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FAITH KNOWLEDGE AND CONDUCT
9-ATTENTION
Attention is the instrument of conscious enquiry (determination), and of succession in perception and knowledge. Unless attention be directed towards an object it will not be cognized by the mind. Even things -e.g., sweetmeats-placed on the tongue in the mouth will remain unnoticed unless attention be turned towards them.
The function of attention is to carry the stimulus from the object to the soul. Unless the stimulus be allowed to reach the soul, it will not rouse consciousness, and will fail to awaken perception and knowledge.
Attention signifies interest. We only attend to what interests us. Of all the impulses in the will the most predominant ones are constantly ready to fix themselves on their objects. They are literally at tension all the time for their gratification. Hence the term attention. They push back the others in the background and occupy the field themselves, rendering the rest subconscious. Unless this tension be relaxed sufficiently to admit of their stimuli reaching the soul, it will not know of the existence of other objects even though their contact be as close as that of the sweetmeats on the tongue.
Attention brings the object on which it is fixed into the lime-light of consciousness. It then brings to
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