ngs and harmful practices. In this same category, I place the
methods which are taught by certain persons, namely, that of inducing
abnormal physical and psychic condition of giddiness and haziness by means
of "whirling" around in a circle until one drops from giddiness, or until
one "feels queer in the head." This is a revival of the practices of
certain fanatics in Persia and India, who perform it as a religious rite
until they fall into what they consider a "holy sleep," but which is
nothing more than an abnormal and unhealthful physical and psychic
condition. Such practices are a downward step, not an upward one. It seems
a pity that the necessity has arisen for such warnings as these--but my
duty, as I see it, is very plain. To all who are tempted to "develop" in
this way, I say, positively, "DON'T!"

The scientific, rational way to develop the astral senses is to first
acquire the art of concentrating. Bear in mind that in concentration the
person, while shutting out the impressions of the outside world in
general, nevertheless focuses and concentrates his attention upon the one
matter before him. This is quite a different thing from making oneself
sensitive to every current of thought and feeling that may be in the
psychic atmosphere. True concentration renders one positive, while the
other methods render one negative. Contrary to the common opinion, psychic
concentration is a positive state, not a negative--an active state, not a
passive one. The person who is able to concentrate strongly is a master,
while one who opens himself to "control," either physical or astral, is
more or less of a slave to other minds.

The student who will begin by experimenting along the lines of contact
mind-reading, and who then advances along the lines of true telepathy, as
explained in the earlier chapters of this book, will have made a good
start, and considerable progress, along the road to clairvoyant
development. The rest will be largely a matter of exercise and practice.
He will be aided by practicing concentration along the general lines of
the best occult teaching. Such practice may consist of concentration upon
almost any physical object, keeping the thing well before the mind and
attention. Do not tire the attention by practicing too long at one time.
The following general rules will help you in developing concentration:

(1) The attention attaches more readily to interesting rather than
uninteresting things. Therefore,