pagan and christian creeds-第59节
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And they all depend upon that power of stilling Thought； that ability to pass unharmed and undismayed through the grinning legions of the lower mind into the very heart of Paradise。
The question inevitably arises； How can this power be obtained？ And there is only one answerthe same answer which has to be given for the attainment of ANY power or faculty。 There is no royal road。 The only way is （however imperfectly） to DO the thing in question； to practice it。 If you would learn to play cricket； the only way is to play cricket； if you would be able to speak a language； the only way is to speak it。 If you would learn to swim； the only way is to practice swimming。 Or would you wish to be like the man who when his companions were bathing and bidding him come and join them； said： 〃Yes； I am longing to join you； but I am not going to be such a fool as to go into the water TILL I KNOW HOW TO SWIM！〃
There is nothing but practice。 If you want to obtain that priceless power of commanding Thoughtof using it or dismissing it （for the two things go together） at willthere is no way but practice。 And the practice consists in two exercises： （a） that of concentrationin holding the thought steadily for a time on one subject； or point of a subject； and （b） that of effacementin effacing any given thought from the mind； and determining NOT to entertain it for such and such a time。 Both these exercises are difficult。 Failure in practicing them is certain and may even extend over years。 But the power equally certainly grows WITH practice。 And ultimately there may come a time when the learner is not only able to efface from his mind any given thought （however importunate）； but may even succeed in effacing； during short periods； ALL thought of any kind。 When this stage is reached； the veil of illusion which surrounds all mortal things is pierced； and the entrance to the Paradise of Rest （and of universal power and knowledge） is found。
Of indirect or auxiliary methods of reaching this great conclusion； there are more than one。 I think of life in the open air； if not absolutely necessary； at least most important。 The godsthough sometimes out of compassion they visit the interiors of housesare not fond of such places and the evil effluvium they find there； and avoid them as much as they can。 It is not merely a question of breathing oxygen instead of carbonic acid。 There is a presence and an influence in Nature and the Open which expands the mind and causes brigand cares and worries to drop offwhereas in confined places foolish and futile thoughts of all kinds swarm like microbes and cloud and conceal the soul。 Experto Crede。 It is only necessary to try this experiment in order to prove its truth。
Another thing which corresponds in some degree to living physically in the open air； is the living mentally and emotionally in the atmosphere of love。 A large charity of mind； which refuses absolutely to shut itself in little secluded places of prejudice； bigotry and contempt for others； and which attains to a great and universal sympathy； helps； most obviously； to open the way to that region of calm and freedom of which we have spoken； while conversely all petty enmity； meanness and spite； conspire to imprison the soul and make its deliverance more difficult。
It is not necessary to labor these points。 As we said； the way to attain is to sincerely TRY to attain； to consistently PRACTICE attainment。 Whoever does this will find that the way will open out by degrees； as of one emerging from a vast and gloomy forest； till out of darkness the path becomes clear。 For whomsoever really TRIES there is no failure； for every effort in that region is success； and every onward push； however small； and however little result it may show； is really a move forward； and one step nearer the light。
II。 THE NATURE OF THE SELF
The true nature of the Self is a matter by no means easy to compass。 We have all probably at some time or other attempted to fathom the deeps of personality； and been baffled。 Some people say they can quite distinctly remember a moment in early childhood； about the age of THREE （though the exact period is of course only approximate） when self…consciousnessthe awareness of being a little separate Selffirst dawned in the mind。 It was generally at some moment of childish tension alone perhaps in a garden； or lost from the mother's protecting handthat this happened； and it was the beginning of a whole range of new experience。 Before some such period there is in childhood strictly speaking no distinct self…consciousness。 As Tennyson says （In Memoriam xliv）：
The baby new to earth and sky； What time his tender palm is prest Against the circle of the breast； Hath never thought that 〃This is I。〃
It has consciousness truly； but no distinctive self…consciousness。 It is this absence or deficiency which explains many things which at first sight seem obscure in the psychology of children and of animals。 The baby （it has often been noticed） experiences little or no sense of FEAR。 It does not know enough to be afraid； it has never formed any image of itself； as of a thing which might be injured。 It may shrink from actual pain or discomfort； but it does not LOOK FORWARDwhich is of the essence of fearto pain in the future。 Fear and self…consciousness are closely interlinked。 Similarly with animals； we often wonder how a horse or a cow can endure to stand out in a field all night； exposed to cold and rain； in the lethargic patient way that they exhibit。 It is not that they do not FEEL the discomfort； but it is that they do not envisage THEMSELVES as enduring this pain and suffering for all those coming hours； and as we know with ourselves that nine…tenths of our miseries really consist in looking forward to future miseries； so we understand that the absence or at any rate slight prevalence of self…consciousness in animals enables them to endure forms of distress which would drive us mad。
In time then the babe arrives at self…consciousness； and； as one might expect； the growing boy or girl often becomes intensely aware of Self。 His or her self…consciousness is crude； no doubt； but it has very little misgiving。 If the question of the nature of the Self is propounded to the boy as a problem he has no difficulty in solving it。 He says 〃I know well enough who I am： I am the boy with red hair what gave Jimmy Brown such a jolly good licking last Monday week。〃 He knows well enoughor thinks he knowswho he is。 And at a later age； though his definition may change and he may describe himself chiefly as a good cricketer or successful in certain examinations； his method is practically the same。 He fixes his mind on a certain bundle of qualities and capacities which he is supposed to possess； and calls that bundle Himself。 And in a more elaborate way we most of us； I imagine； do the same。
Presently； however； with more careful thought； we begin to see difficulties in this view。 I see that directly I think of myself as a certain bundle of qualitiesand for that matter it is of no account whether the qualities are good or bad； or in what sort of charming confusion they are mixedI see at once that I am merely looking at a bundle of qualities： and that the real 〃I；〃 the Self； is not that bundle； but is the being INSPECTING the samesomething beyond and behind； as it were。 So I now concentrate my thoughts upon that inner Something； in order to find out what it really is。 I imagine perhaps an inner being； of 'astral' or ethereal nature； and possessing a new range of much finer and more subtle qualities than the bodya being inhabiting the body and perceiving through its senses； but quite capable of surviving the tenement in which it dwells and I think of that as the Self。 But no sooner have I taken this step than I perceive that I am committing the same mistake as before。 I am only contemplating a new image or picture； and 〃I〃 still remain beyond and behind that which I contemplate。 No sooner do I turn my attention on the subjective being than it becomes OBJECTIVE； and the real subject retires into the background。 And so on indefinitely。 I am baffled； and unable to say positively what the Self is。
Meanwhile there are people who look upon the foregoing speculations about an interior Self as merely unpractical。 Being perhaps of a more materialistic type of mind they fix their attention on the body。 Frankly they try to define the Self by the body and all that is connected therewiththat is by the mental as well as corporeal qualities which exhibit themselves in that connection； and they say； 〃At any rate the Selfwhatever it may beis in some way limited by the body； each person studies the interest of his body and of the feelings； emotions and mentality directly associated with it； and you cannot get beyond that； it isn't in human nature to do so。 The Self is limited by this corporeal phenomenon and doubtless it perishes when the body perishes。〃 But here again the conclusion； though specious at first； soon appears to be quite inadequate。 For though it is possibly true that a man； if left alone in a Robinson Crusoe life on a desert island； might ultimately subside into a mere gratification of his corporeal needs and of those mental needs which were directly concerned w
