Ronald, I could not have expressed my feelings regarding Howard’s work any better than you have. Perhaps I’m too wedded to method? I see the promise, but I miss the how to get there. Not dissimilar to pulling up a map on one’s phone, setting coordinates, hitting the road and then losing connection, resulting in no further instruction on how to reach the destination. It’s there, but it’s not there. Perhaps that was Howard’s point: Your destination is valid and perhaps shared, but your journey is distinctly your own. I think I’ll go back and reread some of Howard now because such high praise from Mitch suggests I missed something. Thanks, Mitch. Your perspective has never failed to make me think twice about my own.
I read this piece on Vernon Howard with great interest. Of the many metaphysical writers I have read, Howard often leaves me cold, interesting character though he is. While it's true he holds up a mirror, I don't feel he always offers a solution or a method to transcend the problems he outlines so clearly. For example: "You’ll never be taken in by a false prophet when you are no longer a false follower."
Ok, so exactly what is a "false follower" and how do we stop being one? He does this far too often. He stops short and I continue on page after page of his books without a conclusion. I'm sure there's wisdom in there, but where is it? Are we supposed to figure it out completely on our own?
Or how about this:
GF: What is real power? VH: The absence of your false power.
There it is again. "What is real power?". "The absence of false power". Just get rid of "false power" and you'll have "real power". He then goes on for another paragraph telling us to rid ourselves of this "false" "human" power with no clue as to how. All this reminds me of an episode of the old "Mary Tyler Moore Show" where this humorous bit of dialogue took place between an annoyed Lou Grant and an exasperating Ted Baxter:
LG: "Ted, you know that way you are?" TB: "Yes." LG: "Stop being that way!"
Is it me? Am I missing something fundamental in Howard's teaching? I have wondered for years, and the fact that Mitch derives so much from it makes me wonder more. I will continue to return to Howard's books, as I have for a number of years, as I don't feel I am finished with him. Something may reveal itself but I have yet to find the insight in his work that I have found in other metaphysical writers.
That resonates with me. I think his outlook is that we naturally know when we see past convention, which he is leading us to do. But I’ve also felt lack of method.
Oh, and a word about his sensationalistic titles. I actually find them appealing, knowing full well the whiff of the carnival barker and/or tongue-in-cheek about them. Reminds me of the old 1940s/50s style "I talked to God!" New Thought ads, which I also enjoy. I think I first came across "Mystic Path To Cosmic Power" some years ago from an Amazon "recommendation" while I was seeking a different metaphysical book. I said "I've got to have that!". So, "it works!". :-) It also reminds me of song titles from Marc Bolan & T. Rex, a band and artist I've always loved.
Man thanks for putting this read together. I probably wouldn’t have ever come across this guy otherwise. He definitely seems interesting. Would’ve loved to have a conversation with him. Would you consider any of his work worth revisiting, if you’re already pretty much on-board with the ideas he’s putting out there? Just worry the message becomes redundant once you’ve internalized his message.
I’ve always appreciated Vernon Howard’s wisdom…..he’s my 3rd favorite “advice-giver,”
along with Neville Goddard and Joseph Murphy.
Vernon’s booklets are insightful and hard-hitting.
I especially like:
“50 Ways to Escape Cruel People”
“Expose Human Sharks 100 Ways”
“Your Power to Say No.”
Vernon knew how to deal with cruel people, narcissists and those with borderline personality disorder. He knew human nature is both good and bad….and he realized that many human beings are innately evil and don’t have a conscience.
He didn’t believe in pandering to or praying for those who “prey” upon us.
His advice was simple and direct. He said we must rescue ourselves and escape from cruel people. And he emphasized that we must stop making excuses for those who enjoy being cruel.
We have to stop pretending we can change or influence people whose brains are hardwired for cruelty. This, I believe, was his greatest advice.
Vernon’s wisdom is different from that of Neville Goddard and Joseph Murphy, but the three of them, as a combination, can work well together in our lives.
I think that's a very complementary triad. Vernon, in a sense, provides the teeth that keeps the seeker safe while working with the Neville / Murphy outlook. Bravo.
Ronald, I could not have expressed my feelings regarding Howard’s work any better than you have. Perhaps I’m too wedded to method? I see the promise, but I miss the how to get there. Not dissimilar to pulling up a map on one’s phone, setting coordinates, hitting the road and then losing connection, resulting in no further instruction on how to reach the destination. It’s there, but it’s not there. Perhaps that was Howard’s point: Your destination is valid and perhaps shared, but your journey is distinctly your own. I think I’ll go back and reread some of Howard now because such high praise from Mitch suggests I missed something. Thanks, Mitch. Your perspective has never failed to make me think twice about my own.
Time to revisit Vernon Howard; so grateful for your work and your person, MH -- bless you and all whom you love.
His short “sound bites” of wisdom are powerful. His booklets are filled with them.
I read this piece on Vernon Howard with great interest. Of the many metaphysical writers I have read, Howard often leaves me cold, interesting character though he is. While it's true he holds up a mirror, I don't feel he always offers a solution or a method to transcend the problems he outlines so clearly. For example: "You’ll never be taken in by a false prophet when you are no longer a false follower."
Ok, so exactly what is a "false follower" and how do we stop being one? He does this far too often. He stops short and I continue on page after page of his books without a conclusion. I'm sure there's wisdom in there, but where is it? Are we supposed to figure it out completely on our own?
Or how about this:
GF: What is real power? VH: The absence of your false power.
There it is again. "What is real power?". "The absence of false power". Just get rid of "false power" and you'll have "real power". He then goes on for another paragraph telling us to rid ourselves of this "false" "human" power with no clue as to how. All this reminds me of an episode of the old "Mary Tyler Moore Show" where this humorous bit of dialogue took place between an annoyed Lou Grant and an exasperating Ted Baxter:
LG: "Ted, you know that way you are?" TB: "Yes." LG: "Stop being that way!"
Is it me? Am I missing something fundamental in Howard's teaching? I have wondered for years, and the fact that Mitch derives so much from it makes me wonder more. I will continue to return to Howard's books, as I have for a number of years, as I don't feel I am finished with him. Something may reveal itself but I have yet to find the insight in his work that I have found in other metaphysical writers.
That resonates with me. I think his outlook is that we naturally know when we see past convention, which he is leading us to do. But I’ve also felt lack of method.
Thanks, Mitch. That certainly makes sense.
Oh, and a word about his sensationalistic titles. I actually find them appealing, knowing full well the whiff of the carnival barker and/or tongue-in-cheek about them. Reminds me of the old 1940s/50s style "I talked to God!" New Thought ads, which I also enjoy. I think I first came across "Mystic Path To Cosmic Power" some years ago from an Amazon "recommendation" while I was seeking a different metaphysical book. I said "I've got to have that!". So, "it works!". :-) It also reminds me of song titles from Marc Bolan & T. Rex, a band and artist I've always loved.
I remember back when Field's Bookstore in San Francisco carried a rack of Vernon Howard tracts staring you in the face when you walked in.
Man thanks for putting this read together. I probably wouldn’t have ever come across this guy otherwise. He definitely seems interesting. Would’ve loved to have a conversation with him. Would you consider any of his work worth revisiting, if you’re already pretty much on-board with the ideas he’s putting out there? Just worry the message becomes redundant once you’ve internalized his message.
I’ve always appreciated Vernon Howard’s wisdom…..he’s my 3rd favorite “advice-giver,”
along with Neville Goddard and Joseph Murphy.
Vernon’s booklets are insightful and hard-hitting.
I especially like:
“50 Ways to Escape Cruel People”
“Expose Human Sharks 100 Ways”
“Your Power to Say No.”
Vernon knew how to deal with cruel people, narcissists and those with borderline personality disorder. He knew human nature is both good and bad….and he realized that many human beings are innately evil and don’t have a conscience.
He didn’t believe in pandering to or praying for those who “prey” upon us.
His advice was simple and direct. He said we must rescue ourselves and escape from cruel people. And he emphasized that we must stop making excuses for those who enjoy being cruel.
We have to stop pretending we can change or influence people whose brains are hardwired for cruelty. This, I believe, was his greatest advice.
Vernon’s wisdom is different from that of Neville Goddard and Joseph Murphy, but the three of them, as a combination, can work well together in our lives.
I think that's a very complementary triad. Vernon, in a sense, provides the teeth that keeps the seeker safe while working with the Neville / Murphy outlook. Bravo.