| Imperfection................111 | |
| crime and punishment were always so evident. The imperfection which human beings have created for themselves must | 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE |
| this in itself is an impossibility, since the imperfection came into being out of free will and | 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE |
| God's creation lies exactly in the fact that imperfection is used as a means to attain perfection | 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE |
| ascent is speeded up in the surroundings of imperfection, in the diversity of developmental stages. Yet it | 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE |
| as you recoil in embarrassment from each inner imperfection and outer exposure. As a slave you cannot | 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE |
| will also want to free themselves from all imperfection. And when fear exists, it is the symptom | 7 ASKING FOR HELP AND HELPING OTHERS |
| fear exists, it is the symptom of an imperfection, of a violation of spiritual law. Such fear | 7 ASKING FOR HELP AND HELPING OTHERS |
| accept themselves as they are, in their momentary imperfection. Guilt complexes are unreal and therefore never lead | 9 PRAYER AND MEDITATION -- THE LORD'S PRAYER |
| raises you up from all the darkness and imperfection that has burdened you through so many lifetimes | 9 PRAYER AND MEDITATION -- THE LORD'S PRAYER |
| that binds you. By the shedding of each imperfection you break a chain and thus become freer | 11 SELF-KNOWLEDGE -- THE GREAT PLAN -- THE SPIRIT WORLD |
| for it is covered by many layers of imperfection, layers of dense matter, all the distortions that | 11 SELF-KNOWLEDGE -- THE GREAT PLAN -- THE SPIRIT WORLD |
| disharmony can reach you, there must be some imperfection in you. QUESTION: But how is one to | 11 SELF-KNOWLEDGE -- THE GREAT PLAN -- THE SPIRIT WORLD |
| have, directly or indirectly, brought this about. Which imperfection could be connected with this? And if you | 11 SELF-KNOWLEDGE -- THE GREAT PLAN -- THE SPIRIT WORLD |
| get accustomed to accepting objectively, almost coldly, the imperfection living in your lower nature without feeling too | 13 POSITIVE THINKING: THE RIGHT AND THE WRONG KIND |
| waiting to grow out of these layers of imperfection, is the true self, then this shock would | 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK |
| others by diminishing their loneliness in their supposed imperfection. All people think they are quite alone with | 17 THE CALL -- DAILY REVIEW |
| what hinder the raising of your consciousness. Any imperfection is a hindrance. I cannot stress emphatically enough | 19 JESUS CHRIST |
| of your heart that is a symptom of imperfection; and as long as any imperfection is alive | 19 JESUS CHRIST |
| symptom of imperfection; and as long as any imperfection is alive within you, you cannot unite with | 19 JESUS CHRIST |
| trial results directly or indirectly from one's own imperfection, and its inevitable purpose must also be to | 20 GOD: THE CREATION |
| the only way, for instance, to accept your imperfection in this respect, in humility, yet with the | 24 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
| than knowing you still cannot forgive, knowing this imperfection. So the first step is again self-honesty. Compare | 24 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
| this -- some wrong current or attitude, some imperfection in your soul that is responsible for the | 24 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
| this incident you could not have discovered your imperfection and thus you would have remained in a | 24 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
| you: the one in which you see your imperfection, and the opposite one, where you know in | 25 THE PATH: INITIAL STEPS, PREPARATION, AND DECISIONS |
| for the time being to accept your present imperfection in comparison with the perfection you know to | 25 THE PATH: INITIAL STEPS, PREPARATION, AND DECISIONS |
| perfection you know to be right. Accept this imperfection with humility. If you do that constantly, your | 25 THE PATH: INITIAL STEPS, PREPARATION, AND DECISIONS |
| many other things to learn from this very imperfection in you. Learn the proper attitude with which | 25 THE PATH: INITIAL STEPS, PREPARATION, AND DECISIONS |
| so, that this is due to their own imperfection and has nothing to do with their religious | 26 FINDING ONE'S FAULTS |
| passive currents. This also means to accept the imperfection of this earth sphere with humility, knowing that | 29 THE FORCES OF ACTIVITY AND PASSIVITY -- FINDING GOD'S WILL |
| so you can gradually begin to overcome the imperfection. As long as you revolt against things that | 29 THE FORCES OF ACTIVITY AND PASSIVITY -- FINDING GOD'S WILL |
| lower self and by all the layers of imperfection in varying degrees of density. The process of | 30 SELF-WILL, PRIDE AND FEAR |
| mean wanting to stay in a state of imperfection. It means that you first have to learn | 31 SHAME |
| have to learn to accept your state of imperfection. You should also find out whether you desire | 31 SHAME |
| show you how every single fault, weakness, or imperfection is a direct hindrance to love -- and | 31 SHAME |
| to be perfect, and when you discover an imperfection that seems new to you, everything in you | 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY |
| you suffer according to the measure of your imperfection. The more you work toward your purification, the | 40 MORE ON IMAGE-FINDING: A SUMMARY |
| are. Try to find the little grain of imperfection in yourself instead of concentrating on the mountain | 42 CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS -- OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY |
| knows only extremes: good or bad, perfection or imperfection, omnipotence that promises security, or utter weakness it | 42 CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS -- OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY |
| the other extreme, namely, that you cannot accept imperfection and are thus, emotionally, still a child. So | 42 CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS -- OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY |
| temporary stage that exists only as long as imperfection exists. When any being reaches perfection, that being | 45 THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS DESIRES |
| the maze. There are too many layers of imperfection, of fear, of insecurity, of self-will to have | 47 THE WALL WITHIN |
| does not always penetrate all the layers of imperfection that surround the spark. We see it as | 47 THE WALL WITHIN |
| no matter how unintentional -- out of your imperfection, blindness, and ignorance is justified guilt that you | 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME? |
| denial -- the fearful refusal to look at imperfection which may not fit into the picture you | 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME? |
| is imperfect, the child misunderstands that, despite the imperfection, most parents are still fully capable of loving | 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE |
| human being is in untruth and deviation or imperfection in all areas of his personality. Complete imperfection | 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE |
| imperfection in all areas of his personality. Complete imperfection in a human being exists no more than | 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE |
| a product of a particular blend of human imperfection and humanity's desire to reach perfection. Such a | 57 THE MASS IMAGE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE |
| or harmful, or when you cannot accept the imperfection of this world, which means that you cannot | 60 THE ABYSS OF ILLUSION -- FREEDOM AND SELF-RESPONSIBILITY |
| others perfect, because you now know that their imperfection cannot harm you. Some of you may think | 60 THE ABYSS OF ILLUSION -- FREEDOM AND SELF-RESPONSIBILITY |
| at the same time assume that ignorance and imperfection on the part of other people can harm | 61 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
| between man and woman -- but this apparent imperfection is your reality and has to be accepted | 72 THE FEAR OF LOVING |
| not always perfect or pleasant. Immaturity exaggerates the imperfection so much that you close your eyes to | 72 THE FEAR OF LOVING |
| very person raising such objections may use the imperfection of another teacher as an excuse. Excuses are | 76 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Compiled from Private Sessions and Earlier Lectures) |
| of life and your own temporary state of imperfection. Accept it as the effect you have set | 76 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Compiled from Private Sessions and Earlier Lectures) |
| to discover the compulsive attitude that denies present imperfection, the pride and lack of humility that prevents | 83 THE IDEALIZED SELF-IMAGE |
| in the last analysis, such people claim an imperfection, a helplessness, a submissiveness that are not genuine | 84 LOVE, POWER, SERENITY AS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES AND AS DISTORTIONS |
| growth but from fear: the fear about your imperfection. Therefore, such goodness is ineffectual, unconvincing to yourself | 90 MORALIZING -- DISPROPORTIONATE REACTIONS -- NEEDS |
| condition we shall discuss, namely, disproportionate reactions. One imperfection has the power to color your entire emotional | 90 MORALIZING -- DISPROPORTIONATE REACTIONS -- NEEDS |
| Instead, you should first learn to accept your imperfection without losing faith in yourself. Many of you | 90 MORALIZING -- DISPROPORTIONATE REACTIONS -- NEEDS |
| pity you fail to forgive yourself for this imperfection. You moralize with yourself. You find yourself bad | 90 MORALIZING -- DISPROPORTIONATE REACTIONS -- NEEDS |
| else, emotionally. Second, an unfulfillment points to your imperfection, to your vulnerability as a human being. Your | 90 MORALIZING -- DISPROPORTIONATE REACTIONS -- NEEDS |
| insecurity, in the fear and denial of human imperfection, people borrow what was once alive and could | 90 MORALIZING -- DISPROPORTIONATE REACTIONS -- NEEDS |
| Your stringent need to be free of any imperfection, of any immoral instinct, makes you hide it | 90 MORALIZING -- DISPROPORTIONATE REACTIONS -- NEEDS |
| the other. You ignore the vital truth that imperfection can lead to perfection and can be considered | 94 SIN AND NEUROSIS -- UNIFYING THE INNER SPLIT |
| not be confused with this kind of perfect imperfection. Now let us try to determine the difference | 94 SIN AND NEUROSIS -- UNIFYING THE INNER SPLIT |
| a first step, accept the blindness, ignorance, and imperfection that still exist in you, realizing that all | 94 SIN AND NEUROSIS -- UNIFYING THE INNER SPLIT |
| your impatience with yourself. Your non-acceptance of the imperfection of this world, with the slow process of | 96 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS; COMMENTS ON LAZINESS AS SYMPTOM OF SELF-ALIENATION |
| as this may seem, the more you accept imperfection, the more joy you will give and receive | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| for happiness depends on your capacity to accept imperfection -- not in words or theories, but in | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| in the relationship. Only through accepting your own imperfection can you begin to grow and experience the | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| to grow enough to be able to accept imperfection. You repress your lack: your unfulfillments, your frustrations | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| accept what is impossible to change -- namely, imperfection as such. You must be aware in order | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| your life is imperfect, yet to fully accept imperfection, you must first become fully aware of your | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| Only when you fully face the resentment against imperfection can you begin to accept it. And only | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| to accept it. And only when you accept imperfection can you lead a joyful life and derive | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| be capable of joy only if you accept imperfection, and to be capable of growth only if | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| of growth only if you accept your own imperfection seems paradoxical. But if you really think about | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| the reality, or truth, of your world is imperfection. And the reality, or truth, of your personal | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| your personal state of soul is non-acceptance of imperfection. You will not have a sound foundation from | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| which entail the flexibility of change. In accepting imperfection, you become less imperfect. For without doing so | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| strive for immediate perfection, negating their still existing imperfection, or that they must give up striving for | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| give up striving for progress entirely. To accept imperfection would then mean to stagnate and not even | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| human being is entirely free. So accept the imperfection, for only then can you grow. The very | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| this respect, too, only if you accept your imperfection -- that you cannot, all at once, become | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| away from perfection, you cannot stagnate. Acceptance of imperfection does not mean the wish to remain static | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| cannot admit certain things. What may appear an imperfection to you may not appear as such to | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| inner strain. Rejection or failure may subjectively constitute imperfection of which you are ashamed -- and where | 97 PERFECTIONISM OBSTRUCTS HAPPINESS -- MANIPULATION OF EMOTIONS |
| harsh and unloving. Separation of concepts exists where imperfection and separateness of soul exist. Unification of these | 98 WISHFUL DAYDREAMS |
| problem in this child due to my own imperfection? How can I live with such knowledge? Your | 103 HARM OF TOO MUCH LOVE GIVING -- CONSTRUCTIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE WILL FORCES |
| in the now. He does not fear his imperfection and does not fear God's punishing him for | 105 HUMANITY'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT |
| it, he will then see that not the imperfection itself is so harmful, but the lack of | 105 HUMANITY'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT |
| with your reality, you can also accept the imperfection of life as such. Without rebellion against imperfection | 105 HUMANITY'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT |
| imperfection of life as such. Without rebellion against imperfection, many patterns transform and you cause less suffering | 105 HUMANITY'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT |
| to resist, to erect barriers which cause more imperfection and suffering than life would otherwise contain. So | 105 HUMANITY'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT |
| conscious mind is due to, first, fear of imperfection; second, fear of having to shed attitudes that | 114 STRUGGLE: HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY |
| acknowledge, and come to terms with your present imperfection. When you no longer struggle against the self | 123 LIBERATION AND PEACE BY OVERCOMING FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN |
| learn in the course of growing that all imperfection must be accepted and understood before it can | 135 MOBILITY IN RELAXATION-SUFFERING THROUGH ATTACHMENT OF LIFE FORCE TO NEGATIVE SITUATIONS |
| one-tenth as hard to bear as a tiny imperfection that troubles you when the self keeps it | 136 THE ILLUSORY FEAR OF THE SELF |
| cannot change others. In their blind fear of imperfection and concomitant pride they overlook this fact. Thus | 160 CONCILIATION OF THE INNER SPLIT |
| even have to look very hard, for the imperfection of the world lends itself well to attracting | 166 PERCEIVING, REACTING, EXPRESSING |
| see it for what it is. Accept the imperfection fully, neither embellishing it nor exaggerating it so | 185 MUTUALITY: A COSMIC PRINCIPLE AND LAW |
| on perfection in order not to face your imperfection. The effect of others' destructiveness will not make | 220 REAWAKENING FROM PRE-INCARNATORY ANESTHESIA |
| that everything you are now, even in its imperfection, is the ever-existing eternal life and can never | 226 APPROACH TO SELF -- SELF-FORGIVENESS WITHOUT CONDONING THE LOWER SELF |
| the personality level is the fear of inner imperfection, a hidden sense of worthlessness that you never | 234 PERFECTION, IMMORTALITY, OMNIPOTENCE |
| the truthfulness and the humility of accepting your imperfection. And that is indeed the threshold you must | 234 PERFECTION, IMMORTALITY, OMNIPOTENCE |
| possible reaches the conscious personality as fear of imperfection. The fear of death says, on the deepest | 234 PERFECTION, IMMORTALITY, OMNIPOTENCE |
| be led to accept his or her limitation, imperfection and mortality. Eventually, however, this very important psychological | 234 PERFECTION, IMMORTALITY, OMNIPOTENCE |
| heart pumps the blood into the organism. Any imperfection -- ill health, unattractiveness, lack of intelligence, negativities | 238 THE PULSE OF LIFE ON ALL LEVELS OF MANIFESTATION |
| In fact, only when you fully admit your imperfection and human fallibility do you become a full-fledged | 247 THE MASS IMAGES OF JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY |