As we finally wiped the last remnants of the cones from our faces with paper napkins, Andy asked us if he could put the shoe on the other foot for a change and ask us a simple question.
“Of course,” I replied, now giving him my undivided attention.
“If you have the thought that you are insecure, how do you think you would feel?”
“I imagine I’d feel insecure,” I answered.
“Now, that is simplicity in motion, is it not?” Andy asked.
Andy’s statements always sounded too simplistic to have any validity and after this one I told him I didn’t think life was that simple. Then I went on to explain to Andy that the reason we humans create insecure feelings is to warn us of danger and, without such feelings, we could get ourselves in a lot of trouble.
“Absolutely,” Andy agreed. “I’m not judging whether you have or have not the right to create such feelings. I’m simply saying, it is immaterial why we create our feelings of insecurity or security. They all derive from our personal usage of this universal gift called Thought.”
“I think that you and Janet are talking about what we do with our thoughts or what kind of behavior they lead to. What you have to realize is that I am talking about the gift of Universal Thought, before we do anything with it.
“Don’t you see, Eric, this way we are discussing the very essence of Universal Thought, which is impersonal and totally neutral.”
Whatever it was Janet was hearing had already affected her in the most positive way. I, too, had to acknowledge that Andy’s help regarding my thoughts had a lot to do with my outlook on life. I told him how, in the couple of years since meeting him, my life had never been so good. I felt for the first time in my life that I was beginning to understand my profession. Then, sheepishly, I admitted to him that there had been times when I thought that he was way off base with his extraordinary philosophy, and that he had no idea what he was talking about.
“However,” I said, “I remember one day I was sitting in my office, not thinking about anything in particular, when suddenly I saw to a deeper level that it was true that we all react to life according to our own thoughts. As you had said many times, Andy, my feelings are governed and manufactured from my own thinking.
“It was so simple and yet so profound, that I had to shake my head in disbelief. Here I was, a practicing psychologist, and I hadn’t seen such an obvious fact before. It was a revelation to me— greater than anything I’d ever experienced before in my entire life.
“I’ll tell you a little secret, Andy. When I was attending university, I used to dream of some day finding something that would bring me some contentment and happiness in my own life, something that I could pass on to my family and my clients. After I had that insight in my office, I thought to myself, ‘Are my dreams coming true?’ At that moment, I knew deep in my heart, I had to return to England and see you again.”
Andy lowered his head for a moment. When he looked up his bright blue eyes were full of tears, he said he was honored that I would think that way of him. Then he asked me what my insight had been.
“Do you know, Andy, I don’t think I could really explain what it was. It was a simple realization that my thoughts affected every part of my life. The experience itself was like a flash in time, but very powerful and meaningful to me, despite the fact that I failed to understand the deeper meaning of the experience itself.”
Nodding his head Andy smiled at my story.
“On that same day I noticed that my clients and friends were doing exactly the same thing as I was. We were all creating our own interpretation of the reality we lived in, only we were doing it in different ways. It was then that I realized to a deeper level what you were trying to tell us about the power of Thought. That’s when Janet and I decided to come and visit you again, to try to get a better understanding of your philosophical views regarding our psychological nature.”
After a moment, Andy said, “The way I see it, Eric, the moment we were born we began using this magnificent gift of the Three Principles to guide us through life and to recognize our second home, called nature.”
Andy’s philosophy was captivating. I felt, however, that I needed a great deal more time to digest what he was saying.
“Could you clarify the connection between spirituality and psychology?” I asked him.
“You can’t possibly find the secret to human behavior without walking on the spiritual side of life. Now please remember I am not talking religion, for the simple reason that religion has a form. What I’m telling you is the essence of all psychological experience here on earth. I’m talking in the impersonal, and right now we are talking about looking for some psychological answers. So I suggest we stick to a relevant subject, such as talking about the principles. Alright?”
Janet and I agreed that we would prefer to speak in terms of psychology.
“The other day, Eric, you asked me why I put so much importance on the Three Principles. I ask you to take a close look. When you do, you will see that it is through the innocently incorrect use of these three universal gifts that the lostness of humanity is born.
“You know, Eric, since the beginning of time, mankind has forged the tools to destroy himself within the armory of his own thinking. However, as human beings we also possess the same power within us to use our thoughts to build a heavenly mansion here on earth. This is why I say that the thoughts of mankind are the blueprints to all of humanity’s future; just as they were in the past, so they always will be.
“Eric, what you have to realize is this: Deep in the celestial world of spirit lies the knowledge you long to find and this, my friend, has everything to do with your profession, because Mind, Consciousness and Thought are the very essence and seat of your profession.”
After a long lull while Janet and I tried to assimilate Andy’s latest assertion, Janet spoke quietly. “You know, Andy, many who come to me for advice often talk about unwanted thoughts coming into their heads. What would you say to someone regarding their unwanted thoughts. How can we stop negative, unwanted thoughts from entering our heads?”
Without hesitation, Andy replied, “You can’t. They come too fast and if you try, you will soon find you are on a fool’s mission. What you can do, however, is realize that your thoughts have no power of their own, only that which you give them. This is why constantly keeping your negative thoughts alive is unhealthy. My advice is keep away from people who, innocently, take you back into the past and help you to fill your head with negative thoughts and sadness.
“Such practices strip away all hope of recovery and will keep you in the dark for the rest of your life. Never forget that hope is a very important ally that often leads to miraculous things.”
Completely gripped by what she was hearing, Janet murmured, “So what I hear you say is that everyone on earth has what is called a free will, and with this free will we have the power to pick the thoughts that we want to become alive, and ignore and discard the ones we don’t. We don’t have to act on every thought!”
“That is it precisely,” Andy replied, “for example, we are exercising it now by having this discussion.”
I was about to dispute his point of view, when all at once I saw that his words were true. I was picking which of my thoughts I wanted to use in our ongoing dialogue. As I was thinking that, I heard Andy’s voice saying, “Never forget, Eric, we live in a world governed by our thoughts and negative thoughts can enter our heads so fast that it is virtually impossible to control them. However, if you can see that they are only thoughts and you refuse to put life into them, they are harmless. If you can do this, you may be surprised by the positive effect it can have on your life.”