19 The gas appears to clairvoyant consciousness through the effect of light which emanates from it. We might therefore speak also of light forms, which are apparent to spiritual vision.
20 In current theosophical literature they are called "rounds." Yet, if we bear in mind the more graphic description already given, we shall guard against a too schematic concept of such matters.
21 In the next few pages, Sun and Moon are printed with capital letters when the _old_ evolutions are referred to, but are printed "sun" and "moon" when the Earth period is indicated.-_Translator_.
22 Further particulars on this subject will be found in my book, _Atlantis and Lemuria_, which deals with man"s ancestors.
23 More detailed information about these Mysteries of antiquity is to be found in my book, "Christianity as Mystical Fact." More particulars will be given in the last chapter of the present work.
24 What is to be said further on this subject will be given in a later chapter dealing with supersensible knowledge.
25 All sagas concerning the twilight of the G.o.ds, and similar traditions, had their origin in this knowledge of the Mysteries in Europe.
26 It is a matter of no moment whatever whether the above thoughts are warranted or not by any of the views held by natural science. For the object is to develop such thoughts about the plant and man as may-irrespective of all theories-be gained by means of simple and direct contemplation. Such thoughts are of importance side by side with no less significant theoretical presentments of things in the external world; and here the thoughts are not adduced in order to prove a fact scientifically, but to construct a symbol that shall prove effective, irrespective of whatever objections may be raised by this or that person against its construction.
27 In my explanations of "How to attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds," translated under the t.i.tle of _The Way of Initiation_ and beginning at Chapter II, several other examples of methods of meditation are given, and especially efficacious will be found one which deals with the coming into being and fading away of a plant; also another may be particularly recommended, based on the dormant formative power dwelling in the seed of a plant, and others on the form and structure of crystals, and other substances. But the purpose in this book was only to show in one instance, the nature of meditation.
28 Special exercises going into greater detail on this subject may be found in my book ent.i.tled _The Way of Initiation_.
29 It must of course be clearly understood that such an appellation as "lotus flower" has no more bearing on the matter than has the expression "wing," if applied to the lobe of a lung.
30 In my books, ent.i.tled "_The Way of Initiation_" and "_Initiation and Its Results_," some of these methods of meditation and exercises for acting upon these different organs are set forth.
31 The appellation "two-petalled" or "sixteen-petalled," and so on, is used because the organs in question may be likened to flowers having a corresponding number of petals.
32 Intuition is in everyday life a much-abused word, which is made to stand for a vague and uncertain view of a matter; for some sort of "notion," which, while it may possibly "hit" the truth, can nevertheless give no immediate proof of it. It is needless to say that this kind of intuition is not meant here. Intuition, in this case, stands for knowledge of the highest and most luminous clearness, of the justification of which the possessor is, in the fullest sense, conscious.
33 The suggestive points of view for the conduct of education resulting from a knowledge of these supersensible facts are presented in my little book, _The Education of Children from the Standpoint of Spiritual Science_, in which will be found fuller details of what can here only be hinted at.