The first transaction must be a determination and an agreement to become independent of all other codes and methods except those by which the above objects can be attained.
There are many habits which appeal to us as being a means of personal well being, and yet they are insidious enemies.
It is the regime which has a reaction for our health and happiness which we should follow, and we must have sense enough to eschew the methods which are sure to bring a subsequent disaster to us, even if they may induce a temporary pleasure, for there can be but one correct path which leads to elysian joys.
Nature is wiser than we are and we must not set ourselves up as her superiors, for if we do we are sure to fall. We must not make use of her productions until she has finished them, and we must not use things for food or drink which she has arranged for some other purpose. Sugar is an unfinished product of nature, and leaves, barks, etc., containing poisons are not intended for our consumption, and we should not breathe smoke into our lungs when it is intended that only pure air should pass into them.
We should not entertain passion for passion's sake when it was intended only for reproduction. Secretions in ductless and sac filling glands are for reabsorption. If I take the finished products of nature and undo them again, I am as unwise as if I used them before nature finished them. The breweries take the beautiful grains and degenerate them and people use the liquid poisons and do not realize that they are insulting nature and ruining themselves. We take grains, etc., and roast or burn them into poisons and seduce ourselves with the mistaken idea that we are using harmless and innocent food or drink.
We steal the property of others, we extort from them, we are jealous of them with the delusion that we are the benefitted parties, but nothing is more untrue than this idea.
All of the mental, social and physical effects of greed, malice and immorality are indelibly disastrous to us, and we have a mistaken idea of our needs and of the things which make happiness.