From Passion to Peace

by James Allen

James Allen saw the darkness of the world and believed he had an answer... and millions of readers agreed with him. One of the most popular writers in the fields of inspiration and spirituality at the turn of the 20th century, Allen, in this 1910 book, diffuses the darker side of human nature with his calming thoughts on transcending the temptations that lead to grief and suffering, pain and sorrow. Allen's words continue to motivate readers today to take the reins of their own happiness and be the guide of their own lives. British author and pop philosopher JAMES ALLEN (1864-1912) retired from the business world to pursue a life of writing and contemplation. Best known for As a Man Thinketh, he authored many other books about the power of thought including The Path to Prosperity, The Mastery of Destiny, and Entering the Kingdom.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy

68 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1981

About the author

The James Allen Free Library

Allen was 15 when his father, a businessman, was robbed and murdered. He left school to work full-time in several British manufacturing firms to help support the family. He later married Lily L. Allen and became an executive secretary for a large company. At age 38, inspired by the writings of Leo Tolstoy, he retired from employment. Allen — along with his wife and their daughter, Nohra — moved to a small cottage in Ilfracombe, Devon, England to pursue a simple life of contemplation. There he wrote for nine years, producing 19 works. He also edited and published a magazine, "The Light of Reason".

Allen's books illustrate the use of the power of thought to increase personal capabilities. Although he never achieved great fame or wealth, his works continue to influence people around the world, including the New Thought movement.

Allen's most famous book, As a Man Thinketh, was published in 1902. It is now considered a classic self-help book. Its underlying premise is that noble thoughts make a noble person, while lowly thoughts make a miserable person.

Following his death in 1912, his wife continued publishing the magazine under the name, "The Epoch".

Reviews

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not as impactful and many of his other books there are some quotes worth saving on this review:
"And what are the transcendent Virtues that embody all happiness and joy? They are"
Impartiality - it becomes impossible to take sides with one man or one party against the other.
Unlimited Kindness toward all, whether enemies or friends.
Perfect Patience at all times, in all circumstances and under the severest trials
Profound Humility - the total surrender of self
Stainless Purity of mind and deed. Freedom from all evil thoughts and impure imaginings.
Unbroken Calmness of mind
Abiding Goodness of heart
Compassion - deep pity for all creatures and beings in their sufferings.
Abounding Love toward all living things
Perfect Peace toward all things. Being at peace with all the world.

"If a man has conquered lust and anger, hatred and pride, selfishness and greed, he has conquered the world. He has slain the enemies of peace, and peace remains with him".

[Amina (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Only he who has conquered himself can subdue others; and he subdues them, not by passion but by love"
" The fool descends into deeper and deeper ignorance; the wise man ascends into higher and higher knowledge. The fool desires, suffers, and dies. The wise man aspires, rejoices, and lives."
"If a man has conquered lust and anger, hatred and pride, selfishness and greed, he has conquered the world. He has slain the enemies of peace, and peace remains with him."

Few pages, yet a real tresor, this book explains step by step the way to a life of peace, aspiration and freedom, not easy but totally worthy :)

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moral philosopher and OG of motivational prose James Allen refreshingly holds passion as a lower form of energy which ‘informs hidden thoughts of glorification of one's self' in the book he offers advice on how to rise into peace through aspiration.

He is also immensely quotable (see quotes I picked out at the bottom).

The book (only 50 pages) is about developing techniques for ‘transmuting’ the ignorance that emerges from passion and transcending into knowledge -- moving from passion to peace. This concept I find relevant and appealing.

While abstract and at times a bit vague -- I found the book a lovely meditation into the interplay of the moral forces within me.

***

QUOTES I LIKED:

“Passion is at the base of the structure of life peace is at its crown and summit. without passion to begin with there would be achievement to end with.”

“Passion represents power misdirected and when curbed, conquered and beneficially directed represents working energy.”

“Passion is the flaming sword that guards the gates of paradise only admitting the wise.”

“A wise man subdues his passion.”

'Selfishness is why you are a slave. A slave to your own thoughts.' [paraphrasing]

“Passion to peace is not about altering the deeds of others.”

Gaze upward [literally]! The UPWARD WAY! [Paraphrasing]

“If he constantly renews his mind with glimpses of the heavenly vision, he will reach the heavenly state. [...] The lover of the pure life renews his mind daily with the invigorating glow of aspiration. He rises early, and fortifies his mind with strong thoughts and strenuous endeavor.”

“Aspiration provokes temptation.”

“The stronger a man's passions the deeper his temptations and selfishness [...] All his enemies are within.”

“Knowledge of cause of temptation creates transmutation from the bondage of error.”

"In transmuting his mind from evil to good, a man comes to distinguish more and more clearly between error and Truth, and so distinguishing, he ceases to be swayed and prompted by outward things and by the actions and attitudes of others. Instead, he acts from his knowledge of truth. First acknowledging his errors, and then confronting them with a searching mind and a humble heart, he subdues, conquers, and transmutes them."

"It is the conversion, or complete reversal of this self or selfishness into Truth that constitutes Transmutation. The enlightened man has abandoned the delusion that the evil in others has power to hurt and subdue him, and he has grasped the profound truth that he is only overthrown by the evil in himself. He therefore ceases to blame others for his sins and sufferings, and applies himself to purifying his own heart. In this reversal of his mental attitude, he transmutes the lower selfish forces into the higher moral attributes. The base ore of error is cast into the fire of sacrifice, and there comes forth the pure gold of Truth."

'He has identified himself as truth. He now knows himself.' [Paraphrased]

“That which supremely differentiates the fool from the wise man is this—that the fool meets passion with passion, hatred with hatred, and returns evil for evil; whereas the wise man meets passion with peace, hatred with love, and returns good for evil.”

“The Transcendent Life is ruled, not by passions, but by principles. It is founded not upon fleeting impulses, but upon abiding laws.”

“While men are involved in the passions of self, they burden themselves with cares, and trouble themselves over many things. Above all else, they trouble over their own little, burdened, pain-stricken personality, being anxious for its fleeting pleasures, for its protection and preservation, and for its eternal safety and continuance. Now in the life that is wise and good all this is transcended. Personal interests are replaced by universal purposes, and all cares, troubles, and anxieties concerning the pleasure and the fate of the personality are dispelled like the feverish dreams of a night.”

“It is longing for some personal delight, along with its accompanying fear that delight should be lost forever.”

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely Fantastic! This author gets it on a deep level! It’s a short easy read, but it’s depth and worth are priceless! We can’t force others to change. We only have influence with them, but we can decide if we change or not. Understanding this is the beginning of a faith filled journey that leads to a purpose driven life! I loved it!

[#DÏ4B7Ø Chinnamasta-Bhairav · Rating 5 out of 5]

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KS8... = From Passion To Peace by James Allen | FULL AUDIOBOOK | Read By a Human

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To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~

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Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~

Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct

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" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”

Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous

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Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind

A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through

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[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The necessitude of "following your passion" is debunked by James Allen. He equals passion to lower feelings: desire, jealousy, need for lust, wish to protect his comfort. Basically many things related to the ego. The books calls upon the reader to 'transcend' himself, by breaking with his passions and to let go of desire and fear of losing what he possesses. Allen presents us with a number of guiding principles such as patience, kindness, etc. I admire what Allen tries to do here, but because the work is so short, it remains unpractical, the goal is described but there are hardly any pointers, handholds. The journey towards it would help the traveller a lot.

[Itinerant Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

ਜਾਲਿ ਮੋਹੁ ਘਸਿ ਮਸੁ ਕਰਿ ਮਤਿ ਕਾਗਦੁ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਰੁ ॥

First acknowledging his errors, and then confronting them with a searching mind. The early stage of transmutation is painful, the brevity of the pain being measured by the intelligence and energy with which the process is pursued. Thereby, when he is deprived of earthly joy, he aspires to the joy which is heavenly. It is when impurity turns to suffering that purity is sought. Truly aspiration rises, phoenix-like, from the dead ashes of repentance, but on its powerful pinions man can reach the heaven of heavens.

[Mark Holencik · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Allen is always clear and simple in his point of view. His direction in how to achieve peace is easy to put to use

[Azhar Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book that sheds light on how the evil mind can be conquered with serenity.
How you can conquer self by detaching from self and by forgetting self.

[Aishwarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a motivational book.. when there is passion , there is no peace.. Passion is the lower most thing , it means all the worldly things n desires to be put beneath the passion.. Its possible to have passion and peace in Co existence, this book gives guidance of this process