Cosmic Consciousness

med, simply, "the divine

manifested life emanat

designate as "energy" a

l, best define as "Aum

, and many

nters into everything-is th

d the axiom that there were two distinct phases

fe was insensate-a structure acted upon from forces outside

oint is, that the old materialistic philosophy failed to recognize the fact

t there is anything new in the postulate that "all is spirit," is possible only because of his ignorance of Oriental philosophy, as will

e postulate the follow

sal Oc

sentient o

source, and therefore con

resses degrees or pha

the organism, and determines its classification, wh

at we term consciousness; a group of cells with this power focalized to a given point, or center, makes an organ

ble to state arbitrarily whether or not, the cell "knows its operations," and since all operations are necessarily mental in the final analysis, we assume that there is a ph

we arrive at the stage of simple consciousness which characterizes the animal kingdom, remembering that consciousness

or the attracting to a central point or to an individual organism of this that is.

n it is said that God is

idered from the standpoint of the organic or the inorganic kingdom, may be li

ess, manifestation would be darkness. Thus it is said, "the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not."

en are not conscious of the light that shineth within them, save as there is an ag

cally assume that manifestation is due to the necessity of developing individualized entities, who

l seers prefer to put it thus: "become fit to

s, lives as long as its psychic counterpart or dweller. But, although the soul continues to exist on another plane of note of the scale of vibration, it does not argue that the identity shall continue eternal

ed in the mineral kingdom. That there is a distinct and separate character of consciousness thus expressed is evident from the fact that there is a law of chemical affinity, i.e. attrac

easured by complexity and refinement, responds with a greater degree of sensitivene

perfection of species. Evolution of inorganic life, is as real, and as much a part

to refinement; from crudity to perfection; from the limited to the all-inclusive, is indisputable. As the motor power of electricity has become general, we find that beasts of burden are fast disa

l areas of consciousness, we find that the mentally fit survive among those who live only in the areas of the mind; so on, into

ss which we see manifested in the forms of life that have the power to move from their immediate environment; such for

s we have stated, presuppose a nearer approach to immortality, however, for the reason that we apply the law of the survival of the fittest to all manifestation, and that which is best fitted for certain stages of the planet's life during the proces

the power of locomotion, involve a more complex degree of

its environment, and from its counterparts, etc., but this recognition has not sufficient consciousness to assert that recognition, and so we say that there is no self-consciousness. There is what occultists have agreed to call simple consciousness, but this does not include a realization of

iousness, is shared alik

ness we may classify the human

self-cons

elf-cons

dual) "I" co

self-con

from its natural environment. This awareness of the self it is that actuated pre-historic man when he manifested the bli

imitive" law of nature, but not "first" in the sen

o preserve this physical self, because he felt that this physical self, his body, was all there was of him, and he wished to preserve it, ev

ng the term merely as a part of the physical organism called the brain), he realized that co-operation would greatly enhance his chances for self-preservation,

ideration of the successive steps in attainment of consciousness, leading through devious paths, and through millions of relative time called years, i

us. There are many, many degrees of this phase of consciousness,

eals, realizes that everything is right which makes for human betterment, and that dharma (right-acti

ill be admitted by all whose range of consciousness has touched in an

, the cycle is closing, and many have re

many persons seem lost to-day, there are evidences of a consciousness which observes the effects, of this

iritual consciousness-the central light, which as we previo

d are something phenomenal and apart from the real Self. Psychology, even so empirical a psychology as is possible of demonstration in western sc

ied phases of this problem may present themselves, but the mental forces are focalized upon one subject at a time. A

onviction is forcing itself upon people in all walks of life, that wealth, ambition, power and possessi

that it is mind individualized and in operation for the purpose of exercising new powers. The fact is becoming apparent that all discovery is but an uncovering of those vast areas of consciousness which

e, we find the next step, for the majo

stimulating and directing; back of action stands thought, as the maste

ecies, or of phases, could be attained without pain, it were well. Pain comes from lack of wisdom to realize that out of the lower the higher inevitably springs, as the butter

the past, it has been presented to the initiate, as sacrifice. If so it be, then is it because of lack of that wisd

ancient m

mind by truth, the soul by knowledge

mind seeks to satisfy this craving for happiness in increased activities; in accumulation; in so-called pleasure, i.e. always looking outside-thinking outside, living in the out

e Shruti: "Brahman

t can be give

upon the results of Experienc

disciple pauses to ask the way. He wants to know what it is all about, and why it is that all he has so striven and struggled for fails to satisfy. He wants to know

another phase of Experience which shall extend his consciousness into those

en teach him that

is transitory and only seemingly satisfying to the few, may be said to

for a future and permanent satisfaction of the soul is the prerogat

n, there is a constant growth in complexity

y of development of the physical functions. Instead, there is a determined effort at perfecting the higher functions,

mmortality is henceforth comparatively short, although by no means

the direction of his former desires. Karma does

ing as his life is one of pleasure or of pain, is not the solution of

s to distinguish the Real from the Illusory, his karma, in compliance with the law of desire, will bring him in relation to those conditions which will teach him to know the Rea

karma, he will be thought to have reaped a "bad" karma, while as a matter of reality, he w

o the object in which his mind is immersed,

world whose work is not born with him." However, whether or not this applies to man in the first stages of his upward climb to the goal of attainment of conscious godhood, it most assu

scured the mind of these may become in the fog of Illusion, the inner ligh

by his loving disciples with the reminder that he was at last enter

. I shall wish to be reborn in the nethermost depths of hell, because that is the place that most needs enlightenment

termine what is "good" and what is "bad" k

world's avatars upon the street, and judging from the external, the physica

sent kalpa (cycle), and demonstrates that period of evolution has terminated, and the era is at hand when spiritual alchemy shall transform the old into the new, an

hat it is-the awakening of the inner Self; the blind groping in the dark will cease and there shall ar

, which may be tersely stated as "Not mine, but thine, dear brother," wi