pagan and christian creeds-第61章
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ions； do undoubtedly represent and give expression to the highest utterance of religious experience to be found anywhere in the world。 They are indeed the manuals of human entrance into the cosmic state。 But as I say； and as has happened in the case of other sacred books； a vast deal of rubbish has accreted round their essential teachings； and has to be cleared away。 To go into a serious explication of the meaning of these books would be far too large an affair； and would be foreign to the purpose of the present volume； but I have in the Appendix below inserted two papers； （on 〃Rest〃 and 〃The Nature of the Self〃） containing the substance of lectures given on the above books。 These papers or lectures are couched in the very simplest language； free from Sanskrit terms and the usual 'jargon of the Schools；' and may； I hope； even on that account be of use in familiarizing readers who are not specially STUDENTS with the ideas and mental attitudes of the cosmic state。 Non…differentiation （Advaita＇1＇） is the root attitude of the mind inculcated。
＇1＇ The word means 〃not…two…ness。〃 Here we see a great subtlety of definition。 It is not to be 〃one〃 with others that is urged； but to be 〃not two。〃
We have seen that there has been an age of non…differentiation in the Past…non…differentiation from other members of the Tribe； from the Animals； from Nature and the Spirit or Spirits of nature； why should there not arise a similar sense of non…differentiation in the FUTUREsimilar but more extended more intelligent？ Certainly this WILL arrive； in its own appointed time。 There will be a surpassing of the bounds of separation and division。 There will be a surpassing of all Taboos。 We have seen the use and function of Taboos in the early stages of Evolution and how progress and growth have been very much a matter of their gradual extinction and assimilation into the general body of rational thought and feeling。 Unreasoning and idiotic taboos still linger； but they grow weaker。 A new Morality will come which will shake itself free from them。 The sense of kinship with the animals （as in the old rituals）＇1＇ will be restored； the sense of kinship with all the races of mankind will grow and become consolidated； the sense of the defilement and impurity of the human body will （with the adoption of a generally clean and wholesome life） pass away； and the body itself will come to be regarded more as a collection of shrines in which the gods may be worshiped and less as a mere organ of trivial self…gratifications；＇2＇ there will be no form of Nature； or of human life or of the lesser creatures； which will be barred from the approach of Man or from the intimate and penetrating invasion of his spirit； and as in certain ceremonies and after honorable toils and labors a citizen is sometimes received into the community of his own city； so the emancipated human being on the completion of his long long pilgrimage on Earth will be presented with the Freedom of the Universe。
＇1＇ The record of the Roman Catholic Church has been sadly Callous and inhuman in this matter of the animals。
＇2＇ See The Art of Creation； by E。 Carpenter。
XVII。 CONCLUSION
In conclusion there does not seem much to say； except to accentuate certain points which may still appear doubtful or capable of being understood。
The fact that the main argument of this volume is along the lines of psychological evolution will no doubt commend it to some； while on the other hand it will discredit the book to others whose eyes； being fixed on purely MATERIAL causes； can see no impetus in History except through these。 But it must be remembered that there is not the least reason for SEPARATING the two factors。 The fact that psychologically man has evolved from simple consciousness to self…consciousness； and is now in process of evolution towards another and more extended kind of consciousness； does not in the least bar the simultaneous appearance and influence of material evolution。 It is clear indeed that the two must largely go together； acting and reacting on each other。 Whatever the physical conditions of the animal brain may be which connect themselves with simple （unreflected and unreflecting） consciousness； it is evident that these conditionsin animals and primitive manlasted for an enormous period； before the distinct consciousness of the individual and separate SELF arose。 This second order of consciousness seems to have germinated at or about the same period as the discovery of the use of Tools （tools of stone； copper； bronze； &c。）； the adoption of picture…writing and the use of reflective words （like 〃I〃 and 〃Thou〃）； and it led on to the appreciation of gold and of iron with their ornamental and practical values； the accumulation of Property； the establishment of slavery of various kinds； the subjection of Women； the encouragement of luxury and self…indulgence； the growth of crowded cities and the endless conflicts and wars so resulting。 We can see plainly that the incoming of the self…motive exercised a direct stimulus on the pursuit of these material objects and adaptations； and that the material adaptations in their turn did largely accentuate the self…motive； but to insist that the real explanation of the whole process is only to be found along one channelthe material OR the psychical is clearly quite unnecessary。 Those who understand that all matter is conscious in some degree； and that all consciousness has a material form of some kind； will be the first to admit this。
The same remarks apply to the Third Stage。 We can see that in modern times the huge and unlimited powers of production by machinery； united with a growing tendency towards intelligent Birth…control； are preparing the way for an age of Communism and communal Plenty which will inevitably be associated （partly as cause and partly as effect） with a new general phase of consciousness； involving the mitigation of the struggle for existence； the growth of intuitional and psychical perception； the spread of amity and solidarity； the disappearance of War； and the realization （in degree） of the Cosmic life。
Perhaps the greatest difficulty or stumbling…block to the general acceptance of the belief in a third （or 'Golden… Age'） phase of human evolution is the obstinate and obdurate pre…judgment that the passing of Humanity out of the Second stage can only mean the entire ABANDONMENT OF SELF…CONSCIOUSNESS； and this people sayand quite rightly is both impossible and undesirable。 Throughout the preceding chapters I have striven； wherever feasible； to counter this misunderstandingbut I have little hope of success。 The DETERMINATION of the world to misunderstand or misinterpret anything a little new or unfamiliar is a thing which perhaps only an author can duly appreciate。 But while it is clear that self…consciousness originally came into being through a process of alienation and exile and fear which marked it with the Cain…like brand of loneliness and apartness； it is equally clear that to think of that apartness as an absolute and permanent separation is an illusion； since no being can really continue to live divorced from the source of its life。 For a period in evolution the SELF took on this illusive form in consciousness； as of an ignis fatuusthe form of a being sundered from all other beings； atomic； lonely； without refuge； surrounded by dangers and struggling； for itself alone and for its own salvation in the midst of a hostile environment。 Perhaps some such terrible imagination was necessary at first； as it were to start Humanity on its new path。 But it had its compensation； for the sufferings and tortures； mental and bodily； the privations； persecutions； accusations； hatreds； the wars and conflictsso endured by millions of individuals and whole raceshave at length stamped upon the human mind a sense of individual responsibility which otherwise perhaps would never have emerged； and whose mark can now be effaced； ultimately； too； these things have searched our inner nature to its very depths and exposed its bed…rock foundation。 They have convinced us that this idea of ultimate separation is an illusion； and that in truth we are all indefeasible and indestructible parts of one great Unity in which 〃we live and move a
