The Mastery of Destiny E-Book

James Allen

• Herausgeber: James Allen
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

There is, and always has been, a widespread belief in Fate, or Destiny, that is, in an eternal and inscrutable Power which apportions definite ends to both individuals and nations. This belief has arisen from long observation of the facts of life. Men are conscious that there are certain occurrences which they cannot control, and are powerless to avert. Birth and death, for instance, are inevitable, and many of the incidents of life appear equally inevitable. Men strain every nerve for the attainment of certain ends, and gradually they become conscious of a Power which seems to be not of themselves, which frustrates their puny efforts, and laughs, as it were, at their fruitless striving and struggle. As men advance in life, they learn to submit, more or less, to this overruling Power which they do not understand, perceiving only its effects in themselves and the world around them, and they call it by various names, such as God, Providence, Fate, Destiny, etc.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1. DEEDS, CHARACTER, AND DESTINY

CHAPTER 2. THE SCIENCE OF SELF-CONTROL

CHAPTER 3. CAUSE AND EFFECT IN HUMAN CONDUCT

CHAPTER 4. TRAINING OF THE WILL

CHAPTER 5. THOROUGHNESS

CHAPTER 6. MIND-BUILDING AND LIFE-BUILDING

CHAPTER 7. CULTIVATION OF CONCENTRATION

CHAPTER 8. PRACTICE OF MEDITATION

CHAPTER 9. THE POWER OF PURPOSE

CHAPTER 10. THE JOY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

THE MASTERY OF DESTINY

BY

JAMES ALLEN

First digital edition 2019 by Maria Ruggieri

PREFACE

The discovery of the law of Evolution in the material world has prepared men for a knowledge of the law of cause and effect in the mental world. Thought is not less orderly and progressive than the material forms which embody thought; and not alone cells and atoms, but thoughts and deeds are charged with a cumulative and selective energy. In the realm of thought and deed, the good survives, for it is “fittest”; the evil ultimately perishes. To know that the “perfect law” of Causation is as allembracing in mind as in matter, is to be relieved from all anxiety concerning the ultimate destiny of individuals and of humanity “For man is man and master of his fate” and the will in man which is conquering the knowledge of natural law will conquer the knowledge of spiritual law; the will which, in ignorance, chooses evil, will, as wisdom evolves and emerges, choose good. In a universe of law, the final mastery of evil by man is assured. His lesser destinies of separation and sorrow, defeat and death, are but disciplinary steps leading to the Great Destiny of triumphal mastery. He himself is unconsciously building, albeit with lacerated hands and labourbowed form, the Temple of Glory which is to afford him an eternal habitation of peace. In this volume, I have tried to set down some words indicative of this Law and this Destiny, and the manner of its working and its building; and have so arranged the subject-matter as to make the book a companion volume to The Life Triumphant. The first six, and the last, chapters first appeared in Bibby's Quarterly and Bibby's Annual, and it is by kind permission of the Editor, Mr. Joseph Bibby, that they are now brought together and published in volume form, the other three chapters having been added to make the book consecutive and complete.

James Allen.

Bryngoleu, Ilfracombe, England, April, 1909.

CHAPTER 1. DEEDS, CHARACTER, AND DESTINY

THERE is, and always has been, a widespread belief in Fate, or Destiny, that is, in an eternal and inscrutable Power which apportions definite ends to both individuals and nations. This belief has arisen from long observation of the facts of life. Men are conscious that there are certain occurrences which they cannot control, and are powerless to avert. Birth and death, for instance, are inevitable, and many of the incidents of life appear equally inevitable. Men strain every nerve for the attainment of certain ends, and gradually they become conscious of a Power which seems to be not of themselves, which frustrates their puny efforts, and laughs, as it were, at their fruitless striving and struggle. As men advance in life, they learn to submit, more or less, to this overruling Power which they do not understand, perceiving only its effects in themselves and the world around them, and they call it by various names, such as God, Providence, Fate, Destiny, etc. Men of contemplation, such as poets and philosophers, step aside, as it were, to watch the movements of this mysterious Power as it seems to elevate its favorites on the one hand, and strike down its victims on the other, without reference to merit or demerit.