On Some Difficultiesof the Inner Life. 33
outer world will vary with each wire. In a
platinumwireitmayappear aslight,inaniron
one as heat, round a bar of softiron asmag-
netic energy, led into a solution as a power
that decomposes and recombines. One single
energyispresent,yetmanymodesof itappear,
for the manifestation of life is always con-
ditioned by its forms, and as consciousness
works in the causal,mental,astral or physical
body, the resulting "I" presentsverydifferent
characteristics. Accordingtothevehiclewhich,
forthe time being,itisvitalising,sowillbethe
conscious "I." If it isworking in the astral
body it willbe the "I" of the senses; if in
the mental, it will be the "I" of the intel-
lect. Byillusion,blinded bythe material that
enwraps it, it identifies itself with the craving
ofthesenses,thereasoningoftheintellect,and
cries,"I want,""I think." Thenaturewhich
isdevelopingthe germsof blissandknowledge
istheeternalMan, andistherootofsensations
andthoughts; butthesesensationsandthoughts
themselves are only the transitory activities inhis outer bodies, set upby the contact of his
life with the outer life, of the Self with the