The Way of Peace

The Way of Peace is a book written by James Allen in 1901 and belonging to the New Thought spiritual movement. The book reflects Allen's affiliation with the movement and references Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

The book is essentially a treatise on the importance of meditation as a "path to godhood". Spiritual meditation is the path to Divinity, the mystical ladder that leads from earth to heaven, from error to Truth, from pain to peace.

According to Allen, we have the ability to become whatever concept we meditate on. If you meditate on 'what is selfish and degrading, you will ultimately become selfish and degrading'. Whereas if you meditate on 'what is pure and selfless, you will surely become pure and selfless'.

To meditate is to dwell intensely, in thought, on an idea or theme, with the aim of fully understanding it, and not only will you come to understand what you constantly meditate on, but you will become more and more like it, because it will be incorporated into your own being.

The book consists of seven chapters: The Power Of Meditation; The Two Masters, Self And Truth; The Acquirement of Spiritual Power; The Realisation of Selfless Love; Entering into the Infinite; Saints, Sages, And Saviors, The Law Of Service; and The Realisation of Perfect Peace. The first chapter also contains a poem, Star of Wisdom, which captures the essence of the book.

Spiritual meditation is the pathway to Divinity. It is the mystic ladder which reaches from earth to heaven, from error to Truth, from pain to peace.