As A Man Thinketh (2) James Allen

As A Man Thinketh (2)

A man may be honest in certain directions, yet suffer
privations. A man may be dishonest in certain directions, yet
acquire wealth. But the conclusion usually formed that the one
man fails because of his particular honesty, and that the other
prospers because of his particular dishonesty, is the result of a
superficial judgment, which assumes that the dishonest man is
almost totally corrupt, and honest man almost entirely virtuous. In
the light of a deeper knowledge and wider experience, such
judgment is found to be erroneous. The dishonest man may have
some admirable virtues which the other does not possess; and the
honest man obnoxious vices which are absent in the other. The
honest man reaps the good results of his honest thoughts and acts;
he also brings upon himself the sufferings which his vices produce.
The dishonest man likewise garners his own suffering and
happiness.

It is pleasing to human vanity to believe that one suffers
because of one's virtue; but not until a man has extirpated every
sickly, bitter, and impure thought from his soul, can he be in a
position to know and declare that his sufferings are the result of his
good, and not of his bad qualities; and on the way to, yet long
before he has reached that supreme perfection , he will have found,
working in his mind and life, the great law which is absolutely just,
and which cannot, therefore, give good for evil, evil for good.

Possessed of such knowledge, he will then know, looking back upon
his past ignorance and blindness, that his life is, and always was,
justly ordered, and that all his past experiences, good and bad,
were the equitable outworking of his evolving, yet unevolved self.
Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad
thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but
saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from
nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world,
and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral
world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating),
and they, therefore, do not cooperate with it.

Suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some
direction. It is an indication that the individual is out of harmony
with himself, with the law of his being. The sole and supreme use of
suffering is to purify, to burn out all that is useless and impure.
Suffering ceases for him who is pure. There could be no object in
burning gold after the dross had been removed, and a perfectly pure
and enlightened being could not suffer.

The circumstances which a man encounters with suffering are
the result of his own mental inharmony. The circumstances which a
man encounters with blessedness are the result of his own mental
harmony. Blessedness, not material possessions, is the measure of
right thought; wretchedness, not lack of material possessions, is the
measure of wrong thought. A man may be cursed and rich; he may
be blessed and poor. Blessedness and riches are only joined
together when the riches are rightly and wisely used. And the poor
man only descends into wretchedness when he regards his lot as a
burden unjustly imposed.

Indigence and indulgence are the two extremes of
wretchedness. They are both equally unnatural and the result of
mental disorder. A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a
happy, healthy, and prosperous being; and happiness, health, and
prosperity are the result of a harmonious adjustment of the inner
with the outer of the man with his surroundings.

A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and
revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which
regulates his life. And he adapts his mind to that regulating factor,
he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds
himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against
circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid
progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and
possibilities within himself.

Law, not confusion, is the dominating principle in the universe;
justice, not injustice, is the soul and substance of life.

Righteousness, not corruption, is the molding and moving force in
the spiritual government of the world. This being so, man has but to
right himself to find that the universe is right. And during the
process of putting himself right, he will find that as he alters his
thoughts towards things and other people, things and other people
will alter towards him.

The proof of this truth is in every person, and it therefore
admits of easy investigation by systematic introspection and selfanalysis.
Let a man radically alter his thoughts, and he will be
astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material
conditions of his life. Men imagine that thought can be kept secret,
but it cannot. It rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habit solidifies
into circumstance. Bestial thoughts crystallize into habits of
drunkenness and sensuality, which solidify into circumstances of
destitution and disease. Impure thoughts of every kind crystallize
into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting
and adverse circumstances. Thoughts of fear, doubt, and indecision
crystallize into weak, unmanly, and irresolute habits, which solidify
into circumstances of failure, indigence, and slavish dependence.

Lazy thoughts crystallize into weak, habits of uncleanliness and
dishonesty, which solidify into circumstances of foulness and
beggary. Hateful and condemnatory thoughts crystallize into habits
of accusation and violence, which solidify into circumstances of
injury and persecution. Selfish thoughts of all kinds crystallize into
habits of self-seeking, which solidify into distressful circumstances.

On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize
into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and
sunny circumstances. Pure thoughts crystallize into habits of
temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of
repose and peace. Thoughts of courage, self-reliance, and decision
crystallize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of
success, plenty, and freedom. Energetic thoughts crystallize into
habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into
circumstances of pleasantness. Gentle and forgiving thoughts
crystallize into habits of gentleness, which solidify into protective
and preservative circumstances. Loving and unselfish thoughts
which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity
and true riches.

A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad,
cannot fail to produce its results on the character and
circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances,
but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape
his circumstances.

Nature helps every man to gratification of the thoughts which
he most encourages, and opportunities are presented which will
most speedily bring to the surface both the good and the evil
thoughts.

Let a man cease from his sinful thoughts, and all the world will
soften towards him, and be ready to help him. Let him put away his
weakly and sickly thoughts, and the opportunities will spring up on
every hand to aid his strong resolves. Let him encourage good
thoughts, and no hard fate shall bind him down to wretchedness
and shame. The world is your kaleidoscope, and the varying
combinations of colors which at every succeeding moment it
presents to you are the exquisitely adjusted pictures of your evermoving
thoughts.


You will be what you will to be;
Let failure find its false content
In that poor word, “environment,”
But spirit scorns it, and is free.

It masters time, it conquers space;
It cows that boastful trickster, Chance,
And bids the tyrant Circumstance
Uncrown, and fill a servant's place.

The human Will, that force unseen,
The offspring of deathless Soul,
Can hew a way to any goal,
Though walls of granite intervene.

Be not impatient in delay,
But wait as one who understands;
When spirit rises and commands,
The gods are ready to obey.





III

Effects Of Thoughts on Health And Body


The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of
the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically
expressed. At the bidding of unlawful thoughts the body sinks
rapidly into disease and decay; at the command of glad and
beautiful thoughts it becomes clothed with youthfulness and
beauty.

Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought.
Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly body.
Thoughts of fear have been known to kill a man as speedily as a
bullet and they are continually killing thousands of people just as
surely though less rapidly. The people who live in fear of disease are
the people who get it. Anxiety quickly demoralizes the whole body,
and lays it open to the entrance of disease; while impure thoughts,
even if not physically indulged, will sooner shatter the nervous
system.

Strong pure, and happy thoughts build up the body in vigor
and grace. The body is a delicate and plastic instrument, which
responds readily to the thoughts by which it is impressed, and
habits of thought will produce their own effects, good or bad, upon
it.

Men will continue to have impure and poisoned blood, so long
as they propagate unclean thoughts. Out of a clean heart comes a
clean life and a clean body. Out of a defiled mind proceeds a defiled
life and a corrupt body. Thought is the fount of action, life and
manifestation; make the fountain pure, and all will be pure.
Change of diet will not help a man who will not change his
thoughts. When a man makes his thoughts pure, he no longer
desires impure food.

Clean thoughts make clean habits. The so-called saint who
does not wash his body is not a saint. He who has strengthened
and purified his thoughts does not need to consider the malevolent.
If you would perfect your body, guard your mind. If you would
renew your body, beautify your mind. Thoughts of malice, envy, and
disappointment, despondency, rob the body of its health and grace.
A sour face does not come by chance; it is made by sour thoughts.
Wrinkles that mar are drawn by folly, passion, pride.

I know a woman of ninety-six who has the bright, innocent
face of a girl. I know a man well under middle age whose face is
drawn into in harmonious contours. The one is the result of a sweet
and sunny disposition; the other is the outcome of passion and
discontent.

As you cannot have a sweet and wholesome abode unless you
admit the air and sunshine freely into your rooms, so a strong body
and a bright, happy, or serene countenance can only result from
the free admittance into the mind of thoughts of joy and goodwill
and serenity.

On the faces of the aged there are wrinkles made by sympathy
others by strong and pure thought, and others are carved by
passion; who cannot distinguish them? With those who have lived
righteously, age is calm, peaceful, and softly mellowed, like the
setting sun. I have recently seen a philosopher on his death-bed. He
was not old except in years. He died as sweetly and peacefully as he
had lived.

There is no physician like cheerful thought for dissipating the
ills of the body; there is no comforter to compare with goodwill for
dispersing the shadows of grief and sorrow. To live continually in
thoughts of ill-will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined
in a self-made prison hole. But to think well of all, to be cheerful
with all, to patiently learn to find the good in all--such unselfish
thoughts are the very portals of heaven; and to dwell day by day in
thoughts of peace toward every creature will bring abounding peace
to their possessor.





IV

Thought And Purpose


Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent
accomplishment. With the majority the bark of thought is allowed to
"drift" upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and such
drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of
catastrophe and destruction.

They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey
to petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pityings, all of which are
indications of weakness, which lead, just as surely as deliberately
planned sins (though by a diff route), to failure, unhappyness, and
loss, for weakness cannot persist in a power-evolving universe.

A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart,
and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the
centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual
ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the
time being. Whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thoughtforces
upon the object he had set before him. He should make this
purpose his supreme duty and should devote himself to its
attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into
ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road
to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails
again and again to accomplish his purpose--as he must until
weakness is overcome--the strength of character gained will be the
measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting point
for future power and triumph.

Those who are not prepared for the apprehension of a great
purpose, should fix the thoughts upon the faultless performance of
their duty, no matter how insignificant their task may appear. only
in this way can the thoughts be gathered and focused, and
resolution and energy be developed. once this is done, there is
nothing which may not be accomplished.

The weakest soul knowing its own weakness, and believing
this truth--that strength can only be developed by effort and
practice--will, thus believing, at once begin to exert itself. And,
adding effort to effort, patience to patience, and strength to
strength, will never cease to develop and will at last grow divinely
strong.

As the physically weak man can make himself strong by
careful and patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make
them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.

To put away aimlessness and weakness and to begin to think
with purpose is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only
recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment. Who make
all conditions serve them, and who think strongly, attempt
fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully.

Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark
out a straight pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the
right nor left. Doubts and fears should be rigorously excluded. They
are disintegrating elements which break up the straight line of
effort, rendering it crooked, ineffectual, useless. Thoughts of doubt
and fear can never accomplish anything. They always lead to
failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease
when doubt and fear creep in.

The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do.
Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge, and he who
encourages them, who does not slay them, thwarts himself at every
step.

He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure.
His every thought is allied with power, and all difficulties are
bravely met and overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted,
and they bloom and bring forth fruit that does not fall prematurely
to the ground.

Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force. He
who knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger
than a bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations. He
who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of
his mental powers.

to be continued...