This is a book for people who want to improve their lives through spiritual growth. It introduces the principles of Love, Compassion, Understanding, Honor, Honesty, Humility, which the author has tested herself and found to be true. These principles are presented with simple explanations and exercises to help the individual on this rewarding journey. There are examples from the author's own experiences to demonstrate the principles. The exercises are the same ones the author has used and found helpful in her own journey. Greater peace and happiness are among the benefits that the author experienced as a result of applying these principles and exercises to her life. She also no longer takes prescription blood-pressure medication as a result of pursuing a spiritual life style. The book is designed to be the first step in understanding and starting the process of self-improvement and, thus, improving the quality of and satisfaction in life.

The Path Less Followed

The First StepsBy Heather J. Hunziker

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Heather J. Hunziker Ma.Ed.
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-2513-7

Contents

INTRODUCTION...............................................................ixCHAPTER 1:THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES.............................................1Love, Compassion & Understanding...........................................2The Difference Between Judgment And Observation............................4Honor, Honesty & Humility..................................................9The End Never Justify the Means............................................12Remaining Neutral..........................................................13Separation of the "Work" and Daily Life....................................16CHAPTER 2:WE ARE ALL PART OF THE WHOLE.....................................19CHAPTER 3: DEFINING OUR WORLD..............................................23You Already Do This........................................................23Changing Our Reality.......................................................26CHAPTER 4: RELEASING THINGS NO LONGER NEEDED...............................29Actively Releasing That Which No Longer Serves Us Well.....................29Releasing Comes in Many Forms..............................................32Indications of Release.....................................................35CHAPTER 5: GIFTS / RESPONSIBILITIES........................................39Gifts/Talents..............................................................39Responsibilities...........................................................40Indirect Force.............................................................41Communication..............................................................42Teaching...................................................................43CHAPTER 6: MEDITATION......................................................45What Is It?................................................................45Why Meditate?..............................................................45Some Ideas on How to Meditate..............................................46Preparation................................................................46Meditating.................................................................48APPENDIX I: SOME PERSONAL EXERCISES........................................51APPENDIX III: GLOSSARY.....................................................59APPENDIX IV: RESOURCES/Where to Go From Here...............................63

Chapter One

THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES

The "Work" or "Path of Light" is a process of elevating the human spirit towards spiritual growth and enlightenment. Even as we go through this process ourselves, it is the intent of the "Work" also to assist anyone else who wants to raise the level of his or her own spiritual growth. We help through our examples in how we deal with life and our teachings. There are seven basic principals of the work: Love, Compassion, Understanding, Honesty, Humility, Honor, and the Ends Never Justify the Means.

This sounds easy enough, but there can be so much that it becomes a challenge. In fact, trying to live your life under these principles may not be easy. As is often said, this path is not an easy one. I would have to agree. Sometimes, it is lonely, because other people just don't understand. I know that some people think I'm a little weird and others think I'm an amazingly, gifted person. It really doesn't matter as long as I am comfortable with myself. I am fortunate in having a parent who, not only accepts my differences, but is also beginning to see that what I say and do seems to make some sense. It seems that the more people get to know me, the more they want to know about my beliefs, the reasoning I use, and my motivations. So, although it is not always understood and even less traveled, I find that this path is very rewarding to me. While reading, if you find that I have repeated some idea, it is because it is important.

Love, Compassion & Understanding

That being said, let's look at the first three principles: Love, Compassion and Understanding. These are the basis of all we do, the first three we learn, and the most noticeable of the seven principles. By "we", I mean those who are our teachers and those of us who are studying together. These principles sound so easy, and I'm sure everyone has heard these words before. After all, isn't this how we have always been asked to treat others? But, it's neither simple nor easy. Everyone has a general understanding of what each of these words mean. The definition of love that I am using here is to feeling tender affection for somebody or to show kindness to someone. Compassion means to show sympathy, empathy, concern, kindness, consideration or care for someone. One definition for Understanding is being sympathetic, empathetic, or tolerant in recognizing somebody's or something's character and situation. The kicker to these definitions is that to really, treat everyone with Love, Compassion and Understanding, one must be able to relate to people without judgment.

That means that you realize that everyone has the right to think differently than you do. It is better to realize that everyone is doing the best that he or she can, given the information that he or she has, at the moment he or she made the decision. (Note: from here on out, he or she will refer to both, even though only one is used.) There can be no guilt. Whatever anyone knows now, is irrelevant when dealing with past actions. A person doesn't know everything they know now at that time. Therefore, they cannot be held responsible for any decision they have made based on what is now known. (This, of course, does not apply to the breaking of laws to which all are accountable or deliberate malicious actions.) It would be better for you to accept them as they are. It would be better for you to be able to listen to others without judging what they are saying and without putting yourself above or below them. You may find that you end up treating everyone with neutrality, not judgment. Believe me, in today's world, this is hard to do. How often, when I think back, have I enjoyed a real bashing party? How often have I thought, that something or someone was stupid? Well, those remembrances are examples of the process of judgment. It doesn't matter if you are thinking about someone else or yourself. It's still judgment.

One of the things that makes functioning without judgment hard to do, is that we have been taught, programmed if you will, since the day we were born, to always think in terms of "Are we good enough?"; "Why didn't we do as well as someone else?"; or, "They are proud of us because we did better than "so-and-so." Those are all judgment-based statements and questions. Instead, it would be better to think in terms of everyone being the same.

What do I mean by that? I mean that we all have the potential to do and be whatever we want and to understand what we want. This concept will be covered in more detail later, in Chapter 3, "Defining Our World".

When we're carrying love, compassion and understanding within ourselves, without judgment, we are saying to the world, you are OK. That's the key right there. That's it. It's OK to, you have permission to, respond to us and treat us well. That's the one thing mystical organizations have tried to teach for thousands of years. You can be a carrier of light if you allow it to happen. What is Light? It is understanding, love, compassion, warmth, joy, acceptance,...