[Book
One: The Secret of Success]
The
Power of Desire
What
is Desire? Let us see! Webster tells us that it is: "The natural
longing to possess any seeming good; eager wish to obtain or enjoy,"
or in its abnormal or degenerate sense: "excessive or morbid
longing; lust; appetite." "Desire" is a much-abused
term - the public mind has largely identified it with its abnormal or
degenerate phase, just mentioned, ignoring it's original and true
sense. Many use the word in the sense of an unworthy longing or
craving, instead of in the true sense of "aspiration,"
"worthy craving and longing," etc. To call Desire
"aspiration" renders it none the less Desire. To apply to
it the term "laudable aim and ambition" does not take away
from it is character of Desire. There is no sense in endeavoring to
escape the fact that Desire is the natural and universal impulse
toward action, be the action or good or bad. Without Desire the Will
does not spring into action, and nothing is accomplished. Even the
highest attainments and aims of the race are possible only when the
steam of Will is aroused by the flame and heat of Desire.
Some
of the occult teachings are filled with instructions to "kill
out desire," and the student is warned to beware of it even in
its most insidious and subtle forms, even to the extent of "avoiding
even the desire to be desireless - even desire not to desire. Now
this is all nonsense, for if one "wishes," or "wants,"
or "is inclined," or "thinks best to," or "is
pleased to" Kill Out Desire - in any of these cases he is but
manifesting a Desire "not to desire," in spite of his use
of other names. What is this "wishing to; wanting to; feeling
like; inclination; being pleased to;" and all the rest, but just
plain, clear, unadulterated Desire masquerading under some of these
names. To proceed to "kill out desire" without "desiring"
to do so is like trying to lift oneself by pulling on his own
bootstraps. Folly. What is really meant is that the occultist should
proceed to kill out the lower desires that he finds within his
nature, and also to kill out the "attachment" for things.
Regarding this last we would say that all true occultist know that
even the best "things" are not good enough to rule and
master one-nothing is good enough for the soul to allow itself to be
unduly attached to it so that the thing rules the soul instead of the
should mastering the thing. That is what the teachings mean -
avoidance of "attachment.” And in this the occult teachers
are clearly right. Desire is a frightful master - like fire it sweeps
away the supports of the soul, leaving nothing but smoldering ashes.
But, also like Fire Desire is a splendid servant and by its harnessed
power we are able to generate the steam of the Will and Activity, and
to accomplish much in the world. Without proper Desire the world
would be without activity. So do not make the mistake of using Desire
any more than you would refuse to use fire - but in both cases keep
the mastery in your own hands, and avoid allowing the control to pass
from you to Desire.
Desire
is the motivating force that runs the world; as little as we care to
admit it in many cases. Look around you and see the effects of Desire
in every human act, good or bad. As a writer has said: "Every
deed that we do, good or bad, is prompted by Desire. We are
charitable because we Desire to relieve our inner distress at the
sight of suffering; or from the Desire of sympathy; or from the
Desire to be respected in this world, or to secure a comfortable
place in the next. One man is kind because he Desires to be kind -
because it gives him satisfaction to be kind; while another man is
cruel from precisely the same kind
of
motive. One man does his duty because he Desires to do it - he
obtains a higher satisfaction from duty well done than he would from
the neglecting of it in accordance with some weaker desires. The
religious man is religious because his religious desires are stronger
than his irreligious ones - because he finds a higher satisfaction in
religion than in the pursuits of the worldly-minded. The moral man is
moral because his moral desires are stronger than his immoral ones -
he obtains a greater satisfaction in being moral than in being the
contrary. Everything we do is prompted by Desire in some shape or
form high or low. Man cannot be Desireless and act in any way.
Desire is the motivating power behind all actions - it is a natural
law of life. Everything from the atom to the monad; from the monad to
the insect; from the insect to man; from man to Nature, acts and does
things by reason of the power and force of Desire, the Animating
Motive. "
All
the above at the first glance would seem to make of man a mere
machine, subject to the power of any stray desire that might happen
to come into his mind. But this is far from being so. Man acts not
upon EVERY desire, but upon the STRONGEST Desire, or the Average of
his Strongest Desires. This Average of Desires is that which
constitutes his Nature or Character. And here is where the Mastery of
the "I" comes in! Man need not be a slave or creature of
his Desires if he will assert his Mastery. He may control, regulate,
govern and guide his Desires in any directions that he pleases. Nay,
more, he may even CREATE DESIRES by an action of his Will, as we
shall see presently. By a knowledge of psychological laws he may
neutralize unfavorable Desires, and grow and develop - yes,
practically Create New Desires in their place - all by the power of
his Will, aided by the light of his Reason and Judgment. Man is the
Master of his Mind.
"Yes,"
but some close reasoning critic may object; "yes, that is true
enough, but even in that case is not Desire the ruling motive - must
not one Desire create these new Desires before he can do so - is not
Desire always precedent to action? "Very close reasoning this,
good friends, but all advanced occultists know that there is a point
in which the Principle of Desire shades and merges into companion
Principle, Will, and that a close reasoner and mental analyst may
imagine a mental state in which one may be almost said to manifest a
WILL to Will, rather than to merely Desire to Will. This state must
be experienced before it can be understood - words cannot express it.
We
have stated that it was in the power of man to Create Desire - not
only to be its master when created, but also to actually Create it by
bringing it into being. And the statement is absolutely true, and is
verified and proven by the most recent experiments and discoveries of
modern psychology. Instead of man being a creature of Desire - and
this indeed he is in many cases - he may become Master of Desire and
even a Creator of it. By knowledge and Will he may reverse the
ordinary order of things and, displacing the intruder from the
throne, he may seat himself there in his rightful place, and then bid
the late occupant do his will and obey his bidding. But the best way
for the new occupant of the throne to bring about a reorganized court
is to dismiss the old objectionable creatures of his mind and create
new ones in their places. And here is how it may be done: In the
first place, one must think carefully over the tasks that he wishes
to accomplish, then, using his judgment carefully, judicially and
impartially - impersonally so far as is possible - he must take
mental stock of himself and see in what points he is deficient, so
far as the successful accomplishment of the task is concerned. Then
let him analyze the task before him, in detail, separating the matter
into as many clear defined divisions as possible, so that he may be
able to see the Thing as It Is, in detail as well as in its entirety.
Then let him take a similar inventory of the things, which seem
necessary of the accomplishment of the task - not the details that
will arise only as the work progresses, day by day - but the general
things, which must be done in order that the task is brought to a
successful conclusion. Then having taken stock of the task, the
nature of the undertaking, and one's own qualifications and
shortcomings - then Begin to Create Desire, according to the
following plan: The first step in the Creation of Desire is that of
the forming of a clear, vital Mental Image of the qualities, things
and details of the undertaking, as well as of the Completed Whole. By
a Mental Image we mean a clear-cut, distinct mental picture in the
Imagination of the things just names. Now, do not turn away with an
impatient motion at the mention of the word Imagination. That is
another word that you have only a mistaken idea of. Imagination means
far more than the mere idle, fanciful use of that part of the mind
that is believed by people to be "all there is to it. "It
isn't all, by a long way - in fact, the fanciful part may be said to
be merely a shadow of the real Imaginative effort. Imagination is a
real thing - it is a faculty of the mind by which it creates a
matrix, mold, or pattern of things, which the trained Will and Desire
afterward, materializes into objective reality. There has been
nothing created by the hands and mind of man which did not have its
first origin in the Imagination of some one. Imagination is the first
step in Creation - whether of worlds or trifles. The mental pattern
must always precede the material form. And so it is in the Creation
of Desire. Before you can Create a Desire you must have a clear
Mental Image of what you need to Desire.
You
will find that this task of creating a Mental Image is a little
harder than you had expected at the start. You will find it hard to
form even a faint mental picture of that which you need. But be not
discouraged, and persevere, for in this, as everything else. Practice
makes perfect. Each time you try to form the Mental Image it will
appear a little clearer and more distinct, and the details will come
into a little more prominence. Do not tire yourself at first, but lay
aside the task until later in the day, or tomorrow. But practice and
persevere and you need, just as clearly as a memory picture of
something you have already seen. We shall have more to say on this
subject of Mental Imagery and Imagination in subsequent lessons.
Then,
after having acquired the clear Mental Image of the things you wish
to Desire, and thus attain, cultivate the focusing of the Attention
upon these things. The word attention is derived from the Latin word
"Attendere," meaning "to stretch forth," the
original idea being that in Attention the mind was "stretched
forth," or "extended" toward the object of attention,
and this is the correct idea for that is the way the mind operates in
the matter. Keep the ideas before your attention as much as possible,
so that the mind may take a firm grasp upon them, and make them a
part of itself - by doing this you firmly impress the ideas upon the
wax tablet of the mind.
Thus
having fixed the idea clearly in your mind, by means of the
Imagination and Attention, until as we have said, it becomes a
fixture there, begin to cultivate an ardent DESIRE, LONGING, CRAVING
DEMAND for the materialization of the things.
Demand
that you grow the qualities necessary for the task - demand that your
mental pictures materialize - Demand that the details be manifested
as well as the Whole, making allowance for the "something
better" which will surely arise to take the place of the
original details, as you proceed - the Inner Consciousness will
attend to these things for you.
Then
Desire firmly, confident, and earnestly. Be not half-hearted in your
demands and desires - claim and demand the WHOLE THING, and feel
confident that it will work out into material objectivity and
reality. Think of it, dream of it, and always LONG for it you must
learn to want it the worst way - learn to "want it hard enough"
You can attain and obtain many things by "wanting them hard
enough" - the trouble is with most of us that we do not want
things hard enough - we mistake vague cravings and wished for
earnest, longing, demanding Desire and Want. Get to Desire and Demand
the Thing just as you demand and Desire your daily meals. That is
"wanting it the worst way. "This is merely a hint - surely
you can supply the rest, if you are in earnest, and "want to
hard enough."
