Introduction

Optimists are right. Pessimists are also right. The difference between the two is like the difference between light and darkness. Nevertheless, both are correct. Each is correct from their own unique perspective, and that perspective becomes a determining factor in their lives. That perspective determines whether their life will be one of power or weakness, peace or suffering, success or failure.

Optimists have the ability to see things as a whole, and in the correct relationship. Pessimists view from a limited, one-sided perspective. One understanding is illuminated by wisdom, while the other is darkened by ignorance. Each builds their own world from within, and the result of that building depends on each person's viewpoint. Optimists create their own heaven with superior wisdom and insight, and to the extent that they create their own heaven, they contribute to creating a heaven for all other people in this world. Pessimists create their own hell because of their limitations, and to the extent that they create their own hell, they contribute to creating a hell for all humanity.

You and I either have the characteristics of an optimist dominant, or the characteristics of a pessimist dominant. Because of that, we are constantly creating our own heaven or our own hell, moment by moment. And to the extent that we create one or the other for ourselves, we are also helping to create it for all the other people in this world.

The word "heaven" means harmony. The word "hell" is derived from the old English word hell, which means to build walls around, to separate. To be helled meant to be shut off from something. Now, if there is such a thing as harmony, then there must exist something that allows people to enter into correct relationships. Because being in a correct relationship with something means being in harmony with it. Also, if there is such a thing as being helled, separated, and cut off from something, then there must exist something that restrains, shuts off, or separates people from it.