Series 2 - Lesson 10 - Annotation 1
What is will? What is understanding? What is the relation of will to understanding?
1. Like other spiritual powers of man (as the lesson emphasizes), "will" is an idea in Divine Mind — the idea of action toward a specific end. Will is the executive power of the mind, the mental faculty that has the privilege of using all the spiritual power within. It is the will faculty that gives one the ability to affirm, to say "yes" or to deny, to say "no," to accept or reject. Even though the faculty of judgment may choose, evaluate, discern, the will must act in order to bring a desired result. God never forces His will (plan) upon us. If He did, our spiritual powers would never be developed. Man is a son of God, becoming self conscious. Righteous use of his faculty of will enables man to express his spiritual powers (mental faculties).
Understanding is also a divine idea. It is the idea of "knowing," as the lesson points out. As a mental faculty it enables one to see mentally, to know. It is the "know-how" for anything in the universe. Sometimes when the truth about something is revealed we exclaim "Oh, I see!" This is not a physical "seeing" but a mental comprehension.
Study of this subject reveals the close relation of "will and understanding"; will needs understanding so that it does not act contrary to divine law; understanding needs will in order that the individual may move out of the theoretical into the practical fulfilling of God's laws, and it takes will to add "feet" to understanding to produce manifest results.
________________________
Preceding Entry: What relation does "beholding" bear to the work of transforming man?
Following Entry: What is the will of God, and what is it to do His will?
