As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Bakare Wale (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey or is trying to convey in the book?
James Allen main idea in his book is about the good thoughts that make a good person, negative thoughts gives out a negative thought. A person whose heart decayed in negativity, the world looks as if it is made of confusion and fear. On the other hand, Allen noted, when we curtail our negative and destructive thoughts, “All the world softens towards us, and is ready to help us.” We attract not only what we love but what we fear. Our thoughts which receive our attention, good or bad, go into the unconscious to become the fuel for later events in the real world.
Every circumstance that is good offers a unique opportunity for growth. Circumstances always determined the life and prospects of people, and then humanity would never have progressed. Circumstances seem to be designed to bring out the best in us, and if we make the decision that we have been ‘wronged’ then we are unlikely to begin a conscious effort to escape from our situation. The book explained the dynamic that linked thought to action and outer circumstances was a metaphysical law that could not go wrong. In the way it identifies universal laws and applies them to the mechanics of desire and prosperity
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. A man has control over his thoughts, he is the master of his thoughts.
Every act of man mainsprings from the hidden seeds of thought” Even our so-called spontaneous acts are created by our thoughts. As a being of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative action by which he may make himself what he wills. His character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.
Our thoughts create our lives.
ii. Nothing can come from corn but corn.
There is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot go wrong. Our thoughts brought us here, and can take us elsewhere if we choose. Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is as true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose sole object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life?
iii. Become a “master gardener” of your thought.
Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot get it wrong. This is just as true of those who feel “out of harmony” with their surroundings as of those who are contented with them.”
iv. There can be no progress nor achievement without sacrifice and a man’s worldly success will be by the measure that he sacrifices his confused animal thoughts and fixes his mind on the development of his plans and the strengthening of his resolution and self-reliance. The higher he lifts his thought, the greater will be his success, the more blessed and enduring will be his achievements.
Sacrifice is the act of giving up something important; valuable to you in order to get or do something seems more important for oneself or for another person. Before one could be great or achieve success in life, there must be some prices to pay, selfless efforts are involved and self-determination is very important. This type of sacrificial act may not be on monetary aspects alone but rather in all facets of life, one has to give up something before he can get the better. This idea is very important to me because it enlightens my mind more on how to make a tangible sacrifice and being valiant in anything which leads to great success and achievement
v. “A strong man cannot help a weaker unless that weaker is willing
to be helped..”
It is difficult to awake the one who deliberately sleeps.
vi. As a man thinketh in his heart that he is “As a man think in his heart that he is.”
Meaning that what you do, brings out what you are thinking. It is always very difficult to differentiate the thoughts of someone from what he does and the results. Man thought and character influences the conditions and circumstances of his life.
vii. You cannot change your thoughts without changing your life in
the process. Either for good or bad immerse yourself in the right thoughts and you will become the person you are willing to be.
It is impossible for a man to change his thought without changing his life because the two; thought and character are one and they work with each other, the thoughts one conceived in his heart would reflect in his life activities, either good or bad. Therefore, it is very important for a man to deep himself in the right thought and he would become the person he long to be.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas which I have gathered and learned will help me in my personal life by applying them in my day to day activities, keeping them at the back of my mind will help me to overcome any challenges I might encounter day by day. It will also help to think positively . In addition it will help me to focus towards creating a better world. Making impossibility become possible through a beautiful thought and lofty ideals in my heart.
Yes these ideas are useful and helpful in my daily life. I appreciated knowing how to make these connections now after reading the book.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”
“Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”
“Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.”
“Only by much searching and mining, are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being, if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul; and that he is the maker of his character, the molder of his life, and the builder of his destiny, he may unerringly prove, if he will watch, control, and alter his thoughts, tracing their effects upon himself, upon others, and upon his life and circumstances, linking cause and effect by patient practice and investigation, and utilizing his every experience, even to the most trivial, everyday occurrence, as a means of obtaining that knowledge of himself which is Understanding, Wisdom, Power.”
“Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.”
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No the book was explanatory.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No exercises to complete.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Bakare Wale (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The idea the author is trying to convey is about Jonathan a seagull who trying to see life beyond others but was banished from his flock because his inventions in flight challenge the Flock’s norms. He was “Outcast” and spent years in seclusion developing his talents and increasing his awareness. He enjoys a rich life while he was in exile, whose delights he is unable to share with other gulls: “What he had once hoped for the Flock, he now gained for himself alone; he learned to fly beyond is limit. Jonathan Seagull discovered that dullness and fear and anger are the reasons why seagull’s life is so short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine life indeed.”
One day, Jonathan is visited by a pair of brilliant birds, and ascends with them to another place of existence. There, he is free to learn all he wants about flight with likeminded creatures. He develops quickly, and learns to transcend time and space from Chiang, the flock’s leader. After teaching Jonathan flight skill, Chiang vanishes. Jonathan shares what he learned from Chiang with his new flock, but as time passes, he feels a deeper calling. Jonathan chooses to return to Earth to help other who was also “Outcasts.”
Fletcher Lynd Seagull, a new Outcast, is approached by Jonathan fresh off the heels of his banishment, and becomes Jonathan’s first student. Jonathan teaches a small group of seagulls, all Outcasts, about flight and their own limitlessness. This tiny group eventually returns to their kind and begins to display its talents. They persevere despite the initial resistance of the Flock, reintegrating itself into seagull society, and drawing more gulls to the study of flight. The wealth of knowledge they possess begins to transform the lives of the Flock’s members. Finally, Jonathan leaves for parts unknown to continue teaching, naming Fletcher as the new leader of the flight school they began together.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. The power of love is central to Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
When Chiang leaves Jonathan’s new world, transforming into pure light before the flock, his final words are for Jonathan. He urges the younger bird to “keep working on love.” In fact, it is Jonathan’s tireless love of flying which is the driving force in his life.
This love compelled Jonathan to continue learning about flight while his sensible side bade him forget his dreams. It forced him onto a solitary path on Earth, but allowed him to pursue his passion unhindered and let go of external conceptions about life’s purpose.
Chiang imparted precious wisdom to Jonathan before disappearing, and it is Jonathan’s continued “work on love” which ultimately moves him to return to the birds who wounded him so.
ii. Practicing forgiveness like that displayed by Jonathan is also emphasized by the author.
Fletcher must agree to forgive the Flock in order to learn to fly from Jonathan. Late in the book, the Flock tries to kill Jonathan, calling him a devil. Yet the very next day, Jonathan urges Fletcher, not only to see the good in each gull, but to help each gull see it within their own self.
iii. I found meaningful is how essential it is to release our belief in our own limits.
Leaving our minds and hearts open leaves our minds and hearts open to grow. Understanding our true nature’s perfection and limitlessness is Chiang’s basic lesson to Jonathan in time travel. Both Jonathan and Fletcher discuss this idea with their students, even while teaching them more mundane methods of moving around. Again and again in the book, the point is underscored, and deservedly so.
iv. I also learned has been extremely important of personal and spiritual growth to let go of limited ideas about myself, humanity, and the nature and purpose of earthly life.
What is compassion but a rejection of the limits delineated by our own form, an assertion of one’s connectedness to the other? I have worked to bring down the walls within myself, and those lying between myself and others. It has served me exceptionally well. Certainly, we are solitary beings. At the same time, however, I see my destiny as inextricably intertwined with the destiny of others.
v. The teaching work several characters engage in is of paramount importance.
We as humans have worlds of untapped potential. We can end hunger or poverty today. I have often said, though, that you cannot make a Ferrari from Model T parts. We have to share our hard-won wisdoms to move our experience of life further. This is work that never ends.
vi. Love has had its champions all throughout history, and for good reason. I have come to see like I wrote in a song many years ago that “love is the only true modern art.”
The power of love to change our hearts, minds, and lives is utterly inexpressible.
Discovering the inexhaustible supply of love within me has transformed the quality of life I enjoy. Aligning my awareness with this energy has helped me relate more authentically with my fellow man, and given me a joy I wish everyone could feel. Learning to love another person is a great course of study.
vii. Living the lesson of forgiving is a practice. I have been blessed with a selective memory.
I like to say, “I only remember the good things.” Like most statements, it is easier said than done. I have learned that I must make a constant effort to loose myself from the burdens of grudges and hatred. This practice of forgiveness can, to my mind, only work in concert with love. I accept that we all walk through life with many wounds. It can be difficult to find the strength to be kind and patient given these wounds. It can be difficult simply to allow our wounds heal. Not only do we fail to seek healing, but we can also fall in love with our pain, nursing and feeding it rather than the strength and beauty within us. However, we must forgive. We must forgive ourselves for all the moments where we fall short of our own ideals. We must forgive others for not sharing those ideals, and for firing whatever slings and arrows of outrageous fortune pierce our being. I have also learned to seek the forgiveness of my Creator. It is a blessing I earnestly desire, and one I request daily.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
I have learned that I must make a constant effort to loose myself from the burdens of grudges and hatred. This practice of forgiveness can, to my mind, only work in concert with love. I accept that we all walk through life with many sores. It can be difficult to find the strength to be kind and patient given these sores. It can be difficult simply to allow our sores heal. Not only do we fail to seek healing, but we can also fall in love with our pain, nursing and feeding it rather than the strength and beauty within us. However, we must forgive. We must forgive ourselves for all the moments where we fall short of our own ideals. We must forgive others for not sharing those ideals, and for firing whatever slings and arrows of outrageous fortune pierce our being. I have also learned to seek the forgiveness of my Creator. It is a blessing I earnestly desire, and one I request daily.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“You don’t love hatred and evil, of course. You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one of them, and to help them see it in themselves. That’s what I mean by love.”
The quote explained about the important of forgiveness, and a refusal to hold grudges, resentment, and other negative emotions is also a fundamental quote that weaves it’s way throughout the book, talking us that greater truths are unobtainable until we are willing to forgive the wrongs that are done to us.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
I read the book three times so I understand everything about it.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No exercises.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull was a true joy to read and experience. I recommend it highly to anyone who is sustained by a kind word. It is a reassuring and inspiring work, urging me to love more, forgive more, share more, and grow more. This story and I have become fast friends, and I am better for having read it.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 5
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8