In this chapter we can but briefly direct your attention to a subject of vital
importance to the race, but which the race generally is not ready to seriously
consider. Owing to the present state of public opinion upon this subject, it
is impossible to write as plainly as one would like, or as is really
necessary, and all writings upon the subject in question are apt to be
considered as "impure," although the only object of the writer may
be to counteract the impurity and improper practices indulged by the public.
However, some brave writers have managed to give the public a very fair
acquaintance with the subject of regeneration, so that the majority of our
readers will readily understand what we mean.
We will not take up the important subject of the use of regeneration as
applied to the relation of the two sexes, as that subject is so important as
to require a volume by itself, and then, besides, this work is scarcely the
one in which this subject should be discussed in detail. We will, however, say
a few words on the subject. The Yogis regard as wholly unnatural the excesses
entered into by the majority of men, and into which they compel their partners
in matrimony to join. They believe that the sex-principle is too sacred to be
so abused, and feel that man often descends below the level of the brute in
his sex relations. With but one or two exceptions the lower animals have
sexual relations only for the purpose of perpetuating their kind, and sexual
excesses, drains and waste such as man indulges in is almost entirely unknown
to the lower animal.
As man has advanced in the scale of life, however, he has brought to light new
functions of sex, and there is an interchange of certain higher principles
between the sexes, which does not occur to the brutes or to the more material
forms of human life—this is reserved for the man and woman of developed
mentality and spirituality. Proper relations between husband and wife tend to
elevate, strengthen, and ennoble, instead of degrading, weakening and defiling
the participants, as is the case when the said relation is based upon mere
sensuality. This is the reason that there is so much marital inharmony and
discord when one of the partners rises to a higher plane of thought, and finds
that his or her partner is unable to follow. Thereafter their mutual relations
are upon different planes, and they fail to find in each other that which they
might wish for. This is all we wish to say upon this particular part of the
subject here. There are a number of good books upon the subject, that our
students may find by inquiring at the centres for advanced thought literature
in the different cities and towns. We will confine ourselves in the remainder
of this short chapter to the discussion of the subject of the importance of
preserving sexual strength and health.
While leading a life in which the actual relations of the sexes does not play
an important part, the Yogis recognize and appreciate the importance of
healthy reproductive organism, and their effect upon the general health of the
individual. With these organs in a weakened condition the entire physical
system feels the reflex action and suffers sympathetically. The Complete
Breath (described elsewhere in this book) produces a rhythm which is nature's
own plan for keeping this important part of the system in normal condition,
and, from the first, it will be noticed that the reproductive functions are
strengthened and vitalized, thus, by sympathetic reflex action, giving tone to
the whole system. By this we do not mean that the animal passions will be
aroused—far from it. The Yogis are advocates of continence and chastity, and
purity
in the marriage relation as well as out of it. They have learned
to control the animal passions, and to hold them subject to the control of the
higher principles of the mind and will. But sexual control does not mean
sexual weakness, and the Yogi teachings are that the man or woman whose
reproductive organism is normal and healthy will have a stronger will with
which to control himself or herself. The Yogi believes that much of the
perversion of this wonderful part of the system comes from a lack of normal
health and results from a morbid rather than from a normal condition of the
reproductive system.
The Yogis also know that the sex-energy may be conserved and used for the
development of the body and mind of the individual, instead of being
dissipated in unnatural excesses as is the wont of so many uninformed people.
We give in the following pages, one of the favorite Yogi exercises for
producing this result. Whether or not the student wishes to follow the Yogi
theories of clean living, he will find that the Complete Breath will do more
to restore health to this part of the system than anything else ever tried.
Remember, now, we mean normal health, not undue development. The sensualist
will find that normal means a lessening of desire rather than an increase; the
weakened man or woman will find that normal means a toning up and relief from
the weakness which has heretofore depressed him or her. We do not wish to be
misunderstood on this subject. The Yogi's ideal is a body strong in all its
parts, and under the control of a masterful and developed will, animated by
high ideals.
The Yogis possess great knowledge regarding the use and abuse of the
reproductive principle in both sexes. Some hints of this esoteric teaching
have filtered out, and have been used by Western writers on the subject, and
much good thereby accomplished. In this book we cannot go into a discussion of
the underlying theory, but will call your attention to a method whereby the
student may be enabled to transmute the reproductive energy into vitality for
the whole system instead of wasting it and dissipating it in lustful
indulgences. The reproductive energy is creative energy, and may be taken up
by the system and transmuted into strength and vitality, thus serving the
purpose of regeneration instead of generation. If the young men of the Western
world understood these underlying principles, they would be saved much misery
and unhappiness in after years, and would be stronger mentally, morally and
physically.
This transmutation of the reproductive energy gives great vitality to those
practicing it. It fills them with great vital force, which will radiate from
them and cause them to be known as "magnetic" personalities. The
energy thus transmuted may be turned into new channels and used to great
advantage. Nature has condensed one of its most powerful manifestations of
prana into reproductive energy, as its purpose is to create. The greatest
amount of vital force is concentrated into the smallest space. The
reproductive organism is the most powerful storage battery in animal life, and
its force may be drawn upward and used, as well as expended in the ordinary
functions of reproduction, or wasted in riotous lust.
The Yogi exercise for transmuting reproductive energy is simple. It is coupled
with rhythmic breathing and is easily performed. It may be practiced at any
time, but is strongly recommended when one feels the instinct most strongly,
at which time the reproductive energy is manifesting and may be easily
transmuted for regenerative purposes. We give it in the next paragraph. The
men or women doing mental creative work, or bodily creative work, will be able
to use this creative energy in their vocations, by following the exercise,
drawing up the energy with each inhalation and sending it forth with the
exhalation. The student will understand, of course, that it is not the actual
reproductive fluids that are drawn up and used, but the etheric pranic energy
which animates the latter-the soul of the reproductive organism, as it were.
Regenerative Exercise.
Keep the mind fixed on the idea of Energy, and away from ordinary sexual
thoughts or imaginings. If these thoughts come into the mind do not feel
discouraged, but regard them as manifestations of a force which you intend to
use for the purpose of strengthening your body and mind. Lie passively, or sit
erect, and fix your mind upon the idea of drawing the reproductive energy
upward to the Solar Plexus, where it will be transmuted and stored away as a
reserve force of vital energy. Then breathe rhythmically, forming the mental
image of drawing up the reproductive energy with each inhalation. With each
inhalation make a command of the Will that the energy be drawn upward from the
reproductive organism to the Solar Plexus. If the rhythm is fairly established
and the mental image is clear, you will be conscious of the upward passage of
the energy, and will feel its stimulating effect. If you desire an increase in
mental force, you may draw it up to the brain instead of to the Solar Plexus,
by giving the mental command and holding the mental image of the transmission
to the brain. In this last form of the exercise, only such portions of the
energy as may be needed in the mental work being done will pass into the
brain, the balance remaining stored up in the Solar Plexus. It is usual to
allow the head to bend forward easily and naturally during the transmuting
exercise.
This subject of Regeneration opens up a wide field for investigation, research
and study, and some day we may find it advisable to issue a little manual upon
the subject, for private circulation among the few who are ready for it, and
who seek the knowledge from the purest motives, rather than from a desire to
find something which will appeal to their lascivious imaginations and
inclinations.