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operation is always for expansion and fuller expression； and this means the production of something beyond what has gone before； something entirely new； not included in past experience； though proceeding out of it by an orderly sequence of growth。 Therefore； since the Divine cannot change its inherent nature； it must operate in the same manner in me； consequently in my own special world； of which I am the centre； it will move forward to produce new conditions； always in advance of any that have gone before。〃 This is a legitimate line of argument； from the premises established in the recognition of the relation between the individual and the Universal Mind； and it results in our looking to the Divine Mind； not only as creative； but also as directive that is as determining the actual forms which the conditions for its manifestation will take in our own particular world； as well as supplying the energy for their production。 We miss the point of the relation between the individual and the universal； if we do not see that the Originating Spirit is a FORMING power。 It is the forming power throughout nature； and if we would specialize it we must learn to trust its formative quality when operating from its new starting point in ourselves。
But the question naturally arises； If this is so； what part is taken by the individual？ Our part is to provide a concrete centre round which the Divine energies can play。 In the generic order of being we exercise upon it a force of attraction in accordance with the innate pattern of our particular individuality； and as we begin to realize the Law of this relation； we； in our turn； are attracted towards the Divine along the lines of least resistance； that is on those lines which are most natural to our special bent of mind。 In this way we throw out certain aspirations with the result that we intensify our attraction of the Divine forces in a certain specific manner； and they then begin to act both through us and around us in accordance with our aspirations。 This is the rationale of the reciprocal action be tween the Universal Mind and the individual mind； and this shows us that our desires should not be directed so much to the acquisition of particular THINGS as to the reproduction in ourselves of particular phases of the Spirit's activity； and this； being in its very nature creative； is bound to externalize as corresponding things and circumstances。 Then； when these external facts appear in the circle of our objective life； we must work upon them from the objective stand…point。 This is where many fall short of completed work。 They realize the subjective or creative process； but do not see that it must be followed by an objective or constructive process； and consequently they are unpractical dreamers and never reach the stage of completed work。 The creative process brings the materials and conditions for the work to our hands； then we must make use of them with diligence and common…senseGod will provide the food； but He will not cook the dinner。
This； then； is the part taken by the individual； and it is thus that he becomes a distributing centre of the Divine energy； neither on the one hand trying to lead it like a blind force； nor on the other being himself under a blind unreasoning impulsion from it。 He receives guidance because he seeks guidance； and he both seeks and receives according to a Law which he is able to recognize； so that he no more sacrifices his liberty or dwarfs his powers； than does an engineer who submits to the generic laws of electricity； in order to apply them to some specific purpose。 The more intimate his knowledge of this Law of Reciprocity becomes； the more he finds that it leads on to Liberty； on the same principle by which we find in physical science that nature obeys us precisely in the same degree to which we first obey nature。 As the esoteric maxim has it 〃What is a truth on one plane is a truth on all。〃 But the key to this enfranchisement of body； mind； and circumstances is in that new thought which becomes creative of new conditions； because it realizes the true order of the creative process。 Therefore it is that； if we would bring a new order of Life； Light； and Liberty into our lives we must commence by bringing a new order into our thought； and find in ourselves the starting point of a new creative series； not by the force of personal will； but by union with the Divine Spirit； which in the expression of its inherent Love and Beauty； makes all things new。
THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT。
The three preceding lectures have touched upon certain fundamental truths in a definite orderfirst the nature of the Originating Spirit itself； next the generic relation of the individual to this All…embracing Spirit； and lastly the way to specialize this relation so as to obtain greater results from it than spontaneously arise by its merely generic action； and we have found that this can only be done through a new order of thought。 This sequence is logical because it implies a Power； an Individual who understands the Power； and a Method of applying the power deduced from understanding its nature。 These are general principles without realizing which it is impossible to proceed further； but assuming that the reader has grasped their significance； we may now go on to consider their application in greater detail。
Now this application must be a personal one； for it is only through the individual that the higher specialization of the power can take place； but at the same time this must not lead us to suppose that the individual； himself； brings the creative force into being。 To suppose this is inversion； and we cannot impress upon ourselves too deeply that the relation of the individual to the Divine Spirit is that of a distributor； and not that of the original creator。 If this is steadily borne in mind the way will become clear； otherwise we shall be led into confusion。
What； then； is the Power which we are to distribute？ It is the Originating Spirit itself。 We are sure that it is this because the new order of thought always begins at the beginning of any series which it contemplates bringing into manifestation； and it is based upon the fact that the origin of everything is Spirit。 It is in this that its creative power resides； hence the person who is in the true new order of thought assumes as an axiomatic fact that what he has to distribute； or differentiate into manifestation is nothing else than the Originating Spirit。 This being the case； it is evident that the PURPOSE of the distribution must be the more perfect expression of the Originating Spirit as that which it is in itself； and what it is in itself is emphatically Life。 What is seeking for expression； then； is the perfect Livingness of the Spirit； and this expression is to be found； through ourselves； by means of our renewed mode of thought。 Let us see； then； how our new order of thought； with regard to the Principle of Life； is likely to operate In our old order of thought we have always associated Life with the physical bodylife has been for us the supreme physical fact。 Now； however； we know that Life is much more than this； but； as the greater includes the less； it includes physical life as one mode of its manifestation。 The true order does not require us to deny the reality of physical life or to call it an illusion； on the contrary it sees in physical life the completion of a great creative series； but it assigns it the proper place in that series； which is what the old mode of thought did not。
When we realize the truth about the Creative Process； we see that the originating life is not physical： its livingness consists in thought and feeling。 By this inner movement it throws out vehicles through which to function； and these become living forms because of the inner…principle which is sustaining them； so that the Life with which we are primarily concerned in the new order is the life of thought and feeling in ourselves as the vehicle； or distributing medium； of the Life of the Spirit。
Then； if we have grasped the idea of the Spirit as the great FORMING Power； as stated in the last lecture； we shall seek in it the fountain…head of Form as well as of Power： and as a logical deduction from this we shall look to it to give form to our thoughts and feelings。 If the principle is once recognised the sequence is obvious。 The form taken by our outward conditions； whether of body or circumstance； depends on the form taken by our thoughts and feelings； and our thoughts and feelings will take form from that source from which we allow them to receive suggestion。 Accordingly if we allow them to accept their fundamental suggestions from the relative and limited； they will assume a corresponding form and transmit them to our external environment； thus repeating the old order of limitation in a ceaselessly recurring round。 Now our object is to get out of this circle of limitation； and the only way to do so is to get our thoughts and feelings moulded into new forms continually advancing to greater and greater perfection。 To meet this requirement； therefore； there must be a forming power greater than that of our own unaided conceptions； and this is to be found in our realization of the Spirit as the Supreme Beauty； or Wisdom； mould