A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga | Page 9

of Consciousness--a Sun around which his
world revolves. Then will come to him a new strength. He will feel a
calm dignity and power, which will be apparent to those with whom he
comes in contact. He will be able to look the world in the face without
flinching, and without fear, for he will realize the nature and power of
the "I." He will realize that he is a Centre of Power--of Influence. He
will realize that nothing can harm the "I," and that no matter how the
storms of life may dash upon the personality, the real "I"--the
Individuality--is unharmed. Like a rock that stands steadfast throughout
the storm, so does the "I" stand through the tempests of the life of
personality. And he will know that as he grows in realization, he will
be able to control these storms and bid them be still.
In the words of one of the Yogi Masters: "The 'I' is eternal. It passes
unharmed through the fire, the air, the water. Sword and spear cannot
kill or wound it. It cannot die. The trials of the physical life are but as
dreams to it. Resting secure in the knowledge of the 'I,' Man may smile
at the worst the world has to offer, and raising his hand he may bid
them disappear into the mist from which they emerged. Blessed is he

who can say (understandingly) 'I'."
So dear Candidate, we leave you to master the First Lesson. Be not
discouraged if your progress be slow. Be not cast down if you slip back
a step after having gained it. You will gain two at the next step. Success
and realization will be yours. Mastery is before. You will Attain. You
will Accomplish. Peace be with you.
MANTRAMS (AFFIRMATIONS) FOR THE FIRST LESSON.
"I" am a Centre. Around me revolves my world.
"I" am a Centre of Influence and Power.
"I" am a Centre of Thought and Consciousness.
"I" am Independent of the Body.
"I" am Immortal and cannot be Destroyed.
"I" am Invincible and cannot be Injured.
[Illustration: "I"]

THE SECOND LESSON.
THE EGO'S MENTAL TOOLS.
In the First Lesson we gave instruction and exercises designed to
awaken the consciousness of the Candidate to a realization of the real
"I." We confined our instructions to the preliminary teachings of the
reality of the "I," and the means whereby the Candidate might be
brought to a realization of his real Self, and its independence from the
body and the things of the flesh. We tried to show you how you might
awaken to a consciousness of the reality of the "I"; its real nature; its
independence of the body; its immortality; its invincibility and
invulnerability. How well we have succeeded may be determined only

by the experience of each Candidate, for we can but point out the way,
and the Candidate must do the real work himself.
But there is more to be said and done in this matter of awakening to a
realization of the "I." So far, we have but told you how to distinguish
between the material coverings of the Ego and the "I" itself. We have
tried to show you that you had a real "I," and then to show you what it
was, and how it was independent of the material coverings, etc. But
there is still another step in this self analysis--a more difficult step.
Even when the Candidate has awakened to a realization of his
independence of the body, and material coverings, he often confounds
the "I" with the lower principles of the mind. This is a mistake. The
Mind, in its various phases and planes, is but a tool and instrument of
the "I," and is far from being the "I" itself. We shall try to bring out this
fact in this lesson and its accompanying exercises. We shall avoid, and
pass by, the metaphysical features of the case, and shall confine
ourselves to the Yogi Psychology. We shall not touch upon theories,
nor attempt to explain the cause, nature and purpose of the Mind--the
working tool of the Ego--but instead shall attempt to point out a way
whereby you may analyze the Mind and then determine which is the
"not I" and which is the real "I." It is useless to burden you with
theories or metaphysical talk, when the way to prove the thing is right
within your own grasp. By using the mind, you will be able to separate
it into its parts, and force it to give you its own answer to the questions
touching itself.
In the second and third lessons of our "Fourteen Lessons," we pointed
out to you the fact that man had three Mental Principles, or
subdivisions of mind, all of which were below the plane