Esoteric Lesson

If only these two elements existed, earth and water, then life would be lived too quickly. We would grow old before we had time to be young. The oxygen that gives us strength would be absorbed in such quantities with the help of the life body that it would consume the organism too quickly. For the life body is a constant fighter against the death of the physical body; it is always busy building, and in its concern to preserve the dense body, it would go too far if it were not restrained. This restraining influence is found in the third element, “air,” which is mystically called “Azoth” and corresponds in its effect to the desire body, which also works against the efforts of the life body.