THE MASTERY OF BEING. William Walker Atkinson

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      BEING'S CEASELESS TIDE.

      We are constantly aware of the chameleon-like nature and character of what Gautama the Buddha called

      "Being's ceaseless tide,

      Which, ever-changing, runs, linked like a river

       By ripples following ripples, fast or slow,—

       The same, yet not the same,—from far-off fountain

       To where its waters flow

      "Into the seas. These, steaming to the sun,

       Give the lost wavelets back in cloudy fleece

       To trickle down the hills and glide again,

       Having no pause or peace.

      "This is enough to know, the phantasms are;

       The Heavens, Earths, Worlds, and changes changing them

       A mighty whirling wheel of strife and stress

       Which none can stay or stem."

      THE QUEST FOR PRINCIPLE.

      Turning in despair from this contemplation, thinking men and women have sought for a fundamental principle of REALITY underlying, supporting, and sustaining the universe of finite, transitory, changing shapes, forms, activities, states, and conditions,—that "unconditioned and absolute ground for all that exists conditionally," which Plato asserted to be the real subject-matter of the inquiry of philosophy.

      The wise have ever refused to accept the changing, impermanent, phenomenal universe as the ultimate verity, truth, and fact of REALITY. They have always insisted upon looking behind and under the world of manifestation for the essence which they believed must lie back of it; for the infinite essence underlying the finite; for the immutable essence underlying the ever-changing; for the eternal essence underlying the transitory.

      Gazing upon the universal manifestation of the law of change, the thoughtful ever have asked themselves and others the ultimate question: What is it that manifests change? What is it that is? What is it that is actually, verily, truthfully, and in fact REALITY?

      While the majority of the race has contented itself with creating deities, gods, demigods, godlings, and minor supernatural entities in endless variety, number, and name, the wise of the race, discarding these creations of the naïve imaginations of their brethren, and ignoring the interested dogma of the various priesthoods attending the shrine of the local deities, tribal gods, and supernatural personages, have ever sought for the principle of REALITY which abides, lives, and has its existence in the infinity of manifested forms, shapes, activities, and existences of the universe, and in which they so abide, live, and have their being. Like old Omar, they have sought ever for that Abiding Presence, that Ultimate REALITY,—

      "Whose secret presence, throughout creation's veins

       Running Quicksilver-like, eludes our pains,

       Taking all shapes from Mah to Mahi; and

       They change and perish all, but he remains."

      They have perceived that REALITY cannot be merely the outward forms, shapes, activities, states, and conditions of manifested existence, for the finite character of these were soon discovered. The material panorama of the manifested universe was recognized as a phantasmagoria, and all beings participating in it as mere actors on the great stage of the Cosmos. The wise have ever held that the manifested universe is akin to a cosmic dramatization of REALITY; that, as Omar says,

      "We are no other than a moving row

       Of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and go

       Round with the Sun-illumined Lantern held

       In midnight by the Master of the Show."

      NOUMENON AND PHENOMENON.

      The philosophic mind of the race has ever distinguished between the mere outward appearance of the universal activities and the essence or real activity manifesting in and producing the outward appearance. The universe of outward forms, shapes, activities, states, and conditions is designated by the term "phenomenal," which means "visible; apprehended by observation; apparent; presented to the eye or senses." In its original Greek, the term "phenomenon" has a common origin with "phantom," "phantasm," etc., the original Greek root of all these meaning "to appear; to show." The phenomenal world is often called by philosophers "the world of appearances," the term "appearance" being used as synonymous with "phenomenon" and being similar in meaning to "apparition." In the majority of philosophies the "world of appearances" or "the phenomenal world" indicates a "universal phantasmagoria" or "universal apparition"—a great cosmic picture show or a procession of phantasmal, apparitional shapes and forms subject to states and conditions.

      Opposed to the world of phenomenal appearance, the philosophers assert the existence of that which they call by various names, such as "REALITY," "Verity," "Truth." REALITY is conceived of as the ultimate essence, nature, substance, and very being of All-that-is. Philosophers sometimes employ the term "noumenon" to designate REALITY as we use the term.

      "THE MASTER OF THE SHOW."

      Inquirers for REALITY, refusing to accept the phenomenal world as ultimate REALITY, truth, or fact, but recognizing the phantasmal nature of the "moving row of Magic Shadow-shapes that come and go," have instituted a further inquiry. They have even denied ultimate REALITY to "the Sun-illumined Lantern held in midnight" and have insisted that naught will suffice them other than the actual discovery of "the Master of the Show" himself, who holds the Lantern. But they have not failed to realize the elusive nature of that which they seek. They know full well the truth that Omar uttered when he said that REALITY ever is but

      "A moment guessed—then back behind the Fold

       Immerst of Darkness round the Drama rolled,

       Which for the pastime of Eternity

       He doth Himself contrive, enact, behold."

      THE REPORT OF REASON.

      The best philosophical thought of the past and present has ever asserted the actual existence of an ultimate principle of REALITY—the essence, nature, substance, and REALITY of All-that-is. The wisest of the race have always maintained the actual existence of a certain something which abides, invariable and constant, as the essential principle of and in all things, all creatures, all entities, all beings, and which precedes and survives all the changes of form, shape, state, and condition of phenomenal appearance. The only escape from this conclusion is the assumption that each change of form, shape, state, or condition is a separate, independent, and original creation; that no changed thing has a direct or indirect substantial connection with that which immediately preceded it, or with that which immediately succeeds it. This idea is unthinkable and is not advanced by any philosophy worthy of the name or having the respect of thinking men.

      No matter what may be the theory of the philosopher or scientist, he will always admit that evolution is merely a series of changing events and not a series of separate "things." Evolution is seen to be merely the change of the apparent form, shape, state, or condition of a certain Something which is the essence, nature, substance, and principle of the entire series of changing and changed "things." It is the silken thread upon which is strung the pearls of phenomenal existence. It is the СКАЧАТЬ