The Master Key System Chapter 11 Explained
The Master Key System Chapter 11 deals with the power of inductive reasoning and faith.
The first thing we need to understand is the law of cause and effect is always at play.
Every action has a reaction.
This is as true in the physical world of objects (e.g. billiard balls hitting each other) as it is in the mental world of thoughts and emotions.
“We frequently hear it said, ‘A very distressing situation came into my life, which could not have been the result of my thought, as I certainly never entertained any thought which could have such a result.’ We fail to remember that like attracts like in the mental world, and that the thought which we entertain brings to us certain friendships — companionships of a particular kind — and these in turn bring about conditions and environment, which in turn are responsible for the conditions of which we complain.”
— Charles Haanel
Thoughts set in motion a sequence of events.
Sometimes these chains of causation can extend over several years.
When the corresponding event, which was sparked by an earlier thought, occurs we often have lost all reference to its origins.
This is most commonly seen in the subconscious mind after traumatic events.
In some instances, trauma suppresses certain memories making it hard for the victim to understand their destructive coping mechanisms later in life.
The victim’s mind represses memories and thoughts to protect them.
Even in the absence of trauma our memories are not reliable.
We can hardly remember what we were doing two weeks ago let alone what we were thinking several years ago.
Despite our ignorance, the law perpetuates itself affecting unsuspecting victims who have not claimed their minds.
Make it a habit to analyze your thinking to ensure your thoughts are constructive.
Inductive reasoning
“Inductive reasoning is the process of the objective mind by which we compare a number of separate instances with one another until we see the common factor that gives rise to them all.”
The part of the mind which is able to do this reasoning is the conscious mind (the ‘Watchman at the Gate’).
Inductive reasoning relies on the principle of cause and effect to work.
It requires a consistent universe.
Haanel explains how this principle works with a few scientific examples.
“Cuvier sees a tooth belonging to an extinct race of animals. This tooth wants a body for the performance of its function and it defines the peculiar body it stands in need of with such precision that Cuvier is able to reconstruct the frame of this animal.”
Paleontologists can determine the size of an animal, how long ago it lived, and if it’s a carnivore or herbivore all from the animal’s bones.
This is done by inductive reasoning.
The size of a crocodile can be estimated by measuring its skull.
By considering the common ratio between a typical crocodile’s head to its body, you can deduce its length with a simple calculation.
You can tell what an animal eats by the type of teeth it has.
Herbivores have distinctly different teeth from carnivores.
Bones can be carbon dated to give an estimate of the animal’s age.
Notice how all these means of scientific inquiry rely on understanding existing patterns.
Through these same means we are able to understand why some people are able to achieve success whilst others struggle.
“We see people in every civilized country on the globe securing results by some process which they do not seem to understand themselves, and to which they usually attach more or less mystery. Our reason is given to us for the purpose of ascertaining the law by which these results are accomplished.”
It’s not about luck but understanding law.
The Master Key System Chapter 11 Big Idea: Faith The Secret Ingredient
“We are first to believe that our desire has already been fulfilled, its accomplishment will then follow.”
This teaching has been echoed by several teachers throughout the generations.
Some of the most prominent being Jesus, Plato and Swedenborg.
This method works because “we are thus thinking on the plane of the absolute and eliminating all consideration of conditions or limitation and are planting a seed which, if left undisturbed, will finally germinate into existing fact.”
When you assume something to be true, your connection to the Universal Mind becomes stronger.
Circumstances in your outside will begin shifting as your subconscious mind finds new avenues for the attainment of your desires.
When you look at any example of success you will find an individual with faith.
If successful people didn’t believe they could accomplish great things, they wouldn’t put themselves in the position in the first place.
As seen in the life of Roger Bannister (the first man to break the 4-minute mile), you need at least a drop of faith that your goal can be achieved.
If you stay on the path and walk across the Bridge of Incidents you will succeed.
The Master Key System Chapter 11 Exercise Explained
For your exercise this week, concentrate on the quotation taken from the Bible, “Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them.” Notice that there is no limitation. “Whatsoever things” is very definite and implies that the only limitation which is placed upon us is in our ability to think, to be equal to the occasion, to rise to the emergency, to remember that Faith is not a shadow, but a substance, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
The point of this exercise is to use your inductive skills to see how faith has worked out in your life.
You might remember instances when you had complete faith in your abilities.
During these times things happened just as you envisioned.
You might also consider times when you doubted yourself and your results were lackluster.
Induction will help you see the patterns in your life.
Once your prove the concept to yourself, start thinking about how you can build your faith to achieve your lofty goals.
You have seen others achieve what you want.
You can see the faith they possessed.
Now it’s your turn.
Do this, and you will be one step closer to living and dying well.