How do you feel knowing that your book could guide generations to come in their understanding of the world?
Dennis D Hunt: My exploration of the way things are in life started through extensive reading of the works of those who had come before me. Notable among these, was the American pioneer Ernest Holmes and his major work ‘The Science of Mind’. Through this book I came to realise that what we think and believe at a deep seated level governs to a large degree what we create in our lives. This was confirmed to me by my study and attainment of the skill of inducing and controlling hypnosis and thus being able to implant suggestions into the subconscious mind of those that I worked with in order to overcome the personal limitations and reinforce the goal attainment that they sought.

This book was followed by many others, including the works of Edgar Cayce, the famed American physic of the early twentieth century and Norman Vincent Peale’s ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’. One other author and pioneer that I must mention being Viktor Frankl, the author of ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ and many other powerful books. In my early twenties I can recall being awestruck that these men had written such powerful books and in so doing had left a legacy for seekers after the truth who were following behind them.

My books have in their own way been a record of my search to make sense of my life and the purpose of life of all in human form, whatever their nationality, race or religion. If this, my latest book, can have a positive impact on the lives of others, then my work will not have been in vain. Whether I have achieved this aim only the readers of my books can determine. I am satisfied that I have found answers to the most pressing questions that tormented me when I was younger. As I say in the opening comments in this book, if I can only raise, in the minds of my readers an awareness of the growth potential available to them through controlling and directing their thoughts, and through this lead them to make discoveries in their life that are beneficial in personal growth terms, then my books will have been worthwhile.

Which of the themes addressed do you think you found hardest examining yourself and why?
Dennis D Hunt: Without doubt the most difficult theme to address was the first section of the book: ‘Life’. Most difficult for me, and I guess the whole scientific community and all those who seek to answer the age old question: ‘Why is there anything here at all?’

The main difficulty I encountered was that the more scientific works I read, the clearer it became that there were no definitive answers on which the whole of the scientific community agreed. The most startling realisation came with the discovery that science has no idea what makes up 96% of our universe and uses terms such as ‘dark matter’, and ‘dark energy’, to describe this unknown element of the universe. This massive unknown led me to re-read the metaphysical explanations for our universe set out within Jane Roberts ‘Seth’ books. The information here had just as much validity as the explanation put forward by our most eminent scientists, yet would - in all probability - be rejected by them out of hand as unsatisfactory answers to how our universe came into being.

What is clear to me is that there is a vital force that we name ‘Life’ at the back of all creation. This force animates and energises all living things. Its absence - as in a corpse - is the most striking thing that one observes on viewing for the last time a loved one who has died. The spark, the life force, the essence of them is no longer present.

Presenting the totality of this in my book in as simple and rational a way as possible was without doubt the most difficult theme to develop.

What do you think is the biggest threat to contemporary society and how do you hope we will overcome it?
Dennis D Hunt: The first threat, in my view, is the almost total lack of belief in anything that cannot be seen, touched or felt by the majority of our contemporary liberal society. Religion is mocked by those who refuse to consider anything that cannot be scientifically proven to them. Yet microbiologists frequently show us a world beneath our world of which we are, in the main, completely unaware. Without the aid of strong microscopes and specialised laboratories the vibrant myriad world of bacteria would have remained a closed book to us. For example, the study of the e-coli bacterium by dedicated scientists over decades has shown that even these tiny scraps of life have individual purpose and collective intent. Many of the most important scientific medical discoveries today have come about through the exhaustive study of e-coli; the understanding of DNA being but one of them. Yet without the aid of science most of us would be completely unaware of the microbiological world which lives beneath our senses. There is so much about our world of which we remain ignorant. The arrogance of those who only believe when ideas can be demonstrated beyond doubt restricts and limits our development as individuals and as a society.

The second threat can be seen through a study of the rise and fall of all great civilisations of the past. These show that when food and shelter are plentiful, and the threat of war and hardship disappear, civilisation starts to disintegrate. It seems as if we only pull together at times of great hardship or threat. At a certain point in the development of all great civilisations they plateau, as personal greed and power seeking brings about fragmentation and societal decay. At such times their leaders seek to placate their restless citizens with ever more diversions and gratification through the elevation of pleasure and hedonism. The result has always been the ultimate destruction of these civilisations.

A subsidiary threat can been seen in the prevalent view that we are entitled to be happy at all times; that we are entitled to all of the pleasures of life, and when these are lacking, we look around for someone to blame or some pill to take. Yet for centuries it has been known that happiness is not to be found in external things. True happiness can only come from within, through achieving personal balance and contentment. It is the satisfaction obtained through striving and achieving goals, once thought beyond us, that gives that sort of excitement, known as real happiness. Through personal growth and development, self respect and personal discipline grows.

All plants grow toward the light. Examine the branches of any tree; the tapestry created by its branches is not formed at random, but by each branch seeking maximum exposure to the source of energising light - the sun. We are similar to plants as we too seek constant growth. We too are imbued with the same degree of creativity as the rest of nature. We too seek the light; the light that comes from growth and personal development. Like plants, when we cease to grow we quickly shrivel, decay and die.

External pleasures are but temporary distractions that divert us from our main goal as humans; that goal being our growth and development as beings. Creation and growth lead to evolution. Evolution is not a denial of the force behind all life, which in my book I label as ‘The Power that is’. It is simply an example that we have inbuilt within us the power of eternal development through growth and personal becoming. I know that such statements risk being labelled as vague and imprecise. But each one of us can look within and see our own weaknesses; can identify areas of our life in which we need to work to overcome personal limitations that restrict and bind us. By working to overcome these and by setting an example to those who come behind us we can significantly reduce the threat to our society at large. For society is not a homogeneous thing, it is made up of individuals and as such, a change in individual behaviour multiplied many times over, will ultimately change society as a whole.

What do you think is the greatest strength of humanity?
Dennis D Hunt: The greatest strength of humanity is our in-built survival instinct. This instinct has been demonstrated over our history when people have been seen to overcome incredible degrees of hardships and pain and have still survived. We are often at our best when confronted by hardship and danger.

I can only recommend Viktor Frankl’s books to those who wish to study this aspect of human behaviour. Viktor endured hardships and cruelties that few of us can even guess at, but yet came out the other side a bigger person than he was before he endured his suffering. Through his suffering he developed ‘Logotherapy’, the therapy of meaning in life. It is possible that this invaluable therapeutic technique would not have been developed to the degree that it was, without Viktor’s concentration camp experiences. He clearly demonstrated that hope and redemption can come from death and pain.

Who do you hope will read your book?
Dennis D Hunt: The main aim of my book: Are We There Yet is to introduce those who read it to the many other invaluable books that are to be found in the market place that will help them to make sense of those aspects of life that cause them the most difficulty. For nothing is created by us without first arising, at some level of our being, as a thought which is subsequently shaped and moulded by our deeply held beliefs before being released through physical action into our world.

What do you hope that people will learn from your book?
Dennis D Hunt: I hope that the readers of my book will be better able to reach their own conclusions about life through testing and if necessary disagreeing with the conclusions that I have reached, for through such disagreement the formulation of their own views will come. My ideas and conclusions are mine alone, reached after many years of personal study and observation of human behaviour. My methods were not scientific but were borne out of an innate curiosity about what ‘makes us tick’ as human beings. This book sets out my conclusions about life; I hope that by exploring and testing my ideas my readers will come to a better understanding of their own life and find the answers to life that are right for them. From this I hope they will reach their own personal growth and sense of fulfilment.

Is this your first publication?
Dennis D Hunt: I have written three other books in this genre: ‘Creative Thought and Personal Growth’ 1984; ‘The Success Habit’ in 2001; and Infinite Choice’ 2001.
My career was spent in Industrial Relations and Employment Law and during this time I wrote another four books on subjects relevant to my work.

Are you working on any other projects at the moment?
Dennis D Hunt: I am not engaged in writing at the moment. During the summer months I like to paint - mainly in watercolour or mixed media. My writing is mainly done in the winter months and I may attempt an autobiography in the coming winter months. More for my five children and five grandchildren than for general publication - although you never know what may result!