for the sub-conscious mind to gather up its materials, and the matter to be shaped properly, without any appearance of hesitation on the part of the answerer.  All of this required practice, of course, but the principle may be seen through it all and in every similar case.  The point is that the man, in such cases, sets some hidden part of his mind to work for him, and when he begins to speak the matter is at least roughly “licked into shape for him.”

Our students will understand, of course, that this is not advice to smoke cigars during interviews of importance, but is merely given to illustrate the principle.  We have known other men to twirl a lead pencil in their fingers in a lazy sort of fashion, and then drop it at the important moment.  But we must cease giving examples of this kind, lest we be accused of giving instructions in worldly wisdom, instead of teaching the use of the mind.  The impressive pause of the teacher, before answering his pupil’s question, is also an example of the workings of this law.  One often says “stop, let me think a moment,” and during his pause he does not really consciously think at all, but stares ahead in a dreamy fashion, while his sub-conscious mind does the work for him, although he little suspects the nature of the operation.  One has but to look around him to realize the importance and frequent application of this truth.

And not only may the sub-conscious mind be used in the directions indicated on preceding pages, but in nearly every perplexity and problem of life may it be called upon for help.  These little sub-conscious brownies are ever at our disposal, and seem to be happy to be of service to us.

And so far from being apt to get us in a position of false dependence, it is calculated to make us self-confident—­for we are calling upon a part of ourselves, not upon some outside intelligence.  If those people who never feel satisfied unless they are getting “advice” from others would only cultivate the acquaintance of this little “home adviser” within them, they would lose that dependent attitude and frame of mind, and would grow self-confident and fearless.  Just imagine the confidence of one who feels that he has within him a source of knowledge equal to that of the majority of those with whom he is likely to come in contact, and he feels less afraid to face them, and look them fearlessly in the eyes.  He feels that his “mind” is not confined to the little field of consciousness, but is an area infinitely greater, containing a mass of information undreamed of.  Everything that the man has inherited, or brought with him from past lives—­everything that he has read, heard or seen, or experienced in this life, is hidden away there in some quarter of that great sub-conscious mind, and, if he will but give the command, the “essence” of all that knowledge is his.  The details may not be presented to his consciousness (often it is not, for very good occult reasons) by the result, or essence of the knowledge will pass before his attention, with sufficient examples and illustrations, or arguments to enable him to make out “a good case” for himself.