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A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga538
Reality or Existence, is the Absolute or God; that the sense of Reality that is
inherent in the “I,” is really the reflection of the sense of Reality inherent in
the Whole—the Great “I” of the Universe.
The underlying principle of these three lessons is the Reality of the “I,” in
itself, over and above all Matter, Force, or Mind—positive to all of them,
just as they are positive or negative to each other—and negative only to
the Centre of the One—the Absolute itself. And this is the position for the
Candidate or Initiate to take: “I am positive to Mind, Energy, and Matter,
and control them all—I am negative only to the Absolute, which is the
Centre of Being, of which Being I Am. And, as I assert my mastery over Mind,
Energy, and Matter, and exercise my Will over them, so do I acknowledge
my subordination to the Absolute, and gladly open my soul to the inflow of
the Divine Will, and partake of its Power, Strength, and Wisdom.”
In the present lesson, and those immediately following it, we shall
endeavor to assist the Candidate or Initiate in acquiring a mastery of the
subordinate manifestations, Matter, Energy, and Mind. In order to acquire
and assert this mastery, one must acquaint himself with the nature of the
thing to be controlled.
In our “Advanced Course” we have endeavored to explain to you the
nature of the Three Great Manifestations, known as Chitta, or Mind-
Substance; Prana, or Energy; and Akasa, or the Principle of Matter. We
also explained to you that the “I” of man is superior to these three, being
what is known as Atman or Spirit. Matter, Energy, and Mind, as we have
explained, are manifestations of the Absolute, and are relative things. The
Yogi philosophy teaches that Matter is the grossest form of manifested
substance, being below Energy and Mind, and consequently negative to,
and subordinate to both. One stage higher than Matter, is Energy or Force,
which is positive to, and has authority over, Matter (Matter being a still
grosser form of substance), but which is negative to and subordinate to Mind,
which is a still higher form of substance. Next in order comes the highest of
the three—Mind—the finest form of substance, and which dominates both