7rcTIX1xP

Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism420
In our consideration of the subject we shall use the word “Relative” quite
frequently. This word is opposed in meaning to “Absolute,” to the extent that
it implies that it arises from the Absolute—it is incomplete; conditioned;
limited; depending upon something else; partial (not in the sense of a
separate part, but in the sense of an incomplete view or conception.) In our
consideration of “Things as They Are” we may cast aside one after another
relative feature or quality—that which remains at the last, incapable of
further analysis, exclusion, or division, is “the thing in itself;” the “absolute”
thing. The Yogis often speak of the Absolute as “the Thing as it Is”—the
Relative being “The Thing as it Seems.” A simple plan of keeping the idea
clearly before the mind, is to think of the Absolute as “The Whole Thing,
as it is,” and of the Relative as “An incomplete and imperfect view of one
phase, aspect or quality of the Whole Thing.” It is quite difficult to give an
intelligent idea of the exact meaning of the two terms, for the reason that if
we could understand the exact meaning of the word “Absolute,” we would
understand the Absolute itself. The word is the feeble effort of man’s mind to
express an inexpressible idea. Man’s mind, in its present state of unfoldment,
is “relative,” and therefore is unable to grasp within itself the full meaning of
the term “Absolute.” So all it can do is to form an idea of its own limitations
and boundaries, and then, realizing the relativeness of its own conceptions,
it calls that which is without the boundary “Absolute.” Man’s mind cannot
grasp the full sense of Absolute Space (Infinity); Absolute Time (Eternity);
Absolute Intelligence; although it may be able to understand the general
meanings of the terms by reason of its understanding of the relative phases
of the things. For instance, man is able to draw a circle on a piece of paper,
the circle enclosing a measure of Space—by thus expressing Relative Space
he forms a conception of Absolute Space (Infinity), as “all the space lying
outside of the circle, in all directions, to infinity.” In the same way he knows
Time—he measures off a second, a minute, an hour, or a year—all relative
terms. Having done this, he is able to think and say that all that lies on either
side of the measured time—back of it, or ahead of it—is Absolute Time,