We will now embark on an examination of the processes surrounding thought. The control of the mind is incredibly important, far more than we usually think. It not only affects a person’s well-being but also influences the quality of work they can do for others, based on what we have observed about the mechanism and power of thought.
Thought control is essential for developing the powers of the soul. By this statement, we mean an increase in the accumulation of positive attributes gained from repeated incarnations and squirrelled away in an envelope kindly supplied to us by our solar deva. In The Voice of Silence, it is stated: ‘The mind is the slayer of the real; let the disciple slay the slayer.’ This does not mean the mind must be destroyed, as one cannot get along without it, but rather that it must be dominated and mastered. The mind is not the person themself but an instrument for them to train and use.
The student must be extremely disciplined about the thoughts and emotions they allow themselves to entertain. Unlike the average person, who rarely tries to control their emotions except in their outward behaviour, the esoteric student must take a different approach. Instead of letting their emotions take over, they need to have complete control over them. This requires developing and controlling their mental faculties. One of the first steps is realising that the mind is not the true self, but a tool that must be mastered. This discipline is a commitment to one’s spiritual growth.
The student must set themself the task of mastering both their emotions and their mind. They must know exactly what they are thinking about, and why, so that they can use their mind and control it, just as a practiced swordsman controls their weapon. This means acquiring the power of concentration, which is necessary before all mental work. They must learn to think steadily and consecutively, not allowing the mind to jump suddenly from one thing to another or to waste its energy on many insignificant thoughts.
Many people find that all sorts of stray thoughts rush into their consciousness without invitation, and since they are not used to controlling the mind, they are unable to stop the flood. Such people do not know what real concentrated thought is. This lack of concentration, this weakness of mind and will, makes the early stages of occult development difficult for the average person. Moreover, since in the present state of the world, there are likely to be more harmful thoughts than good ones, this weakness makes a person vulnerable to temptations that could have been avoided with a little care and effort.
Concentration involves keeping the mind focused on one idea and holding it there. This means directing one’s attention completely to a specific form or idea, disregarding all other distractions. Essentially, concentration is simply paying attention. When a person pays full attention to what they are doing, their mind becomes concentrated.
The throat centre, also known as the chakra, is not only connected to higher forms of hearing but is also closely related to the power of paying attention, which is highly valued in all esoteric systems. For instance, in the school of Pythagoras, students were required to spend several years in a group known as the Akoustikoi or Hearers. They were strictly prohibited from expressing original ideas until they had a solid understanding of established philosophical principles. Similarly, in the Mithraic mysteries, the lowest order was that of the Ravens, indicating that members were only permitted to repeat what they had heard, much like a raven or parrot. Freemasons may recognise similarities between these orders and the degree of Excepted Apprentice in their system.
The sign of the Entered Apprentice (E.A.) degree in Freemasonry is a symbolic gesture that represents the penalty of the obligation taken during the initiation ceremony. Making this sign correctly and in the appropriate place is important. If made carelessly and without consideration, a person may expose themselves to influences of which they are unaware and unprepared for. When using such forms of “magic”, individuals should be cautious to avoid opening themselves to unpleasant influences. In reality, very few masons are aware of this and may think they are simply joining a self-help fraternity with some philanthropic activities included.
The student should also remember that when the mind is concentrated, it can lead to tension in the muscles, such as when one knits the brows. This tension not only tires the body but also hinders the flow of spiritual energy. Therefore, the student should take time during meditation and daily life to focus on relaxing the body. This will bring immense relief to the entire system.
Individuals with strong and intense personalities should especially focus on relaxation and may need to practice specific exercises to achieve this. Concentration does not require physical effort; the mind is concentrated on a thought the moment it turns to it. Concentration is more about allowing the mind to rest on a thought in perfect stillness and calm, rather than forcing it. It’s important to note that the seat of thought is in the mental envelope, not the brain, so concentration pertains more to the mental envelope than the physical brain.
Concentration is not a state of passivity; instead, it requires intense and regulated activity. It’s like the gathering of muscles for a physical spring or their stiffening to meet a prolonged strain in the mental world. When starting to concentrate, it’s important not to exceed five or ten minutes at first, as overtaxing the brain can be risky. The time can be gradually lengthened to fifteen, twenty, or thirty minutes. It’s crucial not to push concentration to the point of feeling dullness and heaviness in the brain, as these sensations signal danger, indicating that the effort is straining the body more than is healthy. For most people, it’s harder to control thoughts than emotions, likely because they’ve been raised to believe that it’s inappropriate to let emotions roam freely, while thoughts have been given free rein.
When a person tries to control their mind, they come into conflict with their past mental habits. Just as our emotions create the Desire-Elemental, discussed in previous presentations, so our minds also have a Mental Elemental within. This Mental Elemental is used to having things go its own way and jumping from one thought to another at its own will.
Dealing with the Mental Elemental is different from dealing with the Desire-Elemental. The Mental Elemental is at an earlier stage of evolution and is less accustomed to being confined. This makes it more active and restless, but less powerful and determined than the Desire-Elemental. Because the Mental Elemental is easier to manage but less used to being managed, it takes less effort to control a thought than a desire, but it requires more persistent effort.
It’s important to note that on the mental plane, the mind is on its own territory, dealing with its own matter. Therefore, with practice, the mind can learn to manage the Mental Elemental perfectly. In contrast, when we try to control the Desire-Elemental, we are bringing the mind into a world that is foreign to it and imposing an external control.
The last few facts mentioned are quite important and it might be helpful to summarise them briefly. It is generally easier to control the mind than it is to control emotions, although we have more experience in emotional control and almost none in mind control, making mental exercise seem difficult. However, controlling both the mind and emotions is easier than mastering the physical body, which we’ve been practicing over several past lives, yet still need to improve. Understanding this should be encouraging for the student. One outcome of this understanding should be to strongly impress upon the student the truth of the statement in The Voice of The Silence that this earth is the only true Hell known to esotericists.
Consider the difficulty of banishing a raging toothache using thought-power, though it is possible under certain conditions. It is much easier to use thought-power to banish depression, anger, jealousy, or any other unpleasant emotion. It’s even easier to shift your thoughts from an unpleasant or unproductive subject to a more pleasing or useful one, or to stop the mind from working altogether.
It will be helpful to consider, in detail, the obstacles to concentration, which naturally divide into two main groups. The first has to do with Kama, or desire; the second with the very nature of mental matter itself.
The difficulty in controlling the mind was well expressed over 5,000 years ago by Arjuna in the dialogue between him and Shri Krishna: “This Yoga which Thou hast declared to be by equanimity, O slayer of Madhu, I see no stable foundation for it, owing to restlessness; for the mind is verily restless, O Krishna! It is impetuous, strong, and difficult to bend; I deem it as hard to curb as the wind.” If you are wondering who or what “Madhu” is, in Hindu mythology, Madhu is the name of a demon (asura) who, along with Kaitabh, was killed by the god Vishnu. Remember, Vishnu represents the consciousness aspect of the monad.
And still valid is the answer to this question posed by Arjuna to Krishna who points out the only way to success: “Without doubt, O mighty-armed, the mind is hard to curb, but it may be curbed by constant practice (abhyasa) and by indifference (vairagya).”
In the next presentation, we will examine the two obstacles just mentioned, (1) Constant Practice and (2) Indifference.