CHAPTER IV.

THOUGHT ASSIMILATION
IS ESSENTIAL TO
SOUL GROWTH
The student of Theosophy should read much but think more. He could get along without reading if books on occultism could not be had, but he could not get on without thinking if all the books ever written were at hand. There is a close analogy between the growth of the physical body and the growth of the soul. For the body to grow requires both eating and diges- tion. Of course there can be no bodily growth whatever without diges- tion and assimilation. By digestion the food is reduced to the condition in which it is available for body build- ing and by assimilation it is built in.
34 Hints to Students of Occultism
And precisely so it is with soul ex- pansion. The raw material of facts, principles and experiences must undergo a certain process before they are available for soul growth. Read- ing and observing are merely the acts of collecting soul food. If we do nothing more it is as though one should eat when, through some physiological derangement, the function of digestion is suspended. There could then be no gain to him from it and no growth on account of it. The mind is to the soul what the stomach is to the physical body — the laboratory of preparation. The mind takes the accumulation of facts, principles, observations and ex- periences, and from the whole mass extracts conceptions, new views of things, new understandings of life — extracts the very gist of the totality of perception, and this essence of the whole is then ready for assimilation by the soul, ready to be built into the
Thought Assimilation 35
causal body. By the action of the mind the rough material for soul growth has been transmuted and made available ; and without such action that material in the rough could no more be utilized for soul growth than fruits and vegetables, as such, can be built into the physical body. Mind action, then, is not merely important ; it is ab- solutely necessary.
Whatever the time may be that one can set apart for occult studies each day there should be a reasonable por- tion of it given up exclusively to quiet thought into which no reading is per- mitted to intrude. It is a common error for those just becoming inter- ested in Theosophy to bury themselves in some book during every moment that can be snatched from pressing duties. This eager desire to read everything on the subject within reach is most commendable and the burning zeal that grasps at every possible ac-
36 Hints to Students of Occultism
quisition foreshadows rapid progress; but the sooner that zeal is directed into channels along which it may make the most of the energy expended the bet- ter. To this end a certain definite time should be determined upon for quiet thinking about the higher life. A half -hour is little enough but twenty, or even ten, minutes is much better than nothing. The hour at which it is desirable will naturally vary with the habits and duties of different people; but it should be at that part of the day when there is the most free- dom from one's daily activities and the least liability to interruption. Noon time may be desirable for some. Early twilight may be better for others. The hour of retiring for the night will probably be the most convenient for many. This time for quiet thought should not be made a substitute for morning meditation, if the student is fortunate enough to be giving a few
Thought Assimilation 37
minutes to that shortly after rising. It should be a period of tranquil think- ing and aspiration rather than of strenuous will-compelling mental ef- fort. The mind can dwell upon what has been read during the day and the facts and principles set forth by the author, or at least some of them, can be recalled, pondered over and applied to what one knows of life through per- sonal experience. A part of the time can be given to the experiences of the past twenty- four hours. The mind can run back over the winding path traversed during that time, the people met, the things said, done, thought and desired, and each can be considered in the light of the higher life. Was the conduct all that could be desired? Was any opportunity to be helpful overlooked? Was any word spoken that were better unsaid? Was any thought entertained that should not have been harbored? In short, did
38 Hints to Students of Occultism
you live up to your highest aspiration or was there a weak point to be care- fully strengthened for the morrow? In thus pondering over the reading and the events of the day, and renew- ing the determination to live up to the highest one can conceive, the half hour speeds swiftly and pleasantly past and by the wondrous alchemy of mental action experience is transmuted into spiritual strength.
The entire time of this meditative fragment of the day should not be given to retrospective thought. At least a few minutes should always be devoted to pondering over the inner life and the purpose of existence. This will prove a source of real strength — a living spring of progressive energy. Think upon the desirability of the higher life and of the transitory nature of everything in the visible world. Re- flect upon the swift flight of time, the ever-increasing speed with which the
Thought Assimilation 39
years are rolling by; upon the fact that the physical life is as short as it is important and that whoever would use it wisely has no time to lose from what remains. Consider the utter uselessness of striving for wealth, of accumulating a fortune, large or small, of giving more attention to the physical body than will keep it in health and comfort; and remember that all energy, beyond that, expended upon physical things, to accumulate them and take care of them, is worse than wasted; for it is thought and energy invested in the perishable — time and energy that could be utilized in the useful work of helping others forward, which incidentally builds into your own soul the things that do not perish but which will multiply your strength and widen your field for future lives. Reflect upon the fact that warm friendships are superior to material possessions; upon the desir-
40 Hints to Students of Occultism
ability of sterling character qualities; upon the fact that every virtue, grace, power and attribute of character built into one's self during this physical life becomes an eternal possession — a never- failing source of sunshine and joyousness through all future lives. Recall the most care-free, joyous, exalted moments of your conscious existence and reflect that that con- dition should be your normal physical life — that life rightly lived is joy, al- though the vast majority do not sus- pect it, and that a far happier life than the imagination can picture can be yours in the near future if the as- piration to live up to the highest that is in you is assiduously cultivated. For at least a few moments daily give free rein to your imagination and let it pic- ture the future field of your activities — build the stage upon which you shall play the drama of your lives. Refuse to live within the narrow walls of this
Thought Assimilation 41
one incarnation. Sweep them aside and realize that this little life is but the dull and gloomy morning of the coming radiant day. Plan not for this small hour but count the lives that lie ahead as a part, with this, of one im- posing whole. Look forward to future lives as youth looks forward to matur- ity. Make your plans for the remain- der of this incarnation as in the clos- ing period of school years one plans his life's career, shaping his present energies to serve his future purpose. This daily glimpse of wider fields in which the seeds of present thought shall blossom into deeds of worth in future lives will, in time, fan the faint- est aspirations into steady flame and give to the inner life a reality that enables the student to comprehend something of the delusive character of the physical existence with its false standards that lead the unwary astray.