Ending Unnecessary Suffering

Peter Ralston is a founder of the consciousness movement that began in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1960s. He has spent thousands of hours in contemplation and has had several powerful enlightenment experiences. In 1978 he became the first non-Asian ever to win the World Championship full-contact martial arts tournament held in the Republic of China. The author of several books, including The Book of Not Knowing and The Art of Mastery, he currently lives outside of San Antonio, Texas.

• PREAMBLE Stop Putting Your Hand in Boiling WaterPART IFoundations of Our ExperienceCHAPTER ONE Concept versus ExperienceWhat Is a Concept?Exercise for Identifying ConceptsWhat Is an Experience?Incorporating an AssertionHow Does Concept Dominate Your Experience?Suggestions for Contemplation:Recognizing Your BeliefsInterpretation and MeaningConcepts Held As If They Are Objective RealitySuggestions for Contemplation:Objectification of ConceptsOverlooked Conceptual Influences on ExperienceImage ExerciseSuggestions for Contemplation:Overlooked Conceptual InfluenceBeing IncompleteCHAPTER TWO Awakening Overlooked ConsciousnessYou versus Your Self-ExperienceIgnoranceInventions versus Direct EncounterThe Inner-Self Is an InventionThe Nature of MindDistinctions within the SelfPART I IGetting Free from Unnecessary SufferingCHAPTER THREE Conceptualizing versus BeingCHAPTER FOUR Mental Activities behind MostForms of SufferingDissatisfactionDepressionStressWorthlessnessLonelinessDisappointmentFlawedVulnerableAlienationInner TurmoilShameGriefBringing It HomeMind ExerciseCHAPTER FIVE Transforming the Mind toEnd SufferingConceptual-Action versus Conceptual-ActivityAligning What Isn’t with What IsChoosing a Path Forward Our Fear of the MundaneThe Search for MeaningBeing Complete No Perspective Is TrueSuffering and ConsciousnessPART I I IInvestigating Our ExperienceCHAPTER SIX About MindThinkingExistential ThinkingEmotionRethinking EmotionMastering Emotions ExerciseCHAPTER SEVEN Beneath the SurfaceClarifying Existential Assumptionsand Bottom LinesTranscending Your Self-AgendaSuffering Causation “Religion”Suggestions for Contemplation:Cause of SufferingMore on Impulses and DrivesPART I VNew Perspectives and Powerful DistinctionsThat Change ExperienceCHAPTER EIGHT Creating New Experiential AbilitiesInvestigating ExistentiallyCompletionTurning-IntoCommunicationPurposeCreating a Purpose ExerciseStaying on Point Increasing AwarenessCreativity and ChangeCHAPTER NINE Powerful Life-Enhancing PrinciplesPractice, Principle, BeingExcellence and MasteryResponsibilityIntention and CommitmentHonesty, Honor, IntegrityCorrectionEmpowermentPART VPracticeCHAPTER TEN Doing the WorkLife PracticesCenter BreathingMastery and the “Effortless” ComponentUnusual Interactive PerspectivesNecessary Suffering?ADDENDUM A Principle That Could ChangeHumanityIndexAbout the Author

“Peter Ralston has created a mighty tome that clearly lays out why we suffer, the mechanics behind our suffering, and solutions that we can actually use to end our personal suffering. The practices offered bring us to awareness, and that is a beautiful doorway to freedom from pain and freedom from suffering. In a day and age when we can experience many difficulties just by living life, Ending Unnecessary Suffering is a gift to us all.”