Evolution of Life. 113 



wanting food and of the food which is able to change 

 that state into one of pleasure ; that is, he is now 

 able to form mental images, and these stimulate him 

 into activity. How great the change ! No less than 

 a change of the centre of consciousness from the ani- 

 mal to the human, one of the most significant changes 

 in the evolving life. Now, for the first time, he 

 does not wait to be pushed from without. He begins 

 action from within, and the body obeys the impulse 

 that comes from the centre, instead of the impact that 

 strikes the centre from without. Now evolution be- 

 comes more rapid, for as this great change, one of the 

 hardest of changes, is made, the intellect in man 

 begins to cognise itself, and Self-consciousness 

 begins to arise. Separation is recognised between 

 its own centre, that thinks, and the things outside 

 that make it think ; the " I " and the " Not-I " arise, 

 and the centre begins to shape itself and to be 

 capable of growth. 



How shall the growth go on ? By conflict. This 

 is the characteristic of the intellect. It has to make 

 the " I " a strong centre, a separate centre, other- 

 wise no further evolution is possible. You may say 

 that this looks like going downwards ; nay, it is the 

 germ of a new centre of life in which Divinity it- 

 self shall unfold when evolution is complete. There 

 must be a clearly defined centre of consciousness, 



H 



