84 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



directing brain or nerve substance. The great 

 law of rhythm is the director, incentive, or cause 

 of all automatisms. For this reason, also, con- 

 sonance of action draws similar vibrations to- 

 gether. The way is made and invites that vibra- 

 tion. 



Thus, on the mental plane, similar thoughts 

 flash from one receptive mind to another as the 

 needle is drawn to a magnet. On the gross ma- 

 terial plane, water mingles with water, oil with 

 oil; and every one knows how all tangible things 

 of like nature are drawn together, and similar 

 events occur in groups whether they be tragedies 

 or festivals. But knowledge of the underlying 

 cause puts in our hands a weapon of defence 

 against the seeming cruelty and hardship of this 

 law. We must ban the thoughts which cut the 

 channels for unfavorable vibrations, and avoid the 

 deeds which deepen and make more permanent 

 their impression. 



Ignorance is described in Sanskrit as darkness 

 called Avidyd and is considered a very dark 

 state of Akasha. The gross vibrations have be- 

 come " set," as it were, through the non-reception 

 of other vibrations meaning fresh ideas; and 

 as the victim of mental inactivity grows older this 

 Avidya (uh-veed-yah) state renders it ever harder 

 to make an impression upon such a brain. Every 

 new thought makes a new channel in the brain, 



