DISCOURSES ON
RADHASOAMI
FAITH
BY
MAHARAJ SAHAB
Pandit Brahm Sankar Misra,
M.A.
11. SPIRIT-FORCE
DISTINGUISHED FROM THE SO-CALLED FORCES OF NATURE
17.
It is hardly necessary to observe that the spirit-force is not the result of a
combination of the forces of nature. From a theoretical point of view such a
conclusion appears to be inconsistent with the existing condition of the forces
of nature, as there is not a single force in this universe which manifests
itself in its various recognized forms without a substratum of the same force
in the creation, and the same remarks should apply to the proposition we have
enunciated above. A candle is ignited and bursts forth into a flame. If one
were to look at combustion alone which produces the flame, the inference would
be that combustion, independent of everything, is the cause of that flame. But
such is not the case. It is the specific heat of the constituents of combustion
that is manifesting itself in an accentuated form. This specific heat is the
substratum without which no manifestation of heat is possible, and the same
remarks apply to all forces of nature. Applying the analogy to the
spirit-force, the inference is that there is a substratum and reservoir or
source of the spirit-force in the creation. Argumentation by analogy is not,
however, always conclusive, and concrete facts should therefore be always sought
in a scientific research.
18.
We have already emphasized in Article 10 the necessity for a scientific
recognition or repudiation of the many extraordinary facts reported about
spirits by investigators into the phenomena of spiritualism, one of which is
that there are embodied spirits. If this fact be recognized by science, it will
constitute a proof of the most positive character that spirit-force is not
dependent upon the physical environment for its existence. Furthermore, if it
be recognized that disembodied spirits can have access to places where access
would not be possible by ordinary actions in the three dimensions, the fact of
disembodied spirits being endowed with subtle functions, which are more or less
akin to those of ether, is also established. Instances are not wanting, which
show that disembodied spirits enjoy an immunity from heat and cold which is not
to be found in the physical frame. This would corroborate the statement that
the spirits possess ethereal or astral bodies, for heat has very little effect,
if any, on the ethereal frame, as the temperature of ether is said to be not
subject to any appreciable variations by the passage of heat rays. In these
circumstances, the existing germ theory, which assumes it is an axiom that
beyond a certain degree, of heat-temperature the existence of germs is
impossible, will require modification. We shall have to limit the theory to
physical germs, but it cannot universally be extended to ethereal and other
subtler germs of life. A further inference may not be improperly drawn that
that the coarser forms of physical life found on this earth have been derived
from the subtler planes, which are not within the scope of the physical senses,
and which are as full of vital activity and manifestations as is our own
planet. This view, if accepted, upsets the present germ theory, and physical
germs should no longer be held to be the initial seeds giving rise to higher
conditions of life. On the contrary, they would have to be treated as extremely
feeble and diffused emanations from higher sources and planes of spirituality.
Such a theory would also correspond with the facts found about the other forces
of nature in this world, as heat, light, etc. are emanations from higher
sources.
19.
It is a matter of further observation, drawn from many authenticated cases,
that the spiritual functions, including the intellectual faculties, are
immensely enhanced during conditions of trance when the physical faculties are
not functioning. In such conditions, coming events and occurrences taking place
at great distances are correctly stated. The inference, which we may naturally
draw from the above observation, is that a further liberation of the spirit
from the subtler frames may result in the manifestation of still higher functions
and eventually in the manifestation of the essence of the spirit itself. In
such a condition, the spirit-entity would become a focus and source of pure
intelligence, energy and bliss.
20.
If we look at the various forces of nature, leaving out for the present the
spirit-force, we find that they are dependent for their existence upon the
media through which they manifest themselves. On the elimination of the medium,
peculiar to each, the energy of course remains, but the previous form in which it
was present disappears. Take for instance the case of chemical action. It is
due, as is well known, to the exchange of molecules, atoms or ions. If there be
a region beyond the atomic and the ionic spheres of creation, chemical action
in the forum in which it is found here will not be possible. Again, take the
case of electricity. If electric force acts through a medium, this implies that
there is a plane from which the force
acts, and that there is another plane upon
which it acts. These two planes cannot be treated as one and the same, I as
much as the electric force would the always be acting in the plane it resides
in, and there should not be a latent condition of it. If the proposition we
have enunciated above be correct, the two planes in question would be distinct
from each other and would be similar to two different planes of the dimensions
we are familiar with. Like any two of the ordinary dimensions, they would, for
example, be separate and yet allied with each other. The lower plane would be
in a state either of kinetic action, or of quiescence, in accordance with the
presence in it, or absence from it, of the force from the higher plane. If this
lower plane, be, in the case of electricity, that subtle substance known as
ether, the inference is irresistible that it does not pervade all space, but
that it is confined to a sphere of its own. It appears to be necessary to
observe here that we should not fix the limits of the space of creation within
the three dimensions we are familiar with. There are other dimensions besides
these three, and we should, we think, modify our conception of the universe as
it presents itself to us accordingly. Spheres of far greater expanse and
subtlety than those within our observation, which permeate and envelop everything
presented to our vision, exist unperceived and unknown. There are numerous
cases which show that action has taken place through them, as it was not
through the three known dimensions. We shall speak more about this in the Part
dealing with the evolution of Creation (Rachana).
21.
If we analyze the other forces of nature, it will not be difficult to show that
their existing forms vary with the change of media. As a further illustration,
we will take up the case of hear. It is more or less a recognized fact that the
passage of heat through the ethereal medium hardly affects the temperature of
the latter. The inference from this fact may not be unfairly drawn, that the
constituents of the heat-condition are different from those of ether, and that
they have very little, if any, affinity with each other, so far as the
heat-condition is concerned. This clearly proves that heat is not an ethereal
phenomenon, and that the ethereal ion does not take part in it. But other forms
of matter known to us are affected by heat. Our theory is that heat represents
the disintegrated particles of matter midway between ions and ordinary
elemental matter. Whatever disintegrated atoms produces the phenomenon known as
heat, although the disintegrating cause may not be heat itself. Energy in all
its aspects can produce such disintegration and its passage through atomic
regions is therefore accompanied by a manifestation of heat. Electricity, which
is highly charged with energy, is void of heat, but it produces heat when it
manifests itself on the atomic plane. Now, eliminate the disintegrated
condition of matter which we have spoken of, and the phenomenon of heat is
gone. The line of argumentation indicated above establishes, we venture to
think, the proposition that the various forces of nature are entirely dependent
for their existing forms on the media they act through.
