The Master Key System Chapter 17 aims to teach the student of mental chemistry the art of differentiating symbols from reality.
Haanel begins by explaining how different cultures have created symbols of God.
Many of these Gods being mere personifications of human qualities or forces of nature.
To Haanel, an accurate understanding of a thing comes from its spiritual basis rather than from the evidence of the 5 senses.
Getting to the spirit of a thing is moving from the symbol to the reality.
This work is done through the mind.
The Master Key System Chapter 17 Big Idea: The Power of Mind
“We are told that Man has ‘dominion over all things’. This dominion is established through Mind.”
Haanel shares a passage from Genesis which explains the difference between Man and Animal.
The difference between Man and Nature.
Man gains power over the material world and lower animals because of his capacity to use mind.
Almost everything in nature triumphs the physicality of a human being.
However, millions of strong animals have become food supplies for mankind through the means of farming and fishing.
Powerful forces of nature have been tamed and their energy used for the good of humanity.
Just look at a dam to see how nature can be tamed.
Electricity is used to power cities.
All of this would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the mind.
It’s this mind which uncovers these hidden truths through the power of concentration.
The power of deliberate concentration In Reality Creation
“Great discoveries are the result of long-continued investigation. The science of mathematics requires years of concentrated effort to master it, and the greatest science — that of the Mind — is revealed only through concentrated effort.”
— Charles Haanel
Concentration is the power needed to uncover Universal truths.
Concentration is the ability to focus your attention on one object of awareness.
In our age of distraction, this ability is becoming more difficult to develop.
But, with practice and patience you can develop your concentration skills.
“…you should be so interested in your thought, so engrossed in your subject, as to be conscious of nothing else. Such concentration leads to intuitive perception and immediate insight into the nature of the object concentrated upon.”
— Charles Haanel
The example of a great method actor is given to show the student how to concentrate.
Great actors do not exert effort in order to be convincing.
They do not even try to act, they instead become the character which they are playing.
This act of becoming a character allows them to effortlessly convince the audience.
It’s convincing because it’s true; in that moment the great actor is that character.
You will notice how many of the greatest scenes in movies are often improvised.
This is due to the actor intuitively playing out what feels right.
They bring the character to life by allowing their subconscious mind to lead the dance.
This is how you should approach concentration.
Don’t use effort, become the object of your attention.
“The average person has no conception of the meaning of concentration. There is always the cry “to have” but never the cry ‘to be’; they fail to understand that they cannot have one without the other, that they must first find the ‘kingdom’ before they can have the ‘things added’.”
— Charles Haanel
Quoting a passage by Jesus on the Sermon of the Mount, Haanel explains the omnipresence of this philosophy of being before having.
Seek the kingdom of God which has been said to be ‘within you’, and all things which you want will be given to you.
This signifies the importance of focusing on the inner world to see changes in the outer world.
The Master Key System Chapter 17 – The Power of The Subconscious Mind
“Desire is largely subconscious; conscious desire rarely realizes its object when the latter is out of immediate reach. Subconscious desire arouses the latent faculties of the mind, and difficult problems seem to solve themselves.”
— Charles Haanel
The subconscious mind needs a burning desire in order to realize the object of concentrated attention.
Emotion needs to be injected into the meditation.
If you simply focus your attention on something and feel nothing, then perhaps the task is not one in which your soul is interested in completing.
This is the reason why certain people become privy to certain insights.
There are thousands of scientists, but not all of them had the same level of desire as an Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla or Isaac Newton.
Desire also allows for concentrated effort to be easier.
If you find yourself lacking desire in a particular area, perhaps you are chasing the wrong goal.
The right goal will come easily to you because it will effortlessly occupy your attention.
All you will need to realize such goals is to learn how to focus your attention on specific outcomes.
“The astronomer centers his mind on the stars and they give forth their secrets; the geologist centers his mind on the construction of the earth and we have geology; so with all things. Men center their minds on the problems of life, and the result is apparent in the vast and complex social order of the day.”
Learn to focus on what you want instead of what you don’t.
The war against drugs has done nothing to remove drugs from the streets.
The war against terror hasn’t changed the ideologies of radical terrorist groups.
The war against poverty has not removed homeless people from the streets.
Instead of focusing on what is wanted society focuses on what is not wanted.
Instead of focusing on new ways to build prosperity and abundance, governments are focused on receiving wealth from taxes.
This way of thinking doesn’t work in the long term.
To change societal problems, you need to focus on solutions not mistaking reality for the symbols.
The Power of Intuition
“Intuition arrives at conclusions without the aid of experience or memory. Intuition often solves problems that are beyond the grasp of the reasoning power.”
Intuition is a power that works alongside concentration.
When you concentrate, you send a signal to the Universal Mind about what you require.
In the silence you receive the response through means of intuition.
This is why many high-level executives, entrepreneurs and scientists make it a priority to seek moments of silence.
It’s in the silence that their greatest ideas are received.
To develop your intuitive powers, you must learn to respect the messages you receive.
“In order to do this it must be recognized and appreciated; if the intuitive visitor is given a royal welcome when he comes, he will come again; the more cordial the welcome the more frequent his visits will become, but if he is ignored or neglected he will make his visits few and far apart.”
You respect the messages by taking action on the suggestions.
When you disregard intuitive guidance, you will receive less of it.
The Master Key System Chapter 17 – The Spiritual Prototype
“Thought ordinarily leads outwardly in evolutionary directions, but it can be turned within where it will take hold of the basic principles of things — the heart of things, the spirit of things. When you get to the heart of things it is comparatively easy to understand and command them…”
The spirit of a thing in occult circles is known as the spiritual prototype.
The term, which was popularized by Thomas Troward, explains the importance of meditating on the essence of what you desire.
When you can concentrate on the essence of the thing, you are not mistaking the symbol for reality.
The Master Key System Chapter 17 Exercise Explained
For your exercise this week concentrate as nearly as possible in accordance with the method outlined in this lesson. Let there be no conscious effort or activity associated with your purpose. Relax completely and avoid any thought of anxiety as to results. Remember that power comes through repose. Let the thought dwell upon your object until it is completely identified with it, until you are conscious of nothing else.
The exercise for chapter 17 is about developing your concentration ability.
Much like an actor ,you must meditate on a desired ideal until you become one with it.
This ability is of crucial importance for manifesting the things you desire.
This is the spiritual work which will unlock hidden doors.
Do this, and you will be one step closer to living and dying well.