Thomas Troward's The Dore Lectures on Mental Science,
Chapter Seven...The Great Affirmative
Chapter 7 of Thomas Troward's The Dore Lectures on Mental Science, 'The Great Affirmative,' culminates the preceding lectures by asserting the sole power and fundamental goodness of the Universal Spirit (God/First Cause). It provides the essential, foundational mental attitude required for all successful application of Mental Science.
1. The Nature of the Great Affirmative
The "Great Affirmative" is the unqualified declaration that the Originating Power of the universe is Pure Spirit and that its essential nature is Life and Good.
This Affirmative is the master key to successful creation because it establishes the true operating principle.
If we believe in an Original Power that is limited, capricious, or capable of producing evil, we subject ourselves to these limitations.
By affirming the fundamental Goodness and Life of the Universal Mind, we align ourselves with a force of infinite and benevolent creative capacity.
2. The Illusion of the Opposite
Troward addresses the logical necessity of evil, suffering, or lack, and dismisses it as a lack of realization, not an original creative force.
Evil, like darkness, is simply the absence of light; it is not a power in itself.
The only power in the universe is Good, and any apparent evil results from the individual's failure to recognize or fully utilize this Life Principle.
Limitation is only caused by the belief in limitation. By consistently affirming the Great Affirmative, the individual dissolves the subconscious beliefs in limitation, allowing the power of Good to flow unimpeded.
3. The Practical Application of the Affirmative
The Great Affirmative is not just a philosophical statement; it is a practical working premise.
It teaches the individual to turn away from symptoms of sickness, lack, or fear (which are merely the negative consequences of past thought) and to rest completely in the certainty of the originating, all-powerful Good.
The mind must be kept fixed on the principle of Life and Abundance, rather than the specific facts of the current limited condition.
This affirmation of Oneness with the Source—that one's mind is a center of Divine operation—is the means by which the individual gains mastery over conditions, as they are drawing on the only true creative power in existence.
4. The Mind as a Divine Center
The ultimate result of the Great Affirmative is the realization that "My mind is a center of Divine operation."
The Divine operation is always for expansion and fuller expression (new creation).
Since the Divine cannot change its inherent nature, it must operate in the same way through the individual mind, producing new, better conditions in their specific world, always advancing beyond previous experiences.
This realization ensures a continuous, progressive manifestation of harmony and prosperity, based on the unwavering premise that the source of all power is inherently good and unlimited.
You can further explore the foundational ideas of Troward's philosophy on the Universal Mind and creative power:
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