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

not principle. We can distinguish mechanical, life energy, psychicenergy and conscious energy.MR. M. And no amount of psychic energy would give conscious energy?MR. O. No more than any amount of mechanical would give lifeenergy. But in this system we have finer divisions according tohydrogens. You remember in the Table of Hydrogens each density ofmatter requires a special energy. So there are more divisions still. Thisis quite elementary, these four kinds.MR. M. There is really only one element, is there not—hydrogen?MR. O. No, this is not in the system; this is in some chemical systems.System is different, no parallel with chemistry.MR. M. There is a distinction, is there not, between mind and matter?MR. O. Yes, but what do you mean by that? Mind is material also,but we do not regard it from the point of view of materiality. Thereis nothing which is not material from the point of view of thesystem.Hydrogen is matter taken without regard to which force worksthrough it. The same matter, if active force works through it, is calledcarbon; if passive force works through it, is called oxygen, and ifneutralizing force works through it, is called nitrogen. The samematter taken without relation to forces is called hydrogen—hydrogen6, hydrogen 12, etc., showing its density.MR. B. Is there any significance in the fact of the names being the sameas those found in organic chemistry?MR. O. That means organic chemistry is taken as physical chemistry.Opposite to the ordinary point of view. From the ordinary point ofview they do not use the word organic chemistry; organic matter tothem is just accidental fusion. From the point of view of the system itis the original state of matter, and inorganic matter is simply the resultof the decomposition of organic matter.MR. F. Does work on oneself gather momentum after a time, orremain equally difficult? Like pushing a cart uphill?MR. O. I think it becomes more difficult, because it is coming to moreand more ramifications. You start on one line, then after some time onthree lines and each divides and divides and divides, and all the timerequires attention and effort. There is no inertia in this action. That is adifferent triad.On the other hand, one acquires more energy; becomes more