The essence of the Bene Gesserit training philosophy seems to be that, if one can control oneself, or "know thyself," ultimately one can control the universe. Its first axiom is "My mind controls my reality." The training itself is based on a series of progressive exercises, lasting approximately ten years, which give the student power to control herself mentally, physically, and psychologically, and to control others. This control is used not to withdraw to an internal fantasy world but rather to observe and understand reality with detached objectivity. Thus, the prana-bindu training, begun if possible during the child's first year of life, assures the candidate that mastery of herself is mastery of illusion, both of her own and of other people's. Most of the information available concerning traditional Bene Gesserit training is taken from an analysis of the texts and manuals found in the Irulan materials at Dar-es-Balat. The modern Sisterhood will not release its contemporary material for research use, and has withdrawn the texts formerly available in the open collection of the Wallach IX library.