Neville Goddard articulated some of the most direct and potent manifesting techniques known. His teachings can be distilled into two fundamental presuppositions:
- The Law: Manifest your desires by assuming the feeling of your wish fulfilled now. Inhabit the emotional state that would accompany the realization of your desire. Envision yourself already embodying the qualities, achievements, and successes you seek. Feel, in this moment, as if what you desire is already yours, by engaging in an act of imagination that signifies your wish has been realized.
- The Promise: The efficacy of this Law is rooted in your intrinsic unity with God. Neville referred to this as 'The Promise.' What many perceive as their individual identity is merely a facade through which the divine operates. Your true essence is that of God experiencing life in its myriad forms. Recognizing this, you need not convince yourself of it; rather, simply become aware that your essential nature is the animating force behind all life. Persist in this awareness, and you will start to perceive your fundamental unity with the spirit that permeates all existence.
By wholeheartedly aligning your life with these principles, profound transformations occur.
Neville Goddard expresses the concept of God in a uniquely intimate and personal way, diverging from traditional religious doctrines. He views God not as an external deity or ruler, but as the ultimate reality and creative force within every individual. Here are key aspects of how Neville conceptualizes God:
- God as Imagination: Neville often equates God with human imagination, suggesting that the divine power is the ability to conceive and bring into reality all that exists. He believes that this creative power is accessible to everyone and that through imagination, individuals can shape their realities.
- God as I AM: He frequently uses the term "I AM" to describe God, indicating that God is the core identity or consciousness within every person. By stating "I AM," individuals identify themselves with God, acknowledging their divine nature and creative power.
- God as Self: In Neville's teachings, the realization that one is God involves a deep, personal awakening to the fact that the true self is the creator of its experience. This inner God is not separate from us but is the very essence of our being.
- The Promise: Neville also discusses "The Promise," which is the spiritual revelation that each person is one with God and will ultimately awaken to this reality. This awakening leads to a profound understanding of one’s divine nature and the interconnectedness of all existence.
Overall, Neville's portrayal of God challenges individuals to explore their divine potential and to recognize that they themselves are the creators of their life experiences through the power of their own imagination and belief.
The Law: "Imagine that you are already what you want to be, and your refusal to believe this is the only reason you do not see it."
The Promise: "You will one day realize that you are God Himself, who is only playing the part, and the moment you know it, you cease to continue the play – you awaken from the dream."
These quotes reflect Neville's core teachings that through imagination (The Law), one can manifest their desires, and through spiritual awakening (The Promise), one comes to realize their true divine nature.