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Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism162
often flock back as near to earth as is possible. They are able to get so near
back to earth that they may become conscious of much that is transpiring
there, particularly when the conditions are such that they are in harmony
with their own natures. They may be said to be able to practically live on the
low material plane, except that they are separated from it by a tantalizing
thin veil, which prevents them from actively participating in it except on rare
occasions. They may see, but not join in, the earth-life. They hang around the
scenes of their old degrading lives, and often take possession of the brain of
one of their own kind, who may be under the influence of liquor, and thus
add to his own low desires. This is an unpleasant subject, and we do not care
to dwell upon it—happily it does not concern those who read these lessons,
as they have passed beyond this stage of development. Such low souls are
so attracted by earth-life, on its lower planes, that their keen desires cause
them to speedily reincarnate in similar conditions although there is always
at least a slight improvement—there is never a going backward. A soul may
make several attempts to advance, in spite of the dragging-back tendencies
of its lower nature—but it never slips back quite as far as the place from
which it started.
The souls in the higher planes, having far less attraction for earth-life, and
having such excellent opportunities for advancement, naturally spend a
much longer time in the Astral World, the general rule being that the higher
the plane, the longer the rest and sojourn. But sooner or later the lesson is
fully learned, and the soul yearns for that further advancement that can only
come from the experience and action of another earth-life, and through the
force of its desires (never against its will, remember) the soul is gradually
caught in the current sweeping on toward rebirth, and becoming drowsy, is
helped toward the plane of the room of slumber and, then falling into the
soul-slumber it gradually “dies” to the Astral World, and is reborn into a new
earth-life in accordance to its desires and tastes, and for which it is fit at that
particular stage of its development. It does not fully awaken upon physical
birth, but exists in a dreamy state of gradual awakening during the years of