Yoga practice and health

Chapter. 6

 In such circumstances no one can find fault with them for resorting to discipline - first, by avoiding the tempting sights; secondly, by deliberately turning their thoughts back to their purpose, even
sometimes with the aid of the muttered repetition of the names of God, or the name of their chosen ideal man or guru (teacher) should they happen to know one, or to know enough  about one. They are well aware that there is no such thing as 'naturaln-ess' in these matters as far as humanity is concerned. This human mind has been too long in its present way to leave human beings any natural instincts in sensuous matters, such as most of the animals have. The powerful, intense, and concentrated searchlight of the human imagination opens its eyes as soon as the senses bring into the mind the picture of a pleasure-giving object. On the instant it sets that mind to work to obtain the object, or, failing that, to indulge in the sensation imaginatively. This can on no account be considered as natural, even though it may be the result of hereditary impulses. With the simpler animals the bodily appetites are mostly geared to healthful activities and functions, as in the case of a huge and handsome lion seen at the zoo. There it sat with a big piece of raw meat between its paws, taking no notice of that appetizing food, but looking sleepily at the passersby. That lion had been fed by a keeper a few minutes earlier, but before that had been pacing its cage and roaring ravenously when it heard the sounds of the man's approach, probably scenting the meat; but now it had satisfied its natural appetite with perhaps half of the supply, and would not be interested in the half still lying there until its needs (not memory of the pleasure of eating) once more excited its natural appetite. It is worth while at this point to observe the distinction between the process of  recognition and that of memory, as this will enforce our realization that control of mind, which is an essential and central feature of yoga practice, is necessary for health, whether of body or mind, and for the reaching to what may be beyond.