HumanisticPsychology andSelfhelp

HumanisticPsychology(CarlRogers,AbrahamMaslowandRolloMay)isafundamental
inspirationforthemanagementtheoriesandthereforeforthewholeoftheselfhelpindustry(see
myarticle
Managementtheoryandtheselfhelpindustry
).

Thehumanisticpsychologyisbasedonabiologicalviewofhumannatureorsaidinanother
way:itbelievesthathumansentirelyaredesirousbeings(seemybook
APortraitofaLifeartist
).
CarlRogersisthereforeinhisselfactualizationtheoryfocusingontheemotionalexperienceofthe
individual.AbrahamMaslowisinhisselfactualizationtheoryfocusingondifferentlevelsof
needsintheindividual.RolloMayisinhisexistentialpsychologyfocusingonthewillandwishes
intheindividual.
1


Ifyoufocusontheseaspectsofthehumannatureyouwillfindyourtrueauthenticself,they
claim.LikethewisdomtraditionsHumanisticPsychologynamelyhaveanideaabout,thatManhas
asovereign(orevenspiritual/divine)core.So,itisfromherewehavetheconceptsofthe
selfactualizingandpersonaldevelopinghumanbeing,and,asaresult:theauthentic,sovereign,
autonomous,competent,resourcefilledhumanbeingconcepts,thatarecentralinthewholeofthe
selfhelpindustry.Butwhichalsoareshowingsomethingofaparadox,orcontradiction,because
thistherapeuticselfactualizationhastobesupportedbyanarmyofcoachesandpsychotherapists.
Themoreresourcesthehumanbeingisconceivedtohave,themorepotentialsithas,orisclaimed
tohave,themoresupportitneedsmoretherapists,morecoaches,morecoursesetc.inorderto
develophimself(readmoreaboutthisparadoxinmyarticle
SelfhelpandtheMythologyof
Authenticity
).Thisparadoxshows,thatsomethingisgoingwronginthisworldview,andinthe
followingIwillshowwhy.

Whatiscommoninhumanisticpsychologyisthattheindividualactualizeshisfullresources
orpotentialsthatis:thathefindshisauthenticself.Thisthesishasbeendevelopedinmany
variousforms,forexampleitisalsothisthesisthatislyingbehindtheconceptofpositive
psychology.PositivepsychologyhasitsrootsintheNewThoughtmovement,andisclaimingthat
ifyoufocusonyourpositivethoughts,feelings,needs,wishesandwill,andareignoringthe
negativeoppositions,thenyoucanattractanythingyouwant(thepositiveisinNewThought
understoodasmaterialglory,money,success,personalpower,sex,health,beauty)seemy
article
TheNewThoughtmovementandthelawofattraction
.
Itis,accordingtotheHumanisticPsychology,thereforeonlytheindividuals
own
subjective
evaluation,whichcanprovidesomethingwithvalue.Thereneitherexistvalidvalues,whichcome
fromthecommunity,orobjectivevalues,whichcomefromnature,theuniverse,orlifeitself.
Nothinghasvalueinitself,unlessitcomesfromtheindividualssubjectiveexperiences,needs,
willandwishes.

TheHumanisticPsychologysviewofmoralsisnamelynotonlyasubjectifying,which
attributesthesourceofmoralstothesubjectiveitself,butalsoanemotionalizing,sinceitisthe
individuals
feelings
,whichdecidesthemoralqualityofsomething.Whatitisabout,istodowhat

feels
right.Itistheindividualsemotionalexperienceofsomething,whichdefinesvalues,not
2

conversely.AndthisisfullyinthreadwiththeideologyofConsumerCapitalism,wherethe
customer(andhisorhersexperiences,wishes,willandneeds)alwaysisright.Theconsumer
society,thetherapeuticselfactualizationandthesubjectifyingofthemoral,gohandinhand.The
moraltheindividualsrelationtohimselfistherapized,andthemoralissubjectified.

Butwhatisthisself?Isitthesameasinthewisdomtraditions?No,anditisheretheproblems
arises.

Oursuffering,ourpainbodyisaccordingtothewisdomtraditions,throughtheinnerevaluating
ego,whichthepainbodyisconstructedaround,connectedwiththemoredangerousdephtsofthe
collectivehistoryoftheastralplane,whichalsoareakindofdark,ancientinertia,whichopposes
anychangeoftheego(seemyarticle
Theemotionalpainbodyandwhypsychotherapycant
healit
).

Thatisalsothereasonwhyyou,throughpsychotherapy,canthealManfromtheground.In
ordertohealManfromthegroundyouneedtogointoaspiritualpractice.Itisonlywithinthe
religionsandtheirspiritualtraditionstheyhaveknowledgeandnamesforthemoredarksidesof
theastralplanescollectivehistory.TheWesthasverypreciselycalledthisfactortheoriginalsin.
TheEasthascalleditnegativekarma.Theconceptsindicate,thattheinertiaprojectsbeyondthe
personalhistory(growingupconditions,traumaticbindings,painfulexperiencesetc.)andfardown
intothecollectiveinheritbackgroundsofhistory(genes,environment,societyideals,the
archetypesandtheprimordialimagesofthedreams,fantasies,fairytales,myths,andfinally:
instinctsinheritedfromtheanimals).Itisafactor,whichislyingintheevolutionitself,inthe
genes,inthecollectivesubconcious,inthecollecticeimagesoftime.

Whenthereforepsychotherapyrequiresachange,thentheinstinctivesurvivalpreparednessin
usreactsandprotests.Manhassurvivedonwillfulnessandaconsciousnessstructure,which
mentalandpsychicsignisEgocentredness.ThebiggerEgo,thebiggersurvivalchance.The
HumanisticPsychologysviewoftheauthenticselfisthereforeconfusingthisselfwiththeego.

Seenfromaspiritualperspective,thisinstinctivesurvivalstrategi(theEgo)appearsasa
resistance,aninvincibleinertia:originalsin,negativekarma.Youcant,bypsychotherapeutic
strategies,freetheconsciousnessfromitsattachmenttothisinertia.Youcanthereforenotdissolve
ordiluteorconverttheoriginalsinthroughpsychotherapy.OnlytheinterventionoftheSource
(God,Christ,theenlightenedconsciousness)canbasicallyhelpManwithatrancendenceofthe
negativekarmaoftheoriginalsin.Butinorderto,thatahumanbeingshouldbeabletoreceivethis
helpfromtheSource(giftofgrace),thenthisrequiresaneminentlypreciseandprofound
preparation.Andaspartofthispreparationservethetruespiritualpracticewithinthereligions(see
myarticles
Paranormalphenomenaseeninconnectionwithspiritualpractice
and
Thevalue
ofhavingareligioninaspiritualpractice
)
.

So,whenyouinthiswaydoyourpartofthework,thenyouwilldiscoverthattheenlightened
consciousness(God,Christ,Buddha),alreadyhavecleansedthenegativekarmaandtakenon,and
forgiven,theoriginalsin.AllenlightenedteachersofthisEarth(Rumi,Krishna,FrancisofAssisi,
Rabia,Meera,YesheTsogyel,TeresaofAvila)aredoingthesame:theytakeontheoriginalsin
andarepurifyingitforus.

Butreligionhasinhumanisticpsychology,andintheselfhelpindustryassuch,beenreduced
topsychology(feelings,willandwishes,CarlRogersandRolloMay),spiritualityhasbeen
reducedtobiology(needsAbrahamMaslow),andphilosophyhasbeenreducedtoideology
(consumercapitalism).So,traditionalreligiousandphilosophicalpracticeshaveinHuman
Psychology,andintheselfhelpindustryassuch,beenreducedtopsychologyandpsychotherapy.
Spiritualityhasinthiswaybeenturnedupsidedown.Inmybook
APortraitofaLifeartist
in
thesectionaboutneedsIdescribehowtheideologyofneedsdistortshumannature.

Inmyarticle
NonviolentCommunication(NVC)isaninstrumentofpsychicterror
I
describethereductionisminanotherway(NVCisdirectlyinspiredbyhumanisticpsychology).In
itswayofclaiming,thatallhumanbehaviourstemsfromattemptstomeetasmallsetofhuman
needs,NVCisnamelyareductionism.ThefounderofNVC,MarshallRosenberg,isforexample
proclaimingthat,allneedsareuniversaleveryhumanbeingintheworldhasthesameneeds.

Reductionismsreduceordevaluatethemanyaspectsofahumanbeing(forexamplehistory,
time,rationality,spirituality,communication,truth,meaning,beauty,suffering,passion,love,etc.,
etc.,orsaidinoneword:thewholeness)toaphenomenonofasingletype.InNVCaswellasin
MaslowsversionofHumanisticpsychologythisphenomenonisneeds.

NeedsareinNVCseeninrelationtotwotypesoffeelings:feelingswhenyourneedsare
satisfied,andfeelingswhenyourneedsarenotsatisfied(onNVCwebsitesyoucanfindlistsof
fundamentalneedsandthetwotypesoffeelings).SoNVCisabouthowyoucangetyourneeds
satisfied.Butwhenyoureduce,forexampleuniversalvaluessuchasthegood,thetrueandthe
beautiful,toneeds("Universalneeds"),thenthewholethingisbeingturnedupsidedown,because
thenyourbeingisseenassomethingnotyetsatisfied,astateofbecoming,andthereforedesire.
Andwithbecominganddesireyouhavetheego:thedirectoppositeofthegood,thetrueandthe
beautiful(rememberthatinforexampleBuddhismtheyseedesireasoneofthemainpoisonsof
themind).Inmyarticle
Thefourphilosophicalhindrancesandopenings
Ihaveinvestigated
this
turningspiritualityupsidedownparadox
whichthewholeofNewAgeandtheselfhelp
industryarecharacterizedby.Alsoseemyarticle
Thepseudoscienceofreductionismandthe
problemofmind
foradeeperexplanationoftheepistemologicalandethicalshipwrecksall
reductionismsendupin.

Wherespiritualitytraditionalisabouttheeliminationoftheego,thentheegohasbecomean
objectofworshipwithintheselfhelpindustry.Spiritualityhasbeendistorted.

Inhisbook
TheGoodLife
theDanishLifephilosopherMogensPahuuswrites,thatifyouask
about,whattheoldScandinavianssawasthehighestandthegreatestinlife,theecstasyoflife,
thentheanswerwouldbe,thatitisselfassertiontheassertionofoneselfandthefamily.Healso
writes,thatyouinChristianityfindadiametricallyoppositeviewofselfassertion,bothinits
CatholicformasinProtestantism.InSaintGregoryandThomasofAquinas
haughtiness/pride/selfassertionwasthefirstandgreatestofthesevensocalleddeadlysins.Andin
Lutherselfassertionnorwasagoodness,buttheviceoverallvices.Itisthesevendeadlysins
DanteinThePurgatorymustlookintheeyesoneafterone,inordertobeabletoprogress.He
mustusethediscrimination,whichisthepurificationprocess,whereyoulookyourdestinyinthe
eyesanddopenanceafterhavingrealizedhowyourperspectivedistortsreality.
5


Soselfassertionisavice.Selfassertionisakindofselfinterest,whereeverythingturns
aroundtheEgo,andthereforemakesthemindmediocre.Toliveinaworld,whichiscontrolledby
selfassertion,withoutbeingselfassertive,means,truly,tolovesomethingforitsownsake,
withoutseekingareward,aresultbutthisisverydifficult,becausethewholeworld,allyour
friends,yourrelatives,struggletoachievesomething,toaccomplishsomething,tobecome
something.

Todayselfassertiononceagainisconsideredasavirtue.Thegurusarethemanyadvocates
forthemarketandtheeconomicalcompetition,asforinstanceseveralmanagementtheorists.And
theeducationinstrumentistheselfhelpindustry.Thedisciplesaretheconsumersthatwillsay,
thatthisoutlookoflifeobviouslyissharedbymostpeopleinoursociety:thatitisaboutbecoming
something,togetsuccess,toconqueraplaceonthetopofthemountain,tobecomeawinner.
MogensPahuusbelievesthatthemodernidealaboutbecomingasuccess,awinner,isaperverted
ideal.Thesocietypraisesaselfassertion,whichhasgoneoverthetop,andtheredominatesa
selfassertion,whichisavice,becauseitbothspoilsthelifeoftheselfassertive,andthelifesof
those,whomtheselfassertivemeasureshimselfinrelationto,andwhomhewantstooverpass.

Pahuusmentionssomeoftheformsofselfassertion:1)Vanity,whichisavice,becausethe
vainfullalwaysisbearinginmind,howheorshelookslike,orisconsideredlike,intheeyesof
others.2)Ambition,whichisavice,becauseyouhereconstantlyareonthewayforward,or
upwards.3)Haughtiness,whichisavice,becauseyouhere,inyourfeelingofownsuperiorvalue,
lookdownatothers,arelettingothersfeeltheirinferioritythatis:becausehaughtinessis
unethical.Butalsointhearroganthimself,haughtinessisdestructive:itisolates.4)Joyofpower.
Theethicalseenmostviolatingformofselfassertionisthejoyofhavingpoweroverothers,of
controllingothers,oroppressingthem.

PahuusquotesAlfredAdlerandsaysthattheabovementionedformsofselfassertionare
attackcharacterized.Buttherealsoexistsanonattackcharacterizedform,asforinstancethe
hostileisolation,anxietyandbashfulness,whichyouseeinthe
UndergroundMan
inDostojevskijs
smallnovel
NotesfromanUnderground.

Theviceinthedifferentformsofselfassertionisthatitleadstoanunreallife.

Truespiritualityisintheendaboutgoingbeyondallconceptsandideas,becauselanguageand
linguisticmappingsisthemainreasonforourdistortionsofreality,andthereforeoursuffering.It
isinitsnatureabsolutist.Inordertogobeyondallconceptsandideasitmustbepossibleto
discriminatebetweenthelanguageandthereal,themapandthelandscape,subjectandobject.It
thereforebuildsonanobjectivetruthcriterium,whichislyinginareality,wholeness,orotherness,
thattranscendsus.AsNielsBohrsays,thenitisreality(thewholeness/theorderofnature),that
puts
us
inorder,andnotusthatputsrealityinorder(seemyarticle
Quantummechanicsandthe
philosophyofNielsBohr
).Discriminationisacentralaspectofcriticalthinking(mybook
A
dictionaryofthoughtdistortions
isamanualincriticalthinking,andthereforephilosophy).

Theselfhelpindustryis,contrarytothis,defendingarelativismandasubjectivism,which
doesntallowthis.Andthisisabitofaparadox,becausealotoftheselfhelpgurusareclaiming,
thattheirteachingsarespiritual,yeseventhattheyarespiritualteachers.

Accordingtotheselfhelpindustrythenthelanguage
is
thereal,themap
is
thelandscape,the
word
is
thereal.Suchalackofdiscriminationbetweenlanguageandreality,andthereforebetween
subjectandobject,isacentralaspectofmagicalthinking.

Itis,accordingtorelativismandsubjectivism,notpossibletogobeyondallconceptsand
ideas.Butyoucanchangethese.Thatisacentralideaintheselfhelpdirectioncalled
NeurolinguisticProgramming(NLP)seemyarticle
NeurolinguisticProgramming(NLP)and
LargeGroupAwarenessTraining(LGAT)
.ThoughNLPissayingthatthemapisnotthe
landscape,thenitparadoxicallyalsoissupportingasubjectivism,thatsaysthatwecantgobeyond
ourmappings,wecantknowwhatthelandscapeisinitself.ThisofcourseintroducesaSocratic
question:Ifitistrue,thatwecantgobeyondourmappingsandgetknowledgeaboutwhatthe
landscapeisinitself,fromwheredoesNLPthenknowthatthemapisnotthelandscape?

Anyway,whatitisaboutwithinNLP,andtheselfindustryassuch,istochangeyour
language,mapsandwordssothattheyfitintoyourwishes,needsanddesires,andinthatwayyou
canbecomewhateveryoulike,andyoucancreatewhateverrealityyouwantthatis:accordingto
7

yourego.Asthemanagementtheoristssay:Itisnotfacts,butthebeststory,thatwins!Andthey
oftendoitinamixofinterpretationsofShamanismandWesterntheoriesofhypnosis(seemy
articles
ACritiqueofStanislavGrofandHolotropicBreathwork
,
Regression
psychotherapies
,
JamesArthurRayandthesweatlodgetragedy
and
Hypnosis,hypnotherapy
andtheartofselfdeception
).Butintruespiritualitythisisthesameasenlargeningyour
distortionofreality.

Itwillbeinterestingtofollowhownewtheorieswithintheselfhelpindustry,andinNew
Age,inthefuture,inlargescale,willbebasedontheabilitytotellagoodnewstory.Communal
reinforcementisathoughtdistortion,whichdirectlywillbeusedasameansforthis.Communal
reinforcementissocialphenomenoninwhichaconceptorideaisrepeatedlyassertedina
community,regardlessofwhethersufficientevidencehasbeenpresentedtosupportit.Overtime,
theconceptorideaisreinforcedtobecomeastrongbeliefinmanypeoplesminds,andmaybe
regardedbythemembersofthecommunityasfact.

Often,theconceptorideamaybefurtherreinforcedbypublicationsinthemassmedia,books,
orothermeansofcommunication.Thereisnodoubtaboutthattheselfhelpindustry(whichisa
strongadvocatefortheuseofhypnosisandhypnotherapy)willbemadepropagandaforthrough
massmediaphenomenasuchasTransmediaStorytelling,AlternateRealityGames(TheBlair
WitchProjectisanexampleofanAlternateRealityGame),ViralMarketing/InternetHoaxesand
CollaborativeFiction.

Thephrasemillionsofpeoplecantallbewrongisindicativeofthecommontendencyto
acceptacommunallyreinforcedideawithoutquestion,whichoftenaidinthewidespread
acceptanceofurbanlegends,myths,andrumors.

Thiswilloftenbemixedwithanabilitytousemoderntechnologywithincomputerscience
andproductionofmovies.Makeagreatwebsite,andtellastorylikeinaHollywoodmovie,and
youhavesuccess.ThelatestwithinNewAgeisforexamplethesocalledWingMakersProject.
ThedifferencebetweenaHollywoodmoviethough,andaNewAgeguru,isthattheNewAge
guruisclaimingthathisstoryistrue,thoughverywellknowing,thatthewholeisafiction.

Itisinteresting,thatthecreatoroftheWingMakersProject,MarkHempel,alreadynowis
defendinghisstoryasbeingtrue,againstcritics,whosaythatthestoryisahoax.Hempelprecisely
haveabackgroundworkinginthecomputerandITindustry(seemyarticle
Timetravelandthe
fascismoftheWingMakersProject
).

OrtaketheHumanDesignSystem,whichiscreatedbyAlanRobertKrakower,whoclaimsto
havereceiveditinavision,whereafterhecallshimselfRaUruHu.Hewasawelleducatedand
successfulbusinessman,whoworkedasacontractorandmagazinepublisherwithownadvertising
agency(seemyarticle
AcritiqueofTheHumanDesignSystem
).

ThesekindsofstorytellingwillbethefutureofNewAgeandtheselfhelpindustry,andit
willbeamusingtofollow,whatthenexttruestorywillbe.

Anyway,theparadoxintheselfhelpindustryis,thatitsbuildinsubjectivismandrelativism
areimplying,thatthereisntanyobjectivetruthcriteriuminanywholeness,orreality,that
transcendsus,atthesametimeasitistalkingalotabouttranscendingeverything.Accordingtothe
selfhelpindustrywecreatetruthandrealityourselvesthroughourlinguisticmappings,and
becausethereisnoobjectivetruthcriteriumtodecidethetruth,thenallsuchmappingsmustbe
equallytrue.Thisisimplyingthatthenewage,whichforexampleNewAgeistalkingabout,
cantbesaidtobemoretruethantheoldageviolenceandhatemustbeseenashavingthesame
truthasnonviolenceandcompassion.

Buttheideaaboutthatwecancreaterealityasitfitsus,isthereasonwhyselfhelpgurusin
extremecynicalwaysareabusingscienceasitfitsthem,anduseallkindsofunrealistic
exaggeratedgrandtitlesaboutthemselves(forinstancetheworldsgreatestmoneycoach,andso
oninthesamestyle).Becauseiftheyjustthinkitistrue,well,thenitmagicalmustbetrue.Thisis
especiallyseenwithinthemovementofthelawofattraction(Again:seemyarticle
TheNew
Thoughtmovementandthelawofattraction
).

InthefollowingIwillinfivesequencesshowtheconsequencesofwhathappenswhenyou
reducetraditionalreligiousandphilosophicalpracticestopsychologyandpsychotherapy.Thefive
sequencesare:

1)ThetempleinDelphi
2)Becomingandbeing
3)Theconfusionoftheegowiththespiritualessence
4)Thepsychopath
5)BacktothetempleinDelphi

1)ThetempleinDelphi

Theselfhelpindustryistalkingaboutthatitisimportanttoknowthyself.Thatisnot
somethingnew.OverthedooroftheApollonTempleinDelphiwaswritten:Knowthyself.And
thesameconceptcanbefoundinalltruespiritualtraditions.

Buttheconceptionof,whatitmeanstofindyourself,hasbeenturnedupsidedowninthe
selfhelpindustry.Earliertheconceptoffindingyourself,wastofindyourplaceinrelationtothe
Gods.Atthattimeitwasaboutbeingyourselfwithoutbecomingarrogantandreckless
(egoinflated),andtherewithcommithubris(seemyarticle
TheegoinflationintheNewAgeand
selfhelpenvironment
).Theintentionwastodevelopyourselfinrelationtosomethingelsethan
yourself.Andthesamethingcanbeseeninothertruespiritualtraditions.

Inaccordancewiththeauthenticspiritualtraditionsthemovementoftimeisapower,an
expressionofenergy,whichfollowssomelaws.Thispowermovesinwavemovements,
pendulummovements,insituationmovements,aswellasincirculationmovements.Theuniversal
lawsofenergyinthemovementoftimeareknownasTao,TheDharmalaw,Karma,Destiny,
Hubrisnemesis,Logos,ThewillofGod,etc.

10

TheBuddhistphilosopherNagarjunasaid,thattheNowsregularityinthefunctionofthe
energy,isdueto,thatenergyworksasstreamsanddividingswithinasuperiorwholeness.And
becausethewholenessisareality,eachpartwillalwaysfitintoanequivalentpart.Thismeans,
thateachpartonlycanbeunderstoodinrelationtoitsnegationthatis:whatthepart
not
is.Atfirst
thisisimplying,thateachpartcometoappearaspartofapolarizationpairorapairofopposites
justlikeintheteachingofYinandYang.Secondlythisisimplying,thateachpartonlycanbe
understoodinrelationtoeverythingelsethatistosay:inrelationtothewholeness.
Sothemoreyou,throughtheEgosevaluations,isolatethesepartsfromeachother,themore
theabandonedpartswillworkstrongerandstrongerontheirpolarpartners.Thereforethesepolar
partnersintheirextremesfinallywillswingoverintheiroppositeextremes.Anotheraspectofthis
regularity,oranotherwaytodescribethisregularityis:energyreturnstoitsstartingpoint.And
sinceeverythinginthiswayonlyworkscorrelative,yes,thenNagarjunaclaimed,thatyouactual
cantsayanythingaboutthewholeness,onlyabouttheparts.Thereforehecalledthewholenessfor
theemptiness(snyat)ateaching,whichhadonequitecertainpurpose:theneutralizationofall
thedogmas,theoriesandviewpointswhichignorancehascreated.

Hereisthemainreasonwhytheselfhelpindustryhaslosttruespiritualityoutofsight:the
Egoworship,whichshutsitselfawayfromthiswholeness.Todaythewholeness,ortheotherness,
hasbeeneliminated,andonlythedevelopmentoftheself,ortheEgo,isleft.AndtheSelf/Egois
yourpersonalitythereforepersonaldevelopment(selfimprovement).Theproblemwiththis
personaldevelopmentisthatithasdevelopedintoaneverendingdevelopment,anegoistic
philosophy.Foranunderstandingofthenecessityofan"Otherness"inspiritualpractice,seemy
article
ThephilosophyofKrishnamurti
.
2)Becomingandbeing
TheEgoalwaysisinastateofbecoming.Becomingisthecentralconceptintheselfhelp
industry:allthetimetobeinastateofbecomingsomethingelsethanwhatyouare,aconstant
strivingfrompasttofuture,wherethegoalisconstantlyincreasingsuccess.Contrarytotrue
spiritualitywherebeingisthecentral,beinginthesensestudyingwhatyouare,tobewhatyouare,
togiveuppastandfuture,andbeintheNowwithwhatyouare.

Becomingisthecentralconceptinthefalsespiritualityoftheselfhelpindustry.Beingisthe
centralconceptintruespirituality.
11


Becomingisactuallythemainhindrancefortheopeningintothesource,theGood,theTrue
andtheBeautiful.ItcontainsfourphilosophicalhindrancesfortheopeningintowardstheSource
(asmentionedIhavedescribedthisinmyarticle
Thefourphilosophicalhindrancesand
openings
).

Anotherproblemwith,thattheselfhelpindustrytodayisonthefixedcurriculuminall
educationsisthatlifebecomesonelongexamination,whereyouconstantlyhavetodevelopyour
personality.Anunavoidablepartofthedailylifeisevaluationandcontinousassessmentof
yourself,andwhatyoudoandfeel.Youcantavoidit.Thereforeitisanideologythatpenetrates
everything.Theworkplaceusesprofessionalcompaniestomarkandgradeourperformanceand
effectiveness.Ourspousesrelaterunninglyto,whetherwecontinuedareworthlovingandliving
togetherwith.Educatersandschoolteacherscallusinformeetings,wherewordsareputon,
whetherwearegoodparents.

Itbecomesalifelongexamination,whereweconstantlystriveafterbecomingsomethingelse,
somethingmoreandbetteraneverendingpersonaldevelopment.Butinsteadoffindingourinner
self,webecomemoreandmorestressfulandinsecureabout,whethersomethingisgoodenough.
Anxietyanddepressionarespreadingeverywhere.Whattheselfhelpindustrydoesntseemto
understandisthatdiscomfort,anxiety,tension,stress,worryallformsoffeararecreatedbytoo
muchfutureandtoolittlepresenceintheNow.Hereweagainhaveaparadox,becausethe
selfhelpindustryistalkingalotaboutbeingthenow,atthesametimeasit,initsworshipof
becoming,doesntallowthis.Again:readmoreaboutthisparadoxinmyarticle
SelfhelpandThe
MythologyofAuthenticity
.

AsIhaveshowninmyarticle
Thenewfeminismandthephilosophyofwomens
magazines
,Iclaimthatanewdangerouskindoffeminismplaysacentralpartinthistragic
comedy.

12

3)TheconfusionoftheEgowiththespiritualessence

Bothselfhelpandtruespiritualityare,asmentioned,commoninthebelief,thathumanshave
adivinecore,whichthegoalistoreach.ButtheselfhelpindustryisconfusingtheEgowiththis
divinecore.Andthemainreasonisthatithasshutitselfawayfromthewholeness,andthe
otherness.

Andthestartingisalsothesame:namelyignoranceandsuffering.Buttheparadoxis,that
whenyoustartaselfhelpprogram,whichisbasedontheabovementionedconfusion,thenyou
maketheignoranceandsufferingevenlarger.Thatistheingenioustrickoftheselfhelpindustry
inordertokeepusasslaves(seemyarticle
TheMatrixConspiracy
).Thedivineissimplya
seducingpersuasionprogram.

Amainreasonforthisisalltheincompetentteachersintheselfhelpindustry.Itisteachers,
whomostoftenonlyhavetakenaweekendcourseortwo(forinstanceinNLPandcoaching),
whereaftertheywiththeircertificationsgoout,andarebeginningtellingpeopleaboutphilosophy,
spirituality,lifephilosophyandexistencephilosophy.Thatis:teacherswithoutanyphilosophical
education.

Actuallyphilosophytodayhasbeendirectlyremovedfromalltheoriesoflearning,and
thereforeyoualsohaveshutawaythepossibilityforeducatedphilosopherstogetachanceonthis
market.AweekendcertificationasNLPcoach,istodaymorevaluablethananuniversitydegreein
philosophy,eventhoughbothisaboutlifephilosophy.Ifyouwantabookpublished,orappearin
themedias,thebestistoadvocatetheselfhelpindustry.Thatisafact,andanexampleon,thatwe
here,fromthehighestpoliticallevels,canseesomepreferencesandchoices!Youcaninfactsee
theconceptofpersonaldevelopmentdescribedinEUsprojectonlifelonglearning,educationand
managementtheory.MyconceptoftheMatrixConspiracyispreciselydevelopedbecauseIquite
seriouslythink,thatwehereseethebeginningofoneofthemostdangerous,globalspreading,
ideologiesofourtime(again:seemyarticle
TheMatrixConspiracy
).

Sowhenyoutodaymakeaselfhelpprogramintoaguideforyourlife,itcanencouragethe
developmentofnarcissisticandegoistichumanbeings.Theselfhelpindustryisanexpressionofa
13

mememeandthenperhapsyouifitservesmelogic.Thislogicisnotwritteninthemany
selfhelpbooks.Perhapsonthecontrary.Hereitispouringwithhomespunphilosophicalrulesof
living.Egoismisneverthelessalogicalconsequenceofthatselfcentredness,whichgoeshandin
handwiththemovementoftheselfhelpindustry.Itisthehiddenagenda,whereitbasicallyis
about,thatitismeandonlyme,whothrough
my
innerjourneyshalldeveloptowards
my
self.
Othersarewithoutimportanceinthatconnection.Theresultisthelonelypersonaldeveloping
humanbeing,whoworksinordertofindnothingelsethanherself.

4)Thepsychopath

Ifapersonreallysucceedsinadoptingtheadvicesoftheselfhelpbooksshereallygetsa
problem.Notonlydoesshehavetofightwiththeneverendingdevelopment,andtheegoism.She
isalsobecomingaseriousproblemforhersurroundings.Becausesheisnow,astheDanish
psychologist,NinasterbySther,says,apotentialpsychopath.

OnacourseaboutpsychopathsNinasterbyStherrealized,thattherewasmanysimilarities
betweenpsychopathictraits,andtheadvices,whicharegiveninselfhelpbooks.Itmadeherpoint
outsomefrighteningresemblances.

Thoughsomeoftheselfhelpbooksadvicesmightsoundsimilartotruespirituality(most
oftentheydirectlyquoteandusespiritualtexts),takenoutofcontext,thenyouhavetoremember
howthewholenessandothernesshavebeenremoved.Religionandphilosophyhavebeenreduced
topsychologyandpsychotherapy.Andwhenthishappensittakesatotallywrongcourse.

Theresemblancesare:

Smarter
Thepsychopath
:apsychopathictraitistobeextremelyselfcentered,andexperiencing
yourselfassmarterthanmost.Theconceptionofyourownabilitiesandimportanceisunrealistic
exaggerated.
Selfhelp
:InoneoftheAmericanselfhelpguruWayneDyersbooksitiswrittenthat:there
isnothingwronginperceivingyourselfasperfect,anddontbeafraidofyourowngreatness.
14


Moreviolent
Thepsychopath:
Psychopathscanttakecritique,resistanceordefeats,somethingtheyexpress
withviolentangeroraggresssion.
Selfhelp:
IntheDanishselfhelpguru,ThoelesbookCouragetobeyourself,shewrites
thatitisunhealthynottogiveexpressionforyouranger(wrong!seemyarticle
Cathartic
psychotherapies
).

Seekingexperiences
Thepsychopath:
Psychopathshaveabigneedfornewexperiences,androutineandmonotony
oftenhaveaprovocativeeffect.
Selfhelp:
Thoelewrites:Ifachildbehavespooranddull,wetakeitstemperature.Whyisit
thenwefeel,thatitisalrightforourselvestoflowthroughlifeinanordinaryandboringway?

Impulsiveness
Thepsychopath:
Thebehaviourofthepsychopathischaracterizedbyimpulsiveness.He
followsthethoughtsandlustsofthemomentwithoutthinkingovertheconsequences,orfuture
goalsoractions.
Selfhelp:
Dyerwrites:Ihavemyselfexperienced,thatyoucanlivetotallyinthenow,andI
thereforeknow,thatitistrue(thissoundslikespirituality,butremember,thatthereisabig
differencebetweeninstinctivereactionsfromthepast,andbeingintheNow.BeingintheNow
cantbewithoutselfforgetfulabsorptionintheotherness,orinthewholeness.Youarecertaintly
notapersonabletobecompletelyintheNow,ifyoualsoarefocusingonyourowngreatnessand
perfectionism).

Seekingexcitement
Thepsychopath:
Psychopathsareseekingexcitementandthereforehavealargewilltorun
risks.
Selfhelp:
Thoelewrites:Ichoosetolive!Tomethismeansayestotakerisks....ifsecureness
hasbeenachievedonthecostofstimulatingandcreativedevelopment,itwilljuststrangleus.

15

Indifference

Thepsychopath:
Thepsychopathgivesexpressionforhavingcertainrights,whichdo,thathe
dontneedtofollownormallaws,rules,orevenanymoral.
Selfhelp:
Thoelewrites:Ihavetherighttosayno,withoutbadconscience...Ihavetheright
tobedifferentthanwhatisexpectedofme.

Thisisjustoneexampleonthemanyalternativeinterpretationsofhumanrights,whichare
happeninginthecultureofselfhelp.Freedomofspeechistodaytypicallyusedasajustificationof
offendingotherpeople(seemyarticle
Thenewfeminismandthephilosophyofwomens
magazines
).Anotheraspectofthisishowpositivepsychologyencouragespeopletoignorewhat
theyfindnegative(seemyarticle
TheNewThoughtmovementandthelawofattraction
).

Withoutempathy

Thepsychopath:
Thepsychopathunderstandsotherhumansfromtheiractions,andislacking
theabilitytofamiliarizinghimselfwithothersthoughtsandfeelings.Hehasnoproblemwith
establishingrelationships,butlackstheabilitytoattachment.Furthermoreheofteninstrumentally
usesotherswiththehelpofmanipulation,whereothersareusedinordertogethisownlustsand
needssatisfied.
Selfhelp:
Thoelewrites:Emotionalindependenceisahumanright.Othersexpectationscan
beseenashinderingelements,andthegoalismostpossiblereleasefromthese.

YoucouldalsosimplymentionNLP,wheregreatcommunicationskillsareseenasthe
abilitytopersuadeotherstodowhatyouwant(seemyarticle
NeurolinguisticProgramming
(NLP)andLargeGroupAwarenessTraining(LGAT)
)

16

Guiltless

Thepsychopath:
Thepsychopathdoesntknowwhatasenseofguiltis.Hehasaconspicuous
tendencytoexplainingaway,orrationalizing,hissocialproblemcreatingbehaviour.

Selfhelp:
TheDanishselfhelpguru,Thorse,writesinhisbook
Alittleguidetomodern
qualityoflife
,that:Guiltismeaningsless,whenitcomestofeelings.ActualIwouldliketohave
thewordguiltremovedfromlanguage.

Thoughguiltisanegativefeeling,thenThorseobviouslydoesntunderstand,thatthis
negativefeelingcontainsamessageaboutthatthereissomethingyouhavetochangeinyour
behaviour,preciselybecauseyoucantescapeanorderofreality,whichisbeyondyourcontrol.
Butinatypicalsubjectivisticandrelativisticway,hethinks,thatyouonlyfeelguilt,because
humanshaveconstructedthisconcept.

Similarthingsarehappening,whenforexampleNewThoughtgurusthink,thattheywithout
consequencescanreformulatethekarmathought,sothatitsupportstheego,becausethisisa
muchmorepositiveinterpretation,thantheoldnegativeinterpretation(seemyarticles
The
NewThoughtmovementandthelawofAttraction
and
JamesArthurRayandthesweat
lodgetragedy
).

Thisdistinctionbetweenoldthinking(negative)andnewthinking(positive),is,asalready
mentioned,happeningagainandagainintheselfhelpindustry.Seethethoughtdistortion
NewSpeak
inmybook
ADictionaryofThoughtDistortions
.

ThebelowexampleillustratesThorsesrationalizationofbehaviour,whichintheeyesof
manypeoplewillberegardedasunethical,egoisticandirresponsible.Thepersonalexperienced
storyisanextractfromThorsesselfhelpbook,andare,withoutanyselfreflectionatall,
introducedwiththepurposeofteachinghisreadersaboutpersonaldevelopment
(selfimprovement!)andmodernqualityoflife:

17

GymnasiumteacherThorsesyoungstudentLineentrustshim,thatsheissexualattractedby
hernewstepfatherErik.TeacherThorseanalysesthesituation,andtellshisstudent,thatthe
structureinheremotionalworldquiteclearlyisanattractiontowardsexperienced,charming
men,andthatshemustacceptherself.Thestudentacceptstheanalysis,and

Thesolutioncamefromanunexpectedangle:onaschooljourneytoLondonLinediscovered,
thatErikwasnttheonlyanswertoherfascinationofexperiencedmen.Shehadsuchacrushon
me(Thorse),thatIforashortwhilehadtroublecontrollingthecourse.Butsincemyownlifeof
feelingsalsowasinanunreleasedprocesofrenewal,itbecameapositive,andinreality
necessaryexperienceforbothofus.Whenwecamebacktotheusualsurroundingsherschool
andmywifewehadtoshortenthecourse,whatinfluencedLinemorethanactuallyplanned.But
otherwiseitisagoodmodel:twopersons,ineachtheircrisis,helpeachotherwithtakingthetiny
step,thatcanbringthemforward.(Thorse1996:36).

WhileThorselegitimatestheaffairwithhisstudentusingtheconceptaboutpersonal
development(=psychology),itcan,whenusingamoralperspective(=philosophy),becritizedon
severalpoints.ThorsesrelationshipwithLinecanberegardedasbothmanipulativeand
instrumental,andmoreovercanhisbehaviourbeunderstoodasirresponsibleandwithout
compassionforhiswife.

So,withstartingpointinmoral(philosophy),wesee,thatitinpracticeisdifficulttoseparate
thepersonaldevelopingpersonfromthepsychopath.Wealsosee,thatasubjectivisticmoralthat
is:amoraldefinedbytheindividualsfeelings(psychology)isnomoralatall.

NinastbyStherconcludes,thattheselfhelpbooksdonthaveanyalibiagainstproducing
psychopathlike,selfactualizinghumans.Thepsychopathictraitsaresimplylyingsmoulderingin
thebooks.Hermoralis,thattheselfactualizingpsychopathcanbeseenasanactualsocial
characterintheWesternsociety,supportedbyawholeindustryofselfhelpbooks.

Butwhenyouthinkabouthowmanypeoplewhoarereadingtheselfhelpbooks,thenit
howeverisstriking,thattherethenisntthatmanypsychopathsrunningaround(yet).Butthe
paradoxinthisis,thatpeopleseldomtotallysucceedinliberatingthemselvesfromamoral,that
18

doesntcomefromthemselves.Asaruletheyhavesomekindofethicstheycantescapefrom
(becausetheycantescapefromtheotherness,orthewholeness).Therealpsychopathhasntgot
anyethics.

Butthisdoesntvalidatetheselfhelpindustry.

5)BacktothetempleinDelphi

Inaccordancewiththeuniversallawsofenergy,itiscorrect,thatthethoughtsandmindof
Manareparticipatingincreatingtheworld,eventhephysical,butnotinthewaytheselfhelp
industryindicatesit,yes,theselfhelpindustryactualdirectlycommitHubris.

Thismisunderstandingconsistsinalackofdiscriminationbetweencompensatorykarmaand
progressivekarma.Compensatorykarmacouldalsobecallednegativekarma,whilethe
progressivekarmacouldbecalledpositivekarma.Thenegativekarmaiscausedbytheego,or
whenthethoughtspendulumswingsoutinextremes,whilethepositive,progressivekarmafirst
willarisewhentheegohasbeeneliminated,andthethoughtsareinbalancebetweentheextremes
(readmoreaboutkarmainmyarticle
Whatiskarma?
).

Inconnectionwiththis,itisimportanttoknowthedifferencebetweenaselfishuseofenergy,
andanunselfishuseofenergy.Youcanalsotermthisasademonicaluseofenergy,andaspiritual
useofenergy,orasblackandwhitemagic.

TheEgoreligionandtheEgoexercisesaretheEgosincessantconfirmationordenialofthe
Ego:itisnousewithme!or:wonderfulme!.Both,eitherthedenialorconfirmationofthe
Ego,maintaintheEgoprocess,theEgoidentityandtheEgocentralization.TheEgosreligionand
exercisesaretheEgosneedsandlongingsandwill:Iwantto,Ithink,Ibelieve,Ifeel,Iwish,I
hope,Ithink,Ibelieve,Ifeel,Iwish,or,initsmostcommoncore:I,I,I.

19

TheordinaryEgoconsciousnessfunctionsbybeingidentifiedwiththephysicalworld,with
instincts,sexuality,emotionsandcollectiveideals.Thetraditionalreligiousandphilosophical
exercisesworkthroughtheseaspectsbymeansof,forexamplethecorewhichexistsinthebasic
monasticvows:poverty,chastityandobedience.Thesepromisesworkwitharestructuringofthe
Egosownershiptothings,foodandpower,andtheyrestructuresexualityandemotions.First
thereafterthemysticalprocesscanbegin.Nokindofpsychotherapycanbringaboutthis.

TheEgoreligionandtheegoexercises(asencouragedintheselfhelpindustry)areblack
magic,satanism,etc.TheEgoisademonicalstructure,anditattractsdemonicalpowersand
energies,whichalsohavebeencreatedbytheEgophenomenon.Thesameenergyprocessand
function,whichrealizedspiritualteachersuse,canthereforebeusedforotherpurposesthan
spiritual.Whentheenergyprocessesoftheastralplanescollectivehistoryareusedspiritual,then
theEgo,initsegoisticisolatingandselfaffirmativefunction,stepsaside,andtheenergyisturned
intotheNow,andthereforeintowardstheSourceandthespiritualdimension.Thepeople,who
aroundaspiritualteacher,constituteanenergymandala,areinthiswaymadetransparentfora
highercommonhumanspirituality.

Inalesserrealizedpersonsuseofenergythecontactwith,andtheabilitytomanipulatewith
suchcollectiveformsofastralenergy,canbeusedforotherpurposesthanspiritual.Itcanbe
creative,Egoaffirmative,political,demonicalandsoon.

Thepowersthat,byrealizedspiritualteachers,aregiventoothersdisposalinhealing,energy
transmissionandspiritualinformationexchange,thesamepowerscanthemselvesbeturnedin
throughtheEgostructures,andtherewithintopastandfuture,andfragmentation(conflict).Inthis
waytherecanbeopenedcreativechannels,createdsuperEgos,createdpoliticalleadersand
popularseducers(inmyarticle
ThephilosophyofKarenBlixen
Ihaveinvestigatedthese
phenomenaindepth).

Thesephenomenaarewellknownfromhistoryandfromliterature.Inthestoryaboutthe
temptationinthedesert,wecanseethesepossiblewaysofusingtheenergypicturedinanticipated
form.Hereyouseethepossibilityofusingthefreedomandthepower,toelevationoftheEgoand

20

theconsequentpowerandmaterialglory.ButJesusabstainsfromthisdeificationoftheEgo.Itis
alsoknownfromtheFaustmyth,describedbyforexampleGoetheandThomasMann.
Whenyouinaselfishwayusethepowersfromthecollectivehistoryoftheastralplane,and
whichdemonicalastralbeingswillhelpyouwith(becausetheegophenomenonistheirmagnetof
attraction)youcancreatepersonalpowerandmaterialglory.Thatistheessenceofblackmagic.
Butyouwilleventuallymeetthecompensatorykarma,orNemesis.

Youcaninshortnotusetheseenergiesasyouwanttothatis:through,forinstance,
positivethinking.

Theeternalcirclingaroundyourowndreams,desires,successetc.willinotherwordsbe
contrabalancedthroughtheoppositecategories.Theselfhelpindustryhereexposesitself,andits
followers,forthepossibilityofNemesis.
Anexample:assoonasyourthoughtsspreadthemselvestoomuchoutinanextreme,the
energysystemcompensatesbyseekingtobringitselfbacktothebalanceofthemiddle.The
systemdoesthisbyseekingovertowardstheoppositeextreme(forinstancefromperfectionismto
feelingoffiasco).Thatis:throughacontrabalancing,acompensation.Theenergyworksasa
pendulum.Themoreenergy,whichisinvestedintheoneextremeofapairofopposites,thelarger
theswingintheoppositedirectionbecomes.
Now,ifyoutesttheselfhelpindustryinrelationtothislaw,thenthelawwillsay:the
idealsaboutpower/perfectionism/successonlyexistinrelationtotheiropposites,namely
powerlessness,fiasco,loss.
Ifyouareextremelyoccupiedbyyourownsuccess,thesystemwillseektobalanceyour
thoughtsbybringingthemoverintheoppositeextreme,namelythepowerlessnessandthe
fiasco.Itisthereforeevident,thatthesemodernidealsaboutbeingasuccessandawinnerare
participatingincreatingaswingoverinstress,anxiety,depressionorfailure,fiasco.The
caseoftheselfhelpguruJamesArthurRayandthesweatlodgetragedyisanexampleof
howithappensinacontextofNewAgeShamanism(again:seemyarticle
JamesArthur
Rayandthesweatlodgetragedy
).AnotherexampleofthedangerousconsequencesofNew
AgeShamanismisHolotropicBreathwork(seemyarticle
AcritiqueofStanislavGrofand
HolotropicBreathwork
)

21

Whatisapplyingfortheindividualperson,alsoisapplyingforthecollectiveandfor
nature.Youcanthereforealsowatchtheselawsofenergyingroups,societies,worldimages,
yes,inthewholeofmankind,aswellasintheUniverse.
TodaytheEgoextremeisreflectedincountlessfields.Toomuchenergyisinvestedin
armamenttoomanyatomicweaponstoomuchpollutiontoounequaldistributionofthe
richesoftheEarthtoounequaldistributionofthefoodandfruitsoftheEarth.Andfirstof
all:toomanypeoplearetoofocusedintheirEgotheyaccumulateenergytotheirEgo,to
oneselfortothefamilyEgothecompanysEgothenationalEgo.
Now,ifyoulookattheenergylaw,thenthisistheenergyinitsoneextremity.With
necessitytheenergywillswingoverintheoppositeextreme.Andthiswillnothappenina
silentway,whenyouconsidertheenormousmomentwhichisintheactualextreme,andit
willhappenverysimple:throughpollutionoftheenvironment,throughdisease(aids,cancer
andother)throughwarfare,terror,crises,innermasspsychoticcollapses,andthroughnatural
disasters.
However,atruespiritualpracticeistobeaware,whenyourthoughtsmovetoofarout.
Inthesituationyoucanthereforetrytoremembertheoppositeextremeandseektobringit
in.Thismakesthesituationmuchmoretrue(thisisactuallyalsoaquitecentralaspectof
criticalthinkingseeexamplesinmybook
Adictionaryofthoughtdistortions
).
TheawarenessitselfisintheNow,intheonenessoftheopposites,andthereforeinthe
fulcrum,whichistheunmovedbeinginthecentreofthecircularmovementoftime.Also
whensomethingelsefluctuatesanddancesbetweentheswingsoftheextremes.Thereforethe
trainingoftheawarenessinitselfwillgraduallyprevent,thatthereisgivenimpulsetothe
swings.ItistheGoldenMean,whichAristotleandBuddhatalkedabout,andwhichLaoTse
describesinhisbookTaoTeKing.
TheGoldenMeancangenerallybeformulatedastheartofbalancingbetweenthe
extremes
toomuchandtoolittle
.

TostriketheGoldenMeanisanartoflife,andtostrikethispathisanecessary
suggestionforhowwecanpreventcompensatorykarmatohappen,bothinourownlifes,as
intheworld.

22