The Power of Awareness

Neville Lancelot Goddard was born in Barbados in 1905. He came to the United States to study drama at the age of seventeen and whilst touring with his dance company in England he developed an interest in metaphysics after striking up a conversation with a Scotsman. The Scotsman lent him a series of books on the powers of the mind. On his return he gave up the entertainment industry to devote his full attention to the study of spiritual and mystical matters. After traveling extensively throughout the United States, Neville eventually made his home in Los Angeles where, in the 1950s, he gave a series of talks on television and radio, and for many years lectured regularly to capacity audiences. In the 1960s and early 1970s, he confined most of his lectures to Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. In his early lectures and books, Neville dealt solely with what he called The Law, the technique of creating one's physical reality through imagining. It is this portion of his expression that most closely accords with the teachings of the New Thought movement. In 1959 he began to experience what he called The Promise. In the latter part of the 1960s and early 1970s Neville gave more emphasis to The Promise than to The Law. One could use imaginal power to change one's circumstances, he said, but it would be temporary, "...and will vanish like smoke." He went on to explain that The Promise superseded The Law, claiming "Oh, you can use it [The Law] to make a fortune, to become known in the world, all these things are done, but, your true purpose here is to fulfill Scripture." After subordinating The Law to The Promise, he became as eager to hear accounts by those who had experienced The Promise, and sharing such accounts, as he had earlier of those with The Law. The Power of Awareness attempts to demonstrate how to use our mind to realize our wishes. As such, it is an important part of the larger New Thought Movement, in which Neville holds a prominent place. Reprint of 1952 first edition.