CONCENTRATION - Part 4

When you study one book, do not think of any other book. Fix the mind there steadily like the
arrow-maker24 who had no consciousness of his surroundings. Eminent scientists are so busy and attentive in their experiments and researches in their laboratories that they forget to take food even for days together. Once a scientist was very busy at his work. His wife who was living in another district had a serious calamity. She came running up to him to the laboratory with profuse tears in her eyes. Strange to say, the scientist was not a bit agitated. He was so very attentive in his work that he even forgot that she was his own wife. He replied: “Madam!Weep for some more time. Let me make chemical analysis of your tears.”
Once some gentleman invited Sir Isaac Newton for dinner. Newton repaired to his host’s
bungalow and took his seat in the drawing room. The gentleman forgot all about Newton, took his dinner and proceeded to his office. Newton was amusing within himself very absorbedly on some important point of science. He did not stir from his seat. He forgot all about his dinner and remained in the same chair like a statue for over thirty-six hours! The next morning the host saw Newton in the drawing room and then only remembered of having invited him for dinner. He really felt sorry
for his forgetfulness and apologised to Sir Isaac in a meek voice. What a wonderful power of
attention Sir Isaac Newton had! All geniuses possess this power to an infinite degree.
According to Prof. James we attend to things because they are very interesting. But Prof.
Pillsbury is of the opinion that things are interesting because we attend to them, or because we are likely to attend to them. We do not attend to them because they are interesting.
By the constant practice and ever-renewed effort of attention, a subject that in the beginning
was dry and uninteresting may become full of interest when you master it and learn its meaning and its issues. The power of concentrating your attention on the subject may become stronger.
When a great misfortune has befallen you, or when you pass in review a certain course of
conduct in order to find out the cause of failure, it may take possession of your mind to such a
degree that no effort of the will can make you cease from thinking over it. An article has to be
written, a book is in the process of preparation; the work is carried on to the loss of sleep and you are unable to tear yourself away from it; the attention which began voluntarily has taken entire hold of the field of consciousness.
From - SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA