Is it possible that the death of our physical bodies was never part of a divine plan? Is it possible that the key to unlocking our immortality lies not so much in the realm of science as it does in our own hearts and minds? In Life Unlimited, author Edward Franco examines the attitudes and beliefs surrounding aging, death, and physical immortality. An interactive exploration of self, Life Unlimited raises questions that may seem blasphemous to some, but which may be necessary for awakening our true potential. This guide explores how you can accomplish the following: Recognize the powerful value of the mind/body connection; Enhance well-being through regular spiritual practices Realize the impact of self-concept on aging, health, and wellness Learn to say no to cultural conditioning and stereotypes around aging; Understand how our egos can undermine the lofty intentions of our higher spiritual selves Celebrate the gifts of adulthood and maturity. Life Unlimited considers the doubts, fears, and perplexities humans experience in various life situations and illustrates how to find new understanding and guidance. It provides a unique perspective on the subject of aging and longevity.

LIFE UNLIMITED

A Timeless Approach to Aging and LongevityBy Edward Franco

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Edward Franco
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-6017-6

Contents

Preface..........................................................................xiAcknowledgments..................................................................xiiiChapter 1 New Game, New Rules....................................................1Chapter 2 Invisible Monsters.....................................................7Chapter 3 Breaking the Chain.....................................................11Chapter 4 Establishing the Connection............................................16Chapter 5 TRUTH: The Realization Underlying Temporal Healing.....................30Chapter 6 Mirror, Mirror.........................................................36Chapter 7 Tapping the Universal Mind.............................................40Chapter 8 The Palace of the Ego..................................................44Chapter 9 The Higher the Thought.................................................52Chapter 10 Single, Whole, Complete...............................................67Chapter 11 Celebrating Adulthood.................................................71Chapter 12 Working Matters.......................................................76Chapter 13 Sex and Spirit........................................................82Chapter 14 Idols Away............................................................88Chapter 15 Choosing to Choose....................................................94Chapter 16 Living in Paradox.....................................................99Chapter 17 Let It Shine..........................................................105References.......................................................................109Suggested Reading................................................................113

Chapter One

New Game, New Rules

To ponder the idea of unlimited life—of living a joyous, disease-free existence, one in which even death has been conquered—is to test the very fabric of our being, our soul, our sanity. Until recently, such thoughts would have been universally condemned as folly or madness and, to this day, are still regarded as such by just about everyone.

And yet, one of the very exciting aspects of life on this planet at this time is the degree to which there are open minds willing to embrace new paradigms. All around the globe, people are realizing that we have more influence over our personal destinies than we had ever dreamed possible. We are powerful beings, no denying that. But equally true is the fact that many of us have covered up or hidden our power for fear of shining too brightly, or worse, actively misused or misdirected it and created suffering for ourselves through our very belief in its necessity. As our consciousness as humans expands, it makes sense that we would increasingly explore the heart of our convictions. What do we truly believe about God, about life, and about death? Maybe the New Age should more aptly be called the New Aging, as it is so swiftly redefining how we view the process of growing older. The old paradigm lies prostrate in awe of and in service to sickness, aging, and death. Ironically, that model itself is now aged and dying.

We stand at the threshold of discovery. We live in a time far more rich and exciting than any other in history. Everything that has been taken for granted for aeons, from the origin of the universe up to and including the inevitability of death, is now being questioned. In return, it seems we are being asked to adopt change and alter our notions in ways that have not been asked of us previously. Although in some cases as daunting and challenging as they are novel, these demands are not without their rewards. Over the last hundred years, we have seen mind-boggling advances in science, medicine, and technology. Consider how outlandish the idea of in vitro fertilization, cloning, or stem cell therapy would have been a century ago. Indeed, that which is accepted as science today was not even in the realm of science fiction a hundred years ago. On the sociocultural and humanistic fronts, the whole self-help movement (spawning books by Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, and the like) was an unforeseen entity. There has no doubt been a change in consciousness. People want to know, more than ever before, what their lives and life itself are about. No longer silent pioneers, we are speaking up and talking back.

We have also witnessed a major breakthrough in the attitudes of the general public and the medical profession toward holistic modalities. Can you imagine a Harvard-educated physician a mere generation ago writing books such as those Andrew Weil now pens? Probably not. Clearly life is going through its own metamorphosis, with most of us rarely stopping to consider just how rapidly things are changing. But changing they are.

During this present period of evolution, some spiritualists are saying that time itself is speeding up—that is, things are manifesting more quickly. Put plainly, there is no time left for sitting on the fence. And there's no better time than now to play an active role in manifesting the true beauty of life, much of which currently exists only as potential. It requires only our commitment to doing so.

A key underlying principle running throughout this book is that our thoughts are a potent source of creation and manifestation. Although they cannot be seen or heard outside our heads, our thoughts have as much power and pull as anything physical we might create. The mind/body connection, as it is commonly called, has reached a level of acceptance to the point where even many traditional doctors will concede that positive, life-affirming thoughts in the face of physical illness can do no harm and could possibly even do some good. Put in the simplest way, the essential tenet behind mind/body medicine is that our thoughts have a real and actual impact on our bodies. For the physicians who spearheaded mind/body medicine, this has long been a well-established fact used to patients' advantages (see Quantum Healing by Deepak Chopra or Love, Medicine & Miracles by Bernie Siegel on the suggested reading list).

Your experience of reading this book will be greatly enhanced if you keep your personal vision of life in the years ahead close at hand. What do you see? Is it a world without sickness, without famine, without war? It is all possible. As our conscious awareness grows, we cannot help but manifest unprecedented change. And that change begins with the recognition of the power of our thoughts.

I would like to make clear from the outset that I have no special talent, gift, or connection to the divine, nor am I one of a chosen few. You do not have to do any particular thing in form to walk toward physical immortality. It's not so much about behavior as it is about perception and belief.

I'd also like to introduce you, right at the start, to two words that are likely not a part of your present vocabulary: "deathist" and "immortalist," representing opposite ends of a life philosophy. One whose beliefs are deathist is one who believes in the inevitability of death, with each passing day bringing them closer to the void of nonexistence or the gates of heaven, depending on their faith orientation. By way of contrast, one whose beliefs are immortalist believes that life can lead to a greater expression of itself and ultimately become ongoing in any way...