Although I have said that one should learn to concentrate even in a bus or train — anywhere and on any occasion which does not call for vigilance or response on our part, and when no one is talking to us — so that we may be positive and strong in our policy of life, I do not say that we should ignore the conveniences of quietude and non-interruption in our times of special practice. We must be strong enough to face and overcome difficulties, but need not deliberately make or seek them.

Have you noticed the value of a change of surroundings when you want recreation or a change in yourself? One man I heard about would sometimes find himself restless in bed; then all he had to do was to put on his clothes and go and lie on the living-room sofa and he would sleep like a top. In concentration also we need not fight the suggestiveness of our surroundings. Some people go to extremes in this, and why not, for everyone should be allowed his whim?

In that case, in order to eliminate both the habitual mental suggestions from familiar objects, and the “crystallized telepathy” of thoughts stamped for a while upon objects which have been in contact with other people, some devices such as the following may be adopted. They may be ignored if your concentration is good, but if at first you do not feel that you can remain entirely unaffected by foreign influences, you may reduce them by the following and similar external devices: Keep for the practice a room which is used for no other purpose. Keep it clean yourself; do not send servants in to handle things. Sit in the middle of the room, and place before you a picture or an image or a symbol (if you have no objection to such forms) of any object or idea you wish to dwell upon.

Sit with your back to the window, leaving your ordinary clothes outside. Put on a special garment, preferably not of wool, before going into the room. Do not take into the room money, pocket-knife or keys. Keep a special watch or little clock, pencil and paper there. If it is not too cold, let the feet be bare and well washed before you enter. It is best also to sluice the body and limbs with cold water. All this will keep you from immediate contact with emanations from objects which have been much handled by other people, or used in the business of life, and will also form a wall against drifting thoughts.

But nearly all of this is quite unnecessary, and absolutely so if you have already said: “I will”, though at all times and in all cases you will do well to preserve reasonable cleanliness and a considerable amount of silence about what you are doing, so as (I) not to establish in your own mind associations of other people in relation to your practice of concentration, and (2) not to set up telepathic connections related to your concentration and its time and place. Do not start Mr. Smith looking at his watch and saying to Mr Jones, “Ah, Mr Robinson will now be doing his concentration in his little garden-pavilion”.

concentrate, concentration, difficulties, interruption, servants, surroundings, telepathy, vigilance