or desire, can
enter the mind at a time, is not a safe assumption.

After many centuries of material strife, with the object of satisfying the
demands of human life, the conviction is forcing itself upon people in all
walks of life, that wealth, ambition, power and possessions, do not give us
the answer to the eternal unescapable and insistent question of the way to
happiness.

This means that there is awakening in the human race more generally than at
any other time in recorded history, a realization that the human organism
is not merely a physical aggregate of cells, nor yet that it is mind
individualized and in operation for the purpose of exercising new powers.
The fact is becoming apparent that all discovery is but an uncovering of
those vast areas of consciousness which are limitless; and which include
not only all life on this planet, but all life in the Cosmos. In short,
cosmic consciousness is becoming _perceived_, by a vast majority, and is
being _realized_ by not a few.

But in the immediate future of the race, we find the next step, for the
majority to be that of soul-consciousness.

Back of thought, like a guardian angel stands the desire of the soul,
stimulating and directing; back of action stands thought, as the master
directs the servant, or as the captain decides the course of the ship.

Spiritual evolution may be understood, or at least _perceived_, from a
study of physical and mental evolution. From the crude to the perfect is
the law; if this perfection of species, or of phases, could be attained
without pain, it were well. Pain comes from lack of wisdom to realize that
out of the lower the higher inevitably springs, as the butterfly springs
from the cocoon; as the flower springs from the seed; "as above so below"
is a translation of an old Sinto saying, which also bids us "trust in Kami
and keep clean."

Again it is said "to him who overcometh, will I give the inheritance."
_Overcoming_ may be variously interpreted. In the past, it has been
presented to the initiate, as sacrifice. If so it be, then is it because of
lack of that wisdom which knows that there is no sacrifice in exchanging
the physical for the spiritual--the ephemeral for the abiding.

Says the ancient manuscripts:

"The body is purified by water, the mind by truth, the soul by knowledge
and austerity, the reason by wisdom."

But as the groping, undeveloped soul struggles for consciousness, it
reaches out for the gratificat