Reiki Center for Natural Healing

What is the Science of Mind?

Paraphrasing Ernest Holmes's answer to this question, we can say: Science of Mind represents the correlation of religion, science, and philosophy. It is a religion, in the sense that it explores and teaches Universal Principles defining the spiritual nature of the Universe and our relatedness to God. It is a science, in that students are asked to experiment with these Universal Principles and accept only those which they can prove, demonstrate, or experience in their daily lives. It is a philosophy, in that ideas and ideals are brought together into a system of concepts about God, the Cosmos, humanity and human possibility.

Ernest Holmes founded the international Religious Science movement, wrote The Science of Mind and numerous other books on metaphysics, and originated the international periodical Science of Mind Magazine, which has been in continuous publication since 1927.    He did not claim to have had a personal revelation of new Truth.  But he had a unique genius for distilling and synthesizing the intuitive perceptions of Truth common to great spiritual and philosophical writings throughout history, and applying them to current daily living.  This insight, his scientific approach, and his understanding of the physical and spiritual laws of the Universe, provided the foundation for an enduring teaching that leads to a successful and rewarding life grounded in deep spiritual awareness.

Ernest Holmes:  January 21, 1887– April 7, 1960
Ernest Holmes was born on January 21, 1887, on a small Maine farm, the youngest of the nine sons of William and Anna Holmes.  At 17, Ernest was a student in a Bethel preparatory school, and he spent most of his time out-of-doors, asking himself, “What is God?”  “Who am I?”  “Why am I here?”  He mentally tangled with all the local preachers and doubted the answers he got in church.  At the age of 18 he left school and formal education forever and set out on his lifelong course of independent thinking.  He went to Boston, worked in a grocery store, and pursued his studies relentlessly.  A year later, he discovered Emerson.  “Reading Emerson is like drinking water to me”, he said later.  His metaphysical studies intensified his quest for Truth leading him to and through literature, art, science, philosophy and religion.

In 1914 he moved to Venice, California and pursued his studies discovering the writings of Thomas Troward, which fed the flame ignited by Emerson earlier. He began speaking on Troward's writings to small but ever-growing groups. Without ceremony, his lifetime ministry had begun. Later, as his audiences grew, he was ordained as a minister of the Divine Science Church. He published his first book, Creative Mind, in 1919, continued his studies, and lectured to growing crowds in California and Eastern cities. Meanwhile he was writing The Science of Mind, which was to become the “textbook” of the Religious Science philosophy.

In 1927 Earnest married his beloved Hazel Foster, who would share his life until her transition in 1957. Earnest and Hazel were active in the burgeoning culture of Southern California — which included Hollywood stars, Norman Vincent Peale, Albert Einstein, and the many university professors who taught at the Institute.

Activity of the One Mind – Science of Mind Text

“We are living in an Intelligent Universe which responds to our mental states. To the extent that we learn to control these mental states we shall automatically control our environment…”

In the great Universal Mind, man is a center of intelligence, and every time he thinks he sets Mind in action. Because of the Oneness of Mind, It cannot know anything outside Itself, and therefore cannot contradict any thought given It, but must reflect whatever is cast into It. We are immersed in an Infinite Creative Medium which, because of Its Nature, must create after the pattern our thought gives It. Jesus understood this, and in a few simple words laid down the law of life: “It is done unto you AS you believe.” No more simple and yet no more profound statement could be made.

Prayer and Treatment – Science of Mind Text

One of the questions most frequently asked about the Science of Mind is, “Are prayers and treatments identical?” The answer to this question is both Yes and No.

If, when one prays, his prayer is a recognition of Spirit's Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence, and a realization of man's unity with Spirit, then his prayer is a “spiritual treatment”.

Science of Mind Practitioner

A “Science of Mind Practitioner” is a Spiritual Coach, trained in the art, science and skill of Affirmative Prayer.  They are familiar with the workings of Spiritual Principles knowing that everything in the physical world is an affect that has a mental cause behind it. They understand the creative process, and, through the Power of Prayer can help you change the underlying belief that created the problem in the first place.

A Practitioner has extensive understanding of, and experience in, the use of Affirmative Prayer or Spiritual Mind Treatment. They are able to see past a problem or condition to know the Spiritual Truth for the other person.

Prayer, in its broadest sense, is an act of communion with God. Affirmative Prayer is based on our knowledge that the Universe is a Wholeness in which the Presence of God works continuously as Principle (or Law) to manifest as form, and that we can consciously use this Creative Process to bring about changes in our lives.

Spiritual Mind Treatment is prayer, both affirmative and scientific. By affirmative we mean not supplication or petition, but recognition and acceptance that God is all there is and that we are all spiritual beings right here and now. A Practitioner, through their training and practice, knows the allness of God and their Oneness with It, and are able to turn away from the condition and realize the Spiritual Truth for you. If you are experiencing any condition, physical, mental, emotional, etc. that needs healing, a Practitioner facilitates that healing by recognizing the Spiritual Truth for you.

 Previous Page

HOME