第3章

willissuspended，orpassivetoexternalstates。Amanwholivesonlyonthesensualplanewillreceivehisknowledgethroughthesenses，andwillnot，whileinthatstate，receivespiritualimpressionsorwarningdreams。 Menandwomenrarelyeverdegradethemselvessolowthatthesmallvoiceofthedesertdoesnotbringthemamessage。SodomandGomorrah，vilewiththedebaucheryofanamelesscrime，werenotdesertedbytheangelofloveuntilthefirewhichtheyhadlightedintheirsoulshadconsumedthem。ThewallsofJerichodidnotfalluntilRahab，theharlot，hadbeensavedandtheinmateshadheardforseveraldaystheram’s-hornandthetrampofJoshua’sinfantry。 TheevangelistJonah，theSamJonesofHebrewtheology，exhortedtheadulterousNinevehmanytimestorepentancebeforeitfell。 David，whileintoxicatedwiththewineoflove，fromlanguishingintheseductiveembraceofthebeautifulbathingnymph，Bathsheba，heardthevoiceofNathan。SurelyGodisnorespecterofpersons，andwillspeaktoallclassesifthepeoplewillnotstiffentheirnecksorhardentheirhearts。 Womendreammoreoftenandmorevividlythanmen，becausetheirdreamcompositionislessinfluencedandalliedtoexternalenvironments。 Alldreamspossessanelementofwarningorprescience； somemorethanothers。Thisisunknowntothemany，butisknowntotheobservingfew。Therearemanypeoplewhohavenonaturaltasteformusic，andwhodonotknowonenotefromanother。Therearealsothosewhocannotdistinguishonecolorfromanother。Totheformerthereisnoharmonyofsound，andtothelatterthereisnoblendingofcolors。 Theyareheardandseen，butthereisnoartisticrecognitionofthesame。Stillitwouldbeabsurdtosaytoeitherthemusicianortheartist：yourartisfalseandisonlyanillusionofthesenses。 Onemanapparentlyneverdreams；anotherdreamsoccasionally，andstillanothermorefrequently；noneattempttointerprettheirdream，ortoobservewhatfollows；therefore，theverdictis，“Thereisnothingindreams。”(Schopenhaueraptlysays：“Nomancanseeoverhisownheight…… Intellectisinvisibletothemanwhohasnone。”)Thefirstisliketheblindmanwhodeniestheexistenceoflight，becausehedoes20 notperceiveit。Thesecondandthirdresemblethecolor-blindman，whoseesbutwhopersistsincallinggreenblue，andviceversa。 Afourthmanseesinadreamafriendwalkinginhisroom； thevisionissovividheinstantlygetsupandstrikesamatch。Aftermakingsurethereisnointruderabouttheroomhelooksathiswatchandgoesbacktobed。Thenextdayhereceivestheunwelcometidingsthathisfrienddiedattheexactmomentofthevision。 Atanothertimehehearsinhisdreamafamiliarvoicecryoutinagony。Soonhehearsofashockingaccidentordistressingillnessbefallingtheonewhosevoiceherecognizedinthedream。2 Thethirdman，alreadyreferredto，hasaboutthesamedreamexperiences，butcallsthemstrangecoincidencesorunconsciouscerebration，etc。 Again，thefourthmandreamsofwalkingthroughgreenfieldsofcorn，grassorwheat。Henotesaftersuchdreamsprosperousconditionsfollowforatleastafewdays。Healsonotes，iftheareaoverwhichhepassesisinterspersedwithrocksorotheradversesigns，goodandbadfollowinthewakeofthedream。Ifhesucceedsinclimbingamountainandfindsthetopbarrenhewillaccomplishhisobject，butthedealwillproveunprofitable。Ifitisgreenandspring-likeinappearance，itwillyieldgoodresults。Ifheseesmuddywater，sickness，businessdepressionorcausesforjealousymaydevelop。 Anightmaresuggeststothedreamertobecarefulofhealthanddiet，torelaxhiswholebody，tosleepwithhisarmsdownandkeepplentyoffreshairintheroom。 Hesumsuptheforegoingwithathousandsimilardreamincidents，andisledtobelievecertaindreamspossessanelementofwarning。 Therearethreepuretypesofdreams，namely，subjective，physicalandspiritual。Theyrelatetothepast，presentandfuture，andareinfluencedbypastorsubjective，physicalandspiritualcauses。Thelatterisalwaysdeeplyprophetic，especiallywhenitleavesavividimpressionontheconsciousmind。Theformer，too，possessesanelementofwarningandprophecy，21 thoughthetruemeaningishiddeninsymbolsorallegory。Theyareduetocontingentmentalpicturesofthepastfallingupontheconsciousmindofthedreamer。Thusheisbackattheoldhome，andfindsmotherpaleandaged，orruddyandhealthy，andthelawnwitheredorgreen。Itallaugurs，accordingtotheaspectthepictureassumes，illorgoodfortune。 Physicaldreamsaremoreorlessunimportant。Theyareusuallysuperinducedbytheanxiouswakingmind，andwhenthisissotheypossessnopropheticsignificance。 Dreamsinducedbyopiates，fevers，mesmerismandillhealthcomeunderthisclass。Amanwhogamblesisliabletodreamofcards；ifhedreamsofthemindeepsleepthewarningistobeheeded；butifitcomesasareveriewhilehesleepslightlyheshouldregarditasworthless。 Suchdreamsreflectonlythepresentconditionofthebodyandmindofthedreamer；butasthepastandpresententerintoshapingthefuture，thereflectionsthusleftonthewakingmindshouldnotgobyunheeded。 Weoftenobservemattersofdressandexteriorappearancethroughmirrors，andwesoonmakethenecessaryalterationstoputourbodiesinharmonywithexistingformalities。Then，whynotstudymoreseriouslythementalimagesreflectedfromthemirrorofthesouluponourmindsthroughtheoccultprocesseswithinus？ Thirdly，thespiritualdreamsarebroughtaboutbythehigherselfpenetratingthesoulrealm，andreflectinguponthewakingmindapproachingevents。Whenweputouranimalmindandsoulinharmonywithourhigherselfwebecomeonewithit，and，therefore，onewiththeuniversalmindorwillbybecomingapartofit。Itisthroughthehigherselfwereachtheinfinite。Itisthroughthelowerselfwefallintothewhirlpoolofmatter。 Thesedreamsareapartoftheuniversalminduntiltheytranspireinthelifeofman。Afterthistheygotomakeapartofthepersonalsoul。Whateverhasnottakenplaceinthemind，orlifeofman，belongsexclusivelytotheimpersonalmind。Butassoonasamanlivesorseesathing，thatthinginstantlybecomesapartofhissoul；hence，theclairvoyant，ormindreader，neverperceivesbeyondthepersonalego，asthefuturebelongsexclusivelytoGodortheuniversalmind，andhasnomaterial，subjectiveexistence；therefore，itcannotbeknownexceptthroughthechannelsofthehigherself，which22 istheTruthortheWordthatisconstantlystrivingtomanifestitselfthroughtheflesh。 Ourpsychicalresearchpeoplegiveusconclusiveproofofmentaltelepathyortelegraphybetweenfiniteminds。Thuscommunicationsorimpressionsareconveyedmanymilesfromonemindtoanother。Thisphenomenoniseasierwhenoneorbothofthesubjectsareinastateofsomnambulenceorasleep。 Inthoughttransferenceormindreadingitisabsolutelynecessarytohaveapositiveandanegativesubject。Throughthesamelawthatmentalimpressionsaretelegraphedfromonefinitemindtoanotheramanmayplacehimselfinharmonywiththeinfinitemindandthusreceivetrueandhealthfulwarningsofcomingevilorgood。Homer，Aristotleandotherwritersoftheancientclassicsthoughtthisnotimprobable。 Thestatesman，thepoet，thephilosopheroftheBiblewereunanimousinattachingpropheticsignificancetodreams。Hasthelawofetherealvibrationsundergoneanyrecentchangestodebarormolestthecommunionofthesoulwithitsspiritualfather，anymorethanithasdebarredcontactwithitsmaterialmotherorenvironments？ Weonlyunderstandthegreatlawsofnaturebyeffects。 Weknowthatvegetationplantedinnativesoilandproperlyattendedwithlight，heatandmoisture，willgrowandyieldacertainspeciesoffruit。 Wemayinferhowitdoesthis，butwecannotexplaintheprocessoftransformationanymorethanwecanexplainwhycertaintropicalbirdsareburnishedwithglowingcolors，andthatotherbirdsunderthemurkyskiesaregrayandbrown，whileintheArcticregionstheybleach。 Insleepwesee，withoutbeingawakened，theangrylightningrendthemidnightclouds，andheartheexplosivethunderhurlitsfuryatus；butcanweexplainitanymorethanourscientistcanexplainthenaturalforcesofthought，ofloveandhate，orthesubtleintuitionofwoman？ WhatofthesilhouetteortheanthelionoftheScandinavianAlps，andtheaerialcitiessooftenseenbyexplorersandtravelers？Donottheydefythelawofoptics？Mustweunderstandtheintricaciesofarticulationandtheforcesbackofitbeforewecanappropriatespeech？ Mustwediscardallbeliefinaninfinitemindbecausewecannotunderstandit，andthereforesaywearenotapartofitbecausethereisnoInfinite？ Shouldwediscardthebeliefintheinfinitudeofnumber，because23 wecannotunderstandit，andthereforesaythatfinitenumberisnotapartoftheinfinite？ Noscientistornaturalistissogrosslystupidastodenytheinfiniteexpansionofnumbers？Ifthisbeso，itestablishestheinfiniteofnumber，ofwhicheveryfinitenumberisapart，andthuswehaveaparallelinmathematics，theverycornerstoneoftheexactsciences，forafiniteandaninfinitemind。Itisfromtheprototypeofthisinfiniteofnumber，namely，theinfiniteofintelligence，thatspiritualdreamsproceed。Theyare，therefore，thereflectionoftruthuponthedreammindandoccurwithlessfrequencythandodreamsoftheothertwoclasses。 Therearealsomixeddreams，duetoamultitudeofincidentsarisingfromoneormoresources，whichbeingreflecteduponthemindatthesameinstant，produceanincoherenteffectsimilartothatwhichmightbeproducedbyrunningthesamenewspaperthroughtwoormorepressesallofdifferentsizetype。 Again，ifyousitbeforeamirrorwhereflashlightsoffacesandotherthingsarereflectedsimultaneouslyandinstantlyremoved，youwillfailtoobtainawell-definedimpressionofwhatpassedbeforeyourmind。 Ifyoushouldpassonatrain，atthespeedoftwomilesaminute，throughaforestofflowersandtrees，yourmindwouldbeunabletodistinguishoneflowerortreefromanother。 Itisinasimilarwaydreamlifeandincidentsmayfalluponthemind。 Awomanmaydreamofreceivingaletter，andinthesameconnectionseemuddywater，oranaridlandscape。Closelyfollowing，inwakinglife，sheisastonishedtoreceivealetterinaboutthesamemannerofherdream，butthemuddywaterandthearidlandscapearemissing。 Thisisamixeddreamandisduetomorethanonecause。 Thefirstpartisliteralinitsfulfilment，andbelongstothespiritualclass；theotherpartofthedreamissubjective，andthereforeallegoricalinmeaning。Togetherwiththeletter，itwasaforewarningofmisfortune。 Thesedreamsaremoredifficultofinterpretationthanthosebelongingtothespiritualtype。Insuchdreamsyoumayseewater，letters，houses，money，people，andcountlessotherthings。Thenextdayyoumaycrosswaterorreceivealetter；theotherthingsyoumaynotsee，butannoyanceorpleasurewillfollow。24 Again，youmayhaveasimilardreamandnotreceivealetterorcrosswater，butthewakinglifewillbefilledwiththeotherdreampicturesandyouwillexperiencedisappointingorpleasantsurprisesasareindicatedbytheletterorwatersign。 Ihaveselectedtheallegoricaltypeofdreamsforthesubjectofthiswork。Dreamsthatarecommonoccurrencesandarethoughtbytheworldtobemeaningless。 Ihaveendeavored，throughtheoccultforcesinandaboutmetofindtheiresotericorhiddenimport。 Dreamstranspireonthesubjectiveplane。Theyshouldthereforebeinterpretedbysubjectiveintelligence。This，thoughburdenedwithmanybusinesscares，Ihavehonestlyendeavoredtodo。ThroughthelonghoursofmanynightsIhavewaitedpatientlyandpassivelytheautomaticmovementofmyhandtowritethesubjectivedefinitionswithoutreceivingawordorasinglemanifestationofintelligence，andagainthemysteriousforceswouldwriteasfastasmyhandcouldmoveoverthepaper。 Iwillleaveitformyreaderstodrawtheirownconclusionsastowhetherautomaticwritingistheworkofextraneousspirits，throughthebrainandintelligenceofthemedium，ortheresultofauto-suggestiveinfluenceuponthesubjectivepersonality。 ItisarguedbytheMaterialist，withsomedegreeofstrength，thatthehealthymandoesnotdream，Thisis，perhaps，true，inaway，butthewholemancomprisesthepast，present，andfuture。Thepastandfuturealwaysembracemoreoftheconditionsthatsurroundhimthanthepresent。Thepresentisonlytheacutestage，whilethechronicstage，consideredfromapersonalview，isthepastandfuturecombined。Mancannoteliminateentirelythesestatesfromhimself，for，whiletheyarepastandfuturetothepersonalmind，theyareeverpresenttothehighersubjectivesenses；heis，therefore，neverinperfecthealthunlessthesestatesareinharmonywiththepresent。Thepersonalself，inanormalstate，cannotfreeitselffromthepastorfromtheanxietiesofthefuture。 Thereadershouldeverkeepbeforehismindthefactthatnomaneverhadthesamedreamtwice。Hemayhavehadverysimilardreams，butsomedetailwillbemissing。Natureseemstoabhorduplicates。Youcouldnomorefindtwodreamsalikethanyoucouldfindfacsimilesintwobladesofgrass。A25 mancannotlivetwodaysexactlyalike。Differentinfluencesandpassionswillpossesshim。Consequently，notwodreamscanbehadunderexactlythesameinfluences。StereotypesarepeculiarlytheinventionofmanandnotofGodornature。