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177 appearance as an active energy, it is the first germ of consciousness in the whole universe. This is Atma.

This is but one power, it begins to work through all the gradations of the various kingdoms, and on arriving at the plane of human volition, becomes differentiated and acquires a certain kind of individuality and this we call the monad. If this monad were not interconnected with the Logos, immortality would be impossible, but as it has been defused through the Logos, there is a change of its passing back through the Logos again and so gaining immortality.

The experiences of to-day are not those of to-morrow, each day a man may be considered as a different being, but there seems to be something within each of us on which all these varied experiences are strung and by which they have something like a continuity. The monad may be considered as a string on which the experiences of many births are strung. You may consider the Logos as the basis of innumerable monads. These never die out but start into active existence again. All the human beings whose experiences have been brought to the Logos by the travelling monad may be said to have gained immortality, but sometimes the monad becomes so opposed in its magnetic effect to the Logos from which it has emanated, that its absorption is impossible. This happens only in the case of a very wicked man, and then that monad never gains immortality; it may live on till the Pralaya arrives; and is then merged into the ocean of cosmic matter without transferring its impressions to any Logos.

A monad may remain for perhaps millions of years, till the Pralaya comes, this time can be almost called infinity, but it is as nothing in comparison to the existence of the Logos itself.

Is the ego ever really wiped out or effaced?

The monad is never killed though the man may be. Yon call the monad by a particular name so long as it retains the owner's subjective experiences, but when the monad is made 23