hermeticism

This article by Nina Rudnikova was initially published in the "Vaimsuse Ideoloogia" magazine No. 3, 1939.

The Power of Thoughts (1939)

Thought is the sole creative force in the Universe, a fact that can be easily verified. Every undertaking and every action is preceded by thought, and no task or manifestation is possible without thought's preliminary work.

All our feelings originate from thoughts, as it is our thoughts about an object that evoke either attraction or aversion towards it. Thus, the direction of our thoughts influences our feelings. Thought governs not only human life but also the lives of animals and plants; life cannot exist without thought. The difference lies in the clarity and degree of imagination in this creative thought. All living beings differ in their capacity to think. Just as human thought shapes an individual's life, Divine creative thought dictates the life of the Universe, which is the product of this creativity. However, thought is a result of consciousness, and consciousness is created under the influence of opposing interactions between the subjective and objective world surrounding us. Consciousness cannot exist without a subject and an object, just as thought cannot exist without them.

We know that there are many degrees of consciousness. We know that, on the one hand, there are consciousnesses containing a very large number of objects and, on the other hand, consciousnesses with a very limited number of objects. Some consciousnesses are broad, like the whole world, but some are so narrow that they can only perceive their personality; between these two, there is a whole chain of different degrees of consciousness.

The extent of consciousness depends on the level of subjective development. Consciousness filled with various matters and personal concerns has a limited scope, while consciousness that seeks emotions detaches itself from trivial day-to-day matters and transcends petty personal issues, opening up to feelings. As consciousness expands, so do the criteria of perceptions and the power of thought. Thought is the outcome of consciousness and determines the relationship between the subject and the surrounding objective environment.

Attachment to an object restricts the mind and weakens its thinking ability. It causes confusion and passion in a person, hindering the power of thought. Liberation from attachment enhances the creative element in a person's thinking, and subjective mastery over things that once evoked desires and passions allows for a calm relationship with the objective world, better control over objects, and transforms the individual into a knowledgeable and intelligent being. In this scenario, the subjective aspect dominates the objective. Only wise thinking paves the way for true, rational, and majestic creativity. A clear and strong thought can only emerge when consciousness is undisturbed by passions and personal attachments. Such a thought possesses wise creative power.

Shifting attention away from everyday concerns and nurturing interests that transcend the individual is only possible through idealism. Thus, the power of thought depends on the degree of idealism. Trivial personal thoughts quickly ignite and fade, mixing with others like them, creating an unclear jumble of conflicting desires that obstruct each other from becoming stable in life. Furthermore, a shallow consciousness cannot assess the necessary conditions and guiding forces, even in its limited personal life. As a result, its desires often go unfulfilled due to opposing forces it doesn't account for, or their fulfillment is entirely misaligned with the original thoughts that sparked these desires.

Such thoughts arise chaotically, making the outcomes of their influence hard to predict. However, a thought generated by a powerful consciousness, the thought of a wise and determined person, will be equally persistent, making it stronger than the accumulation of petty thoughts. It will have the ability to break through. Additionally, a consciousness that has escaped the confines of personal interests possesses the capacity for objective observation.

A consciousness with clear and idealistic thought is in harmony with the overall Divine Plan. Such thought can generate a flow of ideas that influence the surrounding mental atmosphere, impacting other consciousnesses and guiding their thoughts and actions to actualize these ideas.

Therefore, the individual who unveils the secret of thought's origin and discovers the key to its power must have a consciousness that:

does not embody desires, passions, and personal attachments;
is wise, that is, idealistic and in harmony with the Universal Divine Mind;
utilizes its subjective principle to govern the objective world;
possesses the ability to think calmly, clearly, and with focus.

Under such conditions, thoughts remain unaltered, maintaining a stable form. These thought-forms permeate the Earth's physical atmosphere, and when a consciousness in harmony with these forms encounters one with greater potential, it experiences enlightenment or inspiration. This awakens the power of creative life and a desire for activities embodying the resonant thought. Such a consciousness actualizes the captured thought according to its desires and capabilities. In this way, a single thought-form can serve as a source of artistic creativity and scientific discovery. The actual author of this creation or discovery is the consciousness that generated the thought-form, while the visible authors are merely the implementers. As such, we cannot identify the real creators of great inventions, artistic masterpieces, or popular movements.

Thought transcends time and place, allowing us to exist in the past, the future, on Earth, and even on distant stars. Thus, thought encompasses the past, the future, and all space, reigning supreme over time and location while remaining eternally divine by nature. In the visible world, the Divine principle manifests through thought, with higher, broader, and freer thoughts bringing individuals closer to God. Controlling creative thought equates to controlling the divine creative power.

Thought is the most precious gift bestowed upon us by God. By honoring this gift, we can prevent its misuse and learn to use it respectfully. Every selfless thought aimed at seeking the truth and serving the Universal Good aligns with the Divine Plan and is capable of creating powerful thought forms in humanity's psychic atmosphere. Simultaneously, such thoughts act as powerful levers to elevate consciousness.

Conversely, petty and selfish thoughts narrow consciousness and weaken purpose, binding a person to a world of chaotic desires. Every great thought brings happiness, while unworthy thoughts torment and cause pain. Each individual is responsible for their thoughts, and the law of cause and effect or the law of Karma governs their consequences. Each noble, selfless thought benefits its creator by illuminating their consciousness, while each low, egoistic thought has a destructive impact on the consciousness of its creator.

This means that each person creates their own Karma through the power of their thoughts, with the quality of thoughts determining rewards and punishments, not God or fate. The collective Karma of humanity is shaped by the creativity of individuals' thoughts. Thus, each person is responsible for their thoughts before all of humanity.

This responsibility is more significant than the responsibility for misdeeds, as the power of thought can cause multiple actions since thought forms transfer from one consciousness to another. Every consciousness is immersed in a world of thoughts, which can either serve as a source of light and joy or as a catalyst for destruction. Therefore, let us all remember that the creator is inseparably connected to their creation, and the creation determines the Karma of the creator.