the dore lectures on mental science(脑科学讲座)-第9部分
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which we can as yet form no conception。
St。 John sums up the whole of this position in his memorable words：
〃Beloved now are we the Sons of God； and it doth not yet appear what we
SHALL be； but we know that when He shall appear （i。e。； become clear to
us） we shall be like Him； for （i。e。； the reason of all this） we shall see Him
as He is〃 （I。 John iii。 2）。
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THE CREATIVE POWER OF
THOUGHT。
One of the great axioms in the new order of ideas； of which I have
spoken； is that our Thought possesses creative power； and since the whole
superstructure depends on this foundation； it is well to examine it carefully。
Now the starting point is to see that Thought； or purely mental action； is
the only possible source from which the existing creation could ever have
come into manifestation at all； and it is on this account that in the
preceding addresses I have laid stress on the origin of the cosmos。 It is
therefore not necessary to go over this ground again； and we will start this
morning's enquiry on the assumption that every manifestation is in essence
the expression of a Divine Thought。 This being so； our own mind is the
expression of a Divine Thought。 The Divine Thought has produced
something which itself is capable of thinking； but the question is whether
its thinking has the same creative quality as that of the Parent Mind。
Now by the very hypothesis of the case the whole Creative Process
consists in the continual pressing so forward of the Universal Spirit for
expression through the individual and particular； and Spirit in its different
modes is therefore the Life and Substance of the universe。 Hence it
follows that if there is to be an expression of thinking power it can only be
by expressing the same thinking power which subsists latent in the
Originating Spirit。 If it were less than this it would only be some sort of
mechanism and would not be thinking power； so that to be thinking power
at all it must be identical in kind with that of the Originating Spirit。 It is
for this reason that man is said to be created in the image and likeness of
God； and if we realize that it is impossible for him to be otherwise； we
shall find a firm foundation from which to draw many important
deductions。
But if our thought possesses this creative power； why are we hampered
by adverse conditions？ The answer is； because hitherto we have used our
power invertedly。 We have taken the starting point of our thought from
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external facts and consequently created a repetition of facts of a similar
nature； and so long as we do this we must needs go on perpetuating the old
circle of limitation。 And； owing to the sensitiveness of the subconscious
mind to suggestion（See Edinburgh Lectures； chapter V。）we are subject
to a very powerful negative influence from those who are unacquainted
with affirmative principles； and thus race…beliefs and the thought…currents
of our more immediate environment tend to consolidate our own inverted
thinking。 It is therefore not surprising that the creative power of our
thought； thus used in a wrong direction； has produced the limitations of
which we complain。 The remedy； then； is by reversing our method of
thinking； and instead of taking external facts as our starting point； taking
the inherent nature of mental power as our starting point。 We have already
gained two great steps in this direction； first by seeing that the whole
manifested cosmos could have had its origin nowhere but in mental power；
and secondly by realizing that our own mental power must be the same in
kind with that of the Originating Mind。
Now we can go a step further and see how this power in ourselves can
be perpetuated and intensified。 By the nature of the creative process your
mind is itself a thought of the Parent Mind； so； as long as this thought of
the Universal Mind subsists； you will subsist； for you are it。 But so long as
you think this thought it continues to subsist； and necessarily remains
present in the Divine Mind； thus fulfilling the logical conditions required
for the perpetuation of the individual life。 A poor analogy of the process
may be found in a self…influencing dynamo where the magnetism
generates the current and the current intensifies the magnetism with the
result of producing a still stronger current until the limit of saturation is
reached； only in the substantive infinitude of the Universal Mind and the
potential infinitude of the Individual Mind there is no limit of saturation。
Or we may compare the interaction of the two minds to two mirrors； a
great and a small one； opposite each other； with the word 〃Life〃 engraved
on the large one。 Then； by the law of reflection； the word 〃Life〃 will also
appear on the image of the smaller mirror reflected in the greater。 Of
course these are only very imperfect analogies； but if you car once grasp
the idea of your own individuality as a thought in the Divine Mind which
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is able to perpetuate itself by thinking of itself as the thought which it is；
you have got at the root of the whole matter； and by the same process you
will not only perpetuate your life but will also expand it。
When we realize this on the one hand； and on the other that all external
conditions； including the body； are produced by thought； we find ourselves
standing between two infinites； the infinite of Mind and the infinite of
Substancefrom both of which we can draw what we will； and mould
specific conditions out of the Universal Substance by the Creative Power
which we draw in from the Universal Mind。 But we must recollect that
this is not by the force of personal will upon the substance； which is an
error that will land us in all sorts of inversion； but by realizing our mind as
a channel through which the Universal Mind operates upon substances in a
particular way； according to the mode of thought which we are seeking to
embody。 If； then； our thought is habitually concentrated upon principles
rather than on particular things； realizing that principles are nothing else
than the Divine Mind in operation； we shall find that they will necessarily
germinate to produce their own expression in corresponding facts； thus
verifying the words of the Great Teacher； 〃Seek ye first the Kingdom of
God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you。〃
But we must never lose sight of the reason for the creative power of
our thought； that it is because our mind is itself a thought of the Divine
Mind； and that consequently our increase in livingness and creative power
must be in exact proportion to our perception of our relation to the Parent
Mind。 In such considerations as these is to be found the philosophical
basis of the Bible doctrine of 〃Sonship；〃 with its culmination in the
conception of the Christ。 These are not mere fancies but the expression of
strictly scientific principles； in their application to the deepest problems of
the individual life； and their basis is that each one's world； whether in or
out of the flesh； must necessarily be created by his own consciousness； and；
in its turn； his mode of consciousness will necessarily take its colour front
his conception of his relation to the Divine Mind to the exclusion of light
and colour； if he realizes no Divine Mind； and to their building up into
forms of beauty in proportion as he realizes his identity of being with that
All…Originating Spirit which is Light； Love； and Beauty in itself。 Thus the
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great creative work of Thought in each of us is to make us consciously
〃sons and daughters of the Almighty；〃 realizing that by our divine origin
we can never be really separated from the Parent Mind which is
continually seeking expression through us； and that any apparent
separation is due to our own misconception of the true nature of the
inherent relation between the Universal and the Individual。 This is the
lesson which the Great Teacher has so luminously out before us in the
parable of the Prodigal Son。
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THE GREAT AFFIRMATIVE。
The Great Affirmative appears in two modes； the cosmic and the
individual。 In its essence it is the same in both； but in each it works from a
different standpoint。 It is always the principle of Beingthat which is； as
distinguished from that
