Throughthemwemaymeasuretime，space，qualityandquantity。
ThesymboloandIexistbyreasonofnothingandsomethingordeathandlife。Thefigureoneissubjecttoillimitableexpansion。Itiswithoutbeginningintheinfiniteofnumber，asGodiswithoutbeginningintheinfiniteofbeing。Aswiththevegetablekingdom，thetinyseedoracornsilentlyworkingitsmagicaltransformationintoaplantortree，anddirectingitsdestinywithmarvelousintelligencethroughthetorridandfrigidvicissitudesoftheseasons；soismanwithoutbeginningintheinfinitudeofhisownbeingormicrocosm。Manisbothatypeandantitype。Atypeofwhatpre-existedintheimaginationoftheworld，andanantitypeofafuturelifeyetto31
manifestitselfonanotherplanewheretheincidentsoftheonewillbesubjective，astheeventsoccurringininfancyorinotherplanesarenowsubjective。Hisdreams，thoughtsandactions，andtheinfluencesthatproducethemandtheirmultiplyingcombination，cannotbenumberedorreproducedanymorethanyoucannumbertheleavesoftheforest，orfindtwoexactlysimilarunitsamongthem。Thusthefullmeaningorinterpretationofdreamscannotbefullydemonstratedthroughmentalorevenspiritualstereotypes。
Butbytheintelligentuseofthisbookyouwillbeabletotraceoutalmostanydreamcombinationandarriveatthetruenatureofitsportent。
Awisedoctor，inpreparingmedicineforapatient，considerswellhisage，temperamentandhispresentcondition。Soshouldtheinterpreterofdreamsponderwellthementalstate，thehealth，habitsandtemperamentofthedreamer。Thesethingsnoonecanknowsowellasthedreamerhimself。
He，therefore，withtheaidofthisbook，willbeabletointerprethisdreamsbythelightthatisinhim。
Manisthemicrocosmoraminiatureworld。Hehasasoulandmentalfirmament，boundedbythestellardustandthemilkyway，andfilledwiththemysteryofsuns，satellitesandstars。Thesehecanstudybestbytheastronomyofinductionandintrospection。Hehasalsoaphysicalplane，diversifiedbyoceans，lakes，rivers，fertilevalleys，wasteplacesandmountains。Allareincosmicinterdependencyastheyareinthemacrocosm。
Herereststhemysteryofbeing——thegrandestofsubjects！Thestudentisnolessbewilderedandawedthanthegeologistwhogropesblindlythroughtheseamsoftheearthsearchingforlinksintheinfinitechainofknowledge，ortheastronomersweepingtheheavensofthemacrocosminquestofnewphenomena。Thetwoplanesaredependentuponeachother。Itisthesmileordiseaseofthefirmamentthatblessesordiseasestheearth。Itislikewisetheimpurefirmamentofthemicrocosmthatdiseasesthebodyandsoul。
Ifitreflectsthedroughtofthoughtorthevariousstatesofevil，desertswillenlarge，forestofinfectious，venomousgrowthwillformthehabitationoflustandmurder。Beforegreatmoralorphysicalrevolutionsorcatastrophesoccur，cloudswilldarkenthehorizonofthedreammind；stormswillgather，luridflamesoflightningwillflashtheirvolatileanger；theexplosivethunderwillrecklesslycarryonitsbombardment；bellswillring，32
strangeknockingwillbeheard——symbolsofamessage——phantomformswillbeseen，familiarvoiceswillcallandpleadwithyou，unknownvisitorswillthreatenyou，unearthlystruggleswithhideousgiantsandagoniesofmindandbodywillpossessyou；malformationsofthemosthideoustypewillseizeyourvision；shroudedinsheetsofawhitishvapor，evanescentspecters，withpallidfaceandofwarningcountenance，willclingaroundyou，andcontagionandfaminewillleavetheirdesolateimpressupontheflowerofhealthandinthefieldofplenty。Thusallofuswouldbenightlywarnedinourcircleorminiatureworldifwewoulddevelopsubjectivestrengthtoretaintheimpressionsleftuponourdreammind。Butinspiteofallreasonandconscience——inspiteoftheinductiveknowledgereceivedthroughoursenses——wegoonfromdaytoday，andstepbystep，feedingoursoulonthelusciousfruitoftheoutwardsenses，untiltherankweedsofselfishnesshavechokedoutallotherforces。Thusthesoulisfilledwiththoughtimagesthatassumetheformofviciousanimals，homelyvisagedfowls，rabidandsnarlingcatsanddogs，leprousandvirileserpents，cankerouslizards，slimyintestineworms，hairyandmaliciousinsects。Theyaregeneratedbygreed，envy，jealousy，covetousness，backbiting，amorouslongingsandotherimpurethoughts。Withthesoulfilledwiththisconglomerationofvirusandfilth，whydoubtahellanditscounterpartcondition，orexpectthedayornighttobringhappiness？Ifevilthoughtswillinfestthesoulwithravenousmicrobes，goodthoughtsanddeedswillstarveandsuppresstheiractivity，andcreateaheaventosupplantthem。Withthisgrandandeternaltruthinview，manshouldeverthinkkindlyofthoseabouthim，controlhistemperinwordandaction，seekhisown，thinkthebestofthoughts，studytorelievetheworthypoor，seeksolaceinthedepthofbeing，andletgentlenessandmeeknesscharacterizehislife。Thenwillhesowtheseedsofapresentandfutureheaven。Hisdaythoughtsandhisnightthoughtsinharmonywillpointwithunerringforecasttoapeacefulend。Spiritualandhelpfulwarningswillfalluponthedreammind，asgentlyasdewupontheflowersandassoftlyasamother’skissuponthelipsoflove。Whenourexternallivesareguidedbytheforceswithin，sweetarethewordsandmessagesfromourownspirit；forthosewhoaretrulyblessedarethosewhoseekdivinelovethroughthechannelsoftheirinnerworldofconsciousness。
Manisalittlecircleorworldcomposedoftheinfinitesimalatomsthrownofffromthegreatcircleorparentworld，andfittingintohisplaceinthezoneoflife。Ifintherevolutionsofthegreatcirclehecatchesmorematerialheincreaseshiscircletoobjectiveorsubjectivegrowth：ifheabsorbsspiritualormindatomsastheyfallfromthegreatbodyofcreativesource，heenlargesorcontractshisowncircleaccordingtotheassimilationofthefoodhereceivesfromtheparent。34
Itisoptionalwithmantoobtainspiritualormaterialmannaasitisdisseminatedthroughoutexistence。Tofeedonmaterialdietalone，contractsanddistortsthecircleoftheman；butafullcomprehensionoftheneedsofthecircle，aproperdenialofsupplytosomeofthecompounds，togetherwithatendercareofotherparts，willroundoutthewholeintoaperfectphysicalandmentalcircleoflife。
Dissentiousandconflictingresultsshouldbeavoidedincomputingthelengthandbreadthofthecompoundedcircleofman’sindividualworld。Objectivelifeisoneofthesmallestcompoundsinreallife。
Dreamlifeisfullerofmeaningandteachingoftheinner，orGodlife，thanistheexteriorlifeofman。Themindreceiveseducationfromcommuningwiththedreamcompositioninthegreatcircle。Consultwithyourwholenatureorcirclebeforebeginningaseriouswork；partialconsultations，ormaterialadviceonly，oftenbringsdefeatofobjectssought，whenatruehomecounselwouldhavebroughtsuccessandconsequenthappiness。
Manshouldliveinhissubjectiverealmsandstudymorehisrelationtoothercompositionsorcircles；thusfructifyingandmakingbeautifulhisownworldthroughintercoursewithotherswhohaveworkedinthegreatstorehouseofsubjectivity，andwhohaveclimbedalreadyfromthebasementintothelightofspiritualsunshine。
Whatisadream？
ANSWER——Adreamisaneventtranspiringinthatworldbelongingtothemindwhentheobjectivesenseshavewithdrawnintorestoroblivion。
Thenthespiritualmanislivingaloneinthefutureoraheadofobjectivelifeandconsequentlylivesman’sfuturefirst，developingconditionsinawaythatenableswakingmantoshapehisactionsbywarnings，soastomakelifeaperfectexistence。
Whatrelationshipissustainedbetweentheaveragemanandhisdreams？
AAdreamtotheaverageorsensualperson，bearsthe35
samerelationtohisobjectivelifethatitmaintainedinthecaseoftheidealdreamer，butitmeanspleasures，sufferingsandadvancementsonalowerormaterialplane。
QThenwhyismannotalwaysabletocorrectlyinterprethisdreams？
Justaswordsfailsometimestoexpressideas，sodreamsfailsometimesintheirmindpicturestoportraycomingevents。
Iftheyrelatetothefuture，whyisitwesooftendreamofthepast？
Whenapersondreamsofpastevents，thoseeventsarewarningsofevilorgood；sometimestheyarestampedsoindeliblyuponthesubjectivemindthattheleasttendencyofthewakingmindtothepastthrowsthesepicturesinreliefonthedreamconsciousness。
Whyisitthatpresentenvironmentsofteninfluenceourdreams？
Becausethefutureofmanisusuallyaffectedbythepresent，soifhemarsthepresentbywilfulwrongs，ormakesitbrightbyrightlivingitwillnecessarilyhaveinfluenceonhisdreams，astheyareforecastingsofthefuture。
Whatisanapparition？
Itisthesubjectivemindstoredwiththewisdomgainedfromfuturity，andinitsstrenuouseffortstowarnitspresenthabitation——thecorporalbody——ofdangersjustahead，takesontheshapeofadearoneasthemosteffectivemethodofimpartingthisknowledge。
Howdoessubjectivitydealwithtime？
Thereisnopastandfuturetosubjectivity。Itisallonelivingpresent。
Ifthatisso，whycan’tyoutellusaccuratelyofourfutureasyoudoofourpast？
Becauseeventsarelikeaprocession；theypassafewatatimeandcastashadowonsubjectiveminds，andthosewhichhavepassedbeforethewakingmindarefeltbyothermindsalsoandnecessarilymakeamorelastingimpressiononthesubjectivemind。
Toillustrate：Apersononretiringorclosinghiseyeshadafaceappeartohim，theforeheadwellformedbutthelowerpartsdistorted。Explainthisphenomenon？36
Achangedstatefromperfectsleeporwakingpossessedhim。
Now，theman’sfacewasonlytheexpressionofhisrealthoughtsandthestateofhisbusinesscombined。Histhoughtswerestrongandhealthy，buthisbusinessfagging，hencehisownspiritisnotaperfectlikenessofhisownsoul，asittakeseveryatomofearthlycompositionperfectlynormaltoreproduceaperfectspiritpictureofthesoulormortalman。Hewouldhaveseenatruelikenessofhimselfhadconditionsbeenfavorable；thusamanknowswhenacompletewholeishisportion。Studytomakesurroundingsalwaysharmonious。Lifeisonlybeingperfectlycarriedonwhentheseconditionsareinunison。
HOWTODEVELOPTHEPOWERTODREAM。
Keepthemindclearandasfreefrommaterialrubbishasispossibleandgotosleepinanegativeconditionthiswill，ofcourse，havetobecultivatedbythesubject。Apersoncan，ifhewill，completelyrelaxhismindandbodytothereceptivemoodrequiredfordreamstoappearasrealities，ortrueexplanationsoffutureevents。
Todreamyouareconversingwithadeadrelative，andthatrelativeendeavorstoextractapromisefromyou，warnsyouofcomingdistressunlessyoufollowtheadvicegiven。Disastrousconsequencescouldbeavertedifmindscouldgrasptheinnerworkingsandsightofthehigherorspiritualself。Thevoiceofrelativesisonlythathigherselftakingformtoapproachmoredistinctlythemindthatlivesnearthematerialplane。Thereissolittlecongenialitybetweencommonormaterialnaturesthatpersonsshoulddependmorelargelyupontheirownsubjectivityfortruecontentmentandpleasure。
Thewillissuspendedduringsleep，sothedreammindismoreapreytoexcitabilitythanthewakingmind。
Thuswhenimagesappearuponthedreamvisiontheyarefrequentlydistortedintohideousmalformationsthatfillitwithfearandexcitement。
Theconstantdwellingoftheminduponcertainthingsdistortstheirshapesuponsubjectivity，thusthrowingdreamsinexactlyoppositechannelstothewakingreality。Yetthedreameralwaysfeelsasenseofbeingawakeindreamslikethese，andonawakeningexperiencesnorecuperationofmindorbodyaftersuchcontrarydreams，Sleepisnotfullysustainedwhilethedreamerisheldbymaterialideasinthesubjectivestate。
Thecessationoftheorganstoperformhealthfulfunctionsconvertsamanintoadifferentperson，anddreamswhileinthisstatewouldhavenopropheticmeaning，unlesstowarnthedreamerofthisdisorganizationofhisphysicalsystem。
Dreamsaresymbolsusedbysubjectivitytoimpresstheobjectiveormaterialmindwithasenseofcominggoodorevil。Subjectivityisthespiritualpartofman。Thesoulisthatcircleofmanlyingjustoutsidethegrossmaterialityandpartakinglargelyofit。Allthoughtsanddesiresenterfirstthesoulormaterialmindandthencastthemselvesonthespirit。Frequentlythesoulbecomessofilledwithmaterialorpresentideas，thatthespiritualsymbolsarecrowdedout，andthenitisthatdreamsseentobecontrary。Materialsubjectivity，thatis，allthoughtsandideasemanatingfrommaterialsources，gotomakeupthiscircle；thenthemindcatchesupthebetterthoughtsofthissectionandweavesthemintoabroaderandmorecomprehensivepower，sustainingtheownerinhisownjudgment。
Andstillanothercircleisformedofthefinercompoundofthis，whichisspiritualsubjectivity，orthehighestelementofintelligencereachedbyman。[Thiscircleis“thespiritualman“andrelatesinsubstancetothespiritualsoulofthemacrocosmoruniverse。Itbecomesstrongorweakaswerecognizeorfailtorecognizeitasafactorofbeing。Theprocessofspiritualdevelopmentissimilartothatofthevegetableandanimalkingdoms。Thetreesontheouterrimoftheforestaremorecapableofresistingthewindthanthosemoretothecenter，byreasonoftheirexposuretostorms；therootshavepenetratedwithdouble
strengthfarintotheearth，andthebranchesarebracedwithtoughenedbarkandcloselyknittedligaments。
Thesamemaybesaidoftheanimalkingdom。Themindisdevelopedbyvigorousexercisejustasarelikewisethemusclesofthebody。Themorethesearecultivatedbydrawingfromtheirparentalaffinitiesinthemacrocosm，themoreknowledgeorpowertheytakeon。Thusasamansimulatesinthoughtandactionanape，atiger，agoat，asnakeoralambhetakesontheircharacteristicsandisswayedbylikeinfluencestoenmity，meekness，covetousnessandavariciousness。Toillustratefurther。Ifheiscunninghedrawsonthefoxofthemicrocosmandbecomes，inactionandthought，likethatanimal。Ifselfishnesssurvives，thehogprincipleisarousedfromitslatentcellsinthemicrocosmandheisdominatedbymaterialappetites。Inasimilarwayhemayperceivethespiritualinhimself。