You have found that the Individual may act on the Universal, and that
the result of this action and interaction is cause and effect. Thought,
therefore, is the cause, and the experiences with which you meet in
life are the effect.
Eliminate, therefore, any possible tendency to complain of conditions
as they have been, or as they are, because it rests with you to change
them and make them what you would like them to be.
Direct your effort to a realization of the mental resources, always
at your command, from which all real and lasting power comes.
Persist in this practice until you come to a realization of the fact
that there can be no failure in the accomplishment of any proper object
in life if you but understand your power and persist in your object,
because the mind-forces are ever ready to lend themselves to a purposeful
will, in the effort to crystallize thought and desire into actions,
events and conditions.
Whereas in the beginning of each function of life and each action
is the result of conscious thought, the habitual actions become automatic
and the thought that controls them passes into the realm of the subconscious;
yet it is just as intelligent as before. It is necessary that it become
automatic, or subconscious, in order that the self-conscious mind
may attend to other things. The new actions will, however, in their
turn, be come habitual, then automatic, then subconscious in order
that the mind again may be freed from this detail and advanced to
still other activities.
When you realize this, you will have found a source of power which
will enable you to take care of any situation in life which may develop.
PART THREE
1. The necessary interaction of the conscious and subconscious mind
requires a similar interaction between the corresponding systems of
nerves. Judge Troward indicates the very beautiful method in which
this interaction is effected. He says: The cerebro-spinal system is
the organ of the conscious mind and the sympathetic is the organ of
the subconscious. The cerebro-spinal is the channel through which
we receive conscious perception from the physical senses and exercise
control over the movements of the body. This system of nerves has
its centre in the brain.
2. The Sympathetic System has its centre in a ganglionic mass at
the back of the stomach known as the Solar Plexus, and is the channel
of that mental action which unconsciously supports the vital functions
of the body.
3. The connection between the two systems is made by the vagus nerve
which passes out of the cerebral region as a portion of the voluntary
system to the thorax, sending out branches to the heart and lungs,
and finally passing through the diaphragm, it loses its outer coating
and becomes identified with the nerves of the Sympathetic System,
so forming a connecting link between the two and making man physically
a "single entity".
4. We have seen that every thought is received by the brain, which
is the organ of the conscious; it is here subjected to our power of
reasoning. When the objective mind has been satisfied that the thought
is true it is sent to the Solar Plexus, or the brain of the subjective
mind, to be made into our flesh, to be brought forth into the world
as reality. It is then no longer susceptible to any argument whatever.
The subconscious mind cannot argue; it only acts. It accepts the conclusions
of the objective mind as final.
5. The Solar Plexus has been likened to the sum of the body, because
it is a central point of distribution for the energy which the body
is constantly generating. This energy is very real energy, and this
sun is a very real sun, and the energy is being distributed by very
real nerves to all parts of the body, and is thrown off in an atmosphere
which envelopes the body.
6. If this radiation is sufficiently strong the person is called
magnetic; he is said to be filled with personal magnetism. Such a
person may wield an immense power for good. His presence alone will
often bring comfort to the troubled minds with which he comes in contact.
7. When the Solar Plexus is in active operation and is radiating
life, energy and vitality to every part of the body, and to every
one whom he meets, the sensations are pleasant, the body is filled
with health and all with whom he comes in contact experience a pleasant
sensation.
8. If there is any interruption of this radiation the sensations
are unpleasant, the flow of life and energy to some part of the body
is stopped, and this is the cause of every ill to the human race,
physical, mental or environmental.
9. Physical because the sun of the body is no longer generating sufficient
energy to vitalize some part of the body; mental because the conscious
mind is dependent upon the subconscious mind for the vitality necessary
to support its thought, and environmental, because the connection
between the subconscious mind and the Universal mind, is being interrupted.
10. The Solar Plexus is the point at which the part meets with the
whole, where the finite becomes Infinite, where the Uncreate becomes
create, the Universal becomes individualized, the Invisible becomes
visible. It is the point at which life appears and there is no limit
to the amount of life an individual may generate from this Solar centre.
11. This centre of energy is Omnipotent because it is the point of
contact with all life and all intelligence. It can therefore accomplish
whatever it is directed to accomplish, and herein lies the power of
the conscious mind; the subconscious can and will carry out such plans
and ideas as may be suggested to it by the conscious mind.
12. Conscious thought, then, is master of this sun centre from which
the life and energy of the entire body flows and the quality of the
thought which we entertain determines the quality of the thought which
this sun will radiate, and the character of the thought which our
conscious mind entertains will determine the character of the thought
which this sun will radiate, and the nature of the thought which our
conscious mind entertains will determine the nature of thought which
this sun will radiate, and consequently will determine the nature
of the experience which will result.
13. It is evident, therefore, that all we have to do is let our light
shine; the more energy we can radiate, the more rapidly shall we be
enabled to transmute undesirable conditions into sources of pleasure
and profit. The important question, then, is how to let this light
shine; how to generate this energy.
14. Non-resistant thought expands the Solar Plexus; resistant thought
contracts it. Pleasant thought expands it; unpleasant thought contracts
it. Thoughts of courage, power, confidence and hope all produce a
corresponding state, but the one arch enemy of the Solar Plexus which
must be absolutely destroyed before there is any possibility of letting
any light shine is fear. This enemy must be completely destroyed;
he must be eliminated; he must be expelled forever; he is the cloud
which hides the sun; which causes a perpetual gloom.
15. It is this personal devil which makes men fear the past, the
present and the future; fear themselves, their friends and their enemies;
fear everything and everybody. When fear is effectually and completely
destroyed, your light will shine, the clouds will disperse and you
will have found the source of power, energy and life.
16. When you find that you are really one with the Infinite power,
and when you can consciously realize this power by a practical demonstration
of your ability to overcome any adverse condition by the power of
your thought, you will have nothing to fear; fear will have been destroyed
and you will have come into possession of your birthright.
17. It is our attitude of mind toward life which determines the experiences
with which we are to meet; if we expect nothing, we shall have nothing;
if we demand much, we shall receive the greater portion. The world
is harsh only as we fail to assert ourselves. The criticism of the
world is bitter only to those who cannot compel room for their ideas.
It is fear of this criticism that causes many ideas to fail to see
the light of day.
18. But the man who knows that he has a Solar Plexus will not fear
criticism or anything else; he will be too busy radiating courage,
confidence, and power; he will anticipate success by his mental attitude;
he will pound barriers to pieces, and leap over the chasm of doubt
and hesitation which fear places in his path.
19. A knowledge of our ability to consciously radiate health, strength
and harmony will bring us into a realization that there is nothing
to fear because we are in touch with Infinite Strength.
20. This knowledge can be gained only by making practical application
of this information. We learn by doing; through practice the athlete
comes powerful.
21. As the following statement is of considerable importance, I will
put it in several ways, so that you cannot fail to get the full significance
of it. If you are religiously inclined, I would say, you can let your
light shine. If your mind has a bias toward physical science, I would
say you can wake the Solar Plexus; or, if you prefer the strictly
scientific interpretation, I will say that you can impress your subconscious
mind.
22. I have already told you what the result of this impression will
be. It is the method in which you are now interested. You have already
learned that the subconscious is intelligent and that it is creative,
and responsive to the will of the conscious mind. What, then, is the
most natural way of making the desired impression? Mentally concentrate
on the object of your desire; when you are concentrating you are impressing
the subconscious.
23. This is not the only way, but it is a simple and effective way,
and the most direct way, and consequently the way in which the best
results are secured. It is the method which is producing such extraordinary
results that many think that miracles are being accomplished.
24. It is the method by which every great inventor, every great financier,
every great statesman has been enabled to convert the subtle and invisible
force of desire, faith and confidence into actual, tangible, concrete
facts in the objective world.
25. The subconscious mind is a part of the Universal mind. The Universal
is the creative principle of the Universe, a part must be the same
in kind and quality as the whole. This means that this creative power
is absolutely unlimited; it is not bound by precedent of any kind,
and consequently has no prior existing pattern by which to apply its
constructive principle.
26. We have found that the subconscious mind is responsive to our
conscious will, which means that the unlimited creative power of the
Universal Mind is within control of the conscious mind of the individual.
27. When making a practical application of this principle, in accordance
with the exercises given in the subsequent lessons, it is well to
remember that it is not necessary to outline the method by which the
subconscious will produce the results you desire. The finite cannot
inform the Infinite. You are simply to say what you desire, not how
you are to obtain it.
28. You are the channel by which the undifferentiated is being differentiated,
and this differentiation is being accomplished by appropriation. It
only requires recognition to set causes in motion which will bring
about results in accordance with your desire, and this is accomplished
because the Universal can act only through the individual, and the
individual can act only through the Universal; they are one.
29. For your exercise this week, I will ask you to go one step further.
I want you to not only be perfectly still, and inhibit all thought
as far as possible, but relax, let go, let the muscles take their
normal condition; this will remove all pressure from the nerves, and
eliminate that tension which so frequently produces physical exhaustion.
30. Physical relaxation is a voluntary exercise of the will and the
exercise will be found to be of great value, as it enables the blood
to circulate freely to and from the brain and body.
31. Tensions leads to mental unrest and abnormal mental activity
of the mind; it produces worry, care, fear and anxiety. Relaxation
is therefore an absolute necessity in order to allow the mental faculties
to exercise the greatest freedom.
32. Make this exercise as thorough and complete as possible, mentally
determine that you will relax every muscle and nerve, until you feel
quiet and restful and at peace with yourself and the world.
33. The Solar Plexus will then be ready to function and you will
be surprised at the result.
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