English
THE “ I iyis a stumbling-block that is easily overcoi]_ iltation and concentration, the independence of the I ” often becoming manifest to the Candidate in a flash, upon the proper thought being used as the subject of meditation. The exercise is given as follows: Place yourself in the State of Meditation, and think of YOURSELF—the Real “ I ”—as being independent of the body, but using the body as a covering and an instrument. Think of the body as you might of.a suit of clothes. Realize that you are able to leave the body, and still be the same “ I.” Picture yourself as doing this, and looking down upon your body. Think of the body as a shell from which you may emerge without affecting your identity. Think of yourself as mastering and controlling the body that you occupy, and using it to the best advantage, making it healthy, strong and vigorous, but still being merely a shell or covering for the real “ You.” Think of the body as composed of atoms and cells which are constantly 'changing, but which are held together by the force of your Ego, and which you can improve at Will. Realize that you are merely inhabiting the body, and using it for your convenience, just as you might use a house. In meditating further, ignore the body entirely, and ] place your thought upon "the Real “Ithat you are beginning to feel to be “ you,” anu you will find that your identity your “ I is something entirely apart from the body. You may now say “ my body ” with a new meaning. Divorce the idea of your being a physical being, and realize that you are above body. But do not .- let this conception and realization cause you to (ignore (the body. ,You must regard the t body as the Temple of. \thc Spirit, and care for it, and (nake it a fit habitation -for the “ I.’ Do not be frightened if, during this medita- RAJA YOGA oi happen to experience the sensation of bein body for a few moments, and of returning t() 6 you are through with the exercise. The Ego is able (in the case of the advanced Initiate) of soaring above the confines of the body, but it never severs its connection at such times. It is merely as if one were to look out of the window of a room, seeing what was going on outside, and drawing in his head when he wishes. He does not leave the room, although he may place his head outside in order to observe what is doing in the street. We do not advise the Candidate to try to cultivate this sensation—but if it comes naturally during meditation, do not fear. Realizing the Immortality and Invincibility of the Ego. While the majority accept on faith the belief in the Immortality of the Soul, yet but few are aware that it may be demonstrated by the soul itself. The Yogi Masters teach the Candidates this lesson, as follows: The Candidate places himself in the State of Meditation, or at least in a thoughtful frame of mind, and then endeavours to “ imagine ” himself as “ dead ’—that is, he tries to form a mental conception of himself as dead. This, at first thought, appears a very easy thing to imagine, but as a matter of fact it is impossible to do so, for the Ego refuses to entertain the proposition, and finds it impossible to imagine it. Try it for yourself. You will find that you may be able to imagine your body as lying still and lifeless, but the same thought finds that in so doing You are standing and looking at the body. So you see that You are not dead at all, even in imagination, although the body may be. Or, if you refuse to disentangle your¬ self from your body, in imagination, you may think of your body as dead, but You who refuse to leave it are still alive and recognize the dead body as a thing apart from your Real Self. No matter how you may twist it t ‘N|\ THE “I’ 1 youjcamot imagine yourself as dead. The Ego ©ffltsj alive in any of these thoughts, and thus finds inat it has within itself the sense and assurance of Immor¬ tality. In case of sleep or stupor resulting from a blow, or M° m i~ n u rCOtics ° r anffisthetics > the mind is apparently oiank, but the I ” is conscious of a continuity of exist- ence. And so one may imagine himself as being in an unconscious state, or asleep, quite easily, and sees the possibility of such a state, but when it comes to imagining Tif- 1 ” as dead ’ the minc} utterly refuses to do the work. his wonderful fact that the soul carries within itself the evidence of its own immortality is a glorious thing, but one must have reached a degree of unfoldment before he lS able to grasp its full significance. The Candidate is advised to investigate the above statement for himself, by meditation and concentration. .°. rder ^ a t the “ I ’ may know its true nature and possibilities, it must realize that it cannot be destroyed oi hilled. It must know what it is before it is able to manifest its nature. So do not leave this part of the teaching until you have mastered it. And it is well occa¬ sionally to return to it, in order that you may impress upon the mind the fact of your immortal and eternal nature. The mere glimmering of this conception of truth will give you an increased sense of strength and power, ‘ and you will find that your Self has expanded and grown' and that you are more of a power and Centre than you have heretofore realized. The following exercises are useful in bringing about a realization of the invincibility of the Ego— its superiority to the elements. Place yourself in the State of Meditation, and imagine he “ I ” as withdrawn from the body.' See it passing through the tests of air, tire, and water unharmed. The body bei’ <• out of tne way, the soul is seen to be capable miSTffy RAJA YOGA g through the air at will—of floating like a faring—of travelling in the ether. It may be seen a? able to pass through fire without harm and without sensation, for the elements affect only the physical body, not the Real “ I.” Likewise it may been seen as passing through water without discomfort or danger or hurt. This meditation will give you a sense of superiority and strength, and will show you something of the nature of the real “ I.” It is true that you are confined in the body, and the body may be affected by the elements, but the knowledge that the real “ I ” is superior to the body— superior to the elements that affect the body—and cannot be injured any more than it can be killed, is wonderful, and tends to develop the full “ I ” consciousness within you. For You-=-the Real “ I ” — are not body. You are Spirit. The Ego is Immortal and Invincible, and cannot be killed and harmed. When you enter into this realiza¬ tion and consciousness, you will feel an influx of strength and power impossible to describe. Fear will fall from you like a worn-out cloak, and you will feel that you are ‘ born again.” An understanding of this thought will show you that the things that we have been fearing can¬ not affect the Real “ I,” but must rest content with hurt¬ ing the physical body. And they may be warded off from the physical body by a proper understanding and appli¬ cation of the Will. In our next lesson you will be taught how to separate the “ I ” from the mechanism of the mind—how you may realize your mastery of the mind, just as you now realize * your independence of the body. This knowledge.must be imparted to you by degrees, and you must place you* - feet firmly upon one round of'the ladder before you take the next step. The watchword of this First Lesson is “ I.” And the Candidate must enter fully into its meaning before he is THE “ I ” o progress. He must realize his real exisl Cadent of the body. He must see himself as^ir e and impervious to harm, hurt, or death. He must ee himself as a great Centre of Consciousness—a Sun round which his world revolves. Then will come to him new strength. He will feel a calm dignity and power, ’hich will be apparent to those with whom he comes contact. He will be able to look the world in the face ithout flinching, and without fear, for he will realize e nature and power of the “ I.” He will realize that he a Centre of Power—of Influence. He will realize that 'thing can harm the “ I,” and that no matter how the irms of life may dash upon the personality, the real ” —the Individuality—is unharmed. Like a rock that nds steadfast throughout the storm, so does the “ I ” fid through the tempests of the life of personality. And will know„that as he grows in realization, he will be - .o control these storms and bid them be still, in the words of one of the Yogi Masters: “ The ‘ 1 ' eu-nal. It passes unharmed through the fire, the air, . ater. Sword and spear cannot kill or wound it. It mot die. The trials of the physical life are but as \:n.. to it. Resting secure in the knowledge of the ‘ Man may smile at the worst the world has to olfev. d, 1 .using his hand, he may bid them disappear into * v.isl from which they emerged. Blessed is he who can uderstandingly) ‘ I.’ ” dear Candidate, we leave you to master the First Be not discouraged if your progress be slow. Be down if you slip back a step after having gained on' will gain two at the next step. 4 Success and ‘ion will be yours. Mastery is before. You , ‘ l * ti* You will Accomplish. Peace be with vo 1 - ¥ ft! RAJA YOGA (AFFIRMATIONS) FOR THE FIRST LESSON I| am a Centre. Around me revolves my world. I am a Centre of Influence and Power. I am a Centre of Thought and Consciousness. " 1 am Independent of the Body. I am Immortal and cannot be Destroyed, f am Invincible and cannot be Injured. I Zu mtST/t y <SL THE SECOND LESSON THE EGO’S MENTAL TOOLS In the First Lesson we gave instruction and exercises designed to awaken the consciousness of the Candidate to a realization of the real “ I.