Raja Yoga - Swami Vivekananda

I06RAjA YOGA.tion of the mind. A book form, or an elephant form,or a man form, is not outside; all that we know is ourmental reaction from the outer suggestion. Matter isthe "permanent possibility of sensation," said JohnStuart Mill. It is only the suggestion that is outside.Take an oyster for example. You know how pearlsare made. A grain of sand or something gets insideand begins to irritate it,and the oyster throws a sortof enamelling around the sand, and this makes thepearl. This whole universe is our own enamel, so tosay, and the real universe is the grain of sand. Theordinary man will never understand it, because, whenhe tries to, he throws out an enamel, and sees only hisown enamel. Now we understand what is meant bythese Vrittis. The real man is behind the mind, andthe mind is the instrument in his hands, and it is hisintelligence that is percolating through it. It is onlywhen you stand behind it that it becomes intelligent.When man gives itup it falls to pieces, and is nothing.So you understand what is meant by Chitta. It is themind-stuff, and Vrittis are the waves and ripples risingin it when external causes impinge on it.These Vrittisare our whole universe.The bottom of the lake we cannot see, because itssurface is covered with ripples. It is only possiblewhen the ripples have subsided, and the water is calm,for us to catch a glimpse of the bottom. If the waterismuddy, the bottom will not be seen;if the water isagitated all the time, the bottom will not be seen. Ifthe water is clear, and there are no waves, we shall