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 Avoid.......................344
your own endeavors. It is one thing to avoid a decision, cover up everything that relates to 2 DECISIONS AND TESTS
love. Yet they will not be able to avoid the vague, weary feelings. This is so because 4 WORLD WEARINESS
people who are preoccupied with becoming free. They avoid anything that could bind them. But the same 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE
which are, in reality, nothing but subterfuges to avoid self-search. Use your critical faculties to detect the 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE
certain events will take place in order to avoid some greater danger. These events are a natural 6 THE HUMAN ROLE IN THE SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL UNIVERSES
life of man. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid spiritual destruction except by material catastrophe. History often 6 THE HUMAN ROLE IN THE SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL UNIVERSES
they want contact only with kindred spirits and avoid those who do not give them pleasure. They 7 ASKING FOR HELP AND HELPING OTHERS
your inner truth, you will be able to avoid the lie and identify the false emotional currents 7 ASKING FOR HELP AND HELPING OTHERS
our friends who hear and read these words avoid the decision and believe it has nothing to 8 MEDIUMSHIP -- HOW TO CONTACT GOD'S SPIRIT WORLD
creates uneasiness, or blaming others and circumstances to avoid the necessity to seek the wrong within you 9 PRAYER AND MEDITATION -- THE LORD'S PRAYER
It is not their task to help you avoid a little bit of effort to find out 11 SELF-KNOWLEDGE -- THE GREAT PLAN -- THE SPIRIT WORLD
have no Goethe. God's spirit world wants to avoid this. So whenever such a thing occurs, it 11 SELF-KNOWLEDGE -- THE GREAT PLAN -- THE SPIRIT WORLD
doubt the part desiring truth in order to avoid disappointment. The higher self and the lower self 13 POSITIVE THINKING: THE RIGHT AND THE WRONG KIND
different picture of the self in order to avoid certain difficulties, unpleasantness, or disadvantages of all sorts 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK
have in you, and not in order to avoid putting up with a discomfort. True, it takes 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK
that they cannot do this but that they avoid those decisions concerning their inner life. They run 21 THE FALL
will not be so any more. You cannot avoid what you need, that I can assure you 21 THE FALL
then you are detached -- not when you avoid the things that bother you. This is difficult 21 THE FALL
free will of the people would work to avoid this particular direction, then this would be a 23 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
to be paid for everything. Whoever tries to avoid this will finally pay a much heavier price 25 THE PATH: INITIAL STEPS, PREPARATION, AND DECISIONS
cherish in you does not exist because you avoid facing it. The lower self is immature and 25 THE PATH: INITIAL STEPS, PREPARATION, AND DECISIONS
for the lower self that always wants to avoid purification and improvement. Now, my dear friends, let 26 FINDING ONE'S FAULTS
to say this: That which you so often avoid facing is not necessarily something that is deeply 27 ESCAPE POSSIBLE ALSO ON THE PATH
then, will you reach that point. Trying to avoid the laws of your own world, no matter 32 DECISION-MAKING
both or all sides which you wished to avoid. If you test this emotional, and for the 32 DECISION-MAKING
careful to understand that I do so to avoid completely unnecessary hurt feelings. In learning to become 32 DECISION-MAKING
the wrong thoughts and feelings that you cannot avoid having at present will be much less forceful 37 ACCEPTANCE, RIGHT AND WRONG WAY -- DIGNITY IN HUMILITY
will never take another bath if it can avoid it. Out of this misconception conflicts will arise 38 IMAGES
way to ascend in spirit. Thinking you can avoid this apparent descent and yet attain spiritual growth 39 IMAGE-FINDING
It is self-deception and wishful thinking. You cannot avoid it. QUESTION: You said humans were all given 39 IMAGE-FINDING
will become less, not because you fear and avoid them but because you are willing to face 39 IMAGE-FINDING
that by adopting a certain attitude they will avoid what they fear in life: pain, suffering, disappointment 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY
building these defenses you not only do not avoid the suffering, but it actually becomes worse. To 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY
this angle. Not only were you unable to avoid pain, but in the long run it brought 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY
from this angle: What did I try to avoid? How well did I succeed? Then think about 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY
a human being who does not want to avoid it in some way, despite your revolt against 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY
more suffering than what you had hoped to avoid, you will become free. So, for the time 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY
how you yourself produced it. So as to avoid misunderstanding, I emphasize once more that acceptance of 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY
of pain does not deny your power to avoid it on this path of purification. Quite the 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY
that way, they could to a large degree avoid the formation of an image by helping to 41 IMAGES: THE DAMAGE THEY DO
what deep down you resent most of all. Avoid such a crisis, my dear ones. If you 42 CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS -- OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY
that promises security, or utter weakness it must avoid. The child can accept only the first of 42 CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS -- OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY
what a part of your emotions wants to avoid. In the presence of other people you want 42 CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS -- OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY
will often do anything in their power to avoid -- subconsciously and ignorantly -- the great experience 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
fear and pride around their souls that they avoid this part of life experience entirely and so 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
finding the soul of the other person. They avoid this in every way they can. My dear 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
aware of the lazy outer layers. Do not avoid eros when it wants to come to you 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
the very recognitions that the psyche wishes to avoid. When you have decided for this path, you 45 THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS DESIRES
know from what angle to approach yourselves to avoid stagnation. Is this clear, my friends? Think well 47 THE WALL WITHIN
I have the privilege of leading you will avoid these dangers; your outer and inner reactions will 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
this approach, my dear ones, and you can avoid unnecessary pitfalls. To find the answer to your 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
are so afraid of disappointment; they try to avoid the disappointment by shielding themselves with the negative 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
to atone in this way and thus to avoid even greater punishment. The avoidance creates situations and 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
if I punished myself I could at least avoid the humiliation, the helplessness, and the degradation of 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
think that by being so perfect you can avoid punishment. In this way a second conscience is 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
conscience, you feel more strongly that you cannot avoid punishment. You feel the need for punishment even 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
weakness and fear. It bargains; it wants to avoid something that may or may not be good 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
constantly refrains from having opinions in order to avoid friction, to be liked and respected, to never 51 IMPORTANCE OF FORMING INDEPENDENT OPINIONS
respected, to never differ from other people, or avoid a certain responsibility. From the moment you have 51 IMPORTANCE OF FORMING INDEPENDENT OPINIONS
recognize. A part of your personality wishes to avoid doing harm; another part does not. So far 51 IMPORTANCE OF FORMING INDEPENDENT OPINIONS
the eyes of God, can cheat life, and avoid self-responsibility. To begin with, such a child will 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
will find ways and means of trying to avoid a change of inner attitude. But as far 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
try it but they cannot succeed -- to avoid the disappointments of life in that way. As 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
that you force strict measures on yourself to avoid them, you can never rise above them, and 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
own soul calls forth; that you do not avoid happiness because you are afraid of unhappiness; that 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
are afraid of unhappiness; that you do not avoid positive involvement because you are afraid of negative 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
past you cannot change, and therefore you cannot avoid facing the issue in the present. Least of 53 SELF-LOVE
and much nearer the extreme one wants to avoid. The right alternative is to recognize the sex 54 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
blocked, your wish capacity hampered. In order to avoid all possible misunderstanding, let me emphasize again that 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
recognition will be healthy and will help you avoid further wrong impressions about God, fate, and life 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
might emphasize once again -- so as to avoid all possible misunderstanding -- that the remedy is 57 THE MASS IMAGE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE
seek and invite pain and unhappiness just to avoid the helpless feeling of being exposed to it 58 THE DESIRE FOR HAPPINESS AND THE DESIRE FOR UNHAPPINESS
damaging way. The psyche argues: Since I cannot avoid unhappiness, I may just as well enjoy it 58 THE DESIRE FOR HAPPINESS AND THE DESIRE FOR UNHAPPINESS
difficulties that other, less privileged people, do not avoid. This approach is also very wrong. It must 59 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
face it, you look away, you struggle to avoid seeing it. This means that in this respect 60 THE ABYSS OF ILLUSION -- FREEDOM AND SELF-RESPONSIBILITY
that emotions are dangerous and if one cannot avoid them, one must somehow keep them a secret 62 MAN AND WOMAN
belief this is the only possible way to avoid the other. You must become acutely aware of 71 REALITY AND ILLUSION CONCENTRATION EXERCISES
for the tendency to close the door, to avoid facing yourself. So I say to all of 71 REALITY AND ILLUSION CONCENTRATION EXERCISES
right reactions on still deviating emotions, and thereby avoid the pitfalls of self-deception and suggestion. Prayer, if 72 THE FEAR OF LOVING
success will be fleeting. Therefore you try to avoid the shame and exposure, the failure and grief 75 THE GREAT TRANSITION IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT FROM ISOLATION TO UNION
or astrologer do? Tell the truth, lie, or avoid it? ANSWER: You mean an unpleasant truth? QUESTION 76 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Compiled from Private Sessions and Earlier Lectures)
to the other side and they want to avoid this. It is as though their own unconscious 76 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Compiled from Private Sessions and Earlier Lectures)
have to retreat and withdraw so as to avoid the danger of life. You do not have 77 SELF-CONFIDENCE: ITS TRUE ORIGIN AND WHAT PROHIBITS IT
the child in you believes that you will avoid the abyss of unhappiness by holding on to 77 SELF-CONFIDENCE: ITS TRUE ORIGIN AND WHAT PROHIBITS IT
new term or word. It helps you to avoid stagnation in your concepts. It avoids clinging to 78 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
proof of distortion and deviation. In order to avoid that, you do not have to worry, plan 80 COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION, UNION
out what the cause was, in order to avoid a recurrence of the psychosis. But is it 80 COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION, UNION
fear are examples of those who want to avoid confronting the reality of death on this earth 81 CONFLICTS IN THE WORLD OF DUALITY
atheist/materialist and the superficially religious who wants to avoid death by superimposed faith are two prototypes. Neither 81 CONFLICTS IN THE WORLD OF DUALITY
so much nearer to what you want to avoid, and you forfeit that which you wish to 81 CONFLICTS IN THE WORLD OF DUALITY
that clings to life only in order to avoid death. This motivation is negative and negates the 81 CONFLICTS IN THE WORLD OF DUALITY
But the end result has been used to avoid facing that which still seems unpleasant, if for 81 CONFLICTS IN THE WORLD OF DUALITY
at the result through shortcuts in order to avoid the unpleasantness of facing the illusory abyss, humanity 81 CONFLICTS IN THE WORLD OF DUALITY
and pain do so because they wish to avoid rather than go through those deep experiences. However 82 THE CONQUEST OF DUALITY SYMBOLIZED IN THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS
only when your consciousness has learned not to avoid it. Conversely, a healthy attitude that retains awareness 82 THE CONQUEST OF DUALITY SYMBOLIZED IN THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS
in talking yourself out of it. Trying to avoid the inevitable is useless; what really helps is 82 THE CONQUEST OF DUALITY SYMBOLIZED IN THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS
and suffering and relax into it. You cannot avoid the illusion of suffering by telling yourself it 82 THE CONQUEST OF DUALITY SYMBOLIZED IN THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS
that this very countermeasure not only does not avoid, but rather brings on the very thing that 83 THE IDEALIZED SELF-IMAGE
your own failure, you use special means to avoid seeing it. One of the most common devices 83 THE IDEALIZED SELF-IMAGE
means to finally win and master life. To avoid uncovering this falsity, these trends become incorporated into 84 LOVE, POWER, SERENITY AS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES AND AS DISTORTIONS
of certain reactions and incidents and how you avoid them. Examining these ingrained reactions which have truly 85 DISTORTIONS OF THE INSTINCTS OF SELF-PRESERVATION AND PROCREATION
the very danger that you feel you must avoid at all costs. So the immature soul struggles 86 THE INSTINCTS OF SELF-PRESERVATION AND PROCREATION IN CONFLICT
qualities. Because such people wish so strongly to avoid the struggle of life, they cringe like the 88 RELIGION: TRUE AND FALSE
a stronger authority than yourself in order to avoid effort and responsibility, you cannot help feeling self-hate 88 RELIGION: TRUE AND FALSE
and both for constructive reasons, rather than to avoid something you fear. The right answer can come 88 RELIGION: TRUE AND FALSE
the long run. The unhappiness you seem to avoid will come to you in a different and 89 EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND ITS FUNCTION
dull the capacity to feel in order to avoid pain. From that moment onward, you withdrew from 89 EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND ITS FUNCTION
own full potential, but you do not really avoid unhappiness, as already indicated. This painful isolation was 89 EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND ITS FUNCTION
much more to that which you strive to avoid. Hence you miss out doubly: you do not 89 EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND ITS FUNCTION
Hence you miss out doubly: you do not avoid that which you fear -- not really and 89 EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND ITS FUNCTION
life full face and you therefore want to avoid it. True spiritual states of elation come undesired 91 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
happiness, love and pleasure. Super-states of euphoria usually avoid all that. If they are genuine, they come 91 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
communion with God existed because you wanted to avoid a communion with yourself. Courage and humility to 91 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
of strength. That kind of religion you should avoid. Not only is it found in well-known religious 91 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
is so, the less is it possible to avoid the hurts that you have unconsciously labored so 93 THE LINK BETWEEN THE MAIN IMAGE, REPRESSED NEEDS, AND DEFENSES
that you have unconsciously labored so hard to avoid. And, as long as it is unconscious, you 93 THE LINK BETWEEN THE MAIN IMAGE, REPRESSED NEEDS, AND DEFENSES
wall brings the very unfulfillment you wanted to avoid through the erroneous image conclusion. Even if you 93 THE LINK BETWEEN THE MAIN IMAGE, REPRESSED NEEDS, AND DEFENSES
you find resistance accompanied by the desire to avoid looking at it. That is the very point 99 FALSIFIED IMPRESSIONS OF PARENTS: THEIR CAUSE AND CURE
the pain, and all that you wish to avoid. When your pseudo-solution is a withdrawal from feeling 100 MEETING THE PAIN OF DESTRUCTIVE PATTERNS
a different inner road. Originally you wished to avoid the pain by providing yourself with a strong 100 MEETING THE PAIN OF DESTRUCTIVE PATTERNS
you much more of what you wished to avoid. However, to clearly recognize this fact and to 100 MEETING THE PAIN OF DESTRUCTIVE PATTERNS
faculties which have bred confusion and suffering and avoid using them for what, by nature, they were 104 INTELLECT AND WILL AS TOOLS OR HINDRANCES OF SELF-REALIZATION
deeper levels of such self-facing, will he gradually avoid the kind of prayer he was used to 105 HUMANITY'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
up in the very situation you strive to avoid by false and unrealistic means, based on wrong 107 THREE ASPECTS THAT PREVENT LOVING
guilt exists. You go to any length to avoid facing the lower self. Perhaps you are capable 109 SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH THROUGH RESTITUTION FOR REAL GUILT
the most immature, unjustified demands from others to avoid feeling guilty or fearing unwelcome consequences. In both 111 SOUL-SUBSTANCE -- COPING WITH DEMANDS
and dissolve inner conflict and confusion, you cannot avoid the negative emotions that are unleashed when time 112 HUMANITYS RELATIONSHIP TO TIME
the present and into the future. Thereby you avoid living in the now. If, however, you were 112 HUMANITYS RELATIONSHIP TO TIME
It is our aim in this work to avoid futile struggle. For this purpose we have to 114 STRUGGLE: HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY
need to be happy and secure. They can avoid the effort of obtaining it themselves. The illusion 114 STRUGGLE: HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY
moment must come when you can no longer avoid confronting your inner uncertainty. You must raise questions 115 PERCEPTION, DETERMINATION, LOVE AS ASPECTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
those aspects of love that you wish to avoid, will you begin to sense a truthful answer 115 PERCEPTION, DETERMINATION, LOVE AS ASPECTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
yourself with something you had wished rather to avoid. Then, as all of you have discovered, the 116 REACHING THE SPIRITUAL CENTER-STRUGGLE BETWEEN LOWER SELF AND SUPERIMPOSED CONSCIENCE
to bring freshness to it, not only to avoid confusion, but also to give more of an 116 REACHING THE SPIRITUAL CENTER-STRUGGLE BETWEEN LOWER SELF AND SUPERIMPOSED CONSCIENCE
diverge from the way prescribed. They wish to avoid confrontation and decision between the two sources of 116 REACHING THE SPIRITUAL CENTER-STRUGGLE BETWEEN LOWER SELF AND SUPERIMPOSED CONSCIENCE
what cannot possibly be expected. You will therefore avoid disappointment and frustration. I do not mean to 121 DISPLACEMENT, SUBSTITUTION, SUPERIMPOSITION
the role of your own sex, and therefore avoid contact with the opposite sex. Examine what you 122 SELF-FULFILLMENT THROUGH SELF-REALIZATION AS MAN OR WOMAN
this may seem, appears humiliating. In order to avoid the humbling truth that the little self is 123 LIBERATION AND PEACE BY OVERCOMING FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
both are intrinsically the same. In order to avoid such a destructive escape, the life instinct must 123 LIBERATION AND PEACE BY OVERCOMING FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
from which you still shy away. When you avoid parts of yourself, you cannot help but project 123 LIBERATION AND PEACE BY OVERCOMING FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
because the little ego fears and wants to avoid -- often unconsciously -- uncovering the shame. The 125 TRANSITION FROM THE NO-CURRENT TO THE YES-CURRENT
the ring of truth if one does not avoid something in oneself. If the pressure from the 125 TRANSITION FROM THE NO-CURRENT TO THE YES-CURRENT
formed pseudo-solutions and what they are supposed to avoid is unconscious, there is no way of remedying 125 TRANSITION FROM THE NO-CURRENT TO THE YES-CURRENT
feelings are unconscious. The no-current is used to avoid the imagined threat. When the pathwork demolishes this 125 TRANSITION FROM THE NO-CURRENT TO THE YES-CURRENT
the desire for magic represents the wish to avoid the consequences of one's actions; such desire denies 126 CONTACT WITH THE LIFE FORCE
happiness in order to have your way and avoid the imagined annihilation of your cherished images and 126 CONTACT WITH THE LIFE FORCE
not out of a must, in order to avoid what you fear, in order to coddle a 127 EVOLUTION'S FOUR STAGES: AUTOMATIC REFLEXES, AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, KNOWING
you no longer desire happiness in order to avoid unhappiness, you have reached the fine point of 127 EVOLUTION'S FOUR STAGES: AUTOMATIC REFLEXES, AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING, KNOWING
dynamically related to it, but in order to avoid death. Such people really do not live at 130 FINDING TRUE ABUNDANCE BY GOING THROUGH YOUR FEAR
of happiness, or wanting it in order to avoid unhappiness. I have discussed general aims, but your 130 FINDING TRUE ABUNDANCE BY GOING THROUGH YOUR FEAR
question from this point of view, you will avoid a great deal of confusion. Karmic law, heredity 132 THE FUNCTION OF THE EGO IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE REAL SELF
truth teaching and spiritual philosophy in order to avoid going where they need to go -- into 133 LOVE: NOT A COMMANDMENT, BUT SPONTANEOUS SOUL MOVEMENT OF THE INNER SELF
helplessness, the less the person is able to avoid pain. Children are, by their very nature, helpless 134 THE CONCEPT OF EVIL
to change it, or as long as you avoid looking at it closely, in detail. It is 136 THE ILLUSORY FEAR OF THE SELF
terrified of themselves. They do everything possible to avoid looking at themselves. When you have overcome a 138 THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT OF DESIRE FOR, AND FEAR OF, CLOSENESS
you are truly ready to use, provided you avoid using superficial words which have no inner meaning 138 THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT OF DESIRE FOR, AND FEAR OF, CLOSENESS
in total integrity. In fact, the longer you avoid this, the further you remove yourself from all 141 RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL LEVEL OF PERFECTION

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