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The Eighth Lesson: The Ascent of Man.839
sits; the dusky color of creatures that haunt the night; the bluish transparency
of animals which live on the surface of the sea; the gravel-like color of flatfish
that live at the bottom; and the gorgeous tints of those that swim among
the coral reefs.”
All this does not run contrary to the Yogi Philosophy, although the latter
would regard these things as but the secondary cause for the variation and
survival of species, etc. The Oriental teachings are that it is the desire of the
animal that causes it to assume the colors and shapes in accordance with its
environment, the desire of course operating along sub-conscious lines of
physical manifestation. The mental influence, which is the real cause of the
phenomena, and which is taught as such by the Yogis, is almost lost sight of by
the Western Evolutionists, who are apt to regard Mind as a “by-product” of
matter. On the contrary, the Yogis regard Matter as the product of Mind. But
there is no conflict here as far as regards the law of the Survival of the Fittest.
The insects that most desired to become sand-colored became so, and were
thus protected, while their less “desireful” brethren were exterminated. The
Western scientist explains the outward phenomena, but does not look for
the cause behind it, which is taught by the Oriental sages.
The doctrine of “Sexual Selection” is another of the leading tenets of the
Darwinists. Briefly, it may be expressed as the theory that in the rivalry and
struggle of the males for the females the strongest males win the day, and
thus transmit their particular qualities to their offspring. Along the same
lines is that of the attraction exerted by bright colors in the plumage of the
males of birds, etc., which give them an advantage in the eyes of the females,
and thus, naturally, the bright colors are perpetuated.
This, then, is the brief outline of the Story of Man’s Physical Evolution,
as stated by Western Science, and compared with the Yogi Teachings.
The student should compare the two ideas, that he may harmonize and
reconcile them. It must be remembered, however, that Darwin did not
teach that Man descended from the monkeys, or apes, as we know them
now. The teaching of Western Evolution is that the apes, and higher forms