Our Story

The knowledge and activities available from The Life Force Institute are built upon the foundations of “The Reality of Life and Living” derived through the life-long work of William Cook-Edwards (Bill). At the heart of this work lies a profound philosophical assertion: authentic spiritual knowledge cannot be passively received but must be individually experienced, evaluated and integrated. Bill’s teachings emphasise the importance of mastering thoughts and emotions as a prerequisite for spiritual growth.

William Edwards spent his life working to understand the meaning of life and the human equation, developing a vast amount of information “The Work,” in this regard. As detailed in Bill’s story, his concept of attunement as a gradual unfolding of spiritual potential provides a balanced and realistic approach to spiritual development. These teachings are presented as universally applicable, transcending both cultural and religious boundaries.

After Bill’s death in 2001, this proved to be the start of a transition for those who had been impacted by his presence. The eventual establishment of The Life Force Institute represented a commitment to preserving and disseminating the comprehensive body of knowledge he had developed. The Institute maintains the vast intellectual property accumulated through decades of classes, workshops, student experiences, teaching manuals and published materials – an archive comprising tens of thousands of documents. This includes his collection of little booklet publications, which represent some of the wisdom of his teachings. Unlike many spiritual organisations that became personality cults around their founders, the institute has been structured to emphasise principles over personality. The comprehensive nature of this work addresses the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions of human experience.

One of the early challenges faced was how to update the information effectively into the digital age. A significant portion of the information had been stored in old word processor files which were no longer readily accessible. Thanks to the diligent efforts of one devoted individual, over more than a decade twenty-seven thousand (27,000) documents were imported, revised and updated to remove the wingdings which existed throughout the files and make the information readable. These new documents were then catalogued updating them from old eight-character filenames to something more indicative of the information.

In addition to these old electronic files, a vast library of tens of thousands of pages of handwritten notes lay in boxes gathering dust. All of this material is continuing to be digitised and transposed so that the information contained in these documents will not be lost. This is a significant ongoing effort to ensure the genuine authenticity of The Work will always remain intact.

This provides a wonderful legacy of information and knowledge about many diverse aspects of life and living within the human framework. The more formidable challenge remained: how to make this information available in a way which would preserve its truth, value and integrity? During the early part of the new century, several different ventures were established in Brisbane and on the Internet to provide various means of making this information available to others.

Is it out There?

During the early decades of the twenty-first century, those with this knowledge scoured other sources of knowledge, philosophy, psychology, metaphysics, transcendental studies, theosophy, esoteric studies, and even aspects of the occult trying to identify if this level of information was already “out there”.

The studies of psychology and philosophy both provided ample sources of information. The focus though was limited to a few aspects of the human mechanism, the mental mind and sub-conscious. While these fields of study prove useful and beneficial to some, they lack the full comprehension of the human mechanism and an understanding of causality, which is a guiding principle of living.

Transcendental studies and information on the occult or esoteric, all provided glimpses of something more. Transcendental studies brought the notion forward of experience beyond or above the generally regarded sphere of understanding, explaining matter and the Universe as products of mental conception. Many esoteric studies were often found to be limited to a secret or special field of study. All the while, aspects of the occult seemed increasingly focused on the knowledge which was considered hidden from view or deemed undesirable by society. Each of these areas of knowledge was found to proffer some small glimpses of insight, but had been too often taken in isolation, leading to a restricted view of the human equation.

Broadly speaking, theosophy was found to provide many forms of philosophy and mysticism, aiming at the knowledge of God. This was achieved through intuition and contemplative illumination in combination with some esoteric teaching. However, here again, it was found that much of the information had become wrapped up in history and dogma.

Of all the various forms of information investigated, the closest analogy found to The Work came in the form of metaphysics. That is a branch of philosophy which deals with first principles, including the science of being – “ontology” (the nature of being) and “epistemology” (the theory of knowledge and rational belief). Metaphysics as a basis of study, investigates and explains the nature of all things or existences, their qualities and attributes. The basic principles of the study were found to closely align with the underlying principles of experience and understanding which were embodied in the information, which had been accumulated over the years, through intuition and personal experiences of Bill.

Through these increasing levels of investigation, it was found that it was not all out there. While some bodies of work sounded similar, on more in-depth investigation, it was found that the level of information which had been accumulated in “The Work” contained significantly more detail and greater insights with a broader scope. What was often found in other material were small snippets or insights of knowledge that had become polished and bloated, to the extent that the original intent of the information was often difficult to comprehend. The information was often being presented to satisfy a need of people by being focused on quick-fix answers, adrenalin-based experiences or fads, rather than on more meaningful knowledge-based approaches to how one could understand and comprehend “The Reality of Life and Living”.

Personal development and self-help had also become buzzwords, and fads and were breeding faster than rabbits. For many people, when confronted by difficult circumstances in life, their view of the meaning of life or their world can become shattered. This brings about an opportunity for change. Yet, whilst some people take the shattered illusions as being an opportunity, others may still shy away from accepting an impending change. When going through rough patches in life, many people will hold out and see self-help as a last thing.

What was realised through The Work is that positive thinking, affirmations or mantras alone are not enough. With a better understanding of the human mechanism, it was shown that people’s minds are their own worst enemies. Through easy practical activities, people could be instructed on how to apply their inner self for emotional and mental well-being, health, stability and happiness. When people gain a better understanding of how life and living function, it provides an impetus to change their reactions.

There was no basic Life Force 101 information, which aimed to explain the theory and experiences of your inner self. The physical aspects of you as a human being are indivisible from the inner, or in-dwelling self; they are not separate, but importantly the Life Force is an integral component of the human mechanism. One life pervades all forms. A natural progression takes place as you start working with your Life Force energies, though this needs to be constantly balanced with the challenges of the mind.

Empowering Trust in The Work

It is realised that many individuals are working on their own endeavours to help others and to share their knowledge and experiences. However, for many people, there seems to be a quotient of truth that they can accept. This leads to people believing and accepting so-called facts that are half-truths, or not the truth at all.

A principal teacher trained by Bill can still clearly recall their first class, forty years ago. Within the first few minutes, all students in the class were tapping into the energies of the inner self, the Life Force. How the classes were conducted allowed no time for the mind to kick in and build barriers. All of the students just experienced the energies for themselves. The classes were taught without sensationalism, as if this were the most natural thing to do. At no time during any of the classes, were the students told what they should experience, as Bill did not want the students’ minds to create or influence their experiences. Each student then documented the activity, so they could practice at home and share their experiences.

As the principal teacher and other students continued to attend classes and perform activities, they found that through increased levels of understanding, they could achieve a wider understanding of individual choices and freedom of will. Many of their misconceptions or half-truths could be laid aside once they understood the complexities and controlling powers of the mental mind. This type of knowledge provided students with an increased range of choices at any given moment in their lives.

Many of the teachers trained in The Work, do not profess to be a guru, sage or another such gifted person. All of these people can recall experiencing the shattering of life’s illusions through varying circumstances at different times in their lives. They were all given the opportunity to understand life as it really is; like being shown the manual for the gadget which you have not been able to get to work correctly for years.

The classes, activities and personal experience brought forward through The Work have opened the minds of countless people to different concepts in recognising, experiencing and working with the Life Force and energies which shape and control their lives.

While we may all accept that we are products of our own minds, how many of us understand what this truly means and how to leverage that to change our lives? Many of the students apply such knowledge in their daily lives now, not realising what a difference this has made to them; while others continue to seek ways to ensure that others have access to this same wealth of information and knowledge so that it does not become lost or forgotten.

Exploring Side Endeavours

In 2003, Assets Unlimited was established to focus as a “sanctuary for the study of Alpha Omega Meditation and Healing Therapies”. The premise is that through Alpha Omega Meditation, students could achieve higher states of consciousness and understanding, which were not possible through activities which were based in the mental mind. Through appropriate engagement, students could increase their ability to sense, thus experiencing and better understanding aspects of esoteric and metaphysical energies.

Assets Unlimited also worked to bring forward “Attunement” which is the science of understanding the reality of your own being and your association to reality. In the past, it is said that the Ancients knew the microcosm of human life was a reflection of the macrocosm of the Universe. Attunement classes provide the ability to learn and experience how the world around you, as well as within you, is dependent upon energy and also controlled by energy. In collaboration with Assets Unlimited, a related venture, Todays Insight, was also formed which offered additional aspects of intuitive consulting and natural energy healing.

Both of these establishments worked to provide various courses and workshops. All of the ongoing weekly classes and workshops were based on material derived from The Work. The primary topics included:

• Attunement or Inner Progression: devoted to the knowledge of the inner you, and how the energies of life affect you daily.
• Alpha Omega Healing: provided students with the knowledge of how to associate to higher wavelengths of creation, enabling them to tap into energies for the healing of self and others.
• Relaxation Techniques: delivered many simple techniques which could be used to assist in calming the nervous system and moving into a tranquil and nurtured state.
• Tree of Life: investigated the complexities of the many component parts of the human mechanism. Students were given insight into the workings of the mental and emotional mechanism and how that related to the ethereal body as the main energy interchange within human existence.
• The Rays of Creation: enabled students to delve into the composition of colours, sound and the Rays as carriers of the energy of the Universe around them.
• Inner Astrology: investigated the effects of the energies via the Planets and Constellations according to what was in the correct astronomical position. Through increased understanding, students were provided with an opportunity to comprehend how the energies of the Universe around them can influence their lives.
• Psychic Capabilities: many students would find with quietening minds and an increased sensitivity they were able to tap into their Sixth Sense. This could be used in the application of Clairvoyance, Psychometry, Tarot and Billet Reading.

During the decade or so following Bill’s death, there have been various attempts to disseminate the knowledge, which have been met with mixed success. There were also personal challenges for those leading the charge as they grappled with their own self and how to best embrace the legacy of The Work.

All of these activities and endeavours, even those that ultimately proved unsuccessful, were critical to the ongoing genesis of the knowledge; without which the caterpillar could not undergo metamorphosis in the chrysalis of life, before later emerging as a butterfly.

The Emergence of Understanding

As we progressed through 2016, the light of illumination shone in a new direction, leading us to explore new and additional means to facilitate the sharing of the information contained within The Work. A group of people were tasked as custodians to bring the process of bringing The Work forward so that it could emerge into the light of the world. One of the most substantial challenges to face them was to move beyond the world of false illusions which fill much of the social media and the virtual world of the early 21^st century. The ongoing effort of these individuals and others who assist them, continues to bring forward the emergence of hidden insights and information, much like a kaleidoscope of butterflies emerging from their chrysalis.

It was realised that a lot had changed in the world since when Bill started his studies and as The Work was laid down. The truth and understanding of the material remain the same, but the modern world presents both increasing opportunities, as well as challenges, in how the information should be made available. As with many establishments, cities or even civilisations, you will find that they have been built upon the work of the past. The vast body of material from The Work is being utilised as the foundation for The Life Force Institute. This material provides a significant source of intellectual property on the science of understanding the reality of your own being and your association to reality, which is not well understood or available from other sources.

Over recent decades knowledge on the human equation has become increasingly focused on a personality-driven approach, where the brand can mean more than substance. The custodians perceived the challenges presented by this type of approach. As teachings became more personal, they would often become influenced by the lower ego and the emotional energies of the individual. The custodians recognised the need to keep the knowledge untainted, so established The Life Force Institute as a neutral mechanism, free of personalities or influencers, to allow the knowledge to flourish in the light of day.

The Life Force Institute will strive to illuminate people’s lives with understanding, so that they are more able to fully understand the diverse aspects of life and their own self. While many organisations want to possess and control information, the custodians agreed that our guiding principle should be one of openness, as we allow students to be independent and self-reliant with open minds to what they experience, learn and share.

The custodians of Bill’s legacy at The Life Force Institute then embarked upon the journey to discover the imperatives for, as well as barriers which could prevent the dissemination of the information to wider audiences of people. The custodians took many of the following considerations into account as they developed the information, curriculum, activities and social media presence for The Life Force Institute:

• How could the vast amounts of information from The Work be made understandable and genuinely accessible?
• The old mechanisms needed to adapt to the plethora of information sources and short-term gains which people seek these days.
• What was necessary to compete in a world where the average attention span seemed to have been dramatically decreasing?
• How could we ensure that there was the appropriate perceived value to the information and that it did not become lost in the swathes of fads, false information and illusions?
• How to avoid the important information being lost as memes or other sayings without any real purpose or underlying understanding?
• How to always keep focused!? It is not about spiritual conquest or being better than others – it is merely about the knowledge which enables people to truly be themselves.
• What is necessary to help people understand how their minds work and how thoughts can control their lives?
• What simple steps can be devised which allow people to gradually awaken the Life Force in a natural and controlled manner?
• Realising we cannot stand alone, how do we differentiate the activities provided by The Life Force Institute to ensure we stand out and break free of the noise of disinformation?
• How can this valuable resource be updated and made available while maintaining the truth of the original findings – keeping the work truthful?
• How to always ensure that the information remains untainted, so that it does not become coloured or diluted by the emotional constraints of thinking?
• How to bring forward the facts which were uncovered in a way which will be current and understandable by each new generation?
• How do we avoid espousing vast waftings from the ether, as this would seem unintelligible from the background noise of humanity?
• How do we transform brief teacher-led instructions into self-guided activities?
• What mechanism for dissemination of the information will focus on the well-being of others?
• How do we share this information in a way in which knowledge can lead to wellness and illumination in people’s lives?
• Whilst making changes, how do we at all times continue to strive to present this information ethically, to ensure that the underlying goals are maintained and never compromised for baseless returns or the quick buck?

Beyond these items, the custodians had to also investigate all of the various technologies and intricacies of Social Media to determine the most effective way to build upon the foundation of The Work. While an initial domain name, website and email had all been commissioned, there was the need to make this something unique. The custodians set about working with their business partners to establish a web presence, which included a combination of new insight and information, regular weekly blogs and an online shop which would provide universal access to activities which would be made available from The Life Force Institute. Much of this work occurred in parallel with other tasks undertaken by the custodians as we all grappled with the ongoing evolution of information.

The custodians then analysed and reviewed much of the introductory material which had been used by some of the precursor organisations. From this, a roadmap of self-guided activities was developed which would set the long-term groundwork and direction for items which will be developed and published. For each and every activity, it is necessary to thoroughly review the context of the source material and supplement this with information, so that the activities can be conducted as either instructor-facilitated or performed as self-guided activities by people who have purchased and downloaded the material. It was necessary to design these activities with clear statements of the intent of the activity, including means to calm people’s minds, provide topical information and of course include the core activity with detailed annotated steps.

The basic level of self-guided activities available from The Life Force Institute are all called “Kickstarter Activities”, which are all targeted towards providing an introduction for all further material and activities. The information contained in all Kickstarter activities is necessary for people to progress to the next or higher levels of activity. They provide the fundamental principles and basis of all activities conducted by The Life Force Institute. To assist people in starting, many of these introductory activities have been combined in bundles.

After the development of the initial set of Kickstarter activities, the custodians reviewed ongoing feedback about the material and determined that additional simplified material was necessary to help people assimilate the information at a level appropriate to their level of sensitivity, balance and understanding. From this, several focused levels of the curriculum were devised.

Breathe with Purpose

The custodians came to the realisation that many people struggle just to make it through their day and for some, even the thought of mindfulness may be too far removed from their daily lives. It was noticed that there were many varied practices of breathing, tapping and such as a means to try to bring some calmness to people’s lives.

Each of us breathes throughout the day, but for the most part, this activity goes unnoticed as this bodily function is controlled through the autonomic nervous system. Through becoming observant of your own breathing, you have the opportunity to calm your mind.

The custodians reviewed past information to determine what secrets had been hidden within The Work. Then through some simple applications, a new 10-step process called “Breathe with Purpose” was devised. This process builds upon popular breathing techniques, but adds some unique insight.

Breathe with Purpose from The Life Force Institute allows people to better focus on the purpose of the activity as thoughts are placed within the back of the mind. Through the course of the activity, these thoughts are repeated, reinforced with the energy of a mantra, before flowing forward into the conscious mind to achieve the desired task.

These “Breathe with Purpose” activities are being published in our online shop and made complimentary or free for anyone to download, as we believe their benefits are important for everyone. This provides an example of how we are working to help raise the knowledge of all humanity.

Life Force Mindfulness

Stepping above aspects of breathing, mindfulness was recognised as becoming ubiquitous in society. Even car manufacturers are now claiming to have a “mindfulness-influenced dashboard display”. However, in its more genuine meaning, mindfulness has an important role to play in achieving well-being. Numerous mindfulness techniques have become part of business and healthcare services, to help people deal with the challenges of daily life. Mindfulness very simply is paying attention to the present moment, so that you are then mindful of your own thoughts, feelings and emotions as well as aspects of the world around you.

In today’s modern world, many of us have stopped noticing the world within and around us, especially when we live busy lives. It is all too easy to lose touch with the sensations of life and living, to become someone who acts purely through the passive intellect-conditioned responses to the various stimuli in life. We all have the capacity to be mindful and to pay attention to the present moment.

Many mindfulness practices have been derived from Buddhist meditation methods. Some people debate the fact that these modern techniques lack aspects of contemplation or an understanding of causality. Without a broader understanding of causality and understanding of your thoughts, emotions and feelings, then such techniques only address the surface and superficial aspects of life, like treating a symptom and not the cause of an illness or situation.

Many of us continue to struggle with the motivation or discipline to incorporate these mindfulness practices into our lives. Often these practices are mistakenly thought to be goal-oriented, which moves them away from being a part of your normal way of life. The focus on the functional aspect of achieving these goals is counter to the underlying principles of living in the moment, which is a central tenant of mindfulness. You do not have to change who you are or alter your beliefs to become more self-aware; but how could we leverage some of the hidden information from The Work to achieve greater levels of success with mindfulness?

No matter where you are, or whatever your beliefs or lifestyle, Life Force Mindfulness will enable you to leverage your inner self, your Life Force, to exceed most typical mindfulness exercises or training. Your true intentions arise from the innate nature of your Life Force. Through practice, you can learn to place thoughts with a dedicated purpose or intent from within your Life Force. These thoughts then propagate forward into your normal conscious mind and your usual way of thinking. When these intentions manifest within the stillness of your conscious mind, greater success can be achieved.

Life Force Mindfulness enriches basic mindfulness techniques with a unique set of capabilities introduced by The Life Force Institute which equips people with a set of tools to help them deal better with life and living.

Life Force Meditation

Today, there are many different types of meditation practised across the world, which include: mindful breathing, mindfulness and progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques are designed to help people deal with life and improve their cognitive capabilities. Meditation, like mindfulness, has been receiving growing acceptance globally.

What is termed New Age meditations are typically influenced by Eastern philosophies such as yoga, Hinduism and Buddhism; combined with some aspects of Western influence. New Age meditation had its roots in the 1960s, often depicted as practised by hippies. The aim is to blank out the mind and release oneself from conscious thinking. These techniques often relied upon the aided by repetitive chanting of a mantra, or focusing on an object. From these roots, New Age meditation has evolved into a range of various techniques.

In the simplest form, meditation can be stated as being at one. Through learning to bring quietness to your mind and silencing the endless noise of your thoughts, emotions and feelings, gradually the essence of your true self, the Life Force, begins to emerge.

The light of your Life Force, the true self within all people, is hidden behind barriers of material thoughts, emotions and feelings which have been built up by your mind and persona. Through an open, peaceful and quiet mind, this light of your Life Force can be awakened through various Life Force meditation techniques.

Life Force Meditation leverages your active intellect to bring about a quietness and calmness of your mind. This is an essential and often overlooked step upon the pathway, which must be understood. You must learn to bring calmness and quietness to your mind, otherwise, as the energies of your Life Force awaken, these energies can feed the rampant and uncontrolled thoughts and emotions. Overcoming such reactions and breaking down your emotional immersion, gradually leads to the awakening of your Life Force.

As you continue to work with the energies of your Life Force, the light of your Life Force shines progressively more into your mind. Life Force Meditation enlivens the Life Force with a dedicated purpose of thought, allowing you to surpass typical meditation states, and exceed the achievements of mindfulness and positive thinking all of which are limited by and within the mental mind.

Realising your Choices

All of the information and activities made available through The Life Force Institute inspire you to be a free thinker, an individual who through your own personal experiences access and work with the energy within and around you.

The motivation needed to make changes for yourself and in your life comes from understanding yourself, your energies and the component parts of yourself. You are of energy with a mind to think, evaluate, reason and learn. Though realise that for the majority of people, it is your own personality and mind which are the biggest challenges. Your personality is programmed to resist change, retain the current status quo and maintain the control it has in your life.

You cannot progress and expect all the emotional baggage which you have accumulated to disappear overnight – it does not work that way. Clicking on something in an app and expecting that tomorrow, things will become magically different in your life simply is unlikely to work. Achieving your true potential takes time, no matter how you go about bringing forward change, but it takes only one instance to recognise the need to bring about such transformations in your life, to light the spark for change to begin.

Whenever you make a decision in your life, realise that there is causality, consequences and ramifications, either good, bad or indifferent. Everything that you have done up until now has had a cause-and-effect factor, what some call karma. Realise you have a choice, as you apply various techniques to quieten your mind, you can then have the opportunity to choose how to react (or not react) to life and all the situations and influences contained therein. In life, if you want to be happy you can be happy. Similarly, if you want to be unhappy, you can let yourself be unhappy. Either way, you will answer to the consequences as negativity creates sickness whereas happiness creates health.

Activities made available through The Life Force Institute are all designed to help create balance and calmness which is all-encompassing. You can become the master of your own life, the master of your own thoughts, emotions, feelings and reactions.

What can The Life Force Institute teach me?

• We teach you to be able to see things as they are, and not as they appear to be.
• We teach you to know yourself and how you function.
• We teach you to know your strengths and weaknesses.
• We give you the tools to overcome your weaknesses.
• We give you keys to bring about the balance you need within you.
• We give you the tools to instil strength of purpose and character.
• We teach you to bring forward the self-will to be independent and self-reliant within your life.
• We teach you to realise your true potential.

Whilst The Life Force Institute provides you with the knowledge, tools and keys to bring about the change in your life, ultimately the responsibility remains with you to implement these within your daily life and living. If your will is not there, then the change will not be realised and this will be nobody’s fault but your own. The choice is yours.

The Butterfly Effect

With the emergence of The Work into the light of the world, the custodians set about clearly defining the mission and objectives of The Life Force Institute. As humans, we are made of Star stuff, meaning, you are part of those far-flung Galaxies and they are part of you. You are part of the whole, and the whole is part of you. Anyone who wants to learn must expand their consciousness beyond time and space to realise the magnitude of creation.

The primary objective of The Life Force Institute is to disseminate the information and knowledge of self-realisation, self-determination and the Life Force.

The mission statement for The Life Force Institute is to educate and elevate the well-being of humanity by combining the material and spiritual aspects of your being.

We are pleased that a refreshed approach is awakening to make this information available in a Factual, Truthful, Ethical and Untainted way.

We will help you in a variety of ways, including providing regular updates to our web presence, online Kickstarter activities, workshops and other such forums. What you do with this information and knowledge is then entirely up to you.