Excerpts are in italics.
The Right Choice uses the turmoil of Iran as the background for examining the influence of religion on our lives and how best to live a joyous life.
Under the current mullah’s regime in Iran, people no longer have the freedom to make choices. They are told what to believe, how to act, what to think. Meanwhile the mullahs lie, brainwash the people, and steal—all in the name of religion.
The people have allowed the mullahs to take control and dictate what to believe. But this need not be so. Each of us has the power to control his or her life. Through self-determination and thinking with an open mind, we can discover the truth and find happiness. Religion can be part of this discovery, as long as it does not impose rules and ideas on anyone.
The choice is ours— an existence controlled by rules imposed by others or a beautiful, fulfilled, and happy life we create.
The Right Choice: By Alan Pier
Chapter Summaries and Excepts
1: The Path to Mystical Intuitive Knowledge and Spiritual Truth
The truth of life resides in love, but the mundane world is based upon fear. To move beyond that fear and find peace, we need prayer and to go within.
We are love. If there was no love, then nothing would exist. The power of love allows our souls to cause creation. If you do not feel love, it does not matter. What you think love is about is the problem. We are all love. It is our essence. It is who we are. We cannot be separated from what we are.
2: Observing without Judgment
To escape from the confines of the world, we must become aware of our thoughts and accepted way of living—our attachments, which only bring on fear.
There is nothing certain in life but death. The very fabric of life is chaos, bustling with confusion.
Then what is there that we can count on?
The present moment.
It is here right now. It will always be here. Right now and forever.
3: Fear: The Father of Violence
Our world reflects our individual thoughts, words, actions, habits, and character. And those are all based upon the same in our past generations. We are stuck in a pattern set ages ago. To break away from this and find freedom, we must rid ourselves of imposed beliefs and return to our true self.
Through logic and reasoned decision, you can alleviate your sorrow and suffering. By making correct decisions, hatred and selfishness will leave you. The conscious and aware person cannot be angry. Through conscious attention, the quality of your work will also change. Attention to spirituality will refine your constitution to a higher nature. Look with the eyes of love toward life. Then you will see life as you like it. Attempt forgiveness whenever annoyed.
4: Secret of Love
Living in love requires consciousness and wisdom. Through both, we see our own failings—fear, arrogance, selfishness—and choose to act differently. We choose love, which leads to seeing beauty in all.
The universe and creation are the reflection of God. The beauty of God wants to be seen on his mirror, which is known as creation, as a ray of God’s sunshine and generous universe. Creation of the universe is only a small portion of his gifts, the most beautiful being humanity with its expanding heart capable of being close to this generous being. It is the reason he created humans, for he wanted to show beauty all over. He desired his beauty and love to be reflected through creation.
5: Malice
Iranians have a history of violence. We must first understand this—see how it is part of our individual lives and affects the thoughts and behavior of each of us—in order to undo it. Then we can open up to a world of love, joy, and peace.
Through the acts of this clerical government, the evil and reactionary nature of the mullahs and clergy is revealed. They have proven to be the most barbaric and savage rulers of a most brutal law of shari’a. With their savage action, stemming from the past centuries, they have invalidated good and respected concepts, like that of the mosque and cleric. Iranians are held captive by the calamity created by the mullahs.
6: Violence for Peace
Centuries ago, Persia, weakened by corruption of its religious and military leaders, succumbed to the invading Arabs. But the Persian spirit persisted, and Shi’a Islam shielded Iranians from the worst of traditional Islam. Still, they yearned for justice.
The root of all religions is one, and that is unity. Yet, classifications, names (Muslim, Christian, Jew, etc.), and other divisions, each into smaller pieces with different names (orthodox, reformed, traditional, etc.), are perpetrated by religious teachers and politicians. This works against the root of unity and causes separation among people and creates war without reason.
7: Current State of Iran
Since the Islamic regime took over Iran, the country has been ruled by corruption, lies, secrecy, bribery, and mass murders. Fear keeps the people in their submissive place.
Enough with execution, torture, and imprisonment! Enough with the noble people and mullahs ruling Iran! The clerics did not appreciate Iran’s forgiveness. People’s memories cannot be changed with torture and killing. When there is no logic or reason, violence and killing are the consequences. It is more than thirty years that, through ignorance of God and in the name of God, such injustice and oppression have been visited on the people by a public servant. Mullahs are a symbol of corruption and believe their power comes from controlling, executing, and suppressing the people. But their violent, disrespectful, and murderous practices put such extreme pressure on the people that they desire an outside country to attack and free them from the mullahs.
8: The Nature of Power Knows No Ethics
Iran’s religious leaders place themselves next to God and above the law. Under the guise of shari’a, they spread violence. Their deceitful and villainous acts make them the enemy of freedom, of the people, and of Iran.
Yet, we are all at fault and caused this adversity to our country. Ignorant Iranians are lost and now must remain in the hellish inferno of fear and ignominious tyranny of the Islamic Republic. Because they did not understand Khamenei’s lies, now they must pay for it. The lesson here is obvious: Think for yourself and do not trust another congregational clergy.
9: Freedom
The Iranian people yearn for true freedom. But they must be careful in how they achieve positive change and whom they let help them. Other countries have their own agendas and cannot be fully believed.
All talk about sanctions and human rights are political games. When human rights are in the hands of politicians, they are used as a political weapon in order to obtain something of greater self-interest. There is no sign of human rights in this business. The people of Iran must act on their own behalf and cannot expect foreign intervention to help.
10: Salvation
Iranians will have freedom only when they rid themselves of totalitarianism, have free and open elections, and require transparency in their government. The current leaders pretend to have popular support but, in fact, have only the people’s fear.
Under the authoritarian regime of the religious dictatorship, thought has become a tool for propaganda that supports the most important instruments of power. Those who would fight ignorance are targeted. All the factors that led to the collapse of the Pahlavi government were born of lack of freedom. This crisis caused the rise of the clerical regime, from which springs the presence of evil and ignorance. A requirement of the clerical regime is a motivation to kill thoughts. The system is based on ignorance. Scholars and thinkers were the first victim of this ideology.
11: Cause of Separation
Human nature is love, but religion says this resides outside us and in God. So religion causes us to separate from our true self. This is crazy! We need first to know ourselves, and then we can know God.
Transformation would happen in us with the effects of meditation and a focus on attitude, thinking, and psychological aspects of our selves. We undergo a fundamental transformation through conscious and directed change, not only in our thoughts but also in our brain cells. You must break free from the prison of thought and memory and let the soul of God, as it was from the beginning, arise in you. Where is the echo of God’s soul, which was in you? God is wisdom of life, and if it happened in you, you do not need any ideology or belief; only understanding is required for a good life.
12: The Basis of Thought
Our senses limit what we know, and what we know limits our thoughts. How can we move beyond such boundaries and experience truth? We must release what we have embraced in weakness, what holds us down—our memories, attachments, outwardly imposed beliefs.
The contents of our subconscious can be discharged only by consciousness. Therefore, our conscious memory must be aware through meditation and vigilance. When we understand that believing the lies was a mistake, transformation occurs in our brain cells, and subconscious energy begins coming to the surface of consciousness, discharging the lies and negativity, and we feel relaxed. If memories can be under the command of hearts, life is a celebration and joyous.
13: Quit the Habit
To change the world, we must first change ourselves. To change ourselves for the better, we first need awareness of our problem. Then, we use purification, cleansing of our heart, and control of our mind so we can see God/love/light in the world.
No one can cause you anger or distress. When you experience anger or other distress, you are expecting something other than what is happening now. This is selfishness arising from your way of thought and your perception of life. When you concentrate the energy of your memory into your intellect and emotions in a positive and loving manner, your body will be healthier, your life more joyful and balanced, and your demeanor more cheerful.
14: Manifestation of the Nafs
The nafs is the ego, which must pass through life and overcome worldly constraints to realize the light of God.
When the body cooperates with its source, with spirit, it is stable, and we experience harmonious life, becoming one unit. This requires prayer and purification, which means kindness with yourself. Intelligence cannot be forced upon you; whoever seeks will find. The source of insight is related to spirit. What we see is the reflection of light. We are not paying attention to source. To see our own lives and existence, we must look with insight. When you cannot see the essence and source, you cannot see God in all that you look upon. In fact, you see other than God, and this is duality. In duality, spirit remains worthless in the body and gradually is destroyed. When we, with attentiveness, see our actions, then the body and spirit through vital principle act in harmony and become in equilibrium with the soul of God; we become the owner of our soul and manifest life.
15: Creation
The universe is the illuminated light of God. Although our eyes see only this light’s outer manifestation, those with insight can see beyond, the inner reality.
The desires of the world make us dark and cloudy. Light hides in us. We are not born to gather possessions and then die. Our essence is freedom. When will we expand into it? Everything in existence works together with justice and temperance and has a direct impact on everything else. It all comes from source. If you are in balance, in love, your life will be peaceful and comfortable. Look at the anatomy of your body. When all organs work together in balance, it is called health. If each of your organs worked separately, was only self-concerned and acted according to its desire, your body would be like a society full of pain and sickness.
16: Worship and Prayer
Prayer is a means for us to discover our essence, power, inner light. The rules of religions can help us reach this connection to the light within. But we must be careful not to follow blindly religious leaders and not to stay stuck in the rules; the leaders too often guide without love, and the rules are just a means for moving beyond.
To prepare ourselves to receive knowledge, first, we must establish all-around health and rid ourselves of annoyance and anger; then we may understand. This requires patience, tranquility, and presence of mind. Love means to be in balance.
17: What Is Love?
Love is the basis of the universe and unifies us to one another and to God.
True love, the essence of real love, is omnipotent and constant. It is a singular existence and is a synonym for the most subtle and spiritual life. The manifestation of love is permanent and constant (creation).
Patience accompanying prayer is love. A heart that contains love is a place of truth (God); it is a noble realm. Love comes from God, and that is a mystery because it happens without reason. Love is unique. It is an experience of seeing the unity of your inner reality. That is your religion. Without awareness, common people attach a name to religion, and it becomes a point of contention. But when you see everything from one source, there is no fight over the name of religion.