THE SECRET DOCTRINE OF THE ROSICRUCIANS/PART 11

 

PART XI.

THE SOUL'S PROGRESS

A very  important  point  in  the  Rosicrucian  teaching is  that  in  which we are  informed  that  the evolution  of  man  is  not  confined  to this  planet,  the earth,  but  rather  is  extended  to a  chain  of  seven  planets.  The Rosicrucians  teach  that  the evolutionary processes  of  this  planet  are linked  with and  blended  into the evolutionary  processes  of  six  other planets;  and that  life  on this  planet  is  likewise  linked with  and  blended into the life on  the six  other  planets  of  our  planetary  chain.

The Rosicrucians teach that these seven planets of our  planetary  chain are closely linked  and  connected  by subtle etheric  forces,  and  that  there is  a  constant  etheric  current  passing from  one to the others  and  flowing ever  through the entire circuit. These connected planets  constitute the chain of  worlds which  is  the series  of  homes  of  the individual soul,  and the  circuit  of which  is travelled by all  individual  souls.  Not  only does each individual soul now  on  earth reincarnate  a  number  of  times  on  this planet,  but  in  the  course of  the ages  it  progresses  to the  next  highest planet,  just  as  in  ages  past  it  has  progressed  from  the next  lowest  one. And this  round  of  the chain  of  planets  has  been  made several  times  by the human  race  in  some form  of  existence,  and  will be  made again several  times.

The planets  of  this  chain  of  worlds  are not  identical  in  composition  and nature with the earth;  on  the  contrary  there is a  wide difference between the several planets  in  this  respect.  The earth is  not  the highest  in development  in  this  chain,  but  on  the  contrary is  far  down  on  the  scale, although  there are  others  still lower.  The progress  of  the souls  around this chain  of worlds,  however,  is not  merely like  a  circle  in  which  the  soul travels  from  the lowest  to  the highest,  but  is  rather  according to the plan of the  spiral,  in  which the journey  always  returns  to the  starting  point, but  on  a  higher  plane of  activity.

This  journey of  the life forms  from  world  to world  has  been  in  progress since the beginning of  the present  world  period,  and  was  made  by the lower  forms of life  as they  climbed  the spiral  stairway  of  evolution.  A writer  on  the subject  has  said  of this point: "It is the spiral character of the progress  accomplished  by the life  impulses  that  develop  the various kingdoms of  Nature which accounts  for  the gaps  now  observed  in  the animated  forms  which people the earth.  The thread  of  a  screw,  which is  a uniform  inclined plane  in  reality,  looks like  a succession of steps when examined only  along one line parallel to its  axis.  The spiritual  monads, which are  coming round  the  system  on  the animal level,  pass  on  to other worlds  when  they have performed  their  turn  of  animal  incarnation  here. By the time they come again, they are ready for human  incarnation,  and there is  no necessity  now  for  the upward  development  of  animal forms into human  forms—these  are  already  waiting  for their spiritual  tenants. But  if  we  go back  far enough, we come to a  period  at  which there were no human forms  ready  developed  on  the earth.  When  spiritual  monads, travelling on  the earliest  or  lowest  human  level,  were thus  beginning  to come round,  their  onward  pressure in  a  world  at  that  time containing none but  animal forms  provoked  the improvement  of  the  highest  of  these into the  required  form—the  much talked  of  missing link.  *  *  *  The impulse  to the new  evolution  of  higher  forms  is  really given  by  rushes  of spiritual  monads coming round the cycle in a state fit  for  the inhabitation of new forms. These superior life impulses  burst the  chrysalis  of  the  older  form  on  the planet they invade, and throw off an efflorescence of something higher. The forms which have gone on merely repeating themselves for millenniums start  afresh into growth; with  relative rapidity they  rise through  the intermediate into the higher forms,  and  then,  as  these in  turn  are  multiplied  with  the vigor  and rapidity of all new growths, they  supply tenements of flesh  for  the spiritual  entities  coming round on that stage or plane of existence, and for the intermediate forms  there are  no longer  any  tenants  offering. Inevitably they become extinct."

The writer above quoted from  also  points  out  a  very  important point in the  progress of the  life  forms  from  world to  world,  as follows: "The tide of life—the wave  of  existence,  the  spiritual  impulse,  call  it  by  what  name we please—passes  on  from  planet to planet by rushes, or gushes, not by an  even  continuous  flow.  For  the  momentary  purpose of  illustrating the idea  in  hand,  the process  may be compared  to  the filling of  a  series  of holes  or  tubs  sunk  in  the ground,  such as  may sometimes  be seen  at  the mouths  of feeble  springs,  and connected with  each  other  by little  surface channels.  The stream  from  the spring,  as  it  flows,  is  gathered  up  entirely in  the  beginning by  the first  hole,  or  tub  A,  and  it  is  only when  this  is quite full  that  the continued  inpouring  of  water  from  the spring causes that  which it  already  contains  to overflow  into  tub B.  This  in  turn  fills and  overflows  along the channel  which leads  to  tub  C,  and  so on.  *  *  *  It is  manifest  from  what  we have already  said,  and  in  order that  the progress  of  organisms  on  globe A  shall be  accounted  for,  that  the mineral kingdom  will develop  the vegetable kingdom  on  globe A  until it receives  an  impulse from  without,  than  the earth was  able to develop man from  the ape till it  received  an  impulse from  without.  *  *  *  The full development of the  mineral  epoch on  globe A  prepares  the way for  the vegetable  development,  and  as  soon  as  this  begins  the  mineral life impulse overflows  into globe  B.  Then  when  the vegetable  development on  globe A  is  complete,  and  the animal development  begins,  the vegetable  life impulse overflows  to globe B,  and  the mineral impulse passes  on  to globe  C.  Then  finally,  comes  the human  impulse on  globe A. It is necessary  at  this  point  to guard  against  one misconception  that might  arise.  There is  a  fact  to be stated  which has  such an  influence on the course of  events,  that,  when  it  is  realized,  it  will be seen  that  the life impulse  has passed several  times around the whole chain of worlds before the commencement  of  the human  impulse on  globe A. This fact  is as follows: Each kingdom of evolution,  vegetable,  animal,  and so  on,  is divided into  several spiral layers. The spiritual  monads—the  individual atoms  of  that  immense life impulse of  which so much has  been  said—do not  fully complete their  mineral  existence on  globe A,  then  complete it on  globe B,  and  so  on.  They pass  several  times  round  the  whole circle as minerals,  and  then  again  several  times  round  as  vegetables,  and  several times  as  animals."

Now,  leaving behind  us  the consideration  of  the details  of  the progress  of the lower  live forms,  let  us  consider  the details  of  the progress  of  the human race.  It  has  been  seen  that  the great  wave of  human  life forms flows  around  the planetary  chain  in  great  waves—in successive waves of progress. The  successive  waves are  known by occultists  under  the  name of  "rounds."  But,  according  to the  rule "As  in  the great  so in  the small," we find a corresponding series  of  spirals  in  the  progress  of  the human race during each of  its  several  sojourns  on  the earth.  That  is  to  say,  an individual soul arriving on  earth in  one of  the rounds  does  not  merely live out  its  life here,  and  then  pass  on  to the next  planet.  On  the contrary, it  lives  a  number  of  lives  on  this  planet,  and  among several  races.  There exists  a spiral of  races  in  earth life,  through which the individual  soul must  live and  work  its  way.  The number  of  these races  is  of  course seven, for  seven  is  the number  manifested  in  all  of  the great  occult  processes  of the Cosmos.  There are seven  great  rounds  of  human  progress  around  the chain  of  worlds,  and  in  each round  there are seven  races  in  which the individual soul must  manifest.  The present  round  of  the human  race is the fourth.

Each of  the seven  races  of  the present  (fourth)  round  of  the race occupies the earth  for  a  great  period  of  time.  The majority of  the human  race now on  earth  belong to the fifth race, though there are some stragglers  from the fourth race still  dwelling on  earth.  Each of  these seven  great  races  of humanity  are  sub-divided into  seven  sub-races  and  each  sub-race  is divided  into seven  branches.

The period  during  which each great  root  race of  the human  race flourishes  on  earth  is  sharply  marked  off  from  that  of  the one succeeding it  by  great  convulsions of Nature  which  destroy  practically  all traces of the  preceding  civilization,  and which  leave  but  few survivors thereof.  A writer  has  said  of  this  point  of  the occult  teaching:  "The periods  of  the great  root  races  are  divided  from  each  other  by  great  convulsions of Nature and by  great geological changes.  Europe was  not  in  existence as  a continent  at  the  time the fourth  race  flourished.  The continent  on  which the fourth race lived  was  not  in  existence at  the time the  third  race flourished,  and  neither  of  the continents which were the great vortices of the civilizations  of those two races are in existence now.  Seven  great continental  cataclysms  occur  during  the occupation  of  the earth  by  the human life-wave for  one round  period.  Each  race is  cut  off  in  this  way at its  appointed time,  some  survivors  remaining in  parts  of  the world, not the proper home of their race; but these, invariably in such cases, exhibiting a tendency to decay, and  relapsing into barbarism  with more or  less rapidity."

The individuals  of  the First  Race of  the  present  (fourth)  round  of  the human race on  earth ranged  from  a  gross  type scarcely  above the  brutes up  to  a  very barbarous  type.  These higher  types  reincarnated  later  as  the higher  individuals  of  the Second  Race,  the lower types  of  the First  Race constituting the lower  subdivisions  of  the Second  Race;  the rule  being that  the  less advanced souls of any  race  incarnate  as  the  lowest  types of the next  and  higher  race.

The  Rosicrucian  teachings  have  but comparatively  little  to  say concerning the history of  the peoples  of  the First  Race  and  the Second Race,  but  from  what  is  taught  it  may  be gathered  that  these peoples  were of  a  very  low  order  of  humanity—the  types  which we  know  as  the Cave Dwellers,  the  Stone-age people,  and  the Fire-people,  give us  the nearest possible  idea  of  what  these First  Race  and  Second  Race  people must  have been  like.  There was  apparently little or  nothing  of  what  we call "civilization" among these people, and they were apparently about  on  a level  with the very lowest  types  known  among  mankind  on  earth  today. The teachings, however,  state that  there were  a  few  comparatively highly advanced  souls in the  latter  days of the  Second Race,  who  acted  as  the leaven  for  the great  improvement  which came  with  the Third  Race.

The era  of  the Second  Race  terminated,  as  usual,  with  a  cataclysm  which destroyed the  majority  of the  race,  and  which  scattered its survivors among far  distant  lands.  Then  dawned  the period  of  the Third  Race,  the seat  of  its  greatest  activity  being laid  in  the continent  of  Lemuria,  which was situated  on  that  portion  of  the globe which  now  lies  at  the  bottom  of the Pacific Ocean, and  parts  of  the Indian  Ocean.  The continent of Lemuria also included Australia, Australasia, and other Pacific  Islands— these surviving portions being really the highest points of the continent of  Lemuria,  the lower  portions  of  which were sunk beneath  the waves ages  ago.

A writer  says  of  the  character  of  the civilization  of  Lemuria: "Life in Lemuria is described as being  principally concerned with  the physical senses and sensual enjoyment, only a few  developed souls having broken through the fetters of  materiality  and  reached  the beginnings  of  the mental  and  spiritual planes  of  life.  Some few  indeed  made great  progress and  were  saved  from  the general  wreck  in  order to  become  the leaven which would  lighten  the mass  of  mankind  during the next  great  cycle. These developed  souls  were the teachers  of  the  new  races,  and  were looked  upon  by the  latter  as  gods  and  supernatural  beings,  and  legends and  traditions  concerning them  are still  existent  among  the ancient peoples  of  our  present  day.  Many  of  the myths  of  the ancient  peoples arose in  this  way.  The traditions  are  that  just  prior  to  the great  cataclysm which destroyed  the people of  the Third  Race,  there was  a  body of  the Chosen  Ones  which migrated  from  Lemuria to  certain  islands  of  the sea which are  now  part  of  the main  land  of  India.  These people formed  the nucleus  of  the Occult Teachers  of  Lemuria,  and  they kept  alight  the Flame of Truth with which was lighted the torches of the Fourth  Race— the Race  of  the Atlanteans."

With the passing away of Lemuria—the home of the Third  Race—there arose  from  the  depths  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean  the  future  home  of  the people of  the Fourth Race—the continent  of  Atlantis.  Atlantis  was situated  in  the  space now  occupied  by  a  portion  of  the Atlantic  Ocean, beginning at  what  is  now  known  as  the  Caribbean  Sea,  and  extending over  to the region  now  known  as  Africa.  What  we now  know  as  Cuba and the West Indies were the highest points of  the continent  of  Atlantis,  the lower  portions  being now  buried  beneath  the waves  of  the Atlantic Ocean.

The writer above quoted from, says of the civilization of Atlantis: "The civilization of Atlantis was  remarkable,  and  its  people attained  heights which  seem  almost  incredible  to even  those familiar  with  the highest achievements  of  man  of  our  own  times.  The Chosen  Ones  preserved  from the  cataclysm  which  destroyed Lemuria,  and who  lived to  a  remarkably old  age,  had  stored  up  within  their minds  the wisdom  and  learning  of  the civilization  which  had  been  destroyed,  and  they  thus  gave  the Atlanteans an  enormous  advantage at  the start.  They soon  attained great advancement along all the lines of human endeavor. They perfected mechanical inventions and  appliances, reaching far ahead of even  our present  attainments.  In  the field  of  electricity  especially  they reached  the stages  that  our present  race  will reach  not  sooner  than  two or  three hundred  years  from  now.  Along the line of  occult  attainment  their progress  was  far  beyond  the dreams  of  the average man  of  our  own  race, and  in  fact  from  this  arose one of  the causes  of  their  downfall,  for  they prostituted the  power  to  base  and selfish uses, and practiced black magic. And so the decline of  Atlantis began. But the end did not  come at once,  or  suddenly—it was gradual. The continent, and the surrounding islands  gradually sunk  beneath  the waves  of  the Atlantic  Ocean,  the process occupying  10,000  years.  The  Greeks and the  Romans of our own cycle had traditions regarding the sinking of the continent, but their knowledge referred only to the disappearance of the small remainder—certain islands—the continent itself having disappeared  thousands  of years  before their time. It is recorded that the  Egyptian  priests  had traditions  that  the continent  itself  had  disappeared  nine thousand  years before  their  time."

As  in  the  case of  the Chosen  Ones  of  Lemuria,  so was  it  with  the Elect Ones  of  Atlantis  who were taken  away  from  the doomed land some time prior to its destruction. These  advanced individuals of the race left  their Atlantean  homes  and  "led  by  the spirit"  migrated  to portions  of  what  are now known  as  South America and  Central  America,  then  but  islands  of the sea. These people left the traces of their civilization in these lands, and our scientists  discovering these wonders  greatly  at  the evidences of the high culture shown in them. When the Fifth Race  appeared,  these brave and  advanced  souls  became  the  teachers of the new race, and were afterwards  remembered  as "gods,"  and  the heroes  of  mythology.  The Fifth Race evolved  rapidly, owing to the urge of the souls of  the Atlanteans  pressing forward  for  re-embodiment,  and  human  forms  were born  to supply the  demand,  the fertility of  the  new  race  being marked.

The writer previously referred to says of the survival of  members  of a disappearing race,  and  their  influence on  the life of  the new  race:  "By means of  the  cataclysms the  races of each  cycle  were  wiped out  when their  time  came,  but  the few  elect  or  chosen  ones,  that  is  those who had manifested  the right  to  become  torch-bearers,  were carried  away  to some favorable  environment,  where they  became  as  leaven  to  the mass—as gods'  to the new  races  that  quickly appeared.  It  must  be  noted,  however, that  the chosen  or  elect  ones  were not  the only ones  saved  from  the destruction  that  overtook  the majority  of  the  race in  these cataclysms. On the contrary,  a  few  survivors  were  preserved,  although driven  away from  their  former  homes,  and  reduced  to 'first  principles  of  living'  in order  to become the parents  of  the new  race.  The new  races  springing from  the  fittest  of the  survivors quickly formed  sub-races, being composed  of  the better adapted  souls  seeking reincarnation, while the less fit sank  into  barbarism  and showed evidences of decay. A remnant of these degraded human  creatures, however, persist in incarnation for thousands of years,  being  composed of those  souls not  sufficiently advanced  to take part  in  the  life of  the new  races.  These 'left  overs'  are in evidence in  our  own  times  in  the cases  of  the Australian  savages, the African Bushmen, and the Digger Indians, and  others  of  a  similar  low order  of  development.  In  order  to understand  the advance of  each race  it must  be  remembered  that  the more  advanced  souls,  after  passing out  of the body,  have a  much longer  period  of  rest  in  the higher  planes,  and consequently  do not  present  themselves  for  reincarnation  until a period quite late as compared with the hasty reincarnation of the less  advanced souls  who  are  hurried  back  to rebirth  by reason  of  the strong earthly attachment  and  desires.  In  this  way it  happens  that  the earlier  races  of each cycle are  more primitive folk  than  those who follow  them  as  the years roll by. The soul of an earth-bound person  reincarnates  in  a few years,  and sometimes in a  few days,  while  the  soul  of an advanced man may repose and  rest  on  the  higher  planes  for  centuries—nay,  even  for thousands  of  years,  until  the  earth has reached a stage in which the appropriate  environment may  be  afforded  it."

At  the beginning of  the period  of  the Fifth Race (the  present race  of  man) there were born  not  only the beginning of  the new sub-races which always spring into existence at the beginning of  a  new  cycle,  but  there were also  born  the  descendants of the Elect, saved  from  the destruction of  Atlantis  by  having  been  led  away from  the scene of  danger.  The new races  were the descendants  of  the scattered  survivors  of  the Atlantean peoples—that  is,  of  the common  run  of  those peoples.  But  the Elect  few were superior  individuals  of  their race,  and  imparted  to  their descendants  their  knowledge and  wisdom.  By  an  understanding  of  this distinction,  we are  able  to comprehend  the fact  that  at  the same  time there existed  hordes  of  people of  the new  races—more or less primitive and ignorant—and at other places  certain  advanced  peoples  like the ancient  Egyptians,  Persians,  Chaldeans,  Hindus,  etc.  These  advanced peoples  represented  the advanced souls—the old souls, of the advanced individuals of the Lemurian and  Atlantean  civilizations.

The descendants of some of the higher individuals were  afterward  known as  the  Assyrians  and  the Babylonians. In due time there appeared the beginnings of the great Roman, Grecian, and  Carthaginian  peoples.  Then came  the  fall  of  the ancient  peoples,  and  the rise of  new  subdivisions  of the race.  The history of  the  race shows  the existence and  manifestation  of the law of the rise and fall of nations. Regarding this  phenomenon,  Dr. Draper,  in  his  "History  of  the Intellectual  Development  of  Europe"  well says:

"We are, as we often say, the creatures of  circumstances.  In  that expression  there is  a  higher  philosophy than  might at  first  appear. From this more accurate point of view we should  therefore consider  the  course of  these events,  recognizing the principle that  the affairs  of  men  pass forward  in  a determinate way, expanding and  unfolding  themselves.  And hence we see that  the things  of  which we have spoken as if they were matters  of  choice,  were  in  reality  forced  upon  their  apparent authors  by the necessity of the times. But in truth they should be considered  as  the presentation  of  a  certain  phase of  life which nations  in  their  onward course sooner  or  later  assume.  To the individual,  how  well  we know  that a sober moderation  of  action,  an  appropriate  gravity  of  demeanor, belonging to the  mature period  of  life,  change from  the wanton willfulness of youth,  which  may  be  ushered  in,  or  its  beginnings  marked by  many accidental incidents; in one, perhaps, by  domestic bereavements,  in  another  by  the loss  of  fortune, in a  third  by ill-health. We are correct  enough in  imputing  to  such trials  the change of  character; but  we never  deceive ourselves  by supposing that  it  would  have failed  to take place had  these incidents  not  occurred.  There runs  an  irresistible destiny in  the midst  of  these  vicissitudes.  There are  analogies  between the life of  a nation, and  that  of  an  individual,  who,  though may  be in one respect  the  maker  of  his  own  fortunes,  for  happiness  or  for  misery, for  good  or  for  evil,  though he remains  here or  goes  there as  his inclinations  prompt,  though  he does this or abstains from that as  he chooses,  is  nevertheless  held  fast  by  an  inexorable fate—a  fate  which brought  him  into the world  involuntarily, so far as he was  concerned, which presses  him  forward  through a  definite career,  the stages  of  which are invariable,—infancy, childhood, youth,  maturity,  old  age,  with  all their  characteristic  actions  and passions,—and which  removes him  from the scene at  the appointed  time,  in  most  cases  against  his  will.  So also is it  with nations;  the  voluntary is  only the outward semblance, covering but scarcely hiding the predetermined.  Over  the events  of  life we may have control,  but  none whatever  over  the law  of  progress.  There is  a geometry  that  applies  to nations  an  equation  of  their  curve of  advance. That  no mortal  man  can  touch."

Thus  have risen  and  fallen  the great  nations  of  the past,  and  thus  will rise and  fall  the great  nations  of  the future—and  the  law holds equally  true  in the case of  the great  nations  of  the present.  Even  at  the time of  thin writing great things  are  under way  in  the history of  the nations  of  the present.  Cosmic  forces  are at  work  under  the  thin  disguise of  the petty plans  and  ambitions  of  rulers  and  statesmen.  Looking backward  over  any period  of  past  history  the careful historian  is  able to see clearly  the  rise and  progress  of  mighty  movements  which swept  along in  their  current the affairs of  great  nations;  and  the historians  of  the future will be  able to discern precisely such  great  movements and forces when they  look  back to the history of  today,  our  present  time.  And  in  each case it will become evident that the majority of the peoples involved in  the struggles  have had  no clear  perception  of  the great  forces  at  work,  or  of  the actual goal to which the great movements have  tended.

Thus  have risen  and  fallen  the great  empires  of  the past, the Egyptian, the Persian, the Chaldean, the Grecian,  the Roman,  and  the rest,  Caesar, Alexander,  Charlemagne,  Napoleon,  and  the  rest  have been  but  the puppets  of  Fate  through and  by means  of  which they have  worked  out  the dictates of Destiny.  Races and peoples now regarded as  but  little  more than  half-civilized will be the successors of the proud nations of today just as the half-civilized Gauls, Angles,  and Germanics succeeded the proud  civilizations  of  ancient  Greece and  Rome.

When a nation begins to decline it is  because its  more  advanced  souls have passed on, leaving only the less progressive souls  behind to carry on the work of  the sub-race.  The  advanced souls pass on to  new scenes of activity, and even the backward ones are not permitted to lag very far behind for the continual change, and the creation of new environments tend to  reawaken sleeping energies and to stimulate the lagging ones  to fresh endeavor  and  activity.

The following quotations  from  a  celebrated  occultist  may prove  of interest  to the student  in  connection  with  the particular  subjects considered  in  the present  chapter: "

At  the  half-way  point  of  the fourth round -here the polar  point  of the whole seven-world period is passed. From this point  outwards  the spiritual  ego begins  its  real struggle with  body  and  mind  to manifest  its transcendental powers.  In  the fifth round  the struggle continues,  but  the transcendental faculties  are largely developed,  though the struggle between  these on  the one hand  with  physical  intellect  and propensity  is fiercer  than ever,  for  the  intellect  of the  fifth  round as well as its spirituality is  an  advance on  that  of  the fourth.  In  the sixth round humanity  attains  a  degree of  perfection  both of  body  and  soul,  of intellect  and  spirituality,  which ordinary  mortals  of the present epoch will not readily realize in their  imaginations.  The most  supreme combinations of wisdom,  goodness,  and  transcendental enlightenment which the world  has ever seen or thought of  will represent  the ordinary type of manhood. Those faculties which now, in the rare efflorescence of a generation, enable some extraordinarily gifted persons  to explore the mysteries  of  Nature and  gather  the knowledge  of  which some crumbs  are now being offered  to the ordinary  world,  will then  be the  common appanage  of  all. As to what the seventh round will be like, the most communicative  occult  teachers are  solemnly silent.  Mankind in the seventh round will be something altogether too Godlike for  mankind  in the fourth round  to forecast  its  attributes."

"The earth, while at present inhabited by fourth-round  humanity—by  the wave of  human  life on  its  fourth journey  round  the circle  of  the worlds— nevertheless  contains  some few  persons,  few  in  relation  to the total number, who properly speaking belong to the  fifth round.  Now,  in  the sense of  the term  at  present  employed,  it  must  not  be supposed  that  by any miraculous process any individual unit  has  actually travelled round the whole chain  of  worlds  once more often  than  his  compeers.  Under  the law by  which  the  tide-wave  of humanity  progresses,  it  will be  seen that this is  impossible.  Humanity  has not  yet  paid its fifth  visit  even to  the planet  next  in  advance of  our  own. But individual monads may outstrip their  companions  as  regards  their  individual development, and so become exactly as  mankind  generally will be when  the fifth round has been fully evolved.  A  man  born as  an ordinary  fourth  round man may, by processes of occult training,  convert  himself  into a  man  having all  the attributes  of  a fifth-round  man,  and  so  become what  we  may call  an artificial  fifth  rounder."