7rcTIX1xP

The Seventh Lesson: Cosmic Evolution.811
the grossest form of Matter. This must be so, for what springs from a thing
must contain the elements of its cause.
And the Cosmic Evolution continues, and must continue for æons of time.
Higher and higher forms of Mind are being manifested, and still higher and
higher forms will appear in the scale, as the process continues. The evolution
is not only along material lines, but has passed on to the mental planes, and
is now operating along the spiritual lines as well. And the end, and aim
seems to be that each Ego, after the experiences of many lives, may unfold
and develop to a point where it may become conscious of its Real Self, and
realize its identity with the One Life, and the Spirit.
At this point we may be confronted with the objection of the student of
material science, who will ask why we begin our consideration of Cosmic
Evolution at a point in which matter has reached the limit of its lowest
vibrations, manifesting in the grossest possible form of matter. These
students may point to the fact that Science begins its consideration of
evolution with the nebulae, or faint cloudlike, vaporous matter, from which
the planets were formed. But there is only an apparent contradiction here.
The nebulae were part of the Process of Involution, and Science is right when
it holds that the gross forms were produced from the finer. But the process
of change from finer to grosser was Involution, not Evolution. Do you see
the difference? Evolution begins at the point when the stage of Unfoldment
commenced. When the gross forms begin to yield to the new upward urge,
and unfold into finer forms—then begins Evolution.
We shall pass over the period of Evolution in which Matter was evolving
into finer and still finer forms, until at last it reached a degree of vibration
capable of supporting that which we call “life.” Of course there is “life” in all
matter—even in the atom, as we have shown in previous lessons. But when
we speak of “life,” as we now do, we mean what are generally called “living
forms.” The Yogi Teachings inform us that the lowest forms of what we call
“life” were evolved from forms of high crystal life, which indeed they very