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The Fifth Lesson: Thought Dynamics67
We shall not attempt to explain what thought is—that is too complicated
a subject for elementary lessons. But we will begin by explaining some of its
properties, laws, and effects. We avoid the theory for the time being, and
get down to the “practical” side of the question.
You will remember what we said in our last lesson about the Aura. We
explained that the Aura was projected into space by the several principles
of man, just as is the light of the sun, the heat of a stove, the odor of a flower,
etc. Each of these sources throws off vibrations, which we call light, heat, or
odor, respectively. In one sense these emanations are minute particles of the
thing which throws them off. In this connection we must also remember that
the thing throwing off the emanations may be afterward withdrawn, but the
emanations still remain for a greater or lesser time. For instance, astronomy
teaches that a distant star may be destroyed, and yet the light rays thrown
off from it will continue on their journey, and may soon be seen by us of the
Earth years and years after the star itself has been destroyed—in fact, what
we really see at any time are the rays of the star which left it many years
before, the time, of course, depending upon the distance of the star from
the earth. In the same way a fire in a stove may be extinguished, and yet
the heat will remain in the room for a long time afterward. Likewise, a small
particle of musk may be exposed in a room and then removed, and yet the
odor will be perceptible for a long time. In the same way thoughts may be
in active existence which have been sent out years before by some person,
whose entire mental character may have changed or who, in fact, may have
passed out of the body long since. Places and localities are often permeated
by the thought of persons who formerly lived there, who have moved away
or died many years ago.
The mind is continually throwing off emanations, which may be seen as
the Aura extending a few feet from the person, and which usually becomes
thinner and less easily perceived as it extends away from the sender. We are
constantly sending forth thought-waves (to use a favorite term), and these
waves, after the initial force of projection is expended, float along like clouds,