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phone: 828-859-9927
fax: 828-859-9960

P. O. Box 155
Tryon, NC 28782
ANSWER: go back

A picture/image provides the best answer. Imagine, if you will, that you have just read a wonderful book. As far as you are concerned, this book is the best book that you have ever read. Let us further suppose that this particular book changed the way you viewed yourself/the whole world in a new and profound way.

Because you valued this book above all the other books in your library, you placed this transformational book in a place of honor. Let us image further that each time you entered into the library, you would glance at your favorite book, which, to you, stood out from all the others.

Because formatory mind works by associations, once formatory mind makes an assessment of something, someone, some situation, formatory mind never notices the object again. For instance, once our formatory mind places an absolute value on something, let's say a book, coupled with the fact that formatory mind remembers the contents pretty well, the conditions are set for 'living in imagination.'

As long as formatory mind can remember anything, (i.e. what a wonderful book), formatory mind has made a "match" within itself. Once formatory mind can name an object, as this equals that, formatory mind never thinks about the object again.

Therefore, as a result of placing an absolute value upon an object, our formatory mind comes to the fallacious conclusion that the something formatory mind does remember, is all that there is to know or experience or remember!

If all the above were not depressing enough, the mere fact that formatory mind can remember the location of the valued object is enough for formatory mind to never think about the object again. As a result, any object of supreme value becomes absolutely ignored through the formatory process of valuation coupled with location. As long as formatory mind can remember where a valued object is, formatory mind can afford to never make contact with the object again.

Let's substitute this metaphor from a book to a person or The Work Itself as a time honored spiritual discipline. Because an individual knows that they love as well as value The Work Itself; these selfsame individuals do not realize that they have forgotten, (under the auspices of assumption), 99.99% of what they valued in The Work in the first place. The .01% of memory, coupled with valuation coupled, with the location of the valued object, is all that the imagination needs to feel safe/self-satisfied.

Problem is, no one can grow nor develop, without the contents of the 99.99% of Real Objective Reality that they have already forgotten; therefore, the mere fact that someone can remember a supreme value at all, frequently blocks their ability to form any lasting relationship with the valued object itself. Because you can remember The Work at all means that you have become able to forget The Work entirely.