To answer these questions effectively we must consider carefully what is known as “suggestion.”

In dealing with the subconscious mind we saw that the habitual liar comes to believe in their own lies. We decided that this was so because he or she had told the lie so often that it became a reality to them. This is what is meant by suggestion. A “suggestion” is a statement so repeated and enforced that it becomes for the subconscious mind a truth.

Now we can see the vicious circle in which we are. We look at the adverse conditions around us and give our subconscious mind a strong suggestion of limitation. People around us are suffering from poverty and disease and our subconscious mind assimilates the suggestion that such conditions constitute reality, and proceeds to evolve those conditions for us, unless we are strong enough to counter the negative suggestion with a sufficiently strong affirmative suggestion.

By adequate affirmative suggestion, we can alter our surroundings and a realisation of this fact is summed up in the phrase ”Nothing succeeds like success.” This simply means that the first small success acted as an affirmative suggestion which led to the next and perhaps slightly larger success. And so on, ad infinitum.

Having read all that has gone before we should be in possession of all those facts which will provide the means to an effective practice of Mental Science on our own lives.

To live only in the Physical aspect of our being is to become materialistic. We become limited to what can be realised by our physical senses alone. We should then be concentrating exclusively on that which is but a correspondence of the Perfect instead of on the Perfect itself.

An illustration such as we have used before will clarify the matter. Let us think of an artist who, in his imagination, conceives a perfect picture, but whose completed work falls far short of what he intended. He decides to make alterations. To do so successfully he must not simply regard the picture and say “what can I do to it?” He must recreate in his imagination the original intention and then compare. No constructive evolution, can be accomplished through materialism alone.

Secondly, let us suppose that, after studying Mental Science, you come to a genuine understanding of the Cosmic Universal Laws by obedience to which you can accomplish all things, and you ignore the Spiritual and Christian intention behind them. What is your position?

You are a magician and no more. You are a man of infinite power but finite wisdom.

Thirdly, concentration on the Spiritual aspect does, at first, look harmless enough, but its end is idolatry. Worship without Service is but vain idolatry.

In the practice of Mental Science as given below, keep before you the three modes of being and see to it that all three combine in all your thoughts and actions.

Within you is infinite Power and infinite Resource. Space or time or limitation need not exist for you. Use these gifts. You are intended to do so and are playing your part in the vast scheme of evolution by doing so, but use them for the highest good of humanity and for your own most perfect development.