UMIIM’Arrcf r n ■ ■ ■ ■ James A. Decker, Editor * III! iiii ASSOCIATE EDITOR ART DIRECTOR !■■■ >i|| Fillmore McCarty ■ III •in d PRODUCTION MANAGER Claborn Brants

CONTENTS JANUARY 1975 VOL. 155 NO. 1

A Message from Silent Unity 3 James DU let Freeman Your Year of Triumph 4 Catherine Ponder Experiences in Meditation (1) ' 12 Marjorie H. Russell Dear Reader 16 Mary Rowe Poise 18 Richard Lynch The Incessant Answer 25 Russell A. Kemp Patterns for Self-Unfoldment 31 Randolph and Leddy Schmelig Alive to the Moment 37 Charles Le/ly Prayer Power 38 Music ... A Bridge to Higher Consciousness 40 Dr. Irma Glen Christ Enthroned in Man (X) 45 Cora Fillmore A Metaphysical Alphabet 48 Lew H. Morse Questions on the Quest 50 Marcus Bach Wake Up and Dream 54 V. Stanford Hampson Watch Your Language! 56 Loren D. Flickinger Notes and Comments 61 Charles Fillmore Monthly Thoughts 63 Letters to the Editor 65 Book Mark 66 Hugh R. Horne When a new year comes, we think of beginnings, and when we think of beginnings, we think of children. In Unity when we think of children, we think of children of God. This is one of the great teachings of Unity—that we are all r children of God. We believe that when Jesus started His prayer with the words, “Our Father,” He meant just that. God is our Father, the Father of all o f us. We do not believe Jesus wanted anyone to feel left out and we certainly do not believe that God leaves anyone out. God is love. G o d ’s love finds room for us all. “I am a child of God.” It is such a simple statement of truth. What an easy thing to say! But think about its implications. If you are a child of God, then you have a divinity within you. You have a godlike potential, a potential for love, a potential for life, a potential for power. If we could really say once, “I am a child of God,” and believe it with all our heart and mind and soul, everything in our life would be changed; for think what it means to be a child of God! You are a child of God, and therefore you are meant to live and be strong and healthy. You are a child of God; you have only to claim your good, and whatever you need will be provided for you. You are a child of God; you have dominion over your own thoughts and feelings; you rule the house of your own mind. You are a child of God; you are meant to live a life worthy of a child of ■» God, a life of divine achievement. You are meant to express yourself in beautiful, creative ways. You are a child of God; you have courage and strength to meet everything that comes to you, and to encourage those around you to have the strength to meet life victoriously, too. You are a child of God; you have a loving spirit in you. You are meant to bless the world and all the people and things in it; whatever you touch will be blessed and made better by your touch. There is yet another reason I like to think of myself as a child of God. I fall short of my ideal expectation in so many ways that I would not want to have to *> think of myself as the mature man of God. But I do not think God expects us to be more than His child. To be His child—that is enough. May you always think of yourself as we in Silent Unity think of you: You are the child of God, beloved of your Father.

To call for prayer help, phone (816) 524-5104. (If you have an urgent need and have no means of paying for a call, dial our toll-free number: 1-800-821-2935.) BY CATHERINE PONDER

FOR MANY YEARS now at this season, when a fresh new year begins, I have found inspiration in Russell A. K em p’s poem, “This Is the Year!” It begins: “Wonderful, wonderful, fortunate you, This is the year that your dreams come true! This is the year that your ships come in.” This can be the year your dreams come true. Whether they do or not depends upon whether you believe they can, and then do something constructive to help make them come true. Many dreams never come true because people dismiss their desires as impossible of fulfillment. If you and I were mere human beings, it would be foolish to believe that our dreams can come true. But we are spiritual beings, endowed with the very power of God to help us achieve our great and good desires. God made man in “his own image,” and then gave man dominion over the earth and everything on the earth. In fact, God even gave spiritual man the power to “subdue” the earth. We are not puppets on the strings of time and fate. We have been endowed mand of our world. How else can we grow with the power of the universe with which progress, and achieve? How else can w to achieve our good. God expects us to use contribute to the good of mankind? this spiritual dominion and take com­ The late Mike Todd once said: “Life i EAR OF TRIUMPH

ike the movies. We produce our own with the expectation of limitation, we ihow.” More than we may realize, we have produced that kind of “show” in our lives. produced our “own show” in the past. If Now let us send out great expectations of ve sent out our ships of thought laden unlimited good, knowing that we can produce that kind of “show” as well. How do you help to make your dreams Begin by telling yourself: “This is the come true? year! This is the year my dreams come You do it by first determining what true! This is the year my ships come in. " your master demonstration will be and Charles Fillmore described the spiritual then declaring that with G o d ’s help you dominion given to man: “Man can be can and will make it. Your very desire is what he determines to be. He can be but G o d ’s desire within you, trying to master or he can be serf. It rests with him assure you that you can have your good, whether he shall fill the high places in life urging you on to claim it. So stop fighting or the low, whether he shall serve or be the desire as an impossible dream and get served, lead or be led, or be sickly or busy helping it materialize. healthy. . . . There is within every one an A woman heard a lecture on master inherent desire to be at the top, which demonstrations and from it she gained desire has its root deep down in our very this idea: “/ give thanks that with God's nature and is consequently legitimate. help, I make my master demonstration of That it is frequently misdirected and used good this year. Of myself I cannot do it, toward base ends is no reason why it but with God's help all things are possible, should be depreciated. We all desire to including the fulfillment o f this great and excel. This desire is the inspiration of good desire." She began to affirm this Spirit, which ever forces us up through daily. Every declaration of it increased her earth toward heaven, and it should be en­ faith, enthusiasm, and “great expecta­ couraged and cultivated in the right direc­ tions.” tion.” She visualized her master demonstra­ Once you have accepted the great gift tion as being free of a long-standing in­ of your spiritual dominion, you are ready debtedness against her farm. A number of for the next step in making your dreams years before, she had borrowed money, come true. Emmet Fox might have been and ever since then she had been trying to describing that next step when he ad­ repay the loan. Every year she managed to vised: “Most of you have had at least one pay small amounts but then had to renew or two very remarkable demonstrations, the note for another year. T or answers to prayer, but in most cases As she began to affirm her master they have happened only occasionally. d em on stration , an interesting thing Now begin to make them occur more and happened: The man who had been her more often, and determine also to make farm manager for many years resigned to your Master Demonstration this year. take another job, and a new manager took “By the Master Demonstration of your over. This new man had a number of life I mean demonstrating whatever is progressive ideas which he used, and the most important in your life; by far more woman was blessed with a much larger important than anything else whatever. year-end income than in the past. This When you succeed in that it will in itself gave her several thousand dollars toward naturally change your life infinitely for the payment of the debt. good, and apart from the actual demon­ Encouraged, she continued to affirn] stration you will find that you have taken that she would make her master demon­ an incalculable step forward on the spiri­ stration with G o d ’s help. During the last tual path.” month of the year, she was informed that How is it done? How do you make your she had inherited several thousand dollars master demonstration? How do you real­ from a relative. Also, her husband’s busi­ ize the really great desires of your heart? ness had made more money that year, and he gave her a sum of several thousand you do not free other people to find their dollars as a Christmas gift. With all these own ways, you are not free to find your various amounts, she was able at last to own way either. The freedom of one is the retire the debt in full. freedom of all. To bind one is to bind all. When you determine to make your Emilie Cady has explained how to give master demonstration with G o d ’s help, it others their mental, emotional, and spiri­ is as though all the forces of heaven and tual freedom, thus gaining your own, in earth begin working with you. Divine her book Lessons in Truth: power is released to work through people “If your loved one seems to you to be and events for goin g all wrong, your highest good, say nothing at all. THIS IS THE YEAR! in ways unknown Keep your own and unforeseen by Wonderful, wonderful, fortunate you, light lifted up by you. If you begin This is the year that your dreams come living the victo­ now determining true! rious life of Spirit. what your master This is the year that your ships come in; And then, remem- demonstration will This is the year you find Christ within. b ering that your be this year and This is the year you are glad to live; dear one, as well as affirm ing G o d ’s This is the year you have much to give. yourself, is an in­ help, things will This is the year when you know the Truth; carnation of the begin to happen! This is the year when you find new youth. Father, keep him You are now This is the year that brings happiness; silently committed ready for the next This is the year you will live to bless. to the care o f his step in making Wonderful, wonderful, fortunate you, own divine Spirit. your dreams come This is the year that your dreams come You do not know true. Many people true! what God wants to never receive the -RussellA. Kemp d o in him; you desires o f their never can know. hearts; they are so busy trying to run the “If you fully recognize that the God lives of others that they do not have that dwells in you dwells in all men . . . enough time, energy, or ability to make You know that each o n e ’s own Lord, the their own lives right. If you wish to make Christ within each one, will make no mis­ your dreams come true this year, give take. The greatest help that you can give those about you freedom to live their own to any man is to tell him silently, when­ lives as they wish, whether they do so in ever you think of him: 4The Holy Spirit accordance with your ideas or not. In­ lives within you; He cares for you, is work­ stead of trying to dominate and control ing in you that which He would have you others’ thoughts and actions (thinking do, and is manifesting Himself through that you are “helping th em ”), free them, you.' Then let him alone. Be at perfect mentally and emotionally, to find their rest about him, and the result will be infi­ own ways. They too are spiritual beings, nitely better than you could have asked.” .each having his own indwelling Lord to Elise Nevins Morgan has explained it guide and direct him, along whatever this way: “Man changes in unexpected paths of growth and development are moments. The angels of God are ever on right for him (though it may not be to the watch. What you are tempted to look your liking at all). out upon in scorn may be the Christ being You must do this in order to be free to born in a n oth er’s experience. Give your make your own dreams come true. When every judgment into G o d ’s love. Let your judgment not be passed on man.” within him that could lead him aright, to When you are tempted to dictate success and happiness. (We never lose any­ a n oth er’s thoughts or actions, declare: “J thing that is for our highest good through fully and freely release you. I loose you freedom and release, but only draw and let you go to your highest good. I let greater good into our lives. Freedom and go and let God do His perfect work in this release are magnetic powers.) situation, for the highest good o f all con­ As this woman began using the fore­ cerned. By the power and authority of the going statements on release, everything Lord Jesus Christ, I am made free and she had feared came to pass, but she real­ whole. By the power and authority of the ized that this was a part of the balancing, Lord Jesus Christ, you are made free and freeing process. Her husband was fired;7 whole. I give thanks that freedom and the “other woman” became apparent to wholeness now reign supreme between us everyone; her h u sban d’s prolonged drink­ and in our worlds, and that all is well. ” ing revealed itself. When the secretaries A housewife was quite concerned from his office telephoned to offer their about her husband. He was drinking heav­ “sympathy,” she refused it, de­ ily, had become involved with another claring: “This has happened for the best. woman, and was on the verge of being A better way of life is trying to reveal fired as an insurance executive. His wife itself. Only good can come from this.” declared: “This is the second time in Her husband became more relaxed and twenty years of marriage that this has harmonious. Soon he received a long­ happened. If he gets fired again, his future distance call from an insurance executive is ruined. He is getting too old to get in a distant state, who had heard that this another good job.” She then related how man was available. The executive said that during all the years of their marriage she he knew why this man had been fired had “covered up” for her husband, in an from his job, and would tolerate no such effort to push him on to the top. She had activities from an employee; but he also renounced the development of all her own knew of this m an’s fine talents and abili­ talents and abilities in an effort to make ties and was interested in interviewing him him a success. for a job. ( Though this woman had doubtless tried The man took a plane to that distant sincerely in her own way to help her hus­ state, and was offered the best job of his band, it appeared that she had in reality life. He was subjected to none of the attempted to control and dominate, tension of his previous work and was rather than inspire him. Perhaps he re­ granted a great amount of freedom. The sented this possessiveness and domina­ new job promised a fine future. He asked tion, and was trying to claim his freedom his wife to join him there and give their subconsciously, by retaliating through his marriage another chance. The “other drinking and behavior. In his effort to be woman” faded quickly from their lives. free from this domination, all involved Soon they were settled in the new place, were being hurt. When these possibilities surrounded by happy circumstances and' were pointed out to his wife, she admitted new friends who knew nothing of theirf that trying to control her husband had previous difficulties. All their dreams of become a mental and emotional burden, many years’ standing began coming true. and that she had given up any life of her Freedom and release had opened the way. own in the process. She agreed to begin Your dreams can also come true if you mentally freeing him to find his own way establish a daily pattern of affirmative and knowing that there was a Power thought and prayer. A businessman who began the new year with daily affirma­ anonymously paid the taxes. She received tions told me: “If people only knew the the paid receipts in the mail. power for health, wealth, and happiness Your daily, persistent affirmations can there is within them, if they only knew to cause the walls of limitation to crumble release it through daily, affirmative before you, too. You can crack the atoms prayer—their lives would be transformed, of substance and release its imprisoned almost effortlessly.” He reported that splendor as greater good in your life. affirmation had helped make his dreams Never underestimate the power of affir­ of a lifetime begin coming true, after only mation for making your dreams come a few weeks of daily practice. true. Charles Fillmore has explained, “By In his epistle to the Romans, Paul affirmation we claim and appropriate that advised, “Be ye transformed by the re­ which is ours.” newing of your mind.” Daily affirmations The more you claim and appropriate help you to renew your mind with that which is yours through affirmation, thoughts of good, which in turn transform the more stabilized every phase of your your world. A businesswoman had many life becomes. In due time, there will be no financial problems. She learned of the stringent financial emergencies to be met dramatically with manna from heaven. Instead, things will just get better and “When you determine to make your better, so that there will always be supply master demonstration with G od ’s help, at hand to meet your needs. it is as though all the forces of heaven You can also help make your dreams and earth begin working with you.” come true by deliberately lifting your vision above failure and defeat to the suc­ cess and victory you desire. Vision is victory. The victim becomes the victor by power of affirmations in making o n e ’s deliberately envisioning his life as he dreams come true, and she began daily wishes it to be, rather than as the failure it affirming: “All financial doors are now appears to be at the moment. open. All financial channels are now free. An easy and pleasant method of lifting God's rich substance cannot be withheld, your vision to victory is by making a trea­ but quickly and appropriately manifests sure map—clipping pictures from maga­ for me. ” Just declaring these words made zines of the good things you want and her feel richer. Months before she had placing them where you can view them made an insurance claim regarding some daily. This keeps your mind fixed on the storm damage to her home. Having heard desired result, so that your mind can nothing, she had dismissed the possibility absorb that pictured result and then work of payment. Now, as she affirmed pros­ to make it a reality. Salesmen often un­ perity, she received a check in full pay­ knowingly use the treasure-map idea for ment. success when they make charts showing During the long interval o f waiting, she the results they want to attain during a vhad also found that further damage had specified period. occurred for which she had not filed a A certain businesswoman had for many claim. She now felt encouraged to file a years worked in a steel mill. She wanted to second claim; within a short time, it was begin planning a retirement; but in order also paid. Taxes were past due on her to do so, she would have to develop a home. As she continued affirming that all private source of income. Wishing to go financial doors were open, someone into the ceramics and pottery business, she made a treasure map, picturing the the year, she showed me that letter, which pottery she wanted to make, stating had listed many specific things. All of the figures of income she desired, and illus­ big desires she had listed were fulfilled. trated with scenes of a secure, satisfying She had been a widow at the beginning way of life. of the year and had expressed a desire to After this woman made her treasure marry happily. Toward the end of the map, a friend informed her that she year, she did get married, to a man she met wished to help her make a start by buying after writing her letter to God. as a gift a kiln for baking the pottery. The She also stated in the letter her desire two of them combined their money and for a nicer home. The bridegroom was in purchased a much larger kiln. As the wo­ the contracting business, and he gave her a1 man happily began creating pottery in her spare time, her friend insisted on giving her a “ceramics party.” Those attending “Your very desire is but G od ’s desire were delighted with her products and gave within you, trying to assure you that her a number o f orders. Soon a relative you can have your good, urging you on asked to give her a second ceramics party. to claim it.” In a short time she was flooded with orders for her new products. In her spare time, she was already in business for her­ fine new home. Her other big desire had self! By picturing the way of life she been for a more satisfying job offering wished to experience, she helped it to better pay. In the middle of the year, that manifest. too had been obtained. Great power is released by picturing In writing your letter to God, remem­ your life as you wish it to be, and holding ber this: Be honest with yourself as you to that mental picture, rather than fight­ list your desires. Express your deep feel­ ing present dissatisfactions and limita­ ings. D o n ’t list what somebody else thinks tions. Fighting dissatisfaction mentally you should have, or what you think you keeps the picture of limitation uppermost should desire. List what you truly desire. in your mind, producing more dissatisfac­ Be honest with yourself and with God, if tion and limitation. Deliberately thinking you really want happy results. past the present to the desired good helps Your loving Father always wants you your mind expand to encompass that to have better than the best that you are greater good and bring it forth as a visible now experiencing. “The kingdom of result. heaven is at hand”; if you want G o d ’s help You can also make your dreams come in experiencing it, you must be honest true this year by writing a letter to God with Him and with yourself. Otherwise, about your desires. Place that letter in you block any possibility of fulfillment. your Bible, in faith that God is working Along with the aforementioned . with you for your highest good. methods of helping to make your dreams At the beginning of the year, a business­ come true in this new year, remember the woman wrote a letter to God in which she age-old success law of giving and receiving^ listed all of her desires for the new year. A friend in the Palm Beach, Florida, area She did this instead of making the usual recently remarked on how generous his New Y ear’s resolutions, a practice which millionaire friends are. He says that they had never proved effective for her. She constantly give gifts, write notes of placed her sealed letter of desires for the thanks, and express their appreciation in new year in her Bible. Toward the end of countless ways. He feels that their con- stant use of the law of giving and receiving stration: “With praise and thanksgiving all doubtless accounts for the fact that they obstacles can be overcome.” are millionaires. They invoke the greatest Truly, this can be the greatest year you of all success principles to the fullest! have ever lived, your year of triumph. E. V. Ingraham has explained what hap­ Whether it is or not depends upon you. pens if you do not give: “The law, ‘Give Since you have dominion over your and it shall be given unto you,’ works with world, since you inevitably “produce precision. Where there is no voluntary your own show,” why not produce what giving for what is received, something is you really desire? Prepare the way for taken from you.” supreme success by affirming: “/ give The whole universe obeys the law of thanks that with God's help, my dreams giving and receiving. We see it at work in now are coming true. My ships are now the seasons of the year, in the ebb and coming in. I give thanks that with God's flow o f the tide, in countless ways. We help, la m making my master demonstra­ cannot evade the law; if we do not give tion of good—now—this year! ” © voluntarily, then we have to give anyway, (Originally published in Good Business) involuntarily. If we do not give freely in a positive way, we are forced to give in negative ways. People who have poor health, financial difficulties, family prob­ ALL THINGS ARE YOURS lems, are not the victims of “bad lu ck ”; they are the victims of their own misuse of God gives all of Himself to each of us. the law of giving and receiving. They are There is no such thing as a special gift to giving in negative ways because they have favorite people. God is no respecter of not given voluntarily in positive ways. persons. The sun shines on the just and the People who give in tangible and intangible unjust. Both the good and the bad man ways for the sheer joy of giving—even can plant a seed and reap a harvest—the before they have received—are healthy, laws of nature never moralize. happy, prosperous, victorious individuals. Supply is for all and in unlimited mea­ Resolve to give in this new year as you sure. The differences between us arise have never given before! Give of your from the fact that some see more and time, talents, and substance. Give of your appropriate more. We see in part. Our friendship and love. Give words of praise prayer should be for larger vision. In the and appreciation. Say often to those midst of the exhaustless atmosphere, we nearest you, “I love you, I think y o u ’re do not pray for air. It is foolish to beg for wonderful.” Say to the downhearted: what is available. All of the air is given to “You can succeed. You can and you will; each. But each uses only what his lungs you have what it takes.” Write notes, send can take. cards, give flowers, candy, books, and Similarly, we are not limited in any of other gifts. These very acts make you feel lif e ’s gifts or graces. We live in the midst of rich and enrich the lives of others. It takes a treasurehouse. The treasures are invisi­ so little to make people happy; often it is ble, being yet unformed, therefore they the little kindnesses that mean the most. m ust be “spiritually discerned” and Another great way o f giving is giving appropriated in thought and feeling and thanks that your desires are already ful­ attitude. “God . . . richly furnishes us filled, that your dreams are already with everything to e n jo y .”—Ervin Seale. coming true. Emmet Fox once wrote that thanksgiving is the royal road to demon­ experiences in meDimnon

BY MARJORIE H. RUSSELL

This is the first of a series of six fascinating and revealing articles on meditation. In the author’s words: “Someone asked another what his trip to France was like. He replied that in order to know, one needs to go there. Meditation is much like that. If you have never meditated, you will not know the joy you have missed until you become acquainted with this fascinating art and schedule it into your daily requirements.’’ What is meditation? world in its pure essence and find your Prayer is man talking to God, but medi­ oneness with all nature. You will sing with tation is man listening, feeling, experi­ the birds and flow with the crystal moun­ encing G o d ’s light and allness. Meditation tain streams as they tumble over their is the key to illumined atonement with rocky crags. You will merge with the the Infinite. Perhaps you would like to goodness and beauty around you and develop an awareness of G o d ’s protective become more aware of abundant good presence. Or you may be seeking to find than you ever before dreamed possible. your point of divine focalization in order You will unite with the love that per­ to have answers you need for important meates and underlies all creation. Love decisions. Possibly you seek peace of will hum through your being, helping you mind, or desire inspiration. You may re­ to merge yourself into the heart of God quire a fuller realization of eternal life, or where you find the peace that goes be­ you may wish to increase your empathy yond understanding and where you feel at with the natural world about you. You last that you have come home from a long, may want to understand eternal values, or weary journey. you may desire to intercede for world Why you are important to God resurrection; you may wish to become a You are the most important one in this channel of healing for others, to attain world to God. Of course we can turn this rest and refreshment, or to transcend time around and say that everyone is most im­ and space. These are but a few o f the portant to God because God is equal in possibilities meditation holds for you, for His affection for mankind. God loves us meditation deals with the unlimited realm because potentially we contain the whole­ of mind wherein all needs are met. ness of His creation. What is the purpose of meditation? Despite the fact that man is created Through meditation you can enjoy the whole, he is still in the process of evolving within the wholeness, for creation is an You may enjoy meditating alone, or ever-continuing action for the glory of you may invite others to join you in medi­ God. Through meditation we can reach tating. If you decide to share your medi­ cosmic consciousness, that illumined state tating time with companions, be careful of consciousness (beyond self-conscious­ to sele ct those who are spiritually ness), wherein one knows the truth about oriented and are seriously concerned for all things and oneself as oneness with the soul advancement. In this way you will infinite universal Spirit that is all in all. receive their help and at the same time be This awareness is granted by the L ord ’s in a position to encourage them. Thus grace and gained through certain obedi­ your project will progress on a sure ences on the mental and physical plane footing and will not dwindle away in which help unite one with the spiritual psychic dabbling. plane of thought and action. Jesus Christ The right place to meditate embodied perfect consciousness, and as In choosing a place to meditate, try to the Master of all masters He gave us the find a place and a time that will insure that key to spirituality when He spoke the you will be undisturbed. Perhaps it is early words, “Not as I will, but as thou wilt.” in the morning before work and before Sooner or later each one of us will attain the children are up. Some people dedicate that place of complete surrender and re­ themselves to rising an hour earlier just to ceive the full power of the Spirit. make use of this opportunity. Or perhaps It is through a total willingness to yield your right time will be late morning, after­ our will to G o d ’s higher will, to seek only noon, or evening. the good and obey divine guidance, that If you cannot leave your office or busy we become attuned to the infinite pur­ home, lock your door and refuse to be pose that is constantly unfolding in an interrupted. This is your time apart with orderly process within the finite. This your Lord, so make the most of it. You process is a refining and purifying action will return to the world of people and that takes place in the thought plane of things so rested and refreshed that all will man. Every thought entertained manifests take notice of it and respect you for it. its corresponding counterpart in the Although occasionally at first you may physical realm. feel pressed to omit your meditation, The methods of meditation presented nevertheless, as you remain firm in your here have proved highly successful in purpose you will prove in your conscious­ establishing that higher awareness of light ness the worthiness of your time apart and known as “the secret place of the Most it will become an established and accepted High.” fact in your life. If you will practice the directions faith­ The place in thought that you can visit fully you should achieve success, regard­ in meditation is that vast kingdom of less of how difficult you may have felt it heaven, the domain of Jesus Christ that was in the past for you to get ahead spiri­ He established on earth, of which Charles tually. Many students say, “I try and try Fillmore wrote, “Through His spiritual to meditate, but I ca n ’t seem to get any­ attainments Jesus formed a spiritual zone where. I do want to develop a higher in the earth ’s mental atmosphere; His fol­ awareness of Being.” Persisting in these lowers make connection with that zone methods, they have succeeded. You can when they pray in His ‘name.’ ” [Jesus too, for your faithfulness in practice will said, “I, when I am lifted up from the yield you rich rewards. earth, will draw all men to m y self.”] Companions in meditation Charles Fillmore also wrote: “This king- dom o f God is now existing right here in meditation. Man cannot achieve his pur­ our midst. It is being externalized little by pose fully until he becomes “spiritual­ little.” Through meditation we find our ized” consciously. Through meditation, place in perfection, and wholeness does spiritual awareness dawns in the mental become externalized. realm, reports its findings in the physical The right time to meditate outpicturing which we term the “physical It is well to try to meditate before you body,” and wholeness manifests. This eat or become too tired. Try to meditate diagram may help you picture what goes during the day so you will not go to sleep on in you when you meditate. during meditation. One man who used to come to my meditation class after work slept (to his chagrin) through the entire session. Because meditation helps one relax physically and mentally, some who suffer from insomnia like to meditate just before bedtime. The length o f time you should take to meditate varies with the individual. Begin­ ning students usually start with five- or ten-minute intervals and increase the time as they become accustomed to quietness and acquire a feeling for it. A meditation might usually last half an hour or an hour, and could be extended according to the purpose of the individual. You can set a timer when you begin and thus prevent running over your time allotment, if you have other appointments to meet. Rejuvenation and purification It is well not to meditate too long at During meditation, innate spiritual first but to work into it gradually. Re­ forces become activated and affect the m em ber that you are working with physical well-being of your body. Cells, nature, and nature does not leap from skin, bone, muscle, tissue, and blood­ summer back into spring. There is a stream are purified. Thus it is well to natural sequence in your unfoldment. assume a meditative position that allows You will feel best and achieve the most for free circulation, especially to and from when you work in harmonious timing the head where your two illuminating with your higher Self. There should be an glands are located (the pituitary and the easy flow in your meditation process, pineal). allowing divine inspiration to enter the Begin your meditation by assuming a conscious mind and there do its spiritual­ position that is comfortable for you. izing work. Become unencumbered with possessions. How meditation affects the physical body Leave books, papers, and such elsewhere. Man is a threefold being—spiritual, Your hands are best kept relaxed, turned mental, and physical (spirit, soul, and up perhaps by your knees, free and clear body). Meditation in the mental level is of objects to hold. You are about to real­ the coordinating force whereby the spiri­ ize freedom in all ways. tual merges with the physical. Thus you Perhaps the most favored position is can see the value, physically speaking, of sitting in an upright chair, unhampered by chair arms, but with a back rest. position will help maintain a peaceful and Another position some meditators like constructive balance of the spiritual to assume is the “lotus position,” while forces activated in meditation. some prefer squatting on their heels, and a Whatever position for meditation few stand. seems most natural to you, always begin Some people have best results in medi­ this adventure by consciously surround­ tating in the prone position. If you adopt ing and enfolding yourself with the Christ this position, make sure your hands are light. The loving spirit o f the Christ will not placed under your head, but are always protect and guide you. crossed over your solar plexus area. This (To be continued)

live our life almost looking for pins to be ( \ stuck into us. What a waste of our marvel­ ous capacity to be sensitive! Do you want to be “pricked”? Do you 4Dear want to suffer the various little jabs which are made at all of us from time to time? Do you want to make yourself the target for barbed remarks and sharply pointed criticism? It is, as is so often the case, strictly up to you. You must make the choice—whether you will be the recep­ tacle for these pinpricks. When we decide we have been hurt by someone e lse ’s words or actions, we cease to be happy. If we want to remain happy, ARE YOU A PINCUSHION? we must make a positive response to hurt­ ful behavior. Surely you have experienced ONE OF THE wonderful capacities each tim es when so m e o n e ’s attitude has of us has is the ability to be sensitive. This changed toward you—and you d id n ’t would be a terrible world if we were in­ know why. This is often because in some sensitive to each other, insensitive to the thoughtless and forgotten moment we needs of the rest of mankind, insensitive have “hurt” that person. We wonder why to the responsibility we have toward other people ca n ’t realize that we d id n ’t animals and plant life. We should thank mean to hurt them. We feel they are rather God every day that we are sensitive foolish to hang on to their hurt feelings. It beings, living in a sensitive world. is easy to expect someone else to know But our sensitivity is often misused. that we would not really want to stick Too often we spend a great deal of time pins in them! But we d o n ’t always reason letting our sensitivities push us around. that way when we are feeling like a pin­ We become sensitive to hurts, to slights, to cushion. all sorts of outer influences. We make our­ We all get hurt. And we cannot always self into a veritable “pincushion,” and we be aware of what will hurt someone else. But what a dreary life it would be if we all Jesus, our prime example o f spiritual hung on to our hurt feelings! Sometimes it maturity, would not let Himself be hurt seems that someone is trying to take the by others. He was always seeking to heal pin out of us—but no, we grab it back and and to lift others. He was fully aware of stick it in again! We w o n ’t be comforted. the efforts made to injure Him in some We w o n ’t make the effort to forgive and way, but He always kept about His forget. So we wander around like a mental F ath er’s business—helping where He was and emotional pincushion, wounded all allowed to help. His message was always over with little hurts. one of forgiveness, understanding—aware, We need to arm ourself against the yes, but protected by His willingness to barbs of life. We need to put on that armor return good for evil, love for spite. which is talked about so much in the One thing we can be sure of when some­ Bible—the armor o f God, the protecting one seems to be hurting us, almost deliber­ shield of love. Do you remember when ately, is this: the one who tries to hurt is Jacob was having such a bad time with his hurting very much himself. We cannot father-in-law? He said to his wife: “You always know what the hurt is all about, know that I have served your father with and sometimes he d o e sn ’t know either, all my strength; yet your father has but hurt he is, or he would not be capable cheated me and changed my wages ten of passing on the pain to another. We must times, but God did not permit him to remember that he is already meting out harm me.” his own punishment. There is no reason Jacob refused to accept the hurt. He why we must mete out judgment to him. refused to be a pincushion. He put his And when we try to judge others, we are faith in God—knowing that God would always judging ourself too. The one who redeem him from any hurts. hurts us is unhappy, so why add more What happens when someone is hurt? unhappiness with resentment and punc­ Usually he wants to hurt back. Multiply tured emotions? this a few thousand times, and we have a Can anyone else really hurt us emo­ flourishing war. No wonder it is important tionally? No. We hurt ourself by accepting that we do not accept hurts! But what can the hurt. What do we do to prevent this we do when we do feel hurt? The first passive acceptance of pinpricks? We take thing we should do is examine which part action. We send out thoughts of love and of our complex self is hurting . . . and blessing. We become the actor instead of almost invariably we will find that it is our the reactor. We take action instead of human ego hurting. Try it next time. See reacting. We take the initiative and we if that isn ’t what is happening. Your ego make a positive affirmation. We may use feels it has lost face, or it deserves better this idea: I am centered in the Christ Spirit treatment; it feels put down in some way and I cannot be hurt. Instead, I can and and it wants to hurt back, fight back. will be a blessing to this one who is hurting We must never let our ego push us himself. around. It is better not to accept the hurt We must take command. We must if we d o n ’t want to start hurting back. We decide what we want to accept in our life. are liable to an insidious temptation, the Perhaps we can learn to laugh at ourself a temptation to hurt back in subtle ways. little more, instead of taking everything so We may tell the other: “I d o n ’t know why seriously and so personally. you treat me this way. I have always been Are you a pincushion? No—not unless good to you.” And already we are trying you insist on being one. to hurt him by making him feel guilty. BY MARY ROWE

the lower impulses by using his higher faculties, any man may obtain the power which is the result of poise. No sensible person would deny the effect o f intelligent physical exercise upon the body. It develops that correct BY RICHARD LYNCH bearing which, to many people, gives its foremost meaning to the word poise. No man is privileged to perfect his muscles more than another; he chooses to develop them through use; to strengthen them by exercise. It is just as illogical to believe that only exceptional people have the power to remain poised in mind under exceptional circumstances. Even the so- called ordinary person has mind and the privilege of exercising his spiritual forces, which we might call his mental muscles. THERE IS A quietness of spirit which is All truly great persons are poised in both active and still. It springs from hid­ mind or spirit. Poise is the quality that den depths of being and may be likened to underlies power; the balance-wheel that the perfect balance maintained by a spin­ controls it. Yet no one has a monopoly on ning top. It is motion so perfectly ad­ any mental quality. Some marvelous ex­ justed and balanced that it appears to be pression of calm superiority often leads us absolute stillness. It is power under per­ to believe that he who achieved it must fect control. This true balance of energy have been born with paramount ability. and serenity, when peace and power are Very likely he has developed it by stead­ found in proportionate combination, we fast effort and watchful self-training. We call poise. It is a method by which a con­ may do the same if we are willing to make tinu ous increase of power may be the effort. obtained. And power is the great require­ We long for power to meet every emer­ ment of all accomplishment. Poise, then, gency; to be self-possessed in society; to being a conserver of energy, is most neces­ appear easy and natural under all circum­ sary for us to attain. stances; to grasp every situation swiftly Most o f us feel the necessity of being and intelligently; to “keep our temper” poised, but we d o n ’t always put our under every provocation; to know what to knowledge into practice. Those who do and to do it, on every occasion. Like accomplish great things are invariably everything that is worthwhile, poise quiet, self-controlled, self-confident, and exacts a price. It demands the mental self-sufficient. They are dependable in exercise that develops self-control; it re­ times of stress or emergency and naturally quires true balance between inner and they can do the most work. Compare the outer harmony. man who “keeps his head” with the one We all want to succeed in life. Whatever who “flies all to pieces.” There is no com­ it is we desire to do demands power. Many parison. And yet poise is no special gift- start out bravely, enthusiastically, prom­ anyone may develop it by exercising his isingly. Success crowns their efforts for a mental muscles. If he has the will and the time, but gradually they begin slipping magination, and is determined to control backward. Why? The human system is replete with energy. It is continually There is a true axis of being, a point of receiving powerful charges of dynamic absolute stillness within the soul, where force. What becomes of this power which the peace of God reigns. It is possible for is more than sufficient for our daily tumultuous race thought and sensuous needs? belief to revolve around this center and No person should be weak or sick or leave it quite untouched. Yet it is far from inefficient. Everybody should be able to being a negative condition—this quietness accomplish all that he wants to do. Yet of spirit. It is a vital, masterful attitude, such attainment is scarce. At the very the result of a number of positive ele­ pinnacle of success, the v ic to r ’s heart ments which have been acquired and set in stops beating or his nervous system col­ operation. Perfect poise suggests balance lapses or his arteries refuse to work. Why? of power attained through the harmo­ Not because he has failed to receive nious relationship of o n e ’s personal char­ power, but because he has not known how acteristics. to use it. Generally he had neglected to keep it under control. He has “raced” his motor when it should have been throttled down to normal. He has thus wasted his UQ elf-d ep recia tion and self-distrust surplus energy which might have been cause most of our failures, therefore con­ conserved and stored. fidence is one of the important elements to be acquired. This is not easy for those who have always lacked faith in their own ability. This lack of faith has often devel­ oped fear, to an abnormal degree. Fear 3 oise is the throttle valve that controls brings about mental conflict so disorga­ our motive power. It tends to balance the nizing that it often all but paralyzes outflow with the inflow and to prevent earnest effort. It keeps its victims in a con­ waste caused by excessive emotion—that stant state of inharmony, and this is the of excitement or anger, of fear or worry. exact opposite of the quality which makes Quietness is often mistaken for a sense of for poise. When we are afraid of meeting poise. Simple lack of action is no more people or of displeasing them or of seem­ indicative of strength than strenuous rest­ ing incompetent or ridiculous or a hun­ lessness is o f its absence. Poise indicates a dred oth er imaginary but agonizing state of equilibrium gained by the bal­ things, it is best to try to understand just ancing of forces. It is activity so perfectly how all this is going to manifest in our adjusted as to give the appearance of behavior. suspended motion. “Now faith is the assurance of things The spinning top seems motionless in hoped for, the conviction of things not its whirling energy. So the human mind seen.” Faith is a Self greater and stronger may function swiftly, yet keep its perfect and more powerful than we seem to be, equilibrium. In our daily life we are more gives us assurance of that Self—conviction or less susceptible to the fear thoughts of of its possibility. It helps us to have the the race. But the man of poise is not confidence in ourself that we wish others played upon by this negative influence of to have in us. We can scarcely expect chaos. None of these things moves him. As others to appraise us highly if we ourself long as his activity of mind maintains its fail to do so. A realization of potential balanced adjustment in Truth, he cannot powers and possibilities gives a sense of falter or fail. mastery which tends to produce the har- mony so necessary to poise. gives a sense of triumphant satisfaction in Nor should you develop a sense of exag­ its comprehensive knowledge of some one gerated ego. It is always a hindrance to subject. That subject which most interests poise. We contact it in the man who, you—begin now and study to learn every­ although constantly criticizing others, thing connected with it. For a thorough immediately defends his own actions knowledge along some one line gives a when they are questioned. This man has a superiority far exceeding that gained constant sense of grievance and suspects through a superficial smattering of many that others are always underrating his things. It is a sure remedy for fear, and ability. It leads him to continually tell you leads straight to self-confidence and self­ how good he is, and how no other person approbation. It gives purpose to life, and could fill his place. He also believes that purpose concentrates the forces to resist those who are ahead of him have risen, not irritations and distractions. because they deserve it, but by the favorit­ ism shown them by influential friends. The exalted ego attitude is not to be con­ fused with the self-confident one. It dis­ turbs the balance o f harmony quite as ^h e person with a purpose fixes his much as the inferiority complex does. It attention upon it instead of himself. He is cannot work happily and graciously with interested in what he is doing instead of others; on the contrary, it is irritated by what he is feeling. He lives above the its associates and uncomfortable in their world of tribulation. He has “an anchor of presence. the soul, both sure and steadfast,” and he Self-consciousness is another barrier to is “rooted and grounded” in the knowl­ poise. It attacks both those who are fear­ edge which gives him a full assurance of ful and those whose ego is over developed. power. In either case it casts a shadow of self over The one who has developed poise has their work. It is said that Michaelangelo found the peace that passes human under­ kept a lighted candle in his cap, against his standing. He has learned what Jesus meant forehead, to avoid casting his own shadow by entering into the closet of the mind upon his work. No man can see to do his and shutting the door against all intrusion. work well with a shadow of either his There, in the secret place of his own soul, weakness or his importance obscuring he replenishes his strength, in quietness that which he wants to accomplish. If he is and confidence. For quiet and solitude are poised and centered in Divine Mind he will necessary in order to hear the “still small cease to regard that little self which has voice” of God. One who has thus renewed been shading his efforts and interfering his strength and, through self-control and with his true expression of being. He can­ self-discipline, has harmonized his per­ not be thinking always of how remarkable sonal characteristics, is invariably a person or o f how incompetent his work is, with­ of poise. out losing much of its effectiveness. The poised person does not fume or fret over trifles, nor does he waste his nervous energy in restless tapping or fidgeting. He does not hurry in either IA \ noted educator is quoted as saying movement or speech and he knows that that the way to develop poise is to go and exaggeration and over-enthusiasm are get a mastery. He does not mean mastery fatal to harmonious balance. He cultivates that dominates people, but that which a courageous optimism, because no person has ever been known to call a pessi­ Too long the Nazarene has been called mist well poised. He avoids perversity and the Man of sorrows, as though He were stubbornness, and he “resists not evil.” He eternally swayed by human emotion. A does not argue. If he feels it is necessary to much better name would be the Man of express a difference of opinion, he does poise. In harmonizing His personal char­ so, quietly and without antagonism. He acteristics He had found peace of soul. In listens calmly to the other p e rso n ’s point harmonizing His mind with the Universal of view and gives it due consideration. He Mind which He called the Father, He had is happy over success, whether it is his found power. His poise combined the own or that of another, because his heart two. He was both strong in His calmness is filled with good will toward all people. and calm in His strength. “Let not your hearts be troubled.” This was the M aster’s farewell message to those He loved best. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” His peace is the secret of a poise that nothing could dis­ PB eace and powei^-we may all possess turb; a poise that faced adulation and ignominy alike with calm composure; a them. They are inherent gifts, but their poise that sensed the value of both accla­ development depends upon ourself. Is our mation and derision; a poise that re­ soul troubled and oppressed by fear and mained serene in the midst of cruel worry? We may contact, in mind, the betrayal, unjust accusation, and atrocious peace that is beyond explanation. Is our punishment. Most amazing of all, a poise body racked with pain? That peace will that was free from the arrogance of heal the cause. Do the petty irritations of successful attainment. daily life upset us? Have we lost faith in ourself and in others? We may find and touch the Source of power within ourself. Are lack and want staring us in the face? We need not recognize them—they are shadows. Although they may frighten us wl i e have the report of this poise in the with their seeming reality, we have the story of those two friends who, walking power to scatter them into nothingness by toward the village of Emmaus, and ex­ turning the brilliant light of Truth upon citedly discussing the events o f the day, them. Is our heart saddened by grief and were joined by the Master. There was no affliction? He will keep those in perfect emotional display—nothing of the “con­ peace whose minds are stayed on Him, quering hero” attitude. Jesus did not even because they trust Him. make Himself known to them. Quietly and calmly He explained why such things had happened. And later when He met the little group of those who were dearest to Him, do we read of shouts and tears, of D blasting and ostentation, or of pride in His [Jut something is required of us. We marvelous achievement? No. He stood may not indulge in destructive thought. quietly in their midst, giving the accus­ We may not “bear false witness” against tomed salutation, “Peace be unto you!” others. We may not even allow them to Gently He calmed their excited agitation. hold a grievance against us. Before we can “Why are you troubled? And why does make any great contribution to the uni­ fear arise in your hearts?” versal good we must first of all be unified with our “brother”—that image and like­ from the lecture platform, the stage, or ness which is in all humanity. simply as man to man, his word is power­ If we cannot love and be harmonized ful. The same is true of the musician. Any with the good we see expressed, how can hand can pound the keys of a piano, but we believe in and trust that which we have only the trained poise of a Paderewski can never seen? And if we are unable to do this draw forth great harmony. w we shall never have the confidence in that For those who would have refreshing greater Self which is the miracle worker of sleep and restful relaxation, poise is the the ages. For it is self-confidence that very foundation stone. We all know how m easures the height of our power. exhausting some sleep can be, and how “According to our faith” we shall receive. much that is called rest plays havoc with We can make little headway in life unless the nerves. But to rest in the calm strength we get at least a glimpse of our higher, of the Infinite is to be poised in the Christ nobler Self. As we learn to depend more spirit, and to “sleep in peace.” May we, and more upon this divinity within, we then, receive this power, through His shall find ourself growing more and more spirit, in the inner man, that Christ may serene, and at the same time, more and dwell in our heart through faith. May we more powerful. When we have found be rooted and grounded in love, and quick peace and the inner Source of power, and to apprehend what is its breadth and have realized both in perfect combi­ height and depth; and may we be poised nation, we have touched the secret of and centered in all the fullness of God. 0 poise.

tr e a s u r e s I l o man is truly great until he has • N By Richard Spacek attained this harmony o f spirit. The dis­ turbed mind cannot see clearly or truly. It Treasures of nature sees “through a glass darkly,” while the are wholly imperceptible, indescrib­ poised mind sees “face to face.” There is able- * positive constructive force in poise, indi­ most admirable wonders, cating as it does a perfectly balanced and fully merit m an’s respect, admiration, mind. To be poised at our work does not deepest, warmest gratitude. mean that it needs to be slow and deliber­ ate. The exact opposite is true; the calmer How soothing is their breath! the spirit, the faster the accomplishment, How inspiring their ingenious forms and v because no energy is wasted. Logically, colors! _ the quality of the work is finer and there is no tiring effect. Our work should not tire M an’s creations art, can be nice, practical; *

The Incessant Answer

BY RUSSELL A. KEMP

DOES IT SOMETIMES seem to you that smell? It is clover! A little clump of it has life is a struggle to be something other been warmed by the sun, and the fra­ than what you are? When we are boys, we grance makes us sigh with pleasure. long to be men. When we are men, we long There are so many beautiful orange- to be bigger or better men. When we are and-black-laced Monarch butterflies. poor, we long to be rich. Becoming rich, They are fluttering and climbing over the we long to be richer, or more secure and tall bushes, which have large plump spikes safe in our riches. So it seems that we o f purplish-blue-and-red-tinged little appear never to be satisfied. Perhaps in flowerlets. Like the bees, they are seeking some moment o f reflection, we think of nectar. The sea is a heavenly blue, and the fable of the donkey, trotting after the when the knife-edge of a wave first begins carrot perpetually dangling just beyond to break into white, there is the flash of an reach of its eager teeth . . . and wonder if ineffable watery green pouring itself into it applies to us. the foam. It always makes us catch our Yet there are moments when the end­ breath. less struggle to be something else or some­ We feel intensely alive, enjoying every where else is forgotten, and we enjoy just m om ent. The butterflies fluttering being alive. We take a walk along a wind­ around us, unafraid, make us think of ing path, above but near the ocean. It is a Eden. A little bird with glossy, brownish- sunny morning in early spring. Cool, from black feathers and shiny eyes walks to­ a breeze, but the heat of the sun strikes ward us. He comes almost within reach. through our clothing and it warms our He does not fear us either. We feel warm backs. We relax. What is that pleasant love for him, and make friendly noises, but he turns and walks away from us with created creation in order to reveal my­ quick little steps on some important pri­ self.” vate business of his own. And we too walk To me this sounds as if God, being a on. boundless, ineffable supply of all good, Undoubtedly, we have escaped to must create a demand for this good, must Eden. We say “This is living!” We do not cause us to want it, in order that He may want to be anywhere else than where we bestow it, and enjoy His cre a tio n ’s en­ are, doing just what we are doing. We are joyment o f it. Does God advertise? Well, back into the simplicity of being satisfied there is another ancient maxim: “As and happy and alive. This must be Eden! above, so below.” Perhaps modem busi­ Where are the carrot and the donkey ness with its incessant advertising, to now? Right where they always are. They create a demand for its innumerable are in a false sense of being, which afflicts products, is merely imitating in a limited, almost every living soul upon the earth. Just now we are tuned out of this false sense of being, because we are happy. Our senses are being gratified. We are being bombarded and fed with beauty and warmth and the innerly sensed com­ panionship of living creatures who live un­ selfconsciously. Somehow, we intuitively share their utter absorption in being what they are and doing what they are doing, and in their enjoyment of it. Is this what life was once like all the time, before we fell into the trap of want­ ing something else, something more? Is it desire that is the cause of the unrest, the dissatisfaction that always makes here and now seem lacking when compared to human way the incomparably superior some future time? Is the serpent in our methods of the infinite Storehouse, aimed garden desire, always telling us to com ­ at getting Its vast supply system into pare what we can have with what we are operation. not allowed to have? Was it desire and dis­ Do not both systems rely on creating content that got us expelled from Eden, desire? So what is desire? From the Truth thrust out into the thorns and thistles? standpoint, desire is just infinite good I believe that there is an answer to these seeking an outlet, seeking expression. questions. And I believe that this answer Then how should we react to our insistent belongs to us, that it is always trying to desire for more and more good? Some say call itself to our attention in order that it that we should renounce desire alto­ may enlighten us. I believe that it is an gether, in order to enter into the divine insistent answer, because it causes us to reality which satisfies desire. ask the questions and be dissatisfied in the I do not think that Jesus taught this. He first place. It longs to satisfy our dissatis­ did not say that desire in itself was evil, or factions with itself. That is why I call it that we should try to kill it, or escape the insistent answer. There is a Sufi from it altogether. How can you escape aphorism which suggests this: “I was a from desire by desiring to escape from it? treasure and longed to be revealed. So I While you are feverishly trying to escape from desire, are you not still expressing of God with His creation. We can come desire? into an understanding of the law of being On this point Jesus displayed the su­ only by knowing ourself and what we preme good sense, the utter practicality of really are. What are we? We are that which all great mystics. Do not try to escape causes desire. We are also that which ful­ from desire, just satisfy it by divine fills desire and satisfies it. We are a vast, means. Did He not say “Therefore I tell limitless, measureless, timeless, infinite you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe capacity to be anything we truly conceive that you receive it, and you will.” ourself to be. Our trouble is that we seem to live in a Please stop and (very thoughtfully) say ‘privately constructed “carrot-and-donkey this to yourself right now: mental world,” where fulfillment of our I am a vast, limitless, desire always appears to be just out of measureless, timeless, reach, because it is obviously not where infinite capacity we are in space, or at this point in time. So to be anything we always seem (to ourself) to be pursuing I truly conceive our desired good, which we think is kept myself to be! from us by space and time, like racing It would help if we could mentally say greyhounds chasing an electric rabbit. this as though it were followed by a They never quite catch up with it, because million exclamation points ... for even it is not built to be caught. It is built to these would not sufficiently emphasize stay tantalizingly just ahead of them. So I believe that Jesus would have us quit playing the carrot-and-donkey game. Instead, practice believing, practice re­ ceiving. As Emilie Cady says, it is the * supply for our need, already existing in the invisible, which has caused us to desire it. “Desire for anything is the thing itself ,in incipiency.” Paradoxically then, it is the waiting answer to our prayer which has caused us to pray. v Life longs to heal us. Love longs to love us and be loved through us. Strength forever strives to be strong, as us. Power yearns to be powerful in us. And as for wisdom, “more precious than rubies,” the Bible says that it “cries aloud in the .street,” meaning that we can have it for the staggering implications and magnitude the taking. of this declaration. * Then why will none of us, or at least so It is staggering because in it is wrapped few of us, quit our desperate search out­ up a condensed, power-packed statement side of ourself, and accept what strives to of the law which governs not only man as bestow itself freely from within? Why? a species, but the Creator also, in His rela­ , Because we do not know the insistent tionship with man. Jesus was quoting answer. And we do not know the answer from this law when He said to the centu­ because we do not know the great law, the rion, “ ‘Go; be it done for you as you have law of being, that governs the relationship believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment.” being fortunate. This new concept of You are the power to be anything you being fortunate will be firmly grounded, truly conceive yourself to be! Conceive is because it is in agreement with the divine a much more definite and powerful term Self of me, which is the real source of than think. To conceive is to become every bit of good fortune and success I pregnant, in a physical sense. In a meta­ have ever enjoyed. physical sense, it means to have an idea or Yet if I want to conceive of myself as a concept in mind which is vitally real, being fortunate, successful, magnetized to vitally important. good luck, always getting the breaks, can I To me, the phrase “anything you truly effect this radical transformation by a few conceive yourself to be” does not suggest selected thoughts and daily periods of , an idle fancy, a passing wish, or even a mental concentration? Undoubtedly this form of words which we concentrate will help. It will challenge and begin to upon briefly at certain times, for the pur­ unseat the deeply felt beliefs of being a pose of impressing them upon our subcon­ “hard luck guy.” scious mind in order to make them come But are there not quicker and better ways? Have we overlooked and failed to use a wonderful secret way, even a magical way, of reversing and getting rid of wrong mental beliefs? Jesus gave it to us when He told us to become as children: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The outstanding characteristic of being l !'/ a little child that I remember is playful­ I r/ 0 ness, inventiveness, imagination. A broomstick between my legs was a horse, - and I was a cowboy, galloping over the range like my big brother. If we could just true. On the contrary, it suggests a deeply remember this playful mood, place our-^ held desire, an idea that we are willing to self in it, pretend as vividly now as we did work for and live for, and if necessary, to then that we are what we have affirmed deny ourself for. ourself to be, would this be a shortcut to > For example, suppose I have conceived freedom from our old concept of failure, myself to be unfortunate, failure-prone, into the new concept of being a success? always encountering hard luck. My expe­ I believe that it would. I think this rience naturally will bear this idea out. could be a truly magical method of re­ This is no passing fancy, no idle thought. placing deeply-held negative concepts In the popular language of today it is a with positive concepts . . . provided that . “gut conviction.” But nevertheless, it can along with our pretending and our play­ be changed . . . when I conceive the idea fulness we knew clearly that we were* of changing it, getting rid of it. working with G o d ’s great law of being, a^ The same law of mind that produced principle teeming with divine creative this belief of being unfortunate, in power. response to my own continued negative Suppose we were to affirm, “I am truly . thought and feeling, can replace it with fortunate and successful in my life expe­ the belief of being fortunate, if I give to it rience now,” choosing this as a corrective my consciously directed thoughts of master concept to banish forever the idea of being prone to failure and disappoint­ the last century. We too are working with ment. What would our fact-bound human imagination and faith, but we do not intellect say at once? “How can you say appreciate their importance as we should. that? Look at the facts. What are you As Truth students, we do not appreciate trying to do, kid yourself? Quit being a ourselves as we should. We still tend to Pollyanna!” quail before the opinions of the world, Let us deal with this objection and and the old-line fact-facers of the world. dispose of it forever, here and now. The But the day will come (and it is drawing whole history of human progress in nearer) when the great pioneers of the science, business, transportation, medi­ New Thought era, of which Emma Curtis cine, any and every field of life, is a record Hopkins and the Fillmores were major of looking at facts, not as great unchange­ prophets, will be recognized not as cultists able finalities, but as things that could be or religious freaks, but as spiritual scien­ changed if they needed to be changed. tists and benefactors of humanity. Edison, Bell, the Wright brothers, Edison tamed the awesome power that Lindbergh, Marconi, and in our day the produced the lightning bolt, placed it at aerospace scientists, all were faced with the service of humanity, and banished the most staggering, challenging facts darkness from p e o p le ’s homes. But the which shouted “No!” to their dreams and Fillmores tapped the even more awesome deep desires. Had one of them quailed and and unknown power of God. By humble quit before a particular set of facts, others and devoted spiritual research, carried on could not have built upon his over- in obscurity and motivated by love, comings. We would never have known the Charles and Myrtle Fillmore banished supreme thrill o f seeing one of our kind darkness from p e o p le ’s mental homes, step onto the unknown surface of the and placed their own illumined percep­ moon. tions at the service of humanity without Imagination, working with faith, con­ price, to heal it of its grievous wounds. quered these hostile facts. What this team In their own lives, working with their has accomplished in the last half century! own bodies and restoring health to them, vHow wonderful it would be if all of us they changed apparent facts of sickness who are working with the great creative and lameness to facts of health and whole­ powers o f the human mind could think ness. In their healing work they faced .more highly of ourselves, and of the great facts that bore the most challenging “mind-power movement” which began in names, and transformed them. Charles Fillmore said: “I had applied the healing principle to my own case with gratifying ( Unity Churches, Centers, ^ results. My chronic pains ceased. My hip and Teachers healed and grew stronger, and my leg lengthened until in a few years I dispensed If you would like to know the location o f with the steel extension that I had worn your nearest Unity church or center, and since I was a child.” cannot find it listed in your telephone Now the Unity Movement has not directory, please write to The Association grown and flourished as it has since 1889 o f Unity Churches, Unity Village, Mo. 64065. They will be glad to give you any because it would not face facts of sick­ desired information about Unity churches ness, inharmony, and failure. Obviously it or classes in your vicinity. has grown because it regarded facts like these merely as things that needed to be changed, could be changed, and were changed, through the limitless power of from the Latin patronus, support, model, the Father Presence and the healing which in turn is from pater, father.” Christ, in their ministry. At once we think of “Our Father who From the metaphysical viewpoint, it art in heaven.” Since our word pattern is would be the height of folly to fix o n e ’s derived from the word father, could “Our attention on such facts of human exis­ Father who art in heaven” also mean “Our tence as sickness, lameness, misfortune, pattern which is in heaven”? One modern and lack, in order to correct them by spiri­ physicist is now quoted as saying that it is tual means. In modern terms, we would the divine pattern, the force field or force then be “problem-minded,” or problem- form surrounding, permeating, and oriented. In order to heal, we need to be animating our physical body, which is 1 “solution-oriented.” really the man made in G o d ’s image and Why should we focus our attention likeness. As mentioned above, negative only on our ailing body, our unhappy feel­ emotions, stress, or physical injuries form ings, or our being in a hospital bed or a an interceptor medium which prevents prison cell? Only a tiny part of us is really the divine pattern from expressing itself. involved in any of these. There is an infi­ A possible parallel would be the jamming nitely greater part of us which is never of a radio broadcast by another broadcast, involved in such things, is superior to as sometimes practiced in certain areas. them, and is the corrective for them. So if we really want to face facts, why The research of some top-level modern not face the existence of this “super fact,” scientists has led them to conclude that the divine corrective, the perfect idea of there is an invisible, intangible (but very us? Which do we want to have prevail—the real) spiritual “force field” which sur­ ailment or its antidote? Are we to be sick­ rounds us like a larger body, which per­ ness-minded and sickness-oriented, and at meates us and lives through us. This force the same time try to cure the sickness? Or field which functions above time and are we to be health-oriented, solution- space must be in reality a part of us, and oriented? Is not the healing, the solution, we are a part of it. Since we are a part of it, ever seeking to have us accept it? To quote it loves us as itself. from my book Live Youthfully In metaphysical terms, one may think Now: “There really never was any gap" of this force field as being the “divine between desire and its fulfillment. They body idea.” Sickness, pain, fever, conges­ were always the same thing, perceived in tion do not arise in this force field. They two different ways.” are caused and sustained by the intense, It is this eternal antidote to sickness, false human beliefs and negative emotions the infallible solution to every problem, which we have indulged. These form a sort which I call the “incessant answer.” A of “interceptor medium” which prevents Unity lecturer once said: “There is a kind the force field pattern, or the divine body of double action in Spirit. While I am seek­ pattern, from normally expressing itself as ing my good, my good is also seeking me.” health. However, the great law which acts as the ' There is a world of meaning in the word go-between, the delivery service between pattern. Joseph Shipley explains the the universal and the personal, must be w o rd ’s origin in this way: “The father was served in order that both seekings may be the model o f the family, the tribe, as the fulfilled. archetypal pattern is the Father in heaven, How do we serve the great law? First, who made man in his image. The word shows this in its background. Pattern is (Continued on page 60) PATTERNS FOR SE1MIIIHIIIIMENT

.. . challenging and inspiring patterns of lessons and exercises through which you may learn to realize for yourself, to experience at firsthand, and to express more fully and ^freely the infinite spiritual potential that is within each and all . . .

BY RANDOLPH AND LEDDY SCHMELIG

Dear Student: idea of unity with God, and know that in t Have no doubt but that Truth gives this awareness, you are perfectly whole freedom, joy, peace, and health. These are and happy. the natural and sure outpicturings of the A single idea bom o f wisdom is spiritual wholeness you are beginning to irresistible. No one can estimate the experience! power for good that is in an idea The Christ within you is your unfailing generated in the center of the home source o f harmony and wholeness. Look of ideas, the inner man. When an idea inward to infinite wisdom for the great comes from that great galaxy of supreme ideas it goes forth in You are building a perfect body in your strength and harmony. It is a perfect mind; you are building a peaceful, loving sphere with no point liable to attitude; you are building an expectation friction or collision (Charles o f good in life. As you continue in this Fillmore, Talks on Truth). activity, you must watch your thinking You are lifted by constant love and very carefully to see that no negative per­ prayer as you begin this m on th ’s study. In ception impairs this mental image. Let no this awareness, begin the lesson with a imperfection o f any kind be accepted in 1 feeling of happiness and expectancy; be your thinking, for how can you be whole receptive to divine ideas, and look for­ if your thinking is not whole? See things ward with faith and joy to wonderful as they are, yet see beyond appearances to results! God, omnipotent good. Let your con­ sciousness expand to encompass the PATTERN FOUR whole of things! Learning Wholeness As you grow in this consciousness you attain an attitude of praise; you con­ Lesson 4: Completeness tinually give thanks for this beautiful, You have begun to realize that the perfect body, for this wonderful mind, method of affirmation and denial you and for this life of infinite possibility. have been using can be applied to any Praise the health and happiness you ideal­ challenge in life. But this method of posi­ ize. Know that all good is now being made tive thinking is not only a way of regaining manifest in your life. Turn away from any your sense of balance when you are ill or false appearances, and affirm inwardly disturbed or in trouble; it is not only a with all your mind and heart: method you use when you are in need of a I joyously give thanks that I am healing in life, but it is a process that is whole and perfect, right now. completed in a constant state o f con­ sciousness. You can begin to feel the lifegiving The secret of healing lies in lifting activity of Spirit bringing your thoughts the consciousness up by faith into of perfection into manifestation. God is the realm of God perfection, thus now manifest in every cell, every idea, clearing the way for G o d ’s original every situation. Whatever words or state­ perfect healing and blessing work to ments you use act as a signal, a prepara­ be done . . . (Low ell Fillmore, tion for this sense of certainty, this con­ Things to Be Remembered). sciousness of completeness. The use of affirmation and denial is a In this consciousness, you know that technique to help lift your consciousness G o d ’s will for you is perfect wholeness. As into “the realm of God perfection”—to a you begin to think in accord with this state of constant awareness of the infinite divine will, you will healing in all things. goodness of God. A denial need not You call forth the loving, healing action of always be an outright statement, but a God. kind of mental overcoming o f negative You know that God has not given you appearances; an affirmation need not sickness and weakness and limitation; He always be a definite positive statement, has given you health and freedom. Choose but a subtle, inner recognition o f Truth. these gifts with all your power of will. The Through the idea of affirmation and affirmations and denials you are using are denial, you are building a greater con­ tools to this end; they express your choice sciousness. of Truth over false appearances. Through the method of affirmation and denial, you not be impatient with yourself or with renounce the thought that burdens of ill outer conditions as you work to realize health or disharmony of any kind are the this spiritual wholeness. Do not be im­ will of God, and you affirm the truth that patient. Rest in the certainty o f God as that which is changeless good can will the all-powerful Healer. Develop a con­ only changeless good. You begin to see sciousness of completeness, a sureness of yourself on your own highest level of G o d ’s perfection at hand. “Patience is not expression—that o f Spirit, eternal and passive waiting, but active, faithful ex­ free. Every apparent obstacle becomes an pectation” (James A. Decker, Magnificent opportunity for enlightened choice; you Decision). When you develop this quality i choose to give up a false concept or condi­ of patience, you do not give up hope—you tion, or you choose to overcome it. Often give up hopelessness. In this step, be­ once the choice is made, the obstacle dis­ lieving is completed in being; “I believe” appears, or its ability to disturb you passes becomes “I am.” away. You realize that every day is filled Every healing is accomplished with the possibility of overcoming! through the application of G o d ’s Remember how an overcoming feels. principle of wholeness, whether Think o f physical overcomings: that first material agents are utilized or not, morning after a bout with a cold, when whether the healing takes place you can breathe easily and when you instantaneously or in “Go d ’s instant know you are completely well. Think of men call years.” . . . that deep breath that comes with this real­ Those who traveled a mile to ization. Breathe it now—that breath of reach and touch Jesus’ garment were freedom, of release. Express the feeling healed immediately, and so were that you have in positive words, such as: those who traveled twenty miles. I am free o f all limitation—I am The distance, the time involved, strong and pure, ready to do great varied for each individual; the heal­ things! ing in each case took place instan­ Register the joy of this sensation. Main- taneously. ^ tain this consciousness of praise and joy. So it is with our application of the The experience is exhilarating, freeing, for principles of Truth. Sometimes we it indicates an underlying unity of all wait months, or years, for the real­ ;■ experience. ization of some cherished desire. Out of the duality of good and bad, Sometimes we grow impatient, or positive and negative, sickness and health, even bitter, when we think that God discord and harmony, emerges a unity does not quickly answer our prayers that is constant, beyond duality. Your for something that we “really need.” understanding of ultimate good tran­ Yet the actual demonstration of that scends what may seem to be relatively for which we pray always takes place good and right—your mind reaches to en­ instantaneously—when we are ready compass the idea that God is far better for it (James A. Decker, Magnificent than you had thought. You may have be­ Decision). gun in search o f physical healing, mental Time is finite, yet that wholeness you tranquillity, or harmony in your affairs, seek is infinite. Only let your thinking be and now find that there is a spiritual ready to receive Truth, only be ready to wholeness that transcends all of these let it be expressed in your life, and any phases of healing. moment is “Go d ’s instant.” The process This truth is your inspiration, yet do of receiving wholeness, of feeling that you are filled with Spirit, completed by God, wholeness. When you love, you actively is really the goal of all religion. In this see the good in people and things. Your consciousness, you pass beyond the finite thoughts and words of praise bring out the and into the infinite. You leave limitation good in others and bring about blessings in behind and come into limitless joy and your life. The law of healing and happi­ abundance. You overcome self-bondage ness is simple—only love. In order to re­ and reach eternal freedom. You see be­ store wholeness in your body, see the yond apparent division to the unity that is good in it, send love to every part o f it. ‘ divine love. Recognize your body as the temple of the What does being whole mean in life, in living God. If you want peace of mind and your body, in your mind? That longing understanding, know that your mind is for wholeness within you is the love song the channel of expression o f your inner of all time, of all people in all languages; it Christ self. Lovingly salute this life you is the recognition that to be completed by live! Praise life! God is to be whole. Have you learned that there is more to Love, in Divine Mind, is the idea life than you had thought? Have you had of universal unity. In expression, healings? Then you realize that it is neces­ love is the power that joins and binds sary to renounce the thought that “you” in divine harmony the universe and are the healing agent. The “you” of everything in it (Charles Fillmore, appearances, the finite you, does nothing. Christian Healing). But that self which is within you, that Spiritual experience leads you to think which is beyond all personality, that thoughts of perfect love and wholeness. which is nameless, ageless, birthless and When you think these thoughts, you can deathless, is the divine “do-er” in your instantly have a sense of completeness. life. This is the true self of your being; it is This sensation is manifest in your physical self-luminous, eternal. being as health. This sense of complete­ We are spiritual beings first, be­ ness is manifest in your mind as under­ fore we are mental, emotional, and standing and love; it is manifest in your physical persons. It is this spiritual life as order and peace. self that is perfect and whole, al­ Dwell for a few moments on the quali­ ways, for it is the self created in the ties you associate with God. You may image and likeness of God (Mary behold God as perfect health, infinite Katherine MacDougall, Healing goodness, wisdom, and love. When you Now). recognize these qualities as the reality in Do you think that you are suffering? and through all things, you at once begin That Christ within is beyond suffering. Do to see them manifested in your life. It is you think that you are weak or ill? That not only that your increased attention to Christ within is untouched by illness, these qualities makes you more aware of knows no weakness. Do you think that the innate good in your life and affairs; you are unhappy or isolated? That Christ your loving thoughts actually attract to within is eternal happiness and unity. you blessings of vitality, right understand­ That Christ self within you is dependent ing, and your highest good. on no outer condition whatsoever. It lacks Think o f the quality of divine love that nothing, and is right now absolutely you associate with God. This love is infi­ whole and complete. You become one nite, whole, complete. You know in your with that self, and the universe is revealed own experience that when you feel love, as whole and complete to you when you you have a sense o f completeness, of recognize this reality. By identifying yourself with the Christ and experience of healing brings to you a self, you quicken that in you which is new sense of wholeness and of the all- correspondent with God. You strengthen sufficiency of God. Immediately give that divine connection and clear the chan­ thanks. Thanksgiving is the completion of nel for all that is good in your life. Just as the process, and the opening of the way there is an underlying harmony and per­ for even greater experiences, even more fection in the universe, however things complete oneness with God. may appear, so also there is an underlying As you give thanks for the wholeness harmony and perfection within you. This that is now being manifested in your life, is the center of your being, that balance it is almost as if you can perceive that still, * point within you, that inner fullness and small voice within you saying to you, completeness of Spirit. “Yes, the healing you seek is already The idea that you are intrinsically established in Spirit, but do not stop here, whole is not new or foreign or difficult to for much more awaits you! ” accept. You cannot read scriptural All your life you may have believed accounts of healings without a thrill of that you have been seeking health, but recognition. You know that healing is you have been seeking only God. All your more than a possibility; the experience life you may have believed that you have touches on ultimate reality. Healing is un­ been seeking harmonious conditions, but deniable, unchanging, for it is grounded in you have been seeking only God. All your Truth, it is grounded in you. life you may have believed that you have That you are spiritually whole and been seeking peace of mind, but you have complete is really already known to you. been seeking only God. Come to the real­ Even when you contradict that inner ization that God, and God alone, is your knowledge, you are aware that you are goal. With this realization comes the admitting to a half-truth. You know that wholeness, the spiritual completeness you an illness cannot be eternal, infinite, but is seek. always somehow separate, transient, false. A physical limitation may affect or influ- Practice Exercise ^ ence you, yet it is always less than you Sit relaxed and still, keeping the spine really are. straight. Resolve to experience complete­ The Christ self within you watches over ness; resolve to feel oneness with God , you night and day, .without break. In today. See that all the days of the past and apparent illness or in health, in apparent all the days of the future are complete in lack or in abundance, in happiness or un­ this present moment. Now is the time to happiness, it is there, waiting to be real­ have perfect health, not yesterday or on ized. There is not a single m om en t’s pause some future day. Now is the time to be in the constant attention of the Christ in happy; now is the time to know God. you. Think of this loving intelligence The infinite possibility of life fills this watching over you, abiding within you, very moment. All that you seek is here, in strengthening and protecting you in all this moment of stillness. Rest in this things. Think of this loving, healing wonderful idea. activity with you even when you are asleep, present in every cell and system of You have a growing sense of oneness. your body. All time is one, all experience is one, and Once you have realized the unlimited you are one with God and the universe. In healing power within you, you will never God, you are complete. again be quite the same. This acceptance When you think that you are only a body, or that you are only a mind, you are conditions come to your mind, such as, apart from the universe. When you realize “Life has no meaning; nothing works out that the divine Self of you is one with right,” immediately complete these God, you are one with all that exists. thoughts with the truth, “Apparently life As you hold these ideas in mind, let is chaotic and confusing at times, but in your thoughts flow naturally for several reality, all is in divine order, complete in moments. Think of yourself, think of God; this reality is manifesting now!” you r life; watch the trend of your Rest in this thought with all your being. thoughts. Become still and give thanks that all things are whole and complete in God. Although you feel generally inspired about the true nature of yourself, the Each day this month continue in this thought may come to you, “I have a par­ exercise in the time you have set aside for ticular physical weakness.” At once com ­ your course work. Yet develop the habit plete that thought with the truth, “Appar­ of watching your thoughts at other times ently I have a weakness, but in reality I am also. Consciously complete half-truths in whole, healthy, and complete in God; that your thinking with the Truth you know. reality is manifesting in me now!” Expand your consciousness to encompass Turn your whole attention to this free­ the whole o f things in every situation, in ing, fulfilling idea. Become still and give every experience. You can no longer thanks that you are whole and complete accept illness or unhappiness for yourself in God. or others, for you see beyond these apparent limitations to the spiritual com­ If you have the thought, “I have bad pleteness o f all things. You have dis­ habits,” or “I feel hurt, resentful, angry, covered the secret of wholeness. afraid,” complete the thought with the It is not necessary to list for you case truth, “Apparently I am limited in histories of recovery and healing in mind, thought and feeling, but in reality I am body, and affairs through enlightened all-wise, happy, serene, and complete in positive thinking, although truly they are God; that reality is manifesting in me without number. Only follow your innate now!” inclination toward God, and the record Turn totally to this idea. Become still you keep in your Spiritual Diary becomes and give thanks that you are whole and a living case history of your own. Give complete in God. thanks for the dramatic spiritual unfold- ment you have experienced, and for the If any thoughts about negative outer limitless unfoldment yet to com e. 0

One moment of quiet? What can I give Him— A bouquet of flowers? What can I give Him— By Barbara Pye Long prayerful hours? What can I give Him— What can I give Him— Oh, heart, tell me how! A springtime of life? “My child,” He says in answer, What can I give Him— “Give me your now!" *3% 'Betm(ffuliWiy (jf'/jte

BY CHARLES LELLY

YOU CAN ENTER the holy of holies by simply going out in your backyard, or to a quiet garden. The portals of spirituality await your arrival, and beckon those who sincerely seek the Source of all. Contrary to what most of us have been taught, we can use our physical senses to prepare for our spiritual journey. We have confused the sin of abusing our senses with its opposite of using our eyes, ears, touch, smell, taste to discover fineness, subtlety, beauty. The refinement of our senses opens the portals wide to untold beauty available everywhere. It is only a gateway—not the destination. But with­ out an entrance, how can we find our h eart’s desire? Get a single rose from your yard or from a florist (just one, not a bouquet!). Place it in a location that is quiet, with a simple background, lighted in such a way that the rose becomes an object of worship on an altar of your choice. Now ALIVE you are ready for your spiritual service to begin. Concentrate on the rose. Smell it, TO THE gently touch it—look deep into its ex­ pressive form. As a beginner you may have trouble MOMENT keeping your whole being focused on this one object of concentration. Your intel­ lectual mind will try to analyze, classify, or give other logical reasons why you should stop this silly activity. You must persist, and practice giving your whole being to the rose, until one day in an instant you will arrive at a condi­ tion of body forgetfulness. You will not be aware of having a body with senses that are observing an external object. You will PRAYER have merged into the rose and become one with it. POWER The form of the rose will disappear and ■9 will be replaced by a feeling of formless or abstract beauty—a feeling of tranquillity— Excerpts from letters to Silent Unity, or just a feeling of being fully alive to the quoted with permission of the writers moment. The moment may last a few seconds or Courage and Strength minutes. An outside disturbance may instantaneously bring back your con­ Dear Friends o f Unity: I had a sudden urge tc scious awareness of your body, and the contact Unity by phone, which I had never done feeling is gone. But as you persist, the before. The voice that greeted me, affirming that moments will become longer and deeper, healing was taking place that instant, was t and you will come back to consciousness blessed rescuer. I felt a great surge o f strength with a lasting feeling of awe and well­ and all fear and panic left me. I felt 1 had riser being. high and these conditions were far below. In thi: In time you will learn to direct your exalted state o f mind I forgot my ailment anc focus on concentration to any object you didn’t realize until the next day that my cough find beautiful, and be able to penetrate it and nosebleed were gone. to the essence of its being. Thank you for the courage and strength There will come one day an experience received.-H.T., Illinois. of knowing—a touch of pure intelligence that is beyond feeling and gives you the reason of life itself. This experience is beyond the need of proof—you just “Joy in My Soul” know! You become an authority of your Dear Friends: I never renewed my subscription^ own experience. If you rush out to tell with such absolute joy and gratitude. I came her< others, you will discover how easily you from another state with dreams o f spending m) can lose your newly acquired self-confi­ late years happily, but the dreams were just that dence. Last year I wrote you from the depths o f mj One day during your worship experi­ despair and loneliness, but your reply and th< ence there will come a moment sublime, advice therein strengthened my courage to com when you know absolutely the oneness of pletely relax and know that God had a place fo all things. You will glimpse the Source of me and was leading me. I prayed and learned t< being, and when you return to ordinary meditate quietly each day. consciousness you will not be able to The way to make a change opened and I cami describe it in words to yourself or others. to this beautiful senior citizen’s apartment housi You must experience it to know. At this at a price I could afford. I am happier than I ’vj point concentration has turned into its been in years and more aware of what prayer wil opposite—expansion! do. I am eighty-one years old now and so grate Ultimately you will know that out of ful; I have found such joy in my soul ,—T.M. the complexity of eternal life you chose a Michigan. highly complex object, and found that its construction was infinitely simple. 0 Overcoming Stroke A Quick Recovery Dear Silent Unity: My father suffered a stroke. Dear Friends: I called you and asked for prayers The next day, while in the hospital, his condition because o f an attack o f arthritis. Later shingles worsened and the doctors told us he probably was discovered in the same leg, which crippled would live only a few hours. I called all the me to the point of not being able to walk. I was members of the family, and we kept a constant told I would not walk for several months. Now, prayer vigil at his bedside, asking the Lord to lift three weeks later, I am walking and feeling Fine. him from the shadow o f death and into His heal­ Thank you for your prayers and encourage­ ing hands. Within a few hours his condition began ment, by your letters and other reading mate­ to improve. The doctors were amazed by the turn rials. I know that your teaching ministry has been o f events. Our family knew that the Lord was a blessing to me and my family. Thank God for takingcare ofhim. you — V.F., New York. Many o f our friends were praying for him, but the next day, although he was still holding his own, improvement stopped. It was then that I phoned Silent Unity for prayers. The woman who took my call told me that my father would “I Am Grateful” be prayed for but that the most important thing Dear Silent Unity: My lawsuit has been settled for us to do was to release his situation to the out o f court and this is what I asked you to pray Lord. Being human, this was easier said than for. 1 mailed a letter to you asking for prayers and done, and I was in constant agony over what that very same day my lawyer called and said that might happen. Finally, through prayer, everyone the opponents wanted to settle. in our family became more at ease about his I have called you several times for prayers and condition. A few days later he was no longer they have been answered quickly and satisfac­ critical and he slowly but steadily improved. We torily. Once I asked for help in Finding a job. know that he will achieve a complete recovery. Your answering letter came in the morning mail Thank you for your prayers.—K. W., Michigan. and that same afternoon I received a telephone call from an unexpected source offering me a job. I am grateful and thank you for your prayers.— G.L., Missouri.

Right Employment Dear Silent Unity: Thank you so much for pray­ ing with me to Find my right employment. From the moment I called you my faith began to grow and my need began to be fulFilled. I have now begun training in a new line of work and will soon TMC LIGHTEO WINDOW AT SILENT UNITY start in a position that shows promise o f being To call for prayer help, phone (816) 524-5104. (If you have an urgent need and have no means of most rewarding. From this experience and from paying for a call, dial our toll-free number: the Prosperity Bank drill I am beginning to real­ 1-800-821-2935.) ize how richly blessed I a m Massachusetts. MUSIC... A BRIDGE TO HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS

BY DR. IRMA GLEN

IN MY TRAVELS around the world, I consciousness within the individual. have found that music—like a smile—is the Music is meant not only to entertain, same in any language. This manner of but also to bless, to uplift, and to en­ communication knows no race or creed, gender the quiet and peace necessary for but gives to each according to his need. meditation. Thus music is not always an Music opens doors! I am an organist, and end in itself, but can be the means to • everywhere I play, the reception is the achieve conscious union with God. The same: loving and appreciative, for music right kind of music sets the tone for transcends human boundaries and is a tuning in to the Infinite, the kingdom of bond of brotherhood among people of all God which is within us. It helps to unfold faiths. It is a unifying force; it bridges the the intuitive faculties and to alleviate differences that divide men. Music can mental, emotional, and physical tensions build bridges to link men to one another, produced by the pressures of modern-day and it can also serve as a bridge to a higher living. Many persons are too worried and distressed by world uncertainties and Wagner. Various pieces of chamber music complexities to be able to follow the path are uplifting and enlightening, as is the of reason and logic to spiritual poise and superb religious music of Bach. H an del’s inner attunement. For them, music is a “Messiah” and other oratorios based on way of by-passing thought and directly Scriptural texts are ever inspiring, and reaching the heart and feeling nature. other favorite works are those of Grieg, Music often accomplishes in minutes what Franck, Sibelius, and Debussy. There are might take words hours to achieve. others too numerous to mention, and A friend has written to me: “I love each of us should choose whatever suits your Christ music! It pours from a well of his particular mood at a particular time. wonderment. It blesses, it caresses. It Divine guidance can lead one to the leads to at-one-ment. It welds the molten proper choice of music fused with high metal of the melting heart to higher character. things—to the gold of God. What I mean Music has been defined as the art or to say is: vibration that stimulates and science of harmonic sounds. All music is inspires and harmonizes is so real and sound, but all sound is not music. It be­ needed and does more than many words. hooves us to use discrimination in Words can be dead leaves clogging a foun­ choosing what we listen to. Loud noise tain. Joy in the Lord is the fountain which comes into the brain as an overload and your magical music unclogs. Bless you, produces stress which upsets the nervous dear. Words can inspire especially when system. One of the surest ways to relieve music gives them wings. A concept in and dissolve this stress is through the mind needs emotional input from the practice of deep meditation and rest. If we heart.” can dispel the effects of all grating and With certain music as a bridge, we can offensive sounds, we will feel better, more enter the shrine at the center of our being relaxed, and at ease with ourself. Musical where all is harmony, Truth, and beauty. tones may be scattered as soothing medi­ We turn from outer circumstances, from cine for the ear and the soul. Consider ^ the effect of our own thinking, and in the how the chiming of church bells uplifts ensuing peace, we get in tune with the and attracts us. No stress and strain is Father. In the past many great composers expressed in the sound of a beautiful have written soul-awakening composi­ carillon. James Dillet Freeman has tions that hold rich spiritual rewards for written: the listener, and today some of us are composing music especially for this pur­ “O bells, ring out of peace securely , pose. The consciousness of a composer is founded always reflected in his music. When music In freedom, of the hope of paths un­ is com posed in prayer, played with trod prayer, and listened to prayerfully, a That lead us to a world unbound, trinity of peace is formed. unbounded: There are many compositions that are Humanity united in one God!” especially conducive to prayer and medi­ tation. I particularly like the quiet, melodic movements of the symphonies of Scientists tell us that the motion of the Beethoven and Brahms and the operas of atom creates a melodic sound. All nature is filled with music. Wherever there is poverty of his senses and believed in the vibration, there is sound. At the heart of reality of an “infinite scale of harmonies.” everything, something sings. The motion Beethoven also spoke of this immortal of the stars and the planets creates a vast music: “My ninth symphony is but an symphony. Job described a time “when empty echo of the heavenly music I have the morning stars sang together.” Shake­ heard in my dreams.” speare knew the truth that “Th ere’s not Modern science bears out what these the smallest orb which thou behold’st/But men knew intuitively. The research of Dr. in his motion like an angel sings.” Lord Donald Hatch Andrews, a noted authority Byron wrote of the music in all things that in the field o f chemistry, has led him to man could hear if only he would listen believe that the whole universe is in con­ closely enough: “The earth is but an echo stant vibration: “We are finding that the of the spheres.” universe is composed not of matter but of Every electron in the universe is in music.” The atoms that make up a m an’s constant rhythmic vibration, and our con­ body sing in harmony with the atoms that sciousness of the external world is depen­ make up all other men, the earth, the en­ dent upon our capacity to register these tire universe. Charles Fillmore has vibrations through our senses. If we con­ written: “Who shall tell what man may do sider two vibrations per second as the first when all his forces are brought into play, octave, four vibrations per second as the and he knows how to properly control second octave, and so forth, the vibrations them. When the faculties are in spiritual between the fourth and fifteenth octaves harmony, music flows from man as are those producing sound that we can naturally as the brook murmurs in hear. The field of electricity encompasses cadence or Niagara roars in organ tones.” the twenty-fifth through the thirty-fifth In India, the sacred syllable Aum (or octaves; heat encompasses the forty-sixth Om) is chanted by many devotees and through the forty-eighth; and light the religious aspirants. They are taught that rforty-ninth. Aum is the symbol of divinity and is the Thus we see how little our senses can cosmic sound that includes all the names acquaint us with the external world. Only of God. They believe that while chanting seven and a half octaves of musical sound “Aum,” one may feel the vibratory force are audible to the average ear. All other of the universe within himself and that vibrations—of which there are a limitless ultimately he will become aware o f his number—are not registered by our brain. unity with all that is—one with the If our ears could be modified so as to rhythm, energy, and order of the universe; register these higher vibrations, an en­ one with God. tirely new world would be opened to us. In the concerts and lectures that I have We would become “clairaudient” and given in various parts of the country, I perceive vibrations of higher planes. Great have found that a “singing church” is a musicians sensed this other world even live and active church. “Be filled with the b efore science proved its existence. Spirit, addressing one another in psalms Mozart declared that he could never and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and record the music that he felt in his heart. making melody to the Lord with all your He intuited the bombardment of vibra­ heart.” When people have an actual com­ tions that man cannot perceive due to the munion with God through singing and feel His energy flowing through them rather are in communion with the Lord. Person­ than merely listening to a lecture about ally, I like to have my times o f com­ Him, they are inwardly nourished and munion early in the morning and at bed­ become spiritually involved. Music is an time, although they can be taken at any important handmaiden of religion and can time of day. Instead of taking a coffee be the framework for inspiring church break, I take a meditation break, for the services. Affirmations, prayers, and treat­ closer I stay to God, the more joyful and ments take on new strength and meaning fulfilled I feel. The conscious awareness of when they are sung. Words threaded on a G o d ’s omnipresence filling and surround­ melody gain power and are more readily ing me and all o f creation is like beautiful impressed upon the subconscious. Cheer­ background music accompanying all I do. ful singing dispels any sorrow or depres­ Music has been called the divine art, for sion we may be feeling, and singing out it is the most abstract and spiritual of the with all our voice and all our heart trans­ arts. It can be the pathway to inner tran­ forms our hymn into meaningful worship. quillity when one listens not only with the If only all the world could sing in perfect outer ear, but also with the inner one. We harmony, all discord and chaos would dis­ can listen so deeply that it seems we are appear. We are told that the heavenly host not listening to the music per se at all, but sang at Jesus’ birth: “Glory to God in the to the soundlessness of the Silence—we highest, and on earth peace among men.” become the music. When this happens, we Cosmic love and music have washed over do not try to think things through, but let our planet from the heavens. Isn ’t it possi­ the infinite Intelligence o f the universe ble that the love and music that we ex­ guide us. We let God be God in us. We press on earth could reach out and affect draw from the same Source that inspired the universe? all the great, good, and wise men who have May Rowland has written: “The solu­ ever lived. tion to m an’s every problem is in m an’s Are you in need of encouragement, own consciousness. When we learn to tune guidance, or inspiration? It is the nature in to universal harmony through daily of Spirit to respond to all who listen prayer, we find new joy in living. Our attentively within. Man sometimes denies body responds with harmony and health, God, but it is impossible for God to deny our mind is at peace, and our affairs are in man. He is unfailing, ever available, omni­ order.” We all need to find the rest, re­ scient, omnipotent. laxation, and calm that come with the Dryden well knew the transcendent “peace of God, which passes all under­ powers o f music. Describing St. Cecelia, standing.” A sense of quietude and he wrote: “When to her organ vocal attunement to God within can be attained breath was giv ’n,/An angel heard, and through regular periods of listening to straight appear’d,/Mistaking earth for music played in a slow, singing style. It heav’n.” A woman who was attending one need not be what is termed “religious of my lecture-recitals told me, “When I music” or even purely classical music. hear you play, I feel I am back home.” For God can speak through any sort of music; her, as for D ry d en ’s angel, music proved you are the judge of what quiets and to be a bridge to a new dimension of inspires you. Daily periods of quiet time feeling and awareness ... a bridge to a will lead you to the place where you for­ higher consciousness. It can be the same get your body and your earthly self and for you. Cross it now! 0 This is a serialization o f Christ En­ throned in Man, by Cora Fillmore. The book, originally published in 1937, has been revised and harmonized with U nity’s present understanding o f the spiritual principles involved.

C h r i s t E n t h r o n e d i n A A a n

Chapter X

Affirmation: Jesus Christ is now here the divine law, but when he reaches a cer­ raising me to His consciousness o f divine tain stage of understanding he strives order, and I realize that the law o f God is earnestly to keep the divine law. He fulfilled in me. knows that his freedom will come by his cooperating intelligently with the law. MAN HAS FREE will, and in his igno­ In working out his problems of every­ rance he often acts in direct opposition to day life, man should first take into con- sideration the relation that the problem bears to God, then to his fellow men and himself. Next he should lay hold of the ideas that are to be worked upon by divine law. As these fundamental ideas are in­ corporated into consciousness, they make contact with thought forces on various planes of action, and the many complex problems that arise in the course o f the s o u l’s evolution are harmonized under the higher law. It is very clear that the safety of the people of the earth lies in the operation of the law of order upon which the universe is founded. To be happy we must act in accordance with G o d ’s eternal laws and allow them to work peacefully and thoroughly in and through all that we do. Divine law is not hard and binding; it ex­ presses itself in freedom and joy. Our so-called laws of civilization are in a way copied after the divine law, but too paves the way for their expression. The often personality has entered in, and divine law of order coordinates the mind thoughts of ambition, selfishness, and powers so that new inspirations may come greed are dominant; therefore, manmade forth and find unhindered recognition laws are colored with the personal ambi­ and lodgment in the conscious mind. The tions of man. To be overtaken by the law divine law of order emphasizes the over­ means, to the man immersed in his senses, coming power of man, thereby abolishing to be convicted of crime and to be fined or fear and despair. Sickness and weakness imprisoned. One overtaken by the divine are never to be recognized as having a law—that is, one who has not acted in har­ place in divine law and order. Health and mony with the divine law—suffers mental freedom are always the outworkings of and physical imprisonment; he fails to G o d ’s wondrous plan. In short, while man grow spiritually and the reaction o f the apparen tly is undergoing continual forces of life within him destroys his change, both physically and mentally, the body. The illumined individual prays for changeless law of order is operating in the greater strength, greater power to live in spiritual depths of his being. harmony with the law, counting it a privi­ Our spiritual realizations blend in the lege to pay the last farthing of the penalty subconsciousness and work to eliminate that has been imposed because of his the weak and the negative; a wonderful transgression of the law; for by so doing law of order is at work there. There is a he enters to a greater degree into the yoking and a pulling together of the spiri­ heavenly kingdom. tual powers to the end that both soul and The divine law o f order working in the body may be lifted up to the divine stan­ subconsciousness unearths buried talents, dard. reveals hidden powers, and paves the way James (son of Alphaeus) represents law for their expression. The divine law of and order. His work was to cooperate with order coordinates the mind powers, and the other disciples, just as the orderly movement of a play depends upon the Jesus has made me better able to cooperation of the players. The center of work with the law o f sin and o f order in the body of man is located at a death. nerve center back of the navel. By em­ As you dwell upon this powerful state­ ploying prayer and meditation, one may ment, realize that the light of Spirit from quicken the ganglionic nerve cells at the on high, from the spiritual center in the order center. It is through the navel that crown of the head, is descending upon the unborn baby receives its sustenance you, and that you are laying hold of a new from the mother; so it is through this understanding of the divine law of life. order center that the soul, spiritually Next allow the Presence to center in the quickened, receives the divine nourish- small of the back, the strength center. i ment direct from the Father-Mother God. Then, more perfectly relaxed in mind and Through our meditation and consecration body, affirm: the spiritual laws are unfolded to us from The law of divine order and harmony within. Then our realization of God as the is satisfied in me, and I behold great Father-Mother is quickened and not myself a tower o f spiritual strength only do we begin to discern the soul expe- and stability. ,riences that have been ours in former lives, Then let the Presence ascend to the but it is more clearly revealed to us that power center at the root of the tongue and certain unfulfilled desires have deter­ the base of the neck, and realize: mined our present parentage. The inner I am the power that sets into activity realization corresponds with the outer God's perfect law; every function of manifestation. my mind, every organ of my body, is Divine order radiates its mighty power working to glorify the Father. into the other faculties and sets them into Next let the light of Spirit return to the sustained activity to the end that the per­ order center just back of the navel, and fect man shall be brought forth. Thus declare: through the operation of divine order, the Praise God, the law of divine order is greatness of the soul is demonstrated and satisfied in me, and I am at peace the nature of God is more fully revealed. with all mankind. For the regenerative exercise in the Then allow the Presence to return to silence, first take up the exercise given in the point designated as the great central Chapter I. Continuing to allow the Pres­ sun; there realize that the laws of God are ence to dwell at the point designated as written in your heart and that your the great central sun, back of heart and delight is to direct your life according to stomach, affirm: His laws. Close the exercise by softly re­ Divine order is becoming active in peating the L o rd ’s Prayer. ’ my mind, body, and affairs, and all After the drill is ended, throw the things are working together for my attention down into the feet; and declare good. that your house is in order and that all the Realize that, under divine law, the rule forces of your being are working to glorify of infinite Mind is awakened in you and God. that every function and organ of your (To be continued) being is inspired with health, harmony, peace, joy, and satisfaction. Then let the Presence descend to the order center back of the navel, and affirm: Need leadership? God will take your The law o f the spirit of life in Christ hand.—Andy Veach. A METAPHYSICAL ALPHABET

BY LEW H. MORSE

YOUTH

It always seemed grandly mysterious and appropriately mystical that the opening words of the Mass are, “'Introibo ad altare Deo—I will go unto the altar of God, to God who giveth joy to my youth.” All new things are the province of youth, regardless of our days and years. To see a circus through the eyes of a child—to relive what it is to learn to read—to drive a car, to fly an airplane “all a lo n e ”—to speak with eyes—to have it be spring, or summer, or fall, or winter—to go off to college—suddenly to “see” a girl who has been sitting beside you in class for a whole year—to find a hero—to zing a baseball over the fence—to have a new dress or new shoes—to be greeted by a wag-tailed dog when getting off the school bus—to suddenly learn that one can hammer a nail or saw a board—to have a friend—to find a new friend—to see new-born kittens . . . How is it that we ever grow up and let these things go? “For we are metaphysicists from two ’ti l ten, And then wait forty years to be A metaphysicist again.” ZEAL

Zeal, like happiness, is the barometer of psychic health. Each is elusive when approached directly. Our search for Truth is bearing fruit when we demonstrate physical and mental health, when we begin to realize that portion of abundance which is our due; and the final fruitage is a great zest for life and living and doing. The sparkle in the eye, the spring in the step, the expectation of good, the business of living in the ever-unfolding here and now, a warmth of personality and a contagious smile—these are the mark o f a person who has come to terms with life, a person who has come to terms with Truth. “I am part of an enterprise that embraces the abundance of the divine; my cup runneth over. “I have seen and met Truth, and the living of it has set me free. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” (The End) THE IDEA To answer readers’ questions about anything related to increased spiritual understanding and deeper integrative growth. To discover not only what people are asking but what people are thinking about in the area of beliefs and practices in the world within and without. To help others—and—us in the spiritual Q u e s t search. To stimulate the search I itself. ... with answers by Marcus Bach

Dear Dr. Bach: are caught. A third point, effective and As I increasingly subscribe to Unity's understood by “Truth students,” is that metaphysical interpretations and beliefs you can talk to people only on the level about Christianity and Truth, I am asked and at the point o f their current under­ many questions by people who are inter­ standing. This, of course, is true of all ol ested in my ideas. My question to you is, us. All we can do is to stimulate and be how should one answer these questions? stimulated in the process of spiritual In explaining my beliefs I seem to en­ growth. “Truth work” has none of the counter more argument than understand­ evangelizing or proselytizing aspects ol ing. I don't feel that I express myself in the older, institutionalized faiths. It is any nasty or condescending attitude or transmitted through acts and stages ol tone, and I gracefully refuse to allow consciousness. In this respect it is mysti­ myself to be caught up in an argument, if I cal, though some may shy away from the see one beginning to bud in my ques­ term. It is an emanation, an awareness, a tioner; but no matter what I do, my un­ nonverbal communication. orthodox beliefs usually get me into some There are ways of testifying to Truth uncomfortable situations. What is the best without testifying about Truth. If you are thing to do? drawn into a discussion about spiritual B.L.G. matters, fine. Calmly give your opinion oi state your conviction, and let it go at that Dear B.L.G.: And be sure to listen to your inquirer oi Always remember the old adage that your inquisitor. You may discover a greal what you are speaks much more con­ deal about yourself and about him or hei vincingly than anything you might say. that will be very revealing. Remember, Another equally important axiom is that too, that many questioners are on a spiritual convictions are not taught, they deeply personal quest which persuades them to challenge you, just as others are often without the benefit of clergy. I hail looking not for new light along the way it all as one of the most significant signs of but merely support of their preconcep­ our time and an advent to the coming of tions. And d o n ’t forget to use the “light the cosmic Christ. More and more the touch” if you know how to handle it. It is, Unity saying is becoming meaningful: as we have often said, the touch of light. “The Christ in me salutes the Christ in Above all, d o n ’t dwell on your own pre­ you!” occupation that you are being threatened MB *I or even challenged; you may have been maneuvered into a divine situation to test the reaches of your own convictions and to find an added dimension in the process of your own spiritual growth. Dear Dr. Bach : In her “Ballade at Thirty-Five,” Dorothy Parker gave her secret of success I am a Unity-reading Roman Catholic. I in one area of persuasion: “Here’s my am loyal to my church and would never strength and my weakness with gentle­ change, but I find help in Unity teachings men, I loved them until they loved me.” and in your question and answer depart­ MB ment. There are things in my church that bother me and that I have questions about. For instance, priests who marry bother me. Celibacy is honored in the sight o f God. What is your thought on that? What drove Martin Luther to get Dear Dr. Bach: married? Don't you think it was simply an Many thanks for the provocative and act o f spite against the teachings o f the stimulating “Questions on the Quest."It church ? lights up many a dark corner. Could you Celeste M. olease tell me something about the “'Jesus Revolution" one hears mentioned so often these days? Dear Celeste M. : With much Aloha, It would, o f course, be presumptuous Rainbow of me to speculate on the drive or drives that impelled the Augustinian monk to Dear Rainbow: marry the one-time nun, Katherine von The “Jesus Revolution” is many- Bora. It could have been love, pure and faceted. It includes, in my evaluation, simple. Or perhaps an assertion of free­ everything from the presentation of such dom. Or he was lonely. Or he wanted a spectaculars as Jesus Christ Superstar and family. Or the sex drive? Legend has it Jodspell, straight through the organized that he said he did it “to spite the devil.” novements such as the Jesus People, the Maybe God wanted it that way; heaven lesus Freaks, the Children of God, on into knows Martin Luther needed a wife. His -he more structured Youth for Christ, sign was Scorpio (Nov. 10, 1843). He was Crusade for Christ, and similar campaigns, unpredictable. Starting out to become a straight through to young people who in lawyer, in keeping with his fa th er’s ;he quiet of their own hearts are seeking a wishes, he switched to the monastic life to jonsciousness of Christ as contingent to find, he said, “proof of a merciful God.” spiritual growth, without fanfare and Celibacy, in its ordinary sense, simply means to live a “single life” or to be bound I try yoga or Zen or some other method?” by vows forbidding marriage. To practice In answer to these letters, sincere and this kind of celibacy for the sake of searching, as is yours, my research and celibacy is nonsense. To practice celibacy experience keeps saying, “The answer to in its extraordinary meaning of subduing your question is in you. ” the passions in order to develop and main­ I have no doubt that T.M. would help tain the highest possible spirituality, or to you. It is part of T.M. technique to harness the sex drive and transmute it into provide, through means of a word or a more refined state of consciousness, is mantra or inner focal point, a mooring to quite another matter. This latter kind of which one consistently returns when celibacy represents one of the highest intruding thoughts intrude. To get the disciplines in yoga and was, no doubt, part teaching you would have to take the of the intention in the early discipline of course, or at least follow the instructions “Mother Church.” When the principle was in M aharishi’s books. introduced into the church by Gregory There are, however, things you can do the Great in the 7th century it seems immediately, by yourself, if you are will­ definitely to have stressed not celibacy, ing to clear up several obvious miscon­ but chastity, quite another thing. ceptions which, I gather from your letter, MB have become wrongly patternized in your prayer approach. For one thing, medita­ tion and/or prayer require a discipline involving the total life, total living. Forget about formal meditation or prayer for a moment. Can you sit quietly relaxed and Dear Mr. Bach: hold a word or a concept like love or peace In your July Questions on the Quest you or beauty or serenity without getting frus­ spoke o f T.M. I have real need o f it and trated and “cluttered”? If you ca n ’t, have wondered (this might sound foolish), practice until you can. If you can, you are just how does one meditate and what does ready for meditation and prayer. The one think o f or about during meditation? answer to your question is in you. As I understand, to meditate one thinks I know that this kind of discipline deeply, but just exactly about what and works. I had a friend who for a long time how? I pray and try to meditate, and the lived an harassed and frustrated life. more I try, the more my thoughts fly from Whenever he ran his undisciplined life into one thing to another. They get more clut­ a frazzled edge, he would say, “I’ve got to tered and crowded and I am more frus­ pray!” So he rushed into prayer, and his trated and more anxious than ever before. prayers were no different than his overall Should I try T.M. ? frantic life style. Finally, discovering that Mrs. M. T. the answer lay in himself, he learned not to be calmed by praying, but to pray by Dear Mrs. M.T. : being calm. Your question states a case repeated I wish we had time and space to go into over and over in letters that come to me. this at greater length, but you see how life “The more I try to meditate or pray, the is! We must learn to adjust! Let me simply more my thoughts fly from one thing to add that when you anticipate the answer another” is almost a key phrase. Then to your question in T.M. or any form of comes the question, “Shall I try T.M. eastern meditation, you are embarking on (transcendental meditation)?” Or, “Shall a trail which leads you right back to the depth meditation of the Christian path. All true meditation is transcendental. There is great value in studying other methods, methods other than Christian By Marion Impola so-called, but no religion, no faith, no philosophy has a monopoly or corner on This nursery, Earth, is bright with colored Truth. They are all aspects of and insights toys into universal consciousness. Investigate, to please the children of a loving God. work with them as you wish; the answer Rainbows curve, flowers bloom, and to your question is in you. winging birds MB *I are mobiles turning in the sun; balls of pure light roll through the Letters that answered themselves: nighttime sky w here pin wheels blaze in distant Dear Mr. Bach: galaxies. I recently wrote you a letter concerning being true to myself us being dominated Yet there are puzzles, too. A Father wants by my husband. After I wrote the letter I His child received my own answer. Through medi­ to grow, to study, and to learn. tation and reading Stella Terrill Mann's So earth becomes a schoolroom where the story, “The Man who Lived in a Cage,” student probes and Edgar Cayce's reading saying that the black holes in space, and eerie songs soul that is dominated owes much to him throbbing in voids too deep to contem­ who dominates it because of resentment, I plate. recognized my own resentment. I released Who speeds the quasar on its way? What my husband from my resentment, and I shakes the pulsar feel so much better and he is treating me in a rhythmic flash more blinding than better. Perhaps writing my letter to you a thousand suns? and putting it down on paper helped me What is the purpose? And—above all other to see myself. needs— Mrs. A.M. how solve the calculus of love within m an’s heart? Dear Dr. Bach: Please accept my apology for writing as I Humbled for answers, each one must lift did, in anger, when I felt that God was his gaze unjust in sending me the trial I wrote you and seek new wisdom from beyond about. It had to do with the person work­ himself, ing with me in our office, and there was until at last that strange day comes real hatred between us. Would you believe (greatest of days!) that it is all different now? All I did was when he stands tall enough to see, stop judging and start trusting God to across the confines of earth-walls, work things out. It was really miraculous a vista stretching luminous and fair, what happened. We don't have to judge boundless and timeless, anyone or pay them back or get even with calling him to come in faith into the them. It is all taken care of when we put it reaches of eternity. in God's hands. Don't ask me how it Then every part fits into place works. It works. It worked for me. and life itself gives meaning to the (Ms.)E.K. quest. BY V. STANFORD HAMPSON WAKE

USUALLY YOU DREAM when you are every situation into a stepping-stone on asleep. But dreams are a type of mental the way to success. reality until you wake up. Only then are Wake up to the value of your dreams, you conscious that the experience was a for dreams that are cherished become dream. It takes waking up to recognize a goals. Give yourself ample meditation dream. You also have to wake up to make time each day to find wishes, hopes, possi­ dreams come true. bilities, “what-if’s” rising to the surface of Your dreamlike promptings are goals your consciousness. Write down those being born into awareness. The more you daydreams that fly through your mind. look for these nudges of grandeur, the Keep a pencil and paper beside your bed more you find fields to conquer. In to record night dreams as well. You have Genesis we read that Joseph dreamed he m ore good desires than you realize. and his brothers had tied wheat into Momently goals of bigger bridges to cross sheaves. Then J o se p h ’s sheaf stood up and are taking shape in your awareness—be his brothers’ sheaves gathered around and conscious of them. As you awaken to bowed down to it. Later Joseph became these God-prompted desires, they become second in command to Pharaoh, and goals you can attain. during a famine his brothers came to Elias Howe worked for years to invent humbly ask him for grain. One could say his lock-stitch sewing machine. One night that the dream was prophetic. Joseph he had a dream in which he was sur­ made his dream into a goal. He turned rounded by warriors with holes in their spear points. He awoke from his dream, jumped out of bed, and whittled a model of the eye-pointed needle, with which he brought his experiments to success. What UP AND DREAM

experiments in life are you working to­ ward? When you know what you want, you too will find the answer within your­ self. Then get busy and create a working model—start taking steps to see your goals fulfilled. Wake up to dreams. Dreams come true when you get your head off the pillow and get into motion. Get excited about what you want and where you want to go, and then get going! Your dreams will take you as far as you will take your dreams. Wake up to your dreams and make conscious goals of them. Then wake up from your dreams to carry them into the world. For your world is made from the stuff of your dreams. What you can dream and begin, you can have. Wake up to your dreams, from your dreams, through your dreams. Wake up and dream! 0 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Watch Your Language!

BY LOREN D. FLICKINGER

WE OFTEN CONSIDER the “Word of can accept this thought in our understand­ God” to be contained within our Bible, ing of the nature of God when we under­ which is a collection of many books and stand what Jesus the Christ really repre­ writings by many different people, com­ sents: the expression of the perfect idea piled over a period of several thousand of man in God-Mind. We must also accept years. And yet, to believe that this is the the truth that within each of us is the same only Word of God mankind has is a mis­ Christ-consciousness, and therefore we conception. The Word o f God is also have the same Christ-potential, the Word within man, within each individual; and of God, within us. therefore each of us has the opportunity The disciple John, who wrote the book to live his life according to the Word of of John of our Bible, was one of the most God, whether or not he has read the Bible mystical writers of the Gospel. There is a or considers himself “educated” in other sense of mysticism in the words, “In the ways. beginning was the Word, and the Word The Word of God has often been ex­ was with God, and the Word was God.” I plained to mean Jesus the Christ, and we would like to suggest a definition of the Word God for you—something for you to tations, our frustrations, about hate or consider, to apply to everything in your disorder; and whatever we think, we put life, so that you are no longer limited by into words, silently or aloud, giving those thinking that the Word of God is con­ thoughts force and dominion in our lives. tained only in our Bible. We have been given this wonderful You can begin to realize that just as power of the Word of God to speak at these writers were inspired you also are random, as we choose, and we bring into inspired every day, if you will accept it. being that which we choose to speak. If My definition of the Word God is creative we think words of hate, of negation or energy, the creative energy that dwells injustice, these words will have the power within you and me, the same power that which we give them. If we speak hate, that Jesus used when He spoke the Word and speech carries formative energy, and can people were healed. only produce a negative outcome. We Remember when Jesus said, “You have often used this wonderful Word of search the scriptures, because you think God to bring into manifestation destruc­ that in them you have eternal life,” but tive results. “the kingdom o f God is within you.” It is It is unfortunate that we ignore this that kingdom, that God, that Word, that wonderful power, that we allow ourselves creative energy in you which enables you to dissipate this strength on such negative to speak the words that heal your body, things as disorder, destruction, envy, that change your life, that give you jealousy, when it was meant to bring into control over things you have felt were being love, harmony, abundance, and beyond your control. It enables you to happiness. You will recall, “Man shall not express and bring into manifestation live by bread alone, but by every word whatever it is that you need or want. that proceeds from the mouth of God.” John said: “In the beginning was the L et’s read it this way: “Man does not live Word.” He wrote in Greek, and “Word” in by bread alone, but by the creative energy Greek is “Logos.” Logos has a much larger that comes from the mouth of God.” We constellation of meaning than we ordi­ know that living is more than existing as a narily give the Word, encompassing the physical being, that we are here for a pur­ idea of principle, “the divine word or pose, and we are not truly living unless we reason incarnate in Jesus Christ,” as the are expressing that purpose. When we are dictionary defines it. This mysterious frustrated about life, it is because we are spark, this principle, this Logos, is the not really fulfilling this higher purpose, desire you feel to express your inmost self we have not been living by the Word of more fully. The scriptures go on to tell us God. We fulfill our spiritual destiny not that this creative energy is the light of by merely quoting the Bible, but by men; “And the light shineth in darkness, taking time in prayer and meditation to and the darkness comprehended it not.” discern this energy that dwells within and When Jesus the man walked the earth, He wants to find expression through us. In was accepted by relatively few of the order to find the way, we must turn people who met Him. This same principle, within, and listen for the Word of God. We this light, even today is seen and felt by need to take time each day not just to relatively few people. listen with our physical ears, but to feel, The Word of God is in every individual, to ask, to be receptive to whatever this but it is often ignored or devalued because energy seeks to accomplish through us. we let so many other things take prece­ Having done this, we can go forth dence in our life. We think about our limi­ knowing that G o d ’s Word is speaking through us, acting through us, and in­ Truth students, for we know that all men evitably the results will be positive, good, are searching for the truth about life. But and constructive, no matter what the we realize that we fit into a self-realized outer appearances may have been. Make category and know that our interpre­ no mistake about it: if we speak destruc­ tation of life need not extend any further tively, we bring destruction. If we speak than our own “self.” and think constructively, the Word of Our outlook is one of great objectivity; God introduces beautiful experiences into it is an evaluation with an encompassing our life and affairs. viewpoint. I would like to suggest something that One situation which confronts us is the has helped me in prayer. When I am taking so-called “energy crisis.” The overall time for meditation, all kinds of thoughts product of our energy crisis is fear, in the rush in, many of them concerning things I minds of men. need to do that day. And so I have pencil I must admit that I had a few feelings of and paper ready, so that I can jot them uncertainty and fear at the thought of down and then set them aside and get earth ’s vast energy supply running low. back to the business of really praying. I But as time has passed and I have applied clear my mind and heart to listen for the my Christ Mind to the situation, it no Word, to feel the creative power that I longer appears to be a problem. wish to express each day. This, too, is a grand chapter in G o d ’s Whatever the circumstances, whatever perfect story of unfoldment for mankind your position in life, make certain that here on earth. It came as total excitement you speak constructive words, not that to think in terms of G o d ’s great energy you try to force yourself into some situa­ storage area: our own life. Yes, life! Our tion, but that you let your God-energy mind and body are the w o rld ’s largest lead the way. I t ’s a beautiful way to live, reservoirs of energy, and they are the most because when the creative power guides powerful that could ever be. We know the you, you are not pushing against life, but power of the life energy, also known as flowing with it, using all your strength in the life “current.” positive ways. Listen for the Word of God. This life current could never produce Watch your language. It has great power. anything but abundance in our life. Be­ As we learn to do this, we will be guided cause the earth ’s resources are supposedly always into the full and abundant life we running low does not mean that m an’s were meant to live. © lifestream will regress. This is a call for man to put his untouched and unused energies to work with further expecta­ tions of good. G o d ’s plan is perfect, and designed with such order that we should ENERGY ABUNDANCE VS. rejoice at the opportunity to slow down ENERGY SHORTAGE our pace somewhat and use that great reservoir of energy within our reach. We know that G o d ’s divine plan is at By Marsha Trapp work. L et’s not call it a crisis any longer; it is a blessing. As we know that our life is in We Truth students have a distinctively G o d ’s care we know that there is no crisis, optimistic interpretation of life. Of that our energies are in full force, and that course, we see the world as do our fellows. only good will result from our faith in the And th a t’s not to say that all men are not divine life current of which we are part. 0 Q j , eariv g n m a g e

To go back now requires a period of explanation, apology for delays, By L. A. Davidson defense of travels, for distant ones, silent all year.

I have returned part way But memory reaches out from a journey to beginnings strong arms that once held me, that I make each year-end, firm handshakes now grown weak and every New Year think but still with strength to touch I cannot do again. and draw me back in thought and time.

In-early December In spite of logical planning, culling the greetings list, present duties of community, I pare to present friends the longing to sit still and rest, who share my daily problems I have made pilgrimage on the long road I ride. to pay my dues of love for what I am. THE INCESSANT ANSWER is a part o f you that remembers this per­ (Continued from page 30) fectly. Think as lovingly toward this part of you as you would to the most irresis­ by being aware of it. The great law o f be­ tible smiling baby. lieving is indeed the F ath er’s servant, but Then in the same joyous, carefree spirit it is also ours. How marvelous that God of having a private world that you had as a has so lovingly provided such a means for child, play the game of believing that what making available to us the infinite good­ you want to come true is true. D o n ’t be ness of both heaven and earth! “Do not afraid. Nobody is watching you. Let the fear, only believe,” said Jesus to the divine child in you have its way. But do grieving father. And the father did believe, this understandingly. You are cooperating for his little daughter was miraculously with the great law, the law of believing. restored to life. What gratitude must have And this usually requires a complete filled him beyond words! mental reversal of the facts. The Master Let us turn away from what we think is said, “Unless you turn [that is, turn away the difficulty of believing, for it is not all from appearances] and become like chil­ that hard. We are born believers. It is as dren [live in your own exuberant choice], natural to believe as it is to breathe. Just you will never enter the kingdom of turn away from the hardheaded, fact- heaven.” We are not speaking here of the tradi­ tional heaven after death, but of an expe­ rience of heaven in human terms, meaning harmony, wholeness, health, physical well-being, happiness, mental peace, poise, and satisfaction. Can all this be possible? The great law o f being fulfilled . . . our desires of the present given to us . . . the joys of heaven ours: all of this just by the fun of be­ lieving? Have we missed so much by being too solemn, too intense, too serious? A great Indian poet, Tagore, put the same idea in different words when he wrote: “From the solemn gloom of the temple, children run out to play in the dust. God watches them play, and forgets the priest.” bound intellect to the fun-loving spirit of The desired answer to our prayers is an the little child. After all, it is implied that incessant answer, one that is always seek­ the keys to the kingdom are in the hands ing to bestow itself upon us. Is not this of the child in us. Do a little acting. You what the Sufi is hinting at? “I was a trea­ do not have to be a cowboy to ride a sure and longed to be revealed . . . ” The broomstick; I did it when I was just a little treasure wants us to cooperate with it. boy. Right now, this moment, I am going to Think back for a moment. What game start cooperating with the good that I or pretending gave you the greatest outlet, want, which also wants me. I shall wel­ the most fun when you were small? Bring come it joyously into my mind and feeling it back to mind. Try to feel it again. There nature. And I am sure that you will, too. formed a connecting link between human­ ity and God, through the peculiar love quality that He possessed. The inquiry of recent years into the laws o f mind has greatly cleared up the mission o f Jesus of Nazareth, and the time is close at hand when we shall have ex­ plained to us the necessity from a meta­ physical premise for His specific mental quality, and how it has accelerated the spiritual unfoldment of all who have centered their mind on His words, life, and works. This is too intricate a subject to be dealt with here; it is enough for us to know that Jesus o f Nazareth still lives in our very midst, and that all who will come to His mental, moral, and spiritual stan­ dard may enter His presence here and now. Yet no one may enter that presence 'Ftimiflfe\ itiw ls of who has not, through every sacrifice known to the intellectual man, attained “Fillnffne at-one-ment with the Father. When one has entered this sacred realm he finds that his life is intersphered with that of the Father and Jesus Christ so that in essence there is no distinction; their ideas synchronize so perfectly that they are NOTES essentially one mind. Thus we see that in Spirit there is no distinction between AND Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, and the Christ within each one o f us, because in COMMENTS that unity of soul we realize the fulfill­ ment of the prayer “That they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I V______J in thee, that they also may be in us.” A favorite phrase with church people is “Give God the g lo r y ”; and their idea is THE FACT THAT Jesus of Nazareth lived that God requires praise and adulation. and manifested the powers of the Christ This is far from the truth. The real secret is or spiritual man is of vital importance to that the inner spirit of man is God, and by every one. Not only is it important as an praising the power of the spirit within example, showing the possibilities latent himself man is in a measure bringing out within each of us, but in a deeper sense the and exercising his own faculties. Right testimony of the gospels and all Jesus’ here is a very intricate and much mis­ followers—those with Him personally and understood relation: the spiritual unity of all who have since come onto His spiritual God and man. One who has not expe­ plane—is that He bridged the way or rienced this peculiar union of spiritual forces at the center of the body cannot fulfill the craving of the soul for posses­ understand this relation. When the ego or sions, so there is a constant effort to attain self-consciousness detaches itself from the more and more, yet never satisfaction. personality it finds itself in an entirely Where there is seeming inequality in the new relation. It lives in its body but finds division of the things of the world the many intelligent elements active in the carnal m in d ’s first demand of the higher same domain, all of which are subject to a power is “Bid my brother divide the in­ grand central force that, like a pillar of heritance with me.” Covetousness wants fire, burns low or flames high as the word Christ to set up His kingdom in its world of the ego goes forth. Just here is where of selfishness. The rich are covetous and the ego or “I” must discriminate care­ likewise the poor. Wherever there is a fully. The great central flame is not the desire for the things of another, it is carnal personality but that which like a lamp covetousness in manifestation. The spiri­ lights up the personality from within, and tual-minded do not seek for a division of the conscious I floats in the blaze as a m an’s possessions, but ask that the Lord directive will that turns the flame here, make manifest unto them that which is there, and everywhere, yet ever seems to theirs by divine right. Prosperity comes to remain separate from it. If the ego says, “I them not through taking things away do this,” it immediately leaves the central from others but through realizing the flame and attaches itself to the intellect. If abundance of supply in Spirit everywhere. it says, “This power is from spirits,” it This sets up the true law and does away leaves its own domain entirely and with carnal selfishness. The lesson is a attaches itself to externalities. denial of covetousness. If you are rich and The first fosters egotism and strength­ are accumulating more and more and re­ ens the personality; the second weakens joicing in your abundance, you are in the the personality and disintegrates the will. clutches of covetousness. “Take heed, and Of the two, the building up of the person­ beware of all covetousness.” If your ality is preferable, because a time will thought is being centered on getting surely come when the inner flame will riches, you are attaching yourself to burn the barriers away and the I recognize temporal things and neglecting eternal its true life. When the I has abandoned its things. Instead of thinking about eternally house to others there is no hope of this, abiding life in the organism you are fritter­ and the way is beset with darkness and ing away your energy in getting things trial. that will do you no good whatever, and just about the time when you think you The carnal consciousness discerns the will enjoy your riches the law will say wisdom and power of the Christ but not unto you: “Fool! This night your soul is the standpoint from which it exercises required of you; and the things you have dominion. Carnality is mesmerized with prepared, whose will they be?” the thought that temporal things are real in themselves and therefore of first impor­ All forms are symbols of ideas. The boy tance in life. It never has enough, because at the blackboard symbolizes his idea of the riches of the world cannot possibly numeration in the figures of chalk, the ‘M r n M g J/jotia/jfx

ILLUMINA T/ON—God is Spirit, the principle of sculptor symbolizes his idea of beauty in intelligence and life, everywhere present at all his marble, and the flesh bodies of the times, and always within the reach o f each man, human race are symbols of the ideas men woman, and child. God loves to serve; we cannot hold. There are many planes beside the use Him too often—He will attend faithfully to material one upon which forms may be the most minute details of our daily life. Our part projected. Some people never close their is to look within and to ask the silent One for eyes without seeing forms. These are guidance, just as we would send a mental message usually cast on the astral plane and are to someone near and dear to us. The answer may consequently very frequently misleading. not come instantly (it may come when we least On the celestial or Jesus Christ plane expect it), but we will find ourself guided and alone can the forms be fully trusted, and moved to do just the right thing. he only can behold and understand their God is with me. He gives me a new sense of significance who has developed the Christ direction. I know what to do and how to proceed. consciousness. The plane of a form can be located by the light it emits. On the mate­ HEALING—A doctor was asked, “How do you rial plane it is a flesh body, perfectly keep from catching all the diseases with which opaque, the Spirit shining through the you come in contact?” The answer was, “I see eyes only; on the astral plane it is trans­ only the curative side.” We must adopt this parent but usually lacks animation and thought o f health as the one reality. Health expression, but on the celestial plane the comes from understanding G o d ’s wonder-work­ divine idea pours its spirit through the ing power within which is mighty to heal and form with dazzling brightness. The purify. Let us say many times daily that the appearance of the angel that rolled the power o f Spirit goes before us and that nothing stone away from Jesus’ tomb was “as can harm, weaken, or disturb us. Then our body lightning,” indicating a powerfully walls will be built up and the symmetry o f the developed idea back of it. We all have divine perfection will appear in us as it did in within us these planes, and project forms Christ Jesus. corresponding to the plane in which the I God is with me. His life is strong within me. locates itself through the ideas to which it He is healing and perfecting me. clings. The majority of mankind in this department of existence have the I glued PROSPERITY—No external condition or cir­ to a belief in the permanency of matter, cumstance can hold the soul o f man in bondage and they project this belief through forms when he makes mental contact with God. We all or bodies corresponding to it. The Spirit is have many blessings that we have not valued as always in one way or another introducing we should, and we make ourself servant o f the the ideas of the interior planes to the I of things we build up in our mind, either lack or each of us, and we can accept or reject plenty. We must praise God for the abundance of them. Some people get the higher ideas by all things. Our words will crack the omnipresent mental influx direct from the Spirit and ethers and good will flow to us from every direc­ then give them forth by the spoken word tion. We will have a new inner conviction that all to the multitude, while other forms of the things are working together for good. ideas are presented in the dreaming or God is with me. He provides for my every need. semiconscious state. 0 He opens new ways to success and prosperity. YOU CAN BE A STAR

Where are you living your life? Are you contains all these wonderful attributes. living life “center stage,” or are you fear­ We have the power to acknowledge the fully hovering around the closest “ex it”? truth about our relationship with God and Is the most exciting event of your day therefore bring forth these qualities of something you see on television, per­ being. formed by others? Are you actively in­ Let us live in God—in the conscious volved in life and living or are you, at best, awareness that His whole nature is a hole-in-the-fence observer? expressing through us, filling us with Life is of God and if we truly love God, eagerness, vitality, and enthusiasm. God- we must love life. If we fear life and try to life is evident all about us in nature and shrink from living, it is likely that we do throughout the universe. God lives in all. not truly know God at all. If you know that God dwells in you, you To know God as He is instills in us a are standing “center stage” and nothing reverence for all life and puts joy in our can keep you from being a true star! own. God is health, prosperity, love, and all good. The Spirit of God within us —Serene S. Davis.

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------1 am so delighted with my sub­ sense. I plan to visit the Unity Church near here scription for UNITY Magazine that I wish you just as soon as possible. (R.D.C., Massachusetts.) would mail a free sample copy to the following Just a note to thank you for your most inspiring persons. The “Unity way of life” has been my magazines. I read UNITY from cover to cover passport to “heaven on earth.” (D.E.B., Califor­ within a day after its arrival, then reread until the nia.) I was happy to receive the gift of the new next issue comes! (C.L., N orth Carolina.) I just UNITY Magazine. I have enjoyed every issue very had to write and tell you how much I’m enjoying much, especially the articles by Sue Sikking. The the UNITY Magazine—much to my surprise. I magazine as a whole, however, seems to be have never been able to agree with other church packed with the information that is most rele­ literature, but Unity ideas are right along with vant to my present need. With so many authors my way of thinking. My son-in-law is enjoying contributing to one publication instead of them also as I pass them on to him to read. He several, one is more likely to find more inspi­ returns them to me, so I can save them or lend ration from each issue. I am enclosing a money them to others. Thank you so much. (M.K.H., order for Si 00 and a list of names of relatives and Texas.) This is a letter of continuous thanks­ friends to whom I would like you to send UNITY giving and praise for all of you. For the magnifi­ for one year. If it ’s possible, I would like you to cence, excellence, and love within UNITY Maga­ begin with the first issue, or as far back as possi­ zine and Daily Word! For all of your continued ble, and send me a reminder when it is time for “reaching out and up” in myriad manifestations renewal. (E.J., N ew York.) We enjoy your of creativeness. A deep, deep thanks to James UNITY Magazine more than any other magazine Dillet Freeman for his letter on birthdays and in our home. Thank you so much. (J.A.P., “private miracles”! For the sheer simple pene­ Texas.) I’m so sorry to be late but I d id n ’t realize trating beauty of your words that wash me in my subscription was up. I never want to miss a tears of crystalline joy. For all of you I would single copy. My day would not be complete with­ send a most fragrant bouquet of violets, stars, out UNITY Magazine. (H.C., California.) I t ’s sunsets, clouds, mountains, the chords of music hard to figure how each UNITY Magazine can of a new Jerusalem, the divine imagery of a Sarah have more and more good in it to uplift and Bernhardt, and the chubby wrinkles of a baby. I direct my spiritual life. Each new issue is better behold you in a continuing resurrection! (H.J.B., than the others (or could it be that I am growing rexas.) I like the new UNITY Magazine very in my awareness and appreciation of spiritual much. I was going to say that it is the best in its food?). Thank you, Unity, for being! (D.T., class—but it is really in a class by itself. (A.S.F., Florida.) You cannot imagine how very much I Ohio.) I am making full use of this glorious, have enjoyed the UNITY Magazine. I have read mind-stimulating publication. So grateful for its each one from cover to cover, and it makes such mature approach. (M.B., Illinois.)______“There is a Tendlease’ of the entire per­ sonality to the rhythm that makes all things whole, the rhythm of the universe. 6Book This Power cannot be confined to any time, any book, any one religion, any one experience. It just is. It works by exact ' M a r k law, using all forms of life in proportion to their capacity for consent.” There is in the universe, he continues, an incessant flowing but also incessant ascension, or a whole-making power that CONSENT, by Newton Dillaway; is propelling all things to fulfillment in wholes, or higher series of wholes. The Unity, Unity Village, Mo., 64065; outstanding characteristic, then, o f the 111pp.; $2. universal power that governs the creation is its “incessant flowing and ascension.” The ascension, working in our mind, “makes the synthesis in which we see the facts of life from the higher points of view.” The mind must be freed from the clutter of circumstances in order to receive, he says. “I just relax and receive. I Here is a volume that is vital, and no try to consent to be used ... I find that I metaphysical library can be complete am used in proportion to my capacity to without it. The author says the book was consent, to let go, to get myself out of the several years in the making. Certainly one way.” Insight is the voice of the universal can understand why, for it contains the power, “the voice of God in the soul of truth of the ages. man. It comes only to that mind which Before beginning a study of the book, consents to be used.” the author says a word of caution is in If we are going to get anywhere with order, “lest the reader spoil the virgin the basic problems of human existence, freshness” of its basic idea. “It is not we must realize that these many forms something taken from religion, from and fields are interlocked, embracing one metaphysics, from philosophy or psy­ another. chology. It is something that you can There is a center, the Self, and all is bring to any field”—religion, philosophy, contingent on where this center is. science, psychology, art, baseball, or your “Everything depends on the field or form daily work, whatever or wherever it may of consciousness. See that and everything be. begins to clear . . . ” What does it mean to become a humble Newton Dillaway was one of the finest instrument of universal power? It does authors of metaphysical literature. This not mean that we are offered an avenue of book will doubtless remain a classic and is escape from reality but rather that man a priceless gem. Like the works of the must “consent to the cause and constitu­ immortal Emerson, it should be treasured tion of the universe.” and read again and again. The author says that in proportion to our capacity to consent, we are used. —Hugh R. Horne. r

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