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56
THE MYSTERIES OF MIND
experience at the end of our journey. That which appears to be a mere reflection will change into a clear vision. Let us, therefore, begin our journey. Let us begin an upward journey. Let us carry our consciousness, our vital energy and our prānu upwards, for these are the means of achieving our ideal.
The path of this journey lies within the body itself. There are two centres in the body. One of them is called the centre of consciousness and the other the centre of sexenergy. The former is situated in the upper part of the body which extends from the navel to the head and the latter in the lower part of the body below the navel. Our consciousness remains confined about these centres where it becomes thickly concentrated and its flow becomes forceful. The sexcentre is the chief source of energy. The entire consciousness and energy remain collected around this centre, particularly around the navel and the plexternal organ. There is very little energy in and about the knowledge-centre because the modern man is more inclined towards sex. His entire energy and consciousness have become concentiated near the sexcentre. He pays more attention to and shows greater interest in the sex-centre. Psychologists tell us that the sex-instinct produces greater tension in man than any other instinct. We experience tension due to fear, anger, jealousy and other emotions only seldom. The tension produced by the sexinstinct is also very heavy. It has very deep roots. it may be said that the base of krsna leśyā, nila lèśyā and kāpota lèśyā, the three inauspicious colorations of the soul lie somewhere here. Every one of our tendencies has its base or centre in the gross body from which it manifests itself. The centres from which these colourations manifest themselves lie somewhere between the sex-centres and the area in which the apāna air collects. These are also the centres to be meditated upon in årta and raudra meditations. It is these centres which feed our likes and dislikes, restlessness due to feelings, cruelty, jealousy, hatred ele. They atlect consciousness collected around them and excite our emotions.
The vital energy which we possess manifests itself in various forms. It has ten förms. When it is associated with the sense-organs, through which it manifests itself, it assumes
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