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A Series of Lessons in Raja Yoga664
this lesson, which methods are similar to what is called by Western writers,
“Auto-suggestion.”
The underlying idea of Auto-suggestion is the “willing” of the individual
that the changes take place in his mind, the willing being aided by intelligent
and tried methods of creating the new ideal or thought-form. The first
requisite for the changed condition must be “desire” for the change. Unless
one really desires that the change take place, he is unable to bring his Will
to bear on the task. There is a very close connection between Desire and
Will. Will is not usually brought to bear upon anything unless it is inspired by
Desire. Some people connect the word Desire with the lower inclinations,
but it is equally applicable to the higher. If one fights off a low inclination or
Desire, it is because he is possessed of a higher inclination or Desire. Many
Desires are really compromises between two or more conflicting Desires—a
sort of average Desire, as it were.
Unless one desires to change his character he will not make any move
toward it. And in proportion to the strength of the desire, so will be the
amount of will-power that is put in the task. The first thing for one to do in
character building is to “want to do it.” And if he finds that the “want” is not
sufficiently strong to enable him to manifest the perseverance and effort
necessary to bring it to a successful conclusion, then he should deliberately
proceed to “build up the desire.”
Desire may be built up by allowing the mind to dwell upon the subject until
a desire is created. This rule works both ways, as many people have found
out to their sorrow and misery. Not only may one build up a commendable
desire in this way, but he may also build up a reprehensible one. A little
thought will show you the truth of this statement. A young man has no desire
to indulge in the excesses of a “fast” life. But after a while he hears, or reads
something about others leading that sort of life, and he begins to allow his
mind to dwell upon the subject, turning it around and examining it mentally,
and going over it in his imagination. After a time he begins to find a desire
gradually sending forth roots and branches, and if he continues to water the