Power Is Not Force

Barry Long distinguishes between force and power – what the world usually calls power is really only force. Force belongs to movement, reaction, emotion, ego, and existence itself: anger, depression, discontent, wanting, swearing, self-judgment, and emotional disturbance are all forms of force because they create effects in oneself and reactions in others. Even ordinary worldly energies, like speech or electricity, are described as force rather than true power. By contrast, true power has no reaction in it. It does not disturb, push, leak, or agitate – and it certainly does not destroy. The spiritual life is the gradual giving up of force in all its forms, not through suppression but through understanding. As a person becomes inwardly stiller, they begin to relinquish anger, depression, wanting, discontent, and aggressiveness, because each of these produces disturbance and keeps them from truth. Even the words one uses matter, because words can reinforce inner habits of force. Stillness is the essential path: the less movement there is inwardly, the more power there is. In this view, spiritual maturity means becoming quietly present, undisturbing, and free of negative reactions. Stillness is the way to power. ~ Source: This extract is taken from the first of three recordings from the 1 Day Meeting, recorded on 12 January 1997 in Coolangatta, Gold Coast, Australia. The full meeting set is currently being digitised and will soon be available to stream through The Barry Long Archive. A link to the complete recording will be added here as soon as it is available. ~ From the archive: 📃 Contain Your Self – https://www.barrylong.org/archive/art... – Do what you've got to do … Energy should be contained so that you have the power in you...The power to not have to worry - to not be anxiously concerned about anything anymore. The power to just have everything come to you that you need, without you having to expend any effort you're not moved to expend. 📃 The Power in Meditation – https://www.barrylong.org/archive/art... – For the truth is real power, the power over yourself. 📃 – Profound Power – https://www.barrylong.org/archive/art... – But I can't use this power for my own selfish ends, in the way that people and nations use fortuitous change to force situations to their own advantage. That is the way of force, which we are all familiar with in the world and domestic scene. There the ground is laid for future quarrelling, war and misery. ~ About The Barry Long Archive: The Barry Long Archive is a repository of over 20 years of Barry Long’s teachings. The archive currently features more than 350 videos, the full podcast, and over 1500 audio recordings on the way – these will be added over time as the archive continues to grow. The archive offers two subscription options: monthly and yearly, with the longer plan offering concessionary rates. The subscription includes unlimited streaming of all available content for the duration of your access. Link: https://www.barrylong.org/archive Subscription: https://www.barrylong.org/subscriptions ~ Barry Long was a spiritual teacher who taught internationally from the 1980's up until his death in 2003. His spiritual teaching is grounded in practicality and addresses all aspects of modern day life. http://www.barrylong.org   / barrylongquotes     / barrylongnews     / barrylong.truerealandhere