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Page 1 of 11912 · PDF PAGE 71
…ng to focus them on a single point. We know that it is fairly easy for the ordinary educated mind to think without much distraction on a subject in which it is much interested. We have the popular phrase, “ revolving a thing in the mind ”; and as long as the subject is sufficiently complex, as long as thoughts pass freely, there is no great difficulty. So long as a gyroscope is in motion, it remains motionless relatively to its support, and even resists attempts to distract it; when it stops it falls from that position. If the earth ceased to spi…
1912 · PDF PAGE 79
…tensification of Dharana. Patanjali says: “Dharana is holding the mind on to some particular object. An unbroken flow of knowledge in that subject is Dhyana. When that, giving up all forms, reflects only the meaning, it is Samadhi.” He combines these three into Samyama. We shall treat of Dhyana as a result rather than as a method. Up to this point ancient authorities have been fairly reliable guides, except with regard to their crabbed ethics,- but when they get on the subject of results of meditation, they completely lose their heads. 63
1912 · PDF PAGE 66
…comes a positive nightmare. It is intensely annoying, too, to find that one does not become consciousthat one has got on to the forbidden subject until one has gone right through with it. However, one continues day after day investigating thoughts and trying to check them; and sooner or later one proceeds to the next stage, Dharana, the attempt to restrain the mind to a single object. Before we go on to this, however, we must consider what is meant by success in Pratyahara. This is a very extensive subject, and different authors take widely dive…
1912 · PDF PAGE 81
…concentration we noticed that the contents of the mind at any moment consisted of two things, and no more: the Object, variable, and the Subject, invariable, or apparently so. By success in Dharana the object has been made as invariable as the subject. Now the result of this is that the two become one. This phenomenon usually comes as a tremendous shock. It is indescribable even by the masters of language; and it is therefore not surprising that semi-educated stutterers wallow in oceans of gush. All the poetic faculties and all the emotional fa…
1912 · PDF PAGE 34
…e assert that the critical phenomenon which determines success is an occurrence in the brain characterized essentially by the uniting of subject and object. We propose to discuss this pheno— menon, analyse its nature, determine accurately the physical, mental and moral conditions which are favourable to it, to ascertain its cause, and thus to produce it in ourselves, so that we may adequatelystudy its effects.
1912 · PDF PAGE 100
…ssed in any form, that state of Dhyana is called Samadhi.” Other authors are inclined to suggest that Samadhi results from meditating on subjects that are in themselves worthy. For example, Vivekananda says: “Think of any» holy subject:” and explains this as follows: “This does not mean any wicked subject.” (!) Frater P. would not like to say definitely whether he ever got Dhyana from commonobjects. He gave up the practice after a few months, and meditated on the Cakkras, etc. Also his Dhyana became so com- mon that he gave up recording it. But …
1912 · PDF PAGE 37
…en as meaning the result of success in the practice. 1 Yoga is the general name for that form of meditation which aims at the uniting of subject and object, for 3/08”is the root from which are derived the Latinwordjugum and the English word Yoke. 23
1912 · PDF PAGE 7
…ures them. Part II, “ Magick,” is more advanced in style than Part I ; the student is expected to know a little of the literature of the subject, and to be able to take an intelligent View of it. This part is, however, really explanatory of Part I, which is a crude outline sketch only. If both parts are thoroughly studied and understood, the pupil will have obtained a real graspof all the fundamentals and essentialsof both Magick and Mysticism. I wrote this book down from Frater Perdurabo’s dictation at the Villa Caldarazzo, Posilippo, Naples, …
1912 · PDF PAGE 53
…t the Sidi Aissawa would be glad to accept pupils. This discussion of the parallel science of mantra-yoga has led us far indeed from the subject of Pranayama. Pranayama is notably useful in quieting the emotions and appetites; and, whether by reason of the mechanical pressure which it asserts, or by the thorough combustion Which it assures in the lungs, it seems to be admirable from the standpoint of health. Digestive troubles in particular are very easy to remove in this way. It purifies both the body and the lower functions of the mind,1 and s…
1912 · PDF PAGE 59
… continence, which is com- plicated by many considerations, such as that of energy; but every- body’s mind is hopelessly muddled on this subject, which some people confuse with erotology, and others with sociology. There will be no clear thinking on this matter until it is understood as being solely a branch of athletics. We may then dismiss Yama and Niyama with this advice: let the student decide for himself what form of life, what moral code, will least tend to excite his mind; but once he has for- mulated it, let him stick to it, avoiding op…
1912 · PDF PAGE 30
… its own accord. This is the same phenomenon referred to above as being a good sign. Finally something happens Whose nature may form the subject of a further discussion later on. For the moment let it suffice to say that this consciousness of the Ego and the non-Ego, the seer and the thing seen, the knovver and the thing known, is blotted out. There is usually an intense light, an intense sound, and a feeling of such overwhelming bliss that the resources of language have been ex- hausted again and again in the attempt to describe it. It is an ab…
1912 · PDF PAGE 41
25 sity, during their whole lives. One should not criticise such persons without a thorough knowledge of the subject. Such knowledgehas not yet been published. However, one may safely assert that since the great men previously mentioned did not do this, it will not be necessary for their followers. Let us then choose a suitable position, and consider what happens. There is a sort of happy medium between rigidity and limpness; the muscles are not to be strained; and yet they are not allowed to be altogether slack. It is difficult to find a good de…
1912 · PDF PAGE 33
…e following out of definite rules, the 1 We have dealt in this preliminary sketch only with examples of religious genius. Other kinds are subject to the same remarks, but the limits of our space forbid discus- sion of these.
1912 · PDF PAGE 74
…will do well to avoid practising at such times. We will suppose, then, that you have reached the stage when your average practice on one subject is about half an hour, and the average number of breaks between ten and twenty. One would suppose that this implied that during the periods between the breaks one was really concentrated, but this is not the case. The mind is flickering, although imperceptibly. However, there may be sufficient real steadiness even at this early stage to cause some very striking phenomena, of which the most marked is one …
1912 · PDF PAGE 38
…verage adult European. Others insist that the head, neck, and spine should be kept vertical and straight, for reasons connected with the subject of Prana, which will be dealt with in its proper place. The positions illustrated in Liber E (Equinox I and VII) form the best guide.1 The extreme of Asana is practised by those Yogis who remain in one position without moving, except in the case of absolute neces— 1 Here are four: 1. Sit in a chair; head up, back straight, knees together, hands on knees, eyes closed. (“The God.”) 2. Kneel; buttocks res…