THE TWELFTH LESSON.
SUB-CONSCIOUS INFLUENCES.
In this lesson we wish to touch upon a certain
feature of sub-conscious mentation that has been much dwelt
upon by certain schools of western writers and students during
the past twenty years, but which has also been misunderstood,
and, alas, too often misused, by some of those who have been
attracted to the subject. We allude to what has been called
the "Power of Thought." While this power is very real, and
like any other of the forces of nature may be properly used
and applied in our every day life, still many students of the
power of the Mind have misused it and have stooped to
practices worthy only of the followers of the schools of
"Black Magic." We hear on all sides of the use of "treatments"
for selfish and often base ends, those following these
practices seeming to be in utter ignorance of the occult laws
brought into operation, and the terrible reaction inevitably
falling to the lot of those practicing this negative form of
mental influence. We have been amazed at the prevailing
ignorance concerning the nature and effects of this improper
use of mental force, and at the same time, at the common
custom of such selfish, improper uses. This, more
particularly, when the true occultist knows that these things
are not necessary, even to those who seek "Success" by mental
forces. There is a true method of the use of mental forces, as
well as an improper use, and we trust that in this lesson we
may be able to bring the matter sharply and clearly before the
minds of our
students.
In our first course (The Fourteen Lessons) in the several
lessons entitled, respectively, "Thought Dynamics,"
"Telepathy, etc.," and "Psychic Influence," we have given a
general idea of the effect of one mind upon other minds, and
many other writers have called the attention of the Western
world to the same facts. There has been a general awakening of
interest in this phase of the subject among the Western people
of late years, and many and wonderful are the theories that
have been advanced among the conflicting schools regarding the
matter. But, notwithstanding the conflicting theories, there
is a general agreement upon the fundamental facts. They all
agree that the mental forces may be used to affect oneself and
others, and many have started in to use these mental forces
for their own selfish ends and purposes, believing that they
were fully justified in so doing, and being unaware of the web
of psychic causes and effects which they were weaving around
them by their practices.
Now, at the beginning, let us impress upon the minds of our
students the fact that while it is undoubtedly true that
people who are unaware of the true sources of strength within
them, may be, and often are affected by mental force exerted
by others, it is equally true that no one can be adversely
affected in this way providing he realizes the "I" within
himself, which is the only Real part of him, and which is an
impregnable tower of strength against the assaults of others.
There is no cause for all of this fear that is being
manifested by many Western students of thought-power, who are
in constant dread of being "treated" adversely by other
people. The man or woman who realizes the "I" within, may by
the slightest exercise of the Will surround himself with a
mental aura which will repel adverse thought-waves emanating
from the minds of others.
Nay, more than this--the habitual recognition of the "I," and
a few moments' meditation upon it each day, will of itself
erect such an aura, and will charge this aura with a vitality
that will turn back adverse thought, and cause it to return to
the source from which it came, where it will serve the good
purpose of bringing to the mistaken mind originating it, the
conviction that such practices are hurtful and to be avoided.
This realization of the "I," which we brought out in the first
few lessons of the present series, is the best and only real
method ofself-protection. This may be easily understood, when
we remind you that the whole phenomena of mental influencing
belongs to the "illusion" side of existence--the negative
side--and that the Real and Positive side must of necessity be
stronger. Nothing can affect the Real in you--and the nearer
you get to the Real, in realization and understanding, the
stronger do you become. _This is the whole secret_. Think it
over.
But, there are comparatively few people who are able to rest
firmly in the "I" consciousness all the time and the others
demand help while they are growing. To such, we would say
"Creep as close the Realization of the I, as possible, and
rest your spiritual feet firmly upon the rock of the Real
Self." If you feel that people, circumstances, or things are
influencing you unduly, stand up boldly, and deny the
influence. Say something like this, "I DENY the power or
influence of persons, circumstances, or things to adversely
affect me. I ASSERT my Reality, Power and Dominion over these
things." These words may seem very simple, but when uttered
with the consciousness of the Truth underlying them, they
become as a mighty force. You will understand, of course, that
there is no magic or virtue in the words themselves--that is,
in the grouping of the letters forming the words, or the
sounds of the words--the virtue resting in the _idea_ of which
the words are the expression. You will be surprised at the
effect of this STATEMENT upon depressing, or adverse
influences surrounding you. If you--_you_ who are reading
these words now--feel yourself subject to any adverse or
depressing influences, will then stand up erect, throwing your
shoulders back, raising your head, and looking boldly and
fearlessly ahead, and repeat these words firmly, and with
faith, you will feel the adverse influences disappearing. You
will almost see the clouds falling back from you. Try it now,
before reading further, and you will become conscious of a new
strength and power.
You are perfectly justified in thus denying adverse influence.
You have a perfect right to drive back threatening or
depressing thought-clouds. You have a perfect right to take
your stand upon the Rock of Truth--your Real Self--and demand
your Freedom. These negative thoughts of the world in general,
and of some people in particular, belong to the dark side of
life, and you have a right to demand freedom from them. You do
not belong to the same idea of life, and it is your
privilege--yes, your duty--to repel them and bid them
disappear from your horizon. You are a Child of Light, and it
is your right and duty to assert your freedom from the things
of darkness. You are merely asserting the Truth when you
affirm your superiority and dominion over these dark forces.
And in the measure of your Recognition and Faith, will be the
power at your disposal.
Faith and Recognition renders man a god. If we could but fully
recognize and realize just what we are, we could rise above
this entire plane of negative, dark world of thought. But we
have become so blinded and stupefied with the race-thought of
fear and weakness, and so hypnotized with the suggestions of
weakness that we hear on all sides of us, that even the best
of us find it hard to avoid occasionally sinking back into the
lower depths of despair and discouragement. But, let us
remember this, brothers and sisters, that these periods of
"back-sliding" become less frequent, and last a shorter time,
as we proceed. Bye-and-bye we shall escape them altogether.
Some may think that we are laying too much stress upon the
negative side of the question, but we feel that what we have
said is timely, and much needed by many who read these
lessons. There has been so much said regarding this negative,
adverse power of thought, that it is well that all should be
taught that it is in their power to rise above this thing--
that the weapon for its defeat is already in their hand.
The most advanced student may occasionally forget that he is
superior to the adverse influence of the race-thought, and
other clouds of thought influence that happen to be in his
neighborhood. When we think of how few there are who are
sending forth the positive, hopeful, thought-waves, and how
many are sending forth continually the thoughts of
discouragement, fear, and despair, it is no wonder that at
times there comes to us a feeling of discouragement,
helplessness, and "what's the use." But we must be ever alert,
to stand up and _deny these things out of existence_ so far as
our personal thought world is concerned. There is a wonderful
occult truth in the last sentence. We are the makers,
preservers, and destroyers of our personal thought-world. We
may bring into it that which we desire to appear; we may keep
there what we wish, cultivating, developing and unfolding the
thought-forms that we desire; we may destroy that which we
wish to keep out.
The "I" is the master of its thought-world. Think over this
great truth, O student! By Desire we call into existence--by
affirmation we preserve and encourage--by Denial we destroy.
The Hindus in their popular religious conceptions picture the
One Being as a Trinity, composed of Brahma, the Creator;
Vishnu, the Preserver, and Siva, the Destroyer--not three
gods, as is commonly supposed, but a Trinity composed of three
aspects of Deity or Being. This idea of the threefold Being is
also applicable to theIndividual--"as above so below." The "I"
is the Being of the Individual, and the thought-world is its
manifestation. It creates, preserves, and destroys--as it
Will. Carry this idea with you, and realize that your
individual thought-world is your own field of manifestation.
In it you are constantly creating--constantly
preserving--constantly destroying. And if you can destroy
anything in your own thought-world you remove it from its
field of activity, so far as you are concerned. And if you
create anything in your own thought-world, you bring it into
active being, so far as you are concerned. And if you preserve
anything, you keep it by you in effect and full operation and
influence in your life. This truth belongs to the higher
phases of the subject, for its explanation is inextricably
bound up in the explanation of the "Thing-in-Itself"--the
Absolute and Its Manifestations. But even what we have said
above, should give to the alert student sufficient notice to
cause him to grasp the facts of the case, and to apply the
principles in his own life.
If one lives on the plane of the race-thought, he is subject
to its laws, for the law of cause and effect is in full
operation on each plane of life. But when one raises himself
above the race-thought, and on to the plane of the Recognition
of the Real Self--The "I"--then does he extricate himself from
the lower laws of cause and effect, and places himself on a
higher plane of causation, in which he plays a much higher
part. And so we are constantly reminding you that your tower
of strength and refuge lies on the higher plane. But,
nevertheless, we must deal with the things and laws of the
lower plane, because very few who read these lessons are able
to rest entirely upon the higher plane.
The great majority of them have done no more than to lift
themselves partially onto the higher plane, and they are
consequently living on both planes, partly in each, the
consequence being that there is a struggle between the
conflicting laws of the two planes. The present stage is one
of the hardest on the Path of Attainment, and resembles the
birth-pains of the physical body. But you are being born into
a higher plane, and the pain after becoming the most acute
will begin to ease, and in the end will disappear, and then
will come peace and calm. When the pain becomes the most
acute, then be cheered with the certainty that you have
reached the crisis of your new spiritual birth, and that you
will soon gain peace.
And then you will see that the peace and bliss will be worth
all the pain and struggle. Be brave, fellow followers of The
Path--Deliverance is nigh. Soon will come the Silence that
follows the Storm. The pain that you are experiencing--ah,
well do we know that you are experiencing the pain--is not
punishment, but is a necessary part of your growth. All Life
follows this plan--the pains of labor and birth ever precede
the Deliverance. Such is Life--and Life is based upon
Truth--and all is well with the world. We did not intend to
speak of these things in this lesson, but as we write there
comes to us a great cry for help and a wordof encouragement
and hope, from the Class which is taking this course of
lessons, and we feel bound to respond as we have done. Peace
be with you--one and all.
And, now we will begin our consideration of the laws governing
what we have called "Sub-conscious Influence."
All students of the Occult are aware of the fact that men may
be, and are, largely influenced by the thoughts of others. Not
only is this the case in instances where thoughts are directed
from the mind of one person to the mind of another, but also
when there is no special direction or intention in the thought
sent forth. The vibrations of thoughts linger in the astral
atmosphere long after the effort that sent forth the thought
has passed. The astral atmosphere is charged with the
vibrations of thinkers of many years past, and still possesses
sufficient vitality to affect those whose minds are ready to
receive them at this time. And we all attract to us thought
vibrations corresponding in nature with those which we are in
the habit of entertaining. The Law of Attraction is in full
operation, and one who makes a study of the subject may see
instances of it on all sides.
We invite to ourselves these thought vibrations by maintaining
and entertaining thoughts along certain lines. If we cultivate
a habit of thinking along the lines of Cheerfulness,
Brightness and Optimism, we attract to ourselves similar
thought vibrations of others and we will find that before long
we will find all sorts of cheerful thoughts pouring into our
minds from all directions. And, likewise, if we harbor
thoughts of Gloom, Despair, Pessimism, we lay ourselves open
to the influx of similar thoughts which have emanated from the
minds of others. Thoughts of Anger, Hate, or Jealousy attract
similar thoughts which serve to feed the flame and keep alive
the fire of these low emotions. Thoughts of Love tend to draw
to ourselves the loving thoughts of others which tend to fill
us with a glow of loving emotion.
And not only are we affected in this way by the thoughts of
others, but what is known as "Suggestion" also plays an
important part in this matter of sub-conscious influence. We
find that the mind has a tendency to reproduce the emotions,
moods, shades of thought, and feelings of other persons, as
evidenced by their attitude, appearance, facial expression, or
words. If we associate with persons of a gloomy temperament,
we run the risk of "catching" their mental trouble by the law
of suggestion, unless we understand this law and counteract
it. In the same way we find that cheerfulness is contagious,
and if we keep in the company of cheerful people we are very
apt to take on their mental quality. The same rule applies to
frequenting the company of unsuccessful or successful people,
as the case may be. If we allow ourselves to take up the
suggestions constantly emanating from them, we will find that
our minds will begin to reproduce the tones, attitudes,
characteristics, dispositions and traits of the other persons,
and before long we will be living on the same mental plane. As
we have repeatedly said, these things are true only when we
allow ourselves to "take on" the impressions, but unless one
has mastered the law of suggestion, and understands its
principles and operations he is more or less apt to be
affected by it.
All of you readily recall the effect of certain persons upon
others with whom they come in contact. One has a faculty of
inspiring with vigor and energy those in whose company he
happens to be. Another depresses those around him, and is
avoided as a "human wet-blanket." Another will cause a feeling
of uneasiness in those around him, by reason of his prevailing
attitude of distrust, suspicion, and low cunning. Some carry
an atmosphere of health around them, while others seem to be
surrounded with a sickly aura of disease, even when their
physical condition does not seem to indicate the lack of
health. Mental states have a subtle way of impressing
themselves upon us, and the student who will take the trouble
to closely observe those with whom he comes in contact will
receive a liberal education along these lines.
There is of course a great difference in the degree of
suggestibility among different persons. There are those who
are almost immune, while at the other end of the line are to
be found others who are so constantly and strongly impressed
by the suggestions of others, conscious or unconscious, that
they may be said to scarcely have any independent thought or
will of their own. But nearly all persons are suggestible to a
greater or lesser degree.
It must not be supposed from what we have said that all
suggestions are "bad," harmful, or undesirable. Many
suggestions are very good for us, and coming at the right time
have aided us much. But, nevertheless, it is well to always
_let your own mind pass upon_ these suggestions, before
allowing them to manifest in your sub-conscious mind. Let the
final decision be your own--and not the will of
another--although you may have considered outside suggestions
in connection with the matter.
Remember always that YOU are an Individual, having a mind and
Will of your own. Rest firmly upon the base of your "I"
consciousness, and you will find yourself able to manifest a
wonderful strength against the adverse suggestions of others.
Be your own Suggestor--train and influence your sub-conscious
mind Yourself, and do not allow it to be tampered with by the
suggestions of others. Grow the sense of Individuality.
There has been much written of recent years in the Western
world regarding the effect of the Mental Attitude upon Success
and attainment upon the material plane. While much of this is
nothing but the wildest imagining, still there remains a very
firm and solid substratum of truth underlying it all.
It is undoubtedly true that one's prevailing mental attitude
is constantly manifesting and objectifying itself in his life.
Things, circumstances, people, plans, all seem to fit into the
general ideal of the strong mental attitude of a man. And this
from the operation of mental law along a number of lines of
action.
In the first place, the mind when directed toward a certain
set of objects becomes very alert to discover things
concerning those objects--to seize upon things, opportunities,
persons, ideas, and facts tending to promote the objects
thought of. The man who is looking for facts to prove certain
theories, invariably finds them, and is also quite likely to
overlook facts tending to disprove his theory. The Optimist
and the Pessimist passing along the same streets, each sees
thousands of examples tending to fit in with his idea. As Kay
says: "When one is engaged in seeking for a thing, if he keep
the image of it clearly before the mind, he will be very
likely to find it, and that too, probably, where it would
otherwise have escaped his notice. So when one is engaged in
thinking on a subject, thoughts of things resembling it, or
bearing upon it, and tending to illustrate it, come up on
every side. Truly, we may well say of the mind, as has been
said of the eye, that 'it perceives only what it brings within
the power of perceiving.'" John Burroughs has well said
regarding this that "No one ever found the walking fern who
did not have the walking fern in his mind. A person whose eye
is full of Indian relics picks them up in every field he walks
through. They are quickly recognized because the eye has been
commissioned to find them."
When the mind is kept firmly fixed upon some ideal or aim, its
whole and varied powers are bent toward the realization and
manifestation of that ideal. In thousands of ways the mind
will operate to objectify the subjective mental attitude, a
great proportion of the mental effort being accomplished along
sub-conscious lines. It is of the greatest importance to one
who wishes to succeed in any undertaking, to keep before his
mind's eye a clear mental image of that which he desires. He
should picture the thing desired, and himself as securing it,
until it becomes almost real. In this way he calls to his aid
his entire mental force and power, along the sub-conscious
lines, and, as it were, makes a clear path over which he may
walk to accomplishment. Bain says regarding this: "By aiming
at a new construction, we must clearly conceive what is aimed
at.
Where we have a very distinct and intelligible model before
us, we are in a fair way to succeed; in proportion as the
ideal is dim and wavering, we stagger or miscarry." Maudsley
says: "We cannot do an act voluntarily unless we know what we
are going to do, and we cannot know exactly what we are going
to do until we have taught ourselves to do it." Carpenter
says: "The continued concentration of attention upon a certain
idea gives it a dominant power, not only over the mind, but
over the body." Muller says: "The idea of our own strength
gives strength to our movements. A person who is confident of
effecting anything by muscular efforts will do it more easily
than one not so confident of his own power." Tanner says: "To
believe firmly is almost tantamount in the end to
accomplishment.
Extraordinary instances are related showing the influence of
the will over even the involuntary muscles."
Along the same lines, many Western writers have added their
testimony to the Yogi principle of the manifestation of
thought into action. Kay has written: "A clear and accurate
idea of what we wish to do, and how it is to be effected, is
of the utmost value and importance in all the affairs of life.
A man's conduct naturally shapes itself according to the ideas
in his mind, and nothing contributes more to success in life
than having a high ideal and keeping it constantly in view.
Where such is the case one can hardly fail in attaining it.
Numerous unexpected circumstances will be found to conspire to
bring it about, and even what seemed at first to be hostile
may be converted into means for its furtherance; while by
having it constantly before the mind he will be ever ready to
take advantage of any favoring circumstances that may present
themselves."
Along the same lines, Foster has written these
remarkable words: "It is wonderful how even the casualties of
life seem to bow to a spirit that will not bow to them, and
yield to subserve a design which they may, in their first
apparent tendency, threaten to frustrate. When a firm,
decisive spirit is recognized, it is curious to see how the
space clears around a man and leaves him room and freedom."
Simpson has said: "A passionate desire and an unwearied will
can perform impossibilities,or what seem to be such to the
cold and feeble." And Maudsley gives to aspiring youth a great
truth, when he says: "Thus it is that aspirations are often
prophecies, the harbingers of what a man shall be in a
condition to perform." And we may conclude the paragraph by
quoting Lytton: "Dream, O youth, dream manfully and nobly, and
thy dreams shall be prophets."
This principle of the power of the Mental Image is strongly
impressed upon the mind of the _chela_, or student, by the
Yogi teachers. The student is taught that just as the house is
erected in accordance with the plan of the architect, so is
one's life built in accordance with the prevailing Mental
Image. The mind sub-consciously moulds itself around the
prevailing mental image or attitude, and then proceeds to draw
upon the outer world for material with which to build in
accordance with the plan. Not only is one's character built in
this way, but the circumstances and incidents of his life
follow the same rule.
The Yogi student is instructed into the mysteries of the power
of the mind in this direction, not that he may make use of it
to build up material success, or to realize his personal
desires--for he is taught to avoid these things--but he is
fully instructed, nevertheless, that he may understand the
workings of the law around him. And it is a fact well known to
close students of the occult, that the few who have attained
extraordinarily high degrees of development, make use of this
power in order to help the race. Many a world movement has
been directed by the mind, or minds, of some of these advanced
souls who were able to see the ideal of evolution ahead of the
race, and by visualizing the same, and concentrating upon it
in meditation, actually hastened the progress of the
evolutionary wave, and caused to actually manifest that which
they saw, and upon which they had meditated.
It is true that some occultists have used similar plans to
further their own selfish personal ends--often without fully
realizing just what power they were employing--but this merely
illustrates the old fact that the forces of Nature may be used
rightly and wrongly. And it is all the more reason why those
who are desirous of advancing the race--of assisting in the
evolution of the world--should make use of this mighty power
in their work. Success is not reprehensible, notwithstanding
the fact that many have interpreted and applied the word in
such a matter as to make it appear as if it had no other
meaning or application other than the crude, material selfish
one generally attributed to it, by reason of its misuse.
The Western world is playing its part in the evolution of the
race, and its keynote is "Accomplishment." Those who have
advanced so high that they are able to view the world of men,
as one sees a valley from a mountain peak, recognize what this
strenuous Western life means. They see mighty forces in
operation--mighty principles being worked out by those who
little dream of the ultimate significance of that which they
are doing. Mighty things are before the Western world
to-day--wonderful changes are going on--great things are in
the womb of time, and the hour of birth draws near. The men
and women in the Western world feel within them the mighty
urge to "accomplish" something--to take an active part in the
great drama of life. And they are right in giving full
expression to this urge, and are doing well in using every
legitimate means in the line of expression. And this idea of
the Mental Attitude, or the Mental Image, is one of the
greatest factors in this striving for Success.
In this lesson we do not purpose giving "Success Talks" for
our students.
These lessons are intended to fill another field, and there
are many other channels of information along the lines named.
What we wish to do is to point out to our students the meaning
of all this strenuous striving of the age, in the Western
world, and the leading principle employed therein. The great
achievements of the material world are being accomplished by
means of the Power of the Mind. Men are beginning to
understand that "Thought manifests itself in Action," and that
Thought attracts to itself the things, persons and
circumstances in harmony with itself. The Power of Mind is
becoming manifest in hundreds of ways. The power of Desire,
backed by Faith and Will, is beginning to be recognized as one
of the greatest of known dynamic forces. The life of the race
is entering into a new and strange stage of development and
evolution, and in the years to come MIND will be seen, more
clearly and still more clearly, to be the great principle
underlying the world of material things and happenings. That
"All is Mind" is more than a dreamy, metaphysical utterance,
is being recognized by the leaders in the world's thought.
As we have said, great changes are before the world and the
race, and every year brings us nearer to the beginning of
them. In fact, thebeginning is already upon us. Let any
thinker stop and reflect over the wonderful changes of the
past six years--since the dawning of theTwentieth Century, and
he will be dull indeed if he sees not the trend of affairs. We
are entering into a new Great Cycle of the race, and the old
is being prepared for being dropped off like an old worn out
husk. Old conventions, ideals, customs, laws, ethics, and
things sociological, economical, theological, philosophical,
and metaphysical have been outgrown, and are about to be
"shed" by the race. The great cauldron of human thought is
bubbling away fiercely, and many things are rising to its
surface. Like all great changes, the good will come only with
much pain--all birth is with pain. The race feels the pain and
perpetual unrest, but knows not what is the disease nor the
remedy. Many false cases of diagnosis and prescription are
even now noticeable, and will become still more in evidence as
the years roll by. Many self-styled saviours of the
race--prescribers for the pain of the soul and mind--will
arise and fall. But out of it all will come that for which the
race now waits.
The changes that are before us are as great as the changes in
thought and life described in the late novel by H. G. Wells,
entitled "_In the Days of the Comet_." In fact, Mr. Wells has
indicated in that story some of the very changes that the
advanced souls of the race have informed their students are
before the race--the prophetic insight of the writer named
seems marvelous, until one realizes that even that writer is
being used as a part of the mental machinery of The Change
itself. But the change will not come about by reason of the
new gas caused by the brushing of the earth's surface by a
passing comet. It will come from the unfolding of the race
mind, the process being now under way. Are not the signs of
mental unrest and discomfort becoming more and more apparent
as the days go by? The pain is growing greater, and the race
is beginning to fret and chafe, and moan. It knows not what it
wants, but it knows that it feels pain and wants something to
relieve that pain. The old things are beginning to totter and
fall, and ideas rendered sacred by years of observance are
being brushed aside with a startling display of irreverence.
Under the surface of our civilization we may hear the
straining and groaning of the ideas and principles that are
striving to force their way out on to the plane of
manifestation.
Men are running hither and thither crying for a leader and a
savior.
They are trying this thing, and that thing, but they find not
that which they seek. They cry for Satisfaction, but it eludes
them. And yet all this search and disappointment is part of
the Great Change, and is preparing the race for
That-which-must-Come. And yet the relief will not come from
any Thing or Things. It will come from Within. Just as when,
in Well's story, things righted themselves when the vapor of
the comet had cleared men's minds, so will Things take their
new places when the mind of the race becomes cleared by the
new unfoldment that is even now under way. Men are beginning
to feel each other's pains--they find themselves unsatisfied
by the old rule of "every man for himself, and the devil take
the hindmost"--it used to content the successful, but now it
doesn't seem to be so satisfying. The man on top is becoming
lonesome, and dissatisfied, and discontented--his success
seems to appall him, in some mysterious manner. And the man
underneath feels stirring within himself strange longings and
desires, and dissatisfaction. And new frictions are arising,
and new and startling ideas are being suddenly advanced,
supported and opposed.
And the relations between people seem to be unsatisfactory.
The old rules, laws, and bonds are proving irksome. New,
strange, and wild thoughts are coming into the minds of
people, which they dare not utter to their friends--and yet
these same friends are finding similar ideas within
themselves. And somehow, underneath it all is to be found a
certain Honesty--yes, there is where the trouble seems to
come, _the world is tiring of hypocrisy and dishonesty in all
human relations_, and is crying aloud to be led back,
someway, to Truth and Honesty in Thought and Action. But it
does not see the way out! And it will not see the way out,
until the race-mind unfolds still further. And the pain of the
new unfoldment is stirring the race to its depths. From the
deep recesses of the race-mind are rising to the surface old
passions, relics from the cave-dweller days, and all sorts of
ugly mental relics of the past. And they will continue to rise
and show themselves until at last the bubbling pot will begin
to quiet down, and then will come a new peace, and the best
will come to the surface--the essence of all the experiences
of the race.
To our students, we would say: During the struggle ahead of
the race, play well your part, doing the best you can, living
each day by itself, meeting each new phase of life with
confidence and courage. Be not deluded by appearances, nor
follow after strange prophets. Let the evolutionary processes
work themselves out, and do you fall in with the wave without
struggling, and without overmuch striving. The Law is working
itself out well--of that be assured. Those who have entered
into even a partial understanding and recognition of the One
Life underlying, will find that they will be as the chosen
people during the changes that are coming to the race. They
have attained that which the race is reaching toward in pain
and travail. And the force behind the Law will carry them
along, for they will be the leaven that is to lighten the
great mass of the race in the new dispensation. Not by deed,
or by action, but by Thought, will these people leaven the
mass. The Thought is even now at work, and all who read these
words are playing a part in the work, although they may know
it not. If the race could realize this truth of the One Life
underlying, to-day, the Change would occur in a moment, but it
will not come in that way. When this understanding gradually
dawns upon the race--this new consciousness--then will Things
take their proper places, and the Lion and the Lamb lie down
together in peace.
We have thought it well to say these things in this the last
lesson of this course. They are needed words--they will serve
to point out the way to those who are able to read. "_Watch
and wait for the Silence that will follow the Storm_."
In this series of lessons we have endeavored to give you a
plain, practical presentation of some of the more important
features of "RajaYoga." But this phase of the subject, as
important and interesting as it is, is not the highest phase
of the great Yoga teachings. It is merely the preparation of
the soil of the mind for what comes afterward. The phase
called "Gnani Yoga"--the Yoga of Wisdom--is the highest of all
the various phases of Yoga, although each of the lower steps
is important in itself. We find ourselves approaching the
phase of our work for which we have long wished. Those who
have advised and directed this work have counseled us to deal
with the less advanced and simpler phases, in order to prepare
the minds of those who might be interested, so that they would
be ready for the higher teachings. At times we have felt an
impatience for the coming of the day when we would be able to
teach the highest that has come to us. And now the time seems
to have come. Following this course, we will begin a series of
lessons in "GNANI YOGA"--the Yoga of Wisdom--in which we will
pass on to our students the highest teachings regarding the
Reality and its Manifestations--the One and the Many. The
teachings that "All is Mind" will be explained in such a
manner as to be understood by all who have followed us so far.
We will be able to impart to you the higher truths about
Spiritual Evolution, sometimes called "Reincarnation," as well
as Spiritual Cause and Effect, often called "Karma." The
highest truths about these important subjects are often
obscured by popular misconceptions occasioned by partial
teaching. We trust that you--our students--will wish to follow
us still higher--higher than we have ventured so far, and we
assure you that there is a Truth to be seen and known that is
as much higher than the other phases upon which we have
touched, as those phases have been higher than the current
beliefs of the masses of the race. We trust that the Powers of
Knowledge may guide and direct us that we may be able to
convey our message so that it may be accepted and understood.
We thank our students who have traveled thus far with us, and
we assure them that their loving sympathy has ever been a help
and an inspiration to us.
Peace be with you.