Mastery checklists

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.

  1. Why can a happy period be followed by a bad one without the mirror failing? What makes this hard to test?
  2. What does the mind do to the script, and what is the one thing he says you should do after choosing?
  3. What causes polarization? Why is the cause not your good qualities?
  4. What is the difference between a goal and its attributes? Give your own example.
  5. How do you tell compassion from duty, and which one comes from importance?
  6. Why does fighting a fear cost more energy than feeling it?
  7. In relationships, what is every person's inner intention aimed at, and how does meeting that need change yours?
  8. 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.