nd more, the stream that ran through the fields
below dried up, so that the cattle and the flocks no longer got their
supply of clear mountain water.

The difference between the spot now and the lotus pond when our friend
gave it his careful attention was caused, as we readily see, by the
shutting of the gate to the pond, thus preventing the water from the
reservoir in the hills which was the source of its life, from entering
it. And when this, the source of its life, was shut off, not only was
the appearance of the lotus pond entirely changed, but the surrounding
fields were deprived of the stream to whose banks the flocks and cattle
came for drink.

In this do we not see a complete parallel so far as human life is
concerned? In the degree that we recognize our oneness, our connection
with the Infinite Spirit which is the life of all, and in the degree
that we open ourselves to this divine inflow, do we come into harmony
with the highest, the most powerful, and the most beautiful everywhere.
And in the degree that we do this do we overflow, so that all who come
in contact with us receive the effects of this realization on our part.
This is the lotus pond of our friend, he who is in love with all that
is truest and best in the universe. And in the degree that we fail to
recognize our oneness with this Infinite Source, and so close, shut
ourselves to this divine inflow, do we come into that state where there
seems to be with us nothing of good, nothing of beauty, nothing of
power; and when this is true, those who come in contact with us receive
not good, but harm. This is the spot of the lotus pond while the farm
was in the hands of a renter.

There is this difference between the lotus pond and your life and mine.
It has no power in itself of opening the gate to the inflow of the
water from the reservoir which is its source. In regard to this it is
helpless and dependent upon an outside agency. You and I have the
power, the power within us, to open or to close ourselves to this
divine inflow exactly as we choose. This we have through the power of
mind, through the operation of thought.

There is the soul life, direct from God. This it is that relates us to
the Infinite. There is, then, the physical life. This it is that
relates us to the material universe about us. The thought life
connects the one with the other. It is this that plays between the two.

Before we proceed farther let us consider very brie