Page:The astral world, higher occult powers; (IA astralworldhighe00tiff).pdf/190

 which prompts to activity, looking to the supply of that need, independent of any gratification which it may promise. The false impulse is that which prompts to activity, not in respect to any specific need, but in respect to the gratification which it may afford. This latter impulse is known as lust.

For the purpose of distinction I shall denominate the true impulse, love, as being a manifestation of the Divine Father's wisdom and goodness, in whatever plane it may be found; and I shall denominate the false impulse, lust, as being a manifestation of that which tends to lead to selfishness and antagonism, and makes the interests of finite self overrule those of infinite self, or the selfhood of the divine.

In the scale of being there is every plane of unfolding, from the unconscious to the divine consciousness; that is, there is every sphere of divine action and manifestation, from the monad to the highest angel, and consequently there are many degrees of love as the true impulse to action. It has its sphere in the plane of physical need, in the plane of intellectual and moral need, and in the plane of religious need; and it is exalted just in proportion as it approaches the absolute or divine.

As there is a true impulse belonging to every plane of unfolding, begetting the proper enjoyment in the conscious plane when its demand is properly complied with, so also is there every degree of lustful desire seeking gratification in every plane, differing in grossness according to the means by which it seeks its gratification.

Reflection will satisfy every truth-seeking mind that