Charles Conrad - As a Man Thinketh: 21st Century Edition

As a Man Thinketh

21st Century Edition

The Wisdom of

James Allen

Rephrased by Sam Torode

SAM TORODE BOOK ARTS

As a Man Thinketh: 21st Century Edition is a modern version of As a Man Thinketh (1903) by James Allen. It has been entirely rewritten in contemporary language by Sam Torode. Cover photo by Everst, courtesy Creative Market.

Copyright 2017 by Sam Torode.

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Other Classics
Paraphrased by Sam Torode:

The Manual: A Philosophers Guide to Life
by Epictetus

The Meditations: An Emperors Guide to Mastery
by Marcus Aurelius

Everyday Emerson
by Ralph Waldo Emerson

INTRODUCTION

Widely considered the greatest self-help book of all-time, As a Man Thinketh reveals how our thoughts shape our character, circumstances, health, appearance, and achievements. The choice is yours: either master your mind to create the life you want, or remain mired in frustration and failure.

James Allen (18641912) was born into a poor, working-class British family. When he was fifteen, Jamess father was tragically killed, and he dropped out of school to work and support his family. He was a young laborer during the harsh early years of the Industrial Revolution.

For the next twenty years, James pulled himself up through the factory system. Reading voraciously and developing writing skills during his few spare hours, he eventually reached the level of executive secretary.

Through it all, James centered his thoughts on truth, beauty, and virtue. These qualities came to define his life.

At age 38, James retired from business to become a writer and contemplative philosopher. He moved to a small cottage in the country with his beloved wife, Lily. Together, they edited a philosophical journal, The Epoch , andJames poured out his thoughts in a steady stream of books.

Drawing from inspirations as diverse as the Bible, the Buddha, the Tao Te Ching, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Walt Whitman, James distilled the timeless, practical principles for success in all areas of life.

After his death, Lily continued to edit The Epoch and publish Jamess posthumous works, ensuring that his legacy would endure. Today, James Allen's books are read more widely than ever, inspiring millions around the globe.

While Jamess writing was exceptionally clear for its time, As a Man Thinketh like any 100-year-old bookuses archaic language that can be difficult to grasp. For this 21st Century Edition, I have rephrased Jamess ideas in contemporary English, making his wisdom available to today's readers.

As a bonus, at the end of this book youll find an exercise that Ive found very helpful in applying the principles of As a Man Thinketh to my life.

Sam Torode

FOREWORD

Mind is the master power that molds and makes;

We are mind, in one of the guises it takes.

Taking the tool of thought, we sculpt what we will,

Shaping our lives for good or ill.

We think in secret, and it comes to pass;

The world is our reflectionthe minds looking-glass.

This handbook is the result of meditation and experience. It is not a theoretical treatise, but a practical guide. Its aim is to inspire men and women to realize that we are the makers of ourselves through the power of the thoughts we choose and encourage.

Mind is the great weaver of your life, shaping both your inner character and outer circumstances. Up till now, you may have woven in ignorance and pain; but from this day forth, may you weave in enlightenment and happiness.

James Allen

CHARACTER

The proverb, As a man thinks in his heart, so is he, encompasses our character, our condition, and the circumstances of our lives.

What is our experience of life, but the sum total of our thoughts over time?

As a plant grows from a seed, so every act grows from a seed of thought. Everything you do or say begins in your mind. Even when your actions seem spontaneous, they are driven by unconscious thoughts.

Behavior is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits. We reap the harvestsweet or bitterof our inner garden.

Thoughts in the mind determine your course,

Steering your life for better or worse.

If you dwell on thoughts that are petty and unkind,

Pain will follow you as the oxs ploughbehind.

But dwell on thoughts that are noble and pure,

And joy will follow you as your own shadowsure.

adapted from a saying of the Buddha

The law of cause and effect is as valid in the invisible realm of thought as it is in the visible, material world. A noble character doesnt appear by chance; it is the natural result of consistent, right thinkingthe cumulative effect of dwelling on noble thoughts.

We are built up or brought down by ourselves. Within your mind you can build a fortress of joy, strength, and peace; or you can forge the weapons of thought that will bring about your own destruction. By right thinking, we harmonize with the divine intelligence of the universe; by wrong thinking, we descend to the level of beasts. We choose the direction along which our character develops, and this determines the course of our life.

Of all the uplifting, ennobling thoughts you can dwell upon, none is more powerful than this: that you are the master of your own mind, the author of your own character, and thus the maker of your own destiny.

With the powers of intelligence and love, you hold the key to turn every situation to your advantage. You have the ability to transform yourself and your circumstances.

Today, you may be mired in failure and misery because of past mistakes rooted in foolish thinking. But if you grasp this new understanding of the power of thought, you can begin to direct your energies in a positive direction. By taking conscious control of your mind, you can rejuvenate your life.

You dont have to take this on faith. Try it. Watch, evaluate, and change your thoughts over the next few days, and observe the results. Its not a matter of blind belief but of investigation, practice, and experience. Begin with the most trivial, everyday concernseven the simplest subjects are portals to self-knowledge.

Diamonds are obtained by mining under the earth. Dig deep within your soul, and you will gain new riches of understanding, wisdom, and power. You will realize the truth of the statement, Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.

CIRCUMSTANCES

The mind is like a garden which can be cultivated or allowed to run wild. Either way, it will bring forth results. If seeds of intelligent thought are planted and nurtured, they will grow into a healthful harvest. If the garden is left to chance, weed-seeds will blow in, take root, and flourish, producing nothing of use.

Just as a gardener weeds, waters, and cares for his or her plot, we must cultivate our mindsweeding out negative, mistaken, useless thoughts, while encouraging positive, true, fruitful thoughts. Even good seedlings, not cared for, will be choked out by weeds.

Character is simply the sum of our thoughts. And character manifests itself in our environment and through our circumstances. So, the outer condition of your life is always a reflection of your inner state.

This doesnt mean that you have brought about everything in your life at a given moment (other people have their creative powers, too, which may cooperate or conflict with yours), or that you earn every circumstance that comes your way. But our thoughts are so closely tied to our circumstances, they are inseparable. Even when events and situations are outside of our control, our thoughts about and responses to them are within our control.