The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-05
SPIRIT. SOIL AND BoDr.
1heosophical Theory That the Personal
Immortality offhe senl IL Cendittoaai.

Philosophical Theory That the Personal
Immortality ofihe senl IL Cendittosai.
A theoscphist contributes the following:
"fheosophy is the sum total OF all
kncsiedge and wisdom. 1t is the one
truth underlying the whole universe.
There are many sides. many aspects of
truth, but thers is. after all, but one
reaiisy. one verify, one truth.
Now one of the many aspects Of the
osophy is its teachings and proofs Of the
existence and immortality Of the soul !;
the descent OF spirit into matter or mate
ria. form. IN order 10 gain experience in
and OF those conditions. rom the most
material aud gross TO the most ethereal
and spiritual
.'Ali manifestation Is for the benefit ard
schooling OF the soul; this IL the object of
the manifestation Of the whole universe.
lnere have been many universes with
their myriads of solar systems before this
universe, aud there will be many more
after this one ceases to be. We may call
the spirit OF man the pilgrim which has
lonrneyed ever through these manifesto
Mons. and the soul We may call the We
hicie or house Of the spirit, Just as the
physical body Is the house or habitation Of
the soul The spirit, the eternal pilgrim.
- immortal, but the sou. Is not, unless it
can consciously unite with the spirit, and
this the soul must do through its own ef-
forts. Ii may ascend to the plane OF the
spirit. but the spirit cannot descend to the
plane Of the soul. except as IL can do so
through the soul; hence, the duty of the
soul Is to aspire and make every effort 20
unite its consciousness with that of the
spirit, so that 1t may be Taught by and re-
ceive the benefit of all the stored up knowl-
edge Of the spirit. which has been accu-
INFLATED through and by its long Pilgrim
age. The Christian Bible verifes this
statement in the saying of Jesus, or rather
His Father: Before the foundation of
the world, when the morning stars first
sang together. thou was with Me-
And 30 theosophy teaches that immor-
taltty Is conditional, that man must in
deed work out his own salvation In fear
and trembling by effort and intelligence.
The spirit represents the father In secret
Of whom Jesus spoke, and it is indeed
ready and waiting 10 teach the soul, when
the soul can sufficiently turn its desires
from material things to take time to de-
sire Immortality and divine knowledge.
That which makes the soul immortal Is
In reality this Same spiritual knowledge.
the Divine Gnosis.'
"But humanity is ruled by Its desire, and
to have or receive il must desire. Herein is
mans free will 10 desire that which he
chooses. II he does not desire an educa-
ton IL cannot be forced on him, and i'm
mortality Is but an education and a
knowledge Of spiritual instead of material
things we have to desire before we will
mako effort to acquire Ii; and this Is the
sole condition. to desire. for what we de-
sire we will endeavor to obtain. knowledge
Is free to all. and as their capacity will
enlarge by effort to understand, an appar-
ent lack Of capacity cannot be hindrancc,
for 1t Is only apparent the mind grows,
eniarges by study and assimilation,
granted II may take some longer than
others 10 acquire any kind of an educa-
ton. The spirit is Enclosed in soul, a
soul In . physical body, for tho express
purpose Of acquiring . seif-eonscious edu-
cation or awakening. The possibility of
awakening lies potential in the soul; an
education is but drawing out of that
which is within. but there must be
teacher, an awakener. to remind or draw
ont of the soul that which is latent i'm 1t,
that is. the understanding of that which is
to be taught is possible 10 the soul, hence
tho awakening. But as the candle
that Is left uniit Is useless. SO
the soul that does not awaken
loses its possibility or chance of immor-
tality. as the unlit. unused candle is finally
found IN the ash barrel on its way back to
its primal elements, perhaps to again some
time be moulded into candle. So the
soul, unless il awakens, is liz, has no inn
mortal life, it goes back into the general
etoIchuuse hIu tuc HttIlt SEEKS aghtn IN
another soul TO awaken divine light, in
telligence, Immortality. Have we, &C
cording to this definition. any time 10 lose
in seeking the higher educationf To have
we must desire. Have We desired this
soul wisdom7 If so We are beginning to
awake. but we must take heed We do not
again go to sleep. the desire must be kept
alive. More fuel (desire) must be added
to II, so that We shall sufficiently desire
the knowledge of the spirit. We are not
to desire to leave undone any of our worldly
duties, but we must desire the higher lie
intensely enough to take part Of our time
10 attend to the life of the soul. Every
good book. every good thought. is q means
to arouse the soul; the more of them the
better, and the more such good thoughts
are carried into the acts of life the more
surely is the soul awakening. The danger
Is that wa allow the soul TO remain IN
awakened as the candle was unlis, with
the same result-no light for that soul.
IF. T. s."