Infinite Potential - Neville Goddard, Mitch Horowitz - Inglês (2024)

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<p>BeginReading</p><p>TableofContents</p><p>AbouttheAuthors</p><p>CopyrightPage</p><p>Thankyouforbuyingthis</p><p>St.Martin’sPressebook.</p><p>Toreceivespecialoffers,bonuscontent,</p><p>andinfoonnewreleasesandothergreatreads,</p><p>signupforournewsletters.</p><p>Orvisitusonlineat</p><p>us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup</p><p>ForemailupdatesonNevilleGoddard,clickhere.</p><p>ForemailupdatesonMitchHorowitz,clickhere.</p><p>http://us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup?utm_source=ebook&utm_medium=adcard&utm_term=ebookreaders&utm_content=nevillegoddard_newslettersignup_macdotcom&utm_campaign=9781250319319</p><p>http://us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup?utm_source=ebook&utm_medium=adcard&utm_term=ebookreaders&utm_content=nevillegoddard_newslettersignup_macdotcom&utm_campaign=9781250319319</p><p>https://us.macmillan.com/authoralerts?authorName=nevillegoddard&authorRefId=200069490&utm_source=ebook&utm_medium=adcard&utm_term=ebookreaders&utm_content=nevillegoddard_authoralertsignup_macdotcom&utm_campaign=9781250319319</p><p>https://us.macmillan.com/authoralerts?authorName=mitchhorowitz&authorRefId=200069488&utm_source=ebook&utm_medium=adcard&utm_term=ebookreaders&utm_content=mitchhorowitz_authoralertsignup_macdotcom&utm_campaign=9781250319319</p><p>Theauthorandpublisherhaveprovidedthise-booktoyouforyourpersonaluse</p><p>only.Youmaynotmakethise-bookpubliclyavailableinanyway.Copyright</p><p>infringement isagainst the law. Ifyoubelieve thecopyof this e-bookyou</p><p>arereadinginfringesontheauthor’scopyright,pleasenotifythepublisher</p><p>at:us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.</p><p>http://us.macmillanusa.com/piracy</p><p>INTRODUCTION</p><p>MagicianoftheBeautiful</p><p>AsIcamenear,withoutthoughtoreffortonmyparttheywere,oneaftertheother,moldedasbythe</p><p>MagicianoftheBeautiful.</p><p>—NEVILLE,THESEARCH,1946</p><p>TheBarbados-bornmysticNevilleGoddard,wholivedandworkedinAmerica</p><p>for fifty years until his death in 1972, is one of the most extraordinary and</p><p>unusualreligiousintellectsofmodernlife.</p><p>IwillneverforgetthefirsttimeIheardhisname.Inthesummerof2003,I</p><p>wasinterviewingmajor-leaguepitcherBarryZito,whowasthenplayingforthe</p><p>OaklandA’s.Barry’s father,Joe, taughthimaboutNeville’swork,and theCy</p><p>Young Award winner used Neville’s ideas of mental creativity as part of his</p><p>trainingregimen.Nevilleteachesthatallrealityisself-created—thatyourmind</p><p>is God the Creator. This formed a vital part of Barry’s system of self-</p><p>developmentatthetime.Midwaythroughourconversationhestoppedandsaid,</p><p>“Youmust reallybe intoNeville.”Themysticwroteandspokeunderhis first</p><p>name;Ihadneverheardit.Barrywasincredulous.Afterourtalk,Igotacopyof</p><p>Neville’s1966book,Resurrection.Iwasenthralledwithitsideas—andhooked</p><p>everafter.</p><p>I am often drawn to a teaching based on my perception of the teacher’s</p><p>character andpersonage.Something aboutNeville’s personagrippedme, even</p><p>beforeIhadheardhisclippedAnglicanaccentorseenhisRomanesqueimage.</p><p>Neville,tome,conveyedakindofseriousnessintermixedwiththemostradical</p><p>proposition I had ever heard: Your imagination is God. Everything that you</p><p>experience, including thewordsyouarenowreading,emerges fromyourown</p><p>creative thoughts, of which the Jehovah of the Old andNew Testaments is a</p><p>symbolic pictogram.Everything is ultimately rooted in you,Neville taught, as</p><p>you are rooted in God. This is the esoteric meaning behind Scripture,</p><p>culminatinginthecrucifixionandresurrectionofChristandhisself-realization</p><p>ofhisowndivinity.InNeville’stelling,theeventsofScripturearenothistorical</p><p>but are a mystical drama destined to play out in the life of every individual.</p><p>“Everymanisdestinedtodiscoverthatscriptureishisautobiography,”Neville</p><p>saidin1967.</p><p>YouareGod—itisthekindofstatementwithwhichoneimmediatelywants</p><p>toargue.Wecanallrecallincidentsinlifethatdonotbearthemarkingsofour</p><p>creative desires or wishes, a topic to which I will return. But Neville, across</p><p>morethantenbooksandthousandsoflectures,whichhefreelypermittedtobe</p><p>tape-recordedbyaudiencemembers—aforesightfulact that securedhis legacy</p><p>in the digital age—argued with unfailing simplicity and elegance for the</p><p>sacrednessoftheimagination.</p><p>“The only God,” he told audiences, “is your own wonderful human</p><p>imagination.”Asyou’lldiscoverintheselectionsthatfollow,Nevillealsotaught</p><p>thatthesecretmeaningofexistenceistodiscoveryourdivinenaturethroughthe</p><p>exercising of your mind’s causative abilities; this leads you into a series of</p><p>mysticalexperiencesthatconfirmyouridentityastheCreator.</p><p>NevillewasborntoanEnglishfamilyontheislandofBarbadosin1905.Hewas</p><p>one of ten children: nine boys and a girl. In 1922, at the age of seventeen,</p><p>Nevillemigrated toNewYorkCity to study theater.Hisyouthful intrepidness</p><p>marked a difference between his era and our own. Neville experienced some</p><p>success, appearing in roles on Broadway and in silent films. In 1926, an</p><p>entertainment columnist hailed the young actor’s “remarkable likeness to</p><p>RudolphValentino.”Healsotouredinternationallyaspartofadancetroupe.</p><p>Duringhisperformingyears,Nevilleencounteredawiderangeofmystical</p><p>philosophies. In the early 1930s, the seeker dedicated himself to an intensive</p><p>studyofmetaphysics,whichbytheendofthedecadehadlaidthefoundationfor</p><p>a new and unexpected career as a mystical writer and lecturer. In his talks,</p><p>Neville creditedhis spiritual education to an enigmatic, turbanedblack-Jewish</p><p>mannamedAbdullah,whoNevillesaidtutoredhimforfiveyearsinNewYork</p><p>in Scripture, number mysticism, Kabbalah, Hebrew, and the laws of mental</p><p>creativity.</p><p>Neville’steachingbecamenotonlythemostocculticedgeofpositive-mind,</p><p>or New Thought, metaphysics, but also the philosophy’s most intellectually</p><p>stimulating expression. Neville artfully and compellingly expanded on the</p><p>principleofhoweachofusistheCreatorclothedinhumanfleshandslumbering</p><p>to his own higher nature.We live,Neville said,within an infinite network of</p><p>coexistent realities from which we select among a limitless potential of</p><p>experiencesthroughtheexerciseofourmentalimages,emotionalizedthoughts,</p><p>andexpectations.Themenandwomenyouseeaboutyouarealsobranchesof</p><p>the Creator: we each crisscross through one another’s universe of formative</p><p>thoughtsystemsuntilweexperiencetheultimaterealization—symbolicallytold</p><p>inScriptureasthecrucifixionandresurrection—ofourGodhood.</p><p>NevilletoldlistenersandreadersthatCreationclotheditselfinhumanform</p><p>inordertogivemenandwomenlife;sodeepandtotalistheCreator’slovefor</p><p>its offspring that it willingly entered into a state of total immersion and</p><p>forgetfulnessofitsdivinity.Embodiedinthiscosmicframeworkisthemystical</p><p>dramaoftheindividualsleeping,chrysalis-like,tohistruenature,experiencing</p><p>aneducativelifeof joysandtragedies, triumphsandsufferings,andeventually</p><p>comingintorealizationofthetruth.Withthat,Creationawakensandreturnsto</p><p>itself.</p><p>If all this sounds somewhat head-spinning, rest assured: Neville conveyed</p><p>his ideas with disarming simplicity and a frequent emphasis on using your</p><p>mental powers to satisfy personal desires, which attracted people of varying</p><p>levels of mystical interest and spiritual proclivity. Neville’s ideas are at once</p><p>spiritually epic andworkadaypractical.He is one of the fewmodern spiritual</p><p>thinkersforwhomthisistrue.</p><p>Nevillehasinfluencedmemorethananyotherteacher.Hisimageis</p><p>robbedGod,</p><p>the Father, because you (the son or conception) bearwitness of the Father or</p><p>conceiver.DonottakethemagicalnameofGod,IAM,invainforyouwillnot</p><p>beheldguiltless;youmustexpressallthatyouclaimyourselftobe.NameGod</p><p>byconsciouslydefiningyourselfasyourhighestideal.</p><p>2.THENAMEOFGOD</p><p>Itcannotbestated toooften thatconsciousness is theoneandonly reality, for</p><p>thisisthetruththatsetsmanfree.Thisisthefoundationuponwhichthewhole</p><p>structure of biblical literature rests. The stories of the Bible are all mystical</p><p>revelationswritten in an Eastern symbolismwhich reveals to the intuitive the</p><p>secret of creation and the formula of escape. The Bible is man’s attempt to</p><p>express in words the cause and manner of creation. Man discovered that his</p><p>consciousnesswasthecauseorcreatorofhisworld,soheproceededtotellthe</p><p>storyofcreationinaseriesofsymbolicalstoriesknowntoustodayastheBible.</p><p>Tounderstandthisgreatestofbooksyouneedalittleintelligenceandmuch</p><p>intuition—intelligence enough to enable you to read the book, and intuition</p><p>enoughtointerpretandunderstandwhatyouread.YoumayaskwhytheBible</p><p>waswrittensymbolically.Whywasitnotwritteninaclear,simplestylesothat</p><p>allwhoreaditmightunderstandit?TothesequestionsIreplythatallmenspeak</p><p>symbolically to that part of the world which differs from their own. The</p><p>languageoftheWestiscleartousoftheWest,butitissymbolictotheEast;and</p><p>viceversa.Anexampleof this canbe found in theEasterner’s instruction: “If</p><p>thinehandoffendtheecutitoff.”Hespeaksofthehand,notasthehandofthe</p><p>body,butasanyformofexpression,andtherebyhewarnsyoutoturnfromthat</p><p>expressioninyourworldwhichisoffensivetoyou.Atthesametimethemanof</p><p>theWestwould unintentionallymislead theman of the East by saying: “This</p><p>bank is on the rocks,” for the expression “on the rocks” to theWesterner is</p><p>equivalent tobankruptcywhilea rock toanEasterner isasymbolof faithand</p><p>security.“Iwilllikenhimuntoawiseman,whichbuilthishouseuponarock;</p><p>andtheraindescended,andthefloodscame,andthewindsblewandbeatupon</p><p>thathouse;anditfellnot;foritwasfoundeduponarock.”</p><p>ToreallyunderstandthemessageoftheBibleyoumustbearinmindthatit</p><p>waswrittenbytheEasternmindandthereforecannotbetakenliterallybythose</p><p>oftheWest.Biologically,thereisnodifferencebetweentheEastandtheWest.</p><p>Loveandhatearethesame;hungerandthirstarethesame;ambitionanddesire</p><p>arethesame;butthetechniqueofexpressionisvastlydifferent.</p><p>ThefirstthingyoumustdiscoverifyouwouldunlockthesecretoftheBible,</p><p>is themeaning of the symbolic name of the creatorwhich is known to all as</p><p>Jehovah.Thisword“Jehovah”iscomposedofthefourHebrewletters—JODHE</p><p>VAUHE.Thewholesecretofcreationisconcealedwithinthisname.Thefirst</p><p>letter JOD represents the absolute state or consciousness unconditioned; the</p><p>senseofundefinedawareness;thatallinclusivenessoutofwhichallcreationor</p><p>conditionedstatesofconsciousnesscome.IntheterminologyoftodayJODisI</p><p>AM,orunconditionedconsciousness.</p><p>The second letter HE represents the only begotten Son, a desire, an</p><p>imaginary state. It symbolizes an idea; a defined subjective state or clarified</p><p>mentalpicture.</p><p>ThethirdletterVAUsymbolizestheactofunifyingorjoiningtheconceiver</p><p>(JOD), theconsciousnessdesiring to theconception (HE), thestatedesired, so</p><p>that the conceiver and the conception become one. Fixing a mental state,</p><p>consciouslydefiningyourselfasthestatedesired,impressinguponyourselfthe</p><p>factthatyouarenowthatwhichyouimaginedorconceivedasyourobjective,is</p><p>the function ofVAU. It nails or joins the consciousness desiring to the thing</p><p>desired. The cementing or joining process is accomplished subjectively by</p><p>feelingtherealityofthatwhichisnotyetobjectified.</p><p>The fourth letter (HE) represents the objectifying of this subjective</p><p>agreement.TheJODHEVAUmakesmanorthemanifestedworld(HE),inthe</p><p>imageandlikenessofitself,thesubjectiveconsciousstate.Sothefunctionofthe</p><p>final HE is to objectively bearwitness to the subjective state JODHEVAU.</p><p>Conditionedconsciousnesscontinuallyobjectifies itselfon thescreenofspace.</p><p>The world is the image and likeness of the subjective conscious state which</p><p>createdit.Thevisibleworldofitselfcandonothing;itonlybearsrecordofits</p><p>creator, the subjective state. It is the visible son (HE) bearing witness of the</p><p>invisible Father, Son andMother—JODHEVAU—aHolyTrinitywhich can</p><p>onlybeseenwhenmadevisibleasmanormanifestation.</p><p>Yourunconditionedconsciousness(JOD)isyourIAM,whichvisualizesor</p><p>images a desirable state (HE), and then becomes conscious of being the state</p><p>imagedby feelingandbelieving itself tobe the imagined state.Theconscious</p><p>unionbetweenyouwhodesireandthatwhichyoudesiretobe,ismadepossible</p><p>throughtheVAU,oryourcapacitytofeelandbelieve.Believingissimplyliving</p><p>in the feeling of actually being the state imagined—by assuming the</p><p>consciousnessofbeingthestatedesired.ThesubjectivestatesymbolizedasJOD</p><p>HEVAU then objectifies itself asHE, thereby completing themystery of the</p><p>creator’snameandnature,JODHEVAUHE(Jehovah).JODistobeaware;HE</p><p>istobeawareofsomething;VAUistobeawareas,ortobeawareofbeingthat</p><p>whichyouwereonlyawareof.ThesecondHEisyourvisibleobjectifiedworld</p><p>whichismadeintheimageandlikenessoftheJODHEVAU,orthatwhichyou</p><p>areawareofbeing.</p><p>“AndGodsaid,Letusmakemaninour image,afterour likeness.”Letus,</p><p>JODHEVAU,maketheobjectivemanifestation(HE)inourimage,theimage</p><p>of the subjective state. The world is the objectified likeness of the subjective</p><p>conscious state in which consciousness abides. This understanding that</p><p>consciousness is the one and only reality is the foundation of the Bible. The</p><p>stories of theBible are attempts to reveal in symbolic language this secret of</p><p>creationaswellastoshowmantheoneformulaofescapefromallofhisown</p><p>creations.ThisisthetruemeaningofthenameofJehovah,thenamebywhich</p><p>allthingsaremadeandwithoutwhichthereisnothingmadethatismade.First,</p><p>youareaware;thenyoubecomeawareofsomething;thenyoubecomeawareas</p><p>thatwhichyouwereawareof; thenyoubeholdobjectively thatwhichyouare</p><p>awareofbeing.</p><p>3.THELAWOFCREATION</p><p>LetustakeoneofthestoriesoftheBibleandseehowtheprophetsandwriters</p><p>ofoldrevealedthestoryofcreationbythisstrangeEasternsymbolism.Weall</p><p>know the story of Noah and the Ark; that Noah was chosen to create a new</p><p>worldafter theworldwasdestroyedbytheflood.TheBible tellsus thatNoah</p><p>had three sons, Shem,Ham and Japheth. The first son is called Shem,which</p><p>meansname.Ham, thesecondson,meanswarm,alive.The thirdson iscalled</p><p>Japheth,whichmeansextension.YouwillobservethatNoahandhisthreesons</p><p>Shem,HamandJaphethcontainthesameformulaofcreationasdoesthedivine</p><p>nameofJODHEVAUHE.Noah,theFather,theconceiver,thebuilderofanew</p><p>worldisequivalenttotheJOD,orunconditionedconsciousness,IAM.Shemis</p><p>yourdesire;thatwhichyouareconsciousof;thatwhichyounameanddefineas</p><p>yourobjective, and is equivalent to the second letter in thedivinename (HE).</p><p>Ham is the warm, live state of feeling, which joins or binds together</p><p>consciousnessdesiring</p><p>and the thingdesired,and is thereforeequivalent to the</p><p>thirdletterinthedivinename,theVAU.Thelastson,Japheth,meansextension,</p><p>and is the extended or objectified state bearingwitness of the subjective state</p><p>andisequivalenttothelastletterinthedivinename,HE.</p><p>YouareNoah,theknower,thecreator.Thefirstthingyoubegetisanidea,</p><p>an urge, a desire, theword, or your first son Shem (name). Your second son</p><p>Ham(warm,alive) is thesecretofFEELINGbywhichyouare joined toyour</p><p>desiresubjectivelysothatyou,theconsciousnessdesiring,becomeconsciousof</p><p>being or possessing the thing desired. Your third son, Japheth, is the</p><p>confirmation, the visible proof that youknow the secret of creation.He is the</p><p>extendedorobjectifiedstatebearingwitnessof theinvisibleorsubjectivestate</p><p>inwhichyouabide.</p><p>InthestoryofNoahitisrecordedthatHamsawthesecretsofhisFather,and</p><p>becauseofhisdiscoveryhewasmadetoservehisbrothers,ShemandJapheth.</p><p>Ham,orfeeling,isthesecretoftheFather,yourIAM,foritisthroughfeeling</p><p>that the consciousness desiring is joined to the thing desired. The conscious</p><p>unionormysticalmarriage ismadepossibleonly through feeling. It is feeling</p><p>which performs this heavenly union of Father and son, Noah and Shem,</p><p>unconditionedconsciousnessandconditionedconsciousness.Byperformingthis</p><p>service,feelingautomaticallyservesJapheth,theextendedorexpressedstate,for</p><p>there can be no objectified expression unless there is first a subjective</p><p>impression.Tofeelthepresenceofthethingdesired,tosubjectivelyactualizea</p><p>statebyimpressinguponyourself, throughfeeling,adefiniteconsciousstateis</p><p>thesecretofcreation.YourpresentobjectifiedworldisJaphethwhichwasmade</p><p>visible by Ham. Therefore Ham serves his brothers Shem and Japheth, for</p><p>without feelingwhich is symbolizedasHam, the ideaor thingdesired (Shem)</p><p>couldnotbemadevisibleasJapheth.</p><p>Theabilitytofeeltheunseen,theabilitytoactualizeandmakerealadefinite</p><p>subjectivestate throughthesenseoffeelingis thesecretofcreation, thesecret</p><p>bywhichthewordorunseendesireismadevisible—ismadeflesh.“AndGod</p><p>calleththingsthatbenotasthoughtheywere.”Consciousnesscallsthingsthat</p><p>arenotseenasthoughtheywere,anditdoesthisbyfirstdefiningitselfasthat</p><p>which it desires to express, and second by remainingwithin the defined state</p><p>until the invisible becomes visible. Here is the perfect working of the law</p><p>accordingtothestoryofNoah.Thisverymomentyouareawareofbeing.This</p><p>awarenessofbeing,thisknowingthatyouare,isNoah,thecreator.</p><p>NowwithNoah’s identityestablishedasyourownconsciousnessofbeing,</p><p>namesomethingthatyouwouldliketopossessorexpress;definesomeobjective</p><p>(Shem),andwithyourdesireclearlydefined,closeyoureyesand feel thatyou</p><p>haveitorareexpressingit.Don’tquestionhowitcanbedone;simplyfeelthat</p><p>youhaveit.Assumetheattitudeofmindthatwouldbeyoursifyouwerealready</p><p>in possession of it so that you feel that it is done. Feeling is the secret of</p><p>creation.BeaswiseasHamandmakethisdiscoverythatyoutoomayhavethe</p><p>joyofservingyourbrothersShemandJapheth; the joyofmaking thewordor</p><p>nameflesh.</p><p>4.THESECRETOFFEELING</p><p>The secret of feeling or the calling of the invisible into visible states is</p><p>beautifullytoldinthestoryofIsaacblessinghissecondsonJacobinthebelief,</p><p>basedsolelyuponfeeling,thathewasblessinghisfirstsonEsau.Itisrecorded</p><p>thatIsaac,whowasoldandblind,feltthathewasabouttoleavethisworldand</p><p>wishingtoblesshisfirstsonEsaubeforehedied,sentEsauhuntingforsavory</p><p>venisonwiththepromisethatuponhisreturnfromthehunthewouldreceivehis</p><p>father’sblessing.</p><p>Now Jacob, who desired the birthright or right to be born through the</p><p>blessing of his father, overheard his blind father’s request for venison and his</p><p>promise to Esau. So, as Esau went hunting for the venison, Jacob killed and</p><p>dressed a kid of his father’s flock.Placing the skins uponhis smoothbody to</p><p>give him the feel of his hairy and rough brother Esau, he brought the tastily</p><p>preparedkidtohisblindfatherIsaac.AndIsaacwhodependedsolelyuponhis</p><p>sense of feel mistook his second son Jacob for his first son Esau, and</p><p>pronouncedhisblessingonJacob!Esauonhisreturnfromthehuntlearnedthat</p><p>his smooth-skinned brother Jacob had supplanted him so he appealed to his</p><p>fatherforjustice;butIsaacansweredandsaid,“Thybrothercamewithsubtlety</p><p>andhathtakenawaythyblessing.IhavemadehimthyLord,andallhisbrethren</p><p>haveIgiventohimforservants.”</p><p>Simple human decency should tell man that this story cannot be taken</p><p>literally.Theremustbeamessageformanhiddensomewhereinthistreacherous</p><p>anddespicableactofJacob!Thehiddenmessage,theformulaofsuccessburied</p><p>inthisstorywasintuitivelyrevealedtothewriterinthismanner.Isaac,theblind</p><p>father, is your consciousness; your awarenessof being.Esau, thehairy son, is</p><p>yourpresentobjectifiedworld—theroughorsensiblyfelt;thepresentmoment;</p><p>thepresentenvironment;yourpresentconceptionofyourself;inshort,theworld</p><p>youknowbyreasonofyourobjectivesenses.Jacob,thesmooth-skinnedlad,the</p><p>second son, is your desire or subjective state; an idea not yet embodied; a</p><p>subjective state which is perceived and sensed but not objectively known or</p><p>seen;apointintimeandspaceremovedfromthepresent.Inshort,Jacobisyour</p><p>defined objective. The smooth-skinned Jacob—or subjective state seeking</p><p>embodiment or the right of birth—when properly felt or blessed by his father</p><p>(whenconsciouslyfeltandfixedasreal),becomesobjectified;andinsodoing</p><p>hesupplants the rough,hairyEsau,or the formerobjectified state.Two things</p><p>cannotoccupyagivenplaceatoneandthesametime,andsoastheinvisibleis</p><p>madevisible,theformervisiblestatevanishes.</p><p>Yourconsciousnessisthecauseofyourworld.Theconsciousstateinwhich</p><p>youabidedeterminesthekindofworldinwhichyoulive.Yourpresentconcept</p><p>ofyourselfisnowobjectifiedasyourenvironment,andthisstateissymbolized</p><p>asEsau,thehairy,orsensiblyfelt;thefirstson.Thatwhichyouwouldliketobe</p><p>orpossessissymbolizedasyoursecondson,Jacob,thesmooth-skinnedladwho</p><p>isnotyetseenbutissubjectivelysensedandfelt,andwill,ifproperlytouched,</p><p>supplanthisbrotherEsau,oryourpresentworld.</p><p>Always bear in mind the fact that Isaac, the father of these two sons, or</p><p>states,isblind.Hedoesnotseehissmooth-skinnedsonJacob;heonlyfeelshim.</p><p>AndthroughthesenseoffeelingheactuallybelievesJacob,thesubjective,tobe</p><p>Esau, the real, the objectified. You do not see your desire objectively; you</p><p>simplysenseit(feelit)subjectively.Youdonotgropeinspaceafteradesirable</p><p>state.LikeIsaac,yousitstillandsendyourfirstsonhuntingbyremovingyour</p><p>attentionfromyourobjectiveworld.Thenintheabsenceofyourfirstson,Esau,</p><p>youinvitethedesirablestate,yoursecondson,Jacob,tocomeclosesothatyou</p><p>mayfeelit.“Comeclose,myson,thatImayfeelyou.”First,youareawareofit</p><p>in your immediate environment; thenyoudraw it closer and closer and closer</p><p>until you sense it and feel it in your immediate presence so that it is real and</p><p>naturaltoyou.</p><p>“If twoofyoushallagreeonearthastouchingonanypoint that theyshall</p><p>ask,itshallbedoneforthemofmyFatherwhichisinheaven.”The</p><p>twoagree</p><p>through the sense of feel; and the agreement is established on earth—is</p><p>objectified; ismade real.The twoagreeing are Isaac and Jacob—youand that</p><p>whichyoudesire;andtheagreementismadesolelyonthesenseoffeeling.Esau</p><p>symbolizesyourpresentobjectifiedworldwhether it bepleasant or otherwise.</p><p>Jacobsymbolizesanyandeverydesireofyourheart.Isaacsymbolizesyourtrue</p><p>self—with your eyes closed to the present world—in the act of sensing and</p><p>feelingyourselftobeortopossessthatwhichyoudesiretobeortopossess.The</p><p>secret of Isaac—this sensing, feeling state—is simply the act of mentally</p><p>separatingthesensiblyfelt(yourpresentphysicalstate)fromtheinsensiblyfelt</p><p>(thatwhichyouwould like tobe).With theobjectivesenses tightly shut Isaac</p><p>made,andyoucanmake, the insensibly felt (thesubjectivestate)seemrealor</p><p>sensiblyknown;forfaithisknowledge.</p><p>Knowingthelawofself-expression,thelawbywhichtheinvisibleismade</p><p>visible,isnotenough.Itmustbeapplied;andthisisthemethodofapplication.</p><p>First:SendyourfirstsonEsau—yourpresentobjectifiedworldorproblem—</p><p>hunting. This is accomplished simply by closing your eyes and taking your</p><p>attentionawayfromtheobjectifiedlimitations.Asyoursensesareremovedfrom</p><p>yourobjectiveworld,itvanishesfromyourconsciousnessorgoeshunting.</p><p>Second:With your eyes still closed and your attention removed from the</p><p>world round about you, consciously fix the natural time and place for the</p><p>realizationofyourdesire.</p><p>Withyourobjectivesensesclosedtoyourpresentenvironmentyoucansense</p><p>andfeeltherealityofanypointintimeorspace,forbotharepsychologicaland</p><p>canbecreatedatwill.Itisvitallyimportantthatthenaturaltime-spacecondition</p><p>ofJacob,thatis,thenaturaltimeandplacefortherealizationofyourdesirebe</p><p>firstfixedinyourconsciousness.IfSundayisthedayonwhichthethingdesired</p><p>istoberealized,thenSundaymustbefixedinconsciousnessnow.Simplybegin</p><p>to feel that it is Sunday until the quietness and naturalness of Sunday is</p><p>consciously established. You have definite associations with the days, weeks,</p><p>months and seasons of the year.Youhave said time and again—“Today feels</p><p>likeSunday,orMonday,orSaturday;or this feels likeSpring,orSummer,or</p><p>Fall, orWinter.” This should convince you that you have definite, conscious</p><p>impressions that you associatewith the days,weeks, and seasons of the year.</p><p>Then because of these associations you can select any desirable time, and by</p><p>recalling the conscious impression associatedwith such time, you canmake a</p><p>subjectiverealityofthattimenow.</p><p>Dothesamewithspace.Iftheroominwhichyouareseatedisnottheroom</p><p>inwhich the thingdesiredwouldbenaturally placedor realized, feel yourself</p><p>seatedintheroomorplacewhereitwouldbenatural.Consciouslyfixthistime-</p><p>spaceimpressionbeforeyoustarttheactofsensingandfeelingthenearness,the</p><p>reality,andthepossessionofthethingdesired.Itmattersnotwhethertheplace</p><p>desired be ten thousand miles away or only next door, you must fix in</p><p>consciousnessthefactthatrightwhereyouareseatedisthedesiredplace.You</p><p>donotmakeamentaljourney;youcollapsespace.Sitquietlywhereyouareand</p><p>make “thereness”—“hereness.” Close your eyes and feel that the very place</p><p>whereyouareistheplacedesired;feelandsensetherealityofituntilyouare</p><p>consciously impressedwith this fact, for your knowledge of this fact is based</p><p>solelyonyoursubjectivesensing.</p><p>Third:IntheabsenceofEsau(theproblem)andwiththenaturaltime-space</p><p>established,youinviteJacob(thesolution)tocomeandfillthisspace—tocome</p><p>andsupplanthisbrother.Inyourimaginationseethethingdesired.Ifyoucannot</p><p>visualizeit,sensethegeneraloutlineofit;contemplateit.Thenmentallydrawit</p><p>closetoyou.“Comeclose,myson,thatImayfeelyou.”Feelthenearnessofit;</p><p>feelittobeinyourimmediatepresence;feeltherealityandsolidityofit;feelit</p><p>andseeitnaturallyplacedintheroominwhichyouareseated;feelthethrillof</p><p>actualaccomplishment,andthejoyofpossession.</p><p>Nowopenyoureyes.Thisbringsyoubacktotheobjectiveworld—therough</p><p>orsensiblyfeltworld.YourhairysonEsauhasreturnedfromthehuntandbyhis</p><p>verypresencetellsyouthatyouhavebeenbetrayedbyyoursmooth-skinnedson</p><p>Jacob—the subjective, psychologically felt. But, like Isaac, whose confidence</p><p>wasbasedupontheknowledgeofthischangelesslaw,youtoowillsay—“Ihave</p><p>madehimthyLordandallhisbrethrenhaveIgiventohimforservants.”That</p><p>is, even though your problem appears fixed and real, you have felt the</p><p>subjective, psychological state to be real to the point of receiving the thrill of</p><p>that reality; you have experienced the secret of creation for you have felt the</p><p>realityofthesubjective.</p><p>Youhavefixedadefinitepsychologicalstatewhichinspiteofallopposition</p><p>or precedent will objectify itself, thereby fulfilling the name of Jacob—the</p><p>supplanter.</p><p>Hereareafewpracticalexamplesofthisdrama.</p><p>First:Theblessingormakingathingreal.Sitinyourlivingroomandnamea</p><p>piece of furniture, rug or lamp that you would like to have in this particular</p><p>room. Look at that area of the roomwhere youwould place it if you had it.</p><p>Closeyoureyesand let all thatnowoccupies that areaof the roomvanish. In</p><p>yourimaginationseethisareaasemptyspace—thereisabsolutelynothingthere.</p><p>Nowbegin to fill this spacewith thedesiredpieceof furniture; senseand feel</p><p>thatyouhaveitinthisveryarea.Imagineyouareseeingthatwhichyoudesired</p><p>tosee.Continueinthisconsciousnessuntilyoufeelthethrillofpossession.</p><p>Second:Theblessingor themakingofaplacereal.Youarenowseated in</p><p>yourapartmentinNewYorkCity,contemplatingthejoythatwouldbeyoursif</p><p>youwereonanoceanlinersailingacrossthegreatAtlantic.“Igotopreparea</p><p>place foryou.And if Igoandprepareaplace foryou, Iwillcomeagain,and</p><p>receiveyouuntomyself:thatwhereIamthereyemaybealso.”Youreyesare</p><p>closed;youhaveconsciouslyreleasedtheNewYorkapartmentandinitsplace</p><p>yousenseandfeelthatyouareonanoceanliner.Youareseatedinadeckchair;</p><p>thereisnothingroundyoubutthevastAtlantic.Fixtherealityofthisshipand</p><p>oceansothatinthisstateyoucanmentallyrecallthedaywhenyouwereseated</p><p>in your New York apartment dreaming of this day at sea. Recall the mental</p><p>picture of yourself seated there in New York dreaming of this day. In your</p><p>imagination see thememory picture of yourself back there in yourNewYork</p><p>apartment.IfyousucceedinlookingbackonyourNewYorkapartmentwithout</p><p>consciously returning there, thenyouhave successfully prepared the reality of</p><p>thisvoyage.Remaininthisconsciousstatefeelingtherealityoftheshipandthe</p><p>ocean; feel the joy of this accomplishment—then open your eyes. You have</p><p>goneandprepared theplace;youhave fixedadefinitepsychological stateand</p><p>whereyouareinconsciousnessthereyoushallbeinbodyalso.</p><p>Third:Theblessingormakingrealofapointintime.Youconsciouslyletgo</p><p>of thisday,monthoryear,as thecasemaybe,andyouimagine that it isnow</p><p>thatday,monthoryearwhichyoudesiretoexperience.Yousenseandfeelthe</p><p>reality of the desired time by impressing upon yourself the fact that it is now</p><p>accomplished.Asyou sense thenaturalnessof this time,youbegin to feel the</p><p>thrill of having fully</p><p>realized thatwhich before you started this psychological</p><p>journeyintimeyoudesiredtoexperienceatthistime.</p><p>With theknowledgeofyourpower toblessyoucanopen thedoorsofany</p><p>prison—theprisonofillnessorpovertyorofahumdrumexistence.“TheSpirit</p><p>oftheLordGodisuponme;becausetheLordhathanointedmetopreachgood</p><p>tidingsuntothemeek;hehathsentmetobindupthebrokenhearted,toproclaim</p><p>libertytothecaptives,andtheopeningoftheprisontothemthatarebound.”</p><p>5.THESABBATH</p><p>“Sixdaysshallworkbedone,butontheseventhdaythereshallbetoyouanholyday,aSabbathof</p><p>resttotheLord.”</p><p>These six days are not twenty-four-hour periods of time. They symbolize the</p><p>psychologicalmomentadefinitesubjectivestateisfixed.Thesesixdaysofwork</p><p>are subjective experiences, and consequently cannot be measured by sidereal</p><p>time, for the real work of fixing a definite psychological state is done in</p><p>consciousness.Thetimespentinconsciouslydefiningyourselfasthatwhichyou</p><p>desiretobeis themeasureof thesesixdays.Achangeofconsciousnessis the</p><p>work done in these six creative days; a psychological adjustment, which is</p><p>measurednotbysiderealtimebutbyactual(subjective)accomplishment.Justas</p><p>alifeinretrospectismeasurednotbyyearsbutbythecontentofthoseyears,so</p><p>tooisthispsychologicalintervalmeasured—notbythetimespentinmakingthe</p><p>adjustmentbutbytheaccomplishmentofthatinterval.</p><p>Thetruemeaningofsixdaysofwork(creation)isrevealedinthemysteryof</p><p>theVAU,whichisthesixthletterintheHebrewalphabet,andthethirdletterin</p><p>thedivinename—JODHEVAUHE.Aspreviouslyexplainedinthemysteryof</p><p>the nameof Jehovah,VAUmeans to nail or join.The creator is joined to his</p><p>creationthroughfeeling;andthetimethatittakesyoutofixadefinitefeelingis</p><p>thetruemeasureofthesesixdaysofcreation.Mentallyseparatingyourselffrom</p><p>the objectiveworld and attaching yourself through the secret of feeling to the</p><p>subjectivestateisthefunctionofthesixthletteroftheHebrewalphabet,VAU,</p><p>orthesixdaysofwork.</p><p>Thereisalwaysanintervalbetweenthefixedimpression,orsubjectivestate,</p><p>andtheoutwardexpressionofthatstate.ThisintervaliscalledtheSabbath.The</p><p>Sabbathis thementalrestwhichfollowsthefixedpsychologicalstate; it is the</p><p>resultofyoursixdaysofwork.“TheSabbathwasmadeforman.”Thismental</p><p>restwhichfollowsasuccessfulconscious impregnation is theperiodofmental</p><p>pregnancy; a period which is made for the purpose of incubating the</p><p>manifestation. It was made for the manifestation; the manifestation was not</p><p>made for it. Automatically you keep the Sabbath a day of rest—a period of</p><p>mentalrest—ifyousucceedinaccomplishingyoursixdaysofwork.Therecan</p><p>benoSabbath,noseventhday,noperiodofmental rest,until thesixdaysare</p><p>over—until the psychological adjustment is accomplished and the mental</p><p>impressionisfullymade.</p><p>ManiswarnedthatifhefailstokeeptheSabbath,ifhefailstoenterintothe</p><p>restofGodhewill also fail to receive thepromise—hewill fail to realizehis</p><p>desires.Thereasonforthisissimpleandobvious.Therecanbenomentalrest</p><p>until a conscious impression is made. If a man fails to fully impress upon</p><p>himselfthefactthathenowhasthatwhichheretoforehedesiredtopossess,he</p><p>will continue to desire it, and therefore he will not be mentally at rest or</p><p>satisfied.If,ontheotherhand,hesucceedsinmakingthisconsciousadjustment</p><p>so thatuponemerging from theperiodof silenceorhis subjective sixdaysof</p><p>work, he knows by his feeling that he has the thing desired, then he</p><p>automaticallyenterstheSabbathortheperiodofmentalrest.Pregnancyfollows</p><p>impregnation. Man does not continue desiring that which he has already</p><p>acquired.TheSabbathcanbekeptasadayof restonlyaftermansucceeds in</p><p>becomingconsciousofbeingthatwhichbeforeenteringthesilencehedesiredto</p><p>be.</p><p>TheSabbathis theresultof thesixdaysofwork.Themanwhoknowsthe</p><p>truemeaningofthesesixworkdaysrealizesthat theobservanceofonedayof</p><p>theweekasadayofphysicalquietness isnotkeeping theSabbath.Thepeace</p><p>andthequietoftheSabbathcanbeexperiencedonlywhenmanhassucceededin</p><p>becomingconsciousofbeingthatwhichhedesirestobe.Ifhefailstomakethis</p><p>consciousimpressionhehasmissedthemark;hehassinned,fortosinistomiss</p><p>themark—tofailtoachieveone’sobjective;astateinwhichthereisnopeaceof</p><p>mind.“IfIhadnotcomeandspokenuntothem,theyhadnothadsin.”Ifman</p><p>had not been presentedwith an ideal state towardwhich to aim, a state to be</p><p>desiredandacquired,hewouldhavebeensatisfiedwithhislotinlifeandwould</p><p>never have known sin. Now that man knows that his capacities are infinite,</p><p>knowsthatbyworkingsixdaysorbymakingapsychologicaladjustmenthecan</p><p>realizehisdesires,hewillnotbesatisfieduntilheachieveshiseveryobjective.</p><p>Hewill,withthetrueknowledgeofthesesixworkdays,definehisobjectiveand</p><p>set about becoming conscious of being it.When this conscious impression is</p><p>madeitisautomaticallyfollowedbyaperiodofmentalrest,aperiodthemystic</p><p>callstheSabbath,anintervalinwhichtheconsciousimpressionwillbegestated</p><p>andphysicallyexpressed.Thewordwillbemadeflesh.Butthatisnottheend!</p><p>ThisSabbathor restwhichwillbebrokenby theembodimentof the ideawill</p><p>sooner or later give way to another six days of work asman defines another</p><p>objectiveandbeginsanewtheactofdefininghimselfasthatwhichhedesiresto</p><p>be.</p><p>Manhasbeenstirredoutofhissleepthroughthemediumofdesire,andcan</p><p>findnorestuntilherealizeshisdesire.Butbeforehecanenter intotherestof</p><p>God, or keep the Sabbath, before he canwalk unafraid and at peace, hemust</p><p>become a good spiritualmarksman and learn the secret of hitting themark or</p><p>workingsixdays—thesecretbywhichheletsgotheobjectivestateandadjusts</p><p>himselftothesubjective.ThissecretwasrevealedinthedivinenameJehovah,</p><p>and again in the story of Isaac blessing his son Jacob. If man will apply the</p><p>formulaasit isrevealedintheseBibledramashewillhitaspiritualbull’s-eye</p><p>everytime,forhewillknowthatthementalrestorSabbathisenteredonlyashe</p><p>succeedsinmakingapsychologicaladjustment.</p><p>The story of the crucifixion beautifully dramatizes these six days</p><p>(psychologicalperiod)andtheseventhdayofrest.Itisrecordedthatitwasthe</p><p>custom of the Jews to have someone released from prison at the feast of the</p><p>Passover; and that they were given the choice of having released unto them</p><p>either Barabbas the robber, or Jesus the Saviour. And they cried, “Release</p><p>Barabbas.”WhereuponBarabbaswasreleasedandJesuswascrucified.</p><p>It is further recorded that Jesus theSaviourwascrucifiedon thesixthday,</p><p>entombed or buried on the seventh day, and resurrected on the first day. The</p><p>saviourinyourcaseisthatwhichwouldsaveyoufromthatwhichyouarenow</p><p>conscious of being, while Barabbas the thief is your present conception of</p><p>yourselfwhich robs youof thatwhich youwould like to be. In defining your</p><p>saviouryoudefinethatwhichwouldsaveyouandnothowyouwouldbesaved.</p><p>Yoursaviourordesirehaswaysyeknownotof;hiswaysarepastfindingout.</p><p>Every problem reveals its own solution. If you were imprisoned you would</p><p>automaticallydesiretobefree.Freedom,then,isthethingthatwouldsaveyou.</p><p>Itisyoursaviour.</p><p>Having discovered your saviour the next step in this great drama of the</p><p>resurrectionistoreleaseBarabbas,therobber—yourpresentconceptofyourself</p><p>—andtocrucifyyoursaviour,orfix theconsciousnessofbeingorhavingthat</p><p>whichwouldsaveyou.Barabbasrepresentsyourpresentproblem.Yoursaviour</p><p>isthatwhichwouldfreeyoufromthisproblem.YoureleaseBarabbasbytaking</p><p>yourattentionawayfromyourproblem—awayfromyoursenseoflimitation—</p><p>for it robsyouof the freedomthatyouseek.Andyoucrucifyyoursaviourby</p><p>fixing a definite psychological state by feeling that you are free from the</p><p>limitations of the past.Youdeny the evidence of the senses and begin to feel</p><p>subjectivelythejoyofbeingfree.Youfeelthisstateoffreedomtobesorealthat</p><p>youtoocryout—“Iamfree!”“Itisfinished.”Thefixingofthissubjectivestate</p><p>—thecrucifixion—takesplaceonthesixthday.Beforethesunsetsonthisday</p><p>youmusthavecompletedthefixationbyfeeling—“Itisso”—“Itisfinished.”</p><p>ThissubjectiveknowingisfollowedbytheSabbathormentalrest.Youwill</p><p>beasoneburiedorentombedforyouwillknowthatnomatterhowmountainous</p><p>thebarriers, how impassable thewalls appear tobe, your crucified andburied</p><p>saviour(yourpresentsubjectivefixation)willresurrecthimself.Bykeepingthe</p><p>Sabbathaperiodofmentalrest,byassumingtheattitudeofmindthatwouldbe</p><p>yours ifyouwerealreadyvisiblyexpressingthisfreedom,youwill receivethe</p><p>promise of theLord, for thewordwill bemade flesh—the subjective fixation</p><p>willembodyitself.“AndGoddidresttheseventhdayfromallhisworks.”Your</p><p>consciousness is God resting in the knowledge that—“It is well”—“It is</p><p>finished.”Andyourobjectivesensesshallconfirmthatitissoforthedayshall</p><p>revealit.</p><p>6.HEALING</p><p>The formula for the cure of leprosy as revealed in the fourteenth chapter of</p><p>Leviticus ismost illuminatingwhenviewedthroughtheeyesofamystic.This</p><p>formulacanbeprescribedasthepositivecureofanydiseaseinman’sworld,be</p><p>it physical,mental, financial, social,moral—anything. Itmatters not about the</p><p>natureofthediseaseoritsduration,forthisformulacanbesuccessfullyapplied</p><p>toanyandallofthem.</p><p>HereistheformulaasitisrecordedinthebookofLeviticus.“Thenshallthe</p><p>priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and</p><p>clean…andthepriestshallcommandthatoneofthebirdsbekilled.…Asfor</p><p>thelivingbird,heshalltakeitandshalldipitinthebloodofthebirdthatwas</p><p>killed; and he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy</p><p>seventimesandshallpronouncehimcleanandshallletthelivingbirdlooseinto</p><p>theopenfield.…Andheshallbeclean.”Aliteralapplicationofthisstorywould</p><p>be stupid and fruitless,while on theother hand a psychological applicationof</p><p>thisformulaiswiseandfruitful.</p><p>Abirdisasymbolofanidea.Everymanwhohasaproblemorwhodesires</p><p>toexpresssomethingotherthanthatwhichheisnowexpressingcanbesaidto</p><p>havetwobirds.Thesetwobirdsorconceptionscanbedefinedasfollows:The</p><p>firstbirdisyourpresentout-picturedconceptionofyourself;itisthedescription</p><p>which you would give if you were asked to define yourself—your physical</p><p>condition, your income,yourobligations, yournationality, family, race and so</p><p>on.Your sincere answer to these questionswould necessarily be based solely</p><p>upontheevidenceofyoursensesandnotuponanywishful thinking.This true</p><p>conception of yourself (based entirely upon the evidences of your senses)</p><p>defines the first bird.The second bird is defined by the answer youwish you</p><p>mightgivetothesequestionsofself-definition.Inshort,thesetwobirdscanbe</p><p>definedasthatwhichyouareconsciousofbeingandthatwhichyoudesiretobe.</p><p>Another definition of the two birds would be, the first—your present</p><p>problemregardlessof itsnature;and thesecond—thesolution to thatproblem.</p><p>Forexample:Ifyouweresick,goodhealthwouldbethesolution.Ifyouwerein</p><p>debt,freedomfromdebtwouldbethesolution.Ifyouwerehungry,foodwould</p><p>be the solution. As you have noticed, the how, the manner of realizing the</p><p>solution, is not considered.Only the problem and the solution are considered.</p><p>Everyproblemrevealsitsownsolution.Forsicknessitishealth;forpovertyitis</p><p>riches;forweaknessitisstrength;forconfinementitisfreedom.</p><p>Thesetwostates then,yourproblemanditssolution,are the twobirdsyou</p><p>bringtothepriest.Youarethepriestwhonowperformsthedramaofthecuring</p><p>ofthemanofleprosy—youandyourproblem.Youarethepriest;andwiththis</p><p>formulaforthecureofleprosyyounowfreeyourselffromyourproblem.</p><p>First:Takeoneofthebirds(yourproblem)andkillitbyextractingtheblood</p><p>fromit.Bloodisman’sconsciousness.“Hehathmadeofonebloodallnationsof</p><p>men to dwell on all the face of the earth.”Your consciousness is the one and</p><p>only reality which animates and makes real that which you are conscious of</p><p>being. So turning your attention away from the problem is equivalent to</p><p>extracting thebloodfromthebird.Yourconsciousness is theonebloodwhich</p><p>makesallstateslivingrealities.Byremovingyourattentionfromanygivenstate</p><p>youhavedrainedthelifebloodfromthatstate.Youkilloreliminatethefirstbird</p><p>(your problem) by removing your attention from it. Into this blood (your</p><p>consciousness)youdipthelivebird(thesolution),orthatwhichheretoforeyou</p><p>desiredtobeorpossess.Thisyoudobyfeelingyourselftobethedesirablestate</p><p>now.</p><p>This dipping of the live bird into the blood of the bird that was killed is</p><p>similar to the blessing of Jacob by his blind father Isaac.As you recall, blind</p><p>Isaaccouldnotseehisobjectiveworld,hissonEsau.You,too,areblindtoyour</p><p>problem—the first bird—for you have removed your attention from it and</p><p>thereforeyoudonotseeit.Yourattention(blood)isnowplaceduponthesecond</p><p>bird(subjectivestate),andyoufeelandsensetherealityofit.</p><p>Seventimesyouaretoldtosprinkletheonetobecleansed.Thismeansyou</p><p>mustdwellwithin thisnewconceptionofyourselfuntilyoumentallyenter the</p><p>seventhday(theSabbath);untilthemindisstilledorfixedinthebeliefthatyou</p><p>areactuallyexpressingorpossessingthatwhichyoudesiretobeortopossess.</p><p>Attheseventhsprinkleyouareinstructedtoloosethelivingbirdandpronounce</p><p>the man clean. As you fully impress upon yourself the fact that you are that</p><p>whichyoudesire tobe,youhavesymbolicallysprinkledyourself seven times;</p><p>thenyouareasfreeasthebirdthatisloosed.Andlikethebirdinflightwhich</p><p>mustinalittlewhilereturntotheearth,somustyoursubjectiveimpressionor</p><p>claiminalittlewhileembodyitselfinyourworld.</p><p>This story and all the other stories of the Bible are psychological plays</p><p>dramatizedwithintheconsciousnessofman.Youarethehighpriest;youarethe</p><p>leper;youarethebirds.YourconsciousnessorIAMisthehighpriest;you,the</p><p>man with the problem, are the leper. The problem, your present concept of</p><p>yourself,isthebirdthatiskilled;thesolutionoftheproblem,whatyoudesireto</p><p>be,isthelivingbirdthatisfreed.Youre-enactthisgreatdramawithinyourself</p><p>by turning your attention away from your problem and placing it upon that</p><p>whichyoudesiretoexpress.Youimpressuponyourselfthefactthatyouarethat</p><p>whichyoudesiretobeuntilyourmindisstilledinthebeliefthatitisso.Living</p><p>inthisfixedattitudeofmind,</p><p>livingintheconsciousnessthatyouarenowthat</p><p>which you formerly desired to be, is the bird in flight, unfettered by the</p><p>limitationsofthepastandmovingtowardtheembodimentofyourdesire.</p><p>7.DESIRE—THEWORDOFGOD</p><p>“Soshallmywordbethatgoethforthoutofmymouth;itshallnotreturnuntomevoid,butitshall</p><p>accomplishthatwhichIplease,anditshallprosperinthethingwhereuntoIsentit.”</p><p>Godspeakstoyouthroughthemediumofyourbasicdesires.Yourbasicdesires</p><p>arewordsofpromiseorpropheciesthatcontainwithinthemselvestheplanand</p><p>powerofexpression.</p><p>Bybasicdesireismeantyourrealobjective.Secondarydesiresdealwiththe</p><p>mannerofrealization.God,yourIAM,speakstoyou,theconditionedconscious</p><p>state, throughyour basic desires. Secondary desires orways of expression are</p><p>thesecretsofyourIAM,theallwiseFather.YourFather,IAM,revealsthefirst</p><p>andlast—“Iamthebeginningandtheend,”butneverdoesHerevealthemiddle</p><p>orsecretofHisways;thatis,thefirstisrevealedastheword,yourbasicdesire.</p><p>Thelastisitsfulfillment—thewordmadeflesh.Thesecondormiddle(theplan</p><p>ofunfoldment)isneverrevealedtomanbutremainsforevertheFather’ssecret.</p><p>“ForItestifyuntoeverymanthatheareththewordsoftheprophecyofthis</p><p>book,ifanymanshalladduntothesethings,Godshalladduntohimtheplagues</p><p>thatarewritteninthisbook;andifanymanshalltakeawayfromthewordsof</p><p>thebookofthisprophecy,Godshalltakeawayhispartoutofthebookoflife.”</p><p>Thewordsofprophecyspokenof in thebookofRevelationareyourbasic</p><p>desireswhichmustnotbefurtherconditioned.Manisconstantlyaddingtoand</p><p>takingfromthesewords.Notknowingthatthebasicdesirecontainstheplanand</p><p>powerofexpressionmanisalwayscompromisingandcomplicatinghisdesires.</p><p>Hereisanillustrationofwhatmandoestothewordofprophecy—hisdesires.</p><p>Mandesiresfreedomfromhislimitationorproblem.Thefirstthinghedoes</p><p>afterhedefineshisobjectiveistoconditionituponsomethingelse.Hebeginsto</p><p>speculateonthemannerofacquiringit.Notknowingthatthethingdesiredhasa</p><p>way of expression all of its own he starts planninghow he is going to get it,</p><p>thereby adding to the word of God. If, on the other hand, he has no plan or</p><p>conceptionastothefulfillmentofhisdesire,thenhecompromiseshisdesireby</p><p>modifyingit.Hefeelsthatifhewillbesatisfiedwithlessthanhisbasicdesire,</p><p>thenhemighthaveabetterchanceofrealizingit.Indoingsohetakesfromthe</p><p>wordofGod. Individualsandnationsalikeareconstantlyviolating this lawof</p><p>theirbasicdesirebyplottingandplanningtherealizationoftheirambitions;they</p><p>therebyaddtothewordofprophecy,ortheycompromisewiththeirideals,thus</p><p>taking from the word of God. The inevitable result is death and plagues or</p><p>failureandfrustrationaspromisedforsuchviolations.</p><p>God speaks to man only through the medium of his basic desires. Your</p><p>desiresaredeterminedbyyourconceptionofyourself.Of themselves theyare</p><p>neithergoodnorevil.“IknowandampersuadedbytheLordChristJesusthat</p><p>thereisnothinguncleanofitselfbuttohimthatseethanythingtobeuncleanto</p><p>him it is unclean.” Your desires are the natural and automatic result of your</p><p>present conception of yourself. God, your unconditioned consciousness, is</p><p>impersonal and no respecter of persons. Your unconditioned consciousness,</p><p>God,givestoyourconditionedconsciousness,man,throughthemediumofyour</p><p>basic desires that which your conditioned state (your present conception of</p><p>yourself)believesitneeds.</p><p>As long as you remain in your present conscious state so long will you</p><p>continue desiring that which you now desire. Change your conception of</p><p>yourselfandyouwillautomaticallychangethenatureofyourdesires.</p><p>Desiresarestatesofconsciousnessseekingembodiment.Theyareformedby</p><p>man’sconsciousnessandcaneasilybeexpressedbythemanwhohasconceived</p><p>them.Desiresareexpressedwhenthemanwhohasconceivedthemassumesthe</p><p>attitudeofmindthatwouldbehis if thestatesdesiredwerealreadyexpressed.</p><p>Now because desires regardless of their nature can be so easily expressed by</p><p>fixedattitudesofmind,awordofwarningmustbegiventothosewhohavenot</p><p>yetrealizedtheonenessoflife,andwhodonotknowthefundamentaltruththat</p><p>consciousnessisGod,theoneandonlyreality.Thiswarningwasgiventoman</p><p>inthefamousGoldenRule—“Dountoothersthatwhichyouwouldhavethem</p><p>dountoyou.”</p><p>Youmay desire something for yourself or youmay desire for another. If</p><p>your desire concerns anothermake sure that the thingdesired is acceptable to</p><p>that other. The reason for thiswarning is that your consciousness isGod, the</p><p>giverofallgifts.Therefore,thatwhichyoufeelandbelievetobetrueofanother</p><p>isagiftyouhavegiventohim.Thegiftthatisnotacceptedreturnstothegiver.</p><p>Beverysurethenthatyouwouldlovetopossessthegiftyourselfforifyoufixa</p><p>beliefwithinyourselfastrueofanotherandhedoesnotacceptthisstateastrue</p><p>of himself, this unaccepted giftwill embody itselfwithin yourworld.Always</p><p>hearandacceptastrueofothersthatwhichyouwoulddesireforyourself.Inso</p><p>doing you are building heaven on earth. “Do unto others as you would have</p><p>them do unto you” is based upon this law.Only accept such states as true of</p><p>others that you would willingly accept as true of yourself that you may</p><p>constantly create heaven on earth. Your heaven is defined by the state of</p><p>consciousnessinwhichyoulive,whichstateismadeupofallthatyouacceptas</p><p>trueofyourselfand trueofothers.Your immediateenvironment isdefinedby</p><p>yourownconceptionofyourselfplusyourconvictions regardingotherswhich</p><p>havenot been acceptedby them.Your conceptionof anotherwhich is not his</p><p>conceptionofhimselfisagiftreturnedtoyou.</p><p>Suggestions, like propaganda, are boomerangs unless they are accepted by</p><p>thosetowhomtheyaresent.Soyourworldisagiftyouhavegiventoyourself.</p><p>The nature of the gift is determined by your conception of yourself plus the</p><p>unaccepted gifts you offered others. Make no mistake about this; law is no</p><p>respecterofpersons.Discoverthelawofself-expressionandlivebyit;thenyou</p><p>will be free. With this understanding of the law, define your desire; know</p><p>exactlywhatyouwant;makecertainthatitisdesirableandacceptable.</p><p>Thewiseanddisciplinedmanseesnobarriertotherealizationofhisdesire;</p><p>heseesnothingtodestroy.Withafixedattitudeofmindherecognizesthatthe</p><p>thingdesiredisalreadyfullyexpressed,forheknowsthatafixedsubjectivestate</p><p>haswaysandmeansofexpressingitselfofwhichnomanknows.“Beforethey</p><p>askIhaveanswered.”“Ihavewaysyeknownotof.”“Mywaysarepastfinding</p><p>out.”Theundisciplinedman,ontheotherhand,constantlyseesoppositiontothe</p><p>fulfillment of his desire, and because of this frustration he forms desires of</p><p>destructionwhichhe firmlybelievesmustbeexpressedbeforehisbasicdesire</p><p>can be realized. When man discovers this law of one consciousness he will</p><p>understand thegreatwisdomof theGoldenRule and sohewill liveby it and</p><p>provetohimselfthatthekingdomofheavenisonearth.</p><p>Youwillrealizewhyyoushould“Dountoothersthatwhichyouwouldhave</p><p>themdo unto you.”Youwill knowwhy you should live by thisGoldenRule</p><p>becauseyouwilldiscover that it is justgoodcommonsensetodososincethe</p><p>rule is based upon life’s changeless law and is no</p><p>respecter of persons.</p><p>Consciousnessistheoneandonlyreality.Theworldandallwithinitarestates</p><p>of consciousness objectified. Your world is defined by your conception of</p><p>yourself plus your conception of others which are not their conceptions of</p><p>themselves.</p><p>ThestoryofthePassoveristohelpyouturnyourbackonthelimitationsof</p><p>thepresentandpassoverintoabetterandfreerstate.Thesuggestionto“Follow</p><p>themanwiththepitcherofwater”wasgiventothedisciplestoguidethemtothe</p><p>lastsupperorthefeastofthePassover.Themanwiththepitcherofwateristhe</p><p>eleventhdisciple,SimonofCanaan,thedisciplinedqualityofmindwhichhears</p><p>onlydignified,nobleandkindlystates.Themindthatisdisciplinedtohearonly</p><p>thegoodfeastsupongoodstatesandsoembodiesthegoodonearth.Ifyou,too,</p><p>wouldattendthe lastsupper—thegreatfeastof thePassover—thenfollowthis</p><p>man.Assumethisattitudeofmindsymbolizedas the“manwith thepitcherof</p><p>water,”andyouwillliveinaworldthatisreallyheavenonearth.Thefeastof</p><p>the Passover is the secret of changing your consciousness. You turn your</p><p>attentionfromyourpresentconceptionofyourselfandassumetheconsciousness</p><p>ofbeing thatwhichyouwant tobe, therebypassingfromonestate toanother.</p><p>This feat is accomplishedwith the help of the twelve disciples,which are the</p><p>twelvedisciplinedqualitiesofmind.1</p><p>8.FAITH</p><p>AndJesussaiduntothem,Becauseofyourunbelief;forverilyIsayuntoyou,if</p><p>yehavefaithasagrainofmustardseed,yeshallsayuntothismountain,remove</p><p>hencetoyonderplace;anditshallremove;andnothingshallbeimpossibleunto</p><p>you.</p><p>Thisfaithofagrainofmustardseedhasprovedastumblingblocktoman.</p><p>He has been taught to believe that a grain of mustard seed signifies a small</p><p>degreeoffaith.Sohenaturallywonderswhyhe,amatureman,shouldlackthis</p><p>insignificantmeasureoffaithwhensosmallanamountassuressuccess.</p><p>“Faith,” he is told, “is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of</p><p>thingsnotseen.”Andagain,“Throughfaith…theworldswereframedby the</p><p>wordofGod,so that thingswhichareseenwerenotmadeof thingswhichdo</p><p>appear.”Invisiblethingsweremadevisible.Thegrainofmustardseedisnotthe</p><p>measureofasmallamountoffaith.Onthecontrary,itistheabsoluteinfaith.A</p><p>mustardseedisconsciousofbeingamustardseedandamustardseedalone.Itis</p><p>notawareofanyotherseedintheworld.Itissealedintheconvictionthatitisa</p><p>mustard seed in the samemanner that the spermatozoa sealed in thewomb is</p><p>conscious of being man and only man. A grain of mustard seed is truly the</p><p>measure of faith necessary to accomplish your every objective; but like the</p><p>mustardseedyoutoomustloseyourselfintheconsciousnessofbeingonlythe</p><p>thingdesired.Youabidewithinthissealedstateuntilitburstsitselfandreveals</p><p>yourconsciousclaim.Faithisfeelingorlivingintheconsciousnessofbeingthe</p><p>thingdesired; faith is the secretofcreation, theVAUin thedivinenameJOD</p><p>HEVAUHE;faithistheHaminthefamilyofNoah;faithisthesenseoffeeling</p><p>by which Isaac blessed and made real his son Jacob. By faith God (your</p><p>consciousness)calleth things that arenot seenas though theywereandmakes</p><p>themseen.</p><p>Itisfaithwhichenablesyoutobecomeconsciousofbeingthethingdesired;</p><p>again,itisfaithwhichsealsyouinthisconsciousstateuntilyourinvisibleclaim</p><p>ripens tomaturity and expresses itself, ismade visible. Faith or feeling is the</p><p>secretofthisappropriation.Throughfeeling,theconsciousnessdesiringisjoined</p><p>tothethingdesired.</p><p>Howwould you feel if you were that which you desire to be?Wear this</p><p>mood,thisfeelingthatwouldbeyoursifyouwerealreadythatwhichyoudesire</p><p>tobe; and in a littlewhile youwill be sealed in thebelief that youare.Then</p><p>withouteffortthisinvisiblestatewillobjectifyitself;theinvisiblewillbemade</p><p>visible. If you had the faith of a grain of mustard seed you would this day</p><p>through themagical substance of feeling seal yourself in the consciousness of</p><p>beingthatwhichyoudesiretobe.Inthismentalstillnessortomblikestateyou</p><p>wouldremain,confidentthatyouneednoonetorollawaythestone,forallthe</p><p>mountains, stones and inhabitants of earth are as nothing in your sight. That</p><p>which you now recognize to be true of yourself (this present conscious state)</p><p>willdoaccordingtoitsnatureamongalltheinhabitantsofearth,andnonecan</p><p>stayitshandorsayuntoit,Whatdoestthou?Nonecanstopthisconsciousstate</p><p>inwhichyouaresealedfromembodyingitself,norquestionitsrighttobe.</p><p>ThisconsciousstatewhenproperlysealedbyfaithisawordofGod,IAM,</p><p>for theman so sealed is saying, “IAMsoand so;” and thewordofGod (my</p><p>fixed conscious state) is spirit and cannot return unto me void but must</p><p>accomplish whereunto it is sent. God’s word (your conscious state) must</p><p>embody itself that youmayknow: “IAM theLord… there is noGodbeside</p><p>me;”“Thewordwasmadefleshanddweltamongus;”and“Hesenthisword</p><p>andhealedhim.”</p><p>You too can send your word, God’s word, and heal a friend. Is there</p><p>something that youwould like to hear of a friend?Define this something that</p><p>you know hewould love to be or to possess. Nowwith your desire properly</p><p>definedyouhave awordofGod.To send thiswordon itsway, to speak this</p><p>wordintobeing,yousimplydothis:Sitquietlywhereyouareandassumethe</p><p>mental attitudeof listening; recall your friend’svoice;with this familiar voice</p><p>established in your consciousness, imagine that you are actually hearing his</p><p>voiceandthatheistellingyouthatheisorhasthatwhichyouwantedhimtobe</p><p>ortohave.Impressuponyourconsciousnessthefactthatyouactuallyheardhim</p><p>and that he told youwhat youwanted to hear; feel the thrill of having heard.</p><p>Then drop it completely. This is the mystic’s secret of sending words into</p><p>expression—ofmakingthewordflesh.Youformwithinyourselftheword,the</p><p>thingyouwanttohear;thenyoulisten,andtellittoyourself.“Speak,Lord,for</p><p>thy servant heareth.” Your consciousness is the Lord speaking through the</p><p>familiarvoiceof a friendand impressingonyourself thatwhichyoudesire to</p><p>hear. This self-impregnation, the state impressed upon yourself, theword, has</p><p>waysandmeansofexpressingitselfofwhichnomanknows.Asyousucceedin</p><p>making the impression you will be unmoved by appearances for this self-</p><p>impressionissealedasthegrainofmustardseedandwillindueseasonmature</p><p>toitsfullexpression.</p><p>9.THEANNUNCIATION</p><p>The use of a friend’s voice to impregnate one’s self with a desirable state is</p><p>beautifullytoldinthestoryoftheImmaculateConception.</p><p>It is recorded thatGodsentanangel toMary toannounce thebirthofHis</p><p>son.“Andtheangelsaiduntoher, thoushaltconceive in thywomb,andbring</p><p>forthason.ThensaidMaryuntotheangel,Howshallthisbe,seeingIknownot</p><p>aman?Andtheangelansweredandsaiduntoher,TheHolyGhostshallcome</p><p>upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also</p><p>thatholy thingwhichshallbebornof theeshallbecalled thesonofGod.For</p><p>withGodnothingshallbeimpossible.”</p><p>Thisisthestorythathasbeentoldforcenturiestheworldover,butmanwas</p><p>nottoldthatitwaswrittenabouthimselfsohehasfailedtoreceivethebenefitit</p><p>was intended togivehim.This story reveals themethodbywhich the idea</p><p>or</p><p>word was made flesh. God, we are told, germinated or begat an idea, a son,</p><p>without the aidof another.ThenHeplacedHisgerminal idea in thewombof</p><p>Mary with the help of an angel who made the announcement to her and</p><p>impregnated her with the idea. No simpler method was ever recorded of</p><p>consciousness impregnating itself than is found in the storyof the Immaculate</p><p>Conception.ThefourcharactersinthisdramaofcreationaretheFather,theSon,</p><p>Mary and the Angel. The Father symbolizes your consciousness; the Son</p><p>symbolizesyour desire;Mary symbolizes your receptive attitudeofmind; and</p><p>theAngel symbolizes themethod used tomake the impregnation. The drama</p><p>unfoldsinthismanner.TheFatherbegetsasonwithouttheaidofanother.You</p><p>defineyourobjective—youclarifyyourdesirewithoutthehelporsuggestionof</p><p>another. Then the Father selects that angel who is best qualified to bear this</p><p>message or germinal possibility toMary.You select the person in yourworld</p><p>who would be sincerely thrilled in witnessing the fulfillment of your desire.</p><p>ThenMarylearnsthroughtheangelthatshehasalreadyconceivedasonwithout</p><p>theaidofman.Youassumeareceptiveattitudeofmind,alisteningattitude,and</p><p>imagineyouarehearingthevoiceoftheoneyouhavechosentotellyouwhat</p><p>youdesire toknow. Imagine thatyouhearhim tellyou thatyouareandhave</p><p>thatwhichyoudesiretobeandtohave.Youremaininthisreceptivestateuntil</p><p>youfeelthethrillofhavingheardthegoodandwonderfulnews.ThenlikeMary</p><p>ofthestory,yougoaboutyourbusinessinsecrettellingnooneofthiswonderful</p><p>andimmaculateself-impregnation,confidentthatindueseasonyouwillexpress</p><p>thisimpression.</p><p>The Father generates the seed or germinal possibility of a son but in a</p><p>eugenicimpregnation;hedoesnotconveythespermatozoafromhimselftothe</p><p>womb.Hehas itborne throughanothermedium.Consciousnessdesiring is the</p><p>Fathergeneratingtheseedoridea.Aclarifieddesireistheperfectlyformedseed</p><p>or the only begotten son. This seed is then carried from the Father</p><p>(consciousnessdesiring) to theMother (consciousnessofbeingandhaving the</p><p>state desired). This change in consciousness is accomplished by the angel or</p><p>imaginary voice of a friend telling you that you have already achieved your</p><p>objective.</p><p>Theuseofanangelorfriend’svoicetomakeaconsciousimpressionisthe</p><p>shortest,safestandsurestwaytobeself-impregnated.Withyourdesireproperly</p><p>defined,youassumeanattitudeoflistening.Imagineyouarehearingthevoice</p><p>ofa friend; thenmakehim tellyou (imaginehe is tellingyou)how luckyand</p><p>fortunateyouaretohavefullyrealizedyourdesire.Inthisreceptiveattitudeof</p><p>mind you are receiving the message of an angel; you are receiving the</p><p>impressionthatyouareandhavethatwhichyoudesire tobeandtohave.The</p><p>emotionalthrillofhavingheardthatwhichyoudesiretohearisthemomentof</p><p>conception. It is the moment you become self-impregnated, the moment you</p><p>actuallyfeelyouarenowthatorhavethatwhichheretoforeyoubutdesiredtobe</p><p>ortopossess.</p><p>Asyouemergefromthissubjectiveexperience,you,likeMaryofthestory,</p><p>willknowbyyourchangedattitudeofmindthatyouhaveconceivedason;that</p><p>you have fixed a definite subjective state andwill in a littlewhile express or</p><p>objectifythisstate.</p><p>Thisbookhasbeenwrittentoshowyouhowtoachieveyourobjectives.Apply</p><p>the principle expressed herein and all the inhabitants of earth cannot stop you</p><p>fromrealizingyourdesires.</p><p>III</p><p>THESEARCH</p><p>(1946)</p><p>This is themost complete of Neville’s early mystical visions. This essay encapsulates Neville’s</p><p>philosophyof the omnipotence of the Self.TheSearchalsodemonstrates his literary grace and</p><p>power:Nevillewas one of the fewmodernwriters capable of describing inner experience in a</p><p>manner that is at once relatable and relevant to the reader. Neville dedicates this work to his</p><p>daughterVictoria,bornin1942.</p><p>—MH</p><p>ToVictoria</p><p>thefulfillmentofadream</p><p>THESEARCH</p><p>Onceinanidleintervalatsea,Imeditatedon“theperfectstate,”andwondered</p><p>whatIwouldbe,wereIoftoopureeyestobeholdiniquity,if tomeall things</p><p>were pure and were I without condemnation. As I became lost in this fiery</p><p>brooding, I foundmyself lifted above the dark environment of the senses. So</p><p>intensewas the feeling, I feltmyselfabeingof firedwelling inabodyofair.</p><p>Voices as from a heavenly chorus,with the exaltation of thosewho had been</p><p>conquerorsinaconflictwithdeath,weresinging“Heisrisen—Heisrisen,”and</p><p>intuitivelyIknewtheymeantme.</p><p>Then I seemed to bewalking in the night. I soon came upon a scene that</p><p>might have been the ancient Pool of Bethesda, for in this place lay a great</p><p>multitudeofimpotentfolk—blind,halt,withered—waitingnotforthemovingof</p><p>thewaterasoftradition,butwaitingforme.AsIcamenear,withoutthoughtor</p><p>effortonmypart theywere,oneafter theother,moldedasbytheMagicianof</p><p>theBeautiful.Eyes,hands,feet—allmissingmembers—weredrawnfromsome</p><p>invisible reservoir and molded in harmony with that perfection which I felt</p><p>springing within me. When all were made perfect, the chorus exulted “It is</p><p>finished.”ThenthescenedissolvedandIawoke.</p><p>Iknowthisvisionwastheresultofmyintensemeditationupontheideaof</p><p>perfection, for my meditations invariably bring about union with the state</p><p>contemplated.Ihadbeensocompletelyabsorbedwithintheideathatforawhile</p><p>Ihadbecomewhat Icontemplated,and thehighpurposewithwhichIhadfor</p><p>that moment identified myself drew the companionship of high things and</p><p>fashionedthevisioninharmonywithmyinnernature.Theidealwithwhichwe</p><p>areunitedworksbyassociationofideastoawakenathousandmoodstocreatea</p><p>dramainkeepingwiththecentralidea.</p><p>IfirstdiscoveredthiscloserelationshipofmoodstovisionwhenIwasaged</p><p>about seven. I becameawareof amysterious lifequickeningwithinme like a</p><p>stormyoceanoffrighteningmight.IalwaysknewwhenIwouldbeunitedwith</p><p>this hidden identity, for my senses were expectant on the nights of these</p><p>visitations and I knewbeyond all doubt that beforemorning Iwouldbe alone</p><p>with immensity. I sodreaded thesevisitations that Iwould lieawakeuntilmy</p><p>eyesfromsheerexhaustionclosed.Asmyeyesclosedinsleep,Iwasnolonger</p><p>solitarybutsmittenthroughandthroughwithanotherbeing,andyetIknewitto</p><p>bemyself.Itseemedolderthanlife,yetnearertomethanmyboyhood.IfItell</p><p>whatIdiscoveredonthesenights,Idosonottoimposemyideasonothersbut</p><p>thatImaygivehopetothosewhoseekthelawoflife.</p><p>Idiscoveredthatmyexpectantmoodworkedasamagnet tounitemewith</p><p>thisGreaterMe,whilemy fearsmade It appear as a stormy sea.As a boy, I</p><p>conceived of thismysterious self asmight, and inmy unionwith It I felt its</p><p>majesty as a stormy sea which drenched me, then rolled and tossed me as a</p><p>helplesswave.</p><p>AsamanIconceivedofItasloveandmyselfthesonofIt,andinmyunion</p><p>withIt,now,whataloveenfoldsme!Itisamirrortoall.Whateverweconceive</p><p>It as being, that It is to us. I believe It to be the center throughwhich all the</p><p>threads of the universe are drawn; therefore I have altered my values and</p><p>changedmyideasso that theynowdependuponandare inharmonywith this</p><p>sole cause of all that is. It is to me that</p><p>changeless reality which fashions</p><p>circumstancesinharmonywithourconceptsofourselves.</p><p>Mymystical experiences have convincedme that there is noway to bring</p><p>abouttheouterperfectionweseekotherthanbythetransformationofourselves.</p><p>Assoonaswesucceedintransformingourselves,theworldwillmeltmagically</p><p>beforeoureyesandreshapeitselfinharmonywiththatwhichourtransformation</p><p>affirms.</p><p>TwoothervisionsIwilltellbecausetheybearoutthetruthofmyassertion</p><p>thatwe,byintensityofloveandhate,becomewhatwecontemplate.</p><p>Once, with closed eyes made radiant from brooding, I meditated on the</p><p>eternal question, “Who Am I?” and felt myself gradually dissolve into a</p><p>shoreless seaofvibrant light, imaginationpassingbeyondall fear of death. In</p><p>this state nothing existed butmyself, a boundless ocean of liquid light.Never</p><p>haveIfeltmoreintimatewithBeing.HowlongthisexperiencelastedIdonot</p><p>know, but my return to earth was accompanied by a distinct feeling of</p><p>crystallizingagainintohumanshape.</p><p>Atanothertime,IlayonmybedandwithmyeyesshutasinsleepIbrooded</p><p>onthemysteryofBuddha.Inalittlewhilethedarkcavernsofmybrainbeganto</p><p>growluminous.Iseemedtobesurroundedbyluminouscloudswhichemanated</p><p>frommyheadasfiery,pulsatingrings. Isawnothingbut these luminousrings</p><p>foratime.Thenthereappearedbeforemyeyesarockofquartzcrystal.WhileI</p><p>gazeduponit,thecrystalbrokeintopieceswhichinvisiblehandsquicklyshaped</p><p>intothelivingBuddha.AsI lookedonthismeditativefigure,Isawthat itwas</p><p>myself. I was the living Buddha whom I contemplated. A light like the sun</p><p>glowed from this living image of myself with increasing intensity until it</p><p>exploded.Then the lightgraduallyfadedandoncemoreIwasbackwithin the</p><p>blacknessofmyroom.</p><p>Out of what sphere or treasury of design came this being mightier than</p><p>human,hisgarments,thecrystal,thelight?IfIsaw,heard,andmovedinaworld</p><p>of real beingswhen I seemed tomyself to bewalking in the night,when the</p><p>lame,thehalt,theblindweretransformedinharmonywithmyinnernature,then</p><p>Iamjustified inassuming that Ihaveamoresubtilebody than thephysical,a</p><p>bodythatcanbedetachedfromthephysicalandusedinotherspheres;fortosee,</p><p>tohear,tomovearefunctionsofanorganismhoweverethereal.IfIbroodover</p><p>the alternative thatmypsychic experienceswere self-begotten fantasy, no less</p><p>amImovedtowonderatthismightierselfwhoflashesonmymindadramaas</p><p>realasthoseIexperiencewhenIamfullyawake.</p><p>On these fiery meditations I have entered again and again, and I know</p><p>beyond all doubt that both assumptions are true. Housed within this form of</p><p>earth is a body attuned to aworld of light, and I have, by intensemeditation,</p><p>lifteditaswithamagnetthroughtheskullofthisdarkhouseofflesh.Thefirst</p><p>timeIawokethefireswithinmeIthoughtmyheadwouldexplode.Therewas</p><p>intense vibration at the base ofmy skull, then sudden oblivion of all. Then I</p><p>foundmyselfclothedinagarmentoflightandattachedbyasilveryelasticcord</p><p>totheslumberingbodyonthebed.Soexaltedweremyfeelings,Ifeltrelatedto</p><p>thestars. In thisgarmentI roamedspheresmorefamiliar thanearth,but found</p><p>that, as on earth, conditions were molded in harmony with my nature. “Self-</p><p>begottenfantasy,”Ihearyousay.Nomoresothanthethingsofearth.Iaman</p><p>immortal being conceivingmyself asman and formingworlds in the likeness</p><p>andimageofmyconceptofself.</p><p>What we imagine, that we are. By our imagination we have created this</p><p>dreamoflife,andbyourimaginationwewillre-enterthateternalworldoflight,</p><p>becoming that which we were before we imagined the world. In the divine</p><p>economy nothing is lost. We cannot lose anything save by descent from the</p><p>spherewhere the thing has its natural life. There is no transforming power in</p><p>deathand,whetherwearehereorthere,wefashiontheworldthatsurroundsus</p><p>bytheintensityofourimaginationandfeeling,andweilluminateordarkenour</p><p>livesbytheconceptsweholdofourselves.Nothingismoreimportanttousthan</p><p>our conception of ourselves, and especially is this true of our concept of the</p><p>deep,hiddenOnewithinus.</p><p>Thosethathelporhinderus,whethertheyknowitornot,aretheservantsof</p><p>thatlawwhichshapesoutwardcircumstancesinharmonywithourinnernature.</p><p>Itisourconceptionofourselveswhichfreesorconstrainsus,thoughitmayuse</p><p>materialagenciestoachieveitspurpose.</p><p>Because lifemolds the outerworld to reflect the inner arrangement of our</p><p>minds,thereisnowayofbringingabouttheouterperfectionweseekotherthan</p><p>by the transformation of ourselves.No help cometh fromwithout; the hills to</p><p>which we lift our eyes are those of an inner range. It is thus to our own</p><p>consciousness thatwemust turn as to theonly reality, theonly foundationon</p><p>whichallphenomenacanbeexplained.Wecanrelyabsolutelyonthejusticeof</p><p>thislawtogiveusonlythatwhichisofthenatureofourselves.</p><p>Toattempttochangetheworldbeforewechangeourconceptofourselvesis</p><p>tostruggleagainstthenatureofthings.Therecanbenoouterchangeuntilthere</p><p>isfirstaninnerchange.Aswithin,sowithout.Iamnotadvocatingphilosophical</p><p>indifference when I suggest that we should imagine ourselves as already that</p><p>whichwewant to be, living in amental atmosphere of greatness, rather than</p><p>using physical means and arguments to bring about the desired change.</p><p>Everythingwe do, unaccompanied by a change of consciousness, is but futile</p><p>readjustmentofsurfaces.Howeverwetoilorstruggle,wecanreceivenomore</p><p>than our subconscious assumptions affirm. To protest against anything which</p><p>happenstousistoprotestagainstthelawofourbeingandourrulershipoverour</p><p>owndestiny.</p><p>The circumstances of my life are too closely related to my conception of</p><p>myself not to have been launched by my own spirit from some magical</p><p>storehouseofmybeing.Ifthereispaintomeinthesehappenings,Ishouldlook</p><p>withinmyselfforthecause,forIammovedhereandthereandmadetoliveina</p><p>worldinharmonywithmyconceptofmyself.</p><p>Intense meditation brings about a union with the state contemplated, and</p><p>duringthisunionweseevisions,haveexperiences,andbehaveinkeepingwith</p><p>our change of consciousness. This shows us that a transformation of</p><p>consciousnesswill result in a change of environment and behavior. However,</p><p>ourordinaryalterationsofconsciousness,aswepassfromonestatetoanother,</p><p>arenottransformations,becauseeachofthemissorapidlysucceededbyanother</p><p>inthereversedirection;butwheneveronestategrowssostableastodefinitely</p><p>expelitsrivals,thenthatcentralhabitualstatedefinesthecharacterandisatrue</p><p>transformation. To say that we are transformed means that ideas previously</p><p>peripheral inourconsciousnessnowtakeacentralplaceandformthehabitual</p><p>centerofourenergy.</p><p>All wars prove that violent emotions are extremely potent in precipitating</p><p>mental rearrangements. Every great conflict has been followed by an era of</p><p>materialismandgreedinwhichtheidealsforwhichtheconflictostensiblywas</p><p>wagedaresubmerged.Thisisinevitablebecausewarevokeshate,whichimpels</p><p>a descent in consciousness from the plane of the ideal to the level where the</p><p>conflictiswaged.Ifwewouldbecomeasemotionallyarousedoverouridealsas</p><p>we become over our dislikes,</p><p>we would ascend to the plane of our ideals as</p><p>easilyaswenowdescendtothelevelofourhates.</p><p>Love and hate have a magical transforming power, and we grow through</p><p>their exercise into the likenessofwhatwecontemplate.By intensityofhatred</p><p>wecreateinourselvesthecharacterweimagineinourenemies.Qualitiesdiefor</p><p>wantofattention,sotheunlovelystatesmightbestberubbedoutbyimagining</p><p>“beautyforashesandjoyformourning”ratherthanbydirectattacksonthestate</p><p>fromwhichwewouldbefree.“Whatsoeverthingsarelovelyandofgoodreport,</p><p>thinkonthesethings,”forwebecomethatwithwhichweareenrapport.</p><p>There is nothing to change but our concept of self. Humanity is a single</p><p>beinginspiteofitsmanyformsandfaces,andthereisinitonlysuchseeming</p><p>separationaswefindinourownbeingwhenwearedreaming.Thepicturesand</p><p>circumstancesweseeindreamsarecreationsofourownimaginationandhave</p><p>no existence save in ourselves. The same is true of the pictures and</p><p>circumstances we see in this dream of life. They reveal our concepts of</p><p>ourselves.Assoonaswesucceed in transformingself,ourworldwilldissolve</p><p>andreshapeitselfinharmonywiththatwhichourchangeaffirms.</p><p>Theuniversewhichwestudywithsuchcareisadream,andwethedreamers</p><p>of the dream, eternal dreamers dreaming non-eternal dreams. One day, like</p><p>Nebuchadnezzarweshallawakenfromthedream,fromthenightmareinwhich</p><p>wefoughtwithdemons,tofindthatwereallyneverleftoureternalhome;that</p><p>wewereneverbornandhaveneverdiedsaveinourdream.</p><p>IV</p><p>“LIVEBOLDLY!”</p><p>NevillerespondstoquestionsfromLosAngelesstudents</p><p>(1948)</p><p>In1948Nevilledeliveredhisseriesof“FiveLessons”inLosAngeles.Theselecturesareamong</p><p>hisclearestandmostcompleteexplanationsofhismethods.Thesetalksposthumouslyappearedin</p><p>book form. The question-and-answer session that followed the sessions appears here; this</p><p>exchangehighlightssomeofthemostwidelyaskedquestionsaboutNeville’swork.</p><p>–MH</p><p>1.Whatisthemeaningoftheinsigniaonyourbookcovers?</p><p>Itisaneyeimposeduponaheartwhich,inturn,isimposeduponatreeladen</p><p>withfruit,meaningthatwhatyouareconsciousof,andacceptastrue,youare</p><p>goingtorealize.Asamanthinkethinhisheart,soheis.</p><p>2.Iwouldliketobemarried,buthavenotfoundtherightman.HowdoIimagineahusband?</p><p>Foreverinlovewithideals,itistheidealstatethatcapturesthemind.Donot</p><p>confinethestateofmarriagetoacertainman,butafull,richandoverflowing</p><p>life.Youdesiretoexperiencethejoyofmarriage.Donotmodifyyourdream,</p><p>butenhanceitbymakingitlovelier.Thencondenseyourdesireintoasingle</p><p>sensation,oractwhichimpliesitsfulfillment.</p><p>Inthiswesternworldawomanwearsaweddingringonthethirdfingerof</p><p>herlefthand.Motherhoodneednotimplymarriage;intimacyneednotimply</p><p>marriage,butaweddingringdoes.</p><p>Relaxinacomfortablearmchair,orlieflatonyourbackandinduceastate</p><p>akintosleep.Thenassumethefeelingofbeingmarried.Imagineawedding</p><p>bandonyourfinger.Touchit.Turnitaroundthefinger.Pullitoffoverthe</p><p>knuckle.Keeptheactiongoinguntiltheringhasthedistinctnessandfeelingof</p><p>reality.Becomesolostinfeelingtheringonyourfingerthatwhenyouopen</p><p>youreyes,youwillbesurprisedthatitisnotthere.</p><p>Ifyouareamanwhodoesnotweararing,youcouldassumegreater</p><p>responsibility.Howwouldyoufeelifyouhadawifetocarefor?Assumethe</p><p>feelingofbeingahappilymarriedmanrightnow.</p><p>3.WhatmustIdotoinspirecreativethoughtssuchasthoseneededforwriting?</p><p>Whatmustyoudo?Assumethestoryhasalreadybeenwrittenandacceptedbya</p><p>greatpublishinghouse.Reducetheideaofbeingawritertothesensationof</p><p>satisfaction.</p><p>satisfaction.</p><p>Repeatthephrase,“Isn’titwonderful!”or“Thankyou,thankyou,thank</p><p>you,”overandoveragainuntilyoufeelsuccessful.Or,imagineafriend</p><p>congratulatingyou.Thereareunnumberedwaysofimplyingsuccess,butalways</p><p>gototheend.Youracceptanceoftheendwillsitsfulfillment.Donotthink</p><p>aboutgettinginthemoodtowrite,butliveandactasthoughyouarenowthe</p><p>authoryoudesiretobe.Assumeyouhavethetalentforwriting.Thinkofthe</p><p>patternyouwantdisplayedontheoutside.Ifyouwriteabookandnooneis</p><p>willingtobuyit,thereisnosatisfaction.Actasthoughpeoplearehungryfor</p><p>yourwork.Liveasthoughyoucannotproducestoriesorbooksfastenoughto</p><p>meetthedemand.Persistinthisassumptionandallthatisnecessarytoachieve</p><p>yourgoalwillquicklyburstintobloomandyouwillexpressit.</p><p>4.HowdoIimaginelargeraudiencesformytalks?</p><p>IcanansweryoubestbysharingthetechniqueusedbyaveryableteacherI</p><p>know.Whenthismanfirstcametothiscountryhebeganspeakinginasmall</p><p>hallinNewYorkCity.AlthoughonlyfiftyorsixtypeopleattendedhisSunday</p><p>morningmeeting,andtheysatinfront,thisteacherwouldstandatthepodium</p><p>andimagineavastaudience.Thenhewouldsaytotheemptyspace,“Canyou</p><p>hearmebackthere?”</p><p>TodaythismanisspeakinginCarnegieHallinNewYorkCityto</p><p>approximately2,500peopleeverySundaymorningandWednesdayevening.He</p><p>wantedtospeaktocrowds.Hewasnotmodest.Hedidnottrytofoolhimselfbut</p><p>builtacrowdinhisownconsciousness,andcrowdscame.Standbeforealarge</p><p>audience.Addressthisaudienceinyourimagination.Feelyouareonthatstage</p><p>andyourfeelingwillprovidethemeans.</p><p>5.Isitpossibletoimagineseveralthingsatthesametime,orshouldIconfinemyimaginingtoone</p><p>desire?</p><p>PersonallyIliketoconfinemyimaginalacttoasinglethought,butthatdoesnot</p><p>meanIwillstopthere.DuringthecourseofadayImayimaginemanythings,</p><p>butinsteadofimagininglotsofsmallthings,Iwouldsuggestthatyouimagine</p><p>somethingsobigitincludesallthelittlethings.Insteadofimaginingwealth,</p><p>healthandfriends,imaginebeingecstatic.Youcouldnotbeecstaticandbein</p><p>pain.Youcouldnotbeecstaticandbethreatenedwithadispossessionnotice.</p><p>Youcouldnotbeecstaticifyouwerenotenjoyingafullmeasureoffriendship</p><p>andlove.</p><p>Whatwouldthefeelingbelikewereyouecstaticwithoutknowingwhathad</p><p>happenedtoproduceyourecstasy?Reducetheideaofecstasytothesingle</p><p>sensation,“Isn’titwonderful!”Donotallowtheconscious,reasoningmindto</p><p>askwhy,becauseifitdoesitwillstarttolookforvisiblecauses,andthenthe</p><p>sensationwillbelost.Rather,repeatoverandoveragain,“Isn’titwonderful!”</p><p>Suspendjudgmentastowhatiswonderful.Catchtheonesensationofthe</p><p>wonderofitallandthingswillhappentobearwitnesstothetruthofthis</p><p>sensation.AndIpromiseyou,itwillincludeallthelittlethings.</p><p>6.Question:HowoftenshouldIperformtheimaginalact,afewdaysorseveralweeks?</p><p>IntheBookofGenesisthestoryistoldofJacobwrestlingwithanangel.This</p><p>storygivesusthecluewearelookingfor;thatwhensatisfactionisreached,</p><p>impotencefollows.</p><p>Whenthefeelingofrealityisyours,forthemomentatleast,youare</p><p>mentallyimpotent.Thedesiretorepeattheactofprayerislost,havingbeen</p><p>replacedbythefeelingofaccomplishment.Youcannotpersistinwantingwhat</p><p>youalreadyhave.Ifyouassumeyouarewhatyoudesiretobetothepointof</p><p>ecstasy,younolongerwantit.Yourimaginalactisasmuchacreativeactasa</p><p>physicalonewhereinmanhalts,shrinksandisblessed,forasmancreateshis</p><p>ownlikeness,sodoesyourimaginalacttransformitselfintothelikenessofyour</p><p>assumption.If,however,youdonotreachthepointofsatisfaction,repeatthe</p><p>actionoverandoveragainuntilyoufeelasthoughyoutoucheditandvirtue</p><p>wentoutofyou.</p><p>7.Question:Ihavebeentaughtnotto</p><p>tattooedon</p><p>my left forearm. Personal experience has ledme to believe in his ideas. And</p><p>yet … I have also written that humanity lives under many laws and forces,</p><p>including laws of physical decline and decay. To this, there has been no</p><p>exception. For all the talk in New Thought circles and other mystical</p><p>philosophiesofeachofusexitinglifeatpreciselytheappointedhour,something</p><p>Nevilleoccasionallyreferencedhimself,manyofuswouldgivenearlyanything</p><p>for a healthy, extended stay, especially when faced with terminal or chronic</p><p>illness, which seems to rob us of life’s potential. This is just one area where</p><p>thoughtfulseekersarepronetoquestionNeville’scontentionofabsolutehuman</p><p>divinity. So, howcan I squaremydeepdedication toNeville’sworkwithmy</p><p>ownquestions?</p><p>First, I amnot entirely sure that I can—or that I ought to.Or thatNeville</p><p>wouldevenwantmeto.Thehighestformoffaithiscriticalinnature.Ihaveno</p><p>wishtocreateaclosed-circuitryofbelief.Suchasystemstiflestheinnersearch</p><p>and reduces personal questions and conflicts to the call-and-response of</p><p>catechism.Paradoxandinnerfrictionarethepriceofanymaturesearch.</p><p>Thatsaid,letmeatleastmakeanefforttoharmonizemyquestionswithmy</p><p>fealty toNeville’s ideas.First, it is important tonote thatNeville’sphilosophy</p><p>representsoneoftheearliest—andprobablytheclosestof—mysticalanalogsto</p><p>quantum theory. Quantum theory posits a world where subatomic particles</p><p>effectively react to theperspectiveandmeasurementsof a consciousobserver,</p><p>andinwhichaninfinitepossibilityofoutcomessimultaneouslyexist.Neville’s</p><p>capacity to offer parallel insights—decades before quantum theory became</p><p>popularized—now look remarkable. In his posthumous book Five Lessons,</p><p>Nevilletellsanaudiencein1948:“Scientistswillonedayexplainwhythereisa</p><p>serialuniverse.But inpractice,howyouuse this serialuniverse tochange the</p><p>futureismoreimportant.”Heextrapolatesfurtherinthe1949bookOutofThis</p><p>World,reprintedinchapterfive.</p><p>How do we “use” this serial universe? We often do so fitfully and</p><p>forgetfully.Neville contended that due to the natural time interval that occurs</p><p>between thought and actualization, we frequently lose track of convictions,</p><p>ideas, and mental pictures that we once harbored—and are later shocked to</p><p>reencountertheminthetactileworld.Inourtypicalstateofsomnambulanthalf-</p><p>awareness, Neville taught, we are strangers to what we produce. Indeed, I</p><p>believethatwepassthroughmuchofourlivesunaware,ormarginallyaware,of</p><p>ourmostdeeplyheldwishes,whichwefailtoacknowledgebecausewefearthey</p><p>areselfish, ignoble,orreflectpoorlyonhowwebelieveweoughttoappearto</p><p>others. (Estrangement from one’s true desires is explored in the extraordinary</p><p>Soviet-eraRussianscience-fictionmovieStalker,directedbyAndreiTarkovsky,</p><p>which is a remarkable viewing experience for anyone interested in Neville’s</p><p>thought.)</p><p>In his 1860 essay “Fate,” Ralph Waldo Emerson notes this process of</p><p>forgetfulnessandthepassageoftime:</p><p>Andthemoralisthatwhatweseekweshallfind;whatwefleefromflees</p><p>fromus;asGoethesaid,“whatwewishforinyouth,comesinheapson</p><p>usinoldage,”toooftencursedwiththegrantingofourprayer:and</p><p>hencethehighcaution,that,sincewearesureofhavingwhatwewish,</p><p>wemustbewaretoaskonlyforhighthings.</p><p>Thisgaverise to thepopularadage:Becarefulwhatyouwish for,youjust</p><p>mightgetit.</p><p>I believe that it is possible to go through all of life not only forgetful but</p><p>oblivioustowardwhatyouwant,habituallyrepeatingtoyourselfwhatyouthink</p><p>you shouldwant (such as a nice family, a goodhome), but really harboring a</p><p>differentwish,onethatyoumaydenyevenwhenitpressesagainstthewallsof</p><p>yourawareness.Thisproducesalifeofbitterness,unease,andalienation,which</p><p>oftengetsventedonothers.</p><p>Neville’sphilosophy,bycontrast,placesademandonus,one thatwemay</p><p>think we’ve risen to but in most cases have never tried: to reach an</p><p>understandingofwhatwetrulywant.Whenweconfrontourinnerwisheswith</p><p>fearlessmaturityandhonestywemaybesurprisedbywhatwefind.Realization</p><p>isthedawnofactualizationoratleasttheendofself-estrangement.Itallbegins</p><p>withclarifieddesire.</p><p>Nevilletaughtthatweliveinaworldinwhichalldesiresarepossiblebecause</p><p>everything is mentally created. Yet, once more, I hit the wall of my own</p><p>objections.Itisimpossibleforthoughtfulpeopletooverlookthescaleoftragedy</p><p>and suffering in ourworld: civilwars that tear apart nations andkill ormaim</p><p>countless victims; tsunamis and earthquakes that decimate families andwhole</p><p>societies;faminesandepidemicsthatcausemassdeathandsuffering.Couldany</p><p>serious person contend that entire cultures or nations are, at varying times,</p><p>creating their own catastrophes—or, just as daunting, that I, the individual-as-</p><p>God,amcreatingitforthem,orformyself?</p><p>Butthatseemingconundrummayalsoholdacriticalpieceofthepuzzleof</p><p>existence.Withintheframeworkweoccupy—regardlessoflife’sultimatebasis</p><p>inthought—wearecompelledtoexperiencethingsthatmitigateorconditionthe</p><p>apparentlawofmentalcausality.Consider:alaw,inordertobealaw,mustbe</p><p>consistent.Butthatdoesnotmeanthatitisconsistentlyfelt.Thelawofgravity</p><p>iseveroperative;butyou’regoingtoexperiencegravitydifferentlyonearththan</p><p>onthemoonorJupiter.Inthevacuumofspace,youexperiencenogravityatall;</p><p>thisisn’tbecausegravityisn’tfunctionalbutbecausegravityrespondstomass;</p><p>in the absence ofmass gravitational effects are absent.A similar processmay</p><p>occur with our minds: the limited five-sensory existence through which we</p><p>manageday-to-day lifemaycompelus toexperienceawidearrayof lawsand</p><p>forces;someofthemaredestructiveandpainful,andeachareastactilelyrealas</p><p>thepresenceofyourownbody.</p><p>“If the doors of perception were cleansed,” William Blake wrote, “every</p><p>thingwouldappear tomanas it is, Infinite.” In statesofhigher sensitivitywe</p><p>catch glimpses of Infinitude, or the limitless capacities of the mind. Neville</p><p>called this realization our birthright.But until that birthright is realized—until</p><p>the doors of perception are cleansed—we must act, function, and ethically</p><p>navigatewithinacoarsenedworldoflimitedperceptionandsuffering.Onlyina</p><p>state of ultimate freedomdoes this change.Absent that,wewither and die as</p><p>branchesontheTreeofLife,evenaswearepartofthetree.</p><p>If you are new to Neville’s ideas, I hope this book proves a stimulating and</p><p>practicalintroduction.Andifyouarealongtimereader,youmaystandtogain</p><p>evenmore: Ihope thisbookdeepensyourpractice, inquiry,andsearch—as its</p><p>assemblage has compelled me to reexamine some of my own ideas and dive</p><p>morefullyintotheimplicationsofNeville’sthought.</p><p>Ihavegiveneachofthesechronologicalselectionsitsownshortintroduction</p><p>to call out specific developments in Neville’s career or outlook. Although</p><p>Neville’s philosophywas already formed in his first book,At YourCommand</p><p>(which immediately follows), and remained consistent throughouthis life, you</p><p>willdetectanunmistakabledeepening,refinement,andevolutioninhisideas.</p><p>Fallintotheseselections.Theyarehereforyourexperimentation.Maythey</p><p>urgeyoutoyourhighestsearch.</p><p>—MITCHHOROWITZ</p><p>I</p><p>ATYOURCOMMAND</p><p>(1939)</p><p>This</p><p>askforearthlythings,onlyforspiritualgrowth,yetmoneyand</p><p>thingsarewhatIneed.</p><p>Youmustbehonestwithyourself.AllthroughScripturethequestionisasked,</p><p>“Whatdoyouwantofme?”Somewantedtosee,otherstoeat,andstillothers</p><p>wantedtobemadestraight,or“Thatmychildlive.”</p><p>Yourdimensionallylargerselfspeakstoyouthroughthelanguageofdesire.</p><p>Donotdeceiveyourself.Knowingwhatyouwant,claimyoualreadyhaveit,for</p><p>itisyourFather’sgoodpleasuretogiveittoyouandremember,whatyou</p><p>desire,thatyouhave.</p><p>8.Question:Whenyouhaveasassumedyourdesire,doyoukeepinmindtheeverpresenceofthis</p><p>greateroneprotectingandgivingyouyourassumption?</p><p>Theacceptanceoftheendwillsthemeans.Assumethefeelingofyourwish</p><p>fulfilledandyourdimensionallygreaterselfwilldeterminethemeans.When</p><p>youappropriateastateasthoughyouhadit,theactivityofthedaywilldivert</p><p>youappropriateastateasthoughyouhadit,theactivityofthedaywilldivert</p><p>yourmindfromallanxiousthoughtssothatyoudonotlookforsigns.Youdo</p><p>nothavetocarrythefeelingthatsomepresenceisgoingtodoitforyou,rather</p><p>youknowitisalreadydone.Knowingitisalreadyafact,walkasthoughitwere,</p><p>andthingswillhappentomakeitso.Youdonothavetobeconcernedabout</p><p>somepresencedoinganythingforyou.Thedeeper,dimensionallygreateryou</p><p>hasalreadydoneit.Allyoudoismovetotheplacewhereyouencounterit.</p><p>Rememberthestoryofthemanwholeftthemasterandwasonhisway</p><p>homewhenhemethisservantwhosaid,“Yoursonlives.”Andwhenheasked</p><p>atwhathouritwasdonetheservantreplied,“Theseventhhour.”Theself-same</p><p>hourthatheassumedhisdesire,itwasdoneforhim,foritwasattheseventh</p><p>hourthatthemastersaid,“Yoursonlives.”Yourdesireisalreadygranted.Walk</p><p>asthoughitwereand,althoughtimebeatsslowlyinthisdimensionofyour</p><p>being,itwillneverthelessbringyouconfirmationofyourassumption.Iaskyou</p><p>nottobeimpatient,though.Ifthereisonethingyoureallyhaveneedof,itis</p><p>patience.</p><p>9.Question:Isn’ttherealawthatsaysyoucannotgetsomethingfornothing?Mustwenotearnwhat</p><p>wedesire?</p><p>Creationisfinished!ItisyourFather’sgoodpleasuretogiveyouthekingdom.</p><p>Theparableoftheprodigalsonisyouranswer.Inspiteofman’swaste,whenhe</p><p>comestohissensesandrememberswhoheis,hefeedsonthefattedcalfof</p><p>abundanceandwearstherobeandringofauthority.Thereisnothingtoearn.</p><p>Creationwasfinishedinthefoundationoftime.You,asman,areGodmade</p><p>visibleforthepurposeofdisplayingwhatis,notwhatistobe.Donotthinkyou</p><p>mustworkoutyoursalvationbythesweatofyourbrow.Itisnotfourmonths</p><p>untiltheharvest,thefieldsarealreadywhite,simplythrustinthesickle.</p><p>10.Question:Doesnotthethoughtthatcreationisfinishedroboneofhisinitiative?</p><p>Ifyouobserveaneventbeforeitoccurs,thentheoccurringeventmustbe</p><p>predeterminedfromthepointofviewofbeingawakeinthisthree-dimensional</p><p>world.Yet,youdonothavetoencounterwhatyouobserve.Youcan,by</p><p>changingyourconceptofself,interferewithyourfutureandmolditinharmony</p><p>withyourchangedconceptofself.</p><p>11.Question:Doesnotthisabilitytochangethefuturedenythatcreationisfinished?</p><p>No.You,bychangingyourconceptofself,changeyourrelationshiptothings.If</p><p>yourearrangethewordsofaplaytowriteadifferentone,youhavenotcreated</p><p>newwords,butsimplyhadthejoyofrearrangingthem.Yourconceptofself</p><p>newwords,butsimplyhadthejoyofrearrangingthem.Yourconceptofself</p><p>determinestheorderofeventsyouencounter.Theyareinthefoundationofthe</p><p>world,butnottheirorderofarrangement.</p><p>12.Question:Whyshouldonewhoworkshardinmetaphysicsalwaysseemtolack?</p><p>Becausehehasnotreallyappliedmetaphysics.Iamnotspeakingofanamby-</p><p>pambyapproachtolife,butadailyapplicationofthelawofconsciousness.</p><p>Whenyouappropriateyourgood,thereisnoneedforaman,orstate,toactasa</p><p>mediumthroughwhichyourgoodwillcome.</p><p>Livinginaworldofmen,moneyisneededinmyeverydaylife.IfIinvite</p><p>youtolunchtomorrow,Imustpickupthecheck.WhenIleavethehotel,Imust</p><p>paythebill.InordertotakethetrainbacktoNewYorkmyrailwayfaremustbe</p><p>paid.Ineedmoneyandithastobethere.Iamnotgoingtosay,“Godknows</p><p>best,andHeknowsIneedmoney.”Rather,Iwillappropriatethemoneyas</p><p>thoughitwere!</p><p>Wemustliveboldly!Wemustgothroughlifeasthoughwepossessedwhat</p><p>wewanttopossess.Donotthinkthatbecauseyouhelpedanother,someone</p><p>outsideofyousawyourgoodworksandwillgiveyousomethingtoeaseyour</p><p>burden.Thereisnoonetodoitforyou.You,yourselfmustgoboldlyon</p><p>appropriatingwhatyourFatherhasalreadygivenyou.</p><p>13.Question:Cananuneducatedpersoneducatehimselfbyassumingthefeelingofbeingeducated?</p><p>Yes.Anarousedinterestisawardedinformationfromeveryside.Youmust</p><p>sincerelydesiretobewellschooled.Thedesiretobewellread,followedbythe</p><p>assumptionthatyouare,makesyouselectiveinyourreading.Asyouprogressin</p><p>youreducation,youautomaticallybecomemoreselective,morediscriminating</p><p>inallthatyoudo.</p><p>14.Question:MyhusbandandIaretakingtheclasstogether.Shouldwediscussourdesireswith</p><p>eachother?</p><p>TherearetwospiritualsayingswhichpermeatetheBible.Oneis,“Gotellno</p><p>man,”andtheotheris“Ihavetoldyoubeforeitcomestopassthatwhenitdoes</p><p>cometopassyoumaybelieve.”Ittakesspiritualboldnesstotellanotherthat</p><p>yourdesireisfulfilledbeforeitisseenontheoutside.Ifyoudonothavethat</p><p>kindofboldness,thenyouhadbetterkeepquiet.</p><p>Ipersonallyenjoytellingmyplanstomywife,becausewebothgetsucha</p><p>thrillwhentheycomeintobeing.Thefirstpersonamanwantstoprovethislaw</p><p>toishiswife.ItissaidthatMohammadiseverlastinglygreatbecausehisfirst</p><p>disciplewashiswife.</p><p>disciplewashiswife.</p><p>15.Question:ShouldmyhusbandandIworkonthesameprojectoronseparateones?</p><p>Thatisentirelyuptoyou.MywifeandIhavedifferentinterests,yetwehave</p><p>muchincommon.DoyourecallthestoryItoldofourreturntotheUnitedStates</p><p>thisspring?IfeltitwasmydutyasahusbandtogetpassagebacktoAmerica,so</p><p>Iappropriatedthattomyself.Ifeeltherearecertainthingsthatareonmywife’s</p><p>sideofthecontract,suchasmaintainingaclean,lovelyhomeandfindingthe</p><p>appropriateschoolforourdaughter,soshetakescareofthose.</p><p>Quiteoftenmywifewillaskmetoimagineforher,asthoughshehasgreater</p><p>faithinmyabilitytodoitthaninherown.Thatflattersmebecauseeveryman</p><p>worthyofthenamewantstofeelthathisfamilyhasfaithinhim.ButIsee</p><p>nothingwronginthecommunionbetweentwowholoveoneanother.</p><p>16.Iwouldthinkthatifyougettoomuchintothesleepystatetherewouldbealackoffeeling.</p><p>WhenIspeakoffeelingIdonotmeanemotion,butacceptanceofthefactthat</p><p>thedesireisfulfilled.Feelinggrateful,fulfilled,orthankful,itiseasytosay,</p><p>“ThankYou,”“Isn’titwonderful!”or“Itisfinished.”Whenyougetintothe</p><p>stateofthankfulness,youcaneitherawakenknowingitisdone,orfallasleepin</p><p>thefeelingofthewishfulfilled.</p><p>17.Isloveaproductofyourownconsciousness?</p><p>Answer:Allthingsexistinyourconsciousness,betheyloveorhate.Nothing</p><p>comesfromwithout.Thehillstowhichyoulookforhelparethoseofaninner</p><p>range.Yourfeelingsoflove,hateorindifferenceallspringfromyourown</p><p>consciousness.Youareinfinitelygreaterthanyoucouldeverconceiveyourself</p><p>tobe.Never,ineternity,willyoureachtheultimateyou.Thatishowwonderful</p><p>youare.Loveisnotaproductofyou,youarelove,forthatiswhatGodisand</p><p>God’snameisIam,theverynameyoucall</p><p>yourselfbeforeyoumaketheclaim</p><p>astothestateyouarenowin.</p><p>18.Supposemywantscannotmaterializeforsixmonthstoayear,doIwaittoimaginethem?</p><p>Whenthedesireisuponyou,thatisthetimetoacceptyourwishinitsfullness.</p><p>Perhapstherearereasonswhytheurgeisgivenyouatthistime.Yourthree-</p><p>dimensionalbeingmaythinkitcannotbenow,butyourfourth-dimensional</p><p>mindknowsitalreadyis,sothedesireshouldbeacceptedbyyouasaphysical</p><p>factnow.</p><p>Supposeyouwantedtobuildahouse.Theurgetohaveitisnow,butitis</p><p>goingtotaketimeforthetreestogrowandthecarpentertobuildthehouse.</p><p>Althoughtheurgeseemsbig,donotwaittoadjusttoit.Claimpossessionnow</p><p>andletitobjectifyitselfinitsownstrangeway.Donotsayitwilltakesix</p><p>monthsorayear.Theminutethedesirecomesuponyou,assumeitisalreadya</p><p>fact!Youandyoualonehavegivenyourdesireatimeintervalandtimeis</p><p>relativewhenitcomestothisworld.Donotwaitforanythingtocometopass,</p><p>acceptitnowasthoughitwereandseewhathappens.</p><p>Whenyouhaveadesire,thedeeperyou,whomencallGod,isspeaking.He</p><p>urgesyou,throughthelanguageofdesire,toacceptthatwhichisnotthatwhich</p><p>istobe!Desireissimplyhiscommunionwithyou,tellingyouthatyourdesireis</p><p>yours,now!Youracceptanceofthisfactisprovedbyyourcompleteadjustment</p><p>toitasthoughitweretrue.</p><p>19.Question:Whydosomeofusdieyoung?</p><p>Ourlivesarenot,inretrospect,measuredbyyearsbutbythecontentofthose</p><p>years.</p><p>20.Question:Whatwouldyouconsiderafulllife?</p><p>Avarietyofexperiences.Themorevariedtheyare,thericherisyourlife.At</p><p>deathyoufunctioninadimensionallylargerworld,andplayyourpartona</p><p>keyboardmadeupofalifetimeofhumanexperiences.Therefore,themore</p><p>variedyourexperiences,thefinerisyourinstrumentandthericherisyourlife.</p><p>21.Question:Whataboutachildwhodiesatbirth?</p><p>Thechildwhoisborn,livesforever,asnothingdies.Itmayappearthatthechild</p><p>whodiesatbirthhasnokeyboardofhumanexperiencebut,asapoetoncesaid:</p><p>“Hedrewacirclethatshutmeout,Infidel,scoundrel,athingtoflout.But</p><p>LoveandIhadthewittowin!Wedrewacirclethattookhimin.”</p><p>Thelovedonehasaccesstothesensoryexperiencesofthelover.Godis</p><p>love;therefore,ultimatelyeveryonehasaninstrument,thekeyboardofwhichis</p><p>thesensoryimpressionsofallmen.</p><p>22.Question:Whatisyourtechniqueofprayer?</p><p>Itstartswithdesire,fordesireisthemainspringofaction.Youmustknowand</p><p>defineyourobjective,thencondenseitintoasensationwhichimplies</p><p>fulfillment.Whenyourdesireisclearlydefined,immobilizeyourphysicalbody</p><p>andexperience,inyourimagination,theactionwhichimpliesitsfulfillment.</p><p>Repeatthisactoverandoveragainuntilithasthevividnessandfeelingof</p><p>reality.</p><p>reality.</p><p>Or,condenseyourdesireintoasinglephrasethatimpliesfulfillmentsuchas,</p><p>“ThankyouFather,”“Isn’titwonderful,”or“Itisfinished.”Repeatthat</p><p>condensedphraseoractioninyourimaginationoverandoveragain.Theneither</p><p>awakenfromthatstate,orslipoffintothedeep.Itdoesnotmatter,fortheactis</p><p>donewhenyoucompletelyacceptitasbeingfinishedinthatsleepy,drowsy</p><p>state.</p><p>23.Question:Twopeoplewantthesameposition.Onehasit.Theotherhaditandnowwantsitback.</p><p>YourFather(thedimensionallygreateryou)haswaysandmeansyouknownot</p><p>of.Accepthiswisdom.Feelyourdesireisfulfilled,thenallowyourFatherto</p><p>giveittoyou.Thepresentonemaybepromotedtoahigherposition,ormarrya</p><p>manofgreatwealthandgiveupherjob.Shemaycomeintoagreatdealof</p><p>money,orchoosetomovetoanotherstate.</p><p>Manypeoplesaytheywanttowork,butIquestionthatseriously.Theywant</p><p>securityandconditionsecurityonajob.ButIreallydonotthinktheaveragegirl</p><p>trulywantstogetupinthemorningandgotowork.</p><p>24.Question:Whatisthecauseofdiseaseandpain?</p><p>Thephysicalbodyisanemotionalfilter.Manyhumanailments,hitherto</p><p>consideredpurelyphysical,arenowrecognizedasrootedinemotional</p><p>disturbances.</p><p>Paincomesfromlackofrelaxation.Whenyousleepthereisnopain.Ifyou</p><p>areunderananesthetic,thereisnopainbecauseyouarerelaxed,asitwere.If</p><p>youhavepainitisbecauseyouaretenseandtryingtoforcesomething.You</p><p>cannotforceanideaintoembodiment,yousimplyappropriateit.Itisattention</p><p>minuseffort.Onlypracticewillbringyoutothatpointwhereyoucanbe</p><p>attentiveandstillberelaxed.</p><p>Attentionistensiontowardanend,andrelaxationisjusttheopposite.Here</p><p>aretwocompletelyoppositeideasthatyoumustblenduntilyoulearn,through</p><p>practice,howtobeattentive,butnottense.Theword“contention”means</p><p>“attentionminuseffort.”Inthestateofcontentionyouareheldbytheidea</p><p>withouttension.</p><p>25.NomatterhowmuchItrytobehappy,underneath,Ihaveamelancholyfeelingofbeingleftout.</p><p>Why?</p><p>Becauseyoufeelyouarenotwanted.WereIyou,IwouldassumeIamwanted.</p><p>Youknowthetechnique.Theassumptionthatyouarewantedmayseemfalse</p><p>whenfirstassumed,butifyouwillfeelwantedandrespected,andpersistinthat</p><p>assumption,youwillbeamazedhowotherswillseekyouout.Theywillbeginto</p><p>seequalitiesinyoutheyhadneverseenbefore.Ipromiseyou.Ifyouwillbut</p><p>assumeyouarewanted,youwillbe.</p><p>26.Question:Ifsecuritycametomethroughthedeathofalovedone,didIbringaboutthatdeath?</p><p>Donotthinkforonesecondthatyoubroughtaboutadeathbyassuming</p><p>security.Thegreateryouisnotgoingtoinjureanyone.Itseesalland,knowing</p><p>thelengthoflifeofall,itcaninspiretheothertogiveyouthatwhichcanfulfill</p><p>yourassumption.</p><p>Youdidnotkillthepersonwhonamedyouinhiswill.If,afewdaysafter</p><p>yourcompleteacceptanceoftheideaofsecurity,UncleJohnmadehisexitfrom</p><p>thisthree-dimensionalplaneandleftyouhisestate,itisonlybecauseitwastime</p><p>forUncleJohntogo.Hedidnotdieonesecondbeforehistime,however.The</p><p>greateryousawthelifespanofJohnandusedhimasthewaytobringaboutthe</p><p>fulfillmentofyourfeelingofsecurity.</p><p>Theacceptanceoftheendwillsthemeanstowardthefulfillmentofthatend.</p><p>Donotbeconcernedwithanythingsavetheend.Alwaysbearinmindthatthe</p><p>responsibilitytomakeitsoiscompletelyremovedfromyourshoulders.Itis</p><p>yoursbecauseyouacceptitasso!</p><p>27.Ihavemorethanoneobjective.Woulditbeineffectivetoconcentrateondifferentobjectivesat</p><p>differentperiodsofconcentration?</p><p>Iliketotakeoneconsumingambition,restrictittoasingleshortphraseoract</p><p>thatimpliesfulfillment,butIdonotlimitmyambition.Ionlyknowthatmyreal</p><p>objectivewillincludeallthelittleones.</p><p>28.Question:Ifinditdifficulttochangemyconceptofself.Why?</p><p>Becauseyourdesiretochangehasnotbeenaroused.Ifyouwouldfallinlove</p><p>withwhatyoureallywanttobe,youwouldbecomeit.Ittakesanintensehunger</p><p>tobringaboutatransformationofself.</p><p>“Asthehartpantethafterthewaterbrooks,sopantethmysoulafterthee,O</p><p>Lord.”Ifyouwouldbecomeasthirstyforperfectionasthelittlehartisforwater</p><p>thatitbravestheangerofthetigerintheforest,youwouldbecomeperfect.</p><p>29.Iamcontemplatingabusinessventure.Itmeansagreatdealtome,butIcannotimaginehowit</p><p>cancomeintobeing.</p><p>Youarerelievedofthatresponsibility.Youdonothavetomakeitareality,it</p><p>alreadyis!Althoughyourconceptofselfseemssofarremovedfromtheventure</p><p>alreadyis!Althoughyourconceptofselfseemssofarremovedfromtheventure</p><p>younowcontemplate,itexistsnowasarealitywithinyou.Askyourselfhow</p><p>youwouldfeelandwhatyouwouldbedoingifyourbusinessventurewerea</p><p>greatsuccess.Becomeidentifiedwiththatcharacterandfeelingandyou</p><p>willbe</p><p>amazedhowquicklyyouwillrealizeyourdream.</p><p>Theonlysacrificeyouarecalledupontomake,istogiveupyourpresent</p><p>conceptofselfandappropriatethedesireyouwanttoexpress.</p><p>30.AsametaphysicalstudentIhavebeentaughttobelievethatracebeliefsanduniversal</p><p>assumptionsaffectme.DoyoumeanthatonlytothedegreeIgivetheseuniversalbeliefspowerover</p><p>me,amIinfluencedbythem?</p><p>Yes.Itisonlyyourindividualviewpoint,asyourworldisforeverbearing</p><p>witnesstoyourpresentconceptofself.Ifsomeoneoffendsyou,changeyour</p><p>conceptofself.Thatistheonlywayotherschange.Tonight’spapermayberead</p><p>byanysixpeopleinthisroomandnotwowillinterpretthesamestoryinthe</p><p>sameway.Onewillbeelated,theotherdepressed,anotherindifferent,andso</p><p>on,yetitisthesamestory.</p><p>Universalassumptions,racebeliefs,callthemwhatyouwill,theyarenot</p><p>importanttoyou.Whatisimportantisyourconcept,notofanother,butof</p><p>yourself,fortheconceptyouholdofyourselfdeterminestheconceptyouholdof</p><p>others.Leaveothersalone.Whataretheytoyou?Followyourowndesires.</p><p>Thelawisalwaysinoperation,alwaysabsolute.Yourconsciousnessisthe</p><p>rockuponwhichallstructuresrest.Watchwhatyouareawareof.Youneednot</p><p>concernyourselfwithothersbecauseyouaresustainedbytheabsolutenessof</p><p>thislaw.Nomancomestoyouofhisownaccord,behegood,badorindifferent.</p><p>Hedidnotchooseyou!Youchosehim!Hewasdrawntoyoubecauseofwhat</p><p>youare.</p><p>Youcannotdestroythestateanotherrepresentsthroughforce.Rather,leave</p><p>himalone.Whatishetoyou?Risetoahigherlevelofconsciousnessandyou</p><p>willfindanewworldawaitingyou,andasyousanctifyyourself,othersare</p><p>sanctified.</p><p>31.WhowrotetheBible?</p><p>TheBiblewaswrittenbyintelligentmenwhousedsolarandphallicmythsto</p><p>revealpsychologicaltruths.Butwehavemistakentheirallegoryforhistoryand,</p><p>therefore,havefailedtoseetheirtruemessage.</p><p>Itisstrange,butwhentheBiblewaslaunchedupontheworld,and</p><p>acceptanceseemedtobeinsight,thegreatAlexandriaLibrarywasburnttothe</p><p>ground,leavingnorecordastohowtheBiblecameintobeing.Fewpeoplecan</p><p>ground,leavingnorecordastohowtheBiblecameintobeing.Fewpeoplecan</p><p>readotherlanguages,sotheycannotcomparetheirbeliefswithothers.Our</p><p>churchesdonotencourageustocompare.Howmanyofthemillionswhoaccept</p><p>theBibleasfact,everquestionit?BelievingitisthewordofGod,theyblindly</p><p>acceptthewordsandthuslosetheessencetheycontain.Havingacceptedthe</p><p>vehicle,theydonotunderstandwhatthevehicleconveys.</p><p>32.Question:DoyouusetheApocrypha?</p><p>Notinmyteaching.Ihaveseveralvolumesofthemathome.Theyarenogreater</p><p>thanthesixty-sixbooksofourpresentBible.Theyaresimplytellingthesame</p><p>truthinadifferentway.Forinstance,thestoryistoldofJesus,asayoungboy,</p><p>watchingchildrenmakebirdsoutofmud.Holdingthebirdsintheirhands,they</p><p>pretendthebirdsareflying.Jesusapproachesandknocksthebirdsoutoftheir</p><p>hands.Astheybegintocry,hepicksuponeofthebrokenbirdsandremoldsit.</p><p>Holdingithigh,hebreathesuponitandthebirdtakeswing.</p><p>Hereisastoryofonewhocametobreaktheidolsinthemindsofmen,then</p><p>showthemhowtousethesamesubstanceandremolditintoabeautifulform</p><p>andgiveitlife.Thatiswhatthisstoryistryingtoconvey.“Icome,nottobring</p><p>peace,butasword.”Truthslaysallthelittlemudhensofthemind;slays</p><p>illusionsandthenremoldsthemintoanewpatternwhichsetsmanfree.</p><p>33.IfJesuswasafictionalcharactercreatedbyBiblicalwritersforthepurposeofillustratingcertain</p><p>psychologicaldramas,howdoyouaccountforthefactthatheandhisphilosophyarementionedin</p><p>thenonreligiousandnon-Christianhistoryofthosetimes?WerenotPontiusPilateandHerodreal</p><p>fleshandbloodRomanofficialsinthosedays?</p><p>ThestoryofJesusistheidenticalstoryasthatoftheHindusavior,Krishna.</p><p>Theyarethesamepsychologicalcharacters.Bothweresupposedtohavebeen</p><p>bornofvirginmothers.Therulersofthetimesoughttodestroythemwhenthey</p><p>werechildren.Bothhealedthesick,resurrectedthedead,taughtthegospelof</p><p>loveanddiedamartyr’sdeathformankind.HindusandChristiansalikebelieve</p><p>theirsaviortobeGodmademan.</p><p>TodaypeoplequoteSocrates,yettheonlyproofthatSocrateseverexistedis</p><p>intheworksofPlato.ItissaidthatSocratesdrankhemlock,butIaskyou,who</p><p>isSocrates?IoncequotedalinefromShakespeareandaladysaidtome,“But</p><p>Hamletsaidthat.”Hamletneversaidit,Shakespearewrotethelinesandputthe</p><p>wordsinthemouthofacharacterhecreatedandnamedHamlet.St.Augustine</p><p>oncesaid,“ThatwhichisnowcalledtheChristianreligionexistedamongthe</p><p>ancients.TheybegantocallChristianitythetruereligion,yetitneverexisted.”</p><p>34.Question:Doyouuseaffirmationsanddenials?</p><p>Letusleavetheseschoolsofthoughtthatuseaffirmationsanddenials.Thebest</p><p>affirmation,andtheonlyeffectiveone,isanassumptionwhich,initself,implies</p><p>denialoftheformerstate.</p><p>Thebestdenialistotalindifference.Thingswitheranddiethrough</p><p>indifference.Theyarekeptalivethroughattention.Youdonotdenyathingby</p><p>sayingitdoesnotexist.Ratheryouputfeelingintoitbyrecognizingit,andwhat</p><p>yourecognizeastrue,istruetoyou,beitgood,badorindifferent.</p><p>35.Question:Isitpossibleforonetoappeardeadandstillnotbedead?</p><p>GeneralLeewassupposedtohavebeenborntwoyearsafterhismother,</p><p>believedtobedead,wasburiedalive.Luckyforhershewasnotembalmedor</p><p>buriedintheearth,butinavaultwheresomeoneheardhercryandreleasedher.</p><p>TwoyearslaterMrs.LeeboreasonwhobecameGeneralLee.Thatispartof</p><p>thiscountry’shistory.</p><p>36.Question:Howcouldonewhowasdeprivedinhisyouthbecomeasuccessinlife?</p><p>Wearecreaturesofhabit,formingpatternsofthemindwhichrepeatthemselves</p><p>overandoveragain.Althoughhabitactslikeacompellinglawwhichdrivesone</p><p>torepeatthepatterns,itisnotalaw,foryouandIcanchangethepatterns.Many</p><p>successfulmensuchasHenryFord,RockefellerandCarnegieweredeprivedin</p><p>theiryouth.Manyofthegreatnamesinthiscountrycamefrompoorfamilies,</p><p>yettheyleftbehindthemgreataccomplishmentsinthepolitical,artisticand</p><p>financialworld.</p><p>Oneeveningafriendofmineattendedameetingforyoungadvertising</p><p>executives.Thespeakeroftheeveningsaidtotheseyoungmen:“Ihavebutone</p><p>thingtosaytoyoutonightandthatistomakeyourselfbigandyoucannotfail.”</p><p>Takinganordinaryfishbowl,hefilleditwithtwobags,oneofEnglish</p><p>walnutsandtheotherofsmallbeans.Mixingthemwithhishand,hebeganto</p><p>shakethebowlandsaid,“Thisbowlislife.Youcannotstopitsshakingaslifeis</p><p>aconstantpulsing,livingrhythm,butwatch.”Andastheywatchedthebig</p><p>walnutscametothetopofthebowlasthelittlebeansfelltothebottom.</p><p>Lookingintothebowlthemanasked,“Whichoneofyouiscomplaining,</p><p>askingwhy?”Thenadded,“Isn’titstrange,thesoundiscomingfromthebowl</p><p>andnottheoutside.Abeaniscomplainingthatifhehadhadthesame</p><p>environmentasthewalnuthe,toowoulddobigthings,butheneverhadthe</p><p>chance.”Thenhetookalittlebeanfromthebottomofthebowlandplacedhim</p><p>ontopsaying,“Icanmovethebeanthroughsheerforce,butIcannotstopthe</p><p>ontopsaying,“Icanmovethebeanthroughsheerforce,butIcannotstopthe</p><p>bowloflifefromshaking,”andasheshookthebowl,thelittlebeanonceagain</p><p>slidtothebottom.</p><p>Hearinganothervoiceofcomplaintheasked,“What’sthatIhear?Youare</p><p>sayingthatIshouldtakeoneofthosebigfellowswhothinksheissobigandput</p><p>himonthebottomandseewhathappenstohim?Youbelievehewillbe</p><p>justas</p><p>limitedasyoubecausehewillberobbedoftheopportunityofbigthingsjustas</p><p>youare?Let’ssee.”</p><p>Thenthespeakertookoneofthebigwalnutsandpushedhimrightdownto</p><p>thebottomofthebowlsaying,“Istillcan’tstopthebowlfromshaking,”andas</p><p>themenwatchedthebigwalnutcametothetopagain.Thenthespeakeradded:</p><p>“Gentlemen,ifyoureallywanttobesuccessfulinlife,makeyourselfbig.”</p><p>Myfriendtookthismessagetoheartandbegantoassumehewasa</p><p>successfulbusinessman.Todayheistrulyabigmanifyoujudgesuccessby</p><p>dollars.HenowemploysoverathousandpeopleinthecityofNewYork.Each</p><p>oneofyoucandowhathedid.Assumeyouarewhatyouwanttobe.Walkin</p><p>thatassumptionanditwillhardenintofact.</p><p>V</p><p>OUTOFTHISWORLD</p><p>ThinkingFourth-Dimensionally</p><p>(1949)</p><p>In thisbook,Nevilledoeswhat fewmetaphysicalphilosopherseverattempt:hedevisesa theory</p><p>behindwhyourthoughtsareinstrumentsofcreation.OneofNeville’smostoriginalworks,Outof</p><p>ThisWorldpresents ideas thatareremarkablycongruentwithelementsofquantumtheory,as I</p><p>referenced in the main introduction. This short book explores some of the most trenchant and</p><p>memorable themes that Neville introduced in his previously noted “Five Lessons” lectures. It</p><p>appearedtheyearafterthatseries.</p><p>—MH</p><p>1.OUTOFTHISWORLD</p><p>AndnowIhavetoldyoubeforeitcometopass,that,whenitiscometopass,yemightbelieve.</p><p>—JOHN14:29</p><p>Manypersons,myselfincluded,haveobservedeventsbeforetheyoccurred;that</p><p>is, before they occurred in this world of three dimensions. Since man can</p><p>observeaneventbeforeitoccursinthethreedimensionsofspace,lifeonearth</p><p>must proceed according toplan, and this planmust exist elsewhere in another</p><p>dimensionandbeslowlymovingthroughourspace.</p><p>Iftheoccurringeventswerenotinthisworldwhentheywereobserved,then,</p><p>tobeperfectlylogical,theymusthavebeenoutofthisworld.Andwhateveris</p><p>theretobeseenbeforeitoccursheremustbe“predetermined”fromthepointof</p><p>viewofmanawakeinathree-dimensionalworld.Thusthequestionarises:“Are</p><p>weabletoalterourfuture?”</p><p>Myobjectinwritingthesepagesistoindicatepossibilitiesinherentinman,</p><p>to show that man can alter his future; but, thus altered, it forms again a</p><p>deterministicsequencestartingfromthepointofinterference—afuturethatwill</p><p>beconsistentwiththealteration.Themostremarkablefeatureofman’sfutureis</p><p>its flexibility. It is determined by his attitudes rather than by his acts. The</p><p>cornerstoneonwhichallthingsarebasedisman’sconceptofhimself.Heactsas</p><p>hedoesandhastheexperiencesthathedoes,becausehisconceptofhimselfis</p><p>whatitis,andfornootherreason.Hadheadifferentconceptofself,hewould</p><p>actdifferently.Achangeofconceptofselfautomaticallyaltershisfuture;anda</p><p>change in any term of his future series of experiences reciprocally alters his</p><p>concept of self.Man’s assumptionswhich he regards as insignificant produce</p><p>effects that are considerable; therefore man should revise his estimate of an</p><p>assumption,andrecognizeitscreativepower.</p><p>All changes take place in consciousness. The future, although prepared in</p><p>everydetailinadvance,hasseveraloutcomes.Ateverymomentofourliveswe</p><p>havebeforeusthechoiceofwhichofseveralfutureswewillchoose.</p><p>There are two actual outlooks on the world possessed by everyone—a</p><p>natural focus and a spiritual focus. The ancient teachers called the one “the</p><p>carnal mind,” the other “the mind of Christ.” We may differentiate them as</p><p>ordinary waking consciousness—governed by our senses, and a controlled</p><p>imagination—governed by desire. We recognize these two distinct centers of</p><p>thoughtinthestatement:“Thenaturalmanreceivethnotthethingsofthespirit</p><p>ofGodfortheyarefoolishnessuntohim;neithercanheknowthemfortheyare</p><p>spiritually discerned.” The natural view confines reality to themoment called</p><p>now.Tothenaturalview,thepastandfuturearepurelyimaginary.Thespiritual</p><p>view,ontheotherhand,seesthecontentsoftime.Itseeseventsasdistinctand</p><p>separated as objects in space. The past and future are a present whole to the</p><p>spiritualview.Whatismentalandsubjectivetothenaturalmanisconcreteand</p><p>objectivetothespiritualman.</p><p>Thehabitofseeingonlythatwhichoursensespermitrendersustotallyblind</p><p>towhat,otherwise,wecouldsee.Tocultivatethefacultyofseeingtheinvisible,</p><p>we should often deliberately disentangle our minds from the evidence of the</p><p>senses and focus our attention on an invisible state, mentally feeling it and</p><p>sensingituntilithasallthedistinctnessofreality.</p><p>Earnest, concentrated thought focused in a particular direction shuts out</p><p>othersensationsandcausesthemtodisappear.Wehavebuttoconcentrateonthe</p><p>state desired in order to see it. The habit of withdrawing attention from the</p><p>regionof sensation and concentrating it on the invisible developsour spiritual</p><p>outlookandenablesus topenetratebeyond theworldof sense and to see that</p><p>whichisinvisible.“Fortheinvisiblethingsofhimfromthecreationoftheworld</p><p>areclearlyseen.”—Romans1:20.Thisvision iscompletely independentof the</p><p>natural faculties. Open it and quicken it! Without it, these instructions are</p><p>useless,for“thethingsofthespiritarespirituallydiscerned.”</p><p>Alittlepracticewillconvinceusthatwecan,bycontrollingourimagination,</p><p>reshape our future in harmony with our desire. Desire is the mainspring of</p><p>action.Wecouldnotmoveasinglefingerunlesswehadadesiretomoveit.No</p><p>matterwhatwe do,we follow the desirewhich at themoment dominates our</p><p>minds.Whenwebreakahabit,ourdesiretobreakitisgreaterthanourdesireto</p><p>continueinthehabit.</p><p>The desires which impel us to action are those that hold our attention. A</p><p>desireisbutanawarenessofsomethingwelackorneedtomakeourlifemore</p><p>enjoyable. Desires always have some personal gain in view, the greater the</p><p>anticipatedgain,themoreintenseisthedesire.Thereisnoabsolutelyunselfish</p><p>desire.Where there is nothing to gain there is no desire, and consequently no</p><p>action.</p><p>Thespiritualmanspeakstothenaturalmanthroughthelanguageofdesire.</p><p>The key to progress in life and to the fulfillment of dreams lies in ready</p><p>obedience to its voice. Unhesitating obedience to its voice is an immediate</p><p>assumptionof thewish fulfilled.Todesire a state is to have it.AsPascal has</p><p>said,“Youwouldnothavesoughtmehadyounotalreadyfoundme.”Man,by</p><p>assuming the feeling of his wish fulfilled, and then living and acting on this</p><p>conviction,altersthefutureinharmonywithhisassumption.</p><p>Assumptionsawakenwhattheyaffirm.Assoonasmanassumesthefeeling</p><p>ofhiswishfulfilled,his four-dimensionalself findswaysfor theattainmentof</p><p>thisend,discoversmethodsforitsrealization.Iknowofnoclearerdefinitionof</p><p>themeans bywhichwe realize our desires than to experience in imagination</p><p>what we would experience in the flesh were we to achieve our goal. This</p><p>experience of the end wills the means. With its larger outlook the four-</p><p>dimensionalselfthenconstructsthemeansnecessarytorealizetheacceptedend.</p><p>Theundisciplinedmindfindsitdifficulttoassumeastatewhichisdeniedby</p><p>thesenses.Hereisatechniquethatmakesiteasytoencountereventsbeforethey</p><p>occur, to “call thingswhich arenot seen as though theywere.”Peoplehave a</p><p>habit of slighting the importance</p><p>of simple things; but this simple formula for</p><p>changingthefuturewasdiscoveredafteryearsofsearchingandexperimenting.</p><p>The first step in changing the future isdesire; that is: defineyourobjective—</p><p>knowdefinitelywhatyouwant.Secondly:constructaneventwhichyoubelieve</p><p>youwouldencounter following the fulfillmentofyourdesire—aneventwhich</p><p>implies fulfillment of your desire—something thatwill have the action of self</p><p>predominant.Thirdly:immobilizethephysicalbodyandinduceaconditionakin</p><p>tosleep—lieonabedorrelaxinachairandimaginethatyouaresleepy;then,</p><p>with eyelids closed and your attention focused on the action you intend to</p><p>experienceinimagination—mentallyfeelyourselfrightintotheproposedaction</p><p>—imaginingall thewhile thatyouareactuallyperforming theactionhereand</p><p>now.Youmustalwaysparticipateintheimaginaryaction,notmerelystandback</p><p>andlookon,butyoumustfeelthatyouareactuallyperformingtheactionsothat</p><p>theimaginarysensationisrealtoyou.</p><p>It is important always to remember that the proposed action must be one</p><p>which follows the fulfillment of your desire; and, also, youmust feel yourself</p><p>into the action until it has all the vividness and distinctness of reality. For</p><p>example: supposeyoudesiredpromotion in office.Being congratulatedwould</p><p>be an event you would encounter following the fulfillment of your desire.</p><p>Having selected this action as the one you will experience in imagination,</p><p>immobilizethephysicalbody,andinduceastateakintosleep—adrowsystate</p><p>—butoneinwhichyouarestillabletocontrolthedirectionofyourthoughts—a</p><p>state in which you are attentive without effort. Now, imagine that a friend is</p><p>standingbeforeyou.Putyour imaginaryhand intohis.First feel it tobe solid</p><p>andreal,thencarryonanimaginaryconversationwithhiminharmonywiththe</p><p>action.Donotvisualizeyourselfatadistanceinpointofspaceandatadistance</p><p>in point of time being congratulated on your good fortune. Instead, make</p><p>elsewhere here, and the future now. The future event is a reality now in a</p><p>dimensionally largerworld; and, oddly enough,now in a dimensionally larger</p><p>world,isequivalenttohereintheordinarythree-dimensionalspaceofeveryday</p><p>life. The difference between feeling yourself in action, here and now, and</p><p>visualizingyourselfinaction,asthoughyouwereonamotion-picturescreen,is</p><p>thedifferencebetweensuccessandfailure.Thedifferencewillbeappreciatedif</p><p>you will now visualize yourself climbing a ladder. Then with eyelids closed</p><p>imaginethataladderisrightinfrontofyouandfeelyouareactuallyclimbingit.</p><p>Desire, physical immobility bordering on sleep, and imaginary action in</p><p>whichselffeelinglypredominates,hereandnow,arenotonlyimportantfactors</p><p>inalteringthefuture,buttheyareessentialconditionsinconsciouslyprojecting</p><p>the spiritual self. If, when the physical body is immobilized we become</p><p>possessedof the idea todo something—and imagine thatwearedoing ithere</p><p>and now and keep the imaginary action feelingly going right up until sleep</p><p>ensues—wearelikelytoawakenoutofthephysicalbodytofindourselvesina</p><p>dimensionallylargerworldwithadimensionallylargerfocusandactuallydoing</p><p>what we desired and imagined we were doing in the flesh. But whether we</p><p>awaken there or not, we are actually performing the action in the fourth-</p><p>dimensional world, and we will re-enact it in the future, here in the third-</p><p>dimensionalworld.</p><p>Experience has taughtme to restrict the imaginary action, to condense the</p><p>ideawhichistobetheobjectofourmeditationintoasingleact,andtore-enact</p><p>itoverandoveragainuntilithasthefeelingofreality.Otherwise,theattention</p><p>willwanderoffalonganassociationaltrack,andhostsofassociatedimageswill</p><p>be presented to our attention. In a few seconds theywill lead us hundreds of</p><p>milesawayfromourobjectiveinpointofspace,andyearsawayinpointoftime.</p><p>Ifwedecidetoclimbaparticularflightofstairs,becausethatisthelikelyevent</p><p>to follow the realization of our desire, then we must restrict the action to</p><p>climbingthatparticularflightofstairs.Shouldourattentionwanderoff,wemust</p><p>bringitbacktoitstaskofclimbingthatflightofstairsandkeepondoingsountil</p><p>theimaginaryactionhasallthesolidityanddistinctnessofreality.Theideamust</p><p>bemaintainedinthefieldofpresentationwithoutanysensibleeffortonourpart.</p><p>Wemust,withtheminimumofeffort,permeatethemindwiththefeelingofthe</p><p>wishfulfilled.</p><p>Drowsinessfacilitateschangebecauseitfavorsattentionwithouteffort,butit</p><p>mustnotbepushedtothestageofsleep,inwhichweshallnolongerbeableto</p><p>control the movements of our attention, but rather a moderate degree of</p><p>drowsiness inwhichwe are still able to direct our thoughts.Amost effective</p><p>waytoembodyadesireistoassumethefeelingofthewishfulfilledandthen,in</p><p>a relaxedandsleepystate, repeatoverandoveragain likea lullaby,anyshort</p><p>phrasewhich implies fulfillmentofourdesire,suchas“Thankyou”as though</p><p>weaddressedahigherpowerforhavingdone it forus. If,however,weseeka</p><p>consciousprojection intoadimensionally largerworld, thenwemustkeep the</p><p>actiongoingrightupuntilsleepensues.</p><p>Experienceinimagination,withallthedistinctnessofreality,whatwouldbe</p><p>experiencedinthefleshwereyoutoachieveyourgoal;andyoushall, intime,</p><p>meet it in the flesh as you met it in your imagination. Feed the mind with</p><p>premises—thatis,assertionspresumed tobetrue,becauseassumptions, though</p><p>unreal to the senses, if persisted in, until they have the feeling of reality,will</p><p>hardenintofacts.Toanassumptionallmeanswhichpromoteitsrealizationare</p><p>good. It influences the behavior of all by inspiring in all themovements, the</p><p>actions,andthewordswhichtendtowardsitsfulfillment.</p><p>Tounderstandhowmanmoldshisfutureinharmonywithhisassumptionwe</p><p>must know what we mean by a dimensionally larger world, for it is to a</p><p>dimensionallylargerworldthatwegotoalterourfuture.Theobservationofan</p><p>eventbeforeitoccursimpliesthattheeventispredeterminedfromthepointof</p><p>viewofmaninthethree-dimensionalworld.Therefore,tochangetheconditions</p><p>here in the three dimensions of space we must first change them in the four</p><p>dimensionsofspace.</p><p>Mandoesnotknowexactlywhatismeantbyadimensionallylargerworld,</p><p>andwouldnodoubtdenytheexistenceofadimensionallylargerself.Heisquite</p><p>familiarwiththethreedimensionsoflength,widthandheight,andhefeelsthat</p><p>if there were a fourth dimension, it should be just as obvious to him as the</p><p>dimensionsoflength,widthandheight.Adimensionisnotaline;itisanyway</p><p>inwhichathingcanbemeasuredthatisentirelydifferentfromallotherways.</p><p>That is, tomeasure a solid fourth-dimensionally,we simplymeasure it in any</p><p>directionexceptthatofitslength,widthandheight.</p><p>Is there anotherwayofmeasuring anobject other than thoseof its length,</p><p>width and height? Time measures my life without employing the three</p><p>dimensions of length, width and height. There is no such thing as an</p><p>instantaneous object. Its appearance and disappearance are measurable. It</p><p>enduresforadefinitelengthoftime.Wecanmeasureitslifespanwithoutusing</p><p>thedimensionsof length,widthandheight.Time isdefinitelya fourthwayof</p><p>measuringanobject.</p><p>Themoredimensions</p><p>anobjecthas,themoresubstantialandrealitbecomes.</p><p>Astraight line,which liesentirely inonedimension,acquiresshape,massand</p><p>substance by the addition of dimensions. What new quality would time, the</p><p>fourthdimension,givewhichwouldmakeit justasvastlysuperiortosolidsas</p><p>solidsaretosurfacesandsurfacesaretolines?Timeisamediumforchangesin</p><p>experiencebecauseallchangestaketime.Thenewqualityischangeability.</p><p>Observe that if we bisect a solid, its cross section will be a surface; by</p><p>bisectingasurface,weobtainaline;andbybisectingaline,wegetapoint.This</p><p>meansthatapointisbutacrosssectionofaline,whichis,inturn,butacross</p><p>sectionofasurface,whichis,inturn,butacrosssectionofasolid,whichis,in</p><p>turn,ifcarriedtoitslogicalconclusion,butacrosssectionofafour-dimensional</p><p>object.</p><p>We cannot avoid the inference that all three-dimensional objects are but</p><p>cross sections of four-dimensional bodies.Which means: when I meet you, I</p><p>meetacrosssectionofthefour-dimensionalyou—thefour-dimensionalselfthat</p><p>isnot seen.To see the four-dimensional self Imust see everycross sectionor</p><p>momentofyourlifefrombirthtodeathandseethemallascoexisting.Myfocus</p><p>should take in the entire array of sensory impressions which you have</p><p>experiencedonearthplusthoseyoumightencounter.Ishouldseethem,notin</p><p>the order in which they were experienced by you, but as a present whole.</p><p>Becausechangeisthecharacteristicofthefourthdimension,Ishouldseethem</p><p>inastateoffluxasaliving,animatedwhole.</p><p>Ifwehaveallthisclearlyfixedinourminds,whatdoesitmeantousinthis</p><p>three-dimensionalworld?Itmeansthat,ifwecanmovealongtime’slength,we</p><p>can see the future and alter it aswe sodesire.Thisworld,whichwe think so</p><p>solidly real, is a shadowout ofwhich andbeyondwhichwemay at any time</p><p>pass. It is an abstraction from a more fundamental and dimensionally larger</p><p>world—amorefundamentalworldabstractedfromastillmorefundamentaland</p><p>dimensionally largerworld—andsoonto infinity.Theabsolute isunattainable</p><p>byanymeansoranalysis,nomatterhowmanydimensionsweaddtotheworld.</p><p>Man can prove the existence of a dimensionally larger world simply by</p><p>focusinghisattentiononaninvisiblestateandimaginingthatheseesandfeels</p><p>it. If he remains concentrated in this state, his present environment will pass</p><p>away,andhewill awaken inadimensionally largerworldwhere theobjectof</p><p>hiscontemplationwillbeseenasaconcreteobjective reality. Intuitively I feel</p><p>that,werehe toabstracthis thoughts fromthisdimensionally largerworldand</p><p>retreat still farther within his mind, he would again bring about an</p><p>externalization of time.Hewould discover that every timehe retreats into his</p><p>inner mind and brings about an externalization of time, space becomes</p><p>dimensionally larger. And he would, therefore, conclude that both time and</p><p>spaceareserial,andthatthedramaoflifeisbuttheclimbingofamultitudinous</p><p>dimensionaltimeblock.</p><p>ScientistswillonedayexplainwhythereisaSerialUniverse.Butinpractice</p><p>how we use this Serial Universe to change the future is more important. To</p><p>change the future, we need only concern ourselves with two worlds in the</p><p>infiniteseries,theworldweknowbyreasonofourbodilyorgans,andtheworld</p><p>weperceiveindependentlyofourbodilyorgans.</p><p>2.ASSUMPTIONSBECOMEFACTS</p><p>Menbelieveintherealityoftheexternalworldbecausetheydonotknowhow</p><p>tofocusandcondensetheirpowerstopenetrateitsthincrust.Thisbookhasonly</p><p>onepurpose—theremovingoftheveilofthesenses—thetravelingintoanother</p><p>world. To remove the veil of the senses we do not employ great effort; the</p><p>objectiveworldvanishesbyturningourattentionawayfromit.</p><p>Wehaveonlytoconcentrateonthestatedesiredinordertomentallyseeit,</p><p>but to give it reality so that it will become an objective fact, we must focus</p><p>attentionupontheinvisiblestateuntilithasthefeelingofreality.When,through</p><p>concentratedattention,ourdesireappearstopossessthedistinctnessandfeeling</p><p>ofreality,wehavegivenittherighttobecomeavisibleconcretefact.</p><p>Ifitisdifficulttocontrolthedirectionofyourattentionwhileinastateakin</p><p>tosleep,youmayfindgazingfixedlyintoanobjectveryhelpful.Donotlookat</p><p>itssurfacebutintoandbeyondanyplainobjectsuchasawall,acarpet,orany</p><p>other object which possesses depth. Arrange it to return as little reflection as</p><p>possible. Imagine then that in this depthyou are seeing andhearingwhat you</p><p>wanttoseeandhearuntilyourattentionisexclusivelyoccupiedbytheimagined</p><p>state.</p><p>At the end of your meditation, when you awake from your “controlled</p><p>wakingdream,”youfeelasthoughyouhadreturnedfromagreatdistance.The</p><p>visibleworldwhichyouhad shutout returns to consciousness andby itsvery</p><p>presence informs you that you have been self-deceived into believing that the</p><p>objectofyourcontemplationwasreal.But,ifyouknowthatconsciousnessisthe</p><p>one and only reality, you will remain faithful to your vision, and by this</p><p>sustainedmental attitude confirmyourgift of reality, andprove thatyouhave</p><p>thepowertogiverealitytoyourdesiresthattheymaybecomevisibleconcrete</p><p>facts.</p><p>Defineyouridealandconcentrateyourattentionupontheideaofidentifying</p><p>yourselfwithyourideal.Assumethefeelingofbeingit, thefeelingthatwould</p><p>beyourswereyoualreadytheembodimentofyourideal.Thenliveandactupon</p><p>this conviction. This assumption, though denied by the senses, if persisted in,</p><p>willbecomefact.Youwillknowwhenyouhavesucceededinfixingthedesired</p><p>state in consciousness by simply lookingmentally at the people you know. In</p><p>dialogueswith yourself you are less inhibited andmore sincere than in actual</p><p>conversationswithothers,thereforetheopportunityforself-analysisariseswhen</p><p>youaresurprisedbyyourmentalconversationswithothers.Ifyouseethemas</p><p>you formerly saw them, you have not changed your concept of self, for all</p><p>changesofconceptsofselfresultinachangedrelationshiptoyourworld.</p><p>Inyourmeditationallowotherstoseeyouastheywouldseeyouwerethis</p><p>newconceptofselfaconcretefact.Youalwaysseemtoothersanembodiment</p><p>oftheidealyouinspire.Therefore,inmeditation,whenyoucontemplateothers,</p><p>youmustbe seenby themmentally asyouwouldbe seenby themphysically</p><p>wereyour conceptof self anobjective fact; that is, inmeditationyou imagine</p><p>thattheyseeyouexpressingthatwhichyoudesiretobe.</p><p>Ifyouassumethatyouarewhatyouwanttobeyourdesireisfulfilled,and</p><p>infulfillmentalllongingisneutralized.Youcannotcontinuedesiringwhatyou</p><p>have already realized. Your desire is not something you labor to fulfill, it is</p><p>recognizingsomethingyoualreadypossess. It isassumingthefeelingofbeing</p><p>thatwhichyoudesiretobe.Believingandbeingareone.Theconceiverandhis</p><p>conceptionareone,thereforethatwhichyouconceiveyourselftobecannever</p><p>besofaroffaseventobenear,fornearness impliesseparation.“If thoucanst</p><p>believe,allthingsarepossibletohimthatbelieveth.”Beingisthesubstanceof</p><p>thingshopedfor,theevidenceofthingsnotyetseen.Ifyouassumethatyouare</p><p>what you want to be, then you will see others as they are related to your</p><p>assumption.</p><p>If,however,itisthegoodofothersthatyoudesire,then,inmeditation,you</p><p>mustrepresentthemtoyourself</p><p>asalreadybeingthatwhichyoudesirethemto</p><p>be.Itisthroughdesirethatyouriseaboveyourpresentsphereandtheroadfrom</p><p>longing to fulfillment is shortened as you experience in imaginationwhat you</p><p>wouldexperienceinthefleshwereyoualreadytheembodimentoftheidealyou</p><p>desiretobe.</p><p>Ihave stated thatmanhasat everymomentof time thechoicebeforehim</p><p>whichofseveralfutureshewillencounter;butthequestionarises:“Howisthis</p><p>possiblewhen the experiences ofman, awake in the three-dimensionalworld,</p><p>arepredetermined?”ashisobservationofaneventbeforeitoccursimplies.This</p><p>ability to change the futurewill be seen ifwe liken the experiencesof lifeon</p><p>earth to this printed page. Man experiences events on earth singly and</p><p>successively in the sameway thatyouarenowexperiencing thewordsof this</p><p>page.</p><p>Imaginethateverywordonthispagerepresentsasinglesensoryimpression.</p><p>Togetthecontext,tounderstandmymeaning,youfocusyourvisiononthefirst</p><p>word in the upper left-hand corner and thenmove your focus across the page</p><p>fromlefttoright,lettingitfallonthewordssinglyandsuccessively.Bythetime</p><p>your eyes reach the last word on this page you have extracted my meaning.</p><p>Suppose, however, on looking at the page,with all the printedwords thereon</p><p>equallypresent,youdecidedtorearrangethem.Youcould,byrearrangingthem,</p><p>tellanentirelydifferentstory;infact,youcouldtellmanydifferentstories.</p><p>Adreamisnothingmorethanuncontrolledfour-dimensionalthinking,orthe</p><p>rearrangementofbothpastandfuturesensoryimpressions.Manseldomdreams</p><p>of events in the order inwhich he experiences themwhen awake.He usually</p><p>dreamsof twoormoreeventswhichare separated in time, fused intoa single</p><p>sensory impression; or, in his dream, he so completely rearranges his single</p><p>wakingsensoryimpressionsthathedoesnotrecognizethemwhenheencounters</p><p>theminhiswakingstate.</p><p>For example: I dreamed that I delivered a package to the restaurant inmy</p><p>apartment building. The hostess said to me, “You can’t leave that there”;</p><p>whereupon,theelevatoroperatorgavemeafewlettersandasIthankedhimfor</p><p>them,he,inturn,thankedme.Atthispoint,thenightelevatoroperatorappeared</p><p>andwavedagreetingtome.</p><p>The followingday,as I leftmyapartment, Ipickedupa few letterswhich</p><p>hadbeenplacedatmydoor.OnmywaydownIgavethedayelevatoroperatora</p><p>tipandthankedhimfortakingcareofmymail;whereupon,hethankedmefor</p><p>the tip.Onmy return home that day I overheard a doorman say to a delivery</p><p>man,“Youcan’tleavethatthere.”AsIwasabouttotaketheelevatoruptomy</p><p>apartment,Iwasattractedbyafamiliarfaceintherestaurant,and,asIlookedin,</p><p>thehostessgreetedmewithasmile.LatethatnightIescortedmydinnerguests</p><p>to the elevator andas I saidgood-by to them, thenightoperatorwavedgood-</p><p>nighttome.</p><p>BysimplyrearrangingafewofthesinglesensoryimpressionsIwasdestined</p><p>toencounter,andbyfusingtwoormoreofthemintosinglesensoryimpressions,</p><p>Iconstructedadreamwhichdifferedquiteabitfrommywakingexperience.</p><p>Whenwehavelearnedtocontrolthemovementsofourattentioninthefour-</p><p>dimensionalworld,we shall be able to consciously create circumstance in the</p><p>three-dimensionalworld.Welearnthiscontrolthroughthewakingdream,where</p><p>our attention can be maintained without effort, for attention minus effort is</p><p>indispensable to changing the future.We can, in a controlled waking dream,</p><p>consciously construct an event which we desire to experience in the three-</p><p>dimensionalworld.</p><p>Thesensory impressionsweuse toconstructourwakingdreamarepresent</p><p>realities displaced in time or the four-dimensional world. All that we do in</p><p>constructing the waking dream is to select from the vast array of sensory</p><p>impressionsthose,which,whentheyareproperlyarranged,implythatwehave</p><p>realized our desire. With the dream clearly defined we relax in a chair and</p><p>induceastateofconsciousnessakintosleep—astate,which,althoughbordering</p><p>onsleep,leavesusinconsciouscontrolofthemovementsofourattention.When</p><p>we have achieved that state, we experience in imagination what we would</p><p>experienceinrealitywerethiswakingdreamanobjectivefact.Inapplyingthis</p><p>techniquetochangethefutureitisimportantalwaystorememberthattheonly</p><p>thingwhichoccupies themindduring thewakingdream is thewakingdream,</p><p>the predetermined actionwhich implies the fulfillment of our desire.How the</p><p>wakingdreambecomesphysicalfact isnotourconcern.Ouracceptanceofthe</p><p>wakingdreamasphysicalrealitywillsthemeansforitsfulfillment.</p><p>Let me again lay the foundation of changing the future, which is nothing</p><p>morethanacontrolledwakingdream.</p><p>1.  Defineyourobjective—knowdefinitelywhatyouwant.</p><p>2.  Constructaneventwhichyoubelieveyouwillencounterfollowingthe</p><p>fulfillmentofyourdesire—somethingwhichwillhavetheactionofself</p><p>predominant—aneventwhichimpliesthefulfillmentofyourdesire.</p><p>3.  Immobilizethephysicalbodyandinduceastateofconsciousnessakinto</p><p>sleep;then,mentallyfeelyourselfrightintotheproposedaction—</p><p>imaginingallthewhilethatyouareactuallyperformingtheactionhere</p><p>andnowsothatyouexperienceinimaginationwhatyouwould</p><p>experienceinthefleshwereyounowtorealizeyourgoal.</p><p>Experiencehasconvincedmethatthisistheperfectwaytoachievemygoal.</p><p>However,myownmanyfailureswouldconvictmewereItoimplythatIhave</p><p>completelymastered themovements ofmyattention. I can, however,with the</p><p>ancient teacher say: “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are</p><p>behind,andreachingforthuntothosethingswhicharebefore,Ipresstowardthe</p><p>markfortheprize.”</p><p>3.POWEROFIMAGINATION</p><p>Yeshallknowthetruth,andthetruthshallmakeyoufree.</p><p>—JOHN8:32</p><p>Menclaimthatatruejudgmentmustconformtotheexternalrealitytowhichit</p><p>relates.ThismeansthatifI,whileimprisoned,suggesttomyselfthatIamfree</p><p>andsucceedinbelievingthatIamfree, it is truethatIbelieveinmyfreedom;</p><p>but it does not follow that I am free for Imay be the victim of illusion.But,</p><p>because of my own experiences, I have come to believe in so many strange</p><p>things that I see little reason to doubt the truth of things that are beyondmy</p><p>experience.</p><p>Theancientteacherswarnedusnottojudgefromappearancesbecause,said</p><p>they,thetruthneednotconformtotheexternalrealitytowhichitrelates.They</p><p>claimedthatweborefalsewitnessifweimaginedevilagainstanother—thatno</p><p>matterhowrealourbeliefappearstobe—howtrulyitconformstotheexternal</p><p>realitytowhichitrelates—ifitdoesnotmakefreetheoneofwhomweholdthe</p><p>belief,itisuntrueandthereforeafalsejudgment.</p><p>Wearecalledupontodenytheevidenceofoursensesandtoimagineastrue</p><p>ofourneighbor thatwhichmakeshim free. “Ye shall know the truth, and the</p><p>truthshallmakeyoufree.”Toknowthetruthofourneighborwemustassume</p><p>thathe isalready thatwhichhedesires tobe.Anyconceptweholdofanother</p><p>thatisshortofhisfulfilleddesirewillnotmakehimfreeandthereforecannotbe</p><p>thetruth.</p><p>Insteadoflearningmycraftinschoolswhereattendingcoursesandseminars</p><p>is considered a substitute for self-acquired knowledge, my schooling was</p><p>devoted almost exclusively to the power of imagination. I sat for hours</p><p>imaginingmyselftobeotherthanthatwhichmyreasonandmysensesdictated</p><p>untiltheimaginedstateswerevivid</p><p>asreality—sovividthatpassers-bybecame</p><p>butapartofmyimaginationandactedasIwouldhavethem.Bythepowerof</p><p>imaginationmy fantasy led theirs and dictated to them their behavior and the</p><p>discourse they held together while I was identified with my imagined state.</p><p>Man’simaginationisthemanhimself,andtheworldasimaginationseesitisthe</p><p>realworld, but it is our duty to imagine all that is lovely and of good report.</p><p>“The Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh upon the outward</p><p>appearance, but the Lord looketh upon the heart.” “As a man thinketh in his</p><p>heartsoishe.”</p><p>In meditation, when the brain grows luminous, I find my imagination</p><p>endowedwiththemagneticpowertoattracttomewhatsoeverIdesire.Desireis</p><p>thepowerimaginationusestofashionlifeaboutmeasIfashionitwithinmyself.</p><p>Ifirstdesire toseeacertainpersonorscene,andthenI lookasthoughIwere</p><p>seeingthatwhichIwanttosee,andtheimaginedstatebecomesobjectivelyreal.</p><p>I desire to hear, and then I listen as though Iwere hearing, and the imagined</p><p>voicespeaksthatwhichIdictateasthoughithadinitiatedthemessage.Icould</p><p>giveyoumanyexamples toprovemyarguments, toprove that these imagined</p><p>statesdobecomephysicalrealities;butIknowthatmyexampleswillawakenin</p><p>allwhohavenotmetthelikeorwhoarenotinclinedtowardsmyarguments,a</p><p>mostnaturalincredulity.Nevertheless,experiencehasconvincedmeofthetruth</p><p>ofthestatement,“Hecalleththosethingswhichbenotasthoughtheywere.”—</p><p>Romans4:17.ForIhave,inintensemeditation,calledthingsthatwerenotseen</p><p>as though they were, and the unseen not only became seen, but eventually</p><p>becamephysicalrealities.</p><p>Bythismethod—firstdesiringandthenimaginingthatweareexperiencing</p><p>thatwhichwe desire to experience—we canmold the future in harmonywith</p><p>ourdesire.Butletusfollowtheadviceoftheprophetandthinkonlythelovely</p><p>and the good, for the imagination waits on us as indifferently and as swiftly</p><p>whenournatureisevilaswhenitisgood.Fromusspringforthgoodandevil.“I</p><p>havesetbeforetheethisdaylifeandgood,anddeathandevil.”—Deuteronomy</p><p>30:15.</p><p>Desireand imaginationare theenchanter’swandof fableand theydrawto</p><p>themselvestheirownaffinities.Theybreakforthbestwhenthemindisinastate</p><p>akintosleep.IhavewrittenwithsomecareanddetailthemethodIusetoenter</p><p>thedimensionally largerworld, but I shall giveonemore formula foropening</p><p>thedoorof the largerworld. “In adream, in avisionof thenight,whendeep</p><p>sleepfallethuponmen,inslumberingsuponthebed;thenheopeneththeearsof</p><p>men,andsealeththeirinstruction.”—Job33:15,16.</p><p>Indreamweareusuallytheservantofourvisionratherthanitsmaster,but</p><p>theinternalfantasyofdreamcanbeturnedintoanexternalreality.Indream,as</p><p>inmeditation,weslipfromthisworld intoadimensionally largerworld,andI</p><p>knowthattheformsindreamarenotflattwo-dimensionalimageswhichmodern</p><p>psychologists believe them to be. They are substantial realities of the</p><p>dimensionallylargerworld,andIcanlayholdofthem.Ihavediscoveredthat,if</p><p>Isurprisemyselfdreaming,Icanlayholdofanyinanimateorstationaryformof</p><p>the dream—a chair—a table—a stairway—a tree—and command myself to</p><p>awake.Atthecommandtoawake,whilefirmlyholdingontotheobjectofthe</p><p>dream,Iampulledthroughmyselfwiththedistinctfeelingofawakeningfrom</p><p>dream.Iawakeninanothersphereholdingtheobjectofmydream,tofindthatI</p><p>amno longer theservantofmyvisionbut itsmaster, for Iamfullyconscious</p><p>and in control of themovements ofmy attention. It is in this fully conscious</p><p>state,whenweareincontrolofthedirectionofthought,thatwecallthingsthat</p><p>are not seen as though theywere. In this statewe call things bywishing and</p><p>assumingthefeelingofourwishfulfilled.Unliketheworldofthreedimensions</p><p>where there is an interval between our assumption and its fulfillment, in the</p><p>dimensionallylargerworldthereisanimmediaterealizationofourassumption.</p><p>Theexternal reality instantlymirrorsour assumption.Here there isnoneed to</p><p>wait four months till harvest. We look again as though we saw, and lo and</p><p>behold,thefieldsarealreadywhitetoharvest.</p><p>Inthisdimensionallylargerworld“Yeshallnotneedtofight:setyourselves,</p><p>standyestill,andseethesalvationoftheLordwithyou.”—2Chronicles20:17.</p><p>Andbecausethatgreaterworldisslowlypassingthroughourthree-dimensional</p><p>world,wecanbythepowerofimaginationmoldourworldinharmonywithour</p><p>desire.Lookas thoughyousaw; listenas thoughyouheard;stretchforthyour</p><p>imaginaryhandasthoughyoutouched…andyourassumptionswillhardeninto</p><p>facts.</p><p>To those who believe that a true judgment must conform to the external</p><p>realitytowhichitrelates, thiswillbefoolishnessandastumbling-block.ButI</p><p>preach and practice the fixing in consciousness of that which man desires to</p><p>realize. Experience convinces me that fixed attitudes of mind which do not</p><p>conform to the external reality to which they relate and are therefore called</p><p>imaginary—“thingswhicharenot”—will,nevertheless,“bringtonoughtthings</p><p>thatare.”</p><p>Idonotwishtowriteabookofwonders,butrathertoturnman’smindback</p><p>totheoneandonlyrealitythattheancientteachersworshipedasGod.Allthat</p><p>was said of God was in reality said of man’s consciousness so we may say,</p><p>“That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in his own</p><p>consciousness.”</p><p>No man needs help to direct him in the application of this law of</p><p>consciousness. “I am” is the self-definition of the absolute. The root out of</p><p>whicheverythinggrows.“Iamthevine.”</p><p>What is your answer to the eternal question, “Who am I?” Your answer</p><p>determines thepartyouplay in theworld’sdrama.Youranswer—that is,your</p><p>conceptofself—neednotconformtotheexternalrealitytowhichitrelates.This</p><p>great truthisrevealedin thestatement,“Let theweaksay,Iamstrong.”—Joel</p><p>3:10.</p><p>Lookback over the good resolutionswithwhichmanypast newyears are</p><p>encumbered.They lived a littlewhile and then theydied.Why?Because they</p><p>were severed from their root.Assume thatyouare thatwhichyouwant tobe.</p><p>Experience in imagination what you would experience in the flesh were you</p><p>alreadythatwhichyouwanttobe.Remainfaithfultoyourassumption,sothat</p><p>youdefineyourselfasthatwhichyouhaveassumed.Thingshavenolifeifthey</p><p>areseveredfromtheirroots,andourconsciousness,our“Iamness,”istheroot</p><p>ofallthatspringsinourworld.</p><p>“IfyebelievenotthatIamhe,yeshalldieinyoursins.”—John8:24.That</p><p>is,ifIdonotbelievethatIamalreadythatwhichIdesiretobe,thenIremainas</p><p>I amanddie inmypresent concept of self.There is nopower, outsideof the</p><p>consciousness of man, to resurrect andmake alive that whichman desires to</p><p>experience.Thatmanwhoisaccustomedtocallupatwillwhateverimageshe</p><p>pleases,willbe,byvirtueofthepowerofhisimagination,masterofhisfate.“I</p><p>amtheresurrection,andthelife:hethatbelievethinme,thoughheweredead,</p><p>yet shall he live.”—John 11:25. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall</p><p>makeyoufree.”</p><p>4.NOONETOCHANGEBUTSELF</p><p>AndfortheirsakesIsanctifymyself,thattheyalsomightbesanctifiedthroughthetruth.</p><p>—JOHN17:19</p><p>Theidealweserveandstrive toattaincouldneverbeevolvedfromuswere it</p><p>notpotentiallyinvolvedinournature.</p><p>It is now my purpose to retell and to emphasize an experience of mine</p><p>printedbymetwoyearsago.Ibelievethesequotationsfrom“THESEARCH”</p><p>willhelpustounderstandtheoperationofthelawofconsciousness,andshow</p><p>usthatwehavenoonetochangebutself.</p><p>“Once in an idle interval at sea, I meditated on ‘the perfect state,’ and</p><p>wonderedwhatIwouldbe,wereIoftoopureeyestobeholdiniquity,iftome</p><p>allthingswerepureandwereIwithoutcondemnation.AsIbecamelostinthis</p><p>fierybrooding,Ifoundmyselfliftedabovethedarkenvironmentofthesenses.</p><p>SointensewasthefeelingIfeltmyselfabeingoffiredwellinginabodyofair.</p><p>Voices as from a heavenly chorus,with the exaltation of thosewho had been</p><p>conquerorsinaconflictwithdeath,weresinging‘Heisrisen—Heisrisen,’and</p><p>intuitivelyIknewtheymeantme.</p><p>“Then I seemed tobewalking in thenight. I sooncameupona scene that</p><p>might have been the ancient Pool of Bethesda, for in this place lay a great</p><p>multitudeofimpotentfolk—blind,halt,withered—waitingnotforthemovingof</p><p>thewaterasoftradition,butwaitingforme.AsIcamenear,withoutthoughtor</p><p>effortonmypart theywere,oneafter theother,moldedasbytheMagicianof</p><p>theBeautiful.Eyes,hands,feet—allmissingmembers—weredrawnfromsome</p><p>invisible reservoir and molded in harmony with that perfection which I felt</p><p>springing within me. When all were made perfect, the chorus exulted ‘It is</p><p>finished.’ThenthescenedissolvedandIawoke.</p><p>“Iknowthisvisionwastheresultofmyintensemeditationupontheideaof</p><p>perfection, for my meditations invariably bring about union with the state</p><p>contemplated.Ihadbeensocompletelyabsorbedwithintheideathatforawhile</p><p>Ihadbecomewhat Icontemplated,and thehighpurposewithwhichIhadfor</p><p>that moment identified myself drew the companionship of high things and</p><p>fashionedthevisioninharmonywithmyinnernature.Theidealwithwhichwe</p><p>areunitedworksbyassociationofideastoawakenathousandmoodstocreatea</p><p>dramainkeepingwiththecentralidea.</p><p>“Mymysticalexperienceshaveconvincedmethat there isnowaytobring</p><p>abouttheouterperfectionweseekotherthanbythetransformationofourselves.</p><p>Assoonaswesucceedintransformingourselves,theworldwillmeltmagically</p><p>beforeoureyesandreshapeitselfinharmonywiththatwhichourtransformation</p><p>affirms.</p><p>“In the divine economy nothing is lost.We cannot lose anything save by</p><p>descent from the sphere where the thing has its natural life. There is no</p><p>transformingpower indeathand,whetherwearehereor there,wefashionthe</p><p>worldthatsurroundsusbytheintensityofourimaginationandfeeling,andwe</p><p>illuminateordarkenourlivesbytheconceptsweholdofourselves.Nothingis</p><p>moreimportanttousthanourconceptionofourselves,andespeciallyisthistrue</p><p>ofourconceptofthedimensionallygreaterOnewithinus.</p><p>“Thosethathelporhinderus,whethertheyknowitornot,aretheservants</p><p>of that law which shapes outward circumstances in harmony with our inner</p><p>nature.It isourconceptionofourselveswhichfreesorconstrainsus, thoughit</p><p>mayusematerialagenciestoachieveitspurpose.</p><p>“Becauselifemoldstheouterworldtoreflect theinnerarrangementofour</p><p>minds,thereisnowayofbringingabouttheouterperfectionweseekotherthan</p><p>by the transformation of ourselves.No help cometh fromwithout; the hills to</p><p>which we lift our eyes are those of an inner range. It is thus to our own</p><p>consciousness thatwemust turn as to theonly reality, theonly foundationon</p><p>whichallphenomenacanbeexplained.Wecanrelyabsolutelyonthejusticeof</p><p>thislawtogiveusonlythatwhichisofthenatureofourselves.</p><p>“Toattempttochangetheworldbeforewechangeourconceptofourselves</p><p>is to struggle against the nature of things.There can be no outer change until</p><p>there is first an inner change. As within, so without. I am not advocating</p><p>philosophical indifferencewhen I suggest thatwe should imagineourselvesas</p><p>already thatwhichwewant tobe, living in amental atmosphereof greatness,</p><p>rather than using physical means and arguments to bring about the desired</p><p>change.Everythingwedo,unaccompaniedbyachangeofconsciousness,isbut</p><p>futilereadjustmentofsurfaces.Howeverwetoilorstruggle,wecanreceiveno</p><p>more than our subconscious assumptions affirm. To protest against anything</p><p>whichhappenstousistoprotestagainstthelawofourbeingandourrulership</p><p>overourowndestiny.</p><p>“The circumstances ofmy life are too closely related tomy conception of</p><p>myself not to have been launched by my own spirit from some magical</p><p>storehouseofmybeing.Ifthereispaintomeinthesehappenings,Ishouldlook</p><p>withinmyselfforthecause,forIammovedhereandthereandmadetoliveina</p><p>worldinharmonywithmyconceptofmyself.</p><p>“Intensemeditation brings about a unionwith the state contemplated, and</p><p>duringthisunionweseevisions,haveexperiences,andbehaveinkeepingwith</p><p>our change of consciousness. This shows us that a transformation of</p><p>consciousnesswillresultinachangeofenvironmentandbehavior.</p><p>“Allwarsprove thatviolent emotionsareextremelypotent inprecipitating</p><p>mental rearrangements. Every great conflict has been followed by an era of</p><p>materialismandgreedinwhichtheidealsforwhichtheconflictostensiblywas</p><p>wagedaresubmerged.Thisisinevitablebecausewarevokeshate,whichimpels</p><p>a descent in consciousness from the plane of the ideal to the level where the</p><p>conflictiswaged.Ifwewouldbecomeasemotionallyarousedoverouridealsas</p><p>we become over our dislikes, we would ascend to the plane of our ideals as</p><p>easilyaswenowdescendtothelevelofourhates.</p><p>“Love and hate have amagical transforming power, andwe grow through</p><p>their exercise into the likenessofwhatwecontemplate.By intensityofhatred</p><p>wecreateinourselvesthecharacterweimagineinourenemies.Qualitiesdiefor</p><p>wantofattention,sotheunlovelystatesmightbestberubbedoutbyimagining</p><p>‘beautyforashesandjoyformourning’ratherthanbydirectattacksonthestate</p><p>fromwhichwewouldbefree.‘Whatsoeverthingsarelovelyandofgoodreport,</p><p>thinkonthesethings,’forwebecomethatwithwhichweareenrapport.</p><p>“There is nothing to change but our concept of self.… As soon as we</p><p>succeed in transforming self, our world will dissolve and reshape itself in</p><p>harmonywiththatwhichourchangeaffirms.”</p><p>VI</p><p>“THEPRUNINGSHEARSOF</p><p>REVISION”</p><p>chapterfromAwakenedImagination</p><p>(1954)</p><p>Neville once said that if he were remembered for any of his individual concepts, he thought it</p><p>wouldbe“thepruningshearsof revision.”This ishismystical formula for revisingpastevents</p><p>thatyouregretandreplacingthemwithadesiredoutcome.“Don’tblame;onlyresolve,”Neville</p><p>wrote.Thisisthefourthchapterofhis1954bookAwakenedImagination.</p><p>—MH</p><p>“ThesecondmanistheLordfromheaven.”</p><p>—ICORINTHIANS15:47</p><p>“Neverwillhesaycaterpillars.He’llsay,‘There’salotofbutterflies-as-is-to-beonourcabbages,</p><p>Prue.’Hewon’tsay‘It’swinter.’He’llsay,‘Summer’ssleeping.’Andthere’snobudlittleenough</p><p>norsad-colouredenoughforKesternottocallenitthebeginningsoftheblow.”</p><p>—MARYWEBB(PRECIOUSBANE)</p><p>Theveryfirstactofcorrectionorcureisalways“revise.”Onemuststartwithoneself.Itisone’s</p><p>attitudethatmustbechanged.</p><p>“Whatweare,thatonlycanwesee.”</p><p>—EMERSON</p><p>Itisamosthealthyandproductiveexercisetodailyrelivethedayasyouwish</p><p>youhadlived</p><p>it, revisingthescenes tomakethemconformtoyour ideals.For</p><p>instance, suppose today’s mail brought disappointing news. Revise the letter.</p><p>Mentallyrewriteitandmakeitconformtothenewsyouwishyouhadreceived.</p><p>Then, in imagination, read the revised letter over and over again. This is the</p><p>essenceofrevisionandrevisionresultsinrepeal.</p><p>Theonerequisite is toarouseyourattentioninawayandtosuchintensity</p><p>thatyoubecomewhollyabsorbedintherevisedaction.Youwillexperiencean</p><p>expansion and refinement of the senses by this imaginative exercise and</p><p>eventuallyachievevision.Butalwaysrememberthattheultimatepurposeofthis</p><p>exerciseistocreateinyou“theSpiritofJesus”whichiscontinualforgivenessof</p><p>sin.</p><p>Revision is of greatest importance when the motive is to change oneself,</p><p>whenthereisasinceredesiretobesomethingdifferent,whenthelongingisto</p><p>awakentheidealactivespiritofforgiveness.Withoutimaginationmanremainsa</p><p>beingofsin.Maneithergoesforwardto imaginationorremainsimprisonedin</p><p>hissenses.Togoforwardtoimaginationistoforgive.Forgivenessisthelifeof</p><p>theimagination.Theartoflivingistheartofforgiving.Forgivenessis,infact,</p><p>experiencing in imagination the revised version of the day, experiencing in</p><p>imaginationwhat youwish you had experienced in the flesh. Every time one</p><p>really forgives; that is,every timeonerelives theeventas it shouldhavebeen</p><p>lived,oneisbornagain.</p><p>“Father forgive them” is not the plea that comes once a year but the</p><p>opportunity that comes every day.The idea of forgiving is a daily possibility,</p><p>and,ifitissincerelydone,itwillliftmantohigherandhigherlevelsofbeing.</p><p>Hewill experience adailyEaster andEaster is the ideaof rising transformed.</p><p>Andthatshouldbealmostacontinuousprocess.</p><p>Freedomand forgivenessare indissolubly linked.Not to forgive is tobeat</p><p>warwithourselvesforwearefreedaccordingtoourcapacitytoforgive.</p><p>Forgive,andyoushallbeforgiven.</p><p>—LUKE6:37</p><p>Forgive, not merely from a sense of duty or service, forgive because you</p><p>wantto.</p><p>Thywaysarewaysofpleasantnessandallthypathsarepeace.</p><p>—PROVERBS3:17</p><p>Youmusttakepleasureinrevision.Youcanforgiveotherseffectivelyonly</p><p>whenyouhave a sincere desire to identify themwith their ideal.Dutyhas no</p><p>momentum.Forgiveness isamatterofdeliberatelywithdrawingattentionfrom</p><p>theunreviseddayandgivingitfullstrengthandjoyouslytotherevisedday.Ifa</p><p>manbeginstoreviseevenalittleofthevexationsandtroublesoftheday,then</p><p>hebeginstoworkpracticallyonhimself.Everyrevisionisavictoryoverhimself</p><p>andthereforeavictoryoverhisenemy.</p><p>Aman’sfoesarethoseofhisownhousehold.</p><p>—MATTHEW10:36</p><p>Andhishouseholdishisstateofmind.Hechangeshisfutureashereviseshis</p><p>day.</p><p>Whenmanpracticestheartofforgiveness,ofrevision,howeverfactualthe</p><p>sceneonwhichsightthenrests,herevisesitwithhisimaginationandgazeson</p><p>one never before witnessed. The magnitude of the change which any act of</p><p>revisioninvolvesmakessuchchangeappearwhollyimprobabletotherealist—</p><p>theunimaginativeman;but the radical changes in the fortunesof theProdigal</p><p>wereallproducedbya“changeofheart.”</p><p>The battleman fights is fought out in his own imagination. Themanwho</p><p>doesnotrevisethedayhaslostthevisionofthatlife,intothelikenessofwhich,</p><p>itisthetruelabourofthe“SpiritofJesus”totransformthislife.</p><p>Allthingswhatsoeveryewouldthatmenshoulddotoyou,evensodo</p><p>yetothem:forthisisthelaw.</p><p>—MATTHEW7:12</p><p>Here is thewayanartist friendforgaveherselfandwasset freefrompain,</p><p>annoyance and unfriendliness. Knowing that nothing but forgetfulness and</p><p>forgivenesswill bringus tonewvalues, she cast herself uponher imagination</p><p>andescapedfromtheprisonofhersenses.Shewrites:</p><p>“ThursdayItaughtalldayintheartschool.Onlyonesmallthingmarredthe</p><p>day.ComingintomyafternoonclassroomIdiscoveredthejanitorhadleftallthe</p><p>chairs on top of the desks after cleaning the floor.As I lifted a chair down it</p><p>slippedfrommygraspandstruckmeasharpblowontheinstepofmyrightfoot.</p><p>IimmediatelyexaminedmythoughtsandfoundthatIhadcriticizedthemanfor</p><p>notdoinghisjobproperly.SincehehadlosthishelperIrealizedheprobablyfelt</p><p>hehaddonemorethanenoughanditwasanunwantedgiftthathadbouncedand</p><p>hitmeonthefoot.LookingdownatmyfootIsawbothmyskinandnylonswere</p><p>intactsoIforgotthewholething.</p><p>“That night, after I had beenworking intensely for about three hours on a</p><p>drawing, I decided tomakemyself a cupof coffee.Tomyutter amazement I</p><p>couldn’tmanagemyrightfootatallanditwasgivingoutgreatbumpsofpain.I</p><p>hoppedovertoachairandtookoffmyslippertolookatit.Theentirefootwasa</p><p>strangepurplishpink,swollenoutofshapeandredhot.Itriedwalkingonitand</p><p>foundthatitjustflapped.Ihadnocontroloveritwhatsoever.Itlookedlikeone</p><p>of two things: either I had cracked a bonewhen I dropped the chair on it or</p><p>somethingcouldbedislocated.</p><p>“‘Nousespeculatingwhatitis.Bettergetridofitrightaway.’SoIbecame</p><p>quiet, all ready to melt myself into light. To my complete bewilderment my</p><p>imagination refused to cooperate. It just said ‘No.’ This sort of thing often</p><p>happenswhenIampainting.Ijuststartedtoargue‘Whynot?’Itjustkeptsaying</p><p>‘No.’FinallyIgaveupandsaid‘YouknowIaminpain.Iamtryinghardnotto</p><p>befrightened,butyouaretheboss.Whatdoyouwanttodo?’Theanswer:‘Go</p><p>tobedandreviewtheday’sevents.’SoIsaid‘Allright.Butletmetellyouifmy</p><p>footisn’tperfectbytomorrowmorningyouhaveonlyyourselftoblame.’</p><p>“After arranging the bed clothes so they didn’t touchmy foot I started to</p><p>reviewtheday.ItwasslowgoingasIhaddifficultykeepingmyattentionaway</p><p>frommy foot. Iwent through thewhole day, saw nothing to add to the chair</p><p>incident.Butwhen I reached theearly evening I foundmyself coming face to</p><p>facewithamanwhoforthepastyearhasmadeapointofnotspeaking.Thefirst</p><p>timethishappenedIthoughthehadgrowndeaf.Ihadknownhimsinceschool</p><p>days,butwehadneverdonemorethansay‘hello’andcommentontheweather.</p><p>Mutual friendsassuredmeIhaddonenothing, thathehadsaidhenever liked</p><p>me and finally decided it was not worthwhile speaking. I had said ‘Hi!’ He</p><p>hadn’tanswered.IfoundthatIthought‘Poorguy—whatahorridstatetobein.I</p><p>shalldosomethingaboutthisridiculousstateofaffairs.’So,inmyimagination,I</p><p>stopped right there and re-did the scene. I said ‘Hi!’ He answered ‘Hi!’ and</p><p>smiled.Inowthought‘GoodoldEd.’Iranthesceneoveracoupleoftimesand</p><p>wentontothenextincidentandfinisheduptheday.</p><p>“‘Nowwhat—dowe domy foot or the concert?’ I had beenmelting and</p><p>wrappingupawonderfulpresentofcourageandsuccessforafriendwhowasto</p><p>makeherdebutthefollowingdayandIhadbeenlookingforwardtogivingitto</p><p>hertonight.Myimaginationsoundedalittlebitsolemnasitsaid‘Letusdothe</p><p>concert.Itwillbemorefun.’‘Butfirstcouldn’twejusttakemyperfectlygood</p><p>imagination foot out of this physical one before we start?’ I pleaded. ‘By all</p><p>means.’</p><p>“That done, I had a lovely time at the concert and my friend got a</p><p>tremendousovation.</p><p>“BynowIwasvery,verysleepyandfellasleepdoingmyproject.Thenext</p><p>morning,asIwasputtingonmyslipper,Isuddenlyhadaquickmemorypicture</p><p>ofwithdrawingadiscoloredand</p><p>shortbookwasNeville’sfirstpublishedworkanditcontainsmostoftheideasthatdefinehis</p><p>theologyandmethods.Asapieceofwriting,AtYourCommandmarksNeville’scomingintohis</p><p>ownasaphilosopher.Hefirststartedteachinghisideastheyearbeforeitspublication.</p><p>–MH</p><p>LETTERFROMNEVILLE</p><p>ThisbookcontainstheveryessenceofthePrincipleofExpression.HadI</p><p>caredto,Icouldhaveexpandeditintoabookofseveralhundredpages</p><p>butsuchexpansionwouldhavedefeatedthepurposeofthisbook.</p><p>Commands,tobeeffective,mustbeshortandtothepoint:the</p><p>greatestcommandeverrecordedisfoundinthefewsimplewords,“And</p><p>Godsaid,‘Lettherebelight.’”</p><p>InkeepingwiththisprincipleInowgivetoyou,thereader,inthese</p><p>fewpages,thetruthasitwasrevealedtome.</p><p>—Neville</p><p>ATYOURCOMMAND</p><p>Canmandecreeathingandhaveitcometopass?Mostdecidedlyhecan!Man</p><p>hasalwaysdecreedthatwhichhasappearedinhisworldandistodaydecreeing</p><p>thatwhichisappearinginhisworldandshallcontinuetodosoaslongasmanis</p><p>conscious of beingman.Not one thing has ever appeared inman’sworld but</p><p>whatman decreed that it should.This youmay deny, but try as youwill you</p><p>cannotdisproveit,forthisdecreeingisbaseduponachangelessprinciple.You</p><p>donotcommandthingstoappearbyyourwordsorloudaffirmations.Suchvain</p><p>repetitionismoreoftenthannotconfirmationoftheopposite.Decreeingisever</p><p>done inconsciousness.That is;everyman isconsciousofbeing thatwhichhe</p><p>hasdecreedhimself tobe.Thedumbmanwithoutusingwordsisconsciousof</p><p>beingdumb.Thereforeheisdecreeinghimselftobedumb.</p><p>When the Bible is read in this light you will find it to be the greatest</p><p>scientificbookeverwritten.Insteadof lookingupontheBibleas thehistorical</p><p>recordofanancientcivilizationorthebiographyoftheunusuallifeofJesus,see</p><p>itasagreatpsychologicaldramatakingplaceintheconsciousnessofman.</p><p>Claimitasyourownandyouwillsuddenlytransformyourworldfromthe</p><p>barrendesertsofEgypttothepromisedlandofCanaan.</p><p>Everyonewillagreewith thestatement thatall thingsweremadebyGod,</p><p>andwithouthimthereisnothingmadethatismade,butwhatmandoesnotagree</p><p>upon is the identity of God. All the churches and priesthoods of the world</p><p>disagreeastotheidentityandtruenatureofGod.TheBibleprovesbeyondthe</p><p>shadowof a doubt thatMoses and the prophetswere in one hundredper cent</p><p>accordastotheidentityandnatureofGod.AndJesus’lifeandteachingsarein</p><p>agreementwiththefindingsoftheprophetsofold.MosesdiscoveredGodtobe</p><p>man’s awareness of being,when he declared these little understoodwords, “I</p><p>AMhathsentmeuntoyou.”Davidsanginhispsalms,“BestillandknowthatI</p><p>AMGod.”Isaiahdeclared,“IAMtheLordandthereisnoneelse.Thereisno</p><p>Godbesideme.Igirdedthee,thoughthouhastnotknownme.Iformthelight,</p><p>and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I the Lord do all these</p><p>things.”</p><p>The awareness of being as God is stated hundreds of times in the New</p><p>Testament.Tonamebutafew:“IAMtheshepherd,IAMthedoor;IAMthe</p><p>resurrectionandthelife;IAMtheway;IAMtheAlphaandOmega;IAMthe</p><p>beginningandtheend”;andagain,“WhomdoyousaythatIAM?”</p><p>It isnotstated,“I,Jesus,amthedoor.I,Jesus,amtheway,”nor is itsaid,</p><p>“WhomdoyousaythatI,Jesus,am?”Itisclearlystated,“IAMtheway.”The</p><p>awarenessofbeingisthedoorthroughwhichthemanifestationsoflifepassinto</p><p>theworldofform.</p><p>Consciousness is the resurrecting power—resurrecting that which man is</p><p>conscious of being. Man is ever out-picturing that which he is conscious of</p><p>being.Thisisthetruththatmakesmanfree,formanisalwaysself-imprisoned</p><p>orself-freed.</p><p>Ifyou,thereader,willgiveupallofyourformerbeliefsinaGodapartfrom</p><p>yourself,andclaimGodasyourawarenessofbeing—asJesusandtheprophets</p><p>did—youwill transformyourworldwith the realization that, “Iandmy father</p><p>areone.”Thisstatement,“Iandmyfatherareone,butmyfatherisgreaterthan</p><p>I,” seems very confusing—but if interpreted in the light ofwhatwe have just</p><p>said concerning the identity of God, you will find it very revealing.</p><p>Consciousness, beingGod, is as “father.”The thing that you are conscious of</p><p>beingisthe“son”bearingwitnessofhis“father.”Itisliketheconceiverandits</p><p>conceptions.Theconceiverisevergreaterthanhisconceptionsyeteverremains</p><p>onewithhisconception.For instance;beforeyouareconsciousofbeingman,</p><p>youarefirstconsciousofbeing.Thenyoubecomeconsciousofbeingman.Yet</p><p>youremainasconceiver,greaterthanyourconception—man.</p><p>JesusdiscoveredthisglorioustruthanddeclaredhimselftobeonewithGod</p><p>—notaGod thatmanhadfashioned.Forhenever recognizedsuchaGod.He</p><p>said,“Ifanymanshouldevercome,saying,‘Lookhereor lookthere,’believe</p><p>them not, for the kingdom of God is within you.” Heaven is within you.</p><p>Therefore,when it is recorded that “Hewentuntohis father,” it is tellingyou</p><p>thatheroseinconsciousnesstothepointwherehewasjustconsciousofbeing,</p><p>thus transcending the limitations of his present conception of himself, called</p><p>“Jesus.”</p><p>Intheawarenessofbeingallthingsarepossible,hesaid,“Youshalldecreea</p><p>thinganditshallcometopass.”Thisishisdecreeing—risinginconsciousness</p><p>tothenaturalnessofbeingthethingdesired.Asheexpressedit,“AndI,ifIbe</p><p>liftedup,Ishalldrawallmenuntome.”IfIbeliftedupinconsciousnesstothe</p><p>naturalnessofthethingdesiredIwilldrawthemanifestationofthatdesireunto</p><p>me.Forhestates,“Nomancomesuntomesavethefatherwithinmedrawshim,</p><p>and I and my father are one.” Therefore, consciousness is the father that is</p><p>drawingthemanifestationsoflifeuntoyou.</p><p>Youare, at thisverymoment,drawing intoyourworld thatwhichyouare</p><p>nowconsciousofbeing.Nowyoucanseewhatismeantby,“Youmustbeborn</p><p>again.”Ifyouaredissatisfiedwithyourpresentexpressioninlifetheonlyway</p><p>tochangeit,istotakeyourattentionawayfromthatwhichseemssorealtoyou</p><p>andriseinconsciousnesstothatwhichyoudesiretobe.Youcannotservetwo</p><p>masters, therefore to take your attention from one state of consciousness and</p><p>placeituponanotheristodietooneandlivetotheother.</p><p>The question, “Whom do you say that I AM?” is not addressed to aman</p><p>called “Peter” by one called “Jesus.”This is the eternal question addressed to</p><p>one’sselfbyone’struebeing.Inotherwords,“Whomdoyousaythatyouare?”</p><p>Foryourconvictionofyourself—youropinionofyourselfwilldetermineyour</p><p>expressioninlife.Hestates,“YoubelieveinGod—believealsoinme.”Inother</p><p>words,itisthemewithinyouthatisthisGod.</p><p>Praying, then, is seen tobe recognizingyourself tobe thatwhichyounow</p><p>desire,ratherthanitsacceptingformofpetitioningaGodthatdoesnotexistfor</p><p>thatwhichyounowdesire.</p><p>Socan’tyouseewhythemillionsofprayersareunanswered?Menpraytoa</p><p>Godthatdoesnotexist.Forinstance:Tobeconsciousofbeingpoorandtopray</p><p>toaGodforrichesistoberewardedwiththatwhichyouareconsciousofbeing</p><p>—which is poverty. Prayers to be successful must be claiming rather than</p><p>begging—soifyouwouldprayforrichesturnfromyourpictureofpovertyby</p><p>denying the very evidence of your senses and assume the nature of being</p><p>wealthy.</p><p>Wearetold,“Whenyoupraygowithininsecretandshutthedoor.Andthat</p><p>whichyourfatherseesinsecret,withthatwillherewardyouopenly.”Wehave</p><p>identifiedthe“father”</p><p>swollenfootfromthesameslipper.Itookmy</p><p>footoutandlookedatit.Itwasperfectlynormalineveryrespect.Therewasa</p><p>tiny pink spot on the instep where I remembered I had hit it with the chair.</p><p>‘What a vivid dream that was!’ I thought and dressed.While waiting formy</p><p>coffee Iwanderedover tomydrafting tableand saw that allmybrusheswere</p><p>lying helter-skelter and unwashed. ‘Whatever possessed you to leave your</p><p>brushes like that?’ ‘Don’t you remember? It was because of your foot.’ So it</p><p>hadn’tbeenadreamafterallbutabeautifulhealing.”</p><p>Shehadwonbytheartofrevisionwhatshewouldneverhavewonbyforce.</p><p>InHeaventheonlyArtofLivingIsForgetting&ForgivingEspecially</p><p>totheFemale.</p><p>—BLAKE</p><p>Weshould takeour life,notas itappears tobe,butfromthevisionof this</p><p>artist,fromthevisionoftheworldmadeperfectthatisburiedunderallminds—</p><p>buriedandwaitingforustorevisetheday.</p><p>Weareledtobelievealiewhenweseewith,notthrough,theeye.</p><p>—BLAKE</p><p>A revision of the day, andwhat she held to be so stubbornly realwas no</p><p>longersotoherand,likeadream,hadquietlyfadedaway.</p><p>Youcanrevisethedaytopleaseyourselfandbyexperiencinginimagination</p><p>therevisedspeechandactionsnotonlymodify the trendofyour lifestorybut</p><p>turnallitsdiscordsintoharmonies.Theonewhodiscoversthesecretofrevision</p><p>cannotdootherwisethanlethimselfbeguidedbylove.Youreffectivenesswill</p><p>increase with practice. Revision is the way by which right can find its</p><p>appropriate might. “Resist not evil,” for all passionate conflicts result in an</p><p>interchangeofcharacteristics.</p><p>Tohimthatknowethtodogood,anddoethitnot,tohimitissin.</p><p>—JAMES4:17</p><p>To know the truth youmust live the truth and to live the truth your inner</p><p>actionsmustmatch the actions of your fulfilled desire.Expectancy and desire</p><p>mustbecomeone.Yourouterworldisonlyactualizedinnermovement.Through</p><p>ignorance of the law of revision those who take to warfare are perpetually</p><p>defeated.</p><p>Onlyconceptsthatidealizedepictthetruth.</p><p>Your ideal of man is his truest self. It is because I firmly believe that</p><p>whatever is most profoundly imaginative is, in reality, most directly practical</p><p>that I ask you to live imaginatively and to think into and to personally</p><p>appropriatethetranscendentsaying“Christinyou,thehopeofglory.”</p><p>Don’tblame;onlyresolve.Itisnotmanandtheearthattheirloveliest,but</p><p>youpracticingtheartofrevisionmakeparadise.Theevidenceofthistruthcan</p><p>lieonlyinyourownexperienceof it.Tryrevisingtheday.It is to thepruning</p><p>shearsofrevisionthatweoweourprimefruit.</p><p>VII</p><p>“ALLTHINGSAREPOSSIBLE”</p><p>transcriptoftelevisedtalk</p><p>(1955)</p><p>Nevillehostedhisown televisionshow(aswellasa radioprogram) inLosAngeles in themid-</p><p>1950s.Ata1971lecture,Nevillewasaskedabouthistelevisionprogramandresponded:</p><p>Ihadtwenty-six[episodes]inLAonChannel11.Therewerethirteen[episodes],andthenI</p><p>hadabreakforaboutthreemonths,andtheybroughtmebackforanotherthirteen.There</p><p>weretwenty-sixhalf-hourshows;IdidjustwhatIamdoingnow.Theygavemealectern,</p><p>andIsimplysatatadeskreallyandspokeextemporaneously.Therewasnocuetobringme</p><p>in.Whentheystartedthecamera,Iwasseatedatthedesk.Ididn’thavetowalkoffthe</p><p>stage;Ididn’thavetocomeonthestage.Therewasnodirector.Iwassimplyseatedatthe</p><p>desk,andthenthecamerasimplymovedinonme,andthenattheendofwhatIhadtosayit</p><p>justfadedandwenttotheonetofollowme.Ihadenormousmailonit.Itwasatremendous</p><p>successasfaraswhatIdo,buttheycouldn’tuseittosellperfume.IwastoldthatIhadan</p><p>audienceinexcessofaboutthreehundredthousandeverySundayafternoonbetween2:00</p><p>and2:30.ThatiswhatIwastoldbythesurvey…Inthosedaysitwasnotdoneontape;it</p><p>wasalldonelive.InthosedayseverythingwasliveforTV.Thetapescameinaftermydays</p><p>sothosethingsarejustamemorynow.</p><p>Unfortunately,notapedvisualsofhisshowremain.Whatfollowsisatranscript—possiblytheonly</p><p>one—ofarareaudiorecordingofoneoftheepisodes.Ihavetakenoccasionallibertieswiththe</p><p>textgiventhespottyqualityofthesurvivingaudio.</p><p>—MH</p><p>Listencarefullytothisstory.Itistakenfromthefirstchapter,thethirdverseof</p><p>thebookofJoshua.Hereitis:“Everyplacethatthesoleofyourfootshalltread</p><p>upon, thathaveIgivenuntoyou.”Doyoubelieve it?Well, Iknowit’s true. I</p><p>haveprovenit.Andthisstoryismeantnotfortheouteryou,it’smeantforthe</p><p>inneryou.Mostmenaren’tevenawarethatthereisaninneryou—arealyou.</p><p>IntheNewTestamentit’sputinthismanner:“Thenaturalmanreceivethnot</p><p>thethingsoftheSpiritofGod:fortheyarefoolishnessuntohim:neithercanhe</p><p>knowthem,fortheyarespirituallydiscerned.”Wearetoldthefirstman,thatis</p><p>theouterman,isoftheearth;theinnerman,thesecondman,istheLordfrom</p><p>heaven.Now thisbook fromwhich I’ve read thequote is thebookof Joshua.</p><p>The word Jesus is the Greek form of the word Joshua; they are identical in</p><p>meaning.Theymean literally the same.And all the promises of theBible are</p><p>addressedtothatinnerman,thatsecondman,thatistheLordfromheaven.Not</p><p>the outer man. The outer man is limited to the essence of his senses. He is</p><p>limitedtowhattheywillallow,towhattheydictate.Buttheinnermanhasno</p><p>limitations: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, the same</p><p>giveIuntothee.”</p><p>Nowletmeshowyouhowit’sdone.ForIwasconfrontedwithwhatseemed</p><p>at the time tobe an enormousproblem, an impassablebarrier betweenmyself</p><p>andmyobjective.Ihadn’tseenmyfamilyinBarbadosfortheentirewaryears.</p><p>So, thefirstshipoutofNewYorkCity tosail for theIndiesafter thewarwas</p><p>over,IsailedwithmylittlefamilytoBarbados.Wetookaboatthattookusto</p><p>Trinidad,andfromthereweflewtoBarbados.Onarrivalmybrotheraskedme</p><p>when I intended to return to America. For this was 30 January, and after</p><p>returninghomeaftersomanyyearsIwouldliketoremainuntilmaybetheend</p><p>ofAprilandreturnaroundthefirstofMay.</p><p>Thenhesaidtome,“Ofcourse,youarrangedforyourreturnwhileyouwere</p><p>inAmerica.”Isaid,“No,Ididn’t.”Hesaid,“Neville,howcouldyouhaveleft</p><p>America—thatisthecapitaloftheworld,everythinggoesonthere,especiallyin</p><p>NewYorkCity,andifanypassagecouldbearranged,certainly itshouldhave</p><p>beendone inNewYorkCity.Doyourealize that thereare literally thousands,</p><p>tens of thousands of people, waiting all through the islands for passage to</p><p>America?AndlittleBarbadoshasnothingtooffer.Thereareonlytwoshipsthat</p><p>flythewaters:onesailsoutofBostoncarrying120passengers,andonesailsout</p><p>ofNewYorkcarryingonly60.AndIamtoldthatallspace,allavailablespace,</p><p>is already committed, right through the month of September. And here it is</p><p>January.Not only the space is committed, but there are actually thousands of</p><p>peopleonawaitinglist.Ifyouputyournamedownwithyourfamilyofthree,</p><p>youareatthebottomofthelist—itwilltaketwoyearstogetoutofhere.”</p><p>I didn’t tell him what I’m telling you now. I didn’t wish to disturb him.</p><p>Becausehedidn’tknoworwasnotfamiliarwiththistechnique.Imadenoeffort</p><p>tobookpassage; Isimplyputmynameon thebottomof the list.ButIwasn’t</p><p>concerned.ItwasJanuary,andIaminBarbadosforvacation,soIdonotneedto</p><p>beconcernedandspoilmyvacationforlackofpassage.Iwanted</p><p>togetbackto</p><p>NewYorkCity around the firstofMay.So this iswhat Ididbasedupon this</p><p>knowledge.AttheveryendofMarch,IsawtheshipthatsailedforNewYork</p><p>leavingthebay.Ihadagoodmentalpictureofwhatshelookedlike,asmallone.</p><p>SothatdayasIreturnedtomyhotelafterlunchIsatinaniceeasychairinmy</p><p>room,andthisiswhatIdid.Iknewthatiftheinnermancouldperformanact</p><p>thentheoutermanwouldbecompelledtoduplicateit.Forwhenevertheaction</p><p>oftheinnerselfcorrespondstotheactionthattheouterselfmusttaketoappease</p><p>desire, that desire must be realized. So I made as lifelike and vivid a</p><p>representationaspossibleofwhatIwouldseeandwhatIwoulddoandwhatI</p><p>wouldhearwereIphysicallypresentonthatship.</p><p>Well,IknewonethingthatIwouldhavetodoifIsailed.InBarbadosthere</p><p>isnodeep-waterharbor,thatis,notasyet.Soallpassengersmusttakeasmall</p><p>little ship from the harbor, andmove offmaybe amile or three-quarters-of-a-</p><p>mile to sea; then your little ship is latched alongside of the big ship and a</p><p>gangplank is lowered andyouwalk up the gangplank.That’s one act Iwould</p><p>have toperformif I sailedon thatboat. Icouldperformitasavisitor,but the</p><p>emotions of someone who actually lived there differed from the emotions of</p><p>someonewhowasonlyvisiting.So,Ihadtoadoptasortofmixedemotion;forit</p><p>was a peculiar sort of scene: Iwas leaving a verywonderful and large family</p><p>behindthatIhadnotseeninsixyears,althoughIwasreturningtoahomethatI</p><p>lovedinNewYorkCity.Iwashappytogetback,ortobesailing,butIwassad</p><p>atsailing—thatsortoffeelingthatmixedtogetherjoyandwoe.Astheprophet</p><p>said:“Joyandwoearewovenfine,agarmentforthesouldivine.”1</p><p>So I knew exactly what he meant: the experience of mixing these two</p><p>emotionsintosomethingthatwasasweet,sweetsorrow.So,withmypicturein</p><p>mymindofwhatIwouldhavetodo,IsatinachairlikeIamsittinghere.Ifirst</p><p>inducedadreamstate,andthereasonforthatisthis:Wearetoldinthebookof</p><p>Job,“Inadream, inavisionof thenight,whendeep sleep fallsuponmen, in</p><p>slumberingsupon thebed, thenHeopensup theearsofmenandsealeth their</p><p>instruction.”Well,Iknewtheonewhowouldsealethwaswithinme,forGodis</p><p>inman,notontheoutsideofman.Godisinyou.Sotheoneinmewouldhaveto</p><p>bemyownwonderfulI-Am-ness.That’stheGodinman,man’sconsciousness.</p><p>And that inner man is his son, his only lovely begotten son, which is my</p><p>imagination.Well, sitting in that chair I inducedadrowsy state—thatdreamy,</p><p>drowsystatethatbordersuponsleep.Butyouinduceitonlytoacertainstep;if</p><p>you carry it too far you go to sleep. And then you lose the control of the</p><p>directionofyourattention.That’ssomethingyoumustalwaysmaintain,and it</p><p>mustbeunderyourcontrol,notthecontrolofanother.SoIhadtoinduceitbut</p><p>onlytoacertainpoint,andjustbeforeIsleptIarrestedthatstate.</p><p>Youmaysay thatconsciousness is likened toanoceanor toa tide, itebbs</p><p>and it flows. The ebb tide is the verymoment whenmy critical faculties are</p><p>beingexercised;IknowexactlywhereIamseatedinthestudioandwhatIam</p><p>doing. That is not the state of the flow tide, when I do not knowwhat I am</p><p>doing,whichistheunconsciousnessofsleep.Butbetweenthesetwoextremes—</p><p>oftheflowtideofunconsciousnessofsleepandtheebbtidewhenallthecritical</p><p>faculties are being exercised—there are any number of intermediary states</p><p>between these two extremes. I wanted a state that borders upon sleep. So</p><p>becauseI’mthinkingofatide,Irecallnowthatthehightideliftsamaneasily</p><p>offthebarsofthesenses,wherehehassolongbeenstranded.</p><p>SoIwasstrandeduponmysenses,fortheytoldmeIcouldn’tgetoutofthe</p><p>island.All that Iheardmybrother tellme,my father tellme—theyconfirmed</p><p>mysenses.ForhereIamstrandedonthebarofmysenses.ButIknewIcould</p><p>lift myself off of what they knew, and what my outer man knew, what my</p><p>criticalfacultyknew,andactuallysailawaytomyplaceinNewYorkCity.So</p><p>all Iwanted todowas toperforman act thatwould actually imply that Iwas</p><p>there. With that clearly in my mind, I took myself into the easy chair and</p><p>induced the drowsy state, and just before I lost control of the direction ofmy</p><p>attentionIstartedtheactioninmyimagination.AndthiswaswhatIworkedout:</p><p>IfeltthatifIwalkedupthegangplankanditseemedtomereal,andthenonthe</p><p>topofthatshipholdingtherailIcouldlookbackatthelittletownofBridgetown</p><p>andhavethatfeelingofsadness—andyetasweetsadnessbecauseIwashappy</p><p>thatIwassailing.</p><p>SoIassumedIsteppedoffontothegangplank,andthenstepafterstepright</p><p>up theentiregangplank,making itasnaturalandas realas Ipossiblycould. I</p><p>gave every step all the solidity that I couldmuster—all the sensory vividness</p><p>thatIcouldactuallybringtoplayuponthataction.WhenIgottothepartofthe</p><p>imaginarystairway,whichisthegangplank,IbecameawarethatIhadwandered</p><p>from my task. For I had set myself a task to walk up the gangplank, while</p><p>holding the gangplank. Then I foundmyself completely gone, Iwas not on a</p><p>ship.WhenIbecameawarethatIhadsimplyfloatedawayfrommyobjective,I</p><p>broughtmyselfback to theveryfirststepon thatgangplank.And thereIwent</p><p>overandoveragain.Ididitoverandoverandoveruntilthatactiontookonthe</p><p>tonesofreality.Whenitseemedtomenormalandnaturallyreal,IthenfeltthatI</p><p>wasactuallyperformingitintherightway.SoIkeptondoingitandthenIwent</p><p>soundasleepintheactofwalkingupthegangplank.</p><p>Thiswas on aThursday afternoon, Iwould say about 2:30 to 3. The next</p><p>morning,Fridayat10:35,theAlcoaSteamshipCompanycalledmeandoffered</p><p>mepassageonthenextsailing,whichwasthetwenty-firstdayofApril,putting</p><p>mebackinNewYorkCityonthefirstofMay.</p><p>AndsoIknowfrommyownpersonalexperiencethatthisthingistrue.That</p><p>“every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, the same give I unto</p><p>you.”Ifyoucouldnowconceiveofwhatyouwoulddowereyouinpossession</p><p>ofwhatyouwant tobe in thisworld,and thenhavingconceived it so that it’s</p><p>cleartoyou,avividrepresentationofexactlywhatyouwouldseeanddo,well</p><p>then do it.Do it over and over until it seems to you real.Andwhile you are</p><p>doingitinthatdreamy,drowsystate,allowyourselftoslipintothedeepersleep</p><p>intheactofdoingit.Whenyouwakethenextdayorfiveminuteslater—inmy</p><p>case I woke maybe a half-an-hour later—I was inwardly rehearsed in what</p><p>wouldtakeplace.</p><p>Allthepeoplewhoplayedtheirparts,thesteamshipagent,andallthepeople</p><p>whodiditontheship,theywerebystandersinmydream.Imademydreamso</p><p>real, andbecauseof theirphysicalpresence theybecame related tomydream.</p><p>Andbecause they’re related to it, theywere drawn intomydrama and had to</p><p>playtheirparts.Ididn’tthinkofthecaptain’snameorthesteward’snameorany</p><p>personontheshipwhomightbesailingasapassenger.Ididn’tconcernmyself</p><p>with how itwould happen, I knew itwould have to happen.And in less than</p><p>twenty-four hours I had confirmation ofmy passage as I sought.As an outer</p><p>manseekingIcouldn’tfind,buttheinnermancanfind.Thisisbaseduponthe</p><p>simple principle thatwhenever the action of the innerman corresponds to the</p><p>action that the outer man must take to, I would</p><p>say, realize his dream or to</p><p>appeasehishunger,thatmustbedoneintheouterworld.Iknowit.</p><p>SowhenIreturnedtoNewYorkCityItoldmyexperiencetomyaudiences</p><p>atTownHall.Amanpresentsaidtohimself,hedidn’tsayit tome,hesaidto</p><p>himself,“I’mgoing todisprove thisprinciple. I’mgoing todo it tonight,”and</p><p>thisiswhathedid:Hehadn’tclimbedaladderinyears;therewasnooccasion</p><p>for it. But that night, because he hadn’t climbed one in years, he thought he</p><p>woulddothat,fortherewasnooccasionforclimbingaladder.Sohesatinhis</p><p>easychair,andhetookthisimaginaryladder,andupheclimbedtheladder.He</p><p>diditoverandover,climbingtheladderuntilhewentsoundasleepintheactof</p><p>climbingupaladder.Fourdayslater,hevisitedafriendhehadn’tseeninyears.</p><p>Andsheaskedhim,asagentleman,ifhewouldn’tmindclimbingaladderand</p><p>rearrangingapicturebeyondherreach.Hedidn’trealizewhatactiontookplace</p><p>untilhewasontheverytopoftheladderandsawtheevidence.Whenitdawned</p><p>uponhimthathehadproventheprinciplehebecamesoemotionalhealmostfell</p><p>off.</p><p>Nowdon’tyoutrytodisproveit.Don’tclimbalittleladderindoubt.Ifyou</p><p>hope to disprove, youwill prove it. Rather, put yourself into some big, noble</p><p>state, be a wonderful man, a wonderful woman, whoever you are. Be noble.</p><p>Constructa littledramawhichimplies thefulfillmentofyourdream.Andthen</p><p>doitoverandoverandover,andmakeitnatural.AndIpromiseyou,“Wherever</p><p>thesoleofyourfootshalltread,thesamegiveIuntoyououtwardly.”</p><p>NowafteramomentfrommysponsorI’llbebackwithanincidentthatisby</p><p>farthemostinterestingcasehistoryIcouldtellyouthisday.</p><p>AsItoldyou,ifanactionisneededyoumustturntotheinnermanandtheinner</p><p>manmustdoit.ItoldthestoryyoujustheardinSanFrancisco.Ablindgirlwas</p><p>inmy audience. And she was facedwith a problem. Although blind she was</p><p>earningawonderful,wonderfulincome.Butthererecentlycamethereroutingof</p><p>thebusesandshefoundherselfspendingtwo-and-a-halfhoursonewayonthree</p><p>buses.Forbeingblind,Itellyounow,whenIsayblind,hereyesareremoved;</p><p>there are little plastic eyeswhen you look into her eyes—they had to remove</p><p>themyearsandyearsago.</p><p>So, in her predicament, getting off one bus she must wait and hope that</p><p>someoneispassingbyand,seeingherlimitations,canhelpheracrossthestreet.</p><p>So she crossedherself and after twoweeks she couldnotmake it in less than</p><p>two-and-a-halfhours.Andinpreviousdayswhenshehadonlyonebustotake</p><p>shemadeitinfifteenminutes.So,thatnightthisiswhatshedid.Shesatinher</p><p>livingroomandshefirstofallinvestigatedwhatitwouldcostbytaxi.Thatwas</p><p>completelyoutofthequestion.Shethoughtintermsofgivingupherapartment.</p><p>Butall the things that she thoughtof rapidly, shecouldn’tput intoeffect.She</p><p>cametotheconclusionthatgoingfromherplacetotheplacesheworkedinacar</p><p>wastheonlysolution.Shecouldn’taffordachauffeurandshecouldn’tdrive,for</p><p>shewasblind.Butacarseemedtohertheonlysolution.</p><p>So this iswhatshedid.Sitting inher livingroominaniceeasychair, she</p><p>assumedthatshewasseatedonthefrontseatofacar.Shefelt that theperson</p><p>nexttoherwasaman.Thenshefelttherhythmofthecar.Thenshecouldsmell</p><p>thegasoline.Then she felt the carmove.She felt it stop forwhat she thought</p><p>wouldbearedlight.Thenshefeltthecarmoveon.Shefinallycametotheend</p><p>of her imaginary journey, she turned to her companion and said, “Thank you</p><p>verymuch,sir.”Towhichhereplied,“Thepleasureisallmine.”Shegotoutof</p><p>thatcarandthensheimaginedsheheardthedoorclick,assheslammedinher</p><p>imaginationthedoorofthecar.Andthenshewalkeduptheplankleadingtoher</p><p>office.Thenextnightshediditalloveragain.Shedidituntilitseemedtoher</p><p>thatshewasactuallyinacar;shecouldactuallyseeherselfinacarandriding</p><p>thestreetsofSanFrancisco,stoppinginfrontofherofficebuilding,gettingout,</p><p>thankingherdriver,andthenmakingherwayuptheramp.</p><p>Thesecondnight,rightaftershehaddoneitandgivenitthetonesofreality,</p><p>hercompanionreadhertheeveningpaper.Andthereintheeveningpaperwas</p><p>thepictureofamanwhowasinterestedinblindpeople.Havingreadthearticle,</p><p>she thought she would call him. She looked his name up in the telephone</p><p>directory,andfoundhisnameandcalledhim.Hesaidhewasinterestedinthe</p><p>blind,assaidinthepaper,butthiswasnotimeorplacetocallhim.Ifshewould</p><p>writehima long,detailed letter of thenatureofherproblemhewould take it</p><p>under consideration. She sat down and wrote him a letter and explained her</p><p>problem—simplyaproblemoftransportation.</p><p>Nextdaywhenhegottheletterhesimplyreaditandputitinhispocket.On</p><p>hiswayhomehestoppedinataplacewherehestopseverydaybeforereturning</p><p>tohishome.Andthathappenedtobeabar.Hestoppedinatabar.Heknewthe</p><p>proprietorandhadhislittlemartini,orwhateverhehad,andwhilehewasthere</p><p>he was prompted to tell the blind girl’s story. Having told the story, a total</p><p>stranger,whowasasalesmanforsomeliquorhouse,overheadthestory.Andhe</p><p>said,“Well,ImakeagoodlivingandIdonothingforthiscommunity.Hereisa</p><p>girlwhonotonlyistakingherselfoffthebacksoftaxpayers,butinherlettershe</p><p>statesthatsheistrainingnineotherblindpeopletoearntheirownliving.Here</p><p>this girl,who should be supported by the taxpayers, earns her own living and</p><p>she’staughtnineotherstoearntheirliving;andI,whoearnawonderfulliving,I</p><p>donothingforourcommunity.Iwilldrivethatgirltowork.”</p><p>Themanwhoreceivedthelettersaid,“Ifyou,atotalstranger,willdriveher</p><p>towork,I,whoaminterestedintheblindandmakeitmyjob,Iwill thentake</p><p>herhome.And thatwas thebargain.Nowthat’salmost threeyearsago. I saw</p><p>thatgirljustaboutsixmonthsagoandshetoldmethatithasnotfailedoneday</p><p>ofafive-dayweek.Fivedaysaweek,onegentlemanpicksherupandtakesher</p><p>toherworkandonetakesherfromworktohome.Andhereisthestrangepart.</p><p>Theveryfirstmorningthatshedrovewithoneofthesemen,sheturnedtohim</p><p>asshegotoutofthecar,andshesaid,“Thankyouverymuch,sir,”towhichhe</p><p>replied, “The pleasure is all mine.” The identical words that she in her</p><p>imaginationhadused tomake the scene seemnaturalwereused thevery first</p><p>day.</p><p>Now,itwastwiceshedidit—onthethirddayshewasbeingdriventowork.</p><p>Isaytoyouifshecandoit,andifthespeakercandoit,youcandoit.Ihave</p><p>done it a number of times and I teach others to do it. It is a simple, simple</p><p>technique.Youmustlearntobelieveintheinnermanandtherealityofwhatis</p><p>to you at the moment an invisible realm. This invisible world is not really</p><p>unreal;it’sthemostrealworldimaginable.Andtheinnermanrelatedtoitisa</p><p>farmorerealbeingthantheouterpersonalitythatyouclingtoandthinksomuch</p><p>of in thisworld.Try.These thingswill never fail.Whenever the actionof the</p><p>inneryoucorrespondstotheactionthattheouteryoumusttaketoappeaseyour</p><p>desire,thatdesirewillberealized.</p><p>For this whole wonderful world around us is nothing more than the</p><p>appeasementofhunger;that’swhywebuiltit.Wemadeittosatisfyourlonging.</p><p>Youhavesomeintenselonging,somewonderfulhungerinthisworld,itmaybe</p><p>for a job, it may be an increase of income, it may be some wonderful,</p><p>harmonious relationship in a home that is now strained,</p><p>nomatter what it is,</p><p>constructa littleact, thisactioninside, thatyourdreamhasbeenrealized, then</p><p>takethatactionandinwardlydoitoverandoverandoveruntil it takesonthe</p><p>tones of reality.When to you it seems natural, then youmay sleep. But I do</p><p>believeinnotsleepingduringtheaction.Insomestrangewayitseemstohinder</p><p>the interval between the doing and the realization of it. Of course, you don’t</p><p>havetosleep.ButIhavefoundfromexperiencethatifIcanfallasleepwhileI</p><p>amperformingtheaction—theactionthatimpliesthefulfillmentofmydream—</p><p>thatIquicklycollapsethetime.</p><p>InBarbados,ittookmelessthanonedaytohavepassageonaship,although</p><p>theshipwasnotsailingforanothertwenty-onedays.Still,IknewIwasgoingto</p><p>sailonthatship.Ihadtangibleproof;Ihadthepassageinmypossession.This</p><p>girltookmaybetwodays.Althoughshewasdrivenonthethirdday,shereally</p><p>onlydidittwonights:twonightssittinginherlivingroomsheassumedshewas</p><p>in a car; she could smell the gasoline; she took all of her attention and</p><p>hallucinated it—you can hallucinate sights, smell, touch. I can take my hand</p><p>now,placeitonthisbook,andassumethatIamfondlingsomethingthatisnot</p><p>heretobeseenbyanyone.Andsolosemyselfinitthattomeitseemsnatural.If</p><p>Idoituntilitseemsnatural,andsleepwhileI’mdoingit,doyounotthinkitwill</p><p>becomemy perception? That’s how everyone should live and will eventually</p><p>liveinthisworld.</p><p>So insteadofgoingout and simplygrabbing things that arenotyoursor I</p><p>would say stealing in order to survive, you don’t steal to survive with this</p><p>technique—you die in order to live. You let go of the things that you</p><p>conceptualize,justdropthem,andyousimplyinwardlyseeyourselfintoanother</p><p>state. And seeing yourself right into the situation of your fulfilled desire you</p><p>sleepinthatstate.Andsoyouknowthewisdomoftheword:“Inadream,ina</p><p>vision of the night,when deep sleep falls uponmen, in slumberings upon the</p><p>bed,thenheopeneththeearsofmenandsealeththeirinstructions.”</p><p>Wearerehearsedatnightinthepartthatweareplayingwhenweopenour</p><p>eyes in thisouterworld.Andall thatwewilldowedoundercompulsion.For</p><p>thisinnermotionistheforcebywhichtheoutereventisbroughttobear.</p><p>Ifyouknowit,thendon’tjustknowit—doit.Forifyoudoit,Ipromiseyou,</p><p>youwillgettheresult.Butyoumustapplyit.Applicationisimportant.Everyone</p><p>in thisworldmust learn to liveby their imagination.Andonly asyou liveby</p><p>imaginationcanyoutrulybesaidtoliveatall.Nowhereinthisbookofmine,</p><p>AwakenedImagination,youwillfindthatcasehistoryoftheblindgirl.Readit</p><p>andapplyit.Andbecometheman,thewomanthatyouwanttobe.Youcanbe</p><p>anything in this world that you want to be; if you know these wonderful</p><p>promises accept them and then test them.You’re invited to test them. “Come</p><p>provemenowandseeifIwillnotopenthewindowsofheavenandpouryouout</p><p>ablessingsogreat,thereisnotroomonearthtoreceiveit.”</p><p>Youcanconceiveoftheimpossiblestate—theimpossibletotheinnerman.</p><p>Allthingsarepossibletotheinnerman.</p><p>NowI’llbebackinjustamomentwithjustathoughtfortoday.</p><p>Today is to be reminded that every place that the sole of your footsteps tread</p><p>uponhasbeengivenuntoyou.</p><p>Goodbyeandthankyou.</p><p>VIII</p><p>“BEYEWISEASSERPENTS”</p><p>chapterfromSeedtimeandHarvest:</p><p>AMysticalViewoftheScriptures</p><p>(1956)</p><p>ThischapterofNeville’sisbasedonMatthew10:16,whereChristcounselshisdisciplesonhowto</p><p>safely travel and conduct themselves while spreading his word: “Be ye wise as serpents, and</p><p>harmlessasdoves.”AlthoughNevilledoesnotexplicitlysaysointhechapter,hewouldprobably</p><p>agreethatpartoftheinnerdimensionofChrist’sstatementistoexercisethecreativeaspectsof</p><p>your mind while remaining outwardly silent and still, not hastily forcing a point or desired</p><p>outcomeuntilitsmomenthasarrived.Thebookfromwhichthischapterisdrawn,Seedtimeand</p><p>Harvest,isoneofNeville’smostdetailedanalysesofScripture.</p><p>—MH</p><p>…beyethereforewiseasserpents,andharmlessasdoves.</p><p>—MATTHEW10:16</p><p>Theserpent’sabilitytoformitsskinbyossifyingaportionofitself,anditsskill</p><p>in shedding each skin as it outgrew it, causedman to regard this reptile as a</p><p>symbol of the power of endless growth and self-reproduction. Man is told,</p><p>therefore, to be “wise as the serpent” and learn how to shed his skin—his</p><p>environment—which is his solidified self;manmust learn how to “loose him,</p><p>andlethimgo”…howto“putofftheoldman”…howtodietotheoldandyet</p><p>know,liketheserpent,thathe“shallnotsurelydie.”</p><p>Manhasnotlearnedasyetthatallthatisoutsidehisphysicalbodyisalsoa</p><p>part of himself, that his world and all the conditions of his life are but the</p><p>outpicturingofhisstateofconsciousness.Whenheknowsthistruth,hewillstop</p><p>thefutilestruggleofself-contentionand,liketheserpent,lettheoldgoandgrow</p><p>anewenvironment.</p><p>Manisimmortal;thereforehemustdieendlessly.Forlifeisacreative</p><p>idea;itcanonlyfinditselfinchangingforms.</p><p>—TAGORE</p><p>In ancient times, serpents were also associated with the guardianship of</p><p>treasureorwealth.Theinjunctiontobe“wiseasserpents”istheadvicetoman</p><p>toawakenthepowerofhissubtilizedbody—hisimagination—thathe, likethe</p><p>serpent,maygrowandoutgrow,dieandyetnotdie, for fromsuchdeathsand</p><p>resurrections alone, shedding the old and putting on the new, shall come</p><p>fulfillmentofhisdreamsand the findingofhis treasures.As“the serpentwas</p><p>more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made” …</p><p>Genesis: 3:1—even so, imagination is more subtile than any creature of the</p><p>heavenswhichtheLordGodhadcreated.Imaginationisthecreaturethat:</p><p>…wasmadesubjecttovanity,notwillingly,butbyreasonofhimwho</p><p>hathsubjectedthesameinhope…Forwearesavedbyhope:buthope</p><p>thatisseenisnothope:forwhatamanseeth,whydothheyethope</p><p>for?Butifwehopeforthatweseenot,thendowewithpatiencewait</p><p>forit.</p><p>—ROMANS8:20,24,25</p><p>Although the outer, or “natural,”manof the senses is interlockedwith his</p><p>environment,theinner,orspiritual,manofimaginationisnotthusinterlocked.</p><p>Iftheinterlockingwerecomplete,thechargetobe“wiseasserpents”wouldbe</p><p>in vain.Werewe completely interlockedwith our environment,we could not</p><p>withdrawourattention from theevidenceof thesensesand feelourselves into</p><p>thesituationofourfulfilleddesire,inhopethatthatunseenstatewouldsolidify</p><p>asournewenvironment.But:</p><p>Thereisanaturalbody,andthereisaspiritualbody.</p><p>—I.CORINTHIANS15:44</p><p>Thespiritualbodyofimaginationisnotinterlockedwithman’senvironment.</p><p>Thespiritualbodycanwithdrawfromtheoutermanofsenseandenvironment</p><p>and imagine itself to bewhat itwants to be.And if it remains faithful to the</p><p>vision,imaginationwillbuildformananewenvironmentinwhichtolive.This</p><p>iswhatismeantbythestatement:</p><p>…Igotoprepareaplaceforyou.AndifIgoandprepareaplacefor</p><p>you,Iwillcomeagain,againreceiveyouuntomyself;thatwhereIam,</p><p>thereyemaybealso.</p><p>JOHN14:2,3</p><p>The place that is prepared for you need not be a place in space. It can be</p><p>health,wealth,companionship,anythingthatyoudesireinthisworld.Now,how</p><p>istheplaceprepared?</p><p>Youmustfirstconstructaslife-likearepresentationaspossibleofwhatyou</p><p>would</p><p>seeandhearanddoifyouwerephysicallypresentandphysicallymoving</p><p>about in that “place.” Then, with your physical body immobilized, you must</p><p>imagine that you are actually in that “place” and are seeing and hearing and</p><p>doingallthatyouwouldseeandhearanddoifyouweretherephysically.This</p><p>youmustdooverandoveragainuntil it takeson the tonesofreality.Whenit</p><p>feels natural, the “place” has been prepared as the new environment for your</p><p>outerorphysicalself.Nowyoumayopenyourphysicaleyesandreturntoyour</p><p>formerstate.The“place”isprepared,andwhereyouhavebeeninimagination,</p><p>thereyoushallbeinthebodyalso.</p><p>Howthisimaginedstateisrealizedphysicallyisnottheconcernofyou,the</p><p>naturalorouterman.Thespiritualbody,onitsreturnfromtheimaginedstateto</p><p>its formerphysicalstate,createdan invisiblebridgeof incident to link the two</p><p>states. Although the curious feeling that you were actually there and that the</p><p>state was real is gone, as soon as you open your eyes upon the old familiar</p><p>environment,nevertheless,youarehauntedwiththesenseofadoubleidentity—</p><p>withtheknowledgethat“thereisanaturalbody,andthereisaspiritualbody.”</p><p>Whenyou,thenaturalman,havehadthisexperienceyouwillgoautomatically</p><p>across the bridge of events which leads to the physical realization of your</p><p>invisiblypreparedplace.</p><p>This concept—thatman is dual and that the innerman of imagination can</p><p>dwellinfuturestatesandreturntothepresentmomentwithabridgeofeventsto</p><p>linkthetwo—clashesviolentlywiththewidelyacceptedviewaboutthehuman</p><p>personality,andthecauseandnatureofphenomena.Suchaconceptdemandsa</p><p>revolution incurrent ideasabout thehumanpersonality, andabout space, time</p><p>andmatter.Theconceptthatman,consciouslyorunconsciously,determinesthe</p><p>conditions of life by imagining himself into these mental states, leads to the</p><p>conclusionthatthissupposedlysolidworldisaconstructionofMind—aconcept</p><p>which,atfirst,commonsenserejects.However,weshouldrememberthatmost</p><p>oftheconceptswhichcommonsenseatfirstrejected,manwasafterwardforced</p><p>to accept. These never-ending reversals of judgment which experience has</p><p>forced upon man led Professor Whitehead to write: “Heaven knows what</p><p>seemingnonsensemaynottomorrowbedemonstratedtruth.”</p><p>Thecreativepowerinmansleepsandneedstobeawakened.</p><p>Awakethouthatsleepest,andarisefromthedead.</p><p>—EPHESIANS5:14</p><p>Wake from the sleep that tells you the outer world is the cause of the</p><p>conditionsofyourlife.Risefromthedeadpastandcreateanewenvironment.</p><p>KnowyenotthatyearethetempleofGod,andthattheSpiritofGod</p><p>dwellethinyou?</p><p>—I.CORINTHIANS3:16</p><p>TheSpiritofGodinyouisyour imagination,but itsleepsandneeds tobe</p><p>awakened,inordertoliftyouoffthebarofthesenseswhereyouhavesolong</p><p>lainstranded.</p><p>Theboundlesspossibilitiesopentoyouasyoubecome“wiseasserpents”is</p><p>beyondmeasure.Youwillselecttheidealconditionsyouwanttoexperienceand</p><p>the ideal environment you want to live in. Experiencing these states in</p><p>imagination until they have sensory vividness, you will externalize them as</p><p>surelyas theserpentnowexternalizes itsskin.Afteryouhaveoutgrownthem,</p><p>then,youwillcastthemoffaseasilyas“thesnakethrowsherenamell’dskin.”</p><p>The more abundant life—the whole purpose of Creation—cannot be saved</p><p>throughdeathandresurrection.</p><p>God desired form, so He became man; and it is not enough for us to</p><p>recognizeHisspiritatworkincreation,wemustseeHisworkinformandsay</p><p>thatitisgood,eventhoughweoutgrowtheform,foreverandever.</p><p>Heleads</p><p>Throughwideningchambersof</p><p>delighttowhere</p><p>Throbsrapturenearanendthat</p><p>ayerecedes,</p><p>BecauseHistouchisInfinite</p><p>andlends</p><p>Ayondertoallends.</p><p>“HymntoColour”</p><p>—GEORGEMEREDITH</p><p>And,I,ifIbeliftedupfromtheearth,willdrawallmenuntome.</p><p>—JOHN12:32</p><p>IfIbeliftedupfromtheevidenceofthesensestothestateofconsciousness</p><p>Idesiretorealizeandremaininthatstateuntil itfeelsnatural,Iwillformthat</p><p>statearoundmeandallmenwillseeit.Buthowtopersuademanthisistrue—</p><p>that imaginative life is the only living; that assuming the feeling of the wish</p><p>fulfilled is theway to themoreabundant life andnot thecompensationof the</p><p>escapist—thatistheproblem.Toseeas“throughwideningchambersofdelight”</p><p>what living in the realms of imagination means, to appreciate and enjoy the</p><p>world,onemustliveimaginatively;onemustdreamandoccupyhisdream,then</p><p>grow and outgrow the dream, forever and ever. The unimaginativeman,who</p><p>willnotlosehislifeononelevelthathemayfinditonahigherlevel,isnothing</p><p>but a Lot’swife—a pillar of self-satisfied salt. On the other hand, thosewho</p><p>refuseformasbeingunspiritualandwhorejectincarnationasseparatefromGod</p><p>areignorantofthegreatmystery:“Greatisthemystery,Godwasmanifestinthe</p><p>flesh.”</p><p>Your life expresses one thing, and one thing only, your state of</p><p>consciousness.Everythingisdependentuponthat.Asyou,throughthemedium</p><p>ofimagination,assumeastateofconsciousness,thatstatebeginstoclotheitself</p><p>inform.Itsolidifiesaroundyouastheserpent’sskinossifiesaroundit.Butyou</p><p>mustbefaithfultothestate.Youmustnotgofromstatetostate,but,rather,wait</p><p>patiently in the one invisible state until it takes on form and becomes an</p><p>objective fact. Patience is necessary, but patiencewill be easy after your first</p><p>success in shedding the old and growing the new, for we are able to wait</p><p>according as we have been rewarded by understanding in the past.</p><p>Understanding is the secret of patience. What natural joy and spontaneous</p><p>delight lie inseeing theworld—notwith,butasBlakesays—through theeye!</p><p>Imagine thatyouareseeingwhatyouwant tosee,and remain faithful toyour</p><p>vision.Yourimaginationwillmakeforitselfacorrespondingforminwhichto</p><p>live.</p><p>All things aremadeby imagination’s power.Nothingbegins except in the</p><p>imaginationofman.“Fromwithinout”isthelawoftheuniverse.“Aswithin,so</p><p>without.”Manturnsoutwardinhissearchfortruth,buttheessentialthingisto</p><p>lookwithin.</p><p>Truthiswithinourselves;it</p><p>takesnorise</p><p>Fromoutwardthings,whate’er</p><p>youmaybelieve.</p><p>Thereisaninmostcenterinusall,</p><p>Wheretruthabidesinfullness</p><p>…andtoknow,</p><p>Ratherconsistsinopeningoutaway</p><p>Whencetheimprisonedsplendour</p><p>mayescape,</p><p>Thanineffectingentryforalight</p><p>Supposedtobewithout.</p><p>—BROWNING:“PARACELSUS”</p><p>Ithinkyouwillbeinterestedinaninstanceofhowayoungwomanshedthe</p><p>skin of resentment andput on a far different kindof skin.Theparents of this</p><p>woman had separatedwhen shewas six years old and she had livedwith her</p><p>mother.Sherarelysawherfather.Butonceayearhesentherafivedollarcheck</p><p>forChristmas.Followinghermarriage,hedidincreasetheChristmasgifttoten</p><p>dollars.</p><p>After one of my lectures, she was dwelling on my statement that man’s</p><p>suspicion of another is only a measure of his own deceitfulness, and she</p><p>recognized that she had been harboring a resentment towards her father for</p><p>years.Thatnightsheresolvedtoletgoherresentmentandputafondreactionin</p><p>its place. In her imagination, she felt she was embracing her father in the</p><p>warmestway.Shedid itover andover againuntil shecaught the spirit ofher</p><p>imaginaryact,andthenshefellasleepinaverycontentedmood.</p><p>Thefollowingdayshehappenedtopassthrough</p><p>thefurdepartmentofoneof</p><p>ourlargestoresinCalifornia.Forsometimeshehadbeentoyingwiththeideaof</p><p>havinganew fur scarf,but felt shecouldnot afford it.This timeher eyewas</p><p>caughtbyastonemartenscarf,andshepickeditupandtriediton.Afterfeeling</p><p>itandseeingherselfinit,reluctantlyshetookoffthescarfandreturnedittothe</p><p>salesman, tellingherself she really couldnot afford it.As shewas leaving the</p><p>department,shestoppedandthought,“Nevilletellsuswecanhavewhateverwe</p><p>desire if we will only capture the feeling of already having it.” In her</p><p>imagination,sheputthescarfbackon,felttherealityofit,andwentabouther</p><p>shopping,allthewhileenjoyingtheimaginedwearingofit.</p><p>This youngwomannever associated these two imaginary acts. In fact, she</p><p>had almost forgottenwhat shehaddoneuntil, a fewweeks later, onMother’s</p><p>Day, the doorbell rang unexpectedly. There was her father. As she embraced</p><p>him,sherememberedherfirstimaginaryaction.Assheopenedthepackagehe</p><p>hadbroughther—thefirstgiftinthesemanyyears—sherememberedhersecond</p><p>imaginaryaction,fortheboxcontainedabeautifulstonemartenscarf.</p><p>Yearegods;andallofyouarechildrenofthemostHigh.</p><p>—PSALMS82:6</p><p>…beyethereforewiseasserpents,andharmlessasdoves.</p><p>—MATTHEW10:16</p><p>IX</p><p>“THESECRETOFIMAGINING”</p><p>transcriptofvinylrecord,sideone</p><p>(1960)</p><p>If I wanted to expose someone to one piece of Neville’s work that concisely and completely</p><p>describeshisoutlookandmethods,thisiswhatIwouldselect.ThisshortstatementfromNeville’s</p><p>spoken-wordalbumcaptureshismetaphysicalvisioninanutshell.</p><p>—MH</p><p>Itmayseem incrediblebut it is true: theworld inwhichwe live isaworldof</p><p>imagination. In fact, life itself is an activity of imagining.All thatwebehold,</p><p>thoughitappearswithout,itiswithin,inourimagination,ofwhichthisworldof</p><p>mortalityisbutashadow.</p><p>Nothingappearsorcontinuesinbeingbyapowerofitsown.Eventshappen</p><p>because comparatively stable imaginable activities created them. And they</p><p>continueinbeingonlyaslongastheyreceivesuchsupport.Thereforethesecret</p><p>of imagining is thegreatestofallproblems, to thesolutionofwhicheveryone</p><p>shouldaspire.Forsupremepower,supremewisdom,andsupremejoylieinthe</p><p>solution of this greatmystery.Whenman solves themystery of imagining he</p><p>will have discovered the secret of causation, and that is: imagining creates</p><p>reality.</p><p>Divine imaginingandhuman imaginingarenot twopowers at all butone.</p><p>Thevaliddistinctionwhichexistsbetween them liesnot in the substancewith</p><p>which they operate, but in the degree of intensity of the operant power itself.</p><p>Actingathightension,animaginableactisanimmediateobjectivefact.Keyed</p><p>low,animaginableactisrealizedinatimeprocess.</p><p>Humanhistory,withitsformsofgovernments,itsrevolutions,itswars,and</p><p>in fact the rise and fall of nations, could be written in terms of the imaginal</p><p>activities of men and women. All imaginative men and women are forever</p><p>casting forth enchantments, and all passive men and women, who have no</p><p>powerful imaginative lives, are continually passing under the spell of their</p><p>power.Ifimaginationistheonlythingthatactsorisinexistingbeingsormen,</p><p>asBlakebelieved,thenweshouldneverbecertainthatitwasnotsomewoman</p><p>treadinginthewinepresswhobeganthatsubtlechangeinmen’sminds.Orthat</p><p>the passion, because of which the earth has been drenched in blood, did not</p><p>beginintheimaginationofsomeshepherdboylightinguphiseyeforamoment</p><p>beforeitranuponitsway.</p><p>Thefutureistheimaginableactivityofmaninitscreativemarch.Imagining</p><p>isthecreativepower,notonlyofthepoet,theartist,theactor,andorator,butof</p><p>the scientist, the inventor, the merchant, and the artisan. Its abuse in</p><p>unrestrained, unlovely image making is obvious. But its abuse in undue</p><p>repressionbreeds a sterility,which robs amanof actualwealthof experience.</p><p>Imaginingnovelsolutionstoevermorecomplexproblemsisfarmorenoblethan</p><p>to restrain or kill out desire. Life is the continuing solution of a continuously</p><p>synthetic problem. Imagining creates events. Ourworld, created out ofmen’s</p><p>imagining,comprisesunnumberedwarringbeliefs.Therefore therecouldnever</p><p>be a perfectly stable or static state. Today’s events are bound to disturb</p><p>yesterday’sestablishedorder.Imaginativemenandwomeninvariablyunsettlea</p><p>preexistingpeaceofmind.</p><p>Holdfasttoyouridealinyourimagination.Nothingcantakeitfromyoubut</p><p>yourfailure topersist in imagining the ideal realized. Imagineonlysuchstates</p><p>thatareofvalueorpromisewell.Toattempttochangecircumstancesbeforewe</p><p>change our imaginal activity is to struggle against the very nature of things.</p><p>Therecanbenoouterchangeuntilthereisfirstanimaginalchange.Everything</p><p>we do unaccompanied by an imaginal change is but futile readjustment of</p><p>services.Imaginingthewishfulfilledbringsaboutaunionwiththatstate.And</p><p>duringthatunionwebehaveinkeepingwithourimaginalchange.Thisshowsus</p><p>that an imaginal change will result in a change of behavior. However, our</p><p>ordinary imaginal alterations, as we pass from one state to another, are not</p><p>transformations.Becauseeachofthemissorapidlysucceededbyanotherinthe</p><p>reverse direction; but whenever one state grows so stable as to become our</p><p>constant mood, our habitual attitude, then that habitual state defines our</p><p>characterandisatruetransformation.</p><p>Nowletmecallyourattentiontothedesignonthecoverofthisrecord.You</p><p>will notice aman sitting on a park bench imagining himself to be in a home.</p><p>This is the secretof thosewho lie inbedawakewhile theydream things true.</p><p>Theyknowhow to live in theirowndreamhouseuntil, in fact, theydo.Man,</p><p>throughthemediumofacontrolledwakingdream,canpredeterminehisfuture.</p><p>That imaginal activity, of living in the feelingof thewish fulfilled, leadsman</p><p>across a bridge of incident to the fulfillment of the dream. If we live in the</p><p>dream,thinkingfromitandnotofit,thenthecreativepowerofimaginingwill</p><p>answerouradventurous fancyand thewishfulfilledwillbreak inuponusand</p><p>takeusunawares.Manisallimagination;thereforemanmustbewhereheisin</p><p>imagination,forhisimaginationishimself.</p><p>Torealize that imagination isnotsomething tied to thesenses,orenclosed</p><p>withinthespatialboundaryofthebody,ismostimportant.Althoughmanmoves</p><p>about inspacebymovementofhisphysicalbodyheneednotbesorestricted.</p><p>He canmove by a change inwhat he’s aware of.However real the scene on</p><p>whichsightrests,mancangazeononeneverbeforewitnessed.Hecanalways</p><p>removethemountainifitupsetshisconceptofwhatlifeoughttobe.Thisability</p><p>tomentallymovefromthingsastheyaretothingsastheyoughttobeisoneof</p><p>themostimportantdiscoveriesthatmancanmake.Itrevealsmanasacenterof</p><p>imaginingwithpowersofintervention,whichenablehimtoalter thecourseof</p><p>observed events, moving from success to success through a series of mental</p><p>transformationsofnature,ofothers,andhimself.</p><p>Howdoeshedoit?Self-abandonment.Thatisthesecret.Hehastoabandon</p><p>himselfmentallytohiswishfulfilled,inhisloveforthatstate,andinsodoing</p><p>liveinthenewstateandnomoreintheoldstate.</p><p>Nowwe can’t commit ourselves towhatwe do not love. So the secret of</p><p>self-commission</p><p>is faith plus love. Faith is believing what is incredible. We</p><p>commitourselvestothefeelingofthewishfulfilledinfaiththatthisactofself-</p><p>commissionwillbecomeareality—anditwillbecauseimaginingcreatesreality.</p><p>Imaginationisbothconservativeandtransformative.Itisconservativewhen</p><p>it builds its world from images supplied by memory and the evidence of the</p><p>senses. It iscreatively transformativewhen it imagines thingsas theyought to</p><p>be,buildingitsworldoutofthegenerousdreamsoffancy.Intheprocessionof</p><p>images, the ones that take precedence naturally are those of the senses.</p><p>Nevertheless,apresentsenseimpressionisonlyanimage; itdoesnotdiffer in</p><p>nature from a memory image or the image of a wish.What makes a present</p><p>senseimpressionsoobjectivelyreal is theindividual’s imaginationfunctioning</p><p>in it and thinking from it. Whereas in a memory image or a wish, the</p><p>individual’s imagination is not functioning in it or thinking from it but is</p><p>functioning out of it and thinking of it. If the individualwould enter into the</p><p>imageinhisimagination,asthedesignonthecoverofthisrecordsuggests,then</p><p>wouldheknowwhatitistobecreativelytransformative,thenwouldherealize</p><p>hiswish,andthenhewouldbehappy.Everyimagecanbeembodied,butunless</p><p>man himself enters the image and thinks from it, it is incapable of birth.</p><p>Thereforeitistheheightoffollytoexpectthewishtoberealizedbythemere</p><p>passageoftime.Thatwhichrequiresimaginativeoccupancytoproduceitseffect</p><p>obviously cannot be affected without such occupancy. We cannot be in one</p><p>imageandnot suffer the consequencesofnotbeing in another. Imagination is</p><p>spiritual sensation. Enter the image of the wish fulfilled, then give it sensory</p><p>vividness and tones of reality by mentally acting as you would act were it a</p><p>physicalfact.</p><p>NowthisiswhatImeanbyspiritualsensation.Imaginethatyouareholding</p><p>aroseinyourhand.Smellit.Doyoudetecttheodorofroses?Well,iftheroseis</p><p>not here why is its fragrance in the air? Through spiritual sensation—that is,</p><p>through imaginal sight, sound, scent, taste, and touch—man can give to the</p><p>imagesensoryvividness.Ifhedoes,allthingswillconspiretoaidhisharvesting.</p><p>Andonreflectionhewillseehowsubtlewerethethreadsthatledtohisgoal.He</p><p>couldneverhavedevised themeanswhichhis imaginal activityused to fulfill</p><p>itself. Ifman longs to escape fromhis present sense fixation, to transformhis</p><p>presentlifeintoadreamofwhatmightwellbe,hehasbuttoimaginethathe’s</p><p>alreadywhathewantstobe,andthenfeelthewayhewouldexpecttofeelunder</p><p>suchcircumstances.Lethim,likethemakebelieveofachild,whoisremaking</p><p>theworldafteritsownheart,createhisworldoutofpuredreamsoffancy.Let</p><p>himmentallyenterintohisdream.Lethimmentallydowhathewouldactually</p><p>dowereitphysicallytrue.Hewilldiscoverthatdreamsarerealizednotbythe</p><p>richbutbytheimaginative.</p><p>Nothingstandsbetweenmanandthefulfillmentofhisdreambutfacts,and</p><p>factsarethecreationsofimagining.Ifmanchangeshisimagininghewillchange</p><p>thefacts.Manandhispastareonecontinuousstructure.Thisstructurecontains</p><p>allofthefactswhichhavebeenconservedandstilloperatebelowthethreshold</p><p>ofhissurfacemind.Forhim,itismerelyhistory.Forhim,itseemsunalterable:</p><p>adeadandfirmlyfixedpast.Butforitselfitisliving;itispartofthelivingage.</p><p>We cannot leave behind us the mistakes of our past, for nothing disappears.</p><p>Everything thathasbeen is still in existence.Thepast still exists, and it gives</p><p>andstillgivesitsresults.Manmustgobackinmemory,seekforanddestroythe</p><p>causesofevilhoweverfarbacktheylie.Thisgoingintothepastandreplayinga</p><p>sceneofthepastinimaginationasitoughttohavebeenplayedthefirsttime,I</p><p>callrevision—andrevisionresultsinrepeal.Changingourlivesmeanschanging</p><p>thepast.Thecausesofthepresentevilaretheunrevisedscenesofthepast.The</p><p>past and the present form thewhole structure ofman. It is carrying all of its</p><p>contents with it. Any alteration of content will result in an alteration in the</p><p>presentandfuture.</p><p>Livenobly,sothatmindcanstoreapastwellworthyofrecall.Shouldyou</p><p>failtodoso,remember,thefirstactofcorrectionorcureisalways:revise.Ifthe</p><p>pastisre-createdintothepresent,sowilltherevisedpastbere-createdintothe</p><p>present.Orelsethepromisethat“thoughyoursinsarelikescarlet,theyshallbe</p><p>aswhiteassnow,”isalie.</p><p>The question may arise as to how by representing others to ourselves as</p><p>betterthantheyreallywere,ormentallyrewritingalettertomakeitconformto</p><p>our wish, or by revising the scene of an accident, the interview with the</p><p>employer,andsoon,couldchangewhatseemstobetheunalterablefactsofthe</p><p>past—butremembermyclaimsforimagining.Imaginingcreatesreality.Whatit</p><p>makes it can unmake. It is not only conservative, building a life from images</p><p>supplied by memory; it is always creatively transformative, altering a theme</p><p>already in being. The parable of the unjust steward gives the answer to this</p><p>question.Wecanalterourworldbymeansofacertainillegalpractice,bymeans</p><p>ofafalsificationofthefacts;thatis,bymeansofacertainintentionalalteration</p><p>of that which we have experienced. And all this is done in one’s own</p><p>imagination.Thisisaformoffalsehood,whichisnotonlynotcondemned,but</p><p>isactuallyapprovedinthegospelteaching.Bymeansofsuchfalsehood,aman</p><p>destroys the causes of evil and acquires friends. And on the strength of this</p><p>revisionproves,judgingbythehighpraisetheunjuststewardreceivedfromhis</p><p>master,thatheisdeservingofconfidence.</p><p>Becauseimaginingcreatesrealitywecancarryrevisiontotheextreme,and</p><p>revise a scene that would be otherwise unforgivable.We learn to distinguish</p><p>betweenman,whoisallimagination,fromthosestatesintowhichhemayenter.</p><p>An unjust steward, looking at another’s distress, will represent the other to</p><p>himselfasheoughttobeseen.Werehehimselfinneedhewould,liketheman</p><p>onthecoverofthisrecord,enterhisdreamhouseinhisimaginationandimagine</p><p>whathewouldsee,andhowthingswouldseem,andhowpeoplewouldact,after</p><p>thesethingsshouldbe.Theninthisstatehewouldfallasleepfeelingthewayhe</p><p>wouldexpecttofeelundersuchcircumstances.</p><p>Would that all theLord’s peoplewere unjust stewards,mentally falsifying</p><p>thefactsoflifetodeliverindividualsforevermore.Fortheimaginalchangegoes</p><p>forwarduntilatlengththealteredpatternisrealizedontheheightsofattainment.</p><p>Ourfutureisourimaginalactivityinitscreativemarch.Imaginebetterthanthe</p><p>bestyouknow.</p><p>X</p><p>“AMYSTICALEXPERIENCE”</p><p>transcriptofvinylrecord,sidetwo</p><p>(1960)</p><p>InthisrecordedlectureNevillemakesoneofhisearliestdescriptionsofhismysticalexperienceof</p><p>being“bornfromabove,”whichplaysoutasbeingrebornfromwithinhisskull,aneventthathe</p><p>saidawaitseveryone.ThistalkrepresentsNevillecrossingthethresholdintohislatter-daycareer,</p><p>inwhichhegaveincreasinglygreateremphasistomysticalrevelation.</p><p>—MH</p><p>Iaccept literally thesaying thatall theworld’sastage,andIbelieve thatGod</p><p>playsalltheparts.Thepurposeoftheplay:totransformman,thecreated,into</p><p>God,thecreator.Godlovedman,hiscreated,andbecamemaninfaiththatthis</p><p>actofself-commissionwouldtransformman,thecreated,intoGod,thecreator.</p><p>TheplaybeginswiththecrucifixionofGod,onmanasman,andendswith</p><p>theresurrectionofmanasGod.Godbecomesaswearethatwemaybecomeas</p><p>Heis.Godbecomesmanthatmanmaybecomefirstalivingbeingandsecondly</p><p>alife-givingspirit.Ilive,yetnotIbutGodlivesinme.AndthelifeIknowIlive</p><p>inthefleshIlivebythefaithofGod,wholovedmeandgavehimselfforme.</p><p>God took upon himself the form ofman and became obedient unto death,</p><p>evendeathonthecrossofman,andiscrucifiedonGolgotha,theskullofman.</p><p>Godhimselfentersdeath’sdoor—thehumanskull—andlaysdowninthegrave</p><p>ofmantomakemana livingbeing.God’smercyturneddeath intosleep, then</p><p>begantheprodigiousandunthinkablemetamorphosisofman:thetransformation</p><p>ofman intoGod.Noman unaided by the crucifixion ofGod could cross the</p><p>thresholdthatadmitstoconsciouslife.ButnowwehaveunionwithGodinhis</p><p>crucified self.He lives in us as ourwonderful human imagination. Therefore,</p><p>man is all imagination and God is man and exists in us and we in him. The</p><p>eternalbodyofmanistheimagination.ThatisGodHimself.Whenherisesin</p><p>us, we will be like him and he will be like us. Then all impossibilities will</p><p>dissolve at the touch of exaltation, which his rising in us will impart to our</p><p>nature.</p><p>Hereisthesecretoftheworld:Goddiedtogivemanlifeandtosetmanfree.</p><p>ForhoweverclearlyGod isawareofhiscreation, itdoesnot follow thatman,</p><p>imaginativelycreated,isawareofGod.ToworkthismiracleGodhadtodiethen</p><p>riseagainasman.AndnonehaseverexpresseditsoclearlyasBlake.Blakesays</p><p>—orratherhasJesussay—“UnlessIdie,thoucanstnotlive;butifIdieIshall</p><p>ariseagainandthouwithme.Wouldestthouloveonewhoneverdiedforthee,</p><p>oreverdieforonewhohadnotdiedforthee?AndifGoddiethnotformanand</p><p>givethnothimselfeternallyforman,mancouldnotexist.”</p><p>So God died. That is to say, God has freely given himself for man.</p><p>Deliberatelyhehasbecomeman andhas forgotten that he isGod in thehope</p><p>that man, thus created, will eventually rise as God. God has so completely</p><p>offeredhisownselfformanthathecriesoutonthecrossofman,“MyGod!My</p><p>God!Whyhastthouforsakenme?”HehascompletelyforgottenthatheisGod.</p><p>ButafterGodrisesinoneman,thatmanwillsaytohisbrothers:“Whystandwe</p><p>heretremblingaroundcallingonGodforhelpandnotourselvesinwhomGod</p><p>dwells?”ThisfirstmanthathasbeenraisedfromthedeadisknownasJesus,the</p><p>firstfruitsofthosewhohavefallenasleep.Forman,Goddied.Nowbyaman</p><p>has comealso the resurrectionof thedead. Jesus resurrectshisdead fatherby</p><p>becoming him. In Adam, the universal man, God sleeps. In Jesus, the</p><p>individualizedGod,Godwakes.Inwaking,manthecreatedhasbecomeGodthe</p><p>Creatorandcantrulysay,“Beforetheworldwas,IAm.”</p><p>JustasGod inhis love formansocompletely identifiedhimselfwithman</p><p>thatheforgotthathewasGod,somaninhisloveforGodmustsocompletely</p><p>surrenderhimselftoGodthathelivesthelifeofGodandnolongerthatofman.</p><p>God’splay,whichtransformsmanintoGod,isrevealedtousintheBible.Itis</p><p>completelyconsistentinimageryandsymbolism.TheNewTestamentishidin</p><p>theOldTestament,andtheOldismanifestedintheNew.TheBibleisavision.</p><p>Itisnotadoctrineoraritual.TheOldTestamenttellsusofGod’spromises,the</p><p>NewTestamenttellsusnothowthesepromiseswerefulfilledbuthowtheyare</p><p>fulfilled. The central theme of the Bible is the direct, individual, mystical</p><p>experienceofthebirthofthechild.Thatchildofwhomtheprophetspoke:“To</p><p>us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the governmentwill be upon his</p><p>shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,</p><p>Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, of the increase of his government and of</p><p>peacetherewillbenoend.”</p><p>When the child is revealed to us, we see it, we experience it, and the</p><p>responsetothisrevelationcanbestatedinthewordsofJob:“Ihadheardofthee</p><p>by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee.” The story of the</p><p>incarnationisnotfable,allegory,orsomecarefullyreasonedformulatoenslave</p><p>themindsofmen,butmysticalfact.It isapersonalmysticalexperienceofthe</p><p>birthofoneselfoutofone’sownskull,symbolizedinthatofachildwrappedin</p><p>swaddlingclothesandlyingonthefloor.Thereisadistinctionbetweenhearing</p><p>of this birth of a child from one’s own skull—a birth which no scientist or</p><p>historian could ever possibly explain—and actually experiencing the birth,</p><p>holdinginyourownhandsandseeingwithyourowneyesthismiraculouschild:</p><p>achildbornfromabove,outofyourownskull,abirthcontrarytoallthelawsof</p><p>nature.Theeventasitisrecordedinthegospelsactuallytakesplaceinman.But</p><p>of that day or that hour when the time will come for the individual to be</p><p>delivered, no one knowsbut theFather.Donotmarvel that I say to you: you</p><p>mustbebornfromabove.Thewindblowswhereitwills,andyouhearthesound</p><p>of it, but you do not know whence it comes or wither it goes. So it is with</p><p>everyonewhoisbornofthespirit.</p><p>ThisrevelationintheGospelofJohnistrue.Hereismyexperienceofthis</p><p>birthfromabove.LikePaulIdidnotreceiveitfromman,norwasItaughtit,but</p><p>itcamethroughtheactualmysticalexperienceofbeingbornfromabove.None</p><p>can speak truly of this mystical birth from above but the one who has</p><p>experienced it. I had no idea that this birth from abovewas literally true. For</p><p>who before the experience could believe that the child—the Wonderful</p><p>Counselor, theMightyGod, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace—was</p><p>inwoven inhisown skull?Who,before the experience,wouldunderstand that</p><p>his Maker is his Husband and the Lord of Hosts is His Name? Who would</p><p>believe that thecreatorwent inuntohisowncreation,man,andknew it tobe</p><p>himselfandthatthisentranceintotheskullofman—thisunionofGodandman</p><p>—resultedinthebirthofasonoutoftheskullofman;whichbirthgavetothat</p><p>maneternallifeandunionwithhiscreatorforever?</p><p>IfInowtellwhatIexperiencedthatnightIdosonottoimposemyideason</p><p>othersbutthatImaygivehopetothosewho,likeNicodemus,wonderhowcana</p><p>manbebornwhenheisold?Howcanheenterasecondtimeintohismother’s</p><p>wombandbeborn?Howcanthisbe?Well,thisishowithappenedtome.</p><p>Aheavenlydreaminwhichtheartsflourishedwassuddenlyinterruptedby</p><p>themostintensevibrationcenteredatthebaseofmyskull.Thenadramaasreal</p><p>asthoseIexperiencewhenIamfullyawakebegantounfold.Ifeltmyselfwithin</p><p>myskulltryingtoforcemywayoutthroughitsbase.SomethinggavewayandI</p><p>felt myself move head downward through the base of my skull. I squeezed</p><p>myselfout,inchbyinch.WhenIwasalmostoutIheldwhatItooktobethefoot</p><p>ofthebedandpulledtheremainingportionofmeoutofmyskull.Thereonthe</p><p>floorIlaidforafewseconds.ThenIroseandlookedatmybodyonthebed.It</p><p>waslyingonitsbackandtossingfromsidetosidelikeoneinrecoveryfroma</p><p>great ordeal.As I contemplated it, hoping that itwould not fall off the bed, I</p><p>becameawarethatthevibrationwhichstartedthewholedramawasnotonlyin</p><p>myheadbutnowwasalsocomingfromthecorneroftheroom.AsIlookedover</p><p>tothecornerIwonderedifthatvibrationcouldbecausedbyaveryhighwind,a</p><p>windstrongenoughtovibratethewindow.Icouldnotbelievethatthevibration</p><p>whichIstill</p><p>feltwithinmyheadwasrelatedtothatwhichseemedtobecoming</p><p>fromthecorneroftheroom.</p><p>Lookingbacktothebed,Idiscoveredthatmybodywasgonebutinitsplace</p><p>sat my three oldest brothers. My oldest brother sat where the head was. My</p><p>secondandthirdbrotherssatwherethefeetwere.Noneseemedtobeawareof</p><p>me,althoughIwasawareof themandcoulddiscerntheir thoughts.Isuddenly</p><p>becameawareoftherealityofmyowninvisibility.Inoticedthatthey,too,were</p><p>disturbedbythevibrationcomingfromthecorneroftheroom.Mythirdbrother</p><p>wasthemostdisturbedandwentovertoinvestigatethecauseofthedisturbance.</p><p>His attention was attracted by something on the floor and looking down he</p><p>announced, “It isNeville’sbaby.”Myother twobrothers, inmost incredulous</p><p>voices,asked,“HowcanNevillehaveababy?”</p><p>Mybrother lifted the infantwrapped in swaddlingclothes and laidhimon</p><p>thebed.I,then,withmyinvisiblehandsliftedthebabeandaskedhim,“Howis</p><p>mysweetheart?”Helookedintomyeyesandsmiled,andIawokeinthisworld</p><p>—toponderthisgreatestofmymanymysticalexperiences.</p><p>OneothervisionIwilltellbecauseitbearsoutthetruthofmyassertionthat</p><p>theBibleismysticalfact—thateverythingwrittenaboutthePromisedChildisin</p><p>theLawofMoses,andtheprophets,andthePsalms,anditmustbemystically</p><p>experiencedintheimaginationoftheindividual.Thechild’sbirthisasignanda</p><p>portentsignalingtheresurrectionof thepatriarchsintheimaginationofhimin</p><p>whomthechildisborn.Sixmonthsafterthebirthofthechildavibrationsimilar</p><p>to theonewhichprecededhisbirth started inmyhead.This time its intensity</p><p>wascenteredatthetopofmyhead.ThencameasuddenexplosionandIfound</p><p>myselfinamodestlyfurnishedroom.There,leaningagainstthesideofanopen</p><p>doorwasmysonDavidofBiblicalfame.Hewasaladabouttwelveyearsold.</p><p>What struck me forcibly about him was the unusual beauty of his face and</p><p>figure. He was—as he is described in the first book of Samuel—ruddy, with</p><p>beautifuleyesandveryhandsome.</p><p>NotforonemomentdidIfeelmyselftobeanyoneotherthanNeville.Yet,I</p><p>knewthatthisladDavidwasmyson,andheknewthatIwashisfather.AsIsat</p><p>therecontemplatingthebeautyofmyson,thevisionfadedandIawoke.</p><p>What conclusion can be reached from these mystical experiences? A</p><p>chamberofman’simage,inman’simagination,isengravedwitheverypatriarch</p><p>andcharacterintheOldTestament,andthatafterthebirthofachildoutofthe</p><p>skull of man, signifying that man’s rebirth from above—there will begin the</p><p>resurrectionofthepatriarchs.Eachinhisturnwillberevealedasthesonofthe</p><p>manwho resurrects him.When all are resurrected from the dead, thatman in</p><p>whomtheyareresurrectedwillknowhimselftobeoftheElohim:theGodwho</p><p>becamemanthatmanmaybecomeGod.</p><p>XI</p><p>“THEPROMISE”</p><p>FourMysticalExperiences</p><p>chapterfromTheLawandthePromise</p><p>(1961)</p><p>In this final chapter fromNeville’s book TheLaw and the Promisehe expands on themystical</p><p>rebirththatheexperiencedinphasesstartingin1959.Nevilledescribesbeingrebornfromwithin</p><p>hisskullandsoonafterencounteringtheBiblicalDavidashisson.Theseepisodes,hetaught,are</p><p>necessaryrevelationsofone’sDivinenature,andallpeoplewillgo through them.Theseevents</p><p>revealthesecretofcreation:realizationofyourselfasGod.</p><p>One of his mystical revelations continued beyond the timeframe of this chapter. Neville</p><p>recountsitinthefinalessayofhis1966book,Resurrection.ThereNevilledescribesthefulfillment</p><p>of Christ’sministry on earthwith theHoly Spirit descending uponman in the form of a dove,</p><p>bringingcompleteandfinalunionwithGod.NevillemayhaveexperiencedthisstageinJanuary</p><p>1963,buthistellingleavesitunclear.</p><p>—MH</p><p>InallIhaverelatedthusfar—withtheexceptionofG.B.’sVisionofthechild1—</p><p>imaginationwasconsciouslyexercised.Menandwomencreatedstageplaysin</p><p>their imagination, plays implying the fulfillment of their desires. Then, by</p><p>imaginingthemselvesparticipatinginthesedramastheycreatedthatwhichtheir</p><p>imaginal acts implied. This is the wise use of God’s law. But “No man is</p><p>justifiedbeforeGodbythelaw.”Gal.3.11.</p><p>ManypeopleareinterestedinImaginismasawayoflife,butarenotatall</p><p>interested in its frameworkof faith, a faith leading to the fulfillmentofGod’s</p><p>promise. “Iwill raise up your son after you,who shall come forth from your</p><p>body…Iwillbehisfather,andheshallbemyson.”2Sam.7.12-14.</p><p>The promise that God will bring forth from our body a son who will be</p><p>“born, not of bloodnor of thewill of the flesh nor of thewill ofman, but of</p><p>God”doesnotconcern them.Theywant toknowGod’s law,notHispromise.</p><p>However,thismiraculousbirthhasbeenstatedclearlyasamustforallmankind</p><p>from the earliest days of the Christian fellowship. “You must be born from</p><p>above,” John 3:7.My purpose here is to state it again and to state it in such</p><p>languageandwithsuchreferencetomyownpersonalmysticalexperiencesthat</p><p>the reader will see that this birth “from above” is far more than a part of a</p><p>dispensablesuperstructure,thatitisthesolepurposeforGod’screation.</p><p>Specifically,mypurpose in recording these fourmystical experiences is to</p><p>showwhat“JesusChristthefaithfulwitness,thefirstbornfromthedead”(Rev.</p><p>1.5)wastryingtosayaboutthisbirthfromabove.“Howcanmenpreachunless</p><p>theyaresent?”Rom.10.15.</p><p>Manyyearsago,IwastakeninspiritintoaDivineSociety,aSocietyofmen</p><p>inwhomGodisawake.Thoughitmayseemstrange,thegodsdotrulymeet.As</p><p>Ienteredthissociety,thefirsttogreetmewastheembodimentofinfiniteMight.</p><p>Hiswasapowerunknowntomortals.IwasthentakentomeetinfiniteLove.He</p><p>askedme,“Whatisthegreatestthingintheworld?”Iansweredhiminthewords</p><p>ofPaul,“faith,hope,andlove,thesethree;butthegreatestoftheseislove.”At</p><p>thatmoment,heembracedmeandourbodiesfusedandbecameonebody.Iwas</p><p>knittohimandlovedhimasmyownsoul.Thewords,“loveofGod”sooftena</p><p>mere phrase, were now a reality with a tremendous meaning. Nothing ever</p><p>imaginedbymancouldbecomparedwiththislovewhichmanfeelsthroughhis</p><p>union with Love. The most intimate relationship on earth is like living in</p><p>separatecellscomparedwiththisunion.</p><p>While I was in this state of supreme delight, a voice from outer space</p><p>shouted, “Downwith the blue bloods!”At this blast, I foundmyself standing</p><p>before theonewhohad firstgreetedme,hewhoembodied infiniteMight.He</p><p>lookedintomyeyesandwithouttheuseofwordsormouth,Iheardwhathetold</p><p>me: “Time to act.” I was suddenly whisked out of that Divine Society and</p><p>returnedtoearth.IwastormentedbymylimitationsofunderstandingbutIknew</p><p>thatonthatdaytheDivineSocietyhadchosenmeasacompanionandsentme</p><p>topreachChrist—God’spromisetoman.</p><p>Mymysticalexperienceshavebroughtmetoacceptliterally,thesayingthat</p><p>alltheworld’sastage.AndtobelievethatGodplaysalltheparts.Thepurpose</p><p>of the play? To transformman, the created, intoGod, the creator. God loved</p><p>man,hiscreated,andbecamemaninfaiththatthisactofself-commissionwould</p><p>transformman—thecreated,intoGod—thecreator.</p><p>The play begins with the crucifixion of God onman—asman—and ends</p><p>withtheresurrectionofman—asGod.Godbecomesasweare,thatwemaybe</p><p>asHe is.God becomesman thatmanmay become, first—a living being, and</p><p>secondly—a</p><p>life-givingspirit.</p><p>“IhavebeencrucifiedwithChrist;itisnolongerIwholive,butChristwho</p><p>livesinme;andthelifeInowliveinthefleshIlivebyfaithintheSonofGod,</p><p>wholovedmeandgavehimselfforme.”Ga1.2:20.</p><p>GodtookuponHimselftheformofmanandbecameobedientuntodeath—</p><p>evendeathonthecrossofman—andiscrucifiedonGolgotha,theskullofman.</p><p>Godhimselfentersdeath’sdoor—thehumanskull—andliesdowninthegrave</p><p>ofmantomakemanalivingbeing.God’smercyturneddeathintosleep.Then</p><p>begantheprodigiousandunthinkablemetamorphosisofman,thetransformation</p><p>ofmanintoGod.</p><p>Noman, unaidedby the crucifixionofGod, could cross the threshold that</p><p>admitstoconsciouslife,butnowwehaveunionwithGodinhiscrucifiedself.</p><p>Helivesinusasourwonderfulhumanimagination.“Manisallimagination,and</p><p>God isman, and exists in us andwe in him. The eternal body ofman is the</p><p>imagination—thatis,God,himself.”Whenherisesinuswewillbelikehimand</p><p>hewill be like us.Then all impossibilitieswill dissolve in us at that touch of</p><p>exaltationwhichhisrisinginuswillimparttoournature.</p><p>Hereisthesecretoftheworld:Goddiedtogivemanlifeandtosetmanfree,</p><p>forhowever clearlyGod is awareofhis creation, it doesnot follow thatman,</p><p>imaginatively created, is aware ofGod.Towork thismiracleGod had to die,</p><p>thenriseagainasman,andnonehaseverexpresseditsoclearlyasBlake.Blake</p><p>says—orratherhasJesussay—“UnlessIdie, thoucanstnot live;but if IdieI</p><p>shallariseagainandthouwithme.Wouldestthouloveonewhoneverdiedfor</p><p>thee,oreverdieforonewhohadnotdiedforthee?AndifGoddiethnotforman</p><p>andgivethnothimselfeternallyforman,mancouldnotexist.”</p><p>So God dies—that is to say—God has freely given himself for man.</p><p>Deliberately,HehasbecomemanandhasforgottenthatHeisGod,inthehope</p><p>that man, thus created, will eventually rise as God. God has so completely</p><p>offeredHisownselfforman,thatHecriesoutonthecrossofman,“MyGod,</p><p>myGod;whyhast thou forsakenme?”Hehascompletely forgotten thatHe is</p><p>God.But afterGod rises inoneman, thatmanwill say tohisbrothers, “Why</p><p>standwehere,tremblingaround,callingonGodforhelp,andnotourselves,in</p><p>whomGoddwells?”</p><p>ThisfirstmanthathasbeenraisedfromthedeadisknownasJesusChrist—</p><p>the first fruits of thosewho have fallen asleep, the first-born of the dead. For</p><p>manGoddied;now,byaman,hascomealsotheresurrectionofthedead.Jesus</p><p>Christ resurrects his dead Father by becoming his father. In Adam—the</p><p>universal man—God sleeps. In Jesus Christ—the individualized God—God</p><p>wakes.Inwakingman,thecreated,hasbecomeGod,thecreator,andcantruly</p><p>say, “Before the world was, I am.” Just as God in His love for man so</p><p>completelyidentifiedHimselfwithmanthatHeforgotthatHewasGod,soman</p><p>inhis loveforGodmustsocompletelyidentifyhimselfwithGodthathelives</p><p>thelifeofGod,thatis,Imaginatively.</p><p>God’splaywhichtransformsmanintoGodisrevealedtousintheBible.It</p><p>iscompletelyconsistent inimageryandsymbolism.TheNewTestamentishid</p><p>intheOldTestament,andtheoldismanifestedinthenew.TheBibleisavision</p><p>ofGod’sLawandHisPromise.Itwasneverintendedtoteachhistorybutrather</p><p>toleadmaninfaiththroughthefurnacesofafflictiontothefulfillmentofGod’s</p><p>promise, to rouseman from this profound sleep and awaken him as God. Its</p><p>characters live not in the past but in an imaginative eternity. They are</p><p>personifications of the eternal spiritual states of the soul. They mark man’s</p><p>journeythrougheternaldeathandhisawakeningtoeternallife.</p><p>TheOldTestament tellsusofGod’spromise.TheNewTestament tellsus</p><p>nothowthispromisewas fulfilledbuthowit is fulfilled.Thecentral themeof</p><p>theBible is thedirect, individual,mysticalexperienceof thebirthof thechild,</p><p>that childofwhom theprophet spoke“… tous a child isborn, tous a son is</p><p>given; and the government will be upon his shoulder; and his name will be</p><p>called,WonderfulCounselor,MightyGod,EverlastingFather,PrinceofPeace.</p><p>Oftheincreaseofhisgovernmentandofpeace,therewillbenoend…”Isaiah</p><p>9:6-7.</p><p>Whenthechildisrevealedtousweseeit,weexperienceit,andtheresponse</p><p>tothisrevelationcanbestatedinthewordsofJob,“Ihaveheardoftheebythe</p><p>hearingoftheear,butnowmyeyeseesthee.”Thestoryoftheincarnationisnot</p><p>fable,allegoryorsomecarefullycontrivedfictiontoenslavethemindsofmen,</p><p>butmysticalfact.Itisapersonalmysticalexperienceofthebirthofoneselfout</p><p>of one’s own skull, symbolized in the birth of a child, wrapped in swaddling</p><p>clothesandlyingonthefloor.</p><p>Thereisadistinctionbetweenhearingofthisbirthofachildfromone’sown</p><p>skull—abirthwhichnoscientistorhistoriancouldeverpossiblyexplain—and</p><p>actually experiencing the birth—holding in your own hands and seeing with</p><p>yourowneyesthismiraculouschild—achildbornfromaboveoutofyourown</p><p>skull,abirthcontrarytoallthelawsofnature.Thequestionasitisposedinthe</p><p>OldTestament,“Asknow,andsee,canamalebearachild?WhythendoIsee</p><p>everymanwithhishandsdeliveringhimself like awoman in labor?Whyhas</p><p>every face turned pale?” Jer: 30.6. The Hebrew word “chalats” mistranslated</p><p>“loins”means:todrawout,todeliver,towithdrawself.Thedrawingofoneself</p><p>outofone’sown skullwas exactlywhat theprophet foresawas thenecessary</p><p>birth from above, a birth giving man entrance into the kingdom of God and</p><p>reflectiveperceptiononthehighestlevelsofBeing.Throughouttheages“Deep</p><p>callstodeep…Rousethyself!Whysleepestthou,OLord?Awake!”</p><p>Theevent,asitisrecordedinthegospels,actuallytakesplaceinman.Butof</p><p>thatdayorthathourwhenthetimewillcomefortheindividualtobedelivered,</p><p>nooneknowsbut theFather. “Donotmarvel that I said toyou,Youmustbe</p><p>bornfromabove.Thewindblowswhereitwills,andyouhearthesoundofit,</p><p>butyoudonotknowwhenceitcomesorwhitheritgoes;soitiswitheveryone</p><p>whoisbornoftheSpirit.”John3:7-8.</p><p>ThisrevelationintheGospelofJohnistrue.Hereismyexperienceofthis</p><p>birthfromabove.LikePaul,Ididnotreceiveitfromman—norwasItaughtit.It</p><p>came through the actualmystical experience of being born from above.None</p><p>canspeaktrulyofthismysticalbirthfromabovebutonewhohasexperiencedit.</p><p>I had no idea that this birth from above was literally true. Who, before the</p><p>experience, could believe that the child, theWonderfulCounselor, theMighty</p><p>God,theEverlastingFather,thePrinceofPeacewasinwoveninhisownskull?</p><p>Who, before the experience,would understand that hisMaker is hisHusband</p><p>andtheLordofHostsisHisName?Whowouldbelievethatthecreatorwentin</p><p>untohisowncreation,man,andknewittobehimselfandthatthisentranceinto</p><p>theskullofman—thisunionofGodandman—resultedinthebirthofaSonout</p><p>oftheskullofman;whichbirthgavetothatmaneternallifeandunionwithhis</p><p>creatorforever?</p><p>IfInowtellwhatIexperiencedthatnightIdosonottoimposemyideason</p><p>othersbutthatImaygivehopetothosewho,likeNicodemus,wonderhowcana</p><p>manbebornwhenheisold?Howcanheenterasecondtimeintohismother’s</p><p>wombandbeborn?Howcanthisbe?Thisishowithappenedtome.Therefore,</p><p>Iwill now“write the vision”; and “make it plain upon tablets, so hemay run</p><p>whoreadsit.Forstillthevisionawaitsitstime;ithastenstotheend—itwillnot</p><p>lie.Ifitseemslow,wait</p><p>tobetheawarenessofbeing.Wehavealsoidentifiedthe</p><p>“door”tobetheawarenessofbeing.So“shuttingthedoor”isshuttingoutthat</p><p>which “I” am now aware of being and claiming myself to be that which “I”</p><p>desiretobe.Theverymomentmyclaimisestablishedtothepointofconviction,</p><p>thatmomentIbegintodrawuntomyselftheevidenceofmyclaim.</p><p>Donotquestion thehowof these thingsappearing, fornomanknows that</p><p>way.Thatis,nomanifestationknowshowthethingsdesiredwillappear.</p><p>Consciousness is thewayordoor throughwhich thingsappear.Hesaid,“I</p><p>AMtheway”—not“I,”JohnSmith,amtheway,but“IAM,”theawarenessof</p><p>being,isthewaythroughwhichthethingshallcome.Thesignsalwaysfollow.</p><p>They never precede. Things have no reality other than in consciousness.</p><p>Therefore,gettheconsciousnessfirstandthethingiscompelledtoappear.</p><p>Youare told,“Seekye first thekingdomofHeavenandall thingsshallbe</p><p>addeduntoyou.”Getfirst theconsciousnessof thethingsthatyouareseeking</p><p>andleavethethingsalone.Thisiswhatismeantby“Yeshalldecreeathingand</p><p>it shall come to pass.” Apply this principle and you will know what it is to</p><p>“provemeandsee.”ThestoryofMaryisthestoryofeveryman.Marywasnot</p><p>awoman—givingbirth insomemiraculousway toonecalled‘Jesus.’Mary is</p><p>theawarenessofbeingthateverremainsvirgin,nomatterhowmanydesiresit</p><p>gives birth to. Right now look upon yourself as this virgin Mary—being</p><p>impregnated by yourself through the medium of desire—becoming one with</p><p>yourdesiretothepointofembodyingorgivingbirthtoyourdesire.</p><p>For instance: It is saidofMary (whomyounowknow tobeyourself) that</p><p>she know not a man. Yet she conceived. That is, you, John Smith, have no</p><p>reason to believe that that which you now desire is possible, but having</p><p>discoveredyour awarenessofbeing tobeGod,youmake this awarenessyour</p><p>husbandandconceiveamanchild(manifestation)oftheLord,“Forthymakeris</p><p>thinehusband; theLordofhosts ishisname; theLordGodof thewholeearth</p><p>shall he be called.” Your ideal or ambition is this conception—the first</p><p>commandtoher,whichisnowtoyourself,is“Go,tellnoman.”Thatis,donot</p><p>discussyourambitionsordesireswithanotherfortheotherwillonlyechoyour</p><p>presentfears.Secrecyisthefirstlawtobeobservedinrealizingyourdesire.</p><p>Thesecond,asweare told in thestoryofMary, is to“Magnify theLord.”</p><p>WehaveidentifiedtheLordasyourawarenessofbeing.Therefore,to“magnify</p><p>theLord” is to revalueorexpandone’spresentconceptionofone’sself to the</p><p>pointwherethisrevaluationbecomesnatural.Whenthisnaturalnessisattained</p><p>yougivebirthbybecomingthatwhichyouareonewithinconsciousness.</p><p>ThestoryofcreationisgivenusindigestforminthefirstchapterofJohn.</p><p>“Inthebeginningwastheword.”Now,thisverysecond,isthe“beginning”</p><p>spoken of. It is the beginning of an urge—a desire. “Theword” is the desire</p><p>swimming around in your consciousness—seeking embodiment. The urge of</p><p>itself has no reality, for “IAM”or the awareness of being is the only reality.</p><p>ThingsliveonlyaslongasIAMawareofbeingthem;sotorealizeone’sdesire,</p><p>thesecondlineofthisfirstverseofJohnmustbeapplied.Thatis,“Andtheword</p><p>waswithGod.”Theword,ordesire,mustbefixedorunitedwithconsciousness</p><p>to give it reality. The awareness becomes aware of being the thing desired,</p><p>thereby nailing itself upon the form or conception—and giving life unto its</p><p>conception—or resurrecting that which was heretofore a dead or unfulfilled</p><p>desire. “Two shall agree as touching anything and it shall be established on</p><p>earth.”</p><p>This agreement is never made between two persons. It is between the</p><p>awareness and the thing desired.You are now conscious of being, so you are</p><p>actuallysayingtoyourself,withoutusingwords,“IAM.”Now,ifitisastateof</p><p>healththatyouaredesirousofattaining,beforeyouhaveanyevidenceofhealth</p><p>inyourworld,youbegintoFEELyourself tobehealthy.Andtheverysecond</p><p>thefeeling“IAMhealthy” isattained the twohaveagreed.That is, IAMand</p><p>health have agreed to be one and this agreement ever results in the birth of a</p><p>childwhichisthethingagreedupon—inthiscase,health.AndbecauseImade</p><p>theagreementIexpressthethingagreed.SoyoucanseewhyMosesstated,“I</p><p>AM hath sent me.” For what being, other than I AM could send you into</p><p>expression?None—for “IAM theway—Besideme there is no other.” If you</p><p>takethewingsofthemorningandflyintotheuttermostpartsoftheworldorif</p><p>youmakeyourbedinHell,youwillstillbeawareofbeing.Youareeversent</p><p>intoexpressionbyyourawarenessandyourexpression is ever thatwhichyou</p><p>areawareofbeing.</p><p>Again,Mosesstated,“IAMthat IAM.”Nowhere issomething toalways</p><p>bearinmind.Youcannotputnewwineinoldbottlesornewpatchesuponold</p><p>garments.Thatis;youcannottakewithyouintothenewconsciousnessanypart</p><p>oftheoldman.Allofyourpresentbeliefs,fearsandlimitationsareweightsthat</p><p>bind you to your present level of consciousness. If you would transcend this</p><p>levelyoumust leavebehindall that isnowyourpresentself,orconceptionof</p><p>yourself. To do this you take your attention away from all that is now your</p><p>problemor limitation and dwell upon just being. That is; you say silently but</p><p>feeling to yourself, “I AM.” Do not condition this “awareness” as yet. Just</p><p>declareyourselftobe,andcontinuetodoso,untilyouarelostinthefeelingof</p><p>just being—faceless and formless. When this expansion of consciousness is</p><p>attained, then, within this formless deep of yourself give form to the new</p><p>conceptionbyFEELINGyourselftobeTHATwhichyoudesiretobe.</p><p>Youwillfindwithinthisdeepofyourselfallthingstobedivinelypossible.</p><p>Everythingintheworldwhichyoucanconceiveofbeing,istoyou,withinthis</p><p>presentformlessawareness,amostnaturalattainment.</p><p>TheinvitationgivenusintheScripturesis—“tobeabsentfromthebodyand</p><p>bepresentwiththeLord.”The“body”beingyourformerconceptionofyourself</p><p>and“theLord”—yourawarenessofbeing.ThisiswhatismeantwhenJesussaid</p><p>toNicodemus, “Yemustbebornagain for exceptyebebornagainye cannot</p><p>enter the kingdom of Heaven.” That is; except you leave behind you your</p><p>presentconceptionofyourselfandassumethenatureofthenewbirth,youwill</p><p>continuetoout-pictureyourpresentlimitations.</p><p>The only way to change your expressions of life is to change your</p><p>consciousness.For consciousness is the reality that eternally solidifies itself in</p><p>thethingsroundaboutyou.Man’sworldinitseverydetailishisconsciousness</p><p>out-pictured. You can no more change your environment, or world, by</p><p>destroying things than you can your reflection by destroying themirror.Your</p><p>environment,andallwithinit,reflectsthatwhichyouareinconsciousness.As</p><p>long as you continue to be that in consciousness so longwill you continue to</p><p>out-pictureitinyourworld.</p><p>Knowingthis,begintorevalueyourself.Manhasplacedtoolittlevalueupon</p><p>himself.IntheBookofNumbersyouwillread,“Inthatdaythereweregiantsin</p><p>the land;andwewere inourownsightasgrasshoppers.Andwewere in their</p><p>sightasgrasshoppers.”Thisdoesnotmeanatimeinthedimpastwhenmanhad</p><p>thestatureofgiants.Todayistheday—theeternalnow—whenconditionsround</p><p>about you have attained the appearance of giants (such as unemployed,</p><p>forit;itwillsurelycome,itwillnotdelay.Behold,he</p><p>whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his</p><p>faith.”Hab.2:2-4.</p><p>In the early hours of the morning on July 20, 1959, in the city of San</p><p>Francisco, a heavenly dream in which the arts flourished was suddenly</p><p>interruptedbythemostintensevibrationcenteredatthebaseofmyskull.Thena</p><p>drama,asrealasthoseIexperiencewhenIamfullyawake,begantounfold.I</p><p>awokefromadreamtofindmyselfcompletelyentombedwithinmyskull.Itried</p><p>to forcemyway out through its base. Something gaveway and I feltmyself</p><p>moveheaddownward,throughthebaseofmyskull.Isqueezedmyselfout,inch</p><p>byinch.WhenIwasalmostout,IheldwhatItooktobethefootofthebedand</p><p>pulledtheremainingportionofmeoutofmyskull.There,onthefloor,Ilayfor</p><p>afewseconds.</p><p>ThenIroseandlookedatmybodyonthebed.Itwaspaleoffacelyingonits</p><p>backandtossingfromsidetosidelikeoneinrecoveryfromagreatordeal.AsI</p><p>contemplatedit,hopingthatitwouldnotfalloffthebed,Ibecameawarethatthe</p><p>vibrationwhichstartedthewholedramawasnotonlyinmyheadbutnowwas</p><p>also coming from the corner of the room. As I looked over to that corner I</p><p>wonderedif thatvibrationcouldbecausedbyaveryhighwind,awindstrong</p><p>enoughtovibratethewindow.IdidnotrealizethatthevibrationwhichIstillfelt</p><p>withinmyheadwasrelatedtothatwhichseemedtobecomingfromthecorner</p><p>oftheroom.</p><p>Lookingbacktothebed,Idiscoveredthatmybodywasgonebutinitsplace</p><p>sat my three older brothers. My oldest brother sat where the head was. My</p><p>secondandthirdbrotherssatwherethefeetwere.Noneseemedtobeawareof</p><p>me,althoughIwasawareof themandcoulddiscerntheir thoughts.Isuddenly</p><p>becameawareoftherealityofmyowninvisibility.Inoticedthatthey,too,were</p><p>disturbedbythevibrationcomingfromthecorneroftheroom.Mythirdbrother</p><p>wasthemostdisturbedandwentovertoinvestigatethecauseofthedisturbance.</p><p>His attention was attracted by something on the floor and looking down he</p><p>announced, “It’sNeville’s baby.”My other two brothers, inmost incredulous</p><p>voices,asked“HowcanNevillehaveababy?”</p><p>Mybrother lifted the infantwrapped in swaddlingclothes and laidhimon</p><p>thebed.I,then,withmyinvisiblehandsliftedthebabeandaskedhim“Howis</p><p>mysweetheart?”HelookedintomyeyesandsmiledandIawokeinthisworld—</p><p>toponderthisgreatestofmymanymysticalexperiences.</p><p>Tennyson has a description of Death as a warrior—a skeleton “high on a</p><p>night-black horse,” issuing forth at midnight. But when Gareth’s sword cut</p><p>throughtheskull,therewasinit…</p><p>…thebrightfaceofabloomingboyFreshasaflowernew-born.”</p><p>—(IDYLLSOFTHEKING)</p><p>TwoothervisionsIwilltellbecausetheybearoutthetruthofmyassertion</p><p>thattheBibleismysticalfact,thateverythingwrittenaboutthepromisedchildin</p><p>the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be mystically</p><p>experiencedintheimaginationoftheindividual.Thechild’sbirthisasignanda</p><p>portent, signaling the resurrection ofDavid, theLord’s anointed, ofwhomHe</p><p>said,“Youaremyson,todayIhavebegottenyou.”Psalms2:7.</p><p>Five months after the birth of the child, on the morning of December 6,</p><p>1959,inthecityofLosAngeles,avibrationsimilartotheonewhichpreceded</p><p>hisbirthstartedinmyhead.Thistimeitsintensitywascenteredatthetopofmy</p><p>head.ThencameasuddenexplosionandIfoundmyselfinamodestlyfurnished</p><p>room. There, leaning against the side of an open door was my son David of</p><p>Biblical fame.Hewas a lad in his early teens.What struckme forcibly about</p><p>himwastheunusualbeautyofhisfaceandfigure.Hewas—asheisdescribedin</p><p>thefirstbookofSamuel—ruddy,withbeautifuleyesandveryhandsome.</p><p>NotforonemomentdidIfeelmyselftobeanyoneotherthanwhoIamnow.</p><p>Yet,Iknewthatthislad,David,wasmyson,andheknewthatIwashisfather;</p><p>for “the wisdom from above is without uncertainty.” As I sat there</p><p>contemplatingthebeautyofmyson,thevisionfadedandIawoke.</p><p>“‘IandthechildrenwhomtheLordhasgivenmearesignsandportents in</p><p>Israel fromtheLordofhosts,whodwellsonMountZion.’ Is.8:18.Godgave</p><p>meDavid asmyvery own son. ‘Iwill raise up your son after you,who shall</p><p>comeforth fromyourbody…Iwillbehis father,andheshallbemyson.’2</p><p>Sam.7:12-14.GodisknowninnootherwaythanthroughtheSon.</p><p>“‘No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is</p><p>except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.’ Luke</p><p>10:22.TheexperienceofbeingDavid’sFatheristheendofman’spilgrimageon</p><p>earth.ThepurposeoflifeistofindtheFatherofDavid,theLord’sanointed,the</p><p>Christ.‘Abner,whosesonisthisyouth?’AndAbnersaid,‘Asyoursoullives,O</p><p>king,Icannottell.’Andthekingsaid,‘Inquirewhosesonthestriplingis.’And</p><p>as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and</p><p>broughthimbeforeSaulwith theheadof thePhilistine inhishand.AndSaul</p><p>saidtohim,‘Whosesonareyou,youngman?’AndDavidanswered,‘Iamthe</p><p>sonofyourservantJessetheBethlehemite.’1Sam.17:55-58.Jesseisanyform</p><p>of the verb ‘to be.’ In other words, I Am the Son of who I Am, I am self</p><p>begotten, IAmtheSonofGod, theFather. IandmyFatherareone. Iam the</p><p>imageoftheinvisibleGod.HewhohasseenmehasseentheFather.</p><p>“‘Whose son…?’ is not about David but about David’s father, whom the</p><p>king had promised (1 Sam. 17:25) to make free in Israel. Note: in all these</p><p>passages (1Sam.17:55,56, and58) theking’s inquiry isnot aboutDavidbut</p><p>aboutDavid’sFather. ‘Ihave foundDavid,myservant;…Heshall cry tome,</p><p>“ThouartmyFather,myGod,andtheRockofmysalvation.AndIwillmake</p><p>himthefirst-born,thehighestofthekingsoftheearth.’”Psalms89.</p><p>TheindividualwhoisbornfromabovewillfindDavidandknowhimtobe</p><p>his very own son. Then he will ask the Pharisees—who are always with us</p><p>—“WhatdoyouthinkoftheChrist?Whosesonishe?”Andwhentheysayto</p><p>him,“ThesonofDavid.”Hewillsaytothem,“HowisitthenthatDavid,inthe</p><p>Spirit,callshimLord…IfDavidthuscallshimLord,howishehisson?”Matt.</p><p>22:41–45.Man’smisconceptionoftheroleoftheSon—whichisonlyasignand</p><p>a portent—has made the Son an idol. “Little children, keep yourselves from</p><p>idols.”1John5:21.</p><p>God awakes; and thatman inwhom he awakes becomes his own father’s</p><p>father.HewhowasDavid’sson,“JesusChrist,thesonofDavid”Matt.1:1.has</p><p>becomeDavid’sFather.</p><p>No longer will I cry to “our father David, thy child.” Acts 4:25. “I have</p><p>foundDavid.” He has cried tome, “Thou art my Father.” Psalms 89. Now I</p><p>knowmyselftobeoneoftheElohim,theGodwhobecameman,thatmanmay</p><p>becomeGod.“Greatindeed,weconfess,isthemysteryofourreligion.”1Tim.</p><p>3:16.IftheBiblewerehistoryitwouldnotbeamystery.“Waitforthepromise</p><p>oftheFather.”Acts1:4.thatis,forDavid—God’sSon—whowillrevealyouas</p><p>theFather.Thispromise,saysJesus,youheardfromme.(Luke24:49)andtoits</p><p>fulfillmentatthatmomentintimewhenitpleasesGodtogiveyouhisSon—as</p><p>“youroffspring,whichisChrist.”Gal.3:16.</p><p>A figure of speech is used for the purpose of calling attention to,</p><p>emphasizingandintensifyingtherealityoftheliteralsense.Thetruthisliteral;</p><p>thewordsusedarefigurative.“Thecurtainofthetemplewastornintwo,from</p><p>toptobottom,</p><p>andtheearthshookandtherocksweresplit.”Matt.27:51.</p><p>OnthemorningofApril8,1960—fourmonthsafter itwasrevealed tome</p><p>thatIamDavid’sfather—aboltoflightningoutofmyskullsplitmeintwofrom</p><p>thetopofmyskulltothebaseofmyspine.IwascleftasthoughIwereatree</p><p>thathadbeenstruckbylightning.ThenIfeltandsawmyselfasagoldenliquid</p><p>light moving up my spine in a serpentine motion; as I entered my skull it</p><p>vibrated likeanearthquake.“EverywordofGodproves true;he isa shield to</p><p>thosewhotakerefugeinhim.Donotaddtohiswords,lestherebukeyou,and</p><p>youbefoundaliar.”“AndasMoseslifteduptheserpentinthewilderness,so</p><p>musttheSonofmanbeliftedup.”John3:14.</p><p>ThesemysticalexperienceswillhelptorescuetheBiblefromtheexternals</p><p>ofhistory,personsandevents,andtorestoreittoitsrealsignificanceinthelife</p><p>ofman.Scripturemustbefulfilled“in”us.God’spromisewillbefulfilled.You</p><p>willhavetheseexperiences:“AndyoushallbemywitnessesinJerusalemandin</p><p>allJudeaandSa-ma-ri-aandtotheendoftheearth.”Acts1:8.</p><p>Thewideningcircle—Jerusalem…Judea…Samariatheendoftheearth—</p><p>isGod’splan.</p><p>ThePromise is stillmaturing to its time, its appointed time,buthow long,</p><p>vastandseverethetrialse’reyoufindDavid,yourson,whowillrevealyouas</p><p>God,TheFather,werelongtotell;butithastenstotheend;itwillnotfail.So</p><p>wait,fortherewillbenopostponement.</p><p>“IsanythingtoowonderfulfortheLord?AttheappointedtimeIwill</p><p>returntoyou,inthespring,andSarahshallhaveason.”</p><p>—GEN.18:14.</p><p>XII</p><p>“ALESSONINSCRIPTURE”</p><p>ALecture</p><p>October23,1967</p><p>This lecturedemonstrates, perhapsmore fully thananyofNeville’s talks, his progressionaway</p><p>fromanemphasisonmentalcausationanddesirefulfillment,andtowardtherealizationofone’s</p><p>Divinenature.Mentalcausationandthecreativeusesofthoughtalwaysremainedacorepartof</p><p>Neville’sphilosophy;buthereheemphasizesthatdesirefulfillmentisatoolintendedtointroduce</p><p>you to your sacred self. Speaking personally, this lecture marked a turning point in my own</p><p>understandingofNeville’sideas,particularlywhenhenotes:“Whatwouldbegoodforyou?Tell</p><p>me,becauseintheendeveryconflictwillresolveitselfastheworldissimplymirroringthebeing</p><p>youareassuming thatyouare.Onedayyouwillbesosaturatedwithwealth,sosaturatedwith</p><p>powerintheworldofCaesar,youwillturnyourbackonitallandgoinsearchfortheWordof</p><p>God.”</p><p>—MH</p><p>Inthesecondchapterof theBookofLuke, thestoryis toldofJesus’sparents,</p><p>worriedandseekinghimforthreedays,findinghimandcomplaining,towhich</p><p>Jesussaid:“Howisit thatyousoughtme?KnowyounotthatImustbeabout</p><p>myFather’sbusiness?”Iaskyounottoputyourselfinthatframeofmind.Your</p><p>earthly parents seek you and, at the tender age of twelve, you dare to say to</p><p>them:“ImustbeaboutmyFather’sbusiness.”</p><p>Thisstatementhasreferencetothe40thPsalmandthe4thchapterofJohn.</p><p>Inthe40thPsalmyouaretold:“Intheroleofthebookitiswrittenaboutme.”</p><p>Everyman is destined to discover that scripture is his autobiography. It’s not</p><p>writtenaboutindividualbeingslikeJesusChrist,Moses,Abraham,Isaac,Jacob,</p><p>andsoonwholivedunnumberedyearsago,butabout the individualyou!The</p><p>4thchapteroftheBookofJohnbeginswithadiscussionbetweentheLordJesus</p><p>ChristandawomanofSamariaaboutawellandwater.Afterthisdiscussionthe</p><p>disciplessaytoJesus:“Masteryouhavehadnothingtoeat,”andhereplies:“I</p><p>havefoodyouknownotof.Myfoodistodothewillofhimwhosentmeandto</p><p>finishhiswork.”</p><p>This is true.Youhavecomeinto thisworldonly tofinish theworkofhim</p><p>whosentyou.Andwhoishe?TheFather.“Hewhoseesme,seeshewhosent</p><p>me.IcameoutfromtheFatherandcameintotheworld.AgainIleavetheworld</p><p>andreturntotheFather.HewhoseesmeseestheFather,forIandtheFatherare</p><p>one.”</p><p>Conceiving the thought in the beginning, God had to have an agent to</p><p>expressit.EverythinginthisworldneedsmantoexpressitandmayItellyou:</p><p>Godisman.InthebeginningGodmademaninhisimage.“Male/femalemade</p><p>he them and called their nameMan.” Read it carefully in the 5th chapter of</p><p>Genesis.CreatingMantoexpresshimself,Godcomesintotheworldtoexpress</p><p>andfinishwhatheconceivedinthebeginning.Conceivingastateandknowing</p><p>it takesamantoexpress it,Godsenthimselffromthedepthofhisownbeing</p><p>intothisworldtofulfillthestate.</p><p>“InthebeginningwastheWord(thepurpose)andtheWordwaswithGod</p><p>andtheWordwasGod.”TheOldTestamentisGod’sWord(hisplan)whichhe</p><p>madeknownthroughhisservants, theprophets.TheNewTestament interprets</p><p>theOld.ThestoryofJesusChrististheinterpretationoftheprophecyrecorded</p><p>intheOld.Readitcarefully,foreverythingsaidofJesusChrist,youaregoingto</p><p>experience.Itissaid:“HisnameshallbecalledtheWordofGod.”CalledGod’s</p><p>Word, his seed, his creative power, your imagination isGod’s creative power</p><p>andwisdom.Canyouconceiveofanygreaterwisdomthanyourownwonderful</p><p>humanimagination?Thinkofsomething.Themomentyoudo,it’srightbefore</p><p>yourmind’seye.Maybeyoucan’tdrawastraightline,yetyoucanimagineyour</p><p>mother even though she is gone from this world. Think of anyone and they</p><p>instantly appear before yourmind’s eye. That is your ownwonderful creative</p><p>power-filledimagination,whoisJesusChristinyou.Itishewhohascomeinto</p><p>theworld to fulfill theWord ofGod, and everythingmust be fulfilled by the</p><p>JesusChristinyou,whoisyourhopeofglory.</p><p>We are told in the 22nd chapter of theBook of Luke: “Scripturemust be</p><p>fulfilled inme,” soyoumustbe aboutyourFather’sbusinessbyexperiencing</p><p>everythingsaidofJesusChristinscripture.Themiraculousbirthwillbeyours,</p><p>thediscoveryof theFatherhood, theascent intoheavenand thedescentof the</p><p>HolySpirituponyou in thebodilyformofadove.Then like thepsalmistyou</p><p>willsay:“Thouhastdeliveredmefromtheworldofdeath,”foryouwillknow</p><p>fromexperiencethatinthevolumeofthebookitwasallaboutyou!</p><p>Ihavebeensentfromthedepthofmysoultoactasamagnettothosewho</p><p>areabouttofulfillscripture,andtheycome,eachinhisownorder.LastFriday</p><p>morningmyfriendBenniefoundhimselfcataleptic.Unabletoopenhiseyesor</p><p>movehisbody,Bencouldhearwithinhimself the cryof a child ashe felt an</p><p>unearthly wind in his skull. Then a star exploded from his skull and a child</p><p>wrapped in swaddling clothes fell into his arms.Looking at the child he said:</p><p>“Oh,mydarling,”andknewthatnooneineternitycouldcareforthatchildbut</p><p>himself.Asthevisionfadedhewasgivenaphotographofthechild.</p><p>The birth from above came to Bennie that way. He was left with a</p><p>photograph. This happened on the 20th day of October. Now, if the current</p><p>recordof order is correct (and it hashappened tomy friendBobandmyself),</p><p>fivemonths fromnowBenniewill experience the comingofGod’s onlySon,</p><p>David,whowill reveal him as theFather. I ambasingmy interpretation from</p><p>whathetoldme,andIsaythebirthhashappenedtohim.Whyshouldthebirth</p><p>occurinthesamemannertoanytwowhenGodisinfiniteinhiscreation?Ofall</p><p>thechildrenwhocomeintotheworld,seeminglyfromthewombofwoman,no</p><p>twobirthsareexactlyalike,thereisalwayssomethingdifferent.</p><p>OnlyacoupleofdaysbeforethishappenedtoBennie,hesaid:“Inthespirit</p><p>youwere teaching theword ofGodwhen someone said: ‘Tell us</p><p>the story of</p><p>Jesus’andyoureplied:‘ThestoryofJesusisapersistentassumptionthatyouare</p><p>whatyouwanttobe,thatthingsareasyoudesirethemtobe.’”Thisistrue,for</p><p>unlessyoubelievethatyouarethebeingyounowworshipontheoutside,you</p><p>remaindesiringanddieinyoursinsofunfulfilleddesires.You’vegottobeginto</p><p>believethatyouareJesusChrist,theWordofGod,which—havinggoneoutwill</p><p>not return empty, butwill fulfill your purpose and accomplish thatwhichyou</p><p>sentyourselftodo.Whatisthat?Tofulfillscripture.That’sallyouareherefor.</p><p>Onthislevelyoucanberichifthatisyourdesire,butrememberthestoryof</p><p>Jesus is persistent assumption.You can persist in the assumption that you are</p><p>wealthy.Ihavemanyfriendsacrossthiscountrywhoarevery,verywealthy,yet</p><p>Iwouldsayninety-ninepercentofthemaremiserable;buttheywillalltellyou</p><p>thesamething.Ithinkofoneinparticularnow.Shehasafortuneindiamonds.</p><p>Tiffany,whosellsdiamondsmarkedup300–400%,offeredher$100,000forone</p><p>piece.WhenshejoinsusfordinnerinNewYorkCityshewearsabroach,aring,</p><p>andapendant,worthahalfmilliondollars.Ruthwasbornaverypoorgirland—</p><p>desiring wealth—she persistently assumed she was married to tremendous</p><p>wealth.Shehadnomoney.Heronlyclaimtoanysocialstatuswasthatshewas</p><p>adescendantoftheAdamswhowereintheWhiteHouse.He,ontheotherhand,</p><p>cameoutofalineofrascals.Hisgreat-grandfatherwasabishopinNewYork;</p><p>therefore,hehadgoodadviceastohisdescentandhowtoguardit.Ruthmarried</p><p>andlivedinhellfortwenty-oddyears,bearinghimthreesons.Nowwellintoher</p><p>seventies,heronlydesireistomarrymorewealthandhavemorediamonds.</p><p>Thatisallright.ThestoryofJesusisacompleteandundeviatingpersistence</p><p>intheassumptionthatyouarewhatyouwanttobe.Ifyouhaven’texperienced</p><p>wealthand that iswhatyouwant,persistentlyassume:“I amwealthy.” Ifyou</p><p>havenotexperiencedfame,assumeyouarefamous,but,“Thedaywillcome,”</p><p>saiththeLord“whenIwillsendafamineuponyou.Itwillnotbeahungerfor</p><p>breadorathirstforwater,butforthehearingofmyWord.”Ifthathungerhasn’t</p><p>cometoyou,thentakethesamestoryofJesusandfulfillyoureverydesire.</p><p>When I am in New York, my friend comes to every meeting. She is a</p><p>delightfulperson,butsheisbrutallyhonestwithherdesires.Shewantsmoreand</p><p>more diamonds,more emeralds,moremuseum pieces. She confessed that she</p><p>hadnohungertohearanythingaboutDavid,butwantsmoreandmoremoneyto</p><p>leaveher three sons.Shewantsmore andmoreworldly illusions;but it ismy</p><p>hope that the hunger has come to youwho are here—not formore andmore</p><p>breadandwater,butforhearingthewordofGodwithunderstanding.</p><p>TheBookofLukebegins:“Ihavecometofulfillscripture.Thenbeginning</p><p>withMosesinthelawandtheprophetsandthepsalms,heinterpretedtothemin</p><p>allthescripturesthethingsconcerninghimself.”Questioninghisearthlyparents,</p><p>he asks: “Why do you seek me? Do you not know that I must be about my</p><p>Father’s business?”… fulfilling scripture? Entering the temple, he is given a</p><p>bookwhichheopensandreadsthefirstverseandhalfofthesecondofthe61st</p><p>chapterofIsaiah,saying:“TheSpiritoftheLordisuponme,forhehasanointed</p><p>metopreachgladtidingstothepoorandsuffering.Toopentheprisondoorsto</p><p>allwhoareinprison.”</p><p>Now, claiming to have come only to fulfill scripture, he tells you that the</p><p>Spiritof theLordGodwasuponhim thatday. It isnot expressed thatway in</p><p>Luke, but he says—asyouheard it “this day”—itwas fulfilled.What doeshe</p><p>mean? That he saw the Spirit descend in bodily form as a dove. It has been</p><p>fulfilledinhimandheisurgingeveryonetofollowhispattern,fornoonecomes</p><p>to the Father save by this pattern. The Spirit of the Lord God descended in</p><p>bodilyformasadove.ThesamedovewhoreturnedtoNoahintheark.Manis</p><p>thearkofGodand thedove—coming tobringassurance thateverything isall</p><p>right—descendsuponone,andasitremainsheistoldto“Riseandanointhim,</p><p>forthisishe.”Luketellsyouhowheisfulfillingscripture,forheknowsthat“In</p><p>thevolumeofthebookitisallaboutme.”</p><p>LikePaul, Ihavenot restrainedmy lips. Ihave toldofyourdeliverance. I</p><p>havetoldofyoureverlastinglovetoanyoneandeveryonewhowilllisten.They</p><p>maynotacceptmywords,butIdoknowthatwithinacertaingroupthehunger</p><p>isthereandtheywillallbegintoawake.</p><p>Now, in the thirtieth chapter of the Book of Jeremiah, the Lord speaks,</p><p>saying:“Canamanbearachild?WhythendoIseeeverymanwithhishands</p><p>pulling himself out of himself like a woman in labor.” The Hebrew word</p><p>“chalats”(translated inboth theKingJamesVersionandtheRevisedStandard</p><p>Versionas“loins”)means“totakeoff;topulloneselfoutofoneself;todeliver.”</p><p>WhenthePsalmistsaid:“Hehasdeliveredmysoulfromdeath”hewasspeaking</p><p>ofthephysicalbody.Itisagarmentofdeathwhichappearsintheworld,waxes,</p><p>wanes, vanishes, and turns into dust. The word translated “delivered” in the</p><p>Psalms,isthesamewordwhichwastranslated“loins”inJeremiah.</p><p>So, can amanbear a child?Yes.Let us goback towhat I quoted earlier.</p><p>“Male/femalemadehethemandcalledtheirnameMan.”Thereisawombinthe</p><p>male/femaleunlikethatofanearthlywoman.Thiswombistheskullofgeneric</p><p>man. It is there thatGodhasplantedHisWordwhichcannot returnuntoHim</p><p>void,butmustaccomplishthatwhichisHispurposeandprosperinthethingfor</p><p>which he sent it. That purpose is to fulfill scripture, for God has an entirely</p><p>differentworldawaitingthosewhofulfillHisWord.</p><p>Weare told: “ThisWord is truth.”Everyoneenters theworld to fulfill the</p><p>truthandwillnotdepartuntilGod’sWordisaccomplished.IfGod’sWordhas</p><p>notbeenfulfilledinyouwhentheworldcallsyoudead,youarerestoredtoalife</p><p>justasrealasthis,inaworldjustasrealasthis,tocontinueyourjourneyuntil</p><p>thehungercomesuponyouandyouwillbedrawntothatfinalpoint.</p><p>InhisbookcalledUrizen,WilliamBlaketellsoftheserpentinthewombof</p><p>Enitharmonwho,shreddingthescalesofdeath,hishissingchangesintothecry</p><p>ofachildand</p><p>TheDeadheardthevoiceoftheChild,</p><p>Andbegantoawakefromsleep;</p><p>AllthingsheardthevoiceoftheChild,</p><p>Andbegantoawaketolife.</p><p>Youactuallyhearthecryofthechildinyourskull.Itseemsimpossible,but</p><p>mayItellyou:itistrue.</p><p>Now,toencouragethosewhoarenotinterestedinthataspectofthetruth,let</p><p>megobacktowhatBennieheardmesayinthespirit:“ThestoryofJesusisa</p><p>persistentassumption.”Thisistrueineveryaspectofyourlife.Youwanttobe</p><p>rich?That’sthestoryofJesus,whichisapersistentassumptionintheconviction</p><p>that“Iamrich,”forunlessyoubelievethat“Iamrich”youdieinyoursinsand</p><p>continue to claim “I am poor.” You want to be known? Then persistently</p><p>assume:“Iamknown.”Wanttobehealthy?“Iamhealthy!”Regardlessofwhat</p><p>you want to be, you must declare you already are it and persist in that</p><p>assumption.Anassumptionisanactoffaith,andwithoutfaithitisimpossibleto</p><p>pleaseGod.Yourreasoningmindmaydenywealth.Yoursensesdenyittoo,but</p><p>ifyouhavefaithyouwilldaretoassumewealth,therebybecomingthemanyou</p><p>wanttobe.</p><p>Maybe, tonightyouwouldrathercontinue toworshipaJesusChriston the</p><p>outside.Maybeyouwouldrathercontinuetowalkwiththesheepof theworld</p><p>andnotbe the shepherd,butyouwould like to feedongreenpasturesby still</p><p>waters,instead</p><p>ofclimbingthesteephillsofdoubtandfearasmostpeopledo.</p><p>You can, if youwill persistently assume: “I amwell fed. I amwanted. I am</p><p>knownand everything is as Iwant it to be.”But remember: to bring all these</p><p>things into being, there must be a persistent assumption. That’s the story of</p><p>Jesus.</p><p>NowwearetoldinJeremiahthatGod’swordwillnotturnbackuntilhehas</p><p>executed and accomplished the intents of hismind,which is that you become</p><p>God. “In the later days youwill understand it clearly.” It isGod’s purpose to</p><p>give himself to man and he will not turn back until he has executed and</p><p>accomplishedtheintentsofhismind.Sointhefinaldayshesendsahungerunto</p><p>yourheart—notforbread,alargerhomeorjewelry—butforthehearingofthe</p><p>WordofGod.Whenthishungerpossessesyou,nothingwillsatisfyyoubutan</p><p>experienceofGod.And if it isGod’spurpose togiveyouhimself ashimself,</p><p>whenyouhaveexperiencedhisWordyouareGod!</p><p>Here is the story: “What is the greatest commandment,master?” “HearO</p><p>Israel:TheLordourGod,theLordisone.”Intheoriginalmanuscripttheword</p><p>“hear” is“sh’mA”whose last letter is larger than theother letters in theword.</p><p>This is also true of the word “echaD” (translated “one”) at the end of the</p><p>sentence.Putthetwowordstogetherandtheyspellawordmeaning“witness.”</p><p>AttheveryendoftheBookofLukeyouread:“Youarewitnessesofthese</p><p>things,butremainhereuntilyouareendowedwithpowerfromonhigh.”What</p><p>power?ThepowerofGodcalledJesusChrist.Youaredestined toputonand</p><p>wear theLordChrist Jesus asyouwould agarment.Wait for it, for itwill be</p><p>bornwithinyou.AndwhenGod’spowerandwisdomisborn,youwillfindthe</p><p>signofhisbirthintheformofalittlechild.Thenallofthesesignswillunfoldin</p><p>you andyouwillwear the garment of JesusChrist. So I tell you, youwill be</p><p>witnessesofallthatIhavetoldyou,fornowIamreturningtotheverysource</p><p>outofwhichIcame.</p><p>IcameintotheworldcompletelyforgetfulofthebeingthatIAM.Ihadto.</p><p>When I firstmetmy friendAbdullahback in1931 Ientereda roomwherehe</p><p>wasspeakingandwhenthespeechwasendedhecameover,extendedhishand</p><p>andsaid:“Neville,youaresixmonthslate.”Ihadneverseenthemanbefore,so</p><p>I said: “I am sixmonths late?How do you knowme?” and he replied: “The</p><p>brotherstoldmethatyouwerecomingandyouaresixmonthslate.”</p><p>IwaslatebecausetheonewhotoldmeofAbdullahwasaCatholicpriest.I</p><p>lovedhimdearly,butIthoughthewasalmostamoron.Hisfather,arumrunner</p><p>in thedaysofprohibition, lefthim twomilliondollars,whichheproceeded to</p><p>loseonWallStreet thefirstyear.Theonlywonderful thinghedidwastotake</p><p>thelast$15,000andgiveittoaCatholicorganizationtocareforhismotherthe</p><p>restofherearthlydays.So,havingnorespectforhisjudgment,whenhetoldme</p><p>about Abdullah I postponed going to hear him until one day I could find no</p><p>excuse.WhenAbcalledmebynameIsaid:“Idon’tknowyou,”andhereplied:</p><p>“Ohyesyoudo,butyouhaveforgotten.WeweretogetherinChinathousandsof</p><p>yearsago,butyoupromised tocompletely forget inorder toplay thepartyou</p><p>mustplaynow.”</p><p>LastFridaynightaladygavemealettersaying:“ThepreviousMondayas</p><p>you stood on the platform I could not see you as Neville, but as an ancient</p><p>Chinesephilosopher. Ihaveseenmyfriendschange frommoment tomoment,</p><p>but you remained changed during your entire lecture. This botheredme, so I</p><p>questioned the experience on the way home and then I remembered. Several</p><p>yearsagoinapsychicexperience,Iwaswalkingupahillwithotherstudentsto</p><p>attendaclass.Fallingawayfromthegroup,IsawanancientChineseinawhite</p><p>garmentatmyside.Beckoningmetofollowhim,weapproachedacavewhereI</p><p>sawahugegranitestonewithapeakatthetop.Twohandscontainingacocoon</p><p>coveredthetopofthestone.Removingthecocoon,theancientChinesebrokeit</p><p>onthepeakof thegranite,andwater,mixedwithcolorfuloil,cameoutas life</p><p>tookonthesenseofheatrising.ThentheancientChinesetookmyhandandled</p><p>mebacktothegroup,wheretheyhadnotrealizedthatIhadbeenaway.“NowI</p><p>knowwhosefaceyouworelastMondaynight.”</p><p>Well, that’s what Abdullah told me in 1931, but to this day I have no</p><p>knowledgeofit,becauseIsworeinthebeginningtoemptymyselfcompletelyof</p><p>allmemoryandtakeon theformofaslave,but tohavefaith inhimwhosent</p><p>me.NowknowingthatheandIareone,Ihavenootherplacetogobutbackto</p><p>myself, the sender.Havingplayed everypart I have completelywipedout the</p><p>memory,but Iknow thatnoonecanarriveat theendof the roaduntilhehas</p><p>playeditall.Idoknowfrommyintuitiveknowledgethat,justasanactormust</p><p>feelthepartheisplayingandimaginehimselfthecharacterheisdepicting,you</p><p>will imagine yourself into every part, andwhen the play is over for you, the</p><p>signswillcometoshowyouthebeingthatyoureallyare.</p><p>Youwhoareherearehungryfor theWordofGod.Youare thirstyfor the</p><p>WordofGod.YoucouldbeathomethisnightwatchingTVanditwouldcost</p><p>you nothing, but you have given up your time and your money to be here</p><p>becauseofyourhunger. Ihavebeensent to tellyounotonly thatyoubecome</p><p>Godwhenheisfulfilledinyou,buthowtocushiontheblowsinthisworldof</p><p>reasonbydelightinginhislaw.Hislawissimplyapersistentassumptioninthe</p><p>claim:“IamwhatIwanttobe.”Donotjudgeonewhodoesnothavethehunger</p><p>fortheWordofGod,buttellhimhowtobecomewhathewantstobe.</p><p>Tell him that the story of Jesus is a perpetual, persistent assumption in</p><p>whatever he wants to be. That Christ in him is the power of God and his</p><p>imaginationisthatpowerandwisdom.Tellhimthatimaginationknowshowto</p><p>bringhisassumptiontopass,butthathemustpersist.</p><p>NowIaskyou:areyouwillingtopersistintheassumptionthatyouarewhat</p><p>youwanttobe?Orareyougoingtogohometonightandsay:“Thatwasanice</p><p>little talkhegave,butafterallhehasamilliondollars in thebankand Ihave</p><p>nothing.”Ifyouthinkthat,youaredisobedient,forbythatthoughtyouhavea</p><p>lackoffaithin“IAmHe!”That’sthefundamentalsinoftheuniverse.Thereare</p><p>onlytwosinsrecordedinscripturethatoffendGod.Oneis:“Unlessyoubelieve</p><p>thatIAmHeyoudieinyoursins,”andtheotheriseatingofthefruitoftreeof</p><p>knowledgeofgoodandevil.Askourgeneralstonightifitwouldbegoodtostop</p><p>bombing Vietnam and they would say, No. Go across the ocean and ask the</p><p>Vietnameseandtheywouldsay,Yes.Sowhatisgoodandwhatisevil?</p><p>I am not asking anyone but you!What would be good for you? Tell me,</p><p>because in the end every conflict will resolve itself as the world is simply</p><p>mirroring the being you are assuming that you are. One day you will be so</p><p>saturatedwithwealth,sosaturatedwithpowerintheworldofCaesar,youwill</p><p>turnyourbackonitallandgoinsearchfortheWordofGod.Irememberwhen</p><p>I had somuchwealth. I did not have one home, butmany, each fully staffed</p><p>from secretaries to gardeners. That was a life of sheer decadence. I recall</p><p>walkingoutofitandnotreturning.WhethertheyeverfoundthebodyIdonot</p><p>know,but IdoknowIdeliberatelywalkedaway.Thenabout tenyearsago in</p><p>oneofmyjourneysinspirit, Iwalkedbackinto theworldandsawit justas it</p><p>wasbefore.Strangelyenough,everyonerecognizedmeandwelcomedmewith</p><p>openarms,butIstayedonlyfora</p><p>momentthenreturnedherebringingwithme</p><p>itsvividmemory.SoIdobelievethatonemustcompletelysaturatehimselfwith</p><p>thethingsofCaesarbeforeheishungryfortheWordofGod.</p><p>I am convinced you are here because of your hunger. I know you have</p><p>obligations tosociety,youmustpayCaesar’sdebts,soyouwantmoremoney,</p><p>butyourhungerisgreaterforthehearingoftheWordofGodthanforthingsof</p><p>Caesar.Thatiswhyyouarehere,andyouareblessedbyit.</p><p>Nowletusgointothesilence.</p><p>XIII</p><p>“POWER”</p><p>ALecture</p><p>July23,1968</p><p>Nevilleopensthislate-sixtieslecturewitharemarkabouttheVietnamWar.Nevillewasnotaloof</p><p>fromeventsofhisday,andhemadeoccasionalcommentsoncurrentaffairsandpolitics(though</p><p>with no pronounced partisanship). He quickly continues, however, to his intended theme: the</p><p>exerciseofcreativepower.Oneofthemostimportantlinesofthistalkis:“Theworldwouldrather</p><p>havethethingscreatedthanthepowertocreate.”Nevillealsospeaksmovinglyofwhathappens</p><p>whenwemisuse this power.Of special note are his comments about love andmarriage in the</p><p>question-and-answersection.</p><p>—MH</p><p>Tonight’s subject isPower. I do notmean the power ofCaesar, I’m speaking</p><p>tonightofthepowerofGod,forhereinthisworldofCaesarIthinkallnations</p><p>wouldadmit that this landofours isby far thegreatestpower in theworldof</p><p>Caesar:economicpowerandmilitarypower.Andhereweare,againsta tenth-</p><p>ratenation,andfindonourhandsthelongestwarinourhistory.Wesaywehave</p><p>anobjectiveand thatwehave themeans toachieve it,butweareunwilling to</p><p>use themeans thatwehave.Well, then,modify theobjective to fit themeans</p><p>thatwe arewilling to use. That belongs to theworld ofCaesar. Ifwe do not</p><p>modify the objective to fit themeanswe arewilling to use, then cut bait and</p><p>forget it, and forget the so-called“saving face.”But I amnot speakingof that</p><p>kindofpower.IamspeakingofthepowerofGod,whichiscalledinScripture,</p><p>“Jesus Christ.” Paul defines Christ as “the power of God and the wisdom of</p><p>God.” Here we find wisdom and power exalted and personalized as God’s</p><p>companion in the creation of the world. That power is your own wonderful</p><p>human imagination. That’s the power of God! That is Christ. As far as I am</p><p>concerned,thatisJesusChristoftheScriptures.</p><p>Now, tonightweare talkingabout thispower.Theearliestgospel isMark,</p><p>andthefirstwordswefindonthelipsofthispowerare:“Thetimeisfulfilled,</p><p>andtheKingdomofGodisathand.Repent,andbelieveinthegospel.”(Mark</p><p>1:15)Now,thewordrepentasweuseitintheworldisnotwhatScripturemeans</p><p>whenweuseithere.Wemeantofeelremorse,regret.Thathasn’tathingtodo</p><p>withthewordrepent.It’stheGreekmetanoia,aradical,butradical,changeof</p><p>attitude,aradicalchangeofmind.</p><p>CanIseeanobjective,andtheneverythingtellsme:well,Ican’trealizeit?</p><p>Well,doIhavethepowertorealizeanobjective?Itellyou,wehave;wehave</p><p>the power. Well, what is the deeper meaning of power but effectiveness in</p><p>achievingone’spurposeinlife!Well,soIhaveapurpose.DoIhavethepower?</p><p>Itelleveryone:Yes.Youcanimaginetheend,can’tyou?Canyouimaginewhat</p><p>itwouldbelikeifitweretrue?Canyoufeelwhatitwouldbelikeifitweretrue?</p><p>Well, then, that is power! Now, can you be persistent in it? Can you remain</p><p>faithfultothatendasthoughitweretrue?</p><p>Now,Idon’tcarewhattheobjectiveis.Youhavethepowertoachieveitif</p><p>youknowthispoweristhepowerofChrist.Forall thingsarepossibletohim.</p><p>Heispersonified inScripture.Letusgobackandseehowtheyfirstpersonify</p><p>him.You’ll read it in the8th chapter of thebookofProverbs, the22ndverse</p><p>throughtotheend,the36thverse,andthesearethewords:“Godpossessedme</p><p>in thebeginningof hisway, thevery first of his acts of old.” (Proverbs8:22)</p><p>Onetranslationhasit:“Hecreatedme.”That’snotagoodtranslation.Ican’tsay</p><p>I create my capacity to think. I can develop it, but it was with me in the</p><p>beginning.Ican’tsayIcreatedmycapacitytoimagine; itwaswithme.Imay</p><p>not imagine correctly, but it was with me. So, God possessed me in the</p><p>beginningofhisway,theveryfirstofhisactsofold,beforeHebroughtforththe</p><p>universe,beforehelaidoutthefoundationsoftheearth,Iwasbesidehimlikea</p><p>littlechild.Iwasdailyhisdelight,rejoicingbeforehimalways,delightinginhis</p><p>inhabitedworld. “Now,my sons, listen tome,hewho findsme finds life and</p><p>obtains favor from theLord, but hewhomissesme, injures himself.Allwho</p><p>hatemelovedeath.”</p><p>Youreadthesewordsinthe8thchapterofProverbs.Hereheispersonalized</p><p>asalittlechild,God’scompanioninthecreationoftheworld.Whenyoureadit,</p><p>itdoesn’tmakesense,butI tellyoufrommyownpersonalexperience,having</p><p>practicedtheartofrepentanceandhavingexperiencedthebirthfromabovewith</p><p>thelittlechild,Iknowexactlywhattheprophetmeantwhenhewasinspiredto</p><p>write those words. One day you will encounter this creative power in you,</p><p>personifiedasalittlechild.Thewholevastworldhascompletelymisunderstood</p><p>itandthinksit isalittlechildwrappedinswaddlingclothesthatwasfoundby</p><p>theshepherds twothousandyearsago.That’sasignof thebirth inmanof the</p><p>creativepowerofGod.SoGodisactuallybringingforthhiscreativepower in</p><p>man,andwhenitisbroughttobirthinmansothatmanactuallybecomespartof</p><p>the creative power of the universe, the sign of his birth—the sign of his</p><p>awarenessof it—is thatofa little child.So,here Iwas likehim; Iwasbeside</p><p>him like a little childwhen he brought forth the universe. So, in everyone, in</p><p>bringingmeforthaspartof thecreativepowerof theuniverse, thesignofmy</p><p>arrivingatthatpointissymbolizedinalittlechild.WhenIfindthechild,Ihave</p><p>foundlife.NowIhavelife inmyself. I’mnolongerananimatedbody;Iama</p><p>life-givingspirit.IfImissit,Iinjuremyself.“Allwhohatemelovedeath.”</p><p>Now,thisworldistheworldofdeath.Soyoutellthestorytotheworld,and</p><p>themajoritywouldratherhavethebuildingacross thestreetor thisbuilding—</p><p>something to themthat issecure—than toknowofapower.Take thebuilding</p><p>away, destroy the building, but leaveme the power to re-create it.Don’t take</p><p>fromme the creativepower, but take all the things I create.Theworldwould</p><p>ratherhavethethingscreatedthanthepowertocreate.Andso,“Thosewhohate</p><p>me, they lovedeath.”Theyare in lovewith thewholevastworld thatdecays.</p><p>Well,everything that isbuilt todaygradually fades. Itcomes into theworld, it</p><p>waxes,itwanes,anditvanishes.Butleavemethepowertobringanythinginto</p><p>thisworld,andtakefromme—ifyouwill—anythingthatIbringintotheworld.</p><p>Butdon’ttakefrommethecreativepower,thatImayactuallycreateanythingin</p><p>thisworld.</p><p>Now, what does he mean by repentance? It means this: it tests the</p><p>individual’sabilitytoenterintoandpartakeofthenatureoftheopposite.</p><p>Iseesomeone,and theyarebehind theeightball financially.Theyhave to</p><p>pay rent, they have to buy clothes, feed themselves, and maybe they have</p><p>obligationstosociety—otherstofeed,otherstoclothe.Theymaybeafatherora</p><p>mother.AndImeetthem,andtheyarenotemployed.Now,ittestsmyabilityto</p><p>put themintothestatewheretheyaregainfullyemployed.Ibringthembefore</p><p>mymind’seye,andIrepresentthemtomyselfasgainfullyemployed,andtothe</p><p>degree that</p><p>Iamself-persuadedof the realityofwhat Iamseeingandhearing</p><p>and doing—to that degree they become exactly what I am doing, all in my</p><p>imagination. Well, if tomorrow or in the immediate present they actually</p><p>conform outwardly to what I am doing inwardly, I have found the creative</p><p>power.</p><p>I try it againwith anotherone. I try itwithyet anotheroneand Ikeepon</p><p>trying,anditworks.Well,then,Itellit,andaskeveryonewhowilllistentome</p><p>andbelieveittotryit.Seeifyoucan’texercisethatsamepowerinyou.It’snot</p><p>adifferentpower.There’sonlyoneChrist.Therearen’tnumberlesslittleChrists</p><p>runningaroundtheearth,onlyoneChrist,andthatChristisyourownwonderful</p><p>humanimagination.</p><p>So,ifIexercisemyImaginationanditprovesitselfinperformance,andthen</p><p>youexerciseyourimaginationanditprovesitselfinperformance,it’sthesame</p><p>imagination—individualized as Neville, individualized as you, regardless of</p><p>yourname.Thenyoushare itwithanother,andyou tell it toothers.Well, if I</p><p>can tell it to the point where they are persuaded to try it, and in trying it, it</p><p>proves itself in the testing, then we have found him. So when you read in</p><p>Scripture,“Ihavefoundhim,”(John1:45)—foundwhom?“Ihavefoundtheone</p><p>ofwhomMosesinthelawandtheprophetsdidwrite,“JesusofNazareth.”Well,</p><p>theword“Jesus”simplymeanswhat“Jehovah”means;itmeans“salvation.”It</p><p>means,“tosave.”</p><p>IfIsavesomeonefrompovertybyputtinghimintoastateofaffluence,well,</p><p>then, that’sJesus. Iamexercising thesamepower. Ifsomeone isunwellandI</p><p>representhimtomyselfasbeingtheembodimentofhealthandheconformsto</p><p>it,thenthat’sJesus.Hesavedhim.Fromwhat?Frombeingunwell!Well,ifItry</p><p>itandtryitandtryitanditprovesitself,whatdoesitmatterwhatothersthink?</p><p>Whatdoes itmatterwhatanyone thinksaboutwhatIamtalkingabout?Ionly</p><p>knowthat itproves itself. Itworks.Well, if itworks, then try it.So this is the</p><p>powerofwhichIspeak,notsomepeculiarlittlethingontheoutside.Youdon’t</p><p>buyit.It’sinnate.Youexerciseit.</p><p>So,youaretoldtorepent,inthebeginningoftheexerciseofthepower,and</p><p>whenyoureachacertaindegreeofintensity,thatpowerisborn.Itisborninyou</p><p>andthenpersonifiedasalittlechild,andyouactuallyfeelyourselfcomingout</p><p>ofyourownskull.Andhereisalittlechildwrappedinswaddlingclothes,andit</p><p>isyourchild.Now,youdidn’tformsomelittlechildinyourhead.Thechildisa</p><p>signofyourbirthfromabove.It’sasignofyourarrivalintothecreativestream</p><p>ofGod.YouarenowonewiththecreativepowerofGod,andthere’sonlyGod,</p><p>nothingbutGod.Manisall imagination,andGodisman,andexistsinusand</p><p>we in him. The creative power ofGod isman’s imagination. That is actually</p><p>JesusChristhimself.ThereisnootherJesusChrist.Soallofasuddenyoufind</p><p>thatthisiswhattheworldistalkingabout.Theyhaveputhimontheoutsideand</p><p>madesomelittlegodofhim,whenheishousedineveryone.</p><p>Now,letmeshowyoufrommyownexperiencewhatIknowaboutthislaw.</p><p>IcanwastepowerintheworldofCaesar.We’redoingitbythebillionsevery</p><p>yearwithourlittlewarandall thenonsensewehaveintheworld.Thispower</p><p>youcan’twaste.Youcanmisuseit,butyoucan’twasteit.Icanmisuseitevery</p><p>moment of time by imagining unlovely things about people, unlovely things</p><p>aboutmyself,andIcanuseithatefully—butIcan’twasteit.I’llshowyouwhy</p><p>youcan’twasteit.</p><p>Onenight,many,manyyearsago,Isuddenlybecameawareoftwobeings.I</p><p>am the one perceiving them so there are three, but I am the perceiver. Here</p><p>abovemestands themostbeautifulwoman imaginable, anangel—anangelof</p><p>beauty and of everything. She was lovely! And below me was the most</p><p>monstrousthingthatmancouldeverconceive,coveredwithhairlikeanape,but</p><p>itcouldspeak. It spokegutturally. I lookedat it, and then it lookedatmeand</p><p>pointed to this beautiful, angelic being, and it called this woman, “Mother.”</p><p>Well,IwassoannoyedwiththismonstrousthingthatIpummeledit.Itgloated.</p><p>It loved violence; it fed on violence. Every time I was violent, it became</p><p>stronger.Andthisbeautifulthing,glowing—butthisoneiscallingit“mother.”</p><p>And suddenly, as I was beating this thing, I realized: why, this is the</p><p>embodimentofallmymisspentenergy,asthisotheroneistheembodimentand</p><p>personification of every noble thought I’ve ever entertained. I looked at this</p><p>thing;IhadnoonewithwhomIcouldswear.IfeltacompassionIhavenever</p><p>knownbefore.Ilookedatthismonstrousthingandrealizeditisbuttheresultof</p><p>myownmisusedenergy. It never shouldhavebeengivenbirth.And I said to</p><p>myself,“I’llredeemyou,ifittakesmeeternity.”Ipledgedmyselftoredeemit,</p><p>and do you knowwhat happened?At that verymoment, beforemy eyes, the</p><p>whole thing withered. The monstrous thing, the embodiment of power—</p><p>horrible-looking thing—it all got smaller and smaller and smaller, and left no</p><p>trace of ever having been present. But as it got smaller and smaller and</p><p>disappeared,theenergyreturnedtome!Ifeltinfinitepower.IfeltlikeIwould</p><p>have done anything for the power to return to me. It wasn’t wasted; it was</p><p>misused,butnotlost.“Nothingislostinallmyholymountain.”</p><p>So,youcan’tlosethepower.Youcanmisusethepower,butyoucan’tlose</p><p>it. But you are confronted one day with a monstrous thing like that. I knew</p><p>exactlywhatIdid.Youwon’twaittoredeemhim.Attheverymomentthatyou</p><p>pledgeyourself andyoumean it, “I’ll redeemyou if it takesme eternity”—at</p><p>thatmoment thatmonstrous thingwithers. Itgetssmallerandsmaller,andthis</p><p>otheroneglows; itbecomesradiant likeastar.She is theembodimentandthe</p><p>permanent personification—the getting ever greater—of your own wonderful</p><p>thoughts.Everylovelyactofyoursfeedsher.Everyignobleactofyoursfeeds</p><p>him,andtheywalkwithyou.Thisonewhispersthelovelythings,encouraging</p><p>youtobenoble,andthisotheronewhisperstheviolentthings.Ifyouareatthe</p><p>crossroadsastowhatyoushoulddo,thisonewantstobefed.Hecanonlyfeed</p><p>onviolence, and thisotheronecanonly feedon the lovely,noble thoughtsof</p><p>man.Andmancreates them!Youseeyourowncreation,and it’sall thesame</p><p>powerofyourownwonderfulhumanimagination.Fromthenon,youknowwho</p><p>youare.Youareacreativepower,andyougoouttochangeeverythinginyour</p><p>world to make it conform to something lovelier. And you don’t do it on the</p><p>outside;youdoitontheinside.Youdoitallinyourimagination.</p><p>ImaginationisGod,andthereisnoothergod!Hisnameis“IAm”forever</p><p>and forever and forever. That’s God! And yet, when you do meet the</p><p>personificationasyourownImagination,youseeaman,andthatmanisInfinite</p><p>Love.Youwillalsomeethiminanothergarment,andheisInfinitePower.Heis</p><p>InfiniteWisdom. And you will realize that the being that you really are is a</p><p>proteanbeing.Heplaysalltheparts.Whenyoumeethim,hisfundamentalbeing</p><p>islove,buthealsoispower,andyouseehimaspower.Andhealsoiswisdom,</p><p>and you see him aswisdom.And you don’t have to ask any questions as to:</p><p>“Whoareyou?”It’ssoobviousthatyoustandinthepresenceofInfinitePower,</p><p>orInfiniteWisdom,orInfiniteLove.</p><p>AndyouknowthetruthofthesestatementsofScripturewhenitsays,“God</p><p>islove.”YoustandinthepresenceofGod,InfiniteLove—andit’saman!</p><p>Ourscientiststellusofanimpersonalforce.This</p><p>isnotimpersonal.Thisis</p><p>verypersonal.Godisaman.</p><p>ThouartaManGodisnomore:</p><p>Thyownhumanitylearntoadore.</p><p>—BLAKE</p><p>For everything here is God, and God being man, his every attribute is</p><p>personified.SowhenyoumeetGodaspower,it’sman.Meethimaswisdom—</p><p>it’sman.Meethimaslove—it’sman.</p><p>SoItellyou,thispowerofwhichIspeakisrighthereinyourownwonderful</p><p>humanimagination.Don’tturntoanother.Don’tturntoanythingontheoutside.</p><p>It’s all within. “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.” And God is in his</p><p>heaven. If I turnwithin,wheredo I turn? I turn tomyownwonderful human</p><p>imagination,andthenI imaginewhatIwantasreal inmyworldandpersuade</p><p>myselfthatit’strue.TothedegreethatIamself-persuaded,itbecomestrue.It</p><p>actually clothes itself inwhat theworld calls reality, but the reality is not the</p><p>visible thing they see. The reality is the unseen state,which I have imagined.</p><p>Youtaketheoak.Cut itdown.It renewsitselfbythe invisiblestate.Thelittle</p><p>lamb—youslay itwith theknife,but the realityof that lamb, that formthat is</p><p>forever,isunseenbyman.</p><p>So, here, in thiswonderfulworld of ours, you have the power.You don’t</p><p>need financial power. That won’t do it. You can’t buy health. You can’t buy</p><p>respect.Oh,youcanbuyit fora littlewhile,but theydon’treallyrespectyou.</p><p>Let themoneygo,and theydon’t respectyou.Youdon’tneedanything in the</p><p>world ofCaesar to buywhat youwant. “Come,”we are told, “buy itwithout</p><p>price,withoutmoney.”Whenhesays,“Buyitwithoutprice,”then,yousee,it’s</p><p>notCaesar’scointhatyouuse.Youuseyourownwonderfulhumanimagination.</p><p>I’ll give you this story. A friend of mine down south, he went to this</p><p>barbershop.Therewerefourbarbers.Hewenttothebossbarberfirst.Andafter</p><p>about threevisits thebarbercouldn’t takehimthisday,andhe took thefourth</p><p>one—the last chair. He rather liked the way this man cut his hair. He got to</p><p>talkingtohim,andherealizedthemanlovedbarbering—helovedit.Thatisall</p><p>my friendneeded.“You really love it?”Hesaid, “I just love it. Iwouldn’tdo</p><p>anythingelsebutcuthair. I just love it.”Now, this iswhatmy frienddid.He</p><p>imaginedthatmantheheadoftheshop.Hedidn’tconsulthim,hedidn’tconsult</p><p>the boss barber; he didn’t consult anyone—just this one. He liked him. He</p><p>imaginedthathewastheheadofnotthisshop,butashop.Sixweekslaterthe</p><p>barberdecided tounload theshop.Howhe raised themoney,myfriendnever</p><p>toldme,butheboughttheshopandmovedfromthefourthman,thelowmanon</p><p>thetotempole,tothebossbarber.Inthelastyear,thisonesolovedithecame</p><p>heretothiscityabouttwomonthsago.Therewassomemeetinghere,acontest</p><p>amongbarbers.Hebroughttwoofhisbarberswithhim.Onewascommittedand</p><p>couldn’t come that day.He brought two. They took back—out of five prizes,</p><p>theytookbackfour.Hewontwo—afirstandasecond,andtwoofhisbarbers</p><p>wontwoseconds.Hejustenteredanothercontestoftheentireregion(thatis,the</p><p>sevenwesternstates)andhewonit,plusa thousanddollars.Thebigplaqueis</p><p>nowonhiswall,allbecauseofmyfriend’suseofimagination!</p><p>This man has a terrific control of this power. He is an advertising agent.</p><p>About,Iwouldsay,intheearlypartofthisyear,hisbosssaidtohim,“Thisis</p><p>ourbestaccount,andIdon’twanttoloseit.Butyouknowtheindustrytoday.</p><p>It’son theskids,andwemustdosomething topull itout.”Well,hesatdown</p><p>and said, “If imagining creates reality,my only problemwill be to face these</p><p>menwho believe themselves sowise, and persuade them to letme go all out</p><p>withmy campaign from the premise that it is already an accomplished fact. I</p><p>can’t advertise that this thing is possible. I’ve got to say it has been tried and</p><p>proveninmyads.”Heworkedouttheentirething.</p><p>When these twentymen,allmulti-millionaires—for this isoneof thehuge</p><p>industries of theworld, this is an international industry—when heworked the</p><p>entirethingoutandpresentedittothesetwentymenontheboard,theythought</p><p>themselvesaboveallthis.Theywereethicallyaboveallthings.Theirmoralcode</p><p>would not allow it, but my friend persuaded them that this is how the law</p><p>operates,thatimaginingcreatesreality.“Soifyouwantsomethingcreated,leave</p><p>ittome.Iwilltakeyourdesireandmakeitsomethingthatisalreadyafact.You</p><p>voiceit.”Thefirstquarterofthisyearthatindustrynotonlyarrestedthemotion</p><p>downward,butturneditaround,andtheirprofits—nottheirgross—theirprofits</p><p>forthefirstquarterofthisyearwereseventy-fivemilliondollarsmorethanthe</p><p>first quarter of last year—seventy-five million more. I am speaking of a net</p><p>profit.Nowthesewisemen,withtheirwonderfulethicalcodes—theyallowit!</p><p>Theysawthemoneyinthebank.Theysawallthesethings,andtheirso-called</p><p>ethicalmoralcodewentthroughthewindowbecausetheysawanotherprinciple,</p><p>whichtheydidnotknow.</p><p>Hiscompetitor,Isawtheletter,hiscompetitorintheadvertisingfieldwrote</p><p>theboss,myfriend’sboss.Hesaid,“Youknow,Itakemyhatofftoyou.You</p><p>useaprinciplethatwehavealwaysusedinourwork”—whichwasadarnedlie;</p><p>heneverdiditatall.Hesaid,“Iknowexactlywhatyoudid.”He’stryingtofish</p><p>himouttofindoutwhatheisdoing,andinthisletterhemakestheclaimthathe</p><p>actuallyknewandhadalwaysused it, “Andnoonecanwork forour concern</p><p>unlessheisawareofthisprincipleandlivesbyit.Wearen’tconcernedabouthis</p><p>religiousbackground.HemaybeaCatholic,Protestant,Jew,oranatheist,but</p><p>hehastolivebythisprinciple.”Well,Isawthatletter.Themanwasfishing,just</p><p>fishingtogettheonewhoreallyconceivedittocomeforwardandtellhimwhat</p><p>hedid.</p><p>Well,hereisthesameoneinthebarbershop.HegoesthereeverySaturday</p><p>morning by appointment, and the boss barber waits for him right on the dot.</p><p>EverySaturdayhe is right there for this chap.He loveshim, andhe tookhim</p><p>from the lowmanon the totempoleandpushedhimrightup.He realized the</p><p>manlikescuttinghair.That’swhathelikes;hejust lovesit.Allright, then,be</p><p>the best. If you like it, be the very best in the trade. Tellmewhat youwant.</p><p>Maybeyouwant tobeawife,or“givemeahome.”What’swrongwith that?</p><p>Mymotherneverwenttowork.Shejusthadtenchildrenandlivedathomewith</p><p>herfullcomplementofservants.Mysisterneverworked,soshe livesathome</p><p>withher servants.Mywifeworkeduntil I couldafford tokeepher.Theday I</p><p>could afford to keep her, I said, “Now, you stop,” so she stopped. That was</p><p>almost twoyearsafterwegotmarried.Twoyearsafterwards Icouldafford to</p><p>keepher, so,“Fromnowon,youdon’twork,”andsoshehasn’tgoneback to</p><p>work.</p><p>So, tellmewhatyouwant,and then letmepersuademyself thatwhatyou</p><p>reallywant,youhave.TothedegreethatIamself-persuadedyouhaveit,you’ll</p><p>get it. IfIcan’tpersuademyself, thenIhavefailed,butIhaven’tmisspent the</p><p>energy, because I tried it lovingly. So, any time you use your imagination</p><p>lovinglyonbehalfofanother,youuse itwisely.Even ifyoudidn’tsucceed in</p><p>producing the results that youwere seeking,youused itwisely.Youwill not,</p><p>then, encounter the monster that I did, but the chances are, everyone in his</p><p>unknowingnessbuiltthatmonster,foreveryonehasstartedtomisusetheenergy,</p><p>and it forms itself into thishorrible,horrible thing.Didyoueversitdownand</p><p>wonder,</p><p>“Where on earth did that thought come from?” It wasn’t a lovely</p><p>thought.Itcamefromathingthatyoubuild,thatmisspentenergy,amonstrous</p><p>being that one daywillmeet you on the threshold and confront you, and you</p><p>have to redeem it, because Christ must be redeemed. And although he is the</p><p>redeemer,healsoisonetoberedeemedbecauseheisonlyenergy.He’spower.</p><p>Infinite creative power is Christ, the power ofGod. So the power ofwhich I</p><p>speakisyourownwonderfulhumanimagination.That’sGod.SowhenItellyou</p><p>thatmanisallimagination,andGodisman,andexistsinusandweinhim—the</p><p>EternalBodyofMan is the Imagination, and that isGodhimself—theDivine</p><p>BodyJesus,andwearehismembers.Well,everyonecanimagine,thereforeall</p><p>aremembersoftheonebody.</p><p>Sothisisthatonespokenofinthe8thchapterofProverbs:Iwasbesidehim</p><p>likealittlechild.“Findme,andyoufindlife.Missme,andyouinjureyourself.</p><p>Hateme,andyou lovedeath.”So, theonewhofindshimisborn fromabove,</p><p>and“unlessyebebornfromabove,youcannotentertheKingdomofGod.”And</p><p>the birth from above is simply symbolized in that of a little childwrapped in</p><p>swaddlingclothes.It’snotsomelittleeventthattookplacetwothousandyears</p><p>agoonceandforall.Itistakingplace!Youstartitwithrepentance.Repent,and</p><p>believe thestoryof theGospel.And“torepent” issimply tochallengeyou, to</p><p>testyou.</p><p>Canyoutakeamanfromthelowestpointinthebarbershopandmakehim</p><p>theboss?Canyourepresenthimtoyourselfasonewhoisreallyincharge,who</p><p>lovesitandyoulovehim?Wellthen,tryit!So,helovedhim,broughthiminto</p><p>his mind’s eye as the one who really was important in his life, and the man</p><p>simply rose suddenly to the highest place in his shop, and now in the entire</p><p>westernareahaswonalltheprizes.Andthisone,inhisadvertisingagency,he</p><p>canwritehisowntickettoday.Thebosssaidtohim,“Whatdoyouwant?”The</p><p>boss gives him—well, I would say three or four times a year—a huge, big</p><p>unsolicitedbonuscheck.Hewantstokeephim.Myfriendhasnodesiretoquit,</p><p>butthebossissoeagertoholdhim,hegetsonebonusaftertheother.Andmy</p><p>friend?Allright,he’lltakeit.Whyshouldn’the?</p><p>So,Iaskeveryoneheretotryit.Don’tjustlistentoit,buttryit.Youarethe</p><p>operantpower;itdoesn’toperateitself.AndsowhenIknowwhatIshoulddo,</p><p>well, then, I do it!Go to sleep tonight.All right, howam I sleeping? Inwhat</p><p>stateofconsciousnessamIsleeping?Assomeonewhoisunwanted?Allright,</p><p>then I’ll rise tomorrow to find myself unwanted. Ignore the facts of life and</p><p>assume that you are wanted. Ignore the facts of life and assume that you are</p><p>affluent,andseehowthingsworkinyourworld.Itwillallcomeyourway.You</p><p>arecreatingoutofapowerthatisinfinite,andyoudon’tneedanycontactsinthe</p><p>world.Youdon’tneed toknowthe rightpeopleoranythingelse in theworld.</p><p>All you need to know is Christ, and Christ is your own wonderful human</p><p>Imagination!WhatelsedoyouneedtoknowbutChrist!</p><p>So let no one tell you: he’s out there and he looks like this. There is no</p><p>personal representation in Scripture concerning Jesus Christ. Not one little</p><p>thought is mentioned concerning what he looks like. Yet our churches have</p><p>hundreds and hundreds of paintings, no two alike. Each tells you that iswhat</p><p>Jesuslookedlike.Helooksjustlikeyou.AsyouaretoldinScripture,“Itdoes</p><p>notyetappearwhatweshallbe,butweknowthismuch:whenhedoesappear,</p><p>we shall know him.” Why? “We shall be like him,” just like you when he</p><p>appears.(1John3:2)So,letnoonetellyouthathelooksotherthanyou,because</p><p>that’s not Christ. And yet in spite of the Second Commandment, “Make no</p><p>gravenimageuntome,”wehavealltheselittleindulgencesthatpeoplebuy,and</p><p>theybowbefore it.And theycall thatChrist, somethingmadewith thehuman</p><p>hand,andthentheyforgetthemakerandworshipthethingmade.Don’tforget</p><p>the creator! The creator is your ownwonderful human imagination.Whatever</p><p>youcreate is less thanyou, thecreator.So,youcancreateafortune.All right,</p><p>theytakeitfromyou—youcancreateanotherone.So,whateveryoucanmake,</p><p>youcankeeponmakingitiftheytakeitfromyou.ThisisthepowerofwhichI</p><p>speak.Iamnotspeakingofanyearthlypower.</p><p>Manyamanthisnight—lastyearIwasinBarbadosforafewmonths,and</p><p>mybrother,whohasmadequiteafortune,wastalkingaboutthesemen,andhe</p><p>didn’trealizewhathewassaying.Hementionedfivemen,allmulti-millionaires,</p><p>andhegotthroughtellingmehowtheyworkedsohardandtheydidallthisand</p><p>had all thismoney. I said, “Vic, you admire them?” “Why, certainly!They’re</p><p>powerful.”Isaid,“What’spowerful?Youjustpaintedfivebiographiesforme,</p><p>wordpicturesoffivemen.Thelastoneyoupaintedisonlysixty-threeyearsold.</p><p>Hehas,youtellme,abouttwenty-fivemillion,andtheyhavetotellhimwhento</p><p>eat.Hedoesn’tknow—hedoesn’tknowhisname,doesn’tknowanything.And</p><p>all of a sudden they put the food in hismouth, and they say, ‘chew,’ and he</p><p>chews, and he keeps on chewing forever until they say, ‘swallow,’ and he</p><p>swallows.Andyou call that aman?So, hehas twenty-fivemillion.So,what!</p><p>And the others—they gave all their time toward making money, just making</p><p>things,andeveryoneyouhavementionedanddefinedforme,Iwouldn’tputmy</p><p>worst enemy (if I had one) in his place. So, he has money, but he is totally</p><p>unawareof the fact thathehasonenickel.Sohehas twenty-fivemillion, and</p><p>that’swhatyoucallaman?That’snotmyconceptofaman.</p><p>“Iamtellingyousomethingentirelydifferent,Vic.Youhavelotsofmoney,</p><p>anditmayneverhappentoyou.Soyouhavemillions,too.Doyouwanttobe</p><p>like that? All these fellows are demented. They gave their entire life to the</p><p>making and amassingof things, and they started toworship things.Don’t you</p><p>startworshiping things!You start worshipingGod and onlyGod, andGod is</p><p>your own wonderful human imagination, and don’t you forget it. So, this</p><p>buildingisyours.Supposeitburnstonight?Sowhat?Youknowwhatyoudidto</p><p>buildit.Buildanotherone.Tomorrowyoumayhavethewholethingburnflat.</p><p>Sodon’tbeconcernedaboutwhatyouhaveaccumulatedasthingsintheworld.</p><p>FindGodandworshiponlyGod,andGodisnotontheoutside.You’llneversee</p><p>himon theoutside.Youwill seehimselfwithin,becausecanyousee ‘IAm?’</p><p>Youcansee,‘Iamaman.’Youseethemanreflected.Youcansay,‘Iamapoor</p><p>man,’andseethemanreflectedintheeyesofthosewhoknowheispoor.And</p><p>youcanseeeveryconceptyouholdofself—buttheconceivingbeingyoudon’t</p><p>see. That’s God! My concept of myself may be this, that, or the other. The</p><p>conceptswillbereflectedinsociety,andmenwilltellmewhoIamconceiving</p><p>myself tobe—butnomanknowswhoIreallyam!I, theconceiver, theydon’t</p><p>know,but theyknowwhat I’veconceivedmyself tobe.Mybankbalancewill</p><p>tell the bankerwhat I have conceivedmyself to be in the financialworld.All</p><p>these concepts—menwill see concepts, but they can’t seeme, the conceiver.</p><p>Well, don’t forget the conceiver—that’s God! And that being is your own</p><p>wonderful ‘I-Am-ness.’That’sGod,and thereneverwasanother!Therenever</p><p>willbeanother.”</p><p>So,Godisbringingforthhisownbeing,becauseheisburiedinus.Andheis</p><p>bringingitupintothestreamofcreativity,sothatthesameonebeing—God—is</p><p>infiniteinpotential.But</p><p>Godisnotinfiniteinactualfact,becausethenhewould</p><p>bedead!Hecouldn’texpand.Hecouldn’tgobeyondwhatheis.So,Godisever</p><p>expanding.There’snolimittoexpansion;thereisonlyalimittocontraction.He</p><p>took upon himself that limit when he became Neville. That was the limit of</p><p>contraction, the limit of opacity. Now, he breaks the shell by my exercising</p><p>withinmethelawofrepentance.AndsoIexercisemyimagination,andthenhe</p><p>breaks the shell. There’s no limit now to expansion, no limit to translucence.</p><p>Therewasonlythelimit,whichheplaceduponhimself,whichwasthelimitof</p><p>death—which is opacity and contraction. So God is infinite in potential, and</p><p>everyone here is going to join thatwonderful stream of creativity and be one</p><p>withGod!</p><p>Now,whenyouhear it,don’t justhear itand forget it.Try it.Put it to the</p><p>extreme test, and then tell another, and have the other tell someone else, and</p><p>spread thegoodnews.This iscalled“theGospel,” for thewordgospelsimply</p><p>means“goodnews.”It’sthegoodnewsaboutGod:howGodbecamemanthat</p><p>manmaybecomeGod.Well, ifGod’snameis“IAm”—IknowIsay,“Iam.”</p><p>It’sthecoreofmybeing.Icansay,“Iamsick,”butIcangetoversickness.But</p><p>Ican’tgetoverbeing“IAm.”Icangetoverbeingrichandbecomeextremely</p><p>poor,butIcan’tgetoverbeing“IAm!”Soheactuallybecamethecoreofmy</p><p>being.That’s the center.Well now, that’smybeing.Well, if that isGod, and</p><p>that’s my being—well, he became me! God actually became me that I may</p><p>becomeasheis.HetookuponhimselfthislimitationthatImaybecomewhathe</p><p>is,whichisinfinite,andexpandforever.</p><p>So,youtry it tonight.Try itwithanything in thisworld.Theunmarried, if</p><p>youdesire tobemarried—whatsymbol in theworldwould imply thatyouare</p><p>married?Alittleband?Inthiswesternworldalittlebandaroundthisringfinger</p><p>—not around any other finger—around this finger. It doesn’t have to be the</p><p>biggestaspidistraintheworld,justaplainlittlegoldring.Ifyouworeitthere,it</p><p>would implyyou’remarried.Sleep tonightas thoughyouworeone.Don’tput</p><p>yourphysical thumbon it;putyour imaginary thumbon it,and feel it inyour</p><p>imagination.Youcandoit!Feelaball.Canyoufeelit?Thenfeelapieceofsilk.</p><p>Feel this, oneafter theother.Canyoudiscriminatebetweenall thesedifferent</p><p>sensations?Ifyoucandiscriminatebetweenthisandatennisballandabaseball</p><p>and a piece of silk, then you can’t discriminate between nothings. Theymust</p><p>exist.Thoughunseenbyyoureyestheystillmustexist!So,ifIcandiscriminate</p><p>betweentheseunseenobjects,theseobjects,thoughunseen,mustbereal.Well,</p><p>nowtakethatandputitthere,butfeelwhenyouwearit,thatyouareproudof</p><p>theonewhoputitthere.Youdon’thavetoseewhathelookslike.Whenit’sput</p><p>there,you’llbeproudofhisname,tobearit,andyou’llbeproudofhim.Justput</p><p>itthere.</p><p>DoyouknowwhyIknowthat?Mywifedidit.Shedidit!Actually,shedid</p><p>it.Onedayshewasinthepresenceofaso-calledsensitive,andthisonesaidto</p><p>her,“Whydidyoutakeoffyourweddingring?”Shesaid,“Iamnotmarried.”</p><p>“Oh,”shesaid,“don’tfoolme.Youtookoffyourweddingring.”Shesaid,“But</p><p>I’mnotmarried.”Shesaid,“I’lleventellyouhisname,”andshestartedoffwith</p><p>Neb—Neba—Neva—shedidn’tquitegetitbutshewascomingvery,veryclose</p><p>toit.Shewasactuallysensingwhatmywifeinconsciousnesswasfeeling.When</p><p>Ifirstmether,Iwantedher.TheveryfirstdayIknewherIwantedtomarryher,</p><p>but Iwasentangled.Was Ientangled!But,by this law, Idisentangledmyself.</p><p>Withouthurtinganyone,Idisengagedmyselffromallthesecomplexitiessothat</p><p>I couldactually legitimately say, “Willyoumarryme?”But in themeanwhile</p><p>shewaswearingthering.Ihadn’tyetputitthere,butsheallowedmetoputit</p><p>thereandsleptasthoughIhadputitthere.SoItellyouunmarriedladies,ifyou</p><p>desiretobemarried—maybeyoudon’t—ifyoudo,that’sthewaytodoit.And</p><p>he’llcomeoutof thenowhere.Youdon’thavetogoandbuyanyoneor tryto</p><p>meettherightpeople.Usuallywhenyoutrytomeettherightone,he’salways</p><p>thewrong one. So don’t go searching. Thosewho go searching for love only</p><p>makemanifesttheirownlove-less-ness,andthelove-lessneverfindlove.Only</p><p>the loving find love, and theynever have to seek for it.Youdraw them; they</p><p>cometoyou.</p><p>Sohere,thisisthepowerofwhichIspeak:thepoweroftheuniverse.The</p><p>power that created and sustains the universe is resident in you as your own</p><p>wonderfulhumanImagination.That’sGod!Don’tforgetit.Iknowit’sdifficult,</p><p>whenmanhasbeentrainedtobelieveinanexternalGod.Andhegoestochurch</p><p>and gets on his knees and he prays to an externalGod.Andhe goes home at</p><p>night—maybehedoessayhisprayers,andhegetsdownonhiskneesandprays</p><p>toanexternalGod.Allright,maybethat’sanicethingforsomeonetodo,butI</p><p>tellyou:heisn’toutthereatall.Youwon’tbecriticizedforit,butheiswithin</p><p>you—verypersonal,mayI tellyou.Heisvery,verypersonal,andwithinyou.</p><p>WhenyouaretoldinScripture,“OftheRockthatbegotus,weareunmindful”</p><p>(Deuteronomy32:18),andthatseemstobeallafigureofspeech,buthowtrue</p><p>thatthingis!</p><p>Onenightsittinginthesilence,rather,itwasanafternoon,Iwasthinkingof</p><p>nothing in particular, and suddenly beforemy eyes came this force. Itwas an</p><p>enormous force.As I looked at it, it fragmented itself, broke into numberless</p><p>little pieces, and then it reassembled itself.As it reassembled itself itwas not</p><p>intoaforce,butintoamanseatedinthelotusposture.I’mlookingatthisman,</p><p>allseatednow,perfectman.AsI lookedathim,I’mlookingatmyself.HereI</p><p>am,theperceiver,observingmyselfseatedinthelotusposture,inthisdeep,deep</p><p>meditation,andasIbecomeawarethatIamlookingatmyself,itbegantoglow,</p><p>and it glowed and glowed and glowed. When it reached the intensity of</p><p>luminosity itexploded,and then I returned to this level.Wheredid I seehim?</p><p>Withinme!Thatbeingismeditatingthis.Thisisbutaprojectionofitselfinthe</p><p>world.Andwhenhewakeswithinme,completelywakes,Iamhe.Godactually</p><p>becameme that I may becomeGod! And he’s put me through all the paces,</p><p>allowingme tomake all themistakes, tomake amonster like the thing that I</p><p>talkedaboutearlier.Imadethat,andImadethelovelyone,andheallowsitin</p><p>hismeditation.Heisthedreamerinme,andheisdreamingthis,anddreaming</p><p>everythingthatIdreaminthisworld.Andwhenheawakes,thiswillceasetobe,</p><p>andIamheandheisGod!</p><p>So,Itellyou,gooutandtryit.Begintonight.I’llmakeyouthispromise;if</p><p>youtryitfaithfully,youwillnotfail.</p><p>Now,letusgointotheSilence.Good.Now,arethereanyquestions,please?</p><p>Makeitafullevening.</p><p>Q.[Inaudible]</p><p>A.“Ihavetakentwonationsuntomybosom.”Scripturetellsus—infact,our</p><p>presentlawintheworldofCaesarisbaseduponit—thetestimonyofoneisnot</p><p>acceptableincourt.Theremustbetwowitnesses.Wehaveanexternalwitness</p><p>intheformofScripture,thewrittenword.ManistheLivingWord,andhehasto</p><p>duplicateit.AllthestoriesofScripture,hemustexperience.So,whenhe</p><p>actuallyexperiencesScripture,therearetwowitnesses,hisinnertestimonyof</p><p>theFatherandtheoutertestimonyofthewrittenword.So,wespeakofthetwo</p><p>inthe11thchapterofRevelation,“mytwowitnesses.”Iftwodifferentpersons</p><p>agreeintestimony,it’sconclusive.Ifonecomesandswears,eventhoughit’s</p><p>true,it’snotacceptableincourt.</p><p>Hemaybetellingthetruth,buttheremustbea</p><p>secondtoconfirmit.Now,God’switnessistheBible,that’sthewitness.Isit</p><p>literallytrue?Itellyoufromexperience,it’sliterallytrue,butit’snotsecular</p><p>history.It’ssupernaturalhistory.So,whenyouexperienceit,youwill</p><p>experiencethisinaremoteregionofthesoul.Itwillduplicatethewritten</p><p>history,whichissupernaturalhistory,salvationhistory.</p><p>Q.[Inaudible]</p><p>A.Whycertainly,mydear,youwouldn’tbehere.Youwouldn’tbeherewere</p><p>younothungrytoexperienceGod.Theworldisn’thungryenoughforit.Weare</p><p>told,“Iwillsendafamineupontheworld.Itwillnotbeahungerforbreadora</p><p>thirstforwater,butforthehearingoftheWordofGod.”Andwhenyouhave</p><p>thatkindofahunger,onlyanexperienceofGodcansatisfythehunger.Allthe</p><p>moneyintheworldcouldn’tsatisfyit.Whenthatthirstisuponyou,notathing</p><p>intheworldcanactuallyquenchthatthirst,butanexperienceofGod.Andhis</p><p>wholestoryistoldintheBible,andmanexperiencesScripture.Scripturemust</p><p>befulfilledinme,soyouhavetwowitnesses:thelivingwitness,whichyouhave</p><p>experienced,andtheexternalwitnessofthewrittenword.</p><p>Arethereanyotherquestions?Comeon,makeitanicefullevening.Westill</p><p>havetenminutes.</p><p>Q.[Inaudible]</p><p>A.No,mydear,youweresowingwhenyouimagined.Imaginalactsaresowing,</p><p>butwedonotrecognizeourownharvestswhenweseetheimaginalact</p><p>projectedonthescreenofspace.Wesay,Icouldneverhaveimaginedathing</p><p>likethat,butwemusthaveorwecouldnotencounterit.So,theactofimagining</p><p>issowing,andinitsowngoodtime,itcropsoutfromthatunseenjourneyand</p><p>appearsonthescreenofspace,andyouseeit—butyoudon’talwaysrecognize</p><p>yourharvest.ButI’lltellyouonething,donotconcernyourselfwiththemeans.</p><p>Alwaysgototheend.Dwellintheend,andyouwillhurtnoone.Butifyoutry</p><p>todevisethemeans,youare,well,messingthewholethingup.Ihavehad</p><p>peoplesaytome,“Youknow,Iwantthatman,andnootherman.”Isaid,“No,</p><p>youdon’t;youwanttobehappilymarried.Youdon’twantthatmanornoman.”</p><p>“Oh,yes,thatmanornoman.”Then,ofcourse,thisalwaysshocksthem.Isay,</p><p>“Ifhedroppeddeadrightnow,wouldyouwanttobemarried?”“Well,heisn’t</p><p>goingtodrop…”“Ididn’taskyouthat.Ifhedroppeddeadrightnow,orifheis</p><p>rightthisverymomentaccusedofbeingtheworld’sgreatestthieformurderer,</p><p>doyoustillwanthim?”“Well,now,whyaskthosequestions,Neville?Iwant</p><p>thatman.”But,yousee,itisn’tthatman.Theywanttobehappilymarried.I</p><p>havegonetosomanyweddingswhereitwaseitherthatmanornone,andit</p><p>wasn’t“thatman”!Andtheyareembarrassedwhentheyseemestandinginthe</p><p>aisle,becauseithadtobe“thatmanornoman,”andhereitisn’tthatmanatall.</p><p>Andtheywalkdown—theyarehappywiththeirnewmate,butalittlesheepish</p><p>astheypassbybecausetheyknowIknowhewasnottheman.</p><p>Youwanttobehappilymarried.Allright,gototheend.Youarehappily</p><p>married.Thenlethimcome,clothedinallthatittakestobehappyinyour</p><p>world.Hedoesn’thavetobesomematineeidol.What’stheirso-calledworld?</p><p>Theydivorceoneaftertheotheranyway,sowhatdoesthatdotothegirl?Orshe</p><p>tohim?Sothat’snotwhatyoureallywant.Youwantsomethingthatisaman.</p><p>Hecomeshome;thehouseisfull.Whenhecomeshomeandyouaren’tthere,</p><p>thehouseisempty.Iknowthat’swhatIwouldlike,andIhavethat.IfIcome</p><p>homeandBill1isnothome,evenifIhavefriendsathome,Imayhaveaparty</p><p>goingon,acocktailparty,tenpeople,twelve,“Where’sBill?”“Well,sheisn’t</p><p>here.”Youknow,thewholethingisemptyuntilshecomes.Andifshegoesout</p><p>andsays,“I’llbebackatfive,”andsheisn’tthereatfive,butshecomesbackat</p><p>six—well,betweenfiveandsixIamnotmyself.Whereisshe?Everyoneshould</p><p>havethatsortofrelationship.Thehouseisemptywhenthemateisn’tthere,</p><p>maleorfemale.IfIcouldcomehomeanditdidn’tmatterwhethershewasthere</p><p>ornot,whatonearthamIdoingbeingmarried?Ifsheisn’tthereanditmakesno</p><p>differencetomewhethersheisornot,well,then,that’snotmarriage.Thehouse</p><p>mustbeemptywhensheisn’tthere,oryouaren’tthere.IfIknew,inherheart,</p><p>thatIcouldgoandcomewhenIwantedandshewasn’tconcerned—oh,that’s</p><p>notmywife!IknowI’vegottodepartsomedayandleaveherbehindme,orshe</p><p>goesandleavesmebehind.That,Iknow,isinevitable.Butwhileweare</p><p>together,Iwantittobesothatthehouseisemptyiftheotheroneisn’tthere.</p><p>AndI’mselfishenoughtowanthertofeelthesameway.</p><p>Anyotherquestions,please?</p><p>Q.[Inaudible]</p><p>A.Justasconcrete.Mancreatesunwittinglyjustaswellashedoeswittingly,but</p><p>inthisworldofoursweshouldlearntocreateconsciously.ButIcan’tdenythat</p><p>theso-calledunconsciouscreationisjustaseffective.Wewalktheearth,wesee</p><p>aheadline,wedon’tknowthepeopleinvolved,andwereact.Thatreaction,felt</p><p>intensely,wasacreativeactonourpart.Andwedon’tknowthepeopleatall.So</p><p>ifyoudoitwittinglyorunwittingly,itisstillcreative.Therefore,becomeaware</p><p>ofwhatyouaredoing.OrIcansaytoeveryone,becomemoreandmoreaware,</p><p>sothatatalltimesyouareselective.YouandIwouldnotgointoastoreandsay,</p><p>“Givemeatie.”Weselectit.Isay,“Don’tjustbringmethreeties.Letmesee</p><p>someties”—fiftyties,ahundredties,andIpickoutone.Imaypickouttwo.I</p><p>don’tgoinandsay,“Givemeasuit.”“Letmeseesomesuitlengths.”Andfrom</p><p>maybeadozenormore,Iselectone—texture,color,whatIthinkIneedinmy</p><p>wardrobetoaugmentthewardrobe.So,Ipickitoutandhemakesitforme.I</p><p>don’tlethimtellmewhatIshouldwant.</p><p>Q.[Inaudible]</p><p>A.No,justaseffective.Alldaylongpeoplearereapingthemosthorriblethings</p><p>intheworld,anditalliswhattheyhaveplantedunwittingly.Theysitdownin</p><p>NewYorkCity,theyreadthislittlepaper,theNews,frombeginningtoend.It’s</p><p>thebiggestpaperinourcountry.Ithasadailycirculationofovertwoandahalf</p><p>million.IthinktheSundaycirculationisaboutfivemillion.It’salittletabloid,</p><p>andnotonewordinitisanythingbutnegative.Whomurderedwhom,whois</p><p>rapingwhom,whoislivingwithwhosewife,andallthissortofthing,andthey</p><p>loveit.Andofcoursetheirlittlelivesaredrabanyway,soit’ssortofvicarious,</p><p>andtheyfattenthemselveswithallthisnonsenseastheygototheirjob.Forone</p><p>solidhourtheyarereadingit.Well,whenthingshappenintheirworld,continue</p><p>tohappen,inanabnormalmanner,theydon’trealizethattheyaredoingit.But</p><p>thewholethingisdonebythem.Theyarefatteningonit.Nodiscriminationat</p><p>all.It’slikegoingintoarestaurantandasking,“Whatdoesthechefwanttoget</p><p>ridoftoday?”It’sthesamething.Andhesays,“Wehavetoomuchofthestew.</p><p>Wehaditforfourdaysandcan’tsellit,andthat’swhatwewanttounload.”</p><p>Callitbyadifferentnametodayandunloadit.Well,Idon’tgoforthat.Giveme</p><p>themenu.</p><p>Afriendofminetaughtmethislessononce.Wewentintoarestaurantand</p><p>thewaiterwasvery,verycarelessandhespilledalittleofthesoup,andmy</p><p>friendcalledhimoverandsaid,“Tellme,isthischarity?”Well,thewaiterwas</p><p>friendcalledhimoverandsaid,“Tellme,isthischarity?”Well,thewaiterwas</p><p>flabbergasted.Hesaid,“Iamaskingaverysimplequestion.Isthischarity?”</p><p>Andhesaid,“Whatdoyoumean,Sir?”“DoIpayforit?”Hesaid,“Why,</p><p>certainly,Sir.”Hesaid,“Well,takeitback,andbringmeanicecleanplateand</p><p>unspilledsoup.”Themantookitbackandbroughthimanicecleanplateand</p><p>unspilledsoup.Ifit’scharity,leaveitthere;Ican’tcomplain.ButifI’mpaying</p><p>forit,youtakeitback.Well,thatisalessonweshouldalllearn.Toomany</p><p>the</p><p>armiesofyourenemy,yourproblemsandall thingsthatseemtothreatenyou)</p><p>thosearethegiantsthatmakeyoufeelyourselftobeagrasshopper.But,youare</p><p>told, youwere first, in your own sight a grasshopper and because of this you</p><p>were to the giants—a grasshopper. In otherwords, you can only be to others</p><p>whatyouare first toyourself.Therefore, to revalueyourself andbegin to feel</p><p>yourself tobe thegiant,acenterofpower, is todwarf theseformergiantsand</p><p>makeofthemgrasshoppers.“Alltheinhabitantsoftheearthareasnothing,and</p><p>he doeth according to his will in the armies of Heaven and among all the</p><p>inhabitants of the earth; andnone can stay his hand, nor say unto him, ‘What</p><p>doestthou’?”ThisbeingspokenofisnottheorthodoxGodsittinginspacebut</p><p>the one and only God—the everlasting father, your awareness of being. So</p><p>awake to thepower thatyouare,not asman,but asyour true self, a faceless,</p><p>formlessawareness,andfreeyourselffromyourself-imposedprison.</p><p>“I am thegood shepherdandknowmysheepandamknownofmine.My</p><p>sheephearmyvoiceandIknowthemandtheywillfollowme.”Awarenessis</p><p>thegoodshepherd.WhatIamawareofbeing,isthe“sheep”thatfollowme.So</p><p>agood “shepherd” is your awareness that it has never lost oneof the “sheep”</p><p>thatyouareawareofbeing.</p><p>IamavoicecallinginthewildernessofhumanconfusionforsuchasIam</p><p>aware of being, and never shall there come a time when that which I am</p><p>convincedthatIamshallfailtofindme.“IAM”isanopendoorforallthatIam</p><p>to enter.Your awareness of being is lord and shepherd of your life. So, “The</p><p>Lord ismyshepherd; I shallnotwant” is seen in its true lightnowtobeyour</p><p>consciousness.Youcouldneverbeinwantofprooforlacktheevidenceofthat</p><p>whichyouareawareofbeing.</p><p>Thisbeingtrue,whynotbecomeawareofbeinggreat;God-loving;wealthy;</p><p>healthy;andallattributesthatyouadmire?</p><p>It is just as easy to possess the consciousness of these qualities as it is to</p><p>possesstheiroppositesforyouhavenotyourpresentconsciousnessbecauseof</p><p>yourworld.On the contrary, yourworld iswhat it is because of your present</p><p>consciousness.Simple,isitnot?Toosimpleinfactforthewisdomofmanthat</p><p>triestocomplicateeverything.</p><p>Paul said of this principle, “It is to theGreeks” (orwisdomof thisworld)</p><p>“foolishness.” “And to the Jews” (or those who look for signs) “a stumbling</p><p>block”;withtheresult,thatmancontinuestowalkindarknessratherthanawake</p><p>to the being that he is. Man has so long worshipped the images of his own</p><p>makingthatatfirsthefindsthisrevelationblasphemous,sinceitspellsdeathto</p><p>allhispreviousbeliefs inaGodapart fromhimself.This revelationwillbring</p><p>theknowledgethat“IandmyfatherareonebutmyfatherisgreaterthanI.”You</p><p>areonewithyourpresentconceptionofyourself.Butyouaregreater thanthat</p><p>whichyouareatpresentawareofbeing.</p><p>Before man can attempt to transform his world he must first lay the</p><p>foundation—“IAM theLord.”That is,man’s awareness, his consciousnessof</p><p>beingisGod.Untilthisisfirmlyestablishedsothatnosuggestionorargument</p><p>putforwardbyotherscanshakeit,hewillfindhimselfreturningtotheslavery</p><p>ofhisformerbeliefs.“IfyebelievenotthatIAMhe,yeshalldieinyoursins.”</p><p>Thatis,youshallcontinuetobeconfusedandthwarteduntilyoufindthecause</p><p>ofyourconfusion.Whenyouhaveliftedupthesonofmanthenshallyouknow</p><p>thatIAMhe,thatis,thatI,JohnSmith,donothingofmyself,butmyfather,or</p><p>thatstateofconsciousnesswhichIamnowonewithdoestheworks.</p><p>Whenthisisrealizedeveryurgeanddesirethatspringswithinyoushallfind</p><p>expressioninyourworld.“BeholdIstandatthedoorandknock.Ifanymanhear</p><p>myvoiceandopenthedoorIwillcomeintohimandsupwithhimandhewith</p><p>me.”The“I”knockingatthedooristheurge.</p><p>Thedoorisyourconsciousness.Toopenthedooristobecomeonewiththat</p><p>which isknockingbyFEELINGoneself tobe the thingdesired.To feelone’s</p><p>desireasimpossibleistoshutthedoorordenythisurgeexpression.Torisein</p><p>consciousnesstothenaturalnessofthethingfeltistoswingwidethedoorand</p><p>invitethisoneintoembodiment.</p><p>That is why it is constantly recorded that Jesus left the world of</p><p>manifestationandascendeduntohisfather.Jesus,asyouandI,foundallthings</p><p>impossibletoJesus,asman.Buthavingdiscoveredhisfathertobethestateof</p><p>consciousness of the thing desired, he but left behind him the “Jesus</p><p>consciousness”androseinconsciousnesstothatstatedesiredandstooduponit</p><p>untilhebecameonewithit.Ashemadehimselfonewiththat,hebecamethatin</p><p>expression.</p><p>This is Jesus’ simple message to man: Men are but garments that the</p><p>impersonal being, I AM—the presence that men call God—dwells in. Each</p><p>garmenthascertainlimitations.Inordertotranscendtheselimitationsandgive</p><p>expressiontothatwhich,asman—JohnSmith—youfindyourself incapableof</p><p>doing,youtakeyourattentionawayfromyourpresentlimitations,orJohnSmith</p><p>conceptionofyourself,andmergeyourselfinthefeelingofbeingthatwhichyou</p><p>desire.Justhowthisdesireornewlyattainedconsciousnesswillembodyitself,</p><p>no man knows. For I, or the newly attained consciousness, has ways that ye</p><p>knownotof; itswaysarepastfindingout.DonotspeculateastotheHOWof</p><p>this consciousness embodying itself, for no man is wise enough to know the</p><p>how.Speculationisproofthatyouhavenotattainedtothenaturalnessofbeing</p><p>thethingdesiredandsoarefilledwithdoubts.</p><p>You are told, “Hewho lackswisdom let himaskofGod, that gives to all</p><p>liberally,andupbraidethnot;anditshallbegivenuntohim.Butlethimasknot</p><p>doubtingforhewhodoubtsisasawaveoftheseathatistossedandbatteredby</p><p>thewinds.Andletnotsuchaonethinkthatheshallreceiveanythingfromthe</p><p>Lord.”Youcanseewhythisstatementismade,foronlyupontherockoffaith</p><p>cananythingbeestablished.Ifyouhavenottheconsciousnessofthethingyou</p><p>havenotthecauseorfoundationuponwhichthethingiserected.</p><p>Aproofofthisestablishedconsciousnessisgivenyouinthewords,“Thank</p><p>you, father.”Whenyoucome into the joyof thanksgivingso thatyouactually</p><p>feelgratefulforhavingreceivedthatwhichisnotyetapparenttothesenses,you</p><p>havedefinitelybecomeoneinconsciousnesswiththethingforwhichyougave</p><p>thanks.God(yourawareness)isnotmocked.Youareeverreceivingthatwhich</p><p>youareawareofbeingandnomangivesthanksforsomethingwhichhehasnot</p><p>received. “Thank you father” is not, as it is used by many today, a sort of</p><p>magicalformula.Youneedneverutteraloudthewords,“Thankyou,father.”In</p><p>applying thisprincipleasyourise inconsciousness to thepointwhereyouare</p><p>really grateful and happy for having received the thing desired, you</p><p>automatically rejoiceandgive thanks inwardly.Youhavealreadyaccepted the</p><p>giftwhichwasbutadesirebeforeyourose inconsciousness,andyourfaith is</p><p>nowthesubstancethatshallclotheyourdesire.</p><p>Thisrising inconsciousness is thespiritualmarriagewhere twoshallagree</p><p>uponbeingoneandtheirlikenessorimageisestablishedonearth.</p><p>“For whatsoever ye ask in my name the same give I unto you.”</p><p>“Whatsoever”isquitealargemeasure.Itistheunconditional.Itdoesnotstateif</p><p>societydeemsitrightorwrongthatyoushouldaskit,itrestswithyou.Doyou</p><p>reallywantit?Doyoudesireit?Thatisallthatisnecessary.Lifewill</p><p>carelessthingsgoonandnoonejacksthemup.</p><p>Q.[Inaudible]</p><p>A.Willingly.Firstofall,Idon’tdivorcemyselffromGod.Idonotdivorce</p><p>myselffromGod.Heonlyhasonename,andIhavethatname:Ican’tpoint</p><p>elsewheretosayhiswill.TheminuteIsay,“hiswill,”IamdivorcedfromGod.</p><p>So,Iaskmyself,“Whatdoyouwant,Neville?”Now,becausethewholevast</p><p>worldisyourselfpushedout,youaren’tgoingtoinjureanyone,butyoucan’t</p><p>denythatyoustilldesire.Youwantsomething.So,youwantit.Well,you</p><p>assumethatyouhaveitandthenletthingshappen.Ifittakesathousandorten</p><p>thousandtoaidthebirthofthatassumption,thentheywillbeused,andtheywill</p><p>beusedeitherknowinglyorunknowingly.ButifIhavetowaittosay,“Isit</p><p>God’swill?”I’llwaitforever—I’llwaitforever.IsitGod’swillthatIshould</p><p>payrent?Orbedispossessed?Well,then,ifIamgoingtowaitandsay,“Well,</p><p>letHimtellmefirst,”becausesomefriendwillsay,“Youknow,youneedthat</p><p>experience,youneedhumility;youneedallthesethingstobefiredout…”I’ve</p><p>hadit!Idon’tneedtolearnthesamelessontwice!Oh,I’vehadthat,whenI</p><p>thought[itwas]God’swillandallowedhimtodoit,andIsatanddidnothing.</p><p>Thencametheendofthemonth,andyoucan’tpayrent.Thelandladysays,</p><p>“Youknow,Ican’tcarryyouanylonger.Outyougo.”I’vehadthatexperience,</p><p>bywaitingforGodtotellmewhattodoandhenevertoldme.Ihadtodoit.</p><p>Andso,whenIgotmarried,IknewIhadanobligationtolife—Ihadanother</p><p>one.Thencameachild,andIhadanotherone.It’smyobligation,tohavesome</p><p>externalbeingtellmehow?No,IknowwhatIhavetodo.Putherthrough</p><p>school?Allright.Canyoumakecollege?Doyouwantto?Allright,thenitis</p><p>myobligationtoputherthroughcollege,andIdid.ButifIwaitedforsome</p><p>externalbeingtotalktomeandsay,“Well,maybesheshouldn’tgo.Itwillbe</p><p>easieronyou,”I’mpassingthebuck.Thewholevastworldpassesthebuck.No,</p><p>mydear,makeyourdecision.Evenifyouarewrong,makeadecision.Allright,</p><p>youlearnbyit.Buttobeundecidedsothatyouwillnotmakeamistake—well,</p><p>doyouknowthatstory?It’sinRevelation,“Wouldthatyouwerehotorcoldbut</p><p>becauseyouareneitherhotnorcold,andthatyouarelukewarm,Ispewyou</p><p>out.”Youcan’tmakecoffeeorteawithlukewarmwater.Letitbehotorcold.</p><p>Letmanbeintense.Youknow,thepeoplewhoopposemeandsay,“Neville,I</p><p>thinkyou’reanut.Ithinkyouareasinsaneastheycome”—well,I’vebeentold</p><p>thattimeandagain.Thosewhoreallyopposemebecomemybeststudents.But</p><p>thosewhocomeandsay,“Oh,Ithinkyouarewonderful,”thefirsttimethey</p><p>hearit,“Oh,Ithinkyou’rewonderful,”nevercomeback.Well,thosewhosay,</p><p>“Ithinkthatmanisinsane”—I’vehadthem.On49thStreetinNewYorkCityI</p><p>cameupontwoladies.Oneladywasshowingherout-of-townfriendallofNew</p><p>YorkCity,andabigpictureofminewasinawindowwithmybooks,andone</p><p>said,“Doyouknowwhoheis?”andshesaid,“No.”“Well,heisthemadmystic</p><p>of48thStreet.Oh,you’vegottogoandhearhim.You’vegottogoandhear</p><p>him.He’sasmadasahatter.Weallgotohearhimbecausehe’ssomad.It’s</p><p>fun.”Shesaid,“It’sfuntogoandsitdown;itcostsyounothing.”Inthosedays</p><p>itwasallavoluntaryeffortontheirpart,andsoathousandpeoplewouldcome</p><p>threetimesaweektohearthemadmysticof48thStreet.Butthosewhoheard</p><p>andthought,“Now,hereallyisinsane,”andwouldchallengemefromthe</p><p>audience,theybecamegoodstudents.Thoselikethetwoonthestreetwhosaid,</p><p>“Oh,he’samadmystic.Goandhavefun,”theyneverbecamestudents.They</p><p>lovedtheirlittleicons,andtheyprayedtothelittleicons.Heneveranswered</p><p>them,butneverthelesstheyprayedanywayinhope.</p><p>Q.[Inaudible]</p><p>A.Mydear,Ibelieveinbeingasspecificasonecanbe.IjustknewwhatI</p><p>wantedsooftenoncertainthings,andwanteditindetail,andgotit.Ifman</p><p>cannotbethatspecific,allwellandgood.Takeanend,anoverallend.Butifyou</p><p>reallyarespecific,Godisverydefinite.OutlineisperfectinGod’sworld.Look</p><p>atthethumbprint.Notonlyaman’sthumbprintdiffersfromallthumbprintsbut</p><p>hisodor—orthebloodhoundcouldn’tfindyou.Justimaginethree-and-a-half</p><p>billionofus,andnotwohavetheidenticalodor.Notwohavethesamesoundto</p><p>theirvoice—similarbutnotidentical.Seeitonthetapeasyouspeak,andthat</p><p>vibrationwillrecordit.Youcannotreproduceit.Similar?Yes.Notwo—youare</p><p>sounique.Youaretheonlyone;thereforeyoucannotbereplaced.Thereisno</p><p>oneinalleternitythatcanreplaceyou.Thatiswhyyouhavetobesaved,orthe</p><p>LivingTemplecannotbecompleted.Youareastoneinthislivingtemple.God</p><p>LivingTemplecannotbecompleted.Youareastoneinthislivingtemple.God</p><p>wasveryspecificwhenhemadeyoutheuniquebeingthatyouare.Iwillnotbe</p><p>“lostinthecrowd”forthesimplereasonthatGoddidnotlosemeinthecrowd.I</p><p>amindividualized,andItendforeverandevertowardsgreaterindividualization.</p><p>Q.[Inaudible]</p><p>A.Tobemeekistobeself-disciplinedorwelltrained.“Themeekshallinherit</p><p>theearth”becausetheyhavelearnedtousetheirimagination.</p><p>XIV</p><p>“ENTERTHEDREAM”</p><p>ALecture</p><p>November21,1969</p><p>This lecture highlights Neville’s interest in poet and mystic William Blake (1757–1827),</p><p>particularlyinthelatterpartofNeville’scareer.Nevilleonceremarkedthathisownphilosophy</p><p>hadn’treachedcompletefruitionuntilhecametounderstandBlake.HesawBlake’svisionofthe</p><p>divinenatureofthoughtascomportingwithhisownandmarriedthetwo.Nevillealsodiscusses</p><p>hiscontemporaneousliteraryinterests, includinghisencounterwithnovelistandessayistAldous</p><p>Huxley(1894–1963).</p><p>—MH</p><p>God only acts and is in existing beings or men. Embracing the fires of</p><p>experience, God was consumed by the flames, rose from their ashes, and</p><p>continues toriseasJesusChrist,orDivineImagination.Goodandevilarenot</p><p>conditions imposed by some benevolent deity, but states the soul must</p><p>experienceinordertosurpassthemandawakenasGodHimself.</p><p>Tonight Iwill sharewithyouanexperienceofa friend,a ladywhowrote,</p><p>saying:“InmydreamIpossessedthepowertobeanythingIwantedtobe.The</p><p>momentIobservedthebeingorthingIbecameit,feltitsemotion,andsharedits</p><p>thoughtsandenvironment.ThisIdidthroughoutthenightandawokereluctantly</p><p>becauseIwassoenjoyingtheexperience.”</p><p>Now let me tell you what Aldous Huxley wrote about his friend, D. H.</p><p>Lawrence:</p><p>TobewithLawrencewasakindofadventure,avoyageofdiscoveryinto</p><p>newnessandotherness.For,beinghimselfofadifferentorder,he</p><p>inhabitedadifferentuniversefromthatofcommonmen—abrighterand</p><p>intenserworld,ofwhich,whilehespoke,hewouldmakeyoufree.He</p><p>lookedatthingswiththeeyes,soitseemed,ofamanwhohadbeenatthe</p><p>brinkofdeathandtowhom,asheemergesfromthedarkness,theworld</p><p>revealsitselfasunfathomablybeautifulandmysterious.ForLawrence,</p><p>existencewasonecontinuousconvalescence;itwasasthoughhewere</p><p>newlyrebornfromamortalillnesseverydayofhislife.Whatthese</p><p>convalescenteyessaw,hismostcasualspeechwouldreveal.Awalkwith</p><p>himinthecountrywasawalkthroughthatmarvelouslyrichand</p><p>significantlandscapewhichisatoncethebackgroundandtheprincipal</p><p>personageofallhisnovels.Heseemedtoknow,bypersonalexperience,</p><p>whatitwasliketobeatreeoradaisyorabreakingwaveoreventhe</p><p>mysteriousmoonitself.Hecouldgetinsidetheskinofananimalandtell</p><p>youinthemostconvincingdetailhowitfeltandhow,dimly,inhumanly,</p><p>itthought.</p><p>Iamquitesuremyfriendneverreadthatletter,butIgavehermyimmortal</p><p>eyes. The eye of imagination is now</p><p>giveitto</p><p>youifyouask“inhisname.”</p><p>His name is not a name that you pronounce with the lips. You can ask</p><p>foreverinthenameofGodorJehovahorChristJesusandyouwillaskinvain.</p><p>“Name”means nature; so,when you ask in the nature of a thing, results ever</p><p>follow.Toaskinthenameistoriseinconsciousnessandbecomeoneinnature</p><p>withthethingdesired,riseinconsciousnesstothenatureofthething,andyou</p><p>willbecomethatthinginexpression.Therefore,“whatthingssoeveryedesire,</p><p>whenyepray,believethatyereceivethemandyeshallreceivethem.”</p><p>Praying, as we have shown you before, is recognition—the injunction to</p><p>believethatyereceiveisfirstperson,presenttense.Thismeansthatyoumustbe</p><p>inthenatureofthethingsaskedforbeforeyoucanreceivethem.</p><p>To get into the nature easily, general amnesty is necessary. We are told,</p><p>“Forgiveifyehaveaughtagainstany,thatyourfatheralso,whichisinHeaven,</p><p>may forgive you. But if ye forgive not, neitherwill your father forgive you.”</p><p>ThismayseemtobesomepersonalGodwhoispleasedordispleasedwithyour</p><p>actionsbutthisisnotthecase.</p><p>Consciousness, being God, if you hold in consciousness anything against</p><p>man,youarebindingthatconditioninyourworld.Buttoreleasemanfromall</p><p>condemnation is to free yourself so that youmay rise to any level necessary;</p><p>thereis,therefore,nocondemnationtothoseinChristJesus.</p><p>Therefore,averygoodpracticebeforeyouenterintoyourmeditationisfirst</p><p>tofreeeverymanintheworldfromblame.ForLAWisneverviolatedandyou</p><p>canrestconfidentlyintheknowledgethateveryman’sconceptionofhimselfis</p><p>going to be his reward. So you do not have to bother yourself about seeing</p><p>whether or notman getswhat you consider he should get. For lifemakes no</p><p>mistakesandalwaysgivesmanthatwhichmanfirstgiveshimself.</p><p>This brings us to that much abused statement of the Bible on tithing.</p><p>Teachers of all kinds have enslaved man with this affair of tithing, for not</p><p>themselvesunderstanding thenatureof tithingandbeing themselves fearfulof</p><p>lack, they have led their followers to believe that a tenth part of their income</p><p>shouldbegiventotheLord.Meaning,astheymakeveryclear,that,whenone</p><p>givesatenthpartofhisincometotheirparticularorganizationheisgivinghis</p><p>“tenthpart”totheLord—(oristithing).Butremember,“IAMtheLord.”Your</p><p>awarenessofbeingistheGodthatyougivetoandyouevergiveinthismanner.</p><p>Thereforewhenyouclaimyourselftobeanything,youhavegiventhatclaim</p><p>or quality to God. And your awareness of being, which is no respecter of</p><p>persons,willreturntoyoupresseddown,shakentogether,andrunningoverwith</p><p>thatqualityorattributewhichyouclaimforyourself.</p><p>Awarenessofbeingisnothingthatyoucouldevername.ToclaimGodtobe</p><p>rich; to be great; to be love; to be allwise; is to define thatwhich cannot be</p><p>defined.ForGodisnothingthatcouldeverbenamed.</p><p>TithingisnecessaryandyoudotithewithGod.Butfromnowongivetothe</p><p>onlyGodandsee to it thatyougivehimthequality thatyoudesireasman to</p><p>expressbyclaimingyourselftobethegreat,thewealthy,theloving,theallwise.</p><p>Donot speculate as tohowyou shall express thesequalitiesor claims, for</p><p>lifehasawaythatyou,asman,knownotof.Itswaysarepastfindingout.But,I</p><p>assure you, the day you claim these qualities to the point of conviction, your</p><p>claimswill be honored.There is nothing covered that shall not be uncovered.</p><p>Thatwhichisspokeninsecretshallbeproclaimedfromthehousetops.Thatis,</p><p>yoursecretconvictionsofyourself—thesesecretclaimsthatnomanknowsof,</p><p>when really believed, will be shouted from the housetops in your world. For</p><p>yourconvictionsofyourselfarethewordsoftheGodwithinyou,whichwords</p><p>arespiritandcannotreturnuntoyouvoidbutmustaccomplishwhereuntothey</p><p>aresent.</p><p>You are at thismoment calling out of the infinite thatwhichyou are now</p><p>consciousofbeing.Andnotonewordorconvictionwillfailtofindyou.</p><p>“IAMthevineandyeare thebranches.”Consciousness is the“vine,”and</p><p>thosequalitieswhichyouarenowconsciousofbeingareas“branches”thatyou</p><p>feedandkeepalive.Justasabranchhasnolifeexceptitberootedinthevine,so</p><p>likewise thingshaveno lifeexceptyoubeconsciousof them.Justasabranch</p><p>withersanddiesifthesapofthevineceasestoflowtowardsit,sodothingsin</p><p>your world pass away if you take your attention from them, because your</p><p>attention is as the sap of life that keeps alive and sustains the things of your</p><p>world.</p><p>To dissolve a problem that now seems so real to you all that you do is</p><p>remove your attention from it. In spite of its seeming reality, turn from it in</p><p>consciousness.Become indifferent and begin to feel yourself to be thatwhich</p><p>wouldbethesolutionoftheproblem.</p><p>Forinstance;ifyouwereimprisonednomanwouldhavetotellyouthatyou</p><p>should desire freedom. Freedom, or rather the desire of freedom, would be</p><p>automatic. Sowhy lookbehind the fourwalls of your prison bars?Take your</p><p>attentionfrombeingimprisonedandbegintofeelyourselftobefree.FEELitto</p><p>thepointwhereitisnatural—theverysecondyoudoso,thoseprisonbarswill</p><p>dissolve.Applythissameprincipletoanyproblem.</p><p>Ihaveseenpeoplewhowereindebtuptotheirearsapplythisprincipleand</p><p>in the twinklingof an eyedebts thatweremountainouswere removed. I have</p><p>seen thosewhom doctors had given up as incurable take their attention away</p><p>fromtheirproblemofdiseaseandbegintofeelthemselvestobewellinspiteof</p><p>the evidence of their sense to the contrary. In no time at all this so called</p><p>“incurabledisease”vanishedandleftnoscar.</p><p>Your answer to, “Whom do you say that I AM”? ever determines your</p><p>expression.As long as you are conscious of being imprisoned or diseased, or</p><p>poor,solongwillyoucontinuetoout-pictureorexpresstheseconditions.</p><p>Whenman realized that he is now thatwhich he is seeking and begins to</p><p>claim that he is, hewill have theproofof his claim.This cue is givenyou in</p><p>words,“Whomseekye?”Andtheyanswered,“Jesus.”Andthevoicesaid,“Iam</p><p>he.”“Jesus”heremeanssalvationorsavior.Youareseekingtobesalvagedfrom</p><p>thatwhichisnotyourproblem.</p><p>“Iam”ishethatwillsaveyou.Ifyouarehungry,yoursaviorisfood.Ifyou</p><p>arepoor,yoursaviorisriches.Ifyouareimprisoned,yoursaviorisfreedom.If</p><p>youarediseased,itwillnotbeamancalledJesuswhowillsaveyou,buthealth</p><p>will become your savior. Therefore, claim “I am he,” in other words, claim</p><p>yourself tobethethingdesired.Claimit inconsciousness—notinwords—and</p><p>consciousnesswillrewardyouwithyourclaim.Youaretold,“Youshallfindme</p><p>whenyouFEELafterme.”Well,FEELafterthatqualityinconsciousnessuntil</p><p>youFEELyourselftobeit.Whenyouloseyourselfinthefeelingofbeingit,the</p><p>qualitywillembodyitselfinyourworld.</p><p>Youarehealedfromyourproblemwhenyoutouchthesolutionofit.“Who</p><p>hastouchedme?ForIperceivevirtueisgoneoutofme.”Yes,thedayyoutouch</p><p>this beingwithin you—FEELING yourself to be cured or healed, virtueswill</p><p>comeoutofyourveryselfandsolidifythemselvesinyourworldashealings.</p><p>It is said,“Youbelieve inGod.Believealso inme for Iamhe.”Have the</p><p>faithofGod.“HemadehimselfonewithGodandfounditnotrobberytodothe</p><p>worksofGod.”Goyouanddolikewise.Yes,beginto</p><p>believeyourawareness,</p><p>yourconsciousnessofbeingtobeGod.Claimforyourselfalltheattributesthat</p><p>youhaveheretoforegivenanexternalGodandyouwillbegintoexpressthese</p><p>claims.</p><p>“ForIamnotaGodafaroff.Iamnearerthanyourhandsandfeet—nearer</p><p>thanyourverybreathing.”Iamyourawarenessofbeing.Iamthatinwhichall</p><p>that I shall everbeawareofbeing shallbeginandend. “Forbefore theworld</p><p>wasIAM;andwhentheworldshallceasetobe,IAM;beforeAbrahamwas,I</p><p>AM.”ThisIAMisyourawareness.“ExcepttheLordbuildthehousetheylabor</p><p>invainthatbuildit.”“TheLord,”beingyourconsciousness,exceptthatwhich</p><p>youseekisfirstestablishedinyourconsciousness,youwilllaborinvaintofind</p><p>it.Allthingsmustbeginandendinconsciousness.</p><p>So,blessedindeedisthemanthattrustethinhimself—forman’sfaithinGod</p><p>will ever be measured by his confidence in himself. You believe in a God,</p><p>believealsoinME.</p><p>Putnotyourtrustinmenformenbutreflectthebeingthatyouare,andcan</p><p>onlybringtoyouordountoyouthatwhichyouhavefirstdoneuntoyourself.</p><p>“Nomantakethawaymylife,Ilayitdownmyself.”Ihavethepowertolay</p><p>itdownandthepowertotakeitupagain.</p><p>Nomatterwhathappenstomaninthisworlditisneveranaccident.Itoccurs</p><p>undertheguidanceofanexactandchangelessLaw.</p><p>“Noman”(manifestation)“comesuntomeexceptthefatherwithinmedraw</p><p>him,”and“Iandmyfatherareone.”Believethistruthandyouwillbefree.Man</p><p>hasalwaysblamedothersforthatwhichheisandwillcontinuetodosountilhe</p><p>findhimselfascauseofall.“IAM”comesnottodestroybuttofulfill.“IAM,”</p><p>the awareness within you, destroys nothing but ever fills full the molds or</p><p>conceptiononehasofone’sself.</p><p>Itisimpossibleforthepoormantofindwealthinthisworldnomatterhow</p><p>he is surroundedwith it until he first claims himself to bewealthy. For signs</p><p>follow, they do not precede. To constantly kick and complain against the</p><p>limitationsofpovertywhileremainingpoorinconsciousnessistoplaythefool’s</p><p>game. Changes cannot take place from that level of consciousness for life is</p><p>constantlyout-picturingalllevels.</p><p>Followtheexampleoftheprodigalson.Realizethatyou,yourself,brought</p><p>aboutthisconditionofwasteandlackandmakethedecisionwithinyourselfto</p><p>rise to a higher level where the fatted calf, the ring, and the robe await your</p><p>claim.</p><p>There was no condemnation of the prodigal when he had the courage to</p><p>claim this inheritance as his own.Otherswill condemnus only as long aswe</p><p>continue in that forwhichwecondemnourselves.So: “Happy is theman that</p><p>condemneth himself not in that which he alloweth.” For to life nothing is</p><p>condemned.Allisexpressed.</p><p>Lifedoesnotcarewhetheryoucallyourselfrichorpoor;strongorweak.It</p><p>willeternallyrewardyouwiththatwhichyouclaimastrueofyourself.</p><p>Themeasurementsofrightandwrongbelongtomanalone.Tolifethereis</p><p>nothingrightorwrong.AsPaulstatedinhisletterstotheRomans:“Iknowand</p><p>ampersuadedbytheLordJesusthatthereisnothinguncleanofitself,buttohim</p><p>thatesteemethanythingtobeunclean,tohimitisunclean.”Stopaskingyourself</p><p>whetheryouareworthyorunworthy toreceive thatwhichyoudesire.You,as</p><p>man, did not create the desire. Your desires are ever fashioned within you</p><p>becauseofwhatyounowclaimyourselftobe.</p><p>When a man is hungry, (without thinking) he automatically desires food.</p><p>When imprisoned,heautomaticallydesires freedomandso forth.Yourdesires</p><p>containwithinthemselvestheplanofself-expression.</p><p>So leave all judgments out of the picture and rise in consciousness to the</p><p>levelofyourdesireandmakeyourselfonewithitbyclaimingittobesonow.</p><p>For:“Mygraceissufficientforthee.Mystrengthismadeperfectinweakness.”</p><p>Havefaithinthisunseenclaimuntiltheconvictionisbornwithinyouthatit</p><p>isso.Yourconfidenceinthisclaimwillpaygreatrewards.Justalittlewhileand</p><p>he, the thing desired, will come. But without faith it is impossible to realize</p><p>anything.Throughfaiththeworldswereframedbecause“faithisthesubstance</p><p>ofthethinghopedfor—theevidenceofthethingnotyetseen.”</p><p>Don’tbeanxiousorconcernedastoresults.Theywillfollowjustassurely</p><p>asdayfollowsnight.</p><p>Look upon your desires—all of them—as the spoken words of God, and</p><p>everywordordesireapromise.Thereasonmostofusfailtorealizeourdesires</p><p>is becausewe are constantly conditioning them.Donot conditionyour desire.</p><p>Just accept it as it comes to you.Give thanks for it to the point that you are</p><p>gratefulforhavingalreadyreceivedit—thengoaboutyourwayinpeace.</p><p>Such acceptance of your desire is like dropping seed—fertile seed—into</p><p>prepared soil. For when you can drop the thing desired in consciousness,</p><p>confidentthatitshallappear,youhavedoneallthatisexpectedofyou.But,to</p><p>beworriedorconcernedabouttheHOWofyourdesirematuringistoholdthese</p><p>fertileseedsinamentalgrasp,and,therefore,nevertohavedroppedtheminthe</p><p>soilofconfidence.</p><p>Thereasonmenconditiontheirdesiresisbecausetheyconstantlyjudgeafter</p><p>the appearance of being and see the things as real—forgetting that the only</p><p>realityistheconsciousnessbackofthem.</p><p>ToseethingsasrealistodenythatallthingsarepossibletoGod.Theman</p><p>who is imprisonedandseeshis fourwallsas real isautomaticallydenying the</p><p>urgeorpromiseofGodwithinhimoffreedom.</p><p>Aquestionoftenaskedwhen this statement ismade is; Ifone’sdesire isa</p><p>giftofGodhowcanyousaythatifonedesirestokillamanthatsuchadesireis</p><p>goodandthereforeGodsent?Inanswertothisletmesaythatnomandesiresto</p><p>killanother.Whathedoesdesireistobefreedfromsuchaone.Butbecausehe</p><p>doesnotbelievethatthedesiretobefreefromsuchaonecontainswithinitself</p><p>the powers of freedom, he conditions that desire and sees the only way to</p><p>express such freedom is to destroy theman—forgetting that the life wrapped</p><p>within the desire has ways that he, as man, knows not of. Its ways are past</p><p>findingout.ThusmandistortsthegiftsofGodthroughhislackoffaith.</p><p>Problemsarethemountainsspokenofthatcanberemovedifonehasbutthe</p><p>faithof agrainof amustard seed.Menapproach their problemasdid theold</p><p>ladywho, on attending service andhearing thepriest say, “If youhadbut the</p><p>faithofagrainofamustardseedyouwouldsayuntoyondermountain‘bethou</p><p>removed’anditshallberemovedandnothingisimpossibletoyou.”</p><p>Thatnightasshesaidherprayers,shequotedthispartoftheScripturesand</p><p>retired to bed in what she thought was faith. On arising in the morning she</p><p>rushedtothewindowandexclaimed:“Iknewthatoldmountainwouldstillbe</p><p>there.”</p><p>For this is howman approaches his problem.He knows that they are still</p><p>goingtoconfronthim.Andbecauselifeisnorespecterofpersonsanddestroys</p><p>nothing,itcontinuestokeepalivethatwhichheisconsciousofbeing.</p><p>Thingswilldisappearonlyasmanchangesinconsciousness.Denyitifyou</p><p>will, it still remainsa fact thatconsciousness is theonly realityand thingsbut</p><p>mirror that which you are in consciousness. So the heavenly state you are</p><p>seekingwillbefoundonlyinconsciousness,forthekingdomofheaveniswithin</p><p>you. As the will of heaven is ever done on earth you are today living in the</p><p>heaven that youhave establishedwithinyou.For here on this very earth your</p><p>heaven reveals itself. The kingdom</p><p>of heaven really is at hand. NOW is the</p><p>acceptedtime.Socreateanewheaven,enterintoanewstateofconsciousness</p><p>andanewearthwillappear.</p><p>“Theformerthingsshallpassaway.Theyshallnotberememberednorcome</p><p>intomindanymore.Forbehold,I,”(yourconsciousness)“comequicklyandmy</p><p>rewardiswithme.”</p><p>Iamnamelessbutwill takeuponmyselfeveryname(nature) thatyoucall</p><p>me.Rememberitisyou,yourself,thatIspeakofas“me.”Soeveryconception</p><p>thatyouhaveofyourself—thatiseverydeepconviction—youhaveofyourself</p><p>is that which you shall appear as being—for I AM not fooled; God is not</p><p>mocked.</p><p>Nowletmeinstructyouintheartoffishing.Itisrecordedthatthedisciples</p><p>fished all night and caught nothing.Then Jesus cameupon the scene and told</p><p>themtocast theirnets inoncemore, into thesamewaters thatonlyamoment</p><p>beforewerebarren—andthistimetheirnetswereburstingwiththecatch.</p><p>Thisstoryistakingplaceintheworldtodayrightwithinyou,thereader.For</p><p>youhavewithinyoualltheelementsnecessarytogofishing.Butuntilyoufind</p><p>thatJesusChrist(yourawareness)isLord,youwillfish,asdidthesedisciples,</p><p>in the night of human darkness. That is, you will fish for THINGS thinking</p><p>thingstoberealandwillfishwiththehumanbait—whichisastruggleandan</p><p>effort—trying tomakecontactwith thisoneand thatone: trying tocoerce this</p><p>being or the other being; and all such effort will be in vain. But when you</p><p>discoveryourawarenessofbeingtobeChristJesusyouwilllethimdirectyour</p><p>fishing.Andyouwill fish in consciousness for the things that youdesire. For</p><p>yourdesirewillbethefishthatyouwillcatch,becauseyourconsciousnessisthe</p><p>onlylivingrealityyouwillfishinthedeepwatersofconsciousness.</p><p>If you would catch that which is beyond your present capacity you must</p><p>launchout intodeeperwaters, for,withinyourpresentconsciousnesssuchfish</p><p>ordesirescannotswim.Tolaunchoutintodeeperwaters,youleavebehindyou</p><p>allthatisnowyourpresentproblem,orlimitation,bytakingyourATTENTION</p><p>AWAYfromit.Turnyourbackcompletelyuponeveryproblemandlimitation</p><p>thatyounowpossess.</p><p>Dwell upon just being by saying, “I AM,” “I AM,” “I AM,” to yourself.</p><p>Continue to declare to yourself that you just are. Do not condition this</p><p>declaration,justcontinuetoFEELyourselftobeandwithoutwarningyouwill</p><p>findyourselfslippingtheanchor that tiedyouto theshallowofyourproblems</p><p>andmovingoutintothedeep.</p><p>This isusuallyaccompaniedwith thefeelingofexpansion.YouwillFEEL</p><p>yourself expand as though you were actually growing. Don’t be afraid, for</p><p>courage is necessary. You are not going to die to anything by your former</p><p>limitations,buttheyaregoingtodieasyoumoveawayfromthem,fortheylive</p><p>onlyinyourconsciousness.Inthisdeeporexpandedconsciousnessyouwillfind</p><p>yourselftobeapowerthatyouhadneverdreamtofbefore.</p><p>The thingsdesiredbeforeyou shovedoff from the shoresof limitationare</p><p>the fish you are going to catch in this deep. Because you have lost all</p><p>consciousnessofyourproblemsandbarriers, it is now the easiest thing in the</p><p>worldtoFEELyourselftobeonewiththethingsdesired.</p><p>BecauseIAM(yourconsciousness)istheresurrectionandthelife,youmust</p><p>attach this resurrecting power that you are to the thing desired if you would</p><p>makeitappearandliveinyourworld.Nowyoubegintoassumethenatureof</p><p>the thing desired by feeling, “I AM wealthy”; “I AM free”; “I AM strong.”</p><p>When these “FEELS” are fixedwithin yourself, your formless beingwill take</p><p>uponitselftheformsofthethingsfelt.Youbecome‘crucified’uponthefeelings</p><p>of wealth, freedom, and strength. Remain buried in the stillness of these</p><p>convictions. Then, as a thief in the night andwhen you least expect it, these</p><p>qualitieswillberesurrectedinyourworldaslivingrealities.</p><p>Theworldshalltouchyouandseethatyouarefleshandbloodforyoushall</p><p>begintobearfruitofthenatureofthesequalitiesnewlyappropriated.Thisisthe</p><p>artofsuccessfulfishingforthemanifestationsoflife.</p><p>Successful realization of the thing desired is also told us in the story of</p><p>Danielinthelion’sden.Here,itisrecordedthatDaniel,whileinthelion’sden,</p><p>turnedhisbackuponthelionsandlookedtowardsthelightcomingfromabove;</p><p>thatthelionsremainedpowerlessandDaniel’sfaithinhisGodsavedhim.</p><p>This also is your story and you too must do as Daniel did. If you found</p><p>yourselfinalion’sdenyouwouldhavenootherconcernbutlions.Youwould</p><p>not be thinking of one thing in the world but your problem—which problem</p><p>wouldbelions.</p><p>Yet,youaretoldthatDanielturnedhisbackuponthemandlookedtowards</p><p>thelightthatwashisGod.IfwewouldfollowtheexampleofDanielwewould,</p><p>whileimprisonedwithinthedenofpovertyorsickness,takeourattentionaway</p><p>fromourproblemsofdebtsorsicknessanddwelluponthethingweseek.</p><p>Ifwedonotlookbackinconsciousnesstoourproblemsbutcontinueinfaith</p><p>—believingourselvestobethatwhichweseek,wetoowillfindourprisonwalls</p><p>openandthethingsought—yes,“whatsoeverthings”—realized.</p><p>Anotherstoryistoldus;ofthewidowandthethreedropsofoil.Theprophet</p><p>askedthewidow,“Whathaveyeinyourhouse?”Andshereplied,“Threedrops</p><p>ofoil.”He then said toher, “Goborrowvessels.Close thedoorafteryehave</p><p>returnedintoyourhouseandbegintopour.”Andshepouredfromthreedropsof</p><p>oilintoalltheborrowedvessels,fillingthemtocapacitywithoilremaining.</p><p>You,thereader,arethiswidow.Youhavenotahusbandtoimpregnateyou</p><p>ormakeyoufruitful,fora“widow”isabarrenstate.Yourawarenessisnowthe</p><p>Lord—ortheprophetthathasbecomeyourhusband.</p><p>Followtheexampleofthewidow,whoinsteadofrecognizinganemptiness</p><p>ornothingness,recognizedthesomething—threedropsofoil.</p><p>Thenthecommandtoher,“Gowithinandclosethedoor,”that is,shutthe</p><p>doorofthesensesthattellyouoftheemptymeasures,thedebts,theproblems.</p><p>When you have taken your attention away completely by shutting out the</p><p>evidenceofthesenses,begintoFEELthejoy—(symbolizedbyoil)—ofhaving</p><p>received the things desired.When the agreement is establishedwithin you so</p><p>thatalldoubtsandfearshavepassedaway,then,youtoowillfillalltheempty</p><p>measuresofyourlifeandwillhaveanabundancerunningover.</p><p>Recognition is the power that conjures in the world. Every state that you</p><p>have ever recognized, youhave embodied.Thatwhichyou are recognizing as</p><p>trueofyourself today is thatwhichyouareexperiencing.Sobeas thewidow</p><p>and recognize joy,nomatterhow little thebeginningsof recognition, andyou</p><p>willbegenerously rewarded—for theworld isamagnifiedmirror,magnifying</p><p>everythingthatyouareconsciousofbeing.</p><p>“IAMtheLord theGod,whichhasbrought theeoutof the landofEgypt,</p><p>outofthehouseofbondage;thoushalthavenoothergodsbeforeme.”Whata</p><p>glorious revelation,yourawarenessnowrevealedas theLord thyGod!Come,</p><p>awake from your dream of being imprisoned. Realize that the earth is yours,</p><p>“andthefullnessthereof;theworld,andallthatdwellstherein.”</p><p>Youhavebecomesoenmeshedinthebeliefthatyouaremanthatyouhave</p><p>forgotten the glorious being that you are. Now with your memory restored</p><p>DECREE the unseen to appear and it SHALL appear, for all things are</p><p>compelledtorespondtotheVoiceofGod,Yourawarenessofbeing—theworld</p><p>isATYOURCOMMAND!</p><p>II</p><p>FREEDOM</p><p>FORALL</p><p>APracticalApplicationoftheBible</p><p>(1942)</p><p>ThisworkshowsNevilleatthepeakofhispowers—andextolshishighestideals.Atatimewhen</p><p>theworldwasthrownintowarandchaos,andpeopleinNeville’sadoptednationofAmericawere</p><p>stilldeniedtheirrights,themysticissuedaclarioncallofhumandignityandpossibility,andofthe</p><p>powersinherentinallpeople.</p><p>—MH</p><p>PREFACE</p><p>Publicopinionwill not longendurea theorywhichdoesnotwork inpractice.</p><p>Today,probablymorethaneverbefore,mandemandsproofofthetruthofeven</p><p>hishighestideal.Forultimatesatisfactionmanmustfindaprinciplewhichisfor</p><p>himawayoflife,aprinciplewhichhecanexperienceastrue.</p><p>IbelieveIhavediscoveredjustsuchaprincipleinthegreatestofallsacred</p><p>writings,theBible.Drawnfrommyownmysticalilluminationthisbookreveals</p><p>thetruthburiedwithinthestoriesoftheoldandnewtestamentsalike.</p><p>Briefly, thebook states that consciousness is theone andonly reality, that</p><p>consciousnessisthecauseandmanifestationistheeffect.Itdrawsthereader’s</p><p>attentiontothisfactconstantly,thatthereadermayalwayskeepfirstthingsfirst.</p><p>Having laid the foundation thatachangeofconsciousness isessential tobring</p><p>about any change of expression, this book explains to the reader a dozen</p><p>differentwaystobringaboutsuchachangeofconsciousness.</p><p>This is a realistic and constructive principle that works. The revelation it</p><p>contains,ifapplied,willsetyoufree.</p><p>1.THEONENESSOFGOD</p><p>“Hear,OIsrael:theLordourGodisoneLord.”</p><p>Hear,OIsrael:Hear,OmanmadeoftheverysubstanceofGod:YouandGod</p><p>areoneandundivided!Man,theworldandallwithinitareconditionedstatesof</p><p>theunconditionedone,God.Youarethisone;youareGodconditionedasman.</p><p>AllthatyoubelieveGodtobe,youare;butyouwillneverknowthistobetrue</p><p>until you stop claiming it of another, and recognize this seeming other to be</p><p>yourself. God and man, spirit and matter, the formless and the formed, the</p><p>creatorandthecreation,thecauseandtheeffect,yourFatherandyouareone.</p><p>Thisone,inwhomallconditionedstatesliveandmoveandhavetheirbeing,is</p><p>yourIAM,yourunconditionedconsciousness.</p><p>Unconditioned consciousness is God, the one and only reality. By</p><p>unconditionedconsciousnessismeantasenseofawareness;asenseofknowing</p><p>thatIAMapartfromknowingwhoIAM;theconsciousnessofbeing,divorced</p><p>fromthatwhichIamconsciousofbeing.IAMawareofbeingman,butIneed</p><p>notbemantobeawareofbeing.BeforeIbecameawareofbeingsomeone, I,</p><p>unconditioned awareness, was aware of being, and this awareness does not</p><p>dependuponbeingsomeone.IAMself-existent,unconditionedconsciousness;I</p><p>becameawareofbeing someone; and I shall becomeawareofbeing someone</p><p>otherthanthisthatIamnowawareofbeing;butIAMthepowerofimagination</p><p>eternally aware of being whether I am unconditioned formlessness or I am</p><p>conditionedform.</p><p>Astheconditionedstate,I(man)mightforgetwhoIam,orwhereIam,butI</p><p>cannotforgetthatIAM.ThisknowingthatIAM,thisawarenessofbeing,isthe</p><p>onlyreality.Thisunconditionedconsciousness,theIAM,isthatknowingreality</p><p>in whom all conditioned states—conceptions of myself—begin and end, but</p><p>whicheverremainstheunknownknowingbeingwhenall theknownceasesto</p><p>be.AllthatIhaveeverbelievedmyselftobe,allthatInowbelievemyselftobe,</p><p>andallthatIshalleverbelievemyselftobe,arebutattemptstoknowmyself—</p><p>theunknown,undefined reality.Thisunknownknowingone,orunconditioned</p><p>consciousness, is my true being, the one and only reality. I AM the</p><p>unconditionedrealityconditionedasthatwhichIbelievemyselftobe.IAMthe</p><p>believerlimitedbymybeliefs,theknowerdefinedbytheknown.Theworldis</p><p>my conditioned consciousness objectified.Thatwhich I feel andbelieve to be</p><p>trueofmyselfisnowprojectedinspaceasmyworld.Theworld—mymirrored</p><p>self—everbearswitnessofthestateofconsciousnessinwhichIlive.</p><p>There isnochanceoraccident responsible for the things thathappen tomeor</p><p>theenvironmentinwhichIfindmyself.Norispredestinedfatetheauthorofmy</p><p>fortunesormisfortunes.Innocenceandguiltaremerewordswithnomeaningto</p><p>thelawofconsciousness,exceptastheyreflectthestateofconsciousnessitself.</p><p>Theconsciousnessofguiltcallsforthcondemnation.Theconsciousnessoflack</p><p>produces poverty. Man everlastingly objectifies the state of consciousness in</p><p>which he abides but he has somehow or other become confused in the</p><p>interpretationofthelawofcauseandeffect.Hehasforgottenthatitistheinner</p><p>statewhichisthecauseoftheoutermanifestation—“Aswithinsowithout,”and</p><p>inhisforgetfulnesshebelievesthatanoutsideGodhashisownpeculiarreason</p><p>fordoingthings,suchreasonsbeingbeyondthecomprehensionofmereman;or</p><p>hebelievesthatpeoplearesufferingbecauseofpastmistakeswhichhavebeen</p><p>forgottenbytheconsciousmind;or,again,thatblindchancealoneplaysthepart</p><p>ofGod.</p><p>One dayman will realize that his own I Amness is the God he has been</p><p>seeking throughout the ages, and that his own sense of awareness—his</p><p>consciousnessofbeing—istheoneandonlyreality.</p><p>Themostdifficultthingformantoreallygraspisthis:Thatthe“IAmness”</p><p>inhimselfisGod.Itishistruebeingorfatherstate,theonlystatehecanbesure</p><p>of.Theson,hisconceptionofhimself,isanillusion.Healwaysknowsthatheis,</p><p>butthatwhichheis,isanillusioncreatedbyhimself(thefather)inanattemptat</p><p>self-definition.</p><p>ThisdiscoveryrevealsthatallthatIhavebelievedGodtobeIAM.“IAM</p><p>the resurrection and the life,” is a statement of fact concerning my</p><p>consciousness,formyconsciousnessresurrectsormakesvisiblyalivethatwhich</p><p>I amconsciousofbeing. “IAM thedoor…all that ever camebeforemeare</p><p>thieves and robbers,” shows me that my consciousness is the one and only</p><p>entrance into the world of expression; that by assuming the consciousness of</p><p>beingorpossessingthethingwhichIdesiretobeorpossessistheonlywayby</p><p>which I canbecome it or possess it; that any attempt to express this desirable</p><p>stateinwaysotherthanbyassumingtheconsciousnessofbeingorpossessingit,</p><p>istoberobbedofthejoyofexpressionandpossession.“IAMthebeginningand</p><p>the end,” revealsmy consciousness as the cause of the birth and death of all</p><p>expression. “I AM hath sent me,” reveals my consciousness to be the Lord</p><p>which sendsme into theworld in the image and likeness of that which I am</p><p>consciousofbeingtoliveinaworldcomposedofallthatIamconsciousof.“I</p><p>AMtheLord,andthereisnoGodbesideme,”declaresmyconsciousnesstobe</p><p>theoneandonlyLordandbesidemyconsciousness there isnoGod.“Bestill</p><p>and know that IAMGod,”means that I should still themind and know that</p><p>consciousness is God. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thyGod in</p><p>vain.”“IAMtheLord:thatismyname.”NowthatyouhavediscoveredyourI</p><p>AM,yourconsciousnesstobeGod,donotclaimanythingtobetrueofyourself</p><p>that youwould not claim to be true of God, for in defining yourself you are</p><p>definingGod. Thatwhich you are conscious of being is thatwhich you have</p><p>named God. God and man are one. You and your Father are one. Your</p><p>unconditioned consciousness, or I AM, and that which you are conscious of</p><p>being,areone.Theconceiverandtheconceptionareone.Ifyourconceptionof</p><p>yourselfislessthanthatwhichyouclaimastrueofGod,youhave</p>