The Arcane Teaching

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 edition. Excerpt: ... LESSON XII. DOMINANT DESIRE; SOVEREIGN WILL. Aphorism XVII informs us that "The Three Principles--Substance, Motion and Consciousness-- are equally under Law." The leading scientific minds of the day hold that the Reign of Law is operative not only over matter and motion, but also over mind. There are but few psychologists who hold otherwise, although a few are reluctant to admit that the operations of human volition are caused, and such therefore hold on to the old dogma of "causelessness" although candidly admitting that the only other alternative is the theory of Chance. This reluctance may be explained by the influence of the old theology which held that the admission of cause in volition would annul the doctrine of "free will" (in the sense of free choice), and would destroy man's moral responsibility. The theologians, however, do not accept the alternative of Chance, but murmur something about "special provisions of Providence," without explaining what they mean by this. But all denials of the operation of universal law on the mental plane are in direct defiance of the modern scientific knowledge of the laws of psychology, and the common experience of the race which informs us that people act and choose because of motives and reasons. And all human education is based upon this understanding and principle. The trouble with the theologians is that they confuse Law, Order, and Sequence, with the old fetish of Fate, Destiny, and Predestination. They recognize the logical absurdity of holding one morally responsible for doing what for all eternity it has been predestined, predetermined, or fated one should do. When Determination is divorced from Predetermination, a new light is seen. Notwithstanding the theological reluctance, its...