English
All Life follows this plan the pains of labour and birth ever precede the Deliverance. Such is Life—and Life is based upon Truth —and all is well with the world. We did not intend to speak of these things in this lesson, but as we write there comes to us a great cry for help and a word of encourage¬ ment and hope, from the Class which is taking this course qf lessons, and we feel bound to respond as we have done. Peace be with you—one and all. And now we will begin our consideration of the laws -jOvermng what we have called “Sub-conscious Influence.” AH students of the Occult are aware of the fact that mui may be, and are, largely influenced by the thoughts o o lers. Not only is this the case in instances where loughts are directed from the mind of one person to RAJA YOGA jifiind of another, but also when there is no sB ion or intention in the thought sent forth, rations 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-vibra¬ tions 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 main¬ taining nnd entertaining thoughts along certain lines. If we cultivate a habit of thinking along the lines of Cheer¬ fulness, 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 pour¬ ing into our minds from all directions. And, likewise, if we harbour 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 our¬ selves 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 influ¬ ence. 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 n SUB-CONSCIOUS INFLUENCES 4% mental trouble by the law of suggestion, uni™ -weS* 1 ? f hl l lav ! ? nd count eract it. In the sam^way in t d tIlat cheerfulness is contagious, and if we keep n the company of cheerful people we are very apt to take on their mental quality. The same rule apphes to J 0 Z Dti V he Company of unsuccessful or successful people, as the case may be. If we allow ourselves to take Sl finH^ 8 f Sti0nS c T tantly emanating from them, we attitude ^II ° Ur . m ! nds Wlil be S in to reproduce the tones, ttitudes, characteristics, dispositions and traits of the othei persons, and before long we will be living on the ame mental plane. As we have repeatedly said, these thmgs are true only when we allow ourselves to “ take law nf !mpr f. sslons > but unless one has mastered the i suggestion, and understands its principles and perations he is more or less apt to be affected by it All o you readily recall the effect of certain oersons noon others with whom they come in contact. One 1 has a faculty oi inspiring with vigour and energy those in whose com- hfm y fl h d haPPC "u t0 bC ' Another depresses those around him and is avoided as a “ human wet blanket.” Another Hill cause a feeling of uneasiness in those around him by reason of his prevailing attitude of distrust, su^LiT d low cunning. Some carry an atmosphere of health around them, while others seem to be sounded S a sickly aura of disease, even when their physical condi¬ tion does not seem to indicate the lack of health Mental us ndThr Vn f 7 y ° f impressiD 2 themselves upon “he d *? student who will take the trouble to closely observe those with whom he comes in contact will receive ‘ liberal education along these lines. f iere cou rse, a great difference in the degree of suggestibility among different persons. There ^ re those who are almost immune, while at the other end of the line are to be found others who are so constantly and miST/fy RAJA YOGA ' impressed by the suggestions of others, cons v ^conscious, that they may be said to scarcely hL.. 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 all 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 sugges¬ tions before allowing them to manifest in your sub¬ conscious mind. Let the final decision be your own—and not the will of another—although you may have con¬ sidered 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 Suggestor—train and influence your sub-conscious 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 ide^l of the strong mental attitude of a man. And this Ipsaii 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 MIN/Sr/f,, SUB-CONSCIOUS INFLUENCES concerning those objects—to seize upon tl df'tunities, persons, ideas, and facts ter tpjptomote the objects thought of. The man who is look¬ ing 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 be 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 re¬ sembling 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 MW/sr^ RAJA YOGA id, as it were, makes a clear path over w walk to accomplishment. Bain says regarding 'g 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 waver¬ ing, we stagger or miscarry.” Maudsley says: “ We can¬ not 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 atten¬ tion 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 move¬ ments. 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 accomplish¬ ment. 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 manifesta¬ tion of thought into action.