Scientific Christian Mental Practice

My title expresses what I think about Emma Curtis Hopkins after reading and working with her book for 25 years. I don't know how she did it, but she took the essence of what was then known as New Thought, or Christian Science, or mental-spiritual healing, and put its practical teachings in words, sentences, and paragraphs which grow more and more powerful the more one works with them. There are other books and teachings which help me, such as those of Mary Baker Eddy (the teacher of Emma Curtis Hopkins) and, from the Hindu world, Sri Aurobindo and Sri Sathya Sai Baba. I also owe a great deal to Charles Fillmore of the Unity movement, who was one of Emma Curtis Hopkins's pupils. But I would not be without this book by ECH. I think of her as a true friend and guide who never ceases to amaze me by her wisdom and the reassurance and power which flood me when I work with her teaching. I admire also her book High Mysticism, but if I had to be with only one of her books it would be Scientific Christian Mental Practice. In comparison with it, the current crop of New Age panaceas and mental gymnastics seem minor and trivial. Emma was way ahead of them. It took me a while to get used to her style, which is highly unusual. If you work with it slowly, re-reading every sentence until you feel what it is trying to tell you, what seems odd at first will turn out to be a treasure of enlightenment. Maybe we all long for a Mother we can trust absolutely. Or a friend whose reassurance and wisdom never fail. And maybe you will find that somewhere else; but you may owe it to yourself to try this book. I would not be without it.

I love this book. It is a true classic, a true source of unlimited wisdom and inspiration for the truth seeker. This is one of those books with which you would LIKE to be on a desert island. In that way you would have the time and disposition to most fully absorb its content, which in fact unlocks your own unlimited and infinite resources. Do you see the promise?Emma simply states the Truth through 12 lessons. I myself am on my third reading. I find the book can be used in several ways. One, of course is to read it through, secondly you can read it and extract the lessons for your own use, thirdly you can use it as a bedside book opening it up for light and inspiration in times of need. Its words never grow old. It seems to pick up power with subsequent readings.Each lesson unlocks a power within us that is symbolized by a stone. In her words, " Mind is composed of twelve powers. When mind exercises these twelve powers it has twelve characteristics, which shine like polished jewels. They make a perfect foundation for an absolute demonstration of Jesus Christ Spirit. The first time you go the rounds of these twelve powers, you may not show much difference in character. The second time, the third time, the millionith time around the statements, and how shining your life and mind become."She goes on, "The first six statements are the beautiful powers of your mind as to your own looks, your own judgement. The last six relate to your surroundings... There are twelve conditions of human life which may be met by twelve truths. These twelve conditions being met by Truth, you may be sure that your life will be free, glad and powerful. The Brahmins had a teaching which read: 'So dwell on the highest thoughts; this is the life of the awakened.'"The Science of Mind motto, Change your thinking, change your life has never been truer. Emma takes you by the hand and shows you exactly how to go about this. And voilà, the new you in all your DIVINE splendor!Incidentally, metaphysically, twelve refers to spiritual fulfillment...The twelve stones represent the twelve most important nerve centers in the body. All material things represent spititual realities. (definition thanks to the Unity Dictionary of Metaphysical terms, the Revealing Word.)

This volume is a classic in the field of practical mysticism. It provides a modern interpretation of the teachings of Jesus Christ. However, the author presents them in the context of a deep mystical understanding of all of the world's great spiritual traditions. Written at the beginning of the 20th century, this book today is still about 100 years ahead of its time. Emma Curtis Hopkins was known as the "Teacher of Teachers." Here's what her student Charles Fillmore, the founder of Unity, had to say about her: "She is undoubtedly the most successful teacher in the world. In many instances those who enter her classes confirmed invalids come out at the end of the course perfectly well. Her very presence heals and those who listen are filled with new life. Never before on this planet have such words of burning Truth been so eloquently spoken through a women."

Mrs. Hopkins was a dedicated teacher and healer whose students included Ernest Holmes - founder of Science of Mind/Religious Science Movement, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore - founders of Unity School of Christianity, and the founders of: Divine Science, the Emmanuel Movement, Christ Truth League and Home of Truth. This, her masterpiece, is one of the greatest of all works based on mysticism. "When the Lord is your confidence you will never find yourself at all deceived by the ways and speech of men and women, though they be very brilliant, if they speak outside of the Principle that demonstrates healing and goodness and life." (86)