32 Evolution of Life and Form. 



mental forms of matter, out of which all multiplicity 

 is developed. These modifications in matter, these 

 great, or primary, elements are also called tattvas. 

 Tanmatras, then, are the powers sent out by 

 modifications of consciousness, and these are awk- 

 wardly translated by the word rudiments ; we have 

 next the modifications in matter, the great elements, 

 the primary elements, or tattvas. The first of the 

 tattvas is called A'kasha; thenVayu, then Agni, then 

 Apas, then Prithivi, the five following one after 

 the other ; the keynote of this evolution is that the 

 modification of the previous higher tattva is 

 reproduced within the lower, pervades it and ex- 

 pands outside it. If you will take the Vishnu 

 Pur ana, the second chapter, and read over again 

 the evolution of the five tattvas, you will find that 

 the Sanskrit word which is used comes from a 

 root which means to pervade as well as to enclose, 

 giving the idea of permeation as well as of expand- 

 ing around to form an envelope. And you must 

 understand that the central life of each tattva is 

 the preceding tattva with its tanmatra ; that, with 

 the new tanmatra, makes up the life ; and the 

 outer form is the new tattva that by that productive 

 action comes into existence. 



Now leaving that, for I cannot go into further 

 details, let me just say to you one word about the 



