Rightly has it been remarked that is easy to talk of and write upon this
subject but most difficult to possess it. Perfect Self-Control means
infinite power. Only the Buddas and the Christs of this World manifested
Perfect Self-Control. "Anything short of the absolute control of thought,
word and deed is only sowing wild oats," said Vivekananda. It is with no
little diffidence that I approach this subject as whoever handles
this subject is rightly culpable as being a "Do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do"
class of writers. Still you can make appreciable progress in this
direction by mastering these instructions, going through the exercises
and last but most important by "carrying the principles in your mind" and
applying them as far as you can in your daily life. Nothing is more
conducive to rapid growth and development as the making of the "little
and big" affairs in your work-a-day life, the occasion for the practical
expression and conscious translation of your ideals. We all are guilty of
a serious mistake in setting apart our higher ideals for regular
'practice' hours and leading a life of low and quite different ideals in
our ordinary life. The natural process, as you can see, is to LIVE OUT
your highest ideals every minute of your life. Nothing is more important
than the daily occupation of a man and if he fails to bring his ideals
right into these little things, then Success will ever elude him. A
mental scientist has summed up the entire secret of Character-Building in
this valuable advice on Objective Concentration: the simple task of
mental concentration on whatever task, business or profession a man is
engaged in is the beginning of the mastery which is the perfection of
Objective Concentration. Whatever you are doing be master of your work.
If you are a cobbler mend shoes in a perfect manner; if a barber keep
your razors and scissors in a state that will excite the admiration of
your customers; if a tailor make the coat fit like a glove; if a clerk
keep your accounts in apple-pie order; if a builder scorn your
jerry-brother; if a singer enchant the listener with a concord of sweet
sounds; if an actor enter into the spirit of the character and make the
play-goer feel that
"All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players,
They have their exits and their entrance
And one man in his time plays many parts."
If a leader in any department of thought or action, remember that if to
you much is given, from you also much is required, for the responsibility
of the lives and happiness of your fellows rests heavy on your shoulders,
whether you know it or not and thousands may secretly curse your
incapacity and bungling. It is infinitely better to be a good cobbler
than a bad ruler.
I believe the above advice if followed conscientiously by you would
go to make you really fit for initiation into the more advanced stages of
mastery. Take it to heart by all means. Be convinced, the man who
looks for quick results and a royal road to the mastery of Mental Science
breaks down in frequent despair at apparent failures and neglects his
daily work will never go far. In fact, his very impatience will lead to
failure. No individual life is fully rounded out unless some useful work
forms part of it. The Yogi who has renounced the world has already
done his work and is ahead of the times. The real hermit and the saint
are the Pillars of Strength on which this world stands. I cannot repeat
this too often. The mere fact of their breathing the same atmosphere
as you is a benediction and an inestimable boon unto the race.