TeN

C N
‘
O IS

TH OU GHT AN D C H A R A C TER

EF F EC T O F TH O U GHT O N C IR C U M S TA N C ES

EF F EC T -
OE TH OU GHT O N HEA LTH A N D THE

TH O U GHT AN D PU R P OS E
THE THOU GHT F A C TOR -
IN A C HI V E E M ENT

S T
ER EN I Y

2 0 5 6 17 .
T m s
F OR E WO R D
li ttle v olu me 'the res ult f meditation
and ex pe ri en ce'is n ot i ntended as a n exhau stive
trea tis e on th e mu c h wri tten upo n s u bj ect f
o
-

the powe r f though t I t is s u ggestiv e ra ther

.
—
o

than exp lanato y i ts obj e c t being to s timu late

r ,

m en nd women to th e discovery and pe rce p

a «

ti on f the tru th that

o

Th ey themsel ves are makers f th emsel ves o

by v irtue f the thoughts whi c h they choo se and

o

en cou rage ; tha t mi nd i s the m aster w ea ve r b o th -

,

o f th e inne r garme nt f c harac te r an d th e o u te r

o

garme n t f c ircu mstan ce a nd that s th ey m ay

o a

m
, ,

hav e hithe rto woven in ignoran ce a nd p ain they

may n ow weave in enlightenment and happ iness .

JA M ES A LLEN
Broad Par k A v e nu e ,

Ilfraco be ,

Eng land .
THE
As

TH O U GHT ar

A P HO R IS
a

m
M a n Tbi néetb

a m an think e th i n his
M, As
hea rt s o is he no t o nly embraces th e whol e of
,
”

a man s bein g bu t is so comp rehensiv e a s to

’
,

r each out to ev e ry co nditi on and ci rcumstance

' CHA R A C TER

o f his life A m a n is lite rally w hat b e thi nk s

. ,

hi s c haracter be ing th e comp l ete s um o f all his

th ough ts .

A s th e p l ant sp ring s from an d could not be ,

with out the se e d so e v ery act o f a man s p ri ngs

, ,

from th e hi dd en see ds of though t and could ,

not hav e appea red w i th out the m This applie s .

equally to tho se ac ts cal l e d s pont aneous and ' ”

'
unprem edi tate d as to tho s e wh ic h a re delib
'

crate l
y execut ed .

A ct i s the b lo s so m o f th ough t an d j oy an d ,

s u ffe ring a re its fru its ; thus d oes a m an gar

ner i n the sw eet an d bitte r fru itage of his own
husb an d ry .

I7 ,
 mm
m mmm
m
A S J IA N THIN K EI H
'

' A l/
‘

Th ought in the i d ha h ade us What we

n t
‘

. are

m
By thought was wrought d b uilt If a an s an .
’

in d
Hath evil th oughts pain co , e s on hi as o s c e

Th e wh eel th e o x be h i nd .

If o ne en d ure
u t
In p ri y o f thought j y follows hi
, o

A s his o w n shadow su e r .
”

M an is a growth by law and not a crea tion by,

artifice and cause and eff ect is as absolute and

,

und eviating in the hidden realm Of thought as

in the world f visible and material things A
o .

noble and G dlil character is not a thing f

.

o te o

favour chan ce b u t is the natural res ult f con

or , o

tinned e ffort i n right thinking the e ffect Of long ,

cherished assoc iation with God l ike thoughts .

A n ignoble nd b e stial character by the sam e

a ,

proc ess is the result f the continued harbour

, o

M an i s made o r u nmade by himself ; in the

armou ry f thought he forges the weapons by
o

which he destroys himself ; he also f shion the a s

tools with which he builds for himself heavenly

mansions f joy and strength and peace By the
o .

right choice and tru e application of thought ,

man ascends to the D ivine Perfe ction ; by the

abu e and wrong application f thought he d e
s o ,

[ ] 8
 J VI A N THIN K EI H
'
‘
' A S A

sce nds b el o w th e lev el Of th e b eas t Between .

th es e two extre mes are all th e grades f ch r o a

acte r and man i s their m ker and ma ster

, a .

O f all the b ea u tiful t fu th pe rtai n i n g t o the s

s oul whic h hav e b e e n restored and b rou ght to

li gh t in thi s age none i s more gladdening
, or

fruitfu l f d iv i n e p romi se and confi den c e than

o

thi s th at m a n is th m aster f tho u gh t the e o ,

m oulder f character and the m ak er a nd shape r

o ,

o f condition env i ronment and dest i ny

, , .

A a b eing f Power Intelli ge nce a nd Love

s o , , ,

and th e l o rd Of hi s ow n thoughts m an holds

‘

th e k ey to eve y situ ation and contains w i thi n

r ,

him s elf th at tra nsforming and re gen erative

a gency by wh ich h e m ay m ke himself wha t a

h e w ills .

M n i s a lways th e master even i n hi s wea k

a ,

e st a nd mos t abandon ed sta te ; but in hi s

weakness and degradation he i s th e foo lish ma s
ter wh o mi sgov erns his hou s ehold When '
.
”

he b egin s t o reflect upo n his condition a nd to ,

search dili ge ntly for th e Law upon whic h hi s

m
bein g i s est blished h e then becomes the wise
a ,

master direc ting his e nergi es with intelligence

, ,

and fa hi o ning his thou ghts to fru itf u l i ssu es

s .

S uch th e n i m as ter a nd man can o nly

IS co s c o us ,

th u s b e com e b y d i scovering w i thi n hi lf the se

[9]
 ' A S A M AN THIN KC TH ‘

laws of though t ; which discovery is totally a

matter of application self analysis and pe
,
-
, ex

r ence
1 .

O nly by much searching and mining are gold

'

and diamonds Obtained and man can find every ,

truth connected with his being if he will dig deep

into the min e f his soul ; and th t he the
o a 15

maker f his character the moulder of his life

o , ,

and the builder f his destiny he may u n

o , e rr

i ngly p rove if he will watch control nd al ter

, , , a

his thoughts tracing their eff ects upon hims lf

, e ,

upon others and u pon his life and circu m

,

stances linking cause and e ffec t by patient p

, rac

tice and investigation and u tilizing his every

,

experience even to the most tn i l every day

, v a ,
—

occu rrence as a means f Obtaining that knowl o

edge f himself which U nderstanding Wi

,

o 15 , s

dom Power In thi s direction as i n no other

, . , ,

is th e law absolute that H that se eketh fi nd '

e

est ; and to hi m tha t knocketh it shall be

opened ; for only by patience practi ce and
”

, ,

ceaseless importunity can a man enter th e Door

of the Temple f Knowledge o .
 €F F €C T O F
TH O UGHT

m
O N CIR C UMS TA N C es

A MA N
’
S may be liken ed to a garden
M IN D ,

whi ch may be i ntelligently culti vated or allowe d

to run wild ; b ut wh e ther cu ltiva ted or e

l t d i t mu st and will b i f th If no
g ec e , , n
g , r or .

u sefu l s e eds are p t i nt o it th e n an a bu nd ance

u ,

of usel ess weed s eeds w ill f ll therein and w ill

-
a ,

continue to p roduc e their ki n d .

Ju st as a gardener cu lt i vat e s h i s p lo t k eeping ,

it fre e from we eds and g row i n g the flowers and

,

fruits whi ch he requires s o m ay a m an te nd th e ,

garde n of his mi nd weed i n g ut ll the wrong , o a ,

u seless and imp ure thoughts and cu lt ivati ng

, ,

toward pe rfection the fl owers and fru its f right o ,

usefu l and pu re though ts By pursu i ng this p ro c

, .

ess a ma n soo ner r late r dis covers tha t h e i s

, o

th e m a ster gard en e r of h i s sou l the dir ec tor O f

-
,

hi s life H also r ev e ls w i thi n himself the laws

. e a , ,

o f th ou ght a n d u nderstands w i th ev e r in
, ,
—
cre as

i n g a ccu ra y h o w th e though t forces an d mind

c ,
-

el ements ope ra te i n the sh api n g f h i s ch arac te r o ,

circum stances an d des ti ny , .

[ n
]
 A S c/ i M AN TH IN K G TH ‘

Thought and character are ne nd as char o , a

act er n only manifest and discover itself

ca

th ough environment and circumstan ce the

r ,

outer conditions of a person s life will always be ’

found to be harmoniously related to hi inner s

state Thi s does not mean that a man s circum

.
’

stances r any given time are an indication f his

a o

enti character but that those circumstances are

re ,

so intimately connected with some vital thought

m
element within himself that for the time being , ,

they are indispensable to hi s development .

Every man i s where he i s by the law of his

being ; the thoughts which he has built into his
character have brought hi th ere and in the ar ,

rangemen t f his life there i s no element f

o O

chance but all is the result Of a law w h ich can

m
,

not err This is just as tru e of those who feel

.

f harmony with their s u rroundings as

”
t
ou o

of those who are contented with them .

A a progressive and evolving being man is

s ,

w here he is that he a y learn that he may grow ;

and as he l earns the spiritual lesson which any
ci cumstan ce conta ins for him i t passes away
r ,

and gives place to other circumstances .

M n is bu ffeted by cir umstances

a long as c so

h e believes himself to be t h creature of outside e

conditions bu t when he realizes that he i s a

,

[ 12
]
 A S

m A M AN THIN K C TH ‘

to the inner world f thought and bo th ple s

o , a

ant and Pl nt external conditions are fac

u e asa

tors which mak e for the ultimate good of th e

individu al A the reaper f hi w n harvest
. s o s o ,

man learns both by suffering and bliss .

F ollowing the inmos t desires aspira tions , ,

thoughts by which he allows him elf to be

, s

dominated 'pursuing the will th e wisp s of o

-
’
- -

impure imaginings steadfastly walking the

or

high way f strong and high endeavour' a man

o ,

at last arrives at their fruition and fulfilment in

the ou ter conditions f his life The laws f o . o

growth and adjustment eve ywhere b r o

A man does not c ome to the alms h ouse the or

jail by the tyranny f fate circumstance bu t

o or ,

by the p athway f grovelling thoughts an d b ase

o

desires N does a pure minded m an fall sud

or -

m
.

d nly into c rime by stress f any m ere e xte rnal

e o

force ; the criminal thought had long be n se e

cre tl
y fostered in th e heart and the ho u r of ,

opp rtu nity revealed its gathered power Cir

o .

cu t n
s a does not make the man ; it reveals
ce

him to himself N such conditions ca n exist as

. O

descending i nto vice and its attendan t su fferings

apa rt from vi cious inclinations or ascending ,

into virt u e and its pu e happiness wi thout the

r

[ I
4]
 m A S A M A N THIN K GTH ‘
'

con ti nu ed cultivati o n f v irtu ou s asp i rati ons ;

m
o

and n therefore a s the lord a nd ma ste r f

a , , o

thought i s th e m aker f hi mself the shape r

, o ,

and a u thor Of env i ronmen t Even at birth th . e

soul comes t o its own an d th o ugh every step , r

o f i ts earthly p il gri mage it attra cts thos e c o

b in t i n
a o sf c o nditions whi c h re eal i tself
o v ,

whic h a re th reflectio ns f i ts own p u ri ty and

e o

impuri ty its s trength an d w eakn ess

, .

M n d o n t a t tract that whi ch th ey w nt

e o a ,

b ut t hat which they a Their whims fanci es re . , ,

and amb i tio ns ar e thw a rt ed at every s tep b u t ,

thei r i nm ost th ou ghts and d es ire s a re f d Wi th e

the ir w n food be it fou l cl ea n The divi n

o , or .
'

i ty that shapes r end s i s in ou rselve s ; i t i s

ou
”

o ur v e ry s elf M an i s m an acl e d o nly by hi m

.

self ; though t an d a ction ar e th e ja ilers f F at e o

th ey imp ri son b ein g b a s e ; they ar e also the

,

angels f F reed om th ey libera te bei ng noble

o , .

N t what h e w i sh es and p rays fo r d oe s a man

o

ge t but wh t he j u s tly e arns Hi w i sh es and

, a . s

p raye rs are o nly gratifi ed and answ e red when

they h armo n ize w ith hi s th ough ts an d acti ons .

In th e ligh t Of th i s truth wh at the n i s the , , ,

me ani ng f fi ght i ng a gai nst ci rcumstan ces '

o
' ”

It m eans t hat a ma n i s cont i n u ally revo ltin g

1
5l
 A S A J VIA N THIN K fITH
‘
'

against an fl t without while all the time he

c ec ,

is no urishing and preserving its i n hi s

m
caus e

h eart That cause may tak e the form f a con

. o

scious vice an unconsci ou s weakn ess ; but

or '

whatever i t is it stubbornly retards the e fforts f

, o

i t po ssessor and thus calls aloud for remedy

s , .

M n are anxious to improve their i

e c rcu a

stances but are unwilling to i mprove them

,

selves; they therefore remain bound The m an .

who does not shrink from self cru cifixion can -

never fail to accomplish the Object u pon which

his heart is set This is as true Of earthly as f
. o

heavenly things Even the ma n whose sole b

. o

jecc i s to acquire wealth mus t be prep ared t o

make great pe rsonal sac ifices before he can r ac~

complish his object ; and how much more so he

who wou ld realize a strong and well pois ed life ' -

Here a man who 1 wretchedly poor H

13 3 . e 13

extremely anxious tha t his su rroundings and

home comforts should b e i mproved yet all the ,

time he shirk s his work and considers he i s jus

,

ri fled i n try i ng to deceiv e hi s employer n the o

g round f the o insu ffici ency Of his wag es S uch .

a man d oes not unders tand th e s i mplest rudi

men ts f those principles whi ch are the basis f
o o

true prosperity and i s no t o nly totally unfitted

,

to ri se t f his wretchedness but a ctu lly

ou o , IS a

[ 1 5]
 A S «4 J
' IA N
/ THIN K C TH ‘

a ttracting to him self a st ill dee per wretch edness

m
by dwelling i n an d acti n g out i nd ol ent de
, , ,

ce
p ti a
ve , nd unmanl y though ts .

Here i s a rich m a n who i s the v ictim Of a

painf l and pe rs i ten t di se ase as the result f
u s o

gl uttony H is w ill i n g to gi ve large s u s o f

. e

money to get ri d O f i t b ut h e w ill n o t sacrific e ,

his gl utto n ou s d esire s H wan ts to g rati fy hi s

. e

tas te for rich nd u nna tural vian ds a nd hav e hi

a s

h ealth a s w ell S uc h a ma n i s totally unfit to

.

have h ealth because h e has n t yet l ea rned the

, o '

fi rs t p ri n cip l es o f a h e l thy l i fe a .

He re i s an emp loy er o f la bou r who a dop ts

crooked measu res to avoid p ay i ng the reg lation u

w age and in th e hope f maki ng l arge r p rofits

, , o ,

r ed uces th e w ages f hi s w o rk peopl e S uch a

o -
.

man is al togeth er unfitt d fo r p ro speri ty an d e ,

when h e finds h imself bankrupt both as t , e

gar ds reputation a nd riches h e b l ame s circu m ,

sta nc es not know i n g that h e is th e s ol e a u thor

m
,

of hi s co ndition .

I hav e i ntr od u ced thes e three c a es merely as s

ill ustra ti v e O f th e tru th that man i s the c u ser a

' though n earl y a lw ays unc ons ci o u sl y 'of h i s c i r

cu t n
s a and tha t whi lst aim i ng at a good
ces , ,

end h e i co ntinually fru st rating i ts a ccompl i sh

, s

m en t by encou ra gi ng thoughts and d es ires

[ I
7]
 A S A J l/IA N THIN K GTH
‘
'

which cannot possibly harmonize with that end .

S uch cas es co uld be m ltiplied and vari ed l u a

most indefini tely but this i s n t necessary as

, o ,

the reader can i f he so resolves trace the action

, ,

o f the laws f thought in his w n mind and life

o o ,

and u ntil this is done mere external facts can ,

no t serve as grou nd f reasoning

a o .

Circu m ta nces however are so complicated

s , , ,

thought is deeply ro ted nd the conditions

so o , a

o f happiness vary so vastly with i ndivid u als ,

that a man s nti soul condition 'although i t

’
e re -

may be known to himself'c annot be judged by

another from the external aspec t f his life o

alone A man may be honest in certain di

. re c

tions yet suff er privations ; a m an may be dis

,

honest in certa in directions yet a c qu ire wealth ; ,

but the con clusion usu lly formed that the n a o e

man fails b f hi
p t i l
e caus e o r h n t
y and
s ar cu a o es ,

that the o ther p rospers b f hi

p t i l e caus e o s ar cu ar

di h n ty i s the resu l t f a s u pe rficial judg

s o es , o

ment which assumes that the dishonest ma n i s

,

almost to tally corrupt a nd the honest m an i , a

most enti rely virtuous In th e light of a d eeper

.

knowledge and wider expe rience such judg ,

ment i s found to be erroneous The dishonest .

man may have some admirable t which v 1r u e s

[ 1 8 ]
 A S
e g A J lA N
i/ THIN K cITH ‘ ‘

th e o ther does n o t po ssess ; and the honest man

ob nox i o us vi ce s which a re abs e nt in the other .

The ho nest m an reap s th e g ood res ults o f his

honest th ou ghts a nd a cts ; he also brin gs upo n
himself th e su fferings whi ch his vices p rod uce .

Th e d i shon es t ma n li kewise garners hi s own

su ffe rin g a nd happin ess .

It i s pleasin g to huma n v anity to b eliev e that

o ne suffe rs b e c aus e o f one s v i r tu e ; but not u n ti l
’

a ma n ha s ext irp ated eve ry sickly bitter and , ,

i mpu r e th ough t fro m hi s mi nd a nd w ashed ,

ev e ry sinful sta i n from h i s sou l can he b e i n a ,

po siti on to k n o w a nd d ec lare that his s uff erings

ar e th e resu lt of his good and n ot o f his b ad ,

qu aliti es ; an d o n th e way to yet l o ng be fore h e ,

h as rea ched tha t sup reme perfe c tion he w ill

, ,

hav e found wo rk ing i n h i s min d a nd life th e

, ,

G re at Law whi c h i s ab sol u tely j u st a nd wh i ch ,

ca nn ot th e refore gi ve good fo r evil ev i l for

, , ,

good Posse sse d o f s uch knowl edge h e w ill

.
,

then k now loo king back u pon h i s pas t ign r

,
o

an ce a nd b lindness tha t hi s l i fe i s a nd always

, ,

was j u stly ordered and tha t all hi s p ast e xpe

, ,

ri e nces good and b ad w e re th e e qu itab l e out

, ,

work ing o f his evolv i ng yet u n evolved s elf, .

Good thoughts and a c t io ns c an nev e r prod u c e

b a d resu lts ; b ad th oughts and a ct ions c an n ever
[ I
9 ]
 M AN THIN K C TH
'

A S A

produce good results This is but saying that

.

noth ing can come from corn but corn nothing ,

from nettles but nettles M n understan d th is

. e

law in the natu ral world and work with it ; but

,

few u nderstand it i n the mental and moral

world 'though its operation there i s just as sim
ple and undeviating' and they therefore do
, , ,

not cooperate with it .

S u ffering is lw y the effe ct

a a s f wrong o

thought in some direction It i s an indication .

that the individual i s out f harmony with him o

self with the Law of his being The sole and

, .

supreme use f su ffering i s to purify to burn

o ,

out all that is useless and impure S u ffering .

ceases for hi m who is pure There could be no .

object in b u rning gold after the dross had been

removed and a pe rfectly pu re and enlightened
,

being could not su ffer .

The circumstances which a man encounters

with su ffering are the res lt of his w n mental u o

inharmony The circumstances which a man

.

encounters with blessedness are the res ult of his

own mental harmony Blessedness not mate . ,

rial po ssessions is the measure f ri ght thought ;

, o

wretchedness not lack of material possessions

, ,

is the measure f wrong th ought A man may

o .

be cu rsed and rich ; he may be blessed and poo r .

[ 20
]
 A S A
' J l/I A
N THIN K S TH ‘

ness not corruption is the moulding and mov

, ,

ing force in the spiritu al government of the

world This being
. man has but to right
so ,

himself to fi nd that the universe is right ; and

during the p roc ess f putting himself right he
o ,

will find that as he alters his thoughts towards

things and other people thi ngs an d other peo ,

pl e will alter towards him .

The proof f this tru th is i n every person

o ,

and it therefore ad mits of easy investigation by

systematic introspection nd self analysis Let a a -
.

man radically alter his thoughts and he will ,

be astonished at the rapid transformation it will

e ffec t in the material conditions f his life O .

M n imagine that thought ca n be k ept secret

e ,

but it cannot ; it rapidly c rystallizes into habit ,

and habit solidifi es i nto circumstance Bestial .

thoughts c rystallize into habits f drunkenness o

and sensual i ty whi ch solidify i nto circum

,

stances f d estitution and disease i mpu re

o '

thoughts f every kind crystallize into n t

o e erva

ing and confusing habits which solidify into ,

distracting and adverse circumstances thoughts '

of fear doubt and i ndecision c ystallize into

, , r

weak unmanly and irresolute habits which

, , ,

solidify into circu mstances f failure indigence o , ,

and slavish dependence lazy thoughts crystal '

l 22
]
 m
4 cjldA N THINK ETH
i

A S
' v
‘

l iz e in to habits f un clea nl i n es s a n d d ishon

m
o

esty which so lidify i nto ci r cu mstances of

,

fo uln ess and begg y ' hate ful an d nd n ar co e a

tory thoughts c rystall ize i nto h b i ts o f accu s a a

tion and v iol ence whic h solidify i n to cir ,

c u t n
s a f i nj u ry and pe rsecution ' sel fi sh
ce s o

though t f all ki nds cry s t all i z e in to habi t o f

s o s

self se eking which so lidi fy i nto ci rcu ms tance s

-
,

mo re or l ess d i stressi n g O n th e oth er han d . ,

beauti fu l th ou gh ts f all kin ds cry s talliz e into

o

habits f gra ce and k indl iness whic h solidify

o ,

into ge ni al a nd sunny ci rcu m s tances ' pu re

thoughts crystallize i nto h abi ts o f temperan ce
a nd self co n trol which so lidify i nto c i rcum
-
,

s tances f repo s e and pe ace ' th ough ts f cou r

o o

age self r el ian ce a nd de ci s ion c y stall ize into

,
-
, r

manly habi ts wh ic h s olidify i nto ci rcums tance s

,

o f succes s p l e n ty a nd freed om ' ener ge tic

, ,

thoughts cry stall ize i nto h bits f cl eanl iness a o

and in d u try which s ol i di fy i n to ci rcumstances

s ,

o f p lea san tness ' gentle a nd fo rgi v ing th ough ts

crystall i z e into habits f gentl en es s whic h o ,

so lidify into p ro tec ti ve a nd p reserv ativ e ci rcu m

stan ces ' l ovi n g a nd u nsel fi sh thoughts c rysta l
l i z e i nto hab its o f self forgetfuln ess fo r Othe rs -
,

whic h s ol idify int o circu msta nces f su re a nd o

a b i din g p ro speri ty and true rich es .

[ 2
3
 v 4 .9 A M AN THIN K C TH ‘

A pa rti cular train o f thought persisted in be ,

it good or bad cannot fail to prod u ce its resu lts

,

o n th e c ha rac te r and cir cu mstances A man can .

not di ectly choose his circumstanc es but he

r ,

can choos e his thoughts and so indirectly yet , ,

su rely shape his circu mstances

, .

N a tu re hel s every man to th e gra tifica tion

p
o f the tho u ghts which he most enco u ra ges and ,

opportu ni ties are presented which will most

speedily bring to the surface both the goo d and
evil thoughts .

Let a man cease from hi sinful thoughts s ,

and all the world will soften towards him and ,

be ready to help him ; le t hi m put away his

weakly and sickly thoughts and lo 'opportu ni '

ties will sp ring up on eve ry hand to aid

hi s strong resolves ; let hi m en cou rage good
though ts a nd no hard fate shall bind him down
,

to wretchedness and shame The world i s your .

kaleidoscope and the va y ing combinations of

, r

colours which at every succeeding moment it

m
presents to y are the exquisitely adj usted pic
ou

tu res f your ever moving thoughts

o —
.

'
Y will b what you will t b ;
ou e o e

L t fa i lure fi nd i fal se o
e t ts c nt e n

In th at po r wor d envi on e
‘ ’
o , r nt ,

B t pi rit s or s i t
u s d i fre
c n , an s e.

[ 2
4 ]
A S
'
It mm A M AN THIN K S TH
ast ers ti e i t con'ue s space ;
, r

It cows th at b oastf l tr ick ster C h an e

U ncrown an d fill a servant s pl a e

,
u

A nd b i d s th e ty rant C i cumstan er
’
,
‘

c
c

.
c ,

m
The h uman Wi ll th at force unseen
, ,

Th e o ff sp ri n g o f a d eathless S oul ,

hew a wa y t any goal

C an o ,

Th oug h wall s o f gran ite i ntervene .

Benot i patient in d elay ,

B t wa i t as one wh o un d erst an d s ;
u

When s pi it rises an d command s

r ,

Th go d s are rea dy t ob ey ”
e o .

[ 2
5]
eF F e cr O F TH O U GHT O N HEA LTH
A N D THE B O TDY
‘
,

THE Bony is the se ant f the mind It obeys

rv o .

the op rations of the mind whether they be de

e ,

lib t ly chosen
e ra e automatic lly expressed
or a .

A t th e bidding f unlawf l thoughts th e body

o u

sinks rapidly nto disease and decay ; at the com

1

mand f glad and beauti ful though ts i t becomes

o

clothed wi th youthfulness and beauty .

D isease a nd health like circu mstan ces , , are

rooted in thought S ickly thoughts will express

.

themselves th ough a sickly b dy Thoughts

r
‘

o .

of fear have been known to ki ll a man a s speed

ily as a bulle t and they are conti nu ally ki lling
,

thousands f people just as su rely though less

o

rapidly The people who live in fear f disease

. o

are the people who get i t A nxiety qui ckly de .

moralizes the whole b ody a nd lays it open to ,

the entrance f disease ; while impure thoughts

o ,

even i f not physic lly i ndulged will soon shat

a ,

ter the ne ous system

rv .

S trong pure and happy thoughts b u ild u p

, ,

the body i n vigour and grace The b ody is a .

[ 2 5]
 A J VI A N THIN K O TH
'

A S
' '

d eli ate and plastic i nstru ment whi ch responds

c ,

readily t o th e thou ghts by which it is imp e ssed r ,

and habits f thou gh t will p odu c e th e ir own

o r

eff e cts good or b ad upon i t

, , .

M n will con ti nu e to hav e impu r e and p i

e o

so n d b l ood s o long as they p ro p agate u n cle an

e

thoughts O t f a cl e a n h e art co mes a cl ean

. u o

life nd a c lean body O u t f a d filed mind

a . o e

p roceed s a d fil d l i fe a nd a co rru p t b dy
e e o .

Thought i s th e fou n t f ac tion l i fe a nd m ani o , ,

f t ti n ; mak e th e foun ta i n pu re a nd all will

es a o ,

b e pu re .

Cha nge f di et will no t h elp a ma n who will

o

n o t change hi s thoughts When a man m akes .

hi s thou ghts pu re he no longer desires impure ,

food .

Cl ea n thoughts m ake cl ea n h abits The . so

called s ai n t who d oe s not w a sh hi body i s no t a s

S a i nt He who has s tre n g the ne d a nd p uri fied

.

hi thoughts d oe s n o t n e ed to c ons i der t h e m a

s

l
e vo e l nt micro b e .

If you would p erfect your body gu ard your ,

mind If yo u would renew your body beau tify

. ,

you r mi nd Thou ghts f malice envy di p

. o , , sa a

pointmen t despondency rob the b ody of i ts

, ,

health and grac e A sour fac e dO not come by . es

[ 2
7]
 «48 2
A M AN THIN K S TH

chance ; it is made by sour thoughts Wrinkl es .

th t mar are drawn by fo lly passion p rid e

a , , .

I know a wom an f ninety i who has the

o —
s x

bright innocent face f a girl I know a man

m
, o .

well u nder m iddle age whose fac e is drawn into

i nharmoniou s contours The n is th e result
. o e

of a swee t and sunny disposition ; the O ther is

th e outco me f passion and discontent
o .

A yo u c annot have a sw eet and w h lh

s o so e

abod e unl ess you admit the air and sunshin e

freely into your rooms so a strong b ody and a
,

bright happy serene cou ntenance can only

, , or

result from the free admittance into the mind

of thoughts f joy and goodwill and serenity
o .

O n the fa ce s of the aged there are wri nkles

made by sympathy ; others by strong a nd pure
thou ght and Others are carved by passion Wh ' o

cannot distingu ish them ' With thos e who

,

have lived ri ghteously age i s calm pe aceful

, , ,

and softly mellowed like the setting su n I

, .

hav e recently seen a philosopher n his death

m
o

bed H was not old except in years H died

. e . e

as sweetly and pe acefully as he had lived .

There i s no physi cian like cheerfu l thought

for dissipating the ills f the body ; there is no
o

co forter t o compare with goodwill for dispers

ing the shadows f g ri ef and sorrow To live
o .

[ 2 3 ]
 TH O U GHTA N D P UR P O S ’ ‘

U N TIL is li nked with purpose there

O
TH U GHT
is n o intelligent accomplishment With th e .

majority the barque f though t is allowed to o

'
drift upon the ocean of life A imlessness is a
”
.

vice and such drifting must not continue for

,

hi m who would steer clear f catastrophe and o

destru tion c .

They who have no central purpos e in their

life fall an easy prey to petty worries fears , ,

troubles and self pitying ll f which are indi

,
-
s, a o

cations f weakn ess which lead just as su rely

o , ,

as deliberately planned sins 'though by a dif

f nt route' to failure u nh ppin ess and loss
ere , , a , ,

for weakness cannot persist in a power evolving -

universe .

A man should conceive f a legiti mate p o ur

pose in his heart and set t to accomplish it

, ou .

H should make this purpose the centralizing

e

point f his thoughts It m ay take the form f a

o . o

spiritu al ideal or it may be a worldly object

, ,

according to his nature at the ti me being ; but

whichever it is he should steadily focus his
,

th ough t forces upon th object which he has set

-
e
before hi
A S A

m .
M
He s hou ld m ake this p u rpo se his
sup rem e du ty a nd sho u ld d evote him self to i ts
,

attai n ment no t a llowing hi s thou ghts to wan

,
AN THIN KffTH

de r away i nt o ep hemeral fan ci e s l o n g in g s a nd , ,

ima gi nin gs Thi s i s th e royal ro ad to self co n

.
—

trol a nd true con centrati on o f tho ugh t Ev en if .

he fa ils a gain and again to a ccomp lish his pu r

po s e 'as h e necessari ly mu st u ntil w ea k n ess is
overcome ' the t e ng th of character gai ned will
, s r

b e th e measu re o f h i s t u success and this will r e , i

form a new starting poin t fo r futu re powe r and -

Th os e who a re not p repar ed fo r th e pp h n a re e

s ion f a g t pu rp os e shou ld fix th e though ts

o rea ,

upo n th e fau ltl es s pe rfo rma n ce f th eir d u ty no o ,

ma tte r how i nsigni ficant th eir ta sk may appear .

O n ly in th is w ay c an th e tho u gh ts b e g a th e red
an d focu ssed an d re s ol u ti o n an d e n ergy b e de
,

l pe d w h ic h bei n g d o ne th e re i s no thin g
ve o , ,

whic h may no t be a ccomp lished .

Th w eake st s ou l k n ow i ng its w n w eak

e , o

n ess and b eli eving this t ru th th t t ng th

, a s re

ca n o n ly he dev e lop ed by e fiort an d practi ce ,

wi ll thu s beli eving a t o nce b egin

, , to exe rt it
self and adding effo rt to e ffo rt pa ti en ce to
, , ,

pati enc e and stre ngth to s trength w ill never

, ,

[3 ] 1
 m
A S
' a ' J I/I A N THIN K S TH ‘

cease to develop and will at last grow divinely ,

strong .

A the physically we ak man c an mak e hi

s

self strong by careful and p atient trai ning so ,

the man of weak thoughts n make them ca

strong by exercising himself i n right thinking .

To put away aimlessness and weakness and ,

to begin to think with purpose is to enter the ,

ranks f th os e strong ones who only recognize

o

failure as n f the pathways to attainment ;

o e o

who mak e all conditions serve them and who ,

thi nk strongly attempt fearlessly and a ecom

, ,

p lish masterfu lly .

Having conceived f his p urpose a man o ,

should mentally mark ou t a t ig ht pathway to s ra

i t a chievement lookin g neither to the right

s ,

nor the left D oubts and fears should be rigor

.

ou s ly excluded ; they are disintegrating ele

ments which break up the straight lin e f f o e

fort rendering it crooked ineff ectu al useless

, , , .

Thoughts of doubt and fear n ever accomplis h

anything and never can They always lead to
, .

failure Purpose energy power to do and al l

.
, , ,

strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear

creep i n .

The will to do springs from the k nowledge

that we n do D oubt and fear are th e great
ca .

[3 ]
2
 m ' A S A M
ene ies f k nowled ge and h e who encou rage s

a
,

self r ev e y step
o

them who does no t sl ay them thwarts him

r .
AN

,
THIN K E
J TH

,
‘

H who h co nq uered do ubt an d fea r h as

e as

co nquered failure Hi every th ou gh t is allied

. s

with powe r a nd ll difficulties are brav ely m et

, a

and wisely ove rcome Hi p urpo ses ar sea s o n. s e

ably planted and they bl oo m and b rin g fo rth

,

frui t which d oe s n ot fall p rema t u rely to the

ground .

Thou gh t lli e d fearl e ssly t o purpo s e becomes

a

creati v e force h e wh o k n w this i s ready to

' o s

become so me thi ng high e r and stro n ger th an a

me re b u ndl e f wave ri ng thou ghts a nd flu tu t
o c a

i ng se nsa tions ; h e who d this h as become the oes

consciou s a nd i ntell ige nt w ield er f his ment l o a

powers .

[ 33 ]
 THS
E TH O U GHTF A C TO R
'
-
‘

a man ach ieves and al l that he fail s

m
A LL THA T
to achieve is the direct result of his own
thoughts In a justly ordered universe wh ere
. ,

loss f equipoise would mean tot l destru ction ;

o a

individual responsibility must be absolute A .

man s weakness and strength purity and i

’

purity are his own and not another man s ;

, ,
’

t h ey are brought about by himself and not by ,

another ; and they can only be altered by him

self never by ano ther Hi condition i lso hi
, . s s a s

o w n and not another man s Hi su ffering and

, . s

his happiness are evolved from within A he . s

t h inks so he is ; as he continues to think he

, , so

remains .

A strong man cannot help a weaker u nless

'

t h at weaker is w illi ng to be helped and even ,

then the weak man must become strong of

himself ; he must by his own e fforts develop
, ,

the strength which he admires i n another .

N one but himself n lt his condition

’

ca a er .

It has been usual for men to think and to

,

[ 34 ]
 ' A S t A Qj I A N
l/ THIN K S TH ‘

say M any men are slaves becau se n is an

,
'
o e

oppressor ; let u s hate the opp res or N w s . o ,

howev er th ere i s amongs t an i ncreasin g few a

,

tenden cy to reverse this judgm ent a nd to say , ,

O n m an i s a n o pp ressor b eca u s e m an y a re
'
e

slaves ; let us desp ise the sl aves The truth i s .

that oppressor and slave are ope rators in ig co—

n n
o ra ce , and whi le seeming to affl i ct ea ch
,

other are i n re lity a ffli cting themselv es A

, a .

p
erfect Knowled ge p rceiv es th e a c tio n o f l we a

i n th e we k ness f the opp re sed and the mi s

a o s

appl ied power of the opp ressor ; a pe fe ct Love r ,

seei ng th e su ffering whi ch bo th s tates e ntail ,

condemns neither ; a pe fect Co mpass ion e m r

braces b oth opp ressor and opp ressed .

H who h a s conqu ered w e akn ess and h as '

e ,

pu t away all selfish tho u ghts b elongs nei th er ,

to opp ressor n r opp ress ed H i s fre e

o . e .

A m an ca n o nly ri s e co nquer an d achiev e

m
, ,

by l ifti n g up h i s thoughts H can o nly remai n . e

m
weak an d abj ect an d mi serab le by refu sing to
, ,

li ft u p hi s thoughts .

Before a man ca n ach iev e a nythi n g even i n ,

worldly thing s he m ust lift hi s thou ghts above

,

slav i sh an imal i ndulg en c e H y n t in . e a o , or

der t su cceed giv e u p ll a nimal i ty and l

o , a se

fi hns by any ean ; b ut a porti o n f t

e ss , s o i

[ 35 ]
 M TH IN K EI H
'

A S
' A
' AN ‘

must a t least be sacrificed A man whose first

, , .

thought is besti al indul gence could neither

think clearly nor plan methodically ; he could
not find and develop his latent resou rces and ,

would fail i n any u ndertaking N t having . o

commenced manfu lly to control his thoughts ,

he is not in a position to control a ffairs and to

adopt s rious respo nsibilities H is not fit to
e . e

act independen tly and stand alon e B u t he is .

limited only by the thoughts which he chooses .

There can be no progress no achie ement , v

thout sacrifice and a man s worldly success

,
’

will be in the mea u re that he sacrifices his con

s

fu sed animal thoughts and fixes hi s mind n , o

the development f hi s plans and th strength

o , e

e ni n
g of his resolution and self reliance A nd -
.

the higher h e lifts his thoughts the more ,

m anly upright and righteous he becomes the

, , ,

greater will be his success the more bl essed and

m
,

enduring w ill be hi s achievements .

Th e universe does not favour the gr edy d e , i e

dishonest the vicious although n th mere

, , o e

surface i t may sometimes appear to do ; it so

helps th honest the magnani ou s the virtu

e , ,

o us . A ll the great Teachers f the ages have de o

e la ed this in varying forms and to prove and

t ,

know it a man has b u t to persist in making him

[ 3 ]
6
 A S A M AN TH IN K é TH
‘

and even to lofty altitudes in the spiritu l realm a ,

and again descend into weakness and w t h d re c e a

ness by allowing arrogant selfish and co rupt

, , r

thoughts to take po ssession f hi m o .

Victories attained by right thought can only

be maintained by watchf lness M any gi e u . v

way when success is a sured and rapidly fall

s ,

back into failure.

m
A ll achievements whether in the business
, ,

intellec tual or spiritual world are the result f

, , o

definitely directed thought are governed by the

,

same law and are f the same method ; th only

o e

di fference lies in th bj t f tt i n nt
e o ec o a a e .

H who woul d accomplish little must sacri

e

fi ce little ; he who would achieve much mu t s

sacrifice much ; he w h would attain

o

must sacrifice greatly .

[ 3 8 ]
TH E m
13
V IS I O

g
NS

are the saviours f the world

A the visible world is s u st ined by the invisi
s

bl e so men through all their trial s and sins and

, ,

so rdid v oc ation are nou rish ed by the b eauti fu l

s ,
' A N D IT
DS A LS

a
o .

visions of their solitary dre amers Huma ni ty .

can no t forget it drea mers ; it cannot le t their

s

ideals fade and die ; i t lives i n them ; i t kn ows

th em as the li ti s whi ch it shall n day se e
rea e o e

and k now .

Com pos e r sc l p tor p ainter poet prophet

, u , , , ,

sa ge these are the makers f the after world

, o -
,

th e a rchit cts f heaven The world is beau tifu l

e o .

becau se they have lived ; witho ut them labo ur ,

i ng humani ty would pe rish .

H wh o cheri shes a b ea u ti fu l vi s i on a lofty

e ,

i deal i n hi s heart will n day realize i t C , o e . O

lumb u s cherished a vision f another world and o ,

he disc ove e d i t ; Cope rnicu s fostered the v i sion

r

o f a m ulti p licity f worlds and a wider u ni vers

o e,

and he reve led i t ; Buddha beheld the vi sion f

a o

a spiri tual world f stainless beau ty and pe rfect

o

pe ce an d he entered into it
a , .

[ 39 ]
 m
A S A J I A N TH IN K C TH
‘
' /

Cherish your visions ; cherish yo ur ideals ;

che i sh the musi c that sti rs i n your heart the
r ,

beauty that form i n your ind the loveliness

s ,

that drapes your purest thoughts for u t f , o o

them will grow ll delightful condition ll a s, a

heavenly environment ; f these if you but o , te

main tru e to them your world wi ll at last be,

b u fln
To desire is to obt i n to a pire is to achieve
a s .

S hall man s basest des ires receive the fullest

’

measure of gratification and hi pu est asp ra , s r i

tions starve for lack f sustenance ' S uch is n t o o

the Law such a condition f thi ng can never

' o s

Obtain A k and receive

'
'
s .
”

D rea m lofty dre m and as you dream

'

a s , , so

shall you become Your Vision is the promi se

.

of what you shall n day be ; your Ideal is th

o e e

prophecy f what you shall at last u nveil

o .

Th greatest achievement was at fi rst nd f

e a or

a time a dream The oak sleeps in the a orn ;

. c

the bird waits in

vision f the soul a waking angel sti rs D reams
o .

are the s edlings f realiti es

e o .

Yo ur cir mstances may be uncongeni l b ut

cu a ,

they shall not long re main if you but per so

i
ce v e an Ideal and st i ve to rea ch i t You n r . ca

not travel w ithi n and st and still wi th t Here ou .

 mm
d S A d id /IN TH IN K S TH
‘
'

is a youth ha rd p ressed by pov erty a nd labo ur ;

confin ed long hours n an u nhealthy workshop ; i

un s chooled and lacking ll the ar ts f r fin

, a o e e

m en t Bu t he dre a s f be t ter thing s ; he

. o

thi nks f in tell igence f re fi n e e n t f grac e

o , o , o

an d be u ty H c onceives f mentally b uilds

a . e o ,

up an i de l condition of life ; th e v i si o n f a
, a o

wider li be rty and a l arge r c ope tak es po sse s io n s s

m
o f h i m ; un es t u rges h im to act i o n an d h e u ti
r ,

l i zes ll hi sp ar e ti me and means s m all though

a s ,

they are to the d evelop ment f hi s laten t p w

, o o

ers nd reso u rces Ve y soon so l tered has hi s

a . r a

mi nd become tha t the work hop can no longer s

hold hi It has bec o me s o u t f harmony

. o o

w i th hi s m entali ty that i t falls t f hi s life as ou o

a garment i ca st as ide and with the growth of

s , ,

oppo rt u nitie which fit th e scope f hi s expand

s o

ing po w ers he pa se s u t of t fo r ever Y ea rs late r

s o i

w e see this youth as a full grown man W

, .

-
. e

fi nd h im a m aster f ce rtai n fo rces f th e mi nd

o o

whi ch h e w i elds w ith w o rl d w i d e i nfl u en ce and -

al mos t u nequall ed power I n h i s hands h e holds .

the c ords of giganti c respons i biliti es ; h e spe k s a ,

and l o ' li v es ar e c hanged ; men an d women

hang upon hi s wo rds a nd remou ld th ei r cha r
t r
ac e s , and sunlike he b eco me s th e fixed and
, ,

lum i no us cen tr e rou nd whic h i n numerab le d es

[4 ] 2
 A S A J lI A N THIN K GTH
‘
/

tinie rev olve H h as re lized the V isi on f his

s . e a o

you th H has become one with hi Ideal

. e s .

A nd y u t youthf l reader will re l

.

o , oo , u , a

the Vision 'not the idle wis h ' f your heart be o ,

it base beautiful or a mixtu re f both for , or o ,

you will always gravitate toward that which

you secretly most love Into your hands will
, , .

be placed the exact results f your own though ts ;

m
o

you w ill receive that which you e rn ; no more a

no less Whatever you r present environment

,

may be you will fall remain rise with your

, , , or

thoughts your Vision your Ide l You will b

, , a . e

c O as small as your controlling desire ; as

e

great as your dominant aspiration in the beau '

tiful words f S tan ton Kirkham D avis You

o ,
'

may be k eeping accou nts and presently you ,

shall wal k t f the door that for so long has

ou o

seemed to you the barrier f your ideals and o ,

shall find yourself before an au dience the pen -

still behind you r ear th e ink t in n your fin , s a s o

gers n d then and there shall pour

—
a t the ou

torrent f your i nsp i rat on You may be d i

o i . rv

ing sheep and you sha ll wander to the city

,

bucolic and open mouthed ; shall wander u nder -

the in trepid gu idance f the spirit into the stu o

dio f the ma ter and after a ti me he sh l l say

o s ,
a ,

I have nothing more to teach you A nd now

‘ ’
.

[4 ] 2
 A S A
« J MA N TH IN K S TH
yo u ha ve b e ome the m aster who d id s o t
c ,
'

ce n tl
y dre am f great thi ngs while
o dr i ving
shee p Y u shall lay down the saw and th e
. o

plane t o t k e u po n you rself the regen e ra ti on f

a o

the world .
'

Th th ughtless the ig n o ran t and th e in d

e o , , o

le n t see ing only th e ap parent effec ts f thi ngs

, o

and no t th e thi ngs themselves t l k f l uck of , a o ,

fortu ne a n d c hance S eein g a man grow rich

, .
,

they say H w l u cky he i s ' O bserv i n g n

,
'
o
'
a

other b ecom e intellectu al they exclaim , H w ,

'
o

highly favoured he i s ' A nd noting th e s a intly '

c haracter and wide i nflu en ce f anoth er they o ,

rem ark H w chan ce a i ds him a t every tu rn '

,
'
o
'

They d o no t se e th e trials and fa il u res and

struggles whi ch thes e m en have vol u ntarily n e

cou n te red in order to gain their experi e nc e ; have

no knowledge f the sacrifices they hav e m ade
o ,

o f th un daunted e ffort s they have p ut forth f

e , o

the fai th they hav e ex e rci sed tha t they m i gh t ,

overco m e th e apparently i nsu rmo unta bl e a nd ,

realiz e th e V is i on f the ir hea rt Th ey d o n t

o . o

know the darkne ss an d th e h eartach es ; they

only see th e ligh t and jy an d call it l uck ; o ,
' '

d o not see th e long and arduous j ou rn ey bu t ,

only behold th e pleasant go al an d call it good ,

'

[ 43 l
 ' all /IN TH INK ETH
”

4.5
‘
v a

fortu n e do n t understand the process but

o ,

only pe rceive the result and c all it c h ance ,

'

.
”

In all human a ff airs there are fi t and e or s ,

there are lt and the strength f t h e e ffort

res u s, o

is the measure f the resu lt Chance is n t

o . o .

G ifts powers material intellectu al and spir

' '

, , , ,

i t u l po ssessions are the fruit f e ff ort ; they are

a s o

thoughts completed objects accomplished vi, ,

sions realized .

The Vision that y u glorify in your mi nd o

the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart thi s

you will bu ild your life by this you ,

C O ITIC .

[ 44 ]
 m
' A S A M AN THIN K €TH

trader will find his business prosperity incre ase

as he develops a greater self control and equa -

ni i t
y for p e opl
, e will always prefer to deal
with a m an whose demeanour is stro
ble .

T h e strong calm man is always lov ed and

,

revered H is like a shade giving tree in a

. e -

th irsty land or a sheltering rock in a storm

Wh does n t love a tranquil heart a sweet
, .

'

o o ,

tempered balanced life ' It does not matter

,

whether it rains shines r what ch anges come

or , o

to those po ssessing these blessings for they are

m
,

always sweet serene and calm That exquisite

, , .

poise f character which we c ll serenity is the

o a

last lesson of culture ; it is the flowering f life o ,

th e fruitage f the soul It is preciou s a s wis

o .

d o more to be desired than gold yea than

,
—
,

even fine gold H w insignificant mere money

. o

seeking looks in comparison with a seren e life

a life that dwells i n the o ean f Tru th b c o , e

neath the waves beyond the reach f tempests

, o ,

in the Eternal Calm '

H w many pe ople w e kn ow who sou r their
'
o

lives who ru in all tha t is sweet and b eauti ful by

,

explosive tempers who destroy their p ise f ,

o o

character and make bad blood ' It is a questi on

,

whether the great majori ty of peopl e do n t o

[ 4 ]
6
o
c A S

ru in their lives and

o f J /

m
IA N

their happ in ess by la ck

f self c ontrol H w f w peop le we m ee t i n life
— . o

who ar e well balanced who have that ex quisite

-
’
ar

,
THIN K C TH

po ise whi ch is c haracte risti c f th e finish ed c har o

acter ' ”

Yes hu mani ty su rges wi th u ncontroll ed pa s

,
.

sion is tu m u l tu ous with u ngoverned grief is

, ,

blow n about by a nxi ety a nd doub t O nly the .

wis e man only h e whose thou ghts a re con

,

tro lled a nd pu rified makes th e winds and th e,

st orms f th s ou l ob ey him
o e .

Tem pes t tossed souls wherever ye may be

-
, ,

und e r whatsoever conditi o ns ye m ay liv e kn ow ,

thi s in th oce a n of life the i sles f Bl e s e d

m
e o s

ness a re sm iling a nd the sunny shore f you r

, o

ideal awaits your c omi ng Keep yo ur h and .

fi rmly upo n the h el m of thought I n th . e

barque o f you r sou l recl i n es th e com m an din g

M aste r ; H d oe s b u t sleep ; wa ke Hi
e S e lf .

con tro l i s s tre ngth ; R i ght Though t i s m as

re y ; Cal mn es s i s po we r S y u nto your h eart
t . a ,

Peace b sti ll '

' ”

, e

[ 47 ]