PracticesfortheQuest

Ifheisnottooproudtobeginatthepointwherehefindshimselfratherthanat
somepointwhereheoncewasorwouldnowliketobe,ifheiswillingtoadvance
onestepatatime,hemayrealizehisgoalfarmorequicklythanthelesshumble
andmorepretentiousmanislikelytorealizeit.
2

TheLongPathrepresentstheearlierstagesthroughwhichallseekersafterthe
higherwisdomwillhavetopass;theycannotleapuptothetop.Thereforethose
stageswillalwaysremainvaluable.
3

Theaspirantforilluminationmustfirstlifthimselfoutofthequagmireofdesire,
passion,selfishness,andmaterialisminwhichheissunk.Toachievethispurpose,
hemustundergoapurificatorydiscipline.Itistruethatsomeindividualsblessedby
graceorkarmaspontaneouslyreceiveilluminationwithouthavingtoundergosuch
adiscipline.Buttheseindividualsarefew.Mostofushavetotoilhardtoextricate
ourselvesfromthedepthsofthelowernaturebeforewecanseetheskyshining
overhead.
4

Anintellectualunderstandingisnotenough.Theseideascanbeturnedintotruths
onlybyathoroughselfdisciplineleadingtoliberationfrompassions,governance
ofemotions,transformationofmorals,andconcentrationofthoughts.
5

Hehastodevelopreligiousveneration,mysticalintuition,moralworth,rational
intelligence,andactiveusefulnessinordertoevolveafullerpersonality.Thushe
becomesafitinstrumentforthedescentoftheOverselfintothewaking
consciousness.
6

Manyayogiwillcriticizethisthreefoldpathtorealization.Hewillsaymeditation
alonewillbeenough.Hewilldeprecatethenecessityofknowingmetaphysicsand
ridiculethecalltoinspiredaction.ButtoshowthatIamintroducingnonew
fanglednotionofmyownhere,itmaybepointedoutthatinBuddhismthereisa
recognizedtripledisciplineofattainment,consistingof(1)dyhana(meditation
practice),(2)prajna(higherunderstanding),(3)sila(selfdenyingconduct).
7

ItisafaultinmostofmywritingsthatIdidnotmentionatall,ormentionedtoo
brieflyandlightly,certainaspectsofthequestsothatwrongideasaboutmyviews
onthesemattersnowprevail.Ididnottouchontheseaspectsordidnottouchon
themsufficiently,partlybecauseIthoughtmytaskwastodealasaspecialist
primarilywithmeditationalone,andpartlybecausesomanyotherworkershad
dealtwiththemsooften.Itisnowneedfultochangetheemphasisovertothese
neglectedhints.Theyincludemoralreeducation;characterbuilding;prayer,

communion,andworshipintheirmostinward,leastoutward,andquite
undenominationalreligioussense;mortificationoffleshandfeelingasatemporary
butindispensablediscipline;andtheuseofcreativeimaginationincontemplative
exercisesasahelptospiritualachievement.
8

Thereisapointofviewwhichrejectstheattitudethatdestitutionanddirepoverty
aretheonlypathstospiritualityandreplacesitbytheattitudethatasimplelifeand
asmallnumberofpossessionsarebetter.Thepovertystrickenlifeisusually
inadequateandunaesthetic.Weneedasufficiencyofpossessionsinordertoobtain
efficiencyofliving,andanaesthetichomeinordertolivethebeautifullife.How
muchmoreconducivetosuccessinmeditation,forinstance,isawellordered
home,arefinedelegantenvironment,anoiselessandundisturbedroomoroutdoor
spot!Butthesethingscostmoney.Howevermuchtheseekermaysaturatehimself
inyouthfulyearswithidealisticcontemptfortheworld'svalues,hewillfindin
timethateventhethingsimportanttohisinnerspirituallifecanusuallybehadonly
ifhehasenoughmoneytobuythem.Privacy,solitude,silence,andleisurefor
studyandmeditationarenotfree,andtheirpricecomeshigh.
9

Toliveasimplerlifeisnotthesameastoliveanimpoverishedlife.Ourwantsare
withoutendanditiseconomyofspiritualenergytoreducethematcertainpoints.
Butthisisnottosaythatallbeautifulthingsaretobethrownoutofthewindow
merelybecausetheyarenotfunctionalorindispensable.
10

Whatearlierscholarstranslatedas"nonacceptanceofgifts"inPatanjali'sYoga
Sutra,Mahadevanhastranslatedas"nonpossession."Thedifferenceinmeaningis
important.Theideaclearlyistoavoidburdenswhichkeepattentionbusywiththeir
care.
11

Whatisreallymeantbyrenunciationoftheworld?Iwilltellyou.Itiswhataman
comesdowntowhenconfrontedbycertaindeath,whenheknowsthatwithinan
hourortwohewillbegonefromthelivingworldwhenhedictateshislastwill
andtestamentdisposingofallhisearthlypossessions.
12

Itisnottheworldthatstandsinourwayandmustberenouncedbutourmentaland
emotionalrelationshipwiththeworld;andthisneedsonlytobecorrected.Wemay
remainjustwherewearewithoutflighttoashramorconvent,providedwemakean
innershift.
13

Thereissomethingcrazyinthisideathatwewereputintotheworldtoseparate
ourselvesfromit!
14

Theinabilitytobelieveinordetectthepresenceofadivinepowerintheuniverseis
tobeovercomebyathreefoldprocess.Thefirstpartsomepeopleovercomeby

"hearing"thetruthdirectlyutteredbyanilluminedpersonorbyotherpeopleby
readingtheirinspiredwritings.Thesecondpartistoreflectconstantlyuponthe
GreatTruths.Thethirdpartistointrovertthemindincontemplation.
15

Hemustbeobservant,mustunderstandtheheightsanddepthsofhumannature,
humanmotives,andhumanegoism.Heshoulddothisbecauseitwillhelphimto
knowbothothersandhimself,toservethembetterandtoprotecthisquest.
16

Hewhoentersuponthisquestwillhaveplentytodo,forhewillhavetoworkon
theweaknessesinhischaracter,tothinkimpartially,tomeditateregularly,andto
aspireconstantly.Aboveall,hewillhavetotrainhimselfinthedisciplineof
surrenderingtheego.
17

Showmeamanwhoisregularandpersistentinhispracticeofdailystudy,
reflection,andmeditation,andyouwillshowmeamandeterminedtobreakthe
bondsoffleshanddestinedtowalkintothesphereofthespirit,thoughyearsmay
elapseandlivesmaypassbeforehesucceeds.Hehaslearnedtoask,toseek,andto
find.
18

Asaprefacetothisreflectivereading,heshouldputhisheartinanattitudeof
humilityandprayerfulness.Heneedstheonebecauseitisthedivinegracewhich
willmakehisowneffortsbearfruitintheend.Heneedstheotherbecausehemust
askforthisgrace.Andhoweverobscurelyhemayglimpsethebook'smeaningat
times,hisownreflectivefaithinthetruthsetdowninitspagesandintheinner
leadingofhishigherself,willassisthimtoprogressfarther.Suchasublimestick
toitivenessbringstheOverself'sgraceinilluminatedunderstanding.
19

Fromthefirstmomentthathesetsfootonthisinnerpathuntilthelastonewhenhe
hasfinishedit,hewillatintervalsbeassailedbytestswhichwilltrythestuffheis
madeof.Suchtrialsaresenttothestudenttoexaminehismettle,toshowhow
muchheisreallyworth,andtorevealthestrengthandweaknessthatarereallyhis,
notwhathebelievesarehis.Thehardshipsheencounterstrythequalityofhis
attainmentanddemonstratewhetherhisinnerstrengthcansurvivethemorwill
breakdown;thesufferingsheexperiencesmayengravelessonsonhisheart,and
theordealsheundergoesmaypurifyit.Lifeistheteacheraswellasthejudge.
20

Everyactistobebroughtintothefieldofawarenessanddonedeliberately.
21

Thedisciplineoftheself,thefollowingofethicalconduct,thepracticeofmystical
meditationalltheseareneededifthehigherexperienceresultingininsightis
beingsought.
22

Aspirationaloneisnotenough.Itmustbebackedbydiscipline,training,and
endeavour.
23

Hewhowishestotriumphmustlearntoendure.
24

Fromtheintuitionsthataretheearliestguidesoftheseekingmindtotheecstatic
selfabsorptionsthatarethelatestexperiencesoftheilluminedmystic,thereare
certainobstructionswhichhavetobeprogressivelyremovedifthesemanifestations
aretoappear.Theycanbeclassifiedintothreegroups:thosethatbelongtothe
uncheckedpassionsofman,thosethatbelongtohisselfcenteredemotions,and
thosethatbelongtohisprejudicedthinking.Byacriticalselfanalysis,bya
purificatoryselfdenial,andbyanasceticselftraining,thephilosophicdiscipline
generatesadeepmoralandintellectualearnestnesswhichwearsdownthese
obstructionsandpreparestheseekerforrealadvance.
25

Theneophytemaystumbleandfall,buthecanstillriseupagain;hemaymake
mistakes,buthecanstillcorrectthem.Ifhewillsticktohisquestthrough
dishearteningcircumstancesandlongdelays,hisdeterminationwillnotbeuseless.
Ifitdoesnothingelse,itwillinvitetheonsetofgrace.Whenmoodsofdoubtcome
tohim,astheydotomost,hemustclingsteadfastlytohopeandrenewhispractice
untilthemooddisappears.Itisadifficultart,thisofkeepingtothesymbolinhis
serenecentreevenforafewminutes.Itcanbelearntbypracticeonly.Everytime
hestraysfromitintoexcitement,egotism,oranxiety,anddiscoversthefact,he
mustreturnpromptly.Itisanartwhichhastobelearntthroughconstanteffortand
afterfrequentfailure,thiskeepinghisholdonthespiritualfactsofexistence.He
shouldcontinuethequestwithunbrokendetermination,evenifhisdifficultiesand
weaknessesmakehimunabletocontinueitwithunshakendetermination.Itimplies
awillingnesstokeepthemainpurposeofhisquestinviewwhateverhappens.He
mustresolvetocontinuehisjourneydespitethesetbackswhichmayariseoutofhis
ownweaknessesandundeflectedbythemisfortuneswhichmayariseoutofhis
owndestiny.Theneedtoendurepatientlyamiddifficultperiodsisgreat,butitis
worthwhileholdingonandhopingonbyrememberingthatthecycleofbadkarma
willcometoanend.Itisamatterofnotlettinggo.Thisdoesnotmeanlethargic
resignationtowhateverhappens,however.Hehasgottomaintainhisexistence,
strivingtoseizeorcreatetheslenderestopportunities.
26

TheQuestisnottobefollowedbystudyingmetaphysicallyaloneorbysitting
meditativelyalone.Bothareneedfulyetstillnotenough.Experiencemustbe
reflectivelyobservedandintuitionmustbecarefullylookedfor.Aboveall,the
aspirantmustbedeterminedtostrivefaithfullyfortheethicalidealsofphilosophy
andtopractisesincerelyitsmoralteachings.
27

Eventhoughhelearnsallthesetruths,hehasonlylearntthemintellectually.They
mustbeappliedintheenvironment,theymustbedeeplyfeltintheheart,and,
finally,theymustbeestablishedastheConsciousnesswhencetheyarederived.
28

Makeitamatterofhabit,untilitbecomesamatterofinclination,tobekind,gentle,
forgiving,andcompassionate.Whatcanyoulose?Afewthingsnowandthen,a
littlemoneyhereandthere,anoccasionalhouroranargument?Butseewhatyou
cangain!Morereleasefromthepersonalego,morerighttotheOverself'sgrace,
morelovelinessintheworldinsideus,andmorefriendsintheworldoutsideus.
29

Itisnotmerelyundesirableforothers'sakeforamantoengageinspiritualservice
prematurelyandunpurified,butpositivelydangeroustohisownwelfare.
30

Theonlyauthenticmandateforspiritualservicemustcome,ifitdoesnotcome
fromamaster,fromwithinone'sHigherSelf.Ifitcomesfromtheego,itisthenan
unnecessaryintrusionintootherpeople'sliveswhichcandolittlegood,however
excellenttheintention.
31

Whenhecamedownintoreincarnation,hecamewiththeresponsibilityforhisown
life,notforotherpeople's.Theywere,andeverafterwardsremained,responsible
fortheirownlives.TheburdenwasneveratanytimeshiftedbyGodontohis
shoulders.
32

TounderstandthemysteriouslanguageoftheSilence,andtobringthis
understandingbackintotheworldofformsthroughworkthatshallexpressthe
creativevitalityoftheSpirit,isonewayinwhichyoumayservemankind.
33

Hemustexaminehimselftofindouthowfarhiddenselfseekingentersintohis
altruisticactivity.
34

Itisfutileforanyonewhohasmuddledhisownlifetosetouttostraightenthelives
ofothers.Itisarrogantandimpertinentforanyonetostartoutimprovinghumanity
whilsthehimselflamentablyneedsimprovement.Thetimeandstrengththathe
proposestogiveinsuchservicewillbebetterusedinhisown.Tomeddlewiththe
naturalcourseofothermen'slivesundersuchconditionsistofishintroubled
watersandmakeafoolofhimself.Onlywhenhehashimselfwellinhandisthere
evenachanceofrenderingrealservice.Amanwhoseowninteriorandexteriorlife
isfulloffailureshouldnotmocktheteachingbyprattlingconstantlyabouthiswish
toservehumanity.Suchservicemustfirstbeginatthepointnearesttohim,thatis,
hisownself.
35

Ifhecankeephismotivesreallypureandhisegofromgettinginvolved,hemay
findthewaytorenderservice.Butfewmencandoit.

36

Itisnotthatheisnottocareaboutotherpeopleortrytohelpthem,butthatheisto
rememberthatthereissolittlehecandoforthemwhileheissolittlehimself.
37

Helpgiven,oralmsbestowed,outofthegiver'sfeelingofonenesswiththe
sufferer,istwicegiven:onceasthephysicalbenefitandonceasthespiritual
blessingalongwithit.
38

Philosophicserviceisdistinguishedbypracticalcompetenceandpersonal
unselfishness.
39

Imustcutaclearlineofdifferencebetweenhelpingpeopleandpleasingthem.
Manywriteandsaymybookshavehelpedthemwhentheyreallymeanthatmy
bookshavepleasedtheiremotions.Wehelponlywhenweliftaman'smindtothe
nexthigherstep,notwhenweconfirmhispresentpositionby"pleasing"him.To
helpistoassistaman'sprogress;topleaseistolethisbondsenslavehim.
40

Theseekermustliveprimarilyforhisowndevelopment,secondarilyforsociety's.
Onlywhenhehasattainedtheconsummationofthatdevelopmentmayhereverse
theroles.If,inhisearlyenthusiasm,hebecomesareformeroramissionarymuch
morethanaseeker,hewillstubhistoes.
41

Ifhebeginstothinkofhimselfasthedoerofthisservice,thehelperofthese
people,hebeginstosetuptheegoagain.Itwillactasasbarricadebetweenhim
andthehigherimpersonalpower.Thespiritualeffectivenessofhisactivitywill
begintodwindle.
42

BecausetheultimateissuelieswiththegraceoftheOverself,theaspirantisnotto
prejudgetheresultsofhisQuest.Heistoletthemtakecareofthemselves.Thishas
onebenefit,thatitsaveshimfromfallingintotheextremesofundue
discouragementontheonehandandundueelationontheother.Ittellshimthat
eventhoughhemaynotbeable,inthisincarnation,toattainthegoalofunionwith
theOverselfbydestroyingtheego,hecancertainlymakesomeprogresstowards
hisgoalbyweakeningtheego.Suchaweakeningdoesnotdependupongrace;itis
perfectlywithintheboundsofhisowncompetence,hisowncapacity.
43

Suchinwardinvulnerabilityseemstoofarawaytobepracticable.Butthechief
valueofseekingitliesinthedirectionwhichitgivestothought,feeling,andwill.
Evenifitunlikelythattheaspirantwillachievesuchahighstandardinthispresent
incarnation,itislikelythathewillbeabletotaketwoorthreestepsnearerits
achievement.

Fundamentals
Stopwanderingthoughts

Thelongestbookonyogacanteachyounothingmoreaboutthepracticalaimof
yogathanthis:stillyourthoughts.
2

Oneofthecausesofthefailuretogetanyresultsfrommeditationisthatthe
meditatorhasnotpractisedlongenough.Infact,thewastageofmuchtimein
unprofitable,distracted,ramblingthinkingseemstobethegeneralexperience.Yet
thisisthepreludetotheactualworkofmeditationinitself.Itisanecessary
excavationbeforethebuildingcanbeerected.Thefactisunpleasantbutmustbe
accepted.Ifthisexperienceofthefirstperiodisfrustratinganddisappointing,the
experienceofthesecondperiodishappyandrewarding.Heshouldreallycountthe
firstperiodasapreparation,andnotasadefeat.Ifthepreliminaryperiodisso
irksomethatitseemslikeanartificialactivity,andthesubsequentperiodof
meditationitselfissopleasantandeffortlessthatitseemslikeaperfectlynatural
one,themoralis:moreperseveranceandmorepatience.
3

Iftheturningwheelofthoughtscanbebroughttoaperfectstandstillwithout
payingthepenaltyofsleep,theresultswillbethattheThinkerwillcometo
knowhimselfinsteadofhisthoughts.
4

Meditationisadmittedlyoneofthemostdifficultartstolearn.Themindof
humanityinitspresentdayconditionissorestless,sowandering,andespeciallyso
extroverted,thattheefforttobringitundercontrolseemstothebeginnertomeet
withdishearteningresults.Properpatience,righttechnique,andthementalhelpof
anexpertareneeded.Inmostcasesittakesseveralyears,butfromexperienceand
knowledgetheremaycometheskillandeaseoftheproficientmeditator.
5

Itisusefulonlyinthemostelementarystagetoletthoughtsdrifthazilyor
haphazardlyduringtheallottedperiod.Foratthatstage,heneedsmoretomakethe
ideaofsittingperfectlystillforsometimequiteacceptableinpracticethanhe
needstobeginwithdrawalfromthebody'ssense.Hemustfirstgaincommandof
hisbodybeforehecangaincommandofhisthoughts.Butinthenextstage,he
mustforciblydirectattentiontoasinglesubjectandforciblysustainitthere.He
mustbegintopractisementalmastery,forthiswillnotonlybringhimthespiritual
profitsofmeditationbutalsowillwardoffsomeofitspsychicdangers.
6

Arabbleofthoughtspursuehimintothesilenceperiod,asifdeterminedtokeephis
mindfromeverbecomingstill.
7

Donotmisstheobjectofyourmeditationsandloseyourselfinuselessreveries.
8

Themoralis,findtheobjectthatmakesmostappealtoyourtemperament,the
objectthatexperienceprovestobemosteffectiveininducingtheconditionof
mentalconcentration.
9

Thefirstquarterhourisoftensofatiguingtobeginnersthattheylookfor,and
easilyfind,anexcusetobringthepracticetoanabruptend,thusfailinginit.They
mayfranklyacceptthefatigueitselfassufficientreasonfortheirdesertion.Orthey
maymaketheexcuseofattendingtosomeothertaskwaitingtobedone.Butthe
factisthatalmostassoonastheystart,theydonotwanttogoon.Theysitdownto
meditateandthentheyfindtheydonotwanttomeditate!Why?Theanswerliesin
theintellect'sintractablerestlessness,itsinherentrepugnancetobeinggovernedor
beingstill.
10

Commandyourthoughtsduringthisfirstperiodofmeditation;directthembythe
energizedwilltowardsadefiniteandspecificsubject.Donotletthemdrift
vaguely.Assertyourmasterybyapositiveeffort.
11

Inyourmeditations,stopthinkingaboutthethingsthatoughttohavebeenleft
outsidethedoorandstartthinkingabouttheOverself.
12

Themindwillrushofflikeawildbullfromthedisciplineheseekstoimposeonit.
Ifthisfails,itwillusetemptationsordiversionsorpessimism.
13

Thinkofthelamasittinginlongandsustainedmeditationinthefreezingcellofa
Tibetanmonasteryandbeashamedofyourownweakness.
14

Ifthemeditationisnottoloseitselfinemptydaydreaming,itmustbealert.
15

Ifmeditationweretostopwithruminatingintentlyoverone'sownbestideasor
oversomeinspiredman'srecordedideas,theresultwouldcertainlybehelpfuland
thetimespentworthwhile.Itwouldbehelpfulandconstructive,butitwouldnotbe
morethanthat.Suchcommunionwiththoughtsisnottherealaimofmeditation.
ThataimistoopenadoortotheOverself.Toachievethis,itcastsoutallideasand
throwsawayallthoughts.Wherethinkingstillkeepsuswithinthelittleego,the
deliberatesilenceofthinkingliftsusoutoftheegoaltogether.
16

Theessenceofyogaistoputastoptotheego'smentalactivities.Itseverworking,
everrestlesscharacterisrightandnecessaryforhumanlifebutatthesametimeis
atyrantandslavedriveroverhumanlife.
17

Oneofthehindrancestosuccessinmeditation,tobeovercomewithgreat
difficulty,isthetendencyoftheintellectandespeciallyofthemodernWestern

intellecttothinkoftheactivitytowhichitcouldbeattendingifitwerenottrying
tomeditate,ortolookforwardtowhatitwillbedoingassoonasthemeditation
ends,ortoprojectitselfintoimaginationsandpredictionsaboutthenextfewhours
orthenextday.Theonlywaytodealwiththiswhenithappensisforciblytodrag
themind'sattentionawayfromitswanderingsandholdittotheNow,asifnothing
elseexistsorcaneverexist.
18

Catchyourthoughtsintheirfirststageandyoucatchthecauseofsomeofyour
troubles,sins,andevendiseases.
19

Thethoughtswhichintrudethemselvesonyourmeditationinsuchmultitudesand
withsuchpersistencemaybequelledifyousetgoingasearchastowherethey
comefrom.
20

Ifthewanderingcharacteristicofallthoughtsdivertsattentionanddefeatsthe
efforttomeditate,tryanotherway.Questionthethoughtsthemselves,seekouttheir
origin,tracethemtotheirbeginningandreducetheirnumbermoreandmore.Find
outwhatparticularinterestorimpulseemotionordesireintheegocausesthemto
ariseandpushthiscausebacknearertothevoid.Inthisway,youtendtoseparate
yourselffromthethoughtsthemselves,refusetoidentifywiththem,andgetback
nearertoyourhigheridentity.
21

Thefirstpartoftheexerciserequireshimtobanishallthoughts,feelings,images,
andenergieswhichdonotbelongtothesubject,prayer,ideal,orproblemhe
choosesasatheme.Nothingelsemaybeallowedtointrudeintoconsciousnessor,
havingintrudedbythemind'soldrestlessness,itistobeblottedout
immediately.Suchexpulsionisalwaystobeaccompaniedbyanexhalingofthe
breath.Eachreturnofattentiontotheselectedthemeistobeaccompaniedbyan
inhalingofthebreath.
22

Whenthoughtsarerestlessandhardtocontrol,thereisalwayssomethinginus
whichisawareofthisrestlessness.Thisknowledgebelongstothehidden"I"which
standsasanunruffledwitnessofallourefforts.Wemustseekthereforetofeelfor
andidentifyourselfwithit.Ifwesucceed,thentherestlessnesspassesawayof
itself,andthebubblingthoughtsdissolveintoundifferentiatedThought.
23

Hemustfirstworkatthecleansingofhismind.Thisisdonebyvigilantlykeeping
outdegradingthoughtsandbyrefusingentrytoweakeningones.
24

Hemustwaitpatientlyyetworkintentlyafterhecloseshiseyesuntilhisthoughts,
circlinglikeaflockofbirdsaroundaship,comegentlytorest.
25

Wehabituallythinkatrandom.Webeginourmusingswithonesubjectandusually
endwithanentirelydifferentone.Weevenforgettheverythemewhichstartedthe
movementofourmind.Suchanundisciplinedmindisanaverageone.Ifwewere
towatchourselvesforfiveminutes,wewouldbesurprisedtodiscoverhowmany
timesthoughthadinvoluntarilyjumpedfromonetopictoanother.
26

Thefirstproblemishowtokeephisinterestfromdryingup,thesecondhowto
keephisattentionfromwanderingoff.
27

Whenhehaspreviouslypurifiedhischaracter,hewillnaturallybeabletosustain
longperiodsofmeditationwithoutbeingdistractedbywaywardemotions.
28

ThepassageinconsciousnessfrommerethoughtstosheerThoughtisnotaneasy
one.Lifelongingrainedhabithasmadeourconsciousnessformridden,tiedto
solids,andexpectantofconstantchange.Tosurrenderthishabitseemstoit(albeit
wrongly)quiteunnatural,andconsequentlyartificialresistancesaresetup.
29

Tokeepupthemeditationforsomelengthoftime,toforcehimselftositthere
whileallhishabitualbodilyandmentalinstinctsareurginghimtoabandonthe
practice,callsforarousingofinnerstrengthtofightoffinattentionorfatigue.But
thisverystrength,oncearoused,willeventuallyenablehimtokeepitupforlonger
andlongerperiods.
30

Asthemindslowlyrelaxes,thenumberofthoughtsisreduced,theattentivenessto
themincreased.
31

Wheneverthemeditatornoticesthathehaslosthiswayandisnolongerthinking
ofhischosensubject,hehastostartagainandrethinkthesubject.Thisprocessof
refindinghiswayseveraltimesmayhavetoberepeatedduringeachsessionof
meditation.
32

Itwillbeahelptomeditatemoresuccessfullyif,atthebeginning,thebreathing
rhythmisequalizedsothattheinbreathandtheoutbreathareroughlyofthesame
lengthandifonedrawstheairinalittlemoredeeplythannormallyandletsitouta
littlemoreslowlythannormally.
33

Thesocallednormalmindisinastateofconstantagitation.Fromthestandpointof
yoga,thereislittledifferencewhetherthisagitationbepleasurableorpainful.
34

Ifastudentisnotpurifiedenough,norinformedenough,itisbetternotto
endeavourtoreachthetrancestage.Heshoulddevotehiseffortstothecontrolof
thoughtsandtothesearchforinnertranquillityalongwiththisselfpurificationand
improvementofknowledge.
35

Thethoughtflowmaybestoppedbyforciblemeanssuchasbreathcontrol,butthe
resultwillthenbeonlyatransientandsuperficialone.Ifadeeperandmoredurable
resultisdesired,itisessentialtoconjointhebreathcontrolwithotherkindsofself
controlwithadisciplineofthesensesandacleansingofthethoughts.
36

Theaimistowork,littlebylittle,towardslowingdowntheactionofthinkingfirst
andstillingitaltogetherlater.
37

Iftheinitialperiodofdistracted,wandering,overactive,orrestlessthoughtsirks
himbyitslength,heshouldrememberthatthisshowsthestateofhismindduring
mostoftheday.
38

Itisacustomamongtheyogis,andonelaiddowninthetraditionaltexts,tobegin
meditationbypayinghomagetoGodandtothemaster.Thepurposeofthisisto
attracthelpfromthesesources.
39

Themindisdraggedhitherandthitherbyitsdesiresorinterest,draggedtofleeting
andephemeralthings.
40

Theundisciplinedmindwillinevitablyresisttheeffectsneededfortheseexercises.
Thisisadifficultperiodforthepractiser.Theremedyistoarousehimself,
"summonupthewill,"andreturnagainandagaintothefightuntilthemind,likea
horse,beginstoacceptitstrainingandlearnstoobey.
41

Inthisinterimwaitingperiodnothinghappens,onlythethoughtsbubblealongas
theyusuallydoduringanidletime,exceptthatthereissomestrain,some
constrictionwheneverheremembersthatthereisapurposeinhissittinghere,a
controlneededtoachieveit.
42

Heistobeginbygivingadisciplinedattentiontotheworkingsofhisownmind.
43

Thebodysoonbeginstoprotestagainsttheunaccustomedstillnesssuddenly
enforcedonit:themindsoonstartstorebelagainstthetediumandboredomofthe
earlystages,andthehabitualunrestofbothwillhavetobefacedagainandagain.
44

Itisdifficult,oftenimpossible,tostopthinkingbyone'sowneffort.Butbygrace's
helpitgetsdone.Withthinkingnolongerintheway,consciousnessceasestobe
brokenup:nothingistheretoimpedemovementintostillness.
45

Iftheinnatecapacityislacking,asitusuallyis,thentheaspirantrequiressome
skillgatheredfromrepeatedexperiencetoshutoutsoundswhichbringthemind
backtophysicalsituations.
46

Itisnotonlythoughtsthatcomeupintheformofwordsthathavetobebrought
undercontrol,butalsothosethatcomeupintheformofimages.Solongas
consciousnessispeopledbytheactivitiesofimagination,solongdoesitsstillness
andemptinessremainunreached.Thatcertainyogaexercisesuseeitherofthese
formstoreachtheirgoaldoesnotfalsifythisstatement.Foreventherethemethod
practisedhastobeabandonedataparticularpoint,orstoptherebyitself.
47

Theintellectualtypetriestoanalysewhathedoesandseesintheattemptto
understanditmorefully.Buttheendresultisthatthetranscendentpartofthe
experienceislost;onesetofthoughtssucceedsonlyinproducinganother.Hemust
bewillingandreadytostopintellectionatthestartoftheexercise.Thisisessential
tosuccessinmeditation.
48

Whatevermethodblocksthewanderingofthoughtsorthepracticeof
intellectualism,whetherrandomorcontinuous,maybeusefulsolongasitassists
concentrationandlogicalexaminationisavoided.Itcouldbeamantram,butnota
devotional,intelligible,ormeaningfulone.Itcouldbeadiagram,adotonthewall,
oradoorhandle.
49

Hemusttrytokeephismentalequilibriumundisturbedbythehardshipsand
unbrokenbythepleasureswhichlifemaybringhim.Thiscannotbedoneunless
themindisbroughttorestonsomepoint,idea,name,orsymbolwhichgivesita
happypoise,andunlessitiskeptthere.
50

Itisnotenoughtoachievecontrolofthebody,itsurgesanditsdrivesandits
passions,splendidthoughthatcertainlyis.Hisadvancemustnotstopthere.Forhe
hasyettodealwithhisthoughts,torecognizethattheycomefromhisego,feed
andnurtureit,andcontrolofthemmustalsobeachieved.
51

Thefirstlawofthedisciple'slifeistobringhisownthoughtsunderlaw.
52

"Tostopthinkingisasifonewantedtostopthewind"isanoldChinesestatement.
53

Thecontrolofthoughtanditsconsecrationtoexaltedthemeswillbringhimmore
peaceandmorepower.
54

Hemustgivehimselfasufficientlengthoftime,firsttoattaintheconcentrated
stateandsecond,toholdit.
55

Hefindsthat,howeverwillingandeagerhemaybe,hecansustaintheintensityof
struggleagainstthisrestlessnessofmindonlyforacertaintime.
56

Hemustgivehisthoughtsadecisiveturninthechosendirectioneverytimethey
strayfromit.

57

Imaginationislikelytorunawaywithhisattentionduringthisearlyperiod.Atfirst
itwillbeoccupiedwithworldlymattersalreadybeingthoughtabout,butlaterit
mayinvolvepsychicalmatters,producingvisionsorhallucinationsofanunreliable
kind.
58

Evenwhenheismeditating,theaspirantmayfindthatfeelings,thoughts,
memories,ordesiresandotherimagesofhisworldlyexperiencecomeintothe
consciousness.Hemustnotbindhimselftothembygivingattentiontothem,but
shouldimmediatelydismissthem.
59

Experiencesandhappeningskeepattentioneveractiveandeveroutwardturned,
whilememories,althoughinternal,directitbacktothephysicalworld.Soaman's
ownthoughtsgetinthewayandpreventhimfromaconfrontationwithpure
Thoughtitself.
60

Theabilitytobringthemindtocontrolledonepointednessisextremelydifficult,
anditsachievementmayrequiresomeyearsofeffortanddetermination.Heneed
notallowhimselftobecomediscouragedbutshouldacceptthechallengethus
offeredforwhatitis.
61

Themindfluttersfromsubjecttosubjectlikeabutterflyfromflowertoflower,and
isunabletostaywherewewantit.
Blanknessisnotthegoal

62

Amereemptinessofmindisnotenough,isnottheobjectiveofthesepractices.
Someidiotspossessthisnaturallybuttheydonotpossessthewisdomofthe
Overself,theunderstandingofWhoandWhattheyare.
63

Philosophydoesnotteachpeopletomaketheirmindsablank,doesnotsayempty
outallthoughts,beinertandpassive.Itteachesthereductionofallthinkingactivity
toasingleseedthought,andthatoneistobeeitherinterrogativelike"WhatAm
I?"oraffirmativelike"Thegodlikeiswithme."Itistruethattheopeningupof
Overselfconsciousnesswill,inthefirstdelicateexperience,meantheclosing
downofthelastthoughts,theuttermoststillnessofmind.Butthatstagewillpass.
Itwillrepeatitselfagainwheneveroneplungesintothedeepesttrance,theraptest
meditativeabsorption.Anditmustthencomeofitself,inducedbythehigherself's
grace,notbythelowerself'sforce.Otherwise,merementalblanknessisarisky
conditiontobeavoidedbyprudentseekers.Itinvolvestheriskofmediumshipand
ofbeingpossessed.
64

Vacuityofmindisnottobeconfusedwithperceptionofreality.

65

Itisonlyalimp,semimesmericstate,afterall,andyieldsapeacewhichimitates
thetruedivinepeaceastheimageinamirrorimitatesthefleshandbloodman.Itis
producedbyselfeffort,notbyGrace,byautosuggestionratherthanbythe
Overself.
66

"Nomoreseriousmistakecanbecommittedthanconsideringthehibernationof
reptilesandotheranimalsasillustratingthesamadhistageofYoga.Itcorresponds
withthepratyahara,andnotthesamadhistage.Pratyaharahasbeencompared
withthestageofinsensibilityproducedbytheadministrationofanesthetics,for
example,chloroform."*tMajorB.D.Basu,IndianMedicalService
67

Toseekmentalblanknessasadirectobjectiveistomistakeaneffectforacause.It
istruethatsomeoftheinferioryogisdoso,tryingbyforciblemeanslike
suppressionofthebreathtoputallthoughtsoutofthemind.Butthisisnot
advocatedbyphilosophy.
68

Toattempttheeliminationofallthoughtsastheyarise,withtheaimofkeeping
consciousnessentirelyemptyofallcontent,isanothermethodwhichsomeyogis
andnotafewOccidentalstrytopractise.Itisnotaseasyasitseemsandisnot
frequentlysuccessful.Philosophydoesnotusethisrashmethod,doesnot
recommendmakingthemindjustablank.Therearetwoperilsinit.Thefirstisthat
itlaysamanopentopsychicinvasionfromoutsidehimself,or,failingthat,from
insidehimself.Inthefirstcase,hebecomesaspiritualisticmedium,passively
surrendershimselftoanyunseenentitywhichmaypassthroughthedoorthusleft
open,andrisksbeingtakenpossessionofbythisentity.Itmaybeearthbound,
foolish,lying,orevil,atworst.Inthesecondcase,heunloosesthecontrolsofthe
consciousselfandletsintoitforcesthathehaslongoutgrownbutnotfully
eliminatedpastselvesthataredyingandwouldbebestleftalone,subconscious
impulsesthatleadintoevilorinsanehallucinationsmasqueradingasoccult
perceptionsorpowers.Nowitiscorrecttosaythatthemindmustbecompletely
masteredandthatavacuumwillariseintheprocess,butthisisstillnotthewayto
doit.Thebetterwayistofocusthemindsounwaveringlyonsomeonething,
thoughtorimageorphrase,soelevatedthatapointwillbereachedwherethe
higherselfitselfsuddenlyobliteratesthethoughts.
69

Thesilenceofmeditationisadignifiedthing,butthesilenceofastupidempty
mindisnot.
70

Merelybeingthoughtfreebyitselfmayleadtopsychicresults.Onehastosink
backtoadynamicpositivementalsilencebystartingmeditationwithadynamic
positiveattitude.

Eliminatingthoughtsandeliminatingtheegoduringmeditationaretwodifferentthings.Youshouldexperiment
withthevariousmethodsgiveninthebooksifyouwanttoknowwhichwouldhelpyoumost.

71

SuTungPo:"Peoplewhodonotunderstandsometimesdescribeastateofanimal
unconsciousnessasthestateofsamadhi.Ifso,thenwhencatsanddogssleepafter
beingwellfed,theytoodonothaveathoughtontheirminds.Itwouldobviously
beincorrecttoarguethattheyhaveenteredsamadhi."
72

ZenPatriarchHuineng:"Itisagreatmistaketosuppressourmindfromall
thinking...torefrainfromthinkingofanything,thisisanextremeerroneous
view...yourmenareherebywarnednottotakethoseexercisesforcontemplating
onquietudeorforkeepingthemindinablankstate."
73

Thedrowsytorporofalazymindisnotthetruevoidtobedesiredandsought.
74

Thefeelingofpeaceisgoodbutdeceptive.Theegocauseofallhistensionisstill
hiddenwithinit,inreposebutonlytemporarilyinactive.
Practiseconcentratedattention
75

Meditationhasasitsfirstobjectanincreasingwithdrawalofthemindfromthe
thingsofthisworld,andalsofromthethoughtsofthisworld,untilitisstilled,
passive,selfcentered.Butbeforeitcanachieveanyobjectatall,attentionmustbe
madeaskeenlyconcentratedasaneagle'sstare.
76

TheaimistoachieveaconcentrationasfirmandassteadyastheMongolian
horseman'swhenhegallopswithoutspillingadropofwaterfromacompletely
filledglassheldinhishand.
77

Eachexerciseinmeditationmuststartwithafocalpointifitistobeeffective.It
mustworkuponaparticularideaortheme,eventhoughitneednotendwithit.
78

Whenitissaidthattheobjectofconcentrationpracticeshouldbeasingleone,this
doesnotmeanasinglethought.Thatisreservedeitherforadvancedstagesorfor
spiritualdeclarations.Itmeansasingletopic.Thiswillinvolveawholetrainof
ideas.Buttheyoughttobelogicallyconnected,oughttogrowoutofeachother,as
itwere.
79

Thegeniusistheproductofintenseconcentration.Allthosewholackthisquality,
willalsolackgenius.
80

Exercise:Whenwhollyabsorbedinwatchingacinemapictureorastagedramaor
inreadingabookwithcompleteinterest,youareunconsciouslyinthefirststageof

meditation.Droptheseedofthisattention,thatis,thestory,suddenly,buttryto
retainthepureconcentratedawareness.Ifsuccessful,thatwillbeitssecondstage.
81

Theseconcentrationsbegintobecomeeffectivewhentheysucceedinbreakingup
theholdofhishabitualactivitiesandimmediateenvironment,whentheyfreehis
attentionfromwhatwouldordinarilybehispresentstate.
82

Heisabletoreachthisstageonlyaftermanymonthsoffaithfulpracticeor,more
likely,aftersomeyearsofit.Butonedayhewillsurelyreachit,andthenhewill
recognizethatthestraining,thetoil,andthefaithwereallwellworthwhile.
83

Thefirstthingwhichhehastodoistoreeducateattention.Ithastobeturnedina
newdirection,directedtowardsanewobject.Ithastobebroughtinsidehimself,
andbroughtwithdeepfeelingandmuchlovetothequestoftheSoulthathides
there.
84

Themindcanbeweaponedintoasharpswordwhichpiercesthroughtheillusion
thatsurroundsusintotheRealitybehind.Ifthentheswordfallsfromourgrasp,
whatmatter?Ithasserveditsusefulpurpose.
85

Thereisaninvisibleandinaudibleforcewithinusall.Whocanreaditsriddle?He
whocanfindtheinstrumentwherewithtocontactit.Thescientisttakeshisdynamo
andgatherselectricitythroughitsmeans.Thetruthseekerconcentrateshismind
uponhisinteriorandcontactsthemysteriousForcebackoflife.Concentrated
thoughtishisinstrument.
86

Theeffortneededtowithdrawconsciousnessfromitsfocalpointinthephysical
bodytoitsfocalpointinathought,amentalpicture,orinitsownself,isinevitably
tremendous.Indeed,whenthechangeisfullycompleted,themanisoftenquite
unawareofhavinganybodyatall.
87

Patanjalipointsoutthatinabilitytoholdastateofmeditationafteritisreachedwill
preventthearisalofspiritualconsciousnessasmuchasinabilitytoreachthestateat
all.
88

Themindmustbeemptiedfirstofallcontentsavethisoneparamountthought,this
fixedfocusofconcentration.
89

Letitbegrantedthatthepracticeofconcentrationishardtoperformandirksome
tocontinueforweeksandmonthswithoutgreatresult.Nevertheless,itisnottoo
hard.Anyonewhoreallymakesuphismindtomasterit,candoso.
90

Whenthisconcentrationarrivesatfixityandfirmnesswhicheliminatesrestless
wandering,intrusion,anddisturbance,theneedofconstantlyrepeatingtheexercise

vanishes.Ithasfulfilleditsimmediatepurpose.Theaspirantshouldnowtransfer
hisattentiontothenext("ConstantRemembrance")exercise,andexerthimself
henceforthtobringhisattainmentintoworldlylife,intothemidstofattendingto
earthlyduties.
91

Thepracticeofyogais,negatively,theprocessofisolatingone'sconsciousness
fromthefivesensesand,positively,ofconcentratingitinthetrueself.
92

Withitmaximummoralandmentalconsciousnessisinduced.Therearetwo
separatephasesinthistechniquewhichmustbedistinguishedfromoneanother.
Thefirstinvolvestheuseofwillpowerandthepracticeofselfcontrol.Thesecond,
whichsucceedsit,involvesredirectionoftheforcesinaspirationtowardthe
Overself,andmaybecalledtheegostillingphase.
93

Allexercisesinconcentration,alllearningandmasteryofit,requiretwothings:
first,anobjectorsubjectuponwhichattentionmaybebroughtsteadilytorest;
second,enoughinterestinthatobjecttocreatesomefeelingaboutit.Whenthis
feelingbecomesdeepenough,thedistractionscausedbyotherthoughtsdieaway.
Concentrationhasthenbeenachieved.
94

Justaswegetstrongbyenduringtensionsinthevariedsituationsoflife,soweget
stronginconcentrationbypatientlyenduringdefeatsoneaftertheotherwhen
distractionsmakeusforgetourpurposewhilesittingformeditation.
95

Quieteningthemindinvolves,andcannotbutinvolve,quieteningthesenses.
96

Concentrationpracticeadvancesthroughstages.Inthefirststagethatwhichis
concentratedonisseenasfromadistance,whereasinthesecondstagetheidea
tendstoabsorbtheminditself.Inthefirststagewestillhavetomakehardefforts
toholdtheideatoattentionwhereasinthenextstagetheeffortisslightandeasy.
97

Thebodymuststopitshabitualmovement.Theattentionmusttakeholdofone
thingametaphysicalsubjectorphysicalobject,amentalpictureordevotional
idea.Onlyafterproficiencyisreachedinthispreliminarystageshouldtheintellect
seekanunfamiliarstillnessandanexpectantpassivitywhichmarktheclosing
sectionofthesecondstage.
98

Ifanylightflashorformisseen,heshouldinstantlyconcentratehiswholemind
uponitandsustainthisconcentrationaslongasheisableto.Theactivethoughts
canbebroughtto

Allwaysofspiritualseekingdivideintotwoclasses.Thefirstisbasic,elementary,
thesecondformoreadvancedpeople.ThefirstforbeginnersistheLongPath.It
takesalongtimetogetresults,andalotofworkhastobedoneonit;mucheffort
isnecessaryforit.ThesecondistheShortPath.Theresultsaremorequicklygot;
itisaneasierpath,andrequireslesswork.TotheLongPathbelongsthe
methodicalyoga.Ittakesalotofworktopractisedaily:buildingofcharacterand
removingofweaknessesandovercomingoffaults,developingconcentrationof
attentiontostopthedistractionofmindandtogetcontroloverthoughts,
strengtheningofwillpower,andalltheactivitiesforthebeginners.Thesearethe
earlierstagesofmeditation.
Meditationhastwoparts.TheloweronebelongstotheLongPath.Also,the
religionsareforthebeginnersandpopularmasses.They,too,belongtothe
LongPath.TotheShortPathbelongChristianScience,RamanaMaharshi's
teachings,Vedanta,Krishnamurti'steaching,andZen.TheyallsayYouAreGOD.
TheLongPathsaysinstead:Youareonlyaman.Theonesaysthatyouareman
andtheothersaysthatyouarealsoreallyrootedinGod.
LongPathhereisworkingthroughtheego.Thestudentthinksheistheegoand
developsconcentration,aspiringtoimprovehimself,gettingmoreandmorepure.
Hesays:"Iamdoingthiswork."Heisthinkingthatheispurifyinghimselfand
improvingthequalityoftheego.Butitisstillego.Heisrisingfromthelowerto
thehigherpartoftheegoandbecomingaspiritualizedego.Heislookingforthe
Gurus(spiritualteachers).
ShortPathitisdifferentbecausetheidea"ego"doesnotcomein,onlythe
Overself,notthelonging(whichbelongstotheLongPath),buttheidentification,
notevenaspiration.
LongPathhastodowithprogressandtakesatimeforitandthereforemeans
movingintime,anditistheegowhoisworking.
ShortPathisnotconcernedwithtimeandthereforenotwithprogress.Thinking
onlyofthetimelessOverself.Noideaofprogress,nodesire,itdoesnotmatter.
RealSelfisalwayschangeless.Progressimplieschange.Allquestionsand
problemsdisappearbecausethequestioning(ego)intellectisnotallowedtobe
active.

NowyouunderstandthequestionoftheGuru.OntheLongPaththeaspirantwants
theGuru,helooksforaGuru,isdependingonhim,andtheGuruhelpshimto
progress.OntheShortPaththeOverselfistheGuruandtheaspirantsdepend
directlyonlyontheOverself.OntheShortPaththeGuruquestiondoesnotcome
intoconsideration.Guruisoutsidethemselves,butGodisinsideon
theShortPathstage.TheaspirantsontheShortPathneednotdependonaGuru.
IntellectuallytheyhavefreedomfromtheGuru.Ifagurudiesordisappears,they
donotworryaboutit.ThereisarealrelianceonGodnohumanbeing,butyour
Spirit.
LongPaththeaspirantsaremovinginshadows,thereisnotlifebutdarkness,they
arenotinthelightbutinignorance.Theirreasonisnotenlightened.Becausethey
arelivingintheegotheyarelivinginspiritualignorance,whichisdarkness.
ShortPathhelivesintheSunlight,becausehelivesinTruth,theonlyrealitylike
looking,beinginthesun.AsinPlato'sstory,hecomesoutofacave,walkingtothe
openingwithhisbackturnedtotheopeningofthecave,movingandseeingonly
thedarkness.Theotherwayisturningaroundtothemouthofthecave,seeinga
littlelight,thenmoreandmorelight.Evenfromthebeginningthereisstillsome
light.
Aquestionwillbeasked:WhydoesnoteveryteacherteachtheShortPath?The
answeris:Becausepeoplehavenotgotenoughstrengthofcharactertogiveupthe
egoandarenotwillingtoturnatoncetothelight.Itisasacrifice.Tomakethis
possible,theLongPathteachesthemtomaketheegoweakerbygraduatedstages.
IntheLongPaththeprogresscomesin,justtopreparethemtoreachapointwhere
itiseasierforthemtogiveuptheego.Thisisoneofthemostimportantofthe
reasons.ItmakestheaspirantreadytobenefitbytheShortPath;otherwisehe
wouldnotbeabletotravelonit.Thesecondreasonisbecausetheyhavenotthe
strengthofconcentrationtokeepthemindontheOverself.Theymaybeableto
keepitforoneortwominutes,buttheythenfallback.Thereforeitisnecessaryto
developthepowerofsustainedconcentration.EvenifoneseestheTruth,onemust
getthepowertostayintheTruthandtobeestablishedinit.
Mostpeoplehavestrongattachmentsandstrongdesiresforworldlythings.These
areintheirway,obstructingtheirwayonthepathtoReality.Thismeansthatthey
wanttokeepattachmentsanddesiresthatarecomingfromtheego,whichtheydo
notwanttolose.ThereforetheteachergivesfirsttheLongPath,becausemost

aspirantsarenotabletofollowtheShortPath.TheLongPathexiststoprepare
themforit.ThereisnouseforthemtogoontheShortPathiftheyhavenotgotthe
philosophicalunderstandingtopractiseit.EveniftheywereshowntheTruthin
theShortPath,theymay,ifunpreparedbystudyandthinkingphilosophically,fail
torecognizeit.TheyhavenotlearntwhatTruthisandmightnotvalueit.They
havenophilosophicalknowledgetoseethedifferencebetweenTruthorReality
andillusionorerror.TheyhavetounderstandTruthevenintellectually.Thatisa
partoftheLongPath.
AnotherveryimportantmatterrelatedtotheLongPath:whenpeoplefollowthe
LongPathandspendyearsworkingonit,manysuchpersonsafterseveralyears
findtheyhavenotmadetheprogresstheyhaveexpected.Inthebeginningthey
haveenthusiasm.Theyexpectinnerexperiencesgivingpower,knowledge,and
selfcontrol;butaftermanyyearstheyhavenotgainedthesethings.Onthe
contrary,tests,hardtrialsofthelifecome,deathinthefamily,forinstance,
changesoftheoutsidelife,andsoon.Theyaredisappointedandsay:"Whyhas
GodchosenmeforsufferingevenwhenIfollowthePath?Troublescometome."
Theyaredisheartened.Atthispointoneofthreethingsmayhappen:
(1)TheymaygiveuptheQuestaltogether,foroneyearormanyyears,oralllife
long,andturnbacktomaterialisticliving.
(2)Theymaythinktheyhavetakentothewrongpath,orareusingwrongmethods,
orhavethewrongteacher,andtheylookforanotherteacherandanotherway.But
withthenewteachertheresultsarethesamebecausetheyarestillwithinthecircle
oftheego.Theegopreventsthemfromsufficientlydeepeningtheirstateoflight
andwisdom.
(3)Thethirdpossibilitymayhappentothem.Whentheythemselveshavetriedso
hardanddidnotsucceedandfeeltootiredmentallyandexhaustedemotionally,
theygiveuptryingbuttheydonotgiveuptheQuest.Theyjustsitpassivelyand
wait.Thosewhoareinthislastorthirdcategoryarecompletelyreadytoenter
theShortPathandshoulddoit.EvenbeginnersmayentertheShortPath,butin
practicetheyfindittoohard.
Thebestwayisfromthebeginningtomakeacombinationofboth.Butthis
combinationmustbevariedandadjustedtoeachperson,becausepeopleare
different.Thereisnotonefixedruleforeveryone.Onepersonissuitedforalittle

oftheShortPathandmoreorlongeroftheLongPath;withtheotherpersonitis
viceversa.Withmostpeoplethecombinationisthebestway.Itdependspartlyon
theirfeelings,theirintuition,andadvicegivenbyteachers.Intheend,everyone
mustcometotheShortPath.
ContradictionsbetweenthetwoPaths:oneistheegoandtheothertheOverself
withoutego.TheShortPathiswithoutplane,intuitive,likeSuddenEnlightenment.
OntheLongPaththeyarelookingstepbysteptogetoutofthedarknessoftheir
ignorance.Thenextimportantpoint:ontheLongPathmanystudentswant
experiencesmystical,occult,psychicalones.Itistheegowantingthemandthe
satisfactionofprogressing.Theegofeelsimportant.IntheShortPaththereisno
desireforinnerexperiencesofanykind.WhenyouarealreadyintheReal,thereis
nodesireanymore.Forexperiencescomeandgo,buttheRealdoesnot.Nowyou
seewhythepopularreligionsareonlyattemptstogetpeopletomakeabeginning
tofindGod,butarenotabletogotoofarandtooquickly.Forthosewhoaremore
developedandlessboundtoattachments,theteachergivestheShortPath.Inthe
teachingsofJesusandBuddhawefindbothPaths.Peoplehavedifferentstagesof
evolutionandcanthereforetakewhatsuitsthem.Theteachergivesthemwhatthey
understandfromtheirlevelofunderstanding.
PopularreligionsaremixturesoftheLongandShortPaths.Butunfortunatelythey
sometimesleadtoconfusion.IntheBiblicalsentence,"BeforeAbrahamwas,I
AM,"therearetwomeanings.Theloweronemeansthereincarnation,thehigher
onemeans:IAMtheReality.
OntheShortPathwedonotcareaboutreincarnationmatters,wedonotgivethem
muchimportance.OntheShortPaththeaspirantsneedthephilosophicalstudyto
understandonlyonepoint:WhatisReality.Itisnecessarytounderstandthe
differencebetweentheIllusionandtheReality.Everyteacher'sbiggestdifficultyis
togetthestudentstounderstandthatnotonlytheworldbutalsotheegoisillusion.
Theaspirantsdonotknowwhattheegois.ThereforeJesussaid:"Ifyouwantto
findyourtrueSelfyouhavetodenyyourselves,"meaningdenytheego.Buddha
said:"ThisisnotI."TheBuddhataughthismonkstopractisesayingandthinking
thismantram.Thereismuchconfusionaboutthetwopointsifthereisnotthe
knowledgethatallteachingsfallintothesetwoclassesandifthereisno
understandingofthedifferencebetweenthem.

Itisnecessarytopublishanewbook.Evenamongpeoplewhohavestudiedfor
manyyears,thereisthisconfusion.
Averyimportantpoint:becausetheegolivesinitsowndarkness,itcannotgive
light.ThelightmaycomeonlyfromtheOverself,whichistheSunandLightof
humanexistence.Withthereasonwecancontroltheegotosomeextent,butitis
notpossibletocontroltheOverself.AsregardsEnlightenment,thisisnotcoming
fromselfwilledeffort;itiscomingonlybywhattheOverselfdoestohim.Itisa
matterofGraceunpredictableanditisthelastsecret.Itislikethewindthat
comesyoudonotknowwherefromandgoesyoudonotknowwhereto.Itisa
mystery.AttheendwehavetobelikelittlechildrenandleaveourEnlightenment
totheFatherandgiveupourlivestohim.OntheLongPaththeaspiranttriesto
improvehimself.Heexperiencessuccessesandfailures,upsanddowns.Whenhe
isdisappointed,hegetsmelancholy.OntheShortPathsuchasituationcannot
arise,becausehehasfaithlikealittlechild.Hehasgivenupallhisfutureto
OverselfGodandhehasenoughfaithtotrusttoit.Heknowshehasmadetheright
decisionandthereforeisalwayshappy.HedependsonthisGRACE,heknowsIt,
thatItcomesfromthewisestbeingbehindtheworld.Whateverwillcome,itwill
bethebest.HeisalwaysrelyingontheOverselfandhavingthejoyinit.
TheShortPathisacheerfulPath,aPathofhappiness.Justbeforethisbegins,the
aspirantmayexperiencetheDarkNightoftheSoul.Hefeelsutterlyhelpless,has
nofeelingofspiritualReality.Itisamelancholytimenofeelingofspiritualityor
longingforit.Heisneitherworldlynorspiritual.Hefeelsaloneandabandonedand
separatedbyawallfromhisGuru.HefeelsGodhasforgottenhim.Thisdarknight
maylastashorttimeorlongyears.Heisunabletoreadspiritualthings,orthink
aboutthem.Thereisnodesireforordinarythingseither.Hefeelssadand
disappointedandmayeventrysuicide.Inthisunhappinesseventhosewholove
himcannotbringhimcomfort.Inbothhemispheres,WesternandEastern,thereisa
saying:thenightisdarkestjustbeforedawn.Heisonthelowestpoint.Afterthat,
theShortPathbringsbacktheJoyjustlikecloudsmovingawayfromtheSun.
Thebestadviceis,first,thatitwillnotlastforever;hemusthavepatience.Second,
hemusthavehope.Thenhereachesabetterlevelthaneverbefore.TheDarkNight
oftheSouldoesnotcometoeveryseeker.ItislikeashadowthrownbytheSun.
WhentheSunappearsinthesubconscious,theshadowsarise.Butitisthe
beginningofagreatinnerchange.Itisnotawastedtime;thereisagreatdealof

workgoingonbutinthesubconscioustorootouttheego.Itisbeingdonebythe
Overself.ItisasignofGrace,buttheaspirantneverthelessfeelsunhappy.
IntheShortPaththereareusuallymuchfewerexercisestopractise.Itisnot
necessarytositdownspeciallytomeditate,buttotrytobealwaysinmeditation.
Whenyouarebusyoutwardly,meditationnaturallytakesadifferentformthan
whenyousitdownforit.Duringtheactivepartoftheday,meditationtakesthe
formofremembrance,alwaystotrytoremembertheOverself:ITIS(Thatis
enough).Inthespecialmeditationtimeourobjectisnottoimprovethecharacter.
Duringthemeditationwehavetoemptyourmindofthoughtsasquicklyas
possible,letthemindbecomestill.Ordinarilyweliveinourthoughts,inourlittle
selves,evenifthethoughtsarespiritual.Thereforewehavetokeepawayfromall
thoughts.IfyouwanttothinkoftheOverself,whichiswithoutanyform,itisnot
possible.Wetry,butanyidea,form,orshapeiswrong.Youcannotimagineit.So
betternottotrybuttobestill.Youmustnotremainintheego."Bestill[letgo]and
knowthatIAMGOD,"saystheBible.
WuWei,meaninginaction,nottrying,isthehighestteachingofTaoismandZen
anditmeansthesameaswhathasjustbeenexplained.TheOverselfisalready
there.Youasegomustgetoutoftheway.Mostpeoplehavetocombinethe
LongPathwiththeShortPathperhapsonedayoroneweek(whatevertheinner
urgedirects)ontheLongPathandtheotherdayontheShortPath.Theattitudewill
beapassiveonebecauseallintellectualideashaveonlyalimitedvalue.Wemust
benowguidedbyourinnerfeelingofwhatweneed,orbyourintuition.Ifpeople
askwhethertheyhavetostudy,theansweristhatthebooksdealwiththethoughts.
WhattheygiveisnottheTruth,butonlyintellectualstatementsofit.Itwillonly
preparethemforabetterunderstanding.Whentheystudythesebookstheywill
onlygetmorethoughts.Intheendtheyhavetocometothepointwheretheyneed
nobooks.Therearegoodbooksbutwemustalwaysdiscriminatebetweenwrong
teachingsandrightteachings,whichmaygetmixedtogetherinthesamebook.
Thisisthehighestwecangowithsuchstudies.
Whenchangingtocontemplation,thethinkingstops.Thisisthedeepestpoint
withinoneself.Thisiswhyeverybodyhastosearchwithinhimselfandtofindhis
ownPath.ItisnotnecessarytotravelontheLongPathanylongertimethanthat
whichpreparesyoufortheShortPath.Itisquiteimportanttohavelivingfaithin
theOverselfandtobecomelikeachildandtohaveasmuchdependenceonthe
Overselfasalittlechildhasonitsparents.Thisfaithshouldbeinthepowerofthe

Spirititself,notinanyotherhumanbeing.Iftheaspirantisconstantlyanxious
abouthisfaultsorweaknesses,thenheisonthewrongPath.Hecantrytoremove
thembutcannotdothiscompletelyuntilheisabletogiveuptheego.
ThebasisoftheShortPathisthatwearealwaysdivine.Itiswithusalready,itis
nonewthing,andweonlyhavetotrytorecognizewhatisalreadythere