the Equinox - The Hermetic Library

184
THE EQUINOX
6.
Perhaps as a result of the intense control, a nervous storm breaks. This we
call Dhyâna. Its character is probably not determined by the antecedents in
consciousness. Its essential characteristic being the unity of Subject and
Object, a new world is revealed. Samâdhi is but an expansion of this, so far as
I can see.
The slaying of any of these thoughts often leaves their echoes gradually
dying away.
Now that we have come to the end of this long chapter, let
us turn our back on the upward slope and survey the road
which winds beneath us, and lose not heart when but little of
it can be seen, for the mountain’s side is steep, and the distance
from our last halting-place seems so short, not on
account of our idleness, but because of the many twists and
turnings that the road has taken since we left our last camp
below, when the sun was rising and all was golden with the
joy of great expectations. For, in truth, we have progressed
many a weary league, and from this high spot are apt to misjudge
our journey, and belittle our labours, as we gaze down
the precipitous slope which sweeps away at our feet.
In the last two years and a half P. had journeyed far,
further than he at this time was aware of; and yet the goal of
his journey seemed still so distance that only with difficulty
could he bring himself to believe that he had progressed at all.
Indeed, it must have been discouraging to him to think that
on the 6th of May 1901 he, in a meditation of thirty-two
minutes had only experienced ten breaks, whilst during a
meditation of similar length, on the 13th of July 1903, the
number of breaks had been three times as many. But like
most statistics, such a comparison is misleading: for the
beginner, almost invariably, so clumsy in his will, catches