Letters on Yoga — IV
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Letters on Yoga — IV
Transformation of Human Nature
in the Integral Yoga
in the Integral Yoga
PART ONE: SADHANA ON THE LEVEL OF THE MIND
Section One: The Mind and Sadhana
The Mind and the Divine Consciousness 5 The Mind and the Supermind 5 The Mind and Intuition 6 The Mind and Inspiration 7 The Mind and the Psychic 7 The Mind and the Lower Nature 9
Limitations of the Intellect 11 The Intellect, the Pure Reason and Knowledge 14 Intellect, Intellectual and Intelligence 15 The Intellectual Man and the Emotional Man 18
The Activity of the Mind 20 Imaginations 21 Confusion 22 Worry 23 Hastiness 23 Slowness 24 Opposing Points of View 25 Silliness 25 Analysis and Dissection 25 The Need of Quietude 27
The Activity of the Physical Mind 30 The Unsteadiness of the Physical Mind 33 The Obscurity of the Physical Mind 34 Other Problems of the Physical Mind 35 The Physical Mind and the Lower Vital 37 The Physical Mind and the Psychic 38 The Physical Mind and Peace and Silence 39
Thoughts Come from Outside 40 Control of One’s Thoughts 43 Thoughts and Words 47 The Idea and What Lies Behind It 47 Thought and Knowledge 48 Knowledge and Ignorance 48 Knowledge and the Divine Consciousness 49 Mental Knowledge and Knowledge from Above 49 Knowledge and Mental Questions 50 Understanding and the Higher Light 52 Knowledge and the Psychic 53 Knowledge and Mental Silence 54 Knowledge, Experience and Realisation 56
Section Two: Cultivation of the Mind in Yoga
The Development of the Mind 59 Reading and Sadhana 60 Reading What Is Helpful to the Sadhana 62 Reading and Detachment 64 Reading Novels and Newspapers 65
Study and Sadhana 69 Study and Mental Development 69 School Studies and Yoga 71 The Study of Languages 71 The Study of Philosophy 73 The Study of Logic 74 The Study of Science 75
Verbal Expression 76 Expression and Language 76 Spoken and Written Expression 77 Writing and Sadhana 77 Poetry and Sadhana 78
Outer Speech and the Inner Life 80 Talking and Dispersion of the Consciousness 81 Talking and Fatigue 82 Useless, Unnecessary or Light Speech 83 Control of Speech 85 Criticising Others 87 Gossip 88 Speaking the Truth 89 Mauna or Keeping Silence 92 Other Aspects of Speech Control 94
PART TWO: SADHANA ON THE LEVEL OF THE VITAL
Section One: The Vital Being and Sadhana
Living in the Vital 101 The Irrationality of the Vital 103 The Deceptiveness of the Vital 104 A Good Instrument But a Bad Master 105 Purification of the Vital 107 Discipline of the Vital 107 Surrender of the Vital 109 Conversion of the Vital 110 Liberation of the Vital 111 The Higher Vital Movement 111 The Emergence of the True Vital 111 Vital Sincerity, Aspiration, Consecration 113 Peace and Quiet in the Vital 114
The Spirit and the Vital 116 The Higher Consciousness and the Vital 116 The Intuition and the Vital 120 The Psychic and the Vital 120 The Mind and the Vital 123 The Physical and the Vital 127
The Phrase “Wrong Movements” 129 Vital Reactions 129 Vital Suggestions 130 Vital Restlessness 132 Vital Dryness 134 Vital Resistance 136 Vital Dissatisfaction and Non-Cooperation 138 Vital Disturbance and Revolt 140 Rejection of Wrong Vital Movements 143 Return of Vital Movements after Rejection 145 Alternation of Good and Bad Vital Conditions 148
The Decisive Ordeal of This Yoga 150 The Lower Vital Not Reasonable 156 The Resistance of the Lower Vital 157 Rejecting Wrong Movements of the Lower Vital 158 Avoiding Premature Engagement with the Lower Vital 164 Ananda and the Lower Vital 165 Aspiration and Offering in the Lower Vital 168 Peace and Calm in the Lower Vital 169
Section Two: Vital Temperament
Cheerfulness 173 Humour and Seriousness 174 Happiness and Contentment 175
Joy and Sorrow 177 Sorrow and Pain and Suffering 177 Melancholy 180
Discouragement 182 Depression 183 Depression Often Comes from Outside 185 Dealing With Depression 186 Depression and the Gospel of Sorrow 189 Despair and Despondency 206
Sentimentalism 210 Sensitiveness 210 Shyness 213 Indecision and Instability 213 Laxity 214
Section Three: Vital Defects
Ego and Egoism 217 Ego in Different Parts of the Being 221 The Vital Ego 222 Rajasic and Tamasic Ego (Ahankara) 225 Ego-centricity 228 The Egoism of the Instrument and the Magnified Ego 230 Getting Rid of the Ego and of Egoism 232 Getting Rid of the Ego Altogether 236 Selfishness 238 Ambition 239 Vanity 240 Pride and Self-Esteem 241 Self-Respect, Amour-Propre, Superiority 243 Jealousy and Abhiman 244 Wounded Feeling 247 Ingratitude 250
The Nature of Desire 251 The Small Desires of the Vital Physical 256 Desire and Need 257 Demand and Desire 258 Getting Rid of Desire 260 Desire and Suppression (Nigraha) 264
The Nature of Anger 267 Anger Comes from Outside 271 Anger and the Psychic 274 Vindictiveness and Cruelty 276 Violence 276
Fear and Yoga 278
Section Four: Human Relations in Yoga
Relations with Others in Yoga 283 Love for Others and Love for the Divine 290 Family Ties and Duties 291 Relations between Parents and Children 293 Old Relations 293 Friendship and Affection 294 Vital Love 298 Vital Love and Psychic Love 301 Personal Relations in Yoga 302 Universal Love and Personal Relations 304 Relations between Men and Women in Yoga 306 Loneliness 310
Cultivating Equality and Goodwill 312 Indifference to What Others Think or Say 313 Overcoming Dependence 315 Overcoming Attachment 316 Helping Others 317 Receiving Help from Others 320 Concern for Others 320 Sympathy for Others 321 Mothering Others 321 Working with Others 322 Dispersion through Contact with Others 323 Mixing with Others 325 Vital Expansiveness 326 Vital Interchange 328 Talking, Letter-Writing and Vital Interchange 333 Talking or Thinking about Others 334 The Drawing of Vital Forces by Others 335 Limiting Contacts with Others 337 Inner Detachment Preferable to Outer Withdrawal 338 Qualified Utility of Retirement for Sadhana 339 Dangers of Complete Retirement 341 Relations in Ordinary Life 344
Hatred and Dislike 346 Quarrels and Clashes 347 Fault-Finding and Criticism 351 Benefiting from Criticism 352
PART THREE: SADHANA ON THE PHYSICAL, SUBCONSCIENT AND INCONSCIENT LEVELS
Section One: Sadhana on the Level of the Physical
The Need to Transform the Physical 359 Coming Down into the Physical 363 The Bringing of Realisation into the Physical 366 The Physical Sadhana 367
The Physical Consciousness 372 The Mental Physical and the Vital Physical 375 The Material Consciousness 378 The Body Consciousness 379 The Body 379 Care for the Body 381 Weakness of the Body 381 Forgetfulness of the Body 383 The Physical and the Mind 383 The Physical and the Vital 384 The Physical and the Psychic 385 The Ascent of the Being 387
The Real Difficulty 388 Obstruction and Obscuration 389 Inertia 391 Dealing with Inertia and Tamas 395 The Difficulty of Eliminating Inertia and Tamas 397 Physical Fatigue 399 Giddiness 400 Restlessness 400 Habitual Movements and Old Habits 401 Mechanical Movements 405 Externalisation 406 Feelings of Incapacity and Discouragement 408 Stupidity and Ignorance 412 Agnosticism 414 Fear of Death 415
Section Two: Food, Sleep, Dreams and Sex
The Yogic Attitude towards Food 419 Attachment to Food 421 Greed for Food 422 Taste 424 Sensitivity to Smell 425 Hunger 426 Quantity of Food 427 Fasting 430 Types of Food 433 Intoxicants 435
The Yogic Attitude towards Sleep and Food 437 The Need of Sleep and Rest 438 The Amount of Sleep Needed 440 The Real Rest which Restores 441 Getting Good Sleep 443 Sleep during the Day 444 Sleep and Sadhana 444 Loss of Consciousness during Sleep 445 Conscious Sleep 448 Concentration before and after Sleep 450 Hearing Music after Waking 452 The Waking Mind and Sleep 452 Depression in Sleep 452
All Sleep Full of Dreams 455 Different Kinds of Dreams 455 Subconscient Dreams 459 Vital Dreams 460 Symbolic Dreams on the Vital Plane 463 Formations in Vital Dreams 466 Unpleasant or Bad Vital Dreams 467 Mental Dreams 469 People Seen in Dreams 470 The Waking and Dream States 470 Dream-Experiences 471 Remembering Dreams 473 Understanding the Meaning of Dreams 475 The Meaning of Some Dreams 477
The Role of Sex in Nature 485 Sex a Movement of General Nature 486 Sex and Ananda 488 Sex and Love 490 Sex and the New European Mystics 493 Sex-Indulgence and the Integral Yoga 494 Subtle Forms of Sex-Indulgence 499 Transformation of the Sex-Energy: The Theory of Brahmacharya 504 Mastery of the Sex-Impulse through Detachment 508 Mastery through a Change in the Consciousness 512 Mastery through the Force of Purity 512 Mastery through the Working of the Higher Consciousness and Force 513 Rejection of the Sex-Impulse from the Various Parts of the Being 514 Sex and the Subconscient 520 Tamasic Inertia and the Sex-Impulse 522 Sex-Thoughts and Imaginations 522 Sexual Difficulties among Men 524 Sex-Dreams and Emissions 524 Physical Causes of Sex-Dreams and Emissions 528 Worry, Depression and Sex-Dreams and Emissions 529 Masturbation 531 Sexual Difficulties among Women 534 Social Contact and Sex 538 Touch and Sex 540 Celibacy 542 Marriage 543 The Relationship of Man and Woman 545 Skin Diseases and Sex 545
Section Three: Illness, Doctors and Medicines
Illness and Yoga 549 Illness Not the Result of the Force 552 The Lower Nature, the Hostile Forces and Illness 553 The Suggestion of Illness 555 Curative Auto-Suggestion: The Coué Method 559 Faith, Confidence and Cure 561 Parts of the Being and Illness 562 Accepting and Enjoying Illness 565 Depression and Illness 567 Fear and Illness 568 Inertia and Illness 570 Anger and Illness 571 Work and Illness 571 Sleep and Illness 572 Pain 572 Separation and Detachment from Pain 575
Cure by Yogic Force and by Medicines 578 The Role of Doctors 581 Medical Systems 582 The Right Use of Medicines 584
Cancer 586 Tuberculosis 586 Fever 587 Influenza 587 Head Cold 587 Weak Vision 588 Glaucoma 588 Stammering 588 Menstrual Problems 589 Constipation 589 Sciatica 589 Growing Taller 590 Bearing the Heat 590
Section Four: The Subconscient and the Inconscient and the Process of Yoga
The Change of the Subconscient 595 The Subconscient, the Inner Being and the Outer Being 596 The Subconscient and the Physical Being 597 Habits and the Subconscient 600 The Environmental Consciousness and the Subconscient 601 The Rising Up of Things from the Subconscient 603 Dealing with the Subconscient 608 Dealing with Memories from the Subconscient 610 Clearing or Emptying the Subconscient 611 Illumining the Subconscient 611 Psycho-analysis and the Integral Yoga 612
The Descent of the Sadhana into the Inconscient 617
PART FOUR: DIFFICULTIES IN THE PRACTICE OF THE INTEGRAL YOGA
Section One: Difficulties of the Path
Difficulties and the Aim of Life 625 Difficulties and the Integral Yoga 627 Why Difficulties Come 635
Obstacles of Human Nature 638 The Dual Nature of the Human Being 639 The Good and the Evil Persona 647 Outward Circumstances and Personal Defects 653
Imperfections and Progress towards Perfection 655 Periods of Difficulty and Arrest 663
Resistances in Sadhana 667 Pain and Suffering 670 Dangers, Falls and Failures 674
Section Two: Overcoming the Difficulties of Yoga
The Sunlit Path and the Path of Darkness 681 Optimism and Pessimism 692 Treating Difficulties as Opportunities 692 The Certitude of Victory 694
Ways of Dealing with Difficulties 696 Facing Circumstances 697 Recognising One’s Weaknesses 699 Stating One’s Difficulties 703 Detaching Oneself from Difficulties 705 Rejecting Wrong Movements 707
The Need of Vigilance 709 The Need of Resolution 712 The Need of Aspiration 713 The Need of Will 715 Lack of Will 719 Will and the Divine Force or Power 720 Personal Effort and the Divine Force or Power 722 Letting the Force Work 724 The Divine Help 724 The Divine Protection 724
Time Needed for Change 726 Freedom from the Past 730 The Past and the Future 732
Despondency over Difficulties 734 Dwelling on One’s Weaknesses or Difficulties 739 Raising Up Difficulties 743 Struggling with Difficulties 744 The Absurdity of Suicide 747
Section Three: The Opposition of the Hostile Forces
The Existence of the Hostile Forces 757 The Function of the Hostile Forces 758 Testing Oneself against the Hostile Forces 761 The Divine Force and the Adverse Force 762 The Forces of the Lower Nature and the Hostile Forces 763 Vital Resistance, Physical Inertia and the Hostile Forces 767 The Hostile Forces and Universal Forces 768 The Hostile Forces and the Spiritual Consciousness 768
Attacks Not Uncommon 769 Attacks Often Follow a Progress 770 Positive and Negative Means of Attack 776 Attacks through Suggestions 776 Attacks through Others 780
Fear of Attacks 782 Thinking Too Much about Attacks 782 Discouragement about Attacks 784 Rejection of Attacks 787 Detachment 792 Dissolution 792 Steadiness and Persistence 793 Peace and Purity 793 Faith and Surrender 794 Psychic Openness 795 Reliance on the Power or Force 796 Reliance on the Mother 797
Accidents 800 Possession by Vital Forces 801 Neurasthenia 802 Hysteria 804 Epilepsy 805 Madness 806
Notes are paraphrased from the “Publisher's Note” and “Note on the Texts”.