Evolution of Life. 101 



is now occurring is carried on and directed by other 

 aspects of God. 



Sometimes in theosophical literature, that vivifi- 

 cation and building up of matter is spoken of 

 as the work of the first great life-wave in the 

 solar system ; as a wave rolling forth so does 

 the life of God go forth for the building of the 

 atoms whereof the system is to be composed. 

 The critical point is this : that the life is veiled 

 over and over again in a five-fold involution ; 

 we find it said that Prana five-fold divides itself, 

 for five are the types of the atoms, five are the great 

 divisions of the materials, and in each successive 

 type, the previous type permeates and encloses it, 

 as we found we could read in the Vishnu Purdna, 

 dealing with the building up of the tattvas. (It will 

 be remembered that the types are really seven, but 

 that two are concealed.) One important result 

 comes from this which I will deal with more fully 

 to-morrow, that the form being built up from 

 matter containing within it this involved and con- 

 cealed life has the power of unfolding to the 

 highest possibility of the life thus concealed. 

 Sheath after sheath is made in order that sheath 

 after sheath may be brought into activity as a 

 vehicle of the Self, and that five-fold ensheathing 

 for the human Self is wrought in order that it 



