Labyrinth of the Spirit: The Process.

The Process	Beginning with insight, vistas open.
Value	Each model in the Labyrinth of the Spirit follows the rationale of the Process of Revelation, described below. Each seems different because each uses a vocabulary that applies to the concern the model addresses. When "What is the concern?" is more readily answered by one of the model names listed in the left hand column, access that model by linking to it. When the concern is the miracle of insight, then the Process below (It is Model #18) applies. Errors typical to a particular stage in the Process are listed in red. If an error is made, work on it by linking to the Model associated with that step. Whichever Model is current, it may lead to a another, which may lead to another, etc. Remember, however, though each Model may appear different, the Process is the same, and the ultimate goal, Revelation, remains. This is the value of the Process. Umberto Eco, in Foucault's Pendulum, said it well: "You cannot escape one infinite, I told myself, by fleeing to another; you cannot escape the revelation of the identical by taking refuge in the illusion of the multiple." Replacing infinite with definite seems more meaningful. Nevertheless, the illusion of the multiple pervades, perceived as real because many behaviors are modeled by it. Perceiving the identical is an insight into truth, which is a Miracle. Small insights into small truths promise the possibility of perceiving large truths, eventually ultimate truth. Unless prejudice prevails, Revelation is the goal.
Mechanics	The Process is adapted from pp. 8 to 15 of the "Manual for Teachers" of "A Course in Miracles®"*, and is Model #18. Each step of the Process is linked to the Model that expands that step, starting with 1. Insight, 2. Extension, and continuing to 18. Revelation. Errors characteristic to each step of the process are in red. The prime error, 18. Prejudice, misuses every stage of the Process by encouraging its characteristic error.
1. Insight	Miracle: An insight into truth is a miracle—a miracle that generates benefit. An insight into what seems true, but is true only in certain circumstances, eventually proves false. The characteristic error here is generalization, when truth in certain circumstances is generalized to be true in all circumstances. The generalization of error is more error.
2. Extension	Atonement: Atonement is the first assumption made from an insight that becomes "at one" with what the insight promises. The promise includes both personal and universal responsibility. Responsibility (or blame) projected externally is the personalization of being right, which actually excludes the self from responsibility. Assuming responsibility and extending it is inclusive. Forgiveness, for example, extends, heals, and includes. Truth is inclusive.
3. Objective	Period of undoing: The original insight produces the objective of measuring and modifying. Modification undoes old values. Basing objectives on false evidence undoes the Process.
4. Resource	Period of sorting out: This requires comparison, then sorting according to helpfulness. What is helpful can be identified as a resource. False comparison honors false help.
5. Knowledge	Period of relinquishment: Determining what is helpful requires relinquishment of the unhelpful. Knowing the difference is helpful itself. Emotional reasoning relinquishes this knowing.
6. Purpose	Period of settling down: This is symbolized by a period of rest and consolidation from which grows a new sense of purpose. "Give up what you do not want, and keep what you do" expresses purpose. Blind acceptance settles for misguided, mistaken purposes.
7. Relationship	Period of unsettling: Re-organization—creating new principles, new purpose, and new relationships—brings change, so is unsettling. Blaming change on the wrong action establishes false relationships, which really is unsettling. Ask: What is really wanted?
8. Communication	Period of achievement: New principles and new relationships create new ways to communicate. True communication is achievement.. But if these principles and relationships are based on pre-conceptions, true communication is not achieved.
9. Involvement	Honesty: Relationships require honesty as a trustworthy foundation for involvement . A shaky foundation is untrustworthy. False construction on a sound foundation is also untrustworthy.
10. Means	Tolerance: Honest construction is aware of the tolerance built into its components, without pre-judging how components "should" behave. It means accepting differences when building relationships. Invalid conjugation creates poor fits, making tolerance meaningless.
11. Method	Gentleness: Gentleness is a productive method. False credit is given to force, which is immediately productive, but eventually enables destruction.
12. Verification	Joy: Joy seems a too simple a definition for an emotion resulting from satisfaction. "Happiness" seems easier, but happiness verified binds to joy! Jump to conclusion that acts involve harm, pain, or sacrifice, and they become harmful, painful, or sacrificial—none of which are joyful.
13. Behavior	Defenseless: Joyful behavior is free of defense, but experience shows that an attack requires a defense. Is this true? If an attack meets no defense, can the attack continue? Using defense creates an attack where it may not have existed in the first place. This would be a false cause, but falsity is itself defenseless. Attack is defenseless, so it is a false cause. Defense witnesses and sometimes creates attacking behavior, but does not validate attack.
14. Leadership	Generous: Generosity needs definition. First: Only what is actually possessed can be given away. Second: If loss occurs to either giver or receiver, it is not generosity, but a trade or sacrifice. Third: True generosity is a gift that brings increase to both giver and receiver. Ask this leading question: Does the generosity in question satisfy these definitions? Wishful thinking can make greedy behavior appear generous—a common error.
15. Importance	Patience: The truly generous can be patient and wait, because generosity is eventually returned, often in ways unknown and unforeseen. False identification can credit behavior to an apparent, not actual, cause. Patiently waiting to perceive the actual is important.
16. Opportunity	Faith: Faith provides the opportunity to trust in a context that is honest, tolerant, gentle, joyful, defenseless, generous, and patient. Only faith that correlates with truth is worthy of commitment to opportunities. Avoid false contexts because they are unhelpful and unworthy of commitment. Appreciate and have faith in helpful contexts that provide opportunity.
17. Solution	Open-Minded: Open minds seek solutions. Closed minds deny solutions. Forgiveness is a quality of the open mind that resolves to see the truth of every situation. Since guilt and blame are not valued and retained, therefore not projected, judgments that prevent conclusions are let go. Denial closes the mind to possibilities.
18. Revelation	Revelation: Validation of a truth is a revelation that endows understanding. Open or closed minds, truth or falsity, equality or inequality, possibility and probability, solution and resolution, knowledge and wisdom, are all choices essential to the journey toward Revelation. Prejudice does not acknowledge the possibility of choice, avoiding any kind of revelation.
Self-direction	The Process, because it is expanded by the Models, is lengthy. Because of its style, it might be construed as too directive, and its gentle consistency may not be immediately apparent. However, since choice is always available, the Process is self-directed. Self-direction has real value when answering "What is the concern?". The user of the process determines their own meaningful path. Self-direction creates a personal labyrinth in which the goal is certain, but the route is discovered. Lack of self-direction leads into a maze of repeated mistakes and dead ends. Does self-direction have meaning? Well, the act of questioning requires conscious awareness, which proves that awareness exists by the asking of the question. Self-direction may choose other-direction, giving responsibility for both asking and answering the question away to some other. Giving responsibility away gives self-direction away. Ask again: Does self-direction have meaning? Turn the question around: Does meaning have self-direction? They are essential to one another, which is inclusion. Exclusion separates them, making self-direction meaningless. Want to make self-direction meaningless? Separate meaning from it, which is exclusion—it doesn't work. Self-direction has meaning. Different abilities and experiences make the acts of self-direction unique to each individual. The Labyrinth of the Spirit accommodates this uniqueness. Using the Process to its fullest potential is self-directed, which means self-determination.
Self- determination	A person in good spirits perceives the world differently than one depressed, and acts accordingly. Perceiving, feeling, and doing are all affected by the underlying attitude held at that moment. The Labyrinth of the Spirit uses the term "spirit of the moment" for that underlying attitude. What happens in the moment comes from an attitude either held for a long time or acquired recently. "It is done to us as we believe" means self-determination prevails.
Two Languages	The Labyrinth is built on two languages: the Will and the Mind. The first is the language of instinct, which describes feelings, attitudes and subsequent behavior. The second is the language of thought—rationale triggered by feelings that need fulfillment.
The Will	The will is the instinctive drive. The drive for survival, for example, is called the "will to live." In lesser terms it can be the will to have one’s way, the will to let go, or the need to be subject to a greater will. Drive seeks to fill needs, but the method used may hinder satisfying the need. Willpower triggers the desire for change. (Sometimes, the desire may be to not change. Then, behavior is explained very logically and reasonable-sounding, often made after the fact, not before.) When the need is not met, and the will actually desires change, the quality of mind is used to create satisfaction.
The Mind	The Mind, to establish reality, has developed numerous methods for proof, to varying degrees of success. Many, designed for a particular situation, are incomplete by being suitable to a narrow discipline, but are not generally trustworthy. It is true that the mind, subject to Willpower, often justifies behavior in a seeming logical, reasonable manner, cleverly hiding what is, basically, a mixed message, perverting language and making fallacious use of the quality of mind Reasonable, checkable, and reliable in many disciplines, the six-step, scientifically proven method used in the Labyrinth Mind models is called The Language of Proof.
Proof	Behavior may appear reasonable, but have results that prove its premises faulty. Sadly, sometimes the rigorous Language of Proof is used to support a faulty premise. However, perceiving falsity opens the door to reality, where proof undermines falsity and fortifies honesty and fairness. (Recent studies have indicated that people are more sensitive to fairness than logic. It is encouraging that what appears to be fair might be proven fair.)
Manifest Choice	Choice is the Will made manifest in three ways: mental, physical, and emotional. These manifestations are perceived and expressed differently in each. The Labyrinth does not specify the degree, how things were, are, or are supposed to be, or define what conclusions should be reached. These are self-determined. Much depends upon the rationality of the Process. Based on individual premises, each path is different, and choice, though not always apparent, is always available. Different viewpoints bring different perceptions, so individual awareness is different. Differences in awareness lead to different behavior and different choices. Revelation is still the goal.
Examples	Click Examples to review ways of using the Process.
	The Choice
	*A Course in Miracles, as presented here, is the interpretation and understanding of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the copyright holder of A Course in Miracles®, nor by any other persons or organizations, cited or implied.