The law of the new thought : a study of fundamental principles and their application / by William Walker Atkinson.

  • William Walker Atkinson
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The law of the new thought : a study of fundamental principles and their application / by William Walker Atkinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/106 page 9
    CHAPTER I. '^WHAT IS THE ‘'NEW THOUGHT^ The question—Difficult to answer—The New Thought is the oldest thought —Known to the few in all ages—Found at the heart of all religions and philosophies—In the songs of the poets and the writings of the mystics—The flame kept alive through the long ages—Hard sayings and dark corners made clear—^^The first glimmer of recognition— great wave of psychic thought now passing over the world—What the New Thought stands for—No creeds or dogmas—Individualism —The Supreme Power—Spiritual unfoldment—God’s love and pres- ence—All is One—What the idea of Oneness means—Man immortal —Assurance of immortality from the awakened spiritual conscious- ness—'Theories not fundamental—Spiritual unfoldment—Thoughts are things—The attractive power of thought—Mind is positive to the body—Latent forces to be developed. How often we hear this question: “What is the ‘New Thought’?” And how difficult it is to answer such a question. The subject is so large, and the New Thought man or woman has grown into its truths so gradually that he or she finds it al- most impossible to explain in a few words just what is meant by the term “New Thought.” This is rendered particularly dif- ficult by the fact that there are no creeds in the “New Thought”. There are many cults and schools claiming allegiance to The New Thought, who differ very materially from each other in doctrine and details, but there are certain underlying principles to which all give adherence, though stating these principles in different ways, and using apparently contradictory terms. To answer the question which forms the title of this chapter, is no easy task, but let us see what we can do with it. In the first place. The New Thought is the oldest thought in existence. It has been cherished by the chosen few in all ages, the masses of the people not having been ready for its teachings. It has been called by all names—has appeared in all guises. Every religion has within it certain esoteric teachings, not grasped by the many, but understood by the few, which hidden teachings contain much that is now being taught as The New Thought. The New Thought contains certain hints at mighty truths which have nestled in the bosom of the esoteric teachings of all religions —in the philosophies of the past and present—in the temples of the Orient—in the schools of ancient Greece. It is to be found in the songs of the poets—^in the writings of the mystics. The
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3