THINKING

 

We were told that the following message, which came through my pencil, was from Prof. Wm. James. Critics may claim that it does not sound like his phraseology. They are ever ready to do that. But it should be noted, even by them, that it is quite different in style from many other communications in the book. And such critics should also bear in mind that we have been told many times of the difficulties surrounding the work of communicating: that the idea is impressed on the mind of the medium, but that the phraseology often takes on characteristics of the medium's own writing.

 

"When we use the brain to send out a new thought we are performing an act that is as mysterious as life itself. No one knows how it is done. The process has been studied here for ages, and it is no nearer a solution. We believe that those on higher planes have arrived at some sort of explanation; but life and thought on higher planes take on an ethereal quality that we fail to comprehend.

 

"We know that the process of thinking is governed by what we term will. But this only complicates the problem. For we know no more of the working of will power than of the formation of thought. They go together, that is all.

 

"When one tries to fathom some of these mysteries one realizes that the Creator was wise in making mysteries. Nothing stimulates endeavor more than an unsolved problem or an unexplained mystery.

 

"When we are willing to admit that there are no more mysteries, we must acknowledge that we have learned everything there is to know. And what would existence be worth then? To know is a satisfaction; but to know all would be stagnation. We believe that there will always be mysteries ahead of us to lure us on. We cannot conceive of advance without them. But when we are able to fathom some mysterious depth we experience a sense of achievement that makes one of the joys of our existence. You will never feel a greater thrill than when you learn the answer to the question, "What is life?" But when will you experience that thrill? Not on this plane; not on immediate planes. Perhaps it is the greatest and final mystery. Perhaps when we solve that we will have reached our ultimate goal!

 

 

"It is interesting to speculate on these questions. It is satisfying to feel that we are at least attempting to understand some of the problems before us. But when we stop and inquire what else we would have to live for if these were all known, we feel the future would be blank and uninteresting.

 

"When you find that life consists of problems to solve, you find some meaning in the evils and obstacles of the earth existence. No one could achieve much who met nothing to conquer. No one would find life interesting if he encountered no problems. We grow by striving. We enjoy by conquering.

 

"When life grows too distressing because of the problems and obstacles; there is always the knowledge that the greatest hindrances are soon to be passed, and that the future is one where we only strive as we feel the urge. In this future no necessity demands our labor when the spirit falters. We have no more stimulating thought than the knowledge that we can make our greatest struggles when life is just beginning. That after the first difficulties, the difficulties of the earth life, are overcome, we can choose the time to try to solve other problems, to undertake other tasks.

 

"When life on earth is over, the greatest joy comes from feeling that one has mastered the difficulties it held in a masterful way; that is, that one has succeeded in accomplishing satisfactorily all the tasks that have been placed before him.

 

"You may never know the supremest joy of overcoming all difficulties until you arrive at life's goal in the infinite future. But you will experience succeeding joys that make existence worth while."