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A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga656
him, and when he begins to speak the matter is at least roughly “licked into
shape for him.”
Our students will understand, of course, that this is not advice to smoke
cigars during interviews of importance, but is merely given to illustrate the
principle. We have known other men to twirl a lead pencil in their fingers
in a lazy sort of fashion, and then drop it at the important moment. But
we must cease giving examples of this kind, lest we be accused of giving
instructions in worldly wisdom, instead of teaching the use of the mind. The
impressive pause of the teacher, before answering his pupil’s question, is
also an example of the workings of this law. One often says “stop, let me
think a moment,” and during his pause he does not really consciously think at
all, but stares ahead in a dreamy fashion, while his subconscious mind does
the work for him, although he little suspects the nature of the operation.
One has but to look around him to realize the importance and frequent
application of this truth.
And not only may the sub-conscious mind be used in the directions
indicated on preceding pages, but in nearly every perplexity and problem
of life may it be called upon for help. These little sub-conscious brownies
are ever at our disposal, and seem to be happy to be of service to us.
And so far from being apt to get us in a position of false dependence,
it is calculated to make us self-confident—for we are calling upon a part
of ourselves, not upon some outside intelligence. If those people who
never feel satisfied unless they are getting “advice” from others would only
cultivate the acquaintance of this little “home adviser” within them, they
would lose that dependent attitude and frame of mind, and would grow
self-confident and fearless. Just imagine the confidence of one who feels
that he has within him a source of knowledge equal to that of the majority
of those with whom he is likely to come in contact, and he feels less afraid
to face them, and look them fearlessly in the eyes. He feels that his “mind”
is not confined to the little field of consciousness, but is an area infinitely
greater, containing a mass of information undreamed of. Everything that the