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James, William, 1842-1910

"Varieties of Religious Experience, a Study in Human Nature"


This interested me, and I began studying earnestly the method and
philosophy of this method of healing. Gradually an inner peace
and tranquillity came to me in so positive a way that my manner
changed greatly. My children and friends noticed the change and
commented upon it. All feelings of irritability disappeared.
Even the expression of my face changed noticeably.
"I had been bigoted, aggressive, and intolerant in discussion,
both in public and private. I grew broadly tolerant and
receptive toward the views of others. I had been nervous and
irritable, coming home two or three times a week with a sick
headache induced, as I then supposed, by dyspepsia and catarrh.
I grew serene and gentle, and the physical troubles entirely
disappeared. I had been in the habit of approaching every
business interview with an almost morbid dread. I now meet every
one with confidence and inner calm.
"I may say that the growth has all been toward the elimination of
selfishness. I do not mean simply the grosser, more sensual
forms, but those subtler and generally unrecognized kinds, such
as express themselves in sorrow, grief, regret, envy, etc.


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