idely separated influences; the
Spiritual ever urging him towards improvement in the direction of the
Real or Perfect, and the Physical or Animal instincts inviting him in
the opposite direction. These latter instincts are not wrong in
themselves, in a purely animal nature, but are made manifest as urging
him in the direction of the shadow or Imperfect when they come in
contact, and therefore in competition, with the Spiritual. Neither the
Spiritual nor the Physical can be said to possess Free-will; they must
work in opposite directions, but this competition for influence over
our actions provides the basis for the exercise of man's
Free-will--the choice between progression and stagnation. The
Spiritual influence must conquer in the long run, as every step under
that influence is a step towards the Real and can never be lost; the
apparent steps in the other direction are only negative or retarding,
and can have no real existence, except as a drag on the wheel which is
always moving in the direction of Perfection, thus hindering the
process of growth of the Personality.

The stages in development of the Physical Ego and its final absorption
in the Transcendental may perhaps be stated as follows--

The Physical Ego loquitur:

"I become aware of being surrounded by phenomena, I will to
see--I perceive and wonder what is the meaning of
everything--I begin to think--I reflect by combining former
experiences--I am conscious that I am, and that I am free to
choose between Right and Wrong, but that I am responsible
for my actions to a Higher Power; that what I call 'I am' is
itself only the shadow, or in some incomprehensible sense
the breathing organ, of a wonderful divine Afflatus or Power
which is growing up within, or in intimate connection with
me, and which itself is akin to the Reality. Owing to my
senses being finite I cannot with my utmost thought form a
direct concept of that power, although I feel that it
comprises all that is good and real in me, and is in fact my
true personality; I am conscious of it ever urging me
forward towards the Good, Beautiful, and True, and that each
step I take in that direction (especially when taken in
opposition to the dictates of physical instincts) results in
a further growth of that Transcendental Self. With that
growth I recognise that it is steadily gaining power over my
though