A Record of Meetings held by P.D. Ouspensky - HolyBooks.com

This shows the beginning of a view of the universe on the basis ofwhich we study ourselves and the universe. Planets are important forus only as a totality.There were questions about the aim of man's existence. Man, and evenmankind, does not exist separately, but only as part of the whole of organiclife. Organic life is like a sensitive film round the earth that transfersinfluences from the sun and the planets to the earth and the moon, and fromthe earth and the moon to planets and to the sun. If there were no organiclife, they could not communicate so well. So it is like a radio station.Individual man is a highly specialized cell in it which has thepossibility of further development. But this development depends onhis own efforts and understanding. It enters into the cosmic purposethat a certain number of men develop. But not all, otherwise thiswould contradict another cosmic purpose. Evidently humanity must beon earth and must lead this life and suffer. But a certain number ofmen can escape and develop. This also enters into the cosmic purpose.MR. D. Does earth have existence by itself? Has it parts, centres?MR. O. There cannot be an exact analogy. All we can say is thatcertainly earth is a living being. There is nothing dead in nature. Onlysome men are dead.MR. E. Is there consciousness in matter?MR. O. There is intelligence, only intelligence can have different degrees.Intelligence in things is measured by their adaptability. For instance,a tree that is alive has better adaptability than a piece of wood.MISS W. How is organic life a sensitive film?MR. O. It covers the earth and serves a definite cosmic purpose; itreceives certain vibrations and sends out certain vibrations.M RS. S. Why do sun, planets and moon want to communicate?MR. O. It is all one thing. Only for us things look separate; in realitythey are all linked together, like one arm is connected with the other; itis like circulation of blood in the organism. The Ray of Creation canbe regarded as a growing branch of which the moon is the end. Moonis the youngest. In time it will become like the earth. Sun is the oldest.Moon is not fully born yet.MR. D. Has matter feeling?MR. O. Yours is a wrong formulation. But it can be better organized orless well organized. Feeling is connected with the degree and form of organization.