CHAPTER VII

THE ULTIMATE IMMATERIAL ELEMENT ITS EFFECT

ON HUMAN LIFE AND THOUGHT

For fear we forget we will repeat that the mass we call matter develops an activity which we have named felt-out mind. We have used the name felt-out mind for two reasons: the first reason is because of its existence without consciousness; and the second reason because it is the name now generally used by writers on ethics and kindred subjects. The felt-out mind being merely a system which has developed through following the path of least resistance, it can be changed only by a process of slow variation. Any change in it results in a paralysis of some part, or excessive action in another. Having no reasoning power, it has no power to help itself and never returns to its normal condition except by accident or an unconscious adaptation of the Ultimate Element.

The thought-out mind grew out of the felt-out mind just as the flower grew out of the plant. We have used the term thought-out mind for two reasons. The first is, it is sentient consciousness wherein is born comparative analysis. The second is the same reason as given above. Like the felt-out mind, the thought-out mind at first follows the path of the least resistance. Fear, which is the dominating consciousness of the felt-out mind, becomes more active in the thought-out mind. Along with the discernment and the development of the faculty, decision, the thought-out mind begins to realize the possibility of increasing its usefulness by adding to

it strategy and implements. As a result of the same impulsion it begins to give names to objects and implements and exemplifies the human man or mind made out of attenuated matter naming the animals.

Furthermore, his more intensified self-consciousness has enabled him to increase his ability to avail himself of more of the Ultimate Element. Unfortunately, as he has done this he has been led by an overwhelming human sense-power to pervert this impartation. Just in proportion as his self-realization increases, that is the realization of the Ultimate Element, does he pervert this Power-Intelligence to selfish means. So strong is this human sense-power that at the present stage of civilization the value of every new discovery is measured by its therapeutical or military usefulness.

During the early period of sensual development man will throw his woman and child to a wild beast to appease its hunger, while he escapes. But as self-realization continues to the point of consciousness of the Ultimate Element he begins to defend what he before threw to the wild beast. At this point he begins to murmur against cruelty and oppression, he proclaims righteousness and denounces selfishness and injustice. As a result he gathers around him followers who can understand what he means but cannot express themselves, and he is regarded as a prophet. The Ultimate Element which he has become conscious of prompts him to denounce as sin things the Ultimate Element abhors, and as a result is begun the attempt to separate good from evil.

Out of the struggle between the unconsciously adapted Ultimate Element and the evolved activity are de

veloped the many varieties from beast to man. This struggle becomes intensified in proportion as the adaptation becomes conscious and conscious mental species are born. Since the thought-out mind is controlled by the felt-out mind until self-realization ensues, there comes as a result of this self-realization a battle between the two. During this period there exists what is known as civilized man along with his tyrannical institutions. At moments of partial self-realization he subscribes to customs and law which he fails to live up to as a result of the counteraction of the felt-out mind. The felt-out mind, having no consciousness except a law and system of procreation, is forever at war with the thought-out mind and its feeble realization of perfect good. If this warfare were generally understood, all men would have the charity accredited to the Master Christian. We are taught in childhood a code of morals consisting of conventional laws, which laws are supposed to be the correct realization of right and wrong. This all sounds very well at the time, but the felt-out mind has a modus of its own. It destroys the images of thought and casts over the human consciousness a cruel spell from which many awaken only to be put to sleep again.

Thus the great tragedy of life, like the great tragedy of civilizations, is found between the two periodsthe period of human self-consciousness, and the realization of the Ultimate Element, which realization gives us power over the terrific and unceasing demands of the felt-out mind.

Occasionally men have come into the world who have claimed to be able to see something beyond that which

is visible to the human eye, or which the evolved understanding is capable of grasping. These men have often done wonderful things, and their followers likewise. In the course of time the followers of these men have almost invariably deteriorated into mere magicians or ceremonial worshippers, despoiling the people through credulous frenzy, the result of doubt and fear. However, science has never explained these men, nor have these men explained science.

What these men have seen, the writer has seen, and it is not only a remarkable experience, it is also a wonderful privilege. As I have explained before, I insisted it should be translated into language and interpreted into thought instead of being worshipped and feared. This is the work we have undertaken, and it is what we are now trying to do. The sensorial or felt-out mind is stimulated by it; and the sentient or thought-out mind is inspired by it, and when its reflection overpowers the human consciousness we become super-men. It is recorded that Moses "endured as seeing him who is invisible." 1 Not only Moses, but all men who have endured have done so through this power. No doubt Moses and many others have been blessed with a remarkable realization of this power, and, as Huxley says, it is our business to learn more about this power and be governed accordingly.

The human consciousness has found within itself certain forms of pleasure as well as certain forms of sorrow. However, the attempt to balance these has resulted in a mess. The first effect of a realization of this readjusting and reforming Element is seen in a zeal

1 Bible-Hebrews 11:27.

on the part of the recipient to reform everyone in the world. The purpose is good, but unfortunately instead of working his way out of the mass of phenomena and human law he is in himself, he starts out to compel everyone to abide by a lot of human concepts which he has heretofore regarded as law and gospel. The world is full of these people, whom we all know. The scientific realization of this power results in our becoming conscious of the insufficiency of all man-made laws and a desire to conform to this perfect, universal, invariable and Infinite law. However, we can never do this so long as we make laws ourselves, for the very good reason that these human outlines, graven images, along with the belief that we can substitute ourselves for that law, become a barrier to further progress. The human consciousness must be dethroned. Its empire of selfishness must capitulate to the empire of principle. We must understand this principle and let it govern us just as the electric current drives the motor.

As a result of putting ourselves in the receptive condition just described, we realize the benefit by becoming more normal. The demands of the felt-out mind begin to yield to the Absolute Mind and petty annoyances disappear. Acquired traits and unnatural appetites are the first to yield. The natural man being a harmonious expression of nature, any variation from this regularity is quickly restored to the natural condition by a realization of the Ultimate Immaterial Element. Nature, as we have stated before, has an unconscious realization of this which is liable to variation, and this variableness is responsible for what has been classified as disease of the flesh. In the same manner