Science
or Love
The Road to Wisdom
1865
We
all have an influence over each other - and if we know how to direct
it, the effect will be just what we want. But if we are guided by a
belief, the effect will be just what we do not
want, when our belief is governed by fear; for our fear affects a
person, instead of our belief.
For
instance, a person wishes to influence a friend. If he is afraid that
he will not have the influence he wishes, his fear - and not his
desire - will affect his friend. Therefore, it is necessary that man
should know
himself; for every person is a machine, governed by the owner - or
someone else. When controlled by wisdom, it cannot go wrong; for
error is not wise, while wisdom is an element of itself. And if our
senses are in that -
all is right; but if they are in error, discord and misery follow.
To
make it understood how we all stand towards each other, I will again
compare this wisdom, which is an element in common to music. Every
person possessing it enjoys the pleasure that flows from a knowledge
of it. This represents perfect love, out of matter. It is harmony,
without any other character. It is something outside of every other
feeling, having its whole happiness in the development of mind;
therefore it acts upon man, but ignorance takes it for passion.
Thus
misconstrued and unappreciated, it becomes timid. Here is where a
great mistake is made. The man that is a little above the brute knows
no love superior or separate from the brute; while there is a love
that does not contain a particle of the animal - the love of the
beautiful and wise. This is not appreciated by man; and when it comes
to him to lead him to a higher state, it is met by the brutal element
and a belief formed that it is passion. This cold reception causes a
discord and chills the element that flows from the purest fountain.
The mistake lies in the false idea of love.
Man
- being progressive - is not always to remain a brute. His reason
must elevate him from the brutal element and lead him to see and feel
that the purest love that one can have for another contains no
passion, nor any of the brutal element. But man began to reason
before he came out from the brute and judged the world by his own
standard. Therefore, to the impure, nothing is pure. But those who
have passed from the error of matter to that of love - on which
everything lives - can see how it may be misrepresented.
The
love of parents contains nothing spurious (or animal); but let the
parent and child be deceived into a belief that they are strangers,
and then their love is changed. Again, let one know of his relation
to the other, and he, in his wisdom, discards the error of belief;
while the other is still under his brutal belief. Where then is the
brutal element? In the love or in the belief? I answer, “In the
belief.” Let all persons know this, and they will understand
themselves; and knowing the animal element in the male and female,
will know their position and safety; then they will subdue the animal
element, and lead man into a higher wisdom.
I
say it without fear - that religious creeds are based upon this low
order of animal intelligence; but as the brutal element is pure, the
effect of the belief depends on the intelligence of the person in
whom the animal prevails over science. The reformation of Jesus was
intended to separate man from the brutal element, that he might rise
into that state where ignorance would not enter. This wisdom, then,
will be a light to lead man out of the dark and give him power over
all unclean ideas; and he will become a teacher to those in darkness,
in whom the light will spring up.
This
is the light that Paul saw when the scale fell from his eyes. When
wisdom becomes common, everyone will use it to draw his friend out of
this world into science. It may be asked if this will not break
family ties and destroy marriage contracts. Not at all - for these
contracts will be carried into eternal wisdom. Whereas they are now
made till death, they will then be made for eternity.
“But,”
says one, “If I have got to live with my husband (or my wife) to
all eternity - I shall not believe this doctrine!”
Let
me explain. No two persons are together unless they are agreed;
therefore man and wife are not necessarily together - but most
frequently are separate and trying to come together; for as I have
said, when two persons agree on one thing, they are together. The
difficulty in cases where persons think they are not matched lies in
the mutual misunderstanding of the parties. One wants to lead (or
instruct) the other - or the one most advanced in wisdom wants the
other to share his happiness, while the other knows no happiness
outside of this world and cannot see beyond matter. Therefore this
party wishes to control the higher. The higher, being capable of
receiving the lower reason - it becomes deceived by opinions. And
under this error, it mingles with the lower element, and both sink
below their level - and misery is the result. But cultivate the
scientific life, and the lower will become subject to the higher.
THE
ROAD TO WISDOM
When
two individuals
set
out on the road to wisdom,
they
will develop each other,
and
their happiness will be one.
Then
labor will be not greater
than
to gather gold without much toil;
for
this science opens such a field to the traveler
that
he cares not to eat or sleep;
but
finds his happiness in investigating the regions
that
lay open before him.
He
who enters this country must have a partner;
for
the whole interest lies in overcoming opposition
and
developing each other.
To
be alone in wisdom
is
like being alone on an island
with
no prospect of collecting jewels.
That
which gives me the most satisfaction
is
to develop a mind capable of development.
It
is like learning music -
there
is an interest that gives the operator
the
greatest happiness.
This
science is inexhaustible -
and
the more you have... the more you want...
and
you will find this continually exciting you.
teloV
