146 Evolution of Life and Form. 



word, a dawn of mental quality. That life in the 

 tree responds to the vibrations received from outside, 

 of cold and heat, of wind and rain, of sunshine and 

 storm, and as the physical sheath is built up and 

 developed by the action of the Devas working upon 

 it, the etheric matter in it is continually thrown into 

 vibration by the changes in temperature, light, and 

 electrical conditions. The vibrations in the ethers 

 that enter into the physical body are passed on to 

 the atomic sub-plane, and as the atoms of the physi- 

 cal plane have their spirals made of the coarsest 

 matter of the plane of Apas, or astral matter, a slight 

 quivering is caused in that coarsest matter of the 

 astral plane, and that sets up a little movement in 

 the tree, responded to by the indwelling life by 

 sensation, a massive and general feeling of pleasure 

 or pain. 



Have you never walked through a forest, and 

 felt as though all nature were enjoying the sunshine? 

 This sensation of pleasure is shown still more 

 strikingly when the hot season comes to its ending, 

 and the first rains fall on the thirsty ground, and the 

 well-nigh withering vegetation sends out a conscious 

 thrill of joy and life renewed. The very trees and 

 bushes rejoice as the rain comes down upon them 

 with its message of life and of hope. At such 

 moments we recognise that the vegetable world is 



