|
spiritual
mind. It does imply that the material
mind will be swept away so far as
its stubborn resistance and opposition
to the promptings of the spiritual
are concerned. It implies that the
body will become the willing servant,
or rather assistant of the spirit.
It implies that the material mind
will not endeavour to act itself up
as the superior when it is only the
inferior. It implies that state when
the body will gladly lend its co-operation
to all the desires of the spiritual
mind.
Then
all power can be given your spirit.
Then no force need be expended in
resisting the hostility of the material
mind. Then all such force will be
used to further our undertakings,
to bring us material goods, to raise
us higher and higher into realms of
power, peace and happiness, to accomplish
what now would be called miracles.
Neither
the material mind nor the material
body is to be won over and merged
into the spiritual by any course of
severe self censure or self denial,
nor self punishment in expiation for
sins committed, nor asceticism. That
will only make you the more harsh,
severe, bigoted and merciless, both
to yourself and others. It is out
of this perversion of the truth that
have arisen such terms as " crucifying
the body" and " subjugating
the lower or animal mind." It
is from this perversion that have
come orders and associations of men
and women who, going to another extreme,
seek holiness in self denial and penance.
"Holiness"
implies wholeness, or whole action
of the spirit on the body, or perfect
control by your spirit over a body,
through knowledge and faith in our
capacity to draw ever more and more
from the Supreme Power.
12 |