STUDENTS for many years have come to this School asking for a better understanding of God, and

desiring knowledge of the best way to get the most out of life. They have heard God spoken of as
being afar off, when He is as close to us as the breath we breathe, closer than our hands and feet.
They have heard Him spoken of as: Love, Divine Mind, Divine Intelligence, Jehovah, God, Lord, First
Cause, Primal Substance, and other names. Being of an analytical mind, I too, have wanted to know
the facts of a Truth. If it is a Truth, there are facts to be had, and they can prove themselves, not
alone in Spirit but in a very practical way. It is my intention to present these lessons simply, without
high-minded words or vague statements that sound pretty and promising. The terms above named
are all synonymous. They mean one and the same thing, and I choose to use a simpler name that
everyone will understand. I shall call God working in our lives “LAW.” Interpreting the Law in several
ways should bring it more clearly into our way of thinking. Then as we strive to work with the Law we
are living closer to God, and such living brings a better understanding. As you grow in knowledge and
are able to form better opinions, do not hesitate to change your views. Remember, “The wise man
changes his mind; the fool never.” There can be no progress without change, no growth without
renewal. There must be a constant stream of new thought, better thought, and truer thought to
insure progression in life. As soon as you perceive the better, let go of the old, grasp the new. To
continue to hold on to the old and inferior when the new and superior is at hand is to retard growth,
and to this one cause may be traced many of the ills of man. Proceed to use your thinking faculty and
take care that it does not use you. Master your mind and guide it intelligently; that is, exercise
discrimination in all your thinking. Learn to think as you ought to think, give your mental life to the
matters that are absolutely essential to your welfare, and the balance of your thought to themes of
beauty, truth and progress. In other words, live with the ideal, but do not neglect the practical. Aim
to adjust the two, and to strive to be on the outside what you idealize on the inside. Your thoughts
make you; and your ideals, principles, or ruling desires will determine your destiny. Learn to use your
powers unless you wish to be used by them. Make a daily effort to use the knowledge you have
gained. Try to improve upon all your opinions. Endeavor to obtain a truer and larger conception of
each of your personal views. This process entails effort, but all such mental discipline is highly
constructive. It leads to a steady increase of mind-power, and it is the mind that matters most among
life’s actualities. You may occasionally blunder. We are all inclined to do this, more so in the earlier
stages of our mental development. However, we learn by our mistakes’ Then by the constant use of
our intelligence we cause our faculties to grow so strong and alert that in time, we are able to avoid
further errors. Man’s problems are mental in nature; they have no existence outside of themselves,
and it has been discovered that nearly all will yield up their solutions when subjected to a broad and
exact analysis. You can acquire this ability by studying the Law of life and its modes of expression.
Then by constant effort use your thinking faculty in constructive ways as you work with these Laws.
Have good and sound reasons for all the views you hold. As you try to find these, many of your old-
time views will fall to pieces. Form clear and definite ideas regarding your convictions as to why you
do as you do, and as to why you think as you think. Such practice is like conducting a mental house
cleaning. The practice of clear thinking tends to clarify the mind, tones up the faculties, sharpens the
perceptions, and gives one a stronger and better grasp of the basic essentials for a larger and richer
life. Clear and exact thinking is a very great necessity. It is, in fact, a sure means to advancement on
the material as well as on the spiritual planes. A line of distinction, however, should be drawn
between mere surface thought, that is, ordinary, trivial and commonplace thinking, and real thought,
which is associated with the understanding of Truth. The latter is deep thinking which arouses
dormant powers, quickens the perceptions, and leads to the enlargement of the understanding. The
former is but a passing phase of mental activity, while the latter governs the life of man. The shallow,
surface thought that we give to the ordinary duties and small things of daily life is not the thought
that reforms our character, develops our mind or changes our destiny. It is the positive, deep, and
penetrating thought that comes from profound and strong conviction born of a higher perception
and a clearer realization of the Truth. The surface idea is not the real thought. The inner convictions
which control one’s aims, desires, and motives, constitute the real thought of the individual and
wholly determine the course of his life and personal destiny. Psychologists tell us that every
individual is controlled by his convictions, whether he is aware of it or not. Such convictions largely
determine the nature of his thinking; the inner thought coming from the heart represents the real
motives and desires. These are the causes of action. If his ideas or convictions are wholesome and
true to his higher nature all will be well, and he will reflect something of the harmony and beauty and
utility of his constructive and superior views in his personal life. If his convictions or ideas are not
wholesome and true, he will reflect something that is discordant, inharmonious, and evil. Always
make it a point of moving forward in your mind, ever seeking to unfold your power of thought and to
develop hidden possibilities. Learn to train the mind to clear and exact thinking. Your ability to do so
will grow rapidly by regular exercise and discipline. No normal person wants to decrease in power
and ability. Therefore, strive to cultivate your intelligence and to express better, bigger, and superior
thought on all matters about which you may think. There is so much good in the world that it can out
balance the evil; therefore, you can go on thinking more constructive and good thoughts every day,
about yourself, your fellowman, life, and all natural things, to the constant enrichment of your mind
and the improvement of your whole being. You cannot get the most out of these lessons by reading
them once or twice. They should be read often and studied with scrutiny. You will find with each
reading something clearer than before. Raymond Holliwell