第5章

Throughthemwemaymeasuretime，space，qualityandquantity。 ThesymboloandIexistbyreasonofnothingandsomethingordeathandlife。Thefigureoneissubjecttoillimitableexpansion。Itiswithoutbeginningintheinfiniteofnumber，asGodiswithoutbeginningintheinfiniteofbeing。Aswiththevegetablekingdom，thetinyseedoracornsilentlyworkingitsmagicaltransformationintoaplantortree，anddirectingitsdestinywithmarvelousintelligencethroughthetorridandfrigidvicissitudesoftheseasons；soismanwithoutbeginningintheinfinitudeofhisownbeingormicrocosm。Manisbothatypeandantitype。Atypeofwhatpre-existedintheimaginationoftheworld，andanantitypeofafuturelifeyetto31 manifestitselfonanotherplanewheretheincidentsoftheonewillbesubjective，astheeventsoccurringininfancyorinotherplanesarenowsubjective。Hisdreams，thoughtsandactions，andtheinfluencesthatproducethemandtheirmultiplyingcombination，cannotbenumberedorreproducedanymorethanyoucannumbertheleavesoftheforest，orfindtwoexactlysimilarunitsamongthem。Thusthefullmeaningorinterpretationofdreamscannotbefullydemonstratedthroughmentalorevenspiritualstereotypes。 Butbytheintelligentuseofthisbookyouwillbeabletotraceoutalmostanydreamcombinationandarriveatthetruenatureofitsportent。 Awisedoctor，inpreparingmedicineforapatient，considerswellhisage，temperamentandhispresentcondition。Soshouldtheinterpreterofdreamsponderwellthementalstate，thehealth，habitsandtemperamentofthedreamer。Thesethingsnoonecanknowsowellasthedreamerhimself。 He，therefore，withtheaidofthisbook，willbeabletointerprethisdreamsbythelightthatisinhim。 Manisthemicrocosmoraminiatureworld。Hehasasoulandmentalfirmament，boundedbythestellardustandthemilkyway，andfilledwiththemysteryofsuns，satellitesandstars。Thesehecanstudybestbytheastronomyofinductionandintrospection。Hehasalsoaphysicalplane，diversifiedbyoceans，lakes，rivers，fertilevalleys，wasteplacesandmountains。Allareincosmicinterdependencyastheyareinthemacrocosm。 Herereststhemysteryofbeing——thegrandestofsubjects！Thestudentisnolessbewilderedandawedthanthegeologistwhogropesblindlythroughtheseamsoftheearthsearchingforlinksintheinfinitechainofknowledge，ortheastronomersweepingtheheavensofthemacrocosminquestofnewphenomena。Thetwoplanesaredependentuponeachother。Itisthesmileordiseaseofthefirmamentthatblessesordiseasestheearth。Itislikewisetheimpurefirmamentofthemicrocosmthatdiseasesthebodyandsoul。 Ifitreflectsthedroughtofthoughtorthevariousstatesofevil，desertswillenlarge，forestofinfectious，venomousgrowthwillformthehabitationoflustandmurder。Beforegreatmoralorphysicalrevolutionsorcatastrophesoccur，cloudswilldarkenthehorizonofthedreammind；stormswillgather，luridflamesoflightningwillflashtheirvolatileanger；theexplosivethunderwillrecklesslycarryonitsbombardment；bellswillring，32 strangeknockingwillbeheard——symbolsofamessage——phantomformswillbeseen，familiarvoiceswillcallandpleadwithyou，unknownvisitorswillthreatenyou，unearthlystruggleswithhideousgiantsandagoniesofmindandbodywillpossessyou；malformationsofthemosthideoustypewillseizeyourvision；shroudedinsheetsofawhitishvapor，evanescentspecters，withpallidfaceandofwarningcountenance，willclingaroundyou，andcontagionandfaminewillleavetheirdesolateimpressupontheflowerofhealthandinthefieldofplenty。Thusallofuswouldbenightlywarnedinourcircleorminiatureworldifwewoulddevelopsubjectivestrengthtoretaintheimpressionsleftuponourdreammind。Butinspiteofallreasonandconscience——inspiteoftheinductiveknowledgereceivedthroughoursenses——wegoonfromdaytoday，andstepbystep，feedingoursoulonthelusciousfruitoftheoutwardsenses，untiltherankweedsofselfishnesshavechokedoutallotherforces。Thusthesoulisfilledwiththoughtimagesthatassumetheformofviciousanimals，homelyvisagedfowls，rabidandsnarlingcatsanddogs，leprousandvirileserpents，cankerouslizards，slimyintestineworms，hairyandmaliciousinsects。Theyaregeneratedbygreed，envy，jealousy，covetousness，backbiting，amorouslongingsandotherimpurethoughts。Withthesoulfilledwiththisconglomerationofvirusandfilth，whydoubtahellanditscounterpartcondition，orexpectthedayornighttobringhappiness？Ifevilthoughtswillinfestthesoulwithravenousmicrobes，goodthoughtsanddeedswillstarveandsuppresstheiractivity，andcreateaheaventosupplantthem。Withthisgrandandeternaltruthinview，manshouldeverthinkkindlyofthoseabouthim，controlhistemperinwordandaction，seekhisown，thinkthebestofthoughts，studytorelievetheworthypoor，seeksolaceinthedepthofbeing，andletgentlenessandmeeknesscharacterizehislife。Thenwillhesowtheseedsofapresentandfutureheaven。Hisdaythoughtsandhisnightthoughtsinharmonywillpointwithunerringforecasttoapeacefulend。Spiritualandhelpfulwarningswillfalluponthedreammind，asgentlyasdewupontheflowersandassoftlyasamother’skissuponthelipsoflove。Whenourexternallivesareguidedbytheforceswithin，sweetarethewordsandmessagesfromourownspirit；forthosewhoaretrulyblessedarethosewhoseekdivinelovethroughthechannelsoftheirinnerworldofconsciousness。 Manisalittlecircleorworldcomposedoftheinfinitesimalatomsthrownofffromthegreatcircleorparentworld，andfittingintohisplaceinthezoneoflife。Ifintherevolutionsofthegreatcirclehecatchesmorematerialheincreaseshiscircletoobjectiveorsubjectivegrowth：ifheabsorbsspiritualormindatomsastheyfallfromthegreatbodyofcreativesource，heenlargesorcontractshisowncircleaccordingtotheassimilationofthefoodhereceivesfromtheparent。34 Itisoptionalwithmantoobtainspiritualormaterialmannaasitisdisseminatedthroughoutexistence。Tofeedonmaterialdietalone，contractsanddistortsthecircleoftheman；butafullcomprehensionoftheneedsofthecircle，aproperdenialofsupplytosomeofthecompounds，togetherwithatendercareofotherparts，willroundoutthewholeintoaperfectphysicalandmentalcircleoflife。 Dissentiousandconflictingresultsshouldbeavoidedincomputingthelengthandbreadthofthecompoundedcircleofman’sindividualworld。Objectivelifeisoneofthesmallestcompoundsinreallife。 Dreamlifeisfullerofmeaningandteachingoftheinner，orGodlife，thanistheexteriorlifeofman。Themindreceiveseducationfromcommuningwiththedreamcompositioninthegreatcircle。Consultwithyourwholenatureorcirclebeforebeginningaseriouswork；partialconsultations，ormaterialadviceonly，oftenbringsdefeatofobjectssought，whenatruehomecounselwouldhavebroughtsuccessandconsequenthappiness。 Manshouldliveinhissubjectiverealmsandstudymorehisrelationtoothercompositionsorcircles；thusfructifyingandmakingbeautifulhisownworldthroughintercoursewithotherswhohaveworkedinthegreatstorehouseofsubjectivity，andwhohaveclimbedalreadyfromthebasementintothelightofspiritualsunshine。 Whatisadream？ ANSWER——Adreamisaneventtranspiringinthatworldbelongingtothemindwhentheobjectivesenseshavewithdrawnintorestoroblivion。 Thenthespiritualmanislivingaloneinthefutureoraheadofobjectivelifeandconsequentlylivesman’sfuturefirst，developingconditionsinawaythatenableswakingmantoshapehisactionsbywarnings，soastomakelifeaperfectexistence。 Whatrelationshipissustainedbetweentheaveragemanandhisdreams？ AAdreamtotheaverageorsensualperson，bearsthe35 samerelationtohisobjectivelifethatitmaintainedinthecaseoftheidealdreamer，butitmeanspleasures，sufferingsandadvancementsonalowerormaterialplane。 QThenwhyismannotalwaysabletocorrectlyinterprethisdreams？ Justaswordsfailsometimestoexpressideas，sodreamsfailsometimesintheirmindpicturestoportraycomingevents。 Iftheyrelatetothefuture，whyisitwesooftendreamofthepast？ Whenapersondreamsofpastevents，thoseeventsarewarningsofevilorgood；sometimestheyarestampedsoindeliblyuponthesubjectivemindthattheleasttendencyofthewakingmindtothepastthrowsthesepicturesinreliefonthedreamconsciousness。 Whyisitthatpresentenvironmentsofteninfluenceourdreams？ Becausethefutureofmanisusuallyaffectedbythepresent，soifhemarsthepresentbywilfulwrongs，ormakesitbrightbyrightlivingitwillnecessarilyhaveinfluenceonhisdreams，astheyareforecastingsofthefuture。 Whatisanapparition？ Itisthesubjectivemindstoredwiththewisdomgainedfromfuturity，andinitsstrenuouseffortstowarnitspresenthabitation——thecorporalbody——ofdangersjustahead，takesontheshapeofadearoneasthemosteffectivemethodofimpartingthisknowledge。 Howdoessubjectivitydealwithtime？ Thereisnopastandfuturetosubjectivity。Itisallonelivingpresent。 Ifthatisso，whycan’tyoutellusaccuratelyofourfutureasyoudoofourpast？ Becauseeventsarelikeaprocession；theypassafewatatimeandcastashadowonsubjectiveminds，andthosewhichhavepassedbeforethewakingmindarefeltbyothermindsalsoandnecessarilymakeamorelastingimpressiononthesubjectivemind。 Toillustrate：Apersononretiringorclosinghiseyeshadafaceappeartohim，theforeheadwellformedbutthelowerpartsdistorted。Explainthisphenomenon？36 Achangedstatefromperfectsleeporwakingpossessedhim。 Now，theman’sfacewasonlytheexpressionofhisrealthoughtsandthestateofhisbusinesscombined。Histhoughtswerestrongandhealthy，buthisbusinessfagging，hencehisownspiritisnotaperfectlikenessofhisownsoul，asittakeseveryatomofearthlycompositionperfectlynormaltoreproduceaperfectspiritpictureofthesoulormortalman。Hewouldhaveseenatruelikenessofhimselfhadconditionsbeenfavorable；thusamanknowswhenacompletewholeishisportion。Studytomakesurroundingsalwaysharmonious。Lifeisonlybeingperfectlycarriedonwhentheseconditionsareinunison。 HOWTODEVELOPTHEPOWERTODREAM。 Keepthemindclearandasfreefrommaterialrubbishasispossibleandgotosleepinanegativecondition(thiswill，ofcourse，havetobecultivatedbythesubject)。Apersoncan，ifhewill，completelyrelaxhismindandbodytothereceptivemoodrequiredfordreamstoappearasrealities，ortrueexplanationsoffutureevents。 Todreamyouareconversingwithadeadrelative，andthatrelativeendeavorstoextractapromisefromyou，warnsyouofcomingdistressunlessyoufollowtheadvicegiven。Disastrousconsequencescouldbeavertedifmindscouldgrasptheinnerworkingsandsightofthehigherorspiritualself。Thevoiceofrelativesisonlythathigherselftakingformtoapproachmoredistinctlythemindthatlivesnearthematerialplane。Thereissolittlecongenialitybetweencommonormaterialnaturesthatpersonsshoulddependmorelargelyupontheirownsubjectivityfortruecontentmentandpleasure。 Thewillissuspendedduringsleep，sothedreammindismoreapreytoexcitabilitythanthewakingmind。 Thuswhenimagesappearuponthedreamvisiontheyarefrequentlydistortedintohideousmalformationsthatfillitwithfearandexcitement。 Theconstantdwellingoftheminduponcertainthingsdistortstheirshapesuponsubjectivity，thusthrowingdreamsinexactlyoppositechannelstothewakingreality。Yetthedreameralwaysfeelsasenseofbeingawakeindreamslikethese，andonawakeningexperiencesnorecuperationofmindorbodyaftersuchcontrarydreams，Sleepisnotfullysustainedwhilethedreamerisheldbymaterialideasinthesubjectivestate。 Thecessationoftheorganstoperformhealthfulfunctionsconvertsamanintoadifferentperson，anddreamswhileinthisstatewouldhavenopropheticmeaning，unlesstowarnthedreamerofthisdisorganizationofhisphysicalsystem。 Dreamsaresymbolsusedbysubjectivitytoimpresstheobjectiveormaterialmindwithasenseofcominggoodorevil。Subjectivityisthespiritualpartofman。Thesoulisthatcircleofmanlyingjustoutsidethegrossmaterialityandpartakinglargelyofit。Allthoughtsanddesiresenterfirstthesoulormaterialmindandthencastthemselvesonthespirit。Frequentlythesoulbecomessofilledwithmaterialorpresentideas，thatthespiritualsymbolsarecrowdedout，andthenitisthatdreamsseentobecontrary。Materialsubjectivity，thatis，allthoughtsandideasemanatingfrommaterialsources，gotomakeupthiscircle；thenthemindcatchesupthebetterthoughtsofthissectionandweavesthemintoabroaderandmorecomprehensivepower，sustainingtheownerinhisownjudgment。 Andstillanothercircleisformedofthefinercompoundofthis，whichisspiritualsubjectivity，orthehighestelementofintelligencereachedbyman。[Thiscircleis“thespiritualman“andrelatesinsubstancetothespiritualsoulofthemacrocosmoruniverse。Itbecomesstrongorweakaswerecognizeorfailtorecognizeitasafactorofbeing。Theprocessofspiritualdevelopmentissimilartothatofthevegetableandanimalkingdoms。Thetreesontheouterrimoftheforestaremorecapableofresistingthewindthanthosemoretothecenter，byreasonoftheirexposuretostorms；therootshavepenetratedwithdouble strengthfarintotheearth，andthebranchesarebracedwithtoughenedbarkandcloselyknittedligaments。 Thesamemaybesaidoftheanimalkingdom。Themindisdevelopedbyvigorousexercisejustasarelikewisethemusclesofthebody。Themorethesearecultivatedbydrawingfromtheirparentalaffinitiesinthemacrocosm，themoreknowledgeorpowertheytakeon。Thusasamansimulatesinthoughtandactionanape，atiger，agoat，asnakeoralambhetakesontheircharacteristicsandisswayedbylikeinfluencestoenmity，meekness，covetousnessandavariciousness。Toillustratefurther。Ifheiscunninghedrawsonthefoxofthemicrocosmandbecomes，inactionandthought，likethatanimal。Ifselfishnesssurvives，thehogprincipleisarousedfromitslatentcellsinthemicrocosmandheisdominatedbymaterialappetites。Inasimilarwayhemayperceivethespiritualinhimself。