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But there is still a Higher Truth— the Highest Truth, in fact— and that is, that even this Universal Life is not the One, but, 108 GNANI YOGA. instead, is in itself a manifestation of, and emanation from, THE ONE. There is a great difference here — see that you perceive and understand it, before pro- ceeding further. THE ONE— THE ABSOLUTE— according to the Highest Teachings, is Pure Spirit, and not Life, Mind, or Being as we understand them in our finite and mor- tal expressions. But, still all Life, Mind, and Being, as we understand them, spring from, flow from, and emanate from, the One — and more than this, may be spoken of as reflections of the Life, Mind, and Being of The One, if we may be permitted to apply the names of finite manifestations to the Infinite Reality. So, the Highest Teaching is that the Universal Life infilling all living things, is not, in itself, the Being and Life of THE ONE — but is rather a great funda- mental emanation of The One, the manner and nature of which will be spoken of as we proceed. Remem- ber this, please. Leading up to the Supreme Idea of the One in All — All in One — let us examine into the report of the Reason upon the nature of the Substance — the Divine Substance — from which all living forms are shaped; and from which all that we know as Finite Mind is likewise composed. How can these imperfect and Un- ite forms be composed of a Divine and Perfect Sub- stance? This is the question that must occur to the minds of those who are capable of deep thought on the subject — and it is a question that must be an- swered. And it can be answered — and is answered in THE ONE AND THE MANY. 109 the Higher Yogi Philosophy. Let us examine the re- ports of the Reason, a little further — then shall we be ready for the Teachings. Of what can the Substance of the Infinite be com- posed? Can it be Matter? Yes, if you are satisfied with the reasoning of the Materialists, and cannot see further into the Truth! These teach that Matter is God, and that God is Matter. But if you be among those who reject the Materialistic teachings, you will not be satisfied with this answer. Even if you in- cline toward a Non-mental Infinite, still if you are fa- miliar with the results of modern scientific investiga- tion, and know that Science has seen Matter resolve itself into something like Electric Energy, you will know that the Truth must lie behind and beyond Matter. Then is it Pure Energy? you may ask. Pure En- ergy? what's that? Can you think of Energy apart from material manifestation? Have you ever known of such a thing? Do you not know that even the Electron Theory, which is attracting the attention of advanced Modern Science, and which holds that all things are composed of minute particles of Electric Energy, called Electrons, from which the Atoms are built — do you not know that even this theory recog- nizes the necessity of a "something like Matter, only infinitely finer," which they call the Ether, to enfold the Electric Energy as a unit — to give it a body, as it were? And can you escape from the fact that the most advanced scientific minds find confronting them no GNANI YOGA. — the fact that in all Energy, and governing its actions, there 'is manifested "something like Mind"? And does not all this teach thinkers that just as Energy creates from itself, that which is called Mat- ter, and then uses it as a vehicle of expression and action — so does this "Something like Mind" create from itself that which we call Energy, and proceeds to use it, with its accompanying phase of Matter, for its expression? Does not all advanced research show us that in all Matter and Energy there are evidences of the operation of this "Something like Mind"? And if this be so, are we not justified as regarding Matter and Energy as mere Effects — and to look to this "Something like Mind" as the more fundamental Sub- stance? We think so — and Science is beginning to think so, too. And soon will Science be regarding with the most profound respect, the Metaphysical axiom that "All is Mind." You will see by reference to our "Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy, etc.," the general Yogi teachings regarding the Emanation of the One, known respec- tively as Mind, Energy, and Matter. You will see that the Yogis teach that Mind, Energy, and Matter comprise a threefold emanation of the Absolute. You will also see that it is taught that Mind was the Par- ent-Emanation — the Universal Mind; and that the Universal Energy was the Second-Emanation (pro- ceeding from Mind) ; and that the Universal Matter was the Third Emanation (proceeding from Energy}. In the same book you will find that the Teaching is THE ONE AND THE MANY. in that above Matter, Energy, and Mind, is the Essence of the Absolute, which is called Spirit — the nature of which is non-understandable to the mind of Man, the highest conception of which is the highest manifesta- tion of itself — Mind. But as we cannot comprehend spirit otherwise, we are justified in thinking of it as Something like Infinite Mind — Something as much higher than Finite Mind as that is higher than mere energy. Now, then — we have seen the folly of thinking of the Divine Substance as Matter or Energy. And we have come to know it as Spirit, something like Mind, only infinitely higher, but which still may be thought of in terms of Infinite Mind, for we can have no higher terms in our thinking operations. So we may then assume that this Divine Nature or substance is SPIRIT, which we will think of as Infinite Mind, for want of a better form of conception. We have seen the folly of thinking of the Divine Es- sential Substance as the Body of God. We have like- wise seen the folly of thinking of it as the Vital En- ergy of God. And we have found that we could not escape thinking of it as the Spirit, or infinite Mind of God. Beyond this we cannot think intelligently. But do you not see that all this exercise of the Reason has brought us to the point where we must think that this Divine Substance, which the Absolute- God uses in the manifestation of Universal Life; the Universe; and all the forms, and shapes, and mani- festations of life and things in the Universe — this Di- U2 GNANI YOGA. vine Substance which must be in All Things — and in which All Things must rest, even as the bubble rests on the Ocean — that this can be nothing less than Spirit, and that this Spirit can be thought of only as Infinite Mind? And, if this be so, then indeed must All be Mind, and Mind be All — meaning, of course, the Infinite Mind, not the finite manifestation that we call Mind. Then, if this reasoning has been correct, then must we think that All Life — all the Universe — Everything except the Absolute itself — must be held in the Infinite Mind of the Absolute! And, so, by the exercise of our Reason — by listening to, and examining its reports, we have been brought face to face — eye to eye — heart to heart — with the Teaching of the Illumined Ones, which has come down to us as the Highest Teaching of the Yogi Philosophy! For this, indeed, is the highest concep- tion of Truth in the Yogi Teachings — this, that ALL MANIFESTATIONS AND EMANATIONS OF THE ABSOLUTE ARE MENTAL CREATIONS OF THE ABSOLUTE — THOUGHT-FORMS HELD IN THE INFINITE MIND— THE INFIN- ITE SPIRIT IN THEM— AND THEY IN THE INFINITE SPIRIT. And that the only Real Thing about Man is THE SPIRIT involved in the Thought- Form, the rest is mere Personality, which changes and ceases to be. The Spirit in the Soul of Man, is the SOUL OF THE SOUL, which is never born, ntver changeth; never dieth — this is The Real Self of THE ONE AND THE MANY. 113 Man, in which, indeed, he is "One with the Father." This is the point where the Reasoning Mind of Man has come to a sense of Agreement with the Highest Yogi Teachings. Let us now pass on to the Teach- ings themselves — let us listen to The Message of Truth. In this consideration of the Highest Yogi Philoso- phy, and its teaching, we would again say to our stu- dents, that which we said to them in "The Advanced Course" — that we do not attempt to teach the "why" of the Manifestation of The Absolute, but rest con- tent with delivering the Message of the Yogi Sages, which deals with the "how." As we stated in the lessons referred to, we incline to that school of the Higher Teachings, which holds that the "Why" of the Infinite Manifestation must, of necessity, rest with the Infinite alone, and that the finite mind cannot hope to answer the question. We hold that in all the Uni- versal Mind, or in any of its Mind Manifestations, there is to be found no answer to this question ! Wrapped in the Essence of the Absolute Spirit, alone, is this Final Answer! The Sages, and Masters, from their high spiritual points of observation, possess many truths regarding the "how" side of the question that would appear al- most like Infinite Wisdom itself, compared with our puny knowledge. But even these great souls report that they do not possess the answer to the Final Question— the "Why" of the Infinite Manifestation. And so we may be excused from attempting to an- H4 GNANI YOGA. swer it — and without shame or sense of shortcoming do we still say, to this question, "We do not know!" In order that the Final Question may be fully un- derstood let us consider it for a moment. We find the Question arising from the following condition: The human Reason is compelled to admit that there is an Infinite, Eternal, Causeless REALITY underly- ing all forms of manifestation in the phenomenal world. It is likewise compelled to admit that this REALITY must comprise All that Really Is— and that there can be nothing Real outside of Itself.