|
Soul Progress Through Understanding
Our mind conditions our experience. Each individual has his own mind substance which he impresses with thought patterns, much the same as we sow seeds in the earth. Thus each mind conditions itself and brings forth according to the thought patterns planted in each one's mind substance. That is why there is such a variety of levels of conditions and consciousness.
Confusion in the thinking field of individuals and races as a whole is the evolutionary process of experience in handling the powerful mind substance. It is only a lack of control WITHIN OURSELVES that induces us to give vent to anger and thoughts of revenge or fault-finding in others, usually for our own mistakes. This we can realize only by the help of God through contact with a living Saint - directly or indirectly - and only when we see our own mistakes can we mend our ways. Until then we constantly seek to justify our own actions and blame others for our own mistakes; without realizing it, of course.
Each person works out the patterns of mind impressions, the same as farmers reap the crops planted. The good seeds as well as the weeds from previous planting or thinking condition the harvest as a gain or loss of experience through work and effort in the soil of the mind. Unless we have learned to control it by constant practise [practice] and vigilance - every minute of the day and night - we are likely to be roused to anger when the mind is caught off-guard; for truly, the mind with which we function in this world is as cunning as a serpent.
Who can judge and condemn others when the weeds of the past spring up as tares among the wheat of earnest, hard effort in the present harvest? That is why Jesus said:
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam in thine own eye?" (Mat. 7:1-3)
If we expect to be forgiven, we must also learn to forgive instead of constantly trying to justify our own actions. Forgiveness rests on understanding the larger view of Life - from the center outward - as our Creator sees it. A great love forgives all; but the offender learns only when he recognizes his mistake and asks for forgiveness. Until then he wanders into one mistake after another and seeks to justify himself into and out of every
|
