MENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 60

MENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALING.

By a Sttjdent.

I.— METHODS OF TREATMENT.

In mental science the methods of treatment are nearly as various as the healers who practised them ; there is no cut and dried rule, and yet they are all based on the same principle, which may be briefly described as the coming into line "with law, or, as it is aptly termed, "loosening the bonds " —the bonds of false thinking ; the belief in evil as of equal power' with God; and all the thousand and one errors and false race beliefs with which Aye were born, and ■which have grown with our growth and strengthened witli our strength.

For self-healing these must be got rid of first, and this is done by the steady use ot affirmations and denials as already mentioned. Here comes in the use and value of " suggestion " — a law* which all can understand, and the eflicacy of which can be readily proved in every-day lile. To eradicate from the mind these erroneous beliefs we make use of the negative form — denials, which have the cleansing use of water in purging the mind from falsehood and error, and preparing it to receive more direct teaching, i'or here, as always, it is of no use to make the outside of the cup and platter clean while the inside is full "01 dead, men's bones" — i.e., false beliefs. It cannot be too often insisted upon that the belief of 10,000 persons will not make a lie one whit less a lie — nay, it makes it, if possible, worse, inasmuch as its effects are more widely spread. O ! how good it would be if people would only learn to think for themselves, and not follow one another blindly like sheep over a precipice. When, on the other hand, we want to reeducate ourselves or others, we make use 01 affirmations to build up the new thought bodj, and to make ourselves strong in our new belief. For by repeatedly affirming a thing it is well known thsc we come in time to believe it.

~No law ever cnanges and there is nothing supernatural in this world or any other. Unknown laws • there may be ; and laws transcending nature as we now know it ; but Tin the All-Good " there is no variableness or shadow of turning,'' and it is small respect to the Maker of all to suppose that He can abrogate the' laws that He has made and declared to be '' good." Is it not more logical to postulate that it is v.-c "who must change and endeavour to understand the law, and p;it ourselves in line with it? It has been truly said that the life of every plant and animal is a miracle far more wonderful than any of those so-called which now and again excite our astonishment, is not ihe liit^ of every butterfly, the amazing adaptation of every leaf and stick insect to its environment a more astonishing proof of the beneficence of God than the healing of the sick or even the raising of the dead? Some persons nitty think this remark blasphemous, but it is only because they- lnve iu>fc allowed themselves the free use of th-jir judgment on these and kindred subjects. Tkoy will not allow themselves lo think. lf.-L they should be compelled to doubt some statement which they wish to believe, or to speak more correctly, which they think they o'iglit to believe ; and therefore they stifle the voice of conscience and of common sense, winch says that the All-Good never created evil, that the Omnipotent co\ild not tolerate a rival power,^ that health cannot produte disease or truth bow to falsehood. Is it not far moi'e logical to suppose that these contradictory statements exist only in seeming — that back of all phenomena lies the all-powerful, the omniscient, the ever-pre-sent Gjgpd who never created anything else for his children but life, health, and prosperity, and these in such plenty that all mav'lake and be satisfied? Look at plants and animals in their natural state. See how happy and pros> perous they are. Disease and blight are unknown ; sickness is rare, and is generally the result of some accident, and then the wounded creature withdraw.? from its kind and draws from the storehouse of nature that v which will heal its wound. Truly, death comes to all, but death without pain is kindly and beneficent — a change of state, generally from a lower to a higher. In this connection it may be mentioned that scientists are of opinion that death is generally painless. Even the prey of carnivorous animals do not suffer — men who have been rescued from the jaws of lions and tigers have declared this ; others who have been resuscitated after apparent drowning have declared that it was the " coming back " to life that was terrible, not the leaving it. Thus we see that it is the fear of death that is to be dreaded, not death itself. Hence our contention that there is no death in the sense of evil, separation, nothingness. We affirm, therefore, that there is no evil, disease, or death — the two former springing from erroneous misconception, and the latter being really beneficent, a move upward into a higher class, "the gate of Life.", To realise this larger hope, we claim that which we desire, and affirm that which we know to be true, knowing that " he who asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth." The law ie: "That we grow consciously to be in feeling and condition like that which we affirm for ourselves, and we do not attain to that which i wo claim inability to reach."

Hitherto, we have declaimed ourselves to be poor, weak, miserable, disea&d, vile. Is it any wonder that we have actualised these 'conditions? If a person applying for a situation himself such a character what ■would be the result? Would any employer desire his services? T have known persons who have habitually declared the reverse of that which Ihev de^irprl and expected in the strange belief that they could thereby propitiate some adverse principle or fate — perhaps that mysterious being the Devil. Such persons say. " I am sure it is going to rain," when they specially want it to be fine; and, "I am sure I shan't be able to go to so and so, or do so and so," when there is no reason why they should not obtain the object of their wish. Such persons Aow that their belief in evil is stronger

than their faith in good ; but when the evil comes that they have brought upon themselves they fail to recognise the working of the law. No man ever yet succeeded in any undertaking who persistently declared that he could not do it. Napoleon knew a good deal about human nature, and he said that impossible was "the adjective of fools." Recognise, desire, and claim the best. This is the meaning of the expression that " the Kingdom of Heaven must be taken by force " and of the parable of Jacob wrestling with the angel. If you do not at first get what you want ; if your demand seems unsuccessful be not discouraged ; ask again and yet again, and even declare that you "have" "what you desire. This method is often successful In the most obstinate cases. For instance : — " A mother had been treating her child for a long time to cure a weakness in one leg, and saw with sorrow that her treatment seemed to have no effect. She then changed her plan, and began to declare joyously that the child was well and to thank God for its cure. Very soon the withered limb began to straighten and grow and healthy blood to flow through the previously inert flesh ; and what the mother had had faith to aotualise mentally she beheld physically. Tho child recovered." This story is well authenticated, and "theYe are hundreds like it. Some will say, "Bah .'that v/as merely the result of natural causes. The child would have got "well any way." .Granted ; but is it nothing to set the forces of nature free so that they can carry on their-" own 'beneficent Avork unrestrained by erroneous thinking? If the metaphysician did nn more than that surely he would be a great benefactor, but he can do more, far more, as thousands can testify who have been healed without medicine or any apparent physical means. < And to declare in a sneering tone that these cures prove nothing, that they would have been effected just the same nothing been done, is merely begging the question. The mental scientist does not claim to.be a magician 01 to cure all and every case/ that may be brought to him. What he does claim is the knowledge of how to cast out error and to put himself and others in line with the Divine laws, so that the All-Good may , manifest itself in him and them. More than this he never assumes. He ■ never says, " I can cure you in such a way, and in such a time." But he does say, '*T will do my best for you ; and if you think it ■worth while to give time and study to it, I will show you a more excellent way." y