PRANA 39

state of vibration will have the power of recognising each

other, but will not recognise those above or below them.
Yet, just as by the telescope and the microscope we can
increase the scope of our vision, and make higher or lower
vibrations cognisable to us, similarly, every man can bring
himself to the state of vibration belonging to the next plane,
thus enabling himself to see what is going on there. Suppose
this room were full of beings whom we do not see. They
represent certain vibrations in the Prana, and we represent
other vibrations. Suppose they represent the quicker, and we
the slower. Prana is the material of which they are
composed; all are parts of the same ocean of Prana, only the
rate of vibration differs. If I can bring myself to the quicker
vibration this plane will immediately change for me; I shall
not see you any more; you vanish, and they appear. Some of
you, perhaps, know this to true. All this bringing of the
mind into a higher state of vibration is included in one word
in Yoga — Samadhi. All these states of higher vibration,
superconscious vibrations of the mind, are grouped in that
one word, Samadhi, and the lower states of Samadhi give us
visions of these beings. The highest grade of Samadhi is
when we see the real thing, when we see the material out of
which the whole of these grades of beings are composed, and
that lump of clay being known, we know all the clay in the
universe.
Thus we see that this Pranayama includes all that is true
of spiritualism even. Similarly, you will find that wherever
any sect or body of people is trying to search out anything
occult and mystical, or hidden, it is really this Yoga, this
attempt to control the Prana. You will find that wherever
there is any extraordinary display of power it is the
manifestation of this Prana. Even the physical sciences can
be included also in Pranayama. What move the steam
40 RAJA YOGA

engine? Prana, acting through the steam. What are all these
phenomena of electricity and so forth but Prana? What is
physical science? Pranayama, by external means. Prana,
manifesting itself as mental power, can only be controlled by
mental means. That part of the Pranayama which attempts
to control the physical manifestations of the Prana by
physical means is called physical science, and that part
which tries to control the manifestations of the Prana as
mental force, by mental means, is called Raja Yoga.