CONCENTRATION.

Concentration signifies the state of being at a centre (_con_ and

_centrum_). Applied to thought, it is the act of bringing the mind to a

single point. Each human being must practise concentration _subjectively_

and _objectively_. In other words, each human being aims with more or

less precision at concentration on a point _within_ and a point _without_

his own world. Concentration "without" is illustrated when you devote all

your attention upon Nature, such as learning a trade, a profession, a

science, an art or some form of business. This is _Evolution_, outgoing

or positive mental energy. I shall call this _Objective Concentration_.

Concentration "within" implies the withdrawing of attention from the

external world and the placing of mind on "God," "Spirit," "Heaven,"

"Religion," "Peace," "Nirvana," "Eternity," etc. This is _Involution_,

_i.e._, incoming or negative energy.

When _Objective Concentration_ alone is practised, you develop into a

hard-headed, practical man of the world or a successful man of business.

You are keen and shrewd. The world is a very matter-of-fact thing to

you. You cannot think of anything else beyond money-making and pleasures

and worldly affairs. You are a "worldling of the world," very clever,

rich, and a master along your own lines. But spiritually you are an

imbecile, worse than a baby. This is the _Objective Mind_--the "deepest

immersed in matter, literally made of the dust." "It is the brain of

worldly wisdom, common sense, prudence, methodical arrangement, order,

discipline, classification, the skill and knowledge of the expert in any

branch or department of art or science." This side of the mind is well

developed in Scientists, Mathematicians and Businessmen, etc. Where

it is not guided by the Subjective Mind, it can only see diversity and

difference and is the slave of Maya--the slayer of the Real.

_Subjective Concentration_ is seeking the Kingdom of Heaven _within_

you. "God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in Spirit

and Truth." LAPLACE, the great astronomer, asserted that he had swept

the heavens with his telescope and found neither God nor Heaven. Yes,

poor LAPLACE! He looked for God objectively instead of subjectively.

The Kingdom of God comes not with 'observation' but it is 'within' you.

The be-all and the end-all of religion is the practice of Subjective

Concentration. The performance of objective work by the human organism

necessitates expenditure of energy and at last death, because all

Objective Concentration means 'going from' the Absolute centre--God--and

hence it expends Spiritual Energy. Subjective Concentration means 'coming

to' the centre and hence it husbands and recuperates this energy. Now

nature is motion to and from, and Spirit--the centre of Life. This

two-fold motion constitutes what is known as polarity--Evolution and

Involution--negative and positive. At the negative pole life becomes

involved, _i.e._, 'wrapped up' in form. At the positive pole life

'evolves' or becomes expressed in nature. In Subjective Concentration you

return for fresh supplies to the inexhaustible storehouse of force--the

Absolute Will. Jesus healed the sick, exhibited control over external

nature by raising the dead, because his chaste soul could receive nothing

negatively from God and could give it out positively to the objective

world. All power comes from God. I would impress upon you the

all-important necessity of placing yourself in a magnetically passive

attitude towards the Universal Will and then of taking up a calm,

positive attitude towards the phenomenal world--which is a projection of

the lower nature and hence must be handled masterfully, fearlessly and

confidently. Be positive to the external world. Be negative and receptive

to the Lord's Will-force. Remember this. This brings me to the supremest

and most solid truth contained in the Science of prayer. The praying

mind, by its mere attitude of faith and earnest expectation, opens itself

out to the tremendous inflow of Divine Energy. It draws close to the

centre of all-power, wisdom and love, and drinks deep of the living

waters of life so that even the very face or flesh begins to shine under

the influence of this self-polarization--if I may be permitted to use

this word--through prayer. Here is the _causa nuxus_ between a prayer and

its sure reply. Do you remember what Lord Rosebery said of the great

Puritan Mystic Oliver Cromwell? If not, please let me quote: "The secret

of his extraordinary success--he was a practical mystic--the most

formidable and terrible of all combinations. The man who combines

inspiration, apparently derived--in my judgment, really derived--from

close communion with the Supernatural and the Celestial, a man who has

that inspiration and adds to it the energy of a mighty man of action,

such a man as that lives in communion on a _Sinai_ of his own; and when

he pleases to come down to this world below, seems armed with no less

than the terrors and decrees of the Almighty Himself." Now both forms of

concentration must be practised so as to hold the two poles in the even

balance of harmonious growth.

You will perform the daily work to which you are naturally adapted in the

common weal (Objective Concentration) and after the daily task is

finished, retire to the bosom of the Universal Spirit by the regular

practice of Subjective Concentration.

Now will you realise the ideal of peace in the very midst of the toil

and sweat of the day.

The foregoing diagram, if closely and thoughtfully studied, will show the

stages the mind has to 'grow into' in objective and subjective

concentration.

In order to acquire knowledge of the laws of external nature the mirror

you require is accurate observation and you must focus your attention and

push objective concentration to its final stage of perfect knowledge or

illumination in order to master any special branch of science.

In Objective Concentration, _Pratyahara_ and _Dharana_ are the

preparatory stages. Take a scientist, for instance. He knows that when

the mind is engaged with several things, mind force is scattered. He

cannot be a politician, a musician, etc., and at the same time an expert

scientist. He gradually abstracts his attention from all other subjects

and pauses it on one subject or one set of subjects.

_Pratyahara_ is the continued effort of the mind to so abstract itself.

_Dharana_ is reached when this effort is finally successful and the

mind becomes steadfast and one-pointed. _Dhyana_ is an extension of

this steadfastness. When _Dhyana_ is reached, the student is beyond the

range of books. His mind is occupied with original researches and

experiments and his knowledge becomes more and more definite. Going on

and on always on the one line complete knowledge of that subject is

attained. This is the objective view of _Samadhi_. All these stages when

completed make one _Samayana_. The subjective view of _Samadhi_ no books

or writings can teach you. As you go deeper and deeper into Yoga, you

will understand these things in the light of your Soul-Vision. It will

come to you if you follow my subsequent instructions. Despair not.