222 The Law of the Rhythmic BreatK 



etrate consciousness unpreparedly and in places 

 where the physical vehicle of the odor is entirely 

 absent. Its corresponding physical sense is stim- 

 ulated, you will remember, by the last and densest 

 Tattva, Prithivi, the earth vibration. It was the 

 last sense to be evolved. Thus psychic evolution 

 is exactly the reverse of physical evolution. It is 

 the ascension of the spiral and reflects its opposite. 



Corresponding with taste is the psychic power 

 to absorb and enjoy the finer essences of Prdna; 

 and to recall with the vividness of physical pleas- 

 ure any delicious food flavors. These subtle es- 

 sences are the nectar and ambrosia of the gods. 



It is in the exercise of holding consciousness to 

 the fixed contemplation of the force circulating in 

 the Sushumnd till it rises to the pineal gland and 

 rouses it to activity, that the Yogi, in Swami 

 Vivekananda's words : " Becomes en rapport 

 with the astral light and the universal mind and 

 thus is able to see the whole Kosmos." All that is 

 known of the invisible universe has been learned in 

 this way. Physiological facts are these: When 

 we succeed in rousing the Kundalinl, and the vital- 

 current rises in the Sushumnd, we have released 

 Prdna from its bondage to matter that is, the 

 nervous system, over which its currents normally 

 flow and in doing this have refined the vibra- 

 tions to a higher plane to which it carries Con- 

 sciousness with it. Thus we release the mind from 



