The Equinox (Volume I, Number III)

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING The six Chakkras are points often used by the Yogi when in contemplation. Thus seated in the Padmasana he will fix his attention in the Ajna lotus, and by contemplating upon this light the “Shiva Sanhita”* informs us “all sins (un- balanced forces) are destroyed, and even the most wicked (unbalanced) person obtains the highest end.” Those who would practise Dharana successfully should live alone, and should take care to distract the mind as little as possible. They should not speak much or work much, and they should avoid all places, persons and food which repel them.; The first signs of success will be better health and temperament, and a clearer voice. Those who practise zeal- ously will towards the final stages of Dharana hear sounds as of the pealing of distant bells,{ and will see specks of light floating before them which will grow larger and larger as the concentration proceeds. “ Practice hard!” urges Swami Vive- kananda, “whether you live or die, it does not matter. You have to plunge in and work, without thinking of the result. If you are brave enough, in six months you will be a perfect Yogi.”§ DHYANA. After Dharand we arrive at Dhy4na, or meditation upon the outpouring of the mind on the object held by the will.|] * See Chapter V, 43-51. t Compare the Abramelin instructions with these. t The Nada. § Compare Eliphas Levi, “ Doctrine and Ritual of Magic,” p. 195. || Imagine the objective world to be represented by a sheet of paper covered with letters and the names of things, and our power of concentration to be a magnifying glass: that power is of no use, should we wish to burn that paper, until the rays of light are focussed. By moving the glass or paper with our hand 105