SECRET LETTER TWO
1. The operations of the mind are produced by two parallel
modes of activity, the one conscious, and the other
subconscious. Professor Davidson says: "He who thinks to
illuminate the whole range of mental action by the light of his
own consciousness is not unlike the one who should go about
to illuminate the universe with a rushlight."
2. The subconscious' logical processes are carried on with
a certainty and regularity which would be impossible if there
existed the possibility of error. Our mind is so designed that
it prepares for us the most important foundations of cognition,
whilst we have not the slightest apprehension of the modus
operandi.
3. The subconscious soul, like a benevolent stranger, works
and makes provision for our benefit, pouring only the
mature fruit into our lap; thus ultimate analysis of thought
processes shows that the subconscious is the theatre of the
most important mental phenomena.
4. It is through the subconscious that Shakespeare must
have perceived, without effort, great truths which are hidden
from the conscious mind of the student; that Phidias fashioned
marble and bronze; that Raphael painted Madonnas and
Beethoven composed symphonies.
5. Ease and perfection depend entirely upon the degree in
which we cease to depend upon the consciousness; playing
the piano, skating, operating the typewriter, the skilled trades,
depend for their perfect execution on the process of the
sub-conscious mind. The marvel of playing a brilliant piece on
the piano, while at the same time conducting a vigorous
conversation, shows the greatness of our subconscious powers.
6. We are all aware how dependent we are upon the
subconscious, and the greater, the nobler, the more brilliant
our thoughts are, the more it is obvious to ourselves that the
origin lies beyond our ken. We find ourselves endowed with
tact, instinct, sense of the beautiful in art, music, etc., or
whose origin or dwelling place we are wholly unconscious.
7. The value of the subconscious is enormous; it inspires
us; it warns us; it furnishes us with names, facts and scenes
from the storehouse of memory. It directs our thoughts,
tastes, and accomplishes tasks so intricate that no conscious
mind, even if it had the power, has the capacity for.
8. We can walk at will; we can raise the arm whenever we
choose to do so; we can give our attention through eye or
ear to any subject at pleasure. On the other hand, we cannot
stop our heartbeats nor the circulation of the blood, nor the
growth of stature, nor the formation of nerve and muscle
tissue, nor the building of the bones, nor many other
important vital processes.
9. If we compare these two sets of action, the one decreed
by the will of the moment, and the other proceeding in
majestic, rhythmic course, subject to no vascillation, but
constant at every moment, we stand in awe of the latter,
and ask to have the mystery explained. We see at once that
these are the vital processes of our physical life, and we can
not avoid the inference that these all-important functions are
designedly withdrawn from the domain of our outward will
with its variations and transitions, and placed under the
direction of a permanent and dependable power within us.
10. Of these two powers, the outward and changeable has
been termed the "Conscious Mind," or the "Objective Mind"
(dealing with outward objects). The interior power is called the "Subconscious Mind," or the "Subjective Mind," and
besides its work on the mental plane it controls the regular
functions which make physical life possible.
11. It is necessary to have a clear understanding of their
respective functions on the mental plane, as well as of
certain other basic principles. Perceiving and operating
through the five physical senses, the conscious mind deals
with the impressions and objects of the outward life.
12. It has the faculty of discrimination, carrying with it the
responsibility of choice. It has the power of reasoning -
whether inductive, deductive, analytical or syllogistic - and
this power may be developed to a high degree. It is the
seat of the will with all the energies that flow therefrom.
13. Not only can it impress other minds, but it can direct
the subconscious mind. In this way the conscious mind
becomes the responsible ruler and guardian of the
subconscious mind. It is this high function which can
completely reverse conditions in your life.
14. It is often true that conditions of fear, worry, poverty,
disease, inharmony and evils of all kinds dominate us by
reason of false suggestions accepted by the unguarded
subconscious mind. All this the trained conscious mind can
entirely prevent by its vigilant protective action. It may
properly be called "the watchman at the gate" of the great
subconscious domain.
15. One writer has expressed the chief distinction between
the two phases of mind thus: "Conscious mind is reasoning
will. Subconscious mind is instinctive desire, the result of
past reasoning will."
16. The subconscious mind draws just and accurate
inferences from premises furnished from outside sources.
Where the premise is true, the subconscious mind reaches
a faultless conclusion, but, where the premise or suggestion
is an error, the whole structure falls. The subconscious mind
does not engage in the process of proving. It relies upon the
conscious mind, "the watchman at the gate," to guard it from
mistaken impressions.
17. Receiving any suggestions as true, the subconscious mind
at once proceeds to act thereon in the whole domain of its
tremendous field of work. The conscious mind can suggest
either truth or error. If the latter, it is at the cost of
wide-reaching peril to the whole being.
18. The conscious mind ought to be on duty during every
waking hour. When the "watchman" is "off guard," or when
its calm judgment is suspended, under a variety of
circumstances, then the subconscious mind is unguarded and
left open to suggestion from all sources. During the wild
excitement of panic, or during the height of anger, or the
impulses of the irresponsible mob, or at any other time of
unrestrained passion, the conditions are most dangerous.
The subconscious mind is then open to the suggestion of
fear, hatred, selfishness, greed, self-depreciation and other
negative forces, derived from surrounding persons or
circumstances. The result is usually unwholesome in the
extreme, with effects that may endure to distress it for a
long time. Hence, the great importance of guarding the
subconscious mind from false impressions.
19. The subconscious mind perceives by intuition. Hence,
its processes are rapid. It does not wait for the slow
methods of conscious reasoning. In fact, it can not employ
them.
20. The subconscious mind never sleeps, never rests, any
more than does your heart, or your blood. It has been
found that by plainly stating to the subconscious mind
certain specific things to be accomplished, forces are set
in operation that lead to the result desired. Here, then,
is a source of power which places us in touch with
Omnipotence. Here in is a deep principle which is well
worth our most earnest study.
21. The operation of this law is interesting. Those who
put it into operation find that when they go out to meet
the person with whom they anticipate a difficult interview,
something has been there before them and dissolved the
supposed differences; everything is changed; all is
harmonious; they find that when some difficult business
problem presents itself they can afford to make delay
and something suggests the proper solution; everything
is properly arranged; in fact, those who have learned to
trust the subconscious find that they have infinite
resources at their command.
22. The subconscious mind is the seat of our principles
and our aspirations. It is the fount of our artistic and
altruistic ideals. These instincts can only be overthrown by
an elaborate and gradual process of undermining the
innate principles.
23. The subconscious mind cannot argue controversially.
Hence, if it has accepted wrong suggestions, the sure
method of overcoming them is by the use of a strong
counter suggestion, frequently repeated, which the mind
must accept, thus eventually forming new and healthy
habits of thought and life, for the subconscious mind is
the seat of Habit. That which we do over and over becomes
mechanical; it is no longer an act of judgment, but has
worn its deep grooves in the subconscious mind. This is
favorable for us if the habit be wholesome and right. If it
be harmful, and wrong, the remedy is to recognize the
omnipotence of the subconscious mind and suggest present
actual freedom. The subconscious being creative and one
with our divine source will at once create the freedom
suggested.
24. To sum up: The normal functions of the subconscious
on the physical side have to do with the regular and vital
processes, with the preservation of life and the restoration
of health; with the care of offspring, which includes an
instinctive desire to preserve all life and improve conditions
generally.
25. On the mental side, it is the storehouse of memory;
it harbors the wonderful thought messengers, who work,
unhampered by time or space; it is the fountain of the
practical initiative and constructive forces of life: It is the
seat of habit.
26. On the spiritual side, it is the source of ideals, of
aspiration, of the imagination, and is the channel through
which we recognize our Divine Source, and in proportion
as we recognize this divinity do we come into an
understanding of the source of power.
27. Some one may ask: "How can the subconscious
change conditions?" The reply is, because the
subconscious is a part of the Universal Mind and a part
must be the same in kind and quality as the whole; the
only difference is one of degree. The whole, as we know,
is creative, in fact, it is the only creator there is,
consequently, we find that mind is creative, and as thought
is the only activity which the mind possesses, thought must
necessarily be creative also.
28. But we shall find that there is a vast difference between
simply thinking, and directing our thought consciously,
systematically and constructively; when we do this we
place our mind in harmony with the Universal Mind, we
come in tune with the Infinite, we set in operation the
mightiest force in existence, the creative power of the
Universal Mind. This, as everything else, is governed by
natural law, and this law is the "Law of Attraction," which is
that Mind is creative, and will automatically correlate with
its object and bring it into manifestation.
29. Last week I gave you an exercise for the purpose of
securing control of the physical body; if you have
accomplished this you are ready to advance. This time you
will begin to control your thought. Always take the same
room, the same chair, and the same position, if possible. In
some cases it is not convenient to take the same room, in
this case simply make the best use of such conditions as
may be available. Now be perfectly still as before, but
inhibit all thought; this will give you control over all
thoughts of care, worry and fear, and will enable you to
entertain only the kind of thoughts you desire. Continue
this exercise until you gain complete mastery.
30. You will not be able to do this for more that a few
moments at a time, but the exercise is valuable, because
it will be a very practical demonstration of the great
number of thoughts which are constantly trying to gain
access to your mental world.
31. Next week you will receive instructions for an exercise
which may be a little more interesting, but it is necessary
that you master this one first.