Page 143 - The Buddha‘s Noble Eightfold Path

in terms of the past or in terms of the future, genetically or

telelogically. Suppose, then, that we take the phenomenon of
man, and suppose we take him at the best that we usually know

him, i.e. take him as a self-conscious, aware human being — one
who is intelligent, sensitive, and responsible. We can try to
understand him in terms of what he has developed out of, and

also in terms of what he will, or at least can, develop into. The
first — what he has developed out of — constitutes the Lower

Evolution. This is the subject matter of science, especially of
biology and anthropology. The second — what he will or can
develop into — constitutes the Higher Evolution. This is covered

by the higher, or universal, religions — especially, we would say,
by Buddhism.

Since things may get a little complicated, we had better start
thinking diagramatically.

As you see, the diagram shows a right-angle triangle, along the

hypotenuse of which are various symbols, figures and letters.
The point marked 2 in the centre of the hypotenuse represents
our self-conscious, aware human being. From the lower left-

hand angle of the triangle, marked by the symbol zero, up to
point 2, represents the Lower Evolution. From point 2 up to the

upper right-hand angle of the triangle, marked by the symbol for
infinity, represents the Higher Evolution. Each of these two
sections — zero to 2 and 2 to infinity — can in turn be divided

into two. Point 1 , intermediate between zero and 2, is the point
at which rudimentary human consciousness emerges. This is the

point at which the animal becomes, or at least begins to become,
man — an event that happened not so very long ago. (The

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