The Science of Manifestation

Have you ever considered that your subconscious mind might be quietly steering the course of your life, accepting suggestions and manifesting them into real-world outcomes? 

Welcome forward. In part 4, of this modernization of Thomas Troward’s Edinburgh Lectures On Mental Science, we explored the subjective and objective mind. In part 5, we’ll continue this exploration. Specifically, we'll unravel the intricate relationship between our conscious decisions and subconscious beliefs, illuminating how this dynamic duo shapes everything from personal growth to the very fabric of the universe.

But this isn't just about introspection. We'll connect these personal insights to the grand tapestry of existence, contemplating the universal subconscious mind that Troward identifies as the creative force behind all of nature. By understanding our individual connection to this limitless source, we unlock the potential to consciously influence our reality.

Buckle up. We’re going back into the deep end.

In part 4, we explored how the world of hypnotism could help us better understand how the subjective mind works. So, let's start today by considering hypnotism again, which reveals that what we call the "hypnotic state" is actually how our subconscious mind normally operates. It's always accepting suggestions—like a sponge soaking up water—whether we're aware of it or not, and these suggestions lead to real-world outcomes. The unusual aspect of experimental hypnotism is that it bypasses the usual control our conscious mind has over the subconscious and allows someone else to direct it. So, it's fair to say that our subconscious naturally runs on suggestions. This makes it crucial to decide what suggestions we accept and where they come from.

Reflection Point: Have you ever considered how the suggestions you encounter daily—from music, media, friends, or even self-talk—might be influencing your subconscious mind? Are there any influences you should consider removing or limiting?

The Subconscious Mind’s Role in the Grand Scheme of Creation

Before exploring further on the idea that our subconscious naturally runs on suggestions, let's better understand the role of the subconscious in the grand scheme of creation.

If you've been following along with the idea that an intelligent spirit permeates all space and matter, it becomes easier to see this universal presence as the collective subjective mind, or as many would call it, the Spirit of God moving through all creation. It's clear that this universal mind doesn't share the qualities of our individual, objective minds. The universal mind is the creative force behind all of nature. As the original source, it brings forth the various forms through which individual objective minds recognize themselves. Only after these forms exist can individual minds interact with the universal mind. Thus, as pure spirit or the first cause, the universal mind must be the subjective mind. Experiments have shown that the subjective mind is what builds our bodies, indicating that creating and growing from within are its essential characteristics.

From both experiments and logical reasoning, we can conclude that wherever creative power is at work—whether on the cosmic scale or within an individual—we are witnessing the subjective mind in action. Therefore, we can establish that the all-pervading intelligence we've discussed is purely the subjective mind. It operates according to its own laws: it's receptive to any suggestion and will execute that suggestion to its most logical conclusion. You might not immediately grasp how incredibly important this is, but with a bit of thought, you'll start to see the enormous possibilities it holds. We'll explore some of the serious implications of this in the final section. For now, just recognize that the subjective mind within us is the same force at work throughout the universe, generating the countless natural forms around us and even giving rise to us. You might think of your individual subjective mind as your personal share of the universal mind—or, in spiritual terms, the divine spark within you that connects you to God. This doesn't mean the universal mind is divided into pieces. To avoid getting too abstract at this point, it's helpful to use the idea of having a personal portion of the universal subjective mind.

Bridging the Gap: How to Consciously Use the First Cause

Grasping our individual subjective mind in this way helps us overcome a significant philosophical challenge: how to consciously use the first cause—that is, how to create external results through our own thoughts. Ultimately, there's only one first cause: the universal mind, or God. Because it's universal, it can't act specifically on an individual level without ceasing to be universal, and thus would no longer be the creative power we aim to engage. However, when we're focused on a specific goal, we intend to apply this universal power to a particular purpose. This creates a paradox: we want the universal to operate on the level of the particular. Essentially, we're trying to bridge the gap between two extremes—the innermost creative spirit and a specific external form.

This is where understanding our individual subjective mind as a personal share of the universal subjective mind becomes valuable. On one hand, our subjective mind connects directly with the universal mind. On the other, it connects with our individual objective (or conscious) mind, which interacts with the external world conditioned by time and space. Therefore, the relationship between our subjective and objective minds forms the bridge we need to connect these two extremes.

The Absolute and the Relative: Channels for Thought

Think of the individual subjective mind as the channel for the Absolute, just as the objective mind is the channel for the Relative. To effectively use these two aspects of our mind, we need to understand what "absolute" and "relative" mean. The Absolute refers to the idea of something existing in and of itself, independent of other things—it's about the essence. The Relative refers to something in relation to other things—it's defined by its environment or circumstances. The Absolute is the realm of causes; the Relative is the realm of conditions.

If we want to influence conditions, we can only do so by using our thought power on the plane of the Absolute, and we achieve this through the subjective mind. Harnessing the creative power of thought involves learning to think in the Absolute, which requires a clear understanding of how our different mental functions interact. It's crucial to remember that the subjective mind, on any scale, is highly sensitive to suggestion. It works diligently to manifest the suggestion that's most deeply imprinted upon it.

So, if we want to take an idea out of the limited realm of the Relative—where it's constrained by surrounding conditions—and move it into the limitless realm of the Absolute, we need a well-defined method that aligns with our mental makeup. Typically, we first conceive our desires in relation to existing circumstances, which may or may not seem favorable. Our goal is to remove the element of chance and achieve something certain in itself. To do this, we must impress upon our subjective mind the idea of what we desire, completely apart from any conditions. This means eliminating the concept of time and thinking of our desire as already existing. If we don't do this, we're not operating consciously on the plane of the Absolute and aren't utilizing the creative power of our thoughts.

Envisioning a Spiritual Prototype

One practical way to develop this habit of thinking is to envision a spiritual prototype of everything that exists—a sort of blueprint in the spiritual realm that becomes the root of its physical counterpart. If we train ourselves to see this spiritual prototype as the true essence of a thing, and the physical form as its outward expression, we'll understand that creating this spiritual prototype is the first step in bringing about any external result. Since this prototype is purely spiritual, it can only be formed through thought, and it must be considered as already existing on the spiritual plane to have substance there.

This concept has been explored by philosophers like Plato with his idea of archetypal forms and by Swedenborg with his doctrine of correspondences. Even more directly, in Mark 11:24, it says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Notice the shift in tenses—the instruction is to believe we've already received what we're asking for, and then it will manifest in the future. This is essentially a concise guide on how to use the creative power of thought: by impressing upon the universal subjective mind that what we desire is an already accomplished fact. By doing this, we're thinking on the plane of the Absolute, removing all considerations of limitations or potential obstacles. We're planting a seed that, if left undisturbed, will inevitably grow and bear fruit.

Creating a Nucleus for Manifestation

By intelligently engaging our subjective mind in this way, we create a sort of nucleus that immediately starts attracting material similar to itself. If this process continues uninterrupted, it will keep going until an external form that matches the nature of this nucleus manifests in the physical world. This is how nature operates on every level.

Consider, for example, how a tiny seed grows into a towering tree. The seed contains within it the blueprint of the entire tree—the roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and even the fruit it will bear. Once planted, the seed doesn't need to be told how to grow; it simply unfolds according to the inherent pattern within it. It attracts the necessary nutrients from the soil, water, and sunlight to manifest its potential fully. Similarly, our thoughts act as seeds in the subjective mind, each containing the blueprint of their eventual manifestation. When we focus our thoughts clearly and confidently, we're planting these mental seeds in the fertile ground of the universal subjective mind.

Trusting the Process of Growth

Just as the seed needs time and the right conditions to grow, so do our thoughts require patience and faith. We wouldn't dig up a seed every day to see if it's sprouting—that would disrupt its natural growth process. In the same way, we should avoid doubting or second-guessing our desires once we've planted them in our subjective mind. Trusting the process is crucial for allowing the natural law of growth to bring our desires into reality. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." Recognizing that there is a divine timing can help us remain patient and faithful.

Science supports this idea through the concept of cellular development in living organisms. Every complex life form begins as a single cell—a tiny nucleus that contains all the genetic information needed to develop into a full organism. This cell divides and differentiates, attracting the necessary resources to build tissues, organs, and systems until a complete being emerges. This principle of starting from a small, concentrated point and expanding outward is a universal pattern in nature.

Reflection Point: Can you think of a "seed" thought you've planted in your mind that later manifested in your life? How did patience and trust play a role in its development? What about the inverse?

Understanding that the initiating force is Thought or Mind aligns with both ancient wisdom and modern science. Energy, in its purest form, can be seen as an expression of mind or will. When we consciously direct our thoughts, we're harnessing this fundamental energy to create conditions that reflect our desires. Since the only action of Mind is Thought, it's through our thoughts that we initiate the creation of corresponding external conditions. Our focused thought forms a nucleus that attracts everything it needs in an orderly fashion until the finished product appears in the physical world.

Manifesting Through Divine Thought

This principle is echoed in Proverbs 23:7, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." This suggests that our inner thoughts and beliefs shape our external reality. By aligning our thoughts with divine principles, we can manifest outcomes that are in harmony with our highest good.

To summarize, when we think of something, we create a spiritual prototype of it. This prototype acts as a nucleus or center of attraction for all conditions necessary for its eventual manifestation, thanks to the inherent law of growth within the prototype itself.

Reflection Point: What steps can you take to ensure that the "mental seeds" you're planting are positive and aligned with your true desires? How might you nurture these seeds to support their growth?

Co-Creating with the Universal Mind

By recognizing the power of our subjective mind and its connection to the universal mind—or the divine—we tap into an incredible creative force. Our task is to consciously plant the seeds of our desires, trust in the natural law of growth, and allow the process to unfold without interference. In doing so, we become co-creators with the universal mind, shaping our reality through the power of thought.

As we align ourselves with this process, we fulfill the idea expressed in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose." By allowing the divine mind to work through us, we harmonize our individual will with the universal will, leading to the manifestation of our deepest desires in accordance with a higher purpose. This reminds us of our moral responsibility to use our thoughts wisely. By recognizing the power of our thoughts and their ability to shape reality, we are entrusted with a significant responsibility. It's essential to align our thoughts with ethical principles and contribute positively to the world. Just as a seed requires proper care to grow into a healthy plant, our thoughts require careful cultivation to manifest in ways that benefit ourselves and others. This understanding not only empowers us but also calls us to act with integrity and compassion in all that we think and do.

Becoming a Conscious Co-Creator

By recognizing the power of our subjective mind and its connection to the universal mind, we tap into an incredible creative force. Our task is to consciously plant the seeds of our desires, trust in the natural law of growth, and allow the process to unfold without interference. In doing so, we become co-creators with the universal mind, shaping our reality through the power of thought.

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork, in part 6 we’ll turn our focus to: the Law of Growth. If you’ve ever felt frustrated because things weren’t happening fast enough, you’re not alone. But here’s the kicker—growth is a natural process, and trying to force it will only backfire. Nature doesn’t rush, and neither should we. Like a seed quietly growing beneath the soil, our thoughts need time to take root and manifest in the physical world.

In Part 6, we’ll explore why trusting this process is essential and how our impatience or doubt can actually sabotage the very thing we desire most.