"In NLP Master Practitioner courses, trainers take the opportunity to present an overview of their best material to an advanced audience. Part II of The User's Manual for the Brain is one of the few manuals aimed at that public.  Being the most prolific writers and developers currenty active on the NLP scene, Michael Hall and Bobby Bodenhamer have presented a synopsis of their state-of-the-art material in the field of LP and Neuro-Semantics. Not only is this book a goldmine of new techniques and principles, I recommend this book to any NLP practitioner interested in grasping how Michael and Bob are shaping the future."

Patrick E.C. Merlevede, M.Sc., author of 7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence

We described all of this in the first volume of User’s Manual for the Brain. There we introduced the adventure as we presented the model and content of NLP. There we set forth the component pieces and parts that comprise NLP, how it models the structure of subjectivity, the foundational linguistic model of NLP (the Meta-Model of language), the foundational neurological model (states and strategies), and the basic Representational Model (the sensory modalities and submodalities) that is also known as the communication model. Along with all of that, we included scores and scores of transforming patterns. User’s Manual as the Practitioner Course introduced you to the language of hypnosis (the Milton Model), the use and play of "sub-modalities," and the heart and soul of Meta-States that explains how the meta-levels of NLP work so powerfully.

Having done that, we are now excited about adding more to the field of NLP and about the sharing of the newer advancements in his field, especially about Neuro-Semantics (NS). Accordingly, this book presents what we call the NLP Master Practitioner level. As such, it invites you into the adventure of mastering NLP both in skills and in attitude. With this second volume of User’s Manual for the Brain we invite you to move beyond the practitioner level and on to the master’s level where you will not only know NLP, but you will develop the very spirit of NLP. As we do this, we shift our focus to facilitating the processes that will transform you from a practitioner of this art to becoming masterful in running your own brain and modeling the structure of excellence.

User’s Manual, Volume I contains the foundation of this work. Here we introduce additional facets of the NLP Model that are vital for operating with a full understanding and level of skill. What are these additional pieces? What is new in this volume?

• Meta-Programs

• Meta-States

• "Sub-Modalities" as meta-level framing

• Advanced Meta-Model distinctions

• Mind-Lines as conversational reframing patterns (previously known as the "Sleight of Mouth" Patterns)

• Advanced Language Distinctions (Presuppositions)

• Trance as a Meta-Level Phenomenon

• Advanced Time-Lines Patterns

• Systemic Thinking about NLP

• The Meta-Domains Systemic Model

• Practical Applications of NLP

Yet above and beyond all of that, in The User’s Manual for the Brain–The Master’s Level our focus is on presenting and installing something even more important. What? The very attitude that enables a person to use this model powerfully.

For anyone who has experienced NLP, there’s no doubt about the magic and wonder of this approach to working with the human dimension. NLP does provide numerous models and patterns that work magic in human minds and hearts. Yet if we want to use this transformative power in profoundly magical ways, we have to operate from a mind and state of power ourselves. There’s a reason for this. NLP is not for the timid.

To master this model of the mind-body system, you will need a good dose of courage, boldness, and passion. These patterns will not work their full magic if you attempt to use them if you are hesitating, fearful, and/or unmotivated. The power of any wizard not only involves the tools that he or she uses, but also the attitude of love, courage, and passion that drives the use of the tools. This is where the artistry of the magician comes in to supplement the science of the technology.

The spirit of NLP involves a passionate commitment to self and others, a belief in possibilities and discovery, a responsibility to excellence and mastery, a "go for it!" attitude of curiosity, playfulness, and respect. And that’s just the beginning. It involves an attitude of abundance that enables us to operate from a Win/Win orientation. It is a spirit that’s not afraid to make mistakes but, in fact, welcomes and celebrates mistakes as informational feedback. It’s a spirit that experiments, explores, embraces ambiguity, and gets more excited as things become more difficult and challenging.

It is exciting for us to present this work. Other books (including some of our own) cover much of the content here. Yet few, if any, even touch on the attitude or spirit of NLP in the way we have presented it here. And this makes the difference between those who use it with power and respect and who have fun doing so and those who lack such power and presence. This makes the difference between those who give NLP a good name and those who misuse it. That NLP can be misused is obvious. Any tool, model, and technology as powerful as NLP invites misuse, and even abuse. Yet that, in itself, does not argue against the model. It rather challenges us to make sure we handle it with the right kind of spirit.

To that end, we have layered the discussions, case studies, seminar demonstrations, patterns, and trances so that they will assist you in developing

• The kind of passion tempered by respect and honor of others

• The kind of motivation tempered by awareness of the other contexts and values in your life

• And the kind of dedication needed by the quality of mind and emotion that serves to truly honor your life and the lives of others.

As trainers, we seek to train and install the knowledge and skill not only at the conscious level, but also at the unconscious level. We seek to do both. It is our conviction that practitioners need to know and understand the model and the kind of thinking that created and works best with the processes, and to then feel totally confident that they can do the corresponding skills. Then knowledge and expertise will go together to form a persuasive package.

Some NLP trainings aim only to install directly at the unconscious mind. We question whether that’s even possible. Can you install a simple skill like riding a bicycle directly without conscious practice and understanding? How about typing? Even learning a language, which is about as unconscious a skill as there is, involves hours and hours of practice. Watch a small child play for hours and have lots of fun pointing to things and naming them and trying out new sounds. That’s called practice. And even if you could stick some piece of high level expertise into someone’s behavior, if they don’t have conscious control over it—who would be driving the bus? Is the person running his or her own brain? NLP is truly about running your own brain and not delegating that out to someone else, not even to a NLP Trainer and being conscious of how you do this.

This underscores the importance of cognitive understanding of the model and for developing an articulate knowledge about why you choose this pattern over that one and what you hope to achieve by doing so. To be able to perform the skills yet to lack guiding knowledge does not describe mastery. Such would actually leave a person unskilled when the environmental conditions and cues change. Automatic, unconscious learning is great for motor habits and skills in areas where the environment and contexts are fairly constant. But when we have an ever-changing environment, we need the flexibility to not respond in only an unthinking and unconscious automatic way. We need the mindful flexibility that arises from conscious understanding that can choose and invite new choices.

The best installation of skills of excellence arise from and involve a healthy combination of conscious and unconscious skillfulness. We have designed our trainings and this book to provide both information and programming and to engage both your conscious and the unconscious mind. We believe that you will make better use of the materials and have it more readily available if you not only experience the patterns, but also understand the meta "whys" and "wherefores."

To facilitate conscious and unconscious understanding, we will continually ask throughout this work the following type of questions:

• What is its purpose?

• What use can we put it to?

• How does it work?

• How does it relate to other patterns and models?

As you examine the basic NLP Communication Model in Chapter Two (Figure 2:2), you will see the broad areas of NLP practitioner training. With this work, we broaden the brush to paint a larger picture. In this work, we do this primarily by fully introducing the Meta-States model and showing how it relates to the Meta-Model of language and the Meta-Programs model of perception. We will show how the meta-levels of the mind, in creating our conceptual frames about so many things, play a role in the overall Matrices of our Mind. These frames involve conceptual categories as time and space, as the framing of the cinematic features of our internal movies ("sub-modalities") and much more.

Of course, all of the models presented here are metaphors. We will exchange the metaphor for trance and go up into the higher reaches of mind and notice what happens. We will change the metaphor of "sleight of hand" (Sleight of Mouth) and talk about magical lines that cast spells in the mind (Mind-Lines). We will utilize the metaphorical concept of "the Place of Pure Potentiality" and "the Void" as metaphors for some of the higher conceptual frames so that you can take a magic carpet ride to some truly new and exciting territories in your mind. And knowing, as you do, that "The map is not the territory," you can enjoy the realization that all language operates metaphorically. None of it is real. It doesn’t have to be. It only has to be effective in achieving more life enhancing outcomes. Our words do not have to even reference externally real things. They only need to offer us more useful and empowering maps for navigating, so that we can move out into new areas for exploration, performance, and enjoyment.

We want to be crystal clear as we begin that a master in any field does not "know it all." Not at all. Masters are masters precisely because they recognize that they do not know it all and so become explorers of what they don’t know. What they don’t know excites them and triggers them to curiously explore. They become masters because they are forever learning, discovering, practicing, experimenting, finding out the edges of the maps and patterns, and looking at this from a learner’s point of view. Becoming a true master means becoming a perpetual learner. That’s why it takes humility to become truly masterful. The arrogant Know-it-Alls never get there; they spend their energies on creating, maintaining, and defending a know-it-all image.

To date, NLP has only touched the hem of the garment about what is possible in modeling excellence, finding and detailing more of the structure of subjectivity, and forging new patterns for reaching the full human potential. To date, NLP does not even have a fully articulated model of itself, a "unified field theory" about human psychology and functioning. Two attempts have been made and in this work we offer a third attempt at articulating a unified field theory using the four meta-domains of NLP. Yet this is only the beginning, and not the last word.

It is our privilege, having explored so many of the subjects of the Master Practitioner Course in other works to put together this volume. You will find other facets of this course in the following books:

• The Spirit of NLP (1996, 2000) The Master Practitioner Course as presented by Richard Bandler in the late 1980s.

• Mind-Lines (1997, 2001) The Sleight of Mouth Patterns reformulated use logical or meta-levels.

• Time-Lining (1997) Advanced Time-Line Patterns

• Secrets of Personal Mastery (2000) Introduction to the three day Meta-States training, Accessing Personal Genius

• Meta-States (1995, 2000) The Meta-States Model

• Hypnotic Language (2001) Hypnotic language using Gestalt and Developmental Psychology.

• Figuring Out People (1997) Extensive analysis and listing of 51 Meta-Programs.

A Word about this Manual and the Writing Style

We have attempted to avoid writing this text in “textbook” style. Instead, we have aimed primarily to present it as a training workbook. This means that rather than an academic tone, we will be speaking in the writing pretty much as we would speak the same ideas in a training.
Treat this book also as one that you will read repeatedly. We have written it to be read sequentially from beginning to end. Once you have over-viewed the content, then feel free to skip around filling in your knowledge and skills.

We have also included lots of exercises. These are not fillers. Our intention is that you use them, that you stop ... right then and there and use the exercises as thought experiments and a human laboratory of experimentation. Some of the exercises require a partner and some even a meta-person to observe, record, and/or to keep you on track. If you have or can find some others to create a study group, that would enrich your experience of this manual. If not, you can still use most of them, even though we have written them as if doing them with a partner. At least you can use them to some extent.

Of the scores of exercises throughout the chapters, some of these are thought experiments, others are designed to be used with one or two other persons. When you do so, remember that everything about representation systems, calibrating, pacing, state management, etc.—all of that still counts. Always begin by orienting yourself to the task, get rapport with your partner or partners, and then go for it.
Did you notice the ellipses just a moment ago ...? You know those three dots ... in the middle of a sentence? We use this to indicate not only missing material in a quotation, but to slow down ... and stop speed reading ... and experience the words. This is especially true for inductions ... for state inductions ... for trance inductions.

In terms of spelling, we use hyphens a lot to reconnect what could easily be misunderstood as a dichotomized and elementalized world. Hence, neuro-linguistic, neuro-semantic, mind-body, mind-emotion-body, time-space, etc. When we refer to a formal model, we use capital letters, Meta-Model, Meta-Program, Meta-States, but when using these terms as verbs or in another way, we use small letters.
We have used other linguistic devices in the writing itself. You will find these explained in chapters eleven and twelve on the Meta-Model.

L. Michael Hall
Bobby G. Bodenhamer
2002

Book Review of The User's Manual for the Brain, Vol II by Judith Pearson, Ph.D.