. The
trained wills of the West are given rather to materializing objectively on
the physical plane, creating great railroads, buildings, bridges, etc.,
from the mental pictures, rather than devoting the same time, energy and
will to the production of astral though-forms and pictures. There is a
great difference in temperament, as well as a difference in the general
psychic atmosphere, between East and West, which serves to explain matters
of this kind.

An American writer truly says: "The first principle underlying the whole
business of Hindu wonder-working is that of a strong will; and the first
necessary condition of producing a magical effect is an increase in the
power of thought. The Hindus, owing to that intense love for solitary
meditation, which has been one of the most pronounced characteristics from
time immemorial, have acquired mental faculties of which we of the Western
and younger civilization are totally ignorant. The Hindu has attained a
past master's degree in speculative philosophy. He has for years retired
for meditation to the silent places in his land, lived a hermit, subdued
the body and developed the mind, thus winning control over other minds."

In India, I have seen scenes of far distant places appearing as a mirage
in clear air, even the colors being present to the scenes. This, though
some what uncommon, was simply a remarkable instance of thought-form
projection from the mind of a man highly developed along occult lines. You
must remember that in order to produce a picture in the astral, of this
kind, the occultist must not only have the power of will and mind to cause
such a picture to materialize, but he must also have a remarkable memory
for detail in the picture--for nothing appears in the picture unless it
has already been pictured in the mind of the mind of the man himself. Such
a memory and perception of detail is very rare--in the Western world it is
possessed by only exceptional artists; however, anyone may cultivate this
perception and memory if he will give the time and care to it that the
Hindu magicians do.

You have heard of the Hindu Mango Trick, in which the magician takes a
mango seed, plants it in the ground, waves his hands over it, and then
causes first a tiny shoot to appear from the surface of the ground, this
followed by a tiny trunk, and leaves, which grow and grow, until at last
appears a full sized mango tree, which first shows blossoms and then ripe
fruit. In sho