Pekka Ervast was the most prominent occultist and theosophist of the 20th century in Finland. This book is a collection of his lectures describing the origin and purpose of evil from the perspective of human development. The subject leads the reader to ponder the great meaning of existence and life.

Throughout human history, different religions and philosophical schools have sought answers to the meaning of evil. Did God create evil or did man create it? Why does God or the Masters not prevent misfortune and evil in the world?

Our planet earth is dedicated to the birth and development of man. In addition to nature's own process of evolution, man has been given the opportunity to make a choice by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good or evil. This freedom accelerates the process of human individuation and the awareness that everything has a cause and a consequence.

Mankind has already gone through millions of years of evolution. Ervast describes the evolutionary history of our humanity from the dawn of time to the present and into the future.

The emergence of evil and the fall into it began on the continents of Lemuria and Atlantis. It has been described in all ancient traditions and mythologies as the 'Fall of Man'. We were given a physical body divided into two sexes and the possibility of reincarnation to evolve and become morally responsible.

To overcome evil, great ordained teachers have come and developed in humanity, who have founded religions at different times to help people and whose instructions have opened up the possibility of becoming good and perfect if one follows them.