- 自然法则无处不在
- 与自然法则保持一致
永恒的自然法则,才是伟大的造物者。我们都是由它创造出来的,它虽然无声无息,却在庄严的寂静中发挥着作用。而我们所能做到的,就是让自己与它保持和谐一致,然后就可以享受自然的馈赠。
- 既要索取,也要给予
世界在冥冥之中存在一种索取与给予的平衡,这种平衡要求我们既要索取,同时也要忽视给予,才能得到自己所希望的。而一切困难、混乱、障碍的产生都是因为我们违反了这一法则,要么是不愿将自己多余之物施予他人,要么是拒绝承认我们自己所需要的是什么。
- 分享成功
每一个人的成功都是一个共赢互惠的过程,将根须交叉,分享彼此的养料和水分,这种能力决定着我们能否把资源的利用达到最大化,并且最终决定着我们能否成功。
- 把目光投向外部
如果总是把目光盯着我们已经拥有的,就不可能看到我们所缺失的、更多的宝贵的东西。只有把眼光放开,放到更广阔的外部环境中去,才能够有意识地控制利用我们的外部环境,从那里汲取我们进一步生长所需要的养分。
- 获取养分的能力在逐渐增强
获取我们的成长所需要的养分的能力,会随着我们境界的提升和视野的开阔而逐步增强。随着这种能力的增强,我们就能够识别和吸收我们需要的一切养分,满足我们成长的所需。
- 经历是最大的财富
一切的境遇和经历都是自然有意安排给我们的,无论是好是坏,对于我们都是有益的。好的为我们提供坦途,坏的为我们提供经验与教训。无论是运气和顺利,还是困难和险阻,都能让我们从中受益。
- 几分耕耘,几分收获
付出和收获永远都成正比。我们为战胜困难付出多大的努力,就会得到多大的成功。不劳而获和劳而无获都是不可能发生的。
- 去吸引那些与我们自身和谐一致的东西
生命生长的不可动摇的法则,要求我们尽最大的努力,去吸收那些我们自身和谐一致的东西。通过领悟这个法则并且严格地遵守它的教诲,我们才能获取最大程度的幸福。
- 爱给思想以活力
有血有肉的生命都有爱,爱是情感的产物。在爱中诞生的思想,将会充满生命的活力。爱赋予思想以生命力,使思想变得积极活跃、富有朝气,它能够为思想的发芽生长、开花、结果带来必要的养料。
- 语言是思想的载体
思想经由语言表达出来,话语承载思想,就像大海承载轮船一样。话语是思想的表达形式,我们的言谈也必须特别谨慎,不良的话语背后会隐藏着消极的思想。我们的心灵就像是一部照相机,而对语言的运用就好比是按下快门。当我们不假思索地按下快门,出言不慎,说一些违背我们的福祉的话语时,效果不良的影像也就被记录在我们心灵的底片上,很难抹去了。
- 优美的语言是美好思想的载体
优美的语言能使人赏心悦目,一切完美的知识都通过它们来表达。我们今天拥有的这些文字,是宇宙精神通过人的心灵得以彰显的工具。语言是最充满活力的信使,人类的一切知识、智慧、思想都由它来传递。
- 智者言智
最智慧的思想也必须靠语言才能表达。我们的语言越是清晰、优美,它对我们思想的表达就越是清晰明确。能够通过语言表达自己的思想,是区分人与动物的重要区别。
- 思想引导行为
无论是什么样的行为,都是靠思想引导的。如果我们想要得到理想中的情境,我们就应当首先怀有合适的想法才对。如果我们希望得到富足的生活,首先就要有实现富足生活的想法。首先要在思想上富足起来,生活才能跟着走进富裕。
- 思想通过语言来表达
贫瘠的语言只能够建成陋室,而优美丰富的语言可以建成不朽的精神殿堂。伟大的智者无一例外同时又是优美语言的运用者。
- 凝炼我们的语言
智慧的语言表达的是智慧的思想,因此它也是一种无影无形,却战无不胜的力量。它被赋予怎样的形式,最终也会在客观环境中以怎样的形式被实现。如果希望我们的将来是美好而又强大的,我们就必须认识到:要凝炼我们的语言,出言三思。
- 有生命力的思想
真话是讲原则的,谎言早晚要被戳穿。
- 真理使我们强大
凡是快乐存在的地方,就不会再有忧伤;如果我们知道什么是真理,我们就不会受到谬误的欺骗,因为真理与谬误势不两立,不能共存。
- 真理帮助我们排除混乱与匮乏
凡是有真理可循的地方,谬误就不再有落脚之处。正确的思想都是有生命的,因此它能够扎根、生长,最终必然会驱逐那些错误的观念。凡是谬误的思想都是无根之草,是不能够长久生存的。真理必然可以战胜谬误,这个事实可以帮助我们赶走一切的混乱、匮乏和局限。
- 要领悟真理
毫无疑问,那些能够领悟真理的人,就会拥有足够的智慧,他将很快认识到:思想的创造力把一件所向无敌的武器放在了他的手上,让他成为自己命运的主人。
- 有索取,也要付出
自然界遵循着能量的平衡,在任何地方出现了一定的能量,就意味着在其他地方一定会消失了多少能量,这让我们懂得,我们有付出才能够有所得,一味地索取而拒绝付出,就会打乱自然界的平衡。
- 自动自发的潜意识
潜意识并不具备推理能力,它只是听从显意识的引导。一旦我们构想了蓝图,潜意识就会把我们的构想自动自发地变成现实。但这决不意味着潜意识是无能的,相反,它一旦采取行动,其能量是无穷的。
- 洞察力
洞察力是心灵的一种判别能力,它是专属于人类的望远镜,借助于它我们能够审时度势,看到遥远的未来。洞察力能使我们在困境中发现机遇,化逆境为顺境;借助于它,我们可以权衡利弊,妥善规划,提前做好迎接挑战的准备。在这些障碍还没有化成足以阻挡我们的坷途之前,我们就已经跨越了它们。
- 锻炼自己的洞察力
本课重点
1、最强有力的主宰是什么?
——是自然法则。
2、获得成功的必由之路是什么?
——理解并掌握自然法则。
3、面对自然法则我们应该做的是什么?
——让自己与它保持和谐一致,然后就可以享受自然的馈赠。
4、美好思想、人类智慧的载体是什么?
——是优美的语言。
5、为什么要凝炼我们的语言?
——因为语言表达的是思想的力量,而思想的力量借助于语言来彰显。只能通过抱持令人满意的念头来获得令人满意的境况。
6、真理的作用是什么?
——凡是有真理可循的地方,谬误就不再有落脚之处。真理帮助我们排除混乱与匮乏。
7、潜意识的功能是怎样运作的?
——接受显意识的引导,自动自发地运行。
8、为什么要训练我们的洞察力?
——因为借助于它我们能够审时度势,看到遥远的未来。借助于它能使人们在困境中发现机遇,化逆境为顺境。
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Part Fifteen
Experiments with parasites found on plants indicate that even the lowest order of life is enabled to take advantage of natural law. This experiment was made by Jacques Loch, M.D., Ph. D., a member of the Rockefeller Institute.
"In order to obtain the material, potted rose bushes are brought into a room and placed in front of a closed window. If the plants are allowed to dry out, the aphids (parasites), previously wingless, change to winged insects. After the metamorphosis, the animals leave the plants, fly to the window and then creep upward on the glass."
It is evident that these tiny insects found that the plants on which they had been thriving were dead, and that they could therefore secure nothing more to eat and drink from this source. The only method by which they could save themselves from starvation was to grow temporary wings and fly, which they did.
Experiments such as these indicate that Omniscience as well as Omnipotence is omnipresent and that the tiniest living thing can take advantage of it in an emergency.
Part Fifteen will tell you more about the law under which we live. It will explain that these laws operate to our advantage; that all conditions and experiences that come to us are for our benefit; that we gain strength in proportion to the effort expended, and that our happiness is best attained through a conscious cooperation with natural laws.
PART FIFTEEN
1. The laws under which we live are designed solely for our advantage. These laws are immutable and we cannot escape from their operation.
2. All the great eternal forces act in solemn silence, but it is in our power to place ourselves in harmony with them and thus express a life of comparative peace and happiness.
3. Difficulties, inharmonies, and obstacles, indicate that we are either refusing to give out what we no longer need, or refusing to accept what we require.
4. Growth is attained through an exchange of the old for the new, of the good for the better; it is a conditional or reciprocal action, for each of us is a complete thought entity and this completeness makes it possible for us to receive only as we give.
5. We cannot obtain what we lack if we tenaciously cling to what we have. We are able to consciously control our conditions as we come to sense the purpose of what we attract, and are able to extract from each experience only what we require for our further growth. Our ability to do this determines the degree of harmony or happiness we attain.
6. The ability to appropriate what we require for our growth, continually increases as we reach higher planes and broader visions, and the greater our abilities to know what we require, the more certain we shall be to discern its presence, to attract it and to absorb it. Nothing may reach us except what is necessary for our growth.
7. All conditions and experiences that come to us do so for our benefit. Difficulties and obstacles will continue to come until we absorb their wisdom and gather from them the essentials of further growth.
8. That we reap what we sow is mathematically exact. We gain permanent strength exactly to the extent of the effort required to overcome difficulties.
9. The inexorable requirements of growth demand that we exert the greatest degree of attraction for what is perfectly in accord with us. Our highest happiness will be best attained through our understanding of, and conscious cooperation with natural laws.
10. In order to possess vitality thought must be impregnated with love. Love is a product of the emotions. It is therefore essential that the emotions be controlled and guided by the intellect and reason.
11. It is love which imparts vitality to thought and thus enables it to germinate. The law of attraction, or the law of love, for they are one and the same, will bring to it the necessary material for its growth and maturity.
12. The first form which thought will find is language, or words; this determines the importance of words; they are the first manifestation of thought -- the vessels in which thought is carried. They take hold of the ether and by setting it in motion reproduce the thought to others in the form of sound.
13. Thought may lead to action of any kind, but whatever the action, it is simply the thought attempting to express itself in visible form. It is evident, therefore, that if we wish desirable conditions, we can afford to entertain only desirable thoughts.
14. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that if we wish to express abundance in our lives, we can afford to think abundance only, and as words are only thoughts taking form, we must be especially careful to use nothing but constructive and harmonious language, which when finally crystallized into objective forms, will prove to our advantage.
15. We cannot escape from the pictures we incessantly photograph on the mind, and this photography of erroneous conceptions is exactly what is being done by the use of words, when we use any form of language which is not identified with our welfare.
16. We manifest more and more life as our thought becomes clarified and takes higher planes. This is obtained with greater facility as we use word pictures that are clearly defined, and relieved of the conceptions attached to them on lower planes of thought.
17. It is with words that we must express our thoughts, and if we are to make use of higher forms of truth, we may use only such material as has been carefully and intelligently selected with this purpose in view.
18. This wonderful power of clothing thoughts in the form of words is what differentiates man from the rest of the animal kingdom; by the use of the written word he has been enabled to look back over the centuries and see the stirring scenes by which he has come into his present inheritance.
19. He has been enabled to come into communion with the greatest writers and thinkers of all time, and the combined record which we possess today is therefore the expression of Universal Thought as it has been seeking to take form in the mind of Man.
20. We know that the Universal Thought has for its goal the creation of form, and we know that the individual thought is likewise forever attempting to express itself in form, and we know that the word is a thought form, and a sentence is a combination of thought forms, therefore, if we wish our ideal to be beautiful or strong, we must see that the words out of which this temple will eventually be created are exact, that they are put together carefully, because accuracy in building words and sentences is the highest form of architecture in civilization and is a passport to success.
21. Words are thoughts and are therefore an invisible and invincible power which will finally objectify themselves in the form they are given.
22. Words may become mental places that will live forever, or they may become shacks which the first breeze will carry away. They may delight the eye as well as the ear; they may contain all knowledge; in them we find the history of the past as well as the hope of the future; they are living messengers from which every human and superhuman activity is born.
23. The beauty of the word consists in the beauty of the thought; the power of the word consists in the power of the thought, and the power of the thought consists in its vitality. How shall we identify a vital thought? What are its distinguishing characteristics? It must have principle. How shall we identify principle?
24. There is a principle of Mathematics, but none of error; there is a principle of health, but none of disease; there is a principle of truth, but none of dishonesty; there is a principle of light, but none of darkness, and there is a principle of abundance, but none of poverty.
25. How shall we know that this is true? Because if we apply the principle of Mathematics correctly we shall be certain of our results. Where there is health there will be no disease. If we know the Truth we cannot be deceived by error. If we let in light there can be no darkness, and where there is abundance there can be no poverty.
26. These are self-evident facts, but the all-important truth that a thought containing principle is vital and therefore contains life and consequently takes root, and eventually but surely and certainly displaces the negative thoughts, which by their very nature can contain no vitality, is one which seems to have been overlooked.
27. But this is a fact which will enable you to destroy every manner of discord, lack and limitation.
28. There can be no question but that he who "is wise enough to understand" will readily recognize that the creative power of thought places an invincible weapon in his hands and makes him a master of destiny.
29. In the physical world there is a law of compensation which is that "the appearance of a given amount of energy anywhere means the disappearance of the same amount somewhere else," and so we find that we can get only what we give; if we pledge ourselves to a certain action we must be prepared to assume the responsibility for the development of that action. The subconscious cannot reason. It takes us at our word; we have asked for something; we are now to receive it; we have made our bed, we are now to lie in it; the die has been cast; the threads will carry out the pattern we have made.
30. For this reason Insight must be exercised so that the thought which we entertain contains no mental, moral or physical germ which we do not wish objectified in our lives.
31. Insight is a faculty of the mind whereby we are enabled to examine facts and conditions at long range, a kind of human telescope; it enables us to understand the difficulties, as well as the possibilities, in any undertaking.
32. Insight enables us to be prepared for the obstacles which we shall meet; we can therefore overcome them before they have any opportunity of causing difficulty.
33. Insight enables us to plan to advantage and turn our thought and attention in the right direction, instead of into channels which can yield no possible return.
34. Insight is therefore absolutely essential for the development of any great achievement, but with it we may enter, explore and possess any mental field.
35. Insight is a product of the world within and is developed in the Silence, by concentration.
36. For your exercise this week, concentrate on Insight; take your accustomed position and focus the thought on the fact that to have a knowledge of the creative power of thought does not mean to possess the art of thinking. Let the thought dwell on the fact that knowledge does not apply itself. That our actions are not governed by knowledge, but by custom, precedent and habit. That the only way we can get ourselves to apply knowledge is by a determined conscious effort. Call to mind the fact that knowledge unused passes from the mind, that the value of the information is in the application of the principle; continue this line of thought until you gain sufficient insight to formulate a definite program for applying this principle to your own particular problem.
Think truly, and thy thoughts Shall the world's famine feed; Speak truly, and each word of thine Shall be a fruitful seed; Live truly, and thy life shall be A great and noble creed.
Horatio Bonar
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Study Questions with Answers
141. What determines the degree of harmony which we attain?
Our ability to appropriate what we require for our growth from each experience.
142. What do difficulties and obstacles indicate?
That they are necessary for our wisdom and spiritual growth.
143. How may these difficulties be avoided?
By a conscious understanding of and cooperation with Natural laws.
144. What is the principle by which thought manifests itself in form?
The Law of Attraction.
145. How is the necessary material secured by which the growth, development and maturity of the idea take form?
The law of love, which is the creative principle of the Universe, imparts vitality to the thought, and the law of attraction brings the necessary substance by the law of growth.
146. How are desirable conditions secured?
By entertaining desirable thoughts only.
147. How are undesirable conditions brought about?
By thinking, discussing and visualizing conditions of lack, limitation, disease, inharmony and discord of every kind. This mental photography of erroneous conceptions is taken up by the subconscious and the law of attraction will inevitable crystallize it into objective form. That we reap what we sow is scientifically exact.
148. How can we overcome every kind of fear, lack, limitation, poverty and discord?
By substituting principle for error.
149. How may we recognize principle?
By a conscious realization of the fact that Truth invariably destroys error. We do not have to laboriously shovel the darkness out; all that is necessary is to turn on the light. The same principle applies to every form of negative thought.
150. What is the value of Insight?
It enables us to understand the value of making application of the knowledge which we gain. Many seem to think that knowledge will automatically apply itself, which is by no means true.
To every man there openeth a way, And the high soul climbs the high way, And the low soul gropes the low; And in between on the misty flats, The rest drift to and fro. But to every man there openeth A high way and a low And every man decideth The way his soul shall go.