Rules of THUM aka The Human User’s Manual is a simple collection of exercises and insights which when practiced correctly enhance and shape a happy life for the reader.
Prelude:
My approach to this manual is singular. Every human being is singular and as such, everyone will have a different view point concerning this exercise book. Hopefully this book will bring to light useful metaphysical laws.
Laws that govern our existence on this planet are strict. They don’t care if you know or don’t know better and they don’t care why you break or bend one of these laws. Our circumstances are strict.
Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself. Let’s call this a Virtual Mirror. This mirror reflects both graft and virtue. Many times ascension into virtue while leaving graft behind is outside our contemporary training. Much of our training is synthetic and not natural. We tend to ignore our natural laws. This is usually a mistake.
Bending the laws that bind us to this planet may or may not bring you pain, but breaking them will most certainly bring you misery.
At the very core of misery are a man’s thoughts. Likewise, at the core of his happiness is the very creation of thought.
True happiness lies in controlling and directing ones thoughts, not ones actions; actions, baring reactive impulses are typically the result of thought.
You may say it is impossible to control ones thoughts. It is difficult to be sure, but it is entirely possible through habitual conscious exercise.
And it’s likely after trying the exercises in this book, you will fail. You will still have negative thoughts. Do not be discouraged, this is common; this is part of your process. The more engrained the habit, the more you need to polish your mirror. So keep practicing. You may find that within your practice new, improved and more valuable techniques will appear. And as this happens, expanded understandings surface in tandem with your efforts.
The secret to understanding your mirror is in the practice; daily conscious practice and exercise.
Exercise begins with a choice to create a regiment of thoughtful habits reinforced by verbal and physical actions.
As stated earlier actions are the inevitable results of thoughts (baring synaptic response). And thoughts create circumstance.
“The outer world of circumstance shapes itself to the inner world of thought.” ““ James Allen. How this is achieved is logically deconstructed by observing various behaviors. Behavior, as it pertains to humans begins with thought followed by voice and eventually by actions.
For example, a man does not come to jail by the tyranny of circumstance as Hollywood would have you believe. Instead, he is drawn there by the pathway of groveling thoughts and base desires. Truly, this is but one of trillions of circumstances.
The realm of natural man is limited to the lower conditions of life. Yet in time humanity emerges (evolution and understanding). When this happens it becomes a human aspiration and as such we require a human teacher in order to begin the next step.
Teachers are important for us, but they cannot take on our personal journeys. They emerge temporarily for us. (I use the word temporary in that all phenomenon have no lasting manifestation as it pertains to the next step)
The next step is choice; like using your newfound skills proactively rather than being told to use them. This is usually conscious, but not necessarily. There are unconscious choices that lead to positive or negative effects as well. (Such as praising vs. swearing)
The point I stress here is choice. It is choice that gives humans the power to dominate, submit, elevate or fall into a state of grace.
A human choice can only be achieved when the deep-rooted conditions of our souls are in harmony with the choice. Let me explain further.
People do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.
So what is the value in fighting against circumstance? There isn’t unless we perceive our circumstances with a broader view; a balanced viewpoint gives man perspective and woman wisdom. Better said, a man or woman may continually revolt against an effect while he or she is nourishing and embracing the cause in their heart and soul.
This conflict can take many forms: A few examples
* A conscious vice
* An unconscious weakness
* Fear of letting go of what is known and comfortable, etc.
Consciously aware of our dilemmas we seek a remedy. So then it becomes purpose that motivates us to become better before time runs out. To become better at anything one must what?
It is the only time-tested technique proven to work each and every time, time after time and since the beginning of time. It’s called Practice.
Associated with practice are the words, pain and suffering. Pain is necessary in order to gain.
In contrast, suffering is the effect of many impure thoughts and associated deeds or physical actions. Suffering ceases for he or she who is pure.
There are so many paths to purity. There’s Yoga, Dancing, Singing, Chanting, Affirmations, Meditation, Prayer and many more disciplines. They are signposts to your singular path. You must choose your own path. And many times the path you choose will be wrong, but you will never know for sure if you allow others to choose for you. Wrongly chosen paths are the signposts to your next experiential path. Like mountain climbing, going up is rarely the way you come down and back up again. You learned a better way didn’t you?
Paths once trodden are like roads well traveled; they are known to be consistent and reliable for awhile. They reveal an expected result. But, if traveled too often they become a very comfortable trap. Eventually, the way becomes worn and full of holes; the path is no longer a viable path. It becomes habit.
Habits, like paths/tools become worn-out and from time to time need to be repaired, repaved, or simply discarded. You are blessed with many paths. Choose one and you set yourself in motion to find the next.
But, there are many of us who have not found a singular path; there are many who cannot chant or ponder or sing or meditate or simply cannot find the time to seek a spiritual foundation. We tend to procrastinate because we are fearful or ignorant or both. Are you?
We all procrastinate and we all ignore the value in doing something at one time or another. We don’t have to continue in this manner, however. We have choices that allow us cyclical release from these pitfalls. The question is do you want to?
Happiness is not cyclical nor is it mundane; it is dynamic and requires dynamic effort throughout your life. It does not manifest when you graduate from human-made school. Happiness, like all life-manifestations is fleeting; it can fade prematurely if you are not careful. It’s like feeding a fire on a cold and freezing night - if you feed the fire, it lives, if not it dies and sometimes you along with it.
This book is for the many looking to release and rekindle their conditioning; to grasp back the talent we all inherit at birth.
If you are ready to balance your thoughts, Let’s get started!
Read more about Rules of THUM, The Human User’s Manual and R.J. Peters HERE.
Copyright 2008 R.J. Peters. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Post a Comment