Mysticism

[Harconen]

V
Dharana - Control of Thought
Constrain the mind to concentrate itself upon a single simple object imagined.
The five tatwas are useful for this purpose; they are: a black oval; a blue disk; a silver crescent; a yellow square; a red triangle.
Proceed to combinations of simple objects; e.g. a black oval within a yellow square, and so on.
Proceed to simple moving objects, such as a pendulum swinging, a wheel revolving, etc. Avoid living objects.
Proceed to combinations of moving objects, e.g. a piston rising and falling while a pendulum is swinging. The relation between the two movements should be varied in different experiments.
Or even a system of flywheels, eccentrics, and governor.
During these practices the mind must be absolutely confined to the object determined upon; no other thought must be allowed to intrude upon the consciousness. The moving systems must be regular and harmonious.
Note carefully the duration of the experiments, the number and nature of the intruding thoughts, the tendency of the object itself to depart from the course laid out for it, and any other phenomena which may present themselves. Avoid overstrain; this is very important.
Proceed to imagine living objects; as a man, preferably some man known to, and respected by, yourself.
In the intervals of these experiments you may try to imagine the objects of the other senses, and to concentrate upon them.
For example, try to imagine the taste of chocolate, the smell of roses, the feeling of velvet, the sound of a waterfall or the ticking of a watch.
Endeavour finally to shut out all objects of any of the senses, and prevent all thoughts arising in your mind. When you feel you have attained some success in these practices, apply for examination, and should you pass, more complex and difficult practices will be prescribed for you.

[Harconen]

VI
Physical limitations
It is desirable that you should discover for yourself your physical limitations.
To this end ascertain for how many hours you can subsist without food or drink before your working capacity is seriously interfered with.
Ascertain how much alcohol you can take, and what forms of drunkenness assail you.
Ascertain how far you can walk without once stopping; likewise with dancing, swimming, running, etc.
Ascertain for how many hours you can do without sleep.
Test your endurance with various gymnastic exercises, club swinging, and so on.
Ascertain for how long you can keep silence.
Investigate any other capacities and aptitudes which may occur to you.
Let all these things be carefully and conscientiously recorded; for according to your powers will it be demanded of you.

[Harconen]

VII
A Course of Reading
The object of most of the foregoing practices will not at first be clear to you; but at least (who will deny it?) they have trained you in determination, accuracy, introspection, and many other qualities which are valuable to all men in their ordinary avocations, so that in no case will your time have been wasted.
That you may gain some insight into the nature of the Great Work which lies beyond these elementary trifles, however, we should mention that an intelligent person may gather more than a hint of its nature from the following books, which are to be taken as serious and learned contributions to the study of Nature, though not necessarily to be implicitly relied upon.
The Yi King (S.B.E. Series, Oxford University Press.)
The Tao Teh King (S.B.E. Series.)
Tannhauser, by A. Crowley.
The Upanishads.
The Bhagavad-Gita.
The Voice of the Silence.
Raja Yoga, by Swami Vivekananda.
The Shiva Sanhita.
The Aphorisms of Patanjali.
The Sword of Song.
The Book of the Dead.
Rituel et Dogme de la Haute Magie.
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage.
The Goetia.
The Hathayoga Pradipika.
The Spiritual Guide of Molinos.
Erdmann's History of Philosophy.
The Star in the West (Captain Fuller).
The Dhammapada (S.B.E. Series, Oxford University Press).
The Questions of King Milinda (S.B.E. Series).
777 vel Prolegomena, etc..
Varieties of Religious Experience (James).
Kabbala Denudata.
Konx Om Pax.
Careful study of these books will enable the pupil to speak in the language of his master, and facilitate communications with him.
The pupil should endeavour to discover the fundamental harmony of these very varied works; for this purpose he will find it best to study the most extreme divergencies side by side.
He may at any time that he wishes apply for examination in this course of reading.
During the whole of this elementary study and practice he will do wisely to seek out and attach himself to, a master, one competent to correct him and advise him. Nor should he be discouraged by the difficulty of finding such a person.
Let him further remember that he must in no wise rely upon, or believe in, that master. He must rely entirely upon himself, and credit nothing whatever but that which lies within his own knowledge and experience.
As in the beginning, so at the end, we here insist upon the vital importance of the written record as the only possible check upon error derived from the various qualities of the experimenter.
Thus let the work be accomplished duly; yea, let it be accomplished duly.
(If any really important or remarkable results should occur, or if any great difficulty presents itself, the A.·. A.·. should be at once informed of the circumstances.)