Page:Hatha yoga - or the yogi philosophy of physical well-being, with numberous excercises.djvu/185

Rh nerves, is to cultivate a mental attitude of calm and repose. This may be done, but it will be hard work at first but will be well repaid for your trouble in the end. Mental poise and repose may be brought about by the eradication of Worry and Anger. Of Course, Fear really underlies both Worry and Anger, but as we are perhaps more familiar with the idea of Worry and Anger as being elementary mental states, we will so treat them. The Yogi trains himself from youth to eradicate or inhibit both of these emotions, and the result is that after he has developed his full powers he is absolutely serene and calm and presents the appearance of power and strength. He creates the same impression that is conveyed by the mountain, the sea, or other manifestations of restrained force. One in his presence feels that here is indeed great strength and power in perfect repose. The Yogi considers Anger an unworthy emotion, natural in the lower animals and in savage man but totally out of place in the developed man. He considers it a sort of temporary insanity and pities the man who loses his self-control sufficiently to fly into a rage. He knows that nothing is accomplished by it, and that it is a useless waste of energy and a positive injury to the brain and nervous system, besides being a weakening element in one's moral nature and spiritual growth. This does not mean that the Yogi is a timid creature without any "backbone." On the contrary, he does not know the existence of Fear, and his calmness is instinctively felt to be the indication of strength, not weakness. Have you ever noticed that the men of the greatest strength are almost invariably free from