Page:The astral world, higher occult powers; (IA astralworldhighe00tiff).pdf/180

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mind, not in his body, notwithstanding he locates it as though it were in his body. Numerous other proofs might be adduced to prove that though the body is the means through which the mind is reached, yet the sensation is all in the mind. Man makes use of his body for the gratification of all his sensuous desires; all of which originate in the mind. I do not deny, however, that a sense of lack, not pain and disease, may be induced in the body by certain courses of action—by disturbing the nervous system. But that is a thing entirely of itself. But there are other influences originating in the mind, leading the individual to seek gratification in horse-racing, gaming, sexual indulgences, etc. In ten thousand instances the stimulating influences to various acts arise in the mind, and form a part of the mind. In the majority of instances the body is simply made the instrument for the gratification of lustful desires. Did the usual habits of thought permit, it might be demonstrated, in various ways, that lustful desires originate in the impure condition of the spirit.

There are certain impulses pertaining to the body in its relation to the body. An instance of such is the sensation of hunger. I do not mean to say that the body has the sensation of hunger, but that it is awakened in the spirit by a demand which the body makes upon the spirit for material to supply its need. There are the sensations of thirst, heat and cold—diverse sensations of this kind which come to the spirit through the body. But that impulse which leads the individual to seek gratification at the horse-race, the brothel, etc., has its spiritual original, and flows out of the depraved