,within ,you is the ,power4 by ,,henry ,,thomas ,,hamblin ,,contents4 ,,preface ,,chapter ,i4--,infinite ,life and ,power ,,chapter ,,ii4--,the ,overcoming of ,life's ,difficulties ,,chapter ,,iii4--,fate or ,free-,will8 ,,chapter ,,iv4--,cause and ,effect ,,chapter ,v4--,success ,,chapter ,,vi4--,health ,,chapter ,,vii4--,the ,secret of ,abundant ,supply ,,chapter ,,viii4--,the ,power and ,limitations of the ,sub-conscious ,mind ,,chapter ,,ix4--,the ,use of the ,spiritual or ,super-conscious ,mind ,,chapter ,x4--,character ,building and the ,overcoming of ,habit ,,chapter ,,xi4--,happiness and ,joy ,,chapter ,,xii4--,the ,use and ,mis-,use of ,mental and ,spiritual ,powers ,,chapter ,,xiii4--,overcoming ,limitations and ,awakening ,inward ,powers ,,preface4 ,there is a power lying hidden in man1 by the use of which he can rise to higher and better things4 ,there is in man a greater ,self1 that transcends the finite self of the sense-man1 even as the mountain towers above the plain4 ,the object of this little book is to help men and women to bring their inward powers of mind and spirit into expression1 wisely and in harmony with universal law2 to build up character1 and to find within themselves that wondrous ,self1 which is their real self1 and which1 when found1 reveals to them that they are literally and truly sons of ,god and daughters of the ,most ,high4 ,there is no way whereby the discipline of life can be avoided4 ,there is no means by which fate can be tricked1 nor cunning device by which the great cosmic plan can be evaded4 ,each life must meet its own troubles and difficulties3 each soul must pass through its deep waters1 every heart must encounter sorrow and grief4 ,but none need be overwhelmed in the great conflicts of life1 for one who has learned the great secret of his identity with the ,universal life and ,power1 dwells in an impregnable city1 built upon and into the ,rock of ,truth1 against which the storms of life beat in vain4 ,while this little work does not offer any vain promises of an easy life--for1 if this were possible1 it would be the greatest of all disasters--but rather endeavours to show how to become so strong that life looks almost easy by comparison 7the life or fate does not change or become easier1 but the individual alters and becomes stronger71 yet1 it does show the reader how to avoid making his life more difficult than it need be4 ,most people's lives would be less filled with trouble and suffering if they took life in the right spirit and acted in harmony with ,universal ,law4 ,it is hoped that this little book may help many to come into harmony with life's law and purpose and thus avoid much needless suffering3 to find the ,greater ,self within1 which discovery brings with it a realization of absolute security3 to bring into expression and wisely use their inner spiritual and mental forces and thus enter a life of overcoming and almost boundless power4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,infinite ,,life ,,and ,,power4 ,man possesses1 did he but know it1 illimitable ,power4 #a ,this ,power is of the ,spirit1 therefore1 it is unconquerable4 ,it is not the power of the ordinary life1 or finite will1 or human mind4 ,it transcends these1 because1 being spiritual1 it is of a higher order than either physical or even mental4 ,this ,power lies dormant1 and is hidden within man until he is sufficiently evolved and unfolded to be entrusted with its use4 #a ,the powers of the sub-conscious mind are dealt with in other chapters4 ,the ,powers of the ,spirit are far greater and finer than those of the sub-conscious mind4 ,thought is a spiritual power of tremendous potency1 but this is not the power of which we speak4 ,by thought1 man can either raise himself up and connect himself with the ,power ,house of the ,universe1 or cut himself off entirely from the ,divine ,inflow4 ,his thought is his greatest weapon1 because1 by it he can either draw on the ,infinite or sever himself 7in consciousness1 but not in reality7 from his ,divine ,source4 ,through the ,divine ,spark within him1 which is really his real ,self1 man is connected with the ,infinite4 ,divine ,life and ,power are his1 if he realizes that they are his4 ,so long as he is ignorant of his oneness with the ,divine ,source of all life1 he is incapable of appropriating the power that is really his4 ,if1 however1 he enters into this inner knowledge1 he finds himself the possessor of infinite power and unlimited resources4 ,this ,power1 then1 is ,god's1 yet it is also man's1 but it is not revealed to him until he is fit to be entrusted with it4 ,it is only when man realizes his oneness with his ,divine ,source that he becomes filled with ,its power4 ,many teachers and initiates lament the fact that certain secrets are being spread broadcast to-day2 secrets that1 in the past1 were kept closely guarded4 ,they fear that unillumined and un-evolved people may make destructive use of spiritual power4 ,this1 to the writer1 appears to be improbable4 ,it is true that strong personalities1 who have a great belief in their own power to achieve and succeed1 draw unconsciously on hidden powers1 and thus are able to raise themselves high above their fellows4 ,the use1 however1 that they can make of spiritual power for base purposes is limited1 and is not to be feared4 ,there are others1 of course1 who are misusing their powers4 ,these are black magicians1 and while they may do a certain amount of harm1 they become reduced1 ultimately1 to beggary and impotence4 ,there are also others who spend the whole of their spare time searching for knowledge of this very subject4 ,they read every occult book they can lay hands on1 but they never find that for which they seek4 ,there are spiritual powers and influences that withhold the eyes of the seekers from seeing1 until they are ready for the revelation4 ,when man1 in his search for ,truth1 has given up all selfish striving after unworthy things1 and has ceased to use his self-will in conflict with the greater ,will of the ,whole1 he is ready for the revelation of his oneness with the ,infinite4 ,yielding implicitly to the ,will of the ,whole may seem1 to the unillumined1 an act of weakness1 yet it is the entrance to a life of almost boundless power4 ,man is not separate from his ,divine ,source and never has been4 ,he is1 in reality1 one with the ,infinite4 ,the separation which he feels and experiences is mental1 and is due to his blindness and unbelief4 ,man can never be separated from ,spirit1 for he himself is ,spirit4 ,he is an integral part of one complete whole4 ,he lives and moves and has his being in ,god 7,universal1 ,omnipresent ,spirit71 and ,god 7,spirit7 dwells in him4 ,the majority of people are unaware of this intimate relationship with the ,divine1 and1 because they are unaware1 or because they refuse to believe it1 they are1 in one sense1 separated from the inner life of ,god4 ,yet this separation is only in their thoughts and beliefs1 and not in reality4 ,man is not separated and never can be1 yet so long as he believes that he is separate and alone1 he will be as weak and helpless as though he actually were4 ,as soon as man realizes the truth of his relationship to the ,infinite1 he passes from weakness to power1 from death unto life4 ,one moment he is in the desert1 afar off1 weak1 separate1 and alone2 the next1 he realizes that he is nothing less than a son of ,god1 with all a son's privileges and powers4 ,he realizes1 in a flash1 that he is one with his ,divine ,source1 and that he can never be separated4 ,he awakens also to the fact that all the ,power of the ,infinite is his to draw upon2 that he can never really fail1 that he is marching on to victory4 ,it will thus be seen how great is the power of man's thought4 ,while thought is not the power of the ,spirit1 it is the power by which man either connects himself up with the ,infinite ,power1 opening himself to the ,divine ,inflow1 or cuts himself off and separates himself from his ,spiritual ,source4 ,thus1 in a sense1 man is what he thinks he is4 ,if he thinks he is separate from ,god and cut off from ,his ,power1 then it is as though this were really the case1 and he is just as impotent and miserable as though he actually existed apart from ,god4 ,on the other hand1 if he thinks and believes that he is one with the ,infinite1 he finds that it is gloriously true1 and that he is really a son of ,god4 ,if he believes and thinks that he is a mere material being1 then he lives the limited life of a material being1 and is never able to rise above it4 ,but if1 on the contrary1 he thinks and believes that he is a spiritual being1 then he finds that he possesses all the powers of a spiritual being4 ,again1 if he thinks that his work is difficult and that he is not equal to his tasks1 he finds that really his tasks are difficult and beyond his powers4 ,yet on the other hand1 if he believes his work is easy1 or1 at any rate1 within his powers1 he finds that such is the case1 and that he can do his work with ease4 ,the power within is infinite1 for1 by faith in it1 man is directly coupled up with the ,spiritual ,power of the ,universe4 ,the ,divine ,spark within him connects him to the ,sacred ,flame1 thus making him potentially a god in the making4 ,a change then1 must take place within man before he can enter into his ,divine inheritance4 ,he must learn to think after the ,spirit1 i4e41 as a spiritual being1 instead of after the flesh1 i4e41 as a material creature4 ,like the prodigal son he must come to himself1 and leave the husks and the swine in the far country1 returning to his ,father's house1 where there is bread 7of life7 enough and to spare4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,overcoming ,,of ,,life',s ,,difficulties4 ,the true object of life is that man may attain wisdom through experience4 ,this cannot be accomplished by giving in to the difficulties of life1 but only by overcoming them4 ,the promises of ,god are not made to those who fail in life's battle1 but to those who overcome4 ,neither are there any promises that man shall have an easy time and be happy ever afterwards4 ,yet1 it is after this that the majority of people are for ever seeking--an easy life1 a good time1 freedom from suffering and care4 ,but1 in spite of all their seeking1 they can never find that which they desire4 ,there is always a fly in the ointment of their pleasure1 something that robs them of true happiness2 or1 possibly1 combinations of circumstances conspire to upset all their plans4 ,life is a paradox2 the true object of life is not the attainment of happiness1 yet if we attain the true object of life we find happiness4 ,those who are ignorant of life's true purpose and who seek happiness high and low1 year after year1 fail to find it4 ,like a will-o'-the-wisp1 it for ever eludes them4 ,on the other hand1 those who recognize the true object of life1 and follow it1 attain happiness without seeking for it4 ,in times past1 people have made ,god a convenience4 ,they have thought they could drift through life1 learning none of its discipline and then1 when in trouble1 or things were not to their liking1 they could pray to ,god and have the unpleasant circumstances taken away4 ,the same idea is prevalent to-day4 ,people have left the old orthodoxy and look to various cults and isms to get them out of their difficulties4 ,they do not believe now that they can curry special favour with ,god by prayer1 but they firmly believe that they can get what they want from the ,invisible by demanding it4 ,they think that by this means they can have their own way after all4 ,by this they mean having a good time1 with no unpleasant experiences1 trials1 difficulties1 adversities4 ,they are1 however1 merely chasing rainbows4 ,the easy life they seek constantly eludes them1 simply because there is no such thing4 ,the only life that is easy is the life of the strong soul who has overcome4 ,his life is not easy in reality1 but appears relatively so because of his strength4 ,it is impossible to have an easy life1 and1 if it were possible1 then life would be not worth living1 for the sole object of life is the building of character and the attainment of wisdom through experience4 ,life to all of us must always be full of difficulty1 and it is to help those1 who1 hitherto1 have found life rather too much for them that this book is being written4 ,what the majority are seeking for is an easy life 7which they will never find1 but precisely the reverse7 and for them ,i have no message4 ,but to those wise and awakened souls who are seeking for ,truth1 no matter from whence it may come1 and who desire to overcome life and its difficulties1 instead of weakly giving in to them1 this book1 it is hoped1 will bring a message4 ,at this stage we cannot go into the subject of why we should meet with disasters and adversity in this life1 nor why some people should have1 apparently1 a smoother life than others4 #b ,we must therefore be satisfied to know that we have to meet trouble and overcome difficulty1 and that it is only by so doing that we can attain wisdom and build up character4 ,the question1 then1 is not whether we shall meet the trouble and adversity or not1 but rather1 how we shall meet them4 ,shall we be victorious or shall we be submerged8 ,shall we overcome life's difficulties or shall we give in to them8 #b ,this subject is dealt with in ,the ,path of ,victory by the same author1 and published by ,the ,science of ,thought ,press4 ,the majority of people are drifters on the sea of life4 ,they are wafted here and blown there3 they are also carried hither and thither by every current4 ,it is only the few who realize that they have the ,power of the ,infinite within them by which they can rise superior to all their difficulties1 overcome their own weaknesses1 and1 through victorious experience1 attain wisdom4 ,at this point some practical reader may say that attaining wisdom is all very well1 but what he wants is practical help4 ,he is perhaps out of work1 has sickness in his house and is in debt4 ,or1 he may be well-to-do1 and yet in the deepest distress and misery4 ,to all such ,i would say that they possess the ,power by which they can overcome all their difficulties1 and1 through overcoming1 attain wisdom4 ,a man's success depends1 more than anything1 upon his faith--his faith in the good purpose of life3 his faith in the ,power of the ,infinite within him and his ability to overcome every obstacle in his path4 ,the extent of the ,power that man can bring into his life is the measure of his faith in that ,power4 ,if his faith in ,it is small1 then his life will be feeble and lacking in achievement4 ,if his faith in the ,power within him is large1 then great will be the power manifesting in his life4 ,the ,power of the ,infinite is illimitable and inexhaustible3 all that is required is an unquenchable belief and trust in it4 ,the weakest and most timid can make use of this ,power4 ,there is the same ,power in the timid and weak as in the brave and strong4 ,the weakness of the former is due to a lack of faith and belief in the ,infinite ,power within them4 ,difficulties and troubles there will be in every life1 and sometimes disaster and heartbreak1 when the very earth slides from under the feet1 yet1 by calling upon the ,power within1 it is possible to rise from the ruins of cherished hopes stronger and greater through experience4 ,happiness and true success depend upon how the troubles and difficulties of life are met4 ,adversity comes to all1 but if it is met in the right manner even failure can be made the stepping-stone to success4 ,trouble comes to all1 but1 while it makes some people stronger and better in every way1 it submerges others so that they never rise again4 ,the trouble is the same1 it is how it is met that makes the difference4 ,those who meet difficulty and adversity in the feeble strength of their finite minds and false personality are speedily overwhelmed and broken by the storms of life4 ,but those who rely upon1 and have faith in the ,power within them1 can never be overwhelmed1 neither can they ever be defeated4 ,the ,power1 being infinite1 is always sufficient1 no matter how great the need may be4 ,one who realizes his own real spiritual identity1 knows that he can never die1 that he can never be defeated1 that he can never really fail4 ,he may lose his body through the change that is called death2 but he1 the true man1 can never die4 ,neither can he fail1 though he be defeated a thousand times--he must rise again4 ,only have faith in the ,spiritual ,power within you and you can know all the joys of overcoming and achievement4 ,all things will become yours4 ,seek first the ,kingdom within you 7your spiritual union with the ,infinite1 and harmony with the ,divine ,will and ,purpose7 and all these things shall be added unto you4 ,you will have no need to fear the morrow1 for you will know that all provision has already been made4 ,there will be no need to hoard up wealth1 for there will be the necessary daily supplies always available4 ,there will be no need to live near a doctor1 for ,god1 the ,infinite ,life1 shall be your health4 ,there will be no need for regret or lamentation1 for you shall know that all is well4 ,there will be no fear of future happenings1 for you shall realize that the ,infinite ,one makes no mistakes4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,fate ,,or ,,free-,,will8 ,great has been the controversy in the past1 over the vexed subject of fate versus free-will4 ,on the one hand1 fatalists claim that man is so closely bound to the wheel of fate it is impossible for him to live his life in any different way than that which is mapped out for him4 ,he can bring a quantity of first-class evidence in support of his claim and believes in his theory with all his heart4 ,on the other hand1 the advocate of free-will believes just as whole-heartedly that man is not bound at all1 being as free as air4 ,he1 too1 can bring plenty of evidence in support of his theory1 which confirms him in his belief4 ,each one of them thinks that the other is wrong1 yet they cannot both be wrong6 ,let us therefore examine the subject for ourselves1 for it is an important one1 being intimately connected with the subject which this book discusses4 ,first of all1 let it be said1 they are both wrong1 in part1 and right1 in part4 ,man is bound to the wheel1 yet1 at the same time1 he has free-will4 ,let us1 therefore1 explain this seeming paradox4 ,it is an ancient truth of the inner teaching that man1 when he is unevolved and before he is unfolded1 is bound to the wheel of fate very closely4 ,the unevolved man follows his desires1 thus creating for himself a future from which he cannot escape4 ,when however1 he becomes more evolved and emancipated1 he begins to resist following his desires and strives1 instead1 to follow higher things4 ,this creates for him a better future and thus he becomes free in comparison with his former slave state4 ,man is a slave to fate as long as he is a slave to the desires of the earth plane4 ,he is1 however1 free to overcome lower things and thus rise to higher4 ,when he does this he ceases to create a painful future for himself and thus becomes free4 ,there is1 therefore1 fate which is self created4 ,it is necessary to acknowledge this before we can proceed further4 ,one who has not had much experience of life or who has not been a close observer1 may deny that there is such a thing1 but one who has had great changes in his life1 against which he has fought and struggled in vain1 knows that there is a purpose working behind the events of life1 against which even kings and mighty men are powerless4 ,there come times in man's life when he moves heaven and earth1 figuratively speaking3 prays until he can pray no more3 sacrifices1 it may be1 his money1 his health1 his prospects1 and does everything that is in the power of a human being in a vain attempt to stave off a threatened disaster4 ,but1 in spite of all his efforts1 in spite of his cries to a pitiless heaven1 the relentless march of fate cannot be stayed4 ,it moves forward like a huge juggernaut and crushes his hopes1 his dearest idol1 his very life itself or all that then makes his life worth living--and leaves him desolate4 ,if then1 you may ask1 fate is so pitiless and so powerful1 what can be done with it and where does free-will enter into the matter8 ,in reply it must be admitted at once that it is no use fighting fate4 ,the more man fights it1 the more completely he gets broken4 ,there are certain main events in each life which must come to pass4 ,these events and changes are inevitable and it is hopeless to fight against them4 ,while these things1 which constitute what we call fate1 are inevitable and therefore cannot be avoided1 it rests with ourselves how we meet these adversities and disasters4 ,if we meet them in the wrong way they break us4 ,if1 however1 we meet them in the right way we become stronger through discipline and experience1 thus becoming better fitted to bear life's responsibilities and to overcome its difficulties and temptations4 ,one who meets the setbacks1 griefs1 bereavements and disasters of life in the right spirit becomes a strong and rich character4 ,he becomes mellowed through experience1 strong1 stable1 a helpful influence to all who meet him4 ,when things go smoothly and life is a merry round1 no philosophy or religion seems necessary1 and as for an inward power1 what of it1 we can do very well without it4 ,so say the thoughtless and inexperienced1 but there come times in every life1 when1 not only is a philosophy1 and that a very sound one1 necessary1 but also a power1 of which the finite self knows nothing1 is needed in order to raise the soul out of the dust and ashes of its despair4 ,it is one thing to try and meet trouble and adversity in the right spirit and quite another thing to have the power to do so4 ,one who thinks that he has no power within him but that all the power is in circumstances1 can never rise victorious over his troubles and become a conqueror over life's difficulties2 but one who realizes that he possesses a wonderful power that can raise him up1 no matter how crushed he may be1 can never be a failure in life4 ,no matter what may happen to him he will play the man and act a noble part4 ,he will rise from the ruins of his life and build it anew in greater beauty and splendour4 ,at this stage it is necessary to point out that there is a difference between big fate and the circumstances of life4 ,big fate as it sometimes is called antedates this present life and its cause does not come within the scope of this little book4 #c ,sufficient if we say here that1 through the ages1 we reap as we sow1 therefore our future depends upon how we meet life and its difficulties now4 ,big fate1 then1 cannot be successfully fought1 simply because it is the working of ,omnipotent ,law1 but our life generally and its circumstances depend upon how we meet big fate1 and how we recover from it4 ,no matter how seemingly unkind fate may be1 it is possible for us to make our life a beautiful thing4 ,inspired and energized by the ,power within1 we can rise from the ashes of our dead hopes to build anew our life in greater beauty and more in harmony with the ,divine ,ideal4 #c ,in addition to the fate or future which every thought and action builds1 there is1 behind all evolution1 a gigantic plan4 ,this wonderful plan that embraces all1 from the stupendous conception of a limitless universe down to the smallest electron1 is being worked out through the ages with absolute precision4 ,nothing can prevent this plan from being brought into manifestation4 ,it gathers up our past and weaves it into our present life1 just in the same way that it is busily gathering up our present life and weaving it into future fate4 ,it works it all into the big plan1 somehow1 and with infinite skill4 ,the plan is bound to be followed 7this1 too1 is fate7 but ,,how we follow it1 either with willingness and happiness1 or opposition or woe1 rests with us 7this is free will74 ,those who have studied the ,occult sciences may say what about planetary influences8 ,they will point out that1 according to the ancient science of astrology1 a man's life is determined by the star under which he is born4 ,this is true1 if he gives in to the influences around his path4 ,at different times in his life man meets with influences that are sometimes favourable and at other times1 adverse4 ,these influences are1 however1 only influences after all1 and one who will stand firm during periods of adversity and refuse to give in1 relying upon the great ,power within to carry him through1 will find that he can weather all storms of life and come out of his trials greatly strengthened4 ,he cannot prevent these influences from coming around his path of life1 but he can rise superior to them4 ,he will meet with failures and set-backs but he will make of these1 stepping-stones to success4 ,he will experience griefs and bereavements1 but out of these he will build a finer character and rise to higher things4 ,one1 however1 who gives in to these things1 refusing to rise again and reconstruct his life1 condemns himself to further suffering1 thus making utter shipwreck of his life4 ,let the despairing take heart again4 ,believe in the ,power within you and you will rise to heights before undreamed of4 ,with this ,power to help you1 you can accomplish the apparently impossible4 ,,appendix ,,to ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,our life here is not governed by a capricious ,being who blows first hot and then cold or who favours one person and tortures another4 ,the ,supreme ,being works through laws that are absolutely just and unchanging4 ,therefore all disaster and trouble in the life is the effect of certain causes4 ,these causes are our own wrong doing in the past1 which set in motion forces1 against which the power and wit and wisdom of man are powerless4 #d ,however1 because the fundamental law of the ,universe is love1 it follows that the working of the law of cause and effect is not vindictive4 ,its object is our highest good1 viz41 to bring us into union with the ,divine or in tune with the ,infinite4 ,therefore1 by rising up to a higher plane and coming more into harmony and union with the ,divine1 we rob even big fate of something of its power4 ,we cannot oppose it1 for by so doing we fight against ,omnipotence1 but we can forestall it by doing willingly1 and of our own accord1 that very thing which experience comes to teach us4 #d ,another cause is that the soul has failed to learn certain lessons1 therefore1 in this life1 many painful experiences are brought to bear1 in such a way1 as to teach the necessary lessons4 ,the lessons are1 however1 learnt only if painful or unpleasant experiences are met in the right way4 ,so long as man believes that he is unjustly treated by fate and that he does not deserve what life metes out to him1 he intensifies his troubles1 both now and hereafter1 through not learning the lessons that life desires to teach4 ,when1 however man realizes and admits that life is just and that the cause of all his troubles is within himself1 he1 like the prodigal son comes to himself and1 soon afterwards1 begins his homeward journey4 ,yet another cause is that the soul is deficient in character4 ,strength and stability of character can be built up through the soul meeting trouble and difficulty4 ,again it must be pointed out that they must be met in the right spirit4 ,it will be seen then1 that our future depends entirely upon the way we think and act in this life4 ,our future lies in our own hands4 ,if we violate the law of love in this life1 we create disaster and suffering for the future1 which will have to be met1 in the form of big fate of a painful character1 some day4 ,therefore1 by right thinking and right doing now1 we not only ameliorate conditions in this life1 but we also create a future that will be more harmonious and freer than anything we have experienced hitherto4 ,it is also necessary to point out that1 even in this life1 some of its big disasters are the result of thoughts and actions committed during this present existence4 ,a youth or young man may commit a folly that brings1 in after life1 a terrible retribution4 ,or he may do another man a grievous wrong and years afterwards someone else does the same wrong to him4 ,it is always an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth on this plane of cause and effect1 but the ,great ,way ,shower1 by ,his teaching of the power of love1 enables us to rise above these lower things and live a life of harmony and peace4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,cause ,,and ,,effect4 ,man is the cause of the disasters in his life4 ,he reaps through the ages exactly as he sows4 ,life is perfectly just and rewards every man according to his works4 ,the fate of the present is the reaping of his sowing in1 it may be1 a distant past4 ,therefore1 the disasters and sufferings of this life1 must not be attributed to the interference of a capricious and unreasonable ,god1 for the truth is1 they are due to the exact working of a perfectly just law4 ,fate1 once created1 is irrevocable4 ,it can neither be fought nor evaded4 ,by fighting against fate1 man merely smashes himself to pieces4 ,to do so1 is equivalent to running his head against a stone cliff3 the harder he charges1 the greater the damage to his head--but the cliff is unaffected4 ,fate1 although largely self-created1 is really the ,divine purpose of life3 therefore1 to resist it is to fight against ,god4 ,fate1 again is not punishment1 in any vindictive sense1 it is the drawing together of certain remedial experiences1 through which the soul can learn the lessons it has failed to learn in past ages and thus attain wisdom4 ,the object of fate is the highest good of the individual1 although it may entail suffering and painful experiences4 ,because the disasters in man's life are due to past wrong doing1 it naturally follows that his future depends upon the kind of life that he lives to-day4 ,if1 in the past1 he has created for himself a sequence of events and experiences1 from which it is impossible for him to escape1 it is obvious that his future lives depend entirely upon how he lives the present one4 ,it will be seen that if man can learn the lessons of the present life1 and live in such a way as to cease creating trouble for the future1 he is beginning to climb the ,path of ,liberation1 which is the road all advanced souls have to follow1 or1 rather1 have the privilege of following4 ,by following this path1 man ceases to be bound to the wheel of fate4 ,this little work does not teach reincarnation1 but its teaching is based on a belief that man1 in reality1 is a spiritual being1 a ,divine ,spark from the ,sacred ,fire4 ,spirit being immortal has no beginning or end therefore always lives4 ,this present life is one of countless experiences1 each one of which helps to build up character4 ,there is no death1 but only changes from one vehicle to another4 ,there is no beginning1 or end1 or time in reality1 these are mere limitations of the human mind4 ,it is impossible for man to die3 he can only leave his body4 ,he cannot kill himself1 try how he will3 he can only force himself out of his body4 ,man must always go on1 whether he likes it or not3 he proceeds through the ages1 reaping exactly as he sows4 ,we have already seen that man cannot avoid or fight successfully against fate1 but that he can become free from the wheel of fate by living a life in harmony with ,divine ,law4 #e ,at this point it is necessary to point out that most of man's troubles are not caused by fate at all1 but are due to his fighting against or trying to resist the great plan4 ,if the experiences of life are resisted1 or an attempt is made to evade its discipline1 troubles and difficulties will repeat1 becoming more painful and insistent until their lesson is learnt and the life changed accordingly4 ,therefore man has it in his power greatly to improve his present life1 as well as to create a far better future1 simply by living his life to-day in harmony with ,divine ,law4 ,further1 it is necessary to point out that all thought and action have an immediate as well as a far reaching effect4 ,it is true that the full effect of life here is not reaped until after our little course on this plane has been run1 but great differences are effected in the present life nevertheless4 ,the way a youth makes use of1 or throws away his opportunities1 either makes or mars1 to a very large extent1 his adult career4 ,opportunities1 once allowed to pass1 can never be recalled4 ,sins committed and wrongs done to our fellow men have an unpleasant habit of repeating themselves in a reversed way later in life4 ,for instance1 a man may get on in life1 and1 in his selfish climb1 may trample on one weaker than himself1 ruining him and driving him to despair4 ,years afterwards1 he will probably be treated in exactly the same way by someone stronger and more favourably situated than himself4 ,therefore1 there is an immediate sowing and reaping that finds fruition in this life4 ,by immediate is meant1 within the compass of this life4 ,the reaping may be delayed ten or twenty years1 but in the writer's experience1 it not infrequently comes4 ,whatsoever a man soweth1 that shall he also reap4 ,those1 therefore1 who think that life is not just1 and who whine and complain about the way they are treated1 are simply increasing their own troubles4 ,until man realizes that the cause of all his troubles is within himself he can never do anything to remedy matters1 because1 obviously1 the only thing that is required is for him to change within4 ,man has to become changed within before his life can be altered4 ,his thoughts1 his ideals1 his attitude towards life must all become transformed4 ,when this change has been effected1 he not only begins to repair his present life1 but he creates a fairer and nobler life for the future4 #e ,this is the inner secret of all esoteric teaching4 ,the new birth1 or regeneration1 means the awakening of the soul to conscious immortality4 ,the old self1 that was bound to the wheel of fate and the plane of cause and effect from which it could never free itself1 owing to the fact that it was continually binding itself to the wheel afresh1 through following selfish desires1 dies1 and a new self is born4 ,in other words1 the consciousness is raised from the plane of sin and death1 of sensuality and desire1 of restriction and captivity1 to the higher plane of ,spirit1 where man realizes that he is a son of ,god4 ,he discovers that the ,divine ,spark within is his true self4 ,he realizes also that he has always lived--in his real ,spiritual ,self4 ,beginning and end1 like change and decay1 belong purely to the material plane and have no place in ,reality4 ,they form part of this present three dimensional existence but have no reality4 ,endless being is the reality4 ,anything short of this is mere illusion4 ,it is not necessary1 therefore1 to believe in the theory of reincarnation or that all our experiences must of necessity take place on this plane4 ,sufficient to know that we can never die1 that we cannot escape from ourselves1 and that to neglect seeking with all our heart for union once again with our ,divine ,source1 is merely to prolong our sufferings4 ,man1 then1 has to change4 ,his desires and aspirations1 instead of being directed towards hate and evil must be transformed to love and good4 ,instead of wallowing in lust and selfishness he must lift himself to higher and better things4 ,how can this be done8 ,it cannot be accomplished by the finite man at all1 but it can be achieved by the ,infinite ,power within4 ,it is only when man realizes his oneness with the ,infinite and believes that ,omnipotent ,power is at his disposal1 that the ,spiritual ,power within becomes available4 ,so long as man has doubts and fears or disbeliefs1 this special power is not available4 ,it is his1 but his state of heart and mind prevents him from either realizing the presence of the ,power or making use of it4 ,before the machinery of a workshop can run it must be connected up with the engine room4 ,in the same way1 man1 before he can live the new life1 must become one with the ,infinite ,life and ,power4 ,entering this new life of power1 does not take away life's experiences1 its trials1 troubles and adversities1 but the change within does prevent the creation of unnecessary troubles and suffering4 ,also even a so-called unkind fate loses much of its power to wound1 for the higher man rises into union with ,god and ,infinite ,love1 the less power it has in his life4 ,it still operates1 but it fails to wound so deeply1 for man1 seeing with illumined eyes1 knows that it is good that has come to bless2 and not evil that has come to slay4 ,painful fate loses its power to hurt when man ceases to resist it and meets it with open arms1 seeking to learn the lessons that it has to teach4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,success4 ,what is meant here by success is the achievement of something worth while1 that shall make the world better and richer1 and add something to the common good4 ,our sphere in life may be very humble1 but if we overcome our own weaknesses1 help others along life's pathway1 and do our daily work better than we need1 our life cannot be other than successful4 ,if1 at the end of our life1 we can be thankful for it1 realizing that we have made the best possible use of it1 we have achieved real success4 ,success1 to the unillumined1 may mean the accumulation of wealth and the winning of fame4 ,yet those who give up their lives to the acquirement of these things are the greatest failures in life4 ,they gain wealth1 it is true1 but they find that their money can buy only those things that bring no satisfaction3 that it cannot purchase for them any of the things which are really worth having4 ,success of this hollow kind1 can be won1 but at too great a price4 ,the greatest ,teacher of all once said3 ,for what shall it profit man1 if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul8 ,what does it profit a man if he gets on at the cost of happiness1 health1 joy of living1 domestic life1 and the ability to appreciate ,nature's beauties and simple pleasures8 ,yet man must be a striver4 ,he must be for ever seeking better things and to express himself more perfectly4 ,one who drifts through life1 making no effort to rise to better things1 is not worthy of the name of citizen4 ,man1 if he is to be worthy of the name1 must be for ever striving1 overcoming1 rising4 ,failure in life is always due to weakness of character4 ,it is only strong characters who can resist the buffetings of life and overcome its difficulties4 ,the man who would make his life worthy of respect and who would rise to high achievement and service1 will be confronted by difficulty at every turn4 ,this is as it should be1 for it weeds out the weaklings and unworthy aspirants1 and awards the spoils to those who exhibit faith1 courage1 steadfastness1 patience1 perseverance1 persistence1 cheerfulness1 and strength of character1 generally4 ,success1 especially material success1 is not1 in itself1 of much benefit to the one who wins it4 ,it does not satisfy for long1 but it is valuable in other ways4 ,for instance1 success1 based on service1 is a benefit to the community4 ,if1 it were not for successful people of this type the ordinary man in the rut would have a bad time4 ,also1 the winning of success builds up character4 ,one who would be successful in the battle of life1 must be prepared to be tested and tried in every possible way4 ,one who survives them all is built up in character in almost every direction4 ,even in his success1 however1 he will be tempted and tried4 ,one who is engaged in the harsh struggle of business1 or who takes part in public life1 may1 if he does not watch himself very carefully1 become hard and callous4 ,of all failures this is probably the worst4 ,one who succeeds in other directions and becomes a hard man1 is1 after all1 a sorry failure4 ,again1 people of the successful1 striving1 climbing type1 are tempted far more than those who are afraid to venture and who remain in the valley of mediocrity4 ,this is true1 not only of those who seek to climb the steep path of spiritual attainment1 but also of those who are successful in mundane affairs4 ,in each case1 they have placed in their keeping great powers and influence such as the ordinary man little dreams of4 ,this is a grave responsibility1 for if these powers are used for self-aggrandisement the results are disastrous4 ,thus1 those who climb1 are beset on all sides by temptations of a very subtle kind1 which1 if yielded to1 will ruin the life and do grave injury to the soul4 ,life is a continual battle4 ,to the ordinary person it is generally a fight with circumstances and the ordinary difficulties of life which are very important in his eyes4 ,the more advanced soul is not troubled much by these things--he rises above them--but he is tempted and tried to a much greater degree1 and in a far more subtle manner4 ,those who think that by following a certain cult or ism1 they will be able to have an uneventful walk through life are merely deluding themselves4 ,as he learns to overcome the difficulties of life which baffle the ordinary individual1 he will be tempted and tried in other and more subtle ways4 ,this is because life is not for mere passing pleasure1 but is for the building up of character1 through experience4 ,therefore1 one who would succeed must be strong1 and wise and patient4 ,those who aspire to make their lives really worth while3 who desire to serve their fellows more perfectly3 who want to build up character through experience and overcome all their weaknesses1 inherited or otherwise1 must look within for power and wisdom4 ,it must be pointed out1 however1 that man must not use his spiritual powers for selfish purposes and self-aggrandisement4 ,there is an immutable law1 which has been known to the inner teaching all through the ages1 that forbids the use of spiritual powers for the creation of wealth or even of daily bread4 ,jesus was subject to the same spiritual law1 and was tempted exactly in the same way as we4 ,the tempter said3 ,command this stone that it be made bread4 ,if ,christ had turned the stone into bread1 ,he would have failed in ,his great mission1 but ,he knew the law4 ,there are thousands of people to-day who are trying1 not only to turn1 by the mis-use of their spiritual powers1 stones into bread1 but also into motor cars1 fat bank balances and lands and houses4 ,such are heading to disaster1 for they are working against the combined ,spiritual ,power of the ,universe4 ,the ,enemy of ,souls offers those who have learned to tap the inexhaustible ,power of the ,universe1 and who have discovered that they are sons of ,god1 wealth1 power1 pomp1 the applause of men--the glittering things that perish--if only they will mis-use their ,god-given power4 ,like ,jesus1 they must refuse4 ,they must put service before self1 and give instead of grasping4 ,thousands are being taught to-day to force their human will upon life and to use occult powers for the acquisition of wealth and power4 ,they are taught to enter the ,silence and demand what they want4 ,how to get what you want is the slogan of these modern teachers4 ,not merit1 not service1 not giving1 but demanding1 compelling by human will-power and by the use of occult forces4 ,this is another device of the ,enemy of ,souls1 and it is taking tens of thousands of seekers for ,truth out of the ,path4 ,this subject is dealt with more fully in a separate chapter4 ,if1 however1 man's ambition is to serve and to give1 instead of to grasp and to grab3 if1 also1 he seeks success through merit and not through the mis-use of his spiritual powers1 he can go forward and the ,power will go with him and will help him4 ,when once the ,power has been aroused1 man must cease all purely selfish striving1 although1 of course1 there will still be much selfishness in his motive4 ,he must seek his success through service and through following noble aims3 through merit and a fair exchange1 instead of trying to wring success from life1 no matter who may suffer thereby4 ,further1 when this ,power has been brought into expression it must only be used in love1 for if it used otherwise it will destroy the user4 ,again1 the ,power must not be used by the finite human will1 but an endeavour must be made to find what the ,will of the ,whole is1 and to work in harmony with it4 ,behind each life is the ,divine ,will and ,purpose4 ,each life is perfect as it is imaged in the ,universal ,mind4 ,the highest success1 indeed1 the only true success1 is to live the life according to the great ,cosmic ,purpose1 or1 in other words1 as it is imaged in the ,one ,mind4 ,do not imagine1 however1 that it is the ,will of the ,universal ,mind that man should be a failure or lacking in achievement4 ,far from it1 for we have only to contemplate the ,universe to see that the ,infinite ,mind is for ever achieving and that it never fails4 ,man1 too1 must succeed1 but let him mix wisdom with his ambition1 and work for the benefit of the ,whole1 rather than for any purely selfish purpose4 ,it is natural for man to get on in life1 to a moderate extent4 #f ,in order to get on he must become more efficient1 and thus serve life and his fellows better4 ,therefore1 there is no harm in success of this kind4 ,it is natural and laudable also for one in poor and unlovely surroundings to have an ambition to raise himself to better circumstances4 ,it is only right that he should desire to make life brighter and better for his wife and family4 ,so long as he indulges in ambition wisely1 and if he seeks success through better service to his fellows1 his is a laudable purpose4 ,if1 however1 he does not curb and control his ambition but allows it to run away with him1 he will lose all real joy in life1 and1 at the last1 when it is too late1 learn1 to his sorrow1 that his life1 through too much success1 has been a failure4 #f ,it must not be deduced from this that the author deprecates large achievement4 ,there must always be the few who have to bear huge responsibilities4 ,the real success of the lives of these great ones depends entirely upon their ,,motive4 ,if they seek merely power1 fame and self-aggrandisement1 then their life1 no matter how it may ,,appear otherwise1 can be only a failure4 ,if1 however1 their motive is ,,service1 then their life is truly successful1 no matter how it may appear to be otherwise4 ,the writer's experience has been that it is necessary that we should always be progressing1 achieving1 overcoming and endeavouring to succeed4 ,one of the greatest laws of the ,universe is progress1 therefore it is fatal to stand still4 ,we must go forward1 we must achieve1 we must accomplish things4 ,if we do so1 we may find that many things which cost us much effort1 and hard work are not worth the having1 yet all the time we are learning1 through experience1 and are being strengthened and prepared for greater things4 ,through repeated failure to find true satisfaction we arrive finally at true knowledge1 wisdom and understanding4 ,we are wise then1 if1 with the world at our feet1 we can be satisfied with a very moderate material success1 and turn our attention and aspirations to higher and better things4 ,in concluding this chapter let it be pointed out that success and achievement will not drop ready made from heaven into your lap4 ,all who succeed are gluttons for work1 toiling whilst others play and sleep4 ,all teaching to the contrary is erroneous4 ,to think that success is going to come to you when it is unmerited1 simply because you make use of affirmations or employ mental treatments1 is folly of the first water4 ,on the other hand1 to use the inner forces in an occult way1 so as to compel material things or success1 so-called1 in any shape or form1 to come to you1 is black magic4 ,one who stoops to such practices becomes a black magician1 earning for himself a terrible retribution4 ,there is only one way to succeed in the affairs of life1 and that is by raising oneself to greater usefulness and service4 ,by doing things better than they have been done before1 by bearing greater responsibility1 you serve humanity better1 and therefore merit success4 ,it is more blessed to give than to receive1 said the ,master1 and this is true even in the practical and material affairs of life4 ,first1 you must give better and more valuable service3 in other words1 deserve and merit before you expect to see it materialize4 ,you must sow before you can reap3 you must become too big for your present position before you are capable of occupying a larger one4 ,you must grow and expand in every possible way1 and as you grow so will your success increase4 ,outward success is only a reflection1 so to speak1 of what you really are1 and a result of greater and more valuable service to humanity4 ,it requires great effort and determination to get out of the rut1 but so long as your ambition is not ignoble or selfish1 there will be found within you power sufficient for all your needs4 ,to win success1 either in the hurly-burly of life1 or the more difficult path of spiritual progress1 demands imagination1 vision1 courage1 faith1 determination1 persistence1 perseverance1 hope1 cheerfulness and other qualities4 ,these are all to be found within4 ,all these qualities lie more or less dormant within1 and can be called into expression if we believe that ,infinite ,power is ours4 ,again1 however1 must the warning be repeated that this ,power must not be used for selfish self-aggrandisement1 still less may it be used1 or1 rather1 mis-used1 either to influence or dominate others4 ,if this ,power is mis-used the results are terrible and disastrous4 ,therefore1 use the ,power only for the achievement of good and noble aims and in service which shall enrich the life of your fellows1 adding to the common good4 ,having arrived at this stage you must go forward4 ,there can be no holding back4 ,ever onward1 the ,divine ,urge is sending you1 to greater achievement and accomplishment4 ,just as surely as the planets must revolve round the sun and fulfil their destiny1 so also must you go forward4 ,see to it1 then1 that your aims and ambitions are based upon eternal wisdom1 for upon this does your whole future depend4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,health4 ,it is impossible1 in a little work of this description to explain why it is that one person inherits a weak and ailing body and another enjoys a strong and robust constitution4 ,sufficient for us here to notice that the days of rude1 rugged health are passing1 and that man is becoming more highly strung1 nervous and psychic in his make-up4 ,the old type of rude1 unconscious health was due to the animal-like nature of man1 which caused his body to be governed more completely by the instinctive mind4 ,less evolved humans are not affected1 apparently1 by the mental storms1 psychic changes1 and spiritual disharmonies that disturb the health of the more evolved types4 ,we have an illustration of this in the case of some forms of insanity4 ,the patient goes out of his mind1 with the result that his bodily health becomes wonderfully good4 ,the instinctive mind takes control of things1 and rude1 robust animal health is the result4 ,when the patient was sane and his mind filled with worry1 ambitions1 plans1 cares1 lusts1 hates and griefs1 he was probably very far from well4 ,this would be due to the disturbing effects of his thoughts and uncontrolled emotions4 ,when1 therefore1 his conscious mind gave way and he became happy in an imbecile way1 he ceased to think of these disturbing things1 with the result that the instinctive1 animal mind was able to work undisturbed4 ,it is of no use sighing for the good old times1 when people were rugged and strong in the way that savages are rugged and strong1 for evolution has decreed that man shall change into a higher and more nervous and sensitive type4 ,in this sensitive type wrong thoughts and emotions quickly produce pain and suffering4 ,the majority of people do not know what good health is4 ,not only do they suffer from minor ailments1 such as headaches1 indigestion1 rheumatism1 neuritis1 but they also never feel hearty or completely well4 ,they are strangers to the joy of living4 ,life does not thrill them3 nothing quickens their blood3 they have no moments of vivid ecstasy--in other words1 they do not live1 they merely exist at a poor dying rate4 ,again1 the majority of people are susceptible to infectious diseases and epidemics1 yet1 if they were really well1 they would be immune4 ,instead1 however1 of seeking immunity through health1 they are seeking it through the use of vaccines and serums1 thus adding to the burdens which the body has to bear4 ,all attempts in this direction are bound to end in failure1 for1 as fast as one disease is suppressed another one will appear4 ,many people look upon disease and sickness as inevitable1 yet the truth is that health is the normal state and ill-health an abnormality4 ,in tracing back ill-health to its source1 we find1 first of all1 that it is due to disobedience of natural law4 ,large numbers of people break nearly every known natural law of health1 and are surprised that they become ill4 ,yet the wonder is that they are as well as they are4 ,yet1 while obedience to nature's laws and the use of nature-cure methods will carry us a certain part of the way1 we find that there must be causes even deeper than those which are physical4 ,we are confronted by the fact that there are many people who obey every known physical law of health1 who bathe1 exercise1 breathe1 eat and drink scientifically1 who adopt nature-cure methods instead of drugs and serums1 who yet cannot find health4 ,therefore we must search deeper and go to the mind in order to discover the cause of ill-health4 ,when we look to the mind we find a prolific cause of sickness4 ,man thinks himself into ill-health and disease4 ,it is well known that thinking about disease and sickness produces them in the body4 ,people who are for ever thinking about disease1 illness1 operations and other morbid subjects1 become a prey to these things4 ,those who believe that sickness is inevitable1 manifest it in their life4 ,morbid thinking produces a morbid state of the body1 causing it either to fall an easy prey to infection or to break down into chronic ill-health1 or even disease4 ,allowing the thoughts to dwell upon morbid things is a sure way to sickness and invalidism4 ,man is not only made ill by his own negative thoughts and emotions1 he is also under the hypnotic spell of the race mind4 ,the ,god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not4 ,we are all under the spell1 more or less1 of a huge illusion4 ,the evil1 disease1 sickness and other imperfections that we see and experience1 have no reality1 in reality1 but have an existence in unreality4 #g ,although they are not real in a real sense1 yet they are terribly real to this present limited consciousness4 ,by realizing the truth1 and by thinking and living in its light and power1 the hypnotic spell becomes broken1 not completely1 else we should not grow old1 but to such an extent that a state of greatly improved health can be enjoyed4 #g ,for a fuller explanation of this metaphysical statement see ,science of ,thought ,text ,books1 ,nos4 ,i4 and ,,ii4 ,we are also hypnotically affected by suggestion1 which reaches us from a thousand different sources4 ,the conversations of friends and acquaintances1 affect us adversely4 ,their belief in disease and sickness as realities1 and in its inevitableness1 colours all their conversation1 and1 unless we guard against it1 this unconsciously affects us4 ,newspapers1 magazines1 books1 all steeped in the same error1 also influence us unless we have become too positive to be affected4 ,from innumerable sources it is subtly suggested to us that disease1 sickness1 infection are realities that cannot be evaded1 and to which we are prone4 ,the effect of all this1 putting it in simple and elementary language1 is to divert the life power into wrong channels1 thus producing disease and ill-health in place of perfection4 ,the normal state of health has to give place to an abnormal state of disease or sickness4 ,the normal health-state is1 however1 restored when ,truth is realized1 and the life lived in ,its light and power4 ,absolute ,truth and ,perfection stand behind all the illusion and imperfection of the sense life4 ,it is by realizing the ,truth and the perfection of the ,reality1 and by establishing the thought-life in ,truth1 so that our thoughts cease to be negative and based on error and illusion1 that health is to be found4 ,it is often said that ill-health is the result of sin4 ,it is1 for thinking about disease1 sickness and ill-health1 believing them to be inevitable1 is one of the greatest of sins4 ,the way of life is to walk 7think and act7 after the ,spirit 7which is perfect1 whole1 immortal and incorruptible7 and not after the flesh 7corruption1 disease1 sickness1 death74 ,by thinking after the flesh we dishonour ,god who is absolute ,wholeness and ,perfection1 and cut ourselves off from the ,divine ,life and ,power4 ,but there are other ways by which wrong thinking destroys the health4 ,thinking thoughts of lust is a prolific cause of unhappiness1 sickness and nervous disease4 ,the divine forces of life are directed into a wrong channel1 resulting either in indulgence and inevitable weakening of body1 brain and will1 or in repression and its consequent nervous diseases4 ,if the thoughts are allowed to dwell upon impurity1 evil results must follow in some form1 either in action or ill-health1 or both4 ,thought must be controlled and reversed continually4 ,not repressed1 but reversed1 be it noted1 for there is a tremendous difference between the two4 ,repression creates nervous trouble1 but by reversing or transmuting the thoughts the life becomes transformed1 and the bodily health greatly improved4 ,further1 indulging in thoughts of hate1 resentment1 ill-will1 fear1 worry1 care1 grief1 and anxiety1 produces ill-health1 and1 by lowering the tone of the body1 lays it open to infection and disease4 ,we therefore see that the state of the mind and the character of the thoughts are important factors which cannot be ignored4 ,it is useless to treat either ill-health or disease if they are merely the external effects of hidden causes of the mind4 ,in order to effect a cure we have to get back to the cause of the trouble4 ,thought control #h is a great assistance4 ,substituting a right or positive thought for a wrong one1 will1 in course of time1 work wonders in the life4 ,in the sub-conscious we have an illimitable power of extraordinary intelligence4 ,according to our thoughts this wonderful power either builds up health1 harmony and beauty in our life and body1 or just the reverse4 ,the power is good1 the intelligence is apparently infinite1 but it goes where-ever our thoughts direct it4 ,by our thinking1 therefore1 we either create or destroy1 produce either good or evil4 ,if1 therefore1 all our thoughts are good1 positive and constructive1 it follows that both our body and our life must become built up in harmony and perfection4 ,the question is1 can this be done8 ,it can be done if we have the desire1 and are willing to discipline ourselves and persevere in the face1 often1 of seeming failure4 ,some readers may say1 at this point1 that they have no desire to be so frightfully good1 that they are not prepared to give up lust1 impurity1 hate1 anger1 malice and thoughts and emotions of this kind4 ,very well1 if this is so1 they must go on and learn1 through suffering1 the lesson which they refuse to learn willingly4 ,others may say3 ,yes1 ,i want to control my thoughts1 but how can ,i cease to worry when ,i have so much about which to worry1 and how can ,i cease to hate when ,i have been so deeply wronged8 ,this brings us to an even deeper cause of ill-health than that of mind1 viz41 the attitude of the heart4 ,our scriptures tell us that as a man thinketh in his heart so is he4 ,by heart is meant the soul or feeling1 desiring part of man4 ,it is here where the conflict between the self-will and the ,divine ,will1 between the desires of the flesh and the longings of the ,spirit take place4 ,the real root cause of all unhappiness1 disharmony and ill-health is spiritual1 and not merely mental or physical4 ,the latter are contributory causes1 but the former is the fundamental cause4 ,spiritual disharmony is1 in reality1 the cause of all ill-health and disease4 ,until spiritual harmony is restored1 man is a kingdom divided against itself1 which1 as our ,lord said1 cannot stand4 ,healing1 then1 must be of a spiritual character4 ,until this harmony exists there can be no overcoming of hate thoughts1 fear thoughts or worry thoughts1 and until these are overcome there can be no true healing4 ,our ,lord's healing was a gracious healing of the ,spirit4 ,it restored inward harmony by forgiving sin1 by changing the heart's desires1 by bringing the will of the subject into harmony with the ,divine ,will of the ,whole4 ,our ,lord's healing was not accomplished by means of suggestion1 neither was it achieved by human will power2 it was done by a bringing into harmony of the heart and desires and will with the ,divine ,will4 ,at the same time there must have been a revelation of the truth that the ,will of ,god is love1 wholeness1 joy and perfection1 and not disease1 sickness and misery4 #h ,see also ,the ,power of ,thought by the same author1 published by ,the ,science of ,thought ,press1 ,chichester4 ,mental healing does not become possible until we have made our peace with ,god4 ,until we have surrendered entirely to the love principle1 we cannot overcome our hate thoughts and malice thoughts or resentment thoughts1 by transmuting them into thoughts of love4 ,until we surrender to the ,divine ,will and leave all our problems to the ,infinite ,mind1 we cannot cease to worry and fear4 ,mental discipline and thought-control are necessary after this inward change has taken place1 for we all have to work out our own salvation1 but the essential thing is the inward heart surrender in love and trust4 ,so long as we hate our brother1 or fear what the morrow may bring forth1 or worry about the things of this life1 we can never be well4 ,when1 however1 we have become attuned to the ,divine ,harmony1 and have learnt to control our thoughts and emotions and to transmute fleshly and material desires into loving service1 a state of wholeness is the inevitable result4 ,old1 deeply-seated disorders die away1 and a steady improvement in the state of health takes its place4 ,in order to regain health it is necessary to raise oneself up continually to the ,divine ,ideal of health1 harmony and perfection4 ,but this is useless if there still remains a clashing of the personal will with the ,divine ,will1 or if there is any hate1 malice1 envy1 or fear in the heart4 ,the will must be surrendered to the greater ,will 7this1 in reality1 is our highest good1 for the fulfilment of the ,divine ,will is the happy destiny of man73 the heart must forgive and be filled with love2 fear must be cast out1 and replaced by confidence and complete trust1 before we can enter into that happy1 care-free1 restful state which is necessary for healing4 ,health is harmony--a delicate balance and adjustment between spirit1 soul1 mind and body4 ,this harmony is dependent entirely upon the greater harmony between ourselves and ,god4 ,so long as there is a conflict of will1 so long as there is hate or resentment1 so long as there is selfishness or while there is fear1 this harmony cannot exist4 ,therefore1 the bed-rock cause of health is spiritual harmony1 all healing being a restoration of harmony between man and his ,divine ,source4 ,when this harmony is restored1 man is no longer a kingdom divided against itself1 for he becomes established in unity3 he works with the ,universe and the ,divine ,laws of his being1 instead of against them4 ,the ,divine ,life and ,power flow through him unimpeded1 promoting perfect sub-conscious functioning4 ,his thoughts become cleansed at their source 7,create in me a clean heart1 ,o ,god1 and renew a right spirit within me1 ,cleanse ,thou me from secret faults74 ,he becomes free from the hypnotic spell of the race mind3 his eyes1 through the influence of the ,divine ,spirit1 become opened to the ,truth2 therefore he is no longer blinded by the ,prince of this world4 ,in the ,divine ,union he becomes free4 7,in ,christ all are made alive74 ,the subject of grief and its effect upon health has purposely been left to the last4 ,no amount of right thinking will prevent bereavements in this life4 ,these form part of the necessary discipline of life1 and it depends entirely upon how we meet our trials whether they shall be hurtful or the greatest possible blessing4 ,by rebelling against life's discipline1 griefs become hurtful1 but the hurt is not in the bereavement itself1 but in the attitude of the mind and heart4 ,until the soul is able to drink the cup of sorrow willingly1 and say ,thy ,will be done1 bereavement is hurtful1 destroying both health and happiness4 ,the cause of the hurt is1 however1 in the hardness of heart1 and not in the bereavement itself4 ,there must1 therefore1 be submission and an acknowledgment that the discipline is necessary4 ,this does not imply1 however1 a weak giving-in to grief and mourning4 ,one who has been bereaved can never1 it is true1 be the same again1 for he or she becomes more chastened1 more loving1 more sympathetic1 richer and more mellow in character4 ,the loved one can never be forgotten1 but that is no reason why the heart should be bowed down by grief and the life made desolate by sorrow4 ,in such cases true religion1 not religiousness1 is the only thing that can satisfy the soul1 harmonize the mind1 and heal the body4 ,to be established in ,truth1 knowing that all is well3 that ,god makes no mistakes and that there is1 in reality1 no death but only change1 is the only way by which bereavement can be made to be a blessing in disguise4 ,when this stage is reached1 grief is overcome1 death being swallowed up in victory4 ,the only panacea for all life's troubles is conscious harmony with our ,divine ,source and the ,divine ,will and ,purpose which desire only our highest good4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,secret ,,of ,,abundant ,,supply4 ,it is a metaphysical truth that the outward life is a reflection of the thought life4 ,our life is affected by our habit of thinking and attitude of mind1 in two ways3 first1 all our actions are unconsciously influenced by our thoughts1 thus helping to bring into manifestation1 or attracting to us1 an environment that corresponds to our thoughts4 #i ,secondly1 we discharge or emit an influence1 silent and invisible1 that no doubt affects other people4 ,they are probably not aware of it1 but they are either repelled or attracted by this silent influence4 ,thus1 if our thoughts and mental attitude are of the wrong type1 not only are our actions affected thereby1 but also we exert a silent influence that assists in driving the right type of friends1 opportunity1 success and every possible good away from us4 ,the reverse also is equally true4 ,by right thoughts and a correct mental attitude we naturally attract to us all the good of which our present life is capable4 #i ,this may seem1 at first sight1 to be a sweeping statement1 but two homely illustrations will prove its reasonableness4 ,first we will take the case of a man committed to prison for law-breaking4 ,his environment is obviously due to his wrong actions1 the latter being the offspring of his thoughts1 for all actions spring from thoughts4 ,next let us take the case of a man who is the trusted head of an efficient business4 ,obviously his position is the result of his actions1 for he has climbed to it by hard work and faithful service1 all due in the first place to constructive thinking and a right attitude of mind4 ,the ,bible tells us that as a man thinketh in his heart so is he4 ,it is equally true to say that as a man is1 so does he think1 and1 that as he thinks1 so do his outer life and circumstances become4 ,therefore1 as a man is1 so is his environment4 ,this may sound rather metaphysical1 but it is really quite simple1 and proof meets us at every turn4 ,take a man from slumdom and put him in nice surroundings1 and note what happens4 ,very soon he either drifts back to a slum or turns his new house into a slum dwelling4 ,take a man of a higher type1 and put him in a slum1 and soon he will either leave the slum or change his slum dwelling into a more decent habitation4 ,put a slut in a mansion1 and she will turn it into a pig-sty1 but put a woman of a higher type in a hovel and she will make it clean enough to entertain royalty4 ,therefore1 before you can change a person's environment it is necessary to change inwardly the person himself4 ,when a man becomes inwardly changed and filled with new ambitions1 ideals and hopes1 he1 in course of time1 rises above his sordid surroundings and attracts to himself an environment that corresponds to his new state of mind4 ,it would be useless to tidy up the house of a slut for her1 for she would soon make it like a pig-sty again1 but if you could get a new ideal of neatness1 cleanliness1 order and spotlessness into her mind1 she would not rest satisfied until her immediate environment corresponded1 in some measure at least1 to her mental ideal or image4 ,very often1 the failures of a man's life1 and its disharmonies and poverty1 either comparative or real1 are outward symbols of his weakness of character4 ,he may have ability in plenty1 but he may lack application or steadfastness1 and thus he fails in all his undertakings1 and has to be kept by his wife and daughters4 ,he will assure you that his circumstances are due to ill-fortune1 but the actual cause of his failure is in his character1 or1 rather1 lack of character4 ,if1 therefore1 a man's poverty and lack1 or financial difficulties are due to weakness of character which manifest in his work and dealings with others1 in the form of inefficiency1 poor service and bad judgment1 it follows that he1 himself1 must change before his circumstances can be permanently altered for the better4 ,the difficulty in dealing with unsuccessful people is in getting them to realize that they1 themselves1 are the cause of all their troubles4 #aj ,until1 however1 they do realize this1 their case is hopeless1 and it is impossible to help them1 but when they acknowledge that the fault is theirs1 they can be shown that there is a remedy for their ills and a way out of their difficulties1 by means of self-improvement4 ,let them then search for hidden weaknesses1 and build up those weak places in their character1 such as lack of grit1 determination1 steadfastness1 persistence1 patience1 probity1 decision1 which are the cause of their troubles1 and they will find that their circumstances will gradually change for the better4 ,everything comes from within--first within1 then out1 this is the law--therefore the change must always take place within4 #aj ,see also ,the ,fundamentals of ,true ,success1 by the same author and published by ,the ,science of ,thought ,press1 ,chichester4 ,going more deeply into the subject and becoming more metaphysical1 it is necessary to point out that the cause of all manifestation is ,mind4 ,we have already seen that a man's mind and character are reflected in his circumstances2 now let us think1 for a moment1 about the ,mind that is ,infinite4 ,the whole universe1 which is1 of course1 infinite in extent1 has its origin in the ,divine ,mind1 and is contained within this ,infinite ,mind1 just in the same way that you can hold a mental picture in your own mind4 ,god's ,universe1 as it is imaged in the ,divine ,mind1 is perfect4 ,we see it as imperfect1 because we only receive a finite sense-perception of that which is perfect and infinite1 from this forming1 in our minds1 an image that is necessarily imperfect and finite1 which we project outwards1 and1 not knowing any better1 think is real4 ,but the universe1 as imaged in the ,divine ,mind1 and as it actually is in reality1 is both infinite and perfect3 it is also infinitely perfect4 ,there is no poverty or lack in a universe that is infinitely perfect1 whole and complete in the ,divine ,mind4 ,poverty and lack have their origin in the mind of man3 they have no place in the ,mind of ,god4 ,we cannot1 in a little elementary work of this kind1 go more deeply into this extremely fascinating subject4 ,sufficient if we say here that the only ,reality is infinite perfection and wholeness1 therefore there cannot be any lack at all 7in reality74 ,the obvious lack and poverty that we see around us are the product of the human mind4 ,those who live in a consciousness of poverty and lack1 go through life closely fettered by limitation4 ,they can never escape from poverty1 it dogs their footsteps like their shadow4 ,in fact1 it is a shadow or reflection1 in the outer life1 of their state of mind and mental attitude4 ,on the other hand1 those who live in a consciousness of sufficiency1 are not troubled about supply4 ,their circumstances reflect their type of mind and mental attitude4 ,it does not follow that they will be rich1 for many of them prefer to live from hand to mouth1 and quite large numbers of people have no desire whatever to possess wealth of any kind1 but they have no worry about supply1 for their needs are always met by sufficiency4 ,many of our readers look upon the possession of wealth as an iniquity4 ,personally1 ,i do not see how1 at this stage1 it can be altogether avoided4 ,capital is necessary for the conducting of business and for the carrying out of enterprises1 but1 as far as the hoarding of wealth is concerned1 ,i certainly think that it is both unwise and unnecessary4 ,there is nothing more deadening to the spiritual life than riches4 ,there is always hope for the drunkard and the harlot1 but it is most difficult although1 of course1 not impossible1 for one who is burdened by wealth to enter the kingdom of heaven4 ,some are able to do so1 but they are allowed to enter simply because they hold their wealth as of no importance1 merely as something of which they are stewards for a season4 ,the hoarding of wealth is just as unnecessary as poverty4 ,they are both based upon a fundamental error4 ,this error is in thinking that all supply1 being material1 must necessarily have a material source3 that it is limited in quantity1 and therefore must be grabbed at and fought over4 ,the truth is1 of course1 that the source of supply is ,spiritual1 and therefore without limit2 consequently1 one who realizes the truth has no thoughts of poverty or lack1 and ceases to fear it4 ,on the other hand1 he has no incentive to hoard or to grab wealth1 for of what use are riches to one whose supply is for ever assured8 ,all who enter into this truth regarding supply1 either despise riches or hold them very lightly indeed4 ,they cease to have any desire for wealth4 ,why should they have any such desire8 ,people hanker after wealth because they fear poverty with a deadly fear1 and long for wealth because they think that its possession would release them from their fears4 ,when1 however1 they know the truth1 they also ,,know that their wants will always be supplied1 therefore they no longer desire wealth and its cares and responsibilities4 ,wealth is just as abnormal as poverty4 ,our ,lord showed this to be the case by choosing to be poor 7but not in poverty7 and by ,his teaching in the ,sermon on the ,mount4 ,what ,jesus promised was adequate supply1 but not wealth or riches1 to those who had sufficient faith in their ,heavenly ,father4 ,many people live this planless life of utter dependence upon their ,spiritual ,source4 ,they never become rich1 but all their needs are supplied4 ,something always arrives in time to meet their requirements4 ,such a life requires a very live and active faith1 but its results are as certain as the rising of the sun4 ,an understanding of the truth regarding supply is a necessary foundation for the faith without which the planless life is impossible4 ,it is necessary to know the utter falseness and unreality of poverty and lack before we can trust in ,divine ,providence or the working of ,spiritual 7at the same time1 mental7 law4 ,it is necessary to know that the universe is ,spiritual3 that ,god is ,spirit1 in whom we live and move and have our being1 and that because we are a part1 very small1 but yet a part1 of the ,whole1 all our wants1 all through the ages1 must be supplied4 ,supply1 sufficient for all our needs1 is the reality4 ,poverty and lack1 the product of lack of faith1 of fear1 of ignorance1 of weakness of character1 have their origin in the human mind1 and are the unreality--the negative which has no permanence or reality4 ,when we have learnt the truth1 it is necessary to live in the ,consciousness of it1 and to think and act and praise ,god as though sufficiency were already ours4 ,not to spend money that we cannot afford to spend1 nor to incur debt1 but to live mentally in an atmosphere of abundant supply4 ,we have to remember that the change in consciousness must take place first and become well-established1 before its effects can be seen to manifest in the outer life4 ,the entering of this higher consciousness where we know and realize the truth1 viz41 that the ,source of all our supply is ,spirit1 and that the ,divine ,source is limitless1 is not easy1 although it is less difficult to some than to others4 ,it demands constant mental activity and watchfulness3 it requires persistence and perseverance in right thinking1 yet it is possible to those who are in earnest4 ,by living in the consciousness of ,god's ,supply and exercising a lively faith1 the life becomes affected1 principally due to both conscious and unconscious change of action4 ,having dealt with the esoteric or inner side of the subject of supply1 ,i will now treat it more from the outer or practical side1 the latter being1 of course1 just as important as the former4 ,the teaching of this chapter does not discourage industry and thrift1 far from it4 ,after the ,lord ,christ had fed the five thousand1 all the leavings were carefully collected so that nothing should be wasted4 ,this is in accord with ,universal law4 ,there is a law of economy both in the natural and spiritual worlds4 ,nature appears1 on the surface1 to be very wasteful and prodigal1 but1 actually1 she never wastes anything1 if it can be avoided4 ,therefore1 the action of the disciples was in accord with universal law4 ,what a lesson for us6 ,to be careful and saving is a mark of superiority both in mind and character4 ,the wastefulness of the helpless poor is notorious4 ,those who are well to do are far more careful and conserving than the very poor4 ,there are exceptions1 it is true1 but the rule is that a man who cannot save money has not it in him to command success in life4 ,inability to deny himself certain things shows a weakness of character and lack of purpose which make success impossible4 ,two men that ,i knew very well built fortunes upon ,p#e1 which they saved out of meagre earnings4 ,it is always the start that is difficult3 if you cannot overcome the preliminary difficulties you have not the steadfast purpose to hold your own in the battle of life4 ,on the other hand1 once the initial difficulties have been overcome1 it is not difficult to get your barque into the currents of prosperity4 ,when once you realize that there is unlimited abundance in which you can share3 when once you learn to live in the consciousness of this abundance1 at the same time living within your present income and doing your present work as well as it is possible for it to be done1 you have set out on the path to affluence4 ,one who realizes and really believes that there is abundance and plenty for him1 puts into operation a powerful law which will surely bring opportunity to him1 sooner or later4 ,many1 however1 ruin their hopes by not knowing that for a time they must live a kind of double life4 ,they must be opulent in consciousness1 but careful and thrifty in actual practice4 ,the time will come when their means will largely increase1 then1 if they are wise1 they will live on part of their income1 instead of living up to it4 ,this will give them a wide margin for charitable purposes1 for the taking up of further opportunities and for extensions4 ,many business men have to let golden opportunities pass1 simply because they have saved little or nothing1 owing to lavish private expenditure1 or they have to let other people in to share their schemes who1 in addition to taking a large share of the profits may prove a serious handicap and hindrance in other ways4 ,while in its essence1 the ,source of ,supply is spiritual1 it comes to us through material channels1 and1 in order to have a share in it1 it is necessary to earn it4 ,we have to give something in exchange for what we draw from life in the way of supply4 ,we must give in order to receive1 and what we give must be something that the world wants or needs4 ,the secret of supply is1 then1 to realize that there is unlimited abundance and to live in the consciousness of it1 as completely as though no material channels existed1 and1 at the same time1 to work as zealously and be as careful as though there were no such thing as spiritual supply4 ,at the same time we must give the world something that it wants1 or otherwise serve in some useful capacity1 exercising honesty1 probity and justice in all our affairs4 ,it is folly to expect abundance to drop ready-made in our lap2 it must be earned by intelligent and faithful service4 #aa #aa ,this subject is treated fully in ,the ,fundamentals of ,true ,success1 by the same author4 ,published by ,the ,science of ,thought ,press1 ,chichester4 ,being a retired business man who started life with nothing1 not even good health1 ,i have looked at this subject from a business man's point of view4 ,the principle applies1 however1 to every walk in life1 and each reader can adapt the teaching of this lesson to his or her particular needs4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,the ,,powers ,,and ,,limitations ,,of ,,the ,,sub-,,conscious ,,mind4 ,the sub-conscious mind is the mind of ,nature4 ,it possesses extraordinary powers and intelligence1 but no inspiration4 ,it is instinctive3 it is animal3 it is natural3 but there is nothing god-like about it--it is of the earth and the physical plane4 ,it can be described as the inner forces of ,nature resident within our body4 ,having said this we have said nearly all there is to be said about the sub-conscious1 yet this is the mind of which some people have made a veritable god4 ,the sub-conscious mind1 if led aright1 is a very good friend1 reducing all repeated thoughts and actions into habit1 which1 in time1 become settled and part of the very life itself4 ,thus1 by conscious right thinking and conscious right action1 a good habit is formed1 which becomes1 in course of time1 practically automatic4 ,this1 of course1 builds up the character1 which1 in turn1 affects the life4 ,it will be seen then1 how important is the right use of this willing and faithful servant4 ,it is no god1 it has no inspiration1 but it is a very useful servant1 as we shall see4 ,most of our actions or movements are done or made sub-consciously4 ,the reason that practice makes perfect is that the sub-conscious mind learns to do the task1 and1 by so doing1 takes it off our hands4 ,how difficult it is to learn to drive a motor-car4 ,how carefully1 at first1 we have to double de-clutch and obtain the right engine speed for a noiseless change1 yet1 after a time1 the whole action is performed sub-consciously4 ,it is the same with pianoforte playing4 ,many players1 some better than others1 can play the most difficult classical music without consciously recalling it to mind4 ,as soon as they try to remember the whole piece leaves them1 but as long as they leave the whole matter to the sub-conscious 7which never forgets7 they can keep on playing4 ,i and my conscious mind are not doing much of the actual writing of this book4 ,we think the thoughts and have something to do with the formation of the sentences1 but the sub-conscious mind writes them down4 ,if ,i had to think of each word and letter1 my task would be hopeless1 and ,i should become half dead with fatigue4 ,the sub-conscious mind1 however1 is even more helpful1 for it does the bulk of our thinking1 and can be taught to do a great deal more4 ,if we had to think everything out laboriously1 according to the laws of logic1 life would be unbearable4 ,instead of this our sub-conscious mind does the bulk or our thinking1 and1 if we give it a chance1 will do it in an extremely accurate manner1 strictly according to the laws of logic and without the slightest fatigue4 ,the more that we train the sub-conscious to do our ordinary thinking for us1 the less we suffer from fatigue4 ,fatigue is unknown to the sub-conscious mind1 therefore we can never tire it or overwork it4 ,the sub-conscious mind can be made to do more and more work for us if we will delegate definite work for it to deal with4 ,one who has learnt thought control1 who can take up a matter1 consider it in all its bearings1 and then dismiss the subject from his conscious thought1 is able to increase his efficiency a hundred per cent41 and reduce his mental fatigue almost to vanishing point4 ,instead of laboriously working out his problems and worrying and scheming over them1 he simply dismisses them to his sub-conscious mind to be dealt with by a master mind which works unceasingly1 with great rapidity1 extreme accuracy and entirely without effort4 ,it is necessary1 however1 to give the sub-conscious every available information1 for it possesses no inspiration or super-human wisdom1 but works out logically1 according to the facts supplied to it4 ,this great1 natural1 untiring mind downstairs1 as it has been called1 is also capable of doing even more useful work still4 ,a writer or speaker1 or preacher can collect notes and ideas for his article1 book1 speech or sermon1 and pass them down to his sub-conscious mind with orders that they be arranged in suitable order1 division1 sub-division and so on4 ,when he comes either to write or prepare the notes of his speech or sermon1 he will find all the work done for him1 and all that he has to do is to write it down1 entirely without effort or fatigue4 ,again1 a business man who has learnt to make use of his sub-conscious mind in this way1 need not juggle or worry or fatigue himself by planning and scheming for the future4 ,all that he need do is to submit the facts to the greater mind downstairs1 and all the planning will be done for him1 entirely without effort1 and far more efficiently than he would have done it through laborious conscious thinking4 ,the following1 which has just been brought to my notice1 is a striking confirmation of the teaching of this chapter4 ,in a recent issue of ,collier's ,magazine1 an interview with ,henry ,ford appeared4 ,he spoke of the way with which big business men deal with problems1 and pointed out that they did not spend a lot of time pondering and puzzling over plans or ideas4 ,he said3 ,an idea comes to us3 we think of it for a little while1 and then we put it in the pot to boil4 ,we let it simmer for a time1 and then take it out4 ,what ,henry ,ford means1 of course1 is precisely what we have been saying1 viz41 that the idea or problem is dismissed to the sub-conscious mind1 which works it out1 and presents it to the conscious mind for judgment4 ,yet again1 an inventor or one who is constructing something mechanical1 can make use of the sub-conscious mind in precisely the same way4 ,let him sum up the whole problem1 arrange all his facts and available information1 and pass them all to his sub-conscious mind1 when1 if a successful result is within the range of possibility1 an answer or idea will be forthcoming4 ,all this being done1 mark you1 without any effort whatever4 ,all this may seem1 especially to some readers1 rather wonderful and far-fetched1 yet there is nothing occult or mysterious about it4 ,i am perfectly sure that there is no great writer1 politician or business man who does not make use of his sub-conscious mind in this way4 ,he probably does so unconsciously1 but his procedure is the same4 ,some employ the whole of their mind naturally4 ,these become men of achievement1 who occupy responsible positions1 and who bear immense burdens without strain1 worry or care4 ,responsibility sits lightly upon them1 and they are serene and untroubled when in positions1 and when confronted by tasks and difficulties1 such as would drive an ordinary individual out of his mind4 ,such men develop their powers of attention and concentration 7anyone who is in earnest can do this7 to a very high degree4 ,they are at great pains to get to the root of a problem1 and obtain all the available data possible1 but1 after that1 it is their sub-conscious mind that does all the work1 and which arrives at a decision4 ,while it comes natural to a few to use their sub-conscious mind in the correct way1 the majority of people find themselves unable to do so4 ,such1 however1 can acquire the art by training4 ,first1 it is necessary to learn thought-control1 so as to be able to take up a problem or dismiss it entirely from the mind at will4 ,when a problem is passed on to the sub-conscious to be worked out1 the subject must be dismissed entirely from the conscious mind4 ,the problem must not be worried over1 nor the thoughts allowed to dwell upon it2 it must be left entirely to the sub-conscious4 ,second1 every possible detail and information connected with the problem must be grasped by the conscious mind1 and the whole matter1 pro and con1 visualized before being passed to the sub-conscious4 ,it will be seen1 then1 that thought-control of a high order is necessary1 also powers of attention and concentration4 ,these can all be developed by anyone who is really in earnest4 ,a good way of starting the use of the sub-conscious mind is to hold the problem in the mind just as one is going to sleep4 ,there must not1 upon any account1 be any attempt made to solve the problem or to worry over it4 ,instead1 the main facts of the case1 on both sides1 must be marshalled1 and the case presented to the sub-conscious mind in much the same way as you would place it before your lawyer4 ,having done this1 dismiss the whole matter to your sub-conscious mind1 and in most cases you will find in the morning that a solution has been arrived at without any effort or fatigue on your part4 ,this1 of course1 is only one of the many ways in which the sub-conscious mind can1 and does1 serve its master1 or the one who should be master4 ,this great invisible force of ,nature is for ever working4 ,whatever ideal is held in the mind becomes woven into the life through the tireless working of the sub-conscious mind4 ,only set your attention upon high and lofty achievement1 and you will focus all the invisible inward forces of ,nature upon its accomplishment4 ,in course of time you will reap as you sow4 ,if you will direct your attention into the right channel1 backing it up with energetic1 conscious action1 your sub-conscious will help you day and night1 thus making success and achievement possible4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,use ,,of ,,the ,,spiritual ,,or ,,super-,,conscious ,,mind4 ,we have already seen that the sub-conscious mind1 wonderful though it be1 is instinctive merely1 lacking inspiration and what we call originality4 ,all inspiration comes from the ,universal ,mind1 via the super-conscious4 ,all poets and inspired writers get their inspiration in this way4 ,this higher mind is not recognized by ,psychologists1 but it has long been known to searchers for spiritual truth4 ,what we get from the sub-conscious is the outcome of facts and knowledge supplied to it4 ,what we get from the super-conscious is direct inspiration from higher planes4 ,this higher mind might also be called the ,mind of ,illumination1 for those who can enter into it become illumined1 being able to know the ,truth and to see things as they really are1 and not as they falsely appear to the senses4 ,this limited consciousness in which we live is bounded by our five senses4 ,the universe that we see around us is partly real and partly an illusion4 ,the real universe is ,spiritual and infinite3 what we sense is a limited1 partial conception of a fragment of it4 ,our limited1 finite conception of the universe is entirely misleading and erroneous1 and so long as we rely on sense evidence and the human mind1 we remain in darkness and uncertainty4 ,when1 however1 we can rise into the super-conscious realm1 our consciousness expands1 transcending the senses and the limitations of the physical plane4 ,the ,spiritual mind is1 of course1 only accessible to those who are more delicately attuned to its finer vibrations4 ,nothing that is worth having can be had without effort1 and it is only after much self-discipline that it becomes possible for the student to raise his consciousness to this higher realm and understand life from the standpoint of the ,universal ,mind4 ,there is nothing1 either mystical or psychical1 about the use of this higher mind4 ,one who makes use of it becomes spiritually-minded1 that is all4 ,he does not go into trances1 nor need he become clairvoyant3 he simply remains a sane1 normal individual1 with this difference only--he makes use of more of his mind than does the ordinary individual4 ,one who is able to use this higher mind develops that which has been termed the divine quality of originality4 ,if ever a person is to rise above the dead level of mediocrity it must be through direct inspiration from higher planes1 through his super-conscious mind4 ,if ever a person is to bring forth a new idea which shall enrich humanity and add to the common good1 it must come through the higher mind4 ,one who is properly attuned1 becomes1 through the super-conscious mind1 a recipient of knowledge that is above human1 and wisdom that is divine4 ,he knows by direct knowing3 he becomes wise through an influx of ,divine ,wisdom4 ,he is able to distinguish between the real and the sham1 between the gold and the dross3 he is also able to see and recognize the right path in life--a thing utterly impossible to the mind of the senses--and to tread it1 thus being led into the only true success and real good of which his life is capable4 ,let it be said here that all ,wisdom must come from within4 ,while books and the written word may be helpful1 it is the ,spirit within the reader that illumines the word1 and makes it real and true to the seeker after ,wisdom4 ,one who realizes that he is illumined within by the ,divine ,spirit1 and that this alone can bring him into real knowledge is well advanced on the path that leads to realization4 ,the wisdom of the human mind always leads to disappointment4 ,it is based on the evidence of the senses1 which is erroneous1 therefore its findings must always be lacking in real wisdom4 ,one who relies upon the inspiration of ,divine ,wisdom has often to decide to take a course of action which1 apparently1 is opposed to his best interests4 ,yet1 if he follows the inward ,wisdom1 he finds that he is always guided aright1 and1 later1 has cause to be devoutly thankful that he followed the gleam4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,character ,,building ,,and ,,the ,,overcoming ,,of ,,habit4 ,character building is the greatest object in life4 ,it has been said that character is the only thing we can take with us when we depart this life4 ,this is perfectly true1 therefore the object of all religion 7not religiousness71 mental training and development should be the building of character4 ,a religion that does not build up character is worthless4 ,those who think that they can flop through life1 avoid1 as far as possible1 its discipline1 make no effort to improve their character1 and through believing in a certain creed can miraculously become perfect1 simply by dying1 are deceiving themselves4 ,we do not become perfect1 i4e41 of a strong and perfect character1 either by believing in a creed or through dying1 but by attainment4 ,god helps those who help themselves1 and those people who will not strive after better things cut themselves off from all the glorious and wonderful possibilities of attainment4 ,before1 however1 thinking about such lofty things as entering the ,path of ,attainment1 and becoming changed into1 and modelled after the ,divine ,image1 the average person may wish to know how to overcome bad habits and weaknesses of character which are keeping him down in life1 and1 possibly1 undermining his health4 ,most people are conscious of some wrong habits that ought to be overcome1 and weaknesses of character which should be eradicated4 ,possibly they have fought against their habits or weaknesses for years1 prayed until they are tired of praying1 made innumerable attempts at turning over a new leaf1 yet all in vain1 for they are as firmly in the toils as ever4 ,many people give up the struggle and endeavour to lead a sort of ,jekyll and ,hyde existence1 being outwardly a ,christian or righteous person1 but inwardly something quite different4 ,yet they find no satisfaction in this dual life1 for they know that they are drifting towards an abyss4 ,yet there is a way of escape that is open to all4 ,the ,infinite ,one has provided man with powers that are apparently unlimited3 powers which can be used either to build up the life and character or to destroy them4 ,these powers are those of the sub-conscious mind4 ,this mind is a reservoir of unlimited1 tireless forces1 and becomes1 if we use it aright1 our best friend1 or1 if we mis-use it1 our worst enemy4 ,every time a bad action is indulged in1 wonderful changes take place in the nervous system1 and energy becomes stored up in certain cells1 so as to make it easier to do the wrong act on a future occasion4 ,it is equally true that every time a good action is done1 similar changes1 but in a reverse direction1 take place1 that make the doing of the same action easier in the future4 ,this explains the tremendous power of habit4 ,our body1 brain and nervous system become changed1 either for the worse or the better1 according to the type of action indulged in4 ,we do not yet fully realize what a wonderful adventure life is4 ,we are entrusted with tremendous powers1 and by their use or mis-use we can either destroy ourselves or build up our character in every possible direction4 ,what a responsibility1 yet what a glorious opportunity6 ,in order1 however1 to find a way of escape from evil habit and weaknesses of character1 we must go deeper than actual deeds1 for actions are effects of hidden causes4 ,the cause of all action is thought4 ,a thought1 someone has said1 is an action in the process of being born4 ,it is true that we possess primitive desires and impulses1 but these can be transmuted into noble actions and high achievement simply by directing the thoughts and attention to higher and better things4 ,for instance1 the powers of sex become transmuted into brain power if the thoughts and attention are completely transferred from sex to intellectual pursuits4 ,if1 however1 the thoughts are allowed to dwell upon sex or passion1 then the kingdom becomes divided against itself1 and man begins to drift towards the abyss4 ,the strain of modern life is filling our asylums1 yet there are those who can work fifteen or even eighteen hours a day and thrive on it1 although engaged in severely-trying brain work4 ,these have learnt to transmute their lower powers into higher4 ,this is not done by means of esoteric or occult practices1 but by obeying the ,divine ,injunction to set our affections on things above4 ,in other words1 to keep our thoughts and attention fixed upon higher and better aims1 ambitions and pursuits4 ,it is impossible to overcome bad habits by fighting them1 for the more we fight them the stronger they become4 ,the injunction to resist not evil is very applicable to habit4 ,the way of escape is not by fighting evil or wrong habit1 no matter what its character may be1 but by concentrating upon building a good habit that shall cut the ground from under the feet of the bad one1 or by turning the attention to higher and better things4 ,whatever we fix our attention upon1 or whatever it is that we idealize1 our sub-conscious mind endeavours to actualize and make real in our life4 ,by fighting a habit we direct sub-conscious attention to it1 and this is fatal4 ,if1 however1 we turn our whole attention to something entirely different and which is higher and better1 all the powers of the sub-conscious are directed towards the production1 in the life and body1 of the new object of attention4 ,we see1 therefore1 that we do not have to overcome habit4 ,if we did our task would be hopeless1 for the human will is helpless before the power of the sub-conscious mind4 ,the sub-conscious powers can be led by the imagination1 but they cannot be coerced by the will4 ,the will must be used not to fight the habit1 but in raising and directing the attention to something higher and better4 ,by this means a new habit is formed4 ,the attention of the sub-conscious mind is taken away from the bad habit1 and all its powers directed towards the creation of a new and better one4 ,the sub-conscious does not care what the habit is4 ,it is indifferent as to whether it is good or bad4 ,it is just as willing to produce a good habit as a bad one4 ,we1 each of us1 therefore1 hold our fate in our own hands4 ,we can1 by controlling our thoughts and imagination and by directing our attention to better things1 focus all the powers of the sub-conscious on the building up of good habits1 or1 on the other hand1 we can1 by allowing our thoughts and mental pictures to dwell upon undesirable things and our attention to be directed to low or weak ideals1 fall into undesirable habits4 ,the power that produces the habits is the same in each case2 it is the way in which this power is directed that is the vital and essential thing4 ,it is very necessary to point out that right thinking and correct use of the imagination must be accompanied by corresponding right action4 ,many people make use of auto-suggestion and expect it to destroy their bad habits and build up better ones1 but it never will1 or can do so1 unaided4 ,auto-suggestion is useless if it is not followed by constructive action4 ,young people should expend their energies in physical culture and games4 ,older people should interest themselves in hobbies and intellectual pursuits4 ,it is only advanced students who can control their thoughts so that they can govern their life forces by mental means4 ,those less advanced1 when attacked by evil or weak thoughts1 must get up and do something quite different1 and thus get their minds off the forbidden subject and interested in the new object of attention4 ,it is a case of directing the desires and life forces into different channels1 by controlling the thoughts and attention4 ,here is seen the value of true religion1 for it brings fresh ideals into the life and directs the attention to higher and better things4 ,the writer realizes that a change must take place in the heart of the individual before he can desire these better things4 ,when1 however1 this change has taken place1 the battle has only just begun1 for each one has to work out his own salvation4 ,at first1 then1 most people will find it necessary to do something in order to attract their attention and guide their thoughts to something quite different from the forbidden subject4 ,later on1 however1 when they become more advanced in the science of right thinking1 they will be able to direct their thoughts into any desired direction4 ,this necessitates constant vigilance4 ,each thought has to be carefully scrutinized before being allowed to pass the threshold of the mind4 ,by reversing every negative or unworthy or ignoble thought into its opposite1 a change is wrought in the brain and nervous system4 ,the cells formerly used for wrong thinking and for the production of wrong action go out of use as new cells are brought into use for the production of right action4 ,this stage leads to one higher still1 when it becomes a settled habit to reverse bad thoughts into good ones and perform right actions instead of bad or weak ones4 ,the power of the sub-conscious mind1 which at one time seemed so evil1 produces right action more or less automatically4 ,when once the habit of cleaning the teeth is established there is experienced an uncomfortable feeling until they have been attended to4 ,when once a dirty person has learnt to wash himself thoroughly and keep himself decent1 he will feel uncomfortable if he gets dirty4 ,the same rule applies in the more important things and habits of life4 ,if those who are in the bondage of habit will only direct their thoughts and attention to the building up of good habits1 their old weaknesses will die a natural death4 ,it must not be thought that the victory over life-long habits is easy4 ,it may seem so at first1 but sooner or later temptation will come with added force1 which may result in a sad fall4 ,if this should happen it is most important that too much attention should not be paid to the incident4 ,instead1 the beginner should pick himself up1 and1 making a mental note of the immediate cause of his downfall1 thus benefiting by the experience1 press on again towards freedom4 ,it is most helpful to realize that not only is the sub-conscious mind willing to be guided aright1 if we will only persevere long enough 7until persevering itself becomes a habit71 but that we also have behind us all the ,spiritual powers of ,god4 ,the ,infinite ,one sees to it that the odds are not overwhelmingly against us4 ,our difficulties are not insuperable1 although they may appear to be so4 ,we can always win through if we faint not4 ,heaven looks on with sympathetic interest and rejoices with the struggler when he succeeds1 and mourns with him when he fails4 ,the struggle is a stiff one1 for it is only by this that the seeker after ,god can become strong in character1 but the victory can always be won4 ,when the situation appears hopeless1 let the struggling one remember that there is a way of escape somewhere1 and that ,god1 who is his freedom and deliverer1 will reveal it to him if he faints not4 ,if all who seek deliverance will realize that the ,power of the ,infinite is on their side1 and that they are bound to become victors if they will only keep on1 they must succeed4 ,and what a joy is theirs6 ,there is no happiness quite like that which comes to one who has fought the good fight and overcome habit and weaknesses of character4 ,may every reader experience this supreme joy of overcoming4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,happiness ,,and ,,joy4 ,deep down in every heart is an unquenchable desire for happiness4 ,the advanced soul desires happiness just as much as the pleasure-seeking worldling1 the difference between them is simply that the former1 through knowledge and experience1 does not search for happiness1 knowing that it can never be found by direct seeking1 but finds it through service and love to others and in victory over self2 while the latter seeks happiness1 like a will-o'-the-wisp1 in every form of pleasure1 and finds it not4 ,man is never satisfied with his life3 he is for ever seeking something that is better4 ,until he learns wisdom1 he looks for it in pleasure1 in sense gratification of various kinds1 in wealth1 luxury and possession4 ,the less evolved a man is the more convinced he is that happiness can be gained in these ways1 and the lower are his desires4 ,for instance1 those who form what is called the underworld of our cities1 seek happiness in vice and debauchery4 ,those who are more evolved seek pleasure in more refined things1 hoping to find happiness in intellectual pursuits1 friendships1 and in pure human loves4 ,these more evolved types get much more pleasure through the senses than do those who are more elemental1 but they are capable also of greater and more acute suffering4 ,they can derive great pleasure from a picture gallery1 whereas a savage would see nothing interesting at all3 they can also suffer from things which a savage would not be capable of feeling4 ,yet1 in spite of this developed refinement and ability to derive pleasure from art1 science1 literature1 etc41 happiness is still as far off as ever4 ,all attempts at finding happiness lead finally to emptiness4 ,there is no satisfaction1 either in wealth and all that it can command1 getting on in life1 or in fame and power4 ,they allure at first and promise happiness1 but they fail us1 and finally are seen to be but vanity and vexation of spirit4 ,this desire for happiness is good1 for it leads us through innumerable experiences so that the soul can realize1 by practical experience1 the emptiness of all self-seeking1 and thus learn wisdom4 ,after running the whole gamut of experience the soul learns at last that happiness is not something that can be found by seeking it1 but is an inward mental state4 ,although work1 well done1 brings a quiet sense of satisfaction1 and success in one's career may also be a source of gratification for a short time1 yet even these cannot satisfy the deep longing of the soul4 ,happiness1 however1 is to be found in service4 ,not if we seek happiness in service1 and serve in order to be happy1 but if we serve others for the sake of serving we find the only happiness that will endure and satisfy4 ,one has only to observe the lives of those who are always selfishly seeking and grabbing1 who are hard in their dealings1 and always looking after number one1 in order to see how impossible it is for self-seekers to be happy4 ,it does not matter whether they acquire riches or remain poor--they are equally unhappy4 ,in contrast to this1 you have only to go out of your way to do a kind and perfectly disinterested action and experience the glow of sheer happiness that it brings1 in order to realize that you are dealing with a law of life that is as sure and unalterable as the law of gravitation4 ,there must be a purpose in life1 and this must have for its object the betterment of the lives of others1 either few or many4 ,the law of service must be obeyed1 otherwise there can be no happiness4 ,this may fill some readers with dismay1 for they may be employed in an occupation that apparently does no good to anybody4 ,they may feel that if they were engaged in some noble enterprise for the uplift of humanity1 then they could truly serve1 but in their present occupation this is impossible4 ,to think thus is very natural1 yet the truth is we can all obey the law of service1 and can begin now1 in our present occupation1 no matter what it may be4 ,we have only to do our daily work1 not as a task which must be got through1 in order to bring us a living1 or because it is expected of us that we should work1 but as an offering of love to life and the world1 in order to come into harmony with the great law of service4 ,our ideas of values with regard to occupations are altogether erroneous1 from the inner wisdom point of view4 ,the scrubbing of a doorstep1 if faithfully done in a true spirit of service1 is of as much value and real importance as the writing of a deathless poem1 or dying for one's country4 ,we can never truthfully say that one act of service is of greater value1 or is more important than another4 ,all that the higher law looks at is the motive4 ,therefore1 if your motive is right1 you can be engaged in the humblest and1 apparently1 most useless occupation1 and yet be happy because you satisfy the law of service4 ,another road to happiness is the conquest of the lower nature1 the overcoming of weaknesses1 the climbing to higher and better things4 ,there is intense happiness in realizing daily that old habits are being overthrown1 weak points in the character built up1 and an ever-increasing state of liberty and freedom entered into4 ,thank ,god1 we do not have to remain as we once were1 but can progress upwards1 indefinitely1 for there is no limit to our upward climb4 ,but there is a state that is far higher than happiness1 and this is ,,joy4 ,happiness comes through service and overcoming1 but joy comes only to one who realizes his oneness with his ,divine ,source4 ,the reality is ineffable joy4 ,behind this world of shadows is the real1 spiritual world of splendour and delight4 ,when the soul1 after its immense journey through matter1 time and space1 at last finds its way back to its ,divine ,source1 it becomes aware of this intense joy1 too great to be described in words4 ,it not only realizes that the reality is joy1 and the universe filled1 not with groans or sighing1 but with the sweet1 quiet laughter of freed souls6 it also is filled itself with this ineffable joy4 ,what has all this got to do with practical1 everyday life1 it may be asked8 ,everything1 for the one who possesses this quiet joy can never be defeated in life's battles4 ,he has something within him that can never be quenched and which will lead him from victory to victory4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,the ,,use ,,and ,,mis-,,use ,,of ,,mental ,,and ,,spiritual ,,powers4 ,the average individual knows nothing of mental forces1 and1 although he may suffer from the effects of unconscious wrong thinking1 yet he is in no danger of making deliberate mis-use of the inner powers4 ,one1 however1 who has learnt how to use these interior forces must be very careful to use them aright or he will find that the invisible powers of mind and spirit are far more powerful and destructive than dynamite4 ,it is not meant by this that he can blow himself up thereby1 but it does mean that he can injure himself1 not only in this life1 but for ages to come1 and1 in addition1 seriously retard his spiritual evolution4 ,all use of the mind to coerce other people or to influence them by means of suggestion1 not for their benefit1 but for your advantage1 is highly destructive1 not to them actually1 but to you4 ,on the face of it1 it looks an easy road to success and prosperity1 but1 actually1 it leads to failure and poverty4 ,the mis-use of the mental powers in this way is really a form of black magic1 and the fate of all black magicians is very terrible4 ,even the use of the mind to coerce other people for their good is not desirable4 ,it never does any real good1 although it may seem beneficial for a time1 and its use1 therefore1 is to be deprecated4 ,healing1 so-called1 by hetero-suggestion1 is not permanent1 for as soon as the healer ceases to pump suggestion into the patient the latter begins to relapse into his former state4 ,far better results accrue if the patient is taught to use auto or self-suggestion for himself4 ,it is seen1 then1 that the use of the mind to influence others is distinctly harmful if it is used selfishly1 and of no real use if used unselfishly4 ,hypnotism is harmful1 no matter which way it is used1 and is also detrimental to the patient4 ,because of this some of our more thoughtful neurologists have given up its use4 ,we have no right to endeavour to influence other people by the use of our inner forces1 even if our object is their good4 ,each soul has the right to live its life in its own way1 and choose for itself either good or evil4 ,that is the object of life1 so that each evolving soul should learn wisdom through the lessons learnt as a result of its own mistakes4 ,far worse is it if others are coerced1 not in order to help them1 but to defraud them or to make them buy goods they do not require1 or sign agreements they would not otherwise put their name to4 ,one who mis-uses his mental and spiritual powers literally smashes his life up4 ,he works against the laws of life and the universe1 and encompasses his own ruin4 ,there is1 however1 a far more subtle way of mis-using the mental and spiritual forces than by coercion1 mind domination and hetero-suggestion4 ,this method is equally destructive1 and if persisted in builds up a painful future4 ,with this method other people are not influenced or dominated1 but the finer forces of ,nature are coerced by the human will4 ,mental demands are made on the invisible substance from which1 we are told1 all things are made1 and wealth is compelled to appear4 ,in addition to this1 sickness1 so it is claimed1 is banished1 and the invisible forces of life are compelled to operate in such a way as to make life's pathway a bed of roses1 without thorns1 so that life becomes shorn of all its discipline and experience4 ,its devotees enter the ,silence1 and there visualize exactly what they think they want1 and compel it to appear1 in material form1 by the strength of their desire or through the exercise of their will4 ,some followers of this cult may be able to make an apparent success of it1 but ,i have never yet met any4 ,if they do1 however1 they will live to regret it1 for they are merely practitioners of black magic4 ,their efforts are of the same nature as sorcery4 ,all such methods build up a heavy debt of future suffering1 and seriously hinder the soul in its evolutionary journey4 ,entering the ,silence is a good thing3 it is really entering the inner silence of the soul1 the inner sanctuary where the ,divine ,spirit abides in fulness4 ,to mis-use this inward power for selfish and material ends1 and for forcing our human will upon life1 so as to make it conform to what we think it ought to be is a crime of the first magnitude1 which can result only in ultimate failure and disaster4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,overcoming ,,limitations ,,and ,,awakening ,,inward ,,powers4 ,limitations can be overcome through a realization of ,truth4 ,when we say this it is taken for granted that every effort will be made on the physical plane4 ,it is necessary to bathe1 exercise and breathe fresh air in order to be well3 it is equally necessary to work hard1 and to give the best of which we are capable1 in service1 in exchange for that which we receive in the way of supply1 if we are to be successful4 ,if you keep a gardener1 you must pay him4 ,the money that you pay him is part of what you have earned by the sweat of your brain4 ,therefore you exchange the work of your brain for the labour of his hands1 and you are mutually helped and helpful to one another1 both giving and receiving1 and each one serving life according to his ability4 ,taking all this for granted1 we will pass on to the metaphysical side of our subject4 ,this1 by the way1 is vastly the more important1 but the outer1 practical work is indispensable nevertheless4 ,in order to overcome limitations it is necessary to know the ,truth and to live in the consciousness of ,it4 ,for instance1 if ill-health is our limitation1 then1 in order to become free it is necessary that we live in the consciousness of the ,wholeness of ,god and ,his ,divine ,idea4 ,if our limitation be restricted means1 it is necessary that we live in the consciousness of the inexhaustible and unlimited nature of the ,substance from which the ,creator brings everything into manifestation4 ,if our limitation is disharmony and unhappiness1 then we must become attuned to the ,divine harmony in such a way and to such an extent as to cause it to be reflected into the outward life4 ,no matter what our limitation may be1 we can find liberation and deliverance by looking to our ,divine ,source1 realizing that in the ,perfect ,reality all our wants are supplied1 and then living in the consciousness of this truth4 ,ill-health is1 apart from physical causes1 an outward sign of an inward warfare or disharmony1 caused by wrong thoughts1 emotions1 beliefs and attitude of mind and soul towards life and ,god4 ,in other words1 the life is lived in an error consciousness of disease and sickness4 ,first1 the inward life has to be adjusted in such a way as to harmonize with the laws of our own being and the ,divine purpose of life4 ,there must be an inward surrender to the love principle1 after which the thoughts must be brought under control so that health-destroying emotions may no longer impair the health4 ,further1 the whole consciousness must1 as often as possible1 be raised to a realization of the perfect ,wholeness which is the reality4 ,if this course is persevered with1 a consciousness of health and wholeness becomes a permanent mental state1 with the result that health becomes manifested in the life4 ,the outward life is always a reflection or external manifestation of what we are within1 or our state of consciousness4 ,therefore everything depends upon which kind of consciousness it is in which we live4 ,one who lives in the mental atmosphere of ,divine ,wholeness1 health and harmony1 unconsciously directs all the inner forces of nature into health channels4 ,on the other hand1 one who lives in a mental atmosphere of ill-health1 as sick and unhealthy people very often do1 unconsciously directs all his sub-conscious activities in such a way as to produce sickness and disease4 ,again1 with regard to lack of means1 this state also can be overcome1 spiritually1 only by living in a higher consciousness of abundance and sufficiency4 ,this affects1 unconsciously1 every action in such a way as to bring about a better state of affairs4 ,on the other hand1 one who lives in a mental atmosphere of limitation and lack1 unconsciously directs all his actions towards the production1 in his life1 of penury and restricted means4 ,the same rule applies1 no matter what the limitations of one's life may be4 ,freedom can be gained only by realizing the truth about life and being4 ,when we realize the truth1 live in the consciousness of it1 and become obedient to the laws of life and being1 the life becomes increasingly free4 ,this does not mean that if we are plain of feature1 and of a stumpy figure1 that we shall become beautiful and graceful2 but it does mean that these so-called drawbacks will no longer fetter us1 and that others will see in us something far better than mere regularity of feature and beauty of form4 ,when the soul is alive and the life filled with love1 the homeliest face becomes attractive4 ,neither does it mean that we shall not suffer bereavements and sorrows1 difficulties and adversities1 but it does mean that we shall cease intensifying these things and creating further troubles by taking life's discipline in the wrong spirit4 ,it also means that we shall be able to overcome all life's difficulties and trials1 become a conqueror in the strife1 and1 in so doing1 build up character4 ,thus the storms of life1 instead of destroying us1 can succeed only in making us stronger4 ,thus our fate depends not on the storms of life1 but upon how we meet them4 ,if we give in to them1 or1 thinking that they are evil and not a necessary discipline1 rebel against them and resist them1 then we become shipwrecked on a desolate shore4 ,if1 however1 we are armed with the knowledge of truth we can set our sails in such a way as to compel the storms of life actually to help us towards the desired haven4 ,the first step in the direction of knowledge of the truth is right thinking4 ,every negative thought must be transmuted into its positive opposite1 #ab for instance1 hate and dislike into love and goodwill1 fear into confident trust1 poverty into abundance1 evil into absolute good1 and so on4 ,this will be found to be not easy1 but it is possible1 and the power to control one's thoughts increases if one perseveres continually1 with the passing of the years4 ,a beginner cannot1 naturally1 expect to be able to exercise the same control as one who has been perseveringly seeking self-mastery for years1 but he can make substantial progress and learn from day to day4 #ab ,see also ,the ,power of ,thought and ,the ,way of ,escape1 by the same author and publisher4 ,the result of thinking in this way is surprising4 ,the reversal of thought may appear at first to be simplicity itself1 and to lead nowhere in particular1 but after a time the vastness of the subject becomes almost appalling4 ,the cultivation and practice of right thinking gradually lead to a knowledge of the ,truth4 ,not an intellectual knowledge of truth1 but a realization1 by the soul1 of the ,truth4 ,this is the knowing of the ,truth which sets men free4 ,we can then look through all the ages and know that all is well4 ,the heavy burden which has oppressed us so long1 rolls from our shoulders1 and we become free4 ,,arousing ,,inward ,,powers4 ,man is heir to wonderful and illimitable powers1 but until he becomes aware of them and consciously identifies himself with them1 they lie dormant and unexpressed1 and might just as well not exist at all as far as their use to man1 in his unawakened state1 is concerned4 ,when1 however1 man becomes awakened to the great truth that he is a spiritual being3 when he learns that the little petty self and finite personality are not his real self at all1 but merely a mask to the real man3 when he realizes that the ,spiritual ,ego1 a true ,divine ,spark of1 or branch or twig of the ,eternal ,logos1 #ac is his real ,self3 when he understands that his body is not himself1 that his mind is not himself1 that even his soul is not himself1 being but vehicles through which he seeks expression1 but that he is spirit1 deathless1 diseaseless1 eternal1 forming an integral part of the ,one ,spirit and being identical with ,it1 he enters a new life of almost boundless power4 #ac ,i am the ,vine1 ye are the branches4--,jesus4 ,it is unwise to engage in any mystical practices in an attempt to force development and unfoldment4 ,mystic trances are highly dangerous and are also unnecessary4 ,psychic experiences and the awakening of psychic centres are also dangerous and lead away from our goal4 ,breathing exercises1 whose object is to awaken inward powers1 are highly dangerous and are to be condemned in consequence4 ,the cultivation of negative passivity such as inhibiting all thought and making oneself quite passive and open to any influence1 is also highly dangerous and should be strictly avoided4 ,in place of all these unwise practices a short time should be set aside each night and also morning1 if possible1 for getting into touch with ,reality4 ,you should then endeavour to realize that the body1 mind and soul are but vehicles of expression1 mere servants of the true ,self or ,ego4 ,this will bring about in time1 a consciousness of identity with the ,one ,eternal ,spirit4 ,what ,jesus called our ,father in ,heaven4 ,one might proceed after this fashion3-- ,my body is not myself1 but is merely something that enables me to live this material life and gain experience4 ,my mind is not myself1 but merely an instrument which ,i use and which obeys my will4 ,my soul is not myself1 but merely a garment of my spirit4 ,my will is not myself1 but is something of which ,i1 the true ,self1 make use4 ,and so on4 ,by this means you gradually approach the great truth which cannot be put into words and which can only become yours through realization or inward spiritual understanding4 ,in addition one can use a positive statement of ,truth1 reverently1 but with full confidence1 such as3 ,i am a branch in the ,true ,vine4 ,in course of time you will become possessed of a feeling of tremendous and unlimited power and security4 ,this is a great responsibility for this power must be used only in service and not for selfish purposes4 ,if it is used for the acquisition of wealth and the gaining of temporal power1 great disaster will be the inevitable result4 ,yet1 if used aright1 it is bound to have a great1 though unconscious1 influence for good on the life1 and for this you are not responsible4 ,constantly endeavour to serve and bless others1 then1 because you do not seek them1 crowds of blessings will come into your life unbidden1 great happiness being one of the chief4 ,having found the kingdom of heaven it will be your experience that all needed good will be added unto you4 ,this power may also be used to strengthen character1 to overcome in the conflicts of the soul1 and to build up the spiritual body which will be our vehicle of expression in higher realms4 ,,the ,,end4