The Meaning and the Method
of the Spiritual Life.
Anjirticle inthe "Theosophical Review,"
inJanuary, 1906.
fNconsideringthemeaningandthemethodof
* the spiritual life, it is well to begin by
defining the meaning of the term *'spiritual,"
for on that thereexists a good deal of uncer-
taintyamongreligious people. Weconstantly
hear people speaking of "spirit" and "soul
"
as though they were interchangeable terms.
Manhas"a body andsoul,"or"abodyand
spirit," they say, as though the two words
"spirit"and"soul"hadnodefiniteanddistinct
meaning; and naturally if the words "spirit
"
and "soul" are not clearly understood, the
term "spiritual life" must necessarily remain
confused. ButtheTheosophist,indealingwith
man,divideshiminadefiniteandscientificway
bothasregardshisconsciousnessandasregards
the vehicles through which that consciousness
manifests,and herestrictsthe useof theword
*'spirit"to that Divine in man that manifests
onthehighest planes of the universe,and that
is distinguished by its consciousness of unity.
