As we have seen, the universe is not run by blind forces. It is regulated by a field of intelligent energy. We have difficulty grasping this concept because the world appears so fickle and our untrained minds, dominated by the five senses, obscure the truth behind the appearance.
Consider a waterfall. Water cascades and sends spray everywhere. It appears chaotic, but every drop moves according to laws of motion which can be observed and measured. Similarly, the universe, which appears so turbulent to the casual observer, operates according to laws which are just as timeless and reliable, and work for our good. These laws have always existed, but we have not always been aware of them. For instance, there is no more electricity in the world today than ten thousand years ago, but it could not be harnessed until someone identified the laws by which it functions.
‘Law’ implies a rule which is unchanging, unyielding and continuous, established and enforced by some power. Whatever is ‘law’ today was the same yesterday and will be forever. Humans are not responsible for carrying out the laws which govern the universe, and we can do nothing to change them in any way. But we can learn about them and apply them. And just as we understand many physical laws, many spiritual laws are already understood, and no doubt others – physical and spiritual – are waiting to be discovered. Spiritual laws apply to all and can be counted on 100%. When we honour them, we grow in wisdom, love, creativity, personal power and all the other things that characterise CI. When we think positively, we grow in mental strength, and when we act lovingly and show kindness to others, we feel fulfilled.
36 All The Troubles Of Humanity Have Their Origin In Disregarding Law
When we understand the laws and work with them, we thrive; when we ignore them, we experience a measure of physical or psychological pain. Ignorance is no excuse: they work even if you have no knowledge of them, and if you break them inadvertently, the results are the same.
Hopefully the time will come when the spiritual laws are understood and applied by everyone to create a better world. In the meantime, your challenge is to understand and place yourself in harmony with them.
There are hundreds of known spiritual laws. The main ones which are discussed in this book are the Laws of:
- Cause and Effect
- Attraction
- Growth/Expansion
- Non-resistance
- Giving and Receiving (Chapter 12)
- Reciprocity (Chapter 13).
37 The Prime Law – The Law Of Cause And Effect
Cause and Effect is the Law of Laws. It states that for every result or thing that exists, there is a cause, and every action has an effect. When you throw a pebble into a pond, the ripples spread out from the centre in ever-widening circles. So it is with our actions. Good actions are causes. They create good effects; bad actions create bad effects. The effects spread outwards, affecting other lives to a greater or lesser degree.
Actions are causes, so are words and non-verbal forms of communication such as facial expressions and gestures, and also non-visible things such as attitudes and emotions. However,
the chief causes are thoughts, since every action is preceded by a thought.
38 We Reap What We Sow
We reap what we sow – but not necessarily
where we sow. Every thought, word and action eventually returns to us.
When we lay down good causes by thinking good thoughts and acting on them, blessings return to us – love, prosperity, health and kindness, etc. But actions resulting from thoughts of selfishness, greed, ignorance, malice and so on also have consequences. They set up a chain reaction which eventually returns to hurt us.
The Law of Cause and Effect reminds us that we get out of life exactly what we put into it, and when we change the causes, we get different results. We cannot get something for nothing and if we try, we will eventually be caught out. Knowing this brings order and purpose to the mind and enables us to fulfil our deepest desires.