"Architecture"
means "the art or science of building or
construction," and "Mental Architecture" means
"the art or science of Mind Building." By "Mind
Building" I, of course, mean "Brain Building,"
for as I have told you in a previous chapter,
the brain is the "machinery" of the personal
manifestation of mind, or the "converter" or
"transformer" of the Mind-Power.
But as
the word "mind" is generally used as synonymous
with "brain," in the case of individuals, I
shall speak of "Mind Building" in this lesson,
although I always mean "Brain Building" when I
so speak.
The
differing manifestations of mind in the various
persons with whom we come in contact is at once
recognized as depending upon the character,
quality, degree and grade of their
brain-material The brain is composed of a
peculiar substance called "plasm," or elementary
living-matter.
The word
"plasm" is derived from the Greek word meaning
"a mould or matrix," and its use in connection
with the brain-substance is peculiarly
appropriate, for it is in the cells of the brain
that "mental states" are "cast or molded," as it
were. The brain is composed of an enormous
number of tiny cells which are the actual
elements in the production and manifestation of
thought, or mentation.
These
brain-cells are estimated at from 500,000,000 to
2,000,000,000, according to the mental activity
of the person. There is always a great number of
reserve brain-cells remaining unused in every
brain, the estimate being made that even in the
case of the wisest man, or most active thinker,
there are always several millions of unused
brain cells held as a reserve.
And the
most advanced science also informs us that the
brain "grows" additional cells to meet any
demand upon it. And brain-building is the
development and growth of brain-cells in any
special region of the brain; for, as you
probably know, the brain contains many regions,
each region being the seat of some particular
function, quality, faculty or mental activity.
By
developing the brain-cells in any special
region, the quality, activity or faculty which
has that region for its seat is necessarily
greatly increased and rendered more effective
and powerful.
The
investigators along the lines of Phrenology have
long since recognized the fact that
brain-centers or regions could be developed by
proper exercises, etc., and the text-books on
that science give us many interesting facts
regarding the same.
These
cases show us that not only is an individual
able to develop and cultivate certain qualities
of mind on the one hand, or restrain them on the
other, but that also the very outward shape and
size of the skull manifests a corresponding
change, for the bony structure accommodates
itself very gradually to the pressure of the
increasing number of cells in some particular
center or region of the brain.
It is a
fully demonstrated scientific fact that a man
may "make himself over" mentally, if he will but
devote the same degree of attention, patience
and work to the subject that he would in the
case of a desired development of some part of
the physical body--some muscle, for instance.
And the
processes are almost identical in the case of
muscle and brain-center--use, exercise and
practice along the lines pointed out by those
who have investigated and experimented along the
particular line.
Prof.
Elmer Gates, of Washington, D. C., one of the
most remarkable men of this age, has given to
the world an account of some remarkable
experiments along the line of brain-growing, the
experiments having been tried upon various
animals. He tells us that his early experiments
along this line were in the direction of
training dogs to develop some one particular
sense, that of seeing or hearing particularly.
He would
specially train a certain number of the animals
according to his methods, and at the same time
would keep a like number of the same animals of
the same age, etc., without any extraordinary
use of the particular faculty in question, and
still a similar number without the opportunity
of using that faculty at all. At the end of a
certain time he would kill some of the animals
belonging to each class, and upon examining the
brains of each he made the discovery that the
number of brain cells (in the regions of their
brains in which the sense or faculty was
manifested) showed a startling difference,
depending upon the degree of use and exercise of
the particular faculty.
His
specially trained animals showed a much greater
number of brain-cells than had ever been found
in animals of the same breed and age. Prof.
Gates continued these experiments over a number
of years and obtained some remarkable results.
He specially trained the faculties of some of
his dogs so that they were able to distinguish
between seven shades of red and a like number of
green shades.
I have
not the time here to speak at length of the
wonderful results of Prof. Gates' experiments,
but he has firmly established the scientific
fact that brains may be "grown" at will, if the
person will apply himself to the subject with
sufficient zeal and ardor. I have conducted a
number of interesting experiments (not with
dogs, or through vivisection, however) which
have proven conclusively to my mind that the
entire natures, dispositions, characters and
faculties of people may he entirely changed by
intelligent psychological methods along the
lines of Suggestion or Auto-Suggestion,
accompanied with certain other methods to be
mentioned in this lesson.
The
great school of "New Thought" people of the
various sects, cults and associations have been
doing some excellent work along these lines
during the past ten years or more. Their systems
of "affirmations" and "denials" really developed
or restrained their brain-centers and desirable
qualities were increased and developed and
undesirable ones were restrained. But the mere
use of "affirmations", "auto-suggestions" or
even strong, positive suggestions given by
another, forms only one-third of the work
necessary in order to produce the best results.
It is
all very well to assert "I am Brave," "I am
Industrious," "I am Active," etc., etc., but if
the work stops there it remains only one-third
done. It is true that these affirmations and
auto-suggestions undoubtedly do stimulate and
develop mental faculties and brain-centers and
play an important part in character building.
But in order that they be used to the best
advantage there must be visualization, and there
should be a certain physical acting out of
the mental suggestions or affirmation. There
must be seeing and doing as
well as saying.
You will
remember what I said in my lesson on Mental
Suggestion regarding the fact that "mental
states take form in physical action," and its
twin-truth that "physical action produces mental
states." It is a case of action and reaction in
both instances.
For
instance, if you will start in to feel angry,
and keep it up a little while (even though the
emotion is assumed for the experiment), you will
find that your brows will form into a frown and
that your hands will clench and your jaws will
fasten into a savage "bite." You know this to be
true, of course. But then, on the other hand, if
you will assume the above-mentioned physical
characteristics accompanying anger and will keep
them up earnestly for a short time, you will
find yourself actually feeling angry. And
the same thing is true of the feelings and
actions of pleasure.
Think
intently of some pleasant thing and you will
find your face breaking into an expression of
pleasure--you will smile; your eyes will twinkle
and you will manifest all the outward
characteristics of pleasure. And, on the other
hand, if you will "throw yourself into the
part," and will smile and manifest all the
outward signs of pleasure, you will find
yourself beginning to feel "bright, cheerful and
happy" in a short time.
I have
seen a sign bearing the simple word "smile!"
in big letters cause people to change their
mental states in a few moments. They would take
the suggestion and being amused at the sign they
would begin to smile--then the smile's physical
actions would react upon their minds and they
would begin to "feel good" and so on.
I defy
anyone to manifest the physical actions of any
particular emotion or feeling, earnestly and
actively, for a short time, without the
corresponding mental state actually manifesting
itself. Go into a business house manifesting the
outward signs of good nature, confidence,
self-reliance, etc., and you will not only
impress others by suggestion, but you will also
impress yourself, and you will begin to
actually feel the thing that you have
been acting out.
Go into
the same place manifesting the outward
appearance of failure, lack of confidence, fear,
etc., and not only will your suggestions be
taken up by the others, but you will sink deeper
and deeper into the mental state you are acting
out.
I have
known people to acquire a masterful, confident,
reliant character by a systematic and persistent
"acting out" of the part--their "second-nature,"
so acquired, growing stronger than their
original nature.
The
exercise of the faculty, in this way, developed
the brain-cells in the proper area and the
people were indeed "made over." I know men who,
when feeling "blue" or "discouraged" will always
force a smile to their faces and in a short time
they will regain their accustomed or desired
cheerful state.
I have
known at least one man to rouse feelings of
stern determination by similar methods. This man
was in a position in which there would
frequently arise the necessity for the
manifestation of the most determined sternness
and an almost angry display of will.
The man
in question was by nature a good-natured,
easy-going, kindly person, and he found it
almost impossible to manifest the desired
qualities upon the occasions mentioned.
But one
day he was roused to a state of intense
determined sternness by a most annoying
exhibition of careless action in the office,
which although soon settled, left him with the
physical reflex of the mental state just
experienced. Before this physical condition had
passed away there arose, unexpectedly, a case of
genuine necessity for the exhibition of the
stern, determined action mentioned in the first
place. Meeting the man to whom this attitude
must be manifested, our man found that, much to
his surprise, he displayed a wonderful degree of
the desired trait and gave the other man a
talking to that made his hair stand on end, and
brought the desired result instantly.
No one
was more surprised at this occurrence than oar
man, and after it was all over he tried to
"figure it out"--and did. He came to the
conclusion that when he was manifesting the
physical conditions of the mental state, it
required but a trifling effort to induce the
state itself--in fact the state came almost
"automatically." He had discovered, by accident,
a well-established psychological law. And he
made use of it ever after.
Thereafter,
whenever he had to "work himself into a state,"
as he called it, he would walk about his office
a few moments before he would see the other man,
and during his walk be would "bite" hard and
protrude his jaw; he would frown and clench his
fists and make his eyes glare, etc., etc., and
before long he would feel himself in the proper
mood to see the other man and give him the
necessary "laying out" The plan worked like a
charm. I almost dislike to tell you the sequel,
however.
Our
good-natured, "easy" man so developed these
opposite qualities by this practice that in a
few years he was known as a man to be dreaded by
those who had occasion to receive treatment at
his hands, and his whole nature seemed to have
changed, and even his best friends would then
hesitate to call him "easy" or "good natured."
He had
made himself over-- that's all. And from this
story you may build up a whole process of
character building if you have sufficient
imagination and ingenuity--for the principle is
the same in all cases. Character is plastic--and
may be molded at will, by intelligent methods.
But it takes more than "holding the thought" to
do it-- one must learn to act out the part
desired, until it becomes second-nature.
I wonder
how many of you will realize what a wonderful
field is here opened out for you if you will
follow the idea taught by the past few pages?
How many of you will realize that I have herein
given you the "Secret of Making Yourselves
Overt?" I wish that I could fairly "pound into
you" this truth. When I think of what many of
you are; and then of what you might be, if you
would realize the inner truth and importance of
what I have just told you-- well, then, I feel
like printing the tale in big, black-faced type
and capital letters--so that I could make you
read it.
I think
that the facts and principles above stated are
self-evident and need little or no backing up by
authorities. But I think I will give you a
quotation or two to help fasten the idea in your
minds. Prof. Halleck says: "By restraining
the expression of an emotion we can frequently
throttle it; by inducing an expression we can
often cause its allied emotion." I wish
that every one of you would commit the above
words to memory--they are golden. By expression
Prof. Halleck, of course, means the physical
manifestation or expression--the physical
action which springs from the emotion.
Prof.
William James has this to say along the same
line: "Refuse to express a passion and it dies.
Count ten before venting your anger and its
occasion seems ridiculous.
Whistling
to keep up courage is no mere figure of speech.
On the other hand, sit all day in a moping
posture, sigh, and reply to everything with a
dismal voice, and your melancholy lingers. There
is no more valuable precept in moral education
than this, as all of us who have experienced
know: If we wish to conquer undesirable
emotional tendencies in ourselves we must
assiduously, and in the first instance
cold-bloodedly, go through the outward
movements of those contrary dispositions
which we wish to cultivate. Smooth the brow,
brighten the eye, contract the dorsal rather
than the ventral aspect of the frame, and speak
in a major key, pass the genial compliment and
your heart must indeed be frigid if it does not
gradually thaw." Aren't those words fine? Read
them over several times so as to be sure to
grasp their full meaning!
If you
wish to cultivate a quality in which
you are deficient, you must think about it,
dream about it, concentrate upon it--live it out
in your thoughts as a "day-dream" or "mental
picture"--hold the visualized mental image of it
always with you--and last and equally as
important, if not more so, act out the
physical manifestations of it--play the
part out. Act your part, earnestly, ardently,
constantly, eagerly, steadily.
On the
other hand, if you wish to repress a quality,
the best way to do it is to cultivate the
opposite quality, and the undesirable
quality will be "crowded out." If you wish to
get rid of darkness in a room, you don't have to
shovel it out--just open the windows and "let a
little sunshine in." Prof. James has told you
the same thing in the quotation given a few
moments ago. it is psychological law. Kill out
the negative by cultivating the positive. That's
the rule! But don't forget to act out the
part!
What is
called auto-suggestion, or self-suggestion, id
one of the most active agencies employed in Mind
Building. Auto-suggestion covers all the various
forms of affirmations, denials, statements,
etc., employed by the several "New Thought"
schools, and is the underlying principle of all
forms of "self-impression." "Self-impression"
would be a better name than any of these terms,
for it described the process exactly. One
"impresses" his mind with certain ideas,
suggestions, feelings and mental states.
There is
a dual aspect of mind which enables one to play
two parts at the same time, viz.,
(1)
the part of teacher or master, and
(2) the
part of scholar or pupil.
One may
charge his mind with the task of waking him up
at a certain time in the morning--and wakes up.
Or he may charge his mind to remember a certain
thing--and he remembers it.
This
form of self-mastery may be carried to great
lengths, and one may bid his mind collect data
regarding certain subjects, from amidst its
heterogeneous collection of mental odds and ends
of knowledge; and then bid it combine the
information into a systematic form--and the mind
will so act and the combined information will be
at hand when needed. I find myself doing this,
almost unconsciously, when I start to write a
book--fact after fact and illustrations
appearing at their proper time and place. The
field of self-impression has just had its outer
edges explored--there is a great region of
mentation here awaiting some of you.
And so,
this auto-suggestion is a case of "says I to
myself, says I." And the queer thing is that if
you will impress your mind sufficiently,
strongly, and with sufficient repetition, you
will find it taking the impression and acting
upon it.
Repetition
is a great thing in auto-suggestion. You
remember the case of the man who told a certain
He so often that he got to actually believe it
himself--repeated auto-suggestion works along
the same psychological lines. Hearing a thing
impressed upon it sufficiently often, it takes
it as a fact, and proceeds to act it out
accordingly. Constant affirmation and statement,
made to one's self, will manifest in actual
conditions.
Many a
person has changed his whole physical and mental
condition by a careful, persistent course of
auto-suggestion. Of course, if one combines the
mental image, or visualization process with the
autosuggestion, he will obtain a doubly
efficacious result.
And, if,
in addition to these two, he will practice acting
out the part along physical lines, he
will reap a ten-fold harvest of results. These
three forms combined, employed and persisted in,
will work miracles in any one.
For
instance, if one suffers from fear in meeting
other persons--an abnormal timidity or
bashfulness, commonly called "
self-consciousness"--the first thing for him to
do, is to brace himself with constant
affirmations or auto-suggestions of
"fearlessness"; then he should visualize himself
as absolutely fearless; then he should endeavor
to reproduce the physical appearance and outward
demeanor (an acting out of the part) of the
fearless man.
And thus
will he gradually develop into that which he
desires. His ideal becomes real--his dream a
fact--his feelings actions--his actions
feelings. And this rule and example will hold
good along the whole line of personal qualities
or characteristics. All come under the rule--the
same principle works in all cases. Get the
principle and you have the secret of the whole
thing.
But here
I am going to suggest a little variation along
the lines of autosuggestion, which I have found
to act admirably in this class of cases. The
ordinary auto-suggestion, or affirmation works
along these lines, viz., one affirms or
suggests to himself something like this: "I am
fearless--I fear nothing--I am courageous--I am
filled with confidence," etc., etc. Now this in
fine--no one who knows anything about the
subject will dispute the fact that a man
"holding the thought" that "I am fearless," will
be filled with courage, and will manifest the
qualities that he is claiming for himself.
It is
the old tried and oft-taught plan of affirmation
or auto-suggestion that has worked wonders for
so many people. And I positively advise you to
follow this plan of "holding the thought," and
making the affirmations or autosuggestions in
the first person, when you are "going
into action." As a "bracer" it is unexcelled.
But there is something else not so old--and here
it is.
You will
see in the previous chapter, entitled "Healing
Methods," (in that part devoted to self-healing
) I tell you to imagine yourself as "John
Smith," or whatever your name may be--that is,
as a separate person, and then to "treat" him as
such --just as you would a patient well, this
plan also works admirably in cases of character
building by auto-suggestion.
While
the "I am," etc., plan is good as a bracer, and
when going into action, still this last
mentioned plan of mine operates far better when
it conies down to steady "treatment" of oneself
for mental failings; weaknesses and
character-building. Just try both plans yourself
and see if I am not right--but practice my plan
a little until you acquire the "knack" before
finally deciding the matter. Here is how it
works in practice.
Suppose
you wish to cultivate fearlessness in place of
the fear-thought that has bothered you so much.
Well, in addition to the mental image of
visualization and the never-to-be-forgotten
acting out the part, you wish to try
auto-suggestion. The old way, you remember, was
to claim to yourself, "I am fearless," etc. Now
my new way of "treating" yourself is to imagine
that you are "treating" some other person for
the same trouble. Sit down and give a regular
treatment. Imagine yourself as sitting before
your personality--the central mind giving a
treatment to the "John Smith" part of you--the
individual "treating" the personality. The
individual (that's you) says to the
personality of "John Smith": "Here, John Smith,
you must brace up and do better. You are
fearless, fearless, FEARLESS! I tell
you, you are fearless! You are courageous, and
brave, and bold! You are confident and
self-reliant! You fear nothing! You are filled
with strong, positive Mind-Power, and you are
going to manifest it--you are going to grow more
and more positive every day! You are positive
this minute-- do you hear met Positive this
very minute! You are positive, fearless,
confident and self-reliant right now, and
you will grow more and more so every day.
Remember now, you are positive, positive,
positive--fearless, fearless, fearless!" etc.,
etc., etc.
You will
find that by this plan you will be able to
fairly pour in the positive suggestions to "the
John Smith part of you," and the latter will
take them with the same effect as if there were
two persons instead of one. And there are two
persons, according to the occult teachings--the
individual and the personality.
This
plan will afford a welcome variation to the
monotonous "I am this and I am that" methods
which have caused so many once-ardent followers
of the "New Thought" to throw up the whole
matter in disgust. This wholesale "I am this and
that" business has tired many a good soul who
thereby let go just when in sight of attainment.
To such and to all others I would say: "Try this
new plan!" Learn to actually "treat yourself" by
this method and you will be surprised at the
rapid progress you will make as compared with
the old plan.
But
don't forget to impress upon the "John Smith"
part of you that he must hold the mental image
or visualization; and that he must start right
in to act out the part! Don't let him
get away from this--insist upon
it--cross-examine him about it before each
treatment and hammer it into him hard. For as
our colored brother would say. "He sure needs
'em all" to carry him through.
Now,
please experiment with this method on yourself
and find out its wonderful possibilities by your
own experience. Don't rest with my say-so, but
prove it for yourself.
When
once you have found out just what this method
will do for you you will wonder that you had
never thought of it before. You will cultivate a
sense of individuality which will recognize the
personality is a plastic something that can be
molded and shaped at your will by this
"treatment." And, best of all, you will learn to
know that the individual is you, and you are the
individual and that the personality is merely
something that "belongs to you." "When you have
reached this stage you will have called to your
hand the forces of the great Mind-Power and will
indeed have a right to call yourself "positive"
and an "active center of power" in the great
Ocean of Mind-Power.
And all
this will have been brought about by this new
plan of '' Says I to myself, says I. Is it not
worthwhile?" Then start in to "make yourself
over as you will!"
