The Undefended Self: Living the Pathwork

The chapters of this book follow the stages of spiritual work as I see and have experienced them. This is, fundamentally, the journey from the outermost layers of our consciousness, through the obstructions, into our innermost core. Chapter 1 encourages us to accept our flawed human nature and to honor our spiritual longing. Chapter 2 reinforces ou

“The overall state of consciousness of humanity is one of duality or opposites.” (PL 193) We constantly see ourselves and life as either this or that, rarely allowing the complexity and vastness that we are capable of experiencing. We define ourselves and others in terms of the dualities our minds are structured to recognize. Hence we label ourselv

"It is wishful thinking that concentrating on divinity automatically deals with the dark side of human nature. This cannot be so. You cannot overcome what you have not consciously and fully experienced."

"How different your attitude to yourself must be when you realize that it is the task of human entities to carry negative aspects with them for the purpose of integrating and synthesizing them! This affords truthfulness without hopelessness. What a dignity it lends to you when you consider that you undertake an important task for the sake of e

Whenever we use generalizations, especially toward someone with whom we are in close relationship, such as “Men always,” or “Men never,” or even “You always,” or “You never,” we are in the territory of our own childhood images rather than responding accurately to the present situation. Generalizations about life that include words such as “always,”

The basic image behind the creation of any mask is the false belief: “I am not acceptable/desirable/lovable just as I am.” Since the natural self is believed to be unacceptable, a mask is created with the hope that it will win the longed-for acceptance and love, or will at least help us avoid rejection and pain.

“Welcome the purification process. Attend to it. And let go of the conception process. What is needed will happen of itself when the time is right. There is nothing you can or should do about this. Truly give this over into the hands of God.

The pseudo-solution of the mask is usually based on a distortion of one of the three divine principles of love, power, or serenity. In the unified state, these principles operate in harmony. Steeped as we are, however, in duality and ignorance, we tend to see these principles in opposition to one another. We unconsciously choose one of these divine

Whenever we are deeply open to allowing our inner reality to manifest, then we may be blessed by the rewards of surrender. To reach into, and gradually learn to live from, this source of eternal renewal is the goal of any spiritual path.

Anger is not, by itself, an aspect of the lower self. Anger is a natural human emotion. It is an alarm bell in our psyche that signals that something is wrong in ourselves or in our environment. Anger helps us act, move, change.