PART I
How to Understand Yourself

9.MAKING TRANSITIONAL SLEEP WORK FOR YOU

Many systems devoted to re-education and self-mastery begin by stressing the following instructions for students to follow. Usually, suggestions for best results are absolute faith or belief in a system, the observance of special mental and/or physical disciplinary practices, abundant will power, self-confidence, and persistent effort. Often prominent figures such as Socrates, Lincoln, Washington, Edison, Gandhi and others will be cited as examples of those who have achieved their renown through similar mental practices and self-discipline. Generally, with little more offered in the way of positive evidential proof and an im­posing roster of world-famous people no longer living, the stu­dent's enthusiasm wanes and in time disappears completely. If you have had experiences like this writer's, you have practiced a variety of systems and methods purporting to lead to truth and enlightenment, only to find them all top heavy in theory but abysmally weak in application and results. Many seekers become frustrated by the same problems all too often, in their self-help crusades. They become discouraged when precise goals, com­plete with well-defined methods of achievement, are not clearly outlined. Also, actual living proof that these methods really work is lacking, and they fail to produce the promised results.

Perhaps for the first time the elements contributing to this frustrating situation have been eliminated. Not only are human weaknesses explained, but the precise measures necessary for their correction are clearly outlined and easy to follow. Perhaps you have witnessed what research is accomplishing in the field of human engineering. Perhaps you have read how people like yourself are erasing tensions, building powerful personalities, and improving their lives and health. These people you have read about in "The Miracle of Transitional Sleep" are not last century's greats or folks you could never hope to meet, but your friends and neighbors, interesting everyday citizens who are improving their lives across the length and breadth of the nation.

The transitional-sleep system of self-attainment is a radical departure from past methods, since will power, self-confidence, and faith are not demanded of the student as a prerequisite to success. It matters not if the will power is weak and faith in one­self and humanity is at a low ebb. It makes little difference if one is discouraged with his past efforts to improve himself. Indeed, in the beginning, belief in transitional sleep is relatively unim­portant. Faith, courage, belief, and will power are never de­manded of students, for, as we have explained, it is these very qualities (the seven keys to power) that are weak and must be turned on before worth-while improvements in any field can be expected. Many of our most successful students began their pro­grams with very little faith in what transitional sleep might do for them. The only request ever made of those using transitional-sleep methods and taped programs is that they listen to the tapes and follow the simple, outlined procedures that time and research have proved so effective.

Suppose, for example, you lack confidence and will power and decide to begin a transitional-sleep program to strengthen these two keys to power. Whether you begin your program with strong belief has little bearing on your ultimate accomplishments, as long as you continue with your scheduled tapes. It is impossible to listen to transitional-sleep tapes repeatedly and remain un­affected by the messages. Listen to the will power and self-confidence tapes, and very soon imperceptible changes begin to occur—changes in the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you believe. These dramatic alterations in your personality will occur quite normally and naturally, yet they will be very real and evident to others as well as to you. Doubt in yourself and in your ability will simply melt away, leaving not a trace be­hind, and soon it will seem strange that you could have ever seriously doubted your ability or your power to achieve. Changes and dramatic improvements like these result from all the transi­tional-sleep tapes in much the same manner. One has only to listen in order to achieve results that are amazing and almost unbelievable.

The seven keys to power are your seven tools for dynamic living. If your automobile had but seven vital parts, all in excel­lent condition and capable of continued, unified performance, you could undertake an extensive journey with reasonable as­surance of success. Your car, when in excellent condition, has potential power, yet it cannot make the trip alone; it needs your initiative and guidance even to reach the street. It is much the same with the seven keys to mind power. Each must be in good repair because they are the tools for all human accomplishment. But, powerful as they are, they still are only tools; they do not guide themselves; they demand your direction. Power itself does not succeed automatically. It demands intelligent guidance. Destructive minds are not weak minds; they are not balanced minds, to be sure, but they are nonetheless powerful when di­rected into negative unconstructive channels through wrong be­liefs. Power can destroy as well as create. Up to this point we have concerned ourselves with the rehabilitation of the seven keys responsible for power. The next step is the scientific manipu­lation of the full force of this power in order to direct the unified action of the seven keys into the channels leading to a dynamic personality, health, happiness, and peace of mind.

Prerecorded tapes are developed in a special way. When re­sults from research on any subject is complete, special recordings are then made employing the techniques and suggestions that proved most effective during the research period. Again tests are run using the new recordings, and from these findings standard prerecorded tapes are developed for general use.

SELECTING THE TAPES FOR BEST RESULTS

Students differ in age, aptitude, ability, and past experience. One person may have an excellent memory (Key No. 3) and lack creative ability (Key No. 4). Another may have ambition (Key No. 5) yet lack the ability to concentrate (Key No. 2). Many with excellent qualifications are failures today due to weaknesses of the sixth and seventh keys, self-confidence and will power. Again, others need the benefits of all seven power recordings.

In outlining your program you may find, as have many others, that a complete over-all rejuvenation of the entire seven keys is your best assurance for ultimate success. Such a basic program strengthens and coordinates your personality building blocks and leaves nothing to chance.

HOW TO BEGIN

Regardless of what your personal goals for transitional sleep may be, you must first be "conditioned." Transitional-sleep con­ditioning guides the consciousness from full awareness, in the normal waking state, down to the transitional-sleep state, where it is stabilized and held suspended until the recording is finished. Our references to "sleep" in the conditioning process must never be confused with natural sleep, for during natural sleep you are unconscious. While it is true that material may be accurately recorded in the subconscious mind while one is in natural sleep, the percentage of those who are able to recall it accurately upon awakening is relatively small.

Most of us have considerable difficulty in "stilling the mind." As you begin listening to the conditioning tape, select a time when you will not be disturbed, for even slight distractions in­hibit relaxation by generating fleeting thoughts. Transitional-sleep conditioning requires relaxation, concentration, and a co­operative use of your imaginative ability. While listening to the conditioning tape, the first thing to consider is relaxation. You should be physically comfortable, and the best way to achieve this is to assume the same position that you do while sleeping. Lie down with your arms at your sides, with your head in a com­fortable position. A small pillow should help you to relax and breathe easier. Make sure that you have eliminated any distract­ing conditions, such as clothing that is too tight or uncomfortable, or hand or foot in a position that might lead to circulation being cut off. You need a quiet environment. Concentration can be ac­complished best when outside noises are at a minimum. Room temperature is important to the extent that it should be normal and comfortable to you—neither extremely warm nor too cool— and drafts should not enter the room. A normally lighted or slightly darkened room is desirable; direct light upon the eyes should be avoided.

Try to think of nothing but the voice recorded on the tape and, as you follow instructions, you will discover the suggestions to be pleasant and relaxing. Suggestions of sleep will be repeated often, but please remember the sleep referred to is transitional sleep, not unconscious sleep. Do not expect to experience any new or different sensations for there are none to experience. You will notice only the usual sensations you have experienced every night of your life as you drift downward, level by level, into natural sleep. Transitional-sleep conditioning merely conducts the awareness down through these various stages to the desired level (transitional-sleep state) and maintains communication until the termination of the conditioning tape.

When you rationalize or expect to experience something new or queer or strange, you defeat your own purpose by "thinking," and thus lengthen the time required for conditioning. May we repeat, you cannot "watch" yourself go to sleep. As you continue listening to the conditioning tape you will at times become aware of having dozed for a moment or perhaps several minutes. This is perfectly normal and is a natural occurrence when in the transitional-sleep state. You may discover that you have ap­parently taken two or three naps, and after repeatedly hearing the tape you may even sleep through most of it. This is good. You may find amnesia has shut out much of the material, most of the time. It is normal, too, due to distractions or nervousness, occasionally to be aware of the entire recording. And if you "slept" through 90 per cent of the recording and awakened at the count of two or perhaps five, or at the suggested time on tape, it proves that you were not in natural sleep but in the highly sug­gestible transitional-sleep state!

The time required for conditioning varies, but most people are well conditioned within two weeks. The conditioning process is recorded on both sides of the tape. Spend at least one week listening to Side No. 1 before progressing to Side No. 2. Condi­tioning is not a bedtime tape. It may be played any time during the day or evening, but both Sides No. 1 and No. 2 have endings that awaken the listener on cue. The goal of conditioning is to induce profound mental and physical relaxation while at the same time maintaining rapport with the recorded voice. Once conditioning is complete, the student may expect optimum bene­fits from any transitional-sleep tape or program. Continued use of the conditioning tape soon trains the mind and body to relax quickly and completely, and stabilizes consciousness at the exact level of perception best suited for subconscious communication.

MILESTONES IN CONDITIONING

After listening to Side No. 1 of the conditioning recording for a few times, it is well to begin checking your progress. The results you will notice are:

1. A feeling of drowsiness that increases with each playing of the tape.
2. The awareness of having dozed for a moment or perhaps several minutes.
3. You may next have the feeling of having slept through por­tions of the tape.
4. Within a week or less you begin to experience amnesia regularly for about the last half or two thirds of the tape.
5. Many find that at about this point they recall very little of die material on the tape, yet they awaken on cue during the awakening count of five at the end of the tape.

It is not necessary to experience amnesia throughout the entire tape in order to be well conditioned, but the ability to experi­ence amnesia consistently for parts of the material and awaken during the final count is the best yardstick for determining your progress. As soon as you consistently experience amnesia for most of the tape you may alternate between Sides No. 1 and 2 thereafter. A period of two weeks altogether should suffice for the majority. The sole object of conditioning is to induce re­laxation quickly and easily, thereby making the mind receptive. The effects of suggestions are cumulative, and it is practically impossible to listen to the conditioning tape for two weeks and -not be adequately conditioned. All transitional-sleep tapes are prefaced with nearly ten minutes of conditioning material to assure maximum depth of transitional sleep. Conditioning is the key to transitional sleep and opens the door to the subconscious mind. After conditioning is complete you are ready to begin any phrase of self-improvement, and you may expect excellent results from any listed tape.

Frequent questions arise concerning the playing of tapes. Many ask if it is advisable to combine health and personality tapes, or if sequence playing is more important, or if harmful re­sults may ensue from playing tapes indiscriminately or out of sequence. It is impossible to experience harmful effects from any tape listed in this book, regardless of the combination of tapes used or their sequence, for all recordings are of a positive nature. All are designed to reduce basic negative causes, and none are aimed toward the elimination of the symptoms or effects.

Certain tapes produce results faster when played in logical sequence. The two courses, Developing Personal Success and Developing and Maintaining Perfect Health, are constructed on the three-phase-concept principle and produce optimum benefits when played in order. Best results are also obtained from the seven power recordings when played in sequence. How long should one devote to each of the power recordings before pro­gressing to the next? There is no set time.

Each person is differ­ent, and the length of time students devote to each of the keys varies radically. We consider the power course of seven tapes a three-month program, based on the national average of student members. This allows approximately two weeks for each tape before progressing to the next. Since results from all transitional-sleep tapes are cumulative, many start over again after complet­ing the Power program or replay the ones they feel will be most beneficial. For example, if you are interested in power tapes Nos. 3, 5, and 6, you would begin by playing No. 3, then No. 5, and then No. 6 in that order for best results. Of course, it is possible that you are one of those rare individuals with a mind so well balanced that power recordings do not interest you. In that case, you are equipped by nature for success and are ready for the advanced Developing Personal Success course as soon as you become conditioned.

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