THE SCIENCE OF THE MIND
Creative Power of Thought
From: “The Master Key System” by Charles F. Haanel
Chapter 1: Introduction
1. Some people seem to achieve every kind of success with ease; others with great difficulty; still others fail to realize their ambitions and fulfill their desires. Why is this so? We also find that some people seem to possess unusual powers. We may say that they are the result of supernatural interference, but an understanding of Natural Laws will convince us that there is nothing supernatural. Every phenomenon is the result of a definite cause, and the cause is an immutable law or principle, which operates with inevitable precision, whether the law is put into operation consciously or unconsciously.
2. We may say that we are on “forbidden ground”, that there are some things which we should not know. This objection was used against every advance in human knowledge. Every individual who ever advanced a new idea, whether Columbus, Darwin or Emerson, was subjected to ridicule or persecution. This objection should receive no serious consideration; on the contrary, we should carefully consider every fact which is brought to our attention; by doing this we will more readily understand the law upon which it is based.
3. The mind cannot comprehend an entirely new idea until corresponding brain cells have been prepared to receive it. This explains why it is so difficult for us to receive or appreciate an entirely new idea; we have no brain cells capable of receiving it; we, therefore, do not believe it.
4. If you have not been familiar with the Universal Law of Attraction, and the method by which it can be put into operation, or if you have not been familiar with the unlimited possibilities which it opens to those who are enabled to take advantage of the resources it offers, begin now and create the necessary brain cells which will enable you to comprehend the unlimited powers which may be yours by cooperating with Natural Law. This is done by concentration or attention, governed by intention to understand.
5. Realizing the creative power of concentrated (focused) thought will explain every possible condition or experience, whether physical, mental or spiritual.
6. The laws governing the mental and spiritual world are as fixed and infallible as in the physical, material world. To secure the desired results, it is necessary to know the law and to comply with it. A proper compliance with the law will produce the desired result with invariable exactitude.
7. The whole world is on the eve of a new consciousness – a new realization of the resources within the self. The last century saw the most magnificent material progress in history. The present century will produce the greatest progress in mental and spiritual power.
Chapter 2: The True Nature of the Universe
1. Scientists have discovered that matter consists of molecules; these molecules consist of atoms, and the atoms of electrons. The discovery of electrons in vacuum indicates conclusively that the electrons fill all space; they exist everywhere; they are omnipresent. They fill all matter and occupy the whole of what we call “empty space”. This, then, is the Universal “Substance” from which all things proceed. Electrons would forever remain electrons unless directed where to go to be assembled into atoms and molecules, and this director is Mind.
2. The Universal Energy is the source of all light, color, heat, sound, matter and thought. The vibrations of thought energy are the finest and consequently the most powerful in existence.
3. There is only ONE Consciousness pervading the entire Universe, occupying all space. It is all-powerful, all wisdom and always present. As this Consciousness is omnipresent, it must be present within every individual; each individual must be a manifestation of that Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent Consciousness.
4. As there is only ONE Consciousness in the Universe it necessarily follows that your individual consciousness is identical with the Universal Consciousness, or, in other words, ALL Consciousness IS ONE Consciousness. Each individual is only an expression or manifestation of the One Universal, Cosmic Mind (Consciousness); ALL are PARTS of the WHOLE. Therefore all attributes contained in the Universal Mind, such as Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent, these same attributes must be present at all times in their potential form in every individual; there is no difference in kind or quality, the only difference being one of degree.
5. The Universal Mind is the TOTALITY OF AII MIND which is in existence; it is one and indivisible. MIND is SPIRIT. Mind (Spirit) is omnipresent; it exists everywhere; it is Universal; it is therefore within us; it is “The World Within”, the “Father that dwells within”. It is our Spirit, our Life.
6. Men have generally used the word “God” to indicate this Universal, Creative Principle; but the word “God” does not convey the right meaning. Most people understand this word to mean something outside of themselves, while exactly the contrary is the fact. It is our very Life. Without it we would cease to exist. The moment the spirit leaves the body, it dies. Therefore, Spirit is really, all there is of us.
7. We live in a fathomless “ocean” of Universal Mind “Substance”; it is the source of all Power, Wisdom and Intelligence. We have personalized this power and called it “God”. It is, however, the permeating essence or Principle all that exists – the Infinite or Universal Mind. This Mind “Substance” is ever alive and active; it is sensitive to the highest degree; it takes form according to mental demand. Thought forms the “mold” from which the “substance” expresses. Mind shapes and controls matter. Every form which matter takes is only the expression of some pre-existing thought. The “external” world matter is the reflection of the “internal” world of thought (mind).
8. Every thought is a cause and every condition an effect; the “internal” world is the cause, the “external” world is the effect; to change the effect you must change the cause. Most people try to change effects by working with effects.
9. The Universal Mind is STATIC or POTENTIAL ENERGY; it simply is; it can manifest only through the individual, and the individual can manifest only through the Universal. They are one. The source of all power is within, the Universal Fountain of Supply, the Infinite Energy of which each individual is an “outlet”, the “channel” for the distribution of this energy.
10. We must become a “channel” whereby the Universal Spirit can express activity. The Universal Spirit is constantly seeking to express itself, to be of service, and it seeks the channel whereby it can do the most good, where it can be of greatest service to mankind; but the Universal Spirit cannot express through you as long as you are busy with your own purposes.
11. Universal Mind (Spirit) is STATIC Energy; Thought (individual mind) is DYNAMIC Energy – the two phases of the same thing. Thought is the vibratory force formed by converting static mind into dynamic mind. Thought is mind in motion, just as wind is air in motion. Thought is active energy; concentrated thought is a concentrated energy. Thought concentrated on a definite purpose is power.
Chapter 3: Duality of the Human Nervous System
1. Our nervous system is dual. One division of the nervous system, known as autonomic nervous system, governs all those activities which are not consciously directed by our volition, such as the function of the digestive organs, the repair of the daily wear and tear of the tissues, and the like. This is involuntary nervous system.
2. The other division of the nervous system, known as the central or cerebro-spinal system, is the channel through which we receive conscious perception from the physical senses and exercise control over the movements of the body. This is voluntary nervous system. This system has its center in the brain, while the other has its center in the solar plexus, which sometimes spoken of as “abdominal brain”. The cerebro-spinal is the channel of our volitional or conscious mental action, and the autonomic nervous system is the channel of that mental action which unconsciously supports the vital functions of the body. Thus the cerebro-spinal system is the organ of the CONSCIOUS MIND and the autonomic system is that of the SUBCONSCIOUS MIND.
3. Every part of the body is composed of cells, some of which operate independently, others in communities. All these cells are functioning for a common purpose and each one is not only a living organism, but has sufficient intelligence to enable it to perform its necessary functions and to perpetuate its own life. It is therefore apparent that there is mind in every cell of the body; this mind has been called the subconscious mind, because it acts without our conscious knowledge.
4. Every living thing is sustained by this omnipotent Intelligence; it is omnipresent and is therefore in the infinitely small as well as infinitely large, at all points in the same time. Experiments with parasites found on plants indicate that even the simplest forms of life are endowed with omnipotent intelligence. This experiment was conducted by Jacques Loch, M.D., Ph.D., a member of the Rockefeller Institute: Potted rose bushes were brought into a room and placed in front of the closed window. The plants were allowed to dry out; the aphids (parasites), previously wingless, changed to winged insects. After the metamorphosis, they left the plants and flew to the window. It is evident that these tiny insects found that the plants on which they have been thriving were dead, and that they could therefore secure nothing more to eat and drink from this source. The only way they could save themselves from starvation was to grow wings and fly, which they did. Experiments such as this indicate that Omniscience as well as Omnipotence is Omnipresent and that tiniest living thing can take advantage of it in an emergency.
5. The interaction of conscious and subconscious minds requires interaction between the corresponding systems of nerves (cerebro-spinal system and autonomic system). One connection by which this is provided if the Vagus nerve. This nerve passes out of the cerebral region as a portion of the voluntary system, and through it we control the vocal organs; then it passes to the thorax, sending out branches to the heart and lungs; and finally, passing through the diaphragm, it loses the outer coating which distinguishes the nerves of the voluntary system and becomes identified with those of the involuntary (autonomic), so forming a connecting link between the two.
6. The individual is related to the external world by the objective (conscious) mind; the brain is the organ of this mind. Individual is related to the internal world (Universal Mind) by the subjective (subconscious) mind; Solar Plexus is the organ of this mind.
7. Perceiving and operating through the five physical senses, the conscious mind deals with the impressions and objects of the outward life. It has the faculty of discrimination, carrying with it the responsibility of choice. It has the power of reasoning; it is the seat of the will. Not only can the conscious mind impress other minds, but it can direct the subconscious mind. In this way the conscious mind becomes the responsible ruler and guardian of the subconscious mind. It may properly be called “the watchman at the gate” of the great subconscious domain. The subconscious mind cannot argue; it only acts. It accepts the conclusions of the objective (conscious) mind as final. The subconscious mind can and will carry out plans and ideas suggested to it by the conscious mind.
8. The functions of the subconscious mind on the physical side have to do with the regulation of vital processes, with the preservation of life and the restoration of health; with the care of offspring, which includes the instinctive desire to preserve all life and improve conditions generally. On the mental side, it is the storehouse of memory; it is the fountain of the practical initiative and constructive forces of life; it is the seat of Habit. On the spiritual side, it is the source of ideas, of the imagination, and is the channel through which we recognize our Divine Source, and in proportion as we recognize this divinity, we come into an understanding of the source of power.
9. The Subconscious Mind is ONE with our Divine Source; it is a part of the Universal Mind. They differ only as a drop of water differs from the ocean. They are the same in kind and quality, the difference is one of degree only. The whole, as we know, is creative; in fact, it is the only creator there is, consequently - subconscious mind is creative and its creative power is absolutely unlimited.
10. God is Spirit and you are made in “His image and likeness”; therefore you are Spirit also; the only difference between His Spirit and your Spirit is one of degree; a part must be the same in kind and quality as the whole. A man is a physical manifestation of Spirit; a man is not a body with a spirit, but a spirit with a body.
11. The subconscious mind is the connecting link between the Universal Mind and the individual conscious mind. The subconscious mind is responsive to our conscious will, which means that the unlimited creative power of the Universal Mind is within control of the conscious mind of the individual.
12. However, there is a vast difference between simply thinking and directing our thought consciously, systematically and constructively; when we do this we place our mind in harmony with the Universal Mind, we come in tune with the Infinite, and we set in operation the creative power of the Universal Mind. But few people know how to think constructively. Most people allow their thoughts to dwell on selfish purposes, the inevitable result of the infantile mind. When a mind becomes mature, it understands that there is a defeat in every selfish thought. The trained, mature mind knows that every transaction must benefit every person who is in any way connected with the transaction and any attempt to profit at the expense of another will inevitably operate to his disadvantage. No one familiar with the laws governing in the mental world would think of attempting to dominate the will of another, for by so doing, s/he will gradually (but surely) divest himself of his own power.
13. This is because the individual is a part of the Universal. A part cannot antagonize any other part, but, on the contrary, the welfare of each part depends upon recognition of the interest of the whole. Those who recognize this principle have a great advantage in the affairs of life. Success is contingent upon the highest moral ideal, which is “The highest good to the greatest number.”
Chapter 4: Our True Nature - Divinity of the Human Spirit
1. The “I” is not the physical body; the physical body is simply an instrument which the “I” uses to carry out its purposes. The “I” is not the mind; the mind is simply another instrument which the “I” uses to think, reason, and plan. The “I” controls and directs both the body and the mind. When you come into a realization of the true nature of “I”, you will enjoy a sense of power which you have never known before.
2. Your personality is made up of countless individual characteristics, habits, and traits of character; these are the result of your thinking, but they have nothing to do with the real “I”. The real nature of “I” is spiritual, and is the source of the real power which comes to men and women when they come into the realization of their true nature.
3. Realize the fact that you are a part of the whole, and that a part must be the same in kind and quality as the whole; the only difference there can possibly be is in degree. When this fact begins to permeate your consciousness, when you really come into realization of the fact that real you, the “I”, the SPIRIT which is an integral part of the great whole, is the same in substance, in quality, in kind, that the Creator could create nothing different from Himself, you will also be able to say, “The ‘Father’ and I are one”, and you will come into an understanding of opportunities which have been placed at your disposal.
4. One of the strongest affirmations which you can use for the purpose of strengthening the will and realizing your power to accomplish, is, “I CAN be what I WILL to be.” Every time you repeat it realize who and what this “I” is; try to come into a thorough understanding of the true nature of the “I”; if you do, you will become invincible; that is, provided that your objectives and purposes are constructive and are therefore in harmony with the creative principle of the Universe. Use this affirmation continuously, night and morning, and as often during the day as you think of it, and continue to do so until it becomes a part of you - form the mental habit.
5. Mental strength is secured in exactly the same way that physical strength is secured – by exercise. We think something, perhaps with difficulty the first time; we think the same thing again, and it becomes easier this time; we think it again and again; it then becomes a mental habit. We continue to think the same thing; finally it becomes automatic; there is no longer any doubt about it; we are sure; we know. Ease and perfection are gained by repetition.
Chapter 5: The Power of Attention
1. Attention is probably the most important essential in the development of mind. The cultivation of attention is the distinguishing characteristic of every successful man or woman, and is the highest personal accomplishment which can be acquired.
2. The power of attention is called concentration; it can be more readily understood by comparing it with a magnifying glass in which the rays of sunlight are focused; they possess no particular strength as long as the glass is moved around and the rays directed from one place to another; but let the glass be held perfectly still and let the rays be focused on one spot for any length of time, the effect will become immediately apparent.
3. So with the power of thought; let power be dissipated by scattering the thought from one object to another, and no result is apparent; but focus this power through attention (or concentration) on any SINGLE purpose for any LENGTH OF TIME and nothing becomes impossible. It is through attention that you will be able to overcome any obstacle of any kind that appears on your path, and the only way to acquire this wonderful power is by practice – practice makes perfect, in this case as in anything else.
4. Attention develops concentration, and concentration develops Spiritual Power; Spiritual Power is the mightiest force in existence.
5. The incentive of attention is interest; the greater the interest, the greater attention; the greater the attention, the greater the interest and action. Begin by paying attention; before long you will have aroused interest; this interest will produce more attention, and this attention will produce more interest, and so on. This practice will enable you to cultivate the power of attention.
6. The degree of attention determines our capacity for the acquirement of knowledge which is another name for power. Attention has been held to be the distinguishing mark of genius. The cultivation of attention depends upon practice.
7. Concentration is much misunderstood; there seems to be an idea of effort or activity associated with it, when just the contrary is necessary. You should be so interested in your subject, as to be conscious of nothing else. Concentration implies that consciousness becomes identified with the object of its attention; the mind “absorbs” the object of its attention. Such concentration leads to intuitive perception and insight into the nature of the subject concentrated upon. All knowledge is the result of concentration of this kind.
8. The astronomer focuses his mind on the stars and they give forth their secrets; the geologist focuses his mind on the construction of the earth and we have the science of geology; so with all things. All discoveries and attainment are the results of DESIRE plus CONCENTRATION. Persistent desire added to concentration will get any secret from nature.
9. Thought is ordinarily focused outwardly, but it can be turned within where it can take hold of the basic principles of things, the heart of things, the spirit of things. When you get to the heart of things it is comparatively easy to understand and command them.
10. We are accustomed to look upon the universe with a lens of five senses, and from these experiences our conceptions of reality originate, but true understanding of reality comes only from spiritual insight. This insight requires the mind which is continuously concentrated in a given direction.
11. If you concentrate on some matter of importance, the intuitive power will be set in operation, and the insight will come in a form of information. Intuition often solves problems that are beyond the grasp of reasoning. Intuition often comes suddenly; it reveals the truth for which we are searching so directly that it seems to come from a higher power.
12. Intuition can be cultivated and developed; in order to do this it must be recognized and appreciated; if it is given a “royal welcome”, it will come again, but if it is ignored, its visits will be few and far apart. Intuition usually comes in the Silence. Great minds seek solitude frequently.
13. Seek the SILENCE frequently. Quiet the senses, seek inspiration, focus the mental activity on the within, dwell on your unity with the Universal Spirit. Knowledge and Power come through repose; it is in the Silence that we can get in touch with the Omnipotent power of the subconscious mind from which all power is evolved. Only in absolute silence may one come into contact with Divinity itself. Silence is the true method of awakening, and then expressing the wonderful power of the world within.
Chapter 6: Visualization and Manifestation
1. Visualization is the process of making mental images; the image is the “mold” or “model” which will serve as a pattern from which your future will emerge. Make the pattern clear; remember that no limitation can be placed upon you by anyone but yourself; you are not limited as to cost or material; draw on the Infinite for your supply, construct it in your imagination; it will have to be there before it will ever appear anywhere else. Make the image clear and hold it firmly in mind and you will gradually bring the thing nearer to you.
2. Visualization is the first step. It is the most important step, because it is the plan on which you are going to build. The architect, when he plans the 30-story building, has every line and detail pictured in advance. He visualizes his building as he wishes it to be. His thought becomes a “mold” from which the building will eventually emerge; his vision takes form on paper and eventually the necessary material is utilized and building stands complete.
3. The inventor visualizes his idea in exactly the same manner. He always visualizes his inventions before attempting to work them out. He does not rush to embody them in form and then spent time in correcting defects. Having first built up the idea in his imagination, he holds it there as a mental picture, to be improved by his thought.
4. He sees the end before a single step is taken. So you are to picture in your mind what you want. Thoughts are “spiritual seeds”, which, when planted in the subconscious mind, have a tendency to sprout and grow. Before sowing any seed you want to know what the harvest is to be. If you are not sure, meditate daily until the picture becomes clear. It will gradually unfold; first the general idea will be dim, but it will take shape, the outline will take form; then the details; and you will gradually develop plans which will eventually materialize in the physical world.
5. Successful men make it their business to STEADILY HOLD CLEAR IDEALS of the conditions which they wish to realize. They CONSTANTLY HOLD in their mind the NEXT STEP necessary to the ideal for which they are striving. Thoughts are the “materials” with which they built, and the imagination is their “mental workshop”.
6. Why is CLEARNESS necessary? Because “seeing clearly” creates “feeling” and feeling creates “being”. When you make your vision clear and complete, it becomes very real to you.
7. Clearness and accuracy are obtained only by REPEATEDLY having the image in mind. Each repeated action renders the image more clear and accurate than the preceding, and in proportion to the clearness and accuracy of the image will the manifestation be. You must build it firmly in your mental world, the world “within”, before it can take form in the world “without”.
8. You must see the picture more and more complete, see the detail, and, as the details begin to unfold, the ways and means for bringing it into manifestation will develop. One thing will lead to another. Thought will lead to action, action will develop methods, methods will bring about circumstances, and, finally, Materialization will have been accomplished. The CLEAR IDEAL steadily held for a length of time is what predetermines and attracts the necessary conditions for its fulfillment.
9. Just reading about it will not bring about any result; it will not form the mental image, much less bring it into manifestation. Work is necessary – mental labor, the kind of effort which so few are willing to put forth. Knowledge does not apply itself; we as individuals must make the application. In order to cultivate the imagination it must be exercised. Exercise is necessary to cultivate ‘mental muscle’ as well as physical muscle. It must be supplied with nourishment or it cannot grow. A vivid thought brings the power, which increases with use.
10. Think big, thereby increasing your mental capacity as well as placing yourself in position to accomplish something of value. If we expect nothing, we shall have nothing; if we demand much, we shall receive the greater portion. A supply equals to the demand. In order to secure a larger supply your demand must be increased, and as you consciously increase the demand the supply will follow; you will find yourself coming into a larger and largest supply of life, energy and vitality. The world is harsh only if we fail to assert ourselves.
11. Self-denial is not success. We cannot give unless we get; we cannot the helpful unless we are strong. The Infinite is not a bankrupt and we who are the representatives of Infinite power should not be bankrupts either, and if we wish to be of service to others we must have power and more power, but to get it we must give it; we must be of service. The more we give the more we shall get.
12. The creative energies of mind find no more difficulty in handling large issues, then the small ones. Mind is just as much present in the infinitely large as in the infinitely small. Everything which is held for any length of time in the conscious mind eventually becomes impressed upon the subconscious mind and becomes a pattern which the creative energy uses to create the physical experience of individual. Our lives are simply the reflection of our predominant thoughts.
13. Every thought creates an impression on the brain; these impressions create mental tendencies, and these tendencies create character (personality) and ability; these determine the experiences with which we shall meet in life. If we wish to change our conditions all that is necessary is to change our thoughts; this will in turn change our mental attitude, which will in turn change our personality, which will in turn change the persons, things and conditions, or, the experiences with which we meet in life.
14. It is, however, not easy to change the mental attitude and personality, but by persistent effort it may be accomplished; the mental attitude is patterned after the mental pictures; if you do not like the pictures, create new pictures; this is the art of visualization (imagination). Soon you will begin to attract new things, corresponding to the new pictures. Impress on the mind a perfect picture of the desire which you wish to materialize and continue to hold the picture in mind until results are obtained.
15. The time and mental energy which most people waste in aimless living would accomplish wonders if properly directed with some special purpose. In order to do this, it is necessary to focus your mental energy upon a specific thought and hold it there, to the exclusion of all other thoughts. The INTENTION governs the ATTENTION.
16. Your purpose must be definite; to have one vision today, another tomorrow, and a third next week, means to scatter your forces and accomplish nothing. If a sculptor started out with a piece of marble and a chisel and changed his vision every 15 minutes, what result could he expect? And why should you expect any different result in molding the greatest of all substances?
17. Do not confuse Constructive Imagination with Fancy – the form of daydreaming in which some people like to indulge. Daydreaming is a form of mental dissipation, in which mental energy is scattered; it does not produce desired results. Constructive Imagination is focused; it yields the greatest returns. All the great things in life have come to men and women who have the capacity to constructively imagine and to make their dreams come true.
18. Make the Mental Image; make it CLEAR; HOLD IT FIRMLY; the ways and means will develop; supply will follow the demand; you will be led to do the right thing at the right time and in the right way. Relax completely; avoid any thought of anxiety as to results. Remember that power comes through repose. Let the thought dwell upon your object, until it is completely identified with it, until you are conscious of nothing else. Always concentrate on the ideal as an already existing fact.
19. Unless you do this, you had better not start at all, because when you start something and do not complete it, or make a resolution and do not keep it you are forming the habit of failure. If you do not intend to do a thing, do not start; if you do start, see it through; if you make up your mind to do something, do it; let nothing and no one interfere.
20. If you carry out this idea, beginning with small things which you know you can control and gradually increase the effort, you will find that you can eventually control yourself; many men and women have found to their sorrow that it is easier to control a kingdom that to control themselves. But when you have learned to control yourself you will have found the “world within” which controls the “world without”.
21. Earnest Desire brings about Confidence Expectation, and this in turn must be reinforced by Firm Demand. These three cannot fail to bring about Attainment, because the Earnest Desire is the feeling, the Confident Expectation is the thought, and the Firm Demand is the will; feeling gives vitality to thought and the will holds it steadily until it is brought into manifestation.
22. Nothing happens without a definite Desire. As in the physical world no life assumes form until after a seed is sown and no fruit than that of the parent stock can be produced, so in the spiritual world no effect can be produced until the seed (Desire) is sown and the fruit will depend upon the nature of the seed.
23. Desire is the attractive force which sets the current of energy in motion and fear is the great obstacle by which the current is stopped or completely reversed, turned away from us.
24. If you follow these directions, you will develop confidence – the kind of confidence that leads to endurance and courage; you will develop the power of concentration which will enable you to exclude all thoughts except the ones which are associated with your purpose. The law is that thought (cause) will manifest in form (effect) in the right time. Be patient.
25. This is a difficult problem for many; we are too anxious; we want to do something; we want to help to speed up the process; we are like a child who has just planted a seed and every 15 minutes goes and stirs up the earth to see if it is growing. Of course, under such circumstances, the seed will never germinate, and yet this is exactly what many of us do in the mental world. We must plant the seed and leave it undisturbed. This does not mean that we are to sit down and do nothing, by no means; we will do more and better work; new channels will constantly be provided, new doors will open; all that is necessary is to have an open mind and be ready to act when the time comes.
The Quality of the Mind
1. To think is to create a thought; the result of the thought will depend upon its content and its quality. The content is the mental image it projects; this will depend upon the clarity of the vision. The quality depends upon the feeling with which the thought is impregnated.
2. If the thought is constructive, it will possess vitality; it will have life, it will grow, develop, and expand; it will attract to itself everything necessary for its complete development; the right persons and the right things will come at the right time and in the right place; everything will seem to “just happen”. If you want any evidence of this fact simply compare results of your efforts in your own life, when your actions were prompted by high ideals and when you had selfish or ulterior motives in mind. If the thought is destructive, it will have within itself the germ of its own dissolution; it will die, but in the process of dying, it will bring sickness, disease, and every other form of discord. This we call “evil”; we bring it upon ourselves.
3. What we think determines the quality of mind; the quality of mind in turn determines our ability to control circumstances. Remember that fundamentally the subconscious is omnipotent; there is no limit to the things that can be done when it is given the power to act. Your degree of success is determined by the nature of your desire. If the nature of your desire is in harmony with the Universal Mind, it will give you invincible courage.
4. Every time you think you start a chain of causation which will create a condition in strict accordance with the quality of the thought which originated it. Thought which is in harmony with the Universal Mind will result in corresponding conditions. Thought which is destructive or discordant will produce corresponding results. You may use thought constructively or destructively, but the immutable Law will not allow you to plant a thought (seed) of one kind and reap the fruit of another. You are free to use this marvelous creative power as you will, but you must take the consequences.
5. There are those who seem to think that by force of their will they can coerce this Law; that they can sow seed of one kind and by Will Power make it bear fruit of another, but the Law is Universal, and therefore the idea of forcing a compliance with the wishes of the individual will is doomed to fail.
6. In taking advantage of the wonderful possibilities opened up to us through the operation of this Law, we must remember that we ourselves contribute nothing to its efficacy, as the Great Teacher said: “It is not I that do the works, but the Father that dwells in me, He does the work”.
7. Creative power does not originate in individual, but in the Universal, which is the Source of all energy and substance; individual is simply the channel for the distribution of this energy. We can do nothing to assist in the manifestation, we simply comply with the Law, and the All-originating Spirit will bring about the result. The Universal Mind can be depended upon to find the ways and means for bringing about any necessary manifestation. We must, however, create the ideal in our imagination.
The World of Contrasts
1. There are innumerable contrasts, and for convenience sake they are given distinctive names. There are different sizes, colors, shades; there is a North Pole and a South Pole, and inside and outside, top and bottom, light and dark, a seen and an unseen, but these expressions merely serve to express contrasts. They are names given to different parts of the same; they are relative; they are not separate entities, but parts or aspects of the whole.
2. We speak of knowledge and ignorance, but ignorance is only a LACK of knowledge and is therefore simply a word to express the ABSENCE of knowledge; it has no principle in itself.
3. We speak of good and bad (evil), but good is a reality, while evil is simply the ABSENCE of good. Evil is sometimes thought to be a very real condition, but it has no principle, no vitality, no life; it can always be destroyed by good; just as Truth destroys Error and Light destroys Darkness, so Evil vanishes when Good appears.
The Origin of Good and Evil
1. For many years there has been an endless discussion is to the origin of evil. When the creative power of thought is manifested for the benefit of humanity, we call the result “good”. When the creative power of thought is manifested in a destructive manner, we call the result “evil”. This indicates the origin of both “good” and “evil”; they are simply words which are used to indicate the result of the thinking or creative process. THOUGHT precedes and predetermines ACTION; ACTION precedes and predetermines CONDITION.
2. If our thought constructive and harmonious we manifest good; if it is destructive and discordant we manifest evil. Good and evil therefore are not entities, they are simply words which we use to indicate the result of our actions, and these actions are in turn predetermined by quality our thoughts. The source of all evil is wrong, destructive thinking; the source of all good is correct, constructive thinking.
3. Concentrate on the things you want, not on the things you do not want. The importance of this is well illustrated in the lives of Emerson and Carlyle. Emerson loved the good, and his life was a symphony of peace and harmony, Carlyle hated the bad, and his life was a record of perpetual discord and disharmony. Here we have two grand men, each intending to achieve the same ideal, but one makes use of constructive thought and is therefore in harmony with Natural Law, the other makes use of destructive thought and therefore brings upon himself discord of every kind. It is evident therefore that WE ARE TO HATE NOTHING, not even the “bad”, because HATRED IS SELF-DESTRACTIVE; to hate or to become negative is to put yourself out of harmony with the Natural Law of Life and to drain yourself of your vital force .
4. The Law of Attraction will certainly bring to you the conditions, environment, and experiences in life, corresponding to your HABITUAL, PREDOMINANT thoughts. Not what you think once a while when you are in church, or have just read a good book, but your PREDOMINANT MENTAL STATE is what counts. You cannot entertain negative thoughts 10 hours a day and expect to bring about beautiful, harmonious conditions by 10 minutes of positive thought. Of course, if your habitual thoughts are worry, fear, and other negative thoughts, they will produce a ‘crop’ after their kind; those who harbor thoughts of this kind must inevitably reap what they have sown. Momentary enthusiasm is of no value; it is only with continued self-confidence that the goal is reached.
5. Mental habits are difficult to control, but it can be done; the way to do it is to begin at once to substitute constructive thought for destructive thought. Form the habit of analyzing every thought. If its manifestation will be a benefit, not only to yourself, but to all whom it may affect in any way, keep it; it is in harmony (in sync) with the Infinite, it will grow and develop and produce good results.
6. If your thoughts have been critical or destructive, and resulted in any condition of discord or disharmony, it is necessary for you to cultivate the mental attitude which will be conductive to constructive thought. A happy thought cannot exist in an unhappy consciousness; therefore the consciousness must change. If you wish harmonious conditions in your life, you must develop a harmonious mental attitude. Your ‘world without’ will be a reflection of your ‘world within’.
7. This mental work of analyzing your thoughts is the job of the conscious mind; let only constructive thoughts enter your subconscious mind. By the Law of Growth, your inmost thoughts will find expression just as certainly as the plant springs from the seed. Constant vigilance is the price of success.
8. If you deny your attention to unsatisfactory conditions, you are withdrawing the creative power of your thought from these conditions. You are cutting them away at the root; you are sapping their vitality. Remember that this will not bring about instant change. A plant will remain visible for some time after its roots have been cut, but it will gradually fade away and eventually disappear, so the withdrawal of your attention from the contemplation of unsatisfactory conditions will gradually, but surely, terminate these conditions. This is exactly opposite from what most people do; they concentrate intently upon unsatisfactory conditions, thereby giving them energy and vitality which is necessary in order to supply a vigorous growth. If you wish to eliminate fear, concentrate on courage. If you wish to eliminate lack, concentrate on abundance. If you wish to eliminate disease, concentrate on health.
9. At first we can’t keep the negative thoughts from coming, but we can keep from entertaining them. The way to do this is to ignore them and substitute positive thoughts for them. This is where the ready-made affirmation comes into play. When a thought of anger, jealousy, fear or worry creeps in, just start your affirmation going. The way to fight darkness is with light; the way to overcome evil is with good. Affirm the good (positive), and the bad (negative) will vanish.
The Secret of Real Power
1. The real secret of power is Consciousness (Awareness) of power. The more conscious we become of our UNITY with the Universal Mind – the source of all power, the more conscious we become of our power; we become free of conditions and limitations. As soon as we become conscious of the inexhaustible power within, we begin to draw on this power, because whatever we become conscious of is invariably manifested in the physical world, brought forth into tangible expression. This is because the Infinite Mind is the Source from which all things proceed, and each individual is a channel whereby this Eternal Energy is being manifested.
2. When you have become thoroughly conscious (aware) of the fact that Universal Mind (Spirit) is the only creative principle, that it is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent, and that you can consciously come into harmony with it through your thought, you will have taken a big step in the right direction.
3. The only way you can have real power (success) is when you adjust yourself to Divine and come into an understanding of Natural Laws. The reward of this understanding is a conscious realization of your ability to adjust your thought faculties with the Omnipotent Universal Mind; your ability to cooperate with it will indicate the degree of your success. In order to receive intelligence and power the receiver must be in tune with the transmitter.
4. The next step is to place yourself in position to receive this power. As it is Omnipresent, it must be within you, but it must be developed and cultivated by exercise (use). All power is within man, only waiting to be brought into visibility by his first recognizing it, and then affirming it as his, working it into his consciousness until he becomes one with it. When man ‘awakens’ to the truth and affirms his ONENESS WITH ALL LIFE, he finds that he has discovered the source of all power. Spirit is Omnipresent; all that is required is the proper Recognition of its Omnipotence, and a Willingness or Desire to become the recipient of its magnificent effects.
5. There are three steps to success, and each one is absolutely essential. You must have: (1) the knowledge of your power (ability); (2) the courage to dare; (3) the faith (confidence) to act. All mistakes and problems are only the results of ignorance. Knowledge gaining and consequent power is what determines growth and evolution. The recognition and demonstration (application, usage) of knowledge is what constitutes real power. The knowledge of cause and effect enables men to plan courageously and execute fearlessly.
6. Hold in mind the condition desired; affirm it as an already existing fact. This indicates the value of affirmation; by constant repetition it becomes a part of ourselves. We are actually changing ourselves. If you wish to change conditions you must change yourself.
7. Character is not a thing of chance, but the result of continued effort. If you are timid, self-conscious, over-anxious or fearful, your remedy is to substitute thoughts of courage, power, self-reliance and confidence, for those of fear, lack and limitation. The positive thought will destroy the negative as certainly as light destroys darkness.
What We All Truly Desire
1. There are many who have come to understanding of this wonderful power, and who make serious and conscientious efforts to realize health, power, wealth and other conditions, and seem to fail. They do not seem able to bring the Law into operation. The difficulty in nearly every case is that they are dealing with “externals”; they may be pursuing the symbols of power, instead of power itself. They may be pursuing fame instead of honor, power instead of service; in either event they will find that they turn to ashes just as they overtake them, because the symbol is only the outward form of spiritual reality within, therefore unless we possess the spiritual reality, the form disappears.
2. They want “externals”, but they fail to realize that these are effects and can come only when the cause is found. The race has usually been for money and other mere symbols of power, but with an understanding of the true power, we can afford to ignore the symbols. Success is an effect, not a cause, and if we wish to secure the effect we must ascertain the cause by which the effect is created.
3. We often find that when we get the things we thought we wanted, they do not have the effect we expected. That is, the satisfaction is only temporary, or possibly is the reverse of what we expected.
4. Most people have desires “to have”, not “to be”; they fail to understand that they cannot have one without the other. We must be before we can do, and as a result of our doing, have; we can do only to the extent to which we are, and so what we do will depend on what we are and what we are depends upon what we think.
5. Those who look only for WISDOM will find that this wisdom will unfold and disclose the source of all power, that it will manifest in thought and purpose which will create the desired external conditions. This TRUTH will find expression in noble purpose and courageous action. You will come into a realization of your power to create ideals in the ‘world of cause’ and these ideals will be projected into the ‘world of effect’.
6. What you and I desire, what we all desire, what everyone is seeking is HAPPINESS and HARMONY. But we cannot be truly happy unless we have Health, Wealth and Love. All will admit that Health is absolutely essential; no one can be truly happy if the physical body is in pain. All will not so readily admit that Wealth is necessary, but all must admit that a sufficient supply at least is necessary, not only to take care of our necessities but to provide for those comforts and luxuries to which we feel we are entitled; what would be considered sufficient for one, would be considered painful lack for another.
7. All will probably admit that Love is the third, or maybe some will say the first essential necessary for the happiness of mankind; at any rate, those who possess all three, Health, Wealth, and Love, find nothing else which can be added to their happiness.
8. The Universal “Substance” is the source of All Health, All Wealth and All Love; the mechanism of attachment whereby we can consciously connect with this Infinite supply is in our method of thinking. TO THINK CORECTLY is to enter into the “Place of the Most High”; it is the “Master Key”; it is the foundation of well-being.
9. To think correctly we must know the Truth. The truth is the underlying principle of every right action. To know the truth, to be sure, to be confident, affords a satisfaction like no other; it is the only solid ground in the world of doubt, conflict and danger.
10. To know the Truth is to be in harmony with the Infinite and Omnipotent power. To know the Truth is to connect yourself with a power which is irresistible and which will sweep away every kind of discord, disharmony, doubt or error of any kind.
11. All thought is a form of energy, a rate of vibration; a thought of the Truth is the highest rate of vibration and consequently destroys every form of error in exactly the same way that light destroys darkness; no form of error can exist when the Truth appears.
12. An understanding of the Truth will enable you to overcome every form of a lack, limitation or disease of any kind. We can get no understanding of the Truth from the “world without”; the “world without” is relative only. Truth is absolute; we must find it in the “world within”.
13. The absolute Truth is that “I” is perfect and complete; the real “I” is spiritual and can therefore never be less than perfect; it can never have any lack, limitation, or disease. The spiritual “I” is ONE with the Universal Mind, and it is our ability to recognize this Unity is the cause of all inspiration, all genius. Truth is not the result of logical training or of experimentation, or even of observation; it is the product of a developed consciousness. Your life and your actions and your influence in the world will depend upon the degree of Truth which you are able to perceive, for Truth will manifest in your conduct.
14. The Truth is the highest and most perfect thought which anyone can think; to think the Truth is to create that which is true; when Truth comes that which is false must cease to be.
15. If you desire to help someone, to destroy some form of lack, limitation or error, the correct method is not to think of the person whom you wish to help. Instead, drive out of YOUR OWN mind a belief of lack, limitation, disease, danger, difficulty or whatever the trouble might be. As soon as you have succeeded in doing this the result will have been accomplished, and the person will be free.
16. Remember, every time you allow your thought to rest on any inharmonious condition, you must realize that such conditions are apparent only; they have no reality; Spirit is the only reality and it can never be less than perfect.
17. If you see only the incomplete, the imperfect, the limited, these conditions will manifest in your life; but if you train your mind to see and realize the spiritual “I” which is forever perfect, complete and harmonious; wholesome and healthful conditions only will be manifested.
18. For instance, if you require Health, a realization of the fact that the “I” is spiritual and that ALL Spirit is ONE will bring about a condition of health. The affirmation, “I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious and happy”, will bring about harmonious conditions. The reason for this is because the affirmation is in accordance with the Truth, and when truth appears every form of error or discord must disappear.
19. Repeat this affirmation over and over again until it sinks into your subconsciousness; make it be the last thing on your mind at night and the first thing in the morning. Not only affirm it for yourself, but for others. Whatever you desire for yourself, desire it for others, and it will help you both. If we send out thoughts of love and health, they return to us; but if we send out thoughts of fear, worry, jealousy, anger, hate, etc., we will reap the results of these thoughts in our own life.
20. Man is the sum total of his own thoughts. Every man is the reflection of the thoughts he has entertained during his lifetime. They are ‘stamped’ on his face, his form, his character and his environment. If our predominant thoughts are thoughts of health, power, courage and kindness, we shall find that our state of health and our environment will reflect these thoughts. If our predominant thoughts are fearful, critical, envious and hateful, we shall find that our state of health and our environment will reflect those thoughts. This is a Universal Law – the Law of Attraction or the Law of Cause and Effect. Thoughts are causes and conditions are effects. The Law is that thought will bring forth into the material (outer) world the correspondence of the thought produced in the mental (inner) world.
21. If you require Wealth, a realization of the fact that the “I” is ONE with the Universal “Substance”, which is Omnipotent, will assist you in bringing into operation the Law of Attraction which will bring you into vibration with those forces which make for success and bring about conditions of power and affluence. Abundance is a natural law of the Universe. Everywhere Nature is lavish and extravagant. That there is an abundance for everyone is evident, but that many fail to participate in this abundance is also evident; they have not yet come into a realization that mind is the active principle whereby we are related to the things we desire.
22. Wealth should never be desired as an end, but simply as a means of accomplishing an end. Success is contingent upon a higher ideal than the mere accumulation of riches. With such an ideal in mind, the ways and means can and will be provided. The successful businessman is more often than not an idealist and ever striving for higher and higher standards. Premature wealth is but the forerunner of humiliation and disaster, because we cannot permanently retain anything which we do not merit or which we have not earned.
23. The first law of success is SERVICE; we get what we give, and for this reason we should consider it a great privilege to be able to give. We make money by making friends, and we enlarge our circle of friends by helping them, by being of service to them. The more we give the more we get. Giving in this sense implies service.
24. Harmony and happiness are states of consciousness and do not depend upon the possession of things; things are effects and come as a consequence of correct mental states (the cause). If we desire material possession of any kind our chief concern should be to acquire the mental attitude which will bring about the desired result. This mental attitude is brought about by a realization of our spiritual nature and our UNITY with the Universal Mind which is the Source of all things. This realization will bring about everything that is necessary for our complete enjoyment.
25. When we succeed in bringing about this mental attitude it is comparatively easy to think about our desire as an already accomplished fact; when we can do this we should have found the “Truth” which makes us “free” from every lack or limitation of any kind.
26. The man of true success possesses spiritual understanding; every great fortune comes from superior, spiritual power. The power to create depends entirely upon spiritual power of concentration and visualization. THE SECRET OF SUCCESS IS THE ABILITY TO SEE THE IDEAL IN ITS COMPLETENESS. If you wish to bring about the realization of any desire, form a mental picture of success in your mind; by consciously visualizing your desire in this way, you will be externalizing it in your life.
27. Visualization is a very different process from seeing; seeing is physical and therefore related to the physical world (the “world without”), but Visualization is a product of the Imagination, and is therefore a product of the subjective (subconscious) mind – the “world within”. The thing visualized will manifest itself in form.
28. We can see what already exists in the physical world, but what we visualize (imagine) already exists in the spiritual (mental) world, and this is a token of what will one day appear in the physical world, if we are faithful to our ideal long enough. It is the nature of thought to find its way into action and manifestation.
29. It is by the exercise of the Power of Imagination we can control our own mind, body, and our life experience. It is by the exercise of this Power of Imagination that we consciously make for ourselves the experiences which we desire. To control thought is to control circumstances, conditions, environment, and destiny.
30. If you require Love, realize that the only way to get love is by giving it, that the more you give the more you will get, and the only way in which you can give it is to fill yourself with it.
31. By understanding the laws governing Electricity humankind has been able to control this invisible power and use it for it’s benefit in thousands of ways: it illuminates practically the whole world, messages are carried around the world, ponderous machinery does its bidding, and so on, but we also know that if we consciously or ignorantly violate its law by touching the ‘live’ wire, when it is not properly insulated, the result will be unpleasant and possibly disastrous. A lack of understanding of the laws governing the invisible world “within” has the same result, and many are suffering the consequences all the time. Our happiness is best attained through a conscious cooperation with Natural Laws. It is in our power to place ourselves in harmony with them and thus express the life of peace and happiness.
32. Difficulties and obstacles indicate that we are resisting – refusing to give out what we no longer need, for refusing to accept what we require. Life is growth, and growth is change. Growth is attained through an exchange of the old for the new, of the good for the better.
33. We are able to consciously control our conditions as we come to sense the purpose of what we attract, and are able to extract from each experience only what we require for our further growth. Our ability to do this determines the degree of harmony and happiness we attain.
34. The ability to appropriate what we require for our growth continually increases as we reach higher planes and broader visions, and the greater our abilities to know what we require, the more certain we shall be to discern its presence, to attract it and to absorb it. Nothing may reach us except what is necessary for our growth.
35. All conditions and experiences that come to us do so for our benefit. Difficulties and obstacles are necessary for our spiritual growth; they will continue to come until we absorb their wisdom. They may be avoided by a conscious understanding and cooperation with Natural Laws. Desirable conditions are secured by entertaining desirable thoughts only. Undesirable conditions are brought about by thinking, discussing and visualizing conditions of lack, limitation, disease, and discord of every kind. We ‘reap’ in the physical world what we ‘sow’ in the mental (spiritual) world.
36. Wisdom, strength, courage and all harmonious conditions are the result of power and all power is from within; likewise, every lack, limitation or adverse circumstance are the result of weakness, and weakness is simply absence of power. The remedy then is simply to develop power, and this is accomplished in exactly the same manner that all power is developed – by exercise.
37. This exercise consists in making an application of your knowledge. Knowledge will not apply itself. You must make the application. Abundance will not come to you out of the sky, neither will it drop into your lap, but a conscious realization of the Law of Attraction and the intention to bring it into operation for a certain, definite and specific purpose, and the will to carry out this purpose will bring about the materialization of your desire.
38. How do we get the actual, tangible results? We must put our knowledge into practice. Nothing can be accomplished in any other way. The athlete may read books on physical training all his life, but unless he begins to give his effort by actual work he will never receive any strength. It is exactly the same with us; we have to give our effort first. The giving is simply a mental process, because thoughts are causes and conditions are effects; therefore in giving thoughts of courage, health or help of any kind we are setting causes in motion which will bring about their effect.
39. Thought is creative, but make no mistake, thought will create nothing of value unless it is consciously, systematically, and constructively directed; and there is the difference between idle thinking, which is simply a dissipation of effort and purposeful thinking, which means practically unlimited achievement. When any purpose is CLEARLY HELD in thought, its manifestation, in tangible and visible form, is merely a question of time. The vision always precedes and itself determines the realization.
40. All great things come through recognition (awareness, consciousness). You may have all the wealth, but unless you recognize it (aware of it, conscious of it) and make use of it, it will have no value; so with your spiritual wealth: unless you recognize it and use it, it has no value. The one and only condition of spiritual power is recognition and use.
41. When you recognize that the essence of the Universal Mind (Spirit) within yourself IS YOU, you begin to feel your power; it is the fuel which fires the imagination, which lights the torch of inspiration, which gives vitality to thought, which enables you to connect with all the invisible forces of the Universe. It is this power which will enable you to plan fearlessly and execute masterfully. Understanding of the nature of this power is a primary condition for its manifestation. But this perception will come only in the Silence. The Silence is necessary, the senses must be stilled, the muscles relaxed, repose cultivated. When you have come into possession of a sense of poise and power you will be ready to receive the information or inspiration or wisdom which may be necessary for the development of your purpose.
42. This power of thought, if understood and correctly used, is the largest labor-saving device ever dreamed of, but if not understood or improperly used, the result will in all probability be disastrous. Unless we are willing to think we shall have to work; the less we think the more we shall have to work, and the less we shall get for our work. But if we understand and properly use the power of thought, by the help of this power we can confidently undertake things that are seemingly impossible, because this power is the secret of all inspiration, all genius. When we come into recognition of the UNITY OF ALL THINGS and that the source of all power is within, we tap into the source of inspiration.
43. Inspiration is the art of adjusting the individual mind to the Universal Mind; the art of attaching the proper mechanism (thought) to the source of all power; the art of becoming a “channel” for the flow of Infinite Wisdom; the art of receiving.
44. We can fail to recognize this world within, and so exclude it from our consciousness, but it will still be the basic fact of all existence; and when we learn to recognize it, not only in ourselves, but in all persons, events, things and circumstances we shall have found the “Kingdom of heaven” which is “within” us.
45. An understanding of these facts, first intellectually and then emotionally, will enable us to “drink” from this “ocean” of infinite power. Just intellectual understanding will be of no assistance; the emotion must be present; thought without feeling is cold. Feeling gives vitality to the thought.
| 
