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The Fourth Lesson: Mental Control.539
Energy and Matter, being positive to both. Mind, however is negative and
subordinate to the “I,” which is Spirit, and obeys the orders of the latter
when firmly and intelligently given. The “I” itself is subordinate only to the
Absolute—the Centre of Being—the “I” being positive and dominant over
the threefold manifestation of Mind, Energy, and Matter.
The “I,” which for the sake of the illustration must be regarded as a separate
thing (although it is really only a Centre of Consciousness in the great body
of Spirit), finds itself surrounded by the triple-ocean of Mind, Energy and
Matter, which ocean extends into Infinity. The body is but a physical form
through which flows an unending stream of matter, for, as you know the
particles and atoms of the body are constantly changing; being renewed;
replaced; thrown off, and supplanted. One’s body of a few years ago, or
rather the particles composing that body, have passed off and now form new
combinations in the world of matter. And one’s body of to-day is passing
away and being replaced by new particles. And one’s body of next year is
now occupying some other portion of space, and its particles are now parts
of countless other combinations, from which space and combinations they
will later come to combine and form the body of next year. There is nothing
permanent about the body—even the particles of the bones are being
constantly replaced by others. And so it is with the Vital Energy, Force, or
Strength of the body (including that of the brain). It is constantly being used
up, and expended, a fresh supply taking its place. And even the Mind of
the person is changeable, and the Mind-substance or Chitta, is being used
up and replenished, the new supply coming from the great Ocean of Mind,
into which the discarded portion slips, just as is the case with the matter and
energy.
While the majority of our students, who are more or less familiar with the
current material scientific conceptions, will readily accept the above idea
of the ocean of Matter, and Energy, and the fact that there is a continual
using up and replenishing of one’s store of both, they may have more or
less trouble in accepting the idea that Mind is a substance or principle