Find Your Purpose Master Your Path

This book was a quick read but I know the information will take a life time to master.Let me start off with this recommendation: have an intention or a set of them when reading this book. The title gives you a hint of what direction to set the intention.Humbly I also have to say I am a student of Dr. James because I know this review is going to focus my 126-bits of information that influence me the most and that help "my reality" become the best it can be. So forgive me ahead of time if some of what I say doesn't resonate with you. He does talk about 126- bits in the book, but only briefly. (Look up Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)I've been going to his workshops and listening to his material for about 7 years now. And I know when the "light" inside of me came on (which was few years before I knew of him) I knew I was just barely scratching the surface of who I wanted to be, do and have. I mentioned this about his other book, "Foundation of Huna,"...this book is like a text book or a "work" book. Because let's face it. Going down this path does take some "work".Who I think this book is for:Someone who needs to hear stories that they can easily relate to and where the teachings are in plain English.Someone who wants a more balanced approach to walking the path. (You don't have to give up your ego is one of the themes, FYI.)And I think more importantly, if your like me, your asking the question, "How will this information help me now? How is it any different from other things out there?"The concepts here are the mental "how-to" (mental processes that bring all the other concepts together so you can apply them immediately) to give directions to your actions and bring them into the physical AND they teach you how to measure your results in a way that help you do course corrections. That's really important to grasp. Great knowledge can be use as an effective tool contextually (in multiple areas of life). Unhelpful knowledge makes for a good paper weight on the desk or a great contestant on Jeopardy (if that's our goal) :)Ever hear of the bible quote "Ask and it shall be given?" Or in Hermetics, As Above, So Below. Or Abraham-Hicks popularizing the idea of "Law of Attraction"? Truth be told these ideas have been around for a very long time. And if you have read these concepts before which I had, I was left with the feeling of "What's next?" Or left wondering what that heck does that metaphor mean or I've never heard a certain word/concept before. So I went on a hunt for more books until I finally got the idea of Cause and Effect. The idea that I affect my reality is a concept that took years for me to grasp simply because I didn't know what I didn't know. I had to live life a bit and learn (apply the knowledge and not just read about it). Then, I was honest (with myself) and looked at the feedback given to me.A simple example: if I have a bad attitude that day I tended to see, hear and run into bad people. "Ask and it shall be given" I finally realized from Huna teachings a modern way to say it would be, "You get what you focus on." Now that I know the concept of cause and effect I use them IN conjunction with other technologies like NLP, Emotional Release Techniques(tm) and then gently shift my attitude (feelings included, not just words) and I began to see happier people. That took some learning on my part. Duh, right?So that was a train of thought (a full process that created a series of decisions and action) that I went through because I know the major assumptions "Perception is Projection" and "Cause and Effect". Not exciting but that's "how" it works. But you cannot create a solution if you cannot clearly identify the root cause of the problem. Sometimes it's a negative emotion or a deeply imbedded limiting belief you had learned as child. You don't know until you do the work on the inside.I realize now why there are so many teachers, books, on the same universal topics, like love, health and fitness. The person teaching/writing about the concepts speaks from their own experience (which might be a lifetime of work), values, beliefs etc and in turn they want you to take experience and have it serve like a template for you to grow. They become enlightened and create a seemingly new technique that helped them on their path. Or they find a similar technique and rename it and trade mark it. The label is not as important as it is to understand the major concept that drives it. Huna is about the result not so much about a label.Learning Huna concepts, I've discovered how to recognize teachers who are good at communicating how well they do specific behaviors of success and sharing that process by ALSO teaching the student how to measure the success. Again just my 126 bits: great teachers are flexible in their language and are aware of your learning curve that they know how to slow the learning down or speed it up. They can adjust to you. And yet they know that your are 100% responsible for your results. They also know how to answer your questions where you feel empowered and not dumb or less than them. And they might not say it, (but I can feel it), they believe that you can be more. It's as if they have a picture in their head of what they know you are capable of, even if you don't know yet. Which is why great teachers are known for their patience.In truth, that's all this book is if I had to simplify it. The book is not just universal concepts BUT concepts told from the lens of someone who really has gotten some great results. He gets to teach the knowledge in a way that he knows has helped other people. So not only is he good at living this [esoteric] knowledge he has a gift of EFFECTIVELY translating the knowledge into a how-to process so that I may more quickly bring the techniques into my world to get good results.And if you understand how we learn at a deep level, you realize that sometimes you need someone to model. The ancient teachings were written in a time that is different from now. And really I can't as easily relate to a shephard or a farmer living two thousand years ago. Sometimes I learn faster when I am learning from someone who had a similar experience and grew from it. Example: I learned patience from my boss who handles people differently than I do and he gets a better result. He is good at being at Cause. I model his behavior. I apply Huna concepts.Reading this book bridges the gap of spiritual learning. And it's not about how fast you get to the destination (we all know this cliche). However, because the knowledge is easy to understand you can get results much quicker than you realize. It's still up to you. You can (if you like reading older text) spend a life time learning to interpret and incorporate what a great teacher like Buddha said about love and compassion who talks about meditating under a tree for 5 years, which by the way I love the Buddha and I do study his work as well. Or you can find a modern day teacher like Thich Naht Hanh who may tell you more modern day stories that connect the ancient knowledge. The bottom line is you know that Thich Naht Hanh MODELS and lives the knowledge. It's up to you to find the best teacher for you. And what makes him a great teacher is the congruency in his words and actions. They match. That's what makes him a cool spirtual teacher :)The information here is powerful and again I repeat, stated in plain English. That's one of the gifts Matt has: the ability to make complex topics and make it simple so that we as students have a starting point. Considering he is a Master Trainer (a Trainer who certifies other trainers) he knows how to keep rapport. In fact, there is a quick blurb about humbleness. To be a great trainer/teacher (particular in the esoteric studies) its important to know how to convey the information to your students so they feel empowered about learning and using the knowledge. Therefore it's also important to distinguish from (however well intention-ed) less effective trainers/teachers that tend to (make it about their own ego) over intellectualize knowledge. Sometimes enabling (versus empowering) their students where they end up idolizing them because they think the teacher knows all.NLP is a powerful technology in a sense it that helps you to effectively master your communication inside and outside of who you are. I point this out because his mastery of this technology influences how he teaches his lineage that is 26 generations long, unbroken. Esoteric teachings can sometimes get lost in translation (like the game of telephone) as it is passed on or at times you find yourself asking, "How does a story about walking a mountain to talk to a goat relate to my life now?" :) Sometimes the teacher creates a disconnect unintentionally because they get too deep into the teaching.He brings to "light" ancient teachings and breaks them down in a way that matches our current times. Just like how computer technology changes and we adapt to it, I think that should be the same way with ancient teachings. He is a powerful story teller. His metaphors at times seem simple but I can assure you they have a purpose. Great teachers are excellent story tellers (Go study Joseph Campbell who wrote Power of the Myth)This book is really a must for anyone learning any esoteric teachings or wanting to find a greater sense of WHOLENESS as you travel your path. Isn't that most of us? If you discovered Huna through Max Long, study Dion Fortune, Kabbalah, Aleister Crowley, Wiccan etc etc you really want to have this book in your collection. The first book (I believe there are 3 in this series) talks about the 4 major assumptions in Huna and takes his background in Health psychology to bring in a comprehensive and effective view on how to master yourself. A balanced approach of ancient and modern teachings. And these are MAJOR laws. For example, the Law of Dichotomies. EVERYTHING has a duality to it.The book gets a 4 because in some ways this isn't an easy read if you haven't been on your own path of self-development for very long. This isn't even a fun read. This isn't your typical I need to be inspired-feel-good-books. It's not. This is information presented as a tool, a how-to-process (meaning you can apply this info right now), aligning the all encompassing big three: Higher Self (God, Source whatever label works for you), Conscious Mind and Unconscious mind. Thoughts combined with action (Yoga). Therefore, this will challenge ALL of your perceptions of the what you thought you were.Other possible things may occur. It may help you to slow down and re-examine or even fine tune certain goals, dreams or even the direction you are going. He does go into topics relating to Jung and the persona, ego and conscious mind. So if you're not comfortable with these terms or more importantly do not have a comprehensive connection to the vocabulary then you may not get as much out of it the first go around.I know I'm going to read this a few more times.Here's the most powerful thing I'm getting from this information: you need to learn to incorporate all of them in your everyday life. The concepts mentioned are separated out like the Law of Creation, Law of Dichotomies and down the road he mentions the Law of Attraction. That's the tricky thing about knowledge when you attempt to organize it. (There is the idea of in NLP of freezing the process or making it a thing - nominalization. And yet action always needs to be applied with the knowledge.) When it's placed in a book format in written word we tend to believe we have to do it in a certain order, one at a time and what tends to happen is knowledge ends up sitting still on a shelf like a book and it feels like your progress is not moving. Sometimes there is no order, you need to be moving and this kind of knowledge is operating 24/7 whether you are awake or not.Like your body, when you breathe so many things happen at once. Your chest rises, the muscles in the chest move as well, the blood in your body is affected by the oxygen you take in. It happens all at once and it does it with or without your awareness.What makes any teaching powerful is your awareness. Being aware of the knowledge is now an opportunity to direct the (energy) the decisions you make with what you CHOOSE to incorporate into your life.Dr James also comes off as a regular person and can be funny too in his writing. The title of my review references his sense of humor. Truthfully, from where I stand this dude is aligned with who wants to be do and have. He conveys this in his book simply. He wants you find your path and be okay with it. He knows there are many ways to get there. What's more important to him is that you're okay with getting there. It's your path. Learn to own it. Love it. Walk it. And...he is a living example of excellence. And with or without my review he will continue to teach and write what is in his heart because it's the Call he Choose to answer. And, who he is on stage is who he is off stage. He calls that "unwavering congruency."I. Want. That. If that is something you want as well...definitely buy the book!Ahui ho (see you along the way) and Aloha!

If your normal daily sense of being and connection to the world around you leaves you feeling unstable, unsure, uncertain, and not in control, now is the time to change your situation. It's time for you to become "self-acutalized." With help you can find a path that can be religious, spiritual or psychological. Matthew B. James, MA, PhD has a guide that will help you "Find Your Purpose Master Your Path."If you are asking yourself, "What's the Point?" There is a chapter that covers this very topic. James introduces readers to Pono and Huna. Pono is described as a feeling of unwavering congruency in your action and being. Huna is described as empowerment or to empower. James explains that "we all think we're human beings, but we're actually a world of human doings." Each chapter has examples so that readers can better understand this complex way of thinking and living.James discusses how to master ones universe by taking the energy around you and funneling it and controlling it so that you can have a better sense of yourself. Take control of your career, relationships and your health and fitness by becoming Pono with the physical realm. We reap what we sow. If you are giving out bad feelings you will get them back. In other words, if you are a sad person you will continue to only see sorrow in the world. If you are a fearful person then fear will keep you from being who you truly want to be.There are different levels of your conscious mind. James puts it all together here and helps you realize your potential. This is a very complex system and way of thinking and being. Each chapter has questions that you can ask yourself so that you dig deep within and find your own answers. James wants you to consider letting go of the material things in your life and capture your spiritual self and take a path of being a better human being.

Great read very informative! It’s something to reread because you’ll always get something new to build on from your previous reading.

Grounded in learning ancient and modern and experience both personal and that others, Dr Matt gives us what we need to examine and sort our inner resources to take us where we want to go.