The Divine Companion (Annotated)

By James Allen

• This edition includes the following editor's introduction: James Allen, the philosopher who pioneered the self-help genre

First published in 1919, “The Divine Companion” is a book by British philosophical writer James Allen.
"The Divine Companion" can be seen as a guide to life, a council you can turn to for direction on your chosen path, leading you back to the thinking that brings clarity of thought and a vision of Truth.
In this work you will find the wisdom of James Allen's life, written bit by bit over the course of his entire literary career, the insights and understanding are there whenever you need them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ePembaBooks
• Release date: Nov 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9791222001487

James Allen

James Allen (1864-1912) was an English author, magazine editor and one of the founders of what would come to be known as the self-help genre. Including the works assembled by his wife after his death, Allen wrote 21 books, the most famous being As a Man Thinketh.

Book preview

James Allen

The Divine Companion

Table of contents

James Allen, the philosopher who pioneered the self-help genre

THE DIVINE COMPANION

Foreword

PART 1. THE DIVINE COMPANION

Truth As Awakener

Truth As Consoler

Truth As Redeemer

Truth As Reconciler

Truth As Protector

PART 2. THE DIVINE DIALOGUE

Salutation

1. Of Seeking And Finding

2. Of Entering The Way

3. Of Discipline And Purification

4. Of Renunciation

5. Of Purity Of Heart

6. Of Righteousness

7. Of Knowledge Of The Law

Benediction

PART 3. THE DIVINE MESSAGES

The First Prophecy, Called The Awakening

The Second Prophecy, Called The Messiah

The Third Prophecy, Called The All – One

The Fourth Prophecy, Called Unrest

The Fifth Prophecy, Called Transition

The Sixth Prophecy, Called Peace

The First Exhortation, Concerning Purity

The Second Exhortation, Concerning Humility

The Third Exhortation, Concerning Love

Instruction, Concerning The Master

Instruction, Concerning The Law

Instruction, Concerning The Great Reality

Discourse Concerning The Way Of Truth

James Allen, the philosopher who pioneered the self-help genre

James Allen was a British poet and writer, known for his highly philosophical and practical books and for being the forerunner of the self-help genre.

Allen's works are eminently practical and he never wrote theories. According to his wife Lily, Allen only wrote when he had a message and that message was only conveyed when he had lived it in his own life and knew it was good. This is how he wrote, about facts that had been proven in practice.

Another fundamental trait of Allen's was that he believed in the use of the faculty of thought to increase personal capacities and to achieve fame, fortune and happiness. Allen insisted on the power of the individual to shape his own character and create his own happiness; so he shows us how to turn our dreams into realities. He gives us a message of hope even in the midst of turmoil and argues that we become spiritually rich when we discover the adventure within, are aware of the unity of all life, know the power of meditation and experience our kinship with nature.

His most famous work, As a Man Thinketh (1903), is considered one of the pioneering, classic and best-selling self-help books. Its premise is that noble thoughts make a person noble, while miserable thoughts make a person miserable. Today we are where our thoughts have led us and we are the architects - for better or worse - of our future. This book is part of the New Thought movement, a philosophical movement that emerged in the mid-19th century in the United States. A movement that became increasingly important, spreading throughout the world and producing great writers throughout the 20th century, such as Thomas Troward, William Walker Atkinson, Ralph Waldo Trine, Napoleon Hill, Emmet Fox, Joseph Murphy, Louise H. Hay, Deepak Chopra and Gary Zukav, among others. James Allen has been a source of inspiration for other authors of self-help books.

The literary life of James Allen

As a young man, Allen worked for several years in various British manufacturing companies and moved first to London and then to South Wales.

In 1898 Allen found an occupation in which he could display his spiritual and social interests as a writer for the magazine The Herald of the Golden Age. At this time, Allen entered a creative period in which he published the first of his many books, From Poverty to Power (1901). In 1902 Allen began publishing his own spiritual magazine, The Epoch.

It was his third book, As a Man Thinketh (1903), that brought him great popularity and enabled him to devote himself full time to being a writer and publisher. Allen had a truly prolific career. Continuing to publish for the Epoch, Allen produced more than a book a year until his death in 1912. There he wrote for nine years, producing 19 works. Among them are some of his best works: Byways of Blessedness (1904), The Mastery of Destiny (1909), Above Life's Turmoil (1910) and " The Divine Companion" (published posthumously in 1919).

James Allen is often referred to as " An unrewarded genius", as he did not receive the recognition he deserved during his lifetime.

The Editor, P.C. 2022

THE DIVINE COMPANION

James Allen

Foreword

PART 1. THE DIVINE COMPANION

I, the Spirit of Truth

Am the Friend of the forsaken and the Companion of the wise,

I restore the one, and I gladden the other, and all men I protect, though they know me not.

Truth As Awakener

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REJOICE! for the Morning has dawned:

The Truth has awakened us;

We have opened our eyes and, the dark night of error is no more.

Long have we slept in matter and Sensation;

Long did we struggle in the painful nightmare of evil;

But now we are awake in Spirit and Truth:

We have found the Good, and the struggle with evil is ended:

We slept, yet knew not that we slept:

We suffered, yet knew not why we suffered:

We were troubled in our dreaming, yet none could awake us, for all were dreaming like ourselves;

Then there came a pause in our dreaming;

Our sleep was stayed;

Truth spoke to us, and we heard;

And lo! we opened our eyes, and saw.

We slumbered and saw not;

We slept and knew not;

But now we are awake and see;

Yea, we know we are awake because we have seen Holiness, and we love sin no more;

We have beheld Truth, and error has ceased to attract us.

Yea, we have seen the Truth!

Not as a dream in the night, but as a Reality with our awakened eyes;

As a beautiful land afar have we seen it,

And we shall press forward until we reach and possess it.

How beautiful is Truth!

How glorious is the Realm of Reality!

How Ineffable is the bliss of Holiness!

We have abandoned error for truth, and illusion for Reality.

We have turned our backs on error and confusion,

And have set our faces towards the harmony of Justice and Truth.

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