Working the Law (5)

continued(5)

How this is done in a simple and effective manner is explained throughout these lessons. Our main object is to arouse the individual to think for himself, to cultivate his own powers, and thereby to take the sure path of self-development and true culture. The great, self-evident fact, which cannot be too often repeated, is that when we change our thinking for the better, we automatically change our lives for the better. Modern psychology has conclusively demonstrated that a change of thought must precede every change in the life and in the affairs of man. In the course of our studies we have discovered that the more a mind is undeveloped, the more materialistic or lower its individual point of view; while the more developed the mind, the higher its individual point of view. It does not follow that, because a person is worldly-wise and has retained a large number of facts and experiences, such a one has a well developed or highly evolved mind. On the contrary, that person may have an undeveloped mind and be largely dominated by the lower instincts. Narrowness of thought, limited views, prejudiced convictions, and materialistic opinions are signs of a lack of real development. Breadth of thought, wide and tolerant views, wholesome convictions, and expanding conceptions are signs of growth. The small mind, however, need not remain small or undeveloped. It can grow and expand and ultimately become great. The path is clear and simple. Let such a one form his own clear conceptions and strong convictions from the loftiest point of view he can reach, and then proceed to think and act accordingly. Advancement will follow as a natural sequence. The law is that the mind is no greater that its conceptions. As you improve and enlarge your ideas and mental pictures, you improve and enlarge your mind. As you aspire to realize the larger truth, you must inevitably grow in understanding. Again, the greater your power of mind, the better you will be able to conduct the affairs of life to use and advantage.

Working the Law! (4)

  continued (4)                                              

An electrician, for example, does not pray and wait for the electric energy to make up its mind to serve him. He learns first hand the laws of conduction and transmission in order to know how to cooperate with the law that governs electric energy. After gaining this knowledge, he can go ahead and set up the machinery which provides the means to generate and direct the power. Then he can snap in a switch and
operate giant machines, create heat, set in motion countless other devices, or flood a room with light. He can do this, not once or twice, but as many times as he chooses, so long as he does not disturb the mechanics or violate the law governing the energy. The same principle holds true in all other sciences, including the science of mind.
There is a scientific way of thinking about everything, a true and a right way that
prevents the needless waste of mental energy and produces the desired results on all
occasions. As explained, all things and events, all experiences and conditions of life, are
results. All results, however, will vary in quality and in quantity in accordance with the
degree of knowledge possessed and in the measure of the mind’s activity.
The quality of the results produced by the individual thinker may be good, bad,
or indifferent, as may be determined by conscious direction and choice, or lack of such;
some results being harmonious and favorable, while others are discordant and
unfavorable, or there may be a medley of the whole. It is absolutely essential to give
intelligent direction to the creative powers of the mind to obtain the best and largest
results in our particular sphere of active expression. In fact, it is highly important, from
the standpoint of usefulness and common duty, that we should endeavor to understand
the mind and its workings, and learn how to cultivate and develop those processes of
thinking that will give us mastery over life and its conditions.
Thinking is a perpetual process. It is a creative function of life that is ever going
on. We are engaged in it and are producing results of some kind every hour and day
that we live, registering within ourselves the exact effects of all our thinking. While we
cannot stop thinking, we possess the supreme privilege of being able to determine the
sort of results it is desired to experience by regulating the form and quality of our
thought.