Tosomesuchunity-consciousnesswehavetoreturn;
butclearlyitwillbe——itisnot——ofthesimpleinchoatecharacteroftheFirstStage,forithasbeenenriched,deepened,andgreatlyextendedbytheexperienceoftheSecondStage。Itisinfact,aneworderofmentality——theconsciousnessoftheThirdStage。
[1]“Themindmustberestrainedinthehearttillitcomestoanend,“saystheMaitrayana-Brahmana-Upanishad。
[2]OnemayrememberinthisconnectionthetapasoftheHinduyogi,ortheordealsofinitiatesintothepaganMysteriesgenerally。
InordertounderstandtheoperationandqualitiesofthisThirdConsciousness,itmaybeofassistancejustnowtoconsiderinwhatmoreorlessrudimentarywayorwaysitfiguredinthepaganritualsandinChristianity。WehaveseentherudeSiberyaksinNorth-EasternAsiaorthe\'Grizzly\'tribesofNorthAmericanIndiansintheneighborhoodofMountShastapayingtheirrespectsandadorationtoacaptivebear——atoncethefood-animal,andthedivinityoftheTribe。Atribesmanhadslainabear——and,beitsaid,hadslainitnotinapublichuntwithalldueceremoniesobserved,butprivatelyforhisownsatisfaction。Hehadcommitted,therefore,asintheoreticallyunpardonable;forhadhenot——togratifyhispersonaldesireforfood——levelledablowattheguardianspiritoftheTribe?Hadhenotalienatedhimselffromhisfellowsbydestroyingitsverysymbol?Therewasonlyonewaybywhichhecouldregainthefellowshipofhiscompanions。Hemustmakeamendsbysomepublicsacrifice,andinsteadofretainingthefleshoftheanimalforhimselfhemustshareitwiththewholetribe(orclan)
inacommonfeast,whileatthesametime,tensestprayersandthanksareofferedtotheanimalforthegiftofhisbodyforfood。TheMagicformulademandednothinglessthanthis——elsedreaddisasterwouldfalluponthemanwhosinned,anduponthewholebrotherhood。Here,andinahundredsimilarrites,weseethethreephasesoftribalpsychology——
thefirst,inwhichtheindividualmembersimplyremainswithinthecompassofthetribalmind,andonlyactsinharmonywithit;thesecond,inwhichtheindividualstepsoutsideandtogratifyhispersonalSELFperformsanactionwhichalienateshimfromhisfellows;andthethird,inwhich,tomakeamendsandtoprovehissincerity,hesubmitstosomesacrifice,andbyacommonfeastorsomesuchceremonyisreceivedbackagainintotheunityofthefellowship。Thebodyoftheanimal-divinityisconsumed,andthelatterbecomes,bothinthespiritandintheflesh,theSaviorofthetribe。
Incourseoftime,whentheTotemorGuardian-spiritisnolongermerelyanAnimal,oranimal-headedGenius,butaquitehuman-formedDivinity,stillthesamegeneraloutlineofideasispreserved——onlywithgatheredintensityowingtothespeciallyhumaninterestofthedrama。TheDivinitywhogiveshislifeforhisflockisnolongerjustanordinaryBullorLamb,butAdonisorOsirisorDionysusorJesus。Heisbetrayedbyoneofhisownfollowers,andsuffersdeath,butrisesagainredeemingallwithhimselfintheonefellowship;andthecornandthewineandthewildfleshwhichwerehisbody,andwhichhegaveforthesustenanceofmankind,areconsumedinaholysupperofreconciliation。ItisalwaysthereturntounitywhichistheritualofSalvation,andofwhichthesymbolistheEucharist——thesecondbirth,theformationof“anewcreaturewhenoldthingsarepassedaway。”For“Exceptamanbebornagain,hecannotseetheKingdomofGod“;
and“thefirstmanisoftheearth,earthly,butthesecondmanistheLordfromheaven。”Likeastrangerefrain,andfromcenturiesbeforeourera,comesdownthisbeliefinagodwhoisimprisonedineachman,andwhoseliberationisanewbirthandthebeginningofanewcreature:
“Rejoice,yeinitiatesinthemysteryoftheliberatedgod“——
rejoiceinthethoughtoftheherowhodiedasamortalinthecoffin,butrisesagainasLordofall!
Whothenwasthis“Christos“forwhomtheworldwaswaitingthreecenturiesbeforeourera(andindeedcenturiesbeforethat)?Whowasthis“thriceSavior“
whomtheGreekGnosticsacclaimed?Whatwasthemeaningofthat“comingoftheSonofMan“whomDanielbeheldinvisionamongthecloudsofheaven?orofthe“perfectman“who,Pauldeclared,shoulddeliverusfromthebondageofcorruptionintothegloriouslibertyofthechildrenofGod?Whatwasthissalvationwhichtimeaftertimeandtimesagainthepagandeitiespromisedtotheirdevotees,andwhichtheEleusinianandotherMysteriesrepresentedintheirreligiousdramaswithsuchconvincingenthusiasmthatevenPindarcouldsay“Happyishewhohasseenthem(theMysteries)beforehegoesbeneaththehollowearth:thatmanknowsthetrueendoflifeanditssourcedivine“;andconcerningwhichSophoclesandAeschyluswereequallyenthusiastic?[1]
[1]SeeFarnell\'sCultsoftheGreekStates,vol。iii,p。194;
alsoTheMysteries,PaganandChristian,byS。Cheetham,D。D。
(London,1897)。
Canwedoubt,inthelightofallthatwehavealreadysaid,whattheanswertothesequestionsis?Aswiththefirstblossomingofself-consciousnessinthehumanmindcamethedawnofanimmensecycleofexperience——
acycleindeedofexilefromEden,ofsufferingandtoilandblindwanderingsinthewilderness,yetacycleabsolutelynecessaryandunavoidable——sonowtheredemption,thereturn,therestorationhastocomethroughanotherforwardstep,inthesamedomain。Abandoningthequestandtheglorificationoftheseparateisolatedselfwehavetoreturntothecosmicuniversallife。Itistheblossomingindeedofthis\'new\'lifeinthedeepsofourmindswhichissalvation,andwhichalltheexpressionswhichIhavejustcitedhaveindicated。ItisthispresencewhichalldowntheageshasbeenhailedasSaviorandLiberator:thedaybreakofaconsciousnesssomuchvaster,somuchmoreglorious,thanallthathasgonebeforethatthelittlecandleofthelocalselfisswallowedupinitsrays。Itisthereturnhome,thereturnintodirecttouchwithNatureandMan——theliberationfromthelongexileofseparation,fromthepainfulsenseofisolationandtheodiousnightmareofguiltand\'sin。\'Canwedoubtthatthisnewbirth——thisthirdstageofconsciousness,ifweliketocallitso——hastocome,thatitisindeednotmerelyapioushopeoratentativetheory,butaFACT
testifiedtoalreadybyacloudofwitnessesinthepast——
witnessesshiningintheirowneasilyrecognizableandauthenticlight,yetforthemostpartisolatedfromeachotheramongthearidandunfruitfulwastesofCivilization,likeglow-wormsinthedrygrassofasummernight?
Sincethefirstdimevolutionofhumanself-consciousnessanimmenseperiod,aswehavesaid——perhaps30,000years,perhapsevenmore——haselapsed。Now,inthepresentdaythisperiodisreachingitsculmination,andthoughitwillnotterminateimmediately,itsendis,sotospeak,insight。Meanwhile,duringallthehistoricalagebehindus——sayforthelast4,000or5,000years——evidencehasbeencomingin(partlyinthereligiousritesrecorded,partlyinoracles,poemsandpropheticliterature)oftheonsetofthisfurtherillumination——“thelightwhichneverwasonseaorland“——andthecloudofwitnesses,scatteredatfirst,hasintheselatercenturiesbecomesoevidentandsonotablethatwearetemptedtobelieveinortoanticipateagreatandgeneralnewbirth,asnownotsoveryfaroff。[1]
[Weshould,however,dowelltoremember,inthisconnection,thatmanyatimealreadyinthehistorytheMillenniumhasbeenprophesied,andyetnotarrivedpunctualtodate,andtotaketoourselvesthewordsof\'Peter,\'whosomewhatgrievouslydisappointedatthelong-delayedsecondcomingoftheLordJesusinthecloudsofheaven,wroteinhissecondEpistle:“Thereshallcomeinthelastdaysscoffers,walkingaftertheirownlusts,andsaying,Whereisthepromiseofhiscoming?forsincethefathersfellasleep,allthingscontinueastheywerefromthebeginningofthecreation。”[2]]
[1]Foranamplificationofallthistheme,seeDr。Bucke\'sremarkableandepoch-makingbook,CosmicConsciousness(firstpublishedatPhiladelphia,1901)。
[2]2Peteriii。4;writtenprobablyaboutA。D。150。
Isaythatallthroughthehistoricalagebehindustherehasbeenevidence——eventhoughscattered——ofsalvationandthereturnoftheCosmiclife。Manhasneverbeensocompletelysubmergedinthebitterseaofself-centrednessbutwhathehasoccasionallybeenabletodashthesprayfromhiseyesandglimpsethesunandthegloriouslightofheaven。Fromhowfarbackwecannotsay,butfromanimmenseantiquitycomethebeautifulmythswhichindicatethis。
Cinderella,thecinder-maiden,sitsunbeknowninherearthly。
hutch;
Gibedandjeeredatshebewailsherlonelyfate;
Neverthelessyoungest-bornshesurpasseshersistersandenduesagarmentofthesunandstars;
Fromatinysparksheascendsandirradiatestheuniverse,andisweddedtotheprinceofheaven。
HowlovelythisvisionofthelittlemaidensittingunbeknownclosetotheHearth-fireoftheuniverse——herselfindeedjustalittlesparkfromit;despisedandrejected;
rejectedbytheworld,despisedbyhertwoeldersisters(thebodyandtheintellect);yetshe,thesoul,thoughlatest-born,byfarthemostbeautifulofthethree。AndofthePrinceofLovewhoredeemsandsetsherfree;andofherweddinggarmentthegloryandbeautyofallnatureandoftheheavens!TheparablesofJesusarecharmingintheirway,buttheyhardlyreachthisheightofinspiration。
Ortheworld-oldmythofErosandPsyche。Howstrangethathereagaintherearethreesisters(thethreestagesofhumanevolution),andthelatest-bornthemostbeautifulofthethree,andthejealousiesandpersecutionsheapedontheyoungestbytheothers,andespeciallybyAphroditethegoddessofmeresensualcharm。Andagainthecomingoftheunknown,theunseenLover,onwhomitisnotpermittedformortalstolook;andthelong,longtestsandsufferingsandtrialswhichPsychehastoundergobeforeErosmayreallytakehertohisarmsandtranslatehertotheheightsofheaven。CanwenotimaginehowwhenthesethingswererepresentedintheMysteriestheworldflockedtoseethem,andthepoetsindeedsaid,“Happyaretheythatseeandseeingcanunderstand?“CanwenotunderstandhowitwasthattheAmphictyonicdecreeofthesecondcenturyB。C。spokeofthesesameMysteriesasenforcingthelessonthat“thegreatestofhumanblessingsisfellowshipandmutualtrust“?
XV。THEANCIENTMYSTERIES
Thuswecometoathingwhichwemustnotpassover,becauseitthrowsgreatlightonthemeaningandinterpretationofalltheseritesandceremoniesofthegreatWorld-religion。I
meanthesubjectoftheAncientMysteries。AndtothisIwillgiveafewpages。
TheseMysterieswereprobablysurvivalsoftheoldestreligiousritesoftheGreekraces,andintheirearlierformsconsistednotsomuchinworshipofthegodsofHeavenasofthedivinitiesofEarth,andofNatureandDeath。Crude,nodoubt,atfirst,theygraduallybecame(especiallyintheirEleusinianform)morerefinedandphilosophical;theritesweregraduallythrownopen,oncertainconditions,notonlytomengenerally,butalsotowomen,andeventoslaves;
andintheendtheyinfluencedChristianitydeeply。[1]
[1]SeeEdwinHatch,D。D。,TheInfluenceofGreekIdeasandUsagesontheChristianChurch(London,1890),pp。283-5。
Therewereapparentlythreeformsofteachingmadeuseofintheserites:thesewere,thingsSAID;
,thingsSHOWN;and,thingsPERFORMED
orACTED。[1]Ihavegivenalreadysomeinstancesofthingssaid-textswhisperedforconsolationintheneophyte\'scar,andsoforth;oftheTHIRDgroup,thingsenacted,wehaveafairamountofevidence。Therewereritualdramasorpassion-plays,ofwhichanimportantonedealtwiththedescentofKoreorProserpineintotheunderworld,asintheEleusinianrepresentations,[2]andherredemptionandrestorationtotheupperworldinSpring;
anotherwiththesufferingsofPsycheandherrescuebyEros,asdescribedbyApuleius[3]——himselfaninitiateinthecultofIsis。ThereisaparodybyLucian,whichtellsofthebirthofApollo,themarriageofCoronis,andthecomingofAesculapiusasSavior;therewasthedyingandrisingagainofDionysus(chiefdivinityoftheOrphiccult);andsometimesthemysteryofthebirthofDionysusasaholychild。[4]Therewas,everyyearatEleusis,asolemnandlengthyprocessionorpilgrimagemade,symbolicofthelongpilgrimageofthehumansoul,itssufferingsanddeliverance。
[1]Cheetham,op。cit。,pp。49-61sq。
[2]SeeFarnell,op。cit。,iii。158sq。
[3]SeeTheGoldenAss。
[4]Farnell,ii,177。
“Almostalways,“saysDr。Cheetham,“thesufferingofagod——sufferingfollowedbytriumph——seemstohavebeenthesubjectofthesacreddrama。”ThenoccasionallytotheNeophytes,aftertakingpartinthepilgrimage,andwhentheirmindshadbeenpreparedbyanordealofdarknessandfatigueandterrors,wasaccordedarevelationofParadise,andevenavisionofTransfiguration——theformoftheHierophanthimself,orteacheroftheMysteries,beingseenhalf-lostinablazeoflight。[1]Finally,therewastheeatingoffoodanddrinkingofbarley-drinkfromthesacredchest[2]——akindofCommunionorEucharist。
[1]Ibid。,179sq。
[2]Ibid。,186。Sacredchests,inwhichholythingswerekept,figurefrequentlyinearlyritesandlegends——asinthecaseofthearkoftheJewishtabernacle,thearkorboxcarriedincelebrationsofthemysteriesofBacchus(Theocritus,Idyllxxvi),thelegendofPandora\'sboxwhichcontainedtheseedsofallgoodandevil,thearkofNoahwhichsavedalllivingcreaturesfromtheflood,theArgooftheargonauts,themoonshapedboatinwhichIsisfloatingoverthewatersgatheredtogethertheseveredlimbsofOsiris,andsobroughtabouthisresurrection,andthemanychestsorcoffinsoutofwhichthevariousgods(Adonis,Attis,Osiris,Jesus),havingbeenlaidthereindeath,roseagainfortheredemptionoftheworld。
TheyallevidentlyrefertothemysticwombofNatureandofWoman,andaresymbolsofsalvationandredemption(Forafulldiscussionofthissubject,seeTheGreatLawofreligiousorigins,byW。Williamson,ch。iv。)
ApuleiusinTheGoldenAssgivesaninterestingaccountofhisinductionintothemysteriesofIsis:how,biddingfarewelloneeveningtothegeneralcongregationoutside,andclothedinanewlinengarment,hewashandedbythepriestintotheinnerrecessesofthetempleitself;howhe“approachedtheconfinesofdeath,andhavingtrodonthethresholdofProserpine(theUnderworld),returnedtherefrom,beingbornethroughalltheelements。AtmidnightIsawthesunshiningwithitsbrilliantlight:
andIapproachedthepresenceoftheGodsbeneathandtheGodsabove,andstoodnearandworshippedthem。”
Duringthenightthingshappenedwhichmustnotbedisclosed;butinthemorninghecameforth“consecratedbybeingdressedintwelvestolespaintedwiththefiguresofanimals。”[1]HeascendedapulpitinthemidstoftheTemple,carryinginhisrighthandaburningtorch,whileachapletencircledhishead,fromwhichpalm-leavesprojectedlikeraysoflight。“ThusarrayedliketheSun,andplacedsoastoresembleastatue,onasuddenthecurtainsbeingdrawnaside,Iwasexposedtothegazeofthemultitude。
AfterthisIcelebratedthemostjoyfuldayofmyinitiation,asmynatalday[dayoftheNewBirth]
andtherewasajoyousbanquetandmirthfulconversation。”
[1]AnallusionnodoubttothetwelvesignsoftheZodiac,thepathwayoftheSun,aswellastothepracticeoftheancientpriestsofwearingtheskinsoftotem-animalsinsignoftheirdivinity。
Onecanhardlyrefusetorecognizeinthisaccountthedescriptionofsomekindofceremonywhichwassupposedtosealtheilluminationofamanandhisnewbirthintodivinity——theanimalorigin,thecirclingofallexperience,theterrorsofdeath,andtheresurrectionintheformoftheSun,thesymbolofalllightandlife。Theveryword“illumination“carriestheideasoflightandanewbirthwithit。ReitzensteininhisveryinterestingbookontheGreekMysteries[1]speaksoverandoveragainoftheillumination()whichwasheldtoattendInitiationandSalvation。ThedoctrineofSalvationindeed()
was,aswehavealreadyseen,rifeandwidelycurrentintheSecondCenturyB。C。Itrepresentedarealexperience,andthemanwhosharedthisexperiencebecamea
ordivineman。[2]IntheOrphicTabletsthephrase“Iamachildofearthandthestarryheaven,butmyraceisofheaven(alone)“occursmorethanonce。
Inoneofthelongestofthemthedeadmanisinstructed“afterhehaspassedthewaters(ofLethe)wherethewhiteCypressandtheHouseofHadesare“toaddresstheseverywordstotheguardiansoftheLakeofMemorywhileheasksforadrinkofcoldwaterfromthatLake。Inanotherthedeadpersonhimselfisthusaddressed:“Hail,thouwhohastenduredtheSuffering,suchasindeedthouhadstneversufferedbefore;thouhastbecomegodfromman!“[3]Ecstacywastheacmeofthereligiouslife;and,whatisespeciallyinterestingtous,Salvationorthedivinenaturewasopentoallmen——toall,thatis,whoshouldgothroughthenecessarystagesofpreparationforit。[4]
[1]DiehellenistischenMysterien-Religionen,byR。Reitzenstein,Leipzig,1910。
[2]Reitzenstein,p。12。
[3]TheseTablets(so-called)areinstructionstothedeadastotheirpassageintotheotherworld,andhavebeenfoundinthetombs,inItalyandelsewhere,inscribedonverythingoldplatesandburiedwiththedeparted。SeeManualofGreekAntiquitiesbyPercyGardnerandF。B。Jerome(1896);alsoProlegomenatoGreekReligionbyJaneE。Harrison(1908)。
[4]Reitzenstein,pp。15and18;alsoS。J。Case,EvolutionofEarlyChristianity,p。301。
Reitzensteincontends(p。26)thatintheMysteries,transfiguration(),salvation(),andnewbirth()wereoftenconjoined。Hesays(p。31),thatintheEgyptianOsiris-cult,theInitiateacquiresanature“equaltoGod“(),theverysameexpressionasthatusedofChristJesusinPhilippiansii。6;
hementionsApolloniusofTyanaandSergiusPaulusasinstancesofmenwhobytheircontemporarieswereconsideredtohaveattainedthisnature;andhequotesAkhnaton(PharaohofEgyptin1375B。C。)ashavingsaid,“Thouartinmyheart;noneotherknowsThee,savethysonAkhnaton;Thouhastinitiatedhimintothywisdomandintothypower。”HealsoquotesthewordsofHermes(Trismegistus)——“ComeuntoMe,evenaschildrentotheirmother\'sbosom:ThouartI,andIamThou;whatisthineismine,andwhatismineisthine;forindeedIamthineimage(),“andreferstothedialoguebetweenHermesandTat,inwhichtheyspeakofthegreatandmysticNewBirthandUnionwiththeAll——withallElements,PlantsandAnimals,TimeandSpace。
“TheMysteries,“saysDr。Cheethamverycandidly,“influencedChristianityconsiderablyandmodifieditinsomeimportantrespects“;andDr。Hatch,aswehaveseen,notonlysupportsthisgeneralview,butfollowsitoutindetail。[1]HepointsoutthatthemembershipoftheMystery-societieswasverynumerousintheearliesttimes,A。D。;thattheirgeneralaimsweregood,includingasenseoftruereligion,decentlife,andbrotherhood;thatcleannessfromcrimeandconfessionweredemandedfromtheneophyte;thatconfessionwasfollowedbybaptism()andTHATbysacrifice;thattheterm
(illumination)wasadoptedbytheChristianChurchasthenameforthenewbirthofbaptism;thattheChristianusageofplacingasealontheforeheadcamefromthesamesource;thatbaptismitselfafteratimewascalledamystery();thatthesacredcakesandbarley-drinkoftheMysteriesbecamethemilkandhoneyandbreadandwineofthefirstChristianEucharists,andthattheoccasionalsacrificeofalambontheChristianaltar(“whosementionisoftensuppressed“)probablyoriginatedinthesameway。
Indeed,theconceptionofthecommunion-tableASanaltarandmanyotherpointsofritualgraduallyestablishedthemselvesfromthesesourcesastimewenton。[2]Itishardlynecessarytosaymoreinproofoftheextenttowhichintheseancientrepresentations“thingssaid“and“scenesenacted“forestalledthedoctrinesandceremonialsofChristianity。
[1]SeeHatch,op。cit。,pp。290sq。
[2]SeeDionysusAreop。(endoffifthcentury),whodescribestheChristianritesgenerallyinMysterylanguage(Hatch,296)。
“Butwhatofthesecondgroupabove-mentioned,the“thingsSHOWN“?Itisnotsoeasynaturallytogetexactinformationconcerningthese,buttheyseemtohavebeenspeciallyholyobjects,probablythingsconnectedwithveryancientritualsinthepast——suchassacredstones,oldandrudeimagesofthegods,magicnature-symbols,likethathalf-disclosedearofcornabove-mentioned(Ch。V。)。“IntheTempleofIsisatPhilae,“saysDr。Cheetham,“thedeadbodyofOsirisisrepresentedwithstalksofcornspringingfromit,whichapriestwatersfromavessel。Aninscriptionsays:\'Thisistheformofhimwhomwemaynotname,OsirisoftheMysterieswhosprangfromthereturningwaters\'[theNile]。”Aboveall,nodoubt,therewereimagesofthephallusandthevulva,thegreatsymbolsofhumanfertility。Wehaveseen(Ch。XII)thatthelingamandtheyoniare,evendowntoto-day,commonlyretainedandhonoredasholyobjectsintheS。IndianTemples,andanointedwithoil(someofthem)foraverypracticalreason。SirJ。G。Frazer,inhislatelypublishedvolumesonTheFolk-loreoftheOldTestament,hasachapter(invol。ii)ontheverynumeroussacredstonesofvariousshapesandsizesfoundorspokenofinPalestineandotherpartsoftheworld。Thoughuncertainastothemeaningofthesestoneshementionsthattheyare“frequently,thoughnotalways,UPRIGHT。”Anointingthemwithoil,heassuresus,“isawidespreadpractice,sometimesbywomenwhowishtoobtainchildren。”Andheconcludesthechapterbysaying:“TheholystoneatBethelwasprobablyoneofthosemassivestandingstonesorroughpillarswhichtheHebrewscalledmasseboth,andwhich,aswehaveseen,wereregularadjunctsofCanaaniteandearlyIsraelitishsanctuaries。”WehavealreadymentionedthepillarsJachinandBoazwhichstoodbeforetheTempleofSolomon,andwhichhadanacknowledgedsexualsignificance;
andsoitseemsprobablethatagreatnumberoftheseholystoneshadasimilarmeaning。[1]FollowingthisclueitwouldappearlikelythatthelingamthusanointedandworshippedintheTemplesofIndiaandelsewhereIStheoriginal[2]adoredbythehumanracefromtheverybeginning,andthatatalatertime,whenthePriestandtheKing,asobjectsofworship,tooktheplaceoftheLingam,THEYalsowereanointedwiththechrismoffertility。Thattheexhibitionoftheseemblemsshouldbepartoftheoriginal\'Mystery\'-ritualswasperfectlynatural——especiallybecause,aswehaveexplainedalready[3]
oldcustomsoftencontinuedoninaquitenaivefashionintherituals,whentheyhadcometobethoughtindecentorimproperbyalaterpublicopinion;and(wemaysay)
wasperfectlyinorder,becausethereisplentyofevidencetoshowthatinSAVAGEinitiations,ofwhichtheMysterieswerethelineardescendants,allthesethingsWEREexplainedtothenovices,andtheiruseactuallytaught。[4]Nodoubtalsothereweresomerepresentationsordramaticincidentsofafairlycoarsecharacter,asderivingfromtheseancientsources。[5]Itis,however,quainttoobservehowthemerementionofsuchthingshascausedanalmosthystericalcommotionamongthecriticsoftheMysteries——fromthedayoftheearlyChristianswho(inordertobelaudtheirownreligion)werenevertiredofabusingthePagans,onwardtothepresentdaywhenmodernscholarseitherontheonehandfollowtheearlyChristiansinrepresentingtheMysteriesassinksofiniquityorontheother(knowingthischargecouldnotbesubstantiatedexceptintheperiodoftheirfinaldecadence)takethelineofignoringthesexualinterestattachingtothemasnon-existentoratanyrateunworthyofattention。ThegoodArchdeaconCheetham,forinstance,whilewritinganinterestingbookontheMysteriespassesbythissideofthesubjectALMOSTasifitdidnotexist;whilethelearnedDr。Farnell,overcomeapparentlybytheweightofhislearning,andunabletoconfrontthealarmingobstaclepresentedbythesesexualritesandaspects,hideshimselfbehindtherathernon-committalremark(speakingoftheEleusinianrites)“wehavenorighttoimagineanypartofthissolemnceremonyascoarseorobscene。”[6]AsNature,however,hasbeenknown(quitefrequently)tobecoarseorobscene,andastheinitiatorsoftheMysterieswereprobablyneither\'good\'nor\'learned,\'
butweresimplyanxioustointerpretNatureasbesttheycould,wecannotfindfaultwiththelatterforthewaytheyhandledtheproblem,norindeedwellseehowtheycouldhavehandleditbetter。
[1]F。Nork,DerMystagog,mentionsthattheRomanPenateswerecommonlyanointedwithoil。J。StuartHay,inhisLifeofElagabalus(1911),saysthat“Elagabalwasworshippedunderthesymbolofagreatblackstoneormeteorite,intheshapeofaPhallus,whichhavingfallenfromtheheavensrepresentedatrueportionoftheGodhead,muchafterthestyleofthoseblackstoneimagespopularlyveneratedinNorwayandotherpartsofEurope。”
[2]J。E。Hewitt,inhisRulingRacesofPre-historicTimes(p。
64),givesalonglistofpre-historicraceswhoworshippedthelingam。
[3]SeeCh。XI。
[4]SeeErnestCrawley\'sMysticRose,ch。xiii,pp。310and313:
“IncertaintribesofCentralAfricabothboysandgirlsafterinitiationmustassoonaspossiblehaveintercourse。”Initiationbeingnotmerelypreliminaryto,butoftenACTUALLYmarriage。ThesameamongKaffirs,Congotribes,Senegalese,etc。AlsoamongtheAruntaofAustralia。
[5]ProfessorDiederichshassaidthat“inmuchancientritualitwasthoughtthatmysticcommunionwiththedeitycouldbeobtainedthroughthesemblanceofsex-intercourse——asintheAttis-Cybeleworship,andtheIsis-ritual。”(Farnell。)
Reitzensteinsays(op。cit。,p。20。)thattheInitiates,likesomeoftheChristianNunsatalatertime,believedinunionwithGodthroughreceivingtheseed。
[6]Farnell,op。cit。,iii。176。Messrs。GardnerandJevons,intheirManualofGreekAntiquities,above-quoted,comparetheEleusinianMysteriesfavorablywithsomeoftheothers,liketheArcadian,theTroezenian,theAeginaean,andtheveryprimitiveSamothracian:saying(p。278)thatofthelast-mentioned“weknowlittle,butsafelyconjecturethatinthemtheideasofsexandprocreationdominatedEVENMOREthaninthoseofEleusis。”
AfterallitisprettyclearthattheearlypeoplessawinSexthegreatcohesiveforcewhichkept(wewillnotsayHumanitybutatanyrate)theTribetogether,andsustainedtherace。InthestageofsimpleConsciousnessthismusthavebeenoneofthefirstthingsthatthebuddingintellectperceived。Sexbecameoneoftheearliestdivinities,andthereisabundantevidencethatitsorgansandprocessesgenerallywereinvestedwithareligioussenseofaweandsanctity。Itwasinfactthesymbol(orrathertheactuality)
ofthepermanentundyinglifeoftherace,andassuchwassacredtotheusesoftherace。Whatevertaboosmayhave,amongdifferentpeoples,guardeditsoperations,itwasnotessentiallyathingtobeconcealed,orashamedof。Ratherthecontrary。ForinstancetheearlyChristianwriter,Hippolytus,BishopofPontus(A。D。200),inhisRefutationofallHeresies,BookV,saysthattheSamothracianMysteries,justmentioned,celebrateAdamastheprimalorarchetypalManeternalintheheavens;andhethencontinues:
“HabituallytherestandinthetempleoftheSamothracianstwoimagesofnakedmenhavingbothhandsstretchedalofttowardsheaven,andtheirpudendaturnedupwards,asisalsothecasewiththestatueofMercuryonMt。Cyllene。Andtheaforesaidimagesarefiguresoftheprimalman,andofthatspiritualonethatisbornagain,ineveryrespectofthesamesubstancewiththat[first]
man。”
ThisextractfromHippolytusoccursinthelongdiscourseinwhichhe\'exposes\'theheresyoftheso-calledNaassenedoctrinesandmysteries。ButthewholediscourseshouldbereadbythosewhowishtounderstandtheGnosticphilosophyoftheperiodcontemporarywithandanteriortothebirthofChristianity。Atranslationofthediscourse,carefullyanalyzedandannotated,isgiveninG。R。S。Mead\'sThrice-greatestHermes[1](vol。i);andMeadhimself,speakingofit,says(p。141):“TheclaimoftheseGnosticswaspracticallythatthegoodnewsoftheChrist[theChristos]
wastheconsummationoftheinnerdoctrineoftheMystery-
institutionsofallthenations;theendofthemallbeingtherevelationoftheMysteryofMan。”Further,heexplainsthattheSoul,inthesedoctrines,wasregardedassynonymouswiththeCauseofAll;andthatitslovesweretwain——ofAphrodite(orLife),andofPersephone(orDeathandtheotherworld)。AlsothatAttis,abandoninghissexintheworshipoftheMother-Goddess(DeaSyria),ascendstoHeaven——anewman,Male-female,andtheoriginofallthings:thehiddenMysterybeingthePhallusitself,erectedasHermesinallroadsandboundariesandtemples,theConductorandReconductorofSouls。
[1]Reitzenstein,op。cit。,quotesthediscourselargely。TheThrice-greatestHermesmayalsobeconsultedforatranslationofPlutarch\'sIsisandOsiris。
Allthismaysoundstrange,butonemayfairlysaythatitrepresentedinitsdegree,andinthatfirst\'unfallen\'stageofhumanthoughtandpsychology,atrueconceptionofthecosmicLife,andindeedaconceptionquitesensibleandadmirable,until,ofcourse,theSecondStagebroughtcorruption。NosoonerwasthisgreatforceofthecosmiclifedivertedfromitstrueusesofGenerationandRegeneration[1]andappropriatedbytheindividualtohisownprivatepleasure——nosoonerwasitsreligiouscharacterasatribalservice[2],(oftenrenderedwithintheTempleprecincts)
lostsightofordegradedintoacommercialtransaction——thaneverykindofevilfelluponmankind。Corruptiooptimipessima。Itmustberememberedtoothatsimultaneouswiththissexualdisruptionoccurredthedisruptionofotherhumanrelations;andweceasetobesurprisedthatdiseaseandselfishpassions,greed,jealousy,slander,cruelty,andwholesalemurder,raged——andhaveragedeversince。
[1]Forthespecialmeaningofthesetwoterms,seeTheDramaofLoveandDeath,byE。Carpenter,pp。59-61。
[2]ErnestCrawleyinTheMysticRosechallengesthisidentificationofReligionwithtribalinterests;yethisargumentsarenotveryconvincing。Onp。5headmitsthat“thereisareligiousmeaninginherentintheprimitiveconceptionandpracticeofALLhumanrelations“;andalargepartofhisch。xiiistakenupinshowingthatevensuchinstitutionsastheSaturnaliawerereligiousinconfirmingthesenseofsocialunionandleadingto\'extendedidentity。\'
Butforthehumansoul——whateveritsfate,andwhateverthedangersanddisastersthatthreatenit——thereisalwaysredemptionwaiting。Aswesawinthelastchapter,thiscorruptionofSexled(quitenaturally)toitsdenialandrejection;anditsdenialledtothedifferentiationfromitofLove。HumanitygainedbytheenthronementAnddeificationofLove,pureandundefiled,and(forthetimebeing)exaltedbeyondthismortalworld,andfreefromallearthlycontracts。Butagainintheend,thedivorcethusintroducedbetweenthephysicalandthespiritualledtothecripplingofboth。Loverelegated,sotospeak,toheavenasapurelyphilanthropical,piousand\'spiritual\'
affair,becameexceedinglyDULL;andsex,remainingonearth,butdesertedbytheredeemingpresence,fellintomere“carnalcuriosityandwretchednessofuncleanliving。”
Obviouslyforthehumanracethereremainsnothing,inthefinalevent,butthereconciliationofthephysicalandthespiritual,andaftermanysufferings,thereunionofErosandPsyche。
Thereisstill,however,muchtobesaidabouttheThirdStateofConsciousness。Letusexamineintoitalittlemoreclosely。Clearly,sinceitisanewstate,andnotmerelyanextensionofaformerone,onecannotarriveatitbyargumentderivedfromtheSecondstate,forallconsciousThoughtsuchaswehabituallyusesimplykeepsusINtheSecondstate。NoanimalorquiteprimitivemancouldpossiblyunderstandwhatwemeanbySelf-consciousnesstillhehadexperiencedit。Mereargumentwouldnotenlightenhim。AndsonooneintheSecondstatecanquiterealizetheThirdstatetillhehasexperiencedit。Still,explanationsmayhelpustoperceiveinwhatdirectiontolook,andtorecognizeinsomeofourexperiencesanapproachtotheconditionsought。
Evidentlyitisamentalconditioninsomerespectsmoresimilartothefirstthantothesecondstage。Thesecondstageofhumanpsychologicevolutionisanaberration,adivorce,aparenthesis。WithitsculminationanddismissalthemindpassesbackintothesimplestateofunionwiththeWhole。(ThestateofEkagrataintheHinduphilosophy:
one-pointedness,singlenessofmind。)AndtheconsciousnessoftheWhole,andofthingspastandthingstocomeandthingsfararound——whichconsciousnesshadbeenshutoutbytheconcentrationonthelocalself——beginstoreturnagain。Thisisnottosay,ofcourse,thattheexcursusinthesecondstagehasbeenalossandadefect。
Onthecontrary,itmeansthattheReturnisabringingofallthathasbeengainedduringtheperiodofexile(allsortsofmentalandtechnicalknowledgeandskill,emotionaldevelopments,finesseandadaptabilityofmind)BACKintoharmonywiththeWhole。Itmeansultimatelyagreatgain。
TheMan,perfected,comesbacktoavastlyextendedharmony。Heentersagainintoarealunderstandingandconfidentialrelationshipwithhisphysicalbodyandwiththebodyofthesocietyinwhichhedwells——frombothofwhichhehasbeensadlydivorced;andhetakesupagainthebrokenthreadoftheCosmicLife。
Everyonehasnoticedtheextraordinaryconsentsometimesobservableamongthemembersofananimalcommunity——
howaflockof500birds(e。g。starlings)willsuddenlychangeitsdirectionofflight——thelightonthewingsshiftingINSTANTANEOUSLY,asiftheimpulsetoveercametoallatthesameidenticalmoment;orhowbeeswillswarmorotherwiseactwithoneaccord,ormigratingcreatures(lemmings,deer,gossamerspiders,wingedants)thesame。Whateverexplanationofthesefactswefavor——whetherthepossessionofswifterandfinermeansofexternalcommunicationthanwecanperceive,orwhetheracommonandinnersensitivitytothegeniusoftheTribe(the“SpiritoftheHive“)ortothepromptingsofgreatNaturearound——inanycasethesefactsofanimallifeappeartothrowlightonthepossibilitiesofanaccordandconsentamongthemembersofemaciatedhumanity,suchaswedreamofnow,andseemtobidushavegoodhopeforthefuture。
Itishere,perhaps,thattheancientworshipoftheLingamcomesin。Theworditselfisapparentlyconnectedwithourword\'link,\'andhasoriginallythesamemeaning。[1]
Itisthelinkbetweenthegenerations。BeginningwiththeworshipofthephysicalRace-life,thecourseofpsychologicevolutionhasbeenfirsttotheworshipoftheTribe(oroftheTotemwhichrepresentsthetribe);thentotheworshipofthehuman-formedGodofthetribe——theGodwhodiesandrisesagaineternally,asthetribepassesoneternal——thoughitsmembersperpetuallyperish;thentotheconceptionofanundyingSavior,andtherealizationanddistinctexperienceofsomekindofSuper-consciousnesswhichdoescertainlyreside,moreorlesshidden,inthedeepsofthemind,andhasbeenwaitingthroughtheagesforitsdisclosureandrecognition。Thenagaintotherecognitionthatinthesacrifices,theSlayerandtheSlainareone——thestrangeandprofoundlymysticperceptionthattheGodandtheVictimareinessencethesame——thededicationof\'HimselftoHimself\'[2]andsimultaneouslywiththistheinterpretationoftheEucharistasmeaning,evenfortheindividual,theparticipationinEternalLife——
thecontinuinglifeoftheTribe,orultimatelyofHumanity。[3]
TheTribalorderrisestoHumanity;loveascendsfromthelingamtoyogam,fromphysicalunionalonetotheunionwiththeWhole——whichofcourseincludesphysicalandallotherkindsofunion。NowonderthatthegoodSt。Paul,witnessingthatextraordinarywhirlpoolofbeliefsandpractices,newandold,thereinthefirstcenturyA。D——theunabashedadorationofsexsidebysidewiththetranscendentaldevotionsoftheVedicsagesandtheGnostics——becamesomewhatconfusedhimselfandevenalittleviolent,scoldinghisdisciples(ICor。x。21)fortheirundiscriminatingacceptance,asitseemedtohim,ofthingsutterlyalienandantagonistic。“YecannotdrinkthecupoftheLordandthecupofdevils:yecannotbepartakersoftheLord\'stableandthetableofdevils。”
[1]SeeSanskritDictionary。
[2]SeeCh。VIII。
[3]Therearemanyindicationsinliterature——inpropheticorpoeticform——ofthisawarenessanddistinctconvictionofaneternallife,reachedthroughloveandaninnersenseofunionwithothersandwithhumanityatlarge;indicationswhichbearthemarkofabsolutegenuinenessandsincerityoffeeling。See,forinstance,Whitman\'spoem,“TotheGardentheWorld“(LeavesofGrass,completeedition,p。79)。Butaneternallifeofthethirdorder;not,thankheaven!aneternityofthemeddlingandmuddlingself-consciousIntellect!
EverycarefulreaderhasnoticedtheconfusednessofPaul\'smindandarguments。EventakingonlythoseEpistles(Galatians,RomansandCorinthians)whichthecriticsassigntohispen,thethingisobservable——andsomelearnedGermansevenspeakofTWOPauls。[1]Butalsothethingisquitenatural。TherecanbelittledoubtthatPaulofTarsus,aJewbroughtupinthestrictestsectofthePharisees,didatsometimefalldeeplyundertheinfluenceofGreekthought,andquitepossiblybecameaninitiateintheMysteries。ItwouldbedifficultotherwisetoaccountforhisconstantuseoftheMystery-language。Reitzensteinsays(p。59):“ThehellenisticreligiousliteratureMUSThavebeenreadbyhim;heusesitsterms,andissaturatedwithitsthoughts(seeRom。vi。1-14。”AndthisconjoinedwithhisJewishexperiencegavehimcreativepower。“AgreatdealinhissentimentandthoughtmayhaveREMAINEDJewish,buttohisHellenismhewasindebtedforhisloveoffreedomandhisfirmbeliefinhisapostleship。”Headoptsterms(like,and)[2]whichwereinuseamongthehellenisticsectsofthetime;andhewrites,asinRomansvi。4,5,aboutbeing“buried“withChristor“planted“inthelikenessofhisdeath,inwordswhichmightwellhavebeenused(withchangeofthename)byafollowerofAttisorOsirisafterwitnessingthecorresponding\'mysteries\';certainlytheallusiontotheseancientdeitieswouldhavebeenunderstoodbyeveryreligionistofthatday。Thesefewpointsaresufficienttoacentuate{sic}thetwoelementsinPaul,theJewishandtheGreek,andtoexplain(sofar)theseemingconfusioninhisutterances。Furtheritisinterestingtonote——asshowingthepaganinfluencesintheN。T。writings——thedegreetowhichtheEpistletoPhilemon(ascribedtoPaul)
isFULL——shortasitis——ofexpressionslikePRISONERoftheLord,FELLOWSOLDIER,CAPTIVEorBONDMAN,[3]whichweresocommonatthetimeastobealmostacantinMithraismandthealliedcults。InIPeterii。2[4],wehavetheverse“Asnewbornbabes,desireyethesincereMILKoftheword,thatyemaygrowthereby。”Andagainwemaysaythatnooneinthatdaycouldmistakethereferencehereincontainedtooldinitiationceremoniesandthenewbirth(asdescribedinChapterVIIIabove),forindeedmilkwasthewell-knowndietofthenoviceintheIsismysteries,aswellasOnsomesavagetribes)oftheMedicine-manwhenpractisinghiscalling。
[1]“DieMysterien-anschauungen,diebeiPaulusimHintergrundestehen,drangensichindemsogenarmtenDeuteropaulinismusmachtigvor“(Reitzenstein)。
[2]RemindfulofourThreeStages:theAnimal,theSelf-conscious,andtheCosmic。
[3]。
[4]SeealsoICor。iii。2。
AndheretooDemocracycomesin——strangelyforebodedfromthefirstinallthismatter。[1]NotonlydoestheThirdStagebringillumination,intuitiveunderstandingofprocessesinNatureandHumanity,sympathywiththeanimals,artisticcapacity,andsoforth,butitnecessarilybringsanewOrderofSociety。Apreposterous——onemayalmostsayahideous——socialAgeissurelydrawingtoitsend,Thedebaclewearewitnessingto-dayalloverEurope(includingthe,BritishIslands),thebreak-upofoldinstitutions,thegenerallymaterialisticoutlookonlife,thecomingtothesurfaceofhugemassesofdiseasedandfatuouspopulations,thescumanddregscreatedbythepastorder,allpointtotheEndofaDispensation。ProtestantismandCommercialism,inthetwofieldsofreligionanddailylifehave,asIhaveindicatedbefore,beenoccupiedinconcentratingthemindofeachmansolelyonhisOWNwelfare,thesalvationofhisOWNsoulorbody。Thesetwoforceshavethereforebeendisruptivetothelastdegree;theymarktheculminationoftheSelf-consciousAge——aculminationinWar,Greed,Materialism,andthegeneralprincipleofDevil-
take-the-hindmost——andtheclearingofthegroundfortheneworderwhichistocome。Sothereishopeforthehumanrace。Itsevolutionisnotallamereformlesscrazeandjumble。ThereisaninnernecessitybywhichHumanityunfoldsfromonedegreeorplaneofconsciousnesstoanother。Andiftherehasbeenagreat\'Fall\'orLapseintoconflictanddiseaseand\'sin\'andmisery,occupyingthemajorpartoftheHistoricalperiodhitherto,weseethatthisperiodisonlybrief,sotospeak,incomparisonwiththewholecurveofgrowthandexpansion。Weseealsothat,asIhavesaidbefore,thebeliefinastateofsalvationordeliverancehasinthepastagesneverleftitselfquitewithoutawitnessinthecreedsandritualsandpoemsandpropheciesofmankind。Art,insomeformorother,asanactivityorinspirationdatingnotfromtheconsciousIntellect,butfromdeeperregionsofsub-consciousfeelingandintuition,hascontinuallycometousasamessagefromandanevidenceoftheThirdstageorstate,andasapromiseofitsmorecompleterealizationunderotherconditions。
Throughthelongnight-timewheretheNationswanderFromEdenpasttoParadisetobe,Art\'ssacredflowers,likefairstarsshiningyonder,AloneillumineLife\'sobscurity。
OgraciousArtists,outofyourdeephearts\'TissomegreatSun,Idoubt,bymenunguessed,Whoserayscomestrugglingthus,inslenderdarts,ToshadowwhatIs,tillTimeshallmanifest。
[1]SeethegermsofDemocracyintheyogateachingoftheHindus,andintheUpanishads,theBhagavatGita,andotherbooks。
WiththeCosmicstagecomesalsonecessarilytherehabilitationoftheWHOLEofSocietyinonefellowship(thetrueDemocracy)。Nottheruleordominationofoneclassorcaste——asoftheIntellectual,thePious,theCommercialortheMilitary——butthefusionoratleastconsentaneousorganizationofALL(asinthecorrespondingfunctionsofthehumanBody)。Classrulehasbeenthemarkofthatsecondperiodofhumanevolution,andhasinevitablygivenbirthduringthatperiodtowarsandself-agrandizementsofclassesandsections,andtheirconsequentgreedsandtyranniesoverotherclassesandsections。Itisnotfoundintheprimitivehumantribesandsocieties,andwillnotbefoundinthefinalformsofhumanassociation。
TheliberatedandemancipatedManpassesunconstrainedandunconstrainingthroughallgradesandplanesofhumanfellowship,equalandundisturbed,andneverleavinghistruehomeandabidingplaceintheheartofall。EquallynecessarilywiththerehabilitationofSocietyasanentiretywillfollowtherehabilitationoftheentirephysicalbodyIN
eachmemberofSociety。WehavespokenalreadyofNakedness:
itsmeaningandlikelyextentofadoption(Ch。XII)。Theideathattheheadandthehandsaretheonlyseemlyandpresentablemembersoftheorganism,andthattheothermembersareunworthyandindecent,isobviouslyasonesidedandlopsidedasthatwhichhonorscertainclassesinthecommonwealthanddespisesothers。Whyshouldtheheadbragofitsascendancyanddomination,andtheheartbesmotheredupandhidden?Itwillonlybealifefarmoreintheopenairthanthatwhichweleadatpresent,whichwillrestorethebalanceandultimatelybringusbacktosanityandhealth。
XVI。THEEXODUSOFCHRISTIANITY
WehavedealtwiththeGenesisofChristianity;wenowcometotheExodus。ForthatChristianitycanCONTINUE
toholdthefieldofReligionintheWesternWorldisneitherprobablenordesirable。Itistrue,asIhaveremarkedalready,thatthereisacertaintroubleaboutdefiningwhatwemeanby“Christianity“similartothatabouttheword“Civilization。”
IfweselectoutofthegreatmassofdoctrinesandritesfavoredbythevariousChristianChurchesjustthosewhichcommendthemselvestothemostmodernandhumaneandrationalhumanmindandchoosetocallthatresulting(butrathersmall)bodyofbeliefandpractice\'Christianity\'
weare,ofcourse,entitledtodoso,andtohope(aswedohope)thatthisresiduumwillsurviveandgoforwardintothefuture。Butthissortofproceedingishardlyfairandcertainlynotlogical。ItenablesChristianitytoposeasanangeloflightwhileatthesametimekeepingdiscreetlyoutofsightallitsownabominationsanddeedsofdarkness。
TheChurch——whichbeganitscareerbydestroying,distortinganddenyingthepagansourcesfromwhichitsprang;
whosebishopsandotherecclesiasticsassassinatedeachotherintheirtheologicalrancour“ofwildbeasts,“whichencouragedthewickedfollyoftheCrusades——especiallytheChildren\'sCrusades——andtheshamefulmurdersoftheManicheans,theAlbigenses,andtheHuguenots;whichburnedatthestakethousandsandthousandsofpoor\'witches\'and\'heretics\';whichhashardlyeverspokenagenerouswordinfavorordefenceoftheanimals;whichinmoderntimeshassupportedvivisectionasagainstthelatter,CapitalismandCommercialismasagainstthepoorerclassesofmankind;andwhosepriestsintheformsofitsvarioussects,GreekorCatholic,LutheranorProtestant,haveintheselastdaysrushedforthtourgethenationstoslaughtereachotherwitheverydiabolicaldeviceofScience,andtoglorifythewar-cryofPatriotismindefianceoftheprincipleofuniversalBrotherhood——suchaChurchcanhardlyclaimtohaveestablishedtheangeliccharacterofitsmissionamongmankind!Andifitbesaid——asitoftenISSAID:“Oh!butyoumustgobacktothegenuinearticle,andtheChurch\'srealoriginandonefoundationinthepersonandteachingofJesusChrist,“thenindeedyoucomebacktothepointwhichthisbook,asabove,enforces:
namely,thatastothepersonofJesus,thereisnoCERTAINTYatallthatheeverexisted;andastotheteachingcreditedtohim,itiscertainthatthatcomesdownfromaperiodlonganteriorto\'Christianity\'andispartofwhatmayjustlybecalledaveryancientWorld-religion。So,asinthecaseof\'Civilization,\'wearecompelledtoseethatitisuselesstoapplythewordtosomeidealstateofaffairsordoctrine(anidealbynomeansthesameinallpeople\'sminds,orinalllocalitiesandtimes),butthattheonlyreasonablethingtodoistoapplyitineachcasetoaHISTORICALPERIOD。InthecaseofChristianitythehistoricalperiodhaslastednearly2,000years,and,asIsay,wecanhardlyexpectorwishthatitshouldlastmuchlonger。
TheverythoroughandcarefulinvestigationofreligiousoriginswhichhasbeenmadeduringlateyearsbyagreatnumberofstudentsandobserversundoubtedlytendstoshowthattherehasbeensomethinglikeagreatWorld-religioncomingdownthecenturiesfromtheremotesttimesandgraduallyexpandingandbranchingasithascome——thatistosaythatthesimilarity(inESSENCEthoughnotalwaysinexternaldetail)betweenthecreedsandritualsofwidelysunderedtribesandpeoplesissogreatastojustifytheview——advancedinthepresentvolume——thatthesecreedsandritualsarethenecessaryoutgrowthsofhumanpsychology,slowlyevolving,andthatconsequentlytheyhaveacommonoriginandintheirvariousformsacommonexpression。OfthisgreatWorld-religion,socomingdown,Christianityisundoubtedlyabranch,andanimportantbranch。Buttherehavebeenimportantbranchesbefore;andwhileitmaybetruethatChristianityemphasizessomepointswhichmayhavebeenoverlookedorneglectedintheVedicteachingsorinBuddhism,orinthePersianandEgyptianandSyriancults,orinMahommedanism,andsoforth,itisalsoequallytruethatChristianityhasitselfoverlookedorneglectedvaluablepointsinthesereligions。Ithas,infact,thedefectsofitsqualities。IftheWorld-religionislikeagreattree,onecannotexpectordesirethatallitsbranchesshouldbedirectedtowardsthesamepointofthecompass。
Reinach,whosestudiesofreligiousoriginsarealwaysinterestingandcharacterizedbyacertainGallicgraceandnettete,thoughwithasomewhatJewishnon-perceptionofthemysticelementinlife,definesReligionasacombinationofanimismandscruples。Thisisgoodinaway,becauseitgivesthetwoaspectsofthesubject:theinner,animism,consistingofthesenseofcontactwithmoreorlessintelligentbeingsmovinginNature;andtheouter,consistinginscruplesortaboos。TheoneaspectshowsthefeelingwhichINSPIRESreligion,theother,thechecksandlimitationswhichDEFINEitandgivebirthtoritual。Butlikemostanthropologistshe(Reinach)isalittleTOO
patronizingtowardsthe“poorIndianwithuntutoredmind。”Heissorryforpeoplesofoolishastobeanimisticintheiroutlook,andheisalwayscarefultopointoutthatthescruplesandtabooswerequitesenselessintheirorigin,thoughoccasionally(byaccident)theyturnedoutuseful。
Yet——asIhavesaidbefore——Animismisaperfectlysensible,logicalandNECESSARYattitudeofthehumanmind。Itisanecessaryattributeofman\'spsychicalnature,bywhichheprojectsintothegreatWorldaroundhimtheimageofhisownmind。Whenthatmindisinaveryprimitive,inchoate,andfragmentarycondition,theimagessoprojectedarethoseoffragmentaryintelligences(\'spirits,\'
gnomes,etc——theageofmagic);whenthemindrisestodistinctconsciousnessofitselfthereflectionsofitareanthropomorphic\'gods\';whenfinallyitreachestheuniversalorcosmicstateitperceivesthepresenceofauniversalBeingbehindallphenomena——whichBeingisindeeditself——“HimselftoHimself。”IfyoulikeyoumaycallthewholeprocessbythenameofAnimism。Itisperfectlysensiblethroughout。Theonlyprovisoisthatyoushouldalsobesensible,anddistinguishthedifferentstagesintheprocess。
JaneHarrisonmakesconsiderableeffortstoshowthatReligionisprimarilyareflectionoftheSOCIALConscience(seeThemis,pp。482-92)——thatis,thatthesenseinManofa“Powerthatmakesforrighteousness“outside(andalsoinside)himisderivedfromhisfeelingofcontinuitywiththeTribeandhisinstinctiveobediencetoitsbehests,confirmedbyagesofcollectivehabitandexperience。
Hecannotinfactseverthenavel-stringwhichconnectshimwithhistribalMother,eventhoughhedesirestodoso。AndnodoubtthisviewoftheoriginofReligionisperfectlycorrect。ButitmustbepointedoutthatitdoesnotbyanymeansexcludetheviewthatreligionderivesalsofromanAnimismbywhichmanrecognizesingeneralNaturehisfoster-motherandfeelshimselfinclosesttouchwithHER。Whichmayhavecomefirst,theSocialaffiliationortheNatureaffiliation,Ileavetotheprofessorstodetermine。ThetermAnimismmay,asfarasIcansee,bequitewellappliedtothesocialaffiliation,forthelatterisevidentlyonlyacaseinwhichtheindividualprojectshisowndegreeofconsciousnessintothehumangrouparoundhiminsteadofintotheanimalsorthetrees,butitisacaseofwhichthejusticeissoobviousthatthemodernmancanintellectuallyseizeandunderstandit,andconsequentlyhedoesnottaritwiththe\'animistic\'brush。
AndMissHarrison,itmustbenoticed,does,inotherpassagesofthesamebook(seeThemis,pp。68,69),admitthatReligionhasitsoriginnotonlyfromunitywiththeTribebutfromthesenseofaffiliationtoNature——thesenseof“aworldofunseenpowerlyingbehindthevisibleuniverse,aworldwhichisthesphere,aswillbeseen,ofmagicalactivityandthemediumofmysticism。Themysticalelement,theonenessandcontinuousnesscomesoutveryclearlyinthenotionofWakondaamongtheSiouxIndians……TheOmahasregardedallanimateandinanimateforms,allphenomena,aspervadedbyacommonlife,whichwascontinuousandsimilartothewill-powertheywereconsciousofinthemselves。ThismysteriouspowerinallthingstheycalledWakonda,andthroughitallthingswererelatedtoman,andtoeachother。Intheideaofthecontinuityoflife,arelationwasmaintainedbetweentheseenandtheunseen,thedeadandtheliving,andalsobetweenthefragmentofanythinganditsentirety。”Thusourgeneralpositionisconfirmed,thatReligioninitsoriginhasbeenINSPIREDbyadeepinstinctiveconvictionoractualsenseofcontinuitywithabeingorbeingsintheworldaround,whileithasderiveditsFORMandritualbyslowdegreesfromavastnumberoftaboos,generatedinthefirstinstancechieflybysuperstitiousfears,butgraduallywiththegrowthofreasonandobservationbecomingsimplifiedandrationalizedintoformsofuse。Ontheonesidetherehasbeenthepositiveimpulse——ofmereanimalDesireandtheanimalurgeofself-expression;ontheothertherehasbeenthenegativeforceofFearbasedonignorance——thelattercontinuallycarving,mouldingandshapingtheformer。Accordingtothisanorganizedstudyandclassificationoftaboosmightyieldsomeinterestingresults;
becauseindeeditwouldthrowlightontheearliestformsofbothreligionandscience。Itwouldbeseenthatsometaboos,likethoseofCONTACT(saywithamenstruouswoman,oramother-in-law,oralightning-strucktree)hadanobviousbasisofobservation,justifiablebutverycrude;whileothers,likethetabooagainstharminganenemywhohadcontractedblood-friendshipwithoneofyourowntribe,oragainstgivingdecentburialtoamurderer,wereequallyroughandrudeexpressionsorindicationsofthegrowingmoralsentimentofmankind。Allthesametherewouldbeleft,inanycase,alargeresiduumoftabooswhichcouldonlybejudgedassenseless,andthemererubbishofthesavagemind。
SomuchforthefirstoriginsoftheWorld-religion;
andIthinkenoughhasbeensaidinthevariouschaptersofthisbooktoshowthatthesamegeneralprocesshasobtainedthroughout。Man,liketheanimals,beganwiththisdeep,subconscioussenseofunitywithsurroundingNature。Whenthisbecame(inMan)fairlyconscious,itledtoMagicandTotemism。Moreconscious,anditbranched,ontheonehand,intofiguresofGodsanddefiniteformsofCreeds,ontheotherintoelaborateScientificTheories——
thelatterbasedonastrongINTELLECTUALbeliefinUnity,butferventlydenyingany\'anthropomorphic\'or\'animistic\'
SENSEofthatunity。Finally,itseemsthatwearenowontheedgeofafurtherstagewhenthetheoriesandthecreeds,scientificandreligious,areonthevergeofcollapsing,butinsuchawayastoleavethesenseandtheperceptionofUnity——therealcontentofthewholeprocess——notonlyundestroyed,butimmenselyheightenedandilluminated。Meanwhilethetaboos——ofwhichthereremainsomestill,bothreligiousandscientific——
havebeengraduallybreakingupandmergingthemselvesintoareasonableandhumaneorderoflifeandphilosophy。
IhavesaidthatoutofthisWorld-religionChristianityreallysprang。Itisevidentthatthetimehasarrivedwhenitmusteitheracknowledgeitssourceandfranklyendeavortoaffiliateitselftothesame,orfailingthatmustperish。Inthefirstcaseitwillprobablyhavetochangeitsname;inthesecondthequestionofitsname\'willinterestitnomore。\'
Withregardtothefirstofthesealternatives,Imightventure——
thoughwithindifference——tomakeafewsuggestions。
Whyshouldwenothave——insteadofaHolyRomanChurch——aHolyHUMANChurch,rehabilitatingtheancientsymbolsandrituals,aChristianity(ifyoustilldesiretocallitso)franklyandgladlyacknowledgingitsownsources?Thisseemsareasonableandevenfeasibleproposition。IfsuchachurchwishedtocelebrateaMassorCommunionorEucharistitwouldhaveagreatvarietyofritesandcustomsofthatkindtoselectfrom;thosethatwerenotappropriateforuseinourtimesorwereconnectedwiththeworshipofstrangegodsneednotberejectedorcondemned,butcouldstillbecommentedonandexplainedasapproachestothesameidea——theideaofdedicationtotheCommonLife,andofreinvigorationinthepartakingofit。IftheChurchwishedtocelebratetheCrucifixionorbetrayalofitsFounder,ahundredinstancesofsuchcelebrationswouldbetohand,andstillthethoughtthathasunderlainsuchcelebrationssincethebeginningoftheworldcouldeasilybedisentangledandpresentedinconcreteformanew。Inthelightofsuchteachingexpressionslike“IknowthatmyRedeemerliveth“wouldbetracedtotheirorigin,andmenwouldunderstandthatnotwithstandingthemassofrubbish,cantandhumbugwhichhascollectedroundthemtheyreallydomeansomethingandrepresenttheage-longinstinctofHumanityfeelingitswaytowardsamoreextendedrevelation,aneworderofbeing,athirdstageofconsciousnessandillumination。InsuchaChurchorreligiousorganizationEVERYqualityofhumannaturewouldhavetoberepresented,everypracticeandcustomallowedforanditsplaceaccorded——themagicalandastronomicalmeanings,theritesconnectedwithsun-worship,orwithsex,orwiththeworshipofanimals;theconsecrationofcornandwineandotherproductsoftheground,initiations,sacrifices,andsoforth——all(ifindeeditclaimedtobeaWorld-religion)wouldhavetoberepresentedandrecognized。Fortheyallhavetheirlonghumanoriginanddescentinandthroughthepagancreeds,andtheyallhavepenetratedintoandbecomeembodiedtosomedegreeinChristianity。Christianitytherefore,asIsay,musteithernowcomefranklyforwardand,acknowledgingitsparentagefromthegreatOrderofthepast,seektorehabilitateTHATandcarrymankindonestepforwardinthepathofevolution——orelseitmustperish。Thereisnootheralternative。[1]
[1]ComteinfoundinghisphilosophyofPositivismseemstohavehadinviewsomesuchHolyHumanChurch,buthesucceededinmakingitallsoprofoundlydullthatitneverflourished,TheseedofLifewasnotinit。
LetmegiveaninstanceofhowafragmentofancientritualwhichhassurvivedfromthefarPastandisstillcelebrated,butwithlittleintelligenceorunderstanding,intheCatholicChurchofto-day,mightbeadoptedinsuchaChurchasIhavespokenof,interpreted,andmadeeloquentofmeaningtomodernhumanity。WhenIwasinCeylonnearly30yearsagoIwasfortunateenoughtowitnessanight-festivalinaHinduTemple——thegreatfestivalofTaipusam,whichtakesplaceeveryyearinJanuary。Ofcourse,itwasfullmoon,andgreatwastheblowingupoftrumpetsinthehugecourtyardoftheTemple。Themoonshonedownabovefromamongthefrondsoftallcoco-palms,onadensecrowdofnativeworshipers——menandafewwomen——themenforthemostpartcladinlittlemorethanaloin-cloth,thewomenpicturesqueintheircoloredsarisandjewelledearandnoserings。TheimagesofSivaandtwoothergodswerecarriedinprocessionroundandroundthetemple——threeorfourtimes;nautchgirlsdancedbeforetheimages,musicians,blowinghornsandhugeshells,orpipingonflageoletsorbeatingtom-toms,accompaniedthem。Thecrowdcarryingtorchesorhighcrateswithflamingcoco-nuts,walkedorratherdancedalongoneachside,elatedandexcitedwiththesenseofthepresentdivinity,yetpleasantlyfreefromanyabjectawe。Thewholethingindeedremindedoneofsomebas-reliefofaBacchanalianprocessioncarvedonaGreeksarcophagus——andespeciallysoinitshilarityandsuggestionoffriendlyintimacywiththegod。Thereweresingingofhymnsandthefloatingofthechiefactorsonaraftroundasacredlake。AndthencamethefinalAct。Siva,orhisimage,veryweightyandborneontheshouldersofstrongmen,wascarriedintothefirstchamberorhalloftheTempleandplacedonanaltarwithacurtainhanginginfront。Thecrowdfollowedwitharush;andthentherewasmoremusic,recitalofhymns,andreadingfromsacredbooks。
Fromwherewestoodwecouldseetheritewhichwasperformedbehindthecurtain。Twofive-branchedcandlestickswerelighted;andthemanneroftheirlightingwasasfollows。Eachbranchendedinalittlecup,andinthecupsfivepiecesofcamphorwereplaced,allapproximatelyequalinsize。Afterofferingshadbeenmade,offruit,flowersandsandalwood,thefivecamphorsineachcandlestickwerelighted。Asthecamphorflamesburnedoutthemusicbecamemorewildandexciting,andthenatthemomentoftheirextinctionthecurtainsweredrawnasideandthecongregationoutsidesuddenlybeheldthegodrevealedandinablazeoflight。Thisburningofcamphorwas,likeotherthingsintheservice,emblematic。Thefivelightsrepresentthefivesenses。Justascamphorconsumesitselfandleavesnoresiduebehind,soshouldthefivesenses,beingofferedtothegod,consumethemselvesanddisappear。
Whenthisisdone,thathappensinthesoulwhichwasnowfiguredintheritual——theGodisrevealedintheinnerlight。[1]
[1]ForamoredetailedaccountofthisTemple-festival,seeAdam\'sPeaktoElephantabyE。Carpenter,ch。vii。
Wearefamiliarwiththispartingorrendingoftheveil。
WehearofitintheJewishTemple,andintheGreekandEgyptianMysteries。Ithadamysticallyreligious,andalsoobviouslysexual,signification。ItoccurshereandthereintheRomanCatholicritual。InSpain,someancientCatholicceremonialsarekeptupwithabrillianceandsplendorhardlyfoundelsewhereinEurope。IntheCathedral,atSevilletheserviceofthePassion,carriedoutonGoodFridaywithgreatsolemnityandaccompaniedwithfinemusic,culminatesontheSaturdaymorning——i。e。
intheintervalbetweentheCrucifixionandtheResurrection——
inaspectaclesimilartothatdescribedinCeylon。
Arichvelvet-blackcurtainhangsbeforetheHighAltar。Attheappropriatemomentandastheveryemotionalstrainsofvoicesandinstrumentsreachtheirclimaxinthe“GloriainExcelsis,“thecurtainwithasuddenburstofsound(thunderandtheringingofallthebells)isrentasunder,andthecrucifiedJesusisseenhangingthererevealedinahaloofglory。
ThereisalsoheldatSevilleCathedralandbeforetheHighAltareveryyear,theverycuriousDanceoftheSeises(sixes),performednowby16insteadof(asofold)by12
boys,quaintlydressed。Itseemstobeasurvivalofsomeveryancientritual,probablyastronomical,inwhichthetwosetsofsixrepresentthesignsoftheZodiac,andiscelebratedduringthefestivalsofCorpusChristi,theImmaculateConception,andtheCarnival。
NumerousinstancesmightofcoursebeadducedofhowaChurchaspiringtobearealChurchofHumanitymightadoptandre-createtheritualsofthepastinthelightofamoderninspiration。Indeedthedifficultywouldbetolimittheprocess,forEVERYancientritual,wecannowsee,hashadameaningandamessage,anditwouldbearealjoytodisentangletheseandtoexposetheprofoundsolidarityofhumanityandaspirationfromtheverydawnofcivilizationdowntothepresentday。NorwoulditbenecessarytoimagineanyActofUniformityordeadlevelofceremonialinthematter。Differentgroupsmightconcentrateondifferentphasesofreligiousthoughtandpractice。TheonlynecessitywouldbethattheyshouldapproachthesubjectwitharealloveofHumanityintheirheartsandarealdesiretocomeintotouchwiththedeepinnerlifeandmysticgrowing-painsofthesoulsofmenandwomeninallages。InthisdirectionM。Loisyhasdonenobleandexcellentwork;butthedeadweightandselfishblinkerdomoftheCatholicorganizationhashamperedhimtothatdegreethathehasbeenunabletogetjusticedonetohisliberalizingdesigns——or,perhaps,eventorevealthefullextentofthem。Andthesamedifficultywillremain。OntheonehandnospiritualmovementwhichdoesnottakeuptheattitudeofaWorld-religionhasnowinthisage,anychanceofsuccess;ontheother,alltheexistingChurches——whetherRomanCatholic,orGreek,orProtestantorSecularist——whetherChristianorJewishorPersianorHindu——willinallprobabilityadoptthesameblindandblinkeredandselfishattitudeasthatdescribedabove,andsodisqualifythemselvesforthegreatroleofworld-wideemancipation,whichsomereligionatsometimewillcertainlyhavetoplay。ItisthesamedifficultywhichisloominglargeinmodernWorld-politics,wherethelocalselfishnessandvainglorious“patriotisms“oftheNationsaresadlyimpedingandobstructingthedevelopmentofthatsenseofInternationalismandBrotherhoodwhichistheclearlyindicatedformofthefuture,andwhichalonecangiveeachnationdeliverancefromfear,andapromiseofgrowth,andtheconfidentassuranceofpower。
IsaythatChristianitymusteitherfranklyadoptthisgenerousattitudeandconfessitselfabranchofthegreatWorld-religion,anxiousonlytodohonortoitssource——
orelseitmustperishandpassaway。Thereisnootheralternative。ThehourofitsExodushascome。Itmaybe,ofcourse,thatneithertheChristianChurchnoranybranchofit,noranyotherreligiousorganization,willstepintothegap。Itmaybe——butIdonotthinkthisislikely——thatthetimeofritesandceremoniesandformalcreedsisPAST,andchurchesofanykindwillbenomoreneededintheworld:notlikely,Isay,becauseofthestillfarbackwardnessofthehumanmasses,andtheirconsiderabledependenceyetonlawsandformsandrituals。Still,ifitshouldprovethatthatageofdependenceISreallyapproachingitsend,thatwouldsurelybeamatterforcongratulation。
ItwouldmeanthatmankindwasmovingintoaknowledgeoftheREALITYwhichhasunderlaintheseoutershows——thatitwascomingintotheThirdstageofitsConsciousness。
Havingfoundthistherewouldbenoneedforittodwellanylongerinthelandofsuperstitionsandformulae。Itwouldhavecometotheplaceofwhichtheselatterareonlytheoutlyingindications。
Itmay,therefore,happen——andthisquiteindependentlyofthegrowthofaWorld-cultsuchasIhavedescribed,thoughbynomeansinantagonismtoit——thatareligiousphilosophyorTheosophymightdevelopandspread,similartotheGnonamoftheHindusortheGnomsisofthepre-Christiansects,whichwouldbecome,firstamongindividualsandafterwardsamonglargebodiesovertheworld,thereligionof——orperhapsoneshouldsaythereligiousapproachtotheThirdState。BooksliketheUpanishadsoftheVedicseers,andtheBhagavatGita,thoughgarbledandobscuredbypriestlyinterferencesandmystifications,doundoubtedlyrepresentandgiveexpressiontothehighestutteranceofreligiousexperiencetobefoundanywhereintheworld。Theyareindeedthemanualsofhumanentranceintothecosmicstate。ButasIsay,andashashappenedinthecaseofothersacredbooks,avastdealofrubbishhasaccretedroundtheiressentialteachings,andhastobeclearedaway。Togointoaseriousexplicationofthemeaningofthesebookswouldbefartoolargeanaffair,andwouldbeforeigntothepurposeofthepresentvolume;butIhaveintheAppendixbelowinsertedtwopapers,(on“Rest“and“TheNatureoftheSelf“)containingthesubstanceoflecturesgivenontheabovebooks。Thesepapersorlecturesarecouchedintheverysimplestlanguage,freefromSanskrittermsandtheusual\'jargonoftheSchools,\'andmay,Ihope,evenonthataccountbeofuseinfamiliarizingreaderswhoarenotspeciallySTUDENTSwiththeideasandmentalattitudesofthecosmicstate。Non-differentiation(Advaita[1])istherootattitudeofthemindinculcated。
[1]Thewordmeans“not-two-ness。”Hereweseeagreatsubtletyofdefinition。Itisnottobe“one“withothersthatisurged,buttobe“nottwo。”
Wehaveseenthattherehasbeenanageofnon-differentiationinthePast-non-differentiationfromothermembersoftheTribe,fromtheAnimals,fromNatureandtheSpiritorSpiritsofnature;whyshouldtherenotariseasimilarsenseofnon-differentiationintheFUTURE——similarbutmoreextendedmoreintelligent?CertainlythisWILLarrive,initsownappointedtime。Therewillbeasurpassingoftheboundsofseparationanddivision。TherewillbeasurpassingofallTaboos。WehaveseentheuseandfunctionofTaboosintheearlystagesofEvolutionandhowprogressandgrowthhavebeenverymuchamatteroftheirgradualextinctionandassimilationintothegeneralbodyofrationalthoughtandfeeling。Unreasoningandidiotictaboosstilllinger,buttheygrowweaker。AnewMoralitywillcomewhichwillshakeitselffreefromthem。Thesenseofkinshipwiththeanimals(asintheoldrituals)[1]willberestored;thesenseofkinshipwithalltheracesofmankindwillgrowandbecomeconsolidated;thesenseofthedefilementandimpurityofthehumanbodywill(withtheadoptionofagenerallycleanandwholesomelife)passaway;andthebodyitselfwillcometoberegardedmoreasacollectionofshrinesinwhichthegodsmaybeworshipedandlessasamereorganoftrivialself-gratifications;[2]therewillbenoformofNature,orofhumanlifeorofthelessercreatures,whichwillbebarredfromtheapproachofManorfromtheintimateandpenetratinginvasionofhisspirit;andasincertainceremoniesandafterhonorabletoilsandlaborsacitizenissometimesreceivedintothecommunityofhisowncity,sotheemancipatedhumanbeingonthecompletionofhislonglongpilgrimageonEarthwillbepresentedwiththeFreedomoftheUniverse。
[1]TherecordoftheRomanCatholicChurchhasbeensadlyCallousandinhumaninthismatteroftheanimals。
[2]SeeTheArtofCreation,byE。Carpenter。
XVII。CONCLUSION
Inconclusiontheredoesnotseemmuchtosay,excepttoaccentuatecertainpointswhichmaystillappeardoubtfulorcapableofbeingunderstood。
Thefactthatthemainargumentofthisvolumeisalongthelinesofpsychologicalevolutionwillnodoubtcommendittosome,whileontheotherhanditwilldiscreditthebooktootherswhoseeyes,beingfixedonpurelyMATERIAL
causes,canseenoimpetusinHistoryexceptthroughthese。
ButitmustberememberedthatthereisnottheleastreasonforSEPARATINGthetwofactors。Thefactthatpsychologicallymanhasevolvedfromsimpleconsciousnesstoself-consciousness,andisnowinprocessofevolutiontowardsanotherandmoreextendedkindofconsciousness,doesnotintheleastbarthesimultaneousappearanceandinfluenceofmaterialevolution。Itisclearindeedthatthetwomustlargelygotogether,actingandreactingoneachother。Whateverthephysicalconditionsoftheanimalbrainmaybewhichconnectthemselveswithsimple(unreflectedandunreflecting)consciousness,itisevidentthattheseconditions——inanimalsandprimitiveman——lastedforanenormousperiod,beforethedistinctconsciousnessoftheindividualandseparateSELFarose。ThissecondorderofconsciousnessseemstohavegerminatedatoraboutthesameperiodasthediscoveryoftheuseofTools(toolsofstone,copper,bronze,&c。),theadoptionofpicture-writingandtheuseofreflectivewords(like“I“
and“Thou“);anditledontotheappreciationofgoldandofironwiththeirornamentalandpracticalvalues,theaccumulationofProperty,theestablishmentofslaveryofvariouskinds,thesubjectionofWomen,theencouragementofluxuryandself-indulgence,thegrowthofcrowdedcitiesandtheendlessconflictsandwarssoresulting。Wecanseeplainlythattheincomingoftheself-motiveexercisedadirectstimulusonthepursuitofthesematerialobjectsandadaptations;andthatthematerialadaptationsintheirturndidlargelyaccentuatetheself-motive;buttoinsistthattherealexplanationofthewholeprocessisonlytobefoundalongonechannel——thematerialORthepsychical——isclearlyquiteunnecessary。Thosewhounderstandthatallmatterisconsciousinsomedegree,andthatallconsciousnesshasamaterialformofsomekind,willbethefirsttoadmitthis。