A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga | Page 2

of real existence that
comes to the Candidate, and which causes him to know that he is a real
entity having a life not depending upon the body--life that will go on in
spite of the destruction of the body--real life, in fact. The second
degree, which they call "the Consciousness of the 'I AM'," is the
consciousness of one's identity with the Universal Life, and his
relationship to, and "in-touchness" with all life, expressed and
unexpressed. These two degrees of consciousness come in time to all

who seek "The Path." To some it comes suddenly; to others it dawns
gradually; to many it comes assisted by the exercises and practical
work of "Raja Yoga."
The first lesson of the Yogi Masters to the Candidates, leading up to the
first degree, above mentioned, is as follows: That the Supreme
Intelligence of the Universe--the Absolute--has manifested the being
that we call Man--the highest manifestation on this planet. The
Absolute has manifested an infinitude of forms of life in the Universe,
including distant worlds, suns, planets, etc., many of these forms being
unknown to us on this planet, and being impossible of conception by
the mind of the ordinary man. But these lessons have nothing to do
with that part of the philosophy which deals with these myriad forms of
life, for our time will be taken up with the unfoldment in the mind of
man of his true nature and power. Before man attempts to solve the
secrets of the Universe without, he should master the Universe
within--the Kingdom of the Self. When he has accomplished this, then
he may, and should, go forth to gain the outer knowledge as a Master
demanding its secrets, rather than as a slave begging for the crumbs
from the table of knowledge. The first knowledge for the Candidate is
the knowledge of the Self.
Man, the highest manifestation of the Absolute, as far as this planet is
concerned, is a wonderfully organized being--although the average man
understands but little of his real nature. He comprises within his
physical, mental and spiritual make-up both the highest and the lowest,
as we have shown in our previous lessons (the "Fourteen Lessons" and
the "Advanced Course"). In his bones he manifests almost in the form
of mineral life, in fact, in his bones, body and blood mineral substances
actually exist. The physical life of the body resembles the life of the
plant. Many of the physical desires and emotions are akin to those of
the lower animals, and in the undeveloped man these desires and
emotions predominate and overpower the higher nature, which latter is
scarcely in evidence. Then Man has a set of mental characteristics that
are his own, and which are not possessed by the lower animals (See
"Fourteen Lessons"). And in addition to the mental faculties common
to all men, or rather, that are in evidence in a greater or lesser degree

among all men, there are still higher faculties latent within Man, which
when manifested and expressed render Man more than ordinary Man.
The unfoldment of these latent faculties is possible to all who have
reached the proper stage of development, and the desire and hunger of
the student for this instruction is caused by the pressure of these
unfolding latent faculties, crying to be born into consciousness. Then
there is that wonderful thing, the Will, which is but faintly understood
by those ignorant of the Yogi Philosophy--the Power of the Ego--its
birthright from the Absolute.
But while these mental and physical things belong to Man, they are not
the Man himself. Before the Man is able to master, control, and direct
the things belonging to him--his tools and instruments--he must awaken
to a realization of Himself. He must be able to distinguish between the
"I" and the "Not I." And this is the first task before the Candidate.
That which is the Real Self of Man is the Divine Spark sent forth from
the Sacred Flame. It is the Child of the Divine Parent. It is
Immortal--Eternal--Indestructible--Invincible. It possesses within itself
Power, Wisdom, and Reality. But like the infant that contains within
itself the sometime Man, the mind of Man is unaware of its latent and
potential qualities, and does not know itself. As it awakens and unfolds
into the knowledge of its real nature, it manifests its qualities, and
realizes what the Absolute has given it. When the Real Self begins to
awaken, it sets aside from itself those things which are but appendages
to it, but which it, in its half-waking state, had regarded as its Self.
Setting aside first this, and then that, it finally discards all of the "Not
I," leaving the Real Self free and delivered from its bondage to its
appendages. Then it returns to the discarded appendages,