It is said advisingly, “When in Rome do as the Romans do.” It may be said, warningly: “When one enters upon living in Rome, he can scarce help but do as the Romans do.”
In these later days, investigation of Theosophy has shown me of what nature was the obstacle against which I had been contending so stoutly.
It was of the Karma of that nation. It has shown me also the method of that unseen, unheard influence which “is in the air,” ever about us, ever ready to move us, to govern us. And this method of influence, unseen and unheard, is the action upon us of forces existing on the Astral Plane. Among these forces are the thoughts of men living upon the objective plane of Earth.
After so much of preface, I come to a more particular consideration of some of the effects of those thoughts of man, which are unexpressed by speech or action, upon others and upon himself:
1st. How may we effectually resist the force of bad influence of locality operating on us from the Astral Plane?
2nd. How may we do something, otherwise than by precept and example, towards overcoming the evil Karma of Locality which may be affecting others?
3rd. How may we in individual cases help some unfortunates with whose needs we are acquainted?
An answer is—by Thoughts.
In man’s advancement from darkness into light, in the “Human Soul’s” departure from lower materiality to entrance into right Spiritual living, among other means to be used to attain that end are right thought, right action, right speech and right meditation. Of these, right thought, is of primary importance, for it is the foundation from which only the others can spring into life. Actions in objectivity are illusions; they are shadows of our personality created by thoughts. Thoughts are nearer, more akin to our personality than actions are, for they are primary expressions from personality, always preceding conscious speech and action. Of all the indices to our personality of which we have knowledge thoughts are the clearest; we are as our thoughts are. In compliance with that grand mandate, “Know Thyself,” why scan life’s page of speech and actions—shadows—when a vast volume of thoughts—realities—expressions of our personality, lies open to us for finding knowledge of self?
Though independent of speech and action, thoughts are realities. They are real, living, active forces, until their force is expended,—but the effects of right thoughts last forever. Space does not necessarily limit their reach. They are in the air, so to speak, everywhere, and can move with a rapidity that is instantaneous. They may not only be sent, but are received. It takes but the veriest morsel of time to send a thought to the Sun; at the Sun it takes as little time to receive a thought from the Earth.