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"When
we lean on the spirituality of our being we lean on the wonderful truth
that divine perfection in us, as us, expresses itself through us.
The next time you get caught in something which appears to be absolutely
terrible, when confusion is all around you, become very quiet and
declare that peace permeates the situation. You have the power
within you to bring forth a new experience as you declare peace in the
midst of chaos."
- Dr. Frank
Richelieu, The Art
Of Being Yourself
This
week we finish with our annual review of the first four Introductory
Chapters of "The Science of Mind" with Introductory Chapter 4,
"How To Use It." All references to SOM, are from
"The Science of Mind."
(SOM) "One of the great
difficulties in the new order of thought is that we are likely to
indulge in too much theory and too little practice. As a matter of
fact, we only know as much as we can prove by actual demonstration.
That which we cannot prove may, or may not, be true but that which we
can prove certainly must be, and is, the truth."
It is greatly significant that Dr. Holmes wrote
the above first, to begin the chapter on "How To Use It."
So many people have an "intellectual" understanding of
metaphysics, but fail to receive the full value of this greatest of
philosophies, because they do not put it into daily practice. Too
often we wait for the crisis, or the emergency, to pray or to use
spiritual mind treatment. But, the value of the teaching is not
crisis-intervention, it is crisis-prevention. Using the spiritual
practices taught in the Science of Mind will not insure that we will
never endure storms in our lives, but it does prepare us to be calm
during the storms until they have passed.
(SOM) "The practice of the Science
of Mind calls for a positive understanding of the Spirit of Truth; a
willingness to let this inner Spirit guide us, with the conscious
knowledge that "The Law of the Lord is perfect." (Psalms 19:7)
And we must believe this to be a fact. In so far as our thought is
in accord with this perfect Law, it will accomplish and nothing can
hinder it. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words
shall not pass away," (Matthew 24:35) said the beautiful Jesus, as
he strove to teach his disciples the immutability of the Law of
Righteousness."
The "Law of Righteousness" that Dr.
Holmes is referring to above, is the "Law of Right Thinking."
When our first thought is always that, "G-d is All, and All is
Good," we are consciously "double-thinking" ... in other
words, we mentally translate the "appearance" that we see as
good, no matter what may appear, knowing that, "right where I am,
good is, because right where I am, G-d is." This is always
the Truth.
(SOM) "The time will come when we
will let our "conversation be in heaven," and refuse to talk
about, read or think about, those things that ought not to be.
But, someone will say, "Should we refuse to look at sickness,
poverty and unhappiness?" This is not what we are discussing.
We will not refuse to help the helpless or lift up the fallen, but we
will refuse to wallow in the mud because of our sympathies.
"And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the
ditch." (Matthew 15:14) ... Of all the people in the world, the
ones who have come the nearest to touching the seamless garment of Truth
have been the most sympathetic and the greatest lovers of the race.
Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up, ... (not dragged down) will
draw all men unto me." (John 12:32) ... We are in the world and of
it and it is good that it is so. The world is all right when we
view it correctly. ... Healing and demonstration take place as our
minds become attuned to the truth of Being. There is no process
of healing, but there is generally a process in healing.
This process is the time and effort which we undergo in our realization
of Truth."
Anyone can learn to work scientifically to move
through their problems, find solutions, or to increase the good that
they already have. The methods are simple; silent meditation,
contemplation, affirmative prayer and knowing the Truth. Each of
these are done in mind and as we practice them daily, they become
natural to us. In doing these things we develop a greater
awareness of the Power of G-d within us. In scripture we can read:
John 3:30: "He must increase, but I must decrease." This
"He" is the spark of the Divine within each of us ... our
divinity. We must move from the distractions of our human ego, and
let this spark of the Divine within us be expressed more fully and
completely.
The
purpose of spiritual mind treatment (affirmative prayer) is not to
"convince" G-d of anything, but to lift our awareness to the
level of acceptance and receptivity of the Good that we desire (choose)
to experience. We do this by: 1) Recognizing there is a
Power greater than us that desires only Good for us. 2) By
consciously turning our mind towards G-d, we are unified in Mind with
It. 3) We realize or accept the Good that we desire (we name it and we
claim it) knowing that it is available and ours as we accept it as being
ours now ... as within, so without .. what we accept in mind will
manifest in due time providing we remain faithful to it. 4) We give
thanks that it is ours, knowing that sincere gratitude confirms our
belief that it is so. 5) We release these words into the Law
knowing that what we have declared as so, is so, and we let G-d do Its
Perfect work for us.
AND
SO IT IS!
Keep
the faith!
Rev.
Dr. Henry Lee Bates
Visit Rev. Bates BLOG: Living
the Science of Mind
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