LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
PART SEVENTEEN.
The kind of Deity which a man, consciously or
unconsciously, worships, indicates the intellectual
status of the worshipper.
Ask the Indian of God, and he will describe to
you a powerful chieftain of a glorious tribe. Ask
the Pagan of God, and he will tell you of a God of
fire, a God of water, a God of this, that and the
other.
Ask the Israelite of God, and he will tell you of
the God of Moses, who conceived it expedient to
rule by coercive measures; hence, the Ten Com-
mandments. Or of Joshua, who led the Israelites
into battle, confiscated property, murdered the
prisoners and laid waste to cities.
The so-called heathen made "graven images" of
their Gods, whom they were accustomed to worship,
but among the most intelligent, at least, these images
were but the visible fulcrums with which they were
enabled to mentally concentrate on the qualities
which they desired to externalize in their lives.
We of the twentieth century worship a God of
Love in theory, but in practice we make for our-
selves "graven images" of "Wealth," "Power,"
"Fashion," "Custom" and "Conventionality." We
"fall down" before them and worship them. We
concentrate on them and they are thereby external-
ized in our lives.
The student who masters the contents of Part
Seventeen will not mistake the symbols for the
reality; he will be interested in causes, rather than
effects. He will concentrate on the realities of life,
and will then not be disappointed in the results.
PART SEVENTEEN.
1. We are told that Man has "dominion
over all things"; this dominion is estab-
lished through Mind. Thought is the ac-
tivity which controls every principle be-
neath it. The highest principle by reason
of its superior essence and qualities neces-
sarily determines the circumstances, as-
pects and relation of everything with which
it comes in contact.
2. The vibrations of Mental forces are
the finest and consequently the most power-
ful in existence. To those who perceive
the nature and transcendency of mental
force, all physical power sinks into insig-
nificance.
3. We are accustomed to look upon the
Universe with a lens of five senses, and
from these experiences our anthropomor-
phic conceptions originate, but true con-
ceptions are only secured by spiritual in-
sight. This insight requires a quickening
of the vibrations of the Mind, and is only
secured when the mind is continuously con-
centrated in a given direction.
4. Continuous concentration means an
even unbroken flow of thought and is the
result of patient, persistent, persevering
and well-regulated system.
5. Great discoveries are the result of
long-continued investigation. The science
of mathematics requires years of concen-
trated effort to master it, and the greatest
science--that of the Mind--is revealed only
through concentrated effort.
6. Concentration is much misunder-
stood; there seems to be an idea of effort
or activity associated with it, when just
the contrary is necessary. The greatness
of an actor lies in the fact that he forgets
himself in the portrayal of his character,
becoming so identified with it, that the
audience is swayed by the realism of the
performance. This will give you a good
idea of true concentration; you should be
so interested in your thought, so engrossed
in your subject, as to be conscious of noth-
ing else. Such concentration leads to in-
tuitive perception and immediate insight
into the nature of the object concentrated
upon.
7. All knowledge is the result of concen-
tration of this kind; it is thus that the se-
crets of Heaven and Earth have been
wrested; it is thus that the mind becomes
a magnet and the desire to know draws the
knowledge, irresistibly attracts it, makes
it your own.
8. Desire is largely sub-conscious; con-
scious desire rarely realizes its object
when the latter is out of immediate reach.
Sub-conscious desire arouses the latent
faculties of the mind, and difficult prob-
lems seem to solve themselves.
9. The sub-conscious mind may be
aroused and brought into action in any
direction and made to serve us for any
purpose, by concentration. The practice
of concentration requires the control of the
physical, mental and psychical being; all
modes of consciousness whether physical,
mental or psychical, must be under con-
trol.
10. Spiritual Truth is therefore the con-
trolling factor; it is this which will enable
you to grow out of limited attainment and
reach a point where you will be able to
translate modes of thought into character
and consciousness.
11. Concentration does not mean mere
thinking of thoughts, but the transmuta-
tion of these thoughts into practical values;
the average person has no conception of
the meaning of concentration. There is al-
ways the cry "to have" but never the
cry "to be"; they fail to understand that
they cannot have one without the other,
that they must first find the "kingdom"
before they can have the "things added."
Momentary enthusiasm is of no value; it
is only by unbounded self-confidence that
the goal is reached.
12. The mind may place the ideal a lit-
tle too high and fall short of the mark; it
may attempt to soar on untrained wings
and instead of flying, fall to earth; but that
is no reason for not making another at-
tempt.
13. Weakness is the only barrier to
mental attainment; attribute your weak-
ness to physical limitations or mental un-
certainties and try again; ease and perfec-
tion are gained by repetition.
14. The astronomer centers his mind on
the stars and they give forth their se-
crets; the geologist centers his mind on
the construction of the earth and we have
geology; so with all things. Men center
their minds on the problems of life and the
result is apparent in the vast and complex
social order of the day.
15. All mental discovery and attain-
ment are the result of desire plus concen-
tration; desire is the strongest mode of ac-
tion; the more persistent the desire, the
more authoritative the revelation. Desire
added to concentration will wrench any se-
cret from nature.
16. In realizing great thoughts, in ex-
periencing great emotions that correspond
with great thoughts, the mind is in a state
where it appreciates the value of higher
things.
17. The intensity of one moment's ear-
nest concentration and the intense longing
to become and to attain may take you fur-
ther than years of slow normal and forced
effort; it will unfasten the prison bars of
unbelief, weakness, impotence and self-be
littlement, and you will come into a reali-
zation of the joy of overcoming.
18. The spirit of initiative and original-
ity is developed through persistence and
continuity of mental effort. Business
teaches the value of concentration and en-
courages decision of character; it develops
practical insight and quickness of conclu-
sion. The mental element in every commer-
cial pursuit is dominant as the controlling
factor, and desire is the predominating
force; all commercial relations are the ex-
ternalization of desire.
19. Many of the sturdy and substantial
virtues are developed in commercial em-
ployment; the mind is steadied and di-
rected; it becomes efficient. The principal
necessity is the strengthening of the mind
so that it rises superior to the distractions
and wayward impulses of instinctive life
and thus successfully overcomes in the con-
flict between the higher and lower self.
20. All of us are dynamos, but the dyna-
mo of itself is nothing; the mind must
work the dynamo; then it is useful and its
energy can be definitely concentrated. The
mind is an engine whose power is un-
dreamed; thought is an omni-working
power. It is the ruler and creator of all
form and all events occurring in form.
Physical energy is nothing in comparison
with the omnipotence of thought, because
thought enables man to harness all other
natural power.
21. Vibration is the action of thought;
it is vibration which reaches out and at-
tracts the material necessary to construct
and build. There is nothing mysterious
concerning the power of thought; concen-
tration simply implies that consciousness
can be focalized to the point where it be-
comes identified with the object of its at-
tention. As food absorbed is the essence
of the body, so the mind absorbs the object
of its attention, gives it life and being.
22. If you concentrate on some matter
of importance, the intuitive power will be
set in operation, and help will come in the
nature of information which will lead to
success.
23. Intuition arrives at conclusions
without the aid of experience or memory.
Intuition often solves problems that are
beyond the grasp of the reasoning power.
Intuition often comes with a suddenness
that is startling; it reveals the truth for
which we are searching, so directly that it
seems to come from a higher power. In-
tuition can be cultivated and developed;
in order to do this it must be recognized
and appreciated; if the intuitive visitor is
given a royal welcome when he comes, he
will come again; the more cordial the wel-
come the more frequent his visits will be-
come, but if he is ignored or neglected he
will make his visits few and far apart.
24. Intuition usually comes in the Si-
lence; great minds seek solitude fre-
quently; it is here that all the larger prob-
lems of life are worked out. For this rea-
son every business man who can afford it
has a private office, where he will not be
disturbed; if you cannot afford a private
office you can at least find somewhere,
where you can be alone a few minutes each
day, to train the thought along lines which
will enable you to develop that invincible
power which is necessary to achieve.
25. Remember that fundamentally the
sub-conscious is omnipotent; there is no
limit to the things that can be done when
it is given the power to act. Your degree
of success is determined by the nature of
your desire. If the nature of your desire
is in harmony with Natural Law or the
Universal Mind, it will gradually emanci-
pate the mind and give you invincible cour-
age.
26. Every obstacle conquered, every
victory gained, will give you more faith in
your power, and you will have greater
ability to win. Your strength is deter-
mined by your mental attitude; if this atti-
tude is one of success, and is permanently
held with an unswerving purpose, you will
attract to you from the invisible domain
the things you silently demand.
27. By keeping the thought in mind, it
will gradually take tangible form. A defi-
nite purpose sets causes in motion which
go out in the invisible world and find the
material necessary to serve your purpose.
28. You may be pursuing the symbols
of power, instead of power itself. You may
be pursuing fame instead of honor, riches
instead of wealth, position instead of serv-
ice; in either event you will find that they
turn to ashes just as you overtake them.
29. Premature wealth or position can-
not be retained because it has not been
earned; we get only what we give, and
those who try to get without giving always
find that the law of compensation is relent-
lessly bringing about an exact equilibrium.
30. The race has hitherto been for
money and other mere symbols of power,
but with an understanding of the true
source of power, we can afford to ignore
the symbols. The man with a large bank
account finds it unnecessary to load his
pockets down with gold; so with the man
who has found the true source of power;
he is no longer interested in its shams or
pretentions.
31. Thought ordinarily leads outwardly
in evolutionary directions, but it can be
turned within where it will take hold of
the basic principles of things, the heart of
things, the spirit of things. When you get
to the heart of things it is comparatively
easy to understand and command them.
32. This is because the Spirit of a thing
is the thing itself, the vital part of it, the
real substance. The form is simply the
outward manifestation of the spiritual ac-
tivity within.
33. For your exercise this week concen-
trate as nearly as possible in accordance
with the method outlined in this lesson; let
there be no conscious effort or activity as-
sociated with your purpose. Relax com-
pletely, avoid any thought of anxiety as to
results. Remember that power comes
through repose. Let the thought dwell
upon your object, until it is completely
identified with it, until you are conscious
of nothing else.
34. If you wish to eliminate fear con-
centrate on courage.
35. If you wish to eliminate lack con-
centrate on abundance.
36. If you wish to eliminate disease con-
centrate on health.
37. Always concentrate on the ideal as
an already existing fact; this is the Elohim,
the germ cell, the life principle which goes
forth, and enters in, and becomes, sets in
motion those causes which guide, direct
and bring about the necessary relation,
which eventually manifest in form.
Thought is the property of those only
who can entertain it. --Emerson.
PART SEVENTEEN.
161. What is the true method of concen-
tration?
To become so identified with the ob-
ject of your thought that you are
conscious of nothing else.
162. What is the result of this method of
concentration?
Invisible forces are set in motion
which irresistibly bring about condi-
tions in correspondence with your
thought.
163. What is the controlling factor in this
method of thought?
Spiritual Truth.
164. Why is this so?
Because the nature of our desire
must be in harmony with Natural
Law.
165. What is the practical value of this
method of concentration?
Thought is transmuted into character,
and character is the magnet which
creates the environment of the indi-
vidual.
166. What is the controlling factor in
every commercial pursuit?
The mental element.
167. Why is this so?
Because Mind is the ruler and creat-
or of all form and all events occur-
ring in form.
168. How does concentration operate?
By the development of the powers of
perception, wisdom, intuition and
sagacity.
169. Why is intuition superior to reason?
Because it does not depend upon ex-
perience or memory and frequently
brings about the solution to our prob-
lem by methods concerning which we
are in entire ignorance.
170. What is the result of pursuing the
symbol of the reality?
They frequently turn to ashes just as
we overtake them, because the sym-
bol is only the outward form of the
spiritual activity within, therefore
unless we can possess the spiritual
reality, the form disappears.