Pernicious mental practice does more harm to the young students than does the opposition of hypnotism. They start out buoyantly with their consciousness of a new power, that fills them with greater beauty of life. Immediately follows a great danger. With the joy comes a desire to test this new power; and unless an unswerving adherence to Truth guides the thought, it is liable to lead the student into the deep error of working in will-power, or mental malpractice.
The mental practitioner clothes a personal motive with pious intentions to do good. He talks of the errors of others, as an excuse to benefit himself; or speaks of a good demonstration of mind, as when one of his tenants did not pay his rent until he treated him to be honest, and pay promptly. Another wishing a reduction in rent, treated that the landlord is not selfish, and should not ask so much. She wished to have her husband's pay increased, and less hours to work. The employer was influenced, mentally, that he must do right and favor her husband.
It all comes from wrong reliance on silent argument to heal, which was only intended to help the student out of error. The argument never heals, nor converts; it is too much allied to will, and not enough to Love. Only by alliance to Principle do we gain the divine healing influx of true thought.
