the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第26章
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principal medium of communication between one soul and another； how
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impersonal are the communings of his soul with itself。 How the man
turns to nature instead of to his fellowman in silent sympathy。 And how；
when he speculates upon his coming castles in the air； his most roseate
desire is to be but an indistinguishable particle of the sunset clouds and
vanish invisible as they into the starry stillness of all…embracing space。
Now what does this strange impersonality betoken？ Why are these
peoples so different from us in this most fundamental of considerations to
any people； the consideration of themselves？ The answer leads to some
interesting conclusions。
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CHAPTER 8。 Imagination。
If； as is the case with the moon； the earth； as she travelled round her
orbit turned always the same face inward； we might expect to find；
between the thoughts of that hemisphere which looked continually to the
sun； and those of the other peering eternally out at the stars； some such
difference as actually exists between ourselves and our longitudinal
antipodes。 For our conception of the cosmos is of a sunlit world
throbbing with life； while their Nirvana finds not unfit expression in the
still； cold； fathomless awe of the midnight sky。 That we cannot thus
directly account for the difference in local coloring serves but to make that
difference of more human interest。 The dissimilarity between the
Western and the Far Eastern attitude of mind has in it something beyond
the effect of environment。 For it points to the importance of the part
which the principle of individuality plays in the great drama daily enacting
before our eyes； and which we know as evolution。 It shows； as I shall
hope to prove； that individuality bears the same relation to the
development of mind that the differentiation of species does to the
evolution of organic life： that the degree of individualization of a people is
the self…recorded measure of its place in the great march of mind。
All life； whether organic or inorganic； consists； as we know； in a
change from a state of simple homogeneity to one of complex
heterogeneity。 The process is apparently the same in a nebula or a
brachiopod； although much more intricate in the latter。 The immediate
force which works this change； the life principle of things； is； in the case
of organic beings； a subtle something which we call spontaneous variation。
What this mysterious impulse may be is beyond our present powers of
recognition。 As yet； the ultimates of all things lie hidden in the womb of
the vast unknown。 But just as in the case of a man we can tell what
organs are vital； though we are ignorant what the vital spark may be； so in
our great cosmical laws we can say in what their power resides； though we
know not really what they are。 Whether mind be but a sublimated form
of matter； or； what amounts to the same thing； matter a menial kind of
mind； or whether； which seems less likely； it be a something incomparable
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with substance； of one thing we are sure； the same laws of heredity govern
both。 In each a like chain of continuity leads from the present to the dim
past； a connecting clue which we can follow backward in imagination。
Now what spontaneous variation is to the material organism； imagination；
apparently； is to the mental one。 Just as spontaneous variation is
constantly pushing the animal or the plant to push out； as a vine its tendrils；
in all directions； while natural conditions are as constantly exercising over
it a sort of unconscious pruning power； so imagination is ever at work
urging man's mind out and on； while the sentiment of the community；
commonly called common sense； which simply means the point already
reached by the average； is as steadily tending to keep it at its own level。
The environment helps； in the one case as in the other； to the shaping of
the development。 Purely physical in the first； it is both physical and
psychical in the second； the two reacting on each other。 But in either
case it is only a constraining condition； not the divine impulse itself。
Precisely； then； as in the organism； this subtle spirit checked in one
direction finds a way to advance in another； and produces in consequence
among an originally similar set of bodies a gradual separation into species
which grow wider with time； so in brain evolution a like force for like
reasons tends inevitably to an ever…increasing individualization。
Now what evidence have we that this analogy holds？ Let us look at
the facts； first as they present themselves subjectively。
The instinct of self…preservation； that guardian angel so persistent to
appear when needed； owes its summons to another instinct no less strong；
which we may call the instinct of individuality； for with the same innate
tenacity with which we severally cling to life do we hold to the idea of our
own identity。 It is not for the philosophic desire of preserving a very
small fraction of humanity at large that we take such pains to avoid
destruction； it is that we insensibly regard death as threatening to the
continuance of the ego； in spite of the theories of a future life which we
have so elaborately developed。 Indeed； the psychical shrinking is really
the quintessence of the physical fear。 We cleave to the abstract idea
closer even than to its concrete embodiment。 Sooner would we forego
this earthly existence than surrender that something we know as self。 For
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sufficient cause we can imagine courting death； we cannot conceive of so
much as exchanging our individuality for another's； still less of
abandoning it altogether； for gradually a man； as he grows older； comes to
regard his body as； after all； separable from himself。 It is the soul's
covering； rendered indispensable by the climatic conditions of our present
existence； one without which we could no longer continue to live here。
To forego it does not necessarily negative； so far as we yet know； the
possibility of living elsewhere。 Some more congenial tropic may be the
wandering spirit's fate。 But to part with the sense of self seems to be like
taking an eternal farewell of the soul。 The Western mind shrinks before
the bare idea of such a thought。
The clinging to one's own identity； then； is now an instinct； whatever it
may originally have been。 It is a something we inherited from our
ancestors and which we shall transmit more or less modified to our
descendants。 How far back this consciousness has been felt passes the
possibilities of history to determine； since the recording of it necessarily
followed the fact。 All we know is that its mention is coeval with
chronicle； and its origin lost in allegory。 The Bible； one of the oldest
written records in the world； begins with a bit of mythology of a very
significant kind。 When the Jews undertook to trace back their family tree
to an idyllic garden of Eden； they mentioned as growing there beside the
tree of life； another tree called the tree of knowledge。 Of what character
this knowledge was is inferable from the sudden self…consciousness that
followed the partaking of it。 So that if we please we may attribute
directly to Eve's indiscretion the many evils of our morbid self…
consciousness of the present day。 But without indulging in unchivalrous
reflections we may draw certain morals from it of both immediate and
ultimate applicability。
To begin with； it is a most salutary warning to the introspective； and in
the second place it is a striking instance of a myth which is not a sun myth；
for it is essentially of human regard； an attempt on man's part to explain
that most peculiar attribute of his constitution； the all…possessing sense of
self。 It looks certainly as if he was not over…proud of his person that he
should have deemed its recognition occasion for the primal curse； and
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among early races the person is for a good deal of the personality。 What
he lamented was not life but the unavoidable exertion necessary to getting
his daily bread； for the question whether life were worth while was as
futile then as now； and as inconceivable really as 4…dimensional space。
We are then conscious of individuality as a force within ourselves。 But
our knowledge by no means ends there； for we are aware of it in the case
of others as well。
About certain people there exists a subtle something which leaves its
impress indelibly upon the consciousness of all who come in contact with
them。 This something is a power； but a power of so indefinable a
description that we beg
