Recap of 4/9 meeting and reading for 4/16

Last week we reviewed the creative process in the universal using the basic Science of Mind metaphysical chart, showing the four aspects of the process: spirit, soul, body and the word. This entire process happens within the One Mind [of God] because that is all there is.

Spirit, also called love, objective mind, Self-knowing mind or the Presence is the conscious chooser of any of the unlimited ideas in the vast sea/field of infinite possibilities. It is the personal aspect of mind. It is first cause in an endless chain of cause-and-effect. This is the masculine aspect of Mind, the knower. It uses deductive reasoning.

Soul, also called law or subjective mind, is the blind doer, the impersonal aspect, the fertile soil in which the chosen ideas of Spirit incubate and grow into manifest form. It is the repository of all ideas, manifest and unmanifest, actual and potential - the sea/field of infinite possibilities and also the law of averages, the unlimited source of undifferentiated substance from which the material form is molded. This is the feminine apect of Mind. This aspect of mind is also conscious, but it is not self-conscious. It uses deductive reasoning.

The Word is the chosen idea, the vibration of which sets the Soul or Law of Mind in action to produce in material form the exact equivalent of the idea. The higher the vibration, the closer the manifest resembles the pure spiritual idea(l) in unity consciousness. The idea of highest vibration is the One Life, perfect, whole, limitless, balanced, harmonious and complete, whose essence is perfect love, peace, joy, prosperity, beauty and truth.


The body is the manifest idea, circumstances, events. It is the world of the seen, all of which is effect. In the universal, it is the vast network of galaxies, the planetary systems and everything on every planet. It uses both inductive and deductive reasoning. It is the known.

We used the analogy of the farmer (Spirit) who plants a tomato seed (thought) into the soil (Soul.) The soil (Soul) has all the substance needed (minerals, moisture, etc.) to grow the tomato seed (thought) into a tomato plant (body, material form.) The farmer does not dig up the soil to see if anything is happening underground. S/he knows (has faith) that the seed s/he has planted is good, that s/he is now done and the soil (Soul) will produce the rest. S/he knows a tomato plant will result and not a pumpkin vine. This is the undeviating law.


The Creative Process and Evolution
We are each a unique idea of the One [God, Source, Mind, Universe] residing in the One. We were made in the image and likeness of the One, therefore, we can and do use the same creative process that resulted in the galaxies, the mountains, the oceans, the great varieties of flowers, trees, birds, mammals and the infinitessimal and numberless micro-organisms. We are manifest spirit. We are the eyes, hands, and heart of the One God. We are the fulfillment of the One in the physical.


We are, each of us, at every moment, using our minds to think things into being. If we do not use our minds consciously, our lives follow the tendency of thought for the human race as it has evolved thus far, called "race consciousness" by Holmes. This tendency of thought sets the law of mind in action to produce the current average physical human condition in all its imperfection. This is called the "law of averages."



The human mind experiences the dualistic thinking that results from a belief that the knower is separate from the known, that the self is separate from the Source. This belief in separation results in the mistaken notions of lack, limitation, illness and death. These notions are not so much wrong as they are incomplete.


We are still evolving. In New Thought, we co-create with God in conscious evolution, bringing our lives "above the fray" of dualistic thinking, the law of averages and the human condition. We commune with the Presence through treatment, yoga, meditation and witnessing nature, and experience the oneness of all things.


In unity consciousness, we experience direct knowing or inspiration. It is understanding directly or "face-to-face" rather than "seeing through the glass darkly" as stated in 1Corinthians13. "We know as we are known." We know the Truth of our being, that we are whole, perfect and complete; that everything we need for the highest expression of our lives is already available at that higher vibratory level. All we need do is claim it, and we claim it through our convicted word of Truth. We accept it as already ours, knowing that, to accept is to receive. We know that, like the tomato seed, most of the creative process happens underground where we can't see it. Like the farmer, we plant our seed and wait expectantly, knowing what we planted will come to pass in the light of day.


This new higher-level thought raises the understanding for the whole human race, the process of spiritual evolution. By taking inspired action, we manifest this higher vibratory thought, and it becomes visibly accessible to the whole. In so doing, we raise the law of averages for the whole human race, participating in the evolutionary rise of human or self-consciousness to the next level, called by some cosmic consciousness (awareness of unity with the whole,) and manifesting in a more highly intelligent race, homo noeticus.



Roger Bannister, the runner, illustrated this by breaking the 4 minute mile. He saw with his mind it could be done. (He dipped his measuring vessel into the infinite sea of limitless possibilities and claimed an as yet unmanifest idea.) In creating a higher mental equivalent, he was able to accomplish a new thing, to materialize this new idea. Once others saw with their eyes that it could be done, they were able to break the 4 minute mile also. The human consciousness has evolved into accepting the idea of a less-than-4 minute mile as a fact, just as human consciousness evolved centuries ago into accepting a round rather than a flat world as fact.


We will soon be getting into the idea of conscious evolution more deeply through the writings of Holmes, Troward, and Atkinson. This is where volition comes into play.

Reading and Discussion
Last week we detoured from our Science of Mind reading to seek a deeper understanding of the terms will, volition and choice used by Holmes in his definition of terms in metaphysical chart 01.

We began reading "Thought Vibration, or The Law of Attraction in the Thought World" by William Walker Atkinson at Chapter 3 - A Talk About the Mind. We will continue this week at paragraph 8. This chapter explains the difference between active mentation or active efforts of the mind (new thoughts) and passive mental process (habitual thought.)

Testimonials
Several people shared testimonials of the good that has come into their lives in the form of resources, unexpected income and specific demonstrations of treatment. Our faith in the process continues to build as we apply ourselves to principle and see the results in our lives!

Announcement
We now have 3 people car-pooling to Hingham for the May 2 Blue Mountain Center meditation initiation and retreat. Contact me if you would like to join us. Go to http://www.easwaren.org/ to register for this event. There is a sliding fee and scholarship available to make it possible for everyone to attend who has a mind to. It also allows everyone to express their gratitude to Source by supporting this channel of Spirit in the continuation and growth of its work as they are led.

Reading for 4/9 group

In continuing our discussion of will, volition, choice, we will delve into the meaning of these terms as presented by William Walker Atkinson in his book, "Thought Vibration, or The Law of Attraction in the Thought World." Below are the chapters on Mind, Mind Building and The Secret of the Will (Chapters 3 - 5.) You may choose to read Chapters 1 and 2 also. They are terse but concentrated chapters. As you read, keep in mind that this was written in 1906!

Chapter III A Talk About the Mind
MAN has but one mind, but he has many mental faculties, each faculty being capable of functioning along two different lines of mental effort. There are no distinct dividing lines separating the two several functions of a faculty, but they shade into each other as do the colors of the spectrum.

An Active effort of any faculty of the mind is the result of a direct impulse imparted at the time of the effort. A Passive effort of any faculty of the mind is the result of either a preceding Active effort of the same mind; an Active effort of another along the lines of suggestion; Thought Vibrations from the mind of another; Thought impulses from an ancestor, transmitted by the laws of heredity (including impulses transmitted from generation to generation from the time of the original vibratory impulse imparted by the Primal Cause - which impulses gradually unfold, and unsheath, when the proper state of evolutionary development is reached).

The Active effort is new-born - fresh from the mint, whilst the Passive effort is of less recent creation, and, in fact, is often the result of vibratory impulses imparted in ages long past. The Active effort makes its own way, brushing aside the impeding vines and kicking from its path the obstructing stones. The Passive effort travels along the beaten path.

A thought-impulse, or motion-impulse, originally caused by an Active effort of faculty, may become by continued repetition, or habit, strictly automatic, the impulse given it by the repeated Active effort developing a strong momentum, which carries it on, along Passive lines, until stopped by another Active effort or its direction changed by the same cause.

On the other hand, thought-impulses, or motion-impulses, continued along Passive lines may be terminated or corrected by an Active effort. The Active function creates, changes or destroys. The Passive function carries on the work given it by the Active function and obeys orders and suggestions.

The Active function produces the thought-habit, or motion-habit, and imparts to it the vibrations, which carry it on along the Passive lines thereafter. The Active function also has the power to send forth vibrations which neutralize the momentum of the thought-habit, or motion-habit; it also is able to launch a new thought-habit, or motion-habit, with stronger vibrations, which overcomes and absorbs the first thought, or motion, and substitutes the new one.

All thought-impulses, or motion-impulses, once started on their errands, continue to vibrate along passive lines until corrected or terminated by subsequent impulses imparted by the Active function, or other controlling power. The continuance of the original impulse adds momentum and force to it, and renders its correction or termination more difficult. This explains that which is called "the force of habit." I think that this will be readily understood by those who have struggled to overcome a habit which had been easily acquired. The Law applies to good habits as well as bad. The moral is obvious.

Several of the faculties of the mind often combine to produce a single manifestation. A task to be performed may call for the combined exercise of several faculties, some of which may manifest by Active effort and others by Passive effort.

The meeting of new conditions - new problems - calls for the exercise of Active effort; whilst a familiar problem, or task, can be easily handled by the Passive effort without the assistance of his more enterprising brother.

There is in Nature an instinctive tendency of living organisms to perform certain actions, the tendency of an organized body to seek that which satisfies the wants of its organism. This tendency is sometimes called Appetency. It is really a Passive mental impulse, originating with the impetus imparted by the Primal Cause, and transmitted along the lines of evolutionary development, gaining strength and power as it progresses. The impulse of the Primal Cause is assisted by the powerful upward attraction exerted by THE ABSOLUTE.

In plant life this tendency is plainly discernible, ranging form the lesser exhibitions in the lower types to the greater in the higher types. It is that which is generally spoken of as the "life-force" in plants. It is, however, a manifestation of rudimentary mentation, functioning along the lines of Passive effort. In some of the higher forms of plant life there appears a faint color of independent "life action" - a faint indication of choice of volition. Writers on plant life relate many remarkable instances of this phenomenon. It is, undoubtedly, an exhibition of rudimentary Active mentation.
In the lower animal kingdom a very high degree of Passive mental effort is found. And, varying in degree in the several families and species, a considerable amount of Active mentation is apparent. The lower animal undoubtedly possesses Reason only in a lesser degree than man, and, in fact, the display of volitional mentation exhibited by an intelligent animal is often nearly as high as that shown by the lower types of man or by a young child. As a child, before birth, shows in its body the stages of the physical evolution of man, so does a child, before and after birth - until maturity - manifest the stages of the mental evolution of man.

Man, the highest type of life yet produced, at least upon this planet, shows the highest form of Passive mentation, and also a much higher development of Active mentation than is seen in the lower animals, and yet the degrees of that power vary widely among the different races of men. Even among men of our race the different degrees of Active mentation are plainly noticeable; these degrees not depending by any means upon the amount of "culture," social position or educational advantages possessed by the individual: Mental Culture and Mental Development are two very different things.

You have but to look around you to see the different stages of the development of Active mentation in man. The reasoning of many men is scarcely more than Passive mentation, exhibiting but little of the qualities of volitional thought. They prefer to let other men think for them. Active mentation tires them and they find the instinctive, automatic, Passive mental process much easier. Their minds work along the lines of least resistance. They are but little more than human sheep.

Among the lower animals and the lower types of men Active mentation is largely confined to the grosser faculties - the more material plane; the higher mental faculties working along the instinctive, automatic lines of the Passive function.

As the lower forms of life progressed in the evolutionary scale, they developed new faculties which were latent within them. These faculties always manifested in the form of rudimentary Passive functioning, and afterwards worked up through higher Passive forms, until the Active functions were brought into play. The evolutionary process still continues, the invariable tendency being toward the goal of highly developed Active mentation. This evolutionary progress is caused by the vibratory impulse imparted by the Primal Cause, aided by the uplifting attraction of THE ABSOLUTE.

This law of evolution is still in progress, and man is beginning to develop new powers of mind, which, of course, are first manifesting themselves along the lines of Passive effort. Some men have developed these new faculties to a considerable degree, and it is possible that before long Man will be able to exercise them along the line of their Active functions. In fact, this power has already been attained by a few. This is the secret of the Oriental occultists, and of some of their Occidental brethren.

The amenability of the mind to the will can be increased by properly directed practice. That which we are in the habit of referring to as the "strengthening of the Will" is in reality the training of the mind to recognize and absorb the Power Within. The Will is strong enough, it does not need strengthening, but the mind needs to be trained to receive and act upon the suggestions of the Will. The Will is the outward manifestation of the I AM. The Will current is flowing in full strength along the spiritual wires; but you must learn how to raise the trolley-pole to touch it before the mental car will move. This is a somewhat different idea from that which you have been in the habit of receiving from writers on the subject of Will Power, but it is correct, as you will demonstrate to your own satisfaction if you will follow up the subject by experiments along the proper lines.

The attraction of THE ABSOLUTE is drawing man upward, and the vibratory force of the Primal Impulse has not yet exhausted itself. The time of evolutionary development has come when man can help himself. The man who understands the Law can accomplish wonders by means of the development of the powers of the mind; whilst the man who turns his back upon the truth will suffer from his lack of knowledge of the Law.

He who understands the laws of his mental being, develops his latent powers and uses them intelligently. He does not despise his Passive mental functions, but makes good use of them also, charges them with the duties for which they are best fitted, and is able to obtain wonderful results from their work, having mastered them and trained them to do the bidding of the Higher Self. When they fail to do their work properly he regulates them, and his knowledge prevents him from meddling with them unintelligently, and thereby doing himself harm. He develops the faculties and powers latent within him and learns how to manifest them along the line of Active mentation as well as Passive. He knows that the real man within him is the master to whom both Active and Passive functions are but tools. He has banished Fear, and enjoys Freedom. He has found himself. HE HAS LEARNED THE SECRET OF THE I AM.

Chapter IV Mind Building
MAN can build up his mind and make it what he wills. In fact, we are mind-building every hour of our lives, either consciously or unconsciously. The majority of us are doing the work unconsciously, but those who have seen a little below the surface of things have taken the matter in hand and have become conscious creators of their own mentality. They are no longer subject to the suggestions and influences of others but have become masters of themselves. They assert the "I," and compel obedience from the subordinate mental faculties. The "I" is the sovereign of the mind, and what we call WILL is the instrument of the "I." Of course, there is something back of this, and the Universal Will is higher than the Will of the Individual, but the latter is in much closer touch with the Universal Will than is generally supposed, and when one conquers the lower self, and asserts the "I," he becomes in close touch with the Universal Will and partakes largely of its wonderful power. The moment one asserts the "I," and "finds himself," he establishes a close connection between the Individual Will and the Universal Will. But before he is able to avail himself of the mighty power at his command, he must first effect the Mastery of the lower self.

Think of the absurdity of Man claiming to manifest powers, when he is the slave of the lower parts of his mental being, which should be subordinate. Think of a man being the slave of his moods, passions, animal appetites and lower faculties, and at the same time trying to claim the benefits of the Will. Now, I am not preaching asceticism, which seems to me to be a confession of weakness. I am speaking of Self-Mastery - the assertion of the "I" over the subordinate parts of oneself. In the higher view of the subject, this "I" is the only real Self, and the rest is the non-self; but our space does not permit the discussion of this point, and we will use the word "self' as meaning the entire man. Before a man can assert the "I" in its full strength he must obtain the complete mastery of the subordinate parts of the self. All things are good when we learn to master them, but no thing is good when it masters us. Just so long as we allow the lower portions of the self to give us orders, we are slaves. It is only when the "I" mounts his throne and lifts the scepter, that order is established and things assume their proper relation to each other.

We are finding no fault with those who are swayed by their lower selves - they are in a lower grade of evolution, and will work up in time. But we are calling the attention of those who are ready, to the fact that the Sovereign must assert his will, and that the subjects must obey. Orders must be given and carried out. Rebellion must be put down, and the rightful authority insisted upon. And the time to do it is Now.

You have been allowing your rebellious subjects to keep the King from his throne. You have been allowing the mental kingdom to be misgoverned by irresponsible faculties. You have been the slaves of Appetite, Unworthy Thoughts, Passion and Negativeness. The Will has been set aside and Low Desire has usurped the throne. It is time to re-establish order in the mental kingdom.

You are able to assert the mastery over any emotion, appetite, passion or class of thoughts by the assertion of the Will. You can order Fear to go to the rear; Jealousy to leave your presence; Hate to depart from your sight; Anger to hide itself; Worry to cease troubling you; Uncontrolled Appetite and Passion to bow in submission and to become humble slaves instead of masters - all by the assertion of the "I." You may surround yourself with the glorious company of Courage, Love and Self-Control, by the same means. You may put down the rebellion and secure peace and order in your mental kingdom if you will but utter the mandate and insist upon its execution. Before you march forth to empire, you must establish the proper internal condition - must show your ability to govern you own kingdom. The first battle is the conquest of the lesser self by the Real Self.

AFFIRMATION
I AM Asserting the Mastery of My Real Self
Repeat these words earnestly and positively during the day at least once an hour, and particularly when you are confronted with conditions which tempt you to act on the lines of the lesser self instead of following the course dictated by the Real Self. In the moment of doubt and hesitation say these words earnestly, and your way will be made clear to you. Repeat them several times after you retire and settle yourself to sleep. But be sure to back up the words with the thought inspiring them, and do not merely repeat them parrot-like. Form the mental image of the Real Self asserting its mastery over the lower planes of your mind - see the King on his Throne. You will become conscious of an influx of new thought, and things which have seemed hard for you will suddenly become much easier. You will feel that you have yourself well in hand, and that YOU are the master and not the slave. The thought you are holding will manifest itself in action, and you will steadily grow to become that which you have in mind.

EXERCISE
Fix the mind firmly on the higher Self and draw inspiration from it when you feel led to yield to the promptings of the lower part of your nature. When you are tempted to burst into Anger - assert the "I," and your voice will drop. Anger is unworthy of the developed Self. When you feel vexed and cross, remember what you are, and rise above your feeling. When you feel Fearful, remember that the Real Self fears nothing, and assert Courage. When you feel Jealousy inciting, think of your higher nature, and laugh. And so on, asserting the Real Self and not allowing the things on the lower plane of mentality to disturb you. They are unworthy of you, and must be taught to keep their places. Do not allow these things to master you - they should be your subjects, not your masters. You must get away from this plane, and the only way to do so is to cut loose from these phases of thought which have been "running things" to suit themselves. You may have trouble at the start, but keep at it and you will have that satisfaction which comes only from conquering the lower parts of our nature. You have been a slave long enough - now is the time to free yourselves. If you will follow these exercises faithfully you will be a different being by the end of the year, and will look back with a pitying smile to your former condition. But it takes work. This is not child's play but a task for earnest men and women. Will YOU make the effort?

Chapter V The Secret of the Will
WHILE psychologists may differ in their theories regarding the nature of the Will, none deny its existence, nor question its power. All persons recognize the power of strong Will - all see how it may be used to overcome the greatest obstacles. But few realize that the Will may be developed and strengthened by intelligent practice. They feel that they could accomplish wonders if they had a strong Will, but instead of attempting to develop it, they content themselves with vain regrets. They sigh, but do nothing.

Those who have investigated the subject closely know that Will Power, with all its latent possibilities and mighty powers, may be developed, disciplined, controlled and directed, just as may be any other of Nature's forces. It does not matter what theory you may entertain about the nature of the Will, you will obtain the results if you practice intelligently.

Personally, I have a somewhat odd theory about the Will. I believe that every man has, potentially, a strong Will, and that all he has to do is to train his mind to make use of it. I think that in the higher regions of the mind of every man is a great store of Will Power awaiting his use. The Will current is running along the psychic wires, and all that it is necessary to do is to raise the mental trolley-pole and bring down the power for your use. And the supply is unlimited, for your little storage battery is connected with the great powerhouse of the Universal Will Power, and the power is inexhaustible. Your Will does not need training - but your Mind does. The mind is the instrument and the supply of Will Power is proportionate to the fineness of the instrument through which it manifests. But you needn't accept this theory if you don't like it. This lesson will fit your theory as well as mine.

He who has developed his mind so that it will allow the Will Power to manifest through it, has opened up wonderful possibilities for himself. Not only has he found a great power at his command, but he is able to bring into play, and use, faculties, talents and abilities of whose existence he has not dreamed. This secret of the Will is the magic key which opens all doors.
The late Donald G. Mitchell once wrote: "Resolve is what makes a man manifest; not puny resolve, but crude determination; not errant purpose - but that strong and indefatigable will which treads down difficulties and danger, as a boy treads down the heaving frost-lands of winter; which kindles his eye and brain with a proud pulse-beat toward the unattainable. Will makes men giants."

Many of us feel that if we would but exert our Will, we might accomplish wonders. But somehow we do not seem to want to take the trouble - at any rate; we do not get to the actual willing point. We put it off from time to time, and talk vaguely of "some day," but that some day never comes.

We instinctively feel the power of the Will, but we haven't enough energy to exercise it, and so drift along with the tide, unless perhaps some friendly difficulty arises, some helpful obstacle appears in our path, or some kindly pain stirs us into action, in either of which cases we are compelled to assert our Will and thus begin to accomplish something.

The trouble with us is that we do not want to do the thing enough to make us exert our Will Power. We don't want to hard enough. We are mentally lazy and of weak Desire. If you do not like the word Desire substitute for it the word "Aspiration." (Some people call the lower impulses Desires, and the higher, Aspirations - it's all a matter of words, take you choice.) That is the trouble. Let a man be in danger of losing his life - let a woman be in danger of losing a great love - and you will witness a startling exhibition of Will Power from an unexpected source. Let a woman's child be threatened with danger, and she will manifest a degree of Courage and Will that sweeps all before it. And yet the same woman will quail before a domineering husband, and will lack the Will to perform a simple task. A boy will do all sorts of work if he but considers it play, and yet he can scarcely force himself to cut a little firewood. Strong Will follows strong Desire. If you really want to do a thing very much, you can usually develop the Will Power to accomplish it.

The trouble is that you have not really wanted to do these things, and yet you blame your Will. You say that you do want to do it, but if you stop to think you will see that you really want to do something else more than the thing in question. You are not willing to pay the price of attainment. Stop a moment and analyze this statement and apply it in your own case,
You are mentally lazy - that's the trouble. Don't talk to me about not having enough Will. You have a great storehouse of Will awaiting your use, but you are too lazy to use it. Now, if you are really in earnest about this matter, get to work and first find out what you really want to do - then start to work and do it. Never mind about the Will Power - you'll find a full supply of that whenever you need it. The thing to do is to get to the point where you will resolve to do. That the real test - the resolving. Think of these things a little, and make up your mind whether or not you really want to be a Willer sufficiently hard to get to work.

Many excellent essays and books have been written on this subject, all of which agree regarding the greatness of Will Power, the most enthusiastic terms being used; but few have anything to say about how this power may be acquired by those who have it not, or who possess it in but a limited degree. Some have given exercises designed to "strengthen" the Will, which exercises really strengthen the Mind so that it is able to draw upon its store of power. But they have generally overlooked the fact that in autosuggestion is to be found the secret of the development of the mind so that it may become the efficient instrument of the Will.

AUTOSUGGESTION
I AM Using My Will Power

Say these words several times earnestly and positively, immediately after finishing this article. Then repeat them frequently during the day, at least once an hour, and particularly when you meet something that calls for the exercise of Will Power. Also repeat them several times after you retire and settle yourself for sleep. Now, there is nothing in the words unless you back them up with the thought. In fact, the thought is "the whole thing," and the words only pegs upon which to hang the thought. So think of what you are saying, and mean what you say. You must use Faith at the start, and use the words with a confident expectation of the result. Hold the steady thought that you are drawing on your storehouse of Will Power, and before long you will find that thought is taking form in action, and that your Will Power is manifesting itself. You will feel an influx of strength with each repetition of the words. You will find yourself overcoming difficulties and bad habits, and will be surprised at how things are being smoothed out for you.

EXERCISE
Perform at least one disagreeable task each day during the month.. If there is any especially disagreeable task which you would like to shirk, that is the one for you to perform. This is not given to you in order to make you self-sacrificing or meek, or anything of that sort - it is given you to exercise your Will. Anyone can do a pleasant thing cheerfully, but it takes Will to do the unpleasant thing cheerfully; and that is how you must do the work. It will prove a most valuable discipline to you. Try it for a month and you will see where "it comes in." If you shirk this exercise you had better stop right here and acknowledge that you do not want Will Power, and are content to stay where you are and remain a weakling.

More on discussion of will, choice, imagination and volition for 3/26 meeting

There is great fodder for discussion in Holmes' definitions of will, choice, imagination, volition in the Related Readings section in the first post (Highlights of 3/19 meeting.) I have made some remarks in reddish brackets to guide our discussion, including additional research you may do if you have the resources and the time or interest.

"One," the Project; Agenda for 3/26 meeting; Demonstration

"One," the Project

Our potluck and video night on Sunday, March 22 was a success. As always, the array of food was delicious and abundant. The highlight of the meal was the decadent chocolate cake made by Maggie's son.

The movie, "One," was interesting from many standpoints. It offered responses to questions about the meaning of life from average people and from spiritual leaders of many different traditions (Sufi, Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, Atheist, Rabbi, Native American Medicine Man, African King, etc.) It was also a demonstration of what is possible when an average person takes inspired action. The film-maker, Ward Powers, did not own or know how to operate a video camera when he started. He had no credentials for this project other than his clear intention. Nevertheless, he gained interviews from people such as Barbara Marx-Hubbard, Deepak Chopra, Father Keating of the Christian Contemplative Practice, Ram Dass, Thich Nhat Hanh and assistance from many more.

For more information on this movie and the larger project, go to http://www.onetheproject.com/. Thank you, Jim, for your resourcefulness in finding this website.

For those unable to attend, you may contact me about a future showing.


Agenda for Thursday, March 26

Prosperity Project

• Treatment for Unexpected Income
• Holmes' Treatment for Supply
• Demonstrations from past week
• Readings and ideas from prosperity authors

Science of Mind 1926

• Comments and questions about volition, choice and will. See my last post for more detailed definitions by Holmes.
• Continuation of reading: We will complete the definitions from metaphysical chart no. 1, upper section on Spirit, beginning with Truth on page 59 of original book (bottom of page 18 of tree-friendly text.)
• The book can be downloaded in entirety from the website www.sacred-texts.com/eso/som. Contact me before Thursday if you want an e-copy of the tree-friendly text.

Demonstration:

Congrats to Karen on her new job! We know she already has everything she needs for her joy and success in this new venture.

- Rev. Cheryl

Highlights of 3/19 meeting

I have included a lot of information here. I have written this as an ongoing resource to keep you informed about group discussions, to supplement your readings at any level and speed you desire, and to generate related comments, discussions and questions during the time between meetings. "Take what you need and leave the rest behind." - Rev. Cheryl

Prosperity Project

Readings:

Treatment for Unexpected Income

God is my Source and Good. I am one with the power and presence of the universe that is God. This divine presence as Spirit within me is the source and substance of all my good. I recognize that all that exists in the visible world of form comes from the invisible world of Spirit. My consciousness of Spirit as my unlimited source draws to me a flow of greater abundance and unexpected income. With love and joy I accept my increased good now. And so it is.

Treatment for Supply by Dr. Ernest Holmes

A treatment after this manner should prove the law of abundance in the life of those who use such statements, and believe in them:

"I am surrounded by pure Spirit, by God, the Living Spirit. My thought is God thought, and it is the law unto that thing where unto it is spoken. Everything that I do shall be a success. I am led, guided and inspired by the Living Spirit of Love and of right action. I am compelled to move in the right direction and to always know what to do, where, and how to do it. "I am surrounded by right action. I am filled with the consciousness of right action. Right action is success in all that I undertake to do. I am successful in all my undertakings, and I am compensated for all my efforts. I am surrounded by Substance, which is always taking the form of supply and always manifesting Itself to me in the form of whatever my need may be at the time. "I always have an abundance of money and an abundance of whatever it takes to make life happy and opulent. There is a continuous movement toward me of supply, of money, of all that I need to express the fullest life, happiness and action. "I have an inner understanding of my place in the Universe. I know that it is unique. The Divine has not incarnated in anyone else in just the same individual way that It has in me. I am unique and forever individualized. Therefore, I do not need to imitate anyone or to long for the good that belongs to another. All good is now mine and is now manifest in my experience. I do not compete with anyone, for I am and remain forever myself. This self is united with all selves, but is always an individual and a unique self. "There is that in me which all people recognize as worth while and desirable, and everyone whom I meet loves this self of mine and recognizes its worth. I draw all toward me and those whom I can benefit and those who can benefit me are irresistibly drawn toward me. I do not strain, will or coerce. I know. The Truth makes me free from the fear of poverty or bondage, and emancipates me from the thought of limitation. I see that money, like everything else that is desirable, must be a spiritual idea, and I know that I have this idea right in my mind at this moment, I shall always have this idea of abundance. It is mine and I take it. "The opportunity for self-expression and compensation is always open to me and I am at all times compelled to know, accept and operate upon this opportunity. I have abundance because I am abundance. "All that the Father hath is mine."And So It Is. Amen.

Prosperity Discussion

Metaphysical Definition of Prosperity
Prosperity is more than having an abundance of money. It is knowing that there is One source of good that created everything in its image and likeness and also supports everything at its highest expression. So prosperity is knowing that we have an infinite and perpetual supply of health, wealth, beauty, joy, love, and wisdom. This supply comes from the invisible to the visible, from spirit into form, from first cause (the cause of all that is) into effect (everything that we see, hear, taste, smell, touch.) All we need do is to accept it into our experience.

To accept is to receive. - A Course in Miracles

It is done unto you as you believe. - Jesus

What is Meant by Unexpected Income

What is unexpected about unexpected income is the way it comes into our life. When we treat, we visualize with feeling that which we desire (love) to have more of in our experience, in this case, income. We are not the ways and means committee. We do not "figure out" how to bring this about. We merely see it in mind, then "let go and let God" bring it about through the higher channels. The result comes about through the element of delightful surprise. The surprise is not that we have set into motion the demonstration of another channel of income, for we are quite intelligent, creative and resourceful. The surprise is the way it came into our life. It is the nature of Spirit/God/Love to be spontaneous and creative.

Turning Away from Appearances of Lack and Limitation

Our thoughts create our experience. Everything we are now experiencing individually and collectively is the result of past thought, so to react to what we see around us is to stay stuck in the past. At every moment, we are capable of creating a new chain of causation with our thoughts and inspired action. So our project is about lifting ourselves, our thoughts and beliefs to a higher, more fulfilling level of experience, in Holmes' words into "a greater degree of livingness." We embody our new level of belief by stepping out in faith. As we take inspired action, all that we need is given us as we need it - in the form of information, people, opportunities, and additional resources.

Raising the Law of Averages

As we lift our thoughts to the Truth of our perpetual supply of good or well-being, we also raise the "law of averages" for the human race. There is a pool of thoughts in our subconscious mind representing every thought ever thought since the beginning of time. They average out to the current tendency of thought today. As we gain a greater degree of self-knowledge, we add this understanding, this wisdom to the pool of subconscious human thought, referred to by Jung as the collective unconscious and by Holmes as race consciousness. It is the nature of spiritual evolution for life to become more self-knowing, which results in a higher degree of volition, will and choice. The spiritual evolution comes first, the physical evolution follows from this mental equivalent.

This is a perfect segway into our Science of Mind reading.

Science of Mind Discussion

In our discussion of the nature of Spirit, Objectivity or the Self-Conscious Mind in metaphysical chart 1 last week, we completed the section on volition, choice and will and undertook additional research on the subtle differences between the three during the week.

In SOM 1926, Holmes defines these terms as follows:

Volition means the power of conscious choice.

Choice means the ability to choose consciously.

Will means decision coming into execution.

These terms are further elucidated in quotes by Holmes from other books in the Related

Readings section below.

Reading from SOM 1926:

Volition, choice and will must be attributes of Spirit. They
mean practically the same thing. We must be careful, however, not to think of
these qualities of Spirit in terms of human or limited thought. When we choose,
we choose between different things; but when Spirit chooses, It simply announces
that It is a certain thing. The Spirit does not have to will to make things
happen; things happen because it is the will of Spirit that they should be. This
will, then, is simply the execution of a purpose; and since Spirit is Absolute,
there can be nothing to deny Its Will. Choice, volition and will are necessary
and real attributes of Self-Existent Power; for without them there would be no
channel through which the Ideas of God could be expressed. In man these
qualities of mentality are limited but in God they are limitless.

POWER.--The energy by which everything lives.

LIFE.--Life means that Inner Something that makes everything
live. Life and Power are necessary attributes of a Limitless Being, and go hand
in hand to complete a Perfect Being. Life is That Which Lives, and Power is the
Energy with which It operates. Considering Life and Power as a combined quality
of Causation, we see that they combine to make the underlying basis of all
manifestation visible and invisible. In the objective world, Life is the Power
that binds everything together; It is the Intelligent Basis of all that exists.

For instance, in the material world, It is the Power that holds
the atoms together that they may produce form. In the mental world, It is the
Power that enables us to think; and in the Spiritual World, It is the Power that
enables us to live at all.

[Cheryl's comment: The following paragraph describes Holmes' view of evolution]

It appears that Life manifests on different levels. In the mineral world, and in the world of all material form, It seems to be unconscious; that is, It is not manifesting in a self-conscious state. We know, however, that a certain degree of intelligence
runs through all Creation. Chemical Affinity is a manifestation of Life as the
attraction of Itself to Itself. In plant life It seems to have a more developed
degree of consciousness. That is, It manifests in the vegetable world as a power
to express in one spot, but without volition to move about. This, however, does
not limit The Spirit but is simply one of the ways that It works. In the animal
world, we see different degrees of Life's manifestation, from the first cell
life up to Man. For instance, a dog is more intelligent than a fish, yet each
has the power to move about. The fish seems to move by instinct alone; the dog
appears to have some degree of conscious being, although there is a difference
of opinion on this score. At least, in most animal life, we find the ability to
move about and, either from instinct or self-choice, the ability to express a
certain degree of freedom. In man, Life expresses in terms of Volition and
Self-Will; It is manifesting at the level of Self-Consciousness. While The
Spirit, of Itself, must always know Itself, yet we are perfectly justified in
saying that It manifests on different levels. This does not limit The Spirit,
but on the other hand proves that It is really Limitless. For if It had to
manifest on one level only, It would then be limited, but because It can
manifest on as many levels as It wishes It is Limitless.

When Spirit manifests in the purely mechanical and material
world we say that It is Unconscious Life; when It manifests in the animal world
we say that It is manifesting in a state of simple consciousness; and when it
manifests in and through man we say that It is in a Self-Conscious State. As
this Self-Conscious state of man's mentality reaches a larger world of
realization and comprehends something of Its Unity with the Whole, we say that
It is in a Cosmic State. We now know of four different levels upon which Spirit
manifests:--Unconscious State, Simple-Consciousness, Self-Consciousness and
Cosmic-Consciousness. All of these are but different ways through which the One
Power operates. Life, then, is that quality of Being, running through all, which
enables anything to be what It is.

Related Readings

(1): Judge Thomas Troward

Holmes was heavily influenced by Troward's work on evolution but the two differed in their definition of involution and evolution. Troward's works include "The Edinburgh Lectures on Mental Science," http://thomastroward.wwwhubs.com/elomstitle.htm. "The Dore Lectures on Mental Science," http://thomastroward.wwwhubs.com/dore.htm, "The Law and the Word," http://manybooks.net/authors/trowardt.html, "The Hidden Power," http://manybooks.net/authors/trowardt.html, "Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning," "The Creative Process in the Individual, http://manybooks.net/authors/trowardt.html."

A biography of Troward is located at http://thomastroward.wwwhubs.com/.

(2): Choice, Volition, Imagination and Will quotes from Ernest Holmes:

Choice

We control our thoughts by our power of choice. We can deliber­ately refuse to entertain negative thoughts and choose the type of thought we will permit to
function through us.

In studying the order of human evolution, it seems certain that it was necessary – from the time humans were brought to a point of self-choice – that they be left alone to discover their true nature. If they are endowed with the attributes of self-choice and free will, they must be allowed to make this great discovery for themselves. Even God could not make a mechanical individual.

Man is an individual and that means self choice, backed by a power that will produce the thing chosen. In discovering himself, man chooses many things, uses them and passes to a higher choice, ever ascending in the scale of being. As fast as he chooses, he experiences the thing which he thinks about

We are at choice every moment. We cannot live a choiceless life; it is impossible. Every day, every minute, every second there is a choice. If it weren't we wouldn't be individuals. But there is a difference between choosing and outlining. We choose what we want but we trust the Law to determine how our choice is to come about, We are on the Planning Committee but we are not on the Ways and Means Committee.

In principle and in potential we are immersed in good for we are in the Mind of God. But we have freedom, or volition, to create in our own experience, out of the possibilities of life with which we have been endowed, the prerogative of heaven or hell. So we need to shake ourselves loose from the tyranny of fear and superstition and isolation and the emotional traditions.

The power of choice with which man has been endowed is either his greatest blessing or his greatest curse. Properly understood, it can lift him to the heights; misunderstood, it can drag him to the depths. He is free to choose anything which he wishes, but he must accept the responsibility for his choices, because inexorable Law will create his experiences according to his choices.

The word "CHOOSE" is one of the important words in this study. Every advance that has ever been made by anyone has been accomplished by a series of cold, conscious, deliberate choices, regardless of the way the person has felt. The feeling-life and the
reasoning-life are in conflict during the early days when one is taking up the Science of Mind, just as they are during childhood.

But you may ask, “Why would an Almighty Power and a Divine Intelligence permit such possible disaster?” This is something that you and I have no control over. God, or the Creative Genius of the universe, has placed this prerogative in the mind of man through giving him volition and choice. God Himself could not will it otherwise.
For, if there is to be a valid choice, it must be accompanied by the possibility of more than one thing to choose.

Choose calmly and dispassionately the images of thought we wish to embody, that we may finally govern environment in which we are to live.

If we could just identify ourselves with life and forget death, with love and forget hate, with joy and forget misery, with peace and forget discord, with abundance and forget limitation, how wonderful it would be.

It is important that the student catch this fine distinction between the choosing life and the feeling life. Because it is the crux of the problem in making his move from the place where he is to the place where he wants to be.

We cannot keep the birds from flying over our heads, but we can prevent them from build­ing nests in our hair." We cannot prevent negative thoughts from seeking an outlet in our consciousness, but we can choose to admit only those thoughts which we desire. The student should remember that thoughts never come singly, but in pairs, for one is always the re­verse of the other. Whenever a negative thought comes to the mind, remember that no thought can force its way in until it is permitted, so just say, "I refuse that negative idea and accept its positive opposite which I know is there with it." We may think that we do not choose the thoughts that we entertain, but that is because a lifetime of nega­tive thinking has made the choosing of the negative an
automatic thing.

We choose to know the truth in spite of all outward appearances, we are prosperous, because riches within will produce riches without. So we say, "I've listened to lies long enough, and they've brought me misery. Right now I deny those false beliefs, and affirm the truth. I am prosperous, I am prosperous, because I choose to know that I am prosperous.

Volition

We are corning to recognize that there are forces which operate strictly and all
the time according to fixed laws, apparently without any volition upon their
part. At the same time it is observed that the highest force of all - the force
of thought - is a personal, volitional form of en­ergy.

Will

Will becomes the tool holding the creative power in place until it accomplishes
a definite object.

The will consciously decides what we are going to think, but it is never the real creative agency. If we think of the will as directive rather than creative, and think of the inner feeling of conviction as giving real life to our intention and receptivity, and also think of faith in the invisible as necessary to all our work, we shall probably have a right mental attitude and outlook.

The will is a conscious directive power but never seeks to compel. We should develop the ability to focus by definite intention rather than to concentrate by any form of coercion. In doing this, the will should surrender itself to the thought that once having given direction to the Creative Power, it must be willing to take any part in objective life that is necessary. It may now relax and permit the Power to work for it. It does not try to peer around the corner to see if the thing is really going to happen.

The will is a directive power rather than a creative agency. Man never really creates anything; he merely uses a Creative Force. This Creative Force is not coerced; it is recognized and used. It is the office of the will to hold thought in place long enough to do this. We combine and distribute the operation of a Power which already is.

The Great Life Principle is always surging to express Itself and needs no coercion. It does, however, need direction, just as we would direct electricity or any other natural force. The will is a tool, an implement. Backed by feeling and conviction, by acceptance and grateful recognition, the will permits the Great Creative Force to do something for us. It does not concentrate this Force, it merely looses It into definite action.

The will is given us to use as a directive agency but not as a creative force. The will never coerces, compels or supplicates; it merely comes into agreement with. It merely determines to hold thought in place long enough to permit right action to take place. [Cheryl's note: This is what Abraham refers to as the 68 second rule.]

The Will of God and the Nature of God are identical. Divine will for all is wholeness, peace and joy. The Will of God is always toward the more abundant life.

We should interpret the Will of God to be everything that expresses life without hurt. This seems to be a fair, logical, sane and intelligent criterion. Anything that will enable us to express greater life, greater happiness, greater power -- so long as it does not harm anyone -- must be the Will of God for us. As much life as one can conceive will become a part of his experience.

If we want to find out what the will of God is, we must find out what the nature of God is. If the nature of God is Wholeness, the will of God is Wholeness.

The Nature of God, the Will of God, and the Power of God are one and the same thing. It matters not that countless millions of people through endless generations have misinterpreted this Will of God, and thought that It meant limitation and suffering. The nature of God is demonstrated when It is understood. It is proved when It is known.

The will of God is that life be expressed more fully. Anything that will enable me to express greater life, greater happiness, greater power, so long as it doesn't hurt anyone, must be the will of God for me.

God’s Will for every person is Happiness, Peace, and Joy. [This is consistent with A Course in Miracles. "God's purpose for me is total happiness."] God’s Will for all creation is
Self-Expression, since creation is an expression of this invisible Cause which we call God, nor can it be considered to be anything else.

This teaching should not be confused with the idea that we can show people how to get what they want, regardless. True prayer must be, “Thy will be done,” but the
implication relative to the Will of God in this prayer is not a submission to the inevitability of evil or limitation; it is a knowledge that the Will of God is always GOOD.

So long as what we desire will bring no harm to anyone else and will enrich our own experience it cannot be opposed to the will of God. It is the nature of God to express Himself. It follows that the will of God and the nature of God are one.

If some sincere person says to you, “Then if all this is true, I can do exactly as I please since God has no Will for me,” explain to him again that God’s Will and God’s Nature are One, and one part of God’s Nature is the immutable Law of Cause and Effect. Every man must reap as he sows.

The will of God is peace. Only the finite is confused; the Infinite remains certain of Itself.

The Will of God and the Nature of God are identical, since God could have no will opposed to His nature. Hence, if God is wholeness, peace and joy, then the Divine Will for all is wholeness.

God’s Will is always toward Life and more Life.

There is no will of God for you. Today there are still some very beautiful souls who say, “If it is God’s will that I prosper, then I will prosper.” That is sincere, but not clear thinking. For if we believe that it is God’s will that we suffer, we would never go to the dentist or doctor, or take any constructive action about our welfare. God’s will could not be different from God’s nature. If we want to find out what the will of God is, we must find out what the nature of God is. If the nature of God is Wholeness, the will of God is Wholeness. If the natural order is Beauty, we will discover that the will
of God is toward the beautiful. It is toward living and not death, because the nature of God is Life. “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” The will of God is Truth, Beauty, Love, Happiness, Wholeness. Therefore, our intelligence bears witness that our inspiration is true.

When I say “the will of God” I mean the nature of Being, because that is the will of God. God cannot will anything other than His own nature, and the will of God is the
spontaneous nature of God everywhere. Therefore, the will of God is for the creativeness of man – the manifestation of the Divine in what we call the human
– and that will cannot be more for one person than another.

What is God's will? The Will of God must be consistent with the Nature
of God. The Nature of God is Wholeness: the nature of Wholeness is Happiness:
the nature of Happiness is Peace; the nature of Peace is Harmony; and the nature
of Harmony is Joy… The Nature of God, the Will of God and the Power of God are
one and the same thing.

We must patiently, persistently, and insistently show people that the Will of God cannot be toward anything other than that which is Good; that the Will of God and the Nature of God are identical and must forever remain so; that there is nothing in the Universe which opposes their Good except their misuse of the Law which of Itself is Good. This Law must present Itself to each individual according to his belief.

The Nature of God, is Perfect; therefore the Will of God, which can never be
divorced from God’s Nature, must always be a Will toward our Wholeness, Peace,
Poise, Power, and Self-Expression.

If we try to will things to happen or spend too much time in strenuous mental concentration, we are likely to defeat the very purpose we wish to attain. The very strenuous approach is a denial of the spontaneous flow of the Power we are using. We must free the mind from all anxiety.

Metaphysical practice is not the use of will power, not is it an exercise to develop the will to the extent that one can concentrate on a given thought or object for some period of time. That kind of will, though popularly thought of as attending metaphysical practice, is contrary to the way in which Life operates. We use the will merely to decide what it is we are going to do. [It may appear as if Holmes and Abraham differ on this point. Given that Abraham is into "going with the flow" and talks about the "art of allowing," my take is that the 68 seconds is not about forced concentration, but rather about relaxing into a state of non-oppositional thought. This would be a good research project for someone.]

Will power has nothing whatever to do with success or prosperity. The abundant life is the result of the operation of Law. We cannot conceive of any amount of will power having anything to do with two and two making four. All the will we need is the knowledge that they do make four.

The will is directive but not creative. Will is the conscious, directive power of the
intellect and as such has a very important place in the creative order but in no
case is it to be used as though it could force things to happen.

Because the will is a directive, not a creative force, you should use will to keep your
mind and your thoughts focused. Do not use will in an attempt to force things to
happen. [ We will discuss more the difference between force and focus. The book "Power v. Force" by David Hawkins gets into this and would be good supplemental reading.] The Law, having been given a direction, is what causes things to happen.- Will is an instrument of the intellect, not of the imagination. Use your will in making decisions and your feeling and imagination in bringing power to them. Remember that when imagination and will are in conflict, imagination invariably wins. This is because emotion strikes deeper in the wellsprings of being than does the intellect. [Important point to discuss.]

The will gives us the self-control not to compel nor to coerce, but to live in constant agreement with our own word.

The function of the will is to direct the imagination. Will is directive. Imagination is creative.

Your strength of will is never going to heal a single soul. All your reading and knowledge, all your “understanding” will never budge one obstacle, unless it is seen at its true worth and in its true place.

It is the office of the will and the intellect to consciously decide and choose what we want to think about; it is the office of the imagination to feel the reality of what we are thinking about. [Another important point for discussion.]

We do not use willpower and the will is directive, not creative. Concentration of
thought is not an effort to compel, but the desire to permit, the stream of Creative Energy to take definite form.

This process is not so much a problem of will as it is one of willingness. The only important role the will plays is in a decision to keep thought poised long enough to permit the law to operate. This is not a prayer of beseechment but a recognition or acknowledgment of right action.

The Power that is within you is the Power of your word operated upon by Law. This Power is not so much a will as it is a willingness. You will never have to will things to happen; you will merely have to know that they are happening.

We must not lose sight of the fact that what we are talking about has nothing to do with will power. We are not forcing anything to happen. We do not coerce God. We cooperate. As we recognize God’s universal nature as good, as the source of all abundance, and as the perfection that resides behind all life, then we may come to accept all these things. We do not create them of ourselves. We accept them, and in our acceptance of them they are manifested in and as our experience.

You will never have to will things to happen; you will merely have to know they are happening.

Willpower is not man's strongest force. The imagination is far more potent than the will, and when properly understood is the directing force behind the will, which gives
will all its drive. [!]

Imagination

We should use our imagination, will and emotion to the end that we shall have freedom instead of bondage, joy instead of unhappiness, peace in the place of confusion.

Creation is accomplished, not by compulsion, but through imagination, using only enough will in the process to hold thought in one place long enough to permit a definite creation to take place.

Life is infinite energy coupled with the limitless creative imagination. It is the
invisible essence and substance of every visible form. Its nature is goodness, truth, wisdom and beauty, as well as energy and imagination.

When we use our creative imagination in strong faith, it will create for us, out of the One Substance, whatever we have formed in thought. In this way man becomes a
Co-Creator with God.

The power of the imagination lies in the fact that it is the CREATIVE activity….Creative activity follows vision. In the beginning of any creative series, God contemplates the image of that which He desires to create, and it manifests because any image steadily contemplated is bound to manifest. [Compare with Abraham's Law of Deliberate Creation.] Man likewise holds an image, then superimposes upon it another conflicting image, and they both tend to come forth, neither one clear and sharp. Thus the multi­plicity of images hinders the average person in his quest for progress.

The urge to live creatively comes from the urge of the Divine Imagination which pushes Itself out through us into self-expression. This is man’s nature. He neither made it nor can he change it. He is compelled to live under its law.

Since imagination can be pre-empted by fear, with the result that we are kept from our rightful heritage, we can reverse this process.

In the Science of Mind, we make use of imagination to help us rise to the heights-- the uninstructed man uses it to pull him down to the depths.

A person trying to break destructive habits or to build
constructive new hab­its through will-power will find that he can solve his
habit problem through the right use of the imagination. [How can we apply this to our lives?]

Q: Relative to one another, what parts do will and imagination play in treatment?
A: Each is just as important as the other. When the imaging faculty is used in treatment of illness or in harmony, it recognizes only the true body of perfection which the Perfect Life has made. - The imaging faculty of the mind is creative; it
builds and molds; it makes the mental form, conceives the desire consciously or
unconsciously. But maintaining this recognition of perfection is the work of the
will. Without direction by the will, imagination becomes mere day-dreaming.

Since imagination is older than will, it follows that it is deeper-seated in conscious­ness than is the will, and a logical corollary of this is that imagination is therefore far stronger than will. Therefore, in any conflict between the imagination and the will the imagination is bound to win. [!]

The imaging faculty of the mind is creative; it builds and molds; it makes the mental form, conceives the desire consciously or unconsciously. But maintaining this recognition of perfection is the work of the will. Without direction by the will, imagination becomes mere day-dreaming.

The imagination and feeling are creative where the will is only directive. So the
will, the imagination, and the feeling must come into conjunc­tion, into mutual agreement, before there is a right mental life.

If we could see ourselves as perfect, in our creative imagination, thus inducing in mind a subjective equival­ent of perfect being, our health would automatically improve. [Any examples?]