July Emmet Fox E-Zine
Peace - Freedom
Peace, Perfect harmony, well-being.
Peace is not an absence of activity, but a very vital, vibrant quality of joyous
serenity,
where everything is in harmonious relationship.
Peace is at the center of everything.
The eternal equilibrium of the universe is never even temporarily disturbed;
there is a place within us which is this equilibrium.
HOW TO MAINTAIN PEACE
EMMET FOX
IS IT not a wonderful thought that you, perhaps an indistinguished and unknown, everyday person, can sit quietly in your room and do more to save the world from the inconceivable horrors of another war than can all the statesmen and diplomats put together? Yet, such is the case. Many people are speaking today as though another war were inevitable. Others, on the contrary, declare optimistically that such a thing is impossible. The actual fact is that another war is neither inevitable nor impossible. There can be another war (and if there is, the destructions and horrors entailed will eclipse anything dreamed of up to the present, owing to the extraordinary advance of natural science and engineering in the past two decades), and such an event would almost certainly be the end of Western Civilization as we have known it.
On the other hand, there is not the least necessity for another war. It could happen, but it is not necessary. There is at hand a means by which a comparatively small number of people, if they so desire, can prevent war from breaking out. In this essay I intend to show exactly how that can be done. To understand intelligently the problem that we have to face, we need to inquire why war ever does break out. Most people suppose that a war occurs as the result of certain definite acts on the part of certain individuals. They think that National leaders in a position of authority decide to make war on a neighbor because they feel that they are strong enough to conquer him; or that they declare war in self defense with the object of forestalling such an attack upon themselves. Or it may be that they are drawn into a war already in progress between their neighbors, in spite of all efforts to keep out. This is the common view of history; but it is, however, quite wrong. The fact is that the concrete acts of individuals, such as ultimatums, declarations of war, and so forth, are never in themselves causal, but are merely the results of wide and deep currents of thought and feeling already existing in the masses of the peoples concerned. War breaks out between two countries because, for a long time beforehand, the hearts of thousands of people on both sides of the frontier have been filled with hatred and fear, and sometimes also with greed, satanic pride, and the rest of the Seven Deadly Sins. The war itself, and all the horrors that go with it-the shooting and bayoneting, the maiming and gassing, the destruction of property, and so forth-are but the aftermath or outpicturing on the physical plane of the evil passions which preceded it. It is not possible for an act of violence to take place in the outer world of experience unless there is first a thought of violence (fear, hatred, etc.) in the inner world of thought. And it is equally true that it is not possible for thoughts of violence to hold sway in men's souls without being sooner or later enacted in the outer.
It naturally follows from this that the scientific method for the prevention of war must lie in the changing of the mentality of the people; and there is no other way. But how is this mental change to be brought about? Can it be done by the educational efforts of books and pamphlets, the holding of peace meetings, the convening of international conferences, and so forth? Well, all these things are efforts in the right direction, of course, but it has to be admitted that their practical results are usually very meager and out of proportion to the expense and effort involved. We know that all recent wars were preceded by efforts of this kind, which, nevertheless, completely failed to prevent them. Nay, there is a very definite danger lurking among these good intentions, because many spiritually-minded people are lulled into a false sense of security by trusting in them. There is, however, a method of preventing war which is both simple in its application and unfailing in its results. It costs absolutely nothing to apply, and it can be put into effect by anyone, anywhere, who is prepared to give a little time to it. That method is Scientific Prayer.
If even a comparatively small number of people will learn to pray scientifically, and will then devote even a few minutes daily to Scientific Prayer for universal peace there will never be another war. Of course, it goes without saying that there are more than enough men and women of good will in the world ready to do this, and the only problem is to teach them how. Let me say here that I cannot too strongly emphasize the fact that it must be Scientific Prayer if it is to be of any practical use. Other methods of prayer, while excellent in their own time and place for other purposes, are of little practical use for the prevention of war. They will comfort the individual, purify and develop his soul, and arm him with fortitude to meet his troubles; but they will not prevent war. Only Scientific Prayer will do that-and that it will do it is beyond any question. It is only necessary that enough people (and not a very large number numerically) should pray in the right way, and war will not come.
But what is Scientific Prayer? Scientific Prayer may be briefly described as the Practice of the Presence of God. In order to prevent war, you should devote at least five minutes a day to the realization of the Presence of God in all the peoples constituting the half dozen Great Powers. Do not work in this way for the whole of humanity, but only for the peoples of what are called the Great Powers, as it is desirable to concentrate the work where it is needed. War will not come unless some of the Great Powers become involved. You may begin your prayer by reading a few verses of the Bible, or any spiritual book that appeals to you, or by repeating a favorite hymn or spiritual poem. Then declare that God is everywhere, and that all men, in Absolute Truth, are now spiritual and perfect, expressing only Love, and Wisdom, and Intelligence. That, in Reality there are no separate nations, because all men belong to the One Nation, the Divine Family. That there are no frontiers because God is One, and cannot be separated against Himself. That in Truth the only armaments are the forces of Love and Intelligence. Then declare that God is fully present in every man, woman, and child in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, China and the United States, and that they can only know and express Serene Peace, Divine Intelligence, and Divine- Love. To do this is to concentrate the work where it is needed and will be effective. You may conclude by giving thanks to God for the glory of His Own Divine Perfection, which never can change. If you wish to go on longer, use one of the last half dozen Psalms, all of which deal with praise and thanksgiving. Having finished your prayer or treatment, drop the subject out of your mind until next day. It will be seen that this prayer is exclusively concerned with a realization of good. On no account must you allow yourself to dwell upon the horrors of war, the danger of war, or the causes of war, or think about war under any pretext whatever during the treatment. In fact, the whole prayer or treatment in itself is nothing but an effort' to get away in thought from the concept of war. To say something like this-"Please God, do not allow another terrible war to happen," is to think of war, even though it sounds pious and edifying, and to think of a thing is to help to create or perpetuate that thing. War must come as long as the thoughts that produce war remain in the human heart. A meditation or treatment of the scientific kind will have the effect of clearing that war thought out of the race mind, and then war will not come. Understand clearly that you are not asked to maintain this uplifted state of mind all day long, but only for the few minutes that you are praying. Of course, you will, in a general way, avoid dwelling upon horrors at any time, for your own sake; but, provided you get right away from them during the period of prayer, you will have done all that is necessary to prevent war.
With regard to the length of time that should be devoted to this work each day, it may be said that mere length of time is unimportant; it is the degree of realization that counts. If you can get away in thought from the sense of limitation and war danger in two minutes, that will do. If it takes you half an hour to do so, you must give that. Do not keep on too long on anyone day. Some people will make little progress for several weeks, and then gradually find it coming easy. The one thing that matters is to get away, even for a moment, from the sense of fear and danger. That will definitely and positively change the mentalities of the people in the countries concerned, and will prevent war. Be faithful to this daily prayer. Unstable people usually start off such a plan by praying too long for several days, and then, having grown tired of it, drop it altogether. One is praying too long when he gets a sense of burden and fatigue. Five minutes a day will do for most people. Remember that the joy of the Lord is your strength. This practice will bring a great blessing into your own life . (Written in 1931).
MEDITATION FOR PEACE
EMMET FOX
God is the only real presence and the only real power. God is fully present at every point of existence. God works through man, who is part of the Divine Expression. God works through all men indiscriminately, and in His sight there are no distinctions of nationality or party, and no frontiers. Therefore there can be no strife. With One God there can be only one plan, God's perfect plan, and all men are part of that; so each has his own place in the Divine Scheme, and there can be no competition or strife. God is all in all, and in Him all men live and move and have their being in perfect harmony and Love.
"The History of New Thought"
By Dr. EMMET FOX
The purely spiritual message of Jesus Christ began to be clouded over as the years passed and those who had known him personally disappeared. Early in the 4th century Christianity
was made an established and subsidized church by Constantine , and after that the Spiritual Idea rapidly faded out. As the centuries passed, the Spiritual Idea would emerge from time
to time here or there among small groups of people (of which the 17th century Quakers are probably the most notable) but it was not until modern New Thought appeared a hundred
years ago in New England that the Spiritual Idea became fairly wide-spread in the world. This is really the Second Corning of the Christ prophesied by Jesus himself.
Like all significant movements it came into the race mind through several different channels at about the same time. No one person can be said to have "originated" it. Emerson may
be regarded as the prophet of the movement. Phineas Parker Quimby did practical healing in Portland , Maine , and taught several students who afterwards went out and spread the teaching
in different ways. The New England Transcendentalist Movement was really part of the same current of thought, and included in addition to Emerson himself, Bronson Alcott, Margaret
Fuller, Thoreau, Theodore Parker and
others. New Thought as such has always been a practical movement and has stood
for healing, and in this respect gradually separated itself
from those who were primarily concerned with philosophical speculation.
Doubtless, it was, in part, a reaction to the terrible Calvinism which had
gripped New England for so long.
What we call New Thought is, of course, only the primitive New Testament teaching restated in modem form. It is essentially a Back-to-Jesus movement.
In the 1880's there were several independent leaders teaching New Thought. One of these, Mrs. Emma Curtis Hopkins, had a genius for inspiring teachers. She might be called
the teachers' teacher. About 1886, she held a class of 15 or 20 people in Chicago and most of these students went out and started a movement of some kind for spreading the Truth. Several
of today's well known organizations spring from that class. New Thought or Christian metaphysics was taken to England in the late 80's by two or
three people who had studied with Mrs. Hopkins, or independently. The best known was The New Thought movement does not seem to have been influenced in any way by the
other churches. Its approach to God is radically different. On the other hand, all the orthodox churches have been influenced to a greater or lesser extent by New Thought. New Thought
ideas have been appearing more and more in sermons and religious books during the last forty years. Gradually, and almost unconsciously it has helped to wear down the old theology in its
various forms, and today we find New Thought ideas (although not so designated) in religious writings of every kind. They also turn up regularly in newspaper editorials and political
speeches. New Thought books are actually used in the pulpits of a number of orthodox churches today with credit being honorably given.
This kind of infiltration is the way in which the New Thought movement has chiefly influenced the world. The number of people calling themselves New Thoughters has always
been comparatively small, but their indirect influence has been correspondingly large. New Thought Centers have been most successful when the teaching has been kept strictly
on. the Christ lines, extraneous subjects being excluded, and where, in consequence, good healing work has been done. One good healing in a Center brings more converts than a
hundred sermons.
A Treatment by Joseph Murphy
Suppose you want to get rid of a destructive habit. Assume a comfortable posture, relax your body, and be still. Get into a sleepy state. In this sleepy state, say quietly, over and over again as a lullaby, 'I am completely free from __ [the habit]; harmony and peace of mind reign supreme." Repeat this slowly, quietly, and lovingly for five or ten minutes morning and night. Each time you repeat the words, the emotional value becomes greater. When the urge comes to repeat the negative habit, repeat the above affirmation out loud. By this means you induce the subconscious to accept the idea, and a healing follows.
Affirm: I am always poised, serene, and calm. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding, but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. (Proverbs 14:29)
Stake Your Claim
You can have true success and happiness in life if you consistently put these truths into practice in your daily living. It is your God - given duty to Stake Your Claim to peace, poise,
power, prosperity and health - and God expects you to be satisfied with nothing less. (Herman Wolhorn)
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July 30