Part Twenty-Four - Study Questions with Answers

231. Upon what principle does the theory and practice of every system of Metaphysics in existence depend?
     Upon a knowledge of the Truth concerning yourself and the world in which you live.
232. What is the Truth concerning yourself?
     The real I or ego is spiritual and is therefore always perfect.
233. What is the method of creating any form of Truth?
     To absolutely convince yourself of the Truth concerning the condition which you wish to see manifested.
234. Can we do this for others?
     The Universal Mind in which we live and move and have our being is one and indivisible, it is therefore just as possible to help others as to help ourselves.
235. What is the Universal Mind?
     The totality of all mind in existence.
236. Where is the Universal Mind?
     The Universal Mind is omnipresent, it exists everywhere. There is no place where it is not. It is therefore within us. It is The World within. It is our spirit, our life.
237. What is the nature of the Universal Mind?
     It is spiritual and consequently creative. It seeks to express itself in form.
238. How may we act on the Universal Mind?
     Our ability to think is our ability to act on the Universal Mind and bring it into manifestation for the benefit of ourselves or others.
239. What is meant by thinking?
     Clear, decisive, calm, deliberate, sustained thought with a definite end in view.
240. What will be the result?
     You will also be able to say, It is the ‘Universal’ that dwells within me that does the work. You will come to know that the Universal Mind does really and truly dwell within you, in other words, you will come to know that the wonderful promises made here are fact, and can be demonstrated by anyone having sufficient understanding.

The ideas and images in our minds are the invisible powers that constantly govern them; and to these they all pay universally a ready submission.
- Inspired by Jonathan Edwards

Part Twenty-Four - Page 4

17. To train the mind to see Truth only is to express true conditions only, our ability to do this will be an indication as to the progress we are making.
18. The absolute truth is that the I is perfect and complete; the real I is spiritual and is therefore always perfect; it is always abundant, free, and healthy. The flash of genius does have origin in the spiritual; it is inspired by the ego, the spiritual I which is one with the Universal Mind, and it is our ability to recognize this Unity which is the cause of all inspiration, all genius. These results are far reaching and have effect upon generations yet to come; they are the pillars of fire which mark the path that millions follow.
19. Truth is not the result of logical training or of experimentation, or even of observation; it is the product of a developed consciousness. Truth within a Caesar, manifests in a Caesar's deportment, in Caesar's life and Caesar's action; Caesar's influence upon social forms and progress. Your life and your actions and your influence in the world will depend upon the degree of truth which you are enabled to perceive, for truth will manifest in conduct only.
20. Truth manifests in character, and the character of a person, should be the interpretation of what to them is truth, and this will in turn be evidenced in the character of their possession. If a person is grateful for the drift of their fortune they are just as just to themselves as if they should allow rational truth, when it stands patent and irrefutable.
21. Our environment and the innumerable circumstances and accidents of our lives already exist in the subconscious personality which attracts to itself the mental and physical material which is congenial to its nature. Thus our future being determined from our present, and if there should be justice in any feature or phase of our personal life, we must look within for the cause, try to discover the mental fact which is responsible for the outward manifestation.
22. It is this truth which makes you free and it is the conscious knowledge of this truth which will enable you to achieve every blessing.

Part Four - Page 3

15. This is normal and possible when you remember that the World Within is controlled by the I and that this I is a part or one with the Infinite I which is the Universal Energy or Spirit, usually called God.
16. This is a fact which has been accepted by the best spiritual thought as well as the best scientific thought.
17. Herbert Spender said: Amid all the mysteries by which we are surrounded, nothing is more certain than that we are ever in the presence of an Infinite and Eternal Energy from which all things proceed.
18. Lyman Abbott, in an address delivered before the Alumni of Bangor Theological Seminary, said: We are coming to think of God as dwelling in man rather than as operating on men from without.
19. Science goes a little way in its search and stops. Science finds the ever present Eternal Energy, but spirituality finds the Power behind this energy and locates it within people.
20. Here is the secret of power, of mastery. To overcome means to have self control along with having hings. Self-affirmation is success. We can give only when we get; we can be helpful only when we are strong. The Infinite is abundant and we who are the representatives of Infinite power should be abundant also, and if we wish to be of service to others we must have power and more power, but to get it we must give it; we must be of service.
21. The more we give the more we shall get; we must become a channel whereby the Universal can express activity. The Universal is constantly seeking to express itself, to be of service, and it seeks the channel whereby it can find the greatest activity, where it can do the most good, where it can be of greatest service to everyone.

Part Four - Page 2

9. If you can do these things it is because you have thus far made the necessary effort. Now is the time to make the effort. The result will be exactly in proportion to the effort expended. One of the strongest affirmations which you can use for the purpose of strengthening the will and realizing your power to accomplish, is, I can be what I will to be.
10. Every time you repeat it realize who and what this I is; try to come into a thorough understanding of the true nature of the I; if you do, you will become invincible; that is, provided that your objects and purposes are constructive and are therefore in harmony with the creative principle of the Universe.
11. Make use of this affirmation, use it continuously, night and morning, and as often during the day as you think of it, and continue to do so until it becomes a part of you; form the habit.
12. If you do this, you had better keep doing it, because modern psychology tells us that when we start something and complete it, or make a resolution and keep it, we are forming the habit of success; absolute, honorable success. Only if you do intend to do a thing, then start; if you do start, see it through no matter what; if you make up your mind to do something, do it; let everything and everyone, help you; the I in you has determined, the thing is settled; the die is cast, there is only agreement.
13. If you carry out this idea, beginning with small things which you know you can control and gradually increase the effort, and always under all circumstances allowing your I to rule, you will find that you can eventually control yourself, and many people have found to their joy that it is easy to control themselves.
14. When you have learned to control yourself you will have found the World Within which controls the world without; you will have become irresistible; people and things will respond to your every wish with only a small effort on your part.

Part Four - Page 1

1. The I of you is beyond the physical body; the physical body is simply an instrument which the I uses to carry out its purposes; the I is beyond the Mind, for the mind is simply another instrument which the I uses with which to think, reason, and plan.
2. The I must be something which controls and directs both the body and the mind; something which determines what they shall do and how they shall act. When you come into a realization of the true nature of this I, you will enjoy a sense of power which you have never before known.
3. Your personality is made up of countless individual characteristics, peculiarities, habits, and traits of character; these are the result of your former method of thinking, but they have nothing to do with the real I.
4. When you say I think the I tells the mind what it shall think; when you say I go the I tells the physical body where it shall go; the real nature of this I is spiritual, and is the source of the real power which comes to people when they come into a realization of their true nature.
5. The greatest and most marvelous power which this I has been given is the power to think, people who know how to think constructively, and correctly, achieve enthusiastic results. People who allow their thoughts to dwell on generous purposes are the inevitable result of a mature mind. When a mind becomes mature, it understands that the seed of success is sown with every generous thought.
6. The trained mind knows that every transaction must benefit every person who is in any way connected with the transaction.
7. This is because the individual is a part of the Universal. A part can mollify any other part, because the welfare of each part depends upon a recognition of the interest of the whole.
8. Those who recognize this principle have a great advantage in the affairs of life. They always have energy. They can create positive thoughts with facility. They can readily concentrate to the highest possible degree on any subject. They invest time and money only upon objects which can be of benefit to them.