The higher metaphysics

PART TWO ' ' God Rests in Action " 35

Wisdom 37

One Presence 40

Bounty 43

Love 45

The Christ Consciousness 48

Realization 50

Completeness 51

Mastership 54

PEEFACE

In presenting these sixteen lessons in The Higher Metaphysics, our hope is to assist those who so desire, to pass onward from the mental or intellectual perception (and practice) of the working hypothesis of the Omnipresent Reality, into the spiritual or esoteric ; — that sweet essence, the Father's love, care and bounty, which is omnipotent.

That men may, through enlightenment and devotion, rend the veil, and pierce the illusive shadows with the sword of truth. Thus anchored and enlightened, man is able to live his life ; and prove his God-given dominion over the tempter (his own carnal nature). When this is accomplished, man has passed out from the illusive forest, — carnality.

Then man's next effort is to bring his body (the temple) into redemption, according to the pattern, the example of Jesus. ' ' Follow thou me, ' ' said Jesus.

Jesus said, "Ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free." Thus we perceive knowledge is necessary to man, as he moves along the Path toward enlightenment.

In Love's vibration we send forth this book, to the hearts of Love, who respond to its instructions.

Part One The Higheb Metaphysics

General Introduction

HE Truth Absolute, is the foundation upon which we stand. We are presenting a Principle, the understanding and application of which will remove the web of the carnal illusions from man's mind. When this is accomplished, man 's soul-memory is restored ; his sight merged into Vision ; and he then sees himself the perfect being, just as God created him. He sees also, that he is in the midst of Perfection; that God, and His Manifestations, is all there is — in Reality. So we give these instructions clear, yet concise.

We give The Higher Metaphysical instructions to assist man along the Path unto the heights where he visions the Absoluteness as it is in all its perfection, beauty and unchangeableness; and to enable the student-devotee to understand, then to perceive, there is a Rock, upon which to stand, as he studies this Message and the scientific application of its rules, which is so firm and steadfast that neither the winds of Ages, Cycles, Periods nor Kalpas can shake it. That Rock is the Absolute. The Absolute is God, the Infinite, the limitless, the ALL. Then man can readily perceive that the Infinite fills all space. If it fills all space, none can escape from the Great Presence ; neither can he step beyond its bounds.

God is Infinite in His Manifestations. We are easily convinced of this when we look about us ; because at our feet we see the blades of grass, the atoms of earth, the grains of sand ; we raise our eyes and behold the vast and ever rolling seas, we see the majestic mountain ranges, their snow-capped peaks towering high, in their seeming effort to reach and kiss the blue vault above them ; and, in their silent grandeur, they serenely remain, reminding man of the strength and unchangeableness of the Infinite.

As man continues to look about him, he sees men; and in every clime men live in innumerable numbers. In Genesis we read. ' ' God created man in His image and likeness. ' ' We also read in Holy Writ, that man is the highest manifestation of God, and, "God's crowning glory." When man has eliminated the carnal conception of himself from his mind, it is then he will perceive and understand himself as God expressed him into form from out the womb of the Infinite; and, then, there being no more mist in his mind, he perceives he is living in the very heart of God, and that, throughout the neverending aeons of Eternity, he dwells in the very center of Ood ; and that he, being an expression of God, the Father abides within him. "The Father within me, He doeth the works," said the Master Jesus.

The keynotes of these lessons ring strong and clear in the message of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He knew the Truth; therefore spake knowingly. He ever gave to God the glory, and manifested it among the children of men by living the Life and expressing God-Love and tender kindness to the family of men.

The foundation upon which to stand is God; and the first thing for the awakened man to do is to study and pray until he gains an understanding of God, the Infinite. Then the next step is to understand man ; then sonship ; then Oneness. Man has scaled the heights ere he comes into the Eealization of Oneness. From that lofty pinnacle he visions the Absoluteness as it is.

We read in the scriptures, that "God is All, and there is none beside Him." Also, that God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient, which means All-Power, All-Presence and All-Knowing. Knowing is Science; and Knowing is Action. We also read that, "God rests in Action." Then we see God as Scientific Action, filling all space — here, there and everywhere; as an ancient Sage once said, "With center here, and circumference nowhere." We also read in the scriptures, "That man lives and moves and has his being in God." Also that, "God created man in His image and likeness."

Let us move slowly here, because we are touching the border-line of Light, ' ' that Light which lighteth the illimitable Presence, which is God ; and let us tread lightly, because this place where unto we are approaching is "Holy Ground."

When Moses saw this same Presence, when It manifested as fire in the bush, that Moses might heed the Presence of the Ever-Present God ; and, when Moses turned aside to look into the strangeness of the fire burning so strong, and not consuming the bush; then the Voice of God spake to him and said, 10

General Introduction

1 ' Take off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

So it is with all men, when they awaken sufficiently to turn aside into the way that leads into the vastness, the nearness, the greatness, beauty and glory of the Infinite — the Father — Mother — God, and perceive the fire of God ever burning, but never consuming the Real; — then it is that the Voice of the Infinite will say to them: " Remove thy shoes from off thy feet, because the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. ' ' This is the awakening period in man, and feet are symbolical of understanding. Then the next requisite is, that man remove the outer, or old understanding, and, with clear insight, linger upon the Holy place, and listen to the still voice of God, that he may glean the light which man requires concerning God, the Infinite, in His unmanifest and manifest state.

We read in a sacred Bible of ancient times, "God was the One; He desired to become the many; and the Spiritual creation sprang forth."

Jesus Christ, the Great Initiate, said, "I of myself can do nothing: the Father within me He doeth the works." Then let the student-devotee study, meditate and pray until he knows God, in His vastness and nearness, in His strength and tenderness; and, then, man's place in this Infinite Presence and his at-one-ment with It.

It is realization which brings man into the full illumination of the Absolute, and it is illumination which brings man into the fullness of Realization.

When man, using The Higher Metaphysics intellectually, it remains an intellectual perception only, until the Realization takes place; this brings him to the spiritual perception of the Spiritual man, — Atman, — the Divine Self.

It is then that man has touched the mystic spring of the Infinite ; and, continuing upon the Path, he walks in the labyrinth of the beauty, love and rhythm of the Father-Mother- God j and devotion, reverence and appreciation to the great Over-Soul spring forth from the soul; and the Key of Love sweeps over the strings of the Infinite Harp ; and the mist of confusion being removed from the mind, man sits serenely in the abiding consciousness of his nearness — yea, at-one-ment with God.

"Man, Know Thy-Self"

Sp|33AVING spoken in the previous chapter concerning the IKrlRi Absoluteness of God, we will add here, that man should BpCwJ stand firm upon that Eternal Rock, The Absolute, until he attains the Christ-Consciousness ; then the next step is God- Consciousness, which is the illumination into realization of the Oneness of all that IS.

It is necessary for man to accept this Rock, and the Absoluteness thereof, by faith ; but, through earnest study, sincere prayer and deep meditation, man will gain understanding so strong and clear, that faith and understanding join hands, and knowing becomes the quality which is manifest in his mind. Knowing is a quality of the mind. The Higher Metaphysics deals with man's own mind; that he may by denials of the false beliefs which form the fabric of the carnal illusion ; cause the mind to become emptied of them ; then, through and by affirming the Truth of man's Being, until the mirror, his mentality, is thoroughly polished ; then man can perceive the reality and perfection of the Real Self, as God created him, and caused him to step forth an individualized manifestation of the Living God.

In this practical and scientific study, man is to become acquainted with himself; "Man know thyself." In Genesis, First Chapter, we read, "And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Gen. 1:26.

"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Gen. 1:27.

Thus we see by the allegory in Genesis, that man is a perfect being, or manifestation of God; but St. Paul said, "Man has sought out many inventions"; therefore, man finds himself, when he awakens, clothed upon with an outer temple, which does not express the perfection of the God-created man, "the body being the Temple of the Living God." 12

"Man, Know Thyself"

Thus we perceive the allegory in Genesis to be the Voice of the Infinite speaking to man in as clear a way concerning man's being, as is possible for man to conceive of the Infinite in Action and Manifestation.

These lessons are not written in an elaborate way, that the intellect may be fed, or, perhaps, pleased, but in a concise form; as it is the purpose that the student-devotee, after studying the Great Fabric of Truth concerning God, man and the Universe may feel his soul leap forth with a bound into conscious life; and as the Ego bursts its bounds, merge into the realization of his Real Self and his at-one-ment with God, which is Cosmic Consciousness in the individual.

It is realization which we desire the reader and student-devotee to reach in the study of these lessons: therefore, be still in the silent chamber of your own soul, — in your heart, and meditate upon God, the Infinite. Meditate upon the vastness and the Allness of that Presence in which you dwell ; its nearness and absoluteness ; then on thyself, an individualized expression, or manifestation of this Presence Who Knows, Acts, and IS.

Here man finds it necessary to control his mind. This requires patience and perseverance, as the carnal mind in man is like the surging sea. An ancient sage has likened it unto a "wild horse"; and, truly, it does seem as difficult to bring into subjection as the lariating and bringing into subjection of the horse which has roamed unharnessed over the broad plains.

To accomplish concentration, first, voice a prayer to the Infinite; then, quiet the mind and meditate upon Aum — God. As long as the mind is stayed upon God, it is not creating thoughts.

When the mentality is thoroughly purified of the carnal illusions, the God-Mind only is in operation in man. This is knowing into the realization of man as he is and things as they are. When thus illumined, man no longer permits thoughts to go from his mind to another 's mind ; neither anywhere. He serenely abides at home, and God-Mind operates in and through his mentality; God's Holy Breath breathes him ; he, having found his Real Self and heard the still voice of God speaking to his soul, becomes a conscious being in the Cosmic ; then he soon will sincerely desire to learn his place in the Father's great plan.

Man can here see the importance of prayer and silent meditation. Man, standing erect, meditating upon the Absoluteness of that which IS ; and desiring to pray to this ever-present Presence which, man has read in Holy Writ, created him in His image and likeness begins to turn the lens upon himself ; and this is well, for man's work is with himself entirely.

There is nothing to be changed or effected by this study, and the application of the rules scientifically and metaphysically, but man, himself ; and this is accomplished by cleansing his mind and staying it upon God.

Prayer

AN, having learned that he, in the reality of his being is a divine man, an individual manifestation of God, who became manifest at the dawn of creation; a Divine Man in expression, then and now, and will ever remain thus, desires to communicate with God.

But man, having passed out from the Garden of Eden into the mist, has lost his way ; and, in his outer consciousness, has strayed far away from God.

But, when man has awakened and learned the Omnipresence, Omnipotence and Omniscience of God, and that man, in the reality of his being, is a Divine Man, and living in the Infinite, feeling a separation between himself and God, he desires to commune with the Father. Jesus taught, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within," and that the "Father within man, he doeth the works, ' ' but man, awakening in the concept of the Prodigal Son, is, in consciousness, far away from God and, feeling his inability to find his way, desires to talk with the Father-Mother-God.

We read that King David, when thirsting for a drink of living water, exclaimed, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my Soul after thee, God." Psalm 42:1.

"My Soul thirsteth for God, for the Living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" Psalm 42:2.

King David exclaimed, evidently, after his Soul was somewhat refreshed, ' ' Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in Him ; and He shall bring it to pass. " Psalm 37:5.

When man is awakened sufficiently to hear the silent voice of his soul, which is Conscious Life, sufficiently strong, that its urge may penetrate the outer department of his mind, it will express its thirst for the water of Life; and prayer is the means of communication between man and God.

Man's method of prayer changes as man's enlightenment increases ; but God ever knoweth the desire of man 's heart.

Let us review the two prayers which we have in the New Testament record which portrays the different states of men who pray. We have the Publican, he whom the Divine Conviction had touched to such a depth, he began to examine himself ; and, from the sincerity of his heart, he cried, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner ! ' '

We have the Pharisee, whom the Divine Conviction had not touched with a depth sufficiently deep to cause him to wear a robe of humility. He stood and prayed, "I thank thee, Father, that I am not as other men." St. Luke 18:11-13.

Bigotry and conceit can never walk the streets of the Holy City. These need to be burned by the purifying fire, which is God. We read in Holy Writ, ' ' God is a consuming fire. ' ' The Ocean consumes all impurities cast therein.

The metaphysical or scientific prayer is practical ; but should not be devoid of devotion.

Jesus said, "Unless man becomes as a little child, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. ' ' A little child has no enmity, malice nor revenge. Man, to approach the Sacred Presence of the Living God, in the christianly scientific prayer has a clean mind, and his heart is filled with love. Then in the quiet sanctuary of his own Soul, in silent meditation, he, recognizing God as He is, and man as he is, in that sacred chamber, "Where none but God can hear" ; communes with his Father- Mother-God.

God hath promised to answer prayer; and, as long as the bow spans the sky, God's promises will stand.

In The Higher Metaphysics, man uses denials, understandingly, to eliminate hate, malice, revenge, selfishness, self-righteousness, anger and confusion from his mind ; then he calls to his remembrance the Absoluteness of God, and Man, by affirming the Truth, until a flash of light fills his consciousness and the place, which was occupied by these carnal concepts, is filled with the Reality. Man, then, can sincerely and reverently commune with the Omnipresent God.

When man arrives at the Illumined State, he then, in sweet assurance and abiding confidence, enters the Great Silence and knows that the Father hath answered, "even before he calls."

Jesus Christ is our example here. We find that Jesus talked to the Father as familiarly, trustingly and confidingly as He could have done to an earthly father. His prayers were answered; He would say, "Father, I thank thee, that Thou hearest me ; and I know that Thou hearest me always. ' ' Jesus Christ 's prayer, was, and is, the highest form of prayer, which 16

Prayer

the men of earth have ; but to voice a prayer as He did, man must have mastered the carnal man's fears, doubts, lusts and passions, and stand, as He, a Conscious Son of God.

The Scientific, or Metaphysical Prayer is applied to man's mind, that it may become clear, that he may arise above undesirable conditions or obstacles which he may encounter upon his path.

When man realizes the Absolute Truth of God, man and the Universe, he understandingly rests in abiding peace, and Love becomes a reality to him; yea, that Love-Essence, Divine, which is the Ever-Present God.

Man, having learned that God's manifestations are perfect; that the Universe and systems of Universes are perfect ; then proceeds, in his silent meditation, something like this; God, and God's manifestations, being all there is in reality; and God, filling all space; then perfection is in expression at all times and in all places: this is the premise from which to proceed, which is Truth Absolute. It is necessary that man realizes this Reality; and this will be in proportion to his sincerity and persistent application to the task.

Then, to apply the Metaphysical Prayer, when overtaken with sickness, step firmly upon the Rock — God. Knowing the Truth concerning God, man and the Universe, then deny the reality of sickness, and speak to it in a positive determination, with strong words of command, as Jesus did to the Tempter when he approached Him. Jesus said, "Get thee behind me, satan. ' ' That was quite a scientific thing to do, because when a thing is behind us, we no longer see it ; then we can more clearly erase it from the memory.

God created man perfect, upright, happy and content ; and placed him in the midst of that abode which is so sublime, man can only say it is Paradise ; and this, like all else, conveys to man its exquisiteness in proportion to his light.

For man to become scientificially freed from the Wheel of Carnality and stand at Home, in consciousness, in the Heart of God, a redeemed son will find it necessary to deny from his own mentality (not another's), the reality of every carnal illusion until the Reality, which is always just back of the unreal, becomes the Real to his consciousness.

How is man to know the Real, that which God created, from the illusion, or that which carnal mind created ?

Return at once to the premise, and step upon that Rock — The Absolute Truth — God; then look into the appearance, be it what it may ; and, if it does not square with God 's Perf ection. His Love, His Purity, His Holiness, His Tenderness, His Mercy, His Abundant Bounty, then cross the appearance out by denials ; know it is in the illusive shadow of illusions ; and that its creator is carnal mind, and it, having no permanency, can soon be reduced to its native place — nowhere.

When man, through knowledge, insight and vision, meets and masters all the foes which dwell in the carnal mind, and the mind is washed by denials, until it is clear as a freshly washed window pane, and polished by affirmations of the Truth of Being until it is transparent; then it is God who giveth the increase and fills the place where the illusions seem to be with that influx of His Presence, "as though they were not" ; as when a pail of water is lifted from the lake, the water immediately fills the vacuum ; the water fills the place in God's Scientific Law, which is in constant action, in all places and at all times.

In the Metaphysical Application of this Great Principle, always know this is man 's own work ; washing from his mind the mist which began to form in it, in that long ago, when he chose a change ; or, used his inherent power within him, which some call free-will. This free-will being finite, man will surrender it to the Infinite, our Father-Mother-God, before he is a redeemed Son of the Living God. Man's first effort toward that high state of consciousness, when he awakens sufficiently to desire freedom from the carnal concept, is to deny the false beliefs from his mind, as he learns of their unreality, until he attains the illumination into Freedom Divine.

When man fully knows the Truth, he will have, through denials, thoroughly purged his mind of the beliefs of the carnal man ; then, by affirming the divineness and perfection of his Real Self, he perceives the Reality of all that is of God.

Then it is, that man in this Illuminated State, when he feels the God Love overshadowing him and expressing in his own Soul bows in reverential prayer to the God that is, and in "Whom he lives, moves and has his Being."

Faith

Ipi^jFTER man has studied deeply the Message of Truth,

<jpSIK believes it to be true, knows the rules of application

SKQlyl and understands concerning this, faith, then, becomes

necessary to him that he may bring this Truth of Being into

expression.

Faith is not a fabric which can be manufactured by man, through taking thought, or making statements, because it is a gift from God; then, if man desires faith, "let him ask of God."

For man to become conscious of Faith, deny all doubts, fears and superstitions from the mind ; then affirm the Truth, and faith will spring into evidence within the mind and heart, acting in that same Law, which governs the water when it instantly fills the place in the lake wherefrom the pail of water was lifted.

Faith is necessary ; and the student-devotee should endeavor to so live and be, that he is conscious of faith continually. The knowing quality is not sufficient to burst into illumination, until faith has united with it. St. James, in writing to the student-devotees of Truth, said, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." St. James 1:2.

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ' ' St. James 1 :3.

"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire; wanting nothing. " St. James 1:4.

"If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not ; and it shall be given him. ' ' St. James 1 :5.

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed." St. James 1:6.

"For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." St. James 1:7.

"A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." St. James 1:8.

St. James also adds: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man. ' ' St. James 1 :13.

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed. ' ' St. James 1 :14.

1 ' Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin ; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." St. James 1:15.

"Do not err, my beloved brethren," St. James 1:16.

1 ' Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." St. James 1:17.

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. ' ' St. James 1 :19.

"For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." St. James 1:20.

1 ' For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass." St. James 1 :23.

"But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blest in his deeds." St. James 1:25.

' ' Even so Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ' ' St. James 2:17.

Thus we see in St. James' teachings that he shows clearly the importance of Faith ; but he sums it all up, and brings it into the scientific prayer, when he says, ' ' Even so Faith if it hath not works is dead, being alone."

As long as man has faith, strong enough in God to pray for the recovery of the sick, and they are healed ; for the awakening of the Spiritual dead, and they are quickened into a recognition of the Father's Love, Care and Protection, 'tis well; and Infinite Love is pleased, that man is thus endued.

St. Paul said, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Then, faith being the substance of things hoped for, from the fact that man has Faith, it is evident those things exist; but man must know this! and it requires understanding, united with faith, to bring it into a knowing in man's consciousness.

"When man knows a thing, he has the evidence of it ; therefore, faith is no longer needed.

Jesus Christ required not faith, because He knew God, man, and the Universe; and God's Law, which is in operation in and through them. 20

Faith

Tesus from the vantage ground of illumination, which is that Divine Seership, which is Vision, with understanding looked into humanity as He found it, when He lived in a body of flesh.

Jesus Christ stood on the summit; He achieved the highest point of expression that the Divine Man can attain here upon this earth. He is the example, the way-shower, the Teacher.

He called to the awakened man, ■ ' Follow thou me. ' ' Jesus would not have thus called, if it had not been possible for all awakened men to follow Him.

We have Jesus Christ on the summit, with Illumination and Vision ; and see Him doing the works of healing the sick, raising the dead, and feeding the hungry, (both material and spiritual hunger).

Let the student ever keep before his mind's eye that Ideal. Jesus Christ, the Conscious Redeemed Son of God, as He stood on the summit of the mountain.

But ever remember, if you desire to stand there, you must climb the mountain ; and you, yourself must do the climbing. Here is where faith is necessary ; and man is to ask of God, "Who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not."

As you study and desire to understand, pray to God for guidance, for light, for wisdom.

When man first begins to pray, most likely God will seem far away ; but if he will continue, Truth is so powerful that, little by little, man will know that he has touched that vital, yet invisible Presence.

Man's faith increases at each victory over the obstacles which confront him upon his path. Count not the time consumed, because some day the student-devotee will touch the border-line of Eternity ; then soon the limitations of time are consumed, by the knowing quality which has become evident, springing first into Faith, then into Understanding, then into Knowing, then into Realization.

When man knows absolutely, he then has the Christ Consciousness complete within him ; it having grown from infancy (its birth in man's consciousness) into the full stature of Jesus Christ, within him; this is the Divine Man, the Real Self of each man become manifest, here on the earth. This is man's destiny ; and it will be worked out unto a finish, here on this earth plane, just as Jesus Christ showed and proved. If it had been that man was to work out his salvation on some other plane, or planet, Jesus Christ would have taught differently.