(Sermons and Writings)
Evolution
The mind imposes its unity on the ‘many’. The ‘many’ over whelms the mind and the mind is lost in the ‘many’. The unity is evolved and the ‘many’ is organized. Evolution is only a process of the unity finding itself out, becoming self-conscious and imposing itself upon the ‘many’ by bringing in an order, a unity, a simplicity. Evolution is not through absorption alone; it also implies rejection. The spirit rejects as it absorbs, realizes itself as an organic principle through both processes.
The Progress of Civilisation
The progress of civilization is from type to type – the type of full manhood through the type of abstract ascetic life of monastery to a full divine life. Every stage in the march has its own laws, its own standards of excellence and perfection, its own universe of ideas. It is complete in itself and has a finality of its own. Nay, every movement has its own purpose and significance. It is not a mere link in the chain of time. It is pregnant with eternity – it being the particular mode of the eternal; and every form has a beauty and perfection of its own.