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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GODS.
891
matter. It is well to know that nothing but force, in some form or other, is capable of exercising restraint or of holding living beings in the condition of captivity, and that no kind of force is conceivable apart from a substance of some kind or other. The bondage of the soul must, therefore, be the bondage of matter, the only substance which is known to enter into interaction with souls, and the obtainment of freedom must consequently imply the removal of the particles of this foreign material from the constitution of the ego.
As for the principle of interaction between spirit and matter, observation shows that the soul is affected by all kinds of actions, mental, physical and those concerned with speech. This is evident from the fact that the soul takes cognizance of, that is to say becomes aware of them. But before the soul become aware of them it is necessary that they should produce a modification of its substance, that is, a characteristic change in the state of its consciousness. Hence, a modification or affection of the soul-substance is, a condition precedent to the awareness of the different kinds of actions which are performed by it. But, since no modification of the soul-substance is possible or conceivable from a distance, that is to say in the absence of a material agent reaching and making an impression on it, it is certain that there must be a substance which flows towards the soul with every thought, word and deed, modifying its condition and affecting its faculty of awareness. Now, since apart from matter there is no other substance to enter into interaction with spirit, it follows that matter flows towards the soul with every action of mind
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