imself as securing it, until it becomes
almost real. In this way he calls to his aid his entire mental force and
power, along the sub-conscious lines, and, as it were, makes a clear path
over which he may walk to accomplishment. Bain says regarding this: "By
aiming at a new construction, we must clearly conceive what is aimed at.
Where we have a very distinct and intelligible model before us, we are in
a fair way to succeed; in proportion as the ideal is dim and wavering, we
stagger or miscarry." Maudsley says: "We cannot do an act voluntarily
unless we know what we are going to do, and we cannot know exactly what
we are going to do until we have taught ourselves to do it." Carpenter
says: "The continued concentration of attention upon a certain idea gives
it a dominant power, not only over the mind, but over the body." Muller
says: "The idea of our own strength gives strength to our movements. A
person who is confident of effecting anything by muscular efforts will do
it more easily than one not so confident of his own power." Tanner says:
"To believe firmly is almost tantamount in the end to accomplishment.
Extraordinary instances are related showing the influence of the will
over even the involuntary muscles."

Along the same lines, many Western writers have added their testimony to
the Yogi principle of the manifestation of thought into action. Kay has
written: "A clear and accurate idea of what we wish to do, and how it is
to be effected, is of the utmost value and importance in all the affairs
of life. A man's conduct naturally shapes itself according to the ideas
in his mind, and nothing contributes more to success in life than having
a high ideal and keeping it constantly in view. Where such is the case
one can hardly fail in attaining it. Numerous unexpected circumstances
will be found to conspire to bring it about, and even what seemed at
first to be hostile may be converted into means for its furtherance;
while by having it constantly before the mind he will be ever ready to
take advantage of any favoring circumstances that may present
themselves." Along the same lines, Foster has written these remarkable
words: "It is wonderful how even the casualties of life seem to bow to
a spirit that will not bow to them, and yield to subserve a design which
they may, in their first apparent tendency, threaten to frustrate. When a
firm, decisive spirit is recognized, it is curious to see how the space
clears around a man