Part Twelve is enclosed herewith. In the fourth paragraph you will find the following statement: "You must first have the knowledge of your power; second, the courage to dare; third, the faith to do." If you concentrate upon the thoughts given, if you give them your entire attention, you will find a world of meaning in each sentence, and will attract to yourself other thoughts in harmony with them, and you will soon grasp the full significance of the vital knowledge upon which you are concentrating.
Knowledge does not apply itself; we as individuals must make the application, and the application consists in fertilizing the thought with a living purpose.
The time and thought which most persons waste in aimless effort would accomplish wonders if properly directed with some special object in view. In order to do this, it is necessary to center your mental force upon a specific thought and hold it there, to the exclusion of all other thoughts. If you have ever looked through the viewfinder of a camera, you found that when the object was not in focus, the impression was indistinct and possibly blurred, but when the proper focus was obtained the picture was clear and distinct. This illustrates the power of concentration. Unless you can concentrate upon the object which you have in view, you will have but a hazy, indifferent, vague, indistinct and blurred outline of your ideal and the results will be in accordance with your mental picture.
PART TWELVE
1. There is no purpose in life that cannot be best accomplished through a scientific understanding of the creative power of thought.
2. This power to think is common to all. Man is, because he thinks. Man's power to think is infinite, consequently his creative power is unlimited.
3. We know that thought is building for us the thing we think of and actually bringing it nearer, yet we find it difficult to banish fear, anxiety or discouragement, all of which are powerful thought forces, and which continually send the things we desire further away, so that it is often one step forward and two steps backward.
4. The only way to keep from going backward is to keep going forward. Eternal vigilance is the price of success. There are three steps, and each one is absolutely essential. You must first have the knowledge of your power; second, the courage to dare; third, the faith to do.
5. With this as a basis you can construct an ideal business, an ideal home, ideal friends, and an ideal environment. You are not restricted as to material or cost. Thought is omnipotent and has the power to draw on the Infinite bank of primary substance for all that it requires. Infinite resources are therefore at your command.
6. But your ideal must be sharp, clear-cut, definite; to have one ideal today, another tomorrow, and a third next week, means to scatter your forces and accomplish nothing; your result will be a meaningless and chaotic combination of wasted material.
7. Unfortunately this is the result which many are securing, and the cause is self evident. If a sculptor started out with a piece of marble and a chisel and changed his ideal every fifteen minutes, what result could he expect? And why should you expect any different result in molding the greatest and most plastic of all substances, the only real substance?
8. The result of this indecision and negative thought is often found in the loss of material wealth. Supposed independence which required many years of toil and effort suddenly disappears. It is often found then that money and property are not independence at all. On the contrary, the only independence is found to be a practical working knowledge of the creative power of thought.
9. This practical working method cannot come to you until you learn that the only real power which you can have is the power to adjust yourself to Divine and unchangeable principles. You cannot change the Infinite, but you can come into an understanding of Natural laws. The reward of this understanding is a conscious realization of your ability to adjust your thought faculties with the Universal Thought which is Omnipresent. Your ability to cooperate with this Omnipotence will indicate the degree of success with which you meet.
10. The power of thought has many counterfeits nwhich are more or less fascinating, but the results are harmful instead of helpful.
11. Of course, worry, fear, and all negative thoughts produce a crop after their kind; those who harbor thoughts of this kind must inevitably reap what they have sown.
12. Again, there are the Phenomena seekers who gormandize on the so-called proofs and demonstration obtained at materializing séances. They throw open their mental doors and soak themselves in the most poisonous currents which can be found in the psychic world. They do not seem to understand that it is the ability to become negative, receptive and passive, and thus drain themselves of all their vital force, which enables them to bring about these vibratory thought forms.
13. There are also the Hindu worshippers, who see in the materializing phenomena which are performed by the so-called adepts, a source of power, forgetting, or never seeming to realize that as soon as the will is withdrawn the forms wither, and the vibratory forces of which they are composed vanish.
14. Telepathy, or thought transference, has received considerable attention, but as it requires a negative mental state on the part of the receiver, the practice is harmful. A thought may be sent with the intention of hearing or seeing, but it will bring the penalty attached to the inversion of the principle involved
15. In many instances, hypnotism is positively dangerous to the subject as well as the operator. No one familiar with the laws governing in the mental world would think of attempting to dominate the will of another, for by so doing, he will gradually (but surely) divest himself of his own power.
16. All of these perversions have their temporary satisfaction and for some a keen fascination, but there is an infinitely greater fascination in a true understanding of the world of power within, a power which increases with use; is permanent instead of fleeing; which not only is potent as a remedial agency to bring about the remedy for past error or results of wrong thinking, but is a prophylactic agency protecting us from all manner and form of danger, and finally is an actual creative force with which we can build new conditions and new environment.
17. The law is that thought will correlate with its object and bring forth in the material world the correspondence of the thing thought or produced in the mental world. We then discern the absolute necessity of seeing that every thought has the inherent germ of truth in order that the law of growth will bring into manifestation good, for good alone can confer any permanent power.
18. The principle which gives the thought the dynamic power to correlate with its object, and therefore to master every adverse human experience his is an eternal and fundamental principle, inherent in all things, in every system of Philosophy, in every Religion, and in every Science. There is no getting away from the law of love. It is feeling that imparts vitality to thought. Feeling is desire, and desire is love. Thought impregnated with love becomes invincible.
19. We find this truth emphasized wherever the power of thought is understood, The Universal Mind is not only Intelligence, but it is substance, and this substance is the attractive force which brings electrons together by the law of attraction so that they form atoms; the atoms in turn are brought together by the same law and form molecules; molecules take objective forms; and so we find that the law of love is the creative force behind every manifestation, not only of atoms, but of worlds, of the Universe, of everything of which the imagination can form any conception.
20. It is the operation of this marvelous law of attraction which has caused men in all ages and all times to believe that there must be some personal being who responded to their petitions and desires, and manipulated events in order to comply with their requirements.
21. It is the combination of Thought and Love which forms the irresistible force, called the law of attraction. All natural laws are irresistible, the law of Gravitation, or Electricity, or any other law operates with mathematical exactitude. There is no variation; it is only the channel of distribution which may be imperfect. If a bridge falls, we do not attribute the collapse to any variation of the law of gravitation. If a light fails us, we do not conclude that the laws governing electricity cannot be depended upon, and if the law of attraction seems to be imperfectly demonstrated by an inexperienced or uninformed person, we are not to conclude that the greatest and most infallible law upon which the entire system of creation depends has been suspended. We should rather conclude that a little more understanding of the law is required, for the same reason that a correct solution of a difficult problem in Mathematics is not always readily and easily obtained.
22. Things are created in the mental or spiritual world before they appear in the outward act or event. By the simple process of governing our thought forces today, we help create the events which will come into our lives in the future, perhaps even tomorrow. Educated desire is the most potent means of bringing into action the law of attraction.
23. Man is so constituted that he must first create the tools, or implements by which he gains the power to think. The mind cannot comprehend an entirely new idea until a corresponding vibratory brain cell has been prepared to receive it. This explains why it is so difficult for us to receive or appreciate an entirely new idea; we have no brain cell capable of receiving it; we are therefore incredulous; we do not believe it.
24. If, therefore, you have not been familiar with the Omnipotence of the law of attraction, and the scientific method by which it can be put into operation, or if you have not been familiar with the unlimited possibilities which it opens to those who are enabled to take advantage of the resources it offers, begin now and create the necessary brain cells which will enable you to comprehend the unlimited powers which may be yours by cooperating with Natural Law. This is done by concentration or attention.
25. The intention governs the attention. Power comes through repose. It is by concentration that deep thoughts, wise speech, and all forces of high potentiality are accomplished.
26. It is in the Silence that you get into touch with the Omnipotent power of the subconscious mind from which all power is evolved.
27. He who desires wisdom, power, or permanent success of any kind will find it only within; it is an unfoldment. The unthinking may conclude that the silence is very simple and easily attained, but it should be remembered that only in absolute silence may one come into contact with Divinity itself; may learn of the unchangeable law and open for himself the channels by which persistent practice and concentration lead to perfection.
28. This week go to the same room, take the same chair, the same position as previously; be sure to relax, let go, both mentally and physically; always do this; never try to do any mental work under pressure; see that there are no tense muscles or nerves, that you are entirely comfortable. Now realize your unity with omnipotence; get into touch with this power, come into a deep and vital understanding, appreciation, and realization of the fact that your ability to think is your ability to act upon the Universal Mind, and bring it into manifestation, realize that it will meet any and every requirement; that you have exactly the same potential ability which any individual ever did have or ever will have, because each is but an expression or manifestation of the One, all are parts of the whole, there is no difference in kind or quality, the only difference being one of degree.
第十二章開始了。在下面你會看到這樣的陳述：“首先，要了解你的力量；第二，要有挑戰的勇氣；第三，要有去做的信心。”
如果你專註於這些思考，把你的註意力全部投入在上面，你就會在每一個句子中發現一個意義的世界。這會引發你的另外一些與它們相和諧的想法，你很快就能領會到你所關註的這種思想的深刻意義。
知識不會應用自己，我們作為人類個體，必須將其付諸應用，而應用，就在於用充滿生機的目標去澆灌思想之花，使之豐饒。
很多人的努力漫無方向，浪費了大量的時間、想法、精力，如果用來朝著願景中的某些特定的目標努力的話，可能會創造出奇跡。為了做到這一點，你必須集中你的精神能量，定位在某一特定的想法上，排除一切雜念的幹擾。如果你曾經觀察過照相機的鏡頭，你就會知道假如不對準鏡頭，物體產生的影像就會模糊不清，而當你調整好焦距，圖像就會變得清晰明朗起來。這說明了集中精神所具有的力量。如果你不能把精力集中在你所期待的目標上，你只能得到一個朦朧曖昧、模糊不清的理想輪廓，其結果與你的精神圖景相一致。
1、科學地把握思想的創造性力量，生活中的任何目標都可以得到完美的實現。
2、這種思考力是人所共有的。我思故我在。人的思考力是無限的，因而創造力也是無限的。
3、盡管我們知道思想為其客體而生，最終拉近我們與客體之間的距離，但我們還是難以驅逐那些恐懼、焦慮、氣餒的情緒。它們也同樣具有強大的思想能量，不斷地讓我們渴望的東西離我們漸行漸遠，常常使我們進一步、退兩步。
4、惟一可以讓我們避免後退的方法就是不斷前進。成功的代價是永遠保持警醒。有三個絕對必要的步驟需要你去做：首先，要了解你的力量；第二，要有挑戰的勇氣；第三，要有去做的信心。
5、有了這個做基礎，你就可以為自己構建理想的事業、理想的家、理想的朋友以及理想的環境。你不會被材料或成本所限。思想是無所不能的，有能力為其所需的一切而動用“第一實體”的“無限銀行”。因此，無限的資源，盡在你的掌握之中。
6、不過，你的理想必須明朗、清晰、確切。今天一個理想，明天又一個理想，下周又變成了第三個，這意味著你耗散了自己的力量，必將一無所成。後果就是浪費人力、物力，讓一切變得混亂不堪、毫無意義。
7、然而很不幸，許多人都招致了這樣的後果，原因是不言自明的。如果你給雕塑家拿一塊大理石和一把鑿子，讓他開始雕塑，每過15分鐘就變一次主意，那結果會怎樣呢？同樣，你現在所塑造的是天地萬物間可塑性最強、也最偉大的、惟一真實的材料，如果你的主意變來變去，結果又能好到哪裏去呢？
8、這種優柔寡斷、消極負面的思想，其後果常常表現在物質財富的損失上。期望中的自立（這需要多年的辛勞和努力），轉瞬間化為烏有。這時，你常常會發現，金錢和財產不足憑恃。正相反，世界上惟一可以指靠的，就是對思想創造力的實際運用。
9、你所能擁有的、惟一真實的力量，就是調整自己、使之與神聖的永恒原則相協調的力量，只有當你懂得了這一點，實際應用的方法才會被你所掌握。你無法改變“無限”的存在，但你能理解什麽是自然法則。作為回報，你會清楚認識到你擁有這樣的能力：調整自己的思考力以適應無所不在的宇宙思想。你所擁有的這種與全能力量協調合作的能力，預示著你的未來將會取得怎樣的成就。
10、思想的力量有許多魚目混珠的贗品，它們或多或少能讓人迷醉一時，但它們所帶來的後果，非但無益，反而有害。
11、毫無疑問，焦慮、恐懼等等一切負面的想法，產生的後果也是各從其類；那些抱持這些想法的人們，最終會收獲自己種下的惡果。
12、還有一些神異現象的尋求者，他們竭力追尋一些在降神會上獲得的所謂的證據、顯靈等等。他們打開了心靈的大門，沈醉在毒害作用很深的精神世界的潮流中。他們不明白這是一種讓他們變得消極、被動、馴服的力量，這種力量讓他們沈迷於這種思想形式中，並且最終將使他們精神耗盡，元神大傷。
13、還有印度教的崇拜者，他們在由所謂高手表演的物化現象中，看到了一種力量之源，但他們卻忘記了，或者說，他們從沒認識到，一旦意念消退，它的形式也會隨之而雕萎，充斥其中的能量，轉瞬間就消失得無影無蹤。
14、還有不少人熱衷於心電感應，或者說是意念傳遞，但是對於心電感應的接受方來說，它的精神影響是負面的。如果意圖明確，就是要聽到什麽或看到什麽，這種意念也會傳遞出去，然而它會帶來不利的苦果，因為它倒置了其中涉及的精神原理。
15、大多數情況下，催眠術對受催眠者和施術者來說同樣危險。任何一個了解精神法則的人，都不會愚蠢到想要控制他人的意誌，因為如果這樣做，施術者將逐漸地（但卻必然地）喪失他自己的力量。
16、所有這些曲解，都有其暫時性的滿足，甚至有一定的迷惑力。但是，在對內在力量世界的真正領悟中，卻蘊藏著更大的、無限的魅力。這種力量，會隨著對它的使用而不斷增長。它將永恒存在，而不是稍縱即逝。它不僅能起到補救的功效，彌補以往錯誤思想的結果，也能起來預防的作用，保護我們免受種種形態、種種樣式的危險的侵害。最後，精神力量還是實際存在的創造性力量，借助這種力量，我們可以為自己創造新的環境和際遇。
17、其規律是：思想與其客體相關聯，在精神世界中思考或產生出來的東西，在物質世界中都會一一對應地實現。這時，我們絕對必須看到，每一種思想都有與生俱來的“真”的萌芽，只有這樣，生長規律才能把“善”註入到外部顯現中，因為只有善才能賦予永恒的力量。
18、賦予思想以動態的力量、使之與其客體相關聯、並因此控制著一切不利的人類經驗的法則，就是引力法則，它的另一個名字就是“愛”。這是一個永恒的基本法則，在萬物之中，在一切哲學體系、一切宗教、一切科學中，它都是與生俱來的。一切都離不開愛的法則。它是一種賦予思想的活力的情感。情感就是渴望，而渴望就是愛。在愛中孕育而生的思想，將會所向披靡、戰無不勝。
19、我們發現，無論在哪裏，只要理解了思想的力量，這一真理就得以強化。宇宙精神不僅僅是智慧，也是物質，這種物質是一種吸引力，它是電子通過引力法則聚在一起形成原子，原子又通過同樣的法則聚在一起形成分子，分子又形成物質的客觀形式。所以，我們發現，愛的法則是一切現象背後的創造性力量，不僅創造了一個個原子，也創造了整個世界、整個宇宙，以及想像力能夠賦予形態和觀念的萬事萬物。
20、正是通過這個奇異的引力法則的運行，使世世代代的人類相信，一定有什麽人格化的存在，可以對人們的祈求和心願做出回應，並操控著大小事件，以應允人們的需求。
21、思想和愛的結合，形成了不可抗拒的力量，這種力量就是引力法則。一切的自然法則都是不可抗拒的，比如重力法則、電力法則或其他法則，它們都有著數學的精確。這一法則從無改變，只是分發力量的渠道可能並不完美。如果一座橋倒了，我們不能把它的坍塌歸咎於重力法則發生了改變。如果電燈不亮，我們也不能得出電力法則不再可信的結論。同樣，如果引力法則在一個沒有經驗或一無所知的人身上表現得並不完美，我們也不能認定，應該對這個最偉大、最正確、整個創造體系都賴此而生的法則提出質疑。相反，我們應該知道自己對這個法則的了解還有欠缺，就像在一個數學難題中，我們並不總是能很迅速、很容易地得出正確答案，這兩者的道理是一樣的。
22、事物都是先在精神世界或心靈世界中被創造出來，然後才在外在的行為或事件中出現。今天，通過控制思想力量的簡單過程，我們幫助創造了將來發生在我們未來（甚或是明天）生活中的事件。要想把引力法則落實在行動上，有根有據的願望是最有效的手段。
23、人是有這樣一種特點的：他必須首先創造出工具或器械，然後利用這此工具獲得思考的能力。大腦中如果沒有腦細胞和一種全新的理念發生共振，人的思想就肯定不會接受這種理念。這就是為什麽我們很難接受或認可一種全新理念的原因。因為我們的大腦中沒有能接收這種信號的細胞，因此我們產生懷疑，我們不相信它。
24、因此，如果你尚未了解引力法則的全能力量，不了解它如何運行的科學方法，或者，你還不知道無限可能性的大門敞開著，凡是能夠利用這種資源的人可以對它予取予求，那麽，從現在開始吧，創造出需要的腦細胞，讓_你自己體會到這種無限力量，只要你與自然法則協調一致，這種力量就會屬於你。而要做到這一點，你必須通過專註心神或集中意念。
25、意圖控制著註意力。力量來自休息。通過集中意念，深邃的思想、睿智的談吐和一切至高的潛力都可以發揮出來。
26、在“寂靜”中，你和潛意識中無所不能的力量建立了聯系，一切力量都是從這裏發展出來的。
27、渴望智慧、力量或者任何不朽成就的人，都會在內在世界中找到這些。內在世界會不斷為你揭示各樣的奧秘。粗心大意的人可能會認為，“寂靜”非常簡單而且容易實現。但是要記住，只有在絕對寂靜的狀態下，才能夠觸摸到神本身，才能領悟到永恒不變的法則。通過一年時間集中和堅持不懈的練習，你就會為自己打開通往完美的大門。
28、這一周，仍然進入那間屋子，坐在那張椅子上，保持和先前同樣的姿勢。一定要放松，讓心靈和肉體都保持自然的狀態，始終如此。絕對不要在壓力下進行任何的精神勞作，神經和肌肉都保持放松的狀態，讓自己感覺舒適。現在，要意識到自己與全能的力量是和諧一致的，與這一力量建立起了聯系，深刻領悟、理解、感知這樣的事實──你思考力就是你作用於宇宙精神並使之彰顯能力；認識到宇宙能力將滿足你所有的要求；認識到你與任何人已有的或將有的潛力完全不相上下，因為任何個體都不過是宇宙整體的彰顯或表達，全都是整體的組成部分，在種類和性質上並無不同，差異僅僅感動程度不同而已。
思想中誕育的任何事物，在現實中都能夠獲得表達。那個首先提出的人只不過是提議者，而首先去做的人卻是發現家與發明家。
待續
