12 The Spiritual Life.
themoneythathehasgatheredbystruggle;he
willwasteinluxuryforthepleasingofthebody
themoney that heought togrip, morder that
hemaywinmore. Andsothefirstthingthat
aman mustdo istomasterthe body,toteach
ittoendurehardness,tolearntobearfrugality,
to learn tobear hardship even; not to think
whether hewants to sleep,if bytravelling all
nighta contract canbegained; not tostopto
askwhether he shallrest if,bygoing tosome
party at midnight,he can make a friendwho
will enable him to gain more money by his
influence. Overand overagaininthestruggle
forgold theman mustbe masterof this outer
body that he wears, until it has no voice m
determininghis lineof activity-ityields itself
obedient servant to the dominant will, to the
compelling brain. That is the first thing he
learns-conquestofthebody.
Thenhelearnsconcentrationofmind. Ifhe
is not concentrated hisrivals will beat him in
thestruggle of the market-place. If hismind
wanders about here, there, and everywhere,
undecided, onedaytryingoneplan,andanother
dayanotherplan,withoutperseverance,without
deliberatecontinuing labour,that manwillfail.
Thegoalhedesiresteaches himto concentrate
his mind; he bringsitto one point; he holds