Chapter VIII - Footsteps Of Truth
Faith of Socrates
216:1
able philosopher because of his faith in Soul and his in-
able philosopher because of his faith in Soul and his in-
difference to the body.
The serpent of error
216:3
Who shall say that man is alive to-day, but may be dead
Who shall say that man is alive to-day, but may be dead
to-morrow? What has touched Life, God, to such
strange issues? Here theories cease, and Sci-
ence unveils the mystery and solves the prob-
lem of man. Error bites the heel of truth, but cannot kill
truth. Truth bruises the head of error – destroys error.
Spirituality lays open siege to materialism. On which
side are we fighting?
Servants and masters
216:11
The understanding that the Ego is Mind, and that
The understanding that the Ego is Mind, and that
there is but one Mind or intelligence, begins at once to
destroy the errors of mortal sense and to supply
the truth of immortal sense. This understand-
ing makes the body harmonious; it makes the nerves,
bones, brain, etc., servants, instead of masters. If man
is governed by the law of divine Mind, his body is in sub-
mission to everlasting Life and Truth and Love. The
great mistake of mortals is to suppose that man, God's
image and likeness, is both matter and Spirit, both good
and evil.
216:22
If the decision were left to the corporeal senses, evil
If the decision were left to the corporeal senses, evil
would appear to be the master of good, and sickness to
be the rule of existence, while health would seem the
exception, death the inevitable, and life a paradox. Paul
asked: "What concord hath Christ with Belial?" (2 Cor-
inthians vi. 15.)
Personal identity
216:28
When you say, "Man's body is material," I say with
When you say, "Man's body is material," I say with
Paul: Be "willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord." Give up
your material belief of mind in matter, and
have but one Mind, even God; for this Mind forms its
217:1
own likeness. The loss of man's identity through the
own likeness. The loss of man's identity through the
understanding which Science confers is impossible; and
the notion of such a possibility is more absurd than to
conclude that individual musical tones are lost in the
origin of harmony.
Paul's experience
217:6
Medical schools may inform us that the healing work
Medical schools may inform us that the healing work
of Christian Science and Paul's peculiar Christian con-
version and experience, – which prove Mind
to be scientifically distinct from matter, – are
indications of unnatural mental and bodily conditions,
even of catalepsy and hysteria; yet if we turn to the Scrip-
tures, what do we read? Why, this: "If a man keep my
saying, he shall never see death!" and "Henceforth know
we no man after the flesh!"
Fatigue is mental
217:15
That scientific methods are superior to others, is
That scientific methods are superior to others, is
seen by their effects. When you have once conquered
a diseased condition of the body through
Mind, that condition never recurs, and you
have won a point in Science. When mentality gives
rest to the body, the next toil will fatigue you less, for
you are working out the problem of being in divine meta-
physics; and in proportion as you understand the con-
trol which Mind has over so-called matter, you will be
able to demonstrate this control. The scientific and
permanent remedy for fatigue is to learn the power of
Mind over the body or any illusion of physical weariness,
and so destroy this illusion, for matter cannot be weary
and heavy-laden.
217:29
You say, "Toil fatigues me." But what is this me!
You say, "Toil fatigues me." But what is this me!
Is it muscle or mind? Which is tired and so speaks?
Without mind, could the muscles be tired? Do the
muscles talk, or do you talk for them? Matter is non‑