In order to be able to help others, one must first prepare oneself. This logic is expressed in the "Daily Prayer" in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy, where we ask a blessing first on ourselves and then on mankind: "'Thy kingdom come;' let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!" Man., Art. VIII, Sect. 4;
Our study of Christian Science is inseparable from our search for our own real individuality. Mrs. Eddy's writings enlighten the reader, bless him, and so encourage his concern for the well-being of others. Jesus himself advises us: "First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Matt. 7:5;
Traditional moral judgments make a strong distinction between egotism and altruism; both, however, include the same error. They separate people into two groups: me, and others—the former focused on "self," the latter on "others." Such a distinction is not scientific, since there is only one Mind, which we all reflect.
