Metaphysical Malpractice

Rev. Paul Hasselbeck, a Unity minister and dean of the Spiritual Education and Enrichment program at Unity Institute, has written a short article in the latest Contact magazine of the Association of Unity Churches. His piece is entitled, "Metaphysical Malpractice: Situations in Our Life?" and essentially deals with the Law of Mind-action as it applies to problematic situations in peoples' lives.


Hasselbeck addresses the issue of people blaming themselves when confronted with difficulties due to the Law of Mind-action, which asserts that "thoughts held in mind reproduce after their kind." The contention arises when people begin to create a sense of inner guilt about traumatic events because they feel that they are responsible for bringing on the difficulty they're experiencing. This is "metaphysical malpractice" and is totally not conducive to spiritual growth.

Hasselbeck aptly points out that it is usually impossible to know for sure whether the negative circumstances have been produced by oneself or the collective consciousness of humankind. He states, "A better question to consider with someone in the midst of illness or a trauma is, 'what is the most supportive and positive response I can make to this situation?'" (Contact, "Malpractice," 21.) Indeed, as I don't believe that all of people's problems are caused by their own thinking (I feel that there are certainly causes and conditions outside of one's thought-universe that can have negative consequences on one's life-situation) I also prefer a pragmatic, pastoral care centered approach to these issues.

Rather than exacerbating the guilt and suffering that a person is likely feeling during a difficult time, it's best to help the person center themselves in God through prayer. This includes affirming that, though the suffering that s/he may be going through is real to her/him at the time, God is fully present in that pain and is empowering her/him to get through the hurt. The love of God in Christ is in the unsatisfactory experience, calling her/him to persevere through the suffering and diffuculty. This must be accomplished by acknowledging and affirming that s/he is a child of God and therefore is inherently good, is innately whole. Hanging onto this healthful consciousness will likely bring about an awareness of God present in the adversity, which is the key to getting rid of suffering and experiencing the Spirit of God.

It's when the Law of Mind-action is used for purposes of usurping material desires or blaming others/self for the bad experiences in life that it is abused as a tool for malpractice. I enjoy how Hasselbeck ends the brief essay, "Spiritual truths and practices are not so much about getting outer goodies as they are about realizing inner goodness." (Contact, "Malpractice," 21.)

Check out Rev. Hasselbeck's article in April/May issue of Contact.