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A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga544
Even our Intellect is erratic, unstable, and like the quicksilver to which the
ancient occultists compared it, shifting and uncertain. If you will look around
you you will see that those men and women in the world who have really
accomplished anything worth while have trained their minds to obedience.
They have asserted the Will over their own minds, and learned Mastery and
Power in that way. The average mind chafes at the restraint of the Will, and
is like a frisky monkey that will not be “taught tricks.” But taught it must be, if
it wants to do good work. And teach it you must if you expect to get any use
from it—if you expect to use it, instead of having it use you.
And this is the first thing to be learned in Raja Yoga—this control of
the mind. Those who had hoped for some royal road to mastery, may be
disappointed, but there is only one way and that is to master and control
the mind by the Will. Otherwise it will run away when you most need it. And
so we shall give you some exercise designed to aid you in this direction.
The first exercise in Raja Yoga is what is called Pratyahara or the art of
making the mind introspective or turned inward upon itself. It is the first
step toward mental control. It aims to turn the mind from going outward,
and gradually turning it inward upon itself or inner nature. The object is to
gain control of it by the Will. The following exercises will aid in that direction:
Exercise i.
(a) Place yourself in a comfortable position, and so far as possible free
from outside disturbing influences. Make no violent effort to control the
mind, but rather allow it to run along for a while and exhaust its efforts. It will
take advantage of the opportunity, and will jump around like an unchained
monkey at first, until it gradually slows down and looks to you for orders. It
may take some time to tame down at first trial, but each time you try it will
come around to you in shorter time. The Yogis spend much time in acquiring
this mental peace and calm, and consider themselves well paid for it.
(b) When the mind is well calmed down, and peaceful, fix the thought
on the “I Am,” as taught in our previous lessons. Picture the “I” as an entity