Evolution of Form. 155 



system, and as later, in the astral body, chakras or 

 astral centres of sensation are formed as this goes 

 on, we find a more specialised being developed 

 with definite organs. Always the organ comes 

 after the function, and through the organ the 

 function expresses itself more and more perfectly. 

 That is a fundamental principle. And do not 

 forget that in this you are on what is thought the 

 safer ground of western science. You do not find 

 an organ appearing before the development of its 

 function. You always find the life-impulse first, 

 and then the moulding of the matter into a shape 

 which enables that impulse to express itself more 

 perfectly. If we trace evolution from the amoeba 

 upwards we find differentiation and specialisation 

 becoming more marked the whole way through, 

 yet man himself turns round, and with the very 

 brain which has been formed under the vibrations 

 of intelligence he reverses the whole process, and 

 asserts that thought is produced by the brain ; but 

 every organ is formed as the organ of a function, 

 it is produced by life, and is not its creator. 



This process goes on until the necessary organs 

 are made and the nervous system is linked to the 

 chakras in the astral body, chiefly through what is 

 called the sympathetic system. There are certain 

 nervous cells of a peculiar kind in that system, of 



