________________
166
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
acts most effectively on lines of least resistance. Repetition, however, overcomes all resistance, so that when the subjective mind is confronted by two opposing suggestions, the stronger one must necessarily prevail. It is a necessary corollary to this that suggestion becomes most effective when the subject is induced to believe in its truth in his normal condition. There is no difficulty now in our laying down the two following propositions, namely :--
(1) that as one thinks so one becomes, and
(2) that belief, or faith, is the greatest factor in facilitating the materialization, or manifestation, of the suggested condition.
All mental processes are forces of tremendous power, and when set in motion must produce their appropriate results, unless countermanded by similar processes of a higher and subtler quality. There is nothing strange in this, for, as Mrs. Besant points out, all round us we see habits of thought moulding the dense matter of our material bodies and stamping character on the face of the race ; virtue causing health and beauty to come into expression, and vice furrowing the features with lines of disease and ugliness. It is pointed out :--
“This is a fact so common that it makes on us no impression, and yet is significant enough ; for if the dense body of matter be thus moulded by the forces of thought, what is incredible, or even strange, in the idea that the subtler forms of matter should be equally plastic, and should submissively take the shapes into which they are moulded by the deft fingers of the immortal Artist, thinking Man."
Even Western thought is slowly coming round to recognize this fact. Professor William James writes :
“Mental states occasion also changes in the calibre of the bloodvessels, or alteration in the heart-beats, or processes more subtle
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org