When diffused over the surface of the whole Earth it gives but a moderate warmth, but even a few Sun rays focused through an ordinary reading glass will set inflammable material on which it is focused afire. Similarly, thought flitting through the brain as water runs through a sieve, is of no value, but when concentrated upon a certain object it increases in intensity and will achieve the purpose involved for good or ill. Members of a certain order have practiced concentration on their enemies for centuries, and it was found that misfortune or death always overtook the object of their disfavor. On the other hand, concentration of thought power may also be used to heal and help, nor are examples wanting to substantiate this statement. We may therefore say that concentration is the direct application of thought power to the attainment of a certain definite object which may be good or evil according to the character of the person who practices it and the purpose for which he desires to use it.
Prayer is similar to concentration in certain points but differs radically in other respects.
While the efficiency of prayer depends upon the intensity of concentration attained by the devotee, it is accompanied by a feeling of love and devotion of equal intensity to the depth of concentration, which renders prayer far more efficacious than cold concentration can ever be. Furthermore, it is exceedingly difficult for the great majority of people to concentrate their thoughts coolly, calmly, and without the slightest emotion, and exclude all other considerations from their consciousness. The devotional attitude is more easily cultivated, for the mind is then centered on Deity. Meditation is the method of gathering by spiritual power knowledge of things with which we are not ordinarily familiar. The Western Wisdom Teachings deal very thoroughly with the method of acquiring firsthand knowledge, elucidating these points at length.