Chapter XV. Letters from the Past
Study guide section for this chapter →
Terms you must own
- Polarization — define it, say what causes it, and say what it is not (your good qualities).
- Attributes of a goal — state the difference between a goal and its attributes, with one example.
- Compassion versus duty — say how each feels and which one comes from importance.
- Detachment — say what it is and name the two things it is not.
- Reality inversion — define it and say what two effects Zeland claims for it.
Carried forward
Mirror (of alternatives) · coordination of intention · importance (inner and outer) · excess potential · balanced forces · pendulum · puppets of pendulums · asleep in waking · participating spectator · inner intention · outer intention · frailing · pure intention · unity of heart and mind · own goal and door
Objectives
0 of 14 ticked
explain Evidence: retell the first letter in three sentences, naming the attitude that went into the mirror and when. [0:02:54] [0:03:42] [0:05:08]
explain Evidence: write one paragraph without the word "control"; use the point about success "dropping out of the sky". [0:05:08]–[0:06:28] [0:07:14] [0:08:38] [0:09:36]
apply Evidence: do Desk work 3 in the guide; name each person's role and write how you would play yours as a child plays at being grown-up. [0:12:25] [0:16:52] [0:17:43] [0:36:25]
explain Evidence: write a two-sentence definition, then one example in which "I am organised and they are slobs" draws in its opposite. [0:13:19] [1:19:14] [1:21:15]
analyse Evidence: answer review question 3 in the guide, then say which claim has the weaker support. [0:13:19] [0:14:35]
explain Evidence: do Desk work 2 in the guide; use "the soul wants what money buys" to restate one goal. [0:25:01] [0:26:22] [0:50:01] [0:51:53]
recall Evidence: answer review question 6; then write one real decision and mark which sign you feel. [0:32:15]–[0:34:13] [0:51:53] [0:53:47]
explain Evidence: answer review question 4; give one example of each from your own week. [0:34:33] [0:36:25] [0:38:16]
apply Evidence: answer review question 5; then take one relationship and name what you want from the person and what they want from you. [0:40:25] [0:42:26] [0:44:20]
recall Evidence: write the three "is not" lines and the motto from memory; he gives "mail from the post box" as the pure case. [0:55:47] [1:03:48]
apply Evidence: answer review question 7; then pick a dreaded task and write which response fits and why. [1:05:51] [1:07:45] [1:09:45]
apply Evidence: take one person who "gets in your way" and trace the chain: importance, polarization, puppet, irritation. [1:13:39] [1:15:29] [1:19:14] [1:21:15]
analyse Evidence: write one inversion of a recent setback; then state his warnings about doing it alone and with substances, and say why the exam story is one anecdote, not evidence. [1:27:10] [1:29:13] [1:31:13] [1:35:25] [1:37:22]
analyse Evidence: pick from: "nothing bad follows good"; the lag in the mirror; mental illness as another sector; "love yourself" against "give to receive"; and Transurfing as a pendulum for individualists. [0:05:08] [0:23:23] [0:42:26] [0:57:48] [1:01:46]
Readiness check
Answer these without looking anything up.
- Why can a happy period be followed by a bad one without the mirror failing? What makes this hard to test?
- What does the mind do to the script, and what is the one thing he says you should do after choosing?
- What causes polarization? Why is the cause not your good qualities?
- What is the difference between a goal and its attributes? Give your own example.
- How do you tell compassion from duty, and which one comes from importance?
- Why does fighting a fear cost more energy than feeling it?
- In relationships, what is every person's inner intention aimed at, and how does meeting that need change yours?
- How does reality inversion work in his account, and what does he advise against?
The next chapter assumes you hold one idea: excess importance creates polarization, which draws opposing people and pendulum puppets into your life, and you can ease it by stepping back as a participating spectator who plays the role without gripping it.