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must realize that instead of being a separate atom of Reality, isolated and fixed in a narrow space, you are a Centre of Conscious¬ ness in the Whole of Reality, and that the Universe of Universes is your home—that your Centre of Conscious¬ ness might be moved on to a point trillions of miles from the Earth (which distance would be as nothing in Space) and still you—the awakened soul—would be just as much at home there as here—that even while you are here, your influence extends far out into space. Your real state, which wili be revealed to you, gradually, throughout the ages, is so creat and grand, that your mind in its present state of development cannot grasp even the faint reflec¬ tion of that glory. We wish you to try to form at least a faint idea of your Real State of Being, in order that you may control the lower principles, by the force of your awakened Will, which Will depends upon your degree of consciousness of the Real Self. As man grows in understanding and consciousness of the Real Self so does his ability to use his Will grow. Will is the attribute of the Real Self. It is well that this great realization of the Real Self brings with it Love for all of Life, and Kindness, for, were it not so, the Will that comes to him who grows into a realization of his real being could be used to. the great hurt of those of the race who had not progressed so far (their relative hurt, we mean, for in the end, and at the last, no soul is ever really hurt). But the dawning power brings with it greater Love and Kindness, and the higher the soul mounts the more is it filled with the higher ideals and the more does it throw from it the lower animal attributes is true that miSTfty. %\ THE EXPANSION OF THE SELF auls growing into a consciousness of their r without an understanding of what it all means, may commit the error of using the awakened Will for selfish ends, as may be seen in the cases of the Black Magicians spoken of in the occult writings, and also in the cases of well-known characters in history and in modem life, who manifest an enormous Will which they misuse. All of this class of people of great Will have stumbled or grown blindly into a conscious ess (or par¬ tial consciousness) of the real nature, but lack the restrain¬ ing influence of the higher teachings. But such misuse of the Will brings pain and unrest to the user, and he is eventually driven into the right road. We do not expect our students to grasp fully this idea of the Expansion of Self. Even the highest grasp it only partially. But until you get a glimmering of the con¬ sciousness you will not be able to progress far on the path of Raja Yoga. You must understand what you are, before you are able to use the power that lies dor¬ mant within you. You must realize that you are the Master, before you can claim the powers of the Master, and expect to have your commands obeyed. So bear patiently with us, your Teachers, while we set before you the lessons to be learned—the tasks to be performed. The road is long, and is rough in places—the feet may become tired and bruised, but the reward is great, and there are resting-places along the path. Be not discour¬ aged if your progress seem slow, for the soul must unfold naturally as does the flower, withbut haste, without force. And be not dismayed nor affrighted if you occasion¬ ally catch a glimpse of your higher self. As “ M. C.” says, in her notes on “ Light on the Path ” (see “Advanced Course ”): “ To have seen thy soul in its bloom is to have obtained a momentary glimpse in thyself of the transfiguratioil which shell eventually make thee more RAJA YOGA in; to recognize is to achieve the great ta§ mhg upon the blazing light without dropping the eyes, and not falling back in terror as though before some ghastly phantom. This happens to some, and so, when the victory is all but won, it is lost.” Peace be with thee. MlSfy THE EXPANSION OF THE SELF ANTRAM (AFFIRMATION) FOR TIT THIRD LESSON There is but one ultimate form of Matter ; one ultimate form of Energy; one ultimate form of Mind. Matter proceeds from Energy, and Energy from Mind, and all are an emanation of the Absolute,threefold in appearance, but One in substance. There is but One Life, and that permeates the Universe, manifesting in various forms, but being, at the last, but One. My body is one with Universal Matter ; My energy and vital force is one with the Universal Energy ; My Mind is one with the Universal Mind; My Life is one with the Universal Life. The Absolute has expressed and manifested itself in Spirit, which is the real “ I ” overshadowing and em¬ bracing all the apparently separate “ I ”s. “ I ” feel my identify with Spirit and realize the Oneness of All Reahty. I feel my unity with all Spirit, and my Union (through Spirit) with the Absolute. 1 realize that “ I ” am an Expression and Manifestation of the Absolute, and that its very essence is within me. I am filled with Divine Love. I am filled with Divine Power. I am filled with Divine Wisdofri. I am conscious of identity in spirit, in substance, and in nature, with the One Reality. mtsT/ty THE FOURTH LESSON MENTAL CONTROL In our first three lessons of this series, we have endea¬ voured to bring into realization within your mind (1) the consciousness of the “ I its independence from the body; its immortality; its invincibility and invulner¬ ability ; (2) the superiority of the “ I ” over the mind, as v. ell as over the body; the fact that the mind is not the “ 1," but is merely an instrument for the expression of the “ T the fact that the “ I ” is master of the mind, as well as of the body; that the “ I ” is behind all thought ; that the “ I ” can set aside for consideration the sensa¬ tions, emotions, passions, desires, and the rest of the mental phenomena, and still realize that it, the “ I,” is apart from these mental manifestations, and remains unchanged, real and fully existent; that the “ I ” can set aside any and all of its mental tools and instruments, as “ not T ” things, and still consciously realize that after so setting them aside there remains something —itself-—the “ I ” which cannot be set aside or taken from ; that the “ I ” is the master of the mind, and not its slave ; (3) that the “ I ” is a much greater thing than the little personal “ I ” we have been considering it to be ; that the “ I ” is a part of that great One Reality which pervades all the Universe; that it is connected w'ith all other forms of life by countless ties, mental and spiritual filaments and relations; that the “ I ” is a Centre of Consciousness in that great One Reality or Spirit, which .behind and back of all Life and Existence, the Centre of which Reality or Existence, is the Absolute or God; 70 MENTAL CONTROL ! sense of Reality that is inherent in the “ Jte reflection of the sense of Reality inherent _ -the Great “ I ” of the Universe. The underlying principle of these three lessons is the Reality of the “ I, in itself, over and above all Matter, Force, or Mind—positive to all of them, just as they are positive or negative to each other—and negative only to the Centre of the One — the Absolute itselfT And this is the position for the Candidate or Initiate to take: “ I am positive to Mind. Energy, and Matter, and control them all—I am negative only to the Absolute, which is the Centre of Being, of which Being I Am. And, as I assert my mastery over Mind, Energy, and Matter, and exercise my Will over them, so do I acknowledge -ny subordination to the Absolute, and gladly open rny soul to the inflow of the Divine Will, and partake of its Power, Strength, and Wisdom.” In the present lesson, and those immediately foilow- mg it, we shall endeavour to assist the Candidate or Initiate in acquiring a mastery of the subordinate Mani¬ festations, Matter. Energy, and Mind. In order to acquire and assert this mastery, one must acquaint himself with the nature of the thing to be controlled. In our “Advanced Course ” we have endeavoured to explain to you the nature of the Three Great Manifesta¬ tions, known as China, or Mind-Substance; Prana or Energy ; and A ka.sa, or the Principle of Matter We also explained to you that the “ I ” of man is superior to these th’-ee, being what is known as Atman or Spirit. Matter, Energy, and Mind, as we have explained, are manifesta¬ tions of the Absolute, and arc relative things. The Yogi philosophy teaches that Matter is the grossest form oi manifested substance, being below Energy and Mind, and consequently negative to, and subordinate to both, me stage higher than Matter is Energy or Force, which miST/fy RAJA YOGA ve to, and has authority over. Matter (f still grosser form of substance), but whic to and subordinate to Mind, which is a still higher form of substance. Next in order comes the highest of the three—Mind—the finest form of substance, and which dominates both Energy and Matter, being positive to both. Mind, however, is negative and subor¬ dinate to the “ I,” which is Spirit, and obeys the orders of the latter when firmly and intelligently given. The “ 1 ” itself is subordinate only to the Absolute—the Centre of Being—the “ I ” being positive and dominant over the threefold manifestation of Mind, Energy, and Matter. The “ I,” which for the sake of the illustration must be regarded as a separate thing (although it is really only a Centre of Consciousness in the great body of Spirit), finds itself surrounded by the triple-ocean of Mind, Energy, and Matter, which ocean extends into Infinity. The body is but a physical form through which flows an unending stream of matter, for, as you know, the particles and atoms of the body are constantly changing, being renewed, replaced, thrown off, and supplanted.