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Raja Yoga or Mental Development
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Sub-Conscious Influences.
In
this lesson we wish to touch upon a certain feature of
sub-conscious mentation that has been much dwelt upon by certain schools of
western writers and students during the past twenty
years, but which has also been misunderstood, and,
alas, too often misused, by some of those who have been attracted to the subject.
We allude to what has been called the "Power of
Thought." While this power is very real, and like any
other of the forces of nature may be properly used and
applied in our every day life, still many students of the power of the Mind have misused it and have stooped to practices worthy only of the followers of the schools of "Black Magic." We hear on all sides of the use of "treatments" for selfish and often base ends, those
following these practices seeming to be in utter ignorance of the occult laws brought into operation, and the terrible reaction inevitably falling to the lot of those
practicing this negative form of mental influence. We have been amazed at the
prevailing ignorance concerning the nature and
effects of this improper use of mental force, and
at the same time, at the common custom of such selfish, improper uses. This, more particularly, when the true occultist knows that these things
are not necessary, even to those who seek
"Success" by mental forces. There is a true method of the use of mental forces, as well as an proper
use, and we trust that in this lesson we may be able
to bring the matter sharply and clearly before the minds of our students.
In our
first course (The Fourteen Lessons) in the several
lessons entitled, respectively, "Thought Dynamics," "Telepathy, etc.," and "Psychic
Influence," we have given a general idea of the effect of one mind
upon other minds, and many other
writers have called the attention
of the Western
world to the same
facts. There has been a general awakening of interest in this phase of the subject
among the Western people of late
years, and many and wonderful are
the theories that have been advanced among the conflicting schools regarding the matter. But, notwithstanding
the conflicting theories, there is a general agreement upon the fundamental
facts. They all agree that the mental forces may be used to
affect oneself and others, and many
have started in to use these mental forces for their own selfish ends
and purposes, believing that they were
fully justified in so doing, and being unaware of the web of psychic causes and effects which they were weaving around them
by their practices.
Now, at the beginning, let us impress upon the minds of our students the fact that while it is undoubtedly
true that people who arc unaware of the true
sources of strength within them, may be, and often are
affected by mental force exerted by others, it is
equally true that no one can be adversely affected
in this way providing he realizes the "I" within himself, which is the only
Real part of him, and which is an
impregnable tower of strength against the assaults of others. There is
no cause for all of this fear that is being
manifested by many Western students
of thought-power, who are in constant dread of being "treated" adversely by other people. The man or woman who realizes the "I"
within, may by the slightest
exercise of the Will surround himself with a mental aura which will repel adverse thought-waves emanating from the minds of others. Nay, more
than thisthe habitual recognition of the "I," and a few moments' meditation upon it each day, will of
itself erect such an aura, and will
charge this aura with a vitality that will turn back adverse thought,
and cause it to return to the source from
which it came, where it will serve
the good purpose of bringing to the
mistaken mind originating it, the conviction that such practices are hurtful and to be avoided.
This
realization of the "I," which we brought out in the
first few lessons of the present series, is the best and
only real method of self-protection. This may be easily
understood, when we remind you that the whole phenomena
of mental influencing belongs to the "illusion"
side of existencethe negative sideand that the Real and Positive side
must of necessity be stronger. Nothing can
affect the Real in youand the nearer
you get to the Real, in realization and understanding, the stronger do you become. This is the whole
secret. Think it over.
But,
there are comparatively few people who are able to
rest firmly in the "I" consciousness all the time, and the others
demand help while they are growing. To such, we would say "Creep as
close the Realization of the I, as
possible, and rest your spiritual feet firmly upon the rock of the Real
Self." If you feel that people, circumstances, or things are influencing you unduly, stand up boldly, and deny the
influence. Say something like this, "I DENY the power or influence
of persons, circumstances, or things to adversely
affect me. I ASSERT my Reality, Power and Dominion over these things." These words may seem very simple, but when uttered with the
consciousness of the Truth underlying them, they become as a mighty
force. You will understand, of course, that there is no magic or virtue in the
words themselves that is, in the grouping of the letters forming the words, or the sounds of the wordsthe virtue
resting in the idea of which
the words are the expression. You will be surprised at the effect of
this STATEMENT upon depressing, or adverse influences surrounding you. If youyou
who are reading these words now feel
yourself subject to any adverse or depressing influences, will then stand up
erect, throwing your shoulders back,
raising your head, and looking boldly and fearlessly ahead, and repeat
these words firmly, and with faith, you will feel the adverse influences
disappearing. You will almost see
the cloud falling back from you. Try it now, before reading further,
and you will become conscious of a
new strength and power.
You are perfectly justified in thus denying adverse influence, You have a perfect right to drive back threatening or depressing thought-clouds. You have a perfect right to take your stand upon the Rock of Truthyour Real Selfand demand your Freedom. These
negative thoughts of the world in general, and of some
people in particular, belong to the dark side of life, and you have a right
to demand freedom from them. You do not
belong to the same side of life, and
it is your privilegeyes, your dutyto repel them and bid them disappear from your horizon. You are a Child of
Light, and it is your right and duty to
assert your freedom from the things of darkness. You are merely asserting the Truth when you affirm your superiority and dominion over these dark
forces. And in the measure of your
Recognition and Faith, will be the
power at your disposal. Faith and Recognition renders man a god. If we could but fully recognize and realize just what we are, we could
rise above this entire plane of
negative, dark world of thought. But we have become so blinded and stupefied with the race-thought of fear and weakness,
and so hypnotized with the
suggestions of weakness that we hear
on all sides of us, that even the best of us find it hard to avoid occasionally sinking back into the lower depths of despair and discouragement. But, let us remember this, brothers and sisters, that
these periods of "back-sliding" become less frequent, and last a shorter time, as we proceed. Bye-and-bye we
shall escape them altogether.
Some may think that we are laying too much stress upon
the negative side of the question, but we feel that what we have said is
timely, and much needed by many who read these lessons. There has been so much said regarding this negative, adverse
power of thought, that it is well
that all should be taught that it is in their power to rise above this
thingthat the weapon for its defeat
is already in their hand.
The most advanced student may
occasionally forget that he is superior to the adverse influence of the race-thought, and other clouds of thought influence that happen to be in his
neighborhood. When we think of how few there are who arc sending forth the positive,
hopeful, thought-waves, and how many are sending
forth continually the thoughts of discouragement, fear, and despair, it is no wonder that at times there comes to us a feeling of discouragement, helplessness, and
"what's the use." But we must
be ever alert, to stand up and deny these
things out of existence so far as our
personal thought world is concerned.
There is a wonderful occult truth in the
last sentence. We arc the makers, preservers, and
destroyers of our personal thought-world. We may bring into it that which we desire to appear; we may keep there what we wish, cultivating,
developing and unfolding the thought-forms
that we desire; we may destroy that which we wish to keep out. The "I" is the master of its thought-world.
Think over this great truth, O student! By Desire we call into
existenceby affirmation we preserve
and encourageby Denial we destroy.
The Hindus
in their popular religious conceptions picture the One Being as a Trinity, composed
of Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver,
and Siva, the Destroyernot three gods, as is
commonly supposed, but a Trinity composed of three
aspects of Deity or Being. This idea of the threefold
Being is also applicable to the Individual-"as above
so below.'' The "I" is the Being
of the Individual, and the thought-world is its
manifestation. It creates, preserves, and destroys as it Will. Carry this idea with you, and realize that your individual thought-world is your own field of manifestation. In it you are constantly creating constantly
preservingconstantly destroying. And if you can destroy anything in your own
thought-world you remove it from its field of
activity, so far as you are concerned. And if you create
anything in your own thought-world, you bring it
into active being, so far as you are (concerned. And
if you preserve anything, you keep it by you in
effect and full operation and influence in your life. This
truth belongs to the higher phases of the subject, for its explanation is inextricably
bound up in the explanation of the "Thing-in-Itself"the
Absolute and Its Manifestations. But even
what we have said above, should give to the alert
student sufficient notice to cause him to grasp the facts
of the case, and to apply the principles in his own life.
If one lives on the plane of the race-thought, he is subject to its
laws, for the law of cause and effect is in
full operation on each plane of life.
But when one raises himself above the
race-thought, and on to the plane of the
Recognition of the Real SelfThe "I"then
does he extricate himself from the lower laws of cause and effect, and
places himself on a higher plane of
causation, in which he plays a much higher
part And so we are constantly reminding you that your tower of strength and refuge lies on the higher plane. But, nevertheless, we must deal
with the tilings and laws of the
lower plane, because very few who
read these lessons are able to rest entirely upon the higher plane. The great
majority of them have done no more
than to lift themselves partially on to the higher plane, and they are
consequently living on both planes,
partly in each, the consequence being
that there is a struggle between the conflicting laws of the two planes.
The present stage is one of the hardest on
the Path of Attainment, and resembles the birth-pains of the physical
body. But you are being bom into a higher
plane, and the pain after becoming
the most acute will begin to ease, and in the end will disappear, and then will come peace and calm. When the
pain becomes the most acute, then be cheered
with the certainty that you have reached the crisis of your new spiritual birth, and that you will soon gain peace. And then you will see that the
peace and bliss will be worth all
the pain and struggle. Be brave,
fellow followers of The PathDeliverance is nigh. Soon will come the
Silence that follows the Storm. The pain
that you are experiencingah, well do
we know that you are experiencing the painis not
punishment, but is a necessary part of your growth. All life follows
this planthe pains of labor and birth ever
precede the Deliverance. Such is Life and Life is based upon Truthand all is
well with the world. We did not
intend to speak of these things in this lesson, but as we write there
conies to us a great cry for help and a
word of encouragement and hope, from the Class which is taking this course of lessons, and we feel bound to respond as we have
done. Peace be with youone and all.
And,
now we will begin our consideration of the laws
governing what we have called "Sub-conscious Influence."
All students of the Occult are
aware of the fact that men may be, and are, largely
influenced by the thoughts of others. Not only is this the case in instances where
thoughts
are directed from the mind of one person to the mind of another, but also when
there is no special direction or intention in the thought sent forth.
The vibrations of thoughts linger in the astral atmosphere long
after the effort that sent forth the
thought has passed.
The astral atmosphere is
charged with the
vibrations of thinkers
of many years past, and still
possesses sufficient vitality to
affect those whose minds are ready to receive them at this time.
And we all attract to us thought vibrations corresponding in
nature with those which we are in the habit of entertaining. The Law of Attraction is in full operation, and one who makes a
study of the subject may see
instances of it on all sides. We
invite to ourselves these thought vibrations by maintaining
and entertaining thoughts along certain lines.
If we cultivate a habit of thinking along the lines of
Cheerfulness, Brightness and Optimism, we attract
to ourselves similar thought vibrations of others and
we will find that before long we will find all sorts of
cheerful thoughts pouring into our minds from all
directions. And, likewise, if we harbor thoughts of Gloom,
Despair, Pessimism, we lay ourselves open to the
influx of similar thoughts which have emanated from the
minds of others. Thoughts of Anger, Hate, or Jealousy attract similar thoughts
which serve to feed the flame and keep alive
the fire of these low emotions. Thoughts of Love tend
to draw to ourselves the loving thoughts of others which tend to
fill us with a glow of loving emotion.
And not only are we affected in this way by the thoughts of others, but what is known as "Suggestion" also plays an important part in this matter of sub-conscious
influence. We find that the mind has a tendency
to reproduce the emotions, moods, shades of thought,
and feelings of other persons, as evidenced by their
attitude, appearance, facial expression, or words.
If we associate with persons of a gloomy temperament, we run the risk of
"catching" their mental trouble
by the law of suggestion, unless we understand this law and counteract
it. In the same way we find that cheerfulness is contagious, and if we keep in the company of cheerful people we are very
apt to take on their mental quality. The same rule applies to frequenting the company of unsuccessful or successful people, as the case
may be. If we allow ourselves
to take up the suggestions constantly emanating from them, we will find
that our minds will begin to reproduce the
tones, attitudes, characteristics, dispositions
and traits of the other persons, and before long we will be living on the same mental plane. As we have repeatedly said, these things are true
only when we allow ourselves to
"take on" the impressions, but unless one has mastered the law
of suggestion, and understands its principles and operations he is more or less
apt to be affected by it. All of you readily recall the effect of certain persons upon
others with whom they come in contact. One has a faculty of inspiring with vigor and energy those in whose company he happens to be. Another depresses those around him, and is avoided as a "human
wet-blanket." Another will cause a feeling of uneasiness
in those around him, by reason of his prevailing attitude of distrust,
suspicion,* and low cunning. Some carry
an atmosphere of health around them, while others seem to be surrounded with a
sickly aura of disease, even when their
physical condition does not seem to indicate the lack of health. Mental states have a subtle way of impressing themselves upon us, and the student who will take the trouble to
closely observe those with whom he comes in contact will receive a liberal education along these lines.
There is of course a great difference in the degree of suggestibility
among different persons. There are those who
are almost immune, while at the other end of
the line are to be found others who are so constantly
and strongly impressed by the suggestions of others,
conscious or unconscious, that they may be said to
scarcely have any independent thought or will of their
own. But nearly all persons are suggestible to a greater or lesser degree.
It
must not be supposed from what we have said that alt
suggestions are "bad," harmful, or undesirable.
Many suggestions are very good for us, and coming at
the right time have aided us much. But, nevertheless,
it is well to always let your own mind pass upon these suggestions, before
allowing them to manifest in your sub-conscious mind. Let the final decision be your ownand not the will of another although you may have
considered outside suggestions in connection with the matter.
Remember
always that YOU are an Individual, having a
mind and Will of your own. Rest firmly upon the base
of your "I" consciousness, and you will find yourself able to
manifest a wonderful strength against the
adverse suggestions of others. Be your own Sug-gestortrain
and influence your subconscious mind Yourself,
and do not allow it to be tampered with by the suggestions of others. Grow the
sense of Individuality.
There
has been much written of recent years in the Western
world regarding the effect of the Mental Attitude
upon Success and attainment upon the material plane.
While much of this is nothing but the wildest imagining,
still there remains a very firm and solid substratum of truth underlying
it all.
It is undoubtedly true that
one's prevailing mental attitude is constantly manifesting and objectifying itself in his life. Things, circumstances, people, plans, all seem to fit into
the general ideal of the strong mental
attitude of a man. And this from the
operation of mental law along a number of lines of action. In the first place, the mind when directed toward
a certain set of objects becomes very alert to discover things concerning those objectsto seize
upon things, opportunities, persons,
ideas, and facts tending to promote
the objects thought of. The man who is
looking for facts to prove certain theories, invariably finds them, and is also quite likely to overlook facts
tending to disprove his theory. The
Optimist and the Pessimist passing along
the same streets, each sees
thousands of examples tending to fit in with his idea. As Kay says: "When one is engaged in
seeking for a thing, if he keep the image of it clearly before the
mind, he will he very likely to find it, and that too, probably, where it would
otherwise have escaped his notice. So when one is engaged in thinking on a subject, thoughts of things resembling
it, or bearing upon it, and tending to illustrate it, come up on every
side. Truly, we may well say of the
mind, as has been said of the eye, that 'it perceives only what it brings within the power of
perceiving.'" John Burroughs
has well said regarding this that "No one ever found the walking
fern who did not have the walking fern in his mind. A person whose eye is full of Indian relics picks them up in
every field he walks through. They are
quickly recognized because the eye has been
commissioned to find them." When
the mind is kept firmly fixed upon some ideal or aim, its whole and varied powers are bent toward the realization and
manifestation of that ideal. In thousands
of ways the mind will operate to objectify the subjective mental attitude, a
great proportion of the mental effort
being accomplished along sub-conscious
lines. It is of the greatest importance to one who wishes to succeed in any undertaking, to keep before his mind's eye
a clear mental image of that which he
desires. He should picture the thing desired, and himself as securing
it, until it becomes almost real. In this
way he calls to his aid his entire mental force and power, along the
sub-conscious lines, and, as it were, makes a clear path over which he
may walk to accomplishment. Bain says
regarding this: "By aiming at a new construction, we must clearly conceive what is aimed at. Where we have a very distinct and intelligible model before us, we are in
a fair way to succeed; in proportion
as the ideal is dim and wavering, we
stagger or miscarry." Maudsley says: "We cannot do an act voluntarily unless we know what we are
going to do, and we cannot know exactly
what we are going to do until we have taught ourselves to do it." Carpenter says: "The continued concentration of attention upon a certain idea
gives it a dominant power, not only
over the mind, but over the body." Muller says: "The idea of
our own strength gives strength to our
movements. A person who is confident of effecting anything by muscular efforts will do it more easily than one not so
confident of his own
power." Tanner says: "To
believe firmly is almost tantamount in the end to accomplishment. Extraordinary
instances are related showing the influence
of the will over even the involuntary muscles." Along the same lines, many Western writers have added
their testimony to the Yogi principle of the manifestation
of thought into action. Kay has written:
"A clear and accurate idea of what we wish to do, and how it is to be effected, is of the utmost value and
importance in all the affairs of life.
A man's conduct naturally shapes
itself according to the ideas in his mind, and nothing contributes more to
success in life than having a high ideal and keeping it constantly in view.
Where such is the case one can hardly fail in attaining it. Numerous unexpected circumstances will be found to conspire to bring it
about, and even what seemed at first to be hostile may be converted into means for its furtherance; while by
having it constantly before the
mind he will be ever ready to take
advantage of any favoring circumstances that may present themselves."
Along the same lines, Foster
has written these remarkable words: "It is wonderful how even the
casualties of life seem to bow to a spirit that will not bow to them,
and yield to subserve a design which they
may, in their first apparent tendency,
threaten to frustrate. When a firm,
decisive spirit is recognized, it is
curious to see how the space clears
around a man and leaves him room and freedom."
Simpson has said: "A passionate desire and an unwearied will can
perform impossibilities, or what seem to be such to the cold and
feeble." And Maudsley gives to aspiring youth a great truth,
when he says: "Thus it is that aspirations are often prophecies, the harbingers of what a man shall be in a
condition to perform." And we may conclude the paragraph
by quoting Lytton: "Dream, O youth, dream manfully and nobly, and thy dreams shall be prophets." This
principle of the power of the Mental Image is
strongly impressed upon the mind of the chela, or student, by the Yogi
teachers. The student is taught that just as the house is erected in accordance
with the plan of the architect, so is one's life built in accordance
with the prevailing Mental Image. The
mind sub-consciously moulds itself around the prevailing mental image or attitude, and then proceeds to
draw upon the cuter world for
material with which to build in
accordance with the plan. Not only is
one's character built in this way, but the circumstances and incidents
of his life follow the same rule. The
Yogi student is instructed into the
mysteries of the power of the mind in this direction, not that he may make use
of it to build up material success, or to realize his personal desiresfor he is taught to avoid these
things-but he is fully instructed,
nevertheless, that he may understand
the workings of the law around him. And it is a fact well known to close
students of the occult, that the few who have attained extraordinarily high
degrees of development, make use of this power in order to
help the race. Many a world movement has been directed by the mind, or minds,
of some of these advanced souls who were able to
see the ideal of evolution ahead of the race, and
by visualizing the same, and concentrating upon it
in meditation, actually hastened the progress of the
evolutionary wave, and caused to actually manifest that which they saw, and upon which they had
meditated.
It is true that some
occultists have used similar plans to
further their own selfish personal endsoften without fully realizing
just what power they were employingbut this
merely illustrates the old fact that the
forces of Nature may be used rightly and wrongly. And it is all the more
reason why those who are desirous of
advancing the raceof assisting in the evolution of the worldshould make use of this mighty power in
their work. Success is not reprehensible,
notwithstanding the fact that many have
interpreted and applied the word in
such a matter as to make it appear as if it had no other meaning or
application other than the crude, material selfish one generally attributed to it, by reason of its misuse. The Western world is playing its part in the evolution of the race, and its
keynote is "Accomplishment."
Those who have advanced so high that
they are able to view the world of men, as one sees a valley from a
mountain peak, recognize what this strenuous Western life means.
They see mighty forces in operationmighty principles being worked out by those who little
dream of the ultimate significance of
that which they are doing. Mighty things are before
the Western world to-daywonderful changes are
going ongreat things are in the womb of time, and the
hour of birth draws near. The men and women in the Western world feet within them the mighty urge to
"accomplish" somethingto
take an active part in the great drama of life. And they are right in
giving full expression to this urge, and
are doing well in using every legitimate
means in the line of expression. And this idea of the Mental Attitude, or the Mental Image, is one of the greatest factors in this striving for Success.
In this lesson we do not purpose giving "Success Talks" for our students. These lessons are intended to fill another field, and there are many other channels of information
along the lines named. What we wish to do
is to point out to our students the meaning
of all this strenuous striving of the age, in the Western world, and the leading principle employed therein. The
great achievements of the material
world are being accomplished by means of the Power of the Mind. Men are beginning to understand that "Thought manifests itself in
Action," and that Thought
attracts to itself the things, persons and circumstances in harmony with itself. The Power of Mind is
becoming manifest in hundreds of ways. The
power of Desire, backed by Faith and Will, is beginning to be recognized as one of the greatest of known dynamic forces. The life of the race is entering into a new and strange stage of
development and evolution, and in the years to come MIND will be seen,
more clearly and still more clearly, to be the great
principle underlying the world of material things and happenings. That "All is Mind" is more than a dreamy,
metaphysical utterance, is being recognized by the leaders in the world's
thought.
As we
have said, great changes are before the world and the
race, and every year brings us nearer to the beginning
of them. In fact, the beginning is
already upon us.
Let any thinker stop and reflect over the wonderful changes
of the past six yearssince the dawning of
the Twentieth Century, and he will be dull indeed if he sees not the trend of affairs. We are entering into
a new Great Cycle of the race, and the old is being prepared for being dropped off like an old worn out husk.
Old conventions, ideals, customs, laws, ethics, and things sociological, economical, theological, philosophical, and metaphysical have
been outgrown, and are about to be "shed" by the race. The
great cauldron of human thought is bubbling away
fiercely, and many things are rising to its surface. Like all great changes,
the good will come only with much painall birth is with pain. The race feels the pain and perpetual
unrest, but knows not what is the disease
nor the remedy. Many false cases of diagnosis and prescription are even now
noticeable, and will become still more in evidence as the years roll by. Many
self-styled saviours of the raceprescribers for the pain of the soul and mindwill arise and fall. But
out of it all will come that for which the race now waits.
The changes that are before us are as great as the changes in thought
and life described in the late novel by H. G.
Wells, entitled "In the Days of the Comet." In fact, Mr. Wells has indicated in that story some of the
very changes that the advanced souls of the race have informed their students are before the race the
prophetic insight of the writer named seems marvelous,
until one realizes that even that writer is being used
as a part of the mental machinery of The Change itself. But the change
will not come about by reason of the new
gas caused by the brushing of the
earth's surface by a passing comet. It will come from the unfolding of the race mind, the process being now under way. Are not the signs of mental unrest and discomfort becoming more and more apparent as the days go by? The pain is growing
greater, and the race is beginning
to fret and chafe, and moan. It
knows not what it wants, but it knows that it feels pain and wants something to relieve that pain.
The old things are beginning to
totter and fait, and ideas rendered
sacred by years of observance are being brushed aside with a startling display of irreverence. Under the surface of our civilization we may hear
the straining and groaning of the
ideas and principles that are
striving to force their way out on to the plane of manifestation.
Men are running hither and thither crying for a leader and a
saviour. They are trying this thing, and that thing, but they find not that
which they seek. They cry for Satisfaction, but it eludes them.
And yet all this search and
disappointment is part of the Great Change, and is
preparing the race for That-which-must-Come. And yet the relief will not come from any
Thing or Things. It will come from Within. Just as when, in Wells' story, things righted them-selves when the
vapor of the comet had cleared men's minds,
so will Things take their new places when the mind of
the race becomes cleared by the new unfoldment that is even now under
way. Men are beginning to feel each other's painsthey find
themselves unsatisfied by the old
rule of "every man for himself, and
the devil take the hindmost"it used to content the successful, but
now it doesn't seem to be so satisfying. The man on top is becoming lonesome, and dissatisfied, and discontentedhis success seems
to appall him, in some mysterious manner. And the man underneath feels
stirring within himself strange longings
and desires, and dissatisfaction. And
new frictions are arising, and new
and startling ideas are being
suddenly advanced, supported and opposed.
And
the relations between people seem to be unsatisfactory.
The old rules, laws, and bonds are proving irksome.
New, strange, and wild thoughts are coming into
the minds of people, which they dare not utter to their
friendsand yet these same friends are finding
similar ideas within themselves. And somehow,
underneath it all is to be found a certain Honestyyes,
there is where the trouble seems to come, the world
is tiring of hypocrisy and dishonesty in all human
relations, and is crying aloud to be led
back, someway,
to Truth and Honesty in Thought and Action. But it does not see the
way out! And it will not see the way out,
until the race-mind unfolds still further.
And the pain of the new unfoldment is stirring the race to its depths. From
the deep recesses of the race-mind
arc rising to the surface old passions, relics from the cave-dweller days, and all sorts of ugly mental relics of the past. And they will continue
to rise and show themselves until at
last the bubbling pot will begin to
quiet down, and then will come a new peace,
and the best will come to the surfacethe essence of all the experiences of the race.
To
our students, we would say: During the struggle ahead of the race, play well
your part, doing the best you can, living each day by itself, meeting each new phase of life with confidence and courage. Be not deluded by appearances, nor follow after strange prophets.
Let the evolutionary processes work themselves
out, and do you fall in with the wave without struggling,
and without overmuch striving. The Law is working itself out wellof that be
assured. Those who have entered into even a partial understanding and
recognition of the One Life underlying, will find that
they will be as the chosen people during the changes
that arc coming to the race. They have attained
that which the race is reaching toward in pain and travail. And the force
behind the Law will carry them along, for they will be the
leaven that is to lighten the great mass of the race in the
new dispensation. Not by deed, or by action, but
by Thought, will these people leaven the mass. The
Thought is even now at work, and all who
read these words are playing a part
in the work, although they may know it not If' the race could realize this truth of the One Life underlying, to-day, the Change would occur in a moment, but it will not come in that way. When this
understanding gradually dawns upon the racethis new consciousnessthen will Things take their proper places, and the Lion and the Lamb lie down
together in peace.
We
have thought it well to say these things in this the last lesson of this
course. They are needed words they will serve to point
out the way to those who are able to read. "Watch and wait for the
Silence that will follow the Storm."
In this series of lessons we have endeavored to give you
a plain, practical presentation of some of the more important
features of "Raja Yoga." But this phase of the subject, as important and interesting as it is, is not the highest phase of the great Yoga teachings. It is merely the preparation of the soil of the mind for what comes afterward. The phase called "Gnani Yoga"the
Yoga of Wisdomis the highest of all the
various phases of Yoga, although each of the lower steps is important in itself. We find ourselves approaching the phase
of our work for which we have long wished. Those who
have advised and directed this work have counseled us to
deal with the less advanced and simpler phases, in
order to prepare the minds of those who might be
interested, so that they would be ready for the higher
teachings. At times we have felt an
impatience for the coming of the day when we would be able to teach the highest
that has come to us. And now the
time seems to have come. Following
this course, we will begin a series of lessons in "GNANI
YOGA"-the Yoga of Wisdom in which we
will pass on to our students the highest teachings regarding the Reality and its Manifestationsthe One and the
Many. The teachings that "All is
Mind" will be explained in such a manner as to be understood by all who have followed us so far. We wilt be able to impart to you the higher truths
about Spiritual Evolution, sometimes
called "Reincarnation," as
well as Spiritual Cause and Effect, often called "Karma." The highest truths about these important subjects are often obscured by popular
misconceptions occasioned by partial
teaching. We trust that youour
studentswill wish to follow us still higherhigher than we have
ventured so far, and we assure you that
there is a Truth to be seen and known
that is as much higher than the other phases upon which we have touched, as those phases have been higher than the current beliefs of the masses
of the race. We trust that the Powers of Knowledge may guide and direct us that we may be able to
convey our message so that it may be
accepted and understood. We thank our students who have traveled thus far with us, and we assure them that
their loving sympathy has ever been
a help and an inspiration to us. Peace be with you.
MANTRAM
(OR AFFIRMATION).
There
is but One LifeOne Life Underlying. This Life is manifesting through ME, and
through every other shape, form, and thing. I
am resting on the bosom of the Great Ocean of
Life, and it is supporting me, and will carry me
safely, though the waves rise and fallthough the storms
rage and the tempests roar. I am safe on the
Ocean of Life, and rejoice as I fee! the sway of its
motion. Nothing can harm methough changes may come
and go, I am Safe. I am One with the All Life, and its Power, Knowledge,
and Peace are behind, underneath, and within Me. O! One Life!
express Thyself through mecarry me now on
the crest of the wave, now deep down in
the trough of the oceansupported always by Theeall is good to me, as I feel
Thy life moving in and through me. I am Alive, through thy life, and I open myself to thy full manifestation and
inflow.
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