The Three Minds of Man

It is hoped that after the last two lessons, you have become aware of the immense power of the brain and the all importance of thought in determining everything about you. As we saw, the brain is merely the instrument through which the mind expresses itself. Psychologists tell us that 90% of all our mentative processes are sub-conscious. In other words, we are aware of only 10% of our mind. We find that the area we call our conscious mind gradually fades into sub-conscious areas slightly below our awareness. These sub-conscious regions fade further and further into the depths of our subliminal mind never to be cognized or experienced by our conscious self. Yet from the deepest, most unconscious areas of the mind, these hidden regions and their contents mold and shape our inclinations, personality and in fact our entire destiny.

One thing we should keep in mind is that there is no line of demarcation between the conscious and sub-conscious. There is a gradual shading the one merging with the other. The same is true of man's mind and the Universal Mind. As the conscious mind fades into the sub-conscious, so does man's sub-conscious mind merge and blend with the Super Conscious Mind.

The purpose of this lesson is to give you a brief summary of each of these areas of mind power, after which you will be given instructions on how to utilize each area to your maximum benefit. These regions of mind power are yours to use as part of your divine heritage. The only thing that separates you from the higher regions of mind is your conscious awareness of them.

The time has come for you to face new levels of reality. In addition to the conscious mind of your senses, of which you are aware at the present time, your being is linked with and forms a part of an Infinite Ocean of Mentative Energy. This Mentative Energy is the Evolutionary Force responsible for the growth of leaves on the trees as well as the growth of the hair on your head. It functions in and through all things seeking greater and greater expression according to unalterable laws and principles, the results we witness as the physical universe.

Man's relation to this Infinite Intelligence can be considered in three phases known as the conscious mind, the sub-conscious mind, and the Super Conscious Mind. These three levels of mind power or consciousness are referred to symbolically in the Bible as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The conscious mind is represented by the Son for it is the most limited. It is the one that is in contact with the physical plane for the purpose of growth and development. The sub-conscious mind is symbolized by the Father as it is responsible for all the intricate processes which the Son, or conscious mind, can not comprehend. It also sends guidance and inspiration to the conscious mind to aid in its growth and development. The purpose of the sub-conscious is to regulate and control all the complex functions so that the conscious mind can be free to evolve and grow on the physical plane. The Super Conscious Mind may be considered as the Holy Spirit for it is the Infinite Intelligence that penetrates and permeates the interspaces of the universe. It is the Infinite Ocean of Mentative Energy in which we live and move and have our being; it can not be seen or recognized as a thing. The term " SPIRIT" is the only symbol we can use to represent to the conscious mind the existence of an Ultimate Principle of Reality which is a conscious, living, vital force throughout all space. The different phases of mentative energy are considered separately but are actually different phases of the same mentative substance. Much the same as the three phases of water, ice, and steam are the same substance in different states of vibration.

The source of all of Jesus' power he summed up in these six words, "I and My Father are One," meaning he was directly attuned to his higher sub-conscious mind. The conscious mind of man is the ordinary surface mind of the senses. This mind through the medium of the senses is in direct contact with the physical plane. It is this mind which is the operator and programmer of the human bio-computer. The conscious mind learns from books, people, experience and experiments. It reasons on things learned and on thoughts received from a variety of sources; and having passed judgment, rejects some things as error, and accepts others as truth.

If you will look about you at the present time, you will become aware of much phenomenon; it is your conscious mind that perceives this phenomenon. As outside stimuli is perceived, it is interpreted and according to how it is interpreted, the conscious mind elicits the proper response through the medium of the nervous system, endocrine glands, emotions, etc. For instance, suppose you are walking through the woods and through the medium of your senses, you are perceiving much beautiful and varied phenomenon. This vast range of stimuli is being interpreted by the conscious mind as very pleasant and harmonious, resulting in a contented sense of well-being. Suddenly you spy a large snake; this stimuli is instantly interpreted as a threat to your well-being and the appropriate responses of rapid movement, fright, and possibly long distance flight are issued forth. This entire sequence takes place rapidly and efficiently due to the perceiving, interpreting and response of the conscious mind. The important thing to remember is, it is how the stimuli is interpreted that is responsible for the reaction. Had the conscious mind interpreted a garden hose to be a large snake, the responses would have been the same.

The conscious mind through the use of the bio-computer and nervous system makes many remarkable computations and elicits the proper responses at speeds which for our limited means of measuring time, can be considered instantaneous. Consider two persons engaged in a game of tennis or handball. The mind must calculate the angle at which the ball will strike the court and also the exact speed. At the same time, it must send nerve impulses to the various sets of muscles to coordinate the proper movements to put the body in the proper place at precisely the right time. And also to strike the ball at exactly the right force and angle to land in the appropriate point in space and time within the boundaries of the opponent. This entire computation, interpretation, and response takes place in a matter of a few seconds.

The rapid efficiency of the conscious mind and bio-computer has contributed immensely to man's survival and progressive evolution on the physical plane. But no matter how complex, remarkable, and wonderful the conscious mind may seem, it is connected with a mind that is so far superior, the human bio-computer with all its potential would overload and short circuit if it were to try to grasp its full capacity. This incredible intelligence is mans own personal sub-conscious mind.

All autonomous functions of the body are under direct control of the sub-conscious mind. It directs and is responsible for all the complex processes of assimilation, respiration, digestion, elimination, glandular secretions, blood circulation, and bodily repair and maintenance. From the moment of your birth this remarkable intelligence has been the guiding force of your growth and development. Without you ever being aware of it, your mighty sub-conscious has been solving problems and directing internal processes that the most advanced scientist and chemists have not the slightest idea of their 'modus operandi.' The sub-conscious never rests, but works continuously and faithfully to assure the harmonious function and continued duration of the living temple. It is this vast intelligence that functions as the healing force within the body as well as its animating principle.

The sub-conscious mind has practically unlimited power, not only for maintaining bodily equilibrium, but for solving all your personal problems and bringing you the finest things life has to offer. If you would but trust your personal and business problems to this Infinite Intelligence, nothing could stand between you and your fondest desires. The lack of knowledge of this mighty power within and how to use it is the sole cause of failure and misery today.

Not only does this fast intelligence regulate the life functions, but is linked with and forms a part of the Universal Storehouse of Knowledge. It is not limited by space or time or any kind of physical limitations. It can readily contact the sub-conscious mind of others regardless of distance. Many terms have been applied to this great guiding intelligence. We list a few of them here:

The voice of inspiration, the intuition, guardian angel, inner voice, intuitive level of consciousness, the sixth sense, premonition, servo mechanism, second sight, the friend inside your mind, etc.

Regardless of the terminology used to represent this miraculous intelligence, this power is at your service at all times. This mighty intelligence never rests, but is constantly serving you. You may call upon this mind at any time to supply you an answer to your every problem. All the greatest geniuses of the past have relied solely on the guidance they received from the still quiet voice of their inner mind. It is from this sub-conscious mind that all great inspiration has come. Unfortunately, this great guiding intelligence does not always receive the credit. Inspiration is often clothed in the language of the intellect and the person egotistically says, "I figured it out all by myself." But all guidance and inspiration has come from the sub-conscious mind in moments when the conscious mind has been at rest or quite calm.

More will be said about tapping this wonderful power later, but for now we must leave the subject for a briefing on the Super-Conscious mind. In Lesson Three, we discussed the Ultimate Reality and many terms were employed to represent this concept to the mind. The purpose of these terms, definitions, and explanations was to supply the student with a reference point. The terms and explanations were used so the student would have a basic concept to reason from, so that he might perceive his position in relation to the whole. It is hoped that these insufficient terms and explanations provided you with at least a general concept of the basic facts concerning one's existence. Also, we mentioned that the human language does not possess any terms, explanations or symbols that can describe the undescribable. Though we employed many symbols, terms and explanations, the time has come for you to realize the absolute futility of all words in explaining the unexplainable.

With an understanding of the impossibility of explaining the higher realities, let us conclude this lesson with these thoughts. The Super-Conscious Mind we label as the Mind of the Universe. Man's sub-conscious mind is his own individualized portion of the Universal Mentative Energy. Man's conscious mind may be considered as his brain mind, which is animated by the mentative energy. Through the medium of his sub-conscious mind, man is linked with the Universal Mind. That which is unexplainable and unknowable can not be comprehended, only experienced. In the depths of man's being, there lies the source of all things--the eternal, immutable Life Principle. Man's own Super-Conscious Mind. The purpose of meditation and the inward quest is to be united with the divine part within. When you come into the realization of the perfect unity of the conscious mind, the sub-conscious mind, and the Super-Conscious Mind you can say as Jesus did, "I and My Father are One." You are then established in power, for you have realized your union with the source of all power.