the dore lectures on mental science(脑科学讲座)-第5章
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supposed； for； from his new standpoint； he finds that he is included； not so
much as a part of the general effect； but as a part of the general cause； and
when he perceives this he then sees that the method of his further advance
must be by letting the General Cause flow more and more freely into his
own specific centre； and he therefore seeks to provide thought conditions
which will enable him to do so。
Then； still employing the scientific method of following up the
affirmative factor； he realizes that this universal causative power； by
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whatever name he may call it； manifests as Supreme Intelligence in the
adaptation of means to ends。 It does so in the mechanism of the planet； in
the production of supply for the support of physical life； and in the
maintenance of the race as a whole。 True； the investigator is met at every
turn with individual failure； but his answer to this is that there is no cosmic
failure； and that the apparent individual failure is itself a part of the cosmic
process； and will diminish in proportion as the individual attains to the
recognition of the Moving Principle of that process； and provides the
necessary conditions to enable it to take a new starting point in his own
individuality。 Now； one of these conditions is to recognize it as
Intelligence； and to remember that when working through our own
mentality it in no way changes its essential nature； just as electricity loses
none of its essential qualities in passing through the special apparatus
which enables it to manifest as light。
When we see this； our line of thought will run something as follows：
〃My mind is a centre of Divine operation。 The Divine operation is always
for expansion and fuller expression； and this means the production of
something beyond what has gone before； something entirely new； not
included in past experience； though proceeding out of it by an orderly
sequence of growth。 Therefore； since the Divine cannot change its inherent
nature； it must operate in the same manner in me； consequently in my own
special world； of which I am the centre； it will move forward to produce
new conditions； always in advance of any that have gone before。〃 This is a
legitimate line of argument； from the premises established in the
recognition of the relation between the individual and the Universal Mind；
and it results in our looking to the Divine Mind； not only as creative； but
also as directive that is as determining the actual forms which the
conditions for its manifestation will take in our own particular world； as
well as supplying the energy for their production。 We miss the point of the
relation between the individual and the universal； if we do not see that the
Originating Spirit is a FORMING power。 It is the forming power
throughout nature； and if we would specialize it we must learn to trust its
formative quality when operating from its new starting point in ourselves。
But the question naturally arises； If this is so； what part is taken by the
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individual？ Our part is to provide a concrete centre round which the
Divine energies can play。 In the generic order of being we exercise upon it
a force of attraction in accordance with the innate pattern of our particular
individuality； and as we begin to realize the Law of this relation； we； in
our turn； are attracted towards the Divine along the lines of least resistance；
that is on those lines which are most natural to our special bent of mind。 In
this way we throw out certain aspirations with the result that we intensify
our attraction of the Divine forces in a certain specific manner； and they
then begin to act both through us and around us in accordance with our
aspirations。 This is the rationale of the reciprocal action be tween the
Universal Mind and the individual mind； and this shows us that our desires
should not be directed so much to the acquisition of particular THINGS as
to the reproduction in ourselves of particular phases of the Spirit's activity；
and this； being in its very nature creative； is bound to externalize as
corresponding things and circumstances。 Then； when these external facts
appear in the circle of our objective life； we must work upon them from
the objective stand…point。 This is where many fall short of completed work。
They realize the subjective or creative process； but do not see that it must
be followed by an objective or constructive process； and consequently
they are unpractical dreamers and never reach the stage of completed work。
The creative process brings the materials and conditions for the work to
our hands； then we must make use of them with diligence and common…
senseGod will provide the food； but He will not cook the dinner。
This； then； is the part taken by the individual； and it is thus that he
becomes a distributing centre of the Divine energy； neither on the one
hand trying to lead it like a blind force； nor on the other being himself
under a blind unreasoning impulsion from it。 He receives guidance
because he seeks guidance； and he both seeks and receives according to a
Law which he is able to recognize； so that he no more sacrifices his liberty
or dwarfs his powers； than does an engineer who submits to the generic
laws of electricity； in order to apply them to some specific purpose。 The
more intimate his knowledge of this Law of Reciprocity becomes； the
more he finds that it leads on to Liberty； on the same principle by which
we find in physical science that nature obeys us precisely in the same
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degree to which we first obey nature。 As the esoteric maxim has it 〃What
is a truth on one plane is a truth on all。〃 But the key to this
enfranchisement of body； mind； and circumstances is in that new thought
which becomes creative of new conditions； because it realizes the true
order of the creative process。 Therefore it is that； if we would bring a new
order of Life； Light； and Liberty into our lives we must commence by
bringing a new order into our thought； and find in ourselves the starting
point of a new creative series； not by the force of personal will； but by
union with the Divine Spirit； which in the expression of its inherent Love
and Beauty； makes all things new。
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THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT。
The three preceding lectures have touched upon certain fundamental
truths in a definite orderfirst the nature of the Originating Spirit itself；
next the generic relation of the individual to this All…embracing Spirit； and
lastly the way to specialize this relation so as to obtain greater results from
it than spontaneously arise by its merely generic action； and we have
found that this can only be done through a new order of thought。 This
sequence is logical because it implies a Power； an Individual who
understands the Power； and a Method of applying the power deduced from
understanding its nature。 These are general principles without realizing
which it is impossible to proceed further； but assuming that the reader has
grasped their significance； we may now go on to consider their application
in greater detail。
Now this application must be a personal one； for it is only through the
individual that the higher specialization of the power can take place； but at
the same time this must not lead us to suppose that the individual； himself；
brings the creative force into being。 To suppose this is inversion； and we
cannot impress upon ourselves too deeply that the relation of the
individual to the Divine Spirit is that of a distributor； and not that of the
original creator。 If this is steadily borne in mind the way will become clear；
otherwise we shall be led into confusion。
What； then； is the Power which we are to distribute？ It is the
Originating Spirit itself。 We are sure that it is this because the new order of
thought always begins at the beginning of any series which it contemplates
bringing into manifestation； and it is based upon the fact that the origin of
everything is Spirit。 It is in this that its creative power resides； hence the
person who is in the true new order of thought assumes as an axiomatic
fact that what he has to distribute； or differentiate into manifestation is
nothing else than the Originating Spirit。 This being the case； it is evident
that the PURPOSE of the distribution must be the more perfect expression
of the Originating Spirit as that which it is in itself； and what it is in itself
is emphatically Life。 What is seeking for expression； then； is the perfect
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Livingness of the Spirit； and this expression is to be found； through
ourselves； by means of our renewed mode of thought。 Let us see； then；
how our new order of thought； with regard to the Principle of Life； is
likely to operate In our old order of thought we have always associated
Life with the physical bodylife has been for us the supreme physical fact。
Now； however； we know that Life is much more than this； but； as the
greater includes the less； it includes physical life as one mode of its
manifestation。 The true order does not require us to deny the reality of
