Fundamentals

by Neville Goddard 1953 From New Thought, the International New Thought Alliance Bulletin, 1 WITH so vast a subject, it is indeed a difficult task to summarize in a few hundred 2 words what I consider the most basic ideas on which those who seek a true 3 understanding of [practical, applied] metaphysics should now concentrate. I shall 4 do what I can in the shape of three fundamentals. These fundamentals are: 5 1. Self-Observation; 6 2. Definition of Aim; 7 3. Detachment.

8 First Fundamental: Self-Observation 9 The purpose of true metaphysics is to bring about a rebirth or radical 10 psychological change in the individual. Such a change cannot take place until the 11 individual first discovers the self that he would change. This discovery can be 12 made only through a careful observation of his reactions to life. The sum total of 13 these reactions defines the individual’s state of consciousness, and it is the 14 individual’s state of consciousness that attracts the situations and circumstances

”

The sum total of 13 these reactions defines the individual's state of consciousness, and it is the 14 individual's state of consciousness that attracts the situations and circumstances

15 of his life.

16 So the starting point of true metaphysics, on its practical side, is self-observation 17 in order to discover one’s reactions to life, reactions which form one’s secret self – 18 the cause of the phenomena of life.

19 Note that the deeper, “secret”, self that Neville is talking about is 20 the deepest personal or individual self, and not the ultimate, 21 universal, formless self. Neville is thus referring to our deepest— 22 and often buried and unconscious—self-concepts, not our ultimate 23 true Self, which is conceptless.

24 With Emerson, I accept the fact that “Man surrounds himself with the true image 25 of himself … what we are, that only can we see.”

26 There is a definite connection between what is outer and what is inner in man, 27 and it is ever our inner states that attract our outer life. Therefore, the individual 28 must always start with himself.

29 It is one’s self that must be changed.

30 Man, in his blindness, is quite satisfied with himself, but heartily dislikes the 31 circumstances and situations of his life. He feels this way, not knowing that the 32 cause of his displeasure lies not in the condition nor the person with whom he is 33 displeased, but in the very self he likes so much. Not realizing that “he surrounds 34 himself with the true image of himself” and that “what he is, that only can he 35 see,” he is shocked when he discovers that it has always been his own

36 deceitfulness that made him suspicious of others.

37 Self-observation would reveal this deceitful one in all of us; and this one must be 38 accepted before there can be any transformation of ourselves.

39 At this moment, try to notice your inner state. To what thoughts are you 40 consenting? With what feelings are you identified? You must be ever careful 41 where you are within yourself.

42 Most of its think that we are kind and loving, generous and tolerant, forgiving 43 and noble; but a careful observation of our reactions to life will reveal a self that 44 is not at all kind and loving, generous and tolerant, forgiving and noble.

And it is 45 this self that we must first accept and then set about to change.

48 now, even if we don’t like it, even if it scares and repulses us. Don’t 49 suppress self-awareness, driving it deeper into unconsciousness, 50 just because you don’t like it. Don’t ignore it, look straight at it. And 51 don’t try to change it before you have fully accepted it. Remember 52 this principle of our course: Whatever you are, at any time in your 53 life, is perfect. Why? Because God, Being, is perfect and all-in-all.

”

Don’t 49 suppress self-awareness, driving it deeper into unconsciousness, 50 just because you don’t like it.

54 Part of the great illusion is that there are imperfect and evil beings 55 in the real world.

56 Rebirth depends on inner work on one’s self. No one can be reborn without 57 changing this self. Any time that an entirely new set of reactions enters into a 58 person’s life, a change of consciousness has taken place, a spiritual rebirth has 59 occurred.

60 Second Fundamental: Definition of Aim

61 Having discovered, through a careful observation of your reactions to life, a self 62 that must be changed, you must now formulate an aim. That is, you must define 63 the one you would like to be instead of the one you truly are in secret.

With this 64 aim clearly defined, you must, throughout your conscious waking day, notice 65 your every reaction in regard to this aim.

66 The reason for this is that everyone lives in a definite state of consciousness, 67 which state of consciousness we have already described as the sum total of his 68 reactions to life. Therefore, in defining an aim, you are defining a state of 69 consciousness, which, like all states of consciousness, must have its reactions to 70 life. For example: if a rumor or an idle remark could cause an anxious reaction in 71 one person and no reaction in another, this is positive proof that the two people 72 are living in two different states of consciousness.

73 If you define your aim as a noble, generous, secure, kindly individual—knowing 74 that all things are states of consciousness—you can easily tell whether you are 75 faithful to your aim in life by watching your reactions to the daily events of life. If 76 you are faithful to your ideal, your reactions will conform to your aim, for you will 77 be identified with your aim and, therefore, will be thinking from your aim. If your 78 reactions are not in harmony with your ideal, it is a sure sign that you are

79 separated from your ideal and are only thinking of it. Assume that you are the 80 loving one you want to be, and notice your reactions throughout the day in regard 81 to that assumption; for your reactions will tell you the state from which you are 82 operating.

”

Assume that you are the 80 loving one you want to be, and notice your reactions throughout the day in regard 81 to that assumption; for your reactions will tell you the state from which you are 82 operating.

83 Third Fundamental: Detachment 84 This is where the third fundamental—detachment—enters in. Having discovered 85 that everything is a state consciousness made visible and having defined that 86 particular state which we want to make visible, we now set about the task of 87 entering such a state, for we must move psychologically from where we are to 88 where we desire to be.

89 The purpose of practicing detachment is to separate us from our present 90 reactions to life and attach us to our aim in life. This inner separation must be 91 developed by practice. At first we seem to have no power to separate ourselves 92 from undesirable inner states, simply because we have always taken every mood, 93 every reaction, as natural and have become identified with them. When we have 94 no idea that our reactions are only states of consciousness from which it is 95 possible to separate ourselves, we go round and round in the same circle of 96 problems – not seeing them as inner states but as outer situations. We practice 97 detachment, or inner separation, that we may escape from the circle of our

98 habitual reactions to life. That is why we must formulate an aim and constantly 99 notice ourselves in regard to that aim.

100 This teaching begins with self-observation. Secondly it asks, “What do you want?”

101 And then it teaches detachment from all negative states and attachment to your 102 aim. This last state—attachment to your aim—is accomplished by frequently 103 assuming the feeling of your wish fulfilled.

”

This last state—attachment to your aim—is accomplished by frequently 103 assuming the feeling of your wish fulfilled.

104 We must practice separating ourselves from our negative moods and thoughts in 105 the midst of all the troubles and disasters of daily life. No one can be different 106 from what he is now unless he begins to separate himself from his present 107 reactions and to identify himself with his aim. Detachment from negative states 108 and assumption of the wish fulfilled must be practiced in the midst of all the 109 blessings and cursings of life.

110 Note that detachment and separation from our undesired states and 111 assumption of the kind of person we always wanted to be is an 112 example of what Shinn called “the law of substitution”.

113 By “assumption” Neville means “taking for granted”, in our 114 imagination, frequently during the day and especially at sensitive 115 times—like when we are drifting into sleep at night—definite images 116 and feelings of who we always wanted to be.

117 The way of true metaphysics lies in the midst of all that is going on in life. We 118 must constantly practice self-observation, thinking from our aim, and 119 detachment from negative moods and thoughts if we would be doers of truth

120 instead of mere hearers.

121 Practice these three fundamentals and you will rise to higher and higher levels of 122 consciousness. Remember, always, it is your state of consciousness that attracts 123 your life.

124 Start climbing!

125 Neville Now let us go into the silence.