Page 8 - NAMAH-Oct-2021

Generally, all disciplines dealing with the vital being, its purification and its control,
proceed by coercion, suppression, abstinence and asceticism. This procedure is certainly
easier and quicker, although less deeply enduring and effective, than a rigorous and
detailed education. Besides, it eliminates all possibility of the intervention, help and
collaboration of the vital. And yet this help is of the utmost importance if one wants the
individual’s growth and action to be complete.

To become conscious of the various movements in oneself and be aware of what one
does and why one does it, is the indispensable starting-point. The child must be taught
to observe, to note his reactions and impulses and their causes, to become a discerning
witness of his desires, his movements of violence and passion, his instincts of possession
and appropriation and domination and the background of vanity which supports them,
together with their counterparts of weakness, discouragement, depression and despair.

Evidently, for this process to be useful, along with the growth of the power of observation
the will for progress and perfection must also grow. This will should be instilled into the
child as soon as he is capable of having a will, that is to say, at a much earlier age than is
usually believed.

In order to awaken this will to surmount and conquer, different methods are appropriate
in different cases; with certain individuals rational arguments are effective, for others their
feelings and goodwill should be brought into play, with yet others the sense of dignity and
self-respect. For all, the most powerful method is example constantly and sincerely shown.
Once the resolution has been firmly established, one has only to proceed rigorously and
persistently and never to accept any defeat as final. To avoid all weakening and backsliding,
there is one important point you must know and never forget: the will can be cultivated
and developed just as the muscles can by methodical and progressive exercise. You must
not shrink from demanding the maximum effort of your will even for a thing that seems
of no importance, for it is through effort that its capacity grows, gradually acquiring the

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