IN T H I S I S S U E

Principles of Religious Science

By Ernest S. Holmes

The Creative Power of the Mind

B y Christian D . Larson

A Clinic for Sick BusinessBy Clarence M ayer

Daily Meditations - Page 24

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The Science of Mind Magazine

The Science of Mind Magazine is published monthly by the Institute of Religious Science and School of Philosophy, Inc., 2511 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, Cali­fornia.

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The TrinityBy H . F o s te r H o lm e s

P H IL O S O P H Y :—Research concerning truth of being = W IS D O M

S C IE N C E :—Study of observable facts = = = K N O W L E D G E

R E L I G I O N :—Spiritual perception = = = = = = = = = = L O V E

Result: = = U N D E R S T A N D IN G

W hen these three join hands we shall have a

Balanced W orld and PE A C E

GratitudeBy N ed L. C h ap in

M ark Tw ain once generously befriended a certain man and many years later regretfully referred to the incident as follows:

“ I never expected him to be grateful. I never expected him to be thankful— my experience of men had long ago taught me that one of the surest ways of begetting an enemy was to do someone an act of kind­ness which should lay upon him the irritating sense of an obligation.”

In this recital— really a confession— M ark Tw ain reveals a fruitful field for the study of human nature. O n both sides, the mental reactions between the giver and the receiver have much to do with successful and happy living.

M any people, like M ark Tw ain, have resented the inadequate expression of gratitude, but few, like Tw ain, have been able to change the shoe to the other foot so cleverly, making out, not himself, but the other person, as being laid under the smart of irritation.

M ark Tw ain, as most of us do, judged too much by appear­ances. In extending a kindness, we should not feel that a lasting debt is laid upon another. If the recipient is wise enough to express his gratitude, so much the better; if not, the benefactor should not be aggrieved. If he is, he falls into the vice of perceiving his own virtue and into the further error of criticizing and condemning a fellow being.

Once there was a man who jumped from a w harf into an icy river and rescued a small boy from drowning. A fter the rescue the boy’s father came running in pursuit of the departing hero. “Are you the man who saved my son?” he panted. “Yes,” replied the hero, modestly. “W ell,” demanded the father, “what did you do with his hat?”

Gratitude, like adversity, has its uses, and these, too, are sweet. T here is no exercise to expand the soul like the sincere expression of gratitude unless it be the receiving of gratitude graciously.

W e count those wise who do not receive favors because they do not wish to be under obligations; we count those wise indeed who

TheScience of Mind

MagazineN e d L . C h a p in , Editor

E r n e s t S. H o l m e s , C h r i s t i a n D . L a r s o n , H e l e n V a n S l y k e , Associate Editors

V o l . I II , No. 5 LOS A N G EL E S, C A L IF O R N IA F e b r u a r y , 1930

render themselves independent of the necessity of receiving favors, but wisest of all is he who follows the advice of Seneca and “thinks of returning a kindness even while receiving it.”

W e teach children to express gratitude. They say, “Thank you!” and we smile with pleasure. A t bottom this teaching arises from the inherent desire for progress along those lines recognized as good and helpful, for to show good breeding by expressing one’s gratitude is constructive and beneficial. “G ratitude,” wrote Samuel Johnson, “is a fruit of great cultivation; you do not find it among gross people.”

There is a type of gratitude sometimes mistaken for genuine but in reality false. O f this kind, La Rochefoucauld said, “T he gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving greater benefits.” Such gratitude is cheap and insincere. I t shrinks the soul. In true gratitude there is a quality that ennobles and so glorifies. Gratitude, when genuine and true, fathers a desire to return the kindness. In this high type of gratitude there is no mere pretense, but a kind of giving of one’s self whereby all scores are equalized. Then, at peace with the world, one may be as Emerson’s great men who “sit carelessly in their chairs.”

Differences and opposites often throw an object into relief. So with gratitude and ingratitude. L iterature abounds in stirring pas­sages based upon the heart interest that surrounds the victims of man’s ingratitude. For example, King Lear cried from his soul, “ Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend!” In “As You Like I t ,” we read :

“Blow, blow, thou winter w in d !Thou art not so unkind as man’s ingratitude.”

Elsewhere Shakespeare writes, “ I hate ingratitude more in a man

than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness.’’ Ingratitude it was, “more strong than traitors’ arms,” that burst the heart of mighty Caesar. In the Epigrams of Ausonius we read, “Earth produces nothing worse than an ungrateful man,” and there is an old couplet which says, “ H e that’s ungrateful has no guilt but one; all other crimes may pass for virtues in him.” Equally scathing denunciation of ingratitude is this from Seneca:

“ Ingratum si dixens, omnia dixens.”“ If you say he is ungrateful, you say all that

can be said.”

T ru e gratitude, the gratitude that warms the heart and adds to the w orld’s happiness, is defined as, “a sense of appreciation of favors received, accompanied with good will toward the benefactor.” I t is self-evident that from good will, only good can result.

T here is an old and appropriate saying that he enjoys much who is thankful for little. In the Bible, the greatest book ever w ritten, we find the Psalms ringing down through the ages with songs of thanksgiving. Jesus, the greatest psychologist of all time, laid the basis for the highest use of gratitude when he pronounced the law of faith in these words recorded in the Gospel of St. M ark : “W hat things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Life, living and achievement are altogether a m atter of conscious­ness. Ideas and thoughts are the moving causes. Things and condi­tions are results, only, or at most, secondary causes. T he spirit— the consciousness— can mold and transform conditions and things; can move them about like pawns on a chess board.

In this play of life, the first necessity, therefore, is to build up the consciousness— the sense of power, coupled w ith appreciation and acknowledgement of its source, the Creator of all. Therefore, a man gives thanks, expresses gratitude, lets his heart pour out in thankful­ness. Can any other mental or spiritual effort reinforce a man’s faith so effectively?

Gratitude, in its highest and finest use, is a builder of character, bringing men together in a spirit of generosity and mutual apprecia­tion. G ratitude increases immeasurably in every man his faith in God, and in every man multiplies the joy of living. Shall we not, then, say with Shakespeare:

“O Lord, that lends me life,Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.”

Principles of Religious Science

By E r n e s t S. H o lm e s

I

T H E P E R F E C T H E R E A N D T H E C O M P L E T E N O W

OU R subject deals with the eternity of time. Time is not a thing of itself but is a measure of experience whereby

the Spirit may be conscious of Its own activity.Time of itself is nothing in that it is “no thing” yet it is not

exactly nothing for without some measure of experience the inner Spirit would be unrecognized and unrecognizable and, being unexpressed, would be incomplete. Therefore we can­not truly call time an illusion.

W hile there has been much philosophic discussion regard­ing time it leads us only to this conclusion—that whether or not time is real it is yet actual and necessary as a measurement of the duration of man’s experience.

Time may be divided into memory or recollection, which is called past time— attention and recognition which we call present time, and anticipation or expectation which we call future time. Let us briefly consider these divisions of time.

The past has gone, yet the experiences of the past are writ­ten in memory, and memory contains the accumulated knowl­edge of the individual and of the race. W e continuously de­pend on this source for information, for inspiration and gui­dance. Could memory be entirely extinguished, both in the mind of the individual and of the race, the entire background of our life would disappear, the stream of consciousness would

be abruptly severed; no greater catastrophe could be imag­ined. The instinctive laws of nature have so ordained that memory and experience shape and mould our lives toward greater attainment and eternal progress.

Hence the time past is giving birth to the present time in which we recognize, understand and experience the activities of everyday life. Thus recognition, experience and activity slip away into the past, ever building a more substantial foundation upon which time — now only anticipated — shall rear a more noble edifice.

Could the expectation of the future be removed from the enthusiasm of our vision, all efforts of to-day would be futile. Again nature has instinctively ordained that there shall ever be held before our waiting thought a goal, not too easily reached, which Swedenborg likened to the Spiritual Sun for­ever at the angle of forty-five degrees in the heavens. Thus, symbolically, the face of progress is ever toward the east with the light before it while casting its shadows behind.

Since it is impossible for one to entirely rob himself of memory it behooves all to carefully guard the experiences of the present, that when they do become memories they shall be happy ones and it is a well established fact according to a known law of the mental life, that if one is retaining un­pleasant incidents in his memory they can be neutralized through the power of his own word and his imagination. This is the secret of the confessional and of the analysis of the “Psyche”— (soul) to remove the stain, the hurt and the con­demnation from the past, leaving in their place the gentle urge of better purpose and a sense of the “Divine Forgiving­ness.”

If we are carrying about in our memory that which does not measure up with harmony we should consciously discharge it, knowing that though all have made mistakes there is still no power in the universe which wishes us ill.

Let our present experiences be of such character as to harm no one and help all. Then shall the past be a beautiful mem­ory, the present a glad hour and the future a joyful expecta­tion. All souls are eternal, all men are Divine and in the long run good shall come to all.

I t is impossible to draw a fair estimate of the life of the soul from the short range experiences of a few years. W e are

eternal beings on the pathway of experience for the purpose of gaining true individuality; even our mistakes are a part of our evolution and should be so considered.

From the viewpoint of the Infinite Mind it must be that what we call the past, present, and the future are one. The Omega must be potential in the Alpha. Thus it is written “I am the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end”— he that was and he that is to come. The potentiality of our lives must have been forever in the Divine Mind, so as in­dividuals we should forever expand, continuously growing into the likeness of that Christ inherent in all men. Could our eyes completely penetrate the spiritual realms and could our imaginations rise by pure intuition to the comprehension of reality we should, no doubt, perceive what the illumined have seen and sensed—that there is very little between us and heaven; and, that this little is entirely bound up in our own concepts.

This intangible thing which refuses analysis, this subtle presence which can be neither caught nor bound, the Life Principle and the intelligent consciousness within us, partakes of the nature of Eternity and cannot even conceive of its own birth, nor can it possibly experience, even in its own imagina­tion, any reality to its passing. Thus can eternity be crowded into a day or a day stretched forth into eternity.

M E D IT A T IO N

Born of E ternal Day

Child of All Good, you are born of Eternal Day.There is no evening of the Soul, for it shall live forever.I t is Deathless and Perfect, Complete and One with the Everlasting.No thought of to-morrow can disturb the calm of him who knows

that Life is one Eternal Day.No fear can enter where Love reigns, and Reason keeps faith with

Hope.T h e thoughts of the to-morrows and the yesterdays are swallowed

up in the great realization of the Perfect Here and the Com­plete Now.

To-day I completely accept my wholeness.

II

T H E LA W A N D T H E W O R D

IN the study of Religious Science we learn that the sequence of the creative order is first, intelligence; next, the move­

ment of intelligence, which is the concept, the word or the idea; then the law moving in accord with the movement of intelligence; then, creation.

Whatever the nature of the physical universe is—and no one knows what it is—it is certainly not an illusion. Creation, or visible form, is necessary to the life of the Spirit for with­out it the Spirit would be unexpressed. As time is a creature of eternity, so form also is the creation of time, and both time and form are forever necessary to self-expression, whether considered from the view-point of the individual or the uni­versal life.

Let us never think of creation as an illusion, or of things as being evil in themselves. The illusion is never in the thing but always in the way we look at it. The infinite variations of life, the eternal manifestations of creation, though in chang­ing forms, all point to the fact that the Infinite clothes Itself in form in order that I t may enjoy Its own Being. I t must do this through the power of Its own imagination backed by the law of Its own word. There is no other possible conclusion to which we can arrive.

Man as the complement of the Spirit is of the image of the Father; partaking of the Divine nature he must also have an inherent power within, which is creative. This creative power immanent in man, is not placed there by the disposition of his own will nor through the imagination of his own thought, but should be considered rather as the nature of his being.

In other words we should not attempt to explain why ulti­mate truths are true; they are true because they are true. Having discovered them there is nothing left other than to accept and utilize them.

If there is any truth relative to the individual life which is of greater importance than this, it is that the thought of man deals with a creative agency or power. From this he can never escape. Our word—our thought—our imagination— are all creative. W e did not hang the stars in space nor set the lofty

peaks overlooking the sea, but we have imagined unhappiness and we do experience in life the outward manifestation of our inward convictions. The greatest discovery ever made is the discovery of the power of thought. Thought is an actual force dealing with the same kind of potential creative power in the universe of which only this can be said: “It Is.”

Our thought operates independently of conditions and has the possibility of transcending circumstances as they now are, and causing new ones to be created. However, we should bear in mind that this creative power is only set in motion by our thought. The power itself belongs to the universe and no man made it. All that we can do is to accept, believe and use it.

But while we continuously remould thought according to the pattern of ancient ideas we remain bound by previous opinion, bias and prejudice. W e must do something to break down the walls of experience and expand the vision of the soul. Here our imagination comes into play enabling us to conceive a greater good.

Neither the will nor the intellect is creative, they simply decide what the thought, the emotion and the imagination shall respond to. One who would rise above previous con­ditions, transcend intolerable limitations and create a better situation for himself must deliberately turn, in his imagina­tion and thought, from the old order and with a calm but flexible determination, endeavor to contemplate only the good, the beautiful and the true. He should refuse to admit into his consciousness any controversy or argument, compel himself to know and to accept that in the apparent isolation of his own soul, from the genius of his own thought, he is moulding an individualized destiny out of the stuff from which all form emanates.

M E D IT A T IO N

Nothing Can H inder

Nothing can hinder my W ord from working;I t will work, and nothing can stop it.M y word is the Law unto that thing whereunto it is spoken, and

will become fulfilled in the right way and at the right time.M y W ord is complete and perfect, and is the presence and the

Power of the One M ind that is in and through all.I speak that W ord and know that it will accomplish.I wait in perfect confidence for the W ord to fulfill itself in my life.

M y W ord is law.

I I I

IN C R E A S IN G P R O S P E R IT Y

PR O S P E R IT Y is a state of mind. The universe abounds with good. “To him that hath shall be given.” W e are all familiar with these statements and they are either true or

false. All truth resolves itself into this self-evident fact, that the universe must be a sustaining and self-perpetuating spir­itual order amply able to provide for its own needs, and to adequately express its own inherent desires.

Man is some part of the universe. W hy then is he limited unless it be that he has contradicted the fundamental prin­ciples of self-existence and, in ignorance of his true nature, repudiated the greater claim which he might have made upon the universe?

Prosperity is a state of mind. Activity is also a state of mind; and the law of compensation is an invisible but infal­lible government of Divine order. I t is done unto us as we believe, but belief is largely subjective and we are all more or less marked by the grooves of experience, a large part of which has been adverse.

Those who wish to demonstrate the supremacy of spiritual thought force over apparent material resistance must claim and know, in their own thought, that there is a Divine Intelli­gence directing them.

There are those who will deny the possibility of a Divine guidance but they have not thought the matter through to its final conclusion. Let those who believe not only affirm the presence, and accept the guidance of such an Intelligence but let them no longer mentally contradict it. The revelation of the ages affirms this position and the findings of modern sci­ence have failed to substantiate its denial.

The universe would be incomplete if man were not ex­pressed. That principle which so lavishly distributes the heavenly bodies, peopling the Infinite reaches of space with personifications of itself must have both the intelligence and the ability to provide for man’s needs. How then can we deny ourselves the privilege of its personal attention? Some will say that such an Infinite thing cannot be personal. Here

again this attitude of mind has not contemplated the full measure of Reality.

The Spirit personifies in and through everything—the rose the blade of grass, the mineral, animal and human kingdoms. Each and all are specific demonstrations of the ability and the desire of the Universal Mind to find concrete expression. Have we not a vision and a visioning faculty enabling us to perceive and conceive? Is not this inner imagery the mani­festation in us of that universal contemplative intelligence which creates through the mandate of its own word?

Are we not conscious centers of intention, volition and per­sonified action? When Jesus prayed, “Our Father which art in heaven” he was not seeking to communicate with some God apart from himself but rather to stir up the Divinity that was in him and to arouse his own intellect to the realiza­tion that God indwelt his own soul. Infinite as the Spirit is, eternal and limitless as life must be, it is yet directly per­sonal, through its own personification, to all who approach it. j The visioning faculty of our minds is a Divine heritage and when our imaginations and intellects and emotions shall have learned to respond only to the good, the good alone shall re­spond to us. It responds by corresponding.

All thoughts of doubt and fear must be resolutely banished from the mind. W e must learn to build upon faith, live in a state of conscious receptivity and enthusiastic expectation. Let us no longer limit the future possibility of eternal progress in our own lives and affairs. W e are living in a spiritual universe and we should gain this realization—that the universe re­sponds to us as we respond to it. “Be firm and ye shall be made firm.”

M E D IT A T IO N

M y Business

M y business is directed by Divine Intelligence.T he All-Knowing M ind knows what to do and how to do it.I do not hinder, but let I t operate in my affairs.I t prospers and directs me and controls my life.M y affairs are managed by Love, and directed by Wisdom, and they

cannot fail to prosper and expand.

M y affairs are in H is hands.

IV

PEA CE, P O IS E A N D P O W E R

EM E R S O N tells us that “the finite alone has wrought and suffered, the Infinite lies stretched in smiling repose.”

What a marvelous concept is this; the eternal principle of life is forever in repose. Why? Because it has no adversary. “I will contend with him that contendeth with thee,” is a state­ment of the law of cause and effect and means this, that har­mony overcomes discord.

Again it is written that the words of God are “Yea and Amen,” which signifies that for God to know is to be.

Suppose one could reach the place where he no longer con­templated adverse conditions, opposing forces or divided pow­ers of good and evil. Would he not be at peace, his mind tranquil? Could he ever again be afraid?

We lack peace because we have torn the universe into pieces and set one agency against another. The din and roar of the human conflict has so filled our ears with discord that we no longer hear the heavenly voices. Our eyes have become so blinded by self-grief and self-inflicted wounds that we do not even behold the harmony of nature. Power cannot come out of confusion. Power is the child of peace and poise, the union of which must forever give it birth.

Let us contemplate strength and forget weakness; let us meditate upon peace and poise forgetting the confusion. The first step toward this goal is a realization of the integrity and the eternity of our own being, and of that Universal W hole­ness from which we spring and in and by which we live. From such contemplation comes the establishment, not of a self-centered life, but of a life centered in the Eternal Self— not egotism but egoism.

W hat if our immediate universe does tremble to its very foundations. W hat if the “slings and arrows of an out­rageous fortune” are apparently directed toward us, shall not that armor of faith shatter them in dust at our feet?

Who can measure life by one experience, or estimate the possibilities of the soul by the slight observations of any short

period of time. The soul knows no limits but finds itself eternally merged with the One whose only answer to man is,“Yea.”

M E D IT A T IO N S

M y Atmosphere

M y atmosphere is attracting the Good; it is constantly on the alert to see and know the Good, and to bring it into my experience.

There is that within me that calls forth abundance and happi­ness from Life. I am surrounded w ith an atmosphere of Peace,Poise and Power.

All who come in contact with that great Calm of my Life are made strong and confident, are healed and blessed.

“Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.”

I am hid with Christ in God.

Peace, Poise and Power

Peace, Poise and Power are within me, for they are the w it­nesses of the Inner Spirit of all T ru th , Love and Wisdom.

I am at peace within me, and all about responds to that Great Calm of the Inner Soul which knows its rightful place in the All Good.

Power is born from within me and passes into my experience w ithout effort or labor.

I rest in Security and Peace, for the Inner Light shines forth and illumines the way.

I rest in thee.

ImmortalityBy G la d y s C. L u n d y

The petals have blown from the flower, The calyx seems naked and cold,But the seed of Perfection lies dormant Ready again to unfold.

Man becomes faded and weary,His body is shaken and torn,But Christ is enthroned within him, Ready again to be born.

Tho life may seem purposeless effort, A n d death seem the ultimate goal,I know that God is incarnate,A n d ready to progress my soul.

I open my mind to the Spirit,I open my soul to its Ray,A n d I know that God’s in His Heaven, A n d ready to show me the Way.

The Creative Power of the MindBy C h r ist ia n D. L arson

TH E R E is a power in the mind— in the deeper life of the mind—

that is creative; and it works through all the energies, activities, processes, faculties, thoughts, ideas and concepts of the mind. I t works so deeply and so thoroughly, in every aspect of mind and consciousness, that it causes the whole of the mind to become cre­ative. W e may say, then, that the mind is creative— forming, producing and creating continuously — and in myriads of ways.

T h e mind works, in all of its crea­tive activities, according to a certain law ; and to understand this law, and know how to give it definite direc­tion, is to take the creative power of the mind into our own hands com­pletely. Thus we may determine, in every mode and manner, what this power is to form, produce or create, in us; and for us. A gigantic achieve­m ent; for the individual who can do this, becomes a creator in his own do­main. H e may decide absolutely what this power is to produce in his own mind, in his own life, in his own world.

T he creative power of the mind is constantly in action— producing and creating—whether we give it specific direction or not. I t is there at work — working according to a certain law ; and all that we now are, or have, is the result of what this power has been doing for us— deep in the mind all these years. I t is not a

power that we have to place in ac­tion; it always is in action— produc­ing, producing continuously. W hat we seek to know is how it works, and the law through which it works, so that we may direct this power to pro­duce for us what we want— and only what we want.

W e specify only in small measure, as a rule, what we w ant this power to produce for us; and we do this indirectly most of the time— having little or no knowledge of the law. W e permit this power, in nearly all of its activities, to be directed by sug­gestions and impressions from w ith­out, by inherited tendencies and im­pulses from the unconscious; and by any dominant emotion, thought or desire. T h a t is why this power pro­duces so much that is useless or detri­mental; why it produces so much that we do not w ant; and why only a fraction of its activities, in the aver­age mind, is devoted to the creation of the worth while.

T his power is very g rea t; so great, in fact, that it can produce anything, in our own domain, that we may de­sire; but we have not, as a race, given definite and intelligent direction to this power; we have permitted habits and suggestions, and many other im­perfect agencies, to determine what this wonderful power should do and produce for us. N ot a complimentary situation. W e all may be forgiven.

however; we did not know; but now we do know.

This power is great enough to re­make our own lives according to the most perfect design conceivable; to remake our own worlds in like man­ner; and to create for us the future we desire— if we say so. But we have not said so; we have not spoken the w ord ; we have not given this power intelligent direction; that is why it has produced the commonplace, for nearly everyone, all down the cen­turies. Every individual, however, can take conscious control of this power; he can take this entire situa­tion into his own hands, and cause this power to produce for him exactly what is wanted. And as there is no limit to what this power can do, the possibilities b e c o m e numerous and amazing.

* * *

H ow This Power W orks

T he creative power of the mind works through a certain law ; a law that we may well designate as the great law in human life. I t is the law that determines what we are to ac­complish, w hat we are to become, and what the future is to be. And the reason for this can be simply ex­plained. T he sum-total of what we are, and what we have— all the issues of life, in fact— these things are the result of w hat the creative power of the mind is doing; and the great law determines w hat the creative power is to do, in us and for u s ; in what direc­tion it is to act; what it is to form, produce and create, and to what ex­tent.

T he great law is this: what we place deeply in the mind, this creative power will work for. W hat we place

deeply in the mind— in the form of a thought, image, picture or impression — this power will produce, develop, create, bring forth or enlarge upon ; and these things are sometimes en­larged upon enormously. And, also, what is already in the mind— in the form of habit, instinct or fixed belief — this power will continue to work for, perpetuate and bring forth.

W hat you place deeply in the mind, is received by this power as your “word” of instruction as to what you w ant done. If you place something there that is good— a good thought or a good idea— this power will work for that idea, and give it increasing life, action and expression. But if you place something there that is imper­fect, wrong or detrimental, this pow­er will work for that, and produce the wrong and the detrimental in your life.

T he creative power of the mind will work for that which you place deeply in the mind, no m atter what it is— the worst or the best. This power asks no questions. I t is there to do what you say; and everything that is placed deeply in the mind is accepted as “your say.” T his power does not judge in any matter. I t has no opinion, or advice, to offer as to what should, or should not, be done. I t is there to act upon your advice, your purpose, your desire. I t is there to form, build, produce, develop and create; and whatever you give it to work for— that is what it will pro­duce for you. T h a t is the law.

This power can produce illness or health, discord or harmony, weakness or strength, depression or happiness, failure or success— the worst of any­thing or the best of anything— de­pending upon what is placed deeply in the mind. I t is for each individual,

therefore, to decide what he is to place deeply in the mind. He cannot leave this vital situation to chance, suggestion, habit, race belief, nor any

other irresponsible agency. He must make this decision himself— the very best he knows— and stand by his de­cision “ though the heavens fall,” His whole life d e p e n d s upon i t ; his achievements, his attainments, his fu- ture— everything.

* *

The Use of the Law

T here are a n u m b e r of ways through which our selected thoughts, images, pictures and impressions may be placed in the mind— and placed deeply. T he first is definite purpose. Anything that we purpose to do, learn or accomplish will impress itself upon the mind— provided we purpose with the whole heart, and for some time. And, according to the law, that is what the creative power of the mind will work for. I t is the height of wisdom therefore, to purpose, with the whole heart, to achieve and real­ize the very best that life has to offer. T h e c r e a t i v e power within will, thereby, produce, in us and for us, more and more of the best as time goes on. W e will accomplish more and become more; and a better fu­ture will unfold.

T h e second way or method is found in positive expectation. W hat we continue to expect, deeply and positively, will impress itself in the mind, and receive the full attention of creative power. T h a t is why we usually get what we expect; and why we should never expect anything but the best— both for ourselves and for others. T he rule is this: what we

continue to expect, the creative power of the mind will work for; and w hat that power works for, will be real­ized in time— possibly, in a short time. T h a t power is great enough to work out anything, or cause anything to come true.

Appreciating this aspect of the law, we all should place before the mind, and in the mind, a number of great expectations; and it would be an ex­cellent plan to w rite out a program of great expectations — the best and the most wonderful that we could possibly vision, and for all phases of life— present and future. W e should concentrate on this program daily— with tremendous interest and enthusi­asm— deeply intent on realizing them all. These expectations w o u l d be worked for, behind the scenes in the mind, and one after the other would come true.

A most important fact, in connec­tion with the great law, should be noted here. T he creative power of the mind works more effectively, more intensely, and on a larger scale for that which is great, or wonderful, or deeply significant. I t is a waste of time, therefore, to expect the small or the commonplace. W e should en­tertain only great expectations. W e thereby call forth a larger measure of creative power; and to apply an in­creased measure of this power, is to secure greater results, and in less time. T h e same rule should be observed elsewhere in this great work. W h at­ever we place in the mind, for crea­tive power to work for, we should place the greatest and the most won­derful that we can feel, conceive or vision.

T o learn how to use this law, in the most effective manner, and for

the greatest good—that is our pur­pose; but it is also well to state where this law should not be used. W e should not permit this law to work with fear, worry, or other negatives. T o entertain fear, is to place thoughts, pictures and impressions of fear deep­ly in the m ind; and the creative power will work for those things. T h is power will work for anything that is placed deeply in the m ind; and what this power continues to work for, will come to pass. T h a t explains why our fears come upon us.

If we could meet threatening situa­tions, at any time, without placing thoughts of fear in the mind, the creative power within us would not work for those fears; and they would not come upon us. T he same is true of all worries, anxieties, and other negatives. W hen we keep them out of the heart — deeper feeling — they will never amount to anything. T o be able to do this, would mean incal­culable gain, for fear is our worst enemy; and this thing we all can learn to do.

(T o be continued in the M arch issue)

T A K E C O U R A G E , O H S O U L !

Oh soul of mine take courage and be As firm and poised as the sun above. Shine upon all with good cheer and love A nd thus let thy Maker be proud of thee.

— A lbert H. L u d z .

A Clinic For Sick Business

By C la renc e M ayer

Re g a r d l e s s of present successwe are all desirous of greater ac­

tivity. In the midst of tremendous activity we may be experiencing want and anxiety, for even in adversity there is activity. M entally we are either progressing or retrograding. As we glance over the month’s balance sheet we realize w ith sorrow or joy that our business is never at a stand­still. W hether this month it repre­sents gain or loss our business mani­fests activity. How to make it mani­fest activity that will keep us “out of the red” is a question of vital interest to all, an attractive subject for dis­cussion.

Now by the term “business” I do not mean necessarily a store, an office or a living room. Business in its largest sense IS activity regardless of whether a man or woman is the head of a great corporation, storekeeper, doctor, lawyer, musician, artist, pea­nut vender, steamboat peddler or the retired business man with an indi­vidual fortune.

As we observe nature we see a con­tinued manifestation of activity. All creation is expressing movement; the air even in a so-called dead calm has some slight m otion; stately clouds moving slowly or as in the commo­tion of a storm ; animals, birds and

fish expressing agility, energy, vivac­ity and alertness. Looking out into the further reaches of the universe we see evidences of tremendous forces that are never still. T h e planets re­volve in their orbits w ith incredible speed; other universes are in the proc­ess of evolution or dissolution and all beyond that manifestation of human confusion resulting in various acci­dents and cataclysms. Perhaps we may some day learn that many of the sorrows we now glibly ascribe to “an act of G od” are really the result of accumulated wrong thinking which must burst forth somewhere just as the boiling teakettle does when too full.

T here can be no question as to the reality of activity. W hat activity in reality IS, whether or not it is gov­erned by law, how I can align myself with this law and how I can use it in my business, is a question that con­cerns myself and all men.

* * *

T o any student of metaphysics it is merely a bromide to say that every problem whether physical, financial or one of human relationships must be resolved into thought. Now business is but the material expression of the

activity of Universal M ind. This ac­tivity is perfect— nothing ever hap­pened to it or can happen to it to make it anything less than perfect. Nothing you and I can ever do or think can magnify or diminish it. Fully to realize this is difficult for most people. Furtherm ore this ac­tivity of Universal M ind is “none of our business.” Somehow I discover the fact that whatever my business is it is not M Y business. T o the aver­age business man this statement will sound like a piece of nonsense and if he has read this article thus far he may turn the pages to new material or throw the magazine into the waste basket, concluding that just s u c h philosophy as this takes away one’s in­dividuality and all incentive. H ow ­ever insane it may seem, it is the T ru th .

M an is but the tool of the Infinite, an instrument through which the Eternal Life Force is expressing or operating. All there is of life as we know it, is expressing through us as individuals and consequently must be true. Having contemplated w riting this article for some time I have to­day seated myself at my typewriter and through the medium of this blessed invention I am expressing my­self. In the same way an artist with a bit of color paints a cow; the musi­cian with pen or pencil and perhaps a piano composes a masterpiece; the engineer plans a Boulder D am ; the business man plans a great advertising campaign through the medium of a newspaper or an advertising agency; the philanthropist plans a refuge for suffering humanity, ad infinitum.

* * *

Everyone may say business is poor. You say your business is “ run down”;

there are too many competitors in this particular field of activity; you have just about worn yourself out trying every way your fagged brain can devise to “make a go of it.” Re­cently a certain man said he had not made a penny in the last five years despite the fact that he had never worked harder. Reaching the end of the rope we are forced to take an­other inventory— this time not of our business but rather of ourself.

For a long time, you say, your af­fairs have not been as successful as they should be. You have tried every method you could lay hold of to fu r­ther your business. You spend the time away from your business in scheming, thinking and planning. You are out of bed early. You go to bed late and lie awake by the hour think­ing, thinking until you have grown u t­terly weary of it all, and what is the use anyway? You are either a suc­cess or a failure— you cannot be both at the same time. Possibly you are not a complete failure but certainly things are going badly. Life offers little interest, for you say, “now do not talk metaphysics to me for I have read it and tried to practice it these many moons and it simply does not work for me. I help people, loan them money but it does not return to me the way the good books say it will. These same good books say there is an Intelligence back of all things but how does it affect M Y affairs?”

Have you ever been guilty of such contemplation? I t is common to many people. Experience has taught me that it is false reasoning. T o talk about God, to rhapsodize about meta­physics, etc., is all very well, but we must connect up with it all. W e sit

about talking of the marvels of elec­tricity— how it will cook our food, heat our houses, freeze the ice, light our rooms and keep us cool. All true, yet how fantastic these things would have sounded to George W ashington and his generation! I am sweltering in my office today— whew, but it’s hot! In my closet is a perfectly good electric fan and in the room are sev­eral floor plugs. U ntil this very mo­ment the fan has been forgotten. How silly! Another case of “out of sight out of mind.” In a jiffy I have com­fort instead of discomfort, the fan has been placed near my desk, I plug in on the electric current and what a transformation! T h e fan was in the closet all of the time, the electricity wired in my office before it became mine and all of the time I have been acting like an ass!

* * *

Activity always has been and al­ways will be and is now! I t is a great big perfect activity going on all about me. If I do not make a success of my business, someone else will. John Rockefeller has his millions, John Smith is in the poor house. Both breathed the same air, ate practically the same food, had the same amount of brains ounce for ounce. I t is no credit to my ability to think, to real­ize that one did something that the other did not. I t is unthinkable that God sat somewhere in heaven giving the one certain inside information, withholding it from the other. T he fault lies not with God or the law of activity but with the individual. I must learn how to plug in on the cur­rent. In my worst moments I may feel that within me there isn’t much

intelligence but whatever I am it is nothing short of the law of activity working through me. T his great Life Force IS expressing through me but it can only manifest as I let it. In ­stead of storming the universe for the living “they” say I am entitled to, I must acquaint myself with the laws that govern life and use them. Jesus knew these laws and used them better than any known human. W e express these laws in modern psycho­logical terms. Jesus being an oriental and dealing with orientals used the language of his day— even now the easterner uses a majestic and poetic language which the occidental finds too tedious to fathom. Jesus said, “ Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things shall be added.” W ere he with us today he might voice the same thought in some such language as this: “ If you will seek to know something of the mental laws which govern life in all of its phases and intelligently ap­ply them, you need not be concerned with the results.”

* *

H ere then is the key to success: to find out what these laws are, how to use them and begin at once to apply them. Since there is an Intelli­gence back of all things which ex­presses itself in the perfect harmony of eternal activity (we see it all about us in nature) this Intelligence must be expressing harmoniously through us except when we, by individual wrong thinking, mess things up. I t is the privilege of human beings to block the flow of wisdom and intelli­gence. I t is man’s prerogative to choose and outline. T his answers the query that so often comes as to why we suf-

fer and are in so many difficulties, if this perfect activity exists and ex­presses in us. T h e G reat Psychologist recognized this doubt in man when He said, “Knock and it shall be open­ed, seek and ye shall find.” Here a great law is uncovered. Only by earnest and thoughtful yearning and seeking for knowledge coupled with expectancy and sincere endeavor, never giving up, can we attain. W e cannot hope to accomplish anything by that false philosophy of inactivity. A cer­tain Chinese sage said that all things came to the man who practiced per­fect inaction. T h is does not mean that we should spend our days meditating upon the glories of God, the laws of electricity, gravitation and what not. I t D O ES mean that we should plug in on the current and let the flow of intelligence come through without in­terference— expressed in the individ­ual as fear and worry. This is what Jesus meant when he told his follow­ers to take no t h o u g h t for the morrow.

If I have created in you a greater desire to understand and apply the laws of activity let me close with a prescription (meditation) f o r s i c k business, not signed by an M .D . but by an M .P., Meta-Physician, not a member of Parliam ent:—

From all of the fears, doubts, worries and confusion of life about me I tu rn to that Self within which recognizes Itself by my name— that place of infinite peace and calm, the same today, tomorrow and forever— the only place of quiet in the universe for me. This is my point of contact with God for it is the God- c o n s c i o u s n e s s within me.

Through this secret place of the M ost High cometh my help, the only intelligence and guidance I can ever know or experience. Like fish swimming in the sea I am pure spirit immersed in the sea of Infinity. Therefore I am a part of the perfect activity of Universal M ind and that which I call M Y business is but a ma­terial manifestation of this ac­tivity. In this sense it is not my business— I am a superintendent — an overseer of a certain prov­ince of activity. I express per­fect freedom of action. I cannot err in judgment for this perfect business is directed by Divine Contemplation which is express­ing Itself as a complete and per­fect manifestation of Its own sat­isfaction. M y recognition of the fact that Infinite Intelligence is manifesting through me gives me true courage which is the Light of T ru th , neutralizing and dis­pelling all doubt, fear and ad­verse thought operating in me to hinder or oppose my progress. This T ru th in me destroys all the negative subconscious accumu­lation of my conscious fear of the future and of all race, con­sciousness which would recognize poor business, loss, lack, illness of body or decrepitude as entities. I arise in the majesty of my recog­nition of my divine self which knows only success, abundance and the peace of mind which comes from this recognition. “Ye shall know the T ru th and the T ru th shall make you free”— this IS the T ru th , I A M free and my freedom is manifesting now in and through every chan­nel of my activity and I am grate­

ful for any glimpse of this T ru th apparent to me. M y gratitude is constructive in that I am able to

take a larger view of life with a greater faith because it is the faith of understanding.

A N E W B E G IN N IN G

B y D o r o t h y M. A s h t o n

D A W N — and the singing of birds. First a very fain t tw itter

is heard, then another from a nearby tree. T h e sun peeps over the distant hills, driving away the shades o f night and flooding the world with a golden radiance and innumerable lit­tle bird voices now join in this m orn­ing song o f greeting.

W hat a lesson we may learn from these little songsters! T h e ir first ac­tion on awakening is to praise God. W e, too, should greet each day with a song. W e, too, should thank God for the sunshine and let it invade our innermost being, driving away all the worries and cares o f the previous day and encouraging us to start anew. I f yesterday was not a success, we can make today w onderful, i f we carry a smile on our lips and joy in our hearts.

Each new day is a new beginning. I t brings new work to do, new joys to be discovered— an opportunity to make new plans and dream new dreams. W e all “ build castles in the air.” W hat would we ever ac­complish without our dreams? Every magnificent piece o f architecture, every w onderful invention, every beautiful picture, was first a dream. T he builder, the inventor, the artist,

had a vision of the thing he wished to create. He thought about it con­stantly, pictured it just as he wished it to be, and eventually his dream be­came a reality. So may all our most cherished dreams come true.

Have a vision and make it a big one. Emerson said: “ T he hand can­not execute anything higher than the mind can inspire,” showing us that everything must first originate in the mind. F ill your mind with beautiful thoughts and a w onderful vision and you will do w onderful things!

T hank God for the birds, the sun­shine, the flowers and the trees, all o f which He created fo r your enjoy­m ent and well-being. Be thankful for everything. T h e greatest prayer is the prayer o f gratitude and it opens the door that leads to happiness and success. By being thankful for all that we have, we attract to our­selves other w onderful things and experiences.

Open your heart and let the sun­shine in. A ll the clouds of doubt and fear w ill vanish and the way w ill be made plain. T he birds do not worry about tomorrow, they K N O W that their Heavenly Father feedeth them and watcheth over them. W ill he not also watch over you?

SA T U R D A Y , FEB R U A R Y 1

Every condition has a cause.Every condition, whether it be de­

sirable or undesirable, is the result of whatever causes that particular effect. T h e ways of God are not past finding out. T he declaration, “ the ways of God are past finding out,” is usually made by some one who is passing through an unpleasant experience, and who is unwilling or not wise enough to see in that experience the out- picturing of a mental cause. T o rebel against a condition, or to submit to it, is to perpetuate it. T he remedy lies in recognizing the fact that every condition has a cause— and then start­ing a new train of Cause and Effect by contemplating the sort of condi­tion one wishes to create.

SU N D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 2

I create my experiences.

O u r conditions may not express our hopes and aspirations, but they do ex­press our mental concepts. T h a t which the mind accepts the hands will touch. T he children of Israel were told that they would possess all the land that their eyes rested upon, — whatever the spiritual eye perceives the feet will tread. Fear causes a mental acceptance of the thing feared, and it is thereby created. T he same creative process is used for creating

both pleasant and unpleasant experi­ences. “T he fear of the Lord, (this creative process) is the beginning of wisdom.”

M O N D A Y , FEB R U A R Y 3

Things are the symbols of thought-patterns.

Things are not eternal. They are not spiritual entities. They are but the material forms of accepted ideas. A child playing on the floor with building-blocks depicts with t h o s e blocks the idea he has in mind, a bridge, a tower, a house, or a wall. T h e finished thing is the symbol of his thought-pattern. In much the same way we build with invisible blocks our accepted thought-patterns finding material expression. Form is the garment T hought wears.

T U E S D A Y , FEB R U A R Y 4

I am the Master of my Thoughts.

T o admit that we cannot, to some degree, control our thinking is an acknowledgment that we are insane. W hen a person is insane he is con­trolled by a thought or thoughts. I t is not easy to break a habit of thought, but it can be done. T his is best accomplished by substituting op­posites— for example the thought of prosperity for poverty. W hen the thought of poverty again presents i t ­

Daily Meditations

self, do as Jesus did and say, “Get thee hence, Satan.” If this is done each time a negative thought comes, you will soon establish yourself as M aster of your Thoughts.

W E D N E SD A Y , FEB R U A R Y 5

There is s o m e th in g that does unto me according to my belief.

T his “something” has been called by many names— the Law, the Lord, the M ind, the Soul, the Holy Ghost, the servant, the unconscious mind, etc. As students of Religious Science we usually speak of this “something” as subjective-mind. I t is a good name because it is subjective to the impress that is made upon it. Subjective-mind has two outstanding characteristics— first, it is receptive, and secondly, it is creative. I t can create only accord­ing to the belief that is impressed upon it. Jesus was speaking of this receptive, creative element when He said “T he things whatsoever you de­sire, when you pray, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall re­ceive them.”

T H U R S D A Y , FE B R U A R Y 6

Al l that the Father hath is mine.

M y spirit is the individualization of the Spirit of God. T he creative Law of God is mine to use. T he Sub­stance of God surrounds me and is responsive to me. Therefore I can truly say, “All that the Father hath is mine.”

I am the expression of a Divine Idea.

There is Only-the-One. This One has many names— Life, Love, the Spirit, etc., but the name which is all-inclusive is God. God expresses Himself, (or Itself) for the joy of Self-expression, because that is His nature. God’s expression of Himself individualized in self-conscious form is M an. I am— the expression of a Divine Idea.

SA TU R D A Y , FE B R U A R Y 8

M y thoughts are construc­tive.

By constructive thinking is meant thinking that will find its logical out­come in a condition that is the out- picturing of some attribute of God— in other words thinking that will re­sult in good. T he opposite of this kind of thinking is called negative or destructive thinking. Just as construc­tive thinking results in good, so nega­tive thinking results in what we call bad. M y thoughts are constructive.

SU N D A Y , FE B R U A R Y 9

There is only One Power, and it is mine to use.

W e all dislike to see a waste of good material, yet that is just what we are doing unless we are using the One Power to further our own best interests. Some may say, “that sounds like a very selfish teaching”— but let us remember that each “self” has the same privilege. T h e W ise Virgins could not give of the oil that was in their lamps. Let us let our lights

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7

shine by using the O ne Power to create for ourselves the Good Things, the God Things, which it is natural and normal that we should desire.

M O N D A Y , FE B R U A R Y 10

I am wisely employed.

Thought is creative, and we are thinking something all the time, there­fore we are creating something all the time. “Adam w h e r e a r t thou?” W here is your thought working? How are your mental processes em­ployed? Are you employed in the contemplation of your at-one-ment with all Good, w ith all God? O r are you, like Adam, engrossed in the ex­ternals? Believing externals to be all is not wise employment — it turned Adam out of paradise. T he outside has its place, and it is necessary, but when we believe it to be all, Eden is no longer our home.

TU E SD A Y , FE B R U A R Y 11

Health is manifestation of right thinking.

One cannot long entertain thoughts which are not in accord with T ru th and remain well. Fear and H ate are the two great enemies of Health, and Fear and H ate are the opposite of that which is the T ru th . Fear of death, poverty, loneliness, disaster, and hatred of those who have something we crave— these are roads that lead to sickness and disease. Therefore we may be reasonably sure that if we re­fuse to indulge in thoughts of fear and hate we shall manifest Health.

W E D N E SD A Y , F E BR UARY 12

Knowledge of the Truth makes me free.

To-day we do honor to Abraham Lincoln. H e is called the G reat Emancipator. Jesus gave to all man­kind the secret of freedom, “Ye shall know the T ru th , and the T ru th shall make you free.” W hat is T ru th ? T h a t we are One with God, in Spirit, Creative Power, and Substance is T ru th .

T H U R S D A Y , FEB R U A R Y 13

Nothing can impede my progress.

Progress is the law of life, there­fore it is the nature of man to wish to progress. W hen we permit the thought that something impedes our progress to gain a foothold in the mind we are likely to find our physi­cal foothold weakening. This is be­cause the feet and limbs are the in­struments for progress on the mate­rial plane. Do not “ treat” the feet and limbs; convince the mind that nothing can impede your progress.

FR ID A Y , FE B R U A R Y 14

Salvation is of the Lord.T he only salvation we need is sal­

vation from the belief that we need salvation. T here is no lost soul, but there are many who believe that they are lost, and as long as this is their belief they suffer the agonies of the damned. Substitute the word Law for Lord (because it means the Law of Cause and Effect), and set this Law in motion with the belief, “ I am

One with Life, Love, and Supply,” and already your salvation is assured.

SA TU R D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 15

There is no age to Spirit.W e grow old in body because we

measure off our lives by days, months, and years. W hen, through this men- tal-malpractice, we have aged the body, the Spirit, knowing itself to be ageless, frees itself from the worn-out garment. I am birthless and death­less because the real I Am is God.

SU N D A Y , FE B R U A R Y 16

Substance is real, and re­sponds to me.

W e have learned that that which is held in consciousness has a material result. According to this same Law, G od’s consciousness of his own Being had a material result, and this was the primal, unseen Substance from which all material things are made. Now, we agree that God is Divine Intelligence, therefore the physical correlative of Intelligence must be in­telligent. T he chief characteristic of intelligence is responsiveness. T h e most intelligent child in school is most responsive to the teacher. T he Sub­stance from which all material things are made responds to M an because M an is the individualization of that Cosmic Intelligence which gave rise to it.

M O N D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 17

I am a Center of God Love .Every normal person craves love—

let us then make this impress of our­selves upon Subjective M ind: “ I am

a Center of God Love. This Love in me is a magnet for Love. I t attracts to me lovely friends, lovely situations and experiences. I t creates in me a loving, lovely, lovable personality.”

T U E SD A Y , FE B R U A R Y 18

There is just the right place for me.

No two people are alike therefore no one can take another’s place. Each one fills his own place. W e may not like the place we are filling but it is the right place, and the only one for us at the present time. However that does not mean that we cannot better our positions. T h e way is a mental way, namely, accepting mentally the place you wish to fill, think it, live it, feel it, love it, and give thanks for it, knowing that there is something that creates your mental acceptance into a condition.

W E D N E S D A Y , FEB R U A R Y 19

I rejoice in Prosperity.No normal person is content to

skimp along not knowing where his next meal is coming from. T h a t is because there is something instinctive in each one of us which knows that there is abundance. Now, we can only bring this unseen abundance into use as abundance fills our minds. T he outside is always like the inside, and if the mental concept is small and cramped the material manifestation will be that way also. “Unto him that hath shall be given, and from him that hath not shall be taken even the little that he hath.”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

I declare my own Perfec­tion.

Jesus said, “ Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.” Emerson said, “ Declare your own perfection.” T he perfection of God is made manifest in M an in proportion as M an recog­nizes h i m s e l f to be God-as-Man. There is no danger of becoming ego­tistical for we look ever to the Source of our Being. H e is Life, Love, and Wisdom, finding self-conscious ex­pression in M an.

FR ID A Y , FE B R U A R Y 21

I am one with all L i fe .Since there is but the One Spirit of

Life, the life of the flower is one with the life of the butterfly and one with the life of the little child who revels in their beauty. T he more we sense the bond that knits together all creation the more Harmony, Peace, Heaven will be expressed in our lives.

SA TU R D A Y , FE B R U A R Y 22

I deal fairly with myself and others.

I “see in others my other selves.” “Love thy neighbor as thyself”— not better nor worse. Give to another as to thyself, and give to thyself as to another. Let each know himself as a center of God Life, realizing that this is true of others also— then shall there be fair dealing in very truth. W e honor W ashington as one who per­sonified high ideals of fair dealing.

The power of choice is my birthright.

God does not force; Love does not compel. W e are made in the image and likeness of Freedom, therefore we have the power of choice. If we choose to think in such way that misery results we are unhappy. This is because we are made in the image of Love as well as in the image of Freedom. Through suffering as a natural result of our own negative thinking we eventually learn to choose mental concepts which will find their logical outcome in conditions and ex­periences which are the expressions of God-qualities.

M O N D A Y , FE B R U A R Y 24

I keep my tongue from evil, and my lips from speaking guile.

W ords do not return unto us void, but accomplish that for which they were spoken. T he spoken word is powerful, and returns ladened to the speaker. All things work in circles, and thoughts are no exception. T he guile we speak must first be conceived as a thought, and that which we think determines our own experiences. Emerson says, “ He who would injure another but beats his own naked breast.” I keep my tongue from evil, and my lips from speaking guile.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

I am guided in ways of Wisdom.

One can develop the habit of con­fused thought, or the habit of peace­ful, orderly thought. “ O rder is Heav­en’s first law.” W hen the mind is orderly the affairs will be also. I act wisely and well. I rely upon Infinite W isdom to guide me. Divine Intelli­gence is operating through all I think, say, and do.

W E D N E SD A Y , FEB R U A R Y 26

The Peace of God is my Peace here and now.

“ Beloved, now are we the sons of G od.” Now, right here where I am, it is possible to experience that peace of God which passeth all understand­ing. T h e more consciously aware we become of our at-one-ment with the Father, the more fully the peace of God will be expressed in all our af­fairs. Peace is the Pearl of Great Price.

I attract that which is like myself.

All of our affairs express us. If we are not satisfied to be described by our conditions we must change our manner of thinking about ourselves. Nothing happens by chance, and the good that comes to us is irresistibly drawn— and so with that which is not good. W e are content only when experiencing good — that is because “the real self” is God, Good. T o the extent we recognize this, only Good will be manifest in our conditions.

FR ID A Y , FEB R U A R Y 28

I am complete.

Every living soul is a complete spiritual entity. W e are not halves, or quarters of other people. I am made in the image and likeness of that which is W hole, Complete, and Perfect— all Good is where I am.

Questions and AnswersA nsw ers by E r n e st H olm es

Getting N ew Start

Q u e s t i o n — A few years ago we lost a great deal o f money. Since then it has been hard to get a good start. Now we have become interested in a business which looks good but we need some help to overcome fear. Please tell us how to proceed to feel assured o f prosperity and right action in this business.— G lendale, C alif.

A n sw er— I should work to know that the Spirit o f T ru th within me, which is God, and which is perfect intelligence as well as right action, is directing every move and compelling right action in every instance in my life. W ork to remove not only the sense of doubt but also the sense of loss. T he mind should come to sense that there has been no real loss, since the Spirit of wholeness can never lose anything. T he whole endeavor in mental treatm ent is to bring to the mind a realization that this Spirit of wholeness is our own active spirit right now producing right results in every­thing we do. Shift the burden of any sense o f load or any personal responsi­bility over into the sense that the law is both willing and able to direct your actions and bring affairs into perfect harmony with itself.

Overcoming Irritation

Q u e s t i o n — People not only irritate me but I much prefer to be alone. A con­dition over which I worry lately is, that I do not trust my fellow beings. It used to be simply a desire to be le f t alone. Now it is an actual fear o f what this one

might say or that one m ight do. How can I overcome this?— Los Angeles.

A n sw er— Perhaps you need to treat yourself in a m anner similar to that outlined in the question just preceding. Know that there is noth­ing in people which can irritate you and nothing in you, which can irritate people. T ry to gain a broadgauged, tolerant attitude toward life. A fter all, no one has yet completely attained perfection and we are all children in T ru th , all travelers on the road. W e all make mistakes and most o f these mistakes should be overlooked. Some­day we shall learn not to be confused; we shall see through the outward d if­ferences to the inner unity o f all life. In this way we join forces with the best that is in people and thereby bring the good to the surface. T ry this for awhile and see what effect it will have.

W ants a HomeQ u e s t i o n — Please tell me how to

overcome fear, jealousy and hatred. I want a home o f my own. W e are living with my husband’s people. Please tell me how to get my home and all I have asked for.— A rlington, C alif.

A n sw er— You should seek to find your right place in the Divine M ind. Put away all sense o f jealousy or hatred, which perhaps, has arisen from misunderstanding, confusion and suspicion. Know that you are now living in a perfect universe peo­pled with perfect and friendly beings. T ry to bring the whole condition into

a state of harmony and unity and no doubt you will find yourself located in a happy environment.

Tenseness in ThroatQ u e s t i o n — H ow may I overcome a

feeling o f tenseness in the throat? It is more o f an aching sensation than o f de­cided pain.— G lendale, C alif.

A n sw e r— T his condition may re­sult from several causes; one of which m ight be sensitiveness, another might be, mental strain or fear. T rea t to know that you are relaxed in the Spirit o f T ru th ,— that there is no fear, nor hurt, nor sensitiveness, nor doubt. I believe if your mind can sense a com­plete peace the trouble from which you are suffering w ill entirely dis­appear.

Definition o f HeavenQ u e s t i o n —O n page 6 o f the booklet,

“ W hat W e Believe and W hy W e Believe It ,” I find this statem ent: “ I f Heaven is the abode o f G od, and if the Kingdom of Heaven is w ithin, then it follows that God is w ith in .” From this, I surmise that each body is in Heaven, (or a part o f it) and that all physical bodies together con­stitute Heaven. Do I get the correct idea?— Liberal, Mo.

A nsw er— It is a very ancient teaching that the body is a microcosm, or a little world w ithin the macro­cosm, or the big world. From this sense each being is a heaven within him self but, o f course, we are dealing with an Infinite universe and no one person comprehends Infinity, nor ever w ill. In this lies the hope o f eternal unfoldm ent and limitless expansion. M eanwhile, the only God we can know is the God which our minds rec­ognize. Hence, God to each individ­ual is always an indwelling as well as an overdwelling presence. T his does

not mean, however, that we create God, which of course we do not do, but it does mean that through the un­foldm ent o f our own consciousness we gain higher and higher concepts of reality and this is the meaning of evolution. God must be Infinite con­sciousness, and the physical universe must be what we m ight term the ob­jective body o f this Infinite conscious­ness, including all individual bodies either of plants, animals or men, that which is animate and that which seems inanimate.

W hen Business is Poor.Q u e s t io n : H ow w ould you handle the

idea of poor business?— Los A ngeles.Q u e s t i o n : W hen the volum e of busi­

ness in a certain line is lim ited and there are several companies after it, how do you dispose of the reality of com petition?— Los A ngeles.

A n s w e r : W e would handle theidea of poor business through the counter realization that the Divine M ind is ever operating in our affairs and that there can be no inaction in this M ind. If our thought rises to the place where we perceive that there is no competition and no mono­poly, it will either prove to us, in our immediate business, that we have no competitors whom we need to fear or, the result will be that we shall be brought into some field of action where there will be no need to think of competition.

Is Personal E ffort Needed?Q u e s t i o n : If the m ind is everything

and controls our circum stances should it be necessary for us to take any steps our­selves to bring about the desired result? — Los Angeles.

A n s w e r : W hen we say that in­telligence governs all life we are not

denying the objective world, for the lower form of intelligence is included within the higher and where there is intelligent guidance there will also be intelligent direction in objective af­fairs. W hen one is seeking to demon­strate the supremacy of spiritual thought force over apparent material resistance he should not hestitate to take such action as seems compatible with good judgment, declaring that the intelligence flowing through him, which is Divine, will not let him make a mistake.

M ust M en W ork O ut God's Ideas?

Q u e s t io n : Are there ideas of asupreme power that must be worked out by human beings?— Los A ngeles.

A n s w e r : T h a t we are surround­ed by an Infinite Intelligence seems to be an inevitable conclusion and one arrived at by most of the deep thinkers either in the field of religion, science or philosophy. T h a t the tend­ency of this intelligence in the ma­terial world is to further unfold it­self through the evolution of objec­tive life, is accepted by nearly all peo­ple, hence, it seems necessary to con­clude that certain ideas are being being worked out, chief of which is the experience and continuous prog­ression of the individual life. W e might look at the proposition from a different angle and say that since ev­ery normal being loves there must be in the universe an impulse to love, which impulse we would call a D i­vine idea of a universal urge appar­ent in all things. Hence man would come into the fulfillment of this idea only through the existence of it in his own consciousness. Therefore the man whose love would be the most complete would in this way be most

perfectly manifesting a Divine idea of the Supreme Intelligence.

Taking T im e to M editate .Q u e s t io n : I find it very helpful to

spend a little time every day in silent meditation, but the trouble is my life is very busy and I can’t seem to get into a regular habit of it. D o you recommend regular m editation each day?— Los A n g e­les.

A n s w e r : T here is no questionbut daily meditation produces a di­rect result. I t is advisable to spend a certain time every day in the silent contemplation of our own being and its relationship to the universe which is one of unity. I t is necessary to find time each day silently to recognize and definitely state that Divine In ­telligence governs our affairs and that an immutable law of good controls our destiny, bringing into our ex­perience that which is happily pros­perous and of the nature of well­being. Such meditation cannot fail to produce salutary effects. In addition to these moments of intellectual seclusion where the thought turns en­tirely from the objective to the spirit­ual world there should gradually come to us the habitual mental a tti­tude of the affirmative life, thus pro­ducing in time an affirmative sub­jective reaction. W hen the subjective state of our thought and action shall be, and in such degree as it is, in ac­cord with Eternal Reality we shall find the corresponding action in our objective world to more nearly meas­ure with our hearts.

M eeting Obligations.Q u e s t i o n : M y husband is fine, honor-

able and loving, but w ithout a back­ground of belief in orthodox religion. H e has been trying to apply N ew T hought principles, but suffers from fear, anxiety

and worry. H e has too little confidence in him self to drive a car, w hich is a handicap in his business. W e have con­siderable excellent vacant property w hich w e cannot turn to meet our honest ob­ligations, som ething w e have a lw ays met. H ow m ay w e demonstrate freedom from these lim itations?— Los A ngeles.

A n s w e r : I should work to know that everything in my life and affairs is controlled by Divine Intelligence and by this I mean to take a definite time every day to declare that the Spirit of Intelligence is guiding and controlling everything in my life meeting all my needs and supplying every desire which is legitimate. W hen this kind of work is consistent­ly done and when the mind actually accepts it demonstrations will follow. I should not worry about my hus­band’s religion but leave him intel­lectually and spiritually free. W e are all individuals and each must light his own particular path to the City of Perfection.

Selling a House.Q u e s t i o n : H ow can I solve this prob­

lem ? O ver five years ago w e bought our house and im proved it to sell, but no­body ever looks at it and the upkeep is more than w e can afford.— Los Angeles.

A n s w e r : I should treat to knowthat there is someone who will be happy in this house and who really desires it; and that the intelligence in them, being the same intelligence which is in me, will bring us togeth­er. This is not hypnotic suggestion since no particular person should ever be held in mind, but the aspiration should be sent into the universal con­sciousness with a definite acceptance that the persons who will be happy in this home will be brought to it and the way made possible for them to purchase it.

Better and Happier Life.Q u e s t i o n : D o you believe w e return

to this earth again years after passing from this life or is our sojourn here just a preparation for a better and a happier life?—Huntington Park, C alif.

A n s w e r : I do not believe in anyreturn to the earth if by that you mean being born in the flesh and go­ing through the same experiences which we are now going through. It seems to me more reasonable to be­lieve in a straight progression. H ow­ever, many excellent and able people have believed in physical re-incarna­tion. T o me the idea of re-embodi­ment is more attractive and more log­ical and I accept this position in its entirety,— a straight progression of the soul,— undoubtedly passing through many planes but never for a moment losing consciousness of itself.

Change in Conditions.Q u e s t i o n : A fter experiencing much

help from mental work my husband’s business seemed to go backward again. W e were so happy and hopeful, please tell us the cause of this change in con­ditions.— H ollyw ood, C alif.

A n s w e r : T rea t to know thatthere can be no backward steps, no reversal of constructive conditions and nothing in you to believe in any. Re-affirm the tru th and re-establish all the peace you have ever experi­enced as being a continuous activity in your life. Know that the word which you speak is the T ru th and that there is nothing in you which can hinder it from operating.

Age Lim it in Business.Q u e s t i o n : I have no business and no

employment. I have sought d iligently for weeks but everyw here have been met w ith the age lim itation (m y age being 53

yea rs ) and also w ith the bond require- m ent and other conditions which I could not meet. H ow can I solve this problem? — Los Angeles.

A n s w e r : Formulate your treat­ment so as to make it independent of the belief in age or of any other condition. T he treatm ent should be the thing since it is the cause of that which is to be created. Place ab­solute reliance upon your treatment and let it be free from any sense of limitation. Allow the treatment to be an absolute entity in the mental world. Speak it into consciousness w ith the full expectancy that it will accomplish and with a complete re­ceptivity to the result which your mind now agrees will be forthcom­ing.

Avoiding Depression.

Q u e s t i o n : T h e doctor told I w asa “prize w inner” on account of my rapid recovery. A feelin g of great peace and content comes to me, but at times it is replaced by depression. H ow can I help fa llin g back into this feeling of depres­sion.— La Verne, C alif.

A n s w e r : T he sense of depres­sion which comes to us is a subjective throw-back which means that the sub­jective mind is not entirely freed from a sense of unease and uncer­tainty. Just continue in your good work and you will eventually be free.

Denials or A ffi rmations?Q u e s t i o n : In m ental work should one

use denials or is it better to affirm only? — N ew York, N. Y.

A n s w e r : Denials and affirma­tions are really the same thing. In the last analysis the mind can only affirm since its denial is an affirmation in the form of a denial. I should not worry much over the particular

method but rather seek to convince the mind of the reality of spiritual existence here and now.

The M enta l Equivalent.Q u e s t io n : Can you g ive me a clearer

understanding of the term, “M ental E quivalent?”— Seattle, W n.

A n s w e r : By mental equivalentis meant the subjective embodiment of an objective desire. T o further ex­plain;— when the subjective state of our thought no longer denies our ob­jective concepts, and in so far as these objective concepts are in accord with reality, then will our demonstrations be made.

Alertness in Business.

Q u e s t io n : M y husband is trying toovercome the sm oking habit and seems unusually irritable. H e seems in a lacka­daisical frame of mind as to his business and is not alert in his business affairs. H ow can I meet this problem?— Long Beach, Calif.

A n s w e r : Personally I shouldnot consider smoking a problem but the general theory of practitioners re­lative to any undesirable habit is to treat to know that the mind is free from this particular desire. Perhaps in this specific instance it would be well to treat for the realization of an alert consciousness and a keen com­prehension of life and affairs. Seek to sense mental alertness in the one whom you are helping. This includes right physical activity.

A Professional Problem

Q u e s t io n : I am unable to attract busi­ness in my profession. I have tried con­sistently and earnestly to “Be still and know” that all is w ell. I sincerely w ish to se rv e ; I do not think first of the money.I have prayed that I m ay have an aver­

age of 20 patients a day. Is this unscien­tific? I f so, how shall I w ork?— Seattle, W n.

A n s w e r : I would not treat tohave any particular number of people come to me for this is a sense of lim­itation, but I should work to know that the continuous activity of the Spirit is manifest in my life and affairs and that those people whom I am able to help will be consciously and definitely directed to me and that there is nothing in me which can hinder my word from accomplishing.

Changing Professions.Q u e s t i o n : I am in the business world,

but have been trained for and love the artistic in the realm of m usic and drama. H ow m ay I get back into work that I love?— Los A ngeles.

A n s w e r : T rea t to know thatyou are now in the place which will best express you, which will bring to you the greatest degree of happiness which will the most perfectly express through you Divine Wisdom, Intel­ligence and Love. Place yourself in

mind and in spirit in unity with your desire and stay there until it objecti­fies.

Subconscious Communication

Q u e s t i o n : I s it possible for the sub­conscious mind of one person to com muni­cate w ith the subconscious mind of anoth­er?— Los Angeles.

A n s w e r : I t is possible for thesubconscious mind of one person to communicate with that of another. In all probability there is a continuous subjective conversation going on be­tween those who are sympathetically inclined toward each other, and un­questionably the subjective reactions of the race consciousness constitute what psychology calls the collective unconscious, what we call the race mind, and what the Bible calls the carnal mind, which exerts a very great influence over all people. T he fact of subjective communication is easily proven by the simple experi­ment of sitting with someone who is grief stricken and receiving the sub­jective atmosphere of his thought.

Do You Believe In Prayer?By R. B. Page

“You do not believe in the effi­cacy of prayer?”

“ No. I have prayed and prayed and prayed for things and I have never received them. God is cruel and unm ercifu l!”

T hus spoke the woman whose brow was wrinkled and hardened by adverse contact with life— whose head was bowed in bitterness, not contrition — whose shoulders were stooped with anxieties and perplex­ities, not honest toil— whose eyes were dimmed, not by com forting tears of repentance, but by burning tears o f hatred towards “L ife and Fate,” as she had said.

“ W hat do you mean by prayer or rather what does prayer mean to you?” I asked.

She quickly answered, “ I t means asking God for something that you w ant.”

“ Perhaps you are right, dear, maybe we mean the same thing— only say it in different words. I ’ll tell you what prayer means to me: Prayer is simply desire directed into Universal Consciousness— and when in sincere desire or quiet meditation we invoke the assistance or co-opera- tion o f this Omniscient, Omnipotent Universal Intelligence, we are but attuning our individual consciousness with the Universal. W hen we do this sincerely, unselfishly and trust­ingly we become as one with the

Universal and need but watch the Law unfold— m anifest. I do not pray for definite material conditions or things— I pray that I might have the understanding so to synchronize my functioning in the material, m en­tal and spiritual that I may be in attune with the E ternal Law— that my thoughts w ill so reflect this syn­chronization that they will m anifest its perfection— that my deeds may be but a utilization or application of this perfect manifestation in order that all might blend in one accord. I f I can grasp this understanding there is need o f naught else, fo r it brings peace and joy and happiness in its wake— this in itself incomparable wealth! Pray fo r this understand­ing, dear, and you will l if t your head towards the stars and your back will unbend as your head is so uplifted and your eyes will be bright with a Light fa r brighter than that of the stars because through them will shine the Em anating L ight Divine— that lifts the veil o f dark, discordant mis­understanding.

“ Maybe you w ill like this little prayer that came to me many years ago: Supreme Intelligence, grant me the understanding o f T hy Im m ut­able Law that I m ight overcome all imperfections and influences o f the flesh; making o f my body, mind and spirit a harmonious whole, thereby demonstrating the T ru th o f E ternal W isdom !”

That State Called Health

By L. B. C rozier

WH A T is H ealth? H ealth is the natural state of being. I t

is the manifestation of Infinite Per­fection, realized in the individual consciousness. Its manifestations par­take of and reflect the Cosmic quali­ties of its causation. T o the degree that M an realizes and embodies these elements and principles, does he mani­fest and enjoy this God-given herit­age. T he Law of H ealth In Ope­ration serves one to the degree that he obeys it.

“T he Kingdom of Heaven is W ithin You.” M an, as an individual, does with himself as he wills. “God has made man upright, but he has sought out many inventions” . Behind the M an Form we see, is the Divine Image, or God Idea, regardless of the nature of man’s manifestation of his concept of this Image or Idea. I t is the embodiment and realization of this God Idea, with its consequent manifestations and experiences, that is the purpose or reason for man’s existence. T he qualities and nature of this Perfect Principle, exist in re­lative proportions, within the con­sciousness of each individual. I t is “the Kingdom of Heaven W ith in” referred to by Christ in his teachings.

Accordingly then, it is necessary that the individual intelligently real­ize his contact with this Creative Principle in order to experience and manifest, through the law of “Cause and Effect” , the qualities therein em­bodied. I t is a natural reaction. An understanding of this principle, is essentially vital either to successful living, or to realization of health and happiness.

T h e Law does not heal. I t is but the “way” that the Divine Idea be­hind it works. Spiritual Laws exe­cute themselves. T he perfection of Infinite Causation then, is individual­ly realized at M ans’ highest point of intelligent contact with this Causa­tion, or God Idea, which he represents.

I t is a potential, inherent quality, or entity, of the fabric of M an’s be­ing, for M an is a Divine Idea, mani­fested in form.

W e face the fact, however, that the original, perfect “ M odel” has not been closely studied by M an, if we judge the nature of his concept, or understanding, by the nature and quality of his manifestations, or re­production of this “ M odel.” Incom­plete, unpleasant “effects” , are the

logical result o f like concepts, or “causes”.

In the so-called “ vegetable w orld”, or “natural w orld”, as some term it, which is but one of the many mani­festations or “effects” , of the created, existing whole, there is one fact that stands out pre-eminently; it is, that upon a given plant no two parts ap­pear to be at the same point, or de­gree of development at the same time. For example, no two leaves are exactly the same shape, size or color, nor is the fruit in the same condi­tion, simultaneously, in regard to de­gree of ripeness.

Since life-forms, manifesting upon this plane, possess no apparent voli­tional powers, or self conscious facul­ty of selection or rejection, they can do naught but conform to and obey the conditions of the Law governing the expression of the Divine Idea they represent.

I t is significant, this example of evolutional change, with its constant birth, development, and final discard- ment from the parent stock, of the leaves, blossoms, fruits and seeds, when they have matured, or served their purpose.

N ature holds no brief for that part which, having fulfilled its pur­pose, drops to the ground; for after all it falls in her own lap.

T h e paler, sun-hungry leaf, form­erly overshadowed by its fallen mate, now has room for growth and ex­pansion heretofore denied by circum­stances.

Bound by the Law, the instinctive non-volitional life expresses its idea of God, in unfoldment and reproduc­tion, according to the laws of Crea­tive life. Its relative degree of per­fection is conditioned by environment,

beneficial, or otherwise. I t has ex­pressed a Creative Idea in “form” , at the point of its contact with “ Causa­tion”, or upon its relative plane of vibration.

T he most important condition to a complete understanding of this ex­perience, is the individual realization of the “part” to the “whole” . Only at this point of contact will the in­dividual receive the benefits, and see Causation in its true proportions. Cause and Effect demonstrate per­fect balance.

Life evolves from spirit.Just as all life is the result, in

form, of Spirit’s contemplation of I t ­self, this form partaking of the qual­ities and nature of Its causation, so will man’s life manifest to the de­gree that he not only realizes, but actually embodies, the elements of this Divine Cosmic Consciousness, and then standing out of the way, allows I t to express Itself, unhin­dered, through him.

W e are dealing primarily with M an’s relation to Cosmic Conscious­ness. M an, the evolved, instinctive, intuitive, volitional expression of God in Form. M an, manifesting upon the highest plane of vibration which human perception can realize, pos­sesses the potential power to realize his at-one-ness with the Infinite.

W hy then should M an experience disease and unhappiness when the Causation is Perfect? T he “ Idea” he represents, if carried to the relative Ultimate, contains all the elements he needs to experience this Divine Good, proportionately in his own consciousness. I t seems paradoxical, but it is true, that man is freed by the same law that binds him, and bound by the same Law that frees

him, (for there is only one Law): either experience depends upon whether he uses or abuses the Law.

T here are not two laws, one gov­erning health, the other disease, as before stated, there is only one Law in operation— the Cosmic Law of Creation. Health, then, is condition­ed only by the individual capacity to realize and embody his proportionate heritage of the Cosmic elements of this Law within his own personality. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

O ur present and past experiences are but the natural re-actions to our understanding of God. M an there­fore, is the exact reproduction of his mental equivalent of T h a t which is A ll.

“T ru th is the same yesterday, to­day, and forever” . T he true faith that is born of individual realization of M an’s unity with his Infinite Causation, is the natural sequence of his realization of the fact of this unity. “T he body is not conscious of life, but thought is conscious of the body” , and operating through it pro­duces “effects” , according to the na­ture of the thought held, or “cause” . “By your faith are ye healed” . And the best part of it is that faith can be intelligently realized, not blindly, but proven with “logic absolute” .

Let us learn to sense the presence of the thing desired. I t is within our­selves, awaiting self discovery. T he Law once set in motion, will repro­duce the equivalent we give to it, the pattern we expose to its sensitized

faculties it will re-create in form or experience. Let us be wise in our choice of pattern.

Logically, we know that the ulti­mate possibilities of humanity evolv­ing to a point of conscious contact w ith Infinite Causation and the cor­responding reactions, point the way to realization of the absolute com­pleteness of the Unconditioned Life. A t that point of realization, those so far evolved will experience and mani- fest naught save the nature and qual­ities of that which has been contact­ed, resulting in manifestations and experiences of health and happiness as well as material welfare.

But in the meantime there are those “on the way” . Judgment, im­plying rules of conduct for them, is not in our jurisdiction. Eventually T ru th will find Itself. W e should not attempt to condition the Law of T ru th in operation. It is futile, and reacts unfavorably upon our own de­velopment. Nor does the “time ele­ment” figure. T im e is “but the meas­ure of an experience.” Spirit is an unconditioned, all permeating, all embracing element, running “like quicksilver, through Creation’s veins” . I t is T he Idea behind all that exists. There is no limitation, or belief in limitation in Spirit.

W hatsoever is good, whatsoever is right, whatsoever is of good report, let us think of these things; they are Spiritual elements, and will repro­duce their prototype in our conscious­ness, to the degree that we embody the life-light of their substance.

Sum m ariesB y K a t h a r i n e M e r r i l l

M i n d , m a t t e r . Spirit-M indis origin, source, primary be­

ing, everywhere existent. T he activity of Spirit-Mind is thinking, thought- and-feeling. God is a name for Spirit- M ind, an unpersonalized intelligent harmonious power or force.

Spirit-M ind according to self-inher- ent laws and by Its very nature puts Its a c t iv i ty — thought-and-feeling— into embodiment. T his embodiment of Spirit-M ind activity— of thought- and-feeling— is called matter.

All forms, including human beings, are the result, the embodiment, of Spirit-M ind activity, of thought-and- feeling. They are individualizations of the original Spirit-M ind, shaped or formed according to Its ideas or pat­terns.

Spirit-M ind is one and indivisible. Yet to understand better and classify Its operations, men find convenient a hypothetical separation into two great phases, conscious and subjective.

Because of the foregoing facts, thought-and-feeling in human experi­ence cannot but be creative, efficient. And therefore the working of cause and effect is inescapable.

H E A L IN G . Hum an capability in thought-and-feeling is not unlimited. Hence there is ignorance of laws of Spirit-M ind energy. Right human thought-and-feeling is in h a r mo n y with th e se law s. W r o n g h u m a n thought-and-feeling is out of harmony with them or ignorant of them. Both right and wrong thought-and-feeling embody themselves in human experi­ence— in conditions of mind, body and

circumstances. But right thought-and- feeling has back of it the power of the inherent laws of Spirit-M ind energy. Hence right thought-and-feeling, even though not fully aware that it is right, yet insofar as it is right, cor­rects wrong thought-and-feeling and results— that is, it heals mind, body and circumstances.

T H O U G H T - C O M M U N IC A ­T IO N . There is only one universal Spirit-M ind. I t is an atmosphere in which all thought operates, and in which men, since they are composites of thought, live. Therefore com­muning through t h o u g h t b e t we e n original Spirit-M ind and Its individ­ualizations of Itself is part of the basic mental activity in the universe. In the human being this community takes specific forms, one of which is often called the Better Self. Con­science is another name. I t is wholly ethical, and is an urge within a man of Spirit-M ind toward a fuller ex­pression of Itself, toward the high and the good.

There are also less spiritual forms, of thought-communication which ex­ist between men and men. These forms are possible because the uni­versal subjective is a medium common to all men (like the air), and in it men inevitably place all thoughts and feelings, ethical or not.

One such form of thought-com­munication, which may have good re­sults and motives, is hypnotism; yet even so, as a method, hypnotism is never abstractly right, because it robs the one hypnotized of his divine priv­

ilege of thinking and acting for him­self. I t arrogates to the human sender of the influence the power, control and responsibility that are in tru th bestowed by Spirit-M ind separately on each of Its individualizations.

M ental telepathy is another form of thought-communication. I t is one’s reading of somebody’s subjective m ind; or it is the sending of messages from one mind to another w ithout external contact. T he ethics or unethics of this lie in the conscious use made of the information subjectively obtained.

Spirit-M ind is not a fixed mechan­ized th in g ; I t is alive, I t is primordial being, life. I t is expansion, growth, creativeness. N or are Its embodi­ments fixed and mechanized. They ex­press their origin, they possess the power of growth, transformation, de­velopment.

D E A T H . No atom or portion of Spirit-M ind energy is ever lost or wasted. I t cannot pass into nothing­ness, for there is no nothingness; all space and time being ideas or modes of activity of ever-present Spirit-Mind. And no embodiment or bit of matter either is ever lost or wasted. For em­bodiment or matter too is idea, is spiritual-mental. Embodiment under­goes expansion, transformation, but not destruction. W hat seems like de­struction is a humanly limited con­cept of growth or change. T he hu­man belief in destruction is very strong. W hen applied to rusting iron or greening copper, it is known to be chemical change. W hen applied to plants, animals and human beings it is called death, and is often felt to be mere extinction. But since in Spirit- M ind energy there is no destruction, the human concept of death is an ig­norance of Spirit-Mind laws and op­

erations. Hence the whole gigantic structure reared around death is on a false foundation, and must eventually pass out of human belief.

Each man is a distinct idea and in­dividualization in Spirit-M ind, differ­ent from every other. But his per­sonality is the result of his compre­hension of that individualization— c o mp r e h e n s i o n modified by race thought and dependent on his own thought. T he personality is a clouded image of the individualization. T he clouded image is what does evil and suffers evil. T he consciousness in­cludes both the inherent idea and the personality or clouded image. T he “immortal soul” is the inherent idea of Spirit-M ind— Its individualization in the man. This is permanent, being a part of the original Source. T he clouded image— that is, the external form or body and the particular con­sciousness associated w ith the inher­ent idea in its human phase— is not permanent, because full self-realiza­tion is prevented as yet by clouds of i n c o mp r e h e n s i o n . Just how much change, either in the consciousness or in the embodiment, occurs with the leaving of the earth-body, we do not know. Perhaps that varies with the degree of inner spiritual attainment. This seems reasonable, since the con­sciousness contains the most direct ex­pression of Spirit-M ind. I t can hard­ly be correct to say that at death the inherent idea is absorbed in God and loses individuality. By its very nature an idea cannot lose its individuality, for ideas are not made of losable stuff. Besides, an idea or “ immortal soul” cannot ever be more immersed in God than it is now, since the only life it can have is its being held in the unforgetting Spirit-M ind.

The Mind Cleansing Process

By C h i t t e n d e n T u r n e r

A T L E A S T a periodical necessity for mind cleansing is common­

ly recognized, but few persons, are diligent cleansers. T h e process is more often perceived as recreation from care than as the correction o f wrong thinking. As the form er it commands a fairly diligent observ­ance; there is plenty o f recreation. But when it comes to mental sanita­tion, an actual purification, this as a rule receives a casual or spasmodic attention, especially among those di- lettants whose avowed regard for truer living exceeds their willingness to take pains.

Considering the fact that the value o f mental rehabilitation is so readily demonstrated, it is astonish­ing that so many individuals are con­tent with superficial results. W e may blame routine habits, laziness and the lack o f seclusiveness, but psychologi­cally the fault lies in the misinter­pretation of teachings. W e have seen that instantaneous healing is possible, and the Bible has taught us that we have but to acknowledge God to be­come immediately in harmony with him and forgiven o f all sin. Ergo, many a dilettant in mental science is prone to assume that the briefest affirmation alters him in the tw ink­ling o f an eye.

T he truth is that the status and the burdens o f no two persons are the same, and the achievement o f con­centration or pure thinking, as the case may be, is vastly more difficult fo r one than another. In any case a clean mind is the prime requisite to faith. One may reply that cleanli­ness is relative and that which would be an immaculate condition for one mind would be for another utterly squalid. Furtherm ore, it is contended that the very contempla­tion o f evil, the presence o f the un­consecrated, of unworthy motives, of materialism itself— that such as these registered in apperception operate against purity and spiritual strength. T he answer is that the conscious mind has room for but one dominat­ing thought or purpose at a time. “ M an cannot serve two masters." T herefore, the clarification process is the same with all persons irrespective o f their individual difficulties, and its success depends not only upon recog­nition o f tru th but willingness to apply it and be a part o f it.

T he diligent cleaner is not con­tent with opening the windows and hastily dusting a few objects. I f the d irt is not removed from the corners, from beneath the davenport, from behind the pictures every little draft

will distribute it over the newly swept surfaces. And it is because o f the need for thoroughness and con­stancy in order to grow in the knowl­edge o f the spirit that daily contact with the One Source is so earnestly advised. A perfunctory three m in­utes reading is o f little avail, but a completely consecrated twenty m in­utes daily tends to establish and maintain that contact w ithout which divine providence is seldom truly manifested.

Some o f us do not wish to live “ in the spirit” in such a way that we may become impractical, humor­less or unsociable. W e have inherited old ideas about spirit. I t is not a holy aloofness, a perpetual detachment; to live in the spirit is to live in proper motivation, where our higher pur­poses and abilities coordinate in the work and play o f life and yield the better fruits, not always without stress but always with the conscious­ness o f right and a sublime faith.

T h e clean mind is not merely con­secrated, but keeps working and progressing in the clean things of life.

P L A Y M O R E , W O R K LESS

Does the other fellow ’s job look good to you? I ’ll say it does! And does your job look good to him? I ’ll say yes! And why? Because you are only looking at the trimmings on the outside o f his job. I f your own

job doesn’t look good to you— stand back and look at the trimmings. T ake a general view o f the whole situation from the outside. T he job is all right and you are all right, but you are getting too close to your work. D on’t be so serious. Business is just a plaything fo r grown-ups. Stand back and look! le t’s play!

— G l e n n N e l l is .

AN A F F IR M A T IO N

A dynamic affirmation in contrast with the potential (T o know, T o be and T o d o ) :

I know I A m , hence I do the T ru th .

I am creating now in my con­sciousness my real tendency, or per­fect Law of being; thereby growing out o f my past state o f negative thinking, with its diverse limitations, through false belief in the resistance to my progress o f material things with their associated effects.

I am made of the stuff that cre­ated all m aterial; therefore by The Self contemplation, I rise above the bondage of things, and as a natural sequence, now find that all material effects mould themselves in orderly fashion and harmonious form about m e; and I see them in their true light as secondary causes, and myself as a center o f creative “ Power that knows Itse lf .”

W . Carl W right.

Department of HealingM a in ta in ed by

T H E IN S T IT U T E O F R E L IG IO U S S C IE N C E

A u g u s t a E. R u n d e l , Department Head

E x t e n d in g I t s L o v in g S e r v ic e t o A l l W h o S e e k

“H e tha t believeth on me, the works tha t I do shall he do also: and greater works than these shall he do ."

John 14:12.

Cheerfully g iv in g of their time and effort, over one hundred trained prac­titioners, d ivided into H ealin g Groups, meet d aily to do this part of the work of the H ealing Department.

T h is service is lov in g ly offered by the Institute for the benefit of those who, at the moment, are unable to procure the services of a special practitioner.

U niversal L aw is a law of harmony, hence one of reciprocity, or equal balance. If w e g ive, you must rece iv e; according to your receptivity w ill it be given unto you. In accepting this service from us, w e expect that you shall g ive to us your complete confidence and co-operation.

A free-w ill offering is all that is asked or received for this service.

Fear—a Monster

FEA R is a state of mind, a state of consciousness, which is so subtle in its influence that it wraps itself about us, befogs our reason, clouds our vision, and dulls our hearing, rendering us unable to get the proper

perspective of life.W e are told that what we fear comes upon us, but we are not shown

that w hat is known as fear produces a mental pattern or mold, which creative mind fills, producing on the physical plane that which we have so perfectly pictured on the mental, and that, since thoughts manifest, we thus defeat our purpose. W e would not set out a copper kettle for the milkman to fill with milk, knowing that the copper would pollute the milk and render it unsafe for use. And yet this is exactly the thing that we do mentally— we put out a mental mold of failure and expect success to manifest.

As long as Fear remains intangible, it is illusive and goes on with its destructive force w ithout our realization of its power. Let us make a mental effort to drag this subtle thing out of its subjective hiding-place and focus the light of our objective reasoning upon it. Let us mentally create an embodi­ment, picture it as a monster, big and weird, w ith numerous claws, devour­ing all the sweetness and vital force within us and depleting our vitality. Having been brought to a realization of its deadly power, we could then, in our imagination, take a mental club, drive out this grotesque apparition, close the gate of understanding against it, and thus rid ourselves of it for all time.

Each month there will appear in this space a suggestion for the treatment of a specific condition.

M E D IT A T IO N FO R T H E SALE O F P R O P E R T YSense that there is someone to whom your property will be a blessing,

someone who wants it and needs it; that this person is known in Infinite M ind and will be made known to you.

Place a constructive thought on it by declaring that this piece of prop­erty is a blessing to you, a great inspiration, something which is bringing joy to you and will work out to your advantage. A negative attitude serves to de­stroy the value of the property because you have really destroyed the value of it in your own mind by your anxiety to be rid of it and your sense of burden concerning it. Since thoughts become things, you can, by glorifying the property, create a value for it in your mind, a love for it, which will be re­flected in the mind and consciousness of the customer who comes for it.

D IR E C T R E S U L T S of the W O R K Done by the

H E A L IN G D E P A R T M E N T

“ A short time a fte r making ap­plication to your department for help, I was called by the Nurses’ Registry to go on duty, my first work in sev­en months. I am employed in a lovely home where I was needed, and strength has been given me to carry on my duties.”

— P.O .Berkeley, C alif.

Pasadena, C alif., April 28, 1929

Five years ago, while working on a building, I fell three stories. . . . About a month later I began to have pains in my back, then my neck got stiff. . . . They put my neck in a cast and I was all right for about four months, but then my legs began to stiffen and soon my hips and knees stiffened completely.

June 6, 1929 Four days ago I sat up on the edge

of my bed. T his is the first time I have sat up for over a year. I sit up every day for about ten minutes and hope to be much better soon.

— P. L. C.(Since writing the above, this

patient has gone fo r an automobile ride and seen his first tall buildings.)

“ I bring you good tidings. As you will recall I asked fo r help from your Healing Departm ent and desire to say that I am experiencing the benefit o f that help. T here is still a swelling in the ankles, though it disappears during the night and does

not appear again until late in the day. I experienced no sense of dis­com fort from it, however.

“ M y business— taking pupils in a business course — is showing much greater activity, and I have a greater sense o f freedom f r o m financial worry. I also feel a sense o f peace.”

— H. V. M.

Los Angeles, June 9, 1929 I have been a student at a local

university for three semesters but, due perhaps to too intensive study­ing and the fact that I was obliged to earn my way through school, I finally suffered a mental breakdown. For approximately one year I have been in this condition. I am not what one would call insane, but, unless I obtain relief soon, I fear that I may become so.

October 2, 1929 I just want you to know how

happy I am and how much I have improved during the last month. I feel that I will soon be able to take up my work at the university, al­though, on account of my eyes, will not be able to do much reading.

November 24, 1929 I am now perfectly well in every

way. M y eyesight is stronger and better than it ever was and I have discarded the glasses entirely. Before long I will be out in the great out­side world again. I have more to give thanks for this Thanksgiving Day than ever in my life before.

— V. L. S.

Textbook of the Institute of Religious Science

Book ListT h e follow ing books are recommended to those who are interested in the

study o f the Science o f M ind:

The SCIENCE OF M IND Magazine2.50 per Year 25c per Copy

The Telephone Number of the Institute is Exposition 1171

I look for theBEST

in myself and in others