第5章

Throughthemwemaymeasuretime，space，qualityandquantity。

ThesymboloandIexistbyreasonofnothingandsomethingordeathandlife。Thefigureoneissubjecttoillimitableexpansion。Itiswithoutbeginningintheinfiniteofnumber，asGodiswithoutbeginningintheinfiniteofbeing。Aswiththevegetablekingdom，thetinyseedoracornsilentlyworkingitsmagicaltransformationintoaplantortree，anddirectingitsdestinywithmarvelousintelligencethroughthetorridandfrigidvicissitudesoftheseasons；soismanwithoutbeginningintheinfinitudeofhisownbeingormicrocosm。Manisbothatypeandantitype。Atypeofwhatpre-existedintheimaginationoftheworld，andanantitypeofafuturelifeyetto31

manifestitselfonanotherplanewheretheincidentsoftheonewillbesubjective，astheeventsoccurringininfancyorinotherplanesarenowsubjective。Hisdreams，thoughtsandactions，andtheinfluencesthatproducethemandtheirmultiplyingcombination，cannotbenumberedorreproducedanymorethanyoucannumbertheleavesoftheforest，orfindtwoexactlysimilarunitsamongthem。Thusthefullmeaningorinterpretationofdreamscannotbefullydemonstratedthroughmentalorevenspiritualstereotypes。

Butbytheintelligentuseofthisbookyouwillbeabletotraceoutalmostanydreamcombinationandarriveatthetruenatureofitsportent。

Awisedoctor，inpreparingmedicineforapatient，considerswellhisage，temperamentandhispresentcondition。Soshouldtheinterpreterofdreamsponderwellthementalstate，thehealth，habitsandtemperamentofthedreamer。Thesethingsnoonecanknowsowellasthedreamerhimself。

He，therefore，withtheaidofthisbook，willbeabletointerprethisdreamsbythelightthatisinhim。

Manisthemicrocosmoraminiatureworld。Hehasasoulandmentalfirmament，boundedbythestellardustandthemilkyway，andfilledwiththemysteryofsuns，satellitesandstars。Thesehecanstudybestbytheastronomyofinductionandintrospection。Hehasalsoaphysicalplane，diversifiedbyoceans，lakes，rivers，fertilevalleys，wasteplacesandmountains。Allareincosmicinterdependencyastheyareinthemacrocosm。

Herereststhemysteryofbeing——thegrandestofsubjects！Thestudentisnolessbewilderedandawedthanthegeologistwhogropesblindlythroughtheseamsoftheearthsearchingforlinksintheinfinitechainofknowledge，ortheastronomersweepingtheheavensofthemacrocosminquestofnewphenomena。Thetwoplanesaredependentuponeachother。Itisthesmileordiseaseofthefirmamentthatblessesordiseasestheearth。Itislikewisetheimpurefirmamentofthemicrocosmthatdiseasesthebodyandsoul。

Ifitreflectsthedroughtofthoughtorthevariousstatesofevil，desertswillenlarge，forestofinfectious，venomousgrowthwillformthehabitationoflustandmurder。Beforegreatmoralorphysicalrevolutionsorcatastrophesoccur，cloudswilldarkenthehorizonofthedreammind；stormswillgather，luridflamesoflightningwillflashtheirvolatileanger；theexplosivethunderwillrecklesslycarryonitsbombardment；bellswillring，32

strangeknockingwillbeheard——symbolsofamessage——phantomformswillbeseen，familiarvoiceswillcallandpleadwithyou，unknownvisitorswillthreatenyou，unearthlystruggleswithhideousgiantsandagoniesofmindandbodywillpossessyou；malformationsofthemosthideoustypewillseizeyourvision；shroudedinsheetsofawhitishvapor，evanescentspecters，withpallidfaceandofwarningcountenance，willclingaroundyou，andcontagionandfaminewillleavetheirdesolateimpressupontheflowerofhealthandinthefieldofplenty。Thusallofuswouldbenightlywarnedinourcircleorminiatureworldifwewoulddevelopsubjectivestrengthtoretaintheimpressionsleftuponourdreammind。Butinspiteofallreasonandconscience——inspiteoftheinductiveknowledgereceivedthroughoursenses——wegoonfromdaytoday，andstepbystep，feedingoursoulonthelusciousfruitoftheoutwardsenses，untiltherankweedsofselfishnesshavechokedoutallotherforces。Thusthesoulisfilledwiththoughtimagesthatassumetheformofviciousanimals，homelyvisagedfowls，rabidandsnarlingcatsanddogs，leprousandvirileserpents，cankerouslizards，slimyintestineworms，hairyandmaliciousinsects。Theyaregeneratedbygreed，envy，jealousy，covetousness，backbiting，amorouslongingsandotherimpurethoughts。Withthesoulfilledwiththisconglomerationofvirusandfilth，whydoubtahellanditscounterpartcondition，orexpectthedayornighttobringhappiness？Ifevilthoughtswillinfestthesoulwithravenousmicrobes，goodthoughtsanddeedswillstarveandsuppresstheiractivity，andcreateaheaventosupplantthem。Withthisgrandandeternaltruthinview，manshouldeverthinkkindlyofthoseabouthim，controlhistemperinwordandaction，seekhisown，thinkthebestofthoughts，studytorelievetheworthypoor，seeksolaceinthedepthofbeing，andletgentlenessandmeeknesscharacterizehislife。Thenwillhesowtheseedsofapresentandfutureheaven。Hisdaythoughtsandhisnightthoughtsinharmonywillpointwithunerringforecasttoapeacefulend。Spiritualandhelpfulwarningswillfalluponthedreammind，asgentlyasdewupontheflowersandassoftlyasamother’skissuponthelipsoflove。Whenourexternallivesareguidedbytheforceswithin，sweetarethewordsandmessagesfromourownspirit；forthosewhoaretrulyblessedarethosewhoseekdivinelovethroughthechannelsoftheirinnerworldofconsciousness。

Manisalittlecircleorworldcomposedoftheinfinitesimalatomsthrownofffromthegreatcircleorparentworld，andfittingintohisplaceinthezoneoflife。Ifintherevolutionsofthegreatcirclehecatchesmorematerialheincreaseshiscircletoobjectiveorsubjectivegrowth：ifheabsorbsspiritualormindatomsastheyfallfromthegreatbodyofcreativesource，heenlargesorcontractshisowncircleaccordingtotheassimilationofthefoodhereceivesfromtheparent。34

Itisoptionalwithmantoobtainspiritualormaterialmannaasitisdisseminatedthroughoutexistence。Tofeedonmaterialdietalone，contractsanddistortsthecircleoftheman；butafullcomprehensionoftheneedsofthecircle，aproperdenialofsupplytosomeofthecompounds，togetherwithatendercareofotherparts，willroundoutthewholeintoaperfectphysicalandmentalcircleoflife。

Dissentiousandconflictingresultsshouldbeavoidedincomputingthelengthandbreadthofthecompoundedcircleofman’sindividualworld。Objectivelifeisoneofthesmallestcompoundsinreallife。

Dreamlifeisfullerofmeaningandteachingoftheinner，orGodlife，thanistheexteriorlifeofman。Themindreceiveseducationfromcommuningwiththedreamcompositioninthegreatcircle。Consultwithyourwholenatureorcirclebeforebeginningaseriouswork；partialconsultations，ormaterialadviceonly，oftenbringsdefeatofobjectssought，whenatruehomecounselwouldhavebroughtsuccessandconsequenthappiness。

Manshouldliveinhissubjectiverealmsandstudymorehisrelationtoothercompositionsorcircles；thusfructifyingandmakingbeautifulhisownworldthroughintercoursewithotherswhohaveworkedinthegreatstorehouseofsubjectivity，andwhohaveclimbedalreadyfromthebasementintothelightofspiritualsunshine。

Whatisadream？

ANSWER——Adreamisaneventtranspiringinthatworldbelongingtothemindwhentheobjectivesenseshavewithdrawnintorestoroblivion。

Thenthespiritualmanislivingaloneinthefutureoraheadofobjectivelifeandconsequentlylivesman’sfuturefirst，developingconditionsinawaythatenableswakingmantoshapehisactionsbywarnings，soastomakelifeaperfectexistence。

Whatrelationshipissustainedbetweentheaveragemanandhisdreams？

AAdreamtotheaverageorsensualperson，bearsthe35

samerelationtohisobjectivelifethatitmaintainedinthecaseoftheidealdreamer，butitmeanspleasures，sufferingsandadvancementsonalowerormaterialplane。

QThenwhyismannotalwaysabletocorrectlyinterprethisdreams？

Justaswordsfailsometimestoexpressideas，sodreamsfailsometimesintheirmindpicturestoportraycomingevents。

Iftheyrelatetothefuture，whyisitwesooftendreamofthepast？

Whenapersondreamsofpastevents，thoseeventsarewarningsofevilorgood；sometimestheyarestampedsoindeliblyuponthesubjectivemindthattheleasttendencyofthewakingmindtothepastthrowsthesepicturesinreliefonthedreamconsciousness。

Whyisitthatpresentenvironmentsofteninfluenceourdreams？

Becausethefutureofmanisusuallyaffectedbythepresent，soifhemarsthepresentbywilfulwrongs，ormakesitbrightbyrightlivingitwillnecessarilyhaveinfluenceonhisdreams，astheyareforecastingsofthefuture。

Whatisanapparition？

Itisthesubjectivemindstoredwiththewisdomgainedfromfuturity，andinitsstrenuouseffortstowarnitspresenthabitation——thecorporalbody——ofdangersjustahead，takesontheshapeofadearoneasthemosteffectivemethodofimpartingthisknowledge。

Howdoessubjectivitydealwithtime？

Thereisnopastandfuturetosubjectivity。Itisallonelivingpresent。

Ifthatisso，whycan’tyoutellusaccuratelyofourfutureasyoudoofourpast？

Becauseeventsarelikeaprocession；theypassafewatatimeandcastashadowonsubjectiveminds，andthosewhichhavepassedbeforethewakingmindarefeltbyothermindsalsoandnecessarilymakeamorelastingimpressiononthesubjectivemind。

Toillustrate：Apersononretiringorclosinghiseyeshadafaceappeartohim，theforeheadwellformedbutthelowerpartsdistorted。Explainthisphenomenon？36

Achangedstatefromperfectsleeporwakingpossessedhim。

Now，theman’sfacewasonlytheexpressionofhisrealthoughtsandthestateofhisbusinesscombined。Histhoughtswerestrongandhealthy，buthisbusinessfagging，hencehisownspiritisnotaperfectlikenessofhisownsoul，asittakeseveryatomofearthlycompositionperfectlynormaltoreproduceaperfectspiritpictureofthesoulormortalman。Hewouldhaveseenatruelikenessofhimselfhadconditionsbeenfavorable；thusamanknowswhenacompletewholeishisportion。Studytomakesurroundingsalwaysharmonious。Lifeisonlybeingperfectlycarriedonwhentheseconditionsareinunison。

HOWTODEVELOPTHEPOWERTODREAM。

Keepthemindclearandasfreefrommaterialrubbishasispossibleandgotosleepinanegativecondition(thiswill，ofcourse，havetobecultivatedbythesubject)。Apersoncan，ifhewill，completelyrelaxhismindandbodytothereceptivemoodrequiredfordreamstoappearasrealities，ortrueexplanationsoffutureevents。

Todreamyouareconversingwithadeadrelative，andthatrelativeendeavorstoextractapromisefromyou，warnsyouofcomingdistressunlessyoufollowtheadvicegiven。Disastrousconsequencescouldbeavertedifmindscouldgrasptheinnerworkingsandsightofthehigherorspiritualself。Thevoiceofrelativesisonlythathigherselftakingformtoapproachmoredistinctlythemindthatlivesnearthematerialplane。Thereissolittlecongenialitybetweencommonormaterialnaturesthatpersonsshoulddependmorelargelyupontheirownsubjectivityfortruecontentmentandpleasure。

Thewillissuspendedduringsleep，sothedreammindismoreapreytoexcitabilitythanthewakingmind。

Thuswhenimagesappearuponthedreamvisiontheyarefrequentlydistortedintohideousmalformationsthatfillitwithfearandexcitement。

Theconstantdwellingoftheminduponcertainthingsdistortstheirshapesuponsubjectivity，thusthrowingdreamsinexactlyoppositechannelstothewakingreality。Yetthedreameralwaysfeelsasenseofbeingawakeindreamslikethese，andonawakeningexperiencesnorecuperationofmindorbodyaftersuchcontrarydreams，Sleepisnotfullysustainedwhilethedreamerisheldbymaterialideasinthesubjectivestate。

Thecessationoftheorganstoperformhealthfulfunctionsconvertsamanintoadifferentperson，anddreamswhileinthisstatewouldhavenopropheticmeaning，unlesstowarnthedreamerofthisdisorganizationofhisphysicalsystem。

Dreamsaresymbolsusedbysubjectivitytoimpresstheobjectiveormaterialmindwithasenseofcominggoodorevil。Subjectivityisthespiritualpartofman。Thesoulisthatcircleofmanlyingjustoutsidethegrossmaterialityandpartakinglargelyofit。Allthoughtsanddesiresenterfirstthesoulormaterialmindandthencastthemselvesonthespirit。Frequentlythesoulbecomessofilledwithmaterialorpresentideas，thatthespiritualsymbolsarecrowdedout，andthenitisthatdreamsseentobecontrary。Materialsubjectivity，thatis，allthoughtsandideasemanatingfrommaterialsources，gotomakeupthiscircle；thenthemindcatchesupthebetterthoughtsofthissectionandweavesthemintoabroaderandmorecomprehensivepower，sustainingtheownerinhisownjudgment。

Andstillanothercircleisformedofthefinercompoundofthis，whichisspiritualsubjectivity，orthehighestelementofintelligencereachedbyman。[Thiscircleis“thespiritualman“andrelatesinsubstancetothespiritualsoulofthemacrocosmoruniverse。Itbecomesstrongorweakaswerecognizeorfailtorecognizeitasafactorofbeing。Theprocessofspiritualdevelopmentissimilartothatofthevegetableandanimalkingdoms。Thetreesontheouterrimoftheforestaremorecapableofresistingthewindthanthosemoretothecenter，byreasonoftheirexposuretostorms；therootshavepenetratedwithdouble

strengthfarintotheearth，andthebranchesarebracedwithtoughenedbarkandcloselyknittedligaments。

Thesamemaybesaidoftheanimalkingdom。Themindisdevelopedbyvigorousexercisejustasarelikewisethemusclesofthebody。Themorethesearecultivatedbydrawingfromtheirparentalaffinitiesinthemacrocosm，themoreknowledgeorpowertheytakeon。Thusasamansimulatesinthoughtandactionanape，atiger，agoat，asnakeoralambhetakesontheircharacteristicsandisswayedbylikeinfluencestoenmity，meekness，covetousnessandavariciousness。Toillustratefurther。Ifheiscunninghedrawsonthefoxofthemicrocosmandbecomes，inactionandthought，likethatanimal。Ifselfishnesssurvives，thehogprincipleisarousedfromitslatentcellsinthemicrocosmandheisdominatedbymaterialappetites。Inasimilarwayhemayperceivethespiritualinhimself。