3. The next empirical fact of prime importance is, The Individual Intelligence, not of man, but which _is_ man, is _aware of itself_, i.e., "self-conscious." It is able to distinguish between the self and the non-self.
4. Again, as to _consciousness_, as with intelligence: We know that man has it and uses it, and what it _does_ to some extent; but we do not know what it _is_, intrinsically, nor do we need to know any of these _ultimates_. The effort to explain them has never ended in anything but confusion. We shall herein name them, and then pass them.
5. We have now postulated a self-conscious, Individual Intelligence, as the real man. Next we find this Man can _do_ things, or _refrain_ from doing; act, or refrain from action. This is called Initiative, Volition, Will.
6. This power of action and of choice, inspired by intelligence, aware of the self, adapts actions to ends. This involves reason and judgment.
7. In the course of experience along the lines of action or restraint, and observing results in either case, the individual desiring or preferring certain results to others, acquires more or less self-control. He controls himself to secure desired results.
Here then, in brief outline, are the basis and the elements of our Psychology. They are drawn from common observation and experience, and are verified by the facts of daily life--generally complicated, confused, or lost sight of in treatises on psychology.
Two of these factors, viz.: Consciousness and Will, enter into all psychological phenomena such as Hypnotism and Mediumship, and into every form of mental alienation, insanity, obsession and the like.
Moreover, by building out of mental phenomena a distinct entity--largely independent of the self-conscious Intelligence, and almost equally so with consciousness--our "philosophies," "metaphysics," and explanations have become as confused and unreliable as the psychical phenomenon itself.
Hudson's so-called "Law of Psychic Phenomena," "Subliminal" and "Supraliminal Consciousness," and the juggling with the terms "suggestion"
and "hypnosis" may serve as sufficient illustrations. In each instance phenomena are made to take the place of principles and the core of the problem is ignored, confused, or lost sight of.
In the meantime these empiricists are hunting in the "rubbish of the temple" (which temple they have _metaphysically_ destroyed), for the Human Soul--i.e. the concrete, intrinsic Individual Intelligence, which is ONE, and which the Master Builder (Universal Intelligence) placed on the Trestle-board of Creation and Time, for the building of character, and the evolution of the Human Soul.
If the Ideal, Archetypal, or Divine Man, is recognized as the _Modulus_ of both Nature and Divinity, our Theorem must consist in adhering to the Modulus and working out the problem.
Q. E. D., if applied to man's completion of his own individual Temple, might stand for the last words of Jesus, "It is finished," The problem is solved; "I have finished the Work Thou gavest me to do." Science, Religion and Philosophy have clasped hands. Divinity revealed in Humanity is triumphant over Death. "There is a Natural (physical) body and there is a Spiritual body," and the Individual Intelligence is ONE in each, or in both; viz.: The Human-Divine Soul.
To recognize the _Modulus_ and intelligently to apprehend the _Theorem_ is the foundation and the first step in the scientific solution of the problem of life, and the progressive and continuous evolution of the human soul. To use the term "Science" (as applied to the study of psychology) in any other way, is pure empiricism, is wholly unscientific, and has never yet resulted in anything but confusion and in laying a foundation for belief, conjecture, theory, dogma, superstition, and fear.
The step of next importance, both in the scientific study of psychology and in individual progress and evolution, is the mental attitude of the individual; his point of view; his open-mindedness and utter refusal to _pre_judge anything. He will often say, "I do not know." He will sometimes say, "I do not care." That phase or presentation does not appeal to, nor interest him.
This is what the Vedic philosophers called, "making the mind _one pointed_" and like a search-light, with the ability to concentrate it on a given point or subject.
Bias, prejudice, preconceived opinion, credulity and incredulity, are all like a crooked lens to the eye of the mind, or to the perception of the simple truth.
Not only are these principles basic in the scientific study of psychology and the evolution of the individual intelligence, but their neglect and oversight are solely responsible for the confusion everywhere manifest on the subject, as well as for _every form of subjective control_, mediumship, psychical epidemics, and obsession, and they enter into every form and phase of insanity.
If this be true, and it is readily demonstrable, what subject is of equal importance; and what facts and considerations are so transcendent as these?
The difference is that between a mad-house with its frenzied and frightened mob of helpless victims, and a palace of the gods in which dwelleth Righteousness, Love, Peace, and Eternal Joy.
Is it not _worth while_?
This Modulus and Theorem of the School of Natural Science involve Religion, Regeneration, Redemption, and the well-being of Souls here and hereafter.
They separate Religion from Superstition, Duty from Dogma, cast out Fear, release the wings of aspiration and faith; and where "the mourners went about the streets" is heard a new song of rejoicing that binds up the wounds and sorrows of the brokenhearted.
Again I ask, "Is it not worth while?"
CHAPTER II
EMPIRICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
Let us bear in mind that man _is_ an Individual Intelligence; that this involves self-consciousness, or awareness of Self, the innate ability to distinguish between the Self and the non-Self. Hence arises the power of choice, discernment, or discrimination.
There also arises the impulse to _act_, or the Initiative, called the Will. This also involves the power of restraint, the act or the refraining from action.
This action, under the basic endowment--intelligence--is called _Rational Volition_.
There is thus, Intelligence; the Power to choose; the power to act and the adaptation of acts or restraints to ends, or to desired objects or results.
Experience teaches the individual, thus endowed, that he is responsible for all he thinks, feels, acts and does; and this, under his endowment of Intelligence, is what we call _Conscience_.
We are not building up a theory, but simply analyzing psychological facts, demonstrated as true in the experience of every intelligent individual.
Just as the chemist analyzes a compound he finds in his laboratory.
Our _Modulus_ is the Perfect Man. Our _Theorem_ is the method of use that, by experience and observation everywhere, has been demonstrated as Constructive, enabling the Individual to build toward, and to realize the Modulus.
The power to discriminate, choose and act, when normally exercised, implies judgment and understanding.
Hence, we have perception, rational choice, intelligent action and desired results, for which we recognize our personal responsibility. Hence arise our ability and necessity to _review_ our actions, motives, aims and their results, and to pass judgment upon them in the Light of Conscience (Con-Science, to know the Self) to pass judgment upon ourselves as to motives, aims, results, and consequences.
The Brain is a center of consciousness with avenues of perception and impulse and departments that by aggregation, separation or association, enable the Individual Intelligence to determine the relation in time, or duration, force and orderly relation of perceptions, desires, motives, actions (or thoughts and feelings) as to sequence or results.
This whole conscious realm is the Mind. It is the _inner chamber_ of the _Soul_. It is in no sense an entity. The actor, the real entity, is the Individual Intelligence.
To say, therefore, that "Man is all mind," or that the mind does this, or that, is simply nonsense. It is like saying that the little room in which I am now writing, with its books and pictures, with my thoughts, feelings, emotions, and magnetism, is _I_! Perhaps it is _like_ me, or _full_ of me, but _I_ am something _else_ and something _more_.
Let us get rid of this "confusion of tongues"; this "babel of Psychology"; "New Thought" (as old as man); "Metaphysics"; "Christian Science" _et hoc genus omne_, and come down to common sense and the facts of nature. The aim and the results along these lines are often good and helpful; then why clothe them in the garb of absurdities?
Recognize the facts, and express them intelligently, and they may do ten times more good, for then we could understand them. They are, one and all, a weak dilution of the old Hindoo Yoga, thrashed over there for thousands of years; straining after _results_, while ignorant of, or ignoring _basic principles_.
Aside from the "Eight Systems of Philosophy" now recognized in India, there are hundreds of varieties and classes of _Yogis_.
"To acquire powers" is one thing; self-mastery and self-knowledge are quite another. Thus the one is often distorted and always transient; the other constructive, regenerative, and enduring.
To illustrate by contrast what Constructive Psychology, or the building of character, _is not_, we may now take some of the forms of diseased action known to all time, occurring in individuals and in epidemics, and which to-day fill our Insane Asylums with "Incurables."
The point of first importance in all these cases, is the _lack_ of self-control. Weakness, aberration or disease of the Will. The Individual Intelligence fails to exercise its divine prerogative and be _Master_ in and of its _own house_.
In the place of this control, sensations, feelings, emotions, desires, appetites, passions, and ambitions run riot. The _Servants_ of the Master war among themselves, quarrel with each other, bind the Master hand and foot, wreck the furniture, and at last destroy the house. The Master has become the victim and at last the slave of his own servants. His Will is in abeyance; his perceptions distorted; his feelings and emotions aggravated; his "Reason Dethroned"; his judgment impaired; he has an "Unbalanced Mind."
What is here needed but _Christos_ in the Temple, "turning over the tables of the money-changers and the seats of them that sold doves," and restoring the High-Priest in the Holy Temple--the Human Soul, viz.: the intelligent Will of Man, determined to govern his own house, and responsible for results?
In place of Rational Volition, clear, just and true perceptions, sound judgment and clear understanding, we have "Illusions," "Hallucinations"
and "Delusions." In other words, the Individual is _Insane_!