Elaboration on the Basics

There are two basic types of people, goats and sheep.

Everyone experiences the feeling that other people are different. Most of the time this is only the result of cultural differences, but there is also an inner difference, related to a basic life force or vitality. This difference can be readily seen in the aged where most appear to be walking dead, but a few, even though very infirm, radiate a vitality. Similarly, one is aware of a few people who enter a room and bring it alive with their presence. One could easily call the two types "A" and "B", but since imagery is connected with the development of vitality, the symbolic labels of goats and sheep are preferred.

Goats are defined as people who, though they have normal conditioning and heredity, may behave in a manner that cannot be traced to their education or learned skills and appear to have an awareness of the world and access to a source of power not evidenced in sheep. Goats can accomplish tasks that observers (including themselves) would believe the goat was incompetent and unprepared to do. Goats make things happen and introduce evolutionary forces within a society. Goats change the world.

Sheep are defined as people who are not much more than programmed robots, living their lives in well worn ruts, whose every thought or reaction can be attributed to past environmental conditioning or to heredity. Sheep are the object of study by the behavioristic psychologists and are called "normal".

Throughout history various explanations have been advanced to explain this difference, including "karma", "luck", "possession", "evolution" and "grace". Most children display the vitality of goats, but appear to lose it during their teen years. Some goats have an intense vitality from the time they are born, while others develop it more slowly. The biggest difference seems to be that sheep tend to suppress vitality and its effects when they experience it, and their awareness diminishes and narrows with age. The Talmud of the Jews, as one example, describes the difference as people whose life is a blessing as opposed to those whose life is a curse. Goats thrive and grow in the same environment in which sheep deteriorate and die.

Sheep have long believed themselves to be separate from any divine power of Gods, whereas goats have felt that Man has direct access to divine powers.

Some other characteristics of goats are:

• They are highly curious.

• They look for easier or better ways to do things.

• They tend to keep themselves physically fit.

• They have more energy than those around them.

• They can and do laugh at themselves.

• They enjoy challenges and are not afraid to take chances.

• They thrive on stress whereas sheep become ill.

• They change their religious and political beliefs.

• In times of trouble, people seek them out.

There are no outward differences between them.

Goats quickly find that at the physical or psychological level their bodies and brains are not different from sheep. This gives rise to frustrations as goats find themselves yielding to emotions, illnesses, prejudices as quickly and perhaps more quickly than other people. They observe a separation between the observer of the emotions and the body reacting to the emotions, but this phenomenon is not shared by the sheep.

Fledgling goats believe they are black sheep and do not belong.

The first realization that they are different usually comes to goats in seeing themselves separated from their body and its reactions, in feeling that they have a different view of the importance of societal priorities, or that they have a different perspective on living than other people. They note pleasant and unusual feelings within their bodies. If fledgling goats try to communicate these feeling to sheep, they find no comprehension and feel uniquely estranged from society. Many classify themselves as black sheep rather than a separate species. Goats discover that they can lead or ignore the sheep, but cannot be part of the flock.

Mature goats accept existence in two different worlds.

Goats are very much aware of the world of the sheep and attempt to explore and conquer it, but they are also aware of a much more subtle world which seems to exist in tandem with the physical world. This subtle world, permeated by a higher power, can provide guidance and wisdom as well as comfort and energy in their daily lives. As they mature and learn to react to the outer physical world, they also learn to trust the promptings of this inner subtle world. Some goats become aware that other goats and teachings exist. Others continue to travel alone.

Goats are aware of the two levels of cognition. One level can be obtained at the intellectual learning level or scientia (knowledge), as the early Christian goats called it. This level is the result of "cramming" or pumping information into the head without any experiential awareness. Beliefs, definitions, judgments and facts are examples of scientia. Science is primarily built upon scientia with the classification, definition and quantifying of the elements in our world. Many scientists studying the new artificial intelligence field with computers believe that only scientia exists and that the functioning of the brain can be demonstrated with computers. True wisdom or sapienta (wisdom), as the gnostic Christians called it, cannot be duplicated by a computer and includes creative insights, the attainment of knowledge without data or input, and awareness of the self and the cognitive process. Goats with limited scientia or book learning can produce great advances in society due to sapienta.

The Chinese attempt to explain the differences in cognition and awareness with a very ancient and very short parable: "the finger pointing at the moon". One explanation might be: There are three elements in the parable, a teacher, a direction, and the goal. Sheep cannot see beyond the teacher (finger) and tend to study, discuss and argue the merits of the teacher ad nauseam. A goat however, follows the direction (pointing) and finds the goal (moon). For example a goat follows the direction in the teachings of Jesus to find enlightenment and is not ensnared with either Jesus or the teachings.

Sheep do not believe there are two types of people.

Sheep see differences in physical circumstances and ability manifested in our society, but ascribe them to "luck", smothering mothers, uncaring taxpayers, or racist attitudes etc. They place the responsibility everywhere but on an individual difference in vitality or "hardiness" as one study has called it.

Sheep view goats as lucky (or unlucky) sheep. Sheep pursue luck by blindly playing lotteries, horse races, bingo, and the stock market in much the same manner as the ancients prayed for miracles, mistakenly thinking that the source of the goats' accomplishments is physical. It is impossible for sheep to alter the influence of their past conditioning.

Sheep have experiences only in the physical world and discredit altered states of consciousness. Higher states of reality or other states of consciousness are only "imagination" and the separation of an observer from the body and its actions is incomprehensible. This view point is hotly debated by sheep in science arguing that the Mind is the same as the brain and only physical. Sheep can not conceive of a mind separate from a physical brain or the existence of higher states of consciousness because they have never experienced it. The only reality for them is the observed physical world, and physical differences in that world are of primary importance, while the subtleties of degrees of vitality are secondary or unimportant. Happiness is equated to possession or control of things or people, because nothing else is real or worthwhile.

Stress is just as ambiguous. There are many "Stress Management" courses today because it is a sheep-like trait to avoid "hassles". The challenges in life which cause growth and evolution for goats are perceived as unwanted stress by sheep who desire to be left alone and unchallenged. Since challenge is perceived as being detrimental, stress results. Goats on the other hand thrive in challenging or stressful situations and develop an increased vitality to meet the situation.

Social pressures exist within every flock to normalize or conform the sheep so that inequities are minimized. Groups of sheep will readily accept someone as being miserable, unhappy, a failure, unlucky, stupid or weak but will discourage anyone who appears smart, strong, lucky or successful and are resentful about expressions of happiness or joy.

Goats think sheep are asleep.

Goats are usually born and raised within a flock of sheep and face tremendous problems as they attempt to fit into the sheep mold. Early experiences in childhood demonstrate that many of their experiences, observations, or feelings are not shared by sheep. Goats tend to rationalize the differences between themselves and their peers as earlier maturity. They discover that they see themselves and the world much differently than do authority figures. Since their insights are so very strong, they cannot subvert them, and they gradually accept the feeling that the people around them are asleep or limited in their awareness. Young goats typically first encounter this problem with sheep when they try to organize them to consider something new.

Sheep reject their own awakening experiences

Sheep occasionally have altered states of consciousness or experiences of simple deja vu or of observing themselves from some point outside of themselves. However these experiences terrify sheep, because they are conditioned that such experiences lead to insanity. To protect themselves from nonconforming behavior, they deny that such experiences took place and cling tighter to their programmed concepts of the world. Sheep also distrust intuitive feelings and are ready to blame such thoughts or feelings on some evil force.

Goats are observers and actors in a chaotic physical world.

Goats have observed that their immediate world and programming are in control and that they are dragged along whether they wish it or not. A common observance of goats is waking in the morning aware that the day will be one of those 'everything-goes-wrong' days, and then they find themselves carried through the day from one disaster to another. They quickly become philosophical and decide that they will trust their "fates" or controlling power and in the meantime attempt to live life to the fullest. They recognize that the body is not the real self and is only a tool being used to play a character on the stage of life. Experience also teaches that if they strive for an active life, they can play many different characters or roles. From this multi-role playing comes trust in the future or outcome of each role and confidence in the body and mind. As more roles are played and more vitality is found, the world appears to open up to more possibilities and becomes filled with novelty and the unexpected. One enters a chaotic but rewarding world.

Sheep exist in a physical and tangible world of well worn ruts.

Sheep, in their desire to conform, follow tradition or their peers in selecting employment, mates, dwellings, interests etc. Knowing no other world than the physical, they attempt to secure their possessions and status. In seeking security they drop into ruts and then defend their routine behavior and dig the ruts deeper.

Sheep, in attempting to avoid changes in their lives, become very concerned with the expected outcome of whatever they might be doing. They are constantly evaluating whether their actions are acceptable or not. Their senses are directed to observing whether the surrounding sheep are smiling or not. Generally smiles or nods from the flock indicate that the present activity is proper, but frowns immediately lead to a reduction of the activity. The sheep also acts to maintain his rut in life. If he finds himself in danger of climbing out of his rut by assuming new responsibilities or beginning to be involved in new experiences, the action slows or stops until the brain can compare the predicted outcome with his programmed limits of experience. The response to the challenge of the moment is governed by the predicted outcome, not by an awareness of the moment.

Goats are aware of the attraction of deep ruts.

At the same time that the freedom to romp and explore leads a goat beyond the flock of sheep, there is also a sense of longing for the security of being a passive member of the flock. As more and more vitality is required to stay aware of the subtle worlds, the attraction of oblivion also increases. Goats walk "the razor's edge".

Sheep believe they control their own world.

One of the strongest shackles that sheep carry is the conditioned belief that they are free to make their own choices in their world. Along with the belief that they can control their world is the supporting belief that they can affect the physical world. If a sheep faces a new challenge or experience, his belief system forces the sheep to take no action until he thinks about it. In thinking about it, he utilizes the brain's programming or conditioning to decide what action is proper. The concept of individual control and responsibility serves to bind the sheep tighter to his conditioning, because the sense of individuality is mere programming.

The programming in sheep that they are not programmed is a powerful tool for controlling sheep.

Goats utilize hidden sources of power to expand them selves and their worlds.

Every goat develops his own "power" system or method of confronting the world and himself. One of the simplest and most effective is the "think positive" method. Another common method is the "have faith" or "everything works out in the end" route. Other systems can be as simplistic as mentally humming a tune during stress or as complex as "psyching the body and mind" with learned techniques.

Many fledgling goats are unaware of their own inner power methods and it takes detailed questioning to uncover the almost subconscious methods they use to cope with problems. Some uncommon methods which are cited involve remembering the strength of a father in winning battles or taking a deep breath and feeling a surge of energy.

Many goats use methods which can be labeled as superstitious or religious at a surface level, but which lead to a contact with a higher state of mind. Some practices which both sheep and goats might use are: rubbing a rabbit's foot or prayer beads, praying to a saint, or repeating a lucky charm. Unlike the use of these methods by sheep, goats find rubbing, praying or chanting is not enough and a particular mental state must be found. The preceding methods are in fact symbolic and appear to unlock an opening into a higher state of consciousness where the goat finds a sense of unity and energy.

More evolved goats set aside portions of each day for "renewal" periods which may involve jogging, hand ball, biking, religious reading, walking, meditating, music, and other hobbies.

Sheep claim to do the above self renewal techniques as well, except that differences are quickly noted in the depth, persistence and fervor of their practice or the accompanying mental state. Sheep, if they persist, may find that they are becoming fledgling goats.

Goats experiment and invent methods which bring about a heightened awareness, a quickened mind and an energized body, and it has been the task of a number of mystical groups throughout history to classify, study and improve upon these methods.

Most goats find themselves without support or understanding in a world of sheep. They may be ridiculed, scorned, expelled from jobs and groups, and disowned by families, but this rejection provides further challenge and motivation for a goat to find his own way or path.

There are two starting paths for growth: Discipline and Trust.

Every goat or sheep starts life following predominately either a path of Discipline or a path of Trust. The path of Discipline requires inner direction or control whereas the path of Trust requires outer direction. Most Westerners follow the path of Discipline which is first imposed on them by parents or siblings and later by the larger society. Early steps on this path might be "potty" training and table manners. Primitive peoples tend to raise children as a shared responsibility of every member of the village in the path of Trust, with minimal self discipline expected of the child. The child learns to become aware of all of the forces acting on him from the entire village. He responds to anyone's gentle hand keeping him from the fire. He opens to an outer world and responds, in trust, to the outer forces of the entire village.

The path of Discipline is primarily a left hemisphere activity of the brain while the path of Trust is associated with the right hemisphere of the brain. Discipline is a serial detailed cause and effect function whereas Trust is a holistic and expansive function. There is some relationship between Discipline to the Conservative philosophy and Trust to the Liberal philosophy. Although these philosophies also have much in common, they are recognized as two separate and distinct paths in the West.

The path of Discipline (the Yu way) is self directed.

The individual or ego is the focal point of the path of Discipline. The self is made to feel important, responsible and malleable. The individual is made to accept a priori certain rules of conduct, intellectual and emotional goals and viewpoints of the self. Freudian and Humanistic psychology assume that Western Man is primarily on the path of Discipline. Some Chinese schools call this the Yu way, which implies an emphasis on being or existing. The self becomes real, central and important. Society or an institution programs an individual to become self controlling and dependent upon the inner training. In any situation, the path of Discipline requires remembering or responding to the training or programming before acting.

The path of Trust (the Wu way) is outer-world direct ed.

The individual is taught to become integrated within his world and to respond to or conform with the external forces. The individual is of less importance than the "system", which might be the tribe, family, state, religion, employer, etc. The individual flows or "goes with" the moment without thought or control. The individual assumes a role which least conflicts with the outer role and becomes an integral part of the system. In China this is the Wu way or the path of not being. Behavioristic psychology assumes that the "normal" human is outer world directed and only responds to outside stimulation. B.F. Skinner incorporated the path of Trust in his method of training wherein frustration or conflict is eliminated during the learning period. Discipline is provided by the administrators of the program rather than instilled in the trainee. The techniques of Skinner are very successful in training animals and birds as well as in some rote learning in humans.

The path of Trust includes the inward Trust of the self as well as the outer world. The path of Discipline teaches self criticism and judgment whereas the path of Trust involves acceptance. Trust allows one to "believe" in an inner subconscious mind or in a higher power which works within the self to produce answers to problems or guidance.

The path of Trust can be understood by considering yourself on your deathbed. Your vision, and hearing are nearly gone and the world is closing in until it encompasses only your own breathing and discomforts and even that awareness is gradually diminishing. If you could now be taken back to the most boring task of your life when perhaps you had some routine and strenuous work to do, would not that moment take on a whole new aspect?

The world would appear beautiful, safe, complex and exciting with so much to experience. That moment with the new vitality would manifest the path of Trust. The body and brain with its disciplined chores would be of almost no importance.

Discipline plus vital energy leads to action.

Perfection is the goal of discipline, and perfection is sought through repeated confrontation with conflict, which requires effort or vital energy. If a discipline is mastered but not put into action it can be lost like an unused language. Failures are accepted as lessons which serve to assist in self mastery. The Westerner is raised with the idea that results are what count and that the more one does with one's talents the better.

The West has little knowledge of the vital energy which causes one to succeed or to evolve. This force has been called will power, dedication, guts, hardiness, ambition, etc. but these traits are mostly conditioned. The West has little knowledge of its source or its control. All are aware that when one is in a proper mood or frame of mind that it takes no "effort" or "will" to do some difficult or tedious job, yet on other days no amount of "will" can get the job done. Getting jobs done, facing a challenge, or learning can be effortless or impossible regardless of our desires, will, or dedication. There is some deeper force involved which is called the vital energy or vitality. Action is the manifestation of an acquired discipline coupled with vital energy.

Awareness plus vital energy leads to Trust.

In order to trust and unify with a world or system, one must first be aware and experience the system. This starts with the self or inner being "desiring" to experience. Experiencing requires an effort or an exertion to couple with the outer world and then a continuing effort to retain a hold on the outer world. This effort, which is the vital energy, is in many ways synonymous with life itself. As one experiences the outer world, relationships are sensed, and gradually trust develops in the continuation of these relationships. As experience is gained in experiencing, trust is developed in surviving future confrontations, based on past survival.

Children normally have a great amount of vital energy and are able to fully experience a moment in life, yet they can also rapidly turn off their vital energy in new confrontations where they appear to be shy or hiding from the world. The majority of old people appear to have a low vitality and to be retreating from life, however there are a few who have a powerful radiance which sparkles with vitality as they fully explore their outer and inner worlds during each moment remaining to their lives.

Both paths must ultimately be mastered.

Fully developed goats have mastered the path of Trust as well as the path of Discipline and can be said to travel a Higher path between the two. If one fully explores one path it will lead to the other. For instance, the path of Discipline leads to the path of Trust because one ultimately becomes aware of the effect of external forces and their controlling nature in studying and controlling the self. Similarly, in following the path of Trust one must recognize the internal forces reacting within the individual in order to effect outer conformance.

The Higher Path integrates the two paths and yet is neither.

Both starting paths become traps. Goats must learn to walk the Higher path, which is neither discipline nor trust, yet is built upon both. One is fully perfected (through discipline) and fully responsive (through awareness) to the immediate moment and is fully alive (through vitality). One does not worry about consequences (Trust) nor technique (Discipline), one is putting all of one's efforts into whatever is being done at the moment. If one must think, or judge, one is not on the Higher path. This can only be done when one Trusts one's own Destiny in the future and Trusts the Disciplined body and mind to respond perfectly in the present.

The path and the Goal are one.

The Higher path begins with and becomes the Goal of one's life. No distinction can be made between what one desires to gain from life and the discipline. The moment reflects the inner self.

As the goat becomes ready for the Higher path, he becomes aware of a purpose or Goal in life although he may not be able to describe it. It has to do with evolution or perfection of some inner self. As the vital energy is increased and the two paths mastered, each moment becomes a meaningful experience relating to some growth process. The perception of growth in connection with the Goal gives rise to a strong sense of direction in life through time. As the goat starts to tread the Higher path, the Goal, the path, time and the moment all become unified in the same image or experience.

This may also be expressed as an integration with higher states of consciousness or that one is in union with God, His Power and His Guidance.

Discipline/awareness creates the observed world.

The perceived world is shaped by the senses and the brain. The complexity of the world is determined by the awareness, which can range from a very narrow, restrictive and limited world to a vast, rapidly changing, chaotic world. Discipline, using the conditioned left hemisphere of the brain, labels, defines and positions single objects in the outer world from the impressions received by the sense organs. The right hemisphere of the brain sums up all of the elements into a whole and makes a full stage setting for the moment. If discipline is lacking then fewer elements can be perceived, and the stage setting or scene becomes less detailed. For instance, a student disciplined in botany observes all the distinct life forms in a forest and sees their competing interactions, an artist sees a tapestry of green, but a casual hiker sees only shade and green blobs.

The world changes as vital energy changes, since the discipline and awareness are dependent upon the inner vitality. If vitality is low, the world is restricted and dull. If the vital energy is high the world opens and becomes vivid and bright, and even a sick bed can become an exotic world of folds, texture and color.

Action/trust activates the observed world.

Until one acts and responds to his perceived world he remains only an observer watching a play. When one injects vitality in action the world comes alive and responds. Trust is required to give direction to one's path through the increasingly dynamic chaos. When Trust, Action and Vitality are integrated, one becomes an actor in the world/drama. The world/drama can be played on two stages, the outer physical world or the inner world of transcendence. Trust/vitality makes the Goal a reality and action/vitality carries one toward the goal and further evolution.

Each life form evolves in attempting to maximize its own world.

Each life has a basic drive to explore fully or reach into each opening presented to it. The East calls the opening, Dharma. A plant in the forest has an inner force to grow in such a manner as to occupy fully the available soil, water and light. How well the openings in life are explored and filled depends upon one's vitality. It is the basic nature of Man to attempt to rise as high as possible in the 'pecking order' or to gain as much power over others and himself as possible.

Conflict expedites evolution.

The evolution or perfection of a life form is stimulated by opposing forces which force changes in the conditioned responses. A child who does not face new experiences cannot grow further mentally nor increase his physical dexterity. Muscles which are not used atrophy.

During the process of evolution of a culture, society, or of the self, there is a tendency to view conflicts, oppositions, destruction, decay and death as "bad". One is conditioned to be apprehensive of any change and to see any destruction as "bad". In our Western culture, death is almost impossible to reconcile and represents the worst possible evil and is related to the biblical story of the Sin of Adam and Eve. The ancient Hindu sages however, saw destructive forces as necessary in the evolution of Man and gave that power to their God Siva. Modern Man, however, sees the future conflict of wars and death as evil and decries them and their leaders and finds it very difficult to see them as positive evolutionary events or having the sanction of a God. Yet with time, Man can look on past changes as beneficial if not good. For instance, most people are sufficiently removed from the second world war to begin to see the evolutionary forces that were at work. The Jews despite their persecution, now have their homeland and enjoy a stronger world wide unity. Many of the weapons and war technologies are now the servants of peace and health. The defeated Axis powers now have far greater economic and social stability than before the war. Is it possible to view the much older war of Independence of the United States or its leaders as "bad"? Many writers at that time certainly considered the war and its leaders as evil.

Man judges his enemies or those that oppose him as evil and bad, yet they are far more powerful in inducing his evolution and growth than are his friends. The "wrongs" of the world stimulate and move the societies more than any "rights" can. Can those who create the "wrongs" be destructive in the absolute sense?

The driving force of evolution is vital energy or vitality.

There is a tendency to relate evolution to some power outside of the organism rather than to a power residual in the life form. Stimulation comes from without, but evolution must come from within and be powered by some form of inner energy. There is a basic life force which maintains the body. In the East, this energy is called "karma" or the result of one's heredity and environment or "breeding". The evolutionary vital energy attempts to go beyond the karma and fulfill its dharma or reach the maximum growth allowable. This is related to the parable of Jesus about the Talents, wherein money was given to servants, and the servants judged by how well they used or increased their gift. The inner energy or vitality will vary in intensity from individual to individual. This energy is called the evolutionary force, vitality, vital energy or vital force.

Vital energy reverses the normal flow of entropy or disorder.

The available energy or order of the world is constantly decreasing. Mountains wear away, soil deteriorates, and oil, metal and coal supplies run out. A basic law of physics is that entropy increases as the world runs down. Life forms violate this law of increasing entropy by bringing increased order and available energy to the world, as for instance, a beaver dam opposes the normal erosion process. Man can live his life and die but leave his world quite changed as a result of his life, in violation of the rules of entropy. The change in the world requires an expenditure of energy called vital energy which rises from within Man by some mechanism as yet unknown to science.

Goats change the entropy of the world using vital energy.

Goats are capable of being creative and are able to change the world in ways never before seen. Man can communicate worldwide using television, radio and telephones, he can harness the power of atoms to create electricity and can travel into space. Science cannot as yet describe the process of creative or innovative thinking, nor can it explain the source of energy that must lie behind this process. Goats do however find creative ways to use this hidden vital energy and in the process increase the available energy and order of the world. The society may not ever be aware of their contribution or able to see the changes until years or even centuries later.

Goats escape death.

If one approaches death as a bookkeeper, balancing debits and credits, a surplus shows up when certain people are audited. If one leaves behind a changed world, the assets exceed the debts. It is as if someone dumped extra money in the coffers without any corresponding IOU's. Where did the money come from for the good works left behind? There must be some unknown and apparently limitless account.

In bookkeeping terminology, the hidden limitless account is outside the home office and the individual audited had a direct access to that account which one assumes he will continue to draw from even though he is no longer at the home office.

The goal is to find an account from which one can draw even though one leaves this world. Otherwise one dies penniless and without assets.

Goats find higher states of consciousness and learn how to develop an account there from which they can draw funds to use in this state. The higher account is not subject to the taxes of this state and is permanent.

Institutions and sheep slowly die for lack of vitality.

Sheep and institutions evidence the normal laws of entropy. Sheep are born, eat, work and die and decay back to dust or fertilizer for more food and the world continues unchanged. Institutions, although set into motion by goats, gradually lose the creative spark and become locked into conditioning or rules and laws that invariably work against any new creative spark.

Society is afraid of evolution and resists it.

Sheep are locked into their physical world and attempt to cling tightly to it looking for security and constancy. Older institutions are primarily concerned with status quo and short term stability. Society lacks trust in the future and lacks sufficient discipline to improve the present situation. Industry says it needs creative people who can innovate or assist in corporate evolution yet is reluctant to hire creative people, particularly in line positions, because they may 'rock the boat'. No sheep wants to have an unpredictable individual working for him. He wants someone who will follow orders and who can take the blame in the case of failure. When an institution advertises for a creative person, it is looking for someone who will make the boss look good.

Evolution produces miracles which, once created, are no longer miraculous.

A mystic sees that miracles are much more miraculous than commonly supposed. In the normal state of consciousness all physical laws must be observed without exception. If a miracle is to take place, the whole world must change so that no laws are broken. This is the world that goats thrive in. Impossible tasks may be undertaken, but in their solution the whole world must be changed. In a practical vein this implies that laws are modified or changed as miracles are produced, or in practice the two generally go hand in hand. Sheep tend not to see the world for what it is but look for relatively insignificant miracles, like those produced by psychics who tell them that they are to take a trip or by a healer who removes a wart with an incantation.

With evolution, the present seems miraculous as viewed from the past.

If a transistor radio could have been taken back in time to 1940, it would have been miraculous. The top scientists would have been unable to explain how it worked nor even able to detect the inner construction of the transistors. The miraculous nature of the present is evident looking at present technology from a viewpoint in the past. Consider welfare programs. education, cross-cultural exchanges, etc. from 100 years ago, and one will see the miracles which have taken place in our society. The best scientists, philosophers, or writers failed miserably in predicting the world of today from only 50 years ago. The present is in fact a miracle because of the evolution that has taken place.

With stagnation, the past seems miraculous as viewed from the present.

In certain segments of the modern world it is possible to find that the past appears much better than the present and in these cases it must be argued that the laws of entropy hold or that vital energy or evolution has been absent. Some groups of people carry on wars with more viciousness now than in the past, some areas have less food than a few decades ago. Some people have less freedom. In these areas it can generally be noted that goats have been suppressed and innovation or evolution has been stifled.

Becoming but never attaining is the process called evolution.

To sheep the idea of a Utopia or of a perfect world with no crime, opposition, illness, poverty, class distinction, aging, etc. is an ideal that is reflected in their dreams of a heaven. A goat, however, wonders what he would do for excitement in such a place and thinks that perhaps the sheep's hell might be preferable. In fact, evolution does not bring Utopia closer but rather, keeps putting it further and further away. Evolution and the production of miracles changes the whole world, and one aspect of this change is to extend the frontiers of ignorance and desires.

The needs and desires of modern Man are certainly much greater than the needs of primitive Man. Those seeking Utopia are alarmed that this is so, since they argue that as Man progresses his frustrations and unsatisfied desires should decrease, not increase. The answer to this dilemma is found in comparing the worlds of the primitive Man and the modern. The modern world, even in the inner city ghettos, is as advanced over the ancient world as Man is over animals.

Evolution is not toward increased simplicity but rather the reverse. Evolution was just getting started when it created life forms with more than one cell, and in the last 50 years the evolution of Man has taken off on an exponential curve. It is easy to see this evolution in technology but more difficult to see it in men themselves. Track records, feats of skill and strength are continually broken, but how can one measure the change in the whole world? Is not the average ghetto dweller more knowledgeable than medieval kings or queens? Does he not possess more variety in his food and clothing? Is he not healthier with a longer life? And is not his awareness of his fellow man and himself on a level unknown in the past? The lowest elements in our present society are giants compared to the greatest in the past.

As evolution progresses the whole world evolves, becoming more complex, chaotic and unknown, with individual challenges continually increasing. Each step lifts one higher so that more steps can be seen ahead. Evolution consists in "becoming but never attaining".

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