Study Notes
PARAGRAPH 18
Apart from all other considerations, this conclusion imposes itself as a logical necessity if we observe even the surface process of the emergence in the light of the evolutionary theme. It is self-evident that Life in the plant, even if otherwise organised than in the animal, is yet the same power, marked by birth and growth and death, propagation by the seed, death by decay or malady or violence, maintenance by indrawing of nourishing elements from without, dependence on light and heat, productiveness and sterility, even states of sleep and waking, energy and depression of life-dynamism, passage from infancy to maturity and age; the plant contains, moreover, the essences of the force of life and is therefore the natural food of animal existences. If it is conceded that it has a nervous system and reactions to stimuli, a beginning or undercurrent of submental or purely vital sensations, the identity becomes closer; but still it remains evidently a stage of life evolution intermediate between animal existence and “inanimate” Matter.
EXPLANATION
Life is present in all levels is the conclusion we come to, as a logical necessity. It is evident if we observe the surface process of the emergence of life in the light of evolutionary theme.
The Life in the plant is differently organised than in animal. Yet it is the same power characterised by birth, growth and death. It is propagated by seed. The death of plant comes by decay or physical harm done to it. It maintains itself by getting nourishments from outside, depending on light and heat. It has capacity for productiveness and sometimes it does not produce. It has states of sleep and waking. It shows vitality of life and sometimes it has depressed life activity. It passes through infancy to maturity and age. As the plant contains the essence of life force it becomes the natural food for animal existence.
The identity between the animal and the plant becomes closer if we consider it has a nervous system and its responses to stimuli. This is the beginning of submental or purely vital sensations.
Yet it remains an intermediary stage in evolution between the animal existence and the inanimate matter.
This is precisely what must be expected if Life is a force evolving out of Matter and culminating in Mind, and, if it is that, then we are bound to suppose that it is already there in Matter itself submerged or latent in the material subconsciousness or inconscience. For from where else can it emerge? Evolution of Life in matter supposes a previous involution of it there, unless we suppose it to be a new creation magically and unaccountably introduced into Nature. If it is that, it must either be a creation out of nothing or a result of material operations which is not accounted for by anything in the operations themselves or by any element in them which is of a kindred nature; or, conceivably, it may be a descent from above, from some supraphysical plane above the material universe.
EXPLANATION
This is how Life as a force operates evolving out of Matter and ending in Mind. If that is the case, we are bound to assume that Life is already there in Matter itself. It is submerged or latent in the material subconsciousness or inconscience.
Sri Aurobindo says from where else life can emerge than from Matter. This means there is a previous involution of Life in Matter if it is a chain in the process of evolution.
We cannot think that Life is a new creation magically introduced into the Nature in an inexplicable manner. If we think so, it must be either a creation out of nothing or a result of material operations which do not explain themselves anything or by elements of similar nature in them. Or Life might have descended from above from supraphysical plane.
The two first suppositions can be dismissed as arbitrary conceptions; the last explanation is possible and it is quite conceivable and in the occult view of things true that a pressure from some plane of Life above the material universe has assisted the emergence of life here. But this does not exclude the origin of life from Matter itself as a primary and necessary movement; for the existence of a Life-world or Life-plane above the material does not of itself lead to the emergence of Life in matter unless that Life-plane exists as a formative stage in a descent of Being through several grades or powers of itself into the Inconscience with the result of an involution of itself with all these powers in Matter for a later evolution and emergence.
EXPLANATION
The assumptions that Life is a magical appearance into Nature or it is a result of mysterious material operations can be dismissed as arbitrary (without any reason) conceptions. The explanation that Life may be descended from above is possible and conceivable.
In the occult view of things, it is true that a pressure from plane of Life above the material universe has assisted that emergence of life here. But it does not exclude origin of life from Matter as a primary and necessary movement. Because, the existence of a Life-world or Life-plane above the material world does not of its own lead to the emergence of Life in matter. This can happen only if the Life-plane exists as a formative stage in a descent of Being into several grades of itself into the level of inconscience. This results in an involution of life with all these powers in Matter for a later evolution and emergence.
Whether signs of this submerged life are discoverable, unorganised yet or rudimentary, in material things or there are no such signs, because this involved Life is in a full sleep, is not a question of capital importance. The material Energy that aggregates, forms and disaggregates *4 is the same Power in another grade of itself as that Life-Energy which expresses itself in birth, growth and death, just as by its doing of the works of Intelligence in a somnambulist subconscience it betrays itself as the same Power that in yet another grade attains the status of Mind; its very character shows that it contains in itself, though not yet in their characteristic organisation or process, the yet undelivered powers of Mind and Life.
EXPLANATION
The signs of this submerged life in matter may be discoverable. Or it may not be discoverable because it is not yet organised or rudimentary. Or it may not show any signs because this involved Life is in a full sleep. These things are not of much importance.
The material energy that aggregates (grouping into a cluster), forms and disaggregates (separating into parts) is the same Power in another grade of itself as Life-Energy which expresses itself in birth, growth and death.
In Matter the Life-Energy does the works of Intelligence in a subconscious sleep-action. Yet it shows itself as the same Power that in another grade attains the status of Mind. This Power in its very character shows that it contains in itself the powers of Mind and Life which are not yet delivered. These powers may not be yet in their characteristic organisation or process.
Foot Note:
*4 Birth, growth and death of life are in their outward aspect the same process of aggregation, formation and disaggregation, though more than that in their inner process and significance. Even the ensoulment of the body by the psychic being follows, if the occult view of these things is correct, a similar outward process, for the soul as nucleus draws to itself for birth and aggregates the elements of its mental, vital and physical sheaths and their contents, increases these formations in life, and in its departing drops and disaggregates again these aggregates, drawing back into itself its inner powers, till in rebirth it repeats the original process.
EXPLANATION
The process of birth, growth and death of life in man is outwardly the same as aggregation, formation and disaggregation of material Energy. Yet it is something more than that in their inner process and significance.
The psychic being taking up a body has a similar outward process. The soul as a nucleus draws to itself and groups around itself, the elements of its mental, vital and physical sheaths and their contents. It increases these formations in life.
When the soul leaves the body, it drops and disaggregates these formed elements. It draws back into itself its inner powers till in the next birth it repeats the original process.
PARAGRAPH 19
Life then reveals itself as essentially the same everywhere from the atom to man, the atom containing the subconscious stuff and movement of being which are released into consciousness in the animal, with plant life as a midway stage in the evolution. Life is really a universal operation of Conscious-Force acting subconsciously on and in Matter; it is the operation that creates, maintains, destroys and re-creates forms or bodies and attempts by play of nerve-force, that is to say, by currents of interchange of stimulating energy to awake conscious sensation in those bodies. In this operation there are three stages; the lowest is that in which the vibration is still in the sleep of Matter, entirely subconscious so as to seem wholly mechanical; the middle stage is that in which it becomes capable of a response still submental but on the verge of what we know as consciousness; the highest is that in which life develops conscious mentality in the form of a mentally perceptible sensation which in this transition becomes the basis for the development of sense-mind and intelligence. It is in the middle stage that we catch the idea of Life as distinguished from Matter and Mind, but in reality it is the same in all the stages and always a middle term between Mind and Matter, constituent of the latter and instinct with the former.
EXPLANATION
Life is essentially the same everywhere from atom to man. The atom contains the subconscious stuff and movement of being. They are released into consciousness in the animal. The plant life is a midway stage in the evolution.
Life is a universal operation of Conscious-Force (Chit-shakti). This Force acts subconsciously on and in Matter. It is the operation that creates, maintains, destroys and re-creates forms or bodies. It attempts to awake conscious sensation in those bodies by currents of interchange of stimulating energy – by play of nerve force.
In this operation there are three stages. In the lowest, the vibration is still in the sleep of Matter; it is entirely subconscious which seems wholly mechanical. In the middle stage the vibration becomes capable of a response which is still submental but on the verge of what we call as consciousness. The highest is that in which life develops conscious mentality. It becomes the basis for the development of sense-mind and intelligence.
It is in the middle stage that we catch the idea of Life as distinguished from Matter and Mind. But in reality it is the same in all the stages. Life is a constituent of Matter and is instinct with the Mind.
It is an operation of Conscious-Force which is neither the mere formation of substance nor the operation of mind with substance and form as its object of apprehension; it is rather an energising of conscious being which is a cause and support of the formation of substance and an intermediate source and support of conscious mental apprehension. Life, as this intermediate energising of conscious being, liberates into sensitive action and reaction a form of the creative force of existence which was working subconsciently or inconsciently, absorbed in its own substance; it supports and liberates into action the apprehensive consciousness of existence called mind and gives it a dynamic instrumentation so that it can work not only on its own forms but on forms of life and matter; it connects, too, and supports, as a middle term between them, the mutual commerce of the two, mind and matter.
EXPLANATION
Life is an operation of Conscious-Force. It is not a mere formation of substance. Nor is it the operation of mind with substance and form as its object of apprehension. It is rather an energising of conscious being which is a cause and support of the formation of substance. This conscious being is an intermediate source and support of conscious mental apprehension.
Life as an energising of conscious being liberates into sensitive action and reaction, a form of the creative force of existence. This was working subconsciently or inconsciently absorbed in its own substance. It supports and liberates into action the apprehensive consciousness of existence called mind. It gives mind a dynamic instrumentation so that it can work not only on its own forms but on forms of life and matter.
Life is a middle term between mind and matter. It connects and supports the mutual commerce between the two.
This means of commerce Life provides in the continual currents of her pulsating nerve-energy which carry force of the form as a sensation to modify Mind and bring back force of Mind as will to modify Matter. It is therefore this nerve-energy which we usually mean when we talk of Life; it is the Prana or Life-force of the Indian system. But nerve-energy is only the form it takes in the animal being; the same Pranic energy is present in all forms down to the atom, since everywhere it is the same in essence and everywhere it is the same operation of Conscious-Force,—Force supporting and modifying the substantial existence of its own forms, Force with sense and mind secretly active but at first involved in the form and preparing to emerge, then finally emerging from their involution. This is the whole significance of the omnipresent Life that has manifested and inhabits the material universe.
EXPLANATION
Life provides this means of commerce (between mind and matter) in the continual currents of her pulsating nerve-energy. These continual currents carry the force of the form as a sensation to modify Mind and bring back force of Mind as will to modify Matter.
Therefore, when we talk of Life, we usually mean this nerve-energy. It is the Prana or Life-force of the Indian system. But nerve-energy is only the form it takes in the animal being. The same Pranic energy is present in all forms down to the atom. Everywhere it is the same in essence and the same operation of Conscious-Force. It is the Force that supports and modifies the substantial existence of its own forms. It is the Force with sense and mind secretly active, first involved in the form and preparing to emerge; it finally emerges from their involution. This is the whole significance of omnipresent Life that has manifested and inhabits the material universe.