PUPIL: This is splendid! But again it is getting "heavy." May we have another personal illustration of the adaptation of this principle to everyday living as people live it? This will help, I am sure.

MASTER: All right; I am always happy to comply with such requests if they will really help you.

I once knew a dentist, a very fine dentist and a good man. He confided to me one day that music was his very life, and not prosaic dentistry. He said that he was weary of being "down in the mouth all of the time."

"So," I asked, "you feel that you are not in your right place?"

"I know that I am not!" he replied.

"Just why aren't you in your right groove?" I queried.

"Because music will not yield me enough money to keep my family in anything like moderate comfort. I feel that marriage and a family are among Life's deepest joys and greatest blessings. But music is like politics; one has to have lots of 'pull' to get into the few places that will really pay for a good violinist."

"Are you sure of that?" I asked.

"Yes, quite!"

"Well, Mr. Dentist," I said, "I know a God who is All-Intelligent, All- Powerful, Ever-present, Ever-Responsive and Forever Creative! He is also the Greatest of Master Artists, the Real Maestro! He lives forever deep within your own soul. If you will try going into Him there, if you will establish Harmony there, and will know and understand the Beauty which your music must express there, and if you will be content only with perfection there and in your music, I know that you can and will reap all the reward that any one can wish for in music, just as in any other profession, art or business."

"Your words cause my hopes to soar," he said. "But how can one like me, one who knows very little about God, contact Him?"

"Go within yourself! Go through, or beneath, the confusing, bewildering, disheartening past experiences. Live wholly in and enjoy only the harmonious side of your nature, which is wise, beautiful and most powerful in all ways. Then practice, practice, practice putting that INNER Beauty and Harmony into vibration through the strings of your violin."

"But I am too old to take this up now."

"Not at all! Loving music as you do, you have kept up with your practice, have you not? Then do try what i have told you! Try it with faith and love in your heart. Hold them there with a determination and pride which simply will not surrender."

The dentist continued to find excuses, many of them, like so many people do, tragically enough. He did not have time, nor did he feel like it, after long, hard days at the office. He should have to give some time to his family, must have some recreation, etc., etc. But I did not hear him. I kept right on singing glowing word-notes for him, tempting him to try hard, inspiring him with courage.

When he stopped finding excuses, and seemed really interested, he asked for the exact method to use.

I told him the following steps:

• (1) First, he must thoroughly make up his mind that his love for music, his deep passion for the expression of harmony was no accident; he must know that it was nothing less than God Himself persistently, relentlessly urging for expression through him.
• (2) He should go carefully over and recite to himself the Lord's prayer, quietly but with much love and feeling, not less than twice every day, each night upon retiring and each morning when he first awakened.
• (3) He should faithfully visualize himself playing, playing, playing, joyfully, harmoniously, enthusiastically playing to large and most appreciative audiences, receiving really handsome checks for his concerts, etc.
• (4) After his periods of visualizing he should faithfully use some affirmation that appealed to him, that would strengthen his faith when it sagged, that would feed his high resolve, that would fan his burning urge to a holy flame.
• (5) He should practice, practice, practice his music, striving always with all of his heart and soul to do much better with each rendition than he had ever done before.

Within less than one year the dentist became the musician! He was making more from his "pot boiler" concerts than he had ever made at dentistry. Within another half-year he began a national concert-tour which within a few months yielded him enough to go to Europe for additional study for two years, and to have his family with him over there. Since that time he has done nothing, professionally, but play his violin. He has not, of course, accumulated a really great fortune, but he and his loved ones have all of the good things of life that they wish, and this, combined with an abiding sense of happiness, constitutes true wealth for any person!