the dore lectures on mental science(脑科学讲座)-第4部分
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conditions。 But we invert this order； and seek to create from conditions to
states。 We say； If I had such and such conditions they would produce the
state of feeling which I desire； and in so saying we run the risk of making
a mistake as to the correspondence； for it may turn out that the particular
conditions which we fixed on are not such as would produce the desired
state。 Or； again； though they might produce it in a certain degree； other
conditions might produce it in a still greater degree； while at the same time
opening the way to the attainment of still higher states and still better
conditions。 Therefore our wisest plan is to follow the pattern of the Parent
Mind and make mental self…recognition our starting point； knowing that by
the inherent Law of Spirit the corelated conditions will come by a natural
process of growth。 Then the great self…recognition is that of our relation to
the Supreme Mind。 That is the generating centre and we are distributing
centres； just as electricity is generated at the central station and delivered
in different forms of power by reason of passing through appropriate
centres of distribution； so that in one place it lights a room； in another
conveys a message； and in a third drives a tram car。 In like manner the
power of the Universal Mind takes particular forms through the particular
mind of the individual。 It does not interfere with the lines of his
individuality； but works along them； thus making him； not less； but more
himself。 It is thus； not a compelling power； but an expanding and
illuminating one； so that the more the individual recognizes the reciprocal
action between it and himself； the more full of life he must become。
Then also we need not be troubled about future conditions because we
know that the All…originating Power is working through us and for us； and
that according to the Law proved by the whole existing creation； it
produces all the conditions required for the expression of the Life； Love
and Beauty which it is； so that we can fully trust it to open the way as we
go along。 The Great Teacher's words； 〃Take no thought for the morrow〃
and note that the correct translation is 〃Take no anxious thought〃 are the
practical application of the soundest philosophy。 This does not； of course；
mean that we are not to exert ourselves。 We must do our share in the work；
and not expect God to do FOR us what He can only do THROUGH us。 We
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are to use our common sense and natural faculties in working upon the
conditions now present。 We must make use of them； AS FAR AS THEY
GO； but we must not try and go further than the present things require； we
must not try to force things； but allow them to grow naturally； knowing
that they are doing so under the guidance of the All…Creating Wisdom。
Following this method we shall grow more and more into the habit of
looking to mental attitude as the Key to our progress in Life； knowing that
everything else must come out of that； and we shall further discover that
our mental attitude is eventually determined by the way in which we
regard the Divine Mind。 Then the final result will be that we shall see the
Divine Mind to be nothing else than Life； Love and BeautyBeauty being
identical with Wisdom or the perfect adjustment of parts to wholeand we
shall see ourselves to be distributing centres of these primary energies and
so in our turn subordinate centres of creative power。 And as we advance in
this knowledge we shall find that we transcend one law of limitation after
another by finding the higher law； of which the lower is but a partial
expression； until we shall see clearly before us； as our ultimate goal；
nothing less than the Perfect Law of Libertynot liberty without Law
which is anarchy； but Liberty according to Law。 In this way we shall find
that the Apostle spoke the literal truth； when he said； that we shall become
like Him when we see Him AS HE IS； because the whole process by
which our individuality is produced is one of reflection of the image
existing in the Divine Mind。 When we thus learn the Law of our own
being we shall be able to specialize it in ways of which we have hitherto
but little conception； but as in the case of all natural laws the specialization
cannot take place until the fundamental principle of the generic law has
been fully realized。 For these reasons the student should endeavour to
realize more and more perfectly； both in theory and practice； the law of the
relation between the Universal and the Individual Minds。 It is that of
RECIPROCAL action。 If this fact of reciprocity is grasped； it will be
found to explain both why the individual falls short of expressing the
fulness of Life； which the Spirit is； and why he can attain to the fulness of
that expression； just as the same law explains why iron sinks in water； and
how it can be made to float。 It is the individualizing of the Universal Spirit；
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by recognizing its reciprocity to ourselves； that is the secret of the
perpetuation and growth of our own individuality。
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THE NEW THOUGHT AND THE
NEW ORDER。
In the two preceding lectures I have endeavoured to reach some
conception of what the All…originating Spirit is in itself； and of the relation
of the individual to it。 So far as we can form any conception of these
things at all we see that they are universal principles applicable to all
nature； and； at the human level； applicable to all men： they are general
laws the recognition of which is an essential preliminary to any further
advance； because progress is made； not by setting aside the inherent law of
things； which is impossible； but by specializing it through presenting
conditions which will enable the same principle to act in a less limited
manner。 Having therefore got a general idea of these two ultimates； the
universal and the individual； and of their relation to one another； let us
now consider the process of specialization。 In what does the specialization
of a natural law consist？ It consists in making that law or principle
produce an effect which it could not produce under the simply generic
conditions spontaneously provided by nature。 This selection of suitable
conditions is the work of Intelligence； it is a process of consciously
arranging things in a new order； so as to produce a new result。 The
principle is never new； for principles are eternal and universal； but the
knowledge that the same principle will produce new results when working
under new conditions is the key to the unfoldment of infinite possibilities。
What we have therefore to consider is the working of Intelligence in
providing specific conditions for the operation of universal principles； so
as to bring about new results which will transcend our past experiences。
The process does not consist in the introduction of new elements； but in
making new combinations of elements which are always present； just as
our ancestors had no conception of carriages that could go without horses；
and yet by a suitable combination of elements which were always in
existence； such vehicles are common objects in our streets today。 How；
then； is the power of Intelligence to be brought to bear upon the generic
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law of the relation between the Individual and the Universal so as to
specialize it into the production of greater results than those which we
have hitherto obtained？
All the practical attainments of science； which place the civilized
world of to…day in advance of the times of King Alfred or Charlemagne；
have been gained by a uniform method； and that a very simple one。 It is by
always enquiring what is the affirmative factor in any existing
combination； and asking ourselves why； in that particular combination； it
does not act beyond certain limits。 What makes the thing a success； so far
as it goes； and what prevents it going further？ Then； by carefully
considering the nature of the affirmative factor； we see what sort of
conditions to provide to enable it to express itself more fully。 This is the
scientific method； it has proved itself true in respect of material things；
and there is no reason why it should not be equally reliable in respect of
spiritual t
