Humility, Honesty, Calmness and Respect appear a strong, welcome foursome. But how do we make a practical application? The first step is to join the person ‘on the street’ -- one who has no loyalty to any particular religion, philosophy or doctrine.

During the seminars I present, we go through a little ritual to symbolize this. The attendees stand up, draw an imaginary circle round their feet, and then step out of that circle signifying letting go of those philosophies. Of course it is only a ritual. Nobody can abandon deep-seated ideas in just a moment. The meaning is not to discard them altogether, but to refrain from rising up in passionate defense of them. Our inclination to pride, dishonesty and emotional outbursts will lose its grip on us because that which we would have wanted to defend has been laid aside. We now have no bone to pick, no axe to grind. There is a freedom this brings that is vital to a search such as ours.

Let us hold onto all four factors with a genuine desire to implement them. And they will provide the atmosphere that will take us the distance. No guarantees – just the best chance.