[Editor's Note: This is the final installment in a series of five on the Unity Truth Principles.
It is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the thinking that forms the basis of our teachings and lives.]
It is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the thinking that forms the basis of our teachings and lives.]
Principle 5 is the action part of the 5 Principles; it says, it works if you work it. Jesus was well-known for going into action. The Truth that He taught was not a static, lifeless set of principles, they were vibrant and powerful and were put to use at every opportunity. When He fed the 5,000, healed the sick, and raised the dead, he was using principles with an emphasis on action. The people could see the manifestation of his teachings. The saw and they believed. They experienced Jesus, and they saw that His teachings were not idle murmurings, but Truth demonstrated.
There is a story I heard many years ago, about a Unity minister and a man who attended his Wednesday evening class. Every Wednesday evening the man would come through the line to greet the minister and on a weekly basis he would tell him, “Thank you for tonight. I do enjoy coming here on Wednesdays. I learn so much, but I am a Baptist, and I go to the Baptist church on Sundays, so you will never see me here on a Sunday morning.” The minister always thanked him for coming and assured him he was always welcome whenever he came.
This went on for a year. Then, one Sunday the minister was surprised to see the man coming through the line after church. The minister stated, Ï am so happy to see you, but I thought you were never going to come on Sunday because you attended the Baptist church.” “Oh yes,” the man replied. “But this stuff works. I’ll be here every Sunday.”
Many people think that this teaching is easy; it’s not. The Truths that we hold to be valid are simple Truths; however, they are not easy. We have to live, experience, and practice them every day. It is up to us to go into action, put our feet on our prayers, and to speak words of health, wealth, success and abundance. It is up to us to rid ourselves of negative, self-defeating ideas; it is up to us to know there is no lack or limitation of any kind in our lives. When we make inner changes, they can’t help but spill over into our outer experiences; it becomes automatic. Remember the Principles are simple yet powerful models that help us understand our world and our relationship to it.
Principles have the same results every time, no matter where or when they are used, or who uses them. Principles are forever. They don’t wear out, rust out, or give out, and they can’t be overused. Principles work every time. Charles Fillmore, co-founder of Unity, stated that “If you have a choice between appearance or principle, always stand on principle.”
The Five Basic Principles of Truth
Principle One
There is only one Presence and one Power active in the universe: God the good, omnipotent.
The everywhere present Spirit of Absolute good is readily available to all and is equally present to all. "An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one, He gives all of Himself faithfully as if there were no others." (A.W. Tozer)
The everywhere present Spirit of Absolute good is readily available to all and is equally present to all. "An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one, He gives all of Himself faithfully as if there were no others." (A.W. Tozer)
"God is all, both invisible and visible. One Presence, Knowledge and Power is All. This One that is All is Perfect Life, Love, Intelligence, and Substance." (Statement of Fundamentals)
Principle Two
Our essence is of God; therefore, we are inherently good.
Jesus taught that we are both human and divine. We are spiritual beings, living in a spiritual universe, governed by spiritual laws. We are an individualized expression of God. As children of God, we are heirs to all the richness and goodness of God, endowed with the attributes and qualities of God through which we can be freed from all limitation. "Man, is a piece of the Universe made alive." (Emerson)
Principle Three
We are co-creators with God, creative reality through thoughts held in mind.
Our thoughts are the most powerful part of ourselves. We call this the "Law of Mind Action." Thoughts held in mind produce after their kind; form follows thought. We are thinking beings. God's greatest gift to us is the power of thought. Change your thoughts and change your life!
Principle Four
Through prayer and meditation, we align our heart and mind with God. Denials and affirmations are tools we use.
Prayer is talking to God; meditation is listening to God. Our God is not a reluctant God. We pray not to change God's mind, but to change our mind or consciousness to receive the gifts and joys that have already been prepared for us.
Prayer is not begging and pleading. It is knowing and connecting to the mighty force for good that dwells within. Emerson said, "Prayer is contemplating the facts of life from the highest point of view. " Prayer is saying yes to what we want to experience in life.
Principle Five
Through thoughts, words and actions, we live the Truth we know.
We have to live these Truth Principles to the best of our knowledge every day and in every way. It is up to us to speak words of health, wealth, success and abundance.
We must go into action and apply the principles in all of life's experiences.