My Neville GoddardNeville Goddard on States
Executive Summary
A state is an attitude of mind, a body of beliefs, and a level of being that you occupy. Your consciousness is the only cause, and your external world is a mirror that constantly reflects the state you currently inhabit. States like poverty or wealth are not your permanent identity but are conditions you pass through. By using your imagination to assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled, you can consciously move from your present state into a desired one, which will then objectify itself as your reality.
Key Concepts
- A state is an attitude of mind and a body of beliefs you live by.
- Your outer world is the objectification of the state you occupy; it is your mirrored self.
- You are always expressing a state, such as "I am rich" or "I am poor," by consenting to its reality.
- An infinite number of states exist now, like cities a traveler can visit.
- You are not the state, but the consciousness that passes through states.
- To change your circumstances, you must first change your state through an imaginal act.
- When you enter a state, it feels like the only substance and reality.
Detailed Explanation
A state is defined as an attitude of mind, a state of experience, or a body of beliefs by which you live. It is a conditioned level of being that you occupy. Examples include the state of being rich or poor, known or unknown. Your automatic, uncritical reactions to life's events serve to define the state you are currently in. While you, as unconditioned awareness or "I AM," are the creator of all states, the specific state you consent to and are conscious of being determines the form and substance of your life.
The relationship between your inner state and your outer world is absolute. Your world is your conditioned consciousness objectified, a mirror that reflects the state in which you live. All that befalls you—your fortunes and misfortunes—is the result of your state of consciousness, not chance, fate, or external causes. The consciousness of lack produces poverty, while the consciousness of wealth produces riches. The phenomena of life are explained by the state an individual occupies.
There exist an infinite number of states, and they all exist now, whether you are aware of them or not. Neville likens them to cities that a traveler passes through. The traveler is distinct from the city, just as your true self is distinct from the state you temporarily occupy. When you enter a state, it feels all-encompassing and seems to be the only reality, just as a city you are in feels like the whole world. When you leave a state, it does not cease to exist but remains for anyone else to enter.
To change your external world, you must first change your inner state. This is accomplished through an imaginal change, not by struggling with external circumstances. The method is to assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled, which creates a union with the desired state. By persisting in this assumption, even if it is initially denied by the senses, the new state will eventually harden into objective fact and your behavior will change to conform to it.
Important Quotes
A state is an attitude of mind, a state of experience with a body of beliefs which you live by.
— Infinite States
The world is my conditioned consciousness objectified. That which I feel and believe to be true of myself is now projected in space as my world.
— Freedom For All
Man passes through states, like a traveler who passes through places, through cities.
— Many Mansions
To attempt to change circumstances before you change your imaginal activity, is to struggle against the very nature of things.
— The Law And The Promise
Common Misunderstandings
- Misconception: States are permanent aspects of your identity.
Correction: The source material explains that you are a traveler passing through states. They are not who you are, but conditions you experience. Like a traveler leaving a city, you can leave a state, and it remains for others to enter. - Misconception: External events or facts determine your state.
Correction: The teaching is the reverse: your state of consciousness is the sole cause of the events in your world. Attempting to change circumstances before changing your imaginal state is described as a futile struggle.
Practical Applications
To apply this teaching, you must first identify your current state by uncritically observing your automatic reactions to life's events. If you do not like the state you are in, you can change it without leaving your chair.
The technique is to use your imagination to assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled. This act brings about a union with the desired state. A state akin to sleep is said to aid in this process, as it helps bypass the critical objections of the senses. You must persist in this new assumption, because an assumption, though it may seem false, will harden into fact if sustained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a 'state'?
A state is an attitude of mind, a state of experience, or a collection of beliefs that you live by. Examples include the state of being poor, rich, known, or unknown.
Are states created and destroyed?
No. According to the source material, there are an infinite number of states that exist now, permanently. You are a traveler who passes through them; when you leave a state, it does not cease to exist.
How does my state relate to my physical reality?
Your physical reality is a direct objectification of the state of consciousness you inhabit. Your world is a mirror of the state you live in, and all that happens to you is a result of that state.
How do I move into a different state?
You move into a different state through an 'imaginal change.' This is done by assuming the feeling of your wish already being fulfilled, which unites you with that new state.
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