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A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga546
It is well to accompany the above exercises with a comfortable and easy
physical attitude, so as to prevent the distraction of the attention by the
body. In order to do this one should assume an easy attitude, and then relax
every muscle, and take the tension from every nerve, until a perfect sense
of ease, comfort and relaxation is obtained. You should practice this until
you have fully acquired it. It will be useful to you in many ways, besides
rendering Concentration and Meditation easier. It will act as a “rest cure” for
tired body, nerves, and mind.
Exercise ii.
The second step in Raja Yoga is what is known as Dharana, or
Concentration. This is a most wonderful idea in the direction of focusing
the mental forces, and may be cultivated to an almost incredible degree,
but all this requires work, time, and patience. But the student will be well
repaid for it. Concentration consists in the mind focusing upon a certain
subject, or object, and being held there for a time. This, at first thought
seems very easy, but a little practice will show how difficult it is to firmly fix
the attention and hold it there. It will have a tendency to waver, and move
to some other object or subject, and much practice will be needed in order
to hold it at the desired point. But practice will accomplish wonders, as one
may see by observing people who have acquired this faculty, and who use it
in their everyday life. But the following point should be remembered. Many
persons have acquired the faculty of concentrating their attention, but have
allowed it to become almost involuntary, and they become a slave to it,
forgetting themselves and everything else, and often neglecting necessary
affairs. This is the ignorant way of concentrating, and those addicted to
it become slaves to their habits, instead of masters of their minds. They
become day-dreamers, and absent-minded people, instead of Masters.
They are to be pitied as much as those who cannot concentrate at all. The
secret is in a mastery of the mind. The Yogis can concentrate at will, and
completely bury themselves in the subject before them, and extract from it