XXX. Regeneration
In this chapter we can but briefly direct your attention to a subject of vital importance to the race, but which the race generally is not ready to seriously consider. Owing to the
present state of public opinion upon this subject, it is impossible to write as
plainly as one would like, or as is really
necessary, and all writings upon the
subject in question are apt to be considered as "impure,"
although the only object of the writer may
be to counteract the impurity and improper practices indulged by the
public. However, some brave writers have
managed to give the public a very fair acquaintance with the subject of
regeneration, so that the majority
of our readers will readily understand what we mean.
We will not take up the important subject of the use of regeneration as applied to the relation of the two sexes,
as that subject is so important as to require a volume by
itself, and then, besides, this work is scarcely the one in which this subject
should be discussed in detail. We will, however, say a few words on the subject. The Yogis regard as wholly unnatural the
excesses entered into by the
majority of men, and into which they
compel their partners in matrimony to join. They believe that the sex-principle is too sacred to be so abused,
and feel that man often descends below the level
of the brute in his sex relations. With but one or two exceptions the lower animals have sexual
relations only for
the purpose of perpetuating their kind, and sexual
excesses, drains and waste such as man indulges in is
almost entirely unknown to the lower animal.
As man has advanced in the scale of life, however, he
has brought to light new functions of sex, and there is an
interchange of certain higher principles between the
sexes, which does not occur to the brutes or to the more
material forms of human life-this is reserved for the man and woman of
developed mentality and spirituality. Proper relations between husband and wife tend to elevate, strengthen, and ennoble, instead
of degrading, weakening and
defiling the participants, as is the
case when the said relation is based upon mere sensuality. This is the reason that there is so much
marital inharmony and discord when one of the partners rises to a higher plane of thought, and finds that
his or her partner is unable to
follow. Thereafter their mutual relations
arc upon different planes, and they fail to find in each other that
which they might wish for. This is all we
wish to say upon this particular part of the subject here. There are a number of good books upon the subject, that our students may find by inquiring
at the centres for advanced thought literature in the different cities and towns. We will confine ourselves in the
remainder of this short chapter to
the discussion of the subject of the importance of preserving sexual
strength and health.
While leading a life in which the actual relations of the sexes does not
play an important part, the Yogis recognize and appreciate
the importance of healthy reproductive organism, and their effect upon the
general health of the individual. With these organs in a weakened condition the entire physical system feels the reflex action and suffers sympathetically. The
Complete Breath (described elsewhere in this book) produces a rhythm which is nature's own plan for keeping this important
part of the system in normal condition, and, from the first, it will be noticed that the reproductive functions are strengthened and vitalized,
thus, by sympathetic reflex action, giving tone to the whole system. By
this we do not mean that the animal passions will be aroused-far from it. The
Yogis are advocates of continence and chastity, and purity in the marriage
relation as well as out of it. They have learned
to control the animal passions, and to hold them subject to the control
of the higher principles of the mind and will. But sexual control docs not mean
sexual weakness, and the Yogi teachings are that the man or woman whose
reproductive organism is normal and
healthy will have a stronger will with which to control himself or
herself. The Yogi believes that much of the
perversion of this wonderful part of the system comes from a lack of normal
health and results from a morbid
rather than from a normal condition of the reproductive system.
The Yogis also know that the
sex-energy may be conserved and used for the development of the body and mind
of the individual, instead of being dissipated in unnatural excesses as is the
wont of so many uninformed people.
We give in the following pages, one
of the favorite Yogi exercises for producing this result. Whether or not the
student wishes to follow the Yogi theories of clean living, he will find that
the Complete Breath will do more to restore health to this part of the system
than anything else ever tried.
Remember, now, we mean
normal health, not undue development. The sensualist
will find that normal means a lessening of desire
rather than an increase; the weakened man or woman
will find that normal means a toning up and relief
from the weakness which has heretofore depressed
him or her. We do not wish to be misunderstood on this
subject. The Yogi's ideal is a body strong
in all its parts, and under the control of a masterful and developed will,
animated by high ideals.
The
Yogis possess great knowledge regarding the use and
abuse of the reproductive principle in both sexes.
Some hints of this esoteric teaching have filtered
out, and have been used by Western writers on the
subject, and much good thereby accomplished. In this
book we cannot go into a discussion of the underlying theory, but will call
your attention to a method whereby the student may
be enabled to transmute the reproductive energy into
vitality for the whole system instead of wasting it and
dissipating it in lustful indulgences.
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 great
vitality to those practicing it. It fills them with great vita] force, which will radiate from them and cause them to be known as "magnetic" personalities. 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 reproductive energy, as its purpose is to create. The greatest amount of vital force is concentrated
into the smallest space. The reproductive organism is the most powerful
storage battery in animal life, and its
force may be drawn upward and used, as well as
expended in the ordinary functions of reproduction, or wasted in
riotous lust.
The
Yogi exercise for transmuting reproductive energy is
simple. It is coupled with rhythmic breathing and is
easily performed. It may be practiced at any time,
but is strongly recommended when one feels the instinct
most strongly, at which time the reproductive energy is manifesting and may be
easily transmuted for regenerative purposes. We give it
in the next paragraph. The men or women doing
mental creative work, or bodily creative work,
will be able to use this creative energy in their
vocations, by following the exercise, drawing up the
energy with each inhalation and sending it forth with the exhalation. The
student will understand, of course, that it is not the actual reproductive
fluids that are drawn up and used, but the etheric
pranic energy which animates the latter-the sou) of
the reproductive organism, as it were.
REGENERATIVE
EXERCISE.
Keep the mind fixed on the idea of Energy, and away from
ordinary sexual thoughts or imaginings. If these thoughts
come into the mind do not feel discouraged, but
regard them as manifestations of a force which you intend
to use for the purpose of strengthening your body and
mind. Lie passively, or sit erect, and fix your mind
upon the idea of drawing the reproductive 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
reproductive energy with each inhalation. With each inhalation make a command
of the Will that the energy be drawn upward from the reproductive organism 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. In this last form of the
exercise, only such portions of the energy as may be needed in the mental work being done will pass into the
brain, the balance remaining stored up in the Solar Plexus. It is usual
to allow the head to bend forward easily and naturally during the transmuting
exercise.
This subject of Regeneration opens up a wide field for
investigation, research and study, and some day we may find
it advisable to issue a little manual upon the subject, for private circulation
among the few who are ready for it, and who seek the knowledge from the purest motives, rather than from a desire to find
something which will appeal to their
lascivious imaginations and inclinations.
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