1907 · CLOSE READING
The Star in the West
The Star in the West (1907), PDF p. 315
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308
THE STAR IN THE WEST
We only feel the event , namely , the existence
of an idea ,
consequent
to the
command of the will : But the manner,
in which this operation
is
performed
, the power by which
it is produced, is entirely beyond our comprehension ...
The command of the mind over itself is limited, as well as
its
command
over the body
;)
and these limits are not known
by
reason
,
or
any acquaintance with
the
nature
of
cause
and effect
,
but only
by
experience and observation
,
as
in
all
other natural
events
and
in
the operation
of
external
objects
.
Our authority over our sentiments
is
much weaker
than over our ideas
;
and even
the latter authority
is
cir
cumscribed within very narrow
boundaries
.
Will any one
pretend
to
assign the ultimate reason
of
these boundaries
,
or
show why the power
is
deficient
in
one
case and not
in
another
?
.
.
Can we give any reason for these variations
,
except
experience
?
Where then
is
the power
,
of
which
we pre
tend
to
be
conscious
?
Is
there not here
,
either
in
a
spiritual
or
material substance
,
or
both
,
some
secret
mechanism
or
structure
of
parts
,
upon
which the
effect
depends
,
and
which
,
being entirely unknown
to
us
,
renders the power
or
energy
of
the will equally unknown and incomprehensible
?
We are ignorant
,
it
is
true
,
of
the manner
in
which
bodies operate
on
each
other
:
Their
force
or
energy
is
entirely incomprehensible
:
But are we not equally ignorant
of
the manner
or
force
by
which
a
mind
,
even the supreme
mind
,
operates either
on
itself
or
on
body
?
Whence
,
I
beseech
you
,
do
we acquire any idea
of
it?
We have
no
sentiment
or
consciousness
of
this power
in
ourselves
.
We
have
no
idea
of
the Supreme Being
,
but what we learn from
reflection on our own faculties
.2
|
Hume
,
“
An Enquiry concerning
Human
Understanding
."
“
We are not able
to
move
all
the organs
of
the body with
a
like authority
,
though
we cannot assign any reason besides
experience
,
for
so
remarkable
a
difference between
one and
the
other
"
(
p
.
67
).
This
is
possible
by
Hatha Yoga
.
And
some
yogis
have
become
so
perfect
in
the control
of
their various organs that
they have
been able
to
stop the heart beating
at
will
,
etc.
2
An
Enquiry
concerning
Human
Understanding
,
pp
.
70
,
75
.
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