Our Unseen Guest by Darby & Joan

Dedication

TO MY comrades in khaki who asked, as I too asked: "Will I come back, and, if I do not, will there be a me and where will I go?"…

TO THOSE who loved me so truly that they sent me into the front rank of fighters for the great peace: My mother whose far-seeing motherhood reaches out to protect yet unborn generations; my father whose soul is of that strength which, visioning, dares to sacrifice; my brother who marched beside me….

TO THEM that went and to them that waited, to all laying their best of self and of love upon the altar of universal freedom….

I, "STEPHEN," who have gone over the top of life to victory, dedicate this book—in answer to their wistful questionings and as a call to that wider service which shall embrace all time, all space, all being.

*

CONTENTS

PUBLISHERS' NOTE

Chapter

1. THE COMING OF STEPHEN

2. SUBCONSCIOUS MINDS

3. A QUESTION OF IDENTITY

4. A PUZZLED FRIEND

5. UNCLE MICHAEL

6. THE RECEIVING STATION

7. TRIVIALITIES

8. FRED Q. AGAIN

9. COLORING

10. FROM A RESEARCH VIEWPOINT

11. AN OBSCURITY MADE CLEAR

12. THE PLASTER HAND

13. THE LITTLE GRAY DRESS

14. THE LIMIT OF EVIDENCE

15. EARTH TERMS

16. THE NEW LAW OF PARALLELS

17. "THERE IS NO DEATH"

18. CONSCIOUSNESS, THE REALITY

19. QUALM

20. THE PROFESSOR

21. INDIVIDUALITY

22. QUANTITY

23. DEGREES

24. THE AFTER-LIFE

25. THE REBIRTH OF CONSCIOUSNESS

26. QUALITATIVE DEVELOPMENT

27. MATERIAL THINGS

28. SUPREMACY AND GOD

29. THE WILL IS FREE

30. GOOD AND EVIL

31. SERVICE

CONCLUSION—THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

*

CONSCIOUSNESS, THE REALITY

Quantity is that development which results from the use an individual makes of his quality of consciousness."

"Do you mean growth of character?" asked Joan.

"Exactly," Stephen replied. "My renewed reference to the quality and quantity of consciousness is not for the purpose of making the terms wholly understandable to you at this time; I wish simply to keep them before you. Suppose now, Darby, you tell me what you understand by consciousness."

I said, "Consciousness is awareness of self."

"Well, yes," Stephen half assented; and added, "It is in degrees."

Recalling a phrase from the old French philosopher, I remarked: "As Descartes said, 'I think; therefore I am.' By the way, Stephen, do you know the philosophy of Descartes?"

"Not very well," he answered. Descartes would hold now that consciousness is more than thought. In the same way an insect, if you could interview the thing, would tell you that consciousness is less than thought. Listen! Consciousness is. It is the all. It is the one and only reality, though its degrees and the attributes thereof are many. Without suggestion from me evolution should indicate to you that the degrees are not fixed.

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