Page 79 - AAMT-2019 Workbook

AS A MAN THINKETH JAMES ALLEN
554 suffering which both states entail, condemns neither; a
555 perfect Compassion embraces both oppressor and oppressed.
556 He who has conquered weakness, and has put away all selfish
557 thoughts, belongs neither to oppressor nor oppressed. He is
558 free.
559 A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his
560 thoughts. He can only remain weak, and abject, and
561 miserable by refusing to lift up his thoughts.
562 Before a man can achieve anything, even in worldly things,
563 he must lift his thoughts above slavish animal indulgence. He
564 may not, in order to succeed, give up all animality and
565 selfishness, by any means; but a portion of it must, at least,
566 be sacrificed. A man whose first thought is bestial indulgence
567 could neither think clearly nor plan methodically; he could
568 not find and develop his latent resources, and would fail in
569 any undertaking. Not having commenced manfully to control
570 his thoughts, he is not in a position to control affairs and to
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