HumanisticPsychology andSelfhelp

HumanisticPsychology(CarlRogers,AbrahamMaslowandRolloMay)isafundamental

inspirationforthemanagementtheoriesandthereforeforthewholeoftheselfhelpindustry(see

myarticleManagementtheoryandtheselfhelpindustry).

Thehumanisticpsychologyisbasedonabiologicalviewofhumannatureorsaidinanother

way:itbelievesthathumansentirelyaredesirousbeings(seemybookAPortraitofaLifeartist).

CarlRogersisthereforeinhisselfactualizationtheoryfocusingontheemotionalexperienceofthe

individual.AbrahamMaslowisinhisselfactualizationtheoryfocusingondifferentlevelsof

needsintheindividual.RolloMayisinhisexistentialpsychologyfocusingonthewillandwishes

intheindividual.

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Ifyoufocusontheseaspectsofthehumannatureyouwillfindyourtrueauthenticself,they

claim.LikethewisdomtraditionsHumanisticPsychologynamelyhaveanideaabout,thatManhas

asovereign(orevenspiritual/divine)core.So,itisfromherewehavetheconceptsofthe

selfactualizingandpersonaldevelopinghumanbeing,and,asaresult:theauthentic,sovereign,

autonomous,competent,resourcefilledhumanbeingconcepts,thatarecentralinthewholeofthe

selfhelpindustry.Butwhichalsoareshowingsomethingofaparadox,orcontradiction,because

thistherapeuticselfactualizationhastobesupportedbyanarmyofcoachesandpsychotherapists.

Themoreresourcesthehumanbeingisconceivedtohave,themorepotentialsithas,orisclaimed

tohave,themoresupportitneedsmoretherapists,morecoaches,morecoursesetc.inorderto

develophimself(readmoreaboutthisparadoxinmyarticleSelfhelpandtheMythologyof

Authenticity).Thisparadoxshows,thatsomethingisgoingwronginthisworldview,andinthe

followingIwillshowwhy.

Whatiscommoninhumanisticpsychologyisthattheindividualactualizeshisfullresources

orpotentialsthatis:thathefindshisauthenticself.Thisthesishasbeendevelopedinmany

variousforms,forexampleitisalsothisthesisthatislyingbehindtheconceptofpositive

psychology.PositivepsychologyhasitsrootsintheNewThoughtmovement,andisclaimingthat

ifyoufocusonyourpositivethoughts,feelings,needs,wishesandwill,andareignoringthe

negativeoppositions,thenyoucanattractanythingyouwant(thepositiveisinNewThought

understoodasmaterialglory,money,success,personalpower,sex,health,beauty)seemy

articleTheNewThoughtmovementandthelawofattraction.

Itis,accordingtotheHumanisticPsychology,thereforeonlytheindividualsownsubjective

evaluation,whichcanprovidesomethingwithvalue.Thereneitherexistvalidvalues,whichcome

fromthecommunity,orobjectivevalues,whichcomefromnature,theuniverse,orlifeitself.

Nothinghasvalueinitself,unlessitcomesfromtheindividualssubjectiveexperiences,needs,

willandwishes.

TheHumanisticPsychologysviewofmoralsisnamelynotonlyasubjectifying,which

attributesthesourceofmoralstothesubjectiveitself,butalsoanemotionalizing,sinceitisthe

individualsfeelings,whichdecidesthemoralqualityofsomething.Whatitisabout,istodowhat

feelsright.Itistheindividualsemotionalexperienceofsomething,whichdefinesvalues,not

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conversely.AndthisisfullyinthreadwiththeideologyofConsumerCapitalism,wherethe

customer(andhisorhersexperiences,wishes,willandneeds)alwaysisright.Theconsumer

society,thetherapeuticselfactualizationandthesubjectifyingofthemoral,gohandinhand.The

moraltheindividualsrelationtohimselfistherapized,andthemoralissubjectified.

Butwhatisthisself?Isitthesameasinthewisdomtraditions?No,anditisheretheproblems

arises.

Oursuffering,ourpainbodyisaccordingtothewisdomtraditions,throughtheinnerevaluating

ego,whichthepainbodyisconstructedaround,connectedwiththemoredangerousdephtsofthe

collectivehistoryoftheastralplane,whichalsoareakindofdark,ancientinertia,whichopposes

anychangeoftheego(seemyarticleTheemotionalpainbodyandwhypsychotherapycant

healit).

Thatisalsothereasonwhyyou,throughpsychotherapy,canthealManfromtheground.In

ordertohealManfromthegroundyouneedtogointoaspiritualpractice.Itisonlywithinthe

religionsandtheirspiritualtraditionstheyhaveknowledgeandnamesforthemoredarksidesof

theastralplanescollectivehistory.TheWesthasverypreciselycalledthisfactortheoriginalsin.

TheEasthascalleditnegativekarma.Theconceptsindicate,thattheinertiaprojectsbeyondthe

personalhistory(growingupconditions,traumaticbindings,painfulexperiencesetc.)andfardown

intothecollectiveinheritbackgroundsofhistory(genes,environment,societyideals,the

archetypesandtheprimordialimagesofthedreams,fantasies,fairytales,myths,andfinally:

instinctsinheritedfromtheanimals).Itisafactor,whichislyingintheevolutionitself,inthe

genes,inthecollectivesubconcious,inthecollecticeimagesoftime.

Whenthereforepsychotherapyrequiresachange,thentheinstinctivesurvivalpreparednessin

usreactsandprotests.Manhassurvivedonwillfulnessandaconsciousnessstructure,which

mentalandpsychicsignisEgocentredness.ThebiggerEgo,thebiggersurvivalchance.The

HumanisticPsychologysviewoftheauthenticselfisthereforeconfusingthisselfwiththeego.

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Seenfromaspiritualperspective,thisinstinctivesurvivalstrategi(theEgo)appearsasa

resistance,aninvincibleinertia:originalsin,negativekarma.Youcant,bypsychotherapeutic

strategies,freetheconsciousnessfromitsattachmenttothisinertia.Youcanthereforenotdissolve

ordiluteorconverttheoriginalsinthroughpsychotherapy.OnlytheinterventionoftheSource

(God,Christ,theenlightenedconsciousness)canbasicallyhelpManwithatrancendenceofthe

negativekarmaoftheoriginalsin.Butinorderto,thatahumanbeingshouldbeabletoreceivethis

helpfromtheSource(giftofgrace),thenthisrequiresaneminentlypreciseandprofound

preparation.Andaspartofthispreparationservethetruespiritualpracticewithinthereligions(see

myarticlesParanormalphenomenaseeninconnectionwithspiritualpracticeandThevalue

ofhavingareligioninaspiritualpractice).

So,whenyouinthiswaydoyourpartofthework,thenyouwilldiscoverthattheenlightened

consciousness(God,Christ,Buddha),alreadyhavecleansedthenegativekarmaandtakenon,and

forgiven,theoriginalsin.AllenlightenedteachersofthisEarth(Rumi,Krishna,FrancisofAssisi,

Rabia,Meera,YesheTsogyel,TeresaofAvila)aredoingthesame:theytakeontheoriginalsin

andarepurifyingitforus.

Butreligionhasinhumanisticpsychology,andintheselfhelpindustryassuch,beenreduced

topsychology(feelings,willandwishes,CarlRogersandRolloMay),spiritualityhasbeen

reducedtobiology(needsAbrahamMaslow),andphilosophyhasbeenreducedtoideology

(consumercapitalism).So,traditionalreligiousandphilosophicalpracticeshaveinHuman

Psychology,andintheselfhelpindustryassuch,beenreducedtopsychologyandpsychotherapy.

Spiritualityhasinthiswaybeenturnedupsidedown.InmybookAPortraitofaLifeartistin

thesectionaboutneedsIdescribehowtheideologyofneedsdistortshumannature.

InmyarticleNonviolentCommunication(NVC)isaninstrumentofpsychicterrorI

describethereductionisminanotherway(NVCisdirectlyinspiredbyhumanisticpsychology).In

itswayofclaiming,thatallhumanbehaviourstemsfromattemptstomeetasmallsetofhuman

needs,NVCisnamelyareductionism.ThefounderofNVC,MarshallRosenberg,isforexample

proclaimingthat,allneedsareuniversaleveryhumanbeingintheworldhasthesameneeds.

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Reductionismsreduceordevaluatethemanyaspectsofahumanbeing(forexamplehistory,

time,rationality,spirituality,communication,truth,meaning,beauty,suffering,passion,love,etc.,

etc.,orsaidinoneword:thewholeness)toaphenomenonofasingletype.InNVCaswellasin

MaslowsversionofHumanisticpsychologythisphenomenonisneeds.

NeedsareinNVCseeninrelationtotwotypesoffeelings:feelingswhenyourneedsare

satisfied,andfeelingswhenyourneedsarenotsatisfied(onNVCwebsitesyoucanfindlistsof

fundamentalneedsandthetwotypesoffeelings).SoNVCisabouthowyoucangetyourneeds

satisfied.Butwhenyoureduce,forexampleuniversalvaluessuchasthegood,thetrueandthe

beautiful,toneeds("Universalneeds"),thenthewholethingisbeingturnedupsidedown,because

thenyourbeingisseenassomethingnotyetsatisfied,astateofbecoming,andthereforedesire.

Andwithbecominganddesireyouhavetheego:thedirectoppositeofthegood,thetrueandthe

beautiful(rememberthatinforexampleBuddhismtheyseedesireasoneofthemainpoisonsof

themind).InmyarticleThefourphilosophicalhindrancesandopeningsIhaveinvestigated

thisturningspiritualityupsidedownparadoxwhichthewholeofNewAgeandtheselfhelp

industryarecharacterizedby.AlsoseemyarticleThepseudoscienceofreductionismandthe

problemofmindforadeeperexplanationoftheepistemologicalandethicalshipwrecksall

reductionismsendupin.

Wherespiritualitytraditionalisabouttheeliminationoftheego,thentheegohasbecomean

objectofworshipwithintheselfhelpindustry.Spiritualityhasbeendistorted.

InhisbookTheGoodLifetheDanishLifephilosopherMogensPahuuswrites,thatifyouask

about,whattheoldScandinavianssawasthehighestandthegreatestinlife,theecstasyoflife,

thentheanswerwouldbe,thatitisselfassertiontheassertionofoneselfandthefamily.Healso

writes,thatyouinChristianityfindadiametricallyoppositeviewofselfassertion,bothinits

CatholicformasinProtestantism.InSaintGregoryandThomasofAquinas

haughtiness/pride/selfassertionwasthefirstandgreatestofthesevensocalleddeadlysins.Andin

Lutherselfassertionnorwasagoodness,buttheviceoverallvices.Itisthesevendeadlysins

DanteinThePurgatorymustlookintheeyesoneafterone,inordertobeabletoprogress.He

mustusethediscrimination,whichisthepurificationprocess,whereyoulookyourdestinyinthe

eyesanddopenanceafterhavingrealizedhowyourperspectivedistortsreality.

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Soselfassertionisavice.Selfassertionisakindofselfinterest,whereeverythingturns

aroundtheEgo,andthereforemakesthemindmediocre.Toliveinaworld,whichiscontrolledby

selfassertion,withoutbeingselfassertive,means,truly,tolovesomethingforitsownsake,

withoutseekingareward,aresultbutthisisverydifficult,becausethewholeworld,allyour

friends,yourrelatives,struggletoachievesomething,toaccomplishsomething,tobecome

something.

Todayselfassertiononceagainisconsideredasavirtue.Thegurusarethemanyadvocates

forthemarketandtheeconomicalcompetition,asforinstanceseveralmanagementtheorists.And

theeducationinstrumentistheselfhelpindustry.Thedisciplesaretheconsumersthatwillsay,

thatthisoutlookoflifeobviouslyissharedbymostpeopleinoursociety:thatitisaboutbecoming

something,togetsuccess,toconqueraplaceonthetopofthemountain,tobecomeawinner.

MogensPahuusbelievesthatthemodernidealaboutbecomingasuccess,awinner,isaperverted

ideal.Thesocietypraisesaselfassertion,whichhasgoneoverthetop,andtheredominatesa

selfassertion,whichisavice,becauseitbothspoilsthelifeoftheselfassertive,andthelifesof

those,whomtheselfassertivemeasureshimselfinrelationto,andwhomhewantstooverpass.

Pahuusmentionssomeoftheformsofselfassertion:1)Vanity,whichisavice,becausethe

vainfullalwaysisbearinginmind,howheorshelookslike,orisconsideredlike,intheeyesof

others.2)Ambition,whichisavice,becauseyouhereconstantlyareonthewayforward,or

upwards.3)Haughtiness,whichisavice,becauseyouhere,inyourfeelingofownsuperiorvalue,

lookdownatothers,arelettingothersfeeltheirinferioritythatis:becausehaughtinessis

unethical.Butalsointhearroganthimself,haughtinessisdestructive:itisolates.4)Joyofpower.

Theethicalseenmostviolatingformofselfassertionisthejoyofhavingpoweroverothers,of

controllingothers,oroppressingthem.

PahuusquotesAlfredAdlerandsaysthattheabovementionedformsofselfassertionare

attackcharacterized.Buttherealsoexistsanonattackcharacterizedform,asforinstancethe

hostileisolation,anxietyandbashfulness,whichyouseeintheUndergroundManinDostojevskijs

smallnovelNotesfromanUnderground.

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Theviceinthedifferentformsofselfassertionisthatitleadstoanunreallife.

Truespiritualityisintheendaboutgoingbeyondallconceptsandideas,becauselanguageand

linguisticmappingsisthemainreasonforourdistortionsofreality,andthereforeoursuffering.It

isinitsnatureabsolutist.Inordertogobeyondallconceptsandideasitmustbepossibleto

discriminatebetweenthelanguageandthereal,themapandthelandscape,subjectandobject.It

thereforebuildsonanobjectivetruthcriterium,whichislyinginareality,wholeness,orotherness,

thattranscendsus.AsNielsBohrsays,thenitisreality(thewholeness/theorderofnature),that

putsusinorder,andnotusthatputsrealityinorder(seemyarticleQuantummechanicsandthe

philosophyofNielsBohr).Discriminationisacentralaspectofcriticalthinking(mybookA

dictionaryofthoughtdistortionsisamanualincriticalthinking,andthereforephilosophy).

Theselfhelpindustryis,contrarytothis,defendingarelativismandasubjectivism,which

doesntallowthis.Andthisisabitofaparadox,becausealotoftheselfhelpgurusareclaiming,

thattheirteachingsarespiritual,yeseventhattheyarespiritualteachers.

Accordingtotheselfhelpindustrythenthelanguageisthereal,themapisthelandscape,the

wordisthereal.Suchalackofdiscriminationbetweenlanguageandreality,andthereforebetween

subjectandobject,isacentralaspectofmagicalthinking.

Itis,accordingtorelativismandsubjectivism,notpossibletogobeyondallconceptsand

ideas.Butyoucanchangethese.Thatisacentralideaintheselfhelpdirectioncalled

NeurolinguisticProgramming(NLP)seemyarticleNeurolinguisticProgramming(NLP)and

LargeGroupAwarenessTraining(LGAT).ThoughNLPissayingthatthemapisnotthe

landscape,thenitparadoxicallyalsoissupportingasubjectivism,thatsaysthatwecantgobeyond

ourmappings,wecantknowwhatthelandscapeisinitself.ThisofcourseintroducesaSocratic

question:Ifitistrue,thatwecantgobeyondourmappingsandgetknowledgeaboutwhatthe

landscapeisinitself,fromwheredoesNLPthenknowthatthemapisnotthelandscape?

Anyway,whatitisaboutwithinNLP,andtheselfindustryassuch,istochangeyour

language,mapsandwordssothattheyfitintoyourwishes,needsanddesires,andinthatwayyou

canbecomewhateveryoulike,andyoucancreatewhateverrealityyouwantthatis:accordingto

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yourego.Asthemanagementtheoristssay:Itisnotfacts,butthebeststory,thatwins!Andthey

oftendoitinamixofinterpretationsofShamanismandWesterntheoriesofhypnosis(seemy

articlesACritiqueofStanislavGrofandHolotropicBreathwork,Regression

psychotherapies,JamesArthurRayandthesweatlodgetragedyandHypnosis,hypnotherapy

andtheartofselfdeception).Butintruespiritualitythisisthesameasenlargeningyour

distortionofreality.

Itwillbeinterestingtofollowhownewtheorieswithintheselfhelpindustry,andinNew

Age,inthefuture,inlargescale,willbebasedontheabilitytotellagoodnewstory.Communal

reinforcementisathoughtdistortion,whichdirectlywillbeusedasameansforthis.Communal

reinforcementissocialphenomenoninwhichaconceptorideaisrepeatedlyassertedina

community,regardlessofwhethersufficientevidencehasbeenpresentedtosupportit.Overtime,

theconceptorideaisreinforcedtobecomeastrongbeliefinmanypeoplesminds,andmaybe

regardedbythemembersofthecommunityasfact.

Often,theconceptorideamaybefurtherreinforcedbypublicationsinthemassmedia,books,

orothermeansofcommunication.Thereisnodoubtaboutthattheselfhelpindustry(whichisa

strongadvocatefortheuseofhypnosisandhypnotherapy)willbemadepropagandaforthrough

massmediaphenomenasuchasTransmediaStorytelling,AlternateRealityGames(TheBlair

WitchProjectisanexampleofanAlternateRealityGame),ViralMarketing/InternetHoaxesand

CollaborativeFiction.

Thephrasemillionsofpeoplecantallbewrongisindicativeofthecommontendencyto

acceptacommunallyreinforcedideawithoutquestion,whichoftenaidinthewidespread

acceptanceofurbanlegends,myths,andrumors.

Thiswilloftenbemixedwithanabilitytousemoderntechnologywithincomputerscience

andproductionofmovies.Makeagreatwebsite,andtellastorylikeinaHollywoodmovie,and

youhavesuccess.ThelatestwithinNewAgeisforexamplethesocalledWingMakersProject.

ThedifferencebetweenaHollywoodmoviethough,andaNewAgeguru,isthattheNewAge

guruisclaimingthathisstoryistrue,thoughverywellknowing,thatthewholeisafiction.

8

Itisinteresting,thatthecreatoroftheWingMakersProject,MarkHempel,alreadynowis

defendinghisstoryasbeingtrue,againstcritics,whosaythatthestoryisahoax.Hempelprecisely

haveabackgroundworkinginthecomputerandITindustry(seemyarticleTimetravelandthe

fascismoftheWingMakersProject).

OrtaketheHumanDesignSystem,whichiscreatedbyAlanRobertKrakower,whoclaimsto

havereceiveditinavision,whereafterhecallshimselfRaUruHu.Hewasawelleducatedand

successfulbusinessman,whoworkedasacontractorandmagazinepublisherwithownadvertising

agency(seemyarticleAcritiqueofTheHumanDesignSystem).

ThesekindsofstorytellingwillbethefutureofNewAgeandtheselfhelpindustry,andit

willbeamusingtofollow,whatthenexttruestorywillbe.

Anyway,theparadoxintheselfhelpindustryis,thatitsbuildinsubjectivismandrelativism

areimplying,thatthereisntanyobjectivetruthcriteriuminanywholeness,orreality,that

transcendsus,atthesametimeasitistalkingalotabouttranscendingeverything.Accordingtothe

selfhelpindustrywecreatetruthandrealityourselvesthroughourlinguisticmappings,and

becausethereisnoobjectivetruthcriteriumtodecidethetruth,thenallsuchmappingsmustbe

equallytrue.Thisisimplyingthatthenewage,whichforexampleNewAgeistalkingabout,

cantbesaidtobemoretruethantheoldageviolenceandhatemustbeseenashavingthesame

truthasnonviolenceandcompassion.

Buttheideaaboutthatwecancreaterealityasitfitsus,isthereasonwhyselfhelpgurusin

extremecynicalwaysareabusingscienceasitfitsthem,anduseallkindsofunrealistic

exaggeratedgrandtitlesaboutthemselves(forinstancetheworldsgreatestmoneycoach,andso

oninthesamestyle).Becauseiftheyjustthinkitistrue,well,thenitmagicalmustbetrue.Thisis

especiallyseenwithinthemovementofthelawofattraction(Again:seemyarticleTheNew

Thoughtmovementandthelawofattraction).

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InthefollowingIwillinfivesequencesshowtheconsequencesofwhathappenswhenyou

reducetraditionalreligiousandphilosophicalpracticestopsychologyandpsychotherapy.Thefive

sequencesare:

1)ThetempleinDelphi

2)Becomingandbeing

3)Theconfusionoftheegowiththespiritualessence

4)Thepsychopath

5)BacktothetempleinDelphi

1)ThetempleinDelphi

Theselfhelpindustryistalkingaboutthatitisimportanttoknowthyself.Thatisnot

somethingnew.OverthedooroftheApollonTempleinDelphiwaswritten:Knowthyself.And

thesameconceptcanbefoundinalltruespiritualtraditions.

Buttheconceptionof,whatitmeanstofindyourself,hasbeenturnedupsidedowninthe

selfhelpindustry.Earliertheconceptoffindingyourself,wastofindyourplaceinrelationtothe

Gods.Atthattimeitwasaboutbeingyourselfwithoutbecomingarrogantandreckless

(egoinflated),andtherewithcommithubris(seemyarticleTheegoinflationintheNewAgeand

selfhelpenvironment).Theintentionwastodevelopyourselfinrelationtosomethingelsethan

yourself.Andthesamethingcanbeseeninothertruespiritualtraditions.

Inaccordancewiththeauthenticspiritualtraditionsthemovementoftimeisapower,an

expressionofenergy,whichfollowssomelaws.Thispowermovesinwavemovements,

pendulummovements,insituationmovements,aswellasincirculationmovements.Theuniversal

lawsofenergyinthemovementoftimeareknownasTao,TheDharmalaw,Karma,Destiny,

Hubrisnemesis,Logos,ThewillofGod,etc.

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TheBuddhistphilosopherNagarjunasaid,thattheNowsregularityinthefunctionofthe

energy,isdueto,thatenergyworksasstreamsanddividingswithinasuperiorwholeness.And

becausethewholenessisareality,eachpartwillalwaysfitintoanequivalentpart.Thismeans,

thateachpartonlycanbeunderstoodinrelationtoitsnegationthatis:whatthepartnotis.Atfirst

thisisimplying,thateachpartcometoappearaspartofapolarizationpairorapairofopposites

justlikeintheteachingofYinandYang.Secondlythisisimplying,thateachpartonlycanbe

understoodinrelationtoeverythingelsethatistosay:inrelationtothewholeness.

Sothemoreyou,throughtheEgosevaluations,isolatethesepartsfromeachother,themore

theabandonedpartswillworkstrongerandstrongerontheirpolarpartners.Thereforethesepolar

partnersintheirextremesfinallywillswingoverintheiroppositeextremes.Anotheraspectofthis

regularity,oranotherwaytodescribethisregularityis:energyreturnstoitsstartingpoint.And

sinceeverythinginthiswayonlyworkscorrelative,yes,thenNagarjunaclaimed,thatyouactual

cantsayanythingaboutthewholeness,onlyabouttheparts.Thereforehecalledthewholenessfor

theemptiness(snyat)ateaching,whichhadonequitecertainpurpose:theneutralizationofall

thedogmas,theoriesandviewpointswhichignorancehascreated.

Hereisthemainreasonwhytheselfhelpindustryhaslosttruespiritualityoutofsight:the

Egoworship,whichshutsitselfawayfromthiswholeness.Todaythewholeness,ortheotherness,

hasbeeneliminated,andonlythedevelopmentoftheself,ortheEgo,isleft.AndtheSelf/Egois

yourpersonalitythereforepersonaldevelopment(selfimprovement).Theproblemwiththis

personaldevelopmentisthatithasdevelopedintoaneverendingdevelopment,anegoistic

philosophy.Foranunderstandingofthenecessityofan"Otherness"inspiritualpractice,seemy

articleThephilosophyofKrishnamurti.

2)Becomingandbeing

TheEgoalwaysisinastateofbecoming.Becomingisthecentralconceptintheselfhelp

industry:allthetimetobeinastateofbecomingsomethingelsethanwhatyouare,aconstant

strivingfrompasttofuture,wherethegoalisconstantlyincreasingsuccess.Contrarytotrue

spiritualitywherebeingisthecentral,beinginthesensestudyingwhatyouare,tobewhatyouare,

togiveuppastandfuture,andbeintheNowwithwhatyouare.

Becomingisthecentralconceptinthefalsespiritualityoftheselfhelpindustry.Beingisthe

centralconceptintruespirituality.

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Becomingisactuallythemainhindrancefortheopeningintothesource,theGood,theTrue

andtheBeautiful.ItcontainsfourphilosophicalhindrancesfortheopeningintowardstheSource

(asmentionedIhavedescribedthisinmyarticleThefourphilosophicalhindrancesand

openings).

Anotherproblemwith,thattheselfhelpindustrytodayisonthefixedcurriculuminall

educationsisthatlifebecomesonelongexamination,whereyouconstantlyhavetodevelopyour

personality.Anunavoidablepartofthedailylifeisevaluationandcontinousassessmentof

yourself,andwhatyoudoandfeel.Youcantavoidit.Thereforeitisanideologythatpenetrates

everything.Theworkplaceusesprofessionalcompaniestomarkandgradeourperformanceand

effectiveness.Ourspousesrelaterunninglyto,whetherwecontinuedareworthlovingandliving

togetherwith.Educatersandschoolteacherscallusinformeetings,wherewordsareputon,

whetherwearegoodparents.

Itbecomesalifelongexamination,whereweconstantlystriveafterbecomingsomethingelse,

somethingmoreandbetteraneverendingpersonaldevelopment.Butinsteadoffindingourinner

self,webecomemoreandmorestressfulandinsecureabout,whethersomethingisgoodenough.

Anxietyanddepressionarespreadingeverywhere.Whattheselfhelpindustrydoesntseemto

understandisthatdiscomfort,anxiety,tension,stress,worryallformsoffeararecreatedbytoo

muchfutureandtoolittlepresenceintheNow.Hereweagainhaveaparadox,becausethe

selfhelpindustryistalkingalotaboutbeingthenow,atthesametimeasit,initsworshipof

becoming,doesntallowthis.Again:readmoreaboutthisparadoxinmyarticleSelfhelpandThe

MythologyofAuthenticity.

AsIhaveshowninmyarticleThenewfeminismandthephilosophyofwomens

magazines,Iclaimthatanewdangerouskindoffeminismplaysacentralpartinthistragic

comedy.

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3)TheconfusionoftheEgowiththespiritualessence

Bothselfhelpandtruespiritualityare,asmentioned,commoninthebelief,thathumanshave

adivinecore,whichthegoalistoreach.ButtheselfhelpindustryisconfusingtheEgowiththis

divinecore.Andthemainreasonisthatithasshutitselfawayfromthewholeness,andthe

otherness.

Andthestartingisalsothesame:namelyignoranceandsuffering.Buttheparadoxis,that

whenyoustartaselfhelpprogram,whichisbasedontheabovementionedconfusion,thenyou

maketheignoranceandsufferingevenlarger.Thatistheingenioustrickoftheselfhelpindustry

inordertokeepusasslaves(seemyarticleTheMatrixConspiracy).Thedivineissimplya

seducingpersuasionprogram.

Amainreasonforthisisalltheincompetentteachersintheselfhelpindustry.Itisteachers,

whomostoftenonlyhavetakenaweekendcourseortwo(forinstanceinNLPandcoaching),

whereaftertheywiththeircertificationsgoout,andarebeginningtellingpeopleaboutphilosophy,

spirituality,lifephilosophyandexistencephilosophy.Thatis:teacherswithoutanyphilosophical

education.

Actuallyphilosophytodayhasbeendirectlyremovedfromalltheoriesoflearning,and

thereforeyoualsohaveshutawaythepossibilityforeducatedphilosopherstogetachanceonthis

market.AweekendcertificationasNLPcoach,istodaymorevaluablethananuniversitydegreein

philosophy,eventhoughbothisaboutlifephilosophy.Ifyouwantabookpublished,orappearin

themedias,thebestistoadvocatetheselfhelpindustry.Thatisafact,andanexampleon,thatwe

here,fromthehighestpoliticallevels,canseesomepreferencesandchoices!Youcaninfactsee

theconceptofpersonaldevelopmentdescribedinEUsprojectonlifelonglearning,educationand

managementtheory.MyconceptoftheMatrixConspiracyispreciselydevelopedbecauseIquite

seriouslythink,thatwehereseethebeginningofoneofthemostdangerous,globalspreading,

ideologiesofourtime(again:seemyarticleTheMatrixConspiracy).

Sowhenyoutodaymakeaselfhelpprogramintoaguideforyourlife,itcanencouragethe

developmentofnarcissisticandegoistichumanbeings.Theselfhelpindustryisanexpressionofa

13

mememeandthenperhapsyouifitservesmelogic.Thislogicisnotwritteninthemany

selfhelpbooks.Perhapsonthecontrary.Hereitispouringwithhomespunphilosophicalrulesof

living.Egoismisneverthelessalogicalconsequenceofthatselfcentredness,whichgoeshandin

handwiththemovementoftheselfhelpindustry.Itisthehiddenagenda,whereitbasicallyis

about,thatitismeandonlyme,whothroughmyinnerjourneyshalldeveloptowardsmyself.

Othersarewithoutimportanceinthatconnection.Theresultisthelonelypersonaldeveloping

humanbeing,whoworksinordertofindnothingelsethanherself.

4)Thepsychopath

Ifapersonreallysucceedsinadoptingtheadvicesoftheselfhelpbooksshereallygetsa

problem.Notonlydoesshehavetofightwiththeneverendingdevelopment,andtheegoism.She

isalsobecomingaseriousproblemforhersurroundings.Becausesheisnow,astheDanish

psychologist,NinasterbySther,says,apotentialpsychopath.

OnacourseaboutpsychopathsNinasterbyStherrealized,thattherewasmanysimilarities

betweenpsychopathictraits,andtheadvices,whicharegiveninselfhelpbooks.Itmadeherpoint

outsomefrighteningresemblances.

Thoughsomeoftheselfhelpbooksadvicesmightsoundsimilartotruespirituality(most

oftentheydirectlyquoteandusespiritualtexts),takenoutofcontext,thenyouhavetoremember

howthewholenessandothernesshavebeenremoved.Religionandphilosophyhavebeenreduced

topsychologyandpsychotherapy.Andwhenthishappensittakesatotallywrongcourse.

Theresemblancesare:

Smarter

Thepsychopath:apsychopathictraitistobeextremelyselfcentered,andexperiencing

yourselfassmarterthanmost.Theconceptionofyourownabilitiesandimportanceisunrealistic

exaggerated.

Selfhelp:InoneoftheAmericanselfhelpguruWayneDyersbooksitiswrittenthat:there

isnothingwronginperceivingyourselfasperfect,anddontbeafraidofyourowngreatness.

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Moreviolent

Thepsychopath:Psychopathscanttakecritique,resistanceordefeats,somethingtheyexpress

withviolentangeroraggresssion.

Selfhelp:IntheDanishselfhelpguru,ThoelesbookCouragetobeyourself,shewrites

thatitisunhealthynottogiveexpressionforyouranger(wrong!seemyarticleCathartic

psychotherapies).

Seekingexperiences

Thepsychopath:Psychopathshaveabigneedfornewexperiences,androutineandmonotony

oftenhaveaprovocativeeffect.

Selfhelp:Thoelewrites:Ifachildbehavespooranddull,wetakeitstemperature.Whyisit

thenwefeel,thatitisalrightforourselvestoflowthroughlifeinanordinaryandboringway?

Impulsiveness

Thepsychopath:Thebehaviourofthepsychopathischaracterizedbyimpulsiveness.He

followsthethoughtsandlustsofthemomentwithoutthinkingovertheconsequences,orfuture

goalsoractions.

Selfhelp:Dyerwrites:Ihavemyselfexperienced,thatyoucanlivetotallyinthenow,andI

thereforeknow,thatitistrue(thissoundslikespirituality,butremember,thatthereisabig

differencebetweeninstinctivereactionsfromthepast,andbeingintheNow.BeingintheNow

cantbewithoutselfforgetfulabsorptionintheotherness,orinthewholeness.Youarecertaintly

notapersonabletobecompletelyintheNow,ifyoualsoarefocusingonyourowngreatnessand

perfectionism).

Seekingexcitement

Thepsychopath:Psychopathsareseekingexcitementandthereforehavealargewilltorun

risks.

Selfhelp:Thoelewrites:Ichoosetolive!Tomethismeansayestotakerisks....ifsecureness

hasbeenachievedonthecostofstimulatingandcreativedevelopment,itwilljuststrangleus.

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Indifference

Thepsychopath:Thepsychopathgivesexpressionforhavingcertainrights,whichdo,thathe

dontneedtofollownormallaws,rules,orevenanymoral.

Selfhelp:Thoelewrites:Ihavetherighttosayno,withoutbadconscience...Ihavetheright

tobedifferentthanwhatisexpectedofme.

Thisisjustoneexampleonthemanyalternativeinterpretationsofhumanrights,whichare

happeninginthecultureofselfhelp.Freedomofspeechistodaytypicallyusedasajustificationof

offendingotherpeople(seemyarticleThenewfeminismandthephilosophyofwomens

magazines).Anotheraspectofthisishowpositivepsychologyencouragespeopletoignorewhat

theyfindnegative(seemyarticleTheNewThoughtmovementandthelawofattraction).

Withoutempathy

Thepsychopath:Thepsychopathunderstandsotherhumansfromtheiractions,andislacking

theabilitytofamiliarizinghimselfwithothersthoughtsandfeelings.Hehasnoproblemwith

establishingrelationships,butlackstheabilitytoattachment.Furthermoreheofteninstrumentally

usesotherswiththehelpofmanipulation,whereothersareusedinordertogethisownlustsand

needssatisfied.

Selfhelp:Thoelewrites:Emotionalindependenceisahumanright.Othersexpectationscan

beseenashinderingelements,andthegoalismostpossiblereleasefromthese.

YoucouldalsosimplymentionNLP,wheregreatcommunicationskillsareseenasthe

abilitytopersuadeotherstodowhatyouwant(seemyarticleNeurolinguisticProgramming

(NLP)andLargeGroupAwarenessTraining(LGAT))

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Guiltless

Thepsychopath:Thepsychopathdoesntknowwhatasenseofguiltis.Hehasaconspicuous

tendencytoexplainingaway,orrationalizing,hissocialproblemcreatingbehaviour.

Selfhelp:TheDanishselfhelpguru,Thorse,writesinhisbookAlittleguidetomodern

qualityoflife,that:Guiltismeaningsless,whenitcomestofeelings.ActualIwouldliketohave

thewordguiltremovedfromlanguage.

Thoughguiltisanegativefeeling,thenThorseobviouslydoesntunderstand,thatthis

negativefeelingcontainsamessageaboutthatthereissomethingyouhavetochangeinyour

behaviour,preciselybecauseyoucantescapeanorderofreality,whichisbeyondyourcontrol.

Butinatypicalsubjectivisticandrelativisticway,hethinks,thatyouonlyfeelguilt,because

humanshaveconstructedthisconcept.

Similarthingsarehappening,whenforexampleNewThoughtgurusthink,thattheywithout

consequencescanreformulatethekarmathought,sothatitsupportstheego,becausethisisa

muchmorepositiveinterpretation,thantheoldnegativeinterpretation(seemyarticlesThe

NewThoughtmovementandthelawofAttractionandJamesArthurRayandthesweat

lodgetragedy).

Thisdistinctionbetweenoldthinking(negative)andnewthinking(positive),is,asalready

mentioned,happeningagainandagainintheselfhelpindustry.Seethethoughtdistortion

NewSpeakinmybookADictionaryofThoughtDistortions.

ThebelowexampleillustratesThorsesrationalizationofbehaviour,whichintheeyesof

manypeoplewillberegardedasunethical,egoisticandirresponsible.Thepersonalexperienced

storyisanextractfromThorsesselfhelpbook,andare,withoutanyselfreflectionatall,

introducedwiththepurposeofteachinghisreadersaboutpersonaldevelopment

(selfimprovement!)andmodernqualityoflife:

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GymnasiumteacherThorsesyoungstudentLineentrustshim,thatsheissexualattractedby

hernewstepfatherErik.TeacherThorseanalysesthesituation,andtellshisstudent,thatthe

structureinheremotionalworldquiteclearlyisanattractiontowardsexperienced,charming

men,andthatshemustacceptherself.Thestudentacceptstheanalysis,and

Thesolutioncamefromanunexpectedangle:onaschooljourneytoLondonLinediscovered,

thatErikwasnttheonlyanswertoherfascinationofexperiencedmen.Shehadsuchacrushon

me(Thorse),thatIforashortwhilehadtroublecontrollingthecourse.Butsincemyownlifeof

feelingsalsowasinanunreleasedprocesofrenewal,itbecameapositive,andinreality

necessaryexperienceforbothofus.Whenwecamebacktotheusualsurroundingsherschool

andmywifewehadtoshortenthecourse,whatinfluencedLinemorethanactuallyplanned.But

otherwiseitisagoodmodel:twopersons,ineachtheircrisis,helpeachotherwithtakingthetiny

step,thatcanbringthemforward.(Thorse1996:36).

WhileThorselegitimatestheaffairwithhisstudentusingtheconceptaboutpersonal

development(=psychology),itcan,whenusingamoralperspective(=philosophy),becritizedon

severalpoints.ThorsesrelationshipwithLinecanberegardedasbothmanipulativeand

instrumental,andmoreovercanhisbehaviourbeunderstoodasirresponsibleandwithout

compassionforhiswife.

So,withstartingpointinmoral(philosophy),wesee,thatitinpracticeisdifficulttoseparate

thepersonaldevelopingpersonfromthepsychopath.Wealsosee,thatasubjectivisticmoralthat

is:amoraldefinedbytheindividualsfeelings(psychology)isnomoralatall.

NinastbyStherconcludes,thattheselfhelpbooksdonthaveanyalibiagainstproducing

psychopathlike,selfactualizinghumans.Thepsychopathictraitsaresimplylyingsmoulderingin

thebooks.Hermoralis,thattheselfactualizingpsychopathcanbeseenasanactualsocial

characterintheWesternsociety,supportedbyawholeindustryofselfhelpbooks.

Butwhenyouthinkabouthowmanypeoplewhoarereadingtheselfhelpbooks,thenit

howeverisstriking,thattherethenisntthatmanypsychopathsrunningaround(yet).Butthe

paradoxinthisis,thatpeopleseldomtotallysucceedinliberatingthemselvesfromamoral,that

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doesntcomefromthemselves.Asaruletheyhavesomekindofethicstheycantescapefrom

(becausetheycantescapefromtheotherness,orthewholeness).Therealpsychopathhasntgot

anyethics.

Butthisdoesntvalidatetheselfhelpindustry.

5)BacktothetempleinDelphi

Inaccordancewiththeuniversallawsofenergy,itiscorrect,thatthethoughtsandmindof

Manareparticipatingincreatingtheworld,eventhephysical,butnotinthewaytheselfhelp

industryindicatesit,yes,theselfhelpindustryactualdirectlycommitHubris.

Thismisunderstandingconsistsinalackofdiscriminationbetweencompensatorykarmaand

progressivekarma.Compensatorykarmacouldalsobecallednegativekarma,whilethe

progressivekarmacouldbecalledpositivekarma.Thenegativekarmaiscausedbytheego,or

whenthethoughtspendulumswingsoutinextremes,whilethepositive,progressivekarmafirst

willarisewhentheegohasbeeneliminated,andthethoughtsareinbalancebetweentheextremes

(readmoreaboutkarmainmyarticleWhatiskarma?).

Inconnectionwiththis,itisimportanttoknowthedifferencebetweenaselfishuseofenergy,

andanunselfishuseofenergy.Youcanalsotermthisasademonicaluseofenergy,andaspiritual

useofenergy,orasblackandwhitemagic.

TheEgoreligionandtheEgoexercisesaretheEgosincessantconfirmationordenialofthe

Ego:itisnousewithme!or:wonderfulme!.Both,eitherthedenialorconfirmationofthe

Ego,maintaintheEgoprocess,theEgoidentityandtheEgocentralization.TheEgosreligionand

exercisesaretheEgosneedsandlongingsandwill:Iwantto,Ithink,Ibelieve,Ifeel,Iwish,I

hope,Ithink,Ibelieve,Ifeel,Iwish,or,initsmostcommoncore:I,I,I.

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TheordinaryEgoconsciousnessfunctionsbybeingidentifiedwiththephysicalworld,with

instincts,sexuality,emotionsandcollectiveideals.Thetraditionalreligiousandphilosophical

exercisesworkthroughtheseaspectsbymeansof,forexamplethecorewhichexistsinthebasic

monasticvows:poverty,chastityandobedience.Thesepromisesworkwitharestructuringofthe

Egosownershiptothings,foodandpower,andtheyrestructuresexualityandemotions.First

thereafterthemysticalprocesscanbegin.Nokindofpsychotherapycanbringaboutthis.

TheEgoreligionandtheegoexercises(asencouragedintheselfhelpindustry)areblack

magic,satanism,etc.TheEgoisademonicalstructure,anditattractsdemonicalpowersand

energies,whichalsohavebeencreatedbytheEgophenomenon.Thesameenergyprocessand

function,whichrealizedspiritualteachersuse,canthereforebeusedforotherpurposesthan

spiritual.Whentheenergyprocessesoftheastralplanescollectivehistoryareusedspiritual,then

theEgo,initsegoisticisolatingandselfaffirmativefunction,stepsaside,andtheenergyisturned

intotheNow,andthereforeintowardstheSourceandthespiritualdimension.Thepeople,who

aroundaspiritualteacher,constituteanenergymandala,areinthiswaymadetransparentfora

highercommonhumanspirituality.

Inalesserrealizedpersonsuseofenergythecontactwith,andtheabilitytomanipulatewith

suchcollectiveformsofastralenergy,canbeusedforotherpurposesthanspiritual.Itcanbe

creative,Egoaffirmative,political,demonicalandsoon.

Thepowersthat,byrealizedspiritualteachers,aregiventoothersdisposalinhealing,energy

transmissionandspiritualinformationexchange,thesamepowerscanthemselvesbeturnedin

throughtheEgostructures,andtherewithintopastandfuture,andfragmentation(conflict).Inthis

waytherecanbeopenedcreativechannels,createdsuperEgos,createdpoliticalleadersand

popularseducers(inmyarticleThephilosophyofKarenBlixenIhaveinvestigatedthese

phenomenaindepth).

Thesephenomenaarewellknownfromhistoryandfromliterature.Inthestoryaboutthe

temptationinthedesert,wecanseethesepossiblewaysofusingtheenergypicturedinanticipated

form.Hereyouseethepossibilityofusingthefreedomandthepower,toelevationoftheEgoand

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theconsequentpowerandmaterialglory.ButJesusabstainsfromthisdeificationoftheEgo.Itis

alsoknownfromtheFaustmyth,describedbyforexampleGoetheandThomasMann.

Whenyouinaselfishwayusethepowersfromthecollectivehistoryoftheastralplane,and

whichdemonicalastralbeingswillhelpyouwith(becausetheegophenomenonistheirmagnetof

attraction)youcancreatepersonalpowerandmaterialglory.Thatistheessenceofblackmagic.

Butyouwilleventuallymeetthecompensatorykarma,orNemesis.

Youcaninshortnotusetheseenergiesasyouwanttothatis:through,forinstance,

positivethinking.

Theeternalcirclingaroundyourowndreams,desires,successetc.willinotherwordsbe

contrabalancedthroughtheoppositecategories.Theselfhelpindustryhereexposesitself,andits

followers,forthepossibilityofNemesis.

Anexample:assoonasyourthoughtsspreadthemselvestoomuchoutinanextreme,the

energysystemcompensatesbyseekingtobringitselfbacktothebalanceofthemiddle.The

systemdoesthisbyseekingovertowardstheoppositeextreme(forinstancefromperfectionismto

feelingoffiasco).Thatis:throughacontrabalancing,acompensation.Theenergyworksasa

pendulum.Themoreenergy,whichisinvestedintheoneextremeofapairofopposites,thelarger

theswingintheoppositedirectionbecomes.

Now,ifyoutesttheselfhelpindustryinrelationtothislaw,thenthelawwillsay:the

idealsaboutpower/perfectionism/successonlyexistinrelationtotheiropposites,namely

powerlessness,fiasco,loss.

Ifyouareextremelyoccupiedbyyourownsuccess,thesystemwillseektobalanceyour

thoughtsbybringingthemoverintheoppositeextreme,namelythepowerlessnessandthe

fiasco.Itisthereforeevident,thatthesemodernidealsaboutbeingasuccessandawinnerare

participatingincreatingaswingoverinstress,anxiety,depressionorfailure,fiasco.The

caseoftheselfhelpguruJamesArthurRayandthesweatlodgetragedyisanexampleof

howithappensinacontextofNewAgeShamanism(again:seemyarticleJamesArthur

Rayandthesweatlodgetragedy).AnotherexampleofthedangerousconsequencesofNew

AgeShamanismisHolotropicBreathwork(seemyarticleAcritiqueofStanislavGrofand

HolotropicBreathwork)

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Whatisapplyingfortheindividualperson,alsoisapplyingforthecollectiveandfor

nature.Youcanthereforealsowatchtheselawsofenergyingroups,societies,worldimages,

yes,inthewholeofmankind,aswellasintheUniverse.

TodaytheEgoextremeisreflectedincountlessfields.Toomuchenergyisinvestedin

armamenttoomanyatomicweaponstoomuchpollutiontoounequaldistributionofthe

richesoftheEarthtoounequaldistributionofthefoodandfruitsoftheEarth.Andfirstof

all:toomanypeoplearetoofocusedintheirEgotheyaccumulateenergytotheirEgo,to

oneselfortothefamilyEgothecompanysEgothenationalEgo.

Now,ifyoulookattheenergylaw,thenthisistheenergyinitsoneextremity.With

necessitytheenergywillswingoverintheoppositeextreme.Andthiswillnothappenina

silentway,whenyouconsidertheenormousmomentwhichisintheactualextreme,andit

willhappenverysimple:throughpollutionoftheenvironment,throughdisease(aids,cancer

andother)throughwarfare,terror,crises,innermasspsychoticcollapses,andthroughnatural

disasters.

However,atruespiritualpracticeistobeaware,whenyourthoughtsmovetoofarout.

Inthesituationyoucanthereforetrytoremembertheoppositeextremeandseektobringit

in.Thismakesthesituationmuchmoretrue(thisisactuallyalsoaquitecentralaspectof

criticalthinkingseeexamplesinmybookAdictionaryofthoughtdistortions).

TheawarenessitselfisintheNow,intheonenessoftheopposites,andthereforeinthe

fulcrum,whichistheunmovedbeinginthecentreofthecircularmovementoftime.Also

whensomethingelsefluctuatesanddancesbetweentheswingsoftheextremes.Thereforethe

trainingoftheawarenessinitselfwillgraduallyprevent,thatthereisgivenimpulsetothe

swings.ItistheGoldenMean,whichAristotleandBuddhatalkedabout,andwhichLaoTse

describesinhisbookTaoTeKing.

TheGoldenMeancangenerallybeformulatedastheartofbalancingbetweenthe

extremestoomuchandtoolittle.

TostriketheGoldenMeanisanartoflife,andtostrikethispathisanecessary

suggestionforhowwecanpreventcompensatorykarmatohappen,bothinourownlifes,as

intheworld.

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