WisdomLeads #7: As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

When you have written all day long and edited your post for the fortieth time, when the temperature of your body seems to be constantly rising high and you can feel the pressure inside, when the only promise of the day seems to be your few ardent readers and few likes on the FB page, when this conclusion what you write makes sense to you only and few of your blog readers, when the thought of working on another post makes you sweat more and feel frustrated, when your mind seems to be trapped up in the whirlpool of negative thoughts and emotions, when the only thing that you can trust on is your cup of tea, and then you remind yourself of what James Allen said “Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom” in Chapter No 7 of “As a Man Thinketh”.

Great thought to remember in such situations, isn’t this? Of course, it is.

Credits: Google Images

So, before we discuss the wisdom nuggets shared by Allen in this chapter, I would like you to do this little exercise. Just do this. Turn the pages of your life’s book and remember all those incidents from the Experience chapters where you fumed with anger and took some hasty decisions. Be it personal, professional, family related or spiritual. I am sure you still remember what you did and how you spoke and why you did what you did, didn’t you?

So, if you analyze all those cases, which I do now in the times of reflection, you will realize that your temper, lack of self control or high emotional state was one of  the reasons to take any such decision. And whether that decision was right or wrong that will be another point of discussion.

So what do we do in such situations? And how do we react?

Remain calm and keep your mind like water, no more, no less, come the wise Answer.

And this is what Allen shares in this chapter. Calmness says Allen “is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.”

Describing the attributes of a calm man, says Allen that “The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others; and they, in turn, reverence his spiritual strength and feel that they can learn of him and rely upon him. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good.”

But this calmness of mind is not so easy to attain. Just like any other skill which becomes stronger by practicing it, in the same manner, calmness of mind, too could be sharpened by practicing it on daily basis and its performance can be validated in the turbulent times. And once we achieve the calmness of mind, we gain what Allen calls as the strength of character.  And such a person calls Allen “is always loved and revered. He is like a shade-giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. “Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet tempered, balanced life?””

Once we attain this lesson of serenity, which Allen calls “as the last lesson of culture and the fruitage of the soul.” We attain wisdom which in words of Allen is “more to be desired than gold-yea, than even fine gold. How insignificant mere money seeking looks in comparison with a serene life-a life that dwells in the ocean of Truth, beneath the waves, beyond the reach of tempests, in the Eternal Calm!”

And thus concluding the chapter, Allen advises us to master our thought and find the peace within,”In bark of your soul reclines the commanding Master; He does but sleep: wake Him. Self-control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is power. Say unto your heart, “Peace, be still!””

So, “Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amidst the storm.” And this is what is the truest wealth revealed by Allen, which is mastered by all the ancient masters and all the  great leaders alike.