S EL '

' E' E L O ' M E N T

AN ' T H E

W A' TO 'OW E R

B' L . W . R OGE R S

1 9 16

L o s AN GE L E S , CAL .
 We m ay be e i th e r th e e e
s u ff r i ng s l av s o f na tur e or

th e h appy m e
as t rs o f h e r l aws .

9 39 8 7 9
S E L ' ' E' E L O ' M EN T
AN ' T HE WA' T O ' O WE R

a
I t is the n atu r l righ t of e v e ry h u an b e in g m
— sa a
to b e happy to e c p e ll th e m i eri es of l ife s .

ss
H a pp ine i s the normal con dition a s n tu r l ,
a a
s s
a the landscap e an d th e s eason s I t is u n .

n atural to su ff e r an d it i only b ecau e of o u r s s

a
ignor nc e that w e d o su ffer H app in es s i s the .

s
p ro duc t o f w i do m T o attain p erfec t w is dom
.
,

m
to co p reh end fully th e purp o e o f l ife to s ,

a
re l iz e co m p l etely th e elat ions hip o f hum n r a
a
b eings to e ch o the r i t o put an e n d to ll , s a
su ff ering to e sc ap e every ill an d evil th t
, a
a fflicts u s Perfec t w dom is un hado w ed j oy
. is s .

s
W h y do w e u ffer i n l ife ? B ec us e in th e a
s a
ch em e of n ture w e re b ein g forc ed forw rd a a
a
in evolutio n an d w e l ck th e p iritu l illum i n s a a
a
tion th t alo ne can l igh t th e way an d en b l e u a s
a
to move safely mon g the ob tacl es th t lie s a
s
b efore u s U ually w e do no t even see o r u
. s s
p e c t th e p re en ce s
of troub l e until it s uddenly
a s
le p s upon u l ike co nce l ed tige a On e d y a r . a
m
ou r fa ily c ircl e i s complete an d happy A .
6 Th e Th ing We L ack .

k s
w ee late r death ha com e an d gon e an d j oy s i
replace d w ith agony T od y w e h v e a frien d . a a .

r
T o mo r o w he w ill b e an en emy an d w e do not
kn o w w hy A little wh ile go w e h d w ealth
. a a
a
an d all m terial luxu ries T here w s a udden . a s
change an d n o w w e hav e o nly pov erty an d
a
m is ery n d y et w e s eek in vai n for a reason
why th i s shoul d b e T h ere wa s a ti e w hen . m
w e ha d heal th an d strength ; b u t they hav e
b oth dep arted and n o trace of a re so n app ears a .

s s
A ide fro m the e greate r t ragedi e s o f l ife i n
i s
n ume rab l e th ng of le ser con s equ enc e con s
t in u al l y b ring to u s l ittle mi erie s and m in or s
h eartache s W e m o t earne stly desire to voi d
. s a
t h em b ut w e n ever se e t h em until the y strike
i i
us u n t l n th e dar ne s s of ou igno r n e v
, k r a c

r
b lun de upo n th e m
T h e th i n g w e l c i s
. me ak
sp ir it u al illumination t h t w ill en bl e u s t o a a
l ook far a nd w i de fin d n g th e h id den ca u s es
, i
r
of h um an suffe in g a n d eveal ng th e eth o d r i m
i a
by w h ch t h ey m y b e avo ided ; n d f we c n a i a
i
b u t r ea ch il lum inat on the evol ution ry j ou r a
b m
n ey c an e ade b oth comfo t b ly an d s w iftly ra .

I t i s a s though w e must pa ss th rough a long .

kr
dar oom filled w ith fu r n iture p ro m is euo us l v
scattere d ab out I n th e d rkness ou r p rog e s
. a rs
w oul d b e sl o w a nd p ainful an d ou b u ses r r i
m any . Bu t if w e coul d p res s a b ut to n t ha t
 Th e Way to Il l u m inati o n .
7

r
woul d tu n o n th e el ectric l gh t w e coul d then i
m m
ake the sa e j ourn ey qu ickly an d w ith p er
fe c t s afety an d com fort .

T h e ol d m
etho d of education wa s to sto e r
th e m in d w ith a s m any f cts o r supp os ed a ,

s
fa ct a s coul d b e a ccumulate d an d to give a
,

r s
certain exterio p o l i h to th e p e rson al ity T h e .

s
th eory wa that when a m n w s b orn h e w as a a
a
a comp leted h um n b eing an d that all th at
coul d b e don e fo r h im w s to l o d h im up w itha a
rm
info ation that w oul d b e u sed w ith more o r
i
l es s sk ll acco rdin g to th e n ative ab ility h e
,

happ ene d to b e b orn w ith T h e theos op h ical .

s
idea is that th e p hy ical an an d all that con m ,

s t it u t e s h is l ife in th e p hy ic l w orld s but s a , i

r ia
a v ery pa t l expres s io n o f the elf ; th t i n s a
a
th e ego of e ch the re i s p ractically u nl im ited
p ow e r an d W i sdo m ; that th es e m y b e b rough t a
th rough into exp ress io n in th e phy i cal worl d s
a s th e p hy sical b ody an d it s invis ib l e c oun te r
p arts w h ich toget h e r con st i tute th e comp l e x
,

v ehicl e o f t h e ego s m an ifestation a re evolved

'
,

an d adapte d to the purpo e ; and th at i n ex ct s a

s
p rop ortion that co n cious e ffo rt i s given to
such s elf dev elop m en t w ill sp iritu l ill um ina
-
a
a
tion b e ch ieved an d w is do m attain ed T hu . s
th e l igh t that l ead s to happ ine ss is indle d k
m i i
fro w t h n an d the evol utionary j ou rn ey th at
8 Why We S u ffe r .

all a re m ak ing may b e robb ed of ts su ffer ng i i .

W hy d oes d eath b ring isery C h ie fl y b e

? m
s r
c au e it s epa ates us from thos e w e lo v e B ut .

w hen w e hav e evolve d th e faculty of clai r

i k m
voyance n o u r wor of s elf develop ent th e
“
-
, ,

s a a is
ep ratio n v n h es an d ou r dea d frien d s ”

a re a s m u ch w ith u s a s th e l ivin g T h e o nly .

r
oth e r eas on w hy death b rin gs grief o r fea s ri
b e caus e w e d o n ot u nde r tan d i t n d comp re s a
h en d th e p rt i t p lay a
n hum n evol utio n s i a .

B u t th e m omen t ou r ignor nc e g ve w ay to a i s
s
co mp reh en ion such fe r v n ish es an d a s e a a
r en e happ ines s t e s it s pl ce ak a .

a
W h y d o w e h ve en emi e fro m w h o s e w ords s
r s
o a cts w e u ff er ? B ec us e n ou r l im ited a i
phy sical co n s c iousn es s w e d o no t p erc eiv e th e
i
un ty of all l ife an d realiz e th at ou r w ron g
m
th ink in g a n d doin g ust re c t u pon u s th rou gh a

k
th in ev il an d then at ie n t l aw ait in th e t me i
w hen the c au se s w e have al re d y g ene rated a
W W hen sp iritual illu m in a
i m
t o n c o es an d w e no longe r stumbl e n th e
, i
i i
n ght of gnoran c e th e las t ene y w ill d is ap, m
a a
p e r n d w e shall ak e n o ore foreve m m r .

W h y do peop l e suffer fro p ove rty an d d is m

s
e a e ? O nly b ecause of ou r b lun de r n
g gi no i
 Why S u ffering Ceas es .
9

r anc e m ak es ir i ib r
.

t h at th e ex sten ce p os s l e fo
u s an d b ecau s e w e do n o t c omp eh end th ei r
,
r
m ean in g an d the ir les son s no r n o w the atti , k
s
tu de to as um e to ward th em H a d w e b u t th e .

a
w is do m to u nd ers t n d w hy they com e to p eo
p le w hy they a re n eces sary facto rs i n thei r
,

evol ution they w ould troub l e u s n o longe r

,
.

a
W hen n tu re s les o n s fully l earn ed these
'
s i
m ute teach ers w ill van ish .

i
A n d s o t i s w ith ll fo rm s of s u ff er ng w e a i
exp erienc e T hey a re at o nc e eaction s fro m
. r
a
o ur i gn o r nt b lun derings an d in structors that
p oin t out th e b ette r w y W h en w e h av e c om a .

s
p reh ended th e l es on s th ey teach they are n o
longe r ne cess ary an d d isapp ea r .

T hus o u r evolut ion s goin g forwa rd an d has i

gon e forward i n th e p ast W e kno w that th e .

r as
human ace h as p se d through a lon g e v o l u
i
tio n during w h ich t has ac qu ire d five s en se s
k
by w hich no wledge s gain ed N ob ody w h o i .

as
h given th ough t to th e subj ect w ill m k e th e a
m istake of suppo s in g that th is evolut io n i s
compl ete d a n d that th e fiv e s en ses a re al l w e
a
sh l l eve r po s e s s s .

s
In th i long evolution a y j ourn ey th e next r
a s
th in g w e s h l l do i to devel op th e s ixth s en e s .

S om e p eopl e h ave alre dy don e s o n d l l are a a a

a pp roach ing it T h s dawn ing s ense i calle d
. i s
10 Th e S ix th S e ns e .

ir
cla voyance ' a r i nvestigat on w ill show
. i i
ar
that the cl i voy nt pos e es certain powers a s ss
n ot com mon to th e m aj ority o f p eop le T h i s .

m
is erely th e b egin n ing of th e dev elop en t of m
the s ixth sens e and p rob b ly w ith the aj or
, a m
a
ity of cl i rvoyants i t goes n o fu rth er than
r
etheric an d lo w e as tral s ight In othe wo rd s . r ,

th ey are ab le to ra
is e th e cons c iou n es s only s
to a grade o f m atter a l ittl e b eyon d th e gra sp
s
of o rdin ary v i ion wh il e th e p rope rly devel ,

a r
op ed tr in ed clai voyant ra is es h is c on sc iou s
,

s
n es tw o ful l p l n e b eyon d a s .

Th e high e r th e con s ciou n es s s ais ed th e s i r

furth e r the h oriz on of k no w ledge extend an d s
i
the clairvoyan t s ab l e to h nd do w n info rm a a
a
t ion that app e rs quite m ira culo u ; b ut t i s i s
p erfectly natural I f a c ertain p erson w e e
. r
b o rn b li nd and ha d n eve un derstoo d any ore r m
s
ab ou t eye ight than mo t p eop le un derstand s
a
ab ou t cl irvoyanc e ; if th i p er on coul d k no w s s
m
ho w any doorw y s w ere in l rge b uil ding a a a
only b y grop ing al on g w ith h is han d s an d thus
ac quiring the kn o wl edge by touch an d noth er , a
s
p er on w ho could s ee shoul d glanc e al on g the
k a
b loc an d inst n tly tell th e b l in d m n the co r a
a
rect numb e r th t w oul d b e to th e b lin d m n a
,
a
a
m ir cle N o w wh en a clairvoyan t s ee th in gs
.
,
s
at a d istan ce w here th e p hys ical ey e can not
 ' al u e f C o o ns ci o u s E v ol u ti o n . II

rea ch h e really do e s
not h ng ore e a a le i m r m rk b .

W he n w e s ee a th ing w e receive th e v ib ation r s

a s
c u ed by light T hat give s t he info rm ation
.

“s .

W hen the cl irvoy ant see a at a d istan ce

th rough what w e m i takenly cal l s ol i d s ub s
stanc es h e receive s v ib ration s o f m atter s o fin e
i ‘

th at it nterp enetrate s sol ids as the eth e r does .

Every hu man b eing u s t m ake an d i s m k m , a

ing thi s lon g evolutionary j ou rney from sp ir
,

a
i t ual inf n cy to godlike p o w er an d p erfection ,

b ut th ere are t w o w ay s in w h ich i t m ay b e

a
d on e W e m y a s the va st aj o r ty do accep t
.
, m i ,

th e p roc es s of unconsc iou s evolution an d s ub

'

s
m it to natu re w h ip an d spu r th t co ntinuously
'
a
s
u rge th e thoughtle s an d ndi ffere n t forward i
a
un til th ey fin lly reach th e goal O r w e m ay .
,

choos e co n sc io u s evolution an d wo rk intel

l ig e n t l y w ith nature thu m k ing p rogres s th t
, s a a
s
i comp arat ively o f enormo u rap idity an d at s
a “
the s m e tim e avo id m uch of wh t H aml et a
calle d th e slin gs an d arro w s o f outrageou s
fortun e .

T h e degree to wh ich in d can con t rol ci r m

c u m s t an c e s an d dom in te matter is f r greate ra a
i
th an s generally b el ieved O u r i mp res ion s . s
ab out m atter are v ery illusory N o form o f .

a
m tte r i perm nent s a
hange goes on eve ry
. C
s
whe re at every in tant b y p hy ical l aw s in th e ,
s
 12 Th e L aws o f S o ul G r o wth .

i
p hys cal b ody an d by a stral an d m ental la w s
i
in ou r nv is ib le bo die W e are not th e sam e s .

b eing phys ically m ent lly o r p iritu l ly ny

, , a s a ,
a
t wo day s i n succ ess ion Th e very soul it elf . s
i s subj ec t to thi s l aw o f change It ay . m
exp an d a n d sh in e out th rough th e phy ic l s a
o rgani s m resp len dent o it m ay only fain tly , r
r
gl im me through a co nstantly coars en in g b ody .

W hat i s th e l w of soul gro w th T hrough

? a
a dheren c e to w hat p rin ciple m ay w e each r
S p iritual illum ination ? T h ere re certain w ell a
estab l ish ed facts ab ou t t h e l aw s of gro wth that
w e s houl d n ot overl oo wh en s eek in g th e w ay k
forward N oth ing w hatever can gro w w ithout
.

u s e w itho ut activity
,
I naction cau se s atrophy . .

s
Phys iologi ts tell u th t if th e a rm b e t ie d to s a
t h e b o dy s o th at i t cann ot b e u s ed i t w l l n i i
t im e b ecom e s o en feeb le d that t i s of n o i
r
fu rthe servic e I t w ill w ith er away T hat i s
. .

'
n ature s l aw of economy S h e n eve r g ve l ife . i s
i i
W here t s u s eles s wh ere i t c n n ot o r w ill , a ,

n ot b e u tiliz e d O n th e o th er h an d exercis e
, .
,

i s
ncrea es po w e r T o incre s e th e s iz e an d
. a
strength o f m us cle s w e us t u e th em T h i m s . s
s
i j u st a s true of m en tal an d mo ral facul tie s
i i
as t s of th e phy s ical b ody T h e o nly way to .

k a
m a e th e b r in keen an d p o werful is to e x e r
ci se it b y o riginal th ink ng O n e w ay to ga in i .
 Th e D own war d R o ad . I3

r i
soul p o w e s s to give fre e play to th e loft e st i
a sp iratio n s of w h ich w e are cap b le an d to do a ,

m a
i t syste atic l ly inste d of at an dom W e a r .

gro w to b e like th e th in gs w e think ab out .

N o w t h e reve rs e of al l th is m us t b e e qually
,

true T o give no thought to h ighe th ings

. r ,

to b ecom e comp letely ab so rb ed n ateri l i m a

i
a ff airs s to s tifl e th e soul to nv te sp iritual
, , i i
atrop hy .

r
T u rn in g ou attention to n atu e w e shal l fin d
.
r
i n th e paras ite convin c ing p roof o f all th i s .

'

T h e p ar as it e w hethe r pl nt o r nimal i l ivin g

,
a a , s
ev iden c e that to efu e o r n eglect t o u e n r s s a
a
o rga n o r f culty res ults in b e in g dep rive d of

i t T h e do dde r s ay D rummon d h as oots l i e

.
, s , r k
a
o the r p l nts b u t when it fixes s uck e r d is c s o n
,

a
the b r n ches of neighb oring pl nts an d b egin s a
to get its foo d th rough them its ro ots p erish , .

i a
W hen t f il s to u s e the m t l oses th em H e i .

s
al o points to th e herm it cr b a s an llu stration -
a i
of thi s great fact i n natu re that d isu s e m ean s ,

l oss an d that to S h r re spon ib ility s the oa d

, ik s i r
to degeneration T h e h er i t crab w as o nce . m -

e quipp e d w ith a h ard sh el l an d w it h a s goo d

a
m e ns of locomotion a s othe c rab s B u t in r .

s a s
te d o i courageou ly fol lo w in g th e hardy l ife
a a s
of oth er cru st ce n it form ed the b ad h b it a
i si
of taking up ts re denc e in th e c as t o ff shell s -
I4 Th e C o n di ti o ns o f P r o g r e s s .

s
o f mollu ks T hi s m ade l ife ea y an d n dolent . s i .

B u t it p aid th e p rice of all s hirk in g I n tim e .

i t los t fou r l eg w hile the sh el l over the vital s ,

p o rtio n of i ts b ody d egen erate d to a th in m em

b ran e wh ich le ve s i t p ract ic lly h elp l e s wh en a a s
i
i t s out of t c ptured h ome An d th i s i s th e is a .

s
ce rtai n re ult of al l shirkin g of respo n sib il ity .

a
T here m y b e an app ren t temp o rary gain b ut a ,

a
it al w y s m ean gre te r lo s eith er im m edi te s a s , a
o r remote S o n tu re p un ishes inaction w ith. a
a t rophy W h tever i n ot u sed finally c ea ses
. a s
to b e I n p l in l ngu ge
. p thy inaction a a a a a , , ,

s
idl ene s u sele sn e s i s th e ro d to degen era
,
s s ,
a
tio n O n the oth er h n d
. p ir tion an d act ivity a , as a
a
m e n grow th devel op men t p o we r , , .

S o w e gro w phy ic l ly m ent lly an d mo r ,

s a , a
ally by a ctivity by exerci e of th e organ o r
, , s s
th e facultie s w e de ire to po sses s I t i s onl y s .

by the con stan t exerci e of th es e th ings that s

w e can gro w at all W hen thi s gre at la w of .

n atu re i s un derstoo d w e ee at on c e h o w it i s s
a i
th t life s ful l o f troub l e ; why t i s that the i
whol e v is ib l e w o l d s eem s to b e de igned to r s
keep u s con tantly at wo rk phy ically an d en s s m
a
t lly to c hallenge ou r re ourc eful nes s i n im
,
s
p rovin g ou r phy ic l oci l n d p ol itical con s a s a a ,

d it io n s to continually t ry ou patien ce an d to
,
r
 We May B e E i th er S l aves or Mas ters . 15

forever tes t o u r co ur ge It s the w ay o f a . i

m
develop ent I t i s th e p rice of p rog e ss
. r .

T h e un ivers e i s a tr in ing s chool fo evolving a r

intelligen ce—a va t gym n ium fo r the d e s as
v e l o p m e n t of m
oral fib re W e b ecom e m entally .

cl eve r by p lay ing at th e gam e of life W e .

m a
atch o u r cour ge agai nst its a dve s t ies an d ri
a cquire fearles snes W e try ou r opti is . m sm
again st i ts di sapp o intm en ts an d learn ch eerful
n es s W e p it ou r p atien c e a gai ns t it fa ilu re s
. s
and gain p ers is ten c e W e a re to n from th e . r
p innacl e of amb ition by O pp on ents n d l e rn a a
a
toler tio n o f others We f ll from the he ghts
'
. a i
of van ity a nd pri de an d le rn to b e mo de t , a s
m
an d hu b l e W e e ncoun te r pai n an d sorro w
.

r
an d l ea n symp athy w ith s u ffer ng It s o nly i . i
i
b y such exp er en ces that w e can gro w to
ro unded m easure I t i s only in a n env ronment
. i
a
thu s ad p te d to ou r sp iritu l develop m ent th at a
w e ca n evolve the laten t p o w ers w ith n u s i .

i
S uch s th e u n ivers e in wh ich w e fi n d ou r
i
selves and fro m t there is n o escap e N o m n . a
—
c an avoi d l ife no t even th e fool ish o ne who ,

when th e d i fficul ties b efore h i m pp ea fo the a r r

m om en t o v erw hel m ing tries to e cap e t h em , s
. m
by suicid e A an cannot d ie H e ca n only .

choose h o w h e w ill l iv e H e ay e ith e r h elp . m

l es sly drift through th e w orl d su ff ering fro m
16 All
r
P o wers Are Within U s .

i
all th e ll s an d evil s that m a e s o any u n k m
happy o r h e m ay choos e th e m etho d of con
s c iou s evol ution that alone akes l ife truly m
succ es sful W e m ay b e either the su ff ering
.

r
s la v es of n atu e o r th e h appy aste s o f h e m r r
l aw s .

N o w al l p ow e s p o s ses s ed b y any h u an
, r m
m
b eing n o atter h o w exal te d h is p os tion in
, i
evolutio n o r ho w sub l im e h i s sp iritual p ow e r
, ,

i
a re laten t n al l hum n b e n gs an d can n time a i ,
i ,

b e d evelop ed an d b rough t into action Of .

c ours e there i s n o m agic rul e b y w h ich th e

m i
igno ra u s ca n n stantly b eco me w is e o r by
r m
w hi ch a b utal an can b e a t o nc e tran sfor ed m
m
into a s ai nt It ay re qui re s core s of incarna
.

tion s to accomp l ish a w ork o gre t b ut wh en s a ,

m
a an rea ch es the p oi nt in hi s evolutio n where
h e b egins to c omp rehen d th e purpos e of l ife ,

an d to evolve th e w ill to p ut forth h is e ne r

gie s n c o — i
op eration w ith n ature hi s r s e to , i
s
w i dom an d p ow e r ay b e s w ift ndeed B u t m i .

th is tran sform at ion fro m th e d rkne ss of ig n o r a

“
anc e to sp iritual illumin tion fro m h elpl es s a ,

n es s i
n the fel l clutch o f c rcum stance to i ”

r
p o we ove r n ature u s t b e b rough t ab out b y ,
m
h is o w n e ffo rts fo i t s a p roce s of e v o l u r i s
tion—o i forcing the latent to becom e th e
,

i
a ct v e T here fo re on e
. us t e sol v e to tak e m r
18 Th e P urpos e S erv e d by D es ir e .

w ard tha t ab s olute control o f th e ph s cal yi

that la y s the foundation fo r s ucce in ss
c ons ciou s evolution W hen w e feel that i n .

a
m n aging th e p hysical b ody w e are controlling
s om eth ing th at i s no t o urself w e a e fairly r
s tarte d on th e ig h t oad r r .

r
N o w the e are three th ings that a p ers on
,

m u st p o sse s s to b e s ucces sful n s elf develop i -

m ent If h e ha not the s e th ee qual ificatio n s

. s r
i
h e w ll mak e b u t l ttl e p ogres s ; b ut for i r ,

t u n at e l y any lack in g qual ity can b e evolved

,

an d if o n e does n ot p osses s th es e th ree n e c e s

s ities h i s fi rst w o s to create th em T h e e rk i . s
three things are an rdent de ire n ron will a s , a i
a i
nd an alert ntelli gence Why are the e three . s
a
q u lification s es enti l to success and wh at pu s a r
pos e do they e rv e ? s
s
De ire is n ture s moto po we — a
the p ro pul '
r r
s ive force that pushes everything forward n ts i i
i
evol u t on It is de ire that stimulate to ction
. s s a .

s i
De i re dr ves the animal nto the act ivities that i
s
evolve its phy ical body and h a rpen its in te ll i s
gence I f it h d no de ire it would lie inert
. a s
a nd perish B u t the desire for food for drin
.
,
k ,

for association w th it ind impel it to acti o n i sk , ,

an d the re ult s i
s th e evolut on o f strength sk ll i , i
and intelligence in proportion to the inten ity o f s
s
it desi es r
To grati fy these desires it will
.
 D esi res Ch g an e Wi th G r o wth . 19

accept attle b how great may e the no m atter b

s a
odd ag inst it and will unhe it tingly ri k li fe s a s
s
it el f in the comb t De ire not only nduce a . s i s
the activity th t develop physic l strength nda s a a
a
be uty but l o h ,
a s as s
it fi n er e ffects Hunger .

s a
compel the nimal not only to seek food bu t to ,

pit its cunning gain t th t o f its prey Driven a s a .

a
forw rd by desire it develop among other q u li s ,
a
tie s s
trength courage p tience e ndurance in
, , ,
a , ,

t el l ig e n ce .

De ire pl ys thes a
me role with an at hi sa m s
sa
higher t ge o f evolution It tim u l te him t o . s a s
a ction ; nd lways a hi a a ctivity s ti fie hi s s a a s s s
origin l de ire a s a
new one repl ce the old nd a s a
s
lure him on to renewed exertion Th e aver ge a .

yo u ng m an begi n n ing hi bu ine c ree de ire s s ss a r s s ,

only a com fort ble cott ge B u t when that i a a . s

a ai
tt ned he wa n ts a ma n ion He soon tires o f s .

as a
the m n ion nd want p l ce Then he w nt sa aa a s
.

s a — as
ever l at the se ide n the city an d on the ,
i ,

a s
mo u n t in sA t fir t he i ti fied with a hor e ;
. s sa s s
a s
then he dem n d an utomobile nd finally a a a ,

s a a s
te m y cht He et o u t youth to e r n
. s as a a a
a
liveliho od nd welcome sm ll l ry B u t s a a sa a .

s
the de ire for money p u hes him into bu ine s s ss
s a
for him el f nd he wo rk tirele ly fo r a com s ss
p e t e n ce s
H e feel th t . sm ll fortun e ho u l d a a a s
a s
s ti fy anybody bu t when he gets it he want s
20 Th e R e al R e war d .

to b e a mill i ona i re I f he succeeds i n th at h

. e

then des i res to b ecome a multi millionai r e -

.

Whether the des i re i s for we alth or f f ame , or ,

or fo r power the same result follows—when

,

the desire i s s a ti s fied a gre a ter one takes it s place

and spurs the a mbitiou s one to still further
e erti n
x o .He grasp s the prize he believe s t o

conta i n comp l ete sati s f a ctio only to discovern

th a t while he wa s p r s uing it de s ire h a d grown

u

beyond it a nd so the goal he woul d attain i s

,

alw ays far a he a d o f him Thu s a re we tricked

.

and a pp a rently mocked by n a ture until we fin a ll y

awake to the f a ct th at all the bj ects o f de s ire
__ _
o

the fine raiment the j ewels the pal a ces the

, , ,

we a lth the power are but vain d empty things

, ,
an

and that the re a l rewar d for a ll our e ffort s to

s ecure them is not the s e ob j ects at all b t th u e

n ew go w er s w e h av e evolved i n ge ttin g th e m ;
a
powers th t we did not before pos e s and which ss
we should not have evolved ut for n ture b a '
s
a —
gre t p rop ul s ive forc e desi re Th e m an w h o .

a m a
ccu ul tes a fortune by many yea s o f per r
s ai
istent e ffort in org n zing and developing a
is a
business enterpr e by c re ful planning and deep
,

a a
thinking m y natur lly enough loo upon the
,
k
s
fo rtun e he w il l p o se s s fo r a fe w yea s b efore r
as s as
it p se on to others his reward B ut the
, .

r i i
t uth s that t is a v ery tran sient and per shable i
 Ho w to Tr ans m u te D es ire . 21

r
and wo thless thing compa ed to the n e w power r s
a
th t were unco n ciou ly evolved in getting it s s
s
power that will be retained by the m n and be a
i
brought nt o u e in fut u re inc rn tions s a a .

Desire then pl ys mo t important role n

, ,
a a s i
a
hum n evolution It aw kens timul te pro . a ,
s a s ,

a
pels Wh t wi n d i to the ship wh t te m i to s , a s a s
the locomotive de ire i to the hum n being ,
s s a .

as
It h been writte n in a great b o ok ' ill out
“s s,

de ire s ,
”
s
and el ewhere it s written R e i t not i ,

evil We m y find n s milar ex lted pro

.
”
a ,
i i a
n o un ce m e n ts truth that are very u e ful to dis
, s s
c ipl e s but which might e con fu ing and i b s ms
leading to the man o f the world f he ttempted i a
a a
to liter lly pply them Perhap for the average . s
“a a
mort l kill o ut de ire might be nterpreted s i
tr nsmute de re si
W it h out des re man W ould i
be in a a
de thlike and d ngerous condition—a a
condition i n which further progre s would be s
impo ible ss B ut y tr n muting the lower
. b as
s s
de ire into th e higher he move ste dily forward s a
and upward without losing the mot ve powe i r
a
th t urges him forever onw rd a .

a
To tr nsmute de ire to continually eplace the s , r
r
lowe with the higher re lly is killing desire out ,
a
but it is doing it by the lo w and s fe evolution s a
ary p roces s
A s to cru hing it udden ly th t i
. s s ,
a s
i
s mply imp o ssible ; but subst tution ay wo r i m k
22 Ch g i g h L w t th Hig han n t e o er o e er .

wonder s S u ppo s e for exam ple that a y oun g

.
, ,

man i s a gambler d hi s pa re t s a re much d is an n

tre s sed a bout it Th common and fooli s h . e

cour s e is to lect re him on the s in o f g a mbling u

a nd t te a r fully urge him to ass oci ate only with

o

very proper young B t the young g a mbler m en . u

i s not i n the le as t intere s ted in th a t s ort o f a li fe ,

which a ppear s to him to be a kind o f living

death and such entre a ty does not move him
, .

Hi s p a rents would do better by looki g more n

closely into the c as e Wh y i s he a g a mbler He .

?

d esire s money He s eek s excitement He w a t s

. . n

to live in a n atmo s phere o f inten s e li fe a nd

a ctivity ' ery well The s e desire s a re q uite
. .

ri ht i n them s elves It is u s ele ss to y to cru s h . tr

M It i s
. non s en s e to gp th a t he does not ar e

w a nt these thing s C learly eno gh he does w a t

y

. u n

them a nd th a t i s p recisely why he g a mble s Then .

d o not attempt the impo ss ibility o f killing the

de s i re b t ch a nge the obj ects o f his de s ires S y
u . a

to him ' de s ire money a nd a li fe f ll o f

: ou u

turb u lence and excitement W ell you can get .

,

a a a
ll th t in better an d legitim te w y nd h ve a a a a a
s
the re pect o f your friend be ide ' o u can s s s .

i
go nt o politic Th t s s
field within the p le . a i a a
a a
o f the l w nd in it you c n h ve cope for ll a a s a
the e n ergy and ctivity an d nten ity o f li fe you a i s
i
long for w th all the element O f ch n ce which
,
a
 A ny ' i ce or F aul t May be Rem e d i ed . 23

you find so attract v e An d when th e young m n i . a

as a i
h h d h s fling there and t res o f it then some i
thing else can be attempted B ut to try to cr u h . s
s a
de i re nd curb the outrushing li fe s oth fooli h i b s
and im pps s ibl e W e can o nl y direct t
. i .

There are o f cour e cert in gross de ire t h t

,
s ,
a s s a
must be gotten id o f r
the mo t direct and le t by s as
ob j ection ble a m
ethod an d when one re ll ,
ay
s
de ires to be free from g iven v icg o r mor l a a
a
We kn e ss s s a s
and et e rne tl y nd intelli gently a
a s
bou t it hi rele e i not o di ffi cult as s s
the com as
s s
u ppo e There s a p rocess y wh ch any o f
. i b i
a
us m y be free i f we will t ke the tro u ble to a
s
apply to any de ire fro m which we wish to b e
as
rele ed ' o r example let us t ke the per on
.
,
a s
a
who h s a settled de ire fo r lcoholic stimulant s a s
a s s
but re lly wi he to be rid o f it forever M ny . a
a
pe o ple w h o re thus a ffl icted to the po n t where i
as a
they o cc ion lly become i n toxicated feel when ,

they recover their norm l condition that n o price a ,

a
would be too gre t to p y for freedom fro this a m
a a
humili ting h bit A s rule uch a m n trie to . a s a s
s s
clo e hi eyes to hi shame and forget it prom s ,

i s i n g himsel f that he will be tronger when the s

a
tempt tion g in a a assa s
il him B ut it i s j u t thi . s s
s s as
p u tting it a ide thi c ting it out o f h is mind
, ,
 24 Th e Me th o d o f E s cape .

r
th at pe petuates h s wea ness He nst nct vely i k . i i i
shrinks from dwelling upon the thought o f
whither he is dri fting S o he puts the u npl e as .

a i
nt subj ect as de altogether and when the inner
s
de ire asserts itsel f again he finds himsel f pre
c i se l y as helple s a e fore s sb .

No w h is
certain method o f escape from this
,

s
tyranny o f desire i to turn his mind esolutely to r
i
an exam nation o f the whol e quest on L e t him i .

k
loo the facts in the face however humili ting ,
a
may be He shoul d call his im gination to a
w they .

is s b
‘

his ass tance It hould e used to picture to

.

0
himsel f h is future f he does not succeed n i i
”
ai
bre k ng up the un fortun te slavery o f the des e a ir
a
n ture He shoul d think o f the fact that as he
.

r
grows o lde the situ ti o n grows wo se He a r .

s i
hould picture h msel f as the helples repuls ve s , i
i
sot w th feeble body and we kening mind and
,
a ,

reflect upon the humiliation he must endure the ,

y
povert he must face and the physical and men ,

a
t l pain he must ear in the future f he no w b i
a b k
f ils to rea the de ire tie that bind h m This s s i .

a i
cre tes n him a feeling o f repuls on towa d the i r
i
cause o f t all ; and i f he continue to th nk d ily s i a
i
upon th s hideous p cture o f wh t h e s slowly i a i
i —
dri ft ng toward i f he d ly egards t all with ai r i
i —
a feel ng o f slight repuls on then e v e n within i
26 C r e ating R ig h t D es ir es .

h is i
ass stance L et h m icture h msel f as h av
. i i
in g his p ower for use fulness man times multi y
plied by occult develo pment H e should think o f .

himsel f as possessin g the inne si ght that enables r

i a
h m to un derst nd the di fficulties o f others and to
co mprehend their orrows s
He hould daily . s
i
th nk o f the fact that this would s o b oaden and r
i a
q u icken h s symp thies t h t he would be enor a
m o u s l y more use ful in the world th n h e can n o w a
s
po sibly be an d that he could become a sou ce o f r
a
h ppiness to thous nds L e t him reflect that s a . a
r
h e gets farthe along in occult development and in
u n sel fi sh n e s s a
nd s p ir iual ity he may have the
a
inestim ble privilege o f coming in to contact with
s o m e of th e exal ted int elligences that w atch
r i
ove an d as s s t th e st uggl n g a sp ants on t h e rr i ir i
r
upwa d way He should d ily recall th e fact that
. a
he is now m o ving forward tow rd a freer richer a , ,

s
more j oyou li fe th n he has yet known and that a
r r bi
eve y e ff o t r ngs him n eare to its real zation r i .

T hus dwelling o n the su j ect n ts var ous b i i i

a
as pects he cre tes the ardent desire that serves
to ro e l h m forward i .

a
I f he feels th t these t h ngs a e an deal a i mk i
little to o high fo hi at p esent he ay each r m r m r
t hat point by degrees He ay at first dwell in . m
thought upon the personal satis fact on that woul d i
m
co e from the possess on o f ast al s ght L et i r i .
 S o rne D ang er o us G r o und . 27

him r eflect upo n wh at t woul d ean to e con i m b

scious o f the invisible world ; to h ve ll its won a a
ders laid open be fore him ; to be ble to con 1 a -

s cio u sl y meet the s o c lled dead i ncluding his

-
a ,

a a
own friends nd rel tives ; to be able t o h ve the a
a
positive person l proo f that we survive the de th a
“
o f the physical body ; to be able to be cgm e one o f
the invisible hel ers o rl d ; to h ve
”
a
aa s
av il ble the pricele s adv nt ges o f the astr l a a a
a
region nd to bring the co n cio usne s o f ll thi s s a s
s a
into the ph y ic l li fe Th t i cert inly something
. a s a
a
worth all the time nd e ff ort require d to attain it .

sa
T hus thinking con t n tly o f the widened li fe nd a
s
added power it would con fer the de ire to move ,
s
a s
forw rd in el f development will be gre tly tim
-
a s
ul ate d s a
B ut the tudent should alw ys keep it in
.

a s
mind that the re l purpo e o f acquiring new pow
s i as s a a y
er is to ncre e hi c p cit for service to the
a r
race and that he who f lls sho t o f that deal
, i
Th e r
secon d equisite s a firm w ll It should i i .

b a
not e forgotten th t an unu u l and di ffic u lt sa
i
thing s being attempted in which per on of a s
k i a
wea w ll c nnot possibly h Op e to ucceed Even s .

i a i
n the ordin ry l fe o f the world con ider ble will s a
ri s
powe s e sential to success To ucceed in bu i . s s
ness to become expert in a pro fes ion or to com
, s ,

p l e te l y m
aster an art requires strong will
,
deter ,
28 Th e P o w er of th e Will .

a
min tion perseverance Th e di ffi c u lt es n occult
, . i i
s
d evelop me n t are till greater an d w hile it i ,
s
t rue that any d eg ee of e ff ort is w ell w orth r
k
wh ile th e w ea l in g w ill n ot go far O nly
, s .

s i
tho e w th the in dom itab le w il l th t no w a k s
s
n eith er urren de r nor comp rom i se y hop e ma
a
fo r large m easure of s ucces s O nc e th e w ill .

s
i thoroughly a rou ed an d b rough t into action s
y a
ever h in dr nc e in the w ay w il l b e s we t as ide
“ h
.

Th e u m an w ll h
i , t at f o r c e u n s ee n,
T h e o ff s p r i n g o f a e at e s s s o u d hl l
C a n h e w a w ay t o a n y g o a l ,

Tho
'
w ll
a s o f g r a it e i n t e r v e n e
pk I
><
.

Be i m p at i e n t o f
no t dl
w d d
e ay ,
But a i t a s o n e w h o u n e r s t an
h d
s .

W e n S p i ri t ri s e s an d c o m”m an s
d d
Th e g o s a r e r e a y t o o b e y .

Mi gh ty i ndeed i s t h i s force when a r oused

, ,
.

B t a per s on m ay be e as ily deceived about his

u

will He i s likely to think th a t his will i s much

.

s“tronger th a n it re ally is He m ay sa y to him s el f .

,

O h y es I w oul d go th rough anyth ing fo r th e

, ,

k i
sa e o f the higher l fe and sp ritual illum nat on i i i .
”

aa
B ut that is no gu r ntee th t fter a few months a a
o f monotonous work he m y not abandon it a
s
unle s he adopts the wise plan o f strengthen ing
s
hi will as he moves forward L e t him begi n this .

by testin
g hi pre ent stren gthso f will s
but let ,

him not be discouraged by the result He should .

 How to Tes t th e Wil l . 29

mb a
reme er t h at wh tever he l ck in will power a s
a
he c n evolve by pro per e ffort .

To find out whether he re lly h s much a a

s
strength o f will a per on m y begin to ob erve to a s
what ext ent he permits hi d ily pl n to be s a as
i
mod fied o r entirely changed by the thing th t
, , s a
run counter to his will Doe he h o ld ste df tly
. s a as
s
t o his purpo e o r does he we kly urrender to a s
s sa s as
mall ob t cle ? H he the will power to even
a a a
begin the d y s he h s pl n ned it ? Th e evening a
be fore he decides that he will rise t ix o clock a s '

the next morning He n ow there are cert in

. k s a
a s
excellent re son why he should do so nd he a
s a
retire with the m tter fully decided It i posi . s
a a a
t iv e l y settled th t t ex ctly ix o clock the d y s s '
a '

a sa
progr m h ll begin B ut when the clock trikes
. s
that hour the next morning he feel trongly s s
disinclined to obey the summon It in volve s . s
s
some bodi ly di com fort to ri e t th t moment s a a
s a a
and he conclude th t fter all perh p h e w ,
as ,
as
i
a b t hasty the evening be fore in fixing u pon
a
th t hour ' Whereupon he recon iders the m tter s a
an d make s s
it even ; an d when th t time rrive a a s
s
he genero u ly extends it to eight o clock Th e '
.

, s
hour o f cour e is unimportant B ut wh tever
, . a
may have been the hour th t w previou ly a as s
determined upon the keeping o f th t determi n a a
i s
t on i o f the greatest im port nce nd the f ilure a a a
30 Th e N e cess i ty o f C om p ul s i o n .

s
to pu t the re olution in to e ffect i evidence o f the s
ss ss
po e ion o f a we k will a .

N o w all this prove th t such persons h ve s a a

very little real will power fo r they permit the ,

s
de ire for trifl ing bodily com fort to et their s
s
plan aside S uch persons are still sl ves to the a
s a a
phy ic l body and we kly permit it to u pset c re a
a
fully outlined p rogr ms They are not yet ready .

for good work in occult development where re l , a

s uccess can come only to those who have stead
fast strength o i purpose .

a
People who f il to assert the w ll and br n g the i i
b s
ody into complete ubj ection p rob bly little re l a a
ize what a price they pay for trifling physical a
sr i
plea u e ; fo r unt l we vol u ntarily t ke the right a
a
course we h ve not esc ped the evolution ry a a
s
neces ity o f compul ion and m y reasonably s a
a
expect sooner o r l ter to be thrown nto an e u i
a
v i ro n m e n t th t will apply the stimulus we st ll i
s
need to arou e the will It m ay be un ple ant . as
s
while it i occurring but wh t better fortune , a
b a
could e fall n indolent man than to find him
sel
W
f i s
in c rcum tances where hi poverty or other s
s
necess i t compel h i m to ubo rd i n te bodil com s a
fort to the rei gn o f the will ? N ture provides a
s
the lesson we require We ma w ely co op er . y is -

a i
te w th her and thu e c p e the tin g But s sa s .
 B y C o -ope rati o n We E s cape th e S ting .
31

so lon g as we need th e less o n we ma be uite

de ire wor together n evolv ng l tent po w

s k er i i a s .

s
De ire arous es will ppyyp r A man de ire
wealth and the de ire plu n ges him into busine
activities and stimulate the will by which he 72
a
overcomes ll the di fficulties th t lie in his w y
. s s
s ss
} s
a a .

s
A rdent de ire fo r an educ tion arouses the will u a
s
o f the tuden t and the w kened will triumph 44 4 a a s 4

over poverty and all other barrier between him s

a nd the coveted diplom I f a man tand t a a . s sa
r i i
lowe po nt n evolution where he h s not the a
a mbition for intellectu l culture nor fo r fame a
r
nor fo w ealth but only the desire fo r shelter and
,

i
f o od st ll that primitive d e s ife forces h im in t o
,

a i
ct o n ; and while hi will power will be evolved s
i ri
only n pro po t on to the strength o f the de ire s
r s
that p ompt him t mu t neverthele s grow ,
i s s .

s i
In tead o f r sing at a cert in hour because the a
i i
w ll decrees t he m y ri e only bec use he know a s a s
his livelihoo d depends upon it B ut he s le rn . i a
—
i g the same le on th e o vercoming o f the
n ss
ri
ine t a o f the phy ic l body— albeit it s com s a i
i
p ul so ry nste d o f volunt ry B uta ll thi i a . a s s
uncon cious evolutions It i s the long low .
,
s ,

pain ful process It i the only w y po sible for . s a s

32 Ho w to S tr eng th en th e Will .

th os e who are not wise enough to co operate with

-

nature in her evoluti o n ry work a a nd thus rise

above the n ecessity o f compulsion .

Ho w then may we develop the will when it

, , is
s o wea k at h t we are s
till the slave o f n ture s a
instead o f the ma s
ster o f destiny ? W ill power ,

a
like any other f culty m y b e cultiv ted and
,
a a
a
m de strong To d o this one m y plan n
. a i
advance what he will d o under cert in circum a
r
stances an d then ca ry out the progr m with a
out evasion o r hesitation when the time arrives .

s
Hi forethought will enable him to do thi s
i s
f he doe not undert ke things to o di fficult a
at first L e t hi
. mr
esolve to do at a certa n hour i
i
some small thing wh ch n the ord n ry course , i ia
s i
o f his dutie he sees s necess ry but unpleasant ;
, a
an d then firmly resolve i
n advance that exactly
a a i
t the ppointed t me he will do t Thus forti i .

m
fi e d be fore the tri al co es he w ll probably g o i
success fully through with t A fter once decid i .

ing upon the t ime there should be no po t s

p o n e m e n t and not an nstant s i
delay when the '

moment arrives :
One o f the thin s we have to learn i
come the inertia o f the ph ysical body and m ny a
r y a
peo ple are not eall aw ke on the ph sical pl ne y a
e xtent they are “
dead ”
i
w thin the phy ical ‘
s
34 F ro m S tupid i ty to Hl er tness .

is n i
ever t red It s only th e ph ys cal ody th at
. i i b
g rows wear It is true th tyit .h s it limitation a a s s
and must not be overt xed and dr ven beyond a i
a
endur nce as a tired horse s sometimes cruelly i
u rged forward with whip and spur 'ud gment .

m ust lw a as
be used in d e te rm inin acit

for work B ut that which . to be done should is

n ever be done draggingly w ith th e inertia o f the ,

s b
phy ical ody marring the work We should be
fully awake inste d o f dead while we are a “ ”
.

walk ng bout i a ”
I f a per on resolves to e the
. s b
m aster o f the body h e y s o on acqu re the ma i
a s
power to rou e it to ctivity and al te rtn e s s dur a
a a
ing ll his w king hour very much s one m y s ,
a a
a a
cquire the h bit o f keen ob erv tion and be s a
consciou o f wh t s occurr ng in his vicinity ina is i
a b
ste d o f eing careles ly uncon cious o f the s s
a i
m j o r port on o f what s go ng on mmediately i i i
about him .

a
This m tter o f g i v i ng attent on to the t h ngs i i
a
that m y properly e n g ge the m in d fan d o f u in g a s
the will to arou e and control it is o f very gre t s ,
a
a
import nce I it not wh t we call paying at
. s a
”
tention that m kes the connection between the a
e g o and the obj ective w orld ? Givin g attention
is a p roce s o f con cio s
u ne s Th e per on who s s s . s
a a
f ils in ttention mi es the purpo e o f li fe nd ss s a
a a a
throws aw y v lu ble t me and opportunity To i .
 Tr ain ing th e A tte n ti o n .
35

s
give attention i to be live and awake nd in a a a
a
condition to m ke the mo t o f limited phy ic l s s a
a
li fe '_e_t m n y peo ple c nnot give su t ined
. a sa
a
attention to n o rdin r y c o nver tion nor directa sa
the mind with su fficient preci ion to t te a im s sa s
p l a
e f ct witho u t wanderin g aimle l y bo u t in th e ss a

a s s s
t il o r lo t ight o f alto gether .

a
S uch h bits o f mind hould be put resolutely s
s
a ide by one who would h ten sel f development as -
.

s
Th e attention houl d be fixed deliber tel y u p on a
'

the s ub ect in h nd wh tever i m a

be and a a
s
nothin g hould be permitted to bre k the con a
n ectio n between that nd the mind Whether it a .

i a sa
s con ver tion or a boo k o r a manual ta k o r ,
s ,

a s
problem being ilently worked out intellectu lly a ,

a
it sho u ld h ve undivided t tention until th e mind a
is are dy for something el e s .

s
Perhap few o f us give to ny subj ect the close a
a a
ttention which lone c n prove it own e ffective a s
ne s s a a a
nd demonstr te the f ct that there goe s
s s a s sa
with uch te dily u t ined attention subtle a
ra a
power o f extended o ccentu ted con ciou ness , ,
s s .

s s
When ten minute i g iven to a cert in subj ect a
a sa sa
nd other thought re con t ntl y in truding so ,

a
th t when the ten minutes have passed only five
36 C o n cen trati o n P r o d u ces R es ul ts .

a
minutes have ctually een devoted to the subj ect b ,

s
the re ult i by no me n s h l f o f wh t would asa a a
a a
h ve been ccompli hed had the whole o f the ten s
b
minutes een given to u ninte r ru ted attention .

Th e time thus spent in wavering attention is

a a i
pr ctic lly w thout e ffect The co n n e ctip n b e .

tween mind an d sub j ect has not been com plete .

Mind and subj ect were so to s y out o f focus ,

a , .

s
Att ention mu t be u t ined to the point where s sa
i s
t become concentr tion Th e ind must be a . m
s a s
u ed s a un gl s can b e used Hol d the gl ss
-
as . a
s a
between un nd paper out o f focus fo r an hour , ,

an d nothing will h ppen A yellow circle o f a .

a
light f lls on the paper and th t is all B ut brin g a .

it into e r fe c fOcu s concentr ting the rays to th e,

a
s
fine t pps s ibl e point and the p per turn brown ,
a s
a a s
nd fin lly bur ts into the fire th t will con sume a
i a
t They re the s me r y that were previously
. a as
ineffective o ncent r
. C
n r o d uce d re ult a s s .

Th e mind mu s
e bro ug t un der suc com
p l e t e control o f the will th t it c n be m an ip u a a
a a
l ted like search light turned in this direction -
,

o r that or flung full upon some obscu e subj ect

,
r
a
and hel d ste dily there till t illuminates every i
a
det il o f it as the sea rch light sends a dazzling
,
-

ray through p ce and shows every ock and sa r

a
tree on hillside far aw y th ough the dar ness a r k
o f the night .
 Why ' n o wl e dg e is N e cess ary .
37

Th e i
th rd nece sity is keen intelligence 2 s 1115 .

s
force o f de ire directed by the will must be , ,

s u p l e m e nte d b n alert mind a

There is a .

popular not 1ou th t good motive are su fficient in a s

sa
themselve nd th t when one h s the de ire t o a a s
i a
atta n spiritu l illumin tion pl u s the will to a ,

achieve nothing more i needed but purity o f

,
s
s
purpo e B u t thi is a mi con ception It i true
. s s . s
M t h e m s ti c m kes d evoti n the ala
n gpj g zn in
his s m “ a s o true th t the a
m
m
t on k n o wl e d e and devotion
Blend an d become one t a hi g er t ge B ut a h sa m

while there are method o f development m which s

a
intellect is not t fir t m de chie f f ct or it can s a a a
as
by no me n be ignored in the long run nor re -
a
we now considering tho e method A goo d in s s .

t el l e ct there fore i
,
sa
necess ry p rt o f the equip
,
a a
ment .

Go od motive s pl y o t impo rtan t p rt ina ams a ,

deed in o cc u lt pro gre

,
They fegu rd thess . sa a
a spirant on hi upward way s W ithout pure .

motives without , a a
l rge me ure o f un se l fi sh as
a s a s
ness the gre te t d nger woul d encomp s him
,
as .

B ut good motives cann o t t ke the pl ce o f goo d a a

sense and relieve him o f the nece ity o f think ss
i s
ng He m u t develop j udgment an d discri in
. m a
i
t on There are thin gs he mu t know and he
. s ,

m i k
ust use h s nowled ge o di ffi culties fo ll pw, r
38 G o o d Mo tiv es N o t S u ffi cie nt .

no matter how noble may e his ntentions S up b i .

s r
po e fo illust ation th t two men et out upon
,
r , a s
a i
dark n ght to cro s a wild nd rugged piece o f s a
ground—o ne with bad motives and the other
with good One s going out to rob a house and
. i
i f need be to kill anybo dy who might try to
,

i nter fere w th hi pl n i
H motives are very s as . is
a
b d but he has per fect kn o wledge o f the dan
g e ro u s ground he s to cros and he will the efore i s r
a
t r vel over it n sa fety i
Th e o ther m an has the .

best o f motives He go ng to spend the night . is i

with a sick and helple s neighbor B ut he h s s . a
no knowledge o f the rough and treachero u s
ground he must cro s in the d rkness and his s a
i
good mot ves will not insure him g in st stumb aa
r
ling ove the stone or f lling into a ditch and s a
a
bre king his arm Goo d motive re not enough . sa .

We Pro gre s in occultis i im s m s

B ut
how s i ak
e e n lert intelli gence to be ac ,
a
i i
qu red f we do not posse s it ? L ike any other s
a
l tent faculty o r power t ay be evolve d As i m .

ia
the phys c l strength m y be steadily increased a
by constant exerci e o f the muscles so ind may s ,
m
a i
incre se n po wer by system tic work It shoul d a .

be exercised n ori ginal thinkin g A stated i

period i f only a quarter o f an hour daily can
, ,

be set a side fo the purpose A book on a se r .

 Ho w to B uil d U p th e In tell ect .
39

i i
r o ns subj ect w ll furn h mater al ut th e to o is i b ;
common meth o d o f reading o f following the ,

a u thor l zily a a a
nd ccepting whatever he set forth s
a
as a m tter o f cour e is o f little value One mu t s , . s
a s
re d with di crimi n tion receiving th e idea a ,
s
o ffered s a a
j urym n would receive te timony a s
from a i s
w tn e s con idering it from every pos
,
s
sible viewpoint ex mining it in the light o f
,
a
a s
kno w n f ct turning it over in the mind weigh
, ,

in g it tho u ght fully and accepting or rej ecting ,

a ccor d i n g to it re on blene s as a
o r its l ck o f ss a
re on as In such mental work for intellect u l
. a
a
growth e ch p ragr ph c n be considered by a a a
a a
itsel f and o n ly sm ll portion Of the tl m e hould s
be given to the reading while the rem inder is a
d evoted to ponderi n g ove wh t has been re d r a a .

O f course as
pecific tudy i an dvant ge and s s a a
as
perh p nothing i better th n to study occult s a
ism thinking deeply upon the problem o f
,
s
human evolution .

A nother method that goes dmir bly with such a a

work i s the close o b erv tion an d tudy o f ll the s a s a
a
li fe in m ni festati o n bout us W e should tr to a . y
them Every word act nd f ci l expre ion ha
.
,
a a a ss s
i
its mean ng to be c ught and interpreted Al l a .

s
thi will not on ly h rpen the wit but lso sa s a
s a s
tre ngthen h um n ympathy for it en ble u s the a s '
40 Th e U s e o f th e I m ag inati on .

b ette r to now the di fficult ek nd so rows o f is a r

others I f such pr ctices re followed fa th fully
. a a i
a
d y by day the growth will be steady .

S till another use ful pr ctic e s to e x erc se the a i i

a a
im gin tion the art o f creating mental pictures
,

a
with no physic l obj ect present Th e face o f an .

s
ab en t friend can e called up n the ind and b i m
— i
reproduced n every detail the color o f the eyes
a nd hair the v rious mood nd expres ions O r
,
a sa s .

'
one s childhood home c n be recalled and the a
a i ai
im g n t on made to econstruct t Th e hous e r i .

being complete the land c pe can be reproduced sa ,

s a a a
“
with the hill trees nd ro ds R e pe ted pra
a s
,

tice t eeing ment lly s o f the greatest v alue a ”

i
.

i n occult development .

While the aspir nt s t h us wor ng to mprove a i ki i

s
the three es ential qu lific tion o f desire will a a s ,

a i —
nd ntelligence to inten i f y his de ire to po s s s
s
se s powers fo r the hel pin g o f others to ,

s trengthen th e will to get such p owe s an d to r ,

steadily mprove the intellect—h e shoul d also

i
s
be givin g mo t earne t attent on to medit tion s i a ,

i i
fo r t s throu gh this pr ctice th t the most r e a a
ka
mar ble result m y be pr o duced n the tran s s a i
a
form tion o f his b odies visibl e and nvisibl e , i ,

through which the ego m n fe ts tsel f n the ai s i i

physical world In the degree th t the e re . a s a
a
organized nd made en tive and responsive they s si
42 Wh at M edi tatio n D o es ' or Us .

i
are attract n g and building into the bodies we
s a a
pos ess cert in gr des o f mponder ble m tter i a a
th at will make thinking an d acting l o ng these a
lines easier and easie for us until they are estab r
l ish e d habits and we pctu all y become in d ily li fe a
patient coura ge o us and com p ion te M
, ass a .

ever 'ualities p r virtues we de ire to po e s ma s ss s y

be gain ed throu gh the rt o f medit tion and the a a
effort to live u p to the ideal dwelt u pon d ily a
by the m nd i .

i i
Whil e t s absolu tely true th t any hum n a a
i a
be ng can m ke o f him el f th t which he de ires s a s
— a
to be can liter lly ra se him el f to any deal i s i
i a —
he s c pable o f conceiving it must not be sup
a
po sed th t it can be done in a hort t me and by s i
in termittent e ff ort We sometime he r it s d
. s a ai
a
th t all w e need d o s to re lize th t ll powe i a a a r
s i
i w thin us when pre to ' we re the thing we
, , s a
would be ' It is
quite true that we mu t real ize s
s
thei r exi tence be fore we can c ll the l tent pow a a
s ss
er into expre ion ; but the work o f ro u ing a s
a a
the l tent into the ctive is a process o f growth ,

o f actual evolution ry ch nge Th e phy cal a a . si

i i
body as t s now is n o t sen it ve enough to s i
s s
re pond to ubtl e vibr t ons It r in s not ai . sba i
aa i
c p ble o f rece ving and regi tering the delic te s a
s
vibrations ent outward y the ego nd the t k b , a as
i
o f chang ng it so that it can do so is not a tr flin g i
 Not Miracl e B ut E v o l utio n .
43

or easy one B ut ever y e ffort produce ts e ffect

. si
an d to the pers is tent and p tient d evo tee of s elf a
a
develop ment th e fin l re ult i cert in B ut it is s s a .

a
not a m tter o f miraculous accomplishment It .

i s a process o f inn er growth There are t is .

,
i
as
quite true c es in which peopl e who have e n
,

s
te r e d upon thi method o f sel f development have -
,

in a short time att ined spiritu l illumin tion

,
a a a ,

b mi
eco ng fully conscious o f the invisible worl d
i i
an d ts s
nhabitant while awake in the physic l a
b ody ; e xtending the horizon o f con ciousness to s
include both worlds a n d coming nto po sess on
,
i s i
o f the higher clai rvoyance th t en ble on e to a a s
a a sa
tr ce past c use nd modi fy impending e ff ect s .

a
B ut suc h peopl e re those who have given so
a
much ttention to sel f development n p st l ves -
i a i
a
th t they h ave now but little more to do n order i
i
to come nto f u ll po se ion o f occult powers s ss .

S o metimes it requires littl e more than the turn

i i
ng o f the r attentio n to the m tter B ecom ng a . i
a member o f the Theo ophic l S ociety o r s a
s eriously taking up theo ophic l tudie i s a s s s
m i
so et mes the fin al tep that le ds to the open s a
ing o f the nner ight i s .

B ut how can one know to what po nt he m ay i

a a
h ve dvan ced in the pa t and where he now s
sa s a
t nd ? How m y w e n o w whether there s k i
i
but a l ttle work ahead or a great deal We can
?
44 Th e ' al u e o f E n th us ias m .

k
not now ; nor is it mportant to now Th e per i k .

a
son who should t ke up the t k merely bec ause as
s i
he think there s little to do w o u ld certain ' I
'

T h e very fact that he would not venture upon

a
the un dert king i f he thought the t k a di ffi cult as
s
one i evidence that he h s not the qualific tions a a
s
neces ary for the succe s o f the occult student s .

s
U nle s he s filled with i lon gin g to pos e a s ss
a
gre ter power to be used in the service o f hum n a

the final steps that will make him disci l e B u t a .

even th e absence o f the keen desire for piritu l s a

i
p rogress which s the e t evidence o f the prob
, bs
i
ab lity o f success should not deter anybody from
,

entering upon the systematic study o f theosophy

i
an d devoting to t all the time and ener
gy he c n ; a
r
no should the thought that many ye rs might a
pass without producing any very remark ble a
a
results le d him to conclude that the undert king a
woul d not be a profitable one Th e time wil l .

come with each huma n bein g when he will ste p

a
out o f the gre t thron g th t dri fts w th the tide a i
and enter u o n the course o f con ci ous evolution s ,

i a
assist ng n ture instead o f ignor ng her b e n e fi ce nt i
s
plan ; and ince it is but a u e stio n o f time the
 D ang ers of Ar tifi cial D ev el o pm ent .
45

r b
soone a e inn in s made the better for the i ,

i
sooner w ll suffer ng cease i .

There should be a word o f warning abo ut the

ri
folly o f t y ng to each spiritual llumin tio n by r i a
i i
art fic al methods A str l sight is sometimes
. a
i
qu ckly developed by crystal gazing and also by
i ai
a certa n regul t on o f the breathing ' o r two .

s
rea ons such method should be avoided On e s .

is s
that any power thus g ined can no t be perma a
nen t and the other is th t they may be o e o r
, a mr
s
le s dangerous Many people have made phys cal
. i
wrecks o f themselves o have become insane y r b
some o f these methods .

There are those w h o advertise to quickly teach

ai
cl rvoyance fo r a consideration as though spir
, ,

itual powers c ould really be con ferred nstead o f i

i
evolved ' It s true th t e fforts towa d the ev o l u a r
i
t on o f such powers may e enorm o usly a ded y b i b
r b
teache s ut such instructio n can not be ought
, b ,

and the o ff er to furnish it for money s the best i

evidence o f its worthles ness Those wh o teach s .

i m
this ancient w sdo select th eir own pupils f o rm
the morally fit and tuition c n be paid only in
, a
dev otion to truth and service to human t That iy .

is the only road that leads to n truct on worth is i

having and until the asp r nt s firmly upon that
, ia i
r
sound moral g ound he s uch better o ff without i m
46 Finding th e G r eat Te ach er .

r
powe s the selfi h use o f wh ch would lead to
, s i
r i i
ce ta n d saster .

a
B ut how sh ll the pup l fin d the teacher ? He i
n eed not find him at first s o far as the li ted , ,
mi
i
consc ousness s concerned L ong i
e fore he . b
k nows anything o f t in his wa ing hours he ay i k m
b ii i s
e rece v ng n truction while he s out o f the i
s b
phy ical ody during the hours o f sleep Th e .

teacher finds the pupil long be fore th e pupil su s

pe ets that the te cher exi ts ; and nce it i the a s si s
a
pupil who h s the limited consciousne it s quite ss i
natural that it shoul d be so Thus t s inevitable . i i
that all who enter upon the w y th t lead to a a s
s i i
pir tual llumin tion mu t long rem in ignoranta s a
a
o f th e fact th t any te cher are interested n a s i
a
them o r th t anybody is giving the slightest tten a
tion to them N aturally enough one cannot know
.

until the momen t arrives when hi br in has b e s a

i
c o me suffi c ently ensitive to ret in memory o f s a a
a am
t least a fr g ent o f hi superphysic l e x pe s a
r ie n c e s .

'

B ut
what leads to the selection o f the pupil ?

s s
His earne tnes his u n s el fi sh ne s s his devotion
, , ,

i i ia
h s sp ritual asp r tions There is an old occ u lt .

m
ma x i to the effect that when the p upil is re dy a
i
the Master s wait n g They h ave need o f m ny i . a
m a
ore th n are re dy to be t ught Tho e who a a . s
i
lead and enl ghten watch eagerly for all who w ll i
 Wh at L eads to S u ccess .
47

q ual fy i
themselves to enter u pon th e upwa d w ay r .

Every human bein g gets ex ctl y what he fits a

s
him el f to receive He cannot pos ibly be ov er . s
looked B y his spiritu l a pir tion each lights
. a s a
the lamp in the window o f his soul and to the
s
watcher from the h eights that light gain t the a s
backgroun d o f the overwhelming ateriality o f m
our times must be as the sun in a cloudle sky ss .

Other things come l ter but these simpler a

a
thin gs to re lize the nece it y fo conscious eyo
,
ss r
l u tio n to com p rehend the method o f soul develop
,

a
ment to t ke full control o f the mind an d the
,

physical bod y
to re olutel y curb the grosser,
s
s
de ires and to ive free ein to the hi her r
as p igatio n s are the first n fant steps in the sel f i
development that le d to illumin tion Then we as a .

s
begin to di cover that this very de ire for gre ter s a
s a
piritu l power s gener tin g a force th at carries i a
s
u forward and upw rd We soon e g n to a . b i
s
ob erve actu l progre Th e a
r in becomes ss . ba
a
cle rer the intellect keener
, O u r s phere o f .

infl u ence grows wider o u r friend hip b eco e ,

s s m
a s
w rmer A piration li ft u into a new and r a
. s s
a a
di nt li fe nd the wondrous power o f the soul
, s
begin to become a con ciou possession A119} ? s s .

ss
thi oul growth th ere s no limit Th e aspirant i .

a
will go on nd on in this li fe and others with an
ever extending horizon o f consc ousn ess until he
-
i
48 Th r o ugh S to r m to P eace .

h as th e m ental grasp o f a Plato the vivid i g ,

m a

i ti
na on o f a Dante the i ntuitive perception o f a
,

S ha k espea r e It is not by the outwa r d acqu i re

.

m ent f facts that such men becom wi s and

o e e

g reat
. I t i s b y developing the soul fro m w i thi n

unt il i t i llu mi nates the b rain w i th th at flood o f

l i gh t called gen i us .

A d when th r ough th str i fe and stor m w

n , e ,
e

finally r each the tranquility o f the inner peace we

shall comprehend the gre a t fact that l i fe re a lly
is j oy when lived in the posses si o o f spiritual n

powe r and i n per fect h ar mony w ith the laws o f

the un i verse With even these first steps i n occult
.

ach i evement the aspirant enters upon a highe r

and m ore sat i s factory li fe than h h eve r e as

kno w L i te r ally he becomes a w m an

n . ne .

G radually the ol d desire s and impulses fade aw ay

and ne w and no b ler asp i rat i ons take the i r place .

He h l ag ed o b edience to law ly to find th a t

as e u 9 n
__

obedience w the r ad to con ue s t H e has

as o .

r is en a b ove the g r oss and sensuous by th power e

o f consc i ous evolution ; and looking back upon ,

what he h a s b een with neither regret no r a pology ,

he co m p r eh ends those significant words o f T en

ny s on :

On s t ep p i ng -s t o ne s f t h eir d d l
h h h
o ea se ve s
Me n ris e to i g e r t i ng s .
”
 ' OU RTE EN ' A' U S E
R ETU RN TO ' E S' 'RO M W HIC H B O RROW E ' '

h l tdt t dbl w
T i s bo o k i s d u e o n t h e as a e s amp e
dt h h d
e o , or
o n th e a e to w ic re n e w e
db bj t d t ll
.

Re n e w e oo k
s ar e su ec to i mme i a e r eca .