Power of Karma

Author(s): Alexander Cannon
Publisher: Rider and Co

Page 23

KARMA
23
mere automaton, one of the masses who surrender their will to that of others because it is not focused even vaguely upon an ideal. In these the mind is undeveloped, and they were termed by Coomra Sami : “Cattle".
For what are men better than sheep or goats That nourish a blind life within the brain If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
Having, as Tennyson puts it, thus formulated an ideal, it is necessary to call upon the will to manifest and realize this abstraction. So much has been written on the development of will power that it is unnecessary to add further instructions on this subject in general, but it is most necessary to draw attention to one point of supreme importance. To be effective the will must be trained to act continuously and steadfastly. Spasmodic and intermittent use of will power only produces momentary results. These spurts are almost valueless in the fulfilment of any purpose. A strong will is a thing of slow growth and only to be acquired by a sustained and determined effort. Now, it is a matter of experience that in proportion to the strength of the urge that induces