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THE SCIENCE OF RELIGION

thing that binds us down to our narrow individuality—the life-force that, instead of being turned back and absorbed into the expansive self-conscious force of the self, goes outward, keeps our body and mind always in motion, and causes disturbances to the Spiritual self, in the shape of bodily sensations and passing thoughts. Because life-force moves outward, sensations and thoughts disturb and distort the calm image of “Self’’-consciousness. This method teaches us to turn the life-force inward. Hence it is direct and immediate. It takes us straight to the consciousness of the “Self”—Bliss-God. It does not require the help of an intermediary. It controls and directs the course of the life-force by the control and regulation of a known and directly connected manifestation of the life-force itself. (It is not desirable nor is it possible that this process be explained further in this book.)

The other methods employ the help of the