The Role of Thought in Achievement

ALL that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts. In a justly ordered universe, where loss of equipoise would mean total destruction, individual responsibility must be absolute. A man's weakness and strength, purity and impurity, are his own, and not another man's; they are brought about by himself, and not by another; and they can only be altered by himself, never by another. His condition is also his own, and not another man's. His suffering and his happiness are evolved from within. As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains.

All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve comes directly from his own thoughts. In a universe governed by justice, where any loss of balance would mean total destruction, individual responsibility must be absolute. A man's weakness and strength, purity and impurity, are his own, not another man's. He creates these qualities himself, and no one else creates them for him. Only he can change these qualities, never anyone else. His circumstances, too, are his own, not another man's. His suffering and happiness develop from within. As he thinks, so he is. As he continues to think, so he remains.

A strong man cannot help a weaker unless that weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition.

A strong man cannot help a weaker man unless the weaker man is willing to be helped. Even then, the weak man must become strong through his own efforts. He must develop the strength he admires in another. Only he can change his own situation.

It has been usual for men to think and to say, "Many men are slaves because one is an oppressor; let us hate the oppressor." Now, however, there is amongst an increasing few a tendency to reverse this judgment, and to say, "One man is an oppressor because many are slaves; let us despise the slaves."

Men have often thought and said, "Many men are slaves because one man is an oppressor. Let us hate the oppressor." Now, however, a small but growing number tend to reverse this judgment and say, "One man is an oppressor because many are slaves. Let us despise the slaves."

The truth is that oppressor and slave are co-operators in ignorance, and, while seeming to afflict each other, are in reality afflicting themselves. A perfect Knowledge perceives the action of law in the weakness of the oppressed and the misapplied power of the oppressor; a perfect Love, seeing the suffering, which both states entail, condemns neither; a perfect Compassion embraces both oppressor and oppressed.

The truth is that oppressor and slave work together in ignorance. Although they seem to hurt each other, they are really hurting themselves. Perfect understanding sees law at work in the weakness of the oppressed and the oppressor’s misuse of power. Perfect love sees the suffering that both conditions bring and condemns neither. Perfect compassion embraces both oppressor and oppressed.

He who has conquered weakness, and has put away all selfish thoughts, belongs neither to oppressor nor oppressed. He is free.

A man who has overcome weakness and let go of all selfish thoughts is neither an oppressor nor oppressed. He is free.

A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. He can only remain weak, and abject, and miserable by refusing to lift up his thoughts.

A man can rise, overcome challenges, and achieve only by raising his thoughts. He can remain weak, defeated, and miserable only by refusing to raise his thoughts.

Before a man can achieve anything, even in worldly things, he must lift his thoughts above slavish animal indulgence. He may not, in order to succeed, give up all animality and selfishness, by any means; but a portion of it must, at least, be sacrificed. A man whose first thought is bestial indulgence could neither think clearly nor plan methodically; he could not find and develop his latent resources, and would fail in any undertaking. Not having commenced to manfully control his thoughts, he is not in a position to control affairs and to adopt serious responsibilities. He is not fit to act independently and stand alone. But he is limited only by the thoughts, which he chooses.

Before a man can achieve anything, even in worldly matters, he must rise above mindless devotion to animal pleasures. He may not need to give up all his animal urges and selfishness to succeed. But he must give up at least some of them. A man whose first concern is satisfying his animal urges could neither think clearly nor plan carefully. He could not discover and develop his hidden abilities, and he would fail in any undertaking. Because he has not begun to take firm control of his thoughts, he cannot manage his affairs or take on serious responsibilities. He is not ready to act independently and stand on his own. But he is limited only by the thoughts he chooses.

There can be no progress, no achievement without sacrifice, and a man's worldly success will be in the measure that he sacrifices his confused animal thoughts, and fixes his mind on the development of his plans, and the strengthening of his resolution and self-reliance. And the higher he lifts his thoughts, the more manly, upright, and righteous he becomes, the greater will be his success, the more blessed and enduring will be his achievements.

There can be no progress or achievement without sacrifice. A man's worldly success depends on how much he gives up his confused, instinct-driven thoughts. It also depends on his focus on developing his plans and strengthening his determination and self-reliance. And the higher he raises his thoughts, the more mature, honest, and morally good he becomes. The greater his success will be, and the more blessed and lasting his achievements will be.

The universe does not favour the greedy, the dishonest, the vicious, although on the mere surface it may sometimes appear to do so; it helps the honest, the magnanimous, the virtuous. All the great Teachers of the ages have declared this in varying forms, and to prove and know it a man has but to persist in making himself more and more virtuous by lifting up his thoughts.

The universe does not favor greedy, dishonest, or wicked people, although on the surface it may sometimes seem to. It helps honest, generous, and virtuous people. All the great teachers throughout history have expressed this truth in different ways. To prove and understand this truth, a person need only keep becoming more virtuous by raising their thoughts.

Intellectual achievements are the result of thought consecrated to the search for knowledge, or for the beautiful and true in life and nature. Such achievements may be sometimes connected with vanity and ambition, but they are not the outcome of those characteristics; they are the natural outgrowth of long and arduous effort, and of pure and unselfish thoughts.

Intellectual achievements come from thought devoted to seeking knowledge, or beauty and truth in life and nature. Such achievements may sometimes be linked to vanity and ambition, but they do not come from those traits. Instead, these achievements grow naturally from long, demanding effort and pure, unselfish thoughts.

Spiritual achievements are the consummation of holy aspirations. He who lives constantly in the conception of noble and lofty thoughts, who dwells upon all that is pure and unselfish, will, as surely as the sun reaches its zenith and the moon its full, become wise and noble in character, and rise into a position of influence and blessedness.

Spiritual achievements are the fulfillment of holy aspirations. Anyone who constantly holds noble and uplifting thoughts, focusing on all that is pure and unselfish, will become wise and noble. This is as certain as the sun reaching its highest point and the moon becoming full. Such a person will also rise to a position of influence and blessedness.

Achievement, of whatever kind, is the crown of effort, the diadem of thought. By the aid of self-control, resolution, purity, righteousness, and well-directed thought a man ascends; by the aid of animality, indolence, impurity, corruption, and confusion of thought a man descends.

Achievement of any kind is the crowning reward of effort and thought. A man rises through self-control, determination, purity, right conduct, and well-directed thought. He falls through animal instincts, laziness, impurity, corruption, and confused thinking.

A man may rise to high success in the world, and even to lofty altitudes in the spiritual realm, and again descend into weakness and wretchedness by allowing arrogant, selfish, and corrupt thoughts to take possession of him.

A man may achieve great success in the world and even reach great spiritual heights. Yet he may fall back into weakness and misery by letting arrogant, selfish, and corrupt thoughts take over his mind.

Victories attained by right thought can only be maintained by watchfulness. Many give way when success is assured, and rapidly fall back into failure.

Victories won through right thinking can only be kept by staying alert. Many let their guard down when success is certain and quickly slip back into failure.

All achievements, whether in the business, intellectual, or spiritual world, are the result of definitely directed thought, are governed by the same law and are of the same method; the only difference lies in the object of attainment.

All achievements, whether in business, intellectual life, or spiritual life, result from clearly focused thought. All follow the same law and use the same method. The only difference is the goal being pursued.

He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.

Anyone who wants to accomplish little must sacrifice little. Anyone who wants to achieve much must sacrifice much. Anyone who wants to reach great heights must make great sacrifices.