THEOSOPHICALTALKSATADYAR

TheInnerLife

(SecondSeries)

BY

C.W.Leadbeater

VolumeII

SECONDEDITION1912

CONTENTS

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FOREWORDTOAMERICANEDITION

ThelongpromisedsecondseriesofAdyarTalkshasatlengthbeenpublishedaftermanyunavoidabledelays.AftercarefulconsiderationitwasthoughtbesttoabandontheuseofthetitleTheHiddenLifeandtoissuethevolumeasTheInnerLife,VolumeII.SomeoftheseinformaltalkstotheclassesatAdyarhavealreadyappearedinTheTheosophist,butmanyofthechapterscontainfactswhichhavenotbeenpublishedbefore,suchasMarsanditsInhabitants.

ThemanuscriptofTheHiddenSideofThings,whichpromisestobeabookofsomesevenhundredpages,isreadyfortheprinter,andweareonlywaitinganopportunetimetopublishit.

C.W.LEADBEATER.

ADYAR,June29,1911.

AUTHOR'SNOTE

WhilethePresidentwasabsentfromAdyaronatourthroughEnglandandAmericalastyear,itfelltomylottotakechargeofthedailymeetingsofthestudentshere.InthecourseofthattimeIdeliveredmanyinformallittleaddressesandansweredhundredsofquestions.AllthatIsaidwastakendowninshorthand,andthisbookistheresultofthosenotes.InanumberofcasesithappenedthatwhatwassaidontheroofatthemeetingswasafterwardsexpandedintoalittlearticleforTheTheosophistorTheAdyarBulletininallsuchcasesIreprintthearticleinsteadofthestenographicreport,asithashadtheadvantageofcertaincorrectionsandadditions.Necessarilyabookofthissortisfragmentaryinitsnaturenecessarilyalsoitcontainsacertainamountofrepetitionthoughthislatterhasbeenexcisedwhereverpossible.Manyofthesubjectstreatedhavealsobeendealtwithinmyearlierbooks,butwhatiswrittenhererepresentsinallcasestheresultofthelatestdiscoveriesinconnectionwiththosesubjectsThesubjectshavebeenclassifiedasfaraspossible,andthisvolumeisthesecondseries,containingthenineremainingsections.

C.W.LEADBEATER.

ADYAR,July,1911.

FIRSTSECTION

THETHEOSOPHISTAFTERDEATH

1.THETHEOSOPHISTAFTERDEATH

2.WHENamemberoftheTheosophicalSocietyfindshimselfupontheastralplaneafterhavingpermanentlylaidasidehisphysicalbody,itwillbewellforhimtobeginbytakingstock,asitwerebyseeingwhatishisposition,whatisthelifebeforehim,andhowhecanmakethebestuseofit.Hewilldowiselytoconsultonthesematterssomefriendwhohashadwiderexperiencethanhimself,andinpracticethisiswhatdeadmembersalmostalwaysdo.Rememberthatwhenthememberentersupontheastralplaneafterdeathheisnotmakinghisfirstappearancethere.Usuallyhehasalreadydonemuchworkthereduringthesleepofthephysicalbody,andisthereforeonfamiliarground.AsageneralrulehisfirstinstinctistomakestraightforourbelovedPresident,whichisprobablyquitethewisestthingforhimtodo,asthereisnoonebetterqualifiedtogivehimsoundadvice.Somanypossibilitiesopenoutinastrallifethatonecannotlaydownanygeneralrule,thoughamancannotgofarwrongwhotriestomakehimselfusefultothosearoundhim.Thereareplentifulopportunitiesforlearning,aswellasforwork,andthenewcomerwillhavetodecidehowhecanbestapportionhistimebetweenthem.

3.TheastralworldwillnotbealteredfortheconvenienceofmembersoftheTheosophicalSociety,anymorethanthephysicalworldis,andthey,likeeveryoneelse,willhavetoencounterwhathappenstobethere.Ifadrunkenmaniswalkingalongacertainroad,thosewhohappentopassalongthatroadwillmeethim,whethertheyaremembersornot,andtheastralplanedoesnot,inthisrespect,differfromthephysical.Themembers,beinginstructedinregardtotherulesgoverninglifeonastralplane,oughttoknowbetterthantheuninstructedhowtodealwithsuchunpleasantbeingsashappentocomeintheirway,buttheyarejustaslikelyasanyoneelsetomeetthem.Theyhave,however,probablymetsuchbeingsmanytimeswhilefunctioningupontheastralplaneduringlife,andthereisnomorereasontobeafraidofthemthanbeforeindeed,meetingthemthenupontheirownlevel,itwillbefareasiertocometoanunderstandingwiththemandtogivethemsuchhelpastheyareabletoreceive.

4.Thereispracticallynodifferencebetweentheconditionoftheordinarypersonandthepsychicafterdeath,exceptthatthepsychic,beingsomewhatmorefamiliarwithastralmatters,wouldfeelmoreathomeinhisnewenvironment.Tobepsychicmeanstobeabletobringthroughintothephysicalconsciousnesssomethingofthewiderlifeitisthereforeintheconditionofthephysicalvehiclethatthereisaninequalitybetweenthepsychicandtheordinaryperson,butwhenthephysicalisdroppedthatinequalitynolongerexists.

5.__________

6.THERELATIONOFTHEDEADTOEARTH

7.Adeadmanisoftenawareofthefeelingsofthefamilythathehasleft.Ifyoutrytothinkexactlywhatitisthatcanbemanifestedthroughtheastralbody,youmayeasilyseehowmuchheislikelytoknow.Hedoesnotnecessarilyfollowindetailalltheeventsofthephysicallifehedoesnotnecessarilyknowwhathisfriendsareeating,orinwhatoccupationstheyareengaged.Butheknowswhethertheyaregladorsorry,andheisatonceawareofsuchfeelingsasloveorhate,jealousyorenvy.

8.Whenadrunkardhoversaboutaginshopitisonlybypartialmaterialisation(thatis,bydrawingroundhimselfaveilofethericmatter)thathecandrawintheodourofthealcohol.Hedoesnotsmellitinatallthesamesenseaswedoandthatiswhyheisalwaysanxioustoforceothersintotheconditionofdrunkenness,sothathemaybeablepartiallytoentertheirphysicalbodiesandobsessthem,sothatthroughthosebodieshecanoncemoredirectlyexperiencethetasteandtheothersensationswhichhesoardentlydesires.

9.Intheastralbodythereareexactcounterpartsoftheeyesandthenoseandthemouth,butwemustnotthereforethinkthattheastralmanseeswiththoseeyes,hearswiththoseears,orcansmellortastethroughthenoseormouth.Allthematteroftheastralbodyisconstantlyinrapidmotionfromonepartofittoanother,sothatitisquiteimpossibleforanyastralparticlestobespecialisedinthesamewayascertainnerveendsarespecialisedinthephysicalbody.Thesensesoftheastralbodyactnotthroughspecialorgans,butthrougheveryparticleofthebody,sothatwithastralsightamancanseeequallywellwithanypartofhisbody,andcanseeallaroundhimsimultaneously,insteadofonlyinfrontofhim.Hecouldgraspattheastralcounterpartofthehandofalivingman,butasthetwohandswouldpassthroughoneanotherwithoutanysenseofcontact,therewouldbenoobjectinhisdoingso.Itis,however,perfectlypossibleforhimtomaterialiseahandwhich,thoughinvisible,canbefeltjustastheordinaryphysicalhandcanbe,asmayoftenbeobservedatsances.

10.Therearethreesubdivisionsoftheastralplanefromwhichitmaybepossible(thoughnotdesirable)fordisembodiedmentoseeandfolloweventstakingplaceuponthephysicalplane.Onthelowestsubplanethemanisusuallyoccupiedinotherways,andconcernshimselflittlewithwhattakesplaceinthephysicalworld,except,asisexplainedinourliterature,whenhehauntsvileresortsbut,inthenextsubdivision,hehasveryclosetouchwiththephysicalplane,andmayquiteprobablybeconsciousofagoodmanythingsinconnectionwithit,thoughwhatheseesisneverthephysicalmatteritself,butalwaystheastralcounterpartofit.Inrapidlydiminishingdegreethisconsciousnessisalsopossibleasheascendsthroughthenexttwosubplanesbutbeyondthat,itwouldbeonlybythespecialefforttocommunicatethroughamediumthatcontactwiththephysicalplanecouldbegained,andfromthehighestsubplaneeventhatwouldbeextremelydifficult.

11.Theextentofaman'spowertoseeandfollowphysicaleventsfromtheastralplaneisdeterminedbyhischaracteranddisposition,aswellasbythestageofdevelopmenttowhichhehasattained.Mostofthosewhomweordinarilycallgoodpeople,livingouttheirlivestotheirnaturalend,sweepthroughalltheselowerstagesbeforeawakeningtoastralconsciousness,andtheyarethereforeunlikelytobeconsciousofanythingphysicalatall.Somefew,however,evenofthesearedrawnbackintotouchwiththisworldbygreatanxietyaboutsomeoneleftbehind.

12.Lessdevelopedpersonshaveintheircompositionofthematteroftheselowersubplanes,andarethereforemuchmorelikelytobeabletofollowtosomeextentwhatgoesonuponearth.Mostofallisthisthecaseiftheyarepeoplewhosewholeturnofthoughtisessentiallyofthisworldwhohaveinthemlittleornothingofspiritualaspirationorofhighintellect.Thisdownwardtendencygrowswiththeusing,andamanwhoisatfirsthappilyunconsciousofwhatliesbelowhimmaybesounfortunateastohavehisattentionattractedtoit,frequentlybyselfishmanifestationsofthegriefofthesurvivors.Hethenexertshiswilltokeephimselffromrisingoutoftouchwiththislifetowhichhenolongerbelongsandinsuchacasehispowerofseeingearthlythingsincreasesforatime,andthenhesuffersmentallywhenhepresentlyfindssuchpowerslippingfromhim.Suchsufferingisentirelyduetotheirregularityintroducedintotheastrallifebyhisownaction,foritisabsolutelyunknownintheordinaryandorderlyevolutionafterdeath.

13.Ifitiscomplainedthatinthiswaythedeparteddoesnotseethephysicalworldexactlyasitreallyis,wemustanswerthatneitherthedepartednorweonthisplaneeverseethephysicalworldasitreallyisatall,forwe(ormostofus)seeonlythesolidandliquidportionsthereof,andarealtogetherblindtothefarvastergaseousandethericpartswhilethedeparteddoesnotseethephysicalmatteratall,noreventhewholeastralcounterpartofit,butonlythatportionofthelatterwhichbelongstotheparticularsubplaneuponwhichheisatthetime.Theonlymanwhogetsanythinglikeacomprehensiveviewofaffairsishewhohasdevelopedethericandastralsightwhilestillaliveinthephysicalbody.

14.Anotherdifficultyinthewayofthedisembodiedisthathebynomeansalwaysrecogniseswithanycertaintytheastralcounterpartofthephysicalbodyevenwhenheseesit.Heusuallyrequiresconsiderableexperiencebeforehecanclearlyidentifyobjects,andanyattemptwhichhemakestodealwiththemisliabletobeveryvagueanduncertain,asisoftenseeninhauntedhouseswherestonethrowing,trampling,orvaguemovementsofphysicalmattertakeplace.Thispoweroftheidentificationofobjectsisthuslargelyaquestionofexperienceandknowledge,butitislittlelikelytobeperfectunlesshehasknownsomethingofsuchmattersbeforedeath.

15.Acorrespondentwritestoaskwhetheradeadmancanenjoytheastralcounterpartofaplayatatheatre,andwhethertherewillberoomforhimthereifthebuildingisalreadyfullofpeople.

16.Certainlyatheatrefullofpeoplehasitsastralcounterpart,whichisvisibletodeadpeople.Theplay,however,isnotlikelytoaffordthemanyenjoyment,sincetheycannotseethecostumesandtheexpressionoftheactorsatallasweseethem,andtheemotionsoftheseactors,beingonlysimulatedandnotreal,makenoimpressionupontheastralplane.Astralbodiescanandconstantlydointerpenetrateoneanotherfully,withoutintheleastinjuringoneanother.Ifyouwillthinkforamomentyouwillseethatthismustbeso.Whenyousitnexttoanypersoninarailwaycarriageorinatramcaryourastralbodyandhismustnecessarilyinterpenetratetoaverylargeextent.Thereisnottheslightestdifficultyinsuchinterpenetration,sincetheastralparticlesareenormouslyfartherapartinproportiontotheirsizeeventhanphysicalparticlesare.Atthesametimetheyseriouslyaffectoneanotherasfarastheirratesofvibrationareconcerned,sothattositincloseproximitytoapersonofimpure,jealousorangrythoughtisexceedinglyprejudicial.Adeadfriendcan,therefore,quiteeasilyenteratheatrewhichisfullofpeoplemoreespeciallyasthepeopleareseateduponthegroundortheplatforms,whiletheastralentityisfarmoreprobablyfloatingaboutintheair.

17.ThemanwhocommitssuiciderunsawayfromschoolbeforetheappointedlessonislearntheisguiltyofthegreatpresumptioninvolvedintakingintohisownhandsadecisionwhichshouldbelefttotheworkingoftheGreatLaw.Theconsequencesofsogreatarebellionagainstnaturearealwaysofamomentouscharacter.Theyarecertaintoaffectthenextlife,andquiteprobablymorelivesthanone.Thecircumstancessurroundingasuicideimmediatelyafterdeatharethesameastheywouldbeforthevictimofanaccident,sincebothofthemarriveupontheastralplanewithequalsuddenness.Butthereistheenormousdifferencethatthemanwhodiesbyaccident,notexpectingdeath,isthrownintoaconditionofunconsciousnessandusuallypassesthroughthelowestsubplanewithoutknowinganythingofitsvariedunpleasantness.Thesuicide,onthecontrary,hasacteddeliberately,andisgenerallypainfullyawareofmuchthatishorribleandrepugnanttohim.Hecannotbesavedfromthesightsandfeelingswhichhehasbroughtuponhimselfbuthemayoftenbehelpedtounderstandthem,andmaybeinspiredwithpatience,perseveranceandhopebythegoodofficesofsomekindfriend.

18.Whilefullyrecognisingthatsuicideisamistake,andamostseriousone,wearenotcalleduponjudgeourbrotherwhocommitsthatmistake.Thereisawidedifferencebetweendifferentcases,anditisimpossibleforustoknowthevariousfactorswhichenterintoeach,althougheveryoneofthemisdulytakenintoaccountintheworkingofthelawofeternaljustice.

19.Intryingtoestimatetheconditionsofaman'slifeontheastralplaneafterdeath,therearetwoprominentfactorstobeconsideredthelengthoftimewhichhestaysuponanyparticularsubplaneandtheamountofhisconsciousnessuponit.Thelengthofaman'sstayuponanysubplanedepends,ashasbeensaid,upontheamountofmatterbelongingtothatsubplanehehasbuiltintohimselfduringearthlife.

20.Buttheamountofconsciousnessthatapersonwillhaveuponagivensubplanedoesnotinvariablyfollowpreciselythesamelaw.Letusconsideranextremeexampleofpossiblevariation,inorderthatwemaygraspitsmethod.Supposeamanhasbroughtoverfromhispastincarnationtendenciesrequiringfortheirmanifestationalargeamountofthematterofthelowestsubplane,andhasinhispresentlifebeenfortunateenoughtolearninhisearliestyearsthepossibilityandthenecessityofcontrollingthesetendencies.Itisimprobablethatsuchaman'seffortsatcontrolwouldbeuniformlyandentirelysuccessfulbutiftheywere,thesubstitutionoffinerforgrosserparticleswouldprogresssteadilythoughslowly.

21.Thisprocessisatbestagradualone,anditmightwellhappenthatthemandiedbeforeitwashalfcompleted.Inthatcasetherewouldundoubtedlybeenoughmatterofthelowestsubplaneleftinhisastralbodytoensurehimnoinconsiderableresidencetherebutitwouldbematterthroughwhichinthisincarnationhisconsciousnesshadneverbeeninthehabitoffunctioning,and,asitcouldnotsuddenlyacquirethishabit,theresultwouldbethatthemanwouldrestuponthatsubplaneuntilhisshareofitsmatterwasdisintegrated,butwouldbeallthewhileinaconditionofunconsciousness thatis,hewouldpracticallysleepthroughtheperiodofhissojournthere,andsowouldbeentirelyunaffectedbyitsmanydisagreeables.

22.Itwillbeseenthatboththesefactorsofpostmortemexistencethesubplanetowhichthemaniscarriedandthedegreeofhisconsciousnessthere dependnotintheleastonthenatureofhisdeath,butuponthenatureofhislife,sothatanyaccident,howeversuddenorterrible,canscarcelyaffectthem.Nevertheless,thereisreasonbehindthefamiliaroldprayeroftheChurch:Fromsuddendeath,goodLord,deliverusforthoughasuddendeathdoesnotnecessarilyaffecttheman'spositionupontheastralplaneinanywayfortheworse,atleastitdoesnothingtoimproveit,whereastheslowwastingawayoftheagedortheravagesofanykindoflongcontinueddiseasearealmostinvariablyaccompaniedbyaconsiderablelooseningandbreakingupoftheastralparticles,sothatwhenthemanrecoversconsciousnessupontheastralplane,hefindssomeatanyrateofhischiefworktherealreadydoneforhim.

23.Thegreatmentalterroranddisturbancewhichsometimesaccompanyaccidentaldeathareinthemselvesaveryunfavourablepreparationfortheastrallifeindeed,caseshavebeenknowninwhichsuchagitationandterrorpersistedafterdeath,thoughthatishappilyrare.Still,thepopulardesiretohavesometimeinwhichtopreparefordeathisnotameresuperstition,buthasacertainamountofreasonatthebackofit.Naturally,toanyonewhoisleadingtheTheosophicallifeitwillmakebutlittledifferencewhetherthetransitionfromthephysicalplanetotheastralcomesslowlyorquickly,sinceheisallthetimedoinghisbesttomakeasmuchprogressaspossible,andtheobjectbeforehimwillremainthesameineithercase.

24.Tosumupthen:itseemsclearthatdeathbyaccidentdoesnotnecessarilyinvolveanylengthyresidenceonthelowestleveloftheastralplane,thoughitmayinonesensebesaidslightlytoprolongsuchresidence,sinceitdeprivesthevictimoftheopportunityofburningouttheparticlesbelongingtothatlevelduringthesufferingsofalingeringdisease.Inthecaseofyoungchildrenitisexceedinglyunlikelythatintheirshortandcomparativelyblamelessyounglivestheywillhavedevelopedmuchaffinityforthelowestsubdivisionsofastrallifeindeed,asamatterofpracticalexperiencetheyarehardlyevertobefoundinconnectionwiththatsubplaneatall.Inanycase,whethertheydiebyaccidentordisease,theirlifeontheastralplaneisacomparativelyshortonetheheavenlife,thoughmuchlonger,isstillinreasonableproportiontoit,andtheirearlyreincarnationfollowsassoonastheforceswhichtheyhavebeenabletosetinmotionduringtheirshortearthlivesworkthemselvesout,preciselyaswemightexpectfromourobservationoftheactionofthesamegreatlawinthecaseofadults.

25.Nothingthatislikelytobedoneinordinarylifetohisphysicalcorpseneedmakeanydifferencewhatevertothemanlivingontheastralplane.Iamobligedtomakethesetworeservationsbecause,inthefirstcase,outsideofordinarylifetherearecertainhorriblemagicalriteswhichwouldveryseriouslyaffecttheconditionofthemanontheotherplane,andinthesecond,althoughthestateofthephysicalcorpseneednotmakeanydifferencetotherealman,itneverthelesssometimesdoes,byreasonofhisignoranceorfoolishness.Letmeendeavourtoexplain.

26.Thelengthofaman'sastrallifeafterhehasputoffhisphysicalbodydependsmainlyupontwofactorsthenatureofhispastphysicallife,andhisattitudeofmindafterwhatwecalldeath.Duringhisearthlifeheisconstantlyinfluencingthebuildingofmatterintohisastralbody.Heaffectsitdirectlybythepassions,emotionsanddesireswhichheallowstoholdswayoverhimheaffectsitindirectlybytheactionuponitofhisthoughtsfromabove,andofallthedetailsofhisphysicallife(hiscontinenceorhisdebauchery,hiscleanlinessorhisuncleanliness,hisfoodandhisdrink)frombelow.If,bypersistenceinperversityalonganyoftheselines,heissostupidastobuildforhimselfacoarseandgrossastralvehicle,habituatedtorespondingonlytothelowervibrationsoftheplane,hewillfindhimselfafterdeathboundtothatplaneduringthelongandslowprocessofthatbody'sdisintegration.Ontheotherhandif,bydecentandcarefulliving,hegiveshimselfavehiclemainlycomposedoffinermaterial,hewillhaveverymuchlesspostmortemtroubleanddiscomfort,andhisevolutionwillproceedmuchmorerapidlyandeasily.

27.Thismuchisgenerallyunderstood,butthesecondgreatfactorhisattitudeofmindafterdeathseemsoftentobeforgotten.Thedesirablethingisforhimtorealisehispositiononthislittlearcofhisevolutiontolearnthatheisatthisstagewithdrawingsteadilyinwardtowardstheplaneofthetrueego,andthatconsequentlyitishisbusinesstodisengagehisthoughtasfarasmaybefromthingsphysical,andfixhisattentionmoreandmoreuponthosespiritualmatterswhichwilloccupyhimduringhislifeintheheavenworld.Bydoingthishewillgreatlyfacilitatethenaturalastraldisintegration,andwillavoidthesadlycommonmistakeofunnecessarilydelayinghimselfuponthelowerlevelsofwhatshouldbesotemporaryaresidence.

28.Manypeople,however,simplywillnotturntheirthoughtsupwards,butspendtheirtimeinstrugglingwithalltheirmighttokeepintouchwiththephysicalplanewhichtheyhaveleft,thuscausinggreattroubletoanyonewhomaybetryingtohelpthem.Earthlymattersaretheonlyonesinwhichtheyhaveeverhadanylivinginterest,andtheyclingtothemwithdesperatetenacityevenafterdeath.Naturally,astimepasseson,theyfinditincreasinglydifficulttokeepholdofthingsdownhere,butinsteadofwelcomingandencouragingthisprocessofgradualrefinementandspiritualisationtheyresistitvigorouslybyeverymeansintheirpower.Themightyforceofevolutioniseventuallytoostrongforthem,andtheyaresweptoninitsbeneficentcurrent,yettheyfighteverystepoftheway,therebynotonlycausingthemselvesavastamountofentirelyunnecessarypainandsorrow,butalsoseriouslydelayingtheirupwardprogress.

29.Now,inthisignorantanddisastrousoppositiontothecosmicwillamanismuchassistedbythepossessionofhisphysicalcorpseasakindoffulcrumonthisplane.Heisnaturallyincloserapportwithit,andifheissomisguidedastowishtodoso,hecanuseitasananchortoholdhimdownfirmlytothemuduntilitsdecompositionisfaradvanced.Cremationsavesthemanfromhimselfinthismatter,for,whenthephysicalbodyhasbeenthusproperlydisposedof,hisboatsareliterallyburnedbehindhim,andhispowerofholdingbackishappilygreatlydiminished.

30.Weseethereforethat,whileneithertheburialnortheembalmingofacorpsecaninanywayforcetheegotowhomitoncebelongedtoprolonghisstayupontheastralplaneagainsthiswill,eitherofthosecausesisadistincttemptationtohimtodelay,andimmenselyfacilitateshisdoingsoifheshouldunfortunatelywishit.Noegoofanyadvancementwouldallowhimselftobedetainedupontheastralplane,evenbyaproceedingsofoolishastheembalmingofhiscorpse.Whetherhisphysicalvehiclewasburnedorallowedtodecayslowlyintheusualloathsomemanner,orindefinitelypreservedasanEgyptianmummy,hisastralbodywouldpursueitsownlineofquickdisintegrationentirelyunaffected.

31.Amongthemanyadvantagesgainedbycremationtheprincipalarethatitentirelypreventsanyattemptatpartialandunnaturaltemporaryreunionoftheprinciples,oranyendeavourtomakeuseofthecorpseforthepurposesofthelowermagictosaynothingofthemanydangerstothelivingwhichareavoidedbyitsadoption.

32.____________

33.CONDITIONSAFTERDEATH

34.Studentsoftenaskwhetherfortheordinarymanasubconsciousoranactiveexistenceismoredesirableontheastralplane.Thisdependsuponthenatureoftheactiveexistence,anduponthestageofdevelopmentoftheegoconcerned.Theordinarymandieswithacertainamountofunexhausteddesirestillinhiscomposition,andthisforcemustworkitselfoutbeforeitispossibleforhimtosinkintoasubconsciouscondition.Iftheonlyactivitypossibleforhimisthatofthelowerdesires,itisobviouslybetterforhimthatnothingshouldbeallowedtointerferewithhissinkingintocomparativeunconsciousnessassoonaspossible,sinceanynewkarmathathemakesislittlelikelytobeofanadvantageouskind.

35.If,ontheotherhand,heissufficientlydevelopedtobeabletobeofusetoothersontheastralplane,andespeciallyifhehasalreadybeeninthehabitofworkingthereduringsleep,thereisnoreasonwhyheshouldnotusefullyemploythetimeofhisenforcedsojournthere,thoughitwouldbeinadvisabletosetinmotionnewforceswhichwouldlengthenthatsojourn.ThosewhoareworkingunderthedirectionofthepupilsoftheMastersofWisdomwillnaturallyavailthemselvesoftheircounsel,sincetheyhavehadmuchexperiencealongtheselines,andcaninturnconsultothersofstillwiderknowledge.

36.Theastrallifemaybedirectedbythewill,justasthephysicallifemaybe,alwayswithinthelimitsprescribedineachcasebykarmathatistosay,byourownpreviousaction.Theordinarymanhaslittlewillpowerorinitiative,andisverymuchthecreatureofthesurroundingswhichhehasmadeforhimself,ontheastralplaneasonthephysicalbutadeterminedmancanalwaysmakethebestofhisconditionsandlivehisownlifeinspiteofthem.Whathas,afterall,beencausedbyhiswillcangraduallybechangedbyhiswill,iftimepermits.

37.Amandoesnotridhimselfofeviltendenciesintheastralworldanymorethanhewouldinthislife,unlesshedefinitelyworkstothatend.Manyofthedesireswhicharesostrongandpersistentinhimaresuchasneedaphysicalbodyfortheirsatisfaction,andsincehehasthatnolonger,theyoftencausehimacuteandprolongedsufferingbutinprocessoftimetheywearthemselvesout,theybecomeasitwereatrophied,anddiedownbecauseofthisimpossibilityoffulfilment.Inthesamewaythematteroftheastralbodyslowlywearsawayanddisintegratesastheconsciousnessisgraduallywithdrawnfromitbythehalfunconsciouseffortoftheego,andthusthemanbydegreesgetsridofwhateverholdshimbackfromtheheavenworld.

38.Buttheworstofhistroubleisthatthemanisgenerallynotalivetothenecessityofgettingridoftheevilwhichdetainshim.Itisobviousthatifherealisesthefactsofthecaseandgiveshismindtothework,hecangreatlyexpediteboththeprocessesreferredtotheabove.Ifheknowsthatitishisbusinesstokilloutearthlydesires,andtowithdrawintohimselfasquicklyasmaybe,hewillearnestlysethimselftodothesethingsinsteadofwhichheusuallyinhisignorancebroodsoverthedesiresandsolengthenstheirlife,andclingsdesperatelytothegrossestparticlesofastralmatteraslongashepossiblycan,becausethesensationconnectedwiththemseemsnearesttothatphysicallifeforwhichheissopassionatelylonging.Thusweseewhyoneofthemostimportantpartsoftheworkoftheinvisiblehelpersistoexplainfactstothedead,andalsowhyevenamerelyintellectualknowledgeofTheosophicaltruthsisofsuchinestimablevaluetoaman.

39.Thedeadmanwhenhefirstarrivesupontheastralplanebynomeansalwaysrealisesthatheisdead,andevenwhenthatfactcomeshometohimitdoesnotfollowthatheatonceunderstandshowtheastralworlddiffersfromthephysical.Inthephysicalworldmanistheslaveofanumberofimperiousnecessitieshemusthavefoodandclothingandshelterinordertoprocurethesehemusthavemoneyandinmostcasesinordertoobtainmoneyhemustdosomekindofwork.Allthisissomuchamatterofcoursetousdownherethatthemanwhoissetfreefromthisslaveryfindsitdifficultforalongtimetobelievethatheisreallyfree,andinmanycaseshecontinuesunnecessarilytoimposeuponhimselffetterswhichhehasinrealitycastaside.

40.Sowesometimesseethenewlydeadtryingtoeatsittingdowntoorpreparingforthemselveswhollyimaginarymeals,orbuildingforthemselveshouses.Ihaveactuallyseenamaninthesummerlandbuildingahouseforhimselfstonebystone,andeventhoughhemadeeachofthesestonesforhimselfbyaneffortofhisthought,hedidnotyetgraspthefactthathemightjustaswellhavemadethewholehouseforhimself,withthesameamountoftrouble,byasingleeffortofthesamekind.Hewasgraduallyledtoseethat,bythediscoverythatthestoneshadnoweight,whichshowedhimthathispresentconditionsdifferedfromthosetowhichhehadbeenusedonearth,andsoledhimtoinvestigatefurther.

41.Inthesummerlandmensurroundthemselveswithlandscapesoftheirownconstruction,thoughsomeavoidthattroublebyacceptingreadymadethelandscapeswhichhavealreadybeenconstructedbyothers.Menlivingonthesixthsubplane,uponthesurfaceoftheearth,findthemselvessurroundedbytheastralcounterpartsofphysicallyexistingmountains,treesandlakes,andconsequentlyarenotunderthenecessityofmanufacturingsceneryforthemselvesbutmenuponthehighersubplanes,whofloatatsomedistanceabovethesurfaceoftheearth,usuallyprovidethemselveswithwhateverscenerytheydesire,bythemethodthatIhavedescribed.

42.Thecommonestexampleofthisisthattheyconstructforthemselvestheweirdscenesdescribedintheirvariousscriptures,andthereforeinthoseregionsweconstantlyfindourselvesinpresenceofclumsyandunimaginativeattemptstoreproducesuchideasasjewelsgrowingupontrees,andseasofglassmingledwithfire,andcreatureswhicharefullofeyeswithin,anddeitieswithahundredheadsandarmstocorrespond.Inthisway,asaconsequenceofignoranceandprejudiceduringtheirphysicallife,manymendoagreatdealofvaluelessworkwhentheymightbeemployingtheirtimeinthehelpingoftheirfellows.

43.TothemanwhohasstudiedTheosophyandthereforeunderstandsthesehigherplanes,oneoftheirpleasantestcharacteristicsistheutterrestfulnessandfreedomwhichcomesfromtheabsenceofalltheseimperiousnecessitieswhichmakeamiseryoutofphysicallife.Thedeadmanistheonlyabsolutelyfreeman,freetodowhateverhewillsandtospendhistimeashechooses,freethereforetodevotethewholeofhisenergiestohelpinghisfellows.

44.___________

45.ANIMALOBSESSION

46.Wearefamiliarwiththeideathatanegoonitswaydownintoreincarnationmaysometimesbedrawnasidefromitscourseandindefinitelydelayedatastrallevelsbytheattractionofthegroupsoulofsomekindofanimalwithwhosecharacteristicsitisintoocloseaffinity.Weknowthatthesameaffinitysometimesseizesuponasoulupontheastralplaneafterdeath,anddetainsitinveryintimateassociationwithananimalform,andalsothatastheresultofgrosscrueltyitispossibletobekarmicallylinkedtoananimal,andtosuffermosthorriblywithit.AllthiswasdescribedbyMrs.Besantasfollows,inalettertoanIndianpaper,whichwasreproducedinTheTheosophicGleaner,vol.xv.page231:

47.Thehumanegodoesnotreincarnateinananimal,forreincarnationmeanstheenteringintoaphysicalvehiclewhichthereafterbelongstoandiscontrolledbytheego.Thepenalconnectionofthehumanegowithananimalformisnotreincarnationfortheanimalsoul,theproperownerofthevehicle,isnotdispossessed,norcanthehumanegocontrolthebodytowhichitistemporarilyattached.Nordoesthehumanegobecomeananimal,norloseitshumanattributes,whileundergoingitspunishment.Itdoesnothavetoevolveupagainthroughthesuccessivelowerstagesofhumanity,butonbeingsetfreeatoncetakesthegradeofhumanformtowhichitspreviousevolutionentitlesit.(SeethecasesofJadaBharata,andoftheRishi'swifesetfreebythetouchofRama'sfeetcaseswhichshowthatthepopularideathatthemanbecomesastoneorananimaliserroneous.)

48.Thefactsarethese.Whenanego,ahumansoul,byviciousappetiteorotherwise,formsaverystronglinkofattachmenttoanytypeofanimal,theastralbodyofsuchapersonshowsthecorrespondinganimalcharacteristics,andintheastralworldwherethoughtsandpassionsarevisibleasformsmaytaketheanimalshapes.Thus,afterdeath,inPretalokathesoulwouldbeembodiedinanastralvestureresembling,orapproximatingto,theanimalwhosequalitieshadbeenencouragedduringearthlife.Eitheratthisstage,orwhenthesoulisreturningtowardsreincarnation,andisagainintheastralworld,itmayinextremecasesbelinkedbymagneticaffinitytotheastralbodyoftheanimalithasapproachedincharacter,andwillthen,throughtheanimal'sastralbody,bechainedasaprisonertotheanimal'sphysicalbody.Thuschained,itcannotgoonwardstoSvargaifthetiebesetupwhileitisaPretanorgoonwardstohumanbirthifitbedescendingtowardsphysicallife.Itistrulyundergoingpenalservitude,chainedtoananimalitisconsciousintheastralworld,hasitshumanfaculties,butitcannotcontrolthebrutebodywithwhichitisconnected,norexpressitselfthroughthatbodyonthephysicalplane.Theanimalorganisationdoesnotpossessthemechanismneededbythehumanegoforselfexpressionitcanserveasajailor,notasavehicle.Furthertheanimalsoulisnotejected,butisthepropertenantandcontrollerofitsownbody.ShriShankaracharyahintsveryclearlyatthisdifferencebetweenthispenalimprisonmentandbecomingastone,atreeorananimal.Suchanimprisonmentisnotreincarnation,andtocallitbythatnameisaninaccuracyhence,whilefullyconversantwiththeabovefacts,Ishouldalwayssaythatthehumanegocannotreincarnateasananimal,cannotbecomeananimal.Thisisnottheonlyexperienceadegradedsoulmayhaveintheinvisibleworld,ofwhichhintsmaybefoundintheHinduShastras,for...thestatementsmadearepartialandveryincomplete.

49.Incaseswheretheegoisnotdegradedenoughforabsoluteimprisonment,butinwhichtheastralbodyisstronglyanimalised,itmaypassonnormallytohumanrebirth,buttheanimalcharacteristicswillbelargelyreproducedinthephysicalbodyaswitnessthe`monsters'whoinfactaresometimesrepulsivelyanimal,pigfaced,dogfaced,etc.Men,byyieldingtothemostbestialvices,entailonthemselvespenaltiesmoreterriblethantheyforthemostpartrealise,fornature'slawsworkonunbrokenlyandbringtoeverymantheharvestoftheseedshesows.Thesufferingentailedontheconscioushumanentitythuscutoffforthetimefromprogressandfromselfexpressionisverygreat,andisofcoursereformatoryinitsactionitissomewhatsimilartothatenduredbyotheregos,whoarelinkedtobodieshumaninform,butwithouthealthybrains thosewecallidiots,lunatics,etc.Idiocyandlunacyaretheresultsofvicesotherinkindfromthosethatbringabouttheanimalservitudeaboveexplained,buttheegointhesecasesalsoisattachedtoaformthroughwhichhecannotexpresshimself.

50.Theseinstancesaretheexplanation(oratleastapartoftheexplanation)ofthewidelyspreadbeliefthatamanmayundercertaincircumstancesreincarnateinananimalbody.InOrientalbooks,whatweshouldcallthreestagesofonelifearequitecommonlyspokenofasseparatelives.Itissaidthatwhenamandiestothephysicalplaneheisrebornatonceontheastralplanemeaningsimplythathisspeciallyandwhollyastrallifebeginsthenandinthesamewaywhatweshoulddescribeasthepassingintotheheavenlifeiscalledadeathontheastralplaneandarebirthatthehigherlevel.Thisbeingso,itiseasytounderstandthatoneoftheabnormalcasesabovementionedmightbedescribedas`rebirthasananimal,'althoughitisnotatallwhatweshouldmeanbysuchatermifweemployeditinTheosophicalliterature.

51.Inrecentinvestigationsourattentionhasbeendrawntoatypeofcasedifferingsomewhatfromeitheroftheaboveinthatthelinkwiththeanimalisintentionallymadebythehumanbeing,inordertoescapefromsomethingwhichhefeelstobefarworse.Nodoubtthistypealsowasknowntotheancients,andformsoneoftheclassesreferredtointhetraditionofanimalincarnations.Letmeendeavourtoexplainit.

52.Whenamandies,theethericpartofhisphysicalbodyiswithdrawnfromthedenserpart,andshortlyafterwards(usuallywithinafewhours)theastralbreaksawayfromtheetheric,andtheman'slifeontheastralplaneisbegun.Normallythemanisunconsciousuntilhehasfreedhimselffromtheetheric,andsowhenheawakenstoanewlifeitisthatoftheastralplane.Buttherearesomepeoplewhoclingsodesperatelytomaterialexistencethattheirastralvehiclescannotaltogetherseparatefromtheetheric,andtheyawakenstillsurroundedbyethericmatter.

53.Theethericbodyisonlyapartofthephysical,andisnotinitselfavehicleofconsciousnessnotabodyinwhichamancanliveandfunction.Sothesepoorpeopleareinaveryunpleasantcondition,suspendedasitwerebetweentwoplanes.Theyareshutoutfromtheastralworldbytheshellofethericmatterwhichsurroundsthem,andatthesametimetheyhavelostthephysicalsenseorgansbywhichalonetheycancomefullyintotouchwiththeworldofordinaryearthlife.

54.Theresultisthattheydriftabout,lonely,dumbandterrified,inathickandgloomyfog,unabletoholdintercoursewiththedenizensofeitherplane,glimpsingsometimesotherdriftingsoulsintheirownunfortunatepositions,yetpowerlesstocommunicateevenwiththem,incapableofjoiningthemorofarrestingtheiraimlesswanderingastheyaresweptonandengulfedintheraylessnight.Nowandagaintheethericveilmaypartsufficientlytopermitoneglanceintolowerastralscenes,butthatisrarelyencouraging,andindeedisoftenmistakenforaglimpseintohellsometimesforamomentsomefamiliarearthlyobjectmaybehalfseenusuallyfrompassingcontactwithastrongthoughtimagebutsuchrareandtantalisingliftingsofthefogonlymakeitsdarknessthemoresoulshakingandhopelesswhenitshutsdownagain.

55.Allthewhilethepoorsoulcannotrealisethatifhewouldbutletgohisfrenziedgrasponmatterhewouldslipatonce(throughafewmomentsofunconsciousness)intotheordinarylifeoftheastralplane.Butitisjustthatfeelingthathecannotbearthefeelingoflosingeventhemiserablehalfconsciousnessthathehasheclingseventothehorrorsofthisgreyworldofallembracingfogratherthanlethimselfsinkintowhatseemstohimaseaofnothingnessandcompleteextinction.Occasionally,astheresultofwickedandblasphemousteachingonearth,hefearstolethimselfgolestheshouldfallintohell.Ineithercase,hissuffering,hishopelessnessandutterdrearinessareusuallyextreme.

56.Outofthisunpleasantbutselfimposedpredicamentthereareseveralways.Therearemembersofourbandofinvisiblehelperswhodevotethemselvesspeciallytoseekingoutsoulswhoareinthispainfulcondition,andtryingtopersuadethemtoletthemselvessinkoutofitandtherearealsomanykindlypeopleamongthedeadwhotakethisupasasortofbranchofastralslumwork.Sometimessucheffortsaresuccessful,butonthewholefewofthevictimshavefaithandcourageenoughtoletgotheirholdonwhattothemislife,poorapologythoughitbe.Inprocessoftimetheethericshellwearsout,andtheordinarycourseofnaturereassertsitselfinspiteoftheirstrugglesandsometimesinsheerdespairtheyanticipatethisresult,decidingthatannihilationispreferabletosuchalife,andsorecklesslylettingthemselvesgotheresultbeinganoverwhelmingbutpleasantsurprisetothem.

57.Intheirearlierstruggles,however,therearesomewhoaresounfortunateastodiscoverunnaturalmethodsofrevivingtosomeextenttheirtouchwiththephysicalplaneinsteadofsinkingintotheastral.Theycandothisreadilythroughamedium,butusuallythemedium's`spiritguide'sternlyforbidsthemaccess.Heisquiterighttodoso,forintheirterrorandtheirgreatneedtheyareoftenutterlyunscrupulous,andtheywouldobsessandevenmaddenthemedium,fightingasadrowningmanfightsforlifeandallabsolutelyuselessly,sincetheeventualresultcouldonlybetoprolongtheirsufferingsbystrengtheningthatmaterialpartofwhichmostofalltheyshouldgetrid.

58.Occasionallytheycontrivetoseizeuponsomeonewhoisunconsciouslyamediumsomesensitiveyounggirl,usuallybuttheycanbesuccessfulinsuchanattemptonlywhentheegooftheyounggirlhasweakenedhisholdonhisvehiclesbyallowingtheindulgenceofundesirablethoughtsorpassions.Whentheego'srelationswithhisvehiclesarenormalandhealthyhecannotbedispossessedbythefranticeffortsofsuchpoorsoulsaswehavebeendescribing.

59.Ananimal,however,hasnoegobehindhim,thoughhehasafragmentofagroupsoulwhichmaybesaidtostandforhimintheplaceofanego.Theholdofthisfragmentuponhisvehiclesisbynomeanswhatthatofanegowouldbe,andsoitcomestopassthatwhatforthemomentwemaycallthe`soul'oftheanimalcanbedispossessedmuchmoreeasilythanthatofaman.Sometimes,asIhavesaid,thehumansoulwanderinginthegreyworldisunfortunateenoughtodiscoverthis,andsoinhismadnessheobsessesthebodyofananimal,orifhecannotquitedriveouttheanimalsoulhecontrivestogainpartialcontrol,soastosharethetenementtosomeextentwiththerightfulowner.Insuchacaseheisoncemoreintouchwiththephysicalplanethroughtheanimalheseesthroughtheanimal'seyes(oftenaveryremarkableexperience)andhefeelsanypaininflictedupontheanimalinfact,sofarashisownconsciousnessisconcerned,heistheanimalforthetimebeing.

60.AnoldandrespectedmemberofoneofourEnglishBranchesrelatedthathehadreceivedavisitfromamanwhocametoaskforadviceunderpeculiarcircumstances.Thevisitorwasamanwhogavetheimpressionofhavingseenbetterdays,buthehadfallenintosuchabjectpovertythathewascompelledtotakeanyworkthatoffered,andthusithappenedthathehadbecomeaslaughtermanatahugeabattoir.Hedeclaredthathewasabsolutelyunabletoexecutehisloathsometask,becausewhenhepreparedtoslaughterthecreatureshewasconstantlycheckedbycriesofheartrendinganguish,andbyvoiceswhichsaid:Havemercyuponus!Donotstrike,forwearehumanbeingsentangledwiththeseanimals,andwesuffertheirpain.So,sincehehadheardthattheTheosophicalSocietyoccupieditselfwithunusualanduncannymatters,hecametoittoaskforadvice.Nodoubtthismanwassomewhatclairaudient,orperhapssimplysensitiveenoughtocatchthethoughtsofthesepoorcreatureswhohadassociatedthemselveswiththeanimals,andthesethoughtsnaturallysymbolisedthemselvestohimasaudiblecriesformercy.Nowonderhewasunabletocontinuehisoccupation.

61.Thismaywellgivepausetothedevourerofflesh,tothemanwhocallsthemurderofanimals`sport,'andmostofalltothevivisectorthemanwhokillsortorturesananimalmaybeinflictingunspeakablesufferinguponahumanbeing.

62.Ihavelittledoubtthatthepossibilityforamaterialmindedmanofthisuncannyblunderisatleastpartoftherationaleofthebeliefofvarioustribesthatcertaincreaturesmustneverbekilledlestoneshouldunawaresbedispossessingthespiritofanancestor."Forthemanwhothusentangleshimselfwithananimalcannotabandonthatanimal'sbodyatwillevenifhelearntenoughtomakehimdesiretowithdraw,hecoulddosoonlygraduallyandbyconsiderableeffort,extendingprobablyovermanydays.Itisusuallyonlyatthedeathoftheanimalthatheissetfree,andeventhenthereremainsanastralentanglementtoshakeoff.Afterthedeathoftheanimalsuchasoulsometimesstrugglestoobsessanothermemberofthesameherd,orindeedanyothercreaturewhomhecanseizeinhisdesperation.

63.Ihavenoticedthatanimalsobsessedorsemiobsessedbyhumanbeingsareoftenshunnedorfearedbytherestoftheherd,andindeedtheyarethemselvesoftenhalfmaddenedbyangerandterroratthestrangenessofthethingandattheirownhelplessness.Theanimalsmostcommonlyseizeduponseemtobethelessdevelopedonescattle,sheepandswine.Moreintelligentcreatures,suchasdogs,catsandhorses,wouldpresumablynotbesoeasilydispossessedthoughmyattentionwasoncedrawntoapeculiarlyhorribleinstanceinwhichaCatholicpriesthadinthiswayattachedhimselftoacat.ThenthereisthewellknowncaseofthemonkeyofPandharpur,whobetrayedsocuriousaknowledgeofBrahmanaceremonies.Butinmostcasestheobsessingsoulhastobesatisfiedwithwhathecanget,fortheefforttooverpowereventhemorestupidbeastsusuallytaxeshispowerstotheutmost.

64.Thisobsessionofananimalseemstobethemodernsubstitutefortheawfullifeofthevampire.Inthetimeofthefourthrootrace,menwhohadamadclingingtomateriallifesometimescontrivedtomaintainalowandunspeakablyhorribleformofitintheirownphysicalbodiesbyabsorbinglivingbloodfromothers.Inthefifthracethathappilyseemsnolongertobepossible,butpeopleofthesametypeoccasionallyfallintothissnareofanimalobsessionbadenough,indubitably,butstillnotsoutterlygruesomeanddisgustingasvampirism.Soeveninitsveryworstandlowestaspectstheworldisimproving!

65.Ihaveknownofisolatedcasesoftwoothertypesofanimalconnectiononeinwhichawickeddeadpersonwasinthehabitoftemporarilyseizingthebodyofacertainanimalforspecificevilpurposes,andanotherinwhichanOrientalmagicianhad,asanactofrevengeforaninsulttohisreligiousfaith,mesmericallylinkedhisunhappyvictimtoananimalformafterdeath.Thiscouldbedoneonlyifthereexistedinthevictimsomeweaknessthroughwhichsuchamagiciancouldseizeuponhim,andifhehadintentionallydonesomethingwhichgavehimakarmicholduponhim.Normallyneitherofthesecaseswouldbeatallpossible.

66.Allobsessions,whetherofahumanorananimalbody,areanevilandahindrancetotheobsessingsoul,fortheytemporarilystrengthenhisholduponthematerial,andsodelayhisnaturalprogressintotheastrallife,besidesofcoursemakingallsortsofundesirablekarmiclinks.Thisgreylife,likealmostallotherunpleasantpossibilitiesconnectedwiththelifeafterdeath,cancomeonlyastheresultofignoranceoftherealconditionsofthatlife.Themorewelearnoflifeanddeath,themoreemphaticappearsthedutyofmakingeveryefforttospreadtheknowledgeofTheosophy,foritbecomeseverclearerandclearerthatinthatknowledgeislifeandhappinessandprogressforall.

67._____________

68.INDIVIDUALISEDANIMALS

69.Whenanindividualisedanimaldieshehasahappyastrallifeofconsiderablelength,duringwhichheusuallyremainsintheimmediateneighbourhoodofhisearthlyhomeandintheclosesttouchwithhisespecialfriendandprotectorabletoseeandenjoythesocietyofhisfriendasfullyasever,thoughhimselfinvisibletothelatter,hismemoryofthepastbeingofcoursejustasperfectasitwasonearth.Thiswillbefollowedbyastillhappierperiodofwhathassometimesbeencalleddozingconsciousness,whichwilllastuntilinsomefutureworldthehumanformisassumed.Duringallthistimeheisinastateanalogoustothatofahumanbeingintheheavenworld,thoughatasomewhatlowerlevel.Hecreateshisownsurroundings,eventhoughhemaybebutdrowsilyconsciousofthem,andtheywillundoubtedlyincludethepresenceofhisearthfriendinhisverybestandmostsympatheticmood.Foreveryentitywhichcomesintoconnectionwithit,whetheronlyjustenteringuponhumanevolutionorpreparingtopassbeyondit,theheavenworldmeansthehighestblissofwhichthatentityis,athislevel,capable.

70.LOCALISATIONOFSTATES

71.Theideaoflocationappliestothesubplanesoftheastral,butonlytoalimitedextent.Matterofallthestagesundoubtedlysurroundsushereonthesurfaceoftheearth,andthelivingman,employinghisastralbodyduringthesleepofthephysical,comesintotouchwiththemallsimultaneously,andisabletoreceiveimpressionsfromthemall.Thatis,ifI,usingmyastralbodyduringsleep,lookatanotherlivingman'sastralbody,Iseethewholeofit,includingofcoursematterofeverysubplane.Butinthecaseoftheaveragedeadman,therehasbeenarearrangementofthematterofhisastralbody,consequentupontheproceedingsofwhatiscommonlycalledthedesireelemental,andbroadlyspeakingonlyonetypeofastralmatterisavailabletoreceiveimpressions.

72.Whatweusuallycall`sight'ontheastralplaneisnotreallysightatall,forthatwordimpliestheuseofanorganspecialisedtoreceivecertainvibrations.Astralcognitionisarrangedonanentirelydifferentscheme.Ithasoftenbeensaidthatamancan`see'withanypartofhisastralbodythatis,everyparticleofthatbodyiscapableofreceivingimpressionsfromwithoutandtransmittingthemtotheconsciousnesswithin.Buteveryparticleisnotcapableofreceivingeverypossibleimpression.

73.Forexample,IbecamecognizantofthelowestkindofastralmatteronlybymeansofmatterofthesamesubdivisionexistinginmyownastralbodyandIreceiveitsvibrationsthroughtheparticlesofthatlowesttypeofmatterwhichhappentobeatthemomentonthesurfaceofmyastralbody.Sinceduringlifealltheparticlesoftheastralbodyareconstantlyinmotionamongthemselves,muchasaretheparticlesofaboilingliquid,itinevitablyhappensthatallthesubdivisionsofmatterarerepresenteduponthesurfaceoftheastralbody,andthatiswhyIamabletoseeallthestagessimultaneously.Theordinarymanafterdeathhasforpracticalpurposesonlyonetypeofmatteroutside,becauseoftheconcentricshellarrangementthereforehisviewoftheastralworldaroundhimisaveryimperfectone.

74.Ifhe,immuredinashellofmatteroftheloweststage,looksatalivingman'sastralbody,hecanseeonlythatpartofitwhichconsistsofthatlowesttypeofmatterbutashehasnomeansofrealisingthelimitationofhisfaculties,heinevitablyassumesthatheseesthewholeoftheotherman'sastralbody,andthereforethattheothermanisapersonpossessingnocharacteristicsbutthoseeminentlyunsatisfactoryoneswhichaloneexpressthemselvesthroughmatterofthatparticularsubdivision.

75.Heislivinginthemidstofallsortsofhighinfluencesandbeautifulthoughtforms,butisalmostentirelyunconsciousoftheirexistence,becausethoseparticlesofhisastralbodywhichcouldrespondtotheirvibrationsarecarefullyshutinwheretheycannotbereached.Thatlowesttypeofastralmattercorrespondstothesolidsubdivisionofphysicalmatter,andtheastralcounterpartofanysolidphysicalobjectiscomposedofthatlowestsubdivisionofastralmattertheseventhclassofastralmatter,ifwenumberthesubplanesfromabovedownwards.Theastralcounterpartsofthefloor,wallsandfurnitureofaroomareallofthelowesttypeofastralmatter,andconsequentlythemannewlydeadusuallyseesthesecounterpartsvividly,andisalmostentirelyunconsciousofthevastseaofthoughtformswhichencompasseshim,becausenearlyallthoseformsarebuiltoutofcombinationsofthefinertypesofastralmatter.

76.Inprocessoftime,astheconsciousnesssteadilywithdrawsinwardtheshellofthiscoarsesttypeofmatteratrophiesandbeginstodisintegrate,andmatterofasomewhathighertypeisasitwereuncovered,andbecomesthesurfacethroughwhichimpressionscanbereceived.Sincethisusuallyhappensgradually,itmeansthatthemanfindsthecounterpartsofphysicalobjectsgrowingdimmeranddimmer,whilethethoughtformsbecomemoreandmorevividtohim,sothatwithoutnecessarilymovingatallinspace,hefindshimselflivinginadifferentworld.Ifwhilethisprocessisgoingonheshouldencounteryouatintervalshewillbesensibleofwhatwillappeartohimasagreatimprovementinyourcharacternotthatyouhavenecessarilychanged,butthatheisbecomingabletoappreciatethehighervibrationsofthatcharacter,andislosingthepowertoreceivethelowerones.Yourdispositionmayremainjustwhatitwas,butthedeadmanhavingcommencedbyseeingonlyitsworstfeatures,willpassitallslowlyinreviewuntilpresentlyhereachesaconditioninwhichonlythebestandhighestsideofitiswithinhisconsciousness.

77.Thistheniswhatismeantbypassingfromonesubplanetoanotherthatthemanlosessightofonepartofthewonderfulcomplexitywhichistheastralworld,andthatanotherpartofitcomesintohisview.Itisafterallonlyarepetitiononasmallerscaleofwhathappenstoeachoneofusaswepassfromplanetoplane.Thewholeastralworldandthewholementalworldarebothofthemaroundushereandnow,yetsolongasourconsciousnessisfocussedinthephysicalbrainweareblanklyunconsciousofthem.Atdeaththeconsciousnessistransferredtotheastralbody,andatoncewefindourselvesseeingtheastralpartofourworld,havinglostsightofthephysical.Whenlateronwelosetheastralbodyinturn,andliveinthementalbody,wearethenconscious(thoughonlypartially)ofthementalpartofourworld,andhavealtogetherlostforthetimeboththeastralandthephysical.Justasitispossibleforthemanlivingontheastralplanetodefythedesireelementalandinsistuponkeepingtheparticlesofhisastralbodyinconstantmotion,justastheywereduringhisphysicallife,soitispossibleforthemanstillinphysicallifetotrainhimselftohaveathiscommandthephysicalandastralandmentalconsciousnesspracticallysimultaneouslybutthismeansconsiderableadvancement.

78.Tosumuptheforegoing,then:`risinghigher'intheordinaryspiritualisticsenseissimplyraisingtheconsciousnessfromonestageoftheastraltoanother,thematteroftheastralbodyhavinginthefirstplacebeenarrangedafterdeathbythedesireelemental.Insuchacasetheconsciousnesscanactonlythroughtheshellofmatterwhichliesoutermost,andconsequentlyatfirstthedeadmanisconfinedtotheperceptionofthelowestsubplane,andcanonlybecomeconsciousofahighersubplanewhenthatoutercoatingofdensermatterisingreatpartwornaway.Consequentlysuchamanintheearlierpartofhispostmortemexistenceisnaturallyshutofffromallthebestandpleasantestpartofastrallifeandwhenheescapesfromthatconditionhemayinonesensebesaidtohaverisenhigher.

79.ATheosophist,whocomprehendstheconditionsoftheastralplane,altogetherdeclinestopermittherearrangementofhisastralbodybythedesireelementalinthefirstplaceorifthatshouldhappenduringthemomentaryunconsciousnesswhichimmediatelysucceedsdeath,thoseofuswhoaretryingtohelpthemanimmediatelybreakuptheelemental'sarrangementandrestoretheastralbodytoexactlytheconditioninwhichitwasduringlife,withallitsvarietiesofmattermingledinthenaturalway,sothatthedeadmancanperceivethewholeoftheastralplane,insteadofonlyonesubdivisionofit.Inthiswayhisastrallifeisperfectfromthefirst,andhecanbeamuchmoreusefulpersonthanifhewereconfinedtotheconsciousnessofonesubdivisiononly.

80.Still,asIexplainedinTheInnerLife,Vol.I,inthechapteronspheres,thereisjustthismuchoftruthbehindtheideaoflocationasconnectedwiththesubplanes.Hereonthesurfaceoftheearthweareinpresenceofmatterinthesolid,liquid,gaseousandethericconditions.Butitisundoubtedlytruethat,broadlyspeaking,thesolidmatterformsthebasic,thattheliquidmatterisusuallyrestinguponit,andthatthegaseousmatterrestsuponbothoftheselowerforms.Thereisacertainamountofsolidmatterandagreatdealofliquidmatterfloatingintheairaboveus,butstillitremainsbroadlytruethatthezoneofsolidmatterislimitedbythesurfaceoftheearth,andthezoneofliquidmatterbytheuppersurfaceoftheclouds,whilethezoneofgaseousmatterextendsagreatmanymilesabovethat,andthezoneofspecialisedethericmatteragreatdealfartherstill.Sothatalthoughallclassesofmatterexistaroundushere,wemightyetsaythatinonesenseeachhasazoneofitsown,andthatineachcasethezoneofafinertypeofmatterextendssomewhatfartherfromthecentreoftheearththanthezoneofthedensertypeofmatternextbelowit.

81.Asimilarconditionexistswithregardtoastralmatter.Allpossiblekindsofitexistherecloseaboutus,andthegreatmajorityofthedenizensoftheastralworldspendmostoftheirlivescomparativelyneartothesurfaceofthephysicalearthbutastheywithdrawintothemselves,andtheirconsciousnesstouchesthehighertypesofmatter,theyfinditeasierandmorenaturalthanbeforetosoarawayfromthatsurfaceintoregionswheretherearefewerdisturbingcurrents.Iwasoncebroughtintotouchwiththecaseofadeadmanwhoinformedafriendofmine,duringaseriesofspiritualisticsances,thathefrequentlyfoundhimselfaboutfivehundredmilesabovethesurfaceoftheearth.Inthiscasethequestionerwasonewhowaswellversedinoccultism,andwhowouldthereforeknowwellhowtoconducthisenquiriesandtheinvestigationsofhisfriendontheothersideintelligentlyandscientificallysothattheremightwellbesometruthinhisfriend'sassertions.

82.Thefinertypesofastralmatterextendalmosttotheorbitofthemoon,whencethenamethattheGreeksgavetotheastralplanethesublunarworld.Infact,sonearlydoesthelimitofastralmattercoincidewiththatorbit,thattheastralenvelopesofthemoonandtheearthusuallytouchoneanotheratperigee,butnotatapogee.Iknew,likewise,ofacaseinwhichadeadmanreachedthemoon,butcouldnotthenreturn.Thatwasbecausethecontinuityofastralmatterfailedhimthetideofspacehadflowedinbetween,asitwere,andhehadtowaituntilcommunicationwasreestablishedtheapproachofthesatellitetoitsprimary.

83.HEAVENLIFECONDITIONS

84.Theprincipaldifficultyinunderstandingtheconditionsoftheheavenworldcomesfromourinveteratehabitofthinkingofthepersonalityastheman.Iftwofriendsareboundbytiesofaffection,wemusttrytorememberthatthebondisbetweenthesoulsandnotthebodiesthattheyarefriendsnowonearthbecauseinquitedifferentbodiestheyhaveknownandlovedeachotherperhapsforthousandsofyears.Thatfactdrawstheirphysicalbodiestogetheronthisplane,butitdoesnotenablethemtounderstandmoreofoneanotherthantheirphysicalcapabilitiespermitandfurther,eachwearsthreeheavyveils,intheshapeofthemental,astralandphysicalbodies,toconcealhisrealselffromtheother.

85.Whenoneofthemdieshepassesontotheastralplane,andtherehemeetshislivingfriendfacetofaceduringthesleepofthelatter.Evenalreadyhecanseesomewhatmoreofhisfriendthanbefore,becauseforeachofthem,duringthosehoursofsleep,theheaviestofthethreeveilshasbeenwithdrawn.Thedeadmanisstilldealingwiththepersonalityofhisfriendonly,andthereforeifsomegreatsorrowshouldfalluponthewakinglifeofthatfriend,itwouldinevitablybereflectedinhisastrallife,andthedeadmanwouldperceiveit.Foroursleepingandwalkinglivesareinrealitybutone,andduringoursleepweareawareofthatfact,andhavethecontinuousmemoryofbothopenbeforeus.Youwillsee,therefore,thattheastralbodyofhislivingfriend(withwhichthedeadmanisdealing)istheastralbodyofthepersonality,andheisthereforefullyconsciousofwhatishappeningtothatpersonality.

86.Whentheheavenworldisreachedallthisischanged.Thedeadmanisthenfunctioninginhismentalbodythesamementalbodywhichhehasusedduringhispastearthlifebuthedoesnotmeettherethementalbodywhichhisfriendisusingduringlife.Onthecontrary,thedeadmanhimselfbyhisthoughtbuildsforhisfriendanentirelyseparatementalbody,anditistheegoofhisfriendwhichensoulsit,workingfromitsownlevelandfromthecausalbody.Thisisanadditionalopportunityformentalplaneactivityforthefriend,andisentirelyseparateineverywayfromthepersonalityofhisphysicallife.

87.Itisnotpossibleforonemantoensoulmorethanonephysicalbodyatonetime,butitisquitepossibleforhimtoensoulsimultaneouslyanynumberofthethoughtformswhichotherpeoplemaymakeofhimonthementalplaneinthecourseoftheirheavenlife.Ithinkitisamisunderstandingofthisfactwhichhadledsometothinkthatseveralphysicalbodiesmaybeincarnationsofoneman.

88.Youwillsee,therefore,thatanysorrowortroublewhichmayfalluponthepersonalityofthelivingman,andmayconceivablyinfluencehismentalbody,willnotintheleastaffecthisotherthoughtformwhichhisegoisusingasanadditionalmentalbody.Ifinthatmanifestationheknowsatallofsuchsorrowortrouble,hewillregarditashewouldfromthecausalbodythatistosay,itwillnotbetohimasorrowortroubleatall,butonlyalesson,ortheworkingoutofsomekarma.Thereisnodelusionatallinthisviewofhis,becauseheisseeingthematterasitreallyis,fromthepointofviewoftheegoonhisownplane.Itisourlowerpersonalviewthatisthedelusion,becauseweseesorrowandtroublewhereinrealitythereareonlythestepsonourupwardway.

89.Thetwofriendsmayknowfarmoreofeachotheratthatlevel,becauseeachhasnowonlyoneveil,thatofthementalbody,castoverhisindividualitybutthereisstillthatveil.Ifthedeadmanhasknownonlyonesideofhisfriendduringlife,itwillbeonlythroughthatsidethatthefriendcanexpresshimselfintheheavenworld.Hecanexpressthatsideofhimselfmuchmorefullyandsatisfactorilythaneverbeforebutheislargelyconfinedtothatside.Still,itisafullerexpressionthanthedeadmanhaseverbeenabletoseeuponthelowerplanes.Hebynomeansforgetsthatthereissuchathingassuffering,becauseheremembersclearlyhispastlifebutheunderstandsnowmanythingsthatwerenotclearwhenhewasonthephysicalplane,andthedelightofthepresentisforhimsogreatthatsorrowseemstohimalmostlikeadream.

90.Itisaskedhowwewhostillliveonearthconversewithourfriendsinheavenifbyweyoumeanourpersonality,thatdoesnotconversewithfriendsinheaven.Therealegodoesdoso,ashasbeensaid,butintheveilofthispersonalityweknownothingofthat.

91.SupposethatagoodCatholicmotherdied,whodearlylovedherdaughter,andthatafterthemotherhadreachedtheheavenworld,herdaughterembracedTheosophy.Themotherwouldgoonimaginingherdaughterasmerelyorthodoxwouldshenotinthisbeunderadelusion?Yes,shewould,forthisisaninstanceofoneofthepossiblelimitationstowhichIhavepreviouslyreferred.Ifthemothercouldseeonlysuchofherdaughter'sthoughtascouldbeexpressedbyorthodoxideas,therewouldnaturallybepointsinthenewrevelationwhichhadcometothedaughterwhichthemotherwouldbelittleabletograsp.Butinsofarastheegoofthedaughterprofitedbywhatthepersonalityhadlearnt,therewouldbeatendencyonherpartgraduallytowidenoutandperfecttheconceptionofthemother,butalwaysalongthelinestowhichthemotherwasaccustomed.Therewouldbenosenseofdifferenceofopinion,andnoavoidanceofsubjectsofreligion.

92.YouwillunderstandthatIamspeakinghereoftheordinarypersoninthecaseofamoreadvancedmanwhowasalreadyfullyconsciousinthecausalbody,hewouldputhimselfdownconsciouslyintothethoughtformprovidedforhimbyafriendintheheavenworld,asintoanadditionalmentalbody,andworkthroughitwithdefiniteintentionsothatifsuchamanshouldacquireadditionalknowledgehecoulddirectlyandintentionallycommunicateittothatfriend.InthiswaytheMastersworkonsuchoftheirpupilsastaketheheavenlife,andaltertheircharactersimmensely.

93.Aman'sconditionintheheavenlifedependsupontheamountofspiritualforceinhim.Oftwopeopleofthesameclassortypethemorespiritualwouldnaturallyremainalongertimebutitmustbeborneinmindthattheforcemaybeusedupquicklyorslowlyaccordingtothenecessitiesofeachman'sevolution.ThosewhohavedevotedthemselvesespeciallytotheworkofservingtheGreatOnes,andthroughthemhumanity,arelikelyinthisrespecttohaveexperiencesdifferingsomewhatfromtheordinary.ItisevidentthatourMastershavealready,manymillenniaago,formedaspecialbandofserversandhelpersfromthosewhohaveofferedthemselvesforsuchwork,andTheyusethisbodyofmenasakindofregimentofpioneerstobesentwhereverspecialworkofthatkindisneeded.

94.ThosewhohavereadthelivesofAlcyone,aspublishedinTheTheosophist,willrealisethattheheroofthatremarkablestoryisamemberofthatbandorperhapsweshouldrathersayofoneofthosebandsandforthatreasonitwillbefoundthatoverandoveragainthesamesetofpeoplecometogetherinallsortsofdifferentplaces,intheirsuccessiveincarnations.Itisobviousthatinagroupofahundredpeopletheremustbemanydivergencessomeofthemwillassuredlygeneratemorespiritualforcethanothers,andtheirkarmawouldnaturallybesuchastotakethemintodifferingsurroundings,yettheonegreatfactthattheyaredevotedtoserviceoverpowersalltheseconsiderations,andtheyarebroughttogetherinorderthattheymaybeutilisedasawhole.

95.Besurethatinthisthereisnoinjustice,andthatnooneofthem,forthisoranyotherreason,escapesonejotofthekarmawhichislegitimatelyduetohim.Indeed,thosewhoofferthemselvesforservicenotinfrequentlysufferconsiderablyinthecourseofthatservicesometimesbecauseitisnecessarythattheirpastkarmashouldbeclearedupquickly,inorderthattheymaybefreetodohigherworkwithoutanyhindrancefromit,andinothercasesbecausetheirworkmayhavemadeitimpossibleforthemtoreaplifeafterlifethekarmathatwouldotherwisehavecometothem,andsoaconsiderableaccumulationmaydescenduponthematonceinsomegiganticcatastrophe.InstancesoftheworkingofboththesemethodsmaybefoundinthelivesofAlcyone.

96.Inthecaseofthegreatbulkofhumanitythereisnospecialinterferencefromwithout,andtheheavenlifeofeachworksitselfoutatwhatevermaybeitsordinaryrate.Naturallythisdifferenceinthetimeofworkingoutinvolvesalsoadifferenceofintensitywhichisshownbyagreaterorlessbrilliancyinthelightofthementalbody.Themoredevelopedman,especiallyifhehasbeforehimtheideaofservice,usuallygenerateskarmaduringhisheavenlife,andthushemaymodifyitevenwhileitisinprogress.

97.ItistruethatMadameBlavatskystatesinTheKeyToTheosophythatitisimpossibleforamaterialisttohaveanyheavenlife,ashehadnotwhileonearthbelievedinanysuchconditionbutitseemsprobablethatshewasemployingthewordmaterialistinamorerestrictedsensethanthatinwhichitisgenerallyused,forinthesamevolumeshealsoassertsthatforthemnoconsciouslifeafterdeathispossibleatall,whereasitisamatterofcommonknowledgeamongthosewhosenightlyworkliesupontheastralplanethatmanyofthosewhomweusuallycallmaterialistsaretobemetwiththere,andarecertainlynotunconscious.

98.Forexample,aprominentmaterialistintimatelyknowntooneofourmemberswasnotlongagodiscoveredbyhisfriendinthehighestsubdivisionoftheastralworld,wherehehadsurroundedhimselfwithhisbooksandwascontinuinghisstudiesalmostashemighthavedoneonearth.Onbeingquestionedbyhisfriendhereadilyadmittedthatthetheorieswhichhehadheldwhileonearthwereconfutedbytheirresistiblelogicoffacts,buthisownagnostictendencieswerestillstrongenoughtomakehimunwillingtoacceptwhathisfriendtoldhimastotheexistenceofthestillhigherspiritualstateoftheheavenworld.Yettherewascertainlymuchinthisman'scharacterwhichcouldfinditsfullresultonlyintheheavenworld,andsincehisentiredisbeliefinanylifeafterdeathhasnotpreventedhisastralexperience,thereseemsnoreasontosupposethatitcancheckthedueworkingoutofthehigherforcesinhimuponthementalplane.

99.Weconstantlyfinddownherethatnaturemakesnoallowanceforourignoranceofherlawsif,underanimpressionthatfiredoesnotburn,amanputshishandintoaflame,heisspeedilyconvincedofhiserror.Inthesamewayaman'sdisbeliefinafutureexistencedoesnotaffectthefactsofnature,andinsomecasesatleasthesimplyfindsoutafterdeaththathewasunderamistake.ThekindofmaterialismreferredtobyMadameBlavatskywasprobablysomethingmuchcoarserandmoreaggressivethanordinaryagnosticismsomethingwhichwouldrenderitexceedinglyunlikelythatamanwhohelditwouldhaveanyqualitiesrequiringaheavenlifeinwhichtoworkthemselvesoutbutnosuchcaseasthathasyetcomeunderourobservation.

100. ___________

101. KARMAINTHEHEAVENLIFE

102. IntheearlierdaysofourstudyofTheosophywewereledtolookuponallotherworldsbutthephysicalasalmostexclusivelythetheatreofresultsandnotofcauses.Itwassupposedthatmanspenthisphysicallifetoalargeextentingeneratingkarma,andhisexistenceontheastralandmentalplanesinworkingitout,andthesuggestionthatamancouldbyanymeansmakeanymorekarma,evenontheastralplane,wasregardedasalmostheretical.

103. Astheyearsrolledonandsomeofusbecameabletostudyastralconditionsatfirsthand,itbecameobviousthatthisideahadbeenanerror,sinceitwasmanifestlypossibleforusinworkingonthatplanetoperformsactionsofvarioussortswhichproducedfarreachingresults,Wesoonsawalsothatnotonlythemanstillattachedtoaphysicalbodycouldproducetheseresults,butthattheywereequallywithinthepowerofonewhohadcastoffthatvehicle.Wefoundthatanydevelopedmanisineverywayquiteasactiveduringhisastrallifeafterphysicaldeathasduringhisphysicallifebeforeitthathecanunquestionablyhelporhindernotonlyhisownprogressbutthatofothersquiteasmuchafterdeathasbefore,andconsequentlythatheisallthetimegeneratingkarmaofthegreatestimportance.

104. Thismodifiedviewofafterdeathconditionsgraduallyfounditswayintoourliterature,andmaybeconsiderednowasuniversallyacceptedbyallTheosophists.Butformanyyearsafterwehadcorrectedourmisconceptionsuponthisimportantpoint,westillheldtotheideathatintheheavenworldatleastmancoulddopracticallynothingbutenjoytheconditionswhichhehadmadeforhimselfduringthepreviousstagesofhisexistence.Broadlyspeaking,thisistruefortheordinaryman,thoughwedonotalwaysrealizethateveninthecourseofthatenjoymenttheinhabitantoftheheavenworldisaffectingothers,andthereforeproducingresults.

105. Onewhohassucceededinraisinghisconsciousnesstothelevelofthecausalbodyhasalreadyunifiedthehigherandlowerselves(tousetheolderterminology),andtohimthestatementsmadeastoaveragehumanitynaturallydonotapply.Suchanonehastheconsciousnessoftheegoathisdisposalduringthewholeofhisphysicallife,andthatisnotatallaffectedbythedeathofthephysicalbody,norevenbythesecondandthirddeathsinwhichheleavesbehindhimtheastralandthementalbodiesrespectively.Forhimthewholeofthatseriesofincarnationsisonlyonelonglife,andwhatwecallanincarnationistohimadayinthatlife.Allthroughhishumanevolutionhisconsciousnessisfullyactive,anditnaturallyfollowsthatheismakingkarmajustasmuchatoneperiodofitasatanotherandwhilehisconditionatanyonemomentistheresultofthecauseswhichhehassetinmotioninthepast,thereisnoinstantatwhichheisnotmodifyinghisconditionsbytheexerciseofthoughtandwill.

106. Menwhohavereachedthatlevelareatpresentrarebutthereareotherswhopossessasimilarpowerinaminordegree.Everyhumanbeing,afterhehaspassedthroughhislifeontheastralandlowermentalplanes,hasamomentaryflashoftheconsciousnessoftheego,inwhichheseeshislastlifeasawhole,andgathersfromittheimpressionofsuccessorfailureintheworkwhichitwasmeanttodoandalongwiththishehasalsoaforecastofthelifebeforehim,withtheknowledgeofthegenerallessonwhichthatistoteach,orthespecificprogresswhichheisintendedtomakeinit.Onlyveryslowlydoestheegoawakentothevalueoftheseglimpses,butwhenhecomestounderstandthemhenaturallybeginstomakeuseofthem.

107. Thusbyimperceptibledegreeshearrivesatastageinhisevolutionwhenthisglimpseisnolongermomentarywhenheisabletoconsiderthequestionmuchmorefully,andtodevotesometimetohisplansforthelifewhichliesbeforehim.Hisconsciousnessgraduallyincreases,andhecomestohaveanappreciablelifeonthehigherlevelsofthementalplaneeachtimethathetouchesthem.Whenhearrivesatthisstagehesoonfindsthatheisoneamongavastnumberofotheregos,andthathecandosomethingelsewithhislifeamongthembesidesmakingplansforhisownfuture.Hemayanddoesliveaconsciouslifeamonghispeers,inthecourseofwhichheinfluencestheminmanyways,andishimselfinfluencedinturn.Herethereforeisapossibilityofmakingkarma,andofmakingitonascalewhichisentirelyoutofhisreachontheselowerplanes,foreverythoughtonthosehighermentallevelshasaforcequiteoutofproportiontothatofourlimitedthoughtduringphysicallife.

108. ThisofwhichIamspeakingisquitedistinctfromtheconsciousnesswhichcomeswiththeunifyingofthehigherandlowerselves.Whenthatfeathasbeenperformedtheman'sconsciousnessresidesintheegoallthetime,andfromthategoitplaysthroughwhatevervehiclehemayhappentobeusing.Butinthecaseofamanwhohasnotyetachievedthatuniontheconsciousnessoftheegoonhisownplanecomesintoactivityonlywhenheisnolongerhamperedbyanylowervehicles,andexistsonlyuntilheputshimselfdownagainintoincarnationforassoonashetakesupalowerbodyhisconsciousnesscanmanifestforthetimeonlythroughthatbody.

109. Shortofthatperfectconsciousnessoftheego,therearestagesofdevelopmentwhichitisnecessarytonote.Theordinary`maninthestreet'hasusuallynodefiniteandreliableconsciousnessoutsideofthephysicalplane.Hisastralbodymaybefullydevelopedandquitecapableofbeingusedasavehicleinanyandeverywayyetheisprobablynotinthehabitofsousingit,andthereforehisexperiencesoftheastralworldareofavagueanduncertaincharacter.Hemaysometimesrememberoneofthemvividly,butonthewholethetimeofthesleepofthephysicalbodyisforhimablank.

110. Thenextstagebeyondthisisthatofthegradualdevelopmentofthehabitofusingtheastralbody,accompaniedastimegoesonbysomerecollectionofwhatisdoneinit.Theendofthisistheopeningoftheastralconsciousness,thoughusuallythatcomesonlyastheresultofdefiniteeffortsalongthelineofmeditation.Whenthisopeningisattainedtheman'sconsciousnessiscontinuousthroughnightandday,anduptotheendoftheastrallife,sothatheavoidstheusualtemporarysuspensionofconsciousnessatthedeathofthephysicalbody.

111. Thenextstagebeyondthisalongstageusuallyisthedevelopmentoftheconsciousnessofthementalbody,andwhenthatisachieved,eachpersonalityremainsconsciousfromphysicalbirthuntiltheendofitslifeintheheavenworld.Buteventhenitisonlytheconsciousnessofthepersonality,andnotyetoftheego,andstillanotherstepmustbetakenbeforecompleteunificationisattained.

112. Itisclearthatmenwhohavereachedanyofthesestagesaremakingkarmaasfarastheirconsciousnessreachesbutwhatastotheordinaryman,whohasnotyetquitesucceededinlinkingeventheastralconsciousnesstothephysical?Insofarashehasanyactivitiesontheastralplaneduringsleep,hemustbeproducingresults.Ifhefeels,evenblindly,loveandaffectiontowardscertainpersons,andgoesouttowardsthemduringsleepwithvaguethoughtsofgoodwill,hemustinevitablyaffectthemtoacertainextent,andtheeffectmustbeagoodone.Thereforethereisnopossibilityofavoidingareactionuponhimselfwhichwillalsobegood.Thesameistrueifthefeelingunfortunatelybeoneofdislikeorofactivehatred,andtheresultforhiminthatcasecannotbutbepainful.

113. When,afterdeath,helivesentirelyintheastralworld,hisconsciousnessisusuallymuchmoredefinitethanithasbeenduringthesleepofhisphysicalbody,andheiscorrespondinglybetterabletothinkandactwithdeterminationinregardtoothermen,andsohisopportunitiesofmakinggoodorbadkarmaarethegreater.Butwhensuchamanendshisastrallifeandpassesintotheheavenworldhereachesaconditionwhereactivityisnolongerpossibleforhim.Hehasencouragedactivitiesinhismentalbody,duringlife,incertaindirectionsonly,andnowthathecomestoliveentirelyinthatmentalbodyhefindshimselfenclosedwithinitasinatower,shutofffromtheworldaroundhimandabletolookoutuponitonlythroughthewindowsinitwhichhehasopenedbymeansofthoseactivities.

114. Throughthosewindowsthemightyforcesoftheplaneplayuponhimherespondstothemandleadsalifeofvividjoywhichis,however,confinedtothoseparticularlines.But,thoughheisthusshutawayfromthefullenjoymentofthepossibilitiesofthementalworld,itmustnotbesupposedthatheisintheslightestdegreeconsciousofanycurtailmentofhisactivitiesorhisfeelings.Heis,onthecontrary,filledwithblisstotheveryutmostofwhichheiscapable,anditistohimincrediblethattherecanbeanygreaterjoythanthatwhichheishimselfexperiencing.True,hehasshuthimselfinwithincertainlimitsbutheisquiteunconsciousofthoselimits,andhehasallthathecanpossiblydesireorthinkofwithinthem.Hehassurroundedhimselfwithimagesofhisfriends,sothatthroughtheseimagesheisactuallyincloserconnectionwiththemthanhehaseverbeenonanyotherplane.

115. Letusseethenwhatarehispossibilitiesformakingkarmainthiscuriouslylimitedlifelimited,wemustremember,fromthepointofviewofthementalworldonly,foralongthelinesofitsspecialdirectionsitspossibilitiesarefargreaterthanthoseofphysicallife.Amanundersuchconditionscannotoriginateafreshlineofaffectionordevotion,buthisaffectionanddevotionalongthelineswhichhehasalreadydecidedwillbedistinctlymuchmorepowerfulthantheyevercouldhavebeenwhilehewaslabouringundertheheavylimitationsofthephysicalbody.

116. Anordinarymansuchaswehavedescribedis,quiteunintentionallyandunconsciouslytohimself,producingthreeseparateresults,duringthewholeofhisheavenlife.Letustakeasanexampletheemotionofaffection.Hefeelsthisstronglyforcertainfriends,anditisprobablethatevenafterhisdeaththosefriendsstillthinkofhimwithkindlyremembrance,andthushismemoryisnotwithoutitseffectevenupontheirpersonalities.ButentirelyapartfromthisistheeffecttowhichIhaveabovereferredthathemakesanimageofeachfriendand,insodoing,drawsforthastrongresponsefromtheegoofthatfriend.Theaffectionwhichhepoursuponthatego(manifestingthroughthethoughtformwhichhehasmadeforit)isamightypowerforgood,whichbearsnoinconsiderablepartintheevolutionofthatego.Itevokesfromhimanamountofaffectionwhichwouldnototherwisebestirredupinhimandthesteadyintensificationofthatmostadmirablequalitythroughoutthecenturiesoftheheavenliferaisesthefriendconsiderablyinthescaleofevolution.Todothisforanotheregoisunquestionablyanactwhichgenerateskarma,eventhoughthemanwhohassetallthismachineryinmotionhasdonesouncomprehendingly.

117. Occasionallytheactionofsuchaforceupontheegoofasurvivingfriendmaymanifestitselfeveninthepersonalityofthatfrienduponthephysicalplane.Theactionisupontheegothroughthespecialthoughtformbutthepersonalityofthesurvivingfriendinthisworldisamanifestationofthesameego,andiftheegobeconsiderablymodifieditisatleastpossiblethatthatmodificationmayshowitselfinthephysicalmanifestationonthislowerplane.Itmaybeaskedwhythethoughtofthemanintheheavenworldshouldnotactuponhisfriendpreciselyasdoesthethoughtofalivingmanwhythevibrationssentforthfromhismentalbodycannotstrikedirectlyuponthementalbodyofhisfriend,andwhyitshouldnotgenerateathoughtformwhichwouldtravelthroughspaceandattachitselftohisfriendintheordinaryway.Ifheweremovingfreelyandconsciouslyaboutthementalplanethatispreciselywhatwouldhappen,butthereasonthatitdoesnotliesinthepeculiarconditionofthemanintheheavenworld.

118. Themanintheheavenlifehasshuthimselfoutabsolutelyfromtherestoftheworldfromthementalplaneasmuchasfromthelowerlevels,andheislivinginsidetheshellofhisownthoughts.Ifhisthoughtscouldreachusintheordinaryway,ourscouldreachhiminpreciselythesameway,butweknowthatthatisnotso.Thethoughtformwhichhemakesofhisfriendiswithinhisownshell,andthereforehecanactuponitand,sincetheegoofthefriendhaspouredhimselfdownintothatthoughtform,theforcereachestheegoofthefriendinthatway,andfromthategoitmay,aswehavesaid,tosomeextentmanifestitselfeveninthepersonalityofthefrienddownhere.Theshellisasregardsthementalplanemuchliketheshellofaneggonthephysicalplane.Theonlywaytogetanythingintotheshellofanegg,withoutbreakingit,wouldbetopouritinfromthefourthdimension,ortofindaforcewhosevibrationsaresufficientlyfinetopenetratebetweentheparticlesoftheshellwithoutdisturbingthem.Thisistruealsoofthismentalshellitcannotbepenetratedbyanyvibrationsofmatterofitsownlevel,butthefinervibrationswhichbelongtotheegocanpassthroughitwithoutdisturbingitintheleastsothatitcanbeacteduponfreelyfromabove,butnotfrombelow.

119. Thethoughtformmadebythedeadmanmaybeconsideredasakindofadditionalartificialmentalbody,madeforandpresentedtothefrienduponwhomtheloveisbeingpouredforth.Thepersonalitydownhereknowsnothingofthis,buttheegoisfullyconsciousofitandplungesdownintoitwithdelightandavidity,realisingincidentallythatthisaffordshimanadditionalopportunityofmanifestation,andthereforeofevolution.Fromthisitfollowsthatthemanwhohasmadehimselfgenerallybelovedthemanwhohasmanyrealfriendswillevolvewithfargreaterrapiditythanamoreordinarymanandthisagainisobviouslythekarmaofhisdevelopmentwithinhimselfofthequalitieswhichmakehimsolovable.

120. Somuchforthedirectresultofhisactionuponindividualsbuttherearealsotwoaspectsofitsgeneralactionwhichmustnotbeignored.Amanwhothuspoursoutagreatfloodofaffection,andevokesinresponseotherfloodsfromhisfriends,isdistinctlyimprovingthementalatmosphereinhisneighborhood.Itisgoodfortheworldandforthehumanityevolvinginitthatitsmentalatmosphereshouldthusbechargedwithsuchfeelings,fortheyplayuponallitsinhabitantsdevas,men,animals,plantsandoneveryoneofthesewidelydifferentformsoflifetheyhavetheirinfluence,andalwaysaninfluenceforgood.

121. ThesecondandmoreimportantoftheresultsproducedfortheworldatlargewillbereadilycomprehensibletothosewhohavestudiedthebookonThoughtforms,asanattemptistheremadetoindicatetheoutpouringwhichflowsdownfromtheLOGOSinresponsetoathoughtofunselfishdevotion.Ithasoftenbeenexplainedthatsuchresponsecomesnotonlytotheindividualwhooriginatedthethought,butthatitalsohelpstofillthereservoirofspiritualforce,whichisheldbytheNirmanakayaatthedisposaloftheMastersofWisdomandtheirpupils,tobeusedforthehelpingofmankind.Whatistrueofdevotionistruealsoofunselfishaffection,andifeveryoutrushofsuchaffectionordevotionduringthecomparativelylimitedphysicallifeproducessomagnificentaresult,itiseasytoseethatafarstrongeroutrush,sustainedthroughaperiodofperhapsathousandyears,willmaketothatreservoirareallyconsiderablecontribution,andthiswillbringtotheworldabenefitwhichisnotcalculableinanytermsthatwecanuseuponthephysicalplane.

122. Soitisclearthatwhileaman'spowerforgoodaugmentsashisconsciousnessinthesehigherworldsincreases,eventhequiteordinaryman,whohasasyetnospecialdevelopmentofconsciousness,isneverthelesscapableofdoinganenormousamountofgoodduringhissojournuponthehigherplanes.Duringhislongstayintheheavenworldhemaybenefithisfellowmen,andsomakealargeamountofgoodkarmaforhimselfbut,inordertodothat,hemustbeamanofunselfishloveorunselfishdevotion.Itisthisqualityofunselfishness,ofselfforgetfulness,whichputsthepowerintohishandsandthat,therefore,isthevirtuewhicheverymanmustcultivatenowinfullconsciousness,inorderthatafterdeathhemayusetothebestadvantagethosefarlongerperiodswhoseconditionsitisnowsoimpossibleforhimtorealize.

123. SecondSection

124. ________

125. AstralWork

126. SECONDSECTION

127. __________

128. INVISIBLEHELPERS

129. PEOPLEoftenwritetous,applyingtobeadmittedtothebandofinvisiblehelpers,andaskingwhatpreparationisnecessary.Thosewhodesiretotakeupthisworkshouldfamiliarisethemselvesthoroughlywiththebookwrittenunderthattitle,andshouldespeciallytakecaretodevelopewithinthemselvesthequalificationswhicharetheredescribed.IhavelittletoaddtowhatIhavetherewritten,exceptthatIshouldadviseeveryonewhowishestotakeupworkontheastralplanetolearnasmuchashecanbeforehandoftheconditionsoflifeonthatplane.

130. Intheastrallifeweareabsolutelythesamepersonsaswearedownhere,butwithcertainlimitationsremoved.Ourinterestsandactivitiesonthatplaneresemblethoseonthephysicalastudentisstillstudiousanidlepersonisstillidleanactivehelperonthephysicalplaneisstillahelperthere.Somepeoplestillgossiptherejustasvenomouslyasever,andarestillcontinuingtomakejustthesamebadkarmabydoingso.Mostdeadpeoplehauntforalongtimetheplacestowhichtheyhavebeenaccustomedinlife.Manyamanhoversroundhisancestralhome,andcontinuesdailytovisittheastralcounterpartofthetemplewhichheusedtosupport.Othersdriftroundandmakepilgrimages,withouttroubleorexpense,toallthegreatshrineswhichduringlifetheyhaveinvainwishedtovisit.

131. Thereisperfectcontinuityintheastrallife.Thatlifeisinmanywaysmuchmorerealthanthis,oratleastmuchnearertoreality,andthisphysicalexistenceisonlyaseriesofbreaksinitduringwhichouractivityisgreatlylimitedandourconsciousnessbutpartiallyoperative.Tomostofusinthislowerlifethenightseemsablank,andinthemorningweremembernothingofwhatwehavedonebutwemustnotthereforesupposethatweareequallydenseontheastralplane.Thatwiderconsciousnessfullyincludesthis,andeverynightweremembervividlynotonlywhatwedidonallpreviousnights,butalsoallthatwehavedoneontheintermediatedays.Itisthephysicalbrainwhichisdullandclogged,anditisuponreturntoitthatweloseourmemoryofallexceptthatwithwhichithasbeendirectlyconcerned.Theastrallifeismuchmorevividanditsemotionsarefarstrongerthananythatweknowdownhere.Whatweordinarilycallanemotionisonlythecomparativelysmallfragmentofonewhichremainsafterthegreaterpartofithasbeenexhaustedinsettinginmotiontheclumsyphysicalparticles,soitisnotdifficulttoseehowfarmoreintenseandrealthatotherlifemustbe.

132. Andyet,althoughthisisquitetrue,andtrueofeverybody,ordinarypeopleusuallydoverylittleinthewayofrealworkontheastralplane.Theydonotknow,infact,thattheycanwork,andeveniftheydidknowtheywouldprobablyseenoparticularreasonwhytheyshould.Amanmayspendaveryenjoyabletimeintheastralworld,justdriftingaboutandexperiencingvariouspleasurableemotions.Thatseemstomostpeopletheonlythingtodo,anditneedsapowerfulmotivetorousethemoutofthat,andmakethemtakethetroubleofdevotingtheirtimetothehelpingofothers.WemustadmitthatfortheordinarymanthismotivedoesnotexistbutwhenwehavebeguntostudyTheosophy,andinthatwaylearnthecourseofevolutionandthepurposeofthings,thereariseswithinusanearnestdesiretohelpforwardthatevolution,toaccomplishthatpurpose,andtoputourfellowmeninthewayofunderstandingitalso,inorderthattherebytheirtroublesmaybelightenedandthepathoftheirprogressmadeeasier.

133. Now,whenamanthusawakenstohisduty,howishetosetaboutit?Weareallofuscapableofsuchwork,toagreaterorlessextent,thoughprobablynotinthehabitofdoingit.Allpeopleofordinarycultureanddevelopmenthavetheirastralbodiesinworkingorder,justasallreasonablyhealthypeoplepossessthenecessarymusclesandthenecessarystrengthinthemtoenablethemtoswimbutiftheyhavenotlearnthowtousethemtheywillneedacertainamountofinstructionbeforetheycanusefullyorevensafelytaketothewater.Thedifficultywiththeordinarypersonisnotthattheastralbodycannotact,butthatforthousandsofyearsthatbodyhasbeenaccustomedtobeingsetinmotiononlybyimpressionsreceivedfrombelowthroughthephysicalvehicle,sothatmendonotrealisethattheastralbodycanworkonitsownplaneandonitsownaccount,andthatthewillcanactuponitdirectly.Peopleremain`unawake'astrallybecausetheygetintothehabitofwaitingforthefamiliarphysicalvibrationstocallouttheirastralactivity.

134. Thereareseveralwaysinwhichamanmaybegintohelp.Suppose,forexample,thatarelationorfrienddies.Inordertoreachandtohelphimduringsleep,allthatisnecessaryistothinkofhimbeforeretiringtorest,withtheresolvetogivehimwhateverassistancehemostneeds.Wedonotneedanyhelpinordertofindhim,ortocommunicatewithhim.Wemusttrytounderstandthatassoonasweleavethephysicalbodyatnightwestandsidebysidewithadepartedfriend,exactlyaswedidwhenhewaswithusonthephysicalplane.Onegreatthingtorememberisthenecessityofcurbingallsorrowforthesocalleddead,becauseitcannotbutreactuponhim.

135. Ifamanallowshimselftodespairaboutthedead,thefeelingofdespairwillaffectthemverystrongly,foremotionsplaythroughtheastralbody,andconsequentlythosewhoarelivingintheirastralvehiclesaremuchmorereadilyanddeeplyinfluencedbythemthanpeoplewhohaveaphysicalbodytodeadentheirperceptions.Thedeadcanseeus,butitisourastralbodythattheyseeconsequentlytheyareatonceawareofouremotions,butnotnecessarilyofthedetailsofourphysicalcondition.Theyknowwhetherwearehappyormiserable,butnotwhatbookwearereading,forexample.Theemotionisobvioustothem,butnotnecessarilythethoughtwhichcausesit.Thedeadmancarriesonwithhimhisaffectionsandhatredsheknowshisoldfriendswhenhemeetsthem,andhealsooftenformsnewfriendshipsamongnewcompanionswhomhemeetsforthefirsttimeontheastralplane.

136. Notonlymustweavoidsorrow,butalsoexcitementofanykind.Theinvisiblehelpermustaboveallthingskeepperfectlycalm.Ihaveknownaworthyladywhowasfullofthemostearnestdesiretohelp,andinhereagernesstodosokeyedherselfupintoatremendousstateofexcitement.Now,excitementshowsitselfintheastralbodyingreatincreasedofsize,violentvibrationandtheflashingforthoffierycolours.Sothenewlydeadperson,whowasquiteunusedtoastralsurroundings,andconsequentlyinastateoftimidityandnervousness,washorrifiedtoseeahugeflaming,flashingspherecomerushingathimwithevidentintention.Naturallyhetookthisforthetheologicaldevilinpropriapersona,andfledshriekingbeforeittotheendsoftheearth,thoughforalongtimeitincreaseshisterrorbypersistentlyfollowinghim.

137. Onecaseinwhichitisoftenpossibleforevenabeginnertomakehimselfusefulisthatofsomefriendofneighbourwhoisknowntobeabouttodie.Ifonehasaccesstohimphysically,andifhisillnessisofanaturewhichmakesitpossibletodiscusswithhimtheconditionsofdeathandofitsafterstates,alittlerationalexplanationofthesewilloftenverygreatlyrelievehismindandlightenhisburdens.Indeed,themeremeetingwithapersonwhospeaksconfidentlyandcheerfullyaboutthelifebeyondthegraveisfrequentlythegreatestconsolationtoonewhofindshimselfapproachingit.

138. If,however,foranyreason,thisphysicalcommunicationisimpossible,muchmaybedoneduringsleepbyactinguponthedyingmanfromtheastralplane.Anuntrainedpersonseekingtogivesuchhelpshouldfollowtheruleslaiddowninourbooksheshouldfixtheintentionofaidingthatparticularpersoninhismindbeforegoingtosleep,andheshouldevendecideasfaraspossibleupontheargumentswhichshouldbepresentedandeventheverywordswhichshouldbeused,forthemorepreciseanddefinitetheresolutionismadewhileawake,themorecertainitistobefaithfullyandaccuratelycarriedoutintheastralbodyduringsleep.

139. Theexplanationtobegiventothesickmanisnecessarilythesameinbothcases.Themainobjectofthehelperistocalmandencouragethesufferer,toinducehimtorealisethatdeathisaperfectlynaturalandusuallyaneasyprocess,andinnocaseaformidableorterribleleapintoanunknownabyss.Thenaturaloftheastralworld,thewayinwhichamanoughttoorderhislifeinitifhewishestomakethebestofit,andthepreparationnecessaryforprogresstowardtheheavenworldwhichliesbeyondalltheseshouldbegraduallyexplainedbythehelpertothedyingman.Thehelpershouldalwaysrememberthathisownattitudeandstateofmindproducesevenmoreeffectthanhisargumentorhisadvice,andconsequentlyhemustbeexceedinglycarefultoapproachhistaskwiththegreatestcalmnessandconfidence.Ifthehelperhimselfisinaconditionofnervousexcitementheisquitelikelytodomoreharmthangood,asdidthepoorladywhomIhavejustmentioned.

140. Theassistanceofferedshouldbecontinuedafterdeath.Therewillbeacertainperiodofunconsciousnessthen,butitmaylastonlyforamoment,thoughoftenthemomentexpandsintoafewminutes,orseveralhours,andsometimesevenintomanydaysorweeks.Atrainedpupilnaturallyobservesforhimselftheconditionofthe`dead'man'sconsciousnessandregulateshisassistanceaccordinglytheuntrainedmanwilldowelltooffersuchassistanceimmediatelyafterdeath,andalsotoholdhimselfinreadinesstogiveitforseveralsucceedingnights,inorderthathemaynotfailtobeathandwhenhisservicesareneeded.Somanydiversecircumstancesaffectthedurationofthisperiodofunconsciousnessthatitisscarcelypossibletolaydownanygeneralruleinthematter.

141. Weshouldatleastdetermineeachnighttocomfortsomeonewhoisintrouble,andifweknowtheexactnatureofthetroublewemustdoourbesttoadaptourmeasurestotheneedsofthecase.Ifthesuffererbeweakandexhausted,thehelpershouldusehiswilltopourintohimphysicalstrength.If,ontheotherhand,heisexcitedorhysterical,thehelpershouldendeavourtoenfoldhiminaspecialauraofcalmandgentlenesswraphimup,asitwereinastrongthoughtformofpeaceandharmony,justasonewouldwrapupapersoninablanket.

142. Itisoftendifficultforonewhotriestohelptobelievethathecanhavebeensuccessful,whenhewakesinthemorningandremembersnothingwhateverofwhathastakenplace.Asamatteroffactsomemeasureofsuccessisabsolutelycertain,andasthehelpergoesonwithhisworkhewilloftenreceivecheeringlittleindicationsthatheisproducingdefiniteresultsinspiteofhislackofmemory.

143. Manyamemberhassethimselftotrythis,andforalongtimehasknownnothingastoresults,untilonedayithashappenedtohimtomeetphysicallythepersonwhomhehasbeentryingtoassist,andtobemuchcomfortedtoseetheimprovementinhim.Sometimesithappensthatthefrienddatesthecommencementofhisrecoveryfromaparticularnightonwhichhehadapleasantoraremarkabledreamandthehelperisstartledwhenheremembersthatitwasonthatverynightthathemadeaspeciallydeterminedefforttohelpthatman.Thefirsttimethatthishappens,thehelperprobablypersuadeshimselfthatitisamereaccidentbutwhenasufficientnumberofcoincidenceshaveaccumulatedhebeginstoseethatthereissomethingmoreinitthanthat.Thebeginnerthereforeshoulddohisbest,andbecontenttowaitasfarasresultareconcerned.

144. Thereisanothersimpleexperimentwhichhasgreatlyhelpedsomebeginnersingainingconfidence.Letamanresolvetovisitastrallysomeroomwhichiswellknowntohimone,letussay,inafriend'shouseandlethimnotecarefullythearrangementofthefurnitureandbooks.Orif,withoutpreviouslyintendingit,theexperimenterfindshimselfduringsleepinaspotwhichherecognises(thatis,inordinaryparlance,ifhedreamsofacertainplace)heshouldsethimselftoobserveitwithgreatcare.Ifwhenheremembersthisinthemorningitseemstohimthateverythinginthatroomwasexactlyaswhenhelastsawitphysically,thereisnothingtoprovethatitwasnotreallyameredreamormemorybutifherecollectssomedecidedchangeinthearrangements,orifthereissomethingnewandunexpected,itisdistinctlyworthhiswhiletogophysicallyinthemorningtovisitthatroom,inordertotestwhetherhisnocturnalvisionhasbeencorrect.

145. Allthoseofuswhoaredefinitelyengagedinastralworkhavenecessarilyatonetimeoranothertakeninhandanumberofcaseswhichneededhelp.Suchhelpmayoccasionallybeofthenatureofasurgicaloperationsomethingwhichcanbedoneonceforall,andthenputasidebutfarmoreoftenwhatisneedediscomfort,reassuranceandstrengtheningwhichmustberepeateddayafterdayinorderthatitmaygraduallysinkintothetextureofsomewoundednatureandtransmuteitintosomethingbraverandnobler.Orsometimesitisknowledgewhichmustbegivenlittlebylittleasthemindopenstoitandisabletobearit.Thusitcomesthateachworkerhasanumberofchroniccases,clients,patientscallthemwhatyouwillwhomhevisitseverynight,justasadoctoruponearthmakesaregularroundamonghispatients.

146. Itoftenhappensalsothatthosewhohavebeenthushelpedarefilledwithgratitudetowardstheworker,andattachthemselvestohiminordertosecondhisefforts,andtopassontoothersthebenefitswhichtheyhavethusreceived.Soitcomesthateachworkerisusuallythecentreofasmallgroup,theleaderofalittlebandofhelpersforwhomheisalwaysabletofindconstantemployment.Forexample,alargenumberofpeoplewhodiearemuchinthepositionofchildrenafraidofthedark.Onemayreasonwiththem,andarguepatientlyandconvincinglythatthereisnothingwhatevertofearbutahandthatthechildcanholdisofmorepracticalusetohimthanawholechapterofarguments.

147. Theastralworker,withascoreofothercasesneedingimmediateattention,cannotpossiblyspendthewholenightinstandingbyandcomfortingonenervousordoubtingpatientbuthecandetachforthatpurposeoneofhisearnestfollowerswhoisnotsobusilyoccupied,andisthereforeabletodevotehimselftothatcharitablework.Fortocomfortthechildinthedarknobrilliantscientificknowledgeisneededwhathewantsisakindlyhandandthesenseofcompanionship.Sothatworkcanbefoundintheastralworldforanynumberofworkers,andeveryonewhowishes,man,womanorchild,maybeoneofthem.Forthelargerandmorecomprehensivevarietiesofwork,andforthedirectionofthework,muchknowledgeisofcourserequiredbutaheartfullofloveandtheearnestdesiretohelpisequipmentenoughtoenableanyonetobecomeoneoftheminorcomforters,andeventhathumbleeffortbringsinitstrainablessingbeyondallcalculation.

148. Whentheastralworkerfinallylaysasidethephysicalbodyforthisincarnation,hefindshimselfamonganarmyofgratefulfriendswhorejoiceunreservedlythatheisnowabletospendthewholeofhislifewiththeminsteadofonlyathirdofit.Forsuchaworkertherewillbenosenseofstrangenessornewnessintheconditionofthelifeafterdeath.Thechangeforhimmeansonlythathewillthenbeabletodevotethewholeofhistimetowhatisevennowbyfarthehappiestandmosteffectivepartofhisworkapartwhichhetakesupeverynightwithjoyandlaysasideeverymorningwithregretthereallife,inwhichourdaysofphysicalexistencearebutdullandfeaturelessinterludes.

149. Thereareoneortwootherpointswithregardtotheastrallifewhichitisdesirablefortheworkertotrytounderstand.OneoftheseisthemethodofwhatIsupposewemustcallspeechthecommunicationofideasontheastralplane.

150. Itisnotalwayseasytounderstanddownherethesubstituteforlanguagewhichisusedintheastralworld.Soundintheordinarysenseofthewordisnotpossiblethereindeeditisnotpossibleeveninthehigherpartofthepurelyphysicalplane.Assoonasonerisesabovetheairintotheethericregions,thereisnomorepossibilityofsoundasweunderstandtheword.Yetthesymbolofsoundisusedverymuchhigher,forweconstantlyfindreferencestothespokenwordoftheLOGOS,whichcallstheworldsintomanifestation.

151. Ifinthemorningwerememberanexperienceofthepreviousnight,suchasthemeetingwithafriendortheattendanceatalecture,itwillalwaysseemtousthatweheardavoiceintheusualterrestrialway,andthatweourselvesrepliedtoit,alsoaudibly.Inrealitythisisnotsoitismerelythatwhenwebringthrougharecollectiontothephysicalbrainweinstinctivelyexpressitintermsoftheordinarysenses.Yetitwouldnotbecorrecttosaythatthelanguageoftheastralworldisthoughttransferencethemostthatcouldbesaidisthatitisthetransferenceofathoughtformulatedinaparticularway.

152. Inthementalworldoneformulatesathoughtanditisinstantlytransmittedtothemindofanotherwithoutanyexpressionintheformofwords.Thereforeonthatplanelanguagedoesnotmatterintheleastbuthelpersworkingintheastralworld,whohavenotyetthepowertousethementalvehicle,mustdependonthefacilitiesofferedbytheastralplaneitself.Theselieasitwerehalfwaybetweenthethoughttransferenceofthementalworldandtheconcretespeechofthephysical,butitisstillnecessarytoformulatethethoughtinwords.Itisasthoughoneshowedsuchformulationtotheotherpartyinthedialogue,andhereplied(almostsimultaneously,butnotquite)byshowinginthesamewayhisformulatedreply.Forthisexchangeitisnecessarythatthetwopartiesshouldhavealanguageincommonthereforethemorelanguagesanastralplanehelperknows,themoreusefulheis.

153. ThepupilsoftheMasters,however,havebeentaughttoformaspecialkindoftemporaryvehicle,inordertomeetthesedifficulties.Theyhabituallyleavetheirastralbodieswiththephysicaltheytravelaboutintheirmentalbodies,andtheymaterialiseatemporaryastralbodyfromsurroundingmatterwhentheyneeditforastralwork.Allwhohavebeentaughttodothishavetheadvantageofthementalplanemethodofthoughttransferencesofarasunderstandinganothermanisconcerned,thoughtheirpowertoconveyathoughtinthatwayislimitedbythedegreeofdevelopmentofthatotherman'sastralbody.

154. Apartfromdefinitelytrainedpupils,thereareveryfewpeoplewhoconsciouslyworkinthementalbodyfortodosomeansyearsofpracticeinmeditationandspecialeffort.Weknowthatamanintheheavenworldshutshimselfupwithinashellofhisownthoughts,andthatthesethoughtsthenactaschannelsthroughwhichthelifeofthementalworldcanaffecthim.Butwecannotcallthisfunctioningonthementalplane,forthatinvolvesthefreemovingaboutonthatplane,andtheob