"I and the Father are one," expresses one of the mightiest truths ever spoken. It was voiced by the Nazarene, but only after he had obeyed all of the Laws of the Father and as a result of such obedience had actually become like unto the father and thereby one with the Father.

Since the Nazarene first gave voice to this expression it has been smugly used by countless millions who never even made an attempt to become like or one with, the Father. For this reason such claims are usually a heartless falsehood with no basis for truth. No one can become one with the father unless he first feels the desire in the heart and then makes every effort to become godly, or God-like.

The Father demands of those who would become his Sons, or like him, that they honor him by an obedience to the Laws, by rendering love to their fellow men, "these the least of my brethren," and that they walk in fellowship, i.e., work in harmony with them. If the son is willing to do these things, then the inheritance belongs to the son, but not otherwise. The obtaining of this inheritance indicates the becoming, and this includes all good things as long as the Divine Law is followed as a guide and obedience is rendered.

"I and the Father are one," is another variation of the Hermetic Law: "As above, so below; as in the inner, so in the outer," i.e., as is the Creator so may become the creature. Man, by a process of thinking, desiring and then living accordingly may become like unto the Creator. When he has succeeded in this accomplishment, then indeed is he :one with the Father." He will have all of the powers, the capabilities and the abilities of his Father, though in a lesser degree.

Through the imagination man first walks with God and even talks with him. This has its beginning in man's thoughts, then in the desires of the heart. As these thoughts and desires become strong enough and vital enough, they will permeate the entire being, becoming powerful and vital enough to direct man's every action until finally the mortal becomes Immortalized and in truth a Son of God.

As the Acolyte accepts the truth and the Light, then applies these in the direction of his life's activities, he at the same time begins to awaken the dormant Soul, or Divine Spark within himself. As the result of his efforts begin to manifest, he readily becomes convinced that all the Laws governing mankind are fixed and inviolate; That any infraction of them brings swift punishment in the form of losses, trouble and sorrow; while obedience to them will gradually establish a harmony heretofore unknown.

If the Acolyte lives according to the Law and as a result gains control over his thoughts and desires, and then by means of this control and direction, develops the soul and brings it into consciousness, he will have succeeded in finding the Christisis within himself. He then becomes able to rove the efficiency of the law and the life, first to himself, and , by his manifestations, to others. The first results in his own life generally are reflected in greater health and strength; then success in his endeavors; the means to provide or obtain all he needs, and a peace of mind otherwise impossible. In addition to all of these desirable things there will also be given to him the strength and fortitude to bear his burdens with equanimity, and without the fear which is always the boon companion of those not awakened to the truth, that God is always near to those who seek his companionship.

Those who have traveled the path will speak with authority, because they know as a result of personal experience. These are the ones of whom the Nazarene said: "I [they] am in the world, but not of the world." All these, as he did, walk among and live with mankind, they move about, have their being, and are in the world, but they are not affected by the conditions of the world, because they have found a new world, a complete little world within themselves.

All states of life are neither more nor less than states of mind. The "good" man walks on the same earth, may live in the same house with the "bad" man, but is unaffected by the conditions which guide, control and condemn the "bad" man; he who has not learned of and is not guided by the Law which governs all the acts of the "good" man.

In the ultimate, failure is impossible to the man who seeks in his heart to obey the Divine Law. He may at first experience many disappointments, even failures, but this is because he has not learned to fully understand; he is still groping in the dark for the right path. Abraham Lincoln is a good example of the seeker-groper. He was honest in heart; had at first no one to guide him to the Light and, as a result, failed the symbolical "thirteen times."

It is said of him that he never became discouraged or had a thought of giving up. Proving both the Law and his faith in the Law, as "one trustworthy and faithful," his reward came upon him and by continuing in the Law, and by the help of destiny ( the hand of man), he was Immortalized.

In the history of Lincoln we have a complete picture of the sincere Soul, seeking honestly to find the Light, to walk into the rays of that Light, to obey and do the Works of the Father, and to finally become like, and then one with the Father. His death does not deny this, but rather illustrates it, because all men must pass by way of the flesh and if that flesh has become deified before the destined time as gauged by the earth-law, then it is "crucified by the hand of man" and enters into the glory, even before the end of its days.

To the Acolyte who really seeks there is no such thing as possible failure. The path is clearly chartered for him; the Laws he must obey are fixed and eternal; the development follows after the pattern of the Divine Law'; and, being Divine, ends in Divinity. These Laws being of Divine origin, they deal with the Divine Passions, and when these are raised, they become glorified, i.e., bring the soul into the Light, or the glorification of the Holy Ghost; this Holy Ghost being no less than the Holy Light from high heaven.

The Acolyte's regeneration has its beginning in right thinking, followed by exalting desires. These in time build the character in a god-like manner. He quickly becomes conscious the correct thinking is the Law that must govern his every act; that evil, suffering of every description, even ill-health in most instances, and certainly failure are due entirely to an erroneous mental concept and the attitude that must necessarily be a part of such concepts. Once in possession of this knowledge the readjustment is not as difficult as it would appear. With the proper effort the Acolyte can eradicate the fallacious concept and replace it with a chartered course of thought which is certain to bring about an harmonious action in the life of the Acolyte.

It is beyond all possible contradiction (except by the ignorant, who doubt all things, even God) that all success is possible only by the observation of a fixed manner of action. The Law being fixed as indicated by the statement: "Order is heaven's first Law," it is the Acolyte's duty to arrange for a regular (fixed) period in which to engage in his Great Work and to permit nothing under heaven to interfere with this duty. He should solemnly dedicate one certain period of time during the day or evening in which to practice his exercises (mental and physical devotions) for the development of his soul, the awakening and bringing into the Light of the Divine Spark entrusted to him by the Creator at the time of his birth and in conjunction with the life given the body.

These exercises should be followed as regularly and as faithfully as are physical culture exercises for the development of the entire physical being. Just as such physical exercises, being under a material law, are capable of developing every part of the physical body and every mental faculty, so will the exercises practiced for the purpose of awakening and then developing the Soul into Consciousness, bring about full Christification. "Order is heaven's first Law" is a part of "render unto God that which belongs to God."

Following such a spiritual devotion, the thoughts, desires and efforts should again be directed undividedly to the every day affairs of life. The invisible forces, powers, energies and potencies will continue the work of spiritual development in harmony with what were your heart's desires, even though your conscious efforts are now again directed into other channels foreign to the spiritual work. Since you have obeyed and fulfilled the Law, the Law will obey itself and in your behalf, but remember, this will inevitably be in harmony with your heart's desire.

As the Acolyte enters the silence of the Work to develop his ideals and bring them into manifestation, he must be continuously conscious that the cause is a most noble one. He must realize that nothing can be greater, higher or nobler than that of bringing the Soul, the divine gift from God, first into harmony, and then into communication with the Cosmic, or Universal Soul, that which we know as the Father. This is possible only by first making use of the thought forces, Thoughts and ideas are the material and direction for soul building, having their birth in the mind, at the behest of the heart's desire.

To the mind has been given the faculty of imagination, without which man would be like the lower animals; without incentive, desire or direction; desire being the incentive which the imagination must employ in all its building, whether for good or ill. The thoughts and desires, acting in concert, must be centered upon whatever the Acolyte desires to accomplish or bring into existence, and whatever is so brought into manifestation will be neither better nor worse than the ideal created in the imagination and held as a desire in the heart. The mind images or pictures; the heart desires or directs; and through this mental-physical effort, this picture or image-desire is brought into being.

Figuratively speaking, God saw himself, or an image of himself, a desire was conceived that he reproduce himself so that he might have companions and co-workers, and, as a result, man was born. Thus are all things created by thought and desire, followed by the efforts that harmonize with the thought and the desire.

The imagination is the faculty by which ideas of ultimate truth are conceived and by which images of that which has been and is again to be are reflected on the mind and "new" inventions given to the world. The secret is in being an harmonious and receptive spirit so that the impression is not only received but also accepted and retained. The retention of an idea is usually weak and the picture or image often passes as a "passing fancy," whereas it was actually "something from above."

Every truth, every hope and every aspiration has its roots in the faculty of desiring and imaging, and exists there even before it is desired or imaged. Through the functioning of the imagination God reaches man and "walks and talks with him." It is essential to hold that image by the power of Will and desire until it is impressed or photographed upon the creative power of the mind, the desires of the heart, and upon the Soul itself.

Imagination becomes developed as a result of intense desire followed by prompt action. If action does not follow a vivid imagination, the faculty soon dies out for want of exercise. Action feeds imagination. All operation of the Will must necessarily act by means of Imagination and desire. This is the invisible workshop of both man and God. If man did not possess the ability to imagine, he would be unable to produce, seeing he would not have a pattern to follow.

The sphere of the imagination is limitless, being co-extensive with the entire universe. All that ever was, or is to be, is at the command of a vivid, imaginative mind. If the desire is intense enough the imagination will photograph the image upon the inner creative power much as the camera photographs an object upon the sensitized plate and upon this plate may be developed the object photographed. The Soul of man is such a sensitized plate and it has the power, once it is awakened, to into manifestation that which has been so photographed.

The universe is filled with an endless variety of forms which may become reflected upon the mind by means of the imagination. It is possible for the mind receiving these images to construct or create these pictures, first the thought form, and then by manifestation in external form. Manifestation may be called the creative, constructive and reproductive ability.

Constructive imagination can execute its work only by means of Will power. It is not merely necessary to be able to imagine, but there must be intense desire for accomplishment of the thing desired so that this desire may be stamped or imprinted upon the Soul itself. This is possible by systematic practice in thought and desire concentration; holding the picture, whatever it may be, before the mind's eyes, and Willing sufficiently strong to bring about action, thought is followed by desiring, desiring by imagining, imagining by making the necessary effort to reproduce. The Will is the inducer to action. If the will is lacking there is no effort; there will be neither production nor reproduction except of the commonplace made necessary by the moderate requirements of life. This is mere animal existence.

Fancy is frequently confused with imagination. Fancy is a fleeting desire. It never reaches the heart, much less the Soul. Between fancy and imagination there is a distinction that fully exhibits the nature of each through different manifestations of the same faculty. The highest exercise of the two manifestations by one faculty is the imagination, which is creative by reason of being more closely connected with the faculty of reason.

In the undeveloped human creature, the imagination is little more than fancy, because it is not based on the creative faculty, but on some form of desire, and once that desire is satisfied, irrespective of the means, the fancy is dead.

Imagination, on the contrary, has an existence of its own and in it there resides an incentive. Imagination, encourage and guided by reason, expands the consciousness and frequently carries one to exaltation. Its highest office is to bring visions to the inspired Soul and urge toward Christification as the goal to be attained.

A consciously directed imagination is prolific (generative, fruitful, productive); giving expression by means of literature, science and art and thereby benefiting all of humanity. This is one of its outer expressions, while on the inner plane it leads to equilibrium of the mental-Soul forces, and spiritual intelligence by means of Will directing the spiritual phase of the imaginative powers.

By means of this dual aspect of the imagination, the creative energy of man may be wisely directed and all things become possible as a result of developing and intensifying the ideas and ideals which exist in the thought realm, and then calling (bringing by physical effort) them into manifestation for the benefit of one's self and humanity in general.

Imagination is the creative faculty (and energy) in man. If it is made active by thought, thought being the cause of action, the result is an image or picture, and the idea is conceived. Then by contemplation the mind will gradually be able to perceive the idea as being practical, being possible of reproduction in form; desire will be awakened into action, and the action of the Will, being a projective force, the idea is developed or brought into manifestation. In this manner the passive conception of an idea is converted into active imagination capable of creating objects not before (to our knowledge) made manifest.

Imagination is the power that moulds mental forms into being or existence; it is the builder of all forms conceived in the mind or mental realm. However, unless the imagination is controlled and directed by reason, it is liable to fall into the lower realms of mere fancy; creating negative pictures of fear, anger, pride, hate jealousy or other evil passions. Such pictures lead to disease, failure and fears of various forms. These are reflected upon the soul and manifest in illness, weakness, failure and ultimately slavery.

No one can achieve mental mastery, i.e., Mastership, while hampered by such negative mental pictures. Thought and the mental attitude is the builder or destroyer of all the power and energy and every ability possessed by man, whether physical or spiritual. It is therefore of the utmost vital importance that the imagination is not only wisely controlled, but also constructively directed and that it at no time be permitted to get out of the control of the ideally centered Will.

If mental pictures are of an undesirable nature, the Acolyte must discard them immediately lest they find some place within to lodge and manifest at an unexpected moment. Pessimistic thoughts of every type will diminish constructive power, while optimistic thoughts will awaken building energy. The imagination may be easily compared to a telescope. You may use either end; one brings things close to you, the other repels (belittles) and discourages.

The Acolyte has here been given a glimpse of the power present in an awakened, constructive (healthy-normal) imaginative ability. His first effort is to purify the thought, elevate the desire and devote attention only to constructive thoughts which form in the mid as an idea and ideal to be accomplished in the Great Work, that of Christification.

If this is successfully accomplished, then gradually the imagination will become a perfectly functioning creative machine; capable of picturing or imaging the things man seeks to accomplish or bring into manifestation by holding them in the mind day after day until the desire becomes so intense that it will unconsciously force him to make an active effort in the right direction and permit nothing to interfere with achieving the desired achievement.

The Acolyte should not permit himself to become impractical by forgetting that it is impossible to attain perfect thought ability or full creative imagination if the physical body is permitted to become weak, diseased or unbalanced. The physical instrument is necessary for the perfect expression of mind and Soul. As an instrument it is as important as the mind and Soul and should have the same attention that it may be as perfect in its functioning as is the mind and Soul. Clean, wholesome environment are desirable, while the food for the body should be as pure, wholesome and as carefully selected as are the thoughts and desires for the Soul.

In seeking to live in harmony with the higher life, it is of utmost importance and of greatest benefit to be regular; to have a time for everything, and to faithfully attend to all duties and practices. This is important relative to the habits of life and vocation, and equally so with the avocation.

A simple but positive exercise of great benefit to all Acolytes, one which requires but little time or effort and which should be taken morning and evening unless that is a special reason for not doing so, is a cool or cold bath in the morning. Such a bath followed by carefully rubbing the body dry brings the blood into full circulation without chilling. Then stand facing the East, and, while taking a slow, full breath, hold the thought: "I will gradually so think and live as to develop the Christisis within myself." while exhaling, hold the thought: "Peace and love to all my fellow beings."

Repeat this seven times. Wait for three minutes during which you can breathe normally; then repeat the exercise for seven breaths. Wait another three minutes, breathing regularly, then repeat the exercise a third time.

If for some reason a cool shower or cool bath cannot be taken, the exercise should be practiced anyhow.

If there is any degree of ill-health, this exercise may gradually raise the vibratory forces sufficiently so as to establish health, if practiced for the purpose of rebuilding the bodily functions and increasing the vital forces. In this connection a special practice may be followed:

Stand facing the East as before and while drawing in the breath, hold the thought: "I will come into touch with the center of health and draw in the vital forces necessary to eliminate all weaknesses." While exhaling, hold the thought: "May all humanity be at peace."

It is essential that while exhaling, the thoughts should always be for the benefit of others in order to establish a balance or equilibrium, this being the Law of nature and demanded by the spiritual forces for normal reaction.

By regular practice, even if for but a few minutes at a time, several times a day, you will easily be able to overcome the habits of wrong thinking. You will be able to gradually eliminate all thoughts that tend to debase, degrade or weaken resistance to constructive energies, and replace these by strong, constructive, exalting, health building enabling thoughts.

This is made all the easier by bringing the mind into the full consciousness of the fact that when the mind is filled with exalted and constructive thoughts, and if thoughts of fear, hatred, jealousy, malice, illness or if any other undesired thing comes into the mind, they can readily be eliminated by quickly calling to mind something beautiful music heard; something beautiful seen or experienced. Hold this in mind and the undesirable thought will die because by directing your attention to something else, you have taken away its power to exist.

The Acolyte must constantly remain conscious of the fact that he is the creator, or the destroyer, of his own being. He is able to change his mind, his heart, his body, into what he wants it to be. By using this method and bringing his Soul into consciousness, full Christification is possible, and when that has been accomplished, he, like the Nazarene, may say in truth and full consciousness: "I and the Father are one."
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