Page:The astral world, higher occult powers; (IA astralworldhighe00tiff).pdf/181

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condition of the spirit; and the body is not responsible for it, though the body may be destroyed by such impulse.

When we enter the Spiritual world, if we recognize ourselves at all, we must recognize ourselves by that which the absolute consciousness reveals to us. I do not recognize myself by the principle of absolute consciousness within me, but by that which it reveals to me. When I go to the Spirit-world, I must take that with me of which I must be conscious, else I shall not take my individuality with me—else I become annihilated. Just to the extent I leave my affections behind me, shall I be annihilated as a spiritual being. When I go to the Spiritual world, I must take my character with me—that which is made an integral part of my spiritual character by its development in me. Of course, then, wherever I go that must go. The love which rules within me must go with me until that ruling love is changed, or until some holier love shall call me to a higher plane of action. I am prepared to maintain that when we go to the Spiritual world, we shall take with us all the love, affections, thoughts, feelings, and sentiments which characterize us as individual beings. Every thing which causes me to differ from you here will cause me to differ from you when we enter the Spiritual world. I will retain my spiritual selfhood by the same laws by which we maintain our selfhood here. I believe the testimony of all Spirits who have spoken to us concerning it, is that the difference between the sensations here and there is so slight that it is difficult to tell when one has entered the Spiritual world. Many times have Spirits testified