PRACTICAL MENTAL INFLUENCE/PART 10
CHAPTER 10
THE NEED OF KNOWLEDGE
Although the true scientific
principles underlying the subject of Mental Influence have been but recently
recognized and taught to the general public, still the knowledge is far from
being new. The occultists of the old civilizations undoubtedly understood the
underlying principles and used them in practice, thus gaining an ascendancy
over the masses. And more than this, the masses themselves had a more or less
comprehensive knowledge of the working principles of the subject, for we find
among all peoples, in all times, records of the use of this power. Under one
name or another - under one form or another - Mental Influence has been
operated and used from the earliest times. And today, even in the most remote
portions of the globe, and among the most savage and barbarous races we find
instances of the employment of this force.
The forms of the
manifestation of Mental Influence are many and varied. In some cases it
manifests under the form of a fascinating, attracting power exerted by some
people, which causes such persons to draw or attract other persons to them.
Persons are allured or "charmed" by others possessing this power, and
their affections are taken captive by this mysterious force. Some persons are
spoken of as "fascinating," "possessing powers of charming,"
having "winning ways," having "great personal magnetism,"
etc. Others exert another form of the power in the driving of and compelling
others to do their bidding, and people speak of them as having "a
compelling will," being able "to work their will" on those
around them, possessing "dominating powers," etc. We are also brought
face to face with the wonderful effects of "Mental Science" under one
form or another, under this name or that term, with the many forms of "treatments"
followed by the different schools and cults. Then we read in the pages of
history about the mysterious powers recorded under the name of Witchcraft,
Hexes, Voodoo's, and Black Magic, including the Hawaiian "Kahuna"
work. And turning back the pages of history to Ancient time, Greece, Persia and
Egypt, not to speak of India, ancient and modern, we find innumerable instances
of the employment of, and knowledge of, Mental influence in some of its forms.
And although many will seek
to deny the fact, scientific investigators and students realize that there is
but one real underlying principle under and back of all of the various forms of
manifestation. The good results, and the evil results, all arise from the
employment of the same force, strange as it may appear at first thought. The
secret lies in the fact that this Mental Influence is a great natural force,
just as is electricity or any other natural forces, and it may be, and is, used
for both good and evil purposes. The electricity which runs out machines,
lights our houses and performs countless other beneficent tasks in the service
of man is also used to electrocute criminals, and the unfortunate person who
touches a "live wire" may be struck with instant death. The sun,
which warms our earth and renders life possible, also kills countless persons
exposed to its rays on the desert, or even in our large cities. Fire, that
great friend of man, which has been one of the most potent factors in the
evolution of the race from barbarism to civilization, is also a mighty enemy,
destroying both property and lives. Water, that most necessary element, which
renders life possible, and which is necessary to grow our grain and to perform
countless other good services for us, also acts as an enemy at times, drowning
people and sweeping away their homes. Gravitation, which holds all things in
place, from suns and stars down to the tiniest atom of matter, also causes
people to fall to their death from high places, or brings down on their heads
objects from above them. In short, every natural force or power is capable of
producing either beneficent or baleful effects to man, according to the
circumstances of the case. We recognize these things, and accept them as a law
of nature. And yet some would deny the identity of the power of Mental influence
as manifested in its good and bad uses.
There will be people who ascribe to God all the good qualities of Mental
Influence, and ascribe to the Devil all of its evil uses. These people have
primitive minds. Their counterparts are seen in those who would credit God with
the helpful rain or sun, and who ascribe to the Devil the same things when
there occurs a flood or a drought. Such reasoning is worthy only of the savage
mind. The forces are natural forces, and work according to their own laws,
imminent in their constituent qualities and nature, and are in that sense
"above good and evil." When they work for man's interest and comfort
man calls them "good" - when they work harm and discomfort to him man
calls them "bad" - but the force remains unchanged, being neither
"good" nor "bad." And thus it is with the power of Mental
Influence - it is above "good" and "bad" - it is a great
natural force, capable of being used for either wear or woe to mankind. But,
remember this, there is a difference. While the force in itself is neither good
nor bad the individual who employs it may be, and it is, "good" or
"bad," according to its use. Just as a man commits a good or bad act
when he uses his gun to slay a wild beast attacking another man, or else turns
it upon his brother or neighbor, as the case may be - so is a man good or bad
according to his use of Mental Influence. The merit or demerit lies in the
intention and purpose of the user, not in the force or power employed by him.
Therein lies the difference.
On all sides of us we may see
the manifestation of the possession of Mental Influence. We see men who are
able to sway those around them in some mysterious and wonderful way, either by
their powers of persuasion or by their dominant will power. Some spring into prominence
and power suddenly, in a way unaccountable to those who are ignorant of the
secret of Mental Influence. As we have said in a previous chapter, certain
people seem to have "something about them" that makes them attractive
or successful in their relations with other people. The "personal
magnetism" of leaders manifests itself strongly, some having this power to
such an extent that the masses follow them like a great flock of sheep after
the "bell-whether" with the tinkling bell around his neck.
We have all come in contact
with the "agent" or salesman who managed in some way to sell us
things that we did not want and had no use for, and after he had gone we
wondered and wondered how it all happened. If we had but understood the laws of
Mental Influence this could not have happened. We have all felt ourselves, at
some time or another in our lives, in the presence of individuals who almost
compelled us to do what we knew in our hearts we should not do. Knowledge of
the laws of Mental influence would have enabled us to overcome the temptation.
And not only in the case of personal interviews have we been affected.
There is a far more subtle and dangerous use of the power, i.e., in the shape
of "distant influence," or "absent treatment," as it had
been called. And the increase in the interest and knowledge of Occult matters
during the past twenty years has resulted in a widely diffused knowledge of
this great force, and its consequent employment, worthily and unworthily, by
many people who are thereby enabled to gain an influence over their neighbors
and fellow men, who are not familiar with the laws of the force. It would
surprise many people if they knew that some of the multimillionaires of the
country, and some of its greatest politicians and leaders, were secret students
of Occultism, and who were using their forces upon the masses of the people.
Not only this, but there are
Schools of Occultism which teach their pupils the theory, practice and art of
Mental Influence, under one name or another - under this guise or that - the
result being that there are a greater number of people equipped for the use of
this force and instructed in the practice of employing it turned out every year
than is generally imagined. There are Schools for Salesmanship giving disguised
instruction in the art of Mental Influence. Nearly every large concern
employing selling agents has private instructors for their men, who teach them
the principles of Mental Influence disguised under the name of "Psychology
of Business," or some such name.
And besides these, there are
a number of people who have studied at the feet of some of the great
metaphysical, semi-religious cults of the day, who have received instruction in
Mental influence disguised under the name of some creed or religious teachings,
who have departed from the moral principles inculcated by their teachers, and
who are using their knowledge in the shape of "treatments" of other
persons for the purpose of influencing them to accede to their wishes or to act
so as to bring financial gain to the person giving the treatment. The air is
full of this Black Magic today, and it is surely time that the general masses
were instructed on this subject. And this is the purpose of this little book,
published and sold at a popular price in order to bring it within the reach of
the purses of the "plain people," who have been exploited and
influenced by those who have acquired a knowledge of the principles of Mental
Influence, and who are using it unworthily upon their fellow men.
There is self protection
possible to all, and this little book purposes to teach you how to use it.
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