A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga | Page 6

centre, so
will it be able to manifest its qualities. It is not necessary that you
should compare yourself with others, or imagine yourself greater or
higher than them. In fact, such comparisons are to be regretted, and are
unworthy of the advanced Ego, being a mark and indication of a lack of
development, rather than the reverse. In the Meditation simply ignore
all consideration of the respective qualities of others, and endeavor to
realize the fact that YOU are a great Centre of Consciousness--a Centre
of Power--a Centre of Influence--a Centre of Thought. And that like the
planets circling around the sun, so does your world revolve around

YOU who are its centre. It will not be necessary for you to argue out
this matter, or to convince yourself of its truth by intellectual reasoning.
The knowledge does not come in that way. It comes in the shape of a
realization of the truth gradually dawning upon your consciousness
through meditation and concentration. Carry this thought of yourself as
a "Centre of Consciousness--Influence--Power" with you, for it is an
occult truth, and in the proportion that you are able, to realize it so will
be your ability to manifest the qualities named.
No matter how humble may be your position--no matter how hard may
be your lot--no matter how deficient in educational advantages you
may be--still you would not change your "I" with the most fortunate,
wisest and highest man or woman in the world. You may doubt this,
but think for a moment and you will see that we are right. When you
say that you "would like to be" this person or that, you really mean that
you would like to have their degree of intelligence, power, wealth,
position, or what not. What you want is something that is theirs, or
something akin to it. But you would not for a moment wish to merge
your identity with theirs, or to exchange selves. Think of this for a
moment To be the other person you would have to let yourself die, and
instead of yourself you would be the other person. The real you would
be wiped out of existence, and you would not be you at all, but would
be he.
If you can but grasp this idea you will see that not for a moment would
you be willing for such an exchange. Of course such an exchange is
impossible. The "I" of you cannot be wiped out. It is eternal, and will
go on, and on, and on, to higher and higher states--but it always will be
the same "I." Just as you, although a far different sort of person from
your childhood self, still you recognize that the same "I" is there, and
always has been there. And although you will attain knowledge,
experience, power and wisdom in the coming years, the same "I" will
be there. The "I" is the Divine Spark and cannot be extinguished.
The majority of people in the present stage of the race development
have but a faint conception of the reality of the "I." They accept the
statement of its existence, and are conscious of themselves as an eating,

sleeping, living creature--something like a higher form of animal. But
they have not awakened to an "awareness" or realization of the "I,"
which must come to all who become real centres of Influence and
Power. Some men have stumbled into this consciousness, or a degree
of it, without understanding the matter. They have "felt" the truth of it,
and they have stepped out from the ranks of the commonplace people
of the world, and have become powers for good or bad. This is
unfortunate to some extent, as this "awareness" without the knowledge
that should accompany it may bring pain to the individual and others.
The Candidate must meditate upon the "I," and recognize it--feel it--to
be a Centre. This is his first task. Impress upon your mind the word "I,"
in this sense and understanding, and let it sink deep down into your
consciousness, so that it will become a part of you. And when you say
"I," you must accompany the word with the picture of your Ego as a
Centre of Consciousness, and Thought, and Power, and Influence. See
yourself thus, surrounded by your world. Wherever you go, there goes
the Centre of your world. YOU are the Centre, and all outside of you
revolves around that Centre. This is the first great lesson on the road to
Initiation. Learn it!
The Yogi Masters teach the Candidates that their realization of the "I"
as a Centre may be hastened by going into the Silence, or State of
Meditation, and repeating their first name over slowly, deliberately and
solemnly a number of times. This exercise tends to cause