New Age Spirituality - Inspirational Stories ( Part 6 )

for work's sake. There are some who are really thetremendous restraint; self- restraint is a manifestation
salt of the earth in every country and who work forof greater power than all outgoing action. A carriage
work's sake, who do not care for name, or fame, orwith four horses may rush down a hill unrestrained, or
even to go to heaven. They work just because goodthe coachman may curb the horses. Which is the
will come of it. There are others who do good to thegreater manifestation of power, to let them go or to
poor and help mankind from still higher motives,hold them? A cannon - ball flying through the air goes
because they believe in doing good and love good.a long distance and falls.
The motive for name and fame seldom bringsAnother is cut short in its flight by striking against a wall,
immediate results, as a rule; they come to us when weand the impact generates intense heat. All outgoing
are old and have almost done with life. If a man worksenergy following a selfish motive is frittered away; it will
without any selfish motive in view, does he not gainnot cause power to return to you; but if restrained, it
anything? Yes, he gains the highest.will result in development of power. This self - control
Unselfishness is more paying, only people have not thewill tend to produce a mighty will, a character which
patience to practise it. It is more paying from the pointmakes a Christ or a Buddha. Foolish men do not know
of view of health also. Love, truth and unselfishnessthis secret; they nevertheless want to rule mankind.
are not merely moral figures of speech, but they formEven a fool may rule the whole world if he works and
our highest ideal, because in them lies such awaits.
manifestation of power. In the first place, a man whoLet him wait a few years, restrain that foolish idea of
can work for five days, or even for five minutes,governing;and when that idea is wholly gone, he will be
without any selfish motive whatever,without thinking ofa power in the world. The majority of us cannot see
future, of heaven, of punishment, or anything of thebeyond a few years, just as some animals cannot see
kind, has in him the capacity to become a powerfulbeyond a few steps. Just a little narrow circle -- that is
moral giant. It is hard to do it, but in the heart of ourour world. We have not the patience to look beyond,
hearts we know its value, and the good it brings. It isand thus become immoral and wicked. This is our
the greatest manifestation of power -- thisweakness, our powerlessness.