The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-09-30

ditO WHICH 10 elAS ~AAO4SC IA eAtOQSiit
and emotions which each one decides
to entertain and to conform his gener-
al conduct to. This is the turning
| point and keynote in every human cca-
reer. The direction chosen will deter
mine either the happiness or the mis-
cry resulting in accordance with the
choice made. All the poverty, wretch
edness, misery, crime, and war are due
to mans wrong action or to his negli-
gence. The injunction of Man, know
lthyself" is an imperative duty; for,
without full and complete knowledge
land understanding of himself, he can
not conduct himself up to the full
measure of the privileges that are avail
liable to himself as human being, nor
can human society so constitute itself
to provide the largest number of aven-
ues and opportunities for the sat;sfac-
ton and happiness of all its members.
| Consciousness, awareness, mental
and spiritual vision, is the channel or
bridge that connects the Individual
with the universal, the finite with the
Infinite, and connects the sensualIy per-
Iceptible human with the invis bic fore
les, powers, and substances of the uni
verse, and enable him to become an In
Itelligent builder and creator in har-
mony with universal law. 1t is only the
apprehension of these invisible forces,
these invisible potentialities, that con-
Istitutes the mental possessions Of man
called understanding. which. correct
Ily interpreted, means mental grasp
lof powers, influences, and processes
hat are called the source or cause Of
the phenomena that can be touched
and experienced by the senses.
The teaching concerning the thought
processes relative 10 these underlying
forces, processes and powers has been
called occultism, esoteric doctrine, etc, |
because it deals with that which was
hidden from objective perception. Ne
vertheless, the criterion of the merit of |
e.ery teaching concerning these hidden |
forces must be sought in the objective
demonstrations made by the students
devoted to their pursuit. And, judg-
ing by this standard, the occident, Eu-
rope, and America, are far ahead of |
the orient, of Asia and Africa. 1t is
claimed that the occident has devoted |
itself chiefly to material sciences, and
made superior demonstrations in this
direction, while purely ethical and spir-
itual research has been neglected, in
which the orient has far excelled Eu-
rope and America. When, however,
these claims are closely Investigated
and Judged by the objective criterion,
we shall be compelled to dissent from |
this claim Ct the superiority of Hindu |
occultism over the mental and spirit
ual PHILOSOPHERS of the West.
There is nothing wrong in being de-
voted to the so-called material sciences. |
Their solution and utilization for hui
man well-being is an indispensable |
link in the life philosophy of human |
Ity The knowledge that so-called ma
terial research and discovery has sup
Piled may be used beneficially or in a
way harmful to mankind, but that does
not make such knowledge objectiona-
bic. 1t makes it, however, necessary |
that the people should be so educated
and trained that they will not use any |
knowledge whatever in a way detri-
or to the disadvantage of anoth- |
or human being. The Golden Rule in |
its positive and prohibitive aspects, in
wolves this. One maxim of mental sci
ence is that ''All is God!" Another is
that Use determines all qualities. All
things may be wrongfulIy and harmful |
ly used. The harm is not in the thing.
but in the wrong use made of it.
Despotic ecclesiasticism is response
Bile for the prejudice that many people
against devoting any time to
The consideration of the occult influen-
ces and force underlying the visible
phenomena in the world of nature and
human association. But when we con-
slider the great gain that has accrued
70 humanity by giving attention to the
phenomena of electricity during the
ast seventy-five years, for instance, it
Is quite within the bounds of possibil-
ty that similar searching attention
o the mysteries of the origination of
bought would yield perhaps similar or
even greater benefits to the race. We
IAN acquire knowledge of anything on
y to the extent and degree that atten-
ion Is given to it. The phenomena
If electricity with its patentiality for
human service has been here since the
lawn of ages; but only since man gave
lose attention to it, recognized Its char