The Abundance Book by John Randolph Price (79 pages)
This little — and I do mean little — book is designed as a pocket reference that you can keep in your purse or glove compartment. It is a how-to guide toward self-knowledge and prosperity. John Randolph Price believes that if we find our unencumbered truth we will be closer to God and anything is possible, including great wealth.
The Abundance Book is divided into 4 parts, the history of enlightened thinking, the 40-day Prosperity Plan, “You are Your Own Money” and a compilation of quotes from Price’s other books.
Part I: Tracing the Principle of All-Sufficiency
Price takes us back to the time of the ancient philosophers. Until the 4th century many religions — the Hebrews, the Gnostics, the Hindus and Buddhists — taught that self-knowledge brings the divine into your body and life.
The ancients believed that to know yourself was to know god. In doing so you will be filled with love and abundance. God is in you and every other human on earth. Through meditation, you can release the divine power that is within you. And that will give you the ability to accomplish anything, including financial wealth. Price calls this concept all-sufficiency.
Teachers, such as Jesus and later the Gnostics, emphasized the oneness of God and man. Early Egyptian texts mirrored the same ideas. When you know yourself you will become one with God. This opens you to light, peace, love and wealth. In the Gospel of Thomas Jesus says,
“But if you will not know yourselves then you dwell in poverty, and it is you who are that poverty.”
John Randolph Price
In 180 ACE the bishop of Lyons, Iraneus, sought to put an end to independent thinking and teachings of oneness with God. He feared such ideas would undermine the authority of the priests. As a result, Ianeus issued the Five Books of Heresies and a list of acceptable writings.
Later, in 395 Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion. Dogma was dictated to the masses. Independent thinking was vilified. To disagree with the church was to be a heretic with dire consequences.
The next 6 centuries were the “Dark Ages”. Learning and innovation stopped. Previous ideas were forgotten. The chokehold of Christianity on the populace was not the only reason for the Dark Ages. For instance, there was a plague that killed 25% of Europe. But it contributed through its power and coercion to squelch new ideas.
There were secret societies that survived, remaining underground during this time. The Free Masons and the Rosicrucians are 2 examples. The Rosicrucians (meaning pink cross) released a manifesto in 1614.
The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century planted the seeds for a resurgence of independent thought. Price does not mention this in his book. However, it is a pivotal period so I felt obliged to bring it up.
Martin Luther (father of the reformation) preached that individuals should have their own relationship with God. They should read and interpret the Bible for themselves, rather than have a priest tell them what it means.
It wasn’t until the 1800s that esoteric philosophy made its comeback. The Transcendental Movement was led by writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. He became a unitarian minister. Mary Baker Eddy founded Christian Science. Alice Bailey established the Arcane School. A new age of spiritual awakening had unfolded.
Today it’s estimated that 25% of Americans ascribe to Esoteric Philosophy or New Thought Religion. The idea that God is boundless wealth and within us, therefore we all have the potential for unlimited wealth is a mainstream idea today.
Part II: The 40-Day Prosperity Plan
There are very strict rules to follow in order to successfully complete this plan. It must be done for 40 days in a row. If you miss a day go back to square one and start all over. You should not share what you’re doing with others that do not believe. And the plan cannot work if you are coming from a mindset of greed or selfishness.
Many books and behavioral psychologists state that it takes a minimum of 30 days to implement a new habit. So it makes sense that Price prescribes 40 days in a row to achieve your prosperity mindset.
The number 40 is also symbolic of important events in the Bible. Jesus fasted for 40 days, Moses was in the desert 40 years, it took 40 days for the resurrection of Jesus.
“The Lord Shall open unto thee his good treasure.”
Deuteronomy 28:12
There are many quotes from the Bible sprinkled throughout its pages. The Prosperity Plan is deceiving in its simplicity. The secret is to have correct thoughts in your mind and heart. To assist you in this endeavor you should meditate each day. Price provides ten quotes to read one by one each day, then circling back to the first one. So you meditate on each idea four times throughout the forty days.
The first meditation is as follows:
“God is lavish unfailing Abundance, the rich omnipresent substance of the universe. This all-providing source of infinite prosperity is individualized as me, the Reality of me.”
John Randolph Price
Another proposition reiterated in this book is that money is an effect, not a cause. Money is a natural outcome of understanding yourself and the presence of knowledge and abundance within you. When you let go of limiting beliefs and ideas of scarcity money will naturally flow.
Part III: You Are Your Own Money
In this section of the book, Price explains that money is an exchange of value. If you have a product or service someone else needs they will give you money in exchange for that product or service. It’s simple.
But many people do not have enough dollars, euros, rupees, etc. to purchase what they want and need. That’s because money begins as energy within you. If you are not aware of the natural abundance of everything that exists within you you’ll repel money.
Money as energy has been distributed to all souls throughout the world. Those who meditate and come to know themselves, know the Godself, will release this energy. Once released it will come to you as legal tender — money.
Here is an example of what Price meditated on:
“I invite the Spirit of God to think through me. I’ll not try to think, nor will I struggle to stop my own thinking.I now let the Christ presence use my mind to think about my financial affairs and the solution to this problem.”
Through this meditation came the answer from God. God is in him and through him at all times. I am the energy of creation. Do what I say and plentifulness will flow through you. See this oneness as a light stream connecting all people.
That light stream is a bridge. The Light Bridge is supported with feelings and thoughts of love and joy. Your thoughts, actions, emotions and words should be only love, peace and joy.
Money is the energy of divinity. Because of this, abundance must be channeled through feelings of love and not desire. If you can find the truth and the energy force within you money will come as a byproduct.
To cultivate your energy and wisdom Price suggests 6 steps to follow:
1. Daily meditation
2. Visualization
3. Intense Love
4. Joyful thanksgiving
5. Verbal harmlessness
6. Right action
Part IV: A Prosperity Compilation
In the last portion of The Abundance Book Price includes snippets from his other books. He quotes from Superbeings, The Manifestation Process and The Planetary Commission.
His teachings and ideas are an extension of the first parts of The Abundance Book. From Superbeings:
“God is the source of all prosperity and is forever providing for us whatever we need in abundant measure.”
From the Manifestation Process:
“Always remember that your desires are first fulfilled in consciousness, and then they come forth in the outer world clothed with materiality – so the secrete is to be thankful while your good is still invisible!”
From The Planetary Commission:
“They run around trying to “fix” your world with the consciousness that produced the problem in the first place will only aggravate the situation even more.”
Also in this section is a prosperity checklist of about 25 questions to ask yourself. Are you contemplating on the cause of money – spirit and God – or the effect, the money itself? Are you conscious of the inner presence as your abundance? Are you listening to the voice within you for guidance and direction?
The book ends with a closing meditation from Practical Spirituality.
About the Author
John Randolph Price began his career in the advertising world. He was very successful, rising up to CEO of a Houston agency.
In 1981, with his wife Jan, he founded the Quartus Foundation for Spiritual Research. It’s a nonprofit organization that created World Healing Day, a worldwide day of prayer that is celebrated every year since 1999.
Price was a motivational speaker and author. Some of his books are:
The Superbeings: The Superselling Guide to Finding Your Higher Self
Angel Energy: How to Harness the Power of Angels in Your Everyday Life
The 40 Day Prosperity Plan (the audio book is free)
A Spiritual Philosophy for the New World
Price passed away in 2014. His Quartus Foundation is still active today.
Conclusion
If you are interested in manifesting, affirmations and you believe in god give this book a try. It’s a good gateway book into the teachings of John Randolph Price. And it will only cost you a couple of hours – or less – to read it.