The Mastery of Destiny.

By James Allen

CONTENTS 1. 2. !. $. '. (. *. ,. .. Deeds, Character, and Destiny The Science of Self Control Ca"se and Effect in #"man Cond"ct Trainin% of the & ill Thoro"%hness Mind B"ildin% and )ife B"ildin% C"lti+ation of Concentration -ractice of Meditation The -o/er of -"r0ose

11. The Joy of Accom0lishment

1. DEEDS, C#A2ACTE2, AND DEST3N4 T#E2E is, and al/ays has 5een, a /ides0read 5elief in 6ate, or Destiny, that is, in an eternal and inscr"ta5le -o/er /hich a00ortions definite ends to 5oth indi+id"als and nations. This 5elief has arisen from lon% o5ser+ation of the facts of life. Men are conscio"s that there are certain occ"rrences /hich they cannot control, and are 0o/erless to a+ert. Birth and death, for instance, are ine+ita5le, and many of the incidents of life a00ear e7"ally ine+ita5le. Men strain e+ery ner+e for the attainment of certain ends, and %rad"ally they 5ecome conscio"s of a -o/er /hich seems to 5e not of themsel+es, /hich fr"strates their 0"ny efforts, and la"%hs, as it /ere, at their fr"itless stri+in% and str"%%le. As men ad+ance in life, they learn to s"5mit, more or less, to this o+err"lin% -o/er /hich they do not "nderstand, 0ercei+in% only its effects in themsel+es and the /orld aro"nd them, and they call it 5y +ario"s names, s"ch as 8od, -ro+idence, 6ate, Destiny, etc. Men of contem0lation, s"ch as 0oets and 0hiloso0hers, ste0 aside, as it /ere, to /atch the mo+ements of this mysterio"s -o/er as it seems to ele+ate its fa+orites on the one hand, and stri9e do/n its +ictims on the other, /itho"t reference to merit or demerit. The %reatest 0oets, es0ecially the dramatic 0oets, re0resent this -o/er in their /or9s, as they ha+e o5ser+ed it in Nat"re. The 8ree9 and 2oman dramatists "s"ally de0ict their heroes as ha+in% fore9no/led%e of their fate, and ta9in% means to esca0e it: 5"t 5y so doin% they 5lindly in+ol+e themsel+es in a series of conse7"ences /hich 5rin% a5o"t the doom /hich they are tryin% to a+ert. Sha9es0eare;s characters, on the other hand, are re0resented, as in Nat"re, /ith no fore9no/led%e <e=ce0t in the form of 0resentiment> of their 0artic"lar destiny. Th"s, accordin% to the 0oets, /hether the man 9no/s his fate or not, he cannot a+ert it, and e+ery conscio"s or "nconscio"s act of his is a ste0 to/ards it. Omar ?hayyam;s Moving Finger is a +i+id e=0ression of this idea of 6ate@

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Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it "

Th"s, men in all nations and times ha+e e=0erienced in their li+es the action of this in+inci5le -o/er or )a/, and in o"r nation today this e=0erience has 5een crystalliAed in the terse 0ro+er5, BMan 0ro0oses, 8od dis0oses.B B"t, contradictory as it may a00ear, there is an e7"ally /ides0read 5elief in man;s res0onsi5ility as afree a%ent. All moral teachin% is an affirmation of man;s freedom to choose his co"rse and mold his destiny@ and man;s 0atient and "ntirin% efforts in achie+in% his ends are declarations of conscio"sness of freedom and 0o/er. This d"al e=0erience of fate on the one hand, and freedom on the other, has %i+en rise to the intermina5le contro+ersy 5et/een the 5elie+ers in 6atalism and the "0holders of free /ill Ca contro+ersy /hich /as recently re+i+ed "nder the term BDeterminism versus 6ree/ill.B Bet/een a00arently conflictin% e=tremes there is al/ays a Bmiddle /ayB of 5alance, D"stice, or com0ensation /hich, /hile it incl"des 5oth e=tremes, cannot 5e said to 5e either one or the other, and /hich 5rin%s 5oth into harmony: and this middle /ay is the 0oint of contact 5et/een t/o e=tremes. Tr"th cannot 5e a 0artisan, 5"t, 5y its nat"re, is the 2econciler of e=tremes: and so, in the matter /hich /e are considerin%, there is a B%olden meanB /hich 5rin%s 6ate and 6ree /ill into closerelationshi0 , /herein, indeed, it is seen that these t/o indis0"ta5le facts in h"man life, for s"ch they are, are 5"t t/o as0ects of one central la/, one "nifyin% and all em5racin% 0rinci0le, namely, the law of causation in its !oral as"ect . Moral ca"sation necessitates 5oth 6ate and 6ree /ill, 5oth indi+id"al res0onsi5ility and indi+id"al 0redestination, for the la/ of ca"ses m"st also 5e the la/ of effects, and ca"se and effect m"st al/ays 5e e7"al: the train of ca"sation, 5oth in matter and !ind , m"st 5e eternally 5alanced, therefore eternally D"st, eternally 0erfect. Th"s e+ery effect may 5e said to 5e a thin% "reordained , 5"t the 0redeterminin% 0o/er is a ca"se, and not the fiat of an ar5itrary /ill. Man finds himself in+ol+ed in the train of ca"sation. #is life is made "0 of ca"ses and effects. 3t is 5oth a so/in% and a rea0in%. Each act of his is a ca"se /hich m"st 5e 5alanced 5y its effects. #e chooses the ca"se <this is 6ree /ill>, he cannot choose, alter, or a+ert the effect <this is 6ate>: th"s 6ree /ill stands for the 0o/er to initiate ca"ses, and destiny is in+ol+ement in effects. 3t is therefore tr"e that man is 0redestined to certain ends, 5"t he himself has <tho"%h he 9no/s it not> iss"ed the mandate: that %ood or e+il thin% from /hich there is no esca0e, he has, 5y his o/n deeds, 5ro"%ht a5o"t. 3t may here 5e "r%ed that man is not res0onsi5le for his deeds, that these are the effects of his character, and that he is not res0onsi5le for the character, %ood or 5ad, /hich /as %i+en him at his 5irth. 3f character /as B%i+en himB at 5irth, this /o"ld 5e tr"e, and there /o"ld then 5e no moral la/, and no need for moral teachin%: 5"t characters are not %i+en ready made, they are e+ol+ed: they are, indeed, effects, the 0rod"cts of the moral la/ itself, that isC the 0rod"cts of deeds. Character res"lt of an acc"m"lation of deeds /hich ha+e 5een 0iled "0, so to s0ea9, 5y the indi+id"al d"rin% his life.

Man is the doer of his o/n deeds: as s"ch he is the ma9er of his o/n character: and as the doer of his deeds and the ma9er of his character, he is the molder and sha0er of his destiny. #e has the 0o/er to modify and alter his deeds, and e+ery time he acts he modifies his character, and /ith the modification of his character for %ood or e+il, he is 0redeterminin% for himself ne/ destiniesC destinies disastro"s or 5eneficent in accordance /ith the nat"re of his deeds. Character is destiny itself: as a fi=ed com5ination of deeds, it 5ears /ithin itself the res"lts of those deeds. These res"lts lie hidden as moral seeds in the dar9 recesses of the character, a/aitin% their season of %ermination, %ro/th, and fr"ita%e. Those thin%s /hich 5efall a man are the reflections of himself: that destiny /hich 0"rs"ed him, /hich he /as 0o/erless to esca0e 5y effort, or a+ert 5y 0rayer, /as the relentless %ho"l of his o/n /ron% deeds demandin% and enforcin% restit"tion: those 5lessin%s and c"rses /hich come to him "n5idden are the re+er5eratin% echoes of the so"nds /hich he himself sent forth. 3t is this 9no/led%e of the -erfect )a/ /or9in% thro"%h and a5o+e all thin%s: of the -erfect J"stice o0eratin% in and adD"stin% all h"man affairs, that ena5les the %ood man to lo+e his enemies, and to rise a5o+e all hatred, resentment, and com0lainin%: for he 9no/s that only his o/n can come to him, and that, tho"%h he 5e s"rro"nded 5y 0ersec"tors, his enemies are 5"t the 5lind instr"ments of a fa"ltless retri5"tion: and so he 5lames them not, 5"t calmly recei+es his acco"nts, and 0atiently 0ays his moral de5ts. B"t this is not all: he does not merely 0ay his de5ts: he ta9es care not to contract any f"rther de5ts. #e /atches himself and ma9es his deeds fa"ltless. &hile 0ayin% off e+il acco"nts, he is layin% "0 %ood acco"nts. By 0"ttin% an end to his o/n sin, he is 5rin%in% e+il and s"fferin% to an end. And no/ let "s consider ho/ the )a/ o0erates in 0artic"lar instances in the o"t/or9in% of destiny thro"%h deeds and character. 6irst, /e /ill loo9 at this 0resent life, for the 0resent is the synthesis of the entire 0ast: the net res"lt of all that a man has e+er tho"%ht and done is contained /ithin him. 3t is noticea5le that sometimes the %ood man fails and the "nscr"0"lo"s man 0ros0ersC a fact /hich seems to 0"t all moral ma=ims as to the %ood res"lts of ri%hteo"sness o"t of acco"ntC and 5eca"se of this, many 0eo0le deny the o0eration of any D"st la/ in h"man life, and e+en declare that it is chiefly the "nD"st that 0ros0er. Ne+ertheless, the moral la/ e=ists, and is not altered or s"5+erted 5y shallo/ concl"sions. 3t sho"ld 5e remem5ered that man is a changing, evolving being . The %ood man /as not al/ays %ood: the 5ad man /as not al/ays 5ad. E+en in this life, there /as a time, in a lar%e n"m5er of instances, /hen the man /ho is no/ D"st, /as "nD"st: /hen he /ho is no/ 9ind, /as cr"el: /hen he /ho is no/ 0"re, /as im0"re. Con+ersely, there /as a time in this life, in a n"m5er of instances, /hen he /ho is no/ "nD"st, /as D"st: /hen he /ho is no/ cr"el, /as 9ind: /hen he /ho is no/ im0"re, /as 0"re. Th"s, the %ood man /ho is o+erta9en /ith calamity today is rea0in% the res"lt of his former e+il so/in%: later he /ill rea0 the ha00y res"lt of his 0resent %ood so/in%: /hile the 5ad man is no/ rea0in% the res"lt of his former %ood so/in%: later he /ill rea0 the res"lt of his 0resent so/in% of 5ad. Characteristics are fi=ed ha5its of mind, the res"lts of deeds. An act re0eated a lar%e n"m5er of times 5ecomes "nconscio"s, or a"tomaticC that is, it then seems to re0eat itself /itho"t any effort on the 0art of the doer, so that it seems to him almost im0ossi5le not to do it, and then it has 5ecome a mental characteristic.

#ere is a 0oor man o"t of /or9. #e is honest, and is not a shir9er. #e /ants /or9, and cannot %et it. #e tries hard, and contin"es to fail. & here is the D"stice in his lotE There /as a time in this man;s condition /hen he had 0lenty of /or9. #e felt 5"rdened /ith it: he shir9ed it, and lon%ed for ease. #e tho"%ht ho/ deli%htf"l it /o"ld 5e to ha+e nothin% to do. #e did not a00reciate the 5lessedness of his lot. #is desire for ease is no/ %ratified, 5"t the fr"it for /hich he lon%ed, and /hich he tho"%ht /o"ld taste so s/eet, has t"rned to ashes in his mo"th. The condition /hich he aimed for, namely, to ha+e nothin% to do, he has reached, and there he is com0elled to remain till his lesson is thoro"%hly learned. And he is s"rely learnin% that ha5it"al ease is de%radin%, that to ha+e nothin% to do is a condition of /retchedness, and that /or9 is a no5le and 5lessed thin%. #is former desires and deeds ha+e 5ro"%ht him /here he is: and no/ his 0resent desire for /or9, his ceaseless searchin% and as9in% for it, /ill D"st as s"rely 5rin% a5o"t its o/n 5eneficent res"lt. No lon%er desirin% idleness, his 0resent condition /ill, as an effect, the ca"se of /hich is no lon%er 0ro0a%ated, soon 0ass a/ay, and he /ill o5tain em0loyment: and if his /hole mind is no/ set on /or9, and he desires it a5o+e all else, then /hen it comes he /ill 5e o+er/helmed /ith it: it /ill flo/ in to him from all sides, and he /ill 0ros0er in his ind"stry. Then, if he does not "nderstand the la/ of ca"se and effect in h"man life, he /ill /onder /hy /or9 comes to him a00arently "nso"%ht, /hile others /ho see9 it stren"o"sly fail to o5tain it. Nothin% comes "n5idden: /here the shado/ is, there also is the s"5stance. That /hich comes to the indi+id"al is the 0rod"ct of his o/n deeds. As cheerf"l ind"stry leads to %reater ind"stry and increasin% 0ros0erity, and la5or shir9ed or "nderta9en discontentedly leads to a lesser de%ree of la5or and decreasin% 0ros0erity, so /ith all the +aried conditions of life as /e see themC they are the destinies /ro"%ht 5y the tho"%hts and deeds of each 0artic"lar indi+id"al. So also /ith the +ast +ariety of charactersC they are the ri0enin% and ri0ened %ro/th of the so/in% of deeds. As the indi+id"al rea0s /hat he so/s, so the nation, 5ein% a comm"nity of indi+id"als, rea0s also /hat it so/s. Nations 5ecome %reat /hen their leaders are D"st men: they fall and fade /hen their D"st men 0ass a/ay. Those /ho are in 0o/er set an e=am0le, %ood or 5ad, for the entire nation. 8reat /ill 5e the 0eace and 0ros0erity of a nation /hen there shall arise /ithin it a line of statesmen /ho, ha+in% first esta5lished themsel+es in a lofty inte%rity of character, shall direct the ener%ies of the nation to/ard the c"lt"re of +irt"e and de+elo0ment of character, 9no/in% that only thro"%h 0ersonal ind"stry, inte%rity, and no5ility can national 0ros0erity 0roceed. Still, a5o+e all, is the 8reat )a/, calmly and /ith infalli5le D"stice metin% o"t to mortals their fleetin% destinies, tear stained or smilin%, the fa5ric of their hands. )ife is a %reat school for the de+elo0ment of character, and all, thro"%h strife and str"%%le, +ice and +irt"e, s"ccess and fail"re, are slo/ly 5"t s"rely learnin% the lessons of /isdom.

2. T#E SC3ENCE O6 SE)6 CONT2O) & E li+e in a scientific a%e. Men of science are n"m5ered 5y tho"sands, and they are ceaselessly searchin%, analyAin%, and e=0erimentin% /ith a +ie/ to disco+ery and the increase of 9no/led%e.

The shel+es of o"r li5raries, 5oth 0"5lic and 0ri+ate, are hea+y /ith their load of im0osin% +ol"mes on scientific s"5Dects, and the /onderf"l achie+ements of modern science are al/ays 5efore "sC /hether in o"r homes or in o"r streets, in co"ntry or to/n, on land or seaC there shall /e ha+e 5efore "s some mar+elo"s de+ice, some recent accom0lishment of science, for addin% to o"r comfort, increasin% o"r s0eed, or sa+in% the la5or of o"r hands. 4et, /ith all o"r +ast store of scientific 9no/led%e, and its startlin% and ra0idly increasin% res"lts in the /orld of disco+ery and in+ention, there is, in this a%e, one 5ranch of science /hich has so far fallen into decay as to ha+e 5ecome almost for%otten: a science, ne+ertheless, /hich is of %reater im0ortance than all the other sciences com5ined, and /itho"t /hich all science /o"ld 5"t s"5ser+e the ends of selfishness, and aid in man;s destr"ctionC3 refer to the Science of Self#control . O"r modern scientists st"dy the elements and forces /hich are o"tside themsel+es, /ith the o5Dect of controllin% and "tiliAin% them. The ancients st"died the elements and forces /hich /ere /ithin themsel+es, /ith a +ie/ to controllin% and "tiliAin% them, and the ancients 0rod"ced s"ch mi%hty Masters of 9no/led%e in this direction, that to this day they are held in re+erence as %ods, and the +ast reli%io"s or%aniAations of the /orld are 5ased "0on their achie+ements. & onderf"l as are the forces in nat"re, they are +astly inferior to that com5ination of intelli%ent forces /hich com0rise the mind of man, and /hich dominate and direct the 5lind mechanical forces of nat"re. Therefore, it follo/s that, to "nderstand, control, and direct the inner forces of 0assion, desire, /ill, and intellect, is to 5e in 0ossession of the destinies of men and nations. As in ordinary science, there are, in this di+ine science, de%rees of attainment: and a man is %reat in 9no/led%e, %reat in himself, and %reat in his infl"ence on the /orld, in the meas"re that he is %reat in self control. #e /ho "nderstands and dominates the forces of e=ternal nat"re is the nat"ral scientist: 5"t he /ho "nderstands and dominates the internal forces of the mind is the di+ine scientist: and the la/s /hich o0erate in %ainin% a 9no/led%e of e=ternal a00earances, o0erate also in %ainin% a 9no/led%e of internal +arieties. A man cannot 5ecome an accom0lished scientist in a fe/ /ee9s or months, nay, not e+en in a fe/ years. B"t only after many years of 0ainsta9in% in+esti%ation can he s0ea9 /ith a"thority, and 5e ran9ed amon% the masters of science. )i9e/ise, a man cannot ac7"ire self control, and 5ecome 0ossessed of the /isdom and 0eace %i+in% 9no/led%e /hich that self control confers, 5"t 5y many years of 0atient la5or: a la5or /hich is all the more ard"o"s 5eca"se it is silent, and 5oth "nreco%niAed and "na00reciated 5y others: and he /ho /o"ld 0"rs"e this science s"ccessf"lly m"st learn to stand alone, and to toil "nre/arded, as far as any o"t/ard emol"ment is concerned. The nat"ral scientist 0"rs"es, in ac7"irin% his 0artic"lar 9ind of 9no/led%e, the follo/in% fi+e orderly and se7"ential ste0s@ 1. $bservation @ that is, he closely and 0ersistently o5ser+es the facts of nat"re. 2. %&"eri!ent @ #a+in% 5ecome ac7"ainted, 5y re0eated o5ser+ations, /ith certain facts, he e=0eriments /ith those facts, /ith a +ie/ to the disco+ery of nat"ral la/s. #e 0"ts his facts thro"%h ri%id 0rocesses of analysis, and so finds o"t /hat is "seless and /hat of +al"e: and he reDects the former and retains the latter.

!. 'lassification @ #a+in% acc"m"lated and +erified a mass of facts 5y n"m5erless o5ser+ations and e=0eriments, he commences to classify those facts, to arran%e them in orderly %ro"0s /ith the o5Dect of disco+erin% some "nderlyin% la/, some hidden and "nifyin% 0rinci0le, /hich %o+erns, re%"lates, and 5inds to%ether these facts. $. (eduction @ Th"s he 0asses on to the fo"rth ste0 of ded"ction. 6rom the facts and res"lts /hich are 5efore him, he disco+ers certain in+aria5le modes of action, and th"s re+eals the hidden la/s of thin%s. '. )nowledge @ #a+in% 0ro+en and esta5lished certain la/s, it may 5e said of s"ch a man that he knows . #e is a scientist, a man of 9no/led%e. B"t the attainment of scientific 9no/led%e is not the end, %reat as it is. Men do not attain 9no/led%e for themsel+es alone, nor to 9ee0 it loc9ed secretly in their hearts, li9e a 5ea"tif"l De/el in a dar9 chest. The end of s"ch 9no/led%e is "se, ser+ice, the increase of the comfort and ha00iness of the /orld. Th"s, /hen a man has 5ecome a scientist, he %i+es the /orld the 5enefit of his 9no/led%e, and "nselfishly 5esto/s "0on man9ind the res"lts of all his la5ors. Th"s, 5eyond 9no/led%e, there is a f"rther ste0 of *se @ that is, the ri%ht and "nselfish "se of the 9no/led%e ac7"ired: the a00lication of 9no/led%e to in+ention for the common /eal. 3t /ill 5e noted that the fi+e ste0s or 0rocesses en"merated follo/ in orderly s"ccession, and that no man can 5ecome a scientist /ho omits any one of them. & itho"t the first ste0 of systematic o5ser+ation, for instance, he co"ld not e+en enter the realm of 9no/led%e of nat"re;s secrets. At first, the searcher for s"ch 9no/led%e has 5efore him a "ni+erse of things @ these thin%s he does not "nderstand: many of them, indeed, seem to 5e irreconcila5ly o00osed one to the other, and there is a00arent conf"sion: 5"t 5y 0atiently and la5orio"sly 0"rs"in% these fi+e 0rocesses, he disco+ers the order, nat"re, and essences of thin%s: 0ercei+es the central la/ or la/s /hich 5ind them to%ether in harmonio"s relationshi0, and so 0"ts an end to conf"sion and i%norance. As /ith the nat"ral scientist, so /ith the di+ine scientist: he m"st 0"rs"e, /ith the same self sacrificin% dili%ence, fi+e 0ro%ressi+e ste0s in the attainment of self 9no/led%e, self control. These fi+e ste0s are the same as /ith the nat"ral scientist, 5"t the "rocess is reversed , the mind, instead of 5ein% centered "0on e=ternal thin%s, is t"rned 5ac9 "0on itself, and the in+esti%ations are 0"rs"ed in the realm of mind <of one;s o/n mind> instead of in that of matter. At first, the searcher for di+ine 9no/led%e is confronted /ith that mass of desires, 0assions, emotions, ideas, and intellections /hich he calls himself, /hich is the 5asis of all his actions, and from /hich his life 0roceeds. This com5ination of in+isi5le, yet 0o/erf"l, forces a00ears conf"sedly: some of them stand, a00arently, in direct conflict /ith each other, /itho"t any a00earance or ho0e of reconciliation: his mind in its entirety, too, /ith his life /hich 0roceeds from that mind, does not seem to ha+e any e7"ita5le relation to many other minds and li+es a5o"t him, and alto%ether there is a condition of 0ain and conf"sion from /hich he /o"ld fain esca0e. Th"s, he 5e%ins 5y 9eenly realiAin% his state of i%norance, for no one co"ld ac7"ire either nat"ral or di+ine 9no/led%e, if he /ere con+inced that /itho"t st"dy or la5or he already 0ossessed it.

& ith s"ch 0erce0tion of one;s i%norance, there comes the desire for 9no/led%e, and the no+ice in self control enters "0on the ascendin% 0ath/ay, in /hich are the follo/in% fi+e ste0s@ 1. +ntros"ection . This coincides /ith the observation of the nat"ral scientist. The mental eye is t"rned li9e a searchli%ht "0on the inner thin%s of the mind, and its s"5tle and e+er +aryin% 0rocesses are o5ser+ed and caref"lly noted. This ste00in% aside from selfish %ratifications, from the e=citements of /orldly 0leas"res and am5itions, in order to o5ser+e, /ith the o5Dect of "nderstandin%, one;s nat"re, is the 5e%innin% of self control. #itherto, the man has 5een 5lindly and im0otently 5orne alon% 5y the im0"lses of his nat"re, the mere creat"re of thin%s and circ"mstances, 5"t no/ he 0"ts a chec9 "0on his im0"lses and, instead of 5ein% controlled, 5e%ins to control. 2. Self#analysis . #a+in% o5ser+ed the tendencies of the mind, they are then closely e=amined, and are 0"t thro"%h a ri%id 0rocess of analysis. The e+il tendencies <those that 0rod"ce 0ainf"l effects> are se0arated from the %ood tendencies <those that 0rod"ce 0eacef"l effects>: and the +ario"s tendencies, /ith the 0artic"lar actions they 0rod"ce, and the definite res"lts /hich in+aria5ly s0rin% from these actions, are %rad"ally %ras0ed 5y the "nderstandin%, /hich is at last ena5led to follo/ them in their s/ift and s"5tle inter0lay and 0rofo"nd ramifications. 3t is a 0rocess of testing and "roving , and, for the searcher, a 0eriod of 5ein% tested and 0ro+ed. !. ,d-ust!ent . By this time, the 0ractical st"dent of thin%s di+ine has clearly 5efore him e+ery tendency and as0ect of his nat"re, do/n to the 0rofo"ndest 0rom0tin%s of his mind, and the most s"5tle moti+es of his heart. There is not a s0ot or corner left, /hich he has not e=0lored and ill"minated /ith the li%ht of self e=amination. #e is familiar /ith e+ery /ea9 and selfish 0oint, e+ery stron% and +irt"o"s 7"ality. 3t is considered the hei%ht of /isdom to 5e a5le to see o"rsel+es as others see "s, 5"t the 0ractitioner of self control %oes far 5eyond this@ he not only sees himself as others see him, he sees hi!self as he is . Th"s, standin% face to face /ith himself, not stri+in% to hide a/ay from any secret fa"lt: no lon%er defendin% himself /ith 0leasant flatteries: neither "nderratin% nor o+erratin% himself or his 0o/ers, and no more c"rsed /ith self 0raise or self 0ity, he sees the f"ll ma%nit"de of the tas9 /hich lies 5efore him: sees dearly ahead the hei%hts of self control, and 9no/s /hat /or9 he has to do to reach them. #e is no lon%er in a state of conf"sion, 5"t has %ained a %lim0se of the la/s /hich o0erate in the /orld of tho"%ht, and he no/ 5e%ins to ad-ust his mind in accordance /ith those la/s. This is a 0rocess of weeding, sifting, cleansing . As the farmer /eeds, cleans, and 0re0ares the %ro"nd for his cro0s, so the st"dent remo+es the /eeds of e+il from his mind, cleanses and 0"rifies it 0re0aratory to so/in% the seeds of ri%hteo"s actions /hich shall 0rod"ce the har+est of a /ell ordered life. $. .ighteousness . #a+in% adD"sted his tho"%hts and deeds to those minor la/s /hich o0erate in mental acti+ities in the 0rod"ction of 0ain and 0leas"re, "nrest and 0eace, sorro/ and 5liss, he no/ 0ercei+es that there is in+ol+ed in those la/s one 8reat Central )a/ /hich, li9e the la/ of %ra+itation in the nat"ral /orld, is s"0reme in the /orld of mind: a la/ to /hich all tho"%hts and deeds are s"5ser+ient, and 5y /hich they are re%"lated and 9e0t in their 0ro0er s0here. This is the la/ of J"stice or 2i%hteo"sness, /hich is "ni+ersal and s"0reme. To this la/ he no/ conforms. 3nstead of thin9in% and actin% 5lindly, as the nat"re is stim"lated and a00ealed to 5y o"t/ard thin%s, he s"5ordinates his tho"%hts and deeds to this central 0rinci0le. #e no lon%er acts from self, but does what is right C /hat is "ni+ersally and eternally ri%ht. #e is no lon%er the a5Dect sla+e of his nat"re and circ"mstances, he is the master of his nat"re and circ"mstances.

#e is no lon%er carried hither and thither on the forces of his mind: he controls and %"ides those forces to the accom0lishment of his 0"r0oses. Th"s, ha+in% his nat"re in control and s"5Dection, not thin9in% tho"%hts nor doin% deeds /hich o00ose the ri%hteo"s la/, and /hich, therefore, that la/ ann"ls /ith s"fferin% and defeat, he rises a5o+e the dominion of sin and sorro/, i%norance and do"5t, and is stron%, calm, and 0eacef"l. '. Pure )nowledge . By thin9in% ri%ht and actin% ri%ht, he 0ro+es, 5y e=0erience, the e=istence of the di+ine la/ on /hich the mind is framed, and /hich is the %"idin% and "nifyin% 0rinci0le in all h"man affairs and e+ents, /hether indi+id"al or national. Th"s, 5y 0erfectin% himself in self control, he ac7"ires di+ine 9no/led%e: he reaches the 0oint /here it may 5e said of him, as of the nat"ral scientist, that he knows . #e has mastered the science of self control, and has 5ro"%ht 9no/led%e o"t of i%norance, order o"t of conf"sion. #e has ac7"ired that 9no/led%e of self /hich incl"des 9no/led%e of all men: that 9no/led%e of one;s o/n life /hich em5races 9no/led%e of all li+e C as for all minds are the same in essence <differin% only in de%ree>, are framed "0on the same la/: and the same tho"%hts and acts, 5y /hatsoe+er indi+id"al they are /ro"%ht, /ill al/ays 0rod"ce the same res"lts. B"t this di+ine and 0eace 5esto/in% 9no/led%e, as in the case of the nat"ral scientist, is not %ained for one;s self alone: for if this /ere so, the aim of e+ol"tion /o"ld 5e fr"strated, and it is not in the nat"re of thin%s to fall short of ri0enin% and accom0lishment: and, indeed, he /ho tho"%ht to %ain this 9no/led%e solely for his o/n ha00iness /o"ld most s"rely fail. So, 5eyond the fifth ste0 of -"re ?no/led%e, there is a still f"rther one of Wisdo m, /hich is the ri%ht a00lication of the 9no/led%e ac7"ired: the 0o"rin% o"t "0on the /orld, "nselfishly and /itho"t stint, the res"lt of one;s la5ors, th"s acceleratin% 0ro%ress and "0liftin% h"manity. 3t may 5e said of men /ho ha+e not %one 5ac9 into their o/n nat"re to control and 0"rify it, that they cannot clearly distin%"ish 5et/een %ood and e+il, ri%ht and /ron%. They reach after those thin%s /hich they thin9 /ill %i+e them 0leas"re, and try to a+oid those thin%s /hich they 5elie+e /ill ca"se them 0ain. The so"rce of their actions is self, and they only disco+er ri%ht 0ainf"lly and in a fra%mentary /ay, 5y 0eriodically 0assin% thro"%h se+ere s"fferin%s, and lashin%s of conscience. B"t he /ho 0ractices self control, 0assin% thro"%h the fi+e 0rocesses, /hich are fi+e sta%es of %ro/th, %ains that 9no/led%e /hich ena5les him to act from the moral la/ /hich s"stains the "ni+erse. #e 9no/s %ood and e+il, ri%ht and /ron%, and, th"s 9no/in% them, li+es in accordance /ith %ood and ri%ht. #e no lon%er needs to consider /hat is 0leasant or /hat is "n0leasant, 5"t does /hat is ri%ht: his nat"re is in harmony /ith his conscience, and there is no remorse: his mind is in "nison /ith the 8reat )a/, and there is no more s"fferin% and sin: for him e+il is ended, and %ood is all in all.

!. CAFSE AND E66ECT 3N #FMAN CONDFCT 3T is an a=iom /ith the scientists that e+ery effect is related to a ca"se. A00ly this to the realm of h"man cond"ct, and there is re+ealed the 0rinci0le of /ustice . E+ery scientist 9no/s <and no/ all men 5elie+e> that 0erfect harmony 0re+ails thro"%ho"t e+ery 0ortion of the 0hysical "ni+erse, from the s0ec9 of d"st to the %reatest s"n. E+ery/here there is e=7"isite adD"stment. 3n the sidereal "ni+erse, /ith its millions of s"ns rollin% maDestically thro"%h s0ace and carryin% /ith them their res0ecti+e systems of re+ol+in% 0lanets, its +ast ne5"la, its seas

of meteors, and its +ast army of comets tra+elin% thro"%h illimita5le s0ace /ith inconcei+a5le +elocity, 0erfect order 0re+ails: and a%ain, in the nat"ral /orld, /ith its m"ltit"dino"s as0ects of life, and its infinite +ariety of forms, there are the clearly defined limits of s0ecific la/s, thro"%h the o0eration of /hich all conf"sion is a+oided, and "nity and harmony eternally o5tain. 3f this "ni+ersal harmony co"ld 5e ar5itrarily 5ro9en, e+en in one small 0artic"lar, the "ni+erse /o"ld cease to 5e: there co"ld 5e no cosmos, 5"t only "ni+ersal chaos. Nor can it 5e 0ossi5le in s"ch a "ni+erse of la/ that there sho"ld e=ist any 0ersonal 0o/er /hich is a5o+e, o"tside, and s"0erior to, s"ch la/ in the sense that it can defy it, or set it aside: for /hatsoe+er 5ein%s e=ist, /hether they 5e men or %ods, they e=ist 5y +irt"e of s"ch la/: and the hi%hest, 5est, and /isest amon% all 5ein%s /o"ld manifest his %reater /isdom 5y his more com0lete o5edience to that la/ /hich is /iser than /isdom, and than /hich nothin% more 0erfect co"ld 5e de+ised. All thin%s, /hether +isi5le or in+isi5le, are s"5ser+ient to, and fall /ithin the sco0e of, this infinite and eternal la/ of causation . As all thin%s seen o5ey it, so all thin%s "nseen C the tho"%hts and deeds of men, /hether secret or o0enC cannot esca0e it. BDo ri%ht, it recom0enseth: do one /ron%, The e7"al retri5"tion m"st 5e made.B -erfect D"stice "0holds the "ni+erse: 0erfect D"stice re%"lates h"man life and cond"ct. All the +aryin% conditions of life, as they o5tain in the /orld today, are the res"lt of this la/ reactin% on h"man cond"ct. Man can <and does> choose /hat ca"ses he shall set in o0eration, 5"t he cannot chan%e the nat"re of effects: he can decide /hat tho"%hts he shall thin9, and /hat deeds he shall do, 5"t he has no 0o/er o+er the results of those tho"%hts and deeds: these are re%"lated 5y the o+err"lin% la/. Man has all 0o/er to act, 5"t his 0o/er ends /ith the act committed. The res"lt of the act cannot 5e altered, ann"lled, or esca0ed: it is irre+oca5le. E+il tho"%hts and deeds 0rod"ce conditions of s"fferin%: %ood tho"%hts and deeds determine conditions of 5lessedness. Th"s man;s 0o/er is limited to, and his 5lessedness or misery is determined 5y his own conduct . To 9no/ this tr"th, renders life sim0le, "lain , and "nmista9a5le: all the croo9ed 0aths are strai%htened o"t, the hei%hts of /isdom are re+ealed, and the o0en door to sal+ation from e+il and s"fferin% is 0ercei+ed and entered. )ife may 5e li9ened to a s"m in arithmetic. 3t is 5e/ilderin%ly diffic"lt and com0le= to the 0"0il /ho has not yet %ras0ed the 9ey to its correct sol"tion, 5"t once this is 0ercei+ed and laid hold of, it 5ecomes as astonishin%ly sim0le as it /as formerly 0rofo"ndly 0er0le=in%. Some idea of this relati+e sim0licity and com0le=ity of life may 5e %ras0ed 5y f"lly reco%niAin% and realiAin% the fact that, /hile there are scores, and 0erha0s h"ndreds, of /ays in /hich a s"m may 5e done /ron%, there is only one way by which it can be done right , and that /hen that ri%ht /ay is fo"nd the 0"0il knows it to be the right : his 0er0le=ity +anishes, and he 9no/s that he has mastered the 0ro5lem. 3t is tr"e that the 0"0il, /hile doin% his s"m incorrectly, may <and fre7"ently does> think he has done it correctly, 5"t he is not s"re: his 0er0le=ity is still there, and if he is an earnest and a0t 0"0il, he /ill reco%niAe his o/n error /hen it is 0ointed o"t 5y the teacher. So in life, men may thin9 they are li+in% ri%htly /hile they are contin"in%, thro"%h i%norance, to li+e /ron%ly: 5"t the 0resence of do"5t, 0er0le=ity, and "nha00iness are s"re indications that the ri%ht /ay has not yet 5een fo"nd. There are foolish and careless 0"0ils /ho /o"ld li9e to 0ass a s"m as correct 5efore they ha+e ac7"ired a tr"e 9no/led%e of fi%"res, 5"t the eye and s9ill of the teacher 7"ic9ly detect and e=0ose the fallacy. So in life there can 5e no falsifyin% of res"lts: the eye of the 8reat )a/ re+eals and e=0oses. T/ice fi+e /ill ma9e ten to all eternity, and no amo"nt of i%norance, st"0idity, or del"sion can 5rin% the res"lt "0 to ele+en.

3f one loo9s s"0erficially at a 0iece of cloth, he sees it as a 0iece of cloth, 5"t if he %oes f"rther and in7"ires into its man"fact"re, and e=amines it closely and attenti+ely, he sees that it is com0osed of a com5ination of indi+id"al threads, and that, /hile all the threads are interde0endent, each thread 0"rs"es its o/n /ay thro"%ho"t, ne+er 5ecomin% conf"sed /ith its sister thread. 3t is this entire a5sence of conf"sion 5et/een the 0artic"lar threads /hich constit"tes the finished /or9 a "iece of cloth : any inharmonio"s commin%lin% of the thread /o"ld res"lt in a 5"ndle of waste or a "seless rag . )ife is li9e a 0iece of cloth, and the threads of /hich it is com0osed are indi+id"al li+es. The threads, /hile 5ein% interde0endent, are not confo"nded one /ith the other. Each follo/s its o/n co"rse. Each indi+id"al s"ffers and enDoys the conse7"ences of his o/n deeds, and not of the deeds of another. The co"rse of each is sim0le and definite: the /hole formin% a com0licated, yet harmonio"s, com5ination of se7"ences. There are action and reaction, deed and conse7"ence, ca"se and effect, and the co"nter5alancin% reaction, conse7"ence, and effect is al/ays in e=act ratio /ith the initiatory im0"lse. A d"ra5le and satisfactory 0iece of cloth cannot 5e made from shoddy material, and the threads of selfish tho"%hts and 5ad deeds /ill not 0rod"ce a "sef"l and 5ea"tif"l life C a life that /ill /ear /ell, and 5ear close ins0ection. Each man ma9es or mars his o/n life: it is not made or marred 5y his nei%h5or, or 5y anythin% e=ternal to himself. Each tho"%ht he thin9s, each deed he does, is another threadC shoddy or %en"ineC /o+en into the %arment of his life: and as he ma9es the %arment so m"st he /ear it. #e is not res0onsi5le for his nei%h5or;s deeds: he is not the c"stodian of his nei%h5or;s actions: he is res0onsi5le only for his o/n deeds: he is the c"stodian of his o/n actions. The B0ro5lem of e+ilB s"5sists in a man;s o/n e+il deeds, and it is sol+ed /hen those deeds are 0"rified. Says 2o"ssea"@

"Man, seek no longer the origin of evil0 thou thyself art its origin "

Effect can ne+er 5e di+orced from ca"se: it can ne+er 5e of a different nat"re from ca"se. Emerson says@

"/ustice is not "ost"oned0 a "erfect e1uity ad-usts the balance in all "arts of life "

And there is a 0rofo"nd sense in /hich ca"se and effect are sim"ltaneo"s, and form one 0erfect /hole. Th"s, "0on the instant that a man thin9s, say, a cr"el tho"%ht, or does a cr"el deed, that same instant he has in-ured his own !ind : he is not the same !an he /as the 0re+io"s instant: he is a little +iler and a little more "nha00y: and a n"m5er of s"ch s"ccessi+e tho"%hts and deeds /o"ld 0rod"ce a cr"el and /retched man. The same thin% a00lies to the contraryC the thin9in% of a 9ind tho"%ht, or doin% a 9ind deedC an immediate no5ility and ha00iness attend it: the man is 5etter than he /as 5efore, and a n"m5er of s"ch deeds /o"ld 0rod"ce a %reat and 5lissf"l so"l. Th"s indi+id"al h"man cond"ct determines, 5y the fa"ltless la/ of ca"se and effect, indi+id"al merit or demerit, indi+id"al %reatness or meanness, indi+id"al ha00iness or /retchedness. &hat a man thin9s, that he does: /hat he does, that he is. 3f he is 0er0le=ed, "nha00y, restless, or /retched, let him loo9 to himself, for there and no/here else is the so"rce of all his tro"5le.

$. T2A3N3N8 O6 T#E &3)) & 3T#OFT stren%th of mind, nothin% /orthy of accom0lishment can 5e done, and the c"lti+ation of that steadfastness and sta5ility of character /hich is commonly called B/ill0o/erB is one of the

foremost d"ties of man, for its 0ossession is essentially necessary 5oth to his tem0oral and eternal /ell 5ein%. 6i=edness of 0"r0ose is at the root of all s"ccessf"l efforts, /hether in thin%s /orldly or s0irit"al, and /itho"t it man cannot 5e other/ise than /retched, and de0endent "0on others for that s"00ort /hich sho"ld 5e fo"nd /ithin himself. The mystery /hich has 5een thro/n aro"nd the s"5Dect of c"lti+ation of the /ill 5y those /ho ad+ertise to sell Bocc"lt ad+iceB on the matter for so many dollars, sho"ld 5e a+oided and dis0elled, for nothin% co"ld 5e f"rther remo+ed from secrecy and mystery than the 0ractical methods 5y /hich alone stren%th of /ill can 5e de+elo0ed. The tr"e 0ath of /ill c"lti+ation is only to 5e fo"nd in the common e+eryday life of the indi+id"al, and so o5+io"s and sim0le is it that the maDority, loo9in% for somethin% com0licated and mysterio"s, 0ass it 5y "nnoticed. A little lo%ical tho"%ht /ill soon con+ince a man that he cannot 5e 5oth /ea9 and stron% at the same time, that he cannot de+elo0 a stron%er /ill /hile remainin% a sla+e to /ea9 ind"l%ences, and that, therefore, the direct and only /ay to that %reater stren%th is to assail and con7"er his /ea9nesses. All the means for the c"lti+ation of the /ill are already at hand in the mind and life of the indi+id"al: they reside in the /ea9 side of his character, 5y attac9in% and +an7"ishin% /hich the necessary stren%th of /ill 5e de+elo0ed. #e /ho has s"cceeded in %ras0in% this sim0le, 0reliminary tr"th, /ill 0ercei+e that the /hole science of /ill c"lti+ation is em5odied in the follo/in% se+en r"les@ 1. Brea9 off 5ad ha5its. 2. 6orm %ood ha5its. !. 8i+e scr"0"lo"s attention to the d"ty of the 0resent moment. $. Do +i%oro"sly, and at once, /hate+er has to 5e done. '. )i+e 5y r"le. (. Control the ton%"e. *. Control the mind. Anyone /ho earnestly meditates "0on, and dili%ently 0ractices, the a5o+e r"les, /ill not fail to de+elo0 that 0"rity of 0"r0ose and 0o/er of /ill /hich /ill ena5le him to s"ccessf"lly co0e /ith e+ery diffic"lty, and 0ass tri"m0hantly thro"%h e+ery emer%ency. 3t /ill 5e seen that the first ste0 is the 5rea9in% a/ay from 5ad ha5its. This is no easy tas9. 3t demands the 0"ttin% forth of %reat efforts, or a s"ccession of efforts, and it is 5y s"ch efforts that the /ill can alone 5e in+i%orated and fortified. 3f one ref"ses to ta9e the first ste0, he cannot increase in /ill0o/er, for 5y s"5mittin% to a 5ad ha5it, 5eca"se of the immediate 0leas"re /hich it affords, one forfeits the ri%ht to r"le o+er himself, and is so far a /ea9 sla+e. #e /ho th"s a+oids self disci0line, and loo9s a5o"t for some Bocc"lt secretsB for %ainin% /ill0o/er at the e=0endit"re of little or no effort on his 0art, is del"din% himself, and is /ea9enin% the /ill0o/er /hich he already 0ossesses. The increased stren%th of /ill /hich is %ained 5y s"ccess in o+ercomin% 5ad ha5its ena5les one to initiate %ood ha5its: for, /hile the con7"erin% of a 5ad ha5it re7"ires merely stren%th of 0"r0ose, the formin% of a ne/ one necessitates the intelligent direction of "ur"ose . To do this, a man m"st 5e

mentally acti+e and ener%etic, and m"st 9ee0 a constant /atch "0on himself. As a man s"cceeds in 0erfectin% himself in the second r"le, it /ill not 5e +ery diffic"lt for him to o5ser+e the third, that of %i+in% scr"0"lo"s attention to the d"ty of the 0resent moment. Thoro"%hness is a ste0 in the de+elo0ment of the /ill /hich cannot 5e 0assed o+er. Sli0shod /or9 is an indication of /ea9ness. -erfection sho"ld 5e aimed at, e+en in the smallest tas9. By not di+idin% the mind, 5"t %i+in% the /hole attention to each se0arate tas9 as it 0resents itself, sin%leness of 0"r0ose and intense concentration of mind are %rad"ally %ained C t/o mental 0o/ers /hich %i+e /ei%ht and /orth of character, and 5rin% re0ose and Doy to their 0ossessor. The fo"rth r"le C that of doin% +i%oro"sly, and at once, /hate+er has to 5e done C is e7"ally im0ortant. 3dleness and a stron% /ill cannot %o to%ether, and 0rocrastination is a total 5arrier to the ac7"isition of 0"r0osef"l action. Nothing sho"ld 5e B0"t offB "ntil another time, not e+en for a fe/ min"tes. That /hich o"%ht to 5e done no/ sho"ld 5e done no/. This seems a little thin%, 5"t it is of far reachin% im0ortance. 3t leads to stren%th, s"ccess, and 0eace. The man /ho is to manifest a c"lti+ated /ill m"st also li+e 5y certain fi=ed r"les. #e m"st not 5lindly %ratify his 0assions and im0"lses, 5"t m"st school them to o5edience. #e sho"ld li+e accordin% to 0rinci0le, and not accordin% to 0assion. #e sho"ld decide /hat he /ill eat and drin9 and /ear, and /hat he /ill not eat and drin9 and /ear: ho/ many meals 0er day he /ill ha+e, and at /hat times he /ill ha+e them: at /hat time he /ill %o to 5ed, and at /hat time %et "0. #e sho"ld ma9e r"les for the ri%ht %o+ernment of his cond"ct in e+ery de0artment of his life, and sho"ld reli%io"sly adhere to them. To li+e loosely and indiscriminately, eatin% and drin9in% and sens"ally ind"l%in% at the 5ec9 and call of a00etite and inclination, is to 5e a mere animal, and not a man /ith /ill and reason. The 5east in man m"st 5e sco"r%ed and disci0lined and 5ro"%ht into s"5Dection, and this can only 5e done 5y trainin% the mind and life on certain fi=ed r"les of ri%ht cond"ct. The saint attains to holiness 5y not +iolatin% his +o/s, and the man /ho li+es accordin% to %ood and fi=ed r"les, is stron% to accom0lish his 0"r0ose. The si=th r"le, that of controllin% the ton%"e, m"st 5e 0racticed "ntil one has 0erfect command of his s0eech, so that he "tters nothin% in 0ee+ishness, an%er, irrita5ility, or /ith e+il intent. The man of stron% /ill does not allo/ his ton%"e to r"n tho"%htlessly and /itho"t chec9. All these si= r"les, if faithf"lly 0racticed, /ill lead "0 to the se+enth, /hich is the most im0ortant of them all C namely, ri%htly controllin% the mind. Self control is the most essential thin% in life, yet least "nderstood: 5"t he /ho 0atiently 0ractices the r"les herein laid do/n, 5rin%in% them into re7"isition in all his /ays and "nderta9in%s, /ill learn, 5y his o/n e=0erience and efforts, ho/ to control and train his mind, and to earn there5y the s"0reme cro/n of manhood C the cro/n of a 0erfectly 0oised /ill.

'. T#O2OF8#NESS T#O2OF8#NESS consists in doin% little thin%s as tho"%h they /ere the %reatest thin%s in the /orld. That the little thin%s of life are of 0rimary im0ortance, is a tr"th not %enerally "nderstood, and the tho"%ht that little thin%s can 5e ne%lected, thro/n aside, or sl"rred o+er, is at the root of that lac9 of thoro"%hness /hich is so common, and /hich res"lts in im0erfect /or9 and "nha00y li+es.

& hen one "nderstands that the %reat thin%s of the /orld and of life consist of a com5ination of small thin%s, and that /itho"t this a%%re%ation of small thin%s the %reat thin%s /o"ld 5e none=istent, then he 5e%ins to 0ay caref"l attention to those thin%s /hich he formerly re%arded as insi%nificant. #e th"s ac7"ires the 7"ality of thoro"%hness, and 5ecomes a man of "sef"lness and infl"ence: for the 0ossession or non 0ossession of this one 7"ality may mean all the difference 5et/een a life of 0eace and 0o/er, and one of misery and /ea9ness. E+ery em0loyer of la5or 9no/s ho/ com0arati+ely rare this 7"ality is C ho/ diffic"lt it is to find men and /omen /ho /ill 0"t tho"%ht and ener%y into their /or9, and do it com0letely and satisfactorily. Bad /or9manshi0 a5o"nds. S9ill and e=cellence are ac7"ired 5y fe/. Tho"%htlessness, carelessness, and laAiness are s"ch common +ices that it sho"ld cease to a00ear stran%e that, in s0ite of Bsocial reform,B the ran9s of the "nem0loyed sho"ld contin"e to s/ell, for those /ho scam0 their /or9 today /ill, another day, in the ho"r of dee0 necessity, loo9 and as9 for /or9 in +ain. The la/ of the s"r+i+al of the fittest is not 5ased on cr"elty, it is 5ased on D"stice@ it is one as0ect of that di+ine e7"ity /hich e+ery/here 0re+ails. Gice is B5eaten /ith many stri0esB: if it /ere not so, ho/ co"ld +irt"e 5e de+elo0edE The tho"%htless and laAy cannot ta9e 0recedence of, or stand e7"ally /ith, the tho"%htf"l and ind"strio"s. A friend of mine tells me that his father %a+e all his children the follo/in% 0iece of ad+ice@ B&hate+er yo"r f"t"re /or9 may 5e, 0"t yo"r /hole mind "0on it and do it thoro"%hly: yo" need then ha+e no fear as to yo"r /elfare, for there are so many /ho are careless and ne%li%ent that the ser+ices of the thoro"%h man are al/ays in demand.B 3 9no/ those /ho ha+e, for years, tried almost in +ain to sec"re com0etent /or9manshi0 in s0heres /hich do not re7"ire e=ce0tional s9ill, 5"t /hich call chiefly for foretho"%ht, ener%y, and conscientio"s care. They ha+e dischar%ed one after another for ne%li%ence, laAiness, incom0etence, and 0ersistent 5reaches of d"ty C not to mention other +ices /hich ha+e no 5earin% on this s"5Dect: yet the +ast army of the "nem0loyed contin"es to cry o"t a%ainst the la/s, a%ainst society, and a%ainst #ea+en. The ca"se of this common lac9 of thoro"%hness is not far to see9: it lies in that thirst for 0leas"re /hich not only creates a distaste for steady la5or, 5"t renders one inca0a5le of doin% the 5est /or9, and of 0ro0erly f"lfillin% one;s d"ty. A short time a%o, a case came "nder my o5ser+ation <one of many s"ch>, of a 0oor /oman /ho /as %i+en, at her earnest a00eal, a res0onsi5le and l"crati+e 0osition. She had 5een at her 0ost only a fe/ days /hen she 5e%an to tal9 of the B0leas"re tri0sB she /as %oin% to ha+e no/ she had come to that 0lace. She /as dischar%ed at the end of a month for ne%li%ence and incom0etence. As t/o o5Dects cannot occ"0y the same s0ace at the same time, so the mind that is occ"0ied /ith 0leas"re cannot also 5e concentrated "0on the 0erfect 0erformance of d"ty. -leas"re has its o/n 0lace and time, 5"t its consideration sho"ld not 5e allo/ed to enter the mind d"rin% those ho"rs /hich sho"ld 5e de+oted to d"ty. Those /ho, /hile en%a%ed in their /orldly tas9, are contin"ally d/ellin% "0on antici0ated 0leas"res, cannot do other/ise than 5"n%le thro"%h their /or9, or e+en ne%lect it /hen their 0leas"re seems to 5e at sta9e. Thoro"%hness is com0leteness, 0erfection: it means doin% a thin% so /ell that there is nothin% left to 5e desired: it means doin% one;s /or9, if not 5etter than anyone else can do it, at least not /orse

than the 5est that others do. 3t means the e=ercise of m"ch tho"%ht, the 0"ttin% forth of %reat ener%y, the 0ersistent a00lication of the mind to its tas9, the c"lti+ation of 0atience, 0erse+erance, and a hi%h sense of d"ty. An ancient teacher said, B3f anythin% has to 5e done, let a man do it, let him attac9 it +i%oro"slyB: and another teacher said, B& hatsoe+er thy hand findeth to do, do it /ith thy mi%ht.B #e /ho lac9s thoro"%hness in his /orldly d"ties, /ill also lac9 the same 7"ality in s0irit"al thin%s. #e /ill not im0ro+e his character: /ill 5e /ea9 and half hearted in his reli%ion, and /ill not accom0lish any %ood and "sef"l end. The man /ho 9ee0s one eye on /orldly 0leas"re and the other on reli%ion, and /ho thin9s he can ha+e the ad+anta%e of 5oth conditions, /ill not 5e thoro"%h either in his 0leas"re see9in% or his reli%ion, 5"t /ill ma9e a sorry 5"siness of 5oth. 3t is 5etter to 5e a /hole so"led /orldlin% than a half hearted reli%ionist: 5etter to %i+e the entire mind to a lo/er thin% than half of it to a hi%her. 3t is 0refera5le to 5e thoro"%h, e+en if it 5e in a 5ad or selfish direction, rather than inefficient and s7"eamish in %ood directions, for thoro"%hness leads more ra0idly to the de+elo0ment of character and the ac7"isition of /isdom: it accelerates 0ro%ress and "nfoldment: and /hile it leads the 5ad to somethin% 5etter, it s0"rs the %ood to hi%her and e+er hi%her hei%hts of "sef"lness and 0o/er.

(. M3ND BF3)D3N8 AND )36E BF3)D3N8 EGE24T#3N8, 5oth in nat"re and the /or9s of man, is 0rod"ced 5y a 0rocess of 5"ildin%. The roc9 is 5"ilt "0 of atoms: the 0lant, the animal, and man are 5"ilt "0 of cells: a ho"se is 5"ilt of 5ric9s, and a 5oo9 is 5"ilt of letters. A /orld is com0osed of a lar%e n"m5er of forms, and a city of a lar%e n"m5er of ho"ses. The arts, sciences, and instit"tions of a nation are 5"ilt "0 5y the efforts of indi+id"als. The history of a nation is the 5"ildin% of its deeds. The 0rocess of 5"ildin% necessitates the alternate 0rocess of 5rea9in% do/n. Old forms that ha+e ser+ed their 0"r0ose are 5ro9en "0, and the material of /hich they are com0osed enters into ne/ com5inations. There is reci0rocal inte%ration and disinte%ration. 3n all com0o"nded 5odies, old cells are ceaselessly 5ein% 5ro9en "0, and ne/ cells are formed to ta9e their 0lace. The /or9s of man also re7"ire to 5e contin"ally rene/ed "ntil they ha+e 5ecome old and "seless, /hen they are torn do/n in order that some 5etter 0"r0ose may 5e ser+ed. These t/o 0rocesses of 5rea9in% do/n and 5"ildin% "0 in Nat"re are called death and life : in the artificial /or9s of man they are called destruction and restoration . This d"al 0rocess, /hich o5tains "ni+ersally in thin%s +isi5le, also o5tains "ni+ersally in thin%s in+isi5le. As a 5ody is 5"ilt of cells, and a ho"se of 5ric9s, so a man;s mind is 5"ilt of tho"%hts. The +ario"s characters of men are none other than com0o"nds of tho"%hts of +aryin% com5inations. #erein /e see the dee0 tr"th of the sayin%, BAs a man thin9eth in his heart, so is he.B 3ndi+id"al characteristics are fi=ed "rocesses of thought : that is, they are fi=ed in the sense that they ha+e 5ecome s"ch an inte%ral 0art of the character that they can 5e only altered or remo+ed 5y a 0rotracted effort of the /ill, and 5y m"ch self disci0line. Character is 5"ilt in the same /ay as a tree or a ho"se is 5"iltC namely, 5y the ceaseless addition of ne/ material, and that material is thought . By the aid of millions of 5ric9s a city is 5"ilt: 5y the aid of millions of tho"%hts a mind, a character, is 5"ilt. E+ery man is a mind 5"ilder, /hether he reco%niAes it or not. E+ery man m"st 0erforce thin9, and e+ery tho"%ht is another 5ric9 laid do/n in the edifice of mind. S"ch B5ric9 layin%B is done loosely and

carelessly 5y a +ast n"m5er of 0eo0le, the res"lt 5ein% "nsta5le and totterin% characters that are ready to %o do/n "nder the first little %"st of tro"5le or tem0tation. Some, also, 0"t into the 5"ildin% of their minds lar%e n"m5ers of im0"re tho"%hts: these are so many rotten 5ric9s that cr"m5le a/ay as fast as they are 0"t in, lea+in% al/ays an "nfinished and "nsi%htly 5"ildin%, and one /hich can afford no comfort and no shelter for its 0ossessor. De5ilitatin% tho"%hts a5o"t one;s health, ener+atin% tho"%hts concernin% "nla/f"l 0leas"res, /ea9enin% tho"%hts of fail"re, and sic9ly tho"%hts of self 0ity and self 0raise are "seless 5ric9s /ith /hich no s"5stantial mind tem0le can 5e raised. -"re tho"%hts, /isely chosen and /ell 0laced, are so many d"ra5le 5ric9s /hich /ill ne+er cr"m5le a/ay, and from /hich a finished and 5ea"tif"l 5"ildin%, and one /hich affords comfort and shelter for its 0ossessor, can 5e ra0idly erected. Bracin% tho"%hts of stren%th, of confidence, of d"ty: ins0irin% tho"%hts of a lar%e, free, "nfettered, and "nselfish life, are "sef"l 5ric9s /ith /hich a s"5stantial mind tem0le can 5e raised: and the 5"ildin% of s"ch a tem0le necessitates that old and "seless ha5its of tho"%ht 5e 5ro9en do/n and destroyed.

"2uild thee !ore stately !ansions, $ !y soul3 ,s the swift seasons roll "

Each man is the 5"ilder of himself. 3f he is the occ"0ant of a Derry 5"ilt ho+el of a mind that lets in the rains of many tro"5les, and thro"%h /hich 5lo/ the 9een /inds of oft rec"rrin% disa00ointments, let him %et to /or9 to 5"ild a more no5le mansion /hich /ill afford him 5etter 0rotection a%ainst those mental elements. Tryin% to /ea9ly shift the res0onsi5ility for his Derry 5"ildin% on to the de+il, or his forefathers, or anythin% or any5ody 5"t himself, /ill neither add to his comfort, nor hel0 him to 5"ild a 5etter ha5itation. & hen he /a9es "0 to a sense of his res0onsi5ility, and an a00ro=imate estimate of his 0o/er, then he /ill commence to 5"ild li9e a tr"e /or9man, and /ill 0rod"ce a symmetrical and finished character that /ill end"re, and 5e cherished 5y 0osterity, and /hich, /hile affordin% a ne+er failin% 0rotection for himself, /ill contin"e to %i+e shelter to many a str"%%lin% one /hen he has 0assed a/ay. The /hole +isi5le "ni+erse is framed on a fe/ mathematical 0rinci0les. All the /onderf"l /or9s of man in the material /orld ha+e 5een 5ro"%ht a5o"t 5y the ri%id o5ser+ance of a fe/ "nderlyin% 0rinci0les: and all that there is to the ma9in% of a s"ccessf"l, ha00y, and 5ea"tif"l life, is the 9no/led%e and a00lication of a fe/ sim0le, root 0rinci0les. 3f a man is to erect a 5"ildin% that is to resist the fiercest storms, he m"st 5"ild it on a sim0le, mathematical 0rinci0le, or la/, s"ch as the s7"are or the circle: if he i%nores this, his edifice /ill to00le do/n e+en 5efore it is finished. )i9e/ise, if a man is to 5"ild "0 a s"ccessf"l, stron%, and e=em0lary life C a life that /ill sto"tly resist the fiercest storms of ad+ersity and tem0tation C it m"st 5e framed on a fe/ sim0le, "nde+iatin% moral 0rinci0les. 6o"r of these 0rinci0les are /ustice , .ectitude , Sincerity , and )indness . These fo"r ethical tr"ths are to the ma9in% of a life /hat the fo"r lines of a s7"are are to the 5"ildin% of a ho"se. 3f a man i%nores them and thin9s to o5tain s"ccess and ha00iness and 0eace 5y inD"stice, tric9ery, and selfishness, he is in the 0osition of a 5"ilder /ho ima%ines he can 5"ild a stron% and d"ra5le ha5itation /hile

i%norin% the relati+e arran%ement of mathematical lines, and he /ill, in the end, o5tain only disa00ointment and fail"re. #e may, for a time, ma9e money, /hich /ill del"de him into 5elie+in% that inD"stice and dishonesty 0ay /ell: 5"t in reality his life is so /ea9 and "nsta5le that it is ready at any moment to fall: and /hen a critical 0eriod comes, as come it m"st, his affairs, his re0"tation, and his riches cr"m5le to r"ins, and he is 5"ried in his o/n desolation. 3t is totally im0ossi5le for a man to achie+e a tr"ly s"ccessf"l and ha00y life /ho i%nores the fo"r moral 0rinci0les en"merated, /hilst the man /ho scr"0"lo"sly o5ser+es them in all his dealin%s can no more fail of s"ccess and 5lessedness than the earth can fail of the li%ht and /armth of the s"n so lon% as it 9ee0s to its la/f"l or5it: for he is /or9in% in harmony /ith the f"ndamental la/s of the "ni+erse: he is 5"ildin% his life on a 5asis /hich cannot 5e altered or o+erthro/n, and, therefore, all that he does /ill 5e so stron% and d"ra5le, and all the 0arts of his life /ill 5e so coherent, harmonio"s, and firmly 9nit that it cannot 0ossi5ly 5e 5ro"%ht to r"in. 3n all the "ni+ersal forms /hich are 5"ilt "0 5y the 8reat 3n+isi5le and "nerrin% -o/er, it /ill 5e fo"nd that the o5ser+ance of mathematical la/ is carried o"t /ith "nfailin% e=actit"de do/n to the most min"te detail. The microsco0e re+eals the fact that the infinitely small is as 0erfect as the infinitely %reat. A sno/fla9e is as 0erfect as a star. )i9e/ise, in the erection of a 5"ildin% 5y man, the strictest attention m"st 5e 0aid to e+ery detail. A fo"ndation m"st first 5e laid, and, altho"%h it is to 5e 5"ried and hidden, it m"st recei+e the %reatest care, and 5e made stron%er than any other 0art of the 5"ildin%: then stone "0on stone, 5ric9 "0on 5ric9 is caref"lly laid /ith the aid of the 0l"m5 line, "ntil at last the 5"ildin% stands com0lete in its d"ra5ility, stren%th, and 5ea"ty. E+en so it is /ith the life of a man. #e /ho /o"ld ha+e a life sec"re and 5lessed, a life freed from the miseries and fail"res to /hich so many fall +ictims, m"st carry the 0ractice of the moral 0rinci0les into e+ery detail of his life, into e+ery momentary d"ty and tri+ial transaction. 3n e+ery little thin% he need 5e thoro"%h and honest, ne%lectin% nothin%. To ne%lect or misa00ly any little detailC 5e he commercial man, a%ric"lt"rist, 0rofessional man, or artisanC is the same as ne%lectin% a stone or a 5ric9 in a 5"ildin%, and it /ill 5e a so"rce of /ea9ness and tro"5le. The maDority of those /ho fail and come to %rief do so thro"%h ne%lectin% the

a00arently insignificant details. 3t is a common error to s"00ose that little thin%s can 5e 0assed 5y, and that the %reater thin%s are more im0ortant, and sho"ld recei+e all attention: 5"t a c"rsory %lance at the "ni+erse, as /ell as a little serio"s reflection on life, /ill teach the lesson that nothin% %reat can e=ist /hich is not made "0 of small details, and in the com0osition of /hich e+ery detail is 0erfect. #e /ho ado0ts the fo"r ethical 0rinci0les as the la/ and 5ase of his life, /ho raises the edifice of character "0on them, /ho in his tho"%hts and /ords and actions does not /ander from them, /hose e+ery d"ty and e+ery 0assin% transaction is 0erformed in strict accordance /ith their e=actions, s"ch a man, layin% do/n the hidden fo"ndation of inte%rity of heart sec"rely and stron%ly, cannot fail to

raise "0 a str"ct"re /hich shall 5rin% him honor: and he is 5"ildin% a tem0le in /hich he can re0ose in 0eace and 5lessednessC e+en the stron% and 5ea"tif"l Tem0le of his life.

*. CF)T3GAT3ON O6 CONCENT2AT3ON CONCENT2AT3ON, or the 5rin%in% of the mind to a center and 9ee0in% it there, is +itally necessary to the accom0lishment of any tas9. 3t is the father of thoroughness and the mother of e&cellence . As a fac"lty, it is not an end in itself, 5"t is an aid to all fac"lties, all /or9. Not a 0"r0ose in itself, it is yet a 0o/er /hich ser+es all 0"r0oses. )i9e steam in mechanics, it is a dynamic force in the machinery of the mind and the f"nctions of life. The fac"lty is a common 0ossession, tho"%h in its 0erfection it is rareC D"st as will and reason are common 0ossessions, tho"%h a 0erfectly 0oised /ill and a com0rehensi+e reason are rare 0ossessionsC and the mystery /hich some modern mystical /riters ha+e thro/n aro"nd it is entirely s"0erfl"o"s. E+ery s"ccessf"l man, in /hate+er direction his s"ccess may lie, 0ractices concentration, tho"%h he may 9no/ nothin% a5o"t it as a s"5Dect of st"dy: e+ery time one 5ecomes a5sor5ed in a 5oo9 or tas9, or is ra0t in de+otion or assid"o"s in d"ty, concentration, in a %reater or lesser de%ree, is 5ro"%ht into 0lay. Many 5oo9s 0"r0ortin% to %i+e instr"ctions on concentration ma9e its 0ractice and ac7"isition an end in itself. Than this, there is no s"rer nor s/ifter /ay to its destr"ction. The fi=in% of the eyes "0on the ti0 of the nose, "0on a door9no5, a 0ict"re, a mystical sym5ol, or the 0ortrait of a saint: or the centerin% of the mind "0on the na+el, the 0ineal %land, or some ima%inary 0oint in s0ace <3 ha+e seen all these methods serio"sly ad+ised in /or9s on this s"5Dect> /ith the o5Dect of ac7"irin% concentration, is li9e tryin% to no"rish the 5ody 5y merely mo+in% the Da/ as in the act of eatin%, /itho"t ta9in% food. S"ch methods 0re+ent the end at /hich they aim. They lead to/ards dis0ersion and not concentration: to/ards /ea9ness and im5ecility rather than to/ards 0o/er and intelli%ence. 3 ha+e met those /ho ha+e s7"andered, 5y these 0ractices, /hat meas"re of concentration they at first 0ossessed, and ha+e 5ecome the 0rey of a /ea9 and /anderin% mind. Concentration is an aid to the doin% of somethin%: it is not the doin% of somethin% in itself. A ladder has no di+ine 9no/led%e, or the s/ee0in% of a floor C /itho"t resortin% to methods /hich ha+e no 0ractical 5earin% on life: for /hat is concentration 5"t the 5rin%in% of a /ell controlled mind to the doin% of that /hich has to 5e doneE #e /ho does his /or9 in an aimless, a h"rried, or tho"%htless manner, and resorts to his artificial Bconcentration methodsB C to his door9no5, his 0ict"re, or nasal e=tremity C in order to %ain that /hich he ima%ines to 5e some 9ind of mystical 0o/er C 5"t /hich is a +ery ordinary and 0ractical 7"ality C tho"%h he may drift to/ards insanity <and 3 9ne/ one man /ho 5ecame insane 5y these 0ractices>, he /ill not increase in steadiness of mind. The %reat enemy of concentration C and therefore of all s9ill and 0o/erC is a /a+erin%, /anderin%, "ndisci0lined +al"e in and of itself, 5"t only in so far as it ena5les "s to reach somethin% /hich /e co"ld not other/ise reach. 3n li9e manner, concentration is that /hich ena5les the mind to accom0lish /ith ease that /hich it /o"ld 5e other/ise im0ossi5le to accom0lish: 5"t of itself it is a dead thin%, and not a li+in% accom0lishment.

Concentration is so inter/o+en /ith the "ses of life that it cannot 5e se0arated from d"ty: and he /ho tries to ac7"ire it a"art fro! his task, his duty , /ill not only fail, 5"t /ill diminish, and not increase, his mental control and e=ec"ti+e ca0acity, and so render himself less and less fit to s"cceed in his "nderta9in%s. A scattered and "ndisci0lined army /o"ld 5e "seless. To ma9e it effecti+e in action and s/ift in +ictory it m"st 5e solidly concentrated and masterf"lly directed. Scattered and diff"sed tho"%hts are /ea9 and /orthless. Tho"%hts marshaled, commanded, and directed "0on a %i+en 0oint, are in+inci5le: conf"sion, do"5t, and diffic"lty %i+e /ay 5efore their masterly a00roach. Concentrated tho"%ht enters lar%ely into all s"ccesses, and informs all +ictories. There is no more secret a5o"t its ac7"irement than a5o"t any other ac7"isition, for it is %o+erned 5y the "nderlyin% 0rinci0le of all de+elo0ment, namely, "ractice . To 5e a5le to do a thin%, yo" m"st 5e%in to do it , and 9ee0 on doin% it "ntil the thin% is mastered. This 0rinci0le 0re+ails "ni+ersallyC in all arts, sciences, trades: in all learnin%, cond"ct, reli%ion. To 5e a5le to 0aint, one m"st 0aint: to 9no/ ho/ to "se a tool s9illf"lly, he m"st "se the tool: to 5ecome learned, he m"st learn: to 5ecome /ise, he m"st do /ise thin%s: and to s"ccessf"lly concentrate his mind, he m"st concentrate it. B"t the doin% is not allC it !ust be done with energy and intelligence . The 5e%innin% of concentration, then, is to %o to yo"r daily tas9 and 0"t yo"r mind on it, 5rin%in% all yo"r intelli%ence and mental ener%y to a foc"s "0on that /hich has to 5e done: and e+ery time the tho"%hts are fo"nd /anderin% aimlessly a/ay, they sho"ld 5e 5ro"%ht 0rom0tly 5ac9 to the thin% in hand. Th"s the BcenterB "0on /hich yo" are to 5rin% yo"r mind to a 0oint, is <not yo"r 0ineal %land or a 0aint in s0ace>, 5"t the /or9 /hich yo" are doin% e+ery day: and yo"r o5Dect in th"s concentratin% is to 5e a5le to do yo"r /or9 /ith smooth ra0idity and cons"mmate s9ill: for "ntil yo" can th"s do yo"r /or9, yo" ha+e not %ained any de%ree of control o+er the mind: yo" ha+e not ac7"ired the 0o/er of concentration. This 0o/erf"l foc"sin% of one;s tho"%ht and ener%y and /ill "0on the doin% of thin%s is diffic"lt at first as e+erythin% /orth ac7"irin% is diffic"ltC 5"t daily efforts, stren"o"sly made and 0atiently follo/ed "0, /ill soon lead to s"ch a meas"re of self control as /ill ena5le one to 5rin% a stron% and 0enetratin% mind to 5ear "0on any /or9 "nderta9en: a mind that /ill 7"ic9ly com0rehend all the details of the /or9, and dis0ose of them /ith acc"racy and dis0atch. #e /ill th"s, as his concentrati+e ca0acity increases, enlar%e his "sef"lness in the scheme of thin%s, and increase his +al"e to the /orld, th"s in+itin% no5ler o00ort"nities, and o0enin% the door to hi%her d"ties: he /ill also e=0erience the Doy of a /ider and f"ller life. 3n the 0rocess of concentration there are the fo"r follo/in% sta%es@ 1. Attention. 2. Contem0lation. !. A5straction. $. Acti+ity in 2e0ose.

At first the tho"%hts are arrested, and the mind is fi=ed "0on the o5Dect of concentration, /hich is the tas9 in handC this is attention . The mind is then ro"sed into +i%oro"s tho"%ht concernin% the /ay of 0roceedin% /ith the tas9C this is conte!"lation . -rotracted contem0lation leads to a condition of mind in /hich the doors of the senses are all closed a%ainst the entrance of o"tside distractions, the tho"%hts 5ein% /ra00ed in, and solely and intensely centered "0on, the /or9 in hand C this is abstraction . The mind th"s centered in 0rofo"nd co%itation reaches a state in /hich the ma=im"m of /or9 is accom0lished /ith the minim"m of frictionC this is activity in re"ose . ,ttention is the first sta%e in all s"ccessf"l /or9. They /ho lac9 it fail in e+erythin%. S"ch are the laAy, the tho"%htless, the indifferent and incom0etent. & hen attention is follo/ed 5y an a/a9enin% of the mind to serio"s tho"%ht, then the second sta%e is reached. To ens"re s"ccess in all ordinary, /orldly "nderta9in%s, it is not necessary to %o 5eyond these t/o sta%es. They are reached, in a %reater or lesser de%ree, 5y all that lar%e army of s9illed and com0etent /or9ers /hich carries o"t the /or9 of the /orld in its manifold de0artments, and only a com0arati+ely small n"m5er reach the third sta%e of abstraction : for /hen a5straction is reached, /e ha+e entered the s0here of %eni"s. 3n the first t/o sta%es, the /or9 and the mind are se0arate, and the /or9 is done more or less la5orio"sly, and /ith a de%ree of friction: 5"t in the third sta%e, a marria%e of the /or9 /ith the mind ta9es 0lace, there is a f"sion, a "nion, and the t/o 5ecome one@ then there is a s"0erior efficiency /ith less la5or and friction. 3n the 0erfection of the first t/o sta%es, the mind is o5Decti+ely en%a%ed, and is easily dra/n from its center 5y e=ternal si%hts and so"nds: 5"t /hen the mind has attained 0erfection in a5straction, the sub-ective method of /or9in% is accom0lished, as distin%"ished from the ob-ective . The thin9er is then o5li+io"s to the o"tside /orld, 5"t is +i+idly ali+e in his mental o0erations. 3f s0o9en to, he /ill not hear: and if 0lied /ith more +i%oro"s a00eals, he /ill 5rin% 5ac9 his mind to o"tside thin%s as one comin% o"t of a dream: indeed, this a5straction is a 9ind of /a9in% dream, 5"t its similarity to a dream ends /ith the s"5Decti+e state@ it does not o5tain in the mental o0erations of that state, in /hich, instead of the conf"sion of dreamin%, there is 0erfect order, 0enetratin% insi%ht, and a /ide ran%e of com0rehension. &hoe+er attains to 0erfection in a5straction /ill manifest %eni"s in the 0artic"lar /or9 "0on /hich his mind is centered. 3n+entors, artists, 0oets, scientists, 0hiloso0hers, and all men of %eni"s, are men of a5straction. They accom0lish s"5Decti+ely, and /ith ease, that /hich the o5Decti+e /or9ersC men /ho ha+e not yet attained 5eyond the second sta%e in concentrationC cannot accom0lish /ith the most stren"o"s la5or. & hen the fo"rth sta%eC that of activity in re"ose C is attained, then concentration in its 0erfection is ac7"ired. 3 am "na5le to find a sin%le /ord /hich /ill f"lly e=0ress this d"al condition of intense acti+ity com5ined /ith steadiness, or rest, and ha+e therefore em0loyed the term Bacti+ity in re0ose.B The term a00ears contradictory, 5"t the sim0le ill"stration of a s0innin% to0 /ill ser+e to e=0lain the 0arado=. &hen a to0 s0ins at the ma=im"m +elocity, the friction is red"ced to the minim"m, and the to0 ass"mes that condition of 0erfect re0ose /hich is a si%ht so 5ea"tif"l to the eye, and so ca0ti+atin% to the mind, of the school5oy, /ho then says his to0 is Baslee0.B

The to0 is a00arently motionless, 5"t it is the rest, not of inertia, 5"t of intense and 0erfectly 5alanced acti+ity. So the mind that has ac7"ired 0erfect concentration is, /hen en%a%ed in that intense acti+ity of tho"%ht /hich res"lts in 0rod"cti+e /or9 of the hi%hest 9ind, in a state of 7"iet 0oise and calm re0ose. E=ternally, there is no a00arent acti+ity, no dist"r5ance, and the face of a man /ho has ac7"ired this 0o/er /ill ass"me a more or less radiant calmness, and the face /ill 5e more s"5limely calm /hen the mind is most intensely en%a%ed in acti+e tho"%ht. Each sta%e of concentration has its 0artic"lar 0o/er. Th"s the first sta%e, /hen 0erfected, leads to "sef"lness: the second leads to s9ill, a5ility, talent: the third leads to ori%inality and %eni"s: /hile the fo"rth leads to mastery and 0o/er, and ma9es leaders and teachers of men. 3n the de+elo0ment of concentration, also, as in all o5Dects of %ro/th, the follo/in% sta%es em5ody the 0recedin% ones in their entirety. Th"s in contem0lation, attention is contained: in a5straction, 5oth attention and contem0lation are em5odied: and he /ho has reached the last sta%e, 5rin%s into 0lay, in the act of contem0lation, all the fo"r sta%es. #e /ho has 0erfected himself in concentration is a5le, at any moment, to 5rin% his tho"%hts to a 0oint "0on any matter, and to search into it /ith the stron% li%ht of an acti+e com0rehension. #e can 5oth ta9e a thin% "0 and lay it do/n /ith e7"al deli5eration. #e has learned ho/ to "se his thin9in% fac"lties to fi=ed 0"r0oses, and %"ide them to/ards definite ends. #e is an intelli%ent doer of thin%s, and not a /ea9 /anderer amid chaotic tho"%ht. Decision, ener%y, alertness, as /ell as deli5eration, D"d%ment, and %ra+ity, accom0any the ha5it of concentration: and that +i%oro"s mental trainin% /hich its c"lti+ation in+ol+es, leads, thro"%h e+er increasin% "sef"lness and s"ccess in /orldly occ"0ations, to/ards that hi%her form of concentration called Bmeditation,B in /hich the mind 5ecomes di+inely ill"mined, and ac7"ires the hea+enly 9no/led%e.

,. -2ACT3CE O6 MED3TAT3ON & #EN as"iration is "nited to concentration , the res"lt is !editation . & hen a man intensely desires to reach and realiAe a hi%her, 0"rer, and more radiant life than the merely /orldly and 0leas"re lo+in% life, he en%a%es in as"iration : and /hen he earnestly concentrates his tho"%hts "0on the findin% of that life, he 0ractices meditation. & itho"t intense as0iration, there can 5e no meditation. )ethar%y and indifference are fatal to its 0ractice. The more intense the nat"re of a man, the more readily /ill he find meditation, and the more s"ccessf"lly /ill he 0ractice it. A fiery nat"re /ill most ra0idly scale the hei%hts of Tr"th in meditation, /hen its as0irations ha+e 5ecome s"fficiently a/a9ened. Concentration is necessary to /orldly s"ccess@ meditation is necessary to s0irit"al s"ccess. &orldly s9ill and 9no/led%e are ac7"ired 5y concentration@ s0irit"al s9ill and 9no/led%e are ac7"ired 5y meditation. By concentration a man can scale the hi%hest hei%hts of %eni"s, 5"t he cannot scale the hea+enly hei%hts of Tr"th@ to accom0lish this, he m"st meditate. By concentration a man may ac7"ire the /onderf"l com0rehension and +ast 0o/er of a Caesar: 5y meditation he may reach the di+ine /isdom and 0erfect 0eace of a B"ddha. The 0erfection of concentration is 0o/er: the 0erfection of meditation is wisdo! .

By concentration, men ac7"ire skill in the doin% of the thin%s of life C in science, art, trade, etc.,C 5"t 5y meditation, they ac7"ire s9ill in life itself : in ri%ht li+in%, enli%htenment, /isdom, etc. Saints, sa%es, sa+iorsC /ise men and di+ine teachers C are the finished 0rod"cts of holy meditation. The fo"r sta%es in concentration are 5ro"%ht into 0lay in meditation: the difference 5et/een the t/o 0o/ers 5ein% one of direction , and not of nat"re. Meditation is therefore s"iritual concentration : the 5rin%in% of the mind to a foc"s in its search for the di+ine 9no/led%e, the di+ine life: the intense d/ellin%, in tho"%ht, on Tr"th. Th"s a man as0ires to 9no/ and realiAe, a5o+e all thin%s else, the Tr"th: he then %i+es attention to cond"ct, to life, to self 0"rification@ %i+in% attention to these thin%s, he 0asses into serio"s conte!"lation of the facts, 0ro5lems, and mystery of life@ th"s contem0latin%, he comes to lo+e Tr"th so f"lly and intensely as to 5ecome /holly a5sor5ed in it, the mind is dra/n a/ay from its /anderin%s in a m"ltit"de of desires, and, sol+in% one 5y one the 0ro5lems of life, realiAes that 0rofo"nd "nion /ith Tr"th /hich is the state of a5straction: and th"s a5sor5ed in Tr"th, there is that 5alance and 0oise of character, that di+ine action in re"ose , /hich is the a5idin% calm and 0eace of an emanci0ated and enli%htened mind. Meditation is more diffic"lt to 0ractice than concentration 5eca"se it in+ol+es a m"ch more se+ere self disci0line than that /hich o5tains in concentration. A man can 0ractice concentration /itho"t 0"rifyin% his heart and life, /hereas the 0rocess of 0"rification is inse0ara5le from meditation. The o5Dect of meditation is di+ine enli%htenment, the attainment of Tr"th, and is therefore inter/o+en /ith 0ractical 0"rity and ri%hteo"sness. Th"s /hile, at first, the time s0ent in act"al meditation is short C 0erha0s only half an ho"r in the early mornin% C the 9no/led%e %ained in that half ho"r of +i+id as0iration and concentrated tho"%ht is em5odied in 0ractice d"rin% the /hole day. 3n meditation, therefore, the entire life of a man is in+ol+ed: and as he ad+ances in its 0ractice he 5ecomes more and more fitted to 0erform the d"ties of life in the circ"mstances in /hich he may 5e 0laced, for he 5ecomes stron%er, holier, calmer, and /iser. The 0rinci0le of meditation is t/ofold, namely@ 1. -"rification of the heart 5y re0etiti+e tho"%ht on 0"re thin%s. 2. Attainment of di+ine 9no/led%e 5y em5odyin% s"ch 0"rity in 0ractical life. Man is a thought being , and his life and character are determined 5y the tho"%hts in /hich he ha5it"ally d/ells. By 0ractice, association, and ha5it, tho"%hts tend to re0eat themsel+es /ith %reater and %reater ease and fre7"ency: and so Bfi=B the character in a %i+en direction 5y 0rod"cin% that a"tomatic action /hich is called Bha5it.B By daily d/ellin% "0on 0"re tho"%hts, the man of meditation forms the ha5it of 0"re and enli%htened thin9in% /hich leads to 0"re and enli%htened actions and /ell 0erformed d"ties. By the ceaseless re0etition of 0"re tho"%hts, he at last 5ecomes one /ith those tho"%hts, and is a 0"rified 5ein%, manifestin% his attainment in 0"re actions, in a serene and /ise life. The maDority of men li+e in a series of conflictin% desires, 0assions, emotions, and s0ec"lations, and there are restlessness, "ncertainty, and sorro/: 5"t /hen a man 5e%ins to train his mind in meditation, he %rad"ally %ains control o+er this in/ard conflict 5y 5rin%in% his tho"%hts to a foc"s "0on a central 0rinci0le.

3n this /ay the old ha5its of im0"re and erroneo"s tho"%ht and action are 5ro9en "0, and the ne/ ha5its of 0"re and enli%htened tho"%ht and action are formed: the man 5ecomes more and more reconciled to Tr"th, and there is increasin% harmony and insi%ht, a %ro/in% 0erfection and 0eace. A 0o/erf"l and lofty as0iration to/ards Tr"th is al/ays accom0anied /ith a 9een sense of the sorro/ and 5re+ity and mystery of life, and "ntil this condition of mind is reached, meditation is im0ossi5le. Merely m"sin%, or /hilin% a/ay the time in idle dreamin% <ha5its to /hich the /ord meditation is fre7"ently a00lied>, are +ery far remo+ed from meditation, in the lofty s0irit"al sense /hich /e attach to that condition. 3t is easy to mista9e re+erie for meditation. This is a fatal error /hich m"st 5e a+oided 5y one stri+in% to meditate. The t/o m"st not 5e confo"nded. 2e+erie is a loose dreamin% into /hich a man falls: meditation is a stron%, 0"r0osef"l thin9in% into /hich a man rises. 2e+erie is easy and 0leas"ra5le: meditation is at first diffic"lt and ir9some. 2e+erie thri+es in indolence and l"="ry: meditation arises from stren"o"sness and disci0line. 2e+erie is first all"rin%, then sens"o"s, and then sens"al. Meditation is first for5iddin%, then 0rofita5le, and then 0eacef"l. 2e+erie is dan%ero"s: it "ndermines self control. Meditation is 0rotecti+e: it esta5lishes self control. There are certain si%ns 5y /hich one can 9no/ /hether he is en%a%in% in re+erie or meditation. The indications of re+erie are@ 1. A desire to a+oid e=ertion. 2. A desire to e=0erience the 0leas"res of dreamin%. !. An increasin% distaste for one;s /orldly d"ties. $. A desire to shir9 one;s /orldly res0onsi5ilities. '. 6ear of conse7"ences. (. A /ish to %et money /ith as little effort as 0ossi5le. *. )ac9 of self control. The indications of meditation are@ 1. 3ncrease of 5oth 0hysical and mental ener%y. 2. A stren"o"s stri+in% after /isdom. !. A decrease of ir9someness in the 0erformance of d"ty. $. A fi=ed determination to faithf"lly f"lfill all /orldly res0onsi5ilities. '. 6reedom from fear.

(. 3ndifference to riches. *. -ossession of self control. There are certain times, 0laces, and conditions in and "nder /hich it is im0ossi5le to meditate, others /herein it is diffic"lt to meditate, and others /herein meditation is rendered more accessi5le: and these, /hich sho"ld 5e 9no/n and caref"lly o5ser+ed, are as follo/s@ Times, -laces, and Conditions in /hich Meditation is 3m0ossi5le@ 1. At, or immediately after, meals. 2. 3n 0laces of 0leas"re. !. 3n cro/ded 0laces. $. &hile /al9in% ra0idly. '. &hile lyin% in 5ed in the mornin%. (. &hile smo9in%. *. &hile lyin% on a co"ch or 5ed for 0hysical or mental rela=ation. Times, -laces and Conditions in /hich Meditation is Diffic"lt@ 1. At ni%ht. 2. 3n a l"="rio"sly f"rnished room. !. &hile sittin% on a soft, yieldin% seat. $. &hile /earin% %ay clothin%. '. &hen in com0any. (. &hen the 5ody is /eary. *. 3f the 5ody is %i+en too m"ch food. Times, -laces, and Conditions in /hich it is Best to Meditate@ 1. Gery early in the mornin%. 2. 3mmediately 5efore meals. !. 3n solit"de. $. 3n the o0en air or in a 0lainly f"rnished room.

'. &hile sittin% on a hard seat. (. &hen the 5ody is stron% and +i%oro"s. *. &hen the 5ody is modestly and 0lainly clothed. 3t /ill 5e seen 5y the fore%oin% instr"ctions that ease, l"="ry, and ind"l%ence </hich ind"ce re+erie> render meditation diffic"lt, and /hen stron%ly 0rono"nced ma9e it im0ossi5le: /hile stren"o"sness, disci0line, and self denial </hich dis0el re+erie>, ma9e meditation com0arati+ely easy. The 5ody, too, sho"ld 5e neither o+erfed nor star+ed: neither in ra%s nor fla"ntin%ly clothed. 3t sho"ld not 5e tired, 5"t sho"ld 5e at its hi%hest 0oint of ener%y and stren%th, as the holdin% of the mind to a concentrated train of s"5tle and lofty tho"%ht re7"ires a hi%h de%ree of 5oth 0hysical and mental ener%y. As0iration can often 5est 5e aro"sed, and the mind rene/ed in meditation, 5y the mental re0etition of a lofty 0rece0t, a 5ea"tif"l sentence or a +erse of 0oetry. 3ndeed, the mind that is ready for meditation /ill instincti+ely ado0t this 0ractice. Mere mechanical re0etition is /orthless, and e+en a hindrance. The /ords re0eated m"st 5e so a00lica5le to one;s o/n condition that they are d/elt "0on lo+in%ly and /ith concentrated de+otion. 3n this /ay as0iration and concentration harmonio"sly com5ine to 0rod"ce, /itho"t "nd"e strain, the state of meditation. All the conditions a5o+e stated are of the "tmost im0ortance in the early sta%es of meditation, and sho"ld 5e caref"lly noted and d"ly o5ser+ed 5y all /ho are stri+in% to ac7"ire the 0ractice: and those /ho faithf"lly follo/ the instr"ctions, and /ho stri+e and 0erse+ere, /ill not fail to %ather in, in d"e season, the har+est of 0"rity, /isdom, 5liss, and 0eace: and /ill s"rely eat of the s/eet fr"its of holy meditation.

.. T#E -O&E2 O6 -F2-OSE D3S-E2S3ON is /ea9ness: concentration is 0o/er. Destr"ction is a scatterin%, 0reser+ation a "nitin%, 0rocess. Thin%s are "sef"l and tho"%hts are 0o/erf"l in the meas"re that their 0arts are stron%ly and intelli%ently concentrated. -"r0ose is hi%hly concentrated tho"%ht. All the mental ener%ies are directed to the attainment of an o5Dect, and o5stacles /hich inter+ene 5et/een the thin9er and the o5Dect are, one after another, 5ro9en do/n and o+ercome. -"r0ose is the 9eystone in the tem0le of achie+ement. 3t 5inds and holds to%ether in a com0lete /hole that /hich /o"ld other/ise lie scattered and "seless. Em0ty /hims, e0hemeral fancies, +a%"e desires, and half hearted resol"tions ha+e no 0lace in 0"r0ose. 3n the s"stained determination to accom0lish there is an in+inci5le 0o/er /hich s/allo/s "0 all inferior considerations, and marches direct to +ictory. All s"ccessf"l men are men of 0"r0ose. They hold fast to an idea, a 0roDect, a 0lan, and /ill not let it %o: they cherish it, 5rood "0on it, tend and de+elo0 it: and /hen assailed 5y diffic"lties, they ref"se to 5e 5e%"iled into s"rrender: indeed, the intensity of the 0"r0ose increases /ith the %ro/in% ma%nit"de of the o5stacles enco"ntered. The men /ho ha+e molded the destinies of h"manity ha+e 5een men mi%hty of 0"r0ose. )i9e the .o!an layin% his road, they ha+e follo/ed alon% a /ell defined 0ath, and ha+e ref"sed to s/er+e aside e+en /hen tort"re and death confronted them. The 8reat )eaders of the race are the mental

road ma9ers, and man9ind follo/s in the intellect"al and s0irit"al 0aths /hich they ha+e car+ed o"t and 5eaten. 8reat is the 0o/er of 0"r0ose. To 9no/ ho/ %reat, let a man st"dy it in the li+es of those /hose infl"ence has sha0ed the ends of nations and directed the destinies of the /orld. 3n an Ale=ander, a Caesar, or a Na0oleon, /e see the 0o/er of 0"r0ose /hen it is directed in /orldly and 0ersonal channels: in a Conf"ci"s, a B"ddha, or a Christ, /e 0ercei+e its +aster 0o/er /hen its co"rse is alon% hea+enly and im0ersonal 0aths. -"r0ose %oes /ith intelli%ence. There are lesser and %reater 0"r0oses accordin% /ith de%rees of intelli%ence. A %reat mind /ill al/ays 5e %reat of 0"r0ose. A /ea9 intelli%ence /ill 5e /itho"t 0"r0ose. A driftin% mind ar%"es a meas"re of "nde+elo0ment. & hat can resist an "nsha9a5le 0"r0oseE &hat can stand a%ainst it or t"rn it asideE 3nert matter yields to a li+in% force, and circ"mstance s"cc"m5s to the 0o/er of 0"r0ose. Tr"ly, the man of "nla/f"l 0"r0ose /ill, in achie+in% his ends, destroy himself, 5"t the man of %ood and la/f"l 0"r0ose cannot fail. 3t only needs that he daily rene/ the fire and ener%y of his fi=ed resol+e, to cons"mmate his o5Dect. The /ea9 man, /ho %rie+es 5eca"se he is mis"nderstood, /ill not %reatly achie+e: the +ain man, /ho ste0s aside from his resol+e in order to 0lease others and %ain their a00ro5ation, /ill not hi%hly achie+e: the do"5le minded man, /ho thin9s to com0romise his 0"r0ose, /ill fail. The man of fi=ed 0"r0ose /ho, /hether mis"nderstandin%s and fo"l acc"sations, or flatteries and fair 0romises, rain "0on him, does not yield a fraction of his resol+e, is the man of e=cellence and achie+ement: of s"ccess, %reatness, 0o/er. #indrances stim"late the man of 0"r0ose: diffic"lties ner+e him to rene/ed e=ertion: mista9es, losses, 0ains, do not s"5d"e him: and fail"res are ste0s in the ladder of s"ccess, for he is e+er conscio"s of the certainty of final achie+ement. All thin%s at last yield to the silent, irresisti5le, all con7"erin% ener%y of 0"r0ose.

"$ut 2lack + For +n + *nder My +t 4ow +

of as thank

the the "it whatever !y

night fro!

that "ole gods uncon1uerable

covers to !ay

!e, "ole, be soul

the have the head !atters charged a! the not

fell whined

clutch nor

of cried of but strait the the !y

circu!stance aloud0 chance unbowed gate, scroll0 fate,

bludgeoning is not with !aster how bloody

"unish!ent of

+ a! the ca"tain of !y soul "

11. T#E JO4 O6 ACCOM-)3S#MENT JO4 is al/ays the accom0animent of a tas9 s"ccessf"lly accom0lished. An "nderta9in% com0leted, or a 0iece of /or9 done, al/ays 5rin%s rest and satisfaction. B& hen a man has done his d"ty, he is li%ht

hearted and ha00y,B says Emerson: and no matter ho/ insi%nificant the tas9 may a00ear, the doin% of it faithf"lly and /ith /hole so"led ener%y al/ays res"lts in cheerf"lness and 0eace of mind. Of all misera5le men, the shir9er is the most misera5le. Thin9in% to find ease and ha00iness in a+oidin% diffic"lt d"ties and necessary tas9s, /hich re7"ire the e=0endit"re of la5or and e=ertion, his mind is al/ays "neasy and dist"r5ed, he 5ecomes 5"rdened /ith an in/ard sense of shame, and forfeits manliness and self res0ect. B#e /ho /ill not /or9 accordin% to his fac"lty, let him 0erish accordin% to his necessity,B says Carlyle: and it is a moral la/ that the man /ho a+oids d"ty, and does not /or9 to the f"ll e=tent of his ca0acity, does act"ally 0erish, first in his character and last in his 5ody and circ"mstances. )ife and action are synonymo"s, and immediately a man tries to esca0e e=ertion, either 0hysical or mental, he has commenced to decay. On the other hand, the ener%etic increase in life 5y the f"ll e=ercise of their 0o/ers, 5y o+ercomin% diffic"lties, and 5y 5rin%in% to com0letion tas9s /hich coiled for the stren"o"s "se of mind or m"scle. #o/ ha00y is a child /hen a school lesson, lon% la5ored o+er, is mastered at lastH The athlete, /ho has trained his 5ody thro"%h lon% months or years of disci0line and strain, is richly 5lessed in his increased health and stren%th: and is met /ith the reDoicin%s of his friends /hen he carries home the 0riAe from the field of contest. After many years of "n%r"d%in% toil, the heart of the scholar is %laddened /ith the ad+anta%es and 0o/ers /hich learnin% 5esto/s. The 5"siness man, %ra00lin% incessantly /ith diffic"lties and dra/5ac9s, is am0ly re0aid in the ha00y ass"rance of /ell earned s"ccess: and the hortic"lt"rist, +i%oro"sly contendin% /ith the st"55orn soil, sits do/n at last to eat of the fr"its of his la5or. E+ery s"ccessf"l accom0lishment, e+en in /orldly thin%s, is re0aid /ith its o/n meas"re of Doy: and in s0irit"al thin%s, the Doy /hich s"0er+enes "0on the 0erfection of 0"r0ose is s"re, dee0 and a5idin%. 8reat is the heartfelt Doy <al5eit ineffa5le> /hen, after inn"mera5le and a00arently "ns"ccessf"l attem0ts, some in%rained fa"lt of character is at last cast o"t to tro"5le its erst/hile +ictim and the /orld no more. The stri+er after +irt"e C he /ho is en%a%ed in the holy tas9 of 5"ildin% "0 a no5le character C tastes, at e+ery ste0 of con7"est o+er self, a Doy /hich does not a%ain lea+e him, 5"t /hich 5ecomes an inte%ral 0art of his s0irit"al nat"re. All life is a str"%%le: 5oth /itho"t and /ithin there are conditions a%ainst /hich man m"st contend: his +ery e=istence is a series of efforts and accom0lishments, and his ri%ht to remain amon% men as a "sef"l "nit of h"manity de0ends "0on the meas"re of his ca0acity for /restlin% s"ccessf"lly /ith the elements of nat"re /itho"t, or /ith the enemies of +irt"e and tr"th /ithin. 3t is demanded of man that he shall contin"e to stri+e after 5etter thin%s, after %reater 0erfection, after hi%her and still hi%her achie+ements: and in accordance /ith the meas"re of his o5edience to this demand, does the an%el of Doy /ait "0on his footste0s and minister "nto him: for he /ho is an=io"s to learn, ea%er to 9no/, and /ho 0"ts forth efforts to accom0lish, finds the Doy /hich eternally sin%s at the heart of the "ni+erse. 6irst in little thin%s, then in %reater, and then in %reater still, m"st man stri+e: "ntil at last he is 0re0ared to ma9e the s"0reme effort, and stri+e for the accom0lishment of Tr"th, s"cceedin% in /hich, he /ill realiAe the eternal Doy.

The 0rice of life is effort: the acme of effort is accom0lishment: the re/ard of accom0lishment is Doy. Blessed is the man /ho stri+es a%ainst his o/n selfishness: he /ill taste in its f"llness the Doy of accom0lishment.