Egohood

<p>And now for a consideration of those who have attained

Egohood. Is their Destiny and Progress assured? you ask. Not at all! They have simply begun to climb the ladder of Spiritual Evolution. They will mount as far as their desire and will—not a step further. They may tire of the climbing and begin a retreat. The law of Spiritual Survival of the Fittest has many phases; many planes; many stages—it is operative from first to last during the life of the Ego.</p>

<p>

Let us suppose the case of an Ego which has not as yet reached the plane of conscious Rebirth. The Ego dwells for many years on the Astral Plane (see future lessons) and lives out &nbsp;personal desires, and profits by its experience in so doing, for the “I” is there to learn and remember—for it has the faculty of Egohood, that of “standing aside and looking on at one’s self.” Gradually the personal desires and ideas are outlived, and the essence of the experience is retained by the Ego, the latter then

feeling a sense of “age” and a need for rest. This is followed by the Astral Sleep, which sooner or later comes to all entities on the Astral Plane, but from which the Egoless fail to emerge, and from which they are resolved into Nothingness. But the Ego,

having an “I” above Personality, has something to survive, and accordingly it is drawn into the channels of Rebirth, according to the currents of attraction, and again finds a physical body,

this time suited as nearly as possible to the requirements of its “character.” Then begins its new life on the physical, which may be long or short. Sometimes the new body is not found fully

adapted to the growing requirements of the Ego—sometimes sickness or accidents cut short the new life—and sometimes the needed experience is gained quickly—and the Ego again passes to the Astral Plane, there to enjoy a period of rest and

spiritual growth and assimilation, which will be manifested in a new birth later on.</p>