the dore lectures on mental science(脑科学讲座)-第12章
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existence； but also that； because the Spirit finds a new centre in ourselves；
the same process is repeated in our own mentality； and therefore we are
continually creating ex nihilo whether we know it or not。 Consequently； if
we look upon evil as a force to be reckoned with； and therefore requiring
to be studied； we are in effect creating it； while on the other hand if we
realize that there is only ONE force to be considered； and that absolutely
good； we are by the law of the creative process bringing that good into
manifestation。 No doubt for this affirmative use of our creative power it is
necessary that we start from the basic conception of a SINGLE originating
power which is absolutely good and life…giving； but if there were a self…
originating power which was destructive then no creation could ever have
come into existence at all； for the positive and negative self…originating
powers would cancel each other and the result would be zero。 The fact；
therefore； of our own existence is a sufficient proof of the singleness and
goodness of the Originating Power； and from this starting…point there is no
second power to be taken into consideration； and consequently we do not
have to study the evil that may arise out of existing or future
circumstances； but require to keep our minds fixed only upon the good
which we intend to create。 There is a very simple reason for this。 It is that
every new creation necessarily carries its own law with it and by that law
produces new conditions of its own。 A balloon affords a familiar
illustration of my meaning。 The balloon with its freight weighs several
hundredweight； yet the introduction of a new factor； the gas； brings with it
a law of its own which entirely alters the conditions； and the force of
gravity is so completely overcome that the whole mass rises into the air。
The Law itself is never altered； but we have previously known it only
under limiting conditions。 These conditions； however； are no part of the
Law itself； and a clearer realization of the Law shows us that it contains in
itself the power of transcending them。 The law which every new creation
carries with it is therefore not a contradiction of the old law but its
specialization into a higher mode of action。
Now the ultimate Law is that of production ex nihilo by the movement
of the Spirit within itself； and all subordinate laws are merely the
measurements of the relations which spontaneously arise between
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different things when they are brought into manifestation； arid therefore； if
an entirely new thing is created it must necessarily establish entirely new
relations and so produce entirely new laws。 This is the reason why； if we
take the action of pure unmanifested Spirit as our starting…point； we may
confidently trust it to produce manifestations of law which； though
perfectly new from the stand…point of our past experience； are quite as
natural in their own way as any that have gone before。 It is on this account
that in these addresses I lay so much stress on the fact that Spirit creates ex
nihilo； that is； out of no pre…existing forms； but simply by its own
movement within itself。 If； then； this idea is clearly grasped； it logically
follows from it that the Root of Life is not to be found in the comparison
of good and evil； but in the simple affirmation of the Spirit as the All…
creating power of Good。 And since； as we have already seen； this same all…
creating Spirit finds a centre and fresh starting…point of operation in our
own minds； we can trust it to follow the Law of its own being there as
much as in the creation of the cosmos。
Only we must not forget that it is working through our own minds。 It
thinks through our mind； and our mind must be made a suitable channel
for this mode of its operation by conforming itself to the broad generic
lines of the Spirit's thinking。 The reason for this is one which I have
sought to impress throughout these lectures； namely； that the specialization
of a law is never the denial of it； but on the contrary the fuller recognition
of its basic principles； and if this is the case in ordinary physical science it
must be equally so when we come to specialize the great Law of Life itself。
The Spirit can never change its essential nature as the essence of Life；
Love； and Beauty； and if we adopt these characteristics； which constitute
the Law of the Spirit； as the basis of our own thinking； and reject all that is
contrary to them； then we afford the broad generic conditions for the
specialized thinking of the Spirit through our own minds： and the thinking
of the Spirit is that INVOLUTION； or passing of spirit into form； which is
the whole being of the creative process。
The mind which is all the time being thus formed is our own。 It is not a
case of control by an external individuality； but the fuller expression of the
Universal through an organized mentality which has all along been a less
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perfect expression of the Universal； and therefore the process is one of
growth。 We are not losing our individuality； but are coming into fuller
possession of ourselves by the conscious recognition of our personal share
in the great work of creation。 We begin in some slight measure to
understand what the Bible means when it speaks of our…being 〃partakers
of the Divine nature〃 （II。 Peter i。 4） and we realize the significance of the
〃unity of the Spirit〃 （Ephesians iv。 3）。 Doubtless this will imply changes in
our old mode of thinking； but these changes are not forced upon us； they
are brought about naturally by the new stand…point from which we now
see things。 Almost imperceptibly to ourselves we grow into a New Order
of Thought which proceeds； not from a knowledge of good and evil； but
from the Principle of Life itself。 That is what makes the difference
between our old thought and our new thought。 Our old thought was based
upon a comparison of limited facts： our new thought is based upon a
comprehension of principles。 The difference is like that between the
mathematics of the infant； who cannot count beyond the number of apples
or marbles put before him； and that of the senior wrangler who is not
dependent upon visible objects for his calculations； but plunges boldly into
the unknown because he knows that he is working by indubitable
principles。 In like manner when we realize the infallible Principle of the
Creative Law we no longer find we need to see everything cut and dried
beforehand； for if so； we could never get beyond the range of our old
experiences； but we can move steadily forward because we know the
certainty of the creative principle by which we are working； or rather；
which is working through us； and that our life； in all its minutes〃 details； is
its harmonious expression。 Thus the Spirit thinks through our thought only
its thought is greater than ours。 It is the paradox of the less containing the
greater。 Our thought will not be objectless or unintelligible to ourselves。 It
will be quite clear as far as it goes。 We shall know exactly what we want to
do and why we want to do it； and so will act in a reasonable and intelligent
manner。 But what we do not know is the greater thought that is all the time
giving rise to our smaller thought； and which will open out from it as our
lesser thought progresses into form。 Then we gradually see the greater
thought which prompted our smaller one and we find ourselves working
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along its lines； guided by the invisible hand of the Creative Spirit into
continually increasing degrees of livingness to which we need assign no
limits； for it is the expansion of the Infinite within ourselves。
This； as it appears to me； is the hidden meaning of the two trees in
Eden； the Garden of the Soul。 It is the distinction between a knowledge
which is merely that of comparisons between different sorts of conditions；
and a knowledge which is that of the Life which gives rise to and therefore
controls conditions。 Only we must remember that the control of conditions
is not to be attained by violent self…assertion which is only recognizing
them as substantive entities to be battled with； but by conscious unity with
that All…creating Spirit which works silently； but surely； on its own lines of
Life； Love； and Beauty。
〃Not by might； nor by power； but by My Spirit； saith the Lord of
Hosts。〃
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THE WORSHIP OF ISHI。
In Hosea ii。 16 we find this remarkable statement：〃And it shall be at
that day； saith the Lord； that thou shalt call Me Ishi； and shalt no more call
Me Baali〃； and with this we may couple the statement in Isaiah lxii。 4：
〃Thou shalt be called Hephzibah； and thy land Beulah； for the Lord
delighteth in thee； and thy land shall be married。〃
In both these passages we find a change of name； and since a name
stands for something which corresponds to it； and in truth only amounts to
a succinct description； the fact indicated in these texts is a change of
condition answering to the change of name。
Now the change from Baali to Ishi indicates an important alteration in
the relation between the Divine Being and the worshipper； but since the
Divine Being cannot change； the altered relation must result from a change
in the stand…point of the worshipp
