Thought control [8] is a great assistance. Substituting a right or
positive thought for a wrong one, will, in course of time, work
wonders in the life. In the sub-conscious we have an illimitable power
of extraordinary intelligence. According to our thoughts this
wonderful power either builds up health, harmony and beauty in our
life and body, or just the reverse. The power is good, the
intelligence is apparently infinite, but it goes where-ever our
thoughts direct it. By our thinking, therefore, we either create or
destroy, produce either good or evil. If, therefore, all our thoughts
are good, positive and constructive, it follows that both our body
and our life must become built up in harmony and perfection. The
question is, can this be done? It can be done if we have the desire,
and are willing to discipline ourselves and persevere in the face,
often, of seeming failure. Some readers may say, at this point, that
they have no desire to be so frightfully good, that they are not
prepared to give up lust, impurity, hate, anger, malice and thoughts
and emotions of this kind. Very well, if this is so, they must go
on and learn, through suffering, the lesson which they refuse to learn
willingly. Others may say: "Yes, I want to control my thoughts, but
how can I cease to worry when I have so much about which to worry,
and how can I cease to hate when I have been so deeply wronged?" This
brings us to an even deeper cause of ill-health than that of mind,
viz., the attitude of the heart. Our scriptures tell us that "as a
man thinketh in his _heart_ so is he." By "heart" is meant the soul
or feeling, desiring part of man. It is here where the conflict
between the self-will and the Divine Will, between the desires of
the flesh and the longings of the Spirit take place. The real root
cause of all unhappiness, disharmony and ill-health is spiritual,
and not merely mental or physical. The latter are contributory causes,