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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
mind, but to the lack of suitable associations. It is the association of ideas which determines the point of concentration, that is to say, the point on which the mind is generally concentrated, or on which it can be fixed with ease. A tradesman, for instance, finds his mind as a rule absorbed in matters pertaining to his particular trade, and experiences no difficulty in concentrating it on the details of his business, yet the sametradesman does not, generally and without special causes, find it easy to apply it to the business of another, and would find it difficult to interest it even in his own if the more immediate personal interests be centred else-where, e.g., if he happen to fall in love. In the lastmentioned case, his mind would refuse to linger on the detail of his business, and would run away towards his more absorbing love affair. Nor does he need any instructions in the art of concentration, which comes spontaneously with love. It is clear from this that the subject on which the mind dwells the longest is neces-sarily the one which excites the liveliest interest, for the time being; in other words, the subject of concentration is determined by the most paramount inclinations, emotions, and passions in every individual case. And, since our inclinations, emotions and passions depend on. the association of ideas, it follows that change of association is all that is required to interest the mind in any particular subject. Those who wish to develop the power of concentration on any particular subject should, therefore, change their old mode of thought, and cultivate suitable associations for the new subject. Therefore, the company of swamis, devotees and others, who.
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