Considering the subject from the practical viewpoint, we may employ another illustration with a still further comparison of the three phases of the mind. We may liken the conscious mind to the sower, the tiller of the soil in the great mental garden; we may liken the subconscious to the fertile soil in which every seed is placed - where every seed, that is, everything we think, say or do, is to grow, develop, multiply itself, come forth and express itself in the outer world of actual living and being. And we may liken the superconscious to the sunlight from above - that great power from higher realms coming down upon the mental garden with its warmth, its light and its life-giving elements, so that every seed in the garden may grow freely and develop into the full grown flower of understanding, character and spirituality.

But here we must remember that if the conscious mind - the sower, does not make a wise selection of seed, there will be thorn bushes and other objectionable growths in the mental garden; because the subconscious gives its fertility to every seed, and the superconscious gives its light and life to every seed, be it good or otherwise. It is highly important therefore that the conscious mind, the tiller of the garden, be scientific both in the art of seed-selection and cultivation. And it is unthinkable that any mind should be negligent any more after learning what marvelous powers and possibilities the subconscious and superconscious hold in store. With such extraordinary powers at our command - powers that we can use and control as we will, we positively can not give too much attention to the science and art of thought selection and mind cultivation.

From the illustration just given we realize, first, that the conscious mind is always the sower of the seed. The mind we use in our daily wide awake experiences is the mind that selects the seed and that places every selected seed in the subconscious field. And as we are fully awake when using the conscious mind, and have full control over all its actions, we can select whatever seed we may desire, thereby determining absolutely what we would reap - what we would be come - what we would have for our future. We realize, further, that since the subconscious is the field in which every seed is placed to take root, grow, develop and ripen, we must cultivate that field both deeply and well. In brief, our mental actions must not be on the surface only, but must be deeply felt so that more and more of the subconscious life and fertility is liberated for the growth and development of every flower in the garden. And all such mental actions must be scientifically applied; that is, in perfect harmony with the laws of right thinking, so that the cultivation of the subconscious may be according to the highest art known in the field of true mental culture.

We realize, finally, that it is from the superconscious that we receive the sunshine required for the growth of this garden; and therefore our mental sky must be clear. The clouds of doubt, fear, discontent, ignorance, misunderstanding and materiality must be removed completely, so that the great sun of truth may send its life-giving rays upon every flower and tree growing in this remarkable garden. And it is materiality that is the heaviest cloud - that attitude of the mind that closes all consciousness to the light from above, and dwells only in the contemplation of the earth, earthy. Such an attitude will also cause the mind to direct its actions towards the limitations of things and towards the lesser, thereby turning all faculties and talents away from the real light of wisdom from above. In consequence, but very little of that light will be received, and the mental garden will bring forth but meagerly.

If we would receive the full light of the sun of wisdom and truth, and thus expand our minds perpetually in the realization of greater light in all ways, we must turn the mind fully upon the vastness of the super conscious world. We must look up, look unto the hills, turn all thought towards the high places, so that the strong light from the great Eternal Sun may come upon us, fully and directly, thereby giving us, not only its sunshine and life-giving powers, but also its brilliancy and inspiring illumination.

In the field of attainment we find it most important to enter into closer and closer touch with the superconscious, and to reach out continually into the brilliancy and the mental richness of that higher world. And the reason is that it is from the superconscious that we receive our inspiration, our greatest thoughts, our most brilliant ideas, our original concepts and our higher understanding of truth. It is thus evident that it is the mind that can go the farthest up into the superconscious that is the greatest mind, the richest mind and the most inspired mind.

The mind that is in harmony with the superconscious, and that is turned fully towards the light of truth from above, receives its thought directly from the supreme fountain of truth; such a mind therefore speaks as one having authority; speaks as the prophet and the seer; speaks as one who has seen the divine light with his own awakened vision. And in the thought of such a mind there is both depth and height, and a superior quality that reveals most clearly its higher source.

Therefore, we need never be mistaken as to the source of anything that is expressed. And whether it be expressed now, or was expressed in the distant past, we may know whether or not it has a higher source. If it comes from above, through the marvelous superconscious world, the thought expressed invariably reveals a higher something that no one can mistake. It is inspired, for all inspiration comes through the same channel - through the light and wisdom of the superconscious. For this reason we cannot give too much attention to our study of this upper mental world. It holds untold possibilities, and in every imaginable direction that the mind may wish to reach out or develop. But a marked degree of spiritual development, combined with the mental discernment of the finer things in life, is necessary before we can go very high in that world. These essentials, however, we all can acquire; and when we secure them we shall be able at any time to go, both far and high, into the wonder world of the superconscious; for a wonder world it is - in truth, ten million wonder worlds, each one more extensive and more marvelous than the one we passed through before. Then who shall say that man, who is in possession of such a mind, is not created in the image of the Most High? The truth is that when we really know man we find that he is far more wonderful than we ever could in the past imagine God to be. And from this larger vision God becomes infinitely more wonderful than we could think before. But this vision shall become even larger than it is now. Where then is the end? And again we may ask, "Eternity, what has thou in store for me?"