The Doctrine and Practice of Yoga | Page 8

young College student who was a born leader of men and who was
adored, admired and universally respected by all students, teachers and
professors. "I wish you would teach me Mesmerism so that I may
fascinate that girl"--this was the application of Mr. K. Well, the upshot
of it all was that Mr. K. got a severe and stern rebuke from the young
mesmerist, who in all truth was a born Yogi and cared not for the petty
ways and small thoughts and attainments of men of this world. I find
that nearly all modern Western writers on and teachers of this subject
are much, in fact solely, taken up with the idea of sensationalism
through Occultism, so much so that when a really thoughtful man
investigates their writings he feels utterly disgusted, repelled and
horrified at the very name of Occultism. "_It is sin to manifest
power_," said Vivekananda. The man who studies Yoga and Occultism
simply with a view to develop, display and demonstrate Psychic and
Super-normal Powers and Siddhies always ends in Lust and is caught
up in a psychic machinery of law and destructive thought forces that
effectually grind him to pieces. His spiritual progress is thrown back
over ages and he is made to retrace his steps slowly and painfully. I
cannot too strongly condemn the modern tendency to "impress" others,
to "strike terror" into others, to "psychologize" others towards the
accomplishment of our personal motives. If you are one such, do, for
heaven's sake, open your eyes to your gross ignorance and low
propensities or be not surprised if one day you find yourself face to face
with some powerful scoundrel who would not scruple to crush you in
all possible ways. "Harm watch, harm catch." I am going to give you in
practical form what constitute the real cause at the back of a

"Magnetic" personality--that which when developed makes a god-like
man of any human weakling.
This power is by no means the especial and peculiar possession of
some divinely gifted individuals. Everyone can cultivate it. It is in you
and needs vigorous stirring up as a condition of its awakening. There
are some men who are born great; others are made so by certain
unforeseen circumstances; a third class becomes great through
conscious and intelligent effort.
Now, what are the causes behind Personal Influence?
(1) Some say that the right control of the Sex-Force or Celibacy is the
cause.
(2) Others say that vegetarianism leads to it.
(3) Still others assert that it is physical energy and nerve force.
(4) A fourth class has it that there emanates a current of magnetism
from the human body and influences everyone coming within its
"Magnetic field".
Taking the last view point first, I should say, with certain other leading
mental Scientists, that the human dynamic force is different from
"magnetism" as the latter bears direct reference to the loadstone.
Again, my own personal observations as well as those of others prove
conclusively that although "magnetic" personalities have remarkably
well-disciplined and highly trained physical energies, it is rarely or
never a huge gigantic physique with large, unsightly muscles that
exerts this force. No, it is decidely something other than mere physical
energy and brute strength. A light, active, vigorous physique is
desirable and any one can have it. Again, the principle value of a
non-flesh diet lies in the fact that fruits, nuts, corn and vegetables are
possessed of rhythmic qualities and go to build up a fine, sensitive
physique capable of greater powers of endurance and sustained mental
effort than the 'carcass' of any animal ever can. Matter does affect mind
in the lower stages of organic evolution but the process is largely
reversed as soon as CONSCIOUS evolution commences. Therefore
vegetarianism, although highly commendable, from a strictly scientific
point of view for the development of an active and energetic, refined
organism, is by no means a rigid and indispensable necessity in this
respect. In fact, some most "magnetic" individuate make 'graveyards of
their stomachs' as a Mental Scientist puts it.

Lastly, Bramhacharya or Celibacy, as practised by Sannyasis in India,
has a strictly spiritual significance although it certainly has much as
everything to do with Personal Magnetism. To the average man I would
say: "Strive for CONTINENCE, chastity and control in this direction."
Do not emasculate, as that would be a waste of force. The stronger this
force, the better. All Sannyasis learn consciously or unconsciously to
transmute this energy into mental and spiritual force and generally their
minds dwell on a plane of mental and spiritual effort where there
cannot be even a breath of sensuality or grossness. They have gone
beyond such things utterly; the same statement applies to all advanced
thinkers, philosophers and workers, whether married or unmarried. To
me the