C. J. Van Vliet - The Coiled Serpent

"Evolution if... the triumph of human qualities over animal qualities." Kropotkin, Ethics, x,a54*

Whether or not the materialistic theories about it are in every way correct, evolution is a fundamental element in life. 1 It is a change forward and upward*, an advancing from the imperfect to the perfect.* Many however mistake the growth of our civilization for evolutionary progress and think of these two processes as being synonymous. But they are neither equivalent nor always parallel.

Evolution brings with it a proportionate degree of true civilization. But civilization as we know it is not in every respect the outcome of evolution. Our civilization is largely the result of an exclusive development of mind, of a onesided attention to matter and to material life at the cost of spiritual development. High mental efficiency is only then a characteristic of harmonious evolution when it concurs with commensurate spiritual unfoldment. Evolution will then not only make man scientific, but by letting his unfolding faculties find expression through a spiritualized mind it will make him approach omniscience.

Overdeveloped brain power however, applied exclusively to material science, is as little a natural concomitant of or an aid to allround evolutionary growth as are overdeveloped muscles. Therefore most of the remarkable intellects of this day and most of the modem inventors with their astounding accomplishments can not be considered to be products of normal evolution. They are more like hothouse products of an abnormal civilization. They are the outcome of a forced and artificial growth of lopsided qualities, carried on through many generations. They are in the human kingdom what exceptionally trained animals are in the sub-human. They are no samples of evolutionary growth toward the superhuman. 4

Civilization as it is distinctly constitutes a hindrance to spiritual unfoldment. In its concentration on materialistic and mental achievements it neglects and suppresses the inner development of man. It antagonizes the higher expression of the life force which evolution seeks to bring about.

It is for this reason that our present civilization is on its way to follow the fate of most preceding civilizations. They reached a high state of mental development and of material well-being. Then, when their materialism together with its attendant lack of morality nullified their value in the evolutionary scheme by antagonizing the unfoldment of the spiritual element, they were inexorably destroyed.

Total destruction of our own civilization can be prevented only if cognizance is taken of the spiritual demands of evolution.

Evolution is natures process of allowing the latent qualities of the life force to come gradually into perfect manifestation. For this purpose she constructs ever more suitable, more responsive, more delicate living instruments through which to express always more of her own innermost being, more of that unfathomable element which we call spirit

In the simplest physical forms of the mineral kingdom nature can only manifest what seems to us unconscious existence. In the plants which rise above the minerals, out of and above the ground the life force stirs and shows a consciousness of sentient living. In the animals which might be called uprooted plants, growing by motion and by emotion above the animal kingdom life expresses itself in instinctive consciousness. In present humanity grown mentally above the animals lifes energy displays itself in a conscious realization of self-consciousness.

Could this rudimental humanity as it now is be the climax of the evolutionary scheme? Of course not. Man as we know him is by no means the highest creature that will be evolved. 8 There is not the slightest reason for supposing that the powers... which we human beings happen to possess are the highest of which this planet is capable.* Progress is the law of life, man is not Man as yet. 7 The process of progress must continue until nature can perfectly reveal its highest powers in a perfected instrument. A superhumanity must be developed which realizes an untrammeled expression of spiritual consciousness.

At the primitive human stage there came a change in the evolutionary method.

Pre-human progress was involuntary. But human progress can be willed 8 nay, it must be willed. So far growth had been regular and automatic, unopposed. It might have continued thus if man (that is: the human species) had not used self-consciousness to foster self-indulgence and sensuality. He thereby set up an impediment which he himself must again undo by self-chosen, willing effort. Instead of continuing mechanically from without, growth has become an accomplishment that must be aided from within. Further evolution... will result solely from conscious efforts towards growth.* It can be achieved only through persistent self-exertion. Henceforth man, not striving toward evolution... not helping it, will not evolve. And the individual who is not evolving... goes down, degenerates... This is the general law. 1 *

The choice is mans. Will he successfully progress toward the succeeding stage of fully spiritualized humanity, and finally to that of divinized superhumanity, then he must with self-determination overcome the obstacles to growth.

"Divinity is in us; animality hampers and constricts it, stunting our growth. 11 Especially sexual activity weakens man ... in his most essential, his spiritual expression. 18 If the race is to progress ... it must somehow become

- less sexual 18 ; for even the potentiality of a higher spiritual life ... is endangered by fleshly lust. 14

Human evolution cannot proceed unless man sets himself to the task of overcoming the passions which obstruct

- his spiritual unfoldment. He who shall attain to perfection must be one who... has courage to be absolutely chaste. 18

* * *

1 Kellogg, Human Life, 133.

* Same as *, 133.

3 Hegel, Philosophy of History, 108.

4 See Ch. Ixxxvii, Supermen.

5 Kingsley; quoted in: Spencer, Autobiography, I, xxiii, 47a.

Wells and Huxley, The Science of Life, III, v, 418.

T Browning, Paracelsus, V, 741-2.

8 Radhakrishnan, Philosophy in the History of Civilization; in: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress of Philosophy, 548.

8 Ouspensky, Tertium Organum, xxiii, 322.

10 Same as 9 , xxiii, 322.

11 Papini, Life of Christ, 123.

13 Tolstoi, Works, XVIII, 470.

13 Ingram, The Modern Attitude, iii, 39.

14 Solovyof, Justification of the Good, I, ii, 47.

15 Kings ford. The Perfect Way, viii, 221.

'The strength of the sexual appetite ... is unquestionably the great obstacle to the improvement of the race'

Newton, The Better Way, 15.

Human evolution has been at a standstill for many thousands of years. As far as we can look back into history and compare ourselves with the human elements of ancient civilizations, no evolutionary progress is noticeable. Our bodies have, if anything, deteriorated. Human qualities have not improved. Character, emotions, and motives for action have remained very much the same. Our materials for knowledge have increased, but not our intellectual capacity . 1 The intellectual power of our brainiest contemporaries does not surpass that of a Homer or a Hermes, or of purported Atlantean illuminati. Of any thing beyond intellect there still occurs only sporadically no more than an almost negligible indication.

Since we can trace no noticeable advance in human evolution within a measurable period, it may well be presumed that at some time in the past a seemingly insurmountable obstacle has been erected which has checked our evolution. Some powerful factor must have prevented the life force from rising to new and higher outlets.