Now will you realise the ideal of peace in the very midst of the toil and sweat of the day.

The foregoing diagram, if closely and thoughtfully studied, will show the stages the mind has to ‘grow into’ in objective and subjective concentration.

In order to acquire knowledge of the laws of external nature the mirror you require is accurate observation and you must focus your attention and push objective concentration to its final stage of perfect knowledge or illumination in order to master any special branch of science.

In Objective Concentration, Pratyahara and Dharana are the preparatory stages.  Take a scientist, for instance.  He knows that when the mind is engaged with several things, mind force is scattered.  He cannot be a politician, a musician, etc., and at the same time an expert scientist.  He gradually abstracts his attention from all other subjects and pauses it on one subject or one set of subjects.

Pratyahara is the continued effort of the mind to so abstract itself.

Dharana is reached when this effort is finally successful and the mind becomes steadfast and one-pointed. Dhyana is an extension of this steadfastness.  When Dhyana is reached, the student is beyond the range of books.  His mind is occupied with original researches and experiments and his knowledge becomes more and more definite.  Going on and on always on the one line complete knowledge of that subject is attained.  This is the objective view of Samadhi.  All these stages when completed make one Samayana.  The subjective view of Samadhi no books or writings can teach you.  As you go deeper and deeper into Yoga, you will understand these things in the light of your Soul-Vision.  It will come to you if you follow my subsequent instructions.  Despair not.

WHAT IS MAYA?

Now, first of all, what is Maya (ignorance of the real)?  Take the dial-plate of a watch.  You know quite well that the hands of the watch are governed by the mechanism behind.  Both are necessary.  Ignorance exists in thinking that the hands of the watch move by themselves.  This visible universe is the dial-plate of the Invisible.  Maya (ignorance) blinds you to this fact, i.e., mere objective knowledge blinds you to the subjective side of life and you see nothing beyond a material universe.  But you, who realize both, objective as well as subjective, need not be afraid of such a danger.  For a danger it is to develop the objective mind die neglect of the subjective.  In order to round yourself out, practise both. But first, last and always, let the subjective guide, govern and illumine the objective.  Also remember this:  If your mind is at all attached to the objective world, try your very best to disattach it and fix it on the subjective side of life, else will you bring untold suffering on yourself.