Scattered Pearls — Page 49
way undisturbed. 48. After a short time this man trembled all over for a moment, and some sound of fear also escaped from his lips. But immediately he pulled himself together and continued his effort to hypnotise the Promised Messiah. . Very soon, however, he uttered a shriek, and ran out of the mosque, down the steps, into the street below. When some of the people present saw him running out in consternation they followed him, to find out what the matter was. They caught up with him in the street outside and after he had collected himself together; he related that he was an expert hypnotiser; that he had intended to bring the Mirza Sahib under his influence, making him do some untoward movements which sholud expose him to disgrace in the eyes of those present. But, he said, that while he was trying to hypnotise Mirza Sahib, he saw a lion standing before him. He was terrified by this, but immediately he reassured himself that this must be some hallucination on his part, and redoubled his efforts. Then he saw his lion advancing upon him. This made him tremble with fear, inspite of himself, but again he pulled himself together and continued his attempt. At this stage he saw the lion pouncing upon him, which terrified him to such an extent that he forgot everything and ran to save his life. (Seeratul Mahdee, Riwaayat 75. The same incident has been related by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II in. Tafseer Kabeer under Surah Sho'ara, verse 34, but with a slight variation). In connection with this incident it should be borne in mind that hypnotism is a fine and delicate science, for which a sort of innate capacity is to be found in the human mind, where usually it remains hidden and unknown. But with proper exercise and training it can be developed to a remarkable degree. Those with a strong will-power, and these who can concentrate highly on any subject, can easily develop this capacity. In some cases the power to influence others is met with in some degree even among children of tender age; or some people can exercise this power, to some extent, even without any special training on their part. In