Poise and Power · 4 of 11
Chapter IV
Cultivate the calm attitude. Learn to pass through all kinds of experiences without deviating for a moment from the true state of living serenity.
All forms of restlessness waste energy, and must be overcome ere perfect Poise can be attained. The same is true of everything that agitates mind, or disturbs consciousness.
It is possible to reach a state where nothing disturbs you; and it is possible to live constantly in that state while being in the very midst of the hustle and bustle of the industrial world.
This state is not attained by a deadening of the sensibilities; because a mastery of the forces of life always causes the sensibilities to become finer and keener than ever before. You are consequently aware of everything, but disturbed by nothing. The harmony of your life is so deep, so positive and so strong that discord cannot affect it.
To attain this serene state, be absolutely quiet for twenty minutes every day, or twice a day if possible. Do not simply be quiet; try to feel the life and the power of the calm state. It is not the peace that is simply still that we seek, but the peace that is both strong and still.
During this exercise picture in mind the most perfect conception that you can form of the calm attitude, and mentally feel that you are in that attitude. After a few days you will begin to become conscious of the serene state. This means that the serene state is being established in you.
The value of mind-picturing in this connection is very great, as it is in nearly everything that we accomplish in life. We may not have thought of it before, but the fact is that practically everything that has ever been done by man, began in a mental picture.
Mind-picturing is rapidly becoming a great art, and those who neglect to study its principles will be left in the rear.
Before you attempt to enter this quiet state, relax body and mind; turn attention upon the depth of your being, knowing that the depth of your own being is still—absolutely still, just as the depths of the sea.
After giving a few moments to the deep silence within, give up your entire personality to the silent thought that will naturally follow; but never try hard to be quiet. The serene state comes through the absence of trying. We reach this state not by trying to be still, but by being still.
In this connection it is well to remember that the greatest capacity of mind comes from the strong, silent life force; and that this life force comes into expression only when we are in the calm attitude.
The idea that one must become strenuous in order to do things should be eliminated completely, because it is the opposite to the truth. The mind that remains constantly in a serene state will do a great deal more work in a day than the mind that is strenuous; and what is better still, the serene mind will do better work and live much longer.
The reason is that the serene mind not only saves its power for actual, constructive work, but is also in touch with the depths of real life; and there is nothing that has greater power than real life.
Twenty minutes taken once or twice a day for the purpose of being absolutely quiet, will if properly employed, produce the calm attitude in a few weeks, after which it will be second nature to be always serene.
Every night before going to sleep, concentrate quietly upon the brain center for a few minutes. During this process gently draw all the finer forces of the mind towards this center. The effect of this method is truly remarkable, not only in a general way, but in several particulars.
All forms of nervousness can be cured with this method, and it has never been known to fail in the cure of insomnia. It is a present help in the overcoming of all kinds of physical or mental disturbances, and can cure all kinds of aches and pains of the head almost instantly.
It is a well-known fact that all kinds of nervousness, including nervous prostration, are produced by discordant vibrations in the nerve-forces; and that all these nerve-forces proceed from the brain center. Therefore; when a mental state of perfect peace and harmony is concentrated upon the braincenter, the vibrations of the nerve forces will be made harmonious. The result will be relief in a few moments, with perfect harmony throughout the entire system.
Nervousness wastes energy to an enormous extent; therefore, if we wish to save our power we must proceed to remove this condition at once. The method just presented will absolutely remove every trace of nervousness and is so simple that any one can apply it correctly.
The brain center may be located as a point mid-way between the opening of the ears; or at that point where the spinal cord unites with the brain. Nerve-force is generated in the brain and passes from the brain to the spinal cord, and thence to every part of the system.
The condition of the vibrations of this nerve-force is formed as the nerve-force passes from the brain to the spinal cord; that is, at the brain center. Therefore, if we wish to change the vibrations of the nerve-force, we must act upon the brain center. Remember, as the vibrations of the nerve-forces are at the brain center, so they will be all through the system.
It is, therefore, readily understood why nervousness will disappear from the entire system the very moment that peace and harmony are established at the brain center.
When concentrating upon the brain center, the object should be to impress the calm attitude in such a way that stillness is established throughout the depths of mental action. That is, the entire center of the brain should be made calm to the very center of every atom. This is accomplished by concentrating calmly with deep, serene feeling.
To gently draw all the finer forces of mind towards the brain center at the time is absolutely necessary, because it is quiet action that produces peace. When forces are made to act in calmness, they will produce calmness in that place where they are directed to act.
Should difficulty be met in drawing the finer mental forces towards the brain center, the cause is a lack of feeling. This may be corrected by gently thinking about those finer forces that permeate the substance of things. The mere thought of the finer forces will usually bring consciousness into touch with these forces; and whenever any force touches consciousness, it will follow the desire of attention without any effort being made in that direction.
To enable the beginner to apply this method at once, he may associate this concentration with physical breathing. While inhaling with the lungs make a gentle mental effort to draw the finer mental forces to the brain center. While exhaling with the lungs let the finer mental forces pass down through the body.
The physical breathing should be very quiet and easy, as well as deep and full.
To combine in this way the physical breathing of oxygen with what might be called the mental breathing of finer energies is an exercise that can not be equaled in value by anything that man can do. It is, therefore, the height of wisdom for everybody to learn this method perfectly and apply it constantly.
The best time is in the evening after you have retired, because the process will make the entire system so perfectly calm and restful that a most delightful sleep will follow.
The exercise, however, can be taken at any time during the day, and should be taken whenever a tendency to nervousness is felt. Any adverse condition in the nervous system can, in this way, be nipped in the bud, and the amount of energy that will be saved will be simply remarkable.
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