94 THE DOCTRINE OF ENERGY 



the Energy related to my Will the exertion of 

 which is necessary to translate Volition into an 

 overt result is a limited and quantifiable thing, but 

 that such a hidden energetic medium or sub- 

 stratum underlies all phenomena is evident from the 

 fact that I do not will directly the appearance of 

 any given phenomenon. I may wish that. But 

 when the Volition is reached and the wish trans- 

 formed into overt exertion I find myself involved in 

 the multifarious processes of an energetic system 

 which I may so far influence, but which is neverthe- 

 less in many ways constantly going on irrespective 

 of my Volition. I may wish to avoid pain and may 

 will certain exertions with that view, but the conse- 

 quences may be the reverse of what I wished. This 

 shows that the Volition operates immediately not 

 on the sensation but on the energetic system. 



In all cases between Volition and overt result 

 there seems to be erected and constantly maintained 

 around me a vast energetic system, a part but 

 only a small part of which, namely the Energy of 

 my organism, can be influenced directly by my 

 Will, whilst, even in immediate relation with that 

 part, transmutations beyond the reach of my 

 Will are constantly going on. Indeed, what 

 fundamentally distinguishes Volition from Desire 

 is its relation to the energetic system. 



