Thought Power: Its Control and Culture 

Based on the works of Annie Besant and Swami Sivananda

 

The Nature and Power of Thought

 

Thought is not an abstract, ephemeral concept; it is a Vital, Living, Dynamic Power. Thought is the most subtle and irresistible Force Existing in the Universe. In esoteric philosophy, Thought is Recognized as having Weight, Shape, Size, Form, Color, Quality, and Power. Every Thought is as Solid as a Piece of Stone, and Every Mental Change is accompanied by a Literal Vibration of Mental Matter.

 

We are surrounded by an ocean of Thought. Just as a stone thrown into a pool produces concentric waves, or a candle radiates ethereal vibrations of Light, a Thought generated in the Mind sends out Vibrations into the Manas (Mental Atmosphere). These Vibrations Travel Far and Wide, Entering the Minds of Others and Producing Sympathetic Thoughts.

 

 

The Architect of Destiny

 

Man is not a creature of circumstance; his Thoughts are the Architects of his Circumstances. The Profound Occult Law States: As a man thinketh, so he becometh.

 

The Chain of Creation: Man Sows a Thought and Reaps an Action. He Sows an Action and Reaps a Habit. He Sows a Habit and Reaps a Character. He Sows a Character and Reaps a Destiny.

 

The Building of the Mental Body: When Consciousness Vibrates, it Affects the Mind-Stuff surrounding it. Pure and Lofty Thoughts attract fine, subtle grades of Mind-Stuff into the Mental body, while base and evil Thoughts draw in coarse materials. Thus, we Literally Build our Own Minds through the Quality of Our Daily Thoughts.

 

The Contagion of Thought: Thoughts are Highly Contagious. A Cheerful Thought in you Produces Cheerful Thoughts in Others, while Thoughts of Hatred or Anger leave your brain and excite similar dark vibrations in the Minds of those around you.

 

 

The Conquest of Negative Thoughts

 

Uncontrolled Thoughts are the Roots of All Evils. The prime requisite for Happiness and Spiritual Evolution is Control Over the Mind. When evil, gloomy, or negative Thoughts assail the Mind, they must be conquered. However, the method of conquest is crucial.

 

It is difficult and exhausting to destroy evil thoughts by attacking them directly with Will-Force. The greater the effort made to fight them, the more they will return with redoubled force. The Secret of Thought-Control lies in the method of substitution (the Pratipaksha Bhavana method of Raja Yoga).

 

If there is a feeling of anger, do not fight it; deliberately Think of Love.

 

If there are thoughts of jealousy, Think of Magnanimity.

 

If there is gloom, Think of an Inspiring Scene or a Cheerful Memory.

 

By ignoring the evil thought and Consciously Substituting a Positive, Divine Thought, the negative thought will die of starvation. Positive Always Overcomes Negative; it is an Immutable Law of Nature.

 

 

Concentration and Meditation

 

To utilize Thought Power Effectively, the Mind must be Trained. In its untrained state, the Mind is like a jumping monkey, versatile and restless, constantly running outward toward the objects of the senses. This restlessness causes a dissipation of Mental Energy.

 

Concentration is the checking of this aimless wandering. It is the gathering of scattered Mental rays and the holding of the Mind to a single point or object without wavering. It is an Act of Intense, Regulated Activity where the Mind is Forced by the Will to remain in one form, disregarding all external impressions.

 

Meditation naturally follows Concentration. When a Concentrated Mind is steadily directed to an object with the view of piercing its form and reaching its Life, meditation is achieved. Through meditation, the Mind is stilled, allowing the Divine Self (the Knower) to impress its lofty visions and inspirations upon the physical brain.

 

 

The Dangers of Worry and Mental Exhaustion

 

While Steady, Persistent Thought Strengthens the Mind, the Mental process known as "worry" definitely injures it. Worry is the Continued Reproduction of Thought-Forms, Initiated by the Mental Body and the Brain, running in a vicious circle without reaching a useful conclusion. It exhausts the nervous system and creates deep "worry-channels" in the Mind.

 

The best way to eradicate a worry-channel is to dig another channel of an exactly opposite character. By giving a few minutes each morning to Noble, Encouraging Thoughts of Peace, Strength, and the Good Law, a new channel is formed. When the Mind is loosed from labor, it will naturally flow into this new channel of Peace, leaving worry behind.

 

Furthermore, much gain of strength may be made by Learning both to Think and to Cease Thinking at Will. When the work of Thought is over, the Mind should be allowed to rest completely. Constant vibration means constant waste. Learning to drop a Thought completely prevents premature decay and Mental exhaustion.

 

 

Helping Others Through Thought

 

The most valuable gain from Developing Thought Power is the increased ability to help others. Because Thought operates independently of physical space, a Trained Mind can send directed Thought-Currents to those in need.

 

The Living: You can aid a friend in trouble by Transmitting Thoughts of Comfort, Courage, and Peace. These Thoughts Act as a protective barrier against hostile influences and Stimulate the Recipient's Own Intelligence to come to a Right Judgment.

 

The "Dead": Those who have passed through the gateway of death are even more receptive to Thought Influences, as they no longer have heavy physical matter to impede the vibrations. Thoughts of Love and Peace sent to the departed Act as Guardian Angels, soothing them and quickening their passage through the intermediate states.

 

We must Affect those around us, whether we will or not; the only question is Whether We Will do it Beneficially or Mischievously, Feebly or Strongly. We cannot help the Thoughts of others touching Our Minds; we can only Choose which we will receive and which we will reject. Here lies our choice—a choice momentous for ourselves and for the world.