T OF SPIRITUAL POWER

The world is filled with men and women seeking pleasure, excitement,
novelty; seeking ever to be moved to laughter or tears; not seeking
strength, stability, and power; but courting weakness, and eagerly engaged
in dispersing what power they have.

Men and women of real power and influence are few, because few are prepared
to make the sacrifice necessary to the acquirement of power, and fewer
still are ready to patiently build up character.

To be swayed by your fluctuating thoughts and impulses is to be weak and
powerless; to rightly control and direct those forces is to be strong and
powerful. Men of strong animal passions have much of the ferocity of the
beast, but this is not power. The elements of power are there; but it is
only when this ferocity is tamed and subdued by the higher intelligence
that real power begins; and men can only grow in power by awakening
themselves to higher and ever higher states of intelligence and
consciousness.

The difference between a man of weakness and one of power lies not in the
strength of the personal will (for the stubborn man is usually weak and
foolish), but in that focus of consciousness which represents their states
of knowledge.

The pleasure-seekers, the lovers of excitement, the hunters after novelty,
and the victims of impulse and hysterical emotion lack that knowledge of
principles which gives balance, stability, and influence.

A man commences to develop power when, checking his impulses and selfish
inclinations, he falls back upon the higher and calmer consciousness within
him, and begins to steady himself upon a principle. The realization of
unchanging principles in consciousness is at once the source and secret of
the highest power.

When, after much searching, and suffering, and sacrificing, the light of an
eternal principle dawns upon the soul, a divine calm ensues and joy
unspeakable gladdens the heart.

He who has realized such a principle ceases to wander, and remains poised
and self-possessed. He ceases to be "passion's slave," and becomes a
master-builder in the Temple of Destiny.

The man that is governed by self, and not by a principle, changes his front
when his selfish comforts are threatened. Deeply intent upon defending and
guarding his own interests, he regards all means as lawful that will
subserve that end. He is continually scheming as to how he may protect
himself against his enemies, being too self-centered to per