Thought and Action

As the fruit to the tree and the water to the spring, so is action to thought. It does not come into manifestation suddenly and without a cause. It is the result of a long and silent growth; the end of a hidden process which has long been gathering force. The fruit of the tree and the water gushing from the rock are both the effect of a combination of natural processes in air and earth which have long worked together in secret to produce the phenomenon; and the beautiful acts of enlightenment and the dark deeds of sin are both the ripened effects of trains of thought which have long been harboured in the mind.

Action comes from thought, just as fruit comes from a tree and water comes from a spring. It does not appear suddenly or without a cause. It is the result of long, silent growth, the end of a hidden process that has long been gathering force. Fruit grows on a tree, and water gushes from a rock. Both are the result of natural processes in the air and earth that have long worked together in secret. In the same way, beautiful acts of enlightenment and dark deeds of sin are the ripe results of trains of thought long held in the mind.

The sudden falling, when greatly tempted, into some grievous sin by one who was believed, and who probably believed himself, to stand firm, is seen neither to be a sudden nor a causeless thing when the hidden processes of thought which led up to it are revealed. The falling was merely the end, the outworking, the finished result of what commenced in the mind probably years before. The man had allowed a wrong thought to enter his mind; and a second and a third time he had welcomed it, and allowed it to nestle in his heart. Gradually he became accustomed to it, and cherished, and fondled, and tended it; and so it grew, until at last it attained such strength and force that it attracted to itself the opportunity which enabled it to burst forth and ripen into act. As falls the stately building whose foundations have been gradually undermined by the action of water, so at last falls the strong man who allows corrupt thoughts to creep into his mind and secretly undermine his character.

A person believed to stand firm may suddenly fall into serious sin when greatly tempted. He probably believed himself to be firm, too. But when the hidden thoughts that led to his fall are revealed, it is clear that it was neither sudden nor without cause. The fall was only the final result of what had begun in his mind, probably years before. He had allowed a wrong thought into his mind. A second and a third time, he welcomed it and allowed it to settle in his heart. Gradually, he grew used to it. He treasured it, dwelled on it, and nurtured it. So the thought grew stronger, until at last it attracted the opportunity that allowed it to burst forth and become action. A grand building falls when water has gradually weakened its foundations. In the same way, a strong man finally falls when he allows corrupt thoughts to enter his mind and secretly weaken his character.

When it is seen that all sin and temptation are the natural outcome of the thoughts of the individual, the way to overcome sin and temptation becomes plain, and its achievement a near possibility, and, sooner or later, a certain reality; for if a man will admit, cherish, and brood upon thoughts that are pure and good, those thoughts, just as surely as the impure, will grow and gather force, and will at last attract to themselves the opportunities which will enable them to ripen into act.

When we see that all sin and temptation arise naturally from our own thoughts, the way to overcome them becomes clear. Success is then within reach and, sooner or later, certain. For if a person welcomes, cherishes, and dwells on pure and good thoughts, those thoughts will grow and gain strength, just as impure thoughts do. They will eventually attract opportunities that allow them to develop into actions.

"There is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed," and every thought that is harboured in the mind must, by virtue of the impelling force which is inherent in the universe, at last blossom into act good or bad according to its nature. The divine Teacher and the sensualist are both the product of their own thoughts, and have become what they are as the result of the seeds of thought which they have implanted, or allowed to fall, into the garden of the heart, and have afterwards watered, tended, and cultivated.

“Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed.” Every thought kept in the mind must eventually blossom into action. The driving force inherent in the universe makes this happen, and the action is good or bad according to the thought’s nature. Both the divine Teacher and the sensualist are products of their own thoughts. They have become what they are because of the seeds of thought they planted or allowed to fall into the garden of the heart. They then watered, tended, and cultivated those seeds.

Let no man think he can overcome sin and temptation by wrestling with opportunity; he can only overcome them by purifying his thoughts; and if he will, day by day, in the silence of his soul, and in the performance of his duties, strenuously overcome all erroneous inclination, and put in its place thoughts that are true and that will endure the light, opportunity to do evil will give place to opportunity for accomplishing good, for a man can only attract that to him which is in harmony with his nature, and no temptation can gravitate to a man unless there is that in his heart which is capable of responding to it.

No one should think they can overcome sin and temptation by wrestling with opportunities to do wrong. They can overcome them only by purifying their thoughts. Each day, a person must strive to overcome every wrong inclination, both in the silence of their soul and while carrying out their duties. They must replace those inclinations with thoughts that are true and can stand up to the light. If they do this, opportunities to do evil will give way to opportunities to do good. For a person can attract only what is in harmony with their nature. No temptation can be drawn to a person unless there is something in their heart capable of responding to it.

Guard well your thoughts, reader, for what you really are in your secret thoughts to-day, be it good or evil, you will, sooner or later, become in actual deed. He who unwearyingly guards the portals of his mind against the intrusion of sinful thoughts, and occupies himself with loving thoughts, with pure, strong, and beautiful thoughts, will, when the season of their ripening comes, bring forth the fruits of gentle and holy deeds, and no temptation that can corte against him shall find him unarmed or unprepared.

Guard your thoughts carefully, reader. For whatever you really are in your private thoughts today, whether good or evil, you will sooner or later become in your actions. A person who tirelessly guards the mind against sinful thoughts and fills it with loving, pure, strong, and beautiful thoughts will see those thoughts bear fruit. When the time comes, they will produce gentle and holy deeds. No temptation that comes against such a person will find them unarmed or unprepared.