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THE DORE LECTURES ON MENTAL SCIENCE
proceeds from the imaging process in the Divine Mind。
We thus find ourselves holding an intermediate position between true
First Cause； on the one hand； and the world of secondary causes on the
other； and in order to understand the nature of this position； we must fall
back on the axiom that the Universal can only work on the plane of the
Particular through the individual。 Then we see that the function of the
individual is to DIFFERENTIATE the undistributed flow of the Universal
into suitable directions for starting different trains of secondary causation。
Man's place in the cosmic order is that of a distributor of the Divine
power； subject； however； to the inherent Law of the power which he
distributes。 We see one instance of this in ordinary science； in the fact that
we never create force； all we can do is to distribute it。 The very word Man
means distributor or measurer； as in common with all words derived from
the Sanderit root MN。； it implies the idea of measurement； just as in the
words moon； month； mens； mind； and 〃man；〃 the Indian weight of 80 1bs。；
and it is for this reason that man is spoken of in Scripture as a 〃steward；〃
or dispenser of the Divine gifts。 As our minds become open to the full
meaning of this position； the immense possibilities and also the
responsibility contained in it will become apparent。
It means that the individual is the creative centre of his own world。
Our past experience affords no evidence against this； but on the contrary；
is evidence for it。 Our true nature is always present； only we have hitherto
taken the lower and mechanical side of things for our starting point； and so
have created limitation instead of expansion。 And even with the
knowledge of the Creative Law which we have now attained； we shall
continue to do this； if we seek our starting point in the things which are
below us and not in the only thing which is above us； namely the Divine
Mind； because it is only there that we can find illimitable Creative Power。
Life is BEING； it is the experience of states of consciousness； and there is
an unfailing correspondence between these inner states and our outward
conditions。 Now we see from the Original Creation that the state of
consciousness must be the cause； and the corresponding conditions the
effect； because at the starting of the creation no conditions existed； and the
working of the Creative Mind upon itself can only have been a state of
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consciousness。 This； then； is clearly the Creative Orderfrom states to
conditions。 But we invert this order； and seek to create from conditions to
states。 We say； If I had such and such conditions they would produce the
state of feeling which I desire； and in so saying we run the risk of making
a mistake as to the correspondence； for it may turn out that the particular
conditions which we fixed on are not such as would produce the desired
state。 Or； again； though they might produce it in a certain degree； other
conditions might produce it in a still greater degree； while at the same time
opening the way to the attainment of still higher states and still better
conditions。 Therefore our wisest plan is to follow the pattern of the Parent
Mind and make mental self…recognition our starting point； knowing that by
the inherent Law of Spirit the corelated conditions will come by a natural
process of growth。 Then the great self…recognition is that of our relation to
the Supreme Mind。 That is the generating centre and we are distributing
centres； just as electricity is generated at the central station and delivered
in different forms of power by reason of passing through appropriate
centres of distribution； so that in one place it lights a room； in another
conveys a message； and in a third drives a tram car。 In like manner the
power of the Universal Mind takes particular forms through the particular
mind of the individual。 It does not interfere with the lines of his
individuality； but works along them； thus making him； not less； but more
himself。 It is thus； not a compelling power； but an expanding and
illuminating one； so that the more the individual recognizes the reciprocal
action between it and himself； the more full of life he must become。
Then also we need not be troubled about future conditions because we
know that the All…originating Power is working through us and for us； and
that according to the Law proved by the whole existing creation； it
produces all the conditions required for the expression of the Life； Love
and Beauty which it is； so that we can fully trust it to open the way as we
go along。 The Great Teacher's words； 〃Take no thought for the morrow〃
and note that the correct translation is 〃Take no anxious thought〃 are the
practical application of the soundest philosophy。 This does not； of course；
mean that we are not to exert ourselves。 We must do our share in the work；
and not expect God to do FOR us what He can only do THROUGH us。 We
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are to use our common sense and natural faculties in working upon the
conditions now present。 We must make use of them； AS FAR AS THEY
GO； but we must not try and go further than the present things require； we
must not try to force things； but allow them to grow naturally； knowing
that they are doing so under the guidance of the All…Creating Wisdom。
Following this method we shall grow more and more into the habit of
looking to mental attitude as the Key to our progress in Life； knowing that
everything else must come out of that； and we shall further discover that
our mental attitude is eventually determined by the way in which we
regard the Divine Mind。 Then the final result will be that we shall see the
Divine Mind to be nothing else than Life； Love and BeautyBeauty being
identical with Wisdom or the perfect adjustment of parts to wholeand we
shall see ourselves to be distributing centres of these primary energies and
so in our turn subordinate centres of creative power。 And as we advance in
this knowledge we shall find that we transcend one law of limitation after
another by finding the higher law； of which the lower is but a partial
expression； until we shall see clearly before us； as our ultimate goal；
nothing less than the Perfect Law of Libertynot liberty without Law
which is anarchy； but Liberty according to Law。 In this way we shall find
that the Apostle spoke the literal truth； when he said； that we shall become
like Him when we see Him AS HE IS； because the whole process by
which our individuality is produced is one of reflection of the image
existing in the Divine Mind。 When we thus learn the Law of our own
being we shall be able to specialize it in ways of which we have hitherto
but little conception； but as in the case of all natural laws the specialization
cannot take place until the fundamental principle of the generic law has
been fully realized。 For these reasons the student should endeavour to
realize more and more perfectly； both in theory and practice； the law of the
relation between the Universal and the Individual Minds。 It is that of
RECIPROCAL action。 If this fact of reciprocity is grasped； it will be
found to explain both why the individual falls short of expressing the
fulness of Life； which the Spirit is； and why he can attain to the fulness of
that expression； just as the same law explains why iron sinks in water； and
how it can be made to float。 It is the individualizing of the Universal Spirit；
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by recognizing its reciprocity to ourselves； that is the secret of the
perpetuation and growth of our own individuality。
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