Interesting post. Thank you. And the "essence", or spirit.

I have believed for a number of years that there is a "spark" which is triggered at the propitious time by the interaction of molecules and energy. It's biggest manifestation is life itself, and there is a bit more - information gathering and processing.

And I believe that quality is something like the clouds in the sky, everywhere. At the birth of an organism that organism acquires it's little bit of that quality and becomed separate, exactly like a raindrop becoming separate from the cloud.

The raindrop falling is it's lifespan, and during that time it looks at the other raindrops and compares itself, how grand it is, or how deprived. And at the end of the raindrop's life it lands and rejoins the collective "essence" or "spirit". It's existence as a raindrop was an experience.

The bees are like that raindrop only, I believe, without the experience of being separate from the others in the hive. Their possession of a body is merely transitory, and only a phase of their "bee-ness", much as ice, water and steam are phases. Mankind is separated from this essence, whereas I believe animals without egos regard it as their whole, and while not aware of it directly live it. They have nothing which would separate from themselves which could make them aware. They are literally the "I AM" of the Bible.

Since chemistry runs downhill, clearly creating complex organisms is the easiest thing to do in some conditions. You are correct. On our way to an even temperature it is easier to become complex for a while than to remain separate.

As it was, is now, and will remain forever. Thus sayeth the Roman Catholic priest, I think.

Arf