A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga | Page 5

states; to manifest a Centre of Consciousness
and Influence that will radiate into the outer world which is always
striving and hunting for such centres around which it may revolve.
Man must master himself before he can hope to exert an influence
beyond himself. There is no royal road to unfoldment and power--each
step must be taken in turn, and each Candidate must take the step
himself, and by his own effort. But he may, and will, be aided by the
helping hand of the teachers who have traveled The Path before him,
and who know just when that helping hand is needed to lift the
Candidate over the rough places.
We bid the Candidate to pay strict attention to the following instruction,

as it is all important. Do not slight any part of it, for we are giving you
only what is necessary, and are stating it as briefly as possible. Pay
attention, and follow the instruction closely. This lesson must be
mastered before you progress. And it must be practiced not only now,
but at many stages of the journey, until full Initiation and Illumination
is yours.
RULES AND EXERCISES DESIGNED TO AID THE CANDIDATE
IN HIS INITIATION.
The first instruction along the line of Initiation is designed to awaken
the mind to a full realization and consciousness of the individuality of
the "I." The Candidate is taught to relax his body, and to calm his mind
and to meditate upon the "I" until it is presented clearly and sharply
before the consciousness. We herewith give directions for producing
the desired physical and mental condition, in which meditation and
concentration are more readily practiced. This state of Meditation will
be referred to in subsequent exercises, so the Candidate is advised to
acquaint himself thoroughly with it.
STATE OF MEDITATION. If possible, retire to a quiet place or room,
where you do not fear interruption, so that your mind may feel secure
and at rest. Of course, the ideal condition cannot always be obtained, in
which case you must do the best you can. The idea is that you should
be able to abstract yourself, so far as is possible, from distracting
impressions, and you should be alone with yourself--in communion
with your Real Self.
It is well to place yourself in an easy chair, or on a couch, so that you
may relax the muscles and free the tension of your nerves. You should
be able to "let go" all over, allowing every muscle to become limp,
until a feeling of perfect peace and restful calm permeates every
particle of your being. Rest the body and calm the mind. This condition
is best in the earlier stages of the practice, although after the Candidate
has acquired a degree of mastery he will be able to obtain the physical
relaxation and mental calm whenever and wherever he desires.
But he must guard against acquiring a "dreamy" way of going around,

wrapped in meditation when he should be attending to the affairs of life.
Remember this, the State of Meditation should be entirely under the
control of the Will, and should be entered into only deliberately and at
the proper times. The Will must be master of this, as well as of every
other mental state. The Initiates are not "day dreamers," but men and
women having full control of themselves and their moods. The "I"
consciousness while developed by meditation and consciousness, soon
becomes a fixed item of consciousness, and does not have to be
produced by meditation. In time of trial, doubt, or trouble, the
consciousness may be brightened by an effort of the Will (as we shall
explain in subsequent lessons) without going into the State of
Meditation.
THE REALIZATION OF THE "I." The Candidate must first acquaint
himself with the reality of the "I," before he will be able to learn its real
nature. This is the first step. Let the Candidate place himself in the
State of Meditation, as heretofore described. Then let him concentrate
his entire attention upon his Individual Self, shutting out all thought of
the outside world, and other persons. Let him form in his mind the idea
of himself as a real thing--an actual being--an individual entity--a Sun
around which revolves the world. He must see himself as the Centre
around which the whole world revolves. Let not a false modesty, or
sense of depreciation interfere with this idea, for you are not denying
the right of others to also consider themselves centres. You are, in fact,
a centre of consciousness--made so by the Absolute--and you are
awakening to the fact. Until the Ego recognizes itself as a Centre of
Thought, Influence and Power, it will not be able to manifest these
qualities. And in proportion as it recognizes its position as a