PRELIMINARY -  SECOND READING

WHATEVER our pursuits, whatever our aim in life, one thing is certain, that to succeed in our under-takings we must necessarily be in a condition to ably meet the demands of our efforts, and must be in posses­sion of that power which gives us assurance of success. To be able to live, we must necessarily have love of life. Love is the fundamental principle of Life, and Wisdom its constant companion. By love and the exercise of wisdom, life becomes complete and worth living, for life is as we make it ; its condi­tions as we make them.

As it is with the flower, the tree, the grain, so it is with man. You may place the seed in the soil, you may water it and keep the soil loose, that is all you can do for it. The rest must be left to the seed itself. If the life germ is conscious in the same, and the conditions in nature harmonious to its kind, it will sprout, grow and prosper. And here we are. Beings of a higher order, as we claim. But is our claim justified; do we prove it? This is a question that is best answered by the individual for his own self. We cannot depend upon others to answer for us. We have to answer all questions to our own satisfaction. As there is but one way whereby the seed may be able to germinate and continue to grow, and that it by putting it into the soil, the fish by being left in the water and man to live upon the earth, so there is but one way whereby man may gain salvation, the state of perfection, satisfaction, joy, a state of perfect harmony with nature --- health.

PRELIMINARY - FIRST READING

As we are existing in a sense world, depending upon the condition of the senses for our knowledge of the objective, it is perfectly proper that we exercise the power of our senses to the degree most beneficial for our welfare. And it is here on this sense plane that we find that if one or more of our senses are defective in any degree in the execution of their various offices, we lack the comprehension of things dependent upon them. It is very important, for this reason, that we correct all such defects, and it lies within our power to do so.

We hold that man has twelve senses, seven of which—Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Tasting, Touching, Feeling, and Intuition—are commonly known. The five intermediate senses —Transmission of Ideas, Telepathy, Spiritual Discernment, Clear-sight, and Realization—are less known, although we often come in contact with same one who enjoys the development, to a certain degree, of one or more of these higher senses, which we sometimes mistake for an extraordinary or supernatural gift, when in reality it is only the cropping out of a sense yet little understood. The perfection of a being, or its instrument, necessarily depends upon the degree of the evolution of the twelve senses. The development thereof depends directly upon,

Rhythmic breathing leads to tranquility of the mind which insures a control over the brain functions. Our brain action, when harmonious with the promptings of the soul, will express ideas which insure a better understanding in our relations toward manifestation and lead us into paths wholesome to our physical being. We then shall be able to listen to the still, small voice from out of the realms of consciousness, manifesting through the sense of intuition revealing to our being the requisites toward sustenance of a happy existence, as the foods partaken of denote the condition of our organic being, or the position of mind and soul.

It is well to note that whatever may be our bodily affliction, there is mainly but one disease, therefore, dis-ease. Mental depression can exist only when there is an organic derangement, the latter being possible only where there is insufficient intelligence for functional action. The normal action of the bodily organs depends for its supply upon the generation of electric fluids through the ganglionic vibrations of the nervous system, and that can be assured only by a normal circulation of the blood, of which the latter necessitates perfect breath capacity.

To speak, sing or pray, on the Breath, means to concentrate on the breath while using one's vocal cords. It is quite important not only to pay attention to inhalation but to also consider exhalation; in fact more so, as in daily exhalation we more readily relax and that relaxation, to be of value, must be positive relaxation, in other words, be conscious of the fact that though relaxing we are positive as to position and bearing of the body. We tighten the muscles and yet retain one's poise and ease. We relax muscles and still remain the governing factor, directing them at will. Owing to the many demands made upon us we only too frequently tense without being conscious of it. As the strain grows upon us we grow tired and nervous. To avoid tension and prevent nervous strain we should remind ourselves of the necessity of exhaling to utmost every two hours at least. It is not necessary that we sit down; we can take a thorough exhalation exercise in whichever position we happen to be in. The main thing is to be conscious of a military attitude: Chest up and out, abdomen drawn in, with muscles raised toward the solar plexus; head erect, chin up and eyes steady. Now empty the lungs as much as thirty, then for forty and more seconds. Do not force; do not tense. The more you exhale the more you are to relax. Put your mind upon the muscular parts of the body, internally as well as externally. To whisper an aphorism or a prayer, the strophe of a song or reciting some inspiring sayings, it will aid us greatly in concentration and help in positive relaxation.

Exhaustion is a term used to denote that we have reached the limit. That state is applicable to our physical and mental state, as well as in business pursuits. When we have exhausted our resources then we are bankrupt. When we have exhausted our strength we are weak, decrepit, sick. When we have exhausted our thinking capacity we are void of any plans, schemes, ideas. We are up against it. Once we are down and out we are simply exhausted, and something has to turn up to give us a boost, a lift, a start. Most of us do not know what to do, and we let go of things; even lose hold on ourselves. We begin to drift. Once we drift we run the risk of getting into an eddy of entangled nets from which there is no escape. Still, "where there is a will, there is a way" if we but arouse ourselves; if we but determine.

"Breathe out; breathe out;" calls to us an old sage who went through the mill. "Breathe out;" empty the lungs to the utmost and arrest all breath operations for thirty seconds, before taking another inhaling breath. Immediately after the inhalation breathe out again to the utmost and arrest all operations for another thirty seconds. Keep it up for three to five times so as to get hold of this physical self. Thereafter reverse the operations: inhale as long as possible, yet without any visible tension. Inhale, and for thirty seconds retain', hold to that current inhaled. Do not let go of it. Raise the chest higher. Set the chest firmer. Arouse a feeling akin to that of Jacob: "I leave thee not - unless thou blessest me!" NOW exhale with a sigh; and again inhale and inhale. Again arrest for thirty seconds; retain the inhaled current; exhale with a sigh. Keep it up for three to five times, and begin over again with the former exercise of arrestment after the exhalation.

When mentally depressed, heart and soul wounded, suffering reverses or on the verge of nervous collapse; let go of the things that cause sorrow, and immediately resort to this exercise:

1. Adjust body into a comfortable position, whether sitting, working, standing or walking.
2. Throw out your chest to the highest point possible and keep the chest wall right there, allowing no muscular movements. Any movement that may occur will have to be confined to abdomen or solar plexus.
3. Relax every part of the body.
4. Set tongue firmly against lower set of teeth.
5. Empty the lungs and now inhale slowly, gently, persistently, and until it seems you cannot possibly inhale any more.
6. This point of absolute inhalation reached, arrest all further lung action.
7. Retain the breath while counting mentally up to twenty, thirty, or more.
8. Keep relaxed.
9. Now exhale with sighs, at intervals.
10. When thru emptying the lungs, again inhale as before, and inhale to the highest possible point.
11. Arrest again after the inhalation, and count mentally as before if possible for a little longer, then twenty, thirty, forty, etc.
12. And again exhale while sighing.
13. Repeat this exercise three to five times.

When physically depleted and you feel sick, heed the following counsel and give the instructions a thoro test.

1. Adjust the position of the body to assure ease.
2. Throw your chest up high; keep the chest wall in place while the muscles of the body relax.
3. Set the tip of the tongue against the lower set of teeth; relax and do not move a muscle of the face.
4. Steady your eyes upon a given point level with your eyes, and dismiss every idea from your mind.
5. Empty your lungs slowly, with body relaxing. Keep exhaling gently, slowly but persistently. Breathe out to the utmost and until it seems you cannot possibly breathe out any more.
6. That point of absolute exhalation reached, arrest all action, counting mentally to ten, to twenty and to thirty, still relaxing.
7. When impossible to remain within a state of arrestment, attend to the relaxing of every part of the body.
8. Now inhale, but do so with a sob and let go of every part but the chest, which must remain sound, like a wall.
9. And now exhale again, as before; slowly, gently, persistently, until it seems you can not possibly exhale any more.
10. Again arrest all action for ten, twenty or thirty seconds, or more, before you dare inhale.
11. Repeat this exercise three to five times in succession.