We have considered, cursorily I realize, the fact that the ego appropriates to itself forms, through which expression can be made possible upon the various levels of divine manifestation. We observed that these forms, in due process of time, become embodiments of the will and purpose of their divine Indweller. This Indweller is the soul. As the evolutionary cycle runs its course, three developments take place:

1. The forms for expression are developed, little by little as a result of:
   1. Successive incarnations.
   2. The impulse and consequent activity of desire.
   3. The interpretation of experience, intensifying and becoming more correct and adequate as time passes.
2. The self within, or identified with, the form nature,
   1. Becomes slowly conscious and consequently intelligently active in the three worlds of human evolution.
   2. Shifts its focus of attention successively from one body to another, passing, in consciousness, into higher and higher states of awareness until the Path of Pursuit becomes the Path of Return, and desire for identification with form changes into aspiration for self-awareness. Later, comes identification with Self on its own level of consciousness.
   3. Reorients itself and thus occultly "leaves behind the hitherto desirable and aspires to that which has not hitherto been seen."
3. The aspirant passes through an intermediate stage in the [343] process of evolution wherein "divine attraction" supersedes the attraction of the three worlds. This stage falls into five parts:
   1. A period wherein duality and lack of control are realized.
   2. A period wherein an assertion of self-control takes place, through the following process:
      1. Decentralization.
      2. Comprehension of the task ahead.
      3. An investigation, by the divine Observer of the nature of form life.
      4. Divine expression, through the medium of the form, understandingly practiced.
   3. A period wherein alignment takes place, and (through understanding and practice) the form is gradually subordinated to the requirements of the Self, and begins to work in unison with that Self.
   4. A period wherein the forms, aligned at increasingly frequent intervals, are
      1. Integrated into a functioning, active personality;
      2. Swept by the power of their own dominant, integrated, personality life;
      3. Gradually controlled by the Self, and fused into an instrument for effective world service;
      4. Unified, in intent and purpose, with the soul.
   5. A period wherein the personality ray and the soul ray are blended into one united energy, and the personality ray becomes a quality of, and complementary to, that of the soul, making soul purpose in the three worlds possible. [344]

It is thus that we progress, and in this manner form and consciousness, appearance and quality, are brought together and divine unity is achieved, thus ending the duality hitherto sensed, which up till this time has handicapped the aspirant.

Two angles of this matter warrant our attention. One is that covering the processes of the past evolutionary cycle which, as it has transpired, has brought the aspirant to the point of a sensed duality, of consequent struggle, and of a hardly achieved reorientation towards reality. That period has been adequately covered, for all present purposes, by science, exoteric and esoteric. The other is the period of ultimate perfection which is finally achieved as a result of the struggle. One period lies far behind us, and intelligent humanity has travelled far towards the period of realization; the other period lies far ahead. We will confine our studies to the task of the aspirant as he reorients himself upon the probationary path, and becomes increasingly aware of the world of higher values, and of the existence of the kingdom of God. On this path he senses his duality in an almost distressing manner, and begins to aspire towards unity. This is the task today of the vast numbers of world aspirants. So widespread is the desire for this reorientation that it has produced the present world upheaval, and is the spiritual source of the specific cause of the ideological conflicts now going on in every country.