But there is more to be said and done in this matter of awakening to a realization of the “I.”  So far, we have but told you how to distinguish between the material coverings of the Ego and the “I” itself.  We have tried to show you that you had a real “I,” and then to show you what it was, and how it was independent of the material coverings, etc.  But there is still another step in this self analysis—­a more difficult step.  Even when the Candidate has awakened to a realization of his independence of the body, and material coverings, he often confounds the “I” with the lower principles of the mind.  This is a mistake.  The Mind, in its various phases and planes, is but a tool and instrument of the “I,” and is far from being the “I” itself.  We shall try to bring out this fact in this lesson and its accompanying exercises.  We shall avoid, and pass by, the metaphysical features of the case, and shall confine ourselves to the Yogi Psychology.  We shall not touch upon theories, nor attempt to explain the cause, nature and purpose of the Mind—­the working tool of the Ego—­but instead shall attempt to point out a way whereby you may analyze the Mind and then determine which is the “not I” and which is the real “I.”  It is useless to burden you with theories or metaphysical talk, when the way to prove the thing is right within your own grasp.  By using the mind, you will be able to separate it into its parts, and force it to give you its own answer to the questions touching itself.

In the second and third lessons of our “Fourteen Lessons,” we pointed out to you the fact that man had three Mental Principles, or subdivisions of mind, all of which were below the plane of Spirit.  The “I” is Spirit, but its mental principles are of a lower order.  Without wishing to unduly repeat ourselves, we think it better to run hastily over these three Principles in the mind of Man.

First, there is what is known as the Instinctive Mind, which man shares in common with the lower animals.  It is the first principle of mind that appears in the scale of evolution.  In its lowest phases, consciousness is but barely perceptible, and mere sensation is apparent.  In its higher stages it almost reaches the plane of Reason or Intellect, in fact, they overlap each other, or, rather, blend into each other.  The Instinctive Mind does valuable work in the direction of maintaining animal life in our bodies, it having charge of this part of our being.  It attends to the constant work of repair; replacement; change; digestion; assimilation; elimination, etc., all of which work is performed below the plane of consciousness.