  We propose an approach to explaining why naive large quantum fluctuations are
not the right estimate for the cosmological constant. We argue that the
universe is in a superposition of many vacua, in such a way that the resulting
fluctuations are suppressed by level repulsion to a very small value. The
approach combines several aspects of string theory and the early history of the
universe, and is only valid if several assumptions hold true. The approach may
also explain why the effective cosmological constant reamins small as the
universe evolves though several phase transitions. It provides a non-anthropic
mechansim leading to a small, non-zero cosmological constant.
