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fear and kindred emotions impair the vitality.
There have been a number of good books written upon this matter, so there
is no occasion for us to dwell at length upon this part of the general
subject. But before leaving it, we must impress upon our students the truth
of the oft repeated statement as "Thought takes form in action," and that
mental conditions are reproduced in physical manifestations.
The Yogi Philosophy, in its entirety, tends to produce a mental attitude of
calmness, peace, strength and absolute fearlessness among its students,
which, of course, is reflected in their physical condition. To such persons
mental calmness and fearlessness comes as a matter of course, and no
special effort is necessary to produce it. But to those who have not as yet
acquired this mental calm, a great improvement may be obtained by the
carrying of the thought of the proper mental attitude, and the repetition of
mantrams calculated to produce the mental image. We suggest the frequent
repetition of the words "BRIGHT, CHEERFUL AND HAPPY," and the
frequent contemplation of the meaning of the words. Endeavour to
manifest these words into physical action, and you will be greatly benefited
both mentally and physically, and will also be preparing your mind to
receive high spiritual truths.
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Chapter 32:
Lead By The Spirit.
While this book is intended to treat solely upon the care of the physical
body, leaving the higher branches of the Yogi Philosophy to be dealt with
in other writings, still the leading principle of the Yogi teachings is so
bound up with the minor branches of the subject, and is so largely taken
into account by the Yogis in the simplest acts of their lives, that in justice
to the teachings as well as to our students, we cannot leave the subject
without at least saying a few words about this underlying principle.
The Yogi Philosophy, as our students doubtless know, hold that man is
slowly growing and unfolding, from the lower forms and manifestations to
higher, and still higher expressions of the Spirit. Spirit is in each man,
although often so obscured by the confining sheaths of his lower nature
that it is scarcely discernable. It is also in the lower forms of life, working
up and ever seeking for higher forms of expression. The material sheaths of
this progressing life bodies of mineral, plant, lower animal and man are
but instruments to be used for the best development of the higher
principles. But, although the use of the material body is but temporary, and
the body itself nothing more than a suit of clothes to be put on, worn, and
then discarded, yet it is always the intent of Spirit to provide and maintain
as perfect an instrument as possible. It provides the best body possible, and
gives the impulses toward right living, but if from causes not to be
mentioned here, an imperfect body is provided for the soul, still the higher
principles strive to adapt and accommodate themselves to it, and make the
best of it.
This instinct of self-preservation this urge behind all of life is a
manifestation of the Spirit. It works through the most rudimentary forms of
the Instinctive Mind up through many stages until it reaches the highest
manifestations of that mental principle. It also manifests through the
Intellect, in the direction of causing the man to use his reasoning powers
for the purpose of maintaining his physical soundness and life. But, alas!
the Intellect does not keep to its own work, for as soon as it begins to be
conscious of itself it begins to meddle with the duties of the Instinctive
Mind, and overriding the instinct of the latter, it forces all sort of unnatural
modes of living upon the body, and seems to try to get as far away from
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nature as possible. It is like a boy freed from the parental restraint, who
goes as far contrary to the parents' example and advice as possible just to
show that he is independent. But the boy learns his folly, and retraces his
steps and so will the Intellect.
Man is beginning to see now, that there is something within him that
attends to the wants of his body, and which knows its own business much
better than he does. For man with all his Intellect is unable to duplicate the
feats of the Instinctive Mind working through the body of the plant, animal
or himself. And he learns to trust this mental principle as a friend, and to
let it work out its own duties. In the present modes of life which man has
seen fit to adopt, in his evolution, but from which he will return to first
principles sooner or later, it is impossible to live a wholly natural life, and
physical existence must be more or less abnormal as a consequence. But
nature's instinct of self-preservation and accommodation is great, and it
manages to get along very well with a considerable of a handicap, and does
its work much better than one would expect considering the absurd and
insane living habits and practices of civilized man.
It must not be forgotten, however, that as man advances along the scale and
the Spiritual Mind begins to unfold, man acquires a something akin to
instinct we call it Intuition and this leads him back to nature. We can [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]