CHAPTER IV - The Power of Thought

THE KEY OF PROGRESS “

As a man thinks, so is he.”

There is a widespread belief that thoughts, being flimsy things, like dreams, do not matter, provided our actions are correct. This idea, however, is entirely erroneous, for the simple reason that actions are the outcome of thought and are in fact materialized thought.

It is well known that wrong thought cannot tend to produce right action, any more than right thought can result in crime. For instance, if envious or covetous thoughts be indulged in long enough, they may, when a favourable opportunity occurs, result in dishonesty. If thoughts are habitually of a kindly nature it is quite impossible to carry out unkindly acts. So it is clear that the thoughts we harbour, and especially those we frequently repeat, are of practical importance.

The chief difference between mankind and the lower animals lies in thought power, which, though undeveloped in the animal kingdom, is possessed in varying degree by the human race and causes one of the principal differences between individuals.

If we look at success or failure purely from the physical standpoint of the accumulation of riches, or possessions, we notice that those who obtain great success in life without the assistance of interest or fortune are individuals who invariably possess a remarkable amount of thought power. Whereas those who do not succeed are equally remarkable for lack of this power.

Thought power is therefore very desirable from the physical plane point of view. Equally so is it from spiritual considerations.

If we ask the question: For what purpose are we in this world? or, What is the meaning of it all? the answer in as few words as possible is that life is a great opportunity. We are immortal spirits come here clothed in mortal bodies, with more or less indifferent characters, and in undergoing the events of everyday life pass through a course of training - the object of which, if we take advantage of the opportunities, is to improve our character and evolve the powers which are latent in all.

Now it is possible for a boy sent to a first-rate school to finish his school days practically as ignorant as when he joined; in like manner we may pass through life with little advantage to ourselves from the experiences we have undergone. Success at school as well as improvement of character entirely depends on personal effort, which can only be successful through the cultivation of thought power. Thought power is therefore both important and desirable.

Let us look at this matter from another point of view. Suppose one went about asking, What is the greatest force in the world? The replies would probably be electricity, steam, water power, or that of high explosives. I do not suppose one in a thousand would give the correct answer - Thought power. Yet it is by thought we control and utilize Nature's forces.

Why is it that in many parts of the world you do not find trains, machinery, or other mechanical contrivances? Is it because Nature has omitted to supply her forces to these countries? Of course not; the forces are there right enough, but the inhabitants have not yet evolved the master force of thought power by which to call up and use the others.

Again, we know that steam, electricity and other forces are very dangerous unless used in accordance with knowledge of physical laws. Still more dangerous is the spiritual force called thought power if used without regard to spiritual law. Of this there is a terrible illustration in the present state of affairs.

What is the cause that produced the catastrophe of European war?

To my mind the answer is extremely plain. For a great many years a wave of materialistic ideas has spread over Europe, numbers holding and teaching that there is no law higher than scientific law, and no force superior to physical force - that belief in spiritual ideas and consequences is foolishness and unworthy of practical people.

During this period it is noticeable that although enormous advance has been made in scientific knowledge, with its application to machinery and all sorts of convenient inventions, the kindly feelings which should exist between capital and labour, masters and men, classes and masses, became practically non-existent.

In the case of European politics, after a mad race in armaments universal war was arrived at. The experiment of running Europe on material lines has been given a generous trial and failed most dismally.

The fact of the matter is that this world is controlled by two sets of forces acting under their respective laws, one physical, the other spiritual. Of these much attention has been paid to Nature's physical forces and the laws under which they may be used in safety. In this investigation and in other worldly matters, Business for example, the spiritual force called thought power has been freely used, but most unfortunately without any regard to spiritual law, We have learnt by bitter experience that to ignore physical law causes “ accident” ; shall we now realize that to use spiritual force in ignorance of spiritual law produces “ catastrophe” ?

Systematically we have ignored the spiritual law of Brotherhood, and through war, desolation and ruin, we reap the consequence. Thought power, therefore, is not only important and desirable, but very dangerous if used without due regard to spiritual law.

Now because a force is dangerous it does not follow that we need to refuse to make use of it. We do not object to electric light in our houses because electricity is dangerous; on the contrary, the greater the danger the more trouble do we take to find out the conditions under which the force may be used in safety.

In the case of thought power the conditions under which this spiritual force may be used in safety are: that it is only used in strict accordance with spiritual Laws, which may be found at the' root of all great religions. Such are the laws of “ Truth,” “ Honesty,” “ Brotherhood,” etc., or as they are summed up in Scripture, “ To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy strength, and to love thy neighbour as thyself “ (Matthew xxii. 36-40).

It is very difficult to realize how much more damaging it is to transgress a spiritual law than a physical one.

Suppose, for example, the law of heat is ignored and the hand thrust into the fire. Pain immediately follows, calling attention to the fact that a law has been overlooked, and the memory of the pain will in future help to prevent similar foolish action.

Now suppose a spiritual law is ignored, say the law of truthfulness. A lie is told and in all probability nothing happens to indicate that anything is wrong; the lie even may be accepted as truth. In which case there is a strong tendency for the ignorant to imagine that lying is clever.

The real results, however, were not only to generate and store up bad Karma, but the character of the one who lied was actually injured, making it more difficult for him to speak the truth in the future.

In everyday life we have constantly to decide whether we will act with or against these laws. Each time we decide to work with them it becomes increasingly easy to continue to do so. But if we go against the law it becomes increasingly difficult to act rightly.

Very many people unconsciously obey to some extent spiritual laws, but these laws can be used to far greater effect if their way of working is understood.

The apparatus of thought consists of two parts, the brain and the mental body. It may well be compared with the apparatus for the production of music, the brain corresponding to the musical instrument, the mental body to the musician. To obtain good results the combination of a good brain with a good mental body is absolutely necessary.

One of the commonest causes of feeble intellect is malnutrition of the brain, so the quality and condition of the substances which feed the brain are important. The brain is nourished by the blood, which is formed from our food and drink, and also varies in condition with the state of general health. To possess a healthy brain it is therefore necessary to pay attention to the laws of health, not only as regards pure food, but also exercise, fresh air, correct breathing, etc. The brain also must be exercised, experience having proved that the more it is used within reason, the more capable does it become; this means that each must do his own thinking and not get in the habit of allowing others to think for him.

The appearance of the mental body cannot be described, for it is constructed of materials not of this world, spirit matter, or fourth dimension stuff, for which we have no words; yet we know a little of its capabilities. It is quite independent of restrictions such as time and space; when fully developed it has many wonderful properties as little understood by the majority to-day as were the possibilities of electricity one hundred years ago.

Though we cannot see the mental body, a good deal of information can be obtained about it from the appearance of its aura, the name given to the luminous mist, visible to some, which surrounds it. With a healthy and developed mental body the aura would show regular and bright bands of colour, as described on page 55 (in the book).

One skilled in reading the colours would, on viewing an aura, at once understand the character which produced it - an interesting consideration when it is remembered that after the death of the physical body all developed people will have this power of sight, and the hiding of character will be impossible.

Another useful quality of the aura is that it repels all vibrations that are not harmonious to it. A good aura therefore acts as a protection from evil.

How thought acts. Thoughts are things. Given a good brain in combination with a developed mental body, the act of thinking creates thought forms, which take shape and colour according to the type of the thought; these, like the aura, are at present only visible to a comparatively small number of people, but are just as real, or perhaps more so, than physical objects.

If the thought is vague, the thought form would be merely an undefined sort of cloud or coloured mist. Definite thought, however, produces very clear forms, in general shape something like flowers, sea shells, or geometrical figures which would be recognized and understood by one skilled in such matters. Good thought produces forms that are very beautiful and useful. Evil thought gives birth to horrible and dangerous forms. The length of time that these persist varies with the strength of the thought and frequency of repetition.

Steady thinking has four chief results. Firstly, it sends out thought waves in all directions, which improve or make worse the mental atmosphere. Secondly, a more or less permanent thought form is created in the aura and affects the character of the thinker for good or evil. Thirdly, there is an attractive effect on similar thought forms of others. Fourthly, a travelling thought form goes out and endeavours to affect the one thought of. (For further details see pages 56-57 (in the book).)

Here is the explanation how it is that a good aura acts as invisible armour against evil.

We see, then, that the act of thinking has two effects on others, and two on the thinker, one of which causes a gradual change of character. Very true is the saying, “ As a man thinks, so is he.”

The question is often asked: “ Should we hate?” Obviously the answer is No. If we are not sufficiently developed to be able to follow the directions given in the New Testament as to how enemies are to be treated, we may perhaps realize that to send damaging thought forms of hatred not only tends to make the character of the person thought of worse, but causes injury to ourselves and those about us. For hatred is a weapon that injures him who uses it - both mentally and physically.

Fear thoughts are a very great mistake, and frequently cause unnecessary harm to our friends. Take the case of a mother who, having a son exposed to danger, lives in a continual state of anxiety about his safety. Unwittingly she is doing the very last thing she would wish, for her fear thoughts reaching her son's aura will, if he has any fear in his composition (and who has not?), tend to further increase that quality; and though the mother's fears would not actually lead him into danger, they might indirectly do so by tending to cause him to make wrong decisions at critical moments.

The way to help a friend in any position of danger is to send strong helpful thoughts, such as, that he or she is carrying out duty with confidence, bravely and successfully - that in due time, having accom­plished the work, will return home in honour and safety.

At funerals or death-beds it is most desirable that the one who is passing should not be disturbed by selfish wishes for his return to earth life, for such wishes are most harmful and disturb him at a time when quiet and helpful thoughts from those still on earth are most needed.

Unrestrained grief on the part of the mourners only retards his progress when loving thoughts are required to help the traveller on his way in the new world to the bright and happy life that lies before him.

How to cultivate Thought Power.

1. Take the physical body in hand, and by personal attention to the laws of hygiene make it healthy.

2. Obtain control of the physical body - make it do what you order.

3. Think only thoughts of which you approve. Turn out all others.

4. Practise daily sending out good and kindly thoughts to other people. 5. Practise improvement of memory - and the habit of noticing things.

6. Practise concentration - that is thinking steadily on one selected subject.

7. Practise daily remembering all events, trivial or otherwise, in the reverse order to which they happened. Apply this when something is lost. The usual method is to search in likely places; a tedious and uncertain method. Instead, sit comfortably in your room, quiet the mind, and go over in memory (backwards) all previous incidents until you come to the occasion when the lost article was in use; you will then remember what you did with it.