Fourteen
Lessons
Lesson
5 Thought
Dynamics
HAD
these lessons been written twenty years
ago, instead of to-day, it would have been
a most difficult task to have awakened the
understanding of the Western public to the
importance of the power of thought, its
nature, its effects. Twenty years ago but
comparatively few people in the Western
world knew anything about the subject in
question, and, outside of a few
occultists, the words of the teacher would
have been regarded as the wildest
utterances. But, during the time
mentioned, the Western world has been
slowly educated to at least a partial
understanding of the power of thought, and
echoes of the great Oriental teachings on
this subject have reached the ears of
nearly every thinking person in the
Western world, this being particularly
true of Great Britain and America.
This awakening is in accordance with
natural laws, and is a part of the
evolution of the race. It is true that
much of the teaching has come from persons
who have had but a partial awakening to
the truth, and consequently the teachings
have been more or less crude and imperfect
and more or less colored by the personal
theories and speculations of the various
teachers who have been writing and
speaking upon the subject. The average
Western student, who has been interested
in the various movements which may be
roughly grouped together under the style
of "The New Thought," has been more or
less confused by the apparently
conflicting theories and teachings which
have resulted from the various
speculations and theories of the numerous
teachers who have sprung up, grown, and in
many cases afterward "gone to seed." But a
careful analysis will show that underlying
all of the teachings are certain
fundamental facts which the awakened mind
grasps as truth. All of these teachers
have done good work, and, in fact, the
teachings of each have reached certain
minds which needed the particular thing
taught by the particular teacher, and
which teaching was the very best possible,
considering the particular stage of
development of the student. Many students
have obtained much good from certain
teachers, and have then grown beyond the
teacher and his teaching, and have in turn
become teachers themselves, giving forth
to others the truth as it came to them,
more or less colored by their own
personality.
The careful student who has taken the
trouble to run down to fundamental
principles the teachings of these new
schools of thought, will have discovered
that they all rest upon the Oriental
teachings which reach back beyond written
history, and which have been the common
property of occultists of all ages and
races. This "New Thought" is really the
oldest thought, but the modern
presentation of it comes as a new thing to
those who hear it to-day, and the new
movement is entitled to full credit for
its work, and the advanced occultist knows
that the fundamental truth lying
underneath all of these conflicting
theories will be gradually uncovered and
brought to light, the speculations and pet
theories of the various teachers being
thrown aside.
The majority of those who read this lesson
will have heard something of this subject
of the power of thought, and will have
doubtless had many experiences of its
effect. So this lesson may come as an old
story to nearly all of the members of the
Class, but we will endeavor to give a
brief, plain outline of the Yogi teachings
upon the subject, which may help to
reconcile some of the apparently
conflicting theories which have been
previously considered.
We shall not attempt to explain what
thought is--that is too complicated a
subject for elementary lessons. But we
will begin by explaining some of its
properties, laws, and effects. We avoid
the theory for the time being, and get
down to the "practical" side of the
question.
You will remember what we said in our last
lesson about the Aura. We explained that
the Aura was projected into space by the
several principles of man, just as is the
light of the sun, the heat of a stove, the
odor of a flower, etc. Each of these
sources throws off vibrations, which we
call light, heat, or odor, respectively.
In one sense these emanations are minute
particles of the thing which throws them
off. In this connection we must also
remember that the thing throwing off the
emanations may be afterward withdrawn, but
the emanations still remain for a greater
or lesser time. For instance, astronomy
teaches that a distant star may be
destroyed, and yet the light rays thrown
off from it will continue on their
journey, and may soon be seen by us of the
Earth years and years after the star
itself has been destroyed--in fact, what
we really see at any time are the rays of
the star which left it many years before,
the time, of course, depending upon the
distance of the star from the earth. In
the same way a fire in a stove may be
extinguished, and yet the heat will remain
in the room for a long time afterward.
Likewise, a small particle of musk may be
exposed in a room and then removed, and
yet the odor will be perceptible for a
long time. In the same way thoughts may be
in active existence which have been sent
out years before by some person, whose
entire mental character may have changed
or who, in fact, may have passed out of
the body long since. Places and localities
are often permeated by the thought of
persons who formerly lived there, who have
moved away or died many years ago.
The mind is continually throwing off
emanations, which may be seen as the Aura
extending a few feet from the person, and
which usually becomes thinner and less
easily perceived as it extends away from
the sender. We are constantly sending
forth thought-waves (to use a favorite
term), and these waves, after the initial
force of projection is expended, float
along like clouds, mixing with other
thought-waves of the same character, and
extending often to far distant parts of
the earth. Some of the thought emanations
remain around the place from which they
were sent forth, and unless disturbed by
strong thoughts of a contrary nature will
remain but slightly changed for many
years. Other thoughts sent forth with a
definite purpose or under a strong desire,
emotion, or passion, will go forth rapidly
toward the object to which they are
directed. We shall see instances of this
as we proceed with this lesson.
The majority of persons put very little
force into their thought; in fact,
thinking with them becomes almost a
mechanical process, and consequently their
thought-waves have very little motion
imparted to them and do not travel very
far, unless drawn by some other person of
similar thought who attracts them to him.
(We are merely stating general principles
as we go along, repeating them when
necessary, so that the student will
gradually absorb the idea. We consider
this conversational method the most
effective form of teaching-far more so
than the usual "cut-and-dried" form.)
We wish the student to particularly
understand that when we say "Thoughts are
Things," we are not using the words in a
figurative sense or in a fanciful way, but
that we are expressing a literal truth. We
mean that thought is as much a "thing" as
is light, heat, electricity, or similar
forms of manifestations. Thought can be
seen by the psychic sight; can be felt by
the sensitive; and, if the proper
instruments were in existence, could be
weighed. Thought, after being sent forth,
is of a cloudy appearance, bearing the
color belonging to it, as described in our
lesson on the Aura. It is like a thin
vapor (the degree of density varying), and
is just as real as the air around us or
the vapor of steam or the numerous gases
with which we are acquainted. And it has
power, just as have all of these forms of
vapor which we have just mentioned.
In this place let us mention that when a
thought is sent forth with strength, it
usually carries with it a certain amount
of Prana, which gives it additional power
and strength, and often produces startling
effects. The Prana practically "vitalizes"
it in some cases, and makes of it almost a
living force. We will have more to say on
this point a little later on.
So, friends and students, please remember
always that when we speak of thoughts
being real things, we mean just what we
say. It may be necessary for you to fix
this fact in your minds by picturing the
mind as sending forth thought emanations.
Some find the picture of the throwing off
of light-waves an easy way to fix the idea
in their minds. Others prefer the
illustration of the throwing off of heat
by a stove. Others find it easier to think
of a flower throwing off a strong perfume.
And one student (now far advanced)
preferred to think of thought emanations
as akin to the steam being projected from
a boiling tea-kettle. Take your choice or
invent illustrations of your own, but get
the idea fixed in your minds some way. It
is much easier to work out these things by
means of a material illustration than to
attempt to carry an abstract idea in the
mind.
While, as a rule, the power of thought of
a certain kind depends upon the strength
with which it has been projected, there is
another element of strength which enables
thoughts to manifest power. We allude to
the tendency of thought to attract to
itself other thoughts of a similar nature
and thus combine force. Not only does
thought along any lines tend to attract to
the thinker corresponding thought
attracted from the thought-atmosphere
within the field of attraction, but
thoughts have a tendency to flock
together-to coalesce, to blend together.
The average thought-atmosphere of a
community is the composite thoughts of the
people composing that community. Places,
like persons, have their peculiarities,
their characteristics, their strong and
weak points, their prevailing atmosphere.
This fact is apparent to all who have
thought at all upon these lines, but the
matter is usually dismissed without any
attempt at explanation. But it must be
apparent that the place itself is not an
entity, and that these characteristics are
not inherent in them, but must have some
cause or origin. The occultist knows that
this thought-atmosphere of a village,
town, city, or nation is the composite
thought of those dwelling in it or who
have previously dwelt there. Strangers
coming into the community feel the changed
atmosphere about it, and, unless they find
it in harmony with their own mental
character, they feel uncomfortable and
desire to leave the place. If one, not
understanding the laws operating in the
thought world, remains long in a place, he
is most likely to be influenced by the
prevailing thought-atmosphere, and in
spite of himself a change begins to be
manifest in him and he sinks or rises to
the level of the prevailing thought.
In the older countries the characteristics
of the leading cities of the nation have
grown more or less alike, although there
are still many points of difference which
the stranger at once feels when he visits
them. But in America, where the country is
larger and newer, the differences to be
noticed in localities are most marked.
This is true not only in different
sections of the country, but in cities
near each other. Let the thoughtful
stranger visit in turn the leading cities
of the United States, and he will be
struck with the spirit of each place, each
having its own personality and
characteristics, the result of certain
lines of thought on the part of the early
settlers of the place, which in turn
affected the new-comers, who added their
thought emanations to the atmosphere of
the place, and so on, from time to time,
until the several cities have grown
farther apart in their characteristics
than have many different nationalities.
Let the stranger visit in turn, say
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago,
Denver, and San Francisco, and he will
notice the greatest differences in the
characteristics of each place. This
difference does not appear so strongly
when he talks to individual citizens, but
is quite noticeable when he opens himself
up to the "spirit of the place." People
often speak of these characteristics as
"the air" of the place, and the real
explanation has been given above-it is the
thought-atmosphere of the town. These
characteristics may be modified or even
greatly changed by a new set of people
settling in a town. A few energetic
thinkers will send forth strong waves of
thought in their every-day life, which
will soon color the composite thought of
the place. The thought of one strong
thinker will overcome the weak,
purposeless thought of very many people
who send forth only negative thoughts. The
positive is a sure antidote to the
negative. In the same way the "spirit" of
the nation is a composite of the "spirit"
of its several parts. If one removes to a
town in which the greatest energy is being
manifested, he soon feels the effect of
the positive thought around him, which
awakens similar thoughts within himself.
If one removes to a sleepy, "dead"
community, his activities will become
deadened and he will gradually sink to the
level of the town. Of course, the man or
woman who has built up a strong, positive
individuality will not be affected so
easily as the one of opposite
characteristics, and, in fact, he may even
act as a leaven for the mass; but in a
general way the average person is greatly
influenced by the composite
thought-atmosphere of the locality in
which he spends most of his time.
In the same way dwellings,
business-places, buildings, etc., take on
the predominant thought of those
inhabiting them or who have dwelt in them.
Some places are notoriously "unlucky,"
and, although this condition may be
reversed by the man or woman of strong
will, the average person is affected by
it. Some houses carry with them an
atmosphere of sunshine, good-fellowship,
and good cheer, while others are cold and
repellent. A place of business is very apt
to reflect the prevailing thought of those
at the head of the enterprise or those who
direct its affairs. Certain shops inspire
confidence in patrons, while others cause
one to keep a tight clutch on the
pocketbook and a close eye on the clerks.
Places in which crimes have been committed
often carry with them an unpleasant
atmosphere, which originally arose from
the 'strong thoughts sent forth from those
participating in the occurrence, both the
criminal and the victim. The atmosphere of
a prison is horrifying to the sensitive.
The atmosphere of a place of vice or scene
of low animal pleasures is suffocating to
one of higher mental traits. The
atmosphere of a hospital is apt to
influence those visiting it. The
atmosphere of an old church is apt to
produce in the mind of the visitor a
feeling of quiet and calm. We are speaking
in generalities, of course, as there are
many influences modifying and changing
these tendencies.
Thus it is with individuals. Some carry
about them an atmosphere of cheer,
sunniness, and courage, while others bring
into a room a feeling of in-harmony,
distrust, and uneasiness. Many act as
"kill-joys" and as dampers upon enthusiasm
and free expression. Hundreds of instances
illustrating this fact might be cited, but
the student may supply these from his own
experience and observation.
The various waves of thought sent forth by
people attract and are attracted by
thoughts of a similar character. They form
thought strata in the astral space, just
as clouds fall into groups in the
atmosphere. This does not mean that each
stratum of thought occupies a certain
portion of space to the exclusion of all
other thought clouds. On the contrary,
these thought particles forming the clouds
are of different degrees of vibration, and
the same space may be filled with thought
matter of a thousand kinds, passing freely
about and interpenetrating, without
interference with each other, but not
assimilating except with thoughts of
similar character, although temporary
combinations may be formed in some cases.
We cannot go into detail regarding this in
this lesson, and merely wish to give the
student a general idea of the subject,
upon which he may build from time to time.
Each individual draws to himself the
thoughts corresponding to those produced
by his own mind, and he is of course in
turn influenced by these attracted
thoughts. It is a case of adding fuel to
the fire. Let one harbor thoughts of
malice or hate for any length of time, and
he will be horrified at the vile flood of
thoughts which come pouring into his mind.
And the longer he persists in the mental
state the worse matters will get with him.
He is making himself a center for thoughts
of that kind. And if he keeps it up until
it becomes habitual to him, he will
attract to himself circumstances and
conditions which will give him an
opportunity to manifest these thoughts in
action. Not only does a mental state
attract similar thoughts to it, but it
leads the thinker into circumstances and
conditions calculated to enable him to
make use of these thoughts and
inclinations which he has been harboring.
Let one's mind dwell on the animal
passions, and all nature will seem to
conspire to lead him into position whereby
these passions may be gratified.
On the other hand, let one cultivate the
habit of thinking higher and better
thoughts, and he will in time be drawn
into conditions in harmony with the habit
of thought, and will also draw to himself
other thoughts which will readily coalesce
with his own. Not only is this true, but
each person will draw to himself other
people of similar thoughts, and will in
turn be drawn to them. We really make our
own surroundings and company by our
thoughts of yesterday or to-day.
Yesterday's thoughts influence us to a
greater or lesser extent, but to-day's
thought will gradually supplant and drive
out the cast-off thoughts of the past if
we will that such shall be so.
We have said that thought charged with
Prana manifested a much stronger force
than the ordinary thought. In fact, all
positive thought is sent forth charged
with more or less Prana. The man of strong
will sending forth a vigorous positive
thought unconsciously (or consciously if
he understands the subject) sends with it
a supply of Prana proportioned to the
force with which the thought was
propelled. Such thoughts are often sent
like a bullet to the mark, instead of
drifting along slowly like an ordinary
thought emanation. Some public speakers
have acquired this art, and one can fairly
feel the impact of the thought behind
their utterances. A strong, vigorous
thinker, whose thought is charged strongly
with Prana, often creates what are known
as Thought-Forms-that is to say, thoughts
possessing such vitality that they become
almost like living forces. Such
thought-forms, when they come into one's
psychic atmosphere, possess almost the
same power that the person sending them
would possess were he present, urging his
thought upon you in an earnest
conversation. Those high in occult
development frequently send thought-forms
to aid and help their fellow-beings when
in distress or need, and many of us have
experienced the effect of helpful thoughts
sent in this manner while we did not dream
of the cause of the changed feeling which
came over us, bringing with it the
consciousness of renewed strength and
courage.
While thought-forms are often sent out
unconsciously by men of selfish desires
and aims and many are affected by them, we
wish to say that there need be no fear of
any one being affected against his own
good if he will maintain a mental
atmosphere of Love and Confidence. These
two conditions will repel the strongest
thought-wave which may either be directed
against one or which may be encountered in
the astral atmosphere. The higher the
order of thought the stronger it is, and
the weakest person, providing his mind is
filled with Universal Love and Confidence
in the One Power, is many times stronger
than the person of the strongest power who
would stoop to use that power for selfish
ends. The highest powers of this kind can
be possessed only by those of great
spiritual development, who have long since
left behind them the low aims and
ambitions of undeveloped man. Such persons
are constantly sending forth thought-waves
of strength and help, which may be drawn
upon by those who need such help. All that
one has to do is to make the mental demand
for help from those who are able to give
it, and at once they attract to themselves
the waves of the strong, helpful spiritual
thought which is being constantly emanated
from the minds of the helpers of the race,
both in the flesh and out of it. Were the
race at the mercy of those of selfish
thoughts, it would have perished long
since, but things are otherwise ordered.
The only things to be feared in the world
of thought-forms are those corresponding
with any base thoughts which we may be
entertaining ourselves. For instance, if
we entertain low, selfish thoughts, we are
open to thought-forms of similar character
which may be lurking in the psychic
atmosphere, which may take hold of our
minds and urge us on to the doing of
things which we would have shrunk from
doing in the beginning. We have the right
to invite what mental guests we wish--let
us be careful to whom we issue
invitations.
Our strong desires create thought-forms
which work toward the gratification of
those desires, be they good or bad. We
draw things toward us and are drawn toward
things by these thought-forms. They become
powerful helpers, and never sleep in their
work. Let us be careful how we send them
forth. Send forth no strong thought-desire
unless it meet with the approval of the
Highest Self. Otherwise you will become
enmeshed in the consequences arising from
it, and will suffer much in learning the
lesson that psychic powers must not be
used for unworthy ends. You are punished
by such things, not for them. Above all,
never under any circumstances send forth a
strong desire-thought to injure another,
for there is but one consequence of such
an act and the experience will prove a
bitter lesson. Such a person is usually
hanged on the gallows he builds for
others. Evil thought projected against a
pure mind will rebound at once to the
sender, and will gather force from the
impact. We must apologize to our students
for laying so much stress on these
matters, but as there is always the chance
of lessons of this kind falling into the
hands of those unprepared to receive them,
it is necessary for the warning to
accompany anything written on the subject,
in order to prevent thoughtless persons
using the information improperly and
thereby injuring themselves as well as
others. It is the "Danger" signal
displayed for the careless or thoughtless.
Those who have made a study of the
dynamics of thought are aware of the
wonderful possibilities open for those who
wish to take advantage of the stored-up
thought which has emanated from the minds
of thinkers in the past and present, and
which is open to the demand and attraction
of the one who may wish to use it and who
knows how to avail himself of it.
There has been but little written on this
phase of the subject, which fact is
somewhat surprising when one considers the
wonderful possibilities open to those who
wish to take advantage of them. Much
thought has been sent forth upon all
subjects, and the man who is working along
any line to-day may attract to himself
most helpful thoughts relating to his
favorite subject. In fact, some of the
greatest inventions and most wonderful
plans have come to some of the world's
great people in this way, although those
to whom they came have not realized from
whence their information originated. Many
a man has been thinking intently upon a
certain subject, and has thrown himself
open to the outside thought influences
which have rushed toward his receptive
mind, and lo! the desired plan--the
missing link--came into the field of
consciousness.
Unexpressed thought, originally sent out
with considerable force of desire,
constantly seeks for expression and
outlet, and is easily drawn to the mind of
one who will express it in action. That is
to say, if an ingenious thinker evolves
ideas which he has not the energy or
ability to express in action, to take
advantage of, the strong thoughts on the
subject which he throws off will for years
after seek other minds as a channel of
expression; and when such thoughts are
attracted by a man of sufficient energy to
manifest them, they will pour into his
mind like a flood until he seems to be
inspired.
If one is working upon some problem which
baffles him, he will do well to assume a
receptive attitude toward thoughts along
the same line, and it is extremely likely
that when he has almost ceased to think of
the matter at all the solution will flash
before him as if by magic. Some of the
world's greatest thinkers, writers,
speakers, and inventors have experienced
examples of this law of the thought world,
although but few of them have realized the
cause behind it. The astral world is full
of excellent unexpressed thoughts waiting
for the one who will express them and use
them up. This is merely a hint of a great
truth--let those make use of it who are
ready for it.
In the same way one may draw to himself
strong, helpful thoughts, which will aid
him in overcoming fits of depression and
discouragement. There is an immense amount
of stored-up energy in the thought world,
and any one who needs it may draw to
himself that which he requires. It is
simply a matter of demanding your own. The
world's stored-up thought is yours--why do
not you take it?
