VOLUME VIII - I

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Contents of Volume VIII:

PART I - BODY AND MIND

Health Physical Condition Physical Culture Control of the Body Balance Balance in Solitude Balance in Greatness Life's Mechanism Harmony Mastery Self-Mastery Self-Discipline Question about Fasting Self-Control Physical Control Vaccination and Inoculation Breath The Power of Silence A Question about Feelings The Control of the Mind The Mystery of Sleep Dreams Spiritual Healing

PART II - BEING HUMAN

Man, Purpose of Creation Character-Building Human Nature Self-Realization The Art of Personality Man likened to the Light Truth Selflessness-Inkisar Indifference-Vairagya Indifference & Independence Overlooking-Darquza Graciousness-Khulq Conciliation-Ittifaq Consideration-Muruwwat Tact Spirituality Innocence Holiness Resist not Evil Resignation Struggle and Resignation Renunciation Sacrifice Ambition Satisfaction Harmlessness Vegetarianism Unselfish Actions Expectations Be a Lion Within Humility Moral Culture Hope Patience Confidence Faith Faith and Doubt The Story of Orpheus Happiness Privilege of Being Human

Volume VIII - The Art of Being

Health and Order of Body and Mind

Chapter IV
Control of the Body

A person's body usually goes quite out of control. If he wishes to hold up one foot, his foot will not obey him; for one moment it will go up, but after that it will not obey him any more. If he goes to the photographer who says, 'steady,' he begins to move at once. The word 'steady' alone makes him shake, because it reminds him of his helplessness. Without the word 'steady' he was all right, but his word brought his weakness before him and weakness of the body expresses weakness of the mind.

In India you will see people standing upon their heads, walking upon their hands, standing on one foot for hours. A person may say, 'What a crazy practice! Of what use can this be? They must be mad.' No, they have seen the madness of the whole world, and they try another madness. Their 'madness' is knowledge. They remain in the same posture for hours and hours. If one of them folds his arms, he remains for hours with his arms folded. If he holds up his hand, he remains holding up his hand for hours. If he closes his eyes, he remains with his eyes closed for hours. If he does not speak, he does not speak for days and days.

When a person has been alone for some time, he begins to move. He moves his foot or his hand, or he drums on the table. He wants to feel that he is alive, and the consciousness realizes that it is alive by its activity, the activity of the body and of the mind. When the activity of the body is made to cease and the activity of the mind is stopped, then the consciousness has a chance of realizing that it is alive without the life of the body and of the mind. When the body is brought under control, and when the mind is controlled so that we can keep it on one thought as long as we like and we make it blank as long as we like, then the soul, which is imprisoned in the body is set free; it is not bound to mind and body. The whole world is open for it.

Then we realize that we are not this limited self, that we are not separate from God, not different, but that we are the same as God, that we have the same existence, the same immortal unchanging life beyond all the changes of this material world. In this way we can become perfect, as the Father in heaven is perfect.