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THE SCIENCE OF RELIGION
87

intellect, or thought process, to control the life-force in order to induce consciousness of the “Self’’ in its Bliss-ful and other aspects. It should be noted that all religious methods in the world directly or indirectly, tacitly or expressly, enjoin the control, regulation, and turning back of the life-force so that we may transcend the body and mind and know the “Self” in its native state. The fourth method directly controls itself by itself, whereas the other methods do it through some other intermediary—thought, prayer, worship or meditation, etc.

Presence of life in man is existence, absence of it is death. Hence the method that teaches life’s direct power to control itself must be the best of all.

Now savants of different ages and climes have suggested methods adapted to the mental frame and condition of the people among whom they lived and preached. Some have laid stress on prayer, some on feeling, some