The Medium is invariably subjective and controlled. He has no choice of controls, and often no knowledge (never reliable knowledge) as to who or what controls him. He is sometimes informed by his "guide" as to the control's identity, and learns, often, that he and his circle have been deceived by ignorant or "lying spirits."
The whole process reverses our Modulus and Theorem of Constructive Psychology, the building of character and normal evolution.
The most important consideration at this point is its relation to the sanity of individuals.
There are thousands of individuals to-day, who, failing in rational volition, or self-control, are controlled by entities on the subjective plane. They are _obsessed_.
This subjective control without the knowledge or consent of the victim, and unrecognized and generally called "absurd" by "Alienists" and "experts," constitutes a very large per cent, of the insane to-day, and because ignored or unrecognized, these cases are classed as "Incurable."
It should be remembered that the annals of Spiritualism, and the records of scientific Psychical Research, have _demonstrated_ the possibility and the _fact_ of such control. It should also be remembered that the average "expert alienist" is guided solely by results of such obsession, where it occurs; that he is blind to causes, liable to exclude or taboo obsession, and therefore largely liable to err.
In other words, he is prejudiced; and his bias and incredulity blind him to the facts and to the real causes.
He could hardly be expected to make the obsession _let go_, while denying that it exists. But he _might_ help the victim gain _Self-control_ if he but recognized the facts and knew how.
Realizing the fact of the connection of the two worlds, the physical and the spiritual, and communication between them in the subjective or irresponsible way, the question naturally arises, "Is there not another way of communication? May not the Individual Intelligence on the physical plane communicate with the denizens of the spiritual plane _at his own volition, independently_? May he not learn to see and hear them without attempting, or desiring to _control_ them, more than he does his associates, his friends and neighbors on the physical plane, or allowing them to control him?"
Is it not purely a question of _fact_, and of scientific demonstration, to be determined by experiment?
This question leads us to another phase of psychology and the records of the past. There have been Seers, Clairvoyants, and Clairaudiants in all ages.
Unlike the psychical phenomena already referred to,--and belonging to the positive and initiative, rather than the negative and subjective side of the psychical equation,--these seers have been fewer in number, and are always individuals showing a high degree of self-control, and of intellectual and moral evolution.
Admitting the general propositions involved, it can readily be seen that this must be so from the very nature of the case. The Masters of mankind, in any and all directions have been few. The slaves, through ignorance, superstition and fear, have been legions. Those who have gained habitual self-control, and finally self-mastery, knowledge and power, have been few; while the majority have been controlled by their own appetites and passions, and by other individuals.
This self-mastery and higher evolution also includes another element beside strength of character, and that is, Refinement.
In other words; it is, from first to last, a journey from the gross and sensuous physical plane, toward the refined and spiritual plane, involving all the faculties, capacities, and powers, feelings, sensations, emotions, intuitions, and aspirations of man. It is, in short, a normal, higher evolution.
All the elements of this higher evolution are basic and innate in the original endowment of man. By exercise, the latent faculties, capacities and powers grow, expand, and develop. Self-control, rational volition, and the sense of personal responsibility, (conscience) make the evolution conformatory to the Modulus--the Perfect Man.
As this human being, dwelling on the physical plane, _e_volves, the spiritual faculties of the Divine Man are _in_volved from the spiritual plane. When this simultaneous and co-ordinate development is complete, the Human and the Divine are _at-one_ in the Individual.
This at-one-ment is the exact opposite of "vicarious." It is the result of personal effort and self-mastery.
The dogma of the church has so completely sophisticated it as to turn normal evolution into _devolution_; and, so far as it has any effect, or is operative at all, to turn man backward toward the animal, instead of upward toward the Divine.
Seership and Spiritual powers, therefore, as the result of "Living the Life," are _Evolutionary_. Mediumship, subjective control, and obsession in any form, or in whatsoever degree, are _Devolutionary_.
Progress along either line may be very slow, but the trend is as opposite as is the East from the West, as Light from Darkness, as Good from Evil.
By classifying these powers of man and psychical phenomena to which they give rise, whether in the conscious, inner realm, in functions of the bodily organism, or observable to others, we are able to assign each to its proper class with considerable accuracy.
Both evolutionary and devolutionary progress, with the ordinary individual, are slow processes. Seldom is either process a designed and straightforward climbing, or a quick descent "into the dark abyss."
Consequently, as the human race evolves as a whole, relatively more and more individuals are found who "get flashes" of sight or sound, more or less from the subjective or spiritual plane of being. There are intuitions, "warnings," and premonitions of coming events. Some seek and cultivate, others fear and avoid them.
They are mostly on the "border-land," if not on the "ragged-edge" of insanity. It is only necessary to further weaken the will, or to indulge the passions and emotions, in order to decide the matter, derange the mind, and send the individual to an asylum.
On the other hand, with individuals who lead a clean, cheerful, well-ordered life, these experiences may mean encouragement, confirmation, and progress toward the spiritual realm of being. They should be observed carefully, but not _cultivated_. They may serve as guide-posts and as mere incidents of a day's journey.
The average popular cult to-day, as often in the past, where psychical phenomena are involved, results in converting the normal mental realm, the realm of normal self-consciousness, into a vaudeville performance; a mere "Variety Show," where all due sense of proportion and relation is lost.
In place of the normal Individual Intelligence, sitting serenely on the throne of life and ruling his Kingdom with justice, wisdom and paternal love, the king joins the melee of acrobats and dancing girls, encourages the orchestra till, in a pandemonium of revelry, he puts out the lights, or in wild frenzy fires the building.
Sometimes it claims to "command success" by _demanding_ it; or wealth without earning it; or health without regard to hygienic law; or by "taking a Mantram" to open the gates of heaven. Or again, by servile obedience to the freaks or dogmas of a "Leader" or "Official Head" and adulation _ad nauseam_, to gain admission to the "Elect."
One and all of these, from first to last, tend toward Devolution. They are destructive, not constructive, in building character and true manhood and womanhood.
Again, the Monk or the devotee abandons society, becomes a recluse, flees into the desert or the mountain, subsists upon roots or herbs, sits in one posture till the joints of the body become fixed, holds the arms above the head till they become immovable, and the finger nails _turn and grow through the palms of the hands_; or sits gazing at the navel and repeating the word _Om_.
Indeed, it would seem that the ways and means to stop normal growth, constructive evolution and healthy living, had been well-nigh exhausted.
The enthusiast, the fanatic and the "easy mark" of to-day are seldom aware of any of these things, and so they are bled, fleeced, and exploited accordingly. "All is Mind!" "Great is Elijah!" or "Mrs." Elijah, and Oahspe is his Prophet! while Babel reigns in the place of Natural Science.
The Theosophical Movement inaugurated in this country by H. P. Blavatsky in 1875, differed essentially and radically from all others; first, in placing ethics as the first stone in the foundation of a real knowledge of the nature of man. Its objects as concisely stated at the time were--
First: To establish a _nucleus_ for a Universal Brotherhood of Man.
Second: To study ancient religions, philosophies and sciences, and determine their relations and values.
Third: To investigate the Psychical Powers latent in Man.
Hospitality to Truth from any source and under any name, was characteristic of the movement during the entire lifetime of the Founders.
Dogma was eliminated, Authority beyond facts and demonstrated truth denied, and Superstition regarded as only another name for ignorance.
While the facts and the demonstrations of Science were recognized, and given the largest hospitality, nevertheless, the "Secret Doctrine" and, in a broad sense, the whole movement was an effort to present to modern times, and particularly to the Western world, the most ancient and pure philosophy of old India, the _Vedanta_ or "Wisdom-Religion."
An immense work of rejuvenation has gone on in India, particularly in the establishment and maintenance of Schools for Girls, and in the relief of poverty and discouragement of the teeming millions.
An immense literature was created, not yet appreciated, except by students here and there, who found light, explanation, and encouragement in their studies of the mysteries of Nature and of life.
Since the death of the founders of the Society, in this country at least, only a few branches and fragments of the original organization now remain.
"Leaders" and "Official Heads" often wholly ignorant of the Philosophy, which colossal egotism and exploitation could hardly supply, have brought the very names "Theosophy" and "Brotherhood" into contempt and ridicule in many sections.
As some of these "official heads" are still in evidence, final results cannot now be formulated, and need not be here considered or forecast. The evidence is not all in.
Personally, I desire to record my great indebtedness and highest appreciation of a noble life and a magnificent work accomplished by one of the most remarkable and unselfish women known to history, and for the light and knowledge which she made accessible, and which I still hold, practically unchanged, but with the theorems of Natural Science, in place of the postulates of Philosophy as better fitting "the progressive intelligence" of the present time.
The two lines of presentation when clearly apprehended are not antagonistic, but supplementary. Their aims and purpose are the same.
CHAPTER IV