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A Series of Lessons in Gnani Yoga736
and from this idea comes the theory of the Conservation of Energy or
Correlation of Force.
Science teaches that every manifestation of energy, power, or force, from
the operation of the law of gravitation, up to the highest form of mental
force is but the operation of the One Energy of the Universe.
Just what this Energy is, in its inner nature, Science does not know. It has
many theories, but does not advance any of them as a law. It speaks of the
Infinite and Eternal Energy from which all things proceed, but pronounces
its nature to be unknowable. But some of the latter-day scientists are
veering around to the teachings of the occultists, and are now hinting that
it is something more than a mere mechanical energy. They are speaking of
it in terms of mind. Wundt, the German scientist, whose school of thought
is called voluntarism, considers the motive-force of Energy to be something
that may be called Will. Crusius, as far back as 1744 said: “Will is the
dominating force of the world.” And Schopenhauer based his fascinating but
gloomy philosophy and metaphysics upon the underlying principle of an
active form of energy which he called the Will-to-Live, which he considered
to be the Thing-in-Itself, or the Absolute. Balzac, the novelist, considered
a something akin to Will, to be the moving force of the Universe. Bulwer
advanced a similar theory, and made mention of it in several of his novels
This idea of an active, creative Will, at work in the Universe, building up;
tearing down; replacing; repairing; changing—always at work—ever active—
has been entertained by numerous philosophers and thinkers, under
different names and styles. Some, like Schopenhauer have thought of this
Will as the final thing—that which took the place of God—the First Cause.
But others have seen in this Will an active living principle emanating from
the Absolute or God, and working in accordance with the laws impressed by
Him upon it. In various forms, this latter idea is seen all through the history
of philosophical thought. Cudsworth, the English philosopher, evolved the
idea of a something called the “Plastic Nature,” which so closely approaches