Without that, all else is useless.  And, to be efficient for the purpose, it must be, not only a passing resolution of the moment, a single fierce desire of short duration, but a settled and continued strain, as nearly as can be continued and concentrated without one single moment’s remission.

The student would do well to take note of the italicized clause in the above quotation.  He should also have it indelibly impressed upon his mind that: 

It is no use to fast as long as one requires food....  To get rid of the inward desire is the essential thing, and to mimic the real thing without it is barefaced hypocrisy and useless slavery.

Without realizing the significance of this most important fact, any one who for a moment finds cause of disagreement with any one of his family, or has his vanity wounded, or for a sentimental flash of the moment, or for a selfish desire to utilize the Divine power for gross purposes—­at once rushes into contemplation and dashes himself to pieces on the rock dividing the known from the unknown.  Wallowing in the mire of exotericism, he knows not what it is to live in the world and yet be not of the world; in other words, to guard self against self is an almost incomprehensible axiom for the profane.  The Hindu ought to know better from the life of Janaka, who, although a reigning monarch, was yet styled Rajarshi and is said to have attained Nirvana.  Hearing of his widespread fame, a few sectarian bigots went to his court to test his Yoga-power.  As soon as they entered the court-room, the king having read their thoughts—­a power which every chela attains at a certain stage—­gave secret instructions to his officials to have a particular street in the city lined on both sides by dancing girls singing the must voluptuous songs.  He then had some gharas (pots) filled with water up to the brim so that the least shake would be likely to spill their contents.  The wiseacres, each with a full ghara (pot) on his head, were ordered to pass along the street, surrounded by soldiers with drawn swords to be used against them if even so much as a drop of water were allowed to run over.  The poor fellows having returned to the palace after successfully passing the test, were asked by the King-Adept what they had met with in the street they were made to go through.  With great indignation they replied that the threat of being cut to pieces had so much worked upon their minds that they thought of nothing but the water on their heads, and the intensity of their attention did not permit them to take cognizance of what was going on around them.  Then Janaka told them that on the same principle they could easily understand that, although being outwardly engaged in managing the affairs of his State, he could, at the same time, be an Occultist.  He too, while in the world, was not of the world.  In other words, his inward aspirations had been leading him on continually to the goal in which his whole inner self was concentrated.