W ithin Y ou isthePow erby

HENRY THOM AS HAM BLIN andCHARRISSA CAW LEY

BO O K C O N TEN TS

PREFACECHAPTER I.--InfiniteLifeandPowerCHAPTER II.--TheOvercom ingofLife'sDifficultiesCHAPTER III.--FateorFree-W ill?CHAPTER IV.--CauseandEffectCHAPTER V.--SuccessCHAPTER VI.--HealthCHAPTER VII.--TheSecretofAbundantSupplyCHAPTER VIII.--ThePowerandLim itationsoftheSub-consciousM indCHAPTER IX.--TheUseoftheSpiritualorSuper-consciousM indCHAPTER X.--CharacterBuildingandtheOvercom ingofHabitCHAPTER XI.--HappinessandJoyCHAPTER XII.--TheUseandM is-UseofM entalandSpiritualPowersCHAPTER XIII.--Overcom ingLim itationsandAwakeningInwardPowers

PR EFA CE.

Thereisapowerlyinghiddeninm an,bytheuseofwhichhecanrisetohigherandbetterthings.

Thereisinm anagreaterSelf,thattranscendsthefiniteselfofthesense-m an,evenasthemountaintowersabovetheplain.

Theobjectofthislittlebookistohelpmenandwom entobringtheirinwardpowersofm indandspiritintoexpression,wiselyandinharm onywithuniversallaw;tobuildupcharacter,andtofindwithinthemselvesthatwondrousSelf,whichistheirrealself,andwhich,whenfound,revealstothem thattheyareliterallyandtrulysonsofGodanddaughtersoftheM ostHigh.

Thereisnowaywherebythedisciplineoflifecanbeavoided.Thereisnomeansbywhichfatecanbe"tricked,"norcunningdevicebywhichthegreatcosm icplancanbeevaded.Eachlifem ustm eetitsowntroublesanddifficulties:eachsoulm ustpassthroughitsdeepwaters,everyheartm ustencountersorrow andgrief.Butnoneneedbeoverwhelmedinthegreatconflictsoflife,foronewhohaslearnedthegreatsecretofhisidentitywiththeUniversallifeandPower,dwellsinanimpregnablecity,builtuponandintotheRockofTruth,againstwhichthestorm soflifebeatinvain.

W hilethislittleworkdoesnotofferanyvainpromisesofaneasylife--for,ifthiswerepossible,itwouldbethegreatestofalldisasters--butratherendeavorstoshow how tobecomesostrongthatlifelooksalm osteasybycomparison(thelifeorfatedoesnotchangeorbecom eeasier,buttheindividualaltersandbecomesstronger),yet,itdoesshow thereaderhow toavoidm akinghislifem oredifficultthanitneedbe.M ostpeople'sliveswouldbelessfilledwithtroubleandsufferingiftheytooklifeintherightspiritandactedinharm onywithUniversalLaw.

Itishopedthatthislittlebookm ayhelpm anytocomeintoharm onywithlife'slaw andpurposeandthusavoidmuchneedlesssuffering:tofindtheGreaterSelfwithin,whichdiscoverybringswithitarealizationofabsolutesecurity:tobringintoexpressionandwiselyusetheirinnerspiritualandm entalforcesandthusenteralifeofovercom ingandalmostboundlesspower.

C H A PTER I.

IN FIN ITE LIFE A N D PO W ER .

M anpossesses,didhebutknow it,illim itablePower.[1]ThisPowerisoftheSpirit,therefore,itisunconquerable.Itisnotthepoweroftheordinarylife,orfinitewill,orhum anm ind.Ittranscendsthese,because,beingspiritual,itisofahigherorderthaneitherphysicalorevenmental.ThisPowerliesdorm ant,andishiddenwithinm anuntilheissufficientlyevolvedandunfoldedtobeentrustedwithitsuse.

[1]Thepowersofthesub-consciousm indaredealtwithinotherchapters.ThePowersoftheSpiritarefargreaterandfinerthanthoseofthesub-consciousm ind.

Thoughtisaspiritualpoweroftrem endouspotency,butthisisnotthepowerofwhichwespeak.Bythought,m ancaneitherraisehim selfupandconnecthimselfwiththe"PowerHouse"oftheUniverse,orcuthim selfoffentirelyfrom theDivineInflow.Histhoughtishisgreatestweapon,because,byithecaneitherdraw ontheInfiniteorseverhimself(inconsciousness,butnotinreality)from hisDivineSource.

ThroughtheDivineSparkwithinhim ,whichisreallyhisrealSelf,m anisconnectedwiththeInfinite.DivineLifeandPowerarehis,ifherealizesthattheyarehis.SolongasheisignorantofhisonenesswiththeDivineSourceofalllife,heisincapableofappropriatingthepowerthatisreallyhis.If,however,heentersintothisinnerknowledge,hefindshim selfthepossessorofinfinitepowerandunlim itedresources.

ThisPower,then,isGod's,yetitisalsom an's,butitisnotrevealedtohim untilheisfittobeentrustedwithit.Itisonlywhenm anrealizeshisonenesswithhisDivineSourcethathebecomesfilledwithItspower.M anyteachersandinitiateslam entthefactthatcertainsecretsarebeingspreadbroadcastto-day;secretsthat,inthepast,werekeptcloselyguarded.Theyfearthatunillum inedandun-evolvedpeoplem aym akedestructiveuseofspiritualpower.This,tothewriter,appearstobeimprobable.Itistruethatstrongpersonalities,whohaveagreatbeliefintheirownpowertoachieveandsucceed,draw unconsciouslyonhiddenpowers,andthusareabletoraisethem selveshighabovetheirfellows.Theuse,however,thattheycanmakeofspiritualpowerforbasepurposesislim ited,andisnottobefeared.Thereareothers,ofcourse,whoarem isusing

theirpowers.Theseareblackm agicians,andwhiletheym aydoacertainam ountofharm ,theybecomereduced,ultim ately,tobeggaryandimpotence.Therearealsootherswhospendthewholeoftheirsparetim esearchingforknowledgeofthisverysubject.Theyreadeveryoccultbooktheycanlayhandson,buttheyneverfindthatforwhichtheyseek.Therearespiritualpowersandinfluencesthatwithholdtheeyesoftheseekersfrom seeing,untiltheyarereadyfortherevelation.W henm an,inhissearchforTruth,hasgivenupallselfishstrivingafterunworthythings,andhasceasedtousehisself-willinconflictwiththegreaterW illoftheW hole,heisreadyfortherevelationofhisonenesswiththeInfinite.Yieldingim plicitlytotheW illoftheW holem ayseem ,totheunillum ined,anactofweakness,yetitistheentrancetoalifeofalm ostboundlesspower.

M anisnotseparatefrom hisDivineSourceandneverhasbeen.Heis,inreality,onewiththeInfinite.Theseparationwhichhefeelsandexperiencesism ental,andisduetohisblindnessandunbelief.M ancanneverbeseparatedfrom Spirit,forhehim selfisSpirit.Heisanintegralpartofonecompletewhole.Helivesandm ovesandhashisbeinginGod(Universal,Om nipresentSpirit),andGod(Spirit)dwellsinhim .Them ajorityofpeopleareunawareofthisintimaterelationshipwiththeDivine,and,becausetheyareunaware,orbecausetheyrefusetobelieveit,theyare,inonesense,separatedfrom theinnerlifeofGod.Yetthisseparationisonlyintheirthoughtsandbeliefs,andnotinreality.M anisnotseparatedandnevercanbe,yetsolongashebelievesthatheisseparateandalone,hewillbeasweakandhelplessasthoughheactuallywere.Assoonasm anrealizesthetruthofhisrelationshiptotheInfinite,hepassesfrom weaknesstopower,from deathuntolife.Onem omentheisinthedesert,afaroff,weak,separate,andalone;thenext,herealizesthatheisnothinglessthanasonofGod,withallason'sprivilegesandpowers.Herealizes,inaflash,thatheisonewithhisDivineSource,andthathecanneverbeseparated.HeawakensalsotothefactthatallthePoweroftheInfiniteishistodrawupon;thathecanneverreallyfail,thatheism archingontovictory.

Itwillthusbeseenhow greatisthepowerofm an'sthought.W hilethoughtisnotthepoweroftheSpirit,itisthepowerbywhichm aneitherconnectshim selfupwiththeInfinitePower,openinghimselftotheDivineInflow,orcutshimselfoffandseparateshimselffromhisSpiritualSource.Thus,inasense,m aniswhathethinksheis.Ifhethinksheisseparatefrom Godandcutofffrom HisPower,thenitisasthoughthiswerereallythecase,andheisjustasim potentandm iserableasthoughheactuallyexistedapartfrom God.Onthe

otherhand,ifhethinksandbelievesthatheisonewiththeInfinite,hefindsthatitisgloriouslytrue,andthatheisreallyasonofGod.Ifhebelievesandthinksthatheisam erem aterialbeing,thenhelivesthelim itedlifeofam aterialbeing,andisneverabletoriseaboveit.Butif,onthecontrary,hethinksandbelievesthatheisaspiritualbeing,thenhefindsthathepossessesallthepowersofaspiritualbeing.

Again,ifhethinksthathisworkisdifficultandthatheisnotequaltohistasks,hefindsthatreallyhistasksaredifficultandbeyondhispowers.Yetontheotherhand,ifhebelieveshisworkiseasy,or,atanyrate,withinhispowers,hefindsthatsuchisthecase,andthathecandohisworkwithease.

Thepowerwithinisinfinite,for,byfaithinit,m anisdirectly"coupledup"withtheSpiritualPoweroftheUniverse.TheDivineSparkwithinhim connectshim totheSacredFlam e,thusm akinghimpotentiallyagodinthem aking.

A changethen,m usttakeplacewithinm anbeforehecanenterintohisDivineinheritance.Hem ustlearntothinkaftertheSpirit,i.e.,asaspiritualbeing,insteadofaftertheflesh,i.e.,asam aterialcreature.Liketheprodigalsonhemust"com etohimself,"andleavethehusksandtheswineinthefarcountry,returningtohisFather'shouse,wherethereisbread(oflife)enoughandtospare.

C H A PTER II.

TH E O V ER C O M IN G O F LIFE'S D IFFIC ULTIES.

Thetrueobjectoflifeisthatm anm ayattainwisdom throughexperience.Thiscannotbeaccomplishedbygivingintothedifficultiesoflife,butonlybyovercom ingthem .Theprom isesofGodarenotm adetothosewhofailinlife'sbattle,buttothosewhoovercom e.Neitherarethereanyprom isesthatm anshallhaveaneasytim eandbehappyeverafterwards.Yet,itisafterthisthatthem ajorityofpeopleareforeverseeking--aneasylife,agoodtim e,freedom from sufferingandcare.But,inspiteofalltheirseeking,theycanneverfindthatwhichtheydesire.Thereisalwaysaflyintheointm entoftheirpleasure,somethingthatrobsthemoftruehappiness;or,possibly,combinationsofcircum stances

conspiretoupsetalltheirplans.

Lifeisaparadox;thetrueobjectoflifeisnottheattainmentofhappiness,yetifweattainthetrueobjectoflifewefindhappiness.Thosewhoareignorantoflife'struepurposeandwhoseekhappinesshighandlow,yearafteryear,failtofindit.Likeawill-o'-the-wisp,itforevereludesthem .Ontheotherhand,thosewhorecognizethetrueobjectoflife,andfollow it,attainhappinesswithoutseekingforit.

Intim espast,peoplehavem adeGodaconvenience.Theyhavethoughttheycoulddriftthroughlife,learningnoneofitsdisciplineandthen,whenintrouble,orthingswerenottotheirliking,theycouldpraytoGodandhavetheunpleasantcircumstancestakenaway.Thesam eideaisprevalentto-day.Peoplehavelefttheoldorthodoxyandlooktovarious"cults"and "ism s"togetthem outoftheirdifficulties.Theydonotbelievenow thattheycancurryspecialfavorwithGodbyprayer,buttheyfirm lybelievethattheycangetwhattheywantfrom theInvisiblebydem andingit.Theythinkthatbythismeanstheycanhavetheirownwayafterall.Bythistheym eanhavingagoodtime,withnounpleasantexperiences,trials,difficulties,adversities.Theyare,however,m erelychasingrainbows.Theeasylifetheyseekconstantlyeludesthem ,sim plybecausethereisnosuchthing.Theonlylifethatiseasyisthelifeofthestrongsoulwhohasovercom e.Hislifeisnoteasyinreality,butappearsrelativelysobecauseofhisstrength.

Itisim possibletohaveaneasylife,and,ifitwerepossible,thenlifewouldbenotworthliving,forthesoleobjectoflifeisthebuildingofcharacterandtheattainmentofwisdom throughexperience.Lifetoallofusm ustalwaysbefullofdifficulty,anditistohelpthose,who,hitherto,havefoundliferathertoomuchforthemthatthisbookisbeingwritten.W hatthem ajorityareseekingforisaneasylife(whichtheywillneverfind,butpreciselythereverse)andforthem Ihavenom essage.ButtothosewiseandawakenedsoulswhoareseekingforTruth,nom atterfrom whenceitm aycome,andwhodesiretoovercomelifeanditsdifficulties,insteadofweaklygivingintothem ,thisbook,itishoped,willbringam essage.

Atthisstagewecannotgointothesubjectofwhyweshouldm eetwithdisastersandadversityinthislife,norwhysom epeopleshouldhave,apparently,asm ootherlifethanothers.[2]W em ustthereforebesatisfiedtoknow thatwehavetomeettroubleandovercom edifficulty,andthatitisonlybysodoingthatwecanattainwisdomandbuildupcharacter.Thequestion,then,isnotwhetherweshall

m eetthetroubleandadversityornot,butrather,how weshallm eetthem .Shallwebevictoriousorshallwebesubmerged?Shallweovercomelife'sdifficultiesorshallwegiveintothem ?

[2]Thissubjectisdealtwithin "ThePathofVictory"bythesam eauthor,andpublishedbyTheScienceofThoughtPress.

Them ajorityofpeoplearedriftersontheseaoflife.Theyarewaftedhereandblownthere:theyarealsocarriedhitherandthitherbyeverycurrent.Itisonlythefew whorealizethattheyhavethePoweroftheInfinitewithinthem bywhichtheycanrisesuperiortoalltheirdifficulties,overcom etheirownweaknesses,and,throughvictoriousexperience,attainwisdom .

Atthispointsomepracticalreaderm aysaythatattainingwisdomisallverywell,butwhathewantsispracticalhelp.Heisperhapsoutofwork,hassicknessinhishouseandisindebt.Or,hem aybewell-to-do,andyetinthedeepestdistressandm isery.ToallsuchIwouldsaythattheypossessthePowerbywhichtheycanovercomealltheirdifficulties,and,throughovercom ing,attainwisdom .A m an'ssuccessdepends,m orethananything,uponhisfaith--hisfaithinthegoodpurposeoflife:hisfaithinthePoweroftheInfinitewithinhim andhisabilitytoovercom eeveryobstacleinhispath.

TheextentofthePowerthatm ancanbringintohislifeisthem easureofhisfaithinthatPower.IfhisfaithinItissmall,thenhislifewillbefeebleandlackinginachievement.IfhisfaithinthePowerwithinhim islarge,thengreatwillbethepowerm anifestinginhislife.ThePoweroftheInfiniteisillim itableandinexhaustible:allthatisrequiredisanunquenchablebeliefandtrustinit.Theweakestandm osttim idcanm akeuseofthisPower.ThereisthesamePowerinthetim idandweakasinthebraveandstrong.Theweaknessoftheform erisduetoalackoffaithandbeliefintheInfinitePowerwithinthem .

Difficultiesandtroublestherewillbeineverylife,andsometim esdisasterandheartbreak,whentheveryearthslidesfrom underthefeet,yet,bycallinguponthePowerwithin,itispossibletorisefrom theruinsofcherishedhopesstrongerand"greater"throughexperience.Happinessandtruesuccessdependuponhow thetroublesanddifficultiesoflifearem et.Adversitycomestoall,butifitism etintherightm annerevenfailurecanbem adethestepping-stonetosuccess.Troublecomestoall,but,whileitm akessom epeoplestrongerandbetterineveryway,itsubmergesotherssothattheyneverriseagain.Thetroubleisthesame,itishow itism etthat

m akesthedifference.Thosewhom eetdifficultyandadversityinthefeeblestrengthoftheirfinitem indsandfalsepersonalityarespeedilyoverwhelmedandbrokenbythestorm soflife.Butthosewhorelyupon,andhavefaithinthePowerwithinthem,canneverbeoverwhelmed,neithercantheyeverbedefeated.ThePower,beinginfinite,isalwayssufficient,nom atterhow greattheneedm aybe.

Onewhorealizeshisownrealspiritualidentity,knowsthathecanneverdie,thathecanneverbedefeated,thathecanneverreallyfail.Hem aylosehisbodythroughthechangethatiscalleddeath;buthe,thetruem an,canneverdie.Neithercanhefail,thoughhebedefeatedathousandtimes--hemustriseagain.

OnlyhavefaithintheSpiritualPowerwithinyouandyoucanknowallthejoysofovercom ingandachievem ent.Allthingswillbecom eyours.SeekfirsttheKingdom withinyou(yourspiritualunionwiththeInfinite,andharm onywiththeDivineW illandPurpose)andallthesethingsshallbeaddeduntoyou.Youwillhavenoneedtofearthemorrow,foryouwillknow thatallprovisionhasalreadybeenm ade.Therewillbenoneedtohoardupwealth,fortherewillbethenecessarydailysuppliesalwaysavailable.Therewillbenoneedtolivenearadoctor,forGod,theInfiniteLife,shallbeyourhealth.Therewillbenoneedforregretorlam entation,foryoushallknow thatalliswell.Therewillbeno fearoffuturehappenings,foryoushallrealizethattheInfiniteOnem akesnom istakes.

C H A PTER III.

FA TE O R FR EE-W ILL?

Greathasbeenthecontroversyinthepast,overthevexedsubjectoffateversusfree-will.Ontheonehand,fatalistsclaim thatm anissocloselyboundtothewheeloffateitisim possibleforhimtolivehislifeinanydifferentwaythanthatwhichism appedoutforhim .Hecanbringaquantityoffirst-classevidenceinsupportofhisclaim andbelievesinhistheorywithallhisheart.Ontheotherhand,theadvocateoffree-willbelievesjustaswhole-heartedlythatm anisnotboundatall,beingasfreeasair.He,too,canbringplentyofevidenceinsupportofhistheory,whichconfirm shim inhisbelief.Eachoneofthem thinksthattheotheriswrong,yettheycannotbothbewrong!Letusthereforeexam inethesubjectforourselves,foritisanimportantone,beingintim atelyconnected

withthesubjectwhichthisbookdiscusses.

Firstofall,letitbesaid,theyarebothwrong,inpart,andright,inpart.M anisboundtothewheel,yet,atthesametim e,hehasfree-will.Letus,therefore,explainthisseem ingparadox.

Itisanancienttruthoftheinnerteachingthatm an,whenheisunevolvedandbeforeheis"unfolded,"isboundtothewheeloffateveryclosely.Theunevolvedm anfollowshisdesires,thuscreatingforhim selfafuturefrom whichhecannotescape.W henhowever,hebecomesmoreevolvedandem ancipated,hebeginstoresistfollowinghisdesiresandstrives,instead,tofollow higherthings.Thiscreatesforhim abetterfutureandthushebecomesfreeincomparisonwithhisform erslavestate.M anisaslavetofateaslongasheisaslavetothedesiresoftheearthplane.Heis,however,freetoovercomelowerthingsandthusrisetohigher.W henhedoesthisheceasestocreateapainfulfutureforhim selfandthusbecomesfree.

Thereis,therefore,fatewhichisselfcreated.Itisnecessarytoacknowledgethisbeforewecanproceedfurther.Onewhohasnothadm uchexperienceoflifeorwhohasnotbeenacloseobserver,m aydenythatthereissuchathing,butonewhohashadgreatchangesinhislife,againstwhichhehasfoughtandstruggledinvain,knowsthatthereisapurposeworkingbehindtheeventsoflife,againstwhichevenkingsandm ightym enarepowerless.Therecometim esinm an'slifewhenhemovesheavenandearth,figurativelyspeaking:praysuntilhecanpraynomore:sacrifices,itm aybe,hismoney,hishealth,hisprospects,anddoeseverythingthatisinthepowerofahum anbeinginavainattempttostaveoffathreateneddisaster.But,inspiteofallhisefforts,inspiteofhiscriestoapitilessheaven,therelentlessm archoffatecannotbestayed.Itm ovesforwardlikeahugejuggernautandcrusheshishopes,hisdearestidol,hisverylifeitselforallthatthenm akeshislifeworthliving--andleaveshim desolate.

"Ifthen,"youm ayask,"fateissopitilessandsopowerful,whatcanbedonewithitandwheredoesfree-willenterintothem atter?"In replyitm ustbeadm ittedatoncethatitisnousefightingfate.Themorem anfightsit,them orecompletelyhegetsbroken.Therearecertainm aineventsineachlifewhichm ustcom etopass.Theseeventsandchangesareinevitableanditishopelesstofightagainstthem .W hilethesethings,whichconstitutewhatwecallfate,areinevitableandthereforecannotbeavoided,itrestswithourselveshow wemeettheseadversitiesanddisasters.Ifwem eetthem inthewrongwaytheybreakus.If,however,wem eetthem intherightway

webecomestrongerthroughdisciplineandexperience,thusbecom ingbetterfittedtobearlife'sresponsibilitiesandtoovercomeitsdifficultiesandtemptations.Onewhomeetsthesetbacks,grievances,bereavementsanddisastersoflifeintherightspiritbecomesastrongandrichcharacter.Hebecomesm ellowedthroughexperience,strong,stable,ahelpfulinfluencetoallwhomeethim .

W henthingsgosmoothlyandlifeisam erryround,nophilosophyorreligionseemsnecessary,and "asforaninwardpower,whatofit,wecandoverywellwithoutit."Sosaythethoughtlessandinexperienced,buttherecometim esineverylife,when,notonlyisaphilosophy,andthataverysoundone,necessary,butalsoapower,ofwhichthefiniteselfknowsnothing,isneededinordertoraisethesouloutofthedustandashesofitsdespair.Itisonethingtotryandmeettroubleandadversityintherightspiritandquiteanotherthingtohavethepowertodoso.Onewhothinksthathehasnopowerwithinhim butthatallthepowerisincircumstances,canneverrisevictoriousoverhistroublesandbecomeaconqueroroverlife'sdifficulties;butonewhorealizesthathepossessesawonderfulpowerthatcanraisehim up,nom atterhowcrushedhem aybe,canneverbeafailureinlife.Nom atterwhatm ayhappentohim hewillplaythem anandactanoblepart.Hewillrisefrom theruinsofhislifeandbuilditanew ingreaterbeautyandsplendor.

Atthisstageitisnecessarytopointoutthatthereisadifferencebetween"bigfate"andthecircumstancesoflife."Bigfate"asitsom etimesiscalledantedatesthispresentlifeanditscausedoesnotcom ewithinthescopeofthislittlebook.[3]Sufficientifwesayherethat,throughtheages,wereapaswesow,thereforeourfuturedependsuponhow wemeetlifeanditsdifficultiesnow.Bigfate,then,cannotbesuccessfullyfought,simplybecauseitistheworkingofOm nipotentLaw,butourlifegenerallyanditscircumstancesdependuponhow wemeet"bigfate,"andhow werecoverfrom it.Nom atterhow seeminglyunkind "fate"m aybe,itispossibleforustom akeourlifeabeautifulthing.InspiredandenergizedbythePowerwithin,wecanrisefrom theashesofourdeadhopestobuildanew ourlifeingreaterbeautyandm oreinharm onywiththeDivineIdeal.

[3]Inadditiontothe"fate"or"future"whicheverythoughtandactionbuilds,thereis,behindallevolution,agiganticplan.Thiswonderfulplanthatembracesall,from thestupendousconceptionofalim itlessuniversedowntothesm allestelectron,isbeingworkedoutthroughtheageswithabsoluteprecision.Nothingcanpreventthisplanfrom beingbrought

intom anifestation.Itgathersupourpastandweavesitintoourpresentlife,justinthesamewaythatitisbusilygatheringupourpresentlifeandweavingitintofuturefate.Itworksitallintothebigplan,somehow,andwithinfiniteskill.Theplanisboundtobefollowed(this,too,isfate)butHOW wefollow it,eitherwithwillingnessandhappiness,oroppositionorwoe,restswithus(thisisfreewill).

ThosewhohavestudiedtheOccultsciencesm aysay"whataboutplanetaryinfluences?"Theywillpointoutthat,accordingtotheancientscienceofastrology,am an'slifeisdeterm inedbythe"star"underwhichheisborn.Thisistrue,ifhegivesintotheinfluencesaroundhispath.Atdifferenttimesinhislifem anm eetswithinfluencesthataresometimes"favorable"andatothertim es,adverse.Theseinfluencesare,however,onlyinfluencesafterall,andonewhowillstandfirm duringperiodsofadversityandrefusetogivein,relyinguponthegreatPowerwithintocarryhim through,willfindthathecanweatherallstorm soflifeandcomeoutofhistrialsgreatlystrengthened.Hecannotpreventtheseinfluencesfromcom ingaroundhispathoflife,buthecanrisesuperiortothem .Hewillm eetwithfailuresandset-backsbuthewillm akeofthese,stepping-stonestosuccess.Hewillexperiencegrievancesandbereavements,butoutofthesehewillbuildafinercharacterandrisetohigherthings.One,however,whogivesintothesethings,refusingtoriseagainandreconstructhislife,condemnshimselftofurthersuffering,thusm akinguttershipwreckofhislife.

Letthedespairingtakeheartagain.BelieveinthePowerwithinyouandyouwillrisetoheightsbeforeundream edof.W iththisPowertohelpyou,youcanaccomplishtheapparentlyim possible.

A PPEN D IX TO C H A PTER III.

OurlifehereisnotgovernedbyacapriciousBeingwhoblowsfirsthotandthencoldorwho favorsonepersonandtorturesanother.TheSupremeBeingworksthroughlawsthatareabsolutelyjustandunchanging.Thereforealldisasterandtroubleinthelifeistheeffectofcertaincauses.Thesecausesareourownwrongdoinginthepast,whichsetinmotionforces,againstwhichthepowerandwitandwisdom ofm anarepowerless.[4]However,becausethefundamentallaw oftheUniverseislove,itfollowsthattheworkingofthelaw ofcauseandeffectisnotvindictive.Itsobjectisourhighestgood,viz.,tobringusintounionwiththeDivineorintunewiththeInfinite.Therefore,byrisinguptoahigherplaneand

com ingmoreintoharm onyandunionwiththeDivine,werobevenbigfateofsomethingofitspower.W ecannotopposeit,forbysodoingwefightagainstOmnipotence,butwecanforestallitbydoingwillingly,andofourownaccord,thatverythingwhichexperiencecomestoteachus.

[4]Anothercauseisthatthesoulhasfailedtolearncertainlessons,therefore,inthislife,m anypainfulexperiencesarebroughttobear,insuchaway,astoteachthenecessarylessons.Thelessonsare,however,learntonlyifpainfulorunpleasantexperiencesarem etintherightway.Solongasm anbelievesthatheisunjustlytreatedbyfateandthathedoesnot"deserve"whatlifem etesouttohim ,heintensifieshistroubles,bothnow andhereafter,throughnotlearningthelessonsthatlifedesirestoteach.W hen,howeverm anrealizesandadm itsthatlifeisjustandthatthecauseofallhistroublesiswithinhim self,he,liketheprodigalsoncomestohim selfand,soonafterwards,beginshishom ewardjourney.Yetanothercauseisthatthesoulisdeficientincharacter.Strengthandstabilityofcharactercanbebuiltupthroughthesoulmeetingtroubleanddifficulty.Againitm ustbepointedoutthattheym ustbemetintherightspirit.

Itwillbeseenthen,thatourfuturedependsentirelyuponthewaywethinkandactinthislife.Ourfutureliesinourownhands.Ifweviolatethelaw ofloveinthislife,wecreatedisasterandsufferingforthefuture,whichwillhavetobem et,intheform of"big fate"ofapainfulcharacter,someday.Therefore,byrightthinkingandrightdoingnow,wenotonlyam eliorateconditionsinthislife,butwealsocreateafuturethatwillbemoreharm oniousandfreerthananythingwehaveexperiencedhitherto.

Itisalsonecessarytopointoutthat,eveninthislife,someofitsbigdisastersaretheresultofthoughtsandactionscom mittedduringthispresentexistence.A youthoryoungm anm aycom m itafollythatbrings,inafterlife,aterribleretribution.Orhem aydoanotherm anagrievouswrongandyearsafterwardssomeoneelsedoesthesamewrongtohim .Itisalwaysaneyeforaneyeandatoothforatoothonthisplaneofcauseandeffect,buttheGreatW ayShower,byHisteachingofthepoweroflove,enablesustoriseabovetheselowerthingsandlivealifeofharm onyandpeace.

C H A PTER IV .

C A U SE A N D EFFECT.

M anisthecauseofthedisastersinhislife.Hereapsthroughtheagesexactlyashesows.Lifeisperfectlyjustandrewardseverym anaccordingtohisworks.Thefateofthepresentisthereapingofhissowingin,itm aybe,adistantpast.Therefore,thedisastersandsufferingsofthislife,m ustnotbeattributedtotheinterferenceofacapriciousandunreasonableGod,forthetruthis,theyareduetotheexactworkingofaperfectlyjustlaw.Fate,oncecreated,isirrevocable.Itcanneitherbefoughtnorevaded.Byfightingagainstfate,m anm erelysm asheshimselftopieces.Todoso,isequivalenttorunninghisheadagainstastonecliff:theharderhecharges,thegreaterthedam agetohishead--butthecliffisunaffected.Fate,althoughlargelyself-created,isreallytheDivinepurposeoflife:therefore,toresistitistofightagainstGod.Fate,againisnotpunishm ent,inanyvindictivesense,itisthedrawingtogetherofcertainremedialexperiences,throughwhichthesoulcanlearnthelessonsithasfailedtolearninpastagesandthusattainwisdom .Theobjectoffateisthehighestgoodoftheindividual,althoughitm ayentailsufferingandpainfulexperiences.

Becausethedisastersinm an'slifeareduetopastwrongdoing,itnaturallyfollowsthathisfuturedependsuponthekindoflifethathelivesto-day.If,inthepast,hehascreatedforhim selfasequenceofeventsandexperiences,from whichitisim possibleforhim toescape,itisobviousthathisfuturelivesdependentirelyuponhow helivesthepresentone.Itwillbeseenthatifm ancanlearnthelessonsofthepresentlife,andliveinsuchawayastoceasecreatingtroubleforthefuture,heisbeginningtoclimbthePathofLiberation,whichistheroadalladvancedsoulshavetofollow,or,rather,havetheprivilegeoffollowing.Byfollowingthispath,m anceasestobeboundtothewheeloffate.

Thislittleworkdoesnotteachreincarnation,butitsteachingisbasedonabeliefthatm an,inreality,isaspiritualbeing,aDivineSparkfrom theSacredFire.Spiritbeingim mortalhasnobeginningorendthereforealwayslives.Thispresentlifeisoneofcountlessexperiences,eachoneofwhichhelpstobuildupcharacter.Thereisnodeath,butonlychangesfrom onevehicletoanother.Thereisnobeginning,orend,ortim einreality,thesearem erelim itationsofthehum anm ind.Itisim possibleform antodie:hecanonlyleavehisbody.Hecannotkillhim self,tryhow hewill:hecanonlyforcehimselfoutofhisbody.M anmustalwaysgoon,whetherhelikesit

ornot:heproceedsthroughtheages,reapingexactlyashesows.

W ehavealreadyseenthatm ancannotavoidorfightsuccessfullyagainstfate,butthathecanbecomefreefrom thewheeloffatebylivingalifeinharm onywithDivineLaw.[5]Atthispointitisnecessarytopointoutthatmostofm an'stroublesarenotcausedbyfateatall,butareduetohisfightingagainstortryingtoresistthegreatplan.Iftheexperiencesoflifeareresisted,oranattemptism adetoevadeitsdiscipline,troublesanddifficultieswillrepeat,becom ingmorepainfulandinsistentuntiltheirlessonislearntandthelifechangedaccordingly.Thereforem anhasitinhispowergreatlytoim provehispresentlife,aswellastocreateafarbetterfuture,sim plybylivinghislifeto-dayinharmonywithDivineLaw.Further,itisnecessarytopointoutthatallthoughtandactionhaveanim m ediateaswellasafarreachingeffect.Itistruethatthefulleffectoflifehereisnotreapeduntilafterourlittlecourseonthisplanehasbeenrun,butgreatdifferencesareeffectedinthepresentlifenevertheless.Thewayayouthm akesuseof,orthrowsawayhisopportunities,eitherm akesorm ars,toaverylargeextent,hisadultcareer.Opportunities,onceallowedtopass,canneverberecalled.Sinscom m ittedandwrongsdonetoourfellow menhaveanunpleasanthabitofrepeatingthem selvesinareversedwaylaterinlife.Forinstance,am anm aygetoninlife,and,inhisselfishclimb,m aytram pleononeweakerthanhimself,ruininghim anddrivinghim todespair.Yearsafterwards,hewillprobablybetreatedinexactlythesamewaybysom eonestrongerandm orefavorablysituatedthanhimself.Therefore,thereisanim m ediatesowingandreapingthatfindsfruitioninthislife.By"im m ediate"ism eant,withinthecompassofthislife.Thereapingm aybedelayedtenortwentyyears,butinthewriter'sexperience,itnotinfrequentlycomes."W hatsoeveram ansoweth,thatshallhealsoreap."Those,therefore,whothinkthatlifeisnotjust,andwhowhineandcomplainaboutthewaytheyaretreated,aresim plyincreasingtheirowntroubles.Untilm anrealizesthatthecauseofallhistroublesiswithinhimselfhecanneverdoanythingtorem edym atters,because,obviously,theonlythingthatisrequiredisforhim tochangewithin.M anhastobecom echangedwithinbeforehislifecanbealtered.Histhoughts,hisideals,hisattitudetowardslifem ustallbecometransform ed.W henthischangehasbeeneffected,henotonlybeginstorepairhispresentlife,buthecreatesafairerandnoblerlifeforthefuture.

[5]Thisistheinnersecretofallesotericteaching.Thenewbirth,orregeneration,m eanstheawakeningofthesoultoconsciousim mortality.Theoldself,thatwasboundtothewheeloffateandtheplaneofcauseandeffectfrom whichit

couldneverfreeitself,owingtothefactthatitwascontinuallybindingitselftothewheelafresh,throughfollowingselfishdesires,dies,andanew selfisborn.Inotherwords,theconsciousnessisraisedfrom theplaneofsinanddeath,ofsensualityanddesire,ofrestrictionandcaptivity,tothehigherplaneofSpirit,wherem anrealizesthatheisasonofGod.HediscoversthattheDivineSparkwithinishistrueself.Herealizesalsothathehasalwayslived--inhisrealSpiritualSelf.Beginningandend,likechangeanddecay,belongpurelytothem aterialplaneandhavenoplaceinReality.Theyform partofthispresentthreedim ensionalexistencebuthavenoreality.Endlessbeingisthereality.Anythingshortofthisism ereillusion.Itisnotnecessary,therefore,tobelieveinthetheoryofreincarnationorthatallourexperiencesm ustofnecessitytakeplaceonthisplane.Sufficienttoknow thatwecanneverdie,thatwecannotescapefrom ourselves,andthattoneglectseekingwithallourheartforuniononceagainwithourDivineSource,ism erelytoprolongoursufferings.

M an,then,hastochange.Hisdesiresandaspirations,insteadofbeingdirectedtowardshateandevilm ustbetransform edtoloveandgood.Insteadofwallowinginlustandselfishnesshem ustlifthimselftohigherandbetterthings.How canthisbedone?Itcannotbeaccomplishedbythefinitem anatall,butitcanbeachievedbytheInfinitePowerwithin.Itisonlywhenm anrealizeshisonenesswiththeInfiniteandbelievesthatOm nipotentPowerisathisdisposal,thattheSpiritualPowerwithinbecom esavailable.Solongasm anhasdoubtsandfearsordisbeliefs,thisspecialpowerisnotavailable.Itishis,buthisstateofheartandm indpreventshimfrom eitherrealizingthepresenceofthePowerormakinguseofit.Beforethem achineryofaworkshopcanrunitmustbeconnectedupwiththeengineroom .Inthesam eway,m an,beforehecanlivethenew life,m ustbecom eonewiththeInfiniteLifeandPower.

Enteringthisnew lifeofpower,doesnottakeawaylife'sexperiences,itstrials,troublesandadversities,butthechangewithindoespreventthecreationofunnecessarytroublesandsuffering.Alsoevenaso-calledunkindfatelosesm uchofitspowertowound,forthehigherm anrisesintounionwithGodandInfiniteLove,thelesspowerithasinhislife.Itstilloperates,butitfailstowoundsodeeply,form an,seeingwithillum inedeyes,knowsthatitisgoodthathascometobless;andnotevilthathascometoslay.Painfulfatelosesitspowertohurtwhenmanceasestoresistitandm eetsitwithopenarm s,seekingtolearnthelessonsthatithastoteach.

C H A PTER V .

SU C C ESS.

W hatism eantherebysuccessistheachievementofsom ethingworthwhile,thatshallmaketheworldbetterandricher,andaddsomethingtothecom mongood.Oursphereinlifem aybeveryhumble,butifweovercomeourownweaknesses,helpothersalonglife'spathway,anddoourdailyworkbetterthanweneed,ourlifecannotbeotherthansuccessful.If,attheendofourlife,wecanbethankfulforit,realizingthatwehavem adethebestpossibleuseofit,wehaveachievedrealsuccess.

Success,totheunillum inated,m aym eantheaccum ulationofwealthandthewinningoffam e.Yetthosewhogiveuptheirlivestotheacquirementofthesethingsarethegreatestfailuresinlife.Theygainwealth,itistrue,buttheyfindthattheirm oneycanbuyonlythosethingsthatbringnosatisfaction:thatitcannotpurchaseforthem anyofthethingswhicharereallyworthhaving.Successofthishollow kind,canbewon,butattoogreataprice.ThegreatestTeacherofalloncesaid:"Forwhatshallitprofitm an,ifheshallgainthewholeworldandlosehisownsoul?"W hatdoesitprofitam anifhe"getson"atthecostofhappiness,health,joyofliving,domesticlife,andtheabilitytoappreciateNature'sbeautiesandsimplepleasures?

Yetm anmustbeastriver.Hem ustbeforeverseekingbetterthingsandtoexpresshim selfm oreperfectly.Onewhodriftsthroughlife,m akingnoefforttorisetobetterthings,isnotworthyofthenameofcitizen.M an,ifheistobeworthyofthenam e,m ustbeforeverstriving,overcom ing,rising.Failureinlifeisalwaysduetoweaknessofcharacter.Itisonlystrongcharacterswhocanresistthebuffetingsoflifeandovercomeitsdifficulties.Them anwhowouldm akehislifeworthyofrespectandwhowouldrisetohighachievementandservice,willbeconfrontedbydifficultyateveryturn.Thisisasitshouldbe,foritweedsouttheweaklingsandunworthyaspirants,andawardsthespoilstothosewhoexhibitfaith,courage,steadfastness,patience,perseverance,persistence,cheerfulness,andstrengthofcharacter,generally.Success,especiallym aterialsuccess,isnot,initself,ofm uchbenefittotheonewhowinsit.Itdoesnotsatisfyforlong,butitisvaluable

inotherways.Forinstance,success,basedonservice,isabenefittothecom munity.If,itwerenotforsuccessfulpeopleofthistypetheordinarym anintherutwouldhaveabadtim e.Also,thewinningofsuccessbuildsupcharacter.Onewhowouldbesuccessfulinthebattleoflife,m ustbepreparedtobetestedandtriedineverypossibleway.Onewhosurvivesthem allisbuiltupincharacterinalm osteverydirection.Eveninhissuccess,however,hewillbetemptedandtried.Onewhoisengagedintheharshstruggleofbusiness,orwhotakespartinpubliclife,m ay,ifhedoesnotwatchhimselfverycarefully,becomehardandcallous.Ofallfailuresthisisprobablytheworst.Onewhosucceedsinotherdirectionsandbecomesa"hardm an,"is,afterall,asorryfailure.

Again,peopleofthesuccessful,striving,climbingtype,aretem ptedfarm orethanthosewhoareafraidtoventureandwhorem aininthevalleyofm ediocrity.Thisistrue,notonlyofthosewhoseektoclimbthesteeppathofspiritualattainment,butalsoofthosewhoaresuccessfulinm undaneaffairs.Ineachcase,theyhaveplacedintheirkeepinggreatpowersandinfluencesuchastheordinarym anlittledreamsof.Thisisagraveresponsibility,forifthesepowersareusedforself-aggrandizem enttheresultsaredisastrous.Thus,thosewhoclimb,arebesetonallsidesbytemptationsofaverysubtlekind,which,ifyieldedto,willruinthelifeanddograveinjurytothesoul.

Lifeisacontinualbattle.Totheordinarypersonitisgenerallyafightwithcircumstancesandtheordinarydifficultiesoflifewhichareveryim portantinhiseyes.Them oreadvancedsoulisnottroubledmuchbythesethings--herisesabovethem --butheistemptedandtriedtoam uchgreaterdegree,andinafarm oresubtlemanner.Thosewhothinkthatbyfollowingacertain "cult"or"ism ,"theywillbeabletohaveanuneventfulwalkthroughlifearem erelydeludingthem selves.Ashelearnstoovercom ethedifficultiesoflifewhichbaffletheordinaryindividual,hewillbetemptedandtriedinotherandmoresubtleways.Thisisbecauselifeisnotform erepassingpleasure,butisforthebuildingupofcharacter,throughexperience.Therefore,onewhowouldsucceedmustbestrong,andwiseandpatient.Thosewhoaspiretom aketheirlivesreallyworthwhile:whodesiretoservetheirfellowsmoreperfectly:whowanttobuildupcharacterthroughexperienceandovercomealltheirweaknesses,inheritedorotherwise,m ustlookwithinforpowerandwisdom .

Itm ustbepointedout,however,thatm anm ustnotusehisspiritualpowersforselfishpurposesandself-aggrandizement.Thereisanim m utablelaw,whichhasbeenknowntotheinnerteachingallthrough

theages,thatforbidstheuseofspiritualpowersforthecreationofwealthorevenofdailybread.Jesuswassubjecttothesamespirituallaw,andwastemptedexactlyinthesamewayaswe.Thetemptersaid:"Com m andthisstonethatitbem adebread."IfChristhadturnedthestoneintobread,HewouldhavefailedinHisgreatm ission,butHeknew thelaw.Therearethousandsofpeopleto-daywhoaretrying,notonlytoturn,bythem is-useoftheirspiritualpowers,stonesintobread,butalsointom otorcars,fatbankbalancesandlandsandhouses.Suchareheadingtodisaster,fortheyareworkingagainstthecombinedSpiritualPoweroftheUniverse.TheEnem yofSoulsoffersthosewhohavelearnedtotaptheinexhaustiblePoweroftheUniverse,andwhohavediscoveredthattheyaresonsofGod,wealth,power,pomp,theapplauseofm en--theglitteringthingsthatperish--ifonlytheywillm is-usetheirGod-givenpower.LikeJesus,theym ustrefuse.Theymustputservicebeforeself,andgiveinsteadofgrasping.

Thousandsarebeingtaughtto-dayto forcetheirhum anwilluponlifeandtouseoccultpowersfortheacquisitionofwealthandpower.TheyaretaughttoentertheSilenceanddemand "whattheywant.""How togetwhatyouwant"isthesloganofthesem odernteachers.Notm erit,notservice,notgiving,butdem anding,compellingbyhum anwill-powerandbytheuseofoccultforces.ThisisanotherdeviceoftheEnem yofSouls,anditistakingtensofthousandsofseekersforTruthoutofthePath.Thissubjectisdealtwithm orefullyinaseparatechapter.

If,however,m an'sam bitionistoserveandtogive,insteadoftograspandtograb:if,also,heseekssuccessthroughm eritandnotthroughthem is-useofhisspiritualpowers,hecangoforwardandthePowerwillgowithhim andwillhelphim .W henoncethePowerhasbeenaroused,m anm ustceaseallpurelyselfishstriving,although,ofcourse,therewillstillbemuchselfishnessinhism otive.Hem ustseekhissuccessthroughserviceandthroughfollowingnobleaim s:throughmeritandafairexchange,insteadoftryingtowringsuccessfrom life,nomatterwhom aysufferthereby.

Further,whenthisPowerhasbeenbroughtintoexpressionitmustonlybeusedinlove,forifitusedotherwiseitwilldestroytheuser.Again,thePowerm ustnotbeusedbythefinitehum anwill,butanendeavorm ustbem adetofindwhattheW illoftheW holeis,andtoworkinharmonywithit.

BehindeachlifeistheDivineW illandPurpose.Eachlifeisperfectasitisim agedintheUniversalM ind.Thehighestsuccess,indeed,theonlytruesuccess,istolivethelifeaccordingtothegreat

Cosm icPurpose,or,inotherwords,asitisim agedintheOneM ind.

Donotim agine,however,thatitistheW illoftheUniversalM indthatm anshouldbeafailureorlackinginachievem ent.Farfrom it,forwehaveonlytocontemplatetheUniversetoseethattheInfiniteM indisforeverachievingandthatitneverfails.M an,too,mustsucceed,butlethim m ixwisdom withhisam bition,andworkforthebenefitoftheW hole,ratherthan foranypurelyselfishpurpose.

Itisnaturalform anto "geton"inlife,toam oderateextent.[6]Inorderto "geton"hem ustbecomem oreefficient,andthusservelifeandhisfellowsbetter.Therefore,thereisnoharm insuccessofthiskind.Itisnaturalandlaudablealsoforoneinpoorandunlovelysurroundingstohaveanam bitiontoraisehim selftobettercircumstances.Itisonlyrightthatheshoulddesiretom akelifebrighterandbetterforhiswifeandfam ily.Solongasheindulgesinambitionwisely,andifheseekssuccessthroughbetterservicetohisfellows,hisisalaudablepurpose.If,however,hedoesnotcurbandcontrolhisam bitionbutallowsitto "runaway"withhim ,hewillloseallrealjoyinlife,and,atthelast,whenitistoolate,learn,tohissorrow,thathislife,throughtoom uch "success,"hasbeenafailure.

[6]Itm ustnotbededucedfrom thisthattheauthordeprecateslargeachievement.Theremustalwaysbethefew whohavetobearhugeresponsibilities.TherealsuccessofthelivesofthesegreatonesdependsentirelyupontheirM OTIVE.Iftheyseekmerelypower,fam eandself-aggrandizement,thentheirlife,nom atterhow itm ayAPPEAR otherwise,canbeonlyafailure.If,however,theirm otiveisSERVICE,thentheirlifeistrulysuccessful,nom atterhow itm ayappeartobeotherwise.

Thewriter'sexperiencehasbeenthatitisnecessarythatweshouldalwaysbeprogressing,achieving,overcom ingandendeavoringtosucceed.OneofthegreatestlawsoftheUniverseisprogress,thereforeitisfataltostandstill.W emustgoforward,wem ustachieve,wemustaccomplishthings.Ifwedoso,wem ayfindthatm anythingswhichcostusm ucheffort,andhardworkarenotworththehaving,yetallthetimewearelearning,throughexperience,andarebeingstrengthenedandpreparedforgreaterthings.Throughrepeatedfailuretofindtruesatisfactionwearrivefinallyattrueknowledge,wisdom andunderstanding.W earewisethen,if,withtheworldatourfeet,wecanbesatisfiedwithaverym oderatem aterialsuccess,andturnourattentionandaspirationstohigherandbetterthings.

Inconcludingthischapterletitbepointedoutthatsuccessandachievementwillnotdropreadym adefrom heavenintoyourlap.Allwhosucceedaregluttonsforwork,toilingwhilstothersplayandsleep.Allteachingtothecontraryiserroneous.Tothinkthatsuccessisgoingtocometoyouwhenitisunm erited,simplybecauseyoum akeuseof"affirm ations"orem ploym ental"treatm ents,"isfollyofthefirstwater.Ontheotherhand,tousetheinnerforcesinanoccultway,soastocompelm aterialthingsor"success,"so-called,inanyshapeorform ,tocometoyou,isblackm agic.Onewhostoopstosuchpracticesbecomesablackm agician,earningforhimselfaterribleretribution.Thereisonlyonewaytosucceedintheaffairsoflife,andthatisbyraisingoneselftogreaterusefulnessandservice.Bydoingthingsbetterthantheyhavebeendonebefore,bybearinggreaterresponsibility,youservehum anitybetter,andthereforem eritsuccess."Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive,"saidtheM aster,andthisistrueeveninthepracticalandm aterialaffairsoflife.First,youmustgivebetterandm orevaluableservice:inotherwords,deserveandmeritbeforeyouexpecttoseeitm aterialize.Youmustsow beforeyoucanreap:youmustbecometoobigforyourpresentpositionbeforeyouarecapableofoccupyingalargerone.Youmustgrow andexpandineverypossibleway,andasyougrow sowillyoursuccessincrease.Outwardsuccessisonlyareflection,sotospeak,ofwhatyoureallyare,andaresultofgreaterandm orevaluableservicetohumanity.Itrequiresgreateffortanddeterm inationtogetoutoftherut,butsolongasyouram bitionisnotignobleorselfish,therewillbefoundwithinyoupowersufficientforallyourneeds.

Towinsuccess,eitherinthehurly-burlyoflife,orthemoredifficultpathofspiritualprogress,dem andsim agination,vision,courage,faith,determ ination,persistence,perseverance,hope,cheerfulnessandotherqualities.Thesearealltobefoundwithin.Allthesequalitiesliem oreorlessdorm antwithin,andcanbecalledintoexpressionifwebelievethatInfinitePowerisours.

Again,however,m ustthewarningberepeatedthatthisPowerm ustnotbeusedforselfishself-aggrandizement,stilllessm ayitbeused,or,rather,m is-used,eithertoinfluenceordom inateothers.IfthisPowerism is-usedtheresultsareterribleanddisastrous.Therefore,usethePoweronlyfortheachievementofgoodandnobleaim sandinservicewhichshallenrichthelifeofyourfellows,addingtothecommongood.Havingarrivedatthisstageyoumustgoforward.Therecanbenoholdingback.Everonward,theDivineUrgeissendingyou,togreaterachievementandaccomplishment.Justassurelyastheplanetsmustrevolveroundthesunandfulfilltheir

destiny,soalsomustyougoforward.Seetoit,then,thatyouraim sandam bitionsarebaseduponeternalwisdom ,foruponthisdoesyourwholefuturedepend.

C H A PTER V I.

H EA LTH .

Itisim possible,inalittleworkofthisdescriptiontoexplainwhyitisthatonepersoninheritsaweakandailingbodyandanotherenjoysastrongandrobustconstitution.Sufficientforusheretonoticethatthedaysofrude,ruggedhealtharepassing,andthatm anisbecom ingmorehighlystrung,nervousandpsychicinhism ake-up.Theoldtypeofrude,unconscioushealthwasduetotheanim al-likenatureofm an,whichcausedhisbodytobegovernedm orecompletelybytheinstinctivemind.Lessevolvedhum ansarenotaffected,apparently,bythem entalstorm s,psychicchanges,andspiritualdisharmoniesthatdisturbthehealthofthem oreevolvedtypes.W ehaveanillustrationofthisinthecaseofsomeform sofinsanity.Thepatient"goesoutofhism ind,"withtheresultthathisbodilyhealthbecomeswonderfullygood.Theinstinctivem indtakescontrolofthings,andrude,robustanim alhealthistheresult.W henthepatientwassaneandhism indfilledwithworry,am bitions,plans,cares,lusts,hatesandgrievances,hewasprobablyveryfarfrom well.Thiswouldbeduetothedisturbingeffectsofhisthoughtsanduncontrolledemotions.W hen,therefore,hisconsciousm indgavewayandhebecamehappyinanimbecileway,heceasedtothinkofthesedisturbingthings,withtheresultthattheinstinctive,anim alm indwasabletoworkundisturbed.

Itisofnousesighingfor"thegoodoldtimes,"whenpeoplewereruggedandstronginthewaythatsavagesareruggedandstrong,forevolutionhasdecreedthatm anshallchangeintoahigherandm orenervousandsensitivetype.Inthissensitivetypewrongthoughtsandemotionsquicklyproducepainandsuffering.Them ajorityofpeopledonotknow whatgoodhealthis.Notonlydotheysufferfromm inorailm ents,suchasheadaches,indigestion,rheum atism ,neuritis,buttheyalsoneverfeelheartyorcom pletelywell.Theyarestrangerstothejoyofliving.Lifedoesnotthrillthem :nothingquickenstheirblood:theyhavenomomentsofvividecstasy--inotherwords,theydonotlive,theym erelyexistatapoordyingrate.

Again,them ajorityofpeoplearesusceptibletoinfectiousdiseasesandepidem ics,yet,iftheywerereallywell,theywouldbeim mune.Instead,however,ofseekingim munitythroughhealth,theyareseekingitthroughtheuseofvaccinesandserums,thusaddingtotheburdenswhichthebodyhastobear.Allattem ptsinthisdirectionareboundtoendinfailure,for,asfastasonediseaseissuppressedanotheronewillappear.

M anypeoplelookupondiseaseandsicknessasinevitable,yetthetruthisthathealthisthenorm alstateandill-healthanabnorm ality.Intracingbackill-healthtoitssource,wefind,firstofall,thatitisduetodisobedienceofnaturallaw.Largenumbersofpeoplebreaknearlyeveryknownnaturallaw ofhealth,andaresurprisedthattheybecomeill.Yetthewonderisthattheyareaswellastheyare.Yet,whileobediencetonature'slawsandtheuseofnature-curemethodswillcarryusacertainpartoftheway,wefindthattheremustbecausesevendeeperthanthosewhicharephysical.W eareconfrontedbythefactthattherearem anypeoplewhoobeyeveryknownphysicallaw ofhealth,whobathe,exercise,breathe,eatanddrinkscientifically,whoadoptnature-curemethodsinsteadofdrugsandserums,whoyetcannotfindhealth.Thereforewem ustsearchdeeperandgotothem indinordertodiscoverthecauseofill-health.

W henwelooktothem indwefindaprolificcauseofsickness.M anthinkshim selfintoill-healthanddisease.Itiswellknownthatthinkingaboutdiseaseandsicknessproducesthem inthebody.Peoplewhoareforeverthinkingaboutdisease,illness,operationsandotherm orbidsubjects,becomeapreytothesethings.Thosewhobelievethatsicknessisinevitable,m anifestitintheirlife.M orbidthinkingproducesam orbidstateofthebody,causingiteithertofallaneasypreytoinfectionortobreakdownintochronicill-health,orevendisease.Allowingthethoughtstodwelluponm orbidthingsisasurewaytosicknessandinvalidism .

M anisnotonlym adeillbyhisownnegativethoughtsandemotions,heisalsounderthehypnoticspelloftheracem ind."TheGodofthisworldhathblindedthem indsofthem whichbelievenot."W eareallunderthespell,m oreorless,ofahugeillusion.Theevil,disease,sicknessandotherim perfectionsthatweseeandexperience,havenoreality,inreality,buthaveanexistenceinunreality.[7]Althoughtheyarenotrealinarealsense,yettheyareterriblyrealtothispresentlim itedconsciousness.Byrealizingthetruth,andbythinkingandlivinginitslightandpower,thehypnoticspellbecomesbroken,notcompletely,elseweshouldnotgrow old,buttosuchanextentthatastateofgreatlyimprovedhealthcanbeenjoyed.

[7]Forafullerexplanationofthism etaphysicalstatementseeScienceofThoughtTextBooks,Nos.I.andII.

W earealsohypnoticallyaffectedbysuggestion,whichreachesusfrom athousanddifferentsources.Theconversationsoffriendsandacquaintances,affectusadversely.Theirbeliefin diseaseandsicknessasrealities,andinitsinevitableness,colorsalltheirconversation,and,unlessweguardagainstit,thisunconsciouslyaffectsus.Newspapers,m agazines,books,allsteepedinthesameerror,alsoinfluenceusunlesswehavebecometoopositivetobeaffected.From innumerablesourcesitissubtlysuggestedtousthatdisease,sickness,infectionarerealitiesthatcannotbeevaded,andtowhichweareprone.Theeffectofallthis,puttingitinsimpleandelementarylanguage,istodivertthelifepowerintowrongchannels,thusproducingdiseaseandill-healthinplaceofperfection.Thenorm alstateofhealthhastogiveplacetoanabnorm alstateofdiseaseorsickness.Thenorm alhealth-stateis,however,restoredwhenTruthisrealized,andthelifelivedinItslightandpower.AbsoluteTruthandPerfectionstandbehindalltheillusionandimperfectionofthesenselife.ItisbyrealizingtheTruthandtheperfectionoftheReality,andbyestablishingthethought-lifeinTruth,sothatourthoughtsceasetobenegativeandbasedonerrorandillusion,thathealthistobefound.

Itisoftensaidthatill-healthistheresultofsin.Itis,forthinkingaboutdisease,sicknessandill-health,believingthem tobeinevitable,isoneofthegreatestofsins.Thewayoflifeistowalk(thinkandact)aftertheSpirit(whichisperfect,whole,im m ortalandincorruptible)andnotaftertheflesh(corruption,disease,sickness,death).Bythinking"aftertheflesh"wedishonorGodwhoisabsoluteW holenessandPerfection,andcutourselvesofffrom theDivineLifeandPower.

Butthereareotherwaysbywhichwrongthinkingdestroysthehealth.Thinkingthoughtsoflustisaprolificcauseofunhappiness,sicknessandnervousdisease.Thedivineforcesoflifearedirectedintoawrongchannel,resultingeitherinindulgenceandinevitableweakeningofbody,brainandwill,orinrepressionanditsconsequentnervousdiseases.Ifthethoughtsareallowedtodwelluponim purity,evilresultsmustfollow insom eform ,eitherinactionorill-health,orboth.Thoughtm ustbecontrolledandreversedcontinually.Notrepressed,butreversed,beitnoted,forthereisatremendousdifferencebetweenthetwo.Repressioncreatesnervoustrouble,butbyreversingortransmutingthethoughtsthelifebecomestransform ed,andthebodilyhealthgreatlyim proved.

Further,indulginginthoughtsofhate,resentment,ill-will,fear,worry,care,grief,andanxiety,producesill-health,and,byloweringthetoneofthebody,laysitopentoinfectionanddisease.W ethereforeseethatthestateofthem indandthecharacterofthethoughtsareim portantfactorswhichcannotbeignored.Itisuselesstotreateitherill-healthordiseaseiftheyarem erelytheexternaleffectsofhiddencausesofthem ind.Inordertoeffectacurewehavetogetbacktothecauseofthetrouble.

Thoughtcontrol[8]isagreatassistance.Substitutingarightorpositivethoughtforawrongone,will,incourseoftim e,workwondersinthelife.In thesub-consciouswehaveanillim itablepowerofextraordinaryintelligence.Accordingtoourthoughtsthiswonderfulpowereitherbuildsuphealth,harm onyandbeautyinourlifeandbody,orjustthereverse.Thepowerisgood,theintelligenceisapparentlyinfinite,butitgoeswhere-everourthoughtsdirectit.Byourthinking,therefore,weeithercreateordestroy,produceeithergoodorevil.If,therefore,allourthoughtsaregood,positiveandconstructive,itfollowsthatbothourbodyandourlifem ustbecomebuiltupinharmonyandperfection.Thequestionis,canthisbedone?Itcanbedoneifwehavethedesire,andarewillingtodisciplineourselvesandpersevereintheface,often,ofseemingfailure.Somereadersm aysay,atthispoint,thattheyhavenodesiretobesofrightfullygood,thattheyarenotpreparedtogiveuplust,im purity,hate,anger,m aliceandthoughtsandemotionsofthiskind.Verywell,ifthisisso,theym ustgoonandlearn,throughsuffering,thelessonwhichtheyrefusetolearnwillingly.Othersm aysay:"Yes,Iwanttocontrolm ythoughts,buthow canIceasetoworrywhenIhavesomuchaboutwhichtoworry,andhow canIceasetohatewhen Ihavebeensodeeplywronged?"Thisbringsustoanevendeepercauseofill-healththanthatofm ind,viz.,theattitudeoftheheart.Ourscripturestellusthat"asam anthinkethinhisheartsoishe."By"heart"ism eantthesoulorfeeling,desiringpartofm an.Itisherewheretheconflictbetweentheself-willandtheDivineW ill,betweenthedesiresofthefleshandthelongingsoftheSpirittakeplace.Therealrootcauseofallunhappiness,disharmonyandill-healthisspiritual,andnotmerelym entalorphysical.Thelatterarecontributorycauses,buttheform eristhefundamentalcause.Spiritualdisharm onyis,inreality,thecauseofallill-healthanddisease.Untilspiritualharm onyisrestored,m anisakingdom dividedagainstitself,which,asourLordsaid,cannotstand.Healing,then,m ustbeofaspiritualcharacter.Untilthisharm onyexiststherecanbenoovercom ingofhatethoughts,fearthoughtsorworrythoughts,anduntiltheseareovercometherecanbenotruehealing.OurLord'shealingwasa

gracioushealingoftheSpirit.Itrestoredinwardharm onybyforgivingsin,bychangingtheheart'sdesires,bybringingthewillofthesubjectintoharm onywiththeDivineW illoftheW hole.OurLord'shealingwasnotaccomplishedbym eansofsuggestion,neitherwasitachievedbyhum anwillpower;itwasdonebyabringingintoharm onyoftheheartanddesiresandwillwiththeDivineW ill.AtthesametimetheremusthavebeenarevelationofthetruththattheW illofGodislove,wholeness,joyandperfection,andnotdisease,sicknessandm isery.

[8]Seealso "ThePowerofThought"bythesam eauthor,publishedbyTheScienceofThoughtPress,Chichester.

M entalhealingdoesnotbecomepossibleuntilwehavem adeourpeacewithGod.Untilwehavesurrenderedentirelytotheloveprinciple,wecannotovercom eourhatethoughtsandm alicethoughtsorresentmentthoughts,bytransm utingthem intothoughtsoflove.UntilwesurrendertotheDivineW illandleaveallourproblemstotheInfiniteM ind,wecannotceasetoworryandfear.M entaldisciplineandthought-controlarenecessaryafterthisinwardchangehastakenplace,forweallhavetoworkoutourownsalvation,buttheessentialthingistheinwardheartsurrenderinloveandtrust.Solongaswehateourbrother,orfearwhatthemorrow m aybringforth,orworryaboutthethingsofthislife,wecanneverbewell.W hen,however,wehavebecomeattunedtotheDivineHarm ony,andhavelearnttocontrolourthoughtsandemotionsandtotransmutefleshlyandm aterialdesiresintolovingservice,astateofwholenessistheinevitableresult.Old,deeply-seateddisordersdieaway,andasteadyim provem entinthestateofhealthtakesitsplace.

Inordertoregainhealthitisnecessaryto raiseoneselfupcontinuallytotheDivineIdealofhealth,harmonyandperfection.Butthisisuselessiftherestillrem ainsaclashingofthepersonalwillwiththeDivineW ill,orifthereisanyhate,m alice,envy,orfearintheheart.Thewillm ustbesurrenderedtothegreaterW ill(this,inreality,isourhighestgood,forthefulfillm entoftheDivineW illisthehappydestinyofm an):theheartm ustforgiveandbefilledwithlove;fearm ustbecastout,andreplacedbyconfidenceandcompletetrust,beforewecanenterintothathappy,care-free,restfulstatewhichisnecessaryforhealing.Healthisharm ony--adelicatebalanceandadjustmentbetweenspirit,soul,m indandbody.Thisharm onyisdependententirelyuponthegreaterharm onybetweenourselvesandGod.Solongasthereisaconflictofwill,solongasthereishateorresentment,solongasthereisselfishnessorwhilethereisfear,thisharm onycannotexist.Therefore,thebed-rockcauseofhealthisspiritualharm ony,all

healingbeingarestorationofharm onybetweenmanandhisDivineSource.W henthisharmonyisrestored,m anisnolongerakingdomdividedagainstitself,forhebecomesestablishedinunity:heworkswiththeUniverseandtheDivineLawsofhisbeing,insteadofagainstthem .TheDivineLifeandPowerflow throughhim unimpeded,promotingperfectsub-consciousfunctioning.Histhoughtsbecomecleansedattheirsource("Createinm eacleanheart,O God,andrenew arightspiritwithinm e,""CleanseThoumefrom secretfaults").Hebecomesfreefrom thehypnoticspelloftheracem ind:hiseyes,throughtheinfluenceoftheDivineSpirit,becomeopenedtotheTruth;thereforeheisnolongerblindedbythePrinceofthisworld.IntheDivineUnionhebecom esfree.(InChristallarem adealive).

Thesubjectofgriefanditseffectuponhealthhaspurposelybeenlefttothelast.Noam ountofrightthinkingwillpreventbereavementsinthislife.Theseform partofthenecessarydisciplineoflife,anditdependsentirelyuponhow wemeetourtrialswhethertheyshallbehurtfulorthegreatestpossibleblessing.Byrebellingagainstlife'sdiscipline,grievancesbecomehurtful,butthehurtisnotinthebereavementitself,butintheattitudeofthem indandheart.Untilthesoulisabletodrinkthecupofsorrow willingly,andsay"ThyW illbedone,"bereavementishurtful,destroyingbothhealthandhappiness.Thecauseofthehurtis,however,inthehardnessofheart,andnotinthebereavementitself.Theremust,therefore,besubm issionandanacknowledgm entthatthedisciplineisnecessary.Thisdoesnotimply,however,aweakgiving-intogriefandm ourning.Onewhohasbeenbereavedcannever,itistrue,bethesameagain,forheorshebecomesmorechastened,m oreloving,m oresym pathetic,richerandmorem ellow incharacter.Thelovedonecanneverbeforgotten,butthatisnoreasonwhytheheartshouldbeboweddownbygriefandthelifem adedesolatebysorrow.Insuchcasestruereligion,notreligiousness,istheonlythingthatcansatisfythesoul,harm onizethem ind,andhealthebody.TobeestablishedinTruth,knowingthatalliswell:thatGodm akesnom istakesandthatthereis,inreality,nodeathbutonlychange,istheonlywaybywhichbereavementcanbem adetobeablessingindisguise.W henthisstageisreached,griefisovercome,deathbeingswallowedupinvictory.Theonlypanaceaforalllife'stroublesisconsciousharm onywithourDivineSourceandtheDivineW illandPurposewhichdesireonlyourhighestgood.

C H A PTER V II.

TH E SEC R ET O F A BU N D A N T SU PPLY .

Itisam etaphysicaltruththattheoutwardlifeisareflectionofthethoughtlife.Ourlifeisaffectedbyourhabitofthinkingandattitudeofm ind,intwoways:first,allouractionsareunconsciouslyinfluencedbyourthoughts,thushelpingtobringintom anifestation,orattractingtous,anenvironmentthatcorrespondstoourthoughts.[9]Secondly,wedischargeorem itaninfluence,silentandinvisible,thatnodoubtaffectsotherpeople.Theyareprobablynotawareofit,buttheyareeitherrepelledorattractedbythissilentinfluence.Thus,ifourthoughtsandm entalattitudeareofthewrongtype,notonlyareouractionsaffectedthereby,butalsoweexertasilentinfluencethatassistsindrivingtherighttypeoffriends,opportunity,successandeverypossiblegoodawayfrom us.Thereversealsoisequallytrue.Byrightthoughtsandacorrectmentalattitudewenaturallyattracttousallthegoodofwhichourpresentlifeiscapable.

[9]Thism ayseem ,atfirstsight,tobeasweepingstatement,buttwohom elyillustrationswillproveitsreasonableness.Firstwewilltakethecaseofam ancom m ittedtoprisonforlaw-breaking.Hisenvironmentisobviouslyduetohiswrongactions,thelatterbeingtheoffspringofhisthoughts,forallactionsspringfrom thoughts.Nextletustakethecaseofam anwhoisthetrustedheadofanefficientbusiness.Obviouslyhispositionistheresultofhisactions,forhehasclimbedtoitbyhardworkandfaithfulservice,alldueinthefirstplacetoconstructivethinkingandarightattitudeofm ind.

TheBibletellsusthatasam anthinkethinhisheartsoishe.Itisequallytruetosaythatasam anis,sodoeshethink,and,thatashethinks,sodohisouterlifeandcircumstancesbecome.Therefore,asam anis,soishisenvironment.Thism aysoundratherm etaphysical,butitisreallyquitesimple,andproofm eetsusateveryturn.Takeam anfrom slumdom andputhim innicesurroundings,andnotewhathappens.Verysoonheeitherdriftsbacktoaslum orturnshisnew houseintoaslum dwelling.Takeam anofahighertype,andputhim inaslum ,andsoonhewilleitherleavetheslum orchangehisslum dwellingintoam oredecenthabitation.Putaslutinam ansion,andshewillturnitintoapig-sty,butputawom anofahighertypeinahovelandshewillm akeitcleanenoughtoentertainroyalty.Therefore,beforeyoucanchangeaperson'senvironmentitisnecessarytochangeinwardlythepersonhim self.

W henam anbecom esinwardlychangedandfilledwithnew am bitions,idealsandhopes,he,incourseoftim e,risesabovehissordidsurroundingsandattractstohim selfanenvironmentthatcorrespondstohisnew stateofm ind.Itwouldbeuselesstotidyupthehouseofaslutforher,forshewouldsoonm akeitlikeapig-styagain,butifyoucouldgetanew idealofneatness,cleanliness,orderandspotlessnessintoherm ind,shewouldnotrestsatisfieduntilherim m ediateenvironmentcorresponded,insomemeasureatleast,toherm entalidealorim age.

Veryoften,thefailuresofam an'slife,anditsdisharm oniesandpoverty,eithercomparativeorreal,areoutwardsym bolsofhisweaknessofcharacter.Hem ayhaveabilityinplenty,buthem aylackapplicationorsteadfastness,andthushefailsinallhisundertakings,andhastobekeptbyhiswifeanddaughters.Hewillassureyouthathiscircumstancesareduetoill-fortune,buttheactualcauseofhisfailureisinhischaracter,or,rather,lackofcharacter.

If,therefore,am an'spovertyandlack,orfinancialdifficultiesareduetoweaknessofcharacterwhichm anifestinhisworkanddealingswithothers,intheform ofinefficiency,poorserviceandbadjudgm ent,itfollowsthathe,himself,m ustchangebeforehiscircumstancescanbeperm anentlyalteredforthebetter.Thedifficultyindealingwithunsuccessfulpeopleisingettingthemtorealizethatthey,themselves,arethecauseofalltheirtroubles.[10]Until,however,theydorealizethis,theircaseishopeless,anditisim possibletohelpthem ,butwhentheyacknowledgethatthefaultistheirs,theycanbeshownthatthereisarem edyfortheirillsandawayoutoftheirdifficulties,bymeansofself-im provem ent.Letthem thensearchforhiddenweaknesses,andbuildupthoseweakplacesintheircharacter,suchaslackofgrit,determ ination,steadfastness,persistence,patience,probity,decision,whicharethecauseoftheirtroubles,andtheywillfindthattheircircum stanceswillgraduallychangeforthebetter.Everythingcomesfrom within--firstwithin,thenout,thisisthelaw--thereforethechangem ustalwaystakeplacewithin.

[10]Seealso "TheFundam entalsofTrueSuccess,"bythesam eauthorandpublishedbyTheScienceofThoughtPress,Chichester.

Goingmoredeeplyintothesubjectandbecom ingm oremetaphysical,itisnecessarytopointoutthatthecauseofallm anifestationisM ind.W ehavealreadyseenthatam an'sm indandcharacterarereflectedinhiscircum stances;now letusthink,foram om ent,abouttheM indthatisInfinite.Thewholeuniverse,whichis,ofcourse,

infiniteinextent,hasitsoriginintheDivineM ind,andiscontainedwithinthisInfiniteM ind,justinthesamewaythatyoucanholdamentalpictureinyourownm ind.God'sUniverse,asitisim agedintheDivineM ind,isperfect.W eseeitasim perfect,becauseweonlyreceiveafinitesense-perceptionofthatwhichisperfectandinfinite,from thisform ing,inourm inds,anim agethatisnecessarilyimperfectandfinite,whichweprojectoutwards,and,notknowinganybetter,thinkisreal.Buttheuniverse,asim agedintheDivineM ind,andasitactuallyisinreality,isbothinfiniteandperfect:itisalsoinfinitelyperfect.Thereisnopovertyorlackinauniversethatisinfinitelyperfect,wholeandcompleteintheDivineM ind.Povertyandlackhavetheirorigininthem indofm an:theyhavenoplaceintheM indofGod.

W ecannot,inalittleelem entaryworkofthiskind,gom oredeeplyintothisextremelyfascinatingsubject.SufficientifwesayherethattheonlyRealityisinfiniteperfectionandwholeness,thereforetherecannotbeanylackatall(inreality).Theobviouslackandpovertythatweseearoundusaretheproductofthehum anm ind.Thosewholiveinaconsciousnessofpovertyandlack,gothroughlifecloselyfetteredbylim itation.Theycanneverescapefrom poverty,itdogstheirfootstepsliketheirshadow.In fact,itisashadoworreflection,intheouterlife,oftheirstateofm indandmentalattitude.

Ontheotherhand,thosewholiveinaconsciousnessofsufficiency,arenottroubledaboutsupply.Theircircum stancesreflecttheirtypeofm indandmentalattitude.Itdoesnotfollow thattheywillberich,form anyofthem prefertolivefrom handtomouth,andquitelargenumbersofpeoplehavenodesirewhatevertopossesswealthofanykind,buttheyhavenoworryaboutsupply,fortheirneedsarealwaysm etbysufficiency.

M anyofourreaderslookuponthepossessionofwealthasaniniquity.Personally,Idonotseehow,atthisstage,itcanbealtogetheravoided.Capitalisnecessaryfortheconductingofbusinessandforthecarryingoutofenterprises,but,asfarasthehoardingofwealthisconcerned,Icertainlythinkthatitisbothunwiseandunnecessary.Thereisnothingmoredeadeningtothespirituallifethanriches.Thereisalwayshopeforthedrunkardandtheharlot,butitismostdifficultalthough,ofcourse,notimpossible,foronewhoisburdenedbywealthtoenterthekingdom ofheaven.Someareabletodoso,buttheyareallowedtoentersimplybecausetheyholdtheirwealthasofnoimportance,m erelyassom ethingofwhichtheyarestewardsforaseason.

Thehoardingofwealthisjustasunnecessaryaspoverty.Theyarebothbaseduponafundamentalerror.Thiserrorisinthinkingthatallsupply,beingm aterial,m ustnecessarilyhaveam aterialsource:thatitislim itedinquantity,andthereforemustbegrabbedatandfoughtover.Thetruthis,ofcourse,thatthesourceofsupplyisSpiritual,andthereforewithoutlimit;consequently,onewhorealizesthetruthhasnothoughtsofpovertyorlack,andceasestofearit.Ontheotherhand,hehasnoincentivetohoardortograbwealth,forofwhatusearerichestoonewhosesupplyisforeverassured?

Allwhoenterintothistruthregardingsupply,eitherdespiserichesorholdthem verylightlyindeed.Theyceasetohaveanydesireforwealth.W hyshouldtheyhaveanysuchdesire?Peoplehankerafterwealthbecausetheyfearpovertywithadeadlyfear,andlongforwealthbecausetheythinkthatitspossessionwouldreleasethem fromtheirfears.W hen,however,theyknow thetruth,theyalsoKNOW thattheirwantswillalwaysbesupplied,thereforetheynolongerdesirewealthanditscaresandresponsibilities.

W ealthisjustasabnorm alaspoverty.OurLordshowedthistobethecasebychoosingtobepoor(butnotinpoverty)andbyHisteachingintheSermonontheM ount.W hatJesuspromisedwasadequatesupply,butnotwealthorriches,tothosewhohadsufficientfaithintheir"HeavenlyFather."M anypeoplelivethisplanlesslifeofutterdependenceupontheirSpiritualSource.Theyneverbecomerich,butalltheirneedsaresupplied.Somethingalwaysarrivesintim etomeettheirrequirements.Suchaliferequiresaveryliveandactivefaith,butitsresultsareascertainastherisingofthesun.

Anunderstandingofthetruthregardingsupplyisanecessaryfoundationforthefaithwithoutwhichtheunplannedlifeisim possible.Itisnecessarytoknow theutterfalsenessandunrealityofpovertyandlackbeforewecantrustinDivineProvidenceortheworkingofSpiritual(atthesametim e,m ental)law.Itisnecessarytoknow thattheuniverseisSpiritual:thatGodisSpirit,inwhom weliveandm oveandhaveourbeing,andthatbecauseweareapart,verysm all,butyetapart,oftheW hole,allourwants,allthroughtheages,m ustbesupplied.Supply,sufficientforallourneeds,isthereality.Povertyandlack,theproductoflackoffaith,offear,ofignorance,ofweaknessofcharacter,havetheirorigininthehum anm ind,andaretheunreality--thenegativewhichhasnoperm anenceorreality.

W henwehavelearntthetruth,itisnecessarytoliveintheConsciousnessofit,andtothinkandactandpraiseGodasthough

sufficiencywerealreadyours.Nottospendm oneythatwecannotaffordtospend,nortoincurdebt,buttolivem entallyinanatm osphereofabundantsupply.W ehavetoremem berthatthechangeinconsciousnessmusttakeplacefirstandbecomewell-established,beforeitseffectscanbeseentom anifestintheouterlife.

Theenteringofthishigherconsciousnesswhereweknow andrealizethetruth,viz.,thattheSourceofalloursupplyisSpirit,andthattheDivineSourceislim itless,isnoteasy,althoughitislessdifficulttosomethantoothers.Itdem andsconstantmentalactivityandwatchfulness:itrequirespersistenceandperseveranceinrightthinking,yetitispossibletothosewhoareinearnest.BylivingintheconsciousnessofGod'sSupplyandexercisingalivelyfaith,thelifebecomesaffected,principallyduetobothconsciousandunconsciouschangeofaction.

Havingdealtwiththeesotericorinnersideofthesubjectofsupply,Iwillnow treatitm orefrom theouterorpracticalside,thelatterbeing,ofcourse,justasimportantastheform er.

Theteachingofthischapterdoesnotdiscourageindustryandthrift,farfrom it.AftertheLordChristhadfedthefivethousand,alltheleavingswerecarefullycollectedsothatnothingshouldbewasted.ThisisinaccordwithUniversallaw.Thereisalaw ofeconom ybothinthenaturalandspiritualworlds.Natureappears,onthesurface,tobeverywastefulandprodigal,but,actually,sheneverwastesanything,ifitcanbeavoided.Therefore,theactionofthediscipleswasinaccordwithuniversallaw.W hatalesson forus!Tobecarefulandsavingisam arkofsuperioritybothinm indandcharacter.Thewastefulnessofthehelplesspoorisnotorious.Thosewhoare"welltodo"arefarm orecarefulandconservingthantheverypoor.Thereareexceptions,itistrue,buttheruleisthatam anwhocannotsavem oneyhasnotitinhim tocom m andsuccessinlife.Inabilitytodenyhim selfcertainthingsshowsaweaknessofcharacterandlackofpurposewhichm akesuccessim possible.Twom enthatIknew verywellbuiltfortunesuponP5,whichtheysavedoutofm eagerearnings.Itisalwaysthestartthatisdifficult:ifyoucannotovercometheprelim inarydifficultiesyouhavenotthesteadfastpurposetoholdyourowninthebattleoflife.Ontheotherhand,oncetheinitialdifficultieshavebeenovercom e,itisnotdifficulttogetyourbarqueintothecurrentsofprosperity.W henonceyourealizethatthereisunlim itedabundanceinwhichyoucanshare:whenonceyoulearntoliveintheconsciousnessofthisabundance,atthesam etimelivingwithinyourpresentincomeanddoingyourpresentworkaswellasitispossibleforittobedone,youhavesetoutonthepathtoaffluence.Onewhorealizesandreally

believesthatthereisabundanceandplentyforhim ,putsintooperationapowerfullaw whichwillsurelybringopportunitytohim ,soonerorlater.M any,however,ruintheirhopesbynotknowingthatforatim etheym ustliveakindofdoublelife.Theym ustbeopulentinconsciousness,butcarefulandthriftyinactualpractice.Thetim ewillcomewhentheirm eanswilllargelyincrease,then,iftheyarewise,theywillliveonpartoftheirincom e,insteadoflivinguptoit.Thiswillgivethem awidem arginforcharitablepurposes,forthetakingupoffurtheropportunitiesand forextensions.M anybusinessm enhavetoletgoldenopportunitiespass,sim plybecausetheyhavesavedlittleornothing,owingtolavishprivateexpenditure,ortheyhavetoletotherpeopleintosharetheirschemeswho,inadditiontotakingalargeshareoftheprofitsm ayproveaserioushandicapandhindranceinotherways.

W hileinitsessence,theSourceofSupplyisspiritual,itcom estousthroughm aterialchannels,and,inordertohaveashareinit,itisnecessarytoearnit.W ehavetogivesom ethinginexchangeforwhatwedraw from lifeinthewayofsupply.W em ustgiveinordertoreceive,andwhatwegivemustbesomethingthattheworldwantsorneeds.

Thesecretofsupplyis,then,torealizethatthereisunlim itedabundanceandtoliveintheconsciousnessofit,ascompletelyasthoughnom aterialchannelsexisted,and,atthesam etime,toworkaszealouslyandbeascarefulasthoughtherewerenosuchthingasspiritualsupply.Atthesam etimewemustgivetheworldsomethingthatitwants,orotherwiseserveinsomeusefulcapacity,exercisinghonesty,probityandjusticeinallouraffairs.Itisfollytoexpectabundancetodropready-m adeinourlap;itm ustbeearnedbyintelligentand faithfulservice.[11]

[11]Thissubjectistreatedfullyin "TheFundamentalsofTrueSuccess,"bythesameauthor.PublishedbyTheScienceofThoughtPress,Chichester.

Beingaretiredbusinessm anwhostartedlifewithnothing,notevengoodhealth,Ihavelookedatthissubjectfrom abusinessm an'spointofview.Theprincipleapplies,however,toeverywalkinlife,andeachreadercanadapttheteachingofthislessontohisorherparticularneeds.

C H A PTER V III.

TH E PO W ER S A N D LIM ITATIO N S O F TH E SU B-C O N SC IO U S M IN D .

Thesub-consciousm indisthem indofNature.Itpossessesextraordinarypowersandintelligence,butnoinspiration.Itisinstinctive:itisanim al:itisnatural:butthereisnothinggod-likeaboutit--itisoftheearthandthephysicalplane.ItcanbedescribedastheinnerforcesofNatureresidentwithinourbody.Havingsaidthiswehavesaidnearlyallthereistobesaidaboutthesub-conscious,yetthisisthem indofwhichsom epeoplehavem adeaveritablegod.

Thesub-consciousm ind,ifledaright,isaverygoodfriend,reducingallrepeatedthoughtsandactionsintohabit,which,intim e,becomesettledandpartoftheverylifeitself.Thus,byconsciousrightthinkingandconsciousrightaction,agoodhabitisform ed,whichbecomes,incourseoftim e,practicallyautom atic.This,ofcourse,buildsupthecharacter,which,inturn,affectsthelife.Itwillbeseenthen,how importantistherightuseofthiswillingandfaithfulservant.Itisnogod,ithasnoinspiration,butitisaveryusefulservant,asweshallsee.

M ostofouractionsorm ovementsaredoneorm adesub-consciously.Thereasonthat"practicem akesperfect"isthatthesub-consciousm indlearnstodothetask,and,bysodoing,takesitoffourhands.How difficultitistolearntodriveam otor-car.How carefully,atfirst,wehavetodoublede-clutchandobtaintherightenginespeedforanoiseless"change,"yet,afteratim e,thewholeactionisperform edsub-consciously.Itisthesamewithpianoforteplaying.M anyplayers,somebetterthanothers,canplaythem ostdifficultclassicalm usicwithoutconsciouslyrecallingittom ind.Assoonastheytrytorem emberthewhole"piece"leavesthem ,butaslongastheyleavethewholem attertothesub-conscious(whichneverforgets)theycankeeponplaying.Iandm yconsciousm indarenotdoingmuchoftheactualwritingofthisbook.W ethinkthethoughtsandhavesomethingtodowiththeform ationofthesentences,butthesub-consciousm indwritesthem down.IfIhadtothinkofeachwordandletter,m ytaskwouldbehopeless,andIshouldbecomehalfdeadwithfatigue.

Thesub-consciousm ind,however,isevenmorehelpful,foritdoesthebulkofourthinking,andcanbetaughttodoagreatdealmore.Ifwehadtothinkeverythingoutlaboriously,accordingtothelawsoflogic,lifewouldbeunbearable.Insteadofthisoursub-consciousm inddoesthebulkorourthinking,and,ifwegiveitachance,will

doitinanextremelyaccuratem anner,strictlyaccordingtothelawsoflogicandwithouttheslightestfatigue.Themorethatwetrainthesub-conscioustodoourordinarythinkingforus,thelesswesufferfrom fatigue.Fatigueisunknowntothesub-consciousm ind,thereforewecannevertireitoroverworkit.

Thesub-consciousm indcanbem adetodomoreandmoreworkforusifwewilldelegatedefiniteworkforittodealwith.Onewhohaslearntthoughtcontrol,whocantakeupam atter,consideritinallitsbearings,andthendismissthesubjectfrom hisconsciousthought,isabletoincreasehisefficiencyahundredpercent.,andreducehism entalfatiguealm osttovanishingpoint.Insteadoflaboriouslyworkingouthisproblemsandworryingandschemingoverthem ,hesimplydism issesthem tohissub-consciousm indtobedealtwithbyam astermindwhichworksunceasingly,withgreatrapidity,extrem eaccuracyandentirelywithouteffort.Itisnecessary,however,togivethesub-consciouseveryavailableinform ation,foritpossessesnoinspirationorsuper-hum anwisdom ,butworksoutlogically,accordingtothefactssuppliedtoit.

Thisgreat,natural,untiring"m inddownstairs,"asithasbeencalled,isalsocapableofdoingevenm oreusefulworkstill.A writerorspeaker,orpreachercancollectnotesandideasforhisarticle,book,speechorserm on,andpassthem downtohissub-consciousm indwithordersthattheybearrangedinsuitableorder,division,sub-divisionandsoon.W henhecomeseithertowriteorpreparethenotesofhisspeechorserm on,hewillfindalltheworkdoneforhim ,andallthathehastodoistowriteitdown,entirelywithouteffortorfatigue.

Again,abusinessm anwhohaslearnttomakeuseofhissub-consciousm indinthisway,neednotjuggleorworryorfatiguehim selfbyplanningandschem ingforthefuture.Allthatheneeddoistosubm itthefactstothe"greaterm inddownstairs,"andalltheplanningwillbedoneforhim ,entirelywithouteffort,andfarm oreefficientlythanhewouldhavedoneitthroughlaboriousconsciousthinking.

Thefollowing,whichhasjustbeenbroughttom ynotice,isastrikingconfirm ationoftheteachingofthischapter.

InarecentissueofCollier'sM agazine,aninterview withHenryFordappeared.Hespokeofthewaywithwhichbigbusinessmendealwithproblems,andpointedoutthattheydidnotspendalotoftim eponderingandpuzzlingoverplansorideas.Hesaid:"Anideacomestous:wethinkofitforalittlewhile,andthenweputitinthepottoboil.W eletitsim merforatim e,andthentakeitout."

W hatHenryFordm eans,ofcourse,ispreciselywhatwehavebeensaying,viz.,thattheideaorproblem isdism issedtothesub-consciousm ind,whichworksitout,andpresentsittotheconsciousm ind forjudgm ent.

Yetagain,aninventororonewhoisconstructingsomethingm echanical,canm akeuseofthesub-consciousm indinpreciselythesam eway.Lethim sum upthewholeproblem ,arrangeallhisfactsandavailableinform ation,andpassthem alltohissub-consciousm ind,when,ifasuccessfulresultiswithintherangeofpossibility,ananswerorideawillbeforthcom ing.Allthisbeingdone,markyou,withoutanyeffortwhatever.

Allthism ayseem ,especiallytosom ereaders,ratherwonderfulandfar-fetched,yetthereisnothingoccultorm ysteriousaboutit.Iam perfectlysurethatthereisnogreatwriter,politicianorbusinessm anwhodoesnotm akeuseofhissub-consciousm indinthisway.Heprobablydoessounconsciously,buthisprocedureisthesame.Someemploythewholeoftheirm indnaturally.Thesebecomemenofachievement,whooccupyresponsiblepositions,andwhobearim m enseburdenswithoutstrain,worryorcare.Responsibilitysitslightlyuponthem ,andtheyaresereneanduntroubledwheninpositions,andwhenconfrontedbytasksanddifficulties,suchaswoulddriveanordinaryindividualoutofhism ind.Suchm endeveloptheirpowersofattentionandconcentration(anyonewhoisinearnestcandothis)toaveryhighdegree.Theyareatgreatpainstogettotherootofaproblem,andobtainalltheavailabledatapossible,but,afterthat,itistheirsub-consciousm indthatdoesallthework,andwhicharrivesatadecision.

W hileitcomesnaturaltoafew tousetheirsub-consciousm indinthecorrectway,them ajorityofpeoplefindthem selvesunabletodoso.Such,however,canacquiretheartbytraining.First,itisnecessarytolearnthought-control,soastobeabletotakeupaproblem ordism issitentirelyfrom them indatwill.W henaproblemispassedontothesub-conscioustobeworkedout,thesubjectm ustbedism issedentirelyfrom theconsciousm ind.Theproblem m ustnotbeworriedover,northethoughtsallowedtodwelluponit;itm ustbeleftentirelytothesub-conscious.Second,everypossibledetailandinform ationconnectedwiththeproblem mustbegraspedbytheconsciousm ind,andthewholematter,proandcon,visualizedbeforebeingpassedtothesub-conscious.Itwillbeseen,then,thatthought-controlofahighorderisnecessary,alsopowersofattentionandconcentration.Thesecanallbedevelopedbyanyonewhoisreallyinearnest.

A goodwayofstartingtheuseofthesub-consciousm indistoholdtheproblem inthem indjustasoneisgoingtosleep.Theremustnot,uponanyaccount,beanyattem ptm adetosolvetheproblem ortoworryoverit.Instead,them ainfactsofthecase,onbothsides,m ustbem arshaled,andthecasepresentedtothesub-consciousm indinmuchthesamewayasyouwouldplaceitbeforeyourlawyer.Havingdonethis,dism issthewholem attertoyoursub-consciousm ind,andinmostcasesyouwillfindinthem orningthatasolutionhasbeenarrivedatwithoutanyeffortorfatigueonyourpart.

This,ofcourse,isonlyoneofthem anywaysinwhichthesub-consciousm indcan,anddoes,serveitsm aster,ortheonewhoshouldbem aster.ThisgreatinvisibleforceofNatureisforeverworking.W hateveridealisheldinthem indbecom eswovenintothelifethroughthetirelessworkingofthesub-consciousm ind.Onlysetyourattentionuponhighandloftyachievement,andyouwillfocusalltheinvisibleinwardforcesofNatureuponitsaccomplishm ent.Incourseoftim eyouwillreapasyousow.Ifyouwilldirectyourattentionintotherightchannel,backingitupwithenergetic,consciousaction,yoursub-consciouswillhelpyoudayandnight,thusm akingsuccessandachievementpossible.

C H A PTER IX .

TH E U SE O F TH E SPIRITU A L O R SU PER -C O N SC IO U S M IN D.

W ehavealreadyseenthatthesub-consciousm ind,wonderfulthoughitbe,isinstinctivemerely,lackinginspirationandwhatwecalloriginality.

Allinspirationcomesfrom theUniversalM ind,viathesuper-conscious.Allpoetsandinspiredwritersgettheirinspirationinthisway.Thishigherm indisnotrecognizedbyPsychologists,butithaslongbeenknowntosearchersforspiritualtruth.

W hatwegetfrom thesub-consciousistheoutcomeoffactsandknowledgesuppliedtoit.W hatwegetfrom thesuper-consciousisdirectinspirationfrom higherplanes.Thishigherm indm ightalsobecalledtheM indofIllum ination,forthosewhocanenterintoitbecomeillum ined,beingabletoknow theTruthandtoseethingsastheyreallyare,andnotastheyfalselyappeartothesenses.

Thislim itedconsciousnessinwhichweliveisboundedbyourfivesenses.Theuniversethatweseearoundusispartlyrealandpartlyanillusion.TherealuniverseisSpiritualandinfinite:whatwesenseisalim ited,partialconceptionofafragm entofit.Ourlim ited,finiteconceptionoftheuniverseisentirelym isleadinganderroneous,andsolongaswerelyonsenseevidenceandthehum anm ind,werem ainindarknessanduncertainty.W hen,however,wecanriseintothesuper-consciousrealm ,ourconsciousnessexpands,transcendingthesensesandthelimitationsofthephysicalplane.

TheSpiritualm indis,ofcourse,onlyaccessibletothosewhoarem oredelicatelyattunedtoitsfinervibrations.Nothingthatisworthhavingcanbehadwithouteffort,anditisonlyafterm uchself-disciplinethatitbecomespossibleforthestudenttoraisehisconsciousnesstothishigherrealm andunderstandlifefrom thestandpointoftheUniversalM ind.

Thereisnothing,eitherm ysticalorpsychical,abouttheuseofthishigherm ind.Onewhom akesuseofitbecom esspiritually-m inded,thatisall.Hedoesnotgointotrances,norneedhebecomeclairvoyant:hesimplyrem ainsasane,norm alindividual,withthisdifferenceonly--hem akesuseofm oreofhism indthandoestheordinaryindividual.

Onewhoisabletousethishigherm inddevelopsthatwhichhasbeenterm ed "thedivinequalityoforiginality."Ifeverapersonistoriseabovethedeadlevelofm ediocrityitm ustbethroughdirectinspirationfrom higherplanes,throughhissuper-consciousm ind.Ifeverapersonistobringforthanew ideawhichshallenrichhum anityandaddtothecom mongood,itm ustcom ethroughthehigherm ind.

Onewhoisproperlyattuned,becom es,throughthesuper-consciousm ind,arecipientofknowledgethatisabovehum an,andwisdom thatisdivine.Heknowsbydirectknowing:hebecomeswisethroughaninfluxofDivineW isdom .Heisabletodistinguishbetweentherealandthesham ,betweenthegoldandthedross:heisalsoabletoseeandrecognizetherightpathinlife--athingutterlyim possibletothem indofthesenses--andtotreadit,thusbeingledintotheonlytruesuccessandrealgoodofwhichhislifeiscapable.

LetitbesaidherethatallW isdom mustcomefrom within.W hilebooksandthewrittenwordm aybehelpful,itistheSpiritwithinthereaderthatillum inestheword,andm akesitrealandtruetotheseekerafterW isdom .Onewhorealizesthatheisillum inedwithinbytheDivineSpirit,andthatthisalonecanbringhim intoreal

knowledgeiswelladvancedonthepaththatleadstorealization.

Thewisdom ofthehum anm indalwaysleadstodisappointment.Itisbasedontheevidenceofthesenses,whichiserroneous,thereforeitsfindingsmustalwaysbelackinginrealwisdom.OnewhoreliesupontheinspirationofDivineW isdom hasoftentodecidetotakeacourseofactionwhich,apparently,isopposedtohisbestinterests.Yet,ifhefollowstheinwardW isdom ,hefindsthatheisalwaysguidedaright,and,later,hascausetobedevoutlythankfulthathefollowedthegleam .

C H A PTER X .

C H A R A C TER BU ILDIN G A N D TH E O V ER CO M IN G O F H A BIT.

Characterbuildingisthegreatestobjectinlife.Ithasbeensaidthatcharacteristheonlythingwecantakewithuswhenwedepartthislife.Thisisperfectlytrue,thereforetheobjectofallreligion(notreligiousness),m entaltraininganddevelopmentshouldbethebuildingofcharacter.A religionthatdoesnotbuildupcharacterisworthless.Thosewhothinkthattheycan "flop"throughlife,avoid,asfaraspossible,itsdiscipline,m akenoefforttoim provetheircharacter,andthroughbelievinginacertaincreedcanm iraculouslybecomeperfect,simplybydying,aredeceivingthemselves.W edonotbecome"perfect,"i.e.,ofastrongandperfectcharacter,eitherbybelievinginacreedorthroughdying,butbyattainm ent.Godhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves,andthosepeoplewhowillnotstriveafterbetterthingscutthem selvesofffrom allthegloriousandwonderfulpossibilitiesofattainm ent.

Before,however,thinkingaboutsuchloftythingsasenteringthePathofAttainm ent,andbecom ingchangedinto,andmodeledaftertheDivineIm age,theaveragepersonm aywishtoknow how toovercom ebadhabitsandweaknessesofcharacterwhicharekeepinghim downinlife,and,possibly,underm ininghishealth.M ostpeopleareconsciousofsomewronghabitsthatoughttobeovercome,andweaknessesofcharacterwhichshouldbeeradicated.Possiblytheyhavefoughtagainsttheirhabitsorweaknessesforyears,prayeduntiltheyaretiredofpraying,m adeinnumerableattemptsatturningoveranew leaf,yetallinvain,fortheyareasfirm lyin thetoilsas

ever.M anypeoplegiveupthestruggleandendeavortoleadasortofJekyllandHydeexistence,beingoutwardlyaChristianorrighteousperson,butinwardlysomethingquitedifferent.Yettheyfindnosatisfactioninthisduallife,fortheyknow thattheyaredriftingtowardsanabyss.

Yetthereisawayofescapethatisopentoall.TheInfiniteOnehasprovidedm anwithpowersthatareapparentlyunlim ited:powerswhichcanbeusedeithertobuildupthelifeandcharacterortodestroythem .Thesepowersarethoseofthesub-consciousm ind.Thism indisareservoirofunlimited,tirelessforces,andbecomes,ifweuseitaright,ourbestfriend,or,ifwem is-useit,ourworstenem y.

Everytim eabadactionisindulgedin,wonderfulchangestakeplaceinthenervoussystem ,andenergybecomesstoredupincertaincells,soastom akeiteasiertodothewrongactonafutureoccasion.Itisequallytruethateverytim eagoodactionisdone,sim ilarchanges,butinareversedirection,takeplace,thatm akethedoingofthesameactioneasierinthefuture.Thisexplainsthetremendouspowerofhabit.Ourbody,brainandnervoussystem becomechanged,eitherfortheworseorthebetter,accordingtothetypeofactionindulgedin.

W edonotyetfullyrealizewhatawonderfuladventurelifeis.W eareentrustedwithtremendouspowers,andbytheiruseorm is-usewecaneitherdestroyourselvesorbuildupourcharacterineverypossibledirection.W hataresponsibility,yetwhatagloriousopportunity!

Inorder,however,to findawayofescapefrom evilhabitandweaknessesofcharacter,wem ustgodeeperthanactualdeeds,foractionsareeffectsofhiddencauses.Thecauseofallactionisthought.A thought,som eonehassaid,isanactionintheprocessofbeingborn.Itistruethatwepossessprim itivedesiresandim pulses,butthesecanbetransmutedintonobleactionsandhighachievementsimplybydirectingthethoughtsandattentiontohigherandbetterthings.Forinstance,thepowersofsexbecometransmutedintobrainpowerifthethoughtsandattentionarecompletelytransferred from sextointellectualpursuits.If,however,thethoughtsareallowedtodwelluponsexorpassion,thenthekingdombecomesdividedagainstitself,andm anbeginstodrifttowardstheabyss.Thestrainofm odernlifeisfillingourasylum s,yettherearethosewhocanworkfifteenoreveneighteenhoursadayandthriveonit,althoughengagedinseverely-tryingbrainwork.Thesehavelearnttotransmutetheirlowerpowersintohigher.Thisisnotdone

bym eansofesotericoroccultpractices,butbyobeyingtheDivineInjunctiontosetouraffectionsonthingsabove.In otherwords,tokeepourthoughtsandattentionfixeduponhigherandbetteraim s,am bitionsandpursuits.

Itisim possibletoovercomebadhabitsbyfightingthem ,forthem orewefightthem thestrongertheybecome.Theinjunctionto "resistnotevil"isveryapplicabletohabit.Thewayofescapeisnotbyfightingevilorwronghabit,nom atterwhatitscharacterm aybe,butbyconcentratinguponbuildingagoodhabitthatshallcutthegroundfrom underthefeetofthebadone,orbyturningtheattentiontohigherandbetterthings.

W hateverwefixourattentionupon,orwhateveritisthatweidealize,oursub-consciousm indendeavorstoactualizeandm akerealinourlife.Byfightingahabitwedirectsub-consciousattentiontoit,andthisisfatal.If,however,weturnourwholeattentiontosomethingentirelydifferentandwhichishigherandbetter,allthepowersofthesub-consciousaredirectedtowardstheproduction,inthelifeandbody,ofthenew objectofattention.

W esee,therefore,thatwedonothavetoovercomehabit.Ifwedidourtaskwouldbehopeless,forthehum anwillishelplessbeforethepowerofthesub-consciousm ind.Thesub-consciouspowerscanbeledbytheim agination,buttheycannotbecoercedbythewill.Thewillmustbeusednottofightthehabit,butinraisinganddirectingtheattentiontosomethinghigherandbetter.Bythismeansanew habitisform ed.Theattentionofthesub-consciousm indistakenawayfrom thebadhabit,andallitspowersdirectedtowardsthecreationofanew andbetterone.Thesub-consciousdoesnotcarewhatthehabitis.Itisindifferentastowhetheritisgoodorbad.Itisjustaswillingtoproduceagoodhabitasabadone.W e,eachofus,therefore,holdourfateinourownhands.W ecan,bycontrollingourthoughtsandim aginationandbydirectingourattentiontobetterthings,focusallthepowersofthesub-consciousonthebuildingupofgoodhabits,or,ontheotherhand,wecan,byallowingourthoughtsandm entalpicturestodwelluponundesirablethingsandourattentiontobedirectedtolow orweakideals,fallintoundesirablehabits.Thepowerthatproducesthehabitsisthesam eineachcase;itisthewayinwhichthispowerisdirectedthatisthevitalandessentialthing.

Itisverynecessarytopointoutthatrightthinkingandcorrectuseoftheim aginationmustbeaccompaniedbycorrespondingrightaction.M anypeoplem akeuseofauto-suggestionandexpectittodestroytheirbadhabitsandbuildupbetterones,butitneverwill,

orcandoso,unaided.Auto-suggestionisuselessifitisnotfollowedbyconstructiveaction.Youngpeopleshouldexpendtheirenergiesinphysicalcultureandgam es.Olderpeopleshouldinterestthemselvesinhobbiesandintellectualpursuits.Itisonlyadvancedstudentswhocancontroltheirthoughtssothattheycangoverntheirlifeforcesbym entalm eans.Thoselessadvanced,whenattackedbyevilorweakthoughts,m ustgetupanddosomethingquitedifferent,andthusgettheirm indsofftheforbiddensubjectandinterestedinthenew objectofattention.Itisacaseofdirectingthedesiresandlifeforcesintodifferentchannels,bycontrollingthethoughtsandattention.Hereisseenthevalueoftruereligion,foritbringsfreshidealsintothelifeanddirectstheattentiontohigherandbetterthings.Thewriterrealizesthatachangem usttakeplaceintheheartoftheindividualbeforehecandesirethesebetterthings.W hen,however,thischangehastakenplace,thebattlehasonlyjustbegun,foreachonehastoworkouthisownsalvation.

Atfirst,then,m ostpeoplewillfinditnecessarytodosomethinginordertoattracttheirattentionandguidetheirthoughtstosom ethingquitedifferentfrom theforbiddensubject.Lateron,however,whentheybecomemoreadvancedinthescienceofrightthinking,theywillbeabletodirecttheirthoughtsintoanydesireddirection.Thisnecessitatesconstantvigilance.Eachthoughthastobecarefullyscrutinizedbeforebeingallowedtopassthethresholdofthem ind.Byreversingeverynegativeorunworthyorignoblethoughtintoitsopposite,achangeiswroughtinthebrainandnervoussystem .Thecellsform erlyusedforwrongthinkingandfortheproductionofwrongactiongooutofuseasnew cellsarebroughtintousefortheproductionofrightaction.

Thisstageleadstoonehigherstill,whenitbecomesasettledhabittoreversebadthoughtsintogoodonesandperform rightactionsinsteadofbadorweakones.Thepowerofthesub-consciousm ind,whichatonetim eseemedsoevil,producesrightactionmoreorlessautom atically.W henoncethehabitofcleaningtheteethisestablishedthereisexperiencedanuncom fortablefeelinguntiltheyhavebeenattendedto.W henonceadirtypersonhaslearnttowashhimselfthoroughlyandkeephimselfdecent,hewillfeeluncom fortableifhegetsdirty.Thesameruleappliesinthem oreim portantthingsandhabitsoflife.Ifthosewhoareinthebondageofhabitwillonlydirecttheirthoughtsandattentiontothebuildingupofgoodhabits,theiroldweaknesseswilldieanaturaldeath.

Itm ustnotbethoughtthatthevictoryoverlife-longhabitsiseasy.Itm ayseem soatfirst,butsoonerorlatertemptationwillcomewithaddedforce,whichm ayresultinasad fall.Ifthisshould

happenitism ostimportantthattoomuchattentionshouldnotbepaidtotheincident.Instead,thebeginnershouldpickhim selfup,and,m akingamentalnoteoftheim mediatecauseofhisdownfall,thusbenefitingbytheexperience,pressonagaintowardsfreedom .Itism osthelpfultorealizethatnotonlyisthesub-consciousm indwillingtobeguidedaright,ifwewillonlyperseverelongenough(untilperseveringitselfbecomesahabit),butthatwealsohavebehindusalltheSpiritualpowersofGod.TheInfiniteOneseestoitthattheoddsarenotoverwhelm inglyagainstus.Ourdifficultiesarenotinsuperable,althoughtheym ayappeartobeso.W ecanalwayswinthroughifwefaintnot.Heavenlooksonwithsym patheticinterestandrejoiceswiththestrugglerwhenhesucceeds,andmournswithhim whenhefails.Thestruggleisastiffone,foritisonlybythisthattheseekerafterGodcanbecomestrongincharacter,butthevictorycanalwaysbewon.W henthesituationappearshopeless,letthestrugglingonerem emberthatthereisawayofescapesom ewhere,andthatGod,whoishisfreedom anddeliverer,willrevealittohim ifhefaintsnot.IfallwhoseekdeliverancewillrealizethatthePoweroftheInfiniteisontheirside,andthattheyareboundtobecomevictorsiftheywillonlykeepon,theymustsucceed.Andwhatajoyistheirs!Thereisnohappinessquitelikethatwhichcomestoonewhohasfoughtthegoodfightandovercomehabitandweaknessesofcharacter.

M ayeveryreaderexperiencethissupremejoyofovercom ing.

C H A PTER X I.

H A PPINESS A N D JO Y .

Deepdownineveryheartisanunquenchabledesireforhappiness.Theadvancedsouldesireshappinessjustasm uchasthepleasure-seekingworldlym an,thedifferencebetweenthem issimplythattheform er,throughknowledgeandexperience,doesnotsearchforhappiness,knowingthatitcanneverbefoundbydirectseeking,butfindsitthroughserviceandlovetoothersandinvictoryoverself;whilethelatterseekshappiness,likeawill-o'-the-wisp,ineveryformofpleasure,andfindsitnot.

M anisneversatisfiedwithhislife:heisforeverseekingsomethingthatisbetter.Untilhelearnswisdom ,helooksforitinpleasure,insensegratificationofvariouskinds,inwealth,luxuryand

possession.Thelessevolvedam anisthemoreconvincedheisthathappinesscanbegainedintheseways,andthelowerarehisdesires.Forinstance,thosewhoform whatiscalledtheunderworldofourcities,seekhappinessinviceanddebauchery.Thosewhoarem oreevolvedseekpleasureinmorerefinedthings,hopingto findhappinessinintellectualpursuits,friendships,andinpurehum anloves.Thesem oreevolvedtypesgetmuchmorepleasurethroughthesensesthandothosewhoarem oreelemental,buttheyarecapablealsoofgreaterandm oreacutesuffering.Theycanderivegreatpleasurefrom apicturegallery,whereasasavagewouldseenothinginterestingatall:theycanalsosufferfrom thingswhichasavagewouldnotbecapableoffeeling.Yet,inspiteofthisdevelopedrefinementandabilitytoderivepleasurefrom art,science,literature,etc.,happinessisstillasfaroffasever.Allattem ptsatfindinghappinessleadfinallyto "em ptiness."Thereisnosatisfaction,eitherinwealthandallthatitcancom m and,gettingoninlife,orinfameandpower.Theyallureatfirstandprom isehappiness,buttheyfailus,andfinallyareseentobebutvanityandvexationofspirit.

Thisdesireforhappinessisgood,foritleadsusthroughinnumerableexperiencessothatthesoulcanrealize,bypracticalexperience,theemptinessofallself-seeking,andthuslearnwisdom .Afterrunningthewholegamutofexperiencethesoullearnsatlastthathappinessisnotsomethingthatcanbefoundbyseekingit,butisaninwardmentalstate.

Althoughwork,welldone,bringsaquietsenseofsatisfaction,andsuccessinone'scareerm ayalsobeasourceofgratificationforashorttim e,yeteventhesecannotsatisfythedeeplongingofthesoul.

Happiness,however,istobefoundinservice.Notifweseekhappinessinservice,andserveinordertobehappy,butifweserveothersforthesakeofservingwefindtheonlyhappinessthatwillendureandsatisfy.

Onehasonlytoobservethelivesofthosewhoarealwaysselfishlyseekingandgrabbing,whoarehardintheirdealings,andalways"lookingafternumberone,"inordertoseehow impossibleitisforself-seekerstobehappy.Itdoesnotm atterwhethertheyacquirerichesorrem ainpoor--theyareequallyunhappy.Incontrasttothis,youhaveonlytogooutofyourwaytodoakindandperfectlydisinterestedactionandexperiencetheglow ofsheerhappinessthatitbrings,inordertorealizethatyouaredealingwithalaw oflifethatisassureandunalterableasthelaw ofgravitation.

Theremustbeapurposeinlife,andthismusthaveforitsobjectthebettermentofthelivesofothers,eitherfew orm any.Thelawofservicemustbeobeyed,otherwisetherecanbenohappiness.Thism ayfillsom ereaderswithdism ay,fortheym aybeemployedinanoccupationthatapparentlydoesnogoodtoanybody.Theym ayfeelthatiftheywereengagedinsom enobleenterprisefortheupliftofhum anity,thentheycouldtrulyserve,butintheirpresentoccupationthisisimpossible.Tothinkthusisverynatural,yetthetruthiswecanallobeythelaw ofservice,andcanbeginnow,inourpresentoccupation,nom atterwhatitm aybe.W ehaveonlytodoourdailywork,notasataskwhichmustbe"gotthrough,"inordertobringusaliving,orbecauseitisexpectedofusthatweshouldwork,butasanofferingoflovetolifeandtheworld,inordertocom eintoharmonywiththegreatlaw ofservice.Ourideasofvalueswithregardtooccupationsarealtogethererroneous,fromthe"innerwisdom "pointofview.Thescrubbingofadoorstep,iffaithfullydoneinatruespiritofservice,isofasm uchvalueandrealim portanceasthewritingofadeathlesspoem ,ordyingforone'scountry.W ecannevertruthfullysaythatoneactofserviceisofgreatervalue,orism oreimportantthananother.Allthatthehigherlaw looksatisthemotive.Therefore,ifyourm otiveisright,youcanbeengagedinthehumblestand,apparently,m ostuselessoccupation,andyetbehappybecauseyousatisfythelaw ofservice.

Anotherroadtohappinessistheconquestofthelowernature,theovercom ingofweaknesses,theclimbingtohigherandbetterthings.Thereisintensehappinessinrealizingdailythatoldhabitsarebeingoverthrown,weakpointsinthecharacterbuiltup,andanever-increasingstateoflibertyandfreedom enteredinto.ThankGod,wedonothavetorem ainasweoncewere,butcanprogressupwards,indefinitely,forthereisnolim ittoourupwardclim b.

Butthereisastatethatisfarhigherthanhappiness,andthisisJOY.Happinesscom esthroughserviceandovercom ing,butjoycomesonlytoonewhorealizeshisonenesswithhisDivineSource.Therealityisineffablejoy.Behindthisworldofshadowsisthereal,spiritualworldofsplendoranddelight.W henthesoul,afteritsim m ensejourneythroughm atter,timeandspace,atlastfindsitswaybacktoitsDivineSource,itbecomesawareofthisintensejoy,toogreattobedescribedinwords.Itnotonlyrealizesthattherealityisjoy,andtheuniversefilled,notwithgroansorsighing,butwiththesweet,quietlaughteroffreedsouls!italsoisfilleditselfwiththisineffablejoy.

W hathasallthisgottodowithpractical,everydaylife,itm ay

beasked?Everything,fortheonewhopossessesthisquietjoycanneverbedefeatedinlife'sbattles.Hehassomethingwithinhim thatcanneverbequenchedandwhichwillleadhim from victorytovictory.

C H A PTER X II.

TH E U SE A N D M IS-U SE O F M ENTA L A N D SPIRITU AL PO W ERS.

Theaverageindividualknowsnothingofm entalforces,and,althoughhem aysufferfrom theeffectsofunconsciouswrongthinking,yetheisinnodangerofm akingdeliberatem is-useoftheinnerpowers.One,however,whohaslearnthow tousetheseinteriorforcesmustbeverycarefultousethem arightorhewillfindthattheinvisiblepowersofm indandspiritarefarm orepowerfulanddestructivethandynam ite.Itisnotmeantbythisthathecanblow himselfupthereby,butitdoesm eanthathecaninjurehim self,notonlyinthislife,butforagestocome,and,inaddition,seriouslyretardhisspiritualevolution.

Alluseofthem indtocoerceotherpeopleortoinfluencethem bym eansofsuggestion,notfortheirbenefit,butforyouradvantage,ishighlydestructive,nottothem actually,buttoyou.Onthefaceofit,itlooksaneasyroadtosuccessandprosperity,but,actually,itleadstofailureandpoverty.Them is-useofthementalpowersinthiswayisreallyaform ofblackm agic,andthefateofallblackm agiciansisveryterrible.Eventheuseofthem indtocoerceotherpeoplefortheirgoodisnotdesirable.Itneverdoesanyrealgood,althoughitm ayseem beneficialforatime,anditsuse,therefore,istobedeprecated.Healing,so-called,byhetero-suggestion,isnotperm anent,forassoonasthehealerceasesto "pump"suggestionintothepatientthelatterbeginstorelapseintohisformerstate.Farbetterresultsaccrueifthepatientistaughttouseautoorself-suggestion forhim self.Itisseen,then,thattheuseofthemindtoinfluenceothersisdistinctlyharm fulifitisusedselfishly,andofnorealuseifusedunselfishly.Hypnotism isharm ful,nom atterwhichwayitisused,andisalsodetrim entaltothepatient.Becauseofthissom eofourm orethoughtfulneurologistshavegivenupitsuse.

W ehavenorighttoendeavortoinfluenceotherpeoplebytheuseofourinnerforces,evenifourobjectistheirgood.Eachsoulhastherighttoliveitslifeinitsownway,andchooseforitself

eithergoodorevil.Thatistheobjectoflife,sothateachevolvingsoulshouldlearnwisdom throughthelessonslearntasaresultofitsownm istakes.Farworseisitifothersarecoerced,notinordertohelpthem ,buttodefraudthem ortom akethem buygoodstheydonotrequire,orsignagreementstheywouldnototherwiseputtheirnameto.

Onewhom is-useshism entalandspiritualpowersliterallysm asheshislifeup.Heworksagainstthelawsoflifeandtheuniverse,andencompasseshisownruin.

Thereis,however,afarm oresubtlewayofm is-usingthem entalandspiritualforcesthanbycoercion,m inddom inationandhetero-suggestion.Thism ethodisequallydestructive,andifpersistedinbuildsupapainfulfuture.W iththismethodotherpeoplearenotinfluencedordom inated,butthefinerforcesofNaturearecoercedbythehum anwill.M entaldem andsarem adeontheinvisiblesubstancefrom which,wearetold,allthingsarem ade,andwealthiscompelledtoappear.Inadditiontothis,sickness,soitisclaimed,isbanished,andtheinvisibleforcesoflifearecompelledtooperateinsuchawayastom akelife'spathwayabedofroses,withoutthorns,sothatlifebecomesshornofallitsdisciplineandexperience.

Itsdevotees"entertheSilence,"andtherevisualizeexactlywhattheythinktheywant,andcompelittoappear,inm aterialform ,bythestrengthoftheirdesireorthroughtheexerciseoftheirwill.

Somefollowersofthiscultm aybeabletom akeanapparentsuccessofit,butIhaveneveryetm etany.Iftheydo,however,theywilllivetoregretit,fortheyarem erelypractitionersofblackm agic.Theireffortsareofthesam enatureassorcery.Allsuchmethodsbuildupaheavydebtoffuturesuffering,andseriouslyhinderthesoulinitsevolutionaryjourney.

EnteringtheSilenceisagoodthing:itisreallyenteringtheinnersilenceofthesoul,theinnersanctuarywheretheDivineSpiritabidesinfullness.Tom is-usethisinwardpowerforselfishandm aterialends,andforforcingourhum anwilluponlife,soastom akeitconform towhatwethinkitoughttobeisacrim eofthefirstm agnitude,whichcanresultonlyinultim atefailureanddisaster.

C H A PTER X III.

O V ER C O M IN G LIM ITA TIO N S A N D A W A K EN IN G IN W A R D PO W ERS.

Lim itationscanbeovercom ethrougharealizationofTruth.W henwesaythisitistakenforgrantedthateveryeffortwillbem adeonthephysicalplane.Itisnecessarytobathe,exerciseandbreathefreshairinordertobewell:itisequallynecessarytoworkhard,andtogivethebestofwhichwearecapable,inservice,inexchangeforthatwhichwereceiveinthewayofsupply,ifwearetobesuccessful.Ifyoukeepagardener,youm ustpayhim .Them oneythatyoupayhim ispartofwhatyouhaveearnedbythesweatofyourbrain.Thereforeyouexchangetheworkofyourbrainforthelaborofhishands,andyouarem utuallyhelpedandhelpfultooneanother,bothgivingandreceiving,andeachoneservinglifeaccordingtohisability.Takingallthisforgranted,wewillpassontothem etaphysicalsideofoursubject.This,bytheway,isvastlythem oreimportant,buttheouter,practicalworkisindispensablenevertheless.

Inordertoovercom elim itationsitisnecessaryto know theTruthandtoliveintheconsciousnessofIt.Forinstance,ifill-healthisourlim itation,then,inordertobecom efreeitisnecessarythatweliveintheconsciousnessoftheW holenessofGodandHisDivineIdea.Ifourlim itationberestrictedmeans,itisnecessarythatweliveintheconsciousnessoftheinexhaustibleandunlim itednatureoftheSubstancefrom whichtheCreatorbringseverythingintom anifestation.Ifourlim itationisdisharm onyandunhappiness,thenwem ustbecomeattunedtotheDivineharmonyinsuchawayandtosuchanextentastocauseittobereflectedintotheoutwardlife.Nom atterwhatourlim itationm aybe,wecan findliberationanddeliverancebylookingtoourDivineSource,realizingthatinthePerfectRealityallourwantsaresupplied,andthenlivingintheconsciousnessofthistruth.

Ill-healthis,apartfrom physicalcauses,anoutwardsignofaninwardwarfareordisharm ony,causedbywrongthoughts,emotions,beliefsandattitudeofm indandsoultowardslifeandGod.Inotherwords,thelifeislivedinan "error"consciousnessofdiseaseandsickness.First,theinwardlifehastobeadjustedinsuchawayastoharmonizewiththelawsofourownbeingandtheDivinepurposeoflife.Therem ustbeaninwardsurrendertotheloveprinciple,afterwhichthethoughtsmustbebroughtundercontrolsothathealth-destroyingemotionsm aynolongerim pairthehealth.Further,thewholeconsciousnessmust,asoftenaspossible,beraisedtoa

realizationoftheperfectW holenesswhichisthereality.Ifthiscourseisperseveredwith,aconsciousnessofhealthandwholenessbecomesaperm anentm entalstate,withtheresultthathealthbecom esm anifestedinthelife.Theoutwardlifeisalwaysareflectionorexternalm anifestationofwhatwearewithin,orourstateofconsciousness.Thereforeeverythingdependsuponwhichkindofconsciousnessitisinwhichwelive.

Onewholivesinthementalatm osphereofDivineW holeness,healthandharmony,unconsciouslydirectsalltheinnerforcesofnatureintohealthchannels.Ontheotherhand,onewholivesinam entalatm osphereofill-health,assickandunhealthypeopleveryoftendo,unconsciouslydirectsallhissub-consciousactivitiesinsuchawayastoproducesicknessanddisease.

Again,withregardtolackofm eans,thisstatealsocanbeovercome,spiritually,onlybylivinginahigherconsciousnessofabundanceandsufficiency.Thisaffects,unconsciously,everyactioninsuchawayastobringaboutabetterstateofaffairs.Ontheotherhand,onewholivesinam entalatm osphereoflim itationandlack,unconsciouslydirectsallhisactionstowardstheproduction,inhislife,ofpenuryandrestrictedmeans.

Thesameruleapplies,nom atterwhatthelim itationsofone'slifem aybe.Freedom canbegainedonlybyrealizingthetruthaboutlifeandbeing.W henwerealizethetruth,liveintheconsciousnessofit,andbecomeobedienttothelawsoflifeandbeing,thelifebecomesincreasinglyfree.Thisdoesnotm eanthatifweareplainoffeature,andofastum pyfigure,thatweshallbecomebeautifulandgraceful;butitdoesm eanthattheseso-calleddrawbackswillnolongerfetterus,andthatotherswillseeinussom ethingfarbetterthanm ereregularityoffeatureandbeautyofform .W henthesoulisaliveandthelifefilledwithlove,thehomeliestfacebecomesattractive.Neitherdoesitm eanthatweshallnotsufferbereavementsandsorrows,difficultiesandadversities,butitdoesm eanthatweshallceaseintensifyingthesethingsandcreatingfurthertroublesbytakinglife'sdisciplineinthewrongspirit.Italsom eansthatweshallbeabletoovercomealllife'sdifficultiesandtrials,becomeaconquerorinthestrife,and,insodoing,buildupcharacter.Thusthestorm soflife,insteadofdestroyingus,cansucceedonlyinm akingusstronger.Thusourfatedependsnotonthestormsoflife,butuponhow wem eetthem .Ifwegiveintothem ,or,thinkingthattheyareevilandnotanecessarydiscipline,rebelagainstthem andresistthem ,thenwebecomeshipwreckedonadesolateshore.If,however,wearearm edwiththeknowledgeoftruthwecansetoursailsinsuchawayas

tocompelthestorm soflifeactuallytohelpustowardsthedesiredhaven.

Thefirststepinthedirectionofknowledgeofthetruthisrightthinking.Everynegativethoughtmustbetransmutedintoitspositiveopposite,[12]forinstance,hateanddislikeintoloveandgoodwill,fearintoconfidenttrust,povertyintoabundance,evilintoabsolutegood,andsoon.Thiswillbefoundtobenoteasy,butitispossible,andthepowertocontrolone'sthoughtsincreasesifoneperseverescontinually,withthepassingoftheyears.A beginnercannot,naturally,expecttobeabletoexercisethesam econtrolasonewhohasbeenperseveringlyseekingself-m asteryforyears,buthecanmakesubstantialprogressandlearn from daytoday.

[12]Seealso "ThePowerofThought"and "TheW ayofEscape,"bythesameauthorandpublisher.

Theresultofthinkinginthiswayissurprising.Thereversalofthoughtm ayappearatfirsttobesimplicityitself,andtoleadnowhereinparticular,butafteratim ethevastnessofthesubjectbecomesalmostappalling.ThecultivationandpracticeofrightthinkinggraduallyleadtoaknowledgeoftheTruth.Notanintellectualknowledgeoftruth,butarealization,bythesoul,oftheTruth.ThisistheknowingoftheTruthwhichsetsmenfree.W ecanthenlookthroughalltheagesandknow thatalliswell.Theheavyburdenwhichhasoppressedussolong,rollsfrom ourshoulders,andwebecomefree.

A R O U SIN G IN W A R D PO W ER S.

M anisheirtowonderfulandillim itablepowers,butuntilhebecom esawareofthem andconsciouslyidentifieshimselfwiththem,theyliedorm antandunexpressed,andm ightjustaswellnotexistatallasfarastheirusetom an,inhisunawakenedstate,isconcerned.W hen,however,m anbecomesawakenedtothegreattruththatheisaspiritualbeing:whenhelearnsthatthelittlepettyselfand finitepersonalityarenothisrealselfatall,butmerelyam asktotherealm an:whenherealizesthattheSpiritualEgo,atrueDivineSparkof,orbranchortwigoftheEternalLogos,[13]ishisrealSelf:whenheunderstandsthathisbodyisnothimself,thathism indisnothim self,thatevenhissoulisnothim self,beingbutvehiclesthroughwhichheseeksexpression,butthatheisspirit,deathless,diseaseless,eternal,form inganintegralpartoftheOneSpiritandbeingidenticalwithIt,heentersanew lifeofalm ostboundless

power.

[13]"Iam theVine,yearethebranches."--Jesus.

Itisunwisetoengageinanym ysticalpracticesinanattemptto"force"developmentandunfoldment.M ystictrancesarehighlydangerousandarealsounnecessary.Psychicexperiencesandtheawakeningofpsychiccentersarealsodangerousandleadawayfromourgoal.Breathingexercises,whoseobjectistoawakeninwardpowers,arehighlydangerousandaretobecondem nedinconsequence.Thecultivationofnegativepassivitysuchasinhibitingallthoughtandm akingoneselfquitepassiveandopentoanyinfluence,isalsohighlydangerousandshouldbestrictlyavoided.

Inplaceofalltheseunwisepracticesashorttim eshouldbesetasideeachnightandalsomorning,ifpossible,forgettingintotouchwithReality.Youshouldthenendeavortorealizethatthebody,m indandsoularebutvehiclesofexpression,m ereservantsofthetrueSelforEgo.Thiswillbringaboutintime,aconsciousnessofidentitywiththeOneEternalSpirit.W hatJesuscalled "ourFatherinHeaven."

Onem ightproceedafterthisfashion:--

"M ybodyisnotm yself,butismerelysomethingthatenablesm etolivethism ateriallifeandgainexperience.

"M ym indisnotm yself,butmerelyaninstrumentwhichIuseandwhichobeysm ywill.

"M ysoulisnotm yself,butm erelyagarm entofm yspirit.

"M ywillisnotm yself,butissom ethingofwhichI,thetrueSelf,m akeuse."

Andsoon.Bythismeansyougraduallyapproachthegreattruthwhichcannotbeputintowordsandwhichcanonlybecom eyoursthroughrealizationorinwardspiritualunderstanding.

InadditiononecanuseapositivestatementofTruth,reverently,butwithfullconfidence,suchas:"Iam abranchintheTrueVine."

Incourseoftim eyouwillbecomepossessedofafeelingoftrem endousandunlim itedpowerandsecurity.Thisisagreatresponsibilityforthispowerm ustbeusedonlyinserviceandnotforselfishpurposes.Ifitisusedfortheacquisitionofwealthandthegainingof

temporalpower,greatdisasterwillbetheinevitableresult.Yet,ifusedaright,itisboundtohaveagreat,thoughunconscious,influenceforgoodonthelife,andforthisyouarenotresponsible.Constantlyendeavortoserveandblessothers,then,becauseyoudonotseekthem ,crowdsofblessingswillcom eintoyourlifeunbidden,greathappinessbeingoneofthechief.Havingfoundthekingdom ofheavenitwillbeyourexperiencethatallneededgoodwillbeaddeduntoyou.

Thispowerm ayalsobeusedtostrengthencharacter,toovercomeintheconflictsofthesoul,andtobuildupthespiritualbodywhichwillbeourvehicleofexpressioninhigherrealm s.

TH E EN D .

ForM oreInform ation,G o to:www.reiconferences.com