GOING WITHIN

CIRCULAR ONE

GOING WITHIN

ou bring in the attention and the mind is running out again. Sometimes you may succeed and sometimes oftenerthe mind succeeds. Therefore, patiently and determinedly enter the arena daily and stick to the focus. As the scattered attention collects in the focus, the mind narrows down its sphere of run, calms down and begins to be withdrawn from the extremities of the body. As the practice advances one becomes unconscious of the extremities feet, calves, thighs and upwards. On discontinuing the practice, one feels the attention slowly returning to the extremities. It is a slow process. The whole attention is to be taken within the focal center. When the attention is in the focus, we are unconscious of the body, but we are conscious of the focus and what there is inside of the focus. When the struggle has been carried on for some time and you feel the change from repetition necessary, then sit in the position for hearing the Sound Current, but still stick to the focus and do not go after the Sound. We catch it from the ear because we have the habit of hearing through the ear. (But the Sound that we are after does not come from the ear, nor is our ear the organ to hear it). It comes from above the focus. The attention (surat) hears it. There are ten different sounds here. We are to catch the bell sound. If the bell is not heard, catch the shrill whistle, and, failing that, catch the sort of noise like that of a railway train passing on a bridge. As the attention goes inside the focus, the different sounds become distinct and the Bell will be audible. Do not go after the Sound. If one goes after the Sound, the attention scatters in trying to catch it. Here again, you will find that there is a struggle. Part of the attention is catching the Sound while that which is still in the physical body is sometimes narrowing towards the focus, causing strain or pain in the calves or some point in the spinal cord where it is held, and sometimes causes disturbances by communicating outward

GOING WITHIN

sensations. The strain or pain that has been mentioned above should be borne. This is the equilibrium of outward and inward tendencies of the mind. It is not the type of strain or pain that will leave any illeffects on the body. The best way to succeed in this state of equilibrium is to look into the focus and not to let the attention slip down. It is the attention that feels the strain or pain and if, instead of giving attention to this part of the body, one ignores it and engages the attention in the focus, the strain or pain will disappear and the residual attention will have been pulled up a step. If you do not stick to the focus but let the attention slip down, the strain or pain will disappear also, but the attention is now outward and the game is lost. However, by daily practice, we are to elevate this point of equilibrium. This point determines how far we have succeeded in withdrawing our attention from the body. So long as the whole attention does not go within, it will not stay within. When it has established connection with the Master within, it is completely within. Below this state it hears the sounds, but these sounds do not pull it upor, in other words, the scattering tendencies of the attention do not allow it to catch the Sound fully. The Bell Sound that pulls or attracts like a magnet commences from the eight-petaled lotus. The tables are turned now. The attention that had found it so difficult to go within, now finds it difficult to stay out. To talk of the joys of staying within is the privilege of a different

set of people. Only he can appreciate this state who has gone withinin the eye focus.

GOING WITHIN