The rule is: as often as you feel troubled, pained, perplexed, tried or tempted, put to yourself the question: "Whom does this trouble?" 'Whom does this pain?' "Whom does this perplex?" "Whom does this try?" "Whom does this tempt?" ---as the case may be.
After putting the appropriate question to yourself, pause, still your thoughts so far as you can, and repeat the "listening in" process with which your mental work has familiarized you. This practice opens up your consciousness to the Self and surrounds it with the the latter's protection. To switch off instantly into this quest of the spiritual Self, when suddenly faced by an evil event, is to obliterate the power of this event to disturb the mind. Then, whateever necessary action will be taken will be wise and correct...
By turning inward to the Self we automatically refuse to accept the suggestions of discordant experience. When trouble arises we must refuse to accept the suggestions of despair or doubt which pour in upon the mond; instead we should calm the breathing and turn instantly and inquire: "To whom has this thought come?" If we could reject and reject persistently, each unpleasant, unhappy and spiritually untrue thought as it arises, we should indeed be happy mortals..."Lift up your eyes to the heavens," admonsihed Isaiah. This turning inward of the faculty of attention necessarily weakens the strength of disharmonious and unplasant emotions which may be attacking us.
