Text of the meditation
The diadem of the King of Truth is a righteous life, his sceptre is the sceptre of peace, and his throne is in the hearts of humankind. In every heart there are two kings, but one is a usurper and tyrant; he is named self, and his thoughts and deeds are those of lust, hatred, passion and strife.
The other, the rightful monarch, is named Truth, and his thoughts and deeds are those of purity and love, meekness and peace. Brother, sister, to which monarch do you bow? What king have you crowned in your heart? Well is it with your soul if you can say, "I bow down to the Monarch of Truth; in my inmost heart I have crowned the King of Peace." Blessed indeed and immortal will be the one who finds in the inward and heavenly places the King of Righteousness, and bows their heart to Him.
Power resides in blamelessness of heart. All earthly things are symbols.
James Allen (1864–1912), Book of Meditations for Every Day in the Year (1913) – public-domain text, gently modernised.
The original 1913 text is in the public domain.
