A developed mind, properly trained under the guidance of an awakened will, can find the keys to all knowledge and use them. Knowing this, the seeker of knowledge does not despair, seeking to find out his true nature and its capabilities. Awakening gradually to the consciousness of his powers and abilities, a person laughs at his disappointment and pessimistic ideas, discarding them like a worn-out dress. On the mental plane, a person who has not yet reached spiritual development is like an elephant, who does not know his own powers and considers himself a small animal. He can break down all obstacles in his path and become a winner in almost all circumstances and conditions, but, not knowing his true strength, he can submit to things infinitely weak, just like an elephant obeys a little leader, or is frightened by a noisy piece of paper.

Dedication consists in the fact that a person moves from a purely mental plane to a spiritual plane. At the same time, he feels that his true “I” is something more than his body and mind, and this “I” can use the body and mind as his tool. This knowledge cannot be attained by purely intellectual reasoning, although such efforts of the mind are often necessary to promote spiritual development. Having reached the consciousness of the true "I", a person thereby passes into the ranks of initiates. When the initiate passes to the second degree of consciousness and begins to clearly realize his kinship with the Whole, he begins to clearly feel the true expansion of his “I” and be on the path to perfect knowledge.

We intend to show the methods of developing the ability to feel the “I", to reach the first stage of the development of "I-consciousness", giving a number of instructions for training the mind. The reader will understand that the careful and conscious implementation of the instructions given will certainly reveal in him a sufficient degree of consciousness of the " I” and help him to move to a higher stage of development and strength. All that is necessary for a person who aspires to initiation is to feel the dawn of awakening consciousness within himself, to begin to feel his true Self. The highest stage of cognition of the "Self-consciousness" comes gradually, because once a person has entered this path, there can be no going back. There may be stops, but the real loss of what is achieved along the way can never happen.

“Consciousness I” even in its highest form is only a preliminary step towards what is called enlightenment and which means the awakening of the initiate to the consciousness of his true connection with the Whole, his relation to the Whole. The manifestation of all the power of the "I" brilliance is only a weak reflection of the light that a person will see in a special state called "enlightenment". Initiation is the awakening of the soul to the knowledge of its true being, the revelation of the true nature of the soul and kinship with the Whole. After the first Dawn, a person is more able to understand what means are necessary for the development of consciousness to even higher degrees or to use the forces hidden in it, to control his mindset and mental states, to manifest the center of consciousness and influence that goes through him to the outside world, since this influence always seeks to find a way to its realization and seeks such centers around which it can revolve.

Man must become master of himself before he can hope to exert any influence on the world or on people, and there is no easier way to inner disclosure and to attain power. Each person must go all the way, step by step - to go through his own efforts, but he can be helped and helped by those who have already gone along this path and who know and see the moment when a person needs a helping hand and powerful support in a dangerous place.

We draw the attention of our readers to the following important circumstance regarding the instructions we give. Not the slightest detail of these instructions should be neglected, because we give only what is extremely necessary and try to state everything as briefly as possible. Be careful and strictly follow all directions. All these ideas must be well understood before one can go further, and the mental exercises given must be done not only now, but at many stages of the path, until full initiation and enlightenment is achieved.

The first instructions are intended to induce the mind to fully feel and become aware of the individuality of the personal “I”.

A person is taught to relax the tension of the body, calm the mind and reflect on his “I” until the true idea clearly and distinctly stands before his consciousness. To obtain the desired mental and physical state, in which only meditation and concentration can be practiced, will be discussed in the description of further exercises.

State of meditation

If possible, retreat to a quiet place or a private room where you cannot be interrupted, so that your mind feels completely safe and completely calm. Of course, ideal conditions cannot always be achieved, but in any case, it is necessary to do everything possible to achieve the best conditions. A person should be alone with himself in communication with his true "I". It is good to sit on a chair or soft seat so that you can relax all the muscles and release the tension of the nerves. A person should be able, as it were, to dissolve his entire body and make all muscles free from tension until his whole body receives complete rest and a feeling of rest and calmness. Just like the body, the mind must also become completely calm. This condition is necessary, especially in the first stages of practice, and the external environment, a comfortable position, etc., greatly contribute to the achievement of this condition.

But after a person has already acquired sufficient dominance over himself, he will be able to achieve physical and mental peace whenever he wants, in any conditions and in any situation. But he must be careful that in the indicated position he does not go into a sleepy state, and also that the habit of meditation is not involuntary and the person does not become immersed in deep abstract reasoning when he needs to engage in everyday life. Remember this! The state of meditation must be completely under the control of the will and one must enter into it only completely arbitrarily and at the right moment. The will must own this state as well as all other states of mind. People seeking initiation should not become dreamers who are dreaming in reality, but, on the contrary, should have complete control over themselves and have complete control over their thoughts, feelings, mood and state. Consciousness "I", which has developed as a result of meditation and concentration, soon becomes a permanent content of consciousness, and then there is no need to cause it by artificial meditation, and at the moment of experiencing doubt or anxiety, the will can always destroy the anxious state by directing the focus of attention to the consciousness of "I", and this can be achieved without going into a state of meditation. Before exploring the true nature of the "I", it is necessary to get acquainted with the reality of the "I" itself.

To be continued…