While the involutionary process was accomplished by physical principles alone, acting as chemical and mechanical manifestations of the dynamic laws established by the Absolute, the upward movement of evolution was begun by a tendency toward individualization. From electrons to atoms; from atoms to molecules; from molecules to stars and planets; from planets to cells and living matter; from cells to plants, animals, and human beings; the process has continued unbroken since the beginning. Its efforts have been to perfect individual forms and to build upon them higher and higher refinements, until a stage was reached where a form was created that was worthy of being occupied by the Self-conscious expression of the Divine Spirit, humankind.

We shall pass over the billions of centuries of cosmic evolution that was necessary for matter to evolve into finer and finer vibrational forms, which could fill an entire volume by itself, until matter finally reached a point that was capable of supporting life. Of course, there is Life in all things, even the smallest atomic particle. But, here, I refer to what is generally known as living creatures. And, these first microscopic creatures were little more than "living crystals" which developed in the cooling oceans of a previously molten planet, third from the sun.

In the slimy beds of the polar seas, simple single-celled life first appeared, thrived and multiplied. From these simple cells were evolved other, more complex forms, composed of large groupings of such cells. And, from these clusters of cells evolved even more complex and higher life forms, one form surpassing and replacing another, and so on, ever in an unbroken and upward spiral.

Every living thing is composed of a multitude of single cells, and each of these colony creatures originates from just a single cell that rapidly multiplies and reproduces itself. In the early stages of life, however, it is often difficult to distinguish between the plant and animal forms. In fact, a few of the earlier forms to evolve may even be classified as both. But, as Life ascended the evolutionary ladder, there was a definite split between the two.

The plant kingdom began with simple sea weeds, and passed on to fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, pines, grasses, trees, shrubs, and herbs. The animal kingdom began with the single-celled monera, and passed on to the amoeba, foraminifera, polycystina, sponges, coral, anemones, jelly-fish, starfish, worms, crabs, spiders, centipedes, insects, mollusks, snails, and other invertebrates. Then, there came the development of the thousands of forms of vertebrate fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, including humans.

From simple monera to human being is a long journey, but it is not a single path. The Mystic Masters teach us that not only are the physical forms subject to the urgings of evolution, but that the Souls embodied in the human physical form are subject to the same evolutionary process. Nature finds it necessary, therefore, to evolve higher and higher forms for these advancing Souls to occupy. Behind it all, though, is the Creative Will of the Absolute.

The human Soul was created in God’s own image; omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. It did not evolve from a plant form, or even a lower animal form. While it is true that the physical bodies, which we all occupy, are animal life forms, the human Soul is an individualized consciousness and intellect, not just an individualized life, like the lower animal and plant forms. There is a significant distinction here.

Plants and animals, although they possess life and a certain degree of mind, and act as individuals during their brief existence, have no permanent individuality. When they die, they dissolve and resolve themselves back into Nature. Their lives as individuals cease and any personal experiences which they accumulate becomes the property of the collective principle underlying their existence. It is something like an enormous tree, resolved into millions of tiny branches and twigs. Each branch and twig acquires a certain amount of sunlight, carbon dioxide and other nutrients, which becomes the property of the entire tree. Subsequent branches and twigs will also carry aloft an amount of this matter, as well as returning new material and nutrients to the tree. This process, continued for many generations, will lead to the evolution of the species.

Plants and animals are not permanent individualized souls. But, each family is a group soul, which corresponds to the tree from which the branches and twigs arose. Humans, on the other hand, are permanently individualized Souls. They possess Self awareness, as opposed to the body-consciousness of lower life forms. This is one of the greatest lines of demarcation between humans and animals.

The first incarnated Souls on this planet inhabited bodies only slightly removed from those of the lower animals. But, these new human beings began to shape and mold their physical forms and intellectual faculties. Each generation displayed a marked improvement over the preceding generation, developing more perfect bodies to meet the growing demands of the evolving Souls.

Sometime during the last two thousand years, the development of consciousness made physical evolution unnecessary for human beings. We were now able to consciously control the course of our own destiny and the direction of any physical changes to our own bodies.

Up to the point that the first human Souls appeared on the planet, however, it had been an evolution of physical form only, but now began the evolution of the Soul. And, this new process became possible only by the "recycling" of the individualized Souls through reimbodiment, or the process of reincarnation. The actual term for this metaphysical process, one which I prefer to use so as not to have the concept mistaken for the silly belief that one must come back as a goat or a chicken, is metempsychosis. Simply stated, this term implies that a human Soul will always inhabit a material form that is capable of expressing the spiritual, intellectual and moral essence of a human being. The Soul is not punished and forced to inhabit an inferior vehicle, nor is it a matter of progressing from a lower form to a higher one. A human Soul will always incarnate in a human body. We did not start out as reptiles or amphibians and evolve into human beings, although our physical form did just that. We, as spiritual duplicates of the Absolute, could not inhabit fleshly forms until they had evolved sufficiently to express the highest possible manifestation of our Existence.

This doctrine was held as truth by such ancient cultures as the druids, Aztec, Maya, Hebrew, gnostic Christians, and the philosophers of Rome and Greece, such as Plato, Virgil, Ovid, Aristotle, Empedocles, and Pythagoras. It formed the cornerstone of all Oriental philosophy, theology and thought.

Despite the protestations of many so-called religious leaders of today, the belief in metempsychosis is spreading in the western world... at a rapid rate. But, it is most definitely not an anti-Christian belief. In fact, the original biblical writings contained much about it. Such ideas, however, were condemned by the Second Council of Constantinople in 533 A.D. and removed from Christian print.

This view of Life, as a continuous journey of the Soul, gives one an entirely new perspective and attitude. No longer does one need to identify with the "costume of flesh" and see its demise as the end of the Self, or even of earthly existence. The body is suddenly seen as merely a garment, put on at birth and removed at death. But, like an expensive suit of clothes, it is to be prized and lovingly cared for.

As evolving Souls make more rapid progress, dropping sheath after sheath of the matter that wraps their consciousness and blinds them to their relationship with the Absolute, they will require fewer and fewer incarnations. They may spend a much longer period of time resting, studying and contemplating the lessons and meaning of their last incarnation, while existing upon the higher planes of Existence. But, sooner or later, every Soul feels the desire to gain new physical experiences and falls into a kind of pleasant sleep. Then, they "die" to the level upon which they have been living and are "born" into a new earthly life.

A Soul does not fully awaken from its sleep at the moment of birth. It exists in a vague, dream-like state for most of its life. The clouded mind does not recall anything of the lives which it has lived before. In some cases, however, the evolving and awakening consciousness remembers a few details of its previous existence. This often happens in the case of child prodigies or geniuses. Mozart, for example, was not only able to perform difficult pieces on the piano by the ripe old age of four, but actually composed original works superior to those of men who had devoted their entire lives to the study of music. Heredity and environment cannot explain such genius. The only explanation is that he merely picked up his studies from where he had left off in a previous life.

How often have you, yourself, taken up a particular course of study and felt as if you were merely reviewing information that you had acquired somewhere else, perhaps in another lifetime? Do you now, as you read this book, feel that you already know what is coming up next, long before you turn the page?

The present stage of our spiritual evolution is a critical one. We are only just beginning to understand the great Mystical questions before us, and we cannot hope to ever find the answers to any of these questions until we comprehend the nature of the inquiry itself. However, this awareness has created a kind of philosophical battle between the forces of materialism and spirituality. But, the outcome is not a matter of chance. The higher evolutionary dynamic will always vanquish the lower.

As we evolve on to higher and higher planes of existence, we will incarnate into bodies far more refined and ethereal than the ones we inhabit today, just as the bodies we used in the past were coarser and grosser than the ones we dwell in currently. The form itself may not change much, unless we consciously bring about such change, but the vibrational quality of the atomic structure of our bodies will keep pace with the evolving manifestation of our conscious minds and Souls.

Increased wisdom brings with it increased responsibilities. As the Soul evolves, it is given greater and greater opportunity to choose between Good and Evil. Ancient civilizations were not sufficiently developed enough to exercise this power of conscious decision. But, as the Souls evolved and advanced, they attained greater powers and responsibilities. This has resulted in our modern civilization, a paradox of great spiritual heights and pathetic material lows.