means, the
most perfect condition is obtained for the unfoldment of these latent
faculties.

In this work we cannot go deeply into the philosophy of the East
regarding spiritual development, because this subject would require
volumes to cover it, and then again the subject is too abstruse to
interest the average reader. There are also other reasons, well known
to occultists, why this knowledge should not be spread broadcast at
this time. Rest assured, dear student, that when the time comes for
you to take the next step, the way will be opened out before you.
"When the chela (student) is ready, the guru (master) appears." In
this chapter we will give you directions for the development of two
phases of spiritual consciousness, i.e., (1) the consciousness of the
identity of the Soul, and (2) the consciousness of the connection of
the Soul with the Universal Life. Both of the exercises given below
are simple, and consist of mental images firmly held, accompanied with
rhythmic breathing. The student must not expect too much at the start,
but must make haste slowly, and be content to develop as does the
flower, from seed to blossom.

SOUL CONSCIOUSNESS.

The real Self is not the body or even the mind of man. These things
are but a part of his personality, the lesser self. The real Self is
the Ego, whose manifestation is in individuality. The real Self is
independent of the body, which it inhabits, and is even independent of
the mechanism of the mind, which it uses as an instrument. The real
Self is a drop from the Divine Ocean, and is eternal and
indestructible. It cannot die or be annihilated, and no matter what
becomes of the body, the real Self still exists. It is the Soul. Do
not think of your Soul as a thing apart from you, for YOU are the
Soul, and the body is the unreal and transitory part of you which is
changing in material every day, and which you will some day discard.
You may develop the faculties so that they will be conscious of the
reality of the Soul, and its independence of the body. The Yogi plan
for such development is by meditation upon the real Self or Soul,
accompanied by rhythmic breathing. The following exercise is the
simplest form.

EXERCISE.--Place your body in a relaxed, reclining position. Breathe
rhythmically, and meditate upon the real Self, thinking of yourself as
an entity independent of the body, although inhabiting it and being
able to leave it at will. Think of yourself, not as the