In our discussion at last night's meeting, we went over the basics of Science of Mind to put what we have been learning into a simple perspective. I include the basics here and encourage readers to go back into earlier posts to fill in details. To put these ideas in context, follow along with Holmes' metaphysical charts. The link is included in an earlier post.
Please post any questions you have in the comments section and I will respond to them.
The Principle and Practice of Science of Mind Simplified:
There are two important components of every study, whether it be physics, psychology, accounting or the spiritual path. This is certainly true of Science of Mind, which, because of its wholeness, contains elements of philosophy, psychology, physics and spirituality. The two components of study are principle and practice.
We are studying the principle, the creative process, through the use of Holmes' metaphysical charts. Through these charts, we can see the relationship of the four aspects of creation both in the universal and in the individual.
In the universal, they are (1) Spirit also called the Self-conscious knower, Love, Objective Mind, First Cause; (2) Soul, also called the blind doer, Law, Subjective Mind; (3) the Word, also called Truth; and (4) Body, also referred to as the physical, material world and effect. I went over these in more detail in the last post.
In the individual, because we are made in the image and likeness of the One, the creative process in potential is the same. In actuality, it is dependent on the level of our consciousness or self-awareness pertaining to the Truth of our Being. We are spirit, and are able to embody this to the level of our understanding and acceptance of this. To the extent that we are caught up in the appearances of the material world of effect, perceiving effect to be cause rather than the result of previous thoughts, opinions and beliefs, we will continue to react to these appearances and to manifest old ideas. These old ideas are lower on the scale of intelligence and therefore in vibration; they are incomplete formulations of the Truth. They are subject to the relational, conditional thinking of the dualistic mind in the individual. They are subject to the misperception of lack, limitation, illness, competition, fear because the human mind, at this point is still learning to grasp the nature of infinity, eternality, oneness. We are still in the intellectual stage of understanding these concepts, rather than in the full embodiment of them.
In individual consciousness, our understanding of the nature of life is filtered through our senses. The thoughts and beliefs we hold about ourselves and our relationships to each other, to our environment and to the whole determine what we are willing and able to accept in our lives, as our lives. The Universal Consciousness with a full and total knowing simply announces itself: I AM Love, I AM Truth, I AM Beauty, I AM Wholeness, I AM Peace, I AM Joy, I AM Prosperity.
The vibration of this Truth in Universal consciousness, or our understanding of it in individual consciousness, sets the Law of Mind in motion at the level of our belief. The Law then creates a mold at the same vibrational level as our thought or belief, fills the mold with Universal Substance and it becomes a visible effect in the world or in our lives. Visible and invisible, it is all energy.
In practice, we raise the level of our consciousness and acceptance through the process of Spiritual Mind Treatment, also called Affirmative Prayer. Universal Spirit creates by announcing Itself with its perfect and complete knowledge of the Truth of Being. We consciously co-create by affirming who we believe ourselves to be at the level of our understanding. We increase our awareness of self by increasing our awareness of our Source, by accepting that we are created as an image and likeness of our Source and are therefore fully supported in the highest expression of our lives. We come to see ourselves as a unique fulfillment of Source as us. We turn from the incomplete expressions of self in form to the Truth of our wholeness in Spirit. By accepting and claiming our Truth, we create a new chain of causation by setting the Law into motion at this higher level of vibration. A new mold is made and raises our external circumstances to the higher level of belief we are now vibrating.
We can use either a five or seven step Spiritual Mind Treatment to raise our consciousness and to improve our lives. Our treatment will be successful to the extent that the words we use have deep personal meaning for us and resonate as the Truth for we are then able to speak these words with conviction, with feeling. The stronger the conviction behind our words, the higher the vibration. If we are feeling confusion or resistance during treatment, we stop and treat for clarity first, then begin our treatment anew.
Start your treatment with a statement of intention or focus, ie. I am a magnet for love. My life is prosperous and successful. My perfect right livelihood is on its way to me now. My body radiates health, vigor and well-being. I enjoy peace of mind.
Five Step Treatment:
1. Recognition: What I know about the nature of God, the Universe, the One.
There is One Life, One Source, One Presence, One Power for Good.
I recognize that good as love, intelligence, wholeness, prosperity, beauty, joy, peace. The universe flows in perfect balance, order and harmony. This One is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent.
2. Unification: What I know about my connection to, my relationship with the One.
I am the fulfillment of the One uniquely as me. I am a unique point in God consciousness. I am a thought of God. I am fully supported by the One in the highest expression of my life. I am the activity of God/the Universe as me.
3. Declaration/Realization: In declaration, using inductive reasoning (reasoning from the part to the whole) I direct my thought to a higher embodiment of one or more of the following in my life - health and well-being, prosperity and finances, work and creative expression, love and relationships. The statements are increasingly strong statements of faith about God or the One working in, through and as my life.
The statements must be specific, in the present tense, and made with feeling. I know, I accept, I claim all my good, all that is mine by divine inheritance. Be specific about the nature of this good - my health, my wealth, my harmonious and loving relationships, my fulfillment in my line of work, creative expression, activity. Describe what you desire to see more of in your life, do not outline how it should come about. You are on the planning board, not on the ways and means committee. You are the visionary.
In realization, I know the Truth of my wholeness. I know and I know that I know that I am fully supported in the highest expression of my life, that all is right with my life right here and right now. In realization, you feel the rightness, for there is nothing resisting the Truth.
I can reach realization through declarative statements or I can experience a direct knowing of this Truth through deductive reasoning (reasoning from the whole to the part.) Realization is the ah-ha moment of Truth. I realize my perfect health; I experience the expansive, joyful feeling of living in the house of my dreams or in the completely loving, fulfilling, harmonious, relationship I envision for myself or the inspired flow of creative ideas opening up new avenues into deeper and richer expressions of my innate talents and abilities.
4. Gratitude: I am grateful to know my word of truth has set the law of mind in motion in the direction of my life and circumstances. Even stronger, I am grateful to know my word is Law, that it is done unto me as I believe.
5. Release: I rest in the expectancy of a full demonstration. It is done as I have spoken; I let go and let God, knowing the perfect demonstration is already on its way into my life and affairs. And so it is.
Seven Step Treatment:
Steps 1: Recognition
Step 2: Unification
3. Affirmation: I affirm, I know, I am, I have, I experience...perfect health, wealth, love, creative expression. All that you desire to experience more of in your life.
4. Denial: I turn my back on, I release, I let go of any appearances of lack, limitation, illness, competition, fear, negative emotions or circumstances. They are facts but not the Truth and these appearances have no power over me. I let go of all that I have added to myself that is less than the truth of my perfection and wholeness and turn toward clarity, harmony and total fulfillment. I release all feelings of unforgiveness, resentment, guilt toward myself and others and turn toward love, acceptance and peace. I turn away from all ideas of imperfection, dis-ease, unworthiness and turn toward the Truth of my Being which is whole, perfect, complete, loving and lovable, prosperous, successful, etc.
5. Re-affirmation: Now you are in a more confident position to make stronger affirmations of Truth. I am whole, I am prosperous. I have the full backing and support of the Highest Power that is. I know with the full faith of God that my health is completely restored to its original perfection, that my channels are completely open to receive my full good in the form of financial abundance, unconditional love. I fully realize my creative potential through a strong and perpetual flow of inspired ideas from Creative Intelligence Itself. I bring these ideas into life through my unique skills and talents to the benefit of all, etc.
6.Gratitude
7. Release
Once we complete our treatment, we listen to inner promptings and watch for leadings and opportunities in our everyday life. We pay attention and take inspired action, stepping out in faith. In Science of Mind terms, "we treat and move our feet." This is the true embodiment of our word in our lives. It isn't a fully embodied belief until we act on it. Our actions are indications of our level of faith in the truth of our belief. Thinking nice thoughts might make us feel better and that is a good first step, but it doesn't have a lasting effect on building consciousness, skill or opportunity.
There is a common theme in the teachings of Jesus. He said, "It is done unto you as you believe." and "Your faith hath made you whole." By example, the infirm woman who crawled to touch the hem of his garment was healed by her action, which demonstrated her faith and her desire to be whole. Jesus instructed another invalid who was complaining he had no one to put him into the healing waters, "Take up thy bed and walk!" If we are serious about changing our lives, then our thoughts, beliefs, words and actions must all be in synch. Our actions are demonstrations of our faith in our beliefs. They are the embodiment of our beliefs and have power in them to move mountains - to attract assistance from unknown and unnumbered channels.
The bare bones of Science of Mind:
Principle:
The 4 aspects of the Creative Process:
In the Universal:
1)Spirit, Love, Self-Conscious or Objective Mind
2)Soul, Law, Subjective Mind
3)Word of Truth
4)Body, Physical World, Effect
In the Individual:
1)Spirit, Love, Self-Conscious or Objective Mind
2)Soul, Law, Subconscious Mind
3)Thoughts, Beliefs, Ideas, either consciously or unconsciously held
4)Body, affairs and circumstances, effect
Practice:
Set your intention, then
5 Steps of Treatment:
Recognition, Unification, Declaration/Realization, Gratitude, Release
or
7 Steps of Treatment:
Recognition, Unification, Affirmation, Denial, Re-affirmation, Gratitude, Release
4 Areas of Treatment:
Health and well-being, Love and Harmonious Relationships, Creative Expression and Work, Prosperity and Financial Abundance.
"Treat and move thy feet!"
Showing posts with label soul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soul. Show all posts
Friday, April 24, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, April 3, 2009
"Twelve Powers of the Soul" by Emma Curtis Hopkins
This is a sample of Emma Curtis Hopkins' teaching. I have read her books "High Mysticism," "Scientific Christian Mental Practice," and "Resume." Her depth and breadth of knowledge of sacred works and literary classics and her ability to understand and to impart the symbolism within these works in her teaching deepened my own understanding and strengthened my practice. - Rev. Cheryl
TWELVE POWERS OF THE SOUL
By Emma Curtis Hopkins
The following is excerpted from a lesson given by Emma Curtis Hopkins on November 18th 1894. It is found in Bible Interpretations Manuscript 2, published by The Ministry of Truth International, Chicago.
What was that which was not born when you were born, has never been interested in anything you have done while you have been on this planet, and will not die when you lie down? This is the ‘Jesus Christ’ in you. It is sometimes called the divine ego in you, sometimes called the divine soul of you, sometimes your deathless, changeless spirit.
“Never the spirit was born, the spirit shall cease to be never. Changeless the spirit remains, Birthless and deathless forever.”
Thus to the watcher of his own soul, the only name that acts like a key to identification with light on the path, is that one which was once charged with the splendors of revelation. Are not all writings charged with something? Read Dumas’ works and openly receive the word that runs through the enchanting pages. Is it not “brains”?
Read Shakespeare with open mind and catch the word. It is “Judas.” Why? Because there we find intellect at the height of human possibility explaining the passions, the loves, the hates, the foibles of human life as the strength of life. With what mastery enchantment he would make us forget that it is the Jesus Christ in man that is all there is of man.
Intellect, when offered the statement that love conquers death and goodness confers changeless beauty, declines the statement because appearances have not exhibited that way. What a describer of appearances is the Judas genius! When the Jesus Christ is heard speaking, what saith He? – “Judge not according to appearances.” (John 7:24)
In today’s lesson, the Judas genius is opened out with the divine intelligence that pure poverty of appearances is God. He who is poor in earthly things is all mind. The charitable teachings, which caused me to give everything I had or could get hold of to my religion, promised me wealth of mind or spirit in lieu thereof. But the ‘Jesus Christ’ in me is as little interested in my mental and spiritual stores as in my bank account. To the Judas mind, first of all, the soul fire declares: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” They are God. The whole of God they are.
[ECH uses each of the Biblical characters here as a symbol for a human trait or idea that is transmuted into the Truth through surrender to the Higher Mind or Christ consciousness. In duality, each trait has a polar opposite. We can learn from either polar end. The Judas mind in each of us, symbolized by the Judas character and story, gets caught up in a false appearance, that possessing wealth can cause happiness. Judas learns what is True by first learning what is false, through the chain of causation he set in motion by betraying Jesus for a few silver coins. When he saw the results of his action, his remorse led him to take his own life. New Thought looks at the stories and characters of the Bible and other sacred texts symbolically, as an allegory of the human journey to know the Truth about ourselves and our relationship to God / the One Source of all life and to act accordingly. - C]
1. JUDAS
“Blessed are the poor in Spirit.”
Whatever teaches one that wealth of spirit is better than wealth of silver is as Judas-like in religion as Shakespeare is in ethics. I am to own and possess nothing. Lao-Tze taught that we must produce, but not possess. Possession is robbery. The high mathematics of Jesus Christ says that I must surrender my mighty spirit. Its dauntless glory I must not hold. So I let the spirit blow where it listeth. I gloat not to be spiritual. I couldn’t be free while holding on to the spirit with might and main. Through the first gate – namely my intellect – I let all that I know and all that I have been taught go free. I know nothing. “The wisdom of the schools is foolishness with God.
2. SIMON
“Blessed are they that mourn.“
My love of sacrifice gate, my idea that I am meritorious in giving up, my missionary and reformer spirit of mind gate, my hearkening to the doctrines of men gate, flow comfort, power for a universe, when only the soul voice is heard.
3. THADDEUS
Blessed are the meek.”
Watching the One in me that has never yet been interested in the world, because its kingdom is not of the world. I find that through the third gate of my being, the ownership of the world is mine through giving up the world and bowing my head for my soul to do all things and know all things. Its ways are not my ways, yet let them be done. That in me which is identified with what I am doing I give it its own way. That was my love of praise characteristic. The ‘Jesus Christ’ in me is above praise. When I feel the power of my Jesus Christ nature blowing its white winds through that disposition, I shall not be praised any more. No wonder the monks and nuns disfigured themselves to get rid of praise. They had a glimpse of that one in them that esteemeth not praise. To be free from praise is the third power of Christ. We do not seek or try to care nothing for praise – watching the one in us that is not elated when we are applauded will accomplish it for us. “Because I live ye shall live also.” (John 14:19) The management of this universe from spiritual zephyrs to molten centers is in the fingers of Him that can wisely praise. One who is seeking favor cannot praise anything wisely. The supreme of meekness is seeking not commendation.
4. JAMES
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.”
The fourth power that is manifest through giving the unenlisted One in me full control is radiance of confidence in the new life that supplants my former life. Turning to watch the soul entirely overturns past conditions. He who supplants. Confidence in the excellence of the new is not forced – it forces. The former state of James was trying to do the best he could. Now he knows that all that he does is divinely well done.
5. THOMAS
“Blessed are the merciful.”
Before we turned to watch our mysterious One that is not mixed up with our human life, this Thomas quality was the discretion of our speech and actions. We bow to this Thomas gate for the indiscrete to reign. The discretion of the world shut Melanchthon’s lips, but when discretion was lost in Luther, the Protestant Church sprang its millions upon millions into view. So the most merciful one is the most indiscreet and least self-protective one, for over his foolish head the new dispensation rolls its merciful provisions. Thomas means twin. Exactly like the highest discretion, in view of the fact that the fool turns out to be God in being fool. The early church tried to show that we should certainly all become fools for Christ’s sake, thus obtaining mercy for the whole race.
6. MATTHEW
“Blessed are the pure in heart.”
The gift of Jehovah. The sight purged of sights. Pure blindness to what is going on. Clear sight of what the reigning principle of life is. Principle, or the Absolute, confers all when once it is seen. Do you see that this very day, not a moment’s waiting, every clerk in the store ought to get equal daily pay with the owner of the store? Do you see that the miners who go down into the mines ought to share with the stockholders equally, on the basis of all doing up to the best they could? Do you see that if I think the South Sea islanders need teaching, I am robbing them of their good name, since God, at their center, is as truly God as at the center of Jesus Christ? Then if all this you see, your sight is pure. There is a promise here that he who sees these things through close contemplation of the One at his own center, who is not pleased when he gives to beggars as beggars – since the divine in the beggars is what he should give unto – shall certainly see God come rolling down the ways of men to overturn, and overturn, and overturn the systems that are based on the presumptions of inequalities among men.
7. BARTHOLOMEW
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
The seventh is the peaceableness of Bartholomew. Whoever thinks reproof is his mission is most haughty when reproved. There is no evidence of seeing the central soul in yourself like your freedom from rebuking. Finding in the thief something to rebuke, you certainly cannot be seen in his unrebukable heart’s center. The only rebuker is he who questions you from the center of the prison of your criticism, asking, “When saw ye me in prison?” Have you noticed how death or idiocy strikes those whose breath is full of accusations? Do you remember Cagliostro’s pledge to honor and respect the principle that always touched those who tore the truth from their neighbors? Did he not say that its effect was death or idiocy? Why tremble before me, and spend hours in decrying against me, if I know that your heart’s center is the living Jesus? I shall be safely housed as a child of God, because I feel the warm rush of the untouchable One in me, whose brightest activity is peace.
8. PHILIP
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Lover of horses. The message through strength of character, gained by sight of divine principle, is found in this verse. There is nothing like the love that flows from your strong heart when you feel this Philip gate open. The persecutions of men seem like children’s toy soldiers. In symbology, horses stand for the swiftness and strength of any principle, which is plain to you. The mother knows that her boy is good. Let her trust her knowledge. If the neighbours think he is bad, if the police are after him, never mind; her knowledge is the working factor. The neighbours will soon be proud to know him when he was young. Why trembleth the mother at opinions of others? Knowledge is a better working factor than are opinions. So with love. If you love anybody, why don’t you trust that love to straighten out the tangles between you? Never mind what is interfering. Love is stronger than death or discord. Notice how it is here given that the kingdom of harmony is his who has felt the Christ in him as the strength of him. What Jesus Christ principle is plain to you? Keep your eye on it. It will give you a heart of oak. Stand to it. Swiftness and strength are in its legs.
9. ANDREW
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely , for my sake.”
This gate of power being opened, the joy of the unchanging presence rushes through. Andrew is the unchanging one. To know that the presence of God in the universe is the extensiveness of your own soul is to find your own every-where-present soul. Wherever you walk you meet yourself. What should it profit you to gain the friendship of mankind as the prince of this world, and lose sight of the spreading forth of your own divine essence? The day when you, by sight of God at your center, recognize that evil speech against you is truly a subtle breath of elixir vitae, you are opened on the Andrew side and can never feel pain any more.
10. JOHN
“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Grace of God. Three thousand times more than you could expect of mercifulness and gracefulness. Every way you turn, rearward, forward, to right, to left, angels on angels working your miracles for you. Did you ever expect one blessing but have two instead? That was free grace. The thief on the cross asked only for one thought, and he got all heaven. This was free grace. Something wrought an easy victory for Jacob. That was free grace. How often Jesus taught that something would go before me, plead my cause and defend me. This is free grace. How much he said about my doing nothing, for something stood ready to break through my life with miracle-working in my behalf. This is free grace.
11. JAMES
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
The son of Zebedee. That power which we have been exercising as an ambition we find being run through as beauty. Ambition is ashes. The promise is “beauty for ashes.” In this verse this savorless life drops down. The salty savor that Elisha sweetened the brackish, tasteless lot of the theological students at Jericho with, makes beauty everywhere. Notice that in this illustrative exercise the divine in man speaks through the last two gates with two over powering assertions. Through the gate of falling ambition when the divine radiance streams in, it is plain that life is worth living. Ye are the salt, the beauty giver, and the changeless wisdom of this universe.
12. SIMON PETER
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel: but on a candle stick: and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”The light that streams because of blunders made. When you had been so steadily worldly wise that you were the wonder and admiration of your neighbours, what was that which caused you to undo the whole reputation at one stroke? That was your Simon Peter quality. Blunders enough, of that unexpected sort, would make a Jesus Christ light of you.
TWELVE POWERS OF THE SOUL
By Emma Curtis Hopkins
The following is excerpted from a lesson given by Emma Curtis Hopkins on November 18th 1894. It is found in Bible Interpretations Manuscript 2, published by The Ministry of Truth International, Chicago.
What was that which was not born when you were born, has never been interested in anything you have done while you have been on this planet, and will not die when you lie down? This is the ‘Jesus Christ’ in you. It is sometimes called the divine ego in you, sometimes called the divine soul of you, sometimes your deathless, changeless spirit.
“Never the spirit was born, the spirit shall cease to be never. Changeless the spirit remains, Birthless and deathless forever.”
Thus to the watcher of his own soul, the only name that acts like a key to identification with light on the path, is that one which was once charged with the splendors of revelation. Are not all writings charged with something? Read Dumas’ works and openly receive the word that runs through the enchanting pages. Is it not “brains”?
Read Shakespeare with open mind and catch the word. It is “Judas.” Why? Because there we find intellect at the height of human possibility explaining the passions, the loves, the hates, the foibles of human life as the strength of life. With what mastery enchantment he would make us forget that it is the Jesus Christ in man that is all there is of man.
Intellect, when offered the statement that love conquers death and goodness confers changeless beauty, declines the statement because appearances have not exhibited that way. What a describer of appearances is the Judas genius! When the Jesus Christ is heard speaking, what saith He? – “Judge not according to appearances.” (John 7:24)
In today’s lesson, the Judas genius is opened out with the divine intelligence that pure poverty of appearances is God. He who is poor in earthly things is all mind. The charitable teachings, which caused me to give everything I had or could get hold of to my religion, promised me wealth of mind or spirit in lieu thereof. But the ‘Jesus Christ’ in me is as little interested in my mental and spiritual stores as in my bank account. To the Judas mind, first of all, the soul fire declares: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” They are God. The whole of God they are.
[ECH uses each of the Biblical characters here as a symbol for a human trait or idea that is transmuted into the Truth through surrender to the Higher Mind or Christ consciousness. In duality, each trait has a polar opposite. We can learn from either polar end. The Judas mind in each of us, symbolized by the Judas character and story, gets caught up in a false appearance, that possessing wealth can cause happiness. Judas learns what is True by first learning what is false, through the chain of causation he set in motion by betraying Jesus for a few silver coins. When he saw the results of his action, his remorse led him to take his own life. New Thought looks at the stories and characters of the Bible and other sacred texts symbolically, as an allegory of the human journey to know the Truth about ourselves and our relationship to God / the One Source of all life and to act accordingly. - C]
1. JUDAS
“Blessed are the poor in Spirit.”
Whatever teaches one that wealth of spirit is better than wealth of silver is as Judas-like in religion as Shakespeare is in ethics. I am to own and possess nothing. Lao-Tze taught that we must produce, but not possess. Possession is robbery. The high mathematics of Jesus Christ says that I must surrender my mighty spirit. Its dauntless glory I must not hold. So I let the spirit blow where it listeth. I gloat not to be spiritual. I couldn’t be free while holding on to the spirit with might and main. Through the first gate – namely my intellect – I let all that I know and all that I have been taught go free. I know nothing. “The wisdom of the schools is foolishness with God.
2. SIMON
“Blessed are they that mourn.“
My love of sacrifice gate, my idea that I am meritorious in giving up, my missionary and reformer spirit of mind gate, my hearkening to the doctrines of men gate, flow comfort, power for a universe, when only the soul voice is heard.
3. THADDEUS
Blessed are the meek.”
Watching the One in me that has never yet been interested in the world, because its kingdom is not of the world. I find that through the third gate of my being, the ownership of the world is mine through giving up the world and bowing my head for my soul to do all things and know all things. Its ways are not my ways, yet let them be done. That in me which is identified with what I am doing I give it its own way. That was my love of praise characteristic. The ‘Jesus Christ’ in me is above praise. When I feel the power of my Jesus Christ nature blowing its white winds through that disposition, I shall not be praised any more. No wonder the monks and nuns disfigured themselves to get rid of praise. They had a glimpse of that one in them that esteemeth not praise. To be free from praise is the third power of Christ. We do not seek or try to care nothing for praise – watching the one in us that is not elated when we are applauded will accomplish it for us. “Because I live ye shall live also.” (John 14:19) The management of this universe from spiritual zephyrs to molten centers is in the fingers of Him that can wisely praise. One who is seeking favor cannot praise anything wisely. The supreme of meekness is seeking not commendation.
4. JAMES
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.”
The fourth power that is manifest through giving the unenlisted One in me full control is radiance of confidence in the new life that supplants my former life. Turning to watch the soul entirely overturns past conditions. He who supplants. Confidence in the excellence of the new is not forced – it forces. The former state of James was trying to do the best he could. Now he knows that all that he does is divinely well done.
5. THOMAS
“Blessed are the merciful.”
Before we turned to watch our mysterious One that is not mixed up with our human life, this Thomas quality was the discretion of our speech and actions. We bow to this Thomas gate for the indiscrete to reign. The discretion of the world shut Melanchthon’s lips, but when discretion was lost in Luther, the Protestant Church sprang its millions upon millions into view. So the most merciful one is the most indiscreet and least self-protective one, for over his foolish head the new dispensation rolls its merciful provisions. Thomas means twin. Exactly like the highest discretion, in view of the fact that the fool turns out to be God in being fool. The early church tried to show that we should certainly all become fools for Christ’s sake, thus obtaining mercy for the whole race.
6. MATTHEW
“Blessed are the pure in heart.”
The gift of Jehovah. The sight purged of sights. Pure blindness to what is going on. Clear sight of what the reigning principle of life is. Principle, or the Absolute, confers all when once it is seen. Do you see that this very day, not a moment’s waiting, every clerk in the store ought to get equal daily pay with the owner of the store? Do you see that the miners who go down into the mines ought to share with the stockholders equally, on the basis of all doing up to the best they could? Do you see that if I think the South Sea islanders need teaching, I am robbing them of their good name, since God, at their center, is as truly God as at the center of Jesus Christ? Then if all this you see, your sight is pure. There is a promise here that he who sees these things through close contemplation of the One at his own center, who is not pleased when he gives to beggars as beggars – since the divine in the beggars is what he should give unto – shall certainly see God come rolling down the ways of men to overturn, and overturn, and overturn the systems that are based on the presumptions of inequalities among men.
7. BARTHOLOMEW
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
The seventh is the peaceableness of Bartholomew. Whoever thinks reproof is his mission is most haughty when reproved. There is no evidence of seeing the central soul in yourself like your freedom from rebuking. Finding in the thief something to rebuke, you certainly cannot be seen in his unrebukable heart’s center. The only rebuker is he who questions you from the center of the prison of your criticism, asking, “When saw ye me in prison?” Have you noticed how death or idiocy strikes those whose breath is full of accusations? Do you remember Cagliostro’s pledge to honor and respect the principle that always touched those who tore the truth from their neighbors? Did he not say that its effect was death or idiocy? Why tremble before me, and spend hours in decrying against me, if I know that your heart’s center is the living Jesus? I shall be safely housed as a child of God, because I feel the warm rush of the untouchable One in me, whose brightest activity is peace.
8. PHILIP
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Lover of horses. The message through strength of character, gained by sight of divine principle, is found in this verse. There is nothing like the love that flows from your strong heart when you feel this Philip gate open. The persecutions of men seem like children’s toy soldiers. In symbology, horses stand for the swiftness and strength of any principle, which is plain to you. The mother knows that her boy is good. Let her trust her knowledge. If the neighbours think he is bad, if the police are after him, never mind; her knowledge is the working factor. The neighbours will soon be proud to know him when he was young. Why trembleth the mother at opinions of others? Knowledge is a better working factor than are opinions. So with love. If you love anybody, why don’t you trust that love to straighten out the tangles between you? Never mind what is interfering. Love is stronger than death or discord. Notice how it is here given that the kingdom of harmony is his who has felt the Christ in him as the strength of him. What Jesus Christ principle is plain to you? Keep your eye on it. It will give you a heart of oak. Stand to it. Swiftness and strength are in its legs.
9. ANDREW
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely , for my sake.”
This gate of power being opened, the joy of the unchanging presence rushes through. Andrew is the unchanging one. To know that the presence of God in the universe is the extensiveness of your own soul is to find your own every-where-present soul. Wherever you walk you meet yourself. What should it profit you to gain the friendship of mankind as the prince of this world, and lose sight of the spreading forth of your own divine essence? The day when you, by sight of God at your center, recognize that evil speech against you is truly a subtle breath of elixir vitae, you are opened on the Andrew side and can never feel pain any more.
10. JOHN
“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Grace of God. Three thousand times more than you could expect of mercifulness and gracefulness. Every way you turn, rearward, forward, to right, to left, angels on angels working your miracles for you. Did you ever expect one blessing but have two instead? That was free grace. The thief on the cross asked only for one thought, and he got all heaven. This was free grace. Something wrought an easy victory for Jacob. That was free grace. How often Jesus taught that something would go before me, plead my cause and defend me. This is free grace. How much he said about my doing nothing, for something stood ready to break through my life with miracle-working in my behalf. This is free grace.
11. JAMES
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
The son of Zebedee. That power which we have been exercising as an ambition we find being run through as beauty. Ambition is ashes. The promise is “beauty for ashes.” In this verse this savorless life drops down. The salty savor that Elisha sweetened the brackish, tasteless lot of the theological students at Jericho with, makes beauty everywhere. Notice that in this illustrative exercise the divine in man speaks through the last two gates with two over powering assertions. Through the gate of falling ambition when the divine radiance streams in, it is plain that life is worth living. Ye are the salt, the beauty giver, and the changeless wisdom of this universe.
12. SIMON PETER
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel: but on a candle stick: and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”The light that streams because of blunders made. When you had been so steadily worldly wise that you were the wonder and admiration of your neighbours, what was that which caused you to undo the whole reputation at one stroke? That was your Simon Peter quality. Blunders enough, of that unexpected sort, would make a Jesus Christ light of you.
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