In a Nutshell

There is a Cosmic Life which permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe, being in and through all things. This Life is not merely a vibration, or form of energy; it is a Living Substance. All things are made from it; it is All, and in all.

A Cosmic Life fills and flows through the spaces of the universe. It is in and through all things. This Life is not merely a vibration or a form of energy. It is a Living Substance. All things are made from it. It is All and is in all.

This Substance thinks, and it assumes the form of that which it thinks about. The thought of a form, in this substance, creates the form; the thought of a motion institutes the motion. The visible universe, with all its forms and motions, exists because it is in the thought of Original Substance.

This Substance thinks and takes the form of whatever it thinks about. A thought of a form in this Substance creates that form. A thought of a motion sets that motion in action. The visible universe, with all its forms and motions, exists because Original Substance thinks of it.

Man is a form of Original Substance, and can think original thoughts; and within himself, man's thoughts have controlling or formative power. The thought of a condition produces that condition; the thought of a motion institutes that motion. So long as man thinks of the conditions and motions of disease, so long will the conditions and motions of disease exist within him. If man will think only of perfect health, the Principle of Health within him will maintain normal conditions.

A person is a form of Original Substance and can think original thoughts. Within a person, thoughts have the power to control and shape things. Thinking of a condition produces that condition. Thinking of a motion sets that motion in action. As long as a person thinks about the conditions and motions of disease, they will exist within that person. If a person thinks only of perfect health, the Principle of Health within them will maintain normal conditions.

To be well, man must form a conception of perfect health, and hold thoughts harmonious with that conception as regards himself and all things. He must think only of healthy conditions and functioning; he must not permit a thought of unhealthy or abnormal conditions or functioning to find lodgment in his mind at any time.

To be well, a person must form an idea of perfect health. Their thoughts about themselves and everything else must be consistent with that idea. They must think only of healthy conditions and functioning. They must never allow a thought of unhealthy or abnormal conditions or functioning to take hold in their mind.

In order to think only of healthy conditions and functioning, man must perform the voluntary acts of life in a perfectly healthy way. He cannot think perfect health so long as he knows that he is living in a wrong or unhealthy way; or even so long as he has doubts as to whether or not he is living in a healthy way. Man cannot think thoughts of perfect health while his voluntary functions are performed in the manner of one who is sick. The voluntary functions of life are eating, drinking, breathing, and sleeping. When man thinks only of healthy conditions and functioning, and performs these externals in a perfectly healthy manner, he must have perfect health.

To think only about healthy conditions and functions, people must perform the voluntary acts of life in a perfectly healthy way. They cannot think about perfect health while they know they are living in a wrong or unhealthy way. They cannot do so even if they doubt whether they are living healthily. People cannot think thoughts of perfect health while performing their voluntary functions like someone who is sick. The voluntary functions of life are eating, drinking, breathing, and sleeping. When people think only about healthy conditions and functions, and perform these outward acts in a perfectly healthy way, they must have perfect health.

In eating, man must learn to be guided by his hunger. He must distinguish between hunger and appetite, and between hunger and the cravings of habit; he must NEVER eat unless he feels an EARNED HUNGER. He must learn that genuine hunger is never present after natural sleep, and that the demand for an early morning meal is purely a matter of habit and appetite; and he must not begin his day by eating in violation of natural law. He must wait until he has an Earned Hunger, which, in most cases, will make his first meal come at about the noon hour. No matter what his condition, vocation, or circumstances, he must make it his rule not to eat until he has an EARNED HUNGER; and he may remember that it is far better to fast for several hours after he has become hungry than to eat before he begins to feel hunger. It will not hurt you to go hungry for a few hours, even though you are working hard; but it will hurt you to fill your stomach when you are not hungry, whether you are working or not. If you never eat until you have an Earned Hunger, you may be certain that in so far as the time of eating is concerned, you are proceeding in a perfectly healthy way. This is a self-evident proposition.

When eating, you must learn to let hunger guide you. You must distinguish hunger from appetite and from habitual cravings. You must NEVER eat unless you feel an EARNED HUNGER. Genuine hunger is never present after natural sleep. The desire for an early morning meal comes entirely from habit and appetite. You must not begin your day by eating in violation of natural law. Wait until you have an Earned Hunger. In most cases, this will mean eating your first meal around noon. Whatever your condition, occupation, or circumstances, make it your rule not to eat until you have an EARNED HUNGER. Remember that waiting several hours after becoming hungry is far better than eating before you feel hungry. Going hungry for a few hours will not hurt you, even if you are working hard. But filling your stomach when you are not hungry will hurt you, whether you are working or not. If you never eat until you have an Earned Hunger, you can be certain that your meal timing is perfectly healthy. This is self-evident.

As to what he shall eat, man must be guided by that Intelligence which has arranged that the people of any given portion of the earth's surface must live on the staple products of the zone which they inhabit. Have faith in God, and ignore "food science" of every kind. Do not pay the slightest attention to the controversies as to the relative merits of cooked and raw foods; of vegetables and meats; or as to your need for carbohydrates and proteins. Eat only when you have an earned hunger, and then take the common foods of the masses of the people in the zone in which you live, and have perfect confidence that the results will be good. They will be. Do not seek for luxuries, or for things imported or fixed up to tempt the taste; stick to the plain solids; and when these do not "taste good," fast until they do. Do not seek for "light" foods; for easily digestible, or "healthy" foods; eat what the farmers and workingmen eat. Then you will be functioning in a perfectly healthy manner, so far as what to eat is concerned. I repeat, if you have no hunger or taste for the plain foods, do not eat at all; wait until hunger comes. Go without eating until the plainest food tastes good to you; and then begin your meal with what you like best.

When deciding what to eat, people must be guided by Intelligence. This Intelligence has arranged for people everywhere to live on the staple foods of their region. Have faith in God, and ignore "food science" of every kind. Pay no attention to debates about whether cooked or raw foods are better, or whether vegetables or meat are better. Pay no attention to debates about your need for carbohydrates and proteins. Eat only when you have earned your hunger. Then eat the common foods most people eat in your region. Have complete confidence that the results will be good. They will be. Do not seek luxuries or foods imported or prepared to tempt your taste. Stick to plain, solid foods. When these do not "taste good," fast until they do. Do not seek "light" foods, easily digested foods, or "healthy" foods. Eat what farmers and working people eat. Then, as far as your choice of food is concerned, you will be functioning in a perfectly healthy way. I repeat, if you have no hunger or appetite for plain foods, do not eat at all. Wait until you are hungry. Go without food until the plainest food tastes good to you. Then begin your meal with the food you like best.

In deciding how to eat, man must be guided by reason. We can see that the abnormal states of hurry and worry produced by wrong thinking about business and similar things have led us to form the habit of eating too fast, and chewing too little. Reason tells us that food should be chewed, and that the more thoroughly it is chewed the better it is prepared for the chemistry of digestion. Furthermore, we can see that the man who eats slowly and chews his food to a liquid, keeping his mind on the process and giving it his undivided attention, will enjoy more of the pleasure of taste than he who bolts his food with his mind on something else. To eat in a perfectly healthy manner, man must concentrate his attention on the act, with cheerful enjoyment and confidence; he must taste his food, and he must reduce each mouthful to a liquid before swallowing it. The foregoing instructions, if followed, make the function of eating completely perfect; nothing can be added as to what, when, and how.

When deciding how to eat, we must use reason. Wrong thinking about business and similar matters creates unnatural states of hurry and worry. These states have led us to eat too fast and chew too little. Reason tells us that we should chew our food. The more thoroughly we chew it, the better prepared it is for the chemistry of digestion. A person who eats slowly and chews food to a liquid will enjoy more of its taste. This person keeps their mind on eating and gives it their full attention. Someone who gulps down food while thinking about something else enjoys less of its taste. To eat in a perfectly healthy way, we must give the act our full attention, with cheerful enjoyment and confidence. We must taste our food and chew each mouthful to a liquid before swallowing it. If followed, these instructions make eating completely perfect. Nothing can be added about what, when, or how to eat.

In the matter of how much to eat, man must be guided by the same inward intelligence, or Principle of Health, which tells him when food is wanted. He must stop eating in the moment that he feels hunger abating; he must not eat beyond this point to gratify taste. If he ceases to eat in the instant that the inward demand for food ceases, he will never overeat; and the function of supplying the body with food will be performed in a perfectly healthy manner.

When deciding how much to eat, a person must follow the same inner intelligence, or Principle of Health, that signals when food is needed. They must stop eating as soon as their hunger begins to fade. They must not eat beyond that point just to enjoy the taste. If they stop eating as soon as their inner demand for food ends, they will never overeat. Then they will supply their body with food in a perfectly healthy way.

The matter of eating naturally is a very simple one; there is nothing in all the foregoing that cannot be easily practiced by any one. This method, put in practice, will infallibly result in perfect digestion and assimilation; and all anxiety and careful thought concerning the matter can at once be dropped from the mind. Whenever you have an earned hunger, eat with thankfulness what is set before you, chewing each mouthful to a liquid, and stopping when you feel the edge taken from your hunger.

Eating naturally is very simple. Anyone can easily put everything described above into practice. This method, when followed, will always result in perfect digestion and absorption. You can immediately stop worrying or thinking carefully about eating. Whenever you have earned your hunger, eat what is set before you with gratitude. Chew each mouthful until it becomes liquid, and stop when your hunger has eased.

The importance of the mental attitude is sufficient to justify an additional word. While you are eating, as at all other times, think only of healthy conditions and normal functioning. Enjoy what you eat; if you carry on a conversation at the table, talk of the goodness of the food, and of the pleasure it is giving you. Never mention that you dislike this or that; speak only of those things which you like. Never discuss the wholesomeness or unwholesomeness of foods; never mention or think of unwholesomeness at all. If there is anything on the table for which you do not care, pass it by in silence, or with a word of commendation; never criticise or object to anything. Eat your food with gladness and with singleness of heart, praising God and giving thanks. Let your watchword be perseverance; whenever you fall into the old way of hasty eating, or of wrong thought and speech, bring yourself up short and begin again.

Mental attitude is important enough to say a little more about it. While eating, as at all other times, think only of healthy conditions and normal functioning. Enjoy what you eat. If you talk at the table, talk about how good the food is and how much you enjoy it. Never mention that you dislike one thing or another. Speak only about the things you like. Never discuss whether foods are healthy or unhealthy. Never mention or even think about unhealthy food. If there is something on the table you do not like, pass it by silently or say something positive about it. Never criticize or object to anything. Eat your food gladly and wholeheartedly, praising God and giving thanks. Let perseverance be your watchword. Whenever you fall back into hasty eating or wrong thoughts and speech, stop yourself and begin again.

It is of the most vital importance to you that you should be a self-controlling and self-directing person; and you can never hope to become so unless you can master yourself in so simple and fundamental a matter as the manner and method of your eating. If you cannot control yourself in this, you cannot control yourself in anything that will be worth while. On the other hand, if you carry out the foregoing instructions, you may rest in the assurance that in so far as right thinking and right eating are concerned you are living in a perfectly scientific way; and you may also be assured that if you practice what is prescribed in the following chapters you will quickly build your body into a condition of perfect health.

It is vitally important that you control and direct yourself. You can never hope to do so unless you master something as simple and basic as how you eat. If you cannot control yourself in eating, you cannot control yourself in anything worthwhile. On the other hand, if you follow the earlier instructions, you can be sure you are living in a perfectly scientific way when it comes to thinking and eating right. You can also be sure that if you follow the instructions in the following chapters, you will quickly bring your body into a state of perfect health.