LESSON FOUR
36. Thus the internal forces control not only the body, but all external conditions and experiences.
37. It then becomes evident that by control of the internal or mental, it becomes a simple matter to control the external or material.
38. We have previously neglected this finer internal nature. We have looked at things from the outside rather than from within. We have found it easier to accept conditions than to resist them.
39. In the development of the inner nature the perceptions get finer and finer until we begin to realize that we are in touch with a realm of consciousness which perhaps we may not have known was in existence.
40. A recognition of your inner or spiritual nature is essential before progress of any kind can be made, because such recognition is necessary for you to come into an understanding of the creative power of thought whereby you will be able to place the law into operation,
41. The affirmation at the end of this lesson has been prepared to assist you in bringing about any ideal in life which you may have.
42. In making use of the affirmation, sit erect, but comfortably, both feet on the floor, spine straight, and hold the thought in mind for at least ten minutes, to the
exclusion of every other thought, do this night and morning, twice a day. At first you will find it difficult but it will gradually become easier until the process becomes natural and finally almost automatic.
43. The continuous practice of this exercise will have a most wonderful influence upon your life, because every condition, physical, mental or environmental, must gradually change so as to be in harmony with the thought which you hold in mind.
44. But the affirmation will be of no value to you unless you use it and the value will depend entirely upon the time and effort which you give to the work. If you take time to make use of this affirmation, you will find that you have plenty of time for everything else. “I did not have time “, are the five most dangerous words in the English language, they mark the dividing line between success and failure for hundreds of millions of human beings. Successful people have plenty of time, they are never in a hurry, they know that there is no occasion for haste, therefore, they give their entire thought to the work which they have on hand.
45. If you concentrate upon the thoughts given, if you give them your entire attention, you will find a world of meaning in each sentence and will attract to yourself other thoughts in harmony with them, and you will soon grasp the full significance of the vital knowledge upon which you are concentrating.
46. Knowledge does not apply itself, you as an individual must make the application, and the application consists in fertilizing the thought with a living purpose.
47. The time and thought which most people waste in aimless effort would accomplish wonders if properly directed with some special object in view. In order to do this, il is necessary to center your mental force upon a specific thought and hold it there, to the exclusion of all other thoughts,
48. If you have ever looked through the focusing screen of a camera, you found that when the object was not in focus, the impression was indistinct and possibly blurred, but when the proper focus was obtained the picture was clear and distinct.
49. This illustrates the power of concentration. Unless you can concentrate upon the subject which you have in view, you will have but a hazy, indifferent, vague, indistinct and blurred outline of your ideal and the results will be in accordance with your mental picture.
AFFIRMATION
50. Spirit is one and indivisible; a part cannot be where the whole is not. “I” am therefore, the same in kind and quality as the whole, the only difference is one of degree. “I” am spirit, and am, therefore, whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious and happy.
51. Spirit is the real elixir of life, the philosopher’s stone, the fountain of eternal life, the transforming power which changes to golden truth all that seemed dark and mysterious in the past, and “I” am therefore enabled to express my highest desires in word and deed to and for humanity.
52. Spirit is the only creator there is, “I” am therefore constantly renewing, recreating and regenerating my body, from day to day, atom by atom, from food, water and air, and am, therefore, ever new, vigorous and youthful and can pursue my daily activities with ease and pleasure.
53. Spirit is omnipresent and is all life, strength and power, “I” am therefore constantly creating my own environment and this environment is wholesome, uplifting, agreeable, inspiring and has great opportunities for all human achievement.
54. Spirit possesses the power to think. “I” therefore create my body, my environment, my income, by what “I” think. I am therefore very careful to think Abundance, for myself and everyone else.
55. Spirit is omniscient. “I” can therefore readily determine what course to pursue in any emergency and am at all times, loyal, tactful, alert, contented and considerate.
56. Spirit is omnipotent. “I” therefore never let the sun go down without having made a special effort to help someone, somewhere, somehow.
57. I rest well, sleep well, and arise refreshed and invigorated and cheerfully assume the duties and responsibilities that await me.
58. The next lesson will tell you of the seven steps to Mastery. With the last step, you become peaceful and calm, never again to feel any pain, never again to be deluded, never again to feel miserable.
……………………………
LESSON FOUR
Review Questions
1. What is Yoga?
2. What is an Adept?
3. What is a Master?
4. What is the Astral Body?
5. How does it compare with the physical body in terms of electricity?
6. How does this explain changing conditions such as loss or gain, sorrow and happiness, disease and health?
7. What is Prana?
8. What are the manifestations of Prana?