The Magic In Your Mind U.S. Andersen Originally published by Thomas Nelson & Sons, New York, 1961.
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Contents O*+O*hap%er 1 T'+ '/--+N $0S+ O $"" T'/NS hap%er 2 -/SO)+*/N T'+ S+*+T S+" hap%er 3 T'+ *+$T+ST M$/ O $"" hap%er 4 S+"5M$ST+*Y hap%er M/N- O)+* M$TT+* hap%er 6 M+NT$" /M$+*Y hap%er 7 T'+ 8O+* O 'O/+ hap%er O)+*OM/N O88OS/T/ON hap%er 9 -+)+"O8/N S:/""S hap%er 1; *+$T/N YO0* ON T$"+NT hap%er 11 'O TO 0S+ YO0* S/
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/ gi(e you %he end o# a golden s%ring= Only wind i% in%o a ball,> /% will lead you in a% 'ea(en?s ga%e, !uil% in @erusalem?s wall. /""/$M !"$:+
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FOREWORD This book re(eals a men%al magi %ha% assures suess, %ha% absolu%ely guaran%ees inreased ahie(emen%, whe%her your pro#ession is in %he ar%s or business, in siene or sales, in spor%s, war, or poli%is. 'ere you will learn %he sere% way in whih your mind is %ied %o %he soure o# all powerA you will learn how you are apable o# beoming any%hing and doing any%hing you an (isualiBe. +(ery man?s onsiousness is ons%an%ly hanging, is %rapped a% %he kni#e5edge o(erlap o# pas% and #u%ure, rea%s ra%her %han a%s, is inomple%e and par%ial, e%ernally seeks i%sel#, #or sine %he mere s%a%e o# being %hrows no ligh% on %ha% s%a%e, onsiousness learns o# i%sel# %hrough rea%ion %o ou%side s%imuli. /# a man omes %o belie(e he is unsuess#ul, i% is beause he arries %he impression he has been unsuess#ul, and %his onlusion, one adop%ed, inesapably molds him in%o %he shape o# %he %hing he belie(es, loks him in a prison o# his own making. The magi by whih a man beomes #ree is imagina%ion. !y %raining himsel# %o as% up men%al pi%ures o# %he %hing he desires, by resis%ing sensual s%imuli, e(en en(isaging %he eCa% opposi%e, he %ends %o assume a #a%ual posi%ion in aordane wi%h his (ision, #or his (ision %hen beomes his eCperiene, ra%her %han %he sensual s%imuli %ha% mo(ed him be#ore. onsiousness always assumes a #orm %o sui% i%s knowledge o# i%sel#, and where suh knowledge breaks beyond %he limi%s imposed by sensory eCperiene, man begins %o grow in%o %he image o# %he Sere% Sel#. There is only one mind in all rea%ionA %ha% mind is in e(eryone, is in i%s %rue s%a%e o# being no% on#ined %o anyone, no% on#ined %o %he body. /% is a en%ral, knowing onsiousness in whih e(ery%hing dwells, whih dwells in e(ery%hing. /n a bodily5 on#ined s%a%e i% assumes %he limi%a%ions imposed upon i% by %he knowledge o# i%sel# whih i% reei(es %hrough %he senses, bu% when bondage %o %hose senses is broken by de(elopmen% o# an inner power %o perei(e and know dire%ly, %hen sla(ery %o i%s embodimen% is a% an end. 8er#e% a%ion and per#e% works s%em #rom an inner on(i%ion o# %he men%al ause behind all %hings. $ man hanges %he s%a%e o# his ou%er world by #irs% hanging %he s%a%e o# his inner world. +(ery%hing %ha% omes %o him #rom ou%side is %he resul% o# his own onsiousness. hen he hanges %ha% onsiousness he al%ers his perep%ion and %hus %he world he sees. !y oming %o a lear unders%anding o# %he proess and e##e% o# men%al imagery he is led irre(oably along %he orre% pa%h %o his goal. !y working wi%h %his ause o# all %hings>his own onsiousness>he ahie(es in#allibili%y in works, #or inasmuh as his men%al imagery propels him in%o a%ion, %ha% a%ion is always %rue %o %he pi%ure in his mind and will deli(er him i%s ma%erial oun%erpar% er%ainly.
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/n %his book you will #ind a program #or %raining %he image power o# %he mind, so %ha% a sene or si%ua%ion as% up in onsiousness will arri(e in %hree dimensions, wi%h olor and sound, pulsing wi%h li#e, as real #or you as %he ou%side world. 'a(en?% you e(er dreamed suh dreamsD 'a(en?% you some%imes in sleep beome immersed in a men%al and spiri%ual world wi%h suh solidi%y and dimension %ha% you were er%ain i% was real and %he ma%erial world a delusionD /# e(er you ha(e known %he o(erwhelming power o# men%al imagery %o in#luene your a%%i%ude and perep%ion, %hen you will Euikly see %ha% %he sal(a%ion o# eah o# us is %o %rain his image power %o obey him. /n %his manner i% is possible %o beome #ree #rom %he promp%ings and urgings o# na%ure, #rom dea%h and disease and des%ru%ion, #rom ine##e%uali%y and #rus%ra%ion. or %he man whose inner power o# (ision %ransends %he ons%an%ly dis%ra%ing s%imuli o# %he ou%er world has %aken harge o# his own li#e, is %ruly mas%er o# his #a%e.
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Chapter 1 THE HIDDEN CAUSE OF ALL THINGS S'$:+S8+$*+?S 'amle% in his #amed soliloEuy pondered, FTo be or no% %o be,G and %hus #aed sEuarely %he primary hallenge o# li#e. Mos% people only eCis%, ne(er %ruly are a% all. They eCis% as predi%able eEua%ions, rea%ing ra%her %han a%ing, walking ompendiums o# aphorisms and %aboos, re#leCes and syndromes. Surely %he gods mus% hukle a% %he ironi spe%ale o# robo%s #anying %hemsel(es #ree, bu% s%ill, when #inally %he embodied onsiousness rises abo(e %he pain5pleasure priniple o# na%ure, %hen %he %rue meaning o# #reedom is made apparen% a% las%. ACTION VERSUS REACTION
e eCis% in order %ha% we may beome some%hing more %han we are, no% %hrough #a(orable irums%ane or auspiious ourrene, bu% %hrough an inner searh #or inreased awareness. To be, %o beome, %hese are %he ommandmen%s o# e(ol(ing li#e, whih is going somewhere, aspires %o some unsealed heigh%s, and %he awakened soul answers %he all, seeks, grows, eCpands. To do less is %o sink in%o %he rea%i(e prison o# %he ego, wi%h all i%s pain, su##ering, limi%a%ion, deay, and dea%h. The man who li(es %hrough rea%ion %o %he world abou% him is %he (i%im o# e(ery hange in his en(ironmen%, now happy, now sad, now (i%orious, now de#ea%ed, a##e%ed bu% ne(er a##e%ing. 'e may li(e many years in %his manner, rap% wi%h sensory perep%ion and %he ups and downs o# his sur#ae sel#, bu% one day pain so ou%weighs pleasure %ha% he suddenly perei(es his ego is illusory, a produ% o# ou%side irums%anes only. Then he ei%her sinks in%o omple%e animal le%hargy or, %urning away #rom %he senses, seeks inner awareness and sel#5 mas%ery. Then he is on %he road %o really li(ing, %ruly beomingA %hen he begins %o uno(er his real po%en%ialA %hen he diso(ers %he mirale o# his own onsiousness, %he magi in his mind. Mas%ery o(er li#e is no% a%%ained by dominion o(er ma%erial %hings, bu% by men%al perep%ion o# %heir %rue ause and na%ure. The wise man does no% a%%emp% %o bend %he world %o #i% his way or %o oere e(en%s in%o a replia o# his desires, bu% ins%ead s%ri(es #or a higher onsiousness %ha% enables him %o perei(e %he sere% ause behind all %hings. Thus he #inds a prominen% plae in e(en%sA by his u%%er harmony wi%h %hem he a%ually appears %o be molding %hem. 'e mo(es e##or%lessly %hrough %he mos% s%renuous a%ion, %he mos% perilous %imes, beause his a%%unemen% wi%h %he men%al #ore %ha% on%rols %he uni(erse guides him %o per#orm %he work %ha% needs %o be done. ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MIND
This men%al #ore %ha% on%rols %he uni(erse may be alled any%hing you like and (isualiBed any way you hoose. The impor%an% %hing is %o unders%and %ha% i% eCis%s, %o know some%hing abou% how i% works, wha% your rela%ionship %o i% is. /% More ree !ooks
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migh%, #or ins%ane, be likened %o an enormous ele%romagne%i #ield. $ll onsious #orms o# li#e %hen would be %iny ele%ro5magne%i #ields wi%hin %he uni(ersal #ield and #inding posi%ions wi%hin i%, eah aording %o %he kind and Euali%y o# i%s #ield. here eah indi(idual #ield would wind up wi%hin %he main #ield %hen would be a ma%%er o# ineCorable law and absolu%ely una(oidable, as is illus%ra%ed by %he millions o# people who per#orm %he same %asks o(er and o(er wi%h absolu%ely %he same resul%s, almos% as i# #ollowing ri%ual. 8erhaps %hey are always sik, always de#ea%ed, FHus% barely misers,G perhaps always broke, always ou% o# a Hob. /# we gi(e Hus% %he sligh%es% re#le%ion %o our own li(es we anno% help bu% be s%ar%led by how we seem dogged by %he same si%ua%ion in all %hings, year a#%er year, %ime a#%er %ime. This deadly reurrene is %he soure o# mos% #rus%ra%ion and men%al illness, is %he bo%%om roo% o# all #ailure. Ye% i% is a(oidable. $nd %he way by whih i% is a(oidable brings omple%e emanipa%ion o# %he mind and spiri%. For the tiny electro-magnetic field has inherent within it the ability to change the kind and quality of its field, so that it will be moved about within the main field with all the power and sureness of the main field until it arrives at the position its new quality of consciousness demands.
The impor%an% %hing %o remember abou% %his illus%ra%ion is %ha% %he %iny ele%ro5 magne%i #ield does no% mo(e i%sel#. /% is mo(ed by %he large #ield. $nd behind i%s mo(emen% lies all %he power o# %he large #ield. $ny a%%emp% by i% %o mo(e i%sel# is ob(iously #u%ile sine i% is held in plae by a power in#ini%ely grea%er %han i%sel#. $nd i% is held where i% is beause o# wha% i% is. The momen% a hange ours wi%hin i%sel#, i% is mo(ed by a power ou%side i%sel# %o a new posi%ion in %he #ield, one in keeping wi%h i%s new po%en%ial. TE MENTAL !ORLD
The #oregoing is admi%%edly an analogy, bu% ne(er%heless S.. Tromp in his remarkable book, 8syhial 8hysis, has pro(ed beyond all doub% %ha% %he human being eCudes er%ain ele%ro5magne%i #ields, %ha% %he ear%h i%sel# gi(es o## an ele%ro5magne%i #ield, and his illus%ra%ions are so impeably doumen%ed %ha% %here anno% possibly be any sien%i#i Euarrel wi%h %hem. e indeed may be on %he (ery %hreshold o# sien%i#i proo# o# %hose in(isible areas o# human aspira%ion %ha% ha(e hi%her%o been %he pro(ine o# philosophers, di(iners, and pries%s. -epar%men%s o# in(es%iga%ion in%o %he paranormal abili%ies o# %he human psyhe ha(e been es%ablished a% our leading uni(ersi%ies, and i% is now surely only a ma%%er o# %ime un%il we are #aed wi%h %he #inal irre(oable proo# o# our in%ui%i(e perep%ion>%he power o# mind o(er ma%%er. /% is a men%al world we li(e in, no% a physial one a% all. The physial is merely an eC%ension o# %he men%al, and an imper#e% eC%ension a% %ha%. +(ery%hing we see, hear, and #eel is no% a hard and inesapable #a% a% all, bu% only %he imper#e% More ree !ooks
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re(ela%ion %o %he senses o# an idea held in mind. 8reoupa%ion wi%h sensory eCperiene has #oused a%%en%ion on e##e%s ins%ead o# auses, has led sien%i#i in(es%iga%ion down a blind alley where e(ery%hing grows smaller in%o in#ini%y or larger in%o in#ini%y and walls man o## #rom %he sere%s %ha% lie behind li#e. /% is no% %he plane%s and s%ars, %he elemen%s and winds, or e(en %he eCis%ene o# li#e i%sel# %ha% is %he mirale %ha% demands our a%%en%ion. /% is onsiousness. /% is %he mere #a% o# being, %he abili%y %o say, F/.G onsiousness is an indispu%able #a%, %he grea%es% mirale o# all, and all %he sigh%s and sounds o# %he world are merely side5 e##e%s. TE IDDEN "I#
To be onsious is %o be onsiousA %here are no% di##eren% kinds. The F/G %ha% is in your neighbor is %he eCa% same F/G wi%hin you. /% may appear %o be di##eren% %hrough being a%%ahed %o di##eren% sensory eCperiene, bu% %ha% is only beause i% has allowed i%sel# %o be ondi%ioned by suh eCperiene. /n poin% o# a%ual #a% onsiousness is ne(er %he resul% o# eCperiene bu% %he ause ins%ead, and where(er we #ind i%, i% is primarily aware o# eCis%ing, o# being F/.G There is only one basi onsiousness in all rea%ionA i% %akes up i%s residene in all %hings, appears %o be di##eren% aording %o %he %hings i% en%ers in%o, bu% in essene is ne(er hanged a% all. /% is in%elligene, awareness, energy, power, rea%i(eness, %he s%u## #rom whih all %hings are made. /% is %he alpha and omega o# eCis%ene, #irs% auseA i% is you. F+(ery%hing in Na%ure on%ains all %he powers o# Na%ure. +(ery%hing is made o# one hidden s%u##,G wro%e *alph aldo +merson. 'e piered %he (eil, perei(ed behind %he sense5enamoring dane o# na%ure?s myriad #orms %he workings o# %he one mind and one in%elligene #rom whih all li#e and aspira%ion spring. There an be no inner peae or sure%y o# a%ion wi%hou% %his basi spiri%ual knowledge. The man who li(es isola%ed #rom %he roo%s o# his being has u% himsel# o## #rom %he soure o# all power and dwells alone and wi%hou% resoure in a hos%ile and %hrea%ening world. "e% him one perei(e %he %rue na%ure o# li#e and his rela%ionship %o i% and he soon sees %ha% %he world always re#le%s his %hough%s. TE MAS$
The sur#ae mind or sense5sel# or ego is %he (illain o# %he play %ha% is being ena%ed on %he human s%age a% presen%. Man as a #orm o# li#e is su##iien%ly e(ol(ed so as %o unders%and his separa%eness and uniEueness. 'e looks in %he mirror and unders%ands %ha% %he re#le%ed animal is he. 'e is onerned wi%h %he appearane and wel#are o# %his animal and ponders i%s rela%ionships wi%h %he world and o%hers. 'e does no% %ruly unders%and wha% he is, only %ha% he is onsious and on#ined wi%hin a par%iular body, and %he eCperiene and knowledge he aEuires, %oge%her wi%h his disposi%ion as %o %heir use, he labels F/,G and %hus he is deluded in%o alling a ghos% by his own name.
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'idden behind %his ghos%, obsured by i%s s%ruggles and #anies, is %he Sere% Sel#, whih e(en %hough hidden, ignored, or misunders%ood, ne(er%heless mo(es all %hings on %he hessboard o# li#e aording %o %heir na%ures and aspira%ions. e are ne(er ego or sensesel#. These are masks we don as we play a% %he par%s we #ind in li#e. ha% we %ruly are is no% a hanging %hing, bu% is whole and en%ire, power#ul and serene, limi%less and e%ernal. /% springs #rom %he ineChaus%ible soure o# li#e i%sel#, and when we learn %o iden%i#y oursel(es wi%h i%, %hen we ha(e hi%hed a ride on a power so #ar beyond our %iny %emporal sel(es %ha% our li(es are hanged in %he mos% amaBing manner. TE IM%RISONED SEL&
FTo be wha% we are and %o beome wha% we are apable o# being,G wro%e *ober% "ouis S%e(enson, Fis %he only end o# li#e.G !u% when we s%ul%i#y our di(ine bir%hrigh% in manales o# men%al and spiri%ual limi%a%ions, %hen we ha(e no al%erna%i(e bu% s%agna%ion and pain. $s long as we are responsi(e solely %o %he s%imuli %ha% impinge upon our senses #rom %he ou%er world, we ha(e no hoie bu% %o be (i%ims o# e(ery irums%ane. "oked %o %he senses, we reel under eah s%imulus, now aggressi(e, now a#raid, now Hoy#ul, now sad, now seeking dea%h, now li#e, bu% always our inner sereni%y and eEuilibrium are in %he hands o# some%hing we nei%her unders%and nor on%rolA and so we are puppe%s, pulled by in(isible and unknown s%rings, swirling in %he maels%rom o# li#e like sraps o# paper in %he windA and i# perhane we garner knowledge enough %o perei(e our helplessness, %hen we o#%en are o(erome wi%h suh dep%hs o# sadness as %o make e##or% agains% our bonds an almos% unimaginable %hing. !u% %he momen% %ha% we pause long enough in %he headlong rush o# li#e %o see %ha% we are no% mo(ing in aord wi%h or in response %o our own deisions bu% ra%her in rea%ion %o %he world around us, %hen we ha(e %aken %he #irs% s%ep %oward #reedom. Only one who knows his sla(ery an aspire %o be #ree, Hus% as %rue #reedom is possible only %o one who has eCperiened hains. Our ha%es, lo(es, #ears, en(ies, aspira%ions, deei%s are #or %he mos% par% produ%s o# irums%ane, o# #alse and limi%ing odes and mores>more o#%en inna%e %errors o# moun%ains %ha% are molehillsA and %he solu%ion %o all o# %hem is %o s%and #ore5 sEuare be#ore %hem, daring %hem %o do %heir u%mos%, eCposing %hem #or wha% %hey are, %hus #oreswearing allegiane %o %he upidi%y o# %he deluding and blinding ego whih #ore(er keeps us %hinking we are grea%er %han o%hers and less %han we %ruly are. TE LI'ERATING %O!ER
/% is no% neessary %o beome a mys%i, e(en a philosopher, er%ainly no% a melanholy me%aphysiian in order %o ome %o grips wi%h %he spiri%ual side o# eCis%ene, %o es%ablish a men%al ausa%ion in your li#e %ha% will gi (e you on%rol o# irums%ane. ha% is neessary, howe(er, is %ha% you do no% immedia%ely %hrow ou% %he door e(ery%hing %ha% has %o do wi%h spiri% simply beause i% is %he More ree !ooks
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es%ablished pro(ine o# religion. You may be a hris%ian or a 'indu, a Moslem or a !uddhis%, a Taois% or Shin%ois%, bu% %ha% only inreases your indi(idual human responsibili%y %o %hink %hrough all issues %ha% bear on %he world and li#e and dea%h and your indi(idual being. Only when you ome %o grips wi%h your own men%al essene, only when you arri(e a% a realiBa%ion o# %he ephemeral, e(erhanging na%ure o# F/G will i% beome apparen% %ha% e(ery%hing is in a ons%an% s %a%e o# grow%h and de(elopmen% and aspira%ion, and %here are no limi%s and #inali%ies and de#ea%s, and any%hing is possible %o one who #irs% onei(es %he image in his mind. There is wi%hin us a power o# omple%e libera%ion, desended %here #rom wha%e(er mind or in%elligene lies behind rea%ion, and %hrough i% we are apable o# beoming any%hing and doing any%hing we an (isualiBe. The men%al s%u## o# whih we are made is o# suh kind and Euali%y %ha% i% responds %o %he #orma%ion o# images wi%hin i% by %he rea%ion o# a oun%erpar% %ha% is disernible %o %he senses. Thus any pi%ure we hold in our minds is bound %o resol(e in %he ma%erial world. e anno% help oursel(es in %his. $s long as we li(e and %hink, we will hold images in our minds, and %hese images de(elop in%o %he %hings o# our li(es, and so long as we %hink a er%ain way we mus% li(e a er%ain way, and no amoun% o# willing or wishing will hange i%, only %he (ision we arry wi%hin. TE LA! O& LI&E
/% is as%ounding and sad %o see %he many %housands o# people whose men%al mahinery keeps deli(ering %o %hem %he (ery e##e%s %hey say %hey do no% wan%. They bewail %he #a% %ha% %hey are poor, bu% %ha% doesn?% make %hem riher. They omplain abou% %heir ahes and pains, bu% %hey keep righ% on being sik. They say %ha% nobody likes %hem, whih means %hey don?% like anybody. They aren?% bold, %hey aren?% aggressi(e, %hey aren?% imagina%i(eA men%ally %hey Eui(er and Euake and are bound %o nega%i(e delusions. /% simply doesn?% ma%%er wha% %he pi%ure in your mind is, i% is deli(ered none%heless, wi%h %he same amoun% o# #ai%h#ulness and promp%ness i# i% is a pi%ure o# po(er%y or disease or #ear or #ailure as i% would be i# i% were a pi%ure o# weal%h or heal%h or ourage or suess. The law o# li#e is %his= all %hings bo%h good and e(il are ons%ru%ed #rom an image held in mind. $ %igh%rope walker edges swi#%ly ou% on his elas%i and minusule suppor%. 'igh in %he air, wa(ering, suspended on a %hin blak line, he seems %o %ransgress all normal laws o# beha(ior. ha% is as%onishing is no% %ha% he is able %o do %his %hing so well bu% %ha% he dares a%%emp% i% a% all. Ye% wha% he is doing is an inesapable resul% o# men%al law. "ong be#ore he se% his #irs% uner%ain s%eps on %he %au% wire, he made a pi%ure in his mind. Throughou% his early bumbling a%%emp%s %he pi%ure persis%ed. 'e saw himsel#, agile, balaned, adroi%ly rossing %he swaying wire, and %his (ision sus%ained him %hrough all early #ailures, Now he #laun%s his skill and ourage in %he (ery #ae o# dea%h, nonhalan%ly, as %he spe%a%ors gasp. 'e is sure, poised, on#iden%, deli(ered o# all #ear and mishap by %he sus%aining More ree !ooks
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pi%ure wi%hin. IMAGE %O!ER
The image power o# %he mind is imagina%ion, bu% Hus% wha% imagina%ion is and where i% omes #rom nobody seems %o know. $ #amous surgeon is repu%ed %o ha(e remarked %ha% he had slied open many a brain wi%hou% e(er ha(ing seen a pi%ure or #ound a %hough%. The imagina%ion er%ainly is no more eClusi(e proper%y o# %he brain %han o# an arm, a leg, or %he s%omah. Thinking is per#ormed no% by a par% o# %he body or e(en %he whole body bu% by %he inhabi%an% wi%hin. /% is %ha% #un%ion whih enables onsiousness %o know i%s surroundings and %o know i%sel#. Only one who %hinks is able %o say, F/G. Only one who an say, F/G is able %o as% up pi%ures wi%hin his own being, known %o no o%hers. The e%ernal s%ri(ing knowledge and apai%y, %he mos% apparen% %hing abou% li #e, is resol(ed always by %wo prinipal elemen%s o# %he s%ri#e>%he knower and %he %hing %o be known. !y de#ini%ion %hese appear %o be separa%e, and we obser(e %ha% a man ordinarily opes wi%h %he ou%er world by %abula%ing %he manner in whih i% impinges upon his senses. $ %hing is so long and so wide and weighs so muh and is so hard and a er%ain olor. $ name is gi(en i%, and as long as eah subseEuen% %ime i% is enoun%ered i% main%ains %he maHori%y o# i%s original hara%eris%is, a man reogniBes i% #or wha% i% is and knows i% when he sees i %. /# you ask him i# i% is near, he is able %o answer ins%an%ly, simply by glaning around. /# i%s presene produes some par%iular e##e% upon him, like #ear or a nger or lo(e or %ension, %hen %he mere presene or absene o# %his obHe% may be said %o ma%erially a##e% his li#e. /n %ha% ase, his s%a%e o# mind is no% a ma%%er o# his own de%ermina%ion, bu% ins%ead is %he dire% resul% o# %he obHe% as he enoun%ers i% or a(oids i% in %he ou%er5world. INNER VISION
"i#e in animal and (ege%able #orms is purely a ma%%er o# rea%ion. There is #irs% %he organism, %hen %here are %he elemen%s %ha% in%rude %heir presene upon i%. The on#li% %hus engendered resol(es i%sel# in %he proess o# e(olu%ion as eah organism a%%emp%s %o o(erome %he obs%ales i% mee%s, bu% %his in#luene, %hrough %he lower s%ages o# e(olu%ion, apparen%ly omes only #rom ou%side and is %he resul% o# proesses and #ores beyond %he on%rol o# %he organism. Na%ure holds %he world and li#e in an iron grip, and lower animal as well as (ege%able li#e is led ineCorably along a pa%h i% nei%her unders%ands nor an a(oid. $ %hing is %he kind o# %hing i% is %hrough a rea%i(e proess %ha% appears %o be ou%side i%A eCis%ene i%sel#, in any shape or #orm, appears %o be beyond %he power and sope o# %he indi(idual being. e are born and we die, and no%hing wi%hin our known powers or knowledge an aid or s%op %hese e(en%s. $nd inso#ar as we li(e in response %o %he senses, we are au%oma%ons only, and %he shape o# our li(es is predes%ined by %he irums%anes we enoun%er.
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TE SECRET SEL&
/% is knowledge abou% and #ai%h in %his Sere% Sel# %ha% is %he key %o orre% use o# %he imagina%ion. No man li(es in %he dark when he learns where %he ligh% is. To unders%and %he Sere% Sel# is %o #ree onesel# #rom bondage %o irums%ane, %o loose wi%hin a power ompounded upon i%sel#, %o pro(ide li#e wi%h per#e% working and per#e% sereni%y. This en%i%y wi%hin eah o# us, no% %he ego, no% eCperiene, no% %ime or irums%ane or plae or posi%ion, bu% onsiousness only, %he F/G di(es%ed o# all aou%remen%s eCep% pure sense o# eCis%ene, %his is %he sel# %ha% on%ains all power, whose essene is grea%er %han %he indi(idual, grea%er %han %en %housand indi(iduals, #or i% is %he suppor%ing s%ru%ure upon whih all %hings are buil%, %he e(ol(ing sel# o# %he uni(erse. /% is no% on#ined %o %he body, %o a %ime or plae or ondi%ion, bu% is in all %imes and plaes and ondi%ions. /% is in#ini%e and e%ernal and only one, bu% being so as easily mani#es%s as %he #ini%e and %emporal and many. $ll are on%ained wi%hin i%, ye% eah on%ains i% all, #or by i%s (ery na%ure all o# i% is e(eryplae a% %he same momen%. The Sere% Sel# is %imeless and e%ernal. /% is %he sel# o# %he uni(erse and i% is %he sel# o# eah o# us, %he sel# o# you. /% was ne(er born and i% will ne(er die. /% en%ers in%o eah o# i%s rea%ions and beomes %ha% rea%ion. ha% is going on in li#e and %he world and %he uni(erse is omple%ely i%s working and %he resul% o# i%s sere% purpose and undi(ulged goal. The na%ure o# i%s being is men%alA i%s essene is dynami and rea%i(e. /% is %he e%ernal s%u## %ha% oupies all spae and %ime and wi%hin whih %here is no dimension. /% is all ends and middles and opposi%es and eC%remes, and i% is in#ini%ely rea%i(e. The myriad #orms o# li#e are bu% a %iny india%ion o# i%s (as% po%en%ial #or plas%i mul%iplii%y ou% o# i%s essen%ial oneness. MENTAL ASCENDENCY
The Sere% Sel# is wi%hin you. /% is no% (isi%ed upon a #or%una%e #ew and wi%hheld #rom o%hers, bu% is %o%ally eCis%en% in %he hear% o# eah o# us. /nso#ar as we are able %o di(ore oursel(es #rom %he world and %he ego and sensual s%imuli we will beome inreasingly aware o# i%s eCis%ene wi%hin and onsiously s%ri(e %o iden%i#y oursel(es wi%h i%. /% is %hrough %his iden%i#ia%ion %ha% %he seeds o# power are sown. One who is able %o as% o## %he limi%a%ions o# ego and impro(e %he Euali%y o# his onsiousness %hrough disiplinary use o# %he imagina%ion is able by means o# dire% iden%i#ia%ion %o beome one wi%h %he Sere% Sel# and %hus a%%ain %o a measure o# i%s power #or per#e%ion. The po%en%ial #or ahie(ing %his as%ounding goal lies wi%hin eah o# us. !y means o# inner men%al asendany and pi%orial de#ini%ion a man may beome one wi%h %he purposes o# %he Sere% Sel# and %hus beome in#allible in his works and his goals. This is a pre%%y big apsule %o swallow. Our ma%erialis%i soie%y wi%h i%s re(erene #or %he produ%s o# siene has eCised %hreeEuar%ers o# our men%ali%y. e ha(e onerned oursel(es %oo muh wi%h %he world, wha% i% is, wha% is in i%, how we an use i%, and %oday we know li%%le more o# %he origins and purposes o# li# e %han we More ree !ooks
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did be#ore men were able %o read and wri%e. /% is di##iul% when we know some%hing o# %he priniples o# %he gasoline engine, %he genera%ion and %ransmission o# ele%rii%y, %he re#ining and %empering o# s%eel, o# ele%roni and radio %ransmission, %o admi% %he possibili%y %ha% some%hing radially opposed %o %he (iewpoin% o# siene ould ha(e a #ounda%ion in #a%. Siene says, FThe laws o# na%ure are supreme, and man mus% learn %o li(e wi%h %hem in order %o prosper.G Now omes %his diame%rially opposed %heory, FNa%ure is subser(ien% %o mind, no% %he mind o# man as we know i%, bu% %he Supreme Mind or Sere% Sel# %ha% lies behind li#e, and %his Sere% Sel# is wi%hin eah o# us. e an ome %o know i% and %o use i%, and %hus %ransend %he laws o# na%ure and #ree oursel(es #rom bondage %o %he senses and %he ma%erial world.G TOUGTS 'ECOME TINGS
ha% is going on in li#e is %he e(olu%ion o# %he indi(idual %o omple%e oneness wi%h %he Sere% Sel#. The uni(ersal being %ha% lies behind rea%ion has di##eren%ia%ed in%o #ini%e #orm, %aken disguise, so %o speak, in order %o work ou% %he mani#old sides o# i%s in#ini%e and e%ernal na%ure. There#ore %he man who eCpands his onsiousness is #ul#illing %he #ondes% wish o# li#e. /% is no% neessary %ha% we beome sain%s %o unders%and as muh o# %he Sere% Sel# as is neessary %o use i%s power in our a##airs. To know %his law is enough= wha%e(er we aep% as a permanen% men%al image in our onsiousness mus% mani#es% in our world, #or we beome in li#e wha% we are in onsiousness, and no%hing an al%er %ha% #a%. /% %akes a grea% deal o# ourage %o admi% %o yoursel# %ha% i# you are sik, #righ%ened, #rus%ra%ed, or de#ea%ed you ha(e brough% %hese ondi%ions on yoursel# and no one bu% yoursel# an ge% rid o# %hem. Oasionally someone so a##li%ed will eCperimen% wi%h %he power o# his mind %o ure him, bu% will gi(e i% only %he mos% ursory %rial. /#, #or eCample, he is ill and in pain, he migh% say, F/ (isualiBed mysel# well and happy, bu% / hur% Hus% as muh as e(er.G ha% he didn?% do abo(e all %hings was (isualiBe himsel# well and happy. 'e (isualiBed himsel# sik and in pain. The momen% he began %o (isualiBe himsel# well and happy, he would beome well and happy. This is no% a law %ha% works one in a while or par% o# %he %ime or on auspiious oasions. /% works all o# %he %ime and i% works in %he eCa% same way, and i% is re%urning %o you righ% now in %he ma%erial world %he images you main%ain in your mind. You anno% esape %hem. They surround you, sus%ain you, or %ormen% you. They are good or e(il or upli#%ing or degrading or eCal%ing or pain#ul aording %o %he (ision %ha% promp%s %hem, and as long as you are ali(e, as long as you %hink and imagine, you are li%erally surrounded day and nigh% by %he images %ha% predomina%e in your onsiousness. TOUGT CONTROL
The s%ar%ling power o# %he Sere% Sel# is %ha% i% always makes mani#es% %he image i% beholds. No%hing illus%ra%es %his #a% be%%er %han %he urren% eCperimen%s wi%h hypnosis. $ man may be in suh eCruia%ing pain %ha% e(en naro%is will no% More ree !ooks
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relie(e him, bu% he an be pu% under deep hypnosis and %old %ha% %here is no pain a% all, and pres%o, %here is no pain. 'e may ha(e a deep and abiding #ear o# rowds, bu% under hypnosis i% an be sugges%ed %o him %ha% he likes rowds, and lo and behold, he enHoys %hem mos% o# all. 'e an beome s%ronger, healed o# disease, smar%er, more aggressi(e, possessed o# endurane and indomi%ableness, all beause %hese %hings are impressed upon his psyhe as #a%s and %he image in his mind grows #rom %hem. F$haIG %he ry goes up, F#ind me a good hypno%is%. / wan% %o be smar% and s%rong and suess#ul and all %hose good %hings and %o be rid o# weakness and pain and #ailure.G $nd hypnosis an do i% %oo, i# you are willing %o abdia%e as %he person in harge o# your li#e. /# you are willing %ha% someone else run i% e(ery hour o# e(ery day %hroughou% %he whole o# i%, %hen you an %urn your li#e o(er %o a hypno%is% and he an remake i% in %he image you ou%line. 'owe(er, i% will make small di##erene %o you. You may s%ill be in %he (ehile, bu% you no longer will be dri(ing. /# e##or% and s%ri#e and %he o(eroming o# obs%ales are %he spurs %o grow%h %ha% %he Sere% Sel# in%ends %hem %o be, %hen surely you will ha(e abdia%ed #rom li#e i%sel#. You need no hypno%is% %o pu% %he power o# %he Sere% Sel# %o ons%ru%i(e work in your li#e. No hypno%is% an o(erome %he nega%i(e image making o# your mind unless he is wi%h you %wen%y5#our hours a day. You are %he only one in ons%an% rappor% wi%h yoursel#, and %hus you are %he only one able %o polie %he %hough%s and images you en%er%ain. /# you le% %he image be promp%ed by some%hing ou%side you, %hen you eCerise no on%rol o(er your li#e. /# you aep% images only in aord wi%h your desires, %hen li#e will deli(er your inner goals. /n any ase, %he magni#ien% promise o# %he Sere% Sel# is %his= you an hange your li#e by al%ering %he images in your mind, #or wha% omes %o you in %he end is only %ha% whih you ha(e been aep%ing in onsiousness. Now %here are many people who agree wi%h %his premise bu% are Euik %o poin% ou% %ha% %he images in %he onsiousness o# mos% persons are proHe%ed %here #rom %he subonsious and are no% o# %heir own hoosing. Mos% shools o# psyho%herapy apparen%ly #eel %his way, #or %hey propose a %edious and %ime5 onsuming %rea%men% ben% on eCpurga%ing #rom %he subonsious memories o# pain#ul and bi%%er oasions whih migh% promp% unpleasan% images in %he mind. Se(en or eigh% years o# %his proess ha(e no% no%ieably emp%ied pain#ul memories #rom %he subonsious o# mos% pa%ien%s, and in any ase, i # a %rea%men% is %ruly e##iaious, i% anno% possibly onsume so long a %ime. The saddes% %hing abou% %he modern Fpu% %he blame elsewhereG shool o# psyhoanalysis is %ha% %he person undergoing i% aep%s i% as Hus%i#ia%ion #or his #ailure %o polie his onsiousness and %herea#%er eCpe%s suh poliing %o be aomplished by ha(ing %he neighborhood rid o# riminals. /# he ahie(es some semblane o# a hanged onsiousness in %he hands o# %he psyhia%ris%, he soon goes bak %o a world #ull o# nega%i(e %hough%s and ideas, and Hus% beause he does no% polie his own More ree !ooks
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mind, %hey readily #ind aep%ane %here. You may no% be able %o al%er %he posi%ions o# %he s%ars, %o s%op %he ear%h #rom re(ol(ing, %o ause %he winds %o blow or %he sea %o alm, bu% you an hoose wha% you will %hink. You an %hink wha% you wan% %o %hink. You an %hink only in response %o an inner (ision and a sere% goal, and i# you %ake your s%and wi%h a #irm hear% and a high resol(e you will be suess#ul and you will no% be in%imida%ed and you will proHe% your image lear and %rue and i%s oun%erpar% will re%urn %o you in %he world. DRY OLE CASEY
/n a li%%le (illage on %he wes%ern slopes o# %he rea% -i(ide li(ed a man whose en%ire li#e had #ollowed one ignominious pa%%ern. or %hir%y5#i(e years he had been an oil well driller and had #ollowed %he #ron%iers o# oil eCplora%ion %hroughou% %he 0ni%ed S%a%es. -uring %ha% %ime he had drilled #or%y5#our wilda% wells and no% one o# %hem had made a s%rike. 'e had drilled in TeCas, Oklahoma, :ansas, "ouisiana, ali#ornia, New MeCio, $riBona, olorado, yoming, and s%ill he had no% hi%. Oil opera%ors wouldn?% hire him anymore. 'e beame known as F-ry 'oleG asey, a nie guy, bu% s%ri%ly ou% o# luk. inally he %ook a Hob, in a olorado mine and eked ou% his days wi%hou% hope. 'e kep% his drilling rig, %hough. /% was his #irs% lo(e. eekends would #ind him in %he bakyard, lubria%ing and leaning i%s par%s, handling %hem wi%h ri%ualis%i are. One day in la%e spring, when %he snow s%ood in broad gli%%ering #ields on %he slopes o# %he moun%ains and %he ri(ers and s%reams were high and roily, he wandered up in%o %he woods and sa% gaBing o(er %he (alley. The (alley was a basin hemmed in on %hree sides by preipi%ous in%rusions o# grani%e, and %hese moun%ains had been produ%i(e o# many minerals, lead, Bin, sil(er, %ungs%en, manganese. Our #riend gaBed %o %he wes%, %o where %he basin sloped down %o a pla%eau. Suddenly his mind #ormed %he per#e% pi%ure o# a #aul%ed an%iline, a predominan% %ype o# subsur#ae oil %rap. The image seemed superimposed o(er %he sene be#ore his eyes, so %ha% he ould almos% see %he oil below %he sur#ae o# %he ground. 'e %rembled be#ore his (ision, ould no% resis% i%. /% seemed like a sudden (isi%a%ion #rom hea(en, and he le#% %he moun%ainside absolu%ely er%ain %ha% wi%hin %he small (alley lay a maHor oil #ield. NeC% day he Eui% his Hob in %he mine and wi%h his sa(ings managed %o proure oil lease op%ions on %he land he (isualiBed as being %he mos% #a(orable. Now he had %o raise api%al %o omple%e his leasing arrangemen%s and pro(ide #unds %o drill an ini%ial well, a gargan%uan %ask, sine e(eryone who knew him knew also his his%ory o# #ailure. !u% %he (ision in his mind persis%ed. /% led him %o %ake a bus %o an eas%ern i%y in Eues% o# #unds. /% led him a#%er a week o# disouragemen% %o a park benh and a sea% alongside an elderly man who Euie%ly and pa%ien%ly #ed %he sEuirrels. /% was a brigh% warm day, and %he sEuirrels were a%i(e, playing and lowning More ree !ooks
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o(er %he pro##ered #ood, and %he %wo men laughed a% %heir an%is, and eah %old s%ories o# o%her sEuirrels and o%her %imes and agreed %ha% %he #oibles o# humani%y were no% shared by animals. armed a% eah o%her?s ompany, %hey agreed %o lunh %oge%her a% a nearby res%auran%. /n %he ourse o# %he lunheon, %he oil driller %old his new5#ound #riend o# his (ision and his problem. 'is #riend was in%eres%ed, Eues%ioned him losely abou% %he (ision he had had on %he moun%ainside, seemed impressed %ha% i% persis%ed. F'ow muh money do you needDG he asked. Fi#%y %housand dollars,G replied %he oil well driller. F/ will pro(ide i%,G %he man said suddenly. Fe will be eEual par%ners.G /% seemed inredible, bu% %here i% was>a hane aEuain%aneship on a park benh, and %he money was pro(ided. /% is almos% an%ilima%i %o rela%e %ha% %he subseEuen% well diso(ered a rih oil #ield. There simply was no al%erna%i(e. $nd %he man who pu% up %he money knew %ha% i% would. 'e had had su##iien% eCperiene wi%h %he power o# inner (ision %o mani#es% in %he world %o be absolu%ely sure o# his posi%ion. 'e did no% dwell #or a momen% on his par%ner?s pre(ious #ailures, only on %he (ision %ha% possessed him now. DISSOLVING TE MAS$ O& VANITY
ha% s%range alhemy promp%ed our oil driller %o ha(e %his lear (ision in his mind, a (ision %ha% subseEuen%ly made him a rih man, when his whole pre(ious li#e had been one unbroken line o# #ailureD Surely %he wells he had drilled be#ore had been drilled in response %o a (ision %oo. hy should %hey ha(e #ailedD They #ailed beause %he (ision he possessed %hen was one o# #ailure. Sure, he would ha(e denied i%, bu% i% was %rue. 8erhaps a sense o# %he grea% haBard onne%ed wi%h searhing #or oil lay a% %he ruC o# his subonsious. 8erhaps he #el% %ha% %he odds were agains% him. 8erhaps he was onsious o# %he #a% %ha% %here are millions o# ares o# land wi%hou% oil under %hem. /n any ase, his (ision was one o# #ailure, #rom wha%e(er ause, and he was led in%o %hose arrangemen%s %ha% would ine(i%ably ause him %o pu% his drill bi% down in barren soil. $nd in %wo ases, where he a%ually had drilled on produ%i(e land, he one had eased making hole only %wen%y5se(en #ee% abo(e %he produ%i(e #orma%ion and ano%her %ime #ailed %o make a %es% o# a sand %ha% la%er produed se(eral million barrels. !u% he ould no% help himsel#. 'e was only #ollowing %he di%a%es o# %he (ision in his mind. See how di##eren% his beha(ior was in %he diso(ery o# %he basin #ield. 'e saw %he oil. 'e knew i% was %here. There was no% %he sligh%es% doub% in his mind, and %ha% is %he way he a%ed. There was no resis%ing him %his %ime. 'is (ision was #or produ%ion, and %ha% is wha% resul%ed. hyD hy did he #inally ha(e a posi%i(e (ision a#%er harboring a nega%i(e one #or so many yearsD Suh a Eues%ion ould no% be answered wi%h er%ain%y wi%hou% More ree !ooks
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making an in%ensi(e s%udy o# %he man, bu% in all probabili%y %he debili%a%ing and rippling #a%or was #ear. ear more %han any o%her single %hing warps and dis%or%s our (ision. Our oil driller mos% likely was a#raid o# #ailure, and his apprehension %wis%ed his inner (ision #rom suess %o de#ea%. 'e ouldn?% win as long as %he #ear s%ayed wi%h him. inally, when he had reahed %he absolu%e bo%%om, when %he business he lo(ed had reHe%ed him and %he men in i% no longer would hire him, #ear simply le#% him. +(ery%hing bad had happened already, wha% more was %here %o #earD $nd in %his psyhologially relie(ed a%%i%ude, %he Sere% Sel# was able %o ge% %hrough %he mask o# (ani%y, and %he ensuing (ision ine(i%ably brough% suess. MIND OVER MATTER
F/% is ompu%ed,G wro%e @ona%han Swi#%, F%ha% ele(en %housand persons ha(e, a% se(eral %imes, su##ered dea%h ra%her %han submi% %o break %heir eggs a% %he smaller end.G The resis%ane o# %he human mind %o hange is amaBing, espeially when i% appears so ob(ious %ha% li#e i%sel# is no%hing more %han hange. Mul%i%udes o# people, many o# %hem (ery in%elligen%, argue %ha% all ause is in %he physial world and %ha% men%ali%y only obser(es. They seem de%ermined %o go down %o %heir dea%hs wi%h %his #righ%#ully erroneous (iewpoin%, e(en %hough %heir own inner a%%i%udes belie %heir s%and, e(en %hough %heir slogans eC%ol %he power o# mind o(er ma%%er. On loker room doors and on#erene room walls %he #ramed and plaarded slogans emblaBon %heir messages= F$ Eui%%er ne(er wins. $ winner ne(er Eui%s.G F$ %eam %ha% won?% be bea%, an?% be bea%.G F8u% your hear% in i%. $ll else will #ollow.G FMake up your mind, and you make up %he #u%ure.G !u% %hese (erbal eCposi%ions %o %hough%#ul (ision are regarded as ha(ing preedene only in suh ma%%ers as %eam e##or%, %o bind %oge%her %he group #or a purpose, and %heir %remendous impor%ane %o indi(idual rea%i(eness is largely o(erlooked. rom %he inner (ision all %hings are done>%he bridge is buil%, %he %ower ons%ru%ed, %he oil well drilled, %he mo%ion pi%ure made, %he book wri%%en, %he pi%ure pain%ed, musi omposed, ou%er spae probed, sere%s o# %he a%om eCposed. There is absolu%ely no suh %hing as aomplishmen% unless i% is preeded by a (ision o# %ha% aomplishmen%. You simply an?% reah aross %he %able and pik up a dish unless you #irs% ha(e %he men%al image. $ll %hings ome %o all people aording %o %he pi%ures %ha% #orm in %heir minds, and %he e##or% %ha% is eCpended in %his world %o esape #a%es %ha% are ine(i%able is su##iien% %o ons%ru% a %ower %o %he sun. No amoun% o# mo(emen%, o# physial energy eCpended, an pre(ail agains% a wrong men%al image. Similarly, %he possessor o# %he orre% men%al image is guided %o per#orm %he work %o be done, e##or%lessly, almos% nonhalan%ly. Mos% o# %he s%ruggling and s%ri(ing in %he world is done by people who are %rapped in%o unwan%ed irums%anes %hrough inorre% men%al (isualiBa%ion, and %he #a% %ha% %hey (isualiBe %he (ery %hing %ha% %hey pro#ess %o abhor is %he on%radi%ory More ree !ooks
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si%ua%ion %ha% is #illing our psyhia%ris%s? ouhes. MASTERY OVER &ATE
!ernard SpinoBa wro%e, FSo long as a man imagines %ha% he anno% do %his or %ha%, so long is he de%ermined no% %o do i%A and onseEuen%ly, onseEuen%ly, so long is i% impossible %o him %ha% he should do i%.G The pi%ure %ha% #orms in %he mind, whe%her #or good or ill, will deli(er i%s ine(i%able onseEuene. The problem is no% wi%h %he men%al or spiri%ual #a% o# physial #ul#illmen% o# men%al (isualiBa%ion, bu% ra%her o# #inding a key %ha% will enable eah person %o as% up men%al images a% will, hold %hem un%il realiBa%ion, and no% ha(e o%her images in%ruded by %he reali%ran% subonsious, whih so o#%en runs on%rary %o %he wishes o# %he onsious mind. /n %he deeper reahes o# %he human psyhe %he seeds are #ormed %ha% mo%i(a%e a whole li#e, and a man ei%her aedes %o or %akes ommand o# %hese in(isible promp%ers. /# he aedes, his li#e will be run #rom a soure beyond his onsious on%rol. /# he %akes ommand, he beomes mas%er o# his #a%e. Taking ommand is ne(er as simple as i% i % sounds. /% reEuires a #irmness and boldness %ha% only #ew people inna%ely possess. Mos% o# us li(e as omple%e sla(es %o rea%ion, absolu%e (i%ims o# %he ommands o# %he subonsious, and we seldom i# e(er e(en %hink i% possible %ha% we an o(erome our #eelings and rea% in an en%irely di##eren% way %han irums%anes would ha(e us do. or eCample, i# you par%iipa%e in a %es% and de#ea% seems ine(i%able, you only make i% er%ain by aeding. !u% i# you keep ali(e your spiri% by a (ision o# (i%ory, (i%ory, by an absolu%e ab solu%e resis%ane %o %he impor%uni%ies o# de#ea% and disas%er, disas%er, who knows wha% mirales may ourD The men%al (ision %ha% resis%s all sensual s%imuli beomes a% leng%h a %hing un%o i%sel# and i%s resolu%ion as obHe%i(e #a% in %he ma%erial world ries ou% #or u%%erane and will no% be s%i#led. Na%ure?s (as% rea%i(i%y springs #rom %he in#ini%e po%en%iali%y o# %he Sere% Sel#. $ny%hing possible o# onep%ion is sure %o e(en%ually be rea%ed as a solid ma%erial #a% #or all %he world %o wi%ness. There is no suh %hing as an idea wi%hou% a (isible resolu%ion, #or %he grea% plas%ii%y o# %he Sere% Sel# shapes e(ery idea on%ained wi%hin i%, and whoe(er is possessed o# a %hough% is possessed o# a %hing as well, as long as he holds his image lear. lear. CREATIVITY
rea%i(eness is no% par% o# %he sur#ae sel#, o# %he ego, %he onsious mind, %he physial or sensual being. /% emana%es upward %hrough %he le(els o# onsiousness #rom %he Sere% Sel#, %akes shape and #orm %hrough a power grea%ly beyond and in#ini%ely more power#ul %han %he small indi(idual F/.G Tha% par% o# a man whih is mos% power#ul o# all is in(isible, seems apar% #rom him omple%ely, omple%ely, is hidden in %he deepes% reesses o# his being, is no% allable by name, is no% reogniBable %hrough %he physial senses, anno% be oered, bu% responds inna%ely and omple%ely %o image. This is %he grea% plas%i Sere% Sel# #rom whih all %hings are made, %he rea%i(e sel# o# %he uni(erse, main%aining a sameness in all di##eren%ia%ions, being e%ernally one in %he mids% o# mul%iplii%yA More ree !ooks
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%his is %he Sere% Sel# wi%hin you, whih is no% di##eren% #rom you, whih in #inal analysis is al%oge%her you. You are no% onsious mind or ego or memory or sensual being, bu% were born dire%ly #rom %he mind %ha% #ormula%ed and ons%ru%ed %he uni(erse, and you are no% di##eren% #rom %ha% mind bu% a%%ahed %o i% by a men%al and spiri%ual ons%ru%ion ons%ru%ion %ha% makes you and i% %he same. $bandonmen% o# %he sur#ae sel# and seeking sel#5balane in %he deeper regions o# onsiousness is %he pa%hway %o power and per#e%ion in works. or when a man a%%unes himsel# %o %he li#e #ore and men%al en%i%y %ha% gi(es him onsiousness and li(es wi%hin him, %hen he %akes on by a proess o# iden%i#ia%ion %he e##e%i(eness and po%eny o# %he in#ini%e and e%ernal en%i%y #rom whih his indi(idual li#e has sprung. 'is horiBons eCpand, his onsiousness widensA %here wells up #rom sere% and sub%erranean springs a ons%an%ly inreasing and ne(er5 easing power #or per#e%ion and per#e% unders%anding. 'is #ai%h is plaed wi%h simplii%y and un#ailing %rus% in %he inheren% power o# %he Sere% Sel# %o re%urn in ma%erial #a% %hose men%al images %ha% li(e wi%hin him, and he need no% ha(e %he key %ha% unloks %he uni(erse in order %o use e##e%i(ely %his basi law. /% bo%hers him no% %ha% %here eCis% doors in %he men%al and spiri%ual realm %ha% %hus #ar ha(e no% yielded. 'e need no% know all and unders%and all %o use %hose %ru%hs he %hus #ar has diso(ered, and he li(es in %he onsiousness %ha% li#e is a men%al ad(en%ure and no% a physial Hourney. $NO!LEDGE ( TE GREAT LEVER
e all ha(e seen people ahie(e grea% ends e##or%lessly. e##or%lessly. e ha(e seen o%hers s%ri(e #ran%ially %oward some goal only %o onsis%en%ly #al l shor%. e are assured on all sides %ha% hard work makes %he suess#ul man, ye% we disern almos% immedia%ely %ha% hard work some%imes #ails o# aomplishmen% while #or%une o#%en smiles on %he man who seems %o make li%%le e##or% a% all. Shakespeare wro%e, FThere is a %ide in %he a##airs o# men whih %aken a% %he #lood leads on %o #or%une.G #or%une.G The s%ory is %old o# %he man whose #urnae re#used %o work and who subseEuen%ly alled a repair man. The repair man s%ruk %he #urnae a blow wi%h his hammer, hammer, and i% i % promp%ly resumed working. 'e presen%ed a bill #or one hundred dollars. FOu%rageous,G FOu%rageous,G spu%%ered %he ira%e householder. householder. F/ wan% %ha% bill i%emiBed.G i%emiBed.G F$ll righ%,G righ%,G answered %he repair man. 'e sribbled on %he bill, FS%riking one blow wi%h hammer>one dollar. :nowing where %o s%rike>nine%y5nine dollars.G /% is no% how hard we work %ha% ma%%ers, bu% wha% we ge% done. / % is no% %he wailing and gnashing o# %ee%h %ha% is %he show, bu% %he %hings %ha% are buil% and aomplished. The knowledge o# %he simple le(er siC %housand years ago migh% ha(e sa(ed a million hours o# bakbreaking labor, labor, and had %ele(ision eCis%ed in %he %ime o# hris% a di##eren% shape indeed migh% ha(e been gi(en %he hris%ian hurh. :nowing where and when %o s%rike, Hus% as %he repair man so ap%ly illus%ra%ed, is %he goal %o be sough%, and no% %he energy %o run a million irles around a #ield whih does no% need %o be irled e(en one. :nowledge is %he More ree !ooks
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%hing, no% physial e##or%A all %hings eCis% beause o# men%al auses, ha(e risen in %he physial world in response %o ideas held in mind. Mind is #irs% ause, and he who is guided g uided by %his knowledge diso(ers %he #oun%ain o# power. power. Your Sere% Sel# is a gian% sel#, dwar#ing in%o no%hingness your sur#ae mind and ego. /% is a sel# wi%hou% limi%s in spae and %ime, and any%hing is possible %o i%. /%s mani#es%a%ions on %he human sene some%imes seem superna%ural. /% ou%rops in our geniuses in %hose wi%h Fseond sigh%,G sigh%,G in our ar%is%s, our eCplorers, our pioneers, our ad(en%urers. /%s presene may be in%ima%ely #el% in %he #ields o# parapsyhology, parapsyhology, eC%rasensory perep%ion, preogni%ion, lair(oyane, %hough% %rans#erene. /% s%ands behind all human endea(or and aspira%ion as %he guiding in%elligene o# e(olu%ion. "i#e is going somewhere high and lo#%y and wor%hwhile, and %he pa%h by whih %he heigh%s are %o be saled is sa#e and seure and wellknown. Only in par%ial knowledge is %here on#usion, and only %hrough %he separa%e and inomple%e (iew o# %he sur#ae sel# are we rendered impo%en% and a#raid in a world %ha% should be ours. The li%%le mind %ha% si%s immedia%ely behind our eyes has no% %he horiBons nor %he eCpanded onsiousness %o see %he larger pi%ure, %he wor%hier and grea%er goal o# %he Sere% Sel#. $ll indi(idual su##ering, #rus%ra%ion, and #ailure s%em #rom %he #ailure o# %he sur#ae mind %o #ind and properly iden%i#y i%sel# wi%h %he -i(ine. /n isola%ing oursel(es #rom %he %rue roo%s o# our being, we are %hrown ou% o# kil%er wi%h %he power and sure%y o# %he Supreme. !y #anying oursel(es %o be sense5minded only, only, we are like %he %h e se(ered %ail o# a snake, possessed o# mo(emen% s%ill, bu% senseless now, wi%hou% purpose or en%i%y, hel%er5skel%er, sra%hing ou% a raBy pa%%ern in %he dus%. TE GIANT !ITIN
e are one body only, one mind only, one deep and abiding in%elligene. e are no% %iny in#ini%esimal par%s o# an in#ini%e and inomprehensible whole, bu% we are %ha% (ery whole, %ha% en%ire mind, %ha% grea% and (as% in%elligene #rom whih %he uni(erse has e(ol(ed, and e(ery%hing on%ained wi%hin %he uni(erse is on%ained wi%hin us, and i# we %ruly unders%and oursel(es we unders%and %he world and e(ery%hing in i%. You an be any%hing you wan% %o be, do any%hing you wan% %o do, %read any pa%h you will %o %read, beome mas%er o# your #a%e, ordain your #u%ure, bu% you will no% do %hese %hings by railing agains% irums%ane, by %hrowing yoursel# #ran%ially agains% e(en%s and persons simply beause %hey do no% seem %o be in aord wi%h your plans. Only by perei(ing %he hidden purpose behind e(en%s, %he %rue mo%i(a%ions %ha% a%ua%e people, will you be able %o a%%une yoursel# %o li#e, %o a% in aord wi%h %he gigan%i %ides %ha% bring %he #u%ure. This #aul%y is yours one you ha(e gleaned %he eCis%ene o# %he Sere% Sel# and ha(e se% abou% s%ri(ing %o li(e in aord wi%h i% ra%her %han wi%h %he sur#ae sel# %ha% has mo(ed you here%o#ore.
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e all aspire %o goals, desire %o impro(e our unders%anding and our abili%ies. e would no% be ali(e i# grow%h were no% inheren% in us. !u% o#%en%imes our grow%h beomes ali#ied %hrough being ringed around wi%h impermeable layers o# sel#ishness and onei%. This sel#ishness is no% neessarily Hus% aEuisi%i(enessA i% may e(en be eCempli#ied by an o(erwhelming generosi%yA i% is simply primary onern #or %he ego, a li(ing by and in aordane wi%h %he li%%le F/G %ha% ons%i%u%es %he a(erage person?s knowledge o# himsel#. Suh onei% makes knowledge o# sel# a ons%an% Hudgmen%, a omparison wi%h o%hers, #a(orably or un#a(orable. /% #eeds on #la%%ery and (i%ory, is deima%ed by ri%iism de#ea%. /% has, no %rue eCis%ene, bu% depends en%irely upon irums%ane and %he rea%ions %hose irums%anes se% up wi%hin i%. $s a onseEuene, i% is always eCul%an% or sad, #or i%s impression o# i%sel# is %ha% i% is ei%her be%%er %han or worse %han e(ery%hing %ha% on#ron%s i%. /% has absolu%ely no knowledge o# eEuali%y. TE ULTIMATE RESOURCE
!reaking %hrough %he limi%ing boundaries o# %he ego in%o %he unimpaired (ision and knowledge and Hoy o# %he Sere% Sel# is %he undoub%ed goal o# e(olu%ion, %he purpose o# li#e. This %rans#orma%ion, %ruly a %rans#igura%ion o# %he mind and spiri%, is no% an absolu%e %hing bu% a ma%%er o# degree, is par%ially ahie(ed a% %his momen% by %housands o# li(ing persons, is possible o# limi%ed a%%ainmen% by anyone who li(es. To eCis% immersed in %he ego is %o li(e a res%ri%ed li#e, %o realiBe only a small #ra%ion o# your po%en%iali%y. Suh delibera%e subordina%ion %o %he di%a%es o# na%ure is a subHe%ion %o pain and su##ering and dea%h and deay. Suh subHe%ion is normal %o lower #orms o# li#e, seems par% o# %he plan by whih %he Sere% Sel# is emerging #rom ma%%er, bu% when onsiousness has reahed %he poin% where i% reogniBes i%s imprisonmen%, when i% sees i%s subHe%ion %o irums%ane and pleasure and pain, %hen i% mus% s%ri(e %o be #ree, %o es%ablish a %ruer order #or i%s de(elopmen%. /% %hen mus% break %hrough %he barriers o# i%s awareness, ease li(ing in %he ego and a%%ain %he widened horiBons and powers o# %he Sere% Sel#, or i% will #all bak in%o %he iner%ia o# %he sensual na%ure, lose i%s apai%y #or grow%h and de(elopmen% and so ease %o represen% %he Sere% Sel# a% all. To %he person %rapped and resigned %o be %rapped in %he ego, %here is no #inal end bu% su##ering and pain. Only in %he -i(ine lie %he ul%ima%e resoures %ha% o(erome all obs%ales, and only in seeking %o diso(er %he Sere% Sel# has a man #irmly se% #oo% on %he one and only pa%h %ha% leads %o suess, sereni%y, and Hoy. STRUGGLE AND SACRI&ICE
No%hing, o# ourse, an be aomplished wi%hou% a #igh%. "i#e i%sel# is a s%ruggle, and eah o# us en%ers i% daily. /% is simply a Eues%ion o# where %o eCpend %he e##or%= pursuing %he ma%erial wrai%hs o# %he physial world %ha% ons%an%ly seem %o elude us or onen%ra%e on an inner resoure %ha% on%rols %he ou%er world. /% is a wise man who eCpends his energies de(eloping his onsiousness. 'e shor%ly will #ind %ha% all %he aspe%s o# %he world ha(e assumed an order and a benigni%y he would no% ha(e %hough% possible. $ll %hings appear %o do his bidding, no% beause More ree !ooks
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he %ruly bids %hem, bu% beause he unders%ands %hem. /% is %his knowledge, a%%ained by inner perep%ion, o# %he po%en%iali%y o# eah %hing and irums%ane, %ha% leads %o bene#ien% power, %ha% allows a man %o mo(e %hrough %he mos% in%ense on#li%s wi%h sereni%y and sure%y. 'e sees %he %hing %o be done beause he knows %he ou%ome %ha% mus% be ahie(ed, and beause o# %his inheren% perep%ion o# %he laws o# li#e and na%ure, he appears %o be modeling eah e(en%, shaping eah %hing, ye% i% is no% he who does %his bu% %he Sere% Sel# wi%hin him, %o whih he has en%rus%ed himsel# omple%ely and whih guides his s%eps and a%ions wi%h omnipo%en% assurane. ill you ha(e %he power and assurane and sereni%y o# %he Sere% Sel#D Then %here is some%hing you mus% gi(e up. You mus% gi(e up %he ego, %ha% %hing wi%hin you %ha% you always ha(e %hough% %o be your (ery sel#. You mus% seek %o shed %ha% sense o# separa%eness %ha% is a produ% o# your sur#ae mind and %o searh deep wi%hin your onsiousness #or %he pure ore o# being %ha% is %he sel# o# all %hings. /% will no% be easy. The sensual na%ure wi%h i%s ons%an%ly dis%ra%ing s%imuli brings daily larion alls #rom %he ou%er world. !u% i# your li#e has pro(ided you #ull measure o# pain and #rus%ra%ion #rom hasing %hese %emp%ers and deei(ers, %hen you will #ae %hem wi%h resis%ane and resol(e %o pursue %hem no more. The pa%h %o power lies wi%hin you. $ll %hings will be #ound %here. The #igh% is no% be%ween %he world and you, bu% be%ween your ego and your %rue sel#. Simply hoose %o #ind your %rue sel#, and in %he end you anno% lose. hen %he #igh% begins wi%hin himsel#, $ man?s wor%h some%hing. >*ober% !rowning
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Chapter 2 DISCOVERING THE SECRET SELF '0M$N personali%y is immensely ompleC. $ person is #ar more %han a name and er%ain physial, men%al, and emo%ional hara%eris%is. /% is s%range %ha% we e(er #eel we know o%hers a% all, when %he sligh%es% eCamina%ion o# our own psyhe re(eals a% one %ha% we know sarely any%hing abou% oursel(es. e do no% e(en dwell alone in our own bodies, are #or %he mos% par% a ba%%leground #or opposing sides o# our na%ureA and as one assumes ommand, %hen ano%her, we presen% %he ons%an%ly hanging olors o# a hameleon. OUR MANY SELVES
$ man engaged in onen%ra%ed e##or% o#%en %alks %o himsel#. One par% o# him si%s in Hudgmen% on %he o%her, so %ha% he gi(es (en% %o li%%le eClama%ions o# eCaspera%ion suh as, FYou an do be%%er %han %ha%, 'enry, old boy,G or F-on?% be suh a bonehead, you an ge% i%IG /n %his apparen% di(ision o# %he sel#, one hal# assumes a na%ure %ha% appears abo(e reproah while %he o%her apparen%ly has %he personali%y o# a mishie(ous, reali%ran% hild. /# you ask 'enry whih o# %he %wo he is, he answers %ha% he is 'enry. /# you ask him who is %alking %o 'enry, he ahie(es a look o# u%%er blankness, manages %o answer a% las% %ha% he?s only %alking %o himsel#. ell, i% isn?% Hus% a way %ha% 'enry has, i%?s a way %ha% all o# us ha(e. e house wi%hin us no% one na%ure, bu% many, no% one sel#, bu% a whole myriad o# sel(es super imposed upon eah o%her like endless re#le%ions in opposing mirrorsA and no%, one o# %hese sel(es is our %rue sel#, no% e(en all %aken %oge%her, bu% ano%her %ruer being hidden wi%hin, %imeless and e%ernal and unhanging. The on#li%s and opposi%ions o# %he many sides o# our sur#ae na%ure are dire%ly responsible #or %he pre(alene o# %ha% psyhologial disorder alled shiBophrenia. The shiBophreni is disorien%ed wi%h %he world and himsel# %hrough in%ense inner on#li%s waged by se(eral o# his di##eren% na%ures. /n eC%reme ases, one, %hen %he o%her, %akes o(er, so %ha% he is possessed o# se(eral dis%in% personali%ies, eah as di##eren% #rom %he o%her as nigh% #rom day. $ number o# linial ases o# %his na%ure ha(e been s%udied eC%ensi(ely, one has e(en been made in%o a bes%5 selling book, so %ha% by and large people are #inally beoming aware o# %he wa(ering, mys%ial being eah o# us really is. The psyhologially sound person is one who %akes harge o# his own personali%y, re#uses %o allow himsel# %o be in#luened by %he wind, imposes a disipline upon himsel# predia%ed upon %he goals he wishes %o ahie(e. Ye% despi%e %his F%aking harge,G despi%e %he disipline imposed upon %he sur#ae na%ure and inner par%s o# %he psyhe, %he psyhologially sound person mus% remain subser(ien% %o an inner More ree !ooks
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hidden par% o# his being, %ha% indes%ru%ible and brigh% ore wi%hin %ha% sus%ains him and gi(es him li#e. /# he does no%, %hen a sikness o# all his par%s aggrandiBes his ego, disassoia%es him #rom reali%y, auses him %o assume %he psyhologially #un%ional disorder known as paranoia. 'is blown5up ego %hen has shu% him o## #rom %he suppor%ing and sus%aining Sere% Sel#, and he is heading dire%ly #or des%ru%ion. Mos% o# %he di%a%ors o# our modern poli%ial sys%ems ha(e been o# %his %ype, arrying %heir oun%ries and %hemsel(es %o des%ru%ion in a blind and headlong rush. IN&INITY IN TE &INITE
/% beomes ob(ious, one we gi(e i% lose onsidera%ion, %ha% man no% only is a% war wi%h na%ure, bu% a%ually is a% war wi%h himsel#. e are suh ba%%legrounds wi%hin %ha% o#%en we anno% on%ain our %urmoil and our en%ire psyhe beomes permea%ed wi%h a sikness %ha% makes i% o# li%%le use %o %he world or oursel(es. ha%e(er %he human being is, he is more %han a physial body, and %he mis%y shape o# his in(isible aura is some%hing %ha% anno% be on%ained wi%hin boundaries or assigned a%egories or weighed or measured or oun%ed. $ll %ha% we are and an hope %o be is men%al, is %he essene o# some gigan%i in%elligene in %he lap o# whih we nes%le and #rom whih we are #ed and nur%ured as i# #rom sub%erranean springs. This gigan%i in%elligene is %he Sere% Sel# o# %he uni(erseA i% is also, paradoCially enough, %he Sere% Sel# o# eah o# us. No amoun% o# rhe%ori pre(ails agains% disbelie#A no argumen% dissuades %he man o# #ai%h. S%ill, %he enigma is %here. 'ow is i% possible %ha% some%hing in#ini%e in siBe and sope, like a uni(ersal mind, an be housed wi%hin %he %iny, #ini%e body o# an indi(idual manD To be in#ini%e is %o be one. More %han one o# any%hing in#ini%e au%oma%ially is no% in#ini%e, #or any%hing in#ini%e oupies all %he sp ae %here is and %here#ore does no% lea(e room #or any%hing else. Thus any%hing in#ini%e is eCa%ly %he same as any%hing wi%hin i%, #or all o# any%hing in#ini%e has %o be a% eah par%iular plae a% eah par%iular %ime. Now %his may be a pre%%y hard dose %o swallow, bu% i% is perhaps as sien%i#ially sound as %he Juan%um Theory o# physis, and wha% i% essen%ially means is %his= i# %here is in%elligene behind li#e, and %here is e(ery reason %o belie(e %here mus% be, %hen all o# %ha% in%elligene is inna%e in eah rea%ion o# %ha% in%elligene. Thus uni(ersal mind or %he Sere% Sel# is omple%e and en%ire wi%hin eah o# us. e ha(e only %o diso(er i% #or i%s power and per#e%ion %o be ours. !u% nei%her %he searh nor %he #inding are easy. e are so s%eeped in our ego%ism, so enys%ed wi%hin our myriad sur#ae sel(es, %ha% (ision %o pene%ra%e %he illusion is hard %o aEuire, is de(eloped only by arduous men%al e##or% and spiri%ual disipline. 0nderlying all %he %urmoil, suppor%ing %he on%es% be%ween %he sur#ae sel(es, gi(ing eah li#e dire%ion and purpose, is %he garden #rom whih springs personali%y, %he Sere% Sel#, a plae o# alm and er%i%ude wi%hin eah o# us. There is no s%ruggle in %he Sere% Sel#. /% knows. /%s mere a% o# perep%ion is an a% o# More ree !ooks
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rea%ion, #ore seeing preedes being in %his mos% men%al o# all plaes where %hough% and idea are always prior %o physial #a%. 'EIND TE !ALL
arl @ung has s%a%ed %ha% mos% people on#use Fsel#5knowledgeG wi%h knowledge o# %heir onsious ego personali%ies, so %ha% anyone wi%h any ego a% all %akes i% #or gran%ed %ha% he knows himsel#. $%ually, he knows only %he ego and i%s on%en%s and seldom has li%%le i# any knowledge o# %he (as% and shadowy areas o# %he subonsious #rom whene all %he impulsions and ompulsions %ha% #orm his a%i(e li#e spring. No man is #ree who #eels %ha% his mo%i(a%ions origina%e in his onsious ego personali%y. 'e is mo(ed abou% in li#e like a puppe% by %he subonsious, and all his elabora%e reasoning?s and pain#ul arri(als a% onsious perep%ion are made a#%er %he #a% o# his ommi%men% %o er%ain ideas and a%ions, ne(er be#ore. !e%ween %he sur#ae sel# and %he Sere% Sel# lies an opaEue wall, impene%rable %o %he gaBe o# %he ego and yielding i%s sere%s only %o one who has eCpanded his onsiousness beyond %he limi%s o# his onsious mind. The ma%erialis% who prides himsel# on ne(er aep%ing any%hing bu% a pro(en physial #a% has merely aep%ed blindness as a ondi%ion o# his being, and wha% he %hinks is #reedom is simply ser(i%ude o# %he highes% degree. Turning ones bak on %he subonsious does no% obli%era%e i%. The indi(idual is sprung in%o being no% by an e##or% o# sel#, bu% omes per#ormed by some%hing o%her %han %he ego %ha% #ron%s his onsiousness during li#e. The Eues%ion is, who is %he %rue residen% wi%hin, %he ego %ha% grows #rom eCperiene, or %he li#e #ore %ha% anima%es #rom %he beginningD *e#le%ion leads us inesapably %o %he onlusion %ha% %he %rue person wi%hin is %he hidden dweller in all %hings, %ha% %he ego is only a mask donned by %his ou% #or i%s sere% deligh%. The ons%an% searh o# %he psyhe o# man, as long as i% on#ines i%sel# %o %he ego and %he sur#ae na%ure, mus% on%inue %o be #rui%less, #or i% onerns i%sel# wi%h a wrai%h. To %ruly know man, his a%ual na%ure, origin, purpose, des%iny, %he deeper regions o# onsiousness mus% be probed. These are all subonsien%, make up %he (as%, Humbled, %remendously power#ul, e(en #righ%ening men%al area below onsiousness. ho knows wha% %hings are possible %o %his area o# man?s beingD Sigmund reud, ha(ing eCposed i%s awesome powers, is repor%ed one %o ha(e on#essed %ha% he rea%ed %he dogma o# his seCual %heory o# human beha(ior beause some power#ul bulwark o# reason was needed agains% %he blak #lood o# oul%ism %ha% migh% s pring #rom %he subonsious. Ye% i% is Hus% %ha% oul%ism, Hus% %ha% blak #lood %ha% mos% needs %o be s%udied, #or %he Sere% Sel# lies %here. TE UNUTTERED %ART O& LI&E
The OuiHa board and di(ining rod are no% Hus% parlor games or %he %ools o# rakpo%s bu% are %he bes% o# illus%ra%ions %ha% wi%hin us %here is a being enormously di##eren% #rom our sur#ae sel(es and whih has powers o# perep%ion and knowledge (as%ly grea%er %han our onsious minds. $ man wi%h a #orked haBel s%ik an #ind wa%er benea%h %he sur#ae o# %he ground, and %his remarkable More ree !ooks
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#ea% is %rue no% beause %here is any a##ini%y be%ween %he wa%er and %he haBel s%ik, bu% beause %here eCis%s in %he subonsious o# %he man a means o# perei(ing %ha% wa%er underlies a par%iular piee o# ground. The s%ik %urns downward and poin%s ou% %he wa%er beause o# unonsious musular rea%ions on %he par% o# %he man, bu% he will swear i% does so o# i%s own (oli%ionA and %o %he degree %ha% %he %urning down is origina%ed by %he Sere% Sel# and no% by his sur#ae sel#, his laim is %rue. /n any ase, %he s%ik %urns down, %he well is dug, and wa%er is %here. The man ouldn?% ha(e seen %he wa%er, %he s%ik ouldn?% ha(e known i% was %here. Some o%her %hing, some in(isible #ore was a% work. Tha% %hing, %ha% #ore, is %he Sere% Sel#. Thomas arlyle wro%e, FThe u%%ered par% o# man?s li#e, le% us always repea%, bears %o %he unu%%ered, unonsious par% a small unknown propor%ion. 'e himsel# ne(er knows i%, muh less do o%hers.G e wend our unheeding obli(ious ways %hrough li#e, ap%i(es o# #ores we nei%her unders%and nor are aware eCis%, and we labor under %he delusion %ha% we are #ree. This blindness has no% been #ored upon us beause o# our rela%ionship %o li#e, nor is i% neessary in order %o preser(e our sani%y or indi(iduali%y as some asuis%s would ha(e us belie(e. /% is simply an ine(i%able s%ep in %he e(olu%ion o# mind ou% o# ma%%er, and e(en now is being %ransended by %hose indi(iduals su##iien%ly e(ol(ed %o orre%ly perei(e %he Sere% Sel# and i%s eCis%ene wi%hin. Mind seeks %o knowA i%s goal is a ons%an%ly inreasing awareness. +Cpanding onsiousness is apparen% where(er we look, almos% as i# a men%al eCplosion had %aken plae in %he hear% o# %he uni(erse and now speeds ou%ward in all dire%ions, enompassing e(ery%hing. LI'ERATION &ROM 'ONDAGE
The sur#ae mind is no% %he %rue mind, is bu% %he bares% #ra%ional par% o# %he %rue mind, and we ne(er know our power and e##e%uali%y un%il we %urn away #rom %his %roublesome #alse sel# and origina%e %hough% and a%ion on %he deeper planes o# our being. Then we beome as a power doubled upon i%sel#, ha(e KKhi%hed a rideG on illimi%able energy. !elow %he sur#ae sel# and %he onsious mind, sus%aining and suppor%ing bo%h bu% remaining in#ini%ely grea%er %han ei%her, is uni(ersal subonsious mind, %he (as% mind %ha% spring in%o being all li(ing %hings %ha% underlies li#e like a grea% and in#ini%e oean o# in%elligene and energy. This subonsious mind is no% Hus% a hodgepodge reser(oir o# ins%in%s, urges, and long #orgo%%en memories indi(idual %o eah man, nei%her a kind o# ell memory o# pain and pleasure as some psyhologis%s would ha(e us belie(e, bu% enompasses in#ini%ely more, %he whole sope o# rea%ion, o# spae and %ime and knowledge and purpose, and all o# %his mind is in e(ery person and no one has a larger share o# i% %han o%hers, and all o# i% is a(ailable %o eah o# us %his (ery momen%, is a%ually %he sus%aining sel# o# e(ery one o# us. rus%ra%ion and su##ering are %he human lo% in %his s%age o# e(olu%ion beause we ha(e separa%ed oursel(es #rom %he roo% soure o# our power. This has been done More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
as onsiousness has e(ol(ed in%o sel#5onsiousness, #or %he par%iular s%age o# sel#5onsiousness a% whih we ha(e arri(ed is embryoni, is only sel#5 onsiousness in %he narrowes% sense o# %he word, delimi%s i%sel# by %he boundaries o# %he physial senses and %here#ore makes o# i%sel# a %iny spek in an in#ini%ely large and li(ing uni(erse. /% is small wonder %ha% we are bl inded %o %he beginnings and ends o# li#e, so %iny is our newlyaEuired sense o# being. Ye% e(en now i% reahes groping and hope#ul hands %oward an alliane wi%h i%s grea%er sel#, and i% is %his alliane %ha% will #inally libera%e i% #rom bondage %o %he #lesh, #rom %he limi%a%ions o# spae and %ime and ma%%er. TE OTER %ERSON IN YOU
$ll %his may sound pre%%y obsure, e(en oul%, and sine %he a(erage person %oday is so grounded and s%eeped in ma%erialism, %here may be %hose o# you who balk a% %his poin% and say, F8ro(e i%. Show me e(idene o# 0ni(ersal Subonsious Mind.G There is e(idene aplen%y. )arious hypno%i %ehniEues are on%inually eCposing layers o# %he subonsious %ha% india%e %ha% %hey are no% %he personal proper%y o# %he person under hypnosis. or eCample, Miss @ones may be hypno%iBed and reall in%ima%e de%ails o# a li#e no% her own, so %ha% %he unwary researher will be led %o belie(e %ha% she is realling a li#e li(ed pre(iously. Suh e(idene is on%inually o##ered in suppor% o# %he reinarna%ion %hesis, bu% no suh a%ual proo# e(er has been #or%homing. 8eople under hypnosis ha(e spoken languages %hey nei%her onsiously unders%ood nor e(er had heard, desribed in de%ail plaes and %imes where %hey had ne(er been and ould no% ha(e onsious knowledge o#, li%erally per#ormed all manner o# lair(oyan% #ea%s %ha% india%e %he amaBing power and sope o# %he subonsiousA and %he indispu%able e(idene is o# a single en%i%y only, eCis%ing in all persons bu% %he indi(idual proper%y o# none. Someone else li(es in your body o%her %han %he sur#ae mind whih you ha(e long regarded as yoursel#, a bigger, #iner, more dynami, more gi#%ed, and power#ul person %han you e(er ha(e imagined yoursel# %o be, bu% your %rue sel# ne(er%heless, %he real you. /%s a%ion and power are behind e(ery %hough% and mo(e you make, and i# your onsious mind is opposed %o %his real sel#, %hen you are %orn on %he rak o# indeision and opposi%ion and mee% no%hing bu% #rus%ra%ion and disappoin%men% where(er you %urn. !u% one your onsious mind and sur#ae sel# are len% as %ools %o %his subonsious sel#, %hen o# a sudden you are a whole and glorious %hing and you #ind yoursel# proeeding along li#e?s pa%hways wi%h sure%y and power. YOUR SENIOR %ARTNER
To #ully uno(er %he Sere% Sel# is no doub% %he #inal goal o# e(olu%ion. hen %he inhabi%ing spiri% has #ully emerged #rom ma%%er, %hen %he odhead will be re(ealed a% las% wi%h all i%s onsious power and in#ini%e realiBa%ion. The man who Hoins %his More ree !ooks
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irresis%ible %ide is swep% onward by unsuspe%ed energies %o aomplish #ea%s #ar beyond his poor mor%al sel#. 'e has hi%hed a ride on osmi power, and his energies and inspira%ions spill o(er %he boundaries o# his sur#ae sel# and %ouh all %hose wi%h whom he assoia%es. 'e beomes a leader, a doer, a rea%or, and ahie(es a kind o# omnipo%ene beause he is led in per#ormane by an in#alli ble and irresis%ible #ore. You an %alk %o %he Sere% Sel#. You an go in%o on#erene wi%h i% muh as you migh% onsul% an all5wise and bene(olen% #a%her or %he presiden% o# %he business %ha% employs you. One you ha(e %he hang o# i% and ome %o #ully realiBe beyond any shadow o# doub% i%s po%en%iali%y and possibili%y, %hen daily on#erene will be as na%ural and #i%%ing %o your mode o# li(ing as %he a% o# brea%hing. This is F%he a%her %ha% dwells wi%hin you,G spoken o# by @esus. This is %he senior side o# your dual personali%y, %he de%ahed one %ha% Hudges %he a%ion and is un%ouhed by i%. This is %he subonsious mind re#erred %o by psyhologis%s, %he mind %ha% ne(er sleeps, %hinks when all is s%ill, works wi%h sure%y and almness in %he mids% o# %he grea%es% %urmoil. This is %he %alisman %ha% deli(ers you %he Fhunh,G %ha% brings your #or%une, %he idea #or your book, pain%ing, or omposi%ion, an inner (ision, a new pa%h %o %read. This is %he deep en%er o# your being %o whih you re%rea% in medi%a%ion and prayer, where Hoy, sereni%y, and bliss reign beause all is known and %ruly unders%ood. 'a(en?% you e(er on%a%ed i%D Se% %ha% righ% a% one. $s soon as you know %he Sere% Sel# is %here, your lose rela%ionship %o i% is assured, #or who would %urn his bak on %he soure o# his redemp%ion #rom pain and su##ering and #rus%ra%ionD AN E)%ERIMENT
Take a simple #inger ring. Tie i% %o a %hin %hread abou% %wel(e inhes long. 'old %he loose end o# %he %hread be%ween your %humb and #ore#inger. "e% %he ring dangle. Now %ell %he Sere% Sel# %ha% you are going %o ask i% some E ues%ions, %ha% i# %he ring mo(es in a small irle you will unders%and %he answer %o be Fyes,G %ha% i# i% sways bak and #or%h in a linear pa%h you will unders%and %he answer %o be Fno.G $sk %he Eues%ion aloudA hold %he ring and wai%. -on?% %ry %o s%op i% #rom mo(ing, and make no a%%emp% %o s%ar% i% mo(ing. /% will mo(e. $% #irs%, %he mo(emen% will be erra%i, bu% soon i% will se%%le in%o a bak and #or%h or irular mo%ion. +(en%ually, your Eues%ions will be answered ins%an%aneously. Then you will ha(e made a dire% on%a% wi%h %he Sere% Sel#, and you will realiBe wi%h omprehending awe %ha% someone in#ini%ely aware dwells wi%hin you. There is no limi% %o %he power o# %he Sere% Sel#. Your whole e##or% #rom %he momen% o# your realiBa%ion o# i%s eCis%ene should be %o beome aEuain%ed wi%h i%, %o eCplore i%s in#ini%e #ae%s and diso(er %he keys %ha% unlok i%s powers. One you begin %o guide your li#e in aordane wi%h i%s perep%ions and mo%i(a%ions you will begin %o %ake on an in#allibili%y in works %ha% bodes suess in e(ery More ree !ooks
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under%aking, e(ery rela%ionship. You will #ind %ha% you are aompanied always by a #eeling o# inner Hoy and energy and wellbeing where be#ore you were always gnawed a% by (ague anCie%ies and #ears and #eelings o# le%hargy and #a%igue. The olor o# %he sky will hangeA %he world will %ake on a new and meaning#ul and eCi%ing aspe%. You will ha(e plaed yoursel# in %une wi%h %he guiding and mo%i(a%ing #ore o# %he uni(erse, and i% will buoy your spiri%s hea(enward. No %ask will appear %oo grea%, no obs%ale insurmoun%able. SU%%ORTER O& TE !ORLDS
$r%hur Shopenhauer wro%e, F+(ery man %akes %he limi%s o# his own #ield o# (ision #or %he limi%s o# %he world.G $nd i% is %his blinding Euali%y o# %he sur#ae psyhe, %ha% i% anno% see beyond %he limi%s i% imposes upon i%sel#, %ha% gi(es inheren% hara%eris%is o# weakness and inapabili%y %o e(ery mor%al man. +(en so, %he degree is markedly di##eren% in %he limi%a%ions men impose upon %hemsel(es. Some men build %owers %o %he sky, hallenge na%ure in her mos% inaessible plaes, make %heir whole li(es a ons%an% a%%ak on men%al and physial barriers. O%her men aep% all %he limi%a%ions %hey enoun%er, li(e in #ear o# sel#5 manu#a%ured ogres, anno% hallenge, eCpand, or grow beause %hey are sla(es o# %he %iny sur#ae sel# and ha(e no% glimpsed or unders%ood %he gian% wi%hin %hem. There is hope #or %he man who aspiresA his plae among %he gods is assured. !u% he who hangs bak and ne(er dares and ne(er %akes a%ion is wi%hering on %he %ree o# li#e, and all his wishes will no% hange any%hing as long as %hey are no% s%rong enough %o promp% him %o a%%ak his #ear5rea%ed walls. One you ha(e diso(ered %he Sere% Sel# wi%hin, %hen i% beomes a gradual proess o# %urning o(er your work, your goals and aspira%ions %o i%. You anno% build a per#e% li#e on %he imper#e% #ounda%ion o# %he sur#ae sel#. /% will no% suppor% e(en %he #limsies% edi#ie, will rumble under %he sligh%es% pressure. $ll mus% be buil% on %he Sere% Sel#, whih already suppor%s %he worlds and %he uni(erses and will suppor% your li#e, be you sa(an% or sain%, and wi%hou% %he sligh%es% %remor. O# all %he auses %ha% onspire %o blind Man?s erring Hudgmen%, and misguide %he mind, ha% %he weak head wi%h s%ronges% bias rules, /s pride, %he ne(er5#ailing (ie o# #ools. >$leCander 8ope &ACING &EAR
/% is (ani%y, or pride i# you will, whih is %he %rue enemy o# %he Sere% Sel#. or wi%h onsiousness en%ered in %he sur#ae sel#, wi%h %he (ani%y %ha% sel#5 en%eredness brings, an opaEue (eil is drawn o(er all spiri%ual perep%ion, and man li(es isola%ed #rom %he wellsprings o# his being. 'e may s%ruggle %hrough li#e many years in %his summer a%%aking his problems and pursuing his goals wi%h More ree !ooks
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%he persis%en% energy o# an en%erprising #ly, bu% e(en%ually he mus% be brough% up shor% by %he realiBa%ion %ha% he simply is ine##e%ual and he had bes% #ind a new blueprin% o# %hough% and a%ion or gi(e up %he ghos% al%oge%her. One an% alone does no% %opple a rubber %ree plan%. Only %he oner%ed e##or% and %eamwork o# %housands o# an%s make %his #ea% possibleA and %he energy and e##or% o# one human being is no%hing by i%sel#, bu% is e(ery%hing when i% proeeds #rom %he soure o# all energy, #or %hen i% is a%%uned %o %he %ides and #ores o# %he osmos, beomes in a manner an irresis%ible #ore, a kind o# in#allible a%ion. Suess s%ories o#%en are #i%ions ono%ed by %he human desire %o ahie(e supremay o(er irums%ane. Mos% people #i% in%o a kind o# eEua%ion. They rea% a er%ain way when on#ron%ed wi%h er%ain irums%anes, and %here#ore mus% a% a er%ain way always when on#ron%ed wi%h %hose same irums%anes. or eCample, suppose a man is a#raid o# groups o# people when he is unaEuain%ed wi%h %hem and eCpe%ed %o irula%e amongs% %hem and ommunia%e. /# early in li#e he gi(es in %o his #ear and a(oids new groups, suh beha(ior beomes a habi% and one %ha% he e(en%ually #inds impossible %o break. There#ore, all %hrough his li#e, when on#ron%ed wi%h a s%range soial si%ua%ion, he will a(oid i% %hrough one pre%ense or ano%her, simply beause he has buil% up a habi% o# aeding %o #ear. 'e is absolu%ely predi%i(e in eah irums%ane o# %his %ype, and he is predi%i(e beause he is no% #ree, beause he is a sla(e %o his #ears. 'e has beome an au%oma%on led around by %he nose, a (i%im o# irums%anes beause he is no% mas%er o# his #eelings. 'e %ends %o regard irums%ane i%sel# as %he e(il, says, F8eople in groups are unin%eres%ing. They bore me.G They don?% bore him a% allA %hey sare hell ou% o# himA so muh so %ha% he a(oids %hem a% all os%s, lea(es a large blank in a por%ion o# his psyhe and is omple%ely #rus%ra%ed in %his area o# his grow%h. $nd i% is his own #aul%. 'e simply anno% bring himsel# %o mus%er %he ourage neessary %o #ae his #ear. OVERCOMING !EA$NESS
FYou anno% run away #rom a weaknessA you mus% some%ime #igh% i% ou% or perishA and i# %ha% be so, why no% now, and where you s%andDG i%%ingly enough, %hese lines were penned by a wri%er bed#as% %hrough illness, bu% he %urned %ha% ill ness in%o a grea% (i%ory, e(en%ually reo(ering his heal%h and gi(ing %he world mas%erpiees o# li%era%ure. 'is name>*ober% "ouis S%e(enson. e mus% no% be so#% wi%h oursel(es no ma%%er wha% our goals or posi%ions. $ll %hings #are bes% when %hey are ons%an%ly %es%ed by opposi%ion. The s%urdies% grass is %ha% whih mus% grow %hrough onre%e. The oddled lawn burns lean away a% #irs% eCposure %o sun or wind. /# we ha(e an ahing musle we mus% learn %o eCerise i%, no% %o res% i%, and we will #ind %he musle soon healed. /# our psyhe is losing us in, u%%ing us o## #rom li#e and grow%h and eCpansion, %hen we mus% learn %o %es% and use and eCpand %ha% psyhe. /# we do no%, %he psyhe will a%rophy, u% o## omple%ely all normal %ies wi%h li#e. S%ill, %o be human is %o be More ree !ooks
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weak, is %o be subHe% %o sin and su##ering and error, and as long as we li(e we ne(er %ruly o(erome any o# %heseA bu% as long as we li(e we mus% %ry, #or we %ruly li(e only when we %ry. ha% we #inally ha(e %o learn is %ha% we anno% eCpe% an ul%ima%e or e(en a sa%is#ying (i%ory o(er our in#irmi%ies when we mee% %hem one by one, bu% only when we ha(e #ound a way o# assembling all on %he same #ield o# ba%%le #or one #inal showdown. ha% resul%s %hen mus% be a omple%e s%ep #orward in our e(olu%ion as human beings, #or no one is e(er de#ea%ed who ga%hers ourage %o #ae his assembled weaknesses. F'ow is %his possibleDG someone may ask. F'ow does one ga%her all his weaknesses in one spo% and o(erome %hemDG /% is no% simple or e(en apparen%. /n isola%ed areas, yes. /# you ha(e a %endeny %o be a#raid o# new si%ua%ions, %hen you an build up on#idene abou% %hem by #oring yoursel# %o en%er in%o %hem. Sooner or la%er you are bound %o mee% eah new si%ua%ion almly, i# no%, eagerly, #or %he general ondi%ion o# newness has beome #amiliar. This eCerise o# will power, howe(er, while i% will %end %o gi(e you ourage in e(ery aspe% o# your li#e simply beause you ha(e me% #ear in one area and de#ea%ed i%, ne(er%heless will no% o(erome a %endeny %o be laBy, #or eCample, or un%ru%h#ul, or disloyal, or e(en %o ea% %oo muh. $s a ma%%er o# #a%, i% an readily be seen %ha% his hel%er5 skel%er %rea%men% o# %he unwhole psyhe is muh like a man %rying %o plug a series o# leaks in a dike wi%h his #ingers. +(en%ually all %en #ingers will be oupied, and s%ill %he new leaks ome. TE UNIVERSAL AUTOR
ha% is needed is a new approah %o %he psyhe, one %ha% %rea%s i% as a single %hing and no% as a group o# aberra%ions or inomple%e perep%ions, and %he approah whih gi(es one hundred per en% ures in one hundred per en% o# ases is one in whih %he indi(idual omes %o know and be aware o# his Sere% Sel#. +ah o# us #aes li#e wi%h an unde(eloped psyhe. /% is unde(eloped beause i% is less %han whole, beause i% is only a par%ial mani#es%a%ion o# some%hing grea%er %han i%sel#. Only inso#ar as i% approahes awareness o# %his grea%er sel# does i% approCima%e wholeness or sel#5su##iieny. Tha% sense o# sel# whih we use our daily rounds o# e##or% is use#ul only inso#ar as i% is larger %han %he %ask we under%ake. /% is per#e%ly up %o peeling po%a%oes, #or ins%ane, bu% when some%hing large is asked o# i%, %hen i% may ower in %he orner. !ridges are buil% by %he Sere% Sel# and no% by %he sur#ae ego o# man. Towers and highways and planes and au%omobiles and %ele(ision are wrough% by %he Sere% Sel#. $ll books are wri%%en by %he same au%hor, all pi%ures pain%ed by %he same ar%is%, all musi wri%%en by %he same omposer. The ego o# %he indi(idual is simply no% up %o suh %asks, and as long as a man li(es en%rapped in bondage %o his sur#ae sel#, %hen his e##or%s an only be rowned by suh puny resul%s as #i% his ego. Only when he %ears himsel# away, di(ores himsel# #rom (ani%y and onei% and ego and sur#ae More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
sel# ar he a% las% perei(e %he %rue dimensions o# %he being %ha% dwells wi%hin him. Then he knows his %rue sel#, %hen he %urns his li#e o(er %o i%. Then his e##or%s %ake on a grandeur and purpose %ha% are bound %o ahie(e noble and (igorous ends, #or %he power %ha% engrosses him proeeds #rom ou%side him and arries him along on i%s surging %ides and is grea%er %han he in e(ery way. $ny man or woman whose li#e is aimed a% rea%i(e e##or% is bound %o diso(er %he Sere% Sel# sooner or la%er. No one an lose% himsel# in %he nebulous realm o# %he men%al and spiri%ual wi%hou% early oming %o know %ha% %here dwells wi%hin him a men%al being o# enormous dimension and power, on%a% wi%h whih has %he power %o ennoble and illumine eah momen%. The au%hor seeks his muse wi%h all his hear%. The pain%er pauses wi%h raised brush, awai%ing inspira%ion. e are mo(ed #rom wi%hin %oward eah aspira%ion, pro(ided i% is lo#%ier %han %he limi%a%ions o# %he sur#ae sel#A and so %he world belongs %o %hose who aspire, who dare, who %ry, #or all aspira%ion is only e##or% agains% %he prison o# %he sur#ae sel#, and all suh e##or% is %he alhemy by whih %he ommon lay o# our li%%le egos is %ransmu%ed in%o some%hing %ransenden%al and preious. AN ARTIST &INDS IS TALENT
$ number o# years ago %here li(ed in a poor se%ion o# a large i%y a man who had gi(en up %he years o# his you%h %o per#e% his ar%. 'e li(ed meagerly on wha% #ew pennies he ould earn making haroal ske%hes in wa%er#ron% bars, and he spen% e(ery momen% he ould spare in #ron% o# his easel. 'e pain%ed ships, e(ery onei(able %ype and kind, a% sea, bealmed and in s%orm, in por%, loading and unloading, ships under sail, ships under s%eam, sleek yah%s, wallowing #reigh%ers, men o?war. 'e lo(ed %he sea and he lo(ed %o pain%, and by %he amoun% o# %ime he had spen% a% eah he should ha(e mas%ered his ar% (ery well, bu% he hadn?%. Somehow i% esaped him. 'is pain%ings were no% ama%eurish= %hey eChibi%ed %he hand o# a ra#%smanA ye% %hey always seemed lihLs, as i# %hey were saying some%hing %ha% had been said a %housand %imes be#ore. 8eople would look a% %hem and e(en ommen% %ha% %hey had seen %hem be#ore. They hadn?%, o# ourse. The pain%ings Hus% on%ri(ed %o look like o%hers %ha% had been done. The pain%er realiBed %his #a% only %oo well. 'is work was in%ensely dissa%is#ying %o him. 'e o#%en would rela%e %ha% when he #irs% was s%ruk wi%h an idea #or a new subHe% he would be deeply ela%ed and would se% %o work wi%h a (engeane. Then, as %he work progressed under his hand, he gradually would ome %o see %ha% i% was no% a %hing o# inspira%ion a% all, bu% wooden, pa%, sai d be#ore, a reprodu%ion, and e(en be#ore %he work was #inished he would be gripped by a depression so in%ense %ha% he sarely ould #inish. S%ill, he dro(e himsel# unremi%%ingly. 'e #el% a %alen% was wi%hin him, and he was de%ermined %o ge% i% ou%. One, in a rage a% himsel#, he burned all %he pain%ings in his s%udio, nearly se%%ing #ire %o %he building. $no%her %ime he was so #urious a% his hand #or i%s lumsiness %ha% he badly laera%ed his #ingers, in%en% on u%%ing %hem o##. $ll %his, o# ourse, would More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
india%e %ha% our #riend was no% psyhologially s%able, bu% perhaps i% was simply %ha% his pro(oa%ion was grea%, so enormous was %he rea%i(e urge %ha% ons%an%ly goaded him. "ike mos% o# %he grea% lessons %ha% li#e %eahes, his enligh%enmen% ame dear. hen war broke ou% he had Hus% #inished a period o# deep dissa%is#a%ion wi%h his pain%ing. -isgus%edly, he deided %o %urn his bak on i% #ore(er. 'e shipped ou% as a merhan% seaman aboard a #reigh%er bound #or Murmansk. The on(oy was a%%aked by erman planes and submarines as i% skir%ed %he Norwegian oas%. Our pain%er?s ship was sunk, and he wound up in a li#eboa% on %he #rigid and s%ormy $r%i Oean. or days and nigh%s %hey dri#%ed, #igh%ing %he #reeBing old, %rying %o s%ay ali(e. $% one Hun%ure %he skies leared long enough #or %hem %o be sigh%ed by erman planes, and %hey were bombed and s%ra#ed. i(e men were killed, %hree o%hers seriously wounded, dying %ha% nigh%. $ day la%er, %wo more died #rom eCposure. inally %here were le#% in %he boa% only %he pain%er and %he ship?s purser, an elderly and apparen%ly #rail man who surprisingly s%ill sur(i(ed. F/%?s no use,G said %he pain%er a% leng%h. FThere is no hope #or us, and we migh% as well slip o(er %he side righ% now and be done wi%h i%.G FTha%?s no% #or us %o deide,G said %he purser. Fho %henDG asked %he pain%er. The purser sa% almly, and his eyes were kind. F-o we deide %o be bornDG he asked. F-o we deide our na%ionali%y, our rae, our heri%ageD Someone or some%hing else does, / %hink. e% yoursel# Euie% and lis%en. 8erhaps you will hear a (oie speak wi%hin you. Then you will learn whe%her you are %o li(e or die.G The end seemed near. Surely i% was useless %o s%ruggle #ur%her. or %he #irs% %ime in his li#e %he pain%er was able %o gi(e o(er dire%ion o# his des%iny %o some%hing o%her %han his own ego. The bi%%er old o# approahing nigh% desended on %hem. @us% be#ore dusk a !ri%ish seaplane swooped ou% o# %he #og wi%h a roar, saw %hem, landed on %he sea, %ook %hem aboard. They were in a "ondon hospi%al %ha% nigh%. $#%er some weeks o# on(alesene, our pain%er one again %ried his hand a% his easel. ha% emerged #rom %he an(as s%ar%led him. /% was as i# a hand o%her %han his own guided %he brush, hose %he olors, as %hough a mind o%her %han his own en(isaged %he sene. )iewing %he omple%e pain%ing he #el% a surge o# Hoy. This was %he %alen% he had #ough% %o bring #or%h, and now i% was #lowingI /n rapid suession he omple%ed siC pain%ings, paked %hem o## %o a "ondon ar% dealer where %hey were reei(ed wi%h open arms. They were an ins%an%aneous suess, launhed him on a long and remarkable areer.
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"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
Years la%er he was asked abou% his early period o# s%ruggle and how his %alen% happened %o ma%ure. F/% didn?% ma%ure,G he answered. F/% was %here all %he %ime. / Hus% ne(er ould bring i% ou% beause / %hough% i% belonged %o me. $s soon as / was able %o see %ha% i% belonged %o a being grea%er %han /, i% emerged o# i%s own aord and used me, where be#ore / had been %rying (ainly %o use i%.G Mys%ial, yes, a kind o# osmi perep%ion by %he ar%is% o# his muse, bu% a #ar grea%er sere% is hidden here. Our pain%er s%umbled upon %he psyhologial rela%ionship o# ego %o Sere% Sel# %ha% brooks no #ailure, %ha% ine(i%ably leads %o suess, #or i% is rela%ionship in whih all %hough% and a%ion proeed ou% o# a uni(ersal in%elligene and omnipo%en% power %ha% makes eah work absolu%ely e##e%i(e. &ALL &ROM GRACE
Our onsiousness is anhored #alsely in our sur#ae sel(es, and i% is %his delusion %ha% is our #all #rom grae, #or by i% we do no% know who we %ruly are and #any oursel(es as %iny isola%ed sel(es in a (as% and o(erwhelming uni(erse. The gradual opening and un#olding o# onsiousness %o %ha% poin% where %he (is%as wi%hin our psyhe are re(ealed is %he goal o# e(olu%ion i%sel#, as li#e and in%elligene and being mani#es% ou% o# ma%%er, e(en%ually on%rol and domina%e ma%%er. $s long as we remain hained %o %he illusion o# %he sur#ae sel# we are bu% puppe%s o# sensa%ion, rea%ing %his way or %ha% %o e(ery si%ua%ion %ha% on#ron%s us, li%%le more %han absolu%ely predi%i(e iphers in an eEua%ion aimed a% produing %he #ree, %hinking, omnipo%en% man. Ye% %his ondi%ion o# #reedom and omnipo%ene needs only perep%ion, #or wi%hou% doub% %he mere a% o# perei(ing %he Sere% Sel# is akin %o beoming one wi%h %he Sere% Sel#. 'ow %hen shall we seeD 'ow shall our eyes be openedD 8erhaps %he mos% impor%an% s%ep in diserning %he Sere% Sel# is disillusionmen% wi%h %he e##e%i(eness o# %he sur#ae sel#, #or how is i% possible %o see when we s%ill reHoie in our blindnessD So i% is %ha% spiri%ual awareness, psyhi enligh%enmen%, seldom ome %o one in you%h, #or you%h is preoupied wi%h %he senses, pursues all manner o# sensual inamora%a, and is #or %he mos% par% omple%ely obli(ious o# %he prison whih %he senses ha(e ere%ed. 8assing years bring %he disappoin%men%s, %he #rus%ra%ions and inadeEuaies %ha% ause %he seeking soul %o as% abou% wi%hin psyhi realms #or a new #ounda%ion on whih %o ere% a more reliable and e##e%i(e sense o# sel#. hen %his omes, e(en%ual enligh%enmen% is assured, #or no one seeks bu% he #inds, knoks bu% %he door is opened. The mere a% o# %urning away #rom %he senses and %he sur#ae sel# seems su##iien%. The (eil is remo(ed, %he blinder disin%egra%ed, and an e(en% in psyhi li#e %ha% was brough% abou% by su##ering and #rus%ra%ion and disillusionmen% %urns ou% %o be %he grea%es% o# blessings in disguise. $ new world is re(ealed. The dea%h More ree !ooks
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o# %he sur#ae sel# a%ually %urns ou% %o be a new bir%h. *esigna%ion o# %he senses #rom on%rol o# %he person %urns ou% %o be a seiBing o# %he reins o# %he li#e by a new and dominan% and e##e%i(e #ore. hen %he inner eye o# %he soul is opened %here desends upon %he whole being a uni%y o# par%s and #ore, a (i%ali%y and sereni%y %ha% remake %ha% li#e omple%ely, %ha% lend magi and grandeur %o e(ery%hing %ha% is %ouhed or %aken in%o onsiousness. ho sees wi%h eEual eye, as od o# all $ hero perish or a sparrow #all $%oms or sys%ems in%o ruin hurl?d $nd now a bubble burs%, and now a world. >$leCander 8ope %AT TO ILLUMINATION
hile i% is %rue %ha% perep%ion o# %he indwelling Sere% Sel# ordinarily omes %o harassed mor%als only a#%er muh su##ering and disillusionmen%, ne(er%heless %here is a pa%h by whih suh su##ering may be a(oided in %he main, pro(ided %ha% #irs% %he soul is dedia%ed and sinere in i%s desire %o make %he diso(ery. The Sere% Sel# is ne(er diso(ered alone wi%hin, bu% a% %he same %ime is diso(ered in all plaes, in all beings, and is #ound %o be %he same in all. -i##eren% #orms o# li#e are merely disguises donned #or %he momen% by %he single sel# %ha% underlies all, %ha% %ruly is all, a play in whih #or %he momen% %he -i(ine is hidden, in whih #or %ha% momen% i% a%ually has beome in en%ire%y eah o# %he %hings i% has beome. $ll %he power and e##e%i(eness o# %he Supreme is wi%hin you, is yours %o use, an is also in e(eryone and e(ery%hing else, eCis%ing %here behind %he ur%ain o# ego5 onsiousness, wai%ing %o be diso(ered. There#ore %here is a %remendous underlying eEuali%y %o all %hings under %he sun. +ah is sprung #rom %he same subs%ane and has inheren% wi%hin i% %he same omnipo%en% being, and we are no% eah o# us di##eren% and indi(idual and separa%e eCep% inso#ar as we are inomple%e. To be omple%e is %o be %he Sere% Sel#, whole and en%ire, wi%hou% reser(a%ion or error. The mos% painless pa%h %o illumina%ion, %o perep%ion o# %he Sere% Sel#, is %hus %o arri(e a% a desire %o know %he %ru%h %ha% lies behind %he sur#ae #aade o# %he senses and %o seek %his %ru%h no% only wi%hin bu% wi%hou%, in e(ery person you mee% as well as in yoursel#. One %his sense o# absolu%e eEuali%y o# %hings and people begins %o make i%sel# known %o you, %hen you will de%e% a presene in eah s%one and lod, in eah %ree and plan%, in eah animal and person you mee%, loked in a prison di%a%ed by i%s #orm %o be sure, bu% a presene pure and simple o# %he Sere% Sel#, whih has hosen %he masEuerade #or i%s own purposes and is no% %ruly loked away #rom onsiousness o# i%s real sel# bu% e(en now is de(eloping i% as we brush a% %he (eil %ha% separa%es us #rom our heri%age. One a man senses %he presene o# %he -i(ine in all %hings he is able %o arri(e a% More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
a sense o# eEuali%y %ha% makes him in some sere% and in(iolable orner o# his being un%ouhed by (i%ory or de#ea%, pleasure or pain, posi%ion or pres%ige. 'e beomes so in%en% on doing %he work o# %he Sere% Sel# %ha% he abandons almos% al%oge%her %he uses o# %he ego and so ahie(es a kind o# sel#lessness in his appearane %o %he world. +Euali%y is a per#e% psyhi posi%ion, bu% is impossible %o %he ego whih seeks #ore(er %o be be%%er %han all %he egos around i%, and i# i% is no% be%%er i% is on(ined i% is worse and so ei%her beomes blown5up and blind or wounded and #ear#ul and %hus pro(ides %he wors% o# all psyhi bases #or dealing wi%h li#e, lo(e, and aomplishmen%. To be eEual is %o be una#raid. To know %ha% %here inhabi%s all o%hers %he same being %ha% inhabi%s you is %o ahie(e a psyhi on#idene %ha% enables you %o plae your li#e and hopes and energies in %he hands o# %his being wi%hou% a Eualm, wi%h absolu%e er%ain%y %ha% you will be guided %o per#orm %ha% work %ha% you mus% do, in %he bes% o# all possible ways, a% %he bes% o# all possible %imes. TE %ANTOM MATERIAL !ORLD
/% is an es%ablished #a% %ha% our #i(e senses perei(e bu% %he %inies% por%ion o# %he almos% in#ini%e spe%rum o# (ibra%ions %ha% pre(ails in %he uni(erse, %ha% a million %imes more remains un%old abou% eah %hing %han an possibly be perei(ed by sensual means. his%les an be made whih are imperep%ible %o %he human ear bu% are easily heard by er%ain animals. The #reEueny o# (ibra%ion we know as ligh% is s%ri%ly bounded as %o %he range %ha% has an e##e% on %he human eye, bu% ne(er%heless we know %here are (aria%ions in wha% people an see>some are olor5blind, o%hers nearsigh%ed, o%hers #arsigh%ed, some ha(e an ar%is%?s (ision, %o o%hers ma%erialiBa%ions appear, as %o !ernade%%e a% "ourdes. /n shor%, %he ma%erialis% who prides himsel# on aep%ing no%hing bu% %he e(idene o# his senses is aep%ing %he ske%hies% o# e(ideneA he a%ually prides himsel# on his blindness, aep%ing %hings as #a%s on %he basis o# knowing a mere one billion%h o# %heir %o%al Euali%ies. 'e would no% dream o# en%ering a business deal wi%h suh meager knowledge, bu% aep%s %he world and o%hers and himsel# on suh e(idene and rears like a relu%an% s%allion when i% is sugges%ed %o him %ha% he li(es among phan%oms. ousing a%%en%ion on %he ego and %he e(idene o# %he senses is %he (eil %ha% hides %he Sere% Sel#. The senses %hemsel(es are no% %he (eil, only %he impression %hey gi(e %ha% %hey are on(eying %o %he obser(er %he %o%al aspe% o# %hings. Nor is ego inheren%ly a (eil, only %he impression %ha% i% gi(es %hrough omple%ely domina%ing %he onsiousness %ha% i% is %he a%ual sel# o# %he person. 'ung up in his sensual world and %o%ally immersed in %he ego, a man has no hane %o perei(e %he Sere% Sel#. The larion all sounds bu% his ears are no% a%%uned. i%h his %iny and inomple%e knowledge he keeps en%ering in%o %hings wi%hou% perei(ing %heir %rue na%ure and ul%ima%e des%iny and %here#ore his pa%h %hrough li#e is marked mainly by su##ering and de#ea%, %hough oasionally %he purpose o# %his ego will oinide wi%h %he ends o# %he -i(ine, in whih ase he willingly #alls (i%im %o his own More ree !ooks
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duplii%y, on(ined %ha% his li%%le mahina%ions ha(e mo(ed %he world. The end o# his ego is er%ain s%ill, #or i% is bu% #lo%sam adri#% on a surging %ide and sooner or la%er des%roys i%sel# by pursuing i%s separa%e ends. RESIGNATION AND AS%IRATION
To le% go o# ego is %he %hing %o be done. To ge% ou%side o# and #ree #rom %he grip o# %he senses is %he only pa%h %o diso(ery o# %he Sere% Sel#. Many people are brough% %o %heir knees by li%%le be#ore %hey le% go o# sel# and ahie(e eEuali%y %hrough resigna%ion. Many o# %he mos% brillian%ly reorded illumina%ions ha(e happened in %his manner. Ou% o# %he u%mos% de#ea% and degrada%ion o# %he human soul ha(e arisen, i%s mos% inspira%ional momen%s bu% i% is doub%#ul i# any human being would willingly hoose suh a pa%h #or an end %ha% is (ague %o him in %he #irs% plae. Mys%is who ha(e diso(ered %he Sere% Sel# %hrough men%al and spiri%ual onen%ra%ion repor% %ha% e(en %hey ha(e eCperiened Fa dark nigh% o# %he soulG as %he ego was surrendered. +(elyn 0nderhill hroniles many suh %rans#igura%ions and all were preeded by a period o# deep spiri%ual and emo%ional depression, suh as hris% had in %he arden o# e%hsemane. /% is no easy %hing %o surrender ego. /% is a kind o# dea%h. !u% i% mus% be lone be#ore li#e an be enlarged by %he eCpanded onsiousness %ha% resul%s #rom omple%e possession o# %he indi(idual by %he Sere% Sel#. The Euali%y abo(e all %hings %ha% is reEuired is ourage. You mus% push o##, %he Hump mus% be %aken. "yrially, i% is almos% eCa%ly as reorded by -us%in Smi%h, a #ree #all parahu%is%. FThe #irs% %ime you go in%o a #ree #all is %he weirdes%. You ha(e no idea wha% is going %o happen. You are %erri#ied on %he #irs% s%ep. Then you look down, like od. $nd %he ul%ima%e is going away #rom %he plane. /n %his you?re #ree and you?re purely responsible #or yoursel#. There is a real momen% o# %ru%h when you reah #or %he ord. You ome down absolu%ely ela%ed. You?(e done some%hing %ha% in one way seems ridiulous, bu% in ano%her way makes grea% sense.G Now i% is no% reommended %ha% any seeker a#%er %ru%h adop% parahu%ing as a means %o illumina%ion, bu% %here an be no doub% #rom Mr. Smi%h?s obser(a%ion %ha% pushing o## #rom %he sa#e%y o# an airplane in%o %he unknown dangers o# %he sky is almos% eCa%ly like %he spiri%ual s%ep o# pushing away #rom %he ego and surrendering one?s li#e %o %he un5known guidane o# %he Sere% Sel#. They bo%h reEuire ourageA %hey bo%h eCempli#y a searh. They bo%h %ypi#y man?s aspira%ion %o piere %he (eils %ha% blind him. TE COUNTRY 'EYOND
The end resul% o# %rans#igura%ion, o# illumina%ion, is #or %he ego %o be properly subordina%ed %o %he -i(ine, bu% be#ore %he Sere% Sel# an e(en appear %o %he aspiring soul %here mus% be a prior period o# %ime in whih %he edge o# %he impor%ane o# %he ego is gradually whi%%led down un%il i% no longer oupies %he whole onsiousness, un%il %here is room wi%hin %he awareness #or ligh% %o en%er, More ree !ooks
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#or %he -i(ine %o be re(ealed. Some people are so immersed in %he workings o# %he ego %ha% %hey ha(en?% %he #ain%es% idea wha% is mean% by subordina%ing i% %o ano%her priniple. To %hem %he ego is %he beginning and end, %he sum o# all eCis%ene, and aording %o how %hey gra%i#y %his sur#ae sel# by power and posi%ion and (i%ory %hey #eel %hey ha(e ahie(ed suess in li#e. The %ru%h is %ha% %he sures% way %o insure agains% suess in li#e>%he suess o# arri(ing a% a grasp o# %he meaning o# eCis%eneis %o on%inually gra%i#y %he ego. ha% resul%s %hen is a blindness by limi%a%ion, #or %he ego, being small, anno% see beyond i%sel#. @esus, a grea% mys%i and a mas%er o# spiri%ual knowledge, pronouned i% %o be more di##iul% #or a rih man %o en%er %he kingdom o# hea(en %han #or a amel %o go %hrough %he eye o# a needle. This obser(a%ion o# his, o# ourse, is largely parable. /% is no% s%ri%ly rih men @esus re#erred %o, #or some rih men are mos% spiri%ual, bu% ra%her men who li(e %o gra%i#y %he senses and %heir own ingrown (ani%yA %hese are %he ones %o whom eCpanded onsiousness is una(ailable. /% is denied #or no moral reason, bu% a purely sien%i#i one. /# one hooses %o look %hrough a rak in %he wall %here is re(ealed a par%ial world. /# one goes %hrough %he wall, %he %rue aspe% o# %he oun%ry beyond is re(ealed a% las%. orsaking ego and uni%ing wi%h %he Sere% Sel# makes %his (iew possible %o %he aspiring soul. E)%ANDING CONSCIOUSNESS
onsiousness is %he key %o diso(ering %he Sere% Sel#. To beome aware %ha% onsiousness is %he same in all people is a big s%ep on %he road %o illumina%ion. One you ha(e beome s%ruk by %he enormi%y o# %his si%ua%ion you will ne(er again be %he same, #or you will inna%ely perei(e %ha% a% work in %he uni(erse is no% a mul%i%ude o# aspiring and searhing souls, bu% one indi(idual only, and you are i% and i% is all o%hers, and so in a (ery real sense you and your neighbor are one. One %he magni#ien% implia%ions o# %his #a% ha(e ome home %o you, you will see %ha% %he sere% o# e##e%i(e li(ing is no% %he eCer%ing o# your indi(idual will as you ha(e always supposed i% %o be, bu% ra%her in growing %o know and unders%and e(en%s and obHe%s so %ha% you an orre%ly perei(e %heir %rue purpose and des%iny. $nd you will no% do %ha% by obser(ing %he sur#ae #a%s as reorded by %he ego sel#, bu% only by eCpanding your onsiousness %o %he poin% where obHe%s and e(en%s beome a par% o# you, as %hey surely are in a%uali%y, #or bo%h you and %hey are %he Sere% Sel#. To eCpand onsiousness in#ini%ely would be %o grow in%o oneness wi%h %he one #ore, %he one power, %he one mind %ha% %ruly eCis%s. 8erhaps %his goal in %his age and a% %his s%age o# e(olu%ion is impossible, bu% ne(er%heless we an eCpand our presen% onsiousness a %housand5#old, i# no% %o inlude %he uni(erse, er%ainly %o inlude our #riends and neighbors and %he e(en%s and irums%anes %ha% surround us. !y a proess o# iden%i#ia%ion we an ome %o know o%her %hings and o%her people and ou%side e(en%s e(en as we know oursel(es, and possessed by %his knowledge we an a% in %he mids% o# all %hings in omple%e aord wi%h %heir More ree !ooks
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%rue na%ure and des%iny, and so our a%ions %ake on a kind o# omnipo%ene, our works a kind o# absolu%e e##e%i(eness, so %ha% we appear %o be molding and hanging %he world abou% us when in %ru%h we are only a%ing in on#ormi%y wi%h i%s real bu% unre(ealed na%ure. MAGIC ALCEMY
F/% is no% /, bu% a power grea%er %han /G is %he #irs% aknowledgmen% we mus% make %o %he Sere% Sel#. One %his is done, we ha(e by a kind o# surrender plaed our #a%e where i% should be, in %he hands o# some%hing in#ini%ely more in#ormed and more apable. To #orsake %he urgings and promp%ings o# %he sur#ae na%ure and ego is %he #irs% s%ep, #or as long as we are bound %o %his ine##e%i(e and %iny miroosm we anno% be e##e%i(e in our works or serene in our spiri%ual de(elopmen%. e mus% %urn away #rom %ha% whih we ha(e always onsidered sel# and embrae %ha% whih we ha(e always onsidered o%her %han sel#, and in %ha% %urning away and in %ha% embraing lies our sal(a%ion. F/% is no% / who doe%h %he works,G s%a%ed @esus, Fbu% %he a%her %ha% dwelle%h wi%hin me.?? $nd when his %rans#igura%ion was omple%e= F/ and %he a%her are one.?? The sur#ae sel# will no% surrender ligh%ly. /%s s%ruggles and misguided urgings will be ons%an%. ise is %he man and eC%remely enligh%ened who manages %o on%rol his ego a% all %imes. To be human is %o be subHe% %o error, bu% %o diso(er wi%hin %he image o# per#e%ion and Hoy is %o #ind a way ou% o# %he morass o# physial sensa%ion in whih we #ind oursel(es en%rapped in li#e. Sal(a%ion #or all o# us is as near as oursel(es, #or %here dwells wi%hin eah o# us a hallowed ligh%, a hidden sel# %ha% an relie(e our su##erings and #rus%ra%ions, no ma%%er how pain#ul or enduring. e ha(e only %o diso(er and embrae i%, #or i% %o beome our %rue sel(es and %o work i%s magi in our li(es.
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Chapter 3 TE GREATEST MAGIC O& ALL
+'$N/ST/ no%ions o# li#e are all %oo pre(alen% in soie%y %oday. Mos% people belie(e a %hing is wha% i% is beause o# being made ou% o#, by, and #rom o%her %hings, and mos% o# us are in%en% on mo(ing %his %hing by hand, as i# #anying oursel(es hess players and li#e %he board and %he piees %he %hings we are onerned wi%h. $ll %oo soon we #ind we are opposed by an insru%able and ru%hless opponen%, and our end is ine(i%able. e ha(e onerned oursel(es wi%h only %he sur#ae aspe% o# %he game, and suh a (iewpoin% ne(er an #a%hom li#e?s nuanes and real signi#iane. IMMORTAL AND AND EYE
Ma%erial onep%s o# eCis%ene wind up depressingly s%erile, #or a#%er %he ompleC mahinery o# %he human body is redued %o i%s %inies% ell, s%ill %he anima%ing presene is no% #oundA no%hing is %here bu% %he yawning abyss o# a dead and unheeding uni(erse %o gree% %he ma%erial researher. The #orm o# a %hing sui%s i%s #un%ion, and i%s #un%ion sui%s i%s purpose, and inheren% in eah is a ompleC and highly in%elligen% design, #ar surpassing any%hing ye% possible %o %he sur#ae mind o# man. /% is no% so muh %he #orm %ha% we mus% be onerned wi%h, bu% %he idea %ha% lies behind #orm, %he in%elligen% purpose %ha% gi(es %ha% #orm per#e% #un%ion. Tiger, %iger, burning brigh% /n %he #ores%s o# %he nigh% ha% immor%al hand or eye ould #rame %hy #ear#ul symme%ryD illiam !lake i%ness %he paing o# %he sleek and power#ul %iger in %he ages o# a Boo and you know a% one %ha% you are seeing a rea%ure onsumma%ely designed #or a spei#i #un%ion, wi%hou% a was%ed mo%ion, wi%hou% a spare or useless par%. +Camine %he myriad geome%rial designs o# snow#lakes and you beome immedia%ely aware %ha% behind rea%ion lies a supreme ma%hema%ial mind, a million5#old more omprehending %han %ha% o# %he mos% erudi%e o# sien%is%s. The ordered spinning o# %he plane%s in spae, %he arrangemen% o# solar sys%ems in %he uni(erse, %he design o# %he a%om, %he deep and insru%able mys%ery o# anima%ionA surely we are blind i# we #ail %o reogniBe %he working o# a supreme in%elligene, guiding, molding, dire%ing wi%h purpose. Ou% o# %he in#ini%e plas%i rea%i(e5ness o# %his in%elligene ha(e all %hings sprung. /% makes all, #ashions e(ery%hing #rom i%sel#. Man does no% hold %he #a%e o# %he uni(erse in his handsA %ha% #a%e is sa#e and sure in %he hands o# i%s rea%or, and %ha% rea%or has inarna%ed in man all o# i%s po%en%iali%y and power.
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The ends o# e(olu%ion were assured long be#ore man arri(ed upon %he ear%hly seneA %hey were assured #rom %he (ery beginning. Tha% in%elligene o# su##iien% sope %o ha(e wi%hin i% %he power %o origina%e %he onep%s o# spae and %ime and ma%%er, %o rea%e %he oun%less #orms o# li#e and anima%e %hem wi%h i%s own presene, surely would no%, in any risis, abdia%e, gi(e o(er on%rol %o one o# i%s par%ially de(eloped and #ra%ionally aware rea%ions. This, howe(er, is %he onlusion %ha% some o# our %hinkers ha(e ome %o, %hose, a% leas%, who belie(e %ha% man on%rols %he uni(erse and his own des%iny, %he ma%erial man, %he sur#ae man, %he ego5en%ered, par%ially aware man. STE%S AMONG TE STARS
There is a hidden ause o# all %hings, hidden beause i% is no% (isible, in(isible beause i% %akes no speial #orm, #i%s no speial desrip%ion. /% lies e%ernally and omnisien%ly behind %he onsiousness o# e(ery li(ing %hing, and i% de%ermines all #a%es, all onseEuenes, all on#li%s and resolu%ions. /% i s no% %hwar%ed in a single aspe% o# i%s being or purposeA %here are wi%hin i% no loose ends, no unresol(ed on#li%s. /% is uni(ersal mind, di(ine in%elligene, %he Sere% Sel# %ha% anima%es e(ery li(ing %hing. /% is as large as in#ini%y, %here are no limi%s upon i%s apabili%ies or powers, and i% resides omple%ely and en%irely wi%hin you. 'idden %hough i% be #rom your sur#ae mind, i% is your own immor%al sel#. This is %he sel# whose s%eps are (isible in %he s%ars, in %he in#ini%esimal and ompleC design o# %he germina%ing seed, in %he olor and grandeur and bus%ling energy o# e(ol(ing li#e. /% brings all #orms in%o eCis%ene, rumbles and dissipa%es %hem when %he idea behind %hem has been eCpressed. /% is %he sole being, %he one mind, %he soli%ary li#e, %he only %rue presene, %he one real sel# in eCis%ene. /mmor%al, ne(er born, ne(er dying, %he in#ini%e sides o# i%s mani#old na%ure are eCpressed on %he s%age o# li#e, and eah o# i%s rea%ions on%ains wi%hin i% all o# %he essene and power and in%elligene o# %he rea%or, eah has wi%hin i% %he Sere% Sel#. LI&E TA%S US ON TE SOULDER
Fha% good is i%,G a man some%imes asks. F%o ha(e a sel# %ha% is so #ar beyond your omprehension, %ha% isn?% e(en %he you %ha% you?(e always %hough% yoursel# %o beDG There is a (ery grea% deal o# good. /# you #ous yoursel# in %he sur#ae mind, %hen %he dimensions o# li#e are #ore(er hidden #rom youA you do no% know where you ame #rom and you do no% know where you are goingA you e(en wonder i# one day you migh% suddenly ease %o be. You anno% #a%hom %he billions o# miles o# dis%ane %o %he neares% s%ar or %he billions o# years sine %he ear%h #irs% swung in%o orbi% around %he sun. You anno% see %he mind o# ano%her person, unders%and wha% anima%es a li(ing being, omprehend %he purpose o# li#e. $ll is mys%ery, all dwar#s %he li%%le ego, whih li%erally anno% see beyond i%s own nose and grasps e(en %ha% bu% (aguely.
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0nless we are as unomprehending as ows in %he #ield, we anno% help bu% be sik when we li(e #oused in %he egoA %he world is Hus% %oo big. ear and #u%ili%y and guil% and #rus%ra%ion are our daily lo% when we are small and inadeEua%e and know %ha% we are small and inadeEua%e. e may be mie and roar like lions, bu% we will soon know %ha% we are mie i# we li(e absorbed in %he ego. "i#e %aps eah man on %he shoulder. 'e ei%her lis%ens or he ge%s knoked down. No indi(idual reigns supremeA we are all par% and parel o# one mind, one sel#, one supreme in%elligeneA and inasmuh as we unders%and %his %rans#orming #a% %ha% in%elligene en%ers omple%ely in%o us and possesses us and uses us #or i%s work in %he world, so %ha% we per#orm %o %he Beni%h o# our human apabili%ies. TUNNEL VISION
/mplii% in %he uni(erse is #irs% ause, original impe%us, and %his #irs% ause is a primal in%elligene #rom whih all %hings ha(e sprung. /% is in(ol(ed in eCpressing i%sel#, and %he resul% is %he in#ini%e (arie%y and design o# li#e, %he endless series o# e(ol(ing #orms %ha% inhabi% %he world. +ah #orm is no% a separa%e rea%ion o# %he original in%elligene, bu% ra%her is an eCpression o# i%, so %ha% %here dwells in eah %he original in%elligene i%sel#, masEuerading as %he #orm and limi%ed %o %ha% eC%en%, bu% in essene remaining in#ini%e and e%ernal and omnisien%. You are no% %he limi%ed sur#ae sel# and ego %ha% you ha(e always #anied yoursel# %o be, bu% you are %ha% (ery primal in%elligene %ha% has mani#es%ed all %he #orms o# %he uni(erse. *e#le%ion on %he na%ure o# in%elligene and onsiousness re(eals why %his is so. hen our a%%en%ion is #oused upon a er%ain %hing, inasmuh as our absorp%ion is omple%e, we beome %he %hing %ha% has our a%%en%ion. This F%unnel (isionG Euali%y o# onsiousness is responsible #or %he remarkable phenomena o# hypnosis. here hypnosis is deep and onsiousness may be dire%ed %oward a single obHe%, subHe% beomes obHe% and does no% know himsel# in any o%her way. /# %old %ha% he is a duk, he Euaks and waddles. /# %old %ha% he is a bear, he growls. /# %old %ha% he is a s%a%esman, he deli(ers ora%ions. 'e knows himsel# only as a duk when a duk, only as a bear when a bear, only as a s%a%esman when a s%a%esman. Surely uni(ersal in%elligene i%sel# mus% be so absorbed in eah o# i%s mani#es%a%ions, beoming %he %hing i% has beome wi%h omple%e amnesia #or i %s %rue s%a%e and all o%her mani#es%a%ions o# i%s na%ure. This is why we do no% know wha% we %ruly are and beome %he %hing %ha% our onsiousness is #oused upon. CONCE%TUAL UNIVERSE
/% would seem %ha% uni(ersal mind or primal in%elligene has %he abili%y %o beome any%hing i% would beome, or ra%her, %ha% i%s inheren% na%ure is %o beome any%hing %ha% %akes roo% wi%hin i% as idea, as %hough%. The eCis%ene o# %his uni(ersal mind mus% be purely men%al. hie# and perhaps solely i%s a%i(i%y is %hough%. /% is %hinking, and eah o# i%s %hough%s is mani#es%ed as a #orm in %he ma%erial world. +ah %hough% on%ains wi%hin i% all o# %he in%elligene o# %he More ree !ooks
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%hinker, so %ha% a %hough% is a %hing apable o# de(eloping o%her %hough%s. Thus, i# a man is a %hough% in %he mind o# an e%ernal %hinker, %hen all o# %he in%elligene o# %ha% e%ernal %hinker is la%en% in %he man, and %hus %he seed o# libera%ion #rom a dire%ed and #oused onsiousness is implii% in eah o# us. e an, in e##e%, beome any%hing, do any%hing, sine behind our #oused awareness lies a uni(ersal and omnisien% mind. The seed o# all possibili%ies lies wi%hin us. Shor% arm needs man %o reah %o 'ea(en So ready is 'ea(en %o s%oop %o him. >ranis Thompson The me%aphysial aspe%s o# %he rela%ionship o# uni(ersal mind wi%h your own sur#ae mind mus% be grasped in some manner be#ore i% is possible %o #ree yoursel# #rom bondage %o sensual rea%ion and sla(ery %o irums%ane. /% is per#e%ly all righ% %o admonish a su##erer #rom irums%ane %o %hink posi%i(ely, bu% all %oo o#%en he has no% %he resoures wi%hin him %o aomplish %his, any more %han he is able %o %ake arms agains% %he physial e(en%s %ha% a%%ak him. /% %akes a weal%h o# spiri%ual resoure %o produe %he ourage neessary %o #ree %he soul #rom bondage %o %he sur#ae sel#. $nd i% %akes a heap o# ourage %o sus%ain one on %ha% leap in%o %he (oid o# absolu%e #reedom %ha% omes wi%h omple%e reliane on %he Sere% Sel#. enerally speaking, mo%i(es o# mone%ary gain or personal asendany are simply no% su##iien% %o produe %he dri(e neessary %o promo%e uni%y be%ween %he Sere% Sel# and %he sur#ae na%ure. hen we desire %hings %hrough sel#ish mo%i(es we narrow our perep%ual horiBons %o where i% is impossible #or us %o glimpse %he (as% and power#ul being %ha% dwells wi%hin us. e an be bea%en in%o omple%e submission, in%o abHe% humili%y, bu% suh essa%ion o# %he urgings o# %he ego is all %oo o#%en %emporary, and when %he eEuilibrium o# our li(es has been res%ored, %hen %he ego ga%hers new s%reng%h, reonsiders i%s abdia%ion, one again %akes o(er %he li#e %o %he sorrow o# %he person wi%hin. The only %rue and las%ing on(ersion %o uni%y wi%h %he Sere% Sel# omes #rom possessing %he #a%s o# %he men%al and spiri%ual world we inhabi%, so %ha% all mind is seen one mind, all spiri% world we all persons one person, and suh perep%ion is no% aep%ed on #ai %h or belie# bu% #rom a lear perep%ion o# %he #a%s as %hey eCis%, on indispu%able and irre(oable proo#. Only men%al unders%anding %hrough inreased awareness an aomplish %his. TE ETERNAL TIN$ER
"i#e #or eah o# us is eCa%ly as we ons%rue i% %o be, and %his is %he men%al law under whih we li(e. Similarly, all no%ions o# %heology and me%aphysis are, #or eah o# us, eCa%ly as we ons%rue %hem %o be, #or %he ideas %ha% %ake roo% in our onsiousness de%ermine %he 66 sope and limi%a%ion o# our onsiousness. /n shor%, od is as we #any 'im %o be, and we ha(e only %o hange our no%ion o# More ree !ooks
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'im in order %o hange 'im. 'e is idea only beause 'e is mind, and %ha% idea whih is %he larges%, %he mos% per#e%, mos% workable, leares%, is %here#ore %he neares% approCima%ion o# %he odhead. Our illness is aused by %he li%%le way we are able %o see, and only as we enlarge our (ision, push bak our horiBons, are we ured. The me%aphysi upon whih %his book is based is %his. There is an e%ernal %hinker e%ernally %hinking, and eah %hough% he %hinks appears %o be separa%e #rom him, bu% i% is no%A i% represen%s %he %hinker only, bu% no% en%irely, and inso#ar as %he %hough% eCis%s a% all i% is %he %hinker, %hough no% omple%ely. The %hinker is od, %he %hough%s man, and od has absorbed himsel# in %he %hough% bu% is no% bound by %his absorp%ion, and may libera%e himsel# a% any %ime by eCpanding his awareness. $s long as man is absorbed in %he ego, he is absorbed in %he %hough% and remains %he %hough%, is bound by %he idea %ha% a%ua%ed him in %he #irs% plae, bu% when he lays aside his absorp%ion in %he ego, %hen his en%ranemen% has begun %o sha%%er, and he is beginning %o reogniBe himsel# as od. $s soon as he makes any approCima%ion o# %his psyhi posi%ion wha%e(er, he has arri(ed a% a plae where he an hange %he idea %ha% a%ua%ed his ego in %he #irs% plae, where he an make himsel# in%o an en%irely di##eren%, person simply by being able %o aep% an en%irely new and di##eren% idea abou% himsel#. e mus% pene%ra%e %he apparen% duali%y o# li#e be#ore we are able %o learly unders%and our oneness wi%h %he Sere% Sel#. There are no% many di##eren% na%ures and beings a% work in %he worldA only one. $ll are di##eren% aspe%s o# %his one being. /n eah is enlosed %ha% amoun% o# onsiousness %ha% de%ermines %he #orm o# %he %hing, bu% %he onsiousness enlosed is s%ill %he onsiousness o# %he Sere% Sel#, limi%ed and apparen%ly separa%ed beause i% is absorbed in %he %hing i% has beome. $nd %his absorp%ion, %his limi%a%ion, is wha% we know as sur#ae sel# as ego, and i% is %he (eil %ha% separa%es us 67 #rom knowledge o# our (as%er na%ure and %rue being. To ge% rid o# ego %hen is %he %hing %o be done. To subordina%e i% %o %he Sere% Sel#, %o plae i% in proper psyhi posi%ion %o i%s mas%er and dire%or, and abo(e all %o reogniBe i% as primarily illusion, a hanging %hing, a %emporary loud %ha% s%ands be%ween us and pure and omple%e uni%y wi%h %he -i(ine, %hese are %he s%eps a no(i%ia%e mus% %ake be#ore his works in %he world are marked by power and e##e%i(eness. CONDITIONING CONSCIOUSNESS
$ll lak, limi%a%ion, and mal#un%ion %ha% %ouhes our li(es is arried in our minds, is li%erally rea%ed %here beause i% is a produ% o# our limi%ed and ego5en%ered onsiousness. e s%umble beause we do nor see, and %his ondi%ion o# no%5 seeing plaes %he obs%ale in our pa%h. +dward arpen%er s%a%ed, F/% should be as easy %o eCpel an obnoCious %hough% ou% o# your mind as %o shake a s%one ou% o# your shoe,G bu%, alas, i% is no% so. The obnoCious %hough% is no% a %hing o# i%sel#, bu% ra%her %he lak o# a %hing. Nega%i(e ondi%ions are imper#e% perep%ions. /% is More ree !ooks
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when we are no% able %o perei(e %ha% we #al%er. You simply anno% %urn your mind upside down and shake ou% some%hing %ha% is no% %here in %he #irs% plae. The reason %he obnoCious %hough% eCis%s is beause %he onsiousness is %oo small, and simply does no% see. The remedy, ra%her %han %rying %o as% ou% some%hing %ha% is no% %ruly %here, is %o eCpand onsiousness un%il i% an be seen %ha% lak and limi%a%ion and mal#un%ion only eCis% by (ir%ue o# imper#e% men%al perep%ion. This is why %here is suh a grea% deal o# #ailure on %he par% o# persons who %ry %o rea%e posi%i(e ondi%ions in %heir li(es by %hinking posi%i(ely. 0sually suh posi%i(e %hough%s en%er around money, heal%h, lo(e, seuri%y, inner peae. $ person who li(es in a ons%an% s%a%e o# apprehension is %old %ha% all he has %o do %o de(elop ourage is %o %ell himsel# %ha% he is bra(e. S%ill, no lion5hear%ed warrior, he. $ll posi%i(e s%a%emen%s %o himsel# a(ail no%hing, and he is le#% Hus% as ringing and %ension5#illed a#%er his sel#5%rea%men% as be#ore, perhaps more so, #or now e(en %he li%%le on#idene he one had has been s%ripped away. /% is simply no good %elling yoursel# %ha% some%hing is whi%e when your eyes %ell you %ha% i% is blak. /n order #or %ha% some%hing %o beome whi%e i% mus% appear whi%e, and %he only way i% will appear whi%e is #or you %o be able, by psyhi de(elopmen%, %o pene%ra%e %he illusion o# i%s blakness. ear is no% inheren% in irums%ane, i% is inheren% in our rea%ion %o irums%ane. /# we wish %o onEuer #ear, we mus% de(elop suh knowledge and perep%ion as enable us %o see on%rol and knowledge and perep%ion we #ormerly #ound %hrea%ening. There is no%hing wrong wi%h being a#raid o# a lion. !u% i# we wish %o onEuer %ha% #ear we are going abou% i% %he wrong way when we %ry %o hide %he #ear #rom oursel(es and s%ep ou% %o mee% %he lion in ignorane, %hereby pro(iding %he beas% a %as%y meal. The only way %o onEuer #ear o# lions is %o learn %o handle lions. One we ha(e learned on%rol, we s%ep ou% %o mee% %he lion in per#e% sa#e%y. /% is no% s%reng%h, bu% ar% ob%ains %he priBe $nd %o be swi#% is less %han %o be wise. >$leCander 8ope TE %RO%ER %SYCIC %OSITION
The single ause o# all %hings is %he Sere% Sel#. Ou% o# i% all is made. The in#ini%e proession o# anima%e #orms in %he world is a mani#es%a%ion o# i%s many5sided and e%ernal na%ure. The Sere% Sel# is purely men%al. /%s essene is ligh%, ele%rii%y. /% is signi#ied by %he enormous a%5balane energy in %he a%om, by %he urious in(isible prison %ha% loks moleules in%o er%ain #orm and gi(es %hem %he shape o# a %ree, a rok. The wonder#ul, emanipa%ing, hope#ul #a% is %his= %he in%era%ion o# %he Sere% Sel#. wi%h i%s rea%ions is %he ause o# e(olu%ion in %he speies and %he ause o# e(olu%ion in %he indi(idual. $ man an hange himsel#, make himsel# be%%er, by ahie(ing proper rela%ionship wi%h i%. ha% is %his proper rela%ionshipD /% is no% a gro(eling debasemen%, no% a %ear#ul More ree !ooks
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submission, no% an abHe% resigna%ion. /% is a onsious and on%rolled %urning o(er o# %he li#e %o a power more #i%%ed %o use and de(elop i% %han %he ego o# %h e indi(idual. The ego remains, %o be sure, %he sur#ae mind remains, bu% subordina%ed now, (ehiles o# a grea%er power, a (as%er onsiousness %han dire%ed %he li#e be#ore. To #ind %he proper rela%ionship be%ween %he ego and %he Sere% Sel# is %o diso(er %ha% psyhi posi%ion #rom whih all %hings are possible, %ha% (or%eC o# energy and rea%i(eness %ha% makes a gian% ou% o# %he mos% humble o# men. "earn %o lis%en. There are (oies %ha% speak wi%hin %he soul. hen you onsiously gi(e o(er dire%ion o# your li#e %o some%hing o%her %han %he ego, %he (oie o# %he -i(ine beomes unmis%akable. /nner sigh% omes wi%h %his inner (oie, so %ha% you will in%ui%i(ely perei(e %he %ru%h in si%ua%ions where #ormerly i% was hidden. Mys%eriously, %he boundaries o# onsiousness widen, enompassing persons, %hings, si%ua%ions, so %ha% you mo(e in aord wi%h %heir na%ures, so %ha% your a%ions begin %o %ake on a kind o# in#allibili%y %hrough being per#e%ly a%%uned wi%h your surroundings and %he per sons wi%h whom you ome in on%a%. UNLOC$ING TE %RISON O& SEL&
/magina%ion is %he key %ha% unloks %he prison o# sel#. +ah o# us is on%ained wi%hin %he poor #our walls o# his ego, and i% is %his on%ainmen%, %his res%ri%ion %ha% (isi%s our ills upon us, %ha% loks us away #rom %he soure o# our power. The men%al essene o# %he Sere% Sel# is imagina%ion. /n one Euik ins%an% imagina%ion an span all boundaries, all spae, all %ime. Man, %he physial animal, is only an in#ini%esimal rea%ure s%ruggling in %he gigan%i abyss o# spae and %ime, bu% man, %he men%al being, has %he same s%a%ure as %he uni(erse i%sel#, #or his mind an perei(e all and unders%and all, %he (ery s%ru%ure o# ma%%er and li#e. /magina%ion propels him in%o suh unders%anding. /magina%ion is his link wi%h %he Sere% Sel#. @ohn Mase#ield wro%e, FMan onsis%s o# body, mind and imagina%ion. 'is body is #aul%y, his mind un%rus%wor%hy, bu% his imagina%ion has made him remarkable. /n some en%uries, his imagina%ion has made li#e on %his plane% an in%ense pra%ie o# all %he lo(elier energies.G /% has been es%ablished %ha% wha%e(er is main%ained as an image in %he mind will make i%s way in%o %he ou%er world and mani#es% as a physial #a%. This is no% beause we ha(e hanged %he ou%er world bu% beause we are able %o see %here only %hose %hings %ha% our onsiousness is ondi%ioned %o perei(e. !y hanging our onsiousness we al%er our perep%ion. onsiousness is generally al%ered by s%imuli #rom %he ou%er world. One born in%o money %ends %o de(elop a prosperi%y onsiousness and %hus %o li(e all his li#e in a ondi%ion o# plen%y. Similarly, one born in%o a ondi%ion o# po(er%y %ends %o de(elop a sari%y onsiousness and %hus %o li(e all his li#e in a ondi%ion o# sari%y. /nso#ar as %his is %rue o# eah o# us, we are sla(es %o our en(ironmen%. Ye% %he libera%ing %ool lies wi%hin> More ree !ooks
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imagina%ion. $ording %o how we use %his onsiousnessondi%ioning power o# our minds we are able %o remake our li(es. /magina%ion an ondi%ion your onsiousness any way you hoose. 8roperly used, i% an make you mas%er o# all e(en%s, all irums%anes. No longer need you eCis% as an eEua%ion o# rea%ion %o %he %hings and e(en%s %ha% surround you, bu% ins%ead you may as% up wi%hin your men%al being %hose images %ha% mos% sui% your inner goals and in%en%s. Seeing %hese ins%ead o# opposi%ion and disouragemen%, no%hing under %he sun an s%op you #rom ahie(ing %hem. VISUALI*ATION
ha% a lo(ely %hing is %he power o# %he mind %o (isualiBeI 8agean%s, senes, whole arenas o# a%ion may be as% up wi%hin %he imagina%ion, in #ull olor and sound, a% a momen%?s no%ie. ha% we hoose %o see wi%hin our minds we see, and %his is %he prinipal #a% o# our eCis%ene. e are always no more or less %han %he %hings %ha% %ake roo% in our onsiousness, and when we de%ermine %o keep ou% all %ha% de%ra%s and res%ri%s and limi%s, %hen we ha(e %aken our #irs% s%ep in making our li(es a sel#5de%ermined a##air ra%her %han a rea%ion. The od5like par% o# man is men%al, spiri%ual. ha% is so as%ounding abou% his eCis%ene is no% his hands or eyes or hear% or li(er or e(en brain, bu% %he #a% %ha% he %hinks, (isualiBes, onei(es, origina%es. !y an amaBing gi#% o# some genie he is able %o hoose wha% he will %hink and %hereby de%ermine his #a%e. $ll rea%i(i%y s%ems #rom %he rela%ionship o# %he sur#ae sel# wi%h %he Sere% Sel#, and #rom %he dynami e##e% o# imagina%ion upon %he Sere% Sel#. $n au%hor pu%s himsel# in %une wi%h his muse by #irs% subordina%ing his sur#ae sel# %o some power wi%hin whih he knows %o be grea% and (as%ly e##e%i(e. 'e %hen #ouses his imagina%ion on his s%ory and his hara%ers, and by a proess %ha% seems en%irely independen% o# him %hey begin %o mo(e and re(eal %hemsel(es, and %he s%ory un#olds. 'e is no% Fmaking i% up.G /% is as real %o him, more real in #a%, %han %he hairs and desks in his room. ha% is happening in his mind is happening wi%hin him, and he aknowledges i% immedia%ely as being par% o# him, as hanging him, as making him di##eren% %han he was be#ore %he s%ory ame and %he hara%ers per#ormed. 0pon %he mo(ing sreen o# his mind an in%ensely signi#ian% and highly symboli drama is played, #or wha% he (isualiBes %here is %aken un%o him and beomes a par% o# him, and his onsiousness is al%ered by i%. /% is no% %he au%hor who rea%es %he book, bu% %he book %ha% rea%es %he au%hor, Hus% as we all are rea%ions o# %he men%al images and ideas and %hough%s %ha% ha(e #ound a home in our minds. TE SEED O& %ER&ECTION
+ah o# us is an in#an% in %he me%amorphosis o# %he soul %hrough myriad #orms and an e%erni%y o# hanging. e #any oursel(es as onre%e %hings, some%hing wi%h boundaries, unhanging, and when we ha(e oasion %o re#er %o oursel(es or More ree !ooks
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eCamine oursel(es in%rospe%i(ely, in%rospe%i(ely, we belie(e we know wha% we re#er %o and are adaman% in our a(owal o# sel#. sel#. The %ru%h is we nei%her know oursel(es nor are we %he same #rom one momen% in our li(es %o %he neC%. /# we %hink o# oursel(es as bodies, our hanging sel# beomes apparen%. /% is nearly impossible e(en #or #amilies %o reogniBe a lo(ed one a#%er %hir%y years o# absene, so grea%ly has %he sel# al%ered. $nd a li%%le re#le%ion upon %he hanging Euali%y Euali %y o# onsiousness is sure %o gi(e us some insigh% in%o %he numberless sel(es our sur#ae minds and egos ha(e beome sine #irs% appearing in %he world. Firs% %he in#an%, mulling and puking, %hen %he shoolboy wi%h his shining morning5#ae, %hen %he lo(er, lo(er, sighing like a #urnae, %hen %he soldier, soldier, #ull o# s%range oa%hs, %hen %he Hus%ie, in #air round belly, belly, %hen %he lean and slippered pan%aloon, %hen seond hildishness, sans %ee%h, sans eyes, sans %as%e, sans e(ery%hing.G e(ery%hing.G Shakespeare indeed perei(ed %he many masks donned by %he Sere% Sel# in i%s Hourney %hrough li#e, and %he man who poin%s %o himsel#, himsel#, and harging his sur#ae mind m ind and ego %o be reogniBed, says, F/ am %hisG or F/ am %ha%,G only bespeaks his %endeny %o beome like %he image in his mind. The res% is illusion. The emerging knowledge o# sel# na%urally brings wi%h i% a #ear o# %he (as% and impene%rable uni(erse. There is no suh #ear in a ow, who, hewing ud and on%en%ed wi%h pas%ure, does no% know i%sel# as a ow or as any%hing. /% simply eCis%s as a ompleC bundle o# ner(es and blood and %issue, rea%ing %o si%ua%ions %ha% surround i% aording %o a se% o# es%ablished re#leCes alled ins%in%s. Sine i% does no% see %he s%ars, i% does no% wonder abou% %he siBe o# %he world, abou% whe%her i% is separa%e #rom i% or a par% o# i% or e(en eCis%ing. Only imagina%ion and inreased awareness know sel#, know ego and %he sur#ae mind, and %his knowledge, %his on%ained and re#ined onsiousness makes man di##eren% #rom all o%her #orms o# li#e. To To be aware o# one?s sel# is %o be human, %o ha(e arri(ed a% %ha% urren%ly highes% s%age o# e(olu%ionary de(elopmen% o# %he Sere% Sel#. Sel#. $ number o# indi(iduals ha(e e(ol(ed muh #ur%her, howe(er, and more are breaking %hrough eah day. day. Soon a new rae o# in%elle%ual and spiri%ual gian%s will appear upon %he ear%h, as higher in onsiousness as presen%5day man is abo(e %he ape, %o whom %he sere%s o# spae and %ime and dimension will be re(ealed, making %he en%ire uni(erse home, Hourneying #rom plane% %o plane%, s%ar %o s%ar. /n %his broad ear%h o# ours, $mid %he measureless grossness and %he slag, +nlosed and sa#e wi%hin i%s en%ral hear%, Nes%les %he seed o# per#e%ion. >al% hi%man STAR GA*ER
/% is o#%en %rue %ha% men who make as%ronomy %heir (oa%ion ha(e a philosophial %urn o# mind. 8erhaps %his is beause %he #ous o# %heir onsiousness is among More ree !ooks
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spaes %ha% dwar# %heir physial sel(es, and %hey anno% help bu% be onerned wi%h %he beginnings and ends o# li#e, wi%h %he des%iny o# man. /% does seem impossible %o gaBe in%o %he inredible glowing (aul% o# %he hea(ens wi%hou% beoming re(eren% wi%h awe a% %he ob(ious handiwork o# a supreme in%elligene. /n any ase, S%erling beame a s%uden% o# philosophy a% (ery nearly %he same %ime %ha% he beame a s%uden% o# as%ronomy, as%ronomy, and he main%ained mai n%ained %hroughou% his areer %ha% one a%i(i%y was simply an eC%ension o# %he o%her. o%her. Ye% despi%e his e##or%s in bo%h dire%ions, %hroughou% %he maHor par% o# his li#e he had ahie(ed no no%able suess in ei%her. 'e would say, say, F/ suppose /?m Hus% a reasonably good mehani. Some people are born %o pu% %he piees %oge%her a#%er o%hers %hink up %he ideas. / pu% piees %oge%her.G Ye% i% was easy %o disern %ha% he was #ar #rom pleased wi%h %his Hudgmen% o# himsel#, himsel#, e(en %hough i% seemed %rue. /n wha%e(er wha%e(er obser(a%ory he worked, he was gi(en har%5work %o do. Theore%ial probabili%ies and eCplora%ory work were le#% %o o%hers. +(en in his philosophial endea(ors, S%erling %ook a like pa%h. 'e beame a walking ompendium o# all %he philosophy e(er wri%%en. 'e ould Euo%e page and number #rom %he works o# 8la%o, -esar%es, 'ume, "oke, "ao TBe, %he !haga(ad5 i%a, bu% e(en %hough he embraed all, none %ook roo% wi%hin him, and he pro#essed no par%iular philosophy. philosophy. -espi%e all his learning and all a ll his s%udies, he seemed in an in%elle%ual bog, as i# ideas simply would no% %ake roo% in a soil so barren o# germina%ing power. $s i% mus% %o all men, %ime #inally brough% S%erling %o a poin% in his li#e where he ould look as #ar bakward as i% was possible %o look #orward, and wha% he saw dis%ressed him. 'e suddenly was aware %ha% %he rou%ine mo(es o# his eCis%ene would no% be bearable #or ano%her %hir%y years. 'e deided %ha% he ei%her mus% #ind some o%her pro#ession or diso(er new meaning in %he one he had. 'e sough% help. Fha% is i%,G i%,G he asked, F%ha% / am missingD /% is almos% as i# some ingredien% had been le#% ou% o# me a% bir%h, so %ha% / am inapable o# grasping %he meaning o# li#e. / see %he design in all, in %he hea(ens, in %he logi and onen%ra%ion o# man?s in%elle%ual e##or%, bu% / anno% see wha% i% has %o do wi%h me, why %he simple #a% o# my eCis%ene has any%hing %o do wi%h %he world and wha% is going on in i%.G i%.G Fan you imagine a world wi%hou% yoursel# yoursel# in i%DG he was asked. Fer%ainly. Fer%ainly. $nd / o#%en %hink i% would be muh be%%er. be%%er.G F/# you %hink i% is possible %ha% you one ne(er eCis%ed a% all, how an you you #eel you will on%inue %o eCis% a#%er %his li#e is #inished.G #inished.G More ree !ooks
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F/ don?%. / #igure %his is all. hen %he ur%ain omes down here, %ha%?s %ha%?s #inis.G #inis.G F!u% wha% abou% %he design you you men%ion, %he ob(ious oner%ed e##or% o# li#e %oward some ommon goalDG FTha% belongs %o somebody else, no% %o me. me. / an?% e(en unders%and i%, le% alone be a par% o# i%.G F'ow an you isola%e yoursel# yoursel# #rom %he %hings you see abou% youD youD /# all o# li#e seems %o be par% o# some en%ral, guiding in%elligene, surely you an see %ha% you mus% be %oo. /# wha%e(er is being done here is being done %hrough %he inarna%ions o# some supreme being, %hen eah inarna%ion represen%s %ha% supreme being and is no% di##eren% or isola%ed #rom i%.G i%.G F8erhaps no%. "ogi seems %o suppor% you. you. / an only %ell you how / #eel, and / #eel le#% ou%, no% a par% o# wha% is going on.G FThen your %rouble mus% be sel#ishness. sel#ishness.GG S%erling nearly leaped ou% o# his hair. hair. FSel#ishnessIG he eClaimed. F/ ha(e a wi#e and #our hildren, and / pro(ide #or %hem all. / ser(e on %he board o# my hurh, on %he hamber o# ommere, and / belong %o #our ser(ie lubs. Seems %o me %ha% hal# my li#e is spen% ser(ing o%hers. 'ow an you say / am sel#ishDG F/ didn?% mean %ha% you lak onern #or o%hers. / mean you you are o(er5onerned o(er5onerned wi%h yoursel#. yoursel#. $nyone who omple%ely delimi%s and isola%es his own being is sel#ish, is egois%i. !eause he anno% eCpand his onsiousness beyond %he limi%s he has imposed upon 76 i%, he has no hane wha%e(er o# perei(ing his uni%y wi%h all li#e, wi%h all beings.G F'ow does one go abou% %hisDG F!y %rying. !y making an a%%emp%. $s long long as you on%inue %o rail agains% %he meaninglessness o# li#e, so long will you add subs%ane %o %he (eil, #or you are enys%ing %he ego, gi(ing i% a reali%y %ha% i% does no% %ruly ha(e, and %here#ore you are blinding yoursel# wi%h i%.G F-o you mean %ha% simply by %rying %rying %o know a higher onsiousness one au%oma%ially ahie(es a higher onsiousnessDG F8erhaps i% is %ha% simple. er%ainly when when %he human psyhe opens i%sel# %o reep%ion o# a knowledge %ha% lies beyond i%, %hen and only %hen is i% in a posi%ion %o reei(e suh knowledge. /s no% %his a hange in onsiousnessD ha% was More ree !ooks
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losed and impene%rable now is open and reep%i(e. Tha% is %he sere% o# inreased awareness.G F/s %his a soli%ary %hingD Mus% one re%ire #rom %he a%i(e li#e in order %o ahie(e i%DG F!y no means. The bes% spo% o# all is %he area o# your daily work and a%i(i%y. /# you will ge% ou%side yoursel# in eah %hing you do and make a delibera%e e##or% %o #eel and %hink #rom %he s%andpoin% o# o%hers who are in(ol(ed in e(en%s wi%h you, %hen you will #ind %ha% door in your onsiousness will be opened. "igh% will shine %hrough.G S%erling deided %o gi(e i% a %ry. 'e s%a%ed %ha% his eCplora%ion o# %he hea(ens had always been a %hing apar% #rom him. 'e had peered in%o spae as i# he were an in%erloper, and %he only %hing %ha% had been re(ealed %o him was %ha% he was an indisernible spek upon an indisernible spek. 'e deided %o work on %he 77 %heory %ha% %he en%ire hea(ens were wi%hin his own onsiousness. The idea in%rigued him. Se(eral mon%hs la%er he diso(ered a new no(ae. i%hin a year he presen%ed a paper eluida%ing upon %he ons%an% rea%ion o# hydrogen. /% was widely alaimed. 'e made %his s%a%emen% %o his #riends= F/% is impossible %o pene%ra%e %he hear% o# a ma%%er i# one is de%ahed #rom i%. /n some kind o# mys%erious way we all share %he same onsiousness, and when we manage %o break down %he walls %ha% separa%e us #rom %he %hings we are doing, we are able %o grasp %heir meaning by a kind o# dire% apprehension. / suppose you ould all %his in%ui%ion, bu% a%ually i% is a grea% deal more. /% is absolu%e knowing %hrough being %he %hing you are a%%emp%ing %o know. /# %his sounds mys%erious / an only say i% happened %o me. / #ound a no(ae no% beause / saw i% bu% beause / knew i% was %here. / was able %o help on %he ons%an% rea%ion Theory no% beause / am a ma%hema%ial genius bu% beause / knew deep inside me %ha% i% was so.G E)%RESSING TE UNE)%RESSED
arl @ung wro%e, FSine we anno% de(elop bakwards in%o animal onsiousness, %here remains only %he more s%renuous way #orwards in%o higher onsiousness.G Nearly all human ills, #ears, guil%?s, hos%ili%ies, and #rus%ra%ions s%em #rom %he #a% %ha% we no longer ha(e %he insen%iene o# animals bu% ha(e no% as ye% eCpanded our awareness beyond %he limi%s o# our sur#ae sel(es. $s long as we remained hained %o our sur#ae sel(es, li#e will be a burden whih we are no% #i% %o ope wi%h.G S%range, how di##eren% i% is %o on(ey %his simple message. The delusion o# More ree !ooks
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separa%e ego5sel# is so s%rong in many people %ha% no amoun% o# persuasion, eCample, or proo# an dissuade %hem #rom %heir illusory onsiousness. F$s long as i% works, i%?s okay wi%h me,G seems %o be %heir onlusion, and %hey do no% see %ha% i% isn?% working a% all, %ha% %hey are only au%oma%ons mo(ed abou% by %heir rea%ion %o ou%side s%imuli. $s long as %hey aEuire su##iien% ma%erial om#or%s %hey are sa%is#ied wi%h %he presen% le(el o# %heir onsiousness, are bound %o insen%iene, do no% aspire, so anno% possibly eCpand. To li(e in %he somnolen% awareness o# %he animal #ul#ills no areas o# %he soul. /# man arries wi%hin him any por%ion o# %ha% whih is in#ini%e and e%ernal, %hen i% beomes his obliga%ion %o eCpress i%. /# he does no%, he loses his soul. Tha% whih is uneCpressed, in %he end beomes non5eCis%en%. Some%hing has mo(ed ons%an%ly upward and onward %hrough %he eons o# %ime sine %he beginning o# %he uni(erse. /% ga%hered i%sel# %hrough %he slime and mis% o# #irs% rea%ion, anima%ed %he darkes% orners o# %he ear%h, %he dep%hs o# %he sea, %he mos% arid o# deser%s. here(er spae and subs%ane is, %here also li#e mus% be, #or no%hing %ruly is inanima%e in all rea%ion. One mind, one in%elligene, one li#e seeks an e(er more omple%e and mani#old eCpression o# i%s hidden and unre(ealed sel#. $ll %hings are made #rom one %hing, de(elop in one dire%ion, and all pa%hs on(erge in some in#ini%e plae where eah shall #ind his home in %he hear% o# %he Sere% Sel#. e are %ha% (ery %hing %ha% has #ashioned %he ear%h and %he plane%s, whose in#ini%e in%elligene and myriad design is #ound in %he ompleC geome%ry o# #our5dimensional spae, %he omplia%ed ohesion o# %he a%om. e ha(e only %o resign %he mask we presen% %o o%hers and oursel(es, %o le% go o# ego and seek residene in a wider range o# onsiousness, and %here will be re(ealed %o us a% one a li(ing uni(erse o# whih we are no% only %he en%er bu% whih we omple%ely on%ain. IGER %LANES O& CONSCIOUSNESS
There are planes o# onsiousness %ha% no one ye% has pene%ra%ed. ai%ing #or %he in%elle%ual ad(en%urer is a whole hos% o# uneCplored realms o# %he mind. Man may ha(e rossed %he oeans and (isi%ed %he poles, may e(en now be (en%uring in%o spae, bu% %hus #ar he does no% e(en know his origin or his des%inyA %hese lie hidden in %he dorman% layers o# his onsiousness. The una(oidable ause o# all %hings is mind. !e#ore any%hing ma%erial, any%hing subs%an%i(e was e(er made, %here had %o be prior knowledge o# suh rea%ion, and %ha% prior knowledge ould only be held by an in%elle%ual being, a mind. /% %here#ore #ollows %ha% in %he ruible o# rea%ion %he %hough% always preedes %he %hing, %ha% %hough%s %hemsel(es are %hings in %he proess o# being #ormed. The na%ure o# eCis%ene is %o be onsious. To be onsious is %o %hink. To %hink is %o gi(e #orm %o %hough%, #or all onsiousness is mo%or, and %he momen% a %hough% impresses i%sel# upon onsiousness, onsiousness se%s abou% gi(ing i% #orm. +(ery%hing %ha% eCis%s, %hen, eCis%s by (ir%ue o# onsiousness. /% is made #rom no%hing bu% primal in%elligene, eCis%s beause i% is idea or %hough% in %he mind o# primal in%elligene. More ree !ooks
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/nso#ar as %he rea%ion o# %hings embodies a degree o# %he primal in%elligene, %he %hing so rea%ed and %he in%elligene so embodied approCima%es %he in%elligene o# %he rea%or. The %hing rea%ed beomes e(er more like i%s rea%or, is only di##eren% beause o# %he limi%a%ions imposed upon i% by %he idea whih ga(e i% #orm. %O!ER TO CANGE
/nso#ar as inreased awareness reeps in%o eah rea%ed %hing, so %here omes %o i% a libera%ion #rom bondage %o %he idea %ha% originally ga(e i% #orm, so i% beomes possible #or %he rea%ed %hing, beause o# i%s reahing ou% %o uni%e wi%h %he dynami o# primal in%elligene, %o ahie(e %he power o# %ha% in%elligene in dire% ra%io %o i%s apprehension. /n o%her words, a man is no% bound %o his limi%a%ions beause he has been rea%ed a er%ain way. 'e an %urn %o %he wider onsiousness %ha% lies wi%hin him, all upon i% %o mani#es% in his li#e, %o eCpand his awareness, perep%ion, knowledge, e##e%i(ely beoming a di##eren% and be%%er person %han he %hus #ar has grown %o be. Surely %his mus% be %he purpose o# li#e i%sel#, %ha% %he rea%ed eCpressions o# some grea% and primal in%elligene grow in%o #ull knowledge and awareness o# %ha% in%elligene, and by so doing, uni%e. The world and all wi%hin i% is %he eCpression o# %he -i(ine, whih is ne(er more %han par%ially re(ealed in eah o# i%s numberless and (aried eCpressions, bu% whih is #ully inheren% in eah o# %hose eCpressions. $ll %he power o# %he Sere% Sel# lies wi%hin you. Some %iny por%ion o# %his grea% rea%or was no% u% o## and ins%alledA all o# i% is hidden wi%hin you, lies dorman% %here, ready and able %o enlarge your li#e %o %he same degree %ha% you are able %o #ree yoursel# #rom ego5imposed bonds. The hidden ause o# all %hings is %he primal mind %ha% lies behind rea%ion, and i% deli(ers %o eah rea%ure aording %o %he onsiousness o# eah rea%ure, aording %o %he image in %he mind. ha% we are wi%ness %o in %he world is an inessan% parade o# %hough%s beoming %hings, no% beause %hough%s rea%e %hings, bu% beause we only perei(e %he %hings %ha% oupy our onsiousness as %hough%. /n essene, all %hings possible o# men%al (isualiBing are already in eCis%ene, #or in order %ha% %hey be (isualiBed a% all, %hey mus% already ha(e been onei(ed in %he mind o# %he ul%ima%e in%elligene. There#ore, %here is no suh %hing as a new %hough% or new idea #rom %he s%andpoin% o# %he Sere% Sel#, bu% eah idea or %hough% is only new #rom %he s%andpoin% o# %he indi(idual onsiousness whih apprehends i%. $s soon as %his idea %akes roo% in indi(idual onsiousness, %he indi(idual soon perei(es i%s ma%erial oun%erpar% in %he world. /% %hen seems %ha% %he idea rea%ed %he %hing, bu% in a%uali%y %he %hing was %here all %he whileA i% eCis%ed in %he mind o# %he Sere% Sel# and awai%ed only perep%ion by %he indi(idual onsiousness. !E SEE ONLY !AT !E ARE More ree !ooks
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/% is es%ablished #a% %ha% a hal# doBen people an s%and on a s%ree% orner and eah see %hings %ha% are imperep%ible %o %he o%hers beause o# %he di##eren% Euali%ies o# %heir onsiousness. One man migh% be a real%or and be primarily onerned wi%h %he (alue o# a (aan% lo%. $no%her migh% be a do%or and be preoupied wi%h %he erra%i ga%e o# a pedes%rian. $no%her migh% be an ad(er%ising man wi%h his a%%en%ion #oused on a (aan% billboard a%op %he drugs%ore. S%ill ano%her migh% be an old lady onerned wi%h %he speed o# %he %ra##i. There migh% be an au%omobile salesman whose a%%en%ion is ri(e%ed upon %he new model o# a ompe%i%or. There migh% be a on%ra%or who obser(es %ha% %he drugs%ore needs pain%ing. Suh a lis% is endless. !eause o# %he in#ini%e (arie%y o# %he human speies, i% would surely be impossible #or any %wo people ou% o# any number o# ombina%ions %o see eCa%ly %he same %hings on %he same s%ree% orner. ha% we see is always a resul% o# our onsiousness. e see only %ha% whih already has been as% up as men%al image in our minds, and we see only %ha% whih we are. There is no libera%ion #rom %his #a%. /% is %he basi law o# eCis%ene. /% an be used %o res%ri% onsiousness or i% an be used %o eCpand onsiousness, bu% work i% mus%, and always. !y using i%, and we anno% help using i%, we ei%her shri(el our souls or eCpand %hem, %here is no in5be%ween. e are ursed or blessed #rom wi%hin, and upon %he Hudgmen% sea% si%s our ego, a #alse Hudge %o be sure, an illusion %o begin wi%h. hen we subordina%e ego %o Sere% Sel#, %hen we are able %o eCpand onsiousness and inrease awareness, %o #ully use %he law o# grow%h and power. !u% as long as %he ego remains king, %ha% long will we be sla(es %o a %yran% whih imprisons our onsiousness wi%hin narrow boundaries. TRAIL 'LA*ERS
The pa%h %ha% mankind %reads %oward diso(ery o# uni%y wi%h %he Sere% Sel# is sure. Suh diso(ery is %he goal o# e(olu%ion. The ear%h one day will be oupied by a rae o# in%elle%ual and spiri%ual gian%s, in whom %he Sere% Sel# is #ully re(ealed. Meanwhile %he pa%h is no% blaBoned, and %rail breakers proeed singly. Se% oil along i%, i# you will. There will be as muh sa%is#a%ion in %he Hourney as in %he des%ina%ion, #or ad(en%ure is here, soul5s%irring eCi%emen%, pro#ound in%elle%ual s%imula%ion. !ehind you, aroused sligh%ly, oming slowly, bu% always #ollowing, is all humani%y. ro%e Thomas arlyle= FThe ligh%ning5spark o# Though%, genera%ed or say ra%her hea(en5kindled, in %he soli%ary mind, awakens i%s eCpress likeness in ano%her mind, in a %housand o%her minds, and all blaBe up %oge%her in a ombined #ire.G
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Chapter 4 SELF!ASTER" !+*N$*- !erenson is Euo%ed as s%a%ing, F$ omple%e li#e may be one ending in so #ull an iden%i#ia%ion wi%h %he no%5sel# %ha% %here is no sel# le#% %o die.G 0nEues%ionably suh spiri%ual aspira%ion is aimed a% ahie(ing an asymme%rial and proper rela%ionship be%ween %he ego5sel# and %he supreme sel#, %hereby arri(ing a% %he #inely honed disipline o# sel#5mas%ery. /% is #oolhardy %o a%%emp% on%rol o# %he ego5sel# %hrough %he egosel#. on%rol onno%es an elemen% %o be on%rolled and an elemen% %o eCerise on%rolA ergo, a duali%yA and i# %he elemen% %o be on%rolled a%%emp%s domain o(er i%sel#, %here is no hope o# ahie(ing balane and dire%ion in %he personali%y. /% is %he ego5sel# %ha% mus% be on%rolledA i% is %he Sere% Sel# whih mus% eCerise on%rolA and %rue sel#5mas%ery is only arri(ed a% when %he indi(idual ahie(es iden%i#ia%ion wi%h %he Supreme in %he deeper reesses o# his being. Then he is able, by a kind o# uni%y wi%h primal li#e #ore, %o mold his own ego5sel#, %o eCerise on%rol o(er i%, %o knead and shape i% %o #i% %he ends o# his li#e. SU'CONSCIOUS %ROM%TINGS
/nna%e in eah ego personali%y are %housands o# subonsious urgings and ins%in%s %ha% %end %o lead eah o# us around by %he spiri%ual nose. e seldom i# e(er make deisions in an area o# our onsiousness %ha% is #ree #rom %he guil%, #ears, and en(ies o# our egosel#. /n onseEuene, we are ne(er %ruly #ree %o deide any%hing. +ah deision wells up in us #rom %he subonsious, reminding us below %he le(el o# awareness o# some long5#orgo%%en iniden% in whih %he ego su##ered or had pleasure, and now, in %his presen% ins%ane, we mus% #ollow a pa%h di%a%ed by ego5rea%ion, and so we remain sla(es %o %he pas%. /% Hus % is no% possible %o #igh% %his rea%ion. Someone who has an inordina%e #ear o# heigh%s, #or eCample, is ne(er ured o# his #ear simply by being eCposed %o heigh%. /n #a %, suh %rea%men% is likely %o end in omple%e personali%y displaemen%, in an all5 onsuming #ear hys%eria. /n %he #inal analysis, suh a su##erer is only able %o o(erome his #ear by modi#ying %he impor%ane o# his ego5sel#, by displaing i% #rom %he #ron%al awareness o# his onsiousness, %aking un%o himsel# a deeper, more heigh%ened sense o# being %hrough iden%i#ia%ion wi%h %he Sere% Sel#A and so his li#e begins %o be guided by a men%al and spiri%ual essene ra%her %han a pro%oplasmi pain5pleasure rea%ion. The ego5sel# is no% mas%er o# i%sel#, anno% be mas%er, only deludes i%sel# when i% a%%emp%s suh mas%ery. Mos% people are so en%irely #rus%ra%ed in %he will5power area o# %heir psyhes %ha% %hey seek despera%ely #or deli(erane #rom %he all %oo apparen% #a% %ha% %hey an ne(er make %hemsel(es do wha% %hey wan% %o do. /# %hey are #a%, #or eCample, %hey know %ha% %hey an grow slim by ea%ing less, and More ree !ooks
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%hey desire %o be slim, bu% %he psyhe kno%s upon i%sel#, %he on%empla%ed pleasure o# being slim pulls agains% %he presen% pleasure o# ea%ing, and %he person ea%s and s%ays #a%. $s sorry as %his may be in %he ma%%er o# his personal appearane, i% is no%hing ompared %o %he damage wreaked upon his already inHured psyhe. Now he knows %ha% he anno% make himsel# do some%hing %ha% he ough% %o do, and he realiBes all %oo well %ha% he is no% in on%rol o# his li#eA some%hing else is, and he senses %his some%hing %o be undesirable, %o be ons%ru%ed o# whim and mood and urge and sensual5nessA and he would be #ree o# i%, bu% anno% help himsel#, #or he is a%%emp%ing %o make bo%h subHe% and obHe% ou% o# %he eCa% same %hing>his ego5sel#. /n e(ery a%ion, as pro(ed by physis, %here is a mo(er and a %hing %o be mo(ed, and by %he (ery na%ure o# spae and energy and subs%ane, an obHe% anno% mo(e i%sel# wi%hou% ha(ing some%hing %o a% upon or agains%. The ego5sel# is a %hing %o be mo(ed, and i% needs a prime mo(er>%he Sere% Sel#. !ILL E+UALS INTELLECT
!enedi% SpinoBa wro%e, FThe will and in%elle% are one and %he same %hing.G /n o%her words, we always do %he %hing %ha% our unders%anding promp%s us %o do. ishing does no% make i% so, and desire i%sel# is only a key %ha% unloks %he door o# unders%anding. :nowledge mo(es %he world. e anno% make oursel(es or anybody else do any%hing %ha% we are no% apable o# on%rolling %hrough ha(ing a omple%e knowledge o# all %he #a%ors in(ol(ed. There is a law %ha% #ollows all aomplishmen%, all a%%ainmen%, all rea%ion, all a%ion, and %ha% is %he law o# sari#ie. No%hing in %his world is gained eCep% by gi(ing up some%hing else, #or no%hing oupies and absorbs onsiousness eCep% %ha% i% displaes some%hing else #rom %ha% posi%ionA and wha%e(er oupies onsiousness reei(es %he %o%al energy and %hough% and imagina%ion o# %he indi(idual, absorbs him as i% were, and %ends %o ome in%o his li#e as a omple%e and whole %hing. You do no% ahie(e your goal simply by wan%ing i%A you ahie(e i% primarily %hrough %hinking abou% i%. Through %hinking abou% i%, you grow in%o unders%anding o# i%, and i% is %his unders%anding %ha% deli(ers %he goal in %he end. The #irs% kind o# unders%anding %ha% mus% be ahie(ed is an unders%anding o# %he psyhe, how i% is di(ided, how i% onsis%s o# %he li%%le F/,G %he ego, and %he big F/,G %he Sere% Sel#, how %he rela%ionship be%ween %hese %wo de%ermines %he men%al heal%h and e##e%i(eness o# %he indi(idual. Sel#5mas%ery s%ar%s wi%h %he knowledge o# mis%aken iden%i%y, how you always ha(e regarded yoursel# wronglyA and when you perei(e, no ma%%er how dimly, %he gian% person you really are, %hen you are able %o regard wi%h ompassion %he s%ruggling li%%le pygmy o# your ego, %o edua%e i%, dire% i%, enlarge i%, and so enlarge your li#e. FNo disipline an be wi%hou% pain,G wro%e 'a(elok +llis, and when %he ego seeks beyond i%sel# #or a me%hod o# disipline and grow%h, %here mus% be a breaking o# bounds, a %hrowing o## o# hains, an eCpansion in%o new %erri%ories o# aspira%ion, More ree !ooks
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and all %ha% is old and res%ri%ing mus% be le#% behind, and all %ha% was rou%ine and seure mus% be le#% %here %oo, and %he soul mus% %ake #ligh% %o a new and higher area o# onsiousness, on bra(e wings, daring and aspiring, and Hus% as es%asy is lose %o pain, so pain will ome, %hen es%asy, %hen pain again, and %he enys%ing shell will be broken, and unders%anding will ome. SEL& DISCI%LINE
The sur#ae sel# has nei%her %he sope nor %he power %o e##e% on%rol o# i%sel#. hen i% a%%emp%s %o impose suh disipline i% ahie(es a kind o# sideshow e##e%, remaining sur#ae ego en%irely bu% dressing i%sel# in inhibi%ions and res%rain%s %ha% make i% a gro%esEue parody o# i%sel#. -isipline is only possible %hrough subHe%ion. The indi(idual mus% aknowledge a being or a priniple grea%er %han he in order %o #ollow i%s guidane. One suh aknowledgmen% is made, %hen %he whole li#e is augh% up in %he work %ha% is in(ol(ed, a power desends in%o %he person #rom beyond him, and works are per#ormed %ha% be#ore were omple%ely beyond his sope. Mos% e##or%s a% sel#5disipline are ei%her pa%he%i or humorous, #or %he ego5sel# simply is no% apable o# on%rolling %he subonsious. The #eelings %ha% proeed ou% o# %he subonsious are %he mo%i(a%ing #ores o# our li(es, and all logi and reasoning are merely ra%ionaliBa%ions a#%er %he #a% %ha% we mus% do er%ain %hings or mus% no% do %hem beause we are so impelled or res%rained by %he subonsious. /# we desire one %hing onsiously and i%s opposi%e keeps appearing in our li(es, i% is beause our onsious desires do no% on#orm %o our subonsious desires. ha% we subonsiously desire is always deli(ered %o us #inally. No amoun% o# willing or wishing or hoping an hange %his immu%able law, #or %he subonsious has an umbilial %ie wi%h %he supreme mind, and wha% is impressed upon i% as a %hough%, an idea, a desire, is ine(i%ably deli(ered in%o %he world o# %he indi(idual. MAN AGAINST IMSEL&
/n poin% o# a%ual #a%, i% is impossible #or %he onsious mind %o %ruly en%er%ain an image %ha% is in dire% opposi%ion %o subonsious #eelings. or ins%ane, i# we are a#raid %o di(e o## a di(ing board and resol(e %o o(erome %his #ear, we mus% #irs% ondi%ion %he subonsious no% %o be a#raid. /# we do no%, we ha(e absolu%ely no hane o# di(ing o## %he board. e may limb up on i%. e may look down a% %he wa%er. e may ommand our limbs %o %hrow us #orward %hrough %he air, bu% %hey simply will no% respond. The #earrea%ed image in %he subonsious holds us bak, pro%e%s us #rom %he danger i% #ears. Tha% ondi%ioned image was plaed in %he subonsious by %he impa% o# onsious mind, bu% imagina%ion and a new ondi%ioned image, #ree o# #ear, may be plaed %here also by onsious mind, and when i% is, we are #ree %o di(e o## %he board and will. ill power i%sel# is a muh o(erra%ed and misunders%ood %hing. "ike a ra%%lesnake More ree !ooks
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%he will o#%en %urns on i%s %ormen%or and deli(ers a pain#ul laera%ion ins%ead o# %he obeisane sough%. The s%ory is %old o# %he man who had beome obsessed wi%h %he power o# his mind and his will. 'e belie(ed he was able %o ommand all anima%e %hings %o do his bidding, and now sough% %o pro(e %he e##e%i(eness o# his %hough% upon inanima%e obHe%s. 'e seluded himsel# in his s%udy, plaed a small blok o# wood upon his desk, sa% down in a hair opposi%e i%, sough% %o mo(e i% by %he power o# his mind. Three days la%er rela%i(es, #ailing %o elii% response %o %heir knoks and alls, broke down %he door and #ound %he poor man sea%ed be#ore his desk in a a%a%oni s%upor #rom whih he ne(er reo(ered. ar #rom his ha(ing imbued %he blok o# wood wi%h his own (oli%ion, %he blok o# wood seemed %o ha(e remo(ed all (oli%ion #rom him. 'e ne(er again, in %he #ew remaining years o# his li#e, e(idened any symp%oms o# will wha%e(er. 'e had %o be #ed, dressed, omple%ely ared #or. 'e had eCpended his will omple%ely. /n deepes% %ru%h, will is no% some%hing we de(elop, bu% some%hing %ha% is de(eloped in us. /% ga%hers i%sel# ou% o# a (as%er, more highly de(eloped and uni(ersal onsiousness and makes i%sel# mani#es% in us as a %endeny %o a%ion or opinion %ha% we ha(e no desire %o oppose. The (as% maHori%y o# people in %he world are no% so muh dri(ers as dri(enA and %he uneEui(oal s%a%emen% an be made %ha% all %hose who #any %hemsel(es as dri(ers are dri(en in reali%y. ill is no% ego5dominane as modern #i%ion and drama would ha(e us suppose. /n#la%ed indi(iduali%y is no% %he s%u## %ha% omprises %he underlying mo%i(a%ion o# %he ap%ains o# indus%ry, siene, ar%, war#are. *are is %he man and wise indeed who rises %o a pinnale o# world prominene and realiBes %ha% he has been brough% %o %ha% poin% as an ins%rumen%, no% as a prime mo(er, %ha% he, himsel#, has been a ser(an% eah #oo% o# %he way, %ha% some%hing grea%er %han he has mo(ed in and %hrough him %o aomplish %he ends %ha% ha(e been redi%ed %o him. Ye% suh a man is seure agains% %he onslaugh%s o# bo%h %ime and hange, and Hus% beause he is seure, Hus% beause he is eEual %o bo%h (i%ory and de#ea%, pleasure and pain, so his posi%ion in %he world remains seure, #or he has no%hing #ur%her %o learn by riding %he e%ernal whirligig o# opposi%es by whih %he one in#ini%e and e%ernal in%elligene plumbs %he dep%hs o# i%s own knowledge and #eeling. TE TRUT A'OUT !ILL %O!ER
0sually, howe(er, %he world redi%s %he man o# aomplishmen% wi%h a grea% de%ermina%ion, a grea% power o# will %o surmoun% obs%ales. Modern i(iliBa%ion has a sense o# drama, a sense o# eCis%ene primarily deri(ed #rom %he s%ories o# inderella, rank Merriwell, and o%her eCponen%s o# %he #airy %ale %ha% pain%s e(ery%hing blak or whi%e wi%h whi%e winning an ul%ima%e and ine(i%able (i%ory. Our sense o# (alues is always deeply shoked a% learning %ha% our heroes are %arnished in o%her areas %han %he one %ha% made %hem heroes. e applaud %he ru%hless hea(yweigh% hampion who bludgeons his opponen%s in%o insensibili%y, bu% when we #ind %ha% he some%imes does %he same %hing %o his wi#e, we anno% unders%and wha% mo%i(a%es him. Ye% eCa%ly %he same %hing mo%i(a%es him in one More ree !ooks
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a%i(i%y as in %he o%her. /n bo%h, %he man is %he same. The only %hing %ha% hanges is soie%y?s (iew o# him. This duali%y o# applause and ondemna%ion eCis%s in many o%her #ae%s o# our i(iliBa%ion. /n war%ime, we make a hero o# %he killerA in peae%ime we pu% him in Hail. 'ouses and i%ies are haked #rom unse%%led #ron%iers by men who are able %o %ake by ru%hlessness and hold by s%reng%h, bu% %hese same men, when soie%y beomes more s%a%i, are pu% in Hail #or preying on weaker i%iBens o# %he soie%y %hey helped rea%e. O# all passing s%andards %he mos% (irulen% is %ha% whih ondemns people #or being wha% %hey were born %o be, as i# i% were %heir #aul% and %hey ould hange in%o some%hing di##eren% or be%%er i# only %hey would. e are so sure %ha% we are mas%ers o# our #a%e %ha% we ha(e blinded oursel(es %o %he #a% %ha% pra%ially %he whole world is in hains, and rarer %han -iogenes? hones% man is his oun%erpar%, a #ree one. ill, in %he end, does no% belong %o a man, bu% a man belongs %o his will. There is in him, deep in %he reesses o# mind, spiri%, onsiousness, a mo%i(a%ion %o be and %o beome, and #or be%%er or worse i% is his %o li(e wi%h all his li#e. This is his #a%e, and he anno% #ly i%, mus% #ae i% or die. $nd in %he #aing o# i%, he mee%s himsel# and omes %o know himsel# or %urn away #rom himsel#, is arried along %o heigh%s by %he knowledge a%%ained, or is rushed %hrough %he ignorane nur%ured by his blindness. The pa%h he #ollows is %he pa%h he mus% #ollow. )i%ory and de#ea%, suess and #ailure, knowledge and ignorane are all %here. 'e will eCperiene %hem all as he %hreads his way #orward %oward an e(er grea%er sel#5knowledge. ill power, %hen, is merely %he shining %hrough personali%y o# an inner power %o beome some%hing o%her %han %he role %he indi(idual is as% in a% %he momen%. $ man is born poor and impo(erished and grows up %o beome rih and power#ul, and we say he beame suess#ul %hrough %he eCerise o# a superior will power. Ye%, in mos% ases, suh a man did no% %ake s%ok and %hen onsiously make %he deision %o s%ri(e #or weal%h and powerA his en(ironmen% ondi%ioned his subonsious %o i%. The hur%s and rebu##s o# his hildhood aumula%ed %o plae in his sub5onsiousness an inordina%e desire #or ondi%ions o# plen%y and power, and so his en%ire adul% li#e was spen% in pursui% o# suh gra%i#ia%ions. 'e is no more #ree %han %he man who a%%ains no suess a% allA he was led %o i% %hrough an unon%rolled subonsiousA he is a prisoner s%ill, a dweller in hains. TE UNREVEALED +UEST
/n our soie%y i% er%ainly is onsidered eminen%ly more desirable %o wind up weal%hy and in a posi%ion o# power %han i% is %o wind up s%one poor and in a posi%ion o# dependeny, bu% i# li#e is a spiri%ual Eues% and no% a ma%erial one, %hen i% ma%%ers li%%le where on %he sale o# ma%erial aEuisi%ion a man arri(es as long as he a%%ains a wisdom abou% li(ing and diso(ers his immor%al soul. There is e(iden% behind all li(ing %hings an anima%e being residen% in eah, and i% anno% More ree !ooks
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ma%%er muh %o %his being whih o# i%s mani#es%a%ions manages %o aumula%e more %han %he o%hers. "i#e is going somewhere, is in(ol(ed in a paramoun% bu% unre(ealed Eues%, and %hose who on#orm mos% nearly %o %he ends sough% are %hose who unra(el %he sere%s, on%ribu%e %o progressi(e unders%anding and enligh%enmen%. The will %o know, %o unders%and, %o grow, %o beome, is an in%egral par% o# eah beingA we anno% help oursel(es in %his. +ah o# us, howe(er, howe(er, mus% de(elop and eCpand along his own indi(idual linesA no blueprin% an b e drawn #or any man. e obey our own des%iny bes% when we lis%en %o our hear%. No amoun% o# onsious reasoning an pre(ail agains% %his in%ui%ion, and only by #ollowing i%s di%a%es an we diso(er our %rue sel(es. +ah person is in(ol(ed in beoming %ha% %hing %ha% his subonsious mind wills him %o be. To unders%and why we o#%en beha(e on%rary %o our wishes, i% is neessary %o perei(e %ha% %he long lines o# our li(es are on%rolled by our subonsious desires, and %he only way %o hange our des%iny is %o hange %he aims o# our subonsious. hen a bomb goes o## you do no% b eha(e in aord wi%h your onsious mind, bu% in aord wi%h your subonsious mind, and i# in %ha% ins%ane you would like %o beha(e like a hero, %hen you had be%%er s%ar% righ% now ondi%ioning your subonsious %o make you beha(e bra(ely in %he mids% o# noise, haos, and on#usion. /n all emergenies, in all s%renuous and hea%ed a%ion, we beha(e in aord wi%h %he subonsious, and no amoun% o# willing or #irm resol(e will al%er i%, eCep% i# %ha% resol(e be pu% %o work edua%ing %he subonsious prior %o %he emergeny. emergeny. Our remedies o#% wi%hin oursel(es do lie l ie hih we asribe %o hea(en. >illiam Shakespeare ELEVATING CONSCIOUSNESS
i%hal, we an de(elop a kind o# will power, power, a will power whih resol(es i%sel# in #reedom #rom rea%ion %o irums%ane by reogniBing %ha% %here is a grea%er power whih will bring us %o our #ulles% ulmina%ion as human souls when we allow i% %o use us omple%ely, omple%ely, when we beome ins%rumen%s #or i%s mani#es%a%ion on ear%h. Then we are able by a kind o# ele(a%ion o# onsiousness %o %ransend %he ons%an% goading and urgings o# %he subonsious and %o ins%all i ns%all in %heir s%ead %he reasonable di%a%es o# an illumina%ed in%elligene. Then we rise abo(e irums%ane, abo(e rea%ion. Then we %ake our #a%e in%o our own hands in %he eCa% same measure %ha% %he ego abdia%es as ruling power in our li(es. The #irs% s%ep in %he de(elopmen% o# will power is %o seek ou%side %he limi%ed sur#ae na%ure #or %he answers %o all problems. One simply anno% ins%ill %he ourage o# a lion in%o %he onsiousness o# a mouse, and a hange in onsiousness is %he %hing %o be sough% whene(er disord lies in %he li#e. $%%emp%ing %o oere %he ego %hrough #ore o# %he will is like a%%emp%ing %o burs% More ree !ooks
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all %he bubbles on %he sea wi%h a pin. $ #ew will be broken, bu% %he ause o# %heir rea%ion remains unhanged, and on and on %hey ome. So %he egowill, whih a % mos% is only a kind o# suppressor, suppressor, dams #or a momen% %he urges and ins%in%s o# %he subonsious, bu% %hey will break %hrough e(en%ually and wreak double ha(o %hrough %heir pen%5up #ore. To To %he eC%en% %ha% we delude oursel(es %ha% %he eCerise o# ego5will an work a bene#iene in our li(es, we are led around by an illusion %ha% mus% rob us e(en%ually o# all power and dire%ion %hrough being absolu%ely unable %o pro(ide any kind o# on%rol. INSTINCTIVE AVATARS
Muh o# %he su##ering in %his world is aused by %he onealed guil%?s buried deep in %he subonsious o# unhappy persons who ha(e se% abou% remaking %hemsel(es by eCerising ego5will agains% %heir de#e%s. They bury %hese #ailures in %he psyhe where un%old damage is done by repressing energy, energy, robbing %hem o# %heir na%ural (i%ali%y. (i%ali%y. The will o# %he ego when used %o hain %he na%ural energy o# %he sel#, sel#, res%rains %he whole personali%y, personali%y, replaes boldness wi%h %imidi%y, op%imism wi%h pessimism, energy wi%h lassi%ude. There is li%%le help #or %he man who ensla(es himsel# %hrough bondage %o %he ego, %hrough aep%ane o# res%ri%ion and limi%a%ion and lak as delinea%ed by %he neessi%y o# on#orming %o some pre5 eCis%en% s%andard %ha% he was ne(er made %o on#orm %o and ould ne(er %ruly on#orm %o, no ma%%er wha%. e some%imes see men in whom li#e #lourishes hugely, hugely, men who are as% in heroi mold whe%her %heir s%a%ures be large or small, #or %hey #i% in%o no pa%%ern, are res%rained by no #ears or apprehensions, bu% seem by some s%roke o# grea% good #or%une %o possess %hemsel(es omple%ely, on#iden%ly, ompellingly. These men ha(e no% su##ered %o learn l earn %he Fdo no%?sG o# li#e. They are unres%rained ou%le%s #or %he energy and ons%ru%i(eness o# %ha% ons%an%ly growing and e(ol(ing #ore %ha% lies behind rea%ion. Their appe%i%es and en%husiasms are large. They %ake all in%o %heir sope, use all %o grow by. by. They measure obs%ales as oppor%uni%ies %o pro(e %heir s%reng%h, %o impro(e %heir mas%ery. mas%ery. These luky ones li(e in %he lap o# a nur%uring and guiding #or%une, #or %hey ha(e no% lu%%ered %heir subonsious s%orehouses wi%h a million hains and res%rain%s. "i#e #inds in %hem %he Hoyous ou%le% i% seeks, and %hese ins%in%i(e a(a%ars are arried in a rush %o %he %ops o# %heir pro#essions, are reogniBed and ga%hered around where(er %hey may be. Suh dynami un#oldmen% is possible %o eah o# us, no% in some humorless bending o# %he will %oward a er%ain end, bu% by #reeing oursel(es o# o(er5onern wi%h %he ego, by %rus%ing in %he grea% good ends o# li#e, by plaing our #a%es and our energies in e(erlas%ing hands. Thou are no% idleA in %hy higher sphere Thy spiri% bends i%sel# %o lo(ing %asks. >@ames >@ames *ussell "owell
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E)%RESSING YOURSEL&
The mos% impor%an% %hing %ha% any o# us an learn abou% will power i%sel# is %ha% i% a(ails no%hing when aompanied by grim onern. The man who mo(es in aord wi%h his inner sel# mo(es in aord wi%h a #ore %ha% no will power in %he world an possibly al%er in %he minu%es% #ra%ion, and he mo(es Hoyously. Hoyously. The grim onern o# %he ego5will is simply onsious desire ou% o# Hoin% wi%h subonsious desire, and where %hese %wo mee% head on, subonsious desire always wins. ar #rom eCer%ing will agains% subonsious urgings, a man mus% #irs% diso(er his %rue sel# by le%%ing down all guards and preHudies and inhibi%ions, i nhibi%ions, so %ha% %he power %ha% makes him wha% he is an a% las% #low %hrough. /# %he image %hen re(ealed is %oo repugnan% %o ei%her his onsious mind or %he laws and rules o# soie%y, soie%y, %hen he mus% se% abou% inula%ing a new se% o# re#leCes in %he subonsious %hrough a me%hod o# au%o5ondi%ioningA in shor%, he mus% remake his psyhe. /% will be a rare %hing, howe(er, howe(er, i# he remakes i% in %he eCa% image o# his onsious onsious desireA hanes are suh desire was #alse %o begin wi%h, ha(ing been aumula%ed in %he subonsious %hrough ego5on#li% and soial propaganda. +ah o# us is %he produ% o# a basi #ore a% work in %he uni(erse, and eah o# us, beause o# %he simple #a% o# his eCis%ene, is an in%egral par% o# %he progress o# %ha% #ore %hrough and ou% o# primordial ma%%er in%o onsiousness, in%o super5 onsiousness, beyond. Only when we are our na%ural sel(es is i% possible #or us %o proHe% %he power and mas%ery whih is inna%e in us. S%rangely, S%rangely, %he maHori%y o# humani%y li(es in a s%rai%Hake%, res%ri%ed and repressed on e(ery #ron% o# eCis%ene o#%en knowledgeably so, bu% always Hus%i#ying suh res%ri%ion as being neessary %o on#ormi%y, on#ormi%y, and %his is %he delusion %ha% binds us. The one supreme power and (i%al mind %ha% inhabi%s all rea%ures has no% assumed i%s mani#old masks #or purposes o# uni#ormi%y, uni#ormi%y, bu% #or purposes o# (arie%y and myriad eCpression. on#ormi%y o# any kind in %he de(elopmen% o# %he psyhe and hara%er o# %he indi(idual should ne(er be any%hing more %han happens%ane, ourring only beause %he %rue na%ure o# one indi(idual happens %o be like %he %rue na%ure o# ano%her. ano%her. The obHe% all al l %he while should be indi(idual eCpression, and when %his is %he mo%i(a%ing #ore in %he li#e o# %he person, he immedia%ely inreases his wor%h %o soie%y by a%ing as an absolu%ely unduplia%ed sounding rod in %he osmos, on%ribu%ing his in%erpre%a%ion %o all whom he on%a%s and %here#ore beoming a muh more (aluable member o# soie%y %han %he on#ormis% wi%h his preonei(ed ideas and prede%ermined rea%ions and basially unhappy psyhe. TE REVOLUTIONARY CONCE%T
So we are #aed wi%h %he mos% re(olu%ionary o# onep%s. One does no% a%%ain %o sel#5mas%ery %hrough an eCerise o# will, bu% ra%her %hrough a searh #or his Sere% Sel#, Sel#, a hidden sense o# being %ha% o(erlays bo%h %he onsious and subonsious minds. 'e may eCer% will in %his dire%ion, inso#ar as dedia%ion and de%ermina%ion are onerned, bu% e(en here he mus% eCer% i% Hoy#ully, Hoy#ully, wi%h humor, humor, else he is sure %o be de#ea%ed. The door %o all sere%s is opened wi%h a keyA i% is More ree !ooks
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simply %oo s%rong #or a ba%%ering ram. $ li%%le e##or% eCpended in %he righ% dire%ion and a% %he righ% %ime has %he power %o mo(e %he worlds. /# one plays gol# he o#%en sees small men o# sligh% physiEue dri(e a gol# ball many yards beyond %heir larger and more hea(ily musled opponen%s. 0nders%anding is %he %hingA %iming and le(erage produe %he resul%A and no amoun% o# human energy is su##iien% %o ause e(en %he %inies% o# e(en%s %ha% daily our on li#e?s sene. !u% a li%%le nudge here, a li%%le pressure %here, properly applied on %he resendoing #ore %ha% is li#e i%sel#, di(er%s %ha% #an%as%i energy in%o an irresis%ible s%ream, and mirales are wrough%, bridges and buildings buil%, soie%ies ons%ru%ed, all a% %he behes% and a#%er %he unders%anding o# an indi(idual onsiousness %ha% has %ransended i%s res%ri%ions and limi%a%ions and rea%ed some%hing surpassing i%sel#. TE OLYM%IAN TORC
*alph aldo +merson wro%e, F'e who has mas%ered any law in his pri(a%e %hough%s, is mas%er %o %ha% eC%en% o# all men whose language he speaks, and o# all %hose in%o whose language his own an be %ransla%ed.G $n in%ernal disipline se%s eah indi(idual house in order, allows %he sel# %o be mas%ered and ruled by a power grea%er %han %he indi(idual ego, and breeds %he s%u## o# whih heroes are made. Tenai%y and de%ermina%ion are resul%s o# an ingrown #ai%h and unshakable on#idene in %he grea% and good ends o# li#e and %he wor%hiness o# human des%iny. The man who %hrows up %he sponge in %he #ae o# o(erwhelming odds does so only beause %he end he seeks does no% seem wor%h %he s%ruggle, and any man who pursues his wrai%hs #or ego5aggrandiBemen% alone anno% possibly ha(e %he s%u## whih pre(ails when %he ruible o# on#li% is hea%ed whi%e. hen mo%i(a%ion springs #rom %he dep%hs o# onsiousness i% is o# suh s%reng%h and irrepressibili%y %ha% no%hing shor% o# des%ru%ion o# %he indi(idual will #inally irum(en% %he goal. $n inner (ision sus%ains eah en%repreneur. $nyone who seeks %o rea%e some%hing is #irs% launhed upon his en%erprise %hrough ha(ing en(isaged i% in his mind. To see is %o belie(e, and seeing %hrough %he magi o# imagina%ion rea%es %he prior (ision neessary %o a%ion, %o bringing an idea in%o ma%erial oun%erpar% in %he physial world. @us% as no%hing daun%s %he inner (ision o# seer and sain%, so no%hing an possibly mi%iga%e agains% %he inner (ision o# eah o# us, #or %here is a %rans#orming power in onsiousness %ha% auses ma%erial resul%s. /n %he sene surrounding a gi(en obser(er %here eCis%s all possibili%ies, bu% he is %ouhed only by %hose his inner awareness is ondi%ioned %o perei(e. -e%ermina%ion and %enai%y are produ%s o# inner (ision, and are ne(er more %han symp%oms o# a onsiousness %ha% inspires posi%i(e a%ion, s%eady op%imism, and un#lagging hope and humor. The really impor%an% %hing abou% %he e(ol(emen% o# %he human being #rom ou% o# More ree !ooks
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%he mass o# hal#5aware, ins%in%i(e, probing pro%oplasm is %he #a% %ha% he arries as an Olympian %orh %he seeds o# an e(ol(ing onsiousness %ha% is s%ruggling upward ou% o# a nasen% world o# ma%%er. $ ons%an%ly eCpanding awareness, an e(er grea%er unders%anding, and a growing mas%ery are %he ob(ious ends o# e(olu%ion, and %his e(olu%ion now is no% nearly so muh a ma%erial one as a men%al or spiri%ual one, in(ol(ing onsiousness and spiri%uali%y %o %he near eClusion o# any physial5ness wha%e(er. EVERYONE,S %RINCI%AL 'USINESS
$ #riend named $r%hur sough% his #or%une in %he world o# indus%ry. 'e had %rained himsel# well #or his %ask, had %aken an engineering degree a% one o# %he oun%ry?s bes% %ehnial olleges, had ser(ed a well5rounded appren%ieship in a maHor manu#a%uring ompany be#ore (en%uring ou% on his own. Ye% #rom %he #irs% his en%erprise disappoin%ed. /% was a small ompany, subsis%ed mainly on on%ra%s #rom larger #irms, and %here was no reason why i% should immedia%ely make him rih, bu% onsidering his personal skill and applia%ion and %he #a% %ha% %he proess he rendered was sorely needed, i% was s%range %ha% he barely managed %o mee% obliga%ions. 'is ompany aumula%ed no api%al, ould no% eCpand, and while doBens o# ideas #or manu#a%uring inno(a%ions see%hed ons%an%ly in $r%hur?s mind, %here was no means o# #ul#illmen%. O%her men in posi%ions like his own prospered, and he was sure he was being dogged by mis#or%une. The harder he #ough% agains% obs%ales, %he more real and immo(able %hey beame. $% las% he beame a de#ea%is%, on#ided %o #riends, F/?(e had lo%s o# bad breaks, and /?m Hus% plain %ired. "e% %he god o# mis#or%une load i% on.G The god o# mis#or%une did, $r%hur los% his business. /% was a deep shok. or a while he wen% abou% in a daBe. The business bankrup%ed him, and he seemed inapable o# going %o work. 'is wi#e %ook a lerial Hob in an o##ie, and %hey li(ed on her small salary. $ll mo%i(a%ion was gone #rom $r%hur. 'e %ried psyho%herapy. Selusion in a monas%ery was presribed. Though $r%hur pro#essed no religion, he #inally agreed %o %ake a #our5mon%h re%rea%, during whih %ime he promised no% %o onern himsel# wi%h business in any way, bu% %o medi%a%e on li#e, i%s origins and meanings, %he Eues%ion o# who and wha% he was, wha% his des%iny migh% be. 'e was gi(en #ree aess %o %he monas%ery library, and %hough he was reEuired %o per#orm %he hores assigned him, ne(er%heless he spen% long hours poring o(er %he (olumes reommended %o him by his %u%or. hen he emerged #rom %he re%rea%, he was a hanged man. There was abou% him a broader no%e, a more enompassing perep%ion, a #orbearane and unders%anding #or all %hings %ha% #ormerly had been narrowly on#ined %o %he business he worked in. 'e s%ar%ed a new business. $lmos% immedia%ely i% prospered. i%hin a #ew years i% beame one o# %he mos% More ree !ooks
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suess#ul in %he oun%ry. $r%hur spoke o# his %rans#orma%ion. F/ always made %he mis%ake,G he said, Fo# %hinking %ha% a man ould sueed by simply aumula%ing knowledge abou% %he %hing he wan%ed %o do, bu% / was wrong. / learned during %he re%rea% %ha% some%hing is going on in li#e %ha% is #ar grea%er, %han making par%s #or airplanes. No man is here only %o seek his li(elihood. 'e arries wi%hin him %he seed o# a budding per#e%ion, and i% is only when he %urns his eyes wi%hin and diso(ers %his preious argo %ha% he is able %o li(e his li#e wi%h su##iien% re(erene #or o%hers %o bring unders%anding %o his %asks. My suess in business has no% been beause / learned more abou% my business, bu% beause / learned more abou% wha% was ou%side my business. /n #a%, i% migh% be said %ha% wha% / always %hough% was my business / diso(ered %o be seondary, %ha% my main business is spiri%ual ins%ead.G GOLDEN TO!ERS
There is #iere resolu%ion in %he hear% o# %he man who sees golden %owers beyond %he hill. 'e is led aross deser% and was%elandA no ma%%er %he obs%ales, his image propels him. The sere% o# ne(er gi(ing up is %o implan% upon %he mo(ing sreen o# onsiousness a lear image o# %he goal %o be a%%ained. "e% %ha% image be your golden %ower. uard i% #rom %arnishing, blurring, dissol(ing, and you need ha(e no #ear %ha% you will #al%er on %he way, or resign yoursel# %o de#ea%, or gi(e up al%oge%her. "e% no doub% assail you beause %he pa%h you %read appears %o di(erge #rom %he proper dire%ion. There are as many ways %o %he promised land as %here are pilgrims %o under%ake %he Hourney, and eah arri(es in due ourse i# only he keeps #ai%h wi%h his golden %ower. e all mo(e %oge%her %oward %he same ul%ima%e des%iny, bu% eah o# us is a separa%e and uniEue no%e in %he uni(erse, and eah o# us mus% %ra(el his own pa%h #or %he lessons %o be learned %here, #or %he eCperiene %o be gained. Thomas 'enry 'uCley wro%e, F8erhaps %he mos% (aluable resul% o# all edua%ion is %he abili%y %o make yoursel# do %he %hing you ha(e %o do, when i% ough% %o be done, whe%her you like i% or no%.G $nd i% is %rue %ha% %he pi%ure in %he mind does no% always inspire in us %he same en%husiasm #or a%ion. Some%imes we are bese% by laBiness and proras%ina%ion, and our resol(e has %o be nourished a% %he #oun% o# renewed onen%ra%ion. !u% i% is no use eCpos%ula%ing, Fe% %o work, ge% %o work,G when %he %ask a% hand is repugnan%. The #irs% %hing %o do, i# %he Hob is %o be aomplished a% all, is %o rea%e an en%irely new and a%%ra%i(e pi%ure o# %he %ask. /#, #or eCample, you are a salesman, and your Hob is %o make %en alls eah day on prospe%i(e purhasers, %hen you are making i% eC%remely di##iul% #or yoursel# i# your men%al image is making %en alls. i%h suh a men%al pi%ure %he wonder is %ha% you are able %o s%ir ou% o# %he house a% all. Think abou% %en alls and %hey beome repe%i%ious, you beome anCious %o ge% %hem o(er wi%h, %o be #ree o# %heir responsibili%y on you. Then you %hink o# %he dri(ing %o be done, %he ine(i%able More ree !ooks
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delays and irri%a%ions, %hen maybe so5and5so won?% be in, maybe suh5and5suh isn?% %aking any more orders, so %he en%ire day will be was%ed and you migh% as well ha(e s%ayed a% home. Sure enough, %ha% is wha% you wind up doing. Now %he o%her side o# %he oin. /ns%ead o# %hinking o# %he %en alls, suppose %he image wi%hin your onsiousness is %ied up wi%h suess and aomplishmen%. Your Hob %hen is no% %en alls a% all, bu% %he sys%ema%i and ongenial ul%i(a%ion o# e(ery prospe%i(e purhaser o# your produ%. The game always has %o be wor%h %he andle, and be#ore you an %hrow yoursel# wholehear%edly in%o eah hallenge wi%h de%ermina%ion and absorp%ion, you mus% #irs% be posi%i(e %ha% righ% a%ion will bring resul%s. e are so ons%i%u%ed %ha% we absolu%ely anno% a% in any dire%ion wi%hou% %he doublepronged spur o# on#idene and hope. )isualiBe your hear%?s desire. :eep %he image #resh and lear. /% will a% as all %he mo%i(a%ion you need %o lead you in%o righ% and energe%i a%ions. A%%RO%RIATE DISCI%LINE
Suppose you are a wri%er, a pain%er, anyone whose work is rea%i(e and primarily ondu%ed in soli%ude. hen you si% be#ore your easel or desk wi%h idle hands and bera%e yoursel# #or no% working and s%ruggle in %he %hroes o# le%hargy, when your days beome un#rui%#ul and you are #rus%ra%ed wi%h %he burden o# your unprodu%i(ely, %hen gi(e a %hough% %o your imagina%ion and %he images %ha% are playing upon %he plas%i rea%i(e sreen o# your mind. e are bound %o do %he %hing %ha% our onsiousness is #oused upon, and i# %he image we arry is #ar a#ield #rom %he a##airs o# %he world in whih we are enmeshed, %hen we day5 dream, anno% work, are enrap%ured by irrele(an% pi%ures %ha% pursue eah o%her aross our onsiousness. Then we an all our will in%o play, no% a will %ha% a%%emp%s %o #ore us %o work, bu% a will %ha% hooses %he obHe%s o# i%s on%empla%ion, so %ha% ins%ead o# %hinking o# #ishing in %he Sierras we now onen%ra%e our a%%en%ion upon %he %ask a% hand. The mind %akes %he problem in%o #ous. 8ossibili%ies and solu%ions are onsidered, and be#ore long our #ingers are busily a% work, as i# wi%h (oli%ion o# %heir own. /mpulses and whims oasionally spring ou% o# a speial a%%unemen% o# %he ego5 sel# wi%h %he Sere% Sel#, bu% #ar more o#%en bubble up ou% o# a apriious subonsious and are more %o be on%rolled %han gi(en in %o. 0sually, impulses are rea%ure om#or% urges, and were we %o li(e our li(es in obediene %o %hem i% is doub%#ul we would e(er aomplish any%hing. e would like %o lie abed in %he morning ra%her %han ge% up and go %o work, beause lying in bed #eels g ood, bu% i# we s%ay %here o#%en enough we will soon be Hobless and wi%hou% means o# suppor%. e would like %o load up on ie ream and ake and %o ea% %he %hings we like as o#%en as our s%omah will allow us, bu% i# we do we soon will ha(e %o be %ranspor%ed by %ruk, we will be so #a%. e would like %o play and ha(e #un and ne(er %o ha(e %o worry abou% o%hers, bu% i# we %ake suh a %ak we one day #ind oursel(es penniless, #riendless, wi%hou% #amily. The wise man soon learns %ha% More ree !ooks
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impulses and whims are simply %he ego seeking surease #rom %he disipline being imposed upon i%. *a%her %han relaC %ha% disipline, he applies i% %he more s%rongly. +(ery human desire mus% be %empered wi%h appropria%e disipline, else i% beomes liense, and %he knowledge omes %o all o# us sooner or la%er %ha% leisure is only (aluable a#%er work, ea%ing a#%er hunger, sleeping a#%er %iredness, and i% is absolu%ely impossible %o eCperiene a single pleasure in li#e wi%hou% a onomi%an% measure o# pain. SU%ER-$NO!LEDGE
No% %o be on#used wi%h impulse and whim is %he welling up ou% o# %he uni(ersal onsiousness o# a guidane or a dire%ion %ha% seiBes %he soul o# %he indi(idual and dire%s him un#al%eringly along a pa%h %ha% leads %o his des%iny. The unwary may easily be led %o belie(e an impulse is suh guidane or a%%unemen%, bu% one ha(ing eCperiened %rue rappor% wi%h %he Sere% Sel# any #ur%her delusion abou% whih is impulse and whih in%ui%ion is pu% #inally %o res%. /n %he wall %ha% separa%es %he human soul #rom i%s soure a rak oasionally appears, re(ealing #or a momen% %he ma%hema%ial per#e%ion and u%%er righ%ness o# %he world beyond and %he soul wi%hin i%. /% is %his psyhologial s%a%e %ha% is re#erred %o in mys%iism and in many religions as Fa%%unemen%G or Fgrae,G and one in(ol(ed in i%, %he indi(idual?s hoies and dire%ions are as warran%s #rom on highA e(ery%hing does his bidding a% %he (ery momen% his bidding is resol(ed. This aspe% o# Fsuper5knowledgeG gi(es us our bes% india%ion o# %he na%ure and use#ulness o# %he will. One we unders%and %ha% desire opposed %o %he aims o# %he Sere% Sel# an a(ail %he indi(idual no%hing bu% #rus%ra%ion, %hen we #inally ha(e been awakened %o %he priniple o# a%%unemen%, whih is %he sere% o# e##e%i(e li(ing. To a%ually deide is no% wi%hin %he sope o# human knowledge, simply beause human knowledge is limi%ed %o %he san%ies% #ra%ion o# %o%al knowledge. /% is Hus% no good %rying %o make a deision abou% %hings when nearly %he en%ire sum o# %heir hara%eris%is is hidden. /ndi(idual will eCerised agains% e(en%s and people is %he sheeres% o# (ani%ies and a(ails no%hing in %he end bu% su##ering and de#ea%. $%s per#ormed in %he ego #or ad(an%ages are a%s per#ormed wi%hou% unders%anding o# %heir %rue signi#iane, and any suess or sa%is#a%ion ahie(ed %hrough %hem is like #ro%h on %he res% o# a wa(e, disappearing wi%h %he wa(e. Our onsiousness is plaed so #ron%ally on our %o%al psyhe %ha% we are #ore(er being mesmeriBed by %he blandishmen%s, urgings, and pleadings o# %he ego. e aspire %o onEuer peaks %ha% one limbed re(eal %hemsel(es as %he lowlies% o# pla%eaus, and #ore us %o onsider how #alse our gods ha(e been. True goals are spiri%ual, and laBiness, proras%ina%ion, and #ear are o(erome no% by railing a% %he sel#, bu% by seeking %he sus%aining seeds o# onsiousness %ha% lie deep wi%hin %he na%ure.
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LI'ERATING LA!
$s our unders%anding grows, so does our will power, bu% bear in mind %he di##eren%ia%ion= %rue will power is e##e%i(e, ahie(es resul%s %hrough %he mere aimingA #alse will power ne(er ahie(es resul%s a% all. $s onsiousness eCpands and %akes in new le(els o# awareness, so %he power o# %he indi(idual inreases. $hie(ing inreased awareness and ommuning wi%h higher hea(enly powers are no% %hings res%ri%ed %o %he isola%ed mys%i or on%empla%i(e sain%, bu% are a(ailable %o all, and %he reward is always omple%e e##e%i(eness, whe%her in rea%i(e #ields or eCeu%i(e, whe%her spiri%ual, men%al, or ma%erialA #or in unders%anding is power, in knowledge sure%y, and he who has arri(ed a% enlarged onsiousness mus% %here#ore be able %o work his will and way on %he world simply by beoming one wi%h i%. To be wha% we %ruly are and %o beome wha% we are apable o# beoming are %he only ourses o# a%ion open %o %he man who would li(e a #ul#illed li#e. No ma%%er %he barbs o# #a%e %ha% #rus%ra%e you, no ma%%er how s%aked agains% you %he ards o# #or%une, how you were born, where, in%o wha% kind o# body, gi#%ed wi%h wha%e(er na%i(e in%elligene, %here is a libera%ing law in %he uni(erse, and you an beome %he highes% o# %he high, wises% o# %he wise, #or you ha(e wi%hin your (ery grasp a %ool wi%h whih %o ahie(e absolu%e #reedom. One you ha(e aknowledged %o yoursel# %ha% wi%hin your body is %ha% supreme onsiousness %ha% has au%hored %he worlds and %he uni(erses, %hen a% las% you are bound %o le% %he ego s%ep down #rom %he helm and allow a wiser #ore %o har% your ourse %hrough li#e. One you ha(e plaed your #or%unes and energies in %he hands o# %he Sere% Sel# you will know a peae and inner Euie%ude %ha% surpasses any Hoy you ha(e known. Your li#e will grow in%o a whole %hing. +ah day will ser(e as a building blok %oward some de#ini%e goal or purpose. You will #inally be amaBed a% %he mirales wrough% when %he Sere% Sel# %akes o(er. OVERCOMING GUILT AND OSTILITY
uil% and hos%ili%y are aou%remen%s o# %he ego, whih arms i%sel# wi%h delusions in order %o sur(i(e. /# a nagging sense o# guil% aompanies you, i% is beause %he ego is made o# aumula%ed %hings, %eahings, blandishmen%s, sensual impressions, none o# whih ha(e muh rela%ion %o e%ernal %ru%h bu% none%heless is a moral ensor o# e(ery a% per#ormed by %he indi(idual. /# you #eel guil%y, ne(er make %he in%elle%ual mis%ake o# %hinking %ha% your #eelings arise #rom %he ensorship o# %he Sere% Sel#, whih makes no suh lean and human Hudgmen%s. uil% is generally %he aumula%ed %eahings o# soie%y a%ing wi%hin %he indi(idual as a promp%er or de%erren% o# er%ain a%ions. Suh ensorship seldom is based on las%ing %ru%h, sine soie%y?s pressures #or on#ormi%y are o#%en a% (ariane wi%h %he -i(ine?s pressures #or indi(iduali%y. 'os%ili%y is simply %he o%her #ae o# guil%, mani#es%ing as hos%ili%y in %he aggressi(e person, Hus% as guil% mani#es%s in %he more passi(e. There is er%ainly no%hing good abou% ei%her o# %hese emo%ional bloks. More ree !ooks
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They are produ%s o# %he ego and (anish when %he indi(idual en%ers himsel# in %he deeper regions o# onsiousness. Then i% beomes nearly impossible %o be emo%ionally in(ol(ed in %he (ani%ies o# %he li%%le sel# %ha% is a%ion ser(an% o# %he Sere% Sel#. The way %o peae o# mind lies in abandoning %he will as a %ool o# %he ego, #inally abandoning %he ego also and en%ering %he onsiousness in %he -i(ine. Through %he widening o# onsiousness %ha% %his psyhologial %rans#erene brings, %here omes %o %he indi(idual an unders%anding %ha% be#ore was impossible %o him. /n a way %ha% %ransends ma%erial eCplana%ion he %akes on a li%%le o# %he iden%i%y o# e(ery%hing %ha% rosses his awareness. /n %his manner he unders%ands o%hers %hrough a%ually par%iipa%ing in %he onsiousness o# o%hers, and %his super5 knowledge, %his deep in%ui%ion, brings %o his a%ion and work a high e##e%i(eness and almos% superna%ural preordina%ion. 'e mo(es in %he en%er o# e(en%s as i# he were ordering e(en%s, beause he mo(es in aord wi%h %heir %rue na%ure, is guided in all by a priniple %ha% sees %he end %o be aomplished and %he means o# a%%aining i%A and beause he has abandoned ego and mo(es in response %o %his uni(ersal will, he a%s wi%h absolu%e sure%y, omple%e e##e%i(eness, wi%hou% haBard, anCie%y or #ear, is domina%ed hene#or%h by inner peae and absolu%e Hoy.
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Chapter # !IND OVER !ATTER T'+ almos% uni(ersal pa%h %ha% people #ollow is %o aede %o irums%ane, %o %hrow up %heir hands and say, FTha%?s %he way i% goes.G /% is a urious and wry #a% %ha% when irums%anes go agains% our personal desires we redi% our #rus%ra%ion %o bad luk, bu% when we are arried %o some pinnale o# suess i% is no longer #or%une bu% our superior skill %ha% we redi%. /n a%ual #a%, all luk and skill emana%e #rom deep5sea%ed on(i%ions in %he subonsious mind o# %he indi(idual. DESIRE AND DESTINY
The a(erage person ne(er really deides whe%her mind rules ma%%er or ma%%er rules mind. 'e aep%s %he #a% %ha% mind rules ma%%er in er%ain irums%anes, bu% %ends %o regard %hese irums%anes as %he eCep%ion ra%her %han %he rule. 'e sees men%al a%%i%ude de%ermine %he ou%ome o# a%hle%i on%es%s, o(erome physial disabili%y, bu% when i% omes %o adop%ing omple%ely a mind #irs% approah %o daily li(ing, he ne(er Eui%e makes i%. /# mind e(er rules ma%%er a% all, i% mus% do so as a resul% o# an absolu%e priniple properly applied. This absolu%e priniple ould no% be a %hing %ha% worked some o# %he %ime or one in a while or apriiously responded %o hane, b u% would ha(e %o be a law %ha% always worked in eCa%ly %he same way. /#, #or eCample, someone adop%ed %he mind o(er ma%%er approah in a par%iular irums%ane and #ailed %o ahie(e %he resul%s he desired, i% would no% be %he law %ha% had #ailed bu% his unders%anding o# %he law and his applia%ion o# i%s priniples. hen we eCamine aomplishmen%, %he #irs% %hing we no%ie is %ha% %he man who doesn?% wan% %o limb a moun%ain ne(er limbs one. $#%er %ha%, we no%e %ha% e(en among %he men who de#ini%ely wan% %o limb moun%ains a large number ne(er limb any. rom %his, we dedue %ha% %he #irs% ingredien% essen%ial %o aomplishmen% is desire. $#%er %ha%, o%her more disre%ionary and %here#ore more obsure #a%ors beome in(ol(ed. /% is di##iul% %o say why people wan% any%hing. e obser(e %ha% nearly e(erybody would ra%her eCperiene pleasure %han pain, bu% we are aware %ha% er%ain persons no% only s%ik pins in%o %heir bodies bu% main%ain agoniBing physial a%%i%udes o(er pro%ra%ed periods o# %ime. Suh people appear %o ha(e hosen pain ins%ead o# pleasure, a% leas% in a physial sense, and %o ha(e done suh a %hing %hrough an inner impulsion ei%her abo(e %he pain5pleasure priniple or rela%ed %o i% obsurely. -esire #or a goal is %he only %hing %ha% makes a pain5#illed eCperiene possible %o bear. -esire is also an opia%e. Many people in(ol(ed in ruial physial eCer%ions repor% no sense o# pain wha%e(er, %hough when %he period o# eCer%ion is o(er wounds are #ound on %heir #lesh, and Hoin%s and musles More ree !ooks
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are s%rained. oo%ball players are a no%able ase in poin%. /# we arry our obser(a%ions e(en #ur%her, we soon no%e %ha% %here is a grea% deal o# di##erene in %he degrees o# desire. One man may wan% and hold ou% his hand, and %ha% is %he grea%es% e##or% possible %o him. $no%her man may wan% and rend hains, so grea% is his need. -esire is a %hing %ha% impels. The grea%er %he desire, %he more i% impels, and %his impulsion is roo%ed in %he inner (ision %ha% possesses %he indi(idual. To %he degree %ha% we are ali(e and imprisoned wi%hin rea%i(e #lesh, %o %ha% same degree we relen%lessly pursue %he (isions %ha% possess us. he%her our men%al images are o# buildings %o be buil% or o# banks %o be robbed makes no% %he sligh%es% di##erene %o %he mo%or impulse %ha% de(elops wi%hin %he rea%ure. You an be absolu%ely er%ain %ha% %he %hings %ha% oupy a man?s mind will soon be par% o# li#e, i# %hey are no% already. 'LESSING AND CURSE
$ urious %hing has e(ol(ed in %he human being. The Euali%y o# men%al re#le%ion whih has slowly de(eloped in his psyhe o(er %he eons o# his e(olu%ion has enabled him %o #orm pi%ures wi%hin his mind in omple%e (ariane %o %he world around him. 'e an, i# he will, on a #ligh% o# #any, %rans#er himsel# #rom rags %o rihes, :ansas %o /s%anbul, in %he %winkling o# an eye, and %hus, in %he onsious en%er o# his being, no longer is a sla(e %o %he world in whih he #inds himsel#. Two prinipal phenomena ha(e resul%ed, one s%igma%a, %he o%her a blessing. The s%igma%a are %hese. "i#e is largely a ma%%er o# disiplining one?s sel# %o endure pain in order %o ahie(e a desired end, bu% %he imma%ure person o#%en seiBes on %he image power o# %he mind %o seek re#uge #rom reali%y, and as a resul% de(elops a kind o# wish%hinking %ha% makes him absolu%ely ine##e%ual in all irums%anes. 'e %urns %he power o# %he imagina%ion upon i%sel#, des%roys i%s abili%y %o in#luene %he ou%er world by se%%ing i% %o work on problems %ha% ha(e no rela%ionship %o %he ou%er world. The (i%ims o# suh delusions are legion. They popula%e our men%al hospi%als, dereli% en%ers, #lop houses. They ons%i%u%e %he maHori%y o# %hose admi%%ed %o sani%ariums #or %he %rea%men% o# aloholism. $nd %hey are %o be #ound all o(er %he world in Bombie5like %rane, making %he mo(emen%s o# %he li(ing, bu% wi%h one #oo% in ano%her world. On %he o%her hand is %he blessing %ha% imagina%ion brings. /% is %he mys%i seeing %ha% enables man %o gaBe upon his surroundings wi%h C5ray eye and perei(e in %hem %heir hidden po%en%iali%y. This harnessing o# %he image5making power o# %he mind %o %he ou%er world o# %hings and e(en%s has %rans#ormed li#e on ear%h, has enabled man, in a #ew shor% en%uries no% only %o ahie(e dominion o(er his immedia%e en(ironmen% bu% %o arri(e a% %he (erge o# eC%ending %ha% dominion %hrough %he %ime5spae on%inuum o# %he uni(erse. Mos% modern %hinking on(enien%ly di(ides %he world in%o %wo di##eren% lasses o# %hings, one subs%ane, %he o%her in%elligene. Siene %akes grea% pains %o lassi#y More ree !ooks
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subs%ane. /% a%alogues %he elemen%s and %heir (arious ombina%ions, delinea%es %he make5up o# %he moleules whose ohesion #orms %he elemen%s, breaks down %he moleule in%o (arious a%omi weigh%s, and e(en di##eren%ia%es %he a%om in%o a nuleus and a er%ain number o# enirling ele%rons. $% %his poin%, %he di##erene be%ween hydrogen and lead, #or eCample, has beome s%ar%lingly sligh%. +ah has an in(isible nuleus enirled by a er%ain number o# ele%rons, more in %he ase o# lead, bu% hardly appreiably more, and %he di##erene be%ween %hem appears %o be one o# degree ra%her %han one o# kind. Our on#usion grows when, %hrough %he sudden proess o# nulear #ission, %he a%om i%sel# is redued %o no%hing measurable, disappearing in a burs% o# #lame, and we are #ored %o inEuire a% las% i# subs%ane is really subs%ane a#%er all bu% perhaps migh% no% represen% a (as%ly sub%ler onep%ion, o# idea only, in%elligene i%sel#. 'EIND TE ATOM
/# we eCamine any onsiousness we ine(i%ably #ind a body o# some sor%, a weigh%, sale, and dimension %ha% houses %he in%elligene being eCamined and re#uses any kind o# sru%iny separa%e #rom i%. /% seems mos% probable %ha% ma%%er and in%elligene are one and %he same %hing, %ha% in%elligene is only a higher mani#es%a%ion o# ma%%er, beoming apparen% only in %ha% subs%ane %ha% %akes on ompleCi%y. One we ha(e agreed %ha% in%elligene is a mani#es%a%ion o# #orm, i% is bu% a s%ep #ur%her %o gain a glimmer o# %he %ru%h, %ha% in%elligene is e(olu%ionary in %he grow%h o# ma%%er, whih leads us inesapably %o %he onlusion %ha% in%elligene, while a mani#es%a%ion o# ma%%er, is superior %o and has basi on%rol o# %ha% ma%%er. /n shor%, in%elligene, or onsiousness, or awareness, has inheren% in i%sel# on%rol o(er all physial irums%anes, all e(en%s. al%er *ussell is in%eres%ing here. FTha% whih man alls ma%%er or subs%ane,G he wri%es, Fhas no eCis%ene wha%e(er. So5alled ma%%er is bu% wa(es o# %he mo%ion o# ligh%, ele%rially di(ided in%o opposed pairs, %hen ele%rially ondi%ioned and pa%%erned in%o wha% we all (arious subs%anes o# ma%%er. !rie#ly pu%, ma%%er is bu% %he mo%ion o# ligh%, and mo%ion is no% subs%ane. Our rea%i(e %hinkers mus% look primarily %o ligh% %o per#orm %omorrow?s mirales.G "igh%, energy, in%elligene, whihe(er o# %he %hree you hoose %o aknowledge as %he mo(ing #ore behind %he uni(erse, %he primary %hing is %o be able %o aknowledge %ha% subs%ane is only rela%i(e, no% a solid and absolu%e %hing a% all, bu% represen%a%i(e o# %he working o# mind and always subser(ien% %o mind. $ desk is no% a desk eCep% in %he mos% rudely sensual way. /n a%uali%y i% is an enlosure or series o# enlosures in whih moleules are speeding abou% a% many %imes %he swi#%ness o# ri#le bulle%s. $ million %imes more (olume eCis%s ou%side %he moleules %han in %hem, and i# %hose in s%eel, #or ins%ane, were %o ease %heir mo(emen% #or a momen%, you ould poke your #inger %hrough %he s%eel wi%h %he same ease as you poke i% %hrough air.
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!asi behind %he ons%ru%ion o# ma%%er is an inna%e symme%ry, a kind o# ma%hema%ial idea%ion %ha% an only be a%%ribu%ed %o a %hinking mi nd. The a%om i%sel#, %he smalles% building blok o# subs%ane, has a ohesi(eness and es%he%i omposi%ion %ha%, beyond all %hings, implies indi(iduali%y. The a%om india%es purpose and i% india%es an urge %o sur(i(al, and when a su##iien% number o# a%oms o# %he righ% ele%roni make5up were ombined %o make a pro%ein moleule, %hen i% was a (ery shor% %ime indeed be#ore arms and legs and eyes and brain were grown and %here mo(ed abou% on %he sur#ae o# ma%%er an au%onomous being seeking dominion o(er his en(ironmen%>man. CONSCIOUSNESS IS %RO%ORTIONAL TO COM%LE)ITY
hen we %urn our re#le%ions bak %o %he origins o# li#e and %he purposes o# e(olu%ion we are s%ruk a% one wi%h %he pi%ure o# inreasing ompleCi%y. rom amoeba %o man has %aken many millions o# years, and %he %wo seem sarely rela%ed. Ye% %he s%ep #rom inanima%e ma%%er %o anima%e ma%%er, as is represen%ed by %he amoeba, is perhaps more brea%h%aking %han %he s%ep #rom amoeba %o m an, #or %he la%%er represen%s simply an inrease in ompleCi%y while %he #ormer represen%s some%hing en%irely di##eren% #rom wha% preeded i%. Ou% o# %he masses o# slag and rok and s%eam emerged an elemen% %ha% mo(ed, %ha% grew and main%ained i%sel#>li#e. Ye% e(en grow%h %here was no% so muh %he e(olu%ion o# one %hing ou% o# ano%her dissimilar %hing, bu% ra%her an adding un%o one %hing o# hara%eris%is laking in i%s predeessor, so %ha% %he di##erene in ondi%ion be%ween an anima%e and inanima%e %hing is primarily one o# ompleCi%y as agains% simpleness. No physiis% or hemis% will deny %ha% %he pro%ein moleule is more ompleC %han %he moleules o# inorgani elemen%s. Some grea% hange one %ranspired in na%ure #or li#e %o grow #rom inanima%e subs%ane, bu% in order #or %his %o e(er happen, onsiousness had %o be inheren% in all ma%%er. /% is onsiousness %ha% is responsible #or #orm. here(er #orm is, %here also is an in%elligen% presene. /% inhabi%s %he rok and %he moun%ain Hus% as surely as i% does %he human being. The #orm o# %he %hing is dependen% upon %he idea %ha% holds i%s whiBBing moleules wi%hin boundaries, and %his on%our is Hus% as surely men%al as %he onep% o# ma%hema%is, and Hus% as surely is held by a %hinking being whose presene is always #ound wi%hin. This leads us dangerously lose %o %he es%ablished pro(ine o# religion, bu% we are no% onerned here wi%h a #a%her image who has rea%ed hildren and is raising %hem %o knowledge. ha% we are 111 onerned wi%h is %he bo%%om roo% o# in%elligene, how and why i% mani#es%s in %he uni(erse, and whe%her man is di(ored #rom %ha% origina%ing in%elligene, subHe% %o i% as sla(e %o mas%er, or umbilially %ied %o i% in suh a manner %ha% he is i% and i% is he. O! TOUGT CONDITIONS TINGS More ree !ooks
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Those who see haos as %he origina%or o# %he worlds, oinidene responsible #or %he #orma%ion o# man, and #u%ili%y as %he earmark o# li#e, #ind a% e(ery hand Hus% suh a uni(erse. Those who perei(e a hardened rea%or ordering his (assals abou% anno% help bu% be impressed by %he ineEuali%y o# %he human lo% and perei(e in %he world muh bi%%erness and pain. Those who see an inhabi%ing presene in all %hings ins%in%i(ely know %ha% all #orms o# %he world are only ideas gi(en subs%ane, %ha% %he mind whih upholds eah is residen% wi%hin %hemsel(es, and %ha% %here#ore %hey are par% and parel o# all peae, per#e%ion, and e##e%i(eness. The world, as always, %urns ou% %o be eCa%ly wha% our onsiousness is ondi%ioned %o see. /% is %his as%ounding and %remendously dynami premise %ha% li#e is buil% upon, %he en%ral law upon whih e(olu%ion i%sel# hinges. e see only %ha% whih we %hink we will see, and in onseEuene %he world is peopled wi%h %hings and e(en%s all dredged up ou% o# our onsiousness. $ %hing or a person or an e(en% is no% hanged beause o# our onsiousness, bu% inheren% in eah are all Euali%ies, and we si#% ou% only %hose %ha% already oupy our awareness. /% is #or %his reason %ha% men are (illains in one irums%ane, heroes in ano%her, %ha% eah in his %ime plays oun%less roles. /% is no% so muh %ha% %he man is di##eren% in eah irums%ane, bu% %ha% he is being ons%an%ly perei(ed by di##eren% persons who (iew him only %hrough a narrow sli% o# indi(idual (ision and aep% him #or %he %hing %hey eCpe% him %o be. onsider an ordinary kni#e. To %he baker i% is an ins%rumen% wi%h whih %o di(ide a loa# o# bread in%o par%s. To %he ira%e householder i% is a weapon wi%h whih %o dispose o# %he obHe% o# his wra%h. To %he surgeon, ome %o a sikbed wi%hou% ins%rumen%s, i% is a li#esa(ing %ool %ha% will allow him %o %ake #rom %he abdomen o# his pa%ien% a diseased appendiC. To %he young boy passing %hrough %he ki%hen i% is par% o# a game>mumble%y5peg. Ye% wha% i% a%ually is a ompound o# inanima%e elemen%s and pre(iously li(ing moleules>s%eel and wood, shaped a er%ain way and #ashioned so, bu% e(en %his is bu% an india%ion o# wha% i% %ruly is, #or our senses re(eal only a %iny par% o# %he %o%al Euali%ies o# any%hing %ha% seiBes our a%%en%ion. So a %hing is %he kind o# %hing i% is only beause o# %he personal rela%ionship o# %he beholder, and i% a%ually ne(er has any %rue Euali%ies a% all beause our senses are %oo rude %o perei(e any %ru%h abou% i% o%her %han %ha% whih proeeds ou% o# our onsiousness. $nd i% is %his %ha% a##e%s us mos% o# all. or when we see %he kni#e we do no% %hink o# %he kind and Euali%y o# %he s%eel and whe%her i% has subs%ane or is only idea, bu% we look a% %he kni#e only %o de%ermine i%s rela%ionship %o us, and %ha% is %he only %hing we see.
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MATTER IS MOVEMENT
@us% %o unders%and %he sien%i#i premise %ha% ma%%er is no% ma%%er a% all bu% in%ense mo(emen% on#ined wi%hin spa%ial limi%s is %o arri(e a% a pinnale o# men%al and spiri%ual #reedom %ha% will ne(er again allow you %o be in%imida%ed by %he %hings and irums%anes around you. /n deepes% %ru%h %hey are no more real %han %he ondi%ioning o# your onsiousness, and you an, by an a% o# inreased men%al awareness, hange %hem #rom %he %hings you %hink %hey are in%o some%hing %o%ally and omple%ely di##eren%. 'ere we knok on %he door o# %he oul%. The ring o# %he #oregoing india%es we will be able %o mo(e moun%ains, hange wa%er in%o wine, s%ill %he winds, and indeed we migh% one we learn %he %es%ing bu% (eil5breaking %ru%h %ha% all moun%ains are in %he mind, as are all limi%a%ion and lak, all s%orms. Make %his enompassing deision, %ha% ma%%er is subser(ien% %o mind, and you will see a% one %ha% %he world and e(ery%hing in i% is only an e##e% o# onsiousness, a par%ial mani#es%a%ion o# %hough%A and inasmuh as i% remains always a re#le%ion o# idea in %he mind o# %he beholder, i% eChibi%s a% one ano%her o# i%s in#ini%e re#le%ions %he momen% %he %hough% in %he beholder?s mind hanges. ha% %ha% means is %his= %hings show only a side %ha% re#le%s %he indi(idual?s %hough% abou% %hem. They don?% %ruly hange when %he %hough% abou% %hem hanges, bu% %hey on%ain all possibili%ies and re(eal %o %he beholder only an aspe% %ha% his onsiousness is prepared %o perei(e. This me%aphysial breakdown o# %he uni(erse is a grea% help in adHus%ing one?s sel# %o %he premise o# working #irs% wi%h mind and allowing e(en%s %o de(elop #rom an inner impulsion o# %heir own. One we are #ully on(ined o# %he men%al auses behind all %hings, we no longer #eel impelled %o run abou%, lay on hands, a%%emp% one way or %he o%her %o oere %he world %o #i% %he pa%%ern in our minds. One in%elligene lies a% %he en%er o# all e(en%s and %hings, and i% is a% %he ore o# your own na%ure. One you ha(e gained su##iien% wisdom %o be onerned only wi%h your own onsiousness and %he inner disipline %ha% widens i%s awareness, %hen you an be sure %ha% %he ou%er world will be a re#le%ion o# %he inner, %ha% you are working wi%h %he roo% auses o# your en(ironmen%. $ll possibili%ies eCis% in eah person beause eah is a mani#es%a%ion o# a mind %ha% is %o%ali%y, in#ini%y, uni%y and eah is only less %han %he %o%al aording %o his isola%ion #rom i%, and when he eCpands his men%al na%ure he approahes original per#e%ion, power, omnisiene. Mind o(er ma%%er is no% so muh a men%al dominion 114 o(er ma%erial %hings as i% is an awareness o# %heir many5sidedness and unlimi%ed po%en%iali%y. $ep%ane by %he obser(er o# any one #ae% o# a %hing as %he %o%ali%y o# %ha% %hing au%oma%ially on#ers suh limi%a%ion on %ha% %hing as #ar as i%s in#luene upon him is onerned. /n %his respe% our li(es are guided by shadows, by %he meaning#ul aspe%s we gi(e %he %hings and e(en%s we mee% in More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
%he world, and our onsiousness is ne(er as muh a produ% o# irums%anes as irums%anes in %his subHe%i(e wayP are a resul% o# our onsiousness. OUR S$IN-DEE% SELVES
$ li%%le re#le%ion on %he ondi%ioning Euali%y o# onsiousness is all %ha% is neessary %o Euikly realiBe how on%inuously i% works in our li(es. "o(e is blind beause %he lo(er always perei(es %he men%al image o# his belo(ed. The di(ore ra%e is a produ% o# disenhan%men%. /% is no% beause o# disenhan%men% %ha% lo(e lea(esA disenhan%men% omes a#%er lo(e lea(es. 8laes o# %riumph re(isi%ed always seem s%rangely small and shoddy. They do no% #i% %he magni#ien% ar enas as% up by our emo%ionally5harged memories. $nd when pain ommingles wi%h plaes and e(en%s, we an no more bring oursel(es %o (isi% %hem or ha(e on%a% wi%h %hem or e(en dredge %hem up #rom our memories %han we an sprou% wings and #ly, so apriious is %he pain5a(oiding pleasure5seeking ego in i%s e##or%s %o hide our %rue sel(es. This (eil5shrouding, #an daning, now5you5see5i% now5you5don?% Euali%y o# %he ego is wha% makes eah o# us use a %housand sel(es in %he ondu% o# his li#e, and ne(er a%ually be any one o# %hem or e(en all pu% %oge%her. !eause we do no% %ruly know who we are we seek in e(ery si%ua%ion a role %o be played, usually #eeling no sense o# deei% or sham wha%e(er, bu% bli%hely aep%ing %he #a% o# a hameleon sel# whih adap%s i%s olors %o i%s bakground. /n %he o##ie we are a di##eren% sel# %o %he boss %han %o our subordina%es. $% home we are a di##eren% sel# %o our spouse %han %o our hildren. e are a di##eren% sel# a% our lub %han wi%h a small group o# on#idan%s. $nd we o#%en presen% a di##eren% sel# %o %he neighbor on one side o# us %han %o %he neighbor on %he o%her. e seldom know how i% is %ha% we ge% in%o %he (arious roles we play, bu% play %hem we mus%, and when we ha(e a dinner par%y and are#ully sele% %he gues% lis% wi%h an eye %o %heir ge%%ing along, i% is no% %he homogenei%y o# %he gues%s %ha% our eye re(iews bu% whe%her we ha(e played %he same role wi%h all o# %hem and %here#ore an be a single sel# a% %he par%y %ha% nigh%. /# perhane an unin(i%ed gues% arri(es, %his sudden dropping in is gree%ed wi%h deep ons%erna%ion as %he neessi%y o# playing %wo di##eren% roles is #ois%ed upon us. /% awakens deep wi%hin our psyhes %he uneasy under%ones o# shiBophrenia. rea% drama%i oahes, in an e##or% %o lead %heir pro%LgLs %o unders%anding o# %he hara%ers %hey por%ray, always seek an under%he5skin approah, ins%in%i(ely realiBing %ha% a person is only %ruly unders%ood #rom %he inside, %ha% any o%her posi%ion deals wi%h symp%oms only. Man?s in(es%iga%ion o# %he world i%sel# has %aken %his inner and ou%er ourse, %he inner eCempli#ied by psyhology, religion, parapsyhology, %he ou%er eCempli#ied by %he physial sienes. Siene has made %he grea%er progress by #ar, bu% %he rae is no% always %o %he swi#%. Siene has More ree !ooks
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pursued subs%ane in i%s labora%ories, #rom moun%ain %o a%oms, bu% unra(eled no enigmas o%her %han a kind o# elemen%ary ons%ru%ion, and i%s sole aomplishmen% in i%s searh #or %he sere% o# li#e has been %o hase ma%%er o## %he physial s%age in%o some realm o# in(isibili%y where i% no longer an be perei(ed, muh less unders%ood by %he me%hods and ins%rumen%s a(ailable. INTUITIVE %ERCE%TION
Man is a rea%i(e animal and generally plays %he role eCpe%ed o# him. *are and wise is he who is able %o shuk o## %his au%oma%ism. 'e is able %o do so only by reogniBing %ha% wi%hin eah man resides %he iden%ial anima%ing spiri%. !y inner unders%anding he is able %o allow e(en%s %o de(elop %hrough %heir own inner impulsion. This in%ui%i(e perep%ion permi%s him %o %ake his plae in eah e(en% aording %o %he bes% in%eres%s o# his own na%ure. e are all born in%o a bondage o# %he senses, and inso#ar as we plae a bsolu%e redene in %heir e(idene, we remain sla(es %o %hem. Only when we arri(e a% a mys%i in%ui%ion o# %he uni(ersali%y o# in%elligene are we #inally able %o realiBe %ha% ma%%er in essene is only mind and %ha% inna%e in eah o# us is %he same residen% being, whih eCis%s e(erywhere a% all %imes and in all %hings, appearing %o be di##eren% aording %o %he #orm in%o whih i% has en%ered bu% essen%ially remaining one, indi(isible, and in#ini%e. One in a while a man arises who by some s%range e(olu%ionary leap seems %o ha(e surmoun%ed %he bondage %ha% holds o%hers. Suh a man was +dgar aye, %he wiBard o# )irginia !eah. No% only was he able %o read minds, see %hings and e(en%s a% a dis%ane, bu% he also seemed able %o all upon uni(ersal mind #or all %he knowledge wi%hin i%. aye?s perep%ions irum(en%ed %ime, spae, ma%%er, and his are#ully doumen%ed eCploi%s ha(e ne(er been dispro(ed. 'e beame in hypno%i %rane %he mos% erudi%e o# men, ha(ing a% his #inger%ips all %he knowledge in %he #ields o# mediine and religion, ye% in his normal waking s%a%e he was %o%ally laking in edua%ion. $nd +dgar aye does no% s%and alone as a men%al phenomenon. Nearly e(ery hild prodigy, e(ery genius eChibi%s %his s%range power %o %ransend %he limi%a%ions o# ma%%er by a gigan%i leap o# mind. MoBar%, +ins%ein, andhi, @esus hris%, geniuses all, used some sere% power o# %he mind %o per#orm %heir mirales. Though %he man in whom genius li(es hour by hour is rare, eah o# us some%ime in his li#e usually is pri(ileged in a momen% o# mys%ial in%ui%ion, some%imes se(eral, some%imes many. INNER $NO!ING
$ young man named eorge su##ered in%ensely #rom mi5grain headahes. One nigh% during a par%iularly pain#ul siege he %ook %o %he s%ree%s in %he hope %ha% walking would redue his pain. Suddenly he was o(erome by %he absolu%e knowledge %ha% brea%hing pure oCygen would relie(e him. 'e wen% immedia%ely %o %he emergeny hospi%al, won o(er %he a%%ending physiian?s obHe%ions, brea%hed More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
oCygen, was immedia%ely relie(ed. Suh %rea%men% is generally aep%ed in %he medial #ra%erni%y %oday, bu% a% %he %ime i% was rarely used and eorge had ne(er heard o# i%. $no%her man named Tom, in %he grip o# a depression resul%ing #rom his loss o# a Hob, awoke one morning wi%h %he #eeling %ha% he would be (ery suess#ul in %he (al(e manu#a%uring business. Tom?s aEuain%aneship wi%h (al(es was ursory. 'e knew %hey did some%hing inside pumps and engines, bu% he didn?% know Hus% wha%. 'e had had no %raining in engineering and sarely any in business, bu% %ha% didn?% de%er him. 'e wen% %o a (al(e ompany and arranged a %our o# %he premises. 'e was immedia%ely enhan%ed, sure %ha% (al(e manu#a%uring was #or him. Two weeks la%er he me% a% a par%y a man who iden%i#ied himsel# as an in(en%or. 'e drew designs o# his new (al(e on %he hos%ess?s %ablelo%h. Two days la%er Tom and %he in(en%or #ound %hemsel(es in %he bank arranging #inaning. Today %heir (al(e manu#a%uring #irm is one o# %he larges% in %he na%ion. TE LATENT &ACULTY
/n%ui%ion is %he power by whih all %hings are done. Nobody e(er buil% a building by piling bloks. $ building is buil% #irs% in somebody?s mindA someone sees i% %owering %o %he sun, lear and solid in his imagina%ion, long be#ore %he #irs% physial mo(emen% is made %o ons%ru% i%. Those who go %hrough li#e %o%aling #a%s aumula%e only %he smalles% peren%age o# %he knowledge %ha% eCis%s in %he uni(erse. Tha% kind o# man wan%s #a%s %o %ell him wha% %o do, bu% #a%s ne(er doA %here simply aren?% enough o# %hem. F/n e(ery man,G wri%es *. S%einer, F%here are la%en% #aul%ies by means o# whih he an aEuire #or himsel# knowledge o# %he higher worlds.G /% is inner er%i%ude, in%ui%i(e hunh, %ha% leads us in%o righ% a%ion. Modern man %akes inordina%e pride in %he powers o# his reason, bu% he has pu% %he ar% be#ore %he horse. 'e a%ually seldom #ollows his reasonA his reason usually #ollows him. $ look a% %he world?s his%ory shows us how %rue %his is. *eason %old olumbus %he world was #la%, in%ui%ion %ha% i% was round. *eason would ha(e had him sail %he sa#e seas around his na%i(e +uropeA in%ui%ion led him aross unhar%ed wa%ers %o a new world. *eason %old 8as%eur %ha% disease was aused by #e(ers o# %he bloodA in%ui%ion led him %o searh ou% ba%eria and a whole new area o# pre(en%i(e mediine. e a%%ain skill in works and a%ion when we learn %o %rus% oursel(es omple%ely %o an inner impulsion and %o ease a%ing in response %o %he e(en%s and irums%anes around us. DOCTRINE O& MIND OVER MATTER
There are %hree prinipal poin%s in %he do%rine o# mind o(er ma%%er whih mus% be learly unders%ood. 1P $n in(isible bu% real osmi medium eCis%s whih suppor%s %he apparen% world. 2P There is an es%ablished onne%ion be%ween %his real bu% unseen world and %he illusory world o# %he senses. 3P This onne%ion may be diserned and %his rela%ionship on%rolled by %he disiplined onsiousness More ree !ooks
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o# man. Taking %hese poin%s in order, we are s%ruk immedia%ely by %he #a% %ha% i% is (ery di##iul% %o pro(e %he eCis%ene o# %he osmi medium. Our me%hods o# sien%i#i in(es%iga%ion ha(e %hus #ar done li%%le %o subHe% onsiousness %o %he labora%ory mirosope, %hough %he mos% reen% in(es%iga%ions o# parapsyhology ha(e been somewha% #rui%#ul. -r. @. !. *hine?s eCperimen%s a% -uke 0ni(ersi%y ha(e pro(ed suess#ully %ha% %here eCis%s some me%hod o# ommunia%ion be%ween minds beyond %he purely sensual, bu% %his whole area o# man?s eCis%ene lies largely unin(es%iga%ed, like a s%range and dark on%inen%. 8eople ha(e dreams in whih %hey see %hemsel(es doing a er%ain %hing a% a er%ain plae, and a #ew days la%er a%ually #ind %hemsel(es in %ha% same plae doing %ha% same %hing. 8eople repor% %he sudden knowledge o# a #riend?s good or bad #or%une, %he inner on(i%ion %ha% a house is burning down, o# a lo(ed one?s pain or danger. Ne(er a day passes bu% wha% oun%less mani#es%a%ions o# %his kind are reorded around %he world. The dark on%inen% o# man?s unin(es%iga%ed psyhe bekons us. hen we #inally ha(e gi(en i% our omple%e a%%en%ion, %he world will wi%ness an e(olu%ionary leap %he like o# whih has ne(er been dreamed. COSMIC MEDIUM
The osmi medium %ha% onne%s one man wi%h ano%her and one mind wi%h ano%her is %he uni(ersal in%elligene %ha% permea%es all %hings, all people, all plaes. !y i% eah o# us has an umbilial %ie wi%h his neighbor, #or in a (ery real and a%ual sense eah o# us is one wi%h his neighbor sine %he same basi mind is in e(eryone. $s soon as a man is #inally on(ined %ha% %he priniple o# in#ini%e mul%iplii%y is no% (alid in any onep%ion o# %he uni(erse, %hen he #inally is led %o %he onep% o# inner uni%y, %he absolu%e oneness o# all %hings. hen %his new priniple has really ome home %o him, he realiBes %ha% %here is only one li#e a% work in %he uni(erse and i% is in him as well as in his neighbor. 'e sees %ha% i% works sere%ly in %he hear% o# all %hings, and by %his insigh% he is able no% only %o in#luene i%s mani#es%a%ion wi%hin him bu% also i%s mani#es%a%ion in o%her persons, in o%her %hings. The world %ha% is perei(ed %hrough our senses is only a par%ially re(ealed represen%a%ion o# %he world %ha% eCis%s wi%hin mind. S%range, %hen, %ha% %he %hings %ha% we enoun%er in spae and %ime seem so (ery real %o us. e knok upon a desk and know i% is hard and %ha% i% is %here. !u% %he eCis%ene o# %he desk as an eC%ension o# an idea is a onep% we seldom en%er%ain. e spend mos% o# our 12; days %hinking and planning and sheming, %rying %o origina%e ideas, bu% our a%ions are always predia%ed upon %he #a% %ha% %he %hings %ha% we enoun%er in %he world are %he %hings %ha% are %ruly in#luen%ial. hen we are able %o perei(e all %hings as mani#es%a%ions o# %hough% onep%s, %hen we look beyond eah %o %he idea %ha% ga(e i% #orm. One we ha(e %urned our gaBe in %ha% dire%ion we ha(e begun %o deal wi%h %he basi rea%i(e power o# %he uni(erse and we ha(e begun %o More ree !ooks
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see %he possibili%ies in %he seond poin% in %he do%rine o# mind o(er ma%%er, %he es%ablished onne%ion be%ween %he world o# onsiousness and %he world o# subs%ane. ENAMOURING EGO
FThe in%elle% by i%sel# mo(es no%hing,G said $ris%o%le, and modern psyhology has a##irmed %his law. e enoun%er %hose irums%anes %ha% re#le% %he Euali%y o# our deeper onsiousness. /n shor%, we see only %ha% whih we are, and i% is %his enamouring Euali%y o# our ego %ha% deludes us abou% %he world. Mos% people keep running in%o %he same si%ua%ions o(er and o(er again. Some are aiden% proneA o%hers are e%ernally #re%%ing abou% %heir heal%hA s%ill o%hers make a #ailure o# one en%erprise a#%er ano%her. Some li(es %ake on %he %enor o# an epi %ragedy as #a%e seems %o heap one mis#or%une on %op o# ano%her. !u% i% is no% mis#or%une %ha% suh people are enoun%eringA merely %he ou%er mani#es%a%ion o# %he inner working o# %heir own minds. "i#e keeps bringing us in%o on%a% wi%h %hose %hings whih we #ail %o unders%and. $s long as our onsiousness does no% grow, as long as our inner sigh% does no% pene%ra%e, %ha% long will we on%inue %o run in%o %he irums%ane %ha% de#ea%s us, un%il our heads are bloody and bowed, un%il we #inally unders%and or are bea%en omple%ely. The es%ablished onne%ion be%ween %he unseen world o# %he mind and %he ou%er world o# %he senses is %his= %he ou%er world is always a proHe%ion o# %he inner. /%s emo%ional on%en% is %he same as %he emo%ional on%en% o# %he onsiousness beholding i%A i%s in#luene on %he indi(idual is always aording %o wha% he perei(esA and wha% he perei(es omes #rom wi%hin him, no% #rom ou%side. MAGIC IMAGES
The #irs% %wo poin%s in %he do%rine o# mind o(er ma%%er allow us %o unders%and how we are sla(es %o irums%ane, how we ne(er %ruly origina%e a%ion, bu% %ake a%ion as a resul% o# being s%imula%ed in%o i%. These %wo poin%s, i# #inally aep%ed wi%hou% relie#, would be a hopeless onep% o# li#e indeed, bu% in %he %hird poin% o# %he do%rine we #ind %he lea(en by whih %he whole makeup o# li#e is hanged #rom %he deadened aura o# hopelessness in%o %he rosyhued sparkle o# an%iipa%ion. The %hird poin% in %he do%rine %ells us %ha% we an al%er our en(ironmen% and our irums%anes by disiplining our onsiousness. FMagial opera%ions,G says +liphas "e(i, Fare %he eCerise o# a power whih is na%ural bu% superior %o %he ordinary powers o# na%ure. They are %he resul% o# a siene and o# habi%s whih eCal% %he human will abo(e i%s usual limi%s.G ill, alone, is no% %he answer, howe(er. ill, alone, is more o#%en a pa%hway %o pain %han %o power. hen we %hink o# will power mos% o# us %hink o# eCerising our will agains% o%her people and o%her %hings, bu% %he only plae where our will power an be used e##e%i(ely is in disiplining our inner onsiousness. e an, in #inal More ree !ooks
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analysis, hoose %o %hink only %hose %hough%s whih we wan% %o %hink, and i% is %his power o# men%al hoie %ha% gi(es man his #reedom. !y i% he i s gi(en %he power %o remake himsel# in%o any image he an en(isage. 'e an heal his body, heal his soul, al%er and eCal% his own personali%y, enhane his will power, produe hypno%i s%a%es, es%asy. 'e an hange himsel# #rom %he lowlies% o# idlers %o %he mos% aomplished and e##e%i(e o# men and all %his no% beause he hus%les abou% in %he world bu% beause he ga%hers his own inner being around him, %akes %hough%, al%ers %he Euali%y o# his own mind. $ll %he power o# an indi(idual lies in his disiplining his own onsiousness, and all his e##e%i(eness onsis%s o# his being able %o produe #ai%h wi%hin himsel#. or i% is only #ai%h %ha% is able %o de(elop in us a men%al image on%rary %o %he one we ha(e been en%er%aining. EVIDENCE O& TINGS UNSEEN
Fai%h,G wro%e Sain% 8aul, Fis %he subs%ane o# %hings hoped #or, %he e(idene o# %hings unseen.G Through #ai%h we are able %o a% as i# we know. hen we ha(e a%ual knowledge, we proeed wi%h on#ideneA when we doub%, we are unsure o# oursel(es, apprehensi(e. This is %he on%ras% be%ween %he man o# grea% #ai%h and %he man o# li%%le #ai%h= %he #ormer goes %hrough li#e as i# he had a speial genie a% his side, a superna%ural power upon whih he an all in e(ery irums%ane, while %he la%%er a%s ou% %he blurred and dis%or%ed (ision wi%hin, au%iously, doub%#ully, #ear#ully. The subs%ane o# %hings hoped #or is a real subs%ane, #ormed #rom pi%ures in %he mind as onre%e and de%ailed as in %he world i%sel#. The e(idene o# %hings unseen is an inner e(idene gleaned %hrough %he image5making power o# %he imagina%ion. /% is absolu%ely impossible #or us %o a% agains% our knowledge. $ man will no% s%ep in #ron% o# a speeding au%omobile beause he knows he will be killedA he will no% walk upon %he wa%er beause he knows %ha% he will sinkA some%imes he will no% e(en (en%ure in%o a new business beause he belie(es %ha% he will #ail. No amoun% o# persuasion an hange his rea%ion %o wha% he knows. !u% wha% he knows an be hanged, and %he mos% dire% and e##iaious manner is %hrough hanging %he images wi%hin his onsiousness. /# he learns %o (isualiBe his goal learly, one day he will be able %o embark upon a new (en%ure and be suess#ul. The emo%ional on%en% o# %he image in his mind will seep down in%o deeper regions o# onsiousness and pro(oke him in%o righ% a%ion. /# we %hink o# oursel(es as being s%rong we e(en%ually beome s%rong. /# we %hink o# oursel(es as de%ermined we e(en%ually arri(e a% %enai%y. /# we %hink o# oursel(es as endowed wi%h power we e(en%ually ahie(e asendany o(er irums%anes. The mind has in#ini%e power %o in#luene us, #or we a% in aordane wi%h i%s onep%ions as i% as%s up be#ore us inner images %ha% s%imula%e us in%o a%ion and a%%i%ude. +a%ing, appe%i%e, seCual a%i(i%y, mo%or response, in%elle%ual a%i(i%y are all %riggered by %he images we en%er%ain in our minds. e are s%imula%ed in%o all %hings by ideas. The world i%sel# is an id ea, and More ree !ooks
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we rea% %o i%. e an hange %he world?s in#luene upon us, howe(er, by origina%ing idea in onsiousness, %hereby s%imula%e oursel(es and ease rea%ing. IDEA AND ACTION
-o%or @osL -elgado, a Yale 0ni(ersi%y surgeon, repor%s %ha% %he beha(ior o# animals and presumably man an be dras%ially hanged by painless ele%ri harges %o %he brain. /n eCperimen%s, monkeys a%e se(en %imes more #ood %han normal or suddenly beame amorous or abrup%ly #eroious, and %es%s on humans brough% on #ear, a##e%ion, giddy laugh%er, and remarkable #ea%s o# memory, all depending upon whih area o# %he brain was s%imula%ed. /% seems ob(ious %ha% in %hese eCperimen%s ele%rial s%imula%ion is simply subs%i%u%ed #or wha% normally would be ner(ous s%imula%ion, and when we re#le% %ha% ner(ous s%imula%ion is always brough% abou% %hrough rea%ion %o %he ideas in our onsiousness, %hen we beome au%ely aware how impor%an% i% is %o on%rol our %hough%s and %o %rea% %he image5making power o# %he mind wi%h are. e always %end %o beome %ha% whih oupies our %hough%s. /n %he long run a man is no% so muh a body as he is %he sum %o%al o# %he ideas wi%hin his onsiousness. You need only mee% him #or a momen% %o know many o# %hose ideas. /# he is genial, you know %ha% he regards %he world as a warm and om#or%able plae. /# he is old, %hen you know %ha% he #inds hos%ili%y around him. /# he is indi##eren%, %hen you know %ha% he is a#raid o# being hur%. +Cess always pro(ides %he lue. $ man who laughs %oo muh may be hiding his %ears, like 8agliai. e ea% %oo muh as a subs%i%u%e #or lo(e, or drink %oo muh %o s%ill our #ears, or play %oo hard as an esape #rom %he responsibili%ies o# li#e, or o(erwork %o aumula%e seuri%y in a hanging world. !u% always our response is %o %he image in our minds, %he ideas %ha% oupy us, %he ghos%s we en(isage, %he demons %ha% pursue us, %he #anied po%s o# gold %ha% lie beyond %he rainbow. e mus% learn %o %ake up our posi%ions wi%h a s%ead#as% belie# in %he righ%ness o# our s%and. -oub% as%s a pall o# indeision o(er e(ery%hing. e mus% shu% ou% doub% #rom our minds and rys%alliBe %he images %here so %ha% we an %ake posi%i(e a%ion on all our problems. 'e who doub%s #rom wha% he sees ill ne?er belie(e do wha% you please. /# %he sun and moon should doub%, They?d immedia%ely go ou%. illiam !lake DESIGNERS O& LI&E
To s%ar% (isualiBing %hings learly is no% nearly so di##iul% as migh% be imagined. +ah o# us has a deep psyhologial %endeny %o use his imagina%ion %o en(isage no% only his presen% surroundings bu% also %heir po%en%iali%y. e are de%erred #rom More ree !ooks
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%his proper use o# %he imagina%ion beause o# an o(er5reliane on ma%erial %hings. e see, #or eCample, %he es%ablished #orm o# an au%omobileA we aep% %his #orm and no longer allow oursel(es %o (isualiBe any%hing di##eren%. Thus we gi(e our rea%i(e imagina%ion an opia%e and shu% o## an impor%an% orner o# our na%ure. No% %he designer, howe(er. 'e anno% a##ord %o (isualiBe %he au%omobile in i%s presen%ly aep%ed #orm. or him, %here mus% always be a new #orm. 'is en(isaging o# i% is his li(elihood. e are all inna%ely designers o# li#e, and inso#ar as we aep% %he rea%i(e power o# our imagina%ion we are able %o in#luene li#e?s shape and subs%ane and i %s e##e% upon us. e hange e(en%s and people no% by al%ering %hem in%rinsially bu% by hanging our perep%ion o# %hem. +ah %hing, eah e(en%, eah person has in#ini%e po%en%iali%y. e see in eah only %ha% whih our onsiousness is apable o# perei(ing. hen we learn %o look longer and wi%h eyes o# wonder, we de(elop a kind o# insigh% %ha% enables us %o pene%ra%e in%o dep%hs we hi%her%o had no% suspe%ed. !eause we %hen see di##eren%ly, we %hen rea% di##eren%ly, and our li(es are hanged aordingly. To many people men%al power implies suh legerdemain as mo(ing obHe%s by will power or ma%erialiBing or dema%erialiBing %hings, or leading o%hers around by %heir men%al noses, bu% in a%ual #a% %he men%al adep% works on no one bu% himsel#. 'is is %he eye %hrough whih all %hings are seen and only inso#ar as he is able %o in#luene his own perep%ion is he able %o in#luene %he world. The grea%er his knowledge, %he loser he is %o %he hear% o# %ru%h, and %he loser he is %o %he hear% o# %ru%h, %he more he iden%i#ies himsel# wi%h o%her persons and o%her %hings. Through %his inner iden%i#ia%ion, he ahie(es unders%anding o# %he law o# eah person?s sere% na%ure and his own li#e and %he world he li(es in. CANGE YOUR TIN$ING AND CANGE TE !ORLD
/# %here is a problem in your li#e %ha% you would sol(e, do no% se% your will %o work on i%. You will onEuer %his problem in %he end, no% by #igh%ing i%, bu% by unders%anding i%. The reason i% eCis%s in %he #irs% plae is beause o# lak o# unders%anding. You mus% allow yoursel# %o be on(ined o# %his simple premise, %ha% all problems reside in ignorane, %ha% %hey represen% a blok in %he unders%anding o# %he person who has %hem. $s long as %ha% blok eCis%s, so long will %he problem remain. There is absolu%ely no possibili%y o# e(er sol(ing a problem wi%hou% gaining insigh% in%o i%s na%ure. "i#e is a ons%an% mo(emen% by whih simplii%y is resol(ed in%o ompleCi%y and ompleCi%y is resol(ed in%o simplii%y, and %he alhemy %ha% auses %he na%ural grow%h o# %hings is simply widened onsiousness. The mos% ompleC problem in %he world yields %o unders%anding, and one i% has been sol(ed i% beomes simple. To ahie(e %he asendany o# mind o(er ma%%er you mus% aep% %he basi premise o# %here being one anima%ing presene residing in all persons and all More ree !ooks
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%hings. !ehind all #orm is a basi uni%y, an essen%ial oneness %ha% is ne(er des%royed despi%e all di##eren%ia%ion. hen we are able, %hrough higher onsiousness and inreased insigh%, %o pene%ra%e %he many masks behind whih %he all5enompassing one mind and one li#e is hidden, %hen we ahie(e e##e%i(eness in all our works and a%ions %hrough unders%anding %he dynami law o# beoming %ha% eCis%s wi%hin eah #orm. $ll %his is by way o# saying %ha% %here is no%hing in %he world %ha% we anno% in#luene by #irs% in#luening oursel(es, #or e(ery%hing in %he end is olored by %he Euali%y o# our onsiousness. e an hange our onsiousness and %hus hange wha% we see, and %he %ool by whih we an e##e% %his hange is imagina%ion. e an learn %o (isualiBe in our minds only %hose %hings %ha% we wish admi%%ed in%o our li(es, and when we ha(e %ruly learned %o do %his, physial oun%erpar%s o# %hose ideas will soon appear in our en(ironmen%. You an be any%hing you wan% %o be i# you will only %rus% your imagina%ion. 8i%ure your hear%?s desireA ne(er le% %he pi%ure dis%or% or %arnishA keep i% #resh and lear and brigh%. /% will en%er your li#e Euie%ly and unob%rusi(ely, wi%hou% sound o# %rumpe%s or lashing ymbals, #or i% will be #ollowing a law %ha% eCis%s %hroughou% %he uni(erse, %ha% e(ery%hing basially is idea and mus% #irs% begin in %he mind o# %he beholder.
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Chapter $ !ENTAL I!AGER" TO ha(e seen %ha% )ision,G says 8lo%inus, Fis reason no longer, i% is more %han reason, be#ore reason and a#%er reason, as also is %he )ision whih is seen. $nd perhaps we should no% here speak o# sigh%, #or %ha% whih is seen is no% diserned by %he seer, i# indeed i% is possible here %o dis%inguish be%ween seer and seen as separa%e %hings. There#ore %his )ision is hard %o %ell o#, #or how an a man desribe as o%her %han himsel# %ha% whih when he diserned i% seemed no% o%her bu% one wi%h himsel#DG TO TIN$ IS TO 'E
Tha% whih is (isualiBed in %he mind beomes par% o# %he possessor o# %ha% mind beause a man is wha% he %hinks. /% is s%range how li%%le we know abou% %he mind. No% muh more has been de%ermined abou% i% sine %he %ime o# -esar%es and his brillian% basi premise, Fogi%o, ergo sumG>G/ %hink, %here#ore / am.G e only know we eCis% beause we %hink. Should %hough% s%op in us, we au%oma%ially would ease %o be. Should %hough% begin a% any par%iular poin% in spae, %ha% poin% immedia%ely would begin %o li(e. /% is deeply signi#ian% %ha% we eCis% by grae o# %hough%, and i% is e(en more signi#ian% %ha% a% any par%iular %ime we are %he sum %o%al o# %he %hough%s we hold in mind. /% seems reasonable %o assume %ha% %he %hinking being %ha% inhabi%s us is %hough% i%sel#, %ha% %he more ompleC and uni(ersal our %hough%s are, %he more ompleC and uni(ersal we beome. /% is impossible %o separa%e %he image in %he m ind o# a beholder #rom %he beholder himsel#, beause in a (ery real sense %he %wo are one. Tha% whih ahie(es %he a%%en%ion o# onsiousness beomes %ha% onsiousness. hen our a%%en%ion is #oused on some%hing, we beome %ha% %hing. /% is %his power o# onsiousness, %ha% i% beomes %he %hough% i% %hinks, whih gi(es %he mind suh asendany o(er ma%%er. Man?s in(es%iga%ion o# %he ou%er world has pra%ially onEuered spae and %ime, bu% he s%ill knows (ery li%%le abou% wha% his own mind is and wha% i%s in#luenes are. !eause %hough% is in(isible i% ne(er has ome under %he sru%iny o# %he labora%ory mirosope. $s a onseEuene, men are nearly as poorly in#ormed abou% %he Euali%ies and proesses o# %hough% as %hey were a% %he dawn o# wri%%en his%ory. +(en %hough i% is reogniBed now %ha% %he %hough%s a person %hinks de%ermine his whole li#e, %he a(erage man on%inues %o %hink in response %o sensual s%imuli ra%her %han in response %o his inner wishes and desires. MENTAL LA!
The %hough% #irs%, %hen %he %hing, %ha% is %he law. !u% %he (as% maHori%y o# people li(e on %he opposi%e premise>%he %hing #irs%, %hen %he %hough%. The power o# men%al imagery s%ill works e(en in %his re(ersal o# #orm, bu% in %his ase i% merely More ree !ooks
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lends (alidi%y %o e(ery%hing %hey see and e(ery si%ua%ion %hey enoun%er. Suh people are unable %o grow beyond %he limi%a%ion o# %heir own emo%ions, #or %hey gi(e redene %o all sensual s%imuli. +ah suh s%imulus beomes bound up in an emo%ional rea%ion. hene(er %hey enoun%er an e(en% or %hing whih %hey ha(e enoun%ered be#ore, %hey rea% in a prede%ermined manner. /% %hus beomes impossible #or %hem %o progress in%o any degree o# e##e%i(e li(ing, #or by %he (ery na%ure o# %heir men%al posi%ion %he %hings o# %he world on%rol %hem, %hey ne(er on%rol %he %hings. They are ei%her #ear#ul or hos%ile, resen%#ul, en(ious, or sad, bu% eah o# %hese emo%ions is inspired by a s%imulus #rom ou%side and ne(er by inner on(i%ions or desires. These are %he people who are %he mos% s%renuous de#enders o# %heir men%al aberra%ions. /n argumen% %hey are easily pro(oked %o hys%eria. Sine %heir on(i%ions are enys%ed in emo%ion, %hey de#end %hem wi%h %heir li(es, on(ined o# ul%ima%e disas%er should %heir delusions be dissol(ed. The mos% #or%una%e %hing %ha% an happen is %ha% li#e redue %heir egos %o no%hingness. To a grea% eC%en% %heir eyes are %hen leared, and %hey are able #inally %o see %ha% %hey ha(e always rea%ed ra%her %han a%ed. hen humili%y en%ers a man?s soul, he a% las% is able %o perei(e %ha% he does no% li(e alone in %he world bu% wi%h millions o# bro%hers and %ha% hidden in %he hear% o# eah is %he same anima%ing spiri%. &ORECASTER O& TE &UTURE
FTo know is no%hing a% all, %o imagine is e(ery%hing,G wro%e $na%ole rane. Tha% whih seiBes %he a%%en%ion o# our onsiousness is an in#allible #oreas%er o# %he #u%ure. /ndeed, were we %o know %he %hough%s %ha% oupy a man?s mind, we migh% pro(ide him an aura%e desrip%ion o# his oming li#e, down %o %he mos% in%ima%e de%ail. The suess o# #or%une %ellers, (ia wha%e(er medium %hey use, ards, %ea lea(es, rys%al balls, is always %he resul% o# a %elepa%hi ommunia%ion be%ween seer and subHe%. The %hough%s %ha% possess us lead us around by %he men%al noses. There is in %hough% a mo%or impulse %ha% ompels us %o do %he %hings we %hink abou%, and %his is a law #ar abo(e moral or e%hial onsidera%ions. /% works Hus% as Euikly #or wha% is onsidered e(il as i% does #or wha% is onsidered good. /# you keep %hinking abou% robbing %he orner ser(ie s%a%ion, and you keep %his image in your mind #or se(eral weeks, you one day will #ind yoursel# a% %he ser(ie s%a%ion, gun in hand, prepared %o emp%y %he %ill. 8eople who ommi% so5alled Frimes o# passionG o#%en repor% %hey were in %he grip o# a ompulsion %hey ould nei%her on%rol nor unders%and. Suh ompulsion proeeds ou% o# %heir %hough%s. /mages proHe%ed in%o %he mo(ing sreen o# mind #inally %ake roo% in %he mo%or impulses o# %he body, and eah person is propelled in%o %he a%ion he (isualiBes in %he deeper reesses o# his onsiousness. The -hammapada au%ions us %o guard our %hough%s, and indeed we should. +(ery%hing %ha% is admi%%ed in%o our mind %akes shape, #orm, and subs%ane in our li(es, and we an s%op %his #rom happening only by easing %o li(e, #or %he law o# li#e is %he law o# %hough%s beoming %hings.
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CLEAR TIN$ING
The Euali%y o# our men%al imagery de%ermines how Euikly we ge% e##e%s in %he ou%er world. Sine mos% people are rela%i(ely unaware o# %hinking a% all, %hey gi(e li%%le onsidera%ion %o how well %hey %hink, %o %he lari%y and reali%y o# %he images %hey en(isage. Mos% o# us are #uBBy %hinkers. hen we all some%hing %o mind, i% omes %o us as a (ague and shadowy presene. e do no% really see i%, #eel i%, hear i%, %ouh i%, pene%ra%e i%, %ake i% un%o us, bu% ra%her are dimly aware o# i% by means o# some (erbal grasp o# i%s idea. e say, FMy house,G bu% %he image does no% all %o mind %he a%ual house, only a (ague idea o# i% in %erms o# whe%her %he %aCes ha(e %o be paid, %he ou%side walls pain%ed, %he lawn mowed, or a par%y gi(en %here Sa%urday nigh%. e adop% meanings abou% e(ery%hing in %erms o# personal signi#iane, bu% we seldom onHure up images in our onsiousness #or %he simple reason %ha% we ne(er ha(e %rained oursel(es %o %hink %ha% way, ne(er ha(e %ruly unders%ood %he signi#iane o# suh images. Think abou% some%hing #amiliar. Think o# a room in whih you spend a grea% deal o# %ime. See yoursel# si%%ing in some par%iular hair in %ha% room. "ook around. ha% do you seeD $re %here pi%ures on %he wallsD here and wha% kindD ha% are %heir olorsD here are %he #urni%ure, books, papersD /s %here dus% ga%hered in %he ornersD here are %he lampsD 'ow do %hey opera%eD See yoursel# in %ha% room wi%h suh in%ensi%y %ha% you a%ually #eel %ha% you are %here. See %he olor, %he solidi%y o# obHe%s. ork on %his #or a #ew days. /# you are luky, you will ha(e an eCperiene %ha% will s%ar%le you. -uring one o# %hese medi%a%ion periods, while you are (isi%ing %his room in your mind, you will ha(e %he sudden #eeling %ha% you a%ually are %here. hen %his eCperiene omes %o you, you will be %here, in a (ery real %hough psyhi sense, suh is %he %remendous power o# orre% and lear men%al (isualiBa%ion. A DOOR AAR
There are o%her %es%s you an %ake %o on(ine yoursel# how #uBBy your %hinking has been and how muh power lies in making i% lear. /# you are married, %ry suddenly %o all %o mind %he #ae o# your spouse. You may be shoked %o realiBe how di##iul% %his is. ha% you immedia%ely all %o mind is an idea o# your spouse, and %his idea has %he wa(ering shape o# a shadowy dream. onen%ra%e on making his or her #ae as lear in your mind as a pho%ograph. !end %he en%ire e##or% o# your a%%en%ion %oward %his end. radually %he pi%ure will lear. Soon you will see %ha% #ae be#ore you, anima%ed, ali(e, (ibran%, so %ha% you #eel er%ain %ha% i# you reahed ou% you ould %ouh a heek wi%h your #inger%ips. -on?% be surprised %ha% e(ening i# your husband or wi#e says %o you, F/ was %hinking abou% you all day %oday.G This is no% legend or supers%i%ion or wish#ul %hinking. hen we deal wi%h %he mind we are dealing wi%h %he mos% signi#ian% %hing in li#e. There are undreamed o# powers in onsiousness, and %hey ha(e no% e(en been %apped. Our #irs% #umbling More ree !ooks
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a%%emp%s %o unders%and %he paranormal will be (ery amusing %o researhers a hundred years #rom now. The urren% awakening %o %elepa%hy and lair(oyane and preogni%ion ha(e barely Harred %he door in%o an enormous s%orehouse o# #an%as%i powers and perep%ions. e %ake our #irs% s%ep on %he proper pa%h when we realiBe %he original power o# mind o(er ma%%er and how our %hough%s in#luene %he world we li(e in. One we %ruly ha(e apprehended %he %remendous #ore %ha% propels a men%al image %o beome a physial #a%, %hen we see %ha% we mus% dedia%e our e##or%s %o beoming lear and onise %hinkers ra%her %han rushers5 around5in5%he5world. %SYCIC IM'ALANCE
e mus% learn %o (isualiBe wi%h omple%e lari%y, so %ha% an image alled up in mind eCis%s wi%h %he same solidi%y, olor, and dimension as one in %he physial world. *esearh ondu%ed in%o %he on%en% o# dreams has re(ealed %ha% some people dream in blak and whi%e while o%hers dream in olor. O%hers dream in pan%omime, s%ill o%hers wi%h #ull sound e##e%s. Some people?s dreams are popula%ed wi%h #olks wi%hou% #aes, and in some people?s dreams i% is always nigh%, in o%hers i% is always day. Suh researh has pro(ed pre%%y well %ha% emo%ional bloks in %he subonsious res%ri% %he indi(idual #rom omple%ely (isualiBing %hings in his mind. $ man migh% a%%emp% %o en(ision himsel# suess#ully omple%ing a %ask whih he desires %o do, bu% no ma%%er how hard he %ries %o #ous his inner a%%en%ion he ne(er an Eui%e see himsel# in %ha% posi%ion. /# i% would #inally in(ol(e a hange o# residene, #or eCample, he migh% repor% %ha% he is able %o see %he new home and e(ery%hing in i% bu% is unable %o (isualiBe himsel# %here. /% is %he subonsious %ha% bloks him ou% #rom suh (isualiBa%ion. Some #ear or hos%ili%y or resen%men% has gi(en him a deep men%al blok abou% mo(ing and #orbids %he pi%ure #rom en%ering his mind and %hereby bars %he a%ual e(en% #rom happening in %he physial world. /% is no easy ma%%er #or him %o o(erome %his subonsious ensoring o# his %hough%s. /% represen%s a wrong sel#5iden%i#ia%ion, a psyhi imbalane. This psyhi imbalane is uni(ersally aused by %he en%ering o# onsiousness in %he ego ra%her %han in %he deeper regions o# being. $ man who allows his sur#ae sel# %o on%rol his li#e is in %he grip o# a "illipu%ian ghos%. 'e e(en%ually will beome bound up men%ally by %housands o# li%%le promp%ers %ha% proeed ou% o# his subonsious. /% is %hey %ha% gi(e #orm and subs%ane %o his ego, %he %hing he regards as himsel#, whih is ne(er himsel# a% all bu% only %he limi%a%ions %ha% he has aep%ed and ome %o regard as real. SU'CONSCIOUS %ROM%TINGS
Modern psyhoanalysis, in order %o %es% %he psyhi imbalane o# %he indi(idual, uses a %es% de(ised by *orshah, in whih %he subonsious preoupa%ion o# a pa%ien% is diagnosed #rom spon%aneous images whih he sees in ompleC ink blo%s. Sine %he ink blo%s are haphaBard and mul%i#orm, i% #ollows %ha% %he images More ree !ooks
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%ha% %he pa%ien% sees in %hem represen% %he kind o# %hing %ha% his onsiousness is habi%ually #oused upon. /n o%her words, %he %es% pro(ides a key %o %he %hough%s whih oupy an indi(idual?s mind and gi(es %he psyhologis% a me%hod o# in%erpre%ing neurosis. The premise %ha% diagnosis is based upon is %ha% eah o# us sees in all %hings %he %hough%s %ha%, a priori, oupy our minds. Thus li#e i%sel# %urns ou% %o be no%hing more or less %han a gigan%i *orshah %es%. Shape and #orm and subs%ane ha(e in#ini%e meaning and in#ini%e possibili%y. To %he indi(idual beholder eah assumes olor and Euali%y dire%ly %aken #rom %he %hough%s %ha% oupy his onsiousness. hen we hoose %he %hough%s we %hink we hoose our li(es. The #a% o# %he ma%%er is %ha% (ery #ew people are #ree %o eCerise hoie in %heir %hinking beause %he bulk o# %heir %hough% erup%s #rom pain5insis%en% memories in %he subonsious. They are no% #ree beause %hey ha(e wrongly iden%i#ied %hemsel(es. Their sense o# sel# is primarily %he memories o# e(en%s and rela%ionships. /n onseEuene, %hey assume %hemsel(es %o be a hanging %hing, an ego, a sense o# sel# buil% upon dimly remembered and barely perei(ed rela%ionships. The ego %hinks always in response %o %he subonsious. Only %he grea% sel#, %he sense o# sel# #ree o# %he limi%a%ions o# %he ego, is able %o origina%e %hough% or %o be reep%i(e %o i% in an unbiased manner. e all pu% %oo muh (alue on %he ego. 8ersonali%y represen%s #or us bo%h a #asina%ion and a delusion. !y i%s (ery meaning personali%y is res%ri%ed %o %he indi(idual and %hus represen%s a limi%ed sense o# sel#. Only #rom %he wider and broader s%andpoin% o# %he Sere% Sel# is i% possible #or %he indi(idual mind %o orien% i%sel# orre%ly wi%h li#e. Thus i% is able %o grasp meanings and rela%ionships #rom a larger and more enompassing s%andpoin% and %o know by immedia%e perep%ion ra%her %han by reason and dedu%ion. INSTINCTIVE %ER&ORMANCE
The ego %hinks #rom a small s%andpoin% in %he en%er. /% %hinks ou%ward. /% seeks %o know by groping in%o %he unknown, a%%emp%ing %o ra%ionaliBe wha% i% #inds %here. Sine in#ini%e spae surrounds i%, i% is impossible #or i% e(er %o grow in%o grea% unders%anding. Sine wha% i% %hinks is olored by wha% i% already knows, and sine wha% i% knows is based upon a s%ri%ly personal and in#ini%esimal in%erpre%a%ion, i% %here#ore, by i%s (ery na%ure, anno% e(er arri(e a% %rue knowledge. !e#ore a man an be %ruly wise, be#ore he an arri(e a% his bir%hrigh% o# power and unders%anding, he mus% in some degree shuk o## %he %rappings o# %he ego and %ake on a wider kind o# onsiousness. /ns%ead o# being a en%ral %hinker, he mus% learn %o be a peripheral or ou%er %hinker. 'e mus% learn %o allow %hough% %o de(elop in him under %he impulsion o# some%hing ou%side o# and grea%er %han himsel#. 'e mus% learn %o be able %o do %hings wi%hou% #ousing his a%%en%ion upon %hem. 'e mus% learn %o per#orm %hem %hrough an ins%in%i(e unders%anding o# %heir %rue na%ure and %he Hob %o be done.
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The ego pre(en%s a man #rom per#orming in %his manner. To be sel#5onsious is %o be #ear#ul and res%ri%ed. The ins%in%i(e and na%ural per#ormer %hinks wi%h his ou%er and wider mind. 'e who is enrap% in onsidera%ion o# his ego and sense o# sel# is bound up in #ear and %ension during %he simples% o# %asks. Tha% whih we do well we do no% %hink abou%. e simply per#orm by grae o# our ou%er and wider mind. hen we lose our on%a% wi%h %his mind, we #all #rom grae wi%h a bangA #or all by oursel(es, #oused upon eah li%%le mo(emen%, we anno% per#orm %he simples% o# %asks. The en%ipede was happy Eui%e 0n%il a %oad in #un Said, F8ray, whih leg goes a#%er whihDG Tha% worked her mind %o suh a pi%h, She lay dis%ra%ed in a di%h, onsidering how %o run. >Mrs. +dward ras%er There seems %o be absolu%ely no limi% %o %he #ea%s %he human being an per#orm when he is able %o grasp %hem wi%h his ou%er or peripheral mind. $ man s %ands on %he #ore#inger o# one hand a%op a hundred #oo% pole. $no%her walks a %igh%rope aross %he hasm o# Niagara alls. $no%her springs #rom a board and %urns %hree somersaul%s in %he air be#ore landing on his #ee%. S%ill ano%her Huggles a doBen balls a% a %ime. a%hing suh per#ormanes, we are as%ounded. 'ow is i% possible, we ask oursel(es, #or a human being %o do suh %hingsD /% is possible beause %he man has mas%ered %he knak o# per#orming wi%hou% %hough%. 'e has learned %o shu% o## %he %hinking o# his en%ral sel# and %o s%and ou%side, as i% were, grasping his whole a%ion as a on%inuous %hing, seeing i% as a single, #lowing, unbroken mo(emen%. $s a onseEuene, arms and legs mo(e, musles oordina%e, energy is eCpended, all a% %he behes% o# a omple%e pi%ure held by his wider mind. 'e per#orms #rom %he spine, un%hinkingly, responds only %o %he image o# wha% he wan%s %o do, Hus% as ano%her man migh% walk down %he s%ree%, %hinking only o# where he wan%s %o go and ne(er o# %he a% o# pu%%ing one #oo% in #ron% o# %he o%her. TRUSTING YOUR GREATER SEL&
The reason why mos% people play suh a%roious gol# is %ha% %hey ha(e broken %he gol# swing down in%o a doBen di##eren% small a%ions, eah o# whih reei(es %he #ous o# %heir a%%en%ion when %hey s%and up %o hi% %he gol# bal l. /% is a wonder %hey don?% break %heir spines or snap a %endon. The mirale is %ha% %hey hi% %he ball a% all, sine %hey are %hinking abou% e(ery%hing else bu% %ha%. Those rare speimens who mas%er %he ar% o# shoo%ing par ha(e mas%ered also %he ar% o# no% %hinking how. The grea% player s%ands up %o %he ball only a#%er he has made up his mind where he wan%s %o hi% i%. 'e doesn?% %hink o# how he will hi% i%. e an adop% his me%hod in e(ery%hing we do. e an s%op %hinking how %o do %hings and s%ar% More ree !ooks
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onen%ra%ing our a%%en%ion only upon where we wan% %o go. One we ha(e made a deision, we mus% learn %o %rus% our grea%er, ou%er mind #or %he a%ual per#ormane. There is a deep, underlying psyhologial reason #or %his. The brain and %he organs o# %he body are no% %o be %rus%ed beyond %he in%elligene #rom whih %hey grew. To subHe% all per#ormane %o %he limi%a%ion o# human reason is %o subHe% all a%ion %o res%ri%ion and error. $n in#ini%e, e%ernal in%elligene grew %he brain and body and bo%h now nes%le in %he lap o# %ha% in%elligene, are produ%s o# i%, and ne(er i%s mas%er. e mus% s%op #oring our ego %o a% as an origina%or o# a%ion and %hough%, and ins%ead learn %o le% %hough% de(elop in us, a%ion de(elop in us, as a resul% o# a omple%e reliane upon an ou%er and wider sense o# being. huang5TBu wro%e, F$ drunken man, when he #alls ou% o# a ar%, %hough he may su##er, does no% die. 'is bones are %he same as o%her people?s, bu% he mee%s %he aiden% in a di##eren% way. 'is spiri% is in a ondi%ion o# seuri%y. 'e is no% onsious o# riding in %he ar%, nei%her is he onsious o# #alling ou% o# i%. /deas o# li#e, dea%h, #ear, e%., anno% pene%ra%e his breas%, and so he does no% su##er #rom on%a% wi%h obHe%i(e eCis%enes, and i# suh seuri%y is %o be go% #rom wine, how muh more is %o be go% #rom spon%anei%yDG ha% we are dri(ing a% is an a%%emp% %o #un%ion %hrough %he %o%ali%y o# our psyhi being, ra%her %han some small par% o# i%, like %he brain, or %he reason, or %he memory. /% should be ob(ious %ha% %he whole is always grea%er %han i%s par%s, and i# we an learn %o %hink and a% %hrough %he %o%ali%y o# all our psyhi #un%ioning, %hen i% is apparen% %ha% our e##e%i(eness mus% be (as%ly inreased. The impor%an%, %hing %o remember is %ha% %he en%er o# %he mind?s a%i(i%y is no% in %he onsious, %hinking proess, bu% in some%hing grea%ly abo(e i%, ou%side i%, and ye% in a manner wi%hin. ACTIVE MIND
hen a man learns %o le% his mind alone, i% begins %o #un%ion in a spon%aneous manner %ha% is na%ural %o i%. /% rids i%sel# o# inhibi%ion and res%ri%ion, and %he person?s e##e%i(eness and energy are grea%ly inreased. There are large rewards %o be gained #rom learning how %o #un%ion unonsiously. /% is %hrough pain#ul awareness o# sel# %ha% all our imper#e%ions spring. e are able %o s%i#le %he nagging (oie o# sel#5onsiousness %hrough immersing i% in %he grea% sea o# being %ha% is %he Sere% Sel#. There i% merges and is los% as a drop o# wa%er merges and is los% in %he oean. e beome na%ural men ins%ead o# ar%i#iial ones, and all our a%ions and all our %hough%s %ake on a spon%anei%y %ha% springs dire%ly ou% o# %he -i(ine. 0n%hinkable ingenui%y and rea%i(e power lie wi%hin uni(ersal mind, and %o %he degree %ha% you learn %o %rus% your li#e and being %o i%, %ha% muh o# i%s power is yours. The mos% remarkable %hing abou% man is his mind. The mys%ery %ha% surrounds ano%her person is %he #a% %ha% he %hinks, %ha% his %hough%s are in(isible and More ree !ooks
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%here#ore s%ri%ly his own. i%hin %he boundaries o# his own being, he li(es in a world %ha% no one %ruly pene%ra%es. /% is popula%ed by shapes and s%ru%ures, e(en%s and persons known only %o him, wi%h a signi#iane %ha% is roo%ed in symbol. $nd %his world in his mind has grea%er meaning #or him %han %he ma%erialis%i world in whih he mo(es. 'e re%ires #rom %he ma%erial world when he goes %o bed, bu% e(en in sleep %he world in his mind is s%ill wi%h him. This men%al world has e(en grea%er meaning in sleep. Now his %hough%s, %hough s%ill ouhed in ma%erialis%i %erms, %ake on symbolis%i signi#iane, and %he %hings he dreams ome %o him as disguised meanings, playing ou% upon %he sreen o# onsiousness %he on#li%s %ha% eCis% in his subonsious. $ man is wi%h his mind %wen%y5#our hours o# e(ery day, and he ne(er eases %o %hink. 'e is in#luened a %housand %imes more by %he %hough%s %ha% ross his onsiousness %han he e(er is by %he si%ua%ions he enoun%ers in %he sensual world. 'e is %ruly a men%al rea%ure, and %hose animal Euali%ies he possesses are residual only, le#% o(er #rom an e(olu%ion whose grea% %hrus%, in %he #irs% plae, was i%s e##or% %o produe mind. @us% as onsiousness has e(ol(ed ou% o# ma%%er, %o e(en%ually on%rol ma%%er, so will i% one day be #ree o# ma%%er, #or %he (ery na%ure o# being presupposes a grea%er eCis%ene %han any %ha% is likely %o our as long as i% is bound %o %he #lesh. The yle o# bir%h, grow%h, deay, and dea%h is bound %o a physial world wi%h i%s neessary ons%an% produ%ion o# di##eren% #orms in an e##or% %o #ind %he mos% e##e%i(e one. Suh a yle, howe(er, no longer is manda%ory #or %he mind, whih has se%%led on an absolu%e #orm and no longer is hanging in kind, only in degree. +(olu%ion has brough% us %o %he poin% where a men%al being migh% bes% ser(e ad(anemen% by being #ree o# %he yle o# bir%h and dea%h. Suh a s%ep is undoub%edly par% o# %he e(olu%ionary planA i% may be se% #or a %ime somewhere in %he #u%ure or may be upon us now. Mean%ime %he #a% has beome apparen% %ha% %he pa%hway %o man?s sal(a%ion lies in emphasis on men%al eCis%ene and gradual %urning away #rom physial bondage. TO TIN$ IS TO DO
0p %o now no one has been able %o s%op %he physial aging o# %he body, and urren%ly e(ery man is subHe% in %he end %o a physial dea%h. $s long as our a%i(i%ies, our pleasures, and our sensa%ions are roo%ed in our physial bodies, we ha(e no al%erna%i(e bu% %o e(en%ually su##er pain, dissolu%ion, and deay, bu% when we %urn away #rom our physial bodies and %ake up residene in our minds, %hen we are able %o eCperiene a ons%an% grow%h %ha% lends us no% only a deep personal sa%is#a%ion bu% #ul#ills %he #ondes% wishes o# li#e and e(olu%ion. To one make up your mind %ha% in%elle% is superior %o and supersedes ma%%er is %o %ake %he mos% impor%an% s%ep o# all in %he li(ing o# a serene and e##e%i(e li#e. The soul grows wi%hin e(en as %he body deays wi%hou%, and %ha% man who is able in %he end %o merge his sense o# being wi%h %ha% o# %he Sere% Sel# has perpe%ua%ed himsel# in%o e%erni%y, has ahie(ed immor%ali%y.
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/mages %ha% play abou% in our minds lead us ine(i%ably in%o a%ion. This is a law o# li#e, and we an nei%her s%ar% nor s%op i%. ha%e(er we %hink abou% we mus% do. Sine we anno% s%op our %hinking, we ine(i%ably are led in%o a%ion by our %hough%s, e(en i# %his a%ion be o# %he mos% nega%i(e kind. Sine a human b eing is a dynami en%i%y, hoosing no% %o do a %hing is Hus% as muh an a%ion on his par% as doing i% would be. ear o# #ailure, #or eCample, predisposes a man no% %o a%%emp% any (en%ure %ha% arries a risk. $s a onseEuene, he is ap% %o allow all %hings %o pass him by, de%erred #rom %aking a%ion beause o# %he na%ure o# %he images in his mind. 0sually %hese images are plaed %here by #ear, or one o# #ear?s ousins, and %hese nega%i(e emo%ional Euali%ies spring ou% o# %he subonsious and ha(e been plaed %here by %he ego. The indi(idual may rid himsel# o# %hem by ahie(ing a proper rela%ionship be%ween %he ego and uni(ersal mind. 'e may beome whole by ge%%ing rid o# his sense o# sur#ae sel#, by immersing %he ego in his wider being and beoming one wi%h all %hings and all people. GETTING RID O& MENTAL 'LOC$S
$ man is no% able %o #ore himsel# %o %hink di##eren% %hough%s #rom %hose %ha% he habi%ually %hinks. 'e anno% eClude er%ain %hough%s #rom his mind or #ore o%hers %o en%er by an e##or% o# will. Though% origina%es in %he deeper reesses o# his being, an area %ha% largely is una(ailable %o5his onsious mind and one %ha% #or %he mos% par% simply will no% respond %o oerion. $ psyhologial %rans#orma%ion is no% possible wi%hou% a spiri%ual awakening, and be#ore a man an hange his kind and %ype o# %hinking, i% #irs% is neessary %ha% he al%er his onep%ion o# sel#. $ li%%le re#le%ion on %he ego re(eals wha% a delusional %rap i% is, #or i% is primarily a sense o# separa%eness and i% #eeds upon a sense o# omparison. /% is pleased %o be be%%er %han o%hers, eC%remely sad %o be worse, and i% per#orms all a%ions #or sel#ish mo%i(es>a(arie, applause, power. The grea%es% sikness in %he world is %o be sa%is#ied in %he ego, #or %hen we are blinded %o %he real na%ure o# li#e and our own po%en%iali%y. Only when we are dissa%is#ied in %he ego %hrough de#ea% or disillusionmen% are we lose %o %he (eil %ha% separa%es us #rom our %rue sel(es. /% is a% %his momen% %ha% we suddenly may see, %ha% our eyes and souls may open and pene%ra%e in%o %he deeper and wider being %ha% gi(es a uni(ersal Euali%y %o all people. e immensely impro(e our abili%y %o (isualiBe when we rid oursel(es o# %he men%al bloks and promp%ers %ha% are s%ored in our subonsious. These we are able %o lear away %hrough a proper psyhi balane be%ween %he ego and %he Sere% Sel#, and we ahie(e %his balane by surrendering ego and %urning our li(es o(er %o %he -i(ine. This is no% nearly so di##iul% as i% sounds. e are no% responsible #or our eCis%ene in %he #irs% plae. e didn?% hoose %he bodies we inhabi% or %he li#e in%o whih we were born, our language, us%oms, edua%ion, e(en %he people we know ha(e been hosen #or us by a grea%er power. hen we learn %o %rus% %his power omple%ely, %o %urn o(er %o i% our sense o# sel#, our a%ions, our mind, our abili%y, our %alen%, we are enlarged by i% beause o# %ha% More ree !ooks
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(ery a%. /% uses us #or i%s purpose and many %imes more e##e%i(ely %han we ould e(er use oursel(es. There is %remendous energy %o be gained by surrender o# %he ego %o %he Sere% Sel#. $ man beomes a power doubled. 'e suddenly seems #ree o# res%ri%ion, leared o# res%rain%A his heal%h, energy, and resoures know no limi%. LETTING GO
Terry was a brillian% youngs%er. 'e had a s%raigh% $ a(erage in high shool and was awarded a sholarship a% a leading wes%ern uni(ersi%y. !u% he was an in%ensely ner(ous and high s%rung young man, seemed ons%an%ly #ear#ul and apprehensi(e. 'e would Hump a% %he sligh%es% noise, was shy and awkward in %he presene o# s%rangers, beame %ongue5%ied when gi(en an oppor%uni%y %o speak, was a#raid o# heigh%s, was a#raid o# losed plaes, was sik a good deal o# %he %ime. +(en %hough he was gradua%ed #rom ollege wi%h honors, he ne(er%heless had grea% di##iul%y in #inding a Hob, so un#a(orable was %he impression %ha% he made upon prospe%i(e employers. 'is reord pre(ailed, howe(er, and he e(en%ually #ound employmen% in %he labora%ory o# a large indus%rial #irm, where he helped in %he researh depar%men%. Then #or no apparen% reason he su##ered a ner(ous breakdown and was on#ined %o a sana%orium. Some mon%hs la%er he le#% %he sana%orium, bu% he was %oo dis%ra%ed %o readHus% %o li#e, and he was dire%ed by a #riend %o a religious re%rea%. The re%rea% house s%ood on %he blu##s o(erlooking %he 8ai#i Oean, and on a lear day a hundred miles o# %he ali#ornia oas%line ould be seen. The brown hump o# San%a a%alina /sland s%ood o## shore like a amel rising #rom %he sea, and a ligh% breeBe generally blew o## %he oean, arrying wi%h i% %he sal%y %ang o# seaweed and kelp. Terry sa% #or hours on a s%one benh, gaBing ou% o(er %his panorama. The magni#iene o# na%ure dwar#ed him, and he ould #eel his ego subside. -uring suh a mood, his ad(isor ame %o him, and %hey sa% on %he s%one benh and %alked. F/ see you are be%%er now,G %he ad(isor said. F/% s%ands in your eyes. You are no% so onerned wi%h yoursel#.G FTha%?s %rue,G answered Terry. F/%?s beause i%?s so peae#ul here.G F/% is peae#ul anywhere, my son, i# your soul is properly en%ered.G F'ow does one properly en%er his soulDG F!y ge%%ing rid o# sel#5onsiousness.G FTha%?s (ery di##iul% %o do when one has an in#eriori%y ompleC.G F$n in#eriori%y ompleC is a delusion.G F/% may seem a delusion %o you,G answered Terry, Fbu% i% is no% a delusion %o me. / am #ear#ul and apprehensi(e in all / do beause / #eel in#erior, beause / am a#raid / will no% do well.G FThen ge% rid o# %he sense o# yoursel# as doer. $ep% yoursel# only as ins%rumen%. More ree !ooks
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Make up your mind %ha% a power grea%er %han you are is working %hrough you %o aomplish i%s ends. /% is no% embarrassed or #ear#ul or apprehensi(e. /% is dynami, irresis%ible, and e%ernal. /# you an manage %o pu% yoursel# in i%s hands omple%ely, you ne(er will be embarrassed or #ear#ul again, and you will aomplish suh %hings as you ne(er %hough% possible.G Terry lis%ened %o his ad(isor well. /n %he days %ha% #ollowed, he gaBed ou% upon %he sea and sky, and %he %ru%h ame %o him. hen he le#% %he re%rea% and re%urned %o his home, his illness was gone, and he eCperiened a (igor in mind and body %ha% he had ne(er known. 'e under%ook his work wi%h sereni%y, beame able %o %alk #reely in #ron% o# people, miCed wi%h %hem gladly, e(en%ually ame %o lead %hem. Today he heads his own researh ompany. 'e is well5%o5do and respe%ed, has no% had a sik day in years. 'e redi%s e(ery%hing %o his religious awakening. F/ always %hough% %ha% / was %he one who was arrying %he ball,G he says, Fand %he responsibili%y #righ%ened me. One / learned %ha% %he world and i%s e(en%s and my li#e were in sa#er hands %han mine, / was able %o ge% mysel# ou% o# %he way and see %he working o# a mas%er in%elligene e(erywhere. The %hings / seem %o ha(e aomplished ha(e been aomplished by some%hing ou%side me. /% works %hrough me Hus% as i% will work %hrough you. $ll / do is le% i%.G TE %ER&ECT LEADER
To #ree %he mind o# %he res%ri%ions imposed by egois%i %hinking is %he #irs% %hing %o be done. This is aomplished by %urning your li#e o(er %o %he Sere% Sel#. 8lae your hopes, your dreams, your ambi%ions, your %alen%s, your (ery sel#, on a men%al sil(er pla%%er. 'and i% o(er %o %he Sere% Sel#. Say, F'ere, you %ake i%. You run i%. / will lis%en, #ollow your ad(ie, eCeu%e your will.G /# you %ake %his men%al s%and wi%hou% reser(a%ion, your li#e will be hanged #or%hwi%h, and you will ha(e embarked upon %he highes% ad(en%ure possible. Moreo(er, #rom %ha% %ime on, %he images in your mind will mani#es% in %he world eCa%ly as you (isualiBe %hem. 8eople who ha(e ne(er eCperiened a en%ering o# %he sel# ou%side %he ego belie(e %ha% when %hey make %he delara%ion %ha% %hey no longer will %ake a%ion as a resul% o# egois%i hoie, %hen hene#or%h %hey will si% like lumps on a log beause %here will be no%hing %o s%ir %hem one %hey ha(e surrendered (oli%ion. 'ow wrong %hey areI e ne(er mo(e oursel(es in%o a%ion anyway. $ll our li(es we are mo(ed in%o a%ion by %he Sere% Sel#. Our di##iul%ies are all aused by %he #a% %ha% we ha(e a delusional sense o# sel# whih lu%%ers up %he subonsious wi%h nega%i(e emo%ions, auses res%ri%i(e pi%ures o# limi%a%ion, lak, and #ear %o be proHe%ed on%o %he rea%i(e sreen o# mind and %here#ore res%ri%s %he amoun% o# energy %ha% an #low %hrough us. The ego is an impedimen% in %he na%ural dynami o# being, ye% e(en when presen% in all i%s #ull dis%or%ion, %he indi(idual is s%ill dire%ed by %he Sere% Sel#, wi%h his power #il%ered and ine##e%ual. The man More ree !ooks
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who has been leared si%s like no lump on a log. More likely, he %hunders aross %he human sene, suh is %he power %ha% mani#es%s %hrough him. Ye% he himsel# does no%hing. The power uses him %o mani#es% %hrough, and he simply hi%hes a ride, a%ing in %he mids% o# on#li% serenely and surely, an ins%rumen% o# a power %ha% has e(ery%hing under on%rol. TE %O!ER O& TOUGT
One a psyhologial balane has been ob%ained, i% is s%ar%ling how lear images beome in our minds. /% is as i# %he inner world %akes on e(en more reali%y %han %he ou%er, more dimension, more possibili%ies, #or %hrough our new psyhi perep%ion we beome aware %ha% %here is %he same onsiousness in all %hings. hen we (isualiBe some%hing in our minds we %hereby sense %he manner in whih we a##e% %he physial worldA we see %ha% onsiousness a##e%ed in us a##e%s onsiousness in %he %hing (isualiBed. e beome aware %ha% i% is impossible #or any%hing %o eC%ernaliBe in our world wi%hou% #irs% being pi%ured in our minds. The simples% o# a%ions %akes on a new signi#iane. e anno% reah #or a pen, ge% up and walk %o %he door, answer %he %elephone, wi%hou% #irs% ha(ing a men%al pi%ure o# suh a%s. e beome ogniBan% o# %his seEuene as %he na%ural ause and e##e% o# all %hings, and we beome eCEuisi%ely aware o# %he #a% %ha% we an by an a% o# men%al (isualiBa%ion ease responding %o s%imuli #rom %he sensual world. /#, when we hear %he doorbell, we (isualiBe no% answering %he door, we will no% answer i%. /n e(en %his %ri(ial irums%ane we will #ind %remendous signi#iane, #or i% %eahes us %ha% we an, in any ins%ane, re#use %o draw %he men%al pi%ure dereed by sensual s%imuli and draw %he eCa% opposi%e. !y %ha% simple realiBa%ion we beome enligh%ened and disiplined beings, #ree #rom bondage %o %he world o# senses. The proess by whih %hough%s beome %hings is roo%ed in %he one in%elligene #rom whih all %hings are made. +(ery%hing is onsious, has a #orm %ha% is de%ermined by %he awareness en%rapped wi%hin. hen %he idea o# a %hing is hanged wi%hin %he one supreme onsiousness, %hen %he %hing i%sel# hanges, #or i% was no%hing bu% idea in %he #irs% plae. The mind?s image making power is a##e%ed by i%s knowledge o# i%sel#, and by i%s inner sense o# e##e%i(eness. This sense o# apabili%y ne(er is su##iien% when i% springs ou% o# %he sur#ae sel#, bu% i% is always eEual %o %he %ask when i% resul%s #rom an iden%i#ia%ion o# %he indi(idual wi%h %he Supreme. Spiri%ual awakening allows a man %o (isualiBe learly, bu% e(en be#ore %ha% awakening he an disipline himsel# %o eCerise #ai%h and belie# in %he %hings he desires. @esus, who was er%ainly one o# %he grea% men%al %eahers, s%a%ed %ha% i% is done un%o us as we belie(e. 'e repea%edly illus%ra%ed by deed and parable %ha% %he answers %o our dreams ome when we #irs% ha(e aep%ed %heir reali%y in our minds. The man who ahie(es a dynami suess in li#e has mas%ered %he ar% o# a%ing as i# i% were impossible %o #ail. Suh a bold approah #rees wi%hin him an energy and insigh% %ha% #i%s him #or e(ery oasion. No%hing is impossible %o anyone i# he is apable More ree !ooks
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o# en(isioning i% in his mind, learly, wi%hou% reser(a%ion. 0ni(ersal Subonsious Mind is %he doer o# all %hings, and i% responds %o %he onep%ions %ha% we proHe% in%o i% wi%h our onsious minds. VISUALI*ING TE O'ECTIVE
There is no obHe%i(e %oo impor%an% or %oo %ri(ial #or uni(ersal mind %o mani#es% i% Hus% eCa%ly as i% is (isualiBed, bu% %he %ru%h is %ha% #ew people %ake %he %rouble or %ime %o (isualiBe %he %hings %hey wan%. They le% suh ma%%ers be deided #or %hem by %he e(en%s %hey enoun%er in %he world. /#, #or eCample, %hey mee% a #riend who has aEuired a new ar, %hey are likely %o a(ow %o %hemsel(es and %o #amily %ha% wha% %hey wan% mos% o# all is a new ar. NeC% day, howe(er, %his desire #ades, #or now an assoia%e in business has been promo%ed in%o a new Hob and %hey see %ha% i% is %his %hey wan% mos% o# all, no% %he new ar a#%er all. NeC% day, i% is some%hing elseA %he day a#%er, some%hing again. The desire o# a week ago is long #orgo%%en unless some e(en% ours %o inspire in %hem %he same rea%ion. Suh people proHe% a ons%an% parade o# hanging pi%ures in%o %he subonsious, whih mo(es %his way and %ha% and ne(er ge%s any%hing done a% all. Sine %hey really do no% know wha% i% is %ha% %hey wan%, i% is small wonder %ha% %hey ahie(e no%hing. /% %akes men%al disipline %o wan% some%hing and %o s%ay wi%h i%, %o unders%and %ha% all %hings are gained by sari#ie, %ha% no%hing is #ree, easy, or simple. hen we look upon %he man o# prominene and weal%h, i% appears %o us %ha% he has been #a(ored by na%ure, gi#%ed more in mind and body and wi%h ma%erial %hings. !u% i# we ha(e had a li%%le spiri%ual awakening, we arri(e a% an insigh% %ha% allows us %o see behind all suess#ul men %he years o# unremi%%ing %oil, swea%, and %ears %ha% ha(e disiplined %hem in%o %he e##e%i(e human beings %hey ha(e beome. on%rol and e##e%i(eness do no% ome ligh%lyA %hey are %he produ%s o# a good deal o# surrender o# sel#. $n aspiring you%h, #oused in ego and personal onern, has as li%%le onne%ion wi%h a suess#ul man as does an aorn wi%h an oak. $ %housand egois%i sel(es ha(e paraded aross %he suess#ul man?s onsiousness in %he years o# grow%h. /n a manner he is all o# %hem, in ano%her, none. /n all %hings he relies upon a power ou%side himsel#, whih he our%s daily. A&&IRMATION
)isualiBe we mus%, and wha% we (isualiBe mani#es%s in our li(es. /# we would hange our li(es, %he %ool wi%h whih %o hange %hem is imagina%ion. e mus% learn %o (isualiBe a% %he behes% o# a onsious men%al hoie, and we mus% %eah oursel(es %o en(isage all %hings learly and onre%ely. $n e##e%i(e way %o aomplish %his is %o se% aside a period o# a##irma%ion eah day, and %he mos% bene#iial %ime is Hus% be#ore going %o sleep. Then %he image is able %o se%%le down in%o %he subonsious wi%hou% %he dis%ra%ions %ha% resul% #rom a%i(i%y. hen we a##irm our men%al image, we ha(e %o know wha% i% is we wish %o ahie(e, whe%her i% is suess or heal%h, impro(emen% in personali%y, grea%er happiness, wha%e(er. More ree !ooks
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$nd we ha(e %o learly onei(e oursel(es as possessing i%. !e sure %ha% i% is some%hing %ha% is righ% #or you, some%hing %ha% you are willing %o de(o%e %ime and e##or% %o ob%ain. The impor%an% %hings are a lear onep%ion and a willingness %o make all neessary sari#ies %o e##e% i%. The pi%ure we #orm in our minds s hould be so lear we an almos% %ouh i%, and i% should be proHe%ed wi%h #eeling. $##irm %his image (erbally. ri%e ou% a shor% and lear a##irma%ion and be able %o repea% i% %o yoursel# as you (isualiBe your obHe%i(e. onsiously relaC your mind and body when you go %hrough %his a##irma%ion period. e% %he #eeling %ha% you are no% making some%hing happen, only aep%ing i%. eel %ha% %his %hing is real in your mind, where all %rue ause eCis%s. inish your a##irma%ion wi%h a #eeling o# #ai%h and eCpe%any and sereni%y. :now %ha% your image will mani#es% in %he world Hus% as surely as you keep i% sharp and lear in your mind. -uring %he day, %hink and #eel and a% as i# your desire were already mani#es%ed. You will %hen beha(e as i# you ha(e i%, and %his omple%e hange in your psyhi posi%ion will a%%ra% %he si%ua%ion %o you. /% is a wonder#ul %hing %o eCperiene %he power o# mind o(er ma%%er. One you ha(e been able %o bring some desired irums%ane in%o your li#e by an a% o# #ai%h and (isualiBa%ion, you will ne(er again #eel alone and #riendless and helpless, will know %ha% you ha(e wi%hin yoursel# %he key %o all rea%ion. $bundane and happiness and suess and ahie(emen% are unlimi%ed. The power %o pro(ide all eCis%s in your mind and your imagina%ion.
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Chapter % THE &OWER OF CHOICE $S: a hundred people i# %heir li(es had %urned ou% %o be wha% %hey wan%ed %hem %o be, and probably no% one in %he hundred would answer a##irma%i(ely. Mos% people li(e dissa%is#ied li(es, un#ul#illed in mos% aspe%s o# %heir na%ures, bu% unable %o deide wha% %hese aspe%s are or how %o go abou% #ul#illing %hem. They ha(e %urned ou% %o be wha% %hey are beause %hey ha(e no% hosen #or %hemsel(es, bu% ha(e allowed e(en%s and irums%anes %o deide #or %hem. They ha(e been molded by a million di##eren% sensual s%imuli, and %hey will on%inue %o be so molded as long as %hey #ail %o eCerise %heir power o# deision. TE ONLY TRUE ACTION
Man?s only %rue a%ion is his eCerise o# hoie. 'ow he grows and ma%ures and %he kind o# person he beomes reside in %he oun%less deisions he makes as he Hourneys %hrough %he years. The power o# his hoie is %ha% i% makes him wha% he beomes. /% is %he hub o# a wheel o# oun%less spokes, eah spoke represen%ing a way %o be %aken, and a man s%ands always in %he en%er o# an in#ini%e number o# possibili%ies. /# his hoie is made #reely and onsiously, %hen a man is enligh%ened and is onsiously molding his own li#e. /# his hoie is made as a resul% o# emo%ional response %o %he irums%anes in whih he #inds himsel#, %hen a man is an au%oma%on and li#e is molding him. To beome #ree o# rea%ion and %o ini%ia%e %hough% #rom wi%hin is %he e(olu%ionary goal o# mankind. One a person %akes a s%ep in %his dire%ion, no ma%%er how small or %en%a%i(e, he is #ore(er unhained. 'e has broken ou% o# %he rea%ionary prison o# sensual response and has diso(ered %he omple%ely %rans#orming #a% %ha% %here resides wi%hin him a power %o grow in any dire%ion he hooses. $ man an hoose wha% he will %hink regardless o# %he irums%anes around him. 'e an hoose wha%e(er his onsiousness will be #oused upon, and %hereby he an de%ermine %he dire%ion in whih he will grow. ha%e(er he %hinks abou% he beomes in %he end, and i% is %his as%ounding law %ha% enables indi(iduals %o rise abo(e %heir en(ironmen%. $ sain% may emerge #rom %he slums, a rih man #rom po(er%y, an enligh%ened mind ou% o# ignorane, %he leader o# a na%ion ou% o# an obsure log abin. The his%ory o# mankind is a reord o# %he o(eroming o# obs%ales. The person who re#uses %o aede %o %he limi%a%ions o# his en(ironmen% is led in%o suh aspira%ion by %he images %ha% #orm in his mind. 'e wan%s some%hingA wan%ing, (isualiBesA (isualiBing, is led in%o %he a%ion %ha% will lead %o ma%erialiBa%ion o# his desire. LINEAR TIN$ING
or %he mos% par% people are unaware o# %he #a% %ha% %heir li(es are deided by %he %hough%s %hey %hink. They are inlined %o #eel %ha% irums%anes are ei%her More ree !ooks
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beyond %heir on%rol or %ha% power o(er %hem is gained only by an in%rinsi knowledge o# %heir physial workings. The abili%y o# a man %o a##e% his en(ironmen% by %he way %ha% he #eels has largely been los% sigh% o# in %he wes%ern world. es%ern edua%ion %eahes us %o be linear %hinkers. e gain %he o(erall idea o# a %hing by eCamining i% piee by piee. eeling or in%ui%ion is largely ignored. +dua%ion in %he older soie%ies o# %he eas% aimed a% grasping an in%ui%ional sense o# %he basi idea o# a %hing. The eas%ern a%hle%e works a% his e(en% by #eel, %rying %o grasp a sense o# %he en%ire mo%ion. The wes%ern a%hle%e is more likely %o break down his e(en% in%o a number o# orrela%ed small a%ions, a leg ben% here, an arm rooked %here, a hip %urned here, a shoulder %urned %here. $s a resul%, he %ends %o lose #eel, and only ons%an% repe%i%ion and pra%ie allows proper a%ion %o seep in%o his subonsious so %ha% e(en%ually he an per#orm un%hinkingly. /% is (ery di##iul% %o %eah someone %o dane by drawing diagrams o# %he proper s%eps upon %he #loor, bu% a man who ins%in%i(ely mo(es in rhy%hm %o musi hardly needs %o be %augh% a% all, so ap% a pupil is he. The eas%ern musiian uses only a rough no%a%ion on his shee% o# musi %o remind him o# %he melody, pre#erring %o play by #eel. The more omplia%ed me%hod o# wes%ern musiians is represen%ed by a double sale o# no%es and hal# no%es, delinea%ing omple%ely bo%h melody and harmony. This is no% an apology #or wes%ern me%hods o# edua%ion, #or %he wes% produes i%s share o# inspira%ional %hinkers and ins%in%i(e a%hle%es. This is only %o say %ha% %he linear me%hod o# %hinking, while pro(en e##e%i(e in sien%i#i in(es%iga%ion, is er%ainly no% %he only or e(en %he bes% approah %o be used by %he indi(idual in dealing wi%h his surroundings. Our on%a%s in our daily li(es are so pro#use %ha% we ne(er an hope %o unders%and %hem by %rying %o unders%and %heir par%s. e mus% rely #or our perep%ions on an awareness o# eah %hing ahie(ed by an in%ui%ional unders%anding o# i%. INTUITIVE TIN$ING
/% is o#%en said %ha% banking is a old5blooded, logial business, based en%irely upon reason, bu% one o# %he leading bankers in %he sou%hwes% reen%ly ele%ri#ied his audiene when he %old how his bank proessed loan applia%ions. Oh, %he paper work was done, all righ%, a #inanial s%a%emen% subs%an%ia%ed, reeip%s and eCpendi%ures eCamined, aoun%s reei(able assessed, a reord made o# %he applian%?s bakground and apabili%y in his business, bu% when all %hese #a%ors had been onsidered %he Eues%ion %ha% %he presiden% always asked %he eCamining o##ier was %his= Fha% kind o# #eeling do you ge%DG /# %he eCamining o##ier repor%ed a #a(orable #eeling, %he loan was madeA i# he s%a%ed he had miCed #eelings, %he loan was %abled %o be reonsidered la%erA i# he said he had nega%i(e #eelings, %he loan was denied. So in one o# our leading #inanial ins%i%u%ions ul%ima%e deisions are being reahed on %he basis o# in%ui%ion ra%her %han %he reasoning power o# %he mind. /% is in%eres%ing %o no%e %ha% %he loss ra%io o# %his par%iular bank is %he lowes% in %he sou%hwes%. More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
/n our soie%y in %he pas%, in%ui%ion simply has no% been onsidered aademially and philosophially respe%able. Thus we ha(e hardly begun %o realiBe i%s possibili%ies. No doub% wi%hin i%s sope is %he po%en%ial syn%hesis o# all our more umbersome alula%ions like ma%hema%is, %heology, me%aphysis, logi. hen we ha(e learned %o eCerise our power o# hoie and %o lea(e %he working ou% o# de%ails %o a grea%er in%elligene %han is embodied in our onsious minds, we will ha(e arri(ed a% a posi%ion o# omple%e psyhi e##e%i(eness. The power o# hoie is inseparably allied wi%h %he power %o perei(e. Things in#luene us aording %o %he possibili%ies %ha% we see in %hem, and we ob(iously anno% make a hoie onerning %ha% whih we do no% see. $ll possibili%ies are inheren% in e(ery si%ua%ion, bu% we see only %hose whih our limi%ed onsiousness is able %o perei(e. The wider %ha% onsiousness, %he more possibili%ies are apparen%, and %he more signi#ian% beome %he hoies open %o us. To %he Supreme all possibili%ies are a%uali%ies. The Sere% Sel# is engaged in rea%ing in#ini%e mul%iplii%y ou% o# i%s own essen%ial oneness, and %his is i%s deligh%, i%s insru%able play. To %he human being laid down amids% %his inessan% hange, i% is o# paramoun% impor%ane no% %o beome s%a%i and %o seek ons%an% grow%h, so %ha% %he #ield o# hoie widens %hrough %he li#e%ime. TE E)ERCISE O& DIVINITY
The man who knows only one %hing eCerises no hoie. 'e proeeds along a single pa%h beause he sees no o%her. $ll around him is an unknown #ores%, and %o his limi%ed (ision i% would be un%hinkable #or him %o (eer o## %he pa%hway be#ore him. :nowledge illumina%es. The more we unders%and abou% our en(ironmen% %he less s%range %ha% en(ironmen% appears. The more our onsiousness eCpands, %he more likely we are %o perei(e %he myriad pa%hways %ha% lead o## %he road we urren%ly are #ollowing. There are as many ways %o arri(e a% sal(a%ion and e##e%i(eness as %here are di##eren% people. The human soul is a dire% opening in%o %he world o# %hings #rom %he sere% presene o# uni(ersal sel#, inomple%e, yes, par%ially mani#es%ed, yes, embarked upon a sel#5seeking Hourney alled li#e, and %his is %he drama o# eCis%ene and e(olu%ion being played ou% upon %his mor%al sphere. To hoose is %o eCerise di(ini%y wi%hin. /% is hoie alone %ha% is india%i(e o# higher spiri%ual and men%al de(elopmen%. !y i% we reogniBe bo%h in%elle% and hara%er. The person who is able %o %ransend %he limi%a%ions and blandishmen%s o# %he sensual world s%ands like a olossus on %he e(olu%ionary s%age o# li#e. 'e has likened himsel# %o od by uno(ering essen%ial #reedom wi%hin, %hrough deiding %he dire%ion in whih he will grow. hoie always presupposes sari#ie, #or one does no% deide in #a(or o# one %hing wi%hou% deiding agains% ano%her. No%hing is e(er ahie(ed or gained wi%hou% gi(ing up some%hing else. /% is %his l aw o# sari#ie under whih all %hings li(e, by whih %hey grow and e(ol(e and aspire. More ree !ooks
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The aep%ane and knowledge o# sari#ie alle(ia%es muh pain, #or when we %ruly unders%and %ha% we an ha(e one %hing only by gi(ing up ano%her, we hold on%o all possessions wi%h loose hands, prepared %o le% %hem go a% any %ime. They do no% belong %o us aloneA %hey are ideas proeeding ou% o# uni(ersal mind and %here#ore under %he mu%ual ownership o# e(eryone. %AIN AND GRO!T
"i#e some%imes seems %o bend us %erri#ially, %o pu% us under a s%rain we sarely are able %o bear, %o in(ol(e us in on#li%s %ha% are beyond our sope %o sol(eA bu% we are wha% we are only beause we aspire %o be grea%er, and %he obs%ales and %he pain we mee% wi%h in li#e are only %he resul% o# our e##or%s %o break ou% o# %he enys%ing shell o# %he ego and %o grow ou%ward in e##e%i(eness and unders%anding. FThe $rher,G wri%es :ahlil ibran, Fsees %he mark upon %he pa%h o# %he /n#ini%e, and 'e bends you wi%h 'is migh%, %ha% 'is arrows may go swi#% and #ar.G The ends o# %hings do no% re(eal %hemsel(es %o %he #ini%e mind o# man, are only par%ially a(ailable %o his in%ui%i(e #aul%ies and %hen only inso#ar as he unders%ands %ha% li#e?s goals and me%hods are in %he hands o# a g rea%er power %han he. 'is real (oa%ion is %o #a%hom his rela%ionship %o %his power, %o de(elop omple%e #ai%h and %rus% in i%, %o realiBe %ha% no%hing res%s in his own hands eCep% %he de%ermina%ion o# %he dire%ion in whih he will grow. hoie implies #reedom, and whe%her man is #ree or an au%oma%on has long been a #a(ori%e argumen% o# religious se%s and philosophers. $ny power apable o# rea%ing %he world and o(erseeing %he orderly proess o# e(olu%ion mus% know eCa%ly where i% is going and how i% in%ends %o ge% %here. /%s ourse anno% possibly be al%ered by any one o# %he #ini%e minds i% has rea%ed. $ll %he e(en%s %ha% ha(e happened in %he world mus% ha(e been preordained, #or only %hrough %heir orderly ourrene has i% been possible #or li#e %o %ake %he dire%ion i% has %aken. Ye% wi%hin %he absolu%ely rigid sope o# %he ourrene o# %hese e(en%s %he indi(idual is #ree, beause he has inna%e wi%hin him %he power %o assume any o# %he roles %ha% ha(e %o be played wi%hin any e(en%A and i% is he, himsel#, who hooses in %he end %he role he will play. Sine %he uni(ersal sel# rea%es all %hings #rom i%sel# i% is in a%ual %ru%h all %hings, and %here#ore does no% onsider li#e in %erms o# people bu% only in %erms o# e(en%s. +(en%s would approCima%e %hough%s in %he mind o# a supreme being, whose spli% in%o myriad mani#es%a%ions would be %o insure %ha% i% par%iipa%ed in all areas o# eah e(en% in a #orm bes% sui%ed %o %ha% par%iipa%ion. Thus %he Sere% Sel# permea%es all e(en%s, and %he oun%less #orms i% assumes, %he mul%iplii%y o# masks %ha% i% dons %o play i%s (arious roles, appear separa%e and uniEue only %o o%her inomple%ely mani#es%ed beings, ne(er %o i%sel#. &REEING %SYCIC ENERGY
Our egois%i sense o# separa%eness is an illusion delibera%ely #os%ered in our men%al and psyhi makeup so %ha% we are able %o per#orm wi%hin %he sope o# More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
%he kind o# people we are. Ye% %here is no absolu%e deree %ha% we mus% do so, #or a% %he same %ime %ha% %he illusion was #os%ered in us, power %o break i% was implan%ed also. !y reogniBing our abili%y %o ondi%ion our own onsiousness we an eCpand %ha% onsiousness %o enompass any role we hoose %o play, and %ha% is why we inheren%ly are #ree and why eah man arries wi%hin him power %o mas%er his own #a%e. -eision looses a %erri#i psyhi energy. /% #rees wi%hin us po%en%iali%ies and possibili%ies we are no% e(en aware o#. To make up your mind is a wondrous %hing. /% dire%s you %oward your men%al image, se%s you on %he pa%h %o i%s realiBa%ion wi%h an energy %ha% springs ou% o# sub%erranean reesses. ha%e(er you do you will do %wie as well i# you make up your mind wha% you wish %o aomplish. +(en suh a simple %hing as %rying %o ross a s%ree% beomes easier one you make up your mind %ha% you will no% a%%emp% i% un%il %here is a break in %he %ra##i. You will no% s%amp %he pa(emen% %hen, apprehensi(ely wa%hing %he approahing ars wi%h an eye %oward making a sudden spur%. You will know %ha% suh energy is was%ed. You will s%and pa%ien%ly, serene and sure, beause you ha(e made up your mind. +(ery %ask in li#e an be likened %o %his simple illus%ra%ion. The man who en%ers in%o a%i(i%y wi%hou% making up his mind wha% he wan%s %o do and how he wishes %o aomplish i% was%es his energies onsidering unsui%able possibili%ies as he proeeds. Some people say %ha% %o make up your mind gi(es you %unnel (isionA you ne(er al%er ourse beause you anno% see your surroundings. !u% all possibili%ies are inheren% in all si%ua%ions a% all %imes. They eCis% in eah si%ua%ion be#ore we en%er i%. Only %hose possibili%ies appear %o us %ha% we are able %o en(isage in our minds, bu% %he pi%ure we ha(e should be %he resul% o# our hoie. 8eople %o whom possibili%ies appear o%her %han %he one %hey se% ou% %o aomplish are %hose who ha(e no% made de#ini%e deisionsA %hey ha(e allowed %he images in %heir minds %o hange and %his hanging al%ers %he si%ua%ion in whih %hey #ind %hemsel(es. DECIDE AND TE TOOLS ARE GIVEN
-eision is suh an impor%an% par% o# e(eryday li(ing. The oah be#ore his %eam in %he loker room a%%emp%s %o inula%e in eah member o# %ha% %eam a deision %o win. ailure %o make %his deision is almos% er%ain %o resul% in de#ea%, #or wi%hou% i% %he pi%ures %ha% #orm in %he mind are %oo easily hanged in #a(or o# de#ea% when nega%i(e irums%anes de(elop. hen you deide %o aomplish some%hing you men%ally %oughen yoursel# %o undergo %he rigors and pri(a%ions neessary %o a%%aining %he goal. This, abo(e all, alls #or %ough5mindedness. The a%hle%e who makes up his mind %ha% he will swim %he +nglish hannel has %o make up his mind a% %he same %ime %ha% he will on%inue swimming, no ma%%er how %ired he ge%s. /# he makes a deision %o swim %he hannel and %ha% deision does no% inlude a knowledge o# %he %iredness he is bound %o enoun%er, %hen he has no% %ruly made a deision a% all, and %he #irs% %ime %iredness seeps %hrough %o his More ree !ooks
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onsiousness, pi%ures #orm o# no% swimming %he hannel, and he is #inished. The kind o# men%al pi%ure %ha% assures suess is %he kind %ha% is se% in%o %he mind wi%h a on(i%ion %ha% is unshakable, %ha% sur(i(es all onslaugh%s, obs%ales, de%ours. Suh inner on(i%ion inspires grea% ourage and energy. /% is %he men%al pi%ure held by all who ahie(e and aomplish, who ge% %hings done. Many people %hink %hey wan% %hings, bu% simply do no% ha(e su##iien% desire %o main%ain %heir men%al image in %he #ae o# nega%i(e irums%anes. One has %o wan% some%hing badly in order %o perse(ere in %he #ae o# mis#or%une and de#ea%. /# we aep% %he side%raking o# our plans as e(idene %ha% %hey ne(er will be realiBed, %hen i% is a er%ain%y %ha% 16 we ne(er will aomplish any%hing. No pa%h is easy eCep% one %ha% leads downhill. /# we aspire, we mus% limb, and limbing %akes e##or% and swea% and a willingness %o on%inue in %he #ae o# all di##iul%ies. $ man limbs a moun%ain no% Hus% beause %he moun%ain is %here bu% beause he wan%s %o ge% %o %he %op. /% is %his inner ins%in% %o o(erome obs%ales, %o rise abo(e irums%ane, %o win ou% o(er all odds, %ha% has arried li#e on i%s %riumphal emergene #rom amoeba %o spaeman. MENTAL TOUGNESS
e ha(e %o be %ough wi%h oursel(es beause i% is easy %o sink in%o le%hargy and #orge% our aspira%ions. /# we wan% %o hi%h a ride on li#e?s eCpress and really go somewhere, we ha(e %o be prepared %o be shaken up en rou%eA we ha(e %o know we will undergo pain, and we ha(e %o be prepared %o endure i%. $ll o# us are inlined %o be %oo so#% wi%h oursel(es. e wan% %o be sure %ha% we don?% work %oo hard, %ha% we guard agains% %ension, bu% %he %ru%h is %ha% a man makes himsel# s%rong by li#%ing weigh%s, by en%ering on#li%. e ahie(e physial heal%h by eCerise, by %he ons%an% use o# our bodies %o reah some goal. e ahie(e men%al heal%h by %he same pa%h, by keeping our men%al e##or%s ben% on learning, by always seeking %o grow. Sleep is a panaea and one o# na%ure?s wonders, bu% worlds are ne(er onEuered by men who lie abed, only by %hose who are ou% in %he world and doing. Men o# purpose ne(er ha(e %o deide be%ween a%ion and lassi%ude. The image in a man?s mind, i# i% is one o# aomplishmen%, propels him in%o a%ion. 8urpose, howe(er, is more signi#ian% %han Hus% aomplishmen%. "ak o# purpose an des%roy a man, bring sikness, aloholism. /% is purpose %ha% holds %he organism %oge%her. hen %ha% purpose disappears, %he organism begins %o disin%egra%e. Men who re%ire #rom a%i(e li(es are eCellen% illus%ra%ions. 8u%%ering around %he garden, playing gol#, and #ishing are insu##iien% purpose %o hold a man %oge%her in his la%er years. The human organism was no% buil% #or enHoymen%, bu% #or aomplishmen%. hen we #ous oursel(es on pleasure5 seeking ends i% is no% long be#ore we disin%egra%e bo%h in%elle%ually and physiallyA e(en our senses beome sur#ei%ed, and we are no longer able %o enHoy our pleasures. The man who works all his li#e %oward %he end o# re%iremen% More ree !ooks
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usually is #rus%ra%ed and on#used a#%er %wo or %hree years o# en#ored leisure and seeks despera%ely #or some way %o ge% bak in%o harness. 0sually, howe(er, his disin%egra%ion during %his period has been rapid, and he no longer an make a plae #or himsel# in %he world o# ahie(emen%. Then he beomes embi%%ered and lonely, and old age really se%s in. 'ow muh be%%er i# he s%ays on %he Hob in %he #irs% plaeA i# no% in %he same Hob, %hen in ano%her #ound on re%iring, so %ha% he an on%inue %o li(e eah day wi%h a purpose, so %ha% he an #eel par% o# %he grea% human e##or% %o progress, so %ha% his abili%ies and %alen%s do no% rus% and disin%egra%e bu% are kep% sharp by ons%an% use. USE OR LOSE
There is a law %ha% is apparen% %hroughou% all li#e. Simply s%a%ed i% is, F0se or lose.G /# we pu% our righ% arm in a as% #or %hree mon%hs i% has shri(eled %o almos% no%hing when %he as% is %aken o##. Only mon%hs o# regular eCerise will res%ore i% %o normali%y. $s we grow older and our li(es beome more seden%ary, we ease %o pu% regular s%rain on our musles, and %hey beome #labby and #laid. $bdomens %end %o pro%rudeA #a% ga%hers on hips and %highsA and i# we are #ored %o run aross %he s%ree% we are ou% o# brea%h and #ear a hear% a%%ak. e lose our physial ondi%ion %hrough #ailure %o use %he musles o# %he body, and as a onseEuene we are easy prey #or disease and mal#un%ion. *egular and sys%ema%i use o# our musles pre(en%s %his, so wi%h %he more in%angible par%s o# our na%ures. e mus% use our ourage or i% deser%s usA we mus% use our de%ermina%ion or i% lea(es usA we mus% eCerise our power o# deision or we soon #ind %ha% we ha(e none. Taking a men%al s%and on %hings is no% only impor%an% %o suess and ahie(emen%, bu% is also basi %o men%al heal%h. The man who ne(er knows where he s%ands and allows himsel# %o be swayed on e(ery issue is bound %o pu% enormous s%rain on his emo%ional makeup, #or he is led #rom peak %o (alley o# (i%ory and de#ea% wi%hou% %he sligh%es% idea o# wha% mo%i(a%es him or wha% auses eah irums%ane %o be a%%ra%ed %o him. ai%h in one?s sel# and one?s des%iny is %he seed #rom whih all deision springs. -oub% is %he essene o# old age and dea%h. yniism, pessimism, and despair are harbingers o# #ailure, disease, and disas%er. $ll %hings spring #rom men%al images and emo%ional proHe%ions, and %he abili%y %o deide, %o make up one?s mind, is au%oma%i %o %he man who sees his uni%y wi%h all rea%ures and his umbilial onne%ion wi%h %he Sere% Sel#. To be unable %o make up one?s mind, no ma%%er how %ri(ial %he problem, is an a% o# owardie and on%amina%es %he soul. To be unable %o ome %o a deision is in #a% a kind o# Eui%%ing, a sor% o# re#usal %o en%er on#li%, and men%ally dams up %he #low o# energy %ha% proeeds in%o %he indi(idual #rom ou% o# %he uni(ersal, re%arding, limi%ing, bringing abou% dissolu%ion and deay. To be unable %o make up one?s mind implies a moral weakness. Suh le%hargy is no% %o be oddled bu% %o be o(erome. You will no% onEuer #ear by More ree !ooks
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aeding %o i%A only by mee%ing i% head onA and i# you do, your (i%ory is assured, #or #ear i%sel# is a oward and ne(er s%ands be#ore a dire% onslaugh%. MA$ING YOUR O!N LUC$
ha%e(er you are a#raid %o do, do i%, and you will be s%ar%led %ha% you no longer are a#raid. ha%e(er you are unable %o deide, deide i%, and you will be amaBed how orre% your deision has been. /% is ne(er %he righ%ness or wrongness o# our deisions %ha% we are a#raid o#, bu% %he #a% %ha% one we are ommi%%ed %o %hem we mus% s%and and #igh% #or %hem. /% is %he shying away #rom on#li% %ha% renders us unable %o make up our minds. /% is easy %o lose your %emper, %o loa# and be men%ally laBy, %o ea% wha% you wan% and as muh as you wan%, %o go in%o deb%, %o #eel sorry #or yoursel#, %o go down and down, %o pu% %he blame elsewhere. !u% i% %akes ourage %o keep your %emper and %o be pa%ien%, %o eCerise and keep your body #i%, %o push your business and sa(e your money, %o say no, %o aep% omple%e responsibili%y #or your own a%ions, %o ha(e #ai%h, no% %o worry. $ sign on %he wall o# many #oo%ball lokerroom says, F$ winner ne(er Eui%s, and a Eui%%er ne(er wins.G /% some%imes seems %ha% no%hing more is going on in li#e %han %ha% na%ure ons%an%ly %es%s us %o see i# we are a#raid. There are yles o# good and bad luk, %o be sure. +(ery ard player knows %hem and plays his hands aordingly. Suh pro(erbs as F/% ne(er rains bu% wha% i% poursG and FMis#or%unes ne(er ome singlyG are india%i(e o# mankind?s age5old reogni%ion o# s%reaks o# good and bad #or%une. Na%ure deals us her rudes% blows when she desires %o make us grow. One we see %he logi o# %his, we ne(er again will Eui% in %he #ae o# ad(ersi%y. hen luk is running agains% you, %ha% is %he %ime %o play harder, %o inh up your bel%, pluk up your ourage, smile, and be una#raidA %ha% is %he %ime %o mus%er %ha% li%%le eC%ra bi% o# men%al aler%ness. S%ik in %here and #igh%. No ma%%er how bleak %he prospe%, no ma%%er how dismal %he ou%look, s%ay in %here. :eep doing your (ery bes%, and abo(e all %hings be una#raid. )isualiBe s%eel up your spineA all upon your inner resoures #or an indomi%ableness %ha% will no% yield. Na%ure is wa%hing youA %he Sere% Sel# is wa%hing you. !urdens and mis#or%unes are being plaed upon your shoulders #or a reason, and i# you do no% beome sared, i# you Hus% plain s%ik in %here and re#use %o spook, you are sa%is#ying %he innermos% purposes o# li#e and soon or la%er you will be handed %he keys %o %he kingdom o# hea(en. TRUE AND &ALSE ACTION
/% is no% di##iul% %o dis%inguish be%ween %rue psyhi mo%i(a%ion and #alse psyhi mo%i(a%ion, %o be able %o reogniBe when one is #ollowing %he will o# %he Sere% Sel# or simply %he di%a%es o# one?s own ego. $%ion %ha% proeeds ou% o# %he will o# %he -i(ine is always dynami and ons%ru%i(e. /% is ne(er ringed around wi%h nega%i(e emo%ions and nega%i(e ou%looks. /% arries wi%h i% an inner on(i%ion and absolu%e sereni%y, so %ha% %he indi(idual knows beyond all doub% %ha% he is #ollowing %he righ% ourse. on(ersely, a%ion %ha% omes #rom %he ego is nearly More ree !ooks
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always harassed by doub%. The ego5ini%ia%ed a%ion is always an end5gaining a%ion. $n indi(idual per#orming a% %he behes% o# %he ego seldom %akes Hoy #rom his work or is omple%ely engrossed in i%. 'e seeks only %he goal desired by %he ego, and %his end in(ariably is glory, rihes, power, pres%ige, or one o# %he o%her aou%remen%s %ha% bedaBBle %he li%%le sel#. S%ill ano%her %es% %ha% we may apply %o %he psyhi mo%i(a%ion o# our a%ions is whe%her or no% %hey are e##e%i(e. $%ion %ha% is mo%i(a%ed by %he Sere% Sel# in(ariably is e##e%i(e. The indi(idual per#orming under uni(ersal will is irresis%ible, doing some%hing %ha% mus% be done. On %he o%her hand, a%ion %ha% is per#ormed under %he impulsion o# %he ego rarely is e##e%i(e and %hen bu% #or %ha% momen% %ha% ego5will oiniden%ally parallels di(ine will. Suh an ourrene is rare indeed, bu% when i% happens %he indi(idual is arried %o diBBying heigh%s wi%h an absolu%ely erroneous idea o# how i% all happened. 'e redi%s his ahie(emen% %o %he use o# his ego5will, and so he on%inues %o eCer% i%. /n onseEuene i% is no% long be#ore he makes an abrup% desen% %o %he plae where he s%ar%ed or e(en below i%, beomes a pi%ure o# omple%e on#usion and absolu%e #rus%ra%ion and knows no% whih way %o %urn. Suh men ha(e been known %o ommi% suiide. They are %he ones who suddenly seem %o lose %alen% and abili%y, %urn %o alohol and naro%is. !u% some%imes, i# humili%y beomes ingrained be#ore omple%e disin%egra%ion se%s in, %hey #ind unders%anding and are able %o remake %heir li(es #rom %he proper psyhi posi%ion. TE GENERAL MANAGER IS U%STAIRS
@im was a high5spiri%ed, s%rong5willed young man, and when he was disharged #rom %he army a#%er orld ar //, he was o##ered a %ele(ision Hob in a wes% oas% i%y. @im was ambi%ious, and (owed %o rise %o head his s%a%ion, %hen %o make i% %he leader in i%s marke%. 'e worked hard, #or he wan%ed pres%ige and money, and wi%hin #i(e years he had a%%ained bo%h. 'e beame general manager o# %he %ele(ision s%a%ion, and i% beame %he leader in i%s marke%. -uring %his period, o# ourse, %he en%ire %ele(ision indus%ry mushroomed. /% grew %en %imes in siBe, and %hose employed in i% were arried upward in %he proess. Then ompe%i%ion se% in. Talen% was rerui%ed #rom ad(er%ising agenies, radio s%a%ions, mo%ion pi%ures s%udios, %he !roadway s%age. @im wa%hed %his in#luC o# new #aes and resol(ed %o be be%%er %han all, %o make more money, %o be %he leader. 'e worked around %he lok, bu% ne(er%heless %hings began %o go badly. No ma%%er how well he laid his plans, some%hing always upse% %hem. No ma%%er how are#ully he %hough% ou% a proess, some unknown #a%or always ropped up and spoiled i%. 'e began %o %hink he was unluky. 8eople whom he was posi%i(e were in#erior o#%en bes%ed him by wha% seemed an amaBing s%roke o# #or%une. 'e grew bi%%er, suspiious and hos%ile %o assoia%es. Two years la%er, he was #ired.
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One day, when his spiri%s were a% %heir lowes% ebb and he had abou% gi(en up, he ame aross a book %ha% depi%ed %he Hoys o# surrendering one?s will %o uni(ersal will, and sine he was abou% %o gi(e up anyway, he deided %o %ry %his. 'e was as%ounded a% %he peae and sereni%y %ha% ame %o him #rom %he simple a% o# psyhologial submission. 'e %ook a humble Hob in a new %ele(ision s%a%ion, s%ar%ed on %he road bak. 'is #riends no%ied %he hange in him. 'e had eased being an agi%a%or. 'e no longer under%ook a%ion #or %he primary reason o# ge%%ing some%hing done, bu% now seemed %o do %hings %hrough an inner Hoy in %heir a%ual doing. There was abou% him a Euali%y o# %olerane and unders%anding, o# humili%y, %ha% made his presene on %he %eam a deligh% %o all. i%hin a #ew mon%hs he was gi(en a responsible HobA wi%hin %wo years he headed %he s%a%ion. The %i%le, Feneral Manager,G no longer is on @im?s door, %hough. $sked why no%, he replies, FThe eneral Manager is ups%airs.G TE ETERNAL SOURCE
"eom%e -u Nouy wro%e, F"e% e(ery man remember %ha% %he des%iny o# mankind is inomparable, and le% him abo(e all ne(er #orge% %ha% %he di(ine spark is in him and him alone and %ha% he is #ree %o disregard i%, %o kill i%, or %o ome loser %o od by showing his eagerness %o work wi%h 'im and #or 'im.G This, o# ourse, is %he eCa% psyhi posi%ion %ha% we mus% s%ri(e #or i# we would lead an e##e%i(e and enligh%ened li#e. The knowledge o# our e%ernal soure and our subseEuen% iden%i#ia%ion wi%h i% leads us in%o a%ions and a%%i%udes %ha% ha(e a broader and more uni(ersal (iewpoin% %han any possible %o %he egois%i sel#. Our power o# deision enables us %o grow in any dire%ion %ha% we hoose, and one we ha(e shuked o## %he limi%ing and res%ri%ing presene o# %he sur#ae sel#, we %hen are able %o eCpand in%o a kind o# osmi perep%ion %ha% enables us %o per#orm all work in%ui%i(ely and wi%h an e##e%i(eness and skill here%o#ore denied us. You may be sure %ha% you will no% be a (i%im o# le%hargy when you surrender your li#e %o %he Sere% Sel#. /ns%ead, you will beome muh more dynami. The meaningless pa%%ern o# your human eCis%ene will be al%ered omple%ely, and you will ome %o see %he in(isible shape o# your des%iny. hen %he (eil is li#%ed a% las%, you will #ind %ha% %he desire %o has%en or re%ard or hange e(en%s has goneA wha% will be will be, and %ha% is enough. @us% %o be able %o reogniBe %ha% %here is a grea%er plan enables one %o abdia%e #rom any a%%emp% %o run i%. This does no% %ake one ou% o# %he arena, i% plunges one in more deeply. $ll %ha% is sari#ied is %he limi%ed (iew o# %he sur#ae sel#. Your ou%er mien may be #ull o# a%ion and %hunder and dynamis, bu% inwardly you are serene, sure abou% all %hings, beause, as Trimalhio says, FOur Mo%her, %he ear%h, is in %he middle, made round like an egg, and has all good %hings in hersel#, like a honeyomb.G CONDITIONING TE SU'CONSCIOUS More ree !ooks
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$s long as we are #oused in %he sensory area o# our awareness, we are ne(er mas%er o# our own house, #or our %rue mo%i(a%ions spring ou% o# sub%erranean areas %ha% we are no% aware o# and do no% on%rol. Tha% is why people o#%en are unable %o ahie(e resul%s %hrough posi%i(e %hinking. The subonsious always dire%s usA %he onsious mind is only i%s5agen%. The more sel#5su##iien% %he onsious mind seems, %he more i% is used as a %ool by %he subonsious. You anno% issue orders %o %he subonsiousA %ha% is %he wrong psyhi approah. The subonsious mus% perei(e, %hen aep%. /% does no% respond %o oerion. !u% e(en %hough %he onsious mind anno% order %he subonsious abou%, i% an ondi%ion i% %o rea% di##eren%ly. /# a man is #ear#ul, he anno% make himsel# bra(e by an a% o# will only by ondi%ioning his subonsious %o p romo%e #eelings o# bra(ery in him. or %his reason periods o# medi%a%ion are (ery impor%an%. Through %hem we an hange our awareness o# prosperi%y, heal%h, and happiness as %he onsious mind impinges a ondi%ioning Euali%y upon %he subonsious. e an hoose onsiously %he pa%h %o #ollow, bu% only %he long lines o# i%. Our daily hoies are en#ored in us by %he subonsious, #or we always a% and %hink in%ui%i(ely and ins%in%i(ely. /# we are displeased wi%h our a%ions and our irums%anes, we mus% ondi%ion %he subonsious %o inspire in us di##eren% %hough%s and di##eren% a%ions. This power o# au%o5ondi%ioning is a(ailable %o all. e an aomplish i% by daily periods o# medi%a%ion or simply by keeping wi%hin our onsiousness a% all %imes an awareness o# %he %hing %ha% we wan% %o beome. *ealiBe %his= when %he hips are #lying, we ha(e %o go wi%h %he personali%y and sense o# sel# %ha% already has been ins%alled in %he subonsious, #or in %imes o# a%ion all our %hough%s and mo(emen%s are ins%in%i(e. &ACING IDDEN &ACTS
/% %akes #irm5hear%edness %o #ae %he #a% %ha% you ha(e hosen e(ery irums%ane and %hing in your li#e, no% onsiously, o# ourse, bu% subonsiously. $ man who is sik usually is appalled a% %he idea %ha% he has hosen %o be sik, dumb#ounded a% %he e##ron%ery o# anyone sugges%ing %ha% he an ge% well by simply hoosing %o be well. /# somebody eCplains %he ondi%ioning Euali%y o# posi%i(e %hinking, he some%imes %ries i% #or a %ime bu% usually wi%hou% (isible resul%s, #or he %hinks posi%i(ely nega%i(ely, is %elling himsel# %ha% he is well while he knows %ha% he is sik. $ man an beome well by hoosing %o beome well, bu% he seldom beomes so %he momen% a#%er making his hoie. /% #irs% is neessary #or him %o embark upon a program o# ondi%ioning his onsiousness in%o awareness o# heal%h. 'e has beome sik beause his onsiousness piked up an awareness o# sikness, and %his mus% be as% ou%, replaed, and %he %ask will no% be aomplished in a day. uriously, o%her persons some%imes ha(e more e##e% on our subonsious %han we oursel(es do. $ good hypno%is% o#%en is able %o e##e% amaBing ures. These are usually %emporary, howe(er, beause %he hypno%is%5 ins%illed idea is soon dissipa%ed and replaed by %he promp%er %ha% aused illness More ree !ooks
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in %he #irs% plae. The indi(idual?s onsious mind pu% %he sikness promp%er in %he subonsious and will on%inue %o do so un%il %he pa%%ern o# %hinking is hanged. GRAS%ING SADO!S
There is no shor% and easy road %o reondi%ioning your subonsious. 'ypno%ism and psyhoanalysis are no panaeas. The reondi%ioning an be done only by yoursel#, and i% %akes onen%ra%ion and on%inued e##or%A bu% %here is always %he grea% onsola%ion %ha% in %he end you will be mas%er o# your own li#e. /% is urious how o#%en %he %hings %ha% we se% our minds %o e(ade us. /% some%imes seems %ha% %he mere a% o# #ousing our a%%en%ion upon some obHe%i(e auses %ha% obHe%i(e %o beome impossible o# aomplishmen%. ollow a shadow, i% s%ill #lies youA Seem %o #ly i%, i% will pursue= So our% a mis%ress, she denies youA "e% her aloneA she will our% you. >!en @onson There is a deep underlying psyhologial reason why our onsious purposes are o#%en de#ea%ed, and %ha% is beause %hey o#%en are a% odds wi%h our subonsious purposes. /# we #ail, i% is beause we subonsiously wish #or #ailure, e(en %hough our onsious minds seem %o desire suess abo(e all %hings. !u% %he onsious mind o# i%sel# an do no%hingA i% is always in %he grip o# %he subonsious. /% an only ondi%ion %he subonsious and %hereby reei(e i%s oopera%ion in %he aomplishmen% o# onsious obHe%i(es. $ll deisions are made subonsiously, and i# we do no% #igh% %hem, %hey are made swi#%ly and easily. $%%emp%ing %o make our hoies onsiously in %he hea% o# a%ion only se%s up on#li% be%ween %he onsious mind and %he subonsious mind, and in %he end %he hoie is made by %he subonsious anyway. /# %he hoies made by %he %wo minds are opposed, %hen we may see #ailure growing ou% o# our e##or%s a% suess, or illness growing ou% o# our e##or%s a% heal%h, or ha%e growing ou% o# our e##or%s a% lo(e. The sphere o# e##e%i(eness %ha% %he onsious mind has o(er %he subonsious is %his= by i% we an hoose onsiously %o beome %he sor% o# people we would like %o be. e an beome ourageous and energe%i and loyal and %rus%wor%hy and #ull o# lo(e and kindness and %olerane by %he simple use o# onsious ondi%ioning me%hods, by onen%ra%ing our a%%en%ion on %he %hings we would like %o beome, by allowing %hese impressions %o seep down %o subonsious le(els (ia our imagina%ion. /# we do %his on%inually and wi%h regulari%y, sooner or la%er we begin %o a% and %hink in Hus% %he way %ha% our onsiousness is #oused upon. e %hen are able %o beha(e in e(ery si%ua%ion ins%in%i(ely and na%urally, in %he manner we always ha(e desired. e li%erally ha(e remade oursel(es in %he image o# our desires %hrough #ousing our a%%en%ion upon %ha% image and allowing i% %o seep down in%o %he subonsious. e are able %o a% and %hink aording %o a sense o# sel# %ha% we ha(e made up in our minds. Our power o# hoie s%ems #rom More ree !ooks
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our power %o beome, and we are always a re#le%ion o# an image %ha% we arry in our minds. e an beome any%hing we desire by hanging our psyhologial (iewpoin%. CLAS O& O%%OSITES
To ha(e a mind is a wondrous %hing, bu% a responsible %hing %oo. *udyard :ipling wro%e, FThere are #or%y million reasons #or #ailure, bu% no% a single eCuse.G $nd when we ha(e ome %o a realiBa%ion o# %he libera%ing and rea%i(e na%ure o# our minds, we soon are made aware %ha% we are #inding in %he world abou% us %he images proHe%ed wi%hin onsiousness. Take %he %ime and ha(e %he ourage %o #ae %he #a% o# %he power o# your hoie. You ha(e deided e(ery%hing %ha% has ome in%o your li#e by %aking a men%al s%and abou% i%, by allowing %ha% s%and %o %ake #orm and shape in your subonsious, by your willingness %o aep% i%. /# you are rih, you 167 ha(e aep%ed an awareness o# abundaneA i# you are poor, you ha(e aep%ed an awareness o# po(er%yA i# you are well and (igorous, you ha(e aep%ed an awareness o# heal%hA i# you are sik, you ha(e aep%ed an awareness o# illness. $ll o# li#e is %he lashing o# opposi%es, %he blak and whi%e o# eC%remes, %he gray area in be%ween. 'igh, low, broad, narrow, dark, ligh%, s%reng%h, weakness, always we hoose be%ween %hemA and %hrough our hoies we make oursel(es in%o %he kind o# people we beome, and shape %he e(en%s and irums%anes o# our li(es. No one else is responsible a% all, only oursel(es. hoie is always wi%h us. e make i%, and %hereby deide our li(es and our #a%e.
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Chapter ' OVERCO!ING O&&OSITION '+ world is popula%ed by many di##eren% kinds o# people. The li%%le girl s%ripping pe%als #rom a daisy in Eues% o# a #u%ure husband while she rei%es %he well5known han% is like eah o# us as he s%ands a% %he %hreshold o# li#e and seeks his des%iny. F*ih man, poor man, beggar man, %hie#, do%or, lawyer, merhan%, hie#.G hih shall / beD Some beome merhan%s, o%hers manu#a%urers, some %eahers, o%hers ar%is%s, some warriors, and %he world appears di##eren% %o eah, #or wha% he sees %here promp%s him in his hoie, di%a%es eah s%ep o# his way. The warrior sees opposi%ion. To him %he world is girded around wi%h opposing #ores, and in %he lash and resolu%ion o# %hese #ores he seeks %o #ind his role. ompe%i%i(eness and on#li% ome #rom perei(ing obs%ales. Sensing hos%ili%y in %he en(ironmen% makes e(ery man a warrior in a psyhologial sense. No ma%%er %he area he has hosen, whe%her shoolroom or ba%%le#ield, meran%ile s%ore or library, eah enoun%ers opposi%ion in e(ery%hing he does, #or i% is by %he s%ress and s%rain o# on#li% and %he resolu%ion o# #ores and ideas %ha% %he e(olu%ion o# li#e i%sel# is %aking plae on ear%h. O%%OSITION MA$ES &OR GRO!T
Opposi%ion is %he na%ural en(ironmen% o# li#e. *emo(e opposi%ion #rom a man?s surroundings, and he shor%ly wi%hers and dies. $ musle grows s%rong by eCerising i%. alluses pro%e% %he hand %ha% daily per#orms hard work. The mind %ha% is used ons%an%ly beomes aler% and #aile. !u% when we are unopposed we #lounder and are #rus%ra%ed, and our organism goes %o piees %hrough lak o# in%en% and purpose. e grow by mee%ing obs%ales and o(eroming %hem. !y %his e##or% and aspira%ion we are re#ined in%o be%%er persons, in%o more in%elligen% and aware beings %han we e(er ould beome i# we (ege%a%ed in a omple%ely benign en(ironmen%. hen we realiBe %ha% opposi%ion is impor%an% %o grow%h, %hen we learn %o seek i% ons%an%ly, no% in %he sense o# #alsi#ying i%, bu% ra%her in looking abou% %o #ind ou% where i% already eCis%s, and %hen, by %he de(elopmen% o# insigh% and awareness, %o o(erome i%. Nobody e(er broke down a wall by running headlong in%o i%. hen we are opposed i% is always by insru%able and implaable #ores. $ll opposi%ion is blind beause our own eyes are blinded. One we ha(e seen %he %ru%h abou% opposi%ion, %ha% opposi%ion no longer will be %here. Our e##or%s should no% be ben% upon breaking down a wall bu% upon raising our onsiousness so %ha% we are able %o perei(e me%hods o# egress and ingress. Some people mee% opposi%ion en%husias%ially and wi%hou% hos%ili%yA %hose who do no% are ei%her broken by i% or e(en%ually %urn and run. 'a%e, hos%ili%y, and resen%men% blind our eyes %o %he sor% o# %hing %ha% opposes us. /n suh a psyhologial s%a%e we ne(er an see %he %ru%h abou% an obs%ale, and i%s insru%abili%y e(en%ually will de#ea% us. You anno% %hrow yoursel# agains% %he world and eCpe% any%hing bu% de#ea% and despair. More ree !ooks
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EMOTIONAL 'LIND S%OTS
$ll obs%ales are no% in %heir %rues% sense obs%ales a% all bu% merely men%al bloks in %he mind o# %he person who perei(es %hem. 'e o(eromes %hem no% by opposing %hem bu% by a%%emp%ing %o unders%and %hem. /n %he end all obs%ales are redued %o one>a #alse sense o# sel#. To o(erome opposi%ion we mus% seek #irs% #or sel#on%rol and enligh%enmen% as %o %he %hing %ha% opposes us. /# i% is a #riend who ompe%es #or a Hob, we will nei%her gain %he Hob nor keep %he #riend i# we allow #eelings o# hos%ili%y %o de(elop wi%hin us. Suh emo%ional bloks blind us %o %he %rue na%ure o# %he Hob and %he bes% way %o go abou% ge%%ing i%A %hey lose our eyes %o %he Euali%ies in our #riend whih migh% enable him %o hold and per#orm %he Hob as well or be%%er %han oursel(es. *eogniBing %ha% opposi%ion is really a blok in our unders%anding is %he bigges% s%ep in o(eroming obs%ales. One we know wha% we ha(e %o do, i% is #airly easy %o %ake %he neessary a%ion. -oub% and on#usion produe no work. The made5up mind, e(en i# madeup erroneously, a% leas% ge%s %he Hob done, is dynami and rea%i(e and a% work in %he world. Opposi%ion surrounds %he man who anno% make up his mind, bu% doors appear in blank walls #or %he man who omes %o a deision. / shoo% %he hippopo%amus i%h bulle%s made o# pla%inum !eause i# / use leaden ones 'is hide is sure %o #la%%en Kem. >'ilaire !ello !ILLINGNESS TO ENTER CON&LICT
There is a righ% and wrong way %o do all %hings, bu% we do no% neessarily hoose %he righ% way %he #irs% %ime we se% abou% doing some%hing. The immersion o# %he indi(idual in e(en%s enables him %o ome %o an unders%anding o# %hose e(en%s, bu% i# he does no% en%er in%o %hem, i# he s%ands aside and a%%emp%s %o (iew %hem #rom a dis%ane, i% is eC%remely unlikely %ha% he e(er will ome %o unders%and %hem a% all. 'e will arri(e a% only an aademi grasp o# wha% is happening. 'e will ha(e %o measure %he %hing he is %hinking abou% by some pas% eCperiene, and sine %ha% pas% eCperiene an ha(e only %he remo%es% bearing on %he %hing he now a%%emp%s %o analyBe, i% will be mos% di##iul% #or him %o see i%s real rela%ionship and po%en%iali%y. e ge% %o know %he %hings we are a%%emp%ing %o mas%er only by doing %hem. No amoun% o# %eahing or s%udying e(er made a ra#%sman. ha%e(er you wish %o do, do i%, and you will #ind your skill inrease. The s%eps %o mas%ery lead up a long hill reple%e wi%h obs%ales, and eah when me% and o(erome inreases your unders%anding. The Hob %o be done has a righ% way %o do i%, and %he righ% way %o do i% is made apparen% by per#ormane, and 171 per#ormane in(ol(es a willingness %o en%er in%o on#li%, %o mee% opposi%ion wi%hou% #ear, hos%ili%y, or resen%men%. More ree !ooks
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The Euali%y mos% neessary in %he onEues% o# li#e is ourage. /% is (ery di##iul% %o under%ake any dynami a%ion unless %here is residen% in %he person a boldness %ha% re#uses %o be in%imida%ed by obs%ales. There are %hree prinipal rea%ions possible %o %he human organism when #aed by danger. /% an runA i% an #igh%A or i% an #reeBe. e see e(idene o# all %hree in %he animal kingdom. The lion #aed by danger #igh%sA %he an%elope #aed by danger runsA %he possum #aed by danger #reeBes. Suh rea%ions are usually all presen% in %he same person. The one %ha% is %riggered when he is #aed by danger depends upon his emo%ional ondi%ioning and his perep%ion o# %ru%h. /# we run #rom danger i% is ob(ious we ha(e gi(en in %o #ear. !u% %he person who is #roBen has gi(en in %o #ear Hus% as muh as %he person who runs away. 'owe(er, #ew people run away %oday. e ha(e been %augh% %ha% #ear is bad and mus% be o(erome. Soie%y admires %he man o# ourage, and our #ear o# o%hers onsidering us owards usually is grea%er %han our #ear o# dangerous irums%anes. /n %he #ae o# danger, %he a(erage person is roo%ed %o %he spo%, mesmeriBed by %he #ear %ha% permea%es him. 'e ould no% possibly rea% in a worse manner. $% leas% %he man who runs away li(es %o #igh% ano%her day, bu% %he man who anno% ei%her #igh% or run an only be des%royed. &ACING &EAR
/n our modern soie%y eah man is engaged in a ons%an% bou% wi%h #ear. 'e mus% work %o pro(ide a li(ing, and %he #ear is always wi%h him %ha% he will no% earn enough #or himsel# and his #amily. 'e usually is employed by an indus%rial olossus in whih he is a mere ipher on %he payroll, and sine he anno% help bu% perei(e his dispensabili%y, inseuri%y ons%an%ly haun%s him. 'e sees %ha% he nei%her alled himsel# in%o eCis%ene nor an he s%ay his e(en%ual dea%h, and beause he anno% see beyond %hese ends o# eCis%ene he %urns his psyhologial #ae #rom any onsidera%ion o# his spiri%ual side. 'e usually li(es ou% his li#e wi%h his awareness #ron%ed in %he ego, and as a onseEuene he #ore(er is omparing himsel# wi%h o%hers. 'e is ei%her be%%er or worse bu% ne(er eEual, and so he is ei%her pa%%ing himsel# on %he bak or bera%ing himsel# #or being in#erior. Though #ear is his ons%an% ompanion he o#%en #anies he has o(erome i% beause he does no% run awayA bu% %he #ear remains and announes i%s presene by ulers, high blood pressure, hear% %rouble, ar%hri%is, aner. /# we do no% wan% %o run away #rom danger and i# we do no% wan% %o be #roBen by i%, %hen our only al%erna%i(e is %o #igh% i%, %o #ae i% and allow our own par%iular dynami %o work ou% %he o(eroming o# i%. This in(ol(es abo(e all %hings onEuering #ear, #or when emo%ion permea%es body and brain, %he indi(idual is unable %o %hinkA he loses himsel# around wi%h a shell %hrough whih %he %rue essene o# %he dangerous si%ua%ion anno% possibly pene%ra%e. 'e isola%es himsel# #rom his own subonsious, #reeBes or runs away. onEuering #ear means %o subordina%e #ear, %o #ore i% ou% o# %he le(el o# awareness so %ha% %he psyhe is #ree %o appraise %he si%ua%ion, so %ha% %he More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
indi(idual onsiousness may pene%ra%e %he essene o# %he si%ua%ion on#ron%ing i% and perei(e i%s meaning independen% o# %he ego. hen a man does %his, he i s able %o %ake a%ion agains% his dangerous si%ua%ion in suh a manner as %o redue i%s %hrea% %o no%hing. Take %he lion %amer. $s a no(ie he s%eps in%o %he age and eCperienes %he #roBenness %ha% omes wi%h #ear. 'e would no% be in %he age in %he #irs% plae i# he had no% already o(erome %he running5away rea%ion, bu% now he mus% o(erome his #roBenness. 'e looks in%o %he grea% beas%?s eyes and is mesmeriBed. 'e an barely bring his limbs %o mo(e in response %o %he di%a%es o# his mind. !u% as %he weeks and mon%hs go by and he is ons%an%ly in %he age wi%h %he lion, he begins %o unders%and i% and %he barriers be%ween %he animal?s subonsious and his own are lowered. Then he omes %o an ins%in%i(e unders%anding o# %he lion, and %he lion beomes aware o# %his and #oll ows his orders doilely. There omes a day when s%epping in%o %he age and pu%%ing %he lion %hrough i%s %riks no longer in(ol(es any danger a% all. 'e has beome so skilled in perep%ion o# %he %rue rela%ionship be%ween himsel# and %he lion and has so disiplined #ear %ha% he per#orms %he %ask o# running %he lion as easily as he dri(es his au%omobile. No ma%%er %he si%ua%ions %ha% seem %o imperil you, you an o(erome allA you an a% in %he mids% o# %hem wi%h grea% bra(ery, wi%h an o%herworldly boldness i# only you will sEueeBe #ear ou% o# your onsiousness, reogniBing %ha% i% proeeds ou% o# %he ego and mus% be surmoun%ed be#ore any obs%ale an be o(erome. INCREASING UNDERSTANDING
Marus $urelius wro%e, F-o no% %hink %ha% wha% is hard #or %hee %o mas%er is impossible #or manA bu% i# a %hing is possible and proper %o man, deem i% a%%ainable by %hee.G /n order %o redue eah obs%ale %o i%s proper siBe we ha(e %o grow. e only mee% an obs%ale in %he #irs% plae beause o# some small5ness in our na%ure, and when we ha(e go%%en rid o# %ha% small5ness we will ha(e go%%en rid o# %he obs%ale %oo. $ll obs%ales are in a%ual %ru%h illusions, and %o %he eC%en% %ha% we are deluded by %hem is india%ed a side o# our na%ure %ha% needs more ma%uri%y and unders%anding. enerally we only reogniBe opposi%ion when we #ail %o pass beyond a er%ain poin% wi%h our me%hods o# a%ion. /# a bridge lies be#ore us and we seek %o ross i%, we reogniBe opposi%ion when a barrier is pu% in our pa%h and a man asks us #or a %oll. Then we see (ery learly %ha% we mus% pay a prie #or our desire. +ah o# us, as he mo(es along wi%hou% opposi%ion, onsiders %ha% he has e(ol(ed a #ormula %ha% will make his pa%h serene. There is no suh #ormula, and no pa%h will be serene #or long. e are all sailors on a s%ormy sea %ha% appears %o be unhar%ed, bu% %o some higher knowing mind %he dep%hs and %he deeps are spei#ially known. +ah o# us sails %his gigan%i oean aording %o his unders%anding. $ll men are rea%ed eEual in po%en%ial, bu% a% any par%iular s%age o# %heir de(elopmen% %he primary %hing obser(able abou% %hem is %heir absolu%e ineEuali%y. +ah is shor%er or %aller or #a%%er or leaner or smar%er or bolder or m ore (igorous More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
and seems %o ha(e no oun%erpar%. Though we all se% #or%h on li#e?s Hourney wi%h %he same po%en%ial, presen% de(elopmen% o# %ha% po%en%ial is an indi(idual ma%%erA and %he opposi%ion %ha% on#ron%s us as we mo(e #rom hour %o hour o# our %emporal span is dire%ly india%i(e o# our unders%anding. /% is wha% we anno% do or be or see %ha% omes in%o our li#e as a problem. /# our problems re(ol(e around lo(e, i% is beause we anno% lo(e. /# our problems re(ol(e around suess, i% is beause we are inseure. /# our problems re(ol(e around heal%h, i% is beause we are spiri%ually and emo%ionally repressed. $lways we seek %o surmoun% %he problems in our subonsious, and we generally do %his by any means possible, some%imes rea%ing %he mos% #an%as%i illusions in order %o subs%an%ia%e our posi%ion. /# we are unsuess#ul, #or eCample, we rea%e a world o# mean and apriious people whose sole purpose is %o de#ea% our par%iular aims. /# we are unlo(ed, we rela%e by %he hour %he number o# %imes we ha(e done %hings #or people and %hey ha(e repaid us by ignoring us. /# we are unheal%hy, we reoun% a% grea% leng%h %he %remendous drama o# our s%ruggle agains% %he oun%less bugs %ha% a%%ak our weak and ine##e%ual organs. /# we are #a%, we %hink e(erybody else ea%s more and s%ays %hin. /# we are poor, we %hink e(erybody else works less and makes more money. /# we are weak, we en(y %he s%rong, bu% seldom ha(e %he ourage %o s%reng%hen our minds and our bodies by eCposing %hem %o %ension and pain. DECISION DETERMINES GRO!T
/n e(ery obs%ale lies %he key %o ano%her le(el o# awareness. 0n%il we #ind %he key, we anno% grow and our perep%ion is ringed around wi%h barriers. $ man looks a% a hurdle and deides whe%her or no% he an leap o(er i%. /n %ha% deision he de%ermines his #a%e. 'e may look a% %he hurdle and deide %ha% he anno% leap o(er i% no ma%%er how high i% is. 'e may look a% %he hurdle and deide %ha% he anno% leap o(er i% a% %ha% par%iular heigh%, bu% ould i# i% were lower. 'e may look a% %he hurdle and %hink %ha% he ould leap o(er i% i# i% were %wie as high. $nd aording %o his men%al onep%ion his %rial will be. e are all on %rial in li#e. 8roblems are posed %o eah o# us, and we ei%her #ae %hem or we don?% bu% i# we #ae %hem our grow%h is assured. Some people appear %o onEuer %heir problems easier %han o%hers, bu% %his appearane some%imes is misleading. The enligh%ened man does no% spread his %roubles abou%. 'e keeps %hem %o himsel#, pre#erring %o rea%e impressions o# on%rol and sereni%y. 'e has %he inward realiBa%ion %ha% all people are eEually %roubled, %ha% eah has %he same number o# problems, perhaps on di##eren% le(els, bu% eEually impor%an%, none%heless. The mos% psyhologially sound philosophy is a religious philosophy beause i% reogniBes %ha% li#e is aspira%ion, seeking %o grow beyond i%s presen% unders%anding %oward a goal %ha% is as limi%less as spae. No man s%ands alone on %he %op o# his moun%ain, no ma%%er how small %ha% moun%ain be. 'e is sus%ained and energiBed by a power beyond him, whih in %he end he mus% surrender %o, whih he mus% seek %o eCpress and e##e%ua%e upon %he ear%h. ha% is going on in More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
%he uni(erse s%re%hes #ar beyond %he imagina%ion o# %he indi(idual. e are in %he grip o# a power %ha% knows eCa%ly where i% is going, %ha% uses us as ins%rumen%s %o eCeu%e i%s will in %he world. !u% %he ennobling and hear%ening #a% is %his, %ha% %he indi(idual may beome any%hing he desires, may #i% in%o any onep%ion he is apable o# onei(ing, #or no man is limi%ed %o wha% he appears %o be, bu% has inna%e wi%hin him a Euali%y %ha% enables him %o beome any%hing he is apable o# en(isaging. 'e may reah ou% and %ouh %he s%ars, #or his rea%or an, and he is his rea%or, par% and parel, no di##eren% #rom a% all, laking only in unders%anding. DESTINY AND UNDERSTANDING
/# a man opposes his will %o e(en%s he is opposing only his men%al bloks. Tha% whih seems %o be opposi%ion, when %ruly perei(ed, is no% opposi%ion a#%er all. "i#e is proeeding %oward some grea% end. No%hing is small or unimpor%an% in %he ahie(emen% o# %ha% end. The pinpoin% o# a diamond may suppor% a %housand re(ol(ing %ons, and %he indi(idual is Hus% suh a suppor% #or his rea%or. The will o# %he Supreme pre(ails, and man ser(es i%, bu% man is a mani#es%a%ion o# %he Supreme, and %here#ore an al%er his des%iny. 'e an hange wha% he is by %aking %hough%. 'e an hange wha% he will be by de%ermining %he dire%ion o# his grow%h. The will o# uni(ersal mind is a will %oward enligh%enmen%. The Sere% Sel# has inarna%ed in eah being and seeks %hrough %ha% par%iular mani#es%a%ion %o add %o i%s sel#5knowledge. $ man does no% eCis% %o sa%is#y his senses or his ego, bu% has been rea%ed and pu% upon %he ear%h %o #ind himsel#, %o grow in%o awareness and sel#5knowledge. $ll %he obs%ales and e(en%s o# li#e are #or %his purpose alone. /% is no% money we ser(e or pleasure or (ani%y bu% an urge wi%hin us %o grow, %o beome more %han we are, %o #ind our %rue sel(es and %o ahie(e dominion o(er %he irums%anes around us. a%e assigns %o eah man a personal des%iny based upon his unders%anding. 'e may al%er %ha% des%iny by al%ering his unders%anding, bu% he anno% hange i% by #igh%ing i% wi%h %he (ain weapons o# ego5will. Oedipus, in Sopholes? %ragedy, s%ri(es wi%h all %he e##or% o# his ego5will %o esape his doom, and in so doing %akes %he (ery s%eps %ha% e(en%ually bring i% abou%. $ man ser(es #alse gods when he ser(es %he senses and ego5desires. ollowing %hese #alse mas%ers e(en%ually leads him in%o a blind alley, where he ei%her des%roys himsel# or in some o%her manner our%s %ragedy. The Sere% Sel# has plaed %he delusion o# indi(idual ego in us, bu% no% so we will %il% a% windmills, like -on JuiCo%e. The delusion o# ego5sel# has been gi(en us in order %ha% we migh% grow #rom %he knowledge o# a par% %o %he knowledge o# %he whole and in so doing aid %he Sere% Sel# in i%s ul%ima%e asension ou% o# ma%%er. 8ro(idene ombines predes%ina%ion and human #reedom #or %he reason %ha% all %hings are %he -i(ine and %he will o# %he -i(ine is #ree. "os% in ego5sense, howe(er, %he indi(idual is bound by %he %erms o# a personal des%iny based on sensual rea%ion. 'e an al%er his li#e only by al%ering himsel#, and as long as he lings %o %he ego as knowledge o# sel#, he More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
ser(es %he will o# %he Supreme as he ser(es a mas%er. 'e does no% know %his, o# ourse. 'e #igh%s and rails agains% %he blows o# #a%e. 'e peers ou% #rom under suspiious brows a% a world %ha% seems %o be his enemy. 'e seeks %o onEuer, %o on%rol, and #ailing %o do so is on(ined %ha% a onspiray is a#oo% %o %hwar% his desires. TE TEM%ERING %ROCESS
+(en as Oedipus brings abou% his doom by s%ruggling agains% i% wi%h his ego5will, so $eneas in )irgil?s $eneid #ul#ills his des%iny wi%h honor and reward by submi%%ing %o %he will o# od. $eneas was di(inely appoin%ed %o bring %he TroHan rae %o /%aly and #ound %he *oman +mpire, and in %his appoin%men% was %o be an ins%rumen% o# %he ods. 'e was %emp%ed %o e(ade his mission, bu% #inally aep%ed i%, and wi%h di(ine will as his guide brough% a golden age o# *oman law and peae %o %he world. These %wo lassial hara%ers, Oedipus and $eneas, illus%ra%e %he age5old dilemma o# man, whe%her %o ser(e himsel# and his sensual na%ure in %he world or %o seek beyond himsel# #or a guiding priniple %ha% i s in#ini%e and e%ernal. The pa%h o# Oedipus is %he pa%h o# pain and #rus%ra%ion. The pa%h o# $eneas is %he pa%h o# enligh%enmen% and sereni%y. Ye% %he ego is so s%rong in us %ha% nearly e(ery man hooses %he pa%h o# pain and #rus%ra%ion. 'e has iden%i#ied himsel# #alsely wi%h a (ani%y %ha% demands reogni%ion. 'e wan%s applause, #ame, money, and he makes gods o# %hese ins%ead o# %he Sere% Sel# in whose purpose#ul hands all %hings lie. S%ill, no man esapes %he %empering in#luene o# on#li% and pain. No ma%%er how #ar along %he pa%h o# enligh%enmen% he has %ra(eled, he s%ill pursues oasional blind alleys a% %he behes% o# %he ego, s%ill arries abou% in %he sub%erranean reesses o# his psyhe many delusions and blind spo%s %ha% promp% him %o mo(e in wrong dire%ions, %o adop% a%%i%udes %ha% are opposed %o %ru%h. /ne(i%ably, he mee%s pain and #rus%ra%ion, bu% i# he has ome #ar enough on %he pa%h o# enligh%enmen% %o reogniBe %hese symp%oms #or wha% %hey are, %hen he does no% endlessly bea% his #is%s agains% walls %ha% will no% yield, and reogniBes as soon as he mee%s %he pain %ha% a blok has been enoun%ered in his unders%anding. /% is no% learning, grae, or gear, Nor easy mea% and drink, !u% bi%%er pinh o# pain and #ear Tha% makes rea%ion %hink. >*udyard :ipling
TE %SYCOLOGICAL OR S%IRITUAL !ORLD
There is a power o# eC%ra5sensory perep%ion inheren% in eah o# us whih we an all upon #or enligh%enmen% when opposi%ion appears %o ha(e brough% us %o a dead end. The enormous psyhi sel# whih our sur#ae minds are %ied %o permea%es all %hings and all si%ua%ions, so %ha% we an pene%ra%e %he %rue na%ure More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
o# our opposi%ion by a kind o# mys%i and oul% proess. -r. *hine?s parapsyhology labora%ory a% -uke 0ni(ersi%y has pro(ed %he eCis%ene o# %he mind?s eC%ra5sensory powers. Many %housands o# doumen%ed ases o# +dgar aye?s psyhi abili%y also ha(e pro(ed %ha% a door oasionally opens in %he opaEue barrier be%ween %he indi(idual and uni(ersal mind and allows an inner perep%ion o# %hings beyond spae and %ime and limi%a%ion. Suh a man is 8e%er 'urkos. 'urkos is a modes% 'ollander who suess#ully predi%ed in 199 %ha% %he "os $ngeles -odgers would win %he Na%ional "eague pennan%, when all au%hori%a%i(e preseason predi%ions had %hem des%ined #or %he seond di(ision a#%er %hey had wound up neC% %o las% %he year be#ore. 'urkos laims %o be eigh%y5se(en per en% aura%e in his predi%ions and has %he proo# %o subs%an%ia%e his laims. F/ ha(e a gi#% o# od,G he says. 'e has been hired by polie depar%men%s all o(er %he world %o %rak down esaped riminals, and his reord has been as%ounding. 'e has been employed by business #irms as a sor% o# seuri%y o##ier, heking %he books simply by handling %hem, able %o pinpoin% any disrepany %hrough his #eelings. The psyhi abili%y o# %his amaBing man has opened a door in%o %he unknown, makes more apparen% %han e(er %he oming asendany o# mind o(er ma%%er, re(eals %ha% %he mos% #asina%ing onEues%s in %he years ahead will be in men%al realms and %he s%udy o# onsiousness. -r. 'aldane wro%e in Siene and 8hilosophy, FNa%ure Hus% moks a% us when we a%%emp% %o di(ore her #rom onsious perep%ion. There is no suh %hing as a physial world apar% #rom onsiousness. /% is %rue %ha% !erkeley and 'ume showed by reasoning %ha% has ne(er been shaken %ha% i# %he physial world were real in %he sense assumed by New%on, we ould ne(er ome %o know o# i%s eCis%ene. ha% we in%erpre% as physially de%ermined is only wha% is imper#e%ly seen. /% is %hus only an imper#e%ly re(ealed world %ha% we ha(e %aken #or a ma%erial world. There is no esape #rom %he onlusion %ha% behind %he appearanes o# a physial or biologial world we are in %he presene o# a psyhologial or spiri%ual world.G hen we gi(e #irs% redene %o %he physial world, we gi(e subs%an%iali%y %o an illusion. hen we swea% and #ume a% obs%ales, i% is beause we are unable %o reogniBe %ha% %hey are men%al onep%s and %ha% %hey an only be al%ered in our own minds. $ll %he grea% mys%is ha(e realiBed %his mis%aken #ous o# man?s onsiousness. Swedenborg s%a%ed %ha% %here are %wo beings wi%hin us, an inner being o# %rue perep%ion and a%ion and an eC%ernal being o# rea%ion. /#, #or lak o# a luid apprehension o# his inner being, a man allows bodily rea%ion %o domina%e his li#e, all his powers beome absorbed in %he use o# eC%ernal sensesA and %he inner being, %he being o# %rue perep%ion and %rue a%ion, gradually perishes. !y subordina%ing %he eC%ernal being o# rea%ion %o an inner Euali%y o# ligh% and sereni%y and di(ine purpose a man?s #alse duali%y is solidi#ied in%o uni%y wi%h his rea%or and he arri(es a% %he pinnale o# his e##e%i(eness as an More ree !ooks
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indi(idual. The sere% o# %he philosopher?s s%one is %ha% uni%y is %he mark o# %he $bsolu%e. hen we #ully realiBe %his, we ome %o an unders%anding o# %he mys%i bond %ha% eCis%s be%ween oursel(es and eah obs%ale we mee%. Tha% %hing separa%e #rom oursel(es whih appears %o oppose us is no% separa%e #rom oursel(es a% all, bu% is permea%ed by %he same spiri%, is energiBed by %he same priniple %ha% energiBes us, and i# we only are able %o look wi%hin %he dep%hs o# our own na%ure, we e(en%ually are bound %o see %he %ru%h o# eah obs%ale, and when we do, i% will disappear. TO :NO /S TO S++ 'enry Miller wro%e, FThe maHori%y o# men are prisoners o# ins%in%. $ small number a%%ain %o %he le(el o# abs%ra%ion, wi%h %he emergene o# whih soie%y may be said %o begin. /% is #rom %his le(el %ha% %he laws, %he ar%s, and all soial rea%ions emerge. Speialism is %he gi#% o# in%ui%ion, whih permi%s man %o see %he inner as well as %he ou%er in all i%s rami#ia%ions. /n%ui%ion, onseEuen%ly, is %he mos% sa%is#a%ory and adeEua%e, %he highes% #orm o# knowing. To know is %o see.G /% is amaBing how muh we an aomplish when we allow our subonsious minds %o per#orm %he work. /% is eEually amaBing how di##iul% i% is %o do %he simples% %ask when we go abou% i% wi%h our onsious minds. There is an elusi(e Euali%y abou% li#e %ha% makes i% gossamer %o %he onsious mind. The mirosope re(eals ano%her world bu% yields no sere%s o# %ha% world. e hold an obHe% in our hands and peer a% i% wi%h all our a%%en%ion #oused upon i%, bu% wha% is re(ealed %o us abou% i% is bu% %he meres% sugges%ion o# i%s %o%ali%y, barely india%i(e o# %he in#ini%e Euali%ies hidden #rom us by %he (ery na%ure o# our onsious eCamina%ion. e ha(e no %rouble walking along a %wo5#oo% pa%h when we do no% %hink abou% i%, bu% pu% %ha% %wo5#oo% pa%h aross a hundred5#oo% gorge and we begin %o %hink abou% eah s%ep. hanes %hen are (ery good %ha% in rossing we will %umble o## %he bridge and #all in%o %he ra(ine below. e ha(e %o learn %o %rus% our subonsious %o do %hings na%urally a% %he behes% o# a priniple %ha% is grea%er %han our sur#ae mind. *eason is no% %o be %rus%ed beause i% does no% know enough abou% wha% i% is dealing wi%h. The omple%e knowledge abou% all %hings res%s in uni(ersal mind, and %his knowledge is wi%hin us. /# we learn %o all upon %his in%elligene %o deal wi%h eah o# our problems, we soon #ind %ha% %here is no suh %hing as an insurmoun%able obs%ale. e ha(e wi%hin us a resoure %ha% enables us %o pene%ra%e %he blok in our unders%anding %ha% aused %he obs%ale in %he #irs% plae. 'a(e you eCamined your own li#e la%ely #or %he plae where your unders%anding is blokedD /% is easy %o reogniBe. -o you #ind %he same si%ua%ion repea%ing i%sel# wi%h mono%onous regulari%yD -o you some%imes #eel %ha% you are %ra(eling around %he perime%er o# a irle, o(er and o(erD "ike a man los% in a snows%orm, eah o# us e(en%ually omes aross his own %raks in li#e, #or %he law o# li(ing is %ha% we mus% o(er %he same ground un%il our unders%anding onerning i% is omple%e.
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%SYCIC A!ARENESS
8eople obHe% %o pain and su##ering being ins%i%u%ed in a world %ha% was made by a lo(ing od, bu% %he mas%er in%elligene %ha% has rea%ed all, permea%es all, and seeks %hrough oun%less di##eren%ia%ions o# i%s own being #or mani#old eCpression o# i%s in#ini%e and e%ernal na%ure. 8ain is %he pa%h by whih i% grows, and has no o%her signi#iane. 8ain is rela%ed %o pleasure only as pleasure represen%s %he absene o# pain. Things %ha% #eel good make us s%a%i. 8leasure is %he earmark o# sel#5sa%is#a%ion. 'e whose aim in li#e is %he seeking o# pleasure has by %ha% (ery a%%i%ude s%un%ed his spiri%ual grow%h. The Supreme sees %he goal along %he pa%h o# %he in#ini%e and uses eah o# us %o a%%ain i%. Our brains and bodies and hear%s and minds and egos are ins%rumen%s o# a grea%er in%elligene and willA and in %ha% grea%er in%elligene and will we ha(e our %rue iden%i%y, no% in %he sur#ae mind and ego a% all. !asi in %he spiri%ual realiBa%ion %ha% omes %o a man when he has ahie(ed %he proper psyhi balane be%ween ego and Sere% Sel# is %he knowledge %ha% he and od are one. This laiming %o be od is mys%ial and should no% be on#used wi%h #a%ual language. $ man does no% suddenly ome %o %he realiBa%ion %ha% he is od wi%h any kind o# implia%ion %ha% he personally is in harge o# %he uni(erse. The od %ha% he speaks o# is de#ined by %he limi%ed seman%is o# language. The od %ha% he knows himsel# %o be is a mys%ial li#e #ore %ha% he allows %o use him. $ny a%%emp% by himsel# %o a% upon %he world #rom %he posi%ion o# od immedia%ely de#ea%s i%sel#, #or he anno% oere %hings %o a personal end wi%hou% separa%ing himsel# #rom %he Supreme and a%ing in %he ego, %hereby losing %he psyhi posi%ion #rom whih his knowledge #irs% sprang. The world is no% here %o be used by people who a%%ain psyhi illumina%ionA i% is here as a #ield o# a%ion #or %he working ou% o# %he eCpression o# %he Sere% Sel#. The man who is able %o ahie(e illumina%ion simply omes in%o posi%ion as knower. !y subordina%ing his ego and sur#ae sel# %o %he workings o# a grea%er mind and being, he ahie(es e##e%i(eness and sereni%y, bu% he does no% hange %he world. The world is wha% i% is beause o# wha% i% mus% beome, and i% was wha% i% one was beause o# wha% i% had %o be now. The ego%is%i and (ain a%ion o# men arries wi%h i% a sense o# personal responsibili%y and impending disas%er. There are wars and rumors o# wars, %here are eonomi rises and poli%ial rises. There are plagues and diseases and rimes. Men run abou%, hurry wi%h %his and %ha%, on(ined %ha% disas%er an be s%a(ed o## only by %heir indi(idual and heroi e##or%s. /# %here is any sense or meaning %o li#e a% all, no philosophy ould be #ar%her #rom %he %ru%h. The in%elligene %ha% re(eals i%sel# in %he design o# a snow#lake, in %he pho%osyn%hesis o# green and growing %hings, in %he ompleC biohemis%ry o# li(ing pro%oplasm, is in harge o# %he world and o# li#e, and des%iny and purpose an be le#% in i%s sure hands. /% is no% our posi%ion %o ran% and rail agains% #a%e and irums%ane, and %o sa(e %he world #rom disas%er. /% is ours %o unders%and, %o a%%emp% %o pene%ra%e %he meanings o# eCis%ene so %ha% we an More ree !ooks
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grow in%o higher le(els o# onsiousness and %hereby beome be%%er ins%rumen%s #or %he mani#es%a%ion o# %he Sere% Sel#. /# we %ake %his (ery grea% and eCi%ing s%ep we #ul#ill %he primary ommandmen% o# li#e. rea%i(eness beomes %he guiding priniple o# %he enligh%ened li#e. The man who plaes himsel# in %he hands o# %he Supreme soon realiBes %ha% %he work %o be done %hrough him will be uniEue beause he is a uniEue ins%rumen%. 'e will no% a%%ak his %asksA he will lis%en and allow %he work %o be done. /# he le%s %he ego on%rol or origina%e, he de#ea%s his purpose, #or he anno% ser(e %wo mas%ers. The rea%i(e urge prods so deeply a% some people %ha% %hey mus% abandon all %o ser(e i%, and in %he ser(ing o# i% %hey #ind spiri%ual enligh%enmen%. They go eah day %o %he #oun% o# sel#hood, rededia%e %hemsel(es as ins%rumen%s, le% uni(ersal mind work %hrough %hem. CREATIVE !OR$ IS A %RAYER
'arry worked as a bank lerk, and in his la%e %wen%ies was aware o# a gnawing dissa%is#a%ion wi%h li#e. 'e %hough% i% was beause he wasn?% ge%%ing ahead, and he er%ainly #el% %ha% he had li%%le %alen% #or his Hob. -ay a#%er day he arose a% %he same hour, #iCed his break#as% in his small apar%men%, %ook %he bus %o work, sa% a% a small desk behind a low iron railing, a%e his lunh a% %he same res%auran%, re%urned home a% nigh% %o an e(ening o# reading be#ore going %o bed. The mono%ony o# %his eCis%ene, i%s lak o# rea%i(i%y, palled on him. 'e beame an%i5 soial, was irri%able and resen%#ul %o %hose abou% him. *e%urning home #rom work one day, he sprin%ed a#%er a depar%ing bus, slipped, #ell under %he wheels. !o%h legs were rushed, had %o be ampu%a%ed. hen 'arry re%urned %o #ull onsiousness a#%er weeks o# ho(ering near dea%h and learned how %he world had %umbled abou% his shoulders, he eChibi%ed a s%range rea%ion. /ns%ead o# being o(erome by despair, he a%ually seemed happy. hen asked abou% i%, he replied, F/ don?% really know why, bu% #or some reason / #eel %ha% now / an really be mysel#. /?(e los% par% o# my physial body, bu% gained some%hing else, / %hink.G $#%er 'arry was disharged #rom %he hospi%al he %ook a o%%age a% %he beah where he li(ed on a small inome deri(ed #rom insurane. 'e began %o wri%e. 'e sa% all day in a hair, propped up be#ore a %ypewri%er, and %urned ou% reams o# opy. $#%er a while, some o# i% was published. i%hin %hree years, he was om#or%ably augmen%ing his inome. +(en more marked %han his suess as a wri%er was his %rans#orma%ion as an indi(idual. 'e was radian%. 'is lear eyes #oused #ar away as he spoke o# wha% his rea%i(eness mean% %o him. F/%?s religious,G he said. F"ike praying, / %hink. /%?s like being (isi%ed eah day by a supreme mind %ha% works %hrough you beause i% needs you %o do a par%iular work. / si% here all day in my li%%le house, apparen%ly all alone, bu% / mus% %ell you %ha% / #eel more needed now %han / e(er ha(e #el% be#ore in my li#e.G
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'e ges%ured %oward %he manusrip% sa%%ered around %he room. F$ll %his has been done %hrough me. /% doesn?% ma%%er whe%her people %hink i%?s grea% or mediore or e(en poor. /% has been done by a power grea%er %han / am, and %his power works %hrough me.G The Hoy on 'arry?s #ae was %es%imony %o %he %remendous spiri%ual %rans#orma%ion %ha% had %aken plae wi%hin him. F/ los% e(ery%hing,G he on%inued, Fmy Hob, my heal%h, my legs, bu% in losing %hem / #ound some%hing o# #ar grea%er impor%ane. / learned %ha% ma%erial %hings, e(en limbs o# %he body, are unimpor%an%. The main %hing in li#e is %ha% a man should awaken %o his %rue sel# and ser(e %ha% sel# all his hours. This / ha(e been pri(ileged %o do.G 'e laughed %hen and showed his humor was s%ill wi%h him. F!u% / don?% reommend %ha% you u% o## your legs %o do i%.G INDOMITA'LENESS
/n e(ery on#li% %here are a #ew people who eChibi% s%aying power, and %his s%aying power nearly always represen%s %he di##erene be%ween %he hampion and %he also5ran. !oldness o# spiri% and %enai%y o# purpose a%%end %he man who a%s in aord wi%h his own na%ure. on#usion des%roys purpose. The man who %akes a s%and lears away doub% and is able %o a% on his problem in harmony wi%h all sides o# his na%ure. 'e ge%s %hings done. 'is op%imis%i good na%ure sur(i(es in %he #ae o# all odds. -espair and gloom #ind no handholds on his soulA he as%s %hem ou% o# his na%ure by %he simple psyhologial deision %o per#orm a% %he behes% o# %he will o# %he Sere% Sel#. +(eryone heers %he underdog. $ man who re#uses %o Eui%, who keeps on %rying in %he #ae o# de#ea%, who does his bes% agains% superior #ores, unloosens wi%hin us a sympa%he%i hord %ha% is %ied deep %o subonsious raial memories. e all are aware %ha% li#e is no% easy, %ha% %he lessons i% %eahes are learned %hrough pain and %ension, and we reogniBe %ha% %he %empered s%u## o# whih %he enligh%ened man is made has been subHe%ed %o #ire, %ha% he only has sur(i(ed a% all %hrough ourage and perse(erane. rea%er %han ourage is %enai%y, %he willingness %o s%ik in %here and keep %rying. !y %his pa%ien% and de%ermined posi%ioning o# oursel(es in li#e, barred doors e(en%ually open and s%one walls dissol(e. $ drop o# wa%er persis%en%ly applied wears away grani%e. Tender #lowers li#% %heir pe%als %o %he sun %hrough solid onre%e. No%hing resis%s persis%en% e##or%, and %enai%y is %he sine Eua non o# ahie(emen%. e mus% no% le% irums%anes in#luene our %hinking. The appearane o# obs%ales mus% no% ause us %o lose hear%. e mus% ha(e #ai%h in our basi posi%ion, know %ha% we are apable o# doing any%hing and being any%hing we an (isualiBe. The same anima%ing presene is wi%hin us as is wi%hin e(ery obs%ale, and we need only unders%and our %rue rela%ionship wi%h eah in order %o per#orm e##e%i(ely. $n inner knowing is neessary %o e##e%i(e a%ion. e anno% e(en reah down and pik up a piee o# paper unless we #irs% (isualiBe %he a%ion in our mind, wi%h omple%e sure%y %ha% we an per#orm i%. This inner knowing is More ree !ooks
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ompounded o# eEual par%s o# #ai%h and in%ui%ion. The image is born o# in%ui%ion and #ai%h holds i% in %he mind. Our de(elopmen% as indi(iduals only omes when we enoun%er opposi%ion. *eogniBing %his, we will #ind oursel(es %hank#ul #or our %imes o# pressure and pain, #or %hen we are being urged %o higher onsiousness. NO ENDEAVOR IS IN VAIN
Opposi%ion omes %o e(ery man who aspires. !y %he mark o# %he enoun%ered obs%ale he realiBes a %ime #or growing is a% hand. 'e does no% %urn away #rom %he obs%aleA he does no% assaul% i% or %rea% i% as i# i% is no% %here. The os%rih hides i%s head #rom impending dangerA %he possum %opples o(er and plays deadA bu% %he enligh%ened man nei%her %urns away #rom %he #a% nor eases in his e##or%. 8a%ien%ly, wi%h a persis%ene %ha% ne(er %ires, he eCamines his own mind and onsiousness %o de%ermine where i% is %ha% his unders%anding is bloked away #rom %rue perep%ion o# %he enoun%ered obs%ale. 'e will grow beause he mus%, and when his period o# grow%h is o(er, he will #ind himsel# beyond %he obs%aleA looking bak along %he pa%h he has %ra(eled he will no% e(en #ind i% %here, #or wha% we know seems simple when unders%anding has been ahie(ed. There are a %housand reasons #or no% doing %hings, and eah one is (alid i# aep%ed. hen we under%ake a new (en%ure or a%%emp% a new ourse o# a%ion, we #ind obs%ales %o suess a% e(ery hand i# we hoose %o look #or %hem. e%%ing %he Hob done is no% li#e?s primary aim. +ah %ask is only a %es% o# human aspira%ion and sel#knowledge. *aising human onsiousness %o ons%an%ly higher le(els is %he primary purpose o# na%ure. Ma%erial ends are seondary, side5e##e%s ra%her %han goals. /% is no% so impor%an% %o sueed in %he eyes o# %he world as i% is %o a%%emp% some%hing bigger and grea%er %han we ha(e e(er done. rom %his %es%, eCpanded onsiousness omes, no ma%%er %he physial #a%e o# %he (en%ure. No one (en%ures wi%hou% reward. No endea(or is in (ainA /%s reward is in %he doing, $nd %he rap%ure o# pursuing /s %he priBe %he (anEuished gain. >'enry adswor%h "ong#ellow TE CON+UEST O& SEL&
Opposi%ion is %he %es%ing ground where li#e e(ol(es ons%an%ly higher le(els o# awareness. /n %his arena %he mas%er spiri% holds our%, bound on a mee%ing wi%h %he omple%ely e(ol(ed man. +(olu%ion bends us and kneads us, %ries us and some%imes breaks us. e ser(e a grea%er in%elligene %han we are onsiously aware o#A we are growing %oward an e(en%ual oneness wi%h %ha% in%elligeneA and i# %he pa%h be marked by pain and %rial, %hese are only urgings %oward grea%er unders%anding and awareness.
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The onEues% o# eah obs%ale is a onEues% o# sel#. The man who disiplines himsel# and searhes #or inreased awareness #inds no suh %hing as a permanen% obs%aleA his psyhi posi%ion surmoun%s all. No%hing an s%and in his pa%h as long as he realiBes eah obs%ale eCis%s wi%hin. 8rogress always depends upon disipline. hen we make oursel(es do %he %hing %ha% has %o be done, we hold our sensual sel# under shor% rein, guiding and #orming our des%iny. -is%as%e#ul %asks ser(e a grea% purpose in %he ma%ura%ion o# %he soul. hen we aep% unomplainingly %he burdens plaed upon us, we are gi(en inreased s%reng%h %o handle %hem. $ puerile philosophy ben% on making money and li(ing a li#e o# ease e(en%ually mus% wi%her %he soul beause i% is a produ% o# %he ego. There is no easy pa%h %o goodness and grea%ness, whih are always arri(ed a% %hrough hardship. $wareness and #or%i%ude and %enai%y and loyal%y anno% be gleaned by easy men%al eCerise. Nei%her are %hey medals %o be worn as marks o# omba%, bu% are au%oma%ially on#erred upon %he man who %hrows his hear% in%o li#e?s %es%s wi%hou% reser(a%ion or %imidi%y or doub%. 'e gains all beause he gi(es all. GUIDING %RINCI%LE
The #leshpo%s o# sel#5indulgene are %o be a(oided a% all os%s. 'e who seeks primarily %o a(oid pain and hardship and %o sa%is#y his senses e(en%ually mus% dull %hose senses and orrup% %he #lesh. The disipline o# $braham "inoln as agai ns% %he indulgene o# %he *oman +mperor, Nero, gi(es us a lear men%al pi%ure o# %he way our na%ure is honed aording %o %he pa%hs we #ollow. The ideal wi%hin %he man de%ermines %he man, and when we se% #or%h on li#e?s Hourney, eah o# us arries wi%hin him an image o# %he person he aspires %o be. 'is whole li#e is de%ermined by %his image. /# %he image is "inoln5like he disiplines his ego5 na%ure and seeks wi%hin himsel# #or a guiding prinipleA gradually %he demands o# his egosel# lessen, he is able %o on%rol his sensual na%ure, and %he Sere% Sel# illumina%es his li#e wi%h lo(e, unders%anding, and ourage. 'e mo(es almly in %he mids% o# %he mos% ruial e(en%s, sus%ained and soo%hed %hrough #ai%h in his a%ua%ion by %he -i(ine #or a purpose %ha% is good and grea%. "e% no obs%ale dismay you. /% has been pu% in your pa%h #or %he purpose o# your grow%h. -o no% a%%ak i% headlong, bu% do no% %urn away #rom i%. /% is bu% a re#le%ion o# your lak o# unders%anding. -o no% ease in your alm and s%eady e##or%, and do no% despair. :eep #irm your resol(e, keep lear %he image in your mind, keep #ai%h in %he power %ha% sus%ains you. +(en%ually, you will #ind yoursel# arried %o a higher le(el o# unders%anding, and %he obs%ale will disappear. $bo(e all %hings, remember %ha% opposi%ion is a %ime o# grow%h, %ha% our e##e%i(eness as indi(iduals is in dire% rela%ion %o %he number o# obs%ales we ha(e #aed and surmoun%ed in li#e.
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Chapter ( DEVELO&ING S)ILLS +$' man on%ains all possibili%ies wi%hin him beause he is a mani#es%a%ion o# an e%ernal and in#ini%e being. 8. -. Ouspensky s%a%es, F+(ery%hing eCis%s always. There is only one e%ernal presen%, %he +%ernal Now, whih %he weak and limi%ed human mind an ne(er grasp and onei(e. Our mind #ollows %he de(elopmen% o# possibili%ies always in one dire%ion only, bu% in #a%, e(ery momen% on%ains a (ery large number o# possibili%ies, and all o# %hem are a%ualiBed, only we do no% see i% and do no% know i%. e always see only one o# %he a%ualiBa%ions and in %his lies %he po(er%y and limi%a%ion o# %he human mind. !u% i# we %ry %o imagine %he a%ualiBa%ion o# all %he possibili%ies o# %he presen% momen%, and %hen o# %he neC% momen%, and so on, we shall #eel %he world growing in#ini%ely, inessan%ly mul%iplying i%sel# and beoming immeasurably rih and u%%erly unlike %he #la% and limi%ed world we ha(e hi%her%o pi%ured %o oursel(es.G CLEAR CANNEL TO UNIVERSAL MIND
$ man may de(elop any skill he desires. The essene o# his na%ure is %o grow in %he dire%ion india%ed by %he images %ha% #orm in %his onsiousness. Some people are born wi%h a lear hannel #rom one #ae% o# %heir onsiousness in%o uni(ersal mind, and %hey are gi#%ed. They are our !alBas, our MoBar%s, our +ins%eins, our alileos, our Mihaelangelos, and %hough %hey are superhuman in one orner o# %heir na%ures, in all else %hey are normal and subHe% %o %he same weak and ine##e%ual (ision as e(eryone. Suh unearned perep%ion o# uni(ersal mind is some%imes more a urse %han a blessing, beause %he person possessing i% eCpe%s illumina%ion in o%her areas also and is #rus%ra%ed a% being unable %o #ind i%. *age and sel#5ha%e may grow ou% o# suh an unbalaned na%ure. )an ogh u%%ing o## his ear is an eCellen% illus%ra%ion, and %he ar%is%i %emperamen%, when gi#%ed wi%h genius, is o#%en mani5depressi(e, al%erna%ing be%ween periods o# ela%ion and sel#5abasemen%. Skills %ha% we earn are %he skills %ha% deligh% us. No%hing in li#e is so eCEuisi%ely sa%is#ying as %he mas%ery o# a skill. ha%e(er we do well adds %o our s %a%ure as persons, inreases our sope and e##e%i(eness. rom bir%h %o dea%h we aEuire oun%less skills, use %hem daily, per#orm %hem un%hinkingly, beause %hey ha(e beome par% o# our na%ure. e learn %o walk, we learn %o run, we learn %o %alk, we learn %o read, we learn %o #igure, we learn %o ook, we learn %o sew, we learn %o dri(e, we learn %o run a businessA and %he kinds o# persons we beome and our e##e%i(eness as human beings ha(e a dire% bearing on %he number o# skills we ha(e mas%ered. 8eople say, FOh, / ould ne(er de(elop any skills. / don?% ha(e any %alen%.G ell, lak o# na%ural abili%y is no reason #or urling up your %oes and playing dead. The mos% impor%an% %hing in li#e is grow%h, and i% makes no di##erene where you s%ar% More ree !ooks
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on %he sale o# apabili%y, wha% is impor%an% is %ha% you do no% s%ay %here, bu% progress. There is a Euali%y in %he psyhi makeup o# man %ha% when impressed wi%h desire and a pi%uriBa%ion o# %ha% desire immedia%ely se%s abou% opening his eyes %o %he possibili%ies #or ahie(ing i% in %he ma%erial world. :nowing %his, we e(en%ually ome %o ha(e deep #ai%h %ha% %he %hing whih we %hink abou% will beome par% o# our li(es. MODERN %IED-%I%ER
The man wi%h %he (oie o# a bull#rog probably will ne(er gi(e a oner% a% arnegie 'all, bu% i# he spends %he maHor por%ion o# his li#e learning %o be a singer he will be able %o per#orm Eui%e redi%ably someday. None o# us li(es long enough %o de(elop omple%ely in all dire%ions. or %his reason %he Sere% Sel# rea%ed mul%i%udes o# indi(iduals, and %hrough %his mul%iplii%y seeks eCpansion in all areas. The indi(idual himsel# #un%ions bes% when he is able %o de%ermine %hose abili%ies mos% na%ural %o him and %hen se%s abou% de(eloping %hem %o %heir highes% possible le(el. To do %his he needs insigh%, and he mos% er%ainly needs %o be #ree o# men%al blokages. $ man some%imes seeks %o de(elop his business abili%y beause he desires %o ha(e money, when in %ru%h he migh% #ind more #ul#illmen% in o%her #ields. The end5 gaining philosophy %ha% has beome predominan% in our i(iliBa%ion is a pied piper leading us down s%ree%s o# #rus%ra%ion. One who works only %o gain a resul% is seldom happy and almos% ne(er works well. 'e #inds no pleasure in his %asks and no sa%is#a%ion in %heir grow%h possibili%ies. 'e an hardly wai% %o ge% on #rom one momen% %o %he neC% beause %he only %ime %ha% has any meaning #or him is %he %ime when his goal is reahed. Should he ne(er reah i% his li#e is hemmed in wi%h bi%%erness %hrough ha(ing sari#ied all #or some%hing %ha% ne(er ma%erialiBed. /% is be%%er %o lie on your bak and look a% %he s%ars %han %o hase shadows, i# %he hasing is no% #un. $ li%%le hild an run a#%er illusions and %ake deligh% in e(ery momen%, bu% %he man who pursues a wrai%h and is bound %o i% begrudges e(ery oune o# energy eCpended in a%%emp%ing %o bring his illusory %arge% %o ear%h. Three laborers were asked wha% %hey were doing. The #irs% said, F/ am working.G The seond said, F/ am digging a di%h,G The %hird said, F/?m helping build a anal.G Ob(iously %he %hird man %ook %he mos% sa%is#a%ion #rom his labor beause he saw %ha% his work would rea%e and he was glad %o be par% o# i%. One who labors only %o make a li(ing pu%s in %ime %ha% he wishes were gone, begrudges %he hours he mus% spend a% his %asks. 'e looks a% %he lok a% %en and wishes i% were noon, and he looks a% %he lok a% %hree and wishes i% were #i(e. 'e a%ually wishes away a large par% o# his li#e. LONGING &OR MASTERY
/% is no% nearly as impor%an% %ha% we possess a skill as i% is %ha% we desire %o possess one. The longing #or mas%ery is %he key %o %he mo%i(a%ion o# %he Sere% More ree !ooks
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Sel#, %he (ery basis o# e(olu%ion, o# eah #orm?s %endeny %oward uni%y wi%h i%s rea%or. "i#e is #lu%ua%ion and hange, a ons%an% yle o# grow%h and deay, and we ha(e %o aspire %o be be%%er %han we are e(en %o s%ay where we are, and %he momen% sel#5sa%is#a%ion omes %o us our dissolu%ion begins. ons%an% eCi%emen% and hallenge ome %o %he man who seeks mas%ery. +(ery si%ua%ion on#ron%s him wi%h oppor%uni%y, #or he sees in eah an oppor%uni%y %o de(elop a par% o# his na%ure. hene(er he mee%s an obs%ale he knows his knowledge is inadeEua%e, and he se%s abou% a% one %o re%i#y %his de#iieny. 'e learns e(ery%hing he an beause he sees %he bond ommon %o all knowledge. +(en%ually he learns easily and well, #or he remo(es all limi%a%ion #rom his mind and like a sponge draws %he knowledge needed #or e##e%i(e works and a%ions. e ha(e %o lo(e %he %hings we do in order %o do %hem well. e ha(e %o like %o per#orm %he work regardless o# %he resul%. e ha(e %o no% e(en are abou% %he resul% and %ake our en%ire sa%is#a%ion #rom %he a%ion. hen people ha(e undergone grea% shoks, suh as prolonged eCposure %o dea%h and danger or %he loss o# a limb or %he dea%h o# a lo(ed one, %hey o#%en %urn %o work #or work?s sake as a preoupa%ion #or %heir minds, and %hus %hey diso(er one o# li#e?s deepes% Hoys. $ hild #inger5pain%ing in a kindergar%en lass pu%s olors on paper wi%h no idea o# a resul%, and %his engrossing o# his whole na%ure makes him par% o# %he work he does and %he work par% o# him. Men%al hospi%als ha(e diso(ered %he %herapeu%i (alue o# pu%%ing pa%ien%s %o work a% easels or wi%h needle and %hread or e(en in %he garden, #or surrender o# sel#5onern %o %he %ask a% hand rids %he person o# his %ormen%ing ego and he is able %o ge% omple%ely ou%side himsel# %hrough beoming par% o# %he work he is doing. e de(elop our skills %hrough an inner lo(e #or %he a%ion in(ol(ed. e will beome musiians i# we lo(e musi. e will beome wri%ers i# we lo(e wri%ing. e will beome builders i# we lo(e ons%ru%ion. e will beome business men i# we lo(e ommere. !u% we beome no%hing simply %hrough a desire %o be #amous and rih. Suh #alse desires are produ%s o# %he ego. +(en %he sligh%es% look a% %hem gi(es us e(idene o# %heir insubs%an%iali%y. /# we under%ake %o be a business man, #or ins%ane, and we run in%o di##iul%ies and our rea%ion is one o# depression and #ailure, we an be sure %ha% we were led in%o our business endea(ors in %he #irs% plae %hrough an egois%i desire %o be be%%er or more power#ul %han o%hers. The business man who lo(es business glories in his momen%s o# %rial, #or i% is %hen %ha% he de(elops more unders%anding, more mas%ery. Sine he lo(es business, he lo(es i% when i%s na%ure is mos% au%e, and %here#ore his %imes o# %rial are a Hoy. Suh people ine(i%ably are suess#ul beause %hey anno% be disouraged, beause %hey lo(e %he %hing %ha% %hey are doing whe%her i% is going badly or well. They are una##e%ed by apparen% %urns o# de#ea% and #or%une, assure %heir own grow%h %hrough ha(ing %aken %heir eyes #rom %he goal and beoming engrossed in %he doing o# %heir work.
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!E LEARN 'Y DOING
"earning %o do a %hing well is primarily a ma%%er o# per#orming i% endlessly un%il all %he rami#ia%ions o# i%s a%ion seep down in%o subonsious le(els and allow one %o per#orm un%hinkingly. /% is di##iul% %o #ly an airplane when one does no% know how. To %he ear%hbound man, #ligh% in a plane opera%ed by his own hand seems almos% un%hinkable. hen he %akes his ini%ial ride, he a% #irs% is #righ%ened, %hen eChilara%ed, sensing his %ransendene o# na%ure?s law o# gra(i%y. Soaring high abo(e %he landsape, he #eels like a bird, arri(es a% a sensa%ion o# #lying #ar remo(ed #rom any pre(ious eCperiene on passenger liners. Then he may bridge %he gul# be%ween his ear%hbound limi%a%ion and his aspira%ion %oward %he sky, and he may deide %o beome a pilo%. The #irs% %ime up he is lumsy and awkward, %ense and ine##e%ual, seeing all %oo learly %ha% i# his ins%ru%or were no% presen% %he plane would #all and rash in%o %he ground. This sense o# being poised be%ween li#e and dea%h wi%h no one %o look %o bu% himsel# may pro(e %o be one o# %he mos% signi#ian% eCperienes o# his li#e. /# so, his e(en%ual mas%ery o# %he airplane is assured. Seeking unders%anding in an area hi%her%o hidden #rom him, his grow%h in %ha% dire%ion is ine(i%able. Soon he will #ind himsel# alone in %he airplane, #lying i% #reely and on#iden%ly, %ransending %he limi%a%ions o# his own %hinking. 'is eChilara%ion %hen will know no bounds. $lways we learn by doing. No amoun% o# in#orma%ion inHe%ed in%o a man by books and le%ures will make him %he mas%er o# a skill. $ skill is i%s own %eaher, and eah o# us who aspires %o mas%ery mus% beome an appren%ie. /deas, #a%s, and abili%ies all ome %o %he man who seeks %o make himsel# more pro#iien%, whe%her his #ield is rea%i(e, adminis%ra%i(e, eCeu%i(e, or simply %he per#orming o# labor. /# he dedia%es himsel# %o a %ask #or %he lo(e o# doing i%, e(en%ually he will #ind himsel# highly apable. hen we a%%emp% %o learn a new skill, our ini%ial e##or%s are always inep%, and %he egoonsious man o#%en is s%riken wi%h disouragemen% and some%imes gi(es up #ur%her e##or% al%oge%her. The enligh%ened man will no% be dismayed by his ini%ial inep%i%ude. 'e will know he is oming %o grips wi%h a new knowledge %ha% will %ake %ime %o seep down in%o subonsious le(els. EDUCATING TE SU'CONSCIOUS
The person who bukles on a pair o# ie ska%es and (en%ures ou% on%o a #roBen pond #or %he #irs% %ime is a sigh% %o behold. 'is arms #lail, and his ankles bend. 'e #igh%s despera%ely #or balane, swoops #orward and bakward in a hair5raising ba%%le %o s%ay uprigh%. 'e an nei%her s%ar% himsel# when he is s%opped nor s%op himsel# when he is mo(ing, and %he only er%ain %hing abou% his per#ormane is %ha% he is bound %o wind up on %he sea% o# his pan%s. ompare %his no(ie ska%er wi%h an Olympi hampion. /% seems inredible %here ould be any omparison, bu% %here is. No% %oo many years ago, %he Olympi hampion was Hus% suh a More ree !ooks
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no(ie, and his pro#iieny %oday is only %es%imony %o %he power o# %he subonsious %o dire% %he a%ions o# body and mind wi%h %he u%mos% symme%ry and per#e%ion. hen we %ry %o do some%hing di##iul% or some%hing beyond our ordinary grasp, we mus% #irs% ome %o grips wi%h i% onsiously, by #ousing our a%%en%ion upon i%. This period o# onsious s%ri(ing produes a %ension wi%hin %he psyhe %ha% s%imula%es subonsious a%i(i%y, dire%ing relie# o# %he %ension, produing resolu%ion, gi(ing dimension and on%rol %o %he organism. The more onsious %he s%ri(ing, %he more %ension produed in %he subonsious, and %he more %he subonsious works %o e##e% answers %o %he problems %ha% on#ron% %he indi(idual. The man who is handiapped by poor speeh and uner%ain deli(ery migh% desire %o beome a pla%#orm speaker and se% his onsious s%ri(ing %oward %ha% end. 'is ini%ial period o# e##or% will produe li%%le no%ieable resul% beause his ine##e%uali%y anno% be sol(ed by his onsious mind. 'e anno% be gi(en a on#iden%, dynami deli(ery simply by %hinking abou% i%. *eason will no% pro(ide %he e##e%s he seeks, and no amoun% o# s%udy a happy solu%ion %o his problems. !u% as he deli(ers speeh a#%er speeh, as he on%inually works himsel# %hrough %he same blunders and errors, his su##ering and onseEuen% need produe suh %ension in %he subonsious %ha% one day, o# a sudden, he will #ind himsel# deli(ering a dire% and dynami speeh wi%h %he power and lari%y %ha% here%o#ore ha(e eluded him. TURNING E&&ORT INTO INSTINCT
e de(elop our abili%ies when we make on%inued e##or%s %o impro(e oursel(es and ne(er ease in %he on%inui%y o# %hese e##or%s no ma%%er how li%%le progress we seem %o be making. e an ne(er Hudge our progress anyhow, #or %he simple reason %ha% all real work is done on subonsious le(els and we may be %ranspor%ed #rom (ery low %o (ery high in one sudden sublime momen% o# insigh%. $ young housewi#e reen%ly %old %he s%ory o# how she ame %o be an aomplished pianis%. F/ had been laboring a% %he piano #or #our years,G she said. F/ had go%%en %o %he poin% where / was able %o play a number o# omposi%ions, bu% %h ey were all wooden, ame ou% wi%h no #eeling, seemed %o lak rhy%hm. The #ew %imes %ha% / played #or my #riends, / was a%ually embarrassed a% %heir ha(ing %o lis%en. / pra%ied e(ery day, %hough, some%imes as muh as %hree hours. /% seemed inredible %ha% / made so li%%le progress. / had always learned o%her %hings easily, bu% playing %he piano seemed %oo muh. +(en%ually, / beame on(ined / had no musial %alen%. FOne e(ening a% a par%y a #riend sugges%ed %ha% / play. $ re#usal rose rapidly %o my lips, bu% suddenly / was o(erome wi%h %he mos% wonder#ul #eeling %ha% / would be able %o play well. / anno% say Hus% how %he #eeling ame. /% er%ainly did no% #orm i%sel# in so many words. / Hus% knew deep wi%hin mysel# %ha% / would be able %o play well, and / had a sudden insigh% in%o %he rela%ionship be%ween %he More ree !ooks
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musi and mysel#. The piano, %he keys, %he no%es, and %he shee% musi all blended %oge%her and merged wi%h me. / knew %ha% when / sa% down and began %o play, / would play well beause / would be per#orming ou%side mysel# and wouldn?% ha(e %o %hink abou% i%. hen / sa% down a% %he piano, / played eCa%ly as / en(isioned. The gues%s applauded and ga%hered around, and / played %he res% o# %he e(ening. / ha(e been playing well e(er sine, and %he whole %hing %augh% me a grea% lesson. e mus% ne(er Eui% when we seem %o be making no progress. e may go #rom %he mos% inep% no(ie %o %he mos% aomplished per#ormer in %ha% single momen% when %he hours o# our e##or%s break %hrough and merge wi%h our ins%in%s.G $ man se%s ou% %o do a %hing beause he is impelled by %he images in his mind. 'e is dri(en %o %he per#ormane o# %he work %ha% needs %o be done, and he anno% res% as long as one io%a o# %he %ask is un#inished. Ye% he does no% work simply %o gain an end. 'e is engrossed in his %ask, Hus% as i% is engrossed in him, and his a%ions are per#ormed wi%h an inner Hoy, #or he knows he is doing wha% he should be doing. 'e %akes omple%e enHoymen% #rom eah day beause eah day deli(ers him all he desires>%he work he lo(es, his per#ormane in i%, and %he grow%h o# his knowledge and apabili%ies. "ook %o %his day or i% is %he (ery li#e o# li#e. /n i%s brie# ourse lie all The (eri%ies and reali%ies o# your eCis%ene= The glory o# a%ion, The bliss o# grow%h, The splendor o# beau%y, or yes%erday is bu% a dream $nd %omorrow is only a (isionA !u% %oday well li(ed makes +(ery yes%erday a dream o# happiness, $nd e(ery %omorrow a (ision o# hope. "ook well, %here#ore, %o %his day. >rom %he Sanskri% TE ONLY REAL SECURITY
One skill %ha% people seem mos% desirous o# de(eloping is %ha% o# making money. !u% making money is no% a skill, i% is %he resul% o# a skill. Money sough% #or i%sel# will surely pro(e %o be mos% elusi(e. /% is no% e(ilA i% is good, good beause i% is represen%a%i(e o# workA bu% %hose who a%%emp% %o %ake i% by a(oiding work are orrup%ing i%s %rue purpose and shrinking %heir own na%ures. 'enry ord made %his s%a%emen%= F/# money is your only hope #or independene, you will ne(er ha(e i%. The only real seuri%y %ha% a man an ha(e in %his world is a reser(e o# knowledge, eCperiene, and abili%y.G $s a young man, ord had li%%le money, bu% More ree !ooks
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he was sus%ained by %he (ision o# his au%omobile, and his days and nigh%s were #ull o# work and %hough%. hen %ha% day arri(ed %ha% e(ery %en%h #amily in $meria owned an au%omobile, ord beame a rih man. 'is #or%une ame %o him no% beause i% had been sough%, bu% beause he had rendered a ser(ie %o millions o# people. /n our day and age and soie%y, weal%h is a na%ural resul% o# ser(ing a large number o# people. $ll work is repaid in kind, and when we ser(e one person he ser(es us also, and %his owing o# ser(ie usually resul%s in %he eChange o# money. /# we ser(e one person we are paid so muhA i# we ser(e %wo we are paid moreA i# we ser(e %en, e(en moreA i# we ser(e a million, we are bound %o beome weal%hy. e anno% help bu% rea%e weal%h when we #ind a work %ha% needs %o be done, and we anno% help bu% reei(e a por%ion o# %his weal%h oursel(es. Tha% money breeds money is aCioma%i, bu% only when suh money is pu% %o work rea%ing weal%h. hen our sa(ings are in(es%ed in a%i(i%ies %ha% promo%e diso(ery and rea%ion, %hey anno% help bu% make money, #or %hey are being used in aordane wi%h %his primary law o# li#e, %ha% e(ery ser(ie mus% be rewarded. 8roper per#ormane is always un%hinking per#ormane. $ny o%her kind o# a%ion is ego5en%ered and based upon par%ial knowledge. $ #riend repor%s he an u% an apple eCa%ly in hal# when he is no% %hinking abou% i%, bu% when he onen%ra%es, %he hal(es no longer ma%h. /nna%e in eah man is an original mind, and knowledge %here is no% limi%ed %o %ha% aEuired %hrough %he senses. +gois%i ondi%ioning auses mind %o aEuire a #iCed idea o# i%sel# as a means o# on%rolling i%sel#, and onseEuen%ly a man %hinks o# himsel# as F/.G The #ous o# his onsiousness %hen shi#%s #rom original mind %o ego5image, and i% beomes impossible #or him %o use original mind in any o# his men%al a%ions. +(ery%hing per#ormed in response %o %he ego is in%en%ional, a##e%ed, limi%ed, and insinere. e ha(e %o learn %o le% in%en%ion go, %o le% sense o# sel# go, so %ha% we an per#orm under %he impulsion o# a grea%er mind and will. e mus% learn %o be spon%aneousA we mus% learn %o gi(e up plan and e##or%, %o do %he na%ural %hing when %he %ime #or per#ormane arises. S%ONTANEOUS ACTION
!asi in Qen !uddhism is %he do%rine o# unin%en%ioned a%ion. $ Qen !uddhis% disiple, an arher, is repor%ed %o ha(e pra%ied #or %hree years %o le% his arrows shoo% %hemsel(es. hen a% las% he was able %o release %he bow s%ring unonsiously, in response %o an in%ui%i(e a%ion %ha% had more %o do wi%h %he %arge% and arrow %han his purpose, %he e##e%i(eness o# his arhery inreased amaBinglyA bu% %he momen% he began %o %hink o# resul%s he no longer was able %o le% %he arrow shoo% i%sel#, and his sores #ell o## a% one. Spon%anei%y is %he mark o# %he $bsolu%e. 0ni(ersal mind does no% need %o %hink ou% %hings. /% holds wi%hin i%sel# a% e(ery momen% %he proper answer %o eah par%iular problem. /% a%s Euikly and wi%hou% %hough%. Tha% whih we do well we do wi%hou% e##or% beause we ha(e gi(en o(er %he doing o# i% %o a will and power %ha% lie ou%side our More ree !ooks
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onsious in%en%ioned ego. -e(eloping a skill is largely a ma%%er o# abdia%ing #rom per#ormane. e mus% learn %o le% go personal responsibili%y and onsious on%rol. 'enry Miller wro%e, Fhen you dwell on %he prophe%i, you ome %o realiBe %ha% %here is an in(isible pa%%ern %o %he e(en%s whih mold our des%iny, and %ha% his%ory, philosophy, siene, ar%, religion, yield bu% a dis%or%ed, meaningless, e(en ridiulous image o# %his di(ine web. !u% %he mos% in%eres%ing aspe% o# %his eCperiene, %his li#%ing o# %he (eil, is %ha% all desire %o modi#y, has%en, or re%ard e(en%s is nulli#ied. ha% is, is, wha% will be, will be, and %ha% su##ies. Merely %o reogniBe, i# only #or a momen%, %ha% %here is a grea%er plan, enables one %o abdia%e. /n abdia%ing one is no% remo(ed #rom %he s%ream o# li#e e(en men%allyA one plunges in more deeply, more wholehear%edly, %ha% is %he urious %hing. $ll %ha% is sari#ied is one?s limi%ed, egoen%ri (iew o# li#e, a (iew whih aused one %o swim agains% %he urren% ins%ead o# wi%h i%.G $ Huggler keeps eigh% balls in %he air, and people eClaim, F/sn?% %ha% inredibleIG $nd i% er%ainly is i# we assume %ha% %he onsious mind is on%rolling %he a%ion. The onsious mind an hardly #ollow %he a%ion, le% alone per#orm i%. @uggling eigh% balls is done by %he subonsious, whih dire%s all a%i(i%y %ha% %akes on %he olora%ion o# skill or %alen%. This mind is no% a mul%i%ude o# minds bu% only oneA %here#ore all skill and all %alen% re#le% %he a%i(i%y o# a single person. $ll books are wri%%en by %he same au%hor, all pi%ures pain%ed by %he same ar%is%, all musi omposed by %he same omposerA in e(ery rea%i(e a%i(i%y or aomplished per#ormane %he same mind is responsible. $ %hing done well re#le%s %he dire%ion o# %he -i(ine, and %hus spiri%ual awakening is neessary %o e##e%i(e li(ing. TE SECRET DOOR
$s long as we li(e and a% in %he ego, we anno% hope %o de(elop our %alen%s and apabili%ies eCep% in %he mos% limi%ed manner. hen you se% ou% %o learn some%hing, you mus% #irs% ge% yoursel# ou% o# %he way. This F/G %ha% you ons%an%ly re#er %o, %his sense o# sel# %ha% si%s dire%ly behind your eyes, is egois%i in %he sense %ha% i% is separa%e, and will pre(en% your learning any%hing well as long as i% on%rols your onsiousness. There is a grea% deal o# di##erene be%ween egois%i %rying and le%%ing a%ion de(elop %hrough spon%aneous impulsion #rom %he Sere% Sel#. +##or% made %hrough %he ego de(elops beause %he ego has some resul% in mind. /% wan%s %o #eel be%%er %han o%hers, wan%s %o on%rol %hem, or i% is a#raid or hos%ile or inseure, and %his end5gaining a%ion, so limi%ed in (iew5 2;2 poin% and knowledge, has only %he bares% hane o# sueeding, and %hen only by oinidene wi%h %he purposes o# %he Sere% Sel#. 8eople %ry and %ry %o mas%er some skill and make only %he bares% progress. They #inally despair and gi(e up al%oge%her, and %his gi(ing up, %his release o# %he end5 gaining aims o# %he ego, is eCa%ly %he %ime %ha% skill may de(elop in %hem beause %he Sere% Sel# %akes o(er. +Camples o# %his psyhologial phenomenon More ree !ooks
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are so pro#use as %o be irre#u%able. 8as%eur, laboring o(er %es% %ubes and mirosopes, reei(ed his grea%es% illumina%ion in %he period o# his grea%es% hopelessness. alileo was inspired wi%h %he idea o# a re(ol(ing solar sys%em a% %he nadir o# his despair o(er %he ine##e%uali%y o# his %elesopes. +(ery researher knows %ha% a sere% door is o#%en #ound on a dead end s%ree%. +(ery rea%i(e ar%is% knows %ha% his grea%es% work omes a#%er periods o# in%ense #rus%ra%ion. Tha% i% is always darkes% be#ore %he dawn is a well known saying. e ha(e %o ha(e our egos redued %o no%hingness be#ore %he Sere% Sel# %akes o(er. e ha(e %o ge% oursel(es ou% o# %he way so %ha% skills an de(elop in us, so %ha% work an be done %hrough us by a grea%er mind and being. 'ow o#%en ha(e you wadded up a piee o# paper and un%hinkingly %ossed i% aross %he room and been amaBed when i% landed dire%ly in %he en%er o# %he was%ebaske%D You may ha(e wadded up o%her piees o# paper and %ossed %hem a% %he was%ebaske% wi%hou% a single #ur%her hi%, and probably you shrugged your shoulders and wro%e o## %he #irs% hi% %o luk. ell, i% wasn?% luk a% all. /% was simply %ha% you per#ormed %he a%ion wi%hou% %he in%er#erene o# onsious mind. /n e##e%, you allowed %he paper %o propel i%sel# a% %he was%ebaske%, wi%h yoursel# as only a medium o# impulsion. This kind o# psyhi uni#ia%ion o# %he baske% and %he paper and %he propelling energy allowed all elemen%s in %he a%ion %o beome Fone piee,G and any%hing ourring wi%hin %ha% uni%y had %o ha(e per#e% symme%ry and be absolu%ely e##e%i(e. 'ECOMING ONE !IT OUR TAS$S
Now i# %here is one mind ommon %o all %hings and eClusi(e %o none, i% #ollows %ha% we basially are all par% o# a single organism, and our e##e%i(eness wi%hin %ha% organism depends upon our reogni%ion o# %his #a%. $s long as we (iew oursel(es as separa%e sel(es, we are mo(ed by %he delusion o# egois%i desire and %hus led in%o opposi%ion %o %he will o# %he Sere% Sel#. $ny a%ion %ha% is onei(ed in %he ego and en%ered in%o #or egois%i purposes, i# no% doomed %o #ailure #rom %he ou%se%, an resul% in only mediore suess. /%s en%ire purpose and impulsion arise #rom a limi%ed knowledge, se% agains% %he oean o# knowledge %ha% is uni(ersal mind. e learn %o do %hings well by beoming one wi%h %hem, by so engrossing oursel(es in our %asks %ha% we pik up a sense o# uni%y wi%h %hem. This sense o# oneness is impossible %o %he egois%i na%ure #or %he simple reason %ha% %he ego i%sel# is a sense o# separa%eness. hen we beome omple%ely absorbed in %hings, we ha(e a %rue spiri%ual eCperiene, #or by %his psyhologial %rans#erene o# sel#, we plunge deeply in%o uni(ersal mind and beome %he work %ha% we are doing. +(eryone who has grea% skill or %alen% goes daily %o %his #oun% o# #orge%#ulness, plunges in and is renewed, and %he %emple o# his religious worship is his own %alen%. 'enry -a(id Thoreau wro%e, F/# one ad(anes on#iden%ly in %he dire%ion o# his dreams, and endea(ors %o li(e %he li#e whih he has imagined, he will mee% wi%h uneCpe%ed suess in ommon hours.G
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TRUSTING AGAINST %AIN
$ll barriers %o aomplishmen% are in %he mind. +dua%ion i%sel# %eahes limi%a%ion, and his%ory es%ablishes a de#ini%i(e le(el %ha% suppresses human aspira%ion. or years #our minu%es was %hough% %o be %he #as%es% %ime %ha% any man e(er would run %he mile, %hen along ame a group o# $us%ralian milers wi%h a new philosophy and %hey broke down %he men%al barriers, and now any number o# men ha(e run %he mile #as%er %han #our minu%es. This new philosophy migh% as easily be applied %o any area o# human a%i(i%y. /% is buil% around %he premise o# %hrus%ing agains% pain, on %he idea %ha% pain represen%s a limi%a%ion in %he mind. Those who %rain under %his sys%em dri(e %hemsel(es %o run #ar%her %han %hey %hink %hey an, asser%ing %he priniple o# mind o(er ma%%er %o do away wi%h #a%igue. Suh a philosophy releases a human being #rom all barriers. No%hing is impossible %o him as long as his guiding priniple is %o surmoun% eah obs%ale he enoun%ers. -ire%ional dri(e is %he mos% impor%an% single #a%or in ahie(emen%. Ou%s%anding boCers are ulled #rom %he soial groups %ha% ha(e %o #igh% hardes% %o sur(i(e. 'eads o# orpora%ions and go(ernmen% eCeu%i(es are o#%en born in %he mos% humble irums%anes, and %heir limb %o %he %op is allied dire%ly %o %heir dedia%ion. 'ea(en a%%ends %he man who %hrows his hear% in%o his work. /n his absorp%ion he loses his egois%i sense o# sel# and beomes a lear hannel #or %he energy and rea%i(eness o# uni(ersal mind. CONSTANT AS%IRATION
The use#ulness o# goals depends on %heir abili%y %o remo(e limi%a%ion #rom our %hinking. $ man eCeeds himsel# by aiming higher %han he has e(er aimed be#ore. /% is no% %he goal %ha% is impor%an%, i% is %he aiming higher. hen a goal is reahed, i% a%ually beomes a limi%a%ion unless replaed by a higher goal. The man who ahie(es some%hing and spends any %ime pa%%ing himsel# on %he bak is nulli#ying his grow%h, #or when sel#5omplaeny en%ers %he na%ure, ego grows and %he indi(idual s%agna%es. /# we don?% %ry %o eCeed oursel(es, we disin%egra%e. /# we do no% %ry %o be be%%er, i% is impossible #or us e(en %o s%ay as good as we are. The dynami #ores o# li#e are grow%h and deay, and no%hing is s%a%iA %hings mo(e in one dire%ion or %he o%her. $ #ew years ago, a young man emerged #rom an au%omobile aiden% paralyBed #rom %he nek down, eCep% #or %he rudimen%ary use o# %he #ore#inger o# his righ% hand. $s he lay abed and pondered his si%ua%ion he resol(ed %o de(elop some skill wi%h %ha% righ% #ore#inger. 'e had a %ypewri%er rigged on his bed, wi%h his righ% arm slung be#ore i% so he ould pek a% %he keys wi%h his #ore#inger. 'is ini%ial e##or%s were eCruia%ingly slow, and reEuired grea% onen%ra%ion and resol(e. 'e labored #or hours %o %ype a single sen%ene. $s %he weeks %urned in%o mon%hs he More ree !ooks
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was able %o %ype a page, %hen %wo, #inally a doBen or more. $#%er a year he no% only was %yping pro#iien%ly bu% was a%ually si%%ing up in bed %o do i%. Today, he ge%s abou% wi%h ru%hes and has embarked upon a program o# %o%al rehabili%a%ion. 'e seems well on %he road %o reo(ery. Suh %enai%y and purpose migh% be eCpe%ed %o belong %o a (ery grim person, bu% %his young man has deep humili%y and a wry sense o# humor. hen asked how he has been able %o aomplish suh miraulous resul%s, he s%a%ed, F/ was gi(en %his body, and / banged i% up. The leas% / an do is pu% i% bak in %he ondi%ion / #ound i%.G Men ha(e searhed ou% %he %rakless was%es o# %he poles, Hourneyed %o %he dep%hs o# %he seas, #lung %hemsel(es miles in%o %he air, and now on%empla%e Hourneying amongs% %he s%ars. ho an say %ha% any%hing is impossible %o %he mind and e##or% o# manD There eCis%s wi%hin him a power %o imagine a be%%er world %han %he one in whih he li(es, and he ne(er eases a%%emp%ing %o #ind i%. Our imagina%ion should be %rea%ed wi%h preious are, #or i% is %he %ool o# our libera%ion #rom %he bonds %ha% hold us. e an be any%hing we are apable o# (isualiBing, do any%hing we are able %o imagine, #or %he images %ha% #orm in our minds ine(i%ably lead us in%o %he work %ha% e##e%s %heir realiBa%ion. INNER ACCE%TANCE
Skills are de(eloped by #ai%h %ha% one possesses %he skill already. This a priori inner a%%ainmen% o# %he skill allows %he indi(idual %o a% as i# i% were impossible #or him %o #ail. 'e s%ill will go %hrough a period o# inep%ness, bu% suh inep%ness will no% s%ay wi%h him. 'e will surmoun% all, all #ear, all ine##e%uali%y, #or he is sus%ained in all irums%anes by an inner (ision %ha% he already has aep%ed as reali%y. /# a man aspires %o an abili%y, he beomes aomplished only a#%er inner aep%ane. No one an e(er be any be%%er or grea%er %han his men%al (isualiBa%ion. /# we aep% oursel(es as eCa%ly wha% we already are, i% beomes impossible #or us %o impro(e. To beome be%%er we mus% %hink we are be%%er, no% in %he egois%i sense o# %hinking %ha% some%hing is our due, bu% in %he wider spiri%ual sense o# realiBing %ha% all %hings deri(e #rom %he image wi%hin. Suh psyhi posi%ioning o# %he ego releases i% #rom bondage %o i%sel# and al lows i% %o aep% on #ai%h %he #a% o# i%s wider being and e##e%i(eness. Skill#ulness is primarily a ma%%er o# beoming an ins%rumen% #or %he a%ion o# a grea%er mind and will. $ny egoen%ri e##or% %o domina%e %he world or %o origina%e a%ion #rom %he s%andpoin% o# %he sur#ae mind immedia%ely raises %he problem o# %he ego on%rolling i%sel#. $ny sys%em o# sel#5on%rol, inasmuh as i% approahes per#e% sel#5on%rol, also approahes per#e% sel#5#rus%ra%ion, #or on%rol implies keeping some%hing #rom doing wha% i% normally is disposed %o do. The idea o# a%ing in aord wi%h our na%ure mee%s wi%h obHe%ions on e(ery hand. Taking %he res%rain%s o## human na%ure supposedly would be like le%%ing loose a swarm o# lous%s. *eligious and soial groups ha(e adop%ed %he idea %ha% man is more a work o# %he de(il %han o# od, %ha% his bes%ial na%ure mus% be held in res%rain% by More ree !ooks
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laws and inhibi%ions. Thus duali%y is #ored upon man, %he neessi%y o# presen%ing one #ae %o %he world while li(ing in soli%ude wi%h ano%her, and i% is responsible #or more men%al and physial ailmen%s %han all %he mirobes e(er diso(ered. 'E YOURSEL&
e presen% one #ae %o %he world and behold ano%her in %he pri(ay o# our rooms, and %his knowledge %ha% we are no% wha% %he world eCpe%s us %o be mani#es%s in a kind o# soial onsiene %ha% makes owards o# us all. Mos% o# us are a#raid %o be oursel(es. "ike hameleons we hange olors %o sui% our bakgrounds. Our opinions are #ormed by wha% people eCpe% us %o %hinkA our beha(ior pa%%erns are based upon how people eCpe% us %o beha(eA and sine we are always %hinking in response %o ou%side irums%anes we sarely know how we #eel a% all and ne(er ha(e any sense o# sel# o%her %han %he one re#le%ed in %he eyes o# o%hers. FTo %hine own sel# be %rue,G wro%e Shakespeare, Fand i% shall #ollow as %he nigh% %he day, %hou an?s% no% %hen be #alse %o any man.G /% is impor%an% %o a% in aord wi%h your own na%ure. hen you li(e sinerely and #eelingly, you beome a pure hannel #or %he eCpression o# %he -i(ine. +ah o# us is aorded a uniEue indi(iduali%y. $s long as %ha% indi(iduali%y is unhampered by inhibi%ion and #ear, i% is apable o# eCpressing some%hing di##eren% and (i%al, bu% when i% is res%ri%ed and limi%ed by apprehension, i% anno% eCpress i%sel# a% all. The dammed up %orren% o# uni(ersal energy %hen %urns upon i%sel#, and %he dual sides o# %he ego na%ure, like %he gingham dog and %he alio a%, Fea% eah o%her up.G oun%less people are res%rained #rom learning beause %hey are a#raid %o %ry. /n %hem is a #alse pride %ha% is onne%ed dire%ly %o %he ego, and i% will no% le% %hem per#orm awkwardly beause i% has no humili%y, and i% will no% le% %hem begin any%hing and be no(ies beause i% anno% s%and any idea o# i%sel# %ha% is no% be%%er %han o%hers. /# a man be rid o# ego5sel# and ha(e aep%ed %ha% he is only an ins%rumen% o# -i(ine will and a%ion, he is able %o embark upon %he learning o# a skill wi%h %he u%mos% humili%y and deep indi##erene %o %he opinions o# o%hers. 'e an be laughed a% wi%hou% shameA he an be Heered a% wi%hou% ridiuleA he an laugh a% himsel#A he an ridiule himsel#A bu% all %he while his (ision burns brigh%ly, and he knows %ha% one day he will ha(e %he a%%ainmen% o# %he skill. 'e has no #ear, #or #ear is possible only %o %he ego, and %he ego has been subordina%ed in his na%ure. 'e embarks upon all en%erprises wi%h ourage, persis%ene, and #ai%h. @us% beause he %oils endlessly a% %he door o# rea%ion, %ha% door e(en%ually yields, and mar(elous works are wrough% %hrough him beause his hand is mo(ed by %he -i(ine. ha%e(er your aspira%ion, remember %his= %he mas%er o# %ha% skill is wi%hin you. 'e who already possesses i% is grea%es% o# all. i(e o(er %he doing o# your work %o him and ge% yoursel# ou% o# %he way, and you will #ind %ha% you are soon per#orming wi%h onsumma%e knowledge and skill.
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Chapter 1* CREATING "OUR OWN TALENT *+$T/)+N+SS on%ains a sere%. The rea%i(e man eChibi%s a deep psyhi %ie wi%h %he insru%able mys%ery o# li#e. 'e per#orms in his work wi%h %he same na%uralness as %he #lower grows #rom %he soil, #or he has a%%ained %o a uni%y in men%al and spiri%ual rela%ionships %ha% make him seem par% o# %he %hing he is doing. The onsumma%e ar%is% beomes one wi%h his %ask, so allied wi%h i% in mo(emen% and being %ha% i% beomes almos% impossible %o disern where %he man ends and %he work begins. arl @ung s%a%es %ha% i% was no% oe%he who rea%ed aus% as muh as i% was aus% %ha% rea%ed oe%he. One seems absolu%ely dependen% upon %he o%her sine eah represen%s %he same %hing. aus% is an eC%ension o# oe%he, Hus% as oe%he is an eC%ension o# aus%. TE ARTIST INCARNATE
Talen% is an absolu%e blending o# %he indi(idual wi%h his work. 8ain%ings o# %he grea% pain%er beome %he pain%er, Hus% as %he pain%er beomes %he grea% pain%ings. hen we see a person who eChibi%s a grea% %alen%, we know a% one a kind o# es%asy a% %his mani#es%a%ion o# a supreme mind and skill. $ll eChibi%ion o# %alen% is a kind o# religious eCperiene %o %hose who behold i%, #or i% es%ablishes a ommunion be%ween %he Sere% Sel# and %he indi(idual. There is a li(ing and super5#ore whose sphere o# a%ion is largely in(isible and ou%side %he boundaries o# our workaday world. There is some%hing more purpose#ul %han a%oms. There is a higher e(ol(ed in%elligene %han any %ha% is on%ained wi%hin %he human brain. There is a door in%o a world beyond, whih some%imes opens and allows %he indi(idual %o be seiBed by s%range po%enies %remendously abo(e %he le(el o# his personal abili%ies. hen %ha% happens we see %he ar%is% inarna%e, %he man wi%h a super5%alen%, who is able in one sphere o# his a%i(i%y %o demons%ra%e dire%ly %o us %he inalulable power and wisdom and beau%y o# %he -i(ine. The mys%ery o# %he %alen%ed man is %ha% he is roo%ed dire%ly in uni(ersal mind, %ha% i% mani#es%s %hrough him wi%hou% any res%ri%ion or dis%or%ion by %he ego. /% is no% %he man who is responsible #or his work, bu% a power beyond and abo(e him %ha% is mani#es%ing %hrough him, using him as an ins%rumen%. /n deepes% essene eah man is an ar%is% and only omes %o his omple%e #ul#illmen% as an indi(idual when he ge%s his egois%i na%ure ou% o# %he way and allows %he rea%i(e %alen% o# %he -i(ine %o work %hrough him, %o aomplish %hose %asks %ha% an bes% be d one %hrough his indi(idually honed na%ure. hen we li(e ou% our li(es #oused in %he ego and bound %o egois%i desires and sa%is#a%ions, i% beomes impossible #or us %o ahie(e a spiri%ual awakening or %o #ul#ill oursel(es as rea%i(e persons. The world o# ma%erial %hings is %oo muh wi%h us. -esires %o be be%%er, %o ha(e more, %o li(e in ma%erial om#or%, blind us %o %he long reahes o# eCis%ene. This li%%le li#e we li(e is impor%an% no% #or %he rea%ure om#or%s i% brings bu% #or %he s earh i% in(ol(es us in. 0n%il we make our primary purpose %he diso(ery o# who we are More ree !ooks
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and where we ame #rom and wha% our rela%ionship %o li#e is, we mus% li(e ou% our brie# spu%%ering o# %he andle in omple%e unawareness and blind au%oma%ism, #ollowing %he pressures %ha% de(elop in %he ou%er world as %hey impinge upon our senses. TE CREATIVE VISION
hen %he inner soul o# man is %ouhed by perep%ion o# %he rea%i(e side o# his na%ure, he sees a% one %he disas%er inheren% in a ondu% o# li#e based upon ma%erial goals. 'e sees %ha% %his %hing he has always %hough% himsel# %o be, his ego, is illusory, %ha% %he desires growing ou% o# ego lead him in%o a maBe o# in%ria%e byroads %ha% ine(i%ably will lose his hane a% enligh%enmen%. Suh a man may gi(e up all possessions, all #ame, all rea%ure om#or%s, so as %o be misled no longer, and %ake up his eCis%ene wi%h a resol(e %o be mo%i(a%ed in all %hings %hrough an inner ligh% %ha% proeeds ou% o# uni(ersal mind. Suh en#ored ase%iism allows %he indi(idual %o engross himsel# omple%ely in %he ser(ie o# %he Sere% Sel#. @ohn %he !ap%is% prowling %he wilderness in searh o# his immor%al soul is no more an eCample o# i% %han is %he renh pain%er, auguin, gi(ing up areer and #amily %o eCile himsel# on a Sou%h Sea island %o pain% pi%ures. +ah has been %ouhed by %he rea%i(e (ision, eah mus% ser(e i% a% all os%. hen a man?s eyes ha(e been opened %o %he rea%i(e na%ure o# %he -i(ine, he no longer an help himsel#, mus% ser(e i% as an ins%rumen%, and no%hing s%ands in his way. The rea%i(e proess is impersonalA i% seiBes %he na%ure and uses i% %o %he u%mos%, and %he person per#orms #ea%s o# rea%ion #ar abo(e any%hing possible %o his normal onsious mind. hen %his #ore %ruly predomina%es in our makeup, i% monopoliBes our energy. /n %he awakened ar%is%, li#e is ruled by %he subonsious. onsious in%en%ion means li%%le, and %he man is swep% along on sub%erranean urren%s in whih he is #irmly enmeshed and in whih he Hoy#ully par%iipa%es. COMMON CONSCIOUSNESS
8ar%iipa%ion mys%iEue is %he sere% o# ar%is%i rea%ion and onsis%s o# a swallowing up o# %he indi(idual by %he Sere% Sel#, so %ha% %he man beomes an ou%le% #or %he mani#es%a%ion o# %he beau%y and (arie%y and in#ini%e ompleCi%y o# uni(ersal mind. No one %ruly does a %hing well when he does i% wi%h onsious in%en%ion. 'is e##e%i(eness in a%ion is always %he resul% o# un%hinking na%uralness. 'e does no% ome %o skill in works %hrough obHe%i(e analysis o# his a%ion as separa%e #rom %he a%ion o# o%hers bu% %hrough a omple%e iden%i#ia%ion o# himsel# wi%h %he work %o be done. Samuel Taylor oleridge wro%e, From my (ery hildhood, / ha(e been aus%omed %o abs%ra%, and as i% were, unrealiBe wha%e(er o# more %han ommon in%eres% my eyes dwelled on, and %hen by a sor% o# %rans#usion and %ransmission o# my onsiousness %o iden%i#y mysel# wi%h an obHe%.G 8ar%iipa%ion in %he li#e o# ano%her %hrough a mys%i medium o# ommon onsiousness is %he essene o# ar%is%i rea%ion. The man who a##e%s %o do some%hing %hrough onsious in%en%ion and a% %he urging o# %he separa%e and More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
uniEue desires o# %he ego is per#orming by %he ligh% o# one andle in an arena where %housands o# kilowa%%s are a(ailable. 'e anno% possibly rea%e a %rue and e##e%i(e work %hrough %he limi%ed knowledge and %iny sope o# his onsious mind. $ll in%en%ioned works o# ar% are #la% and useless and depi% only lihLs and are no% %ruly works o# ar% a% all bu% only a kind o# synre%ism o# %he elemen%s o# knowledge a(ailable %o %he ego. Suh e##or% in wri%ing is HournalismA in ar%, pos%er pain%ingA in musi, dollar mongeringA and %he indi(idual who per#orms %hus, e(en %hough masEuerading under %he man%le o# ar%is%, is a%ually des%roying himsel# %hrough knowledgeable orrup%ing o# his %alen%. +(ery man has a %alen% in some area o# his na%ure, as big a %alen% as has e(er eCis%ed, and i# %his %alen% has no% mani#es%ed i% is beause his egois%i na%ure has dammed i% up. No ma%%er how long %he dam has eCis%ed, no ma%%er how %igh%ly on%rolled %he egois%i na%ure, %he dam an be broken and %he power an be le% loose and a man an realiBe %he highes% le(el o# his %alen% and li(e %he li#e o# %he ar%is% inarna%e. To %urn %he eye wi%hin and %o release %he egois%i na%ure #rom sel#ish desire is %he #irs% %hing %o be done. One %he whole na%ure is %urned o(er %o a power grea%er %han i% is, %o be used #or wha%e(er purpose, wi%hou% aim or in%en%ion, %hen %he power omes %hrough, %hen %he man begins %o be %rans#ormed, per#orming na%urally in all irums%anes, guided orre%ly in all a%ions. %SYCIC %OSITION
There is %remendous Hoy in orre% psyhi posi%ioning o# %he ego. There is a #eeling o# use#ulness %ha% omes %o %he indi(idual, a roo%ed er%ain%y in his soul %ha% he is per#orming in %he bes% manner possible. This is %he #eeling o# FgraeG %ha% omes %o %he religious man. This is %he %ime o# rea%i(i%y %ha% omes %o %he ar%is%. This is %he period o# grea% produ%i(i%y %ha% omes %o %he business man. This is %he %ime o# superior skill %ha% omes %o %he a%hle%e. +ah ser(es, per#orms under %he impulsion o# an in%elligene and %alen% so (as%ly superior %o %he sur#ae mind %ha% %he rela%ionship is aep%ed as a happy hild #ollows a lo(ing #a%her. O# %his %ime o# a%%unemen% and onseEuen% rea%ion, riedrih Nie%Bshe wro%e, FOne an hardly reHe% omple%ely %he idea %ha% one is %he mere inarna%ion or mou%hpiee or medium o# some almigh%y power. The no%ion o# re(ela%ion desribes %he ondi%ion Eui%e simplyA by whih / mean %ha% some%hing pro#oundly on(ulsi(e and dis%urbing suddenly beomes (isible and audible wi%h indesribable de#ini%eness and eCa%ness. One hears>one does no% seekA one %akes>one does no% ask who gi(es= $ %hough% #lashes ou% like ligh%ning, ine(i%ably wi%hou% hesi%a%ion>/ ha(e ne(er had any hoie abou% i%. +(ery%hing ours Eui%e wi%hou% (oli%ion, as i# in an erup%ion o# #reedom, independene, power and di(ini%y.G /% %akes ourage %o push o## in%o %he unknown realms o# %he subonsious. /% %akes daring and boldness %o abandon %he li%%le ship o# egois%i sel# and swim %o %ha% unhar%ed island o# %he Sere% Sel# %ha% lies beyond %he horiBon. Many people More ree !ooks
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ling %o %heir egois%i na%ures as i# %hey migh% be sa(ed by %hem ins%ead o# ine(i%ably abandoned. 8ain and #rus%ra%ion and ine##e%uali%y are %he only rewards %ha% ome %o %he man who #ollows his ego, and ye% he o#%en lings %o his #alse idol %hrough %hik and %hin, muh as a drowning man grasps a% a s%raw. O#%en he has so edua%ed himsel# %o %he eCis%ene o# %he phan%om he worships %ha% e(en when he sees he is deluded, he anno% bear %o par% wi%h his ghos%. !u% par% he mus%, push o## in%o %he unhar%ed regions o# %he subonsious he mus%, #or #inally his ego5sel# abandons him al%oge%her, breaks down and disin%egra%es wi%h %he disin%egra%ion o# %he body. /n %he end he realiBes %ha% he mus% %hrow himsel# upon %he mery and grae o# some%hing in#ini%e and e%ernal, whih aused him %o be born in %he #irs% plae and now auses him %o die. NO DARING IS &ATAL
$iden%, per(ersion, illness, and inep%i%ude are %he lo% o# %he apprehensi(e. The priBe is always %o %he bold, and %he ourageous own %he uni(erse. !u% despi%e %hese ob(ious #a%s, %he maHori%y o# people ower in a(es and re#use %o abandon %he #limsies% seuri%y and s%rike ou% in Eues% o# %he grea% and %he good. /# you ha(e %he ourage %o %ake a hane, you will no% be abandoned by #a%e. The uni(erse works on %he side o# %he man who aspires. /% gi(es wings %o birds and #ins %o #ish and %ouhes %he %oes o# %he %igh%rope walker wi%h magi. FNo daring is #a%al,G wro%e *enL re(el. The Sere% Sel# has a herished plae #or i%s %orh bearers. $long %he %enuous lines o# e(olu%ion %he bold and %he bra(e lead a migh%y ad(ane. $n irresis%ible #ore proeeds ou% o# %he man who has ourage and %enai%y in his hear%A he anno% be s%opped beause he is being used by an in#ini%e and omnipo%en% power. !u% %hose who pull %he shells o# %heir egos abou% %hem and re#use ei%her %o dare or aspire are by %his psyhologial a% sEueeBing %he Huies o# li#e #rom %heir bodies and %heir soulsA %hey mus% ine(i%ably disin%egra%e beause %hey ha(e re#used %o grow. To le% go o# ego and %o en%er one?s sel# in %he onsiousness o# uni(ersal mind is %he grea%es% ad(en%ure possible beause i% means as%ing o## #rom sa#e shores and (oyaging beyond (isible horiBons. Ye% one %his ini%ial s%ep is made, one a man eases responding %o %he ma%erial world, one he %urns his mind and body and hear% o(er %o %he Sere% Sel#, he is as%ounded a% one by his inner Hoy and sereni%y. Only %he sur#ae sel# an know #ear, and one i% has been subordina%ed, so is #ear subordina%ed. The ego has some%hing %o lose only beause i% sees i%sel# as separa%e. One %his idea o# separa%eness has gi(en o(er %o a basi perep%ion o# uni%y, %he indi(idual no longer knows #ear beause he has no%hing %o lose. $ sense o# being a par% o# all %hings and a par% o# all li#e is a psyhi ondi%ion %ha% produes %he mos% indesribable sa%is#a%ion. /% is %he es%asy repor%ed by mys%is, %he sense o# rea%i(i%y repor%ed by ar%is%s, %he religious re(ela%ion repor%ed by %he sain%s. /% is denied no one, is possible %o all. One i% omes %o a man, i% pro(ides a springboard #or %he de(elopmen% o# a %alen% by whih he is able %o eCpress %he in#ini%e na%ure o# %he -i(ine. More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
META%YSICAL ADVENTURE
*eligious re(ela%ion is eCa%ly %he same %hing as rea%i(e a%i(i%y. They are bo%h me%aphysial ad(en%ures. They in(ol(e %he aEuisi%ion o# a %o%al ins%ead o# a par%ial (iew o# %he uni(erse. They are ou% o# %ime and spae and indi(iduali%y and are en%ered in e%ernal %erms and whole signi#ianes. Talen% de(elops in a person when his spiri%ual awakening has begun beause %alen% is inheren% in eah o# us, and %he purpose o# li#e is %ha% we be rea%i(e. hen %he spiri%ual awakening is %rue, so will %he %alen% be %rue, and no% ompulsi(e or obsessional, allowing %he indi(idual %o per#orm his work ou% o# sheer Hoy, dropping his #rui%s like a ripe %ree. /% %hen beomes possible #or him %o obey his ins%in%s and in%ui%ions and no% %o be inhibi%ed in his a%ions by wha% o%hers eCpe% o# him. 'e ge%s near %he hear% o# %ru%h beause he sees %he sham and hyporisy %ha% are bound %o par%iali%y. 'e subordina%es %his par%iali%y omple%ely in all his a%ions and %hough%, and %he %alen% %ha% is (isi%ed upon him is %he %alen% o# some%hing beyond him. $r% speaks %o us in symbols o# %he uni(ersali%y o# our %rue being. !y i% we perei(e a por%ion o# %ha% es%asy and uni%y #rom whih we ha(e sprung. !y i% we are able %o ahie(e an inkling o# %he grea% des%iny %ha% awai%s man. Some day men will beome %horoughly awakened spiri%ually and onseEuen%ly omple%ely religious, no% Hus% belie(ers as a #ew men are now, bu% knowers, ausers, prime mo(ers, %horoughly enligh%ened, gods in #a%, e(en as now in po%en%ial. The a%%i%ude %ha% resul%s #rom a man?s diso(ery o# his inheren% %alen% is no% one o# in%en%ioned a%ion or %hough%, bu% one %ha% looks #or diso(ery. The rea%i(e wri%er does no% %ake up pen wi%h an idea o# FmakingG a er%ain %hing, bu% only %o see wha% will ome %hrough him and mani#es% i%sel# on paper. The man who %ruly uses his %alen% is able %o do so only beause he le%s i% use him. The orre% men%al a%%i%ude is %ha% wha%e(er is %here will ome %hrough and need nei%her be s%ar%ed nor s%opped. You do no% ha(e %o know wha% is oming, wha% i% will look like, bu% simply ha(e an open mind, and le% i% %hrough. Ne(er e(en bo%her %o look a% i% losely, #or i# you do, you may %hink you know wha% i% is, and by %ha% men%al #iCa%ion you will make i% s%a%i and i% no longer will grow and be #leCible and rea%i(e. $ll %ha% is grea% and good and las%ing springs ou% o# %he subonsious proesses o# %he Sere% Sel#, and when we are mo(ed by our grea%er minds we eChibi% %he %alen%s %ha% are ours. od guard me #rom %hose %hough%s men %hink /n %he mind alone, 'e %ha% sings a las%ing song Thinks in a marrow bone. >$my "owell CREATIVE LA'OR
$ %housand #aes has %he Sere% Sel#, approahed by a %housand doors, and when one is opened and %ha% #ae beheld, %here burs%s %hrough %he indi(idual a %orren% More ree !ooks
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o# rea%i(eness, a kind o# super%alen%. 8ar%ial is %he human being, barely aware, a sur#ae mani#es%a%ion o# unlimi%ed realms o# subonsious in%elligene, bu% %here is a pa%h by whih eah may pene%ra%e uni(ersal mind, and when he does he rea%es his own %alen%, depi%ing #or %he world some par%iular aspe% o# %he -i(ine. No man is denied %alen% eCep% by himsel#. hen he allows his onsiousness %o be hemmed in by %he ego he is unable %o pull upon subonsious le(els #or %he inspira%ion and dri(e neessary %o rea%i(e work. 0niEue indi(iduali%y is %he (ehile whih %he Sere% Sel# uses #or %he mani#es%a%ion o# %alen%, and is largely being s%ul%i#ied by our modern indus%rial soie%y. Our edua%ion %eahes on#ormi%y. The indus%rial mahine needs workers, and workers mus% be predi%able, and predi%abili%y, as #ar as soie%y is onerned, is bes% ob%ained by inula%ing %he same soial onsiene in eah man. onseEuen%ly, %he indi(idual li(es a rou%ine %ha% is no% o# his own hoosing bu% has been sele%ed #or him by soie%y. 'is opinions also ha(e been gi(en him by %he group, and he aep%s %hem as par% o# %he ondi%ion o# his li#e. $ll %hinking is done #or him. 'e belie(es %he poli%ial ins%i%u%ion bes% %ha% he belongs %o, %he labor union bes% %ha% he belongs %o, %he s%a%e, i%y, and ommuni%y bes% %ha% he belongs %o. 'e is unable %o make an obHe%i(e deision abou% any%hing he enoun%ers bu% rea%s %o e(ery%hing as i% a##e%s his pre#ormed opinions. This egois%i basis #or Hudging %hings is omple%ely #alse and omple%ely s%a%i beause i% does no% allow %he indi(idual %o grow. Tru%h in some #inal analysis may be absolu%e, bu% #or %he indi(idual man i% is an indi(idual ma%%er. ha% is good #or one is no% neessarily good #or all, bu% nei%her is %he good o# all neessarily bes% #or %he indi(idual. $s long as man on%inues %o li(e in groups, soial onsiene will on%inue %o ha(e a dis%in% and neessary #un%ion, bu% suh soial onsiene mus% make pro(ision #or indi(idual grow%h and responsibili%y, #or i% now %ends %o de#ea% i%sel# by making au%oma%ons o# i%s adheren%s. "arge indus%rial #irms are #inding %ha% %he idea boC in %he plan% pays di(idends. hen a worker is enouraged %o %hink rea%i(ely abou% %he business in whih he labors, his men%al a%%i%ude %oward %ha% business is hanged. 'e no% only beomes more e##iien% in his %asks, bu% sooner or la%er on%ribu%es %oward %he grow%h o# %he business. No man is buil% %o pu% nu%s on bol%s all day. Tha% is %he %ask o# a mahine. !u% a man may endure suh a Hob i# allowed %o pursue means by whih i% may be done more e##iien%ly. Na%urally he will no% be disposed %o suh a%i(i%y i# he #eels %ha% i% may resul% in his being wi%hou% a Hob a% all, bu% only i# he #eels %ha% he will be rewarded wi%h a be%%er Hob or a be%%er inome. The basi problems in indus%rial ad(anemen% are delinea%ed by %he opposing #ores o# labor and managemen%. OrganiBed labor has grown as a pro%e%ion %o %he worker #rom eCploi%a%ion, bu% i%s psyhologial posi%ion has beome s%a%i. /% is largely opposed %o ad(anes in %ehnology %ha% may do away wi%h Hob a%egories, and F#ea%her beddingG in all indus%ries has ahie(ed suh propor%ion as More ree !ooks
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%o be a dis%in% burden on e##iien% opera%ion. The solu%ion %o e##e%i(e indus%rial grow%h is no% likely %o be #ound in organiBed labor, bu% ra%her in an enligh%ened managemen% whih makes i%s labor #ore par% o# i%s rea%i(e e##or%, rewards eah man on an indi(idual basis and allows par%iipa%ion o# e(ery member o# %he organiBa%ion in %he #rui%s o# %ha% organiBa%ion. hen suh indus%rial enligh%enmen% #inally is ahie(ed, %here will be a uni#ia%ion o# labor and managemen% beause %heir aims will be %he same, and eah man will ha(e a rea%i(e responsibili%y %oward his work. %RODUCTIVITY
rea%i(e %alen% demands produ%ion. The displaemen% o# ego in #a(or o# %he guidane o# %he Sere% Sel# resul%s in a man being dri(en %o aomplish %asks %ha% here%o#ore he would ha(e onsidered impossible. No moun%ain is %oo high, no wilderness %oo broad, and %he rea%i(e soul a%%uned %o %he -i(ine labors and produes unremi%%ingly. Thomas arlyle wro%e, F+(en in %he meanes% sor%s o# labor %he whole soul o# a man is omposed in%o a kind o# real harmony %he ins%an% he se%s himsel# %o work. 8rodueI ere i% bu% %he pi%i#ules%, in#ini%esimal #ra%ion o# a produ%, produe i% in od?s name.G or %he mos% par% we are %oo inhibi%ed and repressed %o be able %o eCpress %he personali%y %ha% is uniEuely our own. The ego5on%rolled na%ure a%s always in aord wi%h an idea o# how people eCpe% i% %o a%. Sine i% does no% know i%sel#, i% does no% know how i% %ruly #eels, bu% adop%s #eelings #rom desire5goals ra%her #rom %he indi(iduali%y inna%e %o i%. The man who endures all %o make money is a lassi eCample o# repression and inhibi%ion. 'e swindles his in#eriors and #awns on his superiors, and by %his onseEuen% warping o# moral (alues so omple%ely represses %he Sere% Sel# %ha% i% is impossible #or him %o be rea%i(e or spon%aneous in any area o# his a%i(i%y. Making money is no% an end in li#e. 8ursuing %he god, Mammon, has only #a%al resul%s. !u% ahie(emen% is one o# li#e?s primary aims, and ahie(emen% o#%en resul%s in mone%ary suess. To be wha% we na%urally are and %o li(e and a% as we na%urally were rea%ed should be %he primary aim o# eah o# us. e ha(e been pu% here on ear%h by a power grea%er %han we areA we ha(e been mani#es%ed in our par%iular #orm so as %o r e#le% in humani%y an image o# %he -i(ine. e anno% re#le% %his image or do %he work na%ural %o us i# we beome repressed by en%ering our onsiousness in our egois%i na%ures. Spon%anei%y is %he sere% o# doing %hings well. $ man a%s in aord wi%h his whole na%ure when he does %hings #eelingly ins%ead o# %hinkingly. *eason is (aluable %oo, bu% i% ser(es a limi%ed world and a limi%ed knowledge. hen a man a%s only aording %o his reason, he a%s wi%h %he bares% #a%s in his possession. !u% when he a%s ins%in%i(ely and in%ui%i(ely, he a%s as an ins%rumen% o# %he Sere% Sel#, and behind his a%ion lie all knowledge, all in%elligene, all power. hen you are spon%aneous in your a%ions and in your %hough%s, you are being yoursel#, and More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
when you are being yoursel#, you are a hundred %imes more e##e%i(e, more Hoy#ul, more rea%i(e %han you are when you are ordering your li#e in aordane wi%h %he aims o# %he sur#ae mind. The onsiously on%rolled and in%en%ioned man is suppressing his %alen%, #or he is suppressing %he a%ion o# %he -i(ine wi%hin him. No %alen% e(er is eChibi%ed by %he onsious mind or ego, and %he man whose li#e is ordered by %hem ne(er an be rea%i(e. GET INTO TE GAME
"e% yoursel# go. Shake o## inhibi%ion and #ear, and be yoursel#. "earn %o %hink and a% na%urally, spon%aneouslyA harmony and symme%ry will en%er your li#e, and you will diso(er your inheren% %alen%. Mos% people ne(er #ind %heir proper nihes simply beause %hey inhibi% %he %alen% %hey possess. /% %akes ourage %o go ou% on a limb and do %he %hings %ha% are na%ural. /% is muh easier %o si% on %he side lines, wa%h somebody else per#orm, and ri%iiBe. Monday morning Euar%erbaks are no%orious in #oo%ball, and in %he world o# ar% i% has long been aCioma%i %ha% %he ri%i is a #rus%ra%ed ar%is%. ul%on Oursler repor%s, FOne win%er?s nigh%, many years ago, when / was no more %han %wen%y, / was belaboring a %ypewri%er in %he newsroom o# %he !al%imore $merian. $ opy boy summoned me %o %he o##ie o# %he managing edi%or, a bald5 headed old walrus wi%h whi%e mus%ahes like hanging gardens and a per(erse sense o# humor. "eaning bak in his swi(el hair he asked me= KK K-o you play %he pianoD? F KNo, sir.? F KiddleD? F KNo, sir.? F KSingD? KK KNo, sir.? KK KThen go up %o %he "yri and o(er %he oner%. Our musi ri%i Hus% dropped dead. You?(e go% %he Hob.? F /# hindsigh% were #oresigh%, we?d all be kings. /% %akes li%%le imagina%ion and absolu%ely no en%erprise %o reogniBe %he errors o# people who ha(e %he ourage %o %ry when %he ou%ome is in doub%. rea%i(e %alen% arries wi%h i% an elemen% o# deepes% personal risk. !e#ore %he indi(idual beomes a #i% (ehile, he mus% #igura%i(ely hang himsel# #rom a li## by his #inger%ips, suspend himsel# b e%ween li#e and dea%h. /n %his psyhologial posi%ion o# awareness o# %he basi elemen%s o# li#e, he no longer is on#used abou% %he purposes o# %he Sere% Sel#, is able %o piere Euikly %he sham and sub%er#uge o# egois%i a%ion and %hough%, and %o a% always as an ins%rumen% o# %he -i(ine. $ deep indi##erene %o %he opinions o# o%hers eCis%ing side by side wi%h reogni%ion o# a ommon spiri%ual bond brings %o %he indi(idual his %rue and uniEue personali%y, allows his whole li#e %o be an More ree !ooks
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eCpression o# %ha% par%iular #ae% o# %he Supreme %ha% is bes% able %o mani#es% %hrough him. Thus he diso(ers his %alen%. /% may be in %he ar%s, %he sienes, business, war, or poli%isA bu% where(er he #inds his nihe, he will #i% in%o i% as a hand in a skin%igh% glo(e, as i# he and i% were made #or eah o%her, and he will per#orm his work in suh a manner as %o be omple%ely indis%inguishable #rom i%. TEM%ERING 'Y &IRE
+(ery rea%i(e indi(idual mus% undergo a %empering proess during whih he is subHe%ed %o #ire, a#%er whih his %oughness is inreased. "i#e is no% suh a gen%le %hing as %o be approahed wi%h dain%y #ingers. "ook abou% and you will see %ha% na%ure hooses her blessed ones by subHe%ing %hem %o %he mos% se(ere %es%s. Ou% o# %he ruible o# on#li% emerge %he lion5hear%ed, and %hey are %he ones who arry %he banner o# e(olu%ion onward. The man who subHe%s himsel# %o %he s%ernes% o# %rials is in %he end %he bes% ins%rumen% #or e##e%ua%ion o# %he purposes o# %he Sere% Sel#. /% is he %hrough whom migh%y works are done, upon whom grea% e(en%s hinge. The eCerised musle grows s%ronger, %he eCerised mind grows smar%erA %he eCerised hear% grows bolderA bu% no%hing des%roys as Euikly as disuse. *epression and inhibi%ion do more %oward girdling man around wi%h limi%a%ion %han any obs%ale he #aes. /# a %hing were as easy %o do as %o say all o# us would be sain%s. +Corising #ear, anCie%y, and hos%ili%y #rom %he onsiousness is no% a simple ma%%er and is nearly impossible as long as %he ego rules %he na%ure. /n order #or %he indi(idual li#e %o be na%ural, i% is neessary %ha% i% be li(ed as an eC%ension o# %he -i(ine. *eason mus% be subordina%ed as primary priniple. +mo%ion mus% be subordina%ed as guiding #ore. $%ion and %hough% mus% de(elop spon%aneously and e##or%lessly, as a resul% o# %he onsiousness being plaed in %he posi%ion o# obser(a%ion ra%her %han origina%ion. The de(elopmen% o# %alen% depends upon spiri%ual awakening. The unawakened indi(idual is born wi%h %alen%, bu% i# unawakened during his li#e%ime li%erally is ea%en up by %he #ore %ha% possesses him beause he is unable %o eCpress i% and %he opposing sides o# his na%ure are ons%an%ly a% war wi%h eah o%her. DO !AT YOU ARE
-ale belonged %o %he 0ni%ed S%a%es Marine orps during orld ar // and #ough% %hrough #i(e ampaigns wi%h eC%reme bra(ery. 8rior %o his enlis%men% he had gone %o ar% shool, and his early works in oil showed muh promise. The danger and disas%er he #aed in %he marines, howe(er, al%ered his a%%i%ude, and one he was disharged he made up his mind %ha% he wan%ed ma%erial possessions. 'e se% abou% aEuiring %hem, %ook a Hob in an ad(er%ising ageny as a layou% man, gradually ad(aned %o ar% dire%or, reei(ed a salary %ha% enabled him %o li(e in om#or%. 'e was #ar #rom happy, howe(er. +asel and pain%s were #orgo%%en, and nigh%ly Hourneys %o ok%ail bars %ook on suh dimension %ha% he seldom wen% %o More ree !ooks
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bed wi%hou% being drunk. !e#ore long, he was drinking during %he day also, and i% beame ob(ious %o his in%ima%es %ha% he was harboring a deep ore o# resen%men%. hen %his resen%men% #inally mani#es%ed in an ar%hri%i a%%ak, -ale was sen% %o bed by his do%or, and %here had %ime %o %hink. One day an old #riend #rom his ar% shool days, now pursuing a areer as a pain%er, ame %o him and %hey %alked. 'is #riend looked a% %he sump%uous apar%men%. FYou mus% be making i% pre%%y good,G he said. FSure %hing,G answered -ale. FTwen%y %housand a year and all %he %rimmings. 8ra%ially any%hing / wan%. 'ow abou% youDG 'is #riend smiled. F/?m luky i# / do %hree %housand a year, and you ould pu% my li%%le s%udio in one orner o# %his apar%men%.G FThen why no% gi(e i% upDG asked -ale. Fome in%o %he ad ageny. /?ll s%ar% you a% %en %housand.G -ale?s #riend shook his head. FNo, %hanks,G he said. F/?m happy %he way / am.G FYou areDG asked -ale. FYes.G F*eally happy, ehDG FYou be%. $ren?% youDG F/ ouldn?% be more miserable.G FThen i% s%rikes me %ha% you?re %he one who ough% %o hange. There isn?% enough money in %he world %o lok me in%o an unhappy Hob. You?re no% pain%ing, are youD / don?% see an easel or a an(as in %he whole apar%men%.G F/?(e gi(en i% up,G answered -ale. FSo you?(e gi(en i% up and you?re #la% on your bak and you?(e go% lo%s o# money and you?re unhappy. /?ll %ell you some%hing. There?s a s%udio righ% neC% %o mine, and %he ren% is %hir%y dollars a mon%h. You gi(e up your Hob and mo(e in %here and begin %o pain% again. 0nless / miss my guess %ha%?s %he ure #or wha% ails you.G $#%er his #riend le#%, -ale %hough% i% o(er. Tha% e(ening he ob%ained brushes and More ree !ooks
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oils and s%ar%ed %o pain%. !y %he end o# a week he was deeply engrossed, and his ar%hri%i pains had gone. 'e mo(ed ou% o# his apar%men% and in%o %he s%udio and has been pain%ing e(er sine. 'e smiles heer#ully now in his pain%5s%ained smok. F/ made %wen%y5#i(e hundred dollars las% year,G he says, Fwhih is big money #or a pain%er, bu% i% barely kep% %he wol# away #rom %he door. S%ill, / ouldn?% are less abou% %ha% wol#. $ll / wan% %o do is pain%. hen / pain%, / am omple%ely happy, beause /?m doing some%hing %ha% is par% o# me.G CREATIVENESS AND COM%ETITIVENESS
Somerse% Maugham wro%e, FThe ar%is% an, wi%hin er%ain limi%s, make wha% he likes o# his li#e. /n o%her allings, in mediine, #or ins%ane, or %he law, you are #ree %o hoose whe%her you will adop% %hem or no%, bu% ha(ing hosen you are #ree no longer. You are bound by %he rules o# your pro#essionA a s%andard o# ondu% is imposed upon you. The pa%%ern is prede%ermined. /% is only %he ar%is% who an make his own.G hen you %urn your li#e o(er %o %he Sere% Sel# %he hannel in you bes% adap%ed #or eCpression o# %he -i(ine is leared and de(eloped, and a uniEue %alen% is eCposed. $ dire%ion o# grow%h is opened, wi%hin whih you are per#e%ly #ree. /% has li%%le %o do wi%h your posi%ion in soie%y or your membership in soial groups. Your mind and %alen% de(elop independen%ly o# ma%erial assoia%ions beause you ha(e %urned %hem o(er %o %he Sere% Sel# %o use as %hey are bes% #i%%ed. +ah o# us mos% sa%is#ies himsel# as a person and #ul#ills himsel# as a member o# soie%y when he li(es %he li#e o# an ar%is%, no% neessarily %ha% o# a pain%er or wri%er bu% an ar%is% in %he sense %ha% his a%%i%ude %oward all %hings is rea%i(e ra%her %han ompe%i%i(e. The world o# ompe%i%ion is %he world o# egois%i desire, #or ompe%i%ion seeks asendany o(er o%hers. 8eople whose ruling passion is %o pro(e %hemsel(es be%%er usually look upon %he world wi%h hos%ile eyes and regard e(ery man as an enemy. Suh limi%ed perep%ion o# %he na%ure and purpose o# li#e learly des%roys more o#%en %han i% blesses, #or (i%ory always is %emporary, and de#ea% awai%s all whose li(es re(ol(e around superiori%y. The ego is born, blooms, wi%hers, and dies, Hus% as %he ma%erial body, and %he indi(idual whose aspira%ions en%er around i% mus% #ollow a yle %ha% leads %o e(en%ual de#ea% and disin%egra%ion. Oh, %he noon day o# %he ego is #ine. $ man in possession o# his #ull powers may s%and upon his indi(idual moun%ain and bea% his hes% and de#y %he world, bu% noon Euikly passes and %he day o# his li#e wanes, and noon%ime beomes a (ery dim memory as %he shadows leng%hen. /n order %o par%iipa%e #reely and #ully in all %hings, %he wider (ision %ha% perei(es %he maHes%i onward marh o# e(olu%ion mus% be adop%ed by %he indi(idual as basi in his a%%i%ude %oward li#e. Suh a man may appear %o be ompe%i%i(e More ree !ooks
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%hrough par%iipa%ing in ompe%i%i(e %hings, bu% he does no% ompe%e %hrough egois%i desire %o be be%%er or superior, only as a resul% o# ha(ing opened himsel# as a (ehile #or %he mani#es%a%ion o# %he Sere% Sel#. 'e is used in all %hings and is ne(er %he user, and beause he sees his basi uni%y wi%h all men he is able %o en%er ompe%i%ion wi%hou% hos%ili%y, nei%her #or gain nor loss. 'e is able %o regard wi%h eEual mindedness %hose he (anEuishes and %hose who (anEuish him, #or eah represen%s %o him %he same immu%able person whose mani#es%a%ion he knows he is himsel#. SURRENDER 'RINGS CONTROL
The %ruly rea%i(e a%%i%ude is a passi(e one inso#ar as i% lis%ens and does no% ommand. Ye% wha% is wrough% %hrough %he indi(idual whose ear is a%%uned %o %he -i(ine is harged wi%h %he mos% (i%al energy imaginable, #ar surpassing any%hing possible %o egois%i will power. /% is ego5will %ha% e(en%ually breaks %he indi(idual %hrough ons%an%ly %hrowing him agains% obs%ales %ha% are immo(able beause %hey are no% unders%ood. ill power seeks %o ba%%er down doors %ha% are bes% approahed wi%h a key. The enligh%ened man is a %alen%ed man beause he is a rea%i(e man, and %his rea%i(i%y is ins%illed in him by a sense o# uni%y wi%h all %hings. Obs%ales and opposi%ion and enemies ha(e meaning #or him only as %hey india%e a lak o# unders%anding wi%hin himsel#, and he ne(er seeks aomplishmen% by running headlong a% %hings, bu% only by a%%emp%ing %o men%ally and spiri%ually pene%ra%e %heir %rue meaning. My %eaher is %he onEueror knowing all $nd seeing all, %he Mas%er /n#ini%e /n pi%y, all %he world?s physiian, he $nd he i% is by whom %hese %ru%hs are %augh%. >Theraga%ha 'as %he ship o# your li#e ome %o disas%er %hrough running aground on unhar%ed shoalsD /# so, %he grea%es% lesson you an learn is now possible, #or your ship ne(er would ha(e grounded i# %he proper na(iga%or were har%ing %he ourse. Your sur#ae sel# and egois%i na%ure ha(e been a% %he helm, and %he limi%ed perep%ion o# sur#ae mind ould no% possibly know o# %he unhar%ed shoals. Now your ship is aground, and %he only way %ha% i% an be #reed is %o gi(e o(er ommand %o %he Mas%er who knows %hese wa%ers well. Surrender is %he priniple by whih ul%ima%e on%rol is gained. The bossy sur#ae sel# on%inually %ries %o run %he show and i%s enamoring ry o# F/, /, /G may easily delude %he whole onsiousness in%o limi%ed li#e and knowledge, bu% when a person runs in%o su##iien% pain and di##iul%y, a rak appears in %he hard (eneer o# %he ego and a ligh% is le% %hrough whih illumina%es all #or one s%ar%led ins%an% o# awareness. Then a man knows %ha% his li#e and sel# are in %he hands o# some%hing grea%er %han he is, %ha% his iden%i%y wi%h %he sur#ae mind has always been an illusion, whih in %his momen% o# enligh%enmen% he is #reed #rom. More ree !ooks
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rea%i(e men a##e% us as being rih in possibili%ies. They are ripened %rees %ha% drop %heir #rui%, and we sarely an be near %hem wi%hou% a%%aining %o some uneCpe%ed good. The rea%i(e man?s a%%i%ude has an aspe% o# abundane, as i# he has some mys%ial %ie wi%h a horn o# plen%y, no% o# ma%erial %hings neessarily, bu% o# ideas and o# possibili%ies %ha% gi(e a uni(ersal no%e %o e(ery%hing he does. $ good %hing is e##e%i(e and genera%i(e. /% grows and propaga%es and makes room #or i%sel#. /% springs in%o being %hrough an irresis%ible rea%i(e urge o# uni(ersal mind, and %he (ehile o# i%s mani#es%a%ion always is %he man wi%h an ar%is%i a%%i%ude %oward li#e. *alph aldo +merson wro%e, FThe %rue ar%is% has %he plane% #or his pedes%al.G 'e sees %he possibili%ies inheren% in all %hings, is a diso(erer in %he uni(erse, and in%erpre%er #or his less enligh%ened #ellows. &REEING YOUR TALENT
+ah man is by some sere% liking onne%ed %o a par%iular aspe% o# li#e. hen he has beome #reed o# %he repressions, limi%a%ions, and inhibi%ions imposed upon him by his edua%ion and %raining, he is able %o eCpose %his subonsious pre#erene and by i% a%%une himsel# wi%h %he rea%i(e %alen% %ha% na%urally is his. Suh %alen% has limi%less possibili%ies #or mani#es%a%ion. /% need ha(e no onne%ion wi%h %he so5alled ar%s, may be as simple a %hing as a %alen% #or kindness or lo(e. /% may be a %alen% #or speaking, #or persuasion, #or %eahing, #or researh, #or s%udy. /% may be in siene or business, bu% where(er i% is i% will pro(e on eCposure %o be (as%ly superior %o %he abili%ies o# people who are guided solely by ompe%i%i(e aims and egois%i desires. /% will proeed ou% o# an ineChaus%ible #oun%, be superior %o %he person, seem %o use him ra%her %han he use i%. 'is ordinary mor%al sel# will li(e wi%h his %alen% in a ons%an% s%a%e o# s%ar%led deligh%. 'e will know i% is a (isi%a%ion o# some%hing abo(e and beyond him, will %rea% i% a% all %imes wi%h lo(ing are, #ollow i%, obey i%, ne(er ommand i%. The mos% omple%ely #rus%ra%ing %hing %ha% an happen %o %he indi(idual li#e is #or inheren% %alen% %o #ail %o de(elop. Suh #ailure only an ome abou% %hrough %he ego on%rolling %he na%ure, res%ri%ing %he indi(idual?s grow%h in %he dire%ion in%ended. The %orren% o# rea%i(e energy %ha% eCis%s in e(ery human being beomes dammed up only wi%h %he gra(es% danger. *esen%men%, bi%%erness, ha%e, and hos%ili%y are %he emo%ional maladHus%men%s %ha% resul% #rom a #rus%ra%ed rea%i(e na%ure, and %hese ine(i%ably #ind %heir oun%erpar%s in physial illness. 'ear% %rouble, irula%ory disease, ar%hri%is, rheuma%ism, aner, uler are all psyhosoma%i symp%oms resul%ing #rom dammed5up rea%i(e energy. /% no% only is impera%i(e %ha% we #ree our %alen% in order %o beome #ul#illed as indi(iduals, bu% i% also is impor%an% %ha% we #ree i% in order %o li(e physially (igorous li(es, in order %o ha(e heal%hy bodies. These ends an be aomplished only by lowering our egois%i barriers, by %urning our li(es o(er %o %he -i(ine %o be used #or More ree !ooks
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wha%e(er purpose our basi na%ures are bes% sui%ed. hen we are able %o do %his, we beome na%ural persons, blend in%o our %asks and our work in suh a manner %ha% we seem an eC%ension o# our a%i(i%ies and %hey an eC%ension o# us. e ahie(e an e##e%i(eness in a%ion %ha% is dire%ly propor%ional %o %he degree %ha% we ha(e %urned our li(es o(er %o %he Sere% Sel#, and %he mani#es%a%ion %ha% omes %hrough us o# superior a%ion and skill is no% possessed by %he sur#ae sel# bu% uses i% as an ins%rumen% %o e##e% i%s purposes in %he world. YOUR SE%ARATE STAR
True ar%is%s we all are inheren%ly, #or eah o# us re#le%s an image in %he growing body o# mankind o# %he one mind and in%elligene %ha% lies behind rea%ion. e pain% a pi%ure as we go %hrough li#e o# %ha% mys%i and oul% realm whene we origina%ed and %o whih we one day will re%urn. hen we depar%, %he pi%ure remains, wi%h our signa%ure in %he orner, and is Hus% as surely %he represen%a%ion o# wha% we saw and #el% and heard and a%%emp%ed %o ommunia%e as is %he pi%ure o# %he pain%er, signed and hung upon %he wall o# %he gallery. $nd in %he #inal analysis who is %o Hudge whih (ision is %he mos% beau%i#ul or wor%hwhile, #or i# a man li(e %he li#e o# an ar%is%, his hand is guided by a will o%her %han his own, and wha% is wrough% %hrough him is wrough% a% %he behes% o# %he -i(ine, whose de#% brush s%rokes are gradually adding %o %he pi%ure o# e%erni%y and in#ini%y. Throw o## %he egois%i bonds %ha% hold you and allow %he Sere% Sel# %o shine %hrough. You will beome %he ar%is% inarna%e. $ %alen% will begin %o de(elop in you %oward whih your whole na%ure an be len%. You will begin %o do %he work %ha% only you an do, %ha% will #ul#ill you as a human being and as an aspiring soul. here(er your hear% leads, you may Hoy#ully #ollow, wi%h an inner er%ain%y %ha% you are a%ing in aord wi%h %he deepes% mo%i(a%ions o# li#e. +ah #or %he Hoy o# working $nd eah, in his separa%e s%ar, Shall draw %he %hing as he sees i% or %he od o# %hings as %hey are. >*udyard :ipling
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Chapter 11 HOW TO USE "OUR SI+TH SENSE TO-$Y %he eCis%ene o# a siC%h sense is well reogniBed. Supersensory abili%y has been reorded %hrough %he en%uries bu% only reen%ly under labora%ory ondi%ionsA now i%s eCis%ene is #inally and irre(oably pro(ed. 0nder siC%h sense may be lumped all paranormal phenomena suh as %hough% %rans#erene, lair(oyane, and psyho5kinesis, whih in parapsyhology are alled +S8, eC%rasensory perep%ion. /n%ui%i(e unders%anding o# irums%anes omes %hrough %he use o# %he siC%h sense, and i%s range and sope are (as%ly grea%er %han %he o%her #i(e. TE DIMLY SEEN !ORLD
The physial sensory organs re(eal %o us %he bares% india%ion o# wha% a%ually is enoun%ered in %he ma%erial world. They reord (ibra%ions. +ah sense reords a %iny segmen% o# %he %o%al spe%rum o# (ibra%ions. The reording o# all #i(e senses is only an in#ini%esimal par% o# %ha% %o%al spe%rum. $ million %imes more remains un%old abou% eah obHe% we enoun%er %han is e(er re(ealed %o us by our physial senses. e mo(e abou% in a world %ha% we ob%ain only %he dimmes% impression o#. ObHe%s %ha% we regard as solid are no% solid a% all, are merely enlosures o# higher (ibra%ions, and e(ery%hing eCis%s in a ons%an% s%a%e o# mo(emen% and #luC. orm is merely %he imprisonmen% o# mo(emen% wi%hin dimension, and in %he #inal analysis all %hings are #ar more men%al %han physial. Now %ha% physial siene has been able %o redue %he smalles% bi% o# ma%%er %o no%hingness, has #ound basi subs%ane %o be energy or in%elligene, e(en %he mos% ma%erialis%i o# researhers has been #ored %o %he ine(i%able onlusion %ha% all %hings are basially ideas, %ha% %hey are held in #orm as onep%s in some uni(ersal in%elligene. /% is %hrough %his uni(ersal in%elligene %ha% we diso(er %he siC%h sense, %ha% we arri(e a% spiri%ual enligh%enmen%. /% is %he immersion o# ego in %his in%elligene %ha% pro(ides sal(a%ion #or %he indi(idual man, allows him %o li(e his li#e in a s%a%e o# a%%unemen% and harmony. The psyhologial a% o# shuking o## %he li%%le sel# and a%%aining %o a larger sel# is wha% %he grea% mys%is speak o# when %hey reord %heir arri(al a% %he Fmomen% o# %ru%h.G There is a (as% and grea% mind %ha% is responsible #or %he ons%ru%ion o# %he uni(erse, %ha% is in a (ery real sense %he uni(erse i%sel#, and %his in#ini%e and e%ernal in%elligene rea%es only #rom i%s own subs%ane, and e(ery%hing whih i% rea%es is inheren%ly i%sel#, no% some%hing di##eren%, eCep% %hrough %he limi%a%ion imposed upon i% by i%s beoming par%ial and inomple%e. +(ery%hing in rea%ion is a mani#es%a%ion o# %he one mind and in%elligene %ha% underlies all. +ah man %here#ore has wi%hin him a super5mind whih is #ree o# limi%a%ion and res%ri%ion, and %his mind, working benea%h %he le(el o# onsious in%elligene, is apable o# absolu%e and %ru%h#ul guidane in all %hings beause i% unders%ands and perei(es More ree !ooks
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all %hings. MOMENTS O& ILLUMINATION
0ni(ersal mind is a mani#es%a%ion o# %he Sere% Sel#, o# %ha% di(ine will %ha% ineCorably leads mankind upon %he pa%h o# e(olu%ion. The sur#ae mind and ego are produ%s o# %he #i(e senses, o# %ha% knowledge %ha% a man aEuires during %he period o# his li#e%ime, and sine %hey are %he resul%s o# limi%ed knowledge and par%ial eCperiene, %hey are %he poores% (ehiles #or %he ondu% o# a%ion. $bsolu%e e##e%i(eness omes %o %he man who immerses ego in uni(ersal mind and allows %he Sere% Sel# %o guide him. 'is psyhologial posi%ion is %ha% o# a lis%enerA his inner mind and hear% beome a%%uned %o a wider onsiousness, a grea%er sense o# beingA impressions, knowledge, and in%ui%i(e urgings ome %o him #rom ou% o# %his soure wi%h an au%hori%y grea%er %han any%hing reei(ed %hrough his sensory organs. F+(er and anon %he %rumpe% sounds #rom %he hid ba%%lemen%s o# e%erni%y,G wro%e ranis Thompson. $nd %o eah o# us as he goes %hrough li#e, a momen% omes, howe(er #lee%ing, when a rak appears in %he hard wall o# onsiousness, and we see %hrough brie#ly, in%o regions o# e%ernal ligh% and in#ini%e knowledge, and in %ha% momen% we %ruly are possessed o# a siC%h senseA some%hing paranormal happens, some eCample o# in%ui%i(e knowledgeA we read %he %hough%s o# o%hers or see a% a dis%ane or unders%and oming e(en%s. Suh an eCperiene lea(es us shaken. Our absorp%ion in %he ma%erial world is #orgo%%en #or %he momen%. e begin %o see %he as%ounding possibili%ies o# mind and onsiousness. e beome on(ined %ha% when we deal wi%h ma%erial %hings we deal wi%h resul%s, no% ausesA we know %ha% all auses eCis% in mind. e begin %o perei(e in#ini%e possibili%ies, (as% sopes, sub%le nuanes %ha% ha(e been hidden #rom us by our limi%ed onsiousness. Suh unders%anding may ome %o us #rom a small e(en% or large. /% may resul% #rom a suh a simple %hing as %he sudden apprehension o# %he %hough%s o# ano%her person, $ ligh% may burs% upon us and we may ha(e sudden knowledge o# a oming e(en%. 8erhaps one o# our dreams omes %rue, or a lo(ed one ma%erialiBes and ins%ru%s us as %o a ourse o# a%ion. /n any ase, in%ui%i(e phenomena ome %o all people. The die player urging %he goddess o# #a%e %o smile on his neC% as% does no% always beseeh lady luk in (ain. Some%imes he opens up a hannel be%ween him and omnipo%en% in%elligene, and %he die repea% magi numbers a% suh leng%h as %o redue ma%hema%ial odds %o absurdi%y. INTUITION AND REASON
/n%ui%ion is muh more reliable %han reason, #or reason har%s i%s ourse wi%h limi%ed aess %o #a%s, while in%ui%ion has a% i%s #inger%ips all %he knowledge %ha% has e(er eCis%ed, %ha% e(er will eCis%. 0sing %he siC%h sense, howe(er, is no% suh a simple ma%%er as %rus%ing one?s li#e %o one?s #eelings. /% is (ery easy %o #all in%o %he %rap o# being guided by %he emo%ions, under %he misapprehension %ha% emo%ions are in%ui%i(e #eelings. No%hing ould be #ar%her #rom %he %ru%h. +mo%ion More ree !ooks
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is a wild horse, running away wi%h %he inhabi%an% in %he body, and he who is ruled by emo%ion is in %he grip o# some%hing worse %han limi%ed knowledgeA he is %he blind %ool o# egois%i #ears, ha%es, en(ies. Suh a li#e is an idio%?s %ale, wi%hou% design. *eason an on%rol %he emo%ions, and reason is a #ar be%%er guide. *eason is limi%ed in bo%h e##e%i(eness and knowledge, howe(er, and when i% has ahie(ed su##iien% supremay o(er %he emo%ional na%ure, i% may sa#ely be subordina%ed %o %he guidane o# in%ui%ionA %hus %he whole li#e is brough% %o a le(el o# ompe%ene and a%%unemen%. harles S%einme%B o# %he eneral +le%ri ompany wro%e, FSome day people will learn %ha% ma%erial %hings will no% bring happiness and are o# li%%le use in making men and women rea%i(e and power#ul. Then %he sien%is%s o# %he world will %urn %heir labora%ories %o %he s%udy o# od and prayer and %he spiri%ual #ores whih as ye% ha(e hardly been sra%hed. hen %his day omes, %he world will see more ad(anemen% in one genera%ion %han i% has seen in %he pas% #our.G *eason enables us %o deal e##e%i(ely wi%h our immedia%e surroundings, bu% only wi%hin %he sope o# %he in#orma%ion a(ailable %o %he #i(e senses. *eason %ells us we may go oa%5less on a sunny day, bu% %he s%orm %ha% is ga%hering o(er %he horiBon is ou%side %he sope o# reason, and when i% rains in %he la%e a#%ernoon, reason has been wrong. The wider onsiousness in %he dep%hs o# %he indi(idual mus% be %rus%ed be#ore his a%ions an be guided wi%h a knowledge o# all #a%ors. *eason is a %ool, and logi is an e##e%i(e me%hod o# %hinking, bu% eah is only a means and no more reliable %han %he in#orma%ion #ed in%o i%. /n %he eyes o# %he world %he in%ui%i(e man o#%en a%s unreasonably, #or his a%ions are based upon a sere% knowledge %ha% is hidden #rom more logial minds. The reasonable man has di##iul%y diserning be%ween %he emo%ionallyguided man and %he in%ui%i(ely5 guided man. To him, %hey are bo%h unreasonable. 'e sees %ha% %he emo%ionally5 guided man is almos% ne(er righ%, and he orre%ly a%%ribu%es %his #a% %o suh a man?s psyhi blind spo%s. 'e sees %he in%ui%i(ely5guided man a% unreasonably bu% wi%h on%inued suess, and he a%%ribu%es %his %o luk ra%her %han %o any e##e%i(e means o# oping wi%h %he world. /n onseEuene, %he reasonable man is almos% as blinded as %he emo%ional man, #or he has shu% his eyes %o %he possibili%ies o# in%ui%i(e knowing. LOGIC AND SCIENCE
Sien%i#i approah %o %he solu%ion o# problems works #rom e##e% %o ause. :nowledge o# a par%iular problem is on%ained in %hose #a%s obser(able in %he e##e% under sru%iny. This e##e% is %he #ield o# e##or%, and logi is %he me%hod by whih siene works #rom %he e##e% %o %he ause whih produed i%. Suh proedure has made remarkable ad(anes, bu% #or %he mos% par% %hey ha(e been wi%hin %he realm o# known #a%s. Now and again a rea%i(e %hinker Hoins %he labora%ory armies and in one in%ui%i(e #lash spans years o# pains%aking eCperimen%. $lber% +ins%ein s%a%ed %ha% his Theory o# *ela%i(i%y was re(ealed %o More ree !ooks
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him in a momen% o# inspira%ion, and %he simplii%y o# %he e(en%ual ma%hema%ial #ormula, + eEuals M2 , ould no% ha(e been hidden #rom an army o# researhers unless i%s signi#iane was ou%side %he sope o# %heir onsiousness. $ll siene and ma%hema%is are in %he end philosophial, #or %hey a%%emp% %o pene%ra%e %he mys%eries o# %he uni(erse and %he sere% o# li#e, and %hey represen% %he e##or%s o# mankind on %he boundaries o# awareness %o eC%end %ha% awareness uneasingly. To reogniBe %ha% %here is a mind wi%hin us %ha% knows %he answers %o all our problems is %he #irs% s%ep %o aEuiring %he use o# %he in#allible siC%h sense. /% is no% neessary %o #ind a solu%ion in %he ma%erial world. /n poin% o# a%ual #a% %he solu%ion an ne(er be #ound %here. The sere% lies wi%hin oursel(es, and we need go no #ar%her %han our (ery room %o #ind eah answer. There is %remendous om#or% in diso(ering wi%hin one?s sel# an in#ini%e and e%ernal mind %ha% holds %he answer %o eah problem, %o realiBe %ha% %he solu%ion %o eah perpleCing si%ua%ion may be #ound simply by searhing one?s soul. !u% i# a man be su##iien%ly ou% o# Hoin% wi%h li#e, he may #ind i% eC%remely di##iul% %o ommune wi%h his inner and deeper na%ure, may e(en beome neuro%i %hrough ha(ing se(ered psyhi %ies wi%h his origina%or. hen he looks in%o %he reahes o# his soul, %hose %rakless orridors s%re%h %oward in#ini%y and appall him wi%h %heir emp%inessA he is #righ%ened, seeks Euikly %o re%urn %o %he uneasy seuri%y o# his ma%erial eCis%ene. /% %akes ourage %o look upon %he many #aes o# %he Sere% Sel#. The -i(ine does no% reside alone in beau%y, om#or%, lo(e, and harmony, bu% is eEually residen% in ugliness, hardship, ha%e, and disord. The Sere% Sel# a%%ains i%s purpose in all areas o# endea(or by %he on#li% o# opposi%es, and be#ore we are able %o li(e as ma%ure human beings we mus% aep% all sides o# li#e as being par% o# an absolu%ely sure and per#e% plan #or %he working ou% o# %he purposes o# %he -i(ine. GOD SENSE
The siC%h sense is a od sense, an iden%i#ia%ion, howe(er momen%ary, wi%h %he Sere% Sel#, whih enables %he indi(idual, in %ha% ins%an%, %o perei(e #u%ure, pas%, and presen% in one ins%an%aneous %ableau, %o on%ain all spae and %ime wi%hin %he on#ines o# his own onsiousness. Suh awareness, i# ons%an%ly possessed, would make all one?s a%ions in#allible, and %he purpose o# e(olu%ion mus% lie in Hus% suh an end as %hisA %he beginnings o# suh a de(elopmen% are already perei(able in %he li(es o# many men. The OuiHa board, %he di(ining rod, %he rys%al ball, and %he s%ar gaBer ha(e been wi%h us sine %he dawn o# reorded his%ory. Suh phenomena de#ini%ely are india%i(e o# man?s reogni%ion o# a power o# in%ui%ion>a siC%h sense. This paranormal #aili%y o# %he mind has been largely ignored in %he pas% en%ury o# ma%erial onEues%, bu% now %ha% %he searhligh% o# sien%i#i eCamina%ion is being brough% %o bear, i% appears ine(i%able %ha% men%al and spiri%ual ad(anes will o(ershadow ma%erial ad(anes in %he years ahead. $ new approah, a new onep% is neessary be#ore in(es%iga%ion o# %he More ree !ooks
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paranormal will yield resul%s. The me%hods o# siene ha(e no% demons%ra%ed %ha% %hey are adap%able %o %he s%udy o# a world %ha% is in(isible. !y means o# %he mirosope and %he %elesope, siene has eC%ended i%s (ision enormously, bu% in %he realm o# %he miroosm i% disin%egra%ed %he a%om and #ound no%hing le#%, a nd in %he world o# %he maroosm i% de%e%ed dis%an% galaCies mo(ing away a% %he speed o# ligh% in%o spae %ha% shouldn?% eCis%. 0l%ima%ely, all in(es%iga%ions o# ma%%er ha(e a ommon mee%ing ground, whih is %he disappearane o# indi(iduali%y in%o uni%y, in%o a world where spae and %ime and separa%eness do no% eCis%, and %his world is no% apable o# represen%a%ion by obHe%s or ma%erial %hings bu% is primarily men%al and no% subHe% %o %he probing o# physial ins%rumen%s. /n(es%iga%ions in %he #ield o# parapsyhology ha(e now pro(ed %ha% i% is possible #or one mind %o ommunia%e wi%h ano%her wi%hou% any known organi means, and %his has been labeled %elepa%hy. /% has also been pro(ed %ha% %he human mind an a%%ain %o knowledge o# oming e(en%s, and %his has been labeled preogni%ion. /% has been pro(ed %ha% %he human mind an see a% a dis%ane, and %his has been labeled lair(oyane. /% has been pro(ed %ha% %he human mind an in#luene %he beha(ior o# obHe%s, and %his has been labeled psyho5kinesis. $ll %hese powers o# %he mind, howe(er dimly diserned or barely unders%ood, when lumped %oge%her india%e %he eCis%ene o# an absolu%ely uneCplored area o# (as% and almos% unimaginable possibili%ies %ha% one day mus% libera%e man #rom his bondage %o %he #lesh. Moreo(er, %here is india%ed a oming re(olu%ion in %he basi onep%s o# li#e. TE SEA O& CONSCIOUSNESS
Siene has always in(es%iga%ed a world o# mul%iplii%y, a%%emp%ing %o es%ablish physial rela%ionships be%ween one %hing and ano%her. Man, %he animal, eCis%s in a world o# a%ion and rea%ion, bu% man, %he men%al being, eCis%s in a world %ha% appears %o be wi%hou% di(ision, wi%hou% spae and %ime, #or inheren% in his men%al makeup is %he abili%y %o %ransend %hese. No enligh%ened mind an ha(e any Euarrel wi%h %he in(es%iga%ions o# -o%ors @. !. *hine and S. . Soal in %he #ield o# parapsyhology, and #rom %heir resul%s %he only possible onlusion is %his. There are no% many indi(idual minds in %he world a% all, bu% only one mind, and %his mind is in#ini%e and e%ernal and is %he sus%aining soure o# eah o# us, is in i%s %rues% essene all o# eah o# us, Hus% as eah o# us in %rues% essene is all o# i%. Now i# eah man eCis%s in a sea o# onsiousness, and %he onsiousness in him is in e(ery%hing else and in all o%her men, i% %hen beomes possible %o unders%and wha% we are dealing wi%h when we deal wi%h eC%rasensory perep%ion. /% has been s%a%ed %ha% a man?s in%elligene is like an ieberg, one %hird o# i% appearing upon %he sur#ae, %wo %hirds eCis%ing below, bu% parapsyhology re(eals %he rela%ionship be%ween onsious and subonsious in%elligene %o be one par% %o a million. Moreo(er, uni(ersal subonsious mind eChibi%s no neessi%y #or More ree !ooks
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being edua%ed during %he li#e%ime o# %he indi(idual. /% pro(ides e%ernal and in#ini%e guidane beause i% has eCis%ed sine %he beginning o# %imeA all knowledge is on%ained wi%hin i%, and %ha% (ery small F%augh%G in%elligene aEuired by onsious mind is %he %inies% ligh% ompared %o %he illumina%ion known when %he indi(idual li#e has been %urned o(er %o %he guidane o# %he Sere% Sel#. $ %housand %imes more awareness is ob%ainable by %he person %hrough enligh%ened use o# uni(ersal mind %han %hrough e##or%s in %he world o# ma%erial %hings. One %he Sere% Sel# has been #ully eCposed %o mankind, edua%ion, whih %oday %akes siC%een years o# a person?s li#e, will be aomplished in weeks, e(en days. hen %he power#ul and pene%ra%ing aspe%s o# uni(ersal mind beome ommon enough knowledge %o be %augh% a% our shools, suh buildings and bridges as now are ons%ru%ed in siC mon%hs will rise o(ernigh%. There is no suh %hing as a par%ile o# ma%%er %ha% is no% possessed o# onsious in%elligene, howe(er low, howe(er res%ri%ed by %he #orm in whih i% #inds i%sel#. $ll %hings eCis% by grae o# %he Sere% Sel#, whih is inna%e in eah, has beome eah as par% o# an o(erall plan, and %he urge %o sel#5knowledge %ha% eCis%s wi%hin %he hear% o# eah rea%ure is %ha% impulsion %o #ind in par%iali%y %ha% same sense o# sel#5awareness and eCpressi(e Hoy %ha% i% knew in i%s omple%e and whole s%a%e. To de(elop %he use o# %he siC%h sense is %o learn %o use uni(ersal mind, %o ease li(ing in %he separa%e egois%i na%ure and %o %urn o(er %he whole li#e %o a wider and more enompassing awareness %han is possible %o %he sur#ae sel#. STE%S TO S%IRITUAL A!A$ENING
The onsis%en% use o# %he siC%h sense depends upon spiri%ual awakening, depends upon a man reogniBing %he spiri%ual bond %ha% uni%es him wi%h all o%hers, wi%h all %hings. -e%hroning %he ego, remo(ing %he #ous o# his onsiousness #rom %he sur#ae sel#, he %hereby a%%ains %o a s%a%e o# widened awareness %ha% emana%es dire%ly #rom his iden%i#ia%ion wi%h %he one mind and one li#e %ha% is %he %rue inhabi%an% in all bodies. hen a man reahes %his s%a%e o# illumina%ion, a new world opens up #or his eCplora%ion. 8hysial e##e%s %ake on seondary signi#iane. 'e sees %ha% %hings origina%e on an in(isible plane, %ha% all auses are men%al, proeed ou% o# ideas, ou% o# (isualiBa%ions. 'e begins %o see %ha% ma%erial %hings are no% really solid #a%s a% all, bu% only par%ially re(ealed mani#es%a%ions o# onep%ions held in mind. Now he is able %o perei(e %he sere% o# a%ing men%ally, o# al%ering %hings by al%ering %he idea %ha% eCis%s wi%hin %hem. 'e begins %o see %ha% %his al%ering is possible %hrough omple%e iden%i#ia%ion o# himsel# wi%h %he %hing, %ha% one %his widened onsiousness is ahie(ed, he an hange %he %hing merely by hanging his idea o# i%, beause %he same mind is in him as is in %he %hing. No%hing is impossible %o %he man whose onsiousness breaks ou% o# %he bonds o# %he ego. One he shakes o## sur#ae sel#, %here is re(ealed %o him a world %ha% is bounded only by e%erni%y and in#ini%y. 'e an beome any%hing he desires, an aomplish any%hing he will, #or in a (ery real sense all e(en%s and %hings ha(e %heir eCis%ene in him. To ahie(e %his s%a%e o# More ree !ooks
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spiri%ual awakening is %he goal, %o arri(e a% %his s%a%e o# Hoy and bliss and omple%e e##e%uali%y is beyond doub% %he mos% wor%hwhile and rewarding ulmina%ion o# li#e. S%eps by whih spiri%ual enligh%enmen% is ahie(ed are %he s%eps by whih %he siC%h sense is brough% under dominion, and %hey are #our. These s%eps in#allibly produe spiri%ual enligh%enmen%, and %o him who pu%s %hem in%o pra%ie is brough% no% only %he siC%h sense bu% an eCpanded onsiousness %ha% allows him %o li(e his li#e Hoy#ully and e##e%i(ely. The #our s%eps are= 1P onsera%ion, 2P Surrender, 3P Sari#ie, 4P "o(e. onsera%ion means %he #ousing o# %he %o%al men%al and spiri%ual e##or%s o# %he indi(idual on diso(ery o# %he Sere% Sel#. Surrender means a wholehear%ed gi(ing o(er o# all a%ion and goals %o %he -i(ine. Sari#ie means on%inual and delibera%e subHuga%ion o# ego %o %he will and purposes o# %he Sere% Sel#. "o(e means yearning #or uni%y, longing %o re%urn %o a s%a%e o# wholeness and oneness. These #our saramen%al s%eps, i# per#ormed uneasingly, are bound %o de(elop %ha% wider onsiousness in whih %he siC%h sense beomes an in%egral par% o# %he li#e. The #irs% s%ep %aken, all o%hers will #ollow. i%h %he mind and being dedia%ed %o a searh #or wider onsiousness, %he li#e ine(i%ably will be %rans#ormed, a sense o# in%imay will ome in%o %he onsiousness, and %he person will #ind resoure by whih he is able %o gi(e o(er his goals and aspira%ions %o %he -i(ine. MAN IS MADE O& MAGIC
One %his psyhologial di(es%men% o# %he ego has %aken plae, illumina%ion is near. Now i% beomes seond na%ure %o pra%ie %he sari#ie by whih %he ego is kep% in subHuga%ion. "i%%le egois%i desires are daily gi(en up in #a(or o# %ha% one enompassing searh #or uni%y %ha% is now %he %o%al onsera%ion o# %he indi(idual. The ego does no% ease %o eCis%, #ar #rom i%A in some areas i% appears as (igorous as be#ore, bu% now i% reogniBes %ha% i% is only a %ool, no% origina%or, no% ap%ain or mas%erA and i% per#orms i%s %asks, goes abou% i%s work under %he impulsion o# and #ollowing %he guidane o# a will and a power %o%ally beyond and ineCpressibly more power#ul %han i%sel#. There omes %o %he indi(idual an eCperiene o# %he uni%y #rom whih he has sprung, an eCperien%ial re%urn %o a soure o# absolu%e bliss and Hoy and power. 'e en%ers %he Sere% Sel#A %he Sere% Sel# en%ers him. This mu%ual pene%ra%ion, %his merging, is %he union known as lo(e, and when %his %akes plae in %he onsiousness o# %he indi(idual, his emergene as an enligh%ened and e##e%i(e man begins. Now he realiBes %ha% man is no% bone and blood and #lesh or e(en brain, bu% is ons%ru%ed o# in(isible essenes %ha% an only be alled magi. @ean ebser wro%e, FTelepa%hy, %rane, preogni%ion, %elekinesis, le(i%a%ions, dual personali%y, and many o%her paranormal phenomena are roo%ed in %he magi s%ru%ure o# man. So alled paranormal phenomena are no% a% all paranormal bu% #undamen%ally na%ural. i%hou% er%ain %elepa%hi powers, wi%hou% %raes o# %he More ree !ooks
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magi s%ru%ure, wi%hou% a minimum o# inner pre5(ision or %he power o# preogni%ionP, wi%hou% sleep and ligh% Kin%ui%ioning,? no% one o# us ould li(e ano%her day. $nd all o# %hese powers arise in %he main #rom %he magi s%ru%ure o# our onsiousness.G The e##e%i(e use o# %he siC%h sense is a%%ained by %he man who omes %o %he realiBa%ion o# %he essen%ial magi o# human onsiousness. 'e does no% gi(e his allegiane %o %he world o# ma%erial %hings, bu% %o a world o# ideas and onep%s and %hough%s, whih he perei(es preeCis%s and preordains %he ma%erial world. 8erep%ions o# %he siC%h sense are ne(er as onre%e as %hose o# %he #i(e physial senses. The reason #or %his is ob(ious. Our physial senses are used %hrough all our waking hoursA our siC%h sense seldom, i# a% all. The siC%h sense works in us as #eeling, no% #eeling sus%ained by emo%ion, bu% inner er%ain%y as %o a ourse o# a%ion, as %o %he de(elopmen% o# oming e(en%s. *eason is no% renouned al%oge%her, nor logi, nor knowledge, bu% all %hese are subordina%ed %o in%ui%ion, and %hey are used only %o bring in%o onsiousness all aspe%s o# a problem %ha% needs %o be sol(ed. /n%ui%ion de(elops %he solu%ion, whih emerges in %he onsiousness o# %he indi(idual as a deep er%ain%y %ha% may ha(e ei%her (isual or audi%ory mani#es%a%ions, perhaps bo%h. $ man migh% lis% all elemen%s o# a problem on#ron%ing him. 'e migh% wres%le wi%h %he problem in %erms o# reason and logi, bu% he will draw no onlusion immedia%ely. 'e will %urn o(er %he problem %o his subonsious #or a period o# resolu%ion, on#iden% %ha% %he orre% solu%ion will be deli(ered %o him. &RONTIERS O& TE MIND
The enligh%ened man does no% shu% ou% one par% o# his na%ure in order %o use ano%her, bu% uses all he is all %he %ime in all plaes in eah %hing he does. *eason and logi and in%ui%ion beome a uni#ied %ool #or his oping wi%h li#eA %he siC%h sense merges wi%h %he #i(e ma%erial senses so as %o on(ey %o his onsiousness a ons%an% impression o# bo%h %he inner world and %he ou%er. !eause he eCis%s on all possible le(els o# onsiousness, he is able %o perei(e %hings and e(en%s in %heir %rue na%ure and %hereby %o guide his own a%ions aordingly. 'e does no% oppose e(en%s beause he sees %heir ine(i%able dire%ion, and he %akes up his %asks wi%hin %he mo(ing s%ream o# his%ory as i# he were dire%ing i%, when in poin% o# #a% he a%ually is playing %he par% bes% sui%ed #or him in %ha% mo(ing s%ream. The siC%h sense brings %o us impressions and on(i%ions %ha% are impossible %o a%%ribu%e %o memory or eCperiene. e are mo(ed %o on(i%ion #rom ou% o# %he ineChaus%ible resoure o# uni(ersal mind, and we e(en%ually beome as posi%i(e in %he reep%ion o# %his #eeling as we do %o our senses o# sigh% or %ouh or hearing. The /rish poe%, eorge *ussell, repor%s, FOne in an idle in%er(al in my work / sa% wi%h my #ae pressed in my hands, and in %ha% dimness pi%ures began #likering in my brain. / saw a li%%le dark shop, %he oun%er be#ore me, and behind i % an old man #umbling wi%h some papers, a man so old %ha% his mo%ions had los% swi#%ness More ree !ooks
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and preision. -eeper in %he s%ore was a girl, red5haired, wi%h gray wa%h#ul eyes #iCed on %he old man. / saw %ha% %o en%er %he shop one mus% %ake %wo s%eps downward #rom %he obbled pa(emen% wi%hou%. / Eues%ioned a young man, my o##ie ompanion, who was %hen wri%ing a le%%er, le%%er, and / #ound %ha% wha% / had seen was his #a%her?s shop. $ll my imagina%ions were no% imagina%ions o# mine in any %rue sense, #or while / was in a (aan% mood my ompanion had been %hinking o# his home, and his brain was populous wi%h Euikened memories, and %hey in(aded my own mind, and when / made Eues%ion / #ound %heir origin. !u% how many %housand %imes are we in(aded by suh images and %here is no speula%ion o(er %hemDG The #ron%iers o# mind and %hough% ha(e barely been pene%ra%ed. $wai%ing %he human searh #or knowledge lies %he mos% eCi%ing, uneCplored area o# all> human onsiousness, mind, being, men%ali%y. men%ali%y. Our li(es grow in%o images o# %hose %hings whih our minds are preoupied wi%h, and i# we are onerned wi%h bol%s and nu%s we ahie(e a bol%s5and5nu%s men%ali%y, men%ali%y, and our (ery absorp%ion by %his in#ini%esimal slie o# eCis%ene bars us #rom perep%ion o# %he %remendous possibili%ies in o%her spiri%ual and men%al realms. $ man who %akes up his %asks as he migh% approah an al%ar %rans#orms his work, no ma%%er how menial, in%o a saramen%. hen a man pu%s in%ui%ion %o work #or him and lose%s himsel# wi%h his onsiousness in a searhing e##or% %o de(elop his siC%h sense, he is bound no% only %o grow in e##e%i(eness and power bu% also as a Eues%ing human soul in searh o# %he u%%ermos%. No%hing in li#e is resol(ed simply by #a%s. a%s shriek a% us beause %hey appeal %o our onsious minds, bu% #a%s %ha% human knowledge has uno(ered up %o now are bu% %he %inies% represen%a%ion o# %he %o%al sum o# knowledge in uni(ersal mind. The ra%ional, logial man who prides himsel# upon a%ing only on known #a%s is no% nearly so ra%ional as he would ha(e himsel# belie(e. /n poin% o# a%ual #a% he is more o#%en led %o erroneous onlusions %han %rue ones, no% beause he does no% apply his reason and his logi and his knowledge, bu% beause %hey are insu##iien%, deal only wi%h a por%ion o# eCis%ene, no% i%s en%ire%y. YOU SALL $NO! TE IDDEN %UR%OSE
+ah o# us has a Hob, eah has a Frow %o hoe,G and wi%hin our irumsribed %asks problems ons%an%ly arise whih we are alled upon %o sol(e, upon %he solu%ion o# whih our li(es o#%en depend. To apply %he use o# %he siC%h sense %o %he solu%ion o# %hese problems is possible %o e(ery man, regardless o# how obsessed he is wi%h %he ma%erial world. +(en i# he will no% s%ri(e #or spiri%ual enligh%enmen%, will no% %urn o(er his li#e %o %he -i(ine #or guidane, will no% subordina%e %he ego by sari#ie, will no% #ind wi%hin himsel# a longing #or uni%y wi%h %he Sere% Sel#, Sel#, he s%ill is no% beyond %he sal(a%ion o##ered by in%ui%ion. hen his %ime o# onsious s%ri(ing wi%h a problem is o(er, o(er, when he has onsidered all elemen%s, pi%%ed %hem agains% eah o%her, o%her, weighed %hem, oun%ed %hem, %abula%ed %hem, he %hen may (isualiBe wi%hin his own mind a sere% ompu%ing mahine in%o whih he an # eed More ree !ooks
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all elemen%s o# %he problem and whih will deli(er him a %rue and aura%e answer. answer. +ah o# us, no ma%%er how spiri%ually enligh%ened, an pro#i% by %his (isualiBa%ion. hen your problem is upon you and you know as muh abou% i% as you e(er possibly an, #orge% i% omple%ely omple%ely.. +n(isage your sere% s ere% ompu%ing mahine, #eed all elemen%s o# %he problem in%o i%. See %hem go in one by one un%il #inally %he whole problem is ou% o# your hands. :now in your own hear% %ha% %he problem will be sol(ed, %ha% you need do no more abou% i% %han a% upon %he solu%ion when i% is presen%ed. 'a(e no #earA %he solu%ion will ome. /% may be %he #ollowing morning, perhaps %he neC% a#%ernoon, i% may be a whole week, bu% i% will illumina%e your onsiousness and you will know wi%h %he u%mos% er%ain%y %ha% %he %rue answer has arri(ed. One %his highly signi#ian% eCperiene has ome %o you, reason and logi and knowledge will ha(e been de%hroned as %he prinipal a%i(a%ors o# %hough% and a%ion in your li#e, and enshrined in %heir s%ead will be %ha% #aul%y o# in%ui%ion %ha% %ransends and %rans#igures all si%ua%ions and irums%anes beause i% is in#ini%e and e%ernal and speaks %o %he indi(idual #rom ou% o# his siC%h sense.
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Chapter 12 THE !ENTA ! ENTAL L ATTIT ATTITUDE UDE THA TH AT NEVER NE VER FAILS O)+* mos% men hangs %he sword o# -amoles. They ha(e #allen in%o %he psyhologial %rap o# rea%ing %heir problems by %rying %o sol(e %hem, worrying beause %hey worry, worry, being a#raid o# #ear. #ear. There is a apriious Euali%y in our psyhe %ha% denies us eah obHe% we %ry %o grasp. Our wrong %hinking, wrong a%ing, egois%i na%ure leads us %o pursue %hings %hrough (ain desire. $%ing and %hinking in %he small par% o# our na%ure, i% is ine(i%able %ha% we be #rus%ra%ed in our purposes. INSURING SUCCESS
The men%al a%%i%ude %ha% insures suess is one in whih %he indi(idual %urns his work and %he resul%s o# his work o(er %o %he -i(ine wi%hou% a%%ahmen% or desire. This psyhologial absolu%ion #rom %he aims o# par%ial seeing allows him %o #ollow %he behes% o# a mas%er will wi%h per#e% eEuanimi%y. eEuanimi%y. 'e will no% be dismayed by irui%ous rou%es, he will no% be bi%%er abou% apparen% de#ea%s, he will no% rail agains% obs%ales, beause he knows %ha% %he ends o# his a%ions are in %he hands o# an omnipo%en% being whih insures his absolu%e de(elopmen% and omple%e suess e(en%ually. e(en%ually. $n enligh%ened man sees %ha% %he purposes o# %he Sere% Sel# are %he only %rue purposes. 'e adop%s %hese as his own, dons %he man%le o# -i(ine as his %rue, inmos% being. $ll his a%ions %ake on long5range signi#iane. 'e unders%ands %ha% %here is a sere% purpose in %he smalles% %ask, %ha% %he e(en%ual resul% o# %his purpose lies beyond %he perep%ion o# his onsious mind. There de(elops wi%hin him a %owering %rus%, a posi%i(e er%ain%y as %o e(en%ual (i%ory %ha% makes him irresis%ible and impregnable in %he mids% o# all a%ion. 'e anno% be de#ea%ed, #or de#ea% is possible only %o a being bounded by spae and %ime, and he has %aken up his residene in a O 246 sel# %ha% is e%ernal and in#ini%e. 'e sees %ha% all %hings are brough% %o him #or his inner per#e%ion, %ha% (i%ory and de#ea% are merely opposi%e ends o# a sale o# sensi%i(i%y by whih his aspiring soul gradually is able %o abdia%e #rom masEuerading as a separa%e, isola%ed ego and %o reogniBe i%s absolu%e uni%y wi%h %he -i(ine. To be undisouraged and undismayed by wha%e(er %urn o# #or%une is enoun%ered is always a mark o# ma%uri%y and enligh%enmen%. Suh #or%i%ude is possible only %o a man who has #orsworn desires %o be be%%er, %o ge% more, %o ha(e power, or any o%her o# %he egois%i shor%omings %ha% mark %he indi(idual a% war wi%h his #ellows. The (i%al and animalis%i na%ure hungers always #or %he #rui%s o# i%s labor, labor, and when %hese are denied, i% beomes disonsola%e, loses #ai%h, may e(en gi(e up al%oge%her. al%oge%her. hoe(er is bound %o his animalis%i na%ure is i s bound also %o ons%an% hungering #or %he #rui%s o# his labor, labor, and in onseEuene %akes up his %asks under a delusion %ha% blinds him %o %he possibili%ies #or suess. Sel#ish s%ri(ing #or gain de#ea%s en%erprise a% %he ou%se% beause i% is based upon %he #alse belie# %ha% one mani#es%a%ion o# %he -i(ine is inna%ely be%%er %han ano%her More ree !ooks
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and %here#ore more deser(ing o# reward. Suh psyhologial misapprehension is based on par%iali%y, sees a world o# mul%i%udinous and separa%e %hings %o be onEuered and ahie(ed dominion o(er. The separa%e sur#ae sel# ne(er ahie(es dominion o(er any%hing, e(en o(er i%s own na%ure. /% did no% spring i%sel# in%o being, i% anno% s%ay i%sel# #rom e(en%ual obli(ion, i%s grow%h and de(elopmen% are en%irely rea%ionary, and all %hings lie ou%side %he sope o# i%s e##e%uali%y. E&&ECTIVE GUIDE TO LIVING
/n almos% e(eryone, howe(er, %he sur#ae sel# ahie(es %he illusion %ha% i% is able e##e%i(ely %o in#luene li#e. /n onseEuene, %hrough %he years %ha% his physial body #lourishes, a man is men%ally and spiri%ually bound %o a delusion abou% who he is and where he ame #rom and wha% his rela%ionship %o %he world is. 'is lak o# e##e%i(eness in li#e, his #ailure %o grow men%ally and spiri%ually, his gradual dissolu%ion in%o yniism, in%o disenhan%men% wi%h %he ma%erial world, he seldom a%%ribu%es %o a psyhologially wrong (iewpoin% bu% generally #eels he hasn?% Fbea% %he gameG beause he hasn?% arri(ed a% %he pinnale o# ma%erial suess he en(isaged as a you%h. +(en more re(ealing are ego5s%ri(ers who ahie(e %heir goals. The moun%ain %hey limb so laboriously o(erlooks a barren landsape. hen %hey s%and upon %he highes% spo% and look ou% o(er %he bleak (is%a, %heir souls are seiBed in %he (ise5like grip o# #ear, and %hey %urn %heir eyes %o %he ear%h and ne(er look skyward again. Our i%ies and na%ions are popula%ed wi%h people who anno% s%and %o look in%o %heir souls beause %hey ne(er ha(e diso(ered who %hey %ruly are. /n#ini%y and e%erni%y appall %hem by dwar#ing %he ego. ha% is needed mos% o# all is an e##e%i(e guide %o li(ing, a humanis%i rela%ionship be%ween %he indi(idual and his rea%ing soure, so %ha% eah man is able %o see wi%h absolu%e lari%y and per#e% eEuanimi%y %ha% his li#e no% only is par% o# a di(ine plan #or %he de(elopmen% o# onsiousness in %he uni(erse bu% %ha% he himsel# is bo%h men%ally and spiri%ually uni#ied wi%h %ha% mas%er spiri% whose #ield o# un#oldmen% %he world is. Suh spiri%ual illumina%ion allows a man %o pu% his li#e and his works in %he hands o# %he -i(ine, wi%h omple%e assurane %ha% bo%h will be used #or %he bes% purpose. One %his psyhologial dispossession o# personal e##or% and personal (i%ory has been aomplished, %he indi(idual ne(er again su##ers de#ea%. $pparen% de#ea% beomes only a %urning plae in %he roadA all de%ours merge in%o one %riumphal marh %o (i%ory, beome par% o# %ha% plan by whih e(en%ual suess is assured. hen %he re(ela%ion omes %o a man %ha% %he -i(ine is working %hrough him, all his labor %akes on a highly5harged spiri%ual signi#iane alongside whih ma%erial rewards pale. Suh a man no longer works #or money, no longer works #or suess, bu% only #or %he eCpression o# %ha% mind and onsiousness wi%hin him whih he now knows %o be %he Supreme mani#es%ing upon %he ear%h. 'e does %he work o# %he Sere% Sel# and ne(er o# his sur#ae sel#. 'e subHuga%es %he sur#ae sel# %o a mas%er spiri% %ha% uses i% as a %ool #or %he e##e%ua%ion o# %he di(ine More ree !ooks
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purpose in %he world. The #ai%h %ha% grows ou% o# %his knowledge sus%ains him under %he mos% #iere, ad(erse pressure. Some%hing higher %han hear% or in%elle% upholds him %hrough %he longes% de%ours and %he blindes% groping. 'is egois%i sel# has #ound %ha% supreme mas%er and highes% philosophy by whih i% no% only unders%ands i%sel# and i%s plae and purpose in %he world bu% also is admi%%ed %o a sere% plae o# ligh% and peae and unders%anding. /n %he hear% o# %he enligh%ened man is %he hidden knowledge %ha% he is ne(er a% %he mery o# immedia%e appearanes, %ha% he has wi%hin him %he power %o hange all %hrough his iden%i#ia%ion wi%h %he -i(ine, %hrough his knowledge %ha% %he mind in him is %he mind in all o%hers. %ER&ECT $NO!ING AND IM%ER&ECT SEEING
This gi(ing o(er o# one sel# and assuming ano%her is #ar more %han Hus% a merely psyhologial swi%h o# (iewpoin%. The awakened man dies in one small par% o# his na%ure in order %o be reborn in a larger and wider onsiousness. To %he onlooker %he hange may be imperep%ible. 'e may do %he same work, li(e in %he same manner, #orsake nei%her #riends nor #un, bu% all a%ions now will be uni#ied by spiri%ual awareness, so %ha% %here emana%es #rom him an inner Hoy, an absolu%e aep%ane o# li#e. 'e may rise %o a posi%ion o# prominene in %he world or he may no%A i% is indi##eren% %o him. 'e ser(es no% %he auses o# men, only %he will and purpose o# %he -i(ine. Fe are here %o see wha% we an add %o, no% %o see wha% we an ge% #rom, "i#e,G wro%e illiam Osler. /n %he enligh%ened man %he egois%i na%ure has been so #ar wi%hdrawn #rom %he #ron%al par% o# personali%y %ha% his impression upon o%hers is one o# ons%an% gi(ing, ne(er o# %aking. 'e beomes a horn o# plen%y %hrough whih %he -i(ine pours i%s in#ini%e resoure. To whome(er he on%a%s %here omes a sense o# lo(e and unders%anding and seuri%y, desending %hrough him in%o %he o%her #rom %he Sere% Sel#. Those whose onsiousness is #oused in %he sur#ae sel# li(e wi%hin narrow horiBons o# awareness, are puppe%s dri(en by sensa%ion. The world makes i%sel# known %o %hem %hrough %he %iny windows o# %heir senses, and %hey rea% %o i%, ne(er eCer% a men%al or spiri%ual in#luene upon i%. Their #ailures are #ailures o# imper#e% seeing. They see nei%her who %hey are nor wha% %he %rue na%ure o# a si%ua%ion isA onseEuen%ly %heir a%ions are always based upon par%ial knowledge. $ su##iien% number o# #ailures s%emming #rom %his imper#e% working omple%ely de#ea%s %he indi(idual, and his #rus%ra%ion is announed %hrough physial ailmen%s o# %he body. +mo%ional blokages and repressions inhibi% irula%ion in er%ain areas o# %he body, and disease and mal#un%ion se% in. *epressed hos%ili%y, aggression, inseuri%y, and #ear are roo% auses o# ar%hri%is, hear% disease, ar%erial slerosis, aner, uler. $ soie%y %ha% demands on#ormi%y o# i%s members is bound %o #rus%ra%e a large number o# %hem, and %his mani#es%s i%sel# as a gradual rise in physial in#irmi%y. Sine i% is pa%en%ly impossible #or %he indi(idual %o al%er %he soial sys%em under whih he li(es, solu%ion o# %he dilemma mus% pro(ide spiri%ual #reedom while allowing #or physial on#ormi%y. $rri(ing a% %he realiBa%ion More ree !ooks
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%ha% %he -i(ine dwells in you Hus% as you dwell in %he -i(ine dissol(es %he ares and #rus%ra%ion o# %he egois%i na%ure. One you ha(e been able %o iden%i#y yoursel# wi%h %he mas%er spiri% o# e%erni%y i% beomes possible %o (iew eCis%ene on a long5%erm basis, %o de%ah yoursel# #rom physial goals. &AILURE IS A STATE O& MIND
+Cis%ene is essen%ially a #igh%. Man is %es%ed in %he ruible o# on#li% #rom radle %o gra(e, and %he %ime o# his mos% se(ere %es%ing is %he %ime o# his grea%es% grow%h. Na%ure is no% in%eres%ed in winners. $ll %oo o#%en (i%ory is a signal #or essa%ion o# e##or%. Na%ure is in%eres%ed in grow%h, and grow%h is possible only %o one ons%an%ly a% work eCpanding his abili%ies and %alen%s. /n any line o# endea(or %he man who has i% made is going down hill. Our wais%lines s%ay %rim and our minds aler% when we are kep% a% our labors %hrough neessi%y. Our sur#ae sel(es o#%en #ind in (i%ory or gain %he oppor%uni%y %o indulge sensa%ion, and we are augh% in a %rap #rom whih we may ne(er emerge as aspiring indi(iduals again. 'a(elok +llis wro%e, FonEues% brings sel#5onei% and in%olerane, %he rekless in#la%ion and dissipa%ion o# energies. -e#ea% brings prudene and onen%ra%ionA i% ennobles and #or%i#ies.G -e#ea%, o# ourse, is ne(er a #a% unless i% is aep%ed as #inal. The man who realiBes %ha% all grow%h possibili%ies are wi%hin him ne(er aep%s de#ea%. 'e knows %ha% he an do muh be%%er %han he %hus #ar has shown, #or he has a sere% pipeline in%o %he soure o# all energy and %alen%. ailure is a s%a%e o# mind and ne(er a physial #a%. e %ry %o aomplish some%hing and i# resul%s don?% ome our way wi%hin a er%ain period o# %ime we o#%en %hrow up our hands and say we an?% do i%. /# %his psyhologial abdia%ion #rom %rying is done wi%hou% a essa%ion o# physial e##or%, we may #ind %ha% suddenly we are ge%%ing resul%s, #or unonsiously we ha(e %urned our works and a%ions o(er %o %he Sere% Sel# and %hey ha(e beome e##e%i(e. !u% i# %he indi(idual eases %o make any #ur%her physial e##or%, %hen %he work will ne(er be done #or %he man has %urned his bak on i%. 'OLDNESS
+ah o# us bes% #ul#ills himsel# and %he purposes o# na%ure when he per#orms %he %ask o# %orh bearer in some area o# his a%i(i%ies. !oldness engenders i%s own suess %hrough libera%ing energies repressed by inhibi%ion. /# a man #inds wi%hin himsel# %he ourage %o go ou% on a limb, i% will ne(er break under his weigh%, will sus%ain him no ma%%er how #ragile i% appears, and he will see #rom his new (an%age poin% an en%irely di##eren% world. !e%ween %he %imid and %he bra(e is bu% a single s%ep, and %ha% is %he #irs% one. ild animals a%%ak %he prey %ha% runs away bu% s%and s%ok s%ill and are in%imida%ed by any %ha% #aes %hem. /# a man will #ind wi%hin himsel# %he spiri%ual resoure %o make his #irs% s%ep %oward danger ins%ead o# away #rom i%, he will #ind %ha% danger disappears. !u% i# he gi(es in %o %he impulse o# #ear and makes his ini%ial s%ep away #rom danger, li#e will hase a#%er him, surely de(our him. More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
"e% any man show %he world %ha% he #eels $#raid o# i%s bark and K%will #ly a% his heels= "e% him #earlessly #ae i%, K%will lea(e him alone= !u% K%will #awn a% his #ee% i# he #lings i% a bone. >+dward !ulwer5"y%%on ear engenders #ear. The #irs% s%ep away #rom danger %urns in%o a %ro%, %hen a shambling run, %hen a pani5s%riken dash, and %he innouous ur %ha% pursues us is now a #anied mons%er. Similarly ourage engenders ourage. The #irs% s%ep %oward danger allows us %o see our an%agonis% learly. e eCamine his #ae and behold %ha% i% is no% nearly so %hrea%ening as we imagined. e begin %o see ways and means o# oping wi%h him, and Hus% beause we ha(e on#ron%ed him head on, he s%ops his aggressi(e a%ion %oward us and onsiders whe%her we oursel(es migh% no% pose some danger %o him. This is %rue o# e(en%s as well as li(ing %hings. $ psyhologial aura emana%es #rom e(en%s as #rom people. /# some%hing seems %o %hrea%en us, %hen i% surely will pursue us i# we run away, bu% i# we ad(ane upon i% boldly, i% s%ops i%s mo(emen% %oward us. /% hangs bak %o reonsider, e(en%ually yields. No%hing s%ands be#ore on%inued e##or% and no%hing an resis% %he man who persis%s in %he #ae o# all disouragemen%. The men%al a%%i%ude %ha% ne(er #ails is one in whih %he indi(idual dispossesses himsel# o# %he goal5seeking ego and lodges his psyhe #irmly in a onsiousness o# %he -i(ine, (iewing his own li#e as an oppor%uni%y #or emergene o# %he mas%er spiri%, regarding %he work %ha% he does as being %he work o# %he Sere% Sel#. %ERSEVERANCE
+(ery%hing grea% is aomplished by men whose perse(erane %ransends mere human endurane. alileo a% his %elesope, New%on benea%h his apple %ree, +ins%ein in his labora%ory, olumbus on his ship, all are eCamples o# illumina%ion #ollowing a period o# prolonged perse(erane. No man per#orming a% %he behes% o# egois%i desire ould possibly ha(e aomplished %he #ea%s o# %hese enligh%ened pioneersA long be#ore illumina%ion arri(ed, he would ease his searhing and go on %o o%her #ields. The -i(ine uses %he diso(erer and %he rea%or, eah #or %he purpose #or whih he is bes% sui%ed. Suh men anno% #ail #or %hey are doing %he work #or whih %hey were in%ended a% bir%h. /n onseEuene, %heir li(es are omple%ely absorbed in %heir %asks, so %ha% %he work is inseparable #rom %he man, is in some kind o# mys%i sense %he man spun ou% in spae and %ime and perpe%ua%ed as a rea%i(e #a%. hen %ha% psyhologial %urnabou% is made by whih %he indi(idual li#e is surrendered %o %he Sere% Sel#, %here en%ers in%o %he person an unear%hly de%ermina%ion %ha% impels him %o per#orm his work in %he #ae o# all odds, in %he %ee%h o# %he bleakes% appearanes. 'e %akes his ue #rom a ligh% wi%hin, and he is able %o al%er %he psyhologial aura o# %hings by bringing in%o %he mids% o# e(en%s his own posi%i(e de%ermina%ion and absolu%e dedia%ion %o %he aomplishmen% o# his %asks. 'is impa% upon e(en%s is no% brough% abou% %hrough (ain desires or sel#ish goals, only beause he is doing %hose %asks %ha% More ree !ooks
"aw o# $%%ra%ion 'a(en
