YOGI SPIRITUAL BREATHING.
The Yogis not only bring about desired mental qualities and properties
by will-power coupled with rhythmic breathing, but they also develop
spiritual faculties, or rather aid in their unfoldment, in the same
way. The Oriental philosophies teach that man has many faculties which
are at present in a dormant state, but which will become unfolded as
the race progresses. They also teach that man, by the proper effort of
the will, aided by favorable conditions, may aid in the unfoldment of
these spiritual faculties, and develop them much sooner than in the
ordinary process of evolution. In other words, one may even now
develop spiritual powers of consciousness which will not become the
common property of the race until after long ages of gradual
development under the law of evolution. In all of the exercises
directed toward this end, rhythmic breathing plays an important part.
There is of course no mystic property in the breath itself which
produces such wonderful results, but the rhythm produced by the Yogi
breath is such as to bring the whole system, including the brain,
under perfect control, and in perfect harmony, and by this means, the
most perfect condition is obtained for the unfoldment of these latent
faculties.
In this work we cannot go deeply into the philosophy of the East
regarding spiritual development, because this subject would require
volumes to cover it, and then again the subject is too abstruse to
interest the average reader. There are also other reasons, well known
to occultists, why this knowledge should not be spread broadcast at
this time. Rest assured, dear student, that when the time comes for
you to take the next step, the way will be opened out before you.
"When the chela (student) is ready, the guru (master) appears." In
this chapter we will give you directions for the development of two
phases of spiritual consciousness, i.e., (1) the consciousness of the
identity of the Soul, and (2) the consciousness of the connection of
the Soul with the Universal Life. Both of the exercises given below
are simple, and consist of mental images firmly held, accompanied with
rhythmic breathing. The student must not expect too much at the start,
but must make haste slowly, and be content to develop as does the
flower, from seed to blossom.
SOUL CONSCIOUSNESS.
The real Self is not the body or even the mind of man. These things
are but a part of his personality, the lesser self. The real Self is
the Ego, whose manifestation is in individuality. The real Self is
independent of the body, which it inhabits, and is even independent of
the mechanism of the mind, which it uses as an instrument. The real
Self is a drop from the Divine Ocean, and is eternal and
indestructible. It cannot die or be annihilated, and no matter what
becomes of the body, the real Self still exists. It is the Soul. Do
not think of your Soul as a thing apart from you, for YOU are the
Soul, and the body is the unreal and transitory part of you which is
changing in material every day, and which you will some day discard.
You may develop the faculties so that they will be conscious of the
reality of the Soul, and its independence of the body. The Yogi plan
for such development is by meditation upon the real Self or Soul,
accompanied by rhythmic breathing. The following exercise is the
simplest form.
EXERCISE.--Place your body in a relaxed, reclining position. Breathe
rhythmically, and meditate upon the real Self, thinking of yourself as
an entity independent of the body, although inhabiting it and being
able to leave it at will. Think of yourself, not as the body, but as a
spirit, and of your body as but a shell, useful and comfortable, but
not a part of the real You. Think of yourself as an independent being,
using the body only as a convenience. While meditating, ignore the
body entirely, and you will find that you will often become almost
entirely unconscious of it, and will seem to be out of the body to
which you may return when you are through with the exercise.
This is the gist of the Yogi meditative breathing methods, and if
persisted in will give one a wonderful sense of the reality of the
Soul, and will make him seem almost independent of the body. The sense
of immortality will often come with this increased consciousness, and
the person will begin to show signs of spiritual development which
will be noticeable to himself and others. But he must not allow
himself to live too much in the upper regions, or to despise his body,
for he is here on this plane for a purpose, and he must not neglect
his opportunity to gain the experiences necessary to round him out,
nor must he fail to respect his body, which is the Temple of the
Spirit.
THE UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS.
The Spirit in man, which is the highest manifestation of his Soul, is
a drop in the ocean of Spirit, apparently separate and distinct, but
yet really in touch with the ocean itself, and with every other drop
in it. As man unfolds in spiritual consciousness he becomes more and
more aware of his relation to the Universal Spirit, or Universal Mind
as some term it. He feels at times as if he were almost at-one-ment
with it, and then again he loses the sense of contact and
relationship. The Yogis seek to attain this state of Universal
Consciousness by meditation and rhythmic breathing, and many have thus
attained the highest degree of spiritual attainment possible to man in
this stage of his existence. The student of this work will not need
the higher instruction regarding adeptship at this time, as he has
much to do and accomplish before he reaches that stage, but it may be
well to initiate him into the elementary stages of the Yogi exercises
for developing Universal Consciousness, and if he is in earnest he
will discover means and methods whereby he may progress. The way is
always opened to him who is ready to tread the path. The following
exercise will be found to do much toward developing the Universal
Consciousness in those who faithfully practice it.
EXERCISE.--Place your body in a reclining, relaxed position. Breathe
rhythmically, and meditate upon your relationship with the Universal
Mind of which you are but an atom. Think of yourself as being in touch
with All, and at-one-ment with All. See All as One, and your Soul as a
part of that One. Feel that you are receiving the vibrations from the
great Universal Mind, and are partaking of its power and strength and
wisdom. The two following lines of meditation may be followed.
(a) With each inhalation, think of yourself as drawing in to yourself
the strength and power of the Universal Mind. When exhaling think of
yourself as passing out to others that same power, at the same time
being filled with love for every living thing, and desiring that it be
a partaker of the same blessings which you are now receiving. Let the
Universal Power circulate through you.
(b) Place your mind in a reverential state, and meditate upon the
grandeur of the Universal Mind, and open yourself to the inflow of the
Divine Wisdom, which will fill you with illuminating wisdom, and then
let the same flow out from you to your brothers and sisters whom you
love and would help.
This exercise leaves with those who have practiced it a new-found
sense of strength, power and wisdom, and a feeling of spiritual
exaltation and bliss. It must be practiced only in a serious,
reverential mood, and must not be approached triflingly or lightly.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS.
The exercises given in this chapter require the proper mental attitude
and conditions, and the trifler and person of a non-serious nature, or
one without a sense of spirituality and reverence, had better pass
them by, as no results will be obtained by such persons, and besides
it is a wilful trifling with things of a high order, which course
never benefits those who pursue it. These exercises are for the few
who can understand them, and the others will feel no attraction to try
them.
During meditation let the mind dwell upon the ideas given in the
exercise, until it becomes clear to the mind, and gradually manifests
in real consciousness within you. The mind will gradually become
passive and at rest, and the mental image will manifest clearly. Do
not indulge in these exercises too often, and do not allow the
blissful state produced to render you dissatisfied with the affairs of
everyday life, as the latter are useful and necessary for you, and you
must never shirk a lesson, however disagreeable to you it may be. Let
the joy arising from the unfolding consciousness buoy you up and nerve
you for the trials of life, and not make you dissatisfied and
disgusted. All is good, and everything has its place. Many of the
students who practice these exercises will in time wish to know more.
Rest assured that when the time comes we will see that you do not seek
in vain. Go on in courage and confidence, keeping your face toward the
East, from whence comes the rising Sun.
Peace be unto you, and unto all men.
AUM.