1912 · PDF PAGE 40
Book 4 (Part I)
A GOOD POSITION FOR MEDITATION.
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Page 1 of 11912 · PDF PAGE 81
Book 4 (Part I)
…n into a sort of ecstasy by an occurrence which overthrows the mind,and makes the rest of life seem absolutely worthless in‘ comparison. Good literature is principally a matter of clear observation and good judgment expressed in the simplest way. For this reason none of the great events of history (such as earthquakes and battles) have been well described by eye-witnesses, unless those eye-witnesses were out of F
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1912 · PDF PAGE 41
Book 4 (Part I)
… 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 descriptive word. Braced is perhaps the best. A sense of physical alertness is desirable. Think of the tiger about to spring, or of the oarsman waiting for the gun. After a little there will be cramp and fatigue. The student must now set his teeth, and go through with it. The minor sensations of itching, etc., will be found to pass away, if they are resolutely neglected, but the cramp and fatigue may be e…
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1912 · PDF PAGE 57
Book 4 (Part I)
… YAMA 1 AND NIYAMA HE Hindus have placed these two attainments in the forefront of their programme. They are the “moral qualities” and “ good works ” which are supposed to predispose to mental calm. Fama consists of non-killing, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-receivingof any gift. In the Buddhist system, Sz'la, “Virtue,” is similarly enjoined. The qualities are, for the layman, these five: Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not lie. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt drink no intoxicating drink. For th…
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1912 · PDF PAGE 95
Book 4 (Part I)
…e impurities of attachment ; and by Samadhi is taken off everything that hides the lordship of the soul.” There is a modest statement in good literary form. If we can only do as well as that! In the first place, what is the meaning of the term? Etymologically, Sam is the Greek συν-, the English prefix “syn-” meaning “together 79
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1912 · PDF PAGE 66
Book 4 (Part I)
… in which he exclaimed: “The universe is composed exclusively of ideas.” , Others say that it gives Hamlet’s feeling: “ There ’8 nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so,” interpreted as literally as was done by Mrs. Eddy.
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1912 · PDF PAGE 30
Book 4 (Part I)
…come independent of the will, and thus enabled to act freely of 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- hau…
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1912 · PDF PAGE 75
Book 4 (Part I)
… break, which is a sort of aberration of the control itself. You think, “ How well I am doing it! ” or perhaps that it would be rather a good idea if you were on a desert
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1912 · PDF PAGE 29
Book 4 (Part I)
…e lost. In fact, there are three main classes of stroke; the bad stroke, which we associate, and rightly, with wandering attention ; the good stroke which we associate, and rightly, with fixed attention ,' and the perfect stroke, which we do not understand, but which is really caused by the
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1912 · PDF PAGE 24
Book 4 (Part I)
…dren and untrained minds generally knows that fixity of attention is never present, even when there is a large amount of intelligence and good will. If then we, with our well-trained minds, determine to control this wandering thought, we shall find that we are fairly well able to keep the thoughts running in a narrow channel, each thought linked to the last in a perfectly rational manner; but if we attempt to stop this current we shall find that, so far from succeeding, we shall merely break down the banks of the channel. The mind'will overflow, an…
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1912 · PDF PAGE 27
Book 4 (Part I)
…editations without noticing it, that the meditation has really been broken; but much later on, when you feel that you are “getting quite good,” you will be shocked to find a complete oblivion of yourself and
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1912 · PDF PAGE 28
Book 4 (Part I)
I4 your surroundings. You will say: “Good heavens! I must have been to sleep!” or else “What on earth was I meditating upon?” or even “What was I doing?” “Where am I?” “Who am I?” or a mere wordless bewilderment may daze you. This may alarm you, and your alarm will not be lessened when you come to full consciousness, and reflect that you have actually forgotten who you are and what you are doing! This is only one of many adventures that may come to you ; but it is one of the most typical. By this time your hours of meditation will fill most of th…
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1912 · PDF PAGE 100
Book 4 (Part I)
…ditation need not be taken cm pied de-Za [612%. His records of meditation contain no reference to this remarkable animal. - It will be a good thing when organized research has determined the 1 It is rather a breach of the scepticism which is the basis of our system to admit that anything can be in any way better than another. Do it thus: “ A. is a thing that B. thinks ‘holy.’ It is natural therefore for B. to meditate on it. ” Get rid of the ego, observe all your actions as if they were another’s, and you will avoid ninety-nine per cent. of the…
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