English
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 hos¬ tile may be converted into means for its furtherance; while by having it constantly before the mind lie will be ever ready to take advantage of any favouring circum- MIN/Sr^ SUB-CONSCIOUS INFLUENCES es that may present themselves.” Along the^same , 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 atti¬ tude, and then proceeds to draw upon the outer world for material with which to build in accordance with the plan. Not only is one’s character built in this way, but the cir¬ cumstances 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 desires—for he is taught to avoid these things— but he is fully instructed, nevertheless, that he may under¬ stand 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 mtsr#y> RAJA YOGA lent make use of this power in order to help_ Romany a world movement has been directed by the , or minds, of some of these advanced souls who were §L 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 evolu¬ tionary 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 ends—often without fully realizing just what power they were employing—but 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 race —of assisting in the evolution of the world—should 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 manner as to make it appear as if it had no other meaning.or appli¬ cation other than the crude, material, selfish one gener¬ ally 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 operation—mighty 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-day—wonderful changes are going on—great things are in the womb of time, and the hour of birth draws near. The men and women in the Western world feel within them the mighty urge to “ accomplish ” something—to take an active part in the great drama of life. And they are right in giving full SUB-CONSCIOUS INFLUENCES ^ion to this urge, and are doing well in using late means in the line of expression. And this Mental Attitude, or the Mental Image, is one of the greatest factors in this striving for Success. In this lesson we do not propose 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 achieve¬ ments 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 years— since 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. misr/fy RAJA YOGA ustoms, laws, ethics, and things sociolog' cal, theological, philosophical, and metaphys: 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 pain—all 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 race—prescribers for the pain of the soul and mind—will 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 marvellous, 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 pass¬ ing comet. It will come from the unfolding of the race mind, the process being now under way. Are not the signs of menta’ unrest and discomfort becoming more and more apparent as the days go by? The pain is grow¬ ing 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 fall, and ideas rendered sacred by years of observance are being brushed aside with a starding display of irreverence. a SUB-CONSCIOUS INFLUENCES the surface of our civilization we may hea ^ and. groaning of the ideas and principles t 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 themselves when the vapour 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 pains—they find them¬ selves unsatisfied by the old rule of “ every man for him¬ self, 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 discontented—his success seems to appal him in some mysterious manner.