"<1>The elements in the manifested universe,
in a broad and general way, are divided into seven categories:
<2>the consciousness,
three gunas,
ethereal factor, aerial factor, luminous factor, liquid factor, and
solid factor.
<3>However, there is not a clear-cut way to
separate each category from the following or the previous ones.
<4>As in the case of colors, infinite varieties and shades can
be found even for one of the distinguished colors. For example, blue
can range from a very light blue to a very dark one, with infinite
shades between. So in the case of these elements there are also
infinite stages which can be found in each category and overlap to
the next or with the previous one.
<5>When the operative power of the
tama guna is first
released and the memory or the feeling of "I
have done" (Chitta)
arises, the first stage of the ethereal factor or fine ether forms.
Then there will be cruder forms of ether, until the formation of
air, and so on.
<6>This might be easier illustrated by the
more visible elements, such as liquid and solid. There are thin
liquids which flow easily, and there are liquids in thicker forms
until solid factors are reached. <7>Even in the solid state,
there are soft solid forms and very hard solid factors, with
infinite solid varieties in-between.
<8>It is the same for infinite different
levels of consciousness from
Pure Consciousness
down to the very crude consciousness. <9>In fact, when the
consciousness becomes very crude it indeed becomes flesh and the
person identifies himself as his body.
<10>This analogy goes on and is true about
all things in the universe. There are infinite levels of
consciousness,
sentient force (satva
guna),
mutative force (raja
guna),
static force (tama
guna), ethereal factor, etc.
<11>So we have to create this ability not to
see everything in black and white but always as an infinite spectrum
of possibilities,
<12>and still these infinite ranges are changing in time (I-Ching)."
