The Holy Science

by Yukteswar Giri

Egoism results from a lack of discrimination between the physical body and the real Self.

We find that when extraordinary means such as excessive fasting, scourging, or monastic confinement are resorted to for the purpose of suppressing the sexual passions, these means seldom produce the desired effect. Experiment shows, however, that man can easily overcome these passions, the archenemy of morality, by natural living on a nonirritant diet, above referred to; thereby men gain a calmness of mind which every psychologist knows is the most favourable to mental activity and to a clear understanding, as well as to a judicial way of thinking.

As after sleep, when rest has been taken by the voluntary nerves, man requires no help to awaken naturally; so after death also, when man has enjoyed a full rest, he awakens naturally to life in a new body on earth. If man can “die,” that is, consciously put his entire nervous system, voluntary and involuntary, to rest each day by practice of Pranayama, his whole physical system works with great vigour.

Purification comes through Nature, penance, and mantras. Through Nature there is purification of dense matter (the physical body); through penance, purification of the fine matter (the subtle body); through mantras, purification of the mind.

has been clearly demonstrated in the foregoing pages that “Love is God,”

“East and West must establish a golden middle path of activity and spirituality combined,” he continued. “India has much to learn from the West in material development; in return, India can teach the universal methods by which the West will be able to base its religious beliefs on the unshakable foundations of yogic science.

“Too long has [man] hearkened to the dank pessimism of his ‘dust-thou-art’ counselors, heedless of the unconquerable soul,” wrote Paramahansaji