10.45.
I 2.0.
12.5.
12.12.
12
THE EQUINOX
and went out to the Cafe’ du Dome where I took coffee
and a brioche, after buying an exercise book in which
to write this record.
This was about 8.45; and now (10.10) I have written
thus
far.
[Including the
Prologue,
but
not
the
Preface—En]
I have driven
over to the Hammam through the
beautiful sunshine, meditating upon the discipline of
the Operation.
It seems only necessary to cut off definitely dispersive
things, aimless chatter and such; for the Operation itself
will guide one, leading to disgust for too much food and
so on. Ifthere be upon my limbs any chain that requires
a definite effort to break it, perhaps sleep is that chain.
But we shall see—so/m'lur ambulando.
If any asceti-
cism be desirable later on, true wariness will soon
detect any danger, and devise a means to meet it and
overcome it.
Have finished
bath and massage, during which
I
continued steadily but quite gently, “not by a strain
laborious and hurtful but with stability void of move-
ment,” willing the Presence of Adonai.
I ordered a dozen oysters and a beefsteak, and now
(1210) find myself wishing for an apple chewed and
swallowed by deglutition, as the Hatha Yogis do.
The distaste for food has already begun.
Impressions already failmg to conned.
I was getting into Asana and thinking “I will record
this fact,” when I saw a jockey being weighed.