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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13300 ***
+
+                   The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga
+
+Including the Practices and Exercises of Concentration, both Objective
+and Subjective, and Active and Passive Mentation, an Elucidation of Maya,
+Guru Worship, and the Worship of the Terrible, also the Mystery of
+Will-Force
+
+                           BY SWAMI MUKERJI
+                     YOGI OF THE SOUTH INDIA ORDER
+
+                                 1922
+
+
+
+
+ANNOUNCEMENT
+
+
+In studying these Lessons please remember 3 points:--
+
+1. Not one useless or superfluous sentence is written. Every word is full
+of meaning. They are highly condensed. Think deeply over them.
+
+2. They are meant as a practical supplement to the 'Spiritual
+Consciousness,' 'Soul-Force' and 'Inner Forces.' Studied side by side,
+these lessons will yield a great deal of benefit. You are expected to
+think hard and long.
+
+3. Let none expect speedy or miraculous results. _All spiritual training
+calls for infinite patience and deep reverence unto the Guru. Constant
+rise and fall accompanies all progress_.
+
+
+
+
+FOREWORD.
+
+CONCENTRATION AND THOUGHT-CONTROL.
+
+
+Student! Your life is your own. You have only yourself to thank for what
+you are, have been and will be. Take your present into your own hand.
+Consciously shape out of it your future. Direct your forces along lines
+of study and endeavour that have the strongest attraction for you. Such
+attraction is the indication of need. It is the hand pointing out your
+Life-purpose. What your heart desires earnestly and clamours for
+incessantly is _attracted_ to you out of the _invisible supply, i.e._,
+the means, the environments, the right sort of persons, books and
+thought-forces are drawn to you and then you are expected to work out
+your desire. This is in perfect accord with the great _Law of
+Attraction_. Some call it God: since it answers all sincere prayers.
+Prayer, remember, is the sincere desire of the heart. I take it that you
+hunger for Truth and Spiritual Growth--else you and I would not be here.
+The instructions given you hereunder are meant to give you a strong body
+and a strong will. They will also tend to your Soul-Unfoldment. Talk not
+of them. Keep your mouth closed. Be serious, earnest and thoughtful. Then
+work at them confidently and with perseverance. Do not be daunted by
+apparent failures. Failure is the stepping-stone to Success. He fails who
+gives up a thing in final despair. Go on, I say. You will improve from
+the very first day, and in a short time you will be another man. All the
+leaders of humanity, past or present, have studied and investigated with
+tireless zeal along the special lines and, in Spiritual culture, you must
+do the same. But you must have health, a strong will and a steady brain,
+and I will enable you to have these positively. Keep these instructions
+strictly privately. Master them by constant meditation upon same.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON I.
+
+CONCENTRATION.
+
+
+Concentration signifies the state of being at a centre (_con_ and
+_centrum_). Applied to thought, it is the act of bringing the mind to a
+single point. Each human being must practise concentration _subjectively_
+and _objectively_. In other words, each human being aims with more or
+less precision at concentration on a point _within_ and a point _without_
+his own world. Concentration "without" is illustrated when you devote all
+your attention upon Nature, such as learning a trade, a profession, a
+science, an art or some form of business. This is _Evolution_, outgoing
+or positive mental energy. I shall call this _Objective Concentration_.
+Concentration "within" implies the withdrawing of attention from the
+external world and the placing of mind on "God," "Spirit," "Heaven,"
+"Religion," "Peace," "Nirvana," "Eternity," etc. This is _Involution_,
+_i.e._, incoming or negative energy.
+
+When _Objective Concentration_ alone is practised, you develop into a
+hard-headed, practical man of the world or a successful man of business.
+You are keen and shrewd. The world is a very matter-of-fact thing to
+you. You cannot think of anything else beyond money-making and pleasures
+and worldly affairs. You are a "worldling of the world," very clever,
+rich, and a master along your own lines. But spiritually you are an
+imbecile, worse than a baby. This is the _Objective Mind_--the "deepest
+immersed in matter, literally made of the dust." "It is the brain of
+worldly wisdom, common sense, prudence, methodical arrangement, order,
+discipline, classification, the skill and knowledge of the expert in any
+branch or department of art or science." This side of the mind is well
+developed in Scientists, Mathematicians and Businessmen, etc. Where
+it is not guided by the Subjective Mind, it can only see diversity and
+difference and is the slave of Maya--the slayer of the Real.
+
+_Subjective Concentration_ is seeking the Kingdom of Heaven _within_
+you. "God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in Spirit
+and Truth." LAPLACE, the great astronomer, asserted that he had swept
+the heavens with his telescope and found neither God nor Heaven. Yes,
+poor LAPLACE! He looked for God objectively instead of subjectively.
+
+The Kingdom of God comes not with 'observation' but it is 'within' you.
+The be-all and the end-all of religion is the practice of Subjective
+Concentration. The performance of objective work by the human organism
+necessitates expenditure of energy and at last death, because all
+Objective Concentration means 'going from' the Absolute centre--God--and
+hence it expends Spiritual Energy. Subjective Concentration means 'coming
+to' the centre and hence it husbands and recuperates this energy. Now
+nature is motion to and from, and Spirit--the centre of Life. This
+two-fold motion constitutes what is known as polarity--Evolution and
+Involution--negative and positive. At the negative pole life becomes
+involved, _i.e._, 'wrapped up' in form. At the positive pole life
+'evolves' or becomes expressed in nature. In Subjective Concentration you
+return for fresh supplies to the inexhaustible storehouse of force--the
+Absolute Will. Jesus healed the sick, exhibited control over external
+nature by raising the dead, because his chaste soul could receive nothing
+negatively from God and could give it out positively to the objective
+world. All power comes from God. I would impress upon you the
+all-important necessity of placing yourself in a magnetically passive
+attitude towards the Universal Will and then of taking up a calm,
+positive attitude towards the phenomenal world--which is a projection of
+the lower nature and hence must be handled masterfully, fearlessly and
+confidently. Be positive to the external world. Be negative and receptive
+to the Lord's Will-force. Remember this. This brings me to the supremest
+and most solid truth contained in the Science of prayer. The praying
+mind, by its mere attitude of faith and earnest expectation, opens itself
+out to the tremendous inflow of Divine Energy. It draws close to the
+centre of all-power, wisdom and love, and drinks deep of the living
+waters of life so that even the very face or flesh begins to shine under
+the influence of this self-polarization--if I may be permitted to use
+this word--through prayer. Here is the _causa nuxus_ between a prayer and
+its sure reply. Do you remember what Lord Rosebery said of the great
+Puritan Mystic Oliver Cromwell? If not, please let me quote: "The secret
+of his extraordinary success--he was a practical mystic--the most
+formidable and terrible of all combinations. The man who combines
+inspiration, apparently derived--in my judgment, really derived--from
+close communion with the Supernatural and the Celestial, a man who has
+that inspiration and adds to it the energy of a mighty man of action,
+such a man as that lives in communion on a _Sinai_ of his own; and when
+he pleases to come down to this world below, seems armed with no less
+than the terrors and decrees of the Almighty Himself." Now both forms of
+concentration must be practised so as to hold the two poles in the even
+balance of harmonious growth.
+
+You will perform the daily work to which you are naturally adapted in the
+common weal (Objective Concentration) and after the daily task is
+finished, retire to the bosom of the Universal Spirit by the regular
+practice of Subjective Concentration.
+
+Now will you realise the ideal of peace in the very midst of the toil
+and sweat of the day.
+
+The foregoing diagram, if closely and thoughtfully studied, will show the
+stages the mind has to 'grow into' in objective and subjective
+concentration.
+
+In order to acquire knowledge of the laws of external nature the mirror
+you require is accurate observation and you must focus your attention and
+push objective concentration to its final stage of perfect knowledge or
+illumination in order to master any special branch of science.
+
+In Objective Concentration, _Pratyahara_ and _Dharana_ are the
+preparatory stages. Take a scientist, for instance. He knows that when
+the mind is engaged with several things, mind force is scattered. He
+cannot be a politician, a musician, etc., and at the same time an expert
+scientist. He gradually abstracts his attention from all other subjects
+and pauses it on one subject or one set of subjects.
+
+_Pratyahara_ is the continued effort of the mind to so abstract itself.
+
+_Dharana_ is reached when this effort is finally successful and the
+mind becomes steadfast and one-pointed. _Dhyana_ is an extension of
+this steadfastness. When _Dhyana_ is reached, the student is beyond the
+range of books. His mind is occupied with original researches and
+experiments and his knowledge becomes more and more definite. Going on
+and on always on the one line complete knowledge of that subject is
+attained. This is the objective view of _Samadhi_. All these stages when
+completed make one _Samayana_. The subjective view of _Samadhi_ no books
+or writings can teach you. As you go deeper and deeper into Yoga, you
+will understand these things in the light of your Soul-Vision. It will
+come to you if you follow my subsequent instructions. Despair not.
+
+
+WHAT IS MAYA?
+
+Now, first of all, what is Maya (ignorance of the real)? Take the
+dial-plate of a watch. You know quite well that the hands of the watch
+are governed by the mechanism behind. Both are necessary. Ignorance
+exists in thinking that the hands of the watch move by themselves. This
+visible universe is the dial-plate of the Invisible. Maya (ignorance)
+blinds you to this fact, _i.e._, mere objective knowledge blinds you to
+the subjective side of life and you see nothing beyond a material
+universe. But you, who realize both, objective as well as subjective,
+need not be afraid of such a danger. For a danger it is to develop the
+objective mind at neglect of the subjective. In order to round yourself
+out, practise both. _But first, last and always, let the subjective
+guide, govern and illumine the objective_. Also remember this: If your
+mind is at all attached to the objective world, try your very best to
+disattach it and fix it on the subjective side of life, else will you
+bring untold suffering on yourself. The half-wordly and half-spiritual
+man who wants to lead a spiritual sensual life eventually brings about a
+conflict between the laws and forces of the two planes of being. He is
+overwhelmed with pain and at last with cries of suffering, disease and
+loss, he is made to open his eyes. Understand the world for what it is
+but do not lower your soul to the point of being attached to its small
+thoughts, things and ways.
+
+
+HOW TO CONCENTRATE OBJECTIVELY.
+
+(_a_) In all undertakings whether of small or great importance shut
+off all thoughts and ideas except such as have any immediate and direct
+bearing upon the thing in hand. Pay attention. Bend all the energies
+of your mind and will upon it till it is completed to your satisfaction.
+Divert your attention from one thing to another only when you sanction
+by a resolve and understand why you do so. Your daily work which you
+must choose according to the special bent of your mind, will present you
+opportunities.
+
+(_b_) Control impulse. Suppose an idea enters your mind. Compose
+yourself quietly before carrying out its purport. Consider it. Turn
+it over in your mind. Contemplate it. Weave your mental energies
+around it, as it were, till at last the idea with your final decision
+stands out clear-cut and well-defined. Then proceed to act it out
+physically with your mental concentration cutting a way for you straight
+on to the execution of your designing. This is _forethought_.
+
+(_c_) In perfect concentration time vanishes. In working out a
+design on which you have set your heart dispense altogether with the
+element of time and work at it concentratedly for days, months and
+years with confident expectation of success.
+
+(_d_) Take a picture, representing a landscape, the interior of a
+building, an assembly of persons, a square, a triangle or a more
+complicated geometrical figure. Look at it well. Then lay it aside. Close
+your eyes. Reproduce the picture mentally in detail. Then repose your
+mind on the same image to the exclusion of all other thoughts. This is
+a more fixed and meditative method and will sharpen the mind wonderfully.
+It will also develop the power of conscious Mental Imagery. The
+key to Objective Concentration is _Conscious Attention_, remember.
+
+
+ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MENTATION.
+
+These terms imply two different distinct functions of the human
+mind. The active function performs the volitional, voluntary thinking.
+It is the conscious focusing of the mind on some mental problem.
+Banishing from the mind all thoughts and ideas not in harmony with your
+special subject of study implies Active Mentation. This function is used
+by the active, wide-awake man in his busy and energetic moments. It
+is the key to the development of Will-Power and a vigorous intellect.
+You are conscious of effort when you are exercising this function. The
+mind becomes exhausted after a great deal of such effort and cries out
+for rest, because conscious attention implies close concentration of
+thought and can be exercised only by the conscious use of Will-Power. You
+ought to be able to concentrate upon one subject of thought, study and
+observation with undivided attention and then take your mind off that
+subject and put it on something else, at your will. Train your mind to
+'give' perfect attention to any subject you like and also to 'shut off'
+or inhibit all attention on that subject. The mind is a restless thing
+darting from one thing to another, and, like a spoilt child, tiring of
+continued attention. But you must, by Will-Exercise, get control over
+this tendency. 'Exercise develops power. Practice makes perfect.' This
+you must bear in mind and, by patience and perseverance, train your mind
+to 'pay attention' where it ought to do so and not to pay attention where
+it ought not to. At first your mind will rebel like an unbroken horse
+at the imposition of such restraint. But really all greatness results
+from mind-control. _Remember active mentation is conscious, deliberate
+concentration. Passive mentation represents automatic, involuntary
+thinking._ This includes the subconscious or 'habit' mind. When a certain
+thought-groove has been formed in your mind, energy flows into it
+involuntarily, _i.e._, by itself and without any conscious effort on your
+part. This is passive mentation. It is automatic mental activity. Take an
+example. Some school-boys find Mathematics, Science and Geography
+easy to master from the very start. They feel quite in sympathy with the
+teacher of Mathematics. But History and Language are their abomination.
+There are others who simply cannot 'take an interest' in any
+Mathematics but who shine brilliantly in Language, Recitation,
+Composition, History. As a matter of fact neither of these students is
+superior to the other, but each is great in his own line. In one set, you
+have an example of automatic mentation in Mathematics, Science and
+Geography; in the other in Literature and Art. But suppose the first set
+tried to master Literature and Art and the second grappled with
+Mathematics and Science, each would then be practising actual
+concentration. In each set the active function would be exercised and
+will-power would develop on both sides. Do you see? Occultists say that
+all power results from the continual exercise of active mentation
+and all weak-mindedness is the direct outcome of this wool-gathering,
+castle-building, inattentive habit which is an extension of passive
+mentation into useless channels of thought-force. Conscious attention
+concentrates and even specializes mental energy as the sun-glass
+concentrates and intensifies the heat of the rays of the sun. Focus your
+full attention upon the thing to be done, take a keen interest in its
+accomplishment to the exclusion of all else, and you will obtain
+wonderful results. The man of developed, concentrative power holds in his
+hand the key to success, with the results that all his actions, voluntary
+or involuntary, are pointed to the accomplishment of his object. Remember
+therefore in conclusion:
+
+(1) Concentration is perfect attention consciously directed to a
+given point of achievement either objectively or subjectively.
+
+(2) Concentration is consecration.
+
+"What ever you do, do it with all your might. Do one thing at a time and
+do it well." By concentration is meant the directing of all your energies
+along a special line of achievement. For instance, if you would be a
+perfect Yogi, you must concentrate, concentrate, morning, noon and night,
+at all times, along that line of endeavour. You must study all the vast
+literature on Yoga, Psychology, Metaphysics, Mentalism, etc., and form
+your own synthesis on same. You must think hard and work hard for Yoga.
+"Genius is the power to bear infinite pain." Nothing ought to be too
+great a sacrifice, including your own life, for the right understanding
+and achievement of Yoga.
+
+All half-heartedness, all insincerity, weakens your nature, and
+weakness has no place either in heaven or in hell. For the half-hearted
+man is a traitor unto the Divine within him and must pay dearly for
+his treachery.
+
+
+SUBJECTIVE CONCENTRATION--HOW PRACTISED.
+
+This is a vast subject. If you practise earnestly my instructions on
+Thought-Control, Will-Culture, and take the Meditation Exercise I am
+going to give you, you will realize greater strength than average
+humanity. But you must study and think hard for yourself before any
+considerable benefit can be derived from even these. Remember please, you
+alone can teach yourself through intuition. Intuition is tuition from
+within. Follow strictly the general rules I give you and you cannot but
+unfold your Inner Soul Vision which includes intuition in its fullest
+sense.
+
+_(a) What is Thought-Force?_
+
+"Thoughts are things." Thought is a dynamic energy. Just as the food that
+you eat feeds your body, exactly similarly your thoughts and feelings
+nourish your soul. Matter is nothing but a concentration of Thought-Force
+or Mind-Substance. The entire universe is seen objectively. This is on
+the cosmic scale. On the individual scale--"As a man thinketh in his
+heart, so he is." This is a literal truth. Your body is nothing but a
+Thought-Form. Control your modes of thinking and shape them to lofty
+ideals. So will you infallibly, positively and immediately control your
+destiny. Control your thoughts and you can control the thoughts of all
+other men. The tone of your thoughts must always be lofty. You must
+change your Thought-Habits and shift your plane of consciousness from the
+lower to the higher life. I am going to give you hints on same. Pay
+attention please.
+
+_(b) Thought-Forms._
+
+Every one of us, as he thinks, feels and wills, sends forth Thought-Forms
+and Thought-Waves of greater or lesser intensity. This force once set
+into motion persists, for a greater or lesser period of time, in
+Ether. Thought-Force is the concentration of a high form of vibratory
+energy in the Akasa (universal ether) and the ether, as you know,
+permeates all space, interpenetrates and pervades all forms of matter,
+from atom to the sun and the stars. Just as the light-waves of a star
+exist and move on centuries after the star has ceased to be, just as the
+heat-vibrations remain in a room even after the producing cause has been
+removed, similarly mentative energy and its corresponding Thought-Forms
+persist in the ether even after the originating impulse has been
+withdrawn.
+
+_(c) Thought-Atmosphere._
+
+In this way places, houses, cities and temples have peculiar
+Thought-Atmospheres of their own, imparted by those living there,
+exerting an influence upon every one living or going there. These are
+positive, animating, purifying and exalting Thought-Atmospheres, and
+there are negative, weakening and unholy, morbid Thought-Atmospheres.
+
+The higher and loftier your tone of general Thought-Activity, the
+finer and more powerful the vibrational nature of the energy emanating
+from you. The quality of the thought determines the rate of vibration.
+For instance, photographs have been taken through highly-sensitized
+plates, indicating the nature of the energy generated. Tongues of flame,
+brilliant and flashing with golden-yellow, were photographed from prayer
+and devotion. Rotary forms spreading out in ever widening circles of
+intense power appeared from lofty enthusiasm in a noble cause. Dark,
+murky, cloudy forms resulted from fear, morbidness and worry, and so on.
+
+_(d) The Human Aura._
+
+Similarly each human organism has an 'Aura' of Thought-Force around it,
+having its own peculiar rate of vibration, its peculiar forms of colour,
+etc. This 'Aura' is an extension of our physical, mental and spiritual
+energies.
+
+_(e) The Adductive Power of Thought._
+
+Now as you think, the quality of your thoughts and feelings sets up
+a magnetic centre within your Aura, vortices are created, attracting to
+yourself similar forms of thought and mentative energy and combining
+with other similar forms of energy, reacting upon you and your
+circumstances and also wielding an influence upon all such as may come
+within its area, radius or field of Force. Thus you see thoughts of the
+'I can and I will', 'I do and I dare' type draw similar ones to you, ever
+increasing your own stock and at the same time stimulating and energising
+all others vibrating in the same key throughout the world. Hence you see
+we owe it to ourselves as well as to humanity in general to generate only
+positive, loving and lofty thoughts. Just brace up and send forth
+fearless, 'I can and I will' thoughts into the world's great reservoir of
+thought forces, and you will be surprised at your power to attract
+influence, and energise others.
+
+_(f) Thought-Control._
+
+There are four special classes of thoughts that are poisoning the
+lives of almost all humanity. They are:--(1) Fear-thoughts, (2)
+Hate-thoughts, (3) Sensual-thoughts, (4) Selfish-thoughts. All worry,
+doubt, timidty, lack of self-respect, jealousy, spite, malice, envy,
+slander, dirty, vicious, will-weakening, health-destroying,
+poverty-breeding, soul-killing influences radiate from one or all of
+these four. You must cut at their roots and utterly destroy them. In your
+efforts follow assiduously the following four rules. They alone can give
+you absolute thought-control. They are infallible:
+
+(1) You can break up old thought-habits and build up new ones
+by sheer force of Will.
+
+(2) You can easily become great by associating with some strong-willed,
+holy, wisdom-steeped soul. This is absolutely necessary and
+means the finding of your Guru.
+
+(3) By auto-suggestion, _i.e._, by impressing upon your passive
+mind the particular change you would have it work out.
+
+(4) By thought-absorption, _i.e._, by constant meditation on that
+one line of thinking.
+
+Now let me give you a few valuable hints on the above four in detail:
+
+(1) & (3). _Character Building_.
+
+You can accomplish this result by tensing the will and by strengthening
+the active function of your mind and thus enabling it to "step in"
+and simply 'command' the passive function to drop the old thought-habit
+and take up the new one. This is a magnificent feat and in it only the
+strongest succeed. You can obtain good results by combining this with
+auto-suggestion. Silently concentrate upon your passive mind and impress
+upon it your order. Say to it earnestly, confidently, and masterfully:
+'You, my mind, I want you to be fearless, pure, loving and unselfish!'
+Picture to yourself in imagination as if you were already these,
+and again command and impress your will upon your mind. Do so silently
+and constantly and never neglect a chance of expressing these qualities
+in action because, at first your mind will rebel, but if 'you' keep up
+your efforts determinately and firmly and avail yourself of all
+opportunities to 'act out' your will, your mind will end up by accepting
+your suggestion and manifesting same naturally as a habit. Some of you
+will actually go out of your way to 'act out' a thought when you realise
+that the easiest and surest way to check and utterly 'destroy' a
+thought-habit is to refuse deliberately to let it manifest in action and
+to 'create' a new one all you have got to do is to equally deliberately
+'express' it in action and thus clinch it into permanent strength. Also
+you must aim at 'thoroughness' and guard against all compromise with your
+lower nature. Chastity must be perfect chastity and nothing short of
+that, and so on in all development.
+
+(4) _Thought-Absorption._
+
+i. Go away by yourself to some place where you will not be disturbed.
+Of course, not always and very rarely can you obtain this condition.
+Never mind. Do your best where you are and the great law will at least
+find for you all necessary conditions. Shut out all distracting
+conditions and impressions from the outer world. After a little effort
+you will be able to do so anywhere, at any time, and under any condition.
+All mental disturbance is within you.
+
+ii. Now relax, go passive, and draw off all tension from your nerves.
+Just you relax your mind and your body will follow suit. A few deep slow
+breaths will help the beginner.
+
+iii. Concentrate upon your mind inward steadily, calmly and with
+undivided attention.
+
+iv. Fix your thought firmly upon your passive mind and mentally
+say, 'You, my mind, are quite _pure_.' Think of this word (with all the
+ideas associated therewith) as sinking deeply into your mind and making
+a deep impression upon it as a die upon a wax. Let the outward form of
+the words 'pure,' 'fearless,' etc., sink into your mind.
+
+v. Form a mental picture of yourself as if you already possessed
+all 'purity' and 'courage' and act them out in imagination. Make of it
+a pleasant 'day dream.'
+
+vi. Intensify your relaxed condition of mind. Grow as 'limp' as a
+rag. Then mentally open yourself out to the inrush of all the
+Thought-Forces existing in the ether and connected with positive
+thoughts. The effort of this imagination to see this tremendous force
+pouring into your brain and body will actually put you _en rapport_ with
+same.
+
+vii. Now change from negative to a positive condition and say
+vigourously I am '_pure_' and '_strong_' Say it distinctly several times.
+Actually speak them out.
+
+viii. Then go out and _live your thoughts out_. This last is the most
+important condition.
+
+ix. Practise this daily at the same hour and if possible at the same
+place, morning and evening. In fact hold the thought in your mind as
+often as possible till it becomes second Nature.
+
+x. Use your power for good or you shall weep eternally. To misuse
+occult powers for mean, selfish, or low ends and to prostitute it into
+enslaving others weaker than yourselves mentally and physically is the
+greatest 'sin' man can commit against man.
+
+(2) _Guru Worship_.
+
+You grow by absorption and assimilation. In order to quicken your
+progress you need abstract as well as concrete ideals. The secret of all
+rapid and startling spiritual development is man-worship. By man-worship
+I mean devotion to, reverence, and intense and all-absorbing passion for
+the perfect individual man of realization--a Mahapurusha. Christ, Buddha
+and Vivekananda were all such-type men. You must constantly and
+thoughtfully meditate upon the lives and writings of saints and heroes.
+The formative influence and valuable powers of study and meditation upon
+lofty ideas and ideals are incalculable. Man grows by the deepening of
+consciousness and the acquirement of wisdom. All study, subjective and
+objective, is a _Tapashya_ or Austerity directed to the acquirement of
+wisdom. It is the worship of Saraswati--the Goddess of Wisdom. This
+worship is definable as perfect emotional solitude, close study, absolute
+chastity and celibacy, and at last the merging of the personal into the
+impersonal. This austere life is the secret of all greatness. You know
+how Archimedes when threatened with death by the vandalistic invaders of
+his country raised his head and said 'Please do not disturb my circles'
+and nothing more. This man was practising Yoga unconsciously. You must be
+able to lose all consciousness of this relative personality, the sure
+victim of death and impermanence. You must give up the personal ego that
+in the words of Walt Whitman 'is contained within your hat and boots' and
+then alone will you realise an infinite individuality. Truly in losing
+himself man finds Himself. 'Ye must be born anew'. Herein, apart from its
+formative and moulding influence lies the greatest value of study. Study
+and direct aural influence of a perfected soul are the two objective
+means of instilling powerful suggestions into the subjective self or the
+inner soul. All knowledge is within the deeps of the eternal subjective.
+But the gate is locked. Your Guru gives you the master-key with which to
+unlock the door and enter the gate of wisdom and power. Once you are
+there all pain and death shall be conquered. You can then help yourself.
+Man can only worship such a God as is greater than himself in degree and
+not in kind. Such a God he can "grow into." It is the impersonal God of
+the Hindu Philosophy that gives you the abstract ideas and the living
+Guru (God) in human form that gives you the concrete ideal. The one is
+necessary for the soaring intellect; the other for the rousing and
+enkindling of tremendous and indomitable motive-power. Seek both and when
+you find them worship and serve them with all your heart and soul. 'My
+worship for my master is the worship of a dog. I do not seek to
+understand his nature. It ever startles with its newness and profound
+depth'. So spoke Vivekananda of Ram Krishna. Need I tell you of the
+tremendous and world-conquering power that awoke in Vivekananda through
+mere Guru worship? In India the Guru asks for nothing short of absolute
+worship, obedience, and submission to his will although none values and
+appreciates individual freedom more than the master. So long as you are
+at the feet of your master be as submissive as a lamb. So will you open
+yourself to his great batteries of inner power. Serve him. Please him.
+Obey him. Be his slave. No matter what contradictions you may see.
+A great and profound nature is full of contrary ways and his character
+is a paradox impossible for you to read through reason and observation.
+You can only understand him by having perfect faith in him, loving
+and serving him like a faithful dog. So will you tap on to his inner
+forces. And when he sends you away into the broad world to live out the
+great ideal he has set before you, you shall be astonished at your
+courage and power. You shall take fearless possession of this world
+and every minute you shall realise how only he can command who has
+learnt to obey. By commanding I do not mean dominating any one and
+forcing your views on others. This is the sign of fools. But you will
+find your influence radiating and circling out naturally and
+irresistibly, winning souls to the higher life, and you yourself shall
+thus stand as a tower of strength, a redeemer of the race, an inspiration
+and a living benediction unto humanity. Peace be with you! May you
+realise strength of soul!
+
+
+
+
+LESSON II.
+
+PERSONAL MAGNETISM, WILL-CULTURE, SELF-CONTROL.
+
+
+Personal Magnetism is the individual expression of a subtle irresistible
+and dynamic _Force_ in man, which enables him to exert an unusual
+influence upon others. You all have come into contact with men of this
+type. They are endowed with marvelous, almost miraculous powers of
+influencing, persuading, attracting, fascinating, ruling and bending to
+their own Will-Force men of widely varying mental peculiarities and
+temperaments. Men actually go out of their way to please them. They
+attract others without any visible effort and others feel drawn to them
+in spite of themselves. Various are the examples of such power as
+afforded by history.
+
+Now what is this power due to? How to develop it within yourself?
+Is it possible for everyone to acquire it? Has it or can it be put to any
+higher and nobler use than merely to enslave others' minds in order to
+make them subservient to your selfish purposes on the relative plane
+of existence? If so, what is that higher use? I know of a Christian
+gentleman, Mr. K. by name, who had been smitten with the young
+governess of a Magistrate in Benares. This grown-up man sought out
+a young College student who was a born leader of men and who was
+adored, admired and universally respected by all students, teachers and
+professors. "I wish you would teach me Mesmerism so that I may
+_fascinate_ that girl"--this was the application of Mr. K. Well, the
+upshot of it all was that Mr. K. got a severe and stern rebuke from the
+young mesmerist, who in all truth was a born Yogi and cared not for the
+petty ways and small thoughts and attainments of men of this world. I
+find that nearly all modern Western writers on and teachers of this
+subject are much, in fact solely, taken up with the idea of
+sensationalism through Occultism, so much so that when a really
+thoughtful man investigates their writings he feels utterly disgusted,
+repelled and horrified at the very name of Occultism. "_It is sin to
+manifest power_," said Vivekananda. The man who studies Yoga and
+Occultism simply with a view to develop, display and demonstrate Psychic
+and Super-normal Powers and _Siddhies_ always ends in _Lust_ and is
+caught up in a psychic machinery of law and destructive thought forces
+that effectually grind him to pieces. His spiritual progress is thrown
+back over ages and he is made to retrace his steps slowly and painfully.
+I cannot too strongly condemn the modern tendency to "impress" others, to
+"strike terror" into others, to "psychologize" others towards the
+accomplishment of our personal motives. If you are one such, do, for
+heaven's sake, open your eyes to your gross ignorance and low
+propensities or be not surprised if one day you find yourself face to
+face with some powerful scoundrel who would not scruple to crush you in
+all possible ways. "Harm watch, harm catch." I am going to give you in
+practical form what constitute the real cause at the back of a "Magnetic"
+personality--that which when developed makes a god-like man of any human
+weakling.
+
+This power is by no means the especial and peculiar possession of some
+divinely gifted individuals. _Everyone can cultivate it_. It is in you
+and needs vigorous stirring up as a condition of its awakening. There
+are some men who are born great; others are made so by certain unforeseen
+circumstances; a third class becomes great through conscious and
+intelligent effort.
+
+Now, what are the causes behind Personal Influence?
+
+(1)  Some say that the right control of the Sex-Force or Celibacy
+is the cause.
+
+(2)  Others say that vegetarianism leads to it.
+
+(3)  Still others assert that it is physical energy and nerve force.
+
+(4) A fourth class has it that there emanates a current of magnetism
+from the human body and influences everyone coming within its
+"Magnetic field".
+
+Taking the last view point first, I should say, with certain other
+leading mental Scientists, that the human dynamic force is different from
+"magnetism" as the latter bears direct reference to the loadstone.
+
+Again, my own personal observations as well as those of others prove
+conclusively that although "magnetic" personalities have remarkably
+well-disciplined and highly trained physical energies, it is rarely or
+never a huge gigantic physique with large, unsightly muscles that exerts
+this force. No, it is decidely something other than mere physical energy
+and brute strength. A light, active, vigorous physique is desirable and
+any one can have it. Again, the principle value of a non-flesh diet lies
+in the fact that fruits, nuts, corn and vegetables are possessed of
+rhythmic qualities and go to build up a fine, sensitive physique capable
+of greater powers of endurance and sustained mental effort than the
+'carcass' of any animal ever can. Matter does affect mind in the lower
+stages of organic evolution but the process is largely reversed as soon
+as CONSCIOUS evolution commences. Therefore vegetarianism, although
+highly commendable, from a strictly scientific point of view for the
+development of an active and energetic, refined organism, is by no means
+a rigid and indispensable necessity in this respect. In fact, some most
+"magnetic" individuals make 'graveyards of their stomachs' as a Mental
+Scientist puts it.
+
+Lastly, Bramhacharya or Celibacy, as practised by Sannyasis in India, has
+a strictly spiritual significance although it certainly has much as
+everything to do with Personal Magnetism. To the average man I would say:
+"Strive for CONTINENCE, chastity and control in this direction." Do not
+emasculate, as that would be a waste of force. The stronger this force,
+the better. All Sannyasis learn consciously or unconsciously to transmute
+this energy into mental and spiritual force and generally their minds
+dwell on a plane of mental and spiritual effort where there cannot be
+even a breath of sensuality or grossness. They have gone beyond such
+things utterly; the same statement applies to all advanced thinkers,
+philosophers and workers, whether married or unmarried. To me the very
+name of philosophy carries with it an atmosphere of Chastity, Solemnity,
+and Divinity.
+
+But although there is some measure of truth in all the above four
+statements, they all miss the real thing. The question resolves itself
+into this: "_What makes one man superior to another_?" The study of
+nature shows us that the higher form of intelligence controls the lower.
+All leaders of mankind, such as Napoleon, Alexander, etc., were clearly
+ahead of the times. But they strove for low things and their SUCCESS
+from our point of view is doubtful. Let us take higher ground. Buddha,
+Christ, Zoroaster, etc., etc., of ancient times and Vivekananda and a few
+others in modern times exhibited tremendous powers of influencing men.
+You study their lives and writings and try to find out just those things
+that constituted the basic cause of their heroic fibre.
+
+If I were asked to sum up the secrets of their Power I would say:
+1. "_Their Intelligence_ and _Thought-Power._ 2. Awakened _Will-Power_
+and _Self-Control_."
+
+1. It was by their intelligence that they could take fearless possession
+of the world, handle men and women easily, read human nature at a glance
+and "be all things to all men," _i.e._., put their fingers direct on the
+spiritual, mental, and physical _necessities_ of widely varying
+temperaments and help each right where he stood in the ladder of
+evolution.
+
+2. It was by their developed thought-force that they drew the whole world
+to themselves. The positive thinker generates a force that draws all such
+as are _negative_ to him. Nearly the whole world was negative to these
+Masters and hence felt attracted to them. _These were the human
+touchstones_.
+
+3. It was by their strong, manly, marvellous Will-Power that they
+drove their suggestions into other minds and gained an immediate
+ascendency over whatever environments they were placed in. The whole
+man is summed up in his Will. Every other power in man is subservient
+to the Will. And say what you will, it is this power more than any other
+that we respect in others. It is the central staff in our character.
+Intelligence is the directive energy. Will-Power is the propulsive
+energy. And the latter when wielded under the guidance of the former
+makes of man a veritable God.
+
+4. It was by their unusual power of _Self-control_ that they could stand
+square upon their feet and could remain unshaken by the waves of
+conflicting opinions and the hostile attacks that continually dashed up
+against them. _Master yourself_, i.e., your personal, relative and lower
+self, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, _the mastery of others is already
+yours._ But the world will teach you bitter lessons and rend you to
+pieces if you try consciously to control it while you are still a slave
+to your lower self. Be great. Strive for Perfection. So will you be
+recognised by others. And according to the transcendent energy of the
+highest law of our Being it is the consciousness of heights scaled,
+accomplishments achieved and consequent dawning of a Loftier Ideal upon
+our intellectual horizon that fills us with Strength and Peace rather
+than the recognition of our worth by others. It is a serious mistake to
+care for fame, praise and admiration. You get them only when you do not
+care for them in the least, when your soul has outgrown all such clinging
+to the relative in the light of _eternal thought_, when you have risen to
+the Absolute and learnt to read the meaning of the "LARGER WORLD" of
+life. Do not pass by this lightly. In it is the key to Peace, Power and
+Poise. All that is Real and Permanent, is on the plane of the Absolute.
+
+Now we are drawing to the practical side of our Lesson. The four
+principal points, you will please remember, are: (1) Intelligence. (2)
+Thought-Force. (3) Will-Power. (4) Self-Control. You might feel
+surprised at my retailing this "ancient history" instead of teaching you
+how to approach a man, make him your slave and command him to fall
+down at your feet and do your bidding. Perhaps you expected me to
+tell you how to sail through the air, pass through solid walls,
+materialize and dematerialize at will and like Appolonius of Tyana vanish
+in the flash of an eye from the court of Ionysius and appear elsewhere at
+a distance of 19,000 miles at the same moment. No, no. I will take it
+for granted that you are made of different stuff and _an earnest seeker
+after the truth_. If you strive to build yourself on the basis of the
+simple principles as laid down in this series of lessons you will in time
+grow into the Higher Self and at last become one with it. Moreover, your
+daily life will be the Occasion for the practical application of these
+principles, thus enabling you to pursue your way through life calmly,
+earnestly, independently and with the quiet dignity of a man "who knows
+what he is about". I cannot and would not speak of "get-rich-quick"
+methods of self-development because they are the veriest rot imaginable.
+
+Now then: (1) Intelligence and (2) Thought-Force are the natural
+results of an organised brain.
+
+Concentration is the key to such development. Concentration has been
+fully explained in Lesson No. 1. By the constant exercise of
+concentration, objectively and subjectively, in your daily life you
+will in a short time become conscious of growing Strength. The
+exercises I give you in this lesson on Self-Control, Will-Culture and
+Memory-Culture if gone through with perseverance will further develop
+Concentrative ability. In fact, this entire series of lessons will call
+for Effort and Concentration. "Rome was not built in a day"--nor can you
+achieve real greatness in a few months. No. All I can do is to indicate
+the line and the nature of the effort required of you and if clearly
+followed, Progress and Growth will commence from the first day. In
+connection with this, a little digression would be necessary. The
+Occultist says: Nature, unaided, fails. The purposiveness of Deity,
+manifesting in nature an evolution, is present in all individual centres
+but it has the way to full expression opened out to itself only when the
+more evolved centres of life consciously cooperate with it. Evolution is
+started and carried only by the creation of centres within the GREAT
+CONSCIOUSNESS and by preserving and enlarging or expanding these centres.
+So long as the race had not reached "SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS" (see Yoga
+Lessons) the sub-conscious forces of nature had entire control over
+evolutionary processes, but this stage was reached by the race according
+to the LAW OF AVERAGES in the seventeenth century and you are now
+expected to take your progress in your hands and consciously direct your
+inner forces along such lines as best correspond to the stage of your
+growth. So independent study and steady thinking form the secrets of a
+keen and broad intelligence. You will always find that the man who is
+more powerful than yourself and moves you at his will has an intelligence
+and understanding far superior to yours and he can read your whole nature
+as he would an open book, although you find him quite beyond your
+depth. Learn to regard earnestly the workings of different mentalities
+around you. Become a student of human nature. To you, each man
+ought to be only a partial expression of his mind. Examine closely into
+the motives acting behind each personality. Learn to respond more
+quickly to the _Thoughts_ and _Feelings_ of a man than to his outer
+speech and action. The latter are objective expressions of the subjective
+self. The study of Phrenology and Physiognomy are good things to start
+with in your efforts to acquire knowledge of human nature. _Mind is One_
+and at the same time, _Many_. Subjectively, it is ONE. Objectively; many.
+So by looking _impartially_ into "yourself" in the calm light of the
+intellect and through silent introspection, you will always find a clue
+to the working bases of other minds. Each man is a puzzle and most of all
+are _YOU_ a puzzle unto yourself. Solve either and you have solved both.
+"MAN, KNOW THYSELF."
+
+
+THE MYSTERY OF THE WILL-FORCE.
+
+Will-Force is the power of Re-action. It can render all the other
+mental functions _active_ or _passive_. It is the DETERMINATIVE faculty
+and is affected most of all by the JUDGMENT. On the lower plane
+of mind, Will-Power manifests as Desire and is reciprocally influenced
+by outside attractions as well as repulsions. On this plane the Will is
+not free. But when it draws the volition for externalizing itself from
+_Within_ in the light of the Higher Reason, then indeed is it
+_Will-Power. On the material the human will is a slave; on the spiritual
+plane it is the sovereign. It may then be called the "awakened" will_. It
+is my conviction that the eternal crossing of swords between the
+Determinists and the Libertarians can be set at rest only by a right
+understanding of the _spiritual_ makeup of man, otherwise the arguments
+of both sets of thinkers are equally strong. Each side has got hold of
+half the truth, but requires the reconciling light of transcendental
+Psychology in order to enable us to see the _whole_ truth as it is.
+However, the point I am driving at is that your will is free only when it
+is _self-determined_ i.e., when it has risen above the impulses of the
+Lower Personal Self and acts under the direction of the Higher Impersonal
+Self_. In order to fix this most important truth in your mind, let us
+give you a brief idea of the "I AM" consciousness. Do not pass this by as
+so much dry rot. No one will ever or can ever manifest genuine Will-Force
+of a distinctly spiritual type who does not understand the "I AM"
+consciousness. So please listen attentively and think over the following.
+
+
+THE "I AM" CONSCIOUSNESS.
+
+If you just turn in and examine the report of your consciousness
+regarding the _self_-dwelling within, you will become conscious of the
+"I". But if you press your examination a little closer you will find that
+this "I" may be split up into two distinct aspects which, while working
+in unison and conjunction, may nevertheless be set apart in thought.
+There is an "I" function and there is a "me" function and these mental
+twins develop distinct phenomena. The first is the "MASCULINE" principle;
+the second is the "FEMININE" principle. Other terms used in current
+writings on New Psychology are Conscious Mind, Active Mind, Voluntary
+Mind, Objective Mind and so forth. These all refer to the "I" principle.
+And the "me" form of mind corresponds to the Sub-Conscious Mind, Passive
+Mind, Involuntary Mind, Subjective Mind and so on. Ninety-nine p. c. of
+humanity mean this "me" when they say "I". Now let us examine what this
+"me" implies. It consists largely of our consciousness, of our body and
+physical sensations as associated with touch, taste, smell, sight and
+hearing. The consciousness of some of us is largely bound up in the
+physical and carnal side of life. We "live there." There are some men who
+consider their "clothes" too as being a part of themselves. But as
+consciousness rises in the scale of evolution, man begins to "dissociate"
+his idea of "me" from the body and he begins to regard his body as a
+beloved companion and as "belonging to" him. He then identifies himself
+with his mental states, emotions, feelings, likes and dislikes, habits,
+qualities and characteristics. But, by and by, he begins to realize how
+even these moods also are subject to change, born and die and are subject
+to the Principles of Rhythm and Polarity. He realizes faintly that he can
+change them by an effort of will and "transmute" them into mental states
+of an exactly opposite nature. Then he again begins to "dissociate"
+himself from his emotions and feelings and at last through mental
+analysis, introspection and concentration, he sets them apart into the
+"not I" collection. He begins _then_ to realize that he is something
+_above_ his body and emotions. So also with the intellectual
+functions. The intellectual man is very apt to think that although his
+_physical_ and _emotional_ selves are something different from him and
+under his control, _still his intellect is himself_. This is the stage of
+"Self-Consciousness". "I control my body and emotions." But as
+consciousness unfolds intellectual man finds that he can practically
+stand aside and see (mentally, of course) his mind going through various
+processes of intellection. Study of Psychology and Logic will enable
+you to see how all your intellectual processes may be held at arm's
+length, examined, analysed, labelled and discussed quite with the same
+ease as the professor talks of a solid, liquid and acriform substances in
+his laboratory. So at last he finds that even the wonderful powers of
+the Intellect must go into the "not I" collection. This is almost as far
+as the average man can realize. You can realize and say "I am not the
+body, not the emotions, not the intellect." Therefore you see, that side
+of consciousness which is the sum-total of your physical, emotional and
+intellectual functions comprises the "me" or Feminine or Passive mental
+principle. That which can separate itself in thought from all the above
+is the "I" or the Masculine Function. But another step must be taken.
+That which you have been taught to regard as the Spiritual Consciousness
+(see "Spiritual Consciousness") will also eventually go into the
+"Not-I" or "me" collection. In brief, the spiritual mind may be said to
+comprise all that is GOOD, NOBLE and GREAT in the field of consciousness.
+It is the "Super-Conscious" mind, just now. But, mark this, when through
+further evolution, the "I" has mastered this field of consciousness also
+and is able to regard it as being the last of the "me" collections, then
+it will lose its sense of _relativity_ and _separation_ and the real
+individuality, the "I AM" consciousness, will have been realized.
+What do I mean? This "I AM" is not the petulant self-assertion of the
+relative ego. "I" but really means GOD CONSCIOUSNESS as perfect
+Existence, perfect Knowledge or perfect Bliss. It means the realization
+of an Infinite and Eternal Self or Individuality. "He that has lost the
+self has gained the SELF". Here is the explanation: this little self or
+"I" so long as it is attached to the PERSONALITY which is the product
+of the "me" consciousness is bound down to the relative plane. It can
+think only through only one brain, enjoy through one body and such
+happiness as it gets is transitory, short-lived and impermanent because
+this world of relative existence is itself essentially changeable. It is
+permanent only in its impermanence. So long as the "I" thinks and while
+only for the benefits of its personal self, both thinking and willing are
+limited and not free. But when it has succeeded in joining itself to the
+Spiritual mind and works for, aspires after the Larger Self--the "I
+AM"--it has to renounce or "disattach" itself from the personal self and
+work under the guidance of the impersonal Higher Self. "I refuse to
+be contained within my hat and boots," said Walt Whitman. When the
+Vedantist says "Aham Brahmasmi"--"I am the absolute"--he does not mean
+this lower "I". No, no. He is not built that way. For him the moorings of
+self-consciousness are out. He has lost all sense of his particular
+relative "I" and has _one-d_ himself with the absolute "I AM"--the
+impersonal, intangible, immortal, omnipotent Self of and over all.
+This "I am" is Spirit or Atman. There can be but one Individuality--that
+of the Absolute. It becomes objectively expressed in man as Cosmic
+Consciousness. Subjectively it is God. Now then you have an idea of
+the "I am" Consciousness. Hold fast to it. It is your real, Larger Self.
+In the understanding and the exercise of the Will-Power the "I" or the
+Positive Mental Principle is the chief factor. To use the one you must
+understand the other. Will is a Soul-Power. This "I"--as I have explained
+it above--is negative to the "I AM" or God--both meaning the
+same thing. It is positive in relation to the Higher Self. This "I" is
+the future promise of the "I AM". It is true it shall lose itself in
+finding its Self, but so does the child when it grows into full manhood.
+Christ was one with his Father-in-Heaven (i.e., on the spiritual plane)
+and therefore he could still the waves and raise the dead. Yet just you
+examine the nature of Lord Christ's Will-Force. Think of his constant
+retirement into the Silence in order to obtain inspiration for his work
+in the objective universe. Again, note his utter indifference to and
+absolute control over his personal self. Did he care whether his body
+would live or die? Did he live for the enjoyments of the flesh? Did he
+"play to the gallery" and act and speak for any worldly gain or low
+considerations? No! He had forgotten the interests of the flesh in his
+earnest enthusiasm in the cause of the Eternal Spirit. He was not moved
+by any dammed sense of prudence and caution. He drew the "Motives" that
+energised his Will-Power in the life of Action from _Within_. Nothing
+from outside, nothing from the world of lower attractions could in the
+least swerve his inner determination or unbalance his brain. Do you or
+can you prepare yourself to follow in his steps? Then my first point and
+the most infallible method of awakening your Will-Power is this:
+
+(_a_) Teach Thy Will to "Resist and Renounce." Strengthen your Will-Power
+by Renunciation. By Resistance is not meant outer resistance or
+aggressiveness. I find that all the modern teachers of Hypnotism advise
+their students to develop Will-Power by exercising it upon others. This
+is placing the cart before the horse. We Hindus know better. No; by
+Resistance to and Repression of your lower Desire-Nature is meant letting
+the more difficult choice exercise its compelling and restraining power
+over the easier one. Says Sister Nivedita: "The Indian ideal is that man
+whose lower mind is so perfectly under control that he can at any moment
+plunge into the thought-ocean and remain there at will without the least
+possibility of a sudden break and unexpected return to the life of the
+senses." Yes, your interests should be within and not without. _You must
+rise above all personal impulse_. Even in this world you find that men of
+distinction, fame and honour have achieved recognition by practising a
+little _self-denial_, which is a "milder" form of absolute Renunciation
+as practised by true Sanyasis. The man who can work at his aim with
+perseverance and denies himself the mess of pottage of present indulgence
+in view of some future gain develops Will-Power. So in training your Will
+to 'resist', you must, as a first step, sternly refuse to indulge
+impulses, desires and tendencies not in consonance with the dictates of
+your Higher Self. You must actually go out of your way and "deny"
+yourself the little or great "comforts" to which you are or have been
+accustomed. The strongest-willed man is he who has the greatest control
+over his inclinations, and who can 'force' himself to do such things as
+he is naturally most inclined to do. This is a characteristic which
+cannot be developed in a day. There are some children and even grown-up
+men and women who mistake their 'obstinacy' for Will-Power. They want a
+thing and when they do not get it they tear their hair, gnash their
+teeth, stamp their feet and fly into a terrible passion. Since people
+think that these uncontrolled creatures are strong-willed while all that
+you could say about them is that _they are utter slaves to their
+desires_. You must practise self-denial in fifty different ways and force
+yourself to do certain things, 'little and big,' every day purely for
+developing this power of Resistance. No short-cut to this. Some children
+develop it unconsciously by 'forcing' themselves to study when they might
+play, and by applying themselves to such studies as are dry and
+uninteresting to them they thus practise voluntary Concentration.
+Practise self-denial in every possible way. Cut off such luxuries as you
+think "you must have." "Take a cold bath when you would prefer a warm
+one. Arise promptly in the morning. Make yourself call upon people you
+have avoided. Stand up in a street car when you would prefer sitting;
+walk when it is convenient to ride. Make engagements with yourself and
+keep them. Promise yourself that when you see something to be done you
+will spring at once to it however strong may be the inclination to put it
+off awhile" and back of it all let there be the auto-suggestion: "_I am
+doing all these hard things in order to build up my Will-Power and each
+time 'I' succeed in forcing 'my mind' to do a thing or not to do it I
+make the next victory easier and my Will-Power stronger_." Of course the
+above is only a hint as to your line of practise.
+
+(_b_) You must not give yourself such hard tasks of Self-Development
+as might be too heavy and beyond the present strength of your Will.
+In denying yourself you develop self-control. In forcing yourself to do
+certain things you develop powers of Self-Expression. In one the Will
+moves along negative lines. In the other along positive lines. Both are
+necessary. The man who cannot control and command himself can never
+develop and express Himself. But be sure to begin with easy things and
+then as you gain in confidence you may attempt more difficult feats.
+
+(_c_) The faculties of Courage and Confidence are essentially important.
+Nothing weakens the will so much as Fear and lack of Self-Confidence.
+Self-Confidence is not blustering self-conceit. That within you which
+says "I CAN" when calmly and doggedly backed by your "I Will" when
+deliberately translated into action develops Will-Force and commands
+startling results.
+
+(_d_) Always hold these words before your passive Mind:
+
+1. Earnestness. 2. Determination. 3. Courage. 4. Confidence.
+5. Stick-to-it-ive-ness. 6. Patience. 7. I can and I will.
+
+(_e_) The tendency of the Masculine function of your mind to "I" is
+towards giving, expressing or projecting energy; that of the Feminine
+is towards generating and creating mental progeny such as thoughts,
+mental energy, new habits, etc. It is why the Feminine Principle has
+been called the "mental womb" by ancient philosophers. It comprises
+also the faculty of Imagination. The Masculine function does the work
+of the 'Will' in its varied phases. The Feminine function receives
+impressions and generates mental offspring in the form of new thoughts,
+ideas, concepts, thought-habits and so forth. Its powers of creative
+energy are strikingly marvellous and have been proved and attested
+to in Psychological experiments conducted by the best known mental
+scientists of the day. _But "positive" mental energy must be projected by
+the 'I' into the Passive Mind through concentration, suggestion and
+willing before the latter can be started to work along any line of
+creative effort._ This suggestion may be given by you to your
+sub-conscious mind or it may come as an outer impression. Unless you
+control your Passive Mind, it is sure to be controlled by others. Then
+you are a slave. Now in cultivating the above seven qualities, you
+should take up _one_ word at a time and let the outer form sink into your
+mind. Place yourself in a relaxed and passive condition. Close your eyes
+and picture the _form_ of the word to yourself, for instance,
+D-E-T-E-R-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N. Employ the Imagination and visualize mentally.
+This done, _i.e._, when the word-picture is well photographed upon your
+mind and fastened in place, your next step will be to picture yourself
+the Ideas, qualities, physical and mental characteristics, etc.,
+associated with the word. Your third step is to calmly, concentratedly
+and confidently command your Passive Mind to generate that quality.
+Remember, your mind will at first rebel, but a very little persistence
+will lead to complete success. Repeat the auto-suggestions daily at the
+same time. See that it manifests in Action. Act it out as often as
+possible. Of course your efforts will be imperfect to begin with, but,
+never mind, go ahead, keeping firm hold on your "I can and I will" in
+spite of all things and success is quite certain. Once you have developed
+these seven qualities, you can do anything.
+
+(_f_) Do not let your friends or anyone--no matter who!--deflect
+you from your resolutions. "Let not thy right hand know what thy left
+hand does." Talk never. Let results show. The Lord has hidden himself
+best and His work is wonderful beyond compare! Your very friends
+and relatives will spit upon you for lacking any of these qualities. Do
+not ever impose your will upon others, but never let others to impose
+upon you against the sanction of your own judgment. In fact, none can
+unless you are a weakling and fickle-minded.
+
+(_g_) Frequent the company of chaste, strong-willed men and you
+cannot but grow strong.
+
+(_h_) Read Literature on this subject and obtain all possible aid
+through Knowledge.
+
+(_i_) If your faculty of imagination and idealism are undeveloped,
+cultivate them, because it is these two that make a god of a man.
+Philosophers, scholars, poets and musicians have them well-developed. But
+where imagination is uncontrolled by higher reason and where idealism
+is not backed by a strong will, there you have the idle 'dreamer of
+dreams' and such a state of mind is reprehensible and pitiable indeed!
+
+(_j_) Will-Power grows by faith in one's ability by exercise; by
+devotion to the UNCONDITIONED SPIRIT.
+
+(_k_) In your efforts to develop Will-Power, be not afraid that your
+health will break down. In fact, Perfect Health is the result of a
+perfect Will. Deny the power of disease and weakness over yourself. "_I
+can never be ill. My body is my slave. It shall always manifest perfect
+health_." Convince your passive mind--which has charge of your body--of
+this by repeated commands, demands and assertions. Always think of your
+body as being as strong as adamant. Never talk of either health or
+disease or weakness. You must be above caring for these. They are
+your Natural rights. Only when you lower yourself they have power
+to trouble you. Go beyond the lower self. Your business is to care for
+the Higher-Self--that in which "You" live, move, and have your being.
+Also teach and train your Will to move along negative lines of
+self-repression as well as along positive lines of Self-Expression.
+Balance both. The former precedes the latter. Now I will pass on to the
+subject of SELF-CONTROL, with the distinct understanding that
+Self-Control and Will-Power are inextricably bound up in each other. You
+Get the real "practical work" in the endeavour for Self-Control.
+
+
+SELF-CONTROL.
+
+Rightly has it been remarked that is easy to talk of and write upon this
+subject but most difficult to possess it. Perfect Self-Control means
+infinite power. Only the Buddas and the Christs of this World manifested
+Perfect Self-Control. "Anything short of the absolute control of thought,
+word and deed is only sowing wild oats," said Vivekananda. It is with no
+little diffidence that I approach this subject as whoever handles
+this subject is rightly culpable as being a "Do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do"
+class of writers. Still you can make appreciable progress in this
+direction by mastering these instructions, going through the exercises
+and last but most important by "carrying the principles in your mind" and
+applying them as far as you can in your daily life. Nothing is more
+conducive to rapid growth and development as the making of the "little
+and big" affairs in your work-a-day life, the occasion for the practical
+expression and conscious translation of your ideals. We all are guilty of
+a serious mistake in setting apart our higher ideals for regular
+'practice' hours and leading a life of low and quite different ideals in
+our ordinary life. The natural process, as you can see, is to LIVE OUT
+your highest ideals every minute of your life. Nothing is more important
+than the daily occupation of a man and if he fails to bring his ideals
+right into these little things, then Success will ever elude him. A
+mental scientist has summed up the entire secret of Character-Building in
+this valuable advice on Objective Concentration: the simple task of
+mental concentration on whatever task, business or profession a man is
+engaged in is the beginning of the mastery which is the perfection of
+Objective Concentration. Whatever you are doing be master of your work.
+If you are a cobbler mend shoes in a perfect manner; if a barber keep
+your razors and scissors in a state that will excite the admiration of
+your customers; if a tailor make the coat fit like a glove; if a clerk
+keep your accounts in apple-pie order; if a builder scorn your
+jerry-brother; if a singer enchant the listener with a concord of sweet
+sounds; if an actor enter into the spirit of the character and make the
+play-goer feel that
+
+"All the world's a stage
+And all the men and women merely players,
+They have their exits and their entrance
+And one man in his time plays many parts."
+
+If a leader in any department of thought or action, remember that if to
+you much is given, from you also much is required, for the responsibility
+of the lives and happiness of your fellows rests heavy on your shoulders,
+whether you know it or not and thousands may secretly curse your
+incapacity and bungling. It is infinitely better to be a good cobbler
+than a bad ruler.
+
+I believe the above advice if followed conscientiously by you would
+go to make you really fit for initiation into the more advanced stages of
+mastery. Take it to heart by all means. Be convinced, the man who
+looks for quick results and a royal road to the mastery of Mental Science
+breaks down in frequent despair at apparent failures and neglects his
+daily work will never go far. In fact, his very impatience will lead to
+failure. No individual life is fully rounded out unless some useful work
+forms part of it. The Yogi who has renounced the world has already
+done his work and is ahead of the times. The real hermit and the saint
+are the Pillars of Strength on which this world stands. I cannot repeat
+this too often. The mere fact of their breathing the same atmosphere
+as you is a benediction and an inestimable boon unto the race.
+
+
+PRELIMINARY STEPS.
+
+"The first requisite," says Mr. Atkinson, "of concentering is the
+ability to shut out outside thoughts, sights and sounds; to conquer
+inattention; to obtain perfect control over the body and mind. The body
+must be brought under the control of the mind; the mind under the
+direct control of the Will. The Will is strong enough, but the mind needs
+strengthening by being brought under the direct influence of the will.
+The mind, strengthened by the impulse of the will, becomes a much more
+powerful projector of thought vibrations than otherwise and the
+vibrations have much greater force and effect."
+
+The first four exercises are meant to train the mind to readily obey the
+commands of the mind. Take them in the privacy of your own room and never
+talk of them to others. Also do not let their apparent simplicity lead
+you to neglect them. If you are one of those empty-brained men who go
+about talking of their exercises hoping in this way to win praise, you
+will never succeed. Be serious, earnest and sincere in your work. Give
+up, once for ever, all fickle-mindedness and learn to accumulate Power in
+silence and through work. Prayer gives you strength to "work"--the answer
+comes from your Larger Self--which is the Spirit of God "brooding" over
+all and pouring strength into all. But do not fly in the face of DEITY by
+expecting it to "do the work" for you while you go about loafing after
+offering your prayer. Nonsense. That man prays who works constantly,
+silently, patiently, unceasingly and intelligently.
+
+Exercise 1.
+
+Sit still; relax your body all over and then neck, chest, and head held
+in a straight line; legs crossed one under the other and weight of the
+body resting easily upon the ribs; right hand on right leg, left hand
+on left leg. There should not be a single movement of the muscles in
+any part of the body. Mind, you must avoid all rigidness and tension of
+the body. There should not be the least strain on muscles. You should
+be able to "relax" completely. Start with 5 minutes. Continue till you
+can accomplish the 5 minutes sitting without any conscious effort,
+increase to 15 minutes which is about all you need. The aim is to give
+you absolute dominion over all involuntary muscular movements. It is also
+an ideal "rest-cure" after fatiguing physical and mental exercise or
+exertion. The principal thing is "STILLNESS" and you can, if you like,
+practise it even sitting on a chair or anywhere else; the idea is one of
+"relaxation" and physical and mental quietude. Let not the apparent
+simplicity of this exercise deceive you. It is not so very easy after
+all. You will find that by concentrating the mind upon a particular
+train of thoughts or ideas or by joining the mind to the Larger Self,
+you can easily lose all idea of the body and thus maintain this stillness
+for a considerable length of time. Genius, inspiration and intuition
+are more or less the scientific and psychological results of
+self-forgetfulness. "When he sits down to meditate," it was said of
+Vivekananda, "in 10 minutes he becomes quite unconscious of the body
+although it may be black with mosquitoes." Do you understand now?
+Absolute physical self-forgetfulness is essential to deep concentration.
+Dr. Fahnestock called it the "STATUVOLIC" condition or that state in
+which the Will-Power is really active and the 'outer-self' is totally in
+abeyance and forgotten.
+
+Exercise 2.
+
+Cultivate a self-poised attitude and demeanour in your everyday life.
+Avoid a tense, strained, nervous, fidgety manner and an over-anxious
+appearance. Be easy, self-possessed and dignified in your bearing.
+Be courteous, thoughtful and quiet. Mental exercise and Will-Culture
+will enable you to acquire the proper carriage and demeanour. Stop
+swinging your feet and moving your hands or rocking your self
+backwards in your chair while talking or sitting. Stop biting your nails,
+chewing your moustaches, rolling your tongue in your mouth or any
+other unnecessary movement such as may have become "second nature"
+with you while studying, reading or writing. Never twitch or jerk your
+body. Never wink your eyes or look blank. Train yourself to stand
+sudden and loud noises with equanimity and composure. Such things
+betray lack of control. Do not let anything outside (or even within you)
+disturb your composure. When engaged in conversation let your speech
+be calm and measured and your voice well-controlled and even. A certain
+degree of reserve should always be observed. In short, keep yourself
+well under control on all occasions. You can acquire this poise by
+always carrying the thoughts of "Firmness," "Self-Control", and
+"Self-Respect" in your mind and letting these express themselves in your
+outward bearing. Avoid bluster, self-assertion, gossip, levity or light
+talk, too much laughter, excitement and so forth. Too much laughter
+weakens the will. Be a quiet, earnest-thinking being. Be serious. Regard
+"solitude" as the greatest medium of self-development.
+
+Exercise 3.
+
+Fill a wine glass full of water and taking the glass between the fingers,
+extend arm directly in front of you. Fix your eyes upon the glass and
+endeavour to hold your arm so steady that no quiver will be noticeable.
+Commence with one minute exercise and increase until the 5 minutes limit
+is reached. Alternate right and left arms. Increase to 15 minutes.
+
+Exercise 4.
+
+Sit erect in your chair, with your head up, chin out and shoulders
+back. Raise your right arm until it is level with your shoulders,
+pointing to the right. Turn your head and fix your gaze on your hand and
+hold the arm perfectly steady for one minute. Repeat with left arm.
+Increase the time gradually to 5 minutes. The palms of the hands should
+be turned downwards.
+
+The following exercises are meant to aid you in getting under control,
+such mental faculties will produce voluntary movements.
+
+Exercise 5.
+
+Sit in front of a table, placing your hands upon the table, the fists
+clinched and lying with the back of the hand upon the table, the thumb
+being doubled over the fingers. Fix your gaze upon the fist for awhile
+and then slowly extend the thumb, keeping your whole attention fixed
+upon the act, just as if it was of the greatest importance. Then slowly
+extend your first finger, then your second and so on, until they are all
+open and extended. Then reverse the process, closing first the little
+finger and continuing the closing until the fist is again in its original
+position, with the thumb closed over the fingers. Repeat with left hand.
+Continue this exercise 5 times at a sitting, then increase to 10 times.
+Don't forget to keep your attention closely fixed upon the finger
+movements. That is the main point.
+
+Exercise 6.
+
+Place the fingers of one hand between the fingers of the other, leaving
+the thumbs free. Then slowly twirl the thumbs one over the other, with a
+circular motion. Be sure to keep the attention firmly fixed upon the end
+of the thumbs.
+
+_N.B._ Exercises Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been culled (with slight
+modifications by me) from the works of Yogi Ramacharaka.
+
+Exercise 7.
+
+Forty-eight hours after the full moon in each month, go by yourself into
+a darkened chamber and quietly concentrate your mind upon one thing. Do
+this as long as possible without allowing other thoughts to enter your
+mind. At first you will find that your thoughts will fly from one thing
+to another and it will be hard for you to accomplish this, but by
+continued practice you will be able to think of one thing for a long
+time. This should be continued for 5 nights in succession and one hour
+each night.
+
+Exercise 8.
+
+Go out into the open air each evening when the sky is clear and see
+how many stars you can count without allowing any other thoughts to
+enter your mind. The more stars you can count without thinking of
+anything the greater the degree of development produced. Quite an
+interesting exercise.
+
+Exercise 9.
+
+Take 12 ordinary pebbles. Place them in your left hand. Then with your
+right hand pick up one pebble, hold it at arm's length and concentrate
+your mind thereupon without allowing other thoughts for full 60 seconds.
+So with all the pebbles. Then start picking up with left hand. Do this
+for one hour daily.
+
+Exercise 10.
+
+Concentrate your mind determinedly upon some one at a distance without
+allowing other thoughts. Will that he do get strong, healthy and
+spiritual. Get up a mental picture of your subject as if sitting
+before you. Then give earnest, positive, forceful suggestions to his
+sub-conscious mind. Will that he get into sympathy with you, write you on
+the subject and earnestly co-operate with you in his spiritual
+regeneration. Do it calmly and earnestly.
+
+Exercise 11.
+
+Get some moistened sand spread over the surface about a yard square. Make
+it perfectly smooth. Then with your index finger draw any characters or
+pictures in the sand. For instance, a square, a triangle or any other
+figure. Fasten your gaze upon this figure. Concentrate your mind calmly
+thereupon and will that the thought-form so created by your concentration
+be transmitted to someone (whom you know to be sensitive to your will).
+Do this for 15 minutes daily at the same time till your subject gets the
+impression. Ask him to sit relaxed at the same time in the _silence_ in a
+receptive mental attitude. Face the direction, North, South, East or West
+in which you send your thought. Imagine a psychic wire connecting you
+with your subject and aim straight. Remember, the Will-Power is
+represented in symbology by a straight line because it goes straight to
+its mark.
+
+Exercise 12.
+
+Every night before retiring, concentrate upon your passive mind:
+"_When I get up in morning, my Will-power and Thought-Force will have
+increased. I expect you to bring about a thorough change in my
+Will-Force. It will gain in vigour, resolution, firmness and confidence.
+It must grow strong, strong, strong_." Project these positive suggestions
+into your subjective self earnestly, confidently and concentratedly. You
+will progress quickly by leaps and bounds. Every morning shall find
+you stronger and full of vim, sap and energy. Persevere, persevere. In
+following up such ideals to a successful conclusion you must have an
+(i) overpowering desire; (ii) a strong belief in your ability to
+accomplish anything; (iii) an invincible determination not a backboneless
+'I will try to'; (iv) earnest expectation. This is an important and an
+infallible method in Will-development.
+
+Exercise 13.
+
+Go by yourself into a room where you will not be disturbed. At the
+beginning 'relax' all over. Then count from one to ten without allowing
+any other thoughts. As soon as you accomplish this, your mind is in
+a receptive state. Concentrate as before and order your sub-conscious
+self to evolve a strong, infallible memory. Form your own
+auto-suggestions.
+
+Exercise 14.
+
+Pick out half a dozen unfamiliar faces. Vividly impress them upon
+your subjective mind. Then recall them at least once each day for full
+one year, each day impressing at least one more new face. Should you
+find you are forgetting any of your older faces, do not add new ones but
+firmly fix the other old faces in your mind through concentration. This
+is a very interesting exercise. Memory belongs to the sub-conscious
+mind, remember.
+
+Exercise 15.
+
+Concentrate the mind on a paragraph in some holy book and commit
+to memory. Learn by heart one paragraph daily taking care not to
+forget the old ones. In time, you will improve wonderfully.
+
+Exercise 16.
+
+People with weak memories always lack concentrative ability.
+Concentration is the key to all mind-power. You will find the above
+exercises quite 'tedious' and monotonous. But you can train your
+'attention' only by giving it trivial and 'dry' exercises. The strong
+will can cope with the most 'monotonous' and uninteresting tasks without
+experiencing fatigue. You must set yourself such tasks as might seem like
+'work' to your attention. Remember, the effort required to concentrate
+attention voluntarily on uninteresting, dry and monotonous works
+strengthens and develops Will-Power and gives you 'mental muscle.' You
+will thereby acquire firm control over mind and body and be 'Master' over
+your lower impulses. Power over self will express outwardly as power over
+others. If you can control yourself, you will find no difficulty in
+impressing your will on others. But, mark you, this sacred power should
+be used only to elevate, stimulate and strengthen others. Try your Will
+upon your personality in all possible ways and be satisfied with nothing
+short of perfect control. The absolute mastery of 'self' ought to be
+your aim. I have given you the real secrets. You must exercise
+your own ingenuity and intelligence in utilising them towards your
+Self-development. I leave you to finish the fight for yourself. Get up
+and start in to work at your task from to-day and not to-morrow. Back of
+all efforts, always have this positive incentive and auto-suggestion:
+
+"THIS IS TO DEVELOP MY WILL-POWER AND NO TEMPORARY PAIN CAN EQUAL THE
+POWER AND HAPPINESS ARISING OUT OF SELF-CONTROL."
+
+Get firm control over your emotions. Use this natural force but be
+not used by it. Control over speech will lead to Emotion-control. Always
+talk to the point. Cultivate silence. Repress volubility. Be brief
+in speech and writing. Keep a cool head. Be level-headed and
+concentrative.
+
+
+GLEANINGS FROM PROFESSOR JAMES ON THE LAW OF HABIT.
+
+An acquired habit, from the physiological point of view, is nothing
+but a new pathway of discharge formed in the brain, by which certain
+incoming currents ever often tend to escape.
+
+The great thing is to make our nervous system our ally instead of
+our enemy.--Guard against ways that are likely to be disadvantageous
+to us, as we should guard against the plague.
+
+The more of the details of our daily life we can hand over to the
+effortless custody of automatism, the more our higher powers of mind
+will be set free for their own proper work. There is no more miserable
+human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision and
+for whom (every act) the time of rising and going to bed, the beginning
+of every bit of work, are subjects for express volitional deliberation.
+
+Maxim I. In the acquisition of a new thought or the leaving off of
+an old one we must take care to launch ourselves with as strong and
+decided initiative as possible.
+
+Maxim II. Never suffer an exception to occur until the new habit
+is securely rooted in your life.
+
+Each lapse is like letting fall a ball of string which one is carefully
+winding up; a single slip means more than a great many turns will wind
+again.
+
+Continuity of training is the great means of making the nervous
+system act infallibly right. It is necessary above all things never to
+lose a battle. Every gain on the wrong side undoes the effect of many
+conquests on the right.
+
+The essential precaution is to so regulate the opposing powers that
+the one may have a series of uninterrupted success, until repetition has
+fortified it to such a degree as to enable it to cope with the opposition
+under any circumstances.
+
+The need of securing success at the outset is imperative. To be
+habitually successful is the thing.
+
+Be careful not to give the will such a task as to insure its defeat
+at the outset, but provided one can stand it, a sharp period of
+suffering, and then a free time is the best to aim at, whether in giving
+up the opium habit or in simply changing one's hours of rising or of
+work.
+
+It is surprising how soon a desire will die of inanition if it be never
+fed.
+
+Without unbroken advance there is no such thing as accumulation
+of the ethical forces possible, and to make this possible and to exercise
+and habituate us in it is the sovereign blessing of regular work.
+Maxim III. Seize the very first possible opportunity to act on every
+resolution you make and on every emotional prompting you may experience
+in the direction of habits you aspire to gain.
+
+It is not the moment of their forming but in the moment of their
+producing motor effects, that resolves and aspirations communicate the
+new 'set' to the brain.
+
+The actual presence of the practical opportunity alone furnishes the
+fulcrum upon which the lever can rest, by means of which the moral
+will may multiply its strength and raise itself aloft. He who had no
+solid ground to press against will never get beyond the stage of empty
+gesture making.
+
+When a resolve or a fine glow of feeling is allowed to evaporate
+without bearing practical fruit, it is a waste and a chance lost; it
+works so as positively to hinder future resolutions and emotions from
+taking the normal path of discharge.
+
+If we let our emotions evaporate, they get in a way of evaporating.
+
+
+WORSHIP OF THE TERRIBLE.
+
+The attitude of the soul which is not to be baffled by the lower nature
+or the "Personal Self" should be to seek Death and not life, to hurl
+oneself upon the sword's point and become one with the terrible. Those
+who are commissioned by the Lord to bear aloft the torch of spirit are
+fated to see every joy of the senses turn to ashes and crushing blows
+upon their eyes to the unsubstantially of the relative life of Maya.
+
+The lion when stricken to the heart gives out his loudest roar,
+When smitten on the head the cobra lifts its hood
+And the majesty of the Soul comes out only when a man is wounded to his
+depths.
+
+The Western ideal is to be doing: the Eastern to be suffering. The
+perfect life would be a harmony between (selfless or non-attached) doing
+and suffering. Worship the terrible. Worship Death, for its own sake;
+despair for its own sake; pain for its own sake. Yet this is not the
+coward's or the suicide's or the weakling's morbid love of Death, but it
+is the cry of the philosopher who has sounded everything to its depths
+and knows intensely the vanity of the desire for happiness on the
+relative plane of limitations. Remember the triumphant cry of St. Francis
+of Assisi: "WELCOME, SISTER DEATH!" "Be witness"--of all that goes on but
+be not entangled. Reserve to yourself the power to remain unattached at
+all times. Accept nothing however pleasant, if it conceals a fetter into
+thy Soul. At a word stand ready to sever any connection that gives a hint
+of soul-bondage. Keep thy mind clear. Keep thy will pure. Attain the
+Impersonal Standpoint, O you man! there alone canst thou quench thy
+thirst for happiness never on the plane of personal. Who and what dies
+and is reborn?--Your lower self, your personality.
+
+"Sometimes naked, sometimes mad,
+Now as a scholar, again as a fool
+Here a rebel, there a saint,
+Thus they appear on the earth
+--the Perfect Ones. Paramhamsas"--Viveka Chudamani.
+
+If you accept the report of the senses as final, you will say "soul
+for nature"--but if you can gain the spiritual point of view, you will
+say "no-nature for soul." Evolution, devolution and involution are all
+in nature and will go on cyclically and eternally. All this is merely due
+to the wish of the soul to manifest itself. But such expression can come
+only when the soul lives on its plane. Say "Money is my slave, not I."
+Say "Nature is my slave, not I". Give up life, give up body, give up all
+desire for enjoyment on the relative plane. So shall you transcend all
+limitation. Your real nature is Infinite and Absolute. Only when you
+lower your nature by limiting it to the "particular self," do you become
+bound and unhappy. On the relative plane, you are a slave to the pair
+of opposites--life and death, pleasure and pain, and so on. Here is
+limitation. Here you are a slave to competition, and "Survival of the
+Fittest" is the law. Be not blinded by the flashing light of the glare
+of modern civilization. Every morsel you eat is ground out of your
+brother's blood. Slave to a breath of air, slave to food, slave to
+life, slave to Death, slave to a word of praise, slave to a word of
+blame--"Slave--Slave--Slave"--that is your condition. The Soul cannot
+stoop to any compromise. It refuses to conquer nature by obedience. It
+will conquer nature by renouncing the body and by knowing itself. Find
+thyself bodiless. Power felt within is soul; without, nature. "We must
+crush Law (nature) and become outlaws."
+
+"Deliver thou thyself, by thyself
+Ah, do not let thyself sink
+For thou art thyself thy greatest friend
+And thyself (the relative 'I') thy greatest enemy."
+
+This, student, is not the ravings of a lunatic. It is the secret of
+SAT-CHIT-ANANDA--eternal existence, knowledge and bliss. Attainment
+of perfection means absolute Freedom. Do you or would you know the
+meaning of Life? It is the search after _Sat-chit-ananda_. But man is
+trying to realise this Perfect Existence in the transitory things of
+the earth-plane. Only when he knows that not attachment to the things
+of the "world, the flesh and the devil" but renunciation of same and the
+bringing of the Impersonal Ideal into his everyday life would lead him
+to it, then Maya will have fulfilled its purpose--which is to show man
+his divinity. "Kill out the desire for life. Kill out Ambition. Kill out
+desire for comfort; yet work as those who love life. Respect life as
+those who are ambitious. Be happy as those are who live for happiness."
+
+So says Mabel Collins in the _Light on the Path_. Yes, you must work
+constantly, train your intellect, develop your personality but do not do
+all this for your own personal self but for the Higher Self, The BRAHMAN,
+Eternal--to manifest through. As soon as you lose this view-point your
+personal strivings end in Pain and Disappointment. Work as hard as the
+ambitious man and the lover of pleasures but remember your actions are
+inspired by different motives. Here Spirit is the director.
+
+"To the work thou hast the right, O Partha, but not to the fruits
+thereof"--_Gita_. All clinging to results leads to degeneration. The
+soul should cling to nothing. All work and all effort must be dedicated
+unto the Higher Self. When you care for the results you are only
+worshipping the lower self. Hence the value of selfless labour, thus the
+maya-fascinated mind is purified and de-hypnotised and we attain to the
+emergence of the personal into the Impersonal. Either say "I am thou, O
+Lord!" and thus out at the root of the lower "I" and destroy it for ever
+or say "I am nothing, O Eternal One! thou art everything" and thereby
+lose the lower into the Higher. The first is for the Gnani--the second
+for the Bhakti Yogi. Both mean the same thing. Love everyone but do
+not depend upon the love of any one. Give everything. Take nothing.
+Serve every one. Do not care for service and gratitude in return. You
+are the Heir to the Infinite. All Power is behind you. But so long as
+you are a beggar, a beggar shall you remain. Renounce the lower self,
+Live for the Higher. What you call Universal Love is the expression
+on the lower plane of the subjective reception of ABSOLUTE UNITY
+on the Buddhic plane and in SAMADHI (Final Illumination).
+
+
+
+
+LESSONS III AND IV.
+
+THE YOGI SELF-DEVELOPER
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+In lessons 1 and 2 we have initiated you into the mysteries of Will
+and Mind-Force, the governing principles of the Universe and the laws
+of their development. We have also taught you how to acquire absolute
+control over Body and Mind. In these lessons we have striven to point
+out to you the right "Mental Attitude" towards your daily life, so that
+while mainly engaged in the task of Self-Culture you might also lend a
+hand in the great work of strengthening the race. Moreover our
+convictions, beliefs, and ideals are no mean, insignificant factors
+in the determination of our health and environmental conditions. They
+react on our circumstances as well as on the WHOLE MAN. We have also
+given you important points of instruction in Soul Unfoldment, Meditation,
+Bramhacharya, Breathing, Fasting, Health-Culture, Body building
+and shown you, as distinctly as we could, the exact process of developing
+a single virtue in your self thereby you may master the process and
+method of developing other virtues, the lines of action and thought being
+well nigh similar in all, and foculising at certain common points of
+primary importance. We have given the bare body of truth in connection
+with the development, evolution and unfoldment of the body and the
+soul, stripping of the metaphysical trappings and the theoretical
+draperies in which they are clothed. We have had to literally rend
+asunder the heavy wheel that had the divine face of truth. Hence our
+lessons are brief and to the point. We have had to contend against and
+overcome another serious difficulty. Expressed in the matter of fact
+English language, these wondrous truths of mysticism cannot but lose the
+air of profound solemnity and sanctity that pervades the subject of Yoga
+in Sanskrit literature. The wise and thoughtful student and we certainly
+do not write for light-headed and non-serious people, will not let their
+apparent simplicity deceive him or throw him off his guard. Rather
+let him realise that these lessons can be pressed into service in all
+directions and in all spheres of life. Let him just put them into
+practice and he will at once see their practical bearing on his daily
+life. These lessons do not go into the "WHAT" but point out the "HOW" of
+every thing. We leave every student to suit his individual case as to the
+intellectual side of the ETERNAL PROBLEM. In conclusion we have to
+say that this Course does not pretend to deal with the advanced stages
+of Yoga, much less exhaust them. But they will, positively and decidedly
+prepare him for those higher things by lifting the PALL OF DARKNESS
+from his mind.
+
+
+
+
+LESSONS III AND IV.
+
+
+Quite a number of you there must be to whom the "Fearless" mind is not
+only an enviable possession but something to which you are and have been
+an utter stranger. You may not say it to others--confession may hurt your
+pride--but secretly away deep in your heart, there resides strongly and
+fiercely the desire to be a Fearless Individual. And it is a worthy
+desire. To be able to wipe off all fearfulness, anxiety and worry from
+your mental tablets is no easy task, but when once accomplished, it gives
+you a glimpse of Heavenly Joy and Superhuman Strength. And, _You can be
+Fearless_, I tell you--each one of you--you can be what you will to be. I
+have seen it. I have done it. I am going to give you sound and positive
+instructions in this paper so that you may forge ahead towards your goal.
+These instructions are based upon good psychological grounds, have been
+tested and proved by millions and proved a blessing to whoever took them
+up in all earnestness and gave them a trial. If you want to be Fearless,
+hesitate not to follow them to the very letter.
+
+I shall not waste space telling you about the dire results of fear,
+cowardice, worry, anxiety and the vile brood of negative thoughts
+branching of FEAR. Physically, mentally and spiritually man is what he
+thinks in his heart. As you think, so you are. Mind governs everything,
+creates or destroys everything, on the physical as well as other planes.
+Your thoughts affect your health, your circumstances, your environments;
+those who come into daily contact with you, those who are separated
+from you by space, those who are what you call "dead" but who are really
+alive in spirit-life and bound to you more or less by mystic chords of
+sympathy in thought and soul-life, affecting you and being affected by
+you every minute. The range of influence exerted by a man's daily
+thoughts is simply tremendous. Trees and animals, minerals and other
+objects of material life absorb it. The walls of your room, the clothes
+you wear, the letters you write are all being impressed by the aura of
+your thought-force. If you go to a clairvoyant or a psychometerist
+and put into his hands a letter, a lock of hair, a cloth-piece, or
+anything else pertaining to one of your friends, he or she will
+psychically trace out the personal appearance, temperament, past and
+present history, and everything else in connection with that person.
+Marvellous, 'Impossible' you cry in surprise. But it is done. Realise
+through study and investigation the importance of your thought-life and
+avoid vitiating it by fear-thoughts, hate-thoughts, sensual and sensuous
+thoughts and vanity thoughts. Because, mark you, these four giant-weeds
+poison the roots of the Tree of Life. All humanity suffers pain in
+diverse ways, on account of these four bad thoughts and their millions of
+off-springs. Now you will say this is all very well but:
+
+HOW?
+
+That is just what I mean to teach you all along. I don't want to feed you
+on mere empty theories, but I can and I will give you that knowledge
+which when assimilated shall build up strong flesh, bone, muscle, tissue,
+pith and marrow which will give you superb health, strength of mind and
+spirit--all of which are necessary adjuncts to Spiritual Growth and
+Happiness. Let me give you in detail methods and exercises. The ideal
+fearless man has many qualities. I say the Ideal Hero--no imitation patch
+work vulgarian. These qualities are in rough detail: (1) Devotion to God.
+(2) Knowledge. (3) Concentration. (4) Will Power. (5) Energy and
+Aspiration. (6) Health. (7) Self-Esteem. (8) Self-Control. (9) Love for
+Humanity. (10) Chastity. There may be other qualities but you will do
+well to build up the above and others will come to you by themselves. Let
+me drop a few helpful suggestions on the above. Follow each sentence
+closely.
+
+1. DEVOTION TO THE ABSOLUTE WILL.
+
+I have always said, written, observed and felt that the most courageous
+individuals are devoted to God. Such men are rare. You all understand the
+meaning of "Fearlessness" in its fullest sense. It means absolute
+independence--in two words, he is the FEARLESS man who "fears-nothing,"
+and "faces-everything." That everything includes everyone. That nothing
+excludes no one. Viewed from this standpoint is not the fearless man
+rarely to be met with? You may come across degrees of fearlessness. Now
+the man who possesses this quality in the "highest degree" has faith in
+this God. Everyone has his conception of God. Everyone sees the absolute
+from his individual plane of vision. That conception which you have of
+God will do for you. I say, it will do for you and you alone. Don't force
+it upon others. Keep it for yourself. If you want to improve this
+conception of God pray in the Silence thus: "O, THOU, I UNDERSTAND NOT
+THY NATURE. I KNOW NOT--YET I YEARN TO KNOW. DO THOU REVEAL THYSELF
+UNTO MY SOUL. DO THOU OPEN MY SPIRITUAL EYES AND LEAD ME ON." Student,
+don't treat this lightly. Listen not to that conceited or blinded brother
+of yours who says he does not care for God--who says he can go on without
+the aid of God. Listen not. Listen not. The strongest and greatest pray
+often. Only they do not talk of this to others. They never make a show of
+their devotion. But they have all prayed and do all pray. They believe in
+personal effort--they also believe in Divine leading and guidance. Learn
+to be "lead by the Spirit." Everything shall come to you in this way. You
+will also notice that the Fearless Man is not a mere God-fearing man. He
+is a God-loving Individual. He loves God for God's sake largely. That man
+who is fearful in spite of his devotion to God is a sham devotee. But the
+grace of the LORD'S name is such that it shall purify the most impure of
+heart. It shall build up even a sham devotee into a real devotee who in
+time shall transcend all limitation. Therefore have faith in God. "Be
+regular" in your devotions. Also remember that each trial is a pain
+accompanying spiritual regeneration--each pain a process of strengthening
+the herald of a mere glorious dawn of wisdom. Hence give up all grumbling.
+The great God whose Infinite power regulates the motions of planets
+and yet takes note of the sparrow's fall has your soul's best interest at
+heart. All you do, all you say, all you feel, all you hope, all your
+experiences--all, all is His will. Man's Will is God's Will. God's Will
+is Man's Will. And who can define God? God alone has the power to define
+Himself. He has defined Himself as the Universe--Bramhanda. Nothing is
+impossible for the devotee of God. Let him but be willing to work and God
+shall give him everything. Regular devotion to God will surely develop
+extreme Fearlessness. "God is Love."
+
+(2). KNOWLEDGE _(Gnayanam)_.
+
+Fear is due to ignorance. When in the dark of night you mistook the rope
+for a snake, you shrieked out in terror. Cause? IGNORANCE. But when you
+saw the rope as a rope, you laughed out in amusement. Cause? KNOWLEDGE.
+All your fear is due to your ignorance of your real nature. All the fear
+at the last is fear of death. You have to realise through knowledge of
+the Vedanta that you are birthless, deathless. You have to unfold by
+meditation a consciousness of your Real Self. I give you hereunder a
+meditation exercise that will help you in this direction.
+
+MEDITATION EXERCISE NO. 1.
+
+Retire into the SILENCE. Shut off all thoughts and purposes relating
+to the external world. Try to realise that you, the Real Ego are not
+the body but that it is a mere garment you have put on for functioning
+on the physical plane and which you shall put off some day. Try to
+realise that you are immortal and that although a thousand bodies might
+come and go, you, the Ego, shall be as alive as ever. These are your
+shadows--your personalities. What dies and is born is a mirage--a
+mere phantasm--which you materialise for certain purposes. All these
+purposes centralise in one POTENTIALISED PURPOSE--the conquest of matter.
+Realise that you the Ego, have your dwelling in Supernal Regions--on the
+spiritual plane--with your Father-in-Heaven--but that you have come down
+into matter that you may find the fullest possible objective expression.
+Realise that you, the Ego, are a differentiated centre of consciousness
+in the Great Consciousness--THE ABSOLUTE--EGO--SUM of the entire Universe
+with all its gross and subtle manifestations--that you are endowed with
+all the powers and attributes of the Absolute Self. Realise that you are
+not the emotional and passional manifestations--surging up in your
+personality. These are subject to the law of Flux and Rhythm and must be
+brought under the control of Reason and Will--the balancing, equating
+principle of mind. Realise that you are not the mind nor the intellect,
+but that you exercise this function in order to analyse the external
+manifestations of nature and study same. Realise that you are pure
+Consciousness, Bliss and Existence in your essential nature--one with the
+all-life. Realise that the form side of manifestation is but a
+concentration, a precipitation within you. Your subjective nature is one
+with the subjective self of others--an inlet for the influx and
+efflux of the GREAT SUB-CONSCIOUS. Realise thus your Unity with
+All-Life-manifesting objectively as Universal Brotherhood of all living
+beings and the perfect recognition of the All-Father-Mother, the Great
+Cosmic Power and Intelligence known as God whose intelligence
+all-blissfulness and existence are ever pouring into each Unit of
+Individualised Divine Energy and evolving through nature. And, student,
+when you meditate daily that you are neither the body nor the emotions
+nor the mind, you shall then unfold the consciousness of the "I am I"
+that which rules the personality that which has been called
+Soul-Consciousness. You shall then be Chaitanya-Spiritually awake.
+You shall then know no Fear. Fear shall drop away like a worn-out
+sheath. All fear-thoughts are due to undeveloped race-consciousness
+which reacts upon individual consciousness and is stamped more or less
+upon every atom of matter. You 'fear' because you think you are the
+body. When you realise that you can command as many bodies for your
+use as you like; when you realise in your heart of hearts that you are a
+Spiritual Being expressing and energising through material personalities;
+when you realise that you cannot die, fear shall be afraid of you and
+drop tormenting and teasing you. Fear resides in the matter-fed
+mind--that mind which has been grown and matured by the reception and
+re-action upon external sensations and stimuli--what has been called
+the objective mind. This mind identifies itself with the form, the body.
+It has an incorrigible determination towards the form-side, the
+concrete-side of existence. It sees nothing but the body and is darkened
+by the forces of _Maya_. It sees nothing but separation. Yes, it is the
+matter-fed mind. People with a development of this side of consciousness
+are invariably selfish; have generally small, conical eyes, understand
+nothing, but the welfare of the body. They are subject to the fear and
+the delight in making others fear them. This mind needs illumination from
+the soul, the Subjective Man, the "I am I" side of consciousness. It is
+not that you are a body and have a soul--this is the dirty conviction of
+the matter-fed mind--but you are a soul and have a body. The dawn of
+Soul-Consciousness makes a man a Force for good. He himself is Fearless.
+His is the voice of strength that does not crush and dominate but that
+puts warmth, life, energy, hope and indomitable courage into cold and
+despairing hearts. Some are born with this Soul-Consciousness. Do not
+think that I am feeding with the theories of eccentricity. Often when a
+boy playing with others the thought would strike me hard, "Are you the
+same that is running and jumping and shouting." I would stop, looking
+blankly ahead. A feeling of confusion would come over me and I would
+forget everything. I could recall the feeling distinctly and vividly. Now
+I understand. These were flashes of Soul-Consciousness unfolded in a
+past life and struggling for "recognition" in this life. Such men face
+DEATH for themselves calmly. They know they can't die. Such men are
+incapable of sustained hatred. They too have their physiognomical
+signs and distinctions. They represent an advanced order of intellect.
+And, lastly, when the full blaze of realisation comes, your one object in
+life shall be to bestow your sense of freedom on others. You shall
+not be able to mock and smile calmly at the pain, the ignorance to
+imperfections of your brother-man. You shall realise what it is to 'feel'
+for humanity, yea, even for animals. You shall glimpse, in some measures,
+the great feeling of pain that rent the hearts of the Buddas, the
+Christs, the Ramakrishnas, the Vivekanandas of this world. They suffered,
+they felt for humanity. And when undeveloped humanity forced them to the
+Cross; they bore it in the same spirit in which the gentle nurse bears
+the blows and abuses of the disease-racked patient. "Father forgive them,
+for they know not what they do." Verily to know all is to forgive all.
+This Soul-Consciousness is as much yours as that of anyone. It comes
+through meditation on the Infinite, and the Formless Absolute--the
+Over-soul of the universe--the Brahman of the Vedanta--the Self of the
+philosophers--the Atman of the Yogis--the personal--impersonal God
+of the devotee--and, last, but not least, the humanity of the
+humanitarian.
+
+
+CONCENTRATION.
+
+The mind can think of one thing only. Fear is an acute form of negative
+concentration--worry its chronic form. If you learn how to place your
+mind upon a particular subject and inhibit or "shut off" all other
+thoughts, the fascination of fear and worry shall have no power over you.
+Most of the things you fear never happen--others can be routed by a bold
+front. Even if something ugly does befall you, you have the power within
+to enable you to 'bear up' heroically. Fear is a mere negative
+thought-habit. It is a negative tendency in the mind. You can best
+eradicate this weed from your mind by cultivating the positive attitude
+of Courage. There are particular sets of brain-cells being created or
+destroyed by particular types of thoughts. The best way to destroy
+negative brain-cells is to develop positive brain-cells. If you want to
+_Kill off Fear-thoughts_, do not fight them. That would be like trying to
+realise how dark a place is and then starting to pitch it out by the
+handful. You know you cannot do it. Just open the blinds and let in
+sunshine and the place will be flooded with light. The mind hypnotised
+by negative thoughts has been compared by a mental scientist to a dirty
+wash-bowl full of dirty water. Take the wash-bowl near a tap and turn
+the tap on. The steady pour of clean water will soon wash off all the
+dirty water and fill the wash-bowl with clear water. So the only way
+to root out and destroy evil thoughts is to turn a steady stream of
+positive thoughts. To overcome all fear thoughts, you should think
+courage-thoughts. Don't crawl on your belly; don't call upon Heaven to
+witness what a despicable creature you are. No--a thousand times--no. Act
+Courage. Think Courage. Say Courage. That's the way. Turn your face
+towards the rising sun. Take "Courage" for your watchword. Affirm
+it as far as you can. Fasten it deep and strong in your mind. Always tell
+yourself that you are full of courage, morning, noon and night; never
+tell yourself that you are weak.
+
+Now, in order to inhibit fear-thoughts and exhibit Courage-thoughts,
+you must possess CONCENTRATION. You should be able to take your mind off
+a certain subject and put it on something else at your will. Do you know
+what Concentration means? Let me give you in my own words something I
+remember reading about Napoleon. When banished to St. Helena and
+suffering from disease, one day his doctor expressed his curiosity as to
+the secret of his success and astonishing power. Napoleon replied
+"Doctor, there are drawers in my brain. When I want to think of politics
+I pull out the drawer of politics, when I want to think of Josephine, I
+pull out the drawer of Law, and so on; and when I shut all these drawers,
+I can go to sleep." The doctor smiled incredulity blandly. "Doctor, I can
+show you this minute. Doctor, I shut all drawers"--even while saying
+this, Napoleon fell with a thud on his pillow. He was fast asleep. The
+man of science and medicine examined him in all ways, but Napoleon had
+fallen actually fast asleep. This is Concentration and Mind-Control. I
+don't admire men of Napoleon's selfish types. Their place is in dark
+hell. They use their power for preying upon others. But that his powers
+of mind were great, I don't deny. Napoleon in his past life had been a
+great Yogi, but the remnants of self and cumulative force of bad Karma
+precipitated the bloody results you all know in connection with
+Napoleon's career. No doubt, this man was only a means used by God to
+bring about certain changes and revolutions.
+
+To develop Concentration, pay attention to the daily work of your life.
+Don't neglect small things. Put interest and attention into whatever
+you think, say, or do. Be a wide-awake man. Don't go about your work
+half-asleep. Wake up and display a few signs of life. Be progressive.
+Think much and to the purpose.
+
+WILL-POWER.
+
+You all understand this. It is that aspect of your make-up that enables
+you to make your mind and body obey you. The true principle of Will is
+closely interlocked with the "I am I" as I have already explained it.
+Resolve at the start to do one thing once in 24 hours that you would do
+if you were not afraid. Face fear and it is your slave. Your Will-power
+enables you to prove things practically to yourself and to the world; to
+make actions match-thoughts. Give your Will much exercise in the right
+direction. Without Will a man is no better than a log of wood. Keep
+your Will strong by auto-suggestion and exercise. Try the powers of your
+Will on your personality till you can do anything and be anything. Say "I
+can and I will" in a thousand different ways and prove it too. The
+requisite qualities that form valuable adjuncts to Will-power are:
+1. Determination. 2. Stick-to-it-ive-ness. 3. Perseverance. 4. Invincible
+and indomitable courage. 5. Non-attachment. 6. Faith in yourself.
+7. Faith in God. 8. I can and I will. Repeat this affirmation often till
+it becomes a constant mental trait.
+
+AFFIRMATIONS.
+
+1. I am fearless. I am full of courage. There is nothing to fear.
+I say courage, I think, I act courage.
+
+2. Courage is my distinct and leading trait. Everyone knows me
+as a man of Indomitable courage. The criticisms and opinions of others
+cannot affect me the least.
+
+3. I am part of the Divine Self. I harm none. My nature knows
+no harm. Hence no harm comes to me.
+
+4. I am equal to anything. Nothing can crush my spirit. I can
+face everything. I can face everybody.
+
+5. My powers of resistance are strong, strong, strong. I use them
+never for the aggression of others. They are for my self-defence.
+
+6. I am absolutely fearless morally and physically.
+
+7. I stand for absolute truthfulness and justice and manifest them
+in myself.
+
+8. Work with this affirmation. Strongly implant it in your mind.
+The use of strong, positive Affirmation in the Silence is valuable in
+that it gives you a firm hold of your thought so that you can "carry the
+thought" mentally. The value of expressing thought in act and speech lies
+in this that it clinches your thought into a permanent habit. Remember
+this psychologic axiom: 1. Thoughts take form in action. 2. Action
+induces thought and corresponding habits. Therefore act out the part
+physically. If you want a courageous mind--"act out" the part physically,
+in your daily life, on suitable occasions, in all earnestness as you
+would in a theatre or drama. In a very short time it shall become a
+confirmed habit. Force yourself to it. Take an interest in what you do
+and say. Have confident expectations of SUCCESS. Never be daunted and
+cowed down by initial difficulties and failures. Never say die. If you
+go down--don't remain lying and moaning. Never, I say, never. Get up.
+Shake yourself up free and say, like the royal lion "Come one, come all,
+this rock shall fly sooner from its base than I." Have a will of your
+own and be a force for good. Exercise your Will-power. Be something.
+Do something.
+
+LOVE FOR HUMANITY, ENERGY, ASPIRATION, SELF-ESTEEM.
+
+I cannot too strongly emphasise the difference between Self-Esteem
+and Self-Conceit. I wish to drive and thoroughly pound this difference
+into your brain. Self-Esteem is decidedly a manly trait. It is based
+upon a conviction of the Kingship of God and the Sonship of Man. Man
+is a dignified being with divine attributes. He should not disgrace his
+Maker by crawling on the ground. This is Self-Esteem. Self-Esteem
+does not lower itself. It never lowers others. You shall never see a
+leader of mankind without tremendous faith in himself. But equally truly
+you shall never see a true man or woman taking delight in having others
+crawl to dust before them. They feel pained and shocked at such a sight.
+There is infinite humiliation to them in this sorry spectacle. But
+Self-Conceit is that original obliquity that leads a man to make a hog of
+himself. It is the old, dirty, unmanly "I-am-greater-than-you" feeling.
+Such men are hogs, hogs, hogs. They are not the true sons of their
+mothers. They are bastards and imbeciles. If you come across this type
+and get a chance to deal with him on your private strength open his eyes
+to his hoggishness. If he has any manly stuff in himself, he shall
+reform. If not, let him sizzle in his fat. Nature and its rigorous Laws
+will rub the lesson home some day. But don't you stand their nonsense for
+want of moral backbone. And the "I am" in you shall revolt against any
+such meanness and smallness in yourself. Encourage it not. Revere God.
+Revere yourself. Revere others. Next, as to energy and aspiration--these
+two characteristics transmute your mind from a negative into a positive
+type. They give you an aura of thought-force such as never knows fear. In
+point of fact fear is starved off to death. Be progressive. Take an
+interest in the affairs of this world and be a force for good. Raise
+yourself first. Then give others a lift. Have an Increasing Purpose
+in your life. Work towards its accomplishment. The man who renounces the
+world does not become a burden unto others. He helps others to shoulder
+their responsibilities. Nature aids at building up strong individuals. It
+has no use for barnacles and is always scraping them off. Nature does not
+tolerate leeches, vampires and parasites. Aspire to do something great in
+life "for the good of many, for the happiness of many." Live to some
+purpose. When you have a positive life-purpose, your tone of mind shall
+be dominant and positive and your thoughts shall match. All-strength
+shall come to you. Bad health, fear, worry and the whole array of
+disintegrating forces are set into active motion by a purposeless life.
+The Purposeful Man has no time to bother about them. Understand clearly,
+spirituality is not laziness, whatever else it may be.
+
+AFFIRMATIONS.
+
+1. I have perfect Self-Confidence. I am a Divine Being. I lower
+not myself--I lower not others.
+
+2. My Life-Purpose is Constructive--not Destructive.
+
+3. I will be great spiritually and mentally. I will make others
+great. I am an irresistible force for good.
+
+4. I live to some great purpose. I am an Individual. I recognise
+the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man.
+
+HEALTH, CHASTITY AND SELF-CONTROL.
+
+Chastity and Self-Control bring to you a clean healthy physique. Strong
+health means strong brain. And strong brain means abounding vitality,
+magnetism and ambition. Remember our aim is the development of courage.
+The Chaste brain has tremendous energy. You should observe
+Bramhacharya--the conservation of vital energy in the body. You should
+acquire control over your passions and appetites. The energy generated in
+your body should not be drawn off at the lower end of your being, but
+should be transmuted into creative activity mentally and spiritually. Get
+a clean body, first. You can get it by fasting, breathing and exercise.
+
+FASTING AND SELF-CONTROL.
+
+If you feel heavy in body and brain, if you feel mentally sluggish it
+is a sure indication that your system is "clogged" with waste matter, due
+to partial or total inactivity of the physical channels of elimination.
+You have been indulging in high living and gluttony or you have been
+indulging in physical gratifications and have thus exhausted the vital
+fibres of your body. Perhaps you have drunk very little water which is
+nature's demand for cleaning the vessels of the body. Perhaps you have
+exercised little and thus the supply of oxygen required for burning off
+carbon and energising the blood has been rather limited. Mental
+depression, 'weak nerves,' melancholy, despair, fear, lack of
+concentration and lots of other mental weakness are due to a clogging of
+the system with accumulated refuse. In brief, the following are a few of
+the benefits derivable from scientific fasting:--(1) It gives nature a
+chance to "Clean Up." The day of fasting is a day of physical "house
+cleaning." (2) Like the galvanic battery the body "recuperates" its
+energies. Strength is invariably restored to one's powers of digestion
+after a careful fast. No case of dyspepsia, constipation, etc., there is,
+but can benefit or be totally and radically cured by fasting. Fasting
+will increase powers of assimilation, quicken hunger, purify and
+strengthen the nerves and raise your health in all ways. (3) By gaining
+control over appetite you gain control over your lower nature. It is a
+splendid drill for your Will. You shall gain in spiritual strength. You
+shall grow positive to your flesh and its cravings. Jesus Christ fasted
+for 40 days in order to prepare himself to face his great trial and
+temptation. Our Yogis are all great fasters.
+
+HOW TO FAST.
+
+Don't undertake too much. If you have never observed a fast begin
+with a 24 hour fast. Drink at least 5, if possible, 8 tumblers of pure
+water at frequent intervals slowly. Keep yourself gently active and
+occupied the whole day, mentally and physically. You may feel a feeling
+of faintness, all-goneness and an irresistible craving for food. These
+are mischievous pranks of a cultivated and pampered and artificial
+appetite. Drink water slowly but don't give your body anything else.
+Always keep before yourself the distinction between the regal "I--am--I"
+the soul and the carnal, sensating animal known as the body. The great
+point of achievement during a fast lies in thinking high thoughts and
+forgetting the demands of the flesh. Don't think of your fast. If you
+do think say to yourself "this is to develop my will." Breathe plenty of
+fresh air. Exercise gently and walk. I have seen educated men afraid to
+go out for a walk during a day's religious fast "lest they should feel
+hungry." O shame! You can't control a little hunger! You should
+bathe daily thoroughly early in the morning, fast or no fast.
+
+And don't be afraid. "Man liveth not by bread alone but by very
+word that proceeds from the mouth of God"--said Christ. Starvation
+may kill off your body but not fasting. Deny the power of all disease
+and weakness over yourself. Your mind is master of your body. Assert
+this mental control. Lastly, during a fast, your body is sensitive to
+your suggestions. Fill your mind with incessant affirmations of courage.
+Think courage, say courage, act courage. Take time by the forelock.
+Force your suggestions upon body and brain right now.
+
+HOW TO BREAK A FAST.
+
+When breaking a fast, be sure to control re-action. Eat very lightly
+and only sensible food. Now that you have a clean body, stay clean
+You can train yourself to fast for 40 days at a stretch.
+
+TRANSMUTING SEX-ENERGY.
+
+Here is some sensible advice from a leading thinker and teacher:
+To be a perfect Bramhacharin (a regenerate).
+
+1. You must have a clean, healthy body; 2. Good breathing capacity and
+some control over same; 3. A strong will such as can move body and mind;
+4. Assiduous cultivation of the intellectual side; 5. Control over
+emotions; 6. A fearless mind; 7. Great determination; 8. and abstemious
+living and high thinking.
+
+The Yogis possess great knowledge regarding the use and abuse of
+the reproductive principle in both sexes. Some hints of this esoteric
+knowledge have filtered out and have been used by Western writers on
+the subject, and much good has been accomplished in this way. In this
+little book we cannot do more than touch upon the subject, and omitting
+all except a bare mention of theory, we will give a practical breathing
+exercise whereby the student will be enabled to transmute the
+re-productive energy into vitality for the entire system, instead of
+dissipating and wasting it in lustful indulgence in or out of the
+marriage relations. The reproductive energy is creative energy, and may
+be taken up by the system and transmuted into strength and vitality, thus
+serving the purpose of regeneration instead of generation. If the young
+men of the Western world understood these underlying principles they
+would be saved much misery and unhappiness in after years, and would be
+stronger mentally, morally and physically.
+
+This transmutation of the reproductive energy gives more vitality to
+those practising it. They will be filled with great vital force, which
+will radiate from them and will manifest in what has been called
+"personal magnetism." The energy thus transmuted may be turned into new
+channels and used to great advantage. Nature has condensed one of its
+most powerful manifestations of prana into productive energy, as its
+purpose is to create. The greatest amount of vital force is concentrated
+in the smallest area. The re-productive organism is the most powerful
+storage factory in animal life, and its force can be drawn upward and
+used, as well as expended in the ordinary functions of reproduction, or
+wasted in vicious lust. The majority of our students know something of
+the theories of regeneration, and we can do little more than to state the
+above facts, without attempting to prove them.
+
+The Yogi exercise for transmuting re-productive energy is simple. It is
+coupled with rhythmic breathing, and can be easily performed. It may be
+practised at any time, but is especially recommended when one feels the
+instinct more strongly, at which time the re-productive energy is
+manifesting and may be most easily transmuted for regenerative purpose.
+The exercise is as follows:--
+
+Keep the mind fixed on the idea of energy, and away from ordinary
+sexual thoughts and imaginings. If these thoughts come into the mind
+do not be discouraged, but regard them as manifestations of a force which
+you intend using for the purpose of strengthening the body and mind.
+Lie passively or sit erect, and fix your mind on the idea of drawing the
+re-productive energy upward to the Solar Plexus, where it will be
+transmuted and stored away as a reserve force of vital energy. Then
+breathe rhythmically, forming the mental image of drawing up the
+re-productive energy with each inhalation. With each inhalation make a
+command of the Will that the energy be drawn upward from the
+re-productive organisation to the Solar Plexus. If the rhythm is fairly
+established and the mental image is clear, you will be conscious of the
+upward passage of the energy, and will feel its stimulating effect. If
+you desire an increase in mental force, you may draw it up to the brain
+instead of to the Solar Plexus, by giving the mental command and holding
+the mental image of the transmission to the brain.
+
+The man or woman doing mental creative work, or bodily creative work will
+be able to use this creative energy in their work by following the above
+exercise, drawing up the energy with the inhalation and sending it forth
+with the exhalation. In this last form of exercise only such portions as
+are needed in the work will pass into the work being done, the balance
+remaining stored up in the Solar Plexus.
+
+You will understand, of course, that it is not the reproductive fluids
+which are drawn up and used, but the etheric prana energy which animates
+the latter, the soul of the reproductive organism, as it were. It is
+usual to allow the head to bend forward easily and naturally during the
+transmuting exercise.
+
+Practise this Breathing Exercise sturdily. Be heroic. Learn to make 100
+Pranayams at a sitting, but do not rush things. Deep breathing exercise,
+Will-Culture, regular Meditation and a clean normal mode of living when
+combined with much thinking will surely awaken your Latent Powers. Be not
+worried if progress be a bit slow at first. Keep up cheerful and work
+patiently. Things cannot but come your way if you don't give up but
+preserve to the last. Have infinite and unbounded faith in yourself. And,
+lastly, if you want to grow space in Wisdom and Power, persevere in deep
+breathing. Pranayam is the key to all spiritual success. "Spirituality is
+fullness of Breath." Almost all forms or Mental and physical weakness are
+due to imperfect and shallow breathing. Of all these instructions you
+practise nothing but the Breathing Exercise, your gain shall be great but
+in order to get all the results you must practise all the instructions
+regularly and methodically.
+
+Your sex-force is under the direction of your sub-conscious mind which is
+quite amenable to your authoritative suggestions. Get control through
+your sub-consciousness. All you have to do is to let it to do its own
+work without adverse and negative suggestions and fear-thoughts. Say "No"
+vigorously to all adverse thoughts and shake them off from you. All
+health comes by letting nature alone.
+
+BREATHING EXERCISE.
+
+Find a quiet place as far as possible, where the air is pure and the
+surroundings soothing and pleasant. After a bath or a thorough rubbing
+of the body from top to toe, with a wet towel, on an empty stomach,
+take this exercise: Send a current of holy thought to everyone, on
+planes seen and unseen, north and south, east and west, engage in
+meditation--take anyone of the meditation exercises you like. When you
+are perfectly calm and relaxed, seat yourself cross-legged, assuming any
+posture that comes easiest to you, with head, neck and chest held in a
+straight line and the weight of the upper parts of the body resting on
+ribs. Keep the region about the waist quite free. Loosen the cloth there
+out and out. Now inhale air slowly and steadily through right nostril
+after closing left nostril with your finger as long as it takes to count
+sixteen mentally. Close both nostrils, holding the inspired air within
+and count sixty-four. Then very slowly exhale the air through the left
+nostril for as long as it takes to count thirty-two. You must begin with
+a 4 second inhalation, 16 second retention and 8 second exhalation.
+Instead of dry counting you might improve yourself decidedly by repeating
+the word "Fearless" as many times holding mentally that dominant idea
+back of the word. Practise 5 pranayamas mornings and evenings for one
+week daily. Increase to 10 next week. Work up to 20. Go slowly. Practise
+as long as you like, but not less than 6 months. Be serious and earnest.
+This is not for non-serious minds. This exercise will augment digestive
+power, steady heart-action, make the body light and the mind calm. It
+shall help also miraculously in your Soul-Unfoldment. During this
+practice be pure in all ways. Observe Bramhacharya. Practice mental
+concentration and spiritual meditation. Don't talk much with others.
+Don't encourage any but holy society. Don't sleep much. Don't work very
+hard. Keep your emotions well-in-hand. Be always engaged mentally
+and physically. Be hopeful and cheerful. Never encourage negative
+thinking. It shall do wonders for you.
+
+PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
+
+Exercise No. 1.
+
+Stand straight, facing a corner of the room with bare feet about 14 or 15
+inches from the corner itself, arms straight out, even with shoulders or
+perhaps two inches below, hands resting on the two-side walls, chest out,
+abdomen in. Now lean forward towards the corner, without moving the feet
+or bending the knees. Aim lightly to touch the corner with the chest,
+while holding the head and abdomen as far back from the corner as
+possible, arms and hands slipping forward on the walls in a straight line
+with shoulders. Resume first position without moving the feet or lowering
+the arms, and repeat. Make the forward movement slowly, at the same time
+inhaling through nostrils a slow, full breath; put your whole effort into
+stretching the chest forward and upward (careful not to bruise yourself
+against wall) and head and abdomen backward, thus straightening the back
+at the shoulders. Hold the chest to the corner a moment, holding the
+breath likewise, then slowly resume original upright position, slowly
+exhaling through slightly open lips at the same time bending the head
+forward towards the chest. As you lean forward toward the corner,
+mentally keep count of your exercise one, two, three, etc. As you resume
+the upright position, exhaling and bending the head forward mentally,
+affirm "I am fearless, pure, strong." Make these movements always slowly,
+deliberately, with the closest attention. Begin with 5 or 6 movements and
+raise to 20 at a time.
+
+Exercise No. 2.
+
+Stand straight about two feet from the wall. Place the palms on the
+wall-level with the shoulders. Without moving the feet or bending the
+body, lean forward slowly, inhaling slowly as you do so, until the
+chest touches the wall, head back; then push yourself slowly to an
+upright position slowly exhaling as you do so. Repeat 10 times or more.
+
+Exercise No. 3.
+
+Clasp the hands behind. As you slowly inhale extend the clasped hand
+slowly downwards as far as possible, straightening arms at elbow and
+lowering shoulders as much as possible, at the same time extending
+and lifting the chest as far as you can. Hold the breath and the position
+a moment only, shoulders down, chest out and up, abdomen in, then release
+the hand and slowly exhale. A rather vigorous exercise. So go slowly.
+
+Exercise No. 4.
+
+Stand straight, arms extended even with the shoulders, head up;
+tense muscles of right arm doubling slowly at elbow and hand only, until
+the clenched fist touches the shoulders; at the same time tensing the
+neck muscles, chin up, and turning the head slowly to face the clenched
+fist. Repeat with the left arm. The arms from shoulder to elbow must
+be kept in a horizontal position.
+
+Exercise No. 5.
+
+Stand straight, hands at sides. Bend as far over to the right as
+possible, slowly; then to the left as far as possible. Repeat 10 times.
+
+Exercise No. 6.
+
+Stand straight, arms at sides. Lean as far forward as you can without
+bending the knees and roll the body clear around in a circle to the
+right, arms and body as limp as possible. Repeat 5 times. Then roll
+five times to the left.
+
+Exercise No. 7.
+
+Stand straight. Extend arms easily in front. Wave them backwards and
+upwards in a sort of reversed swimming movement, until they meet
+overhead; at the same time bending backward as far as possible slowly
+inhale a full breath. Now bend forward, exhaling breath, taking care not
+to bend the knees, until your fingers touch your toes, head hanging as
+low as possible, toes and head as limp as possible, fingers reaching
+towards the floor. Repeat upright position. Keep the knees straight
+throughout. Aim to stretch the entire body and hands upward and backward
+as far as possible, with the upward motion of the arms. If you can't
+touch the floor without bending the knees, just come as near it as you
+can. Practice will limber you up until you can touch it.
+
+Exercise No. 8.
+
+Lie full length on the back of the floor, hands clasped under head.
+Tense the muscles of the right leg, raising the knee slowly until it
+touches or almost touches the body, at the same time bending the foot
+downward as far as possible, stretching the toes towards the floor. Now
+slowly lower the right leg, still tense, towards the floor, straightening
+the knee and turning the toe upward towards the body. As the right
+leg is being lowered, raise the left one upward in the same way tensing
+the muscles, knee to chest, toes stretching upward; as the left leg goes
+down, point the toes and foot toward the knee 5 times, increasing
+gradually to 10 times.
+
+
+PHYSICAL EXERCISES.
+
+SERIES 2.
+
+
+Exercise I.
+
+(1) Extend the arms straight out in front of you, on the level of
+the shoulder, with palms of the hand touching each other; (2) swing
+back the hands until the arms stand out straight, sideways, from the
+shoulders or even a little further back if they will go there easily
+without forcing; return briskly to position 1, and repeat several times.
+The arms should be swung with a rapid movement and with animation and
+life. Do not go to sleep over the work or rather play. This exercise is
+most useful in developing the chest, muscles of the shoulders, etc. In
+swinging the hands backward, it is an improvement if you will rise on
+your toe during the backward sweep; sinking on your heels as you move the
+arms forward again. The repeated movements should be rhythmical, backward
+and forward, like the swinging of a quick pendulum.
+
+Exercise II.
+
+(1) Extend the arms straight in front of you, letting the little fingers
+of each hand touch each other, the palms being upward; (2) then keeping
+the little fingers still touching, bring the hands straight up in a
+curved circular movement, until the tips of the fingers of both hands
+touch the top of the head back of the forehead, the backs of the fingers
+touching, the elbows swinging out as the movement is made until (when
+the fingers touch the head, with thumbs pointing the rear) they point
+out straight sideways; (3) let the fingers rest on the top of the head a
+moment, and then with the elbows pressing back (which forces the
+shoulders back) force the arms backward with an oblique motion until
+they reach the sides at full length, as in the standing position.
+
+
+Exercise III.
+
+(1) Extend the arms straight out, sideways, from the shoulders;
+(2) then, still keeping the upper arms extended in same position, bend
+the arms at the elbow and bring the forearm upward with a circular
+movement, until the tips of the extended fingers lightly touch the tops
+of the shoulders; (3) then with fingers in the last position, force the
+elbows out to the front until they touch, or nearly go (a little practice
+will enable you to touch them together); (4) then, keeping the fingers
+still lightly touching the tops of the shoulders, swinging the elbows as
+far back as you can get them. (A little practice will enable you to get
+them much farther back than at the first attempt.) (S) Swing the elbows
+to the front position and then back to the rear position, several times.
+
+Exercise IV.
+
+(1) Place the hands on the hips, thumbs to the rear, and elbows pressed
+back; (2) bend the body forward, from the hips as far as you can, keeping
+the chest protruding and the shoulders pressed back; (3) raise the body
+to the original standing position (hands still at the hips) and then bend
+backward. In these movements the knees should not be bent and the motions
+should be made slowly and gently; (4) then (hands still on the hips) bend
+gently to the right, keeping the heels firmly on the ground, knees unbent
+and avoid twisting the body; (5) resume original position, and then bend
+the body gently to the left, observing the precautions given in the last
+movement. This exercise is somewhat fatiguing and you should be careful
+not to overdo it at the start. Proceed gradually; (6) with hands in same
+position on the hips, swing the upper part of the body around in a
+circle, from the waist-up, the head describing the largest circle, of
+course. Do not move the feet or bend the knees.
+
+Exercise V.
+
+(1) Standing erect, with hands on hips, raise yourself on the balls
+of the feet several times, with sort of a springing motion. Pause a
+moment after you have raised upon your toes, then let the heels sink to
+the floor, then repeat, as above suggested. Keep the knees unbent and the
+heels together. This exercise is specially beneficial in developing the
+calf of the leg, and will make it sure the first few times it is tried.
+If you have an undeveloped calf here is the exercises for you; (2) with
+hands still on hips place your feet about two feet apart, and then cover
+the body into a "squatting" position, pausing a moment and then resuming
+original position. Repeat several times, but not too often at the first,
+as it will make the thighs feel a little sore at the beginning. This
+exercise will give one well developed thighs. This last movement may be
+improved upon by sinking down with the weight resting upon the balls of
+the foot, instead of upon the heel.
+
+Exercise VI.
+
+(1) Stand erect with hands on hips; (2) keeping the knee straight,
+swing the right leg out about fifteen inches (keeping the toe turned a
+little out and the sole flat)--then swing back to the rear until the toe
+points straight to the ground, _keeping the knee stiff all the time_; (3)
+repeat the swinging backward and forward several times; (4) then do
+the same with the left leg; (5) with hands still on hips, raise the right
+leg up, bending the knee, until the upper-leg (thigh) stands straight out
+from the body (if you can raise it still higher, you may do so); (6)
+place your foot again on the ground, and go through the same motion
+with the left leg; (7) repeat several times, first one leg and then the
+other, moving slowly at first and gradually increasing your speed until
+you are executing a slow trot without moving from the over spot.
+
+Exercise VII.
+
+(1) Stand erect, with the arms extended straight in front of you, from
+the shoulders, and of course on a level with the shoulders--the palms
+must be down, fingers straight out, thumbs folded under and the thumb
+side of hands touching each other; (2) bend the body forward from the
+hips, stooping forward as far as possible and at the same time swing the
+arms forward with a sweeping movement, sending them down, backward and
+upward at the back, so that when the body has reached the limit of the
+bending forward movement the arms are extended back and over the
+body--keep the arms stiff and do not bend the knees; (3) resume standing
+position and repeat several times.
+
+Exercise VIII.
+
+(1) Extend the arms straight, sideways, from the shoulder and hold them
+there stiff and rigid with hands open; (2) close the hands forcibly
+with a quick motion, pressing the fingers well into the palm; (3) open
+the hands forcibly and quickly, spreading out the fingers and thumbs
+as widely as possible forming a fan shaped hand; (4) close and open
+the hands as above stated, several times, as rapidly as possible. Put
+life into the exercise. This is a splendid exercise for developing the
+muscles of the hand and for acquiring manual dexterity.
+
+Exercise IX.
+
+(1) Lie upon your stomach, extending your arms above your head and then
+bowed upward and your legs stretched out full length and raised backward
+and upward. The correct position may be carried in the mind by imagining
+a watch--crystal or a saucer resting on the table on its middle, with
+both ends turning upward; (2) lower and raise the arms and legs, several
+times; (3) then turn over on your back and lie extended at full length,
+with arms extended straight out upwards over the head, with back of
+fingers touching the ground; (4) then raise up both legs from the waist
+until they stand straight up in the air, like the mast of a ship, your
+upper-body and arms remaining in the last position named. Lower the legs
+and raise them several times; (5) resume position 3, lying flat upon the
+back at full with arms extended straight out upward, over the head, with
+backs of fingers touching the ground; (6) then gradually raise body to
+sitting position, with arms projecting straight in front of the
+shoulders. Then go back gradually to the lying down position, and
+repeat the raising and lowering several times; (7) then turn over on the
+face and stomach again and assume the following position:--Keeping
+the body rigid from head to foot, raise your body until its weight rests
+upon your palms (the arms being stretched out straight in front of you)
+at one end, and upon your toes at the other end. Then gradually bend
+arms at the elbow, allowing your chest to sink to the floor; then raise
+up your chest and upper-body by straightening out your arms, the entire
+weight falling upon the arms, with the toes as a pivot--this last is a
+difficult motion, and should not be overdone at first.
+
+Exercise X.
+
+This exercise is for those troubled with a too large abdomen, which
+trouble is caused by too much fat gathering there. The abdomen may
+be materially reduced by a reasonable indulgence in this exercise--but
+always remember "moderation in all things" and do not overdo matters,
+or be in too much of a hurry. Here is the exercise: (1) exhale the breath
+(breathe out all the air in the lungs, without straining yourself too
+much) and then draw the abdomen in and up as far as you can, then hold
+for a moment and let it resume its natural position. Repeat a number of
+times and then take a breath or two and rest a moment. Repeat several
+times, moving it in and out. It is surprising how much control one may
+gain over these stubborn muscles with a little practice. This exercise
+will not only reduce the fatty layers over the abdomen, but will also
+greatly strengthen the stomach muscles. (2) Give the abdomen a good but
+not rough kneading and rubbing.
+
+Exercise XI.
+
+The exercise is as follows:--Follow it carefully. (1) stand erect, with
+heels together, toes slightly pointed outward; (2) raise the arms up by
+the sides (with a circular movement) until the hands meet over the head,
+thumbs touching each other; (3) keeping the knees stiff; the body rigid;
+_the elbows unbent_; (and shoulders bent well back as the movement is
+made); bring down the hands, slowly, with a sideway circular motion,
+until they reach the sides of the legs the little finger and the
+inner-edge (the "chopping-edge") of the hand alone touching the legs, and
+palms of the hands facing straight to the front. The shoulder gets the
+right position by touching the little finger of each hand to the seam of
+the trousers. (4) Repeat several times, _slowly_ remember. With the hands
+in the last position, having been placed there by the motion stated, it
+is very difficult for the shoulders to warp forward. The chest is
+projected a little; the head is erect; neck is straight, the back
+straight and hollowed a little (the natural position); and the knees are
+straight. In short, you have a fine, erect carriage--_now keep it_.
+
+
+SEVEN MINOR BREATHING EXERCISES.
+
+Exercise I.
+
+(1) Stand erect with hands at sides. (2) Inhale complete breath.
+(3) Raise the arms slowly, keeping them rigid until the hands touch over
+head. (4) Retain the breath a few minutes with hands over head. (5)
+Lower hands slowly to sides exhaling slowly at the same time. (6)
+Practise cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise II.
+
+(1) Stand erect with arms straight in front of you. (2) Inhale
+complete breath and retain. (3) Swing arms back as far as they will go;
+then back to first position; then repeat several times, retaining the
+breath all the while. (4) Exhale vigorously through mouth. (5) Practise
+cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise III.
+
+(1) Stand erect with arms straight in front of you. (2) Inhale complete
+breath. (3) Swing arms around in a circle, backward, a few times. Then
+reverse a few times retaining the breath all the while. You may vary this
+by rotating them alternately like the sails of a wind-mill. (4) Exhale
+the breath vigorously through the mouth. (5) Practise cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise IV.
+
+(1) Lie on the floor with your face downward, and palms of hands flat
+upon the floor by your sides. (2) Inhale complete breath and retain.
+(3) Stiffen the body and raise yourself up by the strength of your arms
+until you rest on your hands and toes. (4) Then lower yourself to
+original position. Repeat several times. (5) Exhale vigorously through
+the mouth. (6) Practise cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise V.
+
+(1) Stand erect with your palms against the wall. (2) Inhale complete
+breath and retain. (3) Lower the chest to the wall, resting your
+weight on your hands. (4) Then raise yourself back with the arm muscles
+alone, keeping the body stiff. (5) Exhale vigorously through the mouth.
+(6) Practise cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise VI.
+
+(1) Stand erect with arms "akimbo" that is with hands resting around the
+waist and elbows standing out. (2) Inhale complete breath and retain. (3)
+Keep legs and hips stiff and bend well forward, as if bowing, at the same
+time exhaling slowly. (4) Return to first position and then take another
+complete breath. (5) Then bend backward exhaling slowly. (6) Return to
+first position and take a complete breath. (7) Then bend sideways
+exhaling slowly (vary by bending to right and then to left). (8) Practise
+cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise VII.
+
+(1) Stand erect or sit erect with straight spinal column. (2) Inhale a
+complete breath but instead of inhaling on a continuous steady stream,
+take a series of short, quick "sniffs" as if you were smelling aromatic
+salts and ammonia and did not wish to get too strong a "whiff." Do not
+exhale any of these little breaths, but add one to the other until the
+entire lung space is filled. (3) Retain for a few seconds. (4) Exhale
+through the nostrils in a long restful breath. (5) Practise cleansing
+breath.
+
+
+WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAINING.
+
+Do not attempt to take all the above exercises at one and the same
+time. Take them several times in the day. Never exercise immediately
+after a meal or before it. Do not try to force development as you will
+be apt to suffer from re-action. Slow and steady wins the race. Gentle
+and persistent exercises are advisable. That will lead to permanent
+development.
+
+
+EFFECT OF MIND AND BODY.
+
+It has been proved conclusively even on the physical plane that a
+"a Man thinketh in his heart so is he." The great thing to avoid is Fear
+and Worry thoughts. These and all other undesirable thoughts are due
+to bad health partially but it is even a greater truth that physical
+degeneration is due to bad thinking. Fear affects the heart. During
+epidemics such as plague, cholera, etc., you generally first project the
+deadly germs of Fear-Thoughts upon yourself and thus by weakening your
+mind you weaken your body and expose yourself to disease influence.
+Again, if you have some hereditary disease and if you accept adverse
+suggestions from ignorant people and keep telling yourself that such and
+such a disease has taken shelter in you and your body as its "fixed
+abode" you simply hasten your own end. The body and mind are
+interrelated. Thoughts materialize themselves in your body. You should
+get as far away from the idea of disease and old age and weaknesses as
+possible and hold the health-thoughts steadily before your mind. The only
+way in which to be quite immune from Disease is to Deny the Power of
+Disease on yourself. Say "I cannot be ill," "I will not admit disease."
+Health and strength are in the unyielding will. De-hypnotise yourself
+of that superstition that God sends disease. Your body is yours to
+control and keep healthy. God will give you--(He has already given you
+rather)--the Power to control your body. Remember always; you alone can
+save yourself. All Power and Wisdom are potentially resident in you.
+Have confidence and set that thing in motion, exercise it constantly and
+persistently and it shall grow and unfold. God is in you and you are in
+God. When you pray you are simply, although often unconsciously, helping
+that Latent Power to uncoil itself. Remember again: God will grant you
+the opportunity, the means, the wisdom, the ability to accomplish a
+thing, but You Shall Have to do the work yourself. Hence, you see, the
+illumined mind is quite necessary for perfect health. Get rid of all weak
+thoughts. Have a strong mind. Remember lastly:
+
+
+MIND ACTS UPON BODY IN ALL WAYS.
+
+Make your mind positive to your body. I have told you how to do so.
+Physical exercise plus Mental Exercise will put you on the road to
+Power and Poise. And side by side with this follow health-laws. But
+bear in mind that if you assert your power on your mind and body
+confidentially, they cannot but obey your commands. The body has an
+intelligence of its own. This intelligence knows its work perfectly. It
+is what you call Instinct. It digests your meals; assimilates and
+eliminates; repairs wastes; works the heart and controls the circulation;
+heals wounds and presides over all other natural and involuntary
+processes in the body. This Instinctive mind knows its work perfectly.
+But, mark you, this intelligence in the cells and nerve-centres of your
+body is negative to the Central Intelligence in the brain--the
+controlling centre--the "I Am" and is affected by suggestions, beliefs
+and thoughts in your brain. All you have got to do is to avoid projecting
+negative thoughts from your mind and let it alone. But suppose you have
+by violation of the Laws of Nature disturbed the action of the
+Instinctive Mind, disease results. Disease is simply the effect of nature
+to throw off unnatural conditions and re-assert natural conditions. In
+such a case all you have got to do is to re-establish natural states. You
+can do so by simply increasing the general vitality of the body and by
+changing your Mental Attitude. For instance, if you somehow or other have
+accepted the "belief" that your stomach is weak or your heart is weak or
+your liver is slow or your circulation is bad or your vitality is low,
+etc., your instinctive Mind will take up your Beliefs and work them out
+in no time physically. The Instinctive Mind--which is the same as the
+sub-conscious Mind working in the body--_never reasons_. It is on the
+plane of Automatism. Therefore, if you have done any such negative
+thinking your first step is to wipe out these noxious mental weeds by the
+Positive Denial. Say "No, No, No, my body is strong; my stomach is
+strong, my heart is strong, etc." In this form of suggestion you use
+positive Denial as well as Positive Affirmation. The former is
+destructive of evil if rightly applied, the latter is constructive of
+good. Belief and confident expectation are mighty forces. Be sure you
+apply them wisely. The power of mind over matter is supreme and a Proven
+Reality.
+
+
+RESERVE FORCE.
+
+Here I should like to draw your attention to the Reserve Power existing
+in your body. Of course there are soul-powers existing potentially
+within YOU which leap into brilliant expression as you succeed in
+developing and expanding your brain to a state of perfect responsiveness
+to the touch of your will. For really and truly your will, forming as it
+does the divine part of yourself, is always strong and must unfold "as a
+rose" by exercising itself, in the field of matter, force and mind;--all
+of which are subordinate to YOU and the real aim of human evolution is
+actually to place in your hands the wand of power.
+
+What is within your body is sure to find its correspondent outside in
+Nature. Control nature inside and you will move as a master out in this
+universe.
+
+Now without going into details let me tell you--if you do not know it
+already--that mind is the finest form of matter, and matter the grossest
+form of mind, and there is a constant interaction between the two poles.
+But since mind represents the positive end and matter the negative, the
+former can dominate the latter. You can evoke states of consciousness by
+applying stimulus to the periphery and again mental states evoke
+corresponding vibrations in the cellular life of body and brain.
+
+Hence you see your mind controls and forms your body. Also your body
+reacts upon your brain and affects that part of your mind which has to
+operate through the brain, which is matter pure and simple. So to keep
+aright the polarities of your brain and body a constant adjustment of
+forces is needed and thus you can establish POISE.
+
+In order always to be in a state of perfect health two things are
+necessary. Deny the power of disease over yourself. In the unyielding
+will is health. In the weak, vacillating, fearful mind is disease and
+death. At the same time always be in perfect magnetic trim with the
+physical laws of health. A knowledge of the latter and the ascension of a
+fearless mental attitude will open up hitherto unrecognised channels of
+physical and mental expression. Physiological researches have led sincere
+investigators to the inevitable conclusion that there is subtle, refined,
+dynamic substance, a reality that binds up the reorganization, causes
+growth, vitality and motion; repairs injuries; makes up losses; overcomes
+and cures diseases. Von Helment called it "Archeus"; Stahl called it
+"Anima;" Whytt called it the "sentiment principle;" Dr. Cullen called it
+"Caloric;" Dr. Darwin called it "Sensorial energy"; Rush called it
+"Occult cause;" and many other names such as "Vital Principle," "Living
+power," "Conservative Power," "Odic Force," etc., etc., have been given
+to it. We of India have recognised it and devised Yoga methods for
+controlling it; we call it Prana and only in India do you come across men
+who possess pranic control or control over universal energy.
+
+There exists in your physical organism reserve stores of vital energy
+stored away for your use, particularly in that central ganglion of your
+vital battery known as the Solar Plexus and generally in the chain of
+ganglia or storage batteries along and up your spine and elsewhere in
+other nerve-centres. The solar plexus is also known as the Abdominal
+Brain and your brain depends and draws upon this vital centre for its
+energies. You will find after the prolonged concentration and brain-work
+that this part of your body--at the back of pit of stomach--becomes
+warm. Now when you engage in physical exercise, for instance, you must
+have noticed how at first you soon get tired and all done up. But if you
+wait a little and then start again, you will find how the sense of
+fatigue has quite passed away and you can run your body under full
+pressure for a very long time, and the more you exert yourself the
+greater and more powerful the surging up of your vital energy. With each
+new exertion you seem to acquire a fresh start. This has puzzled
+physiologists. You will find a parallel phenomenon in mental work. You
+may experience a sense of weariness and fatigue in some brain-work which
+demands close thinking and attention, but if you attack your work a
+little later after the first effort you will do your work a surprising
+degree of freshness, vigour, and enthusiasm far surpassing the original
+attempt. Again everyone can and does put forth universal energy under
+pressure of some urgent necessity, which will startle even himself. No
+matter who you are and what your physical condition, there is an enormous
+amount of power in your body that has never been drawn upon at all
+and impatiently waiting for up-call. We go on in ordinary dog trot pace,
+resting, limping, "taking care of our health," and then we think we are
+doing our best. Do not permit your mind to be self-hypnotised into a
+false sense of being "exhausted" and "old." Neither of them is a fact
+except in your thought of yourself. All your powers are lying dormant.
+All your latent energies are lying unused. Back of your conscious
+mentality are tremendous energies awaiting the pull of your will. When
+your brain conceives of being something unusually great, at least so it
+may appear from your view-point, do not question your strength but go
+ahead unhesitatingly, fearlessly and steadily. Assert your life-force.
+Feel that you are young, strong and healthy and fit. Live in mental
+consciousness of power and never think of weakness. Keep your grip and
+run right along. Nature is sure to honor your draft. Nature is sure to
+give you strength, energy and vim, in boundless measure. Just try this
+my friends, you, who write me of "there being a serious lack of vitality"
+in your system and hence your inability to grapple with the occult. No
+such thing. Fact is you lack courage and initiative, pluck and "go" and
+you are labouring under the hypnotism of weakening thoughts. Just change
+your thoughts, and your reserve forces will rush out into activity
+and you will be a changed man in no time.
+
+
+HOW TO EXERCISE.
+
+In exercising aim at rhythm of motion. Let your movements be easy,
+regular, rhythmic and graceful. Take an interest in your work. Do pay
+attention. Put Will-Power and Mind into your work. Think of all it means.
+Do not fatigue yourself unduly. After exercise towelling or a spray-bath
+is advisable. Wet your towel, pass it over your body, rubbing thoroughly.
+Raise the towel and repeat. After exercise and towelling, you should be
+in a splendid glow. Be sure to keep the windows open when exercising.
+Fresh air is an absolute necessity. Never mind about cold and so forth.
+Remember the Positive Denial will fill you with Power of Resistance. Say
+"Cold cannot affect my body" and believe what you say. You can face
+anything in this way and remain untouched.
+
+
+BATHING AND LINEN.
+
+The student should bathe daily, using plenty of water, rubbing and
+cleaning the body from top to toe. I myself bathe very early in the
+morning, in all seasons, in cold water. Cold water stimulates circulation
+and is a wonderful tonic internally and externally. Warm water is
+soothing and relaxing in its effect. If you can bathe in the flowing
+water of a river, so much the better. Swimming is a wonderful bracer,
+besides being an enjoyment in itself. There is Prana in water and your
+body extracts this Prana from air, water and food. I cannot give you
+instructions as to different forms of bathing, as this is not a "doctor"
+book. As far as possible bathe twice a day, mornings and evenings; if
+not, once in the morning, using the towel at other times. Bathing is not
+merely pouring water on body but cleansing it out and out with water
+rubbing and scrubbing with hands and towels. Aim at perfect cleanliness.
+Cleanliness is Godliness and Health is Holiness.
+
+Then again while bathing if you let the water flow over your body
+and try to "appreciate the sensation" and dwell on the idea of
+Prana-absorption from water, you shall get double benefit.
+
+About linen--_Be neat_, for God's sake. I have seen orthodox people
+who bathe twice and wash their hands hundreds of times in the day, but
+whose clothes are sticky with dirt, sweat and oil. Whatever else it may
+mean, Religion does not mean squalor, offensive odours in body and
+clothes and general neglect of external clean linen and dirt. The Yogi
+is a man of supreme REFINEMENT. Read that word and understand all it
+means. The clothes you wear in day-time should not be worn at night. Be
+clean internally as well externally. Be clean. Be clean. Be clean, within
+as well as without.
+
+
+DRINKING WATER AND SWALLOWING AIR.
+
+Your body needs a reasonable supply of water and air. Water is used by
+nature in different ways. Form the habit of drinking pure water from
+5 to 8 tumblers a day. Drink slowly and form a mental image of
+Prana-absorption from the water.
+
+The student needs fresh air too in plenty. If your heart and lungs
+are in sound condition they will draw in air naturally and extract oxygen
+in proper quantities. If not, perform the following exercises carefully
+one by one in the open air every day. They are quite reliable.
+
+
+THE YOGI CLEANSING BREATH.
+
+(1) Inhale a complete breath. (2) Retain the air a few seconds.
+(3) Pucker up the lips as if for a whistle (but do not swell out the
+cheeks) then exhale a little air through the opening with considerable
+vigor. Then stop for a moment retaining the air and then exhale a little
+more air. Repeat until the air is completely exhaled. Remember that
+considerable vigor is to be used in exhaling air through the opening in
+the lips. This breath will be found quite refreshing when one is tired
+and generally "used up." A trial will convince the student of its merits.
+This exercise should be practised until it can be performed naturally and
+easily, as it is used to finish up a number of other exercises given in
+this book and it should be thoroughly understood.
+
+
+NERVE VITALISING BREATH.
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Inhale a complete breath and retain same. (3) Extend
+the arms straight in front of you, letting them somewhat limp and
+relaxed, with only sufficient nerve force to hold them out. (4) Slowly
+draw the hands back towards the shoulders gradually, contracting the
+muscles and putting force into them, so that when they reach the
+shoulders the fists will be so tightly clenched that a tremulous motion
+is felt. (5) Then keeping the muscles tense push the fists slowly out and
+then draw them back rapidly (still tense) several times. (6) Exhale
+vigorously through the mouth. (7) Practise the cleansing breath. (8)
+The efficiency of this exercise depends greatly upon the speed of the
+drawing back of the fists, and the tension of the muscles, and, of course
+upon the full lungs. This exercise must be tried to be appreciated. It
+is without equal as a "bracer" as our western friends put it.
+
+
+THE VOCAL BREATH.
+
+(1) Inhale a complete breath very slowly, but steadily, through the
+nostrils, taking as much time as possible in the inhalation. (2) Retain
+for a few seconds. (3) Expel the air vigorously in one great breath,
+through the wide-opened mouth. (4) Rest the lungs by the cleansing
+breath. This would give you a good, rolling voice.
+
+
+THE RETAINED BREATH.
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Inhale a complete breath. (3) Retain the
+breath as long as you can comfortably. (4) Exhale vigorously through
+the open mouth. (5) Practise the cleansing breath. At first you will
+be able to retain the breath only a short time, but a little practise
+will also show a great improvement. Time yourself with a watch, if you
+wish to note your progress.
+
+
+CELL STIMULATION.
+
+(1) Stand erect with hands in sides. (2) Breathe in very slowly and
+gradually. (3) While inhaling, gently tap the chest with the fingertips,
+constantly changing position. (4) When the lungs are filled, retain the
+breath and the chest with the palms of the hands. (5) Practise the
+cleansing breath.
+
+
+RIB STRETCHING.
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Place the hands one on each side of the body
+as high up in the armpits as convenient, the thumbs reaching towards
+the back, the palms on the side of the chest and the fingers to the front
+over the breast. (3) Inhale a complete breath. (4) Retain the air for
+a short time. (5) Then gently squeeze the sides at the same time slowly
+exhaling. (6) Practise the cleansing breath.
+
+
+CHEST EXPANSION
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Inhale a complete breath. (3) Retain the
+air. (4) Extend both arms forward and bring the two clenched fists
+together on a level with the shoulder. (5) Then swing back the fists
+vigorously until the arms stand out straight side-ways from the
+shoulders. (6) Then bring back to position (4) and swing to position
+(5). Repeat several times. (7) Exhale vigorously through the open mouth.
+(8) Practise the cleansing breath.
+
+
+WALKING EXERCISE.
+
+(1) Walk with head up, chin drawn slightly in, shoulders back, and
+with measured tread. (2) Inhale a complete breath, counting (mentally)
+1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, one count to each step making the inhalation
+extend over the eight counts. (3) Exhale slowly through the nostrils,
+counting as before 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, one count to a step. (4) Rest
+between breaths, continuing, walking and counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
+one count to a step. (5) Repeat until you begin to feel tired. Then rest
+for a while and resume at pleasure. Repeat several times a day. You may
+vary the exercise by retaining the breath during a 1, 2, 3, 4, count and
+then exhale in an eight-step count. Practise whichever plan seems most
+agreeable to you.
+
+
+MORNING EXERCISE.
+
+(1) Stand erect in a military attitude, head up, eyes front, shoulders
+back, knees stiff, hands at sides. (2) Raise body slowly on toes,
+inhaling a complete breath, steadily and slowly. (3) Retain the breath
+for a few seconds, maintaining the same position. (4) Slowly sink the
+first position at the same time slowly exhaling the air through the
+nostrils. (5) Practise cleansing breath. (6) Repeat several times,
+varying by using right leg alone, then left leg alone.
+
+
+STIMULATING CIRCULATION.
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Inhale a complete breath and retain. (3) Bend
+forward slightly and grasp a stick or cane steadily and firmly, and
+gradually exerting your entire strength upon the grasp. (4) Relax the
+grasp, return to first position, and slowly exhale. (5) Repeat several
+times. (6) Finish with the cleansing breath. (N. B.--_The above are
+from the Yoga Teachings_.)
+
+
+MEDITATION EXERCISE No. I.
+
+Retire into the silence. Say: I AM FEARLESS. Concentrate calmly on that
+idea. Think it out in all its bearings. See yourself in your mind's eye
+as possessing the desired quality and acting it out in actual life. Let
+your mind indulge in a good, strongly-dramatized day-dream. Only insist
+upon its sticking to the particular text of thought and always showing
+you successful at the end. Finish up with a vigorous affirmation of the
+"I am." Practise at the same hour daily for 6 months at least.
+
+
+Exercise No. II.
+
+Retire into the silence. Concentrate earnestly thus: _I send out
+strong, positive, healing thought-waves of love to all mankind. Let the
+disease-ridden become healthy. Let the weak become strong. Let the
+needy ones become prosperous and happy. Let the fearful ones become
+filled with courage. Let the cruel become kind and merciful. Let the
+hateful and hating ones become loving. Let the impure ones become
+pure. Let the bereaved, deserted, sorrow-stricken ones become soothed
+and comforted_.
+
+Picture to yourself strong waves of Thought-Force passing out of
+you and encircling the whole world. Picture the world as peopled with
+men and women manifesting the desired conditions.
+
+The more friends sit together in union of will and soul concentrating
+as above-indicated the better. Practise alone if you can find no earnest
+and serious-minded ones to join you.
+
+Believe in your power to so help humanity. The power of thought
+is unlimited. In blessing others bless yourself. The effect of this
+exercise will be far-reaching. It shall follow and be a blessing to you
+even after death. Practise regularly at the same place and time as far as
+possible.
+
+Be earnest in your work.
+
+Do not talk of your exercises to others.
+
+The above exercises will wonderfully develop and strengthen anyone who
+tries them. The deep breathing exercise already given is known as
+Pranayama or Controlling the Psychic Breath. Its main purpose is to
+give you control over your Prana and unfold the Psychic Force latent in
+you. Practised on an impure body and weak lungs it may do harm. Hence
+students are advised to undergo the above 10 breathing exercises first
+and then, when their lungs have developed the power of endurance, they
+should take that up. It will take time, patience, and serious work.
+But if the student is sufficiently energetic he will perfect all these
+exercises in six months. But follow nature's plan and be slow and steady.
+
+
+DIET.
+
+You all know that pure food brings pure blood. You should avoid
+the two extremes of gluttony and daily fasting and abstemiousness. You
+should know (1) What to eat (2) How to eat (3) When to eat.
+
+Concentrated food such as contains the maximum amount of nourishment
+in a minimum quantity should be used. The student should study some
+reliable hand book on the relative values of food and use his
+judgment. We ourselves use nuts, milk, fruits, whole wheat bread, rice
+in very small quantity, pulse, etc. Those who are non-meat eaters--and
+we advise it strongly--will do well to see to it that their _menu_ has a
+good supply of albuminous food, as vegetarians often run the risk of
+being overfed as to starch and underfed in nitrogenous foods.
+
+(2) Chew and masticate properly so as to extract the food-Prana in full
+and break up the food-substance into very small bits, reducing it to
+pulp. Do not be in a hurry to bolt your food but let it linger in your
+mouth so as to be properly insalivated and so that the nerves of the
+tongue, cheek, etc., may all absorb energy from food. Remember your
+stomach is not lined with rows of teeth. This will give you double the
+nourishment you get ordinarily, avoid constipation, prevent malnutrition,
+non-assimilation and over-eating. Out of a very small quantity of food
+you can extract perfect nourishment and thus you avoid loading and
+"stuffing" the stomach with unnecessary food. It is also economical in
+case you are a thrifty soul! Eat to live. Don't live to eat.
+
+(3) Eat when you are hungry. That cultivated "appetite" that craves for
+satisfaction at certain stated intervals of the day and brings on an
+"all-gone" fainting, nauseating sensation in the stomach is not real
+"hunger." In real hunger there is absolutely no sensation in the stomach
+but there is a rich and continuous flow of saliva in the mouth and that
+sort of thing makes you enjoy the plainest of fares. Even a dry crust
+of bread will taste sweet as Manna. Cut off your breakfasts. Drink
+cold water instead. Eat one good, nourishing meal at 12 A. M., and one
+light meal in the evening.
+
+Lastly, students, let plain living and high thinking be your motto.
+Do not be afraid to eat when you are hungry and so long as you exercise
+and work with brain and body even two square meals a day are permissible.
+Do not grow ethereal and airy, because then you will not amount to much
+in the world's work. Students, who are perfect Brahmacharies, will not
+care half as much for lots of food as ordinary folk do. A constant
+feeling of satisfaction and fullness is present in such. But hard
+workers must never be under-nourished and they require more food than
+others.
+
+
+SLEEP.
+
+It is the depth and relaxation in sleep that counts. High-strung people
+find it hard to relax and keep tossing on their pillows. Bathe your feet
+in cold water in hot season and in cool water in cold season. That will
+draw off the surplus blood gurgitating in your brain. Also bathe the nape
+of the neck. The student should engage in meditation before falling to
+sleep, as during sleep the Man leaves the physical form and goes to
+super-physical planes and it is the last train of thought in your mind
+that determines and conforms you to the special super-physical influence
+you are to obtain. The physical benefits too shall be great. You will
+feel more rested in this way and your sleep will be sleeping a sounder
+and more refreshing sleep than otherwise. One of the chief signs of
+success in Mental and Physical Control is that your sleeps are
+undisturbed and peaceful.
+
+During sleep you are in a passive, relaxed condition and all sorts
+of unseen influences play around you. It is good therefore to enclose
+yourself in an Astral Shell. Concentrate upon your aura and picture it
+as extending some 18 inches all around you and forming a shell around
+you. Now take this affirmation to concentrate your mind.
+
+1. I am charging my aura with my Will-Force.
+
+2. It is strong, strong, strong and can and will resist, repel and
+drive off all bad influences and admit only pure and holy influence.
+
+3. It will remain around me right along the period of my sleep.
+
+The student is advised to surround himself in this "auric Shell"
+even when awake so that it may beat off all malign and harmful
+thought-forces. As he grows in Will-Power and Self-Confidence, a
+Protective Aura will form around him naturally and will be felt by
+others.
+
+
+RELAXATION VERSUS CONTRACTION.
+
+The student should learn to relax his body completely so that it shall
+lie still and limp and soft as cotton. He should be able to tense and
+contract his muscles so that they will become hard as iron. In all the
+physical exercises you will find two special actions (1) Muscle
+contraction (2) Stretching. When you contract muscle and harden it, you
+have sent currents of nerve-force and will to that part; when you relax
+it, you "let go" completely. What we want is Strength in Repose ready
+to leap into action in the flash of an eye. We have taught you how to
+relax in Lesson 2 on Will-Force. You all have noticed a cat crouching
+for its prey. How intensely still it is; yet you know what such stillness
+means. It is very far from laziness. Relaxation husbands and conserves
+nerve-force. It is a great thing to be calm and silent. Calmness is the
+centralization of tremendous power. Practise being calm, as far as
+you can.
+
+
+SOLAR ENERGY.
+
+There is great electrical and thermal power in the sun's rays. If the
+human body be properly exposed to the sun during the first five hours
+in the morning and the evening, the body would absorb energy therefrom
+and gain in strength. Do not over do this, especially you of the warm
+climate.
+
+
+LAST WORD ON HEALTH.
+
+Trust Nature. It is her office to keep your body-machine running
+in perfect order. "Prevention is better than cure"--they say. Observe
+the healthy man. See how he lives and follow his example. But note
+that body is yours to control and God will not do that work for you.
+Also get rid of the stupidity that God sends diseases. Think, study and
+observe and you will know what Health Laws are.
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+Student, I have indicated the lines along which you are to seek the
+way to Spiritual Independence. I cannot run your life-affairs, solve your
+life-problems, do your work for you. I have pointed out a few principles,
+observe, think and complete your knowledge. You must climb the steps
+of the ladder of attainment and Self-Perfection yourself.
+
+Fear is a great stumbling-block in the way. Fight it down. Starve it out.
+Be earnest. Be thorough. Live your life silently and earnestly. Give
+others a helping hand whenever you can without that patronising air of
+superiority so characteristic of the modern snobs passing for
+"gentlemen." Be proud that you are an "Indian." Follow Indian ideals of
+greatness. Consider it a privilege to help deserving souls. We all need
+help, encouragement and guidance to some extent. Co-operation,
+interdependence are the basic foundations of human well-being. Be strong.
+Be manly. Be courageous. Be great and good. Take your place in the
+world's evolutionary progress and lend your hand in turning the wheel
+of life. In the same measure that you help others, shall you yourself be
+helped on all planes of life. Be reasonable. Be just and fair unto
+others. Be a source of blessing unto others. So long as you labour under
+the vitiating influence of negative thoughts, you cannot achieve much in
+any direction. I have told you "how" you are to proceed.
+
+May God bless you. May he guide, help and strengthen where I have failed.
+
+SWAMI MUKERJI.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga, by A. P. Mukerji
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13300 ***
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+Project Gutenberg's The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga, by A. P. Mukerji
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga
+
+Author: A. P. Mukerji
+
+Release Date: August 27, 2004 [EBook #13300]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE OF YOGA ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Project Gutenberg
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                   The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga
+
+Including the Practices and Exercises of Concentration, both Objective
+and Subjective, and Active and Passive Mentation, an Elucidation of Maya,
+Guru Worship, and the Worship of the Terrible, also the Mystery of
+Will-Force
+
+                           BY SWAMI MUKERJI
+                     YOGI OF THE SOUTH INDIA ORDER
+
+                                 1922
+
+
+
+
+ANNOUNCEMENT
+
+
+In studying these Lessons please remember 3 points:--
+
+1. Not one useless or superfluous sentence is written. Every word is full
+of meaning. They are highly condensed. Think deeply over them.
+
+2. They are meant as a practical supplement to the 'Spiritual
+Consciousness,' 'Soul-Force' and 'Inner Forces.' Studied side by side,
+these lessons will yield a great deal of benefit. You are expected to
+think hard and long.
+
+3. Let none expect speedy or miraculous results. _All spiritual training
+calls for infinite patience and deep reverence unto the Guru. Constant
+rise and fall accompanies all progress_.
+
+
+
+
+FOREWORD.
+
+CONCENTRATION AND THOUGHT-CONTROL.
+
+
+Student! Your life is your own. You have only yourself to thank for what
+you are, have been and will be. Take your present into your own hand.
+Consciously shape out of it your future. Direct your forces along lines
+of study and endeavour that have the strongest attraction for you. Such
+attraction is the indication of need. It is the hand pointing out your
+Life-purpose. What your heart desires earnestly and clamours for
+incessantly is _attracted_ to you out of the _invisible supply, i.e._,
+the means, the environments, the right sort of persons, books and
+thought-forces are drawn to you and then you are expected to work out
+your desire. This is in perfect accord with the great _Law of
+Attraction_. Some call it God: since it answers all sincere prayers.
+Prayer, remember, is the sincere desire of the heart. I take it that you
+hunger for Truth and Spiritual Growth--else you and I would not be here.
+The instructions given you hereunder are meant to give you a strong body
+and a strong will. They will also tend to your Soul-Unfoldment. Talk not
+of them. Keep your mouth closed. Be serious, earnest and thoughtful. Then
+work at them confidently and with perseverance. Do not be daunted by
+apparent failures. Failure is the stepping-stone to Success. He fails who
+gives up a thing in final despair. Go on, I say. You will improve from
+the very first day, and in a short time you will be another man. All the
+leaders of humanity, past or present, have studied and investigated with
+tireless zeal along the special lines and, in Spiritual culture, you must
+do the same. But you must have health, a strong will and a steady brain,
+and I will enable you to have these positively. Keep these instructions
+strictly privately. Master them by constant meditation upon same.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON I.
+
+CONCENTRATION.
+
+
+Concentration signifies the state of being at a centre (_con_ and
+_centrum_). Applied to thought, it is the act of bringing the mind to a
+single point. Each human being must practise concentration _subjectively_
+and _objectively_. In other words, each human being aims with more or
+less precision at concentration on a point _within_ and a point _without_
+his own world. Concentration "without" is illustrated when you devote all
+your attention upon Nature, such as learning a trade, a profession, a
+science, an art or some form of business. This is _Evolution_, outgoing
+or positive mental energy. I shall call this _Objective Concentration_.
+Concentration "within" implies the withdrawing of attention from the
+external world and the placing of mind on "God," "Spirit," "Heaven,"
+"Religion," "Peace," "Nirvana," "Eternity," etc. This is _Involution_,
+_i.e._, incoming or negative energy.
+
+When _Objective Concentration_ alone is practised, you develop into a
+hard-headed, practical man of the world or a successful man of business.
+You are keen and shrewd. The world is a very matter-of-fact thing to
+you. You cannot think of anything else beyond money-making and pleasures
+and worldly affairs. You are a "worldling of the world," very clever,
+rich, and a master along your own lines. But spiritually you are an
+imbecile, worse than a baby. This is the _Objective Mind_--the "deepest
+immersed in matter, literally made of the dust." "It is the brain of
+worldly wisdom, common sense, prudence, methodical arrangement, order,
+discipline, classification, the skill and knowledge of the expert in any
+branch or department of art or science." This side of the mind is well
+developed in Scientists, Mathematicians and Businessmen, etc. Where
+it is not guided by the Subjective Mind, it can only see diversity and
+difference and is the slave of Maya--the slayer of the Real.
+
+_Subjective Concentration_ is seeking the Kingdom of Heaven _within_
+you. "God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in Spirit
+and Truth." LAPLACE, the great astronomer, asserted that he had swept
+the heavens with his telescope and found neither God nor Heaven. Yes,
+poor LAPLACE! He looked for God objectively instead of subjectively.
+
+The Kingdom of God comes not with 'observation' but it is 'within' you.
+The be-all and the end-all of religion is the practice of Subjective
+Concentration. The performance of objective work by the human organism
+necessitates expenditure of energy and at last death, because all
+Objective Concentration means 'going from' the Absolute centre--God--and
+hence it expends Spiritual Energy. Subjective Concentration means 'coming
+to' the centre and hence it husbands and recuperates this energy. Now
+nature is motion to and from, and Spirit--the centre of Life. This
+two-fold motion constitutes what is known as polarity--Evolution and
+Involution--negative and positive. At the negative pole life becomes
+involved, _i.e._, 'wrapped up' in form. At the positive pole life
+'evolves' or becomes expressed in nature. In Subjective Concentration you
+return for fresh supplies to the inexhaustible storehouse of force--the
+Absolute Will. Jesus healed the sick, exhibited control over external
+nature by raising the dead, because his chaste soul could receive nothing
+negatively from God and could give it out positively to the objective
+world. All power comes from God. I would impress upon you the
+all-important necessity of placing yourself in a magnetically passive
+attitude towards the Universal Will and then of taking up a calm,
+positive attitude towards the phenomenal world--which is a projection of
+the lower nature and hence must be handled masterfully, fearlessly and
+confidently. Be positive to the external world. Be negative and receptive
+to the Lord's Will-force. Remember this. This brings me to the supremest
+and most solid truth contained in the Science of prayer. The praying
+mind, by its mere attitude of faith and earnest expectation, opens itself
+out to the tremendous inflow of Divine Energy. It draws close to the
+centre of all-power, wisdom and love, and drinks deep of the living
+waters of life so that even the very face or flesh begins to shine under
+the influence of this self-polarization--if I may be permitted to use
+this word--through prayer. Here is the _causa nuxus_ between a prayer and
+its sure reply. Do you remember what Lord Rosebery said of the great
+Puritan Mystic Oliver Cromwell? If not, please let me quote: "The secret
+of his extraordinary success--he was a practical mystic--the most
+formidable and terrible of all combinations. The man who combines
+inspiration, apparently derived--in my judgment, really derived--from
+close communion with the Supernatural and the Celestial, a man who has
+that inspiration and adds to it the energy of a mighty man of action,
+such a man as that lives in communion on a _Sinai_ of his own; and when
+he pleases to come down to this world below, seems armed with no less
+than the terrors and decrees of the Almighty Himself." Now both forms of
+concentration must be practised so as to hold the two poles in the even
+balance of harmonious growth.
+
+You will perform the daily work to which you are naturally adapted in the
+common weal (Objective Concentration) and after the daily task is
+finished, retire to the bosom of the Universal Spirit by the regular
+practice of Subjective Concentration.
+
+Now will you realise the ideal of peace in the very midst of the toil
+and sweat of the day.
+
+The foregoing diagram, if closely and thoughtfully studied, will show the
+stages the mind has to 'grow into' in objective and subjective
+concentration.
+
+In order to acquire knowledge of the laws of external nature the mirror
+you require is accurate observation and you must focus your attention and
+push objective concentration to its final stage of perfect knowledge or
+illumination in order to master any special branch of science.
+
+In Objective Concentration, _Pratyahara_ and _Dharana_ are the
+preparatory stages. Take a scientist, for instance. He knows that when
+the mind is engaged with several things, mind force is scattered. He
+cannot be a politician, a musician, etc., and at the same time an expert
+scientist. He gradually abstracts his attention from all other subjects
+and pauses it on one subject or one set of subjects.
+
+_Pratyahara_ is the continued effort of the mind to so abstract itself.
+
+_Dharana_ is reached when this effort is finally successful and the
+mind becomes steadfast and one-pointed. _Dhyana_ is an extension of
+this steadfastness. When _Dhyana_ is reached, the student is beyond the
+range of books. His mind is occupied with original researches and
+experiments and his knowledge becomes more and more definite. Going on
+and on always on the one line complete knowledge of that subject is
+attained. This is the objective view of _Samadhi_. All these stages when
+completed make one _Samayana_. The subjective view of _Samadhi_ no books
+or writings can teach you. As you go deeper and deeper into Yoga, you
+will understand these things in the light of your Soul-Vision. It will
+come to you if you follow my subsequent instructions. Despair not.
+
+
+WHAT IS MAYA?
+
+Now, first of all, what is Maya (ignorance of the real)? Take the
+dial-plate of a watch. You know quite well that the hands of the watch
+are governed by the mechanism behind. Both are necessary. Ignorance
+exists in thinking that the hands of the watch move by themselves. This
+visible universe is the dial-plate of the Invisible. Maya (ignorance)
+blinds you to this fact, _i.e._, mere objective knowledge blinds you to
+the subjective side of life and you see nothing beyond a material
+universe. But you, who realize both, objective as well as subjective,
+need not be afraid of such a danger. For a danger it is to develop the
+objective mind at neglect of the subjective. In order to round yourself
+out, practise both. _But first, last and always, let the subjective
+guide, govern and illumine the objective_. Also remember this: If your
+mind is at all attached to the objective world, try your very best to
+disattach it and fix it on the subjective side of life, else will you
+bring untold suffering on yourself. The half-wordly and half-spiritual
+man who wants to lead a spiritual sensual life eventually brings about a
+conflict between the laws and forces of the two planes of being. He is
+overwhelmed with pain and at last with cries of suffering, disease and
+loss, he is made to open his eyes. Understand the world for what it is
+but do not lower your soul to the point of being attached to its small
+thoughts, things and ways.
+
+
+HOW TO CONCENTRATE OBJECTIVELY.
+
+(_a_) In all undertakings whether of small or great importance shut
+off all thoughts and ideas except such as have any immediate and direct
+bearing upon the thing in hand. Pay attention. Bend all the energies
+of your mind and will upon it till it is completed to your satisfaction.
+Divert your attention from one thing to another only when you sanction
+by a resolve and understand why you do so. Your daily work which you
+must choose according to the special bent of your mind, will present you
+opportunities.
+
+(_b_) Control impulse. Suppose an idea enters your mind. Compose
+yourself quietly before carrying out its purport. Consider it. Turn
+it over in your mind. Contemplate it. Weave your mental energies
+around it, as it were, till at last the idea with your final decision
+stands out clear-cut and well-defined. Then proceed to act it out
+physically with your mental concentration cutting a way for you straight
+on to the execution of your designing. This is _forethought_.
+
+(_c_) In perfect concentration time vanishes. In working out a
+design on which you have set your heart dispense altogether with the
+element of time and work at it concentratedly for days, months and
+years with confident expectation of success.
+
+(_d_) Take a picture, representing a landscape, the interior of a
+building, an assembly of persons, a square, a triangle or a more
+complicated geometrical figure. Look at it well. Then lay it aside. Close
+your eyes. Reproduce the picture mentally in detail. Then repose your
+mind on the same image to the exclusion of all other thoughts. This is
+a more fixed and meditative method and will sharpen the mind wonderfully.
+It will also develop the power of conscious Mental Imagery. The
+key to Objective Concentration is _Conscious Attention_, remember.
+
+
+ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MENTATION.
+
+These terms imply two different distinct functions of the human
+mind. The active function performs the volitional, voluntary thinking.
+It is the conscious focusing of the mind on some mental problem.
+Banishing from the mind all thoughts and ideas not in harmony with your
+special subject of study implies Active Mentation. This function is used
+by the active, wide-awake man in his busy and energetic moments. It
+is the key to the development of Will-Power and a vigorous intellect.
+You are conscious of effort when you are exercising this function. The
+mind becomes exhausted after a great deal of such effort and cries out
+for rest, because conscious attention implies close concentration of
+thought and can be exercised only by the conscious use of Will-Power. You
+ought to be able to concentrate upon one subject of thought, study and
+observation with undivided attention and then take your mind off that
+subject and put it on something else, at your will. Train your mind to
+'give' perfect attention to any subject you like and also to 'shut off'
+or inhibit all attention on that subject. The mind is a restless thing
+darting from one thing to another, and, like a spoilt child, tiring of
+continued attention. But you must, by Will-Exercise, get control over
+this tendency. 'Exercise develops power. Practice makes perfect.' This
+you must bear in mind and, by patience and perseverance, train your mind
+to 'pay attention' where it ought to do so and not to pay attention where
+it ought not to. At first your mind will rebel like an unbroken horse
+at the imposition of such restraint. But really all greatness results
+from mind-control. _Remember active mentation is conscious, deliberate
+concentration. Passive mentation represents automatic, involuntary
+thinking._ This includes the subconscious or 'habit' mind. When a certain
+thought-groove has been formed in your mind, energy flows into it
+involuntarily, _i.e._, by itself and without any conscious effort on your
+part. This is passive mentation. It is automatic mental activity. Take an
+example. Some school-boys find Mathematics, Science and Geography
+easy to master from the very start. They feel quite in sympathy with the
+teacher of Mathematics. But History and Language are their abomination.
+There are others who simply cannot 'take an interest' in any
+Mathematics but who shine brilliantly in Language, Recitation,
+Composition, History. As a matter of fact neither of these students is
+superior to the other, but each is great in his own line. In one set, you
+have an example of automatic mentation in Mathematics, Science and
+Geography; in the other in Literature and Art. But suppose the first set
+tried to master Literature and Art and the second grappled with
+Mathematics and Science, each would then be practising actual
+concentration. In each set the active function would be exercised and
+will-power would develop on both sides. Do you see? Occultists say that
+all power results from the continual exercise of active mentation
+and all weak-mindedness is the direct outcome of this wool-gathering,
+castle-building, inattentive habit which is an extension of passive
+mentation into useless channels of thought-force. Conscious attention
+concentrates and even specializes mental energy as the sun-glass
+concentrates and intensifies the heat of the rays of the sun. Focus your
+full attention upon the thing to be done, take a keen interest in its
+accomplishment to the exclusion of all else, and you will obtain
+wonderful results. The man of developed, concentrative power holds in his
+hand the key to success, with the results that all his actions, voluntary
+or involuntary, are pointed to the accomplishment of his object. Remember
+therefore in conclusion:
+
+(1) Concentration is perfect attention consciously directed to a
+given point of achievement either objectively or subjectively.
+
+(2) Concentration is consecration.
+
+"What ever you do, do it with all your might. Do one thing at a time and
+do it well." By concentration is meant the directing of all your energies
+along a special line of achievement. For instance, if you would be a
+perfect Yogi, you must concentrate, concentrate, morning, noon and night,
+at all times, along that line of endeavour. You must study all the vast
+literature on Yoga, Psychology, Metaphysics, Mentalism, etc., and form
+your own synthesis on same. You must think hard and work hard for Yoga.
+"Genius is the power to bear infinite pain." Nothing ought to be too
+great a sacrifice, including your own life, for the right understanding
+and achievement of Yoga.
+
+All half-heartedness, all insincerity, weakens your nature, and
+weakness has no place either in heaven or in hell. For the half-hearted
+man is a traitor unto the Divine within him and must pay dearly for
+his treachery.
+
+
+SUBJECTIVE CONCENTRATION--HOW PRACTISED.
+
+This is a vast subject. If you practise earnestly my instructions on
+Thought-Control, Will-Culture, and take the Meditation Exercise I am
+going to give you, you will realize greater strength than average
+humanity. But you must study and think hard for yourself before any
+considerable benefit can be derived from even these. Remember please, you
+alone can teach yourself through intuition. Intuition is tuition from
+within. Follow strictly the general rules I give you and you cannot but
+unfold your Inner Soul Vision which includes intuition in its fullest
+sense.
+
+_(a) What is Thought-Force?_
+
+"Thoughts are things." Thought is a dynamic energy. Just as the food that
+you eat feeds your body, exactly similarly your thoughts and feelings
+nourish your soul. Matter is nothing but a concentration of Thought-Force
+or Mind-Substance. The entire universe is seen objectively. This is on
+the cosmic scale. On the individual scale--"As a man thinketh in his
+heart, so he is." This is a literal truth. Your body is nothing but a
+Thought-Form. Control your modes of thinking and shape them to lofty
+ideals. So will you infallibly, positively and immediately control your
+destiny. Control your thoughts and you can control the thoughts of all
+other men. The tone of your thoughts must always be lofty. You must
+change your Thought-Habits and shift your plane of consciousness from the
+lower to the higher life. I am going to give you hints on same. Pay
+attention please.
+
+_(b) Thought-Forms._
+
+Every one of us, as he thinks, feels and wills, sends forth Thought-Forms
+and Thought-Waves of greater or lesser intensity. This force once set
+into motion persists, for a greater or lesser period of time, in
+Ether. Thought-Force is the concentration of a high form of vibratory
+energy in the Akasa (universal ether) and the ether, as you know,
+permeates all space, interpenetrates and pervades all forms of matter,
+from atom to the sun and the stars. Just as the light-waves of a star
+exist and move on centuries after the star has ceased to be, just as the
+heat-vibrations remain in a room even after the producing cause has been
+removed, similarly mentative energy and its corresponding Thought-Forms
+persist in the ether even after the originating impulse has been
+withdrawn.
+
+_(c) Thought-Atmosphere._
+
+In this way places, houses, cities and temples have peculiar
+Thought-Atmospheres of their own, imparted by those living there,
+exerting an influence upon every one living or going there. These are
+positive, animating, purifying and exalting Thought-Atmospheres, and
+there are negative, weakening and unholy, morbid Thought-Atmospheres.
+
+The higher and loftier your tone of general Thought-Activity, the
+finer and more powerful the vibrational nature of the energy emanating
+from you. The quality of the thought determines the rate of vibration.
+For instance, photographs have been taken through highly-sensitized
+plates, indicating the nature of the energy generated. Tongues of flame,
+brilliant and flashing with golden-yellow, were photographed from prayer
+and devotion. Rotary forms spreading out in ever widening circles of
+intense power appeared from lofty enthusiasm in a noble cause. Dark,
+murky, cloudy forms resulted from fear, morbidness and worry, and so on.
+
+_(d) The Human Aura._
+
+Similarly each human organism has an 'Aura' of Thought-Force around it,
+having its own peculiar rate of vibration, its peculiar forms of colour,
+etc. This 'Aura' is an extension of our physical, mental and spiritual
+energies.
+
+_(e) The Adductive Power of Thought._
+
+Now as you think, the quality of your thoughts and feelings sets up
+a magnetic centre within your Aura, vortices are created, attracting to
+yourself similar forms of thought and mentative energy and combining
+with other similar forms of energy, reacting upon you and your
+circumstances and also wielding an influence upon all such as may come
+within its area, radius or field of Force. Thus you see thoughts of the
+'I can and I will', 'I do and I dare' type draw similar ones to you, ever
+increasing your own stock and at the same time stimulating and energising
+all others vibrating in the same key throughout the world. Hence you see
+we owe it to ourselves as well as to humanity in general to generate only
+positive, loving and lofty thoughts. Just brace up and send forth
+fearless, 'I can and I will' thoughts into the world's great reservoir of
+thought forces, and you will be surprised at your power to attract
+influence, and energise others.
+
+_(f) Thought-Control._
+
+There are four special classes of thoughts that are poisoning the
+lives of almost all humanity. They are:--(1) Fear-thoughts, (2)
+Hate-thoughts, (3) Sensual-thoughts, (4) Selfish-thoughts. All worry,
+doubt, timidty, lack of self-respect, jealousy, spite, malice, envy,
+slander, dirty, vicious, will-weakening, health-destroying,
+poverty-breeding, soul-killing influences radiate from one or all of
+these four. You must cut at their roots and utterly destroy them. In your
+efforts follow assiduously the following four rules. They alone can give
+you absolute thought-control. They are infallible:
+
+(1) You can break up old thought-habits and build up new ones
+by sheer force of Will.
+
+(2) You can easily become great by associating with some strong-willed,
+holy, wisdom-steeped soul. This is absolutely necessary and
+means the finding of your Guru.
+
+(3) By auto-suggestion, _i.e._, by impressing upon your passive
+mind the particular change you would have it work out.
+
+(4) By thought-absorption, _i.e._, by constant meditation on that
+one line of thinking.
+
+Now let me give you a few valuable hints on the above four in detail:
+
+(1) & (3). _Character Building_.
+
+You can accomplish this result by tensing the will and by strengthening
+the active function of your mind and thus enabling it to "step in"
+and simply 'command' the passive function to drop the old thought-habit
+and take up the new one. This is a magnificent feat and in it only the
+strongest succeed. You can obtain good results by combining this with
+auto-suggestion. Silently concentrate upon your passive mind and impress
+upon it your order. Say to it earnestly, confidently, and masterfully:
+'You, my mind, I want you to be fearless, pure, loving and unselfish!'
+Picture to yourself in imagination as if you were already these,
+and again command and impress your will upon your mind. Do so silently
+and constantly and never neglect a chance of expressing these qualities
+in action because, at first your mind will rebel, but if 'you' keep up
+your efforts determinately and firmly and avail yourself of all
+opportunities to 'act out' your will, your mind will end up by accepting
+your suggestion and manifesting same naturally as a habit. Some of you
+will actually go out of your way to 'act out' a thought when you realise
+that the easiest and surest way to check and utterly 'destroy' a
+thought-habit is to refuse deliberately to let it manifest in action and
+to 'create' a new one all you have got to do is to equally deliberately
+'express' it in action and thus clinch it into permanent strength. Also
+you must aim at 'thoroughness' and guard against all compromise with your
+lower nature. Chastity must be perfect chastity and nothing short of
+that, and so on in all development.
+
+(4) _Thought-Absorption._
+
+i. Go away by yourself to some place where you will not be disturbed.
+Of course, not always and very rarely can you obtain this condition.
+Never mind. Do your best where you are and the great law will at least
+find for you all necessary conditions. Shut out all distracting
+conditions and impressions from the outer world. After a little effort
+you will be able to do so anywhere, at any time, and under any condition.
+All mental disturbance is within you.
+
+ii. Now relax, go passive, and draw off all tension from your nerves.
+Just you relax your mind and your body will follow suit. A few deep slow
+breaths will help the beginner.
+
+iii. Concentrate upon your mind inward steadily, calmly and with
+undivided attention.
+
+iv. Fix your thought firmly upon your passive mind and mentally
+say, 'You, my mind, are quite _pure_.' Think of this word (with all the
+ideas associated therewith) as sinking deeply into your mind and making
+a deep impression upon it as a die upon a wax. Let the outward form of
+the words 'pure,' 'fearless,' etc., sink into your mind.
+
+v. Form a mental picture of yourself as if you already possessed
+all 'purity' and 'courage' and act them out in imagination. Make of it
+a pleasant 'day dream.'
+
+vi. Intensify your relaxed condition of mind. Grow as 'limp' as a
+rag. Then mentally open yourself out to the inrush of all the
+Thought-Forces existing in the ether and connected with positive
+thoughts. The effort of this imagination to see this tremendous force
+pouring into your brain and body will actually put you _en rapport_ with
+same.
+
+vii. Now change from negative to a positive condition and say
+vigourously I am '_pure_' and '_strong_' Say it distinctly several times.
+Actually speak them out.
+
+viii. Then go out and _live your thoughts out_. This last is the most
+important condition.
+
+ix. Practise this daily at the same hour and if possible at the same
+place, morning and evening. In fact hold the thought in your mind as
+often as possible till it becomes second Nature.
+
+x. Use your power for good or you shall weep eternally. To misuse
+occult powers for mean, selfish, or low ends and to prostitute it into
+enslaving others weaker than yourselves mentally and physically is the
+greatest 'sin' man can commit against man.
+
+(2) _Guru Worship_.
+
+You grow by absorption and assimilation. In order to quicken your
+progress you need abstract as well as concrete ideals. The secret of all
+rapid and startling spiritual development is man-worship. By man-worship
+I mean devotion to, reverence, and intense and all-absorbing passion for
+the perfect individual man of realization--a Mahapurusha. Christ, Buddha
+and Vivekananda were all such-type men. You must constantly and
+thoughtfully meditate upon the lives and writings of saints and heroes.
+The formative influence and valuable powers of study and meditation upon
+lofty ideas and ideals are incalculable. Man grows by the deepening of
+consciousness and the acquirement of wisdom. All study, subjective and
+objective, is a _Tapashya_ or Austerity directed to the acquirement of
+wisdom. It is the worship of Saraswati--the Goddess of Wisdom. This
+worship is definable as perfect emotional solitude, close study, absolute
+chastity and celibacy, and at last the merging of the personal into the
+impersonal. This austere life is the secret of all greatness. You know
+how Archimedes when threatened with death by the vandalistic invaders of
+his country raised his head and said 'Please do not disturb my circles'
+and nothing more. This man was practising Yoga unconsciously. You must be
+able to lose all consciousness of this relative personality, the sure
+victim of death and impermanence. You must give up the personal ego that
+in the words of Walt Whitman 'is contained within your hat and boots' and
+then alone will you realise an infinite individuality. Truly in losing
+himself man finds Himself. 'Ye must be born anew'. Herein, apart from its
+formative and moulding influence lies the greatest value of study. Study
+and direct aural influence of a perfected soul are the two objective
+means of instilling powerful suggestions into the subjective self or the
+inner soul. All knowledge is within the deeps of the eternal subjective.
+But the gate is locked. Your Guru gives you the master-key with which to
+unlock the door and enter the gate of wisdom and power. Once you are
+there all pain and death shall be conquered. You can then help yourself.
+Man can only worship such a God as is greater than himself in degree and
+not in kind. Such a God he can "grow into." It is the impersonal God of
+the Hindu Philosophy that gives you the abstract ideas and the living
+Guru (God) in human form that gives you the concrete ideal. The one is
+necessary for the soaring intellect; the other for the rousing and
+enkindling of tremendous and indomitable motive-power. Seek both and when
+you find them worship and serve them with all your heart and soul. 'My
+worship for my master is the worship of a dog. I do not seek to
+understand his nature. It ever startles with its newness and profound
+depth'. So spoke Vivekananda of Ram Krishna. Need I tell you of the
+tremendous and world-conquering power that awoke in Vivekananda through
+mere Guru worship? In India the Guru asks for nothing short of absolute
+worship, obedience, and submission to his will although none values and
+appreciates individual freedom more than the master. So long as you are
+at the feet of your master be as submissive as a lamb. So will you open
+yourself to his great batteries of inner power. Serve him. Please him.
+Obey him. Be his slave. No matter what contradictions you may see.
+A great and profound nature is full of contrary ways and his character
+is a paradox impossible for you to read through reason and observation.
+You can only understand him by having perfect faith in him, loving
+and serving him like a faithful dog. So will you tap on to his inner
+forces. And when he sends you away into the broad world to live out the
+great ideal he has set before you, you shall be astonished at your
+courage and power. You shall take fearless possession of this world
+and every minute you shall realise how only he can command who has
+learnt to obey. By commanding I do not mean dominating any one and
+forcing your views on others. This is the sign of fools. But you will
+find your influence radiating and circling out naturally and
+irresistibly, winning souls to the higher life, and you yourself shall
+thus stand as a tower of strength, a redeemer of the race, an inspiration
+and a living benediction unto humanity. Peace be with you! May you
+realise strength of soul!
+
+
+
+
+LESSON II.
+
+PERSONAL MAGNETISM, WILL-CULTURE, SELF-CONTROL.
+
+
+Personal Magnetism is the individual expression of a subtle irresistible
+and dynamic _Force_ in man, which enables him to exert an unusual
+influence upon others. You all have come into contact with men of this
+type. They are endowed with marvelous, almost miraculous powers of
+influencing, persuading, attracting, fascinating, ruling and bending to
+their own Will-Force men of widely varying mental peculiarities and
+temperaments. Men actually go out of their way to please them. They
+attract others without any visible effort and others feel drawn to them
+in spite of themselves. Various are the examples of such power as
+afforded by history.
+
+Now what is this power due to? How to develop it within yourself?
+Is it possible for everyone to acquire it? Has it or can it be put to any
+higher and nobler use than merely to enslave others' minds in order to
+make them subservient to your selfish purposes on the relative plane
+of existence? If so, what is that higher use? I know of a Christian
+gentleman, Mr. K. by name, who had been smitten with the young
+governess of a Magistrate in Benares. This grown-up man sought out
+a young College student who was a born leader of men and who was
+adored, admired and universally respected by all students, teachers and
+professors. "I wish you would teach me Mesmerism so that I may
+_fascinate_ that girl"--this was the application of Mr. K. Well, the
+upshot of it all was that Mr. K. got a severe and stern rebuke from the
+young mesmerist, who in all truth was a born Yogi and cared not for the
+petty ways and small thoughts and attainments of men of this world. I
+find that nearly all modern Western writers on and teachers of this
+subject are much, in fact solely, taken up with the idea of
+sensationalism through Occultism, so much so that when a really
+thoughtful man investigates their writings he feels utterly disgusted,
+repelled and horrified at the very name of Occultism. "_It is sin to
+manifest power_," said Vivekananda. The man who studies Yoga and
+Occultism simply with a view to develop, display and demonstrate Psychic
+and Super-normal Powers and _Siddhies_ always ends in _Lust_ and is
+caught up in a psychic machinery of law and destructive thought forces
+that effectually grind him to pieces. His spiritual progress is thrown
+back over ages and he is made to retrace his steps slowly and painfully.
+I cannot too strongly condemn the modern tendency to "impress" others, to
+"strike terror" into others, to "psychologize" others towards the
+accomplishment of our personal motives. If you are one such, do, for
+heaven's sake, open your eyes to your gross ignorance and low
+propensities or be not surprised if one day you find yourself face to
+face with some powerful scoundrel who would not scruple to crush you in
+all possible ways. "Harm watch, harm catch." I am going to give you in
+practical form what constitute the real cause at the back of a "Magnetic"
+personality--that which when developed makes a god-like man of any human
+weakling.
+
+This power is by no means the especial and peculiar possession of some
+divinely gifted individuals. _Everyone can cultivate it_. It is in you
+and needs vigorous stirring up as a condition of its awakening. There
+are some men who are born great; others are made so by certain unforeseen
+circumstances; a third class becomes great through conscious and
+intelligent effort.
+
+Now, what are the causes behind Personal Influence?
+
+(1)  Some say that the right control of the Sex-Force or Celibacy
+is the cause.
+
+(2)  Others say that vegetarianism leads to it.
+
+(3)  Still others assert that it is physical energy and nerve force.
+
+(4) A fourth class has it that there emanates a current of magnetism
+from the human body and influences everyone coming within its
+"Magnetic field".
+
+Taking the last view point first, I should say, with certain other
+leading mental Scientists, that the human dynamic force is different from
+"magnetism" as the latter bears direct reference to the loadstone.
+
+Again, my own personal observations as well as those of others prove
+conclusively that although "magnetic" personalities have remarkably
+well-disciplined and highly trained physical energies, it is rarely or
+never a huge gigantic physique with large, unsightly muscles that exerts
+this force. No, it is decidely something other than mere physical energy
+and brute strength. A light, active, vigorous physique is desirable and
+any one can have it. Again, the principle value of a non-flesh diet lies
+in the fact that fruits, nuts, corn and vegetables are possessed of
+rhythmic qualities and go to build up a fine, sensitive physique capable
+of greater powers of endurance and sustained mental effort than the
+'carcass' of any animal ever can. Matter does affect mind in the lower
+stages of organic evolution but the process is largely reversed as soon
+as CONSCIOUS evolution commences. Therefore vegetarianism, although
+highly commendable, from a strictly scientific point of view for the
+development of an active and energetic, refined organism, is by no means
+a rigid and indispensable necessity in this respect. In fact, some most
+"magnetic" individuals make 'graveyards of their stomachs' as a Mental
+Scientist puts it.
+
+Lastly, Bramhacharya or Celibacy, as practised by Sannyasis in India, has
+a strictly spiritual significance although it certainly has much as
+everything to do with Personal Magnetism. To the average man I would say:
+"Strive for CONTINENCE, chastity and control in this direction." Do not
+emasculate, as that would be a waste of force. The stronger this force,
+the better. All Sannyasis learn consciously or unconsciously to transmute
+this energy into mental and spiritual force and generally their minds
+dwell on a plane of mental and spiritual effort where there cannot be
+even a breath of sensuality or grossness. They have gone beyond such
+things utterly; the same statement applies to all advanced thinkers,
+philosophers and workers, whether married or unmarried. To me the very
+name of philosophy carries with it an atmosphere of Chastity, Solemnity,
+and Divinity.
+
+But although there is some measure of truth in all the above four
+statements, they all miss the real thing. The question resolves itself
+into this: "_What makes one man superior to another_?" The study of
+nature shows us that the higher form of intelligence controls the lower.
+All leaders of mankind, such as Napoleon, Alexander, etc., were clearly
+ahead of the times. But they strove for low things and their SUCCESS
+from our point of view is doubtful. Let us take higher ground. Buddha,
+Christ, Zoroaster, etc., etc., of ancient times and Vivekananda and a few
+others in modern times exhibited tremendous powers of influencing men.
+You study their lives and writings and try to find out just those things
+that constituted the basic cause of their heroic fibre.
+
+If I were asked to sum up the secrets of their Power I would say:
+1. "_Their Intelligence_ and _Thought-Power._ 2. Awakened _Will-Power_
+and _Self-Control_."
+
+1. It was by their intelligence that they could take fearless possession
+of the world, handle men and women easily, read human nature at a glance
+and "be all things to all men," _i.e._., put their fingers direct on the
+spiritual, mental, and physical _necessities_ of widely varying
+temperaments and help each right where he stood in the ladder of
+evolution.
+
+2. It was by their developed thought-force that they drew the whole world
+to themselves. The positive thinker generates a force that draws all such
+as are _negative_ to him. Nearly the whole world was negative to these
+Masters and hence felt attracted to them. _These were the human
+touchstones_.
+
+3. It was by their strong, manly, marvellous Will-Power that they
+drove their suggestions into other minds and gained an immediate
+ascendency over whatever environments they were placed in. The whole
+man is summed up in his Will. Every other power in man is subservient
+to the Will. And say what you will, it is this power more than any other
+that we respect in others. It is the central staff in our character.
+Intelligence is the directive energy. Will-Power is the propulsive
+energy. And the latter when wielded under the guidance of the former
+makes of man a veritable God.
+
+4. It was by their unusual power of _Self-control_ that they could stand
+square upon their feet and could remain unshaken by the waves of
+conflicting opinions and the hostile attacks that continually dashed up
+against them. _Master yourself_, i.e., your personal, relative and lower
+self, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, _the mastery of others is already
+yours._ But the world will teach you bitter lessons and rend you to
+pieces if you try consciously to control it while you are still a slave
+to your lower self. Be great. Strive for Perfection. So will you be
+recognised by others. And according to the transcendent energy of the
+highest law of our Being it is the consciousness of heights scaled,
+accomplishments achieved and consequent dawning of a Loftier Ideal upon
+our intellectual horizon that fills us with Strength and Peace rather
+than the recognition of our worth by others. It is a serious mistake to
+care for fame, praise and admiration. You get them only when you do not
+care for them in the least, when your soul has outgrown all such clinging
+to the relative in the light of _eternal thought_, when you have risen to
+the Absolute and learnt to read the meaning of the "LARGER WORLD" of
+life. Do not pass by this lightly. In it is the key to Peace, Power and
+Poise. All that is Real and Permanent, is on the plane of the Absolute.
+
+Now we are drawing to the practical side of our Lesson. The four
+principal points, you will please remember, are: (1) Intelligence. (2)
+Thought-Force. (3) Will-Power. (4) Self-Control. You might feel
+surprised at my retailing this "ancient history" instead of teaching you
+how to approach a man, make him your slave and command him to fall
+down at your feet and do your bidding. Perhaps you expected me to
+tell you how to sail through the air, pass through solid walls,
+materialize and dematerialize at will and like Appolonius of Tyana vanish
+in the flash of an eye from the court of Ionysius and appear elsewhere at
+a distance of 19,000 miles at the same moment. No, no. I will take it
+for granted that you are made of different stuff and _an earnest seeker
+after the truth_. If you strive to build yourself on the basis of the
+simple principles as laid down in this series of lessons you will in time
+grow into the Higher Self and at last become one with it. Moreover, your
+daily life will be the Occasion for the practical application of these
+principles, thus enabling you to pursue your way through life calmly,
+earnestly, independently and with the quiet dignity of a man "who knows
+what he is about". I cannot and would not speak of "get-rich-quick"
+methods of self-development because they are the veriest rot imaginable.
+
+Now then: (1) Intelligence and (2) Thought-Force are the natural
+results of an organised brain.
+
+Concentration is the key to such development. Concentration has been
+fully explained in Lesson No. 1. By the constant exercise of
+concentration, objectively and subjectively, in your daily life you
+will in a short time become conscious of growing Strength. The
+exercises I give you in this lesson on Self-Control, Will-Culture and
+Memory-Culture if gone through with perseverance will further develop
+Concentrative ability. In fact, this entire series of lessons will call
+for Effort and Concentration. "Rome was not built in a day"--nor can you
+achieve real greatness in a few months. No. All I can do is to indicate
+the line and the nature of the effort required of you and if clearly
+followed, Progress and Growth will commence from the first day. In
+connection with this, a little digression would be necessary. The
+Occultist says: Nature, unaided, fails. The purposiveness of Deity,
+manifesting in nature an evolution, is present in all individual centres
+but it has the way to full expression opened out to itself only when the
+more evolved centres of life consciously cooperate with it. Evolution is
+started and carried only by the creation of centres within the GREAT
+CONSCIOUSNESS and by preserving and enlarging or expanding these centres.
+So long as the race had not reached "SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS" (see Yoga
+Lessons) the sub-conscious forces of nature had entire control over
+evolutionary processes, but this stage was reached by the race according
+to the LAW OF AVERAGES in the seventeenth century and you are now
+expected to take your progress in your hands and consciously direct your
+inner forces along such lines as best correspond to the stage of your
+growth. So independent study and steady thinking form the secrets of a
+keen and broad intelligence. You will always find that the man who is
+more powerful than yourself and moves you at his will has an intelligence
+and understanding far superior to yours and he can read your whole nature
+as he would an open book, although you find him quite beyond your
+depth. Learn to regard earnestly the workings of different mentalities
+around you. Become a student of human nature. To you, each man
+ought to be only a partial expression of his mind. Examine closely into
+the motives acting behind each personality. Learn to respond more
+quickly to the _Thoughts_ and _Feelings_ of a man than to his outer
+speech and action. The latter are objective expressions of the subjective
+self. The study of Phrenology and Physiognomy are good things to start
+with in your efforts to acquire knowledge of human nature. _Mind is One_
+and at the same time, _Many_. Subjectively, it is ONE. Objectively; many.
+So by looking _impartially_ into "yourself" in the calm light of the
+intellect and through silent introspection, you will always find a clue
+to the working bases of other minds. Each man is a puzzle and most of all
+are _YOU_ a puzzle unto yourself. Solve either and you have solved both.
+"MAN, KNOW THYSELF."
+
+
+THE MYSTERY OF THE WILL-FORCE.
+
+Will-Force is the power of Re-action. It can render all the other
+mental functions _active_ or _passive_. It is the DETERMINATIVE faculty
+and is affected most of all by the JUDGMENT. On the lower plane
+of mind, Will-Power manifests as Desire and is reciprocally influenced
+by outside attractions as well as repulsions. On this plane the Will is
+not free. But when it draws the volition for externalizing itself from
+_Within_ in the light of the Higher Reason, then indeed is it
+_Will-Power. On the material the human will is a slave; on the spiritual
+plane it is the sovereign. It may then be called the "awakened" will_. It
+is my conviction that the eternal crossing of swords between the
+Determinists and the Libertarians can be set at rest only by a right
+understanding of the _spiritual_ makeup of man, otherwise the arguments
+of both sets of thinkers are equally strong. Each side has got hold of
+half the truth, but requires the reconciling light of transcendental
+Psychology in order to enable us to see the _whole_ truth as it is.
+However, the point I am driving at is that your will is free only when it
+is _self-determined_ i.e., when it has risen above the impulses of the
+Lower Personal Self and acts under the direction of the Higher Impersonal
+Self_. In order to fix this most important truth in your mind, let us
+give you a brief idea of the "I AM" consciousness. Do not pass this by as
+so much dry rot. No one will ever or can ever manifest genuine Will-Force
+of a distinctly spiritual type who does not understand the "I AM"
+consciousness. So please listen attentively and think over the following.
+
+
+THE "I AM" CONSCIOUSNESS.
+
+If you just turn in and examine the report of your consciousness
+regarding the _self_-dwelling within, you will become conscious of the
+"I". But if you press your examination a little closer you will find that
+this "I" may be split up into two distinct aspects which, while working
+in unison and conjunction, may nevertheless be set apart in thought.
+There is an "I" function and there is a "me" function and these mental
+twins develop distinct phenomena. The first is the "MASCULINE" principle;
+the second is the "FEMININE" principle. Other terms used in current
+writings on New Psychology are Conscious Mind, Active Mind, Voluntary
+Mind, Objective Mind and so forth. These all refer to the "I" principle.
+And the "me" form of mind corresponds to the Sub-Conscious Mind, Passive
+Mind, Involuntary Mind, Subjective Mind and so on. Ninety-nine p. c. of
+humanity mean this "me" when they say "I". Now let us examine what this
+"me" implies. It consists largely of our consciousness, of our body and
+physical sensations as associated with touch, taste, smell, sight and
+hearing. The consciousness of some of us is largely bound up in the
+physical and carnal side of life. We "live there." There are some men who
+consider their "clothes" too as being a part of themselves. But as
+consciousness rises in the scale of evolution, man begins to "dissociate"
+his idea of "me" from the body and he begins to regard his body as a
+beloved companion and as "belonging to" him. He then identifies himself
+with his mental states, emotions, feelings, likes and dislikes, habits,
+qualities and characteristics. But, by and by, he begins to realize how
+even these moods also are subject to change, born and die and are subject
+to the Principles of Rhythm and Polarity. He realizes faintly that he can
+change them by an effort of will and "transmute" them into mental states
+of an exactly opposite nature. Then he again begins to "dissociate"
+himself from his emotions and feelings and at last through mental
+analysis, introspection and concentration, he sets them apart into the
+"not I" collection. He begins _then_ to realize that he is something
+_above_ his body and emotions. So also with the intellectual
+functions. The intellectual man is very apt to think that although his
+_physical_ and _emotional_ selves are something different from him and
+under his control, _still his intellect is himself_. This is the stage of
+"Self-Consciousness". "I control my body and emotions." But as
+consciousness unfolds intellectual man finds that he can practically
+stand aside and see (mentally, of course) his mind going through various
+processes of intellection. Study of Psychology and Logic will enable
+you to see how all your intellectual processes may be held at arm's
+length, examined, analysed, labelled and discussed quite with the same
+ease as the professor talks of a solid, liquid and acriform substances in
+his laboratory. So at last he finds that even the wonderful powers of
+the Intellect must go into the "not I" collection. This is almost as far
+as the average man can realize. You can realize and say "I am not the
+body, not the emotions, not the intellect." Therefore you see, that side
+of consciousness which is the sum-total of your physical, emotional and
+intellectual functions comprises the "me" or Feminine or Passive mental
+principle. That which can separate itself in thought from all the above
+is the "I" or the Masculine Function. But another step must be taken.
+That which you have been taught to regard as the Spiritual Consciousness
+(see "Spiritual Consciousness") will also eventually go into the
+"Not-I" or "me" collection. In brief, the spiritual mind may be said to
+comprise all that is GOOD, NOBLE and GREAT in the field of consciousness.
+It is the "Super-Conscious" mind, just now. But, mark this, when through
+further evolution, the "I" has mastered this field of consciousness also
+and is able to regard it as being the last of the "me" collections, then
+it will lose its sense of _relativity_ and _separation_ and the real
+individuality, the "I AM" consciousness, will have been realized.
+What do I mean? This "I AM" is not the petulant self-assertion of the
+relative ego. "I" but really means GOD CONSCIOUSNESS as perfect
+Existence, perfect Knowledge or perfect Bliss. It means the realization
+of an Infinite and Eternal Self or Individuality. "He that has lost the
+self has gained the SELF". Here is the explanation: this little self or
+"I" so long as it is attached to the PERSONALITY which is the product
+of the "me" consciousness is bound down to the relative plane. It can
+think only through only one brain, enjoy through one body and such
+happiness as it gets is transitory, short-lived and impermanent because
+this world of relative existence is itself essentially changeable. It is
+permanent only in its impermanence. So long as the "I" thinks and while
+only for the benefits of its personal self, both thinking and willing are
+limited and not free. But when it has succeeded in joining itself to the
+Spiritual mind and works for, aspires after the Larger Self--the "I
+AM"--it has to renounce or "disattach" itself from the personal self and
+work under the guidance of the impersonal Higher Self. "I refuse to
+be contained within my hat and boots," said Walt Whitman. When the
+Vedantist says "Aham Brahmasmi"--"I am the absolute"--he does not mean
+this lower "I". No, no. He is not built that way. For him the moorings of
+self-consciousness are out. He has lost all sense of his particular
+relative "I" and has _one-d_ himself with the absolute "I AM"--the
+impersonal, intangible, immortal, omnipotent Self of and over all.
+This "I am" is Spirit or Atman. There can be but one Individuality--that
+of the Absolute. It becomes objectively expressed in man as Cosmic
+Consciousness. Subjectively it is God. Now then you have an idea of
+the "I am" Consciousness. Hold fast to it. It is your real, Larger Self.
+In the understanding and the exercise of the Will-Power the "I" or the
+Positive Mental Principle is the chief factor. To use the one you must
+understand the other. Will is a Soul-Power. This "I"--as I have explained
+it above--is negative to the "I AM" or God--both meaning the
+same thing. It is positive in relation to the Higher Self. This "I" is
+the future promise of the "I AM". It is true it shall lose itself in
+finding its Self, but so does the child when it grows into full manhood.
+Christ was one with his Father-in-Heaven (i.e., on the spiritual plane)
+and therefore he could still the waves and raise the dead. Yet just you
+examine the nature of Lord Christ's Will-Force. Think of his constant
+retirement into the Silence in order to obtain inspiration for his work
+in the objective universe. Again, note his utter indifference to and
+absolute control over his personal self. Did he care whether his body
+would live or die? Did he live for the enjoyments of the flesh? Did he
+"play to the gallery" and act and speak for any worldly gain or low
+considerations? No! He had forgotten the interests of the flesh in his
+earnest enthusiasm in the cause of the Eternal Spirit. He was not moved
+by any dammed sense of prudence and caution. He drew the "Motives" that
+energised his Will-Power in the life of Action from _Within_. Nothing
+from outside, nothing from the world of lower attractions could in the
+least swerve his inner determination or unbalance his brain. Do you or
+can you prepare yourself to follow in his steps? Then my first point and
+the most infallible method of awakening your Will-Power is this:
+
+(_a_) Teach Thy Will to "Resist and Renounce." Strengthen your Will-Power
+by Renunciation. By Resistance is not meant outer resistance or
+aggressiveness. I find that all the modern teachers of Hypnotism advise
+their students to develop Will-Power by exercising it upon others. This
+is placing the cart before the horse. We Hindus know better. No; by
+Resistance to and Repression of your lower Desire-Nature is meant letting
+the more difficult choice exercise its compelling and restraining power
+over the easier one. Says Sister Nivedita: "The Indian ideal is that man
+whose lower mind is so perfectly under control that he can at any moment
+plunge into the thought-ocean and remain there at will without the least
+possibility of a sudden break and unexpected return to the life of the
+senses." Yes, your interests should be within and not without. _You must
+rise above all personal impulse_. Even in this world you find that men of
+distinction, fame and honour have achieved recognition by practising a
+little _self-denial_, which is a "milder" form of absolute Renunciation
+as practised by true Sanyasis. The man who can work at his aim with
+perseverance and denies himself the mess of pottage of present indulgence
+in view of some future gain develops Will-Power. So in training your Will
+to 'resist', you must, as a first step, sternly refuse to indulge
+impulses, desires and tendencies not in consonance with the dictates of
+your Higher Self. You must actually go out of your way and "deny"
+yourself the little or great "comforts" to which you are or have been
+accustomed. The strongest-willed man is he who has the greatest control
+over his inclinations, and who can 'force' himself to do such things as
+he is naturally most inclined to do. This is a characteristic which
+cannot be developed in a day. There are some children and even grown-up
+men and women who mistake their 'obstinacy' for Will-Power. They want a
+thing and when they do not get it they tear their hair, gnash their
+teeth, stamp their feet and fly into a terrible passion. Since people
+think that these uncontrolled creatures are strong-willed while all that
+you could say about them is that _they are utter slaves to their
+desires_. You must practise self-denial in fifty different ways and force
+yourself to do certain things, 'little and big,' every day purely for
+developing this power of Resistance. No short-cut to this. Some children
+develop it unconsciously by 'forcing' themselves to study when they might
+play, and by applying themselves to such studies as are dry and
+uninteresting to them they thus practise voluntary Concentration.
+Practise self-denial in every possible way. Cut off such luxuries as you
+think "you must have." "Take a cold bath when you would prefer a warm
+one. Arise promptly in the morning. Make yourself call upon people you
+have avoided. Stand up in a street car when you would prefer sitting;
+walk when it is convenient to ride. Make engagements with yourself and
+keep them. Promise yourself that when you see something to be done you
+will spring at once to it however strong may be the inclination to put it
+off awhile" and back of it all let there be the auto-suggestion: "_I am
+doing all these hard things in order to build up my Will-Power and each
+time 'I' succeed in forcing 'my mind' to do a thing or not to do it I
+make the next victory easier and my Will-Power stronger_." Of course the
+above is only a hint as to your line of practise.
+
+(_b_) You must not give yourself such hard tasks of Self-Development
+as might be too heavy and beyond the present strength of your Will.
+In denying yourself you develop self-control. In forcing yourself to do
+certain things you develop powers of Self-Expression. In one the Will
+moves along negative lines. In the other along positive lines. Both are
+necessary. The man who cannot control and command himself can never
+develop and express Himself. But be sure to begin with easy things and
+then as you gain in confidence you may attempt more difficult feats.
+
+(_c_) The faculties of Courage and Confidence are essentially important.
+Nothing weakens the will so much as Fear and lack of Self-Confidence.
+Self-Confidence is not blustering self-conceit. That within you which
+says "I CAN" when calmly and doggedly backed by your "I Will" when
+deliberately translated into action develops Will-Force and commands
+startling results.
+
+(_d_) Always hold these words before your passive Mind:
+
+1. Earnestness. 2. Determination. 3. Courage. 4. Confidence.
+5. Stick-to-it-ive-ness. 6. Patience. 7. I can and I will.
+
+(_e_) The tendency of the Masculine function of your mind to "I" is
+towards giving, expressing or projecting energy; that of the Feminine
+is towards generating and creating mental progeny such as thoughts,
+mental energy, new habits, etc. It is why the Feminine Principle has
+been called the "mental womb" by ancient philosophers. It comprises
+also the faculty of Imagination. The Masculine function does the work
+of the 'Will' in its varied phases. The Feminine function receives
+impressions and generates mental offspring in the form of new thoughts,
+ideas, concepts, thought-habits and so forth. Its powers of creative
+energy are strikingly marvellous and have been proved and attested
+to in Psychological experiments conducted by the best known mental
+scientists of the day. _But "positive" mental energy must be projected by
+the 'I' into the Passive Mind through concentration, suggestion and
+willing before the latter can be started to work along any line of
+creative effort._ This suggestion may be given by you to your
+sub-conscious mind or it may come as an outer impression. Unless you
+control your Passive Mind, it is sure to be controlled by others. Then
+you are a slave. Now in cultivating the above seven qualities, you
+should take up _one_ word at a time and let the outer form sink into your
+mind. Place yourself in a relaxed and passive condition. Close your eyes
+and picture the _form_ of the word to yourself, for instance,
+D-E-T-E-R-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N. Employ the Imagination and visualize mentally.
+This done, _i.e._, when the word-picture is well photographed upon your
+mind and fastened in place, your next step will be to picture yourself
+the Ideas, qualities, physical and mental characteristics, etc.,
+associated with the word. Your third step is to calmly, concentratedly
+and confidently command your Passive Mind to generate that quality.
+Remember, your mind will at first rebel, but a very little persistence
+will lead to complete success. Repeat the auto-suggestions daily at the
+same time. See that it manifests in Action. Act it out as often as
+possible. Of course your efforts will be imperfect to begin with, but,
+never mind, go ahead, keeping firm hold on your "I can and I will" in
+spite of all things and success is quite certain. Once you have developed
+these seven qualities, you can do anything.
+
+(_f_) Do not let your friends or anyone--no matter who!--deflect
+you from your resolutions. "Let not thy right hand know what thy left
+hand does." Talk never. Let results show. The Lord has hidden himself
+best and His work is wonderful beyond compare! Your very friends
+and relatives will spit upon you for lacking any of these qualities. Do
+not ever impose your will upon others, but never let others to impose
+upon you against the sanction of your own judgment. In fact, none can
+unless you are a weakling and fickle-minded.
+
+(_g_) Frequent the company of chaste, strong-willed men and you
+cannot but grow strong.
+
+(_h_) Read Literature on this subject and obtain all possible aid
+through Knowledge.
+
+(_i_) If your faculty of imagination and idealism are undeveloped,
+cultivate them, because it is these two that make a god of a man.
+Philosophers, scholars, poets and musicians have them well-developed. But
+where imagination is uncontrolled by higher reason and where idealism
+is not backed by a strong will, there you have the idle 'dreamer of
+dreams' and such a state of mind is reprehensible and pitiable indeed!
+
+(_j_) Will-Power grows by faith in one's ability by exercise; by
+devotion to the UNCONDITIONED SPIRIT.
+
+(_k_) In your efforts to develop Will-Power, be not afraid that your
+health will break down. In fact, Perfect Health is the result of a
+perfect Will. Deny the power of disease and weakness over yourself. "_I
+can never be ill. My body is my slave. It shall always manifest perfect
+health_." Convince your passive mind--which has charge of your body--of
+this by repeated commands, demands and assertions. Always think of your
+body as being as strong as adamant. Never talk of either health or
+disease or weakness. You must be above caring for these. They are
+your Natural rights. Only when you lower yourself they have power
+to trouble you. Go beyond the lower self. Your business is to care for
+the Higher-Self--that in which "You" live, move, and have your being.
+Also teach and train your Will to move along negative lines of
+self-repression as well as along positive lines of Self-Expression.
+Balance both. The former precedes the latter. Now I will pass on to the
+subject of SELF-CONTROL, with the distinct understanding that
+Self-Control and Will-Power are inextricably bound up in each other. You
+Get the real "practical work" in the endeavour for Self-Control.
+
+
+SELF-CONTROL.
+
+Rightly has it been remarked that is easy to talk of and write upon this
+subject but most difficult to possess it. Perfect Self-Control means
+infinite power. Only the Buddas and the Christs of this World manifested
+Perfect Self-Control. "Anything short of the absolute control of thought,
+word and deed is only sowing wild oats," said Vivekananda. It is with no
+little diffidence that I approach this subject as whoever handles
+this subject is rightly culpable as being a "Do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do"
+class of writers. Still you can make appreciable progress in this
+direction by mastering these instructions, going through the exercises
+and last but most important by "carrying the principles in your mind" and
+applying them as far as you can in your daily life. Nothing is more
+conducive to rapid growth and development as the making of the "little
+and big" affairs in your work-a-day life, the occasion for the practical
+expression and conscious translation of your ideals. We all are guilty of
+a serious mistake in setting apart our higher ideals for regular
+'practice' hours and leading a life of low and quite different ideals in
+our ordinary life. The natural process, as you can see, is to LIVE OUT
+your highest ideals every minute of your life. Nothing is more important
+than the daily occupation of a man and if he fails to bring his ideals
+right into these little things, then Success will ever elude him. A
+mental scientist has summed up the entire secret of Character-Building in
+this valuable advice on Objective Concentration: the simple task of
+mental concentration on whatever task, business or profession a man is
+engaged in is the beginning of the mastery which is the perfection of
+Objective Concentration. Whatever you are doing be master of your work.
+If you are a cobbler mend shoes in a perfect manner; if a barber keep
+your razors and scissors in a state that will excite the admiration of
+your customers; if a tailor make the coat fit like a glove; if a clerk
+keep your accounts in apple-pie order; if a builder scorn your
+jerry-brother; if a singer enchant the listener with a concord of sweet
+sounds; if an actor enter into the spirit of the character and make the
+play-goer feel that
+
+"All the world's a stage
+And all the men and women merely players,
+They have their exits and their entrance
+And one man in his time plays many parts."
+
+If a leader in any department of thought or action, remember that if to
+you much is given, from you also much is required, for the responsibility
+of the lives and happiness of your fellows rests heavy on your shoulders,
+whether you know it or not and thousands may secretly curse your
+incapacity and bungling. It is infinitely better to be a good cobbler
+than a bad ruler.
+
+I believe the above advice if followed conscientiously by you would
+go to make you really fit for initiation into the more advanced stages of
+mastery. Take it to heart by all means. Be convinced, the man who
+looks for quick results and a royal road to the mastery of Mental Science
+breaks down in frequent despair at apparent failures and neglects his
+daily work will never go far. In fact, his very impatience will lead to
+failure. No individual life is fully rounded out unless some useful work
+forms part of it. The Yogi who has renounced the world has already
+done his work and is ahead of the times. The real hermit and the saint
+are the Pillars of Strength on which this world stands. I cannot repeat
+this too often. The mere fact of their breathing the same atmosphere
+as you is a benediction and an inestimable boon unto the race.
+
+
+PRELIMINARY STEPS.
+
+"The first requisite," says Mr. Atkinson, "of concentering is the
+ability to shut out outside thoughts, sights and sounds; to conquer
+inattention; to obtain perfect control over the body and mind. The body
+must be brought under the control of the mind; the mind under the
+direct control of the Will. The Will is strong enough, but the mind needs
+strengthening by being brought under the direct influence of the will.
+The mind, strengthened by the impulse of the will, becomes a much more
+powerful projector of thought vibrations than otherwise and the
+vibrations have much greater force and effect."
+
+The first four exercises are meant to train the mind to readily obey the
+commands of the mind. Take them in the privacy of your own room and never
+talk of them to others. Also do not let their apparent simplicity lead
+you to neglect them. If you are one of those empty-brained men who go
+about talking of their exercises hoping in this way to win praise, you
+will never succeed. Be serious, earnest and sincere in your work. Give
+up, once for ever, all fickle-mindedness and learn to accumulate Power in
+silence and through work. Prayer gives you strength to "work"--the answer
+comes from your Larger Self--which is the Spirit of God "brooding" over
+all and pouring strength into all. But do not fly in the face of DEITY by
+expecting it to "do the work" for you while you go about loafing after
+offering your prayer. Nonsense. That man prays who works constantly,
+silently, patiently, unceasingly and intelligently.
+
+Exercise 1.
+
+Sit still; relax your body all over and then neck, chest, and head held
+in a straight line; legs crossed one under the other and weight of the
+body resting easily upon the ribs; right hand on right leg, left hand
+on left leg. There should not be a single movement of the muscles in
+any part of the body. Mind, you must avoid all rigidness and tension of
+the body. There should not be the least strain on muscles. You should
+be able to "relax" completely. Start with 5 minutes. Continue till you
+can accomplish the 5 minutes sitting without any conscious effort,
+increase to 15 minutes which is about all you need. The aim is to give
+you absolute dominion over all involuntary muscular movements. It is also
+an ideal "rest-cure" after fatiguing physical and mental exercise or
+exertion. The principal thing is "STILLNESS" and you can, if you like,
+practise it even sitting on a chair or anywhere else; the idea is one of
+"relaxation" and physical and mental quietude. Let not the apparent
+simplicity of this exercise deceive you. It is not so very easy after
+all. You will find that by concentrating the mind upon a particular
+train of thoughts or ideas or by joining the mind to the Larger Self,
+you can easily lose all idea of the body and thus maintain this stillness
+for a considerable length of time. Genius, inspiration and intuition
+are more or less the scientific and psychological results of
+self-forgetfulness. "When he sits down to meditate," it was said of
+Vivekananda, "in 10 minutes he becomes quite unconscious of the body
+although it may be black with mosquitoes." Do you understand now?
+Absolute physical self-forgetfulness is essential to deep concentration.
+Dr. Fahnestock called it the "STATUVOLIC" condition or that state in
+which the Will-Power is really active and the 'outer-self' is totally in
+abeyance and forgotten.
+
+Exercise 2.
+
+Cultivate a self-poised attitude and demeanour in your everyday life.
+Avoid a tense, strained, nervous, fidgety manner and an over-anxious
+appearance. Be easy, self-possessed and dignified in your bearing.
+Be courteous, thoughtful and quiet. Mental exercise and Will-Culture
+will enable you to acquire the proper carriage and demeanour. Stop
+swinging your feet and moving your hands or rocking your self
+backwards in your chair while talking or sitting. Stop biting your nails,
+chewing your moustaches, rolling your tongue in your mouth or any
+other unnecessary movement such as may have become "second nature"
+with you while studying, reading or writing. Never twitch or jerk your
+body. Never wink your eyes or look blank. Train yourself to stand
+sudden and loud noises with equanimity and composure. Such things
+betray lack of control. Do not let anything outside (or even within you)
+disturb your composure. When engaged in conversation let your speech
+be calm and measured and your voice well-controlled and even. A certain
+degree of reserve should always be observed. In short, keep yourself
+well under control on all occasions. You can acquire this poise by
+always carrying the thoughts of "Firmness," "Self-Control", and
+"Self-Respect" in your mind and letting these express themselves in your
+outward bearing. Avoid bluster, self-assertion, gossip, levity or light
+talk, too much laughter, excitement and so forth. Too much laughter
+weakens the will. Be a quiet, earnest-thinking being. Be serious. Regard
+"solitude" as the greatest medium of self-development.
+
+Exercise 3.
+
+Fill a wine glass full of water and taking the glass between the fingers,
+extend arm directly in front of you. Fix your eyes upon the glass and
+endeavour to hold your arm so steady that no quiver will be noticeable.
+Commence with one minute exercise and increase until the 5 minutes limit
+is reached. Alternate right and left arms. Increase to 15 minutes.
+
+Exercise 4.
+
+Sit erect in your chair, with your head up, chin out and shoulders
+back. Raise your right arm until it is level with your shoulders,
+pointing to the right. Turn your head and fix your gaze on your hand and
+hold the arm perfectly steady for one minute. Repeat with left arm.
+Increase the time gradually to 5 minutes. The palms of the hands should
+be turned downwards.
+
+The following exercises are meant to aid you in getting under control,
+such mental faculties will produce voluntary movements.
+
+Exercise 5.
+
+Sit in front of a table, placing your hands upon the table, the fists
+clinched and lying with the back of the hand upon the table, the thumb
+being doubled over the fingers. Fix your gaze upon the fist for awhile
+and then slowly extend the thumb, keeping your whole attention fixed
+upon the act, just as if it was of the greatest importance. Then slowly
+extend your first finger, then your second and so on, until they are all
+open and extended. Then reverse the process, closing first the little
+finger and continuing the closing until the fist is again in its original
+position, with the thumb closed over the fingers. Repeat with left hand.
+Continue this exercise 5 times at a sitting, then increase to 10 times.
+Don't forget to keep your attention closely fixed upon the finger
+movements. That is the main point.
+
+Exercise 6.
+
+Place the fingers of one hand between the fingers of the other, leaving
+the thumbs free. Then slowly twirl the thumbs one over the other, with a
+circular motion. Be sure to keep the attention firmly fixed upon the end
+of the thumbs.
+
+_N.B._ Exercises Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been culled (with slight
+modifications by me) from the works of Yogi Ramacharaka.
+
+Exercise 7.
+
+Forty-eight hours after the full moon in each month, go by yourself into
+a darkened chamber and quietly concentrate your mind upon one thing. Do
+this as long as possible without allowing other thoughts to enter your
+mind. At first you will find that your thoughts will fly from one thing
+to another and it will be hard for you to accomplish this, but by
+continued practice you will be able to think of one thing for a long
+time. This should be continued for 5 nights in succession and one hour
+each night.
+
+Exercise 8.
+
+Go out into the open air each evening when the sky is clear and see
+how many stars you can count without allowing any other thoughts to
+enter your mind. The more stars you can count without thinking of
+anything the greater the degree of development produced. Quite an
+interesting exercise.
+
+Exercise 9.
+
+Take 12 ordinary pebbles. Place them in your left hand. Then with your
+right hand pick up one pebble, hold it at arm's length and concentrate
+your mind thereupon without allowing other thoughts for full 60 seconds.
+So with all the pebbles. Then start picking up with left hand. Do this
+for one hour daily.
+
+Exercise 10.
+
+Concentrate your mind determinedly upon some one at a distance without
+allowing other thoughts. Will that he do get strong, healthy and
+spiritual. Get up a mental picture of your subject as if sitting
+before you. Then give earnest, positive, forceful suggestions to his
+sub-conscious mind. Will that he get into sympathy with you, write you on
+the subject and earnestly co-operate with you in his spiritual
+regeneration. Do it calmly and earnestly.
+
+Exercise 11.
+
+Get some moistened sand spread over the surface about a yard square. Make
+it perfectly smooth. Then with your index finger draw any characters or
+pictures in the sand. For instance, a square, a triangle or any other
+figure. Fasten your gaze upon this figure. Concentrate your mind calmly
+thereupon and will that the thought-form so created by your concentration
+be transmitted to someone (whom you know to be sensitive to your will).
+Do this for 15 minutes daily at the same time till your subject gets the
+impression. Ask him to sit relaxed at the same time in the _silence_ in a
+receptive mental attitude. Face the direction, North, South, East or West
+in which you send your thought. Imagine a psychic wire connecting you
+with your subject and aim straight. Remember, the Will-Power is
+represented in symbology by a straight line because it goes straight to
+its mark.
+
+Exercise 12.
+
+Every night before retiring, concentrate upon your passive mind:
+"_When I get up in morning, my Will-power and Thought-Force will have
+increased. I expect you to bring about a thorough change in my
+Will-Force. It will gain in vigour, resolution, firmness and confidence.
+It must grow strong, strong, strong_." Project these positive suggestions
+into your subjective self earnestly, confidently and concentratedly. You
+will progress quickly by leaps and bounds. Every morning shall find
+you stronger and full of vim, sap and energy. Persevere, persevere. In
+following up such ideals to a successful conclusion you must have an
+(i) overpowering desire; (ii) a strong belief in your ability to
+accomplish anything; (iii) an invincible determination not a backboneless
+'I will try to'; (iv) earnest expectation. This is an important and an
+infallible method in Will-development.
+
+Exercise 13.
+
+Go by yourself into a room where you will not be disturbed. At the
+beginning 'relax' all over. Then count from one to ten without allowing
+any other thoughts. As soon as you accomplish this, your mind is in
+a receptive state. Concentrate as before and order your sub-conscious
+self to evolve a strong, infallible memory. Form your own
+auto-suggestions.
+
+Exercise 14.
+
+Pick out half a dozen unfamiliar faces. Vividly impress them upon
+your subjective mind. Then recall them at least once each day for full
+one year, each day impressing at least one more new face. Should you
+find you are forgetting any of your older faces, do not add new ones but
+firmly fix the other old faces in your mind through concentration. This
+is a very interesting exercise. Memory belongs to the sub-conscious
+mind, remember.
+
+Exercise 15.
+
+Concentrate the mind on a paragraph in some holy book and commit
+to memory. Learn by heart one paragraph daily taking care not to
+forget the old ones. In time, you will improve wonderfully.
+
+Exercise 16.
+
+People with weak memories always lack concentrative ability.
+Concentration is the key to all mind-power. You will find the above
+exercises quite 'tedious' and monotonous. But you can train your
+'attention' only by giving it trivial and 'dry' exercises. The strong
+will can cope with the most 'monotonous' and uninteresting tasks without
+experiencing fatigue. You must set yourself such tasks as might seem like
+'work' to your attention. Remember, the effort required to concentrate
+attention voluntarily on uninteresting, dry and monotonous works
+strengthens and develops Will-Power and gives you 'mental muscle.' You
+will thereby acquire firm control over mind and body and be 'Master' over
+your lower impulses. Power over self will express outwardly as power over
+others. If you can control yourself, you will find no difficulty in
+impressing your will on others. But, mark you, this sacred power should
+be used only to elevate, stimulate and strengthen others. Try your Will
+upon your personality in all possible ways and be satisfied with nothing
+short of perfect control. The absolute mastery of 'self' ought to be
+your aim. I have given you the real secrets. You must exercise
+your own ingenuity and intelligence in utilising them towards your
+Self-development. I leave you to finish the fight for yourself. Get up
+and start in to work at your task from to-day and not to-morrow. Back of
+all efforts, always have this positive incentive and auto-suggestion:
+
+"THIS IS TO DEVELOP MY WILL-POWER AND NO TEMPORARY PAIN CAN EQUAL THE
+POWER AND HAPPINESS ARISING OUT OF SELF-CONTROL."
+
+Get firm control over your emotions. Use this natural force but be
+not used by it. Control over speech will lead to Emotion-control. Always
+talk to the point. Cultivate silence. Repress volubility. Be brief
+in speech and writing. Keep a cool head. Be level-headed and
+concentrative.
+
+
+GLEANINGS FROM PROFESSOR JAMES ON THE LAW OF HABIT.
+
+An acquired habit, from the physiological point of view, is nothing
+but a new pathway of discharge formed in the brain, by which certain
+incoming currents ever often tend to escape.
+
+The great thing is to make our nervous system our ally instead of
+our enemy.--Guard against ways that are likely to be disadvantageous
+to us, as we should guard against the plague.
+
+The more of the details of our daily life we can hand over to the
+effortless custody of automatism, the more our higher powers of mind
+will be set free for their own proper work. There is no more miserable
+human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision and
+for whom (every act) the time of rising and going to bed, the beginning
+of every bit of work, are subjects for express volitional deliberation.
+
+Maxim I. In the acquisition of a new thought or the leaving off of
+an old one we must take care to launch ourselves with as strong and
+decided initiative as possible.
+
+Maxim II. Never suffer an exception to occur until the new habit
+is securely rooted in your life.
+
+Each lapse is like letting fall a ball of string which one is carefully
+winding up; a single slip means more than a great many turns will wind
+again.
+
+Continuity of training is the great means of making the nervous
+system act infallibly right. It is necessary above all things never to
+lose a battle. Every gain on the wrong side undoes the effect of many
+conquests on the right.
+
+The essential precaution is to so regulate the opposing powers that
+the one may have a series of uninterrupted success, until repetition has
+fortified it to such a degree as to enable it to cope with the opposition
+under any circumstances.
+
+The need of securing success at the outset is imperative. To be
+habitually successful is the thing.
+
+Be careful not to give the will such a task as to insure its defeat
+at the outset, but provided one can stand it, a sharp period of
+suffering, and then a free time is the best to aim at, whether in giving
+up the opium habit or in simply changing one's hours of rising or of
+work.
+
+It is surprising how soon a desire will die of inanition if it be never
+fed.
+
+Without unbroken advance there is no such thing as accumulation
+of the ethical forces possible, and to make this possible and to exercise
+and habituate us in it is the sovereign blessing of regular work.
+Maxim III. Seize the very first possible opportunity to act on every
+resolution you make and on every emotional prompting you may experience
+in the direction of habits you aspire to gain.
+
+It is not the moment of their forming but in the moment of their
+producing motor effects, that resolves and aspirations communicate the
+new 'set' to the brain.
+
+The actual presence of the practical opportunity alone furnishes the
+fulcrum upon which the lever can rest, by means of which the moral
+will may multiply its strength and raise itself aloft. He who had no
+solid ground to press against will never get beyond the stage of empty
+gesture making.
+
+When a resolve or a fine glow of feeling is allowed to evaporate
+without bearing practical fruit, it is a waste and a chance lost; it
+works so as positively to hinder future resolutions and emotions from
+taking the normal path of discharge.
+
+If we let our emotions evaporate, they get in a way of evaporating.
+
+
+WORSHIP OF THE TERRIBLE.
+
+The attitude of the soul which is not to be baffled by the lower nature
+or the "Personal Self" should be to seek Death and not life, to hurl
+oneself upon the sword's point and become one with the terrible. Those
+who are commissioned by the Lord to bear aloft the torch of spirit are
+fated to see every joy of the senses turn to ashes and crushing blows
+upon their eyes to the unsubstantially of the relative life of Maya.
+
+The lion when stricken to the heart gives out his loudest roar,
+When smitten on the head the cobra lifts its hood
+And the majesty of the Soul comes out only when a man is wounded to his
+depths.
+
+The Western ideal is to be doing: the Eastern to be suffering. The
+perfect life would be a harmony between (selfless or non-attached) doing
+and suffering. Worship the terrible. Worship Death, for its own sake;
+despair for its own sake; pain for its own sake. Yet this is not the
+coward's or the suicide's or the weakling's morbid love of Death, but it
+is the cry of the philosopher who has sounded everything to its depths
+and knows intensely the vanity of the desire for happiness on the
+relative plane of limitations. Remember the triumphant cry of St. Francis
+of Assisi: "WELCOME, SISTER DEATH!" "Be witness"--of all that goes on but
+be not entangled. Reserve to yourself the power to remain unattached at
+all times. Accept nothing however pleasant, if it conceals a fetter into
+thy Soul. At a word stand ready to sever any connection that gives a hint
+of soul-bondage. Keep thy mind clear. Keep thy will pure. Attain the
+Impersonal Standpoint, O you man! there alone canst thou quench thy
+thirst for happiness never on the plane of personal. Who and what dies
+and is reborn?--Your lower self, your personality.
+
+"Sometimes naked, sometimes mad,
+Now as a scholar, again as a fool
+Here a rebel, there a saint,
+Thus they appear on the earth
+--the Perfect Ones. Paramhamsas"--Viveka Chudamani.
+
+If you accept the report of the senses as final, you will say "soul
+for nature"--but if you can gain the spiritual point of view, you will
+say "no-nature for soul." Evolution, devolution and involution are all
+in nature and will go on cyclically and eternally. All this is merely due
+to the wish of the soul to manifest itself. But such expression can come
+only when the soul lives on its plane. Say "Money is my slave, not I."
+Say "Nature is my slave, not I". Give up life, give up body, give up all
+desire for enjoyment on the relative plane. So shall you transcend all
+limitation. Your real nature is Infinite and Absolute. Only when you
+lower your nature by limiting it to the "particular self," do you become
+bound and unhappy. On the relative plane, you are a slave to the pair
+of opposites--life and death, pleasure and pain, and so on. Here is
+limitation. Here you are a slave to competition, and "Survival of the
+Fittest" is the law. Be not blinded by the flashing light of the glare
+of modern civilization. Every morsel you eat is ground out of your
+brother's blood. Slave to a breath of air, slave to food, slave to
+life, slave to Death, slave to a word of praise, slave to a word of
+blame--"Slave--Slave--Slave"--that is your condition. The Soul cannot
+stoop to any compromise. It refuses to conquer nature by obedience. It
+will conquer nature by renouncing the body and by knowing itself. Find
+thyself bodiless. Power felt within is soul; without, nature. "We must
+crush Law (nature) and become outlaws."
+
+"Deliver thou thyself, by thyself
+Ah, do not let thyself sink
+For thou art thyself thy greatest friend
+And thyself (the relative 'I') thy greatest enemy."
+
+This, student, is not the ravings of a lunatic. It is the secret of
+SAT-CHIT-ANANDA--eternal existence, knowledge and bliss. Attainment
+of perfection means absolute Freedom. Do you or would you know the
+meaning of Life? It is the search after _Sat-chit-ananda_. But man is
+trying to realise this Perfect Existence in the transitory things of
+the earth-plane. Only when he knows that not attachment to the things
+of the "world, the flesh and the devil" but renunciation of same and the
+bringing of the Impersonal Ideal into his everyday life would lead him
+to it, then Maya will have fulfilled its purpose--which is to show man
+his divinity. "Kill out the desire for life. Kill out Ambition. Kill out
+desire for comfort; yet work as those who love life. Respect life as
+those who are ambitious. Be happy as those are who live for happiness."
+
+So says Mabel Collins in the _Light on the Path_. Yes, you must work
+constantly, train your intellect, develop your personality but do not do
+all this for your own personal self but for the Higher Self, The BRAHMAN,
+Eternal--to manifest through. As soon as you lose this view-point your
+personal strivings end in Pain and Disappointment. Work as hard as the
+ambitious man and the lover of pleasures but remember your actions are
+inspired by different motives. Here Spirit is the director.
+
+"To the work thou hast the right, O Partha, but not to the fruits
+thereof"--_Gita_. All clinging to results leads to degeneration. The
+soul should cling to nothing. All work and all effort must be dedicated
+unto the Higher Self. When you care for the results you are only
+worshipping the lower self. Hence the value of selfless labour, thus the
+maya-fascinated mind is purified and de-hypnotised and we attain to the
+emergence of the personal into the Impersonal. Either say "I am thou, O
+Lord!" and thus out at the root of the lower "I" and destroy it for ever
+or say "I am nothing, O Eternal One! thou art everything" and thereby
+lose the lower into the Higher. The first is for the Gnani--the second
+for the Bhakti Yogi. Both mean the same thing. Love everyone but do
+not depend upon the love of any one. Give everything. Take nothing.
+Serve every one. Do not care for service and gratitude in return. You
+are the Heir to the Infinite. All Power is behind you. But so long as
+you are a beggar, a beggar shall you remain. Renounce the lower self,
+Live for the Higher. What you call Universal Love is the expression
+on the lower plane of the subjective reception of ABSOLUTE UNITY
+on the Buddhic plane and in SAMADHI (Final Illumination).
+
+
+
+
+LESSONS III AND IV.
+
+THE YOGI SELF-DEVELOPER
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+In lessons 1 and 2 we have initiated you into the mysteries of Will
+and Mind-Force, the governing principles of the Universe and the laws
+of their development. We have also taught you how to acquire absolute
+control over Body and Mind. In these lessons we have striven to point
+out to you the right "Mental Attitude" towards your daily life, so that
+while mainly engaged in the task of Self-Culture you might also lend a
+hand in the great work of strengthening the race. Moreover our
+convictions, beliefs, and ideals are no mean, insignificant factors
+in the determination of our health and environmental conditions. They
+react on our circumstances as well as on the WHOLE MAN. We have also
+given you important points of instruction in Soul Unfoldment, Meditation,
+Bramhacharya, Breathing, Fasting, Health-Culture, Body building
+and shown you, as distinctly as we could, the exact process of developing
+a single virtue in your self thereby you may master the process and
+method of developing other virtues, the lines of action and thought being
+well nigh similar in all, and foculising at certain common points of
+primary importance. We have given the bare body of truth in connection
+with the development, evolution and unfoldment of the body and the
+soul, stripping of the metaphysical trappings and the theoretical
+draperies in which they are clothed. We have had to literally rend
+asunder the heavy wheel that had the divine face of truth. Hence our
+lessons are brief and to the point. We have had to contend against and
+overcome another serious difficulty. Expressed in the matter of fact
+English language, these wondrous truths of mysticism cannot but lose the
+air of profound solemnity and sanctity that pervades the subject of Yoga
+in Sanskrit literature. The wise and thoughtful student and we certainly
+do not write for light-headed and non-serious people, will not let their
+apparent simplicity deceive him or throw him off his guard. Rather
+let him realise that these lessons can be pressed into service in all
+directions and in all spheres of life. Let him just put them into
+practice and he will at once see their practical bearing on his daily
+life. These lessons do not go into the "WHAT" but point out the "HOW" of
+every thing. We leave every student to suit his individual case as to the
+intellectual side of the ETERNAL PROBLEM. In conclusion we have to
+say that this Course does not pretend to deal with the advanced stages
+of Yoga, much less exhaust them. But they will, positively and decidedly
+prepare him for those higher things by lifting the PALL OF DARKNESS
+from his mind.
+
+
+
+
+LESSONS III AND IV.
+
+
+Quite a number of you there must be to whom the "Fearless" mind is not
+only an enviable possession but something to which you are and have been
+an utter stranger. You may not say it to others--confession may hurt your
+pride--but secretly away deep in your heart, there resides strongly and
+fiercely the desire to be a Fearless Individual. And it is a worthy
+desire. To be able to wipe off all fearfulness, anxiety and worry from
+your mental tablets is no easy task, but when once accomplished, it gives
+you a glimpse of Heavenly Joy and Superhuman Strength. And, _You can be
+Fearless_, I tell you--each one of you--you can be what you will to be. I
+have seen it. I have done it. I am going to give you sound and positive
+instructions in this paper so that you may forge ahead towards your goal.
+These instructions are based upon good psychological grounds, have been
+tested and proved by millions and proved a blessing to whoever took them
+up in all earnestness and gave them a trial. If you want to be Fearless,
+hesitate not to follow them to the very letter.
+
+I shall not waste space telling you about the dire results of fear,
+cowardice, worry, anxiety and the vile brood of negative thoughts
+branching of FEAR. Physically, mentally and spiritually man is what he
+thinks in his heart. As you think, so you are. Mind governs everything,
+creates or destroys everything, on the physical as well as other planes.
+Your thoughts affect your health, your circumstances, your environments;
+those who come into daily contact with you, those who are separated
+from you by space, those who are what you call "dead" but who are really
+alive in spirit-life and bound to you more or less by mystic chords of
+sympathy in thought and soul-life, affecting you and being affected by
+you every minute. The range of influence exerted by a man's daily
+thoughts is simply tremendous. Trees and animals, minerals and other
+objects of material life absorb it. The walls of your room, the clothes
+you wear, the letters you write are all being impressed by the aura of
+your thought-force. If you go to a clairvoyant or a psychometerist
+and put into his hands a letter, a lock of hair, a cloth-piece, or
+anything else pertaining to one of your friends, he or she will
+psychically trace out the personal appearance, temperament, past and
+present history, and everything else in connection with that person.
+Marvellous, 'Impossible' you cry in surprise. But it is done. Realise
+through study and investigation the importance of your thought-life and
+avoid vitiating it by fear-thoughts, hate-thoughts, sensual and sensuous
+thoughts and vanity thoughts. Because, mark you, these four giant-weeds
+poison the roots of the Tree of Life. All humanity suffers pain in
+diverse ways, on account of these four bad thoughts and their millions of
+off-springs. Now you will say this is all very well but:
+
+HOW?
+
+That is just what I mean to teach you all along. I don't want to feed you
+on mere empty theories, but I can and I will give you that knowledge
+which when assimilated shall build up strong flesh, bone, muscle, tissue,
+pith and marrow which will give you superb health, strength of mind and
+spirit--all of which are necessary adjuncts to Spiritual Growth and
+Happiness. Let me give you in detail methods and exercises. The ideal
+fearless man has many qualities. I say the Ideal Hero--no imitation patch
+work vulgarian. These qualities are in rough detail: (1) Devotion to God.
+(2) Knowledge. (3) Concentration. (4) Will Power. (5) Energy and
+Aspiration. (6) Health. (7) Self-Esteem. (8) Self-Control. (9) Love for
+Humanity. (10) Chastity. There may be other qualities but you will do
+well to build up the above and others will come to you by themselves. Let
+me drop a few helpful suggestions on the above. Follow each sentence
+closely.
+
+1. DEVOTION TO THE ABSOLUTE WILL.
+
+I have always said, written, observed and felt that the most courageous
+individuals are devoted to God. Such men are rare. You all understand the
+meaning of "Fearlessness" in its fullest sense. It means absolute
+independence--in two words, he is the FEARLESS man who "fears-nothing,"
+and "faces-everything." That everything includes everyone. That nothing
+excludes no one. Viewed from this standpoint is not the fearless man
+rarely to be met with? You may come across degrees of fearlessness. Now
+the man who possesses this quality in the "highest degree" has faith in
+this God. Everyone has his conception of God. Everyone sees the absolute
+from his individual plane of vision. That conception which you have of
+God will do for you. I say, it will do for you and you alone. Don't force
+it upon others. Keep it for yourself. If you want to improve this
+conception of God pray in the Silence thus: "O, THOU, I UNDERSTAND NOT
+THY NATURE. I KNOW NOT--YET I YEARN TO KNOW. DO THOU REVEAL THYSELF
+UNTO MY SOUL. DO THOU OPEN MY SPIRITUAL EYES AND LEAD ME ON." Student,
+don't treat this lightly. Listen not to that conceited or blinded brother
+of yours who says he does not care for God--who says he can go on without
+the aid of God. Listen not. Listen not. The strongest and greatest pray
+often. Only they do not talk of this to others. They never make a show of
+their devotion. But they have all prayed and do all pray. They believe in
+personal effort--they also believe in Divine leading and guidance. Learn
+to be "lead by the Spirit." Everything shall come to you in this way. You
+will also notice that the Fearless Man is not a mere God-fearing man. He
+is a God-loving Individual. He loves God for God's sake largely. That man
+who is fearful in spite of his devotion to God is a sham devotee. But the
+grace of the LORD'S name is such that it shall purify the most impure of
+heart. It shall build up even a sham devotee into a real devotee who in
+time shall transcend all limitation. Therefore have faith in God. "Be
+regular" in your devotions. Also remember that each trial is a pain
+accompanying spiritual regeneration--each pain a process of strengthening
+the herald of a mere glorious dawn of wisdom. Hence give up all grumbling.
+The great God whose Infinite power regulates the motions of planets
+and yet takes note of the sparrow's fall has your soul's best interest at
+heart. All you do, all you say, all you feel, all you hope, all your
+experiences--all, all is His will. Man's Will is God's Will. God's Will
+is Man's Will. And who can define God? God alone has the power to define
+Himself. He has defined Himself as the Universe--Bramhanda. Nothing is
+impossible for the devotee of God. Let him but be willing to work and God
+shall give him everything. Regular devotion to God will surely develop
+extreme Fearlessness. "God is Love."
+
+(2). KNOWLEDGE _(Gnayanam)_.
+
+Fear is due to ignorance. When in the dark of night you mistook the rope
+for a snake, you shrieked out in terror. Cause? IGNORANCE. But when you
+saw the rope as a rope, you laughed out in amusement. Cause? KNOWLEDGE.
+All your fear is due to your ignorance of your real nature. All the fear
+at the last is fear of death. You have to realise through knowledge of
+the Vedanta that you are birthless, deathless. You have to unfold by
+meditation a consciousness of your Real Self. I give you hereunder a
+meditation exercise that will help you in this direction.
+
+MEDITATION EXERCISE NO. 1.
+
+Retire into the SILENCE. Shut off all thoughts and purposes relating
+to the external world. Try to realise that you, the Real Ego are not
+the body but that it is a mere garment you have put on for functioning
+on the physical plane and which you shall put off some day. Try to
+realise that you are immortal and that although a thousand bodies might
+come and go, you, the Ego, shall be as alive as ever. These are your
+shadows--your personalities. What dies and is born is a mirage--a
+mere phantasm--which you materialise for certain purposes. All these
+purposes centralise in one POTENTIALISED PURPOSE--the conquest of matter.
+Realise that you the Ego, have your dwelling in Supernal Regions--on the
+spiritual plane--with your Father-in-Heaven--but that you have come down
+into matter that you may find the fullest possible objective expression.
+Realise that you, the Ego, are a differentiated centre of consciousness
+in the Great Consciousness--THE ABSOLUTE--EGO--SUM of the entire Universe
+with all its gross and subtle manifestations--that you are endowed with
+all the powers and attributes of the Absolute Self. Realise that you are
+not the emotional and passional manifestations--surging up in your
+personality. These are subject to the law of Flux and Rhythm and must be
+brought under the control of Reason and Will--the balancing, equating
+principle of mind. Realise that you are not the mind nor the intellect,
+but that you exercise this function in order to analyse the external
+manifestations of nature and study same. Realise that you are pure
+Consciousness, Bliss and Existence in your essential nature--one with the
+all-life. Realise that the form side of manifestation is but a
+concentration, a precipitation within you. Your subjective nature is one
+with the subjective self of others--an inlet for the influx and
+efflux of the GREAT SUB-CONSCIOUS. Realise thus your Unity with
+All-Life-manifesting objectively as Universal Brotherhood of all living
+beings and the perfect recognition of the All-Father-Mother, the Great
+Cosmic Power and Intelligence known as God whose intelligence
+all-blissfulness and existence are ever pouring into each Unit of
+Individualised Divine Energy and evolving through nature. And, student,
+when you meditate daily that you are neither the body nor the emotions
+nor the mind, you shall then unfold the consciousness of the "I am I"
+that which rules the personality that which has been called
+Soul-Consciousness. You shall then be Chaitanya-Spiritually awake.
+You shall then know no Fear. Fear shall drop away like a worn-out
+sheath. All fear-thoughts are due to undeveloped race-consciousness
+which reacts upon individual consciousness and is stamped more or less
+upon every atom of matter. You 'fear' because you think you are the
+body. When you realise that you can command as many bodies for your
+use as you like; when you realise in your heart of hearts that you are a
+Spiritual Being expressing and energising through material personalities;
+when you realise that you cannot die, fear shall be afraid of you and
+drop tormenting and teasing you. Fear resides in the matter-fed
+mind--that mind which has been grown and matured by the reception and
+re-action upon external sensations and stimuli--what has been called
+the objective mind. This mind identifies itself with the form, the body.
+It has an incorrigible determination towards the form-side, the
+concrete-side of existence. It sees nothing but the body and is darkened
+by the forces of _Maya_. It sees nothing but separation. Yes, it is the
+matter-fed mind. People with a development of this side of consciousness
+are invariably selfish; have generally small, conical eyes, understand
+nothing, but the welfare of the body. They are subject to the fear and
+the delight in making others fear them. This mind needs illumination from
+the soul, the Subjective Man, the "I am I" side of consciousness. It is
+not that you are a body and have a soul--this is the dirty conviction of
+the matter-fed mind--but you are a soul and have a body. The dawn of
+Soul-Consciousness makes a man a Force for good. He himself is Fearless.
+His is the voice of strength that does not crush and dominate but that
+puts warmth, life, energy, hope and indomitable courage into cold and
+despairing hearts. Some are born with this Soul-Consciousness. Do not
+think that I am feeding with the theories of eccentricity. Often when a
+boy playing with others the thought would strike me hard, "Are you the
+same that is running and jumping and shouting." I would stop, looking
+blankly ahead. A feeling of confusion would come over me and I would
+forget everything. I could recall the feeling distinctly and vividly. Now
+I understand. These were flashes of Soul-Consciousness unfolded in a
+past life and struggling for "recognition" in this life. Such men face
+DEATH for themselves calmly. They know they can't die. Such men are
+incapable of sustained hatred. They too have their physiognomical
+signs and distinctions. They represent an advanced order of intellect.
+And, lastly, when the full blaze of realisation comes, your one object in
+life shall be to bestow your sense of freedom on others. You shall
+not be able to mock and smile calmly at the pain, the ignorance to
+imperfections of your brother-man. You shall realise what it is to 'feel'
+for humanity, yea, even for animals. You shall glimpse, in some measures,
+the great feeling of pain that rent the hearts of the Buddas, the
+Christs, the Ramakrishnas, the Vivekanandas of this world. They suffered,
+they felt for humanity. And when undeveloped humanity forced them to the
+Cross; they bore it in the same spirit in which the gentle nurse bears
+the blows and abuses of the disease-racked patient. "Father forgive them,
+for they know not what they do." Verily to know all is to forgive all.
+This Soul-Consciousness is as much yours as that of anyone. It comes
+through meditation on the Infinite, and the Formless Absolute--the
+Over-soul of the universe--the Brahman of the Vedanta--the Self of the
+philosophers--the Atman of the Yogis--the personal--impersonal God
+of the devotee--and, last, but not least, the humanity of the
+humanitarian.
+
+
+CONCENTRATION.
+
+The mind can think of one thing only. Fear is an acute form of negative
+concentration--worry its chronic form. If you learn how to place your
+mind upon a particular subject and inhibit or "shut off" all other
+thoughts, the fascination of fear and worry shall have no power over you.
+Most of the things you fear never happen--others can be routed by a bold
+front. Even if something ugly does befall you, you have the power within
+to enable you to 'bear up' heroically. Fear is a mere negative
+thought-habit. It is a negative tendency in the mind. You can best
+eradicate this weed from your mind by cultivating the positive attitude
+of Courage. There are particular sets of brain-cells being created or
+destroyed by particular types of thoughts. The best way to destroy
+negative brain-cells is to develop positive brain-cells. If you want to
+_Kill off Fear-thoughts_, do not fight them. That would be like trying to
+realise how dark a place is and then starting to pitch it out by the
+handful. You know you cannot do it. Just open the blinds and let in
+sunshine and the place will be flooded with light. The mind hypnotised
+by negative thoughts has been compared by a mental scientist to a dirty
+wash-bowl full of dirty water. Take the wash-bowl near a tap and turn
+the tap on. The steady pour of clean water will soon wash off all the
+dirty water and fill the wash-bowl with clear water. So the only way
+to root out and destroy evil thoughts is to turn a steady stream of
+positive thoughts. To overcome all fear thoughts, you should think
+courage-thoughts. Don't crawl on your belly; don't call upon Heaven to
+witness what a despicable creature you are. No--a thousand times--no. Act
+Courage. Think Courage. Say Courage. That's the way. Turn your face
+towards the rising sun. Take "Courage" for your watchword. Affirm
+it as far as you can. Fasten it deep and strong in your mind. Always tell
+yourself that you are full of courage, morning, noon and night; never
+tell yourself that you are weak.
+
+Now, in order to inhibit fear-thoughts and exhibit Courage-thoughts,
+you must possess CONCENTRATION. You should be able to take your mind off
+a certain subject and put it on something else at your will. Do you know
+what Concentration means? Let me give you in my own words something I
+remember reading about Napoleon. When banished to St. Helena and
+suffering from disease, one day his doctor expressed his curiosity as to
+the secret of his success and astonishing power. Napoleon replied
+"Doctor, there are drawers in my brain. When I want to think of politics
+I pull out the drawer of politics, when I want to think of Josephine, I
+pull out the drawer of Law, and so on; and when I shut all these drawers,
+I can go to sleep." The doctor smiled incredulity blandly. "Doctor, I can
+show you this minute. Doctor, I shut all drawers"--even while saying
+this, Napoleon fell with a thud on his pillow. He was fast asleep. The
+man of science and medicine examined him in all ways, but Napoleon had
+fallen actually fast asleep. This is Concentration and Mind-Control. I
+don't admire men of Napoleon's selfish types. Their place is in dark
+hell. They use their power for preying upon others. But that his powers
+of mind were great, I don't deny. Napoleon in his past life had been a
+great Yogi, but the remnants of self and cumulative force of bad Karma
+precipitated the bloody results you all know in connection with
+Napoleon's career. No doubt, this man was only a means used by God to
+bring about certain changes and revolutions.
+
+To develop Concentration, pay attention to the daily work of your life.
+Don't neglect small things. Put interest and attention into whatever
+you think, say, or do. Be a wide-awake man. Don't go about your work
+half-asleep. Wake up and display a few signs of life. Be progressive.
+Think much and to the purpose.
+
+WILL-POWER.
+
+You all understand this. It is that aspect of your make-up that enables
+you to make your mind and body obey you. The true principle of Will is
+closely interlocked with the "I am I" as I have already explained it.
+Resolve at the start to do one thing once in 24 hours that you would do
+if you were not afraid. Face fear and it is your slave. Your Will-power
+enables you to prove things practically to yourself and to the world; to
+make actions match-thoughts. Give your Will much exercise in the right
+direction. Without Will a man is no better than a log of wood. Keep
+your Will strong by auto-suggestion and exercise. Try the powers of your
+Will on your personality till you can do anything and be anything. Say "I
+can and I will" in a thousand different ways and prove it too. The
+requisite qualities that form valuable adjuncts to Will-power are:
+1. Determination. 2. Stick-to-it-ive-ness. 3. Perseverance. 4. Invincible
+and indomitable courage. 5. Non-attachment. 6. Faith in yourself.
+7. Faith in God. 8. I can and I will. Repeat this affirmation often till
+it becomes a constant mental trait.
+
+AFFIRMATIONS.
+
+1. I am fearless. I am full of courage. There is nothing to fear.
+I say courage, I think, I act courage.
+
+2. Courage is my distinct and leading trait. Everyone knows me
+as a man of Indomitable courage. The criticisms and opinions of others
+cannot affect me the least.
+
+3. I am part of the Divine Self. I harm none. My nature knows
+no harm. Hence no harm comes to me.
+
+4. I am equal to anything. Nothing can crush my spirit. I can
+face everything. I can face everybody.
+
+5. My powers of resistance are strong, strong, strong. I use them
+never for the aggression of others. They are for my self-defence.
+
+6. I am absolutely fearless morally and physically.
+
+7. I stand for absolute truthfulness and justice and manifest them
+in myself.
+
+8. Work with this affirmation. Strongly implant it in your mind.
+The use of strong, positive Affirmation in the Silence is valuable in
+that it gives you a firm hold of your thought so that you can "carry the
+thought" mentally. The value of expressing thought in act and speech lies
+in this that it clinches your thought into a permanent habit. Remember
+this psychologic axiom: 1. Thoughts take form in action. 2. Action
+induces thought and corresponding habits. Therefore act out the part
+physically. If you want a courageous mind--"act out" the part physically,
+in your daily life, on suitable occasions, in all earnestness as you
+would in a theatre or drama. In a very short time it shall become a
+confirmed habit. Force yourself to it. Take an interest in what you do
+and say. Have confident expectations of SUCCESS. Never be daunted and
+cowed down by initial difficulties and failures. Never say die. If you
+go down--don't remain lying and moaning. Never, I say, never. Get up.
+Shake yourself up free and say, like the royal lion "Come one, come all,
+this rock shall fly sooner from its base than I." Have a will of your
+own and be a force for good. Exercise your Will-power. Be something.
+Do something.
+
+LOVE FOR HUMANITY, ENERGY, ASPIRATION, SELF-ESTEEM.
+
+I cannot too strongly emphasise the difference between Self-Esteem
+and Self-Conceit. I wish to drive and thoroughly pound this difference
+into your brain. Self-Esteem is decidedly a manly trait. It is based
+upon a conviction of the Kingship of God and the Sonship of Man. Man
+is a dignified being with divine attributes. He should not disgrace his
+Maker by crawling on the ground. This is Self-Esteem. Self-Esteem
+does not lower itself. It never lowers others. You shall never see a
+leader of mankind without tremendous faith in himself. But equally truly
+you shall never see a true man or woman taking delight in having others
+crawl to dust before them. They feel pained and shocked at such a sight.
+There is infinite humiliation to them in this sorry spectacle. But
+Self-Conceit is that original obliquity that leads a man to make a hog of
+himself. It is the old, dirty, unmanly "I-am-greater-than-you" feeling.
+Such men are hogs, hogs, hogs. They are not the true sons of their
+mothers. They are bastards and imbeciles. If you come across this type
+and get a chance to deal with him on your private strength open his eyes
+to his hoggishness. If he has any manly stuff in himself, he shall
+reform. If not, let him sizzle in his fat. Nature and its rigorous Laws
+will rub the lesson home some day. But don't you stand their nonsense for
+want of moral backbone. And the "I am" in you shall revolt against any
+such meanness and smallness in yourself. Encourage it not. Revere God.
+Revere yourself. Revere others. Next, as to energy and aspiration--these
+two characteristics transmute your mind from a negative into a positive
+type. They give you an aura of thought-force such as never knows fear. In
+point of fact fear is starved off to death. Be progressive. Take an
+interest in the affairs of this world and be a force for good. Raise
+yourself first. Then give others a lift. Have an Increasing Purpose
+in your life. Work towards its accomplishment. The man who renounces the
+world does not become a burden unto others. He helps others to shoulder
+their responsibilities. Nature aids at building up strong individuals. It
+has no use for barnacles and is always scraping them off. Nature does not
+tolerate leeches, vampires and parasites. Aspire to do something great in
+life "for the good of many, for the happiness of many." Live to some
+purpose. When you have a positive life-purpose, your tone of mind shall
+be dominant and positive and your thoughts shall match. All-strength
+shall come to you. Bad health, fear, worry and the whole array of
+disintegrating forces are set into active motion by a purposeless life.
+The Purposeful Man has no time to bother about them. Understand clearly,
+spirituality is not laziness, whatever else it may be.
+
+AFFIRMATIONS.
+
+1. I have perfect Self-Confidence. I am a Divine Being. I lower
+not myself--I lower not others.
+
+2. My Life-Purpose is Constructive--not Destructive.
+
+3. I will be great spiritually and mentally. I will make others
+great. I am an irresistible force for good.
+
+4. I live to some great purpose. I am an Individual. I recognise
+the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man.
+
+HEALTH, CHASTITY AND SELF-CONTROL.
+
+Chastity and Self-Control bring to you a clean healthy physique. Strong
+health means strong brain. And strong brain means abounding vitality,
+magnetism and ambition. Remember our aim is the development of courage.
+The Chaste brain has tremendous energy. You should observe
+Bramhacharya--the conservation of vital energy in the body. You should
+acquire control over your passions and appetites. The energy generated in
+your body should not be drawn off at the lower end of your being, but
+should be transmuted into creative activity mentally and spiritually. Get
+a clean body, first. You can get it by fasting, breathing and exercise.
+
+FASTING AND SELF-CONTROL.
+
+If you feel heavy in body and brain, if you feel mentally sluggish it
+is a sure indication that your system is "clogged" with waste matter, due
+to partial or total inactivity of the physical channels of elimination.
+You have been indulging in high living and gluttony or you have been
+indulging in physical gratifications and have thus exhausted the vital
+fibres of your body. Perhaps you have drunk very little water which is
+nature's demand for cleaning the vessels of the body. Perhaps you have
+exercised little and thus the supply of oxygen required for burning off
+carbon and energising the blood has been rather limited. Mental
+depression, 'weak nerves,' melancholy, despair, fear, lack of
+concentration and lots of other mental weakness are due to a clogging of
+the system with accumulated refuse. In brief, the following are a few of
+the benefits derivable from scientific fasting:--(1) It gives nature a
+chance to "Clean Up." The day of fasting is a day of physical "house
+cleaning." (2) Like the galvanic battery the body "recuperates" its
+energies. Strength is invariably restored to one's powers of digestion
+after a careful fast. No case of dyspepsia, constipation, etc., there is,
+but can benefit or be totally and radically cured by fasting. Fasting
+will increase powers of assimilation, quicken hunger, purify and
+strengthen the nerves and raise your health in all ways. (3) By gaining
+control over appetite you gain control over your lower nature. It is a
+splendid drill for your Will. You shall gain in spiritual strength. You
+shall grow positive to your flesh and its cravings. Jesus Christ fasted
+for 40 days in order to prepare himself to face his great trial and
+temptation. Our Yogis are all great fasters.
+
+HOW TO FAST.
+
+Don't undertake too much. If you have never observed a fast begin
+with a 24 hour fast. Drink at least 5, if possible, 8 tumblers of pure
+water at frequent intervals slowly. Keep yourself gently active and
+occupied the whole day, mentally and physically. You may feel a feeling
+of faintness, all-goneness and an irresistible craving for food. These
+are mischievous pranks of a cultivated and pampered and artificial
+appetite. Drink water slowly but don't give your body anything else.
+Always keep before yourself the distinction between the regal "I--am--I"
+the soul and the carnal, sensating animal known as the body. The great
+point of achievement during a fast lies in thinking high thoughts and
+forgetting the demands of the flesh. Don't think of your fast. If you
+do think say to yourself "this is to develop my will." Breathe plenty of
+fresh air. Exercise gently and walk. I have seen educated men afraid to
+go out for a walk during a day's religious fast "lest they should feel
+hungry." O shame! You can't control a little hunger! You should
+bathe daily thoroughly early in the morning, fast or no fast.
+
+And don't be afraid. "Man liveth not by bread alone but by very
+word that proceeds from the mouth of God"--said Christ. Starvation
+may kill off your body but not fasting. Deny the power of all disease
+and weakness over yourself. Your mind is master of your body. Assert
+this mental control. Lastly, during a fast, your body is sensitive to
+your suggestions. Fill your mind with incessant affirmations of courage.
+Think courage, say courage, act courage. Take time by the forelock.
+Force your suggestions upon body and brain right now.
+
+HOW TO BREAK A FAST.
+
+When breaking a fast, be sure to control re-action. Eat very lightly
+and only sensible food. Now that you have a clean body, stay clean
+You can train yourself to fast for 40 days at a stretch.
+
+TRANSMUTING SEX-ENERGY.
+
+Here is some sensible advice from a leading thinker and teacher:
+To be a perfect Bramhacharin (a regenerate).
+
+1. You must have a clean, healthy body; 2. Good breathing capacity and
+some control over same; 3. A strong will such as can move body and mind;
+4. Assiduous cultivation of the intellectual side; 5. Control over
+emotions; 6. A fearless mind; 7. Great determination; 8. and abstemious
+living and high thinking.
+
+The Yogis possess great knowledge regarding the use and abuse of
+the reproductive principle in both sexes. Some hints of this esoteric
+knowledge have filtered out and have been used by Western writers on
+the subject, and much good has been accomplished in this way. In this
+little book we cannot do more than touch upon the subject, and omitting
+all except a bare mention of theory, we will give a practical breathing
+exercise whereby the student will be enabled to transmute the
+re-productive energy into vitality for the entire system, instead of
+dissipating and wasting it in lustful indulgence in or out of the
+marriage relations. The reproductive energy is creative energy, and may
+be taken up by the system and transmuted into strength and vitality, thus
+serving the purpose of regeneration instead of generation. If the young
+men of the Western world understood these underlying principles they
+would be saved much misery and unhappiness in after years, and would be
+stronger mentally, morally and physically.
+
+This transmutation of the reproductive energy gives more vitality to
+those practising it. They will be filled with great vital force, which
+will radiate from them and will manifest in what has been called
+"personal magnetism." The energy thus transmuted may be turned into new
+channels and used to great advantage. Nature has condensed one of its
+most powerful manifestations of prana into productive energy, as its
+purpose is to create. The greatest amount of vital force is concentrated
+in the smallest area. The re-productive organism is the most powerful
+storage factory in animal life, and its force can be drawn upward and
+used, as well as expended in the ordinary functions of reproduction, or
+wasted in vicious lust. The majority of our students know something of
+the theories of regeneration, and we can do little more than to state the
+above facts, without attempting to prove them.
+
+The Yogi exercise for transmuting re-productive energy is simple. It is
+coupled with rhythmic breathing, and can be easily performed. It may be
+practised at any time, but is especially recommended when one feels the
+instinct more strongly, at which time the re-productive energy is
+manifesting and may be most easily transmuted for regenerative purpose.
+The exercise is as follows:--
+
+Keep the mind fixed on the idea of energy, and away from ordinary
+sexual thoughts and imaginings. If these thoughts come into the mind
+do not be discouraged, but regard them as manifestations of a force which
+you intend using for the purpose of strengthening the body and mind.
+Lie passively or sit erect, and fix your mind on the idea of drawing the
+re-productive energy upward to the Solar Plexus, where it will be
+transmuted and stored away as a reserve force of vital energy. Then
+breathe rhythmically, forming the mental image of drawing up the
+re-productive energy with each inhalation. With each inhalation make a
+command of the Will that the energy be drawn upward from the
+re-productive organisation to the Solar Plexus. If the rhythm is fairly
+established and the mental image is clear, you will be conscious of the
+upward passage of the energy, and will feel its stimulating effect. If
+you desire an increase in mental force, you may draw it up to the brain
+instead of to the Solar Plexus, by giving the mental command and holding
+the mental image of the transmission to the brain.
+
+The man or woman doing mental creative work, or bodily creative work will
+be able to use this creative energy in their work by following the above
+exercise, drawing up the energy with the inhalation and sending it forth
+with the exhalation. In this last form of exercise only such portions as
+are needed in the work will pass into the work being done, the balance
+remaining stored up in the Solar Plexus.
+
+You will understand, of course, that it is not the reproductive fluids
+which are drawn up and used, but the etheric prana energy which animates
+the latter, the soul of the reproductive organism, as it were. It is
+usual to allow the head to bend forward easily and naturally during the
+transmuting exercise.
+
+Practise this Breathing Exercise sturdily. Be heroic. Learn to make 100
+Pranayams at a sitting, but do not rush things. Deep breathing exercise,
+Will-Culture, regular Meditation and a clean normal mode of living when
+combined with much thinking will surely awaken your Latent Powers. Be not
+worried if progress be a bit slow at first. Keep up cheerful and work
+patiently. Things cannot but come your way if you don't give up but
+preserve to the last. Have infinite and unbounded faith in yourself. And,
+lastly, if you want to grow space in Wisdom and Power, persevere in deep
+breathing. Pranayam is the key to all spiritual success. "Spirituality is
+fullness of Breath." Almost all forms or Mental and physical weakness are
+due to imperfect and shallow breathing. Of all these instructions you
+practise nothing but the Breathing Exercise, your gain shall be great but
+in order to get all the results you must practise all the instructions
+regularly and methodically.
+
+Your sex-force is under the direction of your sub-conscious mind which is
+quite amenable to your authoritative suggestions. Get control through
+your sub-consciousness. All you have to do is to let it to do its own
+work without adverse and negative suggestions and fear-thoughts. Say "No"
+vigorously to all adverse thoughts and shake them off from you. All
+health comes by letting nature alone.
+
+BREATHING EXERCISE.
+
+Find a quiet place as far as possible, where the air is pure and the
+surroundings soothing and pleasant. After a bath or a thorough rubbing
+of the body from top to toe, with a wet towel, on an empty stomach,
+take this exercise: Send a current of holy thought to everyone, on
+planes seen and unseen, north and south, east and west, engage in
+meditation--take anyone of the meditation exercises you like. When you
+are perfectly calm and relaxed, seat yourself cross-legged, assuming any
+posture that comes easiest to you, with head, neck and chest held in a
+straight line and the weight of the upper parts of the body resting on
+ribs. Keep the region about the waist quite free. Loosen the cloth there
+out and out. Now inhale air slowly and steadily through right nostril
+after closing left nostril with your finger as long as it takes to count
+sixteen mentally. Close both nostrils, holding the inspired air within
+and count sixty-four. Then very slowly exhale the air through the left
+nostril for as long as it takes to count thirty-two. You must begin with
+a 4 second inhalation, 16 second retention and 8 second exhalation.
+Instead of dry counting you might improve yourself decidedly by repeating
+the word "Fearless" as many times holding mentally that dominant idea
+back of the word. Practise 5 pranayamas mornings and evenings for one
+week daily. Increase to 10 next week. Work up to 20. Go slowly. Practise
+as long as you like, but not less than 6 months. Be serious and earnest.
+This is not for non-serious minds. This exercise will augment digestive
+power, steady heart-action, make the body light and the mind calm. It
+shall help also miraculously in your Soul-Unfoldment. During this
+practice be pure in all ways. Observe Bramhacharya. Practice mental
+concentration and spiritual meditation. Don't talk much with others.
+Don't encourage any but holy society. Don't sleep much. Don't work very
+hard. Keep your emotions well-in-hand. Be always engaged mentally
+and physically. Be hopeful and cheerful. Never encourage negative
+thinking. It shall do wonders for you.
+
+PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
+
+Exercise No. 1.
+
+Stand straight, facing a corner of the room with bare feet about 14 or 15
+inches from the corner itself, arms straight out, even with shoulders or
+perhaps two inches below, hands resting on the two-side walls, chest out,
+abdomen in. Now lean forward towards the corner, without moving the feet
+or bending the knees. Aim lightly to touch the corner with the chest,
+while holding the head and abdomen as far back from the corner as
+possible, arms and hands slipping forward on the walls in a straight line
+with shoulders. Resume first position without moving the feet or lowering
+the arms, and repeat. Make the forward movement slowly, at the same time
+inhaling through nostrils a slow, full breath; put your whole effort into
+stretching the chest forward and upward (careful not to bruise yourself
+against wall) and head and abdomen backward, thus straightening the back
+at the shoulders. Hold the chest to the corner a moment, holding the
+breath likewise, then slowly resume original upright position, slowly
+exhaling through slightly open lips at the same time bending the head
+forward towards the chest. As you lean forward toward the corner,
+mentally keep count of your exercise one, two, three, etc. As you resume
+the upright position, exhaling and bending the head forward mentally,
+affirm "I am fearless, pure, strong." Make these movements always slowly,
+deliberately, with the closest attention. Begin with 5 or 6 movements and
+raise to 20 at a time.
+
+Exercise No. 2.
+
+Stand straight about two feet from the wall. Place the palms on the
+wall-level with the shoulders. Without moving the feet or bending the
+body, lean forward slowly, inhaling slowly as you do so, until the
+chest touches the wall, head back; then push yourself slowly to an
+upright position slowly exhaling as you do so. Repeat 10 times or more.
+
+Exercise No. 3.
+
+Clasp the hands behind. As you slowly inhale extend the clasped hand
+slowly downwards as far as possible, straightening arms at elbow and
+lowering shoulders as much as possible, at the same time extending
+and lifting the chest as far as you can. Hold the breath and the position
+a moment only, shoulders down, chest out and up, abdomen in, then release
+the hand and slowly exhale. A rather vigorous exercise. So go slowly.
+
+Exercise No. 4.
+
+Stand straight, arms extended even with the shoulders, head up;
+tense muscles of right arm doubling slowly at elbow and hand only, until
+the clenched fist touches the shoulders; at the same time tensing the
+neck muscles, chin up, and turning the head slowly to face the clenched
+fist. Repeat with the left arm. The arms from shoulder to elbow must
+be kept in a horizontal position.
+
+Exercise No. 5.
+
+Stand straight, hands at sides. Bend as far over to the right as
+possible, slowly; then to the left as far as possible. Repeat 10 times.
+
+Exercise No. 6.
+
+Stand straight, arms at sides. Lean as far forward as you can without
+bending the knees and roll the body clear around in a circle to the
+right, arms and body as limp as possible. Repeat 5 times. Then roll
+five times to the left.
+
+Exercise No. 7.
+
+Stand straight. Extend arms easily in front. Wave them backwards and
+upwards in a sort of reversed swimming movement, until they meet
+overhead; at the same time bending backward as far as possible slowly
+inhale a full breath. Now bend forward, exhaling breath, taking care not
+to bend the knees, until your fingers touch your toes, head hanging as
+low as possible, toes and head as limp as possible, fingers reaching
+towards the floor. Repeat upright position. Keep the knees straight
+throughout. Aim to stretch the entire body and hands upward and backward
+as far as possible, with the upward motion of the arms. If you can't
+touch the floor without bending the knees, just come as near it as you
+can. Practice will limber you up until you can touch it.
+
+Exercise No. 8.
+
+Lie full length on the back of the floor, hands clasped under head.
+Tense the muscles of the right leg, raising the knee slowly until it
+touches or almost touches the body, at the same time bending the foot
+downward as far as possible, stretching the toes towards the floor. Now
+slowly lower the right leg, still tense, towards the floor, straightening
+the knee and turning the toe upward towards the body. As the right
+leg is being lowered, raise the left one upward in the same way tensing
+the muscles, knee to chest, toes stretching upward; as the left leg goes
+down, point the toes and foot toward the knee 5 times, increasing
+gradually to 10 times.
+
+
+PHYSICAL EXERCISES.
+
+SERIES 2.
+
+
+Exercise I.
+
+(1) Extend the arms straight out in front of you, on the level of
+the shoulder, with palms of the hand touching each other; (2) swing
+back the hands until the arms stand out straight, sideways, from the
+shoulders or even a little further back if they will go there easily
+without forcing; return briskly to position 1, and repeat several times.
+The arms should be swung with a rapid movement and with animation and
+life. Do not go to sleep over the work or rather play. This exercise is
+most useful in developing the chest, muscles of the shoulders, etc. In
+swinging the hands backward, it is an improvement if you will rise on
+your toe during the backward sweep; sinking on your heels as you move the
+arms forward again. The repeated movements should be rhythmical, backward
+and forward, like the swinging of a quick pendulum.
+
+Exercise II.
+
+(1) Extend the arms straight in front of you, letting the little fingers
+of each hand touch each other, the palms being upward; (2) then keeping
+the little fingers still touching, bring the hands straight up in a
+curved circular movement, until the tips of the fingers of both hands
+touch the top of the head back of the forehead, the backs of the fingers
+touching, the elbows swinging out as the movement is made until (when
+the fingers touch the head, with thumbs pointing the rear) they point
+out straight sideways; (3) let the fingers rest on the top of the head a
+moment, and then with the elbows pressing back (which forces the
+shoulders back) force the arms backward with an oblique motion until
+they reach the sides at full length, as in the standing position.
+
+
+Exercise III.
+
+(1) Extend the arms straight out, sideways, from the shoulders;
+(2) then, still keeping the upper arms extended in same position, bend
+the arms at the elbow and bring the forearm upward with a circular
+movement, until the tips of the extended fingers lightly touch the tops
+of the shoulders; (3) then with fingers in the last position, force the
+elbows out to the front until they touch, or nearly go (a little practice
+will enable you to touch them together); (4) then, keeping the fingers
+still lightly touching the tops of the shoulders, swinging the elbows as
+far back as you can get them. (A little practice will enable you to get
+them much farther back than at the first attempt.) (S) Swing the elbows
+to the front position and then back to the rear position, several times.
+
+Exercise IV.
+
+(1) Place the hands on the hips, thumbs to the rear, and elbows pressed
+back; (2) bend the body forward, from the hips as far as you can, keeping
+the chest protruding and the shoulders pressed back; (3) raise the body
+to the original standing position (hands still at the hips) and then bend
+backward. In these movements the knees should not be bent and the motions
+should be made slowly and gently; (4) then (hands still on the hips) bend
+gently to the right, keeping the heels firmly on the ground, knees unbent
+and avoid twisting the body; (5) resume original position, and then bend
+the body gently to the left, observing the precautions given in the last
+movement. This exercise is somewhat fatiguing and you should be careful
+not to overdo it at the start. Proceed gradually; (6) with hands in same
+position on the hips, swing the upper part of the body around in a
+circle, from the waist-up, the head describing the largest circle, of
+course. Do not move the feet or bend the knees.
+
+Exercise V.
+
+(1) Standing erect, with hands on hips, raise yourself on the balls
+of the feet several times, with sort of a springing motion. Pause a
+moment after you have raised upon your toes, then let the heels sink to
+the floor, then repeat, as above suggested. Keep the knees unbent and the
+heels together. This exercise is specially beneficial in developing the
+calf of the leg, and will make it sure the first few times it is tried.
+If you have an undeveloped calf here is the exercises for you; (2) with
+hands still on hips place your feet about two feet apart, and then cover
+the body into a "squatting" position, pausing a moment and then resuming
+original position. Repeat several times, but not too often at the first,
+as it will make the thighs feel a little sore at the beginning. This
+exercise will give one well developed thighs. This last movement may be
+improved upon by sinking down with the weight resting upon the balls of
+the foot, instead of upon the heel.
+
+Exercise VI.
+
+(1) Stand erect with hands on hips; (2) keeping the knee straight,
+swing the right leg out about fifteen inches (keeping the toe turned a
+little out and the sole flat)--then swing back to the rear until the toe
+points straight to the ground, _keeping the knee stiff all the time_; (3)
+repeat the swinging backward and forward several times; (4) then do
+the same with the left leg; (5) with hands still on hips, raise the right
+leg up, bending the knee, until the upper-leg (thigh) stands straight out
+from the body (if you can raise it still higher, you may do so); (6)
+place your foot again on the ground, and go through the same motion
+with the left leg; (7) repeat several times, first one leg and then the
+other, moving slowly at first and gradually increasing your speed until
+you are executing a slow trot without moving from the over spot.
+
+Exercise VII.
+
+(1) Stand erect, with the arms extended straight in front of you, from
+the shoulders, and of course on a level with the shoulders--the palms
+must be down, fingers straight out, thumbs folded under and the thumb
+side of hands touching each other; (2) bend the body forward from the
+hips, stooping forward as far as possible and at the same time swing the
+arms forward with a sweeping movement, sending them down, backward and
+upward at the back, so that when the body has reached the limit of the
+bending forward movement the arms are extended back and over the
+body--keep the arms stiff and do not bend the knees; (3) resume standing
+position and repeat several times.
+
+Exercise VIII.
+
+(1) Extend the arms straight, sideways, from the shoulder and hold them
+there stiff and rigid with hands open; (2) close the hands forcibly
+with a quick motion, pressing the fingers well into the palm; (3) open
+the hands forcibly and quickly, spreading out the fingers and thumbs
+as widely as possible forming a fan shaped hand; (4) close and open
+the hands as above stated, several times, as rapidly as possible. Put
+life into the exercise. This is a splendid exercise for developing the
+muscles of the hand and for acquiring manual dexterity.
+
+Exercise IX.
+
+(1) Lie upon your stomach, extending your arms above your head and then
+bowed upward and your legs stretched out full length and raised backward
+and upward. The correct position may be carried in the mind by imagining
+a watch--crystal or a saucer resting on the table on its middle, with
+both ends turning upward; (2) lower and raise the arms and legs, several
+times; (3) then turn over on your back and lie extended at full length,
+with arms extended straight out upwards over the head, with back of
+fingers touching the ground; (4) then raise up both legs from the waist
+until they stand straight up in the air, like the mast of a ship, your
+upper-body and arms remaining in the last position named. Lower the legs
+and raise them several times; (5) resume position 3, lying flat upon the
+back at full with arms extended straight out upward, over the head, with
+backs of fingers touching the ground; (6) then gradually raise body to
+sitting position, with arms projecting straight in front of the
+shoulders. Then go back gradually to the lying down position, and
+repeat the raising and lowering several times; (7) then turn over on the
+face and stomach again and assume the following position:--Keeping
+the body rigid from head to foot, raise your body until its weight rests
+upon your palms (the arms being stretched out straight in front of you)
+at one end, and upon your toes at the other end. Then gradually bend
+arms at the elbow, allowing your chest to sink to the floor; then raise
+up your chest and upper-body by straightening out your arms, the entire
+weight falling upon the arms, with the toes as a pivot--this last is a
+difficult motion, and should not be overdone at first.
+
+Exercise X.
+
+This exercise is for those troubled with a too large abdomen, which
+trouble is caused by too much fat gathering there. The abdomen may
+be materially reduced by a reasonable indulgence in this exercise--but
+always remember "moderation in all things" and do not overdo matters,
+or be in too much of a hurry. Here is the exercise: (1) exhale the breath
+(breathe out all the air in the lungs, without straining yourself too
+much) and then draw the abdomen in and up as far as you can, then hold
+for a moment and let it resume its natural position. Repeat a number of
+times and then take a breath or two and rest a moment. Repeat several
+times, moving it in and out. It is surprising how much control one may
+gain over these stubborn muscles with a little practice. This exercise
+will not only reduce the fatty layers over the abdomen, but will also
+greatly strengthen the stomach muscles. (2) Give the abdomen a good but
+not rough kneading and rubbing.
+
+Exercise XI.
+
+The exercise is as follows:--Follow it carefully. (1) stand erect, with
+heels together, toes slightly pointed outward; (2) raise the arms up by
+the sides (with a circular movement) until the hands meet over the head,
+thumbs touching each other; (3) keeping the knees stiff; the body rigid;
+_the elbows unbent_; (and shoulders bent well back as the movement is
+made); bring down the hands, slowly, with a sideway circular motion,
+until they reach the sides of the legs the little finger and the
+inner-edge (the "chopping-edge") of the hand alone touching the legs, and
+palms of the hands facing straight to the front. The shoulder gets the
+right position by touching the little finger of each hand to the seam of
+the trousers. (4) Repeat several times, _slowly_ remember. With the hands
+in the last position, having been placed there by the motion stated, it
+is very difficult for the shoulders to warp forward. The chest is
+projected a little; the head is erect; neck is straight, the back
+straight and hollowed a little (the natural position); and the knees are
+straight. In short, you have a fine, erect carriage--_now keep it_.
+
+
+SEVEN MINOR BREATHING EXERCISES.
+
+Exercise I.
+
+(1) Stand erect with hands at sides. (2) Inhale complete breath.
+(3) Raise the arms slowly, keeping them rigid until the hands touch over
+head. (4) Retain the breath a few minutes with hands over head. (5)
+Lower hands slowly to sides exhaling slowly at the same time. (6)
+Practise cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise II.
+
+(1) Stand erect with arms straight in front of you. (2) Inhale
+complete breath and retain. (3) Swing arms back as far as they will go;
+then back to first position; then repeat several times, retaining the
+breath all the while. (4) Exhale vigorously through mouth. (5) Practise
+cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise III.
+
+(1) Stand erect with arms straight in front of you. (2) Inhale complete
+breath. (3) Swing arms around in a circle, backward, a few times. Then
+reverse a few times retaining the breath all the while. You may vary this
+by rotating them alternately like the sails of a wind-mill. (4) Exhale
+the breath vigorously through the mouth. (5) Practise cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise IV.
+
+(1) Lie on the floor with your face downward, and palms of hands flat
+upon the floor by your sides. (2) Inhale complete breath and retain.
+(3) Stiffen the body and raise yourself up by the strength of your arms
+until you rest on your hands and toes. (4) Then lower yourself to
+original position. Repeat several times. (5) Exhale vigorously through
+the mouth. (6) Practise cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise V.
+
+(1) Stand erect with your palms against the wall. (2) Inhale complete
+breath and retain. (3) Lower the chest to the wall, resting your
+weight on your hands. (4) Then raise yourself back with the arm muscles
+alone, keeping the body stiff. (5) Exhale vigorously through the mouth.
+(6) Practise cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise VI.
+
+(1) Stand erect with arms "akimbo" that is with hands resting around the
+waist and elbows standing out. (2) Inhale complete breath and retain. (3)
+Keep legs and hips stiff and bend well forward, as if bowing, at the same
+time exhaling slowly. (4) Return to first position and then take another
+complete breath. (5) Then bend backward exhaling slowly. (6) Return to
+first position and take a complete breath. (7) Then bend sideways
+exhaling slowly (vary by bending to right and then to left). (8) Practise
+cleansing breath.
+
+Exercise VII.
+
+(1) Stand erect or sit erect with straight spinal column. (2) Inhale a
+complete breath but instead of inhaling on a continuous steady stream,
+take a series of short, quick "sniffs" as if you were smelling aromatic
+salts and ammonia and did not wish to get too strong a "whiff." Do not
+exhale any of these little breaths, but add one to the other until the
+entire lung space is filled. (3) Retain for a few seconds. (4) Exhale
+through the nostrils in a long restful breath. (5) Practise cleansing
+breath.
+
+
+WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAINING.
+
+Do not attempt to take all the above exercises at one and the same
+time. Take them several times in the day. Never exercise immediately
+after a meal or before it. Do not try to force development as you will
+be apt to suffer from re-action. Slow and steady wins the race. Gentle
+and persistent exercises are advisable. That will lead to permanent
+development.
+
+
+EFFECT OF MIND AND BODY.
+
+It has been proved conclusively even on the physical plane that a
+"a Man thinketh in his heart so is he." The great thing to avoid is Fear
+and Worry thoughts. These and all other undesirable thoughts are due
+to bad health partially but it is even a greater truth that physical
+degeneration is due to bad thinking. Fear affects the heart. During
+epidemics such as plague, cholera, etc., you generally first project the
+deadly germs of Fear-Thoughts upon yourself and thus by weakening your
+mind you weaken your body and expose yourself to disease influence.
+Again, if you have some hereditary disease and if you accept adverse
+suggestions from ignorant people and keep telling yourself that such and
+such a disease has taken shelter in you and your body as its "fixed
+abode" you simply hasten your own end. The body and mind are
+interrelated. Thoughts materialize themselves in your body. You should
+get as far away from the idea of disease and old age and weaknesses as
+possible and hold the health-thoughts steadily before your mind. The only
+way in which to be quite immune from Disease is to Deny the Power of
+Disease on yourself. Say "I cannot be ill," "I will not admit disease."
+Health and strength are in the unyielding will. De-hypnotise yourself
+of that superstition that God sends disease. Your body is yours to
+control and keep healthy. God will give you--(He has already given you
+rather)--the Power to control your body. Remember always; you alone can
+save yourself. All Power and Wisdom are potentially resident in you.
+Have confidence and set that thing in motion, exercise it constantly and
+persistently and it shall grow and unfold. God is in you and you are in
+God. When you pray you are simply, although often unconsciously, helping
+that Latent Power to uncoil itself. Remember again: God will grant you
+the opportunity, the means, the wisdom, the ability to accomplish a
+thing, but You Shall Have to do the work yourself. Hence, you see, the
+illumined mind is quite necessary for perfect health. Get rid of all weak
+thoughts. Have a strong mind. Remember lastly:
+
+
+MIND ACTS UPON BODY IN ALL WAYS.
+
+Make your mind positive to your body. I have told you how to do so.
+Physical exercise plus Mental Exercise will put you on the road to
+Power and Poise. And side by side with this follow health-laws. But
+bear in mind that if you assert your power on your mind and body
+confidentially, they cannot but obey your commands. The body has an
+intelligence of its own. This intelligence knows its work perfectly. It
+is what you call Instinct. It digests your meals; assimilates and
+eliminates; repairs wastes; works the heart and controls the circulation;
+heals wounds and presides over all other natural and involuntary
+processes in the body. This Instinctive mind knows its work perfectly.
+But, mark you, this intelligence in the cells and nerve-centres of your
+body is negative to the Central Intelligence in the brain--the
+controlling centre--the "I Am" and is affected by suggestions, beliefs
+and thoughts in your brain. All you have got to do is to avoid projecting
+negative thoughts from your mind and let it alone. But suppose you have
+by violation of the Laws of Nature disturbed the action of the
+Instinctive Mind, disease results. Disease is simply the effect of nature
+to throw off unnatural conditions and re-assert natural conditions. In
+such a case all you have got to do is to re-establish natural states. You
+can do so by simply increasing the general vitality of the body and by
+changing your Mental Attitude. For instance, if you somehow or other have
+accepted the "belief" that your stomach is weak or your heart is weak or
+your liver is slow or your circulation is bad or your vitality is low,
+etc., your instinctive Mind will take up your Beliefs and work them out
+in no time physically. The Instinctive Mind--which is the same as the
+sub-conscious Mind working in the body--_never reasons_. It is on the
+plane of Automatism. Therefore, if you have done any such negative
+thinking your first step is to wipe out these noxious mental weeds by the
+Positive Denial. Say "No, No, No, my body is strong; my stomach is
+strong, my heart is strong, etc." In this form of suggestion you use
+positive Denial as well as Positive Affirmation. The former is
+destructive of evil if rightly applied, the latter is constructive of
+good. Belief and confident expectation are mighty forces. Be sure you
+apply them wisely. The power of mind over matter is supreme and a Proven
+Reality.
+
+
+RESERVE FORCE.
+
+Here I should like to draw your attention to the Reserve Power existing
+in your body. Of course there are soul-powers existing potentially
+within YOU which leap into brilliant expression as you succeed in
+developing and expanding your brain to a state of perfect responsiveness
+to the touch of your will. For really and truly your will, forming as it
+does the divine part of yourself, is always strong and must unfold "as a
+rose" by exercising itself, in the field of matter, force and mind;--all
+of which are subordinate to YOU and the real aim of human evolution is
+actually to place in your hands the wand of power.
+
+What is within your body is sure to find its correspondent outside in
+Nature. Control nature inside and you will move as a master out in this
+universe.
+
+Now without going into details let me tell you--if you do not know it
+already--that mind is the finest form of matter, and matter the grossest
+form of mind, and there is a constant interaction between the two poles.
+But since mind represents the positive end and matter the negative, the
+former can dominate the latter. You can evoke states of consciousness by
+applying stimulus to the periphery and again mental states evoke
+corresponding vibrations in the cellular life of body and brain.
+
+Hence you see your mind controls and forms your body. Also your body
+reacts upon your brain and affects that part of your mind which has to
+operate through the brain, which is matter pure and simple. So to keep
+aright the polarities of your brain and body a constant adjustment of
+forces is needed and thus you can establish POISE.
+
+In order always to be in a state of perfect health two things are
+necessary. Deny the power of disease over yourself. In the unyielding
+will is health. In the weak, vacillating, fearful mind is disease and
+death. At the same time always be in perfect magnetic trim with the
+physical laws of health. A knowledge of the latter and the ascension of a
+fearless mental attitude will open up hitherto unrecognised channels of
+physical and mental expression. Physiological researches have led sincere
+investigators to the inevitable conclusion that there is subtle, refined,
+dynamic substance, a reality that binds up the reorganization, causes
+growth, vitality and motion; repairs injuries; makes up losses; overcomes
+and cures diseases. Von Helment called it "Archeus"; Stahl called it
+"Anima;" Whytt called it the "sentiment principle;" Dr. Cullen called it
+"Caloric;" Dr. Darwin called it "Sensorial energy"; Rush called it
+"Occult cause;" and many other names such as "Vital Principle," "Living
+power," "Conservative Power," "Odic Force," etc., etc., have been given
+to it. We of India have recognised it and devised Yoga methods for
+controlling it; we call it Prana and only in India do you come across men
+who possess pranic control or control over universal energy.
+
+There exists in your physical organism reserve stores of vital energy
+stored away for your use, particularly in that central ganglion of your
+vital battery known as the Solar Plexus and generally in the chain of
+ganglia or storage batteries along and up your spine and elsewhere in
+other nerve-centres. The solar plexus is also known as the Abdominal
+Brain and your brain depends and draws upon this vital centre for its
+energies. You will find after the prolonged concentration and brain-work
+that this part of your body--at the back of pit of stomach--becomes
+warm. Now when you engage in physical exercise, for instance, you must
+have noticed how at first you soon get tired and all done up. But if you
+wait a little and then start again, you will find how the sense of
+fatigue has quite passed away and you can run your body under full
+pressure for a very long time, and the more you exert yourself the
+greater and more powerful the surging up of your vital energy. With each
+new exertion you seem to acquire a fresh start. This has puzzled
+physiologists. You will find a parallel phenomenon in mental work. You
+may experience a sense of weariness and fatigue in some brain-work which
+demands close thinking and attention, but if you attack your work a
+little later after the first effort you will do your work a surprising
+degree of freshness, vigour, and enthusiasm far surpassing the original
+attempt. Again everyone can and does put forth universal energy under
+pressure of some urgent necessity, which will startle even himself. No
+matter who you are and what your physical condition, there is an enormous
+amount of power in your body that has never been drawn upon at all
+and impatiently waiting for up-call. We go on in ordinary dog trot pace,
+resting, limping, "taking care of our health," and then we think we are
+doing our best. Do not permit your mind to be self-hypnotised into a
+false sense of being "exhausted" and "old." Neither of them is a fact
+except in your thought of yourself. All your powers are lying dormant.
+All your latent energies are lying unused. Back of your conscious
+mentality are tremendous energies awaiting the pull of your will. When
+your brain conceives of being something unusually great, at least so it
+may appear from your view-point, do not question your strength but go
+ahead unhesitatingly, fearlessly and steadily. Assert your life-force.
+Feel that you are young, strong and healthy and fit. Live in mental
+consciousness of power and never think of weakness. Keep your grip and
+run right along. Nature is sure to honor your draft. Nature is sure to
+give you strength, energy and vim, in boundless measure. Just try this
+my friends, you, who write me of "there being a serious lack of vitality"
+in your system and hence your inability to grapple with the occult. No
+such thing. Fact is you lack courage and initiative, pluck and "go" and
+you are labouring under the hypnotism of weakening thoughts. Just change
+your thoughts, and your reserve forces will rush out into activity
+and you will be a changed man in no time.
+
+
+HOW TO EXERCISE.
+
+In exercising aim at rhythm of motion. Let your movements be easy,
+regular, rhythmic and graceful. Take an interest in your work. Do pay
+attention. Put Will-Power and Mind into your work. Think of all it means.
+Do not fatigue yourself unduly. After exercise towelling or a spray-bath
+is advisable. Wet your towel, pass it over your body, rubbing thoroughly.
+Raise the towel and repeat. After exercise and towelling, you should be
+in a splendid glow. Be sure to keep the windows open when exercising.
+Fresh air is an absolute necessity. Never mind about cold and so forth.
+Remember the Positive Denial will fill you with Power of Resistance. Say
+"Cold cannot affect my body" and believe what you say. You can face
+anything in this way and remain untouched.
+
+
+BATHING AND LINEN.
+
+The student should bathe daily, using plenty of water, rubbing and
+cleaning the body from top to toe. I myself bathe very early in the
+morning, in all seasons, in cold water. Cold water stimulates circulation
+and is a wonderful tonic internally and externally. Warm water is
+soothing and relaxing in its effect. If you can bathe in the flowing
+water of a river, so much the better. Swimming is a wonderful bracer,
+besides being an enjoyment in itself. There is Prana in water and your
+body extracts this Prana from air, water and food. I cannot give you
+instructions as to different forms of bathing, as this is not a "doctor"
+book. As far as possible bathe twice a day, mornings and evenings; if
+not, once in the morning, using the towel at other times. Bathing is not
+merely pouring water on body but cleansing it out and out with water
+rubbing and scrubbing with hands and towels. Aim at perfect cleanliness.
+Cleanliness is Godliness and Health is Holiness.
+
+Then again while bathing if you let the water flow over your body
+and try to "appreciate the sensation" and dwell on the idea of
+Prana-absorption from water, you shall get double benefit.
+
+About linen--_Be neat_, for God's sake. I have seen orthodox people
+who bathe twice and wash their hands hundreds of times in the day, but
+whose clothes are sticky with dirt, sweat and oil. Whatever else it may
+mean, Religion does not mean squalor, offensive odours in body and
+clothes and general neglect of external clean linen and dirt. The Yogi
+is a man of supreme REFINEMENT. Read that word and understand all it
+means. The clothes you wear in day-time should not be worn at night. Be
+clean internally as well externally. Be clean. Be clean. Be clean, within
+as well as without.
+
+
+DRINKING WATER AND SWALLOWING AIR.
+
+Your body needs a reasonable supply of water and air. Water is used by
+nature in different ways. Form the habit of drinking pure water from
+5 to 8 tumblers a day. Drink slowly and form a mental image of
+Prana-absorption from the water.
+
+The student needs fresh air too in plenty. If your heart and lungs
+are in sound condition they will draw in air naturally and extract oxygen
+in proper quantities. If not, perform the following exercises carefully
+one by one in the open air every day. They are quite reliable.
+
+
+THE YOGI CLEANSING BREATH.
+
+(1) Inhale a complete breath. (2) Retain the air a few seconds.
+(3) Pucker up the lips as if for a whistle (but do not swell out the
+cheeks) then exhale a little air through the opening with considerable
+vigor. Then stop for a moment retaining the air and then exhale a little
+more air. Repeat until the air is completely exhaled. Remember that
+considerable vigor is to be used in exhaling air through the opening in
+the lips. This breath will be found quite refreshing when one is tired
+and generally "used up." A trial will convince the student of its merits.
+This exercise should be practised until it can be performed naturally and
+easily, as it is used to finish up a number of other exercises given in
+this book and it should be thoroughly understood.
+
+
+NERVE VITALISING BREATH.
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Inhale a complete breath and retain same. (3) Extend
+the arms straight in front of you, letting them somewhat limp and
+relaxed, with only sufficient nerve force to hold them out. (4) Slowly
+draw the hands back towards the shoulders gradually, contracting the
+muscles and putting force into them, so that when they reach the
+shoulders the fists will be so tightly clenched that a tremulous motion
+is felt. (5) Then keeping the muscles tense push the fists slowly out and
+then draw them back rapidly (still tense) several times. (6) Exhale
+vigorously through the mouth. (7) Practise the cleansing breath. (8)
+The efficiency of this exercise depends greatly upon the speed of the
+drawing back of the fists, and the tension of the muscles, and, of course
+upon the full lungs. This exercise must be tried to be appreciated. It
+is without equal as a "bracer" as our western friends put it.
+
+
+THE VOCAL BREATH.
+
+(1) Inhale a complete breath very slowly, but steadily, through the
+nostrils, taking as much time as possible in the inhalation. (2) Retain
+for a few seconds. (3) Expel the air vigorously in one great breath,
+through the wide-opened mouth. (4) Rest the lungs by the cleansing
+breath. This would give you a good, rolling voice.
+
+
+THE RETAINED BREATH.
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Inhale a complete breath. (3) Retain the
+breath as long as you can comfortably. (4) Exhale vigorously through
+the open mouth. (5) Practise the cleansing breath. At first you will
+be able to retain the breath only a short time, but a little practise
+will also show a great improvement. Time yourself with a watch, if you
+wish to note your progress.
+
+
+CELL STIMULATION.
+
+(1) Stand erect with hands in sides. (2) Breathe in very slowly and
+gradually. (3) While inhaling, gently tap the chest with the fingertips,
+constantly changing position. (4) When the lungs are filled, retain the
+breath and the chest with the palms of the hands. (5) Practise the
+cleansing breath.
+
+
+RIB STRETCHING.
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Place the hands one on each side of the body
+as high up in the armpits as convenient, the thumbs reaching towards
+the back, the palms on the side of the chest and the fingers to the front
+over the breast. (3) Inhale a complete breath. (4) Retain the air for
+a short time. (5) Then gently squeeze the sides at the same time slowly
+exhaling. (6) Practise the cleansing breath.
+
+
+CHEST EXPANSION
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Inhale a complete breath. (3) Retain the
+air. (4) Extend both arms forward and bring the two clenched fists
+together on a level with the shoulder. (5) Then swing back the fists
+vigorously until the arms stand out straight side-ways from the
+shoulders. (6) Then bring back to position (4) and swing to position
+(5). Repeat several times. (7) Exhale vigorously through the open mouth.
+(8) Practise the cleansing breath.
+
+
+WALKING EXERCISE.
+
+(1) Walk with head up, chin drawn slightly in, shoulders back, and
+with measured tread. (2) Inhale a complete breath, counting (mentally)
+1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, one count to each step making the inhalation
+extend over the eight counts. (3) Exhale slowly through the nostrils,
+counting as before 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, one count to a step. (4) Rest
+between breaths, continuing, walking and counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
+one count to a step. (5) Repeat until you begin to feel tired. Then rest
+for a while and resume at pleasure. Repeat several times a day. You may
+vary the exercise by retaining the breath during a 1, 2, 3, 4, count and
+then exhale in an eight-step count. Practise whichever plan seems most
+agreeable to you.
+
+
+MORNING EXERCISE.
+
+(1) Stand erect in a military attitude, head up, eyes front, shoulders
+back, knees stiff, hands at sides. (2) Raise body slowly on toes,
+inhaling a complete breath, steadily and slowly. (3) Retain the breath
+for a few seconds, maintaining the same position. (4) Slowly sink the
+first position at the same time slowly exhaling the air through the
+nostrils. (5) Practise cleansing breath. (6) Repeat several times,
+varying by using right leg alone, then left leg alone.
+
+
+STIMULATING CIRCULATION.
+
+(1) Stand erect. (2) Inhale a complete breath and retain. (3) Bend
+forward slightly and grasp a stick or cane steadily and firmly, and
+gradually exerting your entire strength upon the grasp. (4) Relax the
+grasp, return to first position, and slowly exhale. (5) Repeat several
+times. (6) Finish with the cleansing breath. (N. B.--_The above are
+from the Yoga Teachings_.)
+
+
+MEDITATION EXERCISE No. I.
+
+Retire into the silence. Say: I AM FEARLESS. Concentrate calmly on that
+idea. Think it out in all its bearings. See yourself in your mind's eye
+as possessing the desired quality and acting it out in actual life. Let
+your mind indulge in a good, strongly-dramatized day-dream. Only insist
+upon its sticking to the particular text of thought and always showing
+you successful at the end. Finish up with a vigorous affirmation of the
+"I am." Practise at the same hour daily for 6 months at least.
+
+
+Exercise No. II.
+
+Retire into the silence. Concentrate earnestly thus: _I send out
+strong, positive, healing thought-waves of love to all mankind. Let the
+disease-ridden become healthy. Let the weak become strong. Let the
+needy ones become prosperous and happy. Let the fearful ones become
+filled with courage. Let the cruel become kind and merciful. Let the
+hateful and hating ones become loving. Let the impure ones become
+pure. Let the bereaved, deserted, sorrow-stricken ones become soothed
+and comforted_.
+
+Picture to yourself strong waves of Thought-Force passing out of
+you and encircling the whole world. Picture the world as peopled with
+men and women manifesting the desired conditions.
+
+The more friends sit together in union of will and soul concentrating
+as above-indicated the better. Practise alone if you can find no earnest
+and serious-minded ones to join you.
+
+Believe in your power to so help humanity. The power of thought
+is unlimited. In blessing others bless yourself. The effect of this
+exercise will be far-reaching. It shall follow and be a blessing to you
+even after death. Practise regularly at the same place and time as far as
+possible.
+
+Be earnest in your work.
+
+Do not talk of your exercises to others.
+
+The above exercises will wonderfully develop and strengthen anyone who
+tries them. The deep breathing exercise already given is known as
+Pranayama or Controlling the Psychic Breath. Its main purpose is to
+give you control over your Prana and unfold the Psychic Force latent in
+you. Practised on an impure body and weak lungs it may do harm. Hence
+students are advised to undergo the above 10 breathing exercises first
+and then, when their lungs have developed the power of endurance, they
+should take that up. It will take time, patience, and serious work.
+But if the student is sufficiently energetic he will perfect all these
+exercises in six months. But follow nature's plan and be slow and steady.
+
+
+DIET.
+
+You all know that pure food brings pure blood. You should avoid
+the two extremes of gluttony and daily fasting and abstemiousness. You
+should know (1) What to eat (2) How to eat (3) When to eat.
+
+Concentrated food such as contains the maximum amount of nourishment
+in a minimum quantity should be used. The student should study some
+reliable hand book on the relative values of food and use his
+judgment. We ourselves use nuts, milk, fruits, whole wheat bread, rice
+in very small quantity, pulse, etc. Those who are non-meat eaters--and
+we advise it strongly--will do well to see to it that their _menu_ has a
+good supply of albuminous food, as vegetarians often run the risk of
+being overfed as to starch and underfed in nitrogenous foods.
+
+(2) Chew and masticate properly so as to extract the food-Prana in full
+and break up the food-substance into very small bits, reducing it to
+pulp. Do not be in a hurry to bolt your food but let it linger in your
+mouth so as to be properly insalivated and so that the nerves of the
+tongue, cheek, etc., may all absorb energy from food. Remember your
+stomach is not lined with rows of teeth. This will give you double the
+nourishment you get ordinarily, avoid constipation, prevent malnutrition,
+non-assimilation and over-eating. Out of a very small quantity of food
+you can extract perfect nourishment and thus you avoid loading and
+"stuffing" the stomach with unnecessary food. It is also economical in
+case you are a thrifty soul! Eat to live. Don't live to eat.
+
+(3) Eat when you are hungry. That cultivated "appetite" that craves for
+satisfaction at certain stated intervals of the day and brings on an
+"all-gone" fainting, nauseating sensation in the stomach is not real
+"hunger." In real hunger there is absolutely no sensation in the stomach
+but there is a rich and continuous flow of saliva in the mouth and that
+sort of thing makes you enjoy the plainest of fares. Even a dry crust
+of bread will taste sweet as Manna. Cut off your breakfasts. Drink
+cold water instead. Eat one good, nourishing meal at 12 A. M., and one
+light meal in the evening.
+
+Lastly, students, let plain living and high thinking be your motto.
+Do not be afraid to eat when you are hungry and so long as you exercise
+and work with brain and body even two square meals a day are permissible.
+Do not grow ethereal and airy, because then you will not amount to much
+in the world's work. Students, who are perfect Brahmacharies, will not
+care half as much for lots of food as ordinary folk do. A constant
+feeling of satisfaction and fullness is present in such. But hard
+workers must never be under-nourished and they require more food than
+others.
+
+
+SLEEP.
+
+It is the depth and relaxation in sleep that counts. High-strung people
+find it hard to relax and keep tossing on their pillows. Bathe your feet
+in cold water in hot season and in cool water in cold season. That will
+draw off the surplus blood gurgitating in your brain. Also bathe the nape
+of the neck. The student should engage in meditation before falling to
+sleep, as during sleep the Man leaves the physical form and goes to
+super-physical planes and it is the last train of thought in your mind
+that determines and conforms you to the special super-physical influence
+you are to obtain. The physical benefits too shall be great. You will
+feel more rested in this way and your sleep will be sleeping a sounder
+and more refreshing sleep than otherwise. One of the chief signs of
+success in Mental and Physical Control is that your sleeps are
+undisturbed and peaceful.
+
+During sleep you are in a passive, relaxed condition and all sorts
+of unseen influences play around you. It is good therefore to enclose
+yourself in an Astral Shell. Concentrate upon your aura and picture it
+as extending some 18 inches all around you and forming a shell around
+you. Now take this affirmation to concentrate your mind.
+
+1. I am charging my aura with my Will-Force.
+
+2. It is strong, strong, strong and can and will resist, repel and
+drive off all bad influences and admit only pure and holy influence.
+
+3. It will remain around me right along the period of my sleep.
+
+The student is advised to surround himself in this "auric Shell"
+even when awake so that it may beat off all malign and harmful
+thought-forces. As he grows in Will-Power and Self-Confidence, a
+Protective Aura will form around him naturally and will be felt by
+others.
+
+
+RELAXATION VERSUS CONTRACTION.
+
+The student should learn to relax his body completely so that it shall
+lie still and limp and soft as cotton. He should be able to tense and
+contract his muscles so that they will become hard as iron. In all the
+physical exercises you will find two special actions (1) Muscle
+contraction (2) Stretching. When you contract muscle and harden it, you
+have sent currents of nerve-force and will to that part; when you relax
+it, you "let go" completely. What we want is Strength in Repose ready
+to leap into action in the flash of an eye. We have taught you how to
+relax in Lesson 2 on Will-Force. You all have noticed a cat crouching
+for its prey. How intensely still it is; yet you know what such stillness
+means. It is very far from laziness. Relaxation husbands and conserves
+nerve-force. It is a great thing to be calm and silent. Calmness is the
+centralization of tremendous power. Practise being calm, as far as
+you can.
+
+
+SOLAR ENERGY.
+
+There is great electrical and thermal power in the sun's rays. If the
+human body be properly exposed to the sun during the first five hours
+in the morning and the evening, the body would absorb energy therefrom
+and gain in strength. Do not over do this, especially you of the warm
+climate.
+
+
+LAST WORD ON HEALTH.
+
+Trust Nature. It is her office to keep your body-machine running
+in perfect order. "Prevention is better than cure"--they say. Observe
+the healthy man. See how he lives and follow his example. But note
+that body is yours to control and God will not do that work for you.
+Also get rid of the stupidity that God sends diseases. Think, study and
+observe and you will know what Health Laws are.
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+Student, I have indicated the lines along which you are to seek the
+way to Spiritual Independence. I cannot run your life-affairs, solve your
+life-problems, do your work for you. I have pointed out a few principles,
+observe, think and complete your knowledge. You must climb the steps
+of the ladder of attainment and Self-Perfection yourself.
+
+Fear is a great stumbling-block in the way. Fight it down. Starve it out.
+Be earnest. Be thorough. Live your life silently and earnestly. Give
+others a helping hand whenever you can without that patronising air of
+superiority so characteristic of the modern snobs passing for
+"gentlemen." Be proud that you are an "Indian." Follow Indian ideals of
+greatness. Consider it a privilege to help deserving souls. We all need
+help, encouragement and guidance to some extent. Co-operation,
+interdependence are the basic foundations of human well-being. Be strong.
+Be manly. Be courageous. Be great and good. Take your place in the
+world's evolutionary progress and lend your hand in turning the wheel
+of life. In the same measure that you help others, shall you yourself be
+helped on all planes of life. Be reasonable. Be just and fair unto
+others. Be a source of blessing unto others. So long as you labour under
+the vitiating influence of negative thoughts, you cannot achieve much in
+any direction. I have told you "how" you are to proceed.
+
+May God bless you. May he guide, help and strengthen where I have failed.
+
+SWAMI MUKERJI.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga, by A. P. Mukerji
+
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