tensi on on,
21 2ft
knowl edge of, 1 58
model s, 34, 62, 6
Mongol s, 1 2
moral and ethi cal con
sensus, 48, 49
mot i on, 297, 345
mot i vat i on, 1 47
l oss of, 1 80
negat i ve emot i ons,
241 -243
negat i ve feel i ngs, 1 77, 242
negat i ve patterns, 1 65,
1 69, 1 76, 1 78, 1 79
revers i ng, 1 81 , 1 82
negat i ve vi ews, 1 70
negat i vi ty, 1 65 , 1 67, 1 76
neut ral seei ng, 241
neut ral sensi ng, 221
Ni l e, 1 0
obl i gat i on, 1 77, 1 78, 237
ol d age, l l l ft, 257, 272, 273
opport uni t i es, 35, 1 88
order, 1 67
overst i mul at i on, 21 2, 21 3
Time to Change
377
pai n, 1 23, 1 25, 1 66, 1 67,
1 69, 1 70, 235-243, 272
avoi dance of, 216,
236, 238
cycl es of, 238
detachment from, 242
emot i onal , 1 80, 235
fear of, 236, 243
i nternal dynami c of,
236, 240-241
observat i on of, 241
physi cal , 235
protect i on from,
239-243
rel at i onsh i p to t hought ,
240-241
rel i ef of, 239-243
responsi bi l i ty for, 242
sources of, 235, 239
past, 1 7-1 9, 37, 1 1 7,
270, 271
l earni ng from, xvi i -xi x
patterni ng, 1 66
patterns, xi i i , xvi i i , 8, 1 8,
1 9, 34-35, 62, 68, 71 , 1 66,
1 88, 202, 203, 292, 295, 342,
345, 354, 355, 362, 365, 366
mani pu l at i ve, 1 73
reversi ng, 1 43, 1 82
percept i on, 69, 1 1 1 , 224,
237, 31 4, 342, 346, 349, 350,
356
perceptual patterns, 69
percept ual process, 21 1 ,
331
perfect i bi l i t y of man, 42
personal i ty, 1 72, 1 75,
1 77, 1 80
phi l osophy, xi i , 42
personal , 35
phobi as, 21 9
physi cal act i vi ty, 21 5
physi cal di scomfort, 236
physi cal exhaust i on, 21 7
physi cal fi t ness, 21 5
pl easure, 21 5, 21 7
pol ar i t i es, 73
pol ar i zat i on, 51
possessi ons, attach ment
t o, 322-323
power, 39, 280, 345, 357
predi spos i t i ons, 1 68
present, 1 6, 1 8, 21 , 22, 71 ,
271 , 291
pressure, 31 , 47, 74, 21 5ff, 236
bal anci ng of, 237
compet i t i ve, 216, 225ff
rel i ef of, 221 , 240-241
pret ense, 1 65
pr i or i t i es, 35
probl em- sol vi ng process,
44, 70
probl ems, 43, 45, 49, 59,
61 , 1 31 , 1 63, 279
progress, 32, 42f, 6
si de effects of, 52
proj ect i ons, 201
prosperi ty, 32, 43, 46
protect i on, 1 76
purpose, 35, 279
378 Knowledge of Freedom
quest i oni ng process,
xi i i , 34, 52, 66, 83, 1 47, 1 67,
292, 298
quest i ons, xi i , 23f, 65,
75, 1 33, 259, 260
raci ng agai nst t ensi on,
21 6-21 7
raci ng agai ns t t i me, 21 7
rat i onal mi nd, 1 6, 69,
81 , 347
rat i onal i ty, 81
rat i onal i zat i ons, 1 94-1 95,
201
reacti ve t endency, 71 -73
reduct i on of, 221
rel at i onshi p to t ensi on,
222
real i ty, 347-349
reasons, 81 -82
regret s, 1 50
rej ect i on, 234, 255, 321
rel at i onsh i ps, 1 04, 1 05,
1 1 0, 1 1 3, 1 33
rel axat i on, 1 65, 21 5, 216,
220f
met hods of, 21 9,
221 -224
rel i gi on, 1 41
rel i gi ous t radi t i ons, 42
renai ssance, 1 2, 365
rept i l es, 7
resent ment , 1 27, 1 31 , 1 98,
321
response to beau ty, 1 57
responses, 1 99
respons i bi l i ty, xxi , xxi i , 62,
65, 1 25, 1 77, 1 96, 237, 278,
280, 281
rest l essness, 21 3, 21 4
rest ra i nt , 49
rol e model s, 1 78
rol es, 1 05, 1 1 0, 1 93, 230,
232, 233
r unner' s di l emma, 21 7
r unn i ng, 21 7
sati sfact i on, 33
sci ence, 1 2 , 42, 354
securi ty, 40, 1 65
sel f, 69, 70, 75, 1 35, 1 37,
1 97
- bl ame, 1 80, 1 95-1 96,
205, 238
-compassi on, 205
-confi dence, 1 1 6, 1 74,
1 75
-control , 237
-decept i ons, 201
-deprecat i on, 227
- doubts, 1 72f, 1 80, 227
-educat i on, 1 66
-est eem, 229
- i mage, 1 28, 1 29, 1 69,
1 78, 1 79, 1 80, 1 92f, 200,
227, 236, 237, 31 6, 321 , 325
- i mportance, 1 72, 236
- i mposed l i mi t at i ons,
i i , 1 80
Time to Change
:
- i mprovement , 1 59
- i nterest, 4, 203
-knowl edge, 1 43, 1 66,
243
-observat i on, 1 81 ,
203-204, 310-313
- protect i on, 1 95, 229,
232, 236
- rel i ance, 226
-trust, 232
- underst andi ng, 1 65, 1 67
-val ue, 232
-wort h, 232
sensat i on, 224
sense i mpressi ons, 21 1 ,
31 1 f
sense of communi ty, 49
senses, 7, 21 , 69, 76, 78,
21 1 , 21 2, 250, 261 , 331 , 332,
340, 355
at t ract i on t o st i m
ul at i on, 237, 31 1
dul l i ng of t he, 1 1 5, 21 8,
21 9
i nner operat i on of, 220
rel axat i on of, 223
response to pai n, 238
subt l e aspect of, 220
sensory awareness, 224
sensory pl easu re, 1 58, 224
separate observer, 69, 76
separate sel f, :
separat i on, 51 , 69, 81 , 94,
1 63, 1 65, 236, 342, 364
fear of, 1 72, 1 80
shi ft s i n or i entat i on, 1 85
shi fts i n sense of t i me,
1 85-1 86
s i bl i ng ri val ry, 1 72
s i l ent musi c, 224
soci al struct ure, 1 0
soci ety, 41 , 42, 49, 60, 1 24
speech, 7, 8
s pi r i t ual growt h, 42, 1 24
s pi ri t ual tradi t i ons, 80
spi r i t ual val ues, 63
stabi l i ty, 1 4, 50
s t i mu l at i ons, 1 61 , 21 2ft,
241 , 255, 351
addi ct i on to, 21 3
hei gh ten i ng i n t ensi ty
of, 21 3, 254
st rategi es, 1 23f
st ress, 39, 47, 9, 21 2, 21 6,
218, 21 9
protect i on from, 221
st ri vi ng, 21 5, 231
s ubj ect i vi ty, 78
sufferi ng, 44, 64, 1 57, 1 64,
1 66, 1 67
symbol s, 8
t echnol ogy, 1 0, 1 2, 36, 38,
44ft, 51 , 53, 63, 68, 304, 343
t ensi on, 72, 73, 1 07, 1 66,
1 87, 21 1 ft, 228
avoi dance of, 21 6
cycl es of, 214, 222
f undamental , 21 1
hei ght eni ng of, 21 6-
217, 255
380
Knowledge of Freedom
t ensi on ( continued)
moni t ors of, 220
rel i ef of, 221 -223
res i dual , 21 2
transformi ng, 21 9
t houghts, 1 08, 21 2, 21 4,
223, 224, 281 , 287, 292ff,
31 2, 332, 339, 342, 346, 361 ,
364
observi ng, 204, 205,
222-223
Ti gr i s Ri ver, 1 0
t i me, 1 4, 1 6ff, 35, 39, 76,
81 , 89ff, 1 1 3, 1 91 , 257, 280,
359, 360, 366, 36
attempts to mani
pul ate, 21
energy of, 20
i nabi l i ty to predi ct
f ut ure, 20
i mpl i cat i ons of, 21
l i mi t at i ons of, 1 98
pressures of, 1 86
t ransi t i on, peri ods of, 1 70
t rust , 1 66, 1 76, 1 96
Turks, 1 2
u ncert ai nty, 22, 39, 1 64,
1 74, 1 75, 235, 358-360
u ni verse, 1 4, 76, 301 , 359
u rban communi t i es, 1 0
val ues, 37, 67, 1 0, 1 72,
1 78, 232
vi si on, 1 9, 53, 80, 228, 229,
232, 234, 277, 279, 280, 353
wi nni ng, 228,
worl d, 50, 1 65, 278, 280,
281 , 291 , 302, 304, 31 7, 323,
341 , 354, 357, 358, 362
worl d l eaders, 39, 65-66
yearni ng, 1 38ff, 262, 263
Tnesymoo' . n anc. ent |ant sasc|. pt on l ne p|eced. ng
page s pe| | s | heSans sr| t wo|d }ayan|u. | | s | gn. |. es v| c
|oryandexpressest hew| sn| nal a| ' peop| eoetru ' y||ee.