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(and I knew one man who became insane by these practices), he will not increase in steadiness of mind. The great enemy of concentration — and therefore of all skill and power — is a wavering, wandering, undisciplined Cultivation ot Concentration 85 mind ; and it is in overcoming this that concentration is acquired.

A scattered and undisciplined army would be use- less. To make it effective in action and swift in victory it must be solidly concentrated and masterfully directed. Scattered and diffused thoughts are weak and worthless. Thoughts mar- shalled, commanded, and directed upon a given point, are invincible; confusion, doubt, and difficulty give way before their masterly approach.

Concentrated thought enters largely into all successes, and informs all victories. There is no more secret about its acquirement than about any other ac- quisition, for it is governed by the un- derlying principle of all development, namely, practice.

To be able to do a thing, you must begin to do it, and keep on doing it until the thing is mastered. 86 XLbc /HbaetetE of Beeting This principle prevails universally — in all arts, sciences, trades; in all learn- ing, conduct, religion.

To be able to paint, one must paint; to know how to use a tool skilfully, he must use the tool; to become learned, he must learn; to become wise, he must do wise things; and to successfully concentrate his mind, he must concentrate it.

But the doing is not all — it must be done with energy and intelligence. The beginning of concentration, then, is to go to your daily task and put your mind on it, bringing all your intelligence and mental energy to a focus upon that which has to be done; and every time the thoughts are found wandering aim- lessly away, they should be brought promptly back to the thing in hand.

Thus the "centre" upon which you are to bring your mind to a point, is (not Cultivation of Concentration 87 your pineal gland or a point in space), but the work which you are doing every day; and your object in thus concentrat- ing is to be able to do your work with smooth rapidity and consummate skill; for until you can thus do your work, you have not gained any degree of control over the mind; you have not acquired the power of concentration.

This powerful focussing of one's thought and energy and will upon the doing of things is difficult at first — as everything worth acquiring is diffi- cult— but daily efforts, strenuously made and patiently followed up, will soon lead to such a measure of self-control as will enable one to bring a strong and penetrating mind to bear upon any work undertaken; a mind that will quickly comprehend all the details of the work, and dispose of them with 88 Gbe Masters of Weetiny accuracy and despatch.

He will thus, as his concentrative capacity increases, enlarge his usefulness in the scheme of things, and increase his value to the world, thus inviting nobler opportuni- ties, and opening the door to higher duties; he will also experience the joy of a wider and fuller life.

In the process of concentration there are the four following stages : i. Contemplation. 3. Abstraction. 4. Activity in Repose. At first the thoughts are arrested, and the mind is fixed upon the object of concentration, which is the task in hand — this is attention.