266 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



force. We have found correspondence of the 

 Tattvas from Prithivi to Akdsha with five of the 

 human sheaths, but there are seven sheaths. The 

 logical mind at once demands : Are there not then 

 seven Tattvas? 



Yes, or no, according to the definition we give 

 the word. If we restrict it to " an elemental con- 

 dition of matter," there are but five; if we adhere 

 to our higher signification, " a form of motion," 

 that is, force within substance, there are seven. In 

 the Upanishads, emphasis is everywhere given to 

 the " five elements," and when a sixth principle is 

 mentioned, it is consciousness or understanding. 

 If seven are enumerated, both of these faculties are 

 included. Thus power of choosing and directing 

 is always implied. In the Dharma Shastra this 

 explicit statement is made: " With the minute par- 

 ticles of the five perishable elements, every exist- 

 ing thing has been formed in its sequence and or- 

 der." Who or what is the Former? The high- 

 est Principle. This is a very clear distinction 

 which should be kept in mind. 



Intuitionally we know there must be seven forces 

 corresponding with the seven sheaths; so we seek 

 to identify the two upper sheaths with what the 

 fine inner sense has foreseen, the Omnipresent 

 Spirit, Atma, and its individualized ray, the human 

 soul, the forces behind all force, and penetrat- 

 ing all. Thus, the sixth and seventh Tattvas cor- 



