eworlditistheinsistingonthiswhichthrillsus.TheharpisthetravellingpattererfortheUniverse’sInsuranceCompany,recommendingitslaws,andourlittlegoodnessisalltheassessmentthatwepay.Thoughtheyouthatlastgrowsindifferent,thelawsoftheuniversearenotindifferent,butareforeveronthesideofthemostsensitive.Listentoeveryzephyrforsomereproof,foritissurelythere,andheisunfortunatewhodoesnothearit.Wecannottouchastringormoveastopbutthecharmingmoraltransfixesus.Manyanirksomenoise,goalongwayoff,isheardasmusic,aproudsweetsatireonthemeannessofourlives.
Weareconsciousofananimalinus,whichawakensinproportionasourhighernatureslumbers.Itisreptileandsensual,andperhapscannotbewhollyexpelledlikethewormswhich,eveninlifeandhealth,occupyourbodies.Possiblywemaywithdrawfromit,butneverchangeitsnature.Ifearthatitmayenjoyacertainhealthofitsownthatwemaybewell,yetnotpure.TheotherdayIpickedupthelowerjawofahog,withwhiteandsoundteethandtusks,whichsuggestedthattherewasananimalhealthandvigordistinctfromthespiritual.Thiscreaturesucceededbyothermeansthantemperanceandpurity.“Thatinwhichmendifferfrombrutebeasts,”saysMencius,“isathingveryinconsiderablethecommonherdloseitverysoonsuperiormenpreserveitcarefully.”Whoknowswhatsortoflifewouldresultifwehadattainedtopurity?IfIknewsowiseamanascouldteachmepurityIwouldgotoseekhimforthwith.“Acommandoverourpassions,andovertheexternalsensesofthebody,andgoodacts,aredeclaredbytheVedtobeindispensableinthemind’sapproximationtoGod.”Yetthespiritcanforthetimepervadeandcontroleverymemberandfunctionofthebody,andtransmutewhatinformisthegrossestsensualityintopurityanddevotion.Thegenerativeenergy,which,whenweareloose,dissipatesandmakesusunclean,whenwearecontinentinvigoratesandinspiresus.ChastityisthefloweringofmanandwhatarecalledGenius,Heroism,Holiness,andthelike,arebutvariousfruitswhichsucceedit.ManflowsatoncetoGodwhenthechannelofpurityisopen.Byturnsourpurityinspiresandourimpurit