240 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



spoken word as a caution to those thoughtless per- 

 sons who frequently hold up to ridicule sacred 

 words and subjects concerning the significance of 

 which they are profoundly ignorant; and doing 

 which they make for themselves very unhappy 

 Karma, that unerring law which adjusts effect to 

 cause on every plane, which their companions 

 and all those whom they influence share to a lesser 

 degree. It is impossible to speak with too great 

 emphasis here, for idle talk does more harm than 

 the average mind can conceive; and hasty speech, 

 the word that hurts, has ever to be atoned for. 

 Forces that are uncontrolled, control you; and out 

 of this mystery emanates all the suffering and un- 

 happiness in the world. Choose ye harmonious 

 forces. 



Pythagorean philosophy taught that the sub- 

 stances of all things were represented by abstract 

 numbers, which in a certain sense were the ele- 

 ments of the Universe and explained it. Every 

 number, therefore, had its specific value and in- 

 fluence; and the Pythagoreans considered seven, 

 or the heptagon, a religious and perfect number. 

 It is called Telesphorus " because by it all in the 

 Universe and mankind is led to its end " ; and also, 

 " because within the decade it has neither factors 

 nor product." Plutarch says that Pythagoras 

 maintained " the earth was the product of the cube; 

 fire, of the pyramid (triangle?) ; air, of the octa- 



