lectures16+17-第6节
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the morning； and the beauty of the hills and valleys； I soon lost
my sense of sadness and regret。 For nearly an hour I walked
along the road to the 'Cat and Fiddle；' and then returned。 On
the way back； suddenly； without warning； I felt that I was in
Heavenan inward state of peace and joy and assurance
indescribably intense； accompanied with a sense of being bathed
in a warm glow of light； as though the external condition had
brought about the internal effecta feeling of having passed
beyond the body； though the scene around me stood out more
clearly and as if nearer to me than before； by reason of the
illumination in the midst of which I seemed to be placed。 This
deep emotion lasted； though with decreasing strength； until I
reached home； and for some time after； only gradually passing
away。〃
The writer adds that having had further experiences of a similar
sort； he now knows them well。
〃The spiritual life；〃 he writes； 〃justifies itself to those who
live it； but what can we say to those who do not understand？
This； at least； we can say； that it is a life whose experiences
are proved real to their possessor； because they remain with him
when brought closest into contact with the objective realities of
life。 Dreams cannot stand this test。 We wake from them to find
that they are but dreams。 Wanderings of an overwrought brain do
not stand this test。 These highest experiences that I have had
of God's presence have been rare and briefflashes of
consciousness which have compelled me to exclaim with
surpriseGod is HERE！or conditions of exaltation and insight；
less intense； and only gradually passing away。 I have severely
questioned the worth of these moments。 To no soul have I named
them； lest I should be building my life and work on mere
phantasies of the brain。 But I find that； after every
questioning and test； they stand out to…day as the most real
experiences of my life； and experiences which have explained and
justified and unified all past experiences and all past growth。
Indeed； their reality and their far…reaching significance are
ever becoming more clear and evident。 When they came； I was
living the fullest； strongest； sanest； deepest life。 I was not
seeking them。 What I was seeking； with resolute determination；
was to live more intensely my own life； as against what I knew
would be the adverse judgment of the world。 It was in the most
real seasons that the Real Presence came； and I was aware that I
was immersed in the infinite ocean of God。〃＇242＇
＇242＇ Op。 cit。； pp。 256； 257； abridged。
Even the least mystical of you must by this time be convinced of
the existence of mystical moments as states of consciousness of
an entirely specific quality； and of the deep impression which
they make on those who have them。 A Canadian psychiatrist； Dr。
R。 M。 Bucke； gives to the more distinctly characterized of these
phenomena the name of cosmic consciousness。 〃Cosmic
consciousness in its more striking instances is not；〃 Dr。 Bucke
says； 〃simply an expansion or extension of the self…conscious
mind with which we are all familiar； but the superaddition of a
function as distinct from any possessed by the average man as
SELF…consciousness is distinct from any function possessed by one
of the higher animals。〃
〃The prime characteristic of cosmic consciousness is a
consciousness of the cosmos； that is； of the life and order of
the universe。 Along with the consciousness of the cosmos there
occurs an intellectual enlightenment which alone would place the
individual on a new plane of existencewould make him almost a
member of a new species。 To this is added a state of moral
exaltation； an indescribable feeling of elevation； elation； and
joyousness； and a quickening of the moral sense； which is fully
as striking； and more important than is the enhanced intellectual
power。 With these come what may be called a sense of
immortality； a consciousness of eternal life； not a conviction
that he shall have this； but the consciousness that he has it
already。〃＇243＇
＇243＇ Cosmic Consciousness： a study in the evolution of the
human Mind； Philadelphia； 1901； p。 2。
It was Dr。 Bucke's own experience of a typical onset of cosmic
consciousness in his own person which led him to investigate it
in others。 He has printed his conclusions In a highly
interesting volume； from which I take the following account of
what occurred to him：
〃I had spent the evening in a great city； with two friends；
reading and discussing poetry and philosophy。 We parted at
midnight。 I had a long drive in a hansom to my lodging。 My
mind； deeply under the influence of the ideas； images； and
emotions called up by the reading and talk； was calm and
peaceful。 I was in a state of quiet； almost passive enjoyment；
not actually thinking； but letting ideas； images； and emotions
flow of themselves； as it were； through my mind。 All at once；
without warning of any kind； I found myself wrapped in a
flame…colored cloud。 For an instant I thought of fire； an
immense conflagration somewhere close by in that great city； the
next； I knew that the fire was within myself。 Directly afterward
there came upon me a sense of exultation； of immense joyousness
accompanied or immediately followed by an intellectual
illumination impossible to describe。 Among other things； I did
not merely come to believe； but I saw that the universe is not
composed of dead matter； but is； on the contrary； a living
Presence； I became conscious in myself of eternal life。 It was
not a conviction that I would have eternal life； but a
consciousness that I possessed eternal life then； I saw that all
men are immortal； that the cosmic order is such that without any
peradventure all things work together for the good of each and
all； that the foundation principle of the world； of all the
worlds； is what we call love； and that the happiness of each and
all is in the long run absolutely certain。 The vision
lasted a few seconds and was gone； but the memory of it and the
sense of the reality of what it taught has remained during the
quarter of a century which has since elapsed。 I knew that what
the vision showed was true。 I had attained to a point of view
from which I saw that it must be true。 That view； that
conviction； I may say that consciousness； has never； even during
periods of the deepest depression； been lost。〃＇244＇
＇244＇ Loc。 cit。； pp。 7； 8。 My quotation follows the privately
printed pamphlet which preceded Dr。 Bucke's larger work； and
differs verbally a little from the text of the latter。
We have now seen enough of this cosmic or mystic consciousness；
as it comes sporadically。 We must next pass to its methodical
cultivation as an element of the religious life。 Hindus；
Buddhists； Mohammedans； and Christians all have cultivated it
methodically。
In India； training in mystical insight has been known from time
immemorial under the name of yoga。 Yoga means the experimental
union of the individual with the divine。 It is based on
persevering exercise； and the diet； posture； breathing；
intellectual concentration； and moral discipline vary slightly in
the different systems which teach it。 The yogi； or disciple； who
has by these means overcome the obscurations of his lower nature
sufficiently； enters into the condition termed samadhi； 〃and
comes face to face with facts which no instinct or reason can
ever know。〃 He learns
〃That the mind itself has a higher state of existence； beyond
reason； a superconscious state； and that when the mind gets to
that higher state； then this knowledge beyond reasoning comes。 。
。 。 All the different steps in yoga are intended to bring us
scientifically to the superconscious state or Samadhi。 。 。 。
Just as unconscious work is beneath consciousness； so there is
another work which is above consciousness； and which； also； is
not accompanied with the feeling of egoism 。 。 。 。 There is no
feeling of I； and yet the mind works； desireless； free from
restlessness； objectless； bodiless。 Then the Truth shines in its
full effulgence； and we know ourselvesfor Samadhi lies
potential in us allfor what we truly are； free； immortal；
omnipotent； loosed from the finite； and its contrasts of good and
evil altogether； and
