Yogic Direction and Control of the Instinctive Mind

The human body is made of millions of tiny cells, each endowed with sufficient matter to enable it to do its work—with sufficient Prana to give it the energy it requires— with sufficient “mind stuff” to give it the degree of intelligence with which to direct its work. Each cell belongs to a cell group or family, and the intelligence of the cell is in close rapport with the intelligence of every other cell in the group or family, the combined intelligence of the cell group resulting in a group mind. These groups in turn are each a part of some other larger group of groups, and so on until the whole forms a great republic of cell mind under the direction and control of the Instinctive Mind. 

The control of these great groups is one of the duties of the Instinctive Mind, and it usually does its work well, unless interfered with by the Intellect, which sometimes sends it fear thoughts, and in this and other ways demoralizes the Instinctive Mind. Its work is also sometimes retarded by the Intellect insisting that it take up foreign and strange habits of regulating the physical body through the cell intelligence. 

For instance, in the case of constipation, the Intellect being busy with other work, will not allow the body to respond to the calls of the Instinctive Mind, acting in response to a demand from the cells of the Colon—nor does it pay attention to the demands for water—and the consequence is that the Instinctive Mind is unable to execute the proper orders, and both it and certain of the cell groups become demoralized and scarcely know what to do—bad habits springing up and replacing the natural habit. Sometimes something akin to a rebellion springs up in some of the cell groups, resulting no doubt from some interruption in the natural course of their government, the introduction of strange customs causing a confusion. At times it seems that some of the smaller groups (and even some of the larger on certain occasions) go on “a strike,” rebelling against unaccustomed and improper work forced upon them—working overtime—and similar causes, such as a lack of proper nourishment. 

These little cells often act just as would men under the same circumstances—the analogy is often startling to the observer and investigator. These rebellions, or strikes, seem to spread if matters are not arranged, and even when matters are patched up the cells seem to return to their work in a sullen manner, and instead of doing the best they know how they will do as little as possible, and just when they feel like it. A restoration of normal conditions, resulting from increased nutrition, proper attention, etc., will gradually bring about a return to normal conditions, but matters may be expedited by giving the cell groups direct orders from the Will. 

It is astonishing how soon order and discipline may be restored in this manner. The higher Yogis have a wonderful control over the involuntary system and can act directly upon nearly every cell in their body. And even some of the so called Yogis of the cities of India—those little more than mountebanks, who exhibit their performances for so many coppers from each wandering traveler—are able to give interesting exhibitions of this control, some of the exhibitions, however, being disgusting.