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A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga564
is delivered; and they will feel less that embarrassment which arises from the
thought of what opinion the hearers will form of them.”
The same writer, Whateley, seems to have made quite a study of Attention
and has given us some interesting information on its details. The following
may be read with interest, and if properly understood may be employed
to advantage. He says, “It is a fact, and a very curious one, that many people
find that they can best attend to any serious matter when they are occupied
with something else which requires a little, and but a little, attention, such as
working with the needle, cutting open paper leaves, or, for want of some
such employment, fiddling anyhow with the fingers.” He does not give the
reason for this, and at first sight it might seem like a contradiction of the “one
thing at a time” idea. But a closer examination will show us that the minor
work (the cutting leaves, etc.) is in the nature of an involuntary or automatic
movement, inasmuch as it requires little or no voluntary attention, and
seems to “do itself.” It does not take off the Attention from the main subject,
but perhaps acts to catch the “waste Attention” that often tries to divide
the Attention from some voluntary act to another. The habit mind may be
doing one thing, while the Attention is fixed on another. For instance, one
may be writing with his attention firmly fixed upon the thought he wishes
to express, while at the time his hand is doing the writing, apparently with
no attention being given it. But, let a boy, or person unaccustomed to
writing, try to express his thoughts in this way, and you will find that he is
hampered in the flow of his thoughts by the fact that he has to give much
attention to the mechanical act of writing. In the same way, the beginner
on the typewriter finds it difficult to compose to the machine, while the
experienced typist finds the mechanical movements no hindrance whatever
to the flow of thought and focusing of Attention; in fact, many find that
they can compose much better while using the typewriter than they can by
dictating to a stenographer. We think you will see the principle.
And now for a little Mental Drill in Attention, that you may be started on
the road to cultivate this important faculty.