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A Series of Lessons in Gnani Yoga814
the simple cell-forms appeared, having their origin in the transitional stages
before mentioned. The first living forms were a lowly form of plant life,
consisting of a single cell. From these forms were evolved forms composed
of groups of cells, and so proceeded the work of evolution, from the lower
form to the higher, ever in an upward path.
As we have said, the single cell is the physical centre, or parent, of every
living form. It contains what is known as the nucleus, or kernel, which seems
to be more highly organized than the rest of the material of the cell—it may
be considered as the “brain” of the cell, if you wish to use your imagination a
little. The single cell reproduces itself by growth and division, or separation.
Each cell manifests the functions of life, whether it be a single-celled creature,
or a cell which with billions of others, goes to make up a higher form. It feels,
feeds, grows, and reproduces itself. In the single-celled creature, the one
cell performs all of the functions, of course. But as the forms become more
complex, the many cells composing a form perform certain functions which
are allotted to it, the division of labor resulting in a higher manifestation.
This is true not only in the case of animal forms, but also in the case of plant
forms. The cells in the bone, muscle, nerve-tissue and blood of the animal
differ according to their offices; and the same is true in the cells in the sap,
stem, root, leaf, seed and flower of the plant.
As we have said, the cells multiply by division, after a period of growth.
The cell grows by material taken into its substance, as food. When sufficient
food has been partaken, and enough new material accumulated to cause
the cell to attain a certain size, then it divides, or separates into two cells,
the division being equal, and the point of cleavage being at the kernel or
nucleus. As the two parts separate, the protoplasm of each groups itself
around its nucleus, and two living forms exist where there was but one a
moment before. And then each of the two cells proceed to grow rapidly,
and then separate, and so on to the end, each cell multiplying into millions,
as time passes.