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The Fourth Lesson: Mental Control.547
every item of interest, and can then pass the mind from the thing at will, the
same control being used in both cases. They do not allow fits of abstraction,
or “absent-mindedness” to come upon them, nor are they day-dreamers.
On the contrary they are very wide awake individuals; close observers;
clear thinkers; correct reasoners. They are masters of their minds, not slaves
to their moods. The ignorant concentrator buries himself in the object or
subject, and allows it to master and absorb himself, while the trained Yogi
thinker asserts the “I,” and then directs his mind to concentrate upon the
subject or object, keeping it well under control and in view all the time. Do
you see the difference? Then heed the lesson.
The following exercises may be found useful in the first steps of
Concentration:
(a) Concentrate the attention upon some familiar object—a pencil, for
instance. Hold the mind there, and consider the pencil to the exclusion of
any other object. Consider its size; color; shape; kind of wood. Consider its
uses, and purposes; its materials; the process of its manufacture, etc., etc., etc.
In short, think as many things about the pencil as possible, allowing the mind
to pursue any associated by-paths, such as a consideration of the graphite
of which the “lead” is made; the forest from which came the wood used in
making the pencil; the history of pencils, and other implements used for
writing, etc. In short exhaust the subject of “Pencils.” In considering a subject
under concentration, the following plan of synopsis will be found useful.
Think of the thing in question from the following view-points:
(1) The thing itself.
(2) The place from whence it came.
(3) Its purpose or use.
(4) Its associations.
(5) Its probable end.
Do not let the apparently trivial nature of the inquiry discourage you, for
the simplest form of mental training is useful, and will help to develop your
Will and Concentration. It is akin to the process of developing a physical