tal guidelines for our survival. While ultimately our Maker will remain a mystery to us, when we connect with it
on a personal level, we gain valuable insight into its terms and conditions for our existence. Our Maker has pro
vided each of us with a powerful imagination. By utilizing it, we can recognize our Maker’s true intentions and
use them to our further our missions. Because each of us is unique, we each have a unique relationship with Na
ture. Therefore, we must each connect with Nature alone, without relying on our fellow human beings’ interpre
tations of how to carry out Nature’s mandates.
What if an individual is incapable of recognizing the mandates of Nature by virtue of a mental or physi
cal disability? It is an unfortunate and bitter reality of life that an individual born with a disability is destined to
struggle more than the rest of us and to depend more upon the mercy of fellow human beings just to survive.
We are obligated to remember that Nature has created—for its own reasons and purposes—those of us with dis
abilities. We must also remember that lucky people born with few or no disabilities have the added responsibili
ty and duty to care for and protect our less fortunate human counterparts. Rendering assistance to a less
fortunate individual without expecting any kind of reward is the most refined form of human behavior.
What of those of us who are not confident in our understanding of our Maker, Nature? When we are com
fortable with ourselves, we can rest assured that our interpretation of our Maker’s rules is as good as or better
than that of other people. Comparing notes with other people about this issue is tantamount to the blind leading
the blind. Although the majority of us instinctively understand the rules our Maker has designated, many of us
do not like them. Thus, we try to ignore them or interpret them to our liking. A person who is willing to recog
nize, accept, and implement Nature’s fundamental rules and regulations without manipulation will have fewer
problems in life. For instance, if Nature has provided a person with a healthy body, according to Nature, it is
that person’s primary duty to take good care of that body if it is expected it to serve the person well. Is it diffi
cult to understand this fundamental rule of our Maker? No. Yet many people disrespect their bodies in more
ways than one and take their health for granted.
One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand, for example, that the lungs are designed for spe
cific purposes—to provide vital elements such as oxygen to the body and to remove unwanted toxic gases such as carbon dioxide from the body. Yet, in spite of warning labels and the possibility of arrest, people in cultures
the world over continue to smoke poisons such as tobacco, marijuana, and crack cocaine, which harm their bod
ies and, often, their chances of success in the world. Why? Many people find ingesting chemicals soothing or
thrilling to the mind, and they are less inclined to pay attention to the long-term effects these substances have on
the body. Similarly, people who overeat focus on the pleasure they derive from eating food rather than paying
attention to their physical health. Sensible eating is another fundamental rule of our Maker. Most of us under
stand this fact but are unwilling to follow it because it is not to our liking. People often indulge in behavior
whose reward is immediate gratification rather than paying attention to the long-term effects of such behavior.
In addition to food and chemical substances, power, prestige, and privilege are major factors that corrupt
people and prompt them to manipulate Nature’s ground rules. These three p’s are indeed appealing and enticing,
especially in the political and corporate arenas. Acts of political corruption and corporate greed are purported by
none other than the elite—the well-educated, sophisticated, and intelligent—members of society. These perpe
trators need no lessons in Nature’s mandates. They understand the rules all too well, but they have chosen to
ignore them, perhaps because they see themselves as exempt from such moral regulations. However, one of the
fundamental rules of Nature is that we must not hurt others for explicit advantage. Similarly, Nature forbids us
from hurting ourselves, for when people do not care about hurting themselves, how can they truly care whether
they hurt others? Unless we respect ourselves, we will be incapable of respecting others.
Individuals, such as terrorists, who commit atrocities in the name of God, are the worst kind of cowardly
barbarians. They claim they are doing God’s work to make this world a better place, but they are motivated not
by Nature’s mandates but by their own agendas, causing tremendous damage to others and to this world. De
spite their declaration of holy work, such people—like all of us—will be held accountable for their actions. By
the same token, their followers who may not have directly committed any violence will be held equally responsi
ble for blindly supporting these individuals. Our Maker never bends or alters its mandates of survival to accom
modate anyone.
In reality, it is not difficult for an average person to understand Nature’s straightforward, fundamental
terms and conditions, but it is not so simple to follow them. Our Maker has given us the freedom and privilege to define our missions and choose our goals in life, but it holds us accountable for following the path that it has
laid out for every goal we choose. If we attempt to reach our goals but fail to take responsibility for our actions,
not only do we suffer a great deal, but the world also suffers. Even though we are Nature’s own imperfect speci
mens, we cannot expect our Maker to come to our rescue when we make mistakes. Nature is an unfettered, rigid,
and perfect force. What irony—that we exist as an imperfection within the perfection that is Nature.
The principle is clear: we can accept Nature’s terms and utilize our talents wisely to make the most of
our limited time on earth, or we can attempt to live carefree, exciting lives on our own terms and hope for the
best. Unfortunately, most people opt for the latter choice and are rudely awakened when faced with the conse
quences of their decisions and actions. Nature applies the law of cause and effect across the board without ex
ception. A clever few explore a third option: they accept and abide by the laws of Nature that appeal to them
and ignore those that don’t, hoping to lead a healthy, happy life. The truth of the matter is that we cannot break
the laws of Nature and spend life behaving just as we please and expect to come out ahead. Nature’s mandates
forbid it.
At times, we might feel that certain rules of Nature are unfair. As has been established, Nature does not
concern itself with what is fair or unfair on human terms. When we meet our Maker, we are free to present a list
of grievances. But there will very likely be a long line with no sympathetic ear at the end of it. Human beings
do not have the luxury of taking action based solely on our likes and dislikes. We must instead base our actions
on what is and what is not in our best interest. Consider, for example, the two most common self-inflicted prob
lems that face affluent societies (such as the United States)—alcoholism and obesity. An alcoholic who wishes
to tackle his addiction has two choices. The first is based on his terms, which are fraught with cheap excuses
and explanations such as:
1. My body craves alcohol due to its genetic disposition, making it impossible for me to quit.
2. I enjoy the effects of alcohol on my psyche—it is soothing, comforting, and relaxing. Even though
I’ve gotten traffic tickets for driving while intoxicated, and my drinking has disrupted my home life,
work performance, and finances, I’ll try to reduce my alcohol consumption, but I am not willing to
cut it out of my life. 3. Many of my friends can control their liquor consumption, so I can, too.
These individuals are trying to have their cake and eat it, too. They break every law of Nature in attempt to
reach their goals of comfort and ease, only to fail miserably in the end.
If you are tuned in to Nature, it will teach you valuable lessons at every step of your life. Brilliant indi
viduals learn such lessons the easy way; intelligent people learn them the hard way; and ignorant people never
learn any lessons and blame the world for their misery. Learning lessons from Nature is not only a gratifying
experience, but also a humbling one. An alcoholic who is committed to cleaning up his act must follow the laws
of Nature, which dictate:
1. We must acknowledge that ultimately we are responsible for bringing any scourge into our lives—
not our genetics or environment.
2. Nature will accept no excuse or explanation for human inability or unwillingness to take proper cor
rective measures. It holds us responsible for our actions and dispenses consequences accordingly.
3. It is impossible to control an addiction to our liking. We must instead conquer the addiction by ac
ing any questions. The recovering alcoholic may miss alcohol for a short period of time, but he or
she, once having accepted Nature’s mandate, will never have to face strong urges to indulge in alco
hol again.
4. Nature requires that we make adjustments in our temperament, disposition, expectations, and life
style to succeed in beating an addiction permanently.
5. Alcohol might have helped an alcoholic to relax, to unwind from a hard day’s work, to be more cre
ative, or to enjoy a good social life. But in return it demands an individual’s soul. No one should sell
his soul for any kind of benefit—mental, material, or monetary. In order to retrieve her soul, an ad
dict must stop caring for her addiction and command it to exit her life permanently. 6. There is no free ride. Nature dictates that we must give something to get something back in life.
When we give up an addiction, we are giving up the pleasure, thrill, or comfort in return for our
health, peace of mind, and prosperity.
7. The philosophy of reincarnation characterizes alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and other addictive substanc
es as devils. Whether we see these things as devils on a literal or symbolic level, we must remember
that bargaining with a devil will never work out to our advantage.
8. As no two human beings are identical, no two addicts are identical. The bond between addict and
addiction is defined by the individual and not by the substance. Each alcoholic must first understand
the reasons for drinking and the need to drink. He or she must then design corrective measures that
will suit his or her mental disposition and lifestyle. Only then will it be possible to renounce the ad
diction forever.
Similarly, the overweight among us may offer cheap excuses and explanations for their problem such as slow
metabolism, time constraints, or unwilling to part with favorite foods. We look for shortcuts—appetite suppres
sants and fad diets—the first indication that our desire to maintain a healthy weight is not a commitment, but
wishful thinking. If we are truly committed to maintaining a healthy weight forever, the laws of Nature dictate:
1. Food is primarily nutritional fuel for our bodies and not an emotional pet.
2. Our relationship with food must be determined by the body’s need for fuel rather than emotional
needs. Some people burn more calories per day while others burn fewer. Through trial and error, we
learn our bodies’ caloric and nutritional needs. Then we are free to select the type and quantity of
food that also results in mental satisfaction.
3. Ultimately, caloric balance is a simple equation between input and output. When we eat more calo
ries than our bodies burn, we gain weight; when we eat fewer calories, we lose weight; when we eat
just the right amount, we maintain weight. We must resist turning this simple law of nature into a
complex mathematical or chemical puzzle. 4. Our bodies need fuel on a daily basis. Therefore, those of us who tend to use food in ways other
than as Nature intended must be vigilant and monitor why we eat, what we eat, when we eat, where
we eat, and how much we eat for the rest of our lives. It is a difficult task, but those of us who strug
gle with obesity can’t escape it.
5. Our bodies need physical activity, and exercise makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Set
aside at least thirty minutes a day or 3.5 hours a week for some form of physical fitness routine. Re
member, the more weight we have on our bodies, the more difficult it is to exercise. We must avoid
the catch-22 excuse—that we cannot possibly exercise until we lose some weight, and that we can
not lose weight until we exercise. The bottom line is that without an exercise plan we can neither
lose weight nor maintain proper weight.
6. Whether a prominent or ordinary citizen of the world, managing a healthy weight has to be a daily,
ongoing ritual forever. The sooner we embrace this concept, the sooner it will become a comfortable
routine.
Let’s consider another example to illustrate how Nature’s mandates work in our lives—raising a family. Raising
a family is an enormous challenge for all involved. If the trials of family life are taken in stride, it can also be a
wonderful experience. When we entertain the idea of raising a family, there are many things to consider before
hand:
1. It is important to do our homework and take as much time as necessary to pick a compatible partner.
2. We must develop solid bonds with our partners through mutual caring, mutual respect, and mutual
trust before we embrace the idea of bringing children into this world. If any one of these three as
pects is missing in a relationship, the partnership will likely dissolve.
3. Both partners must be ready and willing to take on the task of raising a family before that task is be
gun.
4. To provide a safe and sound family environment for the arrival of children, we must make the neces
sary adjustments to our lifestyle. 5. Despite good intentions and preparations, taking care of children and guiding them toward a strong
and productive adulthood is an on-the-job learning experience for any parent. However, parenting is
more fruitful if there is a good understanding and working relationship between parents.
Parental infighting, parental addictions, and parental separation have great negative impact on the psyche of a
child. A disruptive family environment fosters confusion and insecurity, which can lead to learning disabilities,
poor social skills, lack of interest, lack of focus, and inability to engage in and complete a task. Ultimately, a
child may withdraw from his immediate surroundings to escape the confusion of the home environment. To
make matters worse for the child, such behavioral problems are often incorrectly labeled as depression or AD
HD and treated with medications, the effects of which lead to more mental and physical problems. Unfortunate
ly, children of dysfunctional homes suffer serious consequences through no fault of their own and pay a heavy
price for the rest of their lives. Make no mistake, parents’ emotional and behavioral problems certainly visit
themselves on their children. The younger the child, the greater the impact.
A few lucky children survive disruptive homes unscathed, but they are in the minority. Most children
grow to be adults with adjustment problems. For these children and the adults they become, learning to abide by
Nature’s mandates, whether through philosophy or psychotherapy, can address these adjustment problems.
However, unlike adult behavioral difficulties such as obesity, some children’s behavioral problems are not the
result of their environment but of genetic or innate deficits. Still other children have a combination of innate and
behavioral deficits. It is important for the sake of a fulfilling family life that we understand these deficits and
how Nature’s mandates can help overcome them.
Based on my study and experience, all behavioral issues stem from deficits in the brain, in the mind, or
in a combination of the two. A computer model is useful in describing how the brain works, where the physical
brain acts as the hardware, and the mind acts as the software; they are two separate but interdependent entities.
Hardware problems—such as autism—are innate, whereas software issues—such as some mood disorders—are
acquired. These differences make it imperative that we identify the roots of a childhood behavioral problem and
treat it accordingly. Many parents despair to learn that no device or drug can treat autism, since nothing can correct the traits
in the brain that cause this ailment. Only intense personal attention and psychotherapy can make an appreciable
improvement in an autistic child’s behavior. It is a tragic fact that the stress involved in managing autistic chil
dren has broken up many families. When both parents of an autistic child share the responsibility and support
each other, however, the child can only benefit.
Similarly, evidence suggests that clinical depression is due to a chemical imbalance or defect in the hard
ware, or the brain itself, and should be treated with appropriate medication, supported by psychotherapy. How
ever, the sensitive among us may react to disappointment and disenchantment with behavior resembling
depression, which is frequently diagnosed as clinical depression and treated with medication to no avail. In such
cases, it becomes apparent that the problem is a problem of the mind and should be treated instead through phil
osophical psychotherapy.
Generally, ADHD is treated with medications such as Adderall and Ritalin, because these conditions are
considered to originate in the hardware, or brain. However, many children have been misdiagnosed with ADHD,
and thus when they are treated with such medications, the results are disappointing. I have come to believe that
many of these behavioral conditions are mainly software problems and have little to do with hardware. In these
cases where hardware problems have been ruled out, psychotherapy based on the laws of Nature is an appropri
ate approach and yields gratifying results. However, many individuals with ADHD are too young to understand
and adapt sound philosophical ideas. They may therefore need some form of pharmacological therapy until they
are mature enough to make the best use of psychotherapy.
Nature’s essential message is clear: in this complex and complicated world, we can drum up excuses and
rationalizations for refusing to take charge of our lives and as a result struggle needlessly and to no good end, or
we can choose to look clearly and honestly at what Nature requires of us, simplify our struggle for survival, and enjoy our short passage on this planet.