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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
control of mind itself, and the follower of Hatha Yoga by the restraint of the physical body and the avenues of the senses. Neither Raja Yoga nor Hatha Yoga, if taken by itself, can, however, achieve any great results, since the scientific method consists neither purely in the control of mind nor exclusively in the subjugation of the body, but in the doing of the right thing at the right time, as will be seen in a subsequent chapter.
So far, however, as concentration of mind is concerned, all the departments of Yoga which have been examined here are at one on laying emphasis on it. The reason for this is obvious. If we look into the nature of the power which is exerted in all cases of concentration, without a single exception, we shall not fail to discover it to be our will. Hence, we may say that Yoga is the science which directly develops the will. - Now, inasmuch as the emancipation of will from the bondage of sin, and the possession of life more full and abundant, are the aims of the soul, obviously that whose every step is calculated to increase the power of the individual will is the only channel of liberation. In this sense, Yoga, certainly, is the science of liberation par excellence.
The chief obstacle on the path of Yoga, which beginners have to get over, lies in the mechanism of habit which the easy-going will likes to adhere to. It is not to be supposed that the actual, practical science of Yoga is characterized by anything resembling the ease with which we have been discussing it here. We know, from practical experience, how hard it is to break through any deep-rooted habit. How difficult it is to give up drinking, for instance, when once the craving
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