Note 311 — Chapter III · THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE LIBIDO. A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF PRIMITIVE HUMAN DISCOVERIES
Beatrice M. Hinkle translation
Âtman is also considered as originally a bisexual being—corresponding to the libido theory. The world sprang from desire. Compare Bṛihadâraṇyaka-Upaniṣhad, I, 4, 1 (Deussen):
“(1) In the beginning this world was Âtman alone—he looked around: Then he saw nothing but himself.
“(2) Then he was frightened; therefore, one is afraid, when one is alone. Then he thought: Wherefore should I be afraid, since there is nothing beside myself?
“(3) But also he had no joy, therefore one has no joy when one is alone. Then he longed for a companion.”
After this there follows the description of his division quoted above. Plato’s conception of the world-soul approaches very near to the Hindoo idea. “The soul in no wise needed eyes, because near it there was nothing visible. Nothing was separate from it, nothing approached it, because outside of it there was nothing” (“Timaios”).