How do the seven principles of the Solar Ray function through our body? Through what centres of the body they function? This is necessary for us to know. Is it not?

In the Wisdom books these centres are called:-

The Seven Ray principles function through the Seven Centres of the body and stimulate the seven glands of the body.

The Glands in the body secrete and help formation of the body tissues which are also Seven!

If there is proper secretion of the glands, there is harmonious functioning of the body. If not, the body lacks in harmony, which is called disease. Since the secretions cause harmony in the body they are called hormones. If there is hormonal disturbance, we suffer incurable diseases. The functioning or the non - functioning of the glands depend upon the functioning state of the seven centres in the body. The functioning of the seven centres is dependent upon the behaviour of the man. If man behaves well, i.e., with full understanding of the seven centres and their functioning, he can be healthy and harmonious. If not, he lands up in mental, emotional and physical disorder, called disease. Disease is only lack of ease. Ease is health.

The seven glands in the body are:

The seven glands correspond to the seven centres, the seven planets and the seven rays in the order given. In the average human being all the glands do not secrete. Only in a perfect human being like KRISHNA, CHRIST, BUDDHA, there is co-ordinated, harmonious secretion of all glands. Especially, the secretion of the glands in the head happens only to highly spiritual people.

Through good conduct, a man can enable functioning of the centres of the body, which enable proper secretion of the glands. The Masters of Wisdom know the sound key, the colour key and the symbol relating to these centres They use these keys to retain healthy and effective bodies. They follow a specific practice relating to Sound, Colour and also relating to their attitude towards other beings. We too can adopt the same practice to regain our pristine state of body.

Just for your information, I also give you the seven colours and the seven symbols, with which you can work, after you follow the behavioural instructions given in this book.

Ray	Colour	Symbol
1.	Indigo
2.	Blue
3.	Brilliant Green (Aquamarine green)
4.	Golden Yellow
5.	Orange
6.	Silver grey
7.	Green

You can now prepare yourself a comprehensive table of the seven rays, seven planets, seven centres, seven glands, seven colours and seven symbols. See how beautifully everything in creation is arranged seven-fold. The seven also exist as seven planes of consciousness and as seven bodies which I have already explained to you.

7 Rays and the 7 Days

There are seven days in the week which also correspond to the seven planetary principles. Let us see how it is:

The seven days also correspond to the seven great cycles of Time called Manvantaras. The whole creation is explained as a big cycle of Time in which there are relatively smaller cycles of Time, which are seven in number. They are called Manvantaras.

The Seven Rays of the Sun, which are responsible for our Solar System's existence are also called the seven horses. The scriptures, therefore, say that "seven horses move a car (chariot) of seven wheels. Seven wise men mount them along with seven fecund nymphs of water" Meditate upon this sentence daily.

The seven Wise men that mount the seven horses are:

We should learn to work with the energies of the Rays by learning the practical techniques from the Teachers. I give below a brief description of the Ray powers that help us in perfecting ourselves.

1. Sushumna (The Will):

The Will in us drives us to perfection in the service of power. Some of us are placed in life in powerful positions. In so far as the power is served through Love in activity, the Will makes us perfect. Many powerful men lack Love and hence they perish by the very power they serve. Serving power through Love is the keynote of this Ray.

2. Harikesa (The Love- Wisdom):

The Wisdom and Love in us help us to perfect ourselves through realisation of our Oneness with all Life. This is service of Love through Love in activity. We find many men of wisdom and divinity working through this Ray. They see the Oneness of all. They include, but do not exclude. They tolerate, forbear, forgive and are magnetic. They are friendly to all life.

3. Viswakarma (The Intelligent Activity):

This Ray in us helps us to grow perfect by intelligently utilising all we have for service. "Utilisation of all in the Service" is the keynote. People, who work in this manner know the utility of everything in creation. They carry a good understanding of the use of everything. "There is no waste thing, but only wasted thing" is their understanding. We waste away things when we do not know their value. Using this quality in service makes us best utilisers of Nature's resources. When this Ray quality is not used in service, people become commercial and exploit others.

4. Viswa Trayarchas (Harmony):

This Ray quality helps us to dissociate from gross forms and associate with the beauty, splendour and rhythm of the inner life. Every form is the product of the functioning of Sound, Rhythm and Colour. Sound when rhythmic produces colours and colours in turn precipitate forms. So, working with this Ray enables realisation of the inner beauty of the Outer-form. We become students of Sound, Colour and Rhythm when we work with this Ray. We grow to realise more the inner life of the form than the form itself.

5. Sannaddha (Concrete Science Or Knowledge):

This Ray in us helps us to intensely apply our mind to some problem for helping life. It can be, working to solve some racial problems or uplifting the cause of plant or animal kingdom. It is a process of continuous, intense application of our concrete mind to find solutions to apparently insurmountable problems of a race or a species. Scientists are born through the influence of this Ray. Inventions and discoveries are the result of such intense application. Submitting every quality of mind to the cause with an attitude of service makes man a great benefactor of society when this Ray quality is realised. It drives man to perfection forcing him to utilise all knowledge in the loving service of his race.

6. Sarvavasu (The Sacrifice In Service Called Devotion):

This is the quality of sacrifice in us. It is single pointed application of oneself to an ideal. In sacrifice for that ideal, we burn up all our impurities and reach a pure state of experience. This is the path of self-sacrifice to an ideal visualised.

7. Swaraj (Independence or Liberation Through Rhythm, Law And Ceremonial Magic):

Adaptation to Rhythm in Life, through understanding of the Law that wields the system is the activity belonging to this Ray. It is a process of continuous application of the Law upon One's own life to build the temple within. It demands long years of systematic functioning in a line of service.

6. YOGA ASANAS

Yoga means 'Integration' or union or synthesis or holistic state of being. 'Asanas' means postures. Yoga Asanas therefore mean postures that promote integration of life force.

The functioning of life force in us is well established when we practice Asanas of Yoga. The ancients found that the practise of these Asanas (postures) helps vitalising body. This is because when we perform the Asanas the life force is stimulated to activate every centre of activity in us.

The Asanas help in keeping the elasticity of the spine and smooth functioning of the joints. A spine that is kept supple helps better reception and transmission of life force. The Asanas also stimulate the glands for proper secretion when they are regularly performed. The body gets revitalised and OLD AGE gets ARRESTED! Yes. It is true. It is the experience of many. The body remains young, elastic, supple, active and energetic. The skin gains shine when Asanas are performed, with oil applied to the body.

Asanas help development of resistance to diseases. A practitioner of the Asanas does not fall sick, even if the environ is not very healthy. He will be able to meet the cold and heat with much ease than others. The changing seasons have no effect on Yoga Asana practitioner.

Another very interesting aspect of the practice of Asanas is that it arrests indiscreet eating. The tongue does not tend to tempt. The digestive system functions better. The bowel movement gains regularity. The tendency for obesity also gets checked.

Man disturbs the rhythm of his breath during the daily life activity through haste, anxiety, fear, anger, irritation, disturbance, jealousy, pride, prejudice, doubt, suspicion etc.

He also disturbs the rhythm of the breath due to lack of balance between work, food and rest. Even while he plays, he disturbs the rhythm of breath. The zeal to win, causes further disturbance. The anxiety of being vanquished also disturbs. Poor human being! He is prone to disturbance of the rhythm of his breath with the slightest impact! The loss of rhythm of breath is the cause for disturbance of the life currents within. It is like dropping a pebble into the still waters of a lake. The disturbance is like the ripples that happen on the surface of water. The life currents get disturbed. It takes time for life currents to regain poise. In the meanwhile man drops another pebble into the still lake of life. Even before poise is gained, another disturbance is caused. When the daily activity of man thus continuously disturbs the life activity within, he contacts disease.

In this context, Asanas offer excellent solution. They put back the rhythm of breath, when performed under the guidance of a teacher. Health is a state where there is rhythmic functioning of life force in us. Asanas help in this direction. They are even considered better than gymnastics and athletics.

Time For Asanas:

The best time for Asanas is considered to be in the morning. In tropics, a few minutes before sunrise, Asanas are practised, exposing the body to the morning sun-rays. They have excellent effect on the body. The time before sun-rise and during sun-rise contain much life giving energies. Hence this time is considered best. If the climate is not favourable for exposure to sun-rays, morning time can be chosen for practice of Asanas indoors, where there is a window to the East.

If the morning time is not convenient, evening time is the alternative for practice of Asanas.

Place For Asanas:

A place where there is enough ventilation and breeze is considered a good place for practice. A place where morning light or evening light falls is recommended. If climate permits open place is preferable. The place shall have to be kept neat and clean always. Keeping a candle and burning incense during and after practice keeps the place pure. One should never practise Asanas in a dark, non-ventilated room. Playing soft string music during Asanas' practice yields better mental tranquillity.

Preparation for Practice of Asanas:

Asanas should not be performed when the stomach is heavy. There has to be a gap of 3 to 4 hours after intake of food. Empty stomach is preferred. If one feels weak, he may take a cup of milk, fruit juice or lemon water with honey.

Clearing the bowels before the practice of Asanas has much beneficial results.

Clear the bowels, clean the body, entertain quiet disposition before you perform Asanas. Let the breathing in and breathing out be complete while performing . During Asanas while you contract the body exhale and while you expand the body inhale. Do not be in a hurry while you perform.

If you can mildly apply olive or sesame oil and lightly massage for 5 minutes before you perform Asanas it has catalytic effect. Massage joints also when you massage your body.

Asanas for Relaxation

1. Shavasana (Corpse posture)

Procedure:

1. Lie on your back upon a flat surface with arms beside your body. Keep the palms upwards.

2. Slowly move the feet apart. Also move the hands apart with palms upward. The moving apart shall have to be slow, to find a comfortable posture.

3. Gently close your eyes and mentally and physically relax the body - every joint, every limb and feel total comfort with the body.

4. Gain rhythm of breathing applying your mind upon it. If the mind goes away, bring back and apply upon breathing.

5. Become quiet and remain.

Effect:

Physical and Psychological relaxation.

2. Advasana (The Reversed Corpse posture)

Procedure:

1. Lie on stomach.

2. Stretch the legs and the hands straight.

3. Relax the body in the same manner as described in 'Shavasana.'

Benefits:

This Asana is good for people with back-ache, slip-disc and cervical stiffness. One may move the neck slowly to the right and the left to yield elasticity of the neck joint.

Effect:

Physio and Psychological relaxation.

3. Makarasana (The Dragon posture)

This is a slightly altered posture of the preceding Asana (Advasana).

Procedure:

1. Lying on the stomach slowly raise the head and the shoulders.

2. Rest the head on the palms, with elbow support.

3. Ensure that your elbow joint and your ears make a vertical line.

4. Ensure the head horizontal to the floor.

5. Ensure that the soles of the feet are kept upwards by stretching the ankles.

6. Follow the relaxation steps as given in Shavasana.

4. Siddhasana (Meditative posture)

Procedure:

1. Sit with your legs stretched forward.

2. Fold the right leg and place its foot upon your left thigh.

3. Fold your left leg and place the foot upon your right calf.

4. Your legs are now locked with the knees on the ground. The left heel should

be on the right heel and the right heel pressing the Perineum.

5. Make your spine straight.

6. You may use a cushion under the buttocks to achieve the posture.

Effect:

Excellent Asana to redirect sexual nervous impulse back up the spinal cord to the brain. It gives control over sexual functioning. Useful for Spiritual purposes.

Apply your mind on the Heart or Eye-brow Centre after you accomplish the posture. It calms the mind and the nervous system.

5. Vajrasana

Procedure:

1. Stand on your knees with the back stretched backward.

2. The knees have to be together and the heels apart.

3. Settle your buttocks within the hollow of the feet.

4. Sit erect, placing your hands on the knees with palms touching the knees.

5. Close the eyes and apply the mind on respiration.

Benefits:

Aids the digestive system - a posture recommended after meals.

Prevents hernia

Aids women in childbirth.

Helpful to people with peptic ulcer and hyperacidity.

6. Supta - Vajrasana

Procedure:

1. Sit in Vajrasana and bend backward.

2. Take the support of arms and elbows until the head touches the floor.

3. Rest the top of the head on the floor.

4. Slowly remove the elbow support and keep the hands on the thighs. Effect:

Helps strengthening the spinal nerves.

Prevents abdominal troubles.

7. Sasankasana

Procedure:

1. Sit in Vajrasana. Lift the hands slowly upwards inhaling. Slowly bend forward exhaling, touching the floor with the nose and with the stretched hands, the palms touching the floor.

2. Rest in the posture. Again, lift up the hands and the trunk inhaling and bend forward again exhaling. Perform as many times as you feel comfortable, not exceeding 10 times.

Effect:

In the bent posture when hands are joined behind while bending, it stimulates the adrenal glands.

8. Bhujangasana

Procedure:

After Vajrasana, slowly raise on the knees, rest your hands vertical to the ground and stretch the body backwards. The spine bent forward is now bent backward to relax. Raise your head as much as you can to look up.

Effect:

Strengthens the back. Tones up the liver. Useful for women to achieve timely periods.

Helpful to the pregnant women.

Recommended for people with back-ache, slipped disc and displaced ribs.

9. Tadasana

Procedure:

Raise Your arms and the toes simultaneously.

Keep the palms together and the two big toes of the feet together. Inhale as you raise. The whole body shall have to be raised on the two toes that are together.

Effect:

Promotes spinal bone growth.

Develops balance.

Cleans congestion of spinal nerves.

10. Trikonasana

Procedure:

1. Stand erect with your feet apart.

2. Raise your arms on either side horizontally.

3. Bend the body forward by 90 and look forward.

4. Slowly raise your right hand and touch the right toe with the left hand, also turn your head along the right side to look at the right arm fingertips.

5. Get back to the bent posture (3) and this time slowly lift up the left hand, catch the left foot toe with the right hand, moving the head along with the left hand to look at the fingertips.

6. Do this 10 times.

7. Inhale while raising your arms horizontally and exhale while you bend and while you move the hands to catch the toe.

8. Do the movement slowly and gently.

Effect:

This Asana massages the nervous system of the spine.

Good for persons with nervous depression.

It helps remove constipation. It also massages the abdomen.

11. Shalabhasana (The Locust posture)

Procedure:

1. Lie horizontally on your stomach with face pressed to the ground.

2. Keep the two fists of the two hands under your thighs.

3. Raise the legs straight from the waist backwards - do not bend legs at the knee.

4. Inhale and retain the breath when you raise your legs and the abdomen.

5. Perform the process 3 to 5 times.

6. Concentrate on the Throat Centre.

Effect:

Tones up the liver, the abdominal organs.

Cures the diseases of the stomach, the bowels and tones up apetite.

It strengthens the sciatic nerves.

12. Dhanurasana (The Bow posture)

Procedure:

1. Lie on the stomach and inhale fully.

2. Bend the legs at the knees and hold the ankles with the hands.

3. Draw the legs as near as possible raising the head, the shoulders and the chest.

4. Inhale and hold the breath in the bow posture. Release the breath as you release the posture.

5. Apply your mind upon the Throat Centre.

CAUTION: Do not practise this Asana if you have peptic ulcers or hernia or back-pain.

Effect:

Removes the excess fat of the abdomen.

Promotes the functioning of stomach, abdomen, liver and intestines.

Note: The 2nd posture is a simpler version of Dhanurasana, where the legs upto knees remain on the ground.

It has the same effect of the first but of lower efficacy. It is recommended that this Asana is practised first and the first asana next.

13. Chakrasana (The Wheel posture)

Procedure:

1. Lie on your back with legs folded back to touch the buttocks and keep your arms in folded fashion around your ears on either side, with the palms touching the ground.

2. Slowly raise your trunk with the support of the legs and the hands. Raise as much as you can to form a convex curve to look like a wheel or like an arch.

3. Let your head be in line with your hands.

4. Inhale and retain breath during the posture. After you gain ease in the posture, you can breathe normally in the posture.

5. Apply your mind upon the Solar Plexus.

CAUTION: Not recommended to persons with coronary ailments, high blood pressure and stomach ulcers.

Effect:

Entire glandular and nervous system is toned up.

Abdomen is toned up very effectively.

14. Paschimottasana

Procedure:

1. Sit on the floor with legs stretched and kept together.

2. Catch the two feet with the two hands and bend forward the body as much as you can.

3. The posture is complete when you touch the knees with your nose or with your forehead.

4. The posture becomes easier as you pull the trunk forward and lower it.

5. Do it gently. You will gain the posture through regular practice. Do not force the posture.

6. Do not bend the knees.

7. As you bend forward, exhale slowly. Inhale after the posture is complete. Thereafter let there be slow breathing.

8. Apply your mind upon the Sacral Centre.

Effect:

Removes the fat in the abdominal region.

Eliminates flatulence and constipation.

Activates pancreas, liver, kidneys and adrenal glands.

Cures female sexual maladies.

Causes spiritual awakening.

15. Padahastasana

Procedure:

1. Stand erect and slowly raise your hands together over your head. Let the hands touch your either ears in raised position.

2. Slowly bend forward, along with the head. Let the hands remain in touch with ears while bending.

3. As you go down bending touch the toes with the hands. If possible bend further to touch the knees with the nose.

4. Slowly raise into erect position raising the hands, the trunk and the head.

5. Exhale while bending and inhale while releasing from the bent position. Breathe slowly in the posture when you gain ease.

6. Keep the legs straight while you perform the posture. Do not bend them.

7. Apply your mind upon breathing.

Effect:

Same benefits as in Paschimottasana.

16. Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand posture)

Procedure:

1. Lie flat on your back with your feet together. Keep your palms on either side.

2. Raise the legs and the back as much as you can and then with the support of the hands on your back raise the whole body upto the neck vertically.

3. Inhale and retain the breath while assuming and releasing from the posture. Breathe slowly while in posture.

4. Apply your mind on the Throat Centre.

Effect:

Promotes the function of the Thyroid gland.

Improves the circulatory system, digestive system and glandular system.

Adjusts improper body growth and conducts rich supply of blood to brain.

Cures piles.

Cures diabetes.

CAUTION: Not to be practised by heart and B.P. patients.

17. Halasana (The Plough posture)

Procedure:

1. Lie flat on the back with legs straight and arms beside the body.

2. Slowly raise the legs, the back upwards - keep the legs straight while raising. Use the stomach muscles while raising.

3. Push the legs downward over the head. Take the support of the body to push the back vertically.

4. As the legs touch the ground, relax the body in the posture.

5. Inhale and retain the breath until you move the body vertically. Exhale as you bend the body, bringing down your legs. Breathe slowly thereafter.

6. Apply your mind on Solar Plexus.

Effect:

Has the best effect on all organic functioning viz., the kidneys, the liver, the pancreas. Promotes digestion, removes constipation. Reduces the waist.

Cures diabetes and piles. Gives optimum health.

18. Arthamatsyen

Procedure:

1. Sit with your legs in front of your body.

2. Fold your left leg to keep the foot-palm under the right buttock.

3. Place your right foot flat on the floor across the left knee.

4. With your right hand catch the right toe with your elbow across the left foot.

5. Turn your body from the waist to the left by 90º and face by 180. Alternate the posture.

6. Apply your mind on the Ajna Chakra (Eye-brow Centre).

Effect:

Promotes the functioning of pancreas, tones up the nervous system, loosens the vertebra, massages the adrenal glands, removes digestive ailments, cures lumbago.

CONCLUSION: Conclude the Yoga Asanas with Shava Asana. Later give 5 to 10 minutes pause. Slowly get up and relax in a chair for 5 minutes. Take a shower thereafter.

Do not be in a hurry to eat until after 30 minutes.

Surya Namaskara
(Salutations to the Sun)

This is a 12 postured Asana considered as a comprehensive Asana, done exclusively by Yoga students. Strictly speaking this is not part of Hata Yoga Asanas but yet an age-old Asana that tones up the whole body when done 12 times a day before the sun-rise hours.

If one intends doing this Namaskara, it should be done before performing the Asanas prescribed herein. Even if Asanas are not performed on a day, performance of this Namaskara itself tones up the body.

Sun is the centre of our Solar System. It takes 12 months for our planet to move around the Sun. During 12 months Sun gives 12 varieties of Sun Rays which are described in Astrology as the Qualities of the 12 Sun signs. Essentially Sun gives Life force and this Life force has 12 varieties.

The Asana 'Surya Namaskara' therefore, offers 12 postures to the 12 Sun-signs as a correspondence. Performance of these 12 postures daily prevents ill-health of any kind and hence should be taught to children from the childhood.

The Asana should be performed facing the East and at dawn before sunrise.

Inhale while expanding the body and exhale while contracting the body as you perform the posture.

Alternate the movement of the legs in posture 4 and 9 and do the 'Surya Namaskara' of 12 postures. Thus the complete Surya Namaskara carries 24 postures.

With each of the postures a seed sound is also given for meditation. The seed sounds are six in number to be repeated in two rounds for one Surya Namaskara. Again, they have to be repeated twice when the alternate Surya Namaskara is done. Thus in all, for one complete Surya Namaskara there will be four times utterance of the six seed sounds.

When seed sounds are uttered along with the postures, the practice is more beneficial. They can be uttered vocally and in group while practising the postures.

Similarly for the alternate posture.

7. THE WORK

Work is inevitable. Work gives experience. Work enables living in the present. Work keeps the minds, the senses and the body in alignment. Work leads you to the state of 'pure experience' - Existence. Work shuts the door upon imbalances. Work keeps the body active.

Work is the force that moves the matter of the body right from the mind. Matter is inertia and can be moved by the force i.e., work. The force of work keeps man out of inertia, or laziness. A lazy man avoids work and thereby becomes lazier. It is better to be dynamic through work than to settle down to inertness. Inertia is the strength of matter. Man tends to become heavier and heavier through inertia. The mind of an inert man slowly succumbs to depression. That means the inertia takes hold of the mind too. Thereafter he develops a peculiar logic of indifference to common reflexes of life. He questions, "Why should I get up early? Why should I take a shower? Why should I not eat whenever I like? Why should I work? Mad are people who work. Poor fellows they do not rest like me."

The man of inertia, overpowered by such logic withdraws from normal and natural activity of life. He ends up in a state where he breaks his Will. This is the man who did not know how to work.

There is another type. Another category of men. They are workaholics. They over-work. That means, the force in them overpowers the matter in the body. It is also a state where balance is not struck between force and matter. They undertake more work than necessary. They poke into others' life. They are of intimidating type. They mind others, business. They want to decide for others too. They carry the urge to direct, to control and to possess. They become power-mongers. They too do not know how to work.

Thus one category tends to under-work and the other category to over-work. One is underactive and the other is overactive. One does not do even the minimum required things, while the other always does more than necessary. One is hypo-tensive the other is hyper-tensive.

The mid point between the two carries the Key to work that gives ease, experience and fulfillment in life. It is called the Golden Middle Path. It calls for skill in action, where there is neither underdoing or overdoing but doing as much as is required. It is being equi-distant to inertia and dynamism and is therefore called poise. This category of people are poised in work. Work is experience when you are at poise. Work is tension when you are overactive. Work is dreadful when you are underactive. Once you are out of poise in your work, it ceases to give the right experience. It ceases to be a source of joy. It ceases to be food for the mind.

Let us learn further about the three varieties of work according to the three qualities.

Inertia (Hypo-activity): Produces sleep, laziness, forgetfulness, mistakes, loss of memory. Man suffers from loss of brilliance, disinclination to action. And even when he acts, he acts wrongly.

Man also makes instinctive wrong understanding of persons, places and situations.

Man of inertia dives so deep into indulgences of the senses to the extent of becoming an idiot.

Activity: (This means Hyper - activity): Thirst for things is a predominant trait. Covetousness, aggression, annexation, domination, longing for power and possessive attitude are the other traits of a man of hyper activity.

Desire for results predominates all actions. Man tends to over work and grows greedy. He wants to multiply and does not want to stop at anything. He is restless and ever sleepless too!

A man who is overactive, overstimulates the emotions and suffers from likes and dislikes.

Poise: This is the equator of the two poles, i.e., inertia and activity. Purity is its trait. It gives brilliance and transparency. While at work, poise gives happiness and knowledge. When poise is at work, all the senses are at ease and things are known and understood easily. Man is generally at ease in mind, body and senses.

The Clue To Work:

Poise is gained by carrying out activities of goodwill. When love and concern for others is demonstrated in activity, it is called activity of goodwill. Whatever you do, do it with love. It gives you happiness. It gives happiness to those for whom you do. The very work becomes joy. This is the clue to work.

Work involves two orientations. Doing for oneself and doing for others. The second orientation is gained when you do it with love. See how a hen feeds its chicks, a mother feeds her child. There is an act of love involved that makes you think of others in preference to you. A mother forgets her personal comforts in serving a sick child. She does not feel tired of her service to the child. She does not even feel that she is sacrificing. Thus an act of love, naturally and automatically includes in it service and sacrifice without feelings relating to it. It is a natural flow of action.

When we love someone, we do many things for them. In doing we enjoy. Why not we extend this concept to every work we do? Then we gain poise, we live in love, we spread love and the clue to work is gained.

Choose Work:

One has to choose work according to one's quality i.e., according to one's own nature. Then working remains natural. When we analyse, each person has certain traits that others do not have. For example, one may have good teaching qualities, another may have good administrative qualities, yet another may have affinity to persons and things and someone else may have a natural inclination towards arts, music, painting etc. There are also people who are analytical, where there are others who are synthetic. Some are concrete in their mind and some others are systematic. One needs to know what kind of work suits his nature and develop skills relating thereto. Today, many people are engaged in works, which do not suit their nature. Hence, we find many people in conflict. Conflict is the product of our involving in work, which is not suitable to our nature.

There is a golden principle in choosing work. Choose work that is suitable to you, and let that work be dedicated to the needs of the society. That means the choice of work should be done keeping in mind the needs of the society. One cannot pick up a work, which is not needed by the society. The needs of the society should be kept in mind when choice of work is done. Then the work not only feeds you but also gives you harmony. This is a happy culmination of work. It feeds you and it also keeps you in harmony.

If you choose work, regardless of the needs of the society, the society does not respond to your work and your sustenance may become a problem.

If you choose work that which is needed by the society, but is not suitable to your nature, you may sustain in society but land up in conflict. Hence the two factors play together to yield harmony.

In case you do not get the work that you like, the alternative is to like the work that is given. This requires a resigned (detached) attitude. This way also you can reach harmony through work. But this requires tremendous self-application.

In any case three factors remain to realise work in its proper sense.

a) Working for society

b) Working in tune with one's own nature and

c) Working with love i.e., poise.

Let the three keynotes be kept in mind.

Working For Results:

These days man is pushed to work for results. To work is more important than working for results. When you work well, as per the three indicators given in the preceding paras, you enjoy the work, thereby you do the work well and it automatically produces good results. But when result preoccupies your mind, you are tensed up. You cannot work at your optimum and that affects the results.

See, when you play games, you enjoy the game well. But when you play to win, you are tensed up. Hence you cannot play as well as you normally do. If it is a championship carrying big prize money, tension prevails all over. It cannot anymore be called a "PLAY". It is something else. We have now degraded into a situation where we degrade even play into a source of tension while the ancients conducted even work (or even life) as a 'Play'.

A child, when he/she studies a story book, remembers well every detail of it. But if it is a school book, he/she does not remember so well. Why? Because, he/she is constantly goaded to remember, to reproduce and to get the highest marks! While studying he/she is more concerned of marks and the need to remember, which stand as an obstruction to the fine process of comprehension. But studying for marks leads to a state where comprehension is kept aside and is downgraded. All study is for comprehension, but, today all study is for marks. Hence there is neither comprehension, nor development of mind.

Therefore the quiet situation is you work with love, with concern for society and in tune with your nature. Let not results bother you. Results follow those who follow the triple principle.

Means vs Ends:

Some say that means of work is more important than the ends, while others say that ends are more important than the means. But Nature tells us that every work has its procedure and its time dimension. Adoption of a given procedure and adaptation to time gives you the right clue to work. History shows that the most successful men are those who carried the understanding of the procedure and time dimension. Adoption and adaptation are the key words to accomplishment in work. Means and Ends take care of themselves in such situations.

8. RHYTHM AND RITUAL - ROUTINE

To many routine is monotonous. This is because they do not relish the higher purpose of routine. Routine is never a boredom, when the Ritual therein is perceived. Ritual carries Rhythm in it. Rhythm makes Ritual interesting and effective.

Every activity in Nature is Rhythmic. Plants have Rhythm, animals have a Rhythm, planet has a Rhythm. The lunations, (Full Moon and New Moon) are rhythmic. The day and night are Rhythmic. The movement (threefold) of the planet is so Rhythmic as to bring about the effect of the seasons. Every planetary movement is Rhythmic and predictable. We know precisely the movement of planets and their inter-relation. We can even project and say what the planetary combination can be after 100 years. The certainty of the future planetary placement is due to the precision of the movement - the Rhythmic functioning of the planets. The whole Solar System functions according to a Rhythm. The life on planets is also equally Rhythmic. Verily, Rhythm holds the key to the power of Will. While every activity in Nature follows Rhythm, the human nature, perhaps on account of its Free-Will falls out of Rhythm and creates complications.

While adoption of Rhythm generates Will, lack of Rhythm breaks even the existing Will. The Nature's Will is kept Rhythmic and hence it's power. We too can gain similar Will power if we understand and develop good Rhythm in life.

Rhythm demands adoption of a set time. When man fixes a time to do - a thing in a day, he should scrupulously do so every day. And he should do so continuously for long years to establish a habit. For instance, if one decides to get up at a particular hour in the morning and retire at a particular hour at night, he should be able to do so for many years till he does it effortlessly. Similarly, if he decides upon the quantum of food, its quantity and the time of intake, he should follow his own decision, without com promising. Ability to follow one's own decisions is frequently tested. Man of little will breaks away from his own decisions very soon. The history makers are those who showed will power in doing that which they decided upon.

Therefore, set time for the routine events of life, such as work, food and rest and try to follow that which you have set. This is the way to build the routine, that carries the Ritual or Rhythm in it. It develops a system in us and every developed system generates its own power, because there is power in arrangement of things in life.

When you conceive the plan of work for the day, working out can be like a song sung. The pre-planned and well-planned way of functioning brings surprising results. It works like Alchemy. The person who adopts such systematic function transforms himself to gain higher capabilities.

The need for imposing discipline upon ourselves arises in this manner. It is a process of building up to the Rhythm Slowly, we need to bring our Rhythm in tune with Nature's Rhythm. Therefore, prepare a time-table of work, food and sleep and attempt to adopt it.

The adoption to self-set Rhythm becomes more interesting if such Rhythm is set to realise an ideal in life. It is necessary that we aim high in life and work for it. Great men in humanity emerged in this manner only. They set an ideal and set the time-table. Follow Rhythmically the self-set time-table. It is fun. The ideal enables you to converge all your emotions towards realisation of the goal. So your emotions find a direction for expression. Otherwise, the emotions express according to themselves, but not according to you.

Functioning with the time and functioning for the ideal, brings your body and your senses into order. They co-ordinate with each other. The next step to be achieved is to co-ordinate your thought to such co-ordinated functionary. In so far as thought is kept pure, the work of the Ritual becomes triangular and the Rhythm is accomplished.

Thoughts can be kept pure, by engaging in positive thinking. Worship is a technique that can cleanse the impure thoughts and speeches. It is therefore, recommended that we engage in recitation or worship for atleast half an hour in the morning and half and hour in the evening. Even uttering OM, in a slow, soft, deep and uniform manner and listening to it, 21 times in the morning and 21 times in the evening has a good cleansing effect upon the mind's slate. Mantras have a very important role to play in this context. A Rhythmic utterance of 'OM' for 21 times in the morning and in the evening or any other mantra completes one triangular work that brings the mind, the emotions and the body into alignment. The purposes of Ritual is thus realised and the routine ceases to be monotonous.

In the occult sense it means working with the 7th, 6th and 5th rays. In the tantric sense it means working with the three lower centres to bring about co-ordination.

This is worth trying for transformation.

9. FOOD

The three fold activity

Man's essential activity is three-fold. As he wakes up in the morning he works with his body. Throughout the day, during his wakeful hours, he continuously works with body either physically or emotionally or mentally. He thereby continuously uses either the physical body or the body of senses or the mental body. He cannot but use either of these bodies or all of them during wakeful hours unless he is a Yogi. Thus, activity is one essential function he carries out.

As he uses the body, which is his vehicle of expression, he needs to feed it with fuel. Food for body therefore forms another essential factor in man's activity. He needs to eat and drink to keep the body fit for work. He needs to maintain it well, so that it serves his purposes, just like you need to give gasoline to the car that you use. Unless you are a Yogi of a high order, you need to eat daily and also two or three times in a day.

As man works with his body, fuelling it now and then during the day, he becomes tired by the evening/night and he therefore needs to sleep. The more he gets tired the more he sleeps. The need for sleep and the number of hours of sleep depend upon his intake of food, his physical exertion and mental exertion. A Yogi, though he works with mind, sense and body, does not get exerted. As he does not get exerted, he does not need to sleep as much as a ordinary human being. During nights he rests but he does not sleep.

A Yogi is one who works out a good balance among his work, his food and his rest. He knows the Nature, he knows the nature of his body. He also knows the nature of work and the need for food and rest in right perspective. He strikes an equilateral triangle of the three-fold activity.

We too should learn to work balancing food and rest, by a proper understanding of their nature. Let us start to understand food and what our approach and attitude towards food should be.

We should know what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat and how to eat. When we know these four dimensions, it is not enough. Many people know them. But it does not help them! Do you know why? That is because they do not practice what they know. Hence we should learn to practise. Learning for the sake of learning is foolish.

What To Eat?

We have to eat chaste food - food prepared in good environs. The place where food is prepared shall have to be clean and neat. The food material that is cooked shall have to be fresh and lively. The vessels used for cooking should also be neat and clean. This is known to many. This is not enough! The persons who cook the food shall also have to be clean and neat not only outside, but inside also. That means, the one who cooks should not entertain unclean thoughts while cooking. If one does so, one is also cooking the unclean thoughts into the food and serving. Likewise, one can also cook thoughts of goodwill into the food and serve. The former breeds ill health and the latter breeds good health.

Hence one who has cooked the food is more important than what has been cooked. It stands primary. A Yogi makes sure of the cleanliness of the person who cooks than the richness of the food that is served. He mostly lives by foods/fruits given by Nature. For Nature is bountiful and also full of Love for its beings. Mother Nature nourishes us with Goodwill!

Food And Love:

Our mothers too nourish us with Love. Is it not? It is therefore, better that we eat food prepared by our mother than food prepared with commercial motives. In mother's food there is no commercial motive. In bakeries, restaurants and hotels and also in many social parties the motive remains commercial and hence the food carries less value when compared to mother's food in terms of vibrations. Eating at home is therefore, preferable to eating elsewhere.

Where food is cooked and served with Love, there health is restored. Many men of wisdom therefore believe in cooking and serving personally. They not only serve food but also their love and their magnetic vibrations along with the food. Hence health is rejuvenated when such food is taken. It is not mere food. It is food made sacred. It carries higher values.

Once Lord Krishna was invited by a great initiate - Vidura to the latter's house for dinner. Lord Krishna accepted the invitation. The initiate was thrilled. He got pre-occupied with the thought and was making elaborate arrangements for Krishna's visit to his house. In the meanwhile Krishna arrived at Vidura's house. The initiate Vidura was busy in arrangements for Krishna's visit and as such was not at home when Krishna arrived. The lady of the house saw Krishna entering the house. She invited him in, offered a seat and made enquiries. She was also an initiate, who carried a heart of love. She could feel the hunger of Krishna. Yes, only people of love can feel others' needs. So, she immediately came up with a bunch of bananas and started peeling them to feed Krishna. She was full of love and was absorbed into the Divine Love of Krishna. In that trance, she was peeling banana after banana, throwing away the banana and was feeding the peels to Krishna. Lo! Krishna was eating the peels smilingly looking into the eyes of the lady. The lady was also looking into the eyes of Krishna with veneration and was feeding him the peels. It was a state of pure Love that pervaded the whole situation, where intellect ceased functioning and inspiration encompassed.

At that moment, the initiate Vidura entered the scene and was shocked by his wife's doing. He interfered into the serene and silent happening with his intellect. He questioned his wife "What the hell are you doing? Do you know that you are feeding peels to the Lord instead of bananas?" The lady dropped from her state of pure experience to the state of intellect and felt sorry. But Krishna said "What material she feeds me is not important but with what mind she feeds me is important. She fed me with Love and not with peels. The bananas are of inferior value to the Love she fed. My hunger is fully satiated. I bless you both." Saying so, Krishna departed.

No food material, however rich it is, is a good substitute to love. Hence, food cooked with love in serene, divine and sacred environs is the food of first grade. If one cooks, let him/her cook with such love and purity. Blessed are those who eat such food.

Cooking food while chanting divine hymns helps consecrating the food while being cooked. If such hymn chanting is not possible, fortunately, we have cassette recordings of such chantings. They can be played in the kitchen. Or even music cassettes that tranquil the mind can be played. In the kitchen, the cook and the cooking material are filled with the vibrations of harmonious sound, the purpose is well served. Such food contributes much to health.

Contrary to this, today, we eat food anywhere and every where, cooked by anyone and everyone. This is because we are ignorant of the science relating to it. We eat food cooked in restaurants in fast food centres or even food prepared and stored on the footpaths (road-side). The effect of such food on our bodies is significantly unhealthy. Unhealthy food contributes to unhealthy thoughts. Food cooked by sensuous people make the eaters gradually sensuous. Food cooked by emotional people breeds emotions in those who eat. Like-wise food cooked by lovable people breeds love. The food that we eat remains in our body and affects our body for 7 to 14 days. You can improve the quality of your thought by improving the quality of the food and vice versa.

What to eat includes:

(a) What food we should eat and

(b) Who cooked such food.

Let us understand the step (a) - that is what varieties of food we may consume.

As said earlier, we cannot eat anything and everything. Our mouths and stomachs are not dustbins where you throw materials indiscreetly. The mouth is a place of sacred fire. You cannot throw impure things into the sacred fire place. Each time you use the mouth irresponsibly for an intake, it has consequences. Even in the beginning, we learnt that the body is a sacred vehicle that we are given and that we have to feel the responsibility relating to it. It is God-given and hence is divine. You need to use it with respect and veneration. You cannot abuse it or even underuse it. It should be put to such use as it is meant for.

What happens if you indiscreetly fill the gasoline tank of a car with alcoholic drinks? Suppose you fill the tank with beer or whiskey. Will the car run? On the contrary it gets spoiled. The car should be given such fuel as it needs to generate necessary energy. Likewise, you cannot feed a horse with hamburgers, or other fast foods. The system in the horse does not accept it. The motor car has a system. It accepts a kind of fuel which it can transform into energy. The horse has a system. It accepts a kind of fuel (food) which it can transform into energy. So too is the case with other animals and plants. Only the human animal has no such understanding.

See how foolish are the people who take in that which does not transform into energy. The intake is meant for gaining the required energy for functioning. Instead the human being takes in as if to contact disease. Eighty percent of ill health among human beings is due to their irresponsible attitude towards their intake. Animals do not carry as many diseases as the human beings. This is because humans do not eat what they need to eat. Through eating he acquires diseases instead of energy and health. And, he calls himself wise! A man who abuses the fire place has to pay for it. Many times we eat, to become sick.

There are people who swallow cigarette smoke! What for? For energy? No. For nothing? No. They say - for pleasure. But poor fellows, they do not know that it comes back as displeasure after a while. They are spoiling their respiratory system for pleasure! What wisdom!

There are people who indiscreetly and excessively drink alcohol. They too are spoiling much within their body. Chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol for pleasure is like pouring sea water into a gasoline tank of a motor vehicle. The destruction is for sure.

There are foods that energise the body. One should consume only these. Only then is one sensible. Insensible are they who do not care for energising the body. One should know what food energises his system and what food does not. He should not compromise to eat that which is not suitable to him.

Generally, tobacco and alcohol are not suitable to human body. They affect the brain, the respiratory system and the digestive system. Coffee and other stimulants are also not recommended. Instead, they can be substituted by milk, water and fruit juices.

Food And Taste:

As we learnt, food is for supply of energy to the body. That is the sole purpose. One can prepare energising food to suit the taste. Taste is to make the 'intake' activity pleasurable. Here also, suitable food (i.e., energising food) can be made tasty. One need not eat tasteless food in the name of health. The selection of food is three fold as given below: (1) Select food that suits you, that energises you; make it tasty and enjoy eating it. This is the best situation (2) Selecting food that suits you and energises you even if it is not very tasty is a good situation because you are still supporting the energy system of the body. (3) But, if you select the food only for the taste of it, it is the worst situation. Many people eat for taste. They are slaves of their own taste. They do not serve the body with food. They serve the taste with food and the body degenerates.

Eating with taste is different from eating for taste. We cannot be slaves of taste. Taste has to be subservient to the purpose. So eat energising food making it as tasty as possible.

Even energising food has its optimum quantity for each body system. That should not be lost sight of.

Do you know that human body is designed in this time to live healthily and actively for 100 years? If man is not able to live long, his ignorance towards food habit is one of the contributing factors.

Food The Life Force:

Food carries essential energy and we call this energy "life force." Life force exists in the material substance, in watery substance, airy substance and fiery substance too. In truth, life force is a subtle substance that exists in all the substances of Nature. So what we gain through eating process is life force. It helps in reinforcing the life force in us. Therefore, is it not wise to gain life force with or without eating? Yes! life force can be gained with or without eating. One can orient more and more to absorb life force. Thereby, he can gradually eliminate heavy substances as food. Since he is gaining life force, which is the purpose of all eating, he does not need to eat so much. This appears strange! Doesn't it? But it is not so if we analyse.

Now let us see - we understand that in eating, the goal is to gain life force. Life force exists in many ways. It exists in food material. It exists in water as oxygen. It exists in air as oxygen. It exists in Sun-Ray as life force. If we know how to gain life force through water, we do not need to eat food material. If we know how to absorb life force by breathing in oxygen, we do not have to even drink water. And if we know how to absorb life force from the Sun-Ray, we do not even have to breathe so much! We can save our breaths. This sounds funny. But it is true. There are advanced human beings who live in deep meditation for long hours, even without breathing. They seem to be dead for all clinical purposes but are very much alive. In recent years, Lahari Mahasaya, Saibaba of Shirdi and Master C.V.V of Blue Mountains demonstrated this in their lives in this Century. A Yogini (lady yogi) in Bengal (India) demonstrated for 50 years how to live by breathing alone. She did not even drink water during this period of time, let alone food. She was a tourist attraction in the first quarter of the 20th Century. Absorbtion of life force through breathing was the technique adopted by her. As she was not eating and drinking, she also had no need for defecation or urination. She was brilliant in appearance and her eyes were like Sun-balls radiating light.

There was also a Yogi in Andhra Pradesh, South India, till 1980s who lived without food and water in a closed room for more than 30 years. He used to come out of his chamber once in a year on the new moon day of the month of Aquarius.

In the Aquarian Age * the predominant element that rules the planet is AIR. If one knows how to utilise air to absorb life force, he need not eat much. You remain energetic and yet do not carry the heaviness of food in you if you follow the technique of Pranayama - the technique of breathing that regulates Prana - the life force. As you eat less and less, while remaining as energetic as you should be, you tend to be lighter in weight. In fact the tendency today is not to eat as much as our ancestors ate. Our bodies are also evolving and hence they do not accept and assimilate as those of our ancestors. In Aquarian Age man started flying with aeroplanes. He even reaches the stage when he can fly himself, without the aid of aeroplanes! This is a possibility offered by the Aquarian Air. Man slowly evolves and lightens his body and learns the technique of reversing the gravitational pull of the Earth and thereby he flies. The ancients demonstrated this technique in the distant past. It will become a reality in future. Food habit plays a role in this game.

Let us continue to understand the methods and their gradation in relation to food habits. We have seen how Yogis live on Sun-Rays and upon breathing for long years. We also see many who live only on water for many years. They too radiate due to the purity of water. They know the technique to utilise the energy of water. Water is electricity and the electric power is the basis of all movement of life force. The technique of using the Sun-Ray, the breath and the water can only be learnt from those who practice it.

But for us, it is necessary to upgrade our eating habits before we gain such advanced steps. If we want to maintain ourselves effectively on lighter foods, we should gradually introduce them in our life substituting the heavier foods. More water intake substitutes the place in the stomach, which is otherwise filled by heavier food material. In yoga practice the teachers recommend that you fill your body at each meal time with 50% of food material, 25% of water and keep the other 25% empty. This empty part will be filled through morning and evening practice of Pranayama If water does not give the feeling of fill, it can be substituted by fruit juices or other liquid foods. The practice keeps us in good health. Many times when we feel like drinking coffee, tea or other unhealthy drinks, we may think of substituting it with water or juices. They are better materials. Milk and honey too are very useful. Milk has a significant role to play in cleansing the layers of the body and purifying it. More of milk and milk products are therefore, strongly recommended. Milk helps to build the "Antahakarana" body - the subtle body. Lord Krishna lived only on milk and milk products during his life span of 126 years. He remained young and energetic and did not age with the years. Even during the last part of his life, his body remained youthful. He always had the appearance of a youth. The message from his food habits is very clear. We too need to use more milk and milk products substituting heavier materials of food.

Among food substances too, leaf vegetables, vegetables that carry fibre, those which grow above the surface and fruits are preferable to the vegetables that grow below the earth, namely roots like potatoes. The vegetables that grow below the earth are not as much exposed to the Solar Rays as those that grow above the Earth's surface. Hence they tend to be heavier in matter.

Unfortunately the 20th Century man went on polluting water, plant and animal ignorantly. All rivers are polluted and hence we need to treat water before we drink. The cows and other milk giving cattle are also polluted by injecting all kinds of chemicals into them to get better yield. Consequently, in the West, many people develop allergy when they drink milk. Fruits and vegetables are also polluted through use of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers. Man needs to make a more appropriate use of science. Our water is not healthy, milk is not healthy, fruits are not healthy, air around us is not healthy and lastly our thoughts are also not healthy. How can we expect to remain healthy unless we rectify our habit of polluting everything in and around us? We need to start somewhere. Instead of waiting for others to do and rectify, let us start with ourselves. "Let restitution of environmental balance start from me" be our attitude.

If you prefer to eat cooked food, ensure that you eat the food within three hours after it is cooked. Preserving cooked food in cold storage and eating it for days together is eating only dead food. It carries no life in it. Similarly vegetables and fruits when stored lose their life gradually. It is fortunate these days if one can still drink fresh milk, eat fresh vegetables and bathe in fresh water, wherein much life exists. In the name of development have we not walked away from Nature? Should we not think of getting back to Nature, atleast in slow degrees?

We understood from the preceding paras that food tends to become heavier and heavier from Sun-Ray to oxygen, from oxygen to water, from water to liquid foods, from liquid foods to fruits, from fruits to vegetables that grow upon the surface of Earth and from such vegetables to root vegetables. Now you consider animal food. It is the heaviest of all that man eats!

In this Scientific Age, with so much of automation and mechanisation, man has ceased to exert physically. Today he exerts more mentally. Hence he does not need to eat meat and other animal food. On the one hand, it makes him heavier in body and on the other, it tends him to sensuousness in terms of sex and sense objects. This is because he does not burn away all the substances relating to the animal food through his physical activity and exertion. He, therefore, needs vigorous exercises to maintain normal weight.

Why should we eat needlessly and burn away the excess fat through additional activity i.e., vigorous exercises? Moreover, the age in which we are, makes the fabric of our body lighter and lighter. And if we eat heavier and heavier food, the body system gets into conflict. This needs to be understood by the man of Aquarian Age. Vegetarianism is the future of the mankind. Let us be intelligent enough to learn what Nature intends teaching us through Time.

Where to Eat:

It is recommended that we eat in a clean and serene place, where silence and purity prevails. We should not eat on pathways, in moving buses and in underground trains. Unless inevitable, we should eat only in quiet places. Eating in busy centres, bars, restaurants and in places of noise and hubub should be avoided. Wherever you eat, consecrate the place through a mental proposition and eat. The prayer for consecrating the place is:

"I invoke the LORD to purify within and outside me, purify the place and purify the food I offer to the body. May the Lord protect me, the food, the body and the place through this act of mine."

How To Eat:

Eat in quietude. Eat with a pleasant attitude. Eat with a sense of offering. Remember that you are offering food to the body. You are eating for the body and the body works for you. If you offer well the food to the body, the body offers well to serve you. The body does not serve well those who do not serve the body. Hence eat with a sense of offering.

When you eat food, the heat in your body arranges for assimilation of the food and its distribution to the body as energy. It is the work of Fire within the body. Hence the offering of food should be to the Fire in you. Offer the food to the Fire and eat with quietude. Even if you are pleasantly engaged in talk, do not forget your offering to the Fire. Silence while eating enables you to maintain the sense of offering. But when you gain familiarity, you can even engage in pleasant talk with those around, while maintaining the sense of offering.

Consecrate the food through such offering. You may mentally make the following proposition.

"I am thankful to the Lord for the food made available. I offer this food to the Lord of Fire, for his distribution to the Devas within the body. May the Lord be pleased. May the Devas be pleased with this act of mine".

How Much To Eat:

There is no set rule as to how much. But if you remain quiet while you are eating, you get the message. There is a centre of satiation within the brain, that gives you the signal when you eat quietly. The message come as "enough". You can listen within if you follow the regulations of eating stated above. One cardinal rule of eating is that you should not feel heavy after a meal. It is an indication of over eating. Let not a meal discomfort you later. Do not punish yourself with food. Those who feel heavy in body after eating are those who need to reduce the quantity and quality of intake. Conclude the meal even while the stomach is a little empty. Fill that part with water, if you feel the inevitability of filling the stomach.

10. COLOUR

The colours as we see from the Earth are not the true colours. They are reflections of their originals. The true colour of the plane of Consciousness, through its passage from Sun centre via ether and upon their imposition of matter, brings our colour shades, which are only shades. Each time light interacts with matter, depending upon the quality and density of matter, it gets resisted. This resistance by matter to light passing through, produces the colours around us. Without colour differentiation around us, we can neither see, nor identify nor even move an inch. The colours move in ether with great velocity and manifest themselves through the matter's resistance.

Colour is the medium or the middle principle between sound and form. Sound is the higher side of colour, and form is its manifestation. The sound, the colour and the form are the grand triple that happen upon the background of existence. Sounds vibrate the ether. The light of ether, vibrated by sound, produce colours, which in turn organises matter into form. "Every Kingdom of Nature (be it mineral, plant, animal, human or deva kingdom) has its basic note or tone, the mantric sound and the colour which concerns that kingdom's transmutative process." says the Master, known as D.K. The knowledge relating to right use of sound and colour enables man to gain gradual understanding of the ceremony of evolution. Such an understanding enables man to work better with mineral, plant and animal.

The Devas (Intelligences of Nature) express themselves in all the three worlds (Consciousness, Force and Matter) through the medium of Colours, which can be heard! Yes. HEARD! At the Buddhic Plane it is possible to hear colours and see sounds. Only those who through purity have attained Buddhic State of being can experience this. In fact, for some animals, there are no eyes and ears separately. They see and listen through the same organ.

If one knows the colour mechanism of a form and the corresponding sound combination, he is already a magician, an alchemist, a master of matter. Every form is resultant of a colour mechanism and such colour mechanism is due to a sound note uttered forth. Hence the form holds the key to colour and the colour holds the key to sound. The colour veils that which is behind its mechanism and demonstrates its attractive quality. Colour's garb is form and colour itself is a garb to the central life that vibrates sound.

The colour, before it enjoins matter can only be seen by soul's eye. Until then, only its reflection is felt in the matter. Hence observation of colour phenomena relating to a form cannot be done with the physical sight. Man needs to develop soul's sight to feel the right colour relating to the form. Man is yet to learn to see colours without form. This requires constant meditation upon the colour with the aid of a mantric sound, upon a given symbol. Sound and colour are inseparable. The comprehension of one leads to the comprehension of the other.

The colour in form seems stable, but keeps changing with significant velocity. The colour art of form vibrates with greater velocity. Just like the same drop of water drifts away in the next second in a stream of water, while the stream gives the idea of the same water, colour always changes while giving the impression of stability. The ever-changing colour scenario is somewhat understandable by study of colours, their qualities and characteristics. But such study does not yield the essence of the phenomena. It gives an understanding of its own. A proper understanding of colour is gained when the study is made with the understanding of time and working of sound. Subject to this, let us peep into the details of the colour.

In the beginning there was Darkness, says the Bible. All that is, exists in Darkness, says the Veda. Darkness is the basis for Light. Light stands for white in colour. White again is two-fold, the brilliant Solar white and the soothening Lunar white. Thus white is soli-lunar that emerges from the background called Darkness. White in depth appears as blue. The blue of the sky is only apparent but in truth, it is deep white only. Hence Light, white and blue are synonyms in the field of colour. Blue again is nearer to black. The pitch dark sky, appears indigo in colour during the predawn hours, blue in the dawn hours and white around the sun and during the noon time. The black to white via blue, the basic colour keeps happening. It is for this reason the Vedic seers called the same Lord as Krishna (Black) Shyam (Blue) and Vittala (White). He is half male and half female meaning the soli-lunar aspect of white light. This is the simple understanding of black, light white and blue, representing the eternal existence.

The existence is alternatingly subjective and objective, just like our sleep hours and wakeful hours. When the existence is subjective, the scriptures call it as "Darkness." When the existence is objective, it is called "Light". Periodically, from out of Darkness, Light emerges. The area that Light occupies upon the Darkness of the background is called "AKASHA" or "The Astral Light" as per Madame H.P. Blavatsky. This is the memorandum of a creation. The Solar systems, the planets, and the beings upon the systems and the planets happen upon the Akasha, or the silver screen. The imaging happens on this screen. The screen remains for a periodicity unaffected by the happening of the images on the screen. So is Akasha. It remains the basis for all happenings. All happenings receive the feed from Akasha and activity takes place. Yet like the silver screen, the Akasha remains, unaffected, unspendable, luminous, stable and eternal.

The basic hue of Akasha is described as blue, representing its eternal existence. It is witnessing quality. It is the background of all and the source of all. Blue thus stands for synthesis - the background, the unity of all and the source of all apparent diversified units of existence- It stands for existence in Creation, existence of all kingdoms. All individual existences are upon this background of existence.

From out of blue, there is the emergence of the Will-to-do, which is called the force in creation. The force or Will-to-do is associated with the colour red. Red therefore, signifies force - the power in creation. Emanating from existence the power creates, develops and destroys. Power and red go together. Red thus carries in it the dynamic activity. Use of red to arouse power has been common in human history.

The interaction of the power with the effulgent Light of existence brings forth the intelligent activity of creation. This intelligent activity is associated with brilliant golden yellow colour - The egg of creation - H i r a n y a g a r b h a.

Thus the basic trinity of colour activity emerges-existence or synthesis represented by blue, the power of Will represented by red and the resultant seed or egg of creation represented by golden yellow. Remember that this emergence of the tri-colour is upon another triangular colour activity i.e., Darkness, Light and Indigo.

The 2nd Triangular colours when reflected on matter undergo further change to bring in

At sensational and emotional planes, the colours further dilute. When mind gives way to emotions, the colour orange transforms to rose. When man becomes gross and sees nothing beyond, gross physical, the colour light green undergoes change to settle down as dark green. Consequently, the violet gives way to black, representing ignorance.

Now you can see how colours represent qualities:

Thus, to realise synthesis of all, indigo is meditated upon. To realise Love-Wisdom, blue is meditated upon. To gain intuitional planes to carry on intelligent activity golden yellow is meditated upon.

To invoke power, red is meditated upon. But Red is too powerful to invoke. Hence orange may be used for all purposes of invoking power.

To set emotional balance, rose can be invoked. To gain intellectual understanding - light green may be used for invocation. To stabilise the existing activity and to anchor it firmly on the ground, violet may be meditated upon.

Meditation again is a fine process of tuning upto that colour in daily activity, besides, mentally invoking and realising that colour in one's own eye-brow centre. This requires constant observation of colours in daily life. Yes! If you wish to be a student of colours, you should continuously observe the colours presented around you. The colour gives way for better understanding as you grow more and more aware of its presence around you. There are painters to whom the colours talk, suggest, guide and advise! It is an occult fact.

In this Aquarian Age, a new colour is emerging which is acrylic. All colours become acrylic. The Aquarian acrylic colour is SILVER GREY. This is considered as the colour of synthesis to be realised to gain expansion of consciousness. This is the colour of Varuna, the Lord of the Waters of Sky, whose English version is VRANA or URANUS. The principle of Uranus functions as the bridge between life and death, between non-existence and existence, between spirit and matter, the birth place of life in creation - the permeating consciousness.

An Ancient Ritual

The ancients conceived a Star ritual relating to the colours. A Star is pentagonal. So is the man. Man, the dragon is well explained in the initial chapter. The head, the two hands stretched either side and the legs set apart 90° to each other is a good presentation of the Star. This posture is recommended for meditation during morning hours (during sun-rise time). If one stands for 24 minutes (12 minutes before and 12 minutes after sun-rise) in this posture, facing the Sun, he gains much light that dispels impurities in the physical, emotional and mental bodies. The five organs of action -- the five sense organs, the five senses and the five elements in the body get purified through the touch of the androgym rays of the morning Sun.

The Ancients also conceived to work out in man colour after colour in an ascending order by (a) meditating upon 5 pointed Star of a particular colour (b) practicing a particular virtue and (c) behaving well with a particular sense. The colour star, the virtue and the sense have a triangular effect upon man when practised. The moment man gains mastery over that colour, that virtue and that sense, the immediately next colour, virtue and sense is suggested for practice in an ascending order.

Black

Man before dawn of Wisdom is considered ignorant and hence the colour of his star is considered black in the beginning.

Red

Man is then given the power of Will to be applied upon himself according to an ordained way of life. Application of Will is application of the power of red.

Brown

As he applied the will in daily life as per given instructions, the interaction commences between the dark matter and the will power. This causes stir in the matter and the black star state transmutes into brown star. Man starts feeling or sensing better thereafter, brown meaning he develops energies, and sensitivity in his environs.

Green

Thereafter he is asked to function with desirelessness. This functioning is also coupled with responsible use of the sense of sight. Thereby, he gains control over life and remains without congestion of energy flow. Then his colour changes from brown to green representing harmony gained through practice of desirelessness.

Golden Yellow

Thereafter the man is asked to function with the virtue of humility. This functioning is coupled with responsible use of the sense of smell and the sense of taste. Thereby man realises that he is not a separate, localised circumscribed entity but is part of a greater whole. Then his colour changes from green to golden yellow. He starts realising the unity of Life, the brotherhood of humanity and the reality of one existence as many.

Blue

In the next step man is instructed to overcome the wish to live. He is also asked to function with responsibility with the sense of hearing and the sense of touch. As he realises that there is no such thing as death and hence even birth, his colour changes from that of golden yellow to blue. The man thus turns into a Master of Wisdom.

Silver Grey

In the advanced initiations, man turned Master functions with full knowledge of the Divine Plan, with complete control over the five elements. He becomes the Master of Masters. He joins the Devas, to guide the planet and the planetary beings. He gains the knowledge of Life and its ways. The passage from apparent existence to Existence pure is gained. The secrets of life and death are also gained. He becomes the heavenly man. He then gains silver grey colour.

Free from reflection

As man merges in the absolute, with no reflection more personal identity in creation, then the Star becomes free from reflection, meaning, it has nothing to reflect except the Plan. He becomes THAT.

Thus the ascent from ignorance to knowledge (realisation and integration of soul with the Universal Soul) is gradually enacted. At each step, the practice enables change of colours, as per the veneration showed and instructions followed. Let us summarise the ascent of man once again in terms of colour.

	Black Star
	Red Star
	Brown Star
	Green Star
	Golden Yellow Star
	Blue Star
	Silver Grey Star
	Free from reflection

Magic and Colour

The colour sense in man develops well only when he is mentally delinked with material, while surrounded by material. Instead of seeing colour in material, he should develop himself to visualise the descent of colour from the Akashic light to form material forms. The work of colour behind the form is stupendous. It can be understood better from its descending source than from its ascending process.

The intensification of Light on the Planet resulted in increasing use of electricity which will slowly delink the colour from form and connect up with sound, resulting in development of colour sense in man.

When colour and sound meet in ordered sequence, the ancient magic comes handy to man. The key to this is in man's ability to delink from material, by negating or neglecting it.

There are no colours but light

While Spirituality teaches that there are no others but the Self, the Wisdom of Light tells us that there are no colours, but the Light. Light, when it interacts with different gradations of matter, manifests as different colours. This is a rule of synthesis.

Types of light:

The forms on our planet are affected by three types of light substance.

1. Sun light:

2. The Light of the Planet, and

3. The Light which is a product of the first and second.

There is yet another Light now descending, from the 'MAHAT or mental plane of the Planet, which is fusing the 3 Lights to enable illumination at the individual level and the Planetary level.

11. MONEY AND SEX

Money is energy. It is divine or diabolic according to the motive of the user. The selfish are bound by it. The unselfish are assisted by it. Money runs the man in the system, when he has no understanding of it. Man runs the system with the aid of money when he realises the right value and purpose of life.

When money is understood as a tool for satiation of desires only, it enslaves man. When money is understood as a source of expression of Love, it serves free flow of Life. Desire is nothing but a distorted version of Love. Love, when limited to certain things and persons, gets distorted as attachment for things and persons. Arising out of such attachment, man utilises the money energy for such attached things, persons and possessions with an attitude of possession. That is the beginning of his fall. Love, on the contrary, is a state of Awareness. It is not love towards persons, things etc. It is a state of living in Love as different from the act of Love. The knowers live in Love and hence Love flows through them. The ignorant, instead of living in love, conduct acts of love, for them love is an expression towards objects, things, persons and places which they like. They are incapable of being in love without objective forms.

When one functions with Love, money energies flow through to satiate his needs and the needs of those around him. When one functions with desire, money binds him either through its inadequacy or its abundance. We see people suffering even when they are abundantly rich. Riches are no riches when they do not enable "Rich Life" in the sense, a life of mastery. The dispensers of the world's treasure are those who carry Love as their Awareness. They are not possessive. The possessive attitude towards money is a hurdle to its free flow. "Let Love flow through. There, Money too flows through"- is the occult law. Desire and possession are obstructions to the flow of Love and hence they obstruct the abundant flow of World Treasure.

Money destroys those who obstruct its free flow. At the same time, free flow of money should not be understood as irresponsible use of money. It means intelligent use of money for all sensible purposes.

We understood through the previous lessons that intelligent activity is the quality of the Third Ray. The Third Ray represents intelligent use of available resources to yield maximum benefit and also represents dedication of all resources with loving understanding to the cause of service. This demands Goodwill.

The world economy is in shambles today. This is because man is yet to learn the right use of money and its desired distribution. There is too much money in some pockets and too little in some others'. Those who have too much (be it individuals or Nations) indulge in wasteful spending. They do not care to share even 10% of their wasteful expenditure with those who do not have. A responsible child of Nature is one which sets apart 10% of that which it receives, to be utilised for those whose basic needs are not satisfied. Herein lies the solution for individual as well as national economy. Every child, youth and adult is well advised from time immemorial to save for those who are destitutes. In this fundamental rule, there is much Love which can be experienced through experimentation.

Spiritual use of money:

Money is conceived as a means to acquire materials, both in worldly matters and in philanthropic activities. Building huge churches, temples, acquiring vast lands and properties by religious and philanthropic bodies is a very common mistake being committed in the name of spiritual activity. Many so called spiritual leaders build empires of brick and mortar, least realising their futility in contrast to building up human beings. Constructive development of a human being and money spent for such purpose is the most spiritual use of money. Education is another name for constructive development of man's mind. Hence, money spent in educating man of his potentials and their right use, in relation to the Kingdoms of Nature, is the real spiritual use of money. "Man is made in the image and likeness of God" say the scriptures. Education that develops the potentials in man to co-operate and function in harmony with the system is right education. Man is essentially creative, like the Creator. A process of developing creators is far more superior than the process of developing materials that snub man. Money has a key role to play, when this truth is realised.

It is not that the Masters of the seven great spiritual centres are incapable of building empires of brick and mortar. They only know too well the futility of such colossal waste of money power. Instead, they silently prepare men who prepare others, where spirit plays a dominant role and material is accepted at its minimum. The New Age man will nevertheless learn this lesson on money and shall remain as creator and not a slave, in the use of money. In due course, the financial service will be better understood than at present. Man has to learn from his mistakes. However, right now, humanity remains uneducated and starved. A vast majority of humanity is brought up on false values and wrong use of money by the dominant selfish minority, who capitalise the situations to their unending thirst for money and power.

A Solution:

It is a formidable task for the humanity to overcome its present attitude toward money. However, men of Goodwill can form into local/regional circles, pool their savings and devote such savings to intelligent use for the development of human beings. "Let us form the circle of Goodwill" shall have to be the urge of every child. He should be taught to form circles with his friends and should also be inculcated into the habit of saving on a daily basis at the rate of say, 10 cents. The money pooled up by the children should be put to use, towards a noble cause. Such work is sacred and shall prepare children into men of Goodwill in due course of time. This has to be attempted by all well meaning parents and teachers.

The group need shall have to replace the individual need. This is again a quality of Love. Unless man feels for others' need, this big step cannot be gained. Here, man has a challenge to face. He should realise his responsibility with regard to money.