The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University

Whether we were created by an intelligent and omnipotent being, or by theworkings of an impersonal nature, we are mere specks in an infinite universe. Wecan hardly expect to make much of a dent in the totality of existence. It falls to us,then, to become conscious of our place in the universe, and to either placeourselves at the mercy of its creator, or, at the very least, to acknowledge theenormity of existence in a mindful and reverent manner. In either case, theseperspectives recommend a change in our consciousness that can only take place ifwe practice such a change in a devout manner. This practice is very similar to theconscious change in our internal reality that this book recommends. In fact, manyof the mental disciplines found in these traditions, such as acceptance of God's willand detachment from the material can be very useful and are fully compatible withthe message of the book.These traditions often involve a strong value of serving others. Such a valueis most compatible with the concept of shaping external reality. Our behaviormakes a difference. If we were to merely accept God's will or accept the fact thatthings are the way they are and detach ourselves from wishing they were different,there would be no need to show compassion, no need to help others, no need evento follow the teachings of these traditions.HMOR.July2005.Muñoz.doc 33