36 SKETCHES OF GREAT TRUTHS

on to his neighbour, and if his neighbour is
inclined to irritability or despondency, it makes
him much worse, for he reacts to the atmosphere
caused by his neighbour. Similarly, if in the
presence of one much more evolved than our-
selves who is capable of spreading love, peace,.
strength, power, the law acts in the same way,,
the reaction being according to the capability
of response which is able to be given to attune
oneself to the presence of one so much more
advanced than ourselves.

In a true sense, " they walked no more with
Him " is explained in this way. The multitude
could not attune themselves, could not under-
stand, therefore, the Christ when He was among
them. They found themselves unable to follow,
they could not react or respond or attune them-
selves to Him.

Often we use excuse as a cloak for ourselves and
say that we are influenced by so and so; that one
could not influence if there were not to be found
in us that which responded to his influence,
We cannot blame another for that, but it acts
in the same way for a good influence as for a
bad one. Therefore I have said none can live
to himself alone. It has often been said
that one cannot go into the presence of another
without being influenced for good or bad.