We have now reached a most interesting point in this course of lessons, and a period of fascinating study lies before us from now until the close of the course.  We have acquainted ourselves with the fundamental principles, and will now proceed to witness these principles in active operation.  We have studied the Yogi Teachings concerning the Truth underlying all things, and shall now pass on to a consideration of the process of Cosmic Evolution; the Cyclic Laws; the Law of Spiritual Evolution, or Reincarnation; the Law of Spiritual Cause and Effect, or Karma; etc.  In this lesson we begin the story of the upward progress of the Universe, and its forms, shapes, and forces, from the point of the “moment’s pause” following the ceasing of the process of Involution—­the point at which Cosmic Evolution begins.  Our progress is now steadily upward, so far as the evolution of Individual Centres is concerned.  We shall see the principles returning to the Principle—­the centres returning to the great Centre from which they emanated during the process of Involution.  We shall study the long, gradual, but steady ascent of Man, in his journey toward god-hood.  We shall see the Building of an Universe, and the Growth of the Soul.

In our last lesson we have seen that at the dawn of a Brahmic Day, the Absolute begins the creation of a new Universe.  The Teachings inform us that in the beginning, the Absolute forms a Mental Image, or Thought-Form of an Universal Mind Principle, or Universal Mind-Stuff, as some of the teachers express it.  Then this Universal Mind Principle creates within itself the Universal Energy Principle.  Then this Universal Energy Principle creates within itself the Universal Matter Principle.  Thus, Energy is a product of Mind; and Matter a product of Energy.

The Teachings then further inform us that from the rare, tenuous, subtle form of Matter in which the Universal Matter Principle first appeared, there was produced forms of Matter less rare; and so by easy stages, and degrees, there appeared grosser and still grosser forms of matter, until finally there could be no further involution into grosser forms, and the Involutionary Process ceased.  Then ensued the “moment’s pause” of which the Yogi teachers tell us.  At that point Matter existed as much grosser that the grossest form of Matter now known to us, as the latter is when compared to the most subtle vapors known to science.  It is impossible to describe these lower forms of matter, for they have ages since disappeared from view, and we would have no words with which to describe them.  We can understand the situation only by comparisons similar to the above.

Succeeding the moment’s pause, there began the Evolutionary Process, or Cosmic Evolution, which has gone on ever since, and which will go on for ages to come.  From the grossest forms of Matter there evolved forms a little more refined, and so on and on.  From the simple elementarv forms, evolved more complex and intricate forms.  And from these forms combinations began to be formed.  And the urge was ever upward.