THE POWER OF MIND. William Walker Atkinson
we find these twin-principles. I invite you to join in one of the most interesting and fascinating explorations known to modern science.
We do not need any proof to demonstrate the existence of life, mind and Mind-Power in man, or in the lower animals. The activities resulting from its presence are in constant evidence. And if we examine the plant kingdom we will see manifestations of life, mind, and Mind-Power there also. Plants not only manifest "appetency," or "the instinctive tendency on the part of low forms of organic life, to perform certain acts necessary for their well-being, particularly in the selection and absorption of the material substances necessary for their support and nutriments";—not only "instinct" or "involuntary and unreasoning prompting or impulse, and the response thereto";—but also, in certain cases, there appears mental action closely akin to conscious choice and will. I refer you to the many recent works on mind in plant-life for illustrations and proofs of this statement. And biology shows us that there is life, mind, and Mind-Power inherent in the cells of which our bodies, blood and the material of animal and plant life, is composed. These cells are "little lives," and manifest mental power and faculty. They perform their particular functions, and live, grow, reproduce themselves, and act just as do the tiny forms of animal life at the bottom of sea—the latter being but little more than single cells, or cell-groups. The possession of memory on the part of the cells of organic matter, is an accepted scientific fact.
At this point the orthodox and conservative scientist usually stops, drawing a line between "organic" and "inorganic" matter. But the daring minds of advanced scientists of today have brushed aside the dividing line, and have moved to a position where they meet the Hindu philosophers and the occultists, and now admit and teach that life, mind and Mind-Power invade the "inorganic" world to its utmost limits, and that universe is indeed alive and possesses Mind.
Some of the lower forms of "organic" life, so-called, possess no organs, and are but masses of jelly-like matter without signs of even rudimentary organs—and yet these life-forms show evidences of desire, choice, and will. And Science has admitted the existence of life and mind in the crystals! the latter "growing" in a manner showing vital and selective energy, and even rudimentary sex. More than this, the metals and minerals, under scientific tests, have shown "responses" that are similar to the same action in organic life—showing life and rudimentary sensation, the latter of course being a manifestation of mind. Some of the cold, careful scientific records read like fairy tales to those not familiar with the wonderful achievements of recent science. I wish that I had the time and space to recount these tests—but I must hasten on. Enough to say that in mineral and metallic forms there has been found "response" indicating the existence of "sensation" in varying degrees; and that in the crystallization of minerals and metals there has been evidenced the action of the same instinctive mental-life energy which as "appetency or instinct" builds up the bodies of living organic forms. If you wonder at this—think of the miracle which is performed every second by plants absorbing the minerals of the earth, which are then converted into living plant-cells; then we eat the plants and convert the plant-cells into animal-cells which serve as the basis of our blood, muscles, organs, and even our brains. In fact, every particle of organic substance was evolved in this way. Think over this and you will see that Nature is One in her essence, and that she is alive and possesses Mind-Power.
But we do not stop even at this advanced point. Minerals, and all forms of matter are composed of infinitesimal atoms, or particles. The particles combine by reason of some inherent "attraction" existing between certain of them, known as "chemical affinity," etc. Chemical affinity is a peculiar thing—it manifests in likes and dislikes, loves and hates; it is impossible to study these manifestations without recognizing an elementary manifestation of "like and dislike"—"love and hate." You think that this is far fetched, do you? Well, listen to these words from some of the leading scientists about this power to receive sensations, and power to respond to the same, and maybe you will change your mind. Haeckel, the great German scientist, holds that the atoms of which matter is composed may "receive sensations," and "respond to sensations." He dwells upon this fact in his latest works "The Riddle of the Universe," and "The Wonders of Life," and writes as follows regarding "sensation in the inorganic world": "I cannot imagine," Haeckel says, "the simplest chemical and physical process, without attributing the movements of the material particles to unconscious sensation." He also says, in another place: "The idea of chemical affinity consists in the fact that the various chemical elements perceive the qualitative differences in other elements—experience ‘pleasure' or ‘revulsion' at contact with them, and execute specific movements on this ground." He adds, later, that the "sensations" and "responses" in plant and animal life are "connected by a long series of evolutionary stages with the simpler forms of sensation that we find in the inorganic elements and that reveal themselves in chemical affinity." Nageli, another scientist, says: "If the molecules possess something that is related, however distantly, to sensation, it must be comfortable to be able to follow their attractions and repulsions; uncomfortable when they are forced to do otherwise." And so you see that Science now is preparing to admit elementary life and Mind-Power in the atoms and particles of matter.
But we have not as yet reached the utmost limit of scientific investigation regarding the presence of mind in the universe. "Further than the atoms?" you may ask. Yes, further than the atoms! What is true regarding the atoms, is true of the ions or electrons of which they are composed—these tinier particles are attracted and repelled; form groups and combinations which regulate the kind of atom produced; and manifest the same kind of "affinity" that is noticeable in the atoms. And more than this—these particles, as well as all forms of physical energy, are believed to emerge from the ether, that subtle, tenuous, universal substance, which, although unseen, and intangible, is held to exist in order to account for the phenomena of the universe. If there is Mind in the particles that emerge from the Ether, is it too much to claim that there must be Mind in the Ether itself? Is this preposterous? Not so! Listen to the words of the following scientific authorities on the subject:
Flammarion says: "Mind gleams in every atom. There is mind in everything, not only in human and animal life, but in plants, in minerals in space!" Cope says: "The basis of life and mind lies back of the atoms, and may be found in the universal ether." Hemstreet says: "Mind in the ether is no more unnatural than mind in flesh and blood." Stockwell says: "The ether is coming to be apprehended as an immaterial, super-physical substance, filling all space, carrying in its infinite, throbbing bosom the specks of aggregated dynamic force called worlds. It embodies the ultimate spiritual principle and represents the unity of those forces and energies from which spring, as their source, all phenomena, physical, mental and spiritual, as they are known to man." Dolhear says: "Possibly the ether may be the medium through which mind and matter react....Out of the ether could emerge, under proper circumstances, other phenomena, such as life, or mind, or whatever may be in the substratum." And, so, we have the best of authority to support the inevitable conclusion that there must be Mind-Power even in the ether.
For my own part, I go still further, and for several years back have been claiming that the Ether and the Universal Mind-Power Principle are one and the same thing—that is, that that theoretical something that science has called "the Ether," is in reality the Universal Mind-Power Principle from which all manifestations of activities emerge—the Universal Mental Dynamo! I cannot prove this, of course—but it is logical. But my argument does not depend even upon this—for admit that there is Mind-Power in the ether, and my case is won. And in the ether it must be, even if the ether is not but another name for it. For if Mind-Power is not in the ether, from whence does it come into the particles of matter, and in matter itself, organic and inorganic?
Resting the consideration for a moment, let me say that with mind as reason, intellect, etc., I have nothing to do in this book, for this is a consideration of the dynamic phase of mind— the Power phase—Mind-Power, or Dynamic Mentation. I am trying to show you that Mind-Power exists everywhere, and is manifest in every activity of the universe. "In every activity of the universe?" you say; "surely you do not include physical activity and energy such as natural forces etc.!" Yes, I do mean just that! "How can that be?" you ask, "what has Mind-Power to do with electricity, light, heat, magnetism, gravitation, etc.?" It has everything to do with them, in my opinion. I will explain it to you in a few words, for I cannot go into this subject at length in this book, but must hasten on to the other parts of my subject.