The three worlds of our planet, Physical, Desire, and World of Thought, are at present the field of evolution for a number of different kingdoms of life at various stages of development. Only four of these concern us at present, namely, the mineral, plant, animal, and human kingdoms. These four kingdoms are related to the three worlds in different ways, but the dense bodies of all kingdoms are composed of the same chemical substance-solids, liquids, and gases.
Question 1:
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Science has demonstrated the fact that no two atoms touch each other. Each is enclosed in an envelope of ether. Plants, animals, and man all have individual vital bodies, hence are capable of growth. The mineral, having no separate vital body, does not grow.
The vital body of plant, animal, and man extends beyond the periphery of the dense body as the Etheric Region, which is the vital body of a planet, extends beyond its dense part.
When a person is drowning, freezing, or falling from a height, the vital body leaves the dense body, the atoms of which become temporarily inert. When anesthetics are used the vital body is partially driven out. This same phenomena may be observed in the case of a materializing medium.
Vital force is to the nervous system what the force of electricity is to a telegraph system. The Ego, the brain, and the nervous system may be in seemingly perfect order, but if the vital force is lacking to carry the message of the Ego through the nerves to the muscles, the dense body will remain inert.
During health the vital body specializes a superabundance of vital force, which, after passing through a dense body, radiates in straight lines in every direction from the periphery thereof.
6. Let a spherical sponge represent the Chemical Region or dense earth. Sand permeating the sponge and extending a little beyond it represents the Etheric Region. Water immersing the sponge and sand and extending somewhat beyond represents the Desire World. The Thought World is represented by the air in the water, extending to the confines of a spherical glass container in which all are placed.
7. (a) We are correlated to the other planets of our solar system through the World of Life Spirit.
Animals, when confronted with a new problem which neither they nor any of
their species has encountered before, generally show little or no reasoning
abilities in trying to find a solution and just try many motions, hoping
that they may hit on something that will work. Animals frequently, however,
are in possession of patterns of behavior that solve their customary
problems of life, which are so complex that it is difficult for material
scientists to determine how the animal, without reason, could have arrived
at such a pattern of behavior. For example, there is a species of spider
that obtains food by building an elastic web, drawing the center back to
make it cone-shaped, and then releasing it when a flying insect appears so
that it springs out and catches the insect. (See John Paul Scott, "Animal
Behavior," p. 166).
The sea otter that lives off the western coast of North America dives
for mussels, clams, and spiny lobsters. When it brings one of these to the
surface, it also brings up a flat rock. The otter then lies on its back in
the water, places the rock on its chest, holds the prey in both hands and
brings it down hard on the rock until the shell of the prey is cracked. (See
Scott, p. 167).
Some material scientists theorize that in the past some one spider or
sea otter may have hit on its patterns of behavior by "chance, and then
continued the behavior because it was found to be rewarding. The offspring
and associates of this particular spider or sea otter may then have learned
the pattern of action by imitation. There are, however, some complex patterns of action that the animals of a species are all observed to carry
out even without having observed any other members of the species. For
example, the amoeba is a one-celled animal that has no sense organs and thus
has no means of observing other amoebas. Yet all amoebas have similar "wise"
procedures for catching prey. If the prey is moving and hence likely to
escape, it flows around the prey in a wide embrace, so as not to disturb it
prematurely. Quiet prey, on the other hand, is tightly surrounded. If the
prey is an object that usually moves in a horizontal plane, the amoeba
surrounds it in this plane first, and then cuts off the vertical paths of
escape. (See Margaret F. Washburn, "The Animal Mind," p. 39).
Some indigo buntings were separated from other indigo buntings at an
early age and hand-reared. If they were not exposed to the night sky at an
early age, they did not know what direction to travel in the autumn. If they
were exposed to the night sky or even to the artificial sky of a planetarium
at an early age, then they were correctly able to choose the southerly
direction for their autumnal migration. (See Scott, pp. 238-239). How the
indigo buntings arrived at their choice of the southerly direction, even
without cues from other birds, remains a mystery to material scientists.
Another remarkable example of a complex pattern of behavior that the
members of a species carry out without having watched other members is the
nest-building of the mallee fowl of Australia. The male mallee in late
winter scoops out a hole in the sand, fills it with vegetation, and covers
it with a mound of sand. Decomposition heats up the sand, and the female
comes to the mound, mates, and lays one very large egg approximately once a
week. The male covers each egg with sand and visits the mound daily,
uncovering the nest, and testing the temperature by thrusting its open beak
into the sand. If it becomes too hot, the bird opens the nest early in the
morning and scratches cool sand into it. As summer progresses, less heat
radiates from the decaying vegetation, and the bird piles the sand deeper
and deeper in order to provide insulation. Later in the autumn, the ground
begins to cool down, and the bird keeps the nest warm by opening it during the middle of the day and scratching in sand that has been warmed by the
sun. In this way, the bird is able to keep the nest at a relatively constant
temperature of 92 degrees F throughout the long laying season. In the
process of incubation, the mallee fowl may build a mound of sand fifteen
feet across and three feet high and move a large portion of it daily. When
the chicks hatch, they dig their way through two or three feet of sand,
leave the nest, and go off into the scrub to find food for themselves. They
do not stay around to watch their father's activities, and yet when the
males grow up, they carry out the same procedures. (See Scott, pp. 271-273).
Clairvoyants can see a part of reality that material scientists cannot
see, and thus clairvoyants can provide information concerning the source of
the wisdom of the animals that the material scientists are puzzled about.
According to clairvoyants, each animal has an individual spirit.
Clairvoyants agree with material scientists that the animal spirits do not
have developed thinking and problem-solving powers. Clairvoyants also see,
however, that an archangel is associated with each species or tribe of
animals. The archangel of the species is connected to each member of the
species by means of a silver chord composed of material from the World of
Thought. Through this silver chord, the archangel can send commands to the
animal as to what it should do in any given circumstance. The archangel is
in touch with cosmic wisdom, and thus can set up patterns of behavior which
embody wisdom for the animals in its charge.
It is the archangel in charge of the spiders who guides the spiders to
build and operate their "clever" webs. It is the archangel in charge of sea
otters who guides them to use the stone for cracking the shells of the
mussels. It is the archangel in charge of amoebas who guides them in their
catching of prey. It is the archangel in charge of indigo buntings who helps
them to determine what direction to fly by observing the stars. it is the
archangel in charge of the mallee fowls who guides them in building and
caring for their nests.
The archangel of each species of animal designed the patterns of action
for that species in order to promote the well-being of that species.
Sometimes individuals of a species will encounter unusual circumstances that
the general pattern of response does not fit. Then the individuals may need
to learn specialized responses. If an individual animal eats a particular
thing that gives it an unpleasant reaction, that individual animal will
learn to stay away from that particular food. The guidance of the archangels
does not hinder or obviate the necessity for individual learning of animals.
An interesting illustration of the individual learning that animals
engage in has been obtained from observation of the jackdaw, a crowlike
bird. An inexperienced jackdaw fashioning its first nest initially collects
almost anything, including pieces of ice, light bulbs, and unsuitable twigs.
A jackdaw with a potential nest item tries to push the object into the other
materials already gathered. If it is unable to wedge the object in, it
discards it. Types of materials that have been discarded once are no longer
collected. Most jackdaws eventually become specialists, collecting twigs
from only one species of tree that happens to produce especially "good" nest
material. (See John Alcock, Animal Behavior, pp. 135-137).
A young child needs the care of its parents to ensure that it obtains
the necessities of life and keeps out of harm. But during the years of
parental care, the child is growing, developing its own skills, and learning
about the world so that in time it will be able to care for itself.
Likewise, during the ages in which the animals are directed by the
archangels, the animals are also evolving their skills and abilities, so
that in time they will outgrow the need for the direction of the archangels.
Clairvoyants can see that animal spirits are no different, in essence, than
human spirits. The animals spirits are just less evolved. Animals are thus,
in truth, our younger "brothers," and are deserving of our respect and
compassion.
References
— Alcock, John. Animal Behavior Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer, 1975
— Scott, John Paul. Animal Behavior Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 1962
— Washburn, Margaret F. The Animal Mind New York: Macmillan, 1926
II. Personality
Material scientists observe that one's personality is influenced, first of
all, by the structure and composition of one's body, which is influenced by
heredity, what the mother takes into her body during pregnancy, and diet
after birth. Babies get half of their genes from their mother and half from
their father, and the genes determine the major characteristics of the body
structure. The materials from which the baby's body are built come from the
mother's body. To build a strong and healthy body for the baby, the mother
needs appropriate amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals. If the
mother's diet does not contain sufficient protein, mental retardation of the
child may result. If the mother smokes, the baby's body will develop more
slowly and also be more likely to be born prematurely, which increases the
risk of deformity (especially cleft palate and cleft lip.) If the mother
takes medicines or drugs, there is danger of improper development of the
baby's body. After birth, continued good nutrition is needed for proper
development and functioning. Lack of B vitamins in the diet has been linked
with irritability, depression, and forgetfulness. Alcohol consumption leads
to decreased ability to make correct judgments, decreased ability to
remember, and loss of self-control. Drugs can influence the feelings and
thinking ability. The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke decreases the
oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, which reduces the oxygen reaching the
brain, which decreases attentiveness and cognition abilities.
Material scientists also observe that the environment influences the personality of a person. One's physical surroundings, the books one reads,
the TV shows one watches, the people one associates with can all have an
influence. Physical surroundings stimulate personality development through
the various types of problems that they present and the hardships in them
that must be overcome. From books and TV, one obtains views of how others
act under varying circumstances, which tend to lead to imitation. Associates
not only provide examples to be imitated, but also give feedback on one's
own actions when they express approval or disapproval, or if they reward or
punish various actions. Material scientists have observed that people tend
to do that which brings rewards and to not do that which brings them effects
that they consider undesirable.
Does the personality depend only on heredity, body development during
pregnancy, diet, physical surroundings, the models one has observed, and the
conditioning one has received in the form of rewards and punishments? These
are all the influences that material scientists have detected, but
clairvoyants can see additional influences.
The clairvoyant can see that each Ego has a long history prior to the
time of conception, and that in this time prior to conception has developed
body structure patterns of its own and many skills and concepts of right and
wrong and good and bad. Although the Ego must get its genes and dense body
materials from its parents, it fits these materials (as well as it can) into
its own previously structured dense body pattern. Although the Ego may learn
certain things in this life, it comes into life knowing certain other things
(which it learned in previous lives).
The clairvoyant can see that different Egos are given different
astrological force patterns to work with, and that which of the many models
in one's environment one is most likely to imitate is determined by which is
most in tune with one's own force pattern. Also, the astrological force
pattern that one has to work with will influence what one considers to be
rewarding.
Can the personality of a person be explained entirely in terms of
heredity, body development during pregnancy, diet, physical surroundings, models, conditioning, pre-conception (past-life) experiences and
development, and astrological force patterns? The answer is still no.
Neither the material scientist nor the clairvoyant can see the Will of the
Ego. Regardless of any past or present circumstances or conditions, the Ego
can exert its Will and make a break with its past and take a new direction
or rise above its present circumstances if it so chooses. It is because of
this, that regardless of what our parents and teachers did or did not do,
regardless of what our associates do, regardless of what we have done in the
past, regardless of what horoscopes we have, we yet may turn our lives in
any direction that we wish. We ourselves may make our lives beautiful or
ugly, productive or destructive, satisfying or empty. It is because the Ego
has the capability of exerting its Will that Paul could admonish people
(Eph. 4:22-23) to "Put off your old nature which belongs to your former
manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the
spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness
of God in true righteousness and holiness."
III. Birth Defects
The physical process by which a baby is produced is quite intricate. The
human body is composed of structural units called cells. Each cell contains
a central part, called the nucleus, which is surrounded by cytoplasm, which
is surrounded by a wall. In the nucleus are "genes" which contain the coded
patterns according to which the various proteins in the body are built.
These genes are linked together into chains called chromosomes. When an
offspring is to be produced, the chromosomes within a cell must duplicate,
and the duplicated chromosomes then go to form a sperm cell or an egg cell.
A sperm cell unites with an egg cell, and the resulting cell then proceeds
to duplicate and the embryo begins to grow.
If one or both parents have defective genes, and if the parent's
defective genes are among the half that are transmitted to the sperm and
egg, then the baby will have defective genes and may have corresponding
structural and functional weaknesses in its body. In the duplication and
separation processes in the production of the sperm and egg and in the early
growth of the fetus, if a gene is not duplicated accurately, or if a portion
of a chromosome gets broken off or if chromosomes break and reattach in
improper order, or if too many or too few chromosomes get transferred to the
sperm or egg, then structural or functional weaknesses in the body may
result.
Throughout the ages there have always been (as far as we know) low
levels of "cosmic rays" that are capable of producing genetic and chromosomal mutations. Also, viral infections that can induce mutations
(such as the virus that produces German measles) have been around for some
time. Mankind has, however, introduced into his environment various new
factors that are able to significantly increase the number of mutations.
High-energy radiation produced by X-ray machines, or radioactive materials
or video screens; some chemicals (mustard gas, formaldehyde, dioxin,
caffeine, cigarette smoke, alcohol, lead, herbicides, acridine dyes,
apoxides, ethyl urethane, phenol, manganous chloride, bromouracil, etc.);
and some drugs (LSD, diethylstilbestrol, aspirin, hormones. etc.) have been
found to increase the number of mutations. In general it is the pregnant
mother who must avoid these mutagenic agents, but in some cases the mutation
can originate in the father. Soldiers who were assigned the job of spraying
herbicides in Vietnam were found to father an unusually large number of
defective children when they returned to their wives in the United States.
Clairvoyants see that many congenital defects had their origin in a past
life. Max Heindel notes (see "Web of Destiny," pp. 58-71) that when the
creative force has, in one life, been wasted on gratification of the
passions, then there is a dearth of creative force available in the next
life for the building of the brain, nervous system, and larynx. Thus, the
Ego may be born into a body that has mental, nervous, and/or speech
disorders. Materialism in one life can lead to a construction of a body in
the next life in which parts that should be soft are hardened, and parts
that should be hardened are soft. Protracted disregard for truth in order to
serve one's one selfish desires in one life can lead to misalignment of the
Ego with the forces of truth when the archetype is being formed for the
body for the next life. This can lead to malformation of the archetype and
thence to malformation of the body for the coming life. Those who fail to
make proper use of their sense organs in one life, who try to shut
themselves off from the world around them, who ignore the cries for help or
the opportunity to see the conditions and needs of others, may have impaired
hearing or siight in their next life.
Clairvoyants also see some congenital defects that were not due to
actions in a previous life. Some Egos may not have done anything
particularly wrong, but may need to concentrate on developing certain soul
powers, and inhabiting a body with certain limitations may help focus their
efforts on developing these soul powers as they struggle to overcome these
limitations. Some Egos may be in the process of restructuring a particular
organ and in the transition stages that organ may not function well. This is
the origin of some of the eye problems that people have, as the eye is in
the process of being restructured so that instead of receiving reflected
rays and forming an image on the retina, the so-called blind spot will be
sensitized and people will look out through the eye and see directly the
thing itself, both inside and out. Just before an Ego enters into a fetus,
it sees a panorama of the coming life. If the Ego sees that a particularly
difficult life is in store for it, panics, and tries to escape from the
mother's womb, it may cause a partial disconnection between the sense
centers in the etheric and dense bodies, so that the etheric cranium extends
above the physical cranium. Then the spirit cannot enter into the body and
control it. Idiocy results.
The material scientist sees congenital defects as being the result of
inheritance, environmental factors, and "chance" (which determines what
genes an offspring will get from each parent and what genes and chromosomes
get influenced by environmental factors). The clairvoyant sees congenital
defects as being the result of past actions and current soul development
needs of the Ego that is coming into the body. These two points of view can
be united if it is allowed that those events attributed to "chance" are, in
fact, intelligently controlled. We then may get the following unified
picture: An Ego, due to past actions or current soul development needs, is
in need of inhabiting a body that will have certain limitations. The
Recording Angels find for this Ego some parents who can provide appropriate
gene and chromosome structures, and the Recording Angels oversee the
replication process to make sure that the appropriate choice of genes is
obtained from each parent and that these genes are (if needed) mutated as required by the needs of the incoming Ego. This picture holds true for cases
in which "natural" mutations occur. When humans introduce mutagenic agents
into their environments, the natural situation no longer exists. Man has
been given free will, and has power to do things that are harmful to himself
and others. When man introduces mutagenic agents into his environment, he
may be initiating a cause-effect chain. He may be causing malformation and
malfunctioning of some bodies that would otherwise have been whole. In such
cases, debts are being stored up that will need to be repaid at some future
time.
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