of the usual attention; it is used to stabilise the entire inner life. This stabilisation symbolises the best image of concentration. If this concentration is pure, then, in both cases, no emotional impulses will be produced, because the feet and legs are not equipped with the relevant organs. Thus, in the sense of mystical training, these concentrations are used to train oneself in the concentration of mind, in order for the student, as far as is possible, to avoid various stimuli and inner acts which would, at this stage of the mystical education, threaten their further progress, because they would, possibly, lead them astray mystically, as well as morally. When the gurus recommend concentration into the trunk, in particular into its base, they pursue the goal of a full emotional awakening and development of the person. This is considered necessary if a person is to be secured against a detrimental fall on the steep slopes of the mystical path. It is interesting that this issue is given attention mostly by the hatha yoga system even though it sometimes seems that the original function of this concentration is no longer known in this system. No matter how it is, a forced excitation of the subtle contents in particular in the base of the trunk, always serves to increase activity, or vitality, which is then utilised for progress on the mystical path by means of the vital factors. In any case, those who have achieved the goal in the process of excitation and development of the energies residing at the base of the trunk, arrive at the knowledge of the entire life, which is, in essence, only emotional. Thus, it makes no sense to use the intensive concentration and focus it above this level. However, due to the ignorance of the issues of the mystical growth this happens and therefore, we will have a word about reactions to such a concentration. When the intensity of the mental energy is focused on the belly, strange personal experiences take place. It could be said that the space, in the form of God’s voice, begins to talk to the mystic, as it happened to Moses on the mountain Sinai. In any case, the astral, i.e. the invisible world opens to the mystic. It is a reflection of the material world, but it is superior to it. This fact can cause the mystic to succumb to the impression of power of this inner world, and by this, a mystical dependence develops in him or her – a dependence on God. Also due to this reason, the mystical efforts of every mystical striver are supposed to begin with being aware of feet and legs, because, in that case, the abrupt and unexplainable changes of the perceived world do not occur and, by that, neither does the mystical dependence upon an outer mystical power. However, this does not mean that the mystic should hold on to their purely materialistic conception of the outer world, because the world is not like that and therefore such a conception of the world is, indeed, incorrect. The awareness of feet and legs – and later the concentration into them – is supposed to lead to an introversive orientation. If this orientation is carefully maintained, those forces, which so easily personify themselves, will always prove, to the practising person, to be only forces. This is the only correct understanding which creates a precondition for the striving one to reach all the way to the state of perfection – salvation. The greatest mistake, which a mystical striver can commit, is to concentrate somewhere other than Spirituality Studies 2 (1) Spring 2016 67
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