Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION - LESSON SEVENTEEN
The kind of Deity which a man, consciously or unconsciously, worships,
indicates the intellectual status of the worshipper.
Ask the Indian of God, and he will describe to you a powerful chieftain
of a glorious tribe. Ask the Pagan of God, and he will tell you of a
God of fire, a God of water, a god of this, that, and the other.
Ask the Israelite of God, and he will tell you of the God of Moses, who
conceived it expedient to rule by coercive measures; hence, the Ten
Commandments. Or of Joshua, who led the Israelites into battle,
confiscated property, murdered the prisoners, and laid waste to cities.
The so-called heathen made "graven images" of their Gods, whom they
were accustomed to worship, but among the most intelligent, at least,
these images were but the visible fulcrums with which they were enabled
to mentally concentrate on the qualities which they desired to
externalize in their lives.
We of the twenty-first century worship a God of Love in theory, but in
practice we make for ourselves "graven images" of "Wealth," "Power,"
"Fashion," "Custom" and "Conventionality." We "fall down" before them
and worship them. We concentrate on them and they are thereby
externalized in our lives.
The student who masters the contents of Lesson Seventeen will not
mistake the symbols for the reality; he will be interested in causes,
rather than effects. He will concentrate on the realities of life, and
will then not be disappointed in the results.
LESSON SEVENTEEN
1. We are told that Man has "dominion over all things"; this dominion
is established through Mind. Thought is the activity which controls
every principle beneath it. The highest principle by reason of its
superior essence and qualities necessarily determines the
circumstances, aspects and relation of everything with which it comes
in contact.
2. The vibrations of Mental forces are the finest and consequently the
most powerful in existence. To those who perceive the nature and
transcendency of mental force, all physical power sinks into
insignificance.
3. We are accustomed to look upon the Universe with a lens of five
senses, and from these experiences our anthropomorphic conceptions
originate, but true conceptions are only secured by spiritual insight.
This insight requires a quickening of the vibrations of the Mind, and
is only secured when the mind is continuously concentrated in a given
direction.
4. Continuous concentration means an even, unbroken flow of thought and
is the result of patient, persistent, persevering and well-regulated
system.
5. Great discoveries are the result of long-continued investigation.
The science of mathematics requires years of concentrated effort to
master it, and the greatest science -- that of the Mind -- is revealed
only through concentrated effort.
6. Concentration is much misunderstood; there seems to be an idea of
effort or activity associated with it, when just the contrary is
necessary. The greatness of an actor lies in the fact that he forgets
himself in the portrayal of his character, becoming so identified with
it, that the audience is swayed by the realism of the performance. This
will give you a good idea of true concentration; you should be so
interested in your thought, so engrossed in your subject, as to be
conscious of nothing else. Such concentration leads to intuitive
perception and immediate insight into the nature of the object
concentrated upon.
7. All knowledge is the result of concentration of this kind; it is
thus that the secrets of Heaven and Earth have been wrested; it is thus
that the mind becomes a magnet and the desire to know draws the
knowledge, irresistibly attracts it, makes it your own.
8. Desire is largely subconscious; conscious desire rarely realizes its
object when the latter is out of immediate reach. Subconscious desire
arouses the latent faculties of the mind, and difficult problems seem
to solve themselves.
9. The subconscious mind may be aroused and brought into action in any
direction and made to serve us for any purpose, by concentration. The
practice of concentration requires the control of the physical, mental,
and physical being; all modes of consciousness whether physical,
mental, or physical, must be under control.
10. Spiritual Truth is therefore the controlling factor; it is this
which will enable you to grow out of limited attainment and reach a
point where you will be able to translate modes of thought into
character and consciousness.
11. Concentration does not mean mere thinking of thoughts, but the
transmutation of these thoughts into practical values; the average
person has no conception of the meaning of concentration. There is
always the cry "to have" but never the cry "to be"; they fail to
understand that they cannot have one without the other, that they must
first find the "kingdom" before they can have the "things added."
Momentary enthusiasm is of no value; it is only with unbounded
self-confidence that the goal is reached.
12. The mind may place the ideal a little too high and fall short of
the mark; it may attempt to soar on untrained wings and instead of
flying, fall to earth; but that is no reason for not making another
attempt.
13. Weakness is the only barrier to mental attainment; attribute your
weakness to physical limitations or mental uncertainties and try again;
ease and perfection are gained by repetition.
14. The astronomer centers his mind on the stars and they give forth
their secrets; the geologists centers his mind on the construction of
the earth and we have geology; so with all things. Men center their
minds on the problems of life, and the result is apparent in the vast
and complex social order of the day.
15. All mental discovery and attainment are the result of desire plus
concentration; desire is the strongest mode of action; the more
persistent the desire, the more authoritative the revelation. Desire
added to concentration will wrench any secret from nature.
16. In realizing great thoughts, in experiencing great emotions that
correspond with great thoughts, the mind is in a state where it
appreciates the value of higher things.
17. The intensity of one moment's earnest concentration and the intense
longing to become and to attain may take you further than years of slow
normal and forced effort; it will unfasten the prison bars of unbelief,
weakness, impotence and self-belittlement, and you will come into a
realization of the joy of overcoming.
18. The spirit of initiative and originality is developed through
persistence and continuity of mental effort. Business teaches the value
of concentration and encourages decision of character; it develops
practical insight and quickness of conclusion. The mental element in
every commercial pursuit is dominant as the controlling factor, and
desire is the predominating force; all commercial relations are the
externalization of desire.
19. Many of the sturdy and substantial virtues are developed in
commercial employment; the mind is steadied and directed; it becomes
efficient. The principal necessity is the strengthening of the mind so
that it rises superior to the distractions and wayward impulses of
instinctive life and thus successfully overcomes in the conflict
between the higher and lower self.
20. All of us are dynamos, but the dynamo of itself is nothing; the
mind must work the dynamo; then it is useful and its energy can be
definitely concentrated. The mind is an engine whose power is
undreamed; thought is an omni-working power. It is the ruler and
creator of all form and all events occurring in form. Physical energy
is nothing in comparison with the omnipotence of thought, because
thought enables man to harness all other natural power.
21. Vibration is the action of thought; it is vibration which reaches
out and attracts the material necessary to construct and build. There
is nothing mysterious concerning the power of thought; concentration
simply implies that consciousness can be focalized to the point where
it becomes identified with the object of its attention. As food
absorbed is the essence of the body, so the mind absorbs the object of
its attention, gives it life and being.
22. If you concentrate on some matter of importance, the intuitive
power will be set in operation, and help will come in the nature of
information which will lead to success.
23. Intuition arrives at conclusions without the aid of experience or
memory. Intuition often solves problems that are beyond the grasp of
the reasoning power. Intuition often comes with a suddenness that is
startling; it reveals the truth for which we are searching, so directly
that it seems to come from a higher power. Intuition can be cultivated
and developed; in order to do this it must be recognized and
appreciated; if the intuitive visitor is given a royal welcome when he
comes, he will come again; the more cordial the welcome the more
frequent his visits will become, but if he is ignored or neglected he
will make his visits few and far apart.
24. Intuition usually comes in the Silence; great minds seek solitude
frequently; it is here that all the larger problems of life are worked
out. For this reason every businessman who can afford it has a private
office, where he will not be disturbed; if you cannot afford a private
office you can at least find somewhere, where you can be alone a few
minutes each day, to train the thought along lines which will enable
you to develop that invincible power which is necessary to achieve.
25. Remember that fundamentally the subconscious is omnipotent; there
is no limit to the things that can be done when it is given the power
to act. Your degree of success is determined by the nature of your
desire. If the nature of your desire is in harmony with Natural Law or
the Universal Mind, it will gradually emancipate the mind and give you
invincible courage.
26. Every obstacle conquered, every victory gained, will give you more
faith in your power, and you will have greater ability to win. Your
strength is determined by your mental attitude; if this attitude is one
of success, and is permanently held with an unswerving purpose, you
will attract to you from the invisible domain the things you silently
demand.
27. By keeping the thought in mind, it will gradually take tangible
form. A definite purpose sets causes in motion which go out in the
invisible world and find the material necessary to serve your purpose.
28. You may be pursuing the symbols of power, instead of power itself.
You may be pursuing fame instead of honor, riches instead of wealth,
position instead of servitude; in either event you will find that they
turn to ashes just as you overtake them.
29. Premature wealth or position cannot be retained because it has not
been earned; we get only what we give, and those who try to get without
giving always find that the law of compensation is relentlessly
bringing about an exact equilibrium.
30. The race has usually been for money and other mere symbols of
power, but with an understanding of the true source of power, we can
afford to ignore the symbols. The man with a large bank account finds
it unnecessary to load his pockets down with gold; so with the man who
has found the true source of power; he is no longer interested in its
shams or pretentions.
31. Thought ordinarily leads outwardly in evolutionary directions, but
it can be turned within where it will take hold of the basic principles
of things, the heart of things, the spirit of things. When you get to
the heart of things it is comparatively easy to understand and command
them.
32. This is because the Spirit of a thing is the thing itself, the
vital part of it, the real substance. The form is simply the outward
manifestation of the spiritual activity within.
33. For your exercise this week concentrate as nearly as possible in
accordance with the method outlined in this lesson; let there be no
conscious effort or activity associated with your purpose. Relax
completely, avoid any thought of anxiety as to results. Remember that
power comes through repose. Let the thought dwell upon your object,
until it is completely identified with it, until you are conscious of
nothing else.
34. If you wish to eliminate fear, concentrate on courage.
35. If you wish to eliminate lack, concentrate on abundance.
36. If you wish to eliminate disease, concentrate on health.
37. Always concentrate on the ideal as an already existing fact; this
is the germ cell, the life principle which goes forth and sets in
motion those causes which guide, direct and bring about the necessary
relation, which eventually manifest in form.
"Thought is the property of those only who can entertain it." - Emerson
LESSON SEVENTEEN - Study Questions with Answers
161. What is the true method of concentration? To become so identified
wit the object of your thought that you are conscious of nothing else.
162. What is the result of this method of concentration? Invisible
forces are set in motion which irresistibly bring about conditions in
correspondence with your thought.
163. What is the controlling factor in this method of thought?
Spiritual Truth.
164. Why is this so? Because the nature of our desire must be in
harmony with Natural Law.
165. What is the practical value of this method of concentration?
Thought is transmuted into character, and character is the magnet which
creates the environment of the individual.
166. What is the controlling factor in every commercial pursuit? The
mental element.
167. Why is this so? Because Mind is the ruler and creator of all form
and all events occurring in form.
168. How does concentration operate? By the development of the powers
of perception, wisdom, intuition, and sagacity.
169. Why is intuition superior to reason? Because it does not depend
upon experience or memory and frequently brings about the solution to
our problems by methods concerning which we are in entire ignorance.
170. What is the result of pursuing the symbol of the reality? They
frequently turn to ashes just as we overtake them, because the symbol
is only the outward form of the spiritual activity within, therefore
unless we can possess the spiritual reality, the form disappears.
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