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ultimate destructiveness； and so we are told that Eve ate the fruit because
she 〃saw that the tree was pleasant to the eyes。〃 But careful consideration
will show us in what the destructive nature of this principle consists。 It is
based on the fallacy that good is limited by evil； and that you cannot
receive any good except through eliminating the corresponding evil by
realizing it and beating it back。 In this view life becomes a continual
combat against every imaginable form of evil； and after we have racked
our brains to devise precautions against all possible evil happenings； there
remains the chance； and much more than the chance； that we have by no
means exhausted the category of negative possibilities； and that others
may arise which no amount of foresight on our part could have imagined。
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The more we see into this position the more intolerable it becomes；
because from this stand…point we can never attain any certain basis of
action； and the forces of possible evil multiply as we contemplate them。 To
set forth to out…wit all evil by our own knowledge of its nature is to
attempt a task the hopelessness of which becomes apparent when we see it
in its true light。
The mistake is in supposing that Life can be generated in ourselves by
an intellectual process； but； as we have seen in the preceding lectures； Life
is the primary movement of the Spirit； whether in the cosmos or in the
individual。 In its proper order intellectual knowledge is exceedingly
important and useful； but its place in the order of the whole is not that of
the Originator。 It is not Life in itself； but is a function of life； it is an effect
and not the cause。 The reason why this is so is because intellectual study is
always the study of the various laws which arise from the different
RELATIONS of things to one another； and it therefore presupposes that
these things together with their laws are already in existence。
Consequently it does not start from the truly creative stand…point； that of
creating something entirely new； creation ex nihilo as distinguished from
CONSTRUCTION； or the laying…together of existing materials； which is
what the word literally means。 To recognize evil as a force to be reckoned
with is therefore to give up the creative stand…point altogether。 It is to quit
the plane of First Cause and descend into the realm of secondary causation
and lose ourselves amid the confusion of a multiplicity of relative causes
and effects without grasping any unifying principle behind them。
Now the only thing that can release us from the inextricable confusion
of an infinite multiplicity is the realization of an underlying unity； and at
the back of all things we find the presence of one Great Affirmative
principle without which nothing could have existence。 This； then； is the
Root of Life； and if we credit it with being able； not only to supply the
power； but also the form for its manifestation we shall see that we need not
go beyond this SINGLE Power for the production of anything。 It is Spirit
producing Substance out of its own essence； and the Substance taking
Form in accordance with the movement of the Spirit。 What we have to
realize is； not only that this is the way in which the cosmos is brought into
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existence； but also that； because the Spirit finds a new centre in ourselves；
the same process is repeated in our own mentality； and therefore we are
continually creating ex nihilo whether we know it or not。 Consequently； if
we look upon evil as a force to be reckoned with； and therefore requiring
to be studied； we are in effect creating it； while on the other hand if we
realize that there is only ONE force to be considered； and that absolutely
good； we are by the law of the creative process bringing that good into
manifestation。 No doubt for this affirmative use of our creative power it is
necessary that we start from the basic conception of a SINGLE originating
power which is absolutely good and life…giving； but if there were a self…
originating power which was destructive then no creation could ever have
come into existence at all； for the positive and negative self…originating
powers would cancel each other and the result would be zero。 The fact；
therefore； of our own existence is a sufficient proof of the singleness and
goodness of the Originating Power； and from this starting…point there is no
second power to be taken into consideration； and consequently we do not
have to study the evil that may arise out of existing or future
circumstances； but require to keep our minds fixed only upon the good
which we intend to create。 There is a very simple reason for this。 It is that
every new creation necessarily carries its own law with it and by that law
produces new conditions of its own。 A balloon affords a familiar
illustration of my meaning。 The balloon with its freight weighs several
hundredweight； yet the introduction of a new factor； the gas； brings with it
a law of its own which entirely alters the conditions； and the force of
gravity is so completely overcome that the whole mass rises into the air。
The Law itself is never altered； but we have previously known it only
under limiting conditions。 These conditions； however； are no part of the
Law itself； and a clearer realization of the Law shows us that it contains in
itself the power of transcending them。 The law which every new creation
carries with it is therefore not a contradiction of the old law but its
specialization into a higher mode of action。
Now the ultimate Law is that of production ex nihilo by the movement
of the Spirit within itself； and all subordinate laws are merely the
measurements of the relations which spontaneously arise between
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different things when they are brought into manifestation； arid therefore； if
an entirely new thing is created it must necessarily establish entirely new
relations and so produce entirely new laws。 This is the reason why； if we
take the action of pure unmanifested Spirit as our starting…point； we may
confidently trust it to produce manifestations of law which； though
perfectly new from the stand…point of our past experience； are quite as
natural in their own way as any that have gone before。 It is on this account
that in these addresses I lay so much stress on the fact that Spirit creates ex
nihilo； that is； out of no pre…existing forms； but simply by its own
movement within itself。 If； then； this idea is clearly grasped； it logically
follows from it that the Root of Life is not to be found in the comparison
of good and evil； but in the simple affirmation of the Spirit as the All…
creating power of Good。 And since； as we have already seen； this same all…
creating Spirit finds a centre and fresh starting…point of operation in our
own minds； we can trust it to follow the Law of its own being there as
much as in the creation of the cosmos。
Only we must not forget that it is working through our own minds。 It
thinks through our mind； and our mind must be made a suitable channel
for this mode of its operation by conforming itself to the broad generic
lines of the Spirit's thinking。 The reason for this is one which I have
sought to impress throughout these lectures； namely； that the specialization
of a law is never the denial of it； but on the contrary the fuller recognition
of its basic principles； and if this is the case in ordinary physical science it
must be equally so when we come to specialize the great Law of Life itself。
The Spirit can never change its essential nature as the essence of Life；
Love； and Beauty； and if