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Lesson X: The Riddle of the Universe.425
similar names; the scientists called it Matter, or Force, or even Force-Matter;
the philosophers called it Substance, Life, etc. But by each name, these
thinkers meant “The Thing in Itself”—the Thing after all its “appearances”
had been drawn into it—The Ultimate—The Absolute.
We do not think it necessary to devote more space to the statement that
the human mind is compelled to think of an “underlying something”—the
“Thing in Itself.” All thinkers (no matter what their schools or theories) admit
this conclusion, and every man will surely find this conclusion in his own
mind, if he will search for it. Therefore we may assume as an axiom (“a selfevident
and necessary truth; a proposition which it is necessary to take for
granted”—Webster), the following statement:
First—The Absolute is.
We are then led to a consideration of what our Intellect informs us
regarding this thing that is—we must see whether the mind contains any
more “self-evident truths;” “propositions necessary to take for granted;”
things which the mind cannot help believing.
The conception of the fact that the Absolute “is,” carries with it the corollary,
or consequent conviction, that:
Second—Whatever really “is” must be the Absolute.
There cannot be two or more Absolute Beings or Final Things. There can
be only One Absolute or Final Thing. All else that “appears” to be must be
relative—things relating to, or arising in connection with the Absolute—“of”
it. The Absolute is what really is; and everything that really is must be the
Absolute. The two statements of truth are necessary to each other, and
cannot be divorced. When we say “is” we of course mean really is, in its
entirety and completeness—not that which is incomplete and unable to
stand by itself—not “appearances” of reality. Or, perhaps this may appear
plainer to you: There cannot be two Whole Things, or two Totalities, or
two Alls. One Whole Thing; Totality; All; is the necessity of the Intellect.
These terms, of necessity, all are more or less imperfect, and fail to carry the
full meaning. Some words will mean more to one student—others more to