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

MR. D. Could such facts as these be established by people in schools?Could not we take them as established facts?MR. O. They are established. But we are given it as material for study.We are not obliged to believe it. This scheme is given in order to studyman's place in the universe.MR. W. Will you explain a bit more the purpose of organic life?MR. O. It exists for the purposes of planets, the sun, the earth and themoon. If there were no organic life, certain vibrations would not beable to pass. Organic life serves a definite mechanical purpose.MR. S. What is the purpose of awakened man?MR. O. It must be a subjective, a personal, purpose—it must be takenso. Man must not comfort himself that he can serve a cosmic purpose.MR. Q . How to distinguish between will and self-will?MR. O. By studying actual facts.MR. E. You say we have no genuine emotions. If we analyse allcompassionate feelings, is there no danger of inhibiting them?MR. O. There is no such danger. If one tries to eliminate imagination,there is no danger to eliminate real feeling, for it cannot be eliminatedif it is real—it will only become stronger. But it must be connectedwith study.MISS B. Has a school only one teacher?MR. O. It depends on the school.MISS B. Is there a large class?MR. O. That refers to details of inner organization.MRS. S. If awakening is purely subjective, has school cosmic significance?MR. O. We cannot ascribe to ourselves cosmic significance. We are toosmall. But do you remember what I said about prison? One mancannot escape, but perhaps twenty people can. Fifty people againcannot—it will be noticed. And those who want to escape cannot doso without the help of those who escaped before them. This is school.It cannot exist without others who were before.MRS. S. It implies that school works against the general scheme?MR. O. Absolutely—against Nature, against God.MRS. S. Does man No. 7 disappear from earth?MR. O. We don't know about man No. 7. He does not transmit thesame vibrations.MR. H. What is the nature of vibrations he transmits? Are they measurablevibrations?