In the last chapter I have described in detail some methods of inducing hypnotic sleep, some phenomenon ob- served in hypnosis, and I have also given some important hints about curing certain physical and mental ills. In this chapter I shall continue the subject and try to show how this power can be used to our profit in our daily life.
(1) Suppose you go to a friend for some work. If the work is quite simple but you entertain the smallest doubt about its success you will not succeed. This is because such anti-currents will strike the subconscious mind of your friend and he will refuse to do your work which you desire him to do. While meeting your friend you must have a smiling face. If you entertain fear and suspicion, it will amount to weakening of your will power which will go to your friend. Thus he would be doubly powerful. While telling him about your work, stare in his eyes casually never removing your gaze until you have finished talking. At the same time have a powerful conviction that he will do your work. When, however, he begins to speak, do not look in his eyes. If you do so his increased will power will flow from his eyes and strike you down. In service life such occasions are many while dealing with your bosses. On such occasions it would be to your advantage to look into the eyes of your boss while explaining your point of view. Rest, assured that he would accept you explanation, be- cause you have partially hypnotised him without his know- ledge. However some practice in mirror gazing is expected for success in this experiment.
(2) When you meet a friend never talk about yourself, because he is not interested in your life. Many persons make a mistake of talking about their own family affairs. When they meet a friend, they will go on telling him about how they have purchased a radio on instalment system, about their intention of sending their son abroad or about their stomach-ache. The friend is naturally disgusted with such talk, and desires to cut him short with a gentle "Good-bye". This is not hypnotism. Next time you meet a friend try the following experiment and see the wonder. Tell him. "Friend, I hear that you acted very nicely in yesterday's drama. People were simply enchanted by your superb performance." As soon as you utter this praise, he will be hypnotised and do anything for you. If you meet a poet, casually say to him, "I have read your poem in such and such a magazine. Ah! How beautiful and sublime the theme! What a perfect diction! It made me remember Shelley. Your poem has really raised the status of that magazine.'' The poet will be so much pleased that he is likely to be your slave throughout life. He will take you to his home or some hotel and offer you tea and snacks. There is some sort of ego in every human being. Speech hypnotism aims at kindling this ego. Speech hypnosis is successful when two minds meet on equal level of love and unity. Criticism and disrespect for the thoughts of others defeats the aim of this mighty power. Suppose you go to the post office with a register after office hours, it is no use quarrelling with the clerk and telling him that he is shirking work. He is within h i s bounds to refuse to accept the register. Instead of quarrelling with him say "Young man, do not worry, I shall come tomorrow with the register. Why should you work overtime on such a scanty salary? You appear to be worried over your family affairs. My son is also working in post office at Poona. He is fed up with
the job." On talking to him in this trend, the clerk is sure to open the window and accept your register out of office- hours. You have touched his vulnerable points—scanty salary and family worries. You have conquered him with your sympathetic and sweet talk.
(3) Occasionally persons in service have to face insulting talk and humiliation from their superiors. When your boss is firing you for some mistakes that you might have committed in your work, the following experiment becomes most successful. First of all know that an angry person is a beast. He loses reason. At such a time it is no use arguing with him. Remain quiet and let him fire the volley of words. With this attitude on your part his anger must calm down. After a couple of hours go to him. By that time his anger would have been completely subsided. Then tell him respectfully. "Sir, it was all right that you were displeased with me. However the mistake committed by me was due to my not being able to understand the meaning of that G.R. I am not that much intelligent as you are. However, I have not done that work carelessly." Here you have flamed his intelligence and he will be highly pleased. Tell him respectfully, "Sir, you are overworking these days. This will tell upon your health. Overwork makes the mind excitable." With such a personal talk his anger will subside, and he will even express regret for scolding you. It may please be noted that there is no apology, humiliation and fear in this interview.
In business such wordy battles with the customers are inevitable. At such a time it is useless to argue with the customer. He will not be calmed down until he gives you a piece of his mind. Should you lose your temper also, it will land you in troubles, such as loss of a good customer, bitterness and legal action. When the customer is cross with you it would be better to remain quiet with a smiling
face and to admit that you were at fault. When you give him that importance he is sure to be calmed down. Tell him, "it is in a way better that the mistake was committed in your case. If it was somebody else he would have floored me down." By such a talk the customer would feel that he is more kind, sympathetic and important. If this speech hypnotism is extended further it is likely that the customer will admit that it was his fault and not yours.
When a well-dressed and beautiful lady comes to you say to her, "Sister, how beautiful and charming you look in this dress." With this remark her ego is kindled and you have succeeded in influencing her. Such experiments should however be performed only on a pious and moral level.
When you go to visit a sick friend in the hospital talk to him only about his health. Tell him, "I saw the doctor only yesterday. He thinks you would be cured within a few days and allowed to go home. You also appear to be more healthy today." Here you have touched his most vulnerable point—cure. When you have spoken about the prospects of his cure excluding all other talk you have influenced him He will feel uneasy if you do not visit him for a day or two.
Napolean Bonaparte had developed this art of speech hypnotism. He used to remember the names of his soldiers on the parade ground, he used to call each of them by name, which pleased them most. Once at a critical moment when his army went against him, he faced it with an open chest and thundered, "Any soldier who desires to kill HIS EMPEROR should shoot him." On hearing these words the army dropped down its arms and surrendered to him. The words “his emperor" had a magic effect on them. All this is speech hypnotism.
I have described in this chapter certain sure methods of influencing others without hypnotising them. There are other advanced methods also but space prevents me from describing them here. In the next chapter I shall discuss auto-hypnotism.
XI