BEYOND HUMAN PERSONALITY Being a detailed description of the Future life purporting to be communicated by the late F. W. H. Myers [Frederic William Henry Myers, 1843-1901] Containing an account of the gradual development of human personality into cosmic personality through GERALDINE CUMMINS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PART I. THE IMMEDIATE LIFE AFTER DEATH I. THIS PETTY, PUNY AGE II. THE HISTORY OF CONSCIOUSNESS III. THE IMMEDIATE LIFE AFTER DEATH IV. REINCARNATION V. AFFINITIES VI. THE TWO ASPECTS VII. ARMISTICE DAY VIII. NOVEMBER 11TH, 1934 PART II. BEYOND HUMAN PERSONALITY IX. THE CHART OF EXISTENCE X. BEYOND HUMAN PERSONALITY XI SOLAR MAN PART III. PRAYER AND MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE XII. PRAYER XIII. HELL XIV. THE RIGHT WAY OF LOVING APPENDICES APPENDIX I PREVISION* AND MEMORY APPENDIX II NATURE SPIRITS APPENDIX III INSANITY* APPENDIX IV JUSTICE INTRODUCTION by E. B. GIBBES "Unquestionably the truth or fallacy of the theory of the survival of the soul is by far the most tremendous question that can exercise the human mind. The more you think of it, the more all other questions seem to sink into utter insignificance, for only if survival be true, can the Universe be rationalized at all, because only in this way, and in this alone, can we confront the problem of evil. If survival be not true, then the only possible philosophy is blank pessimism, and the Ruler of the Universe cannot be acquitted of cruelty that would shock any normal man." Professor E. W. MacBride, F.R.S. (Psychic Science) 10 The following essays were written automatically by Miss Geraldine Cummins in precisely the same manner as those contained in the book entitled The Road to Immortality. They purport to be communicated by the late F. W. H. Myers, one of the founders of the Society for Psychical Research and explain his conception of life after death in greater detail than was possible in the earlier volume. In the above mentioned book is also presented a series of evidential cases which would seem to answer Professor MacBride's question (p. 10) and to offer cogent proof of the survival of human personality. It has not, therefore, seemed necessary to include in the present volume these and other evidential cases received through the mediumship of Miss Cummins. For such evidence readers are referred to the previous volume and also to various articles which have appeared in Light, the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research and other psychic papers during the last few years. In his Foreword to The Road to Immortality, Sir Oliver Lodge describes Miss Cummins as "an amateur trance-writer... an amanuensis of reasonable education, characterised by a ready willingness for devoted service and of transparent honesty." The present volume was sent to him and in a letter to me he says that he has "no reason to doubt the likeness to Myers' utterances except perhaps what is said about solar beings and about conditions of life 11 in stars. At the conclusion of this portion the writer deals with difficult subjects and is not to be taken as an infallible guide. The whole is interesting... I think the chapter labelled 'Prayer' is very fine." It is of interest here to quote an extract from a sitting which Miss Cummins gave to Sir Oliver Lodge. The communicator announces himself as F. W. H. Myers, and Sir Oliver Lodge has kindly consented to its publication in this volume. [Extract from sitting with Sir Oliver Lodge, Dec. 10th, 1933] F.W.H.M. I have come to the conclusion that there is no finished World of the Absolute, erase from your mind this conception of German and Indian thought. For God is imagination, is the illumination or blaze beyond reason. He maintains and preserves the past, and contains the conception or picture of the future. But he adds to Himself, that is an important point. Now, the soul of man is a finite focus or centre for imagination, more especially when functioning on the higher levels though still associated with the material body. This soul manifests dimly a creative power which is akin to, and of the Great Cosmic Imagination. God is many in One, One in Many. The souls and spirits of all things living aim ultimately at becoming one with their Creator. Thus the Imagination of God is altered and enriched by the adding up of the time process. It attains a perfection on a higher level ultimately. Schopenhauer, the advocate of the unconscious, seems to me to be in error. For God reflects, is purposive, and creates with an ecstasy beyond human comprehension.... I am very pleased by the simple and explicit manner in which you have developed the thesis of the ether in your book and in your discussions. I am aware 12 that the scientists dislike this view of yours: but scientists are so often blinded by their own eyes. The term "ether" is a bad one. I wish we could find a more suggestive word. I agree with you concerning its properties. I would like to find a Greek word which expresses the idea of the English equivalent "life-bearer." Let us find a word that conveys that meaning. May I say that you are right in your conclusion that mind does not work directly on the brain. There is an etheric body which is the link between mind and the cells of the brain. I would like to explain certain points in that connection. I am aware that of late years scientists speak of corpuscular particles. May I suggest that far more minute corpuscular particles than those already known travel along threads from the etheric body, or double, to certain regions of the body and to the brain. They whirl with a very great intensity. I might call them life units. The threads I speak of are connected with the glands. Medical men have been impressed by the alteration in character caused by certain deficiencies in one particular gland. They will find perhaps in time—when they discover the etheric body—that this deficiency is partly caused by some weakening of the thread or wire which carries the life current from the etheric body to these glands. I know I am uttering heresies. But I want you to realise that this invisible body—called by me the double or unifying mechanism—is the only channel through which mind and life may communicate with the physical shape. Should a thread snap between the two, there is immediately a failure in control. O.J.L. The ether seems to me to underlie every material process, but there is no means of getting at it. F.W.H.M. Yes, the ether is the ancestor of matter. 13 You will only be able to get at it through considerable research, through the making, in short, of a very delicate instrument which will record that mystery and make it intelligible to the sight of the scientist. I will discuss the possibilities of such work with Crookes; he may have some suggestions. O. J.L. Pragmatically, it is said, the ether does not exist: everything goes on as if it were not there. F.W.H.M. I see your point. Actually ether does make a difference. After all they know it to be a medium for messages. I think it may be necessary for instance to study the ether through its connection with the physical body. Experiments might be made with animals. Each animal has a unifying invisible body made out of modified ether. It should be possible to devise in time an instrument whereby this body can be perceived. I merely make this suggestion. I am no physicist, but I feel that light will be thrown on your main thesis if the ether is studied in connection with the human being and that unifying mechanism of which I have spoken. O. J.L. You feel that I am right in sticking to the ether hypothesis? Everything would be in chaos if it did not exist. F.W.H.M. Yes. You need have no fear that proof will be obtained of the non- existence of the ether. I prophesy that ten years from now the ether will have become a reality to thinking men. After you have joined me here, Lodge, they will find clues to its existence. They will come upon it partly by experiment with a very fine instrument, and also with the aid of chemistry. The ether, as I know it, is the very stuff and material of our existence here. It has a permanency which makes it more difficult and elusive for those who dwell in impermanent matter.