Individualism - The doctrine of following a personal conviction even when it conflicts with what happens to be fashionable or poltically correct. An example of what individualism is not can be found in the following dialogue:
Mother (to daughter): Oh look, you've lost an earring!
Daughter: No it's quite deliberate, i only wear one earring, it's a way of expressing my individualism.
M. (taking off earring): There, now i'm an individualist too!
D: No Mummy, you've got it all wrong - it should be the _left_ ear!

Indoctrination - A process by which people are assisted in becoming convinced of something contrary to logic, common sense and/or their own observations. The effectiveness of this is seen by the impossibility of convincing the victim that he/she has been indoctrinated, and it is better not to attempt this. Indoctrination of an entire group or population can lead to an unliveable situation for a visitor who has not been subjected to the same indoctrination.

Influence - Influence others by example and, if necessary, explanation; not by criticism or sanctions.

Initiation - A ceremony or other ritual by which an individual is admitted to a group, sect or other organization and therefore makes his/her identity subservient to that of the group and effectively prevents further progress on the path to Transition other than in a manner prescribed by the group. If confronted by anything which looks remotely like an initiation ceremony, it is recommended therefore to flee as rapidly as possible.

Intuition - Spontaneous awareness as a source of, often esoteric, knowledge the validity of which is without question. See also revelation and synchronicity.

Journey - In the context of this site a journey is always a spiritual journey. Can be compared with a walk in the hills, in which one aims at the highest point in view thinking thereby to attain the summit, only to find on reaching it that there are much higher hills still to be conquered. In this sense if you think you are nearing the end of your spiritual journey the chances are you are not far from the beginning, or perhaps have not even started.

Just In Time - A term familiar from commercial logistics, used to describe the manner in which a CSF presents a solution to a pressing problem.

Life style - Life style rules are an important part of the path to Transition, but should be self-imposed rather than imposed by some external authority. This means that exceptions are always possible when necessary in order to obey higher rules.

Love - A total acceptance of the worth of another sentient being. It cannot be wrong for one such being to love another; however, the means of expression of this love may need to be adapted to the prevailing circumstances.

Map - A representation of the various routes which could be taken on a journey; not to be confused with the routes themselves. In the same way lots of books and other materials can be seen as maps for one's spiritual journey, but studying these should not be confused with actually taking the journey.

Marriage - A custom ensuring the enslavement of the male, which gives irony to the idea of a female emancipation movement. The male in the average marriage has all the freedom of a dog being taken for a walk - he may sniff here and there, but as soon as he wanders too far from the beaten track or into a dangerous area, one tug on the lead is enough to bring him back into line.

Messengers - Piers' term for those who appear in our lives from time to time in order to tell us something about ourselves or to point the way further. They may be recognized by the following characteristics:

• a sense of instant recognition at the first meeting
• a mystery or vagueness about their origins or what they are doing in your life
• an easy contact especially about deep, spiritual matters
• some (significant) connection with a religious or spiritual organization or place
• they disappear equally mysteriously when their task is done

Millennium - A date fairly soon, on which (apart from the fact that most computer systems are supposed to go wrong) a golden age is likely to begin. The first of January, 2000, or 2001, are possible candidates based on purely mathematical considerations - by investigating astrological and other arcane sources a variety of dates has been proposed, and somewhere round November 2012 sounds a good bet. See the Piers view of what the millennium might be like.

Miracles - Like other manifestations of Spirit, should only be invoked in pursuit of serious, ethical goals and when a conventional approach is not likely to give the desired result: not for trivial or egoic purposes, and certainly not as party tricks or showing off.

Money - Often described as the root of all evil (though in fact it was the "love of money" in the original quote); many attempts have been made to design a moneyless society. All very worthy, but an impossible goal - for example, money, or something like it, is an ideal means of fulfilling the following functions:

• Expressing the relative value of goods and services
• Avoiding undisciplined use and discarding of materials
• Ensuring, without compulsion, that unattractive labour is carried out

Last updated 8 January 1998

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