Generating Willpower to Overcome Entropy

Hi Mike,

How have you been? I haven’t talked to you in ages (entropy strikes again).

I found a passage in The Revolution of the Dialectic by Master Samael titled “Resistance” that starts on page 10 that talks about how egos use resistance to stop our work.

I hope it helps!

Tim

I didn't see it as Mike can't think of good blogs but that you have a problem and ask for some help. ;)

We are in the same boat. :) What I have observed for these 2 days for me is that my willpower awakens with inspiration.For example I was listening to one song yesterday which is not classical nor spiritual but the song itself charged me so much and I felt like I can do so many things it is like you can do everything in that very moment. Also from what I see if you stay in this awareness state feeling love it awakens you in some level too.

Of course I have more to discover because my egos like to stop the feeling. :)

All the best! 

The fact you have written these feelings of entropy down, will be of a great help I think you will find.

Thank you for sharing

Túrin

Thanks very much for posting that Mike, I think I needed to read it.

I don't think I'm the best person to give advice because I've taken a bit of a nose dive the last few weeks, but there are a few things I've seen in the past which relate to this.

First one is disintegrating everything I think. Even the feelings like you're not doing your best, because in the past there have been plenty of egos which cause a subtle fear or depression, or a feeling like my work isn't going anywhere, but that feeling was the first obstacle for me because I didn't get over it until I realised it was an ego.

Second one is disintegrating :) Sometimes when I see egos I don't actually use the technique to disintegrate them, but I kind of just force them or will them away without realising I'm not disintegrating them. So if I get in a rut often it's because I'm still aware of the egos to some degree, but I'm not actually getting rid of them.

The other thing for me with willpower is that there seems to be a tipping point. So if an ego comes up and I keep beating it down eventually it goes, but if I drop my guard and give in to it even if I've already fought it to some degree then that seems to set me back quite some way.

I think I need to be realistic too though, with goals and what I aim to achieve, because if I set a goal too high and can't push myself to make it I can find that a bit demoralising too. Which comes back to the first point :)

So I guess for me willpower is seeing the egos come up, but finding it in me to get rid of them rather than feed them, and come back to the moment.

Thanks again for your blog, I found it really helpful!

David

Thank you for the blog Mike, it really was something special to me. It is amazing how low feelings can bring us down. I find there are undercurrents, like praying and feeling fear at the same time, etc. and that if these aren't fixed then they bring us down and can snare our Spiritual Work in a trap. We just need to be aware at all times and working towards the goal of our spiritual Work. We just need to be careful of the underlying emotions and how we respond to them, like David pointed out. It's up to us to respond right, "not to resist evil" as Master Judas said.

Great subject to look over Mike, wish you all strength and understanding, persistence and total self-revision.

For me it has become obvious that much of psychological pression is a result of this unhealthy and most egoistic desire to have success in the inner work. This weight out of my being gives a lot of space for the real work to take place.

Strength to all.

Hi all,

Thank you for your replies. Some awesome points were made.

Tim,

Yeah, it's been ages already! How have you been doing? Aside from your recent blog, I'm not really sure what you've been up to. I hope you're well.

Nadya,

Good point about the inspiration. As a matter of fact, a couple of days ago a song really inspired me, which may have contributed to me working harder again.

Túrin,

It has helped, yes. And I think now that I have what I learnt written down, along with new insights from all these responses, I'll hopefully be quicker to find a stronger will when entropy next strikes.

David,

Excellent tip on the disintegration. I think to some degree a little entropy sets in when we don't disintegrate everything that comes up. As we "make allowances" small obstacles build up... and over time they've built up high enough that overall we really aren't moving forward. But if I were to just die to even the subtle details then I couldn't get stuck.

Realistic goals are nice, too. With my recent astral goal I set something very achievable (yet still challenging) so I don't feel demoralized since I'm moving towards it and I know if I keep moving forward I will achieve it.

Nathan,

I'm glad it was special to you :) Cool quote from the Flight; that's one of my favourites and it has a very high relevance in overcoming these obstacles.

Gyrogi,

Good point about the *desire* to have success in the Work instead of just doing the Work.

Thanks again, everyone.

All the best in your inner work!

Mike

Hi Mike,

I can definitely relate to what you describe here. I find a lot of the time I get a push of willpower from my conscience. If I start to feel that real sense that I am disconnected and lost, it brings about a subtle sadness that gives me willpower. It's hard to describe but it is that feeling in the heart and that longing that usually really gets me back to the work.

Gabrielle

Hi Mike,

Thanks for sharing with your thoughts...and jumping into a blogwagon, finally.
Welcome!

Yes, I think that sincerity and honesty are vital in the internal work...prayers, goals, astral practices...nothing really works unless there is a sincere dedication, honesty with yourself about what you are doing now and how you are doing it, and why you are doing it, what you really want and really need, who you are and where you are going now.

I find that without honesty and sincerity the whole spiritual work otherwise (ultimately) remains a search for the ways to escape a difficulties of everyday life and use the results from spiritual practices and activities to stay in the comfort zone, not going over the tipping point, waiting for a better conditions to make a compromise with egos...which never, never, really works.

Willpower is obviously the key, I think, but how much of it is enough...I guess, it's only enough if you apply willpower all the time, cultivating "revolutionary spirit", moment to moment, like Masters say.

Strength in the inner work to all!

Thanks, Gabrielle. Indeed seeing that we're lost can help us get back on track. Too bad it has to be uncomfortable, though.

Thank you for your perspective, Vadim. That sincerity and honesty you describe is so beautiful. Oh to only apply willpower and bravely go beyond that comfort zone all the time...

Best wishes!

Mike