the dore lectures on mental science(脑科学讲座)-第3章
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centres which can reciprocate the highest nature of the Divine Mind；
requires not a mechanism； however perfect； but a mental centre which is；
in itself； an independent source of action。 Hence by the requirements of
the case man should be capable of placing himself either in a positive or a
negative relation to the Parent Mind； from which he originates； otherwise
he would be nothing more than a clockwork figure。
In this necessity of the case； then； we find the reason why the life； love；
and beauty of the Spirit are not visibly reproduced in every human being。
They ARE reproduced in the world of nature； so far as a mechanical and
automatic action can represent them； but their perfect reproduction can
only take place on the basis of a liberty akin to that of the Originating
Spirit itself； which therefore implies the liberty of negation as well as of
affirmation。
Why； then； does the individual make a negative choice？ Because he
does not understand the law of his own individuality； and believes it to be
a law of limitation； instead of a Law of Liberty。 He does not expect to find
the starting point of the Creative Process reproduced within himself； and
so he looks to the mechanical side of things for the basis of his reasoning
about life。 Consequently his reasoning lands him in the conclusion that life
is limited； because he has assumed limitation in his premises； and so…
logically cannot escape from it in his conclusion。 Then he thinks that this
is the law and so ridicules the idea of transcending it。 He points to the
sequence of cause and effect； by which death； disease； and disaster； hold
their sway over the individual； and says that sequence is law。 And he is
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perfectly right so far as he goesit is a law； but not THE Law。 When we
have only reached this stage of comprehension； we have yet to learn that a
higher law can include a lower one so completely as entirely to swallow it
up。
The fallacy involved in this negative argument； is the assumption that
the law of limitation is essential in all grades of being。 It is the fallacy of
the old shipbuilders as to the impossibility of building iron ships。 What is
required is to get at the PRINCIPLE which is at the back of the Law in its
affirmative working； and specialize it under higher conditions than are
spontaneously presented by nature； and this can only be done by the
introduction of the personal element； that is to say an individual
intelligence capable of comprehending the principle。 The question； then； is；
what is the principle by which we came into being？ and this is only a
personal application of the general question； How did anything come into
being？ Now； as I pointed out in the preceding article； the ultimate
deduction from physical science is that the originating movement takes
place in the Universal Mind； and is analogous to that of our own
imagination； and as we have just seen； the perfect ideal can only be that of
a being capable of reciprocating ALL the qualities of the Originating Mind。
Consequently man； in his inmost nature； is the product of the Divine Mind
imaging forth an image of itself on the plane of the relative as the
complementary to its own sphere of the absolute。
If we will therefore go to the INMOST principle in ourselves； which
philosophy and Scripture alike declare to be made in the image and
likeness of God； instead of to the outer vehicles which it externalizes as
instruments through which to function on the various planes of being； we
shall find that we have reached a principle in ourselves which stands in
loco dei towards all our vehicles and also towards our environment。 It is
above them all； and creates them； however unaware we may be of the fact；
and relatively to them it occupies the place of first cause。 The recognition
of this is the discovery of our own relation to the whole world of the
relative。 On the other hand this must not lead us into the mistake of
supposing that there is nothing higher； for； as we have already seen； this
inmost principle or ego is itself the effect of an antecedent cause； for it
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proceeds from the imaging process in the Divine Mind。
We thus find ourselves holding an intermediate position between true
First Cause； on the one hand； and the world of secondary causes on the
other； and in order to understand the nature of this position； we must fall
back on the axiom that the Universal can only work on the plane of the
Particular through the individual。 Then we see that the function of the
individual is to DIFFERENTIATE the undistributed flow of the Universal
into suitable directions for starting different trains of secondary causation。
Man's place in the cosmic order is that of a distributor of the Divine
power； subject； however； to the inherent Law of the power which he
distributes。 We see one instance of this in ordinary science； in the fact that
we never create force； all we can do is to distribute it。 The very word Man
means distributor or measurer； as in common with all words derived from
the Sanderit root MN。； it implies the idea of measurement； just as in the
words moon； month； mens； mind； and 〃man；〃 the Indian weight of 80 1bs。；
and it is for this reason that man is spoken of in Scripture as a 〃steward；〃
or dispenser of the Divine gifts。 As our minds become open to the full
meaning of this position； the immense possibilities and also the
responsibility contained in it will become apparent。
It means that the individual is the creative centre of his own world。
Our past experience affords no evidence against this； but on the contrary；
is evidence for it。 Our true nature is always present； only we have hitherto
taken the lower and mechanical side of things for our starting point； and so
have created limitation instead of expansion。 And even with the
knowledge of the Creative Law which we have now attained； we shall
continue to do this； if we seek our starting point in the things which are
below us and not in the only thing which is above us； namely the Divine
Mind； because it is only there that we can find illimitable Creative Power。
Life is BEING； it is the experience of states of consciousness； and there is
an unfailing correspondence between these inner states and our outward
conditions。 Now we see from the Original Creation that the state of
consciousness must be the cause； and the corresponding conditions the
effect； because at the starting of the creation no conditions existed； and the
working of the Creative Mind upon itself can only have been a state of
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consciousness。 This； then； is clearly the Creative Orderfrom states to
conditions。 But we invert this order； and seek to create from conditions to
states。 We say； If I had such and such conditions they would produce the
state of feeling which I desire； and in so saying we run the risk of making
a mistake as to the correspondence； for it may turn out that the particular
conditions which we fixed on are not such as would produce the desired
state。 Or； again； though they might produce it in a certain degree； other
conditions might produce it in a still greater degree； while at the same time
opening the way to the attainment of still higher states and still better
conditions。 Therefore our wisest plan is to follow the pattern of the Parent
Mind and make mental self…recognition our starting point； knowing that by
the inherent Law of Spirit the corelated conditions will come by a natural
process of growth。 Then the great self…recognition is that of our relation to
the Supreme Mind。 That is the generating centre and we are distributing
centres； just as electricity is generated at the central station and delivered
in different forms of power by reason of passing through appropriate
centres of distribution； so that in one place it lights a room； in another
conveys a message； and in a third drives a tram car。 In like manner the
power of the Universal Mind takes particular forms through the particular
mind of the individual。 It does not interfere with the lines of his
individuality； but works along them； thus making him； not less； but more
himself。 It is thus； not a compelling power； but an expanding and
illuminating one； so that the more the individual recognizes the reciprocal
action between it and himself； the more full of life he must become。
Then also we need not be troubled about future conditions because we
know that the All…originating Power is working through us and for us； and
that according to the Law proved by the whole existing creation； it
produces all the conditions required for the expression of the Life； Love
and Beauty which it is； so that we can fully trust it to open the way as we
go along。 The Great Teacher's words； 〃Take no thought for the morrow〃
and note that the correct translation is 〃Take no anxious thought〃 are the
practical application of the soundest philosophy。 This does not； of course；
mean that we are not to exert ourselves。 We must do our share in the work；
and not expect God to do FOR us what He can only do THROUGH us。 We
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are to use our common sense and natural faculties in working upon the
conditions now present。 We must make use of them； AS FAR AS THEY
GO； but we must not try and go further than the present things require； we
must not try to force
