Page 60 - Gnosis volume 2
P. 60
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Whereas growth and development are manifest and regular in the case of fauna and
flora, the man without has altered only in a haphazard manner during the historical era:
the intellectual hypertrophy of the ruling classes was detrimental to the development of
their emotive functions, and, in certain cases, of the motory functions as well.
The reason for this is that man works harder and harder to try and ameliorate his
living conditions without paying much heed to life itself. It is true that certain oriental
circles seem to have remained aware of this preoccupation and, no doubt, this is why
they hold an attraction for so many. But what happened in the Occident? What
happened to the active bent professed in the thought of a Socrates or a Plato, and to
the teachings of certain schools which pretended to resolve not only theoretically but in
practice, the problem of life? Or, in other words, the problem of Salvation, which is the
object of Christian Tradition?
At present, a very limited number of persons seems to be preoccupied with this
question. Most of the time, one comes across isolated cases who would like to apply
their efforts to the esoteric domain of traditional knowledge. One may observe a
general deviation of the point of application of human energy. However paradoxal this
may seem, it has its justification. The growing force of Illusion is the result of the
enhanced action of the General Law, which is also adapted to this compression of Time.
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