environment环境

In The Early Sessions Book 2, Seth gives a deep and multidimensional account of the concept of "environment." He breaks down the traditional view that sharply opposes the self to the external environment, pointing out that environment is in essence an extension of the self, projected outward and shaped by the individual's consciousness and psychological structure. The following is a summary of the core discussion of "environment" in this book:

1. Environment as an extension of the self and an artificial division

Seth points out that there are gentle, barely perceptible gradations between the self and the so-called "notself," and that the concept of "environment" as understood by psychologists comes very close to what he means ^[1]. Because the individual can truly be aware only of his or her own creations, "you do indeed create your own environment, and the environment in turn acts upon you" ^[2]. For the sake of simplicity, Seth includes within the definition of "environment" those portions close to the self whose forms are still vague but which are still called "notself" ^[2]. Since environment is created by the self, "the environment is an extension of the self" ^[2]. On the physical level, the division between the "subject" that creates the environment and the "object environment" that is created is artificial, yet it is an indispensable step in the individual's training in "manipulating energy" on this level ^[2].

2. Psychological structure, expectation, and the physical construction of environment

The physical environment does not appear out of nowhere, but is founded upon psychological structure. Seth explains that the individual's intuitive understanding, psychological knowledge, and manipulation of basic psychological structures determine the effectiveness of his or her material constructions, and these material constructions then form the environment ^[3].

1. The role of expectation: The individual's "expectation" plays a crucial role in the construction of the physical environment, directly influencing and shaping the actual world one creates for oneself ^[4][3].
2. The continuity and consistency of environment: The shape of the physical environment is not static, but an individual's environment often presents a consistency of elements and a characteristic pattern of appearance ^[5]. This sense of environmental continuity arises from the individual's characteristic way of translating basic "psychological structures" into physical structures. These psychological structures possess definite solidity, depth, and mass in psychological perspective, and can form innumerable gestalt patterns, which are then physically constructed ^[5].

3. Environment as a "perspective" rather than a static object

Seth emphasizes that environment is not a single static object with a fixed shape and form that one can carry around, but a "perspective" or "relationship within an individual perspective" that exists in relation to the individual ^[5]. Physically, an individual can change his or her so-called physical environment merely by changing position ^[5].

4. Interdependence and the expansion of consciousness toward an "extended environment"

On the physical level, the dependence of the body and the self upon the planetary environment is obvious, and there is a close connection between the personal physical self and the chemical environment of the non-self ^[6]. Not only human beings, but all life jointly maintains and renews the construction of this physical universe ^[6]. The chemical, biological, electrical, and psychic functions of the self are directly connected with the entire physical universe ^[1]. Yet the self, out of fear and the habit of physical survival, often erects arbitrary boundaries to limit itself ^[1]. In fact, the influence of any particular self is boundless, extending not only into the physical camouflage universe but also into realities unrestricted by space and time ^[1]. Seth points out that humanity at present is like early humans huddled in caves: although it has learned to explore the physical universe, it has not yet learned to break through arbitrarily designated self-boundaries and move toward an "extended environment" without spatial or temporal limits ^[6]. This advance toward an extended environment does not mean the annihilation of the self, but rather the expansion of consciousness on the level of "value fulfillment" ^[6].

In The Early Sessions Book 8, Seth gives a profound account of the concept of "environment." He points out that the material environment we perceive is not an objective existence independent of us, but a direct extension and materialized embodiment of inner psychic states. First, environment is an extension of the self and a materialization of personality. Seth states clearly, "The environment is simply an extension of the self" ^[1][2]. All objects in the environment are actually part of the body or of the materialized personality ^[1][2]. People usually arbitrarily regard the personal physical image as the outer boundary of the self ^[2], but in fact personality exists not only inwardly, but also extends outward in ways people do not see ^[2]. Therefore, people's concept of "ownership" of objects arises from the fact that these objects carry strong inner emotions and psychic charges ^[2]. Second, the material environment is an immediate, non-symbolic reflection of the inner environment. The material environment constantly reflects the nature of the "inner environment" in its own way, and this reflection is by no means symbolic, but an extremely real, immediate interaction ^[3][4]. Any slight change in psychic and emotional existence immediately changes the nature of the material environment ^[3][4]. For example, a room may seem comfortable and cozy at two o'clock, yet twenty minutes later suddenly seem crowded, uncomfortable, and cluttered. This is not an illusion, but because the occupants have changed the relationships existing within the material environment and have physically perceived this change ^[4]. This physical change is a direct reflection of inner psychic and psychological change ^[4]. Third, the inner generation and maintenance mechanism of environment. The maintenance and appearance of the everyday physical environment depend upon continuous inner operations and automatic transformations, processes that are as natural and necessary to human physical survival as breathing ^[3]. Minute material changes (such as subtle differences in color, texture, and degree) are directly caused by unperceived minute inner changes ^[3]. In this process, the physical body assists these transformations through chemical interactions, subtle changes in electromagnetic balance, and temperature changes ^[3]. Thoughts are transformed into inner images, heat images, and intuitive forms, and finally condense and materialize into concrete physical materials, and these materialized materials themselves are also conscious and alive ^[1]. Finally, the psychic nature of space and cooperative creation. On the psychic level, spatial relationships can be explained in terms of "intensities." A strong intensity of a particular quality can produce the feeling of crowding or lack of space ^[4]. In addition, the maintenance of environment has a "cooperative element"; every living consciousness plays its part in maintaining the environment, and the environment in turn nourishes consciousness ^[4]. On a broader level, selves merge with one another to form a "corporate self," yet each unit self retains its uniqueness and jointly participates in continuous, original creation ^[2].

In The Early Sessions Book 9, Seth gives a profound account of the concept of "environment." He breaks down the traditional understanding of environment as a merely objective background, pointing out that environment is in essence an extension of consciousness and personality, an inner and outer space shaped by the individual's beliefs, expectations, subconscious choices, and telepathic interactions.

1. Environment as an extension of personality and a "mysterious arrangement"

Seth points out that environment is by no means some medium in which people happen to appear, but rather "extensions of your people" ^[1]. He depicts environment as "a mysterious arrangement that a particular personality projects upon the surrounding world" ^[1]. Just as people reveal their character through the clothes they choose, so too, subconsciously, a person chooses his or her environment and projects his or her character into it ^[1]. Therefore, a person's deepest basic tone, beneath all fluctuating emotions, is reflected in the environment. In the analogy of painting, this personality tone is presented in the "background" representing the environment through color, through multiple layers of glazing (representing layer upon layer of superimposed moods), and through the fluidity or rigidity of line (reflecting the rigidity of character) ^[1].

2. The individual's dominance and manifestation over environment

Seth emphasizes that the individual should master the environment rather than be overwhelmed by it. In artistic creation and psychological expression, the figure should stand out from the environment, which psychologically represents "the triumphant rise of the individual personality" ^[1]. As background, the environment should not submerge the subject, but should be regarded as an extension of the individual, displaying the personality's shaping power over the surrounding world ^[1].

3. Beliefs, expectations, and telepathy jointly shape environment

The physical changes and specific events of the environment derive directly from the beliefs, expectations, and telepathic interactions of the people within it. Seth states clearly: "Expectations are the bricks with which you build reality, and this rule has no exceptions" ^[2]. Specifically, changes in the environment can occur in the following ways:

1. Changes in belief and telepathy: For example, Leonard's return changed the environment to some extent (bringing about the mowing of the lawn). This was not accidental, but because of his belief and the constructive telepathic suggestions he sent to the landlady, which she received ^[2].
2. The interaction of psychological states: Events in the environment are woven together by multiple psychological dynamics. The landlady herself was highly suggestible, insecure, and defensive against threats, while the resentment generated by the tenants was sensed by her and regarded as a threat. These complex psychological interactions ultimately manifested concretely in the external environment (such as whether the lawn was mowed, rent increases, and other events) ^[2].
3. The subconscious operation of familiar attitudes: People often glide over negative attitudes so familiar to them that they fail to notice them, and these attitudes (such as reactions to rent increases) likewise operate beneath the surface, shaping the individual's reality and environment through expectation ^[2].

In summary, at this stage in The Early Sessions Book 9, Seth defines "environment" as a highly dynamic, personalized projection. It is not a dead material space external to the person, but a "mental extension" woven and continually changed by the individual's subconscious, beliefs, expectations, and the invisible telepathic network among people ^[2][1].